The Early Moon Chronicles
by Michaela Wills
Shelli982@aol.com

Story 4 - 'Hero in a Sailor Suit' or 'A Younger Sailor Venus'

The seven year old gave a loud battle cry just before throwing herself into the cold water. The pool's contents splashed about, rocking the slim child a bit. The blond surfaced, paddling hard against the depths of the water and the currents she and her oppenents had created. She saw a hand reaching for her left foot from underneath the transparent surface. With a sharp, well-aimed and practiced kick, the child propelled herself strongly away from the hand. This game of chase enthralled her as she weaved through the crowded pool, acting causal as she carefully worked to the pool's opposite bank. Only a few realized her intentions and they were not strong enough swimmers to catch up to the now swiftly paddling figure who was about to pull herself upon the opposite bank.

With a heaving breath she pulled herself out of the water's grasp. A great smile crossed her face, broad and joyous. She gave a happy cry of vitory as she scanned the pool's edge for other survivors. There ' were none.

"I WIN! I WIN!" She exulted to the older children glaring at the from the water. "HA! You told me I was too little, but I WON! So there!" She crossed her arms over her small chest, standing hauntingly. The movement caused the little frilled skirt on her swimsuit to wave. The suit's navy blue surface shimmered from the water soaking it. It was a nautical suit, decorated with an anchor on the front and white trim.

One of the oldest boys there pulled himself out and clapped the child's shoulder proudly.

"Yes you did Mina-chan. Congratulations. You can play with us anytime you like now, we'd love to have such a skilled player join us." She smiled broadly, unaware of the reproachful looks of the boys in the water.

"Thanks Shino-san, are we going to play again now?" she asked, looking up at the boy admiringly. He patted her head in a loving-brotherly manner, ruffling the already matted long blond hair.

"Sorry Mina-chan, we can't. The lifeguard wants to open up the diving tank for the kids who want to jump off the diving board again." He caught her disappointment quickly. "But don't worry, we'll play again later and you can join us."

Minako smiled again. She didn't mind waiting, she would find something to do in the meantime. She skipped away happily, finally accepted by those she'd tried so hard to become a part of.

Acceptance. To be part of something greater, it was her biggest dream. It was in a sense an unconscious goal, since she tried to achieve it by trying to be part of so many different things. Yet it was always there, a motivation that she was only slightly aware of. Yet for some reason, it always seemed to elude the small child. Her cousins didn't accept her as she was the only girl amongst them. The other children at school found her odd and over-excitable and often ignored her. And then there were the neighborhood kids.

Everyone seemed to sense something different about Minako that they didn't like or want to become aquainted with. It puzzled her beyond comprehension. But the neighborhood kids seemed to finally be seeing past whatever it was the saw. Most were older than her, but she'd finally become one of them. Shino would make sure of that. He was her friend if no one else, and that meant so much to her.

"Shino-chan!" She heard one of the other boys cry in annoyance. Mina was startled at the harshness, pressing herself against the concrete wall to listen. "Shino-chan! Why'd you tell her that!?"

"Yea! Why? We don't want that little pipsqueak playing with us!" Another chimed in. Mina felt the tears welling in her eyes. They really didn't want her to play with them. Their voices were so cold, so harsh. It was such a sharp contrast to Shino-san's soft comforting voice.

"Now guys, let's be fair here. She only wants to play with us because she has no one else to. Yeah, she a little girl, and a little annoying, but she's better than most. She's a cute 'lil tyke, I've been to her house on holidays, remember. Our parents are tight. She's really fun if you give her a chance."

Mina's eyes shone. Shino-san was so nice! It was all true. They had spent numerous holidays in each other's company and managed to enjoy it. Well . . . that was only after she had pestered him into giving the younger child a chance. Her reverie was broken by another angry voice.

"Yeah, she's cute for a seven year old nuisance, but that doesn't mean she can play with us! Besides, you're always saying how it would be better if you could hang with us on the holidays, whether or not you're spending it with the Ainos! You can play with the little brat all you want, but that doesn't mean I'm going to!"

The others chorused their agreements, causing Mina's tears to overflow to her cheeks. Brushing them aside roughly she fled, blond hair streaming behind her. It wrapped back around the corner of the building before following her. A flag calling for attention, and attention it drew. Before Mina could get herself far enough to ease her pain, she found that her name was being called. Shaking her head roughly, she continued her flee, ignoring the protests behind her.

She didn't run too far through. Finding a strong tree, Mina deftly began to climb, anything to get her mind away from the emotional pain. She was a nice girl, talented and strong physically. The teachers at school told her so and she believed them. But why couldn't anyone else see? Why was she always pushed aside because she was a girl, or odd, or younger?

Reaching for her sleeve to wipe her eyes on, she realized that she only wore her little sailor-styled swim suit. It reminded her of the pool and the game of Shark. Her tears began anew. As they subsided, Mina turned to watch the activity of the community pool out of curiosity. The boys had all changed and were playing basketball on the nearby court. Yet wandering from the bunch was the group's 'mascot' a ferret owned by one of the boys' father. Mina loved petting that little ball of elongated fur anytime she was given the chance, although it wasn't often.

The ferret was teetering along the edge of the pool, trying to sniff it's contents. At that moment a basket was made and half of the boys erupted into wails of joy, while the other screams of despair. The commotion caused the small animal launch itself over the edge in an attempt to escape the noise. Instead of escaping the creature nose-dived into the water.

Mina didn't know if ferrets could swim, but she wasn't about to take the chance they couldn't. None of the boys had noticed the disappearance of their 'mascot', at least not until Mina streaked past them, jumping in the pool in a headlong leap.

"What the . . . ?"
"What!"
"Where'd she . . . ?"
"Joe-kun! He's gone!"
"Mina-chan!"

The last yell was that of Shino's realizing she had ran past to save the beloved rodent. Once in the cold water, Mina paddled to the animal deftly. She carefully reached out to the perturbed creature. Finding it unresisting she swiftly encircled it with one thin arm. Maddened by her sudden action, Joe snapped at her with it's teeth, breaking the skin on her upper arm with it's grip. A short yelp of pain escaped her before she bit hard upon her lower lip to control herself.

Holding the animal firmly, but as gently as she could, Mina brought the small thing ashore, passing it to the owner's son before leaving the water herself. She put her hands on the pool's edge, dipping herself under the water to gain the momentum necessary to propel her out of the pool. Her cut stung from the chlorine and stained the water and her arm blood red as she climbed out.

Most of the boys clamored around Joe, who basked in the newfound attention. Mina nearly cried again. She had probably saved the boys their mascot and one boy in particular from a harsh punishment for killing the mammal. A hand was placed gently on her good arm.

"You're a hero, you saved Joe-kun! Thanks." Shino exclaimed, making sure that he was loud enough to attract a little attention from the other boys. They caught the hint.

"Oh!"
"Of course!"
"Mina-"

They began to exclaim. That was before Shino stopped them. The lifeguard had come over with a first aid kit, which Shino was now holding as the lifeguard headed back to her post. He knelt beside Mina, allowing the other boys a moment to be stunned. Mina caught a quick wink from Shino before he continued.

"Not Mina-chan! This young lady is a hero, a superhero even for getting bit. Most of us probably would have left Joe-kun in the pool after getting _that_." He said, pointing at the nasty bite marks on Mina's arm. "She should be treated like one. And we _all_ know that superheros aren't called by their real names, their real names are a secret. They all go by a superhero name."

He leaned towards her, smiling at her broadly while holding a cloth in his hand. She grinned back. Touching the bites gently with antiseptic-drenched cloth he continued while she flinched at the touch's intense sting.

"What's your name, Miss Superhero in a Sailor Suit?" He asked. Mina giggled. She liked it, 'Superhero in a Sailor Suit'. But it was a little long . . . Yet she watched enough superhero cartoons to know a good start when she heard it.

"I'm Super Sailor Girl! Protector of Children and Fuzzy Animals everywhere!" She said smiling, petting the much-calmer ferret affectionately with her good arm. It nuzzled against her hand, almost as if it knew that she had saved him. She couldn't be sure, but just maybe . . .

"Thank you Super Sailor Girl!"
"Yes! Thank you Super Sailor Girl!"
"Joe-kun say thank you too!"
"Thank you!"

Shino finished bandaging her arm. She turned to him gratefully. "And thank you, Shino-san." He faked a gasp, in a dramatic voice.

"How did you know my name, Super Sailor Girl?" She laughed softly. Time for the classic superhero answer to the age-old question.

"I just know." She winked playfully before standing up. "Now all of you play safe, and keep little Joe-chan here away from the pool from now on. I don't think he really liked the water too much." She said, patting the ferret again. "So long everyone!" She cried out, head off the way she came, not stopping at the cries of:

"Thanks again!"
"Thanks Super Sailor Girl!"
"Bye Super Sailor Girl!"
"Bye!"
"Come back soon!"

She stopped at the bottom of her tree. It would be her superhero lookout tree from now on, Super Sailor Girl's secret base. She hoped that Mina-chan would be called upon more often by the neighborhood boys, but it would never hurt to be ready to spring into action if her alter-ego was needed. She was accepted by the bunch. Maybe not the exact way she had wanted, but it was enough for now . . .

Looking up into the branches she saw a pure white cat. It had a mark on its forehead that she couldn't identify, it was too far up the tree. She grinned.

"Super Sailor Girl to the rescue! I'll save you little kitty! You shouldn't be up in a tree like that!" She said, wagging a finger at the cat, who blinked at her oddly. This was a very good beginning for Super Sailor Girl!

@->--