Planet Bound: Venus
by Marj
Notes:
konnichiwa - good afternoon/hello
okaa-san - mother
sayonara - good-bye
yoroshiku - nice to meet you
Please e-mail your comments and constructive criticisms at
. Thanks!
Disclaimers: The characters of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon were created
by Naoko Takeuchi-san, its copyright owned by Toei Animation, Kodansha,
Nakayoshi, Sterling Animation Inc., and many other companies scattered
throughout the world. Meaning, I cannot claim the characters as my
own, and am mearly borrowing them. The character Ayukawa
Himeru is mine. So please don't sue, as I don't earn anything from
this other than the satisfaction of making a story.
Chapter Twelve: Sayama Mie and the Decisive Dare
A young girl, age eight, ran up the sidewalk leading to the front door
of the Aino residence. She had slightly dark brown hair pulled up in
pigtails, and her eyes shone with excitement. Her mother was right
behind her.
"Are you sure this is her house, dear?" Mrs. Sayama asked her daughter.
Sayama Mie nodded. "Yup! I know that three years have passed already,
but I'd never forget her house!"
"It's been a long time. Do you think she still remembers you?" her
mother asked, ringing the doorbell for her child.
"Of course she does!"
Mrs. Sayama was having second thoughts. "Maybe we should have called
first before coming here and asking her to take care of you for the
weekend . . ."
"She won't mind, okaa-san! I'm sure of it!"
The door opened, and out came Aino Kimiko. "Hello, may I help you?"
she asked.
"Konnichiwa, Kimiko-mama! Remember me?" Mie asked.
Kimiko's face lit up. "You're Mie, aren't you? You've grown up well!"
Mei brought pulled her mother forward. "This is my okaa-san, Kimiko-
mama."
Kimiko bowed in respect. "Yoroshiku."
Mrs. Sayama returned the gesture. "You too. Your daughter and mine
seem to be on very good terms, wouldn't you say?"
Kimiko's face clouded over at the mention of her daughter. "Yes . . .
very much so . . . especially three years ago . . . Oh, how silly of
me, I'm not being hospitable. Please, come in."
"Oh, no need. I was just wondering if your daughter could look after
Mie for a while. Her father and I will be leaving overnight, and I
can't seem to find a sitter . . ."
"But . . . Minako-chan . . . she's . . ."
Mie frowned, disappointed. "She isn't here?"
Kimiko smiled sadly. "No, she's here. Only . . . she's sick . . ."
"Oh . . ."
"I really wouldn't want to bother your daughter if she's sick. I hope
she has a speedy recovery. Thank you for your time . . ." Mrs. Sayama
bowed again, took her daughter's hand, and started to walk away.
"Wait!"
Mother and daughter looked back.
Kimiko smiled again. "It would mean a lot to Minako if . . . if Mie
visited her . . ."
"But . . . she might catch . . ."
"Mie won’t. The disease is not contagious. Trust me."
Mrs. Sayama looked at her daughter, who was staring at her with
pleading eyes. "But . . . Mie might disturb her rest . . ."
"She won't be able to recover anymore."
Mie's mother's face paled. "She won't . . . Oh, I'm so sorry!"
Kimiko felt new tears springing to her eyes.
"Okaa-san, what's wrong?" Mie asked her mother.
She looked at her daughter for a while. ". . . Nothing, really. Go
on. Aino-san and I will talk for a while."
Mie ran inside the house. "Don't disturb Minako-san too much!" her
mother shouted. Then, Mrs. Sayama looked at Kimiko.
"When . . . ?"
"She told us weeks ago, before summer vacation. Emphysema . . ." She
sighed. "Mie will be heartbroken . . ."
Mrs. Sayama smiled sadly. "Her first loss . . . and she's only eight
years old."
"Perhaps, I should never have pleaded with her to stay . . ."
Her visitor shook her head. "No. If the presence of friends makes her
happy, then let Mie serve her purpose. After all, Minako has always
been there for her . . ." She smiled a bit. "I'll miss your daughter .
. . she's all my little Mie talks about, and I feel as if I already
know her."
"She does have a way with . . . well . . . some children . . ."
They were silent for a while. "I think you should tell your daughter.
It would hurt her if she was the last to know." Kimiko said softly.
The visitor thought for a while. "I . . . I’ll tell her when the time
is right. I don’t think she’ll be able to take it right now." Then,
Mrs. Sayama bowed again. "I have to go."
"Sayonara . . . and take care."
"Sayonara."
*****
When Mie entered Minako's room, she noticed that there were other
people present. "Umm . . . Konnichiwa!" she said.
Artemis perked up from Rei's arms, meowed happily, and jumped towards
her. "Hi, Artemis! Miss me?" Mie said happily.
"Who's that?" Makoto asked.
"That's Sayama Mie. She's Minako's friend from Shiba Kindergarden
three years ago," Usagi answered, staring fondly at the eight-year-old
girl.
"Do I know you?" Mie asked.
Usagi winked. "Let's just say that we've met before."
Minako was sitting up in bed, her back supported by a stack of pillows.
"How are you, Mie?" she asked softly.
Mie ran and sat on her bed, Artemis dangling in her arms. "Fine!
Kimiko-mama said you're sick. Are you feeling all better now?"
"With you beside me? Of course!" Minako hugged the little girl.
"It's been so long. You've certainly grown!"
"And you haven't changed a bit! Except . . . your face is whiter . .
."
Minako just smiled and coughed. "Oh, Mie, I'd like you to meet my
friends, Usagi, Ami, Rei and Makoto."
Mie eyed Usagi. "Usagi? Like the name of that substitute teacher
inside the bus when we were attacked by that youma?"
"No, Mie. She's . . . slightly different from that Usagi."
"Hmm . . . You're right - Usagi-sensei didn't have funny looking hair.
. ."
Usagi blushed while the others laughed. "Maybe you should use the
transformation pen more often!" Rei whispered. Usagi glared at her.
There was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Minako said.
Minako's mother entered, followed by Himeru and Hikaru. "Hey, guys!"
Ami said, waving.
Kimiko looked around. "We're getting pretty crowded in here, don't you
think? Maybe it would be better if you all head out to the garden."
Ami nodded. "Fresh air would do Minako good, too!"
So the group of eight, along with Minako's mother, headed for the
wicker chairs on the Aino's lawn. Although Himeru tried to offer her
support, Minako walked by herself the entire way. "I'm not that weak,
you know. I only have a fever, but after this, we can pretty much go
back to normal," she said. The others were skeptical, though.
Kimiko went away for a while, then came back with a tray of glasses,
soda, and snacks for everyone. "I'll be cooking dinner in the kitchen,
dear," she said after placing the tray on the table in the middle of
the wicker chairs.
"Don't you think you should hire someone to help us for a while? You
shouldn't tire yourself out, okaa-san," Minako said.
Her mother smiled. "Don't worry. If I was able to manage being
pregnant with you for nine months with only my mother around, I'm sure
that I'll do much better with you to help me . . ."
She suddenly stopped talking. "I . . . I should
go back to the kitchen now," she said quietly. Then, she walked away.
Minako thought
sadly.
Hikaru noticed her friend's sad face. "Minako-chan . . . your mother
will be fine . . ."
"I know . . ." Minako said. "I know."
They were silent for a while. Then, Mamoru arrived. "Hey, Usako! I
thought you said we had a date today!"
Usagi turned around and blushed. "Oops! Mamo-chan, gomen! I guess
Mie's arrival diverted my attention!"
"So typical of you, Usagi-chan!" Rei smirked.
"And what is that supposed to mean?"
Soon, Usagi and Rei engaged in a veritable verbal assault on each
other. The others sweatdropped . . . except Artemis, who was on
Minako's lap. He shuddered as he watched the scene . . . it reminded
him too much of his dream. He tucked his head deep into his paws.
"What's wrong, Artemis? Are you feeling okay?" Minako asked,
concerned.
Artemis didn't answer. She gently rubbed
his back. Artemis looked up at her, silently urging her to scratch his
chin. So she did.
Makoto and Ami went back inside the house to get the key to the gate
and let Mamoru in. Himeru and Hikaru just continued staring at Usagi
and Rei, while Mie drank her bottle of soda.
When Makoto, Ami, and Mamoru reached the table, Mie raised the empty
bottle. "Hey, everyone! Let's play "Truth or Dare"!"
Himeru gave her a questioning look, but nobody noticed.
Mamoru looked a bit disgusted. "Truth or Dare? Count me out!"
Usagi pouted. "But why?"
"Usako, I’m twenty-one years old, not sixteen!"
"Aww, come on, Mamo-chan! Just this once, pleeeeeease!" Usagi
pleaded. "I’ll give you a huge kiss if you join!"
Rei and Makoto snickered while Mamoru blushed. "What? What did I
say?" Usagi asked.
Minutes later, Usagi managed to convince Mamoru to play, with a deal
that Usagi would be on-time for their dates for the next month. Rei
said that that was utterly impossible, and both girls started bickering
each other again.
Soon, everyone gathered around the table. Rei and Usagi were still
elbowing each other, but they stopped when Mamoru spun the bottle. It
whirled around in blinding speed, then stopped, its tip pointed at
Himeru.
Everyone looked at him, waiting for which he was going to choose.
Himeru looked at them innocently. "Sooo . . . what now?"
They all face-faulted.
"Don't . . . don't you know how to play "Truth or Dare"?" Makoto asked.
"No . . . I guess not."
"Gee, and we thought that you knew everything, just like Ami!" Usagi
laughed.
"At least he knows something. He isn't an airhead like you!" Rei
smirked. Usagi made a face at her.
"Maybe someone should explain how the game works for Himeru?" Hikaru
suggested, trying to get them back at the game and avoid another fight.
Ami volunteered. "It works like this. Someone spins the bottle.
Whoever it points at when it stops spinning will have to choose between
Truth or Dare-"
"What's your choice?" Mamoru asked before Ami could go any further. He
felt incredibly silly and he just wanted the game to be over.
"Umm . . . Dare, I guess," Himeru answered. Mie grinned evilly.
"Okay, so now you have to do what I tell you!" she said.
Himeru blinked. "I'm supposed to follow you? Is that how it's
played?"
Ami gave the grinning Mamoru a disapproving glance. "I haven't
finished yet. You see, when you choose "Dare," you have to do whatever
they tell you to. But if you choose "Truth," you have to answer any
question given to you as honestly as you can."
"I think I like "Truth" better," Himeru grinned.
Minako shook her head. "No second chances!"
"Hey! I'm a beginner at this!"
"Don't worry! We'll make it easy on you," Makoto smiled.
Mie thought deeply. She
jumped up. "Himeru-san, kiss the lips of the person that you admire
the most!!!"
Himeru’s eyes widened. "Here?!? Right now? Are you kidding me?"
Everybody shook their heads.
"But . . . that's kind of like a "Truth" question too, you know? It's
as though you asked "Who do you admire most of all?!" That's kind of
unfair, don't you think?"
Rei smiled. "Aw, come on, Himeru-san! Don't be a kill-joy - it's just
a little kiss!"
He raised his hands. "Okay, okay, I'll do it!"
Everyone fell silent as he looked around the table. "Umm . . . can I
kiss the cat?"
Luna blinked.
Usagi laughed. "Silly!!! Kiss a human being, not a cat!"
Himeru shrugged. "If you say so . . ." Without warning, he leaned over
to his right and kissed Minako!
Minako's eyes widened in shock. She waited for the kiss to end, but it
seemed as if Himeru's lips were permanently glued to hers. She didn't
pull away. She was actually enjoying it!
The group around them snapped out of total silence and began teasing
them mercilessly. Minako's cheeks turned red.
"Hey, I admire Minako-chan, okay? What's wrong with that?" Himeru
asked, but even he was blushing.
Minako looked nervously at Makoto. Makoto was whooping along with the
others. Then, she winked at her.
That was when she knew that everything was going to be all right.
*****
Kimiko watched the entire incident from the kitchen window. "Better
now that never," she whispered to herself.
Then, she chuckled. "Normally, I would be shouting at her not to do
such things because she's still young . . ." she said, thinking of when
Minako had been only thirteen and she had had to drag the teenager out
of her bed during school mornings just to wake her up . . .
She gently stroked her abdomen and sighed. She sat
down beside the table and let her tears flow again.
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