Planet Bound: Venus
by Marj
Notes:
atama - head
odango - some sort of round food on a stick (squid ball, maybe?)
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 Fourteen: Minako's Decision
Venus half-opened her eyes and hazily saw the faces of her friends.
She felt that breathing was more difficult than ever . . . she thought, closing her eyes
again.
"She's partially conscious now . . ." she heard Ami say.
She felt someone's breath near her cheeks . . . "Minako-chan? Can you
detransform?" Usagi asked.
A flash of light filled Rei's room, and Minako was now lying on the
bed.
"Do you think . . . ?" she heard Himeru's voice. Her eyes were
suddenly wide open, and she abruptly sat up despite her lack of
strength.
"Don't worry, Minako-chan. He knows," Artemis said.
Ami gently helped her lie back down on the bed.
"How . . . ?"
Himeru walked towards the bed, knelt down, and bowed his head. "My
princess . . ."
She looked at him questioningly. "Princess?"
"He said that he's from Venus, Minako-chan," Makoto said from where she
was leaning against the wall, her arms crossed.
"You are?"
Himeru looked uncomfortable. "Could we talk about this tomorrow? You
need to get home . . ."
Minako shook her head. "No! I want to know, right now! Who are you?
And what made you come here?" she demanded.
"He said his mission is to take you back to Venus," Rei answered for
Himeru.
"What for?"
She got a shrug for an answer.
"He said that he was supposed to take you . . . without delay, but then
he suddenly changed his mind and decided to ask you about it," Ami
responded.
Minako thought, her hand clutching her chest, "Take me there," she decided.
"Minako-chan . . . no . . ." Usagi pleaded. The others looked sadly
on.
Minako propped herself up on her arm to see her friend better. "I'll
be back, Usagi-chan. I'll be happier if I could . . . pass away . . .
here on Earth . . . with you . . . with my parents. I just want to see
my home before I go."
"But . . . but if I take you there, you may never come back . . ."
Himeru protested.
"Now what's with the "don't go" attitude?" Makoto whispered to Rei.
"Who knows? But it's nice of him to suddenly change his mind. I don't
think I would like never seeing Minako-chan again," Rei answered.
Makoto winced at the irony of her words.
"I will be back." Minako said determindly.
Rei stood up straighter. "I'm going with you to make sure."
"Me, too," Makoto said.
"So am I," Ami said.
"Don't forget me!" Usagi added.
Himeru blinked. " I . . . I can't take you all!"
"Why not?" Usagi demanded.
"By the time I reach Venus, I won’t have enough energy in me to keep me
alive!"
"I'll go."
They all looked at Artemis.
"I am, by order of the Queen of the Silver Millennium, Minako’s
appointed guardian, and am recognized by the Queen of Venus as her
mentor. I should go," he argued softly. Minako took him in her arms
and cradled him fondly.
"Artemis has a point. He has more right to be with Minako-chan than
any of us. Just as I would have a right to be with Usagi-chan. Let
him go with them," Luna said.
The others nodded slowly. "Okay . . . we'll let Artemis go," Usagi
agreed a bit sadly.
Makoto stared at Himeru with a hard expression on her face. "You're
lucky we trust you. But if you ever hurt a single hair on her head . .
."
Himeru smiled sadly. "I know. I know."
*****
There were questions from Minako's family early the next morning, but
Ami was able to solve them by lying to Minako's parents. "My mom wants
her to stay with us for a few days so that she can check on her
regularly," she had said. Aino Michio and Kimiko accepted the excuse
readily, but it took the girls what seemed like an hour just to
convince Minako's grandmother.
"I sure hope they won't check on me," Minako said.
"I hope so, too! I hate lying," Ami agreed.
After school, they all gathered at Hikawa Shrine. Usagi was crying her
heart out.
"Please come back to us, Minako-chan!" she cried, turning on the water
works as she hugged her friend.
"Oh, please, odango atama. You act like she's gone already!" Rei
pried Usagi's fingers away from Minako. She turned to look at her.
"Take care of yourself. And come back," Rei said.
Minako nodded. "I will."
Rei was followed by a couple of hugs and good-byes from Ami and Makoto.
Then, Himeru took Minako's arm, while Artemis hung on her shoulder.
"Are you ready to go?" Himeru asked.
Minako stared at him. "I'm ready."
"Are you sure you don't want to back out?"
"Yes."
Himeru looked at her friends. "I don't really want to do this . . .
forgive me if she doesn't come back . . ."
"How many times do I have to tell you, I'll come back!" Minako argued.
"Okay, okay, you've made your point. Good luck trying."
Himeru whispered some words that they couldn't understand, and before
long, Minako could feel her body shimmering. The good-byes from her
friends sounded more distant as a soft haze of light engulfed them.
Minako closed her eyes . . .
When she opened them, she wasn't in the shrine anymore.
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