Planet Bound: Venus
     by Marj

Notes:
	arigato - thank you
	musume - daughter
	minna - everyone
	okaa-san - mother
	onegai - please
	otou-san - father

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 and all the characters not found in the manga are mine.  So 
please don't sue, as I don't earn anything from this other than the 
satisfaction of making a story.



Chapter Twenty-three:  Goodbye, Minako-chan

Rei was meditating in front of the fire early that morning.  She had 
sensed that something was wrong the past few days, and was trying to 
look for the reason through the great fire.

But the fire hadn't given her any response.  Rei was becoming really 
frustrated.  She had lacked for sleep ever since the bad premonitions 
had started, and she wanted her questions answered.

Suddenly, there was a blinding flash of light.  It seeped inside the 
walls of the temple, and Rei had to cover her eyes to protect them from 
it.  "What the . . . ?" she stammered, then rushed outside.

There, she found Artemis and Himeru, with Minako in Himeru's arms.  
Rei's hands flew to her mouth.  "Is she . . . ?" she asked softly.

Himeru shook his head.  "No.  She's alive, but barely.  We'd better 
take her inside."

Rei nodded.  "Take her to my room.  I'll call the others right away."

Minutes later, Usagi and the others surrounded Minako on her bed. Usagi 
looked very worried.  "What happened to her back there?"

Himeru's eyes were sad.  "She had a severe trauma on Venus.  Some kind 
of vacation that was."

"Minako's parents were worried these past few days.  They've been 
calling me, and I didn't know what to say.  I didn't know how long I 
could last," Ami said, placing a cold towel on Minako's forehead.

"I think we'll have to tell them that she can't go to school anymore . 
. ." Himeru said softly after Ami examined her friend's condition.

Ami nodded, feeling her tears rise to her eyes.  "She's too weak."

Minako stirred again.   This time, she opened her eyes slowly.  "Minna 
. . ." she mumbled.

"Minako-chan!!" Usagi cried, putting on the water works.  Makoto placed 
her hand on Usagi's shoulder.

"Calm down, Usagi-chan.  She's here already, so there's no need to 
cry," she said.

Minako's gaze turned to Himeru.  "A . . . Ares . . ." she said, tears 
forming in her eyes again.  Himeru held her hand in concern.

"Shh.  It's all over . . . don't let it bother you, please.  Your 
condition's getting worse and worse because of it . . ."

Makoto looked at Himeru.  "Ares?  Isn't he your - ?"  

He nodded, closing his eyes tightly at the memory of his brother.  
"Yes."

Minako squeezed Himeru's hand.  "Am I . . . did you bring me back?"

"I did.  It was your wish, wasn't it?"

For the first time in days, Minako smiled.  "Arigato."  She suddenly 
started coughing again.

"Minako . . ." Artemis said, concerned.

Minako weakly smiled.  "I guess it's back, huh?  There's no escaping 
it."

She tried to stand up.  "I have to go home and see my parents before 
they're totally worried."

"Let me help you." Makoto offered, holding her shoulder.

"Let's all help her get home," Ami suggested, getting up from her spot 
by the bed.

As Minako watched her friends support her weak frame, she thought 
happily, 

*****

A few days passed by until one sunny October morning . . .

Kimiko walked slowly to her daughter's room.  She was in her ninth 
month of pregnancy, and was expecting the baby to arrive anytime.

She knocked softly on the door.  "Mina-chan, get up!  It's time for 
breakfast!"

No answer.

"Minako-chan!"

She heard a soft meow coming from inside the room.  She smiled.   she thought.  
"Minako, we'll be waiting for you downstairs!" she called out before 
heading back down to the breakfast table.

She sat down beside her husband.  "So where is she?" Michio asked, 
passing the bread to his wife's mother.

"She's still asleep when I went there, but I think her cat woke her 
up," Kimiko said.

"Kimiko," Grandmother Kagami asked, "when did the doctor say your 
baby's due?"

"Anytime this month, okaa-san.  The baby's birthday could be near 
Minako's," Kimiko said, fondly caressing her abdomen.

"Minako's turning seventeen this year, isn't she?"

The Ainos nodded.   Michio thought.

Minutes passed by.  Kimiko stared at the toast in front of her, her 
fingers tapping restlessly on the table.  "Dear, are you all right?" 
her husband asked.

"That child of yours is taking her time up in her bedroom," she said, a 
bit annoyed by her daughter's laziness.  "I'd better see what she's up 
to."

"I'll do it," Michio said, standing up.  "You shouldn't strain 
yourself, you know."

His wife shook her head.  "It's a mother's job to wake up her 
daughter."

Grandmother Kagami smiled.  "And soon you'll have two."

Kimiko looked at her mother.  "I hope so, okaa-san.  I really hope so."

She stood up and once more headed towards her daughter's room.  "Mina!!  
Wake up!  We're almost done eating and you're still sleeping!!" she 
shouted angrily.  "Just because you can't go to school anymore, doesn't 
mean that you get to wake up late, you know!"

She still could not hear any sound coming from her daughter's room 
other than the noisy meows of her cat.

"Minako!"

~meow!~

"Minako!!!"

~meow!!~

Kimiko placed her hands on her waist and huffed.  "I'm coming inside," 
she said, turning the doorknob.

When she got in, she found her daughter on her bed, with the cat Minako 
called Artemis standing on the bed near her head.  The cat was suddenly 
silent as he saw her in front of the door.  Kimiko strode angrily 
towards her daughter's bed, preparing to summon up the loudest voice 
she could muster.

But she did not shout.  Not when she saw that her daughter's breathing 
was coming out in jagged gasps.  "Michio !  Michio!!!" she shouted.

She heard her husband's footsteps run up the stairs and into the 
bedroom.  "What is it?" he asked.

"Call the doctor!  Something's wrong with Minako!"  

Kimiko quickly reached for the mask on the tank of oxygen beside the 
bed, which Minako usually used to ease her breathing every now and 
then.  She placed it over her daughter's nose and mouth.  Her husband 
ran back downstairs to call Minako's doctor.

*****

That afternoon, Minako woke up to see the faces of her anxious parents 
and grandmother.  She smiled weakly at them.  "It's time, isn't it?" 
she asked quietly.

Kimiko shook her head.  "We'll be taking you to the hospital today." 
She gently brushed her daughter's blond hair away from her eyes and 
kissed her forehead.  "It isn't over.  Not yet."

"I'm tired, Okaa-san . . ."

"Don't say that," her mother scolded her.  "The doctor said that they 
could still help you."

Minako turned away as she got caught in another coughing fit.  Her 
mother rubbed her back until she looked back at her.  " . . . I'm tired 
. . ."

Michio held her hand.  "Then go back to sleep.  We can take things from 
here."

His daughter squeezed his hand.  "Otou-san . . . take me there -"  She 
coughed again.

"We're already on our way, dear," her father said.

Minako shook her head.  "Take me there after . . ."

Michio looked at her wife.  "After . . . ?"

"Onegai . . ." Minako took a few deep breaths before continuing.  "Call 
my friends . . . I want to see them here . . ."

"Here?  Right now, dear?" Mrs. Kagami asked.

Minako nodded.  "Right now . . .

Michio gave her wife a questioning look.  Kimiko could only shrug.  
"It's hard to refuse a favor coming from a person in her sick bed," she 
said softly.  "Go on, dear.  A few minutes with her friends won't do 
her any harm."

Minako looked at her father.  "Their . . . phone numbers are written in 
the ad . . . the address book in there," she said, pointing at the 
drawer of her study desk.

Michio stood up from his chair, took the address book and headed for 
the phone.  

After he left, Minako felt something amiss.  She started looking 
around.  "Artemis?  Where is he?" she asked weakly.

"We took him outside, dear.  I'm afraid the cat seems to be going 
through hysterics -" her grandmother answered.

"Let him in . . . I want to hold him," Minako said.

Her grandmother went out of the room and came back a few minutes later 
with the cat.  Artemis jumped out of the old woman's arms and straight 
into Minako's.  His blue eyes focused anxiously on his friend.  Minako 
sensed his worry and kissed his forehead affectionately.

After some time, Michio went inside the room, address book in hand.  "I 
called your friends, dear.  They said they're coming, but it seems that 
your friend Himeru isn't home," he said, sitting back in his chair.

Minako felt a wave of disappointment wash over her.   she thought, frowning.

Soon, the doorbell rang.  Her father left to answer the door and came 
back with Usagi and Luna in tow.

Minako smiled slightly.  Usagi wasn't the last one to arrive this time.

Usagi paid her respects to Minako's mother and her grandmother, then 
rushed forward to Minako's bed.  "I came as soon as your otou-san 
called me," she said worriedly, sitting down on a chair and holding her 
friend's hand.  "Are you all right?"

Minako squeezed Usagi's hand.  "Let's wait for the others," she said 
weakly.  Usagi could only nod.

Before long, the other Inner Senshi were all there, worried about their 
teammate's failing health.  Minako's parents and grandmother thought it 
would be best to leave them alone, so they left the room quietly.  
"Call downstairs when you need us," Mrs. Aino told Minako before 
leaving.

The bedridden girl looked at the other four girls inside her room.  
"Minna," Minako said softly.  "This is it."

"Minako-chan, no . . ." Usagi pleaded, gripping her friend's hand 
tighter.  Burning tears started to form in everyone's eyes.

"I'm so tired, Usagi . . . I want to rest." Minako coughed before 
continuing.  "It's all over."

Usagi laid her head on Minako's chest, her body racked with 
heartbreaking sobs.  Ami and Luna soon accompanied her cries.  Artemis 
was crying silently, his head buried in Minako's arm.  Rei closed her 
eyes and looked away.  Makoto bit her lip so hard it bled.  They were 
supposed to be strong - they shouldn't cry.  But their tears fell, and 
they failed miserably to maintain their masks.

"Don't cry, minna . . . onegai . . ." Minako said, tears running down 
her cheeks as well.  She took her frail hand from Usagi's and stroked 
her friend's face.

"You're crying," Usagi sobbed.  "So we have the right to do so, too!"

"Hey."  Usagi looked up and at her friend's face.  "Crying doesn't . . 
. doesn't suit you.  Keep smiling, Usagi.  Don't you ever . . . ever 
change because of this."  Minako smiled through her tears.  "Promise?"

Usagi nodded, but she continued to sob.

Minako then looked at the other girls.  "Luna, Ami, Rei, Mako . . . 
take care of Usagi.  Make sure she de-"  She coughed again.  " . . . 
develops into the queen that we've seen she becomes."

They all nodded.  Then Minako reached into her subspace pocket and 
brought out her henshin wand.  She poked Artemis with it.  The white 
cat looked up.

"Here," she said, handing the wand to the cat.  "Hold this.  Until you 
. . . find the next person to hold the power of Venus . . ."

Everyone sobbed loudly.  "No one can ever take your place, Minako-
chan!" Makoto cried.

"We'll never know."  Minako looked at her guardian cat.  "You will take 
. . . care of your new apprentice just . . . just as you did for me, 
won't you?"

Artemis slowly took her henshin wand and put it in his subspace pocket.  
He stared at Minako with wet blue eyes.  "I will."

Minako turned to Rei.  "Rei-chan, you acted as . . . the leader before 
my arrival.  Now . . . take my place, and become . . . the new leader 
of the Senshi and Serenity's right hand," she said between gasps.

The black cat in Ami's arms looked at the dying Senshi for a while.  
"As leader, you have the right to appoint your successor.  All those 
who oppose the decision of the Senshi leader - those who are superior 
to her command omitted - will have violated the Senshi Code of 
Conduct," she said.  Then, she looked at Rei.  "Princess and Senshi 
representative of the red planet, Sailormars.  You are now promoted to 
the rank of Senshi commander, the inheritor of the title of 
Sailorvenus."

"Let this be known to the Outer Senshi.  And anyone who disagrees with 
the decision of the successor of my right hand will have to go through 
me," Usagi said quietly, raising her head from Minako's chest.

Minako tried to sit up but with her weak frame, had some difficulty.  
Makoto noticed and helped her up, supporting her back with a few 
pillows.  Minako then took Artemis from his place beside her and 
fondled him gently in her arms.  "Sailormars . . . Rei-chan . . . you 
are now the apprentice . . . of the strategist and mentor of the Silver 
Millennium's Defense Force."  Tears fell down Minako's cheeks as she 
and Rei stared into each other's eyes.  "Take care of him for me . . 
." Minako said, barely above a whisper.

Rei felt her eyes water as she looked at her former leader and her new 
guardian.  She opened her mouth to say a word, but none came out, and 
all she could do was nod.  She stepped forward and hugged her friend 
tightly.  "I'll miss you," she whispered in Minako's ear.  

Ami, Makoto and Usagi soon followed Rei's hug.  Afterwards, they all 
held hands.  "Minna, the future is in your hands," Minako said softly.  
She squeezed Usagi's hand tight.  "Most especially in yours."

There was a knock on the door.  Makoto answered it and found Hikaru and 
Mie standing outside in the hallway.  "Come in," she said, moving aside 
to let the new visitors in.

Mie ran towards the bed and threw herself over her friend, crying.   
"Mie, what's wrong?" Minako asked.

The little girl just shook her head and continued sobbing.  Rei and 
Usagi made way for Hikaru.  "I'm sorry I'm late.  Mie called me and 
asked me to pick her up after she received Aino-san’s call," Hikaru 
apologized.  "She was really worried."

Everybody's eyes turned to the young girl.  Her mother had told her 
about her friend's failing health as soon as they had gotten home from 
their trip.  Mie had thought it a joke until Minako herself told her.  
She had been so upset that Minako didn't know how to comfort her.  All 
she could do was hold her in her arms - which was what she was doing 
right now.

"I feel sorry for her," Hikaru said softly.  

Ami placed a hand on her shoulder.  "You don't look too good yourself."

Hikaru smiled weakly.  "I'm just worried, that's all."

"Minako's parents will be taking her to the hospital later today.  
She'll be all right."

"They won't," Minako said quietly.  The girls stared at her.

"What are you talking about?" Makoto asked.

"Just . . . that.  Mako-chan . . . help me lie down again."  Minako 
looked very tired.  Mie stood back as Makoto and Hikaru helped her get 
back under her bed covers.  Ami went beside her to check over her.  
"I'm okay, Ami-chan," Minako assured her.

But Ami knew better.  She was fading, and fast.  But she couldn't say 
it out loud.  Minako was looking at her, and she knew that her friend 
was silently pleading.  So Ami just smiled.  She reached out for the 
oxygen mask and placed it over her nose and mouth.    "I'll ask your Okaa-san for your 
medicine," Ami said.  

Once Ami got into the hallway, she covered her face with her hands and 
cried.

*****

"Your Highness." 

Himeru already recognized the foreseer's voice without even turning 
around.  "Come in, Cassandra," he said.

He heard the door to his room open and close and the sound of her 
footsteps coming nearer and nearer him.  "If your purpose for coming 
here is because of my mother, forget it.  I am not leaving this room."

"Duke Anchises, the duchess is only worried about you.  You have stayed 
in this room since you returned from delivering the princess home.  
You're not even eating."

Himeru leaned against the wall and gripped the windowsill in his hand, 
gazing at the blackness of space.  "So?"

Cassandra glared at him.  "You cannot continue with this foolishness, 
young man.  You must live, not only for the sake of this planet but for 
the future as well."

"Life is not worth living if you cannot spend it with your loved one . 
. ." Himeru murmured quietly, remembering what Minako had told him.

The foreseer shook her head.  "That's not true."

"I thought so too, at first.  Now I'm not sure."

Cassandra followed his gaze.  "Space," she said softly.  "So dark and 
inviting.  Like death.  Often some think that all problems can be 
solved by means of a sword.  Its blade can place a man or the one he 
hates into eternal repose.  People are so foolish."

Himeru sighed.  "Then count me as one of those foolish men, Cassandra."

The girl shook her head.  "I could not count you as foolish, Anchises.  
Your older brothers believed in that theory; that life is not worth 
living without your love, but that is absurd.  You once denied that 
theory.  You are wiser than they could ever be."

"So you are saying that the princess is also foolish."

"I did not say that.  The theory has a different meaning to her. If it 
had meant the same as that of which you know, then she would have been 
dead a few years ago, when she lost the one she loved to a close 
friend."  Cassandra turned to look at Himeru.  "She loved her life.  
She continued living, and the only reason why she pretended to have 
died was because she loved her friends, and she wanted them to be 
happy."

Himeru shook his head.  "I don't recall her telling me that story."

"It is only her darkest, most painful secret.  But can't you see?  
Before you brought her back to Earth, you also considered what she had 
done.  You were willing to leave for her and your brother's sake, all 
because of love."  

"That was then.  This is now."

"We are Venusians, Anchises.  We are lovers of everything that gives 
life and happiness."

"I am not a pure Venusian."

"You may be part Martian, but your views regarding the value of life 
don't have to change."  She placed a hand on his arm.  "Do not commit 
the same mistake that your brothers did, and you will be well 
rewarded."

"With what?"

Cassandra smiled.  "I cannot tell.  But it is what Vulcan had foreseen.  
Upon the road leading to it you will make a great many sacrifices, but 
the time is growing near, and you alone can fulfill his words."  She 
removed her hand.  "Now, Your Highness, hurry back to Earth.  I have 
obtained permission from Her Majesty the Queen.  The princess is 
calling for you, and she needs you now."

Himeru stared at his companion.  "If the reason is because of what I 
think it is, it would only cause me pain."

"Yes, it will.  But it would hurt even more if you stay here and do not 
see her for the last time."

The young duke was silent.

Cassandra started walking away.  "It would hurt her, too.  And I know 
you wouldn't like that."

Himeru turned back to his window and closed his eyes . . .

*****

"Minako, it's time to bring you to the hospital," Michio said, entering 
the room with his wife and mother-in-law.  The people inside made way 
for them.

His daughter removed the oxygen mask from her face and shook her head.  
"No.  Not yet . . ." she said weakly.

Her mother shook her head.  "If you stay here any longer, the doctors 
might have a harder time helping you.  We're going now."

"Getting a . . . hospital room is just a . . . a waste of money.  
Besides, it's useless . . ."

"Stop talking like that, I say!" her mother almost snapped.  Then, she 
calmed herself.  "Your things are ready and waiting for you.  Let's go, 
dear."

"Okaa-san . . ."

Kimiko stared long and hard at her daughter.  Then, she suddenly burst 
into tears and crumpled on her daughter's weak form.  "Minako . . . 
musume . . ." she sobbed.

Her husband placed a hand on her back and soothed her gently.  "Hush, 
dear.  It's not good for the baby," he said.  He looked at his daughter 
compassionately, and Minako saw that even he had tears in his eyes.

"Onegai . . . don't cry.  Don't cry!!" Minako wailed.  She cried 
loudly, but in each sob she found her chest tightening.  Her eyes 
widened and she suddenly gasped for air.  Ami quickly put the oxygen 
mask back over her face.  It eased her breathing a bit, but it wasn't 
enough.  She closed her eyes, her faced marred with pain and fatigue.

Her parents and friends looked at her with concern and worry.  "We 
should take her there now," Mrs. Kagami said.

Ami sadly looked at Minako's grandmother.  "I'm sorry, Kagami-san.  I'm 
so sorry . . ."

The old woman bit her lip and looked away.

Minutes passed by.  The doorbell rang.  Hikaru got up from her chair to 
answer it.  A few moments later, she reentered the room, followed by a 
young man, who remained standing near the door.  "May I come in?" he 
asked. 

Makoto's tear filled face looked up, and the tiniest of all smiles 
appeared when she saw him.  "Himeru-san!" she said softly.  She stood 
up and took his hand.  "I'm so happy you're here . . ."

Himeru squeezed the hand of the one who had introduced him to his 
princess.  "How is she?" he whispered.

Makoto didn't answer.  She just led him towards the bed of her friend, 
where the elders where sitting.

Himeru looked at Minako's parents, who said nothing but smiled sadly.  
He then kneeled down, took Minako's hand and held it close to his face.  
"Minako," he said gently.

Minako opened her eyes halfway up at the sound of his voice.  He gently 
removed her oxygen mask.  "You . . . you came," she said.

"I couldn't stay away for long . . . I went back home but . . ."

She smiled weakly and closed her eyes.  "I'm so glad you're . . . here 
. . ."

Himeru clasped her hands tighter.  "I had to come.  I love you too 
much," he whispered.

"Take care of my mother . . . my people . . ." Minako said in a voice 
that could not be heard by the others in her room.

The boy beside her nodded.  "I will."

Minako removed her hand from Himeru's grip and placed it gently on his 
cheek.  "Himeru-san . . . I love you, too."

Himeru could only stare at her.  He had finally heard what he wanted 
her to say for the longest time, and it was the first . . . and the 
last time that he would.

He took her hand and gently brought it down to the covers.  Then he 
stood up to allow her mother to embrace her child.

After hugging her daughter, Kimiko looked her straight in her fading 
blue eyes.

"Take... take care of yourself, Okaa-san . . . yourself and your new 
baby . . ."

Her mother nodded, tears flowing down her cheeks like a steady river.

Minako turned to Artemis, who had been lying down beside her all the 
time.  With one arm, she held him close to her, and she cried softly 
for him.  The cat that had been her closest friend in both her lives.  
The one whom she could call her second father.

Artemis's grief could not be measured.  He wanted to say something to 
his friend, but he couldn't.  Not with her parents, Hikaru, and Mie 
standing there.  All he could do was purr sadly.

Minako stared at Artemis' eyes.  Her eyes were reflected by the same 
shade of blue that the cat's eyes were.  She smiled softly.  Emotions 
ran through Artemis as she kissed the spot where the crescent moon on 
his forehead lay.

No words were needed between them.

Her tired yet peaceful eyes roamed around the room and stared at each 
person present.

While staring at Usagi, her eyes slowly closed, never to open again.

They heard a tiny, soft, satisfied sigh.

All was silent.

Ami moved forward, took Minako’s wrist and searched for a pulse.  She 
then reached out for a ballpoint pen and a piece of paper and wrote 
down the time indicated by the alarm clock that stood on the dresser 
beside the bed.

It was what she had seen her mother do when she recorded someone's 
death.

*****

Aino Minako died about two weeks before her birthday, age sixteen, 
during a warm, October evening.  Although it went unnoticed by the 
others, the Inner Senshi , the remaining duke of Venus, and the 
guardian cats saw the sign of Venus glowing brightly on her forehead as 
she died.

Cassandra sensed the sad event from her place on the Magellan Castle.

"The promise you gave to your guardian a few nights ago will be 
fulfilled. What Vulcan said to you the night you died will now come to 
pass."

She looked at the star that was actually the planet Earth and smiled.  
"It's not over yet."

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/field/4723/stories