Planet Bound: Venus
by Marj
Notes:
gomen - sorry
neko - cat
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 Three: Worries
Days later.
Artemis was at Usagi's house again, but this time Minako had informed
him that he would have to stay there overnight. He was already getting
bored of staring at Usagi all day. Her clumsiness wasn't all that
funny anymore and his worries about Minako kept growing. He hated
feeling cut off from her. He just had to find out what was going on in
that young teenager's head or he'd go insane!
While Luna was in a middle of lecturing Usagi, Artemis slipped out the
window and started to head for home. When he got there, only Minako's
mother was inside. He started to scratch the kitchen window to get her
attention.
"Okay, okay, neko-chan. No need to scratch the window," Aino Kimiko
said, opening the window for him. He jumped inside and ran upstairs to
Minako's bedroom.
"Hmm. I guess he finally left Minako's shoulders. I thought he was
permanently glued to her side," Minako's mother mumbled to herself.
“Somehow, she also managed to train that stubborn cat from staying in
the same room that I am, too.” She shook her head, then returned to
her cooking.
Artemis settled himself in the middle of Minako's bed. Thankfully, it
was quiet in comparision to Usagi's house, and he finally had time to
think. Minako would probably be angry with him for disobeying
her, but he didn't care. Artemis looked at his surroundings. Stuffed
toys were everywhere. Minako had carefully taken care of them ever
since was a young child. Pictures of Minako and her parents adorned
her desk and dresser.
On top of her cabinet sat three special pictures. One was a picture of
Minako, Usagi, Ami, Rei and Makoto in their school uniforms. The other
was a picture of all of the Sailor Senshi in regular clothing,
including the Three Starlights (Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki) and Chibi-
chibi.
The last picture was the one that Artemis loved the most. In the
picture Minako, age thirteen, was wearing her volleyball uniform and
holding Artemis in her arms. It had been taken when Minako had been a
seventh-grader and was still going to Shibakouen Junior High School.
Sailormoon and the other Sailor Senshi had not existed back then. It
had just been him and Sailor V. And it had been during that time of
being alone with her in missions that he had become close to her.
Artemis
thought.
He had been thinking about it so much, that he didn’t notice when he
let his eyelids drop, and fell asleep . . .
*****
"Almost there . . . almost . . ." Rei grunted. "Just a little more,
and I'll reach her . . ."
"Minako-chan, hold on!" Artemis shouted. "Do it for me, please!"
He noticed that Minako was tightening her grip a bit and felt an
enormous wave of relief wash over him.
Then the metal she had been holding onto started to give way . . .
*****
Artemis bolted upright. He might not have screamed this time, but the
bed covers were drenched with his sweat. He stared at the clock.
he thought.
His ears perked up. He thought he heard something. What was it?
Sobs? Wailing?
Artemis asked himself. He jumped off the bed and
left the room. Looking down from the balcony of the stairs connecting
the first and second floors, he could see Minako and her parents in the
living room.
Something was wrong. Artemis could feel it. Minako's mother had her
face buried in her hands, and was sobbing profusely. Her husband had
his hand around her shoulders, trying to comfort her, but he was
obviously on the verge of tears as well. Minako . . . he couldn't see
her expression. Her head was lowered, eyes focused on the ground, as
if she didn't want anyone to see her expression.
Barely two weeks ago, the house had been filled with happiness. The
Ainos had discovered that Kimiko was pregnant. It was a miracle due to
the fact that the doctors had told her that she could not have
children. Minako's birth had been the first miracle.
Minako was finally going to have a sibling. So why was all the
happiness gone now?
Artemis almost screamed at himself in anger. He wanted to scratch
himself for falling asleep and not hearing what the family discussion
was all about. The small family started to talk. Artemis leaned
closer until he was in danger of falling off the stairs, but they were
speaking so softly that he couldn't hear what they were saying. The
family meeting ended with the three members hugging each other in
tears. They said good night.
Minako had started up the stairs with her parents behind her when she
looked up and saw a white cat with a crescent moon on his forehead,
sitting on top of the stairs. "Artemis . . ."
"He came rushing in earlier this afternoon, dear. His disappearance
must have worried you, but he's okay . . ." Kimiko said, gently.
“Don’t worry - he had been obedient and had stayed inside your room.”
Her daughter picked up the cat and walked to her room. She closed the
door behind her, laid Artemis on the floor, and frowned.
"I told you that you have to stay with Usagi tonight. Imagine what
Usagi and Luna will feel when they find out that you're gone," she
scolded him.
"Gomen. But I really want to find out what is going on! Tell me!"
Artemis begged. "Is it your mother? Is she okay?"
"She’s perfectly fine."
"And the baby?"
"The baby’s very healthy."
"Then what’s wrong?!"
Minako didn't answer. She just looked away.
"Minako-chan!"
"Nothing's wrong!"
"What are you talking about? Don't lie to me! If everything is okay,
then explain to me why you and your family were crying in the living
room, just now!"
His master turned to look at him, her face, although filled with anger,
was streaked with tears. "It's not time yet! Can't you understand?
Please, leave me and my problems alone!"
"But . . ."
"This is something that not even you and the others can help me with,
Artemis. I have to handle this on my own!" After saying that, she
threw herself onto her bed, buried her face in her pillow and cried
softly.
That saddened Artemis further. He hated seeing her cry. "Mina . . .
Gomen . . ." He rubbed his fur against her arm. She looked up and
took him into her arms.
"No . . . I'm the one who's sorry . . . Please forgive me . . ." she
said through her tears. She hugged him tightly. They stayed that way
until both of them fell asleep.
(
geocities.com/tokyo/field/4723) (
geocities.com/tokyo/field) (
geocities.com/tokyo)