Planet Bound: Venus
     by Marj

Notes:
	musume - daughter
	onegai - please
	otou-san - father
	sayonara - good-bye

Thanks to my classmate CK for translating my Chinese Sailor V manga!

Please e-mail your comments and constructive criticisms at 
.  Once again, 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.  The manga Sailor V was also created by Naoko
Takeuchi.  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 Eleven:  Minako's Dream

When Artemis left Minako early that afternoon, he did it with a great 
deal of hesitation, for Minako's fever had shot up higher.  
Nevertheless, he had to discover the meaning of his dream, so he had 
managed to tear himself away from his master's side, leaving her mother 
to take care of her.

Kimiko watched helplessly as her daughter fought with the monster that 
was growing inside her.  She gently caressed her abdomen.   she thought sadly.

She watched as her eldest child started to mumble unintelligibly.  
Minako had been dreaming.  Whether they were beautiful dreams or 
nightmares, her mother could not tell.

What was Minako dreaming of?

*****

The Queen of Venus watched as an elder from the Moon Kingdom anointed 
her newly born daughter.  The child did not make a sound as holy oil 
was marked on her forehead, nor did she cry when the ginzuishou was 
placed beside her.  The emblem of Venus shone brightly on the girl's 
forehead.

"I now proclaim the princess of the realm of Venus as Sailorvenus, the 
last born among the senshi.  She will join the others in training when 
the time is right.  Princess of Venus, may you bring joy to your 
mother's heart with the knowledge that you will protect the Princess of 
the Moon, who comes from the greatest of the royal families in this 
solar system."

With those words, the old man handed the infant to the queen of the 
Moon.  Serenity placed her own child in the small cradle beside her, 
and took the younger princess in her hands.

"Oh, Venus," she whispered softly to the queen of Venus.  "She's so 
adorable . . . She looks almost like my child's twin . . ."

Venus just nodded silently.  Nobody noticed the tears forming in her 
eyes.  

"Come here," Serenity said softly.

Venus walked closer and extended her arms.  Serenity handed her the 
infant, and Venus cradled the child gently.

Serenity smiled.  "I'm sure your daughter will not disappoint you, my 
friend, just as you did not disappoint your mother . . . You protected 
me well when I was a child . . ."

Venus smiled weakly back.  "Yes . . . I'm sure that she won't fail your 
daughter, Serenity . . ."

*****

The scene changed.  The throne room was now more filled with people.  
The Princess Serenity sat beside the Queen Serenity.  Behind them were 
the older Outer Senshi, Sailoruranus and Sailorneptune.  Sailorpluto 
was also with them.  In her arms she held the baby Sailorsaturn.

In front of the royal family stood four young girls.  The oldest, 
Princess of Jupiter, stood between the Princess of Mars and the 
Princess of Venus, while the Princess of Mercury stood beside Mars.

One by one, the girls were introduced, from Mercury to Jupiter.  
Venus's introduction was quite special.

"And finally, the last among the new protectors, Sailorvenus. She has 
been proclaimed the leader of the Sailor Senshi for she has been an 
efficient leader among her comrades during her time of training," the 
announcer said.

And the highest ranking among all the Senshi, Inner and Outer alike, 
approached the older Princess Serenity and made their solemn pledge . . 
.  ". . . to protect you with all my heart and soul, and to face death 
if only to ensure your safety and the safety of the entire universe . . 
."

Her mother, now known as Elder Venus, watched the event with tears 
flowing down her eyes.  She was happy and proud of her daughter, for 
Sailorvenus had received the highest award a Senshi could ever ask for.  
To become leader . . . imagine, being able to prove that you are battle 
worthy even to the older Outer Senshi!  Her daughter was just like her 
during her younger days as a Sailor Senshi - the commander, the one 
whom others look up to.  But . . .

Being the leader meant unending duties to perform.  It meant that she 
would have to lay down her life for the sake of the people that she was 
responsible for . . . the princess . . . the senshi . . . the people of 
the nine planets of the solar system . . .

Elder Venus could lose her child to the hands of powerful enemies.  Her 
only child . . .

Beside Elder Venus stood a young boy, a year older than Princess Venus.  
He was her childhood friend from her home planet, and just like any 
other boy jealous of a friend's achievements, he scowled as his friend 
joined the ranks of the strongest soldiers in the known solar system.  
Still, deep inside him, he knew that he was happy for her - even if she 
was a girl.

The young boy could see the pain and worry creasing his queen's face.  
He squeezed her hand in silent support.

When the ceremonies were over, the boy ran over to his friend.  
"Venus!" he cried.

"What?" the young senshi asked, turning around.

He scowled a bit at first, then grinned.  "Congratulations!"

Venus grinned, too.  "Thanks!"

Her mother went to her side and embraced her daughter good-bye.  
"You'll have to stay here now, do you understand?  This will be your 
new home . . ." her mother said softly.

Princess Venus nodded slowly.  "I know . . ." She gulped, then hugged 
her mother tightly.  "I'll miss you!"

"I'll miss you, too!"

"Don't worry, mother.  I'll prove to these people that I'm a good 
leader.  I'll make you very proud!"

Elder Venus smiled more sadly.  "You already have, my dear.  You 
already have . . ."

"I’ll make you proud by carrying out all my duties!"

"Would you even die for the princess, like you had made on your oath?" 
her friend asked.

Princess Venus nodded seriously.  "Of course I will."

Elder Venus winced slightly.  

"Sailorvenus, it is time," Artemis, the white cat ambassador of the 
moon, said.  Artemis was also the strategist and mentor of the high 
officials of the defense forces - whereas Luna, the black cat 
ambassador, was an adviser to the queen.  Sailorvenus currently held 
the highest rank in the defense force since the Sailor Senshi were the 
best set of warriors the kingdom could ever produce, capable of 
crippling an invading group in a single battle.  So Artemis was 
assigned to be Venus's sole guardian, similar to Luna being Princess 
Serenity's guardian cat.

"Bye!" Venus waved, then ran off with her cat.

*****

The scene changed again.  She entered the royal gardens.  There, 
Artemis was not beside her, nor was she wearing her sailor fuku, but a 
long gown.  She was much older now, a young, beautiful girl in her 
teens.  In the middle of the garden stood a handsome man with long, 
white hair, towering height, and a strong build.  He wore a long white 
cape that flowed behind him, and the gray uniform of one of the 
Generals of the Earth.

"Kunzite . . ." she breathed.

He smiled and extended his hand.  She accepted it . . . "My princess . 
. ." he whispered.

They kissed, long and deep.  They stayed like that for a few moments 
more, until Sailorvenus gently pushed him away.

"We . . . we can't keep doing this . . ."

Kunzite sighed.  "Why?  Don't you love me?"

"I do!  But . . . you are the highest ranking General of the Earth 
force and the defender of Prince Endymion . . ."

"And you are the leader of the Senshi, the Captain of the Royal Guard 
of the Silver Millennium, and the defender of the Princess Serenity . . 
." Kunzite chuckled.  "Don't you think you have far more duties than I 
do?"

"That's exactly it!" Venus walked beyond his reach.  "We have duties to 
perform . . . and the love between us will distract us from them . . ."

Kunzite chuckled even more.  "You are such a perfectionist, my dear 
princess."

Venus turned around.  "I am not!  I am simply responsible for the 
welfare of the moon people and the other planets, that's all."

He sighed.  

She turned away from him again.  "The safety of the whole solar system 
is in my hands . . .  Oh, now I know why my mother was worried about 
me."

"Your mother . . ."  Kunzite hugged her from behind.  "What . . . what 
did she say?  About us?  Have you told her?"

"Yes . . ."

"And?"

Venus smiled sadly.  "Nothing.  She told me to do what I please."

"So much for the archiac Venusian custom of marrying one of your own 
people . . ."  Kunzite rested his head on her shoulder.  "Are you 
having doubts?"

She shook her head firmly.  "No.  I don't love him . . . he's my best 
friend, I am his best friend, and we can't be anymore than that.  I 
love you, Kunzite . . ."

Kunzite cupped her chin in his hand and raised it for a kiss.  Their 
eyes met . . . her soft, light blue eyes with his warm grey ones . . .  
"That is what I have been waiting to hear . . ."

*****

Suddenly, Kunzite wasn't there anymore.  His figure had changed into 
that of a man with very dark blond hair, but with eyes as beautiful as 
hers.  It was the young boy with Elder Venus during the recognition 
night, who had noticeably grown older and handsome.

Venus was also older, and although her young looks did not show her 
years, her eyes brimmed with maturity and intelligence.  This time she 
wore a different gown, one suited for the grand masquerade ball being 
held that night.  Folded within her hands was a large, red mask.

"You look very ravishing tonight . . ."

Venus smiled softly.  "One cannot wear a fuku at such an elegant ball."

She looked up at the sky, not to the blue planet, but to Venus.  Earth 
was home to her former lover who had succumbed to the ways of evil.  
She could not bear to recall the sweet memories that they had shared, 
no matter how simple they might be.  She might have her fiancé back, 
and he had admitted that he truly loved her just as much as she 
admitted to herself that she loved him, but a part of her heart still 
belonged to the man on Earth that she had loved just as much.

"My planet . . . how I miss you so . . ." she sighed, suddenly 
homesick.  True, she had taken countless trips back home, but none of 
them had lasted long enough to satisfy her desire.  She just had to go 
back to the moon, whether because the smallest of all troubles had 
sprouted and her presence was needed, or purely because she was a 
prisoner of her own sense of responsibility.  She just couldn’t bear to 
stay away from her duties, not when there was so much she could do 
during her free time.

"Soon, my love," the man said softly, hugging her more tightly.  "When 
the princess is not the princess, when the Kingdom of the Silver 
Millennium lays to rest its honorable days.  When Chaos has been 
defeated, and when the queen in all her glory bathes the new Earth, we 
will be as one.  The whole universe will witness the bonding of our 
hearts, man and woman, mortals and immortals alike.  Everyone will 
rejoice, and they will say: "Finally the Goddess of Love has found true 
happiness in this world."  It will echo throughout the plains, valleys, 
and mountains of every land, and the planet and stars of the entire 
universe!"

Venus didn't understand what he meant, but she was deeply flattered by 
his words.  "Could you kindly explain what you just said, my love?"

The young man shook his head.  "The time has come," he said solemnly, 
pointing at the blue planet.

Venus gasped as she saw evil in all of its infinite darkness sweeping 
across the entire Earth, covering its lovely blue oceans and green 
forests.  With her own eyes, she saw the evil one creating a path which 
connected the Moon and the Earth, and forces from the Earth were 
running down the road that would lead to the kingdom's destruction.

"No!  Not now . . . we're not ready to fight!"

"The legend begins . . ."

"What?  What are you talking about?"  Sailorvenus turned and saw that 
her fiancé was already far away from her.  "Wait!  Where are you 
going?"

"I have to go.  You must proceed to your destiny!"

"What destiny?  Why are you leaving me?"

"This is our fate," the man said, smiling sadly.

"Vu . . ." Her words were cut short as the battle between the Moon and 
Earth exploded around her . . .

* * * * *

"I still can't believe she's your daughter," Grandmother Aino said 
while the child stared at the starlit sky.

"Mama, we've already talked about this," she heard her father say.

"Yes, I know . . . but her eyes and her hair . . . those are not the 
features of a pure Japanese girl!  She looks more . . . more . . . 
western.  It’s like they gave you the wrong baby!"

"You were there when they made tests on her, Mother.  It has already 
been proven that she is of your son's blood," Kimiko said.

"Minako's birth is a miracle for us, Mama, since you know that my wife 
cannot have any children.  She is a gift from the heavens, and she is 
our child no matter how different she looks," Aino Michio ended the 
conversation.

A very young Minako walked towards her father and took his hand.  "Come 
see, otou-san!  Come see my home!"

"Where is it, dear?" Michio asked, lifting her up in his arms.  He 
walked over to the window.

The child pointed to the brightest star in the sky.  "That's my home!"

"No, child.  That's Venus."

She pouted.  "You don't believe I live there?"

Her father poked her nose.  "You know, I bet you did, sometime long 
ago, because the goddess Venus, whom the planet was named for, would 
surely envy your beautiful face, Minako-chan."

Minako smiled at that, even if she was too young to understand what her 
father had said.

Kimiko stood up and took her from her father's arms.  "Gee, you're 
getting heavier everyday.  Come on, Minako-chan.  Time for a good bath 
before you go to sleep."

Minako entered the bathroom, and to her surprise, her mother left her 
there alone.  She stood there, a huge towel covering her body.

*****

"Minako . . ."

She turned to look at the window.  She was a teenager, age thirteen, 
her towel wrapped around her body, her hair still dripping wet since 
she had just stepped out of the furo.  There was a white cat on the 
windowsill of her bathroom.  A talking cat . . .

She screamed in terror and ran towards her bedroom.   she thought as she tried to calm 
herself down in front of her dresser.  She began brushing her hair.

"Venus . . ." she heard again.  Once more, she found herself staring at 
the same cat in her bathroom.  "Remember . . ." the cat said.

Minako was bathed in a golden light . . .

*****

“Mina!!” she heard Artemis shout.

Before her was Danburite, Kaitou Ace, attacking her by throwing razor 
sharp cards filled with dark energy towards her.

Sailorvenus - Sailor V, who had just recovered her memories of the past 
- brought out her hand and extended it towards him.  < I’m sorry!!! > 
She thought as a burst of power came from her.  It struck Kaitou Ace 
with a force strong enough to throw him off the ledge.

“Ace!!” Sailorvenus shouted.  She quickly ran forward and caught his 
hand before he fell down the ledge.  She tightened her hold on him.  
“Have you resigned yourself to defeat those that I love?  Is that your 
fate?” 

Kaitou Ace threw a card at her.  Her gaze landed on it.  < The ace of 
hearts? >

The card teared apart, exposing Kaitou Ace’s smiling face underneath.  
< What does it mean? > she asked herself.

“That was my last love fortune for you,” Ace said, his body 
disintegrating, his gloved hand warm to her touch.  “Your love will be 
in vain . . . forever.”

< Love . . . in vain . . . >

*****

She was walking down a dark alley, wearing her Sailor V uniform, 
bruised and battered, blood gushing out from wounds obtained in several 
parts of her body.  She saw a man with dark hair running down the 
street in front of the alley . . .  "Alan . . ." she said, smiling 
through her pain, touched by his concern for her and Katarina.

Suddenly, Katarina ran to him, crying profusely into his chest.

"What . . . what happened to Minako?" Alan asked.  Katarina didn't 
answer . . . she just wailed even louder. 

"Don't cry . . . I'm here . . ." Alan said softly, embracing her.  "I
will always be here for you . . ."

Minako's heart ached.  The pain was more intense than that of the 
wounds inflicted upon her.  She sank to the ground, tears flowing down 
her cheeks as though they had no end.  She was so overcome by her grief 
and sorrow that it worsened her condition, and she passed out . . .

*****

"Minako-chan."

Minako stirred from her bed and looked at her guardian cat. She smiled 
softly.  "Hi."

"You haven't explained to me yet why you had to return from England, 
why you want Sailor V dead, and why you came here with a practically 
butchered body."

She just laughed through her pain.  By using her transformation pen, no 
one had noticed the blackish dark blue spots on her body where she had 
been battered, nor the wounds that had finally ceased bleeding.  Only 
when the pen’s effect started to wear off while she was resting in her 
room the night she arrived in Japan did Artemis noticed that she wasn’t 
as healthy as they saw her come in.

Minako had noticed the questioning look in his eyes regarding her 
wounds ever since that night, three days ago, and had avoided the 
subject at all costs much to Artemis’ concern and disappointment.  She 
just didn’t want to remember what had happened.  So she rolled over and 
didn't answer any of his questions for the umpteenth time.  

Artemis knew that any further persuasion would be useless, so he 
switched to another subject.

"I found out Sailormoon's identity while you were away . . ."

"That's great!  Is she . . . ?"

Artemis nodded.  "The other Senshi are awake, too, thanks to the other 
guardian cat, Luna."

"Hmm."  Minako felt tired.  She still needed more sleep to recover from 
her ordeal in London.  Her eyelids started to droop.

"I'll give you the rest of the details when you feel better, Minako-
chan.  Sleep well . . ."

Minako closed her eyes . . .

*****

When she opened them, she was inside a hotel room, sitting on a sofa 
with her hands folded in front of her, looking down at the carpeted 
floor.  Katarina was sitting beside a window, staring outside.

"Minako . . . no, Sailor V, I am shocked . . . I really thought that 
you were long dead . . ."

"Hmm."

Katarina sat down on the sofa beside Minako and leaned forward.  "Why 
didn't you tell me that you were still alive?  I guess you're still 
busy fighting evil, right?"

"Right . . ."

"If I can help you, just tell me."  Katarina paused for a while.  "You 
. . . do know who the Sailor Senshi are, don't you?  Can you introduce 
me?"

Minako felt very uncomfortable.  Her grip on her skirt tightened.  
"How's Alan?"

The older woman was taken aback by the sudden change of subject.  She 
stood up and took out a wallet.  "Umm . . . he's fine."  Then she 
showed Minako a picture.

Minako felt pain course through her heart as she stared at the picture.  
It was a scene at the beach, with Alan's hand on Katarina's shoulder . 
. .  "He also wants to see you . . ." Katarina added.

Then, Minako noticed a gold pendant hanging around Katarina's neck.  
She smiled painfully.  "Katarina . . . I'm happy that you're still 
wearing that necklace . . ."

Katarina enclosed the necklace in her fist.  "Of course I still wear 
it.  You gave me this necklace on my birthday."  She walked closer to 
the young teenager.  "Minako, I really want to help you, so please 
introduce me to the Sailor Senshi . . ."

Minako wasn't about to do that.  "I know that you're a great police 
officer, but this is mine and the Sailor Senshi's problem.  I don't 
want to bother you anymore.  Just seeing you is enough for me."  She 
stood up abruptly.  "I have to go now.  Thank you for everything."

"Minako . . ."

"Sayonara!"  She ran towards the door and closed it behind her.

Tears filled Minako's eyes as she ran blindly around.  

*****

When she finally wiped her tears, she was in her Sailorvenus get-up, 
holding the gold pendant that Katarina had once worn around her neck.  
Inside the pendant was a picture of Katarina, Alan, and her in London.

Sailormoon was beside her, glaring at the youma - Katarina - standing 
in front of both of them.  Sailorvenus knew that she wanted to kill 
Katarina because she had told her what had happened, but . . .

"Sailormoon, help her!" she cried.

Her friend looked at her in disbelief.  "What?!"

Sailorvenus stared at the picture.  "She became a youma because of me.  
She knows that I'm Sailorvenus, so the Dark Kingdom used her.  Nothing 
that happened was her fault."  She looked up, tears streaming down her 
face.  "Take pity on her!"

"But . . . she stole your love away from you!  And you trusted her!"

"Sailormoon . . ."

Sailormoon was confused by the river of tears streaming down her 
friend's face.  "Don't you love Alan anymore?  Tell me, don't you love 
him anymore?!"

"She's . . . she's the one Alan truly loves . . . not me."

". . ."

Sailorvenus smiled sadly at Sailormoon.  "Onegai."

Sailormoon sighed.  "Okay, okay."  Then she used her Moon Stick to turn 
the youma back into a human being.

Sailorvenus ran towards Katarina and embraced her.  "Katarina!" she 
cried.

"Minako . . ." Katarina hugged her tightly.  "Please . . . forgive me . 
. ."

"Just forget about it."

"I didn't know that you were in love with Alan.  I . . . I thought that 
what you felt were only the feelings of a young child . . ."

Sailorvenus smiled sadly, her eyes closed . . .

*****

She was suddenly at the North Pole, staring at the final resting-place 
of Sailormercury.  This couldn't be happening!  First Jupiter . . . 
then Mercury . . .  She closed her eyes as tears cascaded down her 
cheeks.

She could hear Sailormoon wail, beating the ground with her fists. "Why 
are you such a crybaby?" Sailormars asked.  "We're not finished yet!  
We still have tons of enemies!"

Sailorvenus opened her eyes.  There was something glowing under 
Sailormoon . . .

"But . . . I don't want my friends to die-"

Sailorvenus stared in horror at the activity beneath Sailormoon.   She leapt, grabbed Sailormoon about the waist, 
and pushed her aside . . .  "Look out!!!" she screamed.

The next thing Sailorvenus knew, she was dangling high above the icy 
floor, with live vines tightly wound around her waist, making it hard 
for her to move and breathe.  She struggled to free herself . . .

"Enough!!!"  Sailormoon was reaching upwards, crying.  "I'll give you 
the ginzuishou!  Just let Minako go!!!"

Sailorvenus was having none of that.  "No!!  If you give them the 
ginzuishou, my soul will never rest!!!!"  She screamed as she was 
dragged deep into the earth's crust, hearing her friend shouting her 
name for the last time.

Sailorvenus continued to scream in pain and agony as the youma 
continued to torture her slowly.    She tried to raise her right hand and placed all her energy 
to her last shot . . .  "Crescent . . ."

She then pointed at the youma's forehead at point blank range . . . 
"Beam!!!"

As the energy coursed through her body, she faintly saw the youma 
staring at her finger in shock.  The energy left her . . . her power 
was depleted . . . the explosion caused by the Crescent Beam took her 
and the youma along . . . everything went black . . .

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