A LOVE REKINDLED? (Part 1 of 4)
By Bunny
bunny_154@yahoo.com
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It's the first day of school, but for Mina, she was already late. *What
a great start my day has been off to,* she thought bitterly. *I'm now
in college, sharing a dorm room with the future queen of Crystal
Tokyo and my best friend, Serena...and of course, she being the
"queen of lateness", forgot to set their alarm. Perfect. And as a
result, I didn't wake up till 15 minutes before the bell rang.
Ooooohh...I'm gonna have to wring her neck for this * she grumbled.
*She's really going to get it this time, queen or no queen!*
While she ran towards the university contemplating methods of giving
Serena a piece of her mind, Mina didn't even have a clue where her first
class was or anything. She just ran into the building and went into the
main office, hoping to find someone to direct her in the right direction.
Luckily for her, she thought, since it was the first day of school, other
new students may be as late as she is, and she wouldn't get punished for
it. When she went into the office, she was still pondering about this as
she plowed head-on unto a man on his way out.
<>
The collision knocked her down to the floor, and he was knocked backwards
by her momentum, and as he fell, his papers flew everywhere.
"OOF!! Ooh, Geez!! Why don't you look where you are going next time,
will ya?! Man! And I'm late for my class as it is," the man swore out of
frustration. Mina's face went beet red. "Ooh! I am sooo sorry!" she whined.
"I didn't mean to! Honest! I'm late for class and I was trying to hurry so I
didn't look like a major fool arriving a half hour late, but it looks like
I've managed to do that anyway." Mina then looked up for the first time and
saw what the man looked like that she had knocked over, and she
immediately got stars in her eyes.
*Oh my God, he's MAJORLY dreamy,* she thought wistfully, noticing
his silver-like and matching eyes. "Ummm, here, let me help you with
these." She moved over and started to help him pick up the papers that
were littered everywhere.
The man also looked at Mina, and checked a biting rebuke in time. "Well,
um, thanks. Thanks a lot," the man said. He was much friendlier this time.
When two of them finished picking up all of his papers, he introduced
himself, "Hi, I'm Malachite Kouseki, but my friends call me Mal because
that's such an odd name." He smiled at her and stuck out his hand.
Blushing, she took it. "Hi, I'm Mina Aino. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mal,
but I best be heading off, so I'm not any later for class as it is," she said as
she shook his hand.
Mina got up and moved towards the door. But Mal said, "Hey, wait. Maybe
I can help you find your class. I'm new here too, but I kinda know where
things are." His eyes twinkled.
Flushed as she was, Mina said, "No, that's all right, but thanks for the
offer! You had best be getting to class too! Wouldn't want to make a
bad impression on the first day of classes! Bye! Nice meeting you!"
And with that, Mina ran out the door, forgetting to ask the office
personnel where her class was. *Well, that was okay with me,* she
thought. *I have other things on my mind anyway...hehe...wait till
Serena hears about the major hot guy I met today...she'll freak out.
Shoot, I should've asked for his number...but then again, I'm not sure
if he was a teacher or a student...he looked awful young to be a teacher,
but you never know these days,* she mused.
Mina wandered around the school until she found her classroom. She
was only an hour late...*that's not bad, right?* she thought. *Well, it
is the first day, surely the teacher would cut me some slack.* Mina
sneaked into the back door of the classroom, and sat in a chair nearest
to the back. Unfortunately, the teacher heard her come in and turned
around to look. Mina quickly looked down at her desk, hoping the
teacher wouldn't know it was her who had walked in. *Being that it
was the first day of classes, what are the chances of him knowing my
name, anyway?* she giggled at the thought.
"Well, Miss Aino. Nice of you to join us this morning," said the teacher.
Caught off guard, Mina about died when she heard her name. How did he
know her name?! She looked up and saw the teacher looking at her right
in the eyes. Mina nearly fell out of her chair when she saw that the teacher
was Malachite! She couldn't believe it! Her eyes were as big as watermelons,
and everyone was watching her turn beet-red.
Instead of sitting there like a fool and losing even more of her dignity, Mina
decided to say something..."Um, I'm sorry, sir. I got a bit lost on my way to
class. It's my first day here, and I've really had a heck of a morning." Mina
was the color of a tomato. "Uh, what was your name again? I don't believe
I caught it..."
"That's all right, Miss Aino," he smiled, "I understand. We all have mornings
like that once in a while. My name is Mr. Kouseki. I'll be the teacher of your
English course this semester." Even as spoke, he was slightly red around the
neck, too.
Mr. Kouseki returned to the board and continued to describe the course outline.
Mina just sat back in her chair completely flabbergasted. *Darn..* she thought
to herself *..he IS a teacher. Oh well, so much for that fantasy...but he IS
cute…* Mina chuckled quietly to herself at the thought of her and Mal dating.
*Some things are just never meant to be I guess...still...something about him
that makes me think otherwise.* One thing for sure though, she thought as well.
Mina was definitely going to pay attention to the teacher in *this* class.
That afternoon when class was through, Mal sat back in his chair thinking
about this morning's events. *Boy, she sure is beautiful,* he thought. *Too
bad she is so young. And besides, a student-staff relationship is totally off-
limits in this school. Usually I wouldn't be so bummed over a situation like
this, but there is something about her. It'll be even harder with her as my
student this semester... man! This really sucks!* he grumbled.
Mal opened up the paper to see what the day's events were. There was a
story and picture of the Sailor Scouts in a tribute to all that they have
done for the city of Tokyo. Upon looking at the picture, he scanned the
scouts, and his eyes fell on one with an orange and white fuku...and
did a double take...and a triple-take to boot. *Geez! Now I'm starting
to see Mina everywhere!* he thought amusingly. *I'm beginning to
think Sailor Venus looks like her! I hope I get over this soon!*
Flustered, Mal threw down the paper, grabbed his jacket, and went
outside. *A walk ought to clear my head. I have to get her out of my
mind somehow. Might as well have fresh air do the job.*
The weather outside was divine. It was the fall season, and the leaves
were turning into their autumn colors, but the temperature was still
warm and soothing. Mal let the sun beat down his back and let out a
sigh of contentment. There was a park bench on the side of the trail he
was walking, so he sat down, and pulled out a book from his jacket. He
always carried a book in his jacket pocket for moments like these when
he could sit down on a park bench, read, and enjoy the weather.
But today he couldn't keep his mind focused on reading. He slammed
the book shut and shoved it back in his pocket, and resorted to ground-
staring. He then heard someone sit down next to him on the bench.
Without looking, he graciously moved over the side a little more, so
that person could have more room. Mal, however, kept staring at the
ground.
"Geez, I come all the way over hear to say hello, and you move farther
away from me? Sheesh! Men today!" a female voice giggled lightly.
Shocked, Mal slowly looked up to see who had said that, praying that
it was her, and was overjoyed when he saw it was, but would never
show it in the open.
"Oh! Hello! I'm sorry, I didn't see that it was you. Mina...right?"
he fumbled. He knew that was her name, but he didn't want to sound
too forward or interested.
"Boy! I'm hurt! You don't remember my name." she laughed softly,
joking with him a little. "Yes, it was Mina. And, what should I call
you? Mr. Kouseki, or Mr. Malachite, or...?"
"Um, well, I haven't really thought of that. This is my first year as a
teacher, so it's still a little strange being addressed to by my last name.
Why don't you call me Mr. Kouseki in class, and Mal when we're not?
I never have liked the name Malachite. I'm not quite sure why my mother
named me that, but oh, well!" he sighed.
She brightened, and said, "Really? I think Malachite is a beautiful name,
very exotic. It's actually a type of stone...green color, right? Yes,
I'm sure it is. It's a mineral, like copper, but can be polished for
ornaments." Mina was looking at him with bright eyes, like she was
geniunely interested.
Mal was surprised, "Yes! I am really impressed! Not many people know
that. How did you?"
She flustered at the question, and looked away.
Mal then said, "I'm sorry Mina, I hope I didn't ask something wrong."
He looked down, feeling bad for embarrassing her.
But she turned back to him and answered, "No, it's not that. It's just
something from my past that I kind of forgot. I just remembered. I
think I used to know someone by the name of Malachite, but that was
ancient history, and I don't really remember. Kinda foggy I guess." She
looked away again, now up to the sky.
A quiet minute passed by, and then Mina said, "Mal, do you ever look
at the moon and stars at night?" And she turned to look at him in the eyes.
Mal was a bit taken aback by the question...he wasn't quite sure why, but
answered, "Yes, I do. I think the nighttime sky is beautiful. I used to
study astronomy when I was in high school, but that seems like so long
ago. My favorite planet is Venus, the planet of love. What is yours?"
Mina suddenly looked as white as a ghost. To Mal, though, he thought it
was as if she were almost afraid of the question, or that he might find out
something secret, but he wasn't sure what.
Mina quickly said, "I'm sorry, it's getting really getting late and I promised
my roommate Serena we would go out and celebrate our first day at college
today. I'll see you tomorrow! Bye!" She got up and ran off before Mal could
say anything or object. *Hm...that was strange. I wonder why asking her
that frightened her,* Mal shrugged. It was getting late, so he decided to go
home to his apartment in the city. He lived in the same apartment complex
with his other friend, Darien Chiba. He walked over to his car, but turned to
look back at the bench, trying to figure out what had just happened. He then
noticed something on the ground, and ran back there to see what it was. It
was an orange pen with the sign of Venus on the top of it.
Puzzled, he thought, *I wonder if Mina dropped this; she was in an awful
big hurry when she left, and she probably didn't notice that she was missing
it.* He then looked closely at the pen...*Wait a minute...why is the sign of
Venus on here? There is certainly something fishy going on, and I intend
to find out what it is.* Mal stuck the pen into his jacket, went back to his
car, and drove home. When he got there, he went to check if Darien was in.
Both had gone to the same schools as long as they could remember, and now
they both lived in the same apartment building. They had grown to be pretty
good friends, so Mal knocked on his door.
Darien answered after a minute. "Hi Mal! What can I do for you?" Darien
smiled and moved to let his friend in. "I was just fixing myself something
to eat...can I offer you some?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Dare, I didn't mean to interrupt your dinner. I'll come back
some other time. I just had to ask you something." Mal turned to leave,
but Darien stopped him.
"No bother! Really...come on in! My girlfriend couldn't come, anyways.
She's having dinner with a friend of hers. So, what's on your mind?" said
Darien, closing the door behind Mal, as he walked in.
Mal said, "Well, it's kind of stupid really. I met this girl today, and she
struck me like no woman had before. Unfortunately, she is a student of
mine, so...you know." He continued, "But what really struck me odd is
that when I asked her what her favorite planet in the solar system was, she
totally freaked out. I don't know why. I told her what my favorite was, so
why would that scare her so much? And get this...she knew the meaning of
my real name, Malachite. Hardly anyone knows that it is a stone. She
thought that she used to know someone with that name, and perhaps she
did, but it sure wasn't me.
I've never seen anyone that beautiful before in my life...well, except Sailor
Venus. She is WAY hot." Mal laughed a little bit at what he said about Sailor
Venus.
"Hm...sounds interesting," said Darien as he rubbed the bottom of his chin,
and got out two plates to serve the food on... "I wonder why she would freak
out at such a simple question like that?"
"Oh, it gets stranger, Dare. I was sitting in my office after class reading t
he paper, and there was a picture of the Sailor Scouts on the front page.
I was looking at them closely, and I could've sworn she was Sailor Venus!
I couldn't believe it. I'm sure my eyes were just playing tricks on me, but
later on when I was talking to her in the park and told her my favorite planet
was Venus, she freaked.
But, here's the icing on the cake," he continued. "After she ran off after I asked
that, she dropped a pen." Mal began fishing around in his jacket for the pen.
"So?" asked Darien. "What's so big about a pen? And what was her name
anyways? My girlfriend may know her, being a freshman at the school you
work this year."
"No, this isn't just any pen. This pen has the sign of Venus on the top of
it. Darien, I think she IS Sailor Venus." Mal finally found the pen, and
handed it to a suddenly very pale Darien.
"Mal, you have to tell me, What is her name?" Darien was almost trembling
as he held the pen in his hand.
"Mina Aino. And I'm almost sure she is. There isn't a doubt in my mind."
Mal stopped, suddenly stuck in thought, and then asked, "Tell me, Darien,
do you think I'm crazy by thinking all this?" But he was a bit puzzled by
Darien's reaction to the girl's name.
Darien quickly calmed down, so it didn't look like he was too shocked. He
turned to Mal and said, "Hmmm...Mina, eh? I think she is a friend of my
girlfriend. I'll have to ask her..." knowing fair well who Mina was. "However,
her being Sailor Venus is highly unlikely." Darien had to think of something
to get Mal's mind of that subject, and he would have to tell Mina and Serena
of this conversation.
Mal sighed, "Yeah, you're probably right, Dare. It was a pretty far-fetched
idea." he said, covering the feelings that he was still sure that Mina and
Venus were one and the same. He just didn't want Darien to think he was
crazy. He was going to have to investigate this little matter himself.
"Ha, ha, yeah," Darien chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well, dinner's ready! Let's dig in! I only made Roman noodles because
that is about how far my cooking talents could stretch, but my girlfriend's
friend Lita Kino can do wonders in the kitchen. In fact, we all are currently
getting a fund together to help Lita start her own restaurant." Darien was
glad the subject had changed. He certainly didn't want to spend the rest of
the evening debating Mal whether or not Mina was sailor Venus, when in
fact she was. He wondered if his friend knew how close to the truth he
really was.
"Gee Darien, you sure spend a lot of time with your girlfriend and her
friends. I'm glad you get along with her and her friends so well. I wish
I had friends like that. I've always been kind of a loner," Mal mused.
"Hm...maybe that's why I can't relate to her very well. I just don't know
how to. I mean, I've always had girlfriends before, but none like her...
that she is my girlfriend or anything. It's just...that...I don't know.
Whenever I'm with her, I feel good. There's something about her that
says we should be together. I've never felt this for a woman before. And
that's really depressing too. She's not even just a woman...she's a student.
MY student! That fact itself pretty much shuts down any chances I might
have had with her at all."
Mal placed his head in his hands, shaking it slowly in confusion. "It
just all happened so fast," he muttered.
Darien moved to place his hand on Mal's shoulder, and said, "It's
alright, Mal. I think I understand. I remember a time when my being
with Serena was..."
Suddenly Mal interrupted Darien before he got a chance to say another
word... "What did you say you're girlfriend's name was?" Mal's eyes
sparkled with new hope.
"Serena. Why is that so important?" Darien looked confused.
"Because Darien, that means your girlfriend is Mina's roommate! Don't
you understand? Maybe Serena can help me! She can talk to Mina!" Mal's
confidence was restored again. "Call her up when she gets back from that
dinner...and now that I think of it, it was Mina that she was going with!
This is going to be perfect!!" Mal got up and started jumping for joy,
taking a very confused Darien with him. "Oh, thank you, Darien! Thank
you! Thank you! Thank you!!" he cried.
"Uh, sure Mal, anytime." But Darien wasn't so sure that this was the
best idea. He would just have to wait and find out.
* * * * *
TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2
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