In Another Lifetime - Two
Usagi-chan
Usagi@tuxedomask.com
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~~~
"Hello. Is Misao-san there?" Antai was clutching the phone nervously as
I watched her. I smiled encouragingly, and it seemed to have a calming
effect on her. I picked up the brook that had been leaning against the
wall and stepped through the doorway. I began sweeping the temple grounds,
but stayed close so Antai could see me. I listened carefully to her
conversation.
"Hi, Misao-san. This is Kasui Antai." Antai paused. "Yes! I was afraid
you wouldn't remember. I was wondering if you wanted to get together for
a shake or something. Uh-huh... uh-huh... Okay! I'm bringing a friend,
okay? Great! I'll see you then! Bye." Antai hung up the phone and
stepped out to talk to me. "She's going to meet us at the Crown Fruit
Parlor in twenty minutes."
I almost burst out laughing. Like I said before, some things never change.
"Alright." I smiled. "Let's get going then!"
"In that?" Antai asked skeptically. She pointed to my shinto robes and I
sighed.
"I guess not. Give me a minute to change." I went into my room at the back
and quickly changed into black pants and a red shirt. When I got back, Antai
was sitting, patiently waiting.
"Okay, ready?" I asked.
"Sure thing!" Antai jumped to her feet and we were on our way. As we
walked down the temple stairs, I began to think about how I was going to
explain everything to Misao. Everything went well with Antai, but I think
that was sheer luck. I mean, Makoto was never as calm as Ami. She got into
a lot of fights... Antai saw my pensive face and spoke.
"What's wrong?"
"How am I going to explain to Misao-san?" I asked. "You've known her since
your childhood..."
"You don't think she'll take being Jupiter well?" Antai asked. I paused to
think.
"Well... Makoto was always so... impulsive. Is Misao like that?" I asked.
"No. She's a lot more passive. Maybe how Makoto would have been had her
family not died. I know that in later years, Makoto was a lot calmer.
That's how Misao is." Antai explained. I thought about what she said, and
smiled.
"It shouldn't be too hard then. She'll help us find Usagi, and be very loyal
in protecting the Princess."
We were silent for the rest of our walk to the arcade. When we got there,
and went inside, I saw Misao sitting at one of the tables already. I smiled
and touched Antai's arm.
"She's over there." I whispered, and gestured discreetly.
"Hi Misao-san." Antai greeted as we approached the table. Misao looked up
and smiled.
"Hey! It's been so long!" She stood up and embraced Antai.
"This is my friend, Himoto Rei. Rei-chan, this is Kaboku Misao."
"I'm pleased to meet you." I extended my hand and shook hers. She smiled
at me and gestured that we have a seat.
"I seem to recognize you..." Misao was looking at me. Antai and I exchanged
glances. I began to wonder if she might remember me, and her past, on her
own.
"Oh?" I replied, smiling politely.
"Yes..." Misao seemed to be thinking. "I don't know where from...
Everything here seems familiar. Almostl ike we've done it before."
"Deja vu." Antai commmented quietly.
"Yeah, something like that." Misao shook her head gently. "Mom came
home just before you called, which is how I was able to come. I'm
always babysitting my younger sisters. I wouldn't trade it for
anything though..."
I smiled, glad that Misao had the family Makoto never had. I glanced
at Antai, not sure how to approach the subject. She understood, and
decided to bring it up herself.
"Oh you wouldn't believe the awful nightmares I've been having!" Antai
exclaimed. That seemed to catch Misao's attention.
"What do you mean, Antai-chan?" She asked, watching Antai's face
closely.
"I feel so helpless and useless! I just can't seem to protect her, and
I don't even know who she is!" Antai exclaimed. Misao was quiet for a
minute, contemplating what Antai had said. Finally, she looked up and
spoke.
"So have I." She shut her eyes tightly, and when she opened them again
to look at us, I saw their green depth was flooded with tears. "I would
give anything, anything! to protect her, but I can't. I don't know
what I'm supposed to do or say... They keep yelling at me to do it,
to attack, but I don't know how. They tell me I'm their only hope...
Who are they?"
The look I saw in Misao's eyes was the same look I saw in Makoto's eyes,
when she spoke about her family. The look of great loss and infinite
sadness. I clenched my own eyes, willing the tears away.
"Oh Misao-chan..." Antai reached across the table and gripped her hand
tightly. I did the same with the other hand. The second we made contact,
there was a bright flash of green light. The symbol of Jupiter shone
brightly on Misao's face.
"I remember... Oh Gods... Rei-chan... Ami-chan..." Misao whispered.
I glanced around the arcade and saw that the few people in surrounding
booths neve noticed anything. I sighed with relief.
"What are we gonna do now?" Antai asked, looking at me. I thought for a
moment, before speaking softly.
"Maybe we should go around as our identity's. Our senshi selves are our
true selves." I quoted Neo-Queen Serenity. "The legends of us still exist
quite strongly. We can look for the others using our powers, and being
our stronger selves."
Misao and Antai glanced at each other and nodded slowly.
"I understand what your getting at, but maybe... Maybe that would
attract the wrong kind of attention, y'know? Besides, it would worry
people." Misao replied.
"On top of that, Misao and I were approached by you as a civilian and we
reacted calmer than if you, as Sailormars, had appeared." Antai added.
"How did you find me?" Misao asked. "Or was it because Antai knew me?"
"I did a fire reading." I explained.
"You can still do those?!" Misao asked. I laughed.
"Yes. I'm training as a Shinto Priestess." I told her.
"Still? Come on Rei-chan! You should be done that by now." Misao
teased. I laughed.
"I get the feeling I'll never finish training." I replied, thinking
back to the past two lives I've spent training.
"Maybe we should get back to the temple and look for someone else. We
need to find Minako, Mamoru and Serenity herself. Maybe we should
find her next. Who knows if she's safe..." Antai suggested.
"I agree. You could both spend the night, and we could plan our
next move." I stood up and prepared to leave. Misao and Antai
stood as well.
"I can't. Mom wants me home soon to help with the baby." Misao smiled.
"I can. It won't be a problem. Just let me stop by my house to tell me
parents and grab a few things."
"Alright." I nodded. "Tomorrow then, after school at the temple Misao-chan?"
"Okay." She nodded. "See you then! Bye!"
Antai and I headed towards her house, walking along the now dark streets
of Crystal Tokyo. Even in the dark, the city seemed to glow with a
light of its own. The buildings stood tall and mgnificent, reflecting
the light of the moon. I smiled.
"I'll just be a minute." Antai interrupted my thoughts. We were at her
house. I nodded and sat on the curb to wait for her.
The moon was full, and I gazed up at it with longing. I wanted that life
back, desperately. I wanted to live on the moon with no pretense about
who I was, and more importantly, with Jedeite. I missed him so much it
hurt. Silent tears filled my eyes, but I willed them away. There as
nothing I could do. Fate was fate and could not be changed. I, of all
people, knew that.
"Okay Rei-chan. I'm ready!" Antai called cheerfully as she came out of
her house. I stood up and brushed away the stray tear that had escaped.
"Let's get going then!" I smiled faintly, but Antai didn't seem to notice
my fake cheer.
"Can you hone in on someone? I mean, can you look for Serenity in the fire?"
She asked, slinging a duffle bag over her shoulder. I shook my head.
"No. I only see what the fire lets me see. I don't know who will be
next."
"Oh. That bites."
I laughed.
"How un-Ami-like."
A silence crept over us as we continued to walk towards the temple, my
home. The home of my soul.
"Rei-chan?" Antai asked suddenly.
"Yes?"
"Are we... supposed to be like we were? I mean, did we change after our
life on the Moon? Have we changed again now?" She asked.
"How much do you remember about life on the Moon?" I asked in response.
"Very little. Mostly just vague impressions."
"I'm... I'm not sure. I know there are traits that are constants in
who we are, but we grow and change with each life. Every life gives
us more knowledge and experience and that shapes who we will be in the
next life." I told her.
"Ami was so shy, and quiet. I'm less so. Why?"
"Maybe because in your last life as Sailormercury, you began to realize
the value of every moment. You found out how quickly life can be taken
from you."
Again we were silent as we made out way up the temple stairs. There was a
light on near the side door and the grounds were empty. I was glad.
"Let's drop your stuff off in my room and go do a fire reading." I suggested.
Antai nodded and headed to my room. I quickly changed into my robes and
went to the fire room, where she was waiting.
"You know the drill." I smiled.
"Same ol' same ol'." She smiled wistfully and knelt down next to the fire.
I knelt as well, picking up the beads and focusing my concentration. With
Antai there, it didn't take long for an image to form. She was concentrating
on the fire as well, and with the power of Mercury and Mars combined, the
picture flared brightly.
"It was a girl out age, with light blond hair and large blue eyes. They
were a shade or two lighter then when I had last seen them, but she was
as beautful as ever.
~~~
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