Angsty April 2013
For shitennou_ai's Angsty April
Title: Frozen Dreams, Parts One and Two
Pairings: um...kinda all of them. Kind of.
Warnings: Violence, death, angst. For some I need to warn b/c of the use of the "Pink Haired Demon."
Part One
Mercury always seemed so sad to me. All of them did really, which was always worse for me when I returned from visiting the past.
Helping her with the various security programs--well, ok, not really helping so much as watching and asking a lot of “What’s that do?”--I decided I wanted to help her, to be like Mom.
“Do you have any regrets?”
Without looking up from what she was doing, I saw her frown a bit, “Regrets? I’m one of the guardians of this world. Regrets would be irrational.”
“I’m sorry, Ms Mizuno. You are one of the brightest students I have seen in a very long time, perhaps ever. I have no doubt that you would be a great doctor.”
Ami clenched her jaw as she stood. She had managed to avoid this day, though she had feared it for weeks now. She had relied on the level of her work to keep it bay, had hoped that acing the exams and labs would be enough to buy her the grace that she required.
The dean frowned, “Your work is impeccable, which makes this all the more difficult. The problem is that you have already made up three exams this semester.” The man shook his head, “You do not seem to be the kind of student who thinks as long as you know the material, dedication does not matter, but I can no longer allow exams or labs which are late.”
“Your class attendance record is not much better. How could I expect you to be able to succeed at the long hours of either an internship or a residency if you cannot be counted on to be present for class or exams? Nor would this be acceptable in either a hospital or private practice. I’m sorry, Ms Mizuno, but the next exam you miss you will not be able to make up.”
“But you always wanted to be a doctor. Every time I went to the past, you always wanted to be a doctor.”
For the briefest of moments, her fingers stopped typing and her jaw clenched. I felt bad, but I suddenly needed to know.
“Dreams change.”
Typical adult answer. I hate those answers. They’re meant to dismiss your question and end the conversation, and they tell you nothing. I really hope I never do that. “And you’re ok with that?”
Mercury sighed and actually stopped what she was doing to turn and look at me. I thought I saw pain in her eyes, but her expression, otherwise, was as cool as normal. “I save lives every day, Princess. I serve alongside my sisters, and I protect your mother, father, and you. I made the only choice I could have made.”
She arrived for the exam early, the way she used to be in college, the way she still would have every time if she could have. Her hand was on the doorknob when the proximity alarm went off. Her other hand clenched into a fist, and she took a deep breath before stepping aside to check the app she’d created for their phones.
Ami was, as she knew she would be, the only Senshi nearby. The attack was not far away, but far enough that just getting there and back would make her late for the exam.
Looking over the data, Ami weighed her options. It was not a crowded area. There were only a handful of civilians in the immediate vicinity. For just a moment her finger hovered over the button that would forward the alert to the others. It was a small enough youma that any one of them could take it out alone, and she did not always have to drop everything she was doing, did she?
There were those handful of civilians, though.
Glancing up at the university building, Ami bit her lip. It was only a moment’s hesitation, but she took a step toward the door and her finger lowered toward the button. Her shoulders drooped and she shook her head. It did not matter how few the civilians were, she could not abandon them.
Turning around, she transformed as she ran.
“But why? Why was this your only choice?”
Mercury shook her head, “I do not remember.” I was pretty sure that was a lie.
When Sailor Mercury arrived at the site, a civilian was facing against the youma. The woman was doing fairly decently, and a quick survey showed that the other civilians were quickly retreating from the area, a concert venue. Impressed, Mercury raised her hand calling water to herself. She had long ago stopped making speeches, but if it would distract the youma from the civilian she would do so.
She had barely started, when the youma managed to slip past the makeshift weapons that the woman was using almost as a rapier and main-gauche, and the woman collapsed. Choking back the words she was going to say, Sailor Mercury released the water, formed into blades of ice, shredding the youma until it disintegrated, the chaotic energy no longer able to hold it together.
The entire fight, from the time Mercury had arrived until the youma was destroyed was less than a couple of minutes, but it felt to the Soldier of Wisdom like an eternity.
Running to the civilian, she saw the items that had become weapons: a music stand with the stand portion knocked off and a now-thoroughly destroyed flute. The fighter was still bleeding as Mercury knelt down, to search for a quickly fading pulse.
The woman was unconscious as Mercury used ice to stop the bleeding and tried to save her life. However, even the combination of magic and medical knowledge was not enough, and the unknown woman died in Mercury’s arms.
I studied her for a moment. I was tempted to call her a liar, but then I realized whatever it was, whatever had happened, must have been painful to force her to make that decision. “I’m sorry.”
Mercury nodded and turned her attention back to what she was doing, “Do you not have studies you should be attending to?”
“Yeah.” Normally, that kind of dismissal would have irritated me, but as I looked back I saw her fist was clenched and she was biting her lip.
“Ms Mizuno. I’m sorry. I did warn you.”
Ami shook her head, “I know, and I am not here to ask you to change your mind. I am here to turn in my resignation. You are right. I have other priorities that I cannot ignore.” She handed the dean the letter.
Once Ami stepped into the corridor, Usagi, tears in her large eyes, hugged her. “You did not have to do this, Ami!”
“Yes, I did. I hesitated because of my own selfish dreams, Usagi. It was just a moment, but that moment caused an innocent, who tried to fight, her life. I killed her by hesitating, Usagi, and I cannot afford to do that ever again.” Despite her words, she clung to her friend, her heart breaking one last time.
Part Two
If Mercury were sad, then Mars was aloof and detached. Mom would describe her as “peaceful” and “calm,” but I learned long ago that was Mom trying to be nice.
It was Mars who taught me to pray and believe, though I wondered what she believed in anymore. I asked her once after I had a politics lesson with her.
“I believe in your Mother. I believe in her love for all of us and for the whole world.”
I honestly wonder, sometimes, if when I hit a certain level of maturity I’ll take a class on how to not answer the questions of kids. She’s as bad as Mercury. Mom doesn’t do that. When Mom doesn’t want to or can’t answer a question she tells me, and usually it’s a question about the Senshi.
Or about sex. I’m old enough. I know, but it’s fun to watch her blush and try not to look at Dad who is usually having a coughing fit.
Anyway, Mars gave me some answer about believing in Mom which felt more like the expected answer rather than the truth.
Few visitors came to the Hikawa Shrine anymore. Not that Rei blamed them. She had, herself, tried to fire the two Miko that remained. They were sweet kids, and while their charms did not have the same kind of power hers had, they were good charms and sold well. However, Rei had not wanted them in danger.
They stayed on stubbornly. Rei made sure that they took cover when there were attacks--the rule was if they ever tried to fight it, they would be fired--and that they went home before dark.
Akemi was sweeping while Chieko sat at the booth waiting on the non-existent visitors to buy charms. Rei looked up at the temple building and sighed. “Grandpa, I’m sorry. I’ve tried to maintain it, but...”
“Excuse me, Hino-san.”
Rei turned around hearing Chieko, “Yes?”
“Someone is coming!”
I frowned and thought carefully about how to go forward. Perhaps, if I made it about the lesson. “But the people of Earth have so many different belief systems, and didn’t you teach me that those belief system often manifest themselves in politics?”
Mars nodded, her expression not changing at all, even if she suspected where I was going with this.
“Didn’t you used to be a Miko and studying to be a Priest?”
Mars tilted her head every so slightly, “Why are you asking a question you already know the answer to?”
The man was blonde and clearly fit. He was barely breathing hard as he crested the steps and made his way to the only people who occupied the courtyard. He bowed to Rei, and she was able to see the camera he carried.
However, before he moved to her, he made his way to the charms booth. Taking a moment to study the charms, he selected two and paid the Miko, walking away before she could give him change.
Rei watched him as he tied the charms to the tree that stood in the middle of the Hikawa Shrine’s grounds. He took a moment to watch them sway in the wind before turning to finally make his way to Rei.
“You are the Shrine Priestess? Hino Rei?” Before Rei could answer he continued, bowing again as he spoke. “I’m...”
She missed whatever he said his name was, feeling the buildup of energy that signaled the coming of another youma. Turning, she pulled an Ofuda from her robe. “Leave.” Raising her voice she kept her focus on where she felt the energy building, “Chieko, Akemi! Take cover!”
As soon as the energy formed into the creature, she chanted the words and released the Ofuda, stunning it for a moment. The sound of a clicking shutter caught her attention.
“I said leave! It’s not safe!”
“Why did you stop?”
Mars shook her head, “I grew up.”
The slight distraction was all the youma had needed. Instead of attacking the Priest-in-Training who had stunned it, it decided to go after the easier prey and moved toward the Temple building itself.
“GO!”
“And leave you to defend those girls yourself? I don’t think so.” Letting the camera drop to hang from the strap, he ran to put himself between the youma and the girls as Rei let another Ofuda fly.
She could not afford to wait any longer, and quickly transformed as the man stopped at the door of the Temple once the girls had entered, turning to defend them.
Shaking her head, though unable to suppress a small smile, Sailor Mars released a stream of fire toward the youma. Unfortunately, it only seemed to faze the creature before it responded with an attack of it’s own, throwing barbs of something she did not take the time to identify before responding with a flaming arrow.
The fight was fierce, and it was only after the youma disintegrated that Sailor Mars noticed that there was more conflagration than there should have been with the youma now dead. There had been a breeze, and that must have been enough to carry the flame to the Temple, with the fight far too close.
Quickly ignoring the tears over the destruction of her home and family shrine, she located the two girls, who were weeping openly beside the reporter.
“You don’t believe any more?” I knew pressing her was dangerous, but I had a need to understand. The Rei I knew had been full of passion and life, and now all that remained of Mars was a stoic warrior.
“I believe in Serenity. That is enough. You’re dismissed, Princess.”
I admit, I huffed childishly as I headed out of the building. One of them just had to talk to me!
“We can rebuild it, Rei! I know it won’t be the same, but you can still be a Priest!” Usagi clung to Rei’s arm, trying to convince her.
Rei shook her head as she patted her Princess’ hand. “No. The energy here is a magnet. It will never be a peaceful place of prayer, reflection, or remembrance again. It’s done, Usagi. No one else will die here.”
Title: Frozen Dreams, Parts One and Two
Pairings: um...kinda all of them. Kind of.
Warnings: Violence, death, angst. For some I need to warn b/c of the use of the "Pink Haired Demon."
Part One
Mercury always seemed so sad to me. All of them did really, which was always worse for me when I returned from visiting the past.
Helping her with the various security programs--well, ok, not really helping so much as watching and asking a lot of “What’s that do?”--I decided I wanted to help her, to be like Mom.
“Do you have any regrets?”
Without looking up from what she was doing, I saw her frown a bit, “Regrets? I’m one of the guardians of this world. Regrets would be irrational.”
“I’m sorry, Ms Mizuno. You are one of the brightest students I have seen in a very long time, perhaps ever. I have no doubt that you would be a great doctor.”
Ami clenched her jaw as she stood. She had managed to avoid this day, though she had feared it for weeks now. She had relied on the level of her work to keep it bay, had hoped that acing the exams and labs would be enough to buy her the grace that she required.
The dean frowned, “Your work is impeccable, which makes this all the more difficult. The problem is that you have already made up three exams this semester.” The man shook his head, “You do not seem to be the kind of student who thinks as long as you know the material, dedication does not matter, but I can no longer allow exams or labs which are late.”
“Your class attendance record is not much better. How could I expect you to be able to succeed at the long hours of either an internship or a residency if you cannot be counted on to be present for class or exams? Nor would this be acceptable in either a hospital or private practice. I’m sorry, Ms Mizuno, but the next exam you miss you will not be able to make up.”
“But you always wanted to be a doctor. Every time I went to the past, you always wanted to be a doctor.”
For the briefest of moments, her fingers stopped typing and her jaw clenched. I felt bad, but I suddenly needed to know.
“Dreams change.”
Typical adult answer. I hate those answers. They’re meant to dismiss your question and end the conversation, and they tell you nothing. I really hope I never do that. “And you’re ok with that?”
Mercury sighed and actually stopped what she was doing to turn and look at me. I thought I saw pain in her eyes, but her expression, otherwise, was as cool as normal. “I save lives every day, Princess. I serve alongside my sisters, and I protect your mother, father, and you. I made the only choice I could have made.”
She arrived for the exam early, the way she used to be in college, the way she still would have every time if she could have. Her hand was on the doorknob when the proximity alarm went off. Her other hand clenched into a fist, and she took a deep breath before stepping aside to check the app she’d created for their phones.
Ami was, as she knew she would be, the only Senshi nearby. The attack was not far away, but far enough that just getting there and back would make her late for the exam.
Looking over the data, Ami weighed her options. It was not a crowded area. There were only a handful of civilians in the immediate vicinity. For just a moment her finger hovered over the button that would forward the alert to the others. It was a small enough youma that any one of them could take it out alone, and she did not always have to drop everything she was doing, did she?
There were those handful of civilians, though.
Glancing up at the university building, Ami bit her lip. It was only a moment’s hesitation, but she took a step toward the door and her finger lowered toward the button. Her shoulders drooped and she shook her head. It did not matter how few the civilians were, she could not abandon them.
Turning around, she transformed as she ran.
“But why? Why was this your only choice?”
Mercury shook her head, “I do not remember.” I was pretty sure that was a lie.
When Sailor Mercury arrived at the site, a civilian was facing against the youma. The woman was doing fairly decently, and a quick survey showed that the other civilians were quickly retreating from the area, a concert venue. Impressed, Mercury raised her hand calling water to herself. She had long ago stopped making speeches, but if it would distract the youma from the civilian she would do so.
She had barely started, when the youma managed to slip past the makeshift weapons that the woman was using almost as a rapier and main-gauche, and the woman collapsed. Choking back the words she was going to say, Sailor Mercury released the water, formed into blades of ice, shredding the youma until it disintegrated, the chaotic energy no longer able to hold it together.
The entire fight, from the time Mercury had arrived until the youma was destroyed was less than a couple of minutes, but it felt to the Soldier of Wisdom like an eternity.
Running to the civilian, she saw the items that had become weapons: a music stand with the stand portion knocked off and a now-thoroughly destroyed flute. The fighter was still bleeding as Mercury knelt down, to search for a quickly fading pulse.
The woman was unconscious as Mercury used ice to stop the bleeding and tried to save her life. However, even the combination of magic and medical knowledge was not enough, and the unknown woman died in Mercury’s arms.
I studied her for a moment. I was tempted to call her a liar, but then I realized whatever it was, whatever had happened, must have been painful to force her to make that decision. “I’m sorry.”
Mercury nodded and turned her attention back to what she was doing, “Do you not have studies you should be attending to?”
“Yeah.” Normally, that kind of dismissal would have irritated me, but as I looked back I saw her fist was clenched and she was biting her lip.
“Ms Mizuno. I’m sorry. I did warn you.”
Ami shook her head, “I know, and I am not here to ask you to change your mind. I am here to turn in my resignation. You are right. I have other priorities that I cannot ignore.” She handed the dean the letter.
Once Ami stepped into the corridor, Usagi, tears in her large eyes, hugged her. “You did not have to do this, Ami!”
“Yes, I did. I hesitated because of my own selfish dreams, Usagi. It was just a moment, but that moment caused an innocent, who tried to fight, her life. I killed her by hesitating, Usagi, and I cannot afford to do that ever again.” Despite her words, she clung to her friend, her heart breaking one last time.
Part Two
If Mercury were sad, then Mars was aloof and detached. Mom would describe her as “peaceful” and “calm,” but I learned long ago that was Mom trying to be nice.
It was Mars who taught me to pray and believe, though I wondered what she believed in anymore. I asked her once after I had a politics lesson with her.
“I believe in your Mother. I believe in her love for all of us and for the whole world.”
I honestly wonder, sometimes, if when I hit a certain level of maturity I’ll take a class on how to not answer the questions of kids. She’s as bad as Mercury. Mom doesn’t do that. When Mom doesn’t want to or can’t answer a question she tells me, and usually it’s a question about the Senshi.
Or about sex. I’m old enough. I know, but it’s fun to watch her blush and try not to look at Dad who is usually having a coughing fit.
Anyway, Mars gave me some answer about believing in Mom which felt more like the expected answer rather than the truth.
Few visitors came to the Hikawa Shrine anymore. Not that Rei blamed them. She had, herself, tried to fire the two Miko that remained. They were sweet kids, and while their charms did not have the same kind of power hers had, they were good charms and sold well. However, Rei had not wanted them in danger.
They stayed on stubbornly. Rei made sure that they took cover when there were attacks--the rule was if they ever tried to fight it, they would be fired--and that they went home before dark.
Akemi was sweeping while Chieko sat at the booth waiting on the non-existent visitors to buy charms. Rei looked up at the temple building and sighed. “Grandpa, I’m sorry. I’ve tried to maintain it, but...”
“Excuse me, Hino-san.”
Rei turned around hearing Chieko, “Yes?”
“Someone is coming!”
I frowned and thought carefully about how to go forward. Perhaps, if I made it about the lesson. “But the people of Earth have so many different belief systems, and didn’t you teach me that those belief system often manifest themselves in politics?”
Mars nodded, her expression not changing at all, even if she suspected where I was going with this.
“Didn’t you used to be a Miko and studying to be a Priest?”
Mars tilted her head every so slightly, “Why are you asking a question you already know the answer to?”
The man was blonde and clearly fit. He was barely breathing hard as he crested the steps and made his way to the only people who occupied the courtyard. He bowed to Rei, and she was able to see the camera he carried.
However, before he moved to her, he made his way to the charms booth. Taking a moment to study the charms, he selected two and paid the Miko, walking away before she could give him change.
Rei watched him as he tied the charms to the tree that stood in the middle of the Hikawa Shrine’s grounds. He took a moment to watch them sway in the wind before turning to finally make his way to Rei.
“You are the Shrine Priestess? Hino Rei?” Before Rei could answer he continued, bowing again as he spoke. “I’m...”
She missed whatever he said his name was, feeling the buildup of energy that signaled the coming of another youma. Turning, she pulled an Ofuda from her robe. “Leave.” Raising her voice she kept her focus on where she felt the energy building, “Chieko, Akemi! Take cover!”
As soon as the energy formed into the creature, she chanted the words and released the Ofuda, stunning it for a moment. The sound of a clicking shutter caught her attention.
“I said leave! It’s not safe!”
“Why did you stop?”
Mars shook her head, “I grew up.”
The slight distraction was all the youma had needed. Instead of attacking the Priest-in-Training who had stunned it, it decided to go after the easier prey and moved toward the Temple building itself.
“GO!”
“And leave you to defend those girls yourself? I don’t think so.” Letting the camera drop to hang from the strap, he ran to put himself between the youma and the girls as Rei let another Ofuda fly.
She could not afford to wait any longer, and quickly transformed as the man stopped at the door of the Temple once the girls had entered, turning to defend them.
Shaking her head, though unable to suppress a small smile, Sailor Mars released a stream of fire toward the youma. Unfortunately, it only seemed to faze the creature before it responded with an attack of it’s own, throwing barbs of something she did not take the time to identify before responding with a flaming arrow.
The fight was fierce, and it was only after the youma disintegrated that Sailor Mars noticed that there was more conflagration than there should have been with the youma now dead. There had been a breeze, and that must have been enough to carry the flame to the Temple, with the fight far too close.
Quickly ignoring the tears over the destruction of her home and family shrine, she located the two girls, who were weeping openly beside the reporter.
“You don’t believe any more?” I knew pressing her was dangerous, but I had a need to understand. The Rei I knew had been full of passion and life, and now all that remained of Mars was a stoic warrior.
“I believe in Serenity. That is enough. You’re dismissed, Princess.”
I admit, I huffed childishly as I headed out of the building. One of them just had to talk to me!
“We can rebuild it, Rei! I know it won’t be the same, but you can still be a Priest!” Usagi clung to Rei’s arm, trying to convince her.
Rei shook her head as she patted her Princess’ hand. “No. The energy here is a magnet. It will never be a peaceful place of prayer, reflection, or remembrance again. It’s done, Usagi. No one else will die here.”