**********
Foreword
**********

    I'll make this short given that there's little importance here.  First
posted fic ever and I'm feeling pretty nervous.  Anyway, if you like this
style of writing, mail me.  If you hate it, mail me.  If you don't know
what to think and want more, mail me.  Be as cruel as you want in your
flames and be as generous as you want in your praises.  All feedback
accepted.
    First of all, I'd like to thank everyone who accepted this fic and 
posted it!  Second, I'd like to thank my two editors Lita Juno and Bethany.
They provided an amateur, disillusioned, unconfident, aspiring writer with 
the inspiration to push aside his fears and begin posting.
    Disclaimer: Everything associated with Sailor Moon is in no way, shape,
or form owned by me.  I don't intend to make any money off of this; that's
up to the larger than life corporations out there.  All that jazz about
Sailor Moon in tons of disclaimers out there apply.

email: doniswong@hotmail.com

Rating: R (mild swearing and illegal activities)



                                  "Clean"
                                 Chapter 1

                                 A fanfic
                                    by

                                    Don



    "Do you believe in happiness?"
    I quickly turn toward my drinking companion and shake my head. "No. We
live, we die, and we pay all the way. What's the joy in that?"
    Me? I'm a reporter for a U.S. magazine, The Globe.
    Her? She's... she's... some lady I met tonight.
    She asks, "Kind of bitter, aren't you?" and with good reason too.
    Currently, I'm in Japan, a happy little world known as Crystal Tokyo to
be exact. In case you've been living under a rock for the better part of a
millenium, allow me to enlighten you on its origin.
    A thousand years ago, a group of mini-skirt clad school girls, calling
themselves the "Sailor Senshi" saved the world from utter destruction. They
did it a few more times and we all called them heroes. They did it some
more and Japan became their official pet. They did it again and the Earth
fell to its knees in awe. They did it about two and a half times more and
formed a utopia called Crystal Tokyo. Simple story, really, I don't know
people are all in an uproar over their latest develop-
    "So what brings a stranger like you to these parts?
    I observe the olive floating around in the martini and pay no attention
to the lady. Besides, I want to be alone tonight and she isn't helping any.

    "Hello? Earth to- What's your name again?"
    She wasn't taking the hint. Might as well live with it. The last thing
I want is a crazed freak following me around asking for my name. "Evan
Wilson. People call me anything ranging from Ev to motherfucker. Take your
pick."
    Her lips curl up at my coarseness. I could immediately tell that she
was Crystal Tokyo material, all brainwashed from the harsh reality of life.
Here, you have everything based on an honor system, but outside... you'd be
surprised at the sheer poverty and sadness lurking in the shadows.
    "I think I'll stick with Mr. Wilson, thank you very much."
    Do I sense a hint of annoyance? My, my, this place is getting more and
more interesting every second. "What's the matter?" I inquire while taking
a swing of my drink, "I thought all you people were suppose to be dolls and
not take offense to anything. What? Something messed up in your genetic
programming?"
    Maybe I should elaborate. Twenty or thirty years ago, a group of rebels
calling themselves the Black Moon Family attacked Crystal Tokyo. They
weren't really powerful compared to the "Oh-So-Godlike" Senshi, but they
were able to convert many unsatisfied citizens, thereby continuing the war.
One of the dictators - Mars I believe - got the bright idea of "Purging"
the general population in the city to avoid more traitors. Of course, they
were able to do it. They systematically eliminated the id in each of their
citizens. The id, in case you don't know, is the animal within each of us,
the part of you that looks out for number one and not anyone else.
    Imagine what happened after that. Their perfect society became a
gathering of perfect people... It makes me sick just thinking about it.
They killed freedom.
    I can picture those devilish women-
    "No, nothing went 'wrong' with my genetic programming." I realize that
it was a while before she answered my insulting question. "And I am NOT
from Crystal Tokyo, so lay off."
    "Growing an attitude?" I smirk as she gazes menacingly at me. "If
you're not from this forsaken land, then what's up with the goody-two shoes
act?"
    "What's wrong with being nice to strangers?"
    "Everything!" God, this woman IS from Crystal Tokyo. "Have you seen the
world? At every corner, there's a parentless child begging for food. In
every house, there is a starving mother of five giving herself up to a
richer man's pleasures so that her children can eat a meager meal!
Governments are fighting amongst themselves; some try to solve problems,
others fight for bribes!!! The world SUCKS, you can't trust anyone! This
fantasy is the only place where you can honestly say hi to a person and not
get clubbed because you're wearing clean clothes!"
    Sorry, I had to get a little passionate on her to prove my point.
    "If you detest this place so, why don't you leave?"
    "Can't," I reply, "My boss is making me do this segment on those bitchy
Senshi chicks. It's.... Forget it, you won't understand."
    She lifts her beer up and downs it completely before prying. "Try me."
    Well, at least I'll be talking to a drunk hooker who'll forget
everything I tell her tonight. "We suspect there's something wrong in this
heaven. Me being his only reliable onsight reporter, he's sent me here to
check out the place. We have our theories about what's wrong, but they're
only theories. I'm out to prove something."
    "What's the theory?"
    Should I tell her? Eh, who will it hurt? "One of the Senshi quit."
    "Interesting," she says, "And what makes you think that?"
    "For one thing, those infamous royal balls aren't being held anymore.
It's like they're retreating to a private life while at any other time in
history, they're living it up in the spotlight. There's bound to be
something wrong if they're doing that. No picture has been taken of them
for two freakin' years!"
    "Twisted logic, but nevertheless, sound. And is this all you do? Dig up
dirt on people and try to topple Serenity's rule through your pen strokes?"

    Good question. What am I trying to do?
    "I'm trying to survive." That about sums it up. "Frankly, I don't care
about anything else. These Senshi can have their happy little world, I want
to live in my own."
    "This is all for money? You're risking your life, flying all over the
world, dodging bullets, and sleeping in dumpsters because of money?"
    "Yes." I wave the bartender over and pay for another drink. Maybe
cognac, or whiskey, or rum, or some sco-
    "It seems you love your id."
    "At least I have one. Unlike you, I'm fully human..."
    From the look in her eyes, I say she took offense to that statement. "I
told you, I'm not from Crystal Tokyo."
    Damn it, this chick is getting nowhere with me. She's asking a bunch of
useless questions that I don't have time to answer. She's probably one of
the Senshi's snoops that go to the "dark" areas of their city to dig out
"scum" like me. Don't pretend it doesn't happen; everyone except for the
inhabitants here know thought is carefully monitored. Better make a quick
exit before I'm "asked" to leave and shipped off the island... I still have
a story to cover.
    "Leaving so soon, Mr. Wilson?"
    "Yeah, I'd love to sit and drink, but I have a job."
    "Will you be back tomorrow night?"
    "No."
    Cold? Yes, I agree, but like I said, Crystal Tokyo people aren't
suppose to care. You can say "Fuck you" and they'll ask whether-
    From out of nowhere, I hear the lady mumble, "God damn no good high and
mighty reporter."
    I decide to leave it alone and not pummel the snot out of her.
Everything is a conspiracy and I'll probably play right into their hands.
    As I get up from my seat, I ask the bartender for a coin to use the
phone.
    "Son," he says, pointing over to the corner, "Just use 'em all you
want. You don't have to pay."
    Oh yeah, I forgot I was in "paradise." Everything minus booze is free.
At least, that's the only I've had to pay for so far.
    Cab service... Let's see... 555-5555.
    Strangely, this thing reminds of the old 20th century phones, nothing
like what I have at the office. No monitor, no voice recognizer, no
security features, just a stick with two ends. How do I know that I'm
getting the taxi service and not some crazed murderer tapping into the
phone lin...?
    "Yes sir, this is Reiko from Crystal Tokyo's commuter department. Would
you need any help today?"
    Crystal Tokyo... Right.... No hackers or murderers.
    "Send a taxi over to where I'm calling."
    "Would that be 555 Mercury Avenue?"
    Damn, they even name STREETS after those dreadful Senshi! "Sounds
right."
    "Anything else?"
    Time for some fun. "Yeah, I want your body."
    "Sorry sir, but I don't understand."
    "You heard me, I want your body."
    "I'm afraid that won't be possible. Please don't be offended but I have
already-"
    I hang up before she gets into her complete, unedited, and uncut life
story. Nice people are so fun to mess with.
    After exiting the bar, I take a seat on a bench outside and wait for
cab. It shouldn't take too long, but I'd like to have my own car. Of
course, it'll have to be one of those solar cars that are completely safe
and gentle to the environment. Translation? It can't go over 35 mph and
would survive the brunt of a tactical missile. I'd probably drive one of
those if I was going to war, but not going to work. What ever happened to
the gas chugging Corvettes and stylish Eclipses?
    My mind begins to wander for a better part of ten minutes before I
realize that the cab isn't arriving. What? I thought they had a network of
public transportation that eliminated the need to wait! God... Hypocrites,
all of them.
    A clear thud comes from behind and I see the chick I was with stumble
out semi-drunk and not walking so hot. At least, that's what I thought
until I got a few more seconds to observe her.
    As it turns out, her gait wasn't affected by liquor; she was a cripple.
In other words, in case you're completely ignorant, something was wrong
with her leg. Fine, so maybe I was wrong about her. There were no cripples
in Crystal Tokyo because everyone is born perfect.
    Her condition turns the sympathy meter in my heart up a few notches, so
I ask if she needs any help.
    I get a stabbing glare for my efforts. "No," she hisses, "I wouldn't
want to dirty your hands because I'm from Crystal Tokyo."
    "Come on! Give me a break here! I'm trying to act nice and you're
shrugging me off!"
    "All people should be treated equally, be they from Russia or Tokyo.
You, my friend, seem to be blind to that fact. If living away from this
bubble has taught me one thing, it's that people like you are the ones that
cause those orphans and starved parents to be where they are!"
    Ouch. Now that stings. I never look at it that way, but then again,
when do I ever need to? "I'm sorry, ok? Afterall, like yourself, I'm
human!"
    Since, I know she's not a crazy maniac and actually has a mind, I
invite her to join me on the bench. "Take a load off. I'm waiting for a cab
and can use some company."
    Not seeing another place to sit, she begrudgingly accepts my offer and
mumbles an inaudible word of thanks.
    "Well," I say, breaking the momentary silence, "You know all about me,
so what about you?"
    "What about me?"
    "A name would be nice."
    She considers giving me a false name and I prepare to question her
first alias.
    "Minako."
    Minako? "So you're Japanese?"
    "No, I'm Indian from the native land of Pakistan!"
    "Touché... Any last name?"
    "Aino. Minako Aino, Aino Minako - it's all the same, depends on where
you go, really."
    "Minako Aino..." I roll the name over my tongue and find that it's a
rather lovely name. Exotic, yet quiet simple at the same time. Sure beats
all those Johns, Brets, and Gregs that I see everyday. Not to mention
Pauls. "Charming... At least I can pronounce it, unlike all those
Nakarkotomagsi whatevers."
    Raising her eyebrow, she giggles a little and relaxes, "From all my
years of living here, I have never heard anything like that!"
    Actually, her giggle sounds really childish, almost conjures up
memories of kids happily playing on a junglegym or something. If I didn't
know better, I'd say I'm beginning to get attracted to this female...
    Might as well be direct. "What's your number?"
    Again, a giggle, "Fast worker, aren't we Mr. Wilson?"
    "Cut the Mr. Wilson crap. Sounds like a character from a campy kids
show."
    "I won't give you my number, but I COULD use some company, especially
since I hold some of your... ideas... about the Crystal Tokyo population.
Meet you back here tomorrow? Same time?"
    Can I resist such an offer? "Sure, you can bet your-"
    A cab pulls up to the curb before I finish my sentence.
    The thought of becoming a gentleman and scoring points with this young
lady crosses my mind, so I walk up to the rear door and open it. "Would you
like to step in? I'll take your cab when it comes."
    She daintily accepts my offer, and regally - if you can envision that
at all, she's a cripple for God's sake! - enters the cab.
    We wave a friendly goodnight and she departs.
    Wow... What an experience. I just got hooked up with a beautiful blonde
who hated me mere moments ago. Maybe Crystal Tokyo ain't all that bad...
Ok, so it may still be bad, but one thing happened that was good. The rest
of it still sucks like none other.
    Besides, where's that other cab?! I'm gettin' cold sitting out in the
night doing nothing! And unlike American cities, there are no outdoor fires
made by hobos or bodily warmth from foot traffic to warm the air! Come to
think about it, there's not a living soul in sight! Talk about terrible
night business; I wonder why and how this bar manages to-
    "Mr. Evan Wilson?"
    I turn around and spot two huge men towering over me. From their
uniforms, I conclude that they're part of the cities' police force.
"Speaking and soon leaving."
    "Would you please come with us, sir?" one of the behemoths asks, "You
have violated clause 1417A of the tourism pact signed by the U.S. and
Crystal Tokyo in 2817-"
    "I don't need a run down of history!" I interrupt.
    "Very well. You are being charged with sexual harassment. Our vehicle
is over there, allow us to escort you over."
    The LAST thing I need is this shit. Better play along and get it over
with. What can they do? They'll probably stick me in a video room, make me
watch something about the importance of speech, and send me on my merry
way.
    Besides, I was looking to kill some time tonight.

*********

    "... and furthermore, your actions display a clear malicious..."
    I let the cop grumble on with his monologue. No use in stopping him
since he'll just politely silence me and continue. Are these pep talks
suppose to set people straight? I'm amazed that a hardcore con hasn't
walked in here and massacred all these people! Lord knows there's no lack
in crazy people on this desolate rock.
    "... in concordance with clause..."
    Whatever happened to that good old theory, "Innocent until proven
guilty?" I mean, they're hauling me in here on the word of some ten year
old operator who could be a professional swindler!
    "... Crystal Tokyo does not condone..."
    Hehe, yeah. This isn't the U.S. anymore. I've got to get used to that
fact.
    "Do you have anything to say for yourself, Mr. Evan Wilson?"
    The brief, fleeting idea of saying "Up yours!" to the hulking mass of
muscle and flicking him off comes and goes in my scatter-brained mind. I
may be itching to kill some time, but I'm not keen on killing myself.
    "No officer," I drone insincerely, "Please forgive me for what I have
done."
    Like I expected, he takes the pathetic apology as a heartfelt one and
proceeds to finish up the paper work.
    10:37... I'll be out at 11, so I might still be able to catch midget
wrestling on the International Channel if I hurry back to the hotel.
    "Ok sir, we only need your version of what happened before you are let
go. Please be honest."
    This is way too easy. "I was sitting in a space ship eating cookies and
suddenly a gigantic glob of-"
    "A plausible story, Mr. Wilson. If you're going to lie, at least do so
convincingly."
    Cops. Gotta love 'em. "Fine, fine, fine, you got me. So I was at a bar
drinking, minding my own business. You know the feeling, kicking back with
some nice booze- Opps, my mistake, you guys don't know the meaning of
kicking back." I get an odd stare for that one. "Anyway, I was talking with
this chick and got bored, so I went to call a ca-"
    "What was this 'chick's' name?"
    "Why do you need her name?"
    "Potential witness to your crime."
    These guys expect me to incriminate myself?! This is hilarious!!!!
    Through my laughter, I hear the man say, "I assure you, sir, that
unless you commit more serious offenses, you have been 'let off the hook,'
as they say."
    "Ok, ok...." I wipe the tears from my face and spill it. "Her name was
Minako Aino."
    And that was that. They let me go, I called a cab (Without the "sexual
harassment" part.), and went back to the hotel to enjoy a carefree night of
midget wrestling...

    ... until someone came pounding on my door.

    **THUMP** **THUMP** **THUMP**
    God, what kind of lowlife would come pounding on a person's HOTEL room
at midnight?! I swear, even if this guy is room service, I'm not going to
forgive him.
    "Yeah, yeah, yeah, who the hell is it?"
    From the other side of the door, "Crystal Tokyo authorities! Open up!"
    I knew it! They were trying to incriminate me with my own words
afterall!!! "Up yours, pig!" I wail at the top of my lungs before bolting
to the window. I've heard horror stories about people from foreign
countries being forcefully "purged" and I don't want to confirm them.
    "Look, you have five seconds to open this door before we come in there
and act REALLY pissed off!"
    In another time, in another place, I would have found the threat
mind-boggling... But this is not the time, nor the place to think about it.

    Grabbing my duffel bag, I hightail it to the patio and look for a fire
escape.
    Just my luck, there was none!!!
    What'll happen if an arsonist or terrorist bombs the place and-
    Uh huh, Crystal Tokyo equals no bad guys. I forgot.... AGAIN.
    "One... Two... FIVE!!!" Damn, that was the quickest five seconds I ever
had to go through.
    I expect the door to fly open and come crashing down on my bed twenty
feet away, but instead, I'm treated to a familiar **click** followed by an
opening door. They probably had the key all along and wanted me to sweat
bullets.
    The first two apes coming through didn't surprise me at all: they were
the cops that arrested me at the bar. However, the next two people were
quite a shocker.
    For the past few weeks, I have been halfheartedly searching for Senshi.
Now, not one but two are strolling into my room! I don't know whether to
call this bad luck or dumb luck.
    The brunette, the one wearing green, steps forward and asks, "Evan
Wilson, I presume?"
    "Maybe, who wants to know?"
    "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Sailor Jupiter. This is my
colleague, Sailor Mercury," she points over to a semi-shy person in the
back, "And you've met these two gentlemen before. We have a few questions
to ask you-"
    "Hold it! I thought you said I was off the hook!"
    "You are," she replies with a dreadful grin, "We want to know more
about the girl you met tonight."
    The girl? Who does she- "Oh, you mean Minako?"
    That relieved expression I got from the two Senshi could not have been
a good sign.
    Jupiter makes a "shooing" motion with her hands and the cops leave,
closing the door behind them. I'm left in a room with two legendary figures
whom I despise.
    Arrogantly, the brunette says, "Aren't you going to offer us a seat, or
are we suppose to stand all night?"
    Play time! "I'd prefer you stand. It'll save you time when you find the
compulsion to walk over here and deck me in the head."
    They didn't know whether to laugh at me or frown in disgust. So, they
simply took some chairs around the coffee table and sat while I stood
outside the patio, duffel bag in hand.
    When all is said and done, I rethink my position in this place. From
the moment I heard about the Sailor Senshi in my infantile years, I thought
I could stand up to them. None of them were the imposing figures others
made them out to be. I always thought they were hyped-up rich people with
sticks shoved up their asses. Now, when I see them before me, there's some
kind of charisma, some kind of mysterious aura that's quite unsettling, a
quality that gets under my skin and sends shockwaves up every nerve.
    Back in the day, I took a few self-defense courses and I remember the
way my teacher walked: silent, deadly, always alert. These two had those
same qualities, only magnified by about two hundred times... and believe
me, my kung-fu master was one freakin' imposing figure. He could be staring
down the barrel of an automatic shotgun and somehow still manage to pull
out enough balls to make the gunman run away in blind terror.
    Imagine the trepidation I'm feeling now, standing into front of these
two people while they take their time visually picking apart my every
fiber. A lot of it has to do with those horror stories that I've heard over
the years; however, there's a side that no one will understand until they
actually meet up with one of these chicks.
    My view of them immediately flies up a couple notches just through the
pure respect I'm giving them.
    "Uhhhhh, what's this about again?"
    Mercury glances up from her computer and states, "Aino Minako."
    Minako.... The blonde I met tonight. What does she have to do with the
Senshi? What does a cripple have to do with a bunch of superhuman, thunder
slinging, mini skirt wearing girls like these two?! "Why are you looking
for her? Is she a terrorist? Part of the 'Black Moon Family' that went to
war with you guys a while back? Who is she?"
    Jupiter sighs, "I assure you, Mr. Wilson, that we are not here to
conduct an interview for your newspaper. Who Aino Minako is does not
concern you." She turns toward her friend and examines the mini-computer
she's holding, "Are you ready, Mercury?"
    A nod. I assume that's a bad thing?
    "Alright," she continues, "I'm going to ask you a series of simple
questions. Answer truthfully or to the best of your knowledge."
    She doesn't even wait for me to agree. "What does this person look
like?"
    "Nuh uh," I reply, shaking my finger at them, "You aren't getting an
ounce of info until you tell me who this character is!" Hey, the journalist
in me took over for a split second.
    The brunette groans, "She is a very dangerous individual, capable of
killing you in a heartbeat. She is also very skilled in evasion and has
hidden from us for..." She pauses, mentally editing the information, then
continues, "a long time. So far, you're the first person to see her."
    I catch Mercury glancing up and frowning at Jupiter. What could that
mean? A disagreement between the two? Do I sense a slight bit of friction
flying around?
    When I'm about to drop a bomb on them, I realize something crucial:
Minako is a cripple!!! "Wait a minute, you mean you guys couldn't catch a
cripple?!"
    A brief moment of shock comes over their faces, but they hide it well.
If my attention span had been a little shorter, I would have missed it.
    After shock, what's the emotion that comes next? Sadness? Relief? They
wouldn't be feeling that if Minako was a terrorist or someone against them;
however, I can't decipher anymore. They've put on stoic masks and are
approaching me with the utmost care.
    "What did she look like?" Jupiter reiterates.
    Eh, what the hell? I'll play along for now. "Long blonde hair, had some
of the largest blue eyes you'd ever see, and had a very nice giggle. In
case you didn't get it before, she walks with a definite hobble."
    "What was she wearing?"
    "Tight black skirt going down to the knees. A white shirt and a black
unzipped jacket that looked leather but probably wasn't. She also had a
pair of incredibly high heels."
    "Nothing distinctive? No earring? No bow?"
    Why do I get the feeling they already know everything about Minako
except where she is? "No, so stop pestering me about it."
    "And this is at the bar you were arrested at?"
    I roll my eyes, "No, this was on the moon!"
    They ignore me on that one and go back to whispering among themselves.
Questions overtake my mind about the giddy girl I met tonight. What was her
connection with the Senshi? Was she lying to me all the time? Could SHE be
that missing Senshi I was talking about? So many questions, so little
answers, and only one way to find out.
    "If you guys give me a day, I can show you where she's at."
    Mercury and Jupiter whip around and gaze at me. Naturally, I smile at
their dumbfounded looks.
    "Sometimes things require a man's deadly charm!"

*********

    "Here we are, miss. Do you need me to wait outside for you?"
    I hand the driver a tip and shake my head. "This will be a long stay,
you better get going."
    Evan Wilson... Tabloid reporter and noted cynic of journalism. He turns
interviews into interrogations and cover stories into criminal
investigations. Funny, isn't it? I always hated the media, especially ones
of his breed, but now I find another kindred spirit in the most unlikely of
places doing the job I most despise.
    Ironic, but life is fully of ironies. I should know...
    "Ma'am? Are you alright?"
    Shaking myself from the unwanted revelry, I step out of the car and
watch it blindly speed off to pick up another customer... blind like a
lemming. Like everyone else in Crystal Tokyo.
    A pang of guilt strikes my heart as I flashback to that fateful day ten
years ago... I remember it like it was only yesterday...
    People dying... Armies falling... Multitudes of trusted officials
leaking information to the enemy... Complete and utter chaos...

    I still hear the cries. Cries of agony, despair, and desperation.
    I still see the war...

    "Minako! We've got to do something!!!"
    Ami getting pinned down by a plethora of monsters...
    "Save her..."
    One of my commanders dying in my arms, begging for me to save his
wife...
    "Don't clam up on us now!!!"
    Me, huddled in a dark corner, wishing for the world to go away...
    "Fall back!!! It's an ambush!!!"
    Youma and demons popping up from all sides...
    "Get out of the-"
    A lowly ground troop diving in front of Wiseman's blast of energy...
    "You're the leader! Do something!!!"
    The Senshi all coming down on me for answers...
    "Venus... Five thousand are dead... Two generals defected..."
    Damage reports...
    "You killed him!!!"
    Heard too numerous times to count...

******HONK!!!******

    I nearly jump out of my skin, but it's only a car... nothing to be
afraid of. Nobody is coming for me... the war is over; it only exists in my
mind.
    Stranger still, the war is not eating away at my conscience. It's the
Purging.
    At the time, it seemed like such a great idea. No more crime, no more
defectors, no more horror stories, just blissful happiness. We had heaven,
so why not make angels?
    It wasn't until we accomplished our task did I feel the full effects of
our hasty actions.
    Artificial smiles, phony words of condolence, false sense of freedom -
the Sailor Senshi had become what they fought, and I, as their leader,
never knew it. We became unwitting dictators and power hungry mongrels no
better than Beryl...
    Justice became a lost cause...
    Love was insincere...
    Truth became lies...
    I quit after the Purging; the rest of Senshi had no idea what happened.
One night I was laughing and dancing, then the next morning, I was gone. I
know they searched for me. I know they were and probably still are, lost. I
know leaving was cruel...
    ... but what we did was inexcusable.
    In the matter of seconds, we dirtied our hands with the blood of
generations. Not only will the purging be felt by people of this time, but
their children and their children's children will never taste freedom. They
will never think for themselves. All they will know is the spoon fed
happiness that the Senshi force into their mouths... We killed them before
they were even born.
    Am I angry? Maybe when I first realized what I did. I wanted to blame
it all on Rei... it was so easy - she suggested it, she pushed for it, so
she should take the fall. I'll be lying if I said I feel no animosity
toward her or the rest of the Senshi. I've just gotten over the hard part,
that's all.
    Guilty - there's a word to describe my feelings. I took part in the
Purging, I approved of it, and I could have but didn't stop it.
    Ten years... For ten whole years I've wandered the globe, trying
desperately to forget. I wanted to see some remnants of human emotion, be
it happiness or sadness. But, what I saw on the outside only made me feel
worse.
    In here, there's utter blissfulness, so blissful that it's sickening.
In other countries, there's only despair and loathing. The general public
is so poor that... that... it's indescribable. There's the small population
of rich people, living off of the poor, taking advantage of them at every
turn. To tell you the truth, even the rich aren't that well off, and
surprisingly, they know it. The middle class? They're a rare breed of
people, hated by rich and poor alike. They have enough money so that they
won't starve but don't have enough to flaunt their wealth. The rich see
them as pitiful wannabe's, the poor see them as arrogant millionaires
living amongst their dilapidated huts.
    What do they think about Crystal Tokyo? I actually had the nerve to ask
a few people. They look at it like some kind of twisted standard where
everything is the way it should be. They strive to maintain this land's
pristine condition and utopian ways, but they only succumb to deceit and
failure. There's too much working against them to succeed...
    That's why I came back. I had this nagging faith in the Senshi, I had a
gut feeling that they somehow undid the Purging... but, again, I was wrong.
I came back expecting to see a shred of hope but ended up seeing my damned
handiwork...
    After all that is said and done, I'm still no farther to the bar than I
am 10 minutes ago. Evan is probably drinking himself to oblivion and I'm
out here fantasizing about days long past. Don't you love it when you get
old?
    I practice my limp a few times and walk around a bench. Part of my
cover - no one will ever expect a Sailor Senshi to hobble like a cripple.
Makes me look unthreatening and gets me the drop on lots of unsuspecting,
arrogant no-goods.
    Satisfied with my performance, I push open the door and saunter in.
Funny, everything is quiet. No music, no people except for-
    "Minako..."
    I lift my head and almost yelp. In the back of the sultry room, Ami and
Makoto are seated at a spacious table with five chairs. Not exactly Ami and
Makoto, more like Mercury and Jupiter, but the effect is the same.
    First instinct? Run. I don't belong with them anymore. I've hurt them
by leaving them without a leader. They probably feel betrayed. I feel... I
don't know what I feel. Happy to see them, yet not.
    I yield to that thought and run, but before I can turn around, a strong
hand comes to rest on my shoulder. Battle senses kick in. I ditch the limp,
deliver a short elbow which is blocked, and roll forward in the middle of
the room. At least I'll have more space to maneuver-
    Haruka and Michiru are leaning against the door. They snuck up on me
while I was shocked. Figures Makoto would come prepared; she's like a
hardcore girlscout.
    The Sailor Senshi... How did they know I was here?! No one-
    Evan Wilson... That little piece of-
    I contemplate transforming and going toe-to-toe with four of my former
soldiers, but one look into their eyes and that idea flies out the window.
They're not here to fight; they came here to get me back.
    Might as well dispel any ideas here and now.
    "No."
    Ami looks a bit hurt by the sudden refusal, but everyone else maintains
their composure. I think they expected to establish contact before I said
anything.
    As always, Michiru swoops in to make the save, "We're not here to take
you back, Minako. We want to talk as friends, to catch up on what you've
been doing..."
    Nice... They sense something is wrong and want me to simply sit down
with them instead of storming out. Judging by the poor expectation for
diplomacy, I'd say this was set up by Makoto.
    "Well?" asks Haruka, slightly jittery, "Are we going to stand here all
night or are we going to get crackin'?"
    Can I talk to them? Oh God how I miss their voices. I want to sit down
and laugh the night away, but I'm afraid I'll alienate them further. Ami
and Michiru MIGHT (One BIG might.) understand my predicament, but Makoto
and Haruka will tend to jump to conclusions. I... I... can't explain what I
want to say. It's so clear, yet confusing at the same time, I'm afraid
they'll take it wr-
    "Please?" Ami begs, tears forming in her eyes, "We need you, Minako..."
Her voice trails off to a whisper.
    Clean breaks. They're the best. I can never be a Senshi ever again... I
just can't do it. Guilt stains my heart and blood cakes my hands. I don't
want war, I don't want fake smiles, I don't want the world looking at me
anymore! I want to disappear, disappear back to a time when I still had a
shred of innocence and no one expected anything of me.
    I cannot go back with them no matter what my heart wants.
    "Minna..." Clean breaks are the best... "I should not, cannot, and will
not go back to the palace with you..." The Purging... Guilt... "Tell
everyone to stop worrying and stop looking. I'm fine, and always will
be..." Screams... Cries... Death... "This is my final warning and final
command to all of you..." Clean breaks... "Stay away..." Or what?
Remember... Clean breaks... No tears... Make them go away... "... or I will
kill you..." Tears... Shock... Hurt...
    Silence... Then, "I quit."
    We're all absorbing the news, even myself. I can't believe I said that.
Kill them? Would I ever raise a hand against any of them? Can I turn my
back on what I was destined to be? Am I being selfish, or am I right for
not supporting them? Are they still the people I knew or have they changed
for the worse? Should I give them a chance to explain?
    Too late to find their answers to those questions. I just threatened to
kill them. I just turned my back on the Sailor Senshi. I'm being selfish. I
just made them think they're changing for the worse. I didn't give them a
chance to explain.
    Clean breaks... They're the best, but are they the least painful?
    Makoto growls under her breath, "Baka Mina..."
    Ami is trying to look strong and has her mouth sewed shut.
    Haruka shakes her head in disgust and leans further into the door.
    Michiru is boggled and wants to know more.
    Clean breaks... Can't lose sight of it now. I literally spat on a
thousand years of existence together. If this is not a clean break, I don't
know what is.
    I don my indifferent, stoic expression, the one I've worn so many times
before to make myself look strong when I was shaking in my sandals... the
composure Sailor Venus used to carry around twenty four seven. I walk up to
the door and gaze up at the taller blonde.
    "I'll be leaving now."
    She looks down at me with pitiful eyes and calmly says, "You're not my
commander anymore, Venus. There's two ways to get out this door: with us or
through my dead body."
    Five seconds after I make my threat and I'm called to see it through.
    "Just tell us why," Michiru whispers, breaking the mounting tension
between me and Haruka.
    Clean break... Don't make them doubt themselves. Don't stir up the
ranks. Don't explain it. They'll only hold you back for more explanations.
Either you'll shake their faith or they'll draw you back. Clean break... Go
your separate ways, never to meet again...
    I say again, but this time with a malicious snarl, "I'll be leaving
now."
    Figures. Haruka doesn't back down one centimeter. Rather the opposite,
she stands taller and gains more confidence. "Like I said, pick one of two
ways."
    "Stop it you two!!!" screams Ami from behind.
    Haruka glances up and Michiru raises an eyebrow. This is the
distraction I need.
    Since they're standing quite close together, I throw a wide roundhouse
kick and nail both of them in the faces. I know my blows don't hurt too
much; afterall, they're powered up and I'm not. I'm only going for the
shock factor. With the two stunned, I barrel out the door and into the
streets, looking for a mode of transportation. My guess is that they'll
take to the roofs when they recover, which will be in the next few seconds.
I need place were they'll never suspect...
    "Pssst! Minako!!!"
    Evan steps out from an alley and motions me over. Seeing no other
option, I follow.
    We dodge some obstacles, and halfway through, I hear the door to the
bar swing open. Up ahead, a cab is waiting for us and without a bit of
hesitation, we dive in and simultaneously tell the man inside to drive.
    "Where ya young'uns goin'?"
    Simultaneously, "AIRPORT!"

************

    And that's how we parted ways. We didn't talk to each other. Somewhere
in the back of my mind, I hoped that she didn't know I gave her away. For
the first time, I actually felt guilty about getting a story, about
betraying someone.
    Maybe it was her charisma or her mock-naive attitude. Maybe it was my
conscience finally catching up with my darkened heart, or my body fearing
for its life. I never knew why I felt sorry, but I knew I was.
    From the bar to airport, she had her arms folded; her eyes were glued
on the window. Like I said, I hoped she didn't know, but she did. I was
fully expecting some kind of retribution...
    ... but it didn't come.
    I had a mini-tape in my hand: it contained the entire conversation
between her and the Senshi. Did she know I taped it? Again, I was never
certain.
    Like a bad dream, the car stopped and we got out. All my luggage was on
me since I semi-planned this out. As for Minako, she didn't carry anything,
only herself; I bet that was all she ever needed.
    As we strode away from each other, she going toward the European gates,
me toward the North American gates, a faint pang of loss stabbed into my
heart. Another great girl gone because of my devotion to my work - that
makes an even twenty. But unlike the rest, I just couldn't shrug her off.
Everyone else I admired for the looks, but Minako, I loved her for her
mind... that questioning and sly yet ironically gentle and playful mind...
Loved... That was a funny word to use. I talked with her for less than
thirty minutes, but yet I loved her. A line from the conversation came back
into my mind.
    "You're not my commander anymore, Venus."
    Venus... Goddess of love. Was Minako the goddess' harbinger or was she
her avatar? Did Minako invoke a sense of love in everyone? Did she rekindle
that lost flame of human emotion in all whom she met? Did she work her
magic on me? Did I ever forget how to love?
    Before I realized it, I was on a plane heading back to my native land.
I stared out the window to the next plane over and caught a glimpse of
Minako's radiant face as her flight taxied out to the runway. I swore she
waved to me. No, no, not one of those malicious, "I'll get you next time"
waves, but one reserved for a friend.
    Immediately following hers, my plane took off into the night sky. As it
was leaving the ground, the rest of the fuku-clad band filtered onto the
runway, undoubtedly hunting for the golden haired princess. I took pleasure
in knowing we beat the odds and eluded the famous, infallible Sailor
Senshi.
    Getting up from my seat, I made my way to the John, mini-tape in hand.
After locking the door, I dropped the source of my pain into the toilet,
pissed on it, and watched it flush away. I didn't feel any better. On the
other hand, I felt foolish for throwing weeks of hard work into the drain.
It was like an apology, a gesture of regret after the fact...
    After the fact...
    "This one's for you, Minako..."


***********
Afterword
***********

    This is a saga that I would like to pursue; however, I want to gauge
reader reaction before I go on.  Email me anything, even if it's just to
say hi.  Regardless of reaction, I plan to post Chapter 2 of this fic, so
stay tuned (If you really wanted to know, it's a prelude to this story.
Each chapter takes place in a different country and documents Minako's
travels in the Crystal Tokyo era.).
    Hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

-Don.