6/22/00 Hello again! In the middle of two or three other projects, this insane little idea came to me while I was in the shower this morning. Actually, I was brooding about a rather nasty email that I had gotten the other day regarding comments that I make on my website, as well as my previous fanfiction piece. The actual email pretty much consisted of: "How can you say that Mina and Yaten should go out when Yaten is a girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's disgusting!" I didn't view this comment as a flame; On the contrary. I took it as a challenge. If you can see where this is going now, and are offended by this sort of content, I would advise you not to read any further. This is not a hentai or even a mildly ecchi fic, but it does contain non-explicit themes of homosexuality (think Utena, folks). This is my favorite should-have-been couple that we're dealing with here. And who am I to back down from a good challenge? On a side note, this fic is really kind of an experiment for me. The first part consists of a correspondence between Yaten and Minako that occurs after the end of Sailor Stars. The second, shorter part is strictly prose. I've never tried to write anything this serious or romantic before, so y'all can whack me over the head with blunt objects if my efforts fall flat. I also kind of didn't expect Minako to become so angst-filled, or for her character to end up the way that she does at the end of the story. But then again, I don't think that I really planned anything in this fic. This is almost purely stream-of-consciousness writing. Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and company are created by Takeuchi Naoko, owned by TOEI animation and a plethora of other production and distribution companies, and I actually have no legal right to use any of these characters whatsoever. But please don't sue me; I have no money to give you anyway. Rating: PG (One or two very naughty words, themes dealing with sexuality). *denotes emphasis* Enjoy! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Minako-chan; Believe me, I would date this letter if date and time on this planet had any meaning relative to Earth. I hope that this letter reaches you. At first I wasn't even sure if I would be able to send it to you, but Kakyuu-hime said that anything is possible if you wish hard enough. It's a scary thought, isn't it? Being able to bend time and space to one's will simply with the power of a wish. But I guess it has to work, even for something as measly as this letter. After all, I'm fairly sure that's how Taiki and Seiya and I arrived on Earth in the first place. I always assumed that Taiki understood the metaphysics behind time- and space- travel, but now I wonder if he wasn't just wishing really hard, like the rest of us. Regardless, this letter should end up in your mailbox. Should. So, how have you been? It's been a while, ne? Me, I'm fine. Things are starting to look brighter here on Kinmoku. There are more survivors than we expected. We've begun to rebuild and repopulate our planet. It will take a while, but I'm sure that someday it will be beautiful again. Like the Earth. I always thought that the Earth was beautiful, even if it was populated mostly by peons. Kakyuu-hime is tending to her garden as I write this. There's an olive orchard that she tends to, all by herself, without any servants. It's quite pretty when all the flowers are in bloom. Sometimes I see young couples sneaking into the orchard to enjoy a kiss under the olive trees. Oh, dear, I haven't even explained why I'm writing this. You must think me terribly strange by now. I don't have an honest justification . . . I do consider you my friend, Minako-chan, and I was always taught to keep in touch with my friends. I would enjoy it very much if you replied to this letter. I'm fairly sure that the Japanese postal service doesn't deliver to far-off planets, so you will have to wish very, very hard to send a letter to me. But I'm sure that you can do it. Say hi to Luna and Usagi-san for me. Ja ne, Yaten. * * * * * * * * * * Yaten-kun; I have to admit, I was a bit surprised when I received your letter. In all honesty, I'm even more surprised by the fact that here I am, writing to you, expecting to send this letter across light-years of space simply by the power of a wish. But then again, I've been in stranger situations before. I've never traveled to another planet. But did you know that I once traveled to the future? It's a long story. Maybe I'll tell you later. I'm glad to hear that you're all happy on Kinmoku. Things are fine back here on Earth. Well, no, maybe not so fine. I'm not doing too well with my grades, but I haven't exactly been trying very hard in school either. Artemis says that I'm spending too much time shopping and playing video games. Hey, a girl has to have fun, right? It's almost like, as long as there are no enemies to fight, I can't stay focused or serious about *anything*. Or maybe I just don't try to. Sometimes I wish that I were you, and that I didn't have to go to school anymore. Yesterday I bought this red dress at a cute little boutique that just opened in the shopping district. I showed it to Artemis, and he said that it showed off too much of my cleavage. Well, duh, stupid cat, that was the point. I've gotten taller since you saw me last. I grew a quarter of an inch. And my voice is just slightly deeper, and overall I guess that I'm finally turning into some sort of woman. I've been wearing red lipstick lately, and I have to admit that it looks quite good on me. I'm sorry, you must think that last paragraph to be terribly forward of me. That, or meaningless prattling. But it's really all that I have to write about, because it's all that I've felt like thinking about since . . . . . . . Well, since I died. There. I didn't think that I could write it. But I did die, didn't I? Right in front of you. It wasn't the first time that I died. But I think that something was different about that death, about that battle. I don't know what. I didn't let the others see how badly shaken I was after Usagi resurrected us. But ever since you left, I've just been flaking out. It's more fun this way. I know that there will always be more enemies to fight, and always more sacrifices to make, and someday I will die and never wake up again. It's a scary thought. So I just want to have the most fun that I can. Now, while there's still time. As long as I'm in the mood for hedonistic pleasure- seeking, I have something to admit. I always wanted to kiss you. There. Now it's off my chest. I miss you. Love, Minako. PS: Luna says hi. Artemis doesn't. * * * * * * * * * * Minako-chan; Ano, you shouldn't really call me Yaten-kun. You see, I'm not really . . . Well, I never really was in the first place . . . ah, I'm not really a male anymore. I wonder if you still want to kiss me now. Can you feel comfortable, kissing another woman? I don't know about it myself. I mean, you know about Haruka and Michiru, and here on Kinmoku we have Seiya and Kakyuu-hime (yes, they're *finally* together again, I forgot to mention that), and I think that both are beautiful couples . . . But could you really see yourself in a position like that? You said that you wish you didn't have to go to school anymore. Me, I'm just the opposite. I know that I complained a lot while I was in school with you, but now I kind of miss it. It was kind of fun. I guess. At least, it was fun sitting next to you. Because you went out of your way to make sure that there was never a dull or boring moment. I don't know if you did it on purpose. Taiki always said that you were just a lunatic. But I think that lunacy is an admirable quality. Only a lunatic would send a letter to another planet by the power of their wish. If I were a better person, I would tell you that you try harder in school because your education is important. But I'm not going to do that. Instead, I'll ask you to send a photograph with your next letter. I'd like to see how you look with red lipstick. Did I ever tell you that I think you're beautiful? No? Well, I do think that you're beautiful. And tell Artemis to calm down, I never had any intentions of seducing Luna. If I had known that Earthlings didn't normally bathe and sleep with cats, then I wouldn't have done so. I wish that I had time for shopping and goofing off. I imagine that you would be a fun person to go shopping with. I haven't worn a dress in ages . . . not since, you know, my little stint as a man . . . but I'm wearing one now. I'd almost forgotten how comfortable they are. Last night Taiki braided my hair. I kind of like it this way; I think I'll wear it in a braid for a while. At least until I get tired of it. The weather is getting warmer now, and summer is finally starting. Soon we'll be able to go swimming again. There's this gorgeous beach not far from here. The oceans on Kinmoku are blue, like on Earth. Someday I would like to show you the beach. On cooler days, when the water is too cold to swim, I like to bring my camera and sit out on the dunes and photograph the waves and the sunset. I've still got this camera that I bought in Tokyo. It's entirely too much fun to use. I don't think that I'll ever part with it. I miss you too. Sincerely, Yaten. PS: Do please tell me that "long story" about how you traveled to the future. Now that you've piqued my curiosity, it's only fair to share the whole story. * * * * * * * * Yaten-chan; I'm terribly sorry, I didn't stop to consider the fact that . . . well, like me, you're a girl. I should have known. Artemis always said that only girls could be Sailor Senshi anyway. Yesterday I went and visited Haruka and Michiru. Neither Hotaru nor Setsuna was home. I think that Haruka was surprised to see me. "What are you doing here?" she asked me after I rang the buzzer and she opened the door. I told her that I had an important question, so she invited me inside. I sat down on this couch, and there was another couch across from it that Haruka sat down on. I could see Michiru, just out of the corner of my eye, making tea in the kitchen. Haruka rested her chin on her hands and said all serious-like, "So, what's the problem?" And I was kind of blushing when I asked my question, but I asked it nonetheless: "What does it feel like to kiss another girl?" I could tell that she was totally surprised, because she just stared at me with these huge eyes. And I could see Michiru in the kitchen again, clamping her hand over her mouth and shaking her shoulders, trying her hardest not to burst out laughing. Finally, Haruka got all serious again and said, "Well, kissing another woman is like kissing an angel. Kissing a man is like kissing a hairy monkey. Especially if he hasn't shaved." And that's when Michiru entered the room and commented, "Haruka doesn't like men." She sat down next to Haruka, folded her hands in her lap, and acted like the most innocent angel that you could imagine. Haruka was blushing furiously. I could never understand how Michiru could rumple Haruka's feathers like that. But that's when I stood up, thanked them both, bowed and left. I didn't want to give either of them a chance to ask "Why?" or even worse, "Who?" I still want to kiss you. Years ago, before we met Haruka and Michiru and Hotaru, all of us Sailor Senshi traveled to the future. No, wait, I'd better start at the beginning. In the future, Usagi and Mamoru are married. But they're not Usagi and Mamoru anymore. They're a king and queen. Neo-Queen Serenity, and King Endymion. And they have a daughter that is also named Usagi, but everyone calls her Chibi-Usa. Is this too confusing? Anyway, some enemies attacked Neo-Queen Serenity's kingdom (um, it's called Crystal Tokyo) and injured both her and the King. So Chibi-Usa traveled back in time to get help from the Sailor Senshi, and then we all traveled forward in time to Crystal Tokyo. And we fought the enemy, and we won. Back and forth, back and forth, between past, present and future. Always more enemies, even in the future. That was when we met Sailor Pluto. She controls Time, if you didn't know. She says that we've all seen too much of our future, and soon she will have to erase our memories of that journey. I'll be glad when that happens, because I don't want to remember it anymore. I don't want to go through life knowing that only more battles await me in the future. Chibi-Usa is really cute. I've included a picture of her. And a picture of me, too. Just like you asked for. Rei took this snapshot of Makoto and I when we were at the amusement park last month. My shirt and my lipstick both match the cotton candy in my hand. Yeah, I planned it that way. Trust me. I've been shopping a lot lately, and it's fun. I would write about what I've bought, but . . . I forget. I've been crying a lot, too. But only at night. Artemis does his best to comfort me, though. Do you ever regret being a Sailor Senshi? I miss you so much. Love, Minako. PS: Artemis says hi. * * * * * * * * * Minako-chan; I saw your eyes in the picture that you sent me, and they were all wrong. They were sad. Far too sad. I want to hug you and kiss you, but you're too far away . . . Please, tell me what's wrong. I want to help you. You were always cheerful, even when I was sitting next to you in school and moping with a black cloud hanging over my head. I can't stand to see you so sad. Love, Yaten. * * * * * * * * * Yaten-chan; You could tell, just by looking at the photo? They don't know yet; none of them know. I won't let it show, that's all. Lately, I've felt as if I was on the verge of something . . . like, a very big change . . . I don't know what. My first year of high school is almost over, and I don't have much to show for it. Oh, sure, I've only saved the entire human race - on more than once occasion this year, I might add - but suddenly it doesn't seem like a big deal. I don't have a boyfriend, I don't have very good grades, I don't have any special recognition from any clubs or anything, and I couldn't even stay on the volleyball team (I missed too many practices, I was busy Saving the World). I didn't have a chance to enjoy any sort of normal life. And that was what I really wanted this year. I wanted high school to be a total blast. Instead . . . Well, you were there for most of it. You know what happened. And when I think about this, I realize what a vain, stupid, and shallow person I am. Like, I should be altruistic and all that crap, and care more about my duty as a Sailor Senshi than any petty little pleasures that a normal life could give me. Am I such a terrible person, to think like this? To want to enjoy life? To be afraid of fighting again, of dying again? But I can't let the others see. No, not ever. I'm Sailor Venus, I was the first Senshi and I'm kind of the leader. I'm supposed to be the strong one. No, wait. I'm supposed to be the martyr. I've sacrificed so much, perhaps more than any of them ever have. And I'm sick and tired of it. Fucking sick and tired of it. Yeah, that's right. I've never used the word before, and you must think that I'm a vulgar person for using it. But it felt so good to use it, and I'm not going to go back and erase it. Artemis told me that I was on the verge of some kind of awakening as a Sailor Senshi. When I saw the future, I saw that I was in my Senshi form almost all of the time. Is that what will happen to me when I become an adult? I'll just be Sailor Venus, and no more Aino Minako? I don't want that. Anything but that. I want to be a fashion designer, I want to be a singer, I want to be an actress, I want to be model, I want to find true love. I have so many dreams, and none of them involve Sailor Venus. That's why I've been flaking out so much lately. It's like, without an enemy to fight, I have no purpose. I have no focus. Minako has no purpose, Minako is worthless, and she's only worth anything when she's Sailor Venus. That's what I feel like right now. That's what I think every time I blow off homework to go shopping or play more video games. What does it matter? Who cares what happens to Minako's educational career? It's not going to be worth anything in the long run. Sailor Venus doesn't need to know the periodic table of elements, Sailor Venus doesn't need to know how to use logarithms or solve algebraic equations. All she needs to know is enough English to shout "Venus Crystal Power, Make-Up!" I know that whatever is going to happen will happen soon. It would be nice if I could finish my last years in high school, but I don't know if I'll have that luxury. I wonder if a new enemy is coming. You must hate me, now that you know what a selfish and evil person I really am. If you don't respond to this letter, then I understand. I wish that I could see you again. I still wish that I could kiss you. Love, Minako. * * * * * * * * * Minako-chan; You're wrong. You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. I know that I personally care more for Aino Minako than I ever did for Sailor Venus. You were the one who always cheered me up when I was blue. You were the one who taught me how dreams can make a person shine like a brilliant star, and that following one's dream is the most important thing in life. You were the one who awed me with your song, and who spoke to me like I was a friend and a real person and not just some kind of idol. And you were the one who sent letters to me, across the empty void of millions of miles of space, just with the power of your wish. I still think that you're beautiful, even without your Sailor fuku. I still think that you are strong and brave, and I still think that you are someone whom I care for very deeply. But then again, why bother to separate the two? As Sailor Venus, you're still the same person. Nobody ever asked you to make all those sacrifices. I never asked you to die for me. But you did. Do you know that I still have the image of that moment during the battle with Galaxia emblazoned in my memory, and that no matter how hard I try I can never forget it? The shadow of your back, surrounded by the brilliant glow of golden light . . . Did you know that I was crying before your body even hit the ground? I hate crying, I just hate it. The tears sliding down my own cheeks revolted me. I didn't understand at the time. I didn't understand *why*. . . Minako-chan, every sacrifice that you have ever made was your own choice. You know that, don't you? And you must have made those choices because you felt that there was something that you had to protect, something that you believed in, something that was important enough for you to give up your life and your happiness. Have you forgotten what that was, that important thing? I'm not going to berate you about fulfilling your duty as a soldier and a guardian. No, you taught me that there was more to life than that. Duty and obligation be damned. But I do believe that there was a reason that you've fought for so many years, and a reason why you've sacrificed so much. And you seem to have forgotten it. If you threw away your henshin pen and abandoned the Sailor Senshi, I wouldn't love you any less. I wouldn't begrudge you for it at all. I love you for being Aino Minako, and I know that you deserve a better life than what fate has so far given you. But I do urge you to reconsider your career as a Sailor Senshi. I'm sure that there was something important about being Sailor Venus, something that you have forgotten about. No, don't ask me what it is - I don't know! It's a question that only you can answer. When does school end for you? I want to see you again. I miss you terribly. Love, Yaten. * * * * * * * * * * Yaten-chan; Last Wednesday night I was awake until midnight, studying for my arithmetic final. I took the test on Thursday morning, and I got the results back this morning. I got an 88, isn't that wonderful?! I needed to pass the final, or else I would have to make up the course this summer! I tried really hard just to pass the test, I never expected to actually *do well*! This afternoon I played the Sailor V video game at the Crown Arcade. Don't worry, I'm wasn't blowing off any homework. I'm officially finished with my first year of high school, and I felt like I deserved a break. So I played the game, and guess what? I set a new record for the highest score! Motoki was totally awed. He was just staring at me with these huge eyes, and his mouth was all hanging open, and he was utterly speechless. I laughed so hard when I saw his face, I thought that I was going to give myself a hernia. Motoki is so cute when he's surprised. I've been on some sort of high lately, and I can't explain it. I don't cry at night anymore. I still feel like something big is going to happen, something that perhaps I would rather not have happen. But it's cool now. If it's a new enemy, then I can deal with it. I can take anything that the world throws at me. I have a vacation before the next school year starts. I'd like to see you as soon as possible. I've done a lot of thinking since I received your last letter. (And I've consequently gotten a lot of headaches! Ha ha. Stupid blonde joke.) Anyway, I think that I may have found some sort of an answer . . . I might now what that important thing is. But I'm sick and tired of writing letters. I want to see your face again, I want to hear your voice. I want to talk to you, Yaten-chan. I feel very genki today. Can you tell? Love and hugs, Minako. PS: Artemis says hello again. Usagi told me to tell you to say hi to Seiya. I told her that Seiya was a girl now, and she kind of blushed and mumbled something incoherent and said to say hi anyway. PPS: Ami says hello to Taiki. PPPS: Makoto says hello to Taiki. PPPPS: Heck, everybody says hello. And they demand photographs. Lots and lots of photographs. Even Haruka and Michiru, who claim that they're curious about what Kinmoku really looks like. PPPPPS: By the way, Haruka and Michiru have been looking at me funny ever since I asked them that question . . . I wonder what they're thinking . . . Yesterday we were all at Haruka's house having ice cream sodas, and Makoto and I were sharing one with two straws. You should have seen the looks that Haruka was shooting us, you would have just burst out laughing . . . Poor Makoto, she was totally oblivious . . . or the other day when Usagi and I were out shopping together and we were holding hands and Michiru saw us and kind of raised one eyebrow . . . What am I babbling about? I had better end this letter quickly, before it dissolves into total nonsense! Ja ne! * * * * * * * * * * Minako-chan; I'm glad that you're happy again. I can't wait to see you. Send me a place, date, and time for a meeting and I'll do my best to be there. I finally got around to showing your pictures to everyone else here. Seiya flipped out when she saw Chibi- Usa. "There was a kid?! She had a kid all along?! When was this?!" I tried to explain that Chibi-Usa was from the future, but I don't think that Seiya was listening to me. Kakyuu-hime just laughed and laughed, and Taiki did her strange little giggle . . . If I hadn't known better, I could have sworn that the two of them were harmonizing with their laughter . . . Finally Seiya calmed down, and commented that "the kid looks like a freak. If *I* were the father, she could be much cuter." Kakyuu-hime pointed out quite logically that there was no way that Seiya could ever be a father, judging simply by the size and shape of her chest. Seiya then cheerfully bounced her assets and declared, "And WHAT a chest it is!" I never heard Taiki laugh so hard in my life. I seriously thought that she was going to choke to death on her own giggles. So, as you can guess, things are just fine around here. The weather is very warm, and sometimes there are these amazing thunderstorms that form over the ocean. Last night I was sitting on a sand dune and watching a storm brewing far away, just over the horizon. I finally managed to take some decent photographs of the lightning. The olive orchard is in full bloom. I wish that I could show it to you. Not just in a photograph, but for real. I want to talk a walk with you through the olive trees, and we can perhaps steal a kiss underneath the blossoms. Do you still want to kiss me? I can't wait to see you again. Love and kisses, Yaten. PS: I've included a collection of photographs that I've taken over the past month or so. That should satisfy the curious masses, at least for now. * * * * * * * * * Yaten-chan; At 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, meet me in Juuban Park near the fountain. There shouldn't be anybody around at that time of night. I don't know how you plan on coordinating the date and time, seeing as how it's different on Kinmoku . . . but I trust you. Love and kisses, Minako. * * * * * * * * * * Minako-chan; I'll be there. By the way, it's not a problem to coordinate the date and time. Like I said, anybody can bend space and time to their will. Provided that they wish hard enough. Kisu, Yaten. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Juuban Park would have been dark and foreboding, if not for the scattered street-lamps that cast pools of illumination into the sea of inky shadows. It was easy enough to locate the fountain, because the tall glittering spires reflected the silvery moonlight in such a manner that the entire structure seemed to glow. Minako pounded toward the fountain, willing her legs to run faster than she honestly believed that they were capable of. Yaten was already sitting on a bench beside the fountain, swinging her legs back and forth as she tapped her fingers on her thighs. Minako skidded to a halt in front of the startled Yaten, paused only long enough to adjust her center of gravity, and then threw herself forward, wrapping the other girl in her embrace. "Yaten-chan!!!!! I missed you so much so much so much--" "I appreciate the sentiment, but please remember that I need to breathe oxygen in order to survive," came Yaten's muffled reply from somewhere within Minako's arms. "Gomen," Minako giggled as she pulled herself away from Yaten. Then she cocked her head curiously, running her gaze up and down Yaten's petite body. "You look different than I expected." "Well, I am a woman after all." Yaten rose off the bench and stood facing Minako, shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot. She was wearing a comfortable old t-shirt, a pair of jeans and worn sneakers, and taken her hair out of its customary ponytail so that the silvery strands framed her shoulders and fell in soft layers across her back. As if anticipating Minako's next comment, Yaten murmured sheepishly, "I don't normally dress nicely for intergalactic travel. And I didn't want to draw any attention to myself. I didn't want anybody to recognize me." Minako pursed her lips. Why was Yaten worried about something like *that*? Minako had admittedly spent a couple of hours choosing the right blouse-and-skirt combination for this meeting, and washing her hair with just the right shampoo so that it would shine softly in the moonlight, and choosing just the right shade of eyeshadow . . .The trick was not to dress up, but to dress casually and still appear to be the paragon of feminine beauty. Artemis had berated her, telling her that she shouldn't care so much about how she looked. It was going to be dark outside, anyway. But she suddenly did care about how she looked in front of Yaten. And she was mildly surprised when the other girl indicated that she too had considered her appearance. Or at least worried about her lack of a nice appearance. Minako frowned, scrutinizing Yaten. "No, no, it's not that . . . You still look different than I expected . . . Oh, I know! I didn't expect you to be so pretty." There was a moment of silence as Minako's epiphany echoed in the calm night air. Finally, Yaten smiled at her flushing, embarrassed companion. "Baka. You'll never change." Then she shrugged. "But you won't hear me complaining about it anytime soon. So, you had something that you wanted to talk to me about?" "Hai! It was about what you said in your letter to me. About the important thing. The thing that caused me to fight on as a Sailor Senshi." "Did you find your important thing?" Minako cast her eyes downward. "H-hai . . ." she mumbled softly as she studied her toes. Yaten squinted her eyes in the darkness, trying to determine whether Minako was blushing again or not. She took a step toward the other girl. "Ne, Minako-chan, do you want to tell me what that is?" Minako glanced upward, her gaze traveling the length of Yaten's body and coming to rest on her emerald eyes. There were so many curves and shadows and gently- shaped pools of light and darkness covering that body, most of which had not been there the last time that they saw each other. Minako took a hesitant step forward, then stopped herself. "I--" she began, then choked on her own voice. Before the first tear had a chance to slide down Minako's cheek, Yaten had rushed forward and was pulling the trembling girl into her embrace. "Don't cry, Minako. Please don't cry. I thought that you had found your important thing. Please don't cry." Minako snuggled her face into Yaten's soft chest. "I did, I did remember what I had forgotten," she murmured. "I'm just so pathetic, I always cry at the dramatic parts of movies, I guess that real life is no different . . ." Yaten nuzzled Minako's ear with her lips. "Just spit it out," she whispered soothingly, teasing Minako's hair with her fingers. "You're far too melodramatic tonight. Is it because of the full moon?" "Important people," Minako sighed. "Hmm?" "Important people. The people that I love. I just can't abandon them! Even if I tried to, even if I wanted to, I couldn't go through with it. Because they mean so much to me. Because I'm proud to fight for them, and I'd gladly sacrifice anything for them. Because sometimes sacrifice is the only way that I can tell a person that I love her." "The only way?" Yaten contemplated as she ran her fingers through Minako's golden hair. Minako lifted her head from Yaten's chest and stared her squarely in the eye. "That's my answer, Yaten- chan. That's why I'd sacrifice anything to fight as a Sailor Senshi. I don't care about saving the human race, I don't care about saving this entire planet from the forces of destruction. At least, not as much as I should. Not as much as I care about my own petty little life. But I *do * care about the people that I love, my important people. I want them to be happy, I want them to be safe, and I want to protect them from harm. In the end, I guess that's pretty selfish in and of itself. But I would die to protect a loved one. I have died to protect my loved ones. And I'll do it again, too. No regrets, no complaints." Yaten flinched, momentarily caught up in a memory that she had already told Minako would haunt her forever. Why would she say something like that? "Ne, Minako-chan . . . Do you still want to kiss me?" Their faces were already hovering inches away from each other. Minako was suddenly very much aware of how closely her body was pressed to Yaten's body, how Yaten's hands were already entwined in her long hair, how unearthly beautiful the other girl looked with the full moon illuminating the locks of silver hair that floated around her face. "Ano, I've never kissed another girl before," Minako whispered breathlessly. "Are you afraid?" "Yes." "Then close your eyes and hold still. I'll kiss you. And afterward, if you'd like, I can whisk you away to a far- away planet where we can kiss again underneath the olive blossoms. Would you like that?" "You want me to go with you to . . ." Minako's eyes widened, shining brilliantly in the moonlight. "I . . . I won't be able to stay for long. Artemis will wonder where I went, and my mother will punish me . . ." "It won't take very long. Just a short while, ne? I might not be able to see you again for a time, and I want to share some things with you before we return to writing letters again." A smile finally began to form on Minako's lips. "You've done so much for me. In your letters, and just tonight. I don't know how to thank you." "Iie. I'm just returning the favors that you once did for me. Are you still afraid?" "Yes. But I trust you." "Then close your eyes." Minako then decided that she was well beyond the point of no return, and with a sigh of resignation she relaxed her body in Yaten's arms and slowly slid her eyelids shut. Abandoning herself to her impulses, Minako accepted Yaten's gentle kiss by wriggling her arms free of the other girl's embrace and flinging them around the back of Yaten's neck, pulling the alien woman closer to her own body as the Earth dissolved underneath the two and the heavens enveloped them. Two shooting stars streaked across the night sky, passing underneath the glowing moon, aiming for a destination thousands of light-years away. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Well, that's that. I hope that I don't incur the wrath of any Minako fans, either with the portrayal of her character or with her eventual love match-up at the end. In all honesty, I can kind of see her character this way. Who gives a crap about altruistically saving the human race, she's only in this to protect her loved ones. Don't think that this is without precedent in the Sailor Moon canon. Remember Michiru and the evil puppet from the Dead Moon Circus in the SuperS special? "A world without Haruka is hardly worth saving." About the "something big" that Minako feels is going to happen: This could be interpreted as a reference to the fact that she is about to find true love. Or a new enemy really could be coming. It never ends, does it? Myself, I'm not sure. I'd say both. Did it rock? Did it suck? Please let me know! Email me at Kotetsu@bishoujosenshi.com . Unfortunately, the day after this is posted on ASMR, I will be leaving for debate camp. Yes, debate camp. Aren't I a nerd? I would really appreciate feedback, but I probably won't be able to respond to any of it for two weeks or so. I would ask y'all to please NOT use my AOL address that I've posted on my previous fic, because I am in the process of deleting that account. If you have trouble picturing Yaten as a female, just keep conjuring up mental images of her in the manga. She was prettier in the manga anyway. ; ) ~ Wot? You didn't know that the Three Lights, even in the anime, are really truly FEMALE? I discuss this issue at length in my website, and even quote specific examples from the anime. They're only male on Earth, they're only male on Earth. And there are many who consider the Sailor Senshi form to be the "true" form of a character anyway. Shameless plug - visit my website! http://www.angelfire.com/in3/starlight Depending upon your browser, if you minimize the pop-up, then it won't keep coming back to haunt you! Much love, Kotetsu.