When I’m Sober
Four women marched down the halls of the Moon Palace. Formal gowns swished from side to side. Three sets of heels effortlessly matched pace. One was more than slightly off kilter.
Rei snarled. “I told you I hate these outfits.”
“And I think I’ve made it abundantly clear that I.Don’t.Care.” Minako smiled and winked at the irritated Priestess.
Ami raised an eyebrow at Makoto. The taller woman simply hid a snicker behind her hand at Rei’s plight. At least now they were fairly confident in their understanding as to why their leader had asked them to dress up for what had seemed like no reason.
“Here we are,” Minako announced as she swung open the heavy doors to the Princess’ outdoor courtyard.
Lying on her stomach in the soft grass of a small garden in the court’s center, Princess Serenity turned to the intrusion and her eyes lit up upon seeing her guardians. As they approached, Serenity was quick to rearrange the holographic images displayed before her, quickly sending the image on top behind the rest.
She rose daintily, patting at the bits of grass that clung to her flowing white dress before trotting to her friends.
Rei was her first target and she wrapped her arms around the stiff Martian’s bare shoulders. “Rei-chan, your hair looks wonderful in a braid! You should wear it this way more often.” She said this sagely as her fingers toyed with the thick, ebony tail.
“Ch’.” Rei cursed. “Whatever.”
Minako scowled in the Priestess’ general direction but Rei had discovered her mistake too late, and the woman who had braided her hair in the first place turned a cold shoulder, even as Serenity abandoned Rei for the Venusian.
“Don’t be upset, Mina-chan, I’ll bet your hair would look beautiful braided too!”
Minako chuckled, all traces of animosity gone as she returned her Princess’ feverish embrace. Before she knew it, the woman was flittering off towards her other two guardians, eager to dote as equally on Makoto and Ami.
Rei watched this unabashed display of affection with a detached fondness, a distant smile on her lips. The Princess was endearing, indeed, and she found herself envious of the ease at which Serenity displayed her emotions.
‘Unlike someone else I know.’ Rei mused, even if she was completely aware that she wasn’t only referring to Minako, but herself.
Feeling familiar eyes on her, she turned to the Venusian, who snapped her gaze away once she’d been caught. Minako stuck her nose to the air with a quiet “Hmpff.”
When the exuberant Princess could finally be coaxed into relaxing, the five women spread themselves about on the grass of the courtyard. Serenity’s hands were clasped within the leader of her senshi’s.
“Ne, Mina-chan, Mother tells me that the youma invasions on the other planets might be tied to planet Earth.” Watery eyes implored her guardian. “Tell me it isn’t so.”
The Venusian smiled sadly. She wished nothing more than to tell Serenity what she hoped to hear but she loved her charge too much as to blatantly lie.
“Our last mission indicated that this is the case, Princess,” those blue eyes lowered to the ground and for Minako, it was akin to a punch in the gut, “but we still have more research to do, and the conclusion is not final.” She urged. And even as that excited sparkle returned to the Princess’ eyes, Minako chastised herself for allowing for false hope.
“You do love the Earth so, don’t you, Serenity-chan?”
Ami’s gentle voice was a boon to the young woman, and she nodded eagerly.
“As if this were any clue,” Makoto chuckled deeply, reaching for the transparent tiles of the stack of holograms that the Princess had all but forgotten. The Jovian’s fingers touched the topmost tile, and the transparent image sprang into bright, vivid colors. It displayed in great clarity an island nation surrounded by a brilliant, aqua ocean.
“Nippon.” Ami said sagely. “Earth’s ruling nation.”
The Princess nodded and Makoto tapped the image to display the next - a wooded valley from which tall green and rocky cliffs surrounded three sides. A river meandered around this valley and in its center, a stone city stood as an imposing fortress.
“Edo. Nippon’s capital.”
Serenity nodded once more, and Makoto cycled through several more images of the city’s noteworthy attractions while the Jovian’s counterpart was quick to rattle off the names of each.
But nearing the last image, Serenity’s hand reached out hesitatingly, and Ami’s voice hitched in her throat.
The image of a tall, dark haired man sporting a black cloak and shoulder armor sat on a throne. His deep brown eyes seemed very kind.
Rei’s eyes narrowed perceptibly as she examined that image.
“…Prince… Endymion.” Ami finally said.
Serenity grabbed the images and they winked back into faint, transparent tiles. “It’s a part of my studies.” She was quick to clarify.
Ami fidgeted slightly. “Of course, Princess.”
Minako drew herself up, assuming her station. “Lets discuss out next steps.” The women took the distraction eagerly, Serenity included. “We don’t know for sure that Earth holds the answer to the youma invasion.”
Rei practically glared daggers, but the Venusian forced herself to ignore the other woman. The rest of her senshi gave her mixed looks and she tempered their concern by shifting her eyes in Serenity’s direction.
“And we can’t just march onto Earth looking for answers and do as we wish.”
“Why not?” Rei demanded.
“Because the Earth is a protected place.” Minako nearly hissed.
“Rei-san,” Ami urged, too eager to quell the tension between the two willful women with her gentle knowledge, “The Moon Kingdom designated the Earth as neutral territory and declared themselves protectors of that planet three years ago. However…”
Her voice quieted and she cast her gaze at her Princess. “The Earth seems to be growing weary of the Moon of late. They had initially agreed to the arrangement when Prince Endymion and their ruling class met here for discussions three years ago, but the people of that planet seem to be changing their minds. The general consensus is that the Moon Kingdom is holding them under our thumb, and reports indicate that they grow mistrustful of our intent, and harbor fears of our long life spans, wealth, and technological powers.”
Minako snorted, and sniped at Rei. “You’d know all this if you barbarians would pull your head out of your civil wars once in awhile.”
“We just want to help them.” Serenity’s voice was a sad whisper.
Rei’s mouth shut with an audible click. She hadn’t the heart to continue to argue a point that had already passed with the Venusian.
Makoto laid a supportive hand on her Princess’ shoulder. “We’ll try our best.”
“Talks are slated to start soon,” Ami informed Rei, “between the Earth and the Moon. Hopefully, we can clear up some of the misunderstandings.”
“And in the meantime, Earth is to remain off limits.” Minako reinforced. “We’ll develop another plan to gather information on the youma threat.”
Makoto rested her chin in her hand. “We’ll be torn in many different directions.”
The Venusian nodded. “We’ll be tasked with attending the talks with the Earth, ongoing research of the youma threat, and I’m declaring that our guard of the Princess should increase soon as well.”
This comment was met with a whine from the woman in question. Minako smiled indulgently and squeezed Serenity’s hand. “We have to ensure your safety. No more missions like our last one. One of us will always be by your side.”
The Princess nodded, and accepted her fate.
“Mina-chan, shouldn’t you be with the others? I thought the four of you were going to develop a plan for your next mission.” Serenity’s voice was soft and coaxing.
“Yes, I’ll join them soon.” Plans had already started to form in the Venusian’s mind, but they could wait for the moment. Minako stepped closer to her Princess. “I… hope you don’t mind, Serenity-chan, but, there is a question I’d like to ask.”
Serenity took Minako’s hands. “Anything.”
The Venusian’s shoulders stiffened and her hands where they were linked with the Princess’ became quite interesting. “When we attacked the scouting party on Jupiter’s pole, Rei ran out of arrows,” a lengthy pause ensued and Serenity did not press the matter. Minako finally met her Princess’ gaze with darkened eyes, “but she saved me with an arrow born of-“
“Shh.” The Princess of the Moon pressed a finger to her senshi’s lips and when Minako looked to her in question, her sweet smile somehow set the other woman at ease.
“It’s supposed to be this way, Mina-chan.” She smiled sagely. “Now, your friends are waiting for you.”
“Are you researching the youma, Ami-san?”
The blunette didn’t so much as look back to the Priestess and her fingers never missed a beat. “No. Something unrelated, but just as interesting. A phenomenon that I’ve been tracking over the past several years.”
Makoto sidled towards the smaller woman and laid a hand on the shoulder the Martian wasn’t standing over. “Sunspot activity again?”
“Un.” Ami said, and finally turned her attention to Rei. “The solar maximum was five years ago, so we should be in a period of solar minimum. But… the sun has been showing an unprecedented amount of activity in the past three years.”
“Three years?” Rei asked.
“Yes. Solar flares and sunspots have grown increasingly more common and more and more intense. I fear that if it continues at this rate, the whole solar system could be affected. Temperature increases, droughts, crop failures, the cascading effect could prove most worrisome.”
“This is all hypothetical though.” Rei said, rather than asked.
“Well, yes.”
“Then stop worrying, Ami-chan.” Makoto said, ruffling the other woman’s bangs messily.
Never the less, as distracted hands smoothed her blue hair back down, the Mercurian squinted uneasily at the data before her.
Suddenly, the door swung on its hinges, and that loud disruption heralded Venus Minako. The golden haired woman marched forward, the heels of her shoes muffled by the thick, ornate rug beneath her feet.
“Rei, you’re coming with me.” She barked.
The Priestess frowned. “Eh?”
“We’re going to Mercury.”
“That would be the logical step for the next mission.” Ami said. She turned back to her computer, minimized the window she was analyzing, opened a new one, and began inputting data immediately. “I will stay behind. By supporting your mission via the Moon’s Eternity Main System, I can analyze and theorize much quicker from here.”
“I’ll accompany you two.” Makoto said gruffly.
“No. You’ll stay here and guard the Princess. We already decided to up her security detail.”
The Jovian’s hazel eyes hardened. “But, for only two senshi to… “ She caught herself. Rei was a formidable warrior, and it was easy to forget she wasn’t one of them. “I mean, the two of you shouldn’t go to a pole full of youma alone.”
“Minako and I are up to this task. Besides,” she said causally, ”I’m the only one that can sense them and track their locations.”
Rei’s quiet words seemed to strengthen Minako, and the Venusian stood taller, a small amount of softness in her eyes tempering her commanding tone. “We’ve done it before.”
The Jovian’s shoulders slumped. ”Fine, but that means the both of you have to agree to two conditions.” Minako raised an interested brow and Makoto continued in a serious tone. “First, you have to agree that you’ll not go looking for trouble. No fighting the youma if you can avoid it.”
“And second?” Minako asked her tall subordinate.
“No fighting with each other, either.”
Rei and Minako looked to each other. Eyebrows rose. Amused snorts fired off at the same time.
“We’ll try to behave ourselves.”
‘I don’t know if I could have gotten her out of that dress faster.’ She considered.
The leader of the senshi was momentarily caught off guard at the intensity of the thought. She shrugged it off. She had only meant to express the Martian’s dislike for formal wear. ‘She does look quite handsome in that getup, though.’
“For as much as you stare at that sea, one would think you’d want to go swimming.”
It could have been bait, but Rei chose not to bite, and continued to marvel at the ocean as the sun trekked across the rim of the mountains that bordered that body of water. “We have nothing like it on Mars. I’ve never seen anything so breathtaking.”
The Venusian titled her head, surprised that the Martian would be so candid. A distant smile touched her lips. Was she starting to open up to her?
Rei finally turned to the presence she’d sensed before Minako’s words had heralded her appearance, and she quickly found herself questioning the validity of her last statement.
For she very much had lost her breath.
The Venusian had also shed her formal wear for more casual Lunarian fare. In direct contrast to the Martian’s neatly tailored trousers and fitted shirt, Minako sported a short skirt and gauzy blouse and the sides of her long, blonde hair were pinned up into a half ponytail.
Minako smiled softly. Empathic as she could be, she basked in the reaction she’d hoped for. “Why don’t we get a closer look?” She offered quietly.
“At what, exactly?” The slightest on inflections laced Rei’s voice and the two women stared at each other for a long moment.
The golden warrior straddled the fine line for a tense moment, and then smiled widely. “At the sea, of course!” She exclaimed. “Or more precisely, Montes Haemus,” she pointed to the foot of the mountain range that began where the Moon Palace ended. The lights of the city nestled at the water’s edge beckoned brightly. “Only the best seaside shopping this side of Venus.”
Rei frowned. “Shouldn’t we be preparing for our mission? I thought Ami-san was going to brief you on-”
“Stop being so boring!” Minako cried. “ Besides, I’m the leader, and I say we’re going shopping. You might like it here more than you think. Let me show you around a little.”
The Martian looked to the hand offered before her. Her eyes narrowed. She suspected a trap. “What is this, a date?”
Minako smirked and forcibly took Rei’s hand, pulling the slightly taller woman to her feet. “If that’s what makes you happy.” She said dismissively.
Paper lanterns lined the narrow cobblestone streets that wound along the foothills of Montes Haemus. The streets were wide enough only for foot traffic and a small collection of mismatched tables and chairs that bordered the sidewalk cafes. At one of those tables, Rei and Minako sat comfortably.
Several shopping bags were gathered at the Priestess’ feet, clothes and accessories nearly spilling from each one. Most of it belonged to the Venusian, but an outfit or two belonged to the Martian, who had been desperate for any excuse to keep the clingy leader of the senshi out of her dressing room while she changed into outfit after outfit pushed upon her by said woman – even if it meant purchasing clothes she’d likely never wear.
Minako leaned across the table, supporting herself on an elbow while she spun her crimson wine around the edge of a wide glass lazily. A wide smile slowly captured her lips.
“I’ve drank two more than you.” She declared.
Rei smirked at the singsong quality of the Venusian’s voice. “Last time I checked, this wasn’t a competition.”
Minako snorted. “You’ve gone soft.”
The Priestess stood suddenly and collected the bags at her feet. “Back to the palace with you. You’ve reached your limit, and we have a mission in the morning.”
The Venusian blew a raspberry in the Martian’s general direction. “You’re no fun.”
“I’ve never claimed to be.” Rei said simply as she shifted their bags to one hand and wrapped an arm around Minako’s waist to pull the other woman to her feet. As expected, the Venusian leaned into Rei’s form eagerly, and the Priestess led them down the busy street, unsurprised when Minako began to fully take advantage of the situation.
Rei stiffened. The golden warrior’s hands had always had a propensity to wander, but this was a bit much. There were everywhere – around her waist, along her ribcage, pressed against the small of her back, resting on her hip in the bare spot at her midriff between her shirt and the low waist of her trousers… the Priestess shuddered. And why couldn’t she help but notice that the slightly smaller blonde fit against her side so comfortably?
“People are watching.” She finally hissed.
Minako sucked her teeth noisily. “Let them.” She met Rei’s amethyst eyes with no small amount of amusement. “Unless you could honestly say that you wouldn’t appreciate two beautiful women walking down the street arm in arm?”
Rei snorted and looked away. Minako won.
“Besides, I think you like it.” Minako said smugly.
“Or maybe I just don’t have a free hand to ward off your drunken advances.”
The Venusian chuckled. “Aren’t we doing this all backwards?”
“What?”
“Isn’t the sober one supposed to take advantage of the drunken one?”
“I hate to break this to you, Minako, but it’s not seduction if you tell the other party what you’re doing.”
Guided by the dim streetlights and the pinpoint brightness of the fabricated stars above, their laughter mingled as the two women left the city proper and reentered the Moon Palace. Both women blinked, disoriented, as they left the confines of the town’s false night, and the brightness of full day on the moon caused them both to stumble slightly. However, despite the appearance of mid afternoon, the hour was late, and most Lunarians would be fast asleep.
“Quiet now,” Rei warned gently, “or you’ll wake the entire Palace.”
Indeed, Minako’s alcohol induced laughter had tapered off, and the woman’s tiring form relied more and more on Rei’s strength to see her to her to her room.
The Martian dropped the handful of bags at the Venusian’s door in order to be able to turn the knob, and with some amount of effort, she pushed the bags inside the door with a foot, pulled the woman in her arms out of the hallway, and then managed to shut the door behind her with her foot.
The golden-blue glow provided by the Sun and the Earth where it streamed through a small crack in the heavy curtains that shielded the window was ample light to see by, and Rei guided Minako across the large room to an expansive bed. With one arm, she held the Venusian to her chest as she pulled sharply on the soft comforter and the sheet below. When she began to gently lower the blonde to the bed, deceptively strong arms tightened around her neck.
“Its okay, I’m just-“
Rei’s breath hitched in her throat when warm, wet lips kissed her on the cheek. Then on her jaw line. Then on the tender skin of her neck, where Minako’s lips lingered temptingly long.
Rei ducked out of Minako’s embrace and stood straight. A hand was quick to dart out and grab her wrist before the Martian could pull away.
“Stay with me tonight.” Minako nearly pleaded.
“No.” Rei said quietly. “Not when you’re drunk.”
“When I’m sober then?”
The Martian smiled slightly. She leaned down and planted a feather light kiss on Minako’s forehead. “Goodnight, Princess.”
Rei forced herself to retreat to the door. The small sliver of silver light from the hallway illuminated her gentle features and pale complexion.
“Rei?”
The Priestess looked over her shoulder. “Hmm?”
“I like it when you call me that.”
Rei smiled, and shut the door behind her.
I freely admit that Minako’s 'Call me Princess' line is influenced by PGSM. Wouldn’t it be great to hear Ayaka’s Minako/Venus say that to Keiko’s Rei/Mars? Quite honestly, as much as I enjoyed working with the manga/anime inspired versions of the Sailor Moon characters in this fic, I wish I could have used the PGSM characters. But… I think it just may turn out better this way.
Ah, and more plot is introduced! Sunspot activity may be threatening the solar system. Talks with the Earth will start soon, the youma invasion doesn’t seem to be lessening. What does it all mean?
OOO
Preview, Chapter 6: On Mercury: What You Wanted
Of all things to do, Venus laughed. “If we make it out of this I’m going to kill you.”
Rei snorted. “Now what did I do?”
“That stunt you pulled back there that earned you that wound.”
“The wound is nothing, it’s just a scrape. Look, I’m fine! I’m barely even bleeding.” The Martian sliced the air before her, effortlessly twirling her sword in wide arcs to prove her point.
The golden warrior was unimpressed. “I’m warning you, Rei, don’t you ever sacrifice yourself for me again.”
“Sacrifice?” Rei cried. “What are you talking about? You claim to be this great diplomat, but you know nothing of Martian behaviors-”
The youma took that as their cue and as one, their lumbering forms charged the two women.
But as the wall of monsters approached, the Martian dropped to her knees in a boneless heap. Her hand came to rest above her heart. Her breath all but froze in her lungs. Her vision turned red. ‘What is this?’ Her eyes focused on the golden warrior – standing, she was an easier target, and as fierce claws reached for Venus’ slender form, Rei felt the power she’d experienced on Jupiter surge to life within her.
She didn’t hesitate. She embraced it fully. Rei screamed. She felt like she was on fire.
In reality, she was.
Back to A Single Voice Index - Back to Sailor Moon Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction