“Talking.” ‘Thinking.’ @;->-- Change of scene/time /Quick flash back./ @;->--@;->--@;->--@;->--@;->--@;->--@;->--@;->--@;->--@;->@;->--@;-> I’m sorry... “Makoto...” Edwina gently nudges her awake. “We’re there, Makoto.” She whispers into her ear. She found that Makoto was hounded by nightmares, leaving an observer helpless. The only way to calm her down was to brush her bangs out of her face and tell her you’re there. “Come on...” “Huh?” Makoto yawns tiredly and opens her eyes. “What time is it?” She sits up and takes in her surroundings. “Where are we?” “We’re in Cranbrook, BC. And it’s...” Edwina looks at her wristwatch. “12:27 a.m.” “Cranbrook?” Makoto rubs her eyes and yawns. “Alright. Thank you for taking me this far-“ “Cherie.” Edwina brushes back Makoto’s sweat covered hair. “I don’t like leaving you like this.” “I’m fine, Edwina.” Makoto brushes her lips against her knuckles. “I just have to get to Swift Current. From there my uncle will pick me up.” “Cherie.” Edwina looks at her firmly. “I’m not going to let you hitch hike all the way to Winnipeg!” “It’s not Winnipeg...” Makoto mumbles, pulling the blanket closer to herself. “It’s Portage La Prairie.” “That just an hour...you know what? I’m going to buy you a bus ticket. Only He knows you won’t be getting on a plane anytime soon.” Already planning ahead, Edwina turns her car back on and drives. “My family’s here, and I am really sorry that this is as far as I could take you.” “Edwina.” Makoto looks around her frantically. She wasn’t used to people being so nice to her. Like once they got off the plane, Edwina had fed her and offered to drive her into Canada. Makoto didn’t want to impose of course, but she also pointed out that this would be the fastest and cheapest way to get to Ami. “You’ve already done so much for me.” “Not really. You paid for your own meals. I just took you along for the ride.” Edwina pulls into the bus station and gets out. She walks around the front of the car and opens Makoto’s door for her. “You can pay me back the next time we meet, Cherie.” Makoto steps out of the door and walks into the station, Edwina at her side. “I’ll pay for half of it, then.” They both walk up to the counter and wait for the receptionist. @;->-- 8 September 2003 “Hey, dad.” Ami leans over and kisses the top of his head. She takes her seat beside him. She checks the monitors and becomes disheartened to know that he has not improved. ‘At least he’s not getting any worse.’ Ami rakes her hand through her hair. She had barely gotten any sleep last night, and this morning, her mother had made her eat then took her out to see the city. “Well...what was I telling you yesterday?” Ami asks the prone life form. She sighs and lays her head on the bed. “Right. Well...I wish Makoto were here.” @;->-- “Excuse me, sir?” “Yeah?” “What time is it?” “Five o’clock.” “Thank you.” Makoto bows politely and continues walking. She had gotten off at Regina around two, and cashed in the rest of her ride. She ate and began walking. ‘So that’s...nearly three-‘ “Hey, Miss!” A woman in her thirties runs out of the garage and onto the street. She wipes the grease off on her apron. “Are you lost?” “No, ma’am.” Makoto shakes her head. She stretches briefly and waits for her to continue. “Where’re you heading?” “Portage la Prairie.” Makoto state, matter-of-factly. “Right now, I should be in Balgonie, right?” “Yeah.” The woman takes a good look at her, sizing her up for something. “Can you cook?” “Yes” “Clean?” “Yes.” “Carry heavy objects?” “Yes.” “Tell you what, you help me clean out the barn out back and I’ll drive you to Elkhorn, Manitoba. Including pay.” Makoto runs it through her mind. If she took the woman’s offer, she might be able to save quiet a few hours. Maybe even a day. Then there’s the money. ‘It’s not like I like hitchhiking...’ “How long will this take?” “The sooner we finish the sooner we leave.” “All right.” Makoto sticks out her hand. “Kino Makoto...ah...M-Makoto Kino.” “Lea Paishk.” Lea takes Makoto’s hand and shakes it firmly. “You might want to change, though. I’m not sure you could work in...” She waves her hand over Makoto’s school uniform. “That.” “I could work in anything.” Makoto shrugs, walking around the house into the back. “If you stay away from the barn, we’ll leave tonight.” She calls back, not waiting for an answer. She puts her bag down and pushes the gates open. Inside was a total mess; broken wood, chains, tools, hay, engines and even a cow. Makoto blinks. ‘This reminds me of Adrian’s house...’ But noticing that most things were heavy objects, Makoto pulls out her transformation pen. “JUPITER STAR POWER!!” Sailor Jupiter smirks. ‘Ohhhh yeahhhh...’ Dusting off her hands, Jupiter sets to work. @;->-- “Minako’s the blonde one. She’s selfish and shallow but she just loves romance. I’ve noticed that Makoto never tries to correct her when she gets her quotes wrong.” Ami shrugs, now squeezing a stress ball. It was almost time for her to go now, but how could she leave him like this? ‘All I want for my birthday is for him to wake up. Please...’ Ami blinks back tears. “Maybe she just gave up on trying but I don’t think so. I think she’ll just let Minako say it how she wants, as long as it makes her happy and doesn’t get herself into trouble...” The tears come again but this time, she doesn’t fight them as she looks down at her watch. She had to leave in a few minutes. “All I want is for you to wake up...”? “Ami...” Wanda walks in with a wet rag and goes over to stand beside Ami. “He’s not going to be waking up tonight. You’re doing a lot by talking to him, Ami. But I’m sure he wouldn’t want you to stress like this over him. You’re going to end up making yourself sick.” “I know, but...” Ami takes the rag and wipes her face. It was cool so it would help her hold back the tears. “Thank you, Wanda. For everything.” “I’m glad I could help but-“ “Thank you.” Ami repeats. She kisses her dad and tells him she’ll see him tomorrow. Ami gets up and just as quick, falls to the ground. “When was the last time you ate?” Wanda asks, helping her up off the ground. “Ah...” Ami thinks back. “This morning.” She and Wanda both shake their heads. Ami’s breath catches involuntarily and she collapses again. She brings her hand up to her chest, gasping for breath. Wanda lays her on her back. “Just breath, Ami. Ami!” The last thing Ami heard was the sound of her mother’s frantic voice. Suddenly everything goes white. /“Are you alright?”/ “What?” Ami looks around her. Nothing and no one was there. She was alone in an endless white void. /“What do you think?” A child screams./ “What’s going on?” Now Ami was frantic. Some one, a child, was crying. “Who are you?” “It’s alright Ami.” Ami whips around and gasps. “...Makoto...” /“Leave me alone!”/ “What’s going on...?” Ami walks into Makoto’s arms, seeking comfort. Feeling Makoto’s real, she brings her hands up and pulls her closer. “I’m scared, Makoto...” “Don’t be.” Makoto strokes her hair gently. Colour swirls around them. Shapes form, but it was still too blurry to see anything. /“Miss Kino!”/ /“NO!!” A thunderbolt hurtles itself across the room and destroys the bookshelf behind the servants. “Just leave me alone...” Makoto collapses to the ground crying. A young boy wraps his arms around her. “Please...” Makoto tries to push him away but he remains relentless./ “Makoto?” Ami looks away from the children on the ground and up into Makoto’s solemn emerald eyes. “I don’t...understand.” “Neither do I...” Makoto clears her voice, takes a quick look around then looks down at Ami. “This happened a while after my parents died. I just don’t remember...the bookshelf.” “Who’s that-“ Ami gasps, startled. They weren’t in the room anymore. They were in a sea of flowers. “What’s going on?” Makoto steps in front of Ami, a maternal instinct told her they were not alone. “Where are you!” Makoto turns her wide eyes behind them to push Ami out of the way in time for the fist to miss her. Makoto takes hold of the wrist and flips the assailant over her hip, a few metres away. The figure spins in the air and lands on his feet. Before Makoto could take a good look, the man leapt into the air. She closes her eyes and waits, knowing that if she tried to follow, she’d only blind herself by the sun. She easily falls into a crouching position, rolls back and kicks upwards, pushing him up and away. The assailant sails through the air and lands harshly on his back. Makoto curls up, pushes herself up with her arms and lands gracefully on her feet. “Now. Tell me who you are.” She casually turns her back on the assailant and helps Ami to her feet. “Are you okay?” “Yeah.” Ami nods warily. The man behind her starts laughing. “You always had balls, Koto.” Makoto slowly turns around, her face deathly pale. “Papa?” Tears spring into her eyes but she blinks them back. A woman’s arm snakes around Makoto’s neck, holding a lily under her nose. “Sorry we took so long.” The woman pulls Makoto into a hug from behind. “I’m sorry-“ “Mom...” Makoto clears her throat and steps away, hiding her eyes. “What’s going on?” “You never were big on manners.” Makoto’s mom had thick chestnut hair and grey eyes. She walks over to her husband, who had an odd combination of jet-black hair and emerald eyes. “Makoto?” Ami tentatively lays her hand on Makoto’s arm, unsure of the girl’s reaction. “Seems we’ll have to do this ourselves.” The man walks up to them, takes Ami’s hand and gently kisses her knuckles. “I’m Kino Colt.” The man smirks at Makoto. “But you can call me papa.” “I’m Mirium Kino.” Makoto’s mom takes Ami’s hand and shakes it delicately. “Makoto’s-“ “No.” Makoto takes Ami’s hands in her own and steps back. “My parents died in a plane crash. You can no longer use them against me.” She steps in front of Ami, facing her parents, electricity forming around her hands. “Goodbye.” “SUPREME THUNDER CLAP!!” @;->-- 9 September 2003 “Makoto. We’re there.” Lea brushes back her strawberry blonde hair and shakes Makoto. “Wake up.” “Ugh...” Makoto rolls to the side and hits the door. “What the...” She blinks. ‘Door?’ She sits up, yawns and stretches. “Where are we? W-what day is it?” “It’s September 9th um...” Lea waves her hand, dismissing the rest. “And you’re in Portage la Prairie.” ”I thought you were only going to take me to Elkhorn.” Makoto wipes the sleep away from her eyes and yawns again. “Yeah well...you saved me a couple days and it looked like you could use the sleep.” Lea shrugs and looking at their surroundings she hands Makoto a sub. “I figured I could take you a little farther. But now that I’m here I don’t know where to go.” “...Thank you, Lea.” Makoto wipes the tears from her eyes. She clears her throat and points further down the street. “Just drop me off at the seven eleven.” She eyes the sub curiously, checking the ingredients. A slow grin crosses her face and she bites into it, tasting it critically. “This is good.” After getting her observations, Makoto eats it like any normal teen her age. “You know I’m going to pay you back.” “Oh no you don’t.” Lea parks her truck at Seven Eleven and gets out. She walks around the front and opens the door. “I just took it from your salary.” “...Good.” Makoto packs the rest and gets out. “I’m going to call my uncle to send the-to send the car. When it comes, I want you to do me one last favour, okay?” “Sure thing.” She helps Makoto out and they walk into the store, side by side. “One day, I’m really going to get you.” “For what?” “One day...” @;->-- “It was just an anxiety attack.” Ami pulls on her jacket. “It’s nothing to worry about.” The image of Makoto’s parents pops into her mind, but she quickly shakes it out. ‘It wasn’t really them.’ “But Ami...” Wanda pulls Ami into a room and lowers her voice. “This may be the only way you could stay the night. You know, to be with your father.” “I know.” Ami looks at the clock. She had to make a decision, and fast. “But I can’t just leave my mother alone. Besides, I feel bad lying. And tomorrow’s your day off-“ “Because I’m working the night shift.” Wanda finishes. She sighs and walks Ami out the door. “I really do hope he’ll be up tomorrow. And if I can’t make it... happy birthday.” “Thank you, Wanda.” Ami pulls her into a hug. Shortly after, she gets into her mother’s car. “I just wish that you could have spent it with your friends.” Wanda gently closes the door before Ami could say anything and hurries back into the hospital. “Me too, Wanda. Me too.” Ami sits there, staring at the hospital for a whiled before turning back to her mother. “I’m sorry, mom.” “I’m just happy that you’re alright.” Kaya leans over and kisses Ami’s forehead. “My little girl...I’m sorry they couldn’t be here and I’m sorry that he hasn’t woken up.” “There‘s nothing you could have done about it.” Ami sits back and buckles her seatbelt. ‘What would Makoto do in my shoes?’ The image of Makoto attacking- ‘No. She’d try to make light of the situation. But I can’t.’ “Shouldn’t the shipment be in by now?” Kaya buys her way out of the parking lot and starts out. She screeches to a stop and honks her horn. “Well look at that.” Kaya shakes her head as the limo backs up to let her pass. “Who in this city would drive a limo?” “Hm?” Ami glances at her mother but keeps her attention on the limo. The limo stops beside the hospital and someone gets out. “Sorry, what?” The figure staggers out and into the hospital. “Did you see who it was?” “No.” Ami shakes her head, watching the Hospital disappear in the side view mirror.
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