[Summer 2004]
Usagi winced as the noise from the construction once again woke
her baby. Hopefully, they would finish soon. She was tired of
sleeping on the futon in the living room. It had all been her
idea, but it hadn't taken much to convince Mamoru to agree. With
Shingo gone and Kenji requiring more and more care, it simply
made sense for the three of them to move back in to her family
home. Ikuko helped with the baby and Usagi helped with her
father and the money she and Mamoru saved went to cover medical
bills. As convenient as the arrangement was, however, Usagi
would be glad when they finished removing the wall between her
old room and Shingo's. She and Mamoru would share that one soon.
Lifting the tired infant gently, Usagi sang a soft lullaby. Her
nipples ached, so she pleaded with all the kami that the baby
would fall back asleep without demanding another feeding. Mamoru
joked that their child's incessant calls for more food came from
her gene pool. The slap upside the head he received in reply was
well deserved in Usagi's opinion. Fortunately, the kami heard
her prayer and Chibi-Usa drifted back to sleep. The kid could
usually sleep through anything, another trait she shared with her
mother.
Normally, Usagi would have taken a nap herself, following the
age-old dictate of "When the baby sleeps, you sleep." Chibi-Usa
had gone through the whole night without waking, though, so Usagi
was making the most of her newfound energy. She sat back at the
dining room table and picked up another news clipping from the
stack.
-----------
"UN Announces Formation of New Commission to Study Hypercancer"
(Geneva) United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced
today the formation of a commission tasked to study the disease
referred to popularly as 'hypercancer.' This ad-hoc body will
be staffed by volunteers from the international medical
community, widely-respected individuals with a wealth of research
and medical expertise. Dr. David Schmidt, a German, will head
the commission, assisted by United Nations staffer Rei Hino of
Japan. ....
----------
"Tokyo Doctor Tabbed for UN Hypercancer Commission"
(Tokyo) Internationally renowned doctor Mizuno Kaya will be
leaving her position at Tokyo General to join the newly-announced
UN Commission on New Diseases, or the "Hypercancer Commission."
At a press conference today, Dr. Mizuno said, "While I will
greatly miss my work here at Tokyo General, I believe that
hypercancer represents the single most powerful threat to the
health of not only the Japanese people, but people all over the
world." A new study released by the Ministry of Health estimates
that, at present rate of expansion, almost 30% of the population
could be infected by the end of this decade. Such rates of
infection have not been seen since the Black Plague swept across
Asia and Europe in the Dark Ages.
------------
Makoto opened the door to her apartment and shuffled inside,
wearily slipping her feet out of her designer shoes. She
couldn't understand how the designers of 'high-fashion' shoes
continually failed to make their products comfortable to wear,
especially at the prices they charged. Unfortunately, the nature
of her position required her to dress fashionably and to convey a
sense of elegance. Her employer certainly compensated her well
enough to afford such things. Still, she wiggled her toes
happily as they came free of their leather bindings.
With a sigh, she settled into an easy chair. She'd eaten on the
job, a pleasant experience when one's job was to manage four-star
restaurants, so there was no need to prepare dinner this evening.
A glance at the wall clocks showed that it was still morning in
California. Ami would be at the library doing research. An
email probably waited for her online, but Makoto couldn't summon
the energy to check it. In fact, she almost dreaded the
prospect.
'I remember when I used to dash to the computer every night when
I got home,' Makoto recalled. Strangely enough, ever since that
trip to San Francisco, and the later one to Tokyo, Makoto found
it harder and harder to generate any enthusiasm for email. All
it did was remind her of how very much she missed her blue-haired
angel and how very lonely she was living by herself. 'Strange,
I've lived alone almost as long as I can remember,' she
considered. 'I guess I never knew how much I hated it until I
caught a glimpse of what life might be like if I wasn't always
alone.'
Reluctantly, Makoto pulled herself up from her chair. Rather
than head to her office, however, she moved into the dining room
and sat at the table where this morning's newspaper waited
patiently.
------------
"Aino Minako Headlines Charity Concert"
(Hong Kong) Over 40,000 pop music fans turned out yesterday to
see a parade of the world's most popular recording artists in
Hong Kong Stadium. Organizers report that revenue from the
concert and associated licensing and merchandizing will generate
in excess of 400M HKD (approx. 46M Euros). All proceeds will be
donated to the UN Hypercancer Commission.
The concert featured such luminaries as Girly Berry,
Kiyotaka, BoA, and Tong. Closing the festivities was pop
superstar Aino Minako....
------------
Makoto had just finished clipping the article on Minako when the
phone rang. Finding something to add to her scrapbook had
lightened her mood immensely. After placing the article
carefully to one side, she moved to her living room.
"Allo," she answered.
"Hi Mako, it's me," Ami responded in an odd tone.
"Ami-love, what are you doing calling me at this hour? Shouldn't
you be at the library or in your lab?" Makoto replied, a wave of
happiness washing over her at the sound of her beloved's voice.
"I would have called you last night, but I didn't want to wake
you since I knew you had a busy day today," Ami explained. "I
figured you'd be home by now. I'm glad you didn't have to work
late!"
"What's going on, love? Please tell me that it's good news," she
requested hopefully. Too many unexpected calls lately had
brought horrible news.
"I think it is. You've heard of the UN Commission, right?"
Makoto nodded, even though Ami couldn't see her. "Sure, I just
got done reading an article about Mina's benefit concert for
them."
"Well, they've asked my mom to join, as one of Japan's
representatives!" Ami announced.
"That's great, Ami-love! I'm sure you're very proud!" Makoto
replied. "Why wouldn't you think that was good news?"
"Well, that's not all," Ami continued more uncertainly. "She's
allowed to hire her own staff to assist her." Ami paused and
Makoto waited patiently. Both women liked to choose their words
carefully at important moments and Makoto could sense that this
was one of those times.
"She's asked me to join her," Ami finally told her.
Makoto smiled proudly, "That's wonderful, love! You've been
doing so much work on your own anyway. I'm sure you'll be of
great help to your mom and the rest of the commission."
"But, Mako," Ami continued, "I haven't even started med school
yet. I just graduated."
"So?" Makoto asked forcefully. Makoto would not stand for anyone
disparaging the accomplishments or qualifications of her one true
love, even Ami herself! "You have been working on this topic all
summer long. You are one of the smartest people in the whole
world, if not THE smartest. You work hard and you help everyone
around you. I can't think of anyone better suited for such a job
than you, no matter what degrees they have!"
There was silence on the line for a few moments. Finally, Ami's
voice returned, trembling slightly. "Thank you, love. I know you
are right, but it always feels so much better hearing it from you
rather than just thinking it myself. I really want to do this."
"And you will!" Makoto declared emphatically. After a moment,
she considered something new. "Ami, does this mean you'll be
moving?"
"My mother has been authorized to do her work in Tokyo. With the
ease of transmitting data and keeping in touch over the internet,
the commission saw no reason for everyone to be co-located. I'll
be moving back there at the end of the summer," Ami explained.
With a deep breath, Ami continued, "Mako, do you think there is
any chance you might get reassigned back to Tokyo anytime soon?
I know that they said it would be a few years, but...I miss you
so much, love. I don't like being away from you."
Tears welled up in Makoto's eyes and spread unnoticed across her
cheeks. "I miss you too, sweetie. More and more every day."
"Oh Mako, I'm sorry. It's not fair for me to ask you to disrupt
your life, to risk your job. I'll manage somehow," Ami offered.
Makoto could hear Ami's tears through the phone even as she wiped
her own away.
"Don't apologize for missing me, Ami-love. Don't ever do that.
The only thing that disrupts my life is not having you here with
me. I'll ask, my love. If they so no, then I'll try to figure
something else out. I want to be with you." Makoto's heart
ached even as her resolve stiffened. She'd left home; she'd
learned a lot and grown incredibly. Now, all she wanted was to go
home again, home to wherever Ami was.
Ami sniffled for a few moments and then collected herself. "I
know you'll do whatever you can, love." She sighed breathily and
added, "I really want to be with you, too."
Sensing the shift in Ami's mood, Makoto smiled warmly and laid
back on her sofa. Her fingers idly toyed with the buttons on her
blouse. "So, you really want to be with me, do you?"
"Mmmm hmmm," Ami agreed.
"And what would you be doing if you were here with me, Ami-love?"
Makoto asked innocently, even as she released her top two
buttons.
"Well," Ami told her in a steamy voice, "I'm sure you had a very
hard day at work." Makoto chuckled in agreement. "So, I think
I'd have you lay down on our bed."
Makoto sighed at the thought of sharing a bed with Ami. How she
hated going to sleep and waking up alone every day! "I guess I
should go do that now, then," she whispered to Ami, taking the
portable phone with her to her bedroom. Gently, she lay herself
down on the covers, pausing to undo the rest of her buttons. Her
blouse fell open, hanging loosely from her broad shoulders.
"And then I'd climb up on the bed over you," Ami continued,
"straddling your back, my bare legs pressed against your sides."
Makoto moaned softly, losing herself in the fantasy Ami was
constructing. As Ami described removing her blouse, Makoto
shrugged her own off onto the floor. Her fingers mirrored Ami's
words as she unclasped her bra and tossed it aside.
"Then, I'd rub your shoulders and your back, kneading out all of
the tension and stress from your day, until you were completely
relaxed," Ami said, her voice thick with feeling.
"And then what, Ami-love?" Makoto asked even as her own fingers
continued their own massage.
"Well, I suppose I'd have you roll over and then...."
Quite awhile later, Makoto reluctantly hung up the phone.
Thanking the kami for cheap pre-paid phone cards, she sat up and
headed for the bathroom to draw a nice warm bath. Tomorrow would
be a big day.
-------------
Minako sorted through her mail listlessly. She dedicated a few
hours each day to replying to fan letters, though she received
far too many to answer each and every one. Responding to her
fans was one of her favorite parts of the job. Unfortunately,
this particular pile of mail was business correspondence. Mina
didn't enjoy this part of the job quite so much.
A knock on her office door shook her out of her doldrums. "Come
in," she yelled.
"Another package for you, Ms. Minako," her assistant informed
her. The young woman strode forward with a long, white box.
"Security has checked it out and it's clean. It came to your
personal address, so it's not from some fan. It's..."
"Don't tell me, silly!" Mina shouted. She could guess who it was
from, since very few people had that particular address. At
least, very few who would be likely to send her a present. "Just
set it here. Thank you!" Mina waved her assistant away in
anxious excitement.
Once she was alone, she examined the box. The red ribbon and bow
bound a small card to the lid. Mina carefully removed both and
set them aside. She didn't know why she always saved the ribbons
and bows from Rei's presents, but she kept doing it anyway. With
that taken care of, she opened the card. There was no
signature, but Mina recognized her love's handwriting. It was a
simple haiku. Minako had to put it down quickly, lest her tears
smear the words.
Deep and gentle eyes
Soft beyond words you draw me
Like a warm meadow
With a happy sigh, she opened the box. Inside, wrapped in baby's
breath and other greenery lay the most beautiful bouquet of
wildflowers she had ever seen. "Oh Rei," she whispered, inhaling
their fresh scent.
A few minutes later, the flowers rested in a vase on her desk and
the ribbon and bow joined their comrades in a box in her closet.
Mina slid the card into her memory book alongside the others she
had received from Rei over the weeks since they had parted.
'We don't even talk all that often,' Mina considered, 'since
we're both so very busy, but every day I feel closer and closer
to her.' With a smile, she remembered the light on the horizon
that was her life. Rei would soon be relocating to Tokyo in her
new position. Her own tour would conclude in a month or so with
a four-show set in her hometown as well (already sold out).
After that, she was going to take a hiatus. Her publicist would
say she was 'in the studio', and likely she would spend some time
there, but, at the moment, the only place Mina wanted to be was
with her love. "Home," she whispered eagerly. At last.
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