Makoto Kino knew she was dreaming, for she had never worn clothes like this. She walked away from the village, the white overcoat of a samurai fluttering around her. A lighter brown haired girl flitted by her side, and she turned a moment to see several figures standing watching them go. The three foolish men she just ignored, but the woman... she drew Makoto's gaze like iron to a magnet. Meeting the black haired woman in the kimono's eyes Makoto recognized her, despite their being relative strangers. As she walked on she felt a stabbing loss, as if she had been met to stay with this elegant woman, but instead she walked on... ...then with a painful cry Makoto awoke, blinking up at her bedroom ceiling. "Damn it,:" she got up, kicking the blankets and grabbing at her clothes. ------------------------------------------------------------ "So," Luna asked as the black cat perched on the table, "what's wrong? You look like you barely slept, Mako-chan." Makoto sighed tiredly, the tall brown haired woman feeling the other girl's gazes resting on her. "I've been having these very vivid dreams," she admitted, "from what almost look like historical movies, or something." "Watching a few too many historical dramas?" Rei Hino asked, the black haired girl pouring them all some tea. Despite her traditional style Rei had a firey temper, one most often brought out by her friend Usagi. "I could feel the clothes I wore," Makoto shook her head, "and I knew exactly what they were, the weapons I carried... all of it." ":That does seem odd," Artenis conceded, the white cat sitting up beside Minako. Ami pushed up her glasses, the blue haired girl looking cutely scholarly as she requested with gentle concern, "Tell me about it." She flipped open her Mercury computer and began to type, "Maybe I can help you research it?" "Thank you," Makoto smiled. "You're welcome," Ami blushed as she looked down at the computer screen. "I had on a kataginu sleeveless jacket," Makoto made herself remember, "and a hakama worn over my kimono." A pause as her eyes widened, "I was carrying a katana... and was a wandering ronin." "You mean you weren't in college?" Usagi blinked innocently, the blonde's hair flowing in two streams from buns on her head. "Baka," Rei shook her head, "that's what ronin means now. In the past a ronin was a masterless samurai warrior." "Rei," Usagi's eyes welled up with years, "don't be so mean." "A woman ronin?" Ami asked, eyes narrowing a bit. "Yeah," Makoto said after a moment's thought. "Ran Tsukikage," Ami said almost instantly as Makoto gazed at her in surprise. "Yes!" Makoto declared as the name seemed to strike a chord deep within her, "How did you know?!" Ami took off her glasses, her expression troubled, "Because I've been having similar dreams, I think." "What?" most of the group asked at the same time. Ami rubbed at her eyes, "The context is different, but when Makoto was describing her dream there was a eerie familiarity to it." "What did you look like?" Makoto had to ask. "Kimono, black hair pinned up," Ami recalled, "I think... I worked in a rice bowl café." "Sakura..." Makoto breathed out. "This is getting just a bit eerie," MInako said after a moment. "Luna," Usagi gazed at the cat intently, "this isn't some negaverse thing, is it?" "No," Luna shook her head, "or at least I don't think so." Artemis looked thoughtful, "Luna, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" "I think so Brain," Usagi murmured, "but where are we going to get peanut butter and a rubber hose?" "Usagi," Rei frowned. Under her breath she added, "Remind me not to lend you my Animaniacs collection again." Usagi pouted, "Meanie!" "I think I know what Artemis is guessing," Luna said with a long suffewring look, "all of your are reincarnates from the Moon Kingdom." "Of course," Minako said casually, "we know this." "But is this the only time you've been reincarnated?" Artemis suggested smugly. There was a moment of dead silence. "I hadn't thought of that," Ami conceded, taking off her glasses and cleaning the lenses. "Are you saying that for some reason Makoto and I are remembering a past life?" "It's certainly possible," Artemis said firmly, "and it's likely that the spirits of the Moon Kingdom would be drawn together." "That's kinda cool," Minako conceded. She looked thoughtful, "But why are only Makoto and Ami remembering?" "That's harder to guess," Luna admitted. After a bit more debate they ultimately dropped the subject with Luna and Artemis promising to research more, and the study session continued on as normal. A few hours later they broke up, each one heading home. Ami descended the shrine steps, somehow not surprised to see Makoto waiting at the bottom for her. "You mind if I walk you home?" Makoto offered gently. "I'd like that," Ami admitted as they fell into step together. "It's strange," Ami said after a moment, "knowing that we knew each other in another life." "I know," Makoto said as she walked close to Ami's side, her stance unconsciously protective, "and I didn't even mention the odd stuff." "Oh?" Ami looked up at her, the setting sun coloring her face purple and rose. "Promise you won't laugh?" Makoto grinned, waiting till Ami nodded. "I've been dreaming fragments of what I thought were historical novels, the most recent being in World War Two. The oldest..." "Yes?"Ami prompted her gently, looking up at the beautiful young woman who was walking beside her. With a blush Makoto admitted, "I'm running around what I think is Europe in a leather and steel uniform, fighting mythical beasts with a disc weapon." " A chakram," Ami had a oddly distant look on her face, "and you had a partner." "Yes," Makoto blinked at her in surprise. "You, too...?" "I had a staff," Ami said softly, "then sais... we fought side by side." "Until I died," Makoto said softly, "and even after." Ami hesitated, then reached out to take Makoto's hand. "It's comforting," she said wryly, "in a eerie sort of way, to know you've always been by my side." "Me, too," Makoto agreed. A faint blushed appeared on her face as she suddenly recalled certain details of that other life. Ami saw that blush and fought back a impish smile. Once she sorted through all the memories and confusion she was feeling, she and Makoto were going to have a lot to talk about. End Notes: What Makoto is remembering/dreaming at first is the end of the first episode of Tsukikage Ran, more or less. The final bit is, of course, from Xena Warrior Princess. This is a "first draft" as I intend to expand on it later.
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