Fatal Fury Fan Fiction / Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction / Sailor Moon Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Rifts ❯ Chapter 20: Life After Death ( Chapter 20 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Sailor Moon/Rifts Crossover (Revised Edition) By Simon Woodington

Chapter 20: Life After Death

Reality swirled like a tornado, setting every sense aflare.

"If I've estimated right, she should be awakening shortly," uttered a
voice.

"Good. I think we've waiting long enough to get things moving. I just
hope she's receptive."

Slowly those senses calmed. She became aware that the pain in her face
was gone, and the loss of sight...? Her eyes snapped open. Both of
them.

She sat up and grabbed the nearest man by the throat. There were two
of them, she noted. The fellow she assailed was a man of short brown
hair, a classically handsome British-blue-blood-in-a-suit-and-tie
(though not literally) man of romantic elegance, and a nearly
undefinable boyish quality about him. As she focused on him, she began
to see traces of color that should not be there normally... she saw
reds, oranges and yellows in his form. She closed her eyes and put her
free hand to them.

"What have you done to me!" she demanded in a somewhat desperate tone.

The man she had been holding must have tried to speak. She heard
choking and gasping sounds. She relaxed her hand slightly, just enough
for him to talk.

"Think, Minako," he gasped, "had we desires to molest you, would we
not have at least," he took a shallow breath, "restrained you? I have
healed you," the choking man continued. "No more."

It was not so much that she could hear him breathing, it was, that by
choking him, she could feel his breathing efforts. She let go and
hesitantly opened her eyes. The colors were gone. At least until she
focused on someone, or something. She winced and shut her eyes again.

"That would be the Thermo-Imager."

Her eyes opened, her hand flew out and grasped the 'doctor' by the
collar of his white formal shirt.

"You've got some nerve," she began.

"Saving your life?" he finished. "Perhaps. Though I doubt the
alternative route would have been your first choice."

"Maybe," she snarled, letting him go. :Now I owe this creep. Great. I
don't need this!: "Why? And where's Usagi?"

"Usagi was captured by the Coalition," Randy supplied with some
measure of unrest. "Before you ask anything else, know that a rescue
effort is being organized."

"Organized!?" she snarled. "Is that it? What makes you think that's
going to matter...?"

"Okay, you're getting a little ahead of yourself, and us," the light
haired brunette sighed as he ran a hand through those short lengths.
"We'll tell you everything... under a certain condition."

Anim paled.

"Condition nothing! Either you tell me what I want to know, or I turn
this dump into a flaming heap," she gritted, reaching for a vibro
dagger on the inside of her right thigh.

"Okay, go for it."

"Uh..." she paused, realizing, as she flicked on the sleek dagger,
that they had not disarmed her. These guys meant business. She
switched the dagger off, an awkwardly mute expression on her pretty
face. "Uhm... what were you guys saying?"

The light haired young man gave his dark haired companion a "you see?
It worked" glance, and proceeded to elaborate.

"Here it is: You've been seperated from your companions by a force you
know little to nothing about. We're going to help you by rejoining you
with your friends."

"Uh-huh, sure, who? You tell me, okay?"

"Deal," he replied nonchalantly. "Usagi Tsukino, Rei Hino, Ami
Minuzno, Makoto Kino, Mamoru Chiba, and a couple who describe
themselves as Luna and Artemis. The latter three we have located, and
offered sanctuary."

"Whoa," she started, caught off guard by his accuracy. "Couple?
Sanctuary? Located?!"

"Well, yes. I expect you'll want to converse directly with them. That
can be arranged, provided we have a deal."

"Deal? That's not nearly going to hook me," she replied very
conditionally, before her voice became somewhat mousy. "Well, um,
actually, it has, but I want to know more. Like who the heck are you?"

"My name is Carl, I replaced your damaged face and eye. Randy here,"
he gestured towards the stocky man beside him, "supplies everything
else. This building, for example, belongs to him."

"Dandy. So who are you workin' for, and what do they get for helpin'
us out?"

Carl fell silent, accepting a glance from the black haired fellow
apparently named "Randy", and nodded.

"Knowledge," he said. The doctor held his silence.

:Feasable: she though, unmoving as sat there for a while, the depth of
her concentration visible.

"You want to study us," she stated, certain of herself.

"Not exactly. Our interest is much more, shall we say, abstract. The
point of it is, what if I were to say we could tell you more about
yourself," Randy offered. "If I were to offer you safety."

She considered this.

"Obviously you know enough about me to know that I have nowhere else
to turn."

He remained silent. The question remained unanswered.

"And if I tell you creeps to take a flying leap...?"

"You've been running for a very extended period of time. I don't
honestly believe you wish to continue that lifestyle," Dr. Silver
piped in, certain of the painfully self evident truth.

"You'd be surprised," she noted halfheartedly. "I've managed pretty
well over the last year. Oh, I'm sorry, you probably already knew
that."

"Actually, we didn't. Not in detail anyway, aside from your black
market alliance," the brown haired doctor observed to her, paying some
tribute to her apparent intelligence by offering information that was
more than obligatory. "Your choice in the uniquely moral Valance
Carosa led us to believe you still have hope for the future."

"Basically, we would disavow any knowledge of you if you decided to
turn us away," Randy concluded, finally able to slip a word in
edgewise. "I assure you that we would most regret having to do that."

She fell silent once again, praying in her mind that she was not being
taken for a fool.

"So how long have I been out?"

"A week and three days," the doctor supplied.

She nodded, masking her surprise easily.

"If you really know what's up with Artemis, send him in. I want to
talk to him."

"I'm afraid it's not that simple. They are currently residing in
England, and we are not."

"Okay... you can tell me this, though... how is," she hesitated for a
half instant, "um... he doing?"

"I don't honestly know if it's my place to tell you."

"You're too nice to be a government type," she replied sharply. "I
don't get you. Not that it actually matters, or anything. Screw it.
Tell me. It can't be that bad."

She knew however that it certainly could, and probably was.

"He's human. As far as we can tell, he's always been, though he
insists he was a feline before his arrival here."

"He was!" she blinked, falling silent.

"So he's not crazy."

"Bloody hell no," she groaned. "Though I feel like I'm poppin' a few
loose... Where did you say he was?"

"England."

"Oh hell..." she squinted, gleaning just how much weaving Phate had
added to her personal tapestry.

It was a cinched knot.

"The explosion that seperated you brought them to there, just outside
if New Camelot."

"I don't buy it. They weren't there when that happened!"

Doctor Silver shrugged.

"I don't blame you for not trusting me. I could be deceiving you, but
somehow, I think, even if I am - which, I assure you, I am not - you
would know."

She fell silent. He was right, after all. She could read his emotions.
Words were much easier to falsify than the latter. With training, it
was possible, but highly unlikely.

"I'm sorry," she said halfheartedly. "But trust you I won't... until
I've talked to Artemis."

:Then at least you don't deny the truth, Minako:

She startled. :Don't. I'm not Minako anymore:

The British doctor sighed.

"Perhaps a bit of your history will settle your attitude somewhat." He
heaved a deep lungful of air. "You come from Earth. Tokyo,
specifically. There, you - apparently - fought creatures from another
universe who were looking to take over. In that respect, these two
realities aren't that different. It's just that here, there are a
multitude of races out to dominate, rather than just one. You and your
- it's five, I believe - friends continued to subvert them, until an
elemental lion appeared and brought you here through a strange blue
portal. Am I right so far?"

"To a 'T'," she admitted. "Go on."

"That 'strange portal' is what's called a 'rift', around here. They
have an unfortunate habit of linking one dimension to the next. More
often than not bringing what we call D-Bees and other unusual,
powerful, and more regularly than we'd like to admit, dangerous beings
to our world. What to we do about it? Arm up, for the most part. Of
course, that doesn't include the magic users, and psychics who make
use of their own abilities to survive.

"When you arrived, you had no knowledge of the powerful beings who
exist here. So, when the Splugorth Slaver barge appeared, they took
you without a fight. You were all taken to Atlantis, and held until
you would have been sold. Until a young woman by the name of Sivil
Nira determined that she could escape."

'What!?' Anim gasped, slipping into her native tongue, eyes wide,
quite aghast. 'How do you know that?'

'I was her superior, and friend,' he replied sharply in the same
language, making Anim feel somewhat guilty. There were more sacrifices
being made for their lives than she had realized.

"I never asked her to die for me," she stated weakly, dropping back
into English, somewhat uncomfortable by his unerring ability to
understand her, knowing further than on any terms her words meant
little.

"It was her job, Mina. She was sent there to save you. She was a
special woman. You should be grateful for what she did."

Anim could not speak, nor meet his eyes.

"In any case, you succeeded. You fled to a supply vessel bound for
Europe. Apparently, you fought some Blind Altara Warrior Women when
you attempted to escape the ship. There was an explosion and the
rest... you know, not us."

"I guess you want me to fill you in."

"If you would be so kind."

"Okay, but I want to know how picked that info up. Mamoru and the
others," her eyes wandered wistfully, "there's no way they would've
known any of that."

"What Mamoru knows is for you to discuss with him," Randy noted with
an odd amount of consideration for one in his apparent position. "As
for the rest of it, suffice to say that we have very - observant
friends," he finished. "Any other questions?"

'Hai,' she said, "This eye thermo-thingy you gave me is really
annoying. How in hell do I control it?"

"That will take time for you to learn, but I will teach you."

"That's a comfort," she replied sarcastically. "When do I get back
together with my friends?"

"I think we may be able to arrange a meeting."

Despite the sarcasm in her tones, Minako had never felt happier in her
life, and more afraid.

---

Despite the offerings made, things did not happen as quickly as she
hoped they would. Randy supplied her with what he said was a 'secure'
place to live. She accepted that, but never really became comfortable.

The most exciting event over the course of the next few months
consisted of her meeting with Artemis, Luna, and Mamoru. The trip
itself took nearly a week to complete, due to the rifts and other
distractions. It turned out that they were indeed living in a place
called 'New Camelot,' and were, for the most part, quite comfortable,
if not worried for the future.

Entering the abode of Artemis and Luna altered Mina's relationship
with her feline guardian forever. Standing there, looking at him,
stunned, gazing over his six foot tall form swathed in white and blue
robes, his silver hair cascading past shoulder length, eyes of blue
gem's beauty, she wondered which Goddess had blessed him.
Nevertheless, it was Artemis, and there was not a solitary doubt in
her heart. Even in a different form he seemed so familiar.

'Artemis-san...' she whispered as she ran to him. He caught her in his
arms, weeping as she did, half-expecting her arrival to be another
dream. As he held her, he realized they had truly been reunited, and
that there was still some hope.

'Mina-chan?' a familiar voice hesitantly inquired.

'No,' she replied subconsciously. As her eyes fell upon this woman she
instantly recognized her. 'Luna-san, I...'

'So sorry,' the purple haired woman replied, closing her eyes as if
pained. 'I understand, Anim-san. Is that what you are called now?'

'Um... Hai, Luna-san. But I don't understand! I should be happy to see
you. And I am, but...'

Luna gazed at her expectantly. As Anim watched through the windows to
her soul, she began to note a glimmer, one of pain, one so familiar,
it struck a chord of deeply entangled agony within.

'Luna...' she offered uselessly. What was there to say?

'There is hope. I almost thought we'd lost,' Luna spoke softly, and
tread ever more delicately. 'The senshi...'

'There are no more senshi!' Anim snapped furiously. 'Damn it,
Luna-san! Can't you see that? Usagi, Rei, Ami, and even Makoto are
gone! The Bishoujo Sailor Senshi are no more!'

Luna seemed calm despite her friend's outburst.

'How can you say that? Of all the girls, you should understand...'

'Understand what?' Minako blurted harshly, bringing a hurt look to
Luna's face. 'That I can scrape by? Get serious. Usagi was okay back
home because they never got serious. Here, one shot and its over! Just
because she made it... to what, get captured by the lousy CS?!'

Minako was crying. Tears poured rapidly over her bright red face while
she stood there in confused fear and sorrow. She bowed her face as her
hands reached up to cover it, and she felt Artemis near her.

"No..." she whispered, stepping away and falling into the delicately
patterned crimson couch, where she wept in quiet for several minutes.

She was utterly flabbergasted. After all this time, to still be intent
on the future of the senshi. How could they ever return? Even if they
could, how could they stand a chance against the NegaVerse? If they
had overrun Earth, they stood a better chance spending the rest of
their 'lives' here, their home in exile!

'Luna-san,' she gasped in a choked, raspy voice, 'What's more
important to you? That we beat the NegaForce, or just friggin' turn
out to all still be alive?!'

Artemis put his hand on her shoulder as he sat next to her, all
concern and sympathy. He understood her emotional position very
intimately.

'Minako,' he paused a moment for her to protest, which she did not.
'You are.'

That name... yet just then, it failed to bother her. There was so much
pain behind what that name represented to her, but facing them, human
as they were, and exuding such undiminished faith seemed to make it
bearable. She gazed up, face flushed from the crying, and held her
eyes, asking, wanting her to say it mattered.

'There has never been anyone else more important to us,' she said very
softly, very much the sole mother figure, in heart, and presence.

She blinked, and glanced at the floor for a moment before sharing her
heartfelt expression of thanks in facial adornment and vocal
arrangement with her mentors, and guardians.

'Thank you.'

---

Even with the apparent honesty of Dr. Silver - who's first name was
Carl, she learned - she realized that she was continually tense. She
was indeed waiting, but it was not for the information offered by her
would-be-saviors. She was waiting for the betrayal, waiting for the
next battle. Randy offered a training room, where she could spar to
her hearts content. She found little enjoyment in the diversion.

Part of her missed the edge of the life she had lead up to this point.
Being safe dulled the danger of always having to run to stay alive.
She started to remember her old self, Minako, the calm, quiet girl who
could not take a life to save her own. On those thoughts, she knew
that Minako just could not survive a place like this. It was all too
harsh for a pretty pageant girl like that. Sure, there had been her
life as Sailor V, and the adventures as Sailor Venus. But that was
over now, gone like her friends. As her mind wandered to her friends,
she came to thinking that if the rest were still alive, they were
bound to have changed as she had. So far, the worst possible scenarios
seemed to be showing in the violent tapestry that was the world of
Rifts Earth.

The thought of what might have happened to the others scared her.
Usagi had seemed so different; calm, and withdrawn. She had always
cried. At the slightest incident, she would break out in a fountain of
tears. Now she did not seem to be able to cry. She did not even speak
unless spoken to. Was that fear she had read in her eyes has she had
hit the back end of the Wind Jammer Sky Cycle? No more pretty girl.
Just Anim.

Her hand touched the metal of her face, and felt the coldness of it. A
warmth moved down from her eye of flesh, across the cheek.

That's when she heard the knocking.

"Minako?"

The voice was male; familiar.

"Come in," she said, voice somewhat hushed.

The door opened. He poked his light brown haired head through the gap.

"You alright? I just wanted to talk to you."

"I'm fine," she lied.

His face assumed a concerned expression.

"Are you sure?"

She gazed at him for a moment, thinking nothing, just looking at the
soft build of his face, his dark blue eyes, the thick curl of his
hair, the worry on his lip. She bit hers.

"No."

He came in and sat down beside her, and took one of her hands in his.

"Talk to me," he offered.

"I don't know if..." she hesitated.

"If what?"

"If anything."

He looked at her for a moment, dropped his gaze, seeming thoughtful.
He then looked back into her eyes and said, "What's the first thing
you think of when your mind wanders?"

It took her a moment to gather her nerve, and wits about her.

"I... I think I'm waiting until I have to start running again."

Carl merely nodded.

"What about your friends? Have you thought about them?"

"Hai. I have."

"What about Mamoru? Why haven't you wanted to meet him? He's asked
about you, and worries a great deal."

Her face twisted with regret, and fear.

"My guardians, Artemis, Luna... they changed so much. I'm not sure if
I can face him, thinking how he might have changed..."

Carl shook his head.

"He really hasn't changed much that we can tell. He's all the human he
ever was. With the acceptance of his metamorphosis abilities."

Anim looked at him.

"What do you mean? His henshin? You mean when he turns into Tuxedo
Kamen?"

"Well, no, I... forget it. That's not what I'm trying to get at. I
mean his other, I guess, earth metamorphosis abilities. He's an Earth
Child."

Anim fixed him with a blank stare.

"I don't suppose that I've really given you a choice, have I?"

Anim sighed.

"No. Thanks alot. Damn it... This whole bloody thing scares the hell
out of me."

He looked grim as she studied his face.

"You know."

He nodded slightly.

"Yes. I indicated that previously, didn't I?"

She shook her head.

"You said you knew about them, not what happened to them."

"Sorry. Vagueness seems to be one of my gifts. We've only just
recently pinpointed Rei, Ami and Usagi. Today, in fact. They're in
Texas. The Coalition caught Rei just before I left to help you.
Apparently Ami's been there for quite some time."

She grabbed him by the shoulders.

"Tell me."

"You don't have to strangle me, Anim..."

She let him go.

"Sorry."

"That's quite all right," He hesitated. "Ami is amnesiac. She doesn't
remember any of you. I don't know if it was the drugs, or just..." he
had to stop.

"It was the explosion," she said, head bowed.

"What explosion?" He started, uncertain. Then his eyes widened as he
remembered. "At the dock. By a dragon's tooth..." Carl lay a hand on
her head. "I'm so sorry."

"Maybe I should just be happy they're still alive," she muttered,
shaking her head morosely.

Carl opened his arms, and she leaned against him, her breathing
shallow, her mind flooded. He thought to speak, but remained silent,
not knowing what to say. He just held her, curious of what she had
been like before her arrival here. He knew she had been proud of her
beauty, and was quite tough despite what the Rifts had introduced into
her life. He wondered what had happened to that girl. He was also
amazed by what seemed to be developing between them. It seemed
oddly... natural.

"What else..." she asked wearily, sounding strained. Carl hesitated.
He did not want to hurt her any further. "I have to know," she
insisted.

"They removed an arm, her left one, as a cruel experiment. Coupled
with the exporatory surgry, they have reduced her to a half cyborg."

A growl eminated from her throat as she leaned back, her face
scrunching in an angry glare.

"She'd have died if I hadn't intervened."

She calmed slightly, looking Carl in the eyes.

"Are you going back to see her soon?"

"I... yes, as soon as the charges against Dr. Ravelli pass through."

She looked puzzled.

"I was almost caught. Still a chance I might be. If we're going to
rescue her, it's going to have to be soon, because we're only going to
get one chance, the way things are now."

"Alright, but when?"

A ponderous look passed over Carl's face.

"Randy will handle it."

She smiled.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed, and kissed his cheek. She paused, and then
kissed him on the lips. He smiled slightly, and kissed her tenderly in
reply, lingering for a while.

When the kiss broke, Carl asked of her with his eyes.

She nodded, and, pressing her lips to his, took him in her arms.

---

Meeting with Mamoru was less awkward than she initially thought it
would be. She was aware of his abilities previous to their encounter,
she merely had no formal knowledge of what he had been through, and
how the changes had come about. Artemis and Luna had talked at length
about their experiences since arriving here. It rather seemed that
just about any nightmare was quite possible here. Even hers. Most of
Minako's worst nightmares had already been accomplished, whether by
plan of the NegaVerse or by Phate. The first of which, being separated
from the other senshi, had happened after arriving here.

Being captured and - she shuddered - having forced relations with Rei,
were not experiences she wished to repeat on any level. The next,
losing Artemis; that had merely doubled the effect of her emotional
pain. Then there was the last year in the 'burbs of Chi-Town. It
really had not occurred to her as a base nightmare, but she soon
discovered that the Rifts presented plenty of terrors that made the
sight of a demon back home a rather comforting one. Survival had been
hardly simple; but Minako often proved to be far more resourceful than
her looks might imply. The worst parts of it had been the ignorance of
the world around her, and not having any money.

As a mystically augmented warrior, physical labour had solved the
latter problem quickly, and had contributed to some rather unpleasant
physical damages marring her remarkable beauty. Hard labour had never
been her forte, but she could rely on her enhanced senshi reflexes and
strength, and in the end, it turned out that was all she had left. As
for Carl, he was kind, forward, and honest. She respected such things.
Besides, he was stunningly attractive. She felt a link in him which
brought comfort, and so spending one night with him... well, she felt
it would not hurt.

Even though she knew it was something Minako would never have done.
Anim, on the other hand...

Mamoru, as well, proved that he had not changed much in appearance.
Somehow she felt he was more attractive than she remembered. As
always, he seemed to radiate immeasurable calmness, but the serenity
in his brown eyes seemed somehow disturbed. As with the others, it was
plain to Minako that something had happened to him. Some innate change
had altered him, and the way he perceived himself.

Minako met him with a warm hug, feeling that it was the most she could
allow him, even after being apart from him for so long. The way he
dressed had not modified; he wore a black turtleneck sweater, and
dress pants of white silk.

:I could be wrong; she thought in amendment.

His mouth proscribed amiable words when he spoke of his life here, how
it had seemed to be refashioned to whatever will drove this world. He
also reflected on his encounter with the ones responsible for their
arrival in this terrible perversion of their own reality. The only
point which bothered her to any extent was when he spoke of Tuxedo
Kamen:

'I do not know if I can protect you anymore as Tuxedo Kamen,' his
voice was soft, but the words he spoke in his native Japanese betrayed
his fears, and his doubt.

'Why not? Because you could not protect Demelza?' Mina offered,
feeling very much her old self, for the moment.

'As Tuxedo Kamen, I wouldn't have dealt with it the way I did. As the
Earth Child, my anger knew no bounds. I had no control.' He frowned.
It was clear to her that it drew forth a dark anxiety from within him.
She really could not claim to understand that. When it came to her
anger, she used it. In the Black Market, it had become a catalyst and
way of life.

'You did not hurt her, though, Mamo-chan. You protected her. I do not
see how that is different from what you would do as Tuxedo Kamen.'

He gazed at her, amazed by the lack of understanding she displayed.
The Minako he had known would have agreed. This estranged woman
surprised him.

'I killed it,' he stated ruefully. 'As Tuxedo Kamen I would never
have...'

'Usagi would have,' Minako interjected sharply. 'You did not have her
to do that for you. Perhaps being an Earth Child gives you that. Would
you rather be defenseless against the predators here? Would you run?'

'No. Never. Not when Usagi's future is at stake...' he bowed his head.
'I pray she's still alive.'

Minako nodded solemnly. Mamoru's eyes fell to the metallic side of her
face.

'You have changed, Minako. Your face. I think it is symbolic of that.
You are colder. You kill now, and easily.'

'Hai,' she replied, eyes narrowed. 'I have survived. Very little seems
to matter here. If I did not, I would not be alive now. Would you
rather I simply gave up?'

'No Minako-chan, do not mistake me. I understand what you have been
through, but it is not easy to accept.'

'Do you really? To be hunted because you are sexually innocent?'

He blinked at her.

'Not going to get into it.'

He nodded.

'I get the point,' he stated, clearly shaken.

Minako turned away, arms folded over her breasts.

'It's not the same for you. You have your strength to fall back on.
It's different for men. They don't mind killing.'

'What makes you think that? I did what had to be done. I'm not proud
of it.'

'No, but it doesn't bother...'

'Stop. You're right. I don't know what you've been through. I don't
even know you anymore.'

She faced away from him for a moment, feeling like they were light
years apart in distance. Mamoru could not believe his ears. She seemed
so cold, almost heartless, but he still cared for her, and could not
belay his concern, or curiosity. Nor did he wish to.

'Minako, I think we are both very different now than we used to be. I
wish still to be friends, but...'

She did not look towards him. 'But...?'

'Will you talk to me? I've missed you all so much, and never...' he
stopped. He couldn't lie to her. He had given up, for mere minutes,
but the truth hung there like a rotting corpse before him.

'Never what?' she turned, and held her eyes to him steadily,
expectantly.

He frowned faintly.

'When we found Akari and Yanei, and they showed me where you were,
there was no doubt...'

'What? Akari and Yanei? Who are they?' her folded arms came to ease
aside her hips.

'They...' he paused. 'They brought you here.'

Her fists clenched instinctively, anger enfueled in such a way as she
had never known, and a vivid snarl appeared upon her suddenly grim
visage.

"Mamoru?" a voice called from outside his room. Mamoru turned to face
Demelza as she entered.

"Good day Minako," she said, pausing in her step. Minako turned
sharply to face her, startling the young healer.

:Minako...; Mamoru pleaded in her mind.

:What?:

:I was scared, and lost too. I may not have been through the same as
you, but you must trust me that I understand your feelings:

:I... I guess:

:I'm so glad you're okay; he stated warmly, long after needing to, or
perhaps just at the right time. He then smiled. With a glance, he
could see that his happiness was infectious, as Minako's face echoed
his as she faced him for a moment.

:Me too:

Minako's expression of pleasure eased Demelza's discomfort. Her face
remained serious, however.

"Mamoru. Aye, this involves ye too, Minako-san - if ya don't mind me
callin' y' that? - I mean to say we've found Makoto."

They both held their breath during Demelza's pause.

"She's fine, jus' like you said. Though after she talked to Conroy...
she just up an' disappeared."

Minako gasped sharply.

"What? How?"

"Dimensional teleport, though we canna fathom why," she muttered,
knowing the uselessness of the information.

Mamoru cursed under his breath.

"That's it," Minako began with a snarl. "I can't stay here any longer.
I'm going after her!"

Mamoru grabbed her shoulder.

"No. Demelza and I will."

"You can't! You don't know what's out there!"

"Neither do you. Demelza and I will be fine. As an Earth Child, I have
a better chance."

Demelza nodded her compliance, and consent.

"Already we're ready t' send ye with Kirin to find 'er, if you're
ready, Mamoru."

"Of course!"

"What am I going do? I can't stay here!" Minako whispered, looking
forlorn. "I just can't! I..."

"You won't be bored long lass. Randy's 'bout ready to send ye," she
smirked.

The short haired blond reached over and hugged her.

"Thank you Demelza!"

Demelza looked somewhat aghast, but pleased.

"You're welcome, sister."

Minako released her with a quizzical expression.

"Sister? What?"

:I feel vera close to ye; she replied in her mind. :Mamo-chan has much
love for ye, an' I fear sharing his emotions for e'en such a short
time 'as spurned m'heart to ye as a ray of light, lass:

Minako smiled faintly, somehow beyond her puzzlement feeling open to
her foriegn show of concern and support.

:'Tis usually just a duty t'me, Minako-san. But I tell ye the very
power of his feelin's nearly drowned me. To help you gives me
something which I have never known: Family:

Minako's face lit with consideration as she reached forward and
grasped the young healer in a gracious hug.


End of Book One.