Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Rebirth ❯ A Meeting in the Park ( Chapter 2 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Nate Grey 
Hotaru and her father run into Serena, Darien...and Reenie.
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.30.2001 | Pages: 2 | Words: 1.8K | Visits: 322 | Status: Completed
Hotaru and her father run into Serena, Darien...and Reenie.
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Adventure | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.30.2001 | Pages: 2 | Words: 1.8K | Visits: 322 | Status: Completed
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
Note: Sorry if the last one was a bit graphic. That won't happen here, though.
Rebirth, Part 2: Meeting in the Park
This is the same dream I have had for a while. Only, it's different this time.
"Hotaru?" a fear-filled voice whispers.
I know that is not my name now, but something in my heart forces me to turn around. It is the little girl that has called me. Her bright, red eyes are filled with tears. She is still restrained, and suddenly, everything else is forgotten. My number one priority is to get her to safety.
The shackles on her wrists and ankles shatter easily enough, and she collapses into my arms. I have learned that encountering the Amazon Trio is usually draining for their victims. "Are you all right, little one?" I ask quietly.
She shudders in my arms, as if cold, then looks into my eyes again. "You saved me," she whispers.
"It is my duty," I respond. Glancing around, I find that Fish's Eye and Tiger's Eye have managed to escape while I rescued the girl. My first instinct is to go after them.
"Don't leave me," the girl pleads, somehow reading my thoughts. Her red eyes seem to dance as they take in every detail of my face. "You're different, somehow."
"Your experience has made you confused. I should get you to a hospital."
"Why don't you remember me, Hotaru?" she asks. "We were best friends!"
"I'm sorry," I reply softly, "but you've made a mistake. I'm not Hotaru, and I don't know you."
* * * * *
"Is something wrong, sweetie?"
Hotaru blinked and looked at her father. "No, Daddy. I was just thinking about something."
He reached over and squeezed her hand. "Hotaru, we came to the park to relax. There's no point if you're going to frown the whole time. Tell me what's wrong. Please."
She sighed and bit her lip. "Daddy, do you know a little girl with pink hair and red eyes?"
Professor Tomoe seemed surprised. "Yes. We met her in this same park, actually, when you were just a baby. I didn't think you'd remember her."
"I don't. Not really. I think I saw her last night, but it could've been someone else."
"I doubt that very much, honey. There aren't a lot of people that fit that description. We could try to find her, if you want. There's a good chance she still comes here."
Hotaru's eyes widened in alarm. "No, that's okay!" she said quickly. "It was probably just another daydream, anyway..."
* * * * *
Serena was just finishing her ice cream cone when she noticed that Reenie had barely touched hers. "Reenie, your cone's melting."
"Huh?" Reenie blinked and looked at her hand to see little pink rivers running down her fingers. "Oh. I guess I'm not very hungry."
Serena gave Darien a worried glance, then squeezed the girl's shoulders. "I know you miss her, Reenie. We all do. It's going to take time to get her back, though."
"I just don't understand. Why would she run away from me?"
"Reenie, you have to consider how she might be feeling," Darien said. "We're not sure how much of her memory Hotaru still has. It must be hard for her, trying to figure out whether she can trust us or not. She doesn't have anyone, except for her father."
Reenie's face lit up. "That's it! Professor Tomoe! He'll remember me! He can tell her that we're her friends!"
Serena only shook her head sadly. "We can't do that. His memory's been damaged, too. Even if he did know us, he would never force Hotaru to do anything. She has to learn to trust us on her own."
Reenie finally began to eat her ice cream cone, but to her, strawberry had never tasted worse.
* * * * *
Hotaru did her best to focus on pushing her father's wheelchair. If she let her mind wander, she'd almost certainly start thinking about the little girl again. There was something so...distracting about her.
"Slow down, honey. We're coming to a hill."
She immediately stopped. "I'm sorry, Daddy. Maybe we should go home. I don't want anything to happen to you, and you need your rest."
He reached back and squeezed her hand. "What I need is to spend some time outdoors with my little girl."
Hotaru couldn't help smiling when he called her that. As they slowly started down the hill, she noticed that there were a lot of people in the park today.
"Let's stop by those benches for a moment," her father said. He knew that she was much stronger than before, but pushing him around for a few hours would probably make anyone tired.
"Okay," she agreed quietly.
There was already a young couple sitting on the bench, but they made room for Hotaru to sit down. Both their eyes widened momentarily as she sat, but then they returned to the book they were reading.
"Why don't you try out the swings, dear?" Tomoe suggested. "They used to be your favorite."
Hotaru gave him a shocked look. "But Daddy, the doctors told me never to leave you by yourself!"
"Oh, that's okay. We'll keep an eye on him," the young man volunteered. He quickly elbowed his girlfriend. "Right?"
"Um...right!" she agreed. "In fact, you can play with my...cousin! She's right over there!"
Hotaru looked in the direction she was pointing. On the nearest swing, there was a small girl with her head down. She wasn't really swinging at all, just staring at the grass. "She looks very lonely."
"That's because she lost someone close to her. A new friend could be just what she needs."
* * * * *
Reenie would never admit it, but Serena & Darien were right. Hotaru didn't know her anymore, and there was nothing she could do about it. For the past ten minutes, she'd been replaying the scene in her mind. She could still see Sailor Saturn leaping back, disappearing into the black hole.
"It's not fair," she murmured, kicking at a long blade of grass.
Suddenly, Reenie felt a gentle hand on her back. "Would you like me to push you?" a voice asked.
Reenie slowly turned her head and nearly fell out of the swing. "It's...you..." She couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Is something wrong?" the taller girl asked.
"No!" Reenie said quickly as she jumped out of the swing. "I just...I didn't think..."
"Let's start over," the girl suggested. She held out her hand. "My name is Hotaru."
"I'm...Reenie." She quickly accepted the hand and shook it, but when Hotaru started to let go, Reenie's grip tightened. "Could you do me a favor?"
Hotaru tilted her head slightly. "What is it?"
"This is going to sound weird, but...I need a hug."
"You're right, but I don't see why not."
Reenie slowly came closer and slipped her arms around the girl's waist. The feeling of warmth that enveloped her was too familiar to disregard. An indescribable joy filled Reenie's heart. She had her best friend back, in a way. Even if Hotaru didn't remember the times they shared, she did, and would always treasure them.
Hotaru suddenly looked down. "Reenie, why are you crying?"
Reenie slowly raised her head. "I missed you so much," she whispered.
A confused look passed over Hotaru's face. "Missed me? But I-" She paused, noticing a familiar gleam in her new friend's eyes. "But...if you know me...then...you must be..."
Before Reenie could speak, a violet light blinded her. It took her a moment to realize that the light was coming from Hotaru's forehead.
Hotaru began to back away, groaning in pain as she tried to hide the light. The few people close by had already noticed and were starting to come closer, curiosity getting the better of them.
"Hotaru, wait!" Reenie said, starting to go after her. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she wouldn't lose her friend a second time.
* * * * *
This isn't right. Something is very wrong. My head isn't supposed to pound like this unless I'm Saturn. I can tell my sigil is glowing, but I can't stop it. People are looking...and I know they'll call me a freak again. I can't take that...not in this life.
Reenie is telling me to stop, but running is the first thing that comes to mind. I have to escape, but I can't. Daddy needs me, and I can't leave him. But I can't stay. The people...they're pointing now, and I wish they'd just stop. They're whispering...calling me names. I can hear their thoughts in my head, but I don't want to.
In that instant, I know why my sigil is glowing. I know why I can't make it stop. I know why it hurts so badly.
They're calling me. Challenging me. Daring me not to face them. But I have to, and I have to do it alone.
"I'm sorry, Reenie," I hear myself saying, "but I have to go now." Then I am swallowed by the darkness.
* * * * *
It's much colder than I expected it to be. There is fog everywhere, and I suddenly wish that Sailor Scouts had winter outfits, too. These boots aren't nearly enough to keep me warm.
I'm so busy muttering to myself that I almost miss the orange light speeding towards me. Something inside tells me to dodge, and I do, managing to land hard on my left arm. The "light" hits a tree and explodes on contact. Bits of bark and leaves rain down on me.
"Well done, Sailor Saturn," a voice says, "but you won't be so lucky the next time."
A lone figure steps out of the darkness, her tiara gleaming in the moonlight. She raises her hand over her head, and a second ball of orange light appears. Her lips form a cruel smile that I have seen in my nightmares. "We didn't get the chance to destroy you last time, but make no mistake about it, kid. We're going to make this life your shortest."
I can just make out two more figures behind her. I don't have time to look closer as the orange ball of light races toward me, and I don't need it. I know who they are, and what they plan to do. Just before I am bathed in the scorching heat, I press myself to the ground and ask my guardian planet for protection. I will need it. The Outer Scouts have finally come for me.
Continued in Rebirth, Part 3: Eternal Silence
Note: Sorry if the last one was a bit graphic. That won't happen here, though.
Rebirth, Part 2: Meeting in the Park
This is the same dream I have had for a while. Only, it's different this time.
"Hotaru?" a fear-filled voice whispers.
I know that is not my name now, but something in my heart forces me to turn around. It is the little girl that has called me. Her bright, red eyes are filled with tears. She is still restrained, and suddenly, everything else is forgotten. My number one priority is to get her to safety.
The shackles on her wrists and ankles shatter easily enough, and she collapses into my arms. I have learned that encountering the Amazon Trio is usually draining for their victims. "Are you all right, little one?" I ask quietly.
She shudders in my arms, as if cold, then looks into my eyes again. "You saved me," she whispers.
"It is my duty," I respond. Glancing around, I find that Fish's Eye and Tiger's Eye have managed to escape while I rescued the girl. My first instinct is to go after them.
"Don't leave me," the girl pleads, somehow reading my thoughts. Her red eyes seem to dance as they take in every detail of my face. "You're different, somehow."
"Your experience has made you confused. I should get you to a hospital."
"Why don't you remember me, Hotaru?" she asks. "We were best friends!"
"I'm sorry," I reply softly, "but you've made a mistake. I'm not Hotaru, and I don't know you."
* * * * *
"Is something wrong, sweetie?"
Hotaru blinked and looked at her father. "No, Daddy. I was just thinking about something."
He reached over and squeezed her hand. "Hotaru, we came to the park to relax. There's no point if you're going to frown the whole time. Tell me what's wrong. Please."
She sighed and bit her lip. "Daddy, do you know a little girl with pink hair and red eyes?"
Professor Tomoe seemed surprised. "Yes. We met her in this same park, actually, when you were just a baby. I didn't think you'd remember her."
"I don't. Not really. I think I saw her last night, but it could've been someone else."
"I doubt that very much, honey. There aren't a lot of people that fit that description. We could try to find her, if you want. There's a good chance she still comes here."
Hotaru's eyes widened in alarm. "No, that's okay!" she said quickly. "It was probably just another daydream, anyway..."
* * * * *
Serena was just finishing her ice cream cone when she noticed that Reenie had barely touched hers. "Reenie, your cone's melting."
"Huh?" Reenie blinked and looked at her hand to see little pink rivers running down her fingers. "Oh. I guess I'm not very hungry."
Serena gave Darien a worried glance, then squeezed the girl's shoulders. "I know you miss her, Reenie. We all do. It's going to take time to get her back, though."
"I just don't understand. Why would she run away from me?"
"Reenie, you have to consider how she might be feeling," Darien said. "We're not sure how much of her memory Hotaru still has. It must be hard for her, trying to figure out whether she can trust us or not. She doesn't have anyone, except for her father."
Reenie's face lit up. "That's it! Professor Tomoe! He'll remember me! He can tell her that we're her friends!"
Serena only shook her head sadly. "We can't do that. His memory's been damaged, too. Even if he did know us, he would never force Hotaru to do anything. She has to learn to trust us on her own."
Reenie finally began to eat her ice cream cone, but to her, strawberry had never tasted worse.
* * * * *
Hotaru did her best to focus on pushing her father's wheelchair. If she let her mind wander, she'd almost certainly start thinking about the little girl again. There was something so...distracting about her.
"Slow down, honey. We're coming to a hill."
She immediately stopped. "I'm sorry, Daddy. Maybe we should go home. I don't want anything to happen to you, and you need your rest."
He reached back and squeezed her hand. "What I need is to spend some time outdoors with my little girl."
Hotaru couldn't help smiling when he called her that. As they slowly started down the hill, she noticed that there were a lot of people in the park today.
"Let's stop by those benches for a moment," her father said. He knew that she was much stronger than before, but pushing him around for a few hours would probably make anyone tired.
"Okay," she agreed quietly.
There was already a young couple sitting on the bench, but they made room for Hotaru to sit down. Both their eyes widened momentarily as she sat, but then they returned to the book they were reading.
"Why don't you try out the swings, dear?" Tomoe suggested. "They used to be your favorite."
Hotaru gave him a shocked look. "But Daddy, the doctors told me never to leave you by yourself!"
"Oh, that's okay. We'll keep an eye on him," the young man volunteered. He quickly elbowed his girlfriend. "Right?"
"Um...right!" she agreed. "In fact, you can play with my...cousin! She's right over there!"
Hotaru looked in the direction she was pointing. On the nearest swing, there was a small girl with her head down. She wasn't really swinging at all, just staring at the grass. "She looks very lonely."
"That's because she lost someone close to her. A new friend could be just what she needs."
* * * * *
Reenie would never admit it, but Serena & Darien were right. Hotaru didn't know her anymore, and there was nothing she could do about it. For the past ten minutes, she'd been replaying the scene in her mind. She could still see Sailor Saturn leaping back, disappearing into the black hole.
"It's not fair," she murmured, kicking at a long blade of grass.
Suddenly, Reenie felt a gentle hand on her back. "Would you like me to push you?" a voice asked.
Reenie slowly turned her head and nearly fell out of the swing. "It's...you..." She couldn't think of anything else to say.
"Is something wrong?" the taller girl asked.
"No!" Reenie said quickly as she jumped out of the swing. "I just...I didn't think..."
"Let's start over," the girl suggested. She held out her hand. "My name is Hotaru."
"I'm...Reenie." She quickly accepted the hand and shook it, but when Hotaru started to let go, Reenie's grip tightened. "Could you do me a favor?"
Hotaru tilted her head slightly. "What is it?"
"This is going to sound weird, but...I need a hug."
"You're right, but I don't see why not."
Reenie slowly came closer and slipped her arms around the girl's waist. The feeling of warmth that enveloped her was too familiar to disregard. An indescribable joy filled Reenie's heart. She had her best friend back, in a way. Even if Hotaru didn't remember the times they shared, she did, and would always treasure them.
Hotaru suddenly looked down. "Reenie, why are you crying?"
Reenie slowly raised her head. "I missed you so much," she whispered.
A confused look passed over Hotaru's face. "Missed me? But I-" She paused, noticing a familiar gleam in her new friend's eyes. "But...if you know me...then...you must be..."
Before Reenie could speak, a violet light blinded her. It took her a moment to realize that the light was coming from Hotaru's forehead.
Hotaru began to back away, groaning in pain as she tried to hide the light. The few people close by had already noticed and were starting to come closer, curiosity getting the better of them.
"Hotaru, wait!" Reenie said, starting to go after her. She wasn't sure what was happening, but she wouldn't lose her friend a second time.
* * * * *
This isn't right. Something is very wrong. My head isn't supposed to pound like this unless I'm Saturn. I can tell my sigil is glowing, but I can't stop it. People are looking...and I know they'll call me a freak again. I can't take that...not in this life.
Reenie is telling me to stop, but running is the first thing that comes to mind. I have to escape, but I can't. Daddy needs me, and I can't leave him. But I can't stay. The people...they're pointing now, and I wish they'd just stop. They're whispering...calling me names. I can hear their thoughts in my head, but I don't want to.
In that instant, I know why my sigil is glowing. I know why I can't make it stop. I know why it hurts so badly.
They're calling me. Challenging me. Daring me not to face them. But I have to, and I have to do it alone.
"I'm sorry, Reenie," I hear myself saying, "but I have to go now." Then I am swallowed by the darkness.
* * * * *
It's much colder than I expected it to be. There is fog everywhere, and I suddenly wish that Sailor Scouts had winter outfits, too. These boots aren't nearly enough to keep me warm.
I'm so busy muttering to myself that I almost miss the orange light speeding towards me. Something inside tells me to dodge, and I do, managing to land hard on my left arm. The "light" hits a tree and explodes on contact. Bits of bark and leaves rain down on me.
"Well done, Sailor Saturn," a voice says, "but you won't be so lucky the next time."
A lone figure steps out of the darkness, her tiara gleaming in the moonlight. She raises her hand over her head, and a second ball of orange light appears. Her lips form a cruel smile that I have seen in my nightmares. "We didn't get the chance to destroy you last time, but make no mistake about it, kid. We're going to make this life your shortest."
I can just make out two more figures behind her. I don't have time to look closer as the orange ball of light races toward me, and I don't need it. I know who they are, and what they plan to do. Just before I am bathed in the scorching heat, I press myself to the ground and ask my guardian planet for protection. I will need it. The Outer Scouts have finally come for me.
Continued in Rebirth, Part 3: Eternal Silence