Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Ascension Trilogy, Book 1: The Coming Ice Age ❯ The Edges Of A Mystery ( Chapter 4 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

THE COMING ICE AGE,
Chapter 4: "The Edges of a Mystery"

By Bill K.

"Honestly, between all the meetings with the anime company and now
this, I am so behind you wouldn't believe it!" moaned Usagi. She,
Makoto and Makoto's two children mounted the steps of Hikawa Shrine. "I
had to call Mika and ask her to help me with the inking so I could make
deadline! Thank goodness she was between assignments!"

"It's no more convenient for me," Makoto told her. "I had a late
night at the restaurant and I was hoping to spend a little time with my
kids. I hope it's important and yet I hope it isn't, you know?"

"Are you guys going to go fight some bad guys?" Akiko asked.

"I don't know yet, honey," Makoto smiled, treading cautiously.
"Does that worry you?"

"Heck no!" grinned Akiko. "You're the greatest senshi in the
world! No bad guy could stand up to you! You'll kick their tail!"

"Who's been teaching you to talk like that?" gasped Makoto.

"Auntie Minako."

"I'll kill her," muttered Makoto. Then she noticed the worried
look on Ichiro.

"Ichiro honey," Makoto said, kneeling down to the boy. "What's
wrong?"

"Are you going to go away and fight bad guys?" Ichiro asked
timidly.

"Maybe not. Maybe it's nothing." She lightly brushed the hair
from his forehead. "But if Mommy does have to go fight bad guys, you
know she's going to come right back to you when she's done, don't you?
Because you're her favorite guy in the whole world and she'd never, ever
leave you for long. You know that, don't you?"

Ichiro leaped at her and hugged her tight. Makoto put her arms
around him and cradled the boy to her breast.

"Oh, don't mind him. He's just being a fraidy cat!" scowled
Akiko. She felt a hand touch her shoulder and looked up. Usagi
silently shook her head at the girl and Akiko grew quiet.

The foursome walked down the path to the main building where Ami
and Minako joined them. Akiko and Ichiro both waved.

"Hi, Auntie Ami," Akiko called. "Auntie Minako, when are you
going to make a new CD?"

"I just released the last one six months ago," Minako chuckled.

"But I know that one by heart already!"

"Tell you what, Akiko-chan. Give me a month to rest my voice and
then I'll start picking songs. Now you know albums take a while to
record, but I promise you'll get the first copy when we press it. OK?"
Akiko nodded vigorously. "Looking good, Ichiro. You get more handsome
every day, lady-killer."

Minako kissed the boy on the cheek. He instantly made a face and
wiped it off, drawing amused titters from the longtime friends.

"OK, you two go and play," Makoto told them. "We've got senshi
business to discuss."

"Just a minute," prompted Usagi before the kids could leave. She
reached into her purse and handed them a piece of candy. Both kids took
one and ran off laughing.

"When their dentist bill comes, I'm giving it to you," Makoto told
Usagi. "Anybody have any idea what's up?"

"Let's go inside first," Rei said, appearing as if from nowhere.
Usagi jumped with a start and glared at the woman.

Seated in the room that had been their unofficial headquarters for
twenty years, the five old friends at once put their friendships aside
and got down to serious business.

"I assume you've both been filled in about what's happened here
recently?" Rei asked Makoto and Minako. They both nodded. "I did a
fire reading, trying to get some more information about this Janus guy.
I couldn't come up with anything about him specifically, but I did have
a vision." Rei looked down with a heavy heart. "I saw Tokyo completely
frozen in ice. The city, the people, the animals, the plants,
everything frozen solid."

"Artemis has been wondering about the recent temperature drop!"
Minako gasped.

"I know," Usagi added. "He called Luna and now she's running
around like the Emperor's about to visit."

"I did some computer work, based on what Minako told me," Ami told
them. "This is a completely anomalous situation." Noting Usagi's blank
look, Ami rephrased. "There's no meteorological or geological cause for
this cool weather. With the current position of the jet stream and the
Pacific currents, we should be fifteen degrees hotter than we are now."

"Well, fifteen degrees isn't that bad, is it?" Makoto asked.
"It's kind of made this summer bearable."

"If it stops at fifteen degrees," Ami said. "What if the climate
continues to cool?"

"Is that going to happen?"

"I have to know how it happened in the first place to predict
that."

"You don't suppose it's the Surts, do you?" Usagi asked.
Everybody looked at her blankly, particularly Makoto and Minako. "Those
people who are enemies of Janus. You don't suppose this is their way of
striking back at him, do you?"

"Wait a minute," Minako said, waving her hand. "Janus's enemy is
a breath mint?" Makoto reached over and smacked the back of Minako's
head.

"It's a possibility," Rei replied, ignoring Minako. "It's not one
I want to contemplate. Frankly, I was getting used to Tokyo not being
invaded every three months."

"Tell me about it," Makoto said. "I've got a family to worry
about now. Is there anything we can do to head this off?"

"We don't even know anything's coming yet," Minako said grimly.
"Why don't you folks keep checking things on your end. Now that my tour
is done, I've got some time to nose around a little."

"That's going to be a cute trick," Rei smirked. "I want to see
how you can stay inconspicuous in a crowd of screaming teenagers."

"I've still got my wig and dark glasses," Minako retorted
playfully. "I'm just saying we need to be alert, but there's no reason
to hit the panic button just yet, OK?"

"Agreed," Ami replied. The others nodded.
* * * *
Setsuna wasn't expecting anyone. She went to the door curious as
to whom it was. There was some consternation at first that it might be
some threat to Janus, but she dismissed the thought. Enemies wouldn't
ring the bell.

"My Princess," she said. "I am surprised to see you here again.
Please come in." After closing the door behind Usagi, Setsuna turned to
her. "Has something occurred that I should be aware of?

"Not really," Usagi smiled, trying to assuage the woman's fears.
"I was just on my way home from Hikawa and I thought I'd check in on how
Janus is doing."

"He is improved," Setsuna reported as the pair ambled along the
hall to the bedrooms. "He will not be without pain for a good while
yet, but his strength and vitality have greatly increased since the
first moments I saw him." Setsuna smiled at a private jest. "And he
has cleared his first hurdle, in that my cooking has not killed him."

Usagi grinned at the joke. "I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure with
your care he'll be up and around in no time. Is there going to be a
problem with the university? Because one of us can watch him for you
. . .!"

"I have already informed them of my need to take a leave of
absence," Setsuna replied. "Your offer, though, is appreciated."

The pair arrived at the room. Usagi peeked in and found Janus
trying to sit up. He grimaced in pain as pressure came onto his injured
hip.

"Now where do you think you're going?" demanded Usagi. Janus
flinched from surprise until he saw it was Usagi.

"Nowhere, brilliant one," he whispered. "I merely grow tired of
lying on my back."

"Are you in pain?" Setsuna asked him.

"The pain is minor," Janus grimaced. Then he looked up at her and
softened with gratitude and perhaps something more. "Thank you for your
concern."

"Brilliant one?" asked Usagi, puzzled.

"Your power and your essence," replied Janus. "It shines like a
sun. It is a fitting name." He turned away, embarrassed. "And I
forgot your actual name."

Usagi grinned. "It's Usagi. But you can call me 'Brilliant one'
if it's easier for you - - especially around Rei." She knelt before
him. "Janus, would those Surts you talked about have anything to do
with the recent drop in temperature?"

"I know nothing of such things," he replied. "Though it is the
way of Surts to skulk, it does not seem to be their way. And I must
confess I have not noticed the temperature being cold. To me, it is
very warm in this place. Perhaps it is because I am infirm."

"OK," Usagi smiled. "You take it easy now. Maybe I could stop by
another time and you could tell me more about these Surts?"

"If you wish," Janus nodded. "I welcome your visit. For some
reason, I feel stronger around you. You seem to aid in my recovery
nearly as much as my kind host."

Usagi and Setsuna left the room and adjourned to the kitchen.

"Has he said anything about who he is or about where he's from?"
Usagi asked.

"No," Setsuna told her. "I sense he is a warrior of great
personal conviction. In a way, he is not unlike Haruka. He is very
loyal and very dedicated and he bears much pain without complaint."

"And what about the two of you?" Usagi probed. "Has he admitted
that he likes you?"

"M-My Princess," sputtered Setsuna.

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed," smirked Usagi. "Even I'm not
that gullible."

"You are quite mistaken," Setsuna stumbled.

"Setsuna, I can be mistaken about a lot of things, but not that.
He likes you. It's more than gratitude. He's attracted to you. I can
tell. And I can tell you're attracted to him."

"I," Setsuna began, "will confess to a certain - - admiration - -
of his ability to endure."

"Setsuna," Usagi said, grasping the woman's hands in hers, "don't
be afraid. You've been alone for as long as I've known you. It's about
time you got a little romance in your life. You're past due."

"My Princess," Setsuna replied. "Solitude does not have to be the
death sentence you believe it to be."

"Well, maybe not for some people. But love isn't something to be
afraid of. I can see the spark between you two. It won't take much
effort from you to fan it. Just don't snuff it out because you're
afraid of getting burned."

"My Princess," Setsuna smiled. "How profound you have become."

"That did come out pretty good, didn't it?" Usagi grinned. "I've
got to write that down. Maybe I can use it in a story."

Setsuna escorted the woman to the door.

"You are still mistaken, My Princess," Setsuna said in farewell.
"But I shall take your words of advice to heart just the same."

"You do that," Usagi beamed. "Because I'm not wrong."
* * * *
When she got home, Usagi had a surprise waiting for her.

"Mom!" Usagi gasped. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm sorry," Ikuko said. "Did I come at a bad time?"

"No. It's just - - how did you get in?"

"Luna let me in."

Usagi started to speak, then stopped. "No, I won't ask how."

"She seems quiet upset about something. Is something wrong?"

"Oh, you know Luna. She's always seeing problems everywhere. Now
she's worried about the sudden drop in temperature."

"Well," the fifty-eight year old woman said thoughtfully. "What
if she's right? What if someone or something is causing it?"

"Then the senshi and I will handle it, Mom," Usagi smiled
reassuringly. She noticed her answer didn't seem to satisfy Ikuko.
"Mom, what's bothering you really?"

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe I'm just being a silly old woman. It's
just," and she searched for the right way to articulate her feelings.
"Usagi, I never told your father or your brother about your double life.
Now I'm beginning to wonder if they should know. Kenji at least."

"Do you think I should tell him?" Usagi asked.

"It's up to you, dear. It's your life and you know best how to
lead it. You've certainly done all right so far. All those worries I
had when you were a teen certainly seem groundless now."

"Well, a lot of that worrying helped shove me in the right
direction," Usagi offered. "I don't remember being very grateful then,
but you were right about a lot more things than I ever admitted to."

"It's not like I had a handbook or anything. I was going by
instinct and what my mother taught me. Maybe it's instinct now, but
I've been getting the feeling that it's no longer a good idea to have
secrets from your father. Something tells me you should tell him - -
while you can."

"Daddy's not sick, is he?" Usagi fretted.

"No," smiled Ikuko. "Kenji's a little heavier than he should be,
but I suppose that's mostly my fault. I do love to cook for him and he
feels obligated to eat it." Ikuko shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe I'm
just fretting over nothing. It's your decision, honey. Just, please
think about it. You can lead a dangerous life at times, and your father
isn't getting any younger. I'd hate for something to happen and have
you or he regret this."

"OK, Mom," Usagi said, placing her hand on her mother's arm. "I
guess you do make sense when you put it that way. How do you think
he'll take it?"

"Your father?" Ikuko smiled. "He'll probably spend the next two
weeks at the library's newspaper back-issue room assembling a huge
scrapbook of each one of your cases. I'll probably have to threaten him
to keep him from telling the whole neighborhood."

Both women shared a laugh.

"Was that all you wanted, Mom?" Usagi asked.

"Yes," Ikuko nodded, "unless you wanted to send a message to the
thirtieth century and ask your daughter to visit her grandmother."

"Mom," Usagi rolled her eyes. "How many times have we had this
conversation?"

"All right, all right," Ikuko said, her hands up in surrender.

"If it's any consolation, Mom," Usagi offered, "I miss her, too."
* * * *
"And in sport, the racing world was rocked today by the abrupt
retirement of two-time Formula One points champion Haruka Tenoh."

"Mamo-chan!" Usagi squealed. She perked up from her spot nestled
against her husband's chest. "Haruka's on television!"

"The reclusive Tenoh-san, thirty-nine, refused to give any
explanation for her decision," reported the news reader. "Despite her
age, Tenoh-san is currently third in the overall Formula One points
standings and was a favorite to capture her third points title. She
retires as the first and so far only woman to ever capture a Formula One
championship."

"I wonder why she retired all of a sudden," Mamoru wondered aloud.

"Maybe Michiru finally talked her into it," suggested Usagi.
"Michiru's wanted her to quit for years now."

"But why so suddenly?"

"I don't know. Maybe Michiru's pregnant." Mamoru gave his wife a
disbelieving look. "It could happen!"

"How?"

"I don't know how! You're the doctor!"

Mamoru eased his wife's head back onto his shoulder and patted it,
as if he were trying to keep her from overtaxing herself. It was a
gesture that irritated Usagi no end.

"In weather," the newscaster continued, "all of Japan remains
under an extraordinary cooling trend. Meteorologists can offer no
explanation for why Japan is fifteen degrees cooler than it should be.
The only discovery they have made is that the phenomenon is no longer
confined to Japan. All countries along the Pacific rim are now
reporting unseasonably cooler temperatures, sometimes ten to fifteen
degrees cooler. A meeting of the International Meteorological Society
is being hastily convened in Melbourne, Australia, to study the problem.
Because of this, expect unseasonably cool temperatures for the next
seventy-two hours. Chance of rain tomorrow is ten percent, rising to
thirty percent on Thursday."

"I wonder what's going on," Mamoru murmured.

Usagi pulled herself up and looked at him. After twenty years
with the man, she knew his moods and ways better than any other person.
She could tell when he was troubled by something.

"Mamo-chan?" she asked. "What's wrong?"

He looked at her, caught.

"I don't know," he confessed. "I'm getting - - feelings."

"Feelings?"

"Nothing definite. I just - - get this vague impression of
menace."

"To who?"

"To the world, I guess. If this weather phenomenon continues
unchecked, it could ultimately plunge the world into another ice age."

"That won't happen," Usagi told him, stroking his cheek with the
back of her hand. "If it doesn't stop itself, someone will find a way
to stop it."

Mamoru stroked his wife's hair and smiled at her. But Usagi
wasn't fooled.

"There's more, isn't there?" she asked.

"You know me too well," Mamoru said, dropping his eyes. "I'm also
getting something else. It feels like a nameless fear. Some sense that
tells you about danger even when your other five senses don't say
anything."

Usagi nodded.

"I don't know how. I don't know why. I don't even know if - -
but I have this strange feeling that you're a target, too. That
whatever's going on and whoever's doing it - - if anything's actually
happening - - they have to go through you to accomplish it."

And Usagi saw the fear in his eyes, the fear Mamoru carried with
him of losing her and being alone again. She saw in his eyes once again
that scared little ten year old who lost his parents and suddenly faced
a callous, cruel world with no one else to turn to for love and
protection. And Usagi flung herself at him, crushing him to her breast.
She felt his arms wrap around her waist, cling to her for strength and
reassurance. Her lips kissed him on the top of his head as she stroked
his thick black hair.

"Nothing's going to happen, Mamo-chan," she whispered. "Nothing's
going to take me away from you - - nothing." She felt him squeeze even
harder and was eternally grateful for it.

Continued in Chapter 5