Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Things Change ❯ Chapter 2: Great Expectations ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: Great Expectations

 

Makoto sat on one of the long wooden benches that lined the wall of the great domed room. It wasn't the biggest room in the Palace, but it was still a damn big room. Makoto had been here for over two years now and she still hadn't seen every room in the Palace; it was just that big. This room, among all others, had become her least favorite. It was the room in which they conducted their elemental training. The room was built to withstand the force of their powers, and so it was indestructible. Though, lately, some of the instructors had been questioning the validity that statement on a regular basis. Makoto knew that she was the cause for these questions. They'd never had to leave the room while any of their pupils trained before she came along. They were also supposed to be the experts on this sort of thing. They told her not to worry, that she'd grow into her element, when they hadn't the slightest clue to begin with on what to do about her problem. Was it ever this hard for any of her ancestors? If so, no one mentioned it. This one thing was the only obstacle that she could see in her way to becoming a great guardian. What if she never mastered her element? What if it was always so erratic and dangerous? She'd never be able to use her powers outside this room, and that scared her. It wasn't like she didn't try. She really did.

 

What her instructors must think of her. Inept, aberrant, foolhardy. In her head was a list of every word she could remember being called; too bad she didn't know what half of them meant. She didn't take any of it to heart, it was just part of being herself. Rei never seemed to mind any of it.

 

Rei. Her best friend. Makoto was watching the raven-haired woman now. A woman, yes, they were both women now. Rei was receiving a lecture from one of her teachers. It was rare that she was ever lectured, and honestly, Makoto could not see what she'd done wrong. Makoto had completed her training earlier, as short as it was, and escaped to the practice yard for some extra combat training. She sported a bandage over her right temple from a clumsy feint she'd tried to preform. Though there had been far worse blunders in the past, it was just multiplied ten fold because of the way her day had been going. This morning, right after she'd completed her usual run on the Palace grounds, she was greeted by her newest lover, who told her of the reasons why they couldn't be together anymore. Makoto had expected for it to be short lived, but she'd been hoping for the relationship to last a bit longer than two weeks. Oh well, there were plenty more to be had.

 

She held no real love for any of these women. She'd never even approached any of them to begin with. They just came to her and asked. Makoto had never been one to turn them down either, when she considered the “deal”. Basically, they got the honor and prestige of being with the Princess of Jupiter, and what did Makoto get? Well, she had plenty of nice memories. A grin spread across her tan face. Lately, though, she'd been wanting to turn them away, but always found that it was impossible. Maybe she could send some of them in Rei's direction?

 

“Do I even want to know what you are thinking? Or what wicked ideas you have conjured up in the last twenty minutes?” The Martian accent was amused.

 

Makoto looked up to find Rei walking towards her. She looked exhausted and did not hesitate to take a seat next to the taller woman.

 

“Maybe. I was just wondering what kind of woman I would send your way.” Makoto grinned at the scowl Rei responded with.

 

“Seriously, I think I have it figured out.”

 

“Alright then, I will humor you. What kind of lover would you send me? You have already established that they are female?” Rei stretched her arms in out in front of her.

Makoto pulled her long legs up onto the bench, hugging them and resting her chin on her knees. She thought for a moment, assessing her friend and finally coming to a conclusion. “Smart, delicate, sophisticated. She'll be mysterious, like you, but cute instead of scary.” Rei gave a short “hmph” beside her.

 

“Quiet and clever, and reticent too.” Makoto nodded in conclusion. There was a silence while they both thought. Then Makoto added. “Really, this woman is going to be boring...”

 

Rei arched one eyebrow. “I am the one you are sending her to, remember.” Then she laughed, “Well then, I will give you one even worse than that.”

 

“Dunno who said I needed any more sent my way, but go right ahead,” Makoto challenged, warming to their game.

 

Rei feigned deep thought and began, “She is going to be cheerful and witty. Playful, kind, one of those people who are happy all the time. It is sick really.”

 

“Don't add your scathing little comments.” Makoto interjected.

 

“She will be extremely beautiful of course.”

 

“Of course.”

 

“Someone who stands out in a crowd, and needs to be the center of attention. And this girl is going to need a lot of attention She will probably drive you mad. Though, as scatterbrained and energetic as she will be, I am sure that you will be very happy together.”

 

“What, no measurements?”

 

Rei glared at Makoto.

“Okay, so you haven't liked any of the women I've had relationships with, nor have you liked any of the ones who have confessed their undying love for you.”

 

Rei rolled her eyes. Makoto laughed. “I don't think either of us want to fall in love then.”

 

Rei looked at Makoto seriously. “Well, it is not something that we really need to do is it? Not a duty or obligation. Why bother?”

 

Makoto shrugged. “Need or want. Won't know till it happens. IF it happens that is. I've heard that you don't get a choice really. It's beyond our control.”

 

“Impossible.” Rei shook her head. “I control my destiny.”

 

“You do like to be in control don't you. Me, I like losing it sometimes.” Makoto was looking ahead at nothing in particular, when a figure walked into her view. Someone had entered the room that only they had been occupying up to this point.

 

Beside her, Rei stared at the floor. “Maybe that is the problem with your elemental training, among other things. Maybe you just like being reckless.”

 

Makoto heard little of what Rei was telling her, and if she said anything else it was lost as Makoto studied the woman who was traversing the large expanse of floor between them. She was a little shorter than Makoto, maybe about Rei's size. She wore a simple long dress that fit her curvaceous figure perfectly. Makoto looked on in wonder as blonde hair swayed behind the woman, who walked through the rays of light that were pouring in through the windows of the dome above them. Her hair glowed gold when the light passed over it. Makoto knew that she was looking at the most beautiful woman that she had ever seen. Her breathing had stopped, and once she looked into the woman's blue eyes she was lost. The blonde's face broke into a smile, which Makoto quickly mirrored. She was probably smiling like an idiot, but she didn't care. She knew that she couldn't control it nor the beating of her heart. This was out of her hands now.

+ - + - + - + - + - +

 

Rei noticed that her friend wasn't responding to anything that she was saying, so she stopped talking. Even though Makoto hid her feelings well, Rei could always tell when she was down about something. Others wouldn't have a clue, but Rei would know. She was hoping that their little talk might raise Makoto's spirits a little, but evidently it wasn't helping like she thought it would. Maybe it was the elemental jibe, she thought. Rei nodded to herself. She might have taken offense to that. Then she discounted the thought. Makoto never got offended by anything Rei said.

 

Rei was so tangled in her own mess of thoughts, that it took a moment or two for her to hear the light tapping of footsteps echoing about the room. When the sound finally penetrated the thick vale of her mental debate, she brought her head up in the direction from which it was coming. The footsteps belonged to a girl who was walking towards them. A blonde girl. And a very pretty one at that, she noted. Rei didn't mean to stare, but she was. It wasn't something Rei usually did either, which stirred up confusion within her. She'd seen nice enough looking women before, but she couldn't force her eyes away from this one. Her hair was just stunning, and when she smiled Rei felt herself blush. Though, that was when she realized that the girl wasn't smiling at her. Tearing her eyes away from the approaching beauty, Rei looked to her left, where Makoto sat, to find the taller woman grinning from ear to ear at the blonde.

 

Rei looked back down at the floor quickly, her head lowered, an unpleasant feeling in her chest merging with a not so unpleasant one. Why this all of a sudden? What were these feelings running through her? Not but a few seconds ago had she been perfectly fine, but then, all of a sudden, a rush a emotions had flooded her just by making two simple observations. I just won't look at her again, Rei decided, and besides, maybe she doesn't look as good close up.

 

Makoto's voice sounded clearly next to her, “Hey there, something we can help you with?”

 

A musical voice answered her. “Yes, actually, I've been wandering around for a while, looking for someone. They were to meet me in the entrance hall an hour ago, but they never showed up. I didn't really need to be chaperoned through the Palace, seeing as how I stayed here for quite a while a few years ago, but I thought that at least they should know. I'm not one to assume anything until I know the circumstances of her absence.”

 

Oh shit, Rei thought. The elbow she received in the side only served to drive that thought home. Yes, I deserved that.

 

The owner of the elbow, Makoto, found it quite amusing. “This person must be extremely rude to make you wait for so long. They probably even forgot about you, I'd say. Very inconsiderate. Lazy, incompetent, and I hear that she has a horrible personality,” Makoto stood as she continued her rant, “I bet she even spent all morning and afternoon doing unnecessary training, and then you'd probably find her lounging about afterwards, none the wiser that you were trudging through the Palace worried to death that something serious may have delayed her. That she could have been maimed or stabbed, or that maybe the Dark Kingdom had gotten a hold on her and-.”

 

“Now, you know damn well that she was not thinking that!” Rei's sharp voice cut in as she jumped up from her seat and stood before her friend with a look of annoyance.

 

Makoto smirked in triumph at Rei, then turned to the blonde, who was regarding them both with mirth. Makoto gave a bow, which Rei thought was a tad embellished, and introduced herself. “Makoto, Guardian and Heir to the throne of Jupiter, at your service.” Minako returned the bow, though more tamely.

 

“Minako, Guardian and Princess of Venus?” Rei said over Makoto's back, though being careful not to look directly at the blonde guardian, “Am I correct?”

 

Minako inclined her head in Rei's direction as Rei gave a slight bow in return. “And you are Rei?” She smiled, “My chaperone.”

 

“You should not have roamed about the palace, no matter if you claim to have prior knowledge of its interior. Things have changed. It has gotten more dangerous of late than it used to be.”

 

Minako shrugged in dismissal of her chastising statement and continued to smile. “I got tired of waiting for you,” she said simply, then turned to Makoto, who was standing watching them both with her hands behind her head, still grinning.

 

“I guess I better take my share of the blame as well,” the brunette said, glancing at Rei, “she told me about it the day before last, so we both knew of your arrival today, but we've had a lot on our minds lately. Well, me probably more than her, but I should have remembered to tell her. She'd meant to leave early today too, but one of the instructor's was being annoyingly hard on her and even gave her a lecture. Rei never gets lectures.”

 

“Really, never? You must be very smart,” Minako commented.

 

Rei and Makoto snorted in unison, causing the blonde to jump. “If she was, I wouldn't be around her too much. Smart people...” Makoto shivered, trailing off.

 

“When was the last time you cracked a book open Makoto?” Rei asked, looking up at her.

 

Makoto took on a thoughtful look, “Well, I was perusing the library last week.”

 

“You mean the librarian, do you not?” Rei said smartly.

 

Makoto raised her eyebrows, looking up at the ceiling, but she did not answer.

 

“If I remember correctly, you were to write something for Luna at the beginning of the week? You had to come to elemental training late as a result. What was that anyway?”

 

Makoto was observing the wall to her right with much interest, “Hmm, I wonder if they'd consider painting this room green. It'd look a lot better I think. What do you think?” she asked, looking at Minako abruptly.

 

Minako shrugged, “Well, I don't really know-.”

 

“Makoto, did you really have anything to write for Luna, or did you just skip training?” Rei glared at her. “You DID skip!”

 

Makoto rolled her eyes. “Oh, I'll skip it whenever I damn well want to, but that wasn't it. Usagi gets her panties in a twist and runs to Luna whenever something...happens.”

 

Rei already knew that when things “happen” around Usagi, Makoto was usually the cause, and with unpleasant results every time.

 

“You know how Usagi eats way too fast, and she inhales her food in a way that shouldn't be humanly possible. Well, just say someone put a teensy bit more pepper in her food than you would usually add. And say she ate it just the way she usually eats it.”

 

Rei refrained from commenting, imagining the scene already.

 

“And she didn't even have any evidence that it was me. Luna didn't even understand when I told her my reasoning either. If Usagi ate more like a lady then she would never have went through that torment. Writing a thousand sentences was hardly a fair punishment.”

 

“Hardly,” Rei echoed.

 

“Well, it is very well that you were punished,” Minako said, “you went about it all wrong.”

 

Makoto raised one brow at Minako, and Rei looked up at the blonde with curiosity, forgetting that she was avoiding doing just that. Up close, Minako was even more perfect that she had been fifteen feet away. Rei found herself memorizing the curve of her face and the blue hue of her eyes. Minako's skin was smooth and clear, her height just under Rei's, and that cute smile was directed at Rei as she tilted her head. Rei felt a mixture of relief and loss when the blonde turned from her to look at Makoto again.

 

“You should have used something really sour. Now that would have been funny.” Minako crossed her arms and continued. “Her face would have scrunched up and her lips would pucker like a fish. She might even turn a few shades of green.” She laughed as she imagined it and Makoto nodded in assent.

 

“There will be plenty more meals for her, don't worry.” Makoto was still nodding, but unexpectedly jumped, looking to somewhere behind Minako. “Oh, Usagi,” she laughed uneasily, “when did you get here?”

 

Rei followed her gaze and sure enough, there stood Usagi. A very red, very angry Usagi. How had neither of them noticed her entrance? Had Rei been so absorbed in Minako as to forget her surroundings? That was dangerous and she'd need to be careful of that in the future. She looked at her friend. But what of Makoto? What was her excuse?

 

“I came to see if you two went to get Minako! She wasn't in her room and I looked everywhere else! Then I came here to see if you'd just plain forgotten her, because knowing you,” here she pointed at Makoto, “you'd leave her standing in the entrance hall for a good part of the afternoon! Starving! Dying of boredom! The cruelty of it, I can hardly imagine!”

 

“Well, I was there for a while...” Minako trailed off.

 

Usagi looked at Minako, her mouth half open. “She really did leave you there to wait?!” She was panting with rage, her fists balled up at her sides.

 

Rei felt her eyebrow twitch slightly and she steeled her face, not wanting to loose her cool. She hadn't had a good day so far, and to have this rubbed in wasn't going to help her position.

 

“I'll have you know,” Makoto pointed at Usagi in a very juvenile sort of way, “that I was not the one assigned to this oh so important task.” She stopped and stood tall as though proclaiming something of great importance, giving Usagi a stern look as the blonde leaned forward with impatience. The moment stretched out, the tension between the two building, and then, “Rei did it.” Makoto walked around Usagi and out from between she and Rei.

 

Rei gave Makoto's back a burning look and she could swear that the muscles in that back tensed in response, though Makoto did not dare look back at her. Rei then donned a cold expression and refused to look at Usagi.

 

“Rei?” Usagi stepped closer. “How could you?! No matter how foul a mood you are in, it's no reason to take it out on other people!”

 

“I forgot, dammit!” Rei raised her voice, and the two blonde's cringed at the loud echo in the large room, her voice seeming to boom at them both. Then in a more subdued tone she continued, “What is it to you anyway Usagi?”

 

“What is it to me!? My best friend was treated rudely! That's what it is to me!”

 

“Really now, Usagi, it wasn't that bad,” Minako tried to cut in.

 

“You stay out of this. I finally forgot about that incident where you squeezed a dozen lemons into my soup, and you go and brag about it?!”

 

Minako smiled sheepishly, causing Rei to stare at the new expression, and find it greatly endearing.

 

Usagi's scolding of Rei went on. “You're a guardian and a princess, you're not supposed to forget important tasks like this. You're older too. With age comes wisdom, my foot!”

 

Rei finally snapped. “Dammit Usagi, what would you know?! You are still a spoiled little kid who has not even started her training yet! I would give you one day of doing what we do, then you would go crying back to the Queen!” Her voice rumbled violently throughout the room and reverberated long after. As the sound died away, finally, a new sound filled the space around the four princesses. A low, sniffling sound.

 

Usagi was hanging her head, covering her face with both hands. She was crying. “You (sniffle) didn't have to (sniffle-sniff) say it like that.” Her shoulders shook with her sobs.

 

Rei's face was frozen as she stared at the blonde, not knowing what to do.

 

Makoto strolled over to stand beside Rei. She looked at Usagi critically, as if to determine something, then, extending her arm, she held her hand in a fist, her thumb pointing parallel to the floor between the two. She looked at all who were present, her face a mask of arrogance. Without taking her eyes off of Rei, she slowly turned her thumb downward, pointing it at the floor.

 

Rei gritted her teeth, glaring at the tall woman and slapping her hand away roughly. Makoto laughed heartily declaring, “Finish her!”

 

“I do not need your lame, Jovian humor to add any more unpleasantness to this situation!” She said forcefully.

 

Minako stepped forward, probably thinking that neither of them had caught her sudden laugh and just as sudden attempt to cover it with a feigned cough. “Now, now, let's calm down. Come on Usagi, you can come with me and we'll catch up, all right?” She took the girl from behind by the shoulders and attempted to steer her away from the two older women. When she didn't budge, the blonde added, “I'm rather hungry from waiting for so long, why don't we go eat?”

 

At the mention of food, Usagi lifted her head and nodded slightly, letting herself be led away. As Minako passed Makoto, she looked up at her asking, “I thought the gladiatorial events were outlawed on Jupiter a long time ago.”

 

“They are.” Makoto replied. “But it's in my blood.” She smirked self-importantly.

 

Rei frowned. “That is not something to be proud of.” She wasn't exactly sure what made her say that, but she was finding it particularly easy to offend people today.

 

Makoto's smile fell away in disappointment. After a moment she spoke. “I will forgive you on the account that you are my closest friend. I know you don't mean it.” Her eyes were intense. Intense to the point that Rei looked away from her friend. If there was one thing that she'd learned about Makoto, it was that you did not insult her ancestors in any way. In the past, one instructor had made the mistake of doing so to an extent that Makoto retaliated physically. In this life, Rei found that there were several kinds of people. There are the mentally strong ones, who are well prepared to respond to hostility with an arsenal of words, and who are able to do so in a short time with little aforethought. Then, there are the ones who lack the words to engage in a verbal battle, and become frustrated, and thus are driven to respond in the only way that they can, with violence, and if they cannot bring themselves to act at all they may self destruct. Makoto was, of course, the latter. With that one little mistake, Makoto had become known as a delinquent, and she might as well have confirmed her victim's remarks when she put him out of commission for a month. She'd been punished severely with a strict schedule and constant supervision. An apology letter, written by her, was delivered, by her, to the instructor who was injured, by her. It happened before Rei came to the Moon, and she always wondered how Makoto's face must have looked, how she must have reacted. She'd never seen Makoto become violent or enraged, and she didn't really want to.

 

A sigh sounded to her right, and she saw Makoto turn to leave. “I think I'll go knock around some of the newbie trainees now.” She waved over her shoulder as she was halfway to the exit. “See you guys at dinner or whenever.”

Rei stared after her, her face blank. Minako was leading Usagi away now, but she gave Rei one last glance before leaving, and that glance turned into a stare, lingering between them until Usagi distracted the blonde with a question as they walked out of the training room.

 

And that was the night that Rei began to have trouble sleeping.

 

+ - + - + - + - + - +

 

Minako had always imagined that it would be fun living on the Moon, with her closest friend, Usagi. Having known each other since they were kids gave them a different outlook on their duties. They did not see each other as ruler and guardian, but simply as friends. This was what blinded Minako before, but now that she was actually here on the Moon and the reality was so clear to her, she couldn't help but step back and look at herself for once. Much had changed on the Moon since she'd been here years ago, and so had she and Usagi. Usagi was just as childish as she had been, but there were things about her now that seemed more mature. Not to the point of blinding, but subtle details about her appearance and the way she held herself. Her eyes held a sort of knowledge and understanding at times. Still, she and Usagi got along just fine, as they had in the past. She wouldn't worry about it since it wasn't a bad thing at all. Just an observation she'd made. One among many.

 

She remembered the night before she'd left for the Moon. All of the expectations she'd held within her. The wishes she'd made and the plans she'd laid out in her mind. All the goals and objectives of her heart and soul. All of those things were torn the moment she stepped into the training room on that first day of her arrival. Torn between two women who captivated her more than any being she'd ever met in her short existence in this world. She'd never imagined that there could be something more than her visions of perfection and love. Friendships like the ones she had made in the past year were not found easily. They really were perfection. Makoto and Rei were now her closest friends next to Usagi. They'd welcomed her readily into their circle. Never had she felt left out nor unwanted. Minako realized that she was a bit spoiled, and she always had been. Always needing to be the center of attention was what drove her. It was what made her who she was. And they'd accepted that, giving their time freely to be with her. They were such great friends, and she felt that she could not ask for more.

 

Minako didn't know when she began noticing the changes in herself. They happened so naturally that she was surprised to notice them at all. No one else seemed to, and she was glad of that. That way, she could stop herself before she stared longingly into violet eyes that burned with passion after many hours of elemental training. She would never let the strong arms that lifted her playfully from her seat after a lengthy study session, know that she secretly relished the contact and the feelings that they stirred within her. There would be no more lingering close to soft warm skin and catching the light scent of incense that clung to the red silk of vest. Nor would she show her delight in the feel of auburn hair barely brushing her cheek while being embraced from behind in congratulations for besting an opponent on the practice field.

 

Yes, her fascination with her two friends had turned into something else completely. Something more, and it scared her to think that they both meant so much to her. She thought of Rei, with her long ebony hair and dark, mysterious air. She was usually reserved, but Minako had seen her snap at times, and she was one of the few to witness this. Rei was a passionate and stubborn person. Patient. A perfectionist in almost all that she did, from her appearance to her way of speaking. Rei embodied so many mysteries that Minako could never know where to start with her. She was strong of mind and heart, her mere presence soothing in a way that Minako had never known. She knew that they were as different as night and day, but that only fascinated Minako all the more. But was this fascination something greater? There were times when Minako wanted to know more about Rei, for the ebony-haired beauty would not divulge much to her. What were her ambitions? Her dreams? Her hopes, fears, fantasies? Had she told Makoto any of these things?

 

Makoto. Minako could not help but smile every time she was around the tall brunette. Strength and loyalty. Kindness and caring. So many words could she use to describe her friend. Makoto was hopelessly sporadic and adventuresome. Reckless and wild, she found so many things to bring forth that smile that Minako was unable to hold back. She made Rei smile, and that was an accomplishment in itself. Rei wasn't one for smiling much, as Minako had discovered. But Makoto's companionship brought the best out of both Rei and herself. And was Makoto ever beautiful. Her hair was now longer than it had been when they'd first met. Long auburn locks that, if not bound when she practiced, would twirl wildly with her movements through the practice yard. Her lithe muscles tensing beneath tan silken skin. Her clothes clinging to her form from the perspiration of a hard practice. She could defeat her opponent in graceful swordplay, or in an all out brawl, rowdy and unbeatable. She showed Minako how to be courageous and brave, attacking without fear. There were times when Minako found herself wanting Makoto's strength to be displayed in places other than the practice yard. Times when she felt a need to meet Makoto on some day when she emerged from the dusty haze of another long session of training her body in the arts of war. She wanted to take her somewhere secluded and discover that body for herself. In a hot spring or a garden. It was just wishful thinking, however, another fantasy. Makoto did not go to women, they came to her. She envied those women who had the courage to approach her warrior friend. She also hated them for being so manipulating of Makoto. She knew that Makoto was aware that there was no love involved, but it made her sick to think that they used her that way. But what of her own feelings? Was she too, like them?

 

It was all so confusing to Minako. Things had been much simpler when it was just she and Usagi. Though she would never give up her friendship with Makoto and Rei for anything, she still feared all of the feelings that she held for them. There were plenty of excuses that she'd made for herself, to explain why she felt they way that she did, but who was she kidding? Time. That was what she needed. She would wait and see. After all, things always changed with time. But would Minako be patient enough to wait for that change?

 

Continued...