Luminescence

So, apparently, we don't know for sure if Sailor Moon Crystal is getting a third season. There were apparently a lot of complaints about it! I personally, LOVED it. Visually, I found it mesmerizing (other than the still-unnecessary, still-traditional transformation stock footage), and I loved that it was closer to the manga. No monster of the day. Mamoru wasn't completely terrible like in the original anime. Usagi is more mature, Chibi-Usa less annoying, and Rei gets to be the mysterious, spiritual priestess more so than angry best friend, which I like.

I was actually surprised to hear that it wasn't popular! I loved it. It did feel a bit rushed by trying to match the manga act for act, but other than that, I just loved it. There, I said it. I loved Sailor Moon Crystal. It's what originally inspired me to write this story, and while I encountered the English dub of the show first as a child, it was the manga that enchanted me. That's why I loved Crystal. I hope they bring it back. I did hear that there might be a sequel via two movies this year.

In the meantime, let's continue to see what happens with adult senshi as they discover more about the past and the secrets kept in their present. Remember to mind the M rating-these are adult senshi in adult relationships, some of whom have a bit of a potty mouth- looking at you, Haruka. There may also be some triggering material regarding incest, sexual assault and violence as we continue, so again, mind the rating, friends.

-rosa

Chapter 6: Struggles

Friday, February 13th

Sugar and Spice Catering, 4:12pm

Rei sent the customer happily on their way and then stomped back into the kitchen. "It's probably my fault for sleeping with Yuichiro in the first place," she continued, as if the customer had never interrupted them. "Because I slept with him once, he thinks there is something more between us. I have tried to tell him that I did not enjoy it, but it isn't about him. It's just that I don't feel those feelings and..."

Makoto stopped, mid-knead, and stared at her friend. "Rei-chan, stop." she said, and Rei startled at her friend's harsh tone.

"Is he trying to force you?" Makoto demanded. "Or harassing you all the time? Just because you consented once doesn't mean you deserve that. It's totally valid not to want to have sex, just like it was totally valid to want to try it. If he knows you're not interested and isn't stopping, that's a problem." A few green sparks jumped from Makoto's hands before she took a deep breath and returned to kneading.

Rei blinked, surprised by the heat under her friend's words. She paused, considering her words carefully as a terrible suspicion began to form in her mind.

"You are right, Mako-chan," Rei said, after a moment. "I think I will need to be very clear with Yuichiro when I see him next. I did want to sleep with him when it happened. We'd both had a couple drinks, but I knew what was happening and I said yes multiple times. So did he. I don't regret it. I just don't want to do it again."

"And that's totally fine," Mako interrupted, throwing her down onto the floured countered on the word fine. Her hands were sparking again, so she waited until the sparks calmed before she began to knead again. "You are an adult, and no one gets to decide for you."

Rei closed her eyes for a moment, fighting shock, sadness, and anger, praying she was wrong and if she wasn't, praying for the right words.

"Mako-chan..." she struggled for the words, and finally said, "You're one of my best friends, and you can tell me anything. I hope you know that."

Makoto stopped kneading, avoiding Rei's eyes. She dropped the ball of dough into a bowl and covered it with plastic wrap before sliding it into the proving drawer of her oven. She heaved a sigh, then stepped backward to the counter, hefting herself up to sit on it. Makoto still avoided Rei's gaze, remembering Haruka's words during one of their training sessions.

"No one will think less of you. I don't. We are your friends. The others will be angry and sad right alongside you. So don't be an idiot about it." Haruka was still Haruka after all.

Rei waited, nearly holding her breath.

"You remember that break in I had, right when I was getting started?" Makoto murmured, voice soft.

"I remember."

"I said I wasn't there when it happened, but I lied. I was." Makoto fumbled around in a drawer, and to Rei's surprise, produced out a flask and took a long pull from it. She sighed once, haggardly. Then she took another.

Dread coiled tight in Rei's gut; in that moment, she yearned for Usagi's presence, yearned to have someone else with her as she tried to give her friend the right support and love.

"I was there late, alone," Makoto continued ruthlessly, determined to get it done now that she'd started. "I did that often, in the beginning, trying to make sure everything was perfect, trying out recipes. You know. That night, I forgot to lock the door."

Finally, she met Rei's eyes, fighting back hot tears that wanted release. "A man came bursting in with a ski mask over his face. He demanded the money, and I told him to back off. He said, 'You're all alone, aren't you?' Then he pulled a gun."

The warrior of Jupiter laughed harshly. "A gun! Of all things." She opened her hands and let the sparks pop. "I can summon a hurricane; I could electrocute him with a thought. And he had a gun. I didn't want to reveal my identity, and I couldn't just kill him. How would I answer those questions?! No, I couldn't transform."

"Oh Mako," Rei breathed, feeling the first heat of rage and horror.

"I fought him, of course I fought him. But just as me. No powers. No weapons. I kicked the gun away, but he was so strong, Rei, maybe on some kind of drug. He held me down; I screamed and kicked. He groped me, slapped me, and he'd nearly managed to get my pants off when there was shouting outside. Someone was calling for help. The man rolled off me and ran. He didn't even take any money."

Rei opened her mouth to speak, not sure what she would say even as she took a breath, but Makoto said, "And then, with Hekatos... he brained me with that pan, and that was it. Lights out. I didn't see it coming, and he stole Usagi right out from under us. Rei, I am the Guardian of Protection. But twice now, I couldn't even protect myself, much less Usagi. That's why I've been training with Haruka so much. Sailor Jupiter can blow a hole into anything or anyone she wants!" Makoto cried. But she slammed both her fists onto the counter. "But without my powers, Makoto is... I am helpless."

Throat tight and eyes hot, Rei approached her friend. She gripped the taller woman's hands and held them over her heart.

"Later," Re said, "I'm going to tell you you're wrong, that you are not helpless, that you are still a great Protector and a strong woman. Later, I will tell you how my heart breaks, how I want to find this man and burn him into ash." Gently, she pulled Makoto down from the counter and wrapped her arms around Makoto's waist. "But that is for later. Now I will say this: I love you. I am glad you told me. I am so sorry this happened. And it is not your fault."

And Rei thought, through her tears, that perhaps what she said was right, because Makoto held on tight and didn't let go.

XXX

Friday, February 13th

Home of the Outer Senshi, 6:49pm

After dinner, Hotaru had excused herself to do her homework in her room. Haruka could hear Michiru playing Bach on her violin. Which left Setsuna pretending to read a murder mystery in the living room with a long-cold cup of herbal tea sitting on the coffee table beside her.

Haruka watched her for a time, then made of show of entering and flopping into the recliner across from the sofa, letting her legs dangle over one of the chair's arms. Setsuna rolled her eyes and closed the book, holding her place with one elegant fingers.

"Yes, Haruka?"

The blond woman crossed her arms and grinned. "What? You look like you want to talk."

Setsuna glanced at her tea and her book and her legs covered by a blanket. Then she looked back at Haruka, whose grin widened.

"Do I?" she wondered. She intentionally took a sip of the cold tea, for the principle of the thing.

"Yep. Come on, I waited a whole month. Time to spit it out. Minako-chan figured out you're in love with the Prince."

Setsuna inhaled sharply, which had the sad result of letting some chamomile down her trachea. She coughed, and her eyes teared. Haruka waited patiently, unfazed.

"You would speak so casually about such a thing?" she finally managed, horrified.

"Kami's sake, Setsuna, everyone knows except probably Mamoru himself. If you think Usagi hasn't figured it out, you're being an idiot, which is unusual for you. And because Minako called you on it, you've been avoiding them. And that, Mamoru has noticed. But he thinks that something's up with Hekatos. Keeps texting me to ask if you've got a lead."

Setsuna coughed twice more, then tossed her book to the side without marking the page. Haruka's eyebrows lifted, as the gesture was entirely un-Setsuna.

"Everyone thinks Usagi-chan just knows and hasn't said anything to me about it? Isn't that... odd?"

Haruka shrugged. "She's growing up. She trusts you. Maybe I'm wrong, and she's oblivious. But the you can't keep skulking around and avoiding them."

"Maybe I'm doing it for me," Setsuna said. "If I am around him less, it will go away."

Haruka opened her mouth to answer, but another voice from the stairs said, "Or maybe you need to get a real boyfriend or girlfriend, and then it will go away."

Setsuna covered her face with both hands. Haruka made sympathetic noises around her shit-eating grin, and waved Hotaru down. The sixteen-year-old perched on the seat of the recliner with Haruka, who ruffled her hair affectionately. Hotaru bore this indignity without comment, studying Setsuna.

"Seriously!" she insisted. "You need a rebound."

Haruka snorted as Setsuna's mortification grew. "Setsuna. I realize this is somewhat humiliating for you, but let me remind you number one, that you've done nothing wrong, and number two, we all love you, and number three, the kid has a point."

Hotaru continued, ignoring Haruka. "Or maybe not a rebound, technically, but you just need a new crush! Like, I used to have a crush on this boy, Yuta-"

"Excuse me, who?" Haruka interjected. Hotaru ignored her again.

"-like for ages, but then he asked another girl out for a date, and I was so sad. But then, I met Ryo-"

"Who is Ryo?!"

"-the other intern at the vet's office, and now I don't even think of Yuto anymore. I just think about when I am working at the vet's next!" Hotaru concluded this wisdom with a dramatic sigh.

"Does no one tell me anything in this house?" Haruka demanded. Instinctively, she turned to Michiru, who had padded softly into the room, violin and bow in hand. "Did you know about Yuta? Or Ryo?!"

Michiru settled gracefully onto the chaz, not bothering to hide her amusement. "Of course, dearest. What, you hadn't?" Her sea eyes glittered.

Haruka hmmphed. She ruffled Hotaru's hair again; this time, her daughter giggled. "I'll take you to your next shift," Haruka declared. "It will be fun for me. Meanwhile," she continued over Hotaru's protests, addressing Setsuna, "you will take the good advice that has come from the mouth of babes and get a life. Go out on a date. Or several. Just get out of this house and stop avoiding Usagi and Mamoru. Who knows when Usagi's funny uncle will show up again and upend everything to shit anyway, so get on it. Time waits for no one."

"Time will wait for me," Setsuna declared. But she threw her hands up in defeat, managing a smile. "But maybe I'll try to go on a date instead of die."

"Let's not be dramatic," said Michiru.

XXX

Friday, February 13th

University of Tokyo dorms, 8:45pm

Usagi, whose attire had been already deemed "acceptable," watched with undisguised glee as Minako continued to flutter around the dorm room. Poor Ami stood still, attempting to catch articles of clothing as Minako tossed them at her. Her protests grew weaker; the genius was beginning to deduce that there was no escape.

"Oh my god, Ami, have I not bought your more clothes after being roommates the past three years?! Do you have anything without a collar?!"

Ami rifled through the bundle of blouses in her arms. "Collars are in fashion!" she protested, with no idea if it was true. She pulled a belted pale blue dress with a halter neckline and pencil skirt from the pile in her arms and held it up. "See?! Will this do, Minako-chan?" The stress was starting to get to her; her stomach was churning again.

Sensing as much, Usagi stood and gently plucked the dress from Ami and pushed the rest of the clothes out of her arms and to the ground.

"This is perfect," Usagi declared. She thrust it at Ami with a warning glance at Minako then ruffled through the bag of clothes she'd brought over and produced a dark blue moto jacket. "Here, wear this too. It's cold out."

Ami, one of the few Senshi that still held onto her modesty after all years of transformations, slipped into the bathroom to change. Minako turned her critical eye to Usagi, but she could find no fault with the trendy strapless pink jumpsuit with ruffle top, boots, and white shoulder wrap.

"The idea is to help her relax, Minako-chan," Usagi chided gently, "Not give her more stress."

Minako flopped down onto her bed. Her glittering gold mini dress threw sparkling reflections onto the wall. "I know. I got carried away. I called Mamoru's coworker to meet us. Should I have found Ami a date too?"

Usagi shook her head, and said again, "The idea is to help her relax, not give her more stress. Mamo-chan and I will look out for Ami-chan and keep her company if you and Hiroshi-san hit it off."

Minako nodded. "I tried to see if Rei and Mako wanted to come out with us, but Rei said it wasn't a good time. Must be busy at the bakery, or Mako-chan has an event coming up."

Usagi made a noncommittal sound as Ami stepped out of the bathroom in the ensemble, minus her boots. Minako cooed and cheered appropriately while Usagi's mind drifted.

She knew Rei had little to no interest in sex and that the crowds and noise of clubs irritated her. Their priestess friend enjoyed quiet, and if Usagi's dreams were telling her what she suspected, Rei would use that quiet to help Makoto. Usagi dared not talk to Makoto about the nightmare she'd had; she would wait. Her friend would come to her when she needed to and until then, there was Rei.

"You look great, Ami-chan!" Usagi said. She glanced over her shoulder at the two cats sleeping in the window. No opinions there.

Minako set about gathering needed items in her clutch while Ami pulled on ankle boots. Usagi's phone chirped, and she said, "Mamo-chan is here, let's go!"

Mamoru drove, appointing himself designated driver. He listened with an indulgent smile as the girls chattered, occasionally drawing Amy out with a question about her work or a story about the hospital. By the time they'd arrived at the club where Minako was scheduled to perform for open-mic, Ami appeared more comfortable.

Minako's date met them at the door, gleefully showing Minako (while everyone else followed in amusement) that he had managed to hold onto a booth big enough for everyone, near the stage so they could see. Minako batted her eyes and thanked him effusively, and then the two of them fell into a conversation that barely required any participation from anyone else.

Usagi, sandwiched in the middle of the booth (as she was the shortest and this arrangement was instinctive on the part of her bodyguards and lover by this point), squeezed Ami's hand beneath the table. She leaned in close to Ami to be heard over the music. , "I'm glad you're here, Ami-chan."

Ami blinked a little, still getting used to the intense stimulation from the club's music, scents, and crowd. But she returned the squeeze and said, "I know it is probably good for me to rest and have fun more than I do."

Mamoru, overhearing, said, "Yes. I know how stressful it is to get through university and medical school, but you'll be no good to any patients if you burn yourself out before you get there."

So, playing off each other in the way couples do, Mamoru and Usagi drew Ami out throughout the night. Once the open mic performances began, Usagi whispered her commentary to Ami during each act, making the more serious girl laugh in delight. When it was Minako's turn, the two girls, with some help from Mamoru and Hiroshi, cheered loudly enough to impress the judges. (Mamoru may have produced some roses for Usagi to gleefully throw onto the stage.)

The performances ended and the floor opened for dancing. The DJ surprised everyone by starting with a slow song, so Hiroshi whisked Minako onto the floor. Usagi coughed meaningfully, staring at Mamoru. With a grin, he turned to Ami, "Would you care to dance, Ami-chan?"

Her mouth fell inelegantly open. "But-"

Usagi pushed her out of the booth. "Go on! I get to dance with him all the time, but I'll share tonight!"

Blushing, Ami allowed Mamoru to take her to the dance floor. Usagi watched, sighing fondly, as Mamoru began to show off a little, beginning a waltz. They stumbled a few times, but as Ami relaxed, she could let Mamoru lead.

Static and feedback suddenly cut through the sound, quickly remedied by the DJ, who screamed "GOMEN" to the dancers, who tolerated this with chuckles and continued their swaying.

In her booth, though, Usagi sat up straighter, every muscle tensing. A figure slid into the seat next to her.

"Hello, niece," said Hekatos.

XXXX

Sorry for the delay! The story continues! :D

-rosa