Planet Bound: Venus by Marj Notes: konnichiwa - good afternoon/hello okaa-san - mother sayonara - good-bye yoroshiku - nice to meet you Please e-mail your comments and constructive criticisms at . Thanks! Disclaimers: The characters of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon were created by Naoko Takeuchi-san, its copyright owned by Toei Animation, Kodansha, Nakayoshi, Sterling Animation Inc., and many other companies scattered throughout the world. Meaning, I cannot claim the characters as my own, and am mearly borrowing them. The character Ayukawa Himeru is mine. So please don't sue, as I don't earn anything from this other than the satisfaction of making a story. Chapter Twelve: Sayama Mie and the Decisive Dare A young girl, age eight, ran up the sidewalk leading to the front door of the Aino residence. She had slightly dark brown hair pulled up in pigtails, and her eyes shone with excitement. Her mother was right behind her. "Are you sure this is her house, dear?" Mrs. Sayama asked her daughter. Sayama Mie nodded. "Yup! I know that three years have passed already, but I'd never forget her house!" "It's been a long time. Do you think she still remembers you?" her mother asked, ringing the doorbell for her child. "Of course she does!" Mrs. Sayama was having second thoughts. "Maybe we should have called first before coming here and asking her to take care of you for the weekend . . ." "She won't mind, okaa-san! I'm sure of it!" The door opened, and out came Aino Kimiko. "Hello, may I help you?" she asked. "Konnichiwa, Kimiko-mama! Remember me?" Mie asked. Kimiko's face lit up. "You're Mie, aren't you? You've grown up well!" Mei brought pulled her mother forward. "This is my okaa-san, Kimiko- mama." Kimiko bowed in respect. "Yoroshiku." Mrs. Sayama returned the gesture. "You too. Your daughter and mine seem to be on very good terms, wouldn't you say?" Kimiko's face clouded over at the mention of her daughter. "Yes . . . very much so . . . especially three years ago . . . Oh, how silly of me, I'm not being hospitable. Please, come in." "Oh, no need. I was just wondering if your daughter could look after Mie for a while. Her father and I will be leaving overnight, and I can't seem to find a sitter . . ." "But . . . Minako-chan . . . she's . . ." Mie frowned, disappointed. "She isn't here?" Kimiko smiled sadly. "No, she's here. Only . . . she's sick . . ." "Oh . . ." "I really wouldn't want to bother your daughter if she's sick. I hope she has a speedy recovery. Thank you for your time . . ." Mrs. Sayama bowed again, took her daughter's hand, and started to walk away. "Wait!" Mother and daughter looked back. Kimiko smiled again. "It would mean a lot to Minako if . . . if Mie visited her . . ." "But . . . she might catch . . ." "Mie won’t. The disease is not contagious. Trust me." Mrs. Sayama looked at her daughter, who was staring at her with pleading eyes. "But . . . Mie might disturb her rest . . ." "She won't be able to recover anymore." Mie's mother's face paled. "She won't . . . Oh, I'm so sorry!" Kimiko felt new tears springing to her eyes. "Okaa-san, what's wrong?" Mie asked her mother. She looked at her daughter for a while. ". . . Nothing, really. Go on. Aino-san and I will talk for a while." Mie ran inside the house. "Don't disturb Minako-san too much!" her mother shouted. Then, Mrs. Sayama looked at Kimiko. "When . . . ?" "She told us weeks ago, before summer vacation. Emphysema . . ." She sighed. "Mie will be heartbroken . . ." Mrs. Sayama smiled sadly. "Her first loss . . . and she's only eight years old." "Perhaps, I should never have pleaded with her to stay . . ." Her visitor shook her head. "No. If the presence of friends makes her happy, then let Mie serve her purpose. After all, Minako has always been there for her . . ." She smiled a bit. "I'll miss your daughter . . . she's all my little Mie talks about, and I feel as if I already know her." "She does have a way with . . . well . . . some children . . ." They were silent for a while. "I think you should tell your daughter. It would hurt her if she was the last to know." Kimiko said softly. The visitor thought for a while. "I . . . I’ll tell her when the time is right. I don’t think she’ll be able to take it right now." Then, Mrs. Sayama bowed again. "I have to go." "Sayonara . . . and take care." "Sayonara." ***** When Mie entered Minako's room, she noticed that there were other people present. "Umm . . . Konnichiwa!" she said. Artemis perked up from Rei's arms, meowed happily, and jumped towards her. "Hi, Artemis! Miss me?" Mie said happily. "Who's that?" Makoto asked. "That's Sayama Mie. She's Minako's friend from Shiba Kindergarden three years ago," Usagi answered, staring fondly at the eight-year-old girl. "Do I know you?" Mie asked. Usagi winked. "Let's just say that we've met before." Minako was sitting up in bed, her back supported by a stack of pillows. "How are you, Mie?" she asked softly. Mie ran and sat on her bed, Artemis dangling in her arms. "Fine! Kimiko-mama said you're sick. Are you feeling all better now?" "With you beside me? Of course!" Minako hugged the little girl. "It's been so long. You've certainly grown!" "And you haven't changed a bit! Except . . . your face is whiter . . ." Minako just smiled and coughed. "Oh, Mie, I'd like you to meet my friends, Usagi, Ami, Rei and Makoto." Mie eyed Usagi. "Usagi? Like the name of that substitute teacher inside the bus when we were attacked by that youma?" "No, Mie. She's . . . slightly different from that Usagi." "Hmm . . . You're right - Usagi-sensei didn't have funny looking hair. . ." Usagi blushed while the others laughed. "Maybe you should use the transformation pen more often!" Rei whispered. Usagi glared at her. There was a knock on the door. "Come in!" Minako said. Minako's mother entered, followed by Himeru and Hikaru. "Hey, guys!" Ami said, waving. Kimiko looked around. "We're getting pretty crowded in here, don't you think? Maybe it would be better if you all head out to the garden." Ami nodded. "Fresh air would do Minako good, too!" So the group of eight, along with Minako's mother, headed for the wicker chairs on the Aino's lawn. Although Himeru tried to offer her support, Minako walked by herself the entire way. "I'm not that weak, you know. I only have a fever, but after this, we can pretty much go back to normal," she said. The others were skeptical, though. Kimiko went away for a while, then came back with a tray of glasses, soda, and snacks for everyone. "I'll be cooking dinner in the kitchen, dear," she said after placing the tray on the table in the middle of the wicker chairs. "Don't you think you should hire someone to help us for a while? You shouldn't tire yourself out, okaa-san," Minako said. Her mother smiled. "Don't worry. If I was able to manage being pregnant with you for nine months with only my mother around, I'm sure that I'll do much better with you to help me . . ." She suddenly stopped talking. "I . . . I should go back to the kitchen now," she said quietly. Then, she walked away. Minako thought sadly. Hikaru noticed her friend's sad face. "Minako-chan . . . your mother will be fine . . ." "I know . . ." Minako said. "I know." They were silent for a while. Then, Mamoru arrived. "Hey, Usako! I thought you said we had a date today!" Usagi turned around and blushed. "Oops! Mamo-chan, gomen! I guess Mie's arrival diverted my attention!" "So typical of you, Usagi-chan!" Rei smirked. "And what is that supposed to mean?" Soon, Usagi and Rei engaged in a veritable verbal assault on each other. The others sweatdropped . . . except Artemis, who was on Minako's lap. He shuddered as he watched the scene . . . it reminded him too much of his dream. He tucked his head deep into his paws. "What's wrong, Artemis? Are you feeling okay?" Minako asked, concerned. Artemis didn't answer. She gently rubbed his back. Artemis looked up at her, silently urging her to scratch his chin. So she did. Makoto and Ami went back inside the house to get the key to the gate and let Mamoru in. Himeru and Hikaru just continued staring at Usagi and Rei, while Mie drank her bottle of soda. When Makoto, Ami, and Mamoru reached the table, Mie raised the empty bottle. "Hey, everyone! Let's play "Truth or Dare"!" Himeru gave her a questioning look, but nobody noticed. Mamoru looked a bit disgusted. "Truth or Dare? Count me out!" Usagi pouted. "But why?" "Usako, I’m twenty-one years old, not sixteen!" "Aww, come on, Mamo-chan! Just this once, pleeeeeease!" Usagi pleaded. "I’ll give you a huge kiss if you join!" Rei and Makoto snickered while Mamoru blushed. "What? What did I say?" Usagi asked. Minutes later, Usagi managed to convince Mamoru to play, with a deal that Usagi would be on-time for their dates for the next month. Rei said that that was utterly impossible, and both girls started bickering each other again. Soon, everyone gathered around the table. Rei and Usagi were still elbowing each other, but they stopped when Mamoru spun the bottle. It whirled around in blinding speed, then stopped, its tip pointed at Himeru. Everyone looked at him, waiting for which he was going to choose. Himeru looked at them innocently. "Sooo . . . what now?" They all face-faulted. "Don't . . . don't you know how to play "Truth or Dare"?" Makoto asked. "No . . . I guess not." "Gee, and we thought that you knew everything, just like Ami!" Usagi laughed. "At least he knows something. He isn't an airhead like you!" Rei smirked. Usagi made a face at her. "Maybe someone should explain how the game works for Himeru?" Hikaru suggested, trying to get them back at the game and avoid another fight. Ami volunteered. "It works like this. Someone spins the bottle. Whoever it points at when it stops spinning will have to choose between Truth or Dare-" "What's your choice?" Mamoru asked before Ami could go any further. He felt incredibly silly and he just wanted the game to be over. "Umm . . . Dare, I guess," Himeru answered. Mie grinned evilly. "Okay, so now you have to do what I tell you!" she said. Himeru blinked. "I'm supposed to follow you? Is that how it's played?" Ami gave the grinning Mamoru a disapproving glance. "I haven't finished yet. You see, when you choose "Dare," you have to do whatever they tell you to. But if you choose "Truth," you have to answer any question given to you as honestly as you can." "I think I like "Truth" better," Himeru grinned. Minako shook her head. "No second chances!" "Hey! I'm a beginner at this!" "Don't worry! We'll make it easy on you," Makoto smiled. Mie thought deeply. She jumped up. "Himeru-san, kiss the lips of the person that you admire the most!!!" Himeru’s eyes widened. "Here?!? Right now? Are you kidding me?" Everybody shook their heads. "But . . . that's kind of like a "Truth" question too, you know? It's as though you asked "Who do you admire most of all?!" That's kind of unfair, don't you think?" Rei smiled. "Aw, come on, Himeru-san! Don't be a kill-joy - it's just a little kiss!" He raised his hands. "Okay, okay, I'll do it!" Everyone fell silent as he looked around the table. "Umm . . . can I kiss the cat?" Luna blinked. Usagi laughed. "Silly!!! Kiss a human being, not a cat!" Himeru shrugged. "If you say so . . ." Without warning, he leaned over to his right and kissed Minako! Minako's eyes widened in shock. She waited for the kiss to end, but it seemed as if Himeru's lips were permanently glued to hers. She didn't pull away. She was actually enjoying it! The group around them snapped out of total silence and began teasing them mercilessly. Minako's cheeks turned red. "Hey, I admire Minako-chan, okay? What's wrong with that?" Himeru asked, but even he was blushing. Minako looked nervously at Makoto. Makoto was whooping along with the others. Then, she winked at her. That was when she knew that everything was going to be all right. ***** Kimiko watched the entire incident from the kitchen window. "Better now that never," she whispered to herself. Then, she chuckled. "Normally, I would be shouting at her not to do such things because she's still young . . ." she said, thinking of when Minako had been only thirteen and she had had to drag the teenager out of her bed during school mornings just to wake her up . . . She gently stroked her abdomen and sighed. She sat down beside the table and let her tears flow again.