London, England-1990
Two thousand girls had auditioned for the part. It had taken more than three months and hundreds of employees. There were girls from agencies, and girls who walked in from the street. There were young girls, old girls, blondes, brunettes, and the occasional redhead. Some could act, some couldn’t, but they all wanted one thing. They wanted to star in their own TV series. The casting director looked down at the thick file in his hand. Two thousand girls, with packets of pictures and clips of them flipping around the room and shouting silly lines. He closed his eyes for a moment. This was the last clip he’d look at today. He had never seen this girl in person; someone else had done the actual audition. He popped the videocassette in the VCR and hit play. The TV flickered to life. The girl walked in front of the camera.
“Name.”
“Minako Aino.” The girl smiled broadly and flipped a handful of her sunny, waist-length blonde hair over her shoulder.
“Age.”
“I’m fourteen.” The girl continued giving the camera her million-dollar smile. Her sky blue eyes were clear and radiated warmth and energy.
“Please read the lines.”
The director sat in the chair staring at the girl’s fabulous performance. He glanced down at the script in his hand. Codename Sailor V, a story about a fourteen year-old girl named Minako Aino. The name had caught his attention, when searching through stacks of paperwork. What a coincidence that a girl who auditioned had the exact same name as the heroine in the story. Now he watched her on the video and almost had a heart attack. The director hit pause, Minako’s features frozen in a brilliant smile, her fingers raised in a wide V. He picked up the manga on his desk and opened it up slowly. The resemblance was uncanny. Same wide eyes, long hair, even the sides pulled back and topped with a red bow. She also had the fabulous figure, insanely long legs, an adult bosom, and the gorgeous smile. He stopped the video and rewound it. Coincidence or not, he had his Sailor V.
"I got it mom!" Mina practically danced down the street, the contract and pilot script dangling from one hand while she skipped and swung around in a circle. Only a small voice telling her that it wouldn't be very professional had kept her from jumping up and down in the director's office. "I got the part. I'm going to have my own TV show!" Mrs. Aino simply smiled; silently counting how much money they could get from the deal in her head. She rubbed her calloused hand over her dishwater blonde curls.
"Are we going to sign the contract today?" Mina was bubbling over, her arms swinging in wide arcs, her hair twirling around her in a curtain of sunshine. Mrs. Aino gave her exuberant daughter a dark glance.
"Not until your father checks it over. I'll have him look at it tonight." Mrs. Aino’s voice was slightly scratchy. Mina shrugged and handed the paper to her mother.
"You take it then, I don't want to lose it." Mina turned to attention to the script, her smile widening as the tale of a girl crime fighter unfolded in front of her eyes. Mrs. Aino sighed at her daughter’s flightiness. The woman pressed a hand against her sore lower back. Her slightly pudgy frame followed Mina’s lithe one slowly down the streets of London toward the bus stop.
The trip home seemed very short, because Mina was so absorbed in the story. The flat was fairly quiet. Mina immediately raced for her room and locked herself inside. Mrs. Aino just shook her head and headed for the kitchen. Mina always had been a strange girl, and her new obsession was just the last in a long list. Mina flopped onto her bed, the pilot clasped tightly in her hands. This was the break she had been dreaming of for years. This was her chance to be a star, to be the one idolized instead of chasing around others. Mina opened the first page of the script.
“Codename Sailor V, based on the manga by Akatsuki Yasuraka.” Mina ran her fingers over the name. It had been four years since her family had left Japan to start over in London. Four years without the language of her heart. “Tranquil Dawn. What a beautiful name.” Mina traced her fingers over the title of the script again. “Codename Sailor V.” She flipped open to the first scene, ignoring the thumping in her heart.
“Minako Aino, a fourteen year old girl living in London.” Mina swallowed loudly. This was very odd, more than odd. She pushed the strange feeling aside and started reading. “It’s just a coincidence, nothing more. The name means nothing.”
Mina read all day, memorizing the characters introduced, the plot, everything. She felt herself drawn in to the story. She was becoming Sailor V. Becoming this Minako Aino, who had a happy home life and wasn’t afraid of anything. Mina smiled when she saw she'd be working with an animatronics operated cat.
"Well, I suppose there's no other way to get the thing to talk. Artemis. Why does that name seem so familiar?" Mina flopped onto her back and flipped back to the beginning of the script. She winced a bit when she saw the amount of physical fighting she would be required to do. "And I bet I don't get a stunt double either."
The day faded slowly, and the misty fog London was so famous for crept down the streets and alleyways, dampening the streetlights' glow. Mina looked up from the scene she was memorizing and realized it was very late. Her stomach growled loudly. Mina groaned. She probably missed dinner. She headed for the kitchen, but angry whispers stopped her just outside the door.
Low, harsh voices echoed through the room. Her father and mother were sitting at the table, looking over a document. Mina knew it was the contract. Her father’s black head was bent close to her mother’s dirty blonde one. The single light over the wooden table cast the room half in shadows. Her father leaned back and spoke a bit louder. Mina couldn't really make out the words, but it was something about money. Her mother snapped back an answer. Mina stepped back out of the kitchen. It was best not to be around when her mother got mad. Then her father stood up violently, raising his voice. Mina stepped back a bit farther. Her father never yelled, even when she skipped school or got bad grades. The words echoed in the two bedroom flat.
"She's going to take this opportunity and that's that. Mina isn’t intelligent enough for anything but acting. In a few years when she's famous you can haggle for money all you want, but they're not going to waste time and money on an unknown little girl." He leaned over, flipped to the back of the document, and scribbled his name. Mina's breath caught in her throat. Her father’s low opinion stung, but Mina pushed it from her mind. She had the contract. Minako Aino was now Sailor V.
Mina swallowed loudly. Her first week of work, and already they were shipping her off for improvement. She resisted the urge to shout in frustration. Between the tutors, the acting coaches, and stylists she felt like a different person. Now they were trying to change her some more. For a moment Mina wondered if all the hassle was worth it. Then she remembered the way the rough cut of the pilot program had looked. She had loved watching herself on screen. Mina squared her shoulders. It had to be worth it. But she still really didn’t want to be here.
“It’s not my fault I can’t beat someone into the floor with my bare hands.” Mina pounded on the door and yanked on her lemon yellow dress one last time. “If they weren’t so cheap I’d just get a stunt double. But no, I get to do it all myself.” The dress was shorter than what she normally liked to wear, but it had been the only clean thing in her room that morning. She hadn’t had much time for cleaning. Her tutors were riding her back, making her work harder than she ever had in real school. Mina sighed loudly. “I didn’t know they were going to ship me off to learn martial arts.” The words came out in a low mumble. The dojo was actually a very large brick building with old-fashioned wooden doors in a not so nice part of London. Mina glanced around her slowly, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She could have sworn someone was watching her. “Just drop me in a cab and send me to an address.” Her voice was even softer than before, her blue eyes darting around the street, her heartbeat racing. Earlier she’d been too angry to pay attention to the danger. Now her gut was telling her that this was not a very intelligent place for a girl to be all alone. Then the large wooden doors swung open.
Kaji Hikaru opened the door slowly, a little uncertain of what to expect. He had many students, most sent by parents who thought their wayward children needed discipline. This was his first student sent by a TV company. He wasn’t sure what kind of creature they would deliver to him. He glanced into the narrow street. At first he didn’t see anyone, then his gaze slowly dropped and his breath caught in his throat.
The sun was setting behind the girl in front of him. The light danced across her golden hair. The gossamer strands rippled gently in the light breeze kicking up from the Thames. His eyes locked onto her gorgeous sky blue gaze. Her eyes were innocent but forthright, staring at him with no reservations, no hidden thoughts. His gaze broke away, dropping to her feet. She had on tiny white sandals with straps that wrapped up her calves. He admired her long legs, and slowly made his way up to her narrow waist and full chest. The dress whipped around her thighs in the slowly increasing wind. Kaji had never seen anything so beautiful in his life. He finally returned to her brilliant eyes.
“Kaji Hikaru?” Her voice trembled a bit.
“Minako Aino. Please come in.” He glanced around a moment, expecting to see a parent. “Did you come alone?” The girl swallowed and nodded. Kaji resisted the urge to growl. A pretty thing like her wouldn’t last long out on the streets alone. He briefly imagined strangling her parents. He took a step back but stayed partway in the entry, holding the heavy wooden door open. The girl brushed past him, and the scent of lemons drifted from her. Kaji closed his eyes tightly, forcing his emotions and his body back under control. He had a job to do. He stepped inside the darkened room and let the door fall shut behind him.
Mina turned around, finally able to see what her new sensei looked like. The sun had been at her back earlier, so all she had seen was a hazy outline. She felt her mouth drop open. He was gorgeous. Like something on the cover of one of her mother’s romance novels. All muscle bound and unreal. He was dressed in white pants and no shirt. His skin was bronzed and he had muscles everywhere. Mina yanked her eyes away from their unhealthy fascination with the man’s bare chest. She forced them onto his face and forgot to breathe. His eyes were a steely gray, the intensity in them made her shiver a bit. His hair was long, straight, and white. Mina had the oddest feeling that she knew exactly what that hair would feel like. He raised an eyebrow slowly.
“Are you finished?” There was a definite smirk in the man’s tone, although his face remained impassive. Mina mentally smacked herself. He may have been the most perfect looking man in the world, but it was obvious from his pompous statement that he was rather full of himself. She forced her mouth shut and raised her chin high in the air.
“Yes, thank you. I’m Minako Aino.” Kaji restrained himself from laughing at the girl’s haughty tone. He was used to reactions like that from women; he just hadn’t expected it from the Venus who had arrived at his doorstep. His body had grown uncomfortably warm under her thorough inspection. Kaji suppressed a groan. She was fourteen, according to the studio information. Her body, however, didn’t look like a fourteen year old’s. She had lots of curves, in all the right places. Her face, however, showed her true age. Too young for him. And she was a client. Kaji shoved his emotions back under the surface. This needed to be purely business, no matter how beautiful the student was.
“Well then, Ms. Aino. Shall we get started?”
London, England-1991
Mina went over the sequence again and again. Duck, jump, kick, punch, jump, duck. Over and over, round and round, moving quickly and silently. Her opponent matched her move for move, blocking every attack. The dance continued across the floor, punch, twist, drop, roll, punch, stand, jump, kick. Mina lost herself in the movements, her concentration total. Her sunny blonde hair was caught up in a ponytail, and it cracked like a whip with every sharp movement. Then her opponent made an unexpected motion, moving forward instead of away, and Mina was knocked on her back by a blow to the side.
"Dammit!" She lay there for a moment, the wind knocked out of her. She knew she'd have a bruise from that in the morning. Luckily it would be underneath her costume. Bastard never did let her use pads for sparring. He was convinced the pain made her better.
"Always expect the unexpected." Mina gave a death glare to her instructor. He stood above her, his face expressionless. His long white hair was swept back into a ponytail. Mina often wondered how he managed to get hair that color. Of course, she often wondered how he managed to look that good even after hours of practice. No man had the right to be that gorgeous.
"Bastard isn't even out of breath." Mina mumbled to herself. She hauled herself up, knowing he'd never give her any assistance. He'd just stare at her, as though expecting complaint or excuse. Well he wouldn't get one this time. She rubbed her side gingerly, where a gorgeous purple bruise was probably blossoming.
"Once again, this time pay attention." Mina took up her fighting stance and the two began the dance. She let go of her mind, letting her body take over. She had been at this for a year now. Kaji Hikaru. Mina let the name roll over her mind. He was supposedly one of the best martial artists in the world, and one of the youngest masters. No one could place his style. It seemed to be a mix of everything ever practiced, from ninjitsu to karate and everything in between. But instead of teaching the rich and famous, he worked here in London with underprivileged kids for a pittance. And Mina knew for a fact the studio wasn’t paying him that well. Mina didn’t know whether to be offended or grateful for his interest in continuing her lessons. She felt a bit like a charity case. At the moment, though, she just wanted to smack his face into the ground. He never smiled, never frowned, never showed any emotion whatsoever. Except for raising one eyebrow. He drove Mina up a wall. She blocked a particularly quick attack and flipped backwards over Kaji’s head.
She had tried everything to crack his façade. Jokes, skimpy clothes, showing up late, showing up early, trying really hard, ignoring the man, Kaji just kept giving her that odd look. Mina groaned internally. She had tried everything to get him to notice her. This week she thought she had him. One of the boys from the studio had driven her over, and she had managed to get caught making out with him in the car. Kaji simply looked at her with those steel gray eyes. Of course, he had taken the boy out back and beaten him to a bloody pulp, but Kaji didn’t say a word to her.
Sometimes she wondered if he even had emotions, or if he was just a robot designed to torture her. Mina felt herself being driven back, and quickly focused her mind on her fighting. She refused to contemplate why it was so important to get the man to react. She pushed the little voice out of her mind, the one that asked her why she had researched everything about Kaji. It was just morbid curiosity. She could hardly stand him.
"Don't let your mind wander." Kaji watched the girl's attention snap back to the present. She was an amazing fighter, if a little flighty in personality. Kaji barely blocked an unexpected punch. She had learned amazingly fast, almost as if she had been taught from childhood. She didn't have any problems with the style either, although many others who tried to learn found it unnatural or odd. Kaji watched her eyes. They flashed in triumph, and her defense became a bit sloppy. Emotions were her weakness. They moved across her face, displaying most of her thoughts for the world to see. Kaji grimaced internally, hating it when he hurt her and hating himself for his weakness. He had one job, to teach this girl to be the best she could be. Emotions had no place in that equation. He would teach her, and then he would move on toward his goals. His discipline won and he struck a second hit. Mina went down again.
Kaji watched her silently. Her head was down on the mat, her golden hair spread like a fan over her face. He resisting the urge to haul her to her feet and apologize. Instead he closed his eyes, blocking her crumpled figure from his mind. Mina let out a small groan. Kaji forced his mind to remember her in the car with the boy. The vision of the two of them kissing passionately forced anger through his veins, drowning the protective urge in a haze of jealousy. Kaji didn't understand why she bothered with her acting or flirting, when she was so gifted at fighting. But he didn't understand a lot of things about the girl. He turned around, the vision of the two young people locked in and embrace still burned into his mind.
Why did she giggle over the handsome teenagers who showed up from time to time on her show? She needed someone stronger, older, and more mature. She always managed to always keep a smile on her face, even after a long workout and a dozen bruises. Other thoughts floated through his head. A direct look from her sky blue eyes could make his heart catch in his throat, and her hair always smelled like lemons. Kaji pushed the unruly string of thoughts from his mind. She had just turned fifteen years old, he was twenty. They had laws against that kind of thing. And he had a mission to fulfill, his life was not his own. Mina was standing again, her breathing a bit labored.
"That hurt, dammit! Do you have to give me more bruises?" Kaji turned back around and lifted an eyebrow.
Mina absolutely hated that. It made him look even more arrogant than usual. And she couldn’t reciprocate. Her eyebrows simply didn’t move independently.
"If you had been more careful, you would not get bruises. Keep your mind on your fighting, not on those silly boys you chase." He silently cursed himself for that comment, but the vision of her in the car rose in front of his eyes once again, like a nightmare that refused to go away. Kaji rationalized his behavior. She fought better when angered, because she controlled it well, so it only gave her incentive to fight. That was why he egged her on, that was why he constantly harassed her. "You should pay more attention to what you're doing. If you did pay a little attention you'd be finished with school instead of a year behind. And maybe you’d keep a boyfriend a bit longer than a day. And they’d want you for more then groping in a car."
Mina felt anger rising inside her, real anger. He constantly told her that she was a quick learner, and talented at this fighting business. But he drove her, knocking her down again and again, yelling at her for letting her mind wander or displaying her emotions. Kami, he was twice her size, twice her weight, and he had been doing this for years. And the comment about the boys…Mina knew she was a bit flighty, falling in and out of love. But although lots of boys had touched her heart, none seemed to ever touch her soul. It wasn’t like he really cared anyway. Kaji was just trying to make her mad, and succeeding as usual. He knew all the right buttons to push. Mina rushed forward, and promptly ended up on her butt.
“What’s the matter? Did the latest boyfriend not meet your expectations? Didn’t he want to make out in the front seat on the first date? Wasn’t he ready to hop in the sack with you? Oh wait, I think he was ready. Perhaps you didn’t measure up to his expectations.” Mina rolled to her feet, narrowly avoiding Kaji’s fists. He advanced on her. Mina feinted, but ended up with both arms twisted brutally behind her back. Kaji leaned in close, his breath hissing in her ear. “Did he find out what a little slut you are?” Kaji let go with one hand, hating himself for what he was doing, yet at the same time he kept seeing that worthless boy’s hands roaming over Mina’s body. He brushed a hand down the side of her cheek. “Or were you just rotten in the sack?”
Mina felt tears threatening to rise. She had dreams of him touching her gently, stroking a hand down her cheek. They were always explained away in the morning, but she knew that all her excuses couldn’t hide the truth. But to have him touch her while whispering in that sarcastic tone was too much. Mina felt her fantasies shattering. He was an absolute bastard, and no matter what she felt towards him, he would never be anything more.
Mina felt something burning inside her, something powerful. This feeling had come before, but never this strongly. She closed her eyes for a moment, reaching within herself. She had tried to harness the power locked inside, felt it rise and ebb with her emotions, but today seemed different. The pain she felt in her heart seemed to throb in time with the energy locked inside. Then she touched it. For the first time felt the curtain drop over her emotions. Kaji was always telling her she needed to block them off, hide them from an opponent’s view. Mina finally understood what he meant. She wrenched herself from his grasp and moved forward quickly. She felt him attack. They had spent weeks practicing with her blindfolded, but she had such a difficult time doing it that Kaji had finally given up. Now Mina kept her eyes closed, seeing him plainly in her mind, a misty aura of red-gold.
Kaji felt the change in her immediately. This is what he had been looking for, this intensity and power, this focus. Something had managed to wake the warrior inside the girl. Now Kaji was fighting her off for real, fighting to stay on his feet. Her eyes were still closed, and he felt a rush of pride at her skill. She got a blow to his midsection, but he was still much larger than her and one blow wouldn't drop him. She wasn't pulling any punches though. Her hits became faster, closer together, more unexpected. Kaji knew this had become more than just a training exercise. He reached inside pulling out the powers he always had been able to tap, the ones hidden within his soul.
The battle continued. Neither knew how long they fought. Kaji smiled sadly. She had reached her potential. She was now a match for him, if not more. This would be their last training session.
Mina began to land more and more blows, the anger still strong inside her. She felt like another person, like someone else was controlling her, but at the same time she knew that other person was a part of her. It was strange and exciting at the same time. She felt more rise inside her mind, as though forgotten memories were coming to the surface.
Kaji recognized the moment her attack style changed. He had never seen the movements before, and yet he seemed to know how to counter them. She was doing completely unorthodox things, fighting, well, dirty. Blows that were designed to cripple or kill, not just incapacitate. Kaji knew he had to bring this battle to an end, quickly, before either of them got hurt. That meant pure brute strength. Mina landed a blow to his knees, knocking him to the ground. He lunged forward as he fell, and grabbed one of her legs, flipping her in the air. She tumbled to the ground beside him. Kaji rolled on top of her, pinning her to the floor with his weight, capturing both wrists in one of his large hands. Mina fought for a moment, trying to throw him off.
"Enough. Be still." His voice was harsh and low. Mina stopped moving, going limp underneath him. She opened her eyes. They blazed a golden color. Kaji stared down at her, oblivious to anything but the red haze of anger that coated his brain. Mina felt her own anger slowly drain, and the color left her eyes. Then she gasped. Kaji had lifted his emotional wall. His face was slightly flushed, the red barely noticeable beneath his dark skin. His brows were drawn together in a frown, and his eyes were blazing. They had taken a red-gold tint, oddly reminiscent of the aura that Mina had sensed earlier. She turned her face away, unable to meet the look she saw there. Anger, lots of anger, and something else, something that made a knot form in her stomach. Well, she had wanted emotion from him. She just wasn't sure what to do with it.
Kaji took several deep breaths, trying to bring his emotions back under control. No one had ever been able to break through his armor. He had managed to keep himself under control through almost every stunt Mina had pulled, through every problem with past students, through his entire childhood being teased about his large size, through the screaming and yelling from his father when he left home. But this little girl had always been the hardest to block out. He saw Mina turn her head away, her eyes tightly closed. Her smooth white throat had a small hickey on the side. Kaji reached down with one hand and brushed his thumb against the mark. He saw the scene again, as clearly as though it was happening again. Mina writhing in a handsome young man’s arms, her dress unzipped, her feet bare, and her hair tumbling around her shoulders.
Kaji felt the anger return, even darker than before. That scene had haunted his dreams as well. Dreams where he was the man holding her tightly while she moaned. Her soft curves pressed against him weren't helping matters. He felt desire surge, saturating every inch of his body. He let go of her hands and turned her face back towards him sharply. Mina kept her eyes shut tightly.
"What the hell did you think you were doing? Where did you learn to fight like that? You could have hurt yourself. You could have killed me, dammit." The words came out at a shout, making Mina flinch. They were accompanied by sharp jerks at her chin, making her head ache.
"I'm sorry." The words came out in a whisper. Mina opened her eyes, which were now their original brilliant blue. A single tear trickled down the side of her face, resting on her top lip. Kaji closed his eyes for a moment. Her body was pressed tightly against his; forcing blood into areas he really didn’t want. And her tearstained face made him regret his angry words. He opened his eyes again and Mina flicked her tongue out, capturing the wayward tear on the tip. Kaji couldn't help himself. He leaned over slowly, and pressed his lips against Mina's. For a moment Mina felt nothing but absolute shock. Then her lips softened and her eyes fluttered closed.
Kaji pulled her closer to him, pressing her body even tighter against his, and deepened the kiss. This was what he had wanted from the first day he saw her, standing at the door in a dress the color of lemons, her hair cascading over her shoulders in a waterfall of sunshine, topped with a brilliant red ribbon. This is what he fought against every time he touched her, every time he looked at her. This was what he had hoped to avoid by erecting a barrier of cold indifference, strictly teacher and student. Now he had lost that barrier. He floundered, wondering if he had any control without that wall between them.
Mina had been kissed many times before. By drunken old, rich men at the required TV industry parties, by costars both onstage and off, by her first crush, by the boy in the car earlier that week.
Nothing had ever been like this. She felt like he was reaching into her soul, like he was a part of her. Mina threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back with all the pent up longings she'd ever had toward her handsome, indifferent sensei. She knew in her heart, that this was her last kiss, the one that stole not only her heart, but also her soul. She felt like she was burning under the sun, vibrant and alive and out of control.
Kaji felt her responding to him, and he deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue inside her mouth. She felt like silk and sunshine. The voice in head that begged him to stop was ruthlessly silenced. Mina tried to pull away for a moment, but then lost herself in the moment. Her hands took on a life of their own, running down his back and over his muscled arms and chest. Her touch was light and made Kaji shiver in response. She felt an ache growing inside her stomach. She grew a little bolder, and began to respond to Kaji's strange kiss, touching his tongue with her own.
Kaji felt his control slipping even more at her response. He pulled away from the kiss, his breathing ragged. Mina opened her eyes, and he smiled at the glazed look in them. His gaze dropped to her swollen lips, and her top, which was now gaping open, showing a brilliant red bra and a good amount of cleavage. Kaji swallowed hard, and pulled his eyes away from the wonderful view. Mina's head cleared a bit. She couldn't bring herself to look into Kaji's eyes, so she dropped her gaze to his chest. She was rather amazed by the amount of muscle he had layered on his body. She reached a shaking hand forward. Kaji caught it.
"Mina, do not. Things have already gone too far. Get up and walk away."
His voice was soft, and it sounded like he was choking on the words. She looked up into his eyes, which were now gray like storm clouds.
"Please. Mina, leave." The request was no louder than a whisper. Kaji looked down at her questioning gaze, the innocent desire in her eyes, and knew he had lost the fight.
"Once you start this, Mina, there's no turning back." Kaji let go of her hand, which was shaking a bit. She pulled it back for a moment, indecision reflected on her face. He felt his heart drop into his stomach. He didn’t know if he could let her walk away. His emotions had totally taken control. Then Mina squared her chin and reached forward again, running her hand over the sculpted muscles of his chest and abdomen. Kaji let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He stood up, sweeping Mina into his arms in the same motion. Mina giggled and hung on for dear life.
"Where are we going?"
"To my place." Kaji carried her out the back door and across a wide vacant lot to a small house. He kicked open the door rather violently. Mina buried her face in his chest, more than a little afraid of what she'd gotten herself into.
Kaji practically threw her onto his bed. Mina giggled as she bounced up and down. She glanced over the small, sparsely furnished room. The bed, however, was quite large.
"Big enough bed?"
Kaji grinned at her teasing.
"Do you know you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen?" He moved forward and leaned over her. Mina resisted the urge to sink back against the bed. He kissed her lips gently. "I've always thought you could be the goddess Aphrodite." He raised a hand to her face, brushing the back of his hand over her cheek. Their eyes locked. Mina felt like she could see into his soul. Kaji lowered his hand and leaned a bit closer. He pulled gently on her red satin ribbon. Her hair fell down in a shower of gold. Kaji dropped the ribbon and buried his hands in the silk. Mina wrapped her arms around him. He lowered his hands to the tie of her belt and kissed her again. Mina's head spun a bit. She felt his hand move over her body. She couldn't remember him taking off her bra, but at that moment she really didn't care. All that mattered was the feel of his skin pressed against hers, his lips on her mouth.
Kaji could feel his control slipping slowly away. She was so beautiful, so perfect. Her skin felt like satin. She was making little moans in the back of her throat, which turned him on even more. He knew he should slow down, but she was wild.
Mina had completely let go of herself. She ran her hands over every inch of Kaji's body, amazed again at just how much muscle there was on his frame. Kaji’s hands drifted from her bare breasts down to the drawstring of her pants.
“Tell me if I’m moving too fast, sweetheart.” Mina just moaned and scooted down so she was lying on the bed instead of sitting against the headboard. His hands moved lower, slowly pulling off her pants and underwear. He looked, resisting the urge to bury himself inside her at that moment. Mina was blonde, everywhere. Kaji's hands started to shake a bit as he gently stroked her inner thighs, his hands moving higher each time.
Mina gasped. It hurt a little, but her body responded to the gentle motions with warmth and an even stronger ache in her stomach. Kaji’s mouth moved downward over her. Mina squealed and arched against him.
Her breathing had become very ragged. Kaji moved back to her mouth, silencing her cries with his tongue. He kissed a trail down her neck. Mina gasped at the feeling.
Kaji had never seen a woman respond like this in bed, especially a virgin. Mina’s cries grew louder and she started arching up to meet his fingers. He saw her eyes closed and she screamed his name. She kept her eyes closed for a moment until her heartbeat returned to normal. She opened them again and smiled up at the handsome face above her.
Kaji stepped back for a moment. He untied his belt and pulled off his top, then untied the drawstrings on his pants; they too fell to the floor. Mina's heart stopped. He was a big man. He looked like a body builder, with muscles everywhere, and he was so damn handsome. Mina felt heat rush into her face. She had seen naked men before, but this one looked like a Greek god. Kaji moved onto the bed beside her, taking her face between his hands.
Kaji moved forward, crushing her lips under his in a searing kiss. He reached down and put his fingers inside her again. She whimpered a bit in pain. Kaji groaned. She was damp, and hot, and he was so wound up. "I'm sorry angel. I can't wait." Then he thrust himself inside her.
Mina screamed again, this time in pain. Then her eyes filled with tears as she tried to push him off of her. "Don't Mina, please, don't move." But it was too late. Mina shifted her hips, and Kaji lost control. He pushed himself inside her again and again, unable to stop his body or Mina's tears. Then he shuddered in pleasure, burying himself one last time.
Mina cried. She cried from the pain she had just experienced, and the realization that she hardly knew this man, and she cried in anger at her own lack of control. Most of all, she cried because her expectations hadn't been met. People talked about sex being some earth shattering, wonderful experience. It wasn't. Kaji rolled off her slowly. She grimaced at the movement. For an endless minute there was nothing but Mina's hysterical sobs.
"Mina?" The voice was whisper soft, filled with concern. "Are you all right?" She rolled on her side to face him, ready to tear him apart, but the emotion in his face stopped her cold. For the second time that day, she had made him drop the mask. "I'm so sorry Mina." Kaji reached forward, pulling her into his arms. Mina snuggled up against his chest and let the tears flow. Sex might suck, but this part, this holding and soft words, this was worth every moment. Then she fell asleep in his arms.
Kaji watched the girl sleep. Her eyes were slightly red and puffy from crying, but she still looked like an angel. "Sleep well my little goddess." He reached for the phone beside the bed and made a phone call to the studio and Mina's parents. Then he pulled the covers over the two of them, willing to shut out the world for a while. Mina rolled over in her sleep, muttering something, and rested her head on his chest. Kaji smiled and fell fast asleep.
He woke to afternoon sunlight shining across the bed. Mina was still curled up beside him, her breath warm on his bare skin. All the blankets had somehow gotten wrapped around her, leaving Kaji with a cold backside. He smiled down at the sleeping figure. He would give his soul to wake up to that vision every morning.
"Time to fix what I've broken." Kaji reached down, drew the sleeping girl onto his lap, and woke her with a deep kiss. "Good morning angel." Mina blinked sleepily and smiled up at him. He slowly began to stroke her arms, and then moved to her shoulders, then down to her chest, while peppering kisses along her neck and face. Mina was surprised at how much she wanted him to touch her again. And this new gentleness, it made her feel so loved. She wrapped her arms around his neck again, and gave him a shy peck on the lips.
"What was that?" Kaji grinned at Mina's confused expression.
"Wasn't that a kiss?"
"No, this is a kiss." Kaji leaned over and kissed Mina, his lips at first soft and gentle. His hands continued their slow explorations. Mina opened her mouth in surprise when his thumb began to rub across a spot between her legs. Kaji's tongue quickly took advantage of the opening, and Mina found herself responding to his touch. He whispered words to her as his lips explored her mouth, her neck, and her breasts. He told her she was beautiful, and wonderful, and perfect. He talked about her smile and the way her eyes made him melt inside.
Mina felt him pressing his fingers inside her again, and it hurt a little, but his words and caresses had her feeling so wonderful she hardly noticed. Then he switched positions, and his mouth lowered over her wet warmth. The first flick of his tongue against her sent a shiver down her spine. Then she was screaming in pleasure, in a mixture of Japanese and English.
Mina was in heaven. She felt like she was flying, soaring in the clouds. Her eyes were closed tightly, and she could feel him inside her now. This time there wasn't that god-awful pain, just a little twinge. And this time, she felt more than just desire. She felt connected to him. She reached out with her mind. Suddenly it was as though she was inside him, feeling his emotions, his physical sensation. He was part of her, the two together. And then they were both crying out in pleasure. Kaji rolled over quickly, pulling Mina along with him. The two lay in silence for a while.
"Was that better?" Kaji looked down at the peaceful smile on Mina's face.
"That's a stupid question, you know that?" Kaji just laughed. Mina's smile turned into a funny frown. Kaji followed Mina's gaze down to her sticky thighs. "I need a shower." Kaji nodded in agreement. Then he picked her up and swung her through the air, smiling at her giggles. The two stepped into his shower for the longest, most enjoyable tub time of their lives.
Mina was asleep again. Her eyes had small circles underneath them. Kaji was propped up on one arm, simply watching her sleep. He had never imagined that his life could be this perfect. He had never imagined spending an entire day like this with Mina. She had called her parents and come up with some half-baked excuse about something for the studio. Kaji ran a finger over her soft lips. She was everything he had ever wanted in a woman.
“Was she any good?” The voice echoed from the shadows of the room. Kaji was immediately out of the bed, his senses alert.
“Who’s there?” His voice was loud and demanding. A woman stepped from the shadows, a single finger held to her lips. “Shh, you’ll wake your little concubine. Hello, Prince Kunzite.” Kaji took a step back, smashing his head against the wall. The name from his nightmares. The name strangers called him in foggy memories. He shook his head and took a step forward, trying to get a good look at the intruder. A shaft of moonlight fell through the window and across her features. Kaji gasped. This was a specter from his nightmares, from the dreams his psychologist had attributed to an overactive imagination.
The woman was strikingly beautiful. Her hair was long and fell in curls to the floor. Her wide eyes were almond shaped and intelligent. “Don’t look so surprised. I know you’ve had dreams of the past. I know who you are, Prince Kunzite.” Kaji shook his head again and pinched himself. The woman laughed lightly and sat down on the bed. She brushed a strand of hair off Mina’s face.
“Don’t you touch her.” Kaji’s voice came out at a low growl. The woman glanced back up, an amused expression on her face.
“Don’t tell me this one actually got to you. Isn’t she a bit young?” Kaji could feel his face turning red.
“What do you want?” His voice was a low growl. The woman frowned. She stood up, and took several steps toward Kaji.
“Always with you it’s all business. I’ve come to offer you what you want, Prince. Knowledge of your past, an explanation for your dreams.” The woman glanced at the girl, her face turning down in a confused frown. “I suppose now isn’t a good time to talk. However, I can lead you to the man in your dreams. And you were Prince Kunzite, a long time ago.” The woman backed into the shadows. “I’ll return in three days time. I suggest you find a nice way to get rid of your little concubine, prince. She’s not worthy of your blood. I know your destiny, your duty, and you know you can’t refuse me. Be ready to leave in three days.” Then she disappeared. Kaji stood for several long moments, his mind sucked into the dark dreams that continually plagued him. Finally he sunk back onto the bed and pulled Mina into his arms. The dreams, an answer to the dreams. He looked down at the girl. He should never have gotten involved, but for now he had three days.
Kaji was running through a maze, yelling a strange name. “Endy, where the hell are you. You’re late for practice.” He could smell the roses from a garden nearby. He ran, and ran, and then the roses grew into red-haired women with sharp tongues and powerful magic. The world went dark.
“Kunzite. What are you doing? Don’t you see? You’re being used. Where is the loyalty you pledged to me so long ago?” Kaji floated above the scene, watching his other self argue with a dark-haired man.
“My prince, you have a choice. Come with us or die.” Kaji watched the dark-haired man take several steps back and disappear. Darkness again.
He was inside his own body, holding a shadowy figure cloaked in blood. He could feel an injury in his gut, but he didn’t care, he only wanted to die with the one he was holding.
Kaji sat up quickly, soaked in sweat. Mina hadn’t moved from her original position. Kaji glanced down at the beautiful girl. He closed his eyes, but all he could see was a dark-haired figure yelling out for help. Kaji rested his aching head in his hand. Three days.
Mina watched Kaji from her perch on the bed. He was carefully stitching together a torn sleeve on her top. She rested her head on her knees, watching the way his muscles rippled under the evening sun. He had called and given some excuse about needing more practice time. There wasn't any filming scheduled, so the director had given his approval. So Mina had a free day, without her mother nagging, or the makeup people badgering. Kaji had offered to repair her clothes after laughing at her own attempt. Mina had been so angry. Kaji had simply kissed her, and smiled.
Kaji glanced up at the angel perched on his bed. He glanced at her repeatedly, as though to reassure himself that she was real. She was such an enjoyable mix of child and woman.
He hadn't felt this happy since the day he had left home. He could still hear his father railing at his quest, a quest for something he couldn't name. His eyes clouded over, recalling the harsh words and angry promises.
"Are you all right, Kaji?" He nodded slowly, finishing the last few stitches with a steady hand. "Are you sure?" Kaji cut the thread loose and put the needle away. Mina bounced off the bed and settled down beside him. He looked down at the girl. With her hair loose and flowing, wearing nothing but a red satin bra and panties, she was his fantasies come to life. She could sense his moods, and was so damn cheerful and loving. Kaji turned away for a moment. He couldn't keep her, and he knew it. There was still something he had to do. And she still had some growing up to accomplish. Three days had turned to two, and then to one, and now their time was almost up.
"Kaji?" Mina leaned closer to him, confused by emotions that seemed to emanate from his pores. "Tell me what's wrong, please?" Kaji fought for control, letting the curtain drop back over his feelings.
"Nothing's wrong angel." He forced a smile onto his features. Mina smiled back.
"I have a secret to tell you." She leaned forward, until her lips brushed against his ear. "I love you." The curtain fell with a crash. He despaired of losing her, but knew he had to let her go. But not yet, not tonight. He wrapped her in his arms and covered her mouth with another searing kiss.
Mina slept peacefully in the car, dressed in her slightly rumpled, but now fixed clothing. She'd probably sleep for quite a while, and that was a good thing. Kaji shook his head again, wishing he'd never let the precocious child into his heart. He knew she'd never leave. She'd haunt him to the grave, and probably beyond. The apartment was dark when he entered. He carried her into her bedroom, guided by sleepy commands from Mina. He laid her on the bed, and pulled the covers up over her.
"Good night, Kaji." The voice was husky with sleep. Kaji swallowed hard.
"Good night, Angel." He leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead. "Sleep well, and remember something angel, no matter what, I love you too." Mina smiled and closed her eyes. Kaji left with a heavy heart, imprinting the scene in his mind. His angel, lying in a golden bed, bathed in moonlight. Somehow, the scene seemed familiar, as though he had done this before, many times before. He brushed the thought from his mind and let himself outside.
The small house looked empty without her in it. Kaji threw the last of his possessions into the car. He checked over the house one last time. Then he noticed something red peeking out from behind the bed. He leaned over and picked it up. It was a red satin ribbon, Mina's hair ribbon. The memories of that day flooded over him in a rush. Her sweet smile, the way her skin felt. Kaji wrapped the ribbon around his hand, enjoying the smoothness of the satin. Then he tucked it into his pocket, and locked the door to the house. The keys went in a yellow envelope, and into the mailbox at the curb. He wiped his sweaty hands on his pants, and headed for the dark dojo. For a moment he almost wished the strange woman wouldn’t appear. But he needed to know.
"You're late." Kaji turned towards the dark figure that stood in the shadows.
"Why do I feel like I'm making a deal with the devil?" Kaji walked toward the voice slowly.
"A devil? Now I've been compared to a witch, but never a devil." The woman stepped into the light. Her hair curled wildly and swept the floor. Her dress was long and tight, giving the impression of dark flames. She gave a questioning gaze to the man standing in front of her. "I take it you're here to accept my offer?" Kaji nodded slowly.
"How can I not? I need to know who I am, what these strange feelings mean, why I can fight the way I do."
"I will help you. And now I will name my price, Prince. My price is complete loyalty, not to me, but to the man who we search for. Nothing will ever be more important than his life. Not your happiness, not your life, not even your own soul. Nothing. And you must work hard to convince me of your loyalty. I will not let you betray him in this life." The woman turned and started to walk away.
"Wait, what will we do?" Kaji strode forward, attempting to catch the woman's arm. She laughed lightly.
"You are the first. We have three more to find. I will need all of you to locate your master." The woman fixed her cold eyes on Kaji. "And you all need training." Then she disappeared in a flash of light. Left behind on the floor was a manila folder. Kaji opened it up. Inside were three photographs, three typed pieces of paper, and a plane ticket to Japan, dated for that evening.
Kaji looked out the window of the plane. The flight to Tokyo was mainly businessmen, so it was quiet and peaceful. London was calm from Heathrow as he took off. The back alleys and main streets all looked the same from the air. Kaji leaned back in his seat. Thirteen hours to think about her. He imagined her face when she saw the empty dojo. Kaji opened the box that was still in his pocket. The brilliant golden topaz winked up at him. It was shaped like half of a heart. The other half was violet-pink kunzite. Kaji snapped the box shut. He should have given it to her, or left it for her. He should have written a letter. But saying good bye would have made it so final. And she was only fifteen. What right did he have to steal her childhood for his own selfish desires.
A woman tapped him on the shoulder. “Would you like something to drink sir?” Kaji shook his head and turned to look at the stars now visible outside. The moon was full, its light bouncing off the wings of the plane. He closed his eyes and put the box back in his pocket. His fingers brushed against the satin ribbon. He pulled it out. The scent of lemons floated upwards, sending erotic images spiraling through Kaji’s mind. Mina lying on his bed asleep, her face when he splashed her with water in the tub, her tears as she struggled to comb through her hair. Kaji opened his eyes, but the ghosts still hovered around him. He was a fool. Chasing after something from a dream and leaving behind what was flesh and blood.
But he couldn’t stay, he couldn’t say goodbye. He didn’t want to think of not having her with him. “Some day, Mina. Someday I’ll be back. And I’ll give you this. And I’ll make you understand why I had to leave. And somehow I know you’ll forgive me.” Because if she couldn’t forgive him, Kaji knew he wouldn’t be able to go on. He leaned back against the rough seat. Thirteen hours to Tokyo and home.
Mina woke up with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. For once everything was going right. Then she looked at her watch and swore. She had thirty minutes before the first scene.
Makeup went all right, and the scene set up well. The live cat was being ornery again. He was new, only around for two weeks. The old one had died of a stomach ailment.
"Can't you get that cat to do what he's supposed to?" The director was marching around the set practically in tears. Mina sighed. The creature was being more and more obnoxious as the day progressed. After one particularly hard scene had to be refilmed for the tenth time, Mina lost her temper.
"Cat, get your butt over here right now." Mina’s voice rang through the soundstage, like a queen giving commands. Her face was slightly red with anger and exertion, but she still looked gorgeous. The cat looked at her for a moment. His face was so serious, as though he was debating whether to obey. Mina knew the thing was more intelligent than he let on. Then the animal moved to his mark. The trainer threw his hands up in defeat.
"That’s the sixth time today he won’t listen to me. I quit. You can have that beast." Mina glared down at the animal.
"Great, just what I wanted, home with a co-worker every night." The cat swiped at Mina's leg. Mina squealed and jumped. "I swear you understand every word I say." The cat merely tilted his head to the side and said Meow. Mina knew the animal had said the word, as clearly as if she would say the word. She couldn’t help but feel a strange foreboding. The creature was going to be trouble, she just knew it. “How am I going to explain you to mom?” The cat twitched its tail and sauntered off to where it had a cushion waiting. Mina sighed loudly. “Dumb cat.”
The filming went well after the cat incident. Mina was very impatient for the day to end. She wanted to see Kaji again. The last three days had been fabulous. He had picked her up at the studio and carried her right back to his home. And Mina had never felt more alive. The filming for the day ran a bit ahead of schedule. Mina was ecstatic. She could surprise Kaji. As soon as the last shot was finished, Mina took off. She skirted past her mother, yelling some excuse about extra training. Then she grabbed the nearest cab. Strangely enough the cat followed her.
The sun was just starting to set when she got out of the car. She had managed to let the cabbie take the cat along, although it had cost her an extra twenty dollars and a promise that the creature wouldn't pee on the seat. Mina was annoyed, but the cat showed no sign of leaving her side. And the director would be royally pissed if she managed to lose her co-star. The notorious fog of London had set in once again, and Mina felt that something wasn't right.
The alleyways near the dojo weren’t the nicest in the world, and Mina felt more than a little uncomfortable. She tried the doors, but the dojo was locked. She went back to the house, but that was locked too. She peered in through the windows but couldn't see anything. The cat followed her, copying her motions and looking so human Mina almost laughed. Then a sound came from the dojo. Mina tried the doors again, and this time they opened easily.
She walked into the darkened dojo. "Hello? Kaji? Are you in here? Hello?" She felt the bright glow in her heart slowly melting into a ball of ash and soot. The dojo was quiet. Mina had never seen it so quiet. Mina walked through the dark room slowly, unable to shake the feeling that something wasn't right. "Kaji? Where the hell are you?"
"Your boyfriend is quite gone, little girl." A voice hissed from the edges of the room. The cat curled up around Mina's ankles, almost making her trip.
"Who the hell are you?" Mina noticed a shadow moving. She closed her eyes, reaching for that skill she had discovered. She saw a hazy black shadow. Mina readied herself, and then pounced. The figure disappeared and reappeared on the opposite side of the room.
"Too slow, human child. He never belonged to you. You aren't worthy of a prince. Besides, there will always be someone more important in his life." The woman stepped from the shadows, her arm pointing straight at Mina. "You are not worthy to change his sheets, much less grace his bed." Mina felt a red haze rising. "Oh don't blame me, little girl, he left of his own free will. Go home, go home and play your little TV games." Then there was a flash of light, and the woman was gone.
"Kaji." Mina was silent for a moment. The lump in her chest rose to her throat. "He can't be gone, it's impossible." She dropped to her knees, refusing to let the tears come. “Kaji.” Images of his beautiful face floated through her mind. But a nasty little voice in the back of Mina’s head kept thinking. “He didn’t love you, you were just a nice girl to romp with. He was just looking for a last fling before he left.” Mina silenced the voice, but was unable to stop the pain the thoughts had caused. His last words floated through her mind, the words he spoke while she was drifting in that place between sleep and awake.
"Sleep well, and remember something angel, no matter what, I love you too."
Mina felt the tears finally break loose, spilling over in a torrent of sobs. If he loved her so much, than why had he left, without a goodbye, without an explanation? She felt a rough tongue licking at her tears. The cat was halfway in her lap, purring and gently swiping his tongue over her cheeks. Mina pulled the creature into her arms.
“I don’t know if he loved me cat. I don’t know if I know what love really is.” Mina buried her face against the animal’s white fur and cried.
Kaji stood in front of the office building. It had been four years since he had last entered Hikaru Inc. He could still hear his father’s angry voice.
“You will join the family business. You cannot turn your back on your family and your name. We will haunt you until you return.” Dishonor. That was what grandfather had proclaimed it. Kaji looked back up at the mirrored windows. Four years. He heard laughter down the street. Kaji found his body reacting, searching for the source. A little blonde girl was walking down the sidewalk with a brown haired friend. The blonde’s hair was the same sunny sheen as his Mina’s, but she was shorter, and a bit more childlike. The two pigtails topped with buns didn’t help. Kaji turned back toward the building. Mina was gone. Someday he’d see her again, but now. Kaji looked at the envelope in his hands. Three faces. He had three faces and three addresses. He’d find the meaning behind the dreams some day. Right now he needed to apologize to his father, and hope the effort didn’t kill them both.
Mina looked down at the test again. A plus. Three tests and always the same answer. It had been four months. Four months since the night Kaji disappeared. He had left a note with the studio, saying he was closing his business and thanking them for the generous payments. Mina felt the tears gathering, but quickly brushed them aside. She wouldn’t cry again, she would never cry, especially not over some guy. The cat had been locked out of her room so she could get the results in private. He may have been nothing more than a cat, but there were times when Mina could swear the creature was reading her mind.
There was a gentle scratching on the door. Mina blinked her eyes and opened it. The cat jumped on the bed. She looked down at the three tests in a row on the dresser. He leaped up and examined them, and then his eyes grew a little misty. The cat returned to the bed and curled up on Mina’s lap, purring loudly. Mina closed her eyes, trying not to burst into tears.
The cat stood and began rubbing his white head against Mina’s arms. “I’m fifteen kitty. Fifteen years old. I’m not ready to be a momma. But it’s my baby.” Mina laid a hand against her flat stomach. “It’s the only thing I’ll ever have of him.” The cat rubbed his head against Mina’s cheek, and slowly then licked away the tears that began to fall.
“I swore he wouldn’t make me cry again, but now listen to me, sobbing like a baby. I can’t do it, cat. And what am I going to do about the show? And my parents?” Mina’s sobs slowly quieted into hiccupping, and then into gentle snores. The cat curled up beside his mistress and silently drifted off to sleep, his blue eyes troubled.
Kaji looked out the window of his office. Tokyo seemed so different now. He looked back at the papers on his desk. The language even seemed strange, although it was his native tongue. A woman walked in and laid another pile of papers on his desk. She kept her head lowered and bowed politely before leaving.
Kaji had managed to reach an uneasy reconciliation with his family. His grandfather still refused to speak to him, but his father had given him a high level position in the company, and he was taking classes at night. The world of business just didn’t appeal very much.
Kaji looked down at the picture on his desk. Mina was in her Sailor V costume, trademark smile and hand gesture. He had bought the picture in the Heathrow Airport. Now she sat on his desk, her smile taunting him every day. Kaji closed his eyes. He reached into his pocket. The box was now on his dresser at home, but the ribbon still rested in his shirt pocket every day, beside his heart. He lifted it to his lips, the satin whispering against his skin. He could hear her laughter in his mind, taunting him. He could still hear her innocent voice.
"I have a secret to tell you…I love you."
He could still see her sitting on the edge of his bed, her hair spilling around her.
“I love you too, Angel.”
AN: Here's some notes if you're really lost:
I'm using all Japanese senshi names, and senshi or soldiers not scouts.
The Sailor V Manga in my story is the same as that written by Naoko, so if you want to get a rough idea of what Mina was filming every day, go read a translation of it- it might help this story make more sense.
