"This is dangerous," yelled her vibrant demanding voice. The cool
mountain air whipped around her and she leaned over the balcony to the
rocks bellow. "If this thing proves to be unstable we could die." Although she
voiced her observation with force, her heart ached to join the other side of life.
Maybe her princess would be there.
"Ah, but Hino-san just think if we get married-" the man Rei had
been talking to stopped hold as she glared at him. Kaji Hoshiro, Hino Rei's
partner in real estate, had dropped too many hints today. Rei cared for him
yes, but marriage was out of the question. There was too much danger,
especially with Lady Rinko still on the loose. If she couldn't protect Usagi from
Rinko, how could she protect a family?
Her eyes watered and she was thankful for the wind that blew away
her tears. If only her sorrows could flow on the wind as well. Memories of ski
slop trips and old battles fought made her cry more. She wiped her tears and
looked along the horizon. She reached out one gloved hand and tried to touch
the moon.
It was full and round with a healthy glow. Usagi always liked to look
up at the moon with Mamoru. A day of hell had ruined everything. So many
times Rei had tried to convince herself that Usagi didn't disappear and that she
was with Mamoru in some far off place, but that wasn't true. He was gone and
so was she, and for so many years Rei had to live with the fact that she was
and might never be as strong as she could have been.
"Hino-san, do you think the Dolshwik's will like this location. It's a bit
cold?" Hoshiro asked.
"They're from Russia Kaji-san. I'm sure that they'll feel right at home,"
she answered, going inside the cozy two-story cabin. Rei, 20 years old, was a
very successful real estate agent. With her partner Hoshiro she made it her
mission to find houses for foreigners. Secretly she hopped that she would rejoin
was Usagi. That is... if she was still on earth, and if she forgave them.
She glanced back at the full moon and blinked when she saw a little
black dot run across it. She shook her head and rubbed her eyes. The high
altitudes and the night were taking their tolls. Tonight seemed more unbearable
then any other night. Earlier that day she had been asked to come up here with
Kaji to look at the cabin and check the surroundings. Not thinking, Rei agreed.
Now she regretted it.
While Kaji was wondering around Rei stepped out into the cool night air.
Memories of that winter night came rushing back to her. The karaoke bar, the
sudden darkness, people lying on the floor, and large pillars of lights that haunted
her for years to come. No matter how hard she tried she saw a looming bright pillar
of light and Usagi's fading figure every time she closed her eyes.
Snow began to flitter from the sky upon the wintry ground. All around
her was silent. A silence so eerie, it sent several chills up her spine. She wrapped
her arms around herself and stepped out into the sold night. She had left her jacket
inside the cabin, but for some reason it didn't bother her too much. Inside her mind
time was very slow.
Rei's hair suddenly whipped upward. A flutter of snow surrounded her, as
her arms went up to block her face. She stood like that for a while until the snow
returned to it's normal drifting. When she looked ahead she saw a very similar figure
in a flowing white dress. A dress she had seen someone wear before. Usagi.
"U..Usagi?" Rei gasped. Her frigid slender fingers covered her mouth,
catching the puffs of was air. Usagi stood there, as though she were a statue. Rei
stared for what seemed like hours. Her heart pounded inside of her chest. 'No way
she's here.' Rei thought.
'Or.'
"Usagi is that you? If it is you better say so," Rei called out to the figure.
Usagi didn't answer.
"Dammit! Imposter! How dare you play on my emotions like that!" Rei
erupted. Her fist clenched at her sides, she stalked up to the figure. Tears were
already in her eyes, although they were unshedding. She stomped on through the
snow, which had fallen thick around them. Her ankles felt numb and her toes
complained about the wet snow leaking through her socks.
"Are you or are you no Usagi Tuskino?" Rei demanded, now face to face
with the young woman. Rei gripped Usagi's arm. "Answer me!" she yelled. Usagi
looked carefully into her eyes. A strange sensation went through her body, all the
way from the top of her head to the pit of her stomach. A strange icy sensation
covered her very soul and Rei immediately let go. She took a few steps back and
fell. It was like being pushed by some unknown force.
Usagi held out her hand and bright red light circled around her finger. It
looked like a red ribbon that seemed to have a life of it's own, weaving and twisting
around her fingers. The light faded and Usagi frowned.
"Your henshin pen...." She whispered so quietly that it escaped and rode
away on the winds.
"My what?" Rei asked, getting to her knees. Outraged, Usagi floated above
the snow into the air above the trees. Rei stared up at the Moon princess. Usagi
turned in circles, her dress flapping and moving around her bare legs. Something
in the far distance twinkled and moved to her at a blinding speed. It was a red
pen-like device with the symbol of Mars on it. It stopped in front of Usagi and
plummeted to the ground in front of Rei.
"My henshin pen?" She picked it up carefully. She had locked this pen away
in a chest at the temple. She had never wanted to see it again. As she fingered the
symbol Usagi floated gracefully into the snow, holding out pale fingers. When Rei
looked up, it was too late.
A bright light was emitted from the pen. It covered Rei in a red bubble.
Inside a hot flame attempted to consume her. Rei held herself, screaming out in
pain. She thrashed and struggled around inside the ball. Although she wasn't physically
harmed her body felt like she was burning into ashes. Soon her eyes fluttered shut
and she lay limp inside the red ball, suspend in the cold, dark, night.
Usagi held up her hands and Rei floated above her head. A cloud passed
over them and a beam of sliver moonlight showered down upon them. Rei and Usagi
both disappeared into the night.
