Bad Moon on the Rise

Mina’s Tale II – Part 7

The sun was peeking through my window as I slowly woke up. Artemis wasn’t with me, no, he’s with Chibi but I don’t care because I will be with him soon. I stretched my arms wide and yawned before I got out of bed to gathered the items for my morning shower. I usually wouldn’t be in a hurry to wake up but it’s the first day of school and I want to make sure that my family had a good breakfast before seeing them off to school. I have spent many hours with Lita, since we returned from the moon, learning to cook. I poured my heart into my new duty of a family and strangely so did Serena. We both were learning to cook and if I can boast, we were getting better every day. Serena’s last meal was excellent even if it didn’t exactly looked edible at first. Lita said that presentation is not one of Serena’s strong points. She is getting much better and I think Nova’s return started her towards a better life with Darien. Oh, Darien, he’s suppose to be returning on Saturday night so we were planning a party to welcome him back to Japan.

As I was showering I thought about Nova. I always appeared to be a flighty girl by going from one boy to another at the drop of a hat but all I think about these days was Nova. He’s in my every waking thought but that would only make sense that he was going to be my side forever. I wish he were here now … no, I don’t mean in the shower with me but that wouldn’t be a bad idea. No, I just wish that he were in the same room talking to me. His voice is so soothing and gives me a sense of wellness. I turned off the water and stepped out the shower. I dried myself off thinking about what I’m going to cook for them this morning. I have been trying to spend every waking moment that I can with them but it’s hard because all the Sailors are trying to do the same. They did treat us to a little time alone last night when they took Chibi to the movies. No, nothing happened but Nova and I sitting in front of the balcony window watching the moon rise above the sea. I was happy for any time that I can spend in my lover’s arms. He kissed me on the neck every now and then but just being near him is all I need in life.

It was a very full day yesterday. I realized that they needed some uniforms for school. We didn’t even think about that before so we grabbed Chibi’s hands and went down to the store to do some shopping. I took Chibi with me to the elementary school section. She was entering the second grade at school but I knew that she could have entered college with her knowledge but we had agreed that she needed to make friends her own age and have the experiences of growing up as a young girl. She agreed with us because she had never gone to a school before and was excited by the possibility of having a normal childhood. Good luck, Honey, with a father like Nova and, I hate to say this, a mother like me that may be hard.

She has begun thinking of and speaking to me as her mother. The word “Mommy” came off her lips easily around me. I’m glad that she thinks of me as her mother but I pointed out that I didn’t give birth to her. “No, Mommy, you are wrong. No matter what anyone says, you are my biological mother. Your body is the same one that gave birth to me and if we did DNA tests they would confirm that you are one hundred percent my mother.” I wanted to cry but instead I hugged the little girl in the store and kissed her on the cheeks. I gave her a little pat on the bottom to send her on her way to the dressing room. While she was changing into her outfit, I shopped around a bit. I knew what was in her closet and it wasn’t much. I found some jeans and t-shirts that would look wonderful on her and some cute dresses. I also bought her some underwear and I couldn’t pass up a pair that said “Mommy’s Little Girl”. They are so cute and of course, they are purple. That’s her favorite color.

She came out the dressing room. My heart may have stopped for a moment when I saw her. She was like a picture of an angel dressed in the white blouse and light blue skirt. She twirled around for me to see and all I could do is nod my head in approval. I guess all parents think their children are beautiful but I was lucky, I knew without a doubt that Chibi was beautiful but at the same time, she was deadly. I’ve seen her train with Lita and Nova and knew that she could take down the largest man. I can feel her strength when she gripped my hand in hers. She was her father’s child but she had her mother in her. I was proud when she announced to the crowd, “It’s pretty, Mommy. How many do you think I need?” The salesperson came over to me and said, “What a darling little girl but aren’t you a little young to have such a big girl.” I looked at her, “No, I’m older than I look and thank you. She is a darling.” We went ahead and purchased six outfits for Chibi. I didn’t feel like helping Nova wash every day and I knew that Nova had enough to cover the clothes. I fact he gave me a credit card, with my parents’ permission, so I didn’t have to spend any of their money on things for Chibi or him though I think that they would have done so because they had come to love Nova and Chibi almost as much as I do. I think I need to work on Nova and my parents. Maybe I can persuade them to let us marry a little early say after this school year. I know that it will be hard to persuade them but I ache for Nova and want to be with him at all times. The only way that would happen is by me being his wife. Well, maybe I can get my mom on my side. Dad’s a pushover compared to her so I think I know where to concentrate my effort in my endeavor.

I also got a present from Nova yesterday … it’s not exactly a present but a keepsake. After we left the store we went to a jewelry store. Nova stopped at the counter and talked to the owner. He took out a small box and handed it to Nova. We left the store and went to a small park that surrounded the shopping center. I was curious about the box but if it was something that I was supposed to know about he would have told me. Chibi saw some children playing on the swings and ran to join them. Nova and I sat on a bench watching the children at play. Nova reached and took hold of my hand. “Mina, you already are wearing my ring that binds us together for marriage but I thought I needed to get you something else to bind you with Chibi.” Nova opened the small box. Inside was a gold band with three stones. The ring was a simple gold band with a centerpiece consisting of a garnet in the middle with opals and pearls surrounding the stone. The ring puzzled me but then I realized that my birthstone was an opal, Nova’s was a pearl but what was the garnet. I looked at the ring and then to the small girl playing with the other children. Garnet was the birthstone for January. Chibi’s birthday was January 31^st. Nova had given me a mother’s ring with all our birthstones on it. I started to cry but they were tears of joy. This ring represented my family just like my engagement ring represented my love for Nova. I was happy as Nova put his arm around my shoulder, “It’s the best thing that I can give to the mother of my child. I love you.” He kissed me and I rested my head on his shoulder. Life can’t get any better than this moment. It seemed that my world is complete. I have my true love and my child in my heart and I was in theirs. I had Nova put the ring on my middle finger on my left hand. We watched the children playing until it was time to go home for dinner.

I hurried and put on my school uniform and checked my hair and makeup in the mirror. I grabbed my school bag from the table and rushed to Nova’s door. I placed my key in the lock and turned it. The door opened smoothly and I could tell that they weren’t awake yet. I crept into Chibi’s room and woke her and Artemis. She gave me a hug and went to her bathroom to shower. I went to Nova’s bedroom door and quietly peeked around the corner. He looks so peaceful when he was asleep. Quietly I walked to the bed and sat on it near Nova’s chest. I reached down and pressed myself against him and kissed his lips. He slowly woke up and hugged my neck. “Morning, Nova. It’s time to get up and ready for school.” He got out of bed and heading for his bathroom. I wanted to follow him but I had to get breakfast and their lunches ready. I started to leave Nova’s room but I stopped and brought his pillow up to my face. His scent was still on the pillowcase and I savored it for a few seconds before I left.

Pancakes were the breakfast of choice around our home. I have developed a flavorful recipe that both of them like and truthfully I enjoy them myself. I put on an apron and started getting the pan ready. I am actually becoming a sort of domestic around the kitchen. Tasks around the kitchen that were beyond my abilities just ten days ago come easy now. I started a stew for tonight in the crock-pot so we will have a hot meal when we get home from school. I seem to be spending every waking moment in this apartment. I think that if he would let me, I would sleep here with them near me.

“Well, aren’t you the domestic goddess.” Said a large white cat. I looked behind me to see a wet Artemis trying to lick his fur dry. I giggled, “Pussycat, what happened to you?” Artemis stopped his pursuit of dryness, “That girl of your thinks that if she takes a shower that I have to take one with her. I know that I did that in the past but I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now.” It’s so funny seeing a wet cat on the kitchen floor but I took a hand towel and started to dry him. “Artemis, do you think that Nova is sad? I mean he lost everything that he knew in the past to come to the future.” Artemis was dry enough, “It’s hard to say. He did lose a lot but he was never one that looked to wealth, position or power as measures of happiness. I think that losing his family was more devastating to him.” Artemis snuggled against my legs, “But I think that he is getting back part of the past.” I held up the white cat and brush my cheek against his head.

Chibi came out of her bedroom first. She stood in front of me and allowed me to inspect the outcome of her shower. Her hair smell so clean but I picked up the brush in her hand and started to stroke out the tangles. After I finished, we started the pancakes as we heard Nova walking around his bedroom. I was just putting the pancakes on the table when he came out the bedroom. He always looked so handsome in a uniform and the school uniform was no difference. I can see that I have my work cut out for me at school. He looked like the best catch at our school since the Three Starlights were going to school last year. He approached the table and walked straight to me. He placed his arms around my waist and hugged me close and kissed me. Chibi grabbed the plate from my hand and placed it on the table. I heard Artemis jump on a chair and I can imagine him with his paws on the table looking at us. Without the plate in my hand, I was able to fully enjoy my kiss by hugging Nova back. When we broke the kiss, Nova escorted me to my chair and as I sat down he handed me an envelope.

“Nova, what’s this?” He gestured for me to open the envelope. Inside was Nova’s will. I never thought that he would have a will but I realize in the line of work that we are in; every day could be our last but I don’t want to think about that and this document was bringing back all my fears. I started to say that he didn’t need a will but he pointed to the second paragraph that stated that if something happened to him, I was appointed the legal guardian of Chibi Mina. “Nova, this is why we need to get married soon. I wouldn’t need this document if I were your wife. I would be Chibi’s legal mother no matter what everyone would say. We have to get married.” Nova looked at me, “Mina, I love you more than anything but we promise your parents that we would wait until after we graduate to wed.” I reached and grabbed his hand, “Nova, if I can get my parents to agree to a wedding after this school year would you marry me?” Nova sat down thinking, “Darling, if they agree I would marry you anytime. Even if we never marry, you are still my wife and my life.” I couldn’t take anymore and stood up to hug Nova around the neck. “Thank you” was all I said as I reached to the plate of pancakes to get some for Nova and noticed that three pancakes had mysteriously disappeared. I looked to the two suspects and noticed that each had a piece of pancake in their mouths. Chibi looked at me, “What, I could starve to death waiting for the two of you.” All the white cat did was nod his head in agreement.

We finished breakfast and started getting ready for school. Chibi’s school was starting in thirty minutes so we left together to bring her to school. She was in between Nova and me holding our hands. We were a little family enjoy the morning. I kissed Chibi when we left her with her teacher and we continued on to the high school. “Nova, you seem far away.” I put my arm inside of his and pressed it against my chest. “Mina, you have to remember that his is my first day of school. I educated myself in the past but.” He stopped on the sidewalk and I could see that he was deep in thought. I reached my mind into his and saw a dark fog forming into a being. A dark airless landscape was forming behind the fog. My memories told me that this was the asteroid named Styx where the battle with the Unstoppable was fought. “Nova, what are we seeing?” Nova’s grip on my hand tightened, “Love, it’s our enemy, part of the Unstoppable that wasn’t destroyed. I wish that the universe would let me attack it now but it’s preventing me. I guess that we are destined to fight but only at the choosing of another’s whim.” I could tell that he wanted to summon his power but was prevented by some force. It wasn’t time to attack. I removed my arm from his and slipped it around his waist. “Don’t worry my love, we’ll get through this time together.” He looked at me and smiled, those green eyes beaming love to me. We continued to walk towards school, arm in arm until we stopped in front of Lita’s apartment building to wait for her.

While we were waiting, Amy and Serena appeared behind us and hurried up to join us. Lita came down and as a group we continued to school. I didn’t bring up the vision that I saw in Nova’s mind. No use worrying everyone until we can actually do something about the enemy. Soon, we were laughing and giggling like schoolgirls. Even Nova was getting the gist of our inside jokes. You know those little jokes that men and women understood but the opposite sex don’t. It’s hard for us to realize that Nova doesn’t exactly think of himself as male or female. Don’t get me wrong, he’s definitely male and I should know since I took a little peek right after he changed the first time. I mean … someone had to give him a bath to wash the sweat and dust off him after the battle. It was disappointing when we arrive at school in ten minutes. I wish that time could go on forever. We were of different parents but in those ten minutes we were acting like a brother and his sisters.

I took Nova in hand and escorted him to the principal’s office. Before we turned to corner to the room, I stole a quick kiss from his lips. I left him outside the office door by telling him that we would meet him by the maple tree in the side courtyard. I reluctantly released his hand as he opened the door. My heart sank a little because I wouldn’t be near him but I’ll survive. I walked into the classroom and took my seat near Serena. Serena had really changed herself in the past ten days. She still had her perky personality but it seemed that the days of her lax study habits were gone. We had spent months getting her into the same high school with us and I thought that Amy would pull out her hair at times but we got her to a good solid ‘C’ average. Nova spends a couple hours with us studying our homework for the summer and it’s like a light came on inside Serena’s, and I hate to say this, and my heads and everything became clear. Problems that we would have taken twenty minutes to solve by ourselves was taking two to three minutes when Nova was present in the room. No, he didn’t help us with the answers; it was that everything became clearer when he’s with us. Serena actually told me, “Mina, I can’t wait to get back to school.” I could see in her eyes that she was serious. She had become willing to learn because, I think, she wanted to please Nova for all that he gave up to come here to be with us.

The teacher came in and I scrambled to my seat. She smiled at us and we greeted her, “Good Morning, Miss Haruna.” Yes, Miss Haruna had become a teacher at the High School just this year and she seemed to be happy with so many of her junior high students around her. “Good Morning, class, I hope that everyone had a good vacation. Before we get started I would like to introduce a transfer student.” She pointed to the door and there was Nova. “His name is Nova Nuelin and he has just moved to the area.” Nova approached Miss Haruna and bowed to the class. “Mr. Nuelin, why don’t you take a seat near the front of the room. Miss Aino and Miss Tsukino, please stand up.” Serena and I stood up from our desks. “Why don’t you sit between them? Maybe some of you could rub off on them.” I smiled to Serena. I hope that he would rub against … I mean, rub off on me. I smile to myself; maybe I will enjoy this year.

I couldn’t wait until lunch when I could be near Nova without the restraints of the classroom. When the time came, I collected our lunches and Serena led him to the tree where we were meeting Amy and Lita. Amy was already there and I saw Lita coming from the other direction. We sat on the grass near the tree and opened our lunches. We ate and the air was filled with the usual questions for Nova. How is everything going? Do you like our school? Is everything all right? The usual questions for a student at a new school but Nova never been to school before and truthfully he could teach college professors a thing or two about their professions. Nova leaned back against the tree and I leaned against him. I remembered that I couldn’t be too familiar with Nova. Things of that nature are frowned upon by the school but certain things are allowed. One of those things was that we could hold hands at lunch so I slipped my hand in Nova’s. I could just hear the gossip about me finding another of my hundreds of boyfriends but I don’t care because I had Nova and his promise to me rests on the ring finger of my left hand.

Classes were starting in a few minutes so Serena and I decided to use the restroom before they began. As I was washing my hands, Courtney came up behind me, “Mina, who’s the guy you were with at lunch? You two seemed … friendly.” Courtney is one of the girls on the volleyball team with me. She is a friend that I could talk with that was outside the Sailors. “His name is Nova. We have been together for what seems like a thousand years but it has only been a short while but … he’s the one that I will be with the rest of my life.” The statement must have taken Courtney by surprise, “Mina, you can’t be serious. You still have a year and a half left before graduation.” I stepped back from the sink and held out my left hand. “We are very serious. We are going to get married and if I have my way, the wedding will be in eight months.” Courtney looked at my hand and with a look of joy in her eyes she hugged me. “I hope everything works out. I always wanted you to find the right guy.” I hugged her back, “Don’t worry Courtney, he’s the right guy.” The bell for the afternoon classes rang and I gathered Serena and hurried to the classroom. I looked at her and all she did was smile. She must have overheard our conversation because she said, “Better hurry, Aunt Mina, or we’ll be late.” All I could do was smile back and the smile got bigger when I saw Nova waiting for me in the classroom.

Outside the orbit of Pluto, asteroids were being drawn together to form a larger surface. On that surface a skeletal figure stood in the minuscule light of the life-giving orb in the sky. The being didn’t need the light; in fact, the light was dangerous to him. He was a creature of the darkness with a soul to match his outer appearance. He was formed from the remnants of the Unstoppable that remained on Styx. He was not as powerful as the original creature but power didn’t help the Unstoppable. He would have to use his brains to survive a battle against the child of the crystals but now he must gathered his strength before the attack. He looked around himself and using his necromantic powers gathered his forces from the soil of the planets. Four beings from the Negaverse, they would hold his enemy at bay until he was ready for the final battle. He would give them power to hold dominion of the humans of that blue globe surrounding the star at the center of this system. His plan will start soon but he had to wait until he was stronger. He could wait a hundred years if he had to but he knew in his heart that the time would come soon.

What waits for our Sailors in the upcoming months? When will the battle be joined? Those questions will have to wait until after Darien returns from America. Stay tuned for the next part, part 8, “Homecoming”.