Chapter 1: Surprises

Sometimes, when I'm by myself, I'm reminded of the strangest things, like did we always use the Crown chairs that matched our senshi colors? A quick glance told me that I was indeed sitting in my red chair, and the familiarity of such a simple thing pulls at something in my chest. When I'm far away, it's easy to focus on the mundane, everyday things that are slowly becoming routine, but right now, sitting here in this very room, it is hard to ignore the memories, all that happened and all that could have been.

To be exact, they were more dreams than memories, because that damned crystal or whatever higher power finally acknowledged that it was playing a cruel game on a bunch of fourteen-year-old girls. And just like that, time was reset. It was like waking up one day and having suddenly lived another year that in this reality never existed. Imagine my exasperation when I finally realized that I now had not one, but two hypothetical past lives to mess with me.

Of course, there was a brighter side. That one year shaped many things in our lives. I would never forget the look on Ami's mother's face when she found that her daughter had invited four friends over for dinner, one of whom she had "just seen on a TV commercial" on her way home. Nor a certain senator's stuttering as he confirmed for the third time that there was indeed a Hino Rei on the phone asking to speak with him. Although, he was sorely disappointed to know that I had only called to tell him that I will be training in Kyoto for the unforeseeable future.

Nor how brightly her eyes shone after the tests for brain tumor came back negative.

Really, we were lucky, and though we never discussed it openly, it was no secret that we wanted to make the most of our second chance. Ami was the first to announce that she would go study abroad, but before we got over the fact that our group was finally splitting up, a certain idol already had her bags packed, ready to set off on her international career. I was happy for her, I really was, as much as Usagi would tease that the more I say it, the less sincere I was. But what else could I say? I was the one who went to ridiculous length to convince her to live as herself, and now she's doing just that. So I was certainly not going to be a hypocrite for making a fuss over something I had wanted for her in the first place.

But hypocrisy be damned. It's been two years since she came back to Japan—because of her duties as senshi and Usagi's wedding—and there had been no letters, no phone calls, nothing. I don't miss her, no, I'm just angry that she doesn't even attempt to keep our connection, the connection that took so many fights to get…Okay, I do miss her. How dare she just throw me out of her life after all that?

Stop.

It's frustrating, really, that something always seems to snap when I think about Aino Minako. That woman plays with my emotions like a see-saw even when she's not here. One moment she's driving me up the wall, and then the next I would be worried about her, despite knowing that I'll probably even hear about her catching a cold—if not from the news, then definitely from Usagi.

The last time we saw each other, I had wanted to give her a piece of my mind, but as fate had it, I landed myself in the hospital and became the receiving end of her sharp reprimands. Then again, for a moment I had thought that her harsh words meant that she had not simply left us behind her like some forgettable childhood memory. Hmph, some psychic I am.

Wait, didn't I just say stop thinking about her? Get a grip already!

As if on cue, the door to our secret room opened with a small creak, and I turned just in time to see Ami stepping inside. A wide, slightly goofy smile spread on both of our faces. Since the rest of our group was rarely punctual, Ami and I had made a habit over the years to share gossip at the latecomers' expenses. Seeing that I was away for most of the year, I could hardly wait to hear of the latest developments.

It was fun, I admit, especially since neither of us would ever stoop to gossiping like high school girls in public.

"I'm sorry we didn't meet you at the train station, Rei-chan," Ami said as she pulled me into a tight hug. "You look a bit tired."

I waved it off, smiling to myself as she naturally took a seat in her blue chair. I guess some habits never fade, even if it did happen in a past life.

"The train got in around one in the morning, Ami-chan. I'm fine. I would prefer to rest at home today, but that Usagi," I huffed, remembering how Usagi had repeatedly called me until I agreed to meet up for a 'surprise'.

But this surprise got me pretty curious. After all, our days of fighting are long gone, and now we're just normal…people. Our lives are so predicable compared to what it used to be that I might actuallymiss it. Usagi's married, Makoto's going to get married, Ami-chan's working hard as usual, and Min…well, it's all predicable. When was the last time we got a surprise, in a good way?

Ami smiled fondly, "Yes, Usagi-chan did seem very enthusiastic about this surprise. I'm almost surprised that she isn't already here."

"You said that when she was almost late for her wedding," I said. Ami giggled, probably remembering how close we were to pulling our hairs out when Usagi didn't show up in her dressing room until literally two minutes before the processionals.

"But you really don't know what Usagi is up to?" I asked, slightly suspicious. Even though Ami and I grew close due to our similar family situations, it is just no comparison to the bond between Ami and Usagi. More likely than not, Usagi managed to convince Ami to play along, not that Ami needs much convincing when it comes to Usagi.

Ami's smile grew wider, as though she read my thoughts, and shook her head. "No, I really don't know, Rei-chan. Although, Motoki-kun finally gave Mako-chan a ring, but I doubt that's it."

"Motoki did?"

"Yes, it was about two weeks ago." Here, Ami's smile took on a mischievous edge. "But Mako-chan only wears it around her neck as a necklace."

"I see," I said, already feeling sorry for Makoto for the inevitable teasing she is going to receive. Ami can be dead evil when she wants to be.

Just as I was about to ask for more details, the door burst open and Makoto all but jumped down the stairs, giving both Ami and I a brief hug.

"I'm sorry I'm late," she apologized evenly, giving no hints that she had probably just ran the whole way here. "Rei, it's been a while. How are you?"

"I'm good," I said. Then, without waiting for Makoto to say anything else, I leaned forward with feigned interest, "Is that a new necklace? Where did you get it?"

Predictably, Makoto became a mumbling and blushing mess while she tried to hide the lace of the necklace further from view. Ami and I subtly shared a knowing wink, which was intentionally made out to be not subtle enough.

"Ami-chan!" Makoto gave her friend a light shove, blushing even harder, and settled for glaring at me across the table. "And Rei, how long are you staying this time? Actually, how much longer will your training in Kyoto last?"

I laughed at her attempt to change the subject, but went along with it. "The training ended a while back. I was looking for a sponsor through a priest I know in Kyoto, but I think I've made enough progress to continue on my own."

Both of them looked at me in surprise, and there was a pause while they processed what I said. Makoto noticeably perked up.

"So, does that mean you're staying this time?"

"Possibly. I have no plans to return yet."

"That's great, Rei-chan!" Ami said.

"Hey, we should have a welcome back party for Rei. What do you say, Ami-chan?"

Ami eagerly agreed, and I just knew I couldn't refuse them. Thinking back, I regretted letting Usagi convince me to go karaoke with them because it inevitably evolved to the point that I had to take part in the actual singing.

"What? A party?" A bubbly voice cut across the room, and before I could react, I was already enveloped in a bone-crushing hug, Usagi-style.

"You're late." I pointed out but returned the hug nonetheless. "Why bother dragging us out here when you don't even show up on time?"

"Ah, well, you see," Usagi scratched her head in that helpless, guilt-ridden way, turning away from us. "I thought I had it with me, but I couldn't find it in my bag, so I asked Mamo-chan if he saw it, but then this really interesting variety show came on TV, and Mamo-chan remembered that I told him I would put it in my coat pocket, but he was late for work so I had to take the bus, and then…"

"Then you missed your stop?" Makoto ventured a—in my opinion, highly likely—guess, and the three of us collectively sighed when Usagi clasped her hands together in front of her face, bowing in apology. "Well, at least you found what you were looking for."

"Oh! Yes!" She pulled a white envelope out of her pocket and a wide grin quickly took over her face. "You see, I got a letter from Minako-chan!"

"What, really? When?" Makoto immediately jumped up. Even Ami and I sat up straighter, which somehow didn't escape Usagi's eyes.

"A couple of days ago," she said, winking at me knowingly. "But Rei-chan would kill me if I read it first, so I waited until all of us were together."

I quickly shrank back into the chair, finding the edge of the table increasingly more interesting to look at. "It's just a letter," I said. "You didn't have to wait for me."

Usagi's grin grew wider, almost reaching the tip of her ears. "Rei-chan, you were dying to hear from her!"

"I was not!" I said defensively. Am I really that transparent? I looked around the table for support, but both Makoto and Ami gave me a skeptical lift of their brows. Well, Ami is far too polite show her skeptism publicly, but I can see it in that small, private smile that's being directed my way.

"Whatever," I huffed, folding my arms and turning away. "Read the letter if you really want to."

I could tell that the three of them were smiling among themselves behind my back, as if sharing an inside joke that I just didn't understand. Ami and Makoto got up to peer over Usagi's shoulders as she cleared her throat and began to read:

"Everyone, how was your summer? Sorry that I haven't been in touch for a while and thank you for the photos. It feels like forever since Usagi-chan's wedding. Has it already been two years?

"Last time, Usagi-chan mentioned a senshi get-together this Christmas. I'm sorry to say that I can't make it. I'm scheduled for a ten-day live tour in England. But I hope you'll have fun nonetheless.

"On another note, next spring we've been thinking about a short stay in Tokyo, about a month or so. I haven't returned in two years and I feel sorry for my fans. I'll be doing some concerts and record a new song. When the time comes, I'll contact you with more information. Would you like some tickets? Again, I apologize that I can't make it this Christmas.

"Give my regards to Mamoru-san and Motoki-san.

"Best, Minako."

"Ahh, looks like she can't make it again," Makoto sank down in her chair.

"But she did say next spring!" Usagi said excitedly. "I can't wait! Rei-chan, definitely, definitely come back then okay? I want the five of us...Rei-chan?"

I looked up at the sound of my name, but my mind was still going over the last few sentences of that letter. "Oh, nothing," I said, trying to remember what Usagi had just asked me. "Luckily for you, I'll be sticking around this time, so you don't have to worry about me missing out."

"Really? Really? Rei-chan, you're coming back to Tokyo? I'm so happy! Oh, oh, I know! We should have a party! Rei-chan's coming back! Isn't this great, Ami-chan?"

I nodded along as Usagi ran around the room and hugged everyone twice. Just when she was hitting her third round of hugs, I finally couldn't hold back my curiosity.

"So how did you tell Minako about the get-together?" I asked as casually as I could. After all, Minako always set a record for how quickly her phone numbers were leaked to the public so she never kept the same number for more than a few weeks. And I wasn't aware that any of us knew where she lived.

"Eh?" Usagi looked surprised but quickly regained her smile. "Ah, I wrote to her on behave of all of us. She sent us New Year postcards so I replied."

I frowned. "Postcards?" As the word left my mouth, I suddenly knew that I wouldn't like what I'm about to hear. A dead silence fell upon the room. Everyone traded subtle looks with one another, but it was as clear as day that I was the only one who didn't get these postcards.

I wanted to say something but my throat wasn't cooperating. She had contacted them? All of them? How could…

"Rei-chan," Usagi said gently. "I'm sure yours probably had a hard time reaching you. Didn't you say that the Kyoto shrine cuts off outside communication pretty well? Remember how many times we tried before we could get a letter through to you?"

"Y-yeah, you're right," I said with a shrug. "So did she only send cards?"

"There were phone calls now and then," Ami-chan said, "But since you were always away and Minako-chan doesn't keep the same number for more than a few weeks…"

"I see," I said. I tried to smile it off, but it didn't quite turn out right. The others kindly moved on to other things, but not before reassuring me that my cards just got lost along the way. I told them that I knew and that I wasn't worried about it.

But that's not the point at all. If the others had told her that I was training in Kyoto, they would have also told her how to address the letter so that it would reach me. If she tried to send me anything by herself, it should have been addressed to the Hikawa Shrine. And I was dead sure that I received no such thing when I check my mailbox last night.

Even that letter, she wrote to Usagi. I suppose I understand that she and Usagi had always had a close friendship. If you really think about it, Usagi is close with everyone. She brought all of us out of our shells, more or less, and was the first to approach her when she was feeling lonely. But that's not the point either. They can be close all they want, for all that I care.

Unable to help myself, I checked the mailbox again when I got back to the shrine, finding absolutely nothing. I must be an idiot. Somewhere I could hear the gods laughing at me already.

In the end I decided to go to bed early. There was no point in reading when I was constantly distracted by new possibilities of how my postcard got lost. Face it, Rei, she never sent you one.

Come to think of it, she has never showed a care in keeping in touch with us, always coming and going as she pleases. She never gave a proper explanation for anything, always hiding behind her authority as the decoy Princess, the senshi leader, her idol life, or some combination of excuses. She never cared about what others think; it's just her and her world.

I tossed and turned from side to side for however many times while I stayed awake. With everything that had happened, I ended up being the one she could throw away so easily, and I can't even begin to consider why. I sat up suddenly, feeling the undeniable urge to break something. A thousand words swarmed in my head, most of them inappropriate to say aloud. That's what I get for assuming things.

It's not that I was expecting anything from her. I wasn't. But among all of us, I had thought that she and I shared something…different. Was it only me then, seeing how disposable I am?

The faint ringing of the telephone echoed through the corridor. I checked my clock: quarter past eleven. Someone must have got their hands on the fact that I was back in Tokyo, and was probably seeking spiritual guidance or however they put it these days. How many times do I need to say that I don't deal with that kind of business?

I lay back down and waited. Five rings, six, seven…doesn't this caller know when to give up? Ten, eleven, and it was still ringing.

Knowing that my answer machine wouldn't kick in until much, much later, I decided to answer it before I get more irritated. This really isn't my day.

"Yes?" I said, forgoing phone courtesies of any kind. This person better has a very good reason for calling.

"Ah." The caller hesitated, as if they had never expected anyone to pick up. "Sorry, wrong number."

I blinked. That voice sounded familiar. Could it be…

"Minako?"

There was dead silence on the line, so the person must have hanged up. But I held the receiver to my ears for a couple more seconds. Maybe it had been a wrong number, but that was her. I'm sure of it.

Maybe it's just my fanciful thinking?

No, I would recognize that voice anywhere. Biting my lip, I picked up the phone again, this time dialing the number of my phone company.

After ten minutes I came back with a long page of different phone numbers that had called me within the past few months, an overwhelming majority of which had the same foreign country code. Well, seeing how there's only one person overseas who knows this number, there's no doubt who the caller is.

What's unexpected is that each of her calls lasted about a minute each. That was probably enough time to trigger the answer machine. I had purposely set it so that people wouldn't leave messages unless something urgent happened.

I checked my answer machine again. No messages.

I squeezed the paper tightly in my hands, confused as ever. Was she calling just to hear the answer machine play some sentences I pre-recorded? But then why did she hang up when I answered?

Just what is she thinking?

To be continued…