Sailor Moon Expanded : The Next Generation presents
Version 2.0
by Mark Latus
5. Motherly Advice
"This has been the worst day of my entire life! My supposed best friend
just told me she's got the same interest in me as her idiot brother and all
those creeps at school. All these years together and she suddenly decides
she's not content to be friends anymore, she wants what all the others want.
She was just using our friendship to get close to me and if Alan hadn't
exposed her I'd still be clueless. Right now he's looking a lot better than
his sister to me. At least he's always been upfront about chasing after me,
he's the only one of my wannabe suitors who's always been honest with me.
Kodi, we were best friends! How could you betray me like this?"
Sylvite stopped writing in her journal and wiped her eyes. The tears
were back and that made her angry. Why was she crying? She was furious with
that two faced backstabber who'd taken advantage of her gullibility. She'd
been right! There was no reason she should feel any guilt about what she'd
said to her so called best friend. No reason to feel bad.
But deny it as she might she felt rotten. In fact she felt filled with
both anger and sorrow, every moment she seemed to shift from one to the other.
It wasn't fair! She was the wronged one, why should she feel bad! So she'd
blown up at Kodi-chan ... at Aino Kodachi. Who wouldn't? Why should she have
to regret anything she said? Wasn't it all justified? Wasn't she right.
Slamming the journal closed Sylvite flopped facedown onto her bed and
resolved to let the tears flow until they stopped. It had been a mistake to
start writing as soon as she got home but she'd felt like she was going to
burst if she didn't get her feelings out. Instead she felt worse. It wasn't
fair! She was the victim, why should she feel rotten? It just wasn't fair!
Caught up in her misery she didn't hear the door open or hear the soft
footsteps enter her room. She did feel the flex as the newcomer sat down on
the bed beside her and felt the gentle touch wipe tears from her cheek.
Grabbing at the hand like a lifeline Sylvite hauled herself up and wrapped
her arms around her mother, burying her face against her mother's shoulder she
began to bawl. Azurite held her daughter as she literally cried on her
shoulder and whispered endearments. For now all her attention was on
comforting her daughter. Why she was so miserable could wait until Syl had
calmed down. After that she'd worry about the cause and if it resulted from
someone's maliciousness ... well Crystal Tokyo rules or not someone was going
to be very, very sorry.
At length Sylvite's tears stopped though her eyes looked more red than
pink for a change. Azurite brought out some tissues and Sylvite blew her nose
then cleaned her face off as best she could. Syl looked vulnerable and so
much younger than she normally did. Almost as if her physical age finally
matched her mental age. Almost. Gently as she could she asked, "Are you
ready to talk about it?"
A few moments passed and Azurite was more than half expecting a refusal.
But hesitantly but definitely Sylvite nodded. Azurite told her to take her
time and tell it at her own speed, there was no hurry. Bracing herself for
whatever revelation was to come she waited for her daughter to gather her
thoughts.
Azurite reflected it was funny just how fast things changed. A few
minutes ago her concerns had been more cosmic, now she had an unhappy daughter
to worry about. Yet there had never been any question about which was more
important to her. The Golden Millennium had been decades in the making and
would require many more years before it was established. It could wait, her
daughter needed her now!
Anyone who had seen her earlier would have had no clues that she was
meditating on such weighty matters. It would have looked more like she was
just enjoying a coffee while idly fingering some small trinket. After all
what else could she be doing? At any rate being free of all duties at the
time and alone in the house she had elected to use the time contemplating her
little souvenir of the trip to Uranus. That was more than a little inaccurate
as she had already been carrying it the day they set off on their voyage. But
it wasn't until they had arrived within the Shell that it had truly become
hers.
It wasn't much to look at and, unless you really knew your history,
totally unrecognisable. Nothing to indicate that it could turn your whole
life upside-down. But it had and someday she would have to deal with the real
implications of what it meant. Of course in her case someday was a very
nebulous term. Still even with a lifespan as long as hers the day would
eventually come that she would have to reveal it. But not today.
Though she had never used it in Crystal Tokyo and had no intention of
doing so anytime soon she brought it out on occasion to study it. Always
only in complete privacy. Only two people in the city knew about it and that
was more than enough for the time being.
So when she had felt Sylvite's teleport she had automatically hidden it.
Even before she realized Syl hadn't arrived in the niche in the front hallway
but gone directly to her own room. That was a surprise. To avoid any
materialization problems she and Pyr had made it a house rule that there was
to be no teleporting to or from home at anywhere other than the alcove. A
rule they both followed themselves to set an example. A rule Sylvite had
always followed ... except when she was really upset. So (resisting the urge
to teleport herself) Azurite had gone upstairs to her daughter's room and
tried to decide if it was better to wait until Syl emerged or to knock.
Despite all the past experience, friends' advice and child/teen psychology
books much of parenting still seemed to be guesswork. The indecision had
lasted until she heard Sylvite's sobs get louder and entered without waiting
for an invitation. Then held her daughter and waited to find up why she was
so worked up. Which was perhaps about to happen as Sylvite finally seemed
ready to speak.
In a low voice Sylvite began, "You think you know someone, you think
they're your friend. But that's not enough for them, they've got other
feelings for you and they're using your friendship to get closer to you! Why
can't they be happy the way things are?"
Azurite nodded, encouraging her to go on though she already thought she
knew what this was all about. For the past few months she'd been aware that
Luke's feelings toward Sylvite were changing. The boy was growing up and
starting to look at his childhood friend in a whole new light. Syl hadn't
noticed and still thought of him as a buddy. The whole thing had given
Azurite a definite feeling of Deja Vu as Luke kept his mouth shut about any
possible changes in their relationship. Of course it wasn't an exact analog
to how things had been between her and Pyrite. In Luke's case it was shyness
that kept him silent while Pyrite had been struggling with an inferiority
complex. Still if Pyr could overcome his obstacle there was no reason to
think Luke couldn't beat his. Though Azurite had been very uncertain how Syl
would react to his declaration. Now she had her answer but she had never
imagined Syl would take it this badly. As she pondered this her daughter
resumed her tirade.
"I can't believe she said that! What got into her?"
Azurite's train of thought derailed rather abruptly. She? Her? Maybe
she didn't know what this was all about after all. "A little more explanation
would help, honey." Sylvite shuddered then nodded and began to explain.
A little later she had finished her story and was looking both angry and
embarrassed as she wiped away the beginnings of fresh tears. Her mother
steepled her hands and summed up her daughter's rambling explanation.
"So Kodachi has just declared she's in love with you or at least thinks
she is. It's more than likely she's got a bad crush and figured it's the real
thing. First love's like that, contrary to our local mythology love at first
sight is rare. And it's stretching things a little to say that's how it was
even for Serenity and Endymion." Though, Azurite noted, she could think of
better examples but didn't want to complicate things. Sylvite just stared at
her and Azurite gave a tolerant smile. Her daughter was obviously
disappointed by her lack of anger.
"That's all it means to you? Aren't you shocked?" Azurite shrugged.
"I'm a little surprised to find Kodachi's interested in girls but that's
just how some people are. The percentage varies depending on the studies
and after a thousand years they're still arguing genetics versus upbringing
but whatever the answer it's undeniable some prefer their own gender.
Statistically speaking in a family as big as the Aino clan it's inevitable ...
matter of fact one of her brothers whatshisname who runs that dojo is gay."
"Daisuke?"
"Right, that's him! How'd you know that?"
"Alan's mentioned him, he's his martial arts instructor."
"Of course. Anyway so since some girls will prefer girls why would it be
shocking to find Kodachi's one of them?"
"But ... but she says she's in love with me and I don't ... I've never
said I like girls! I mean not that way, I mean I like her ... that is I liked
her but after this I dunno ... Uhh I mean I liked her but it was the way I
liked Leia or Luke or Mara. I've never done anything that she could take to
mean I liked her that way." Her mother sighed.
"Probably not, honey. But you've frequently been heard saying you hate
boys. Which probably got Kodi's hopes up. After all if you hate boys then
what's the alternative?" Sylvite went beet red."
"That's not what I meant! Just cause I hate boys doesn't mean ..." Syl
trailed off in embarrassment and began to study the floor. Her mother put a
comforting hand on her shoulder."
"It's okay, you don't need to justify yourself. I know what you meant
was a lot of boys you meet act like jerks around you and it annoys you."
Sylvite nodded vigorously, thankful she didn't have to explain things to her
mother. Azurite continued, "It's not your fault if she misinterpreted what
you meant."
"Right! It's her fault! She should have known better!" Sylvite was
very surprised to see her mother shaking her head.
"You're making a very big assumption. You're assuming we get to choose
who were attracted to and who we fall in love with. I'm afraid it doesn't
quite work that way. Especially when you're young. When you get a really
strong crush you convince yourself it's true love and you'll desperately seize
on anything they say to convince yourself you've got a chance with them.
Which is what Kodachi's done. I realize this is a surprise and you have no
clear idea how to deal with this but she hasn't done anything wrong. She's
just made a mistake." Sylvite looked more than a little skeptical.
"I can't accept that. She's got to have known I've never thought of her
as anything other than a best friend. Wasn't that enough?"
"Evidentially not."
"But why? She's got to have known I'd never see her as anything else.
Why didn't she just keep quiet and get over it? Why did she have to
complicate things like this?"
"Didn't you say Alan was the one who brought this all up?"
"Well yeah, but he'd never have known for sure if she hadn't started
writing all about how she felt in her journal. Why couldn't she just keep it
to herself. She'd have got over it on her own!"
"Would she?" Sylvite felt puzzled, her mother's soft answer wasn't what
she had expected or wanted. She'd been hoping for enthusiastic agreement
instead her mother looked a little sad and seemed to be thinking recalling
something. After a moment Azurite's expression changed to resolved and she
addressed her daughter again.
"Syl, you may not believe it but it's actually a good thing this is out
in the open. This sort of thing can fester for years and poison friendships
if it's not settled." Before her daughter could protest she continued, "Syl
when I was your age I was older than you in almost every way but the physical.
I was an adult in mind, body and soul ... with one exception. I had as little
or perhaps less experience than you or Kodachi when it came to love. Matter
of fact I made a mistake a lot like hers." Sylvite still looked puzzled but
her attention was rivetted. Azurite plowed on, "Remember by the time I'm
fourteen I've met the other Renegades and learned they're like me. For the
first time in my life I've got friends. Now if you'd asked me who I was in
love with who would I have told you?"
Confidently (though rather puzzled at such an obvious question) Sylvite
answered, "Dad!" Azurite shook her head.
"Nope. Calcite." She managed not to smile as her daughter's jaw dropped
and her face went pale.
Sylvite gaped and managed to whisper, "uncle cal?". Her mother's nod
started her muttering, "But ... but ..." as she struggled to fit this into
the world she knew.
"Not the answer you were expecting I realize." Sylvite just nodded
dumbly. "I didn't say I was in love with him but that's what I would have
answered." She sighed, "I was so sure but then I didn't have much experience
back then. With hindsight it's a lot more obvious that it was a very serious
crush compounded by the fact I'd expected to be alone forever. I had no
experience with falling in love so I assumed what I felt was the real thing."
She smiled and added, "Not to mention there was also an undeniable amount of
lust involved."
"MOTHER!" It seemed she had scandalized her daughter. Crystal Tokyo
girl, she reminded herself. She sighed.
"Syl, I love your father dearly and we've been happy together for
centuries. But try and remember I wasn't born married to him. It's important
that you understand what I'm trying to tell you." Sylvite hesitated and sat
down again trying to not look so shocked. Azurite resumed reminiscing on
those days so long ago.
"If it'll ease your mind I can tell you honestly that there was never
anything between Cal and me. To him I was a good friend and a comrade in
arms, he thought of me as something like a sister. Despite which I was sure
he'd notice how I felt and suddenly declare he felt the same. It's amazingly
easy to delude yourself when you think you're in love. What's really ironic
is my relationship with Pyrite was pretty well exactly the same. Both of us
keeping quiet from fear of rejection and waiting to be noticed. The
difference was his feelings were deeper than mine, he'd grown up with
friendship so he could recognise it and knew he felt more than that for me."
There was a brief silence broken by Sylvite.
"But ... but you did notice him and give up on uncle Cal ..." Sylvite
was definitely quieter but still looking a bit glassy eyed. Somewhat
uncertainly she added, "Didn't you?"
Azurite hesitated before answering. "Not exactly ... I did become
involved with Pyrite but I hadn't resolved my feelings for Calcite. I ...
I was convinced he was still the great love of my life but until then I'd
settle for Pyrite. Please let me finish Syl ... I took your father for
granted but I told myself it was okay because he didn't know. I was wrong
and it hurt him terribly because I was too stubborn to admit I never had a
chance with Calcite and wasn't really in love with him anyway. Eventually
everything did come out and it all blew up in my face. That could well have
been the end of anything between us forever." Azurite winced at the memory.
"I was luckier than I deserved. Pyrite was a lot more forgiving that I had
any right to ask. It could so easily have all fallen apart and if it had ...
well I don't know where I'd be but when I think of what I'd have missed
without him ... that scares me."
Sylvite couldn't quite think what to say. "Mom, I ..."
"Honey, I'm not telling you this just to make things harder for you. I
just want you to understand. I know you're hurt and confused by what Kodachi
told you but it's a lot better to get these things out in the open and deal
with them. The longer this sort of thing goes on the worse it gets when
it comes out. And sooner or later it always comes out."
Sylvite looked at her for a few moments. Then leaned over and hugged
her mother while trying not to start crying again. Azurite held her daughter
and felt some of tension leave Sylvite's back. There wasn't going to be an
immediate reconciliation, after all this was still a lot for her daughter to
deal with. But she was facing it instead of reacting against it which was a
good first step. After that ... well a lot depended on Kodachi accepting the
fact that Sylvite didn't view her as a potential lover but there wasn't much
she could do about that. All she could do was help Syl come to terms with
this new side of Kodachi. It would take a bit of time but she had faith in
her daughter.
Sylvite let go and sniffled a bit, embarrassed by breaking down again
when she had thought she should be angry at her former best friend. Her
mother handed her another tissue and thankfully changed the subject.
"Things will be difficult between the two of you the next little while
so you'd better take a break from the partnership until you've worked things
out. We'd better tell Ti that you both need a break from training for the
next little while. I can handle that if you'd rather not explain."
"I ... I'd really appreciate that, Mom."
"No problem, she'll be happy to do a favour for an old friend." Besides,
Azurite added to herself, after that little accident she'll probably be eager
to keep some distance between you two and her. Out loud she asked, "So how
are you enjoying life as the new Sailor Arcturus? Ti's been a little vague
about how the training's been going?"
Sylvite hesitated before answering. "Uhm ... actually there is something
I've been meaning to ask you." Azurite raised an eyebrow. Trying not to look
embarrassed she half muttered, "Howdoyoufightinhighheelsanyway?"
Azurite took a moment to untangle this then beckoned Sylvite to follow as
she headed downstairs. Puzzled Sylvite followed to find her mother checking
something on the wallscreen. In answer to her unasked question Azurite told
her, "According to this the simulator is idle and not booked by anyone for
the next little while. If you'd like we could drop by and you can get a few
quick lessons." Eager for the opportunity to find out what she was doing
wrong and distract herself from thinking about Kodachi she seized the offer
and thanked her mother. Azurite reserved the chamber with her Guardian status
and the two headed for the teleporting niche. Privately she found it
interesting her daughter was still hooked on being a lesser senshi despite
currently avoiding her partner. She'd assumed the whole thing was Kodachi's
idea but maybe she was wrong. Anyway luckily she'd never cleared her old
costume from the transmuter's memory. After all it wasn't as if she'd ever
sworn not to wear it again, it was simply that with her status as a Guardian
of Crystal Tokyo and with her powers and nature public knowledge why did she
need a secret identity anymore? Sylvite was more than welcome to it if it
made her happy.
A little later Sailor Arcturus was standing in a grimy alleyway over the
unconscious forms of four muggers. A second Sailor Arcturus was applauding.
"Wow! That was incredible, Mom!"
To an extent Azurite agreed, but not for the reasons Sylvite thought.
The incredible part was that she'd been able to do it while moving so slowly
and providing a running commentary to her daughter. To ensure her daughter
could try and duplicate her feat she had relied solely on strength and speed
instead of invoking any powers. The differences between their abilities would
have made that a bit too complicated. "Computer, reset scenario and hold."
The muggers vanished to reappear on their feet menacing a young couple with
a child. Nobody moved except Azurite as she stepped clear. "Okay, now
it's your turn. Ready?"
"Almost, give me a moment." Azurite nodded and Sylvite went through a
quick exercise routine to limber up. As she did Azurite studied her closely
confirming a few suspicions. She kept the frown off her face and was glad
she'd found this scenario in the open directory. If she'd run any of her
training programs Syl would be able to claim (correctly) that it was too
advanced to expect her to do well. Fortunately Ti had entered a number of
simple combat scenarios while working out her training program. Now she
just had to wait and see if things went as she expected.
"Okay, I'm ready."
Azurite nodded, "Very well. Computer, run program."
A few moments later she sighed and said simply, "Freeze." She walked
over to look down at Sylvite who was sprawled against a wall surrounded by the
frozen foursome who were bringing their weapons to bear on the clumsy
intruder. Somewhat shamefacedly she murmured, "I umm ... I slipped."
"I noticed." She winced at her mother's dry tone and tried to avoid
looking at her as she was helped to her feet. Her mother gave another command
and the scene dissolved leaving the room bare. She started to protest but
trailed off feeling like a fool. She felt her mother's hand's on her shoulders
and looked up at her sympathetic face.
"Honey, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. It's a very bad idea
to wear heels in a fight and there's damned few who have the knack. Matter
of fact apart from me and Rei I can't think of anyone crazy enough to try
it."
"But ... but I have to! Sailor Arcturus ..."
"Syl, there's nothing sacred about that costume just because it's old.
I created it overnight when I was trying to come up with a senshi identity.
It worked fine for me but ..." Azurite decided a visual aid might help.
"Computer, mirror." Soundlessly an ornate floor length mirror materialized
before them. Standing before her daughter she asked. "Now compare the
images. What do I look like?"
"Uhm ... well ... sexy ... but kind of scary too."
Azurite nodded, "Right, that's the appearance I was going for. Tough,
desirable and predatory. A sharp contrast to the senshi's goodgirl image.
Of course this was a few years before the Starlights showed up." She reminded
herself that she'd never met the ones from this universe but from all accounts
they matched the Beta versions. But this was distracting her from her main
point. She gestured at the their images which her daughter was studying and
frowning.
"The upshot is it worked for me. I fit the costume's style." Sylvite
nodded. "But you don't." Sylvite turned to face her.
"How can you say that?"
"Easy, look at your reflection. The spikes, boots and heels just don't
work. It's just ... well you're far too cute." Sylvite went red.
She managed to mumble, "I can be scary!", but Azurite shook her head.
"No you can't." Her daughter's flush deepened and she reached for her
collar yet again. Azurite caught her hand, "If you keep doing that, you'll
gash your hand." Sylvite began to stammer something but Azurite overrode
her. Gently she said, "You find the costume uncomfortable." It wasn't really
a question but Sylvite nodded anyway.
"It just needs a little adjustment ..."
"Uh huh. How many times did you whack Kodachi with your wrist spikes?"
"ALMOST NEVER!" Aware of how defensive she sounded Sylvite's blush
deepened. Azurite sighed.
"Syl, you're free to be Sailor Arcturus if that's what you want. But
there's no reason you have to wear a costume that's totally impractical to
you. Look, the real senshi have modified their costumes so there's plenty of
precedent."
"Yesss ..." Cautiously she agreed. Her mother wasn't saying she
couldn't be Sailor Arcturus and she had to admit it would be nice to have a
more comfortable costume. Besides she was sick of losing her balance while
running or even walking. "The colours stay the same!" That should make it
clear who she was supposed to be. No, who she was! Azurite nodded.
"Certainly. Then we're agreed?" Sylvite nodded. "Great, I'll call
your father and we'll all work on the redesign. He'll be happy to help."
Especially since he's been having second thoughts about you wearing that
costume, she thought. There comes a time in every father's life when he has
to reluctantly admit his little girl is growing up. Pyrite had been forced to
face that a lot earlier than most but he'd been doing a good job of denial for
the past few years. But that barrier had been crumbling fast after Sylvite
got her costume and he'd been regretting having created it for her. He'd
definitely welcome a less risque version.
"Uhm, Mom ...?"
"What is it, honey?"
"I was just thinking that while I'm solo maybe ... would you maybe think
about training me?" She was a little hurt when Azurite shook her head.
"I think that would be a bad idea, honey. Ti's a much better choice to
teach you what you want to know."
"But why? You were a lesser senshi for a long time and you were Arcturus
again during the war. You can't be that rusty! Is it because I'm your
daughter?"
"Partially but that's not the real reason. Syl, Ti took after the inner
senshi. Like them she's a champion. As for me ... I've always been a
warrior."
Sylvite looked puzzled, "I don't understand. What's the difference?"
"Hopefully you'll never know", her mother thought. Out loud she said
simply, "She's the better choice, please trust me on this." Syl looked a
little uncertain but nodded and Azurite breathed a sigh of relief.
It was later that night that Sylvite stood in front of a mirror assessing
her revised costume. Behind her she heard her parents whispering but couldn't
make it out. Ignoring it she concentrated on the image. The spikes were all
gone. So were the boots and fishnets, leaving her legs bare. Her new
footwear resembled black ballet slippers but were a lot tougher despite
remaining flexible. She had to admit it felt a lot better than teetering
on those stilts. The higher neckline was also more her style as was the
looser skirt though it felt a little odd for her throat to be bare. Odd but
a darned sight more comfortable. It felt odder still not to see the
transmuter but dad had altered so it was now part of her tiara. When
deactivated it would again become her watch. Which reminded her ... She
brushed her left wrist and saw digital figures appear on the glove along with
readouts on temperature, humidity and barometer pressure. Just like dad to
try and cram in everything. She brushed the same place again and the figures
all vanished. Then jumped as her father appeared at her side.
"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you dear. Let's see ... I've added a
vocal activation to the transmuter so you can just say "Arcturus Star Power,
Make Up" if you want to. That'll give you this, the default costume. Mode
2 covers all your bare skin. Mode 3 adds a bubble helmet with an air
recycler, that's for emergency use only so don't abuse it. All that's left is
this." With that he handed her a brooch, a flat oval of blue stone surrounded
by a gold band. "Just attach it to the center of your chest bow." He looked
a little embarrassed.
Sylvite almost giggled as she thought about asking her father to place
it but decided after all he'd done that would be rude. It fit seamlessly into
place and she admired it. A thought struck her.
"This stone, is it ...?"
He nodded, "Azurite. To remind you you're a chip off the old block."
"It's pretty. But shouldn't I have something from you?"
"Actually you already do. That's not real gold around the azurite, it's
really fool's gold. Also known as ..."
"Iron pyrites." She studied it again. "Pyrite and Azurite joined
together ... it's perfect."
"I hoped you'd like it."
"Thanks Dad ..." She hesitated wondering if she should ask him anything
about what Mom had told her earlier in the day. No, it had all worked out
okay so why should she risk stirring up trouble. They were already helping
her cope with her situation and it would be a rotten way to repay them by
dredging up things from long ago. She settled for, "... I love you."
Deadpan he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Don't you hate boys?"
Two could play that game. "Yeah but I never said I hate men so it's
okay."
"Ah. But what about young Luke?"
Sylvite flushed. "Dad! He's just a buddy." Azurite caught his eye and
he nodded slightly.
"My mistake. Anyway princess with school tomorrow it's about time you
turn in." Sylvite considered a pro-forma protest but realized she was pretty
tired. It had been an exhausting day physically and emotionally. Kissing her
parents goodnight she deactivated the costume and headed upstairs.
As soon as she was out of earshot Pyrite murmured, "I'll bet things will
be a little tense in class tomorrow."
"No bet, I'm sure you're right. But running away from a problem doesn't
work. They've got to face each other and work it out."
"I know ... wonder how Kodachi's doing?"
Azurite frowned, "I called Minako a little earlier. She didn't want to
talk and was obviously worked up about something so odds are Kodachi's dropped
her little bombshell." Pyrite nodded.
"It took her awhile to warm up to Daisuke after he started dating boys
but she came around."
"Eventually."
"True, it took a while. But she did get over it."
"Yeah ... I'll bet Cal and Kodachi are in for a rough ride the next
little while." Pyrite nodded again.
"As you said, no bet. Think I'll give them a call myself."
He ambled to the phone and told it to call Cal and Mina. It was picked
up almost immediately by a somewhat harried looking Calcite.
"Cal ..."
"Hi cousin. Look this isn't a real good time, could you call back
tomorrow?"
Before Pyrite could answer he heard a familiar voice in the background.
"This is all your fault! Stupid youma genes! I WILL PUNISH YOU!"
"Gotta go, bye." Without waiting for an acknowledgement the call
disconnected. Azurite chuckled behind him.
"About what we expected."
"More or less. Such is fate."
"Hmmm ... times like these I almost wonder if he should have stuck with
Margrave." Pyrite chuckled, it took a lot for her to give Margrave anything
resembling a compliment. Then, remembering Azure telling him what she'd told
their daughter earlier in the day he added, "Or you could have made a move on
him."
"Now why would I want to do a silly thing like that?"
"True, you got the better catch. Ouch!"
"Watch it mister. You'd better be able to back that up."
"My pleasure."
As they kissed Sylvite stopped peeking downstairs and headed for her
room feeling relieved. Just good-natured banter which was a relief. She had
been afraid by recalling the past her mother might have started thinking "what
if ... ?" but there was no sign of that. For which she was thankful as she'd
had more than enough drama for one day.
As she settled into bed she wondered if her parents were any weirder than
most. But considering most of the adults she knew were either senshi, youma
or from other dimensions they were probably more or less average. It occurred
to her that objectively speaking this should be a somewhat alarming thought
instead of comforting. But she wasn't an objective person, if today had
taught her anything it was she took things a bit too personally.
Sylvite drifted off to sleep wondering how Kodi was getting on with her
parents.
End of part 5
Next: We backtrack to see how Calcite and Minako handled Kodachi's surprise
announcement as she decided to have a few words with her apparently
unflappable dad in:
Part 6 : Father Knows Best?
On to Part 6
Back to Part 4
Back to my SME fanfics
Return to my main page
On to the main SME fanfic page