Secluded Flame

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Sailor Moon.

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Sailor Moon.

A/N: This is my first fanfic, so please go a bit easy on me. I kind of mixed the anime with the PGSM. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

The day was fervent, the once bright sky now dulled by the clouds drifting lazily, weightlessly through the air. A girl, about 14 years old with long raven colored hair, a pale complexion, and fierce amethyst eyes walked down the sidewalk, then turned to enter an area where a church stood. When she turned the corner to enter through the rusty green gateway, she accidentally bumped into the priest, causing him to collapse.

“Sorry!” She exclaimed, holding out her hand to help the priest up, “I wasn’t looking where I was going. Sorry.”

The girl looked down, avoiding the priest’s gaze.

“It’s okay Rei, you didn’t do anything wrong. As it is, I wasn’t looking where I was going either.”

The priest smiled kindly, and looked at what Rei was carrying.

“Oh, so you’re here to visit your mother’s grave? It’s the anniversary of her death, right?”

At the mention of her mother’s death, Rei’s expression darkens, her grip on the flowers tightening greatly. Rei hid her ever darkening amethyst eyes behind a curtain of raven hair as she answered the priest in a hushed whisper, “Yes sir it’s …… her anniversary.”

“I’m sorry,” he said in earnest, seeing her reaction, “then by all means, I’ll leave you to yourself.”

The priest put a hand on her semi- broad shoulder and smiled warmly. Then, turning away he said solemnly, “You know, it would have been nice if your father was here as well. I’m sure your mother would have been happier to see the two of you together.”

Rei’s head shot up in surprise and glared at the retreating form of the priest, a mixture of emotions burning in her heart and stomach.

“That bastard could care less about my mother’s death! He’s just a crooked politician, who cares only about himself; which is why he abandoned me on the streets with no where to go when I was just a little kid!”

Rage and hatred were evident in her voice as she shouted at the priest. Her amethyst eyes glinted dangerously, and narrowed into slits as he tuned his head to look at her with a sorrowful expression engraved in his old features.

As he spoke, Rei’s anger was extinguished “Alright Rei, alright.”

Rei hung her head as the priest turned and left her alone. Once he was out of sight she walked around to the side of the church to where a graveyard was built, honoring the memories of the dead. She looked out over all the tombstones embedded in the earth, neatly mowed emerald grass that danced in the wind and glistened in the sun surrounding all of them.

She stepped onto the soft emerald grass and strolled down the row of graves until she came upon her mother’s resting place. Kneeling onto the supple grass,

Rei placed a bouquet of roses in front of the polished, stone tombstone and let an uncharacteristic warm tear escape her eyes; traveling quickly down her cold cheek as she began to pray.

…....

“Aino Minako! Just where do you think you’re going?”

“Geez, settle down Artemis, breathe. I’m just going to the church nearby to clear my head and think that’s all. You don’t have to get a heart attack about it.” Minako casually threw over her shoulder.

She picked up a large brown cap and placed on top of her head where her long golden locks cascaded brilliantly down her back, and put a pair of ridiculously large white sunglasses atop her nose to conceal her lively cerulean eyes.

“But-,” the small fuzzy, snow white cat replied; worry swimming deeply in his dark blue eyes.

“No buts Artemis, I’ll be fine. It’s not like any youma will show up.”

Minako strolled over to her guardian cat, which was sitting on top of the side table, and stroked his silky fur gently, giving him a warm reassuring grin.

“Ok,” he purred reluctantly, “but I’m coming with you just in case something does happen.”

His charge just nodded and giggled as she caressed his chin, causing him to lean forward too much and fall off the maple wood table landing on his butt. She then turned on heel and jogged out of her apartment door, yelling back: “And here I thought that all cats landed on their feet! You’re getting too lazy Artemis!”

“MINAKO!!” Artemis hissed, “Get your but back here!!”

And just like that he shot to his paws, tailing the giggling pop star out the room.

....…………….….

“So this is the church,” Artemis commented.

The church was a great white building with a small flight of stone gray stairs leading to two antique wooden doors with beautiful carvings in them.

“Yes,” Minako smiled, “I’ve heard that they have a graveyard to the side of this church that I’m going to visit later; after I’ve done clearing my head. You want to come along Artie? I’m sure there are no ghosts haunting the place or anything.”

Minako smirked as Artemis’ fur bristle in slight fear. She knew that Artemis was afraid of ghosts and such, and yet he continued to watch scary movies with her to only boast about being there to protect her if she ever got scared, only to have it be the other way around.

“Um, well, uh….. maybe another time, Minako. I have an important….um…. nap to take. So, um, well see you later!”

And with that, he leapt off the pavement and onto the supple, bright, emerald grass sprinting to who knows where to take his cat nap.

“Bye scaredy cat! I’ll see you later then!”

“I resent that!” She heard Artemis yell back as she trotted up the stairs and entered the beautiful, spiritual chapel.

When inside, she walked to the front of the church and knelt on the cushioned kneeler in the wooden pew staring off into the majestic stained glass cross.

…..….….…..…

Saying her goodbyes and wishes to her mother, Rei stood up to dust the strands of grass that have managed to cling to her blue jeans, she bowed, turning and reluctantly leaving to go back to the shrine. While walking out of the grave site, she passed a girl with long, golden blonde hair swaying in the brisk breeze heading towards the graveyard she just left, but was stopped by the priest.

“Oh, excuse me miss. I’m sorry to interrupt you, but may you spare some of your time to help me? You see a nun and I just found this dog lying weakly by the back of the church and we need someone to look after him for a while until after mass. If you can’t, it’s okay I’ll understand, and I’ll find someone else to look after him.”

Rei stopped in her tracks and turned around to watch the exchange between the stranger and the priest.

“Sure, I’ll be honored to help look after the poor doggy; just lead the way,” the blonde responded cheerfully.

Before the blonde and the priest could walk away, Rei hollered, “Wait! Father! Is it alright if I help too?”

The priest and the blonde turned around a bit surprised; the blonde more surprised then the priest to see Rei jog towards them; stopping to look the priest shyly in his dark eyes knowing eyes.

“And, by the way I’m sorry about earlier Father. I just-,” Rei started to whisper quietly in embarrassment; recalling what had happened between them earlier that day.

The priest put his slightly wrinkled hand on her small, broad shoulder having her look up at him and nodded, letting her know all was forgiven. Rei beamed while the blonde next to them watched the exchange between the two in silent confusion, but then shrugged slightly not wanting to interrupt them.

“Yes Rei, you may help too. Now, would you two young ladies please follow me? We put the poor thing in a small room right at the end of the church.”

The three of them walked along the paved path that lay stretched out along the side of the graveyard. Stopping at the end of the side of the church, the priest opened the polished wooden door and led Rei and Minako inside and to the dog. The dog, which was a large male chocolate brown hound dog, lay on a fuzzy, multicolored, circular rug with a hefty white blanket covering his entire body except his head and neck.

“Awwwwww,” Minako whined excitedly, kneeling down besides the dog and began to gently stroke his silky fur, “Will he be alright? I mean it’s not life threatening is it?”

The priest began to laugh heartily while Rei just stared at the blonde strangely as if she came from some other planet.

“Ah, miss, I can assure you he is not in a life or death situation. The dog is just in need of a good rest and maybe some food later on. I’m counting on both of you and thank you both for your time.”

The priest bowed and said, “I have some things I must attend to, so if either of you need any help I’m sure a nun will be around to help you.”

He then turned and strolled through the door leaving both Rei and Minako in the slightly messy, but homey room. Sighing, Rei knelt besides Minako and the dog, compassion lighting her usually dark amethyst eyes and letting a rare, warm smile grace her elegant features. Unbeknownst to her as she began running her thin fingers through the dog’s smooth, chocolate brown fur, Minako was gazing at her intently.

A/N: I hope to update this story soon, but I can get kind of swamped with homework and studying since midterms are soon. So, later!