Sailor Moon: Generation Gap
                       Mother's Day - Part 2: Redemption  
                               by Scott Delahunt

        "She heard me.  I - I didn't know."  Kimiko broke into tears.  "I
didn't mean to hurt her like that.  I wasn't thinking.  I didn't want
Mother to just give up.  Pluto-san, what can I do?"

        Sailor Pluto let the scene fade, and hugged Kimiko.  "The past is
done, and not easily changed.  There is something you can do, but you have
to be strong.  Do you think you can do it?"

        "What can I do, Pluto-san?  You said the past is done."

        "There is something I can help you with, but can you do it?"

        "Anything, Pluto-san," Kimiko sobbed.  "Whatever it is, I'll do
it."

        "I'll give you the chance to talk to your mother one last time."

        "T-talk?  I . . . I don't understand.  What good will talking do?
Why would - how can I talk to Mother now?"

        "You've already given up, and haven't even started."  Pluto sighed.
"I told you it would take strength - real strength, from inside."

        "I'll - I'll do it, Pluto-san.  I'll talk to Mother, but she's
dead.  How can I talk to her?"

        "I am the lovely Guardian of Time, Sailor Pluto, remember?  I can
send you back to when you can talk to your mom."

        "Wh-what do I tell her?  What do I say?"

        "That's up to you, Kimiko-chan.  Speak from your heart.  Put right
what once went wrong.  Whatever.  It's up to you.  Do you still want to do
this?"

        "I do, Pluto-san.  I don't know what to say to Mother, but I do
want to go."

        "Good."  Pluto picked up her staff.  "You'll go now."

        "N-now?  B-but - "

        "No time like the present."  Pluto smiled.  "I doubt that any extra
time to prepare will help you."  Pluto held out her Time Key and
concentrated.  The Garnet Orb glowed brightly as a portal opened.  Kimiko
saw an elementary school on the other side.

        "Pluto-san, isn't that the school I went to?" Kimiko asked.

        "It is, the night of your Grade IV recital," Pluto answered.

        "Mother was never there.  How can I talk to her if she's not even
there."

        "She was there, Kimiko, but she was called away.  She hated having
to leave, and she felt worse when she found out that she was called away on
a false alarm."  Seeing Kimiko's doubting look, Pluto continueed, "Trust
me, Kimiko-chan.  Just step through."

        Slowly, Kimiko approached the portal.  She hesitated, uncertain and
afraid of what could happen.  Gingerly, she stepped through the portal and
into the Tokyo of six years before.  No-one seemed to notice a teenage girl
appear from nowhere.

        Kimiko straightened her school uniform and entered her old school.
Old memories assailed her, memories for her friends and her first crush.
Painful memories followed; all the little disappointments when her mother
couldn't or wouldn't show up for plays, interviews, and the like.  Kimiko
hardened herself against the memories; they would only get in the way.

        Kimiko made her way to the auditorium.  A crowd of parents were
going inside already.  Kimiko looked around, and saw a tiny silver-haired
woman slowly approach the ticket table.  'It's Mother!' Kimiko thought.
'She did come.'

        Arimi hesitated at the table.  She was unable to form the words to
ask for a ticket.  Fighting familiar frustration, Kimiko joined her mother
at the table.

        "One please," Kimiko said, getting in front of Arimi.  She turned
to her mother.  "I'm sorry, were you here first?"  With Arimi only nodding,
Kimiko continued, "Sorry, I shouldn't have butted in.  You want a ticket,
too?"

        "Th-th-thank y-y-you, m-m-miss," Arimi stuttered.

        Kimiko studied her mother.  Although only fifteen, Kimiko was
already taller than her mother.  'She's so tiny, so scared.  How could she
have survived on her own?  Pluto-san, how can I talk to this mouse?'  "Are
you a parent?" Kimiko tried.

        "Y-y-yes," Arimi answered politely, as she tried to back away.

        "What grade?"  'Please, Mother, don't run away.  Stay, for once in
your life.'

        "Sh-sh-she's in th-the f-f-fourth."

        'This isn't working.'  "May I sit with you until my aunt and uncle
show up?  I hate being alone."

        Arimi looked like a rabbit ready to bolt.  Kimiko gave her mother
credit when Arimi nodded agreement.  The two entered the auditorium
together.  Kimiko let Arimi choose a row close to the back.  They sat in
silence as more people entered.

        Finally, Kimiko introduced herself.  "My name is Suzuki Megumi,"
she said, borrowing the family name of her first crush.

        "G-G-Gin'no A-Arimi."

        "How old is your daughter?"

        "N-n-nine.  Sh-sh-she's r-really e-excited a-about t-t-tonight."

        Kimiko was taken aback.  'Mother knew how important tonight was?
How could she have left during it?'  Hiding her thoughts, she said,
"Gin'no . . .  Not Gin'no Kimi-chan?"

        "K-Kimiko-chan, y-yes," Arimi corrected.

        "My cousin is in her class.  I think he likes her."

        "K-Kimiko-chan f-feels the s-same w-way."  Arimi smiled shyly.

        "She does?"  'She knew?  Mother knew?  How?'

        "Sh-she d-d-d-oes.  Sh-she d-doesn't kn-know I kn-know, th-though."

        Kimiko hid her surprise by looking around the auditorium.  "I can't
find my aunt or uncle.  May I stay here?  I'm sure they're here."

        "S-s-sure, S-Suzuki-chan."

        The lights dimmed, and the curtain rose for the recital.  As a
young girl, Kimiko had followed in Emiko's footsteps more than anyone else,
and had volunteered to help with small roles in other classes' skits, as
well as getting a larger role in her own class's.  The older Kimiko
couldn't bear to watch herself.  Instead, she turned her attention to her
mother.  Even in the dark, Kimiko could see Arimi's face brighten whenever
her daughter was on stage.  'She was actually here.  She came to see me.
Why couldn't I see her?'

        The intermission came, and the house lights were turned up.  Kimiko
stayed with Arimi as they walked for a drink.  Both heard a chirp.
Kimiko's stomach turned.  She hated the chirp of her mother's Senshi
communicator and the beep of her pager.  They always wound up taking her
mother away.  Arimi patted down her hips, then remembered that she was
wearing a skirt.  She opened her purse, but Kimiko grabbed her arm before
she could get her communicator.

        "You're not leaving, are you?" Kimiko accused.  "Your daughter's
class still hasn't been on stage."

        Arimi looked at the hand holding her arm.  "Th-th-they n-n-need
m-me."

        "So does your daughter."  Kimiko glared at Arimi.  "You can't leave
her now."

        Arimi snatched her arm away.  "Y-you d-d-don't understand."

        "You don't understand," Kimiko returned angrily.  She took a deep
breath, trying to calm down.  "A year ago, I lost my mother.  She died
suddenly, no warning, nothing.  She and I, we were never got along.  She
was always busy, always putting work before everything else, even her
child.  The night Mother died, we had another argument.  That's the only
way we spoke by then, arguing.  I left the room, and said stupid things to
one of my mother's roommates.  Mother overheard.  I thought I meant them,
but I didn't.  I never got the chance to make up with her, to tell her I
loved her and was sorry for what I said.  Please don't make the same
mistake.  I don't want another kid to go through what I did."

        Arimi stared at Kimiko as she thought over the girl's words.  "I
n-need t-t-to m-make a c-c-call."

        Knowing what type of call her mother wanted to make, Kimiko said,
"There's one around the corner."

        Arimi thanked Kimiko, and left.  Kimiko gave Arimi enough time to
think she wasn't followed, then snuck to the corner to listen.

        "Hikaru, it's Arimi.  What's wrong?"

        ~Something landed outside the city.  We don't know what it is.~

        "Is it dangerous?"

        Kimiko despaired.  'Mother, don't you listen to anyone?'

        ~I don't know.  Why?~

        "I'm at my daughter's recital."

        ~I completely forgot.  I'm sorry, Arimi.  You stay.  Emiko and I
can handle this.  I'll call if we need help.~

        "Thank you, Hikaru."

        ~You two need to spend time together.  Enjoy the show, and say "Hi"
to the munchkin for me.~

        "I will.  Arimi out."

        Kimiko felt her knees go week.  'She's staying.  Mother's staying!
Please, Seishin'no-sensei, don't call her away tonight.'

        Kimiko left her hiding spot.  She remembered where her class would
be during the intermission and went to the gym.  She quickly found her
younger self, a little silver haired girl with pigtails.  Kimiko was
shocked to see how lonely she looked as a young girl.  'Mother and I, we've
drifted so far apart already?'

        She approached her younger self.  "Hi, Kimi-chan," she greeted.

        "I'm not allowed to talk to strangers," Kimi-chan said bruskly.

        "I'm Keiichi's cousin, Megumi."

        "He doesn't have a cousin Megumi."  Kimi-chan looked up.  "You're a
Sailor Senshi."

        "No, I'm not."  Kimiko smiled uneasily.

        "You are.  I can tell.  Did Mother send you?"  Bitterness filled
the word 'Mother'.

        Kimiko crouched down to Kimi-chan's level.  'Already angry with
Mother.  This isn't going to work.'  "Gin'no-san didn't send me, Kimi-chan.
She's here, herself."

        "I don't believe you.  Mother is never around for me.  All she
cares about is her stupid work."

        "That's not true, Kimi-chan.  I was sitting beside her.  She is
proud of you."

        "I don't believe you.  Mother can't speak to anyone."

        "She didn't have to say anything.  I saw it on her face."

        "Why can't she tell me?  Aunt Emiko can.  Aunt Sachi can.  Even
Aunt Ami can.  Why can't Mother?"

        "Kimi-chan, how can I explain this?"  Kimiko paused.  "Your mom,
well, she's not good with showing her feelings, even around the people she
cares about.  Especially them.  She's doing her best, Kimi-chan.  Please
give her a chance?"

        "Why should I?"

        "Kimi-chan, you know that you grandmother died before you were
born, right?"  Kimi-chan nodded, letting Kimiko continue.  "Your
grandfather raised your mother, but his job always called him away, too.
That's what your mom grew up with; that's why she's always gone.  She just
doesn't know better.  You'll have to tell her how you feel."

        "She's never around."

        "Tell her tonight, after the recital.  She'll wait for you as long
as it takes.  She really does care for you, even if she doesn't know how to
show it.

        "Really?"

        "Really."  Kimiko smiled.  "It's a pain, but you'll have to tell
her how you feel.  Ask her questions, especially about your father.  She'll
be happy to tell you.  Just ask."

        A little boy ran up to Kimiko and Kimi-chan.  Kimiko recognized her
first crush, Keiichi.  "Time to go, Kimi-chan."

        Kimiko followed as Kimi-chan and her class returned to the
auditorium.  She found Arimi sitting where they had been for the first half
of the show.

        "Was it important?" Kimiko asked as she sat back down.

        "N-n-not y-yet," Arimi answered.  "Th-th-thank y-y-you."

        "For what?

        Arimi struggled to find the words.  "F-f-for sh-showing m-me
wh-what's important.  I l-l-love m-my d-daughter, b-but we're n-not close.
I w-w-wish w-we w-w-were."

        "Be around for her.  I wish my mother was when I was younger."

        The house lights dimmed, signalling the start of the second half of
the show.  When it was time for Kimi-chan's class to be on stage, Kimiko
again turned her attention to her mother.  Arimi sat enraptured by her
daughter's performance.  Kimiko saw a tear slide slowly down her mother's
cheek.

        After the show, Arimi and Kimiko let the other parents leave first.
As much as she wanted, Kimiko couldn't hug her mother, not without awkward
questions or driving Arimi away.  Finally, they left the auditorium.
Kimiko hung back, letting Arimi go though the thinning crowd alone.

        "Mother!"  Kimi-chan ran, pigtails bouncing, to Arimi.  "Mother,
you came."

        "Of course I did, Kimiko-chan.  I didn't want to miss your big
debut."  Arimi dug her communicator out of her purse.

        Kimiko saw Kimi-chan's face drop.  "Mother . . . " Kimi-chan
started.

        "I'm just checking in with your Aunt Hikaru.  She called during
the break."

        ~Hikaru here.  What's up, Arimi?~

        "What happened?"

        ~False alarm.  It was a harmless meteorite for a change.  How was
the show?~

        Arimi glanced at her daughter.  "It was wonderful.  I'll talk to
you tomorrow."  She broke the connection.

        "Mother?  You didn't go?" Kimi-chan asked, puzzled.

        "I was set straight on what was important, Kimiko-chan.  A cousin
of one of your classmates pointed it out to me."  Arimi smiled at her
daughter.  "Where would you like to go for dinner?"

        "Home."

        "Home?  You don't want to go to a restaurant?  You want take-out
instead?"

        "No, Mother.  I want to go home.  I want you to cook."

        "You don't want to go even to Miyako-san's?"

        "Mother, you said I could choose where we had dinner.  You
promised."

        "I promised.  Alright, I'll cook.  I can't promise anything
amazing, though."

        "I know."  Kimi-chan held her mother's hand.  "Can you tell me
about Father?"

        Kimiko left mother and daughter alone as they walked away.  She
felt Sailor Pluto's portal open behind her, and stepped back to her own
world.  Nothing seemed to have changed.  She was back in her room, with
Pluto looking at her questioningly.

        "I talked to her, Pluto-san," Kimiko said.  "For what good it'll
do."

        "How do you feel, Kimiko-chan?"

        "I - I don't know.  I guess I should feel better, but I can't.  I
really want to see Mother again."

        "Kimiko!" a voice called from downstairs.  "Kimiko-chan!

        "Mother?  How - ?  She died, Pluto-san."

        Pluto wrapped an arm around Kimiko's shoulders.  "I'll explain.
You made a difference, Kimiko-chan.  You talked to your mother, that's
all I sent you back to do, but you did something I never expected.  You
talked to yourself.  Try to remember how you felt when you couldn't find
your mother originally, when she did leave."

        "It's hard to remember, but I was hurt.  I felt, I don't know,
rejected I guess, like I wasn't worth her time.  I really can't remember
well anymore."

        "Time is starting to adjust to the change.  You won't remember your
old past."

        "But what happened?  Why is Mother still alive?"

                                       ~~~~

        One venomous argument took place in front of Ginny, now the Moon
Kingdom's ambassador to the UN.  Ginny pulled Arimi aside into the kitchen,
and said, "I can't believe you let her speak to you like that.  I would
have smacked her long ago."

        "It's alright, Ginny."

        "No, it's not.  She's fourteen, she shouldn't be treating you like
that."

        "I know, but she doesn't mean anything by it.  We argue, because
we're complete opposites.  Kimiko is just letting off steam."  Arimi
sighed.  "She is right, though.  I am the world's worst mother."

        "Don't talk like that, Arimi."

        "It's true, Ginny.  I wish Eiji was still around.  He was much
better with children.  Children were all alien to me, even my own child.
Especially my own.  I do my best, but I don't know what I'm doing.  We try
to talk, though.  I guess things could be worse."

        "I can't see how that could happen," Ginny said.  "You need to get
out, for a while.  Let me treat you."

        "I'll just tell Kimiko-chan."  Arimi got up from the table and
walked to the door.  She pushed it open a crack, then pause when she heard
voices.

        ". . . can't believe I'm her daughter, let alone even related to
her," Kimiko exclaimed.

        "Not so loud, Kimi-chan," Sachi warned.  "Your mom will hear you."

        "Good.  Maybe she'll finally understand."

        "Kimi-chan!  You can't mean that."

        "I do mean it."  Kimiko sighed.  "No, I don't.  She just gets me
so upset.  I can't make her understand.  I love her, Aunt Sachi, but she
drives me nuts."

        "Again?" Sachi sighed.  "What did you argue about this time?"

        "Junichi-kun called and asked me out.  Mother won't let me go."

        "That's it?"

        "It sounds stupid, doesn't it.  We dragged out everything else,
again.  I said some things I didn't mean."

        Arimi slowly closed the door, then knocked.  She pushed the door
open.  "Kimiko-chan, I'm going out with your Aunt Ginny for a while.
You can go see Junichi-kun after you've done your homework and studied."

        "Mother!" Kimiko said.  "You're being unreasonable."

        "The sooner you get started, the sooner you can see him.  Sachi,
make sure Kimiko does some studying, at least half an hour's worth."

        "Mother!"

        "Give up, Kimi-chan," Sachi said.  "She's as stubborn as you are."

        "Thank you, Sachi.  I might be late, so don't wait up."

        "Why do you get to go out but I can't?" Kimiko protested.

        "I've passed my high school entrance exams."

        "You're so unfair!"  Arimi turned to leave.  Kimiko ran over to
her, calling, "Mother, wait!"

        "What is it?"

        Kimiko hugged her mother.  "I'm sorry for what I said about you
in the arguement.  I didn't mean it.  You're not the world's worst mother.
I'm sorry, Mother."

        Arimi caressed her daughter's back.  "It's okay, Kimiko.  I said
things I didn't mean, too.  Can we talk when I get back?"

                                      -**-

        Arimi and Ginny enjoyed their time out together at Miyako's cafe.
Arimi enjoyed catching up with all of Ginny's news and stories from both
New York and the Moon Kingdom.  The night out was interrupted by a call to
arms.  The Stellar Senshi were called on to defeat a threat to the Earth,
particularly the Earth's children.  Arimi and Ginny, as Sailor Draco and
Sailor Aquila met Sailor Corona and Sailor Cygnus to counter the threat.

        The fight was hard for the Stellars.  They were forced into a
running battle through the streets of Tokyo.  Finally, the invader was
trapped in an alleyway.  Draco advanced, staff at the ready.  The invader
brandished a sword, and ran at Draco.  Draco barely parried the blow,
feeling the blade slide and cut along her arm.  She grabbed the blade and
held it fast.  She levelled her staff at the invader.

        Ignoring the pain of her wounds, Draco said, "For the sake of my
daughter, and for all the children; in the name of the Dragon, I will
punish you.  Draco Metal Hellstorm!"

        The invader was driven back, torn apart by Draco's attack.  Draco
staggered back against the wall.  She let go of the sword, and stared at
her bloodied hand.  She slumped against the wall.

        "Draco!" Cygnus cried.  "Draco, don't move."

        "I'm fine, Cygnus.  It looks worse than it is."

        "I'll be the judge of that."  Cygnus laid her hands on Draco's
wounds.  A light glow appeared, surrounding and healing the injuries.
"That should do it.  How does it feel?"

        "Better.  Much better.  Thanks, Cygnus."

        Corona and Aquila ran up to join Draco and Cygnus.  "What were you
doing?" Aquila demanded.  "You could have been killed."

        "I had to stop him, Aquila," Draco explained.  "He could have hurt
Kimiko.  I couldn't allow that."

                                      ~~~~

        "Sh-she lived?  Mother lived?" Kimiko asked.

        "She lived," Pluto confirmed.  "You and your mother opened up a
little after your Grade IV recital.  Not much, mind you, but you two did
start talking.  And you kept arguing.  I think you two like the arguing."

        "Kimiko-chan!" Arimi called again.  "I'm going to be late!"

        "Go to her, Kimiko-chan," Pluto said.  "We're done here."

        "Thank you, Pluto-san," Kimiko said, tears welling in her eyes.
"Thank you."

        Kimiko ran downstairs to her mother.  She wrapped her arms around
Arimi, holding her tight.  "I love you, Mother."

        "What brought this on, Kimiko-chan?"

        "I - I don't remember.  Don't leave me?"

        "You want me to stay with you tonight?  I can cancel my date if you
want."

        "D-date?"  Kimiko shook her head.  "That's right, I remember.  No,
Mother, you go on your date.  I know how much you've been looking forward
to it."

        "Are you sure?"

        "I'm sure, Mother."

        Arimi wasn't convinced, but she let it drop.  "We have to hurry.
Your Aunt Hikaru will be here soon."

        "A baby-sitter?" Kimiko protested.  "Mother, I'm fifteen."

        "I know, dear.  I was there when you were born."

        "Sometimes I wonder."

        "Kimiko," Arimi said curtly.

        "You don't trust me," Kimiko accused.

        "I do trust you, Kimiko-chan.  That's why I asked you to keep an
eye on Hikaru-san, remember?"

        Kimiko blinked in surprise.  "You did?"

        "You've forgotten already?  You volunteered to keep your Aunt
Hikaru from following me tonight."

        "I . . . I forgot."

        "You forgot."

        "It happens, Mother."

        "I don't want to start this argument, again, Kimiko-chan.  I'll let
it go for now.  Just don't 'forget' your homework."

        "You just don't understand."

        "I said I didn't want to start this argument, Kimiko.  Can I get
your help getting ready?"

        Kimiko smiled.  "Sure, Mother."  Mother and daughter went upstairs.
"Tell me about how you met Father?"

        "Again?  I'd think you would be tired of that story."

        "I like hearing you tell it."  Kimiko hugged Arimi.  "I love you,
Mother."

                                      FIN

--
Scott Delahunt            | "Say please and thank you, and kick the other
cn236@freenet.carleton.ca |  guy before he kicks you."
http://www.ncf.ca/~cn236  |   - Princess Vi, "Princess Vi's Hippy Dippy Mom"
                          |      Samurai Pizza Cats