[FFML] Proto-Fic Idea: "Diverging Destinies" [Sailor Moon / Castlevania]

[MiriOhki]

Minako stared at her mother’s homeland’s shore for the first time in her 
life as the ship pulled into harbor. With a reflexive rub at the 
wristband on her left arm, she picked up her luggage and the cat carrier 
and disembarked, placing her foot upon Japanese soil for the first time. 
She whispered softly, in English, seemingly to herself, “I really hope 
you’re right, Artemis, about this not being a wild goose chase. If 
you’re wrong, a lot of people could be in a whole lot of trouble.”

Artemis did not respond, as Minako hailed a taxi.

/--
/

/Two responsibilities, if Artemis is right,/ Minako thought to herself 
as she stared out the window of the cab. /And I hope to God that they 
don’t contradict each other. If they do, I think we’re all in trouble./ 
The cab pulled up in front of a church, as the cabbie shrugged. “This 
your stop?” he asked, looking back to Minako. With a hesitant nod, she 
slipped a pair of 5000 yen notes to the man, before stepping out, 
Artemis’s carrier in one hand, her suitcase in the other, and a backpack 
dangling over one arm.

She stepped into the church, to be greeted by a nun. Minako looked 
toward her and bowed before speaking in slightly accented Japanese, “May 
I please speak with Father Kojiru? I was told he would be expecting a 
Ms. Aino.” The nun nodded softly and bowed before walking off to a 
corridor. Minako sat down in one of the small pews, and took a deep 
breath as she tried to relax.

A moment later, a priest walked into the room, his seamed face showing a 
kindly and maybe even spritely demeanor, despite being framed by hair 
speckled by white. “It is an honor to meet you in person, Lady Be-“

Minako murmered, “Please, father, here I am Minako Aino, for safety’s sake.”

The priest nodded. “Of course, Aino-san. Your grandfather sent the chest 
ahead and I was able to find a small apartment for you to stay during 
your visit to Japan.”

Minako bowed respectfully. “Thank you very much, Father,” she replied, a 
weary smile upon her face. “May I inspect the chest, please? I do not 
wish to rush you, but-“

Father Kojiru shook his head. “No, that is quite alright, my dear. I 
understand the materials within the chest are quite sensitive. Come this 
way. I can take you to your apartment when you are ready.”

Minako nodded. “Thank you, Father.” She slipped into step next to him, 
following him to a small anteroom. Seated in a corner of the room was an 
old oaken chest. Minako walked to the chest, pulling a small silver key 
from a chain about her neck and unlocked the chest, opening it 
cautiously, nodding as she examined its contents. “Yes, it is fine, 
Father. Thank you very much for your help.”

“No, Aino-san. Thank you for all your services.” Father Kojiru replied 
as he moved to assist her in hoisting the chest, carrying it outside to 
a small truck. After placing the chest within the trunk and retrieving 
the remainder of her baggage, he clasped Minako’s hand gently in his. 
“May God be with you in your quests. From the letter your grandfather 
sent, I believe you may very well need it.”

Minako nodded. “I believe you are right, Father. Thank you,” she replied 
softly, before bowing, then stepping into the truck as it drove off.

--

Artemis stretched out as he was freed from the carrier, hopping onto the 
bed in the small apartment. “I’m glad to be out of there.” With a quick 
shake, he perched upon the pillow and looked at Minako. “What is so 
important about that chest, anyway?”

Minako reopened the chest, staring thoughtfully at the objects within 
it. “It’s my father’s family’s legacy.” She replied, a finger brushing 
something within reverently. “A legacy that I must live up to, despite 
your beliefs that I’m this warrior you speak of.”

“But you’ve already become her,” Artemis argued.

“Maybe. But I also have this to live up to,” She replied, slipping the 
wristband down her arm, showing off what appeared to be a very realistic 
tattoo of a thorny vine wrapped around her wrist.

Artemis looked away from the tattoo, shaking his head. “If you say so…”

"Fine. I better start the search.” Minako closed the chest, locking it 
up, before moving toward her backpack, removing the pen-like device 
Artemis gave her shortly after their first meeting.

--

The Senshi beat and blasted at the barrier as Kunzite sneered at them. 
Zoisite phased into being next to Kunzite, then almost collapsed into 
him, clutching his smoking and bleeding arm desperately to his chest. 
“Tuxedo Kamen has escaped,” Zoisite rasped out, “and there’s someone else.”

Kunzite swore under his breath, astonished at the tears and burns across 
Zoisite’s body. “If you wish to save the Senshi, bring the crystals and 
come out, Kamen!”

Sailor Moon cried out weakly for Tuxedo Kamen to stay away, but could 
not be heard behind the barrier.

“Give up now, Senshi. Your ‘protector’ has abandoned you,” Kunzite sneered.

“No, he just got held up. He sends his regards, however,” a voice spoke. 
With a sharp crack, the barrier shattered as if glass, fading away 
around the Senshi.

Zoisite and Kunzite looked in the direction of the voice. “Who knew? 
Maybe he was right,” the voice replied as footsteps approached.

“Who dares-“ Zoisite snarled out, then cried out in pain as a knife 
buried itself to the hilt in his shoulder.

<Retreat, Zoisite, Kunzite.> A voice called out from the shadows.

Zoisite almost screamed as the dagger burnt his shoulder. He struggled 
and pulled the dagger out, dropping it to the ground. Kunzite grabbed 
Zoisite, and both disappeared.

Luna emerged from the nearby isle, staring at the figure that walked 
toward the knife, picking it up and cleaning it before placing it into a 
scabbard on its belt. “Who are you?”

The figured looked at Luna, blinked once. “Yeah. He had to be right 
once, I suppose,” she spoke wryly. “Call me Senshi Venus, I suppose,” 
She offered as she stepped into the light.

She was definitely not clad in the usual senshi garments (or 
near-lack-thereof). Instead, the figure seemed to be clad in a suit of 
light armor, the metal that made up the greaves, gauntlets and 
breastplate enameled a brilliant blue. A leather bandana tied back blond 
hair that framed her face. But even stranger were the pair of daggers 
sheathed into her belt, and the coiled bullwhip at her hip. She shrugged 
a bit, as if adjusting the fit of her armor, before offering her hand to 
Sailor Moon to help her to stand.

“Make one or two mistakes, and you don’t believe a word I say,” Artemis 
muttered as he emerged, approaching Luna.

Sailor Moon stared at the armor-clad girl, as she took the gauntleted 
hand, pulling herself to her feet. “Thank you, Sailor Venus.”

Venus shook her head. “I don’t know about the Sailor part. But you’re 
very welcome.” She then helped the rest of the Senshi to their feet.

“Where have you been?” Mars asked with just a hint of asperity. “We sure 
could have used your help earlier.”

Venus stared into Mars’ eyes, sending a nervous chill through the other 
girl’s spine. “I’ve had responsibilities to deal with. I am here now, 
however.”

Notes: Another warped at-work idea. Sailor Moon characters property of 
Naoko Takeuchi et al. while the Belmont family is property of Konami.

Despite the powers that be disavowing Castlevania: Legends, I am 
counting the existence of Sonia Belmont in this particular fic’s canon, 
though despite the implications of Legends, Alucard was not the father 
of her child. In this case, Minako’s father is a Belmont, but she uses 
her mother’s name to protect the family’s existence. She would be the 
grand-niece of Julius Belmont of Aria/Dawn of Sorrow.