Sailor V Sailor V, vol 1. original by Naoko Takeuchi copyright 1993 French translation by Anne Mallevay copyright 1998 Editions Glenat ISBN 2-7234-2761-7 English translation v1.0 by Mahousu, September, 2000, no copyright asserted; provided freely as an aid to understanding the original.

Mischievous and pretty, gifted in gym but nothing at math, Minako is like many other high [sic] school students her age... But!

After Arthémis [sic], a cat gifted with speech, revealed to Minako her strange powers, she became Sailor V, the masked warrior of justice!

But the life of redressing wrongs is far from easy: and when love gets involved, it becomes impossible!

Code name wa Sailor V [yes, in Japanese]
Naoko Takeuchi

Teacher:

OK, next!

Minako:

Yes! Me! Me! Minako... Aino!

I'm going!

Yaouhh!!

Code name wa Sailor V
vol 1.
The birth of Sailor V

Pictures [all in English]:

Bath time

DATE (Shirt: KISS ME I LOVE YOU [a little forward, Minako!])

after school with Artémis

Physical!

Note: Here it is!

The Venus manga is finally out! Everybody was waiting for it with curiosity. So, thank you for your patience. I'm very, very happy with what was done with this volume. I owe it all to those passionate calls I received for Venus. The publication in Nakayoshi took place at the same time as Sailor Moon. I never had enough time, and it was abominable! But it would be idiotic to regret everything that happened...

I really love drawing Venus. (But I like Sailor Moon too. Don't worry....)

Sign:

New Face

Minako:

<C'mon... I can do it!>

Half turn and a somersault before the tuck[?]! In grand style!

<Hold it... a cat?!>

Minako:

Heeyyyy!

Get out of the way!

Artémis:

Me - OWWWW!

Minako:

What were you doing right in the middle of the mat?! You want to get yourself squished?!

Teacher:

What on earth are you doing, Aino?! I just asked you to do a simple backward somersault!

Narr:

Hi, my name is Minako Aino.

I'm in 6th grade.

[Yeah, I think 7th would be a more likely translation for the Japanese. It depends on the time of year, though.]

Minako:

Uh...

Shoot! Without that cat it would have been perfect...

Hikaru:

Minako, you're making yourself stand out again!

What's made you so lively today?

Narr:

That's Hikaru. We're in the same class. We've been friends since childhood.

Today is a special day.

I'm going to send this letter...

Letter:

For Higashi

Narr:

... to my love...

Minako:

I got it!

Coach:

OK, Aino! Next!

Narr:

I'm in the volleyball club.

Next to the volleyball club, there's always another club.

For example:

Boy's basketball! That one there, he's Higashi. Ever since he arrived, he's become our darling. He's in 7th grade.

Girl:

Oh, you little kids there! Be quiet! You're going to distract Higashi!

Narr:

He has his own personal guard, and we can never approach him.

However, I'll get a chance during basketball club, and I'm going to give him this little note.

Minako:

Higashi, I...

Hunh? Him again!

Girls:

Hey, look! A cat!!

He's cute!!

Minako:

Aah... Higashi...

He's going away! You've ruined things for me again, you stupid cat!

Voices:

Bye!

See ya tomorrow!

Sign:

Evening class

Hikaru:

Minako, gobble it all down quickly! The prof is coming!

Minako:

Oh, there's no fire! [i.e., no need to rush]

Prof:

Aino!! Eating again!

You'd be better off working on your math exam during your little food break! Take a look at this!

Paper:

4/20

Minako:

But... I get so hungry when I come here! I can't wait until the end of the class!

I'm very sporty.

I'm healthy as a horse and have the appetite of an ogre.

And I sleep a lot too!

Prof:

And as for intelligence, do you have any of that?

Artémis:

This seems to me to have... started poorly.

Art:

She's neither serious nor reliable.. That makes me uneasy about what would happen next...

Boss:

Yes, but it is in any case really her, Artémis.

Art:

Fine, I understand...

... Boss.

Prof:

Here are your last results. They are very bad! Especially in math!

So, starting today, the 7th and 8th graders will help you.

Try to fix all this for me!

Minako:

<Aah! It's Higashi!>

<That's right, he also goes to the evening class!>

Waouhh

<To be helped by Higashi, what luck for me! It's incredible!!>

Higashi:

OK... Shall we get started? Are you all right?

Minako:

Yyyeessss!!

Hig:

Fu

Your long hair looks really good on you...

Minako:

Whaa?!

<It's the first time anyone told me that...>

Hig:

... But it would be a lot better... Fu ... With a pretty red ribbon.

Haneda:

Higashi, would you explain this to me?

Narr:

Higashi and Haneda seem to get along well with each other...

Could they be going out together?

... But I've heard tell that Higashi is a real playboy...

Minako:

No! It's not true! Higashi doesn't have a girlfriend! It's only a rumor!

I'm not going to just sit around and not do anything, that's not like me at all! It's decided, he's going to be my first boyfriend.

Courage, Minako!

Tally-ho!!

Boy:

Oh, fine! If she continues like that, she's just going to succeed in driving him away!

Minako:

What are you saying?!

Boy:

Aaaah...

She's really not a girl...

I'd like to see her cry just for once!

Minako:

Baahh... I never cry!

Prof:

OK, that's it for tonight.

Minako:

If Higashi's left already...

... I can't give him my letter.

Hey, is that you there? How did you get in?

Go on, you don't have any business here!

Art:

Shh

Minako:

Eh... what does he want?

Fine... forget all that, where is Higashi?

He's already gone?!

Minako:

Look! It's your fault!!

OK... where did he go now?

SFX:

<flown off!>

Hikaru:

Minako! So? Did you give him the letter?

Minako:

Euh... I think he left already...

Hikaru:

Un-huh... Or say rather that you're still scared of his entourage...

Don't be discouraged, he'll be alone in a little bit.

Minako:

Hey, Higashi, I have a present for you.

Hig:

Thank you.

Say, girls, would you like to come along with us?

Fu

Minako:

Hunh? Is that true, we can?! Great!

Hig:

Ha ha!

Minako:

Hop, a shortcut...

Mom:

Minako! You went over the wall again!

Take a look at the state of your uniform! When are you going to conduct yourself like a young lady?!

Minako:

Uh... I'm going to take a bath.

Is Haneda really Higashi's type?

Ah, I'd like to be prettier!

Art:

You will be...

... more and more so...

... because you were born under the protection of the goddess of beauty.

Art:

Pleased to meet you, Minako...

My name is Artémis.

Minako:

Ah!

Aaaahh!

Art:

Eeh...

Minako:

I don't believe it!

A cat that speaks, and what's more, keeps interfering with me! Is this a gag or what?!

If I see him again, I'm going to kill him! What now?!

Art:

Apparently, you have good reflexes...

... and you don't let yourself be impressed too easily.

You're never caught short, eh?!

And your impulsiveness doesn't obscure...

... your judgment.

Art:

Minako, you have more than just about anyone the possibility of turning into a magnificent young woman...

You are a woman among women, you have been chosen...

Minako:

Wait, wait!

You're a cat! And you talk?! OK, that does it! Where's the microphone?

'A woman among women'? 'Chosen'? What do you want with me? Where did you come from?

Hey!

Art:

I'm not lying. Here's the proof.

Take a look at yourself in this mirror.

Minako:

<This crescent moon?!>

!!

Minako:

<Where am I?>

Art:

You see, we're in space. And that's the Earth, the planet you are to protect.

Minako:

Space?

The Earth?

Art:

Yes, and...

This other planet, so brilliant, is Venus... your birth planet.

Its size, mass, and internal composition are very similar to those of the Earth. These two planets resemble each other like two drops of water, and you could almost go so far as to call them twins.

Minako:

And that thing floating over there?

Art:

That's Magellan, the castle of Mazeran. It's the orbital base of Aphrodite.

It's your castle.

Minako:

My castle?!

Mine?!

Boss:

Minako...

Under the protection of Venus, you were born for combat...

It's your mission.

You alone can fulfill this charge. Destiny has chosen you, Minako...

Boss:

Yes, yes... it really is Minako.

Art:

Venus!

Venus? What now?

Minako:

<Where am I?>

Oh la la! What a bizarre dream!

I don't even remember when I went to bed.

Letter:

For Higashi

Minako:

My letter! I forgot it! I absolutely have to give it to him today!

Voices:

Good morning

Good morning

Girl:

Stay back, little kids!

Minako:

His whole entourage is there... This could be a little difficult..

Hig:

<Hahaha! All these girls are...>

<... My slaves!>

Fu

Frolight:

Higashi, you need to gather up more slaves.

We'll use them to control the town.. and then the whole country!

Hig:

Fu

Understood, Frolight. You can rely on me.

!!

Art:

Boss! You sense that?!

Boss:

Yes! It's time now!

<Hikaru:

Minako, Higashi always has lunch alone in the garden behind the school. It's your chance!>

Minako:

Thank you, Hikaru!

I can finally make my declaration!

<Will he pay attention to me? To this ribbon?>

!!

Art:

I'm warning you to stay away from that boy, Minako!

Minako:

Huh? Who spoke? That's enough of this little joke!

What did I ever do to you?

Art:

Minako?!

You really don't remember me?

Minako:

Oh! Higashi is with Haneda!

Haneda:

Since you're so popular, I didn't dare confess to you.

You know, Higashi, I really love you...

Hig:

Me too, Haneda, I really love you. I've always thought...

Fu

... that you were the one I needed.

I especially love...

Hig:

... this pretty red ribbon that adorns your hair.

I adore it.

Fu

Minako:

<"It would be better with a pretty red ribbon.">

You knew...

... that they loved each other?

That's what really irritates me...

Why is it that the boys always love the pretty shy girls...?

Art:

Minako!

Hig:

<And so you also will become my slave..>

<This school, then after a little, the whole town will be mine...>

Fu

Haneda:

Aaah nooo!

Minako:

<What is this strange light!>

Hig:

!!

You saw it, eh?

Fu

So, you as well will become one of my slaves!

Art:

Minako! Catch!

Boss:

Minako! Can you hear me?

Minako:

Huh?!

Boss:

They call me the Boss.

I don't have time to explain, but that guy is an enemy!

You alone can beat him!

Transform yourself and save those girls!

Minako:

An enemy?!

Transform myself?!

Battle him?!

Hold it a minute!

!!

<What... ?!>

<I can't move! I'm losing consciousness!>

Art:

Minako! The pen! Hold it up high...

Transform!

You have to cry: "Power of the moon! Transform me!"

Minako:

Pow...!

Minako:

Power of the moon! Transform me!

<What's this...?>

<I'm saved! I feel a force flowing through my body!>

Sailor V:

Anger has seized me!!

Hig:

Who are you?!

V:

My code name is Sailor V!

V:

I fight for justice!

I am Sailor Venus! En garde!

Hig:

Shoot! Stop her!

V:

Just try!!

V:

Higashi! Wake up!

Kyaah!!

Art:

Minako! He's not a human being, he's only an enemy! Fight him!

V:

He...

Hig:

You little pretender! I'll get you!

Art:

Minako!

If you don't kill him, he'll kill you!

Open your mirror and brandish it!

It reflects the true nature. Look at the face of your enemy!

V:

Moon...

V:

...Beam!!

Hig:

Waaah

Girl:

Mm?

Art:

Minako...

Signs:

Aino

Minako

Art:

Boss... Did I go about it the wrong way?

Boss:

Artémis...

No matter what, you are Minako's partner.

Boss:

She's troubled...

... and it's up to you to help her now.

Minako:

Mmm?

You...

That tickles!! You're still here?

Art:

My name is Artémis.

Art:

You can call me that.

Happy to see you again...

Minako:

Artémis?

Art:

Yes. You want to open the window? The moon is superb this evening...

... and it has a calming effect.

If you leave the mirror exposed to the moonlight, it will recharge itself.

Good night, Minako. Pleasant dreams.

Minako:

There! It's true that it's better with a ribbon...

Art:

Good morning, Minako.

Minako:

Good morning, Artémis!

Art:

Be serious at school...

... and know that I have plenty of things to teach you myself.

Minako:

Fine, OK, I understand.

Hikaru:

Hi, Minako! Look, c'mon, look!

Magazine:

Yoshii Saki

Hikaru:

It's a new singer!! He's not half bad, doncha think?!

He's got everything...

You want to go to his concert together?

Minako?

Minako:

He's...

... gorgeous!!

Fine, then, it's true... After all, there are still plenty of cute boys pretty much throughout the world, right?

So, it's decided! I'll recuperate at the stores[?], I'll nose around a little, and I'll break out of this gloomy shell at a concert!

Art:

...

Narr:

Eh yes, it's like this, that Minako regains her energy, thanks to idols...

The enemies will be without doubt formidable, but Sailor V will be on guard!

Note: The Book of Venus

So, even when I was in the middle of writing these stories, the details for the Sailor Moon musical spectacle were being worked out. They did the casting, while I worked a lot on Sailor V.

For the role of Tuxedo Mask, I thought that Higashi of the ex-boys band Shonentai would be ideal. He corresponded perfectly to the image I had in mind. In the end, since I was thinking so much about him, I gave his name to Venus's first love.

By chance, I happened to see Higashi later on the TV: he was doing a commercial for some brand of curry, dressed in a tuxedo! I really had the impression of seeing Mamoru, and even so I was quite surprised. (He looked a bit like a vampire...)

In Lunlun, the Venus stories were published as a "sequel to Sailor Moon," but in point of fact, chronologically they are earlier.

Satisfied? Dissatisfied? Puzzled? Have something to add? Mail me at mahousu@gmail.com

Uncopyright by Mahousu; provided freely as an aid to understanding the original. Have fun! [The original is, of course, copyrighted as marked above. You should still have fun, though.]