Last Laugh (prologue)

by Aris

Abandoned in the midst of high society, Usagi grows up where she could never belong. Love, though, blossoms in a vengeful rivalry she has had all her life, and her identity is shattered with truths of who she is that no one ever imagined.

Author:  Aris Cloud

Title:  Last Laugh

Chapter: Prologue

Type:  Alternate Reality

Experience: Only one other fic out, so I'm new, be nice, or else…  And constructive criticism?  Yes, well, I'll grovel for it.

Rating: Too early to tell, really, though never more than PG-13, scouts honor.

'ello minna!  Yep, I know, it's been a while.  Why?  Dunno.

  Stuff.   *shrugs*

  Here's a highly experimental fic.  Set in the present times, it's

really a crossover of a thousand different ideas and stories, with, of

course, Usagi and Mamoru.  My fingers are crossed, waiting for

your feedback!!!! 

  This is kind of something I'm throwing in while my other Silver

Millennium one is in the making. . .  It's been so long I decided I'd

put something a bit more light hearted in the mean time.

  Thanks sooo much for reading this, minna!  And even more for all

the great feedback that I'll be swamped by in my inbox, right?  ^_~ 

(A girl can dream, ne?)

  I won't give much more about the plot away.  I really don't know

that much of it myself . . .  We'll both be surprised! 

  Okay, okay, I'm done ranting. 

Sailor Moon doesn't belong to me. *Yet*

Last Laugh: Prologue

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  A mother and child sat together, quietly, the woman's hands

 wrapped carefully around her small daughter's waist.  The waiting

room they were in was exquisite; the chandelier above glittering

crystal, and even the carpet was lush, thick and deep.  Purple

blossoms were placed around the room, perfumed by a gentle scent

of lilies.

  The young mother noticed nothing but the angel who was cuddled

in her lap.  Her eyes were shut tightly, soft breath upon her

daughter's head, tucked into her shoulder. . . .  She cradled her so

 gently, but so tightly, as if it might be the last time they ever

touched again.

  She couldn't be a day older than twenty-six, at most.  Yet, she

seemed worn and tired, exhaustion settling in the depths of her

brown-violet eyes.  Untold troubles pulled her downward, and she

clung only to the five-year-old who stirred sleepily in her lap. 

  Iluko was almost too beautiful. . .  A velvet sheen of dark, curly

hair fell around her, touching pale skin.  Sculptured features were

drawn tight in sorrow, the harshness of life forcing her to carry more

than she could bear to stand against. 

  And yet, her fingers were intertwined with Usagi's, who leaned

against her.  And all she cared for at that moment was the warmth

and presence of her mother.  So blissfully unaware of the burden's

that piled upon Iluko's inexperienced days.

  The young woman planted a kiss upon soft golden head, and forced

back tears that rushed into her gaze.

  If only. . .

  There was another way.

  "Mommy?"

  "Hai, Bunny?"

  "Does this mean you can't teach me to ice skate anymore?"

  "Gomen.  I won't."

  Usagi suddenly startled.  "No!  I don't want to do it anymore,

then."

  "Bunny, you promised you would.  And Tsukinos never, ever go

back on their promises."  Iluko firmly said, her hands upon Usagi's

small shoulders.  "You can do it here, and have a real instructor

show you, ne?"

  "But you're the best."

  "No, I'm not."  A laugh escaped her.  "You'll be in the best school

in the country.  Even the Prince of Riva is here, for God's sake! 

There's no where on Earth you could learn more, or be in such a

beautiful place."

  "Demo. . . .will we get to hang stockings at Christmas?  Will you

tuck me in and read me stories--"

  "No.  I can't do that, and you need to let go, Usagi.  It's a big thing

to ask when you're so young, Love, but you must. . . .oh, Bunny,

onegai. . .don't cry."  Iluko pressed her to her chest.  "Please don't

cry."

  "I can take care of you and me!"

  "You can't."

  "I can!"  Usagi sobbed.  "It's my fault we had to leave, so far from

home!  It's my fault--"

  "Don't you ever, EVER think that, Bunny!  I can't give you

everything you need, and this is being paid for.  And I can do nothing but take it, offering the best anyone could ever, ever give you.  I'll write you as often as I can, Sweet.  I'm not leaving you, I'm always with you, you matter more to me than anything in this world."

  Golden locks stubbornly shook.  "I hate it!"

  "Love, they'll give you everything you need.  You'll sleep here, eat

here, make friends here.  This is the kind of life I just can't give you.

  You're blessed beyond you could ever know."

  "This isn't a blessing if we won't be together anymore."  Usagi

gazed up, crystal eyes locking desperately on Iluko's, pleading in

silent cries.

  "This. . .is. . . ."  She stammered, her throat choking on her on

words,  "the best. . . .for you.  The best."

  "The worst!"

  "You don't understand.  You will someday.  I'm doing this because

I love you so much."  She clung to her weeping daughter, tears

running down her face.  But she held to her conviction, and shakily

reached to her neck.  Unclasping the necklace that had been hidden

by her hair, Iluko released that last part of herself.

  "Mommy?"  Usagi asked shakily, as Iluko fastened the delicate

chain carefully around Usagi's neck. 

  "When you need to know, Bunny, it's there.  I'm there."  She whispered.  "Keep it safe."

  As Iluko embraced her, Usagi touched the gold around her tender

throat, eyes wide and pondering.  She hugged her mother back, not

 quite understanding that it might be the last time she ever touched

her. . . 

  She buried her face in soft curls, tears mingling with the soft scent

of lilacs that her mother always carried with her.  Breathing in

everything she loved, she tried desperately to understand what was

happening, why she was being sent so far away. . . .

  Suddenly, Usagi felt a hand enclose around her wrist, and felt Iluko

withdraw.  She gazed up, uncomprehending, at the strange face that

cowered above her.  But her blue gaze tore away, as Iluko stood, and

didn't look back.

  "Mommy?  Mommy!"

  She slowly got up, walking towards the door, each step closer from

disappearing from Usagi's world.  Her fingers clutched the door

knob, and Usagi began to scream for her, tearing away, but locked

by the iron grip that withheld her.

  Iluko hesitated for one moment and gazed back at Usagi, her

stricken eyes meeting the desperate gaze.  "I love you, Bunny, so

much."  Her voice cracked, and she tightened her fingers on the

door.  Her bloodless hand dropped and she stepped outside.  "Ja ne."

  "NO!"

  The door clicked.

  "MOMMY!"  Usagi dropped to the ground, desperation and shock

etched in her expression.  A screaming sob escaped her throat, and

she lost all sanity except for the fact that her mother was gone--and

she wasn't coming back.  Blue, sapphire eyes welled with

inexpressible tears and she curled up on the floor, sobbing and

crying softly for who she could never have again.

  She didn't understand. . . .would she ever?  Why?

  Why?

  Usagi rocked herself back and forth, crying, ignoring everything

around her, softly whispering for Iluko over, and over again.

  I love you, Bunny, so much.

  Her little fingers wrapped around the gold around her neck, and

numbness fell over her mind  Usagi couldn't control anymore, and

blackness seeped into her consciousness, her mother's last, soft

words echoing endlessly through her body.

  Ja ne.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^&

  No, there isn't very much, but the first chapter should be out

pronto.  Yay!  You're all so nice to read my fic!  *dimples*

          Cya soon!

             -Aris

  CloudySkies09@hotmail.com

Oh, fine, I might as well:

Hai: Yes

Gomen: Sorry

Demo: But

Ja ne:  Good Bye