Author's Note: I apologize for the delay, but for those who have bothered to read my notice, I was on hiatus. I only edited a couple of places here and there in this chapter, mainly correcting grammatical errors, changing sentences to fit my purposes, and fixing a couple of "Oh-my-God-why-didn't- Usagi-just-do-that-instead" things. You know what I'm talking about. The kind those nitpicky people notice (mostly in movies and books, actually) where there's a much simpler solution. So Usagi's parents are not dead, but in a coma. I have made it a bit more realistic, and I hope you enjoy it. I would like to say, however, that my knowledge of law and medicine is very, very small. My knowledge of magic is even smaller, so if my reasons sometimes seem somewhat convoluted-that's because I'm trying to justify myself. And Fanfiction.net is being particularly ornery today.

An ethereal figure stalks the moon day after day, mourning what is past. She feels herself flicker, and knows that her time as a shade is ending. Soon, she shall join her husband and her old friends in the Fields of Elysian, and will no longer be able to watch her daughter's life as easily. She gazes sadly once more at the figure of her daughter, crouched on a park bench down on Earth. "I'm sorry, my daughter, for what will befall you in the future, but even Pluto's words cannot overrule destiny." And with that, she disappears.

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Usagi sat straight up and shivered. She had been dozing on the rather comfortable park bench as she waited for her Mamo-chan, but something (she was not sure what) had startled her. She had the strongest feeling that she had had an important dream, but she couldn't remember what it was. Shaking it off, she rubbed her neck, and saw Mamoru in the distance. Smiling brightly, she immediately got up, brushed herself off, and ran to greet her beloved.

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Usagi hugged herself as she began the deep pondering she only sunk into occasionally when there was no manga around to occupy her mind with. This school year was over, and she had a period of break before she began going to school again, and accumulating detentions. There was, of course, nothing to do during this break. She would normally be spending every day with her Mamo-chan, but he had already left for Boston, where he would be attending Harvard, after much negotiation. The entire Galaxia incident had been hard to explain away, but finally, after he completed a fifty-page term paper to submit for re-acceptance into the prestigious American school, he was continuing his school year there.
Rei was considering furthering her Shinto training by temporarily transferring to a secluded temple high in the mountains, if her Grandfather could convince his old friend to accept her. The only problem with such an arrangement was that there would be no technology around for miles, as well as no running water, electricity, or other such luxuries. Rei was willingly to go through it all, but she was unsure of whether she would be able to teleport to Tokyo in case of trouble. Ami had already departed for a prestigious school in Germany, a school which had offered her a scholarship once, and was now offering it again. This time, Ami had no senshi duties to worry about, and after consultation with her friends, she accepted the offer. Makoto planned to spend her entire summer occupying her time with her new summer cooking class and her summer martial arts class. Both classes were time-consuming, and she was looking forward to them, Usagi could tell. Minako was moving back to England (taking Artemis with her) thanks to the random whim of her father's boss, who had decided to transfer his only bilingual employee back to the foreign country in which he had lived for a number of years. Which meant that the only Inner Senshi left in Tokyo was Makoto. And Rei, of course, but Rei would most likely be leaving soon
Who knew where the Outers were? Setsuna had gone back to watching the Time Stream, mumbling something about a converging of Destiny. Haruka and Michiru were on their latest world tour (their famous violin-and-piano duet was widely applauded all over the world), taking Hotaru with them. Hotaru was growing older now, although her growth spurts seemed to have calmed down for the time and being. She did not seem to suffer any adverse effects from her childhood and past lives, thankfully enough, so whenever the social worker questioned her (which was annually), she was able to convey a general sense of being secure in her surroundings. It was kind of amusing, actually, but Hotaru was a bright young girl, and could probably talk circles around the uncaring social worker (what an oxymoron if there ever was one) if she felt like it.
Usagi sighed. It was getting cold out. She had best be heading home, where she had a loving (if sometimes annoying . especially when she was trying to cover for senshi business) family waiting for her. She was getting up and stretching, about to follow her own advice, when Naru rushed over.
"I'm so sorry, Usagi. I'm so sorry," Naru gasped, tears welling up from her eyes. She had the look of one who felt such a deep and profound pity that it reached beyond compassion and sympathy into a sort of empathy (but different, of course.)
"What's going on?" Usagi demanded, a sinking feeling forming in the pit of her stomach. Why did Naru look so worried? Something horrible must have happened. Immediately, her mind ran through all sorts of possibilities. Maybe Ami's plane had crashed. No, that was impossible; Ami's plane had landed a week ago. Maybe her Mamo-chan was undergoing some sort of crisis in that unstable country called America. Maybe Makoto was injured. Maybe, maybe, maybe .
"Your parents," Naru choked. "The hospital . they were in a car accident. We've been looking all over for you!" She gestured frantically towards a figure in the distance that Usagi could barely make out as Mrs. Osaka.
"Where," Usagi stood up frantically. "Where are they? Take me to them. What's going on!"
"My mom's over there, waiting," Naru said. "Hurry!"

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Usagi was at the hospital within seconds, Mrs. Osaka only all too willing to give her a ride. Naru was the one who went up to the nurse at the front desk, and asked her the exact details of what had taken place, and how critical of a condition Usagi's parents were in. When Naru learned all she needed to know, she headed over to calm the frantic Usagi. Apparently, Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino had been in a car accident. The couple had been shopping with Shingo, and were on the way home when some driver (most likely someone drinking and driving) had accidentally run them off a bridge and into the river down below. The driver and his car had then disappeared, but someone had had the sense to jot down a license plate number, so he or she wouldn't walk free for his crimes. Usagi's parents and brother were in critical condition, all suffering from burns from when the car's gas tank had exploded, broken bones and spines from when the car had hit the water, and much water in their lungs. They had almost drowned, and had spent more time underwater than most people. She also told Usagi which room number they were to be found in.
Usagi rushed into the hospital room, only to see her family covered with gashes and bruises, and covered with IVs and other medical equipment to ascertain their current condition, and when they were about to plunge into that gaping chasm referred to as death. They looked quite frightening, all bandaged up, and with so many needles stuck into them, that Usagi involuntarily shied away a few steps, before nervously approaching her family members with wariness.
"Are they going to be all right?" she anxiously asked a nearby nurse, who was monitoring their heartbeat even as a group of doctors debated the best course to take nearby. Apparently, her mother's injuries had called for immediate surgery, and that had taken place. She could possibly get better after a lot of therapy and a lot of money. Her father and brother were in deep comas, and showed no signs of stabilization.
The nurse looked at her kindly. "Don't worry," he reassured. "The best doctor here, Dr. Mizuno, is looking after them. She's a miracle worker, and they'll be better in ." He trailed off, obviously unsure of how long it would take the doctor to heal them. "Well, they'll be better if things go on like this."
Usagi bit her lip and waited. Before long, Rei and Makoto rushed in.
"Oh, dear," Makoto said. "Are they all right?"
"They're probably going to die," Usagi wailed. And she began crying.
"I'm sure that's not true," Rei consoled. "They'll make it through. They're your parents."
"You can use the Imperial Crystal," Makoto suggested.
Usagi's sobs stopped somewhat. "I can, can't I?" she said finally. Taking off her broach, she carefully examined it as it glittered in the sunlight. Unsure of how exactly to go about it, she clasped her hands around it, closed her eyes and prayed.
Soon, she felt the subtle feel of the moon broach at work. "I think it's working," she brightened, opening her eyes.
At this moment, Dr. Mizuno walked in. She looked tired as she looked at her daughter's friends. "Well, Usagi, your brother and father are alive."
Usagi sighed with relief.
"They are still in a light coma, however," Dr. Mizuno continued. "They and your mother will require lots of time and therapy and it is possible that your father will remain in a coma forever."
Usagi's happiness and elation faded. "But-" her lower lip trembled.
"They will most likely heal," Dr. Mizuno hastened to reassure the young girl, "but it will take an incredibly long amount of time. Until they are fully healed (and the funds will be paid for by the government), you will have to stay with some of your relations."
Usagi frowned. "I don't think I have anyone to stay with, besides my friends. Mom was an only child, and Dad never talked about his family. I think both sets of my grandparents are dead, and Dad could have been an only child. I would stay with Mamo-chan, but he went back to Harvard. Ami's in Germany, and Minako in England. Rei's going to the mountains soon, and the Temple will be rented out to other people for a while. Makoto can barely afford to keep herself alive with the funds from her late parents' deposit-besides, I don't want to be a burden. Couldn't I live alone?" She politely ignored Makoto's protests that she wasn't a burden . she knew that Makoto received a monthly allowance that was beginning to run out, and that the senshi of Jupiter needed to save money and work part-time to pay for her expenses and to save up for college.
"I'm afraid that since you're not of age yet, that's out of the question," Dr. Mizuno asked kindly. "If you wish, you can stay in Ami's room in our apartment until permanent arrangements can be made."
Usagi thought seriously for a moment, and nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Mizuno."
"It's nothing," Dr. Mizuno said. "After all you've done for Ami, being such a good friend and keeping her from becoming a sociopath, I should thank you."
Usagi blinked. "What's a social path?"
"Never mind," Dr. Mizuno chuckled.
"You can come over to my house whenever you wish," Naru said. "Your friends will always be here for you." Naru, of course, would have volunteered her house immediately had it not been for the fact that her "house" was composed of three rooms squashed together above the jewelry store. One was a restroom, one was a kitchen, and one was the bedroom she and her mother shared. The living accommodations were the most convenient, if not the most comfortable.
"Meanwhile, I'll have to look for your relatives," Dr. Mizuno said. "Do you want to spend some time with your parents?"
Usagi sniffed and then nodded.

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Usagi was on her bed, examining her broach. She had healed the most serious of her parents' injuries, but had not done more after calling Ami. According to Ami, too much interaction with interference magic can shut down a non-magic person's systems. Although her crystal could nudge along her parents' progress, it could not actively participate in the healing more than bi-monthly. As Usagi was running this information through her head, thanking the stars that Ami had access to the Lunar Library (which was not a physical library, but as computer-accessible only).
Someone knocked on the door. Usagi tiredly got up to open it, and saw Dr. Mizuno. "Hello, Usagi," she sad.
"Hello, Dr. Mizuno," Usagi said.
"I've inquired into where you can stay," Dr. Mizuno said. "As I am your temporary guardian, I was the one to whom they imparted the information. Social services have finally found relatives of yours that you can live with. Apparently, your father had a half-brother, who lives with the rest of his family in the United States. They are American, and have agreed to take you in."
"Family?" Usagi breathed. "But how come I've never heard of him?"
"Apparently, they weren't the best of friends," Dr. Mizuno said. "Your half-uncle's parents didn't depart on the best of terms. Your half- uncle, however, is willing to let bygones be bygones and welcomes you to live with him in St. Louis, Missouri."
"America?" Usagi whispered, going over the idea in her head. "As in the country where everyone speaks Swiss?"
Dr. Mizuno bit her lip. She could see her daughter's exasperation with this girl, sometimes. "Umm. no. It's the country where everyone speaks English."
"English?" Usagi wailed. "I don't know a word of English." Or perhaps, she should have specified, she didn't remember a word of English. She took English in school . but that didn't mean she remembered anything she learned.
"There's another problem," Dr. Mizuno sighed. "The last of your things will be auctioned off, like your house, which is in your parents' will in case of injury [and I believe that's impossible, but it's necessary for the purposes of my pot]. In this last month before you are to leave, I'm afraid you have to bring a couple of grades up, including your math, science, and history grades if you wish to join in their school at tenth grade, instead of repeating ninth grade. Your teachers have been kind enough to mail in make-up work you can do to supplement your ordinary scores."
"Bring my grades up within a month?" Usagi wailed. "That's impossible!"
Dr. Mizuno smiled softly as the young teenager's melodrama. "My daughter has volunteered to tutor you over the Internet if you need, and has also suggested a couple of competent students who would be more than willing to help you. You have but to bring your grade up to what the Americans consider a C average, and the make-up work mainly goes over what you have learned in school. Ami also sent you some materials to help improve your English. These are some of those 1-2-3 guides to English, and series of tapes she thought would help, as well as a manual on the difference between British English and American English since the English they speak in the U.S. will be different from what you learn in school."
Usagi's face was crestfallen. "How am I going to learn English and bring my grades up?"
"I'm sure you will accomplish it in not time," Dr. Mizuno said kindly. "Is there anything you need?"
Usagi shook her head. "No, thank you," she said politely. "I have some calls to make and some studying to do."
As Dr. Mizuno closed the door, she looked wistfully around her. She would have to move to America, and continue the gentle healing process from there, even as she sought to keep up her grades and keep up with the curriculum. How in the world would she manage this?

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Usagi looked nervously at all of her friends who had congregated. Rei and Makoto were there, as well as Motoki, Reika, and Unazuki. Naru was there, too. "Bye, minna," she said. "I'll miss you." She sniffled.
"Go on, Usagi no baka," Rei said, her eyes filled with tears. "And remember, we'll always be here for you."
"Bye, Usa-chan," Makoto whispered. "I hear they have a lot of hot guys over there. Be sure to save one for me."
"Bye Usagi-chan," Motoki smiled, arm around Reika, Unazuki by his side. "We'll miss you."
"Sayonara!" Usagi called one last time, getting on the plane to Germany.
As she got on, she suddenly gulped. She hoped Ami would remember to get her and help her find the right plane to Connecticut. As she hesitantly found her seat, she found that a kindly old lady, who immediately inquired after her, sat next to her. They had a very nice conversation for the duration of the trip.

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Usagi hesitantly got off the plane. Ami never forgot anything, but what if she forgot to pick her up? She would be stranded in the middle of Germany!
"Guten Tag, Usagi!" Ami called out.
"Ami-chan! Konnichi'wa!" she called out excitedly. Now that Ami was in sight, she scolded herself for every doubting that Ami would not come. After all, wasn't it Ami who suggested that she take a rather roundabout route so as to see some of her close friends before confronting a strange family she had never met before.
"How was your plane ride?" Ami asked pleasantly, smiling at her friend's antics.
"They served virtually no food," Usagi pouted. "Remind me never to eat airplane food. It's poisonous."
Ami's eyes twinkled. "Well, since your plane was early, and your next one is late, we have just enough time to eat at this café."
"Food," Usagi said eagerly. "Where?"
"Come on," Ami laughed, glad to be with her friend again. As they walked briskly, she asked, "So, how's your English?"
Usagi made a face. "Well, I made my C's, so I can go to 11th grade like I'm supposed to, and I guess I'll do alright. Minako's been helping me. Those tapes you sent were really helpful."
"Thank you," Ami said in perfect English.
Usagi screwed her face up, and after a couple seconds responded with a shaky, "Your welcome."
"That's good," Ami said. "In America, you'll speak it all the time, and soon, you'll be caught up in no time."
After a pleasant conversation in which Ami reassured Usagi that her new family would adore her, their time together was up.
"Flight 173 is now boarding," a voice came over the intercom, before promptly repeating it in several other languages.
"Oh, we must have lost track of time," Ami said, surprised. "That's your flight. Hurry up or you'll be late!"
"Nani?" Usagi asked. "Late? Oh no!" She quickly gathered her stuff. "Which way?" she asked worriedly, confused at the incomprehensible German facing her at every which way.
Ami shook her head, and pulled Usagi left as they rushed to the boarding area. They made it just as the last passenger was boarding.
"Sorry we're late," Ami said in German. "We lost track of time." Then she hugged Usagi. "Sayonara," she reverted to Japanese. And then, to test Usagi's English, "Have a nice time!"
"Sayonara Ami-chan," Usagi called. She rushed to her seat and promptly got into it and fell asleep.

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Usagi awoke to someone nudging her. A young man with blue-black hair smiled at her. "Thought you might like to know that we're at Connecticut now," he said in English.
Usagi's eyes blinked open. "Nani? Connecticut?" she asked. Oh! I'm in Connecticut already. She paused. "Thank you," she finally said in heavily accented English.
The man smiled. "It was nothing."
Usagi quickly gathered her things, and got off the plane. "Mamo- chan!" she called. "Where are you?"
"Usako," a voice called out behind her.
She turned around eagerly and over the sea of heads, saw her boyfriend. She also saw a whole bunch of other girls eyeing him like vultures. It did not fail. No matter where he was, Mamoru always attracted eyes-what Usagi did not know was that she also attracted the eyes of the opposite sex. "Mamo-chan!" she said excitedly, and promptly rushed over and gave him a famous Usagi bear hug.
"So, how was the plane ride?" Mamoru asked.
"Okay," Usagi shrugged. "I'm hungry, though. I slept through the whole thing."
Mamoru shook his head. "You're going to have some trouble with jet lag. Anyways, I was thinking that since your next plane doesn't come for six hours, you might want to have lunch with me."
Usagi glanced up at Mamoru eagerly. "Sure! I'd love to."

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Usagi sighed. The lunch had been nice, if not as romantic as she would have liked. She and Mamo-chan had just talked, and she had managed to dry up the last of her worries for now. Now, she was on a plane to St. Louis, Missouri, to meet the aunt, uncle, and cousin she had never known.
She bit her lip as the plane began to touch the ground, but she was almost used to it now. She had already been on three planes . Japan to Germany, Germany to Connecticut, and Connecticut to Missouri. As she got off of the plane, she had no idea what to expect. Her eyes scoured the area, wondering what exactly her relatives would look like. She gulped.
Suddenly, her eyes caught on a largish sign with a hopping bunny on it. Underneath, it said, "Usagi Tsukino." Usagi smiled. As she made her way over, she scanned the family she would be staying with.
Her Uncle Frederick had dark brown hair and blue eyes. Her Aunt Megan had auburn hair and green eyes. Her eyes searched for her cousin, Mark. Her eyes fell on a young boy around Mamoru's age who was standing beside her aunt and uncle, and her stomach plunged. Malachite, her mind hissed. What in the world was he doing here?
There was no mistaking it. That silver, longish hair and green eyes belonged to those of the former Dark Kingdom General Malachite. She gulped. Malachite . Mark . her cousin was a Dark Kingdom General?

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Mark casually glanced at his watch impatiently. He had no time to be doing this. He made a face. Whatever possessed Princess Serenity to reincarnate him into an 18-year-old body after defeating Beryl? He had had to relive 2 years as an adolescent . and those two years had taught him everything he needed.
He supposed he should have been gracious that she let him live and had given him a second chance. He knew that once he reached the right age, he was supposed to go with his other friends and become Guardians of Prince Endymion again. He also knew that it was possible she hadn't even done it, and that her Silver Crystal had done it as an afterthought. Whatever the reason, he and his friends Zach, Nick, and Jordan were now suffering the agonies of teenage adolescence and rediscover the horrors of hormone-driven puberty.
As Jordan often put it, Princess Serenity had given them the worst punishment possible-having to go through puberty again! As Nick often put it, Princess Serenity had shown them she had forgiven them by letting them relive the age at which they had started to become corrupted by Beryl, allowing them to start their lives over. All he knew was that having this new cousin in the house would definitely cause some problems. If she wasn't a sound sleeper like his parents, she might wonder where he went to the in the middle of the night, and he couldn't exactly say, "Oh, I'm turning into a Guardian of Earth and defeating youma."
He made a face. Where was this cousin person anyways? His eyes roamed the crowd, bored.
"Hello, Uncle Frederick," a warm, slightly accented voice said. "Hello, Aunt Megan."
He turned around to see a girl four years his junior with platinum blonde hair and diamond blue eyes. She was young and innocent, and smiled warmly at his parents. He smiled, and introduced himself. "You must be Usagi. I'm your cousin, Mark."
Usagi turned around and looked at him. Her smile remained frozen on her face, but her eyes radiated hostility. "Hello, Mark." Her voice was level, not indicating any reason for this strange wariness, and yet exuded a challenge.
Never one to reject a challenge, though he didn't know why it was being offered, he responded, "Hello, Usagi. It's a pleasure to meet you." His voice was pleasant, but his eyes were probing.
"The pleasure's mine," Usagi said in a warm voice, but Mark could feel that she tense and ready to run as he shook her hand.
Inside, he wondered why exactly this girl mistrusted him from the beginning.
"My, you are the polite one, aren't you?" his mother gushed. "It'll be such a pleasure having you around! Mark only stays during the summer now, and her house does get so lonely."
"Thank you," Usagi said, with a nervous smile that said she probably only understood half of what her Aunt just said.
"Come on," his dad said. "We have to get your luggage."
Usagi frowned, as if trying to puzzle something out. "Luggage," she said slowly. "Luggage," she finally said. "My bags?"
"Yes," his dad said.
"Okay," Usagi said brightly.
As they walked over, Usagi was silent, mostly due to her lack of knowledge of the English knowledge, and partly because she wanted to analyze this Malachite-look-alike. Was he Malachite? Was he evil? Or was it a coincidence.
"Can you recognize your bags?" Uncle Frederick asked Japanese, to Usagi's delight.
"Yes, Uncle Frederick." Usagi responded in English, because she had to practice it.
Uncle Frederick chuckled. "Just call me Uncle Rick, or Uncle if you feel like it."
Aunt Megan smiled. "And I'm Meg . Aunt Meg if you feel uncomfortable calling me by just my first name."
Usagi smiled, grateful that her new family was as understanding as her friends had reassured her they would be. "Thank you. That's my suitcase." She pointed to an overly large bunny-shaped suitcase covered with pink moons and stars.
Mark sighed, eyeing the overstuffed bag warily. He was really going to regret volunteering to help get Usagi's bags earlier. Together, the four of them began tugging at Usagi's bag . and tugging . and tugging. "It won't come off!" Mark groaned. He found it extremely irritating, as they had to walk around the ramp as they attempted to pull the bag off, or the conveyor belt would carry the suitcase away and they would not see it again until it came around again.
All at once, Jordan, who had heretofore been missing, showed up. He smiled brightly, put his arms around the handle of the suitcase and gave one huge tug. With the combined efforts of him and the rest of the family, the suitcase fell off of the conveyor belt with a thud.
"What took you so long, Jordan?" Mark wanted to know. Jordan, Nick, and Zach had professed to a desire to see his cousin (perhaps because she was from Japan, and they wanted to know if anyone remembered the Dark Kingdom Generals-and which one of them she thought was "hottest"), so they had come along. Upon arriving at the airport, his three friends had promptly disappeared, with different reasons.
Jordan rolled his eyes. "Where else? The bookstore-place. I saw this magazine with a picture of a really n-" He stopped and glanced at Mark's parents. "A really new car," he amended. "Nick's probably in the restroom because he had ten gallons of coffee this morning, and Zach is probably having raptures over the zucchini-flavored muffins the airport offers." He wrinkled his nose, while Zach, for some reason, adored zucchinis, he found them a bit distasteful-after all, they belonged to the most disgusting vegetable family.
Usagi had paled at the sight of Jordan. Her lips formed a word that Mark could not make out above the noise of the airport, before her paleness faded and straightened up. She pointed to another equally large suitcase. "That's mine, too."
Mark groaned. "Wanna help, Jordan?" he asked. His voice was dry, as he wondered how exactly he was supposed to haul off the incredibly large suitcase on his lonesome (his mother and father had left after the first suitcase, as her mother had a sudden need to go to the restroom, and his father 'thought he saw an old friend').
Jordan shrugged. "Might as well."
"That's mine, too," Usagi pointed at another suitcase that appeared in the distance.
"How many suitcases do you have?" Mark complained, even as Nick and Zach showed up behind Usagi.
"Five."
"Five?" Zach asked, eying the one suitcase on the floor rather warily. "Are they all that big?"
"Just four of them," Usagi said, after a startled moment in which she looked at Zach and nick with something resembling suspicion.
Everyone began to feel tired already.
"The fifth one's even bigger," Usagi said brightly.
Everyone groaned.
As Zach, Nick, Jordan, and Mark began making a game of getting Usagi's bags off of the luggage rack, Usagi was thinking of what she was witnessing. Why exactly were Malachite, Zoisite, Nephrite, and Jadeite still alive, and why were they masquerading as 20-year-olds, getting her luggage from the luggage belt. Speaking of luggage . Usagi frowned. Maybe I shouldn't have packed so much . or maybe I should have packed my things into smaller bags. She winced as her last bag, the particularly large one, and fell right on top of Mark, Zach, Nick, and Jordan.
"Daijoubu ka?" she asked when she ran over.
"Pardon?" Jordan asked.
"I mean, are you all right?" Usagi inquired.
Nick grumbled. "Next time my friends suggest some good deed, remind me not to go along with it. No sirree, Nicholas Starr is tired of being injured and bruised and aching all over just because his friends are a bit curious. The stars say so."
Usagi tensed at that, remembering the peculiar phrase Nephrite had been apt to mutter before he sent another vicious youma at them. Although she could have misheard, and he could have said, "The Starr says so," she was absolutely certain that was not what he said. Nephrite, her mind screamed. She only smiled a weak smile, wondering how in the world she was going to get any schoolwork done with the Generals right next door.
The aforementioned Generals returned her smile, but they were curious at her backing away at Nick's phrase. Why was this girl so tense? Nick's joke was one only the four would recognize, but why had this girl reacted so strangely to it? It was only one of more mysteries to come.

To be continued .