Act Two: The Worker
The Senshi were standing in front of the herd of monsters. The city was burning all around them. The statue of liberty half destroyed."This is what you have been told about: The end of civilization." But they had to give the people in the ships a chance to get within safe distance of the shore if there was anything like that. "This is the fate of mankind." Sailor Moon raised her Silver Moon Sceptre and used the New Millenium Moon Love attack... only to have it harmlessly absorbed by the protective shield the invaders had created around themselves. "The only thing you can do is protect the survivors."
Rei turned around in her bed and sighed.
She looked through the night's shade at the face of her friend in the berth beside her. Kind, dependable Ami. The one if any of them who always kept her head cool. The one she could always come to with anything bothering her that she didn't want to share with the others. Or at least not right away...
How would she react if Rei told her she had once again seen them all die while an army of monsters slaughtered the entire population of New York City.
It would be alright, wouldn't it?
After all, men are supposed to love this kind of thing. Usagi remembered seeing Mamoru feel a little awkward sometimes when Haruka and Michiru kissed in their company. Of course, that was only when they had just become friends. He seemed to feel perfectly comfortable around them when they kissed now. Still. He used to date Rei-chan, so he must find her attractive. Usagi knew he liked her and respected her. How would he react? Would he like to join in if they kissed?
She felt her body heat up and turned her back towards her boyfriend, remembering Rei's kiss. She had barely been able to think about anything else since that day.
Surely this was the ideal solution?! A way for the three of them to be happy and safeguard Chibi-Usa's life to seal the deal.
She closed her eyes in frustration.
Rei had been right! She was grasping at straws. What she was thinking was ridiculous! Mamoru would be perplexed if she dared suggest such a thing. And Rei deserved better than to have to share her love.
She remembered their embrace fondly and bitterly. Rei had smelled so nice, her hair was so soft. And even though what Rei had told her had made her sad, at that moment, holding her in her arms, she had felt really happy.
It was so frustrating! She had always been so concerned about the happiness of her Sailor Senshi. Why couldn't they meet a Prince of their own?! Why didn't men flock to them from all around? Why couldn't they see how amazing and kind and beautiful they all were?! She thought sadly about their duty as her bodyguards. Was this a curse? Were they destined to remain alone because it was their duty to sacrifice their lives for hers? Her entire being revolted against the idea. Mako-chan, Ami-chan, Minako-chan, Rei-chan... They deserved happiness every bit as much as she did. Just because she was the Moon Princess didn't make her life any more important than theirs. And now it was finally in her power to make at least one of them happy. To free her from that curse.
Thinking of the possibility of doing that for Rei she felt her body grow warm and heavy.
Silently promising her heart to her best friend she drowsed away into a deep sleep.
Rei decided to put a stop to her depressing thoughts. She remembered what had happened earlier and smiled, feeling a gentle warmth envelop her body. As if she was holding her dear friend at this very moment.
Her soft cheek. Her warm body. Her kindness and her concern for Rei's happiness.
Each time Rei was convinced she couldn't love her more Usagi proved her wrong.
She closed her eyes and imagined lying in her berth with Usagi in her arms.
Rei forgot all about monsters and the end of the world. She had better things to dream of.
"Good morning. You're late for breakfast," Makoto grinned. "But you're just in time for brunch."
"Good morning."
Rei returned the brunette's greeting, placed her plate on the table her friends had populated and sat down.
"Don't try to act cute though. Apart from Ami-chan, I doubt either of you was awake before 10," The miko grinned behind her cup of tea.
A roar of laughter came from the table behind them.
"I'll admit. We had fun last night. And after all, there are those who manage to get to the brunch buffet even later than you," Minako pointed her finger at the blonde young woman just getting in line at the buffet.
Rei met Ami's eyes as her own returned from looking in the direction her friend had been pointing at.
"How were things last night? I was asleep by the time you came in," The young genius quietly asked.
"Hey, what?! Did you meet someone?" Makoto and Minako sat up enthusiastically ...
A loud handclap from the other table interrupted Rei's answer
"I spend the evening with Usagi, that's all."
... and the pair of friends instantly deflated and sat down again.
"Oh."
"Everything's fine," Rei looked at her blue-haired friend emphatically, hoping she would believe her if she managed to convince herself.
"She told me Mamoru-kun was working hard in their cabin and she didn't want to disturb him, so we had dinner together and went for a movie... And we talked a bit in one of the bars afterward."
Her expression changed as she watched Usagi finish scooping pudding onto her plate.
"It was fun," She smiled, knowing she wouldn't need to put in any effort to convince her friends that the last part at least was true.
"So I got up behind that idiot while he was acting like a twat about it and pulled his pants down!"
"Hahaha! You should have been there mate! It was hilarious!"
"Yeah," Makoto smiled apologetically. "Those guys showed up right after we got here. Sounds like they opted not to go to sleep after drinking all night."
Usagi came and sat down between Rei and Makoto.
"Hey guys, good morning. Sorry, I'm late," She greeted.
"Hahaha! will you look at that!" One of the boisterous Brits on the other table roared.
"Why isn't Mamoru-kun with you?" Minako asked.
"Oh, he's very busy. He asked me to excuse him and bring him something to eat after we're done."
"Is that the new fashion around these parts? The women dress their hair up as food now?!"
"Hahaha! Can you imagine a sashimi hairdo?"
"Hahaha!"
"Just ignore them," Rei deadpanned as she saw her friend tense.
"I knew he would be working on board, but this is excessive," Ami said.
"Yeah. He got a post package with a whole bunch of new stuff when we arrived," Usagi sighed.
"Well, I guess if they throw all this money at him they can get him to do whatever they want."
Rei raised an eyebrow at Minako for her remark.
"Hey, noodlehead! Can you pass by our table? We didn't see you at the buffet!"
A grape landed near Usagi.
"Just ignore them," The miko repeated.
"I'm kind of starting to regret him getting this job," The blonde groaned. "I don't want him to become a workaholic."
Rei snickered.
"I know what you're thinking," Her dear friend said while sticking out her tongue.
A bunch of grapes landed near her.
"Hey, Bami Goreng! Hahaha!"
"Just ignore them," Rei repeated again. "They don't know what they're doing."
"What they're doing is pissing me off," Usagi fumed.
"You are a noodlehead though."
Rei's arch smile brought a blush to her friends face.
"I'm afraid he's going to have to work hard to earn his place in the company now," Ami commented. "But he shouldn't just take on anything they give him. He has to take care of his health. Besides, he has another job on top of this. Thankfully things have been quiet. But you never know."
More food was thrown at Usagi and she was visibly losing her patience.
"Please, just ignore them," Rei repeated in a more grim tone of voice this time.
"Can I get a side of curry with that hair? Hahaha!"
"Why don't you mind your own business!" Usagi shouted at them.
Then she saw the chilling sad look in Rei's eyes and fell silent.
"I'm sorry. I expected them to stop eventually. I'll ask them to stop now," The miko whispered.
She moved towards the men at the other table who were anticipating more fun with roaring laughter.
Then they all fell silent. Not because of what she said, but because of what they saw in her eyes through their drunken haze. Compassion. Compassion and intense pity... for them.
"I'm sorry. I am really sorry, but please, can you stop pestering my friend," Rei begged.
The other Senshi and the people at the other tables observed the change in the behavior of the loud young men with bewilderment.
"That was oddly effective," Minako observed.
Usagi was the only one aware of the sadness in Rei's eyes as she pretended to act mock-humble and participated in their banter as if nothing had happened during the remainder of their brunch.
After brunch, Usagi brought Mamoru his food and enjoyed his break with him.
Early in the afternoon, she rejoined the others.
As she was lying in between Rei and Ami she fully enjoyed the heat of the sun in her new white and yellow bikini, wiggling her toes in delight at the relaxed atmosphere at this side of the swimming pool after the hubbub of brunch.
Her breathing came evenly as she felt the warmth of the sun on her body, making the variously colored tiny flowers on the landscape that covered her breasts move as if blown by the wind.
But something was on her mind in spite of the heat and tranquility.
What had that look in Rei's been eyes about? Why had she seemed so sad after Ami had mentioned the absence of enemies?
She looked involuntarily to her right and saw Rei look in her direction.
"Stop snoring," Her friend scolded. "If you fall asleep in this heat you'll burn."
"I wasn't snoring!" She replied suddenly frustrated by the blackette's tone. "And even if I was, you should wake me up instead of staring..."
With a sudden blush, she realized what Rei had really been looking at. In a reflex, she covered her bosom, but then she looked back at her friend who looked very awkward for a moment and closed her eyes as she rested her head in silence.
Usagi looked down at her body and back at Rei and a knowing smirk appeared on her face.
She now recalled being scolded in a similar manner on other occasions of catching Rei staring at her when sunbathing, swimming, sleeping over, wearing some particular dress...
But she also recalled being caught admiring her friend in turn.
Rei was built like a supermodel, after all, she constantly caught the eyes of passers-by.
Her long, straight black hair was at the moment tied up in a bun. It looked like the night sky, a pure black surface filled with glittery stars.
Her face had a naturally regal appearance, in fact, Usagi had for a while entertained the idea that she might be the Moon princess when Luna had first told them their duty and dreaded the possibility.
Her skin tanned fast. Usagi usually had to spend a while in the sun, but she eventually caught up with the others, but Rei always got a gorgeous tan very quickly.
Then there were her firm round breasts and the overall beautiful and elegant shape of her toned body. And of course, Rei's legs had no equal.
Usagi was pulled from her reverie by a sigh and an annoyed expression coming from the woman she was staring at and realized she was feeling hot and bothered from another source than the heat of the sun.
"I think I've had enough sunbathing for today everybody, I'm going for a walk."
"Alright." "Bye, Rei-chan." "Have fun."
Usagi got up and followed her.
Makoto and Minako sat up in their lounge chairs and watched them with a suspicious expression.
"What is going on with those two lately?" They wondered aloud.
"Do you have any idea why they're acting so strange Ami-chan?"
Usagi patiently awaited her friend to get served at the refreshment shop.
"You are unbelievable! Have you turned lesbian overnight?" Rei scolded her once she had been served.
"Well, I always did think you looked cool." The blonde smiled.
"Considering what's going on in your mind, shouldn't you go to your boyfriend and work out your lusts with him?"
"Weren't you looking at me the same way before I caught you?" Usagi teased. "Or are you the only one allowed to stare like a hentai and I should just lie down and look beautiful for you?"
"Don't be so flippant!" Rei rebuked her while licking a Cornetto and pointing a Callipo at her. "This is a serious matter."
Usagi took her favorite water ice from her friend's hand and started licking.
"You are the Moon Princess. You have responsibilities. So have I. So yes, the only thing I am allowed to want is to admire your body in a bikini,... and you have a sexy prince, so you have no right to complain anyway." Rei concluded dryly.
They went toward a lone table behind the shop and Usagi frowned, remembering her earlier musings while her friend sat down.
She swallowed on the lump that mingled with the water ice as she watched Rei lick her ice cream and for a second she wanted to slap her friend for keeping all these painful secrets from her for so long.
There were hundreds of people around them, but somehow it felt very lonely being together in this quiet corner.
"Rei-chan..."
"Hmm?"
"... What is going on?"
"I've just told you what is going on," Went the authoritarian reply. "There's nothing more to it."
Usagi clenched her fist.
"There's something else. I can see there is. You're having visions again aren't you?"
Rei gave her that involuntary sad look again and Usagi nearly crumbled under it before her friend answered after a considerable hesitation.
"It can wait."
A short silence followed, but Usagi had determined to persevere.
"No, it can't. We are friends! When something troubles us we talk about it! We help each other."
Rei smiled. She seemed happy after the strange sadness from a moment earlier.
"That's true. We are friends, and that's why I will tell you when we get back from this vacation."
Her ice cream finished, she moved to get up, but suddenly the blonde slammed her hand flat on the table next to Rei, holding the back of her chair with the other and looking her in the eyes.
"You are not leaving without telling me what is going on!" Usagi threatened.
It was incredibly arousing. Rei felt her friend's breath on her nose. There was barely five centimeter between their lips.
Her heart suddenly beat like a maniac and she had trouble to prevent herself from closing the distance.
She took note that it had become particularly harder to resist these urges since her 'confession'.
It didn't help that they were both wearing nothing but swimwear.
The miko pressed her eyes shut and shook her head.
"Don't make this more difficult for me than it already is!" She exclaimed while pushing the blonde back and standing up.
"I can deal with this now. It's not something we need to be immediately concerned about. It can wait."
Usagi still looked angry.
"You don't want to know about this yet! You should all enjoy your holiday and when we get home I will tell you everything," Rei continued.
"What about your holiday?!"
"I... I'm enjoying myself," Rei blushed in spite of herself.
Usagi couldn't help feeling self-conscious all of a sudden.
"I know you watch out for me, and I watch out for you," Rei smiled softly.
"Stop worrying. I'm fine. And I will tell you everything as soon as we get home."
Usagi pouted and held up a wavering finger at Rei's face.
"When we get home, I follow you into your room and you tell me everything!"
"I promise," Her friend assured.
Usagi still looked unhappy.
"You should tell me now," She sulked.
"I will tell you when we get home," Rei simply repeated. "There is nothing we can do for now."
They stared in silence, becoming conscious of the people around them once more.
A painful expression on her face, Usagi heaved a deep sigh.
"Sometimes I wish you didn't love me so much. I should get Mamoru-kun something to eat. It's almost six o clock."
She turned around quietly and slumped away.
Rei followed her with her eyes, feeling rather empty.
That last remark had hurt.
She knew she shouldn't love Usagi as much as she did. But how could she stop herself?
It's not as if she had never tried. Everyone always acted as if she had never even tried falling for someone else.
Once your heart only beats that way for one person, even if there are other people you care almost as deeply for, eventually you come to the conclusion that that feeling is just a part of who you are. Maybe someday you will change and those feelings will change. Maybe they will finally be directed towards someone else. But as long as they are there, they are part of you and part of your journey. And you live your life formed in part through their influence.
"I'm sorry," The miko sighed.
Maybe she shouldn't have said that. She hadn't really meant it anyway.
It was just that it was so painful having Rei playing the martyr for her all the time.
But she couldn't really blame her, after all, she would do just the same for her friend if their roles were reversed.
Only they weren't reversed and they never would be.
Destiny had given Rei a firm advantage when it came to self-sacrifice and Usagi couldn't do a thing about that.
"This is very good soup. We should get the recipe," The man at the other side of the table remarked.
Usagi stared at her lover as if waking from a dream.
"What's wrong?" Mamoru smiled.
"Oh, nothing," She sighed, stirring her soup. "There were a few drunks this morning who were bothering me."
"Oh?" Mamoru's gentle expression turned into an angry frown.
"It's alright though. Rei-chan took care of them."
"Took care of them? Hmmm..."
"No. Don't worry. She handled it peacefully," Usagi waved.
"We know anything we do on this trip might reflect on you."
"Ow. That makes me seem rather unfeeling," Mamoru complained.
Usagi hugged him.
"Don't say that. You know I know better. But we all know you love this job."
"Yeah," Her boyfriend smiled. "What I'm doing right now is so exciting. When I got that package I was a bit overwhelmed, but what we are working on is amazing! It's going to revolutionize how people communicate!"
Usagi liked seeing him so happy. He was like a little boy when he talked about work. She could on average understand 10 percent of what he was saying, but knowing he enjoyed himself doing his job made her happy.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" He asked her.
"Yes."
"You don't sound very convincing," Mamoru said while raising an eyebrow.
She hastily flashed a fake smile.
"Sorry, I was just dwelling on those drunks. It's been really fun out here Mamoru. I'm just sorry you can't enjoy it as we can."
"I know. But don't worry," He smiled apologetically. "I knew this would be a working trip for me. I don't mind though. Like I said: I'm having fun in my own way. About that..." He sighed and got up to sit at his laptop again. "It's time to get back to work."
Usagi watched his back, thinking how kind he always was.
She loved him for that. His kindness and his beautiful heart.
She frowned.
The frequency and quality of their sex life had been decreasing for a few years now.
It had been months since she had initiated sex, over half a year now she guessed. If there had been any intimacy between them in the last two years it had been because of Mamoru.
Even then it felt soulless.
These things happen in relationships.
She had heard of this from others. She had read about it and learned about it. She knew this was an ordinary thing.
But she was aware that something had changed.
Because to her surprise she now suddenly realized for the first time that what might not be such an ordinary thing was that none of that had ever bothered her in the slightest.
Rei was being very docile. Extraordinarily so. She knew they were doing this for her own good. She even agreed with them a 100 percent.
That is why in spite of her current mood she sat obediently in between Makoto and Minako after listening to their admonishings to spend her time with them from now on and try to focus on anything but Usagi. Their motivation and reasoning were as sound as they could get.
What she did not agree with was their method.
"Boys and girls, please give a hearty applause for Tsubasa the clown!"
The audience cheered.
"This will do you good miss grumpy-pants," Minako smiled.
"What you need is a good laugh, and with Yuuichirou-kun currently unavailable this guy is a great substitute."
"Hey! Don't compare Yuuichirou-kun with a clown. He may be clumsy at times, but he is a capable man." Makoto objected.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to criticize him," The blonde apologized. "The important thing is to distract our friend here."
Tsubasa was juggling eggs in the air with a chefs cap on his head, letting them fall down on his face in succession.
The audience cheered him on for his prowess and laughed at him for his clumsiness.
"Today we are going to have some fun, just the four of us. Ami-chan will join us in a few hours. Today is Inner Senshi bonding time!" Makoto gave the miko a cheerfull clap on the shoulder.
"Yep. And tomorrow we are going hunting. No guy on this ship will be safe!" Her other friend energetically added.
Tsubasa now pushed a plunger onto his rather voluminous belly and spread his arms for the full effect of letting the thing fall off to the amusement of the children in front of him.
"This guy is an idiot," Rei deadpanned.
"Huh? He's hilarious isn't he?" Minako clapped.
"I'm going to the toilet," The blackette continued while getting up from her seat.
"Okay. Hurry back alright? You don't want to miss this."
Rei raised an eyebrow at her hooting friends and went straight for the nearest nightclub.
"Come in."
Ami cautiously opened the door to Mamoru and Usagi's cabin after hearing his call and entered.
"Hey, Ami-chan. Welcome. How are you doing?" Her older friend cheerfully addressed her
"Oh. Great, thank you, Mamoru-kun. How are you? Not working too hard I hope?" The young woman informed frankly.
Mamoru gave her an embarrassed laugh.
"Haaa. I hope I'm not worrying you? I know you've warned me about this, but really I'm okay. I take care to get some rest in time and Usagi has been kind enough to keep me company today even though I asked her to go out and have some fun with the rest of you."
He mistook the serious expression in his friend's eyes and rubbed the back of his head.
"I'm sorry if I've made myself a stranger."
"Oh no. Don't worry. I know you have to work on this trip. I am very grateful to you for inviting me. It's been a lot of fun," Ami grimaced because she was feeling guilty for having to get to the point.
"But you are right, Usagi-chan should make the most of her time here since she is able to. So I thought I'd invite her over."
She tried to look insistent at her blonde friend.
"Oh, thank you Ami-chan. It's getting late though and I'm feeling a little tired from reading though."
It evidently didn't work.
"That's alright. We're not going out for long. But we'd really like you to join us. I mean, there are some really fiery nightclubs on this ship and you should come along and see what's going on out there," The young genius tried again.
Usagi gave her friend a look appropriate to her strange phrasing, so Ami made use of Mamoru's focus on his laptop to try and give her the most meaningful look she could manage.
"I... Okay, I guess if it's not for too long I can come along for some fun with you guys."
"Huh. Are you going out?" Mamoru looked at his girlfriend, noticing her sudden change of heart.
"Yeah. I won't be long though."
"Oh, don't worry. You girls have fun," He smiled.
"Thank you," Ami bowed. "See you later Mamo-kun."
"What's going on? Where are we going?" Usagi asked her fast-paced friend while they made their way to the lido deck.
"Mako-chan and Mina-chan took it upon themselves to distract Rei-chan from certain... things."
Usagi blushed under Ami's scrutiny.
"So they took her with them for the day. I told them I'd meet up after studying.
When I finally found them they were all drunk and Rei-chan was dancing around and wouldn't leave the dancefloor."
Usagi walked faster.
"Is it far?" She asked anxiously.
"We're almost there."
They arrived in front of the entrance to the nightclub.
Usagi went inside followed by her friend and was greeted by the music as she approached the luxurious ballroom.
[We're lost in music...
Caught in a trap...
No turning back...]
In the middle of the dancefloor was Sailor Mars. No. It was Rei, but she dazzled like nothing Usagi had ever seen before. She was dancing like a pop star in a video clip.
[Feel so alive...]
Dressed in a red and white short dress and red high heels, a white sash through her wildly flowing hair she was the star of the dance floor. Everyone was cheering her on. Usagi could do nothing but stare with her mouth hanging open.
[Responsibility to me is a tragedy...]
She swallowed as she felt the tempo of her heartbeat increase.
[Yes I call that temptation...]
"Hey, Usagi-chan!"
"You came and found us!" Minako and Makoto giggled, grabbing onto her on either side.
"Come with us now. You don't need to see that."
"Yeah, Rei-chan's got some stuff she's hung up on, so she's acting out, that's all," Makoto agreed with her blonde friend.
"You don't need to see her when she's dancing like that," Minako laughed.
They started to push her back.
"Go back to Mamo-kun, we'll take care of Rei-chan."
"You've done a great job so far," Ami frowned, blocking their way.
"You're all completely delirious. I got Usagi-chan to help me get you to bed."
"Oh, but Ami-chan..." Makoto put her pointer fingers together. "We just wanted to let Rei-chan forget about Usagi-chan."
"Yeah. We only wanted to help," Minako added, trying to act far soberer than she was.
"We are all here thanks to Mamoru-kun. What do you think his bosses will think when they hear how his friends behaved during this trip?" The blue-haired young woman scolded.
"Well yes."
"That's true."
Ami turned her attention from the repentant duo to Usagi.
"You go and get Rei-chan," She sighed. "I'll have these two get their stuff together and pay their bill."
"Okay."
Usagi stepped forward through the crowd. This would have been a lot more difficult if they hadn't been all making room to watch her friend flit and twirl from this side to the other.
She watched Rei's elegant souple movements as if entranced, focusing her gaze on the miko's long hair and the sash twirling around her as she twisted her body into movements that had been used to behead demons of all sorts.
The unspoken fear that she and Ami felt was that any of them was a potential danger to the safety of every surrounding person if they were this drunk.
She was close enough to talk to Rei now but took care not to come to close.
"I'm not talking to you. You're mean to me," Her friend said without looking at her.
"Usagi grimaced.
"I'm not mean. I just don't want you to hurt yourself for me."
Rei just ignored her and danced on.
"Did you see me approach you?" Usagi asked to keep the conversation going.
"I don't have to see you, to know when you are nearby."
Usagi moved back as her friend's hand came within an inch of her face.
"I know you are angry with me, but we can talk about this without all these people around," She pouted.
Rei gave her a look.
"You don't know what you're talking about. You wouldn't be thinking what you're thinking if you knew what I knew," She sullenly replied.
Usagi gritted her teeth.
"You can be a very difficult person Rei-chan!"
Her friend stopped her movements for a second, balanced on one foot and winked.
"So can you Usagi-chan. Bleich!"
"Oh yeah? Bleich!"
Rei frowned at the nostalgic image of Usagi sticking her tongue out at her and resumed her dance at a slower pace, moving towards the bar.
"As I said: I'm not talking to you. You're mean and I'm at a disadvantage. You're not drunk, so it's unfair of you to talk into me," She stated. "Stop trying to talk me down. I'm no danger to anyone. I'm just acting out because SOMEONE broke my heart."
"You got some nerve," Usagi sighed, following her.
Rei finally sat herself down on a barstool. Her eyes went wide for a moment.
"Hahaha! So that's why the room seemed so still while I was dancing?"
Usagi hurried to keep her from falling from the stool, but her friend just turned to the bartender.
"Can I get another Gin and Tonic please?" Rei asked cheerfully.
"I'm sorry Miss, but your friend over there closed your tab. If you would like to open a new one?" The young man replied in a soothing tone.
"No, she doesn't. It's time to go to bed Rei-chan," Usagi interrupted while pulling on the blackette's arm.
Her friend gave her a curious look and burst out in laughter.
"You are going round in circles. It's so funny!"
"That just means you had too much to drink," The blonde smiled while she held out her hands as if to say: You see?
"You are always looking out for me aren't you?" Rei asked with drowning eyes. "You are so kind Usagi-chan."
"Well, it's what we do right? You look out for me and I look out for you," Her embarrassed friend replied.
"Is everything alright? How are you feeling Rei-chan?" Ami asked as she approached the pair with Minako and Makoto in tow.
Rei suddenly took Usagi in a tight hug and flashed them a radiant smile.
"I'm alright because Usagi is here for me," She grinned.
The object of her affection felt her heart thumb violently.
"Heeey! That's not allowed Rei-chan!"
"Let Usagi-chan go!"
Makoto and Minako jumped in front of their blue-haired friend, but Usagi turned to keep them from prying Rei of her.
"It's alright! She can hug me if she wants, right?! Aren't we friends?" The blonde exclaimed in moderate panic.
The other two looked doubtful.
"You better get her to release you before she falls asleep here though," Ami suggested.
"Yeah. Rei-chan? Are you still awake?" Usagi asked in her gentlest voice.
"Yeah," The blackette smiled as she straightened up.
"We're going to have to leave now," The blonde smiled.
"I got her things too," Ami said while looking at the miko with a tilted head."Okay. Come on Rei-chan. Get up now. It's time to leave."
"I can't," Rei sighed.
They looked at her.
"What do you mean you can't?" Ami asked. "You've been going over the floor like a ballet dancer."
"Dancing is easy. It's just hopping from foot to foot, balancing myself while my head turns around and around. If I have to walk I have to put one foot in front of the other in a predetermined direction," The drunk blackette giggled, looking at her feet. "I can guarantee you that is completely impossible right now."
Ami and Usagi sighed in defeat.
"Lean on me then," Usagi eventually suggested. "We'll walk to your cabin together and I'll bring you to your berth."
"Of course I'll lean on you Usagi-chan!" Rei cheered, glomping her friend.
"Ugh! Rei-chan! At least try to walk on your own, please. I'm not carrying you all the way to your cabin."
"As you command, my Ice Queen!" the miko giggled, while she started to walk, supported by Usagi.
"I'm not an Ice Queen. I'm sorry for what I said," Usagi sulked. "I didn't mean it like that, but I'm not an Ice Queen."
"Yes, you are," Her friend squinted and put her face close to hers, pointing at her lips.
Usagi could smell the alcohol on her breath.
"The moon is cold. She only shines because of the sun," Rei teased with an ominous voice.
"Don't talk nonsense," Usagi cringed.
"It's not nonsense! Hahaha!" Minako laughed behind them.
"You didn't pay attention in class again Usagi-chan. I'll have to have a talk with your parents if this goes on."
Makoto burst into laughter.
"Don't listen to them. They're drunk. I'm only teasing you," Rei continued. "You were always the bright side of the sun," She smiled.
"Ugh! You're a real smooth talker aren't you Rei-chan? I bet you get all the girls with that nimble tongue of yours."
Usagi blushed when she realized what she had said. She hoped Rei was too drunk to notice, but Rei wasn't nearly drunk enough for that.
"Are you curious? I might show you when we get to my cabin," The miko suggested with a salacious expression.
Usagi felt herself grow hot under her friend's teasing gaze.
"Hey Rei-chan, we can't allow that kind of thing!" Makoto warned.
"Yeah, quit hogging Usagi-chan! She's our Princess too!" Her drunk blonde compatriot energetically exclaimed.
"No! She's mine and mine alone!" Rei hugged her friend tight. "You can't get her. Come on slow-poke, run! We got to lose those spoilsports."
"We're at Minako and Makoto's cabin Usagi-chan. I'll get them inside and put them to bed. I'll come and help you as soon as I can."
"No, Ami-chan! You can't trust Rei-chan. Don't leave them alone."
"Minako-chan! Usagi-chan can handle it. It's time for the three of you to sleep it off."
Minako tried to go in pursuit, but Ami drove her and Makoto to their cabin with a little gentle force.
"Bleich!"
"Are you sticking out your tongue at them?" Usagi asked.
She heard Rei giggle.
"They're so dumb. They don't know that I'm the good girl and you're the molester."
"I'm not a molester." Usagi blushed.
"Hihihi. I don't know if I feel safe around you in my present state."
"You're talking nonsense. I would never take advantage," The blonde replied in embarrassment.
"But you'd like to," Rei giggled while playing with her finger around Usagi's throat and moving it towards her breast.
"Stop that."
"Stop what?" The blackette giggled again.
"I thought I was supposed to be the molester?" Her friend frowned.
"That's right," Rei straightened up. "I'm a good girl."
"Here we are," Usagi sighed as she opened the door and brought her friend to her berth.
"I'll take off your shoes and that sash. But you can sleep in your clothes."
"Nooo! Take it off," Rei whined before she rolled onto her belly and giggled with her face against the cushion.
"Please be gentle with me."
"I'll be very gentle," Usagi couldn't help chuckle. "Good night Rei-chan."
"What? Are you leaving me?"
"Yes. You're drunk and you're tired. It's time to sleep."
Rei rolled onto her back and pouted.
"You have to give me a kiss or I won't sleep," She demanded. "My mother never gave me a kiss before putting me in bed, so you have to."
She sat up again and closed her eyes.
Usagi blushed and hesitated.
She closed her eyes and slowly put her lips to her friend's.
The kiss tasted sweet. No doubt from all the cocktails Rei had been drinking. She kissed Usagi back with vigor and let herself fall back on the bed while the blonde heaved a shuddering sigh.
"Hihihi," Rei squinted and pointed at her with a grin. "You totally fell for that, you moron. I don't even have a mother."
"Yes, you do. Your mother loves you. She just doesn't know how to show it very well," Replied in a confused attempt at comfort.
Rei sat up again and hung herself around Usagi's neck, whispering into the ears of her shocked friend:
"Shhh. I'm a big girl. I don't need my mother anymore. I only need you."
Then she fell asleep in Usagi's arms.
Usagi smiled through her tears. Gently weeping as she hugged the friend that loved her so much. She had never felt so much happiness in her entire life.
Makoto was listlessly chewing her sandwich with an equally tired Minako next to her. Usagi sat on the other side of the table and Ami at the head.
"Oh, look who finally got out of bed!" The bluehead exclaimed as she saw their other friend do her tour of the buffet.
"Not so loud please Ami-chan," Minako cringed.
Compared to her partners in crime, Rei managed to look somewhat more vital.
After filling her plate at the buffet she demurely sat down next to Usagi who watched her chew with an amused expression.
"Did you sleep well Rei-chan?" The blonde inquired.
She got a quiet nod in response.
"You are the greatest dancer that I've ever seen."
"Thank you very much," The miko politely answered.
Usagi giggled.
"You girls were planning to go hunting tonight weren't you?" Ami teased.
"I'm looking forward to joining you. Usagi-chan and I will have to keep things a little less naughty of course, but If the guys aboard don't get the wrong idea we can join you in the fun."
Mako grimaced.
"I don't know whether I'll be in much of a state to dance tonight." Mina groaned to Ami's amusement.
Rei quietly coughed, attracting Usagi's attention.
"Thank you... For not molesting me," She muttered embarrassedly.
"That's alright Rei-chan," Her friend giggled. "I told you I wouldn't take advantage."
"You didn't have to give in to my drunken requests either though," Rei sissed between her teeth.
Makoto groaned laboriously and got up.
"I'm going to sleep it off. Are you staying Mina-chan?"
"No, I'm with you. I'm not gonna waste our last night on the ship," She tried to say with a lot more vigor than it came out. "Give me a beauty nap of a few hours and no bachelor on board will be safe! Ugh," She sighed, heaving herself off her seat.
"There, there Minako-chan," The three other girls sweated as the blonde pulled herself towards her cabin.
Rei was standing at the railing of the promenade deck two hours later watching the southern sky.
They had enjoyed a beautiful and quiet weather for a long time now, but a dark thin hairline was just about perceptible far behind them. They were sailing away from it, but they couldn't outsail it forever. A violent storm was chasing them and by the time they arrived in Hiroshima, it was going to come on land with them. She could wish as much as she wanted for this peaceful time to last forever, but they would have to face what was coming. She couldn't protect anyone from the future. She could only hope to prepare them so they could try their best to survive it.
"It's a beautiful day, isn't it?" Usagi leisurely approached and stood beside her.
"Again: I'm sorry. I guess I did overreact."
"No," Rei smiled at her. "It was understandable for you to worry considering the state I was in and I may have been dancing with a little too much enthusiasm," She sweated.
Usagi watched her, feeling very happy. She hadn't forgotten nor regretted having to come to the ballroom nor having to bring Rei to her room. Looking at her now in her toe-slippers and her cream-blue dress she felt Rei's awesome beauty radiate all around her.
"I changed my mind," The miko unexpectedly stated.
"Huh?"
Rei frowned at the storm nobody else had perceived yet.
"You were right before," She said. "What I learned is too important to wait. For better or for worse you are our leader..."
"Hey! Saying it like that makes it sound like I'm a bad leader," Usagi protested.
"Haha. You are our leader. So you have to know. And you have to decide what we do once I've told you what I know."
"Okay, then Rei-chan. Tell me. I'm ready."
She wasn't. Rei knew that much. Nobody could be for what was coming, but after what had happened at the mall Usagi was least ready of all.
It was clear as day to her that the blonde still hadn't recovered from the trauma.
As if losing Setsuna hadn't been enough, Mesperphistopheles had really managed to hurt the miko's beloved where it could have hurt most.
Rei had no idea how she was going to tell her leader what she and the other two members of the 'visionary club' had seen, but she would have to manage to the best of her abilities.
"Not now. I'll tell you tomorrow evening in my room after we've checked into the hotel. I want us to have one more evening to spend in blissful ignorance. One last evening to enjoy our youth without worry..."
Usagi grabbed Rei's hand, causing the blackette to turn her face towards her.
"You're scaring me. I've never heard you talk like this before," She whispered.
The miko's voice had gotten a somber, ominous quality as she went on.
Usagi blinked at the shadow obscuring her friend's eyes, but she could still recognize the sadness she had seen there the day before as Rei replied.
"It is scary."
Minako was humming happily while donning her sprightly blue and yellow dress.
"You really are committed to sleeping somewhere else tonight aren't you?" Her cabin-mate observed with concern.
"Don't make me sound so promiscuous. Am I wrong for wanting to have a good time during our summer holiday?"
Makoto gave her friend a pitying look. Not that she wasn't in the same boat. Neither of them had been in a real relationship so far. There had been a couple of flings, but apart from Usagi, Ami and Haruko and Michiru none of them could be said to have found someone to share their lives with... or even two months of those lives for that matter. But then she felt her own situation had more in common with Rei's than Minako's.
Whether that meant she or her cabin-mate was to be pitied more she didn't know. But she did know that she was worried about that friend apparently having given up on ever finding love.
"You can have fun without fooling around with guys you know. Are you so bored with your fellow old spinsters?" She challenged her friend.
Minako sighed but didn't turn to face her.
"Old spinsters? We are only 20! We have an eternity before us," She smiled.
She went quiet.
An eternity of loneliness is what she was thinking.
It sometimes felt like that was what they were destined for. They all knew that they were still young. If they hadn't been Sailor Senshi who were fated to serve as bodyguards to their Princess they wouldn't even have worried. But the fact that no man had ever shown the least bit of interest in more than a passing affair with any of them was strange, to say the least, and had made them somewhat superstitious.
In spite of them being totally devoted to their duty by choice, there was the constant nagging feeling that fate's part in their duty as bodyguard to the Moon Princess somehow cursed them to remain alone forever in order to be completely devoted to her.
In the darkest recess of their minds, they feared Rei's situation illustrated how much of a curse that fate could become.
But there was always Ami. No matter how bleak their ponderings on the subject of their fate might become Ami had been in a solid, joyous relationship for the past two years. It was a long distance relationship for the most part, but it was still romance, and they but had to look at her after a phone call with Ryo or a date or a holiday spent together to see how happy they made each other.
And they also had Haruka and Michiru to lift their hopes. Minako had seen how happy and how in sync they always were, she had wondered about Rei's feelings for Usagi. Could it be that a relationship with a fellow Senshi might actually be more fulfilling than anything they might find outside of their circle? Nobody could certainly understand their plight better.
"Mako-chan?" She grinned. "Who would you feel more attracted to? Rei-chan or me?"
"what?!" The brunette broke out in a sudden blush. "What kind of a question is that? You know I like men."
"But if you had to choose. Do you have a preference?" Minako smiled sheepishly.
"Well..." Her friend muttered. "You know if Rei-chan finally finds love no matter who with, and we stay alone... Aah! Really Mina-chan." Makoto sweated. "I'd be happy to share the rest of my life with either of you if that's my fate, but I'd rather we could just stay friends, to be honest."
"Hahaha. I know. So do I. Don't worry, I'm not ready to throw in the towel just yet! I'm determined to find myself a nice guy tonight and rock his socks off, but I haven't given up on true love. Not by a long shot!" The blonde radiated.
"I'm happy to hear that," Her friend smiled. "That's why I wanted to ask..."
"Huh? What's wrong?"
Mako hesitated. Her chances of success were very slim. Almost none existent in fact. But was it better to live on the friendship you received from the person you loved than to risk your heart and suffer the pain of clear rejection? She had decided it wasn't. And if there was one thing she had learned from Rei it was that maybe it didn't even really matter. She had made her decision and she was going to see this trough.
"I will be your wingman tonight, I might even dance and have fun with your guy's buddy... But when we get back home there is someone I'm going to confess to."
A shadow of loneliness fell over Minako for a moment and Mako suddenly felt like she had betrayed her, but the blonde brightened up immediately. She knew Makoto would never allow her to become a third wheel. Even if she was successful, their friendship was too strong, their bond too deep. Their sexual preference might exclude them from pursuing the bond Haruka and Michiru had, but that didn't mean their hearts weren't connected in equal measure.
"Go for it! Give it all you got!" She exclaimed.
"Don't worry. I stand little chance," Makoto looked away with a sigh.
"Yes you do," Her friend smiled. "You are awesome Mako-chan! If you love this person he will love you back."
The brunette scratched the back of her head.
"Well, he has been in love with someone else for a long time," She muttered.
Minako smiled more genuinely now as she started to remember things she had noticed this past year and pictured her friend together with the person she imagined had stolen her heart.
"No."
She came closer and took Makoto's hands in her own. Both young women felt like giddy school girls again.
"The two of you would be too cute together for fate to deny your happiness. You're going to make him love you. And you don't have to feel like you are getting in the way of what could be. We all know if that hasn't happened by now it's never going to happen. Give it your all, and in a few years time I'm going to cuddle all of your raggedy haired children."
Makoto pulled the surprised blonde to her ample chest.
"Thank you Minako-chan. Thank for your support. I won't disappoint you!"
A sudden knock made them part.
The tall brunette opened the door to find Rei behind it who eyed her from top to bottom.
"Aw!" The miko touched her friend's shoulder and acted as if stung. "You're electrifying!"
"We've known each other for six years and you make that joke now?" Makoto sweated.
The blackette's grin turned to a frown as she entered the cabin and looked from one to her other friend.
"What's been going on in here?" She inquired.
"What do you mean?" Minako asked, pretending to finish packing.
"Oh? Fine. You don't have to tell me. I have secrets too," Rei whistled.
"I just told Mina-chan I have someone at home... that I like."
"That's great news! Mako-chan, you sneak," Rei nudged her blushing friend. "So you've been secretly nurturing a romance at home?"
"Hahahahaha!" Minako suddenly interrupted with a maniac laugh. "So are you girls in the mood to party?! Because I want the Senshi bachelorettes to go out with a bang tonight!"
Her friends stared at her with two pairs of dead eyes.
"Seriously Mina-chan." "Don't call us that."
"Alright. You can look now."
Mamoru opened his eyes to a spectacular sight:
Usagi was dressed in a knee-length white skirt and a blue and white top covered under a short white vest with beige and yellow accents. Gorgeous beige high heels completed the picture. Her trademark hairstyle was left unaltered.
"Stunning as ever," Her boyfriend smiled as he got up.
He took Usagi's hand and let her twirl around under his gaze.
"My Princess..."
"My Prince?" His girlfriend bowed.
A sad grimace flitted over his face for less than a second as disappointment asserted itself.
"We seem like a fairytale in reverse. I hope I will be on time to turn my rags into a leisurely tuxedo before the clock strikes twelve."
"Don't feel guilty about leaving me without your company. I know you do. We all actually feel very guilty for having so much fun while you are here working and working. I'm sorry you didn't get to enjoy this trip more," Usagi caressed his face.
"I..." Once again Mamoru felt guilty for honestly doubting he would have as much fun dancing with his girlfriend as he had while doing his job. He wondered whether he would ever fall in love with her again or live the rest of his life a lie.
"As long as you have fun all my hard work has been worth it," He just answered.
"I'll make it up to you. When we get home I'll spoil you for a whole month," Usagi smiled.
"I look forward to it," He grinned as he let go of her.
She slowly walked to the door of their cabin.
"I'm almost ready anyway. I'll work as hard as I can so I'll be able to spin you around in an hour or two," He called out from behind his laptop screen.
Usagi searched for a good answer for a few seconds.
"Thank you. I'll see you soon," And left.
Mamoru let his eyes linger on the place where she had just stood before concentrating on his work again.
"Ah! What a waste," He sighed.
Usagi leaned her back against the hallway, her palms pressed against the wall behind her, and hung her head as tears started to flow.
"I'm sorry I can't love you as I should," She whispered, wiping her eyes.
"I'm sorry for not telling you what's going on. I'm sorry for what I'm doing. But I need to keep on doing it."
She wiped her eyes and blew her nose. Just then she heard the sounds of familiar voices around the corner.
She hurried to Minako and Makoto's room and saw Rei and Ami come out with them.
The blackette was wearing a flowing violet evening-dress that left her shoulders bare. Her hair was pinned up.
It made her seem softer and less intense than she was to most people. But to Usagi who knew the other sides to her friend's personality, it accentuated the sides that were mostly reserved to her. The dedication, the teasing, the kindness, the comfort, the challenge.
All the things she got from Rei out of love for who she is.
All the things that told her she was special to Rei.
Rei... who was special to her. Who was more important than life itself.
Most people only got to see the Rei who could burn things to a cinder, but Usagi knew the Rei who's love warmed and comforted.
It took the miko a moment to realize Usagi was standing behind them. She turned around while her friends walked on unawares. Enchanted by Usagi's appearance in her cute ensemble she couldn't help staring back at the young woman in front of her.
Meanwhile, the woman Rei admired was still lost in reverie. Remembering how Rei had loved her for all those years. Not because she was their Princess, not because she was Sailor Moon. But because she was an annoying, clumsy, lazy, hyper girl who constantly got into trouble and had to be reminded to take things seriously.
"What are you crying about you moron?!"
Usagi smiled as she was roused by the rough expression of love.
"Stop worrying about other people. You should enjoy the benefits of your boyfriend's career," Rei admonished as her friend wiped her eyes.
The blackette closed the distance between them and smiled, offering her hand which Usagi took and together they followed their friends outside to the ballroom.
Outside on the lido deck, an area had been reserved and decorated for the outdoor ball.
A DJ was playing appropriate music and everyone was dressed at their finest for a night of fun, slow dancing and trying to spend the night in someone else's cabin.
"So you guys are going to choose a partner now?" Ami, who had never needed to engage in these kinds of activities in order to find her boyfriend, asked.
"That's the plan, yes," Minako grinned.
"If they don't choose us first, that is," Makoto added.
"Forget about that. I'm done waiting. I choose... That guy."
Minako pointed at a tall handsome guy who was talking at one of the cocktail tables with his friends over a couple of gin-tonics.
"Come on Mako-chan, Ami-chan. Let's go!"
Usagi grimaced as her very determined friend walked up to the pair with the other two indulgingly laughing young women in tow.
"Don't worry. Mina-chan has good judgment in men at least. They'll have a fun evening with a couple of nice guys and sleep with them if nothing more, but they'll be alright even if they don't," Rei predicted.
"Our love life is our concern," She added with a well-meant wink. "You just look after your own."
"Excuse me miss? I hope I'm not disturbing but I've seen you a few times now these past days and... I really hoped you would come to the ball so I could ask you to dance," A rather burly, friendly young man asked Rei.
"I would love too."
Rei graciously offered her hand.
"See? Go get that workaholic of yours, pull his face from between his laptop and join us," She challenged Usagi.
Their Princess smiled broadly as she saw her friends dance around with their dates.
"Excuse me miss? You seem so happy just watching that I couldn't resist asking you to join in," A smooth but kind-looking young man approached her.
She bowed to her dance partner and followed him to the dance floor while Makoto and her date went to get some drinks.
Rei really looked dazzling, Usagi followed her with her eyes however she turned.
"Where are you from? I'm from Chiba."
"Minato-ku," The blonde murmured.
"Oh?" Her partner laughed nervously as he looked in the direction she kept turning her head towards.
"My name is Oshiro Koji. What's yours?"
"Tsukino Usagi."
"Hey Rei-chan," Minako laughed as she and her partner came near the miko and her date. "Kudos on picking up Tsubasa the clown."
The black-haired woman frowned at the sheepishly grinning young man she was dancing with.
"My real name is Kawaguchi Ju-long. My mother is Chinese."
"Are you allowed to socialize with passengers?" Rei smirked.
"Hahahaha! Please don't get me into trouble," Ju-long pleaded.
"I hope you washed your hands after your last performance?"
"That plunger is just a stage prop, you know. We never really use it."
"Listen..." Koji grimaced. "I get the feeling you're not really interested in dancing with me, so I'm just going to get something to drink. Have a nice evening Tsukino-san."
"Okay."
Rei's laughter sounded like a melody from Usagi's childhood. Or maybe another childhood than that one. A childhood where they had danced and laughed and played together. Still innocent to the dangers that would destroy their world.
Those loose strands of hair behind the miko's ear hypnotized her. That smile made her heart jump. Her fluent movements sang to Usagi's soul.
As Rei and her partner came near her their eyes met and as if their minds communicated without words Rei stood still in front of her blonde friend.
[Let's dance.
Put on your red shoes and dance the blues... ]
"May I cut in?" Usagi asked with a soft smile.
Ju-long looked from one to the other and realized the woman he was dancing with was never going to be interested in him.
"Oh, okay. Why not," He graciously stepped aside.
"You're really pushing it aren't you?" Rei scowled as Usagi took her hand and broke the spell.
"I can dance with my friends can't I. I've danced with Mako-chan and Ami-chan and Haruka-chan before. I've danced with you before."
[Because, my love for you
Would break my heart in two... ]
"Yes, but not like this."
Usagi really tried. But somehow instead of whirling and twirling Rei elegantly over the dance floor they just kept bumping into each other.
"Aagh! You're terrible," Rei grinned. "Come, let me lead."
Things improved a lot from then on.
Rei had become a very good dancer thanks to the lessons her mother had forced her to take a few years ago.
As they turned around and around in each other's arms they got lost in each other's gaze.
[And if you say run I'll run with you
And if you say hide We'll hide...]
"Rei-chan... I need to tell you something. About my goal," Usagi whispered as she broke eye contact and rested her head on her friend's shoulder. "I've succeeded..."
Rei couldn't get angry. She just felt intensely happy.
"I love you, Rei-chan."
For once the dangers associated with their feelings didn't even enter her mind.
[Under the moonlight, this serious moonlight...]
She buried her face in Usagi's neck, taking in her scent and closed her eyes as they twirled hearts beat in unison as they danced through the evening.
And they never danced with anyone else.
Mamoru made sure nobody had seen him as he returned to his room. He sat down and heaved a deep, shuddering sigh.
Sometimes an image really did say more than a thousand words.
What he had seen forced him to rethink everything. But he felt he shouldn't disturb what was happening. He warned himself not to jump to conclusions but didn't delude himself either.
He had seen enough to know that everything he thought he knew had changed and now he had decisions to make.
Imaginary end credits = Ficher Z - The Worker
