Okay, chapter 3 is here. Sorry about the wait, we now have a two-year-old living with us that wasn't here before. Trying to work around him has been fun. :)

~~Chapter 3~~

"How is she?" Rei asked as she walked in the front door at Minako's house. Minako waited until all three of her friends had come in before closing the door and answering Rei's question.

"Dunno. She hasn't said a word since I had you on the phone. She sat down on the couch and hasn't moved since," Minako said quietly, as though she were trying not to wake someone.

"So, she didn't say anything about the nightmare she had?" Ami asked with a frown on her face. Minako just sighed as she shook her head.

"I don't know what to do. I can't even get her to look at me. It was bad, the nightmare she had. She was so pale, I've never seen her that pale. She's the one who had the nightmare and I was scared," Minako whispered.

"Where is she?" Rei asked. Minako just pointed to the living room.

Rei slowly walked into the living room. She froze for a minute when she saw her blonde friend just sitting there on the couch. Usagi wasn't moving, she didn't even look up when they came into the room. Usagi could be a space case, they'd all seen it before, but this was beyond anything they'd seen from her before. It just wasn't normal and it worried her friends to no end.

"Usa?" Rei asked, moving towards the couch once again. Nothing. "Usagi?" she asked again, a little louder this time. Still Nothing. Rei looked over her shoulder at the other three girls and shrugged her shoulders at them. She turned back to her princess, the worry now very apparent on her pale face, violet eyes watching for any sign that Usagi was still there with them at the moment. Rei moved a bit closer, almost right beside the blonde before she tried again. "Usagi!" she almost screamed. Usagi finally moved, more like jumped a foot in the air. "Usagi, what were you thinking about?" Rei inquired as she sat down next to her very silent friend. Usagi simply shook her head and watched the floor.

"Usagi, please say something. You haven't said anything, or looked at anything other than the floor in almost an hour now," Minako pleaded as she sat down on Usagi's left.

Again, there was nothing from Usagi. The inner senshi had no idea what to do. Their leader, their princess, their best friend, needed them and none of them knew how to help her. They slowly filed into the room around their unusually quiet friend. Rei and Minako stayed on the couch with Usagi while Ami sat in a recliner to the left of the couch, Makoto choosing to sit on the floor in front of Ami's chair. They all sat there quietly, watching the all to still Usagi. After another half an hour of nothing, they decided to put in a movie. Maybe Usagi just needed some time to get past her nightmare before she spoke of it to them.


Why won't they go away? I don't want to see them anymore. It hurts too much. I just… I want it all to go away. All of it. Please, just go away. I can't do this anymore, I'm not strong enough. Please… I begged silently.

"Usagi!" Rei practically yelled in my ear, causing me to break out of my thoughts. "Usagi, what were you thinking about?" Rei inquired as she sat down to my right. I just shook my head and watched invisible spots on the floor. I couldn't look at them yet. I knew if I did, I'd end up reliving the nightmare I'd just had. I couldn't take seeing that again this soon.

"Usagi, please say something. You haven't said anything, or looked at anything other than the floor for the last hour now," Minako pleaded.

I felt bad, hurting them this way, but I didn't have the heart to tell them what I saw. I knew that's what the really wanted to hear right now, but it would hurt them more if I told them than if I stayed silent about it. So, I continued to watch the floor until they gave in, my thoughts racing circles in my mind the whole time. Someone finally put in a movie and soon I felt everyone's attention on me fade.

I have to fix this. I know I'm worrying all my friends, I don't want to worry them. Even Andrew has caught on, he knows something's bugging me. I got too many orders messed up the other night, I haven't done that since my first week there. My nightmares, I need to focus on those, figure them out. So, who all was in my nightmare this time? I know the senshi were there, inners and outers. The outers were tied up, they showed up just after the fight started, and she didn't want to deal with them yet. She distracts the inners, how? There's always something to distract them… Then she takes out the outers, a quick blow to each of them. Tuxedo Mask wasn't there, lucky him. Luna and Artemis? I don't remember seeing them there either. The inners… I froze once again. I had to work through the nightmares myself. I wanted to tell Rei and let her pick them apart for me, but I couldn't do that to her. I couldn't bare the look on her face when she heard how it ended. I took a deep breath, and tried to focus on the nightmare once more.

The inners were in front of me as they usually are. Stupid place to be… Mercury was the first one out, one good slash took her down. She always comes up with the plans, finds the weak points on our enemies, so they would go after her first. Jupiter was next, piss her off wrong and she's damn near unstoppable, another single shot and she's down too. Venus goes down next, takes more than one hit to take her down, she's stronger than most people believe. Mars was last, always the stubborn one, always the last to fall. Always the hardest to watch when she goes down… She's always been the one to jump in front of me to protect me, she the closest one to me, hurts more when she goes down. They always hurt her more than the others before they end it. But they don't just hurt her like the others, they drag it out with her, never less than twenty strikes before they… Before…

I couldn't get myself to finish that sentence, even though I knew it was only in my head. I cast a quick glance at Rei out the corner of my eye. She didn't notice, but I felt someone else watching me. I looked the other direction, moving as little as possible, and locked eyes with Minako, then noticed Makoto watching me as well. Ami had fallen asleep, otherwise she'd probably be watching me as too. I quietly shook my head, then started watching the movie for lack of anything else to do.


I woke up early the next morning, early enough that everyone else was still asleep. I slowly and quietly made my way upstairs to Minako's room to get my dry clothes, then left just as quietly, before anyone woke up. I didn't want to hear the questions about the nightmares I'd been having. I went home and changed my clothes, then headed out again before Luna even woke up and noticed I had come back. I had to meet Michiru and Haruka before Mamoru arrived at the airport. I wanted to be free again and Michiru was going to help me with that, she just didn't know it yet.

I made my way over to the studio that Michiru and Haruka always practiced at for their upcoming concerts. I had to wait a while once I got there though, they weren't open yet. I knew they wouldn't be, but I had wanted to avoid everyone else right now that I didn't care that I had to wait outside for a while. I ended up taking a walk around the block, thinking some more on my nightmares and what I would tell my friends, if anything yet.

When the studio opened, I walked quietly through the halls, listening for Michiru and Haruka. I never could remember which room they were normally in, so I always ended up wandering around until I heard them playing. I stopped when I heard a piano playing and Michiru laughing from behind a door to my right. I knocked, then took a step back and waited. Not a moment later, the door opened and a very cheerful Michiru greeted me.

"Usagi, come in," she said warmly with a bright smile, then closed the door behind me. "We were beginning to wonder if you were ever coming back to finish your project. The festival is in two weeks, remember?"

"Yes, I know. I'm sorry. I've had a lot on my plate the last couple days," I said to the floor.

"Is everything okay?" Haruka asked from her seat behind the piano. I just nodded. "Have you changed your mind on going through with this?"

"No. This is something I need to do. I may try to back out that day though. If I try to back out, you'll stop me, right?" I questioned. Both women nodded. "Good, thanks. Oh, there's two songs now, not one. Is that okay? I just need you to do the music for the second one, nothing more."

"That's fine, we're last anyway," Michiru sat as she walked over to the piano and sat beside Haruka. "So, what's the second song?"

"I can't tell you. You'll find out with everyone else," I said with the smallest of smiles. Haruka started pouting at this, making me smile fully.

"Okay, as long as we can practice the music before then," Michiru replied.

"Hai," I agreed. "I need to make sure the music sounds right anyway." I made my way over to the piano and took my normal place next to the bench Haruka was sitting on. Within minutes Haruka and Michiru were both playing and I was humming along.


"Morning Minako," Rei said, rubbing her eyes as she wandered into the kitchen. "Hey Ami, Makoto." Rei looked around for a moment, then focused on Minako once more. "Where's Usagi?"

"Dunno. She was already gone when I woke up. She didn't leave a note or anything either," Minako answered, looking at the table rather than facing Rei.

"We figured that she probably left early so she could meet Mamoru at the airport. Maybe she wanted to see him alone first?" Makoto said, cocking an eyebrow.

"Hmm, maybe," was Rei's reply. "Maybe not. She's been keeping too many secrets lately. I know there's something… Just… I don't know." Rei rubbed her face with her hands as she sat down at the table, across from Minako and Ami. "I have plenty of ideas on what she would be hiding from us, but everything I think of just seems more unlikely than the last. Nothing fits and it's bugging me!" said a very frustrated Rei.

"I know. After Usagi's confession to Minako yesterday, it seems like it goes deeper that any of us originally thought. It does look like she's trying to get past it, whatever it is. Do you think her parents know what's bothering her?" Ami asked.

"No." All eyes suddenly turned to Makoto, who was standing with her back to her friends as she looked out the window.

"Why do you say that?" Minako asked.

"Her family isn't in town, haven't been all month as far as I know."

"Wha- How? When did you find out about this?" Rei questioned.

"I went to Usagi's a few weeks ago, before we suspected something was bothering her," Makoto answered, lowering her head slightly as she leaned forward on the counter in front of her. "Her mom called while we were there. Usagi said her brother was enrolled in a prep school in England and that her parents had gone to visit him. After they saw him, they were going to visit with Usagi's grandmother, so they'd be gone for a month at the least. Now that I think about it, something was bothering her then… She didn't sound happy when she was talking on the phone with her mom, and I don't think she spoke to her dad at all. She wasn't angry and she didn't sound upset, not really… More like… Detached? I've never heard her sound like that, it's like it wasn't really her, or she wasn't really there," Makoto explained slowly, then turned around to face the small group.

"How come you never said anything?" Minako asked softly.

"I don't know. It just didn't seem very important at the time. It was confusing though, to hear her talk like that, I had thought I might have imagined it," Makoto answered.

"Definitely goes deeper that we thought," Ami said thoughtfully. "Any idea what time Mamoru is supposed to land?" All the girls shook their heads. "Then I guess we go to the Crown and ask Andrew. He should know something about Mamoru's arrival."


"Thanks for helping me with this," I said, grabbing the sheet music I'd brought with me and folded the paper up to slip it back into my pocket.

"It's not a problem, Usagi. Besides, that was really good. You're ready for the concert," Haruka said.

"The music for your second song is beautiful. How did you come by it?" Michiru inquired.

"I um… I wrote it," I mumbled.

"Are you serious?!" they both questioned. I nodded silently.

"I didn't know you knew how to write music. Then again, I didn't know you could sing either," Haruka laughed. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" she joked.

"Yeah, surprises and secrets," I whispered to the floor.

"What was that?" Michiru asked.

"Huh? Oh, I said I should be going," I said quickly, then gathered my things. "I have to run home real quick before I meet Mamoru at the airport. I'll see you both later." I quickly took off, for the second time today. I needed to get home and grab my bag. I was starting to get a headache and I could feel my hands starting to shake, I should have eaten before heading out.

Once I got home, I tossed my things on the couch and began my search. I knew I needed to find it, I was running out of time. If Mamoru saw me right now, he'd throw a fit. After twenty minutes of searching and my headache worsening, I seriously thought I was loosing my mind. I had looked everywhere and couldn't find what I was looking for. I sat on the couch and thought for a few minutes before an idea hit me. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and stared at it blankly for a moment. I knew I wanted to call someone, but as soon as I had my phone in front of me, my mind went blank. I stood and paced for a few minutes and almost put my phone back in my pocket, then remembered and punched in the number before I forgot again.


"Hello," Minako said into her phone.

"Minako! Are you still home?"

"Usagi! Yeah, I'm still home, the girls are still here as well. Where'd you-"

"Good," Usagi interrupted. "I need you to do something for me really fast. Please, it's important!" Usagi rushed. She didn't sound too good and Minako immediately knew that something was wrong.

"Usagi, what is it? What's wrong? Are you alright?" Minako demanded. Ami, Rei and Makoto looked up instantly at Minako's tone of voice.

"Minako, what is it?" Rei questioned, just to have Minako wave her off.

"Usagi?"

"Did I leave my blue bag there last night?" Usagi asked.

"I'm not sure, why?" Minako asked, looking more than a little confused.

"I just… I need it. I can't find it. It's important. Did I leave it there?" Usagi asked. She was starting to sound unsure of herself, and even though she was asking Minako, it sounded more like she was asking herself.

"If you did, do you know where it would be?" Minako questioned, walking into the living room, towards the couch.

"Where would what be?" Usagi questioned, sounding very much confused.

"Your bag…" Minako trailed off, concerned now. "Are you okay? Did something happen, Usagi?"

"My bag… I can't find my bag. I need it. I'll come over and look for it," Usagi said, trailing off and still sounding uncertain.

"Usagi, where are you right now?" Minako asked urgently.

"Where am…" she paused. "Home."

"I'll get your bag and bring it to you," Minako said seriously, her face having gone pale at Usagi's obvious confusion.

"No. I can come get it," Usagi said quietly. "First I just… I'll be there in… Where are you?"

"No, stay there, Usagi. I mean it. If I get there to find you gone, I'll personally kick your ass, got it?!" Minako demanded, the concern in her voice clear to everyone but the one she was talking to. The others had seen how pale Minako had become and stood around anxiously trying to overhear the conversation. They could only guess at what was going on with their troubled friend.

"I… Okay," Usagi replied after a few minutes. "Please hurry, okay?"

"Just stay there. I'll find your bag and bring it over, okay? Don't go anywhere. Promise me, Usagi," Minako said. After Usagi agreed to stay put, Minako ended the call and immediately started hunting for the bag she'd seen yesterday.

"Minako, what are you looking for?" Rei questioned.

"That small blue bag Usagi had yesterday. She said she needs it and she sounded desperate to find it."

"That bag?" Ami asked, pointing to a hook by the door. Minako spun around to look.

"Yes!" Minako exclaimed, then grabbed the bag off the hook as she ran out the front door, the remaining senshi on her heels.


"I wonder why she wasn't there, she said she'd meet me. Maybe she's out with the girls and lost track of time. It wouldn't be the first…" Mamoru said to himself then trailed off. He had left the airport thirty minutes earlier after deciding that Usagi wasn't showing up. He'd tried calling her but received no answer. He was now walking down the street towards the Crown, figuring the girls would be there. He looked across the street by chance, and spotted four of the five girls running down the street as though youma were chasing them. He rushed across the street and started following until he caught up with them.

"What's going on? Youma?" Mamoru hollered to Makoto, who was closest to him.

Makoto looked over her shoulder at the familiar voice. "No. I really have no idea what's going on, just that it concerns Usagi," Makoto explained.

Mamoru nodded then glanced at Minako. She had her phone out and was trying to call someone. Mamoru's guess what she was calling Usagi, and probably getting the same thing he had, her voice mail. "Rei, Ami! Any ideas what's going on?"

"Not really," Rei hollered back. "Minako said Usagi was asking about a bag she left over last night and that she sounded desperate to find it. Once Minako found it, she took off."

"Shit," Mamoru said, paling slightly.

"What? Do you know what's going on?" Ami questioned.

"I have an idea. Let's just hope I'm wrong."