Penance
by faelyn leaf
4/14
Chapter Four
"Usagi? Usagi? Wake up, Usagi!"
Usagi opened her eyes to find Luna peering at her, a concerned expression on the cat's face. "Gmph." she mumbled. "Go 'way, Luna. You have cat breath, and I'm sleeping." She flopped over on the bed and buried her head under the pillow.
"Well, I never!" Luna huffed.
"I just want to sleep!" Usagi said irritably. Luna could stuff it for now. Usagi felt slow and sluggish, and her body was tired and drained. She hated the feeling and just wanted to stay in bed.
"Aren't we grumpy this morning?"
"Luna!"
"If you don't get out of bed you're going to be late. Didn't you just tell me yesterday that you were going to start taking your studies more seriously? What happened to making Mamoru proud?"
As Luna knew it would, this got a response. Usagi took the pillow off her head and turned towards the cat. "I guess so."
"Then you should do something about it."
Luna looked like she was about to jump off the bed. "Wait," Usagi called.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry for snapping at you."
Usagi looked truly repentant, and Luna immediately accepted the apology. "I suppose we all wake up on the wrong side of the bed on occasion."
"I just had bad dreams last night, and I don't feel well." Usagi bowed her head. "I shouldn't have taken it out on you, though."
Luna frowned. "What's wrong, Usagi?"
"I don't know, Luna. I felt strange."
Luna was alarmed. "Strange? Strange in what way?"
Usagi shrugged. "I don't know. I feel tired, I guess. Like I didn't sleep at all, and those dreams didn't help," she muttered.
"Nightmares?"
Usagi nodded. "There was a battle, and I was just watching. I couldn't do anything, and Rei was about to die!" She could almost see the youma in her head. Hadn't it been green? No, the fuzzy picture in her mind looked blue. Blue and slimy. Usagi shuddered. Slimy ones were the worst.
"What happened after that?" Luna prompted.
Usagi frowned. She couldn't really remember. "I don't know. There was all this light ..." she trailed off. "Sorry, Luna. I can't remember."
"It doesn't sound like anything serious. Probably just stress," the cat diagnosed. "I do want to know if you keep having the same dream, though."
"Okay, Luna."
"Now why don't you go and eat some breakfast?"
As always, the mention of food perked Usagi up. "Sounds good!" Usagi said as she forgot about her dream and pictured a nice package of miso ramen.
Luna seemed to read her mind. "A proper breakfast, Usagi!" the cat scowled.
A little over half an hour later, Usagi was freshly fed, clean, dressed, and had her school bag ready. Still, she hesitated at the door. She drummed her fingers on her bag's straps, deliberately stalling for time. Luna sighed. "What's wrong now, Usagi?"
"I still don't want to go to school."
"Why ever not? I thought you wanted to become a better student."
"I do, but I just don't like Mugen. Everyone's so much smarter than me," Usagi pouted.
"You're not used to it by now?"
Usagi stuck out her tongue. "They're just really mean about it, that's all."
Luna sympathised. It was hard being alone. When she had first awoken from the sleep Queen Serenity had placed her in, she had been alone and scared. The search for the Sailor Senshi had seemed like a monstrous task and, with the holes in her memory, she had doubted her own ability to do it. Still, she had persevered, and Usagi would as well. She would see to it. "It's only been one day, Usagi," she soothed. "Give it time, and your classmates will get to know you. You've already made friends, haven't you?"
"Michiru and Haruka are nice, but I still miss Naru. And," her voice wavered. "And the others," she said quietly. "I just wish my classmates liked me."
"Mugen is an advanced academy. They are probably wondering how you got in with your grades the way they are."
"So far they think it's because I went to public school. I tried to tell them Haruna-sensei is a good teacher, but they wouldn't listen."
"We'll just have to put in some extra study sessions for you to catch up."
Usagi scowled, but caught herself. She really did want to do better. Mamoru would be so proud of her, and maybe even the others would think better of her. Her sour look turned hopeful. "Do you really think that will help?"
"It certainly couldn't hurt."
"I still don't understand why Mugen offered me a scholarship. Maybe it was a mix up at the office?"
"Perhaps," Luna said neutrally. "For now, I suggest you try and make the most of the opportunity."
"I guess so," Usagi said. She still looked glum.
"Surely there's at least one class you like?"
Usagi smiled. "Art's fun!" she chirped. "I like drawing. Sensei says I have a lot of work to do, but I show a..." Usagi frowned in consecration, "a mo-di-cum," she pronounced the word carefully, "of talent."
"That's wonderful, Usagi!"
She beamed. "You really think so?"she asked with a hopeful gleam in her eyes.
"It's certainly more than most have, and now you have something to look forward to."
"Yeah, I guess so," Usagi said thoughtfully. "Luna, what does 'mo-di-cum' mean?"
Luna smothered a laugh. "It means that you show a little talent. He thinks you might be a promising student."
Usagi's eyes widened. "He does? Wow! I've never heard any teacher say that about me before! Thanks, Luna!"
"You're very welcome. Now, hurry along to school before –"
"Before I'm late. I know the drill, Luna!" The cat scowled, and Usagi grinned at her. "Sorry, sorry!" Before Luna could slash her with her claws, Usagi grabbed her school bag from off the floor and dashed out of the apartment. "Bye, Luna!" she called after she had locked the door.
Michiru was waiting for her outside of the apartment building. Usagi waved to her new friend, and her heart felt even lighter. Maybe today wouldn't be so bad, rotten start or not.
"Good morning, Usagi." Michiru smiled at her as they started walking.
"Morning, Michiru!"
"Did you have a pleasant evening?"
"Yeah, I had to go shopping. I really didn't want to, but I ran into Haruka, and he gave Luna and me a ride! He's really cute, but not as cute as Mamoru, of course." The little blonde frowned, "He's a lot nicer, though."
Michiru looked surprised. "Were you talking about Tenoh Haruka?
"Uh huh," Usagi said happily. Michiru's lips quirked into a half smile and Usagi didn't know why. She cocked her head to the side and asked, "What's so funny?"
"I'm sorry, Usagi." Michiru tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear. "It's just that I'm surprised she never told you."
"She?" Usagi frowned. "And told me what?"
Michiru stopped walking and turned to face her. "Usagi, Tenoh Haruka's a woman."
Usagi's eyes widened and cheeks flamed red. "You're, you're sure?"
"I've seen her with a bathing suit on, Usagi. I am quite certain," Michiru deadpanned.
"But... but ... but he, I mean she! She flirted with me and called me cute!" Usagi protested.
"Did it bother you when you thought she was male?"
"No," she shook her head.
Michiru raised an eyebrow. "Well then, does it change now that you know she's female?" she asked patiently.
Usagi bit her lip, and thought it over. "No," she shook her head vehemently. "Haruka's still my friend!"
Michiru smiled at her. "I'm glad."
"I still think she'd make a really cute guy. Too bad," Usagi pouted.
"It maybe a sad thing for you, but I'm glad she's a woman." Michiru laughed.
Usagi blinked in innocent confusion, but shrugged the comment off. She scrunched her little face in aggravation. "Haruka calls me Odango, too. I guess it's better than Odango-Atama, though."
Michiru blinked in surprised. "Who calls you Odango-Atama?"
"Oh, just Mamoru."
"Mamoru?" Michiru teased.
"Um, he's well, um ..." Usagi blushed. She couldn't tell Michiru the truth!
Luckily the older woman seemed to understand. "I'm sorry for teasing," she said.
Usagi nervously toyed with her fingers. "It's okay." She smiled at Michiru. "I don't mind the teasing really. It's just," her breath hitched, "it's just that Mamoru's not here any more," she said sadly.
Michiru opened her mouth to say something when a blue convertible pulled up beside them.
"Haruka!" Usagi cried, glad to both to see her friend and for the distraction. She went over and leaned against the car door. "We were just talking about you!"
Haruka flashed a grin at her, and Usagi blushed. "Good things, I hope." She winked.
"Of course!" Usagi promised.
"Well, Odango, I was going to see if you wanted a ride to school, but it looks like you're busy."
"Oh, I'm sorry! Haruka, this is Michiru."
Michiru bowed, but Haruka pursed her lips. "We've met," she said coldly.
Usagi looked from Michiru to Haruka wide eyed. "Oh," she said. "I didn't know that."
"My offer still stands," Haruka said. She shrugged nonchalantly. "You can come too, Keioh."
Michiru bowed. "I am grateful for the offer."
Usagi bounced into the front passenger seat and buckled herself in. "Thanks, Haruka! School's bad enough without having to walk!"
The atmosphere during drive to the school was tense, and although it confused her that her new friends weren't getting along, Usagi did her best to make conversation. She idly brushed out her pigtails with her fingers and tried to think of a topic. She racked her brain when she remembered yesterday's disastrous math class. "Michiru," she tilted her head to the back seat, "do you know what the Pythagorean Formula is?" she asked finally.
Michiru blinked. "Are you having some trouble in math, Usagi?"
"Uh huh," she sighed. "And in literature, geography, language arts, history, and English. Erg. I hate English!"
"Would you like some extra tutoring?" Michiru asked delicately.
"No, it's okay," Usagi said happily. "I've got that taken care of already!"
"I wouldn't mind helping out," Haruka said. She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. "I don't like school that much either, Usagi," she admitted sheepishly.
"But you do so well!" Usagi said, astonished. Everyone at Mugen seemed to be a genius, like Ami. Well, everyone except for her.
Haruka shrugged. "Doesn't mean I like it."
"It's so boring!" Usagi agreed emphatically.
"You're something else, Odango," Haruka chuckled.
Michiru just shook her head, but a little smile formed at the edges of her mouth. "I believe we're almost there," she said.
"Yeah," Haruka agreed.
They got out of the convertible. Usagi waved to them and slowly walked to her class. Michiru and Haruka were talking about something in hushed voices near the car, and Usagi tried her best not to feel left out. Instead, she concentrated on how much she didn't want to be there. Even with Luna's reassurances, she was not looking forward to another day of school.
Usagi saw Michiru head off to her own home room, while Haruka stalked off in the opposite direction. She dashed towards the older girl, and took a deep breath. "Um, Haruka?" Usagi looked at the ground. "Sorry I thought you were a guy."
Haruka grinned lopsidedly. "Doesn't bother me." She looked in the direction Michiru had gone in. "She told you?"
"Uh huh. I hope you aren't mad."
Haruka laughed and ruffled Usagi's hair. "It's fine, Odango."
Usagi smiled brilliantly. "Really?"
"Really."
xXx
The hot springs was a peaceful place, one so serene even a soul like Endymion could find tranquillity among the trees and forested paths. Buried deep down in his corrupted heart, Endymion felt a certain kinship with the place, but he staunchly ignored it. He was here for research.
The demon he had unwittingly summoned only a few short weeks ago still perplexed him. Jealously, hate, rage, he knew these emotions intimately, they made up his soul, yet when Sailor Moon freed the creature he couldn't help but feel ... pleased for it. A disturbing revelation in itself, but his new found obsession was worse. More and more his thoughts would drift to that blonde haired human girl he had met here.
The attack on her family had enraged him beyond all reason. They were innocent and pure, free from the corruption that ate his soul. They had needed protection, and Endymion had not been able to deny them. It was an unnatural reaction for a citizen of the Dark Kingdom to have, but so was denying one's impulses.
So, on the excuse of researching the demon's unique energy, Endymion had asked for more time in this place. Time he was granted. There was privilege in being Beryl's favourite after all, and if he had to satisfy her other desires to keep his coveted position, then so be it. Beryl was beautiful, strong, powerful, and skilful. Endymion smirked to himself. It wasn't wholly distasteful experience.
He stopped his almost leisurely walk along the rocky beach of the lake to watch chattering children skip stones across the water. Such a human gesture to find enjoyment in the simplest of pastimes. Kunzite in his heavy handed barbarianism would simply destroy them all to get what he wanted. Endymion preferred a more subtle approach. Humans were delicate creatures, they were frail and broke easily. There was no honour in simply slaughtering them, any mindless youma could do that, and Endymion despised youma..
"Endymion, I am still waiting for your report!"
Endymion could feel his queen's voice vibrate through his entire being. His queen's power always gave him a heady sensation, pleasure mixed with pain, and his body demanded he respond. "Yes, my Queen," he answered back mentally. His new hobby would simply have to wait. He glanced back at the lake once more, but not daring to ignore Beryl's summons any longer, he returned to his queen's side.
The Dark Kingdom was a bizarre place. Darkness and shadow reigned supreme over any candlelight that managed to flicker through the endless maze of halls. Youma skittered about, hungry and jealous of Endymion and his power, and decaying black tapestries were left to moulder in the damp, cold air. Endymion's soul revelled in it all. He knew the kingdom intimately, he was a child of it, and his power came from it.
Yet ... and yet, there was some part of him that screamed to stay above ground on Earth. A small fraction that whispered of sunlight and flowers and yellow hair. It sickened him, yet he had listened to it with his request to stay above ground for as long as he had. Hell hole or not, he was Prince of this realm, and it would be his.
He followed the mental summons to the entrance hall where his queen sat at her throne surrounded by dozens of youma. She was looking into her crystal ball again, caressing it almost lovingly with her long, pale fingers. "You're late, Endymion," she said without looking up.
Endymion looked at his queen, and bowed low. "My apologies, my Queen." He was her favourite, but that would not save him from her ire. "I was detained."
"No." Endymion whipped his head around and saw Kunzite materialize beside him. "You've been up on Earth trailing after that human girl," the general said dismissively.
The watching youma jeered, and Endymion's hand when to the hilt of his sword, but restrained himself from attacking. Youma were disgusting, mindless creatures, not worthy to raise his sword against. He narrowed his eyes. "I have no interest in humans, female or otherwise."
Kunzite snorted. "And yet you not only did you protect the humans, you helped the senshi defeat the demon."
"Yes, Endymion. Why didn't you kill the senshi while they were distracted?"
"I'm sorry, my Queen. Unlike some," he looked pointedly at Kunzite, "I do not tolerate my mistakes, and set the senshi to destroy the demon for me."
"You have a strange way of showing your loyalties," the general said in an accusing tone.
Endymion's eyes flashed. "If you are questioning my loyalty to the Kingdom, face me like a man," he growled. "I do not like fighting women, but I'll make an exception for you, Kunzite!"
Kunzite drew his sword. "So be it!"
"Enough!" Endymion froze and looked up into the wrathful face of his queen. "I will not have my two best men killing each other. Endymion, have you learnt anything about the demon's energy?"
He forced himself into a semblance of calm. "No, my Queen."
"Then I have a new task for you. Queen Metallia felt a powerful energy signal emanated by the ginzuishou earlier. Sailor Moon was not at the battle, and yet some how the crystal came to her senshi's aid. I want you to find out why, and then to track down the origin of the signal." A black crystal formed in front of him, and Endymion grasped it in his hands. "This should allow you to follow the ginzuishou's trail."
Endymion nodded. "It shall be done, my Queen." He left the throne room, his cape swirling behind him.
Beryl watched his retreating form with a smirk on her face. He was behaving exactly as Metallia predicted. Exactly as she wanted him to be. She turned to gaze at her last remaining general. "How is our guest, Kunzite?"
"Regretting the curious nature of cats, my Queen."
She nodded her head imperiously. "Very good."
Kunzite bowed. "My Lady Beryl, is there some reason you chose to keep news of the capture from Endymion?"
Beryl's eyes flashed. "I do not like your tone, Kunzite. Endymion is under my complete control, and Queen Metallia's power over him is absolute."
"I do not question that."
"Just my methods. Watch yourself, Kunzite. You can be replaced."
Just as she knew, he did not display any fear. "The fact remains that you have kept this from him. I am merely curious."
"I would suggest you leave before I lose my patience with you. You may end up learning the same lessons as our prisoner."
"As you order." Kunzite bowed, and Beryl watched him disappear.
Endymion had once allowed his lust to cloud his better judgement and chosen the Moon Princess over his entire planet. An entire race had suffered because of that whore, because she had refused Queen Metallia's will. Beryl had picked the winning side, but the witch Serenity had wanted to keep the power of the ginzuishou for herself. Queen Metallia would have allowed them to live, would have allowed Earth to flourish if the Moon had not interfered.
This time, Beryl had the power to protect Endymion, and she would not allow him to make the same mistake. He was her future, she and the Queen had seen to that. Even so, some part of her still hesitated. The power of the Dark Kingdom flowed though Endymion. It fed his power, fuelled the blood in his veins, and wrapped itself around his heart, but she could not completely trust him. Not when it came to Serenity.
Serenity. How she despised the name. Beryl held Endymion's body, mind, and soul in her hands, yet on a whim the Princess could steal him away again. Beryl could not let that happen, not again. She would see him dead first.
