She's My What?!?!?!
By: SilverLunarStar
Chapter Nine: Moving In
"Usagi, why do we have to move in with them? Why can't we move in with Haruka? Or she and Michiru-san can move in with us? We haven't seen them in years!" Shingo complained.
She hated lying to him, but she had to do it. "I know it's been a while, but Kadeem is mama's nephew – even if she never told us she found out her cousin and his wife had a son, since they…died of illness, we have to respect her wishes. Papa let her chose who we would go to if…if anything were to happen to them."
With that, Shingo stayed silent.
"Now, be a good ototo and finish packing. I'm almost done; afterward, I need to go help Chibi-Usa. Remember, this has also got to be a shock for her; she's got her parents in intensive care and what just happened to our parents could happen to hers." Usagi tried to be chirpy and the beginning, but what she wanted to say came out solemn. She patted her brother's head.
Shingo looked up at his older sister. Seeing her act so…mature saddened him even more. 'This wasn't supposed to happen. Papa and Mama were supposed to see us grow up, get married, our future kids…and Usagi was supposed to stay happy all the time,' he thought, as he headed to his room to finish packing.
Luna, who had observed this exchange, wallowed in misery. Her charge had changed much within the last few days. The bright flame of youth and light-heartedness she used to carry within her seemed to have diminished. 'I wish there was more I could do…'
About an hour later, Usagi went to Chibi-Usa's room. Knocking on the door Usagi asked, "May I come in?" Hearing as small, 'Hai,' she opened the door.
A small pack laid on her bed. The girl didn't have much, except for the few clothes Usagi had given her from her own childhood and her souvenirs from Tokyo Disneyland.
"All done?"
Chibi-Usa nodded, hugging Luna-P to her. "Usagi-chan?"
"Nani?" she asked, sitting next to her.
"Gomen nasai!" she exclaimed, burying her face on Luna-P as she cried.
Usagi was startled. 'Huh?' "For what Chibi-Usa?" she enquired gently.
"I-it's probably all my fault. I messed with the timeline and I probably ended up causing this to happen!" she confessed, sniffing.
Blue eyes widened in understanding. Kadeem and Zsigmond had brought Usagi home after it was decided that she would stay with them. They waited with her until Haruka and Michiru came with Shingo and Chibi-Usa so they could explain who Kadeem was to Usagi and what their plans were. Of course, a few alterations to the actual will had been made, thanks to Zsigmond.
Hell almost broke loose when Haruka was told her cousins would be moving into a house full of men. If it weren't for Usagi's stubborn nature and Michiru's calm one, blood would most definitely have been spilled. Once Haruka had calmed down, she mumbled, "This shouldn't even have happened…"
The two men looked at one another, startled. They knew this wasn't supposed to have happened, but how did they…?
Chibi-Usa had been asleep on the couch, next to her. She had thought her to, at least. (Shingo had been placed in his room to get some rest, as he was still recuperating.)
Usagi took the small girl into her arms. "Don't you ever think that was happened is your fault, do you hear me? It's not; things like this happen, maybe not often, but they do. Shingo and I are not the first, nor will we be the last people to lose their parents-"
"Demo-"
"You might still be a little too young, Chibi-Usa, demo you have to understand: that's life, sometimes." She said this so heavily, the words and tone of someone much older than her mere fourteen years.
This quieted Chibi-Usa. 'Things are going to be different now, aren't they?' she wanted to ask, but, just by looking at the teen's face, she knew the answer.
The two girls were startled when the doorbell rang.
'Who could that be?' Usagi wondered. The Shitennou had agreed to come get them in the morning, not tonight. Telling Chibi-Usa to get some sleep, she went downstairs and checked through the peephole. As soon as she noticed who it was, she automatically opened the door.
Naru stood outside the Tsukino household. "Kombanwa, Usagi-chan," she greeted.
The blonde gestured for her best friend since childhood to come in. When she did, she closed the door. Once this was done, she hugged her.
Returning the hug, full force, Naru started to cry silently. While she had been at the funeral, she hadn't approached her, as the blonde had been surrounded by her other friends and family. This was a little more than awkward, considering they had been friends long before the other girls had even met. While she admitted to being jealous, at times, Naru knew Usagi had a big enough heart for all, so she tried not to let it get to her too much. Usagi would always be her best friend. With that in mind, she had marched over to the Tsukino residence at eleven in the evening, and here she was now. After her tears subsided, she allowed Usagi to lead her to the living room. On the way, she couldn't help but look into the kitchen. As a result, her tears came back when she remembered all the times she would come over Tsukino Ikuko could always be found there.
When they sat down, Usagi noticed her friend was crying again, so she held her as she sobbed. She couldn't help but envy Naru. For some reason, her tear ducts didn't want to cooperate with the emotional pain she was feeling, thus, her eyes had remained as dry as when she had first gotten the news.
Naru figured Usagi was still in shook over the week's events. It was strange to see her like this, though. The blonde had always been one to display what she was feeling.
In an unspoken agreement, Usagi and Naru made their way to Usagi's room.
Naru pulled out a sleeping bag she kept in Usagi's closet, from times before. She admitted to herself that she was somewhat surprised that it was still there, looking as if it had just been washed. She was setting it down next to the bed when her surroundings finally registered in her mind. "Usagi-chan, where are you going?" She knew better than to ask if she was going anywhere; it was obvious she was, from all the boxes piled up around the room. The kitchen and living room had been in the same state, she remembered. It dawned on her that the whole house was probably like this too.
"Shingo, Chibi-Usa, and I are moving," she stated simply.
"Chibi-Usa?" she questioned.
"She's the daughter of a family friend who has been left in our-my care. We're moving in with a relative from mom's side. He, Shingo, and I are second cousins."
"He?" she pressed.
Usagi nodded. "His name is Kadeem. We never met him because, when his parents died of an illness, they were traveling. He was adopted by a family in the country they were visiting. Mama barely found out a couple of years ago. I guess she must have met him because in the will she stated she wanted us to live with him. I'll still be attending school with all of you; we're not moving far," she added. Suddenly, she realized that there was a lot that had been occurring, sans Senshi business, that her friend didn't know about. "Naru-chan, gomen."
This startled her. "What for?"
"For not being a good friend and distancing myself from you; believe me, if I could help it, I wouldn't have, ever. You've been my best friend for so long and I take you for granted. I'm lucky that you still talk to me at all and that you're here right now." Usagi, who was sitting down on her bed, looked at her bare feet. She was surprised when Naru sat up and hugged her. She returned the embrace, feeling tears well behind her eyes, yet she was unable to let them out.
"I'll always be here for you, Usagi-chan. Whenever you need me, you can count on me," she declared with such conviction Usagi was surprised that didn't make her break down right there and then.
They held each other for a few more minutes, before finally settling down to go to sleep.
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A little before ten, the doorbell of the Tsukino residence was rung.
Usagi got up groggily from bed. It took her a few seconds for coherency to make way. The persistence of the doorbell was the only thing that had her tumbling off. Carefully, she made her way around Naru and was surprised when she didn't trip on anything. This pride was soon diminished when she tumbled down the last few stairs. She unlocked the door once she made it. Looking at the two forms, she yawned.
"I told you she would still be sleeping Kadeem," Nahele teased.
"Did the stars tell you that?" said a disgruntled Usagi.
"I don't need the stars to tell me that," he clarified.
Kadeem rolled his eyes.
Contemplating on whether she should let them in or slam the door on their faces, she finally led them to the kitchen.
"Usagi-chan?" a groggy voice mumbled from the bottom of the stairs.
"Who's that?" Kadeem questioned.
"Naru-chan," she answered. "She came by last night… I'm in the kitchen!"
Nahele, who had been piling the boxes, smashed his fingers between two, startled when he heard the girl's name.
Usagi was confused for a second, until she remembered… "Naru-chan, matte!"
It was too late, though. Naru had just entered the room. "What's wrong?"
Coming up with something quick, she replied, "Nandemonai, it's just that my cousin and his friend are here; I didn't know if you were still in pajamas or not."
"Oh, I borrowed some clothes from one of the open boxes. I hope you don't mind."
"Of course not." 'Oh man, what can I do now?' She knew there was nothing she could do, she just hoped for the best. "Ano… Naru-chan, this is my cousin, Kadeem and…his friend, Nahele. He's from the States. Guys, this is one of my best friends, Naru."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Naru-san," Kadeem responded, extending his hand.
Nahele did the same, nervously.
"Likewise Kadeem-san, Nahele-san." She smiled at the two, but couldn't help the longer-than-necessary glance she cast at the brown haired man. He was so quiet, but very attractive. 'Stop right there, Naru, you have Umino.' True that Umino was definitely the most attractive guy in the world, but he was very sweet and did his best to please her. 'Still, no harm in looking.' She giggled internally. After chatting with Usagi a bit more, she bid farewell. "Okaa-san said she needed help at the store today," she explained to her best friend as they walked to the door. They hugged and she was on her way.
"Phew," Usagi sighed when she got back to the kitchen. "I thought for sure she'd remember you, Nahele."
"So did I." He was pretty relieved that it wasn't so. Even if the girl didn't remember, he did and he couldn't help but feel guilty. Looking into the curious eyes of the Princess, he explained, "The reason why I was so attracted to Naru before was because she was the opposite of Dem-Makoto. Mainly in the fact that Makoto has always been able to fend for herself while Naru seemed like a fragile porcelain doll to me. She evoked the protective side of me that I have towards the Prince, Makoto, and yourself."
Usagi nodded. Both explanations were reasonable. Naru was different from Makoto, just as he was different when serving Beryl. However there was still that protectiveness within him that exerted itself when he was around Naru, something that was the real him, fighting to resurface, trying to reject all that that wicked witch had tarnished.
The doorbell rang again. It was Jinhai with a rented moving truck. By that time, Nahele had brought out a few packed supplies to make breakfast. They were soon joined by Shingo, then Chibi-Usa. It took a better part of the day to load the things they'd need to take with them to their new home, send a few things to storage, dust and clean the house, and, finally, cover any left furniture so it wouldn't get ruined.
During this time, Shingo was able to bond with his 'cousin.' The boy decided he wasn't half-bad and neither were his friends.
Before they knew it, it was already dusk and they were done.
With one last look inside, Usagi closed and locked the door.
Once they arrived at their new, gigantic home, Nahele started preparing dinner, Kadeem set the table, and Jinhai stayed outside, playing with the kids.
Usagi threw herself onto the couch in the library. She had never felt so weary in her life! Not even when she actually tried to do homework. Still, something was nagging her.
"Yen for your thoughts?" a voice asked.
Startled, Usagi looked up to a pair of green eyes. "I should have known you'd be here."
"I must say, I'm quite surprised you're here," Zsigmond teased.
"Quiet you." She stuck her tongue out.
Zsigmond chuckled, but quickly sobered. "Is anything the matter, Princess?"
"Yes, actually. One: why do you guys keep calling me Princess? That was like a billion years ago! "
"Gomen, Princess. Old habits die hard."
"Iie, I'm sure I've had this argument before, with all of you."
"Hai, we have," he agreed. "What's the second?"
"The second thing is this: why didn't Naru-chan remember Nahele? Not that it's a bad thing; after all, it would have been kind of hard to explain to her why the man who died in her arms was in my kitchen."
Zsigmond winced internally at the accidental reminder that Nahele had been killed by him. "I believe I have a theory for that."
"Of course you do," she humored him.
Resisting the urge to stick out his own tongue (bad habits are also easy to pick up), he started, "When you defeated Beryl and Metaria and wished for a normal life, your memories of the past few months were erased, correct?" When she nodded, he continued, "Well, obviously, so it wouldn't seem suspicious that you and the girls weren't talking to one another, the memories of those around you also had to be altered. I'm guessing that included anything that had to do with the Dark Kingdom."
Usagi hummed. Before she could say any more, however, Kadeem was calling everyone for dinner. Before they exited the library, Usagi turned to face Zsigmond. "By the way, Zsigmond?"
"Hai?"
"Don't blame yourself for past events." With that, she left.
Zsigmond stared at her retreating back. Collecting his wits, he headed to the dining room where they all had a nice, if not a bit rowdy, normal dinner.
Of course, this would later be thought of as the calm before the storm…
Hmm… Not sure how I feel about this chapter, however I hate how Naru just vanishes into the background after a while, much like Motoki. Although, it remains unknown just how often she'll appear in this fic. I'm sorry if the last few chapters have seemed a bit slow, but there will be a lot more drama soon!
Thank you ever so much for all your reviews! I'm glad you're all enjoying it! I'm sorry I wasn't able to respond to each of you this time, but this week just ran off before I knew what was happening! XD I'll try and respond immediately to any reviews I get this time!
To answer a couple of questions:
nxkris: There will be a battle soon. My first battle scene so I hope it goes well.
sabina21: I'm trying to decide on everyone's reactions for when they find out, but they will find out soon! In fact, I think you just gave me the inspiration I needed to finish off chapter thirteen… Thanks!
If anyone's wondering about anything else, feel free to ask!
Don't forget my poll! If you guys have any suggestions, don't hesitate!
Until next week!
~*Eli
