Title: Friends with Secret
Genre: Humor/Mystery
Rating: T
Author's Notes: Great thanks to my new friend Ilene who has been such a huge help in getting these chapters ready for all of you.
Thanks also for all who were so kind to review! It means alot. Hope you enjoy the next chapter!
God Bless,
Marronett
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Usagi bounded into the room away from Makoto and smiled happily seeing the three faces before her, lounging around the Karaoke room. The video screen was off now and none of the four girls looked like they were at all interested in turning it on.
"Ami-chan! You weren't at school. I got your homework for you. Are you feeling all right?" Usagi asked sweetly, pulling off her book bag. The room remained silent and it was taking a great effort for Usagi to keep a smile on her face and give nothing away.
"Are you her Usagi?" Ami's voice was quiet and calm and straight to the point. "Are you the Princess of the Moon?" The words were quiet and seemed to be the only noise in the entire space. Usagi glanced at the other three girls and turned back to Ami, confusion framing her features.
"Am I what Ami-chan?" Usagi asked quietly and suddenly the blue haired genius was out of her seat, her hand slamming against the table she was at loudly and Usagi flinched, stepping back from the abrupt movement.
"We know Usagi-chan. We know you are her. We figured it out." Minako hissed, her eyes narrowing a bit as Ami turned away from them all together, trying to get herself under control. "Your wrist looks good." Minako pointed out and Usagi gulped taking a step backwards. Her foot caught on her book bag and her frame tumbled over it, landing on the ground with a thud.
"Why did you lie to us?" Rei's voice entered the equation and Usagi blinked, her heart rate speeding up. "Why did you make us feel for years that we were useless? That we had nothing to live for but some dumb Prince that hated us!" Rei's voice rose, anger lacing each decibel and Usagi winced. She had to stay strong. But she wasn't… she wasn't strong. She'd never been strong and she needed them almost as much as they needed her but they couldn't have her the way that they were use to… they couldn't or the consequences would be devastating.
"I don't understand… why…" She began but the minute the words were out of her mouth she knew she didn't want to say them anymore. Her eyes started to blur as tears began to fill them. "I…" Usagi began and Makoto slowly pulled her to her feet. She couldn't lie anymore. Not to them… she loved them. "I love you guys. You have to understand that I didn't…" Usagi began than suddenly felt at a loss for words.
"Love? You love us?" Ami's voice hissed, as she turned around, her eyes red from crying. "Your love sucks Usagi-chan." She spat and tears slowly trekked down Usagi's cheeks. She deserved that.
"He doesn't know does he?" Minako asked quietly, her eyes bearing into Usagi's frame and immediately Usagi's eyes widened.
"You can't tell him. He wouldn't understand. He doesn't even know who this Princess is." She said quickly and Rei leaned forward. She had admitted it. It was her. "Look, I am not your Princess. She's a damn ghost following me around and stalking me. I may be her re-incarnation but she hasn't taken over me. She can't! You have to understand what an evil person she is…" Usagi began when suddenly she found herself pressed against a wall, pressure against her throat and she gasped.
"Do not dare speak against her." Makoto breathed heatedly, her eyes ablaze with fury and Usagi tried to gasp in air.
"What do you mean… she isn't a part of you?" Rei hissed stepping forward. Makoto released her and Usagi slid down the wall, her hand immediately grabbing her throat. She coughed, trying to let air get back into her lungs.
"I didn't… lie… I'm not… her…" Usagi hissed out, her voice trying to regain itself. "Not anymore…" Usagi breathed when suddenly she was lifted up once more, Rei dragging her across the room to deposit her into a chair.
"What do you mean not anymore?" Minako spat standing; her frame looming over her and Usagi shook her head.
"You all have no clue who she is. No idea what she did to our worlds." Usagi breathed with a shake of her head. "I will never bring her back. She is dead, you have to live with that!" Usagi cried and suddenly she let out a painful cry. Her hand traveled to her cheek where Ami's hand had slapped her.
"If she is dead… there is no purpose for us. I can't just be your friend Usagi. I have to be your guardian! It is what I am made for! What I live and breathe for! How dare you take it from me." Ami breathed out, anger in her voice and Usagi stared at her with horror.
"You kicked her out of your body." Rei breathed, anger trying to seep out of her and she tried to stay in control. "How long ago was that?" Rei hissed and Usagi turned tearful eyes towards her. She shook her head slowly and Rei rushed forward. "How long!" She demanded.
"Three years ago." Usagi whispered and Rei's eyes widened.
"How the hell is she still here?" Rei questioned and Usagi tried to get herself under control. Gently she rubbed the offended flesh of her cheek and tried to realize how much pain they must be in… that Ami-chan didn't mean it.
"What are you talking about? Not all of us are priestesses." Minako said quickly coming to Rei's side.
"When you expel your spirit it dies. Serenity should have died being apart from her body. How the hell did you kick her out of your body?" Rei asked, surprise in her voice at the feat as she stared at the frail blonde before them.
"It's easy to get rid of someone you hate." Usagi breathed and Makoto let out a breath. This was getting nowhere.
"Where is she?" A new voice spoke and Usagi gulped, her eyes focusing on the feline that wobbled up to her.
"In my bathroom mirror last I saw her. I don't know. The outers always found her. Whenever you are in trouble she is there." Usagi breathed and Rei nodded.
"So, all we have to do is find her and put her back in your body before she flickers out of existence." She said emotionlessly and Usagi gasped horrified.
"You can't do that!" She yelled and Makoto huffed. "She is unstable! She fricken blew up an entire planet just for a Prince!" Usagi yelled than immediately covered her mouth, her eyes wide.
"What?" Minako breathed out and Luna shook her head.
"She isn't capable of that." Luna said sternly and Usagi's eyes narrowed.
"You think that rock is just a decoration?" She hissed and Rei shook her head.
"She can't. She wouldn't have the power." Rei said in denial, the outers' words from that morning fresh in her eyes.
"I'm the monster right? The one that killed your precious Princess… I am right here. I am her just without powers! I tried to kill the part of me that killed all of you!" Usagi suddenly screamed and Minako took a step back.
"She would never harm us. She loves us!" Minako growled back and Usagi slowly shook her head.
"After he died she believed the world needed to end… needed to feel her pain…" She whispered and that revelation dawned painfully on the four Senshi and two Guardians.
"But… the enemy is getting stronger, one day we will not be able to defeat them." Ami mumbled, her mind trying to digest the situation before her.
"The Outers can be there. Seriously these people should be dead by now! How the hell can they keep re-incarnating after the have been vaporized?" Usagi hissed and Minako took a shaky step towards her.
"You know who they are?" She quaked and Usagi glanced up quickly. "How much do you know Usagi? How much is hidden under that stupid bubbly exterior of yours?!" Minako's voice rose in anger and she let out a cry of frustration. "Why the hell do they tell you everything and leave us in the dark? Leave us broken wondering how we can fix the world around us!?" She screamed and Rei was soon around her, holding onto her tightly as their leader broke. Usagi sucked in a deep breath, her heart trying to escape to go out to the four broken before her.
"I'm so sorry. I wanted to help you… I wanted you to live." Usagi whispered and she gulped when Ami bent down before her, their eyes inches apart.
"What life is there without you?" She whispered quietly and Usagi closed her eyes painfully and looked away.
"You may not understand my motives and you may hate me forever but I'm doing this for you. Doing it because I love you. She only cared for herself and her Prince!" Usagi cried, trying to make the women before her see reason, trying to make amends of the betrayal they felt because of her.
"Yeah, what a jerk she was for wanting to be loved." Makoto breathed and Usagi's jaw dropped.
"Are you going to let her back in your body?" Minako spat, her emotions getting under control as Rei's comforting arms held onto her. Usagi sucked in a deep breath and slowly shook her head.
"No." She whispered and Minako pressed her lips painfully together and tried to stop her tears in vain.
"Than get out." She responded and Usagi's eyes widened.
"No, wait! Don't do this!" She tried when Makoto's arms were underneath her, Usagi's book bag suddenly shoved into her stomach.
"We are sworn to defend this planet. We are sworn to defend its monarchy and if you are not with us you are against our goal, our duty." Minako said strongly, Rei's arms slowly leaving her as she found her strength from within.
"You are more than a duty!" Usagi screamed, kicking to try to get out of Makoto's strong hold.
"And you are more than a foolish little girl." Ami breathed in front of her and Usagi gulped, her jaw setting. "You were the most self-less person I had ever met… it was all a lie." Ami whispered, the dejection on her features evident as if someone had just told her every fairy tale was made up and Santa Claus never existed.
"How dare you!" Usagi screamed, anger finally lacing her voice as the anguish of keeping a secret so large it needed seven nine hundred page books to explain spilled out. "I protected you! Do you know what it was like to live alone without you!? To know you where there but never be with you? To see him everyday and know you could never have him? You know nothing about selflessness!" Usagi yelled and before she knew it she was out in the hallway, slamming against the opposite wall and the door slamming in her face.
"We have to get the Princess back in her body." Rei said quickly turning to her leader and Minako let out a breath, her eyes glued to the door.
"We can't." She breathed slowly and Rei's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean we can't? She is our Princess in some serious denial! In fact she may need some psychiatric help." Rei rationalized quickly.
"It's her choice. This is her life Rei. We can't force her to be a Princess if she doesn't want to be one." Minako breathed and Rei's jaw dropped a bit as that realization dawned on them.
"Than what do we do?" Makoto asked and Minako let out a breath.
"We are here for a reason. Whether Usagi accepts her destiny or not we are here to help Mamoru-san defend his planet." The leader of the Senshi said determined, even though deep down her heart was breaking. Her Princess didn't want to be with them. Their reason for existence… was rejecting them for reasons they didn't even understand. Minako blinked when she felt a warm substance rub against her leg. With a sad sigh Minako bent down and scooped Luna up tightly into her arms, gently rubbing at her fur trying to give her comfort. She knew exactly what the small cat was feeling. Useless.
"We need to tell Mamoru-san." Ami said strongly and Makoto blinked.
"Why? He wouldn't even believe us." The senshi of lighting hissed.
"He deserves to know his past. He deserves to know about her." Ami replied quietly and the four went silent. "He deserves to know she isn't coming back."
-=-
"Usagi-chan!" Motoki cried quickly skidding beside her. He checked her quickly for injuries as her eyes attempted to burn holes in the door she had so roughly been thrown out of. Apart from a few scratches and rug burns she seemed fine. "Usagi." He breathed; grabbing her face and making her eyes meet his. "You need to get up. You need to get out of here. Those girls are going to kill you." He said slowly, deathly serious and her eyes narrowed.
"They know nothing about anything." She hissed and he let out a breath and pulled her into his arms as she broke and tears began to seep through his shirt. "Why did this happen to me?" She began to mumble into his shoulder and he bit his lower lip knowing he could never give her an answer. Why she couldn't jus be normal… why they couldn't all be friends. He lifted her, slowly walking her down the hall and he wanted for the first time to tell her what he thought. She was an idiot. She should have accepted her destiny… she was running from it.
"Why can you not just control her?" He questioned finally and Usagi wobbled on her feet, wiping at her tears as the confusing question hit her.
"What?" She asked and his eyes bore into her.
"Why can you not just control her?" He repeated and immediately her back stiffened. "You know what happened… you know you can stop it… why can you not just give them all what they want?" He tried, his voice strained and her pain slammed once more into her chest.
"I don't trust myself… I've been traipsing around rooftops stealing kisses from a man I've loved since I was six who has no idea who I really am… do you think that is normal behavior for a person who has it together and you dare tell me that I should join forces with the most powerful and unstable being in the galaxy because you think I can control her?" She breathed, anger lacing her voice and he let out a breath.
"Ya know when you put it that way…" He began but she was already out the door. With a defeated sigh he lowered his head and knew he had crossed the line.
"Motoki… that is your name isn't it?" A voice hissed behind him and he tensed. "We should have a talk." The voice continued and Motoki sucked in a deep breath and slowly turned, his blue eyes meeting hers and the gaze of three others as they stood behind him. He dreaded the day this would come and now as he stood before it, before four angry ancient warriors he suddenly wasn't afraid. They weren't going to get anything out of him. Minako caught his stance of defiance and glanced behind her. Motoki blinked as Makoto made her way before him and his eyes narrowed. They played dirty.
-=-
Something strange was happening today. He hadn't seen Usagi for more than five minutes. True, he wasn't terribly upset with that. It was getting a bit uncomfortable with her and if he had to be honest… he didn't trust himself around her anymore. Truth be told it was not his fault. She was just such an amazing kisser… and he was in love with her. He groaned burying his head into his couch cushion. He was in love with her… that thought wasn't very depressing. In fact he had a good chance with her since Kenji liked him so much. Problem was that she was in love with his alter ego and he knew for a fact Kenji would have a huge issue with a freak dressed in a tuxedo that throws roses. Besides… she only saw him as a brother. Maybe he could win her over… his head rose at that thought. Maybe if he tried to woo her, maybe she would fall for him. She had to… He gulped a bit hopefully when his doorbell suddenly rang. He checked his watch and a smile lit his lips. No time like the present to start.
Though when he opened the door his smile quickly vanished.
"What are you doing here?" He spat annoyed as he walked away from the door, the four girls entering and shutting it securely behind them. Minako let out a breath, after their failed interrogation attempt upon Motoki the only thing that became more clear was the need to tell Mamoru everything. She was still pissed Motoki hadn't caved. At least now she trusted him a bit with their secrets… it was the reason he was still alive.
"We have to tell you something." Minako began and Mamoru crossed his arms across his chest with tolerance.
"This is my home. If you need something you should have written me a letter." He replied sarcastically and Minako let out a breath. They had all been through enough right now that they didn't want to put up with his shit. In fact that attitude must have been radiating off of them because he suddenly became serious. "What is it?" He asked a bit gentler and Ami cleared her throat.
"Do you remember a Princess… from your past. Princess Serenity of the Moon?" She asked hesitantly and Mamoru blinked a bit, his frame leaning against one of his living room walls.
"I'm sorry. Can't say I recollect but I don't really remember much from that time." He offered knowing suddenly this subject was incredibly important to them.
"You don't have to par say. Look, basically she is the reason for our existence. We were born to protect her. Within her, within her line was a crystal that was so powerful… well no one really knew how powerful." Makoto began and Mamoru was a bit taken aback.
"Might be powerful enough to destroy planets." Rei mused and Minako shot her a look.
"Prince, back then you guys were kind of a thing." Makoto filled in and Mamoru quirked an eyebrow, a smirk slowly falling on his lips.
"I had a thing with your lost Princess?" He offered and Ami let out a breath.
"Yes." She confirmed and Mamoru let out a laugh.
"All right. So what?" He asked and Minako pressed her lips together. So far he believed them… the next part he might not be so ready to hear.
"There may be a reason we are all here other than just to start the monarchy again." She said and Mamoru raised an eyebrow at her. "We believe that the um… thing as Makoto said that you and Serenity shared was rather…" Minako began when Mamoru suddenly cut her off.
"Serenity?" He questioned and Ami blinked.
"You've heard it before?" She questioned and Mamoru let out a breath.
"Well, yeah but this is silly. When we were kids Usagi was really into writing… she would write stories about a Princess named Serenity and some Prince named Eddie." He said, amusement floating to his features as he remembered her animated tales she would tell him. Immediately the atmosphere in the room shifted.
"That…" Rei cursed walking away from them and Mamoru blinked. These girls were losing their minds again.
"Serenity…" Minako began again, trying to regain herself. "Is our Princess. We have been looking for her ever since we have been awakened and we've finally found her but… Ok well here is the issue." Minako said finally cutting to the chase. "We believe your love affair with her was so strong that fate gave us all a second chance so that you two idiots can fall in love again." Minako spat and Mamoru's eyes widened a bit.
"Do you know how absurd that is?" He asked and Makoto fell into a chair.
"Yes." Ami mumbled. "But there is something else…" She began and Rei let out a breath.
"Usagi-chan is one of us." Rei spat, her hands on her hips and Mamoru looked at them and the serious looks on their faces only pissed him off.
"Are you seriously that crazy? Get out." He growled and Minako rolled her eyes.
"Why the hell would we lie about this? Why would we even be her friend?" Minako spat with a glare and Mamoru shook his head as his anger grew.
"She's wonderful. Why would you not be her friend?" He retaliated and Ami sighed a bit sadly.
"She's a liar." Rei hissed with a roll of her eyes and Minako shook her head. Not the right thing to say to him… Mamoru clenched his fists together.
"Get out now." He said strongly and Ami walked towards him.
"We would not lie to you. Usagi-chan has chosen to not join us… we will no longer bother you but we wanted you to know the truth. We wanted you to know that she is it for you. She's your true love. She's our Serenity… our Princess." Ami said softly and Mamoru was taken aback. They couldn't be serious. Usagi-chan was not a Senshi. She was not this famed Princess… his true love… that he might believe but… His brain tried to comprehend this when he noticed each bow and move towards the door.
"Stop!" He commanded and they stilled, turning back to him. "Are you trying to tell me my best friend in the whole world is some crazy Princess who can blow up planets?" He said, eyes wide with disbelief and Makoto let out a breath and held up a finger.
"You know, we haven't proven that." She mumbled and Mamoru felt his last straw break.
"Get out, never speak to me again. You have all lost your minds. Usagi is a normal teenage girl and she has secrets… but to know she is some anchient Princess and not tell me? Does she even know who I am?" He questioned and the girls looked at each other silently than Minako looked sadly at him.
"My Prince we do not know." She whispered and he shook his head.
"I am not your Prince. Out." He growled and once more they bowed their head to him. They had never acted that way in his presence.
"I think she knows." Ami said quietly and Mamoru stared a bit shocked at her. "I think she knows everything." She mumbled and he was taken aback by her heartbroken demeanor. After a few more seconds his door closed. He grabbed onto his head, afraid the new items turning in it would make him explode. This was not possible. Usagi… Serenity? The coincidence of the name was not lost on him. It couldn't be true… her a liar? True, she hadn't told him about her secret rendezvous with his alter ego and making out but he didn't have to tell her everything… still to be in the dark about something so huge? Maybe she just found out… The Senshi could be wrong, though Ami usually always was right… but Usagi chose not to be one of them? Why the hell did he believe aliens over his best friend in the whole world?!
His mind had little time to digest before an alarm went off within him. Someone was attacking his planet… Usagi and Serenity would have to wait.
