Disclaimer: Sailor Moon does not belong to me.
A/N: I apologize for the long delay! I recently came back from my vacation and during my time away I was able to jump back into writing. I was planning on adding some more to this chapter, but there was still so much I had to write for where I wanted this part to go that I decided to split it up. I hope you all enjoy the latest installment and remember to review!
The moment she heard the sound of a 'click' signaling the front door had shut, Usagi closed her eyes and leaned her full weight upon the door. She had managed to cool down her anger during the walk home and now she was just exhausted. A rumble from her stomach reminded her that she didn't manage to have a single meal at all today; the small tidbits Naru and Umino were able to spare for her during lunch didn't do anything at all to satisfy her monstrous appetite. Usagi stealthily made her way towards the kitchen hoping to grab whatever she can get her hands on to stop her noisy stomach while avoiding Suna-chan.
"Is that you, Usagi-chan?"
Surprised at the sound of Setsuna's voice, Usagi managed to trip over her own two feet giving gravity the opportunity to do its job of pulling her down. Her grunt of pain was successfully muffled by the floor when she landed on her face, however, Usagi couldn't stop the 'thump' which resounded throughout the house when her body hit the floor.
"Usagi-chan?"
'She didn't hear it. She didn't hear it. She didn't hear it.' was the mantra Usagi kept repeating in her head, but the sound of Setsuna's footsteps heading in her direction dashed her wishful thinking.
"Usagi-chan, what are you doing?" Slowly Usagi lifted her head to see Setsuna standing in front of her with a raised eyebrow. "And why didn't you answer me the first time?"
"Ehehehe... Well you know, the floor was looking lonely so I decided to greet it with a hug."
"And that's the reason why you didn't answer me the first time I called out?" A sheepish grin spread across Usagi's lips as of that was the real answer to Setsuna's question. Used to her adoptive daughter's absurd antics which she has grown quite fond of overtime, Setsuna bent down to lend a helping hand to the clumsy blond's feet. Once Usagi was steady on her own she lifted a hand and gently touched her nose. It was a bit red and sore from being smushed against the floor, but other than that it was alright.
"Alright now young lady, I know you had a test today. How did you do?"
Reluctant to tell Setsuna the truth, Usagi opened her mouth to tell her that she had passed when her rumbling stomach decided to cut her off.
"I guess we should get something into that belly of yours since you weren't able to eat breakfast or lunch, but don't think for a second that I've forgotten about that test." At the mention of food, Usagi obediently followed Setsuna to the kitchen where a plate of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies was waiting to be devoured by her. In a blink of an eye, Usagi pounced on her sweet prey and managed to shove five cookies into her mouth at once. At times Setsuna was amazed at how much her daughter could eat all at once. Where does it all go and is her stomach actually a black hole? These are the questions that float around her mind as she merely watched Usagi eat cookie after cookie as if the world was about to end. After five minutes had passed all that was left was an empty plate of crumbs and one content Usagi. Wasting no time, Setsuna cut directly to the chase, "Now Usagi, where is your test?"
She knew Suna-chan was serious when she dropped the 'chan' from her name and used her no-nonsense voice. Once more Usagi thought about saying she passed, but decided against it. Lying always brought her more trouble than it was worth and somehow Setsuna could always tell that it was one. It was almost as if she could look into the future and that was how she figured out the real truth.
Hesitantly Usagi reached into her school bag and took her sweet time "searching" for her test trying to delay the inevitable for as long as possible. She couldn't keep up with the charade for long (there was only so much time she could use to look for a single piece of paper in a small space), Usagi pulled her hand back to reveal a mangled test paper filled with wrinkles and tiny rips along the edges. She dropped it into Setsuna's expectant hand then waited for her reaction. Absolute silence engulfed the kitchen as Setsuna looked at the test. Taking advantage of her mother's distraction, Usagi inched her way towards the hallway.
"Usagi."
The sound of her name stopped her cold in her tracks. She was so close to her goal that had she just taken one more step then she would have been able to make a clean get-a-way. Dread filled her entire being as she turned to face Setsuna. Fortunately Setsuna was able to master the ability to make a poker face ever since she was a child. Not a single emotion could break through her blank mask due to her iron will or else she wouldn't have stayed as the Guardian of Time and Space for as long as she has if every emotion was shown whenever she witnessed future events. And believe her there were plenty of times when Queen Serenity would inquire about the future out of sheer curiosity. Questions such as, "Will Earth join the Silver Millennium?" or "Do you think Princess Serenity will find love on the Moon Kingdom?". Of course Setsuna's answers were vague and cryptic each time, but she always knew Her Majesty was never asking on a whim. Instead the Queen was testing her to see if the burden of Time itself was too much to bear for her mentality.
At the moment mother and daughter were locked in a staring match with neither of them backing down. What exactly are the thoughts going through Setsuna's mind? Usagi felt like she was a little girl again being chastised for doing something she wasn't supposed to do.
"I really don't know what to say. This is the worst mark you've ever gotten. I understand some of the mistakes you made, but how could you get the simplest questions wrong?" Seeing Usagi look so downtrodden made Setsuna's mask slip away. It pained Setsuna to watch her dear princess carry her troubles on her own these past weeks. She wanted to make Usagi feel like she could rely on her a little bit more not only as her duty of being guardian and princess, but as mother and daughter. Over the years since the first day she brought Usagi home to the present, Setsuna truly thought of her as her own flesh and blood.
"My words may have been a tad harsh, but I know you can do better than this. Usagi, please tell me what's the matter?"
Taking a deep breath Usagi revealed about the vivid nightmares she's been having night after night. About a gruesome battlefield, screams of agony and watching people she didn't recognize, but for some reason cared for deeply, sacrifice themselves for her to get to safety.
"It all feels so real like I actually lived through it. But whenever I wake up, I can't remember what it was about." Usagi paused after talking about her frightening dreams. It felt like a great weight had been lifted off of her chest and now she was able to breathe easier. "Not only that, but today I bumped into this jerk twice! He was so rude and kept calling me this awful name. Just thinking about it is making me mad again!"
"Oh?" This peaked Setsuna's interest. It wasn't everyday that something like a rude stranger could set off Usagi in a second flat. "The chances of you bumping into him a third time are high considering you encountered him twice today."
"Oh, ew! I really hope I never see his ugly mug again!"
"You never know. He could be a secret admirer." Setsuna teased. The thought of considering him as a prospective love interest made a shudder crawl up Usagi's spine. 'Like that'll ever happen.' She thought.
"All joking aside, you still have your punishment. You are to come home immediately after school for the next week. That means no more stopovers at the Crown Arcade and your allowance will be cut. Understood?"
"Yes." Dejected at the loss of heavenly milkshakes and video gaming, Usagi knew this was coming and accepted her punishment without complaint.
"Here, I got you something to cheer you up." Setsuna reached into her pocket and pulled out a small golden broach. Handing it off to Usagi, it was no bigger than the palm of her hand. "Do you like it?"
Awed, Usagi held the broach above her head. Tiny sparkles were bouncing off of its polished surface from the light of the sun, making it look they were dancing.
"It's beautiful! Thank you, Suna-chan!" A radiant smile spread across Usagi's face as she hugged her gift close to her chest. Relieved that the broach brought such joy to her, Setsuna then sent Usagi off to her room to start on her homework. Once the bouncing blonde was out of sight a troubled look crossed over Setsuna's face. The nightmares Usagi were having disturbed her greatly for she never expected her princess to begin remembering this early. It was much too soon and her destiny has barely even begun yet.
'Oh, Usagi-chan. I fear the road ahead of you will be twice as difficult, but please, please stay strong for what is to come.' With that silent prayer, Setsuna quietly slipped out of the house.
