Mama Usagi
A Sailormoon what-if
------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER: None of the characters, except Usagi's husband, are mine. Sailormoon is copyrighted to Naoko Takeuchi, Kadansha Publishing, Toei Amination, Bandai Toys, DiC, Mixxzine, and probably others I can't remember. But this story is mine.
------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES: The song I have Usagi singing is "Long Long Texas Road", sung (1970) by
Country artist Roy Drusky (born 1930).
I don't remember ever seeing even a reference to Naru having a father on Sailor Moon! So, I have come up with a reason for that!
The lulluby Usagi sings to Naru and Hotaru IS- believe it, or not- an actual song! IT was on an album by the folk-trio of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers. (I hope the last names are spelled right and in their proper order!)
"The Most Dangerous Game".. is a short story by Richard Connell I had to read in school. The story is about men hunting one-another, one, for sport.. the other, for survival!
------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 10: TARA and MOLLIE.
Usagi couldn't believe it. As she nursed and rocked Alex and Michelle, she tried to look back on the past few years. In looking back, Usagi was amazed at where she had been just 17 short
years ago!
"I was so scared.. so lost.. then! My world was distroyed! And, now, my world is coming back together! Iyaa. Not all my world! Not everyone will come back." Usagi sighed, then smiled down at Alex and Michelle. "At least.. I will be here for you.. and you brothers and sisters!
You WILL have a mother this time! This, I promise!" She cooed as the twins gurgled.
"Talking to the girls, Usagi?" Jacob asked as he stepped out on the porch to enjoy the evening.
"Hai." She whispered, sliding down the swing for Jacob. "The night promises to be beautiful!"
"Hai." Jacob smiled as the crickets sang and the fireflies danced in the air. "I heard you
make a promise to Alex and Michelle?"
"Hai! A life-time ago, my girls were all lost.. and alone. So were the boys! They will not be alone, this time!"
"No, they won't, Usagi!" Jacob smiled. "They'll have us, Usa! Come hell or high water!"
"Hai." Usagi chuckled low. "So much has changed, Jacob! Remember how I was when we met?"
"Do I ever!" Now was Jacob's time to chuckle! "You were so quiet, so distant.. like you were a goldfish in a bowl- always looking out." Jacob then took Michelle in his arms. "Now THAT
was a life-time ago!" He grinned at his wife.
"Hai." Usagi whispered. "It was."
Usagi then sang softly:
"I've been up, and I've been down, I've worked the fields, I've plowed the ground.
I've taken strain and pressure 'til I thought I might explode!
"And now I dream of childhood days, of model trains, and lemonade,
when the day stretched out before me like a long, long Texas road!"
"Yes- that long, long Texas road, about a million miles or so!
When you're just a child, there ain't no time but now!
"Must have left that long, long road seven-hundred years ago.
And I'd find it once again, if I knew how."
"I've worked in city factories, their plastic-dirt still clings to me.
Monotony near-killed me. Lord! It was a heavy load!
"And now I dream of comic-books, of horny-toads, and fishing hooks,
when the day stretched out before me like a long, long Texas road!"
"Yes- that long, long Texas road, about a million miles or so!
When you're just a child, there ain't no time but now!
"Must have left that long, long road seven-hundred years ago.
And I'd find it once again, if I knew how."
"And, so, I watch the children play! And dream my dreams of yesterday.
Oh, tell them to 'be grateful!' I'm sure that they've been told.
But if I knew then what I know now, that would've messed it up, somehow,
when the day stretched out before me like a long, long Texas road."
"Yes- that long, long Texas road, about a million miles or so!
When you're just a child, there ain't no time but now!
"Must have left that long, long road seven-hundred years ago.
And I'd find it once again, if I knew how."
"Aishateru, Jacob!"
"I love you, too, Usagi!"
********************
"You *do* have a *beautiful* voice, Usagi-chan!" Naru said in the rocky alcove. "I had forgotten how I loved hearing you sing. Domo arigatou!"
"You are welcomed, very much, Naru!" Usagi said, smiling and sipping her tea. "I will
make sure I sing more!"
"It will be.. so wonderful.. to hear a lullaby again!" Hotaru whispered at a phantom tear
escaped her eye.
"Hai." Usagi whispered to the dark senshi. "I will be here whenever you need me, Hotaru-chan! And, for you, Naru! Oosaka-kaasan has told me how.. difficult.. it was.. for you
and she!"
"Ha.. Hai." Naru choked on her answer. "It is never easy..for a widowed-mother. With..
all the.. energy needed.. to.. make a living.. there.. never seemed..."
"Hai. I know." Usagi kissed the trembling spirit. "Oosaka-kaasan.. has told me, often, how
grateful she is to me for being your friend! All that time- and this- you worried about me! And, you were hurting!!"
"Demo..." Naru answered quietly, "you made my hurt go away!"
Usagi beckoned to two spirits closer, and sang a lullaby:
"Oh, once I had a little dog, its color it was brown,
I tought him for to whister, to sing and dance and run!
His legs they were fourteen yards long, his ears so very wide,
Upon him back in half-a-day upon him I would ride!
"Sing, tarry all day! Sing autumn to May."
"Oh, once I had a little frog, it wore a vest of red,
"It leaned upon a silver cane, a tophat on his head!
He'd speak of far-off places, of things to see and do,
and all the kings and queens he'd meet while sailing in a shoe!
"Sing, tarry all day! Sing autumn to May."
"Oh, once I had a flock of sheep, they grazed upon a feather!
I'd keep them in a music box through wind of rainy weather!
And, every day the sun would shine, they'd fly all through the town
to bring me back aome golden rings or candy by the pound!
"Sing, tarry all day! Sing autumn to May."
"Oh, once I had a downy-swan, she was so very frail,
she sat upon an oyster shell and hatched me out a snail!
The snail, it changed into a bird! The bird, to butterfly!
And he who tells a bigger tale woould have to tell a lie!
"Sing, tarry all day! Sing autumn to May."
The two small spirits were in a fit of giggles!
"Frog?" Hotaru gasped. "With *heehee* TOPHAT??"
"And cape!" Usagi smiled down. She knew where this was going.
"Did frog..", Naru asked sheepishly, "have kamen?"
"Iyaa..", Usagi slowly let out, "No mask!"
Both spirits were doubled-over!
"Brother's favorite night-song!" Usagi added.
Hotaru and Naru were rolling around on the stone floor!
Suddenly, Hotaru sprank back to her feet, very wary!
"Nani-yo, Hotaru-chan?" Usagi asked.
"Do you hear it, Naru?" The Dark Senshi asked.
Naru grew very quiet. "I.. think so. Hai. Kowaii."
"Usagi?" Hotaru asked. "Be careful, onegai? Something on the wind.. feels evil!"
Usagi strained to hear it, too.. a faint, mocking laughter, somewhere in the distance.
Something, somehow, had invaded her dreams!
"It does not souns like Matallia!" Usagi mused. "But.. then.. can I be sure?"
"Be careful, Usagi!" Naru begged.
"Do not worry. I will."
********************
A couple of months later, Usagi and Jacob were attending the Open-House at Chibiusa's school.
"I HOPE we do not meet Maddie Devlin, tonight!" Usagi winced. "That would ruin the supper we just had."
"Don' worry yourself, Usagi!" Jade Blackstone spoke up. "Haddie won't be here tonight!
Poor girl is a bit on the sickly side, today!"
"Nara?" Usagi asked. "Is it serious? Do you know, Jade? Is it contageous? How is Beryl?"
"I have a feeling I know what it is," Jade said slyly, "Demo.. it's just.. not something *polite* people talk about!" She then grinned to Usagi. "We'll talk about it tomorrow. And, don't worry 'bout Beryl-chan, she'll be alright! What her mama got ain't easily caught."
In spite of herself, Usagi snickered, having just figured out the clues!
"Hello, Mrs. Warren? Mr. Warren?" A strange, commanding voice introduced itself.
Usagi froze! The whisper from her dream!
"Allow me to introduce myself! I am Richard TOTZ.. young Usagi's History teacher!"
Usagi turned aound to formally-introduce herself, and found herself immediately wanting to run.. and grab the deer-rifle out of the cab of their truck! There was something disturbingly.. familiar.. about Mr. Totz!
"I have a couple of darringers in my purse, Usagi." Jade whispered low. "They're free to us if you need one."
"Domo arigatou, Jade!" Usagi gulped. "I will remember that."
"Our daughter has spoken of you.. Mr. Totz." Jacob said in an even tone.
"Obviously, not enough." Usagi muttered.
"Yes.." Mr. Totz grinned. Usagi thought it made him look rather like a hungry wolf. "I find Miss Usagi a most.. intriguing.. student! I just hope to *have* the rest of your family..
in my class.. when the time comes!"
Usagi forced her eyes to take in all of Mr. Totz, to burn him into her memory.
"What.. are you carrying, Mr. Totz?" Usagi asked.
"Ah!! You've noticed my *one* weakness, Mrs. Warren!" The teacher chuckled. "I've a fondness for good literature. Would you care to read it.. Mrs. Warren?"
Usagi read the title of the story: "'The Most Dangerous Game'?"
"A short-story by Richard Connell. Truly fastinating! A true study of man as he was meant to be!"
"A killer?" Usagi asked.
"Ah!! You have.. read.. the story, Mrs. Warren?" Totz grinned.
"Yes. Once. In school."
"It shows the human-existance for what it really is..", Mr. Totz smiled maliciously, "the Primal Struggle between the strong and the weak. That is all history is.. wars between the strong and the weak, with the periods of.. peace.. being but intervals between the wars where hatreds and jealousies can build up for the next war. Where the weak are culled from the strong, again.
Every culture has such stories! The Japanese have a particularly interesting one.. about the Moon Kingdom!"
Jacob and Usagi felt a strange elctricity in the room, as all the other conversations seemed to grow distant!
"And, in which group do *you stand, Mr. Totz?" Usagi asked. "In your.. war?"
"With the strong, Madame.. Warren.. always!" As Mr. Totz grinned, Usagi thought she saw an eerie glow in his eyes.
"Your war will come.. Totz!" Jacob hissed out dangerously. "But, NOT with MY family as your pawns."
"Do not threaten me, little man," Totz growled. "You are not in my league!"
Usagi felt a chill run up and down her body, as Jacob answered in a quiet, confident voice:
"Not yet, Herr Totz. But, one day, I will be."
Later that night, as Uasgi tucked Chibiusa into bed, she asked about her daughter's teacher.
"I thought that the only ones that scared you at school were the Warrens. Why did you not
tell your father and I more about Mr. Totz?"
"I wanted to, mama..", Chibiusa said as she began to cry and shake. "But, I was always too scared to tell anyone! I was afraid.. for you and Daddy, Uncle Shingo and Aunt Rachel! Totz is scary! And, all he does is talk!!"
"Hai. I know." Usagi held her daughter tightly to her!
********************
"He SCARED me!" Usagi shook as Hotaru and Naru held onto her. "He spoke.. that VOICE that we heard here on the wind! I turned around.. and I *knew* to be AFRAID of him! He seemed.. be be.. al the evils I faced.. in one person! KAMI! I am still scared! I am glad that Jacob was there with me."
"Another Enemy?" Naru asked gaurdedly.
"THE Enemy, I think, Naru!" Another shiver of fear ran through her as Usagi lifted her face to the sky. "I do not know why.. demo.. I feel I have faced this evil before. I cannot remember *Where*, though!"
Hotaru and Naru held onto Usagi VERY protectively.
"Hotaru?" Usagi asked. "Naru? I can.. feel you?"
"Hai.. Kaasan."
Usagi's eyes glistened with tears, as her laughter pealed to the skies!
********************
As the clouds thundered overhead, threatening to pour their buckets of rain on the country road, Jacob was trying to get Usagi to the hospital for her check-up.
"I know you want to come out, now!" Usagi said, circling her womb protectively, "demo..
joji.. you still have 9 weeks to grow, yet!"
"They even sound like their namesakes!" Jacob smiled. "They are a *bit* impatient..
and that's among their GOOD qualities, dammit!"
"I cannot believe OUR daughters are going to named after YOUR crazy itoko!"
"Gomen, Usagi-chan," Jacob grinned, "but.. 'Mollie' and 'Tara' have been names in our
family for about five generations.. an'.. my cousins threatened to fire-bomb us if we didn't name the girls after 'em!" He then mumbled, "And they'd do it, too."
"And..", Usagi now grinned at Jacob, "WHY hasn't anyone else named their children after them??"
"Because the names are cursed?" Jacob chuckled.
"HAI! *Heeheehee*" Usagi giggled. "'Mad Mollie' and 'Tara the Terror', you told me! And..
*Haha* HOW MANY times have aunt and uncle called you *hoohoohoo* to get it itoko out of jail?"
"Have you kept track?" Jacob grinned.
"Iyaa! I loose count after.. fiftieth time? Why they don't call Rachel that much?"
"'Cause my dear sister'd kill'em and dump'em in the first ditch she got to if she were allowed to!" Jacob chuckled.
"Watch out, Jacob! Cemetery curve is coming up."
"I know, Usagi. Don't wanna hit any of the trees, either! Don't want us dyin' just going to the hospital. Rache'd have to look after our brood! She'd never forgive me!"
As they approached the curve, the stormy skies opened up with a loud crack of thunder and bright flashes of lightning! Suddenly, the Warren's truck hit a tree at 45 miles-per-hour!
*HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK..!!!* The truck-horn blared.
"Ugh.. Jacob?" Usagi turned with a sudden pain toward her husband. "Oh.. KAMI-SAMA!! JACOB!!!!"
Jacob Warren was bleeding from his forehead, having been thrown against the windshield! His chest was shoved into the steering wheel.
"Jacob??" Usagi whispered.
Another roll of thunder almost masked another sound.. sharper.. and louder.
'Nani?' Usagi thought. 'Gunhshot?'
"Usa? Call.. Ayumi! I'm hurt.. bad."
"OK. Come on." Usagi painfully got herself out of her seatbelt then slowly slid Jacob out of the truck into the driving rain. "I got the cell."
As Usagi got Jacob out of the cab and to the far-end of a ditch, another peel of thunder sounded. This was followed by thunder of a different kind, as the truck's gastank exploded -
engulfing the truck-cab in flames!
"9-1-1?" Usagi said weakly. "I nead paramedics.. FM 1541 at Morgan Cemetery! Yes. Usagi Warren. Automotive accident. Serious injuries.. and possible premature-labor. Yes. Thank you."
"Help will come, Jacob!" Usagi said as she cradled Jacob's bleeding head.
As Usagi huddled protectively around Jacob between the freezing rain and roaring gasoline
blaze, her thoughts were on her family- two dead, one living- and how it looked like she would be joining the dead, shortly!
"Gomen.. nisai.. minna! It looks like.. the gods are playing against us.. again! At least..
I will be around.. to watch with.. Naru and Hotaru!"
"Usa? Usa?" Jacob mumbled a bit. "You.. you.. go-g-g.. g-got to.. toooooooo.. h-hold on.
Ah.. ah.. I'mmmmmmm.. n-n-nnnnot.. gonna.. mmm-m-m-make it.. Gomen. You gotta.. look after.. our
kids. I'llll .. look out.. when I can."
"Hai." Usagi held onto her husband as he went into shock. "Aishiteru, Jacob-kun!"
"Aishiteru.. Usagi-san.." Jacob starting coughing up blood.
"do not *cough!* worry! Molly? Tara?" Jacob addressed his two daughters. "I'll *COUGH!!*
be.. watching you..."
About that time, helicopters were heard overhead.
"Forest.. Service?" Usagi looked up. "Air-Cav.. to rescue?"
Soon, Jacob had been lifted up on-board, while medics looked over Usagi to make sure she and her daughters were safely prepped for the flight to the hospital.
Then, through the hard rain, Usagi saw it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shodow,
rising from behind a tombstone.
The last thing Usagi heard, before slipping into unconscienceness, was the pilot on the radio:
"County General? One patient, lacerations and contusions, and hypotmermia! Also, pregnant!
going to induce labor! Need surgical and natal teams ready, STAT!! ETA.. 10 minutes!!"
Usagi's now a widowed mother, how will she cope ?
Next Chapter: "Getting By" ! See you, then !!
caellach@houston.rr.com
A Sailormoon what-if
------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER: None of the characters, except Usagi's husband, are mine. Sailormoon is copyrighted to Naoko Takeuchi, Kadansha Publishing, Toei Amination, Bandai Toys, DiC, Mixxzine, and probably others I can't remember. But this story is mine.
------------------------------------------------------------
NOTES: The song I have Usagi singing is "Long Long Texas Road", sung (1970) by
Country artist Roy Drusky (born 1930).
I don't remember ever seeing even a reference to Naru having a father on Sailor Moon! So, I have come up with a reason for that!
The lulluby Usagi sings to Naru and Hotaru IS- believe it, or not- an actual song! IT was on an album by the folk-trio of Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey, and Mary Travers. (I hope the last names are spelled right and in their proper order!)
"The Most Dangerous Game".. is a short story by Richard Connell I had to read in school. The story is about men hunting one-another, one, for sport.. the other, for survival!
------------------------------------------------------------
Chapter 10: TARA and MOLLIE.
Usagi couldn't believe it. As she nursed and rocked Alex and Michelle, she tried to look back on the past few years. In looking back, Usagi was amazed at where she had been just 17 short
years ago!
"I was so scared.. so lost.. then! My world was distroyed! And, now, my world is coming back together! Iyaa. Not all my world! Not everyone will come back." Usagi sighed, then smiled down at Alex and Michelle. "At least.. I will be here for you.. and you brothers and sisters!
You WILL have a mother this time! This, I promise!" She cooed as the twins gurgled.
"Talking to the girls, Usagi?" Jacob asked as he stepped out on the porch to enjoy the evening.
"Hai." She whispered, sliding down the swing for Jacob. "The night promises to be beautiful!"
"Hai." Jacob smiled as the crickets sang and the fireflies danced in the air. "I heard you
make a promise to Alex and Michelle?"
"Hai! A life-time ago, my girls were all lost.. and alone. So were the boys! They will not be alone, this time!"
"No, they won't, Usagi!" Jacob smiled. "They'll have us, Usa! Come hell or high water!"
"Hai." Usagi chuckled low. "So much has changed, Jacob! Remember how I was when we met?"
"Do I ever!" Now was Jacob's time to chuckle! "You were so quiet, so distant.. like you were a goldfish in a bowl- always looking out." Jacob then took Michelle in his arms. "Now THAT
was a life-time ago!" He grinned at his wife.
"Hai." Usagi whispered. "It was."
Usagi then sang softly:
"I've been up, and I've been down, I've worked the fields, I've plowed the ground.
I've taken strain and pressure 'til I thought I might explode!
"And now I dream of childhood days, of model trains, and lemonade,
when the day stretched out before me like a long, long Texas road!"
"Yes- that long, long Texas road, about a million miles or so!
When you're just a child, there ain't no time but now!
"Must have left that long, long road seven-hundred years ago.
And I'd find it once again, if I knew how."
"I've worked in city factories, their plastic-dirt still clings to me.
Monotony near-killed me. Lord! It was a heavy load!
"And now I dream of comic-books, of horny-toads, and fishing hooks,
when the day stretched out before me like a long, long Texas road!"
"Yes- that long, long Texas road, about a million miles or so!
When you're just a child, there ain't no time but now!
"Must have left that long, long road seven-hundred years ago.
And I'd find it once again, if I knew how."
"And, so, I watch the children play! And dream my dreams of yesterday.
Oh, tell them to 'be grateful!' I'm sure that they've been told.
But if I knew then what I know now, that would've messed it up, somehow,
when the day stretched out before me like a long, long Texas road."
"Yes- that long, long Texas road, about a million miles or so!
When you're just a child, there ain't no time but now!
"Must have left that long, long road seven-hundred years ago.
And I'd find it once again, if I knew how."
"Aishateru, Jacob!"
"I love you, too, Usagi!"
********************
"You *do* have a *beautiful* voice, Usagi-chan!" Naru said in the rocky alcove. "I had forgotten how I loved hearing you sing. Domo arigatou!"
"You are welcomed, very much, Naru!" Usagi said, smiling and sipping her tea. "I will
make sure I sing more!"
"It will be.. so wonderful.. to hear a lullaby again!" Hotaru whispered at a phantom tear
escaped her eye.
"Hai." Usagi whispered to the dark senshi. "I will be here whenever you need me, Hotaru-chan! And, for you, Naru! Oosaka-kaasan has told me how.. difficult.. it was.. for you
and she!"
"Ha.. Hai." Naru choked on her answer. "It is never easy..for a widowed-mother. With..
all the.. energy needed.. to.. make a living.. there.. never seemed..."
"Hai. I know." Usagi kissed the trembling spirit. "Oosaka-kaasan.. has told me, often, how
grateful she is to me for being your friend! All that time- and this- you worried about me! And, you were hurting!!"
"Demo..." Naru answered quietly, "you made my hurt go away!"
Usagi beckoned to two spirits closer, and sang a lullaby:
"Oh, once I had a little dog, its color it was brown,
I tought him for to whister, to sing and dance and run!
His legs they were fourteen yards long, his ears so very wide,
Upon him back in half-a-day upon him I would ride!
"Sing, tarry all day! Sing autumn to May."
"Oh, once I had a little frog, it wore a vest of red,
"It leaned upon a silver cane, a tophat on his head!
He'd speak of far-off places, of things to see and do,
and all the kings and queens he'd meet while sailing in a shoe!
"Sing, tarry all day! Sing autumn to May."
"Oh, once I had a flock of sheep, they grazed upon a feather!
I'd keep them in a music box through wind of rainy weather!
And, every day the sun would shine, they'd fly all through the town
to bring me back aome golden rings or candy by the pound!
"Sing, tarry all day! Sing autumn to May."
"Oh, once I had a downy-swan, she was so very frail,
she sat upon an oyster shell and hatched me out a snail!
The snail, it changed into a bird! The bird, to butterfly!
And he who tells a bigger tale woould have to tell a lie!
"Sing, tarry all day! Sing autumn to May."
The two small spirits were in a fit of giggles!
"Frog?" Hotaru gasped. "With *heehee* TOPHAT??"
"And cape!" Usagi smiled down. She knew where this was going.
"Did frog..", Naru asked sheepishly, "have kamen?"
"Iyaa..", Usagi slowly let out, "No mask!"
Both spirits were doubled-over!
"Brother's favorite night-song!" Usagi added.
Hotaru and Naru were rolling around on the stone floor!
Suddenly, Hotaru sprank back to her feet, very wary!
"Nani-yo, Hotaru-chan?" Usagi asked.
"Do you hear it, Naru?" The Dark Senshi asked.
Naru grew very quiet. "I.. think so. Hai. Kowaii."
"Usagi?" Hotaru asked. "Be careful, onegai? Something on the wind.. feels evil!"
Usagi strained to hear it, too.. a faint, mocking laughter, somewhere in the distance.
Something, somehow, had invaded her dreams!
"It does not souns like Matallia!" Usagi mused. "But.. then.. can I be sure?"
"Be careful, Usagi!" Naru begged.
"Do not worry. I will."
********************
A couple of months later, Usagi and Jacob were attending the Open-House at Chibiusa's school.
"I HOPE we do not meet Maddie Devlin, tonight!" Usagi winced. "That would ruin the supper we just had."
"Don' worry yourself, Usagi!" Jade Blackstone spoke up. "Haddie won't be here tonight!
Poor girl is a bit on the sickly side, today!"
"Nara?" Usagi asked. "Is it serious? Do you know, Jade? Is it contageous? How is Beryl?"
"I have a feeling I know what it is," Jade said slyly, "Demo.. it's just.. not something *polite* people talk about!" She then grinned to Usagi. "We'll talk about it tomorrow. And, don't worry 'bout Beryl-chan, she'll be alright! What her mama got ain't easily caught."
In spite of herself, Usagi snickered, having just figured out the clues!
"Hello, Mrs. Warren? Mr. Warren?" A strange, commanding voice introduced itself.
Usagi froze! The whisper from her dream!
"Allow me to introduce myself! I am Richard TOTZ.. young Usagi's History teacher!"
Usagi turned aound to formally-introduce herself, and found herself immediately wanting to run.. and grab the deer-rifle out of the cab of their truck! There was something disturbingly.. familiar.. about Mr. Totz!
"I have a couple of darringers in my purse, Usagi." Jade whispered low. "They're free to us if you need one."
"Domo arigatou, Jade!" Usagi gulped. "I will remember that."
"Our daughter has spoken of you.. Mr. Totz." Jacob said in an even tone.
"Obviously, not enough." Usagi muttered.
"Yes.." Mr. Totz grinned. Usagi thought it made him look rather like a hungry wolf. "I find Miss Usagi a most.. intriguing.. student! I just hope to *have* the rest of your family..
in my class.. when the time comes!"
Usagi forced her eyes to take in all of Mr. Totz, to burn him into her memory.
"What.. are you carrying, Mr. Totz?" Usagi asked.
"Ah!! You've noticed my *one* weakness, Mrs. Warren!" The teacher chuckled. "I've a fondness for good literature. Would you care to read it.. Mrs. Warren?"
Usagi read the title of the story: "'The Most Dangerous Game'?"
"A short-story by Richard Connell. Truly fastinating! A true study of man as he was meant to be!"
"A killer?" Usagi asked.
"Ah!! You have.. read.. the story, Mrs. Warren?" Totz grinned.
"Yes. Once. In school."
"It shows the human-existance for what it really is..", Mr. Totz smiled maliciously, "the Primal Struggle between the strong and the weak. That is all history is.. wars between the strong and the weak, with the periods of.. peace.. being but intervals between the wars where hatreds and jealousies can build up for the next war. Where the weak are culled from the strong, again.
Every culture has such stories! The Japanese have a particularly interesting one.. about the Moon Kingdom!"
Jacob and Usagi felt a strange elctricity in the room, as all the other conversations seemed to grow distant!
"And, in which group do *you stand, Mr. Totz?" Usagi asked. "In your.. war?"
"With the strong, Madame.. Warren.. always!" As Mr. Totz grinned, Usagi thought she saw an eerie glow in his eyes.
"Your war will come.. Totz!" Jacob hissed out dangerously. "But, NOT with MY family as your pawns."
"Do not threaten me, little man," Totz growled. "You are not in my league!"
Usagi felt a chill run up and down her body, as Jacob answered in a quiet, confident voice:
"Not yet, Herr Totz. But, one day, I will be."
Later that night, as Uasgi tucked Chibiusa into bed, she asked about her daughter's teacher.
"I thought that the only ones that scared you at school were the Warrens. Why did you not
tell your father and I more about Mr. Totz?"
"I wanted to, mama..", Chibiusa said as she began to cry and shake. "But, I was always too scared to tell anyone! I was afraid.. for you and Daddy, Uncle Shingo and Aunt Rachel! Totz is scary! And, all he does is talk!!"
"Hai. I know." Usagi held her daughter tightly to her!
********************
"He SCARED me!" Usagi shook as Hotaru and Naru held onto her. "He spoke.. that VOICE that we heard here on the wind! I turned around.. and I *knew* to be AFRAID of him! He seemed.. be be.. al the evils I faced.. in one person! KAMI! I am still scared! I am glad that Jacob was there with me."
"Another Enemy?" Naru asked gaurdedly.
"THE Enemy, I think, Naru!" Another shiver of fear ran through her as Usagi lifted her face to the sky. "I do not know why.. demo.. I feel I have faced this evil before. I cannot remember *Where*, though!"
Hotaru and Naru held onto Usagi VERY protectively.
"Hotaru?" Usagi asked. "Naru? I can.. feel you?"
"Hai.. Kaasan."
Usagi's eyes glistened with tears, as her laughter pealed to the skies!
********************
As the clouds thundered overhead, threatening to pour their buckets of rain on the country road, Jacob was trying to get Usagi to the hospital for her check-up.
"I know you want to come out, now!" Usagi said, circling her womb protectively, "demo..
joji.. you still have 9 weeks to grow, yet!"
"They even sound like their namesakes!" Jacob smiled. "They are a *bit* impatient..
and that's among their GOOD qualities, dammit!"
"I cannot believe OUR daughters are going to named after YOUR crazy itoko!"
"Gomen, Usagi-chan," Jacob grinned, "but.. 'Mollie' and 'Tara' have been names in our
family for about five generations.. an'.. my cousins threatened to fire-bomb us if we didn't name the girls after 'em!" He then mumbled, "And they'd do it, too."
"And..", Usagi now grinned at Jacob, "WHY hasn't anyone else named their children after them??"
"Because the names are cursed?" Jacob chuckled.
"HAI! *Heeheehee*" Usagi giggled. "'Mad Mollie' and 'Tara the Terror', you told me! And..
*Haha* HOW MANY times have aunt and uncle called you *hoohoohoo* to get it itoko out of jail?"
"Have you kept track?" Jacob grinned.
"Iyaa! I loose count after.. fiftieth time? Why they don't call Rachel that much?"
"'Cause my dear sister'd kill'em and dump'em in the first ditch she got to if she were allowed to!" Jacob chuckled.
"Watch out, Jacob! Cemetery curve is coming up."
"I know, Usagi. Don't wanna hit any of the trees, either! Don't want us dyin' just going to the hospital. Rache'd have to look after our brood! She'd never forgive me!"
As they approached the curve, the stormy skies opened up with a loud crack of thunder and bright flashes of lightning! Suddenly, the Warren's truck hit a tree at 45 miles-per-hour!
*HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONK..!!!* The truck-horn blared.
"Ugh.. Jacob?" Usagi turned with a sudden pain toward her husband. "Oh.. KAMI-SAMA!! JACOB!!!!"
Jacob Warren was bleeding from his forehead, having been thrown against the windshield! His chest was shoved into the steering wheel.
"Jacob??" Usagi whispered.
Another roll of thunder almost masked another sound.. sharper.. and louder.
'Nani?' Usagi thought. 'Gunhshot?'
"Usa? Call.. Ayumi! I'm hurt.. bad."
"OK. Come on." Usagi painfully got herself out of her seatbelt then slowly slid Jacob out of the truck into the driving rain. "I got the cell."
As Usagi got Jacob out of the cab and to the far-end of a ditch, another peel of thunder sounded. This was followed by thunder of a different kind, as the truck's gastank exploded -
engulfing the truck-cab in flames!
"9-1-1?" Usagi said weakly. "I nead paramedics.. FM 1541 at Morgan Cemetery! Yes. Usagi Warren. Automotive accident. Serious injuries.. and possible premature-labor. Yes. Thank you."
"Help will come, Jacob!" Usagi said as she cradled Jacob's bleeding head.
As Usagi huddled protectively around Jacob between the freezing rain and roaring gasoline
blaze, her thoughts were on her family- two dead, one living- and how it looked like she would be joining the dead, shortly!
"Gomen.. nisai.. minna! It looks like.. the gods are playing against us.. again! At least..
I will be around.. to watch with.. Naru and Hotaru!"
"Usa? Usa?" Jacob mumbled a bit. "You.. you.. go-g-g.. g-got to.. toooooooo.. h-hold on.
Ah.. ah.. I'mmmmmmm.. n-n-nnnnot.. gonna.. mmm-m-m-make it.. Gomen. You gotta.. look after.. our
kids. I'llll .. look out.. when I can."
"Hai." Usagi held onto her husband as he went into shock. "Aishiteru, Jacob-kun!"
"Aishiteru.. Usagi-san.." Jacob starting coughing up blood.
"do not *cough!* worry! Molly? Tara?" Jacob addressed his two daughters. "I'll *COUGH!!*
be.. watching you..."
About that time, helicopters were heard overhead.
"Forest.. Service?" Usagi looked up. "Air-Cav.. to rescue?"
Soon, Jacob had been lifted up on-board, while medics looked over Usagi to make sure she and her daughters were safely prepped for the flight to the hospital.
Then, through the hard rain, Usagi saw it. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shodow,
rising from behind a tombstone.
The last thing Usagi heard, before slipping into unconscienceness, was the pilot on the radio:
"County General? One patient, lacerations and contusions, and hypotmermia! Also, pregnant!
going to induce labor! Need surgical and natal teams ready, STAT!! ETA.. 10 minutes!!"
Usagi's now a widowed mother, how will she cope ?
Next Chapter: "Getting By" ! See you, then !!
caellach@houston.rr.com