Third Time's the Charm

By Bashfulglowfly

Chapter Ten

The next morning, Ami and Makoto waited anxiously outside their school. "What's taking so long?" Makoto fretted.

"They're probably just making sure Shingo-kun gets settled. He still has that cast on his leg so things are going to be awkward for him for a while." Soothed Ami.

Makoto looked over at her blue-hair friend. "Mamoru-san can heal Shingo-kun's leg, can't he?"

Ami nodded. "Yes, but he has to be discreet about it. Shingo was in the hospital. If Mamoru-san heals it completely, questions will be asked. If he heals it a little at a time, people will just think that Shingo-kun is a fast healer." She looked up and smiled.

Walking towards the main doors of Juuban Middle were Usagi and Kazuya. Usagi had on Juuban's uniform and Kazuya looked quite stunning in a dark three-piece suit. "Good thing Minako isn't here, she'd trip Kazuya-san and beat him to the ground." Muttered Makoto. Ami blushed and giggled.

The pair came closer. "Good morning!" Ami called.

Kazuya smiled "Good morning." Usagi didn't say anything but clung to Kazuya's hand.

Makoto winced with sympathy and walked over to hug the smaller girl. Usagi leaned against her, hiding her face but Makoto could feel the tears. She realized what was upsetting Usagi. Here she was going back to school as if everything was normal when back in her hometown things were still in utter chaos. People she'd known all her life were still missing. Friends were looking for family members and trying to see which of their schoolmates were still alive.

Usagi took a deep breath. "Thank you." She wiped away the tears with handkerchief that Ami handed her. "It's going to take a while but I'll make it."

"We will be here to help you." Promised Ami.

"Let's go inside. I don't want the two of you to get in trouble because of us." Said Kazuya.

Ami led the way to the school office. Inside, the principal came out and spoke with Kazuya, assuring him that Usagi would be in good hands. He agreed to let Usagi be in the same class as Ami and Makoto since she knew the two of them. "Her homeroom teacher will be Sakurada Haruna-san." He gestured to Haruna-san.

"General Huna!" gasped Ami in a low voice.

Haruna-san spared a glance to the girls then looked at Kazuya. She stood straight and gracefully bowed her head to him. "Tsukino-san, it is a pleasure to meet you. Usagi-him…uh…san will be well taken care of in my classroom."

Kazuya nodded back politely. "Thank you and I appreciate it."

Haruna-san looked at Ami and Makoto. "Go on to the classroom. Kino-san, would you move back one desk, please. I'll have Usagi-san sit between you and Mizuno-san."

The two girls nodded and made their way to their classroom. Makoto did as Haruna-san asked.

"Hey, Kino-san. Why are you doing that?" asked one boy.

"We're getting a new student." Said Umino. No one was surprised that Umino knew. Umino had an almost mystical reputation about knowing all the gossip before anyone knew there was gossip to be had.

"So, what's the new student like?" asked another student.

For once, Umino refused to divulge any information. "I'll let Haruna-san explain."

At that moment, the door to the classroom opened and Haruna-san walked in. Students scrambled for their desks. "Rise! Bow! Good morning!"

"Good morning. Sit down." Said Haruna-san. "Students, we have a new classmate joining us. Her name is Tsukino Usagi. She is from Sendai." There was a gasp. Haruna-san nodded. "That's correct. Tsukino-san and her younger brother survived both the earthquake and the tsunami. Unfortunately, their parents did not. Tsukino-san is now living here in Tokyo with her elder brother." Her voice grew stern. "I am telling you this because normally you are allowed to ask new transferees questions. But in this case, it has been decided that Tsukino-san will not answer questions because they might upset her. I trust that all of you will respect the fact that she is still grieving and will not ask stupid and potentially hurtful questions. If she volunteers the information, that is fine…BUT…YOU…WILL…NOT…ASK! Is that CLEARLY understood?"

The students chorused together. "Yes, Haruna-san!"

Just then the door opened and Usagi walked in. The boys perked up. She wasn't just a girl…she was a cute girl! Usagi stopped next to Ms. Haruna's desk and bowed to her then turned and faced the class. "Hello." She said softly. "My name is Tsukino Usagi. I promise to do my best for this class." She bowed deeply.

Ms. Haruna smiled. "Tsukino-san, since you already know Mizuno-san and Kino-san you can go and sit between them."

Usagi nodded and went to the empty desk and quietly put her things away. Makoto and Ami gently touched her on shoulder and hand. Umino and Naru sat in the row next to the three. Naru stared wide-eyed at Usagi. Umino caught her eye and nodded gravely. Makoto and Ami looked at each other…something else that they'd have to ask Usagi about.

The school day progressed and when it was lunchtime, Makoto and Ami took Usagi to their favorite spot. As the girls settled down, Makoto, seeing that Naru and Umino were heading their way, quickly asked. "Are Naru-chan's memories taken care of? And do you know Umino?"

Usagi smiled. "I took care of Naru's memories last night. And, yes, I know Umino. He's worked for Zoi for a long time."

"Naru-chan! Umino-kun! Please, join us!" called Ami.

Naru settled down on the ground across from Usagi. Her green-eyes were wide as she stared at Usagi. "I…I know you. I don't know how…but I know you."

Usagi smiled. "Of course you do." She reached over and gently touched Naru on the hand.

Naru gasped then burst into tears. She flung herself against Usagi and began to cry. Usagi smoothed the other girl's red hair until she calmed down. Naru sat back up, wiping away the tears. "Oh, you must think I'm acting like an idiot."

Makoto snorted. "Hey, when we got back all of our memories, Ami and I tried to puke up our lungs."

"Makoto!" Ami chided.

Naru laughed. "This explains a whole lot about the two of you." She narrowed her eyes in thought. "You're Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter. And your two friends, Minako and Rei are Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars." She looked at Usagi. "And you're Sailor Moon and Princess Serenity. Are you anyone else?"

Usagi shrugged. "Not yet at least." The others laughed at that.

"I was your handmaiden. Back in the Silver Millennium. Wasn't I?" Asked Naru.

"Yes." Said Usagi. "But, no offense, I'm not going to need you in that capacity."

Naru tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

Umino spoke up for the first time. "You know those articles you've been helping me with?"

"Your gossip columns?"

"Yes." Umino adjusted his glasses. "They were reports for the Shitennou. Lord Zoicite complained that I that I got too involved with the minutia and ended up not always explaining myself. That's why I asked you for your help." He smiled shyly. "General Zoicite likes your style and the fact that you are able to translate 'Umino' into something understandable." The boy bit his lip and looked at Naru anxiously. "Will you still continue to help me? Please?"

Naru looked at him then at Usagi who smiled encouragingly at her. "These reports help the Senshi and everyone protect Tokyo and the world?" Umino nodded and Naru beamed. "Yes, Umino-kun, I'll be happy to help you." It was Umino's turn to beam…and blush, much to the delight of the three other girls.

As they ate lunch, Usagi answered questions. "Yes, I know that you went to Sendai to look for Sailor Moon. I went to Tokyo that day."

Makoto narrowed her eyes. "Artemis warned you." Usagi nodded. "Minako's a bit angry with him because he didn't tell her about you or the Shitennou."

Usagi frowned. "I hope that she isn't treating him too poorly. Artemis had his orders the same as the rest of us. Poor cat was getting worn out running around keeping everyone informed."

"Why wasn't Luna told about you?" Asked Ami.

Usagi frowned. "I'm not exactly sure. I think it's because Luna was never a military advisor like Artemis was. Her specialty was on the economic side. Hopefully she hasn't lost her touch. We're going to need her expertise."

Ami nodded to herself. "People are waking up, aren't they? Ms. Haruna, Naru and Umino are just a few that we know. But there will be more, correct?"

"Yes. There will be more. It may be years before we meet them again." Usagi smiled mischievously. "And you know another already." She grinned wider at Makoto and Ami's confused looks. "I'll give you a clue: a brother and sister."

Ami gasped. "Motoki-san and Unazuki-chan!" She tapped her finger against her lips as she went through her memories. "Oh! Motoki-san was Lord Makto! The Weapons Master!"

Makoto snapped her fingers "And Unazuki was his second-in-command. But they weren't just the Weapons Masters but weren't they also the leader of Queen Serenity's Lunar Shadows?"

Umino frowned. "I know that Motoki-san is Lunarian and that he was the Weapons Master but what's a Lunar Shadow?"

Usagi rubbed her nose. "Well, they were…ninja, I guess would be the best explanation. They were spies but they could have been anyone: Courtesans, servants, Lords and Ladies. The Shadows came from all walks of life. If they had the skills, and the loyalty, they were recruited."

"So, over time more and more people from that time period will be appearing." Said Ami.

Usagi nodded. "Yes, from Earth, the Moon and the other planets. Some may never remember. I'm not really sure how it's going to work."

"We'll deal with it." Said Makoto confidently.

Usagi eyed Makoto a bit uncertainly. "Makoto, would you mind if I asked you a question?"

"No, go ahead."

"Your apartment was destroyed, more or less, in the earthquake and now you're living with Rei at the Shrine."

"Yeah."

"Um. Well, I've been told that there isn't a whole lot of room at the Shrine. Would you like to come and live at my house? You and I would have to share a room, but there would be plenty of space for both of us."

Makoto stared at Usagi for a minute. It was terribly cramped. Rei just really didn't have a whole lot of room and she was tired of sleeping on the floor. And she missed having her belongings around her. She was glad that the authorities allowed her in her old building long enough to get her clothes, pots and pans and plants. She'd been looking for a new place but so were many other people. And she hadn't yet found a place that she could afford that was near Juuban Middle that wasn't totally sketchy.

"I think that would be a good idea, Makoto. You'd have a place to stay and there'd be one of us near Usagi at night." Said Ami quietly.

Makoto chewed on her lip thoughtfully. "I'll do it. But, I'll pay my fair share!" she said.

Usagi sighed with relief. "Good I'm glad…and if you don't mind…could you pay your fair share by cooking because none of us know how and I'm really tired of bentos and fast food!"

Makoto cringed at that thought. "Agreed!"

"Good. I'll let the guys know. Neph's going to be the happiest about it. He doesn't like you being around someone he and Jade refer to as the 'hairball.'"

The other four snorted with laughter. They knew exactly who the 'hairball' was…and more than somewhat agreed. Umino grinned. "I'm guessing Lord Jadeite is the one who is the one who complains the most."

Usagi nodded. "Who is this 'hairball' anyway?"

Umino replied, "His name is Yamada Yuichiro. He's from a rich family but they've pretty much disowned him because instead of going to school and working for the family, he wants to become a rock star…not that he's all that good at singing or playing an instrument. He's been allowed to stay at the Shrine because Rei's grandfather has a soft heart. Yamada is supposed to be helping around the Shrine but he spends most of his time following Rei-san around. When he isn't doing that, he's trying to play guitar."

Usagi's eyes grew wide. "Oh, that's why Jade's doesn't like him. All of the guys have gone to the Shrine and helped take care of things when Rei wasn't around. So, the fact that he's hitting on Rei AND not doing what's he supposed to be doing really would make Jade angry. How does Rei feel about him?"

"Not really sure." Said Ami. "Some days she's fine with him and other days, she doesn't know he exists."

Just then the lunch bell rang. The five gathered their belongings and made their way back into the school.

"Things are going to be so interesting from now on!" said Umino.

Naru bopped him over the head with a book for saying such a thing.

Author's Note: It's probably not correct but I had Haruna-san refer to Usagi as Usagi-san while she was in Kazuya's presence since he is not only Tsukino-san himself but is the elder of the two so I thought it would be less confusing and more respectful that way.

Author's Note #2: I have no clue as what the proper rituals are for a new student in a Japanese class is but I'm doing the best I can!