Chapter 11

AN: Toni America! Thanks for your reviews! Yep, this story does span quite a lot of time and we check in occasionally but starting last chapter the jumps aren't going to be as far apart. A week, a month, a term, a summer/winter break, etc. No more year gaps, or at least I don't believe so. I have most of it outlined but there might be an epilogue that I haven't thought of yet.

The dilemma about Ami swelled in her consciousness for a week. Finally she came upon the perfect solution. She decided she would be one of the last students in for class for awhile just so she could see how Ami interacted with the other students.

Usagi had learned how to recognize when someone didn't like her. The sneers were out even before she took a single step towards them. Then again, those were the most obvious of people. She had a feeling Ami would be a lot more subtle. But knowledge was different than behavior and she couldn't always link the two together.

It was surprise that she felt though, the first time she'd seen the girl after implementing her plan. Ami was sitting in her spot very primly and properly and had her eyes glued firmly on her book. She did not look at anyone in her vicinity and nobody tempted to speak with her. The surprise carried her all the way to her seat in time for the bell. This teacher didn't give much credence to Usagi being a princess, or even the future ruler if it interfered with his class. It had just been a fluke the other day when she'd spoke directly to him demanding information. Though Usagi hadn't felt like it was an order, just a gut question born from curiosity.

Usagi wondered if maybe Ami was just trying to catch up on her reading but that didn't jive with the well prepared tests and papers she kept turning out every three days. Then Usagi considered that maybe Ami was preparing the next book in advance. That seemed more likely than her reading for another class. The way she looked and acted that first day didn't give any hints towards a girl who did one thing well and let others slip through her fingers.

The next couple of times that Usagi did that same method, the same thing was true every time. Then one day she walked in and people were talking to the girl, five in fact, but the girl didn't look very pleased. Her blue eyes were sparkling with anger and there wasn't a book in her hands this time. The book that was most likely hers was in one of the boys' hands.

Usagi crept closer to hear what was being said. Usually things sorted themselves out with her presence, not that they were trying to please her either. "Nose in a book again?" One of the girls taunted.

"Not a very attractive quality." Another sneered. "But then again perhaps its better to hide the stubby thing afterall. I'm surprised your glasses even stay up."

"Books are stupid." The other boy took the book out of the first's hand when Ami made a grab at it. "This class is only a stupid requirement. The teacher passes almost everyone. No need to show off."

Usagi took the book out of the boy's hand as he held it up high, the dark haired girl they were taunting was only a few inches taller than herself, even if she was shaped differently. Usagi in this one and only case had an advantage because the rest were still sitting. The boy turned in shock, mouth open to say something and then it closed as he got a good look at who was the culprit. Only the teacher would have had a similar effect on him.

"Books are not stupid, they are informative and some are even entertaining if you allow yourself to have an imagination beyond just the written word. I think putting an effort into this class will benefit you too." She handed the book back to Ami and turned to leave.

One of the girls put out a well timed foot and Usagi and her amazing grace didn't have time to avoid it. She landed painfully on the ground, her elbow breaking her fall. Out of the corner of her eye she looked at the one who had caused it and saw one of the four girls from a few weeks earlier. It had been an entirely different term at that point. She didn't look apologetic at all and far too arrogant. "Excuse me but you're in my way."

The first boy seemed to regain his speech and instead of backing up the girl who had hurt the princess, he reached out and helped her to her feet once more. "Are you all right? You're not injured are you?"

Usagi shook her head even though her left elbow was smarting up a storm. She blinked back the tears that went along with pain. "Fine, fine." How had she not seen that girl in here before? The answer to that question was revealed when she left out the door once more and didn't come back when class started.

"Anyway how would you even know what words could do for you? You're the princess, you get the second best grade in class without even trying. It's rigged for you without trying to appear like it is. I bet you have a basic understanding of language, can you even spell your name?"

"Rubeus!" The first boy snapped at the one talking. The other two girls had gone back to their seats. "We've gone too far this time. Ami is a smart girl and we should never have taken her book. The princess was knocked to the ground by your friend. She should be ashamed of herself for hurting our future Queen, and you would do wise not to insult her on top of it."

Rubeus's red eyes narrowed at him. "I thought we were friends."

"We were." The boy surprised her, was he giving up on his friendship so quickly after only a few minutes worth of mistakes? Perhaps she was mistaken but the boy's hand had not left her shoulder. The two glowered at each other.

"Are you sure this is what you intend to choose?"

"It is. I had only meant to tease Mizuno-san, I had not set out to hurt anyone." The boy's mouth was firm on the point. "I can see that you only found it a benefit. It is a new knowledge and one I do not like."

"She's not worth this." Rubeus countered but then seemed to realize something more. "In fact you're not worth it. Fine. Chose wrongly. I don't care." Rubeus turned and found his seat, one in the middle of the room and studiously ignored the three of them.

At least now she knew who this mysterious Rubeus was. A shudder went through her, this was one person she could easily say she did not like. She shook off the hand on her shoulder and found her seat, not looking back. She had already stirred up far too much trouble today not to add onto it and instead concentrated on what was in front of her, the teacher.

He began his lessons seconds after Usagi had sunk into her chair and if her answers were a little less forthcoming, well she hadn't felt like speaking. She was anxious not to draw further attention onto herself. She'd felt eyes on her but knew it couldn't be Rubeus's they felt curious not loathing. She tried to ignore them and didn't turn her head once to look back to find out whom they belonged to.

The bell rang, signaling that class was over and she packed up her stuff quickly. She muffled a hiss when her arm gave way as she tried to pick up her back. She switched it to her other hand and hefted it onto her shoulder. She wanted out of this room and to be somewhere else, anywhere else. One of her favorite classes no longer felt so comforting.

"Ojo-hime!" The words so surprising that it caused Usagi's immediate stop were the only thing she heard. She turned blindly towards the girl who was running towards her trying to catch up. Usagi had not been called such a formal title in all of her life. Not even when being introduced by the court. Usagi ignored the rather unflattering way the girl ran, she had just been graced with the highest honor in titles and she bowed without thinking towards the dark haired girl.

Her hair was chopped at her chin and she had the most striking aqua eyes. They weren't quite blue and they weren't green. They were also large and the girl dropped to her knees in front of Usagi. Not bowing but showing respect none-the-less. "Please, please get up." Usagi begged as people turned to watch the two of them and reached for her with one hand.

Ami didn't flinch away from it but she stood at Usagi's bidding. "I had to, you did me the honor of bowing and I had to crank it up. You do too much for me Ojo-hime, it is I who must show the ultimate form of respect. If I thought it would please you I would plaster myself onto the floor at your feet."

"Please don't." Usagi's voice felt strangled. She might have been the supreme princess but she was not afforded such extremes and it felt increasingly uncomfortable for this girl to continue acting like she was all that important. "Please just call me Usagi-chan."

The face that was made before quickly being ordered again gave Usagi exactly the sort of insight that Ami's words might not have given her if she didn't know better. That was a name that was completely unacceptable to Ami and Usagi bit her lip thinking even as Ami said something very poetic and formal about how she could not drag Usagi's status down to her level.

"Then let's start with Usagi-hime, ok?"

"I'd feel more comfortable calling you Tsukino-ojo." Ami could see that Usagi wasn't going to let her continue calling her the most polite form and the respect that went along with it, but she refused to drop it altogether.

"I'd much rather you call me by my name. Tsukino is my family name and I might assume you're talking about my sister if you do so."

"Ojo-hime is for you alone." Ami instantly cut in offended that Usagi could believe she spoke of any other. "Your sister while royalty and well respected cannot be called such a thing."

That intrigued Usagi. Both were true of Rei as well. "Oh? Why not?"

"Combined they denote you." Ami hesitated unsure if she could speak more or if she had to wait to be questioned further. "Tsukino Rei-hime or Tsukino Rei-Ojo would be alright, one more true than the other. She is not next in line to the throne." Ami looked as if she wished to say more but now she let slip a little through her mask, she wasn't sure she could speak freely. Usagi nodded her along. "Nor would she have been so kind to get involved with that incident earlier. I apologize for their behavior. If I had not provoked it, you would not have been harmed in anyway." Another hesitation. "Thank you Ojo-hime."

"Please call me Usagi. I am unused to such honorifics, they flatter me and I do not wish to push your boundaries of comfort but it will be in our way if we were to speak any further."

Ami took a deep breath as if trying to center herself for an act she obviously thought warranted a death penalty. It was clear to Usagi that Ami did not think highly of herself or her ability to reduce the Crown Princess to just her name. "Usagi-ojo."

Usagi's lips spread flat as she attempted not to frown and then she found the humor in the situation. "We shall work on it. At least it is better." Usagi nodded and smiled. Ami's eyes betrayed her, far too uneasy to accept such warmth from the Princess that everyone whispered about. Usagi wished she could understand where that was coming from. It would make it easier to go forward but Ami was good at not revealing too many of her thoughts or emotions. Which was why she almost thought better of her next question but forged ahead anyway because she could and should. "May I call you Ami-chan?"

The sharp inhaled breath told her what she knew already with Ami, that it was far too soon to do such a thing but Usagi shrugged. She'd work Ami around to it eventually if she didn't push her away fist. "Such a name is inappropriate given our status differences."

"Why?" She was truly curious and Ami eyed her warily.

"My mother is a lowly doctor. I am not fit to be anywhere near your equal."

"One of these days I'm going to ask you what my equal is supposed to be or what could be near it. But right now I'd rather concentrate on the other information. A doctor? Really? That's fascinating! It's one of the most highly respected fields anybody could be in and rated highly among my family members. It is most impressive. What kind of doctor is she? I've never really met any but I've heard good things."

Ami blinked at her a bit dazed by her enthusiasm. "I suppose." Then realized there was a question in there. "She's a pediatrician." When it was Usagi's turn to blink, not comprehending exactly what that meant Ami offered a small reassuring smile in return. "It's a doctor that takes care of children."

"Oh!" Usagi exclaimed and her voice carried over the busy hallways and it reminded them both that they had more classes to get to. They were heading in the same direction anyway. "That's a really particular field, I'm sure its one of the hardest things to have to deal with. I don't think I could handle seeing all the children come in and know that I couldn't help all of them."

Ami didn't say anything for a long time about it. Then she spoke slowly. "Yes, it is hard on my mother but she's gotten pretty adept at dealing with the loss. Unfortunately growing up that also meant that I was one of the healthiest children around the block but with less time to see her."

"You don't mean that she spent more time with the sick children than with her own, do you?"

Ami shot her a startled glance. "I had not meant to share so much with you. Perhaps the scores are right, you see far more into a sentence than most."

"Only second to the female next to me." Usagi winked. "I have to be very careful what I say around you if I don't want to be caught in a lie." She would not dwell on the fact that Ami thought for a moment she was being unfairly buoyed in grades. Usagi let that slip as there was more important things to concentrate on and she didn't feel like starting an argument.

Ami sighed. "My mother is a good woman. She is a fantastic doctor and has tried her best at being a mother. However I am sure it is hard to get close to a child, even a healthy one when you know at any moment that child can be taken from you. She has done her best to keep me healthy and safe. I am very appreciative towards her for the support I get. She is there for me in every sense that matters."

"Except time." Usagi added knowing how that felt. Ami nodded but didn't say any more on it but she was looking at Usagi with new eyes. Not even curious but as if she understood that Usagi had felt the same way without even mentioning her own mother. "Even more reason why I give your mother great props and why I could not see myself in such a role. If I were ever a mother I would give my children every moment of my time."

"Your husband might not appreciate that." A smooth voice cut in as an arm wrapped around her waist. Usagi knew he was going to find her and meet up with her on the way to class so she wasn't looking at him. Even with an opening line like that.

Instead her eyes were on Ami's reaction to the man at her side. She visibly started and opened her mouth to say something and by the looks of it, not something pleasant. Then she took in the scene and Usagi's own ease with it and her mouth closed. It was several seconds before she switched the conversation around again. "I don't think I would try to pass on my mothering skills to any child of my own. I do not think I would be sufficient at it."

"Again, a husband would have some input into the children situation."

"A husband is not something I'm bound to encourage either. I intend to be a doctor like my mother but with much more ambitious ends."

Usagi elbowed Demando playfully. "How on earth did we get to husbands and children again?" She shook her head. "For goodness sake all of us are only 15 to 16 years old." The last was with a questioning look at Ami.

"15." Ami supplied instantly. "As it stands, I think the children would love you in my mother's ward. They always need warmer doctors. You'd do well and I imagine have a higher return of healthy patients and more filling up your schedule."

A look of unease passed Demando's face as Usagi felt him stiffen beside her and she realized where his thoughts went with Ami's announcement. "You're thinking that is because I could do something to alter their fates that doctors could not do?"

"No, Usagi-ojo, I was not thinking that at all. So far those traits have only been hearsay and I do not allow myself to dabble in such thoughts or rumors. No, if I may be so bold as to contradict you, I had meant that your warmth would be infectious. The children respond better to happy environments and when they are happy and laughing they heal faster and have higher miracle rates. You would have more patients because of both your reputation as miracle doctor in that sense as well as patients that have had you before who make things up just to see you again."

Demando quirked a brow at all the words Ami had said. "Mizuno-no-kimi."

The color bleached from Ami's face and any humor went with it. Instantly shutters slammed over her eyes and any ground Usagi might have gained today was instantly ripped from under her feet. She felt dizzy by the rush of change or maybe it was her elbow still, but this was not acceptable. "I will see you in class, Tsukino-ojo-hime." Ami bowed her head and walked backwards until she reached a corner and then turned and left.

"What did you have to go and do that for?" Usagi demanded of Demando once Ami was out of sight.

"What? It was just a joke! I didn't mean any harm by it. I'd have called you that too if you suddenly started acting like that cold wonder."

"Ami isn't cold." And that's what had really surprised Usagi, despite the stiff formality to most of her words, there was a spark of warmth and personality behind her stoic nature. "She's a really lovely girl and you've just insulted her."

"I apologize, it wasn't my intention, as I've stated. It was only a teasing name, trying to include her actually."

Usagi melted, she could see that. Demando wasn't outright mean to anyone that she knew of and there were some doozies over the years that might have deserved it. "It was probably too much too soon. She was bulking at even calling me by my first name and I avoided calling her by hers as much as possible knowing that she would hate being called Ami-chan but I would hate calling her anything else."

"You don't need to try so hard. If its meant to be it will." He massaged her upper arm of the one furthest from him. "Look at how well you and I turned out and then there's Makoto. You didn't push any of those, people came to you."

That wasn't entirely true but Usagi didn't argue it. She rested her head against his plank. "I'll talk to her tomorrow. I'll even explain to her that you meant no harm."

"Please do. I like seeing you happy." He tipped her face up towards him. She lifted her eyes to his and thought it was her imagination that had his head getting closer to hers. Then somebody ran into his back and he was pressing her flat against a wall with his arms braced on either side of her, protecting her from being squashed by his bigger body and the pulsing crowd. She laughed and he moved so she could slip out of the way.

She didn't question the sudden tenseness that radiated from him as they headed to class. No more words were spoken between them until Makoto met up with them following that particular class. Usagi had just began to wonder if she'd done something to upset him when Makoto started talking loudly. The only thing Demando said to her was a plea to keep it down he was getting a headache.

Usagi was pleased that it wasn't her that caused his mood but when she offered to take away the pain he refused and so had to deal with his cranky stubborn mood. Thankfully Makoto kept things from getting too tense and the friction abated.

"Oi! Odango!" Rei grabbed her arm as she walked home with Demando later that day. "We have an urgent meeting! You can say goodbye to your boyfriend later."

"That makes no sense." Usagi protested as Rei dragged her away. She turned her head back to look at Demando. "See you tomorrow!"

He gave a wave as she left him on the street corner.

"I can't believe you're still friends with that guy. Are you really so dumb?" Rei's hand tightened as it slipped further down and Usagi tried to hide her grasp of pain as her sister's hand closed over the bruised elbow. Rei's lamenting face cleared a little as she realized Usgi was hiding an injury. "What happened?" Rei was already pushing Usagi's shirt up over her elbow but Usagi struggled to keep it hidden.

"Look it doesn't matter what I do, who I'm friends with or what has happened to me. You've made that abundantly clear."

"Of course it does. I thought being friends with Makoto would clear your sight but apparently you're still blind and I care if you're hurt." Rei wasn't as gentle as she should be but she wasn't mean as she turned Usagi's arm and she sucked in a breath at the big ugly bruises. "Why haven't you taken care of this?"

Usagi glowered at her sister, first she told her to stay away from Makoto and now she thought she could just trade one friend for another? How utterly insufferable! "You're not my mother." She pulled free of Rei's grasp. "You are also increasingly rude to my friends. I'm not that way to yours."

"No, you just don't see them at all."

"Because you told me not to!" Usagi claimed her innocence, which was real.

Rei shrugged. "They're not your type." But then her eyes zeroed back into her elbow. "So?"

"You want to know why I haven't? Why I really haven't?" Rei nodded and Usagi shifted her hair over her shoulder and turned sideways to Rei. She pointed at a spot on her neck. "Watch here." Her other hand ran over the bruise and she was half surprised to learn there was a pulled muscle too. Scratches appeared from her hairline down.

"Stop!" Rei's voice was breathless. "Stop!" She shouted the second time but Usagi was already finished. Rei raised a shaking hand to the scratches that dug deep into Usagi's otherwise flawless complexion. "This happens when you use magic?"

Usagi nodded but bit back the full truth. This time it was just scratches but it was a small thing she's done. Rei would absolutely freak if she saw Usagi faint. Rei hadn't the slightest clue.

"Then don't use it!" Rei stressed every word. "Never ever use magic again."

"I try not to, but sometimes using it strengthens my powers." And of those times it only rarely weakened the adverse effects.

"Not worth it." Rei shook her head. "I- I'm sorry I bullied you into healing your arm. Will these leave scars?"

"Sometimes, if they don't heal properly." Usagi ran a self-conscious hand against her neck, covering some of them. "Since I was healing my arm they went to my hairline and down. Other times they cut across my arms."

"But I never see them on you." Rei denied knowing this to be truth.

"I've hidden them." Usagi shrugged. "Or they've healed before you've gotten a chance to see me." That was the more likely of the two.

Rei was frowning again. "Am I the last to know about this little side-effect?"

Usagi shook her head. "No, it's not like I go around advertising the things my powers do. Or what they do to me in return."

"Have you met the Prince?" Rei asked slowly and when Usagi gave a negative answer Rei sighed. "I thought maybe the two of you would have some common ground to discuss. I wondered if maybe he could heal you and then I worried that it was just a transference of scratches from one body to the other."

"You have met him then, I understand?" Usagi thought maybe at one of the lavish parties her sister got to understand while she was attending diplomatic meetings elsewhere. It was strange it had been so long in coming for even a mention of him.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Rei shrugged and then started pulling Usagi forward once more. "Come on, time to get to that meeting.

Usagi was left to wonder about her sister's strange behavior and words. Why hadn't she met the prince yet? It wasn't the same as their lineage though, it didn't go from one child to the one that had the power in their own off-spring. It went to any child capable of it around the world but the knowledge of who had it was only revealed if it was by accident or timed well. For a long time Usagi had wondered if it was Demando who was secretly the Prince.

Things didn't add up though when she recalled all of her lessons on previous gift given males. Always males just as hers were always females. For example, Demando's brother, Sapphire also had powers though his were not well known or documented and kept them under wraps. Even asking Demando revealed nothing about his brother's abilities. Either they were afraid of them or were hiding them for another reason entirely. It would be a good strategy. The prince was the only one who had powers in his family and except for herself and her mother, the only one on the planet.

He only got his powers when the previous owner died. He only knew at that stage too. A whole generation could go without if the previous one lived a long and full life. The last known prince had died the day she'd been born. It had been a bad omen and only compounded when she was born a blond. Too bad nobody thought to hide her hair color in red tones at least.

But that made her who she was. If she had been a redhead it would have made life marginally easier and so far she didn't find she needed a marginal difference. The adversary made her stronger.

The meeting was boring and really didn't need her attendance but she was required regardless. Their mother wasn't present, something about division of royalty and surviving catastrophe. It was rare, the times she spent with her mother, very rare indeed. And all three of them together? Almost never. Usagi could accurately pinpoint the last time she'd seen both her sister and her mother in the same physical room as she was. On projection screen, sure. Those two were together far more often than she was with either of them. Though she supposed being in the same building as her sister was technically a potential hazard if other nations got involved.

Usagi hid her yawn behind her fan. This was just a meeting between cabinet members. There weren't even any foreigners to entertain her with their travels or home life. She lived for those stories.

A throat cleared itself next to her ear causing her to jump and she looked into disapproving red eyes. "Luna." She greeted with very little surprise though her heart was still racing.

"If you are so tired, perhaps you should head up to bed and claim sleep so you can be ready for class tomorrow. I am sure the cabinet will understand." Luna's eyes strayed to the cleared plate and a further frown tugged at her lips. Theirs was not a culture that approved of finishing everything presented. Since nobody of visiting cultures was present this was a major insult to those who bothered to look. Usagi just liked her food and wouldn't apologize for not leaving food there when some people in the world went without, even in their hey-day of technology.

It was an argument that Luna would not appreciate or even begin to understand. She would have probably argued back in a different setting about appropriation of food distribution. As it was, Luna would not say a word and would try to minimize the offense the younger princess caused. Not that it was the most grievous error that she'd be blamed for.

"Are you still hungry, yabo-chan?" The man asked intending for the last to masquerade as a pet nickname but it sent Luna's hackles rising. She might insult Usagi but she never went so far and certainly never so publicly.

"Go up to bed, child." Luna ordered through stiff lips and Usagi slipped away but she didn't go to bed, she pressed her back against the wall along side the door that led to the personal wing of the royalty. She had every intention of listening in. Luna didn't disappoint. She'd seen Luna rage before and seen the woman give her a fair lecture or two, and often times Usagi thought she was scary. Now she knew that Luna was like a kitten when she dealt with- mostly Usagi, but sometimes Rei too, but this man got laid in to in a way that Usagi knew she never wanted directed at her.

The entire room was silent after Luna finished and she dared to peek around and found the man on the ground on his knees begging for forgiveness. Usagi bit her lips together to keep them from breaking apart in a joyous grin.

"You have finished your post. There is someone already lined up to take your place. You should leave and never come back. Your stuff will be delivered to you." Luna's last set of words had the man jumping to his feet.

"You are firing me to protect that brat?" He raged unsteady, he had clearly been into the punch a few too many times tonight. Perhaps longer than that. "She may not even see the position you have been grooming her for, poorly, might I add."

"If that is a threat-" Luna's voice was so cold and she'd never seen the woman's back so stiff. Usagi caught Rei's eyes and she tried slipping back out of the room, but it was too late, she'd been spotted by the violet eyed girl. Usagi wondered what punishment would befall her for her curiosity.

"No that is not a threat. I am going to go tear up my gag order and tell everyone what a horror that child is to be around. Tell everyone what really goes on around here and how it is not so peaceful and beautiful as many might think. Now that is a threat. You shall have a revolution on your hands before she sits in power, before her magic is fully developed, before it is too late to forcibly remove her." He made a lot of motion-sound and then he roared. "Is NOBODY going to join me?"

Usagi jumped from behind the door and held both hands to her chest, trying to keep it within the bone cage that was supposed to protect it but so far had done a poor job. When she died people would do an autopsy and would see a very battered heart indeed. Just then a quiet voice spoke up. Usagi pressed closer to try and hear it and could just make it out. "You have gone too far this time. The girl did not deserve your spite. She may not be what we had hoped to see, she may be what we fear but she has done nothing so far to warrant such an insult. You may go and spread your rumors but you will find not many willing to follow you even among the ignorant."

"I don't need many, I only need a few that are strong enough and brave enough to stand up against this family."

"You should be wise, man." Another voice overrode that boast. "Do not go against the staple that this country loves. It is their one claim to fame for such a small island. Someplace so small and insignificant holds the supreme rulers of the galaxy. They chose to live here many eons ago. They can choose some place else easily enough. The Queen has already gone from this island to seek a lover in another, the child born of such a union might just up and move the whole lineage somewhere else."

"We still have another princess." He protested. "She will have children."

A voice cleared. "I will choose to follow my sister. I have no power of my own and it is highly unlikely that any child I bear would have what I don't. It will pain me greatly to leave such loving and warm friends here but my path must follow my family's." Rei's clipped tone was unexpected and it warmed Usagi's heart. She wasn't sure if that is what Rei truly believed, was showing family unity or knew that Usagi was still listening but she knew which she wanted to be real.

A hand landed on her shoulder and Usagi's eyes went up to the tall woman with a smirk on her lips and mischief in her blue eyes. "Come child, off to bed. I think you have heard enough for one night."

"Will mother be mad?" Usagi asked as she followed Artemis towards her room. She was the softer of the two advisers to her mother and consequently gave Rei and her orders on their mother's behalf.

"Mad?" Artemis turned curious eyes on her young princess. "Why on Earth will Serenity be mad?"

"She has to replace a cabinet member." Usagi knew Artemis had to know about what went on inside that room.

Artemis laughed as she turned down the bed for Usagi. "It isn't the first time." Usagi stilled and the woman realized she must have said something wrong. "What is it?"

"This has happened before? Someone has been replaced because of their views on me and my behavior?" Her hands clenched and unclenched in random spasms.

"It is unavoidable, negative opinion in one way or another. Not all of it is about you. But yes, there have been a few members who needed to be replaced for their outspokenness against you. It is inadvisable to have such dissidence within striking distance near you." Artemis shrugged as if this wasn't important.

Instead it rocked Usagi's foundation. Her mother had been fighting her battles however remotely, in her own cabinet no less. She wasn't sure what to make of all of this. That the hatred penetrated so deep that people would talk out against their own queen, jeopardize their jobs... Who was there really to trust? That man earlier had never said one single bad thing to Usagi before in the last eight years that he'd worked for her mother and she'd seen him on several occasions. He'd never said anything nice either. Usagi admitted that much to herself, it was mostly grunts and utmost pleasantries.

Artemis left her then when Usagi didn't say anything further and she laid in bed with thoughts running around through her head. Was Rei coming around to seeing her point of view? Was this anything new to her sister? How many more of the cabinet members were biding their time to speak out against Usagi when the moment arose? Why hadn't anybody taken the man's point of view when they could have joined him in his campaign against her? What was her mother's thoughts on all of this? Was her mother in any danger? Was she in any danger?

These and further thoughts went around and around in her head all night leaving very little time for sleep. So it was with great difficulty that she pulled herself out of bed that next morning and stumbled into her first class five minutes late and had difficulty remaining awake for the rest of the class and it only got worse as the day dragged on.

It was funny, how she'd been called names in two very different directions in the course of only a few hours. She gave Ami a sleepy smile when the girl walked in to class that day but didn't bother to engage her further. Not today. She didn't think she could take further rejection.