Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its characters.
Hey guys sorry this is late, I tried to finish this chapter as soon as possible but with my work hours and other duties I was unable to finish as quickly as I thought I could. But anyways I once again want to thank everyone for reading and favoriting this story. I still can't believe how many people read this and I'm so grateful for you guys. Without you guys I don't think I could continue. Thank you guys and have a Happy New Years.
Reviews please!
'': Thoughts (thinking)
"": Talking
Chapter 26
Usagi did not want to turn around but she knew she couldn't pretend that she didn't hear them which is why she had no choice in looking back and seeing three of the Inners sitting outside of a cafe.
Usagi painted on a fake smile on her face and headed towards them, "Hey guys, what are you doing here?"
"We were just having some lunch together." Minako said gesturing to their plates filled with food.
"D-Do you want to join us?" Ami wondered and Makoto pulled back an empty chair that was next to her.
Well now, Usagi definitely couldn't go as she was hoping to, "Sure, why not." Usagi sat down next to Makoto and placed Tsuki on her lap and honestly she wasn't prepared for this. She was hoping that their first meeting would be planned and she would've thought of everything she would say to them but no the damn universe decided to move up her time table. She needs to have a discussion with the fates one day.
Within minutes of Usagi sitting there, it was dead silent. No one was talking, the three of them were munching on their lunch while Usagi was running her hands on Tsuki's fur. Sure Usagi could've started talking but they were the ones to invite her so they should be the ones to start the conversation. Yeah it was a petty, childish way to think but that's what they thought of her anyways.
Finally Minako spoke up, "So Usagi, I love your hair. Odangos were so middle school."
Usagi let out a short laugh, "I'm sure, after all I am the childish one." Immediately all of them began to apologize but she stopped them, "Don't even apologize, it was obviously your real feelings about me."
"No, no Usagi we swear they weren't!" Ami began
"We were just being stupid following along with Rei." Makoto finished
"Don't blame it all on Rei; that was clearly how you guys actually felt about me." Usagi frowned
"And we're so sorry about that Usagi." Minako tried to apologize
"Are you actually sorry or are you sorry that you got caught? Would we still be having this conversation if I hadn't heard you or confronted you about it?!" Usagi yelled feeling rage filling her body.
"Look maybe we can this conversation somewhere else" Ami said noticing that they attracting stares from other people around them.
"Yeah we can go to my place." Makoto suggested. Usagi sighed, she really wasn't ready for this talk but they have to do it sometime. So Usagi agreed and the three Inners agreed as well.
With Makoto leading, they silently followed her to her place. Gosh, the last time she been to Makoto's home was sometime in middle school after the two of them first met. She was surprise to learn that the girl lived alone even though her parents had passed away. Usagi thought Makoto was brave for doing that.
Makoto unlocked her apartment door and they all entered in the small yet clean apartment. She had a small brown 4-seater dining table that stood across her little kitchen. They all sat at the table and waited for someone to start speaking.
"Okay, someone speak!" Usagi yelled, feeling frustrated
"Usagi we shouldn't have agreed with Rei like that." Ami began, "Honestly from the beginning, I felt horrible but I guess the reason we did was" Ami stopped and sighed, "was because some of the things Rei pointed out made us a bit anxious and instead of doing the right thing, we took it out on you."
Usagi tilted her head, "Anxious? Anxious about what?"
"The future." Minako bowed her head and Usagi waited for her to explain. "Well you see, even though we've sworn to protect and follow you, we also wanted to follow our dreams. I mean we've all had opportunities to do something else other than fighting and protecting and risking our lives and it was wonderful. But then when Rei started talking about how our personal lives will cease to exist once Crystal Tokyo comes about and it scared us."
Usagi nodded, sort of understanding what Minako was saying but that didn't stop her from feeling angry. Tsuki must of known her feeling as he started to sort of purr against her hand, "And you didn't think it wouldn't scare me as well? You don't think I don't have the same fears and insecurity about the future either. Girls, our age, are supposed to be thinking about getting boyfriends, college, and future careers. But for me, in a few years I'm supposed to be married, pregnant, be a mother and rule an entire world and I'm scared shitless, dammit! No teenage girl is supposed to under that type of pressure!" Usagi cried with tears flowing out.
The three Inners sat in silence, they never thought about Usagi's feelings, or her fears. Why didn't they think she wouldn't have the same fears as them? "But Usagi if you were so worried about the future, why didn't come and talk to us?" Makoto asked and she tried to reach across to comfort her but Usagi just leaned back wiped away the tears from her eyes..
"Why didn't YOU guys come and talk to me? Why did you guys have to gang up on me and all my flaws, which I gotta say is pretty ironic since Minako was literally in the same boat as me!"
"Hey!" Minako protested
"Well she's not exactly wrong, Minako." Ami muttered to the girl, which left Minako feeling sulky.
"Look" Usagi started, "the only reason I didn't speak up about it was because I thought I had you guys, I thought I had my best friends who would help me through any problems." Usagi could feel herself starting to crying again, "I was devastated when I heard you guys talked about me; it crushed my dream of us. I felt so alone. That is until the Outers came and comforted me but I wasn't same.
I felt as if I couldn't trust anyone because if the people that I considered as my family could hurt like that then anyone would. Even when I moved to L.A and met my roommates, I felt like it would've been a bad idea to get close to them because it would end up with me being betrayed again. It wasn't till I had a friend remind me that I couldn't push everyone away or else I miss the greatest of opportunities. And they were right, my roommates turned out to be one of the most wonderful people I've ever met. I mean they're funny, supportive, non-judgemental, accepting, respectful-"
"And what were we? Rude, unbearable?!" Minako interrupted
Usagi shaked her head, "Of course not; well not in the beginning but after a while you guys started treating me like a child, you wouldn't listen to me, you weren't considerate of my own feelings. Not the mention the horrible things you said about me."
"Usagi please forgive us for being so stupid. We were wrong for that, and we want to make things better." Makoto said feeling tears falling from her eyes.
Usagi didn't speak, she just lowered her head, "Please Usagi, you're our best friend." Minako said like she was gonna cry.
"Please forgive us." Ami begged
Usagi shaked her head, "You don't how bad you hurt me. You were supposed to be my best friends yet" Usagi stopped as a sob came up unexpectedly, "..yet you still betrayed like that and I don't know if I can ever call you friends." The three Inners spoke out crying trying to repair the damage they and Rei caused but Usagi wouldn't listen, she couldn't. "You guys really hurt me and I don't know if I could ever trust you again!"
Usagi got up and ran out the apartment with Tsuki on her tail. She couldn't continue to stay in there with them and she just wanted to head home and curl up under her covers. However it seemed the universe wasn't done with her and at that moment she ran into Mamoru.
"Usako?" He said
Usagi shaked her head; nope she couldn't do this. She just finished her emotional breakdown with the Inners, she couldn't take dealing with her boyfriend, if she could still call him that. They haven't spoken that much during the past year. Usagi continued to walk past him as if she didn't hear or see him.
"Usako? Usako?! Usako wait up!" Mamoru said trying to stop her. Usagi balled up her fist and finally stopped short, making Tsuki hit the back of her legs, but she didn't turn around.
Mamoru touched her shoulder and Usagi immediately flinch as if he burned her, "Don't touched me." She hissed
Mamoru sighed, "Look Usagi, I'm sorry I agreed with Rei but come on some of what she said was kinda true."
Usagi wanted to kick Mamoru in the face, "You thought I was a childish, irresponsible, stupid blonde ditz?!"
"Come on Usagi, there were times you have to admit that you were."
"I'm a teenager you ass! I'm allowed to have moments like that especially when I have fate of the flippin' world on my shoulders!"
"Usako-"
"Don't Usako me Mamoru Chiba! How could you say that about me?! I'm just a teenager, you can't blame me for being me. So what if I'm supposed to be queen and a mother, I need to be me before I start being responsible for a life of a child and the world!" Usagi spat out
Mamoru sighed, "I get that but Usagi you don't see my sid-"
Usagi interrupted him, "If you're gonna tell me you sided with Rei because you were scared of the future, just save it. I already heard that from the Inners and all of you are idiots! You are literally one of the older ones, how could you not come and talk to me, your girlfriend, about this. Why? Because you thought I was too stupid to understand? Because I do and I'm completely terrified too!"
Mamoru opened and closed his mouth like a fish. He was stupid to think that Usagi wouldn't think about the future too. "Usako I-"
"No Mamoru, I don't want to hear it. We're a couple, we're supposed to talk to each other about any problems we have. We're supposed to rely on each other. I thought that you would've learned this when your stupid future self sent you those dreams to test out flippin' love. Which of course you failed because you broke up with me instead of just talking to me."
"Usagi you know I did that to protect you!" Mamoru argued
"How the hell do you protect someone by breaking their heart?! We have powers we can protect each other with them." Usagi argued back, "And also why the hell would your future self even test our love if we're together in the future?! Like how does that make sense?!"
Mamoru couldn't answer, "I don't know Usagi." He said quietly, feeling sullen.
Usagi sighed, "Look, I get it if you're scared of getting married and having a kid and being a ruler because I am too. We could've talked to each other about it." Usagi sighed
Mamoru ran his hands through his hair, "Usagi I-I'm sorry. I didn't think that you would be thinking the same thing."
Now Usagi really want to kick him in the face, "Mamoru, do you know how insulting that is?"
Mamoru sighed deeply, "Usako I didn't mean it like that; I just had a lot of the concerns of the future."
Usagi bit her lip before talking, "Like if I'm the girl you want to spend the rest of your unnatural life with?"
Mamoru looked sharply at her, "What?"
Usagi shaked her head, "Don't look at me like that. I know I'm not the only one who's considered this."
Mamoru sheepishly looked around, "I admit that sometimes I do, but I know that there's no point in thinking otherwise since we'll be married soon."
"Mamoru, during the year I've gone I've been doing some thinking. The only reason we're together is because of our past lives and the only reason we staying together is because of the future and Chibiusa."
"That's not true, I'm with you because I love you." Mamoru said denying Usagi's statement.
Usagi laughed bitterly, "You have a funny way of showing love Mamo-chan." The usually cute nickname sounded more like an insult than a term of endearment. "Mamoru, you do know that when you love someone you don't insult them or talk about behind their backs, right?"
Mamoru wanted to say something back but he couldn't because she was right. People who love each don't side with their friends, they don't insult each other, they communicate with each other. Communication is literally the key to every relationship and he failed at that. "Usagi, I'm sorry."
Usagi shaked her head, "All day that's all I've been hearing from everyone and you know what? I'm freakin' tired of it! Do you know why Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked and she didn't wait for him to answer. "It's because it doesn't help our situation. No matter how many times you guys say it, it doesn't change what you did, and doesn't make me feel better."
"Then what can I do to fix this, to fix us?" Mamoru asked
Usagi sighed and lowed her eyes, "There is nothing you can do to fix this because maybe it wasn't meant to be fixed."
Mamoru narrowed his eyes, "What are you saying Usagi?"
"I'm saying, I think we need some time apart."
"We've been apart for a year! We don't need any more time than that." Mamoru argued
Usagi gazed back up at Mamoru, "Not just physically; I mean we need some time apart as girlfriend and boyfriend."
Mamoru shaked his head, he couldn't believe what he was hearing, "Are you telling me you want to break up?"
"Not break up but just separate and see other peop-"
Mamoru glared at her, "So is that it? Did you meet someone else Usagi?!"
Usagi sighed, she figured he would say that, "No Mamoru I did not meet someone else and I did not cheat on you either."
"Then what is it?!"
"We may have fallen in love in our past lives but because of Beryl we were…forced together. I think if it wasn't for our memories we wouldn't be together."
"So, you doubt our love, our feelings for each other?!" Mamoru yelled, he was seriously getting pissed off of what he was hearing.
"Are they our real feelings or just from the past?" Usagi questioned, "I mean if you think back to when we first met, did you actually consider me as someone you could seriously date?"
Again Mamoru looked like a fish; he wanted to deny what she was saying but he knew she was telling a possible truth. "So what, we're just go our separate ways and date other people?"
She nodded, "Yes and if after a while if we still feel the same way and no other person can make us feel the same way we made each other then we'll see from there." Usagi suggested
Mamoru stared at Usagi, trying to find some tell on her face that showed she was hesitant to do this or this is some big joke. But there was nothing, Usagi looking completely confident in what she was saying as if she practiced this outcome many times before. "If that what you really want to do then I suppose we should." He said sadly.
Usagi nodded her head, "It's for the best, Mamo-chan."
"I guess." He mumbled as he put his hands in his pockets.
"Goodbye Mamo-chan, I hope we can still be on good terms." Usagi said waving her hands as she left and quickly headed home.
"NO WAY! So you ran into both the Inners and your ex-boyfriend?!" Lily yelled into the computer.
"Hey Lily you don't have to scream!" Roxanne yelled back
"Neither do you, Roxanne." Michaela yawned, wishing she was back asleep.
Usagi giggled as she looked at her computer screen that was currently divided between her own face, Lily's, Roxanne's and Michaela's. Usagi stopped giggled when something Lily said made her frown, "Oi, Mamoru isn't my ex-boyfriend. We're just taking a break but we didn't break up." She stated
"Usagi, you said you two are going to be seeing other people. I'm pretty sure that counts towards being broken up." Roxanne giggled
"Usagi, you and Mamoru are basically taking a break in your relationship which means its a break up with the word 'up' in it." Michaela yawned
Usagi frowned, "You've been reading your mothers self-helps books, haven't you?" Michaela only smiled. "Looks guys, Mamoru and I are still together."
Lily crossed her arms as she frowned, "Why are you still together with that sack of potatoes when you could get someone like Xavier Tate." She said his name in a sing-song voice.
Usagi instantly blushed, "Dummy, why would you mention him?"
Roxanne sorted, "Oh come on, for the past couple of months you and Mr. Tate have gotten a bit close, no?"
"Not true!" Usagi quickly denied, "I've gotten close to a lot of teachers. Besides the only reason I'm seen with him a lot is because he and the other teachers were suspicious of me after I summoned Tsuki as my familiar." She said as she rubbed Tsuki's head, who was currently laying on her lap.
"True but they're not as suspicious of you anymore thanks to Headmistress Selene." Michaela said.
Usagi nodded, "Yeah but because of Grandmother, three times a week I was being tutored by Mr. Tate when I could be doing other things."
….
There was a knock on her office door and Selene looked up from her paperwork, "Come in" she answered. Entering in was Mr. Tate, Mr. Ortega, Ms. Kim and Mrs. Barron, "Oh Xavier, Gabriel, Nayeon, and Patricia. What a surprise to see you here, is something wrong?" Selene asked
"That depends Headmistress." Gabriel said.
Selene straightened up, "What's going on?"
"It's about one student we have." Patricia began, "Usagi Tsukino"
Selene immediately wanted to asked if something was wrong but she was sure she would be notified if something serious had happened, "Ah Usagi Tsukino. I, myself, went to scout her. Is she causing any problems?"
The four teachers gaped; this was news to them. Headmistress rarely ever went out scouted for students. If anything, she sent out her servants for that job. Could their Headmistress already know of Usagi's power?
"Today we had the students summon their familiars and when Ms. Tsukino called for her familiar it came out as a small cat. The other students sadly began to snicker at how simple her familiar was and then one of students mocked Ms. Tsukino's familiar and the familiar shape-shift into a larger animal. We then also heard that her familiar had stayed with her all long yesterday." Xavier explained and all Selene did was nod.
"For a girl her age, it's impossible for her to have a high enough mana to keep her familiar that long." Gabriel stated and still all Selene did was nod. It was obvious to the four that their Headmistress knew something more of Usagi then they did.
"Headmistress, were you aware of Ms. Tsukino's potential ability?" Nayeon said, speaking their curiosity out loud.
"Well I suppose you could say that but really, I did it as a favor to a friend." Selene answered
"A favor? To who?" They all wondered
"My good friend Hecate."
Again they all gasped, "You don't mean, Hecate goddess of magic and sorcery." Nayeon wondered
Selene raised one eyebrow, "Do you know anyone else named Hecate?"
Immediately they all shaked their heads, "Forgive us Headmistress, we didn't know." Gabriel apologized.
"Of course not, not even the gods themselves know that Hecate has a child and I'm sure only a few would probably know if they asked Usagi." Selene sighed
"That would explain why her familiar is able to stay with her. Due to Hecate being her mother, her mana is probably so high her familiar could be by her side for a long time without her feeling drained." Xavier said
Selene merely nodded and let them continue to draw their own conclusions. She couldn't tell them that while Usagi's mana does something to do with her lineage; the main reason why her mana was so high is due to her being Sailor Moon and being the carrier of the Silver Crystal. But they don't need to know that.
The four then began having their own private conversation among themselves and it was minutes later they finally turned back to Selene. "Headmistress, with your permission, we ask that you let us give Usagi's private lessons to maintain her mana and insure she wouldn't use her powers for evil." Patricia suggested
Selene raised an eyebrow and rubbed her lower lip with her finger, "You think that Usagi is the type of person who would fall into evil?"
From the tone of her voice, the four felt as if they might've offended the goddess, "No Headmistress, but you know the gods are literally waiting for the kids to graduate to take them into their clutches." Nayeon stated
Selene nodded, "Yes you are correct about that, however I don't believe all of you should give Usagi private lessons." The four opened their mouths to protest but Selene spoke before they could, "All four of you can't tutor one student, it wouldn't appropriate, especially since you might have other student's you have to help."
"So what do you suggest, Headmistress?" Gabriel asked, "That one of us only tutor's Ms. Tsukino?"
Selene nodded, "Absolutely and I feel Xavier is the best choice to mentor Usagi."
Xavier cheeks turned pink at all the attention placed on him as everyone looked once Selene said his name, "Me Headmistress? Why me?"
Selene shrugged, "Why not? You're more closer to age to Usagi so it should be easier for her to talk to you. Plus it was only a few years ago that graduated from here so you would probably have more in common with her."
"I suppose if you feel that way Headmistress, then I see no problem giving lessons to Ms. Tsukino."
Selene smiled brightly, "I'm sure you don't."
"Please, as if you're actually angry about that." Roxanne scoffed, "I mean if my grandmother made me spend time with handsome man like Mr. Tate, I would be doing cartwheels."
Usagi rolled her eyes, "I'm not saying I'm angry, I'm just saying I could be doing other times with my time."
"I totally doubt that." Michaela giggled, "You might've felt that way before but now I don't think that's the same reason."
"Well it doesn't matter because I'm still in a relationship even if we are separated." Usagi said
"And it doesn't matter what you say because you're not together and even if you continue to be in denial of the status of your relationship because as you said before you are able to see other people. Which means you can totally be with Mr. Tate while I date Mr. Ortega and once in a while we can double date." Lily smiled
"Wow and I thought Usagi was being delusional but you definitely became number one on that list." Roxanne said while shaking her head while Lily frowned.
"I'm not delusional!" They both yelled
"Whatever you say" Michaela yawned.
"Look even though I can date other men, I can't date Mr. Tate. One, he's our teacher and he might get fired, two: I'm underage so Mr. Tate would get in trouble and get fired. Three: if we date and break up it will be very awkward during class leading to unnecessary tension." Usagi explained
"Well those are very excellent points." Lily said, "But you're seventeen so you only have one more year before you're no longer underage and also he and Mr. Ortega, Ms. Kim and Mrs. Barron will be teaching us for one more year then after that we get another set of teachers for the next stage of survival class. So basically two of your points will soon be invalid." She smiled
Usagi frowned, "Its like you want me and Mr. Tate together."
"No we just don't you to keep making excuses." Lily smirked
"What does that mean?" Usagi asked
"It means we don't you to regret your choices. We don't want you to list reasons why you can't date this guy or any other guy. I mean how else are you gonna know if Mamoru is the one for you if you don't go out with other men and see if they can make you like he did or even better or worse?" Roxanne explained
"So you want me to date Mr. Tate?" Usagi wondered
Lily said yes while Michaela and Roxanne said no, "Lily!" Roxanne scolded
"What? We really don't want her to?" Lily asked looking confused
"It's not our choice to make and we would be bad friends pushing her to do something she's not ready for." Roxanne said
"Basically Bunny, we want to be happy with someone even if that person is Mamoru. But we want you to make sure that your positive about and you've had the time to think of the right decision." Michaela said
Usagi nodded and sighed, "Thanks you guys and I will."
"Although we would prefer if you break up with Mamoru." Lily added
"LILY!"
AN: OMG finally! I've been trying to finish this chapter for a while and I'm finally done but now onto the next one. See you guys in 2020, ja ne!