Chapter 22

Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday Mamoru didn't get to see Usagi or ChibiUsa. He was at his internship all three days. He got texts from Usagi thru out those days. Just little things, but it was still nice to hear from her.

Tuesday evening, he got a call from Usagi's house, while he was on his dinner break. He was a little concerned when he saw that, so he answered hesitatingly.

"Hello?" he said into the phone.

"Hi Mamo. It's ChibiUsa." He heard ChibiUsa's voice on the other end.

"Hi ChibiUsa. How are you? Is everything ok?"

"I'm good. Yeah. I just wanted to see if you were still planning to take me to the Planetarium tomorrow? Papa Kenji said he would, if you can't."

"I can still take you. I can pick you up from home after school."

"Can you pick me and Usagi up from the Fruit Parlor please? I asked her to come too."

"I can do that."

"Thank you Mamo. I really appreciate it. I gotta go. Bye." She hung up before he could say good bye.

Wednesday afternoon he walked into the Fruit Parlor in time to witness Rei and Usagi in one of their tongue wars, as ChibiUsa snuck Usagi's milkshake away from her. He was about to go take it from her, when he noticed what she was doing. She stuck her finger in the whipped cream, slid the milkshake back, then ran the whipped cream covered finger down Usagi's nose. The whole table burst out laughing. Mamoru even chuckled as he continued walked over.

"CHI-BI-USA!" Usagi growled, looking very mad.

Mamoru saw the evil glint in her eye, and new payback was coming for the prank. He watched as Usagi stuck her finger in ketchup, and swiped along ChibiUsa's nose. All of the girls cracked up again.

"USA-GI!" ChibiUsa yelled, but was smiling the whole time. He saw the beginnings of a food fight about to break out so he stepped in quickly.

"Hey there ladies." He said.

"Mamo! Hi!" Usagi said beaming at him.

"Hi Mamo." ChibiUsa said, hugged him, and quickly moved out of the booth.

He slid in, kissed Usagi on the check, and threw his arm across the back of the booth. ChibiUsa slid in next to him, but didn't plaster herself to him, like she usually does.

"Uh. Usako, you've got something…right….there." Mamoru wiped the whip cream off, with a chuckle. "ChibiUsa, you're not much better."

"ChibiUsa started it." Usagi spoke up jokingly.

"Did not." ChibiUsa quipped back, and stuck her tongue out at Usagi.

"Did too." Usagi said and stuck her tongue out at ChibiUsa.

"OOOOk." Mamoru laughed.

Ami, Minako, Rei, and Makoto just shook their heads, and smiled.

"This has been them since Monday." Makoto laughed.

"Yeah. It's been funny really." Minako added.

"They remind me to Rei and Usagi." Ami said.

"AMI!" Rei and Usagi said at the same time.

"What?" Ami asked.

The girls and Mamoru just laughed.

"As soon as you finished your milkshake, we'll head to the planetarium. Ok, Usako?" Mamoru stated.

"Oh. Uh. Well actually I have a lot of homework, and Ami is going to help me with it tonight. You and ChibiUsa should go, and have fun." Usagi answered with a smile.

"Oh. Uh. Ok. That ok with you ChibiUsa?" Mamoru asked her.

"Yeah. That's fine." ChibiUsa answered, but she looked a little disappointed.

"Are you ready to go then?"

"Yeah."

They slid out of the booth, Mamoru leaned over, gave Usagi a quick kiss, and they left. They had just walked out the door, when he felt his phone vibrate. It was a text from Usagi.

I know she wanted me to go, but I think you two need some one on one time. It's been awhile, and I think she's scared you won't be her friend any more.

Oh. Ok. Thank you.

Have fun. I love you both.

I love you too.

"Mamo. Do you think Usagi is mad at me, and that's why she didn't want to come with us?" ChibiUsa asked quietly, looking sad.

"Actually. I know why she didn't come." Mamoru answered.

"You do?"

"Yes. She just told me in a text. She said she thinks we need some one on one time."

"OH. Ok then."

As they made their way to the planetarium, ChibiUsa told him all about what she had been doing the last few days. As well as what she was learning about constellations. They spent two hours walking around the planetarium, looking at so many things. They watched a few short videos on constellations. ChibiUsa asked a lot of questions as they walked. She soaked up everything. They both stopped in front of a picture of the full moon.

"Mama told me that in her first life she lived on the moon, as the princess, and papa was the prince of the earth." ChibiUsa said softly.

"She's right. That was about a thousand years ago." Mamoru stated.

"What happened? Mama never told me."

"An evil energy possessed the people of the Earth, and they attacked the moon."

"Papa's people?"

"Yes. By the time the Prince of the Earth found out about the people of being possessed, it was too late. He went to the moon to try to help. There was nothing he could do."

"They all died, didn't they?"

"Yes, but the Queen of the moon used the Silver Crystal to seal away the evil, and sent everyone to Earth to be reincarnated."

"Do you ever miss that time?"

"Honestly, no."

"Why?"

"In that time, the Prince of the Earth and the Princess of the Moon weren't supposed to be together. It was against the law. They had to sneak to see each other."

"What about being a prince? You could have anything you want. Go any where you want. People do everything for you."

"True, but there are a lot of responsibilities, and expectations. Someone is always watching you, wanting you for something. You can't do whatever you want because you are expected to do something, or what you want to do is not considered appropriate for royalty. You really can't be your own person. You have to be what everyone expects you to be. In this time, I can be who I want to be. I have freedom. I can go where I want, do what I want, without being swarmed by people, or surrounded by guards."

"I guess I can see what you're saying."

"It's also nice to be able to learn from my experiences, instead of being told."

"I guess."

"Ready to go?"

"Yeah."

"Do you want to get dinner before I take you home?"

"Yes please."

They found themselves at an American pizza restaurant, waiting on a cheese pizza. ChibiUsa was coloring on the back of her placemat, but he could tell something was on her mind. He didn't want to push, but he had a feeling, she was waiting to be asked.

"ChibiUsa, is something on your mind." Mamoru asked gently.

"Kinda." She answered, not looking up from her picture.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"I think so."

"You can talk to me."

She sat there, and seemed to be thinking about it for awhile.

"Do you….do you think mama and papa sent me away because they want to replace me?" ChibiUsa asked quietly.

"What?" Mamoru asked, shocked.

"I wasn't supposed to hear, but I heard mama, and papa talking before I came here, about having another baby. After that, they started talking about me coming here for "training", but I felt like they were doing it to get rid of me, and the new baby would replace me. Why do I need to come here for training when I can learn just as well there?"

"A new baby doesn't mean replacing the child already there. It means adding more to the family. More people to love, and to give you someone to play with, to teach, to help grow up. They probably don't want you to ever feel alone, if something happens to them."

"Why would I feel alone? I have all the senshi, and everyone in the palace. I feel like they sent me away to get rid of me."

"Friends can be different than family, especially when you're young. When you're the only one in your family left, it can be very lonely."

"How do you know that?"

"Your papa never told you?"

"Told me what?"

"When your papa, er…me. When I was six years old, my parents, and I were in a very bad car accident. They both died in that accident. I had no siblings, and no family. I was all alone, for a very long time. I made my first friend, Motoki, when I was 13, and that's only because he forced me. He was my ONLY friend, the only person I had until I met Usako. That is a very hard thing to grow up dealing with. I think your parents, want to make sure that you always have some family, and never feel that alone. They probably want to give you more people to love."

"I….I guess that makes sense, but why not just tell me that, instead of sending me away?"

"You said you weren't supposed to hear their talk right?"

"Yeah."

"Maybe they didn't want to get your hopes up that there wouldn't be a baby?"

"I guess. I have been asking for a brother or sister since I went back from my last time here."

"What else is on your mind?"

"Why would they send me here for training, instead of training me at home?"

"Maybe because they've been senshi for so long, and they're so strong that they forgot what it was like just starting out. All of us haven't had our powers for a very long time. They're still growing, and we're still learning how to use them. Maybe they felt it was a good idea for you to learn beside us so you can grow as we do."

"Maybe."

"Your papa said he used to tell you stories about Sailor Moon. Did he ever tell you about the first time she became Sailor Moon, and her first battle?"

"Yeah. Mama had been picking on him about some green jacket he used to wear all of the time. To pick on her back, he told me that story, right at the dinner table. It was so funny."

"Looking back now, it is funny, but it wasn't then. Maybe, your mama and papa wanted to make sure you were ready so you didn't end up as unprepared as Sailor Moon was that day."

"I guess."

"What else is on your mind?"

"What did they mean when they said they wanted me to learn about life as an ordinary girl, instead of a princess. I am a princess. Why do I need to learn that?"

"Life is different depending on your station in it. Remember what I said at the planetarium about life now as apposed to a thousand years ago? How I would rather live this life, than that one?"

"Yeah."

"Living this life, I've learned more about people. I've learned more about life, and how to live it. I've learned about compassion, empathy, patience, understanding. I've honestly experienced more, as an everyday person than as royalty. Sure you can sort of learn those things as royalty, by watching, but experiencing teaches you more. It's like being on the outside looking in. Do you think your parents would be who they are, if they had lived as royalty their whole lives?"

"Maybe. I don't know."

"I don't think they would. I also don't think they would look at people the same way they do if they hadn't lived as everyday people. Take you and Usako, for example. Think about how different you are. You're the same, in some ways, but you're different in others. Think about how differently you look at life, and people."

"I guess. It was mama's idea for me to come here. I've been so mad at her for it."

"I'm sure, but I hope I've helped you to understand, and maybe be a little less angry at her."

"I gotta think."

"Ok. You know you can always talk to Usako. She might be able to help you more. She's better at this than I am."

"Maybe."

Once they finished eating, they got ready to leave. Mamoru had noticed that ChibiUsa had asked for a new placemat, and that she had been very careful not get the one she had been coloring on, dirty. Before she got up from the table, she carefully grabbed it, and brought it with her. He gave her a questioning look.

"It's for Usagi. Since she didn't come, I wanted to her to have something from tonight." ChibiUsa explained as they left the restaurant.

"She'll love it." Mamoru said with a smile.

"It's not very good though."

"She'll love it. You know, she said the same thing about the painting her art teacher hung in the front hall of her school?"

"No. What painting?"

"This one." Mamoru showed her the picture of the painting, Usagi had sent him.

"She did that?"

"Yes she did. She doesn't think it's very good."

"But it is good!"

"I agree, but Usako is the same way about her art work, as you are. She never thinks it's good enough."

"Oh. She framed the picture I colored for her last week."

"I bet she'll put the picture you did tonight, some where she can see it too."

"I guess. I really liked that coloring book she got me."

"I'm glad you do, and I'm sure she is too."

"Yeah."

"Are you two going to the art class again Saturday?"

"Yes. We get to paint the pottery we made."

"I can't wait to see them."

Before Mamoru knew it they were back at Usagi's house. He kneeled down to hug ChibiUsa.

"Thank you for everything Mamo. It meant a lot. You're a good friend." ChibiUsa said as she hugged him.

"I'm glad I could. Thank you for asking me." Mamoru responded.

ChibiUsa walked in the house, turned around, waved at him, and shut the door. He heard her yell out Usagi's name, as he stepped off the porch. He chuckled, and started walking home. He got a block from Usagi's he felt a weight land on his shoulder. He looked to see Artemis sitting there.

"Hello Artemis." Mamoru said with a chuckle.

"Hello Mamoru." The white male cat said.

"You know, you should be thankful I am used to having cats randomly land on my shoulder." Mamoru stated.

"Yeah. You're right. I consider myself lucky I don't end up thrown out into the road." Artemis chuckled.

"True. I don't think Mina or Luna would forgive me for that."

"No. They probably wouldn't, even though they would understand the reaction."

"Maybe. What can I do for your Artemis?"

"I wanted to see how your girls are doing."

"Well actually. Although it seems as though ChibiUsa still has a lot to work out in her own head, but we're getting there."

"Good. I'm glad."

"How is Luna?"

"She has her ups and downs. When she is having a hard time, I've noticed, she stays away from Usagi. She doesn't go to any of the girl's houses either. She isn't telling me where she goes though. I worry she is sleeping outside, alone."

"That could be dangerous."

"I know, but I can't convince her to stay with any of the girls, when she's down."

"Tell her she can come to my place if she needs to. Tell her to just beep me on the communicator if she's coming."

"I will. Thanks."

"No problem. How are you doing Artemis?"

"I was angry at first, but I'm working thru it. Part of me hates that I don't remember, but part of me is glad I don't. I can't imagine how I would react if I had to relive those years."

"I can only imagine."

"Well I better head off. I'll deliver your message. Thanks Mamoru."

"Bye. Any time." Artemis jumped off his shoulder, and disappeared into the night.

Mamoru went to bed feeling a little bit lighter, but a slight heaviness settled on him too. He knew things weren't completely good yet, but he hoped things wouldn't turn bad again.