Disclaimer: I hope this chapter reveals answers to questions we have. We will learn what Mamoru did to earn Usagi's ire. That's a story for another chapter.
I hope you like this chapter!
Surprise etched across Setsuna's face when Usagi approached her, asking to for time off to go home. Usagi never asked abruptly to leave. She always planned so she could understand why Setsuna was caught off guard. She didn't deny Usagi's request and didn't appear disappointed which was a relief to Usagi.
"You have accumulated lots of comp time, Usagi. Take it. Trust me, we were all wondering when you would take it."
"I am so sorry, Setsuna. I know it is last minute."
Setsuna held a hand up to stop further apologies as none was needed, "You're human. Go be with your family."
Kenji Tsukino had never been the relative Usagi needed to worry about. He was the rock of their family. He provided everything for them. That didn't particularly mean that Usagi grew up with a silver spoon in her hand. He had been utterly surprised when his little princess announced she wanted to become a lawyer. None of them had seen it coming. He worked tirelessly to get his business booming while Ikuko carried Usagi. By the time Shingo was born, Kenji already had college funds for them. He'd been that successful. Usagi adored him despite his overprotective nature.
While Usagi was in school studying, Kenji took Shingo camping and received injuries while biking. The injuries to his leg meant he had to stay home for weeks until he could begin physical therapy. It was hard on Ikuko because she isn't a nurse and could only offer so much help. She learned how to dress his wounds and change the bandages though. Kenji decided to douse his depression in alcohol unfortunately. It came to a head when Usagi returned home for Christmas and there had been an incident. He quickly sobered up when he saw how his actions affected the rest of them.
Usagi believed he was turning everything around. He was healthy and been that way for some time. What went horribly wrong? The thoughts kept running through her mind as she hurried home and began packing. Her apartment isn't shabby, two bedroom, two bathrooms. She doesn't have a roommate, but she advertised last month. The walls are painted gray and the floors are covered in natural oak. there are two light fixtures, one around the kitchenette and the other hanging around the sofa and television.
Usagi doesn't waste any time. She threw open a suitcase and piled in t-shirts, bras, panties, jeans, and god forbid a knee length dress should occasion require it. She grabbed her iPad and hurried back out of her apartment building and down to her car. It was a solid forty minutes to the airport.
Once she secures her plane ticket she sits and waits like everyone else. Her mind goes everywhere it shouldn't. She thinks the worst has happened to her father. While her brain begins circling the drain, she begins to think about him.
I bet he's married to her. Won't that be great? Returning home and he decides for whatever reason to pay his respects and brings her and their stupid family. Gag me. Why do I think my father is dead?! He isn't!
Needing a break from those thoughts, she begins searching her contacts for Rei Hino. They haven't spoken in a long time, but she needs to know what she's going to be coming home to. Maybe they can catch up too. She hits 'dial' and holds the phone to her, begging God or whatever deity is out there that Rei picks up.
"Rei speaking." She's short and clipped, which means Rei probably didn't look at the caller ID.
So many emotions hit Usagi at once when she hears her. Her lip quivers and she fights back the urge to cry, to let down the icy cold barrier she's been keeping up, "Hi." It is all she gets out before she feels tears slide down her cheeks.
"Usagi?! Oh my god! Are you okay? Are you crying?" Rei asks panicking.
"I'm fine. Shit, I'm sorry. Mom just called me and I'm coming home. I wanted to let you know."
"That's great! It feels like it has been forever. Is something wrong? Did Shingo get arrested?"
"It's my dad, something is wrong with Kenji."
Rei says nothing but she sucks in a breath that Usagi can hear. It doesn't help change her mood. Usagi reaches to rub away the tears from her swollen eyes and red cheeks.
"Don't worry about that. I know it is easier said than done but I'm going to distract you from it. I don't know what is going on."
"I know. I um...should I be hesitant to return home?"
"Huh? What do you...Oh!"
Her lips press against each other harder once she hears that Rei understands her question. She hears Rei hesitating on the other end and then a sigh. Maybe Anne is married to him. Ugh, I don't think I should have asked the question.
"Don't worry about that skank and douche. Oh my god, are you still pining over him?" The exasperation is evident by her tone.
"What? No! I just don't want drama when I get there." Usagi hurries to destroy any idea that Rei may have. "I got over him a long time ago."
"Like you got over Ami and me?" There is a pause and Usagi begins chewing her lip. She knew that was coming. "Sorry. That was low. Usagi you left us. You closed off yourself when you went off to college. We were there for you!"
"I'm sorry, Rei. It just hurt." Usagi admits. "At the time, I felt terrible and I know that I hurt you and Ami when I stopped calling and hanging out with you. Everything just reminded me of him. I couldn't take it."
"I worried about you every day. Anyway, lunch is over and these twerps are filing in the classroom. Text me when you arrive in town."
Usagi perks up and raises an eyebrow. Rei a teacher? When did hell freeze over? "Teach? What?"
"Bye Usagi!" She hears a click as Rei ends the call.
She silently prays Rei doesn't maim any student walking into that room. She didn't believe Rei had the temperament for such a career choice. Rei mouthed off to their History teacher a lot because the man never prepared them for the Final Exams. It boggles her mind. She stands and walks over to the loading zone as she hears her flight being called. She's a nervous wreck and assumes she looks like shit with mascara streaks down her cheeks. She doesn't need a mirror, she sees it is written over the attendant's face with that sympathetic smile.
"I can't wait to get off this damn plane." She mutters walking through the tunnel to the airplane.
Usagi's plane arrived later that evening. She was seated next to a man who couldn't stop sneezing and when he finally passed out from Benadryl, he snored even louder. It made getting any kind of nap, impossible.
She is exhausted to say the least. She fusses with her bangs as she walks over to the conveyor belt to grab her suitcase. All she wants to do is drop on the floor and sleep but she knows someone will cuff her and drag her to some seedy room in the back. She looks at the time on her phone, it is after ten. She quickly types a text to Rei, "The duke has returned to Hazzard." With a cheesy grin, she hits 'send' and picks up her luggage and heads toward the main lobby.
The only difference is that there doesn't seem to be any snow on the ground like there used to be. Shingo and her used to love building snowmen and having snowball fights. At least she wouldn't be slipping on ice and falling on her ass this time of year.
She didn't miss this town she grew up in. She came back for holidays unless she couldn't tear herself away. She knows her family misses her but she doesn't miss this place. Her hometown had everything her new home has, shopping, restaurants, theatres, Arcades...except her new home didn't have Mamoru. Chills run across her skin. She hadn't put any energy into thinking about him since boarding the plane.
She quickly calls her mother to ask where everyone is currently. Her breathing catches in her throat when she realizes they're at the hospital. She grips the phone tighter and quickly hangs up and calls for an Uber. His condition worsened? What is going on? Biting her lip she begins to pace as she watches the little SUV icon on the screen move closer to her location, not liking how slow it is moving.
When he finally pulls up to the loading bay, Usagi quickly slips in and forces her suitcase in the backseat, "Don't ask me questions, just drive me to the hospital." He cringes but listens as she barks orders to him. She is quickly putting her ice cold wall back in place. That seems to be the only thing people understand. Nothing has changed here.
The drive isn't too long, the hospital is located in the central part of the city. You simply can't miss it. Usagi got to see her old high school along the drive and nothing seemed to have changed except a fresh coat of paint. The line of boutiques leading into central were closed for the evening as well. The lights at the intersection looked new. Otherwise, the same ole place she left. When the five story hospital comes into view, she sighs. It wouldn't be too much longer.
When the SUV pulls to a complete stop, Usagi is halfway out already and tugging her suitcase out behind her. She hurries inside escaping the bitter chill. Once inside she stops and looks around. Ikuko was supposed to send Shingo down to bring her up to his room. The main lobby isn't crowded tonight, several nurses are standing around chatting. A doctor brings charts over to the front desk before stepping away toward the back hall where the elevators are probably located. The walls are painted an off white color with pictures and posters decorating them.
"Of course." She mutters rolling her eyes and walking over to the front desk.
The nurse looks at her and smiles, "Can I help you?" She's peppy this late at night. Usagi isn't a fan of peppy nurses. She expected someone half dead to be manning the front desk who is irate from dealing with uncooperative patients.
"I'm here to see my father, Kenji Tsukino. I'm his daughter, Usagi Tsukino." Usagi greets her, hoping she senses the urgency in her voice. The nurse and nods and returns to her computer and starts typing furiously.
"Usagi?"
She tenses hearing her name roll off the tongue of someone who approached her from behind. She bites her lip and squeezes her eyes tightly shut. "Damn."
"Oh perfect! Doctor you're seeing Mr. Tsukino, you can take Usagi up."