*Laz looks up* My goodness.. a bunch of fat crickets.. I think they've been eaten... *sighs* and we had this chapter all ready for them too...
*Ely throws her workbook out the window in frustration and dodges another midterm missile* Haven't they heard of letting up on the work before spring break? sheesh...
Amazingly enough, we've managed to complete this chapter even with all the school and work breathing down our necks. Dodge the crickets, have a good read, and let us hear what you think! Feedback is an author's best friend (next to chocolate...)
The Longest 24 Hours 7/8
by Lazuli and Elysia
rating: PG
Silence filled the room. Ikuko stared deep into Usagi's eyes, searching for that daughter she so hoped would be there. Demando's incredulous snort could not even deter her from what she most hoped to find. Her eyes opened wide when she saw her daughter staring back at her through what seemed a vast gulf of time, as if Usagi had been gone much longer than five years. As if she had been put through more than Ikuko could ever imagine. In one fluid motion, she reached out and scooped up her daughter into a warm embrace, tears of joy flowing down her cheeks.
Out of the corner of her eye, Usagi looked at Demando, who was scowling at her. "This doesn't mean that any prior wedding plans that we had are on, you know. I am not marrying you. As soon as I can, I plan to introduce Mama to the one I want to marry." She turned to her mother. "Mama, I know you will adore Mamoru! He is so sweet and kind... I love him very dearly."
Ikuko looked confused at the annoyed look on her daughter's face, and put a hand on her arm to quiet her. "Usagi! Where did you learn such manners! I don't care if you *have* been away, that is NO excuse for speaking to Demando in such a way! Apologize to your future husband. Now."
Usagi looked at her mother in shock. "Mama! You can't mean that I have to marry this arrogant excuse for a..." The look on her mother's face stopped her cold, and years of upbringing by Ikuko made her bow her head to Demando. "Forgive me for such rude behavior."
Demando nodded, patting Usagi on the head as if she were a small animal or child. "That is fine, Usagi. I am sure you will make a fine wife. So that no more abductions occur, I think it is in our best interests that the wedding should commence this evening."
Usagi paled under the cover of her hair, silently crying out to Mamoru for help. Her homecoming was not at all how she expected it to be. And it looked like she would never make her way home to Mamoru again.
******
After Demando left, Usagi slipped outside before her mother could catch her. It was so strange, only 5 years had passed in her old life, but she had lived over four hundred years, into the modern world where she belonged. And it was that world that she longed for now.
Coming home had been a dream and a nightmare all in one. Seeing her mother again was all she ever wanted, but now she was faced with marrying Demando, a man she hardly knew and did not like. But it seemed as if she had no choice. By that night, she would be married, but not to the one she loved.
As the sun began to set, Usagi strolled about the yard, suddenly missing her childhood years. He gaze rested upon the old gnarled oak tree, and her face lit up. From one of the branches hung the swing she had made with her own hands so long ago. Her family must have brought it along when they moved. Usagi's fingers traveled up and down its length, caressing the wooden board and thick rope lovingly. She lowered herself upon it, satisfied that the swing still held her weight. Swinging her legs back and forth, Usagi began to climb higher and higher in the sky, almost to the point where she could touch the tree top with her feet. She let out a loud laugh, her first since coming here. It felt so good to be home.
"Are you sure that swing can hold you? I've never seen anyone your size sit on it," a voice suddenly came from behind her. Usagi yelped, and dragged her feet in the dirt to stop. Twisting around on the swing, she came face to face with that of twelve-year-old Shingo. Her little brother.
Her features relaxed into a smile. "It's only you, Shingo. I thought you were someone else. Shingo didn't move, but kept his gaze fixed on her. "They say you're my sister. I remember I had a sister a long time ago, so it could have been you. But how do I know you're not here to hurt us?"
Usagi stood up, still holding the ropes in her hands. "I can see why you want to protect your mother. Your life has been really hard these last few years, hasn't it? I wish I could have been here to help." She picked up the wooden seat and turned it over. "I made this swing, Shingo. If you look on the seat here, you can see that I carved my name into it." When she got no response from the boy, she added, "I also know that you got the scar on your elbow when your friends dared you to jump off the roof into the tree."
Shingo's eyes widened. No one knew about that, not even his mother. The only other person who had been there that day was his... "o... onee-sama?" Usagi smiled and held out her arms as her little brother ran to her.
Usagi tousled her brother's hair playfully. "I've missed you too, Shingo. I know you've heard many strange stories about my disappearing, and I'll tell you everything, if you'll do something for me. You have to get me out of here."
"But I thought you were to wed Demando-san tonight."
Usagi snorted. "That is the last thing in the world I plan on doing!"
"I don't like him either," Shingo muttered quietly. Usagi looked down at her brother and laughed. "Glad to know someone's on my side."
"So you'll tell me everything if I promise to hide you?" Usagi nodded. "And hopefully Mama won't find out."
The younger boy thought for a moment. "I know a place where you can hide. C'mon," he said, tugging his sister along by her sleeve.
******
"And you want me to believe all that?"
Usagi sighed loudly. "I know it seems impossible, Shingo, but I promise you, everything I've told you is the truth. You're the only one I can count on now."
The boy looked down at his hands. "So you've been living for the last 400 years, but somehow got sent back to this point in time, as if you had only been gone for five?"
She nodded. "Strange, ne? At times I find it really hard to believe, but I've lived it. I saw and experienced over four hundred years of history. But I'm glad I was able to come back to see you and Mama again. I was so worried about you when I went away."
Shingo shook his head. "It's not that I have a hard time believing you, onee-sama, but the whole genie thing is kinda far-fetched. How do I know you're not making that part up? Can you prove it to me that you're a genie?"
Usagi sighed sadly. "I don't have any powers now. It's part of a test that I and the man I love are being put through. If he can survive 24 hours being in my place, then we will be allowed to be together. I just wish I knew how to get back to him." Closing her eyes, Usagi searched her heart for memories of Mamoru.
'Usako!'
Her body suddenly jumped. Was she just imagining things, or had she really heard him? 'Mamo-chan? Is that you?' Her heart answered.
'Usako! I don't know how I'm doing this, but we must be connected in some way. Listen to me, the Council told me I have to find a way to get you back, and I only have a little time left to grant the last wish. Maybe if you concentrate on our connection, I can get you back soon.'
'I love you, Mamo-chan. I'll do everything I can.' Opening her eyes again, she focused on her little brother staring at her in worry. "Onee-sama? Are you all right? You had such a strange look on your face."
While her heart concentrated on all her thoughts of Mamoru, Usagi smiled softly at her brother. "Everything's fine, Shingo, I promise. I need you to do one more thing for me. I want you to go back home and stall Mama and the wedding as long as you can. You might have to eventually tell them where I am, but if I'm not here when you come back, don't worry. Just tell them I've finally gone home."
Shingo's face fell. "But this is your home, onee-sama."
"It was my home, once upon a time. But I don't belong here anymore. I belong in the future now." The young boy threw himself into her arms, crying. "I don't want you to go, onee-sama! You just came back, I can't lose you again!" Usagi clung to her brother, speaking soothingly to him. "Did anyone ever tell you how much you remind me of our papa? Be strong like him, Shingo. Take care of Mama for me. And no matter what anyone tells you, I never ever stopped loving my family."
The boy nodded somberly, wiped the stray tears away, and ran out of the hiding place to fulfill his sister's wishes.
******
Mamoru looked around at his surroundings slowly. He was back in his world, but more importantly, it looked as if he had never left. The dim room was as he had left it, and anxiously, he looked to the figure in the bed. Rei was still out from the sedatives the doctor had given her. It wasn't really his fault for making her drunk, she wished it upon herself in the first place.
He sat next to her by the bed, and picked up her hand gently. "Rei-san... I'm so sorry for all that you've gone through. You're such a great person, and I wish I could give you what you wish for in your heart."
Rei stirred slightly in her sleep, then blinked her eyes, slowly focusing them on Mamoru sitting beside her.
"Oh... I thought you were Mamoru for a moment, coming to visit me. You know, I do care about him, I really do. But only as a dear friend. I guess I was jealous that he found someone else to turn to. Another person that was special to him."
Rei's voice was amazingly clear as she talked to him. Mamoru felt his heart reach out to her once more. Rei had always been there for him for such a long time. They had both had been alone their lives, with no parents taking care of them. It was a common bond that they shared. He never knew that she thought of him like that. He just assumed that neither of them felt that way towards each other.
"I know that you and I haven't hit it off... the wishes I made weren't exactly smart, and I probably hurt Mamoru all the more. If you can grant this one wish for me, I would be so happy. Maybe Mamoru would come and visit me then. Maybe he won't be angry at me any more."
Mamoru nodded, his eyes gentle as they focused on Rei's teary ones. "I'll grant you any wish, Rei-chan. Anything at all to see a smile on your face again."
Rei nodded, and struggled to sit up, Mamoru helping her. "I wish for Mamoru to be happy. For things to go back to normal. Please do that."
Mamoru nodded, and invoked the power of the magic that granted the wishes. He didn't feel anything, and closed his eyes, seeing that Rei was now asleep. Strangely enough, nothing had changed yet. He granted the wish, hadn't he? Something should have happened.
He made his way out of the room and ran into the all too familiar form of Lady.
"Your time is up! You were too late," she smirked. "The Council sent me to inform you that you now belong to me. I told you in the beginning you shouldn't mess with immortals. Look where it's put you."
Using the power of Lady's magic, Mamoru suddenly found himself before the Council. The faceless members looked down upon him, and he found that he could not meet their gaze. Had all this been for nothing? Did he take this challenge upon himself in vain?
He looked to where Lady stood next to him, smirking over her victory. Usagi should have been standing there, he thought. It was her rightful place.
Mamoru hung his head, tears threatening to fall.
He had failed.