Hey everyone!
I should be doing work...but that's what later is for, right? Anyway,
here is the next chapter of Not all Masks. Sorry for the wait. And
I'll try to resolve some of the angst, I promise.
Chapter six: First, Recognition
As the arrival of ChibiUsa, who was considerably older since anyone had
last seen her, had interrupted the debate about the jailed Tierreny-san,
Usagi quickly suggested that everyone go to the arcade for ice cream, hoping
that the trip would derail the conversation about jailed gang leader. Half
of the ploy worked. So it was on the way to the Crown that the young princess
of Crystal Toyko was filled in on the latest debate.
"So, she just attacked Mom in broad daylight in an alley?"
"She DID NOT attack me! How many times do I have to go over this? She-"
Matoko interrupted, "Usagi, I know you don't want to believe the worst of
anyone, but that woman attacked you AND she is dangerous."
Usagi turned her angry stare on her friend, "People told me that you were
dangerous, too. Would you rather I listened to them?"
Matoko blushed and then got slightly agitated, "That is not the same thing!"
Of course that started another argument that lasted until the group arrived at the
doors of the arcade. Desperately wanting a break, Usagi rushed in to find
Motoki in his usual place...but with a TV on the counter turned to an American
news station. And he didn't look happy.
"Motoki-niisan!"
"Hi, Usagi."
"What's with the TV?" asked Minako as she and the rest of the group caught up with
Usagi.
"I've put the TV in here so that anyone interested can see the news coverage of
that woman's arrest in trial." Motoki's eyes darkened with anger. "And, as if I
wasn't angry enough that...that woman attacked Usagi, now Mamoru has gone and taken
her side."
"For the last time, she DID NOT attack - Wait, what about Mamo-chan? What did he do?"
Motoki sighed. He looked angry...and tired and worried. As frustrated as he appeared
to be, it was obvious that he cared about his friend. "Mamoru gave a press conference
yesterday. They have been playing it over and over again since. They are about to
replay it now, if you want to watch."
So the group of women surrounded the Television to watch the press conference, which was
all in English...but, by this point had acquired Japanese subtitles. The international
press core seemed to be very noisy right up until Mamoru got to the podium. Appearing
to be both nervous and determined, tired and energized, happy and sad, the very familiar voice
of ally, friend, fiance and father began with, "Thank you all for coming. All of you know me
as Mamoru Chiba, the fiance of the Usagi Tsukino, who was attacked two days ago. I know you
expect me to talk about her condition, the attack, my anger, and my cry for justice. Well, you
would be half right. I am not here to talk about the attack. I am here to ask for justice.
And justice would be setting Alanis Hope Tierreny free."
The group remained silent until the end of the press conference. Then it exploded into conversation.
"Mamoru-san was in a gang? I mean, I knew he had a rough childhood, but-"
"So that's how he knows that low-life gaijin."
"Is she blackmailing him somehow?"
"He's not changing sides again, is he? I'm not sure if Usagi can fight him."
"I don't know what he was thinking. He could have started over. He HAD started over.
They was no need for -"
Even in the burst of conversation, two stayed silent. One was silent because she was still
assimilating the press conference...and the fact that her fiance had never mentioned this
part of his past to her. The other was silent out of confusion.
The pink haired girl pondered to herself, 'Dad...well the younger version of my dad, said that
the woman that is in jail for attacking Usagi and kidnapping the Prime Minister's daughter name
is Alanis. But Alanis is my soba's name! She would never hurt innocent people, never! I need
to figure out what is going on. I need to see this woman...to see if she is who I think she is.'
The young girl turned to her mother. "Usagi-chan?" she asked softly, but the blonde didn't hear
her. After trying several times, the girl finally said, "Hey, Odango-atama! Down here."
At that, Usagi finally shook off her thoughts and looked down. Her future daughter gave her a hug
and then asked very quietly, "Can you take me to see Tierreny-san?"
To say that Usagi was surprised by the request was an understatement. "I would love to," she
managed to force out, "but with everyone so overprotective about this...huge misunderstanding, I'm
not sure I could get to the jail again."
ChibiUsa smiled at her mother. "I'll help create a cover story and get us out. Will you take
me to see her? Please?"
Usagi nodded and ChibiUsa sighed. Maybe now she'd begin to figure out what was meant by
that strange conversation that she had had with her soba before she left.
******
Crystal Toyko
The King had just exited a suite and a door just slammed behind him. As he raked his hand through
his head in frustration, a laugh was heard from a nearby hall chair.
"She kicked you out, hmm? I take it you're in the doghouse."
"You could say that," the king said as he walked over to the woman in the chair.
The older woman looked up at the head of the royal family. "Sweetie, you have got to start sharing
things with her. Little things. Big things. Things about you." The woman sighed. "What am
I going to do with you?...What didn't you tell her this time?"
"Is it so wrong to want to protect her?"
"No, wanting to protect her isn't wrong. Keeping secrets from her, however, can be. Besides, you
two are supposed to be each other's helpmates. How can she help you if you don't tell her anything?
She handles things a lot better than you give her credit for."
"Haven't we already had this talk?"
"Of course we have. You just weren't listening the other 84 times, it seems."
- to be continued -
I know this is shorter than it should be based on the length of time since my last update, but
I'm working on it, I promise! I have about five more chapters planned, although I'm not sure when
I'll get them out. Thanks for reading. I really appreciate it.
~December
I should be doing work...but that's what later is for, right? Anyway,
here is the next chapter of Not all Masks. Sorry for the wait. And
I'll try to resolve some of the angst, I promise.
Chapter six: First, Recognition
As the arrival of ChibiUsa, who was considerably older since anyone had
last seen her, had interrupted the debate about the jailed Tierreny-san,
Usagi quickly suggested that everyone go to the arcade for ice cream, hoping
that the trip would derail the conversation about jailed gang leader. Half
of the ploy worked. So it was on the way to the Crown that the young princess
of Crystal Toyko was filled in on the latest debate.
"So, she just attacked Mom in broad daylight in an alley?"
"She DID NOT attack me! How many times do I have to go over this? She-"
Matoko interrupted, "Usagi, I know you don't want to believe the worst of
anyone, but that woman attacked you AND she is dangerous."
Usagi turned her angry stare on her friend, "People told me that you were
dangerous, too. Would you rather I listened to them?"
Matoko blushed and then got slightly agitated, "That is not the same thing!"
Of course that started another argument that lasted until the group arrived at the
doors of the arcade. Desperately wanting a break, Usagi rushed in to find
Motoki in his usual place...but with a TV on the counter turned to an American
news station. And he didn't look happy.
"Motoki-niisan!"
"Hi, Usagi."
"What's with the TV?" asked Minako as she and the rest of the group caught up with
Usagi.
"I've put the TV in here so that anyone interested can see the news coverage of
that woman's arrest in trial." Motoki's eyes darkened with anger. "And, as if I
wasn't angry enough that...that woman attacked Usagi, now Mamoru has gone and taken
her side."
"For the last time, she DID NOT attack - Wait, what about Mamo-chan? What did he do?"
Motoki sighed. He looked angry...and tired and worried. As frustrated as he appeared
to be, it was obvious that he cared about his friend. "Mamoru gave a press conference
yesterday. They have been playing it over and over again since. They are about to
replay it now, if you want to watch."
So the group of women surrounded the Television to watch the press conference, which was
all in English...but, by this point had acquired Japanese subtitles. The international
press core seemed to be very noisy right up until Mamoru got to the podium. Appearing
to be both nervous and determined, tired and energized, happy and sad, the very familiar voice
of ally, friend, fiance and father began with, "Thank you all for coming. All of you know me
as Mamoru Chiba, the fiance of the Usagi Tsukino, who was attacked two days ago. I know you
expect me to talk about her condition, the attack, my anger, and my cry for justice. Well, you
would be half right. I am not here to talk about the attack. I am here to ask for justice.
And justice would be setting Alanis Hope Tierreny free."
The group remained silent until the end of the press conference. Then it exploded into conversation.
"Mamoru-san was in a gang? I mean, I knew he had a rough childhood, but-"
"So that's how he knows that low-life gaijin."
"Is she blackmailing him somehow?"
"He's not changing sides again, is he? I'm not sure if Usagi can fight him."
"I don't know what he was thinking. He could have started over. He HAD started over.
They was no need for -"
Even in the burst of conversation, two stayed silent. One was silent because she was still
assimilating the press conference...and the fact that her fiance had never mentioned this
part of his past to her. The other was silent out of confusion.
The pink haired girl pondered to herself, 'Dad...well the younger version of my dad, said that
the woman that is in jail for attacking Usagi and kidnapping the Prime Minister's daughter name
is Alanis. But Alanis is my soba's name! She would never hurt innocent people, never! I need
to figure out what is going on. I need to see this woman...to see if she is who I think she is.'
The young girl turned to her mother. "Usagi-chan?" she asked softly, but the blonde didn't hear
her. After trying several times, the girl finally said, "Hey, Odango-atama! Down here."
At that, Usagi finally shook off her thoughts and looked down. Her future daughter gave her a hug
and then asked very quietly, "Can you take me to see Tierreny-san?"
To say that Usagi was surprised by the request was an understatement. "I would love to," she
managed to force out, "but with everyone so overprotective about this...huge misunderstanding, I'm
not sure I could get to the jail again."
ChibiUsa smiled at her mother. "I'll help create a cover story and get us out. Will you take
me to see her? Please?"
Usagi nodded and ChibiUsa sighed. Maybe now she'd begin to figure out what was meant by
that strange conversation that she had had with her soba before she left.
******
Crystal Toyko
The King had just exited a suite and a door just slammed behind him. As he raked his hand through
his head in frustration, a laugh was heard from a nearby hall chair.
"She kicked you out, hmm? I take it you're in the doghouse."
"You could say that," the king said as he walked over to the woman in the chair.
The older woman looked up at the head of the royal family. "Sweetie, you have got to start sharing
things with her. Little things. Big things. Things about you." The woman sighed. "What am
I going to do with you?...What didn't you tell her this time?"
"Is it so wrong to want to protect her?"
"No, wanting to protect her isn't wrong. Keeping secrets from her, however, can be. Besides, you
two are supposed to be each other's helpmates. How can she help you if you don't tell her anything?
She handles things a lot better than you give her credit for."
"Haven't we already had this talk?"
"Of course we have. You just weren't listening the other 84 times, it seems."
- to be continued -
I know this is shorter than it should be based on the length of time since my last update, but
I'm working on it, I promise! I have about five more chapters planned, although I'm not sure when
I'll get them out. Thanks for reading. I really appreciate it.
~December