Chapter 4 "Revelations"

5:42 PM April 16, 2002 Tokyo, Japan: Juuban district



"Goodbye, Usagi," Ikuko said to her daughter, enfolding her in a tight hug. "Come home for holidays, won't you?"

"I will," the blonde promised, holding her mother tightly. Tears threatened to leak from her cerulean orbs, but sheer will was keeping them in place. She looked around, half-heartedly hoping that she would see the Senshi or Mamoru standing there to wish her farewell, but she knew they wouldn't be there. Her little puppy, Sukie, was in an animal carrier and already on the plane. She herself would be boarding shortly.

"Last call, seats 16-29," came the voice of the airport attendant, and Usagi sighed deeply.

"Well," she said, "that's my call. I've gotta go."

"Bye, honey," Kenji said, also embracing her. "Call when you get to New York, will you?"

"I will, Daddy," she said, and waved at her little brother, Shingo.

"Bye, brat," she said reluctantly.

"Bye, Odango Atama," he replied.

With one last loving look at her family, Usagi Tsukino grabbed her parcel and boarded the flight to New York City, America.

* * * * *

"I, Usagi Tsukino, got a scholarship to a school in America! I can't wait to tell Mamo-chan...I wonder if our schools are anywhere near each other?" Usagi wondered as she walked down the street. The sun was shining brightly, reflecting off her golden hair to make it seem like a shimmering halo. The sky was a light azure, puffy white clouds dotting the horizon. In short, a beautiful Sunday morning.

Usagi pranced along, not a care in the world. Humming to herself, she fingered the ring on her finger, with the white and yellow gold intertwined. All this time she spent worrying about her future, and here it was, smacking her in the face. She grasped her parcel tighter and smiled. She'd planned to surprise Mamoru and take him out for a picnic breakfast in the park. It was supposed to be lunch, but she was excited, and, hey, she got up early, didn't she?

"Mamo-chan?" she called, as she opened up the door to his apartment with her key. She twisted the handle and stepped in, slipping her feet from her slippers to quietly pad across the carpet. Setting the parcel on the counter, she slipped silently through the hall to his bedroom, hoping to catch him asleep. He was so cute when he was asleep! (And didn't know she was watching)

She opened up his bedroom door, and stopped short. Curled up in the bedding, the satin sheets barely covering her chest, was a very familiar black-haired young woman. Her arms fell to her sides, and her mouth hung open.

"MAMORU!!" she cried, "HOW COULD YOU?!"

Mamoru sat up in a hurry, and started to move towards her, but Usagi took a few steps back and fixed him with a cold, hard stare. Betrayal shone on every line and curve of her pretty face, and it took all her willpower to keep from bawling on the spot. The young woman clenched the sheets closer to her body and sat up, staring at Usagi wide-eyed.

"Usagi-chan," she pleaded, "It's not what it looks like! I swear!"

"Rei!" Usagi hissed, her entire body shaking with rage. She walked up, determined, the look of betrayal being replaced with sheer fury. Her hand came up, and slapped Rei across the face to leave a bright red handprint across the priestess's cheek.

"I thought you were my friend," she growled, and spun on her heel to leave.

"Usako!!!" Mamoru called, trying to rush after her and put on pants at the same time.

"Don't call me that!" Usagi cried, "Haven't you hurt me enough?!" She ran through the apartment then, pausing only to fling the parcel back through the house at a pursuing Mamoru. She didn't stop running until she was halfway through Juuban, and came to Motoki's parlor. In truth, she didn't even know why she had come there, but it was the most friendly place she saw, and her heart was breaking.

"Usagi-chan?" Motoki said, coming over to inspect the obviously hurting young woman.

"Oh, Motoki-san," Usagi sobbed, "I don't know what to do..." She nearly broke down right there in the middle of the shop. Motoki gently steered her towards a private booth, and instructed his sister to bring her a chocolate shake. Always when they were younger, the first thing to bring a smile to Usagi's face after a wailing episode was a big, very chocolate, milkshake. But Motoki knew, from just one look at her, that this was different. This wasn't the old Usagi-wail when she tripped or someone said something nasty. This was pure heartbreak; of which he had never seen from her before.

"Usagi-chan?" he asked again, "Are you all right?"

"No, Motoki-san," she said, leaning her head on her arms, "I don't know if I'll be alright again."

* * * * *

Just remembering that fateful morning almost sent Usagi into another fit of tears. It would be a long, probably boring, flight to New York. She couldn't spend her entire life crying, even though it felt as if that was the only thing possible. And she felt so sick...was it jet lag? She'd heard before of nausea and such associated with jet lag, but that normally came after the flight, not during. Was she airsick? But she had passed out a few days ago, too...She felt sick then as well. Maybe it was some wacko virus? The flu, possibly? Hmm...maybe after she got settled she'd look up a doctor.

"Miss?" the attendant asked, holding out a drink tray. Usagi looked up. He brandished the tray, showing Cokes and Pepsis and Mountain Dews. She cocked her head, looking at the choices, and finally bought an iced tea.

"Arigato,*" she said, thanking the flight attendant, who then went on to other customers. Pulling her blanket closer to her, Usagi then snuggled herself against the window and went to sleep.

* * * *