I do not own Sailor Moon. Hinotama is mine! Enjoy and please review!
Falling Stars
Chapter 5
Hinotama held her breath as she entered the shelter silently, padding in as quietly as possible so as not to wake Usagi. The lights in the room were dimmed and the young woman figured that her sister was still asleep. The solar Princess was thankful that she would even be able to lay eyes upon her sister again...
As she turned to relock the door, Hinotama felt a sudden, irritated tap upon her shoulder. Glancing back, she came face to face with a peeved Usagi, who wore an extremely disgruntled expression. Crossing her arms and tilting her head, Usagi glared at her sister meaningfully, awaiting an explanation. The brunette was slightly surprised at this, but the disciplined look in her eyes never shifted. "Usagi, I see you're up," Hinotama said with a smile, masking her shakiness from her prior excursion.
"Oh, yes. Quite up I might add," Usagi quipped, her long white nightgown dark even in the light. "I'm assuming you couldn't possibly stick around for five minutes to at least warn me?" Hinotama blinked and nodded, mentally kicking herself. She knew the young woman would be furious.
"I left you a note for that reason," Hinotama returned, praying her sister would understand. Usagi glared at her harder, until her bright eyes fell upon Hinotama's arm.
"Hino!" she cried in a shrill voice, utterly taken aback and fearful. "Kami, give me strength! What's happened?" The brunette, however, moved away and went to her cot, sitting without a word. "Look at you! And you're a complete mess!" Usagi scolded her sister in complete disbelief.
"This wasn't what I intended to happen, if that's what you mean," Hinotama replied simply, but offered a smile moments later. She swatted away a few locks of glistening chestnut hair and sighed, wincing as she ran a finger across the tender skin of her injury.
"You are unbelieveable. And still you pride yourself on that, huh?" Usagi berated, sitting down beside her and examining the wound closely.
"I do," the brunette answered with a cocky grin, though it quickly faded. "Gomen, Usagi."
The rabbit merely nodded and tucked a clump of hair behind her ear. "Ugh!" Usagi sighed in irritation and began to tend to her sister's wound. "Would you mind telling your dear sister what happened?"
"I encountered a little problem...and I wasn't paying attention. Needless to say, I had to hide and pray that I didn't die, while I took my chances using my last shells," Hinotama replied with a glitter in her eyes. Usagi had begun to wrap her sister's arm, and at once Hinotama cringed from the sensation. Meanwhile, Hinotama proceeded with disarming herself, and after removing her gun from the back of her boot, she set down the empty weapon and remaining others on the table beside her cot.
"You could have died!" Usagi cried suddenly, her wide blue eyes watering and her body shaking as she sat back to face Hinotama. "How could I possibly fend for myself here? You act like this is nothing...I think that living here all alone has turned your heart to stone--you only know how to kill things and hate people! You are absolutely insane!" Usagi spat, shooting Hinotama a dark glare.
"Usagi, I'm sorry but living in a world like this can desensitize you. I was afraid I was going to die and leave you here all alone." Usagi softened her intense glare, though her flustered face remained. The blonde sat down after cleaning and bandaging the gash in her sister's arm.
"I'm surprised you gave me a thought," the blonde retorted nastily, turning away.
"What is that supposed to mean?!" Hinotama shouted, her once cheerful expression turned offended. "If anything happened to you...I bear the death of another beloved friend upon my shoulders. I would never forgive myself, Usagi!"
"That note you left me was like saying you were out to buy groceries. How in hell am I supposed to sit here and wonder if you're dead? And from hearing your story, I had and still have good reason to be angry." Usagi refused to meet her gaze, and furious she balled her fists until her nails dug into her palms. "You drag me here and expect me to aid you in a quest against darkness...I don't know who or what I am fighting and just when I feel like I can trust you--you pull some crazy stunt like this and nearly get yourself killed!"
"Usa--
"Hinotama." Usagi faced her, eyes ablaze. "I don't understand how I can possibly be of any help, when you continue to run off on your own, refusing my abilities. Let me help you, please."
Hinotama relented and sighed, taking her sister's hand and smiling. Their eyes locked and for a moment, a feeling of understanding passed between them. "I know I should have been more careful, and I wanted to give you more notice--but hell does not sleep in it's grave, you know. You can help me, you already have. I know my message wasn't exactly detailed. But I think saving the world is more worth my time than a note to my worry-wart sister."
The blonde's eyes shot wide open. "Worry wart?!" Usagi shrieked furiously.
Hinotama nodded, never losing the glint in her eyes, "Yes. Please relax, Usagi, you know that worrying so will give you wrinkles!"
"You are as irritating as the day I met you!" Usagi quipped playfully, folding her arms and glancing away.
"And you are as silly and naïve as the day I met you!" A short silence followed until the two felt smiles crossing their lips, breaking the tension.
"Just, shut up," Usagi cut in, as her sister was ready to say something as her laughs slightly stifled her voice. "Can we please be civilized now? You said I had training to do, so why don't we proceed?"
Hinotama nodded in compliance. "Did you eat already?"
Usagi nodded in turn, "I had something after I woke up. I just need to change."
The two left one another and went their separate ways, and soon enough both were dressed in their street apparel. The blonde came out first, her long blonde tresses pulled up into a tight bun, clothed in her black leather pants and form fitting black tank. Hinotama followed suit in a fresh pair of dark pants and matching tank top. She although, had her hair pulled up into an intricate twist, the tips curled on the top of her head and cascading down her cheeks. "Very stylish for street fighting."
"Only the best." Hinotama led Usagi over to the West wall and knocked twice upon a bare section of the concrete. In response, a door swung open with a low grumble and the two advanced inside to a dimly candlelit room.
"Any other surprises I should be expecting?" Usagi inquired, a bit in awe.
"Just this!" Hinotama exclaimed as she whipping around, intruding a swift kick into her sister. Usagi although, with her Senshi training, blocked with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Hinotama recoiled with a smile and bowed, laughing a bit. "I'm impressed! You've got wonderful reflexes...perhaps your senshi days have truly paid off."
"I fought long and hard then...the battles..." Usagi agreed, reminiscing. Her thoughts continued to shift back to her friends and Mamoru. How she wished that they knew...
"We won't have to train for long. After all, the final day is coming and our fight is only just begun," Hinotama continued, stretching her arms above her head while she spoke.
Usagi walked around a bit, flexing her arms and legs. "The final day?"
Hinotama nodded and the two crossed the room, their destination a large chestnut china closet located in one of the corners of the immense training area. Inside were numerous weapons: guns, knives, bullets, stakes, and even charms arranged against a large, black backboard. "I'll explain later, it's not worth troubling yourself with at this point. Right now, however, I am going to give you the basic street fighting techniques. You know them better as karate and the martial arts. And of course, the wielding of weaponry. See that punching bag over there?"
The blonde nodded, her hands pressed to her hips as she surveyed the room. "I am assuming I'm going to be doing some boxing today, ne?"
"Good, you're smart too," Hinotama teased, brilliant eyes sparkling. The room had almost an ancient, gothic appeal with the wrought candle holders mounted on the cool, slate walls. "This, sister, is called a punching bag." Usagi shot Hinotama a sarcastic smirk.
"Thanks for the info," the moon rabbit responded sarcastically, grinning.
"Anytime. Now, as I was saying, street fighting isn't improvised. It's planning and strategy. And you get all of this and more from Ninjutsu. I'll give you an example." Hinotama raised the lighting of the room with a flick of her wrists and approached the punching bag. Standing 7 feet away, with her back to it, Hinotama slid easily into a strong back flip, which landed in a handstand. Within a second of contact with the ground, Hinotama hoisted herself off of her hands and flew into the hanging punching bag with a strong flip kick.
"I can't do that!" Usagi whispered in awe.
"If you're Sailor Moon, I think you'll be fine, sister. Now, come over here, I'll teach you some basic stuff." Hinotama waited patiently, and as the blonde approached thought to herself, 'God help us all.'
For the next hour and a half, the two girls spent their time focusing on strategy, technique, force behind attacks, and agility. Then, after Usagi collapsed to the ground from exhaustion with a laugh, the girls proceeded back into the shelter for a break.
"I am so tired," the blonde murmured after flinging herself onto her cot and sighing. "I want to sleep now."
"So the rumor about the lazy civilian Moon Princess is true," Hinotama giggled as she took a sip of a water bottle she pulled out from the fridge.
"That would be?"
"That you're a lazy blonde who somehow manages to make things right in the end!" Hinotama slumped into a chair and laughed.
"Thanks. That sounds like something Rei would say," Usagi mumbled sitting up.
"Relax will ya? I am very proud of you, and the fact that your training has progressed immensely and that you have adjusted well to this hell on earth is wonderful!" The brunette tossed Usagi another water bottle, one she accepted eagerly.
"I have to admit, it's not that bad right now…but I know it will get worse as we go along." Usagi's eyes scanned the room, she was quiet and only the sound of their breathing could be heard. The battery-powered clock on the east wall read about 10:30 on Sunday morning. It wasn't as late as Usagi had figured, but with no light to guide their thoughts…it didn't really make that much of a difference. "When do I get my chance to fight?"
"Chill, Rambo. We have some time before patrolling. Besides, the are some people I would like you to meet. After all, living in a world without allies is something even I do not want to deal with."
"You drag me down here and expect me to wait for my chance to let loose on these creeps? You're nuts!"
"Usagi, don't be stubborn like Hikari!" Hinotama quipped as she leaned back in her chair. Immediately Hinotama stopped herself and her posture stiffened. Her once carefree expression faded quickly, and her bright eyes were now visibly watering.
"Who's Hikari?" Usagi inquired in an almost whisper. Her blue eyes widened innocently as she sat up. Through the early morning hours, Usagi had learned basic fighting: using stakes, pistols, chains, and skilled Ninjutsu. But now, her sister who had guided her so well…was showing a deep scar in her soul.
Standing, Hinotama turned her back slightly, the left side of her face could be seen through her thick hair that was now draping across her shoulders.
"She was one of my guardians…" Hinotama replied, only one side of her face exposed. A single crystal tear slid down her cheek and Hinotama hastily wiped it away.
"I'm so sorry…Hinotama, I-
"Usagi-chan. I lost them because they kept me in the dark." Hinotama turned about to face Usagi, her eyes lowered and narrow as she recalled the painful memories. "Hikari, Kasumi, Hayashi, and Meirou! I hadn't sensed the darkness, and they never told me that they had. They thought they were protecting me...and because they were acting as my loyal friends and guardians…"
"Hino?"
"I watched them die," Hinotama finished, her expression serious and sorrowful.
"I'm sorry," Usagi said lowering her head.
"I'll tell you about them someday…and maybe you can tell me about your friends too. Agreed?" Hinotama said softly, holding back tears again.
"Agreed," Usagi answered. She could tell that Hinotama was doing her best to lighten her spirits despite the circumstances, but even Usagi knew how painful it was to lose those she loved.
'Usagi, if only you knew...how I miss all of you. I wish you were here,' Hinotama's thoughts wandered, and once again she was nearly forced to tears. Rather than falling apart before the young blonde, however, Hinotama went over to the floor rack and pulled out a few items of weaponry. She rummaged through for a few moments and finally tossed an empty PP7 special issue along with a pack of bullets toward Usagi. Hinotama in turn began to arm herself with various instruments.
"What are we doing?" Usagi inquired, turning the gun over and examining it, sheerly intrigued.
"You wanted to go out and give this street fighting thing a chance, hai?" Usagi nodded eagerly. "Then suit up, chica--and buckle up…it's gonna be a bumpy ride." The blonde felt a wide smile plaster itself across her face and immediately she armed herself with the necessities.
"Hinotama…now you'll get to see why all the evil in my world is gone. And you want to know why?"
"Because all of it is here?" Hinotama quipped sarcastically. "Listen, Usa, let's move out. We'll save our boasting and victory speeches…for when we have a victory."
"Heh, funny," Usagi smirked with a slight hint of offense. "Well anyway, I'm ready."
"Before we go, Usagi. Tell me…how is Chibi-Usa?"
"How-how do you know about her?" the blonde's eyes went wide in exclamation.
Hinotama whipped around, fully armed in weaponry. Her pants loops were entwined with a chain, one was equipped with a stake, and her back pocket held a fully loaded gun. Her hair was flying around her, wavy and beautiful. But most of all her eyes…so graceful and deep…but could search and read your soul…were glowing almost in a haunting manner. Her lips parted to reveal a cocky, but entirely confident smile. "You think I wouldn't know my own niece?"
Chapter 5 revised as of 1/20/2002.
