When I Was A Little Girl

Chapter 2

By: Chibi J

Rated: G

If I had the money to purchase Sailor Moon, then I would be able to hire someone to come up with clever disclaimers. Then again, if I owned Sailor Moon, then I wouldn't have to have any disclaimers. Isn't that ironic?

Also, I do not claim to know anything about martial arts of any kind. So, if I mention something that is terribly wrong, humor me! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

When I was a little girl, I discovered that I had a wonderful gift. My cousin, Rei, and I were in class when we found out that we had the ability to read others' thoughts. Grandfather confirmed that this, explaining that the ability to communicate telepathically was inherited from our mothers, whom received it from him.

At first, learning that I could talk with someone by simply thinking was, well, unbelievable. My dreams had more reality. But in the end, it made some sense. My mother always seemed to know when I was stealing cookies and would catch me just as my hand entered the jar. She knew when I was hurt, even if I was blocks away. She knew when to come and hug my nightmares away without me crying out to her.

I still miss her and my father terribly. I often dream of my parents and grandparents playing with my baby sister. They smile and wave at me and tell me to be happy. Those mornings are the hardest to wake on. But every morning I awake, wipe the tears from my eyes, and live my life the way I know they would want me to.

There has been one major downfall to this whole telepathy thing, getting people to stop thinking. Grandfather explained that we would probably have some difficulty adjusting to this power. I found it down right difficult! For a long time, I couldn't help but over hear everything that everyone thought! I'd come home from school, grateful to do my chores in the quiet of the shrine. Rei seemed to agree with me, as we would often race for the bottle of aspirin as soon as we got home.

After several weeks, Rei and I seemed to gain control over our eccentric powers of communication. We were able to pick and choose who and when we listened or could choose not to listen at all, for which we were both grateful. After all, having a best friend for a cousin whom is practically your sister living in the same house is nice, but a little privacy is required every once and a while.

So, now that our lives were seemingly back to normal and the headaches basically gone, all except the pain of homework and school, we were back to being regular kids, right?

*~*

"USAGI!"

"REI!!"

"USAGI!!!"

"REI!!!!"

"Girls! Stop it this instant! This is a temple for Pete's sake!" Grandfather yelled at us from down the hall. We were in Rei's room, next to the room that held the sacred fire. Not many people went in to visit the sacred fire while at the shrine, most simply stopped to buy charms or say a small prayer. However, in respect for the shrine, Grandfather, and any visitors, we usually would keep our voices down.

"But Rei, you already read it twice! I haven't even seen it!" I whined. Sure, I went to an all girls' school where they taught us to have poise, keep a low voice, and to be ladies. But a whine done affectively can yield great results.

"No Usagi. I bought it with the extra money I earned helping with extra chores. You could have bought it instead of spending your money on video games."

"Rei!" I whined.

"Usagi!" She scolded.

"REI!"

"USAGI!!"

"That's it!" My grandfather yelled as he burst through the bedroom door with a very bright shade of red crossing his entire face. "Out!" He yelled, pointing to the entranceway of the shrine. He began to walk, which meant that we were to follow silently.

"Yes Grandfather." We both sighed. It was not often that grandfather got upset, but when he did, I usually had blisters on my hand from pushing the broom down the old temple steps that no one traveled. I could hear my grandfather muttering as he walked in front of us about "kids these days. In my day..." blah, blah, blah. I choose to stay away from his thoughts, as he could always tell when we were probing his mind, and walked next to Rei with my head down, same as her.

I was slightly confused when Grandfather walked down the steps of the temple to the main road and turned to walk on the sidewalk instead of heading to the old stairway. He had not dismissed us yet, so we both knew that we should continue after him.

'Rei, where do you think he's taking us?' I asked quietly, afraid that Grandfather would hear my silent question and yell more.

'I don't know Usagi. He seems real mad.'

'I know. I'm sorry, it's all my fault. I'll tell him to assign more punishment to me than you.'

'No, Usagi, that wouldn't be fair. I was being loud too. I could have shared.'

We were silent for a while as we continued to walk. It seemed as if we were going for miles when Rei slightly turned her head towards me.

'Usa, were friends still right?'

I turned slightly to see Rei's face. She was smiling at me. This was how we always made up after having a fight.

'No,' I smiled at her, 'we're sisters.'

After giggling for a brief moment, Grandfather turned around to face us.

"Good! Now that that's all settled, here we are." He said with a grin on his face.

Rei and I both looked up to see that Grandfather had led us to...the martial arts center across the street??? Needless to say, our equally confused faces turned to the old man we lovingly called Grandfather. He in turn, was laughing at our faces.

"I was simply waiting for you two to make up. And this," he said pointing to the building, "is your reward. I am signing you two and Shingo up to take lessons, to learn how to protect yourself."

"But Grandfather?" I started, still a little foggy on some things, "why?"

"I told you before, you must be careful with the gifts you posses. I want you to be able to protect yourself and each other if someone were to try to hurt you or take you from me." He said with a note of sadness in his voice.

"Hai Grandfather, I understand. But I still don't understand one thing."

"What is that Usagi?"

I looked to Rei and she nodded her head. I knew without reading her mind that she was just as curious as I was.

"Why did you make us walk so far? I mean, it's just across the street." I said as I pointed back to the shrine, the steps just across the street.

"Uh, gomen, gomen, I wanted to make sure that you two got your differences settled first."

"Grandfather!" Rei and I yelled simultaneously as Grandfather ran across the street to the shrine. We quickly ran after, but never caught up to him. For a little old man, he was fast.

*~*

After Rei, Shingo, and I began to take our lessons at the martial arts center, time seemed to go very quickly. Everyday, Rei and I would hurry home from school and do our chores. Then we would grab Shingo and run across the street to take our lessons. Afterwards, we would run back home to eat dinner. This was followed by homework. Finally, exhausted from the day, we would go to bed. Our weekends were rarely free, since Grandfather needed us to assist with shrine matters.

As tiring as it may have seemed, I was extremely happy. My grades were improving, which pleased Grandfather greatly, and I was able to stay out of trouble, most of the time. Shingo was growing bigger and brattier. It was impossible not to love him, and yet, it was impossible not to hate him. He was truly becoming a typical boy.

Several years past since Rei and I discovered our telepathic abilities. Our control of the skill had greatly improved as well as sharpened. We were able to sense each other and speak from miles away with clarity that no phone could duplicate. Grandfather was proud that our telepathic ability developed so well, but still worried greatly.

Grandfather's fears were easily understandable. I often feared that Rei and I would be caught reading another's thoughts or perhaps find someone else with the ability that would reveal us. Neither ever happened.

Unfortunately, as time always has a way of speeding up, it always finds a point to slow down, to the point of a near stop.

We entered our seventh grade school year with as much popularity as always, none. It wasn't that we were not pretty, quite the contrary. However, in an all girls' school, beauty matters very little. Power, money, and greed seemed to hold the reigns, of which we had none.

But we were still quite happy. We continued our lessons at the martial arts center, very successfully I might add, winning several competitions. Life at the shrine, though sometimes strict and rigid, was home. We were happy and it seemed as if things would remain happy for once.

*~*

"Oh Rei! He was the cutest! That pretty blond hair and those cute blue eyes!"

"Usagi, there are ears nearby." Rei informed me. This was her secret code to let me know that she could sense Shingo. Lately, she had been developing the ability to sense people, mostly with evil intentions, if they were near. Although she could so far only sense Shingo and some poor kid who tried to steal a charm, she was right (though I say Shingo isn't evil, I would never tell him that!).

"Ohh," I sighed loudly, "Guess we should get started on our homework." I said with a smile. After all, Shingo was only seven and his attention wouldn't keep long. However, I was too excited to wait for him to leave.

'Thanks Rei. Last thing I want is for Shingo to go telling Grandfather that I think a boy is cute.'

'No kidding! He would have you eating bread and water for a week! So, go on describe.' Rei smiled at me. No matter how she tried to play it off, she always loved to hear gossip.

'Like I said, he had this sandy brown hair, just long enough to graze his eyebrows and pretty blue eyes. He works at the arcade. I was walking by after school, while you were at choir rehearsal, and there he was. He was setting up a sign about a new video game when I--' my thoughts were cut off as I turned to the sound of the door sliding open.

Shingo was standing there, a grin spread across his smug face. He sauntered (if it is possible for a seven year old to do so) over to the bed and sat between Rei and I.

"Usa, can I have a dollar?" He asked. However, I was not fooled. I was certain that there was something up his sleeve.

"Ne, Shingo, you know I spent all of my money yesterday at the store." I replied with my most honest and sorry I can't help you face. 'Except that bit I saved for us for the arcade tomorrow Rei.' I thought to her, knowing that she was expecting me to pay tomorrow.

"Aw, gee, Usa. That's too bad." He said as he sat up from the bed and began to walk to the door. He turned around at the door and smiled. "Guess I'll just have to tell Grandfather about the boy at the arcade." He smiled before running away.

Fear filled my face as I turned to Rei, whose pale skin mirrored my own.

'He didn't!'

'He did!!'

"Grandfather!! We screeched in unison as we took off running after the little snot nosed brat that I lovingly called brother.

*~*

Any difficulties that Rei and I had with Shingo became tenfold when he inherited his telepathic abilities. Besides the fact that he was only seven years old, a complete pain in the side, he seemed to be able to control his power better and much faster than either Rei or I had. It took him only weeks to project and receive thoughts at a distance, a task that took me over half a year.

Grandfather said that it was because he was a boy; I said it was because he was nosey. Nightly at dinner we would have arguments about privacy and respect for others. Although Grandfather agreed, he seemed mostly concerned about Shingo revealing his ability by exposing thoughts he had overheard. He promised that he would be careful and mind what he discussed with others. He, however, made no promises to Rei or I, but instead gave me a look I knew to well. That's right, all of you who have little brothers know the look I mean. Yes, the "I-will-do-everything-I-can-to-annoy-you-and-drive-you-up-a-wall-to-the-point-where-you-can't-stand-it" look.

*~*

Rei was laying across my bed, reading a new manga while I was sitting at my desk working on math homework. Or so it would seem to most people. In all actuality, Rei had a manga in her hand and I, a math book, but neither of us were actually involved in the books in front of us. We were talking about a boy that Rei and I had seen leaving the martial arts center when we were arriving. Well, honestly, we weren't talking out loud, but thinking. That way, Grandfather would have less chance of knowing what we were discussing. Especially after all of the lectures he gave on privacy.

'He's not your type Rei. You seem like you should be with short blond hair and pretty light blue eyes. Black hair and dark blue eyes doesn't suit you.'

'Oh, your just saying that because you seem to think he's cute and don't want to let me have a chance. What about Andrew at the arcade? He's got short blond hair.' Rei thought with an evil grin. I almost thought that I heard her cackle.

'No way! Andrew's mine. Besides, you said that you weren't interested in him.'

'I'm not. I'm just tired of hearing how every other boys is yours to admire. I mean...wait, ears!'

Rei and I immediately stopped our conversation. Shingo was nearby. Although it took Rei to alert me, I could feel him nearby as well. I started to work math problems out in my head while Rei was reading to herself. Shingo did this more often now, annoyingly trying to get something on us that he could hold against us. He promised Grandfather to be careful, but not to leave us alone.

'Usagi, it seems like it's clear. Anyhow, what was I saying?' Rei had a queer look of confusion on her face. Shingo's appearance outside the door seemed to have made her misplace her thoughts.

'You were telling me how much you like Andrew.' I responded with a big smile.

'Oh. What! I did not. You're the one with all the boy issues. Can't you just pick one already.'

'Well, I would if it were that simple. I mean, come on. There are so many qualities that I want to find. He needs to be perfect.' I sighed out loud. 'I truly believe that I will find the perfect guy.'

"He's right here!" Shingo yelled as he opened the paper screen door to my room.

"Shingo!" Rei and I yelled in unison. We both stood from out positions in the room, staring at each other and staring at him.

"How did you block yourself?" Rei demanded while I simply gave him a nasty look.

"It's not hard when dealing with two airheads like you!" He said and then blew a raspberry.

Rei was about to run after him when I boiled over. My hands that had been previously placed at my side in tight fists rose up in front of me. My left hand sliced across the air, as if slapping someone. It basically had the same affect. Shingo was knocked off his feet into the hall. My other hand repeated the motion, closing the door.

I, still quite upset, stared at the door in front of me with red fire in my eyes. Rei, well, she stood gawking at me.

"Usagi?" She said quietly.

"What?" I said spinning around to look at her. My eyes met hers and the trance broke. I looked down to my hands and did the only thing I could, pass out.

*~*

I awoke later to find Grandfather looking down at me smiling his all knowing smile. He, of course, told me that it was another gift. Most likely, he told me, I would only be able to control this ability. My mother had, but Rei's had not. "It is also only prominent in girls, an advantage that you hold over Shingo." His smile was merry and he seemed to know that Shingo wouldn't try his stunts again for some time.

I feel asleep that night, thinking of my new ability and how wonderful it would be to use. However, as always, the next day came, bringing different obstacles than those anticipated.

*~*

"Rei, you are making this to easy!" I said as I ducked a right kick from Rei. We were sparring in the flower garden behind the shrine. It was a beautiful spring day and we didn't feel like being cooped up in the shrine.

"You are projecting your moves!" I yelled at her as I again read what she was planning on doing before she did. "Look, stop! You're going to give a right jab. What's wrong with you today?"

"Gomen, Usagi. I just don't feel like sparring today. Let's go inside." Rei pleaded in a very un-Rei-like way. I followed her as she stepped into the shrine. After removing our shoes, I watched Rei head to her room, however she passed it by. I continued after her, wondering what was wrong.

A few feet from her room, Rei opened the door to the room that held the sacred fire. I followed her, not sure what to do. She sat on the small mat in front of the fire and began to recite the hand motions and words of the ancient prayers. Although I had learned them, I never had the ability Rei had to 'sense' things from the fire. I choose to sit behind her, waiting patiently.

Before me, in the flames, an image arose. I had never seen a projection before and was stunned. Rei wanted to me to see this and put much effort into her thoughts.

"It's my mother Usagi. I don't think you ever met her. Wasn't she beautiful?" She said with a sad smile as she turned to me. "Today is her birthday."

I felt a tear roll out of my eye as I reached forward to pull my dear cousin, my sister, into a hug. I hadn't paid attention to the calendar that hung on the kitchen wall. Rei had marked it lovingly with hearts, as Shingo and I had done for our parents' birthdays. I could feel Rei shudder in my arms as she cried her eyes out.

Behind me, I registered the sound of the paper door open and close. It didn't take long to realize who had entered. I felt a pair of arms, smaller than my own, attempt to enclose around Rei and I. Looking up, my eyes met with Shingo's and a message of understanding passed between us. He leaned his head onto my shoulder and the three of us stayed together, hugging and crying, for well over an hour.

Later in the evening, Grandfather came to find us all sitting in front of the sacred fire holding hands. Several images stood out in the great flames, which reach high up to the ceiling. Grandfather came and kneeled behind us, placing his hands upon Rei's shoulder.

"They look so happy, smiling down on all of you from heaven. Looking between you and them, it is like looking in a mirror. I am glad that you hold them so well in your heart." He said quietly.

"Grandfather, will the pain ever end?" I asked, unsure that I would ever really want it to.

"My dear, all of you, the pain will always be there. I share that burden with you, but you must remember happiness. Although your memories are young, especially you, my son, you are lucky. Your family will always be by your side."

"Thank you Grandfather." Rei said as she turned and leaped upon my grandfather with a fierce hug. The image in the fire began to waver. I quickly looked to the image of my mother one more time, willing her to stay. Around, her, my family faded, yet my mother stayed. My eyes locked with hers, both reflecting a calm ocean. I closed my eyes, burning the image in my brain, and when I opened them again, she was gone.

"Come, my children, let us go eat dinner."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Don't worry, soon we will have less sadness and more happiness and action. Coming soon, more characters! Yeah!

ChibiJ77@yahoo.com