Preface:
I would like to start this chapter out with a thank you to all of my faithful
readers (and reviewers). Without you guys this story would not continue. Well,
none of my stories would continue. Anyway, thank you to everyone who has
reviewed this story, and especially to my repeat reviewers (you know who you
are). I always consider suggestions you make, so if you have an idea for the
story let me know. Okay, enough chitchat; on with the show.
Overcoming the Past: Chapter 7
Charlyne
charlyne_o@hotmail.com
07/22/03
Usagi checked her watch for the tenth time in the last five minutes. She was sitting on her couch in her apartment waiting for Ami, Rei, Minako, Makoto, and Mamoru to arrive. She'd planned this meeting for after school so that everyone would be able to show up. It would be hard enough telling the story once without having to repeat it two or three times. She rubbed her forehead and winced as her fingers brushed the bruise that covered nearly half her face. She had gotten a lot of unwanted attention from the mark Yukio had left and no amount of makeup had been able to hide it.
Sighing, Usagi stood and began to pace. She'd made the decision two days ago to tell the girls the truth, but her detention yesterday had delayed her from getting together with them. After the incident with Yukio she'd thought it only fair to include Mamoru as well. He'd practically interrogated her last night after helping her with her bruise. She'd tried to evade all his questions until, finally, she'd given in and told him to be at her apartment the next day and she'd explain everything. And now she waited. And waited, and waited.
What is taking them so long? Usagi grumbled to herself. She refused to acknowledge the fact that it was still ten minutes before she'd told them to be there.
Nariko watched her mother with curiosity, her blue eyes following Usagi's progress around the room. "Mommy? What wrong?"
Usagi turned to face her daughter and smiled reassuringly. "Nothing's wrong, sweetie. I'm just waiting for everyone to get here."
As if her words had conjured them, there was a knock at the door. A voice that Usagi clearly identified as Minako's called, "Usagi-chan, we're here!"
"The door's unlocked," Usagi replied.
Four girls filed into the apartment, all talking animatedly. Each girl greeted Usagi, then Nariko, before sprawling in various places around the living room. "What's up, Usagi-chan?" Rei asked from her seat on the floor. She'd pulled a pillow down from the couch and made herself comfortable in front of the coffee table.
"I'm waiting for Mamoru-san before I begin," Usagi told her. She began to pace again until a few minutes later when a second knock came.
"Usagi? It's Mamoru," came a voice from the other side.
"Come on in," Makoto invited. She was also on the floor, lying on her stomach. "Join the party."
Mamoru entered the apartment and looked around. He saw the four girls he'd known for several years sitting in the living room, then his gaze found Usagi and he frowned at her. "What are you thinking, leaving your door unlocked? What if that guy came back?"
"What guy?" Ami inquired. She and Minako were sharing the sofa, Nariko squeezed between them.
Usagi sighed. "That's what I want to talk to you all about. I need to explain the truth about Nariko, and tell you about my sister and Nariko's father." She followed Mamoru into the living room and sat in one of the two empty chairs. Mamoru took the other one. Usagi's gaze went to the toddler. "Nari-chan, why don't you go play in your room? I got you a surprise. It's on your bed."
The little girl crawled off the couch and ran down the hall. They could hear a loud ripping sound, then a child's squeal of joy.
"She'll be entertained for a while, we should have time to talk," said Usagi.
"What's this all about?" Rei questioned. "Does it have something to do with that bruise?"
"Yes. You see...Nariko's father showed up here the other day. He wanted Nariko," Usagi explained. "But I really ought to start at the beginning." Usagi took and deep breath, trying to fortify herself. She couldn't bare to look at her friends, so she focused her mind inward as she began to talk. "When I was thirteen, both of my parents died when they lost control of their car on an icy road and crashed head-on into another vehicle. They'd been spending the weekend at a ski resort." A mirthless smile twisted her lips. "My parents were very wealthy, my father was the CEO of a major electronics company.
"When the news came about the accident, I was heartbroken. Although my father was a very busy man and I didn't see him often, I knew he spent as much time with me as he could. And my mother didn't work so we were always together." Usagi paused for a moment, then continued. "It was decided that since my sister Aneko was my only living relative, I would go stay with her. She had a small house by the college she attended. It would mean a long train ride for me to attend my private school, but they felt it was best if I was with family."
"Who are 'they'"? Makoto interrupted.
"The lawyers that have control of my trust fund until I'm of age. In my parents' will, they divided their money into trust funds for myself and my sister," Usagi replied. "That's how I can live here. They take the rent out of my trust fund every month to pay the bills." Usagi chuckled softly. "And I wasn't tell you the full truth, Mamoru-san. It probably would last forever. I'm not a big spender."
"So you moved in with your sister?" Ami questioned, getting the story back on track.
"Yes. Aneko was happy to see me, we never got to see each other except on holidays. However, she had a live-in boyfriend that she'd neglected to tell anyone about. His name was Yukio and I could tell right away that Aneko was too blinded by his charm and her love for him to see what he was. I tried to warn her but she would get so angry at me, she'd say that she hadn't told anyone about him because she knew they'd find something wrong with him. She refused to even entertain the idea that I might be right. Maybe if I had tried a little harder, been more persistent, things would have turned out differently." Tears filled Usagi's eyes and she brushed them away with her hand. She took a shuddering breath. "But I didn't keep pushing. After a while I got so tired of the arguments that I let it go. She was so happy with him. How could he be bad if he made her so happy?"
Usagi felt a hand gently cup hers where it rested on the arm of the chair. The hand was big and warm, and seemed to radiate strength. She gave Mamoru a watery smile of thanks. "Not too long after I moved in, Aneko found out that she was pregnant. She was nervous but excited. She'd thought that having a baby would cement her and Yukio's relationship. That he'd ask her to marry him." Usagi smiled wryly. "It didn't quite work out that way. Yukio was furious and blamed it on her. He told her to get an abortion or he would leave. They argued for nearly a week before Yukio packed up his things and left. He said he was too young for a child and that Aneko's money wasn't worth it."
"I bet that really hurt her," Minako said softly. Usagi could see the understanding start to dawn in their eyes. The math wasn't that difficult. She'd been thirteen three years ago. It took nine months to have a baby. Nariko was two.
"It broke her heart," Usagi said softly. "But she had her child to live for and I was there to help her. But after Nariko was born things started to go down hill. The doctor tried to reassure me that it was only postpartum depression and that she would get better. But she didn't. She would just sit and stare at the wall listlessly. She was always crying. She completely ignored Nariko unless I forced her to feed the baby." Usagi frowned lightly, remembering. "Nariko's first word was 'mama' and she said it to me."
Usagi felt Mamoru squeeze her hand. The concern on her friends' faces told her that they knew that what was coming up was not good. She could almost read their thoughts. Why is Usagi taking care of Nariko? Where is Aneko now? Usagi felt tears fill her eyes once again. They hovered on the edge of her lashes, then tumbled down her cheeks. Her entire body shook with quiet sobs. "Wh..when Nariko was one, I took her out shopping for a treat. She still called me 'mama', even though I tried to correct her. I'd point to myself and say 'Usagi-onechan' and she would repeat it in her little voice, badly butchering it until it sounded nothing like what I said. It was adorable. But when I'd ask 'Who am I?' she'd reply 'mama'. Always 'mama'."
Gratefully accepting a tissue from Rei, Usagi dabbed at her cheeks. She looked around the room, making sure Nariko wouldn't overhear the conversation. She didn't want the child to have the same nightmares she herself had. She'd thankfully been spared the sight of her mother when she and Usagi had come home. "When we came home from shopping that afternoon, I opened the door to the house and called for my sister. I always made sure I acted chipper and upbeat around her, trying to pull her from her depression. Even though she wouldn't respond, I'd still tell her everything that happened in school and all that Nariko was doing. I...I went up to her b...bed room and opened the door. I can re...remember being so glad that I'd left Nariko in her room before ch...checking on Aneko. Th...there was so much blood." Usagi's voice caught on a sob. "Sh...she was in her bed. The white sheets we...were red all around her. I k...kept telling myself 'I must not scream, I must not scream'. I didn't want N...Nariko to walk into that room."
Mamoru's presence was suddenly beside her and she felt strong arms enfold her. She'd never let anyone hold her like this, especially someone she hardly knew. But it just felt so right. Usagi closed her eyes and tried to block out the scene forming there. "I...I ran to the phone and called an ambulance. I kn...knew she was dead, that the paramedics couldn't help her. The light in her eyes, though it'd been dim since Yukio had left, was gone. The ambulance was there in minutes and I told them what had happened--about me taking Nariko out shopping, then coming home to find Aneko like that. I made sure to keep Nariko out of the way; even though she was a baby, she wasn't dumb. I tried to distract her."
"Have you told her about Aneko?" Ami asked quietly.
Usagi shook her head. "Not the whole story. I wont until she's older. I told her that her mommy had gone away and that she was going to be staying with me now. It'd be just her and me. She kind of looked at me funny and I could tell she was wondering what I was talking about. To her I was mommy. Aneko was just 'Ah-to'. I said 'Aneko went up to see the angels'. She didn't understand, but I didn't expect her to.
"After the funeral, I was told that Aneko had had a will made up. All the money that mom and dad had left her went to Nariko, and I was to be sole guardian of the little girl. I wasn't sure when she'd had time to do this, but it must have been one day while I was at school. Maybe she'd already been planning her death and had just been thinking ahead. I don't like to think that, though. I like to think that, like mom and dad, she'd just been prepared for any worse-case scenario, like a car accident or something." Usagi felt Mamoru's arms tighten around her, giving her comfort. "The rest, well, I'm sure you can figure it out. My private school asked me to leave because I was now a mother, the kids at the local public school would rather taunt me than listen to my story, and then I moved here." A wobbly smile lifted her lips. "And met you guys."
All four girls rose from their places and gave her a hug. And even though she couldn't breathe, Usagi couldn't have been happier. After a few moments, the girls retreated back to their spots.
"So this Yukio guy had the nerve to come back and try to get Nariko?" Makoto asked, her voice full of anger. She clenched her fists at her side.
Usagi nodded. "Yesterday after I picked up Nariko from daycare he was in the hall by my apartment. I recognized him right away. He told me he wanted Nariko and I said he couldn't take her. He got really mad and hit me. That's when Mamoru charged into the fight. He slugged Yukio right in the nose and I'd be surprised if he didn't break it."
Though Usagi couldn't see, Mamoru blushed lightly. "I was just trying to protect her," he muttered, embarrassed. "The bastard punched her right in the cheek. I wanted wanted to rip him limb from limb. He's lucky he left when I told him to or else he wouldn't have been able to walk away."
"You think he'd need a wheelchair after you got through with him?" Minako questioned.
"More like a body bag," Mamoru growled.
Usagi grinned, though she knew it was far from funny. It was just the way that he'd said it that made her want to laugh.
"Well, if that jerk comes near Usagi-chan again, he'll have to deal with us," Rei announced. The other three girls adamantly agreed.
"Good, I want at least one of you to walk her home every day. I don't want her caught alone with him again. I gave her my cell phone number incase she needs me," Mamoru told them. He slowly disengaged his arms from around Usagi and frowned down at her. "And, for God's sake, Usagi, please keep your door locked!"
"Of course," Usagi replied meekly, trying to hide her giggles.
"You're so cute when you're worried, Mamoru," Minako teased.
"Er, right," Mamoru stuttered.
Ami cleared her throat to get everyone's attention. "I think we ought to have a sleepover tonight. After all, it's Friday so there's no school tomorrow."
"Yeah, sleepover!" Minako shouted. "When we go home to get clothes we can rent movies. We have to get 'The Princess Bride'."
"I think that's my cue to leave." Mamoru said his goodbyes to the girls and Nariko, then let them know, "I'm right across the hall if you need me." He then escaped from the apartment.
"Let's go!" Makoto urged. "If we can get to the grocery store before it closes I'll make cookies."
"Cookie!" Nariko squealed, running out of her room.
Usagi laughed. She knew she'd be forever grateful for these four girls in her life. Nariko was a blessing and Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako were a joy. And she couldn't forget Mamoru. He was her rock to lean on. Without these people around, she'd be tempted to flee this place and get as far from Yukio as she could. But they were like her guardian angels, they would rally around her and fight for her. Usagi wasn't sure what she'd done to deserve them, but they would always have her loyalty and love.
Author's Note:
This chapter is very morbid and depressing. Sorry, guys, but the drama had to
come in somewhere. Before, we were just floating along happily. Last chapter we
had a little darkness, but in this one it's pitch black. Now you finally know
everything, all the secrets I've been keeping about Usagi's past. Next chapter
will be lighter, I promise. Although I did put a bit of sappiness in there at
the end. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I've never done anything dark like
this before. Tell me what you think!
I started a mailing list so let me know in your review if you'd like to be added. Oh, and White Eternity, I can't add you to my list without an email address. :-p There was none listed on your profile page.
Chapter 8: Dinner with Mamoru. A romantic supper for three...
Wow, 93 reviews! Thanks a lot, everyone. :-)
Sailor Moon is copyright © 1992 Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. English Language Adaptation copyright © 1995 DiC Entertainment.
