Kon'nichi wa minna! Domo arigato once again, for all the wonderful reviews. I was biting my nails after posting chapter one, hoping it would be as well received as the prologue, but your encouraging praise let me breath a sigh of relief. I just hope I can continue to live up to my own standards. Now, a lot of people have made suggestions in the romance department for Usagi. First off, no I will not be pairing her with Ranma. As I stated with the last chapter, I have always been a strong advocate of the Ranma/ Akane romance, and that's probably where I'll be going with them in the story. That doesn't mean that Usagi isn't still up for grabs., though. I've had quite a few suggestions for her next love besides Ranma, and I'm going to do my best to let the best man win. Maybe. Keep in mind, she does have the combined memories, powers, and personalities of all the senshi (Starlights, too), since she now possesses their star seeds. (Don't worry, hers is still dominant) And don't forget, two of those senshi were lovers. (Remember, I'm going by the manga as much as possible here) So, anyone, and I mean anyone could end up with Usagi, in the end, and even I don't know who it will be. Oh, and in case anyone's been wondering, I haven't forgotten about Luna and Artemis. Even though they died in the manga, I've decided they'd be better as living characters in Nerima. Just think of the chaos they'll start. (Tee hee)
Well, enough of my rambling and on with the story. Tanoshimu.
~~~~~ indicates a flashback
^^^^^ indicates passage of time, but same scene
***** indicates a scene change
----- indicates same scene, different point of view
Chapter 2: Naiteiru Tenshi*
Usagi opened her eyes with a yawn and, glancing at her alarm clock, couldn't keep herself from groaning. Even with Ami-chan and Michiru-san's love of learning counteracting the worst of her old habits, it was still hard for her to get excited about school. Rubbing the last of the sand man's dust out of her eyes, she pulled on a robe and made her way to the bathroom, hoping a quick shower would wake her up a little.
^^^^^
Usagi ran a brush through her damp locks as she made her way back to her room. Not really paying attention to where she was going, she nearly sat on the black and white bundle that was now nestled on her bed. A yowl from the creature quickly brought it to her attention.
"Watch it!"
"You almost sat on us! Honestly, where is your head today, Usagi?" complained the black half of the bundle.
"Luna, it was an honest mistake. We didn't exactly make our presence known when she walked in, did we?" the white bundle jumped in. Usagi allowed herself a small smile as she watched her two advisors for a moment.
"Gomen, Luna. Artemis. I didn't see you there. Besides, I thought you weren't coming until next week. What made you cut your honeymoon short?" She turned and picked her uniform up off the bed. "Luna too much of a stick in the mud for a real honeymoon, Artemis?"
Usagi's eyes twinkled as she watched Luna give him a glare, daring him to answer the wrong way. Unfortunately for her new mate, he wasn't looking at her as he met Usagi's mischievous gaze with one of his own.
"Did you really expect it to be otherwise? I mean, this is Luna we're talking about. She couldn't-" Usagi picked him up just as Luna's claws went through the space his head had occupied.
"You know Artemis, you learned some bad habits when you lived with Minako-chan." Usagi shook her head and headed for her closet.
"What are you talking about?" The lunarian cat asked, indignantly.
"Neither of you knew how to keep your mouths shut." The young princess replied wryly, setting him down among her clothes and shutting the closet door.
"Hey, let me out. Gomen nasai! I was only kidding. Usagi-sama, let me out."
"Artemis, I'd like to get dressed first if you don't mind." Usagi smirked at the suddenly embarrassed silence that met her statement, and she winked at Luna, who answered with a grin of her own.
Surprised and relieved that her mistress was happy again, if only for the moment, she decided that coming to Nerima was turning out to be the best thing that had happened to her in months. She could tell her about the odd aura they'd sensed later.
* * * * *
Dr. Tofu looked up as his new house guest came down the stairs carrying her school things. He smiled as she walked into the modest kitchen and set her things down before preparing herself a light breakfast.
"Ohayo gozaimasu, Usagi-chan. I trust you slept well?" Usagi returned his smile and sat down at the small table to eat with him.
"Ohayo gozaimasu Tofu-sensei. I slept quite well, arigato" Usagi set to eating her breakfast.
"Is that a violin, Usagi-chan? You're father didn't mention you played."
"Hai. I don't think my family knows yet that I play. I only recently learned from a friend." Usagi replied, ignoring a pang of guilt at the reminder of the inherited talent.
"Why are you taking it to school with you? Were you planning to audition for Furinkan's orchestra?"
"Hai. I've decided that I should start using what I learned from Michiru-san. I think she would appreciate it." Usagi continued her meal, doing her best to ignore the surfacing memories of her musical friend.
"I'm sure she would." Tofu paused and glanced at the clock on his wall before smiling at his young charge. "You might want to head to school now. You wouldn't want to be late on your first day."
Usagi returned his smile, managing to dispel the impending gloom for now. Plenty of time for that sort of thing tonight when she was alone in her room. Besides she had indulged in such nonsense long enough. Bidding the doctor good-bye, she began the short trek to her new school.
^^^^^ ^^^^^
Passing through the gates of Furinkan High, Usagi was surprised to see crowds already gathered. Having run off her dark cloud on the way, she had actually made it to school with quite a bit of time before classes, and hadn't really expected to see more than a handful of students, yet. By her estimation, roughly two-thirds of the student body were there.
While they had gathered into groups of various sizes all over the courtyard, they all seemed to be waiting for the same thing. From what she could tell, their attention was divided between the gate and their respective groups. Usagi was about to ask someone from the nearest group what everyone was waiting for when her question answered itself
Everyone's attention was suddenly riveted on the couple coming through the gate. Usagi found herself staring right along with everyone else as Ranma and Akane entered the school grounds arguing. Well, at least, from Akane's rather loud and heated comments, she assumed they were arguing. Ranma just seemed to be taking it all as though it were almost expected.
Then, before Usagi could fully register what was happening, a young man in kendo hakama appeared from behind a tree and threw a rose at Akane, who caught it, while he simultaneously spouted poetry at her and denounced Ranma for a 'foul sorcerer and enslaver of Akane and his beloved pigtailed goddess'.
Usagi shook her head to clear it of the nonsensical recitation, thus missing the usual Kunou pounding. When she looked up again, all she saw was the young man lying face down in the dirt, numerous footprints on his back from where the student body had crossed over him to get into the main school building.
Curious, as well as concerned for his well being, Usagi made her way over and, kneeling by him, began to assess how badly he was injured.
"Are you all right? Can you speak?"
----- ----- -----
Hearing a soft voice, Kunou managed to lift his head and look into the bluest eyes he had ever seen. Even those of his beloved pigtailed goddess couldn't compare to their crystalline depths. Suddenly gaining his second wind, Kunou sat up and did the only logical thing he could. That is, logical for a Kunou. He latched onto the poor girl as though she were the only thing standing between him and the great beyond.
"Oh, fair maiden, that mine eyes should behold such beauty. Oh, cursed am I that such radiance cannot help but find it's way to me, only to be dimmed by my reluctant, but nonetheless necessary refusal of your love. But before you shed your lovely tears, innocent maid, I shall reward your devotion by allowing you to date wi-"
----- ----- -----
Usagi looked up, finally able to breath again, only to find Ranma standing over her impromptu suitor, disgust evident in his expression.
"Give it up Kunou. Don't ya think you're chasing after enough girls already?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned to her. "Daijobu-ka? Kunou's got quite a grip when he gets hold of one of his 'fair maidens'."
"I'm fine. Arigato, Ranma-kun."
"Come on, you're gonna be late for class." Ranma took her wrist and started to pull her toward the school, but she resisted slightly, drawing his attention back to their fallen schoolmate.
"What about him? Doesn't he need to be taken to the nurse's office?"
"Nah, he'll be fine in a few minutes. He's used to it."
Shocked, a distant part of her brain wondered if the young man wasn't part youma to have such endurance. The thought was quickly swept aside by the more logical argument that, if that were true, Ranma would have to be part youma himself to have knocked him out sp quickly. Shaking her head, she allowed herself to be led to class.
^^^^^
"Class, we have a new student today. Her name is Tsukino Usagi, and I hope you'll all make her feel welcome here at Furinkan. Tsukino-san, why don't you take the seat beside Kuonji-san back there."
Looking out at the class, Usagi saw a bishonen with a large spatula tied to his back, raising his hand to get her attention. Bowing to the teacher, she made her way to the empty seat to his left. Kuonji-san smiled at her as she sat down.
"Hi, I'm Ukyo, but you can call me Ucchan. All my friends do."
"It's nice to meet you Ucchan. You can just call me Usagi. My friends never really gave me a nick-name. Unless you count odango atama." Usagi smiled, thinking of her old hair style.
"Why would they call you that?" Ukyo asked.
"I used to wear my hair with two buns on top of my head and pigtails coming out of them. One of my friends thought it looked like a pair of odangos, and thus the nickname." Ukyo smiled at the image and giggled softly. Unfortunately, this caught the teacher's attention.
"Tsukino-san. Kuonji-san. If your conversation is so important, perhaps you ladies would like to continue it out in the hall where it won't disturb the rest of the class."
The two girls quickly shook their heads and focused their attention on the teacher as he turned back to the board and continued his lecture. Before opening her notebook, Ukyo leaned over to Usagi, who looked back at her with wide eyes.
"You're a girl?" Usagi whispered.
"Yeah, so?" she replied, getting annoyed. She really needed to get a girl's uniform one of these days. Usagi just shook her head and smiled wryly.
"I really need to learn to pay more attention to people," she muttered. Ukyo shrugged it off.
"Say, you wanna have lunch with me an my friends later? We could show you around the school."
"Gomen, but I'm already planning on meeting a couple of people that I met the other day. Perhaps we could get together after school and you could show me around town instead."
Ukyo smiled and nodded, returning to her seat just before the teacher turned to face the class again.
* * * * *
"I guess I didn't need to reschedule that lunch date after all Ucchan." Usagi commented as she took a seat on the grass between Akane and Ukyo.
"Yeah. If I'd known you and Ranma-honey were having lunch together, I wouldn't have bothered asking. I'd have just shown up."
Ukyo watched as the blond transfer student took her out a cute little bento with a pink ribbon and began to eat. If this wasn't Nerima, and if she didn't know Ranma's father as well as she did, she probably wouldn't mind so much that her fiancee seemed to be on such good terms with her.
Unfortunately, she was all too aware of the possibility that she may have just met another rival for his heart. The worst part was that she seemed to be getting along better with him than any of his other fiancees did.
"So, Usagi-chan, what brings you to Nerima anyway? Boyfriend?"
Ukyo almost bit her tongue when the girl's eyes locked with hers faster than one of Ranma's amigurikens, shimmering with tears and the deepest pain she had ever seen in a person. She was silent for a long moment, before looking down at the bento in her hands, her gaze fixed on something beyond what she held.
"I don't have a boyfriend," she finally said, her voice flat. "Excuse me, I forgot something back in the classroom."
Ukyo, Ranma and Akane watched as their new friend hurried back into the main building, her head bowed. Ukyo looked over at her friends, her gaze questioning. Ranma just shrugged and went back to his lunch, earning him a reflexive swat from Akane, who simply nodded in the direction Usagi had gone. Needing no further prodding, Ukyo followed her new friend, hoping that was what they still were.
* * * * *
Usagi practically ran back to the classroom where she paused only long enough to grab Michiru's old violin before setting out to find a more secluded lunch spot. When she finally found a shaded area behind the school, near the soccer field, she set her burden down and opened the case. Tightening the hair on the bow, and coating it with rosin, she quickly tuned the care worn instrument and began to play.
She felt herself get carried away in the music, losing herself to its sad notes and the memories it evoked. Memories of times before Sailor Moon was born, memories of those she met afterward. Her fellow senshi, her friends. Mamoru. She barely felt the tears flow as she thought of the time she had spent in his company. Moments she would forever treasure.
She played until she felt her heart would burst, until her arms finally stopped of her own accord. She didn't know how much time had passed, minutes, hours. She didn't care. She simply stood there, reflecting until the sound of clapping brought her out of her trance.
Spinning around, she found herself face to face with Ukyo. Neither spoke for a moment, until Ukyo broke the silence.
"That was beautiful," she whispered in awe. "Where on earth did you learn to play like that?"
"A friend. This was her violin." Usagi turned to put the instrument away. Ukyo waited, sensing that she wasn't finished.
"She and Haruka-san were always so protective of me. I think they saw me as a little sister. Hotaru-chan was their little girl, and I was their little sister. I got so mad at them when they wouldn't let me be Seiya-kun's friend. I didn't understand what was so bad about him and the rest of the Three Lights."
Ukyo nearly choked when she heard that Usagi had been friends with the famous singers. Usagi's tone made her keep her silence, however. She was obviously remembering something painful and needed to let it out.
"Mamo-chan was the first to be taken. I went to the airport to see him off to America. He was going to study at Harvard to become a doctor. Just before he got on the plane, he gave me a ring and promised to marry me when he came back. I was ecstatic. I didn't even notice the light as she came. I didn't notice until my arms were suddenly empty. Until I heard her laughing as he disappeared in front of me.
"He was only the first. I watched as one by one, everyone I held dear was taken. After Mamo-chan, Ami-chan and Mako-chan were taken. They were trying to protect me. I almost managed to save Minako-chan and Rei-chan, but I was too slow. I wasn't there when the others were taken, but I knew. I could feel it.
"Everyone tried to protect me, and they did. I managed to find them, but I was too late. Even my new friends were gone by the time she was stopped. They all gave their lives to save me. I wish they hadn't."
Ukyo watched as Usagi related her story, never once raising her voice from its soft, toneless pitch. Although she tell the girl held something back, one thing she was sure of. The young woman in front of her had lost a lot of people she cared about, and she had come to Nerima to forget.
When Usagi finally turned around, she bowed her head to avoid her mournful gaze. She couldn't help but feel extremely guilty for reminding her friend of her loss. She had been so concerned about what she might lose, that she had practically accused her of trying to steal Ranma.
"Gomen nasai, Usagi-san. I didn't mean to stir any ghosts for you. I shouldn't have said what I did. Onegai, accept my sincere apology for my tactless words."
She almost couldn't bear the silence following her apology. Feeling a small hand on her shoulder, she forced herself to meet Usagi's gaze. Seeing her small smile of understanding, she managed to bring one to her own lips.
"Daijobu, Ucchan. You had no way of knowing. Besides, someone was bound to find out sooner or later. Better to get it over with now." Usagi paused, waiting for her smile to grow more genuine before continuing. "And arigato."
"For what?"
"For letting me tell you. I know you must have a lot of questions about me now, and I hope someday I can answer them all, but for now, I'm glad that I was able to tell someone. I know my family tries to understand, but it's nice to have someone my own age to talk to again."
"You can talk to me anytime, Usagi-chan. About anything. That's what friends are for, aren't they?"
Usagi smiled and nodded, picking up her instrument and walking with Ukyo back to where Ranma and Akane were arguing. Again. She shook her head. Nerima was turning out to be anything but dull. She wouldn't have it any other way.
* * * * *
Later that afternoon found the Usagi and her new friends sitting in Ukyo's restaurant, having an after school snack before touring the town.
"Here you go Sugar. On the house. Consider it a celebratory meal for getting the soloist position in the school orchestra." Usagi blushed, but took the meal, taking no time in digging in.
"This is really good, Ucchan. It's too bad you and Mako-chan never got together. She was the best cook and she always dreamed of starting her own restaurant someday. She would have loved this place."
"Domo, Usagi-chan. I'm glad you like it. I've been cooking okonomiyaki since before I met Ranma-honey. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't cook."
"You sound just like Mako-chan." Usagi smiled and ate the last of her treat. "So, where are you guys going to take me today? Is there a mall around? We could go window shopping."
----- ----- -----
Ranma groaned as Akane readily agreed to the idea. He was bound to get dragged along with them to carry anything they bought. On the bright side, he'd get to spend some time with her, and with Usagi along, he wouldn't have to worry about any of his other fiancees getting the wrong idea and ruining it.
Ranma glanced at Usagi just as she started to laugh at something Ukyo apparently said. She looked adorable. His heart sunk. Suddenly he had a very bad feeling about this trip to the mall. It wasn't that difficult to offer his customary complaints when the girls pulled him out of Ucchan's, the proprietress shaking her head with amusement as they left.
* * * * *
"You've got to try this on, Akane. Trust me, it'll look great on you. Don't you think so, Ranma-kun?"
Usagi turned to their default baggage boy with a dazzling smile, her eyes warning him not to disagree. Ranma swallowed, juggling the bags in his hands as he tried to think of something that wouldn't earn him a mallet to the head.
"Uh, yeah. What you said. Heh, heh." He let out his breath when Akane only blushed and allowed herself to be ushered into the changing room with the gown. At least they'd be going home soon, he thought, noticing a clock nearby. It was almost time for dinner.
"Well, what do you guys think?"
"Oh, Akane, you look so mature. You could pass for twenty in that. Blue really is your color. Ranma?"
Ranma couldn't take his eyes off her. The gown had a low cut, halter style top, leaving her back and arms bare, a hip hugging skirt falling around her ankles with a slit up the side that reached to just below the right knee and offered a tantalizing view of her leg. The soft silk shimmered under the store lights, offering the illusion of rippling water. The effect was...
"Stunning."
----- ----- -----
Akane did a double take. Had she heard him right? Ranma would never say something like that to her. Would he? He would never say such a thing to any girl, much less her. If he was going to compliment a girl, it would probably be Ukyo or Shampoo. They were the cute ones. The only thing he ever said about her was always about how much of a tomboy she was, how she was built like a brick.
Walking over to the full length mirror, she gave herself a once over. Usagi was right. She did look older. If she had more confidence in herself, she might even think she could give the other girls a run for their money. Glancing over her shoulder in the mirror, she noticed Ranma still hadn't taken his eyes off her. He even had a bit of drool peeking inching out of his open mouth. Maybe I have a chance after all, she thought, suppressing a giggle.
----- ----- -----
Watching the silent interplay between her shopping companions, Usagi smiled a bittersweet smile. Mamo-chan used to look at her like that. Giving herself a mental shake, her smile turned mischeivous as the combined personalities of three cupid playing senshi combined with her own.
"Akane if you don't buy that gown, I have a feeling Ranma-kun will be very disappointed." Giggling, she waited until Ranma was done sputtering, and Akane lifted her jaw off the ground. Both of them had turned an interesting shade of red.
"Hey, it ain't like that. What do I care what the tomboy wears?"
Usagi almost kicked him for saying something so stupid. Akane simply stood there, her eyes shining, before she ran out of the store. Throwing a glare and some money at the boy, Usagi quickly followed, calling over her shoulder as she went.
"Pay for the dress and then meet us at the food court." She shook her head and muttered. "Baka"
----- ----- -----
Ranma just stood there, speechless until the saleswoman cleared her throat to get his attention. Quickly paying for the gown, he shook his head and resisted the urge to bang his head against the nearest wall. When was he ever going to stop putting his foot in his mouth and tell her? What was he so afraid of?
Gathering Akane's uniform into one of the shopping bags, he made his way to the food court to wait, and think. He didn't care what his other fiancees decided to think about him and Usagi, right now, he was glad she had come to Nerima. At least now he had someone actively on his side with Akane. Well, aside from their baka fathers.
^^^^^
Usagi sat with Akane on a small bench at the other end of the mall. Although she was still sniffling a bit, she had managed to get her tears under control.
"I'm sure Ranma didn't mean it, Akane-chan. I saw the way he was looking at you."
"Baka never could say anything nice to me. All he ever calls me is tomboy. I hate that." She looked up when Usagi giggled, though it was short lived, leaving her grinning a moment later.
"Gomen, demo, my boyfriend used to call me names when I first met him. I hated it so much, I would always yell at him and tell him he was a horrible person. It wasn't until he nearly died for me that I realized how much he really meant to me." Usagi turned serious eyes on her. "Don't make the same mistake I did, Akane. Don't waste time waiting for the perfect moment to tell him how you feel. Trust me. Whenever you tell him will be perfect." Akane could only stare for a moment before nodding.
"Hai. I-I will Usagi-chan." She wiped her eyes and stood. "Come on, the baka's probably eaten half the food in the mall by now."
Laughing, the two girls stood and left, never noticing that someone had been listening to them.
----- ----- -----
Sitting under a bench, an adorable little black piglet sat next to a rather large traveling pack. To the casual observer, it would almost seem that he was trying to read the map that had been laid out before him. They would smile and dismiss it as a cute trick of the imagination. After all, pigs couldn't read maps, could they? These people were only half right. The pig couldn't understand the map, but that didn't mean he couldn't read it.
The piglet was struggling to fold the map back up, when a young woman came rushing over in tears and collapsed onto the bench above him. He watched as another girl came running up and took her in her arms, offering her a shoulder to cry on as she murmured comforting words. Seeing that the young woman was in good hands, he began to make his way out from under them, when something the girl said caught his attention.
"I'm sure Ranma didn't mean it Akane-chan."
Letting out squeal of rage, the little piglet tore off in search of some hot water. Nobody hurt his Akane and got away with it. Least of all that cursed Saotome Ranma. He would see justice done for the woman he loved, then they could finally be together.
Three guesses who the little pig is, and the first two don't count. :)
*Naiteiru Tenshi - Angel in Tears
Gomen, minna. I know I said things would lighten up after the prologue, but I figured the others had to find out why Usagi was there sooner or later, and sooner is usually better. After telling Ukyo, Usagi gave Ranma and Akane an abbreviated version of the story she told Ukyo. Anyway, I'm still open to suggestions on where to take the story, so keep those reviews coming. See you all next week. Ja ne.