Chapter 3
She yawned.
What time was it?
The clock said twelve thirty, in the morning. She had fallen asleep after her father had sent her to her room. Just great, she thought, now I'll be up all night.
She stretched out her arm to turn on the lamp, and was surprised to find a warm cheeseburger. She downed it quickly and hungrily, not even wondering where it came from until afterwards. Must have been Mom, she thought, Usa doesn't like me enough. After practically inhaling the cheeseburger, she wished that someone had brought her a drink.
For some reason, now she looked to the picture. She thought it a very curious thing that it was laid neatly on the table when she was almost positive she had fallen asleep with it still clutched in her hand. Her fingers traced over her mother's face, her long hair, her slim body. Then her fingers sought out herself, so short, so small, and so very cute, she thought.
She walked to the mirror, comparing images, thinking maybe perhaps it was a distant cousin in the picture. But though she had changed over the years - her body was tall and sleek, her hair long and curly, a nose ring and many earrings now adorning her - the picture was unmistakably of her. But - but how?
She noticed something in the picture that she had not seen before. Serenity, or Usagi, as she had been called then had a faint moon on her forehead, and the younger her had a barely visible heart. She squinted, and wondered if her eyes were fooling her. Then she looked to her present image in the mirror. Her eyes widened, no! There had never been that heart shape on her forehead before!
It was so faint, however, that at present time it did not bother her and with a little confused huff, she placed the picture down on the table. Then, she went to her window, and did something she hadn't done in ages. She swung herself up onto the roof of the tower, a very unladylike thing to do in her pleated skirt. Oh well, she thought, God will have to forgive me. There's plenty of redemption time any way, between now and dying.
She felt a little better than she had earlier. Perhaps it was the insignificant feeling gazing up at the stars gave her, or perhaps it was the cheeseburger. If it wasn't her fate to spend the rest of her life being an envoy, she would have studied the stars. They were so beautiful, and so mysterious. She tilted her head towards the sky, drinking in the magic and ancientness like a rich wine.
For a moment, sitting there, absorbing the universe like she was some cosmic sponge, Chibichibi felt special. She felt like the world was hers, like maybe she wasn't destined to be an ambassador, a palace official. As though perhaps, she were special. Someday, she would travel to those distant, sparkling points of light, where all life came from. Sprung forth from the heat, and warmth, however distant...
She heard soft footsteps on the roof, and turned quickly, frightened. She laughed; it was Stella, the baby of Diana and her husband, Lucius. She was such a small kitten; she hadn't even learned to talk yet. Chibichibi smiled, thankful for the companionship. Suddenly she noticed the chill of the evening, and clutched the cat closely for warmth.
Moments later, however, she heard footsteps again. These were large, and heavy. She looked to her left, but saw nothing. She looked to her right, and saw a looming shadow. She leapt to her feet, not sure what to do. Did she cry for help? No, from this height, none would hear her. Did she fight? She would probably end up plummeting to her death. Did she swing back down into the window? As the shadow approached, there was no other option.
She yawned.
What time was it?
The clock said twelve thirty, in the morning. She had fallen asleep after her father had sent her to her room. Just great, she thought, now I'll be up all night.
She stretched out her arm to turn on the lamp, and was surprised to find a warm cheeseburger. She downed it quickly and hungrily, not even wondering where it came from until afterwards. Must have been Mom, she thought, Usa doesn't like me enough. After practically inhaling the cheeseburger, she wished that someone had brought her a drink.
For some reason, now she looked to the picture. She thought it a very curious thing that it was laid neatly on the table when she was almost positive she had fallen asleep with it still clutched in her hand. Her fingers traced over her mother's face, her long hair, her slim body. Then her fingers sought out herself, so short, so small, and so very cute, she thought.
She walked to the mirror, comparing images, thinking maybe perhaps it was a distant cousin in the picture. But though she had changed over the years - her body was tall and sleek, her hair long and curly, a nose ring and many earrings now adorning her - the picture was unmistakably of her. But - but how?
She noticed something in the picture that she had not seen before. Serenity, or Usagi, as she had been called then had a faint moon on her forehead, and the younger her had a barely visible heart. She squinted, and wondered if her eyes were fooling her. Then she looked to her present image in the mirror. Her eyes widened, no! There had never been that heart shape on her forehead before!
It was so faint, however, that at present time it did not bother her and with a little confused huff, she placed the picture down on the table. Then, she went to her window, and did something she hadn't done in ages. She swung herself up onto the roof of the tower, a very unladylike thing to do in her pleated skirt. Oh well, she thought, God will have to forgive me. There's plenty of redemption time any way, between now and dying.
She felt a little better than she had earlier. Perhaps it was the insignificant feeling gazing up at the stars gave her, or perhaps it was the cheeseburger. If it wasn't her fate to spend the rest of her life being an envoy, she would have studied the stars. They were so beautiful, and so mysterious. She tilted her head towards the sky, drinking in the magic and ancientness like a rich wine.
For a moment, sitting there, absorbing the universe like she was some cosmic sponge, Chibichibi felt special. She felt like the world was hers, like maybe she wasn't destined to be an ambassador, a palace official. As though perhaps, she were special. Someday, she would travel to those distant, sparkling points of light, where all life came from. Sprung forth from the heat, and warmth, however distant...
She heard soft footsteps on the roof, and turned quickly, frightened. She laughed; it was Stella, the baby of Diana and her husband, Lucius. She was such a small kitten; she hadn't even learned to talk yet. Chibichibi smiled, thankful for the companionship. Suddenly she noticed the chill of the evening, and clutched the cat closely for warmth.
Moments later, however, she heard footsteps again. These were large, and heavy. She looked to her left, but saw nothing. She looked to her right, and saw a looming shadow. She leapt to her feet, not sure what to do. Did she cry for help? No, from this height, none would hear her. Did she fight? She would probably end up plummeting to her death. Did she swing back down into the window? As the shadow approached, there was no other option.