Title: Soldier Moon: Identity Crisis
Author: Celestial DreamBlaze
Fandom: SM/GM
Rating: PG-13
Category: Action/Adventure
Pairing: Usagi/Hiiro
Disclaimer: I love to play god. As for owning the character I manipulate to my liking… I don't own them. Sad huh? I know, I'm crying too.
Summary: She doesn't know who she is. Serenity? Moon? Sailor Moon? Usagi? Who? She's lost in her character and is thrust into a new fight. One in which she's kept from the Inners and one the Outers have had a hand in.
Notes: New idea. Enjoy
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The Inner's Shock
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"Okay, Tsukino-san, I'll tell Usagi-chan just that when she reaches our study session after detention." The blue-haired genius set the phone to its base with a gentle click. Her intelligent eyes set in a frown. She wasn't a liar; she would tell Usagi that she needed to be home at 7:00pm. The only problem was that she had not SEEN Usagi today. She wasn't in school and Ami, being the dutiful person she was, called home to find out if Usagi was okay. She had almost slipped up.
~Flashback~
"Moshi moshi."
"Konnichi wa, Tsukino-san, I was wondering if Usagi-chan was at home." Ami could not stop thinking how strange it was that Usagi wasn't at school. Usagi didn't seem sick yesterday and there was no strenuous Youma fight last night—only a puny one, easily defeated by Usagi herself.
"Kon'wa, dear. Why no, I thought that you girls had a study session this afternoon."
Slight pause.
Ami had no idea what to say. "Um…Okay, I guess she must be in detention." Ami's conscious screamed at the outright lie—to which she winced.
"Oh, that girl, I thought she wouldn't have detention today, with what being early and all." Eh? Ami was now baffled with Ikuko's statement. EARLY? Usagi didn't even GO to school. "It was such a wonder. I had come to wake Usagi up and no one was there. Now if that wasn't a strange occurrence, LUNA was still asleep. Usually, that cat would be trying to paw Usagi awake. I guess she had manage to do that today."
Now Ami was downright confused. Usagi UP? BEFORE 7:00? She could only reply with a weak "Wow."
So much for her expansive vocabulary.
~End Flashback~
The mercurian senshi's brow scrunched in confusion, her cerulean eyes thoughtful. Now, she had made it a habit to study the patterns of her friends and Ami KNEW Usagi would never have been able to wake up early. Without Luna—Whom Ami knew would be awake to glory in her triumph—forcing her awake.
Ami could feel a migraine coming up. Honestly, Usagi could give her the biggest problems sometimes. Why, it was usually more brain taxing than finding the answer to the best traveling distance for Earth to Kinmoku.
The only thing to do was ask Luna.
A glance to her watched showed it was 3:05, with a small, not so graphic, curse. Ami's relaxed walk turned into a brisk run. Now SHE was late to a meeting.
**
"Ami," exclaimed the Mars senshi, already ready to hackle on their leader—once she got there that was. "Why are you lat—wait, lemme guess? Usagi."
With a shrug, Ami only nod her head. Usagi, although not the usual reason, was why she was here late.
"Well, where is the Odango head?"
"That's the thing Usagi wasn't in school today, I had called Tsukino-san to find out."
Makoto spoke up, her interest piqued, "Ee, why wasn't she in school?"
"This is the weird part. I know Usagi wouldn't be irresponsible enough to do this, she would never disrespect her parents like this…"
"What did she do, Ami?" Rei's voice had turn into an ominous chill. She still was stewing over last night's behavior and if she heard more negative news from their esteemed leader…she would raise hell.
"She," Ami started, giving Rei a startled glance, "she's gone, Rei. Her parents think she went to school—when she didn't."
Rei's expression turned absolutely ominous. Of all the irresponsible things to do! Her ruby eyes darkened, her fiery aura raged—so much that the Great Fire roared to life. "Nani?"
"Ee, I know, it's strange. Could she be hurt? Tsukino-san said Usagi-chan was gone when she went to wake her. I was going to ask Luna of this."
Luna had stood silently, her thoughts wandering. What was wrong with Usagi? "I… I fear I don't have much to contribute. I was at Central Command, her behavior at last night's attack was very disappointing. I had stayed in Central to analyze the youma attack. Artemis was with me; we categorized the youma as a stray. I was also really tired, I didn't even register the fact that Usagi was missing from bed."
Even more, all the Senshi wondered. What was wrong with Usagi? They sat silently as they guessed what their friend was doing.
"She can't be hurt—she could have pressed the distress button on her communicator if she was in danger." Rei spoke.
"What if she was knocked out? And that's the reason why she didn't press it." Makoto argued, in Usagi's defense. Rei looked extremely livid. She guessed part of Rei's hostility was over yesterday's performance. Even SHE wondered about it.
"For nine hours? I'm assuming that the, let's say kidnap, would have happened before school. Maybe it happened after the attack. She seemed preoccupied and angry, so her attention wasn't focused and was led as easy prey." Ami countered.
A chill was sent through them. The unusually silent Minako spoke. "I hope she's okay."
"You know what," Rei spoke darkly. "I know what she did. She's playing hooky."
"Rei! How could you say a thing like that? Usagi's not that irresponsible." Makoto uttered.
"She is. I bet whatever started her off last night is still affecting her. It's obvious she didn't want us to bother her. Baka odango atama."
"That… sounds plausible."
"It does. That girl," Luna said with disgust. She had thought Usagi was better than this. "How could she behave in such a manner? She's the leader of the senshi and your hime."
"I don't know you guys… though it sounds right, I don't think she would let her parents worry. She hates having them worry over her. She even feels guilty when lying."
"I don't know, Mina," Luna spoke, "I know she wouldn't let her parents worry needlessly, but what else is there? Until we get a distress signal from Usagi, her playing hooky is all we can conclude."
"Should we go find her?" Makoto asked.
"No, if she wants to behave childishly, then let her have it. She'll face the consequences" and lectures "when she returns tonight." Luna spoke firmly.
With everything said and done, Rei stewed over her leader's absence. How could Usagi do this? Didn't she know that they worried about her? That SHE worried about her? Usagi's mind was not stable; too many thoughts and problems plagued her friend… it was all Rei could do not to mother hen her. All she felt for the blonde could be said through her yelling, she needed Usagi to know that she cared.
**
Luna went home late that night. Ready to give Usagi a piece of her mind (and her usual lecture.) How in the world that girl could behave the way she did today was beyond her. She thought Usagi was over her childish tantrums. Being a princess and leader left no room for mistakes or playtime. The girl had to learn.
Climbing up the tree and into the window, Luna was a bit disturbed to find the room as it was this morning. Like Typhoon Usagi had never been in it.
Her cat eyes narrowed, she left the room, padding her way to the kitchen where the family would be at dinner time.
Luna blinked as she noticed them eating silently. No Usagi. What in the world was going on? Aside from Usagi's parents looking frustrated, everything seemed like normal. Shingo was happily munching his food while speaking of his grades with his parents putting their own input now and then.
Where was Usagi?
It was times like these where she wished she could speak freely with them. She'd have asked where the blonde ditz was.
Put out, Luna went back to Usagi's room to contact the Senshi. she had to tell them. No—wait, tomorrow. If her parents weren't worried by this, then it meant Usagi would be fine. She'd tell them tomorrow. In the mean time, she'd just work up her rage for another day.
**
It was Sunday, (I think they [Japan] have school six days a week) and, of course, there was no school. And still no Usagi, who would have been sleeping past noon.
If Luna weren't so angry, she would have worried over this unusual occurrence. The girl COULD be delightful at times.
Flipping the communicator open. Luna simply said. "Meeting. Now." (Seems like Luna's taking lessons from Usagi.)
Knowing that simple message would suffice, she raced herself to the Hikawa Shrine for the meeting.
"What's wrong, Luna?"
Of course, everyone knew what was up. The air was tense, and it was all over the absence of Usagi. For as long as they've known each other, they've always seen each other once a day. It was odd not to.
"Minna," Luna started, hedging on her well-planned 'speech.' "Usagi never came home last night."
Silently, everyone digest the news. Their anger forgotten now that worry took the fore—no matter what Usagi could be going through, she would never be gone this long. Not without contact.
"…What do you mean?" Mina spoke warily. She could not begin to grasp the implications of this statement. Was Usagi hurt? Did she run away? Is she sick? Her pondering got worse and worse till the unimaginable was imagined and her mind shut off.
Luna sighed, her mind run-ragged. "That's what I meant. She never came home, I never saw her yesterday. Her parents didn't seem worried over it, so I guess they know what's going on. I haven't seen them call the police yet."
"Why don't we call the Tsukinos to find out where she is." Suggested Ami.
"Alright." Rei went to get her phone.
Ami, the more diplomatic and calm one, was chosen to call.
Ring. Ring.
"Moshi moshi?"
"Tsukino-san?" spoke Ami as she heard Usagi's mom, Ikuko, answer.
"Hello, Ami dear, o genki desu ka?"
"Genki desu, Tsukino-san," she answered. "I was wondering if Usagi-chan was home yet."
Slight pause, Ikuko was still upset over her daughter's abrupt disappearance, could be heard in her voice. "Iie, I'm afraid not, Ami. Will I tell her you called when she get back?"
"Iie, that's alright, Tsukino-san."
"Okay."
"Tsukino-san?" questioned Ami.
"Yes, dear?"
"Could you tell me where Usagi-chan went?"
Ami took in the long pause, her brow frowning. "Truth is, Ami, I don't know where she went. Usagi refused to tell me. She promised me she wouldn't be home yet."
"Oh," unable to say anything else. Ami sympathized with Ikuko, hearing the agitation and fear in her voice, knowing very well how the older woman was feeling.
"It's so unlike her to be this way. Hai, she'd go off to places but she'd give us ample warning to when she'd leave."
"Nani?" Ami yelped, alarming the Senshi. She was confused, far as she could tell, this never had happened before.
"Oh, it was before she met you, dear. Usagi would always go off. I thought this was over with. I hope she won't be gone for a month. I worry about what that girl is doing. That's why Kenji is so terribly over-protective of Usagi-chan."
By then, Ami's eyes had bulged, a month? The girls, who were watching Ami, grew disconcerted at Ami's manner, Ami was always calm under pressure, why was she behaving like this?
Rei made a cutting motion with her throat, signaling Ami to get off the line. She wanted answers.
Now.
"Okay, well… I have to go, Tsukino-san. Take care. Sayonara."
"Sayonara, dear."
Click.
The minute Ami set the receiver down, she was assaulted with questions.
"What did she say?"
"Why did you bulge your eyes?"
"Where's Usagi-chan?"
"How come you screamed 'Nani'?"
"What is going on?"
Ami shook her head. Telling everyone to be quiet. She relayed the conversation to the group.
2 minutes later.
Minako lay back on the futon. "This is so unlike Usagi-chan's behavior." She commented to herself, and then asked, addressing the others, "do you think she's truly all right?"
"I dunno," spoke Makoto, "but then, Tsukino-san did say that Usagi's done this before. That's truly baffling, Usagi's never told us of this."
"True." Rei spoke, bemused, "Luna, have you ever witnessed any of these disappearances? You've known Usagi longer than any us."
Vexed, her feline hair raised. "Iie, I've never seen Usagi behave in such a way."
Minako sighed. "It seems there's more to Usagi than we think."
"One things for sure," said Rei, growling in anger. "Usagi will have a LOT of explaining to do."
"That's if we see her."
"What do you mean, 'if,' Usagi'll come back. She wouldn't leave us."
The group refused to imagine such an outlandish thought.
At her wits end, Ami said. "What do we do?"
An idea struck Mako, one very simple solution. "Has anyone tried to get in touch with her with the communicator?"
Silence.
They all looked at each other and scrambled to get a link with Usagi. Ami, seeing that everyone was trying to contact Usagi shouted. "Stop!" everyone paused. "I don't think it takes four simultaneous com links to reach her. Why not one of us just do it, and we'll be behind the person to find out."
"I'll do it," Mina spoke, jumping at the chance to see her best friend. Her absence had been just plain weird.
Pressing on the pink button of her communicator. The girls waited for Usagi's face to pop over the static screen. The silence and the waiting nervously got to them. What IF she really was hurt? That she had called her parents so they wouldn't worry over her?
"Ee?"
They all breathed a sigh of relief, and, after seeing their leader's face as calm as a sunny blue day, they temper grew.
"Doko desu ka?"
The Inners could see her glance around. "I…I'm not at liberty to say."
"NOT AT LIBERTY TO SAY? Who do you think you are? Tell us where you are now!"
"Rei, please. Now is not a good time. I promise I'll contact you when possible. Jaa, mata."
Everyone watched shocked as the link closed and the static returned. There mouths were hung open, did Usagi just dismiss them? Without a care to what they thought? It was impossible, so hard to imagine that what they witnessed was real. What the hell happened to her to behave like this?
Everyone looked at each other, there was only one thing they could do.
Contact the Outers.
TBC
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Hm… Seems like the Inner's don't know every single thing about Usagi.
Much mahal n mahaloz
~Celestial DreamBlaze
