Chapter twelve:
A Time to Remember
You couldn't exactly call it a date, right? Yeah sure, he was taking her to Hogsmeade, where it would be just the two of them, but…
Usagi rubbed her hands together nervously. She was waiting in a corridor on the third floor. She had been told to wait near a statue of a humped back, one eyed witch. Go figure…
A slight shiver ran up her spine, and she pulled away from the wall to look. She was alone, just like she had checked five minutes ago. Surely, he wasn't going to stand her up!
Just when she was thinking about leaving, she heard someone coming. Turning, she was greeted with the person she had been waiting for. "Hey," Usagi flashed the older boy a wide grin. "Hey Harry!"
Harry joined her next to the statue, and asked, "Are you ready?" Nodding, she followed him when he turned to the one eyed witch. He took out his wand, and whispered, "Dissendium." he tapped the witch with his wand.
Usagi jerked back, when the witch opened up. "H-how?" Harry looked up and down the hallway, and finding it clear, he waved for her to walk inside.
Hesitant to go in, she asked, "Where does this go?" Harry stepped out of the way to let her in, so she entered into the dark hallway. "It's going to take us to Hogsmeade."
Nodding, she looked down the dark corridor, with a frown. She wondered faintly, that maybe she should tell him how much she hated the dark.
"Sneaking around again Potter? I should have known," the cocky sneer was enough to steer her around from her impending doom held within the darkness, to face the blinding light of the doorway. Sticking her head out into the opening, she peeked out over Harry's shoulder to get a better look. Flashing a grin, she waved to the other occupant in the desolate corridor, that contained the humpback witch. "Hey Draco-chan."
The white haired boy frowned, when he saw her. "What are you doing here Usagi?" the smile slipped from her face. There was almost a hint of malice in his voice when he had said her name.
Before she could say anything, Harry blocked her from the other boy's sight. As he did so, he pulled out his wand. "What do you want Malfoy?"
Unable to see him, all she could do was listen to his sneered reply, "Move out of my way Potter, or I swear I'll-" seeing that a fight would be inevitable unless she intervened, she pushed passed Harry. "It's all right Harry." Nodding to the black haired boy, she stepped away from him, to face Draco.
He stood in front of her, his hand fisted around his wand. "Care to explain…" his face was stained red, his eyes once a cool blue reflected a burning rage.
Matching his glare, and scowl with one of her own, she placed both of her fists on her hips. "What's wrong with you?" his eyes smoldered with barely contained anger. Sighing, she added, "Minerva took over for me today. And since I couldn't find you, I asked Harry if he would take me to Hogsmeade. I've never been there before."
It was half the truth. It had been Harry who offered to take her. But there was no reason to tell Draco this…
~~~~
"She better be everything you say she will be." Sailor Uranus leaned her hip up against the counter. She gave the eldest of their little group a once over. The supposedly wise Sailor Pluto, had just informed the trio that in a few days things were going to change.
Next to her, her partner sighed, "Uranus, please. I'm sure Pluto wouldn't be making a mistake in something this important." Uranus scoffed, rolling her blue eyes towards the ceiling. Instead of getting into a fight with her partner, which she knew she would lose, she turned to the new person.
Sailor Pluto, the guardian of time, stood before her, holding her time staff. She appeared to be their age, but Uranus knew better than to think that. "Look lady, try to see it from my point of view. I've been battling youmas for years, without a stitch." She shot her partner a look, before the smaller woman could interrupt her. It always unnerved her, the strange link they shared between them. "And out of the blue you show up, saying that some girl is going to take the throne, which hasn't existed for over a millennia."
Just thinking about it gave her a migraine.
Sighing, she waved a hand at the older woman, "Shouldn't she be tested? Maybe prove that she's worth the title?" Uranus lifted a brow, when the dark haired woman chuckled, and a strange look appeared in her garnet eyes. Why did she feel like she'd seen that before?
At last, Pluto finally spoke, "But she already has proven herself. She has proven time and again that she will be a worthy Queen." Uranus frowned. That just wasn't enough to settle her nerves.
Looking to her partner, she silently asked for her opinion. "Oh, so I can talk now?" Uranus smirked, and gave the shorter woman a curt nod.
To her satisfaction, Sailor Neptune scowled. "I think you should take her word on it. When we meet the future Queen, you can test her out yourself, if your still not impressed." Uranus tilted her head, thinking that over.
Sailor Pluto sighed, "I don't have a whole lot of time. The future Queen of the Earth, will be arriving, in a few days. When that happens, she will awaken her guardians, and build Crystal Tokyo." she paused, letting that information sink in, before continuing, "You three, will be sent out to guard the outer solar system. I guarantee the Queen will be to your liking. Now I must leave to collect her."
Uranus snorted, "Collect her? From what?" Pluto tapped her staff once on the floor of the barren apartment. Behind her, a portal formed. "Be prepared for a new beginning." With that said, she stepped back, and vanished when the portal closed around her.
"What's wrong Uranus?" Neptune paused from leaving, looking back at the taller woman with a concerned look. Uranus sighed roughly, raking her fingers through her short blonde hair. "I just have this feeling like there's more to this than I'm seeing."
Pushing herself from the counter, she sauntered towards her partner. The shorter woman snorted. "Oh, hai, I know how you feel. But still, that's no excuse for the way you acted."
Uranus paused to stare at the sea-green haired woman's back. "The way I acted?"
"We'll be talking about your attitude problem later."
Spluttering, the taller woman followed her partner, "Attitude problem? What attitude problem?"
The third of their party giggled, as she followed the two older women. Being the youngest, and the smallest of the trio, she tagged behind, sniggering at Uranus' petty attempts to redeem herself. "Oooh, Uranus gets the couch tonight…"
~~~~
What happened after that she was clearly uncertain. The plan had been made for her and Harry to spend the day visiting Hogsmeade. But now, after the confrontation with Draco, the plan changed. Harry left her, saying that he had other things he needed to do.
After watching the black haired boy's figure turn the corner at the end of the hallway, Usagi turned towards Draco with a frown. "Why did you do that?" she waved a hand in the direction Harry had taken. "He's my friend."
The white haired boy snorted, and entered the dark corridor, with only his wand to light his way. "Headmasters shouldn't pick students as friends."
Shooting the boy a withering look, she followed. Behind her, the entrance closed, locking them inside. "Well for one, I'm a Headmistress. And I don't care what you think." She ignored the seething look he gave her for that comment. "Harry's a nice person. Which I thought you were too. But as always, you proved me wrong."
Shoving passed him, she purged on ahead, not caring what might be at the end of the tunnel.
"Usagi." His exasperated voice did nothing to dampen her mood either. Whirling around, she waved her index finger at him. "Iie Draco. Ever since I got here, you've been nothing but- but a baka. To me, and to everyone else. Well, I'm fed up with your attitude." Turned back around, she continued walking.
After several loops, and twists, in the uneven floor she walked on, she found herself at a stairway. Pushing on she started to climb. Even though her body was already sore, she kept going. Draco was still behind her, and that was enough to keep her moving.
At long last, she reached a trap door. Without so much as a thought, she shoved it open, and found herself in a cellar. Climbing out, she left the hatch open for Draco, as she inspected the spacious, but clustered room.
As Draco climbed out, so she busied herself by dusting off imaginary dust from her robes. It wasn't until he shut the trap door, did she move to the stairs leading out. Easing the door open, she glanced out to see if it was safe.
Seeing that the room was occupied by several people, it was hardly a chance that anyone would notice the two of them sneaking out. Everyone was too busy shopping for candy. Being as silent as she could, Usagi slipped out into the room, with Draco following close behind her. Together, they eased into the crowd, and worked their way out the door.
Once outside, Draco finally decided to speak, "It appears your judgment in character isn't all that great. If you thought I was a nice person, I hope I corrected that right away."
Usagi spun on her heels, turning to give him an incredulous look. "Why are you acting like this? Again! It's like that time out on the Quidditch pitch. You're were a acting like a royal ass." she waved her arms around wildly.
The boy snorted, "You're drawing attention to yourself Usagi, you might want to calm down."
That does it! Shoving him back, she snapped, "I will not calm down! I am sick and tired of people telling me to relax, and to calm down! You are the last person I ever plan to have ordering me to calm down, you pompous bakayaro!"
Feeling an unimaginable amount of anger flaring within her, she stalked away. "Usagi, you're acting like a child."
Rage roared from inside her, and she let out a menacing growl, as she screeched to a halt. She turned once again to look at him. "Listen here buddy. I'm here on a simple mission, and once its over I'm out of here. Do you understand!?!?!"
She stomped back towards him, and lowered her voice so that only he could hear. "I'm going home. To my friends, to my family, and to-." she froze, her voice failing her when she needed it most.
She felt the remnants of her anger slip from her fingers, leaving her feeling vulnerable. Usagi stared at the silver haired boy before her, and felt her control waver.
A sudden chill had her arms wrapping around her form, holding heat to her shivering body. She had hardly noticed the snow during her fit. "I'm in another world. I won't be able to see my family, or my friends. Tomorrow is Christmas, and I'm stuck here."
Tears filled her eyes, and she had to turn from him. "I'm so far away from home." a wave of homesickness picked that moment to wash over her.
"Usagi…"
She shivered again, but this time around, a pair of arms wrapped around her, bringing her into the heat of another body. She lifted her head to look at him.
Draco lead her down the small path. They passed quaint little buildings, and several witches and wizards. Some young, some old.
Finally they reached a building with the name The Three Broomsticks, which Draco directed her inside. The place was quite crowded with witches and wizards alike. One woman seemed to be the only one serving drinks to the crowd of rowdy customers up at the bar.
The two of them reached a table, and Draco helped her find a seat before he disappeared into the crowd. Moments later he returned with two glasses filled to the rim with an unknown drink inside them. "Here." he set her glass down in front of her before taking a seat next to her.
Usagi lifted the glass to her lips, and drank as much of it as she could in one gulp. Swallowing, she shivered once before the delicious taste heated her from the inside out. It was almost the same feeling she had gotten when the waiter at that fancy party gave her one too many glasses. But this time there was no alcohol, or French toast. Which she still couldn't eat without getting sick.
Sighing deeply, she set the glass down. "Feel better?"
Usagi lifted her gaze to the boy next to her. She nodded, feeling a little embarrassed. "Domo artigato." She watched as Draco leaned back in his seat. She lifted the glass again, and took another long sip, letting it wash down her throat.
"That's good."
She sighed, and set her glass back down. "Look Draco…" he held up a hand, cutting her off. "So you planned on leaving anyway…" His eyes never left her face, and the look she saw in them made her shiver.
"Draco I can't stay. I have a world counting on me coming back home. I can't abandon them." her hands tightened around the mug. "Gomen… but there are times where I can't wait to see everyone. But then-" Finally she met his gaze with her own, "I'm going to miss everyone. The people here, the things here."
Draco nodded, as he adverted his gaze. "But it's not enough to keep you here."
Usagi frowned, her brows drawing together. "Iie, its not. I have a destiny to fulfill. I have to take the throne, marry my fiancé and have Chibi Usa. The Sailor Senshi are supposed to protect our kingdom… They're all counting on me to protect the Earth in my world. I let them down, even if I did find-"
She cut herself off, unable to continue. She gave Draco a pleading look. He just had to understand. But he refused to look at her, his eyes studying the carvings in the table.
Silence lapsed between them, till finally Draco asked, "When do you leave?"
"When I find what I'm looking for."
~~~~
Inside she was screaming, ripping her hair out, and shouting curses for all to hear. To everyone around her, she sat in Dumbledore's chair, at the teacher's table. She looked calm, taking care to eat her food, without catching too much attention.
The only evidence of her inner turmoil was the frantic look in her blue eyes. She was the headmistress, running the school, and teaching students how to defend themselves from Dark Magic. On the inside, she bellowed loud enough to split her own ear drums.
They were hardly a week into Winter Break, Christmas being tomorrow. And she was stuck here. Her family would enjoy Christmas without her. Her friends would exchange gifts without her. Her cats were gone, and she could only figure they had left with Haruka and Hotaru.
The thought of them brought tears to her eyes. She just wanted to go home. She missed her friends, she missed her family, but most of all, she missed her old life.
Looking at the kids her age, she watched as they ate their meals, talking with excitement with one another. It wasn't fair. How could they get to enjoy their holiday, when she felt so miserable?
Usagi sat there, watching as one by one they left, leaving her alone in the Great Halls. It was still early, Christmas Eve being only half way over. Tonight there would be a feast, and then tomorrow morning would be the gifts.
I wonder if they-
Her train of thought was shattered, when another presence appeared close to her. Lifting her head, she stared at him.
"Usagi."
Draco Malfoy stood towering over her, a familiar smirk on his face. She frowned, wondering again if he was trying to go out of his way to talk to her. Insult her, or flirt with her.
At times he could make her so mad, but others…
Sighing, she shoved back her chair. "Hello Draco." she rounded the table to come to his side, and together they started for the door. "Did you need something?"
He didn't answer, but instead, took her hand, and started to drag her from the Great Hall.
"Um, where are we going?" she glanced around as they climbed the marble staircase. And then climbed another set of stairs. Usagi scowled, when they reached their fifth set of stairs. "Draco…"
The boy, who held her hand tightly in his chuckled, "Trust me." She snorted at that.
They reached the seventh floor, and followed a hallway towards a dead end. But instead, he came to at a single door. "Draco, I'd really like to know what you're up to."
"Usagi, where do you want to be at most, right now?" Usagi frowned at the odd question. Why did he care where she wanted to be at? He sure hadn't cared, when he dragged her up all those stairs!
"I wouldn't mind being in my room!" she wrenched her hand from his, and started to leave. But before she could even turn, Draco turned the doorknob, and pushed the door in front of him open.
Usagi gasped, her eyes widening at the sight she saw. "Iie." her eyes flew about the room before her, unable to believe in what she was seeing. A twin size bed near a window, was covered with a blanket decorated with bunnies. Clothes, a school uniform, and the outfit she had worn the day before Setsuna had come for her, laid on the floor.
Stuffed animals, bunnies of all sizes were thrown about, a closet door had been left open. Her clothes hung inside.
Hesitantly, Usagi walked into the room. She looked at each and every item. This was her room. Everything was as she left it. The book of spells was left open on her mattress. Her towel, that Pluto had neglected to tell her about, laid near the windowsill. "Kami-sama." She moved towards the window, and looked out. She couldn't see the Forbidden forest, nor the Quidditch pitch. Instead, she was staring at the street her house was on.
With tears in her eyes, she turned to the door. Draco stood there, glancing at the room, with slight disgust. She choked on a laugh, unable to keep back her sob. "I'm home."
Usagi dropped to her knees, and her hand clutched at the locket she wore on her chest. She was finally home! She could almost smell her Okaasan's cooking. "H-how?"
The white haired boy sighed, and finally walked into the pink and white room. "Its called the Room of Requirements. What ever you need, will appear in this room." Slowly, he moved towards her, and only stopped, when his shadow loomed over her.
When he crouched down to her level, she looked up to meet his eyes. "Why?" he chuckled ruefully, his eyes moving away from hers. "I don't know. It might have to do with, me remembering everything."
"What?" Usagi stared at him. He remembered that year?
"I remembered how you died. It was, in this room, the Room of Requirements."
"What are you doing?"
Usagi blinked, startled to hear Draco's voice, and yet he hadn't spoken. In fact she hadn't seen his lips move at all.
"I'm her guardian. It was my duty to protect her. Now that I have failed, it is my duty to take her home."
She glanced around, her eyes searching for Setsuna. She knew that voice, but the Guardian of Time was not present. Usagi jerked back, when her bedroom vanished. She found herself sitting in a different room. One that looked like a dungeon.
"Where is home?"
She knew this place. Somehow she recognized the turned over table, and stone walls.
"Do not fret Harry Potter. I have not completely failed my hime. She may have died in this life, but she will be reborn."
Draco looked around as well. "It's just like it was that day. Potter and I… we were to late. When we got here, you were already gone."
"Reborn?"
He shifted, so that he sat on his legs, and was seated just inches from her. "I think this might belong to you. When I found it, I didn't know whose it was."
Draco reached into his pocket, and pulled something small out. Not bothering to wait, he took the item between his index finger and thumb, and moved to place it in the tiny hole in the crystal that laid within her brooch.
"The fragment." Usagi watched, as he replaced the very piece she had spent months looking for. The thing that had brought her to this world.
The silver crystal flashed, its light covering everything in an instant, and disappearing just as quickly.
~~~~
Draco shook his head, and rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes. They burned from the flash, which had blinded him. Blinking, till the spots in his vision cleared, he looked up at the girl sitting in front of him.
"What the…"
He jerked back, falling onto his rear in his haste to move away. When he had looked before, he had seen Usagi. But now, someone else sat in front of him.
It wasn't too hard to see the similarities, but the differences were extreme.
The woman in front of him was older, much older. And while Usagi looked naïve, and cheerful, this woman held an elegance he had never seen before. Unlike her robes she had worn before, she now wore a silk white dress, that fit her every curvy. Wings made of silk came from the back of the dress, almost giving her an angel like appearance. Her hair, was still golden, appeared longer, but was still kept in the unique style, he placed as Usagi's.
But this woman wore a golden crown between the buns, one that was made for royalty.
The stranger, finally opened her eyes, revealing blue pools. Usagi's eyes. "Who-who are you?"
She didn't smile, but she didn't frown either, at his question. She simply answered it, "I am Neo-Queen Serenity."
Draco snorted, wondering if maybe Usagi was playing some kind of mind game with him. Playing along, he asked, "What happened to Usagi?"
The woman tilted her head, and her eyes looking about them, before she replied, "Usagi? Oh, hai, Usagi." This time she did smile, but it was a sad smile, one filled with loss. He suddenly feared her answer.
"Gomen, but she is gone. Her energy expired, and I was finally released."
"What!" Draco shot to his feet, horrified. "What do you mean, expired!" The one who called herself Serenity sighed sadly. "Again, gomen, but the one you know as Usagi, died. When the Crystal was restored, she wasn't needed any longer."
He stumbled back, his feet feeling like lead weights.
"Mr. Malfoy."
He whipped around at the familiar voice. "You!" he stared at the same woman, who had taken Usagi from him two years ago. "What happened to Usagi?!"
Setsuna looked away, and her gloved hands tightened around her staff. "I'm sorry Draco. But two Usagi's cannot exist in the same world."
He glared at her, "Bring her back." He pointed at the woman still on the floor, and shouted, "Bring her back!!!"
"Draco."
Stiffening, Draco looked back at Serenity. It sounded like her, and yet it didn't. "I know that name." Her smile was weak, but it was there. The older version of Usagi stood. She was beautiful, breathtaking. But she wasn't Usagi.
She was nothing like Usagi.
"I want you to bring her back!"
Setsuna shook her head, "You do not understand, Draco. Usagi never existed. She was a shell, that contained Princess Serenity's spirit. She is gone."
Draco felt his world shatter, at those three words. He had never thought he would hear them again. Not after what happened last time. Not when he found her again.
Who would be cruel enough to take her away from him twice?
"Your Highness, your Senshi and King wait for you at the time gates."
A portal formed behind the guardian of time, and she waved a hand towards Serenity. The woman, who stood behind him, slowly walked towards the portal. But hesitated, when she reached his side.
Draco looked up when the woman turned to look at him. "Do not be so sad. You're happiness awaits you in the future." She then leaned forward and kissed his cheek before continuing towards the portal.
"Not all is lost. Come Pluto, it is time to create Crystal Tokyo at last."
With that said the Queen stepped into the portal. Setsuna, who hesitated, glanced back at Draco. Her brows were brought together in surprise, before a soft smile formed on her face. "Hai, not all is lost. I have not failed her yet." she looked up, as if seeing something he could not, and stated with affection, "Good-bye old friend."
The portal closed, taking the guardian and Queen to their world.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well there you go, the next chapter… I know its coming to a close fast… and that this chapter took me forever to write, but that's because I have been distracted lately. A lot of things happened to me, so I had been unable to write… but here it is, and I hope you like it.. The epilogue will be put up soon. Its already been written, so don't fear…
Oh and look for my next work which I will be putting up sometime this month… Brother of Mine, here is a sneak preview…
'Heero glared at the small girl in front of him. What the hell was going on around here?
Frowning, he sized the kid up and down. She was short, and young, maybe five or six. Her hair was a natural cotton candy pink, which was alarming. But most of all, the girl's eyes where like a pair of cinnamon gems, eyeing him as if he were the-- boogieman or something.
There was something very wrong about the child standing in front of him. Maybe she was the leader of this base. Sure she was just a kid, but so had been Mariemeia. It could be possible that this kid, who stared at him as if he were a threat to her very existence, could be his mortal enemy.
The girl suddenly wrinkled her nose, the first movement he had seen from her since the woman had left them alone. The umbrella she held in her hand popped open, and started to spin.
It was red in color, with a white line twirling around in a spiral. Grunting, he darkened his glare at the girl. She was trying to hypnotize him. How clever.
She must have used that on his captor, who was baking cookies in the kitchen at that very moment. Maybe he could use the umbrella to his own advantage. If only he could get his hands on it.
Suddenly the girl stomped her foot in agitation, "what is wrong with you!" Blinking, he brought himself back to the present. So the girl had a spoiled streak. She expected everything to work out for her. Heero grunted in reply.
The girl frowned, and instantly the umbrella exploded into a cloud of smoke. He masked his surprise when he found the umbrella had somehow changed into a ball.
Something very strange was happening to the things around him. And the longer he sat there, and mulled over the past few hours, he was beginning to think, that what ever kind of drug they gave him, it sure was a doozy.'
Its going to be pure comedy I tell you… it's a Usagi/Heero romance… I know you'll like it
Enjoy!
LP
