Disclaimer: My sincere gratitude to Takeuchi-sensei who created this wonderful world for us to dream in. respectful bow in the general direction of Japan As we all know, all rights belong to her. I hope you enjoy my portrayal of her creations.
A/N - * Onii-chan = familiar form of "Older Brother". In this case, Motoki/Andrew who is a long-time friend of Mamoru/Darien. Unazuki is known as Lizzy in the dubbed version (I think).
Hurray! A third reviewer! I'm really raking them in now, hahaha... Hello to Arianna Sunrise. I'll pass your compliment on to my beta readers. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that they've been complimented. ^-^
I'm sorry I confused you with referring to ChibiUsa as Super Sailor Moon. ^-^;;; But, in this story, she's matured into her powers, and since there isn't another Sailor Moon around, it would make sense that she would adopt the "adult" title. At least, it make sense to me... Oh, maybe this point would help! I suppose it hasn't come up in the story yet, but ChibiUsa now looks to be the equivalent of about 15 years old, and her friends the same. Sorry, I just had that in my head, and it didn't occur to me that no-one else would figure that out. Thanks for letting me know.
Ok, time for the Asteroid senshi to be a little dense. Please keep in mind they are distracted by what has just happened and don't flame me... ^-^
I do not write for reviews, but I sure enjoy compliments, constructive criticism, and grammatical corrections. So if you feel like it, please press that little review button, and let me know what you think. - Raya
The Sleeper
Chapter 5 – Tears and Fears, Frustration and Anger
*~*~*~ Mists of Time *~*~*~
Time seemed unmeasurable on the Cherry Way. They seemed to have been running along the twisting shining path forever before another set of Doors appeared before them. The efforts Super Sailor Moon and Diana took to confuse their path didn't seem to help.
The Doors opened, and the senshi stumbled with exhaustion onto a wooded path. Sailor Pallas and Sailor Ceres fell to their knees in the middle of the path, and seemed unable to get up. The green tint to their otherwise clear skin and their tightly pressed lips showed that they were fighting tooth and nail to keep from disgracing themselves. Sailor Juno stumbled across the path and collapsed against a tree, gasping for air, while Sailor Vesta and Super Sailor Moon sank onto a nearby bench. Super Sailor Moon still clutched the backpack with the bunny and Star Seed to her chest. Diana just fell at the spot right outside the Doors, which promptly disappeared.
"Where... Where are we?" Sailor Juno managed to gasp.
"Tokyo... I hope," Super Sailor Moon gasped in response. Her four guardians looked at her with surprise.
"Crystal Tokyo?" Sailor Vesta asked, looking around for the enemy. "What, was that some secret escape tunnel or something?"
"Not exactly.... And something like that..." Super Sailor Moon transformed back to Lady, causing the others to start and stare at her in surprise. "Guys, you should change back, too. Those outfits could cause a lot of unwanted attention."
Sailor Pallas was the first to nod in agreement and change back. "Yeah. And the enemy might be able to track us by our increased energy levels. Better to blend in." Sailor Vesta, Sailor Ceres, and Sailor Juno quickly followed suit.
Lady looked at her friends a moment, and decided they would do. Fortunately, they had all decided to dress casual but nice this morning. Lady was wearing a simple white sundress with a dark blue short sleeved jacket. Bessa was wearing a red tee-shirt and jean shorts. June was in one of her running outfits. Today, it was a white tank top with loose green shorts. Celeste had gone with a pale yellow dress with a white lace trim. And Pallas was wearing a light blue sleeveless top over dark blue capris.
They sat there a moment, catching their breath and thinking what they had left behind. Lady blinked more tears out of her eyes, then gently lay the backpack down in her lap and pulled off the necklace that held her Pink Moon Crystal. Quickly, she threaded the Time Key on to its accustomed spot next to the crystal, then put the necklace back on. Just as she tucked it back into her dress, a group of kids rounded the corner at top speed.
"Celeste-chan! Pallas-chan! Watch out!" June cried standing up from the tree. The two girls in the path managed to roll out of the way just in time. Diana jumped out of the Celeste's way with a squall.
"Whoa!!" a voice called out. "You guys get back here and apologize!" The five girls tensed and looked up the path. "Sorry...." "Excuse us..." the boys called over their shoulder, never slowing down. A teenage boy, the one who had called out for an apology, stopped and smiled sheepishly at the girls. "Sorry 'bout that. They're running late to a game. Please forgive them."
Lady blinked in surprise as the others relaxed and accepted his apology. 'Nah, it couldn't be...' "Kyusuke-kun?" "Huh? Me? No, sorry, you must have me mistaken for someone else," the boy responded. "Oh, sorry," Lady replied, flushing and drawing the backpack up to her chest in embarrassment. "Ack! I'd better go!" the boy squawked, then ran down the path after the kids.
"Lady-chan?" Celeste called. "What is it? Who is Kyusuke? And where the heck are we? This isn't Crystal Tokyo."
Lady got up from the bench and began walking down the path, surrounded by her friends. Diana brushed up against Celeste, who picked her up. "We are... in a place where I spent part of my childhood," she finally responded. "We should be safe here. And Kyusuke-kun was a classmate of mine."
"A place where you spent part of your childhood?" Bessa asked. "A place called Tokyo, not Crystal Tokyo? A place reached by calling on the God of Time? Just what kind of place is this?"
"And how do we get back," Pallas added fretfully. Diana looked over at her with concern.
"A safe one, for now," Lady responded as they left the park. "And we don't. At least, not yet." She stopped by the road and looked around for a familiar sight, missing the expression on her friends' faces. 'Ah, that bus stop over there....' She led her little group over to the sign at the stop, then smiled in recognition. 'Just a few blocks from home. Not bad. But when?' She turned and began to walk up the street. Her friends exchanged irritated glances, then followed. "We don't?" Pallas whined. "But we have to. We have to go back."
"Not yet, Pallas-chan." She stopped, and looked at the blue-haired girl. "Don't worry. When we're ready to return, the Time Key will take us right back to where we left." She began to walk again.
"Lady-chan," called Celeste, "where are we going?"
"Just a few blocks over this way," she said. "I need to know what time this is."
"What... time... this is?" Celeste repeated, confused. "She must've meant what time it is," Bessa replied quietly, then sighed. "I wonder what's going on at home..." Lady ignored them, but picked up the pace fighting more tears. 'Mama... Papa....'
Diana wriggled a bit in Celeste's arms, then jumped down. Celeste stopped in surprise. "Diana?" "I'll be ok," the cat replied. "I've been here before, too. You guys stay with Lady-san. I'm going to look for someone." Celeste nodded, then jogged to catch back up with the group.
Lady slowed down as she walked by a newsstand, and pretended to scan the headlines. 'Now when did I leave again? Two years ago? Oh dear. That might complicate things a little...' She sped up again, turned a corner, and stopped in front of Crown Parlor. 'I wonder if anyone's here,' she thought as she pushed the door open.
Inside the parlor, Unazuki looked up and saw the girls entering. "Hey, Usagi-chan! How're you today?" Lady turned her head in surprise, looking for Usagi. "Oops, sorry," Unazuki continued, looking a little embarrassed. "I thought you were someone else. Hey wait..." Lady smiled. "No way. ChibiUsa-chan? Is that you??"
"Hi, Unazuki-san! Yep, it's me."
"When did you get back? Usagi-chan didn't tell me you were coming for a visit. Wow, you sure have grown. I didn't recognize you at first. You look even more like Usagi-chan," Unazuki pretended not to notice the dried tears on Lady's face.
"Ummm, thanks, I guess. It was kind of a last minute thing. Say, Unazuki-san, have you seen Usagi-chan or one of the others? I thought maybe I could catch them here."
"Mmmm. No, not today, but they could be by later for their usual. Why don't you and your friends have a seat?" Unazuki winked. "I'll even let you have the usual table."
"Um.. Well.. You see..." Lady fidgeted a few moments, playing with a strap on the backpack, before Unazuki smiled in comprehension.
"Don't worry. I'm sure Onii-chan* can get it out of Mamoru-san later."
Lady blinked, then relaxed and smiled back. "Thanks, Unazuki-san. Sure, we'll sit for a while."
She led her friends back to the senshi's normal corner booth. Once again, the four girls exchanged glances, then sat down as Unazuki walked up.
"Soooo... What'll it be today? ChibiUsa-chan will have a melon cream soda, a hamburger, fries, applesauce, and an order of apple pie a-la-mode." She grinned at Lady, who blushed, then smiled and nodded. "I haven't had a Crown burger in so long..."
"Good thing you came by then before you wasted away," Unazuki winked. "How 'bout you guys?"
June fidgeted in her chair, then ordered a bottled water with lemon, and a slice of the apple pie. Bessa drummed her fingers impatiently on the table, and ordered a coke and an order of fries. Celeste played with her skirt while she ordered a lemon soda. Pallas looked distracted and distant as she ordered a coke, hamburger, fries, onion rings, chicken sandwich, ham on rye sandwich with a side of chips and a pickle, a chef salad, and a slice of chocolate cake. Everyone stared at her a moment, making her blink and ask "What? Aren't you guys hungry?"
Unazuki looked uncertainly over at Lady, who nodded. "Ok, that's one melon cream soda, two hamburgers, three fries, one applesauce, two apple pies a-la-mode, a bottled water with lemon, two cokes, a lemon soda, one order of onion rings, one chicken sandwich, one ham on rye with chips and pickle, one chef salad, and one chocolate cake. Anything else?" The five friends shook their heads quietly, and Unazuki went back to place the order in the kitchen.
"Um, Lady-chan... Do you have any money on you?" Celeste asked tentatively.
"No, but it's all right, Celeste-chan. Unazuki-san said she'd get it from another friend of mine later." "Oh." "Oh yeah, and I'm called ChibiUsa here. It might be best if you guys try to call me that, too. It'll save some confusion." Her friends nodded distractedly, and their fidgety silence fell again.
Unazuki tried to disguise the worried look on her face as she delivered the food a short while later. "Here you go, guys. Hope you like it."
Lady looked up at her, then smiled a small, reassuring smile. "It's ok, Unazuki-san. We've just had a... long day." Unazuki blinked, then gave a small understanding smile. "I've heard travel can be that way," she said, giving Lady the out. Lady's smile grew bigger in gratitude.
The girls ate in silence, each of them thinking of the fight they had left behind. The more they thought, the more they fidgeted uneasily. Lady looked up expectantly each time the bell over the door rang, only to be disappointed by a stream of strangers. Finally, she sighed. "I guess they're not coming today."
"Who?" asked Bessa with a burning, far-away look in her eyes.
"My friends here. I had hoped..."
"We've got to get back!" June suddenly announced, cutting her princess off. "This isn't right. We should be there!" she added, gently pounding her fist on the table. Lady looked at her friends sadly as they nodded quickly in agreement. "We can mount a surprise attack," Pallas added. "Get to the other senshi, join up, then push those invaders out of the Palace."
"Guys..." Lady said softly. The others ignored her, and began to toss out possible battle plans and disguises. "Guys..." In between the plans, they dropped comments about how frustrated they were at being pushed to a 'safe zone'. "It's not like we're a bunch of untrained kids," June griped.
"Guys!" Lady said, finally getting their attention. "We can't go back. Not right now." She tightened her grip on the backpack she had never once put down. "We have to protect her. We can't let them find her. We have to hide." She looked into her friends rebellious eyes, and felt her own tear up yet again.
"We belong THERE, Lady-chan," Celeste said, trying to make her princess see reason. "It's our duty to protect the Palace. We can't just sit here and let some creeps from who knows where come in and take it. Besides," she added, pulling out her trump card, "your mother might need help. We can't help her if we're here, now can we? We've GOT to go back."
Two big tears finally found their way out of Lady's dark pink eyes, and traced their way down her face. "You think I don't know that?" she asked in a pained whisper. "You think I'm not worried about her? About my father, and my other friends?" Her voice began to get louder. "You think I don't want to be there, too? I do! But I CAN'T. Don't you understand?" She was practically shouting over the tears now. "I can't go back. Not now. Not until they come and tell me it is safe again." She paused again, trying not to sob, and looked once more into her friends' eyes. What she saw made her close her own in defeat. "Fine," she said, standing up. She laid the backpack gently on the table, then reached up, removed the Time Key from her necklace, then tossed it into the middle of the table. "Here. Go home. I'll do it myself." She gathered up the backpack, and turned away from the table. Pallas' voice made her stop once more.
"Lady-chan. How will you get home?" Without turning around, she said "I know where I can get another. Good luck." She walked down the aisle of tables to the door. With every step, she fought the urge to run. She listened, but no-one called her back. She opened the door, and stepped outside. Somehow, she managed to walk until she was out of sight of the restaurant. Then sobbing, she broke into a run and headed to one of the two places in this world where she felt totally safe.