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.
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 8 – A Place to Stay
Lady's heart was racing with excitement as she stepped up to the front door. A smile of happiness, slightly mischievous, painted her lips as she knocked. A few moments later, the girls heard footsteps. Then, the door opened to reveal a woman with wavy, dark blue hair.
"Usagi?" the woman said sounding surprised. "What on earth are you doing? Why didn't you just come in? And what did you do to your hair?!"
Lady's smile slowly faded as her bubble of happiness burst. She stared at Ikuko with a mixture of sadness and longing. 'Maybe... Maybe without Luna P...'
Ikuko returned her stare, surprised confusion fading into puzzlement. Then, her eyes widened with disbelief. "Chi... ChibiUsa?" Lady blinked, hope returning to her dark pink eyes. "ChibiUsa!" Her friends watched in surprise as the woman threw herself at Lady and wrapped her into a tight hug. "Oh my... ChibiUsa! Is it really you? When did you get here?"
"Ikuko-mama," Lady whispered, settling deeply into her grandmother's arms. For just a moment, she was a small child again, soaking up the all the affection and love this woman had to give.
After a minute, Ikuko pulled away. She held Lady by the shoulders and looked at her. "My, how big you've grown. And you look so much like Usagi! It's amazing! But, what are you doing here? Why didn't you call to tell us you were coming?"
Lady smiled sadly. "Um... Well, it was kind of a last minute thing. Mama and Papa... had to take care of an emergency, so I thought I'd come over and see if I could stay a while."
"Of course you can," Ikuko enthused. "You can even have Usagi's room, if you'd like."
Lady blinked at her in surprise. "Usagi's room? But where's Usagi?"
Ikuko blinked back at her. "What? Didn't you know? She and Mamoru-kun were married a little more than a year ago. She lives over at his place now. Surely you got an invitation..."
Lady's eyes went as wide as saucers. "She did? She does? Wow. How did they ever get Kenji-papa to agree to that?"
Ikuko chuckled in amusement. "Some sort of magic is my theory. I never would have thought he would agree, especially since she was still so young and they were both still in school. But she just waltzed in here one day and announced that she was marrying him in six months, and that was it." Lady looked at her grandmother suspiciously. "Really. Ok, maybe it took us a week to get used to the idea. Well, perhaps a month. But after a few discussions, it all worked out." She shook her head and said again: "It must have been magic."
"Anyway, that means that you can stay up in her room. And who are these lovely young ladies?"
Lady turned to face her friends. "These are my friends. Their parents... got caught up in the emergency, too, so I told them I would find a place for them to stay. No, not here," as she felt Ikuko stiffen in shock. "I thought I'd ask the other girls if they could help out. Anyway..."
"How do you do," Celeste interrupted smoothly, stepping forward to give a small bow. "My name is Celeste d'Nuit. It is a pleasure to meet you." "Bessamine Ejjel. Please, call me Bessa," Bessa said with a polite bow. June bowed as well. "June Night. A pleasure." Pallas bowed, and said softly, "And I am Pallas Nychta. It is a pleasure to meet you." The girls all bowed again, this time simultaneously.
Ikuko smiled. "What interesting names. I do hope I can remember them. I am ChibiUsa's relative, Ikuko Tsukino. Please, call me Ikuko-mama as she does."
The girls looked at her in surprise. "Tsu.. Tsukino?" Celeste asked in disbelief. Lady interrupted before her friends could ask anything more. "Ok, then. We're off to the shrine. I'll try to be home in time for dinner! Can my friends eat over tonight, too?" As her grandmother nodded, Lady pulled away, and herded her friends back down the walk. At the gate, she paused, turned, and waved with a smile. "Later!" "Bye!"
"Lady? Who is she? Why does she have the same last name as your family? Is she really related?" Pallas inquired, one question tripping over the next.
"She's related on my mother's side," Lady said with a mischievous smile. "I'll explain it more later if I have to, ok? Right now, I think I should tell you guys to prepare for a few more shocks." And even though they questioned her all the way to Hikawa shrine, she just smiled, giggled, and refused to give any answer other than "You'll see." By the time they reached the shrine, Bessa and June were exchanging muttered plans of torture and revenge. Celeste and Pallas were scrounging their brains for a way to trick Lady into giving them a hint. Lady just laughed and skipped up the long stairway.
She paused when she reached the top, holding the backpack to her chest with both arms in what had become a natural position, and looked around. Her friends quieted as they felt the late afternoon peace of the shine. Only a few people were around, most of them walking quietly or meditating. By the stairs to the main building, an short old man was sweeping peacefully. Lady smiled and led the way over to him.
"Good afternoon, Grandpa," she said cheerfully with a bow. "Is Rei-chan home?"
"Eh? What's that? Oh, hello there! Welcome! Haven't seen you around here in a while." Lady smiled at him, and repeated her question. "Rei? Hmm... No, I don't think she's home yet. Who are your little friends there? Hi, would you like to come work at the most famous shrine in Tokyo?" he continued beaming at Lady's four friends. They looked at him in surprise, while Lady just rolled her eyes. Then, her mischievous look returned. Before she could say anything, however, another voice joined the conversation with an exasperated tone.
"Grandpa! How often do I have to tell you not to say things like that?" The girls spun to face the speaker. Lady smiled widely, while her friends stared in shock. In front of them was the woman they knew as Super Sailor Mars dressed in a grey and black school girl outfit holding a brown book satchel in one hand. Rei looked over at them, and began to apologize for her grandfather's behavior. About halfway through her standard speech, however, she stopped, then stared at the girls. "Do I know you?"
Lady giggled. "Hey, Rei-chan. You're slipping." Rei looked at her, then blinked. "Usa... No... ChibiUsa-chan?!" "Hi!" "By the Flame! Then these must be... Your friends?" Lady nodded. Once again, the girls went through their introductions. Rei regathered her composure, and introduced herself. "I am Rei Hino. Welcome to Hikawa Shrine. ChibiUsa-chan, why are you guys here? Does Usagi know?"
Lady shook her head. "Not yet. She wasn't home." She gave a side-long look at Grandpa, who was avidly watching the scene. Rei got the hint, and invited them inside for some tea. Naturally, she made her grandfather go and prepare it.
"Listen, Rei-chan," Lady said hurriedly when the old man had left. "I think it would be best if I told everyone at once, ok? So, can we have a meeting here tomorrow?" Rei grimaced, then nodded in agreement. "Is there any immediate danger?" she asked.
"Maybe," Celeste replied as Lady shook her head. Lady turned and gave her a puzzled look. "There are some people out there who've been asking questions. Lady says they're friends, but I don't recognize any of them." "Yeah," Bessa added, "And they didn't act very friendly either." Lady shook her head again and gave an exasperated sigh. "They were Setsuna-san, Michiru-san, and Haruka-san. Just... ignore them for now. Rei-chan, can one of my friends stay with you for a few nights?"
Rei cocked an eyebrow at Bessa, ignoring Lady for the moment. "They weren't very friendly? What did they do?"
"Nothing!" Lady said, only to be ignored once again. "It was attitude, mostly," the redhead replied. "Kind of cold and cocky and amused about something or other. They didn't introduce themselves either. And I got the strangest feeling around them..."
Rei maintained her grave face, and nodded. "I see. I'll be sure to keep an eye out. Would you like to stay here?" she asked Bessa, who looked at her in surprise. "You'll have to help out in the shrine, sweeping, tending booths, and things like that." She watched as Bessa glanced over at Lady, then smiled. "Don't worry. It wouldn't be all day. You'll still have time to be with your friends." Bessa looked back at her, then nodded and bowed in gratitude. "I would appreciate it very much if I could stay here."
"Great," Lady said, burying her irritation once more. "Thanks, Rei-chan." Rei smiled at her, then turned to answer a scratching on the door. "Come! Oh, thank you, Grandpa. I'll change and be out in a few minutes to finish up the sweeping," she said shooing him back out the door. She looked over at Bessa with a smile. "Please don't take him wrong. He likes to talk to and look at young girls, but he's not REALLY a pervert or anything." At the sound of a body falling outside, Rei and Lady broke into soft giggles. "That'll teach him," Rei said, as the other four looked at them in confusion.
After a quick tea, the girls, including Bessa, took off again. Using some money borrowed from Rei, they caught a bus across town to a high rise apartment building. Lady led them inside, up an elevator, and down a long hall. There, she rang a doorbell and waited. A few moments later, the door was answered by an older lady with dark hair. "Hello?"
"Hello, Dr. Mizuno. Is Ami-chan home?" Dr. Mizuno blinked at her sleepily for a moment, then said, "Usagi-chan? What did you do to your hair?"
Lady sighed, then replied with slightly strained patience, "No, I'm not Usagi-chan. I'm a relative of hers, ChibiUsa."
"ChibiUsa-chan? Of course. My how you've grown," the doctor said, looking a little more awake. The four other girls began to snicker quietly behind Lady's back. She shot them an irritated look. "Oh, Ami-san isn't home yet. I believe she had cram school today," Dr. Mizuno continued.
"Oh," Lady said in a disappointed tone. "Well, actually, perhaps you can help us?" she said, perking up. "My friends have come in from out of town, and I was wondering..." She stopped as she realized how rude she was being. "Oh. Never mind. Please tell Ami-chan I said hi, and that I hope to see her tomorrow at the shrine." She turned to walk away, but was stopped by Dr. Mizuno's hand on her shoulder. When she turned back, she saw Dr. Mizuno was smiling.
"Your friends need a place to stay?" she asked quietly. Lady nodded, but quickly added "It's ok. We'll find something else. I'm sorry we disturbed you," she ended with a blush. Dr. Mizuno shook her head still smiling. "I'd be happy to help, but I'm afraid we don't have room for all of them."
"Perhaps just one?" a soft voice said from behind them. The five young girls turned around and gasped. Well, the four younger ones gasped. Lady smiled another happy smile. Before them, dressed in a blue and white sailor-style high school uniform and carrying a book bag, was Super Sailor Mercury.
Ami smiled, then bowed, and introduced herself. Pallas was the first to pull herself back together, bow politely, and return the favor. Bessa, June, and Celeste quickly followed suit. Dr. Mizuno invited them in, then went into the kitchen to prepare them something to drink.
As they sat on the couches and chairs, Ami looked at each one with a considering look. "Does your mother know you are here?" she asked Lady quietly. Lady's eyes filled up with tears, but she raised her chin resolutely. "I'm not sure. If she hasn't figured it out yet, she will soon. This isn't a pleasure trip. We'll tell everyone the story tomorrow at the shrine."
Ami nodded her understanding. ChibiUsa hadn't run away from home, but had been chased away by another enemy. She then looked over at Pallas. "What data do you have so far on this enemy? Can we get it into my computer?" Pallas looked at her in surprise, then responded just as quietly. "We don't have too much. They rushed us out before we really knew what was going on. I'm sorry." Ami sighed, then looked up with a smile as her mother came back into the room. "Pallas-chan will be staying with us. Shall I get the guest room ready?"
Her mother nodded, placing a tray of glasses filled with juice and some plates of cookies on the table. "Yes, dear, if you could. Later, though. There's no rush. I'm afraid I'm going to have to get ready to leave shortly. I have to go in for a short while." The girls all made polite noises, then helped themselves to the snack at Dr. Mizuno's urging.
A short while later, they declined a dinner invitation, borrowed some more money quietly from Ami, then headed off to the next stop. As she walked them down the hall, Ami cocked her head, then told Lady that Mako-chan was studying with Minako-chan that night. Lady smiled and thanked her for the information as the elevator doors opened.
While waiting at the bus stop, Celeste looked over at Lady and asked the question that was beginning to burn in their minds. "Um, Lady-chan? Was that Mercury? And the girl before... Was she Mars?" Lady looked at her and smiled. "Yes. And yes, they know exactly who we are."
"But.. How?" Pallas asked. "And who are we going to see next?" Bessa added. "Venus? Jupiter?"
"It's a long story," Lady responded as the bus pulled in. "Maybe someday I'll tell you. For now... This is 20th Century Tokyo. Before you girls showed up at the Palace, Mama sent me to train with the Senshi here, and we became friends. Knowledge of time travel is forbidden. I probably shouldn't have told you, but... You're here now, and it would be too complicated to keep it a secret." As they sat down, she gave them each a stern look. "We can't tell them anything about the future. They've never asked, but you have to be careful not to let something slip. Just... Live in today. It's easier that way." The girls were quiet the rest of the way to the Aino residence.
Once there, they found Super Sailor Venus and Super Sailor Jupiter dressed in the same uniform that Ami had been wearing. After exclamations of surprise and concern, introductions were made. A short while later, the group from the 30th Century left once again. Minako's parents had finally agreed to let Celeste stay with them, and Makoto had agreed to put up June. They took a round-a-bout route to return to the Tsukino residence, so that all the girls could know where Makoto lived.
Finally, as the sun was going down, they made their way tiredly up the walk to the house where Lady would be staying. "Now you all know how to find each other," Lady was saying as they turned into the gate.
Celeste looked ahead, then gave a cry of relief. "Diana! I was beginning to worry about you!"
Diana looked up from her comfortable spot on the step and smiled. "It's about time you got home. Dinner's waiting!" The hungry girls quickly went inside the house. "I'm home!" Lady called out as she entered.