Opposing Protectors
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, it's the same thing every time, I don't own Sailor Moon, blah, blah, blah...just let's get on with the story already!
Chapter 14: Clearing Things Up
The trio detransformed and waited for somebody to say something, anything. No one did and the three of them found the silence to be almost unbearable. Finally after nearly five minutes had elapsed (the longest five minutes our heroes ever went through from their point of view), Sammy broke the silence.
"I can't believe that my klutzy doufus of a sister is actually Sailor Moon! There has to be some kind of mistake!"
Serena just looked down to the floor; apparently she wasn't a good sister according to this boy. Darien, for his part, glared and frowned at Sammy. He couldn't believe how inconsiderate Sammy was being of his sister's feelings, especially considering her condition. With his anger clearly coming through in his voice, he said to Sammy: "Well she IS Sailor Moon, so you'd better get over it and accept it."
"I still don't understand why you never told us Serena. As your parents, we had a right to know. I mean what would have happened if you disappeared as Sailor Moon, we never would have known anything about it. Besides, had we known, we may have been able to help you get through some of your tougher times, emotionally I mean. We could've been there to support and encourage you." Ikuko's facial expression and tone of voice were ones of pain and sorrow. She was deeply hurt by her daughter's deception, despite the fact that it had been for their own good.
Serena desperately looked to Darien for help. She had no idea how to respond or answer to the distraught woman in front of her. Picking up the cue, Darien quickly stepped in and answered for her.
"Hiding our true identities from our friends and families was meant for your protection. That way, if any of our enemies were to find out who we really are, they wouldn't be able to use you against us. But with this turn of events, we were left with little choice in the matter as you can imagine. Although, Raye's grandfather and Chad found out through pure chance of circumstances." Darien chose his words carefully so as not to make Serena feel bad about what happened (although she already did). She noticed this and gave him quick smile of gratitude.
This seemed to satisfy Ikuko (and Kenji and Sammy for that matter) and the rest of the questions that had been forming in their minds were now posed to the heroic trio. Eventually, the questions were narrowed down to the ones concerning Rini and the future.
"So you're actually our granddaughter and not our niece?" Kenji asked, as if thinking maybe he had misunderstood that part of the story.
"Mm-hmm. But I think there's still a few years to go before I'm born." Rini was very careful with her answers. She had to make sure she didn't reveal any vital information about the future (ie. her birth date).
"And you originally came to the past to save your mother, who you later found out to be Serena, and then again to train as a Sailor Senshi?" Ikuko asked. She was still trying to sort all of this out in her head; they all were really.
"Yep, that's right. And this time it was to help the Senshi face Akuma."
"Right." Ikuko said slowly. "And how is it, again, that you managed to convince us that you were our niece?"
"Um...well...I used Luna P." Rini said. She felt a little guilty at also deceiving her grandparents. She brought forth her 'companion' and gave a small demonstration of its power. "I'm sorry I had to hypnotise you. I hope you're not angry, but it wasn't like I was exactly allowed to tell you the truth."
"It's alright, we're not angry. We're just starting to realize that you guys don't always have choices in some of this stuff. I guess being a super-hero isn't everything it's made out to be." Kenji said. Rini and Darien shook their heads and said: "No, it's not."
Having gone on for almost two hours, the questions and clarification period ended and the subject was changed. The new topic of choice was Serena's (Earthly) past. Her parents and brother started telling her about some of their favourite memories together along with other family stories and special moments. Her parents, for their part, tried to keep the cute but embarrassing moments to a minimum. Serena, although enjoying the stories and memories being shared, was saddened by the fact that she couldn't remember any of them in her own mind and from her own point of view. The others eventually noticed this and then proceeded to try and cheer her up by telling her not to worry and that everything would work out and be fine. Serena gave a weak smile.
"I know what you're trying to do, and I appreciate it. Really I do. But the truth is we don't know that. None of us do. We have no way of knowing if I'll ever actually get my memories back. I only wish that I could remember something, ANYTHING!"
With this last statement, she broke down into tears. Darien, as always, quickly moved to her side and tried to comfort her. Her mother suggested that they go home and get some rest. Meanwhile, they too would head to bed, and everyone could sleep on what they'd just learned that night.
Serena stopped crying and nodded her head in agreement. Maybe things will be better tomorrow she thought to herself, as she allowed herself to hope against hope. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up, but right now, she really didn't care.
The Tsukinos walked the Chibas to the door and bid them a good night, a safe drive home and a nice peaceful sleep. With that, Darien, Serena and Rini got in Darien's car and headed home.
During the drive home, Serena just silently stared out the window. But as they passed by the park that she and Darien loved to go to all the time, she started humming to herself. Darien gave a small start as he immediately recognized the tune she was humming, for he knew she had not heard this song since their return to Earth. It was the tune belonging to the Star Locket!
Disclaimer: Blah, blah, blah, it's the same thing every time, I don't own Sailor Moon, blah, blah, blah...just let's get on with the story already!
Chapter 14: Clearing Things Up
The trio detransformed and waited for somebody to say something, anything. No one did and the three of them found the silence to be almost unbearable. Finally after nearly five minutes had elapsed (the longest five minutes our heroes ever went through from their point of view), Sammy broke the silence.
"I can't believe that my klutzy doufus of a sister is actually Sailor Moon! There has to be some kind of mistake!"
Serena just looked down to the floor; apparently she wasn't a good sister according to this boy. Darien, for his part, glared and frowned at Sammy. He couldn't believe how inconsiderate Sammy was being of his sister's feelings, especially considering her condition. With his anger clearly coming through in his voice, he said to Sammy: "Well she IS Sailor Moon, so you'd better get over it and accept it."
"I still don't understand why you never told us Serena. As your parents, we had a right to know. I mean what would have happened if you disappeared as Sailor Moon, we never would have known anything about it. Besides, had we known, we may have been able to help you get through some of your tougher times, emotionally I mean. We could've been there to support and encourage you." Ikuko's facial expression and tone of voice were ones of pain and sorrow. She was deeply hurt by her daughter's deception, despite the fact that it had been for their own good.
Serena desperately looked to Darien for help. She had no idea how to respond or answer to the distraught woman in front of her. Picking up the cue, Darien quickly stepped in and answered for her.
"Hiding our true identities from our friends and families was meant for your protection. That way, if any of our enemies were to find out who we really are, they wouldn't be able to use you against us. But with this turn of events, we were left with little choice in the matter as you can imagine. Although, Raye's grandfather and Chad found out through pure chance of circumstances." Darien chose his words carefully so as not to make Serena feel bad about what happened (although she already did). She noticed this and gave him quick smile of gratitude.
This seemed to satisfy Ikuko (and Kenji and Sammy for that matter) and the rest of the questions that had been forming in their minds were now posed to the heroic trio. Eventually, the questions were narrowed down to the ones concerning Rini and the future.
"So you're actually our granddaughter and not our niece?" Kenji asked, as if thinking maybe he had misunderstood that part of the story.
"Mm-hmm. But I think there's still a few years to go before I'm born." Rini was very careful with her answers. She had to make sure she didn't reveal any vital information about the future (ie. her birth date).
"And you originally came to the past to save your mother, who you later found out to be Serena, and then again to train as a Sailor Senshi?" Ikuko asked. She was still trying to sort all of this out in her head; they all were really.
"Yep, that's right. And this time it was to help the Senshi face Akuma."
"Right." Ikuko said slowly. "And how is it, again, that you managed to convince us that you were our niece?"
"Um...well...I used Luna P." Rini said. She felt a little guilty at also deceiving her grandparents. She brought forth her 'companion' and gave a small demonstration of its power. "I'm sorry I had to hypnotise you. I hope you're not angry, but it wasn't like I was exactly allowed to tell you the truth."
"It's alright, we're not angry. We're just starting to realize that you guys don't always have choices in some of this stuff. I guess being a super-hero isn't everything it's made out to be." Kenji said. Rini and Darien shook their heads and said: "No, it's not."
Having gone on for almost two hours, the questions and clarification period ended and the subject was changed. The new topic of choice was Serena's (Earthly) past. Her parents and brother started telling her about some of their favourite memories together along with other family stories and special moments. Her parents, for their part, tried to keep the cute but embarrassing moments to a minimum. Serena, although enjoying the stories and memories being shared, was saddened by the fact that she couldn't remember any of them in her own mind and from her own point of view. The others eventually noticed this and then proceeded to try and cheer her up by telling her not to worry and that everything would work out and be fine. Serena gave a weak smile.
"I know what you're trying to do, and I appreciate it. Really I do. But the truth is we don't know that. None of us do. We have no way of knowing if I'll ever actually get my memories back. I only wish that I could remember something, ANYTHING!"
With this last statement, she broke down into tears. Darien, as always, quickly moved to her side and tried to comfort her. Her mother suggested that they go home and get some rest. Meanwhile, they too would head to bed, and everyone could sleep on what they'd just learned that night.
Serena stopped crying and nodded her head in agreement. Maybe things will be better tomorrow she thought to herself, as she allowed herself to hope against hope. She knew she shouldn't get her hopes up, but right now, she really didn't care.
The Tsukinos walked the Chibas to the door and bid them a good night, a safe drive home and a nice peaceful sleep. With that, Darien, Serena and Rini got in Darien's car and headed home.
During the drive home, Serena just silently stared out the window. But as they passed by the park that she and Darien loved to go to all the time, she started humming to herself. Darien gave a small start as he immediately recognized the tune she was humming, for he knew she had not heard this song since their return to Earth. It was the tune belonging to the Star Locket!