Usagi didn't know where she was
going. She just knew she had to run this way and turn here and she
did it without asking questions. The fact that she was running
down the street with tears in her eyes caused a few people to
look, but everyone pretty much took care of themselves and didn't
bother to see if Usagi was okay.
"Watch it, young lady!"
a woman yelled as Usagi nearly plowed into her. She was the fifth
person today and if Usagi hadn't cared about the first four, she
definitely wasn't going to care about this one.
She passed an
apartment building, completely ignoring the girl calling her name
from its front steps. And even in the middle of a crying fit,
Usagi still managed to trip over her own two feet. "Great.
It's bleeding," she commented about her nose.
A hand
touched her shoulder and a tissue appeared in front of her face.
"Use this to pinch your nose and tilt you head forward,"
a voice told her.
Usagi had no idea who was helping her, but
she did as she was told.
"Here. Let me take you to my
apartment."
Usagi stared at her skinned left knee.
"This rag has some hydrogen peroxide on it. It may sting,"
warned her host, who waited a few seconds for a response, then put
the rag on the wound.
Usagi didn't even flinch. "This life
sucks," she muttered.
"I don't get it, Usagi-san.
This morning you were such a happy girl and now. . ."
"How
do. . .?" Usagi finally looked a look at the girl.
"Candra-chan?"
"You ran by here. I called your
name. . .Why does your life suck?"
"I just pissed off
all my friends. I . . .I thought this girl was my sister and one
thing led to another and before long, I called them all bitches."
Usagi started to cry again.
Candra really wished she could find
out what happened, but didn't push it. She just hugged Usagi until
she calmed down, then asked, "Well, how many people are
involved in this fight?"
"Um, there's Minako and Ami.
. .seven."
"Seven?!? Uh, well, I'm sure they all
aren't 'pissed'. I'm sure there were a few who would accept an
apology now."
"Maybe." Usagi's mind started
drift. . .
"I'm sure that Endymion and you will
make up." Cynthia stroked her sister's head as it was buried
in her lap.
Serenity shook her head. "No. He is mad. He. .
.sniff he will never forgive me and get other girl."
Cynthia
just kept stroking Serenity's head. "If the Prince was
really mad at you, he would have said a lot worse. Every
relationship has its ups and downs. You two are made for each
other. Your love will last forever."
Serenity lifted her
head. "Do you really think so?" Cynthia nodded. "I know
so."
"May I. . .?" stared Usagi.
".
. .use the phone? Sure," Candra finished.
Usagi was taken
aback. "How did you do that?" she asked.
Candra shrugged.
"It's a gift."
After phone calls to Hotaru and Michiru,
Ami, Minako, and a failed attempt to Mako (who wasn't home), Usagi
plopped onto Candra's couch. "You want something to drink?"
Candra asked.
Usagi shook her head. "No, thank you."
"Do
you mind if I have a Sprite, then?" Candra didn't like to eat
or drink in front of her guests unless they said it was
okay.
Usagi shrugged. "Sure, if tell me more about
yourself."
Candra smiled and stood up. "Fair enough.
I'm 16 and a Cancer. . ."
"Blood type?"
"Huh?"
Candra had never been asked that before. "Uh, O, I think."
She returned to the couch with her drink. "Track and softball
are my sports. I love to read and I can play several
instruments."
"You're a musician? What do you
play?"
"Flute, Piccolo, Clarinet, and Oboe. Use to
play the violin, but I found it too boring." Candra took a
sip of her drink before adding, "I also like to sing."
Usagi
moved a little bit closer to Candra. "So why did you move
here? Did your mom or dad get a new job?"
Candra dropped
her can. "Candra-chan?" asked Usagi. "Are you
okay?"
"Uh, yeah." Candra quickly went to the kitchen and
brought back some paper towels. Usagi reached for one. "Here.
Let me help."
Candra pulled the towels out of reach. "I'll
get it; it's my mess and it's in my place. I'll get it!
Don't worry. . ."
Usagi put her hand on Candra's. "What
happened?"
Candra dropped her head. "My dad was very
abusive and one night he just beat my mother to death."
Usagi
gasped. "Kami-sama. . ."
"My brothers and I were
placed into an orphanage and when my oldest brother was 18, he
adopted all of us." Candra looked at her guest with tear stained
eyes. "I know how you feel, Usagi-san; I also have a sister
I'm looking for. When I started to look, my brothers felt like I
was trying to find someone to replace them. But then they
understood and now are helping me find her."
Candra
started playing with her hands as she continued. "We've been
everywhere: Germany, France, England, China, but she was no where
to be found. I believe she's here in Japan, but I'm not sure I'll
find her. It's been ten years and nothing." A tear slid down
her cheek.
Usagi put her hand on Candra's shoulder. "I'll
help."
"Thanks. . . . Oh my gosh! We were talking
about your problem and then we started talking about mine! Gomen
ne!"
"No. It's okay. Maybe the way your brothers felt
is the way my friends feel." Usagi smiled. "Wouldn't it
be cool if we were really looking for each other?"
Candra
smiled through her tears. "I would like that, Usagi-san. We
just met today, but I would be so happy to find out that you are
my sister."
One Month Later. . .
"Haruka-papa!
Haruka-papa!"
Haruka scooped up Hotaru. "Hotaru! How
was school today?"
"School was okay, and so was
waiting for you after that helped me," Hotaru replied.
"Oh?"
asked Haruka.
"While I was waiting for you to get me,
these guys wanted beat me up. But that girl chased them away."
Hotaru pointed to the girl as she walked away. "And she
wanted me to tell you that a Star wants a rematch. Tomorrow, ten
o'clock at the track. Do you know what that means?" asked
Hotaru.
Haruka looked over just in time to see Candra run
across the street and out of view. "Yeah, I
know."
FLASHBACK
Candra set up her block,
then herself.
"Ready, set, go!" Candra yelled and
took off.
After she crossed the finish line, she quickly pushed
a button on her watch. When she caught her breath, she looked at
her time. "28.9 seconds? I'll have to do better if I'm going
to do the 200 meter."
"Maybe you just need some
competition," called out a figure in the shadows.
"Huh?
Who are you?" asked Candra.
The person stepped into the
light. "Tenou Haruka."
"Hey! You're that track
star that moved here from Japan!"
"You seemed to know
a lot about her," said Michiru as she came up from
behind.
"Ja. I try to keep up with the latest track
stars," said Candra.
Haruka blushed, something she rarely
does. "I'm not that good."
"Well, then, I
challenge you," Candra replied.
Michiru raised her right
arm above her head and placed her left arm straight in front of
her. "Ready!"
Haruka and Candra got ready.
"Set!"
Michiru raised her left arm. "Go!"
Both girls were
out like a shot. But Haruka pulled away and easily won by 50
meters.
When Candra crossed the finish line, she started
gasping for air. Haruka didn't hear much air getting in, though.
"Are you okay?"
Candra shook her head no. "Pack,"
she said, pointing to the bleachers.
Haruka followed her finger
and saw what Candra was pointing to. "Michiru! Get her
backpack!" Michiru raced over to retrieve it as Haruka helped
Candra to the ground. "Deep breaths," Haruka
instructed.
"Here." Michiru dispalyed the backpack
and Candra pointed to a compartment. Michiru opened it and pulled
out an inhaler. "This it?"
Candra snatched it up and
stuck it in her mouth.
"Guess so," Michiru answered
herself.
After Candra was done, Michiru asked, "So what is
your name?"
"Candra Estelle. What's yours?"
"Kaiou
Michiru. It is a pleasure to meet you.
Haruka's expresstion
darkened. "We have to get going now." Haurka and Michiru
stood and headed towards the exit. Haruka stopped, turned and
grinned. "You have potential, kid. I'll race you
again."
Candra's face lit up. "Really?! Arigato!"
she squeeled.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Where is
she?" asked Michiru with concern.
"Think she
chickened out?" Haruka asked slyly.
"Haruka!"
Michiru playfully hit her on the shoulder.
"I'm here! I'm
here!" Candra ran into the stadium, waving her right arm in
the air. "Oneesan! Haruka-chan!" She gave each a hug.
"It has been so long!"
"I know. You have grown
so much," Michiru commented.
"Oneesan! You sound like
a mother!" said Candra.
"That's my job!" she
said jokingly.
A hand landed on Candra's shoulder. "Are
you ready?" asked Haruka.
Candra nodded.
Michiru
raised her right arm above her head and placed her left arm
straight in front of her. "Ready!"
Haruka and Candra
got ready.
"Set!" Michiru raised her left arm.
"Go!"
Both girls were off like a shot. Haruka started
to pull away, but Candra was right at her heels. Dang. She's
improved, thought Haruka. But Haruka still beat her, this time
by only three steps.
Candra fell to the ground, gasping for
breath. "Get her inhaler!" yelled Haruka.
Michiru,
quickly rumaged through Candra's backpack, found it and threw it
to Haruka. "Here!" Haruka caught and handed it to
Candra.
"Thank you." Candra stood up. "But don't
you think this is the end, Buster." She smiled. "Well, I
gotta go home."
"Let us take you out for ice cream,"
Michiru offered.
Candra smiled.
"Sure."
"Hey
look! It's those two Homos!"
The three girls turned
around. "Huh? Who?" asked Candra.
The two boys
snickered. The taller one with black hair said, "Well duh!
It's soooooo obvious!"
Candra smirked. "Well then,
you two must be 'Homos' yourselves."
"Huh? What are
talking about?" asked the brown haired one.
"Well, in
order to know something, you have to be an expert on it, ne?"
asked Candra.
"Yeah. . ." they replied slowly.
"And
in order to be an expert on something, you have to it,
right?"
They looked at each other and shrugged. "I guess
so," said one.
"Then that must mean the both of you are
Homos'," Candra concluded with a smirk.
"NANI?!?!?!?!"
Both boys looked at each other, then shook their heads in disgust.
"No way!" They took off like a shot.
"You knew?"
asked Haruka.
"Well, ya. But I kept it to myself. And
anyway, this is the way I see it: The true definition of the word
Gay' is 'happy'. So that makes gays and lesbians the happiest
people on the planet."
Haruka and Michiru gave each other
a shocked look.
"Now, how about that ice cream?"
asked Candra.
"Hey, look. It's Setsuna," said
Haruka as they walked into the ice cream parlor.
"Hey,
Setsuna! We would like you to meet an old friend of ours. This is
Estelle Candra," said Michiru.
"Pleasure to meet you,
Setsuna-san." Candra bowed.
"As am I,
Candra-san."
That was the last thing Candra said the rest
of the afternoon. All she could think about was losing the race.
I'm such a loser. She saw the other girls laughing and
having fun; the only thing she did was eat her cookie dough ice
cream.
After that, Haruka, Michiru, and Candra went to the
park. They found a bench and sat down. (Picture if you will, the
scene in the S movie where Usagi is talking to Mamoru about Luna.)
"The sun looks so beautiful when it's setting, don't you think,
Oneesan? Oneesan? Huh?" Candra looked over and saw her
friends gazing into each other's eyes. She placed her head on
Haruka's shoulder; she felt safe and loved. . . until she saw the
other girls staring at her.
"Whoops!" Candra quickly
took her head off and laughed nervously. Haruka and Michiru
returned to staring at each other, causing Candra to feel like the
third wheel on a bicycle; superfluous. "I'm going to go home
now. I have a . . .uh. . .biology test tomorrow. I'll catch you
later. Ja ne!" Candra ran off a little ways, then turned
around. The girls hadn't even noticed she had left. They kissed
and it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.
Fighting
back tears, Candra ran
home.
"Will
I ever find love?" Candra stared at the moon through her
bedroom window. "No. I wouldn't. What am I thinking? Those
girls, Usagi-san and the rest, are just using me for homework,
maybe worse. Why am I kidding myself? No cares for me. Everyone
has someone else except for me and I can't stand it any longer. I
have to end it all. Tomorrow. The pain has to stop!"
Candra
dried the tears, then slipped into bed. "I wonder if I was
this way on the moon," she whispered before falling
asleep.
Sniffing,
Candra climbed up the tree. She sat on a high branch and looked
over the city.
Well, this is it. Some would say what I'm
about to do stupid. But right now, it's the only way out. I can't
take it pressure of school and looking for the Princess and not
knowing who to talk it to. And everyone uses me! I am tried of
being a doormat! I'm sick of being made fun of! No one loves me
and no one cares! They couldn't understand how I feel! And they
won't miss me!
Candra looked up. "But Lord, I feel I'm
making a mistake. Please send me a sign."
She looked at
the ground a few seconds longer, then started to push off. The
pain has to stop. Now.
Chapter Four: A Friendship with Candra. StarMoon and Grety appear Again.
