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Disclaimer: Sailormoon and all its characters do not belong to me. Any resemblance to any other story is coincidental and not intentional.

This story happened after the senshi defeated Beryl and *** deviates*** from the original version. It is a continuation of the story, Failure.

Chapter Four – A Parent's Release 

A few hours after suggesting the idea of Usagi travelling to America for Christmas, Ikuko was in the process of breaking the news to her husband.

"Kenji, I have something to tell you," Ikuko announced while sitting on the bed, watching her husband change out of his suit and put on something more comfortable.

Kenji immediately stopped his movements of taking off his tie.

"What's going on, Ikuko?" he asked suspiciously. "The last time you had something to tell me was when Usagi started dating that. . . that. . ." Kenji's face went red with the struggle to say Mamoru's name and was remembering that faithful day he found out his little princess was interested in a certain male.

Flashback

Kenji closed the front door as he placed his briefcase on the table.

"Honey! I'm home!"

Ikuko came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.

"Oh there you are, darling. I have something to tell you in the bedroom."

Curious, Kenji followed his wife into their bedroom.

"What's all the secrecy about, Ikuko?"

Ikuko turned to face him. "Usagi has a friend coming over for dinner."

Kenji smiled, "That's great! So what?"

"Now, I don't want you to get angry but the friend is a boy."

Kenji's face started to turn red, "What . . . what . . . a boy?" he stuttered out.

"Kenji," warned Ikuko. "She's old enough to bring boys home now."

"But Usagi! Bringing a boy home?" asked Kenji, his veins on his forehead starting to show. "Is this serious?"

"Do you mean is their relationship. . . .?" encouraged Ikuko.

His face now totally red, Kenji asked, "Yes! Are they dating?"

"Yes they are." Ikuko replied calmly. "And I don't want you to threaten them."

"I'm won't." Kenji had started walking around the room and now he walked to the wardrobe. He poked his head in and searched through the items in the wardrobe. Out came his voice, muffled by the various coats hanging inside, "Where's my shot gun? I knew it would come in handy one day."

"I hid them," stated Ikuko.

"What?" Kenji withdrew his head, all mussed up from his search. "Why did you hide them? I need them tonight."

Ikuko crossed her arms and tapped her feet. "You promised not to threaten them."

Usagi' father cleared his throat. "Well. . .  You can't expect me to do nothing while my little girl is in the hands of a big bad wolf."

Ikuko's face softened and stopped the tapping. "She is not a helpless child, Kenji! She is 15 years old. Old enough to look after herself. Just like I was when I was her age or don't you remember?"

He cleared his throat once again, embarrassed. "Of course I remember, darling. But. . . "

"If you remember correctly, I was 15 when I started dating you, without the permission of my father as well," reminded his wife.

"But that was different!" exclaimed Kenji, his collar now suddenly too tight. He used his index finger to pull the collar away from his neck.

"And what was so different?" The feet tapping began again. "I don't want Usagi going out behind our backs! I'd rather if she trusted us enough to tell us."

Embarrassed and not wanting to anger his wife, Kenji nodded quickly. "I do too. But she's my little girl!"

Ikuko moved to her husband's side, placed her arms around him and said softly, "I know she will always be that to you. But Usagi's growing up and she says she really likes this boy. Please don't ruin this for her."

Kenji sighed, "O.K. I promise I won't. . . .. But I will ask a lot of questions!"

"I'm sure they won't mind." Ikuko turned Kenji towards her and cupped his face. "I'm so proud of you, my dear."

Kenji sighed resignedly.

End of Flashback

Ikuko laughed as she saw his face. "Oh darling! You still cannot accept their relationship, can you??? His name is Mamoru and they've been dating for a long time now."

"That does not mean anything!" Kenji defended furiously as he pulled his collar from his suddenly very hot face and neck. "Usagi is still a little baby! She shouldn't be dating at all!" He started pacing the length of the room with angry heavy steps.

"Kenji, dear. Please stop wearing out the carpet! We have to accept their relationship and I must say, Mamoru has done wonders with Usagi! She's lifted her grades a lot since they've started going out and she's definitely more mature now!" reminded Ikuko. "Anyway, we're not here to talk about their relationship." She paused and Kenji stopped pacing. "Well. . .  it is about their relationship but not much. . ."

"What do you mean?" asked Kenji. "That . . . guy hasn't done anything to her, right?" He spun around and started pacing again. "He broke up with her, didn't he? I was right!" Kenji pounded his fist onto his other hand as he walked. "I knew it! I knew that when he separated from Usagi for a long period of time, he would drop her! Awww, Usagi must be heart broken! I'll go see her right now. . .!"

He started to walk out of the bedroom but Ikuko suddenly appeared to stop him. She stood between her husband and the bedroom door.

"Now, Kenji. Please," started Ikuko. "Mamoru has not broken up with her. They love each other. This is about something else."

Kenji looked stunned. He was so sure about Mamoru breaking his little girl's heart. "What do you mean?" he repeated once more. "Something major has come up, hasn't it? It has to be! Tell me!"

"Now, Kenji. Please calm down. Sit!" Ikuko demanded.

Knowing his wife's temper and stubbornness, Kenji sat on the edge of the bed while Ikuko kept standing.

"Kenji, you know how Usagi has been looking forward to the holiday season, right?" asked Ikuko.

Kenji nodded, still not sure if he should begin talking.

"Well, Mamoru called today and told her that he could not come back for Christmas because he had to do some more projects at Harvard."

Kenji felt his anger building once more. "Oh no! Usagi must be heartbroken! I told you he would break her heart!" He began to stand up but was suddenly pushed back down on the bed by his wife. He looked up in surprise.

"Kenji! Let me finish!" scolded Ikuko.

He nodded in silent acceptance but looked towards the door wondering when he could go comfort his daughter.

"Kenji! Look at me!" Ikuko's exasperated voice cut through his thoughts. "Usagi was pretty cut up but now she isn't."

"She isn't?" questioned Kenji. He knew his daughter's ability to cry buckets of tears when she was sad.

"No, she isn't." Ikuko smiled and braced herself. "Because I told her we will send her to him instead."

"WHAT?" roared Kenji, immediately standing up. This time, Ikuko did not bother to stop him.

"What do you mean, sending her to him?" asked Kenji.

"Well, I thought if Mamoru could not come home for the holidays, Usagi could go visit him," explained Ikuko.

"Visit him? You want to send an innocent, young girl to America by herself?" Kenji asked angrily. "No way! Uh-uh." He shook his head violently.

"It's too late, Kenji. I've already bought the tickets," Ikuko commented.

"What?" roared Kenji. "Already bought the tickets?"

"Yes, dear. So you cannot stop her," Ikuko said calmly but with a look of determination on her face.

Looking at his wife, Kenji realised that there was nothing he could do to change the plans. He sighed loudly as he sat down on the bed again.

"I guess I don't have a say in this, do I?" he asked his wife.

Ikuko smiled. "No, you don't, dear. Usagi has already started packing and she's going to call her friends tonight."

"What about Mamoru? Is he going to pick her up from the airport? How long is the visit?" Kenji asked.

Ikuko calmly answered his questions. "Mamoru doesn't know about the trip. And it will be for one week."

"When will she leave?"

"Two days time. We don't want Mamoru to suspect anything and you know Usagi can't keep a secret for long."

"Hm . . ." Kenji thought. "I guess I'm not invited? I've got a perfect present for Mamoru!"

Ikuko grinned. "You do? How lovely! But you can't go. It's Usagi's surprise to Mamoru."

"You mean. . ." stuttered Kenji. "You mean, she will be staying with him? All alone? With a hormone-driven male?"

"Yes, dear," comforted Ikuko, knowing what Kenji was thinking. "Usagi will be staying with Mamoru and I'm sure they will be very responsible adults."

"I will not allow that!" shouted Kenji. "Usagi is just a baby! She needs supervision! They need constant supervision! Or she will be taken advantage of by that reprobate!" He stood up and began pacing.

"Kenji, you've worn out that piece of carpet! And don't you remember how we stayed together when we were their age? By ourselves?" Ikuko reminded her husband.

Kenji stopped pacing once more, redness blooming on his face. "That's . . . that's beside the point! It was different!

Ikuko placed her hands on her hips and looked at her husband sternly. "And what was so different? We were very responsible and we have to trust Usagi and Mamoru to be the same. This subject is closed, Kenji. Usagi will be visiting Mamoru in two days and they will be sharing his flat!"

Kenji was still fuming but wisely kept silent.

Ikuko smiled serenely. "Now what was the present you had for Mamoru? I'm sure Usagi could bring it over to him! I'm so glad you've decide to include him into the Christmas celebrations!"

"Well. . ." Kenji slowly started, suddenly very timid.

"Kenji? What is this perfect present?"

"You promise not to hurt me?" Kenji asked cowardly as he slowly moved towards the bedroom door.

"Tell me, Kenji!"

"I thought a shotgun would be a nice reminder to him to keep his distance. EEEKKK! Don't hurt me!" yelped Kenji as he quickly darted out of the bedroom, safe from his wife's reaction.

Next Chapter – Surprise Package