Disclaimer: No GW/SM. [they're getting so concise! xD;;]
Warnings: It's so … boring, awkward, happy, and feel-good-ey. xD;; It makes me sick. Lol. (no, really. xD)
Chapter 2: I am Sailor Moon [overdone and overused, yes, but it fits. :D]
…………………
Hiiro frowned as he stopped the tape, rewound, and hit play again.
"…protect those dearest to me. This time not as Sailor Moon or Princess Serenity but as Tsukino Usagi."
Stop, rewind, play.
"…this time not as Sailor Moon or Princess Serenity…"
Stop, rewind, play.
"…Sailor Moon or Princess Serenity…"
"…Sailor M-"
He yanked the headset off and sighed frustratedly.
Sailor Moon? The short-skirted pop icon that male fans fantasized over? The "love and peace" lecturing heroine who seemed, with her fellow "senshi" to be stuck in happy-happy land?
Just the thought was disturbing.
After all, for the longest time, he had agreed with the rest of the ESUN, excluding the people of Tokyo, of course, that Sailor Moon was nothing more than an urban legend, a hoax created by the Japanese police force to gain popularity and a ruse espoused by the leeching advertising industry.
It wasn't unheard of. Anything was possible, especially in expansive and decadent Tokyo, reportedly the city with the most active sex industry. [1]
Hiiro sighed again and leaned back in his seat, headset littered carelessly on the floor beside him.
What is this world coming to?
…………………
"Not so good news," Trowa greeted glumly as Duo walked into the room.
"Yeah, good morning to you, too," he muttered in reply, rubbing his eyes tiredly and sticking his tongue out half-heartedly.
Wufei followed not long after him and took a moment to survey the room. Yui was still stuck up in the office and it was questionable whether or not he had slept. It was only around six in the morning and already Winner looked ready to have a breakdown, Barton shooting him periodic, worried looks. In fact, the only thing that wasn't surprising was that Maxwell was dozing off at the breakfast table.
Idiot, he thought contemptuously.
"So what's the bad news?" he offered as he sat down but didn't reach for the food.
Quatre bit his lip and seemed to barely suppress the desire to wring his hands. "Chicago has locked itself in. They have stationed a substantial number of guards and have planted land mines around the entire city. Nobody can get in without their consent – they issued a threat early this morning that if any planes or helicopters were to approach them, they would not hesitate to use anti-aircraft missiles."
Wufei sneered. "As if that will keep them safe."
Duo was now wide awake. "So? What does one city moronically subjecting itself to isolation at a time like this have any immense impact on us?"
"If it were just Chicago, it wouldn't be that big of a problem," Trowa started slowly. "However, there have been demonstrations in various other cities supporting the idea of complete isolation. Of the some fifty urban areas left, there have already been seventeen that are seriously deliberating whether or not to model themselves after Chicago."
"Let them have at it. If they all blockade themselves, we won't even have to stay on this cursed planet," Wufei sneered.
"And let them suffer like defenseless sheep?"
All four turned to Hiiro at the door.
Wufei scowled. "Well, they're certainly acting with the intelligence of sheep."
"There is also a wild rush from the peripheral areas to these cities," Trowa continued, unperturbed, as Hiiro walked over and sat down. "Already, five people have been shot down while attempting to enter Chicago."
Hiiro frowned. "It is impossible to maintain this kind of isolation. Rural and urban, it's a symbiotic relationship. Sooner or later the urban areas will run out of food."
"That's not the only problem, huh? The colonies can't reach Earth if each city activated their anti-aircraft missiles. That'll make things even more difficult – there will be no communication … Earth might even resort to war. And with so few people left here … it'd be like a massacre!" Duo stared down at the floor and suddenly looked up as if an idea struck him. "How many people of the ESUN are still present? Is the President fine? Relena?"
For the first time since Duo had entered the room, Quatre's face relaxed into a smile. "Mr. President was on a campaign to gain rural support so he is fine. Miss Relena and various other key persons were in the colonies trying to rally up cooperation for a universal free trade organization."
"What a relief," Duo sighed, his shoulders slumping and his head falling to his chest, bangs playfully brushing against his cheeks.
"Don't be relieved yet," Trowa cautioned softly, voice splintering the unconvincing moment of optimism
…………………
"They're already awake," Ami whispered as Usagi cracked one eyes open. "But good news – based on various clues, I think we're at one of Quatre Winner's getaways. It's close to Harbin, so this is probably the Bing Ta manor."
"Bing…Ta?"
Ami shrugged and gazed out the window. "It means 'Ice Tower' in Chinese. I think the snow stays on the ground for almost half a year in this part of China."
"Some getaway," Usagi giggled. Ami started at the sound and turned around.
"It's good that you're laughing again." She smiled. The room seemed brighter. "They say laughter is the best medicine."
…………………
"Chicago isn't our only problem, is it?" That familiar but still awful sinking feeling made Duo's stomach churn.
"Unfortunately, no," Trowa admitted. "This mass disappearing of people has been seen by some fanatics as a prelude to Armageddon-esque event. A number of priests have been planning large and widespread rebellions against what they think the faults of society are." [2]
"Yes," Quatre continued waveringly, "they think the disappearances are a signal from Heaven and soon fire will burn away the rest of Earth's excesses."
"That's insane! Are they saying that the only two people deemed worthy of Heaven so far are those two girls?" Duo looked ready to jump up onto the table and denounce Christianity. "Surely they're not serious! What about the colonies?"
"Prelude to Armageddon, Maxwell, prelude."
Duo shot him an uncharacteristic glare. "Oh shut up, Wufei."
"Please…please, no fighting," Quatre sighed exasperatedly.
"It's only to be expected. History has always been entwined with religion." Hiiro shot Duo a stern look and averted his eyes from Quatre's bowed head. The sun was just beginning to rise. Spring was still two months away.
"The opiate of the masses." Trowa looked vaguely amused. "We've already identified the hurdles. What's our next move, Hiiro?"
…………………
"Are you feeling better?" Ami asked warmly as she clicked away proficiently on her mini-computer, not even needing to look down.
Usagi nodded and smiled. "I'm sorry for being such a wimp lately. I really … it's just my natural reaction."
Ami laughed and shook her head. "Don't worry. I know you well enough by now. Feeling up to the challenge, then?"
From her sitting position on the bed, Usagi attempted an aggressive countenance. "Of course. You are, after all, looking at the girl who defeated countless invaders of Earth." The expression dissolved and she cracked up. "Of course, there was no way I could have done it without all of you." She smiled guiltily. "I probably would have ended up running away and hiding under my bed. Sticking another bandage over Luna's crescent mark." [3]
Ami blushed. "It's what we want to do: protect you."
The blonde sighed and leaned back on her arms. "Still. I can't imagine how you all do it. Surrendering your lives for so … so…well, so simple a belief."
"Immaterial?"
"Huh?" Usagi blinked.
Ami smiled. "The word you were looking for?"
She laughed sheepishly. "Right. See what I mean? You are all so amazing, so talented! Truthfully … truthfully," she looked down and away from Ami, "I feel so insignificant next to you guys. And sometimes when I pause to think, Rei's words about me are completely true. I am a crybaby, an overgrown child, and a scaredy-cat. And I'm immature and lose my temper easily. Lord! I still fall asleep in class everyday! And I'm in high school already!"
"But that's you, Usagi. The you that we all know. Sure your grades are," Ami flinched, "abysmal, but you've improved! We've all improved because of each other. Every one of us."
Usagi shook her head but grinned. "Sometimes I really want to give up being Sailor Moon, the Moon Princess. Every once in awhile, I would wake up one morning and think everything, the past two or so years, was all a dream. You know, I thought Minako was the Moon Princess when we first met her. She was so … so …" Usagi shrugged and made a face, "Moon Princess-ey."
Ami sighed and made a mental
note to help Usagi work on her vocabulary. "But you saved us. You saved us all
… so many times. And that is why we accept you wholeheartedly as our leader,
despite that you can, admittedly, be quite a baby sometimes and can be somewhat
insecure and clingy. We understand and we-" Ami
started and stared at her computer screen as it started emitted high-pitched
beeps.
"What is it?"
"The beeps mean that it detects unusual amounts of energy in the area that I tell it to scan…"
The strident alarm faded away, and Ami shook her head slowly. "I don't know. Maybe a malfunction." Usagi looked convinced, but Ami frowned to herself. Mercurian computers simply don't malfunction.
…………………
"Do you think we should call for more people to come?" Duo asked anxiously. "It seems pretty horrible down here already. And it's only going from bad to worse."
They all turned to Hiiro who, after a pause, shook his head firmly. "It would be useless. We're the most capable agents the ESUN has right now. Anybody else here would just be a hindrance."
Wufei arched an eyebrow. "But then the girls? And how do you propose we monitor all the continents? All the countries?"
"We don't. We wait for news via the colonies' satellites." Hiiro's voice betrayed only slight annoyance at Wufei's objection. "And the girls…Lady Une wanted us to keep them close by at all times. But we should not expend too much energy guarding them. They're harmless." He paused and wondered if he'd come to regret those words. "Though it'd be wise not underestimate them. I don't have to remind you all that looks can be deceiving."
Nobody demurred. They were all living proof of that hackneyed but true idea.
"And the Chicago syndrome, the Armageddon rebellions will be put off until something more conclusive happens," Trowa added. Hiiro gave a slight nod of agreement.
"Until this is resolved or stable, we must remain on Earth, right? To keep all communication open. The worst mistake we can make at this point is to head back to the colonies and isolate Earth," Quatre murmured.
Duo grinned. "So then it's settled? Let's eat! I'm starved!"
Wufei snorted. "Well that's certainly not a surprise."
…………………
"Do you still remember when I first met you?"
Usagi blinked. "Yeah, of course! Luna took an instant liking to you."
"Right. But before. I was so alone, intelligent to a point where people kept away from me. But you approached me and befriended me." Ami was looking down and smiling gently to herself. "I remember being so … so happy." Ami paused to frown to herself, wondering if Usagi's simplistic vocabulary was rubbing off on her. "And because you saved me that time, I promise to protect you through this, Usagi. I promise to give my all to make sure you're okay."
Usagi's lips were parted as she stared at Ami. The beaming, she shook her head. "No, it's my turn to protect you, Ami. After all, I am Sailor Moon." [4]
…………………
The turning point for Usagi's character. :D But nothing much happened … and I have no idea what to do next. xD;;; [usually I write outlines but this one … I'm being lazy. xD] I have the beginning, I know how the resolution will be [don't have the denouement] … but … but … how to get from point A to point B? Lol. They seem worlds away. xD;; Which is the challenge, I suppose. :D Hrmm … have to mull that over. x3 Thank you for reading! Yours, Angel.
Notes:
1. Tokyo's sex industry – I heard this over the radio it amused me. xD;; Because I semi-understand it. xD
2. Armageddon – the first attempt to "purge" Earth of evil was the Flood, with Noah's Arc and everything. It is prophesied that the second "purge", Armageddon, would come as fire instead of water. And Mamoru saw "blue fire" before all those people disappeared! See? Lol. xD;;
3. Bandage over Luna's crescent mark – I have vague memories of hearing that covering Luna's "bald spot" would make her unable to speak and would limit her powers. O.o;;
4. The entire last scene with Ami saying that Usagi saved her, etc – inspired by Gackt-san's review. :D
Shi no Tenshi, Neko no Tenshi: Thank you so much! :D
Lady in Red1: Yup, Hiiro heard. :D You're hyper when you're sick? O.O;;; I always feel like hibernating when I'm sick. xD;; Have you posted your new idea yet? :D
JoWashington: Ami and Usagi my favorites? Hrmmm … my favoritism tends to swing. xD;; But I guess usually I feel most comfortable writing about/squealing over [lol] Usagi , Minako, Ami, and Hotaru. Mainly because I feel like I don't know Rei and Makoto that well [their character traits] and because I never watched far enough into Sailor Moon to get to know Haruka and Michiru well. xD;; But yes. ^^; Wow, I wish my friends liked anime that much … xD They all think I'm insane. ^^;
Twiggirl06: Lol. xD;; Thank you. :D
Ashika: Lol. And, yes, not that you can complain. xDxD;; Kidding, kidding. But you should write and post more. :D …for me? Lol.
Dark Universe: Heh heh, you sound so chipper. xD;; Thank you. :DDD
Tenshi-Chikyuu: Lol. And at the moment I don't have any answers. xD;; Thank you though; I'm veryvery flattered. :3
Sailor Grape: Lol. True, true, the press conference was superfluous but I have a tendency to think that in "modern" society [xD] with the press being so powerful and the masses so … [what's the word?] legal-minded [?], the remaining people would demand to have something definite. Straight from the horse's mouth. xD;; Evidence in court. :D Duo … hrm … I wanted to make him cruel. xD;; But with justification, of course. ^^; But I have yet to determine what that justification is. --; And I've always liked to think of Trowa as the quiet "intellectual" of the group. xDxD;; The guy that knows his literature, is super good at analysis, etc. :D So, strangely, I actually tend to have Trowa dominate conversations discussing strategy, etc. xD;;
PerfectSoldierGirl: Thankyouthankyou for the comments on Usagi's character. xD;; I was riding in the car and thinking about what you said [yes, anime dominates my life. xD;;] and because of that, I ended up with the last scene [with the "I am Sailor Moon" statement]. It was my first lead [along with Gackt-san's comments] into this chapter [which, up until awhile ago, was uncharted territory ^^;] and because of it, this entire chapter formed itself. xD;; Thank you so much! :D
Life in Hell: Lol. I'm striving for it. xD;;
Poppy-chan: O.O;; That's a cute name. xDxD;; But I think that the instant some [even remotely likely] scapegoat is found for a disaster of this magnitude [with so much of Earth's urban population disappearing], people will start pointing fingers. xDxD;; I think there'd be mass paranoia. And they're not only blaming Ami and Usagi … they're also blaming the colonies. Lol. In fact, in a way, they're blaming everybody who they don't know. ^^; Because there's mass panic. But that's the general idea I had. xD;;
Datajana: Lol … he was sleeping? xDxD;; And then had to rewind and listen to the tape. ^^; I think … [my poor, made up excuse. xD;;]
LiLSeReNiTiE: Lol. That was kind of you. ^^; Not demanding for updates. Whew! Such a relief. :D
Tenshi-Hotaru: I meant to show that Hiiro had been listening to them the whole time. ^^; And technically, we still don't know whether or not any of the g-boys believe completely that Ami and Usagi are the villains. :D Ahh … that thought, surprisingly, gives me a warm, tingly feeling. xD;; Call me strange. ^^;
Heero's Bunny: Lol. You remind me of somebody I know. ^^;
Gackt Camui is cold ;-;: Lol. :D Your name is so versatile. xDxD;; I love it. :D And only people in most of the urban concentrations of Earth disappeared. ^^; So yup, reporters are still there, some cities are still there, rural areas are still there, colonies are still there. :3 Urk … ok … forget I said all that! xDxD;; [you told me to not answer ^^;] Nope, I haven't seen that episode of SM and I don't watch Reba … lol. I live under a rock. xDxD;; But the Ami description helped me a lot. :D With coming up with this chapter. xD;; And PGSM! [I wanna see! O.o;;] I have to agree that the "being alone" concept makes me nostalgic too. ^^; Picking Harbin, China … I actually did because I had some background knowledge on it but … I haven't planned enough to have it have any significant meaning … but I can force meaning into it … muahaha. Lol. Nope, haven't seen/read Please Save My Earth [oh gosh, I really do live under a rock! ;-;] Lol and the Naruto craze has ebbed a bit. ^^; But I still recommend it~ ^^; Though, the thing with manga vs. anime applies also. :D And I doubt I'd survive in the professional writing world. x3 It'd be awesome if you wrote a Hiiro/Usagi essay. :DDD Consider it? :D