Chapter Two
Alas, regardless of their doom,
The little victims play!
No sense have they of ills to come,
No care beyond today.
Thomas Gray
The dying sun spilled light and warmed the earth as Usagi strolled through the park alone. What a beautiful evening: spring was definitely her favorite season. She loved the sweet smell of the cherry blossoms and the feeling of peace and healing from the cruel winter.
Two children ran by, nearly knocking her over, shrieking with joy at their game of tag. Usagi watched them race into the horizon with a sort of wistful smile. For all of her desire to grow up taller, prettier and hopefully wiser than she was as a smallish teenage girl, there was a part of her that wished she could go back to the days of childhood innocence and spend her time playing without a care.
Including boyfriends who aren't honest with you, she thought glumly, then slapped her own cheek. Stop that! You trust him and you're making a big deal over nothing. You'll drive yourself mad with jealousy, so stop thinking and enjoy the day.
Sighing, she looked at the crystal waters of the lake and admired the golden reflection of the rapidly progressing sunset. Her eyes softened into a faraway look and her mouth curved into a smile, showing the few casual onlookers that her mind was elsewhere than the picturesque spring evening.
"Usagi-chan!" a voice cried in the distance. Usagi jumped, startled from her reverie, and turned towards the sound. A girl was hurrying her way, blue hair shining in the sunlight and azure eyes sparkling.
"Ami-chan," Usagi said, smiling happily in recognition. Ami trotted to her friend, breathing heavily and attempted to smooth her disheveled hair into place.
"Sorry," she apologized through deep gasps. "I've been trying to catch up to you for quite some time. I haven't had need for anything physical since…" She trailed off, but there was no need to finish.
"None of us have," Usagi assured her, "and I'm loving every second of it." Ami returned the grin.
"So where are you headed?" she asked, falling in step beside the blond girl. Usagi's eyes grew troubled and strayed to lake. Ami watched her inquisitively, but said nothing. She was never one to pry, even if she was dying with curiosity.
"Nowhere," she finally replied. "I'm just... wandering."
"Wandering?" Ami raised a surprised eyebrow. "That isn't like you. You always have some destination, whether it be the arcade to slack off, or somewhere to appease your stomach or…"
"I'm thinking," Usagi interrupted curtly, not wanting to hear more of Ami's keen observations.
"Thinking?" Ami said slyly, in a rare moment of wickedness. "That's even less like you!" Usagi briefly rolled her eyes at the grinning imp before returning to the lake.
"Please, Ami-chan, don't tease. I'm not in the mood." Ami's smile drooped as she realized how serious her friend was being. She shivered, realizing that anything that made Usagi serious had to be bad.
"What is it, Usagi-chan?" Ami asked, feeling a wave of dread. "Is it Mamoru-san? A new Enemy?" Usagi allowed a short laugh to escape her throat.
"No, nothing like that. It's a... a dream."
"A prophetic dream, do you think?"
Usagi shrugged, a blank look upon her face. "I don't know."
"Will you tell me about it?" Usagi's eyes widened for a fraction of a second before shrugging a second time.
"Sure." Ami nudged her gently when she didn't continue. "A boy. A boy came into my room last night. He…" she paused and stole an embarrassed look at her friend. "He kissed my forehead, so gently it was like a breath of cool air. I couldn't move. But then…" her voice trailed away and she creased her forehead with a frown, "then he left and I was alone again."
Usagi glanced at Ami when she finished, but her friend was staring at her, open-mouthed. "Ami-chan?" she questioned, a little uneasy.
"This happened in your dream?" Ami whispered.
Usagi blinked. "Of course." With a long sigh, Ami let out her breath and Usagi raised an eyebrow.
"Sorry," Ami stated sheepishly. "For a moment, I thought it really happened. The way you said it, well... I thought you meant it was real."" Usagi laughed.
"No!" Then her giggles ceased. "I don't think so. But it felt real." She didn't mention that part of her wished it was.
Ami forced a smile. "What would Mamoru-san think?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood.
"Who cares!" Usagi burst. "That guy was gorgeous!" Then her face crumbled as she realized what she had said and she sighed. "I didn't mean that. Mamo-chan is everything to me. I would never do anything to hurt him."
She paused thoughtfully. "Still, he was very cute!"
And very familiar. Even though he was in the shadows, there was something about him...
Ami laughed. "You're incredible! But it was just a dream, Usagi-chan," she added gently. "It didn't mean anything. Even if that boy does exist, you're already in love." Usagi grinned, instantly cheered.
"Don't I know it."
"Are you coming tonight?" Ami asked, eager to change the subject.
"Yes! No way I'd miss out on all that free food... oh, and getting to see everyone!"
Ami didn't even try to hide her smile. "Figures."
Usagi wasn't offended; she was happy that everyone was getting together for dinner at the temple. Lately, she hadn't seen much of the outer senshi, and was excited for the reunion.
Ami squinted at the sun. "In fact, it is getting rather late. I'm going to go home and change out of my uniform before heading over to the temple. I'll see you there, Usagi-chan?"
Usagi assured her she would before the blue-haired girl turned and, with a final parting yell, hurried away. Silence thickened the air and Usagi was alone again, save a few warbling birds and a squirrel chasing another with obvious springtime intent.
Usagi turned back to the lake. She tried to think about the party, but her mind kept drifting to the boy in the shadows: the sad boy with the large, dark eyes.
He was so tragic that I felt for him, but how could I if he exists only in my imagination? Worse, he isn't the first weird boy I've encountered lately. There was that guy last Saturday. Maybe he's the reason I had the dream. I can't stop thinking about him either...
She glanced at the sky. The sun was getting ready to set. She needed to go home and change if she didn't want to be berated by the others about her tardiness.
Still, the boy...
"Home," Usagi said firmly, and turned to hurry off, but her path was interrupted by a dark-haired man. A blush stole to her cheeks, and she backed away and shot him an apologetic look. "Sorry," she mumbled before hurrying off.
The man smiled long after she had run away. "No problem," he said to the silence around him.
0 0 0
The boy watched from behind a sakura tree as another ghost from his past laughed and retreated into the horizon. His emotions were shaken from seeing her. He supposed he should get used to it; no doubt he'd be seeing Raye soon, perhaps even Bryn and her entourage. Princess Serenity had never gone anywhere without them. He had always been a bit jealous of the tie between Serena and her friends. A tie that even in their height of closeness, he had never been able to match.
He swung his gaze back to Usagi, ready for more surprises, and saw her turned towards the lake, deep in thought.
He smiled. Dearly as he loved her, he had to admit that thinking was not her strong suit. Her brow always furrowed in concentration and a sort of half scowl would appear on her face until she gave up and left the thinking to someone else.
He watched as Usagi turned then and ran into a dark-haired man behind her, but scarcely noticed when she left. His gaze was fixed only on the man.
The blood drained from his face and his green eyes widened in surprise. He sucked in his breath and clutched the cherry blossom tree for balance as the man started to smile. His head began pounding in the all too familiar pain and he clutched it in agony.
Bauxite!
0 0 0
Clumsy ditz, Breyden thought as he watched the blond girl scurry off. Human girls are not as graceful as they used to be. Breyden would know, for he had been human once. Once, a long time ago. Never again.
Ever since he'd pledged his soul to the Darkness and obeyed It wholeheartedly, he had lost his human existence, for one cannot be human without a soul. Breyden didn't mind. He'd never used his much when he'd been alive, anyway. He stretched his arms over his head, feeling the warmth of the sun, and closed his eyes.
"Lovely eve for a walk, isn't it?" he heard a voice soft as silk comment behind him. Breyden tensed his muscles, senses alert and ready for a fight, but saw a familiar face when he turned.
"Cayla," he breathed, feeling his heart start to pound. One might wonder how someone in loss of a soul could have a heart, but his always seemed to race whenever she was around. Cayla stood before him, looking as beautiful as ever with long red hair shining like liquid fire and soft golden eyes smiling in greeting. She stepped up beside him and turned her attention to the lake, not having the slightest idea what her presense was doing to him.
"It's been so long since I've seen you out of uniform," he managed to say as he eyed her violet slip-dress. Cayla raised an auburn eyebrow.
"I'll say the same to you, Brey. Looking good. You didn't honestly expect me to stay in that ugly grey thing when I have a chance to catch up on this century's fashion?" Breyden smiled, knowing Cayla's interest in fashion well. Her complaints about the uniforms had almost driven him and the others crazy.
"Cayla, I…" Breyden started but was cut off when she put a sharp hand in the air and shot him a pained look.
"Please, Brey, don't say it," she pleaded, golden eyes wide. "I can't deal with it." Breyden felt frustration build inside him.
"I love you, Cayla. You can deny me as long as you like, but my feelings aren't going to change."
Cayla turned to him, eyes filled with anguish. "I'm sorry, Brey. You've been a great friend. It's just coming here and discovering that... that…" she broke off and turned away, not wanting him to see her eyes filling with tears. But Breyden didn't need her to finish. He knew.
Discovering that Jevan is dead, he thought bitterly. Oh Cayla, I'm sorry, but can't you see that someone alive loves you as much as Jevan did?
"Oh Cayla, when will you give me a chance?" he whispered, not meaning for her to hear, but she did.
"I don't know... I need more time."
"He's been dead for two years. How much time do you need?" Breyden demanded. Cayla turned, her eyes shiny.
"I didn't know that! Please, try to understand how hard it was to come here and learn that he was no longer breathing. To have waited patiently all this time and then learn that he'll never hold me in his arms again! Don't you have any sympathy, Brey?" Breyden didn't know how to reply. He could see that Cayla was hurting, but he had never liked the man much, mostly because she had chosen Jadeite over him.
"I swear," Cayla whispered, clenching her fists and shaking with a combination of anger and sadness, "when I get my hands on the senshi, they are going to pay for what they did to him... what they did to me." Breyden swallowed. He hadn't meant to upset her; he'd only wanted her to understand his feelings.
"Look, Cayla, I…" Breyden started but stopped as a buzzing filled his head and a voice broke through.
Bauxite... Calcite! Back to headquarters immediately!
"It's Boss," Cayla said with a sigh, reaching for the small teleporter on her wrist. "Back to grey drudge." She disappeared and Breyden quickly followed. Boss was never one to be kept waiting. His very appearance demanded the strictest obedience.
When he appeared in the hideout, he was no longer Breyden, but Bauxite, and Calcite stood beside him, her eyes flashing with animosity. When transformed, Cayla took on a different personality. She was more aggressive, meaner...
And such a whiny little bitch.
"Oh, come on!" she complained. "Can't I have ten minutes to myself?" Boss stepped out from the shadows and leaned on a long jeweled cane, not for balance but for show.
"You dare challenge me, Calcite?" he asked, voice low but more menacing than a tiger's roar. Calcite's face immediately turned passive, but defiance lingered in her eyes.
"Sorry, sir," she said. Boss flicked his black eyes in Bauxite's direction, as if daring him to challenge his authority, but the brown-eyed general stayed silent. He knew better.
"Where are the others?" Calcite asked.
"No need for them. What I have to say is for Bauxite alone. You may inform them later." His mouth turned up in what might have been interpreted as a smile, except his eyes were as cold as ever. "I have decided that Bauxite shall lead the initial operation. The others are under your control, just speak to me before making a move."
"Me?" Bauxite asked, pleased with the news. Calcite, however, was not impressed.
"Him?" she demanded. "Why him?" Her mouth clamped shut and she took a sudden interest in the stone floor as Boss turned his menacing dark eyes on her.
"He is the most capable. You act before thinking. Azurite cares more for himself and his beautiful face than getting work done. Axinite and Alexandrite are too belligerent, and Kyanite..." Boss sighed and rubbed his forehead with a sigh. "Let's just say that Kyanite would not be a good choice. I'd sooner pick you, Calcite." Calcite's eyes flashed, interpreting his words as an insult.
"I am honored, master," Bauxite said, falling to his knees and bowing his head, so his short brown ponytail fell over his shoulder.
Boss nodded, a strange smile on his lips. "I believe you will serve me well."
Feeling extraordinarily pleased with himself, Bauxite stood. "When do I start?" he asked, feeling important in his new role. Calcite was pacing the room with an 'I don't believe this!' expression on her face. Boss raised his pointer finger and shook it decisively before Bauxite's eyes.
"Not yet. First, you must listen. As you know, the Moon Princess has been reborn, and I have been listening to her energy waves. They are stronger than before. We've determined that the protector of this city is Eternal Sailormoon, the leader of the senshi, and of course you know that there has never been a Sailormoon in the past."
"So?" Bauxite asked, feeling impatient. He wanted to get out and start kicking senshi ass, not listen to more lectures. "What does that have to do with anything? Earth has a new champion of justice, big deal! I can snap her neck as easily as any other." He thought he sounded pretty tough and was ready to hear Boss's praise, but his master's expression changed to displeasure.
"Have I taught you nothing, boy?" Boss roared and Bauxite blinked in surprise. "Are you so dense? Eternal Sailormoon is the Moon Princess! That explains her boost in life energy. Apparently my dear friend Queen Serenity wanted her daughter to take care of herself instead of relying on the senshi to protect her. Considering what happened, do you blame her?"
Bauxite was blinking in shock. He felt like a fool. "Could this hinder the plan?"
Boss shook his head and examined his nails. He did this when he wanted to look unimpressed. "No. If anything, it makes her more valuable to us. You know what to do. We can't have her as an obstacle, can we? There, that's a good boy for understanding. Go and collect some energy, for I am feeling drained from the Awakening. Hopefully Sailormoon will show up, so we can test her strength."
Bauxite bowed and smiled as he stood. This was something he could handle.
"Your wish is my command," he said, raising his hand in a quick salute. Calcite glared at him with open jealousy.
Bauxite grinned and tossed her a wink before disappearing.
0 0 0
Rei was panicking. Never in her life had she felt so unprepared. She raced around the temple in a frenzy, straightening this and that, and then turned towards Yuuichiro with an irate expression. Actually, irate would be an understatement. More like mad as hell.
"What do you mean you forgot to pick up the vegetables? How am I going to make a salad without vegetables? I told you to pick them up on your way back from the music store!" she screamed. Yuuichiro ducked his head in shame and raised his hands in an attempt to ward off Hurricane Rei.
"I'm sorry, Rei-san!" he said meekly and backed away as she stormed towards him with her hands on her hips. "I'll go right now. I promise!" Rei folded her arms with a groan.
"Oh what's the use? It's too late." She glanced at her watch and her violet eyes widened in shock. "6:50!" she shrieked. "They'll be here in ten minutes!" Rei frowned at Yuuichiro. "On second thought, get the vegetables!" Yuuichiro raced out of the room like a meek puppy to obey her whim. "And while you're at it, pick up another pie!" she yelled at his retreating figure.
A squeak on the porch announced an arrival and a blue head poked into the room. "Oh," Rei moaned, frantically running a hand through her dark hair. "Ami-chan, hi," she blurted. "Won't you come in?" Ami raised an eyebrow at Rei's flushed face and her troubled expression as she slipped off her shoes.
"I hope I'm not too early," Ami said, glancing around the empty room, and stepped inside.
"Oh, not at all," Rei said in a rush, shooing Ami further inside.
Ami held up a bag. "I brought chips."
"Good, good, great... thanks," Rei said vaguely, taking the bag. For a change, Rei had decided to serve Western food instead of the typical Japanese cuisine she usually ate. But now, Rei stared at the bag without recognition.
"They're sour cream and onion," Ami said helpfully when Rei stayed silent.
"Great, thanks…"
Ami wrinkled her brow in concern. "Rei-chan, are you okay?" Rei blinked.
"Yes. No, I'm stressed. I'm worried that something will go wrong when I've worked so hard cooking and cleaning and…" she trailed off. Ami put a comforting hand on her arm.
"Rei-chan, everything will be great. And if something does happen, no one will hold it against you." Rei sighed.
"I hope you're right." Rei's smile dissolved as Minako and Makoto entered with the cats, followed minutes later by the outer senshi. As the group sat on the mats and started chatting, Setsuna - a much older Setsuna - waltzed in. Needless to say, everyone was quite confused. None, however, was more surprised than Setsuna of the present time to see her future self standing in the center of the room, looking dignified.
"Where is the princess?" she asked, giving her head a toss and sending an emerald waterfall down her back. Everyone was silent; they had expected a warmer, not so impersonal greeting from the woman. Perhaps they would have gotten one had her mood not been so dire. Tension built among the senshi because this indicated one thing: trouble.
Finally Rei spoke. "Usagi is late," she said in a clipped voice and added, "again. And she'd better be here... she has three volumes of my Viljo-san mangas. She promised to bring them today, and I…" She stopped, getting the distinct impression that Setsuna didn't care about her manga.
"I must speak with her. I have to tell her, have to warn her…" Setsuna said and shook her head, distressed. The present Setsuna looked rather unsettled, most likely since she knew she would never have journeyed into the past and left the Time Gate vulnerable except in case of a pressing emergency.
"Tell her what?" Haruka demanded, not the most patient of the group. Michiru put a gentle hand on her arm to quiet her and Haruka glanced at her with a scowl, but it must have worked, for she didn't say more.
"It is for her ears," Setsuna said gravely. "I have seen the future and Usagi-chan must be prepared." Luna's tail twitched.
"Prepared for what? Is there a new Enemy?" The protector of Time sighed without response and finally noticed her younger self.
She blinked. "Hello."
The younger Setsuna blinked back. "Hi." Silence overtook the girls, and was soon interrupted by quick footsteps and an excited voice.
"Rei-san, Rei-san! I got the vegetables!" Rei jumped, startled, and turned towards Yuuichiro with flashing eyes.
"Well... make us a salad!" she instructed. Yuuichiro gulped, sensing that she was still ticked-off, and scurried out of the room like a good little puppy.
Minako started laughing, a little too loudly. Uneasily. "Rei-chan, you're so mean," she said.
"He's easy to get mad at," Rei replied simply. And with nothing left to do, they waited.
0 0 0
About five minutes later, Usagi showed up.
"Hi!" she said brightly as she came in and slid on a rug near the door. Everyone sweat-dropped as she struggled to regain her balance.
""Klutz," Rei muttered.
"I heard that!" Usagi called, "but I'm too happy to care." Her eyes scanned the room and she frowned when she didn't find the person she most wanted to see.
"Where's Mamo-chan?"
"Not here," Artemis purred, thoroughly enjoying the stomach rub he was receiving from Hotaru.
"Not here?" Usagi's face fell. "I thought he was coming."
"He's probably caught up with something," Minako said with a shrug. "He'll be here soon."
Usagi scarcely heard her. Her mind was racing. Caught up with something? she thought bitterly. Something or someone? She was thinking of the beautiful dark-haired girl she had seen with him yet again. This time in a cafe as she was walking home from school. At the time, she hadn't had the courage to walk in and interrupt, but suddenly wished she had.
Setsuna's urgent voice snapped through her dismal thoughts. "Usagi-chan, I need to speak with you," she announced, taking the girl by the shoulder. Usagi glanced around the room, and when she saw faces as blank as her own, she shrugged.
"Okay." She said it casually, but an instant later her eyes widened as she realized there were two Setsuna's. "Whoa! What happened?" she screamed. "Setsuna-san, you got cloned?" Everyone sweat-dropped, even the elder Setsuna.
"No, banana-for-brains," Rei groaned, absolutely humiliated. "This is the other Setsuna. From the future."
This new information was absorbed rather well. Usagi shrugged and followed when the older Setsuna gestured her into another room, away from the ears of the senshi. She was a little curious, but didn't expect anything other than a social call, even when Setsuna turned to her with a grave face.
"You must be careful, my princess," the older woman warned. Usagi's face twisted animatedly.
"Of what? Rei-chan's cooking?" she joked. But Setsuna was not amused.
"Great danger lies ahead of you. You must be prepared to fight. This evil will be different from what you have faced before. You must have faith in the ones you love and never let your guard down because of heartbreak." She paused to take a breath and straighten her hair as Usagi looked at her with wide eyes.
"Heartbreak?" Usagi asked, feeling panic numb her chest. "What do you mean?" The seriousness of the situation was sinking in.
"You must be brave," Setsuna continued, ignoring the question. "There are many possible futures. Which one comes to be depends on how strong you are in this new battle, my princess. New and old. Older than Time and older than this life." Usagi stared at her. She had never been good with riddles, and now didn't seem the proper time for a brainteaser.
"So there's a new Enemy?" That was about all she had understood.
"The greatest enemy will be the desires of your heart. Remember that." Setsuna then transformed into Sailorpluto before Usagi could get another word in. "I must go," she said finally, clutching her staff.
"Can't you stay?" Usagi pleaded. "I want to ask you so much!" Sailorpluto smiled but shook her head in resignation, already starting to fade from the room.
"I'm sorry, but I only came to talk to you. Remember my words and always have faith in yourself if nothing else. Remember, my princess." Her voice echoed as a gust of wind came and blew Usagi's long hair behind her.
"Remember," the faraway voice repeated and a light flashed, so intense that Usagi had to shield her eyes.
"Sailorpluto, wait!" Usagi called. "What did you mean by…"
The wind died and Sailorpluto was gone. "...heartbreak?" Usagi finished to the empty room. The full effect of the words and the strange wind made Usagi feel faint and her hand flew to her forehead as the room started to sway. She reached out for something to steady herself, but found nothing...
Someone was calling her name, but it slipped her mind. All she could think of was sleep. Everything was dark and she was so tired... a little nap couldn't hurt...
Strong arms encircled her waist as she felt herself slipping and she was raised to her feet. Her legs wouldn't work and she slumped against the person who had caught her.
"Mamo-chan…" she said weakly, recognizing the feel of his arms around her. She struggled against the persistent darkness to open her eyelids and after a moment found herself staring into his blue eyes.
"Usako, what happened?" he asked, eyes wide with concern. "They said you were in here. I had a horrible feeling…" Usagi blinked and waited until her head cleared before speaking.
"Sailorpluto... she warned me…" she answered, feeling her eyelids growing heavy. Sleep. Sleep was good.
"Usako," Mamoru said gently, holding her tighter. "It's okay. Everything is going to be alright."
No! Usagi wanted to scream. Everything is not okay! Setsuna told be to beware of the desires of my heart... to be strong after heartbreak!
"Tell me she wasn't talking about you, Mamo-chan," Usagi pleaded. "You wouldn't... I know you wouldn't…" As he stared at her, confused, she tried to regain her balance, but still felt wobbly. Mamoru frowned but shook his head. Now was not the time for questions.
"Come on," he said, placing an arm around her waist and supporting her as she struggled forward. "You need to lie down." Usagi couldn't argue with that. As they appeared in the living room, she was greeted with a chorus of gasps and a burst of instant chatter.
"What happened?"
"Usagi-chan, are you alright?"
"Swept her off her feet again, eh, Mamoru?" A loud whistle accompanied that one.
Makoto leapt up to help Mamoru guide Usagi to the floor pallet, which Haruka, Michiru and Minako obediently relocated from. Usagi lay back as Rei scurried over with a blanket to cover her with. She was so very tired and shut her eyes, unable to answer questions. Her friends didn't press her and left her alone to whisper in another corner. Mamoru started to drift after them, but Usagi, suddenly awake, gripped his hand tightly.
"I need to know, Mamo-chan," she said in a low voice. "Where were you tonight?" Something flickered in Mamoru's eyes, but he turned before she could determine what it was.
"Busy," he replied curtly. Usagi searched his face, feeling sick. There's more to it, she thought sadly. Why won't you tell me? But she wasn't in the mood for interrogation, so she released her grip and let her hand drop to the red and black patterned blanket.
"You'll be okay?"
"Yes," she said and closed her eyes. Usagi barely heard his sigh as he walked away.
Beware of the desires of your heart, Setsuna's voice echoed in her mind.
The desires of my heart... All I've ever wanted is Mamo-chan, and he seems to be pulling away from me. She decided to lie there miserably all evening, wallowing in self-pity, but before long, a spicy warm scent floated towards her nostrils and she bolted upright with a grin.
"Pizza!" she exclaimed. She hadn't had pizza for so long. Rei really must be trying to give us American food, she realized with a smile. Even though pizza is French, or something like that, I can't think of a better American food. Except tacos. Her eyes lit up as she smelt something suspiciously like tacos, too.
"I knew the scent would rouse you," she heard someone say in amusement. Usagi blinked at the black furball curled up on her lap. Sometime during her tantrum, Luna had decided to check up on her. Usagi smiled, realizing how sweet that was of her feline friend.
"Come on," she said, scooping the cat into her arms. "I'll slip you some pepperoni."
"Hey, you're up!" Michiru remarked as Usagi came over to where her friends were eating. The aqua-tressed girl smiled kindly. "You feeling better, honey?" Usagi nodded.
"Yes, thank you." Her eyes wandered over the table and she felt herself begin to salivate. Oh, the wondrous sight of it all! Pizza and tacos, like she had deciphered, and also chips, a salad (provided by Yuuichiro), several bottles of soda and a variety of fresh fruit. Usagi plopped down on the mat next to Mamoru and her eyes swept over the delicacies hungrily.
"Just take something before you drool all over the table," Rei said crossly, but with a smile. Usagi was happy to obey, and took a bit of everything, getting hungrier each second the food was kept from her stomach. She grabbed a piece of pizza and bit into it, cheese dribbling down her chin as she uttered such a moan of ecstasy that everyone laughed.
"This lettuce... It's so green and yummy-looking," Usagi commented, eagerly dumping salad into her bowl.
"Green, like his eyes…" Makoto murmured. Usagi looked up when Minako groaned.
"There you go again, Mako-chan. I'm telling you, you're obsessed!" She sounded oddly irritated.
"Obsessed with what?" Usagi asked curiously, food forgotten for the moment. Everyone, even Hotaru, who had been staring into space and chewing her pizza intently, turned to Makoto in expectation.
"She's been talking about him all day!" Minako complained.
"I have not!"
"You have! Admit you like him!"
"I admit it. I'm crazy for him, and you know it, Minako-chan." The reply was bold and completely without shame.
"Who?" Usagi asked and licked pizza grease off her chin.
"Remember when we took a walk last Saturday afternoon? That guy we saw? Remember? The cute one?" Usagi's stomach took an unexpected twist and she swallowed her pizza uncomfortably. Yes, of course she remembered, and preferred not to think about him. Usagi could feel Mamoru's eyes on her, but she didn't turn to meet his gaze. She worried that he'd see something in her eyes.
"Yes, I remember. But I didn't get a good look at him." No one noticed her restlessness, perhaps because Makoto was putting on a dramatic show of dreamy sighs.
"I think I'm in love," she said passionately. "He looks…"
"Like your old boyfriend," the Inner Senshi chorused together and Haruka snickered. Makoto shot them each a nasty look.
"No, but like someone I should know. He was so familiar…" She wrinkled her forehead in thought and Usagi looked at her with surprise. So Makoto had felt it too. Maybe she should ask her about him later… but then again, why did it matter? Why did he matter?
Usagi eyed the roll Rei was stuffing into her mouth, and sighed when she saw none were left. Following her gaze and realizing the problem, Mamoru nudged Usagi and offered her his. She took it, smiling gratefully. This was what she needed, good old Mamoru, not some mysterious boy who may or may not be important. She felt a need to reassure herself.
"Well, wanna know who I love?" she asked, stretching the vowel. She looked at Mamoru pointedly.
Mamoru was staring out the window, chewing thoughtfully. "Umino?" he guessed. Usagi giggled and shook her head, sending her blond hair flying.
I don't care what Setsuna said, she decided. Nothing is going to come between Mamo-chan and me.
"You," she said, laughter coming to a calm. "I love you, Mamo-chan."
Rei pushed away her plate. "I think I'm going to be ill," she announced. Laughter floated around the room as Usagi made a face at her, and turned back to Mamoru with a big smile.
"I meant that," she whispered, linking her arm through his. He looked at her sadly for a moment before muttering 'hmm' and turning away. Not the response she was hoping for. Usagi looked at her plate, furiously blinking away the threat of tears, feeling her heart begin to shatter.
What was going on?
0 0 0
Haruka was confused.
She stared at Usagi without being obvious as she struggled to figure out what was wrong. The poor girl was distressed. Now, Haruka knew that Usagi was kind of a klutz and not the sharpest needle in the pincushion, but she liked the kid.
Which was why she was studying her so closely. Something was wrong, and she was sure Usagi wasn't sick. Usagi had the immune system of a goddess.
She felt a nudge and looked into her girlfriend's wide eyes. Michiru gave her a curious look that Haruka disregarded with a shrug before turning her attention back to Usagi. I bet it has to do with Mamoru, she realized. Every time he reaches over her for some food she edges away.
But right now, Usagi was looking at Mamoru with hope in her eyes. "Walk me home, Mamo-chan?" she asked casually, with just a hint of longing. Haruka noticed, as she swung suspicious blue eyes toward Usagi's knight in shining armor, that he froze briefly before answering.
"I'm sorry, Usako. I can't. I have a big exam at the university tomorrow. I need to go straight home." Usagi's shoulders hunched and she pushed a carrot around her plate with the enthusiasm of a prisoner on her last meal.
Something is definitely wrong, Haruka thought.
"Michiru and I would love to walk you home, Usagi-chan," Haruka told her. Michiru looked up with a surprised expression, and Haruka could almost hear her thinking, We would?
"Oh, sure," Michiru said lightly. "Love to." She looked again at Haruka curiously, and received a look that said, Later.
But Usagi was shaking her head. "No. I can go alone. Besides, you need to get Hotaru-chan home."
"Okay," Haruka agreed, a little relieved. She glanced around the table and her eyes landed on the inner senshi. None of them seemed to notice how miserable their leader was. Makoto and Minako were gossiping about the boy they'd met, and Ami was secretly reading a textbook under the table, looking up and nodding occasionally, pretending she was listening. Rei... well, Rei looked a little dazed, and Haruka doubted she'd notice if Godzilla came by and stomped the temple in over their heads.
"I think I'll leave now. I am a little tired," Usagi announced. For some reason, this snapped Rei back to attention.
"But we haven't had pie yet. I had Yuuichiro get an extra because I knew you, the human garbage disposal, would be here.""
"Thanks for the compliment, Rei, but I'm exhausted. Long day," she muttered and stood. Haruka looked at Mamoru and noticed that he wasn't leaping up to offer to walk her home, even though she was leaving early. Suspicious.
Luna's tail swished, showing Haruka she wasn't the only one who noticed Usagi's strange mood. "Are you sick?" the feline questioned, trying to make sense of her sudden retreat.
"No. Go ahead and go home with Minako-chan. I know you want to stay." Usagi tried to smile without success. "Thanks for dinner, Rei-chan. Goodnight, everyone." The room filled with a chorus of 'goodbye's and 'see you tomorrow's. Haruka watched as Usagi paused by the door and turned to gaze back at Mamoru sadly. A more emotional woman would have called it tragic
Mamoru himself sat tense, staring down at his hands, a debate clear on his face. "Usako, wait!" he said and she didn't hesitate to turn to him. Haruka saw Usagi's eyes brighten as she smiled at him.
"Yes?"
Mamoru was suddenly looking flustered. "Um... goodnight," he mumbled and turned back to the table. Usagi's face fell.
"Oh," she said and turned to the door. "Goodnight." Her shoulders lifted and fell in a heavy sigh before she left for good.
Now Haruka was really confused.
0 0 0
Usagi trudged down the moonlit street in a dark mood. It's not fair. Mamo-chan was so distant. When I almost fainted after talking to Setsuna, he was so caring and worried, but at dinner... Usagi sniffed and rubbed her nose with a vengeance. ...At dinner, I might as well have been a stranger.
She looked at the sky and saw the full moon shining down its silver light, giving her the comfort it could. I bet he was really romantic in the past, she realized with a smile. He probably brought me flowers. I can't remember if he has ever given me flowers in this life.
She sighed and shook her head, not wanting to think about it. She lifted her head with determination, and just as she was prepared to charge the rest of the way home without sad thoughts, a shrill scream sliced through the air and deep baritone laughter vibrated in her ears. Without a thought, Usagi raced toward the sound, her heart pounding.
Oh God, what is it?