Chapter Six

A vague, a dizzy, a tumultuous joy.
John L.B Soule

After half an hour of searching, Usagi found herself on the steps of Kazuo's Cafe. A wave of dizziness washed over her. This was it. She took a deep breath before stepping inside, and when she did, she was confronted with a handful of people eating and chatting. In one corner, Averill was drumming his fingers against the table and her heart gave a little thrill at the sight of him.

Usagi wrung her hands as she approached. What should she say? She had always been good with social connections, but now she was shaking inside. Luckily she didn't have to come up with a clever way to initiate conversation, for he looked up then and waved her over with a smile. Usagi grinned back, some of her uneasiness washing away, and slid into the seat across from him.

"Hi," he said, "I thought you weren't coming. I hope you didn't have trouble finding the place."

"Oh, no," she said with a shrug. If he knew she was lying, he didn't comment.

"So, do you want to start with small talk or jump right into the big questions?" Averill asked with a teasing smile. The look she gave him answered that and he laughed. Usagi liked the sound.

"I'll start," Averill said, fixing his bright green eyes on her. "I've been meaning to ask you. I've noticed on the news that Eternal Sailormoon hasn't been around lately. Taking a break?"

Usagi looked down at her hands, feeling ashamed. "I can't," she whispered.

"Can't what? Take this hero business?" He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

"No, I literally can't," she said miserably. In a low voice, she filled him in on what had happened the night she lost her powers, carefully omitting the parts about Tuxedo Kamen. Averill listened silently with a compassionate expression.

"I don't know if I'll be like this forever, or…" she broke off as her voice cracked, and with a panicked look, Averill thrust his napkin at her. She took it gratefully and blew her nose.

"Oh, don't," Averill was pleading. "I hate to see girls cry. You especially. Look… if Ami said she could cure it, she will."

"How can you be so sure?" Usagi wailed.

"Because I know her," Averill said with that characteristic half-smile of his. "It's okay to be afraid, as long as you don't stay that way forever. Everyone is frightened at some point. It means you're still human." Usagi swallowed her tears and looked at him admiringly. Easy for him to say. He was so strong, so invincible…

"Not you," Usagi pointed out. "You're not afraid of anything." At that, his eyes darkened and Usagi's heart skipped a beat, wondering if she'd said the wrong thing. With an ironic shake of his head, Averill shifted his gaze to the wall, eyes faraway.

Usagi tightened her fingers on the arms of her chair. "Averill…" she started, but he cut her off with something inaudible, and when she questioned him, he smiled faintly and turned back to face her. His eyes were shiny and filled with such strong emotion that it took her breath away.

"Yes, I was. I was terrified. A long time ago, when I thought I'd lost you."

Instead of squealing for all the joy she felt in her heart and leaping across the table at him, Usagi looked down at the colorful rug and asked him to tell her what had happened. With a sigh, Averill brushed several stray strands of gold from his eyes.

"I can't," he pleaded. "Please, not now. You can only stand so much in one night."

More than you know, Usagi thought bitterly, thinking of Mamoru and the girl he had called Kina. Averill translated her look as one of disappointment, and lifted her chin with his right pointer finger, flashing a smile in the process.

"I can tell you of better times though," he stated with a wink. "Ask away, princess." Thoughts of Mamoru drifted away at the pet name and she grinned at him.

"How did we meet?"

Averill's mischievous look softened and his eyes became dreamy. "That I can handle. Do you want the two cent summary or an in-depth explanation?"

"Whatever's easiest for you."

Averill leaned back and put his hands behind his head. "You probably haven't noticed, but I like to talk, so you're getting the grand tour of our past. Or more specifically, that night."

Usagi also sat back in her chair and folded her hands on her lap, eager for his story. She was amazed at the change in him. Rather than the sullen boy who had been on her mind the past week, he was acting carefree and open, like someone she could hold a conversation with.

Unlike Mamoru, she thought, but before she could dwell on him, Averill started his tale.

"As you may or may not know, Earth and the Moon never had a great relationship…"

"Why not?" Usagi interrupted, and Averill shot her an exaggerated glare that made her giggle.

"Do you want to hear this or not?" he demanded, but without a strong threat.

"Okay, okay. But seriously, why not?"

"Well, the Earth monarchy felt threatened by the power of the Moon. The Moon was the only satellite in the Sol system that was the superior ruler, not just of Earth, but every other planet as well. Every generation from Earth and the Moon traded strong hatred, without any reason except that the hatred had been going on since the beginning of time. Too long for anyone to remember how it started or even consider doing something to stop it.

"It was hard to end the cycle, and my mother, Queen Terra, would have loved to patch up the mistrust between our kingdoms, but my father, King Kenrick, would have none of it. He was intimidated by such a rich and powerful little kingdom led by a woman. Your mother, Usagi.

"It was stupid of him to be prejudiced against women rulers, since Earth was the only kingdom in which the successor to the throne was male. See… the rulers of every planet, including the Moon, gave birth to one daughter and no other children. This daughter would be the future ruler of her namesake planet. But somehow, the Queen of Earth always gave birth to sons, without a limit. Perhaps it was Nature's way of equalizing. I don't know.

"Anyway, Father felt that a woman couldn't handle the power and thought he should be the one to control the Sol system. Of course he never went through with any of his threats. The man was a first class coward.

"Excuse me, but what does this have to do with how we met?" Usagi demanded with a yawn. She couldn't stand politics and although his story was of her forgotten past, it was more boring than Economics. Averill shot her an amused look before returning his gaze to the ceiling. Usagi followed the look and traced the cracks in the white plaster with her eyes.

"Everything. Be quiet and I'll get to the good parts. Queen Serenity wanted peace with Earth. She was a wonderful ruler, even after your father's death, but she didn't know how to initiate friendship with my parents. Luckily she didn't have to, for a situation arose that gave her the perfect opportunity to make peace.

"Perhaps it isn't fair to say 'luckily,' for it wasn't happy for everyone. A group from the nearby Athene system arrived at the Moon Kingdom under rather tragic circumstances, and Queen Serenity arranged a ball to cheer them up, casually sending an invitation to my parents as well as the other royal families.

"Mother was delighted, but Father was suspicious. Not wanting to risk his royal butt, Father decided to send Darien and I with the excuse that he and Mother had other plans. That way, he wouldn't have to suck up to Queen Serenity all night, but he could still soften the link between them by sending us to charm her. However excited he was, neither Darien nor I wanted to go. It was too big a responsibility to place on our shoulders.

"But I'll say," Averill continued, rolling his eyes towards her and smiling, "that when I first saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful girl in the universe." Usagi brightened. This was getting better by the second. Averill held her gaze for several seconds before turning away with clear embarrassment.

"Yes. Well." He cleared his throat and Usagi hid a smile at his attempt to hold together his male pride. "Darien and I arrived and immediately felt unwanted by the suspicious glares we received from even the servants. But Queen Serenity invited us to her chambers and was very warm. Quite different from the horrid tyrant Father had warned us about all our lives. She was excited about our arrival and apologized profusely for her daughter's absence. You see, the young princess of the Moon had disappeared again." Averill shook his head.

"Did I do that a lot?" Usagi asked with wide eyes.

"So I was told. You had a restless spirit and couldn't be confined to one place for long. In this case, you were visiting your friends from the Athene system."

"Oh."

"She left us on our own once the ball started, having hostess duties to attend to. Darien dragged me to the refreshment table in the corner. He claimed he was thirsty, but I knew he wanted to hide. He'd learned from experience that this was the only place he could, since most of his admirers fainted at the sight of real food. This was fine with me, for I had a chance to scope out the room and the ladies. We were watched by almost everyone despite Darien's attempt to be discreet. I'm not sure if it was because we were from Earth or just that our faces were unfamiliar.

"And then, with a burst of light, this beautiful blond girl entered the room with a group of girls. She was radiant and trying to smile, but I could tell she was as unhappy about being there as I was."

"Was it me?" Usagi asked, heart fluttering. Oh how romantic! She loved his description… beautiful… radiant…

But Averill surprised her. "No," he said with a grin and laughed when she fell out of her chair. "It wasn't you. Anyway, she retreated to another corner, pursued by a very rude young man, and I lost my chance to talk to her.

"While Darien was busy stuffing pastries into his mouth, trying to look busy, I scanned the room and saw three girls heading our way. All three were extraordinarily beautiful, and I thought for a moment that they were coming for me, but one went straight to Darien, introduced herself as Princess Miya and demanded that he dance with her.

"My poor brother was terrified and wouldn't have gone if I hadn't pushed him into her arms. One of Princess Miya's companions glared after them and I guessed it had been her intent to dance with Darien first.

"I laughed and told her to get in line, that everyone loved my brother. But she turned to me and said that she'd rather dance with me. She had been watching us and I seemed more her type. But neither of us liked to dance much, so after only two songs we went outside and talked. It was then that I realized how beautiful she was, not only from the outside. She was sweet and…"

"It's nice to hear how popular you were with the ladies, but when did you see me?" Usagi interrupted. She didn't want to listen about every girl he'd had the hots for that night. Averill smirked at her impatience.

"You haven't changed. At least in the jealousy category," he remarked and hurried on before she had the chance to reply. "I already did see you, Usagi. That girl was you." Usagi sucked in her breath. Oh.

"You didn't like Darien from the start," Averill mused and Usagi glanced quickly at him. Did he know more than he let on?

"What do you mean by that?" she asked warily and he shrugged.

"Nothing bad. I was just saying that you picked me in the beginning and it showed. The two of you could never hold a conversation that didn't end in a fight. It wasn't until you came to visit me on Earth that you and Darien put your differences aside and became friends. That's all. He and Raye hit it off, though."

Usagi's head shot up. "Raye?"

"Oh, sorry. I keep forgetting that you aren't used to the names I am. Raye was Princess Miya of Mars. Beautiful, sure, but a little too feisty for my taste."

Princess Miya of Mars? Usagi wondered. That has to be Rei-chan. It makes perfect sense.

"Well, they deserve each other," Usagi said bitterly and Averill raised an eyebrow at the tone in her voice.

"Pardon?"

"Raye and Darien… they deserve each other."

Averill frowned. "Usagi, is something wrong?" he asked with genuine concern and Usagi felt her stomach knot up. He cared about her so much and she felt like a witch for deceiving him.

"Oh, Averill, I don't deserve you," she blurted. "Not now, not then."

"What?" Averill smiled in a bewildered way. "If anything, it should be opposite."

"No," Usagi continued, shaking her head. "You've been wonderful. But Averill, I've… I've been lying to you from the start."

"What?" Averill still had that silly, perplexed smile on his face, but his eyes were heavily guarded. "What could you possibly lie to me about?"

"Everything," Usagi moaned and felt like crying. Averill stared at her, but before he could say a word, a waitress walked up and interrupted them.

"Sir, I'm going to have to ask you to leave if you aren't going to buy anything," she said impatiently. "We only have so many tables and people are waiting." Usagi looked at the redhead with shock.

"Fuyuko-san?" she breathed. The young woman looked at her with narrowed eyes.

"Do I know you?"

Usagi colored. "Uh, no," she said and pointed a trembling finger towards her uniform. "The nametag." Aneko looked down at herself and shrugged.

"Fine," she said. "So do you want anything?"

"Two green teas, please," Averill told her, never taking his eyes off a very nervous Usagi. Aneko made a mark on her pad.

"Will that be all?" she questioned and scurried off when Usagi gave an abrupt nod.

"I saved her once," Usagi explained in a shaking voice. "The last time I ever fought."

Averill wasn't interested. "What did you mean…"

"Here you are," Aneko said, suddenly reappearing at the table. "Anything else?"

"We're fine," Averill said through clenched teeth and Aneko looked at him with a grimace.

"Okay, I can take a hint. I'll leave you kids alone for a while," she said and trotted to the next table. Usagi nervously sipped her tea, trying to avoid Averill's watchful eyes. He was waiting for her to speak.

No sense delaying it. "My boyfriend…" she started uneasily and glanced at him. He was biting his lip, expecting the worst.

And he got it. "…is your brother." She immediately reached for his hand, but he pulled it away. Silence came for a moment as they looked at each other. Finally, Averill managed a rather dry laugh.

"Wow," he said and cleared his throat. "You could have told me sooner." He leaned back and looked around the room, shaking his head with an ironic smile, as if he'd expected something like that to happen. Usagi tugged at her skirt and waited a few horrible seconds before he looked at her once more with disgust and hopped up to leave.

"Averill, wait!" she cried, leaping after him, and grabbed his hand, but he shook her away. "Please don't leave! It's you I love."

"Don't say that," Averill hissed. "You don't have to say so just to make me stay. I know you love my brother, and you've been keeping it from me the entire time!"

"You tell her!" someone called and they both looked up in surprise. The scene had attracted an audience and the entire restaurant had fallen silent and was watching eagerly like the crowd on the Jerry Springer Show.

This was the final blow for Averill and he turned to leave, but Usagi grabbed his arm and pulled him back, determined to make him listen, audience or not.

"I'm not lying to you," she told him, ignoring the cries of 'yeah right.' "I've been attracted to you from the start and have only resisted because I thought I loved him. But since I've met you, I've discovered that Mamo-ch… Chiba Mamoru is a lying cheater and I want nothing more to do with him. Please, believe me when I say that I love you and only you."

Loud whistles floated around the room and Usagi was afraid they would scare Averill away, but she underestimated him. He turned, a strange look on his face.

"Why did you lie to me?" he asked quietly. Three people in the room demanded the same.

"Because," she said, almost in tears. "I didn't know what to make of you. I never expected to find you and I wasn't sure I wanted this to happen. But I know better than anyone that Fate can't be denied. So please, Averill, don't walk away from me." The room grew silent after this, and Usagi swallowed hard, the noise thunderous in the sudden quiet.

Averill was watching her thoughtfully and she looked back, hoping her eyes were pleading as well as her words had. Please, please… she thought desperately. Please, Averill, believe me. She held her breath as his eyes traveled over her.

Finally, deciding, his mouth relaxed and she felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

"What do you think?" Averill demanded to the restaurant, trying to have some fun. "Should I take her back?" The room was filled with a chorus of 'yes,' and shouts of 'kiss her' started slowly before growing into a chant among the diners.

Averill turned to Usagi and when she nodded, he gave her a little peck on the cheek. The crowd cheered, Aneko loudest of all, and Averill pulled back with a laugh.

"So, Usagi," he said as the room continued roaring. "Do you like baseball?"

"I don't know," she admitted. Averill grinned.

"There's a game in a week that I want to go to. Care to join me?" They smiled at each other.

"I'd love to." Averill leaned forward again, and this time their kiss was real.

0 0 0

Much like his late friend, Axinite soon became impatient with the lack of fighting and decided to raise a little hell without Boss's approval. But there was hardly anyone the senshi couldn't beat at that point, so eager were they for revenge, so within half an hour, he staggered back to the hideout to die in his brother's arms.

Now Calcite and Alexandrite were united in an unspoken grief. The senshi had killed someone dear to each of them, and they were determined to make the girls pay. Azurite was indifferent as Axinite lay dying, but Kyanite watched with a glimmer of wetness in his eyes, not forgetting the on and off friendship they had shared in their better years.

Boss was more angry than upset, and he fiercely warned them, especially Calcite and Alexandrite, who now had only one purpose in life, to never act rashly again. The generals bowed their heads in agreement, but trouble was brewing among them and it was only a matter of time before one of them snapped.

Boss knew he would have to act more quickly than expected, and he spent much of his time pacing the great hall, plotting the untimely deaths of the senshi.

The only one who achieved any happiness was Kyanite, or rather Kai when he was wandering the streets as a human. He found that he looked forward to meeting Makoto at the arcade during the day more than attacking the humans at night.

When he first met Makoto, he had planned to lead her to a deserted alley and drain her dry, but something had stopped him and he was glad that he hadn't. He had fun when he was with her, and that was more than he could say for when he stalked the lonely streets at night for victims.

She was awakening a part of him that he had forgotten he possessed, and becoming more of a friend in several short weeks than a lifetime of company with the other generals had given him. Only one thing bothered him: every time he was with her, something tugged at the back of his brain and he had a strong urgency to remember… but what? He didn't think any of his forgotten memories could possibly have anything to do with Makoto, so he ignored it.

All he cared about was that he had possibly gained the best friend he ever had.

0 0 0

Usagi walked down the street, thrumming with anticipation. It had been a week and a half since she'd seen Averill, and although she wasn't a big fan of sports, she couldn't wait to get to the baseball game to see him.

She had successfully managed to dodge Mamoru and her friends all week by faking the flu. Nick came over with flowers and chicken soup but Mamoru had kept his distance. She figured he was taking advantage of her 'illness' by spending time with Kina. Strangely, she didn't mind.

The day had the promise of being wonderful. The skies were azure blue and the warm spring sun heated the pavement. Usagi smiled. She was looking forward to seeing Averill with ten times more excitement than she had ever felt for Mamoru. Being away from him was a physical aching in her chest and she looked forward to his healing touch.

Kina can have Mamoru for all I care, Usagi thought lazily. If I see her again, I'll tell her that. But as she was thinking this, Usagi didn't expect to actually see her nemesis, and when she did, she nearly leapt to the sky.

The girl came running out from a flower shop across the street and Usagi didn't recognize her until she started waving her arms and calling her name. "Tsukino-san! Over here!"

Usagi froze when she saw Mamoru's Kina-chan heading her way. She wanted to run but her feet wouldn't obey; they stood firmly rooted to the pavement. Kina stopped running and finished the last few paces with an odd look on her face, nervous.

She has reason to be, Usagi thought fiercely, but managed to keep her face blank.

"Hi," Kina said.

Usagi thought the best approach was to play dumb. "Do I know you?" she asked and Kina frowned.

"Hasn't Mamo-kun told you about me?" she asked and then shook her head with a smile. "Never mind. I'm Moriyo Akina." She bowed a little uneasily and straightened. "It's a pleasure to finally meet the girlfriend of Chiba Mamoru. I would recognize you anywhere. I've heard so much about you."

Bad things, I bet, Usagi thought, but said innocently. "You know him?"

Kina… Akina grinned. "We're very close."

Very close, indeed. Usagi inwardly seethed, remembering the scene at the apartment building. She felt a stab of pain for an instant, but the thought of Averill washed it away. Why dwell on the past?

"He's a wonderful person," Akina added and Usagi forced a smile.

"I'm sorry, Moriyo-san, but I have to go. It was very nice to meet you." Akina smiled sweetly and Usagi felt more dislike for her.

"Sorry for keeping you," she said in an angelic voice. "Goodbye!"

"Goodbye," Usagi echoed and stomped away.

Hope you enjoy him more than I did, she added bitterly as her feet pounded against the pavement. From this moment on, I am through with Chiba Mamoru. Forever, she decided solemnly and then stopped thinking about him entirely.

0 0 0

Averill was waiting for her with a hot dog. "Hi," he said cheerfully. "You're late. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten me."

"Never," Usagi insisted, sliding into her seat and leaning towards him. She expected him to kiss her, but he shoved the hotdog towards her and it met her lips while he turned back to the game.

Men, Usagi thought with amusement as she leaned back and took a bite. If it came between sports and women, I think I know the winner.

"Watch this," Averill said, leaning forward in anticipation. Usagi rolled her eyes but looked. #37 of Japan's team was heading up to bat. With a wild swing, he hit the ball that was pitched to him and ran around all the bases before the Hungarian team they were playing could touch him.

"Isn't he amazing?" Averill asked eagerly.

"He hit the ball," Usagi said with a shrug. "I could do that." Averill grinned at her.

"I'd like to see you try." Usagi gave him a lighthearted shove and he fell onto the prissy-looking businessman next to him with a laugh. Usagi started to laugh too but then stopped. Something was bothering her. Maybe it was because they were acting more like friends than the passionate new couple they were supposed to be.

He's probably not very good with P.D.A, she realized with a shrug. It's nothing. But that hadn't seemed to bother him the other night…

Out on the field, #37 had taken off his batting helmet and was waving at the cheering crowd. He was very handsome. Usagi shot a thoughtful look at Averill. She'd learned in the past that jealousy was an effective motivation for the opposite sex.

"He's so cute!" she cried, clasping her hands together, and froze when Averill nodded agreement.

"Yeah. Lucky bastard." Usagi sighed and leaned back. Well, that had failed. Averill let out a cry and she turned to him thinking maybe it had worked after all, but he was bent over, clutching his head.

"Averill!" Usagi cried and reached down to him, but he pushed her away with a moan. Usagi bit her lip and watched him squirm in pain, not knowing what she could do to help.

"Averill," she whispered tearfully. What was going on?

0 0 0

I want him.

No, Averill thought. You can't have him.

I want him.

Please, not now, Averill begged. I need more time.

Obey me now and you will have all eternity.

Slowly, the pain faded away and Averill slowly sat up.

0 0 0

"Averill!" Usagi cried in relief as he rose. He was rubbing his forehead and his green eyes looked unusually bleak. "Averill," Usagi repeated, "are you alright?" He glanced at her and she swallowed at the expression on his face. He looked cold and completely dispassionate to her concern.

"Fine," he said curtly. "Just a headache."

"We could ask if anyone has aspirin," she suggested but was surprised when he roughly shook his head.

"I said I'm fine," he snapped and turned back to the game. Usagi looked away with a grimace. What was that? At least his pain had faded. They sat silently for the rest of the game, Averill staring at the baseball field with an odd look with Usagi watching him warily. Finally, after the final pitch and the announcement of Japan's

win 14-9, Averill turned to her and smiled. Usagi was relieved. Whatever his mood swing had been, it was over.

"Let's find #37 and get his autograph. He was obviously the star of the game." He gave her a little wink. "And I'm sure you wouldn't mind seeing His Beautifulness again."

"Sure," she agreed and followed him. Averill walked to a souvenir stand and purchased a baseball, and then motioned for her to follow him out of the stadium and into the attached building.

"Averill, I don't think we should," Usagi started as they approached a door that said, 'Private: No Public Admittance,' but Averill grinned and pushed the door open.

"We're not going to find him out there," he explained as soon as they were in. Usagi said nothing, and clutched his arm uneasily as she followed him down the long, dark hallway. They turned a corner and Averill frowned at the long line of doors. "Locker rooms," he explained. "The big shots have private ones. I'm not sure where his…"

Usagi tugged on his sleeve and pointed to a sign on one door that read, 'Takada Hideo: #37.' "Wonderful," Averill said softly and pushed the door open a crack, shouting, "Can we come in?" When he heard a positive reply, he led Usagi in by the hand.

Takada Hideo was sitting on a bench in full uniform and when he saw them approaching, he jumped in surprise. "You're not allowed in here," he said with amusement. "But since you brought a pretty lady with you, I won't complain." Usagi blushed and cowered behind Averill. She wasn't used to attention from older men and wasn't sure she liked it.

"Could you sign this?" Averill asked, getting to the point. He held out the baseball and Hideo chuckled.

"Of course," he said. "You went through all this trouble to break in, I might as well." He got up and strolled to Averill to get the ball. "You got a pen?" he asked and when Averill shook his head, Hideo turned around, mumbling to himself.

"See?" Averill whispered to Usagi and seized her hand. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Usagi moved closer without response. Something didn't feel right and she was more than ready to leave. Hideo returned, his name on the ball.

"Here you go," he said, handing it back. "Now scram before you get me in trouble."

"Thanks," Averill said and pocketed the ball. "Come on, Usagi." He took her arm and started to lead her away, but as they were opening the door, Hideo let out a cry. Usagi spun around and gasped.

There were two figures in the room holding onto Hideo. One she recognized as Azurite, and the other had shoulder-length strawberry blond hair and cool gray eyes. Hideo was struggling with them, and although he was strong, he clearly couldn't beat two muscle-bound men by himself.

"Leave him alone!" Usagi cried, angry with the two men who always seemed to cause her trouble. She threw herself at Azurite, kicking and biting every bit of him that she could reach. Azurite released Hideo with an outraged cry and grabbed her instead. She shrieked and tried to struggle from his grip, but without powers, she was a normal girl, without superhuman strength.

The other man made a quick movement and Hideo slumped back against him, unconscious. "That wasn't wise, little girl," Azurite growled. Usagi tried to swing her arm at him, but he held her in a firm grip.

"Let me go, you monster," she yelled. "Averill, help me!" But Averill was backing towards the door, watching the scene with wide eyes. Usagi made one more wild attempt to escape before something was pulled over her head.

A strong chemical stench filled her nostrils and her last coherent thought was Averill… before everything went black.