Hello Mina, Here is Chapter 4. I hope you all enjoy!

Authors Note: 'Denotes People's Thoughts' I'd like to take a moment to Thank My reviewers.

Faerex - I agree but the story wouldn't be the same without him Thanks, Card Captor Eternity - Thanks for Reading, Jamesstutz - Thanks...Okay okay I still do not own anything but the joy of my imagination... Onward dear reader...

The Game

Chapter 4 - Hero Or Mere Mortal?

The next morning her back didn't feel quite so sore and it felt as though her skin was stretched taut. Dressing was a nightmare but she finally managed to get her uniform on. She wore a long sleeve shirt underneath to hide the nasty bruising on her wrists. Heading down stairs, she just grabbed a piece of toast and crammed it in her mouth.

Her mom held out her bento box and seeing Usagi's face asked. "Usagi is everything all right?" Concern for her daughter written on her face as she eyed her pale daughter she tried to get Usagi to confide in her.

"Yes Mom, everything is fine." She gave her mom a convincing smile and ran out the door. "Bye."

Looking around for Sei, Usagi did not see him. Knowing if she waited for him, she would be late again, she set off on her own. Two blocks from the school, she spotted Rei waiting for her. As she approached, she saw the thunderous expression on Rei's face. 'Uh-oh what did I do now?' she thought about it but it was only last night that they had all met.

"Usagi-chan, where were you last night? You did not answer your communicator! You promised to carry it with you at all times!"

"I fell asleep early and didn't hear a thing. I think your tea works too well." Usagi chuckled nervously hoping that Rei believed her lie. 'Kamisama, I am sorry for lying but I have to protect everyone.'

"Well okay. There was another attack last night and some pagoda looking thing with faces all over it was sucking energy down in the shopping district. We stopped it but that female got away." Rei looked at her to see if Usagi was listening.

"Kamisama, Usagi-chan what happened to your face."

"She fell hitting her dresser Good morning sweetheart, I missed you." Sei kissed her cheek, appearing out of nowhere, as he took her hand. Pinching her at the wrist, he raised his eyes in warning.

"Sweetheart, didn't you tell me that you tripped in your bedroom and fell against it?" He pinched again even harder.

"Um yeah I did." Usagi blushed and Rei just chuckled.

"Another klutz attack, you need to be more careful Usagi-chan." Rei smiled and winked at her friend.

"Well we would love to stay and chat but I have something to show Usagi-chan, before school."

"Okay bye, Usagi, I will see you at lunch." Rei smiled at the couple waiting for Usagi to agree.

When Usagi started to agree Sei squeezed her hand painfully to shut her up.

"I don't think we will be able to join you, not today anyway maybe some other time." Sei looked at Rei warning her away with an unfriendly look, she looked confused.

"But Usagi-chan we always eat together, are you sure?"

Sei wanting to make sure Usagi complied set his hand on her back and pressed on her recent wounds. If anybody else noticed, it was a purely innocent caress.

Sucking her breath in to hide her pain, Usagi was torn. The girls would immediately know something was up. Her heart hurt even more this time than with Motoki. With a cold look in her eyes, she turned to Rei.

"I am sorry Rei we are busy today maybe some other time." Usagi wanted to cry on the inside but knew she could not show it. She had to protect her friends at any cost, all the times they protected her she owed them so much and this was her way of returning the favor.

Rei looked hurt and confused. "Okay if you are sure, bye." She walked off quickly, getting an odd feeling. Scanning the crowd heading in, Rei looked for Ami, Minako and Makoto. Not wanting to use the communicator in such a crowd, she continued to look. Spying a blonde head in the crowd, she quickly walked over to see if it was Minako.

"Good morning Rei-chan, is everything all right?" Minako being her usual inquisitive self had noticed Rei's mood immediately.

"Where are Ami and Makoto? We need to chat quickly." She scanned the crowd and seeing the tall brown-haired woman, waved her over urgently. Ami came rushing up from the other side.

"Anyone see Usagi this morning?" Ami had been the most concerned the previous evening when they could not reach her.

"I have and something is up." She quickly told them about Usagi and Sei brushing her off and Usagi's cold behavior they all looked worried as they headed off to their classes.

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Sei used his hand on her back and guided her away from Rei heading towards the bleachers. He finally managed to pull her over and forced her to sit down.

"Wow your friends sure are pretty." He stopped mid-sentence glancing at her meaningfully before continuing. "You wouldn't want them to get hurt would you?" Sei pulled out his knife playing with it. "I mean you do like them pretty don't you?"

Usagi eyed him nervously and nodded.

"Then you won't be seeing them anymore. I would not want to have to punish them for your disobedience. I think you will cut all ties, in fact I guarantee you will. Here is what you are going to do..."

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Ami waited by the door to their class waiting to see for herself. When Usagi strolled up Sei was still with her. Their heads bent close together they were talking quietly.

"Usagi-chan Good morning, are you ready for Haruna Sensei's test?" Sei glared at Ami and put his hand on Usagi's back applying pressure to her wounds.

Usagi thought for a moment 'I am so sorry my best friend, kamisama I hope someday you can forgive me but I have to do this to protect you.' Taking a deep breath, Usagi said the hated words that Sei had forced her to memorize quickly. "I'm sorry I don't have time to be friends with such a know-it-all-person studying all the time. How stupid is that, I have a life now."

Seeing the hurt look on Ami's face nearly caused her to drop to her knees in grief. If it had not been for Sei's hand on her, applying pressure and causing waves of pain, she wouldn't have been able to go through with this.

Usagi forced out a cruel laugh, looked at Sei and continued. "Don't look now I think the cry baby is ready to cry." With another cruel laugh, she turned and kissed Sei before wandering into class.

Usagi couldn't look at Ami at all, if she did she would be the one crying. She sat listening to Haruna Sensei ramble on about math. Her back was hurting severely and she could hardly keep still. She was cold one minute and hot, the next and by the time the bell rang for lunch she was completely miserable. Deciding that she needed to think she decided to go look for her sweatshirt.

Leaving the school grounds, she headed for the park. Knowing Sei would be furious right now she felt so miserable she did not mind she just wanted to be alone to think.

Pondering the situation, she wondered what to do. 'Sei must not know that I am Sailor Moon. I cannot risk exposing that at all. Maybe I should talk to Rei. She might know what to do, but Kamisama I cannot let anyone be hurt.

Would Sei really hurt Rei? I just don't know what he is actually capable of doing. I wish the Moonlight Knight could help, but he only helps me as Sailor Moon. I do not even know his identity.' She almost collapsed from grief. 'I need Tuxedo Kamen more than anyone else in the world!'

Walking slowly to the park entrance she looked around, spying no one she continued towards the path. Her head was beginning to pound and she could not seem to stay warm. She was trembling and it was becoming hard to concentrate. Upon reaching the bench, she stopped in shock. A dark head peeped from the top of the bench.

'No it couldn't be I must be seeing things.' These thoughts pounded into her brain. She slowly approached the bench afraid of what she might find. As she came around the bench, her heart stopped. There sat Mamoru holding her sweatshirt. 'It is...It is...It is!' ran through her mind repeatedly.

"Hey Odango," Mamoru glanced up at her and smiled.

"Mamoru-san," was all that squeaked out. She sat down and leaned back gently, still a hiss of pain escaped from her lips when her back made contact with the bench. Mamoru threw her an odd look but did not mention it.

"I found this here and I was wondering if maybe you recognize it?" He was holding out her sweatshirt, looking for a name.

"Yes, it's mine...I uh left it here the other day actually I was just coming to get it." He handed it over to her and for the first time really looked at her. He saw the flush on her face and noticed she was sweating. Then he saw the discoloration of the bruising on her cheek.

"Kamisama Odango what happened to your face?" Wondering what was going on he waited to see what she would tell him.

"I uh fell and landed against my dresser," she mumbled not able to think clearly anymore. Feeling cold, she took the sweatshirt and tried to snuggle under it like a blanket.

Mamoru watched her and noticed that she let her eyes drift closed and she was trembling.

"Are you sure you are all right?" Reaching out a hand he tentatively felt her forehead.

"Yeah I'm just lost and confused." she mumbled drifting in out of dozing.

"Kamisama you're burning up." He scooted closer and went to put his arm around her, but when it made contact with her skin, she whimpered in pain without waking. He jerked his arm back. 'What the hell is going on?' he thought.

"Odango did you have another klutz attack?" He waited for her to be riled up but nothing happened she just mumbled an incoherent reply.

"Odango, Answer me?" He was beginning to worry when she did not answer at all this time and her shaking worsened. He felt responsible for her being the only one around. Scooping her up in his arms, she whimpered softly and he spoke words of comfort.

"It's all right we will be there shortly." The last sound she made raised hair on the back of his neck.

"Mamo-chan" It came out as an endearment and she relaxed somewhat and seemed to snuggle into him.

He quickly carried her out of the park, not wanting to cause her trouble he avoided the hospital and took her instead to his apartment.

He fumbled to pull his keys out without dropping her finally managing to get to his keys he unlocked the door and carried into his bedroom. As he laid her on his bed, she whimpered again. Knowing something had to be wrong with her back, he made a quick decision.

He ran to the bathroom digging in a drawer and grabbed scissors. Returning to his bedroom he gently rolled her off her back to her side, grabbing the top of the fabric he apologized even though no one would hear him.

He quickly cut the fabric down the middle, pulling the sides apart he sucked in his breath, "Kamisama"

Looking with shock, he was amazed to see three long strips of open wounds. They were crusty with dried blood the skin around them was red and angry looking.

"Kamisama, who could have done this to her" He pulled one sleeve down off her arm and was shocked again because her wrist was black and blue and there were little bruises all over it. Picking her up gently, he rolled her to the other side and removed the halves of her shirt. The other wrist was almost as bad, ringed all around it with little bruises.

He needed help, running to the kitchen he picked up the phone as he thought about whom to call. Natsumi would be at school and he was not sure she would be any help. Motoki was home today.

Quickly dialing the number, he waited impatiently for Motoki. On the second ring, he finally heard a cheerful voice.

"Moshi-moshi" Motoki asked.

"Hey it's Mamoru and I need your help now, can you come quickly?"

Motoki paused for a moment struck by curiosity then answered. "Sure give me five and I will be there."

True to his words five minutes later, Motoki was knocking on the door.

"Quick come in." Mamoru waved him in.

Motoki had never seen Mamoru so distracted. "So what do you need my help with?" The curiosity was killing him.

"Come here and I will show you." He walked to his bedroom door and opened it. Motoki seeing the blonde head stopped in his tracks.

"Usagi-chan, but what is she doing here? Is she all right?"

"No she isn't, you have to see this." Mamoru led him over to the bed and pulled the blanket back gently. When Motoki saw her back, he stopped in shock.

"Usagi-chan, oh you poor girl" He had tears gathered in his eyes. "You poor foolish girl, you did this to protect me." Mamoru stared at him.

"What are you talking about?" He looked expectantly at Motoki waiting for an explanation.

"I can't be sure but I think I know what is going on. We need to keep her hidden. How about I call one her friends and they can call her parents and let them know she is staying over?"

"That is a good idea that is the same reason I didn't head for the hospital. The phone is out there. Use your judgment on what to say. We cannot just share her secret. So for now just say she is at my place but not why."

"Yes, good idea." Motoki went and called Rei, letting her know where Usagi was and asking if Rei could cover for Usagi. He hung up quickly and headed back into Mamoru's room.

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Lunch came round and Sei could find no trace of Usagi. He was slowly getting angrier by the moment. Stalking into the cafeteria he looked around for those damn girls Usagi called friends.

Not seeing them anywhere he headed out the doors to the courtyard and finally spotting the two, he recognized he noticed two others with them, but no Usagi. Walking over to where they sat he stood glowering at them.

"Where is she?" Glaring he waited impatiently for an answer.

"She's supposed to be with you." Rei answered hotly, she could sense his anger and was worried for Usagi. She wanted to talk to her friend alone.

"I don't believe you for one minute where are you hiding her? Trust me you don't want to mess with me because I guarantee you will live to regret it."

Makoto jumped up angrily. "Why you conceited ass I'll pound some sense into you." She already had a fist cocked ready to lay into him. The other girls also stood and Rei quickly put her hand onto Makoto's shoulder.

"He's not worth it, we already told him if he won't believe it that is his problem." Rei scanned the crowd looking for Usagi as she spoke.

"Let's focus on Usagi," she threw Makoto a meaningful look and continued. "Ami would you run to class and see if she is there, Minako go check the girl's restroom and Makoto and I will check the cafeteria."

Sei finally sensing they were being truthful spoke up. "I already checked the cafeteria, she isn't there."

"Fine we will check with the nurse and meet back here in five minutes."

Sei watched as they all quickly scattered to do their respective tasks. Since they were covering all the places he had not, he decided to wait there for them to return.

They were all back, in the five-minute time and no one had any luck Usagi had vanished. Sei left the girls using an excuse of homework to go off on his own.

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The girls seriously concerned left school heading for Rei's shrine.

They knew if she were going to contact them, it would be there. As they walked, they discussed all possibilities. Arriving at the shrine, Rei made tea to help their frazzled nerves.

They all sat around the table trying to study. Without Usagi there, goofing off, nothing was the same. They were each lost in thought when the phone rang startling all of them.

"Moshi-moshi" Rei answered. Hearing Motoki's voice, she sighed in frustration. "It is just Motoki." They all lapsed back into despair after getting their hopes up.

"What?" Rei's shriek startled all the rest of them and they leaned forward their attention drawn by the look of shock on Rei's face.

"Why?" Her face went from shock to frustration back to shock.

"Okay will do, you keep us updated...bye." She hung the phone up and turned to look at the girls.

"Well, what is it?" Minako asked curiously. Four pairs of eyes watched anxiously for word of Usagi.

"Usagi is at Mamoru's apartment." Four jaws dropped open at the same time.

"Motoki asks if one of us will call her parents and cover for her." They all nodded as Rei continued.

"He did not say it but there was definitely worry in his voice. He asked that we not tell anyone at all where she is, and if anyone asks, we know nothing almost as though they are trying to protect her...but from what?"

All of the girls silently contemplated the situation until Rei spoke up.

"I think Ami-chan should be the one to call Mrs. Tsukino." She smiled at Ami. Usagi's mom was familiar with all five girls but knew Ami the best, so having decided, Ami quickly called Usagi's mom to tell the fabricated story. Feeling guilty for the lie but knowing what was on the line she pulled it off. Hanging up the phone, she looked at everyone in relief.

"Okay so anyone have any idea of what's going on?" Minako asked bluntly

Ami paused for a minute gathering her thoughts.

"Here is what we know so far yesterday afternoon Usagi was fine other than worrying about Mamoru, this morning that had all changed. She started acting cold and cutting us off, something must have happened last night."

"But she said she fell asleep early last night and slept straight through the night." Rei remembered Usagi blaming it on her tea.

"Well obviously she lied for some reason, maybe she was trying to protect us but that leads back to the same question from what? Ami sat puzzled for a few minutes but with no answers forth coming, she paused.

"For now we should let Motoki and Mamoru handle things and we will just have to wait." Ami continued, "Besides we have lots of school work that needs attention."

"You know I hate sitting by idly waiting, I want to kick some serious butt, but for Usagi..." Makoto let the end of the sentence go.

The other three girls all agreed, "For Usagi!"

Well here is an end to Chapter 4. I hope you have enjoyed it, please Review and let me know what you think!