Hello Minna, Here is Chapter 3 of Ghosts of Christmas Eve, I hope you enjoy it. Please read and review.
Author's Notes – 'Denotes People's Thoughts' I'd like to take a moment and thank my reviewers. THANK YOU! As all of you are aware that is what keeps us writing.
Disclaimer - Yoshi-sama informed me of this today, and I quote him for your own amusement and his…
"Do you know the legal headache you would be asking for if you tried to acquire the copyrights to Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon?" Therefore you realize I don't have any legal rights…
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve
Chapter 3 – Unforgivable?
Mamoru hung around the food court as each of the girls left until he and Rei remained alone. He glanced at her smiling genially, "Could I talk to you for a minute?" He watched as she pondered it for a moment.
"Sure, what's up?" She gave him a reassuring look thinking it had to do with her earlier confession.
"It concerns Usagi-chan, she was acting oddly earlier when we were alone and I am concerned." Rei's eyes widened slightly but she waited for him to continue.
"Does Usagi-chan have any younger female relatives?" Mamoru didn't wait for a reply just hastily continued. "When we were shopping earlier she went into the toy store and bought a giant stuffed panda with a pink bow." Taking a deep breath, he halted letting the news sink in.
"Not to my knowledge." Rei nervously chewed her lip before continuing. "Do you think this could have anything to do with last night?"
"That's what I am afraid it means. She told me it was for a friend." Mamoru dropped his head into his hands. "I think this has hit her harder than she is letting on."
Rei nodded before speaking. "I think it's a good idea if maybe we keep a close eye on her."
"As much as I hate that kind of thing, I have to agree, I am seriously worried." Mamoru stilled for a moment. "Well I am free this evening so I can keep an eye on her tonight." He cringed as a thought struck him. "Do you know how angry she would be if she found out?"
Rei's nod did nothing to appease his worry only strengthened it.
"I guess we make sure she doesn't find out then." Sighing in resignation he slumped back in his seat. "Not that I approve of this but I can't think of anything better."
-------
Usagi stared at the panda and tried to figure out the best way to tell everyone. No answers were forthcoming. 'I know they will not want to let me just quit being Sailor Moon, but there is no other choice. We do not know who the Moon Princess is yet and I cannot afford to lose other innocents. I will give Venus my brooch and she will have to take command.'
Grabbing the phone she hurriedly called Minako. When her friend answered she sounded sleepy.
"Usagi-chan, what's up?"
"I need you to let everyone know that we are meeting at the Temple at four tomorrow. We need to have a Senshi meeting." Trying not to lose her courage Usagi unconscientiously reached up and felt the brooch hanging from her neck. The gold felt slightly warm to the touch as she smoothed her fingers over it.
Minako paused in shock with this information. Usually Luna was the one that decided on meetings. "Can we at least exchange gifts and celebrate since tomorrow is Christmas Eve?"
"Yeah after the meeting though. You know Senshi business always comes first, so please let everyone know." Hanging up on a shocked Minako, Usagi wandered to her dresser and picked up the Panda seeking comfort. The plush softness was soothing but there was no comfort.
'I show the first signs of being a leader just as I am resigning and retiring.' The irony of the situation did not go unnoticed. 'It is late enough, I should go.' She wandered to the window and slipped out onto her window sill. Climbing to the nearest limb she carefully made her way down the tree with the panda tucked under one arm. Reaching the ground she quietly wandered away from her house.
-------
Tuxedo Kamen sat frozen in shock in the uppermost limbs of the same tree Usagi was carefully climbing down. He prayed to kami-sama that she not look up. When she reached the ground and silently wandered up the street he finally emitted a small sigh of relief.
Jumping down he tried to be as silent as possible, not wanting to alert her to his presence. His heart filled with trepidation he followed her at a distance. 'I know where she is going, but I hope I am wrong.' As he followed her closer to the scene of the previous night's battle his feeling of dread grew. 'What is she doing? This cannot be good at all.'
-------
Usagi approached the scene of her grisly nightmares with trepidation. Slowly she advanced into the open grassy area of the park. She could sense the sadness of the place that had so recently seen such a horrible tragedy, draping over the area like a heavy mist. Frozen still air left goose bumps skittering over her skin but she ignored the sensation.
"Hello…." She called to the empty area. Walking as close to the exact spot as her memory would allow she found a spot and slowly knelt. Feeling the cool grass beneath her she summoned her last bit of courage.
"I came to let you know that…" Scenes from the night before played over and over again in her mind as she tried to find the words to convey her feelings.
"I don't even know your name or where you came from but…" Tears finally broke through her control and slipped down her face. "I came to tell you how sorry I am!" She dropped her head in agony.
"It wasn't supposed to happen! I protect people and I messed up." Usagi swiped at the tears running down her face. "You paid for that and I am sorry. I know I can't make it all better but I brought you a little something." She held up the panda and shook it gently as though a child was there with her.
"Please know that I didn't mean for it to happen, I just wasn't fast enough or strong enough." A sob broke from her throat and gave her speech pause.
"Please forgive me!" Usagi begged and pleaded with the empty night over and over again seeking forgiveness. Sobs wracked her thin body as guilt and remorse coursed through her. She eventually began screaming the words until they tore from her body without thought. Her guilt was so great it felt as though it was crushing her alive. Caving in on herself she rolled into a little ball and just gave into the pain. Finally completely exhausted and hoarse she felt herself slip into sleep.
-------
Tuxedo Kamen stood at the edge of the trees watching silently. Tears ran down his face watching her suffer but he knew that this was her private moment and he could not intrude. Wanting to offer solace so badly, that he caught himself stepping forward, he grabbed onto the nearest tree and held on. He could feel the rough bark cutting into his flesh but it kept him from automatically moving forward. When she began begging and pleading and her yells became hysterical screams he dropped to his knees. The pain and guilt radiating from her was so intense that it took his breath. When her voice became hoarse he slowly stood and listened as her pleas weakened even more. Before long she became silent and he could see that her breathing had evened out.
Finally feeling that it was safe to approach, he quietly made his way towards her. Crouching down next to Usagi he took in the sight of her tear stained face. Exhaustion wiped her features clean of any emotion and seeing her in a deep sleep, he gathered the sleeping girl up into his arms. Striding back the way he had come he carried her home. Leaping into the tree by her window he maneuvered his way up to her window.
'Thank Kami-sama she left her window open. There is no way I could open it and hold her.' He adjusted Usagi one last time before slipping in the window. Strolling to her bed he laid her gently upon her comforter and stood staring down at her. She was still clutching the Panda she had bought earlier that day.
"Koishii, please don't give up." His whispered words floated gently near her ear as he dropped a kiss on her forehead before vanishing with a swirl of his cloak.
------
Still transformed Tuxedo Kamen hurried across town towards the temple. Climbing the stairs hurriedly he knocked softly at the temple door. Rei's sleepy head poked out the door after only one knock. 'Kami-sama she must be a light sleeper.' Visions from the night before had him blushing. 'That explains her behavior, if she overheard Usagi and I.' He didn't wait for Rei to speak or ask questions.
"It is much worse than we realized. I followed her tonight." The dawning look of horror on Rei's face saved him from answering where. "She is suffering horribly and I think..." He was afraid to speak the words aloud. 'I don't want to say it and make it real.' Sighing in frustration he continued, "That it might destroy her."
Rei's eyes widened, "She called a Senshi meeting for tomorrow…uh…today." Mamoru looked puzzled.
"You see she never calls meeting together that is usually Luna." With a startled gasp Rei threw a hand over her mouth, silently berating herself. 'Now I have gone and done it. The cat is out of the bag.'
"Luna…Isn't Luna that black cat that you fed the other night?" Mamoru eyed her strangely wondering at the situation.
Rei chuckled nervously trying to think of an explanation. 'What do I say? What do I say?' "Oh did I say Luna, I meant Mina. Venus usually decides on the meetings." Rei watched praying that he believed her cover story.
She let a small sigh of relief as he seemed to believe her slip up. "If you would like to be here, we are meeting at four. I think knowing your identity and you knowing ours it would be appropriate."
Tuxedo Kamen nodded, "I will be here, why do you think she suddenly called a meeting?"
Rei gazed off into the night thoughtfully. "You know she never has before and if it is as bad as you say I think…" She didn't want to give voice to her greatest fears but knew it was necessary. "That she is going to quit and hand over the command of the Senshi to Venus."
Mamoru sucked in a breath and nodded, "That has kind of been my feeling too. I'll let you get back to bed. I'll see you at four." Without another word he strode off into the night leaving a frightened Rei staring after him.
'Usagi, what is going inside your head?'
-------
Usagi's first notion that something wasn't the same was the softness underneath her. 'Last night it was cold, the ground was hard and wet.' Lying on her stomach she moved an arm to feel a comfortable softness underneath her skin. Cracking a bleary eye open she was shocked to see a pink wall and her pink comforter. Sitting up she glanced around to find herself in her own bed at home.
Having no memory of getting home she was confused. Spotting the panda crushed underneath where she had recently slept she shook her head in puzzlement. 'This is just too weird, someone must have been there.' Lost in thought she grabbed the Panda and sat it once more on her dresser. Gathering jeans and a warm sweater she made her way to the shower.
-------
Rei called Minako first and let her know she wanted everyone there at three. Keeping it to the barest minimum, she just said they all needed to talk before Usagi-chan arrived. Calling Mamoru next she quickly explained that the other Senshi needed to hear everything because she didn't want them all surprised. As soon as she hung up she went into her bedroom and changed into her miko robes.
Remaining barefoot she wandered into the sacred fire room and knelt in her usual spot. Calming and centering herself she forced all the worry and stress away before beginning to meditate.
Suspended in the connection with the flames, she watched as murky images became a clear vision. All she could see was a spirit wandering, seeking solace. No Usagi-chan, no dire warnings, nothing else at all appeared in the vision.
Sighing with frustration, she broke the connection and collapsed sweaty and trembling. Glancing outside she realized she had been there meditating for awhile. The placement of the sun and light and shadow now differed from when she first knelt. Slowly standing and stretching sore muscles she left the sacred room and headed for her bedroom. Glancing at the clock, she realized it was already two and everyone would be arriving in an hour. Grabbing her regular priestess robes she made her way to the shower.
-------
Makoto and Ami arrived moments before three and Mamoru walked up behind them as they knocked. Throwing a quizzical look over her shoulder at Mamoru's presence, Ami decided to keep her thoughts to herself. Rei opened the door and ushered them as a heavily panting Minako came bustling up the stairs.
"Sorry…had…to…run the whole way." Minako stumbled up the last steps and hurried through the door. Seeing Rei's serious mien and Mamoru's troubled look the girls suddenly got quiet and found seats on the floor. As soon as everyone settled Mamoru threw a nod in Rei's direction to begin. They had a lot to discuss and only an hour before Usagi would arrive.
Here is an end to Chapter 3. I hope you have enjoyed it. Please review and let me know what you think.