Chapter 15
Chibi Usa tentatively got out of the car. She stared up at the large house which was just about the size of her own. There was a stone walkway which led to the front door. She was apprehensive about going into the house. It gave off a faint but bad aura which she didn't quite like, but knew she had to get used to. Mamoru took her bags out of the trunk of the car and led her inside with Rei and Minako following.
~~~~~
The inside of the house was bright and sunny, but there was a certain darkness which over shadowed it. He led her up the stairs and down a hall.
"This is your bedroom." He said as he opened the door. He took her inside and set her things down. He was just walking out when her voice stopped him.
"Ano, Chiba-san?" she said shyly.
"You don't have to be formal with me," he said looking at her with his midnight blue eyes. (I know what color his eyes are but humor me for now).
"Can you open my suitcase for me, please?" she asked again.
Mamoru thought for a while. "Sure," he said opening the suitcase. He noticed the new clothes. "Are these you're everyday clothes?"
"Nope. Mommy said that I was getting too big for my old ones and we were putting off on buying some new ones until yesterday when we went shopping. But these are almost like my old ones though," she said taking her stuffed animals out of another bag. She arranged them on her bureau. Seeing that she would need help with all her stuff he called Minako to assist her and left.
Minako was really surprised to see all the things she had.
"Wow Chibi Usa, you really have some nice clothes," she said holding a denim skirt set.
"Thank you. My mommy bought it for me." She said.
"Then again Usagi always had good taste when it came to clothes," she mumbled, putting it into the bureau.
"Where are the others?" she asked curiously.
"You mean Darien, Benjamin and Salina?" she asked. Chibi Usa nodded.
"Darien is at his grandparent's house and Benjamin and Salina went with him. Mamoru thought it would be a good idea that they go for the day. They'll be here at around 5 though." She said.
Chibi Usa started chattering about her life with her mom and that made Minako realize just how much she was like Usagi.
Truth be told, Minako missed Usagi. Seeing her daughter brought back good memories. In fact she missed Makoto, Ami and Usagi very much. She and Rei didn't get along well, but had over the years learned to tolerate each other. For her, the happiest time she had ever had was spent with the old group. And Chibi Usa was so much like her mother. Her sunny disposition and all. She had screwed up her chance with Usagi and she vowed to make it up to her daughter.
~~~~~
Minako and Chibi Usa spent the better part of an hour putting everything up. Then Minako took Chibi Usa downstairs.
"Do you want something to eat, Chibi Usa?" she asked as she led her to the kitchen.
"I am hungry," she said as she followed the older lady. She reminded Chibi Usa of her mother and she felt relaxed around her.
"How about I give you some cookies? But then again Rei made them so I don't know if they're any good………" she said as Chibi Usa giggled. 'yup, this is definitely Usagi's child.' She though as she entered the kitchen.
They were a little surprised to see Rei there. She was standing near the counter with her hands on her hips, looking a little annoyed. Minako gulped, sure she would get yelled at, but Rei surprised her by taking Chibi Usa's hand and getting the cookies for her. Rei saw the expression on her face and laughed, shaking her head.
Minako blinked, unsure that she was seeing and hearing things. Rei hadn't laughed like that in 5 years. It just made Minako appreciate Chibi Usa more and long for the broken friendship she had with Usagi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over the next few days, Chibi Usa began to grow more comfortable around the others. The first day she was tense about everyone reacting towards her, remembering the way it had been when she first met everyone but she soon was put at ease. The other children were nicer to her than at first.
She and Salina became friends, and although the two boys terrorized them, it was in fun.
Mamoru on the other hand, was rarely at home. She only saw him once more during the first week. Darien explained that was how it always was and that during the last month they had seen him more times than during the last year.
Although she was happy with them she still suffered from home sickness. She missed her mom terribly. The first day when she woke up she had even went with the intentions of waking up her mother before going into the hall and realizing that she wasn't at home. And she cried herself to sleep at night. It was soft though, so no one knew except for Minako, who went to check on Chibi Usa one night and discovered her tearstained face.
One day while they were in the living room watching TV, Chibi Usa went up to Rei.
"Rei-san, can I call my mommy?" she pleaded.
"Of course," she said, taking her into the kitchen to have a little privacy when she made her call.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi had just arrived home from attempting to go to work. Setsuna was out at the courthouse finishing up some legal work and doing some last minute preparations for the trial. Luna wasn't home either and Usagi assumed that she went with Setsuna.
Usagi walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. She buried her head in her hands as she tried to compose herself. Just being in the house was enough to get her depressed and start crying again. She was just about to give in and breakdown when the phone rang. Pushing the lump in her throat down she answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hi mommy!" a cheerful voice said.
"Chibi Usa? Hi sweetie," she said, overjoyed to hear here daughters voice. Although it had been only a few days since she had seen her daughter, to her it was a lifetime. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine. I just wanted to know if you were ok," she answered.
"I'm fine really. How is everyone treating you?"
"Good. Otousan and Minako-mama and Rei-mama are really nice to me," she said. Usagi winced at the mention of Mamoru as father and Minako and Rei as 'mama' but didn't comment.
"So you are fitting in ok." she said rather than asked.
"Yup!"
"That's good."
"Mommy?" she said softly.
"Yes sweetie?"
"I want to come home," she said even more softly. "I miss you."
That tore into Usagi's heart. "Chibi Usa, I…"
"I know that you can't come for me, mommy," she said interrupting her.
"You know that if I had any say in this at all, you wouldn't even have left," she said.
"I know, it's just that I miss you so much," Chibi Usa said with some difficulty.
"I know, sweetie, I know," she said regretfully. Hearing her daughter like that made her want to murder Mamoru even more. She couldn't even see her because of that stupid judge.
"I have to go now, but can I call you later?" she asked.
"Of course sweetie, anytime you feel like it."
"Good. Good bye mommy,"
"Good bye sweetie," she said as Chibi Usa hung up. Usagi gripped the phone tightly as she began to cry, silently. She replaced the phone and leaned back into her chair. Closing her eyes, tried to stop her tears as one thing repeated itself in her mind. 'just three more days'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those three days couldn't come fast enough for Usagi. Trunks was there almost all the time helping everyone get ready. The trial was going to be private. No reporters, the transcripts were to be sealed later and no one was to talk about anything that came out during the trial as both parties had things that they wanted to keep from the press.
~~~~~
The night before the trial, Minako and Rei were up late. They would be going to the trial as well as all the children. They found out from
Mamoru's lawyer that they would be needed as character witnesses for him. Minako came up to the kitchen table and sat down in front of Rei. Rei looked up when she did.
"You know we will see her, don't you?" Minako asked.
"Yes. And the outers as well. I would be surprised if we got a nice welcome. They hate us, you know." She answered as she took a sip of her tea.
"Do you blame them? I mean we did sleep with Mamoru behind her back, which I still don't understand why I did." Minako said.
"You know as well as I do. He is a gorgeous man. He is charming and had us so wrapped around his finger that it was inevitable. Add to that mix that we were naive and impressionable and you get our situation," she said frankly.
"No it was something more than that. I can't explain it but I know that there was something more," she said.
"I know, I felt that way too. But we are in this situation so we can only make the best of it," Rei said sighing. She drank from her tea again.
"Are you going to lie for him?" Minako asked suddenly. Rei was slightly taken back, as she was just pondering the same thing. "We know what he's been doing for he past 4 years. He hasn't' really touched us during that time and we know he's getting it from somewhere, just not here. Besides what he did to Usagi was wrong and he has gotten away with it for too long."
"I agree but look at what you're saying. If we don't Mamoru will more likely kick us out just like he did to Makoto and Ami. We have nothing. What will we do? Where will we go? Face it, we have to stick up for him," Rei said.
"Makoto and Ami were in the same position but they still had the courage to stand up to him. I won't say it will be easy but if we stick together we can do it. Usagi did it."
"Usagi had the outers, Makoto and Ami had each other, and we have no one. And three kids. They've gotten used to living a certain way. How can we take them from their lifestyle? And what will we do for money?"
"We will work; get two jobs if we have to. And it will be rough for the first couple of months but we will make it. Come on Rei! Stop being so pessimistic. We can't lie for him any longer. I am sick of always bailing him out of a predicament that he got himself into. Telling the authorities false alibis and giving false statements. Besides we were supposed to take of Usagi. We haven't done a good job of it at all. It's time we start and make it all up to her. We won't expect her forgiveness but we can do the right thing." Minako said passionately.
Rei thought about it for a while. "You're right, Minako. I just hope that we are able to make it like you said," she said shaking her head at Minako. Minako smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi wasn't able to sleep as well. She tossed and turned, trying in vain to get comfortable, but in vain. She was just going to give up and go downstairs when her door opened.
"Can't sleep?" Setsuna said, shutting the door behind her. Usagi made room her on the bed.
"No," she said as Setsuna sat down. "I am just so worried. What if every thing that we worked hard for gets blown in our face? I would die if I lost Chibi Usa," she said sitting up.
"You won't, trust me. Even if I can't see into the future any more, I know that we will," she said pulling Usagi into an embrace. Usagi rested her head on her shoulder.
"I trust you," Usagi said.
"Good. Now try to sleep," Setsuna said as she let Usagi fall back into bed
"I'll try, Setsuna, I'll try," she said as the older woman got up.
"Setsuna?" Usagi called as she was about to leave.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for everything."
"No Usagi, Thank you." She said shutting the door behind her. Usagi was confused but didn't have time to go after because she suddenly felt very sleepy. Her last thoughts were of what Setsuna had done to her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chibi Usa tentatively got out of the car. She stared up at the large house which was just about the size of her own. There was a stone walkway which led to the front door. She was apprehensive about going into the house. It gave off a faint but bad aura which she didn't quite like, but knew she had to get used to. Mamoru took her bags out of the trunk of the car and led her inside with Rei and Minako following.
~~~~~
The inside of the house was bright and sunny, but there was a certain darkness which over shadowed it. He led her up the stairs and down a hall.
"This is your bedroom." He said as he opened the door. He took her inside and set her things down. He was just walking out when her voice stopped him.
"Ano, Chiba-san?" she said shyly.
"You don't have to be formal with me," he said looking at her with his midnight blue eyes. (I know what color his eyes are but humor me for now).
"Can you open my suitcase for me, please?" she asked again.
Mamoru thought for a while. "Sure," he said opening the suitcase. He noticed the new clothes. "Are these you're everyday clothes?"
"Nope. Mommy said that I was getting too big for my old ones and we were putting off on buying some new ones until yesterday when we went shopping. But these are almost like my old ones though," she said taking her stuffed animals out of another bag. She arranged them on her bureau. Seeing that she would need help with all her stuff he called Minako to assist her and left.
Minako was really surprised to see all the things she had.
"Wow Chibi Usa, you really have some nice clothes," she said holding a denim skirt set.
"Thank you. My mommy bought it for me." She said.
"Then again Usagi always had good taste when it came to clothes," she mumbled, putting it into the bureau.
"Where are the others?" she asked curiously.
"You mean Darien, Benjamin and Salina?" she asked. Chibi Usa nodded.
"Darien is at his grandparent's house and Benjamin and Salina went with him. Mamoru thought it would be a good idea that they go for the day. They'll be here at around 5 though." She said.
Chibi Usa started chattering about her life with her mom and that made Minako realize just how much she was like Usagi.
Truth be told, Minako missed Usagi. Seeing her daughter brought back good memories. In fact she missed Makoto, Ami and Usagi very much. She and Rei didn't get along well, but had over the years learned to tolerate each other. For her, the happiest time she had ever had was spent with the old group. And Chibi Usa was so much like her mother. Her sunny disposition and all. She had screwed up her chance with Usagi and she vowed to make it up to her daughter.
~~~~~
Minako and Chibi Usa spent the better part of an hour putting everything up. Then Minako took Chibi Usa downstairs.
"Do you want something to eat, Chibi Usa?" she asked as she led her to the kitchen.
"I am hungry," she said as she followed the older lady. She reminded Chibi Usa of her mother and she felt relaxed around her.
"How about I give you some cookies? But then again Rei made them so I don't know if they're any good………" she said as Chibi Usa giggled. 'yup, this is definitely Usagi's child.' She though as she entered the kitchen.
They were a little surprised to see Rei there. She was standing near the counter with her hands on her hips, looking a little annoyed. Minako gulped, sure she would get yelled at, but Rei surprised her by taking Chibi Usa's hand and getting the cookies for her. Rei saw the expression on her face and laughed, shaking her head.
Minako blinked, unsure that she was seeing and hearing things. Rei hadn't laughed like that in 5 years. It just made Minako appreciate Chibi Usa more and long for the broken friendship she had with Usagi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over the next few days, Chibi Usa began to grow more comfortable around the others. The first day she was tense about everyone reacting towards her, remembering the way it had been when she first met everyone but she soon was put at ease. The other children were nicer to her than at first.
She and Salina became friends, and although the two boys terrorized them, it was in fun.
Mamoru on the other hand, was rarely at home. She only saw him once more during the first week. Darien explained that was how it always was and that during the last month they had seen him more times than during the last year.
Although she was happy with them she still suffered from home sickness. She missed her mom terribly. The first day when she woke up she had even went with the intentions of waking up her mother before going into the hall and realizing that she wasn't at home. And she cried herself to sleep at night. It was soft though, so no one knew except for Minako, who went to check on Chibi Usa one night and discovered her tearstained face.
One day while they were in the living room watching TV, Chibi Usa went up to Rei.
"Rei-san, can I call my mommy?" she pleaded.
"Of course," she said, taking her into the kitchen to have a little privacy when she made her call.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi had just arrived home from attempting to go to work. Setsuna was out at the courthouse finishing up some legal work and doing some last minute preparations for the trial. Luna wasn't home either and Usagi assumed that she went with Setsuna.
Usagi walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. She buried her head in her hands as she tried to compose herself. Just being in the house was enough to get her depressed and start crying again. She was just about to give in and breakdown when the phone rang. Pushing the lump in her throat down she answered it.
"Hello?"
"Hi mommy!" a cheerful voice said.
"Chibi Usa? Hi sweetie," she said, overjoyed to hear here daughters voice. Although it had been only a few days since she had seen her daughter, to her it was a lifetime. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine. I just wanted to know if you were ok," she answered.
"I'm fine really. How is everyone treating you?"
"Good. Otousan and Minako-mama and Rei-mama are really nice to me," she said. Usagi winced at the mention of Mamoru as father and Minako and Rei as 'mama' but didn't comment.
"So you are fitting in ok." she said rather than asked.
"Yup!"
"That's good."
"Mommy?" she said softly.
"Yes sweetie?"
"I want to come home," she said even more softly. "I miss you."
That tore into Usagi's heart. "Chibi Usa, I…"
"I know that you can't come for me, mommy," she said interrupting her.
"You know that if I had any say in this at all, you wouldn't even have left," she said.
"I know, it's just that I miss you so much," Chibi Usa said with some difficulty.
"I know, sweetie, I know," she said regretfully. Hearing her daughter like that made her want to murder Mamoru even more. She couldn't even see her because of that stupid judge.
"I have to go now, but can I call you later?" she asked.
"Of course sweetie, anytime you feel like it."
"Good. Good bye mommy,"
"Good bye sweetie," she said as Chibi Usa hung up. Usagi gripped the phone tightly as she began to cry, silently. She replaced the phone and leaned back into her chair. Closing her eyes, tried to stop her tears as one thing repeated itself in her mind. 'just three more days'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Those three days couldn't come fast enough for Usagi. Trunks was there almost all the time helping everyone get ready. The trial was going to be private. No reporters, the transcripts were to be sealed later and no one was to talk about anything that came out during the trial as both parties had things that they wanted to keep from the press.
~~~~~
The night before the trial, Minako and Rei were up late. They would be going to the trial as well as all the children. They found out from
Mamoru's lawyer that they would be needed as character witnesses for him. Minako came up to the kitchen table and sat down in front of Rei. Rei looked up when she did.
"You know we will see her, don't you?" Minako asked.
"Yes. And the outers as well. I would be surprised if we got a nice welcome. They hate us, you know." She answered as she took a sip of her tea.
"Do you blame them? I mean we did sleep with Mamoru behind her back, which I still don't understand why I did." Minako said.
"You know as well as I do. He is a gorgeous man. He is charming and had us so wrapped around his finger that it was inevitable. Add to that mix that we were naive and impressionable and you get our situation," she said frankly.
"No it was something more than that. I can't explain it but I know that there was something more," she said.
"I know, I felt that way too. But we are in this situation so we can only make the best of it," Rei said sighing. She drank from her tea again.
"Are you going to lie for him?" Minako asked suddenly. Rei was slightly taken back, as she was just pondering the same thing. "We know what he's been doing for he past 4 years. He hasn't' really touched us during that time and we know he's getting it from somewhere, just not here. Besides what he did to Usagi was wrong and he has gotten away with it for too long."
"I agree but look at what you're saying. If we don't Mamoru will more likely kick us out just like he did to Makoto and Ami. We have nothing. What will we do? Where will we go? Face it, we have to stick up for him," Rei said.
"Makoto and Ami were in the same position but they still had the courage to stand up to him. I won't say it will be easy but if we stick together we can do it. Usagi did it."
"Usagi had the outers, Makoto and Ami had each other, and we have no one. And three kids. They've gotten used to living a certain way. How can we take them from their lifestyle? And what will we do for money?"
"We will work; get two jobs if we have to. And it will be rough for the first couple of months but we will make it. Come on Rei! Stop being so pessimistic. We can't lie for him any longer. I am sick of always bailing him out of a predicament that he got himself into. Telling the authorities false alibis and giving false statements. Besides we were supposed to take of Usagi. We haven't done a good job of it at all. It's time we start and make it all up to her. We won't expect her forgiveness but we can do the right thing." Minako said passionately.
Rei thought about it for a while. "You're right, Minako. I just hope that we are able to make it like you said," she said shaking her head at Minako. Minako smiled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi wasn't able to sleep as well. She tossed and turned, trying in vain to get comfortable, but in vain. She was just going to give up and go downstairs when her door opened.
"Can't sleep?" Setsuna said, shutting the door behind her. Usagi made room her on the bed.
"No," she said as Setsuna sat down. "I am just so worried. What if every thing that we worked hard for gets blown in our face? I would die if I lost Chibi Usa," she said sitting up.
"You won't, trust me. Even if I can't see into the future any more, I know that we will," she said pulling Usagi into an embrace. Usagi rested her head on her shoulder.
"I trust you," Usagi said.
"Good. Now try to sleep," Setsuna said as she let Usagi fall back into bed
"I'll try, Setsuna, I'll try," she said as the older woman got up.
"Setsuna?" Usagi called as she was about to leave.
"Yes?"
"Thank you for everything."
"No Usagi, Thank you." She said shutting the door behind her. Usagi was confused but didn't have time to go after because she suddenly felt very sleepy. Her last thoughts were of what Setsuna had done to her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~