A/N: I'm sorry that this chapter took so long to get out, I've just been really busy this month. Sorry for the long wait again, but please enjoy another chapter of No King Anymore.
Act IV: Deceiving Another
The world changes people.
It makes them cold, hard, emotionless.
Her eyes no longer the bright ocean blue.
The world had turned them gray.
Usagi tore at Setsuna's flesh, her caramel colored skin covered in scratches.
Usagi had always envied Setsuna long raven colored hair. It was beautiful; exotic even. She saw the way it caught Mamoru's eye.
It was no more.
Usagi tore at Setsuna's hair until it was simply floating away in the wind. Setsuna lay writhing in pain, screaming over her mutilated body.
Usagi was tired of hearing the screams; they had gone on long enough…long enough now.
"Mama!"
The Queen was jolted awake by what she thought was her Chibi-Usa's voice. She took a long glance around the bedroom, taking note of the sharp pain that shot through her head, Too much wine, Usagi thought to herself. Usagi still did not know what had awoken her; it sounded so much like her baby. The Queen buried herself underneath the covers as she reached for the last of the wine.
"Your Majesty?" The guard was knocking on the bedroom door. Usagi was half dressed. Normally, a guard would never see the Queen in anything but her royal attire, but today was the exception. The Queen quickly consumed the last of the wine and gave the guard permission to come in.
Upon entering the guard's face seemed to flush at the Queen's unusual state. The Queen simply popped open another bottle of wine and proceeded to offer it to the guard. He refused, realizing the Queen had hit absolute rock bottom.
"What is it?" The Queen sat up in the bed as her nite shirt slipped off of her shoulder. The guard was becoming extremely uncomfortable. He had served Neo Queen Serenity since she had come into reign many years ago and knew the Queen considered him somewhat of a friend. As a friend, the guard was now concerned.
"My Majesty, may I address you as a friend? As a concerned friend?" The guard looked into his friend's eyes with the utmost concern.
"Yes, Miharo..you can." Surprisingly, the Queen had addressed the guard by his real name. All defenses were down it seemed; The Queen was broken.
"Usagi, Mamoru is here."
The Queen stared blankly back at Miharo and simply responded, "Oh yes? What's the bastard want? He's definitely not coming back to me. Did he already get sick of running his slime ball fingers through Setsuna's luxurious locks?" The dream came to the front of Usagi's mind.
"No, Usagi. He's brought little Princess home. He says she cries for you every nite."
The Queen became quiet.
"Usa, little Princess may be attached to Ms. Setsuna, but you are her mother, her flesh and blood. She wants you, needs you."
The Queen bit her lip to hold back the tears. She ached for her child so much.
"Go get little Princess, Usagi."
The Queen began to rise from her bed and head for the door.
"You can't retrieve your child like that." Miharo gave a little laugh.
The Queen blushed, realizing her appearance.
"Miharo! Haha, why didn't you tell me?" The Queen playfully punched her friend in the shoulder.
"Because Your Majesty," Miharo kissed his friend's hand, "I did not want to step outside the boundary of an obedient guard."
The Queen smiled.
"Tell Mr. Mamoru I'll be out in just a minute. Sorry to keep him waiting. How rude of me."
Miharo laughed.
Setsuna had to keep busy. She had to. Her mind tended to wander when her hands weren't occupied.
She could not understand why Chibi-Usa did not want to stay with her and Mamoru. Setsuna did everything the Queen did, and in her opinion, she did it better than the Queen. She spent time with little Princess; she read her stories, played games with her, took her out. She did everything the Queen had not done for so long. Yet, at nite little Princess cried for her mother. Setsuna would try to hold the young child, only to have her cries turn to wails. Ever her own father could not console her.
Her father.
At least she had Mamoru. She loved him so much. The child they made together was so beautiful, a reflection of her father and mother—the pure love they shared. Setsuna never had anyone love her like that.
She would never let him go. Not for anything.
But will he let me go?
"Waa! Waa!"
No more time for wandering thoughts.
Their baby was crying.
"Can't we just talk?"
"You cheated on me, got one of my own Senshi pregnant, ran away with MY child to go live with her, and you want to chum it up? Right."
"OUR child, thank you very much."
Miharo could feel the tension. It as though he was watching a train wreck.
"Excuse me Your Majesty, but if you and Mr. Mamoru intend to talk, may I suggest that I take Chibi-Usa for a little walk? She likes me quite well and could probably use the exercise."
The Queen gave Miharo a tense smile. "Why yes Miharo, that is a good idea. At least one man is thinking of my little Usa."
Miharo hurried out with little Princess before the storm hit.
"So, Mr. Mamoru what in the hell do you have to say now?" Usagi's words spilled out of her mouth like venom.
"I'm sorry."
"Oh, the bastard is actually sorry now! Thanks but no thanks. I think you traumatized my poor child enough. I must go tend to the wounds that witch Setsuna probably left on her." Usagi rose up without looking at Mamoru and headed for the door that lead out of the palace.
"Usa!"
Mamoru had come up behind the Queen, wrapping his arms around her waist. Usagi felt floaty and disgusted at the same time.
"Usagi, listen to me. I..I'm having second thoughts. Setsuna, she isn't like you. She isn't like..my Queen."
Usagi was listening.
"Chibi-Usa isn't happy. I hate to see our child unhappy. Dammit, I messed up. I messed up big time, Usagi. But, is there any way—"
Usagi put a finger to Mamoru lips.
"Wait here."
Mamoru watched as Usagi disappeared into their once shared bedroom. She reappeared five minutes later in much less clothing than she had been in last time.
"Usa.." Mamoru stared at his estranged wife.
The Queen inched a little closer to Mamoru, then threw a round shaped object at him.
"A roll of toilet paper?" Mamoru genuinely looked very confused.
"Yes, why? Don't you know what it's for?" A small smirk seemed to cross the Queen's face.
"No.." Mamoru looked like he was about to go insane.
"It's to wipe your lying, deceiving ass with!"
With that, Usagi walked out the door to tend to her child.
Mamoru knew his way out.
Usagi didn't expect him back any time soon.
"She said that to you?" Setsuna listened to Mamoru's retelling of the toilet paper incident as she fed young Miyo her dinner.
"Yes. She has every right to be upset though. I thought nothing of her feelings of our child's feelings." Mamoru stirred his oddly colored food. Another one of Setsuna's home cooked meals. He longed for some of his Usa's cooking, even if she burned it a little sometimes.
Setsuna smiled. "You big goof. Of course you thought of our child's feelings. You came to live with us didn't you?"
"I meant Chibi-Usa." Mamoru's frustration and irritation were beginning to catch up with him.
Setsuna felt her body tense. Something was going to happen. "Oh, of course you meant my Chibi-Usa. How silly of me."
Mamoru frustrations flared.
"What do you mean 'my Chibi-Usa'!" Mamoru stood of from the table, anger in his eyes. "That is Usagi's and my child! Do not ever forget that!"
"But we have a baby to—"
Mamoru ignored Setsuna's sheepish interruption.
"Oh, and how do I even know that baby is even mine? Is there any proof? Huh? Everyone in fucking Crystal Tokyo knows how in love you were with me! You could have had a child by anyone and said it was mine. Just to keep me trapped. I made a mistake one time with you, acted on lust; and all the sudden we have this pretend life together. I do no want to play house with you, Setsuna! I do NOT! Find another dumbass father for your child because I'm done playing 'daddy' to someone else's kid!"
Setsuna stared at Mamoru shaking.
"I should take a shower…and..put..Miyo to bed." Setsuna seemed in a trance as she made her way down the hall to Miyo's bedroom.
Mamoru could take it no more.
The cool water raced down Setsuna's shaking body. He still loves me. He's just tense from seeing Usagi today, is all. He won't leave .He loves me, loves me dearly. I'll never lose him.
Setsuna stepped out of the shower after clearing her head. She walked into the bedroom in just her towel hoping to be eagerly greeted by Mamoru wanting to make up. Setsuna's face flushed. That's the only good part about arguing, the aftermath.
Instead she was greeting by a note lying where Mamoru should have been.
Setsuna,
As I told you earlier, I am sick of playing the 'husband' in this sick fantasy of yours. I am going to talk things out with Usagi. Even if she doesn't take me back, I do not, at any point and time, ever intend to come back to you. Get your own life and stay out of mine.
Mamoru
Setsuna sank to the floor.
Usagi sighed happily in her sleep as she held her young child. Her dreams were filled with happiness now. The raven hair that haunted her did not matter, as long as she held her child, she could forget it all.
Setsuna screamed in agony as her hands bled from the broken glass. She had broken everything breakable in her path. The glass had cut her hands. She did not care. Miyo was screaming in crib. She did not care. All Setsuna knew was the rage she felt inside. She was not going back to that lonely place again.
Setsuna cried herself to sleep, never tending to the baby.
She dreamt of blonde hair.
A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my muse, Kat (MyBelovedOne). Please R&R!