I'll Never Forget You
By: Et3rnityUr5
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailormoon.
Notes: I've edited this story, so there will be small changes in every chapter. Enjoy!
Also please review.
Chapter 4
"What happen to you in this picture?" She asked.
Serena enters the living room with two cups of hot tea. She hands one to Haruka, then takes a look at the picture that Haruka was holding.
"Oh, that was when I sprained my ankle ice-skating," Serena lied.
The truth was it was when she had to be in the hospital for radiation therapy.
"How old were you?" Haruka asked.
"Twelve," Serena replied.
"So, what did you wanted to talk to me about?" Serena asked, as she sat down on the sofa.
"I just wanted to catch up on all those years we've been apart," Haruka said. "I want to get to know you again since I've missed ten whole years. Tell me about the States. How did you adjust? Did you like the school and the people? I want to hear all about it."
Serena looks at Haruka and smiles. Her friend was somewhat still the same. Always anxious to know about things and never held back on what she thought about people. 'Never one to be around the bush,' Serena thought.
After a few minutes of not replying, Haruka looks over at Serena, wondering why her friend was silent. "Hey, you still there Usako?" She asked.
Serena snaps out of her thought and looks directly at Haruka. "Yeah, Sorry," she replied. "Um, let's see where I should begin at. Hm…too many questions thrown at once…"
Haruka smiles and said, "Start from when you left would be a good place."
"Yes of course," Serena started. "When we arrived in the US it took us a few months to adjust to the new country and environment. Papa hired an English tutor for Sammy and me so that we won't be hind in school. When school started, I was terrified because my English still wasn't that good and also the fact that I am now in a new school with new kids. The school wasn't as bad as I had imagined it to be though. I made a lot of friends that first and second week. After that first appearance, things became easier and over time I got used to the way of life over there."
"That's good, I'm glad that you adjusted well and made new friends," Haruka said. "Say, where in the States did you live? I've been over there several times to race; I may have been to that state."
"We lived in Jacksonville, Florida," Serena replied.
"I've been there! I was there two years go for one of the races," Haruka said. "I won first place in the race."
As Serena listens to Haruka, she moves around the living room and starts to put the boxes in separate groups, telling herself that she would move them to its proper room later on. "I know," Serena said as she carries a box over to the group that she mentally labeled 'Bathroom.'
Sitting on the sofa, Haruka watches her friend move around. "You do? How?" Haruka asked as she gets up to help Serena lift a heavy box to its proper place.
"Thanks!" Serena said smiling. "I was there at the track with dad watching the race. Dad and I went to every single race that you've raced in, in America."
"What!" Haruka screeched. "Why didn't you come see me?"
Serena sighs as she saw the hurt look on her friend's face. "Ruka, you know I would if I could. Dad and I have tried several times to get up close to you but with the securities and the news reporter that are always there, we couldn't," Serena said.
"Oh…" Haruka said sadly.
Serena laughs quietly at her friend and slightly shook her head. "Even though we didn't get to really see up face to face, we did send you your favorite flower and chocolate candy. Do you remember them?" She asked.
"Those were from you?" Haruka asked. "I was wondering who gave them to me. Why didn't you leave a note?"
Serena sadly shakes her head and gave Haruka a soft smile. "I wanted to, but every time I started to write the note I end up putting it in my pocket," Serena said.
"Why?"
"I… I was scared that you wouldn't remember me and if you didn't then I didn't want to know that. I wanted to always believe that you would always keep me in your heart."
"Silly Usako, of course I would remember you!"
Haruka pulls Serena in a tight hug and places a soft kiss on her head. Serena smile and return her friend's hug with equal force. Pulling away, Serena looks at her friend. "What about you Ruka? What happened to you since I left?" Serena asked.
Haruka fidgeted nervously, she didn't know how to begin. So much had happened when her Usako left and those first few years were hard years. "Um…Well, after you moved away, a few weeks later we moved too. I didn't know why we moved to Osaka, mother and father never told me why. But it didn't bother me much, since you've already moved, there was nothing back in Tokyo for me to remember.
We moved there for three years and everything seems fine, we were living a happy life. But a few months later, everything turns out to be the worse. Dad would come home really late from work and sometimes he wouldn't come home at all. He'd go on business trips at least twice a week. Mom and I never get to see him much. When he's home, mom and him would argue. I don't know why they argue, but they would yell at each other loudly every night. They think that I wouldn't hear them, but I did, every single night.
One night, I went down stairs to get a drink of water, I saw my mother sitting on the floor crying. She was holding her hand to her left cheek and cry, as she looks out the door. I knew it then, that my dad had hit her. It made me mad that dad would do that, when he's usually a gentleman.
About a month later, mom told me that they were getting a divorce. I had asked her why, but she wouldn't tell me. She just asked me if I wanted to live with her or go live with dad. I had told her that I'd stay here with her, that I would never leave her side. She just smiles at me and held me in her arms. I could tell that she's hurt and devastated. She would cry every night in her room, she didn't intend on me knowing it. But I would hear her cry, since my room is right next to hers.
Soon after, we moved back to Tokyo, where mom's parents were because mom didn't know anyone in Osaka. When she moved back, she asked her old boss for her old job back. It was hard for mom to bring in the money to support her and me, not to mention our small apartment. But we bear with it. I never gave mom any problems. I'd help around the house or whatever that is needed to be done.
When I was old enough to work, I would find a job at the grocery store. I didn't care what I had to do, as long as I could help mom out. It was tough, but I had to bear with it. I guess that was when I have become dependent and strong. I had promise myself that I would protect my mom and not let anyone hurt us ever again.
"You know, it took me years to find out what had happened to mom and dad. He came to see me at school one day. He said that he wanted to see me and for me to meet someone. That's when I knew why they had divorce. Dad had left mom for another woman. I couldn't believe that he would do that to mom. The woman who have loved him so much, but he had thanked her by having an affair with his secretary. God, I hate the woman as soon as I set eyes on her. I hate HIM for leaving us for THAT whore. And you know what was so funny?" Haruka asked bitterly.
Serena shook her head no and waited for Haruka to continue.
"He had the decency to ask me to come live with him. Can you believe that? He wanted me to leave mom all alone and come live with him. I just told him no, that I will never come live with him. I told him that I hated him. I said that I will never forgive him for what he has done to our family, for what he has done to mom."
Serena had tears in her eyes as she hears what had happened in her friend's life. She moves closer to Haruka and wraps her arms around Haruka for comfort.
"I'm sorry for what you've been through. No one should have been through what you have," Serena said softly.
"Yeah, no one should have gone through what I have," Haruka said, wiping a tear that has fallen from her eyes.
"It's alright to cry you know. There's no law that says you can't cry," Serena said. "It'll make you feel better if you let it all out."
Haruka nodded her head and let her tears run freely. Serena sat there quietly as her friend cries her pain and misery away. She just sat there and comforts her friend, letting her cry freely. A while later, Haruka stops crying and wipes her tears. She sat up and gave Serena a smile.
"You know, I haven't cried like that for a long time," Haruka said.
"You feel any better?" Serena asked.
"Yes, I do," Haruka said.
"Good, now why don't you go freshen up?" Serena said.
Haruka got up and walks down the hall to where all the doors are, looking for the bathroom. When she did, she went in and washes her face. After she was done she walks back into the living room to find that her friend wasn't there. She looks around the room until she saw the balcony door open. She walks toward it to find her friend standing out on the balcony looking out at Tokyo.
"It's late, why don't you spend the night here?" Serena asked without turning around.
"Sure, just let me call home to tell mom and Michiru where I am," Haruka said.
