Back to Normal! Usaka's Trip With Haru!

Usaka landed himself upon near the top of the Tokyo Tower, staring out into the setting sun. "Oh, no… what am I going to do now?… Usagi… I can't hear you… where are you…?" He whispered, closing his eyes and placing his hands against the sparkling golden brooch upon his chest. "Usagi… I'm confused… Why am I you now? Where am I now?…"

He sighed and stared downwards at his white boots. "Maybe… if I could find one of the Sailor Senshi… Mamoru would even be good… but… I don't even know where to look… Usagi…Usa…gi…"

He then stepped off the edge of the building and took off into the sky once again, feeling the cool air whipping against his face. "I hate being like this… I'm a man in a woman's body! That's messed up!" He grimaced.

The sun had vanished behind the horizon, and Usaka had still not connected with Usagi again, nor had he returned to his natural form. He was still the one, the only Sailor Moon, and he was hating it.

"I can't go anywhere looking like this…" He said, sitting on the roof of his apartment building. "What's Haru-chan going to say when she comes in my room tomorrow, and I'm not in it?" He fell backwards and laid on the cool concrete, staring up at the starry sky. Humming boredly, he traced out constellations mentally while still trying to contact Usagi.

It all seemed so useless. Was he to forever be trapped in the body of a female superhero? Not that he cared anymore. He wanted to know Usagi was okay. He had made a promise to her to help her. He didn't know what he'd do if she was gone before he could even start…

He turned on his side and closed his eyes, calling her name from deep within him.

How quickly one could become friends with Usagi-chan. She was so nice and sweet, and she wanted nothing more than to help people and find her Mamo-chan again. If she was gone… Usaka… didn't know what he was going to do.

"Usagi…" He said, opening his eyes. "Usagi-chan…" His voice was trembling. He sniffed and rubbed his gloved hand against his eyes that were now spilling tears. He rose up on his knees and sniffled a few more times. "Usagi-chan!" He cried. "USAGI-CHAN!" He shut his eyes and let his tears glisten against his cheeks.

Deep within him, he felt something warm him. "U… Usagi…?" He opened his eyes.

U… Usaka-kun…

"USAGI!" He cried out happily.

Ow…She whispered. Usaka… are you injured?…

"No, I'm okay! I… I beat that monster all by myself!… but I was really worried about you…"

You're in my body…I'm sorry… I fell unconscious when that monster hit me, and you were sent plunging forward into my position. You woke me up though, and now I'm okay… Are you sure, you're okay?

"Yeah, I am… can we switch back now?"

Suddenly, the door started to swing open behind him. Usaka took off into the sky and stood on top of the doorway.

Haru exited onto the roof, holding a mug of hot chocolate. "Usaka… where are you?…" She questioned, looking out at the stars.

She's been worried about you, Usaka-kun, Usagi said.

"Send me a sign… to let me know you're okay…" She said, taking a sip of her drink. "I… I don't know what I'll do if you're not…" Her shoulders slumped. "Usaka-kun… come home…"

Usaka felt his cheeks burning. "She's been so worried about me… I've never been… worried about before…" He muttered, a new sheen in his eyes that seemed to shimmer. He put his fist up to his mouth and bit his lower lip.

You should go see her… Usagi said as Haru left to go to bed.

"I will… but I need my body back first, Usagi," He said, blushing in embarrassment. "I'm not one for curves if you know what I mean."

Fine, fine! She said. Close your eyes and concentrate on the moon on your forehead.

"All right," He said and shut his eyes. His forehead began to warm, and then, the crescent shape upon it flashed bits of white light all around him. He could feel his spirit being pulled this way and that but continued concentrating as Usagi coaxed him to do so. After a few moments, all faded and things seemed normal once again.

He opened his eyes, back in his original male form. "Woo-hoo! Yay!" He cheered, jumping up and down on the roof. "I'm me again!"

Yay! Usagi cheered along with him then stopped. Oh, and that moon will go away overnight.

"What moon?" He asked, blinking as he headed towards the door back into the building.

Well… You kind of have a moon on your forehead… She said, giggling nervously.

"Wha--ha-ha-hat!" He cried, throwing his hand over it and hurrying down the steps. "Thanks for the warning! I could've run into anyone like this!" He cried.

Well, I did warn you! She retorted. What happened to the missing and worrying about me? I liked that way better.

"Ahh… Forget it," He said, fumbling to get his keys out of his pocket and unlock his door. "I'll just have to talk to Haru tomorrow… No wait, there's no school tomorrow… She's going to her parents' house!" He opened the door and walked inside, slamming it and leaning against it.

So? Go with her, Usagi said matter-of-factly.

"I… guess so…" He said. "I mean, last time I went with her to see her parents was about three years ago… after all, I have to see her mom at school almost every day…" He laid down on his bed and shut his eyes. "Oh… so sleepy…"

You just rest now… Ease your mind of troubles… Usagi said cheerfully, as usual. She then began to hum a song, her and Mamoru's song that played upon her star locket, and Usaka smiled.

"That's… a pretty song…" He muttered, just before drifting off into slumber land.

That night, Usaka dreamed again.

Usagi was standing in a field of white flowers, clad in a long, fluttering, white dress. Voices were echoing out of the sky, calling her, telling her to come to them.

She turned in his direction, and Usaka realized that the planet was behind her. They weren't on Earth anymore. They were on the moon… and to tell the truth, he wasn't sure if he was actually there.

What does this mean? Could this be the future?… or maybe it's the past?… He wondered.

Usagi held up a long glowing staff. Usaka couldn't really tell what it looked like because it was so bright. He even had to hold up his arm and squint slightly to shield the intensity of it.

"Ginzuishou…Sparkling… Annihilation Kiss…" Usagi said, and the light brightened over the entire field. He heard his own voice crying out for her to stop, and then all disappeared from his mind.

"WOAH!" He cried, raising up in his bed. "Usagi-chan, did you see that?"

See…what?… She asked sleepily.

"That dream! Did you see it?"

No… Unless you dreamed about Mamo-chan like I did…

"NO!" He cried, blushing. "I don't dream about men! Please…"

Then, no… She said. What's up?

"Well, I was in this field of white flowers… and you were there… and you were blasting something with a long staff or something… and… oh, I don't know… but it was really weird…"

If we knew where Rei was now, I'd bet she could interpret it…Do you think she'd still be at her temple?

"It's always a possibility," Usaka said, throwing his legs over the side of the bed and standing. "God, I need a shower."

Well, go and maybe after that we can go check out Rei's temple, Usagi said.

"Yeah… wait, I'm going to try and go with Haru today. I still have to explain myself, and it'll take all day for her to forgive me for making her worry like that…" He murmured, grabbing a black t-shirt, a pair of blue jeans, some white socks, and a fresh pair of boxers out of his dresser.

Hey, don't you have a shower of your own? Usagi asked.

"Pft," He muttered. "I'm so poor, I can't afford an apartment like that. This room used to be a large broom closet. I got it at a discount."

That sucks, Usagi said.

"Yeah, tell me about it. I have to go to the public shower at the gym to bathe… I really need to get into college…"

Usaka trudged into the gym that was just down the street from his apartment, keeping his head low as he watched brawny men work-out out of the corner of his eye. "Oi… they always make me nervous… I hope none of them are in the shower today…"

Hey, if you still looked like me, I'd bet all of them would be in there in a heartbeat.

"Not all of them…" He said, grimacing.

Eeeew, Usagi returned.

Usaka stood with his eyes closed as the warm water spilled out of the shower head, cascading his nude form. His hand felt around for the shampoo he had retrieved from the locker downstairs from his apartment, found it, and filled his palm with it. He stepped out of the shower head and opened his eyes, then proceeded to lathering up his short hair with it.

The public shower was empty, and Usaka couldn't have been happier for that, for now, not only would he not feel nervous for being stared at by other people, but he could talk to Usagi with no one asking him who he was talking to.

"So, Usagi-chan, you say we should go visit Rei tomorrow?"

Hai, She said. She and the other scouts need to know that I've returned. They have to have some information on the new enemy we've been facing.

"Yeah…" He said, moving his head back under the sprinkle and letting the suds slip down his back. He began to soap himself up quickly, worried that someone might come in on him (he was very uncomfortable being naked in front of ANY one).

Usaka…

"Hm?" He asked, rinsing off his body.

Your friend…Haru…how long have you truly been friends?

"Oh… well… forever," He said, smiling as he turned off the shower. "Basically… See, my parents died when I was just a toddler, and her neighbors took me in. We met through our bedroom windows…" He began to dry off. "I used to tell her everything. We had no secrets… I even dreamed about you once… I'd forgotten… until she brought it up. You were the moon princess… I can't believe I would've forgotten someone like you! Ah-" He froze and began to blush. He then dropped the subject and began to dry his hair.

Hm…Usagi thought to herself.

Usaka hurried down the street, newly cleaned and dressed. His hair, still slightly damp was shining in the sunlight. "I sure hope Haru-chan hasn't left yet…" He said aloud.

She was walking out the apartment complex's front door as he arrived.

"HARU-CHAN!" He called. "Wait a few seconds! I want to go with you!"

"Ah-USAKA-KUN!" She cried happily, a smile firm on her lips. He ran past her, nodding a hello and placed his shampoo, soap, and wash cloth in his locker. "Where were you last night?" She asked, suddenly right up on him, a scowl on her face.

"W… who me?" He asked nervously, nearly tripping over his own feet. "I was… um… Would you believe me if I told you I was out saving the planet?"

"NO!" She screamed.

"I'm joking, really! I… I was… uh… at the… um… LIBRARY! Yeah, the library!" He began laughing uneasily, hand on his neck. "I was studying!"

"That sounds even less like you," Haru pointed out rather blandly.

"Well, it's true…" He said, blushing in embarrassment. "Look, will you let me come with you, or not?"

"Of course you can come… Jeez, my mom never shuts up about you," She said, smiling slightly and adjusting her glasses. "So, what's the occasion?"

"Well, see…" He walked next to her as they headed towards the bus stop. "I… I wanted to apologize…"

"Apologize?" She looked up at him.

"I… I know I had you worried… because you didn't know where I was last night…" He said, looking guiltily at his feet. "So… I'm sorry…"

The bus arrived. "Let's go," She said, climbing on, with her back to him.

"What?… No… apology accepted?" He looked rather disdainfully at her. "Haru-chan!"

She headed towards her seat, blushing heavily.

"Haru-"

"Apology accepted…" She said quickly, looking out the window.

What's she angry about now? He wondered, raising an eyebrow at the back of her head. He sighed.

The bus started up as someone passed the bus stop. He rose his head, gasping. "U… Usa-ko?" He said aloud, wondering how he could possibly feel her presence. The bus took off down the street. Mamoru turned around and looked at the back of the bus, eyes wide.

Usagi suddenly gasped. Mamo-chan! She exclaimed.

Usaka opened the bus window and looked out. "AH! It is Mamoru! MAMORU!" He called, but he was already walking away. "MAMORU! HEY!"

Mamo…chan…Usagi said sorrowfully.

"Is Mamoru your new girlfriend?" Haru muttered unpleasantly.

"Ah!" He exclaimed, realizing that she was again paying attention to him.

"D… Don't be silly! Mamoru's a boy's name!" He started again with his nervous laughter.

Her eyes widened. "USAKA-KUN! You're not-"

"NO!" He cried, his entire face turning red. "Don't even think like that! You know me better than that!"

"I don't know…"

"HARU!"

"You always DID seem a BIT feminine…"

"HARU, YOU TRAITOR!"

Usagi started laughing heartily.

The bus rolled off down the road.

Haru's parents didn't live all that far away, but it was much too far to walk. They had a house built up among apartment complexes, for they'd moved since Haru and he had been little. It was rather large and very well kept, mainly because Haru's father was a very rich computer designer, and her mother was very tidy.

"This is our stop," She said, standing. "Feel free to explain where you really were last night."

"I told you! I was at the library!" He cried, walking up behind her as the bus drove away.

"No, you weren't!" She turned on him, looking infuriated. "I was at the library yesterday! I didn't see you there at all!"

"Agh…" He felt himself shrinking under her heated gaze. "Well… okay, listen…"

"Let's just go!"

"Eh…"

"Happy, smiling faces!" She said, beaming rather displeased at him.

He smiled timidly at her and stood back at full height.

She walked forward and knocked on the door. "Man… if they're my family, I shouldn't have to knock…" She murmured.

"Hey, at least your family will let you in," Usaka returned, making her snort to try to hold back a giggle.

The door slid open.

"Ah! If it isn't our wonderful and beautiful daughter, HARU!" Her father, Umino, said happily, straightening his large, circular glasses. "-and she's brought a pretty, young lady with her too!"

"Hey!" Usaka said, pouting.

"Daddy, you need to go get your other pair of glasses," Haru said, patting his shoulder. "That's Usaka-kun."

"Aww… man, do I look that much like a woman?" He questioned.

Maybe he can sense me in you spiritually… Umino has always been able to do the unexpected…

"You know him?"

"He's my father!" Haru laughed. "Don't joke like that."

"Eh-" He felt himself redden.

You shouldn't talk to me in front of people like that.

"Easy for you to say…"

"Hey!" Haru yelled, looking a bit less pleased.

He smiled at her. "No… I uh-didn't mean it like that!"

"Hey, you two, why don't you come in?" Naru said, smiling in the door way.

"I HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ALL MY HOMEWORK, OSAKA-SENSEI!" Usaka cried out.

"Um… very good," Naru said, leading them into the house.

The two took their shoes off and stepped inside.

"I'm glad you decided to come, Usaka," Naru said. "I'd begun to think you were afraid of us."

"Well, uh… just been… busy… as if you didn't already know…" He muttered the end of it under his breath.

"So, how's your money trouble?" She asked as they all went and sat in the living room where Umino had decided to experiment on the television.

"Ouch, is it that noticeable?" He asked, trying to sit as politely as possible. He always wanted to put forth the best image of himself, of course… even though it hardly ever worked.

"I've told her, baka," Haru said, smiling proudly.

"Well… I'm still sleeping in what used to be a storage closet, I take a bath at the local gym, and yesterday I had my first bite of food in two days," He said matter-of-factly. "God, that sounds so much worse when I say it out loud," He added miserably.

"Where'd you eat?" Haru asked, trying to change the subject before he collapsed and started crying about how stuff didn't sink in.

"Oh, I went to Game Crown. You know, they've added the whole café to it now. It's a lot nicer than it used to be. It even sells American food," He said.

"So… That's where you were…"

"Eh-" He sighed and let it rest. "So, what have all of you been up to?"

"Umino just figured out how to… what was it, dear?" Naru asked, turning to the television. Before he could answer, it exploded.

The three who were sitting in the room, sat, covered in black with their hair sticking up on end.

"I can fix that!" Umino cried from behind what was left of the television.

"I don't think it was broken before, dear," Naru, who was obviously quite used to it, said flatly. "Come on, let's go clean up…"

"I already did that…" Usaka said, pouting.

Usaka had just finished wiping the soot from his hair and face. Naru suggested that he give her his shirt so that she could wash it. He did so.

"Goodness," Naru said, staring at him. "You don't have any muscle at all!" She cried.

"AH-" His head collided with the table in humiliation. "Don't rub it in! I know I've got the body of a flat-chested girl!"

"Usaka-kun, give it a rest. I like it-" Haru began, then froze, blushing.

"Hm? You… do?" He found his cheeks heating as well.

"Yeah… I… I guess…" She said, chewing on her lower lip. "It's… kind of cute. It's the 'in' thing, skinny boys. I bet you'd get a girlfriend if you weren't so poor and whiney."

"You know… You should really end your stories a sentence earlier," Usaka said dismally.

"Hey, I never said that you had to come today," Haru said, crossing her arms.

"I wanted to come…" He said back.

"Let's just drop that subject, hm?" Naru said, setting down a plate of cookies.

"Yeah, I want to know about something else."

"What?"

"Mamoru."

"AH-" His cheeks were burning again, but it was mostly Usagi's doing. "I uh… just ran into him on the street a few times…" More like once, but little did anyone know that he probably knew more about Mamoru than Mamoru himself. "He's just a pretty cool guy… Maybe I'll invite him over sometime so you can meet him…"

"You act as if you two are best friends or something!"

"No, but I did know his g---" He decided that he shouldn't tell her that he knew his 'girlfriend'. "--his good friend, ah-"

Um… Usagi said. I know! Go with the name Seiya!

"Seiya!"

Even though they weren't really friends…

"Seiya! Oh, yeah! He's the greatest!" Usaka went on, chuckling.

"How come I've never met him?" Haru asked.

"Ah--- He's always busy with work…" He said.

"What's he do?"

Seiya was a famous pop idol! Leader of the Three Lights, duh! Usagi exclaimed. -and he had a crush on me too… even though he wasn't really a 'he' now was he… actually-

"Seiya… is… in a band," Usaka said, laying his chin on his fist and nodding slightly.

"A band? How'd you meet him?"

"I'm uh…" He tried to think. "-in the band!"

"You're what?"

Smooth, real smooth, Usagi said flatly. Man, your friend sure likes to ask questions…Naru was never this inquiring…Hm, didn't know I knew that word…

Usaka fought the incredible urge to tell Usagi to shut up and smiled at Haru. "I um… yeah. I'm in the band."

"What do you do?"

"Uh--- sing…"

I really hope you can sing because she might tell you to, Usagi said.

"Just backup!" He finished and let out an exasperated but relieved sigh.

"I think it's wonderful that you have a hobby. Who knows, this gig might pay well in the long run," Naru said, setting down two glasses of milk for them.

"Thank you, Osaka-sensei… I mean… Naru-san…" He smiled up at her and took a few cookies from the plate. "-but… I really don't think we're going anywhere. I mean, Seiya had to leave to… A… merica… America for awhile, so we haven't been performing or anything."

"I hope he has a safe trip," Naru said, sitting between the two.

"He… he will… I um… have faith in him."

"Usaka, you're always so tongue-tied," Naru said to him, looking into his eyes. "You also have a tendency to say the wrong thing… You… You're so much like… someone I used… to know…" She placed her hand against his cheek. "I mean, you even kind of look alike…"

Naru-chan… Usagi said. She remembers me…

"Um… I couldn't possibly know who though… Maybe you and your daughter just enjoy the same company," He said, blushing slightly. "I… I know I enjoy her company very much. I can't get by when I'm by myself, you know?"

Suddenly, a crash of glass was heard from the other room, making Usaka drop his cookies.

"What did you do this time, Dad!" Haru called.

"HELP! HELP!" He cried. "The television's alive!"

"Does he mean the television is on?" Usaka asked as the three headed towards the other room.

Usaka gasped.

(A/N: Dang, this chapter was longer than any chapter I've ever written. I'm really getting lengthy these days... Well, I guess since most people like long chapters, everyone is HAPPY! Uh... yeah... also, I'm going to start doing some fanart for this story. I'll keep you posted about it.)