A Vision! The Fiery Miko, Rei!
Usaka's alarm clock greeted him. He miserably opened his eyes and stared at the numbers. He had only slept about four hours since he had gone to night classes the night before. It seemed the kids in that class were even more intelligent! It was torture…
He slammed his hand down on it, then threw it across the room. "Damn… too tired…can't… move…"
GET UP! Time to get up! Usagi cried.
"Nooo…." He moaned, pulling his blanket over his head.
YOU-HAVE-TO-GO-TO-SCHOOL! I was never allowed to stay home no matter how bad I wanted to, and I'm not going to let you get away with it! Usagi yelled. Besides! We have to go meet with Rei-chan after school today! You don't want to go back to night classes do you!
"Okay, I get it… I get it…" He murmured, rolling out of bed and hitting the floor. "I'm up… I'm up… Jeez, you used to be like me, so why don't you cut me some slack, huh?"
He stood and let his blanket fall to the floor. He began dressing into a pair of brown jeans and a faded blue t-shirt with gold letters spelling USAKA across the chest. "Man…"
A knock came to his door. "Hm-" He said lazily and trudged to the door, opening it. "Listen, Haru-chan, I'll be ready when-"
There was no one there. He looked down and saw a small carrier cage with a wrapped box lunch on top of it, and a note on top of that. He lifted the note up and opened it.
Usaka,
I thought you might need a little help getting going on your new problems, and while I'm working, I can't be there to help you. I packed you a lunch so that you won't go hungry today, and I've left you a companion that knows about as much about the moon as Usagi-chan. I hope that you can succeed in school, and I believe we'll be meeting up again soon. Keep on the lookout for Kuroyami.
Sincerely,
Ami
"Ami-chan is the greatest," He said, picking up the bundle of items and carrying them inside. "I wonder what she's talking about." He set the box lunch and note down and looked inside the box. "Hmm…"
Two eyes looked up at him.
"DAH!" He jumped back, then slowly leaned forward and opened it up.
"Uh!" He cried as a black cat hopped out of the cage and onto the floor, then blinked up at him, the crescent moon shape on her forehead glinting. "Oh… It's a pretty little cat…" He said, squatting down and petting her. "Hey, little kitty!"
The cat stared up at him as if she was going to say something.
That's my cat! Usagi exclaimed. It's Luna!
"Luna?" He questioned. "Can't Luna talk?" He asked.
"Yes, Luna can talk," Luna said, her gaze flattening.
"YEEP!" He cried, falling backwards. "Wow, you really can talk!"
"Who told you I could talk?" Luna asked, looking a bit enraged, crawling up onto his chest.
"Usagi-chan… She…err--- lives in my head."
"You're joking!" Luna cried.
"Afraid not…" He said, grinning sheepishly. "She's told me all about you guys and your powers and stuff… I had the pleasure of even fighting for her once, and I've already met Ami. I'm going to Rei's temple this afternoon after cram school…"
"-but… You're a boy!" Luna exclaimed.
"Yeah… heh… For some reason the ginzuishou sealed itself in MY body. Don't ask me why, but I do what I can…You can call me Usaka," He said, raising up and setting her on his dresser. "Nice to meet you…" He smiled sweetly at her.
"Have… we met… before?…" Luna asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "I feel like… we've known each other…"
"That's probably just your connection with Usagi-chan," He said, combing his hair.
"Yes… Yes, I suppose…" She said, looking down at the floor in deep thought. "Hop in my bag, hm? You can come with me to cram school, and then we'll go to Rei's."
"You must be crazy if you think I'm going to spend hours in that little thing. It's messy too!"
"Well, I won't be able to come back and get you because that would be out of the way," He said. "I do have to walk everywhere, you know."
"Fine, fine," Luna said, a none-too-pleased tone in her voice. "I'm going." She hopped into the bag as soon as he placed his box lunch within the bottom of it. "I feel so foolish," She muttered as he closed it, leaving plenty of holes for air to come in.
Another knock pounded on the door.
He opened it, slipping his bag over his shoulder. "Good morning, Haru-chan!" He said, beaming at her.
"I'm still mad at you," She said, not returning the smile.
"I figured…" He mumbled, pouting slightly.
Haru started down the steps, and Usaka followed. "Listen," He said. "She's not my girlfriend or anything. She's just my tutor."
"The gods themselves couldn't teach you anything," Haru said flatly.
"That's probably true…" He said. "-but Ami-chan is a doctor…. AND she's married… ANNNDDD….. Why do you care anyways?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.
"HUH!" Her whole face went red. "I--- I don't! It's just that… um… I thought you were… um… uh…."
"Is there… something you need to say to me, Haru-chan?" He asked innocently.
"U…. Usaka-kun?…" She asked, glancing slightly over her shoulder.
"Yes?" He asked, blushing slightly.
"I…"
"Yes?…"
"Um…"
"Yes?"
"We're…"
"Yes!"
"We're going to miss the bus. Let's go," She said, continuing down the steps.
He sighed dejectedly and followed. "Why must women be so complicated…?"
-
Usaka was sitting, halfway listening to Naru's lecture, halfway going over the new information he had learned about the Kuroyami for the umpteenth time.
Man… It seems that no matter how hard I think, I can't seem to get beyond what I already know… Why can't I take the information I've grasped and go farther with it! AHHGH! It must be because stuff doesn't sink in!
Suddenly, it hit him.
Ah, no duh! Luna!
He grabbed his bag and sat it in his lap, flipping it open. "Hey…" He whispered. "Hey, Luna… are you awake?…"
She gave a cat yawn, her large eyes blinking up at him. "What do you want?…" She whispered. "-and why are we whispering…?"
"I'm in class-"
"What! You are too much like Usagi!"
"SHH!"
That was mean, Luna, Usagi pouted.
"What do you want?" Luna asked.
"I was wondering if you could help me figure out more about the enemy."
"Well, maybe you're not exactly like Usagi. Usagi would probably ask me for food or something."
Mean, mean, mean! Usagi whined.
"Well, let's begin with what we know," Luna said.
"Well, they steal beautiful spirit crystals and eat them to gain power, and they're looking for a certain one that will help them rule the universe," Usaka said, leaning close to the bag. "All villains want to rule the universe, right?"
"I… I suppose… or destroy it…" Luna muttered.
"So-"
"USAKA!"
"MEEP!" He cried, glancing up.
"Are you sneaking food in my class again!" Naru asked, looking none to pleased.
"NO, OSAKA-SENSEI!" He squeaked, terrified.
"Then what are you doing with your face down in the bag like that!"
"I was… um… getting a text book!" He lied.
"You mean the one that's out on your desk?" Naru said, pointing at it.
"Heh? Oh, well… heh-heh… imagine that…" He rubbed the back of his neck nervously and smiled.
You…idiot…Usagi muttered. Was I this stupid in school too?…Yeah…I was…
Naru grabbed hold of his bag. "Hand it over. I'm confiscating this," She said while Usaka yanked it back in his direction.
"No way! It's mine!" He cried. "My lunch is in there!"
"So you were sneaking food!"
"No! NO! I wasn't! It's in there, but I haven't eaten any of it, honest!" He pulled harder, but he just didn't have the arm strength that Naru had… and that of course was making him even more vulnerable in front of his peers.
"I order you to give me that bag!" Naru yelled angrily, and Usaka lost his grip and fell out of his chair while everyone around him laughed. He blushed in humiliation and looked at the floor.
Haru got out of her chair and put her hand on his shoulder and the other around his left arm, trying to help him up.
Naru glared at him, then flipped open the bag.
"YEEEK!" She cried, falling backwards as Luna jumped out and onto the desk.
"Oh, man…" Usaka murmured. "Now I'm REALLY in trouble…"
"Usaka! This cat came out of your bag!" Naru exclaimed, looking frazzled.
"Um… wow. Who would have thought there was a cat in there…" He said.
Give up. There's no WAY you can make up a lie for this one, Usagi said. I've tried to with all sorts of things, but I've never had to make an excuse like this.
"Did you hide that poor animal in there!" Haru cried, covering her mouth.
"Heh-heh… well… I guess the cat's out of the bag… in literal terms, huh…" He said, grinning worriedly.
Naru placed her hand to her forehead. "Just… take the rest of the day off, Usaka…"
"-but, the test-"
"Get out of my classroom… please…" She said. She sounded exasperated.
He stood, blushing even deeper in embarrassment and took his bag from the teacher. Luna hopped in it gently, and Usaka walked out of the classroom.
-
Walking down the hall, he could still hear people laughing, and he fought back tears as he watched the image of his feet blur.
I knew it was stupid… but I did it anyways… Why can't I ever do anything right! He sniffled and shut his eyes as two small streams made their way down his cheeks. I feel so humiliated… His shoulders began shaking, and he gritted his teeth. Why me? Why am I such a stupid kid? Why am I crying? I'm such a crybaby…No wonder I don't have a girlfriend…No wonder I'm such a loser…
Oh…cheer up! Usagi said comfortingly. You know that's not you at all! You're one of the best people I know, and you're my friend! Please, if anything counts, that has to… for something… You're a wonderful person with a beautiful spirit, Usaka-kun! Don't torture yourself with those thoughts…because… She was starting to tear up too. I'm… I am counting on you!
Usaka opened his eyes and blushed slightly. "U… Usagi-chan…" He wiped his cheeks with the palm of his hand and smiled slightly. "Thank you… Usagi-chan…"
I mean it though, Usaka-kun. You don't have to thank me, She said cheerfully.
"I don't know what I ever did without you sometimes, Usagi-chan… I mean, I really am starting to----" His eyes widened, his cheeks flushing.
"Starting to what?"
"…nothing," He said, then rushed out of the building.
Haru's head peeked out of the classroom. "Who's… Usagi-chan?…"
-
Usaka hurried down the sidewalk in the direction of Rei's temple, following the directions as Usagi dished them out. After all, he had nowhere else to go now. He just hoped Naru would let him back in. Of course, Haru would probably convince her of that.
Soon enough, the city was gone, and he was headed up the stone steps.
Luna's head popped out of the back of the bag. "I really am sorry about what happened back there," She said.
"It's okay, Luna… It gives me some free time… and I would have failed that test anyways…" Even though he was smiling, his eyes still seemed a little sad.
Luna looked guiltily back in the bag. "Do… you want your lunch?…"
"In a minute," He said, gasping slightly as he finished his run up the steps and wiped his brow. "Man… I wish I had enough money for a car…What am I saying? I don't even have enough money for food…"
Luna watched him rather sadly, still feeling responsible for the incident that had taken place.
"Let's eat that lunch now, shall we?" He said, setting the bag down on the ground. "It doesn't look like Rei-chan is here. REI-CHAN!"
Silence.
Luna hopped on the ground next to the bag, and he pulled out the box lunch, unwrapping the cloth around it. "Ooh, it smells so good," He said, drooling slightly.
The bushes rustled slightly.
"Say aaah!" He cried cheerfully, holding a shrimp out to Luna. Luna opened her mouth gleefully.
"I sense a presence… a strange presence…"
He looked up as he popped the shrimp into Luna's mouth, one hanging out of his own. He swallowed quickly. "Did you hear something?"
"Mrow?" Luna asked, licking her lips.
"It must be one of them…"
Usaka glanced around nervously. "Uh…"
"Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai and zen! Akuryou Taisan!"
"HUH!" He turned around as a white scroll attached itself to his forehead. "What in the-DAAAH!" It felt as if he had just grabbed an electric line. He dropped to the ground, blue running over his nose. "Ow… pain…"
"I've gotten you, EVIL SPIRIT!" A woman's voice yelled as she emerged from the bushes.
"I uh… think you missed…" Usaka muttered. "I'm no evil spirit…"
"AH!" She cried, covering her mouth. "-but I sensed a strange presence!"
"Yeah…that part was probably Usagi-chan or Luna… Can you get this thing off my face? I can't exactly move right now…"
The paper was ripped off of his forehead, and after a few moments, he rocked back into a sitting position.
The woman kneeled down in front of him. "I am SO sorry," She said. "I've just been a bit paranoid lately.
He looked up into her youthful face, her wild violet eyes glinting at him. She had long, raven-colored hair pulled back at the nape of her neck, and she was dressed like a miko.
"Are you… Rei?" He asked. Are they all beautiful?
What part of "pretty soldier in a sailor suit" didn't you get? You're not crushing on her too, are you?
No way, I'm not falling for that again… He said to himself.
"Yes, I am Rei. Have you been looking for the head priestess here?"
"Huh? No… Well, yeah, but not for that reason," He said. "See-"
"Good afternoon, Rei," Luna said.
"Luna! Don't talk in front of people like that!" Rei cried, stunned.
"I already know she talks," Usaka said. "Usagi-chan told me."
"E…excuse me?" Rei looked at him in pure shock.
"Usagi-chan… You remember her, don't you?… Sailor Mars?"
She pulled out another anti-evil scroll. "Who are you?" She commanded.
"PUT THAT THING AWAY! I'll explain everything! My name is Usaka. Usagi lives inside my mind."
Rei stared at him. "Go on…"
-
"So… in a sense, you ARE Usagi-chan," Rei said, as the two walked a circle around the temple with Luna at their heels.
"You could say that… I mean, I'm my own person, but we're also connected somehow," He said, running his fingers through his hair. "I came to talk to you about these enemies that have been attacking. Ami-chan said that you probably knew more about them then she did, since you're a physic."
"Well…" Rei said, leaning back against the wall. "In my fire readings lately… I keep seeing this bright white light… I think it's the crystal that the Kuroyami are after…The atmosphere in my vision seems familiar like we've been there before. I only just recently started having my visions clear enough to see the earth in the background. It's very likely that we're all on the moon."
"Is Usagi-chan there!" He cried suddenly, recalling something from his past. "Is she holding a long, white staff?"
"I don't think so…" Rei said, "I'll have to look into it, I suppose. Why?"
"I… I had a dream about that… a-and I dreamed about that white light too!" Usaka exclaimed, tightening his fists and staring determinedly into her eyes. "It had to be! There's no other thing it could have been!"
Rei stared back into his eyes. "Come with me… I want to see if the fire readings and your mind make a connection…" She said.
-
Rei sat on one side of the burning fire, and Usaka faced it from the opposite side.
"So, what are you doing again?" Usaka asked, leaning to the left to see her.
"I'm going to try to make a connection. Sit still, close your eyes, and try to clear your mind of thought," Rei said.
Luna cocked her head to the side. "Rei, do you believe that you'll get more information this way?"
"I sure hope so," Rei said, shutting her eyes and holding her hands into position.
Only the crackling flames sounded throughout the room for a full minute.
Then the words from Rei's lips entered Usaka's mind. "Rin… pyou… tou… sha… kai… jin… retsu… zai… ZEN!"
"AH!" He cried as he felt a sudden burning sensation in his forehead.
People were sweeping past him in a rush, and he could hear them screaming in terror. There was a darkness zooming in over the horizon towards him.
"Hope…" He whispered, and a bright light engulfed the entire scene. Pain was surging through him, and he could see the darkness consuming him from his legs up. His eyes rolled back in his head, and he screamed until the light was completely hidden by the darkness.
He heard a voice… Usagi's voice… she had screamed out something… "ENDYMION-SAMA!" and he knew… he… knew… what had just happened…
Rei shook him. "USAKA! USAKA!"
His eyes flew open and stared at her blankly. There was no sparkle. They were dim… and suddenly…
Two tears slipped down each of his cheeks.
"U… Usaka?…" Rei questioned, touching his shoulders.
His eyes slipped closed again, and he collapsed into her lap.
USAKA-KUN! Usagi cried worriedly.