Chapter 10
USAGI's POV
My mother always told me that I could be anything. She would encourage me to do my best, to learn from my mistakes as I grew. Even though I was whiny and lazy, my mom always tried to do her best to raise me to be the best version of myself.
She always taught me that love was more important, that hard work was more valued than straight A's in school. Though she would get so upset with me because of my failed ambitions and my lazy attitude, she never wavered in loving me.
I always wanted to spread that kind of love to others. To have that love as well in my personal life. I wanted to spread joy to others. As I grew, deep down inside I wanted to exemplify what my mother did. I wanted to emulate what she gave me to others.
As a Sailor Senshi, I was able to be that type of person - to show love where love seemed to have died. There was always that saying: Love defeats the dark. And whoever said that held the one universal truth.
I won't lie, there were times when I did feel as if love couldn't save the world, couldn't bring light into the darkness. I almost failed in that retrospect. I almost allowed love to die.
And to this day, I always tried my best to become better not only for my personal life, but for the future of the world. We won battles, we lost battles, we won wars. Wars are inevitable when it comes to being a hero who fights against evil on a daily basis.
But it had been years since we've had to don our Senshi uniforms, had to fight evil - so why was it now, now that I had to pick up my cross again?
I for one thought that we had a chance to go to college without having to deal with enemies and evil. I thought we could all have normalcy for once. The pain in my heart was palpable. Just be a normal girl with normal problems.
I just didn't want to imagine what else we had to face.
"I don't understand," A familiar voice broke through the darkness and my reverie. "Where are these attacks coming from?"
"I don't know," said another familiar voice, "maybe Usagi has better answers than us."
"Maybe, but why was she alone? Was that guy who attacked us actually truthful that they had the Inner scouts?"
My heart thumped against my chest. My friends were captured? Panic filled my senses as I could feel myself on the edge of consciousness. My body ached as I finally became more aware of my surroundings. I wondered what time it was. Or what day it was, for that matter.
I groaned, finally finding the strength to sit up. Warm hands pushed me down and I obeyed, only because my body protested from trying to move too soon. My eyes opened, at first blurry, then focused. The room started to spin a little. Closing my eyes, and reopening them to focus more on the small studs on the white ceiling, the room finally decided to stop spinning.
"I think she's finally awake." The third familiar voice said softly. I tilted my head to see Michiru, Haruka, Hotaru, and Setsuna, all worriedly looking down at me. I sat up from where I lay on the couch, and they moved back. Focusing on the glass on the coffee table in front of me, I finally managed to stare at the ones who saved me.
"Where am I?" My voice croaked, still raw from being unused for so long. I couldn't tell what time it was, as the curtains were closed.
"You're at my house," Michiru said with a grave frown, "Usagi…what's going on?"
"I'd like to know as well." I said, finally able to swing my legs and plant my feet on the floor. I saw blood on my toes, but quickly looked away.
"You mean you–you don't know anything?" Haruka asked, her lips tight against her teeth.
"I don't," I said softly, my head bowed. "I don't know what happened. All I know is it was morning, and I felt off the whole day – when I went to see about Rei and Ami, I ran into some youkai. Then there was an explosion that wiped them all out. That's when I climbed up the ladder and met you guys."
"I was wondering who made that explosion." Hotaru said with a frown.
I lifted my head up slightly to stare at Hotaru, slightly alarmed. "If it wasn't you guys, then who made that happen?"
"No." Haruka said, pinching the point between her eyes. "We don't know who did it. We felt a presence where we found you." She hesitated a bit before continuing. "At first we thought it was you, but you don't have that register or harness of power unless provoked or backed into a corner with no other option."
I frowned. What Haruka was saying was true. It was strange because I didn't feel any presence on the rooftop when I arrived. I didn't even see any figures there. Then again, I was completely incapacitated and all my strength at that moment had gone. "Whoever did it, did a number on those youkai. There was nothing left of them when we went in our civilian clothes right after." Setsuna said. She stood behind the couch where I sat. I exchanged looks with her before turning around and looking at my blood stained socks once again. "We went looking early this morning…but found nothing again. Just residue power that didn't match with the youkai."
"It's morning?" I asked, turning my attention once more at the green-hued black haired woman.
"It's noon, the day after we found you." Michiru said quietly.
So, a day and a half passed. I bit my lip, trying to figure out what should be my next move. I wanted to get a phone to call Mamo-chan, maybe he would be able to help out. But my gut did a spin when I remembered he didn't show up when I was in danger. He always showed up, unless in another state, or when he was captured with Sailor Galaxia. Maybe they knew where he was?
"Usagi," She hesitated before saying my name to gain my full attention, "Have you heard from Mamoru?" I was slightly taken aback she voiced my own worries that Mamoru was missing too.
I shook my head, my breathing hitched. "No, I haven't…"
"So he's missing too." Hotaru said worriedly, "this isn't good."
"No…" Haruka said, "not good at all. We have to figure out what is going on, so we can help the Inner Senshi, wherever they may be."
"We need to help them now." I got up too fast and flailed before Haruka caught me.
"Sorry Princess," Haruka ignored my protests as she put me back on the couch, and pushed me down. "But you're on strict bed orders until you heal. We healed some of your wounds, but you need a lot of rest and allow your energy to come back. We'll do some scouting to see what's going on. We have a few leads that Setsuna got a hold of."
"But–my friends…"
Haruka was about to say something, her face fierce, but Hotaru put a hand on Haruka's shoulder, interrupting the Sailor of Uranus's words.. "Usagi," She said, tilting past Haruka's tall stature. "I think you should stay here until at least tomorrow. Early in the morning, you and I can make a pass at Rei and Ami's apartment, and look for clues, how does that sound?"
Biting my lip, I closed my eyes tightly, fighting against the grief and panic that washed over me. I would have to remain strong. I would have to remain positive that the outcome wasn't as dire as I was already dreading. Haruka and Hotaru were right. I just didn't want to believe it. I wanted to go out, I wanted to fight – I wanted to save my friends and Mam-chan if he needed saving.
I hated this…really hated it…but what could I do? I was stuck.
Nodding, I settled down on the couch, sighing as I fought back tears.
"It'll be okay, Usagi." Setsuna said with a sad frown, then sighed, "I need to get to the hospital, An is waiting for me."
"Tell An hi for me." Haruka said with a chuckle.
An? Why did that name sound so familiar? Despite my grief, I mumbled a reply to Setsuna about staying safe and then fell asleep, my body not allowing me to prolong the inevitable.
Note: I whole-heartily apologize for being away for so long. It's been 4 years - probably way more than that and I am sincerely happy to say I've been looking at this story once again. I'm trying to finish all my fan-fiction so that way I can at least say I accomplished something.
Truly, thank you for reading! Hope to see you again in the next chapter! In the next chapter, I'm going to be introducing a new character. ^^ Someone would know who I'm talking about if she reads this. Hehehe.