As It Stands
Lizzie223
Chapter 6 - Rei, Minako, Usagi
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any affiliated brands, movies, or manga.
-Rei-
Rei's week had been miserable, to put it lightly.
For the majority of it, she hadn't been able to sleep; a curling feeling of dread encasing her in its' clutches.
She didn't know what was wrong, and that drove her to the edge of her fuse.
Then Makoto disappeared, with no bloody trace left! And as someone so in tune with her surroundings, Rei should have known-
She resolutely shook her head, rehoning in on the sound of Ami's mini-computer.
"Can you trace her coordinates, Ami?"
Minako's voice was hoarse, probably from all the crying she'd done in the past few hours.
A tiny part of Rei wished she could cry without abandon like that.
Ami bit her lip, brows furrowing as she snapped the computer shut.
"Nothing. Absolutely no trace of her. It's like-"
Her breath hitched for a fleeting moment.
"Like she wasn't ever here in the first place."
Rei's anger bubbled and boiled over the edge as she slammed her hands on the low table; startling Minako and Usagi.
"What do you mean? Isn't the computer super-powered? Try it again!"
Ami sighed, running a hand through her already mussed locks.
"I've already done that, Rei. I can't locate her."
Everyone at the table was silent for a moment; taking it in.
Abruptly, Usagi stood, tears glimmering in her eyes.
"Is there nothing else we can do? We need to find her! If we don't-"
A choked sob escaped her throat, her arms awkwardly curving around her abdomen.
Admittedly, Rei was inwardly relieved at this show of emotion.
Usagi hadn't seemed herself for a while; heck, she hadn't even responded to Rei's usual taunts.
And while she would never outwardly acknowledge it; she knew that she was worried for Usagi.
After Mamoru's break up with her, Rei had honestly expected Usagi to run to her friends, sisters in every sense of the word but nothing happened.
She didn't.
Instead, Rei had to watch and see the way that Usagi retreated into herself further and further until she lost herself completely.
It was disturbing.
And damn it, Rei had tried to get Usagi to talk, she'd taunted her, and pushed her boundaries but there was absolutely no reaction.
It was like talking to a robot or something.
Although this show of emotion was sad and much quieter than normal, she was glad Usagi seemed like herself again.
She just hoped it would last.
Minako sent Usagi a sympathetic glance as she plopped back down again.
"We obviously need a plan of action. Since Mako-"
Minako almost stumbled over her name.
"Got taken, it's likely that all of us are at risk for the same thing."
Ami shut her eyes, seeming to struggle with herself for a moment before answering.
"Because we're all at risk due to this new enemy, I suggest we all live together, at least temporarily, so we don't get taken so easily."
There was silence for a fleeting moment, then-
"But where would we stay? Would we still go to school? How would that even work?"
Rei didn't want to poke holes in a seemingly decent plan, but she hadn't slept in a day and this was too much already.
Ami met her gaze evenly, azure-tinted eyelashes framing her pale countenance.
"Well, if it was okay with you, I was thinking we could stay here. After all, my place isn't big enough for you all, Minako's is too small as well and Usagi's parents would ask questions, so…"
She trailed off, a slightly apologetic smile on her lips.
"What."
It wasn't as if Rei hated them, far from it actually, however, having them there 24/7 for who knows how long?
That was too much.
Ami met her distressed gaze evenly.
"To answer your question, we would still go to school. The enemy has always attacked at night or in a remote place, therefore I don't believe they would have the guts to attack such a public place."
She raised her eyebrows, attempting to calm herself down.
This wasn't a big deal. Definitely not.
"But what would I tell Grandpa? He's not that gullible."
"Rei's right, how would we convince him to let us do this? We can't just hide in here and avoid him….right?"
Rei was partially surprised that Minako spoke up in the first place; originally assuming her silence would last much longer.
She snorted slightly.
"Sure, my Grandpa would totally not notice all of you hiding out here."
Ami straightened her posture slightly.
"I was thinking we could use the silver crystal to-"
Her carefully contained frustration boiled over.
"What the heck? We are absolutely not putting a glamour on my Grandpa!"
Ami bit her lip.
"It would put a glamour on us actually, so your Grandpa wouldn't be affected, he just wouldn't see us."
Rei casually resisted the urge to slam her head against the table.
"This is insane. Absolutely insane."
Slowly she met the eyes of the girls at the table as a wry smile twisted her lips.
"Ah, what the heck."
Rei sighed, the fight leaving her body.
"Fine, but I still don't necessarily like this."
Ami smiled, clearly relieved.
"So is everybody in agreement?"
Both Minako and Usagi resolutely nodded.
"Um, can we put the glamour on my parents too? And Shingo? I don't think I'd be able to come up with an excuse."
Usagi's voice was withdrawn again. She seemed almost tentative.
Again.
Damn it.
"Yeah that would be fine, it wouldn't hurt them either. Again, it's the only chance we have at avoiding too much attention from others."
Ami bit her lip again, briefly connecting her eyes with Rei's.
I don't like that look.
Rei didn't know what it meant. But clearly it wasn't going to be good.
"Look, because someone is targeting the Senshi, it's likely they're either already targeting or going to target Tuxedo Kamen so-"
Rei scoffed.
"You are not saying what I think you're-"
"I am."
Admittedly, she didn't know what was more surprising; that Ami cut her off or what she was insinuating.
"So for those of us who have absolutely no clue what's going on, what are you saying Ami?"
Minako's voice, which was normally so full of life and energy, was flat, hollowed out.
Empty.
There was way too much that Rei associated with empty now.
"What I'm saying, is that for now, Tuxedo Kamen, or Mamoru, should stay with us-"
"What?!"
Usagi slammed her hands on the table, standing up as she maintained eye contact with Ami.
Normally, Rei would chastise her for the outburst.
But nothing was normal anymore, and she could understand that more was going on, that Usagi might not be able to handle seeing him because-
Rei cut off her own thought train.
She didn't know why.
"You all think this is fine? That this is just dandy!?"
Minako attempted to put her arm on Usagi's hand, sisterly concern written in the contours of her face.
"Usa-"
Usagi shoved her away, hands threading through her knotted locks.
"No! This is just so-"
"I'm sorry Usagi-chan, I really am, but he's in danger too, and we can't let him get hurt. He at least needs to be offered-"
Usagi's eyes flashed with emotions Rei hadn't seen before.
"I don't give a damn what he needs to be offered! I thought you guys were my friends! I thought-"
Her voice cut off, choked sobs penetrating the tense silence.
Rei, albeit cautiously, stood, not utterly sure of how to proceed.
Angry about ice cream Usagi? No problem.
Annoyed Usagi? Sure.
Mentally breaking down Usagi? That was a bloody nightmare.
"Look, Usagi, I get that it's annoying, I don't like him either, but-"
She turned to Rei, thousands of accusations flashing through her eyes.
"I thought you would understand! But no, of course not!"
Angrily, she tugged her hair out of her signature buns, allowing it to flow down her back.
"Damn it!"
Her exclamation wove through the startled girls.
Ami's eyes were sympathetic, but unyielding while Minako was stuck between wanting to reach out or giving Usagi space.
Rei had no idea what she looked like.
She just hoped it wasn't as close to a gaping fish as she thought.
Ami stood, slowly but surely making her way to Usagi.
"Look, Usagi-chan, we need-"
Usagi's eyes were wide, and the depth of distress in them was overwhelming to even Rei at that point.
Her chest was heaving up and down, legs clearly trembling beneath her.
Rei felt the unfamiliar prickling of tears in her eyes.
This was so damn unfamiliar and Rei didn't know what-
"I don't care!"
WIth that, Usagi ran, or stumbled, from the room, leaving her school bag, henshin broach, and three shocked girls.
-Minako–
As the Senshi of love, Minako prided herself on sensing strong emotions.
And Usagi was practically screaming distress and despair.
She had been, for weeks.
And Minako had to accept that she was utterly powerless.
As always.
She'd tried. She really had! But Usagi wouldn't confide in her.
As much as she hated to acknowledge it, it hurt.
She was supposed to be Usagi's sister in every sense of the word.
She failed.
And as tears sprung up into her eyes, she allowed them to fall because she wasn't sure how many more times she could fail before she would shatter and-
A choked sob escaped her throat as she stood up.
She had to follow her because if she didn't it was her faultherfaultherfault-
She didn't register the voices calling out to her in concern.
She didn't bother to acknowledge them, she didn't deserve it.
I'm so selfish. So so selfish.
Her head dropped into her trembling hands.
"Damn it Minako, snap out of it!"
Stars flooded her vision as her head was thrown to the side.
Shakily righting her head, Minako faced her offender as anger flooded her veins.
"What was that for Rei?!"
Rei's fists were clenched tightly, angry red lines appearing on her palms.
When she finally met Minako's distressed gaze, Rei's eyes were glittering with tears.
"You can't break down like this! You can't! Usagi needs us! If you break down-" Rei cut herself off, the tears glimmering in her eyes finally falling down her flushed cheeks.
Ami, who was previously silent until this point, cleared her throat.
"Rei's right, Minako, we need to hold it together. We must."
A whimper escaped her throat as she hugged her abdomen.
She was tired.
So, so, tired.
Weight was on her chest, building and crushing and scarring until it felt like there was nothing left.
"I know."
Two words, but Minako understood that they got what she was saying.
And not saying.
Pinpricks of pain twisted her abdomen as she forced her chapped lips into a grin.
"I'm gonna go home and try to research battle plans or something to help save Mako. If you need me, just call my communicator."
Ami looked as if she was about to say something before thinking better of it.
And Rei?
Minako didn't look at Rei because she knew that the same emotions would be reflected in her gaze.
With a nod, she turned, not bothering to fix the bow slipping out of her hair.
—-
Minako didn't go home.
It was stupid. So damn stupid.
She knew that.
But she didn't care.
A small part of her wouldn't mind if they kidnapped her now, got it over with.
Absentmindedly, she plopped on the grass, her gaze flitting across the boats near the port and in the distance.
I failed her.
Again.
And she'd never know why, but that released the metaphorical dam on her emotions.
Her fingers threaded through her slick locks as her emotions tumbled out of control.
She wanted to scream, but nothing came out of her mouth but pathetic sobs.
How did everything get so screwed up?
She couldn't do this.
She couldn't. She couldn't. She couldn't.
She could.
She had to.
She didn't recognize when the difference had blurred.
Clumsily fishing her phone of her pocket, she pressed the call button and held it to her cheek.
Please answer. Please. I need you. I need you. I l-
"This is Motoki Furuhata, I'll get back to you when I can!"
"Damn it!"
None too gently, Minako slammed her phone onto the grass, ignoring the dewy droplets smearing her fingers.
She buried her head into her bruised knees.
Of course she hadn't mentioned it to the others, but over the last few weeks, her and Motoki had started to talk, and eventually her puppy love faded into-
Real love.
And that was terrifying, and all-encompassing, and exciting because-
She couldn't put him in that danger.
There was no way she could live with herself if he-
Tears fell down her cheeks.
Her phone buzzed on the grass next to her, and while it was selfish, so bloody selfish she still opened it, pressing the answer button.
"Hello?"
Even to herself, she sounded shaky and weird and gross.
"Minako? I'm sorry for missing your call, the kids at the arcade were-"
He sounded so normal, so eclipsing, so beautiful as he was that a small sob escaped her scratchy throat.
"Minako? Are you okay?"
His voice was alert. She could almost picture him, one hip leaning against the counter of the arcade, brown eyes narrowed as his mouth quirked downwards.
You don't deserve him.
"Yeah."
A brief pause.
"You're lying."
A small disbelieving laugh escaped her mouth as she leaned backwards, bits of grass staining her lavender tank-top.
She was so tired.
"I'm not, Motoki. I'm just tired. P-promise."
He sighed, long and deep.
"You can't fool me with that Mina. I know you. And you are most certainly not okay. Where are you?"
Although everything within her told her to hang up, to run far away, she still rattled off her current location.
"I'm coming to find you."
And tears fluttered down her cheeks because even though it was selfish, she loved him.
Maybe it was premature.
Maybe she was too young.
But something in her soul screamed that he was the one.
She allowed a small smile to quirk her lips upward before letting sleep take her.
She was safe.
As long as he was there, she was irrevocably safe.
Nothing could change that.
—-Usagi—-
She didn't know how long she ran before collapsing into a bench, curling onto her side.
She was being immature, she knew that.
She did.
But the idea of being stuck with Mamoru for who knows how long?
That was a personal hell much worse than the past few weeks had been.
It was just too much.
She was so damn tired.
But she didn't have the right to be a pain in the ass to her Senshi.
But still!
It's not fair for them to just make those decisions before consulting me.
A flood of tears coursed down her cheeks, coating the rough wooden bench beneath her.
She was a mess.
Not the mess that at least has some redeeming qualities, no, she was the mess that only took and took until it had to be eradicated.
"Damn." She mumbled, lashes awkwardly tickling her cheekbones as she laid there.
"Miss, are you alright?" A deep, albeit slightly concerned voice interrupted her thoughts.
A flush of anger bloomed on her cheeks, red hot humiliation flooding her veins.
Why a stranger would talk to her right now was beyond her at this point.
Feigning nonchalance, she sat up, angrily shoving aside her tears as she kept her gaze on her denim skirt.
"Do I look like it?" She snapped, one of her hands subconsciously smoothing down her locks.
Irritating stranger or not, she didn't want to look like a complete idiot.
"Um," An awkward laugh filled the air between them, "I suppose not, but still…I don't know. I just wanted to make sure I guess."
Usagi sighed, trying to ward the annoyance out of her tone.
"Well, now that we've established that…" She trailed off, still avoiding his gaze.
She didn't want or need to gaze upon the face of someone who saw her like this.
"What's wrong?" His voice was quick, the words almost tumbling out of his mouth.
Incredulity colored her countenance as she finally lifted her gaze to meet his eyes.
Hazel met azure.
And multiple lives were irrevocably thrown off course.
—-
A/N: I'm so sorry for the wait on this update! Life caught up with me and work has been difficult to say the least. Anyways, I made the decision to include Minako's point of view and some of her relationship with Motoki in here because honestly? They're super cute and I wanted to have SOME fluff in this chapter.
Was this chapter incredibly difficult to even write? Yes and that is partially because I wasn't 100% certain where I wanted the story to go. I'm happy to say that I have picked a direction and I'm hoping you all like where I'm going!
I've already picked the point of views for chapter 7, but have not for chapter 8. If you have any ideas for point of view or you have someone in mind for a point of view, please vote in a review!
Readers poll for p.o.v's in chapter 8
a) Minako
b) Usagi
c) Mamoru
d) Motoki
e) other: Your choice! I couldn't include everyone here.
Important: If you have any thoughts or ideas for scenes please tell me in a review or PM! I can't promise it will happen, but I'll try my absolute best to try!
As always, thank you so much for reading! I can't describe how much your reviews, favorites, follows, and views mean to me!
Stay healthy, happy, and safe,
-Liz
