The next day, Usagi left with Shigure after breakfast to retrieve her transcripts from her old school, and to get transferred into her new one. No one at the table had failed to miss the large bruise along her cheek bone, but no one said anything about it either. She pushed her food around but never took a bite. Ayame departed for his shop, and the rest of them went to school, which left her and Shigure.

"Gure-chan, can I ask you something?" They hadn't said anything to each other the whole time, but if her sudden question startled him, he didn't show it. Barely glancing over at her, he gave a slight nod. Usagi's eyes met the familiar sight of Juuban High School as they rounded the corner, and then they dropped to her hands. "Never mind."

The two of them walked into the Administration office, the silver haired girl hanging back some and letting Shigure absorb the brunt of the attention. He did so quite well, sending the secretaries into a frenzy of whispers and unabashed stares. Usagi rolled her eyes as Shigure grinned over his shoulder, picking the youngest and best looking woman to approach.

Leaving Shigure to his business, she took a seat in one of the waiting chairs and stared out of the windows, blocking out the noise of conversation. She'd nearly dozed off when she spotted the familiar brown ponytail passing by, and the shock jolted her out of her seat. Forgetting where she was, and who she was with, and everything else, she sprinted out the door and shouted, "Makoto!"

She turned, her emerald colored eyes narrowed and scanning the area for the person who'd called her name. Usagi raised her arm to wave, but once the brunette caught sight of her, and the look of confusion passed across her face, she remembered. Makoto had no idea who she was.

"Did you call me?"

"Um, no, I mean yes, I did. It's just..." Makoto was looking down at her, her eyebrow raised in a way that reminded her distinctly of Hatori, and Usagi's face went red. "Well you see, I'm a huge fan of you. I mean, I've seen you fight before and...um, I really admire you. I guess."

"Well, thanks," Makoto smiled awkwardly, before turning and walking off in the direction she'd been heading. The scarlet slowly left her face as she stood there, staring at the spot she disappeared long after the tall girl was gone. She didn't move until Shigure put a hand on her shoulder, and she quietly followed him away from the school.

xXx

Usagi slipped the shoes from her feet, and stepped around Shigure without saying anything. They'd registered her in her new school, and she started tomorrow, but it was the least of things on her mind. As she stepped out the back door, Makoto's confused green eyes flashed through her mind for the hundredth time. It only took a moment for her to locate the ladder that lead to the roof, and she climbed it slowly.

None of her friends remembered her at all, and it definitely hurt. She settled on the roof and pulled her knees in close, observing the dull activity of nature in the woods that stretched out around Shigure's home. While she watched, her mind drifted back to the countless battles she'd fought with the senshi, the study buddies after school that she was always late to, the warm way they would all bicker and argue but in the end, never really be upset.

The senshi were not her friends, they were her sisters. Ever since they'd come together at the age of fourteen, through the two years the group had stood together in battle, and beyond that in life. They were just as much family as the Tsukinos, or the Sohmas. Another ache hit her heart as she realized, she'd lost the Tsukinos as well.

Usagi didn't know how much time had passed, but eventually Kyou appeared at the top of the ladder with his school bag still in hand, grumbling in a way that said he was currently irritated. He paused briefly, his red hued eyes sweeping over the silver haired girl before he slowly climbed onto the roof and took a seat beside her, a comfortable distance away. The rabbit hastily wiped at her moist cheeks, trying to be discreet to no avail. The past two weeks had been so hard on her that she hadn't even realized she'd started crying.

"It's not good, you know, to dwell on things," Kyou started, somewhat awkwardly. Usagi's head turned sharply, her expression one of surprise. Did Kyou, the cat of the zodiac and her brother's arch enemy, just try to comfort her? Apparently the look on her face frustrated him further, for he reddened a bit and mumbled, "Never mind."

"No, I know what you meant. You're right," she smiled warmly at him, but he didn't turn back to look at her again. A few moments passed in silence before either of them spoke again.

"You should put something on that bruise, it looks pretty bad." Kyou said. Usagi brought her hand up, touching her fingertips lightly against the black and blue spot that took up most of her cheek. She winced, realizing it was still sore. The orange haired youth added sheepishly, "I have some stuff that you could use, if you want. It'll help." (1)

"No, that's okay," Usagi replied, shaking her head softly as she dropped her hand to her side again. She looked out over the trees, where the sun hung just above and aggravated her eyes, before she went on, "I'd like to leave it there. It reminds me that I still have a long way to go."

When Usagi went back into the house a little while later, she was surprised to find that Hatsuharu had come home with Yuki, Kyou, and Tohru. Even more surprising, he'd been waiting for her for the past half hour, watching the television lazily while Tohru worked on her homework diligently at the table. The brunette girl lifted her head when she heard Usagi come in and offered a warm smile, which Usagi returned as best she could.

"I'm sorry, Haru-chan, I didn't know you were here," the rabbit apologized. Hatsuharu looked up for the first time, just now noticing her entrance, and stood. As he walked closer, Usagi realized what he was staring so intently at and turned her head to look at the wall. The ox stopped just in front of her, and cupping her chin in his hand, gently turned her head the other way. He ran a gloved finger over the nasty looking bruise while Usagi avoided his eyes. She felt almost guilty, even though it wasn't necessarily her fault. Necessarily.

"I told you not to see him," Hatsuharu said, his tone flat as ever. Usagi looked up, her blue eyes meeting his darker ones, and seen the partially contained anger there. Worriedly, she wondered if he was upset with her or Akito.

"I don't regret it. Not for one minute," Usagi smiled, and hugged Hatsuharu as hard as she could. "But it is nice to know you've worried. Kyou-san said you'd been worried lately, when I was talking with him just now. He failed to mention you were here, though." A small frown graced her features, before she shrugged and pulled away from the taller boy. "Anyway, I start school with you tomorrow. Maybe we'll be in the same class?"

"Come on, you need to eat. You look like a stick," Hatsuharu said in response, turning and pulling her in the direction of Shigure's kitchen. Her face puffed up with annoyance as she tried to pull her arm free. Quickly realizing she couldn't escape his grip, the silver haired girl scowled at his back instead and unwillingly followed. As her mind drifted, she realized she hadn't eaten anything all day and a small smile graced her lips. What would she do without Hatsuharu?

Tohru watched them leave the room, smiling fondly. 'I hope Usagi-san and I can be friends,' she thought brightly, turning her attention back to her homework.

xXx

It didn't occur to her until later that night, when everyone was eating dinner and her along with them, that Akito wasn't finished. She couldn't have been more foolish, really. Once again, as when Setsuna had brought the news of her friends' and family's memories being erased, a knock at the door interrupted their meal and the quiet chatter the surrounded it. Tohru Honda rose to her feet, disappearing from the dining area to answer the door. When she came back, there was a shell shocked expression on her face, and the people at the table looked up at her with concern.

"Usagi-san, it's for you," she declared slowly. Shigure, Yuki, and Kyou all turned to look at her. Hatsuharu had gone home at least an hour ago, but the foreboding in her stomach had her wishing he was still there. She stood, about to walk around the table and out to the entrance hall, when her visitor appeared in the doorway behind Tohru. The rabbit felt time freeze around her for a second, and her stomach dropped to her feet.

"O-Okaasan?" Her voice trembled so terribly that she didn't say anything further. The woman moved around the small brunette in the doorway and walked toward the silver haired girl. Usagi took a reflexive step back, and the woman frowned.

"Ame, Akito told me you were back. I'm surprised I had to hear it from him," the woman stated, turning her cold gaze to Yuki for a moment before fixing it entirely on Usagi. The rabbit's heart wrenched at this; Akito had done this deliberately to hurt her. Her eyes became blurry as she stared into the taller woman's face, a face almost identical to her own. Silver hair fell down her shoulders (2) and rested against her stiff business suit. The woman radiated a beauty that was as cold as an Antarctic wind.

"I'm sorry, Okaasan. It's just, a lot of things have been happening and--"

"Things too important to remember your own mother? You're just as selfish and ungrateful as your brothers--"

"Okaasan, please!" Usagi pleaded, cutting her mother off in mid-sentence. Wincing under the icy glare she received in response, she placed an uncertain hand on her shoulder. "Can we talk about this somewhere else?" Her blue eyes flittered over the dinner table, and paused on Yuki. His hands were shaking.

Ame peeked around the corner, seeing her mother and her Oniisan at the door. Tears swam in Yuki's eyes as he reached out and grabbed onto her arm, his voice coming out in a low whine, "Mother, I want to go home too! I hate it there! Akito only says scary things! I hate it. I want to go home. Take me with you. Mother...Mother please..." he paused, unable to contain the sob that rose in his throat, "help me!"

Their mother turned back to him and smiled softly, stiffly. It was so fake and wretched that Ame couldn't even look at it. With a voice sweet as honey, she bent down and patted Yuki on the head, saying, "Aren't you lucky Yuki? The Head of the family likes you. Keep having him be your friend. See you later." (3)

The door closed softly behind their mother, and Yuki collapsed to his knees, unable to contain his grief. Ame finally sprung from her hiding place, running to her brother and pulling him into a fierce hug. She was crying too.

"It's okay, Oniisan. She just doesn't understand." A lie, but she can't admit the truth. Their mother knew what was happening to her child, and she didn't care. She didn't care. "It's okay. I'm here with you, always."

Yuki cried himself to sleep in her arms, and she held him until Shigure came along to carry the heartsick boy to a bed.

"Don't ignore me, Ame!" Usagi flinched, jolting out of her reverie and meeting gazes with her mother. "Akito told me he's considering allowing you into the family. Perhaps you'll get the chance that Yuki ruined." Her mother turns her frigid, glaring eyes toward Yuki again, and unable to contain herself, Usagi reeled her hand back and slapped the woman in front of her with all the strength she could muster.

"Don't ever call us selfish again, Okaasan. You're the one who's selfish. You ignored me my whole life and you know you only came here because you knew how bad it would hurt me and Yuki. You only want to acknowledge me now because you think I might be able to give you something you want and you don't care how much it hurts me for you to get it. Just like you ignored Yuki's suffering for your own gain." Usagi was shaking head to toe, but her voice was steady and full of fury. Her mother took another step closer, but this time she stood her ground.

"You have the gall to speak to me that way? If you ever--I swear I'll--" Her mother was stuttering with her own rage, but Usagi had no qualms in interrupting her again.

"Or you'll what? Hit me? Guess what, I already have one bruise so feel free to add another. I'm not a little girl anymore and you can't--you won't--control me." For a split second, her mother looked to consider taking her up on the offer. She didn't raise a hand to strike, so Usagi pointed to the doorway that led to the front entrance. "Get out."

"Ame--"

"Get out!" Her mother fell back, looking murderous, but accepting defeat nonetheless. She turned and left, pushing past Tohru quite rudely, who had been frozen in the doorway the whole time. The sound of a violently slamming door echoed in the tense silence that surrounded them, before Usagi let out a deep breath and said, "I'm going to my room. I've suddenly lost my appetite."

The silver haired girl scurried past Tohru and up the stairs, making a beeline for her bedroom. She fell into her bed and, sitting up on her knees, punched her pillow over and over until she ran out of energy and collapsed into the cushion. Sometime after that, a knock came at the door and Shigure entered quietly. He took a seat on the edge of the bed and looked over at her. If she wasn't mistaken, he appeared somewhat proud of her.

"Thank you, Gure-chan, for not stepping in back there." The rabbit said, sitting up Indian style and smiling gently at him.

"I knew you needed to do it on your own." Shigure replied, shrugging offhandedly. Usagi sat in silence, thinking for several minutes, before she spoke again.

"I feel sorry for her, Gure-chan. She's so cold and empty. She'll never know what love is, and she'll probably die alone." The blue eyed girl paused, ponderous, before adding, "But I can't help her. That is one person I just can't help." Another pause, "Apparently Akito didn't take to my words as well as I thought he did. I can't believe he sent her, of all people."

"You underestimate Akito's character. He won't change after just a few words." Shigure advised, turning his dark eyes from the window back to her face. Subconsciously she reached up to run her finger along the bruise on her cheek. Then, a smile took over her features as she looked back at him.

"Yeah, but I'm not giving up. Okaasan may be hopeless, but Akito is just confused. I'll make him see." Usagi's smile spread to the older man's face as he stood, brushing off his kimono by force of habit.

"I hope so, Usa-chan. I really do."

xXx

Usagi woke the next morning blearily, after everyone else. Just on the edge of late, she decided a shower was out of the question, so she threw on the uniform bearing the Kaibara High School crest on it and hastily grabbed her bag. She didn't expect Kyou and Tohru to be waiting for her at the door. Tohru bowed nervously.

"Yuki-kun has student council before school, so he already left," the brown eyed girl said quickly, "but we didn't want you to have to walk to school alone on your first day." The look on Kyou's face suggested he hadn't necessarily shared that sentiment, but Usagi smiled brightly anyway.

"Thank you, Tohru-chan. That was very nice of you." The rabbit paused, and then went on, "We should go, before we're late."

The walk to school was uneventful, as Usagi listened to Tohru chatter with Kyou, though she did most of the talking. The brunette attempted to speak with her a few times, but she wasn't in the mood for conversation. Once they entered school grounds, the silver haired girl felt a cold, sickly feeling overcome her at the multitudes of teenagers that roamed the campus.

Tohru walked her to the main office, generously, to pick up her schedule, and then to her classroom when they got it. Usagi thanked her profusely, promising to make it up to her, before the older girl went off towards her own class. Taking a deep, calming breath, Usagi looked up at the class number to make sure it matched the one on the paper in her hands. She nearly had a heart attack when an arm encircled her shoulders from behind.

"I heard your mother came by last night," Hatsuharu said in low tones, and for that she was grateful, because any louder and several people would've heard. Her brow creased in confusion at the girls who were blatantly staring--or was that glaring?--at her. What was their problem? Brushing it off, Usagi smiled lightly at him.

"I wonder; is there ever a time when you won't be worried about me, Haru-chan?" She said, equally low tones, if not lower. Was it just her, or were those girls closing in on her? Maybe she was hallucinating; Hatsuharu didn't seem to notice anything. He smirked at her words.

"Probably not. I shouldn't be this time, apparently. I hear you really gave her hell." Usagi's face contorted, making Hatsuharu laugh. The girls definitely took a step closer.

"How did you hear about all this?" She asked, looking annoyed and somewhat anxious on the mob of girls closing in on them. Hatsuharu looked up, glaring in a way that might suggest he'd gone Black. The girls fell back, and Usagi tugged on his arm to bring his attentions back to her.

"Shigure called everyone, pretty much. He was happy for you." Usagi blushed, and then rolled her eyes, muttering something about a stupid dog. They were both caught off guard by the subsequent yell, which rang in the air around them and made everyone within one hundred feet jump.

"USAGI-CHAN!" The silver haired girl winced as one very hyper blonde boy literally pounced on her--Hatsuharu stepped away to avoid being pummeled--and squeezed her tight enough to cut off the oxygen to her brain. The glares for the girl population increased tenfold. Grinning happily, the boy followed up with, "Good morning!"

"Morning to you too, Momiji. I think you broke the sound barrier just now." They both giggled, and Hatsuharu smiled. The girls gave each other looks, but none of them were brave enough to approach. They still remembered the day that Hatsuharu went nuts and tore the classroom all to pieces. The bell sounded, signaling the start of school, and Usagi looked between the two Sohmas.

"Which class are you guys in?" She asked eagerly. Momiji pointed, and her face visibly fell. They were in the class across the hall. When they realized this, Momiji smiled at her reassuringly.

"Don't worry, Usagi-chan, we'll still eat lunch together. We all eat up on the roof." The blue eyed girl nodded, smiling and waving goodbye as she turned to enter her own classroom. Once beyond the threshold, her face went grim. She was stuck in a class all by herself with no one she knew, and to make matters worse, the girls in class were muttering to each other and glaring at her, all but one in the very back. A gasp escaped her lips as her bag slipped from her fingers, clattering noisily against the floor. The girl stood from her desk to approach her.

"Usa-neechan!" Usagi looked her over again, too shocked for words. The dark hair that used to be at her shoulder now fell to her mid-back, and her violet eyes were glinting with a smile. Hesitantly, the rabbit reached out to touch her, afraid she was an illusion. Her hand didn't go through.

Finally, she unlocked her vocal chords enough to choke out, "Hotaru-chan?"

xXx

(1) There really are creams and oils you can puts on bruises to help them heal faster. I didn't make it up, I swear. -sweatdrop-

(2) I only assume Yuki's mother has silver hair. The only image I've seen of her thus far is in black and white, so sorry if this is incorrect. I don't even know her name yet! If you know of a picture, or description of her let me know! By the way, Yuki's mother really is like this, I just got my Tokyopop Magazine in the mail with the preview of Volume 13, where Yuki has his parent/teacher conference. So I didn't make it up.

(3) The dialogue here, between Yuki and his mother, is straight from the manga.

:laughs insanely as the readers start throwing their shoes: Yes, yes, a dreaded cliffy! I will say or reveal nothing of why Hotaru-chan is in Usagi's class at Usagi's school! If you're confused though, I will say that only the inner senshi had their memories erased, which excludes Hotaru, Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna. I don't have much else to say, but, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you all for the wonderful reviews!

By the way, since this is my story and I own all rights to free, shameless advertising space here...please go read my new story The Cures. Please?

♥SachiNyoko♥