Chapter 6: Lita's Life Takes a Twist.
Hello everyone here is the next chapter to a 'The Secret Is Out'. I have a very important note to start off this chapter I will no longer be writting this story. I have some ideas where I want this story to go, but I just don't have the time or the skills to do this story justice. On a happy note though the story will go on CometMoon has agreed to take over this story for me. I will help by giving my imput but all the writting will be done by CometMoon. So I hope you all enjoy this chapter written be CometMoon and please review thank you.
Special Thanks to the following Chapter 4 reviewers: Seiyaferret, BenRG, Marni, and CM.
Also to the following Chapter 6 reviewers: QueenofMercury, BenRG, NEOqueen, Midnight Dreamz, kellybug, Star Chaser, and Marni.
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Groaning Lita plopped down into her seat at Juuban Middle School. If it had not been for her neighbor making such a ruckus this morning she would never have gotten up in time for school.
'Geez these battles our getting harder and harder. And we still only have one of the Nijizuishou to show for it. How our we ever going to find the Ginzuishou and the Princess at this rate?'
With a quick survey of the room, she realized she was the only Scout here. Serena's absence was norm, but Amy always arrived before her. Had something happened to her during the battle that no one knew about?
A shiver ran down her spine and she jumped every time a student walked in, praying that it would be one of her friends.
'Nothing's wrong Lita, your being a fool.'
But worry she did. Her friends were all she had left in the world. If anything should happen to them she didn't know what she's do.
"Hey Lita. Where's Amy? She's always here before me."
That accented voice was not what she'd hope to hear, and her ire showed.
"I'm not her keeper Molly, so lay off."
The redheaded girl flinched at the jibe. She had been trying to gain the friendship of Serena's friends for months, but they just pushed her away. And took Serena with them.
Despite this though, Molly attempted to keep her hopes alive. She wanted her friend back, and knew that more was at stake then anyone let on.
Lita however felt guilt course though her. She knew Molly didn't deserve that, but her pride and fear would not let her take it back. They all feared this girl would take Serena away from them, as irrational as that may sound. So they did everything possible to keep Serena from her.
The final bell rang, jarring her from her thoughts. Now she was really nervous. Amy was NEVER late. For that matter neither was Ms. H.
Murmurs raced through the room, all seemed to agree at the two most punctual persons at school being late set the gossip mill churning.
Eight grueling minutes after the bell rang, their teacher and a teaching substitute entered.
Past, before the first bell:
Patricia Haruna sighed. Her latest date had canceled yet another one.
Patricia was a beautiful twenty-six year old with brown wavy hair. Deep blue eyes. And a figure most women would kill for. But she had a hard time seeing herself as such. Years of needing to fill the empty hole inside herself, though she was not truly sure what was missing, had her emotions in a bit of a mess.
Added to that, there was Lita.
'That girl reminds me so much of myself. Orphaned, living alone, and ready to fight at a drop of a hat.'
She had been worried about three of her students lately more then most. Though they tried to hide it, Lita, Serena, and Amy have all come into class with bruises and bags under their eyes. And Serena barely could keep her eyes open, not that was so unusual, but it had gotten worse.
Lita had her the most worried. She had been looking into her files, trying to find out if she or the other two girls had ever been seen for unusual injuries or history of abuse.
Now she knew Serena's Mother really well, after all the counseling sessions she had with her, and she couldn't imagine that either her or her husband would do such a thing.
Amy had no history of abuse in her medical history, or in the school records.
Nor did Lita, though she had a history of fighting, it always was the other that instigated it. She, almost always was defending someone from a bully.
It had to be something else, and most likely something they all were in on. These three the closest group of friends she had met, save Molly and Serena, who she could not figure what happen to, it had to be something they all were involved in.
She didn't even give them being in a gang a second thought. Not Amy and Serena. But what it was baffled her.
But what troubled her the most was what she found out about Lita.
She was living alone.
How she accomplished this was beyond her.
She herself was orphaned at seventeen and barely able to make it on her own until she turned eighteen and inherited the life insurance her parents left her. It paid for her collage and the house off, as she couldn't see herself parting with it. But that year before it, she shuddered, was the worst of her life. Often she went to bed hungry, not enough money left from her part time job to pay for both food and house costs. And too much pride to ask for help.
Lita however seemed to be fairly well off. She lived in a respectable neighborhood, at a fairly expensive apartment. At least for the last eight months. Before that however, she could find no place of residents. The mailing address she gave was but a local box at the mail office. The street address she gave was an apartment building. But when she checked with the landlord, he had no record of Lita's aunt living there. And looking up her records, she found out that the sister of her father, also named Lita (This was who she was named after), had been named her guardian. But she had died when Lita had been only ten years old.
Putting the pieces together, she came up with the only conclusion available.
Lita had no guardian.
She sighed again. This hit home in so many ways. And Lita was far younger then she was at seventeen. But she was undecided as what to do. She knew if she approached this wrong, Lita might very well bolt and never be seen again.
"Patricia, you have Tsukino, Anderson, and Kino in your class don't you?"
The voice of the secretary startled her from her thoughts. She turned to the elderly female.
"Yes, they are all in my class."
That she had asked about the three subjects of her musings threw her, dread filled her as she awaited her to continue.
"Well, I got a call from Dr. Anderson and Amy won't be in for this whole week. And now I have Mrs. Tsukino on the line saying that Serena and Lita won't be either. And she wishes Lita to be released from school today."
Patricia frowned. 'Lita? Why would Irene call to tell us that. And by whose authority.'
Several students came in at that time requesting late slips and handing in excuses for absences. The harried secretary shrugged at Patricia and attempted to keep her head afloat.
"Here Beth, let me take the call and you handle the desk."
With a grateful smile she turned to the students attempting to establish order.
Patricia went to the back office and pick up the phone.
"Hello Irene. This is Patricia. Beth is a little busy right now."
Irene started, not expecting Serena's teacher to answer. She expected the secretary to get the needed information.
"Oh, hello Patricia. How are you?"
"Well. What is this about Serena and Lita missing school for the week? They can hardly afford it, unlike Amy."
She asked this to get a response from the woman, and was not disappointed.
"Now I know Serena has a bit of work to make up for Ms. Haruna, but this is a family issue."
She smiled at that. 'Hit a cord did I?'
"Perhaps, but you asked for Lita as well."
Irene fidgeted. That was a tough one to answer.
"It involves her as well."
"I can't release a student unless it's to family Irene. And I think you know about that."
Shaken, she realized that Patricia might know about Lita's lack of family. She attempted to clear her thoughts and respond.
"This is a very important matter Pat, I wouldn't even think of asking if it weren't."
Patricia grimace. Irene was always a practical one, with a level head on her shoulder. Further this might be a way to broach the subject of Lita's lack of family.
"Alright Irene, I'll send her home immediately. Have written permission slips sent to the school as soon as possible."
Irene relaxed at this. It was easier then she had anticipated when she thought to call the school. 'Thank goodness that Pat was there.'
Though she may have rescinded that thought if she knew what Pat had in mind.
"Beth, I need that new teaching assistant to take over for me for the next week. I'm going to be taking an emergency leave for the next week."
Mouth hanging, eyes bulging, Beth just gaped at her. No matter what, she hadn't missed a day of school, save that day she collapsed at school. And then she never should have come in, in the first place.
Patricia however, simply finished making out the paperwork for the three students absences and wrote down a planner for the sub. She had wanted more hands on class time anyway, and this group should give her more then enough.
The final bell rang as she made her way to the teachers lounge and informed the now panicking T.A. her responsibilities for the next week.
Back to present:
The room quieted as their teacher and the T.A. came into the room. The sight of the T.A. clutching her books to her chest, fear evident in her eyes, brought out the predator in them.
Fresh Meat.
"Class, I have a few announcements to make. Ms. Squisley will be your teacher for the next week. I'll be taking a personal leave. Also several students will as well be off this week. Amy Anderson. Serena Tsukino."
At their names two people in the room felt their hearts freeze.
Lita worrying on if they had been hurt worse then she thought during the battle. Her guilt rose at that thought. 'Oh no. What if they were hurt? Why didn't I protect them better?'
Molly however was worse off. She didn't even know what had happen to them and feared for Serena.
"And Lita Kino."
At the sound of her name being added to the list, a baffled girl looked up to her teacher.
"Lita, you received a call to go to the Tsukino's home immediately. I do not believe it is something serious, just urgent."
She added that as she saw the fear in some of the student's eyes.
Slightly relieved, she nodded and gathered her things to leave, when Ms. Haruna stopped her.
"Please wait a few minutes Lita. I wish to speak with you and give you the home work for the girls for the next week."
Reluctantly she sat back down and waited for her to finish her last minute instructions to the T.A. Then she gathered her books, made a few notes, and walked over to the impatient girl.
"Come with me please. Class behave yourselves for your substitute."
Lita smirked slightly at the quivering T.A., feeling a little sorry for her.
As the two stepped out the door, the room seemed to change, the beast coming out to hunt their prey.
But before they could pounce on her, Ms. H. slammed the door open, and scowled,
"And if I find out that one of you has been anything but exemplary to her, I will personally oversee this WHOLE classes month of detention."
Fear of the threat cowed the pack, and lifted the T.A.'s spirits.
With a grin, she again walked out the door, leading Lita to her car.
Confused, Lita stared at her teacher.
"Uhhmm, Ms. H? Where are we going? I have to get to the Tsukino's."
Smiling at the girl who could almost stare her directly in the eye, Ms. Haruna replied, "I know dear, I'm going to give you a ride there. I have to talk to Irene anyway."
Uneasiness filled Lita and she tried to duck out of it, fearing that this most likely was Sailor business.
"I can give her any message you want Ms. H. Just give me their home work an..."
With a firm, but gentle shaken of her head, she was cut off.
"No Lita. I have quite a few questions she needs to answer for me. We'll go together, that way there will be no hassles for you not being in school at this time of day."
Helpless, she fell silent and got into the passenger's side, buckling up her seatbelt. The leather seats squeaking as she sat.
They remained quite for a few minutes as she allowed the engine to warm up before putting it into gear.
As the red sports car sped down the streets, the occupants tried to get a clue as too what the other was thinking.
"So Lita, how is your aunt Lita doing?"
Startled, Lita bit her tongue, cursing under her breath.
'Damn, how'd she know of my aunt? Duuhhh, she is my teacher, and can look into my records. Blast'
"Good."
Her short answer was all she gave on the subject.
"I haven't seen her at any of the student family days, and she's missed two teacher / student conferences."
Tears came to Lita's eyes. She feared she'd have to change schools soon or be discovered and sent to another of those blasted orphanages. The last one was horrible. They treated the kids like dirt and even beat them. They tried that on little Cassie, and Lita tore into the jerks. But the only thing that did was to get her into trouble by the law. She ran away that night and tricked her way into the school she went to before coming to Juuban Middle. Just a few forged signatures and a few lies about her aunt with cancer and the secretary's were more then helpful. For six months anyway. Then they started to get suspicious and she had to transfer. That was the best thing that ever happen to her.
'I don't want to leave here. I'm a scout, what if the others need me?'
Desperately she ruthlessly replied; "Her cancer is getting bad. She doesn't get out much."
To another this would have ended the conversation, but Patricia knew that her Aunt had died of cancer four and a half years ago. But unfortunately they arrived at the Tsukino's before she could come up with a response.
Lita made a dash to get out, but Ms. H. asked her to carry her and her friends' homework for her. Sulkily she marched up the driveway to her friend's house and knocked on the door.
All the other families had arrived already, making for a full house.
Irene was somewhat harried as she opened the door. Not even glancing at who it was, expecting just Lita, she said. "Please, some on in. I have to break up a fight between Linda and Helena. Seems they had a bit of a dispute about politics in general. Linda not voting for Hubert has more then a little upset Helena."
The two snickered at that, and walked into a bit of a shouting match about women's right to chose
Luna however had enough of this silliness and hollered, "ENOUGH. THIS IS A SAILOR SCOUT MEETING NOT A POLITICAL DEBATE. ACT YOUR AGES."
Lita looked at Patricia in horror. She saw Luna talk and heard what she said. Her pale skin attested to this.
Serena also saw this, but was to late to intervene when she realized that Lita was not alone. But despite that she had to giggle. Not only was her teacher flabbergasted, but also it was Luna the spilled the beans.
"Way to go Luna. Now Ms. H. knows all about it."
Luna looked like she wanted to crawl under a rock. In a desperate attempt to cover she went; "Meow."
Most of the room looked at the cat, and snickered.
Patricia however, slowly made her way to the couch and sat down. Calmly she stared at the cat with the crescent moon on her head, remembering the stories of Sailor Moon's talking cat. She turned her gaze on the other feline, white and with yet another crescent moon.
'Sailor Venus had such a cat.'
Then she turned to the five girls in the room. Mentally checking them off.
Looking at the pretty blond girls she thought.
'Hmm, lets see. Red bow, blond hair. Venus'
She turned to the fuming girl in the priestess robes.
'Black hair with purple highlights. Mars.'
The young Amazon beside her.
'Tall, brown hair, ponytail. Jupiter.'
The young star pupil of her school.
The blue haired genius. Little Amy is Mercury?'
Then she turned to her, though she'd never admit it, favorite student. The one she felt had so much potential, but refused to accept it.
'Blond haired. Odango shaped (Meatball). Bright and bubbly. Major klutz.'
This she couldn't keep quite about.
"OH. MY. GOD. SERENA'S SAILOR MOON?"
At that thought she almost fainted, but after years of teaching and dealing with the warped evil minds of her students (Don't you just love the darlings?), she managed to regain control of herself.
"WAHHHHHH. That's so mean. You didn't say that about the others."
This brought her back to earth. She took a few deep breaths and relaxed. 'Ok, I can deal with this. It certainly explains a lot about their injuries.'
Irene, taking the roll of the hostess spoke.
"Well Pat, I didn't expect to see you here today. How are you? Can I get you anything?"
Her attempt to sound normal brought some of the tension in the room down, but not for Luna.
"Irene, how can you say that so calmly? This is a serious breach in security. Even greater then the one that you made today. I still can't believe that you did this."
Irene and ALL the other parents and family turned their scowls at her. After Luna woke up, having fainted at the news that all the families new the truth, she had been going on and on about breach of protocol.
Serena interceded before things could get ugly though.
"Oh calm down Luna. I've been after you all to do it since the beginning. If it weren't for that promise you tricked me into the first night one promising you not to tell anyone, I'd have told them the first night."
"I did that for everyone's own good. The more that know the truth the more dangerous it is for everyone. Including them."
Amy looked at the cat and frowned. "But Luna, if they had known in the beginning, they would have known who to call for help if they needed it. And we would have had safe houses."
Before Luna could respond, Serena added. "Yeah, and now I never make any promises to you because I don't know if I can trust you."
"What? That has to be the most insane thing I've heard today."
"Why? You tricked me into not telling my parents, when you knew I would have and wanted to."
"Well, yes. But that was different."
Irene entered the argument then.
"Luna, I don't like you making Serena make promises like that. Release her."
She found herself losing control of the situation and responded in kind.
"Why would I do that?"
Irene stalked over to the cat she had grown to love like a sister and growled.
"Because I'm her mother and I'm telling you too."
Slightly put out, she grumbled a, "You're freed from your oaths", and then proceeded to go to the corner and sulk.
Patricia however used that time to regain her composure.
"Well this explains the injuries and tiredness of these three. What about Lita's lack of a guardian?"
The four girls and two cats sweated at this, and Irene and Ken exchanged glances.
But Lita freaked. She jumped up and hollered. "My Aunt Lita is my guardian."
The families were clueless of what was going on, while the rest stood stunned at the question and Lita's response.
Patricia held her gaze though and calmly stated.
"Lita, your Aunt died when you were ten. You've been somehow living on your own."
Now she was really freaking, terror filling her mouth with an acid taste to it.
"I won't go back. I won't go back to the orphanage."
Irene came over to pull her into a friendly hug, but she pulled away.
Slightly hurt, Irene said. "Lita, you're not going back to an orphanage. Ken and I talked about it and want you to come here and live with us."
Serena's eyes lit up, but Lita just scowled.
"And be in the way. You don't have another room. I don't need handouts. I've done just fine on my own. I don't need anyone's help."
Serena and Amy shared a glance. This needed to be brought out.
"Uhhmm, Lita? You know how the only thing I'm good at in school is computers right?"
This off the wall statement brought her up short. True, it was the only subject that she excelled in. Dumbly she nodded.
"Well, you see, after that second battle at the graveyard, when you we're hurt..."
Amy and Raye grimace at that. They had not responded to the summons to prove Raye's point on Serena's leadership qualities. When in the end it just proved them.
"Well, I followed you home."
"YOU DID WHAT?"
"I had to. I wanted to make sure that you were all right."
Knowing what she saw, Lita flushed and looked at her hands as if they were unclean.
"I found out you were living at that abandoned, rundown warehouse off of pier twelve."
The others, save the girls and cats, gasped in horror at that. That place was a filthy hazard zone and should have been demolished years ago.
"Well, I'm not there any more, am I?"
Serena's silence spoke volumes. Suspiciously Lita looked to her, seeing a guilty look on her face.
"Serena?"
The low dangerous whisper sent shivers down her friend's spine, and Serena explained.
"Well, I created a new set of arcade games and systems over the last few years, always my favorite subject, but hadn't done anything with them. So Amy and I came up with a plan. Amy forged some documents and hacked into the proper computers and created the identity of Luna Moon for me. And I used the disguise pen to finish the identity. I'm the owner of Moon Star, the new game company. I have a staff that Amy set up to do the selling and promoting."
Helene, a business exec herself stared dumbfounded.
"Serena. That company has sold over the past six months, millions of dollars worth of software and premium game systems. State of the art. Everyone wants in on it. Including dozens of the most popular video games on the market."
Serena blushed scarlet at the awe in her tone and mumbled. "Yeah. Uhhmm, Amy says it's at Eighty million."
"Eighty million, one thousand, three hundred and five dollars as of today Serena"
Amy added this, despite her blushing at having been caught hacking on the net.
Having silenced the room Serena continued.
"Any way. I used the disguise pen to do my business, and set up an account for you. I had the money sent to you through a lawyer under the belief that it was from your parent's life insurance. Amy then created an account for you so you could cash checks and handle the bills."
As her friend started to regain her composure, she also started to seethe.
"Then, we kept tabs on you. You know, making sure you were all right. Luna and Artemis took turns checking up on you every night."
"HOW DARE YOU."
Lita's fury erupted.
"HOW DARE YOU."
She stalked over to Serena, and lifted her off the ground.
Wide-eyed, Serena just gazed into the molten lava that had become her eyes.
"YOU HAD NO RIGHT. NO RIGHT. I WAS FINE ON MY OWN. I DON'T NEED ANYONE. YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO USE MY PARENT'S NAME."
"But Lita, we were just trying to help. We knew you wouldn't let us do it other wise. We just wanted you to be safe, cared for and happy. Because we love you."
But Lita was beyond reason. The only thing she saw was that it wasn't her parents that took care of her. It was her friends' charity. Pity. She couldn't see that it was not pity, but sympathy and love.
Throwing her arm back, she slapped Serena full force.
No one moved a muscle as Serena hit the ground, her hand going to her face.
She looked at Lita, begging forgiveness for hurting her.
But that wasn't what she saw. She could only believe what she saw was fear. She hurt her first and best friend. And why? Because she cared.
Unable to deal with it anymore, she bolted out the door, tears streaming down her face.
The four girls prepare to give chase and bring her back, but Ms. Haruna halted them.
"STOP."
The force of the command halted them in their tracks.
"Let me go after her."
The others protests were quickly but down.
"I know what she's going through."
Sigh.
"I was also orphaned and had to make it on my own when I was seventeen."
The four exchanged quick nods, and backed off.
Amy took out her communicator and handed it to her.
"The beeping will get louder as you close in on Lita. It's on tracking mode for Jupiter's communicator."
With a nod, she headed out the door, only to be stopped by a near hysterical Serena.
"Please Ms. H, Bring her back. Tell her we're sorry to have hurt her and that we love and need her."
Three other nodded in agreement and Patricia looked into the bruised face of the academically challenged girl.
'This is why she is my favorite student. It's her heart.'
She squeezed her hand and promised she would be back with Lita, and then took off for her sports car.
Having to keep to the roads gave Lita an edge, but the tracker easily remedied that. Still, if she was reading this right, Lita was traveling at an unheard of speed.
'Maybe she's using her powers.'
The beckon led her to a very familiar place. One she guiltily realized she had not been to in months.
The calm, serene beauty of the land again took her breath away. In the cramped confines of Japan, this was a paradise.
'I should have known this was where she headed. Where else would she have gone when she was in this kind of pain.'
And there she found her. On her knees, crying in front of the tombstone. She put the communicator away and approached her as she would a scared animal. Slowly, so not to frighten her away or into an attack.
But when Lita looked up at her, neither was her response. A dead, empty gaze met Patricia that tore at her heart. Nothing anyone could do to her would be worse then what she was doing to herself.
Sniffling, Lita rose, defeat evident in her eyes. She spoke before Patricia could make a greeting.
"Ok. I'm ready now. Take me into the police and have done with. Orphanage, prison, whatever. Nothing I don't deserve for hurting my friend."
That was not what she was expecting.
"First off the police won't send you to prison. And second, none of us want you in an orphanage either."
"I attacked her. I HIT HER. And have been in more then a few fights before unless you've forgotten. Maybe I need to be locked up."
'This is going to be hard.'
"Lita, I've gone over your record, including the record of your stay at the orphanage. You've never started a fight, save with others that picked on those weaker then themselves. EVER. And that fight you got into at the orphanage, managed to get the FORMER director booted out and a new one in. Plus new safe guards against abuse of the children have been established there. But even so, none of us wants you in an orphanage. We want you in a loving home."
She whirled on her; eyes flashing with pain and anger, streams of tears flowed down her face.
"And you think that Serena going to just forgive and forget it? I HIT HER. All she and the others did was care about me, and try to keep me safe and cared for. And what do I do? I hit her. She has to hate me for that."
She chuckled at that. But this infuriated the Scout of Protection. Here she was laying her heart out to her, and she laughs at her.
"I'm sorry Lita, it's not humorous what you said, just sadly ironic. Here you are thinking that Serena hates you, when this same girl was nearly hysterical with worry, and begged me to tell you they were sorry. That they love you. And to bring you back home."
All attempts at struggles ceased. Slowly she started to chuckle herself. The chuckle became a laugh. And the laugh became a full-blown laugh attack. One that her companion soon joined in on.
Finally gaining control of herself Lita said, "That's Serena for you. Fail a test, trip and fall, being hungry and she'll wail till everyone takes notice. But when some one else hurts, she doesn't even think of herself."
With a nod of agreement she added, "I know. That is her greatest gift. I wouldn't trust her to mix two chemicals together. But if I had a student with a troubled heart, I always pair them up with her. Ha, ha. Maybe it's not so surprising that she's Sailor Moon after all."
She shook her head in wonder as she added.
"She's so smart in many ways, that's why I had her take several learning tests. To see if she was dyslectic, or had another learning disorder, but every thing came back mixed. None of the exams could pinpoint the troubles. She's wonderful in computer programming and hardware, but anything else? Forget it. And she always just passes each year. I swear, looking at some of her answers, it's like she intentionally marks them wrong."
Lita giggled at that. 'Yeah, Serena intentionally marking the answers wrong. As if.'
But her thoughts turned again to the turn of events that had plagued her since the realization that the others families now new the truth about them. As well as the truth about her. How could she betray her family for a new one? How could she give up her freedom for rules and restrictions? She couldn't desert the team, but also refused to impose in the Tsukino home.
Ms. Haruna saw the emotions that ran ramped across her face. It was like looking into a mirror of her past. The desperate need for family and someone to care for her, but feelings of betraying her own.
She smiled as the memory of her mother's scent returned and the strength of her father's arms as he tossed her into to the air, laughing and screaming at the same time. For so long she searched for what was missing in her life. But then, helping this distraught girl, she realized that her heart knew all along.
"Lita, come with me for a moment please."
She did not even look to see if she complied. She just turned and walked away from the single tombstone, surrounded by plants and flowers of every color imaginable, that bore the name of a lone girls history.
She stared after the departing figure as she made her way up the hill, unsure of this turn of events. Slowly she made her way after the departing figure that stop lest then thirty meters away. She stood in front of a set of tombstones. It was well kept as well, but lacked the extra touch of beauty that Lita added to her parents' site.
As she arrived she saw Ms. H bow to the headstones. Glancing at the names engraved, she gasped in shock.
Peter and Vanessa Haruna
Died: 15 November 1995
Beloved Parents
She stood in shock. Was this her Mother and Father?
Ms. H's next words answered that.
"Hi Mom, Dad. I'm sorry it's been so long since we've talked, but life has been a bit busy here. And from the looks of it, the rides just beginning. I remember how hard it was when you died. I still had a year of high school left, and no income. The idiotic insurance company put your life insurance under a mountain of red tape and wouldn't release it to me until I reached the age of eighteen. As it was I was only one step in front of child welfare department."
Her _expression held a combination of pain, love, and lost at the same time. Lita could tell she was baring her soul at this. Reliving painful memories.
"But I didn't give up or give in. Worked two extra jobs after just to pay the mortgage on the house. I couldn't bare to loss it to." A sob shook her with that statement. "But unfortunately I had to much pride as well. I refused all handouts and offers of help. I thought that I had to do it on my own. Had to be strong and rely on no one. I felt it would be like betraying you. But not only that I was afraid. I counted on you always being there, and when you left, I was angry with you for deserting me."
The young girl fell to her knees as if it were her life story being told. The pain, loneliness and anger nearly ripped her in two.
"I was never so wrong in my life. I thought I had to make it on my own, that you'd want it that way. But looking back, I know what you'd have really wanted was me to just be happy, safe, and loved. That no matter what happened you'd have been with me."
She knelt then, enfolding the sobbing girl in her arms. She felt her stiffen momentarily. But then throw her arms around her, letting out the pain of the past two years.
Slowly she regained her sense of self, and flushed at her breakdown. Pulling back slightly she noticed the tears on the elder woman's face. A mirror to her own pain.
"Lita, you don't have to be alone. There are many here that care a great deal about you, and only wish your happiness."
She nodded at this, "I know. But I still can't barge in on Serena's family. Someone would have to give up their space. It just feels wrong."
Patricia smiled, now may be the time to bring up this.
"For years I've been trying to fill this emptiness in me with men. Going from one date to another. But each time I was too clingy. Too desperate. I was with them for all the wrong reasons."
The giggle that Lita let out was not expected.
"Me too. I had one boyfriend in my last school. He barely paid attention to me, but after he broke my heart, I desperately wished for some one to care. I all ways compared the rest of the boys to him."
"HEE, HEE. I guess we're more alike then I thought. But the truth is, I still wish the void to be filled, but not just because I need some to love, but need some one to need me."
Seeing her confused appearance, she continued, "What I was thinking was maybe you'd like to be that family. For US to be a family."
Bulging eyes greeted this statement.
"You want to adopt me?" She squeaked. And she never squeaks.
The thought caused her heart to soar, but she didn't want her to feel forced.
"If that is your wish. It's mine, but I know you might not ever be ready for that. I'd love to have you for my daughter, we're so alike in so many ways, but I'd understand if you'd just want me for your guardian. Either way I'd all ways be there for you."
Thinking of her Mother and Father, she was about to object, and then a stray thought cause her to chuckle yet again. At Ms. H's perplexed look, she explained.
"I was just thinking if Serena was here, she'd say something like, "well, you have two grandparent, why not two parents. It's not like you'd love the other less"."
"That's Serena all right."
They fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts and memories. Lita thought of her parents, and their love for her. They'd want her happy. And it wouldn't be just one sided. Ms. H needs some one to care for her as well. Closing her eyes, she felt a sense of peace that she hadn't since her parents' death.
"I'd like us to be a real family."
It was said so softly she nearly missed it. But her heart heard and she hugged the girl tightly to her chest, smoothing back the velvety brown hair away that fell in her eyes, gently kissing her forehead.
She smiled at that, and then groaned.
"I guess this means there will be rules, regulation, and curfews, huh?"
"Got that right. Plus I need to know more about you being a scout."
"Wait a second. The girls and I are needed. We're the only ones that can fight them."
She grinned down, a surge of pride for her...daughter overwhelming her.
"I know. I've seen the footage. And as you recall they've attacked the school. But that doesn't mean your going to shut me out of it."
"Yes Mother."
It came out so naturally, that both were startle. One joyously. The other with a bit of sadness.
Taking her hand, she helped her to her feet, and again bowed to the graves in front.
"Mother, Father. I'd like you to meet the newest member of our family. Your granddaughter, Lita Kino. A very special girl."
Her Eyes widened at the thought and she tried to make herself presentable. Straitening out her skirt and pulling back her hair.
"Hello, I hope you don't object to this. I hope to learn a lot more about you, and I'll even plant some flowers like I did around my parents' grave."
Both felt a sense of approval, which lightened their own spirits.
Bidding them goodbye, they slowly made their way to Lita's parents grave. Patricia stood slightly behind her as she spoke to them.
"Hi Mom. Hi Dad. Guess you saw that huh? This is so hard, yet I want it so much. I miss you both so badly, and despite the girls I am so alone in many ways. I know you'd want me happy, and Ms. H...Mama is so like me. We can swap boy-hunting stories. But no matter what happens, I'll always be your daughter too. I'll always love you."
The last said in a soft whisper. She started at the feel of her mother's hand on her shoulder. An understanding smile shown through Patricia's own tears streaked face.
"Hello Mr. And Mrs. Kino. I'm Patricia Haruna. I care a great deal for your daughter, and I pledge to you that she will always be wanted and loved. I'll watch over her as best I can."
She bowed in respect for the long gone spirits, and it was not lost on Lita.
Lita also said her good byes, promising to visit often. Even to bring her friends.
The two slowly made their way to the car in silence. Putting it in gear, Patricia set out for the Tsukino household, for a meeting that would change the course for the entire Universe.
Hello everyone here is the next chapter to a 'The Secret Is Out'. I have a very important note to start off this chapter I will no longer be writting this story. I have some ideas where I want this story to go, but I just don't have the time or the skills to do this story justice. On a happy note though the story will go on CometMoon has agreed to take over this story for me. I will help by giving my imput but all the writting will be done by CometMoon. So I hope you all enjoy this chapter written be CometMoon and please review thank you.
Special Thanks to the following Chapter 4 reviewers: Seiyaferret, BenRG, Marni, and CM.
Also to the following Chapter 6 reviewers: QueenofMercury, BenRG, NEOqueen, Midnight Dreamz, kellybug, Star Chaser, and Marni.
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Groaning Lita plopped down into her seat at Juuban Middle School. If it had not been for her neighbor making such a ruckus this morning she would never have gotten up in time for school.
'Geez these battles our getting harder and harder. And we still only have one of the Nijizuishou to show for it. How our we ever going to find the Ginzuishou and the Princess at this rate?'
With a quick survey of the room, she realized she was the only Scout here. Serena's absence was norm, but Amy always arrived before her. Had something happened to her during the battle that no one knew about?
A shiver ran down her spine and she jumped every time a student walked in, praying that it would be one of her friends.
'Nothing's wrong Lita, your being a fool.'
But worry she did. Her friends were all she had left in the world. If anything should happen to them she didn't know what she's do.
"Hey Lita. Where's Amy? She's always here before me."
That accented voice was not what she'd hope to hear, and her ire showed.
"I'm not her keeper Molly, so lay off."
The redheaded girl flinched at the jibe. She had been trying to gain the friendship of Serena's friends for months, but they just pushed her away. And took Serena with them.
Despite this though, Molly attempted to keep her hopes alive. She wanted her friend back, and knew that more was at stake then anyone let on.
Lita however felt guilt course though her. She knew Molly didn't deserve that, but her pride and fear would not let her take it back. They all feared this girl would take Serena away from them, as irrational as that may sound. So they did everything possible to keep Serena from her.
The final bell rang, jarring her from her thoughts. Now she was really nervous. Amy was NEVER late. For that matter neither was Ms. H.
Murmurs raced through the room, all seemed to agree at the two most punctual persons at school being late set the gossip mill churning.
Eight grueling minutes after the bell rang, their teacher and a teaching substitute entered.
Past, before the first bell:
Patricia Haruna sighed. Her latest date had canceled yet another one.
Patricia was a beautiful twenty-six year old with brown wavy hair. Deep blue eyes. And a figure most women would kill for. But she had a hard time seeing herself as such. Years of needing to fill the empty hole inside herself, though she was not truly sure what was missing, had her emotions in a bit of a mess.
Added to that, there was Lita.
'That girl reminds me so much of myself. Orphaned, living alone, and ready to fight at a drop of a hat.'
She had been worried about three of her students lately more then most. Though they tried to hide it, Lita, Serena, and Amy have all come into class with bruises and bags under their eyes. And Serena barely could keep her eyes open, not that was so unusual, but it had gotten worse.
Lita had her the most worried. She had been looking into her files, trying to find out if she or the other two girls had ever been seen for unusual injuries or history of abuse.
Now she knew Serena's Mother really well, after all the counseling sessions she had with her, and she couldn't imagine that either her or her husband would do such a thing.
Amy had no history of abuse in her medical history, or in the school records.
Nor did Lita, though she had a history of fighting, it always was the other that instigated it. She, almost always was defending someone from a bully.
It had to be something else, and most likely something they all were in on. These three the closest group of friends she had met, save Molly and Serena, who she could not figure what happen to, it had to be something they all were involved in.
She didn't even give them being in a gang a second thought. Not Amy and Serena. But what it was baffled her.
But what troubled her the most was what she found out about Lita.
She was living alone.
How she accomplished this was beyond her.
She herself was orphaned at seventeen and barely able to make it on her own until she turned eighteen and inherited the life insurance her parents left her. It paid for her collage and the house off, as she couldn't see herself parting with it. But that year before it, she shuddered, was the worst of her life. Often she went to bed hungry, not enough money left from her part time job to pay for both food and house costs. And too much pride to ask for help.
Lita however seemed to be fairly well off. She lived in a respectable neighborhood, at a fairly expensive apartment. At least for the last eight months. Before that however, she could find no place of residents. The mailing address she gave was but a local box at the mail office. The street address she gave was an apartment building. But when she checked with the landlord, he had no record of Lita's aunt living there. And looking up her records, she found out that the sister of her father, also named Lita (This was who she was named after), had been named her guardian. But she had died when Lita had been only ten years old.
Putting the pieces together, she came up with the only conclusion available.
Lita had no guardian.
She sighed again. This hit home in so many ways. And Lita was far younger then she was at seventeen. But she was undecided as what to do. She knew if she approached this wrong, Lita might very well bolt and never be seen again.
"Patricia, you have Tsukino, Anderson, and Kino in your class don't you?"
The voice of the secretary startled her from her thoughts. She turned to the elderly female.
"Yes, they are all in my class."
That she had asked about the three subjects of her musings threw her, dread filled her as she awaited her to continue.
"Well, I got a call from Dr. Anderson and Amy won't be in for this whole week. And now I have Mrs. Tsukino on the line saying that Serena and Lita won't be either. And she wishes Lita to be released from school today."
Patricia frowned. 'Lita? Why would Irene call to tell us that. And by whose authority.'
Several students came in at that time requesting late slips and handing in excuses for absences. The harried secretary shrugged at Patricia and attempted to keep her head afloat.
"Here Beth, let me take the call and you handle the desk."
With a grateful smile she turned to the students attempting to establish order.
Patricia went to the back office and pick up the phone.
"Hello Irene. This is Patricia. Beth is a little busy right now."
Irene started, not expecting Serena's teacher to answer. She expected the secretary to get the needed information.
"Oh, hello Patricia. How are you?"
"Well. What is this about Serena and Lita missing school for the week? They can hardly afford it, unlike Amy."
She asked this to get a response from the woman, and was not disappointed.
"Now I know Serena has a bit of work to make up for Ms. Haruna, but this is a family issue."
She smiled at that. 'Hit a cord did I?'
"Perhaps, but you asked for Lita as well."
Irene fidgeted. That was a tough one to answer.
"It involves her as well."
"I can't release a student unless it's to family Irene. And I think you know about that."
Shaken, she realized that Patricia might know about Lita's lack of family. She attempted to clear her thoughts and respond.
"This is a very important matter Pat, I wouldn't even think of asking if it weren't."
Patricia grimace. Irene was always a practical one, with a level head on her shoulder. Further this might be a way to broach the subject of Lita's lack of family.
"Alright Irene, I'll send her home immediately. Have written permission slips sent to the school as soon as possible."
Irene relaxed at this. It was easier then she had anticipated when she thought to call the school. 'Thank goodness that Pat was there.'
Though she may have rescinded that thought if she knew what Pat had in mind.
"Beth, I need that new teaching assistant to take over for me for the next week. I'm going to be taking an emergency leave for the next week."
Mouth hanging, eyes bulging, Beth just gaped at her. No matter what, she hadn't missed a day of school, save that day she collapsed at school. And then she never should have come in, in the first place.
Patricia however, simply finished making out the paperwork for the three students absences and wrote down a planner for the sub. She had wanted more hands on class time anyway, and this group should give her more then enough.
The final bell rang as she made her way to the teachers lounge and informed the now panicking T.A. her responsibilities for the next week.
Back to present:
The room quieted as their teacher and the T.A. came into the room. The sight of the T.A. clutching her books to her chest, fear evident in her eyes, brought out the predator in them.
Fresh Meat.
"Class, I have a few announcements to make. Ms. Squisley will be your teacher for the next week. I'll be taking a personal leave. Also several students will as well be off this week. Amy Anderson. Serena Tsukino."
At their names two people in the room felt their hearts freeze.
Lita worrying on if they had been hurt worse then she thought during the battle. Her guilt rose at that thought. 'Oh no. What if they were hurt? Why didn't I protect them better?'
Molly however was worse off. She didn't even know what had happen to them and feared for Serena.
"And Lita Kino."
At the sound of her name being added to the list, a baffled girl looked up to her teacher.
"Lita, you received a call to go to the Tsukino's home immediately. I do not believe it is something serious, just urgent."
She added that as she saw the fear in some of the student's eyes.
Slightly relieved, she nodded and gathered her things to leave, when Ms. Haruna stopped her.
"Please wait a few minutes Lita. I wish to speak with you and give you the home work for the girls for the next week."
Reluctantly she sat back down and waited for her to finish her last minute instructions to the T.A. Then she gathered her books, made a few notes, and walked over to the impatient girl.
"Come with me please. Class behave yourselves for your substitute."
Lita smirked slightly at the quivering T.A., feeling a little sorry for her.
As the two stepped out the door, the room seemed to change, the beast coming out to hunt their prey.
But before they could pounce on her, Ms. H. slammed the door open, and scowled,
"And if I find out that one of you has been anything but exemplary to her, I will personally oversee this WHOLE classes month of detention."
Fear of the threat cowed the pack, and lifted the T.A.'s spirits.
With a grin, she again walked out the door, leading Lita to her car.
Confused, Lita stared at her teacher.
"Uhhmm, Ms. H? Where are we going? I have to get to the Tsukino's."
Smiling at the girl who could almost stare her directly in the eye, Ms. Haruna replied, "I know dear, I'm going to give you a ride there. I have to talk to Irene anyway."
Uneasiness filled Lita and she tried to duck out of it, fearing that this most likely was Sailor business.
"I can give her any message you want Ms. H. Just give me their home work an..."
With a firm, but gentle shaken of her head, she was cut off.
"No Lita. I have quite a few questions she needs to answer for me. We'll go together, that way there will be no hassles for you not being in school at this time of day."
Helpless, she fell silent and got into the passenger's side, buckling up her seatbelt. The leather seats squeaking as she sat.
They remained quite for a few minutes as she allowed the engine to warm up before putting it into gear.
As the red sports car sped down the streets, the occupants tried to get a clue as too what the other was thinking.
"So Lita, how is your aunt Lita doing?"
Startled, Lita bit her tongue, cursing under her breath.
'Damn, how'd she know of my aunt? Duuhhh, she is my teacher, and can look into my records. Blast'
"Good."
Her short answer was all she gave on the subject.
"I haven't seen her at any of the student family days, and she's missed two teacher / student conferences."
Tears came to Lita's eyes. She feared she'd have to change schools soon or be discovered and sent to another of those blasted orphanages. The last one was horrible. They treated the kids like dirt and even beat them. They tried that on little Cassie, and Lita tore into the jerks. But the only thing that did was to get her into trouble by the law. She ran away that night and tricked her way into the school she went to before coming to Juuban Middle. Just a few forged signatures and a few lies about her aunt with cancer and the secretary's were more then helpful. For six months anyway. Then they started to get suspicious and she had to transfer. That was the best thing that ever happen to her.
'I don't want to leave here. I'm a scout, what if the others need me?'
Desperately she ruthlessly replied; "Her cancer is getting bad. She doesn't get out much."
To another this would have ended the conversation, but Patricia knew that her Aunt had died of cancer four and a half years ago. But unfortunately they arrived at the Tsukino's before she could come up with a response.
Lita made a dash to get out, but Ms. H. asked her to carry her and her friends' homework for her. Sulkily she marched up the driveway to her friend's house and knocked on the door.
All the other families had arrived already, making for a full house.
Irene was somewhat harried as she opened the door. Not even glancing at who it was, expecting just Lita, she said. "Please, some on in. I have to break up a fight between Linda and Helena. Seems they had a bit of a dispute about politics in general. Linda not voting for Hubert has more then a little upset Helena."
The two snickered at that, and walked into a bit of a shouting match about women's right to chose
Luna however had enough of this silliness and hollered, "ENOUGH. THIS IS A SAILOR SCOUT MEETING NOT A POLITICAL DEBATE. ACT YOUR AGES."
Lita looked at Patricia in horror. She saw Luna talk and heard what she said. Her pale skin attested to this.
Serena also saw this, but was to late to intervene when she realized that Lita was not alone. But despite that she had to giggle. Not only was her teacher flabbergasted, but also it was Luna the spilled the beans.
"Way to go Luna. Now Ms. H. knows all about it."
Luna looked like she wanted to crawl under a rock. In a desperate attempt to cover she went; "Meow."
Most of the room looked at the cat, and snickered.
Patricia however, slowly made her way to the couch and sat down. Calmly she stared at the cat with the crescent moon on her head, remembering the stories of Sailor Moon's talking cat. She turned her gaze on the other feline, white and with yet another crescent moon.
'Sailor Venus had such a cat.'
Then she turned to the five girls in the room. Mentally checking them off.
Looking at the pretty blond girls she thought.
'Hmm, lets see. Red bow, blond hair. Venus'
She turned to the fuming girl in the priestess robes.
'Black hair with purple highlights. Mars.'
The young Amazon beside her.
'Tall, brown hair, ponytail. Jupiter.'
The young star pupil of her school.
The blue haired genius. Little Amy is Mercury?'
Then she turned to her, though she'd never admit it, favorite student. The one she felt had so much potential, but refused to accept it.
'Blond haired. Odango shaped (Meatball). Bright and bubbly. Major klutz.'
This she couldn't keep quite about.
"OH. MY. GOD. SERENA'S SAILOR MOON?"
At that thought she almost fainted, but after years of teaching and dealing with the warped evil minds of her students (Don't you just love the darlings?), she managed to regain control of herself.
"WAHHHHHH. That's so mean. You didn't say that about the others."
This brought her back to earth. She took a few deep breaths and relaxed. 'Ok, I can deal with this. It certainly explains a lot about their injuries.'
Irene, taking the roll of the hostess spoke.
"Well Pat, I didn't expect to see you here today. How are you? Can I get you anything?"
Her attempt to sound normal brought some of the tension in the room down, but not for Luna.
"Irene, how can you say that so calmly? This is a serious breach in security. Even greater then the one that you made today. I still can't believe that you did this."
Irene and ALL the other parents and family turned their scowls at her. After Luna woke up, having fainted at the news that all the families new the truth, she had been going on and on about breach of protocol.
Serena interceded before things could get ugly though.
"Oh calm down Luna. I've been after you all to do it since the beginning. If it weren't for that promise you tricked me into the first night one promising you not to tell anyone, I'd have told them the first night."
"I did that for everyone's own good. The more that know the truth the more dangerous it is for everyone. Including them."
Amy looked at the cat and frowned. "But Luna, if they had known in the beginning, they would have known who to call for help if they needed it. And we would have had safe houses."
Before Luna could respond, Serena added. "Yeah, and now I never make any promises to you because I don't know if I can trust you."
"What? That has to be the most insane thing I've heard today."
"Why? You tricked me into not telling my parents, when you knew I would have and wanted to."
"Well, yes. But that was different."
Irene entered the argument then.
"Luna, I don't like you making Serena make promises like that. Release her."
She found herself losing control of the situation and responded in kind.
"Why would I do that?"
Irene stalked over to the cat she had grown to love like a sister and growled.
"Because I'm her mother and I'm telling you too."
Slightly put out, she grumbled a, "You're freed from your oaths", and then proceeded to go to the corner and sulk.
Patricia however used that time to regain her composure.
"Well this explains the injuries and tiredness of these three. What about Lita's lack of a guardian?"
The four girls and two cats sweated at this, and Irene and Ken exchanged glances.
But Lita freaked. She jumped up and hollered. "My Aunt Lita is my guardian."
The families were clueless of what was going on, while the rest stood stunned at the question and Lita's response.
Patricia held her gaze though and calmly stated.
"Lita, your Aunt died when you were ten. You've been somehow living on your own."
Now she was really freaking, terror filling her mouth with an acid taste to it.
"I won't go back. I won't go back to the orphanage."
Irene came over to pull her into a friendly hug, but she pulled away.
Slightly hurt, Irene said. "Lita, you're not going back to an orphanage. Ken and I talked about it and want you to come here and live with us."
Serena's eyes lit up, but Lita just scowled.
"And be in the way. You don't have another room. I don't need handouts. I've done just fine on my own. I don't need anyone's help."
Serena and Amy shared a glance. This needed to be brought out.
"Uhhmm, Lita? You know how the only thing I'm good at in school is computers right?"
This off the wall statement brought her up short. True, it was the only subject that she excelled in. Dumbly she nodded.
"Well, you see, after that second battle at the graveyard, when you we're hurt..."
Amy and Raye grimace at that. They had not responded to the summons to prove Raye's point on Serena's leadership qualities. When in the end it just proved them.
"Well, I followed you home."
"YOU DID WHAT?"
"I had to. I wanted to make sure that you were all right."
Knowing what she saw, Lita flushed and looked at her hands as if they were unclean.
"I found out you were living at that abandoned, rundown warehouse off of pier twelve."
The others, save the girls and cats, gasped in horror at that. That place was a filthy hazard zone and should have been demolished years ago.
"Well, I'm not there any more, am I?"
Serena's silence spoke volumes. Suspiciously Lita looked to her, seeing a guilty look on her face.
"Serena?"
The low dangerous whisper sent shivers down her friend's spine, and Serena explained.
"Well, I created a new set of arcade games and systems over the last few years, always my favorite subject, but hadn't done anything with them. So Amy and I came up with a plan. Amy forged some documents and hacked into the proper computers and created the identity of Luna Moon for me. And I used the disguise pen to finish the identity. I'm the owner of Moon Star, the new game company. I have a staff that Amy set up to do the selling and promoting."
Helene, a business exec herself stared dumbfounded.
"Serena. That company has sold over the past six months, millions of dollars worth of software and premium game systems. State of the art. Everyone wants in on it. Including dozens of the most popular video games on the market."
Serena blushed scarlet at the awe in her tone and mumbled. "Yeah. Uhhmm, Amy says it's at Eighty million."
"Eighty million, one thousand, three hundred and five dollars as of today Serena"
Amy added this, despite her blushing at having been caught hacking on the net.
Having silenced the room Serena continued.
"Any way. I used the disguise pen to do my business, and set up an account for you. I had the money sent to you through a lawyer under the belief that it was from your parent's life insurance. Amy then created an account for you so you could cash checks and handle the bills."
As her friend started to regain her composure, she also started to seethe.
"Then, we kept tabs on you. You know, making sure you were all right. Luna and Artemis took turns checking up on you every night."
"HOW DARE YOU."
Lita's fury erupted.
"HOW DARE YOU."
She stalked over to Serena, and lifted her off the ground.
Wide-eyed, Serena just gazed into the molten lava that had become her eyes.
"YOU HAD NO RIGHT. NO RIGHT. I WAS FINE ON MY OWN. I DON'T NEED ANYONE. YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO USE MY PARENT'S NAME."
"But Lita, we were just trying to help. We knew you wouldn't let us do it other wise. We just wanted you to be safe, cared for and happy. Because we love you."
But Lita was beyond reason. The only thing she saw was that it wasn't her parents that took care of her. It was her friends' charity. Pity. She couldn't see that it was not pity, but sympathy and love.
Throwing her arm back, she slapped Serena full force.
No one moved a muscle as Serena hit the ground, her hand going to her face.
She looked at Lita, begging forgiveness for hurting her.
But that wasn't what she saw. She could only believe what she saw was fear. She hurt her first and best friend. And why? Because she cared.
Unable to deal with it anymore, she bolted out the door, tears streaming down her face.
The four girls prepare to give chase and bring her back, but Ms. Haruna halted them.
"STOP."
The force of the command halted them in their tracks.
"Let me go after her."
The others protests were quickly but down.
"I know what she's going through."
Sigh.
"I was also orphaned and had to make it on my own when I was seventeen."
The four exchanged quick nods, and backed off.
Amy took out her communicator and handed it to her.
"The beeping will get louder as you close in on Lita. It's on tracking mode for Jupiter's communicator."
With a nod, she headed out the door, only to be stopped by a near hysterical Serena.
"Please Ms. H, Bring her back. Tell her we're sorry to have hurt her and that we love and need her."
Three other nodded in agreement and Patricia looked into the bruised face of the academically challenged girl.
'This is why she is my favorite student. It's her heart.'
She squeezed her hand and promised she would be back with Lita, and then took off for her sports car.
Having to keep to the roads gave Lita an edge, but the tracker easily remedied that. Still, if she was reading this right, Lita was traveling at an unheard of speed.
'Maybe she's using her powers.'
The beckon led her to a very familiar place. One she guiltily realized she had not been to in months.
The calm, serene beauty of the land again took her breath away. In the cramped confines of Japan, this was a paradise.
'I should have known this was where she headed. Where else would she have gone when she was in this kind of pain.'
And there she found her. On her knees, crying in front of the tombstone. She put the communicator away and approached her as she would a scared animal. Slowly, so not to frighten her away or into an attack.
But when Lita looked up at her, neither was her response. A dead, empty gaze met Patricia that tore at her heart. Nothing anyone could do to her would be worse then what she was doing to herself.
Sniffling, Lita rose, defeat evident in her eyes. She spoke before Patricia could make a greeting.
"Ok. I'm ready now. Take me into the police and have done with. Orphanage, prison, whatever. Nothing I don't deserve for hurting my friend."
That was not what she was expecting.
"First off the police won't send you to prison. And second, none of us want you in an orphanage either."
"I attacked her. I HIT HER. And have been in more then a few fights before unless you've forgotten. Maybe I need to be locked up."
'This is going to be hard.'
"Lita, I've gone over your record, including the record of your stay at the orphanage. You've never started a fight, save with others that picked on those weaker then themselves. EVER. And that fight you got into at the orphanage, managed to get the FORMER director booted out and a new one in. Plus new safe guards against abuse of the children have been established there. But even so, none of us wants you in an orphanage. We want you in a loving home."
She whirled on her; eyes flashing with pain and anger, streams of tears flowed down her face.
"And you think that Serena going to just forgive and forget it? I HIT HER. All she and the others did was care about me, and try to keep me safe and cared for. And what do I do? I hit her. She has to hate me for that."
She chuckled at that. But this infuriated the Scout of Protection. Here she was laying her heart out to her, and she laughs at her.
"I'm sorry Lita, it's not humorous what you said, just sadly ironic. Here you are thinking that Serena hates you, when this same girl was nearly hysterical with worry, and begged me to tell you they were sorry. That they love you. And to bring you back home."
All attempts at struggles ceased. Slowly she started to chuckle herself. The chuckle became a laugh. And the laugh became a full-blown laugh attack. One that her companion soon joined in on.
Finally gaining control of herself Lita said, "That's Serena for you. Fail a test, trip and fall, being hungry and she'll wail till everyone takes notice. But when some one else hurts, she doesn't even think of herself."
With a nod of agreement she added, "I know. That is her greatest gift. I wouldn't trust her to mix two chemicals together. But if I had a student with a troubled heart, I always pair them up with her. Ha, ha. Maybe it's not so surprising that she's Sailor Moon after all."
She shook her head in wonder as she added.
"She's so smart in many ways, that's why I had her take several learning tests. To see if she was dyslectic, or had another learning disorder, but every thing came back mixed. None of the exams could pinpoint the troubles. She's wonderful in computer programming and hardware, but anything else? Forget it. And she always just passes each year. I swear, looking at some of her answers, it's like she intentionally marks them wrong."
Lita giggled at that. 'Yeah, Serena intentionally marking the answers wrong. As if.'
But her thoughts turned again to the turn of events that had plagued her since the realization that the others families now new the truth about them. As well as the truth about her. How could she betray her family for a new one? How could she give up her freedom for rules and restrictions? She couldn't desert the team, but also refused to impose in the Tsukino home.
Ms. Haruna saw the emotions that ran ramped across her face. It was like looking into a mirror of her past. The desperate need for family and someone to care for her, but feelings of betraying her own.
She smiled as the memory of her mother's scent returned and the strength of her father's arms as he tossed her into to the air, laughing and screaming at the same time. For so long she searched for what was missing in her life. But then, helping this distraught girl, she realized that her heart knew all along.
"Lita, come with me for a moment please."
She did not even look to see if she complied. She just turned and walked away from the single tombstone, surrounded by plants and flowers of every color imaginable, that bore the name of a lone girls history.
She stared after the departing figure as she made her way up the hill, unsure of this turn of events. Slowly she made her way after the departing figure that stop lest then thirty meters away. She stood in front of a set of tombstones. It was well kept as well, but lacked the extra touch of beauty that Lita added to her parents' site.
As she arrived she saw Ms. H bow to the headstones. Glancing at the names engraved, she gasped in shock.
Peter and Vanessa Haruna
Died: 15 November 1995
Beloved Parents
She stood in shock. Was this her Mother and Father?
Ms. H's next words answered that.
"Hi Mom, Dad. I'm sorry it's been so long since we've talked, but life has been a bit busy here. And from the looks of it, the rides just beginning. I remember how hard it was when you died. I still had a year of high school left, and no income. The idiotic insurance company put your life insurance under a mountain of red tape and wouldn't release it to me until I reached the age of eighteen. As it was I was only one step in front of child welfare department."
Her _expression held a combination of pain, love, and lost at the same time. Lita could tell she was baring her soul at this. Reliving painful memories.
"But I didn't give up or give in. Worked two extra jobs after just to pay the mortgage on the house. I couldn't bare to loss it to." A sob shook her with that statement. "But unfortunately I had to much pride as well. I refused all handouts and offers of help. I thought that I had to do it on my own. Had to be strong and rely on no one. I felt it would be like betraying you. But not only that I was afraid. I counted on you always being there, and when you left, I was angry with you for deserting me."
The young girl fell to her knees as if it were her life story being told. The pain, loneliness and anger nearly ripped her in two.
"I was never so wrong in my life. I thought I had to make it on my own, that you'd want it that way. But looking back, I know what you'd have really wanted was me to just be happy, safe, and loved. That no matter what happened you'd have been with me."
She knelt then, enfolding the sobbing girl in her arms. She felt her stiffen momentarily. But then throw her arms around her, letting out the pain of the past two years.
Slowly she regained her sense of self, and flushed at her breakdown. Pulling back slightly she noticed the tears on the elder woman's face. A mirror to her own pain.
"Lita, you don't have to be alone. There are many here that care a great deal about you, and only wish your happiness."
She nodded at this, "I know. But I still can't barge in on Serena's family. Someone would have to give up their space. It just feels wrong."
Patricia smiled, now may be the time to bring up this.
"For years I've been trying to fill this emptiness in me with men. Going from one date to another. But each time I was too clingy. Too desperate. I was with them for all the wrong reasons."
The giggle that Lita let out was not expected.
"Me too. I had one boyfriend in my last school. He barely paid attention to me, but after he broke my heart, I desperately wished for some one to care. I all ways compared the rest of the boys to him."
"HEE, HEE. I guess we're more alike then I thought. But the truth is, I still wish the void to be filled, but not just because I need some to love, but need some one to need me."
Seeing her confused appearance, she continued, "What I was thinking was maybe you'd like to be that family. For US to be a family."
Bulging eyes greeted this statement.
"You want to adopt me?" She squeaked. And she never squeaks.
The thought caused her heart to soar, but she didn't want her to feel forced.
"If that is your wish. It's mine, but I know you might not ever be ready for that. I'd love to have you for my daughter, we're so alike in so many ways, but I'd understand if you'd just want me for your guardian. Either way I'd all ways be there for you."
Thinking of her Mother and Father, she was about to object, and then a stray thought cause her to chuckle yet again. At Ms. H's perplexed look, she explained.
"I was just thinking if Serena was here, she'd say something like, "well, you have two grandparent, why not two parents. It's not like you'd love the other less"."
"That's Serena all right."
They fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts and memories. Lita thought of her parents, and their love for her. They'd want her happy. And it wouldn't be just one sided. Ms. H needs some one to care for her as well. Closing her eyes, she felt a sense of peace that she hadn't since her parents' death.
"I'd like us to be a real family."
It was said so softly she nearly missed it. But her heart heard and she hugged the girl tightly to her chest, smoothing back the velvety brown hair away that fell in her eyes, gently kissing her forehead.
She smiled at that, and then groaned.
"I guess this means there will be rules, regulation, and curfews, huh?"
"Got that right. Plus I need to know more about you being a scout."
"Wait a second. The girls and I are needed. We're the only ones that can fight them."
She grinned down, a surge of pride for her...daughter overwhelming her.
"I know. I've seen the footage. And as you recall they've attacked the school. But that doesn't mean your going to shut me out of it."
"Yes Mother."
It came out so naturally, that both were startle. One joyously. The other with a bit of sadness.
Taking her hand, she helped her to her feet, and again bowed to the graves in front.
"Mother, Father. I'd like you to meet the newest member of our family. Your granddaughter, Lita Kino. A very special girl."
Her Eyes widened at the thought and she tried to make herself presentable. Straitening out her skirt and pulling back her hair.
"Hello, I hope you don't object to this. I hope to learn a lot more about you, and I'll even plant some flowers like I did around my parents' grave."
Both felt a sense of approval, which lightened their own spirits.
Bidding them goodbye, they slowly made their way to Lita's parents grave. Patricia stood slightly behind her as she spoke to them.
"Hi Mom. Hi Dad. Guess you saw that huh? This is so hard, yet I want it so much. I miss you both so badly, and despite the girls I am so alone in many ways. I know you'd want me happy, and Ms. H...Mama is so like me. We can swap boy-hunting stories. But no matter what happens, I'll always be your daughter too. I'll always love you."
The last said in a soft whisper. She started at the feel of her mother's hand on her shoulder. An understanding smile shown through Patricia's own tears streaked face.
"Hello Mr. And Mrs. Kino. I'm Patricia Haruna. I care a great deal for your daughter, and I pledge to you that she will always be wanted and loved. I'll watch over her as best I can."
She bowed in respect for the long gone spirits, and it was not lost on Lita.
Lita also said her good byes, promising to visit often. Even to bring her friends.
The two slowly made their way to the car in silence. Putting it in gear, Patricia set out for the Tsukino household, for a meeting that would change the course for the entire Universe.