Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, it belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. I fully own my original character Lucy.
Key
"Speaking"
Thoughts/Memories/Premonition/Dream
"Speaking in Another Language"
Thoughts in Another Language
Lunarian
"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin."
Mother Teresa
~Chapter 3~
~Interlude I~
Groaning, Lucy sat up from her slumped over position at her desk. Looking around, the room didn't appear out of order and Usagi slumbered on her bed, eagle style. With a sigh and mutter, Lucy rose to wake the bunny then stopped. Thinking for a moment on whether it was worth it or not, she realized it wasn't.
Usagi had just fought another monster and killed it. They had found a new ally. Just to make her do her homework was not a good reason to wake her up after something like that. So, sitting back down at the desk, Lucy bent to pull Usagi's homework out of her bag and set to it, copying Usagi's handwriting as best she could.
"You'll have to thank me later with ice cream..."
After a little while, she began to hum a quiet tune, lyrics lost to her past before she ended up with the Tsukinos. Never did she see Luna wake from her own nap, sit up with a long stretch, and begin to watch her. She did jump when the cat spoke, causing the girl to misspell and write a particularly vulgar word.
"You seem very adamant about helping Usagi-chan even if it means lying to your teacher about homework and parents about grades."
"Yes, well," Lucy sighed, erasing the kanji, "she's my sister. Usa would do the same for me, I'm sure. And this is a one-time thing."
Luna jumped over to sit at the desk, gaze critical. She surveyed Lucy's work then looked back at the girl. Lucy herself was ignoring Luna as she did Usagi's math homework, ready to pick up the English homework next.
"One-time things usually become more." Luna informed Lucy sagely.
A snort. "I'm not the 'usually' type, if you haven't noticed. This is only happening because Usa spent all her energy fighting a monster. Next time, she'll do the work whether tired or not."
"Why are you so protective of your sister, so hardy about being with her? Most siblings are not like that."
Lucy stopped writing, staring at the math problem, gaze blank. Something in Lucy cried out at this. Told the fawn to tell the cat why. Yet an insecurity tugged at Lucy and she skirted around the full truth.
"I feel I have to." A shrug. "Have no clue why, but I just... just gotta." Her gray-green gaze flickered toward Luna for a split second before back to the homework. "It's been there since I met her."
Picking up the English homework, Lucy began to translate the kanji to English the best she could, still a little shaky in Japanese writing. Lucy hid a wince when Luna asked another question.
"Met her? You did not grow up with Usagi-chan, Lucy-chan?"
Ignoring the question, Lucy continued with the work. Ashiteru... I love you... Orenji... Orange... A cat paw smacked her in the forehead and Lucy lifted her gaze to glare at the creature.
"That's rude, ignoring someone when they ask a question." Luna reprimanded the girl.
Lucy sighed, rubbing her forehead where a comical red paw print was slowly fading. "Maybe I didn't want to answer because it was personal and I thought saying so sounded more rude."
The animal's big blue eyes blinked at Lucy, as if not expecting the girl to withhold information from her. Luna bowed her head. "Very well. I will respect your privacy on the matter, Lucy-chan."
"Thanks, Luna." Tension left her shoulders and the brunette went back to translating. "Did you want to talk to me about somethin'?"
Sitting up taller, eyes serious now, a teacher's air about her, Lucy suddenly wished she hadn't asked anything of the cat.
"Yes. I would like to speak with you about your fighting and animorphing." At Lucy's confused gaze, Luna elaborated further. "Your attack is hardly coordinated the several times you've used it and when you changed into your cat form you took it slowly when you were needed. Usagi-chan will never reach her possible full potential if you are also just learning the steps alongside her."
"So... you want to teach me how to be an advisor?" She asked, setting down her pencil and directing her full attention to the alien cat. "I hope you understand I'm reluctant about this."
"I do." Luna bobbed her head. "Which is why I am talking with you about it now." Standing, she jumped from the desk, heading to the window. "Would you come with me, please?"
Lucy stared after Luna for a moment before pushing back her chair and standing, following after. As she moved, Lucy fixed her moon clip on her bangs. Bending after situating the clip, Lucy bent and forced the window open. She hauled herself out and into the nearby tree. Settling her hands on a single branch, she lowered her self down, using the branches as rungs and hand holds until she hit the ground, moving quickly.
"You're good at climbing. Have you done so before?" The black haired animal questioned, already moving for the fence.
"Yeah. Used to be, when Usa or I had a nightmare, we'd climb up on the roof and watch the stars. She thought it was boring, but it seemed to calm us down, pointing out the constellations we could see." Lucy hummed, brushing off her skirt. "Neither of us have had nightmares in a long time, so we haven't climbed out in a while." A longing sigh. "I kinda miss it..."
Luna nodded, storing away the information. After a moment of letting the brunette wistfully dream of the past, the cat nodded her head towards the sidewalk, beginning to head in said direction. "Come. We are going to the park."
Lucy's brow furrowed, unsure, but nodded, heading after the feline. "Okay, so what exactly do you plan to do with me to make me wanna 'advise' Usa and Ami?"
"Tonight is not for such." Luna explained, padding alongside the girl now. "I am going over animorphing and attacks. Namely the former because as we gather allies, you will not need to fight as much as the Senshi."
"Wait, you mean to tell me I'mma just sit on my furry butt and do nothing? Like you?" Lucy wrinkled her nose, not caring she'd just insulted the animal. You can't expect Lucy to not get angry or at least ruffled of being told she can't help. Especially when it came to her sister.
"I beg your pardon." Luna replied reproachfully, a small amount of anger in her tone. "That was very, very rude and disrespectful!"
"You can't just say I'm not gonna be needed other than to tell people to say stuff like 'Moon Tiara Boomerang' then! That's pretty rude too!" Came the sharp reply. "I don't know if you get it, but Usa is my sister. I'd take a bullet for her. You can't tell me I won't fight alongside her."
Luna sighed, trying to see the teen's point of view. It wasn't very hard. Back during the Silver Millennium...
"Very well. We will work on both equally." The Mauan conceded, casting a blue gaze up at the fellow adviser, however young she may be. Her tone had turned as serious as it could, still hinting at being upset with, though indirectly, being called lazy. "Lucy-chan, you must understand that Usagi-chan must one day stand on her own as leader of the Senshi, and you cannot take every fight or hit that comes her way. It is more importantly your job to lead her in the direction of the Princess and Silver Crystal, as it is also mine. Then we, namely you, are to advise them in battle training."
"Why mainly me?" The girl asked, also taking the absurd notion of her sticking with this insane idea seriously. "Why not mainly you? I don't actually like violence. I'd rather curl up in a corner and read."
An understanding smile on the cat's lips. Slowing to a stop at the park's closed entrance. "I will explain in a moment, but first come inside the park." With little trouble, the cat slipped between the bars, turning to sit and wait.
"Er, Luna..." Lucy looked through at the animal. "I'm human... The gate's locked..."
"That is what the clip is for; to transform." Came the response. "You know the words, Lucy-chan."
Taking a deep breath, scared and showing it clear in her expression, the girl raised a hand to brush over the silver moon clip. It began to glow, shining brightly yet not effecting her eyesight like it should have. Biting her bottom lip, Lucy looked away from Luna, ashamed for some odd reason.
"Lunar Power Transform."
With a flash of light that grew to Lucy's size then to smaller than a dog, around the size of a cat, she was gone. In her stead was a cross looking long-haired Norwegian forest cat tabby, sitting down, who's pale gray-green eyes said all. She didn't like this form. Not at all. Nor did she like the annoying itch coming from the silver crescent moon on her forehead.
"How can you stand being a cat?" She asked unhappily. Standing, she made way for the fence, slipping through and over to Luna's side. "It sucks. And my forehead itches. It did last time too."
"You have not used this form in so long you have forgotten the feel of your sigil." Luna explained, rising to head deeper into the park. "The more frequent you use the form, the quicker it shall go away. A night of sleep in your feline form should accustom you to it again."
"If I even liked being a cat I'd sleep like this, but I don't." Was the whiny reply. She shook a front paw after getting a leaf stuck to it. Ugh. Yep, totally not liking this- "Huh?"
A smell, oddly sweet and earthy at the same time, reached the cat's senses. It made her mouth water honestly. Yet it wasn't food, that Lucy was sure of. She stopped padding after Luna.
"Hey, uh, is anyone in the park?"
"Other than us and several other animals, no."
"Then what is that smell?"
"That's vole."
Lucy went rigid, eyes wide. I thought it smelt good!
"W-wait up!" Lucy cried, sprinting after, catching up to a chuckling Luna.
Lucy winced, rubbing her tender shoulder. Who knew Luna could give a good throw over the shoulder? They weren't even in human form when she did it!
"I am sorry." Luna replied, voice sheepish. "It has been some time since I have actually been in a fight. And with another cat."
"Don't worry," another wince. "Guess I should've been more considerate with what I was saying. I've just been really agitated since the whole 'secret superhero identity' thing began. I've done small lies here and there, but this? This is-"
From around the corner the two were coming two, a person came hurtling around the corner, holding something in their hands. They crashed right into Lucy, knocking her to the ground and almost on top of an equally startled Luna who gave an indignant hiss. Her fur was stood up, back arched. Lucy herself was busy forcing the person, she was pretty sure a man, off.
"Oi!" A rough voice shouted and then the man was yanked off of her. "Won't get away this time, Kazeno!"
Lucy sat up, watching as a trio of men threw one against the wall. She reasoned the one against the wall was the one to fall on her, and he was in pretty deep trouble.
The thugs were all dark haired, dressed in the Jûban High uniforms without the jackets, white shirt sleeves rolled up with the top several buttons undone. They appeared scruffy, like kids who took a wrong path and got into a gang or similar. The far left had a bandage over his cheek; the mid was sporting a growing shiner and broken nose with dried blood; the far right wasn't placing all weight on his right foot, Lucy guess it getting stepped on or ran over.
Getting to her feet, Lucy brushed off her skirt. Her gaze was hard as she watched the boys. Luna nipped at the back of Lucy's heel, trying to draw her away from the scene before they finally noticed her. The cat should've known she wouldn't back out when someone was in trouble.
"Hey, what are ya doin'?"
Mr. Sore Foot- don't you dare tell her she can't call him that- turned, casting a look at the small brunette. "Eh, get lost."
Eyebrows raising, she placed her hands on her hips. Luna made a keening sound only a cat could make, trying to egg Lucy to leave by tugging on her socks, hard. A shake of the foot was what she got. As well as attitude.
"You expect me to just walk off? You're being a bunch of bullies."
He sneered, now getting both of the men's attention. "Wanna be bullied too?" He took a threatening step forward, Lucy didn't even crack an inch. "We can do that instead."
Puffing up her small chest, she replied, "Go ahead. Try me." Maybe this isn't wise... She thought a second later when Shiner took out a pocket knife. Lucy was rethinking this plan. Maybe shoving the guys aside and taking off at a run with blondie would've been easier...
A malicious smirk was on Shiner's blood covered lip, a leer on Mr. Sore Foot and Bandage. Luna hissed, seeing there was no way out of this and swatted out at the three idiots. Blondie had yet to swing into action and hadn't run yet, he was just standing there, staring.
How lovely. Lucy thought, back now stuck between a wall and a trio who were, she hardly doubted, going to kill her. Maybe more. They looked to be in their third year of high school. I get the attention away from him and he stands there to watch.
"Can we get a name from the annoying girl?" Shiner asked.
"You can call me Mitsuko." Replied Lucy, the irony of her middle name not lost on her, hand reaching for the clip in her hair, planning to brush it. Luna would get angry, but no one would believe them if they told what they'd seen. It was getting close to midnight and if they told anyone they'd say they were drunk.
Surprisingly, she didn't even have to fight. The blonde sprung into action when he heard her speak, grabbing Shiner's shoulder to spin him around and give him a knuckle sandwich. And no, Lucy did not feel sorry for using that metaphor. The pocket knife dropped, Luna grabbing it in her maw and used her alien magic to make it disappear. Mr. Sore Foot growled, pulling back a fist to aim at the man who ducked and kicked him in the stomach.
Bandage had gabbed at Lucy who spun out of his grasp, making sure to keep away from him. Lucy wasn't a good fighter, and the only fighting she had done was in the form of a cat. That was no help. However, if she distracted the guy long enough for the man she'd saved to knock out the other two, Lucy figured she didn't have to worry then.
There was also Luna springing at Bandage's face that counted, giving him more scars to hide as the cat slashed across on cheek, slicing open the skin there and releasing a torrent of blood. Lashing out, he smacked away the cat. Lucy dove to catch Luna before she hit the ground, growling at the guy in anger.
Setting Luna down gently, Lucy pulled back a hand, balling it into a fist to punch the guy. He hadn't been expecting it, focusing a little too much on his bleeding cheek and let out a yelp of pain, grabbing his nose. He retaliated with a hit of his, Lucy jumping back to dodge it before moving forward to then knee him in the crotch.
Bandage went to his knees, one hand holding his nose as the other held his crotch in pain, a low moan getting out.
The other two had run off by then, fended off by the blonde.
He walked over to the kneeling man, gaze cold. "Get outta here, Satou."
Satou muttered some vulgar language, struggling to his feet and taking off, following the route his friends had taken around the corner. Lucy watched him go, now holding Luna in her arms. The cat was wearily watching the man Lucy had been adamant about helping though the roles ended up reversed.
"Thanks," was all he gave, picking up the small, wrapped package he had been carrying to pocket it, walking around her to keep on down the street.
Lucy's brow furrowed. Turning, she walked after, taking to walking with him. "That's all? Just a thanks?"
"What else do you want?" He huffed, voice hinting at something of a British accent under the Japanese. He picked at his nails absently.
"For starters, your name." Lucy said, gaze honest. "I saved you back there and-"
He stopped picking his nails, turning to glare at Lucy. "You did not save me." He ground. "I had it all under control until you came out of nowhere on the other side of that corner."
"You didn' have a thing under control." She scoffed, disbelief laced cleanly through her voice. "They woulda caught you eventually and ya know it."
"At least I can hold my ground against a couple of thugs. You had to rely on a cat with an ugly bald-spot to save you."
Luna hissed, reaching out to swat at the man, anger clear in her bright blue gaze. Her teeth were pulled back in a clean snarl.
"Careful there, Blondie." Lucy replied, watching as he drew back in disgust from her friend. "Luna doesn't take kindly to that description."
"It's Ryū, not 'blondie.' What are you; American?"
"Actually, I am." Was the reply, holding out a hand. "Tsukino Mitsuko. I've been living here for two years."
He looked at the hand, blue gaze guarded, slanted jaw tight. Then, he took it, grasp firm and strong; warm and calloused as he shook. His gaze had softened just the slightest. "Kazeno Ryū."
In the end, Ryū refused to let Lucy walk home with only a cat as protection, saying the three men were stupid enough to return. Lucy didn't question this, having seen enough of such stupidity in the few monsters Usagi and her had fought. It was appalling to her.
"So, what is a girl like you even doing out this late?" Ryū asked the girl, eyebrow raised as he cast a glance her way. His gaze briefly flickered to her left hand, Lucy didn't notice.
She held onto Luna tightly, who didn't squirm in the brunette's embrace like she usually would. Instead, she watched the odd blond closely, a memory of where she had seen him before nagging at her sharply. The same happened now and again with Lucy, flickering just briefly in the back of her mind and gone before it could be registered.
"Luna ran off," was the lie. "I went off after her, and was just going home when you ran into me."
"You ran into me." He corrected quickly.
Lucy wanted to point out she had been walking, but held her tongue.
The trio got to the house and Lucy set down Luna, watching her jump the fence and scale the tree to get inside the dark bedroom. Lucy got over the fence and went to the tree.
"G'night." Lucy bid, waving to Ryū who stood on the outside of the fence, hands in pockets. He watched Lucy grab foothold of the lowest branch and pull herself up, climbing up without trouble.
As she was about halfway up, he called out to her, "Hey, Tsukino-san!"
She looked back at him, eyebrow rose in curiosity. Lucy sat on the branch, waiting for him to continue.
"Can I get a number? Or do I need to look your address up?"
A smile, shy and a little unsure. She didn't want Ryū randomly calling the house. Ikuko and Kenji would want to know how she met him. That wouldn't blow over well. "How about you and I meet up at the Crown Arcade this Saturday, 5 o'clock."
"Toshi's Diner, instead." He countered, pale blue gaze sparkling in the moonlight. "No exceptions."
A puff of surprised laughter, small and short lived. Lucy decided to indulge him. "Okay. Last one there pays for the meal."
"Then I'll make sure to be fashionably late." Ryū countered, now walking off. He pulled a hand from his jean pocket, waving. "See ya, Tsukino-san."
As Lucy watched him go, something fluttered in her breast. The brunette didn't quite know what that feeling was, it being new to her. One day, though, she would know it. How she would receive the knowledge of that feeling was all dependent on her, and who she truly cared for more; Usagi or herself.
Lucy didn't need to worry about that right now, though. It wasn't for a while yet, that moment of great decision. Right now she had to worry about Luna's nagging.
Words w/o Disclaimer and Key: 3,555
Interludes do count as chapters. So this is chapter 3, and titled Interlude. You'll be seeing more of Ryū in the future, as hinted at in this chapter. But he isn't mine, not really. He's just... visiting, you could say.
Don't be shy to drop comments! And I'd love to hear what you think of Lucy and your speculations on Ryū!