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
"Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."
Charles Dickens
"It costs nothing to speak out, but staying silent could cost everything."
V, V for Vendetta
~Chapter 8~
~Paper Faces On Parade~
The sun warmed Lucy's chilled skin, telling her of the day ahead. Beside her, Usagi skipped, humming as she swung her bag. Like the past few days, Usagi had waken early and they had left a little early.
After just finding the final Senshi the night before and it being almost one by the time they got home, Lucy was actually surprised the blonde was up so early. Even Lucy had trouble waking then getting dressed. Luna hadn't woken until the two were already out the door.
"Hey, Lu," the bunny hummed, still smiling, "where do you think we start with finding the Legendary Silver Crystal and Moon Princess?"
"We start with getting rid of the enemy." Lucy replied, giving a tamer smile back. "Once the enemy is vanquished, we will be closer to finding the Moon Princess and Legendary Silver Crystal."
"Okay," Usagi chirped. She spun, saw Ami and Makoto up ahead and waved. "Ami-chan! Makoto-chan!"
Makoto waved back. "Morning, Lucy-chan, Usagi-chan!"
"I'm proud of you, Usagi-chan! You woke up on time today!" Ami grinned.
When the two came closer, Makoto threw her arm around Lucy's shoulder, stooping the slightest and pulling the lighter brunette in close. She ruffled Lucy's hair, grinning as Lucy whined, hand coming up to fix the disarrayed strands. Usagi giggled and Ami chuckled, tucking blue hair behind her ear.
"How'd you sleep, Lucy-chan?"
"I slept well." Lucy replied, brushing the last lock back in place.
Usagi rolled her eyes. "No, she didn't. We've been having weird dreams lately, which is why I got up early. Hers kept her asleep, tossing and… turning."
Usagi's eyes had wandered, finding the familiar high schooler Mamoru Chiba as he rounded the corner, opposite the girls on the street they walked. He stopped walking upon seeing Usagi and the blonde Senshi froze as well, flush rising to her cheeks. Lucy froze when behind him came Ryū, who grinned at her.
"Hey, bun-head!" Mamoru gave a soft smile, a teasing tone to his voice as he spoke to Usagi. "Study hard."
Usagi reacted in her usual fashion, by hooking the corners of her mouth with her index fingers, stick her tongue out as she clenches her eyes, and hissed out that he needed to mind his own business. Lucy sighed with a shake of the head, avoiding Ryū's eyes even as her cheeks warmed.
"Hope we're still going to that movie tomorrow, Aurora." Ryū said as they passed, spooking the brunette into jumping slightly.
"Who were they?" Makoto asked her as Ami looked back at Mamoru, curious. "Who was he?"
"That was a guy I keep running into and has asked me out a few times." Lucy mumbled, looking down.
"And the other was some guy I pass on the street a lot around here!" Ground out Usagi, huffing with a cross of the arms, tick mark on her brow.
"You two-timer!" Teased the Lightening Senshi to the Lunar Senshi. "Pick one! Tuxedo Mask, that guy or 'Onii-san' at the game center." To the advisor, she grinned at the brunette still under her arm. "Ooh, he seemed to really like you." Her eyes passed between the sisters. "Your both bright red, too! Hehe."
"It's not like that, Makoto-chan!" Squealed the blonde, turning her face away as her brunette counterpart sputtered for a reply.
Ami looked back over her shoulder at the two who talked like old buddies, dressed in the same uniform though Ryū's was a little more ruffled and less school appropriate. "They are both dressed in the uniform for that advanced Moto Azabu High school with a test score of ninety." She looked to Usagi. "And you know each other? You're holding out on us! What's his name?"
"And the other guy's name." Makoto added, looking back for a quick moment as well.
The sisters shrugged. "Mamoru Chiba." Usagi sighed. "He's actually kinda mean. Is that your type, Ami-chan?"
"Ryū Kazeno." Added Lucy. "I'm not sure what he is. He's a bad boy one moment and not the next." She rose a brow toward Makoto. "Is he your type?"
"No, no!" Both rushed to defend, raising their hands. "If I had to choose…"
Neither blonde nor brunette asked, they could see them imagining Motoki. Two-toned eyes rolled as crystal tones looked back ahead.
Lucy clasped her hands behind her back, holding her bag steady. As the four walked, the talk of boys fading into the back, her own mind wandered to that following evening. Maybe it was better to cancel, though Luna hadn't spoken ill of the date since finding the final Senshi.
"I know what you are thinking, Lu, and you should still go tonight. If anything happens, Luna can help." Usagi bumped Lucy's shoulder with her own, smiling brightly. "You need it."
Casting her glancing at the ground, the adviser hid her vague flush well. Her hand brushed her freckles as she pushed her hair on the left back. "Not really."
"I'm with Usagi-chan." Makoto chimed in. "If he really is a bad boy, you wouldn't go on a date with him."
"I was talked into it!" Lucy replied, looking up at her. "All three times!"
"Three dates?" Ami came closer, very interested. "Isn't there usually a three date rule on kissing and such?"
Lucy made a face. "I am not kissing him. I refuse."
"You're saying that now!" Usagi laughed. "But your my sister and I know for a fact it'll happen."
With a sage nod, Makoto ruffled Lucy's hair again. Lucy slipped out from under the girl's arm with an aggravated noise, this time leaving her hair in its disarray. Her cheeks were ruby this time and she walked stiffly ahead a few feet to get away from her friends.
"Aww, c'mon, Lu!" Usagi skipped ahead to grab her sister's hand, stopping to let the others catch up. "Come back."
"Yes, do." Ami agreed. "I found something important in the newspapers earlier. It could cause a lot of trouble!"
"What do you mean?" Lucy asked as her communicator went off, ringing the Rock-A-Bye Baby tune she'd convinced Luna to set as the cat's. She pressed down on the turn piece to accept the call, "Hey, Luna, we're–"
"Lucy-chan! Have you seen the newspapers? Have any of you girls seen them?" The cat asked quickly.
Ami came closer. "Yes. I have. It's all over the place."
"What's all over the place?" Questioned Makoto, frowning.
Ami sighed as Luna went silent on her end. Unease settled in Lucy suddenly.
"We will meet after school at the Game Center." Luna spoke, voice level. "If you do not know by then, I will explain."
The girls nodded, agreeing with Luna, and after several moments of unsure, they began to walk. Lucy hung back however and Usagi noticed.
"Lu?" Asked the brunette's sister.
"I think I dropped something a way back," replied the blonde's sister. "I'll catch up in a few."
Usagi nodded, turning and hurrying after their friends. Lucy waited, then turned and headed around the corner to make it seem she'd gone to find something. Lucy called Luna back.
"Luna, what's going on?" She demanded, looking around and ducking into a nearby alley. "What's all over the place and what's got you so worried?"
The cat sighed, and it was obvious she was unimpressed with the girl. "I thought you knew and weren't saying anything."
"No, I don't." She ran a hand through her hair, careful not to mess with her henshin clip. "What have I missed?"
"It was leaked to the newspapers, news station and every other form of communication last night the existence of the Legendary Silver Crystal." Luna informed the advisor after several silent, terse moments. "I have reason to believe it was Tuxedo Mask."
If the watch wasn't latched around Lucy's wrist, she would have dropped it. Her eyes stared at the ground unseeingly, shocked and partially horrified. Was the man that desperate to find it before the Senshi?
Apparently so.
"Lucy-chan?" Luna called, voice now in minor worry when the girl didn't reply.
"I- I heard you Luna." She whispered, taking a deep, nerve leveling breath, releasing it slowly. "Bring every article you can find to the Center this afternoon. I want to read and each and everyone. We need to know what this Tuxedo Mask is getting at."
"Alright." Came the mew.
"Also, Luna, just call me Lucy. I think, I think we've reached that point in our friendship." Lucy added, sliding against the wall to sit, knees pulled up to her chest. She put her head in her opposite hand, staring at the ground. Lucy didn't even know why she cared. "And can you tell me why we're even doing this? Why it's so important? Sometimes, I want a reason other than my sister or how it's the right thing to do."
Luna's voice spoke of understanding as she replied, "We do it because it is the Moon's will and our destiny, Lucy."
Words had never resonated so much in the girl before.
"I understand."
Ending her connection, Lucy stood, picked up her bag, and ran to catch up with her sister and friends. When she reached them, just outside the school gates, Lucy didn't wheeze for the first time in two years.
"Lu!" Usagi waved, grinning as Lucy ran up, slowing to a jog before completely stopping. "Did you find what you dropped?"
Lucy pulled her white handkerchief with it's powder blue embroidery from her pocket, waving it like a woman saying farewell on a big ship. "Yeah," she lied. "No one stepped on it, thank the gods."
Ami nodded as Makoto threw her arm over Lucy's shoulder again. "Yep. Rei'd love you for that thank you."
Lucy waved her kerchief around in a vague 'whatever' manner. "Let's go before we're late."
The first bell for the eight o'clock bell rang and everyone jumped, running to class scared.
"This has to be the enemy's doing." Ami stated, crossing one arm to rest her elbow in its palm. She held her chin between index and thumb, deeply unsettled. "If we don't take action, I bet the princess will be in danger too! We must do something."
"I know, but I never thought they'd resort to this!" Luna nodded.
Lucy leaned against a console, reading over every article so far on the Legendary Silver Crystal. She closed one, setting it behind her. Lucy pulled herself up onto the console, rolling up the remaining papers into one, holding them tightly in her lap as she leaned forward, obviously troubled. "I never expected Tuxedo Mask to do something like this," she said softly, looking to each of the gathered Senshi. "In all honesty I thought him a neutral party from the things he's done. As of this moment, however, we can only assume he is working with the enemy and that he is now our enemy as well."
Usagi gasped, covering her mouth quickly though it did nothing to hide how torn she was by this declaration. Lucy glanced briefly at her sister, sympathy clear, before looking to the others.
"If you encounter him, even in civilian form, I want you to hinder him. Every moment he is out there makes him a step closer to finding what and who you are to protect." Her eyes locked with Usagi's, hurt but serious. "Do you understand?"
Usagi stared back, quiet, before nodding once, following everyone's example. "Y-yes."
Lucy searched her sister's eyes a moment more, searching for even a speck of doubt that would lead the blonde to interacting with Tuxedo Mask in a friendly manner. There was none, just doubt the man could be a villain. She nodded.
"Luna, Lucy-chan," Makoto asked, "do you have an overall idea of who the enemy this time may be? Or our princess's location?"
"I'm doing my best to investigate on the princess," Luna said, casting a glance at Lucy who shook her head mutely, eyes speaking of her apology Luna did not require. "But we've yet to have any leads." She jumped up to join Lucy on the console. "And I can't say that I don't have any leads to the enemy. Maybe if the enemy is who I think it is…"
Even Lucy perked at this information, looking down at the cat in inquiry. Luna hadn't told her anything about it being a particular enemy. As if sensing Lucy's thoughts, she patted the girl's thigh in promise of explaining later.
Luna looked to the ground, speaking to herself, "If the one I'm thinking of were to get a hold of a power such as the Legendary Silver Crystal gives off, then it can only spell disaster."
"'One'?" Rei asked, stepping closer. "What 'one,' Luna? Who?"
"Luna!" Usagi stepped closer, urgency in her voice. "When you say disaster, you say it like those on the TV. Is the Legendary Silver Crystal really that incredible a gem?"
"Yes," Lucy instead spoke, appearing lesser troubled now. "The Legendary Silver Crystal, depending on it's use, could blow an entire star apart without trouble."
The Senshi stared at Lucy, flabbergasted. Luna nodded from Lucy's side.
Ami, tentatively, spoke, "You- you mean, we're supposed to protect something as outrageously powerful as that?"
"Yes. The Legendary Silver Crystal and the Princess of the Moon." Lucy nodded, setting aside the rolled papers, hoping from the console. She walked up to Usagi, taking her sisters hands, looking to each Senshi with a tiny, stressed, sad smile. "You will come across them and you must protect them! It's your destiny!"
"Destiny?" Rei asked, eyes large.
"Yes." Lucy felt she'd said that word one too many times today. "That's why Luna and I awakened you. We're doing the bidding of the Moon!"
"Bidding of… the Moon?" Rei murmured, brow furrowing as she took in the advisor's words.
"Awakened us?" Ami questioned.
Usagi stepped forward, toward Luna, eyes a little wider. "Luna, that means… you come from the… Moon?"
Luna looked to the crescent planet, low in the sky in the distance, peaking just over the highest building. Her eyes were sad, forlorn and lost. "It would take a while to explain. And when your awakenings are complete, you'll understand everything then." Luna's expression hardened, mouth pressed tight into a small frown. "I am going to continue my investigation of the enemy and of Tuxedo Mask. Lucy," the brunette stood at attention, "I am going to bring you into it. You've reached the point of research."
She made a soft sound and Lucy picked the cat up, holding her in her arms. "I want you to wait and watch," Luna said. "We do not know when an urgent situation will come."
The girls nodded. Lucy could see her sister struggling to understand, shocked worse than the others by this new information. Disbelief was clear, worry and hurt and how lost she was. The younger reached for her sister, hand ghosting down her sister's hand. She smiled lightly when Usagi turned to her, eyes leaving the feline.
"Usa," her hand brushed away a wayward strand of pale hair, tucking it behind the smooth, small ear of her sister's, "we'll understand eventually. After we find the Princess, we'll get it."
"Promise?" Usagi asked in a small voice, eyes wide, searching her face. Her pinky raised. Lucy hooked it with her own. "I promise on my promise." They shook pinky's three times and their promise was sealed.
The pain in Lucy's chest tightened the slightest, allowing her to breath for the first time since this morning. She stepped back, letting Luna down as the doors to the Game Center opened, bell jingling brightly.
Lucy didn't turn, watching her sister try to relax and sit down to play a game. Makoto pats Lucy's shoulder, look fond as she says goodbye for the day. Ami settles in, not having Night School until later, watching the blonde leader play the Sailor V game.
"Hello, Aurora."
Lucy tensed, relaxed, and spun to face Ryū. Her face heated a little, not sure she'd always like the nickname despite it's sweet meaning.
"Hi, Ryū." Lucy replied distractedly, glancing at the street past him and the doorway. It wasn't crowd like usual afternoons, more deserted. Lucy wasn't surprised with what was on the news. Everyone seemed more concerned about the Legendary Silver Crystal.
"I wanted to see if you'd like to go get an ice-cream." He grinned, hands deep in the pockets of his uniform slacks, gray eyes hopeful. When her eyes flickered to Usagi, Ami and Luna, his grin dropped into something softer. "I'm sure they could spare you for a half hour or so."
"I," she brushed back a wayward strand of hair, ducking her head, not meeting his eyes. "I don't think I can. Some family things came up," Lucy hoped the lie was believable, "and I really gotta keep an eye on Usa right now."
Ryū's smile fell, but came back much smaller. "Sure you can't at least give me five minutes?" Lucy opened her mouth to reply, but he beat her to it. "It's just five."
He ducked his head, trying to meet her eyes, and upon seeing the conflict when they finally joined he understood. Ryū swallowed thickly, standing up straight. One hand lifted from his pockets, running from front to back through his hair, ruffling it. A few strands fell across his brow, resting against the crease of his brow. Conflict reflected in his pale eyes, pronouncing his lips pressed tight with a slight bow to it.
"I understand, Lucy." She might have wished for that nickname. "I suppose because of this… family matter that tomorrow's date is cancelled?"
Lucy nodded, letting out a relieved breath. "Yes. When it clears I'll get back to you on that movie."
Ryū took her hand in his, looking into her eyes again. He smirked, eyes regaining their mirth for a moment. "I'll hold you to it." He squeezed her hand, letting it drop back to her side.
The blond stepped back. A cold shock ran down her back, watching him leave. Her heart stuttered and before Lucy could stop herself she'd gone after him, running through the door, grabbing his hand and yanking him back inside just as a car swerved. It ran up over the curb, onto the sidewalk before righting itself and narrowly missing a lamp.
Lucy's foot caught on air, other following to send her flying back. Ryū, momentarily stunned by what had happened, followed only to quickly catch himself. He turned, reaching for Lucy as she grasped air, eyes widening with in fright. Her hand clasped his jacket, voice barely escaping her as she connected with the ground as he followed.
A hand slammed to the floor an inch from her face, other placed between her arm and side. Ryū stared, eyes as wide as hers, and Lucy stared back.
"Th-that car…" Lucy gasped, chest heaving and heart aching, tears stinging her eyes. "It-it almost hit you."
Slowly, as if in a daze, he nodded, chest convulsing. "Y-yeah. It did."
"Lucy?!" Came Usagi and Ami's frantic call not a moment later, blonde helping her sister up as Ami helped Ryū. She began to check the small brunette over, looking for any scratches or broken bones. "Oh my god, that car nearly hit you! I'm supposed to do stupid stuff like that!"
Lucy chuckled weakly, leaning into her sister's hold. Motoki could be hear calling the police in the background. Ami was asking Ryū what happened while also checking him over. Luna sat to the side, fur bristled in worry, tracking each movement Lucy made, watching as the tears slid down her cheeks, leaving wet, shining trails.
The cat walked forward, weaving between both girls and the brunette's legs, keeping a consistent touch of comfort for Lucy. Her purr was soft, reverberating soft and loud in her chest, making the young advisor aware of her presence.
"I know the Legendary Silver Crystal in important," Motoki spoke, coming up, "but this is common curtesy. You two almost were killed and they refuse to track down the person responsible."
"Legendary Silver Crystal?" Ryū asked, confusion clear across his face, body still shaking the slightest. He had sat down on a stool, head hung low. Lucy was in similar condition with Luna in her lap now, arms loosely holding the cat.
Pale two-toned eyes glanced at the punk, making sure he was serious. Her head lifted, face bland as she processed what she'd done. How did she even know the car was coming before it had?
"It's a powerful gem everyone is looking for now." Motoki explained. "It's worth a fortune."
Ryū nodded, sitting heavier in the seat. He gave another nod, eyes closing tightly. "My head hurts," he mumbled, placing his head in his hands.
"One of us should take you home then," Ami advised. She looked between her friends. "Lucy-chan doesn't seem in good shape, so I'll take you. Usagi-chan, you should take her home."
"Yeah," Usagi nodded, shooing Luna off to help her sister stand on shaken legs, wrapping an arm under her sister's armpits, letting the small brunette lean against her. "Mom will make sure she's okay."
Lucy turned her face into the crook of Usagi's neck, further unease washing over her in the form of the enemy's bad stench. Her heart stuttered again. "Drakon…" She mumbled, causing Ryū to violently jerk and turn, head lifting from his hands to stare at Lucy with a look of shock able to break any heart at the amount of hope present.
The blond quickly tamped down on his emotions, only Luna seeing them as Usagi focused solely on her sister and Motoki, though reluctantly, returned to his job. Ryū forced himself to breath and to stand.
"I will see you another time, Lucy." He said, making to leave until Luna padded in front of him, sitting, looking up to him with a knowing look. He hauled, watching the cat, eyes quietly pleading with Luna to move.
To say the cat nearly swore, realizing in that exact moment he knew exactly what she was and who the Senshi were, would have been a too light description. But she had, covering it up with a mew. Ryū knew about them and acted as if he didn't. Luna also realized he'd been careful not to be a hinderance to them. That, the cat understood, meant something.
Her eyes moved to Lucy who was already recovering, her healing abilities kicking in (Luna would have to explain those to her later). Lucy caught Luna's gaze and lifted her head from Usagi's shoulder, eyes tired, body sagged. The cat looked to Ryū and Lucy did too. She saw how the younger advisor lost some of her fatigue when looking at him, most likely it happened without knowledge, and padded around the blond.
Ryū began to walk again, releasing a small breath, not looking back as Ami followed with minor worry for the man. It wasn't until he looked back at the door he saw Luna sharing a small conversation with Lucy and hid a wince.
"Ryū!" Lucy called as the glass door closed, rushing to catch up, nearly falling as she did. Her feet hadn't fully come back to her, which was odd because she got over injury and bodily shocks pretty quickly.
Both Ami and Ryū turned. "Lucy-chan, what are you doing?" Asked the water guardian, frowning. "You aren't in a position to do this kind of thing."
"I'm fine now," Lucy assured, coming up. She halted before them, eyes flickering between the two. "Usa wanted me to walk him home instead. Said it would help."
Ami's lips downturned further, knowing exactly who'd really requested the other come do this. She stood there a moment, debating whether or not to send Lucy back, then conceded. Lucy she could argue with, but Luna was another case entirely.
"Alright. If you suddenly get lightheaded, either of you, I want you to call me." Sighed she, shaking her head, already walking back to the Game Center. "I can't believe she'd allow this."
For a moment, Lucy watched her friend go before turning to Ryū with a shy expression. "Usagi can be really pushy sometimes," she chuckled, playing with her fingers. "She's quite the… woman."
Ryū merely hummed, walking now with Lucy following at his side. She didn't stumble this time, and she kept a few inches between themselves. His steps weren't as woozy any longer, though still unsure.
"I'm sorry about earlier," Ryū said after a few minutes had passed.
"It's not your fault." Shaking her head, shoulder lightly bumping his. "The driver shouldn't have tried to drive on the sidewalk."
He smiled weakly down at her before losing it, looking ahead. His hands found his pockets again, leaning the slightest closer to her. An even longer stretch of time passed before,
"I still feel responsible."
"You shouldn't, it wasn't your fault."
"What if…" A peculiar look, almost like guilt, passed over his face, and his swallow was very audible. "What if I felt like I could have stopped it, had I paid better attention?"
When he looked down at her again, it became obvious he wasn't talking about what had just happened but another problem entirely. In reply, Lucy's brow furrowed in confusion, unsure of what he was speaking of. Still, she eased her confusion after several tense moments, brow smoothing out, and she reached out, brushing against the sliver of skin between pocket and white shirt sleeve.
Ryū pulled the hand from it's resting place, grabbing her hand, lacing their fingers together until his palm, large, calloused and tanned, pressed against her small, smooth, pale one. Heat radiated from his hold, pressing against the coldness of hers, sending a tingling sensation up Lucy's arm and through her body. It felt familiar and reminded her, for some odd reason, of home.
"I think," Lucy began slowly, choosing her words wisely, pulling on her role to the Senshi with this, "given the circumstances, you could not. You are a very observant person, Ryū, and if you did not see it to begin with, you would not have seen it at all."
The man didn't reply, just looked ahead on the path they walked. When he did, it was best to use the word stunned as her reaction. Lucy stopped walking completely, hand in his clenching, looking at him in bewilderment.
"I'd rather hear you, Lucy, not who you're supposed to be." Ryū had stopped beside her, eyes sliding to the faded cement below them. "Can I please have that, if I cannot have your time tomorrow?"
"You know?" She breathed, hand not in his shaking. "How do you know?"
He turned, similar look in place. "I thought you knew. You said my name."
"Your name?" Lucy asked, pulling her hand out of his. "Your name is Ryū, and yes I've said it! I don't know how you think that means I know you knew about- about me being-" She backed away from him, eyes wide and fear rising in her. "Oh, God, I have to leave. I can't- I can't-"
"Lucy, wait," Ryū pleaded, grabbing her hand, stopping her. "I understand. You don't know that you've said my name. I get it." She glared at him, tugging her hand back uselessly, his grip iron forged. "I'm not going to harm you or the others, I swear. Please, give me a minute. Just a minute."
"How can I trust you?" She hissed, chest hurting. "You could be working for the enemy. You could be the enemy."
"I'm not. Ask Luna." He replied, waving in the direction of the Game Center. "She's just figured it out too."
"What else do you know?" She demanded, pushing him back roughly, terror seizing her momentarily. If he was the enemy and tried to hurt Usagi…. "Tell me!"
"I remember our past lives." Ryū acquiesced, taking a step back as she raised her hand as if to slap him. "I remember the Senshi and the Moon Princess and the Legendary Silver Crystal everyone is going nuts for. I remember you and Luna and how you got when you weren't yourself but an advisor. I recall everything. Let me ex–"
Lucy froze, breath stopping in her chest. "You remember everything? If you knew, why didn't you say anything? We have to find the Princess!" She turned, pulling toward the Game Center. "We have to tell Luna. We have to tell the others! We haven't a moment to lose!"
Ryū pulled her the opposite way. "They aren't there." He said, tugging her toward his place. "And even if they were, this isn't your place to come in."
"'To come'-" She dug her heels into the sidewalk, other hand grabbing her wrist and wrenching back. She stumbled, nearly falling. Lucy caught herself, straightened and glared. "Like hell it isn't! My job is to advise the Senshi! And in battle or not, they need to know who the Moon Princess is! They need to find her and the Legendary Silver Crystal before the enemy does!"
She turned on her heel, stalking off. Ryū followed after. "Lucy, she isn't there. Usagi went home."
"How do you know?" Lucy whirled to face him, shoulders tensed. "How can I trust you?"
Helplessness overcame his visage, clearly unable to. Lucy turned away, eyes planted forward, determination mingling with wounded anger in her eyes.
"Then let's go." She snapped, not even glancing over her shoulder at him.
Lucy had never felt so devastated, she was sure even before meeting Usagi she'd never felt it. Here, heading for her sister, dragging Ryū who knew so much and never said, she wanted to scream and cry. Thinking about it, Lucy honestly liked Ryū, might have even shut up and given dating him a chance, but then this happened and she just couldn't.
Ryū could be so many terrible things, a threat to Usagi and the Moon Princess at the top, but if he knew about their past lives, right down to who the Princess was, Lucy had to risk it. It could help them, and afterwards if he wasn't the enemy, Lucy wasn't sure she'd given him another chance, even if begged to. Hiding something like this was terrible and while hypocritical of her, she knew, Lucy had been trying to keep him out of it.
"For whatever it's worth," Ryū said softly, "I am really, truly sorry. If I knew it would happen this way with these results, I would have told you from the beginning."
Lucy didn't reply, but her eyes flickered over her shoulder briefly. Her shoulders tensed when he spoke, relaxing when he became quiet. She didn't say anything, but her body acknowledged him.
She wanted that annoying, smooth talking charmer back. Not this quiet, apologetic guy. This one was harder to be angry at.
The Game Center came into view, which made Lucy's steps speed up. Lucy let go of Ryū's hand to grab the door handle, her other hand holding her bag, and proceeded to pull. Her eyes watered and she coughed as the enemy's pad energy overpowered her senses. She stumbled, falling back into Ryū who barely caught her in time.
"I told you she wasn't here," Ryū admonished as the door slammed close, helping her stand up. His eyes were on Motoki's prone form just inside the door, knowing that's where the enemy's energy had come from. "Furuhata-kun would be fine if she was."
Grimacing, Lucy stood, letting him hover close incase she fell again.
"Then where is she and the others?" Lucy demanded, facing him and looking up into his eyes. "You seem to know a lot."
"Your sister is currently at home, like I said." Ryū replied. "And Luna's gone to get Ami by now."
"How do you know?" She asked further, gaze steely and hands clenching. He couldn't know this much and not be the enemy.
He sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair. "Because I've been told this all before. It's what I've been trying to tell you, but you won't give me a moment to explain. You've been Usagi this and Princess that the whole way here when I'd tell you if you'd just let me."
"Fine," crossing her arms, she leaned back on her right leg, look closed off. "Tell me."
"Not until we move from where we are." He held out a hand. "It's dangerous out in the open right now."
Her expression darkened. "Why should I trust you?"
"You did once before," the blond tried, eyes flashing in momentary pain that nearly stole Lucy's breath before closing off in quiet urgency. "Try again."
Her fingers twitched, her eyes closed, she took a slow inhale, felt the air thick with tension and evil fighting purity and pain. She let out the breath, her eyes opened and her hand reached out, sliding against his palm to clasp his wrist.
"This is the last time I trust you." Lucy told him, voice soft, eyes wounded. "After this, I can't."
"Can't or won't?" He asked, own fingers brushing her wrist to hold tightly.
Contemplation sparked in her gaze before settling on knowing, decision quick. "Won't."
Ryū nodded, pulling her back along the way the two had walked together.
The two were quiet the whole way, streets silent, avoiding ones where people laid in prone forms. Lucy felt sickly each time they passed a street, paling and becoming weak to the point Ryū helped her stand. He was like a strong oak compared to her, but he faltered as well, and breathe deeper from his mouth, letting it out slower and longer to steady himself. Never once did she speak and he didn't try to.
Ryū took Lucy to the park where very few people had been. There, Ryū let go of her wrist as she did and he motioned for her to sit.
She crossed her arms, though not as tightly as before. Lucy didn't glare, too tired. "Alright, tell me."
Ryū settled next to her, sighing heavily. "My parents and I were attacked when I was a seven. It was at the embassy in England and the baby sitter had gotten sick last minute, so my parents brought me along on the promise I'd be good. The attackers had a bomb and guns, and one was randomly shooting to frighten everyone. A stray one hit me in the head, but didn't kill me." He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees. "I was in a coma for two years. My parents had us move shortly after I woke. I've known since the coma about our past lives."
"That's how you know everything, because of a stray bullet?" Lucy asked, skeptically, eyes narrowed slightly.
"Yes. It's somewhat fuzzy, but I do." Ryū nodded, eyes asking for her to believe him. "And I'll tell you anything you want to know."
Lucy's eyes narrowed further. "There has to be a price. Nothing like that is for free."
He smile a little, it wry and taunt. "I'd like you to still talk with me, at least."
The advisor made to stand, huffing angrily. "I will no-" A sharp gasp escaped her, hands flying to press at her temples, pain flooding her system. She fell to her knees heavily, Ryū too slow to catch her.
"Lucy, calm down." Ryū said quickly, picking her up. "It's just–"
Whatever Ryū was going to say didn't reach Lucy's ears as darkness invaded her senses. When she came back to the waking world seemingly moments later, she was resting in a bed, blankets pulled up to her shoulders and setting sun striking red lashes across her sight. Her head throbbed, beating out a samba behind her eyes that faded slowly with the sun.
Sitting up, the blankets fell down to her lap. She was aware of her shoes and socks being off, her school issued bow folded on the bedside table, but little other than that everything was in order.
Looking around, the room was plain, walls a neutral stripped beige and white, floors hardwood as she swung her legs out, feet pressing to the chilled flooring. The bedspread was white, matching the doors and gauzy curtains rustling from the ad jar windows.
No negative energy existed, gone from her system like an adrenaline high without the fatigued after effects. Her body felt less wound and her heart wasn't hurting like it was going to be ripped in half the split moment before she had fallen unconscious.
The door clicked and opened, a willowy woman with pale hair held up in a loose bun, gray streaks throughout. Her bright eyes were cheerful and motherly, reminding Lucy's of Ikuko's scarlet ones. Her gown was a dark gray, making the older woman gorgeous in the setting light. Her lips, darker than blood, were upturned in a friendly smile.
"I see you're up!" The woman practically buzzed about the room, tidying things that didn't need tidying. It took Lucy a moment to realize she wasn't speaking Japanese. "When Ryū knocked on the door, huffing and terrified, I thought you'd died. Scared me half to death. Your pulse was so fluttery…. Oh," she turned from the windows she'd been closing, coming over. "I'm Ayame, Ryū's mother."
Lucy, trying to catch up with what Ayame had been saying, startled at the rapid English, took the mother's hand slowly, letting it be shaken twice. Ayame then helped Lucy up and began straightening the bed. "You look so lost. Just go right out the door to the left. The kitchen is on the right of the living room. Ko should be making dinner about now."
The brunette blinked, words finally settling in her. "You're… Ryū's… mother?"
With a snap of the wrist to spread out the comforter, Ayame nodded. "Yes," she admitted, fingers smoothing over the cloth. "And he's probably pacing the living room right now, worried about you so." She waved a hand, glancing over her shoulder. "I'll go with you in a minute."
"Uhm," Lucy opened her mouth, then closed it, a fish out of water.
Ayame turned, proud smile on lips, and stepped forward, ushering Lucy out the room like a mother duck herding her ducklings. "Come on, right this way."
Doing as told, Lucy walked down the hall. The walls were a calming shade of pale blue, the floor dark wood. The living room when the two came to it was spacious, a nice leather couch in the middle of the room with a glass coffee table, dark armchair to the left and small couch to the right. It was the kind of place Ikuko dreamed about having.
"Where am I?" Lucy asked, ears picking up the music from the direction of the kitchen over the counter blocking it off from the living room. A salty tang reminding her of miso soup also came from the kitchen, twisting her stomach a little but not yet pulling a growl from it.
"We're in upper Azabu-Jubān, where most condos are." Ayame hummed, eyes scanning the clearly vacant room. "I suppose Ko finally got him to sit. He's so worrisome."
"Dear?" A voice, deeper and more aged, called from the kitchen.
Ayame took Lucy's hand gently in hers, pulling her with to the kitchen. Stepping over the threshold, she was surrounded by smells. Smells of hot soup and spicy tea tickled her nose, finally drawing an annoyed grumble from her midsection. She didn't flush, just ducked her head in shame.
Ayame laughed and so did who Lucy guessed to be Ko. His hair was pale like Ryū's, the thing locks a little on the long side so they were tied in a small ponytail at the nape of his neck, eyes a haunted but content pale gray with a touch of lasting pain. He was in jeans and an light button-down rolled up to the elbows, pink apron undoubtably meant for Ayame tied on at the back.
"Hello, Miss Tsukino," he greeted as Ryū scrambled to stand from the stool he'd been perched on, stealing the girl's attention immediately. "I hope you feel much better after that faint you had."
"I, uh," she dragged her eyes away from the fidgeting Ryū to Ko, "yes. I feel much better, thank you." She gave a shallow bow, tongue moving in the familiar shapes of Japanese. "Thank you for housing me, Kazeno-san."
Surprise lit his eyes, switching over as well. "My pleasure, Tsukino-san."
Something warm fluttered in her chest, pushing the encroaching need to pull Ryū away and talk to the back of her mind. Lucy also didn't want to be rude, and the couple seemed so amiable. When Ko motioned to one of the stools in the kitchen, she sat, tucking the sides of her skirt under herself.
"We had thought you'd like to speak English, not using it very often." Ayame explained, moving to sit on the other side of the counter, arms overlapping loosely. Lucy was nearly struck dumb by how comfortable in herself and spry the older woman was.
"Oh, no, I prefer Japanese actually." Lucy waved a hand, that warmth spreading further. She gave a tiny smile. "I can practice and most people have a lisp I can't understand."
The mother nodded, understanding in her eyes. "I see." Her soft smile turned sly. "Our little Ryū was the same with his English as a little boy, used to speaking Japanese around the house and even in public. He always stuttered on words with L's. Cutest thing."
"M-mother!" Ryū blushed, turning his head way as his face darkened with a flush.
"Oh, but it's true!" Ayame teased, leaning over the counter, hand outstretched to pinch his cheek. "And you always had this precious lisp on your W's until you were five!"
Ko pretended to check the soup, hiding the grin spread across his face that Lucy saw. He glanced at her as Ayame continued to terrorize her son and he winked. Lucy spluttered, then laughed, nearly missing the chirp of her communicator.
Ryū and Lucy still, pale eyes zeroing in on the white wrist watch. Ayame looked to Lucy curiously as Ko rose a brow, silently asking about the odd sound.
"I'm sorry," Lucy said quickly as another chirp came, fumbling for a lie, "I need to go. I've, uh, set my watch to tell me when I'm supposed to be home and, well…"
"You're late?" Ko supplied when Lucy could not.
"Ah, yes. I'm late." She nodded hurriedly, already standing, looking for her school bag.
Ayame stood, brushing off imaginary lint before giving a kind smile to the girl. "On the hallway counter by the door, Tsukino-san." She and Ko watched Lucy go to where her bag was, bending to pull her socks from her shoes, Ryū following without saying. "Why not I drive you home? I'm sure your parents would appreciate it, with it getting late and all."
"Oh, no, no. It'd be wonderful, really, but I need to stop by the store on the way home," she laughed weakly as another chirp came, toeing on her shoes, "I was supposed to pick up bread."
"I see…" Her bright eyes lost some of their shine. "As long as Ryū's going with you, I suppose it's alright."
Lucy bowed low, bag clasped before her in both hands. "Thank you again for letting me stay here, Kazeno-sans. I hope to see you again."
Waving his spoon in the air flippantly, Ko grinned the barest. "Us too! You seem like a good kid, especially for our own."
Her communicator chirped, Ryū coughed lightly, and Lucy gave a quick bow, hurrying out the door. It closed behind her sharply on well oiled hinges.
Ayame sighed, settling back onto her stool. "I wanted to ask about her sister."
Ko shrugged, "The fact we know as much as we do is astounding. Let's not push it, dear."
With a shallow nod, the mother stood to get several bowls down from the cabinets. "We'd made her favorite this time."
"Next time, for sure." Ko kissed her briefly and Ayame smiled softly.
"Yes. Next time."
Words w/o : Additional script: 7,398
Hello, everyone! Here's an update, just as the New Year begins! I'm sorry for not updating as quick as I should have. I've also added more to the prologue, but it's only available on the AO3 version of this work.
As previously stated, I go by the same name there as I do here, and the story is under the same name. It is also apart of the now Lucy Spellman Tetralogy- no more Saga! It's only four books now, not five- and apart of the Lucy of the Moon series. You can find a list of differences between the many planets of the Silver Alliance that I'm slowly compiling as I work on how the Silver Millennium would have worked in major depth, and a series of one-shots before LotM begins.
I hope to see you all again soon, and don't be shy to drop comments!