Chapter Six
A Big Surprise
Your heart began to be scorched, and there was a smell of it.
It was the end of your dream, and the start of everything…
-Moments by Ayumi Hamasaki
Rei sat with her side pressed into the toilet, her knees curled up to her chest and, one hand cradling her head while the other held the phone receiver close to her ear. There were dusts of grogginess clouding her vision and a layer of exhaustion blurring her mind. She could have almost forgotten where she was and gone right back to sleep in the position she was in, if not for the horrid sound of Usagi retching forward every remnant of food that her stomach held.
"She's been puking all morning." She sighed sleepily into the phone's mouth piece, the background noise of the blonde's gags sounding as if to prove her point.
"It could be food poisoning." Ami deduced on the other side, her tone practical as always. It irked Rei's tired nerves. "I haven't heard of any stomach flu going around but that could be a possibility as well. I wouldn't worry too much about it."
Rei snorted. "Easy for you to say, your not the one being deprived of sleep." She sighed and shifted her gaze to the back of Usagi's head which protruded from the rim of the toilet. "She's the only nineteen year old I know that needs someone to comfort her while she's vomiting."
"I'm sorry Rei-chan. Why don't you let Usagi-chan's mother deal with it and get yourself some rest?"
"Shinto has school, she needs to get him ready and prepare Usagi's papa's breakfast. I can at least do this."
It was true, but in all honesty Rei was still worried about Usagi and, the thought of leaving her princess' side did not sit well with the young woman. Her dream still weighed heavy upon her mind as did the events of the previous night. Having that dream, Usagi and Haruka being attacked and, Usagi not being able to transform and then Usagi's sudden illness. All of it caused the anxiety inside Rei to grow, adding to the ominous feeling that made her own stomach turn. What the hell was going on?
"I'm sure she'll be fine." Ami reassured, in a tone that feigned brightness but seemed a bit stressed. "I've been analyzing the samples that Mina-chan brought to me this morning. It's some really bizarre stuff."
"Oh yeah?" Rei pursed her lips and reached out her hand to rub the back of Usagi's head as the young woman whimpered. "How bizarre?"
"Like nothing I've ever seen before." Ami replied, unable to keep the fascination from her voice. "This matter, it's other-wordly and, the stuff it can do... it's absolutely terrifying."
"You sound like a mad scientist Ami-chan." Rei observed as the other girl laughed uncomfortably on the other end of the line. "Try not to sound so enthused when you talk to the others."
"Right of course." Ami cleared her throat to regain her clinical composure. "You'll bring Usagi-chan here early tomorrow then?"
Rei nodded and yawned loudly, wagging her fingers over her lips. "Bright and early, so long as she lets me to get some sleep."
They said their goodbyes and Rei dropped the phone, still clutched in her hand, to the floor beside her. She looked over to find Usagi staring at her through eyes just as groggy as her own, and a lovely face paled by sickness. She had strewn her arm across the toilet like a bridge, to rest her cheek lazily upon it. One disheveled twin-tail lay across her neck and both extended to coil upon the floor around her. Rei couldn't help but smile; she really was just so utterly pathetic.
"Do you feel better?" She asked her princess and Usagi nodded weakly, a sad little look on her face that made Rei laugh. "Good, good."
She groaned with utmost exhaustion as she lifted herself onto her feet and curled her body to crack the aching bones in her back. Usagi lifted her head and, with Rei's offered assistance, she too rose to stand next to her soldier, leaning heavily upon the other woman. Usually such childish behavior would have annoyed Rei but, she couldn't find it in herself to deny her princess. After everything that had happened—everything that was still happening—it just didn't seem right.
"You really are such a baby when you're sick Usagi." Rei sighed as she assisted the young blonde out of the bathroom and across the hall back into her bedroom. "Even more so then you usually are." She chuckled and Usagi whimpered as Rei placed her back into bed.
"Have you heard from Haruka-san?" The young woman questioned as Rei crawled into the cot laid out on Usagi's floor.
Rei shook her head as she laid it upon her pillow. "No, she's probably sleeping. We all had a long, tiring night... or early morning."
"I know. It just seemed like she intended to do something I mean..." Usagi pressed her hand against her sour stomach and pulled her comforter up to her chin. "It's not like her to not bring me home herself."
"True." Rei cast her gaze toward the ceiling, listening closely as Usagi's breath evened. "Then again we all have a lot on our minds right now. I don't know if any of us know what our intentions are anymore." The young woman admitted quietly to the silence of the room, her words lost to Usagi's sleepy mind.
Haruka cast out the cool summer breeze with the closing of the bar's door that rang behind her. The night was rather brisk but the atmosphere in that darkened little corner shop was stifling, Haruka removed her leather jacket immediately and approached the counter. It was a hipster-like joint, the kind of place one would expect to find people in barrets drinking black coffee and reciting poetry on the small stage along the corner of the back wall; where there was just enough light to see where you were walking as if to disguise the homemade furniture and modern art into something more pleasing to the eye.
"How typical of her." Haruka simpered as she approached the counter where a thin older man with a finely pointed but graying goatee stood wiping his work station. "Double shot espresso. Has she arrived yet?"
The man ran his small eyes over Haruka before lifting a long finger and pointing across the room. She turned to cast her gaze in the direction he gestured, tossing her jacket casually over her shoulder as she squinted through the dimness. There weren't many people in the shop so, the woman Haruka sought wasn't exactly hard to find; though she'd recognize that flaming head of hair in any crowd.
She thanked the man and accepted the small cup and chipped saucer he offered her, carrying it with ease through the throng of rounded tables and wooden chairs. She set her cup down wordlessly and draped her jacket over her chair's back before she took a seat across from the woman, noticing her own coffee had gone quite untouched. Her elbow was pressed against the table so that her chin and cheek could lay in her palm, her head was hanging dully and her demeanor was relaxed. She appeared to be asleep but, because of the very large, dark tinted sunglasses with thick white rims she wore, Haruka couldn't see whether or not her eyes were shut.
So Haruka said nothing and, only sipped at her coffee, allowing it's kick to set in over her and banish the remaining grogginess she felt from much earlier that same day. The woman across from her remained still and Haruka took in her appearance; her sleek red hair was done up in a high ponytail that swept down to the small of her back, with straightened bangs that hid her forehead and cut perfectly across her eyes, two long strands on either side falling down her cheeks to her chin. Her skin was smooth, colored healthily by the sun and marred only by the small silver hoop that looped through the left side of her nose and, the tiny purple star that punctured the right side of her bottom lip. Her dress was, as she'd always liked to put it, "casual rock"; faded jeans ripped in fashionable places down her legs and a dark top that clung to her thick frame, hung off her curved shoulders and was decorated with purple lace.
"You're still so gothic." Haruka observed matter-of-factly.
"I prefer rock and roll." The woman replied evenly and straightened herself, dropping her hand to the table as she uncrossed her legs and leaned forward more comfortably. "I travel all the way here and all you can do is insult me?"
Haruka smirked and took another sip of her caffeinated beverage. "Forgive me." She set her cup down and stared straight into the woman's shielded eyes. "It's good to see you Dezy."
"Don't call me that." The woman commanded promptly. "You've got a lot of nerve Haruka." She waved an accusing finger with a short nail painted blood red, her posture becoming hostile. "You demand that I fly out to Japan for some urgent life or death crap and—stupid me—I do it. I do it even though it's got absolutely nothing to do with me, it never has and it never will!"
"Things have changed." Haruka answered, remaining calm, the redhead scoffed.
"Why, because little Miss Priss threw a tantrum and doesn't wanna play soldier? It isn't my problem that the Queen Bee decided she wasn't interested in playing a supporting role anymore, and is finally trying to steal the show."
Haruka's mouth tightened. "This isn't about you and Michiru, Dezy, this is about the princess."
"You know damn well my loyalty never lay with the princess Haruka." The woman huffed and lifted her coffee cup to her lips, sneering at the cooled liquid before setting it aside. "That was a job for her soldiers, not me."
"So you're still bitter then?" Haruka raised an intrigued eyebrow, she hadn't really been expecting anything less.
The woman laughed in exasperation. "Bitter isn't the right word. I'm... unsympathetic. I was never good enough before, why should now be any different?"
"I suppose I can understand that." Haruka nodded and leaned forward. "But I can't change the past Dezy, no one can. You know that better then anyone." The redhead clicked her tongue against her teeth and offered a curt nod. "All I can do now is offer you a chance to alter the future."
The woman's disbelief was clear in her scoff but her interest was obvious in the tilt of her head that shifted her bangs against her glasses. "Oh yeah, how's that?"
"Something's coming; I don't know what it is, but it's already shown itself to be nothing good. We're going to have to fight again, and from what I've already gathered about the enemy, we're going to need full planetary power. But, we're down three comrades."
The woman's dark red painted lips curled into a little smirk. "The odds are against us eh?" Haruka chuckled.
"Not if we have you on our side." The woman crossed her arms proudly over her large chest. "Then they're about even." Both women chuckled. "Before, our courses were set solidly by our destinies; but now we're taking fate into our own hands. So, what I'm asking you is simply to choose your own path." Haruka reached out to the other woman, who in turn took her hand. Haruka squeezed it reassuringly as she grinned. "A path I've always known you were born for."
The woman's painted lips broke into a toothy little smile, a sly sort of grin that renewed hope in Haruka's heart. "Well I have always wanted to show you soldiers of the Moon Kingdom how a true warrior kicks some ass."
"That's the Dezy I remember."
"One condition though." She interjected firmly, her lips setting into a frown as she pulled her head back to point at Haruka once again. "Stop calling me Dezy."
Haruka laughed. "Done."
"...police remain baffled over the unexplained disappearance of twenty-three year old university student Kenzo Takahata. Mr. Takhata—a part-time chef at a local diner—reportedly went missing sometime during his scheduled work break, and was later reported missing by his mother when he did not return home. The police have no leads..."
The news reporter's commanding tone was lost upon Minako's ears, though the remote lay clutched in her hand. Seated upon Ami's modest, yet insanely comfortable couch, it was not the TV in front of her that had her attention. Rather it was the image of Makoto—her waist and legs hidden behind the modern counter that divided the kitchen from the rest of the studio apartment—buzzing about the tiny kitchen like she owned the place—that held Minako's attention. She could smell the sweet pastries Makoto had insisted on baking for everyone while they waited on Haruka to arrive. The were making her mouth water.
"Makoooooo-chaaaaaaaaaan!" Minako winced as Usagi's high-pitched whine broke her out of her hungered trance. "When will they be doooooooone?"
The young woman had draped herself eagerly over the counter to stare hungrily at the stove. Rei scowled at the image of Usagi's rear end poking into the air as her feet flailed. She was apparently still in a sour mood. Though that was nothing new. Ami just giggled from her place knelt beside her finely carved coffee table in front of the couch Rei and Minako occupied, oddly close to one another.
"Soon Usagi-chan, very soon!" Makoto chimed brightly, being extremely patient with her extremely inpatient friend.
"I don't see how she can eat now; she was throwing up again just this morning. She'll never change." Rei scoffed and turned her head back to the TV, a strange look upon her face. "She'll always be a child, an incompetent idiot we'll always have to protect." She ranted on but, the usual displeasure was missing from her expression. Instead Rei looked distraught and, Minkao could tell the young woman's mind was still plagued.
"That's true." Ami chimed in an understanding tone; she'd also picked up on her companion's troubling demeanor. "But that's what we were born to do is it not?"
Rei looked at her, her shapely lips puckered in thought as she gave a slow nod. Whether it was Ami's words or the gentle touch Minako offered her shoulder that comforted the raven haired beauty, she couldn't say.
"So where is Haruka-san anyway?" Rei questioned in a more relaxed tone, promptly changing the subject.
"I'm not sure." Ami shrugged and went back to jotting down notes into the notebook that lay on the table. She was studying as usual. "All she would say was that she had to be somewhere, but would be here as soon as possible. Apparently she has something up her sleeve, at least that's what I gathered from her secretive behavior."
"You think she knows something about the enemy?" Minako pondered out loud and Ami shrugged again, adjusting her glasses but never raising her eyes from her notes.
"I'm not sure but, I doubt that was it."
The ding of the timer Makoto had set for her pastries was drowned out slightly by a knock at the front door. Ever the polite hostess, it was Ami who set aside her studies and rose to greet the guest, opening her door to reveal a pleasant looking Haruka.
"There you are." The young woman smiled. "We were just talking about you." Her intelligent blue eyes shifted over Haruka's shoulder to catch the smiling face of a pretty redhead with striking gold eyes. She stepped aside to let the two in, closing the door behind them. "Hello, I'm Mizuno Ami."
Ami offered her hand politely to Haruka's companion. "Nice to meet you." She gave a polite little nod but before she could offer an introduction, the others had come to the door.
"Haruka-san, who is this?" Rei asked rather rudely, but the woman seemed unfazed, offering up a small smirk.
"Yeah, you know this is a meeting..." Minako looked at the stranger with a bit of concern as she leaned in and lowered her voice. "to discuss official Sailor business." She had whispered it, but perfectly loud enough for everyone to hear and, it made the redhead laugh.
"No worries Mina, she's an ally." Haruka explained passively as Minako wrinkled her nose in disbelief, shooting a look to Rei who puckered her lips just as skeptically. Ami just stared on with obvious interest. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet-"
"Mako-chaaaaan, let me have one!" Haruka's introduction was cut off by the stabbing sound of Usagi's whines. All eyes turned to watch as the young woman hung over her friend's shoulder, watching hungrily as Makoto pulled her pastries from the oven.
"Usagi-chan, you have to wait until they cool down!" Makoto laughed and turned her head round imploringly, as if to silently beg the others for help.
But Makoto's expression of distress fell into that of utter shock. Her green eyes practically bulged from her head and, much to Usagi's dismay, her mit-covered wrists lagged and tilted the hot oven sheet forward to send the tasty treats she had just baked sliding the the kitchen floor. Usagi wailed in mourning, crouching down to try and save her poor snack, only to squeal repeatedly as the flaky treats burned her fingertips.
Haruka marched forward, entering the kitchen area just as Makoto exited after discarding her pan carelessly to the stove top. The tall brunette stopped right in front of the redhead, towering over the petite young woman who stood a head shorter and stared up at Makoto with a soft, strange sort of smile. It was almost as if they knew one another and, that confused the rest of the girls greatly.
"Usagi, leave them alone, you're burning your hands." Haruka was heard speaking to her princess in a bewildered, yet comforting tone as the young girl cried.
"But-But Haruka-saaaan!" She whimpered pathetically and hiccuped through tiny sobs. "They're so goooood! I-it-it isn't faaaaair!"
Rei gritted her teeth and Minako pouted, she too was quite sad over the loss of their afternoon snack. Ami just smiled and gave an awkward sort of laugh, moving toward Makoto to touch her comrades shoulder. The girl was frozen in place in front of the stranger who had entered with Haruka. Her lips hung apart, as if trying to find words but unable to find the strength to form her mouth around them.
"Mako-chan." Ami asked quietly, a bit concerned about her friend's well being, and rightfully so. "Are you all right?"
The redhead tilted her head and a strangled sort of squeal ripped forth from Makoto's throat. "Despo!" She shouted, causing Ami to jump back, startled. She lifted a finger and pointed at the smirking copper-top. "You're Despo!"
"Who the hell is Despo?" Rei demanded and looked toward Minako who shrugged.
"She is!" Makoto shouted as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. She was practically sobbing as she drew her hand back, and clamped it over her mouth to smother the scream rising in her throat.
"That American singer you like?" Ami questioned as she looked toward the stranger, who nodded silently to confirm the inquiry.
"My name is Despo DiVahl." The woman said with a smile and, Makoto—who by then was crying tears of joy—nodded her head rapidly, her hand still over her mouth.
"She's the new Sailor Neptune." All eyes (except Makoto's) turned to Haruka, finding the older woman had stood, her arm consolingly around a whimpering Usagi as they left the kitchen area.
"Excuse me?" Rei demanded at Haruka as Minako and Ami turned their attention toward Despo. "What are you talking about Haruka?"
"You can't just recruit members." Minako continued. "It doesn't work like that. They have to be chosen. Not by us but by, like... the Universe or something."
Ami nodded. "It's true."
"Trust me the Universe will choose her." Haruka stated surely. Usagi too now looked upon the groups' new "comrade", but her mind was still back in the kitchen with the tasty turnovers that lay carelessly on the floor. She returned the woman's smile though instinctively.
"What makes you so sure?" Rei challenged, clearly unconvinced.
Haruka looked toward the other girl, her expression quite plain. "Because, she is Michiru's sister."
Rei blanched, Minako gasped and Ami responded with an appropriate "Oh my!", each girl once again returning their gaze to the dark-skinned redhead. The woman seemed quite undeterred by all the attention. Usagi's sniveling ceased and, the young girl grew unusually quiet as she stared at the woman. Michiru's sister...
"Half sister actually." She stressed with a little smirk. A short moment of disbelieving silence followed.
"Wonderful!" It was Makoto who spoke—actually shouted—first, her excitement more then evident. She didn't even seem to hear the part about how the woman was related to Michuru. She advanced forward to take the hands of the much shorter female, gratefully into her grasp, beaming brightly. "Welcome to the team Despo! I adore your music. Family ties aside, you're an inspiration!"
Despo responded with a gentle amused smile, the heat that radiated from her molten yellow eyes prompted a feverish tint in the tall brunette's cheeks.
"Thank you." She squeezed Makoto's hands appreciatively and did not immediately relinquish her hold. But Makoto didn't seem to notice or mind, she seemed entranced by her idol and the singer seemed to enjoy every moment of it.
"Wait, wait, wait." Rei waved her hands through the air in protest. "This doesn't make any sense. Even if she is Michiru's sister-"
"Half sister." Despo corrected, finally releasing her hold upon a disappointed Makoto.
"Whatever." Rei wrinkled her nose disdainfully at being interrupted. "That doesn't mean she can be a soldier."
"Yes, only the holy elite can be soldiers of the Moon Kingdom." Despo mocked, earning a haughty glare from Rei.
Ami cut in as the ever-present voice of reason. "Perhaps we should consult Luna and Artemis?"
"No need." Haruka sighed, growing a bit agitated. "Setsuna left Michiru's morphing pen in my possession before returning to her realm to watch over these new occurrences. It has chosen Despo." She nodded her head toward the woman. "Show them."
Reaching into the back pocket of her jeans, Despo pulled forth Michiru's old transformation pen. She held it up in her palm for all the girls to see and instantly the trinket responded. A strange blue glow emanated from the object, matching the light that shone through the strands of the woman's bangs. Neptune's symbol glowed in the middle of her forehead.
"Satisfied?" She questioned, closing her fingers over the pen to still it's warm light. The symbol on her forehead evaporated as she returned the pen to her back pocket.
"I'm convinced." Minako shrugged and offered her hand to the woman who promptly took it in a firm shake. "Welcome to the team. I'm Minako—Soldier of love and beauty—Sailor Venus." Minako smiled vibrantly.
Ami smiled as well. "Yes welcome. I'm Sailor Mercury."
"Another ally can't hurt." Rei offered, stubbornly crossing her arms around her chest. She did not seem pleased. "I'm Rei, Sailor Mars."
"You're related to Michiru?" Usagi questioned, a vacant sort of expression overtaking her face.
Despo regarded the young blonde who's eyes had drifted to the ground, her gaze shifting to Haruka as she stroked her hand along Usagi's shoulder. The newly discovered ally stepped toward Usagi, giving a slow nod.
"Yes I am." She stated quietly, tilting her head just slightly to catch Usagi's eyes. She looked up to find Despo had held up her hand, exposing her palm in offering. "Nothing I could say can rectify what she has done to you." She spoke gently and an air of sorrow surrounded the two girls, separating them briefly from the group. "All I can do is pledge every bit of my loyalty to you, Princess Serenity." She spoke so formally and with such eloquence that a strange sort of nostalgia settled over Usagi and even the other girls who were mere spectators. In that moment they all knew—despite ties and inexperience—Despo belonged with them.
A sad yet thankful sort of smile touched Usagi's lips, crinkling her eyes against the tears that had begun to form there. "Thank you." She sniffled and lifted her hand to place it within the redhead's grasp.
For a moment Despo's eyes widened, and she squeezed Usagi's hand so tightly that the young girl gasped and jerked to pull it free. The group watched with obvious confusion as Haruka took Usagi's assaulted hand instantly, looking from it to Despo quizzically.
"Despo, are you alright?" Haruka asked and the other woman's wide eyes blinked stiffly.
"Y-yes, sorry." She forced a little laugh and touched a hand to her stomach. "Something just isn't sitting right in my tummy." Usagi stared with pouty confusion. "Haruka, can you show me where the bathroom is?" She looked at her friend, a very strange, almost frantic expression upon her face.
"Oh, it's that door right down the hallway." Ami cut in, gesturing toward the hallway off of the living room.
"Right!" Despo looked to Ami with that same forced smile. "Haruka?" She looked back toward the woman and, without waiting for a response Despo walked forward. She hooked an arm inside her friends and dragged her forcefully away from the group.
Usagi's pout deepened as she staggered with the momentum of having her guardian pulled so suddenly away from her. She turned, as did the others, to watch as Despo dragged a protesting Haruka right into Ami's bathroom and closed the door securely behind them.
Usagi whined and stretched her fingers. "She hurt my hand."
"She's very strange." Ami commented softly and Minako nodded in agreement.
"She's a freak." Rei stated more loudly.
"She's an artist." Makoto defended with an admiring little smile. "Artists are always pretty eccentric." Minako rolled her eyes and Ami pursed her lips.
Rei sighed. "You're such a fan girl Mako-chan."
But before Makoto could jump to her own defense, the bathroom door opened and Haruka came stalking out with Despo close behind. The redhead had regained her composure and smiled very sweetly at the group. But Haruka had seemed to absorb the woman's panic and, like Despo had, was gawking at Usagi as if she had morphed into some odd creature.
"What?" Usagi squeaked, a look of confusion and fright twisting her features. She looked to the other girls in question, but none of them seemed to see anything wrong with her and, looked equally as baffled.
"I'll be right back." With that, Haruka brushed past the girls with uncharacteristic haste and gusted out the front door in a hurry.
There eyes followed the woman's quick retreat and once she was gone, each girl's eyes turned to Despo as if expecting an explanation. But it was like the woman was completely unaware of the commotion she had just started. She appeared quite unaffected and shifted her eyes innocently toward the kitchen area.
"Something smells delicious in there." She commented cheerfully. "May I?" She requested and with Ami's nod headed for the kitchen. Makoto followed close behind.
"She really is a weirdo." Minako whispered (still not quite secretively) over Rei's shoulder.
"And she's rubbing off on Haruka." Rei confirmed much more quietly.
Usagi whimpered. "My hand still kind of hurts." As she headed into the kitchen after Makoto and Despo.
"I had baked some cherry turnovers. But in my excitement, it seems I dropped them all on the floor." Makoto explained with a hefty bit of embarrassment.
"That's fine." Despo shrugged and leaned over to retrieve two of the cooled pastries from the floor. "A little dirt never killed anyone, and I trust Ami's floors are clean enough." She looked toward Ami who stood on the other side of the counter baring an awkward sort of smile as she nodded at Despo. "What do you say Usagi? I bet it'll make your hand feel better."
With the offering of the sweet treat Usagi cheered up instantly as she accepted it. It seemed her new soldier had already found Usagi's greatest weakness; sweets. It was pleasantly warm to the touch and, it's sweet smell made her mouth water. But before Usagi could take a savory, bite the front door flew open. She turned around, mouth agape in wait of the delicious pastry she held toward it to find that Haruka stood in the doorway, clutching a small brown bag.
"That was fast." Minako commented from her new position beside the couch with Rei. But Haruka paid the girl no mind.
Instead she marched straight over to Usagi, grabbed the younger girl by the wrist and pulled her unceremoniously out of the kitchen and across the living room.
"Haruka-saaan!" Usagi whined, her arm outstretched toward the cherry turnover that had once again been dropped to the floor. "What are you dooo-iiii-ng?" Her complaint stretched out until she and Haruka were in the bathroom, the shut door drowning out there voices.
Once again, all eyes were on the bathroom, staring in utter confusion over what had happened.
"What the hell is going on?" Rei demanded, looking at Minako who only shrugged and looked toward Ami. Ami in turn looked at Makoto who was too busy staring dewy-eyed at Despo, as the rock idol chomped away at her pastry, to notice that anything was even amiss.
"We were supposed to be having a meeting, but now we're just participating in this bizarre little show." Minako frowned as she moved around the couch to plop down.
"I wonder what they're doing in there." Rei pondered out loud as she leaned herself into the couches arm closest to Minako. "Your bathroom's a hot-spot today Ami."
"Well I rather enjoy it after a long day." Ami giggled. "My bathtub has jet streams, they're very relaxing.
"You don't think they're taking a bath together do you?" Minako bore a scandalized sort of grin that made Ami blush feverishly.
"Yeah, maybe they're healing their broken hearts in the soothing waters of your jet streams Ami-chan." Rei joined in on the fun, practically turning Ami's face purple.
"I-I... certainly h-hope not." She stammered, drumming her fingers nervously against her lips. Rei and Minako laughed.
"Do you like them Despo-san?" Makoto's earnest voice was heard from the kitchen. The redhead nodded with a mouthful of cherry filling.
It was just a few minutes later when the bathroom door jerked open and Haruka came out. The expression she wore was familiar to the girls; stoic, yet her complexion had grown a bit ashen. As if she had spent the time in the bathroom getting sick. She walked into the living room, giving a hard sort of stare toward Despo, who looked on with firm understanding.
Ami walked toward the tall blonde soldier. "Haruka, is everything-" But she paused and the other girls stared around her to watch as Usagi came out of the bathroom and walked out into the living room to stand beside Haruka.
Usagi's face had taken on a pink glow and her expression was that of utter disbelief. The others took no notice, but Ami's eyes were instantly drawn to the thin piece of plastic Usagi clenched in her fist.
Ami gaped. "Usagi-chan! Is... Is that..." She trailed off as Usagi's teary blue gaze rose to meet Ami's bewildered face.
"What is it?" Makoto called from the kitchen but Usagi's eyes did not look her way. They'd grown distant as the tears, which prompted Minako and Rei to rise, slipped down her cheeks.
Her whisper was just barely audible, but plainly heard in the awaiting quiet of the room. "I'm pregnant."
An explosion of shock and emotion filled the room as Usagi sank against Haruka's side, heaving sobs of the purest joy and greatest relief into her soldier's chest. The older woman held Usagi in a secure embrace, shutting her eyes against the tears that threatened to fall as she lay her cheek against the top of her princess' head.
If I could flow like the wind I would reach you.
If I could shine like a moon I would keep shining on you.
I'll be anything if it can stop you from being seized with fear.
-Moments by Ayumi Hamasaki
Bet you didn't see that one coming eh? You know you love these cliffhangers.
Greeting my faithful readers, I apologize for the extended lateness of this chapter but, I've been dealing with a hefty amount of bullsh*t these past few months. Between family drama, relationship distractions and financial troubles I've been quite stressed out. But I'm back to writing and, hopefully I can manage to regain my previous pace so as not to keep everyone waiting.
I hope you enjoyed all the twists and turns so far. There are still plenty more shocks to come so, hopefully you guys will bear with me. I know this probably wasn't the route you all expected the story to take, but hopefully you're intrigued enough to keep reading. So until next chapter I wish you all (and myself) a stress-free month ahead!
Review please C: