Chapter Four
Gripping onto Mamoru's hand tightly Usagi enters the room where Ami, Rae, Makoto, Minako, Luna and Artemis are sitting, anxiously awaiting news of her.
"Hey guys," Usagi says sheepishly.
Six versions of "are you okay?" come all at once, almost bowling Usagi over with the force of it.
"I'm fine," she replies and tries to smile.
"Then what's wrong?" Minako asks looking confused.
Usagi sits down, pulling Mamoru down with her. He just smiles at her, being supportive and letting her go at her own pace. She smiles back.
"Um, I have something to tell you guys," Usagi pauses as she thinks about how to say it. "I can remember the final day of the Moon Kingdom. And the reason I can remember is because I relive it every December the first."
"That was yesterday!" the girls exclaim together.
Usagi nods.
"What do you mean by 'relive it' Usagi?" Luna questions.
Mamoru gently squeezes her hand. She squeezes back.
"The basic events that happened on that day replay on the anniversary of it."
"You're avoiding saying something Usagi," Ami comments.
Usagi's eyes water, but she keeps the tears at bay. "That's because I don't want to say it."
"Could Mamoru tell us?" Makoto asks.
Usagi and Mamoru shake their heads in unison.
"It's mine to tell," Usagi clarifies.
"Is there any way for us to find out without you saying it?" Rae asks, concern for her friend's pain clearly evident.
Suddenly a thought hits Usagi so hard she has to hit herself round the head while she exclaims, "Pluto!"
They all look at her quizzically.
"Earlier I asked for help and a female voice that sounded familiar told me to listen to other people's advice. I've just realised it was Pluto! And I bet she could show you what happened yesterday, what really happened, not what you remember," Usagi says, proud of herself for coming up with the idea.
"That I can," says a voice behind them.
They all turn to see Pluto in her Senshi uniform, time key in hand. Pluto concentrates and a golden glow forms in her hand. "I will warn you now that the day you will see was Usagi's and you will just see what role you played in it, though I will make it so that you see the nightmares she has." The glow leaves her hands and forms a life size screen in front of their semi-circle, in a place where all of them can see.
From the start of Usagi's nightmare Mamoru pulls her into his lap and holds her tightly, wrapping her in his warmth. As the day on the screen progresses Mamoru pulls her closer to him, hoping it will help relieve the pain he knows seeing the images will cause Usagi.
As it gets to the part that the girls have in the day the tears that were forming before are falling continuously from their eyes, openly showing the pain they feel at saying such things to their best friend and the pain they know they caused her. A small smile forms on all their faces when they see how much Mamoru was able to comfort her and take away her pain.
When the images end Usagi is finally able to meet the eyes of her best friends. The tears she sees on their faces causes the tears she was keeping at bay to be released.
"I'm sorry Usagi," they all choke out together.
"It's okay," Usagi reassures. "I'm used to it."
"Do you mean to tell me," Luna starts sounding upset. "That this happens to you every year and no one remembers except you?"
"Yes."
"Pluto why does Usagi have to go through this alone every year?" Artemis asks, just as concerned as the others.
"She doesn't anymore."
"But it's not over yet," Usagi states, looking at Pluto. "I can feel that."
"You are right Princess. It will remain this way until you figure out how to break it."
"Why Usagi? Why make her go through this pain every year?" Luna questions demandingly.
"Because it is her pain to bear, her day to relive, her problem to solve. Which I know you have already figured out Princess."
Usagi nods. "I figured that out a few years ago."
Pluto smiles, proud of the girl - no woman - she sees before her. Usagi had come a long way in her opinion from the crying fourteen year old she had started out as, and though it had taken her a few years to work up to telling her friends about the situation, Pluto knew Usagi was mature enough to solve the problem that she couldn't solve in her early teens when she finally had all the pieces.
Before leaving Pluto says one final thing to Usagi, "I know you can do this Princess."
- - -