Author's Note: Because of a certain reviewer I feel the need to make this clear, I was joking about not posting more unless I got one review. I am extremely happy that people have reviewed, especially with how short chapter one was, but I would have posted this chapter either way. In fact this chapter wasn't yet written when I posted the last one.
Thank you for the reviews, and thank you for taking time to read this.
Disclaimer: I think I forgot this in chapter one, but I do not own any of the Sailor Moon characters, and this in no way reflects the views of the US military (you'll see why). I also don't own Workman High, but it does exist.
Chapter 2: Life in the USA
Ten years had passed since that day in Tokyo international, the little girl hardly remembering most of those events. Growing up in her mother's home state of California was in most ways fast paced. No one here tended to wait on things, and few seemed to plan ahead until they were in their thirties. Cars were flashy, fast, or old and in need of repair. Schools were either had no spirit or forced school spirit.
William Workman High School in Industry was no exception. The school was spread out across multiple levels, with staircases and ramps place through out. The cafeteria was an open-air place with no indoor seating, and soda and snack machines dotted the campus. The walls were red brick, doors painted red as well and over hangs painted tan.
On the top level stood the schools central office, this was the place where all the major paperwork was done. The place that sent out report cards, detention slips, special notices and all the other things parents tended to worry about. As the late May sun beat down on the wide open campus one figure stood quietly leaning against a large bolder placed in the middle of the upper quad. The bolder was painted silver today; messages like "Class of 2002 rules!" were scrawled in different colors across its surface.
The figure was tall, wearing hiking boots, black slacks, and a black collared shirt with a white t-shirt underneath with reflective sunglasses that glinted in the sun. Extremely short blonde hair was spiked at the moment as several girls' gazes were drawn to the lone figure. Another figure came running from the near by ampi-theater, short black hair messed as he finally stopped before the rock.
"Haruka! Man, you missed the whole thing, POWER 106 was down there giving stuff away!" He stopped to look around with his brown eyes, taking notice of those few who were on the upper level. "I still don't get how you can spend four years in this school and there are still people that think you're a guy."
"Does it matter?" Haruka replied as she straightened up and picked up her backpack. She glanced around, though no one could tell through the glasses, before turning toward her last class of the day. "I think the bell is going to ring soon, you going to be late again Brian?"
"What do you mean the bell is going to ring?" But before he could get an answer the bell sounded across the campus and Brian swore. He started back toward the ampi-theater in a blur of forest camouflage and jumped the railing. Haruka smiled a bit, walking away as a guard yelled at her friend.
Class was nothing special, as Brian and Haruka were both seniors and this was their last week of school. Everyone in class was talking and exchanging numbers or other information for half the period before the teacher stopped them. He got the all quieted by threatening to keep them behind until the guest speaker finished.
"Thank you Mr. Ericsson." Said a man in a military uniform as he and a young woman in a similar uniform entered the room. "I'm Staff Sergeant Carson and this is Private Second Class Day."
"Your teacher has been nice enough to let us have a little time to tell you about life in the Army." Sergeant Carson began. His speech was short considering, it only lasted about fifteen minutes. After that he opened the floor to questions. On a normal year he'd most likely have gotten few questions, and Private Day would have likely heard none, but this was the year that September 11th took place. Most of the class had questions, even if they weren't too serious about it and all took a card from the recruiter and his assistant.
"Do all Sergeants have a Private following them around?" Somebody called out.
"No, I am just here doing hometown recruiting. I actually graduated from this high school last year." Day answered with what seemed to be a proud smile.
"So we get to come home after we train?" Somebody else voiced.
"Well, if you go into the reserves you actually live and serve in your home state, you only serve two days a month in fact." That caused some people to start murmuring. "If you go into the regular Army like myself and Sergeant Carson though after your training is finished you get a ten day leave. You can increase that by applying for home town recruiting."
"What about where we get sent, don't they just send us to Iraq or something?"
"Not exactly." Day looked around and grinned at all the interested looks on the students' faces. "You can request a specific station when you sign your contract, if you get that on your contract that where you'll be sent. Places like Germany, Italy, Japan or places closer to home like Organ, Hawaii and Nevada."
"You said Japan? So we could get a job as say a driver or something in Japan?" Haruka said, voicing a question for the first time.
"You could get any job depending on your test scores." Carson cut in, giving Day a break. He smiled at the class in front of him. "For instance, do we have any instrument players in here?"
"I play piano." Haruka spoke again. Carson's eyes seemed to light up somehow.
"Can you sight read, memorize and play at a professional level?" He asked as a few heads turned to look at her.
"Yes, sir."
"Will then, if you have any interest in the service give me a call. We hold try outs for Army Band about four times a year and I can arrange to get you an addition. You could play piano in Japan or any other country you like if you pass."
At the end of class Haruka walked next to an excited Brian toward the parking lot. He was excited about joining, he always wanted to and that was the main reason he wore camouflage clothes everywhere he went. Haruka was now considering it too, and her friend was all too happy to help persuade her. As she drove him home in her mustang he continued on and on about the pay, pride and perks of the military in general.
"I'll think about." Haruka promised as he shut the door and grinned at her. "But no promises."
"Right, have fun at piano lessons Haruka." Brian waved from the sidewalk as she drove away.
Haruka hadn't honestly thought about actually being able to return to Japan before. She hardly remembered it, hardly remembered Tokyo and the few friends she'd had before moving here with her mother. She had received no word from her father; she knew his face only because of the photos her mother had shown her over the years. She had thought about returning, even considered saving to do so after she graduated, but it didn't seem like she ever really would.
Today, as she sat before the piano in the college music hall, as she played a piece her dead mother once taught her, she thought it over again. Maybe she could return, maybe she could even find her father, if she wanted to. And while seeing the country of her birth she could still serve the country she was raised in. In fact Haruka was having a hard time seeing the downsides right now.
Late that I night she returned to her grandparents home in the hills of La Puente. The house was clean and warm but not home to Haruka, she'd only moved in about one year ago. When her mother passed away her grandparents were the only ones left, so everything just automatically shifted to their house. She hung her jacket up by the door and walked quietly up the stairs to the guest room she stayed in, falling onto the bed with a sigh.
'I'll think about it, and I think I will give it a try.' Haruka thought to herself before she got up to eat and get ready for bed.
Saturday morning Haruka got out of bed early, in fact it was still well before dawn. She dressed quickly and grabbed a few pieces of toast before she got her car keys and coat. She quietly locked the door behind her as she walked over to her yellow mustang and unlocked the door. Luckily Haruka's habit morning jogs had long since made her a morning person, so she was fine about this early hour. The drive to the Army recruitment office was short, and she hummed as she got out her car and walked to the door.
"Good morning." She heard behind her and almost jumped. The station was still dark at this hour and as she turned she spotted Private Day standing in the parking lot wearing sweats. "Didn't mean to startle you, Ten'ou."
"I'm fine, Private." Haruka grinned as she followed the now retreating young woman toward a silver car. Her hair was tied back in a short ponytail and doubled over but Haruka still remembered the girl from before she enlisted. "By the way, when did you grow your hair out?"
"BASIC, women don't get hair cuts." Day looked over her shoulder, pressing a button on her key chain that unlocked the car doors. She waved to the car before getting in herself. After Haruka was buckled in Day turned and handed her a paper to sign. "You're eighteen right?"
"Yes, turned eighteen in January." Haruka replied as she signed the paper and waited quietly for the car to start. When Private Day started the car and pulled out of the parking lot she leaned back in the seat and watched the street lights pass.
Today was nothing serious, just an aptitude test she had to take. They said they'd have to take her out to Los Angeles in order to take the test and that she'd be there for about half the day, also mentioned that another kid was going out there today. They drove down a number of dark streets before the arrived at a small house. Day parked the car and got out silently as she walked up to the door. A short time later she returned with a young man following her.
"Hey." He said happily as he got in back. His green eyes seemed to dance even at this early hour and he almost seemed to bounce in the back seat as the car started to move. "My names Taylor, what's yours?"
"Haruka." She replied, looking over the backrest at the boy. He had a huge grin even as he tried and failed to say her name. Finally she broke it into syllables out of pity. "Ha-ru-ka."
"Ha-ru-ka." He parroted like a kid watching Sesame Street. "Haruka. Hey I think I finally got it!"
"I had a friend who'd ask if you want a cookie, Taylor, but I'll just ask if you two ate." Day commented as they got to the freeway on ramp.
"Yes ma'am!" Taylor shouted, obviously too into this whole event for his own good. Haruka only nodded and Day turned onto the freeway.
The radio was flipped on and at first a traffic report came over the speakers, then Day popped in a CD and a blare of brass instruments was heard. Haruka raised an eyebrow as she recognized the Star Wars theme, but didn't say a word. It took about an hour by freeway, most of which time Taylor babbled on about wanting to be an Army Ranger. Finally they pulled up next to a building and Day led them in. A security guard searched the two recruits before they went to sign in.
The two were informed to go the second level, where the test would take place, and enter a certain room. After that they were to wait until they were told to do something else.
"When you're done call this number, I'm not allowed to wait here." Day said as she handed a card with a cell phone number to each. "Have fun." She called ominously as she walked away.
Haruka soon found herself sitting quietly in a room while Taylor fidgeted in another chair, it seemed he didn't like being silent. They sat there, filling out some papers until a young man in Marine sweats walked in. He took their papers than led them to computers in a large room. Taylor was seated near the door and Haruka was led off to the far side of the room. The screen flashed with brief instructions as the test started.
"Nice." Day, now in a combat uniform, murmured as she led her two charges back to the car around noon. She arrived well after the called holding sheets Haruka assumed were their result papers. "You two want lunch?"
"Sure." Taylor spoke, his energy seeming to have abandoned him. So they soon found themselves in a burger place near the tall building. Day went over the results with someone one the phone while they ate. Haruka gave up wondering which sergeant the young woman was talking to and just ate her food.
"Okay." Day hung up the cell phone and looked at the two teens before her. She was only about a year older than Haruka so she regarded them like she would her old classmates. "Taylor, you qualify for Airborne if that's what you want, your recruiter will tell you more. And Haruka, Sergeant Carson said he wants to talk to you Monday. You scored pretty high, almost out did me but I think it's a tie, which means you can get practically any job you want."
"Okay, when does he want to meet?" Haruka asked as she finished her soda.
"He said he'd call you later today to finalize that part." She stood and grinned again. "Alright, if you two are ready lets head back to LP."
The drive wasn't too bad, and Haruka got back into her mustang and drove off to her grandparents' home. They were out so she just went upstairs to the room in which her piano sat and began to play. Her fingers moved lightly over the keys and she played again the first sing her mother ever taught her. It seemed that these days she could hear that music echoing in her mind as she went through her everyday life. Even the short call from Sergeant Carson did little to distract her. Haruka sat before the grand piano for hours, playing different tunes but always coming back again to this one simple tune.
'I think its time I went back to see those places again, mom.' She thought as her grandmother called her to dinner.