CHAPTER 2 Observing
Her heart raced and her muscles screamed. Thoughts of stopping briefly crossed her mind before she quickly pushed them away. She HAD to keep running, if she didn't the consequences might cost her normality. So Chiba Kirimu continued her sprint, fearing a trip or, worse yet, her legs giving out. A weary hand reached out for the door, but it was too late.
"Chiba-san, it's not like you to be late," the teacher peeked up from her roster. A split second later, Tsukino Usagi hit the door behind her. "And there's Tsukino-san… I'm sorry Chiba-san, but you'll have to stand in the hall with Usagi."
Kirimu sighed but conceded. "At the very least it will give me time to rest," the girl thought, feeling pretty worn from the previous night. "What will Oniichan think?" She shivered thinking about the brow beating her brother, Chiba Mamoru, would give her when he heard she was late. He might even go so far as to ask why she was so tired, since, as far as he knew, Kirimu had gone to bed at eight o'clock.
She walked out into the hall with this thought, when Usagi spoke. Kirimu didn't really listen since the girl wasn't actually speaking to her, simply complaining to no one about how mistreated she was. Instead, Kirimu observed her, wondering how such a simplistic girl could possibly be the Sailor Moon she remembered. It was true, a new life brought about changes in people, but still… This foolish child crying over being sent into the hallway completely shattered Kirimu's previous vision of the moon warrior.
"It's sad, though, that they only remember bits and pieces of the past. I would love to actually be able to talk to one of—" she cut that thought off. Even if they did remember, she could never speak to them about it.
"Chiba-san, why are you out here?" Usagi asked, seeming to notice the other girl for the first time.
Kirimu turned her head slightly toward Tsukino, slowly, still somewhat lost in her own thoughts and weary of speaking to this cheap reflection of an old ally. "I over slept," a simple statement, but one deserving of her classroom persona, the quiet girl who didn't like anyone. This negative attitude didn't apparently faze Usagi, for she appeared to be waiting for more of an answer. None would come; Kirimu just turned to stare at the ceiling, hoping she would leave her alone.
"Your name is Chiba. Are you related to Mamoru? Can you tell me anything he might like? Food, movies, you know, that kind of stuff?" She asked excitedly, not paying attention to the irritation that clearly painted Kirimu's face.
"He's my brother, and, no, I can't tell anything he might like," she snapped back at the now tearful Usagi. They sat in silence for several minutes, but the face of a much older, more mature Sailor Moon persisted to press her thoughts. A Sailor Moon she'd have more than happily told every dark secret to, more for respect then anything. "This is not her anymore…" Kirimu repeated to herself, but the image simply would not leave and she sighed. "Calamari."
"What?"
"He likes the calamari from the shop across from the arcade." Usagi beamed at her. Kirimu just turned and faced the other way.