Hello again! I have decided that four parts will be great for this, because I wanted to add Ikuko. After all, Usagi is her daughter and she would most likely see some sort of change in her daughter. I guess this is a little AU-ish, I mean I'm not really going with the timeline in the anime (like, Chibi-Usa's going away party or that (in my opinion) awful outers vs. usagi scene)

The rating may change, just a heads up.

Warning(s): This chapter deals with depression, nightmares, etc. Please don't read if you may find this triggering. I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable.

".. They call you their Messiah?"

The voice was so deep she could feel it in her soul. She found herself, once again, at the hands of some brutal questioning that she could only describe as torture.

"I'm not." She responded.

"You're not what?"

"Anything." She replied. "I'm not anything."

Something grabbed a hold of her again, and she could barely stifle a scream as she was assaulted by an excruciating heat. She screamed out as she felt the flesh on her back burning, and a hand squeezing onto her shoulder- branding a permanent mark into her skin.

"They call you their future Queen?"

"No!" She screamed, her voice breaking into a sob. "I'm not anything. I told you this before!"

"Who have you saved?" The voice laughed. "Tsukino Usagi. Everyone you've ever loved has died in your name. Their blood is fresh on your hands, and you are a sinner."

"Please stop it." She sobbed.

"You are nothing."

"I am nothing."

"You can save no one."

"I can save no one."

The voice laughed. "Don't you see Tsukino Usagi? They call you the one who cannot be corrupted. But look at you, following my every word." It paused, and it's words hit her so hard she was sure she may die of a heart attack. ".. You're just like me."

"NO I'M NOT!" She screamed.

"You're a killer."

"STOP IT!"

Despite her pleas, the voice didn't give in. It kept taunting her with every bad thought she had ever thought of herself, until she was on her knees screaming for some sort of mercy.

But it never came.

Ikuko

Ikuko made her way up the stairs, rubbing her eyes and stifling a yawn. She had known as soon as she attempted to fall asleep that it was going to one of those nights. A night where her brain ran in circles, and her legs were too restless. After she turned for the tenth time, she figured it was time to go downstairs and drink a nice cup of warm tea.

Maybe Usagi was rubbing off on her. The girl didn't seem to sleep much at all lately. This had surprised Ikuko, but then again Ikuko found herself surprised at her daughter a lot these days. She tried to reach back in her mind to find out when exactly Usagi had changed. When her eyes had become dark and her laughter became rare.

Maybe that's why she couldn't sleep. She had been trying to figure out when exactly Usagi had left and some stranger had taken her place. Ikuko wasn't dumb, she knew that there had been a change in her daughter a long time ago. She would come home at strange hours, weird bruises, distant stares.. Around the same time Luna had come into their lives too.

But it was silly to blame something like her daughter becoming different on a cat, right? Maybe she should be more like Kenji and blame it on Mamoru. After all, Ikuko had seen red when he had broken her daughter's heart just a year prior..

But Ikuko knew better. Mamoru was a good man. He loved her daughter, and Usagi loved him with all of her heart. Maybe too much. Maybe that was the problem, maybe Usagi loved Mamoru too much.

The first time Usagi had came home early one morning, and Ikuko had found one of his shirts in her daughter's night bag.. She wanted to go and kill Mamoru. But then again, she had been young once. She would just have to trust that Usagi would be okay.

Maybe that wasn't world-class parenting, but parenting didn't come with a how-to book.

Dealing with a fifteen-year-old who was a hundred things a once, and who seemed to be becoming even more reserved and broken as the weeks went on- wasn't easy.

Ikuko was just about to enter her bedroom, and hopefully the sweet embrace of sleep- when she was stopped dead in her tracks. Her hand stopped just above the doorknob when she heard the wails of her daughter coming from down the hall. She pressed her head against the wood of her door and sighed.

Ikuko turned on her heel and hurried down the hall. She stopped just in front of her daughter's door decorated by a colorful sign with the word 'Usagi' scribed on it in beautiful lettering.

Ikuko went to hurry in her daughter's room, but the door was locked.

Not again...

She clenched her jaw so tight it hurt. This had been a re-occurring theme with her daughter this past week and Ikuko was getting more than tired of it. She clenched her fist and pounded on the door, trying to stop her daughter's cries. It was hard to wake someone from a nightmare when you couldn't get to them.

"Usagi!" She yelled, unaware that Shingo was now watching her uneasily from his room. "Usagi, we talked about leaving this door locked. It's a fire hazard and you know you're not allowed to lock your door."

Usagi's sobs died down into small sniffles, and Ikuko could faintly hear her get out of bed and walk to the door. Much to Ikuko's dismay, she didn't unlock it. She could hear her take a seat right in front of the door, and Ikuko followed her lead. She sat down in front of the door, grumbling at the fact that she had to resort with this.

"Usagi.." She said slowly, as if her daughter was still three-years-old and misbehaving. "Will you please unlock the door so I can comfort you?"

Her daughter didn't answer right away, and she could hear Luna 'meow' in protest on the other side. Ikuko could have laughed at the way her daughter, despite her tears, shushed the cat as if it had insulted her in some way.

"Please, sweetheart." Ikuko asked, begging now.

"I'm sorry." Usagi said quietly, and Ikuko didn't know if her daughter had meant for her to hear it- but nevertheless Ikuko figured that had been her answer.

"Okay.." Ikuko sighed, nodding her head even though her daughter couldn't see her. "How do you want me to help if you won't let me in there to comfort you."

No answer.

Ikuko decided to try again. "Did you have a nightmare?"

"Yeah." Came her daughter's meek reply.

"What was it about?" Ikuko asked, trying to remember what her daughter used to have nightmares about. She could only remember when Usagi was three and her daughter had nightmares about carrots chasing her through Japan.

Ikuko figured this nightmare hadn't been about carrots.

"I don't remember." Usagi said quickly. "It was just.. dark."

"Honey, why won't you open the door?" Ikuko asked again.

"I.. can't." Usagi whispered, her voice cracking. "I can't open the door, because I don't want to let anything in.. or anything out."

Ikuko's breath caught and she closed her eyes. She hadn't expected that reply from her happy-go-lucky daughter and it had shaken her more than she would admit. What had happened? When had her daughter changed so much?

"Are you mad?" Usagi whispered.

Ikuko swallowed back her tears before answering her daughter. "Usagi, if talking through your door is what makes you comfortable, I'll be here all night."

Ikuko was true to her word. She stayed with her daughter through the night, even when her legs grew tired- and her eyes grew heavy. It had taken all night for Usagi to fall asleep- and she smiled through her exhaustion when she heard her daughter's soft snores coming from the other side of the door.

She was about to get up when the pitter-patter of small feet stopped her. Chibi-Usa was staring at her, confused. They had moved the little girl upstairs when Usagi's nightmares had started. Even though the little girl was known to be vocal about most things, she had moved out of Usagi's room without so much as a single complaint.

"Is Usagi okay?" Chibi-Usa asked, big eyes full of concern. "Did she have another nightmare?"

Ikuko simply nodded and Chibi-Usa looked up at Usagi's door, and frowned. For a second Ikuko felt like the child may have known more about Usagi's sudden change than she did.

"We need to be patient with Usagi." Chibi-Usa said, a gentle smile on her face. "She just needs us to be patient with her, and then the baka will be completely fine.. She always is."

Ikuko stared up at Chibi-Usa in shock, but she nodded nonetheless. The little girl's words stayed with her that night, as she tried to fall asleep. Even though they had been true, and wiser beyond her years- the words themselves wasn't what stuck with Ikuko. The fact that Chibi-Usa had sounded so unsure of herself when she told Ikuko that Usagi would be fine..

That made Ikuko cry herself to sleep that night.

...

"Maybe she's just growing up." Ikuko's friend, Megumi expressed- taking a sip of her tea and nodding in agreement to herself. "I mean, girls get weird when they grow older you know."

Ikuko bit her lip and nodded. It hadn't been her ideal plan to go out with her friend that particular morning, but with the kids at school and Kenji at work- she couldn't just walk around the house by herself after what had happened the night before. Especially when Usagi had woken up looking even more like a ghost than ever that morning.

Breakfast was stiff and uncomfortable, with Usagi picking at her food- staring straight down at her plate.

"Kenji thinks it's the boy she's with." Ikuko said suddenly.

Megumi made a noise in the back of throat and rolled her eyes slightly. "Yes, well ever since Usagi-chan was little he's been blaming things on boys."

Ikuko stayed silent.

Megumi's face grew serious and she set her tea down, frowning slightly. "You don't think that it's a boy, do you? I mean- didn't you say that she's been with that one boy for a few years now."

Ikuko shrugged, and looked out the window- at the busy streets. She took a deep breath before continuing, "she's with him a lot. Kenji doesn't really know, but I do."

Megumi had chosen a bad moment to take a sip of her tea, because she nearly choked when Ikuko finished her sentence. She placed a hand on her chest, and coughed for a few seconds before staring at Ikuko like she just said the most ridiculous thing to her.

"You don't think she has-"

Ikuko's eyes widened and her cheeks turned red. Oh, yeah.. That was a possibility wasn't it? She didn't really imagine her daughter being anything but the innocent little girl who blushed when she even talked about a boy. She wouldn't possibly..? But then again, Usagi seemed to shock her a lot these days.

"You don't think she's pregnant do you?" Megumi asked, very quietly so no one in the crowded café would hear them. Leave it to Megumi to bring up something so sensitive. The woman wasn't known for holding back.

"No!" Ikuko said, rather loudly, earning a few glances from the people around her. "He- The boy she's with is a gentleman, and very intelligent. He wouldn't do anything she wasn't ready for."

Megumi smiled apologetically and nodded. "Do you think she's depressed about something? When did this personality change start?"

Ikuko leaned back and shrugged once more. "I don't know. She's been changing so much ever since she was fourteen, it's like I'm losing a piece of my daughter. But she's just been different ever since a couple weeks ago. Even her friends notice it, they're always trying to get her out of the house. Her boyfriend is treating her like she's porcelain, and Chibi-Usa-chan who is always very critical of Usagi.. even she's being careful around her."

Megumi sighed. As someone who had known Usagi since she was very young, hearing that the normally peppy girl was becoming so withdrawn.. well, hurt.

"Ever since that cat came.. It seems she's becoming so different." Ikuko said quietly, she grimaced. "But that's pretty silly, isn't it?"

Megumi reached over to place her hand on Ikuko's. "With all do respect, a couple weeks ago there was a gigantic hole where Mugen Academy used to stand, and people were getting attacked by things that stole their hearts. Weirder things have happened here.."

...

Ikuko, once upon a time, actually knew her daughter's after school routine. First, she would leave school and maybe stop at the arcade or the café with her friends. If she didn't do either of those, she would most likely be at Rei Hino's house. Either way, she would never come home right away.

That, Ikuko noticed, wasn't the case anymore. She came home earlier, and stayed in her room for most of the day until dinner. Ikuko wasn't exactly sure what she did in there, but she suspected she most likely took a nap.. or maybe she did her homework, but Ikuko knew that was rare.

According to Megumi, the best way for Ikuko to get through to Usagi was to try to spend some time with her. It was an extremely easy plan, but Usagi wasn't an easy girl. Nevertheless, she still arrived home before Usagi got off from school, and made Usagi's favorite treats- placing them on the table with extra care.

And then like clockwork, she heard the door open and her daughter's quiet announcement of, "I'm home."

"Come in here, Usagi- I have a surprise for you!" Ikuko said happily, wiping her hands on her apron and waiting for her daughter to come and eat all of the treats she had made for her.

Usagi's eyes widened when she turned the corner, and Ikuko smiled to herself. Of course, the way to her daughter's heart was her stomach. She would have her daughter back to herself in no time.

"Mama.. What's all the food for?" Usagi asked.

Well.. That didn't sound happy at all.

"It's for you, silly!" Ikuko smiled, hurrying over to her daughter and grabbing her arm in an attempt to get her to sit down at the table. The blonde girl obliged, as her mother pulled the chair out for her to sit. "I just thought since you are feeling down maybe a little bit of food will help you feel better."

Well it was that, and the fact that her daughter seemed to be wilting these days; with her chalky skin, dull eyes, and the fact that she was obviously losing weight. In fact, Ikuko didn't seem to remember her daughter even finishing dinner for the past few nights.

"I- Mama.." Usagi mumbled.

"You don't like it?" Ikuko frowned.

Usagi's eyes widened, at the thought she may have hurt her mother's feelings. She shook her head and smiled at her mother, but the smile didn't seem to reach her eyes. "Mama, I love it. It's very nice. It's just that I really don't feel very well and I don't want to hurt your feelings."

Ikuko frowned. Usagi's words sounded so rehearsed, so formal.. and nothing like what her daughter would say. Ikuko took a seat next to Usagi, and grabbed a hold of her daughter's hand. Usagi stiffened at the touch but she turned to look at her mother anyway.

"Please tell me what's bothering you." Ikuko said, there was no sense beating around the bush. If she wanted to get anything out of her daughter she was going to have to be direct. "Just tell me, and I won't ask about it again.. I won't judge you."

Usagi opened her mouth only to close it once more, she looked away, and for a moment Ikuko thought she may actually tell her what was bothering her. But she shook her head, much to Ikuko's dismay. She then realized this was going to be a bit harder than she thought.

"You- You're not pregnant are you?" Ikuko asked uneasily.

"What? No!" Usagi gasped.

"Okay, just.. making sure." Ikuko said slowly.

They both fell silent.

"Why can't you tell me, Usagi?" Ikuko pressed on. "Did someone hurt you, are you in danger? You've locked your door every night, and then wake up screaming due to nightmares. I just want to know what happened. Please."

Usagi shook her head. "I can't.."

"You can't what?"

"I'm sorry, but I just can't!" Usagi snapped, and on a normal circumstance Ikuko may have yelled at her daughter for such a tone. But when Usagi angrily swiped at her tears, she knew it was better just to let it be. "I wish I could tell you mama, but- I don't really know myself."

Ikuko nodded, and squeezed her daughter's hand. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"Yeah." Ikuko smiled, even thought she could feel tears clouding her vision. "If you don't want to talk about it, we won't talk about it. When you're ready.. I'll be here."

Usagi nodded, and Ikuko reluctantly let go of her hand. Without another word, Usagi got up and walked out of the dining room. She couldn't see her, but she heard Usagi's soft apology before the girl hurried up the stairs and to her room.

Only when Ikuko was sure Usagi was gone, did she allow herself to cry.

...

"Ikuko-mama.." Chibi-Usa whispered, shaking Ikuko gently.

Ikuko opened her eyes, to see Chibi-Usa standing above her- eyes desperate. She sat up quickly, mind trying to figure out whether or not she was sleeping. She looked over to Kenji who was still happily snoring away. She raised an eyebrow, and before the little girl could explain why she woke her up.. She got her answer.

Usagi was screaming again.

"Ikuko-mama, it's really bad this time." Chibi-Usa said, worry for Usagi clear in her voice. "I wanted to go in there, but she's crying really bad."

Ikuko nodded, and ruffled Chibi-Usa's hair before getting up and following her into the hallway. Sure enough, she could hear Usagi sobbing- and screaming. Only she was actually saying something this time. It took some time for Ikuko to gather her wits and walk down to her daughter's room; Chibi-Usa stayed back hesitantly

She was fully expecting to find the door locked, but much to her surprise- she was able to open the door to her daughter's bedroom.

Her daughter was stiff in the bed, holding onto the blankets until her knuckles were white. She moved back and forth, mumbling something and crying out. Ikuko hurried to the child, and grabbed a hold of her arms in an attempt to keep her from hurting herself.

The girl sobbed louder then, and Ikuko gently shook her daughter in an attempt to get her to open her eyes. "Usagi, come on wake up! You're just having a bad dream!"

"I am nothing!" Usagi screamed, sitting up quickly and sobbing.

Ikuko stared at her, eyes wide. She wasn't expecting such words to come out of her daughter's mouth. Maybe some silly dream about carrots, or a monster chasing her or something that most young girls had dreams about. But to hear her daughter say something so demeaning about herself wasn't something she expected.

Usagi took ragged breaths, hand pressed to her chest. Ikuko continued to stare at Usagi, mouth open just slightly. Her other hand, rubbed her daughter's back gently.

"It was just a dream." Ikuko said slowly.

Usagi shook her head again and sobbed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.."

Ikuko didn't know who she was apologizing to, but her daughter kept repeating it until it was a mantra. Ikuko was so focused on her, that she didn't see Luna jump on the bed in an attempt to comfort her owner.

"It's okay." Ikuko said, voice cracking at the sight of her daughter in so much pain. "You're okay, sweetheart. There's nothing here that's going to get you."

Usagi looked over at her mother, eyes bloodshot and wide.. As if she just recognized that her mother was in there with her. She shook her head, and took a shaky breath.

"I can't save anything."

"Sweetheart.." Ikuko whispered, tears now freely running down her cheeks.

"I am nothing!" She yelled.

Before her daughter could degrade herself any longer, Ikuko gathered her daughter in her arms. She held onto her like she was still a toddler, she leaned down and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. Her tears fell down her cheeks and on Usagi's. She allowed herself to cry along with her daughter, because she had no clue how else to help her obviously distraught child.

Only after she calmed down, did Ikuko allow herself to speak.

"Darling.." Ikuko whispered. "You are everything."

Ikuko Tsukino didn't know what had hurt Usagi, but if she did she would pull it from whatever hell it came from and beat it until it couldn't hurt her anymore. But she didn't know. So, until she did, she was going to make sure that her daughter knew her worth.

PHEW, that took me a day :p

Anyway, I have to back to school for the week and I wanted to finish this. I felt that Ikuko deserved her own chapter because I'm sure she doesn't know what is wrong with her daughter, but she knows that something has changed her.. Something bigger than she knows.

Please review.

Next chapter is 'Usagi's' perspective.

It may hurt a lot.

Sorry.