Going Home
The sun peeked above the horizon the next morning, taunting the princess with a new day. She groaned slightly and turned over, trying to shield her eyes from the rays. It was then, that once again, she forgot she was on vacation and sleeping in a bed smaller than hers. With a definite "thud," she hit the floor.
Her bedroom door flew open seconds later, and she soon found herself being pulled to her feet by two very strong hands.
"You okay?" Mamoru said as he helped his daughter sit on the edge of the bed.
She buried her face in her father's shirt while mumbling, "Oh, yeah. I'm spiffing."
He wrapped his arm around her. "Why so lovely this morning?" He chuckled a bit when all his pink-haired princess did was point out the window. "Ah, now you know why your mother and I took the other room."
"Nice, dad. Very nice." Usagi sat back, trying to adjust her eyes to the brightness.
He smiled as he stood and exited the room. "Since I'm up, I'm going to start breakfast. Why don't you go crawl into bed with Mom until it's ready? It's not much darker in there, but the sun doesn't hit the room directly."
Groggily, she stood and walked across the living area to the other bedroom. Venturing inside, she saw her mother laying there, facing the door, awake.
"Usa?" she started as she began sitting up. "You okay?"
"Mm…" came her daughter's growled answer.
"Fell out of the bed?"
"Mm hmm…"
Usako couldn't help but smile at the look on her daughter's face. "Did your dad send you in here?"
"Mm hmm…"
"What for?"
Usagi settled onto her father's side of the bed and turned toward her mother. Instinctively, Usako shifted so her fourteen-year-old could place her head on the matriarch's shoulder. "Sun," was her only answer. She looked sleepily up into the blue eyes of her mother. "Can't you make it go away? Like say something like, 'I am Sailor Moon! For interrupting a princess's much needed sleep, in the name of the Moon, you're punished!' and do that funny stance thing you do?"
Usako couldn't help but laugh. "Would that I could, princess," she said between giggles, "I cannot. Nor do I think I would want to."
A shocked silence filled the room. "You would have your crown princess suffer? What kind of queen allows her crown princess to suffer?"
"One that enjoys seeing her daughter suffer." The queen laughed a little. "One that enjoys being able to comfort said crown princess every so often. One that enjoys a teenager that still acts a bit like a child. One that enjoys having her crown princess sleep on her shoulder." While she was saying this, the queen had begun stroking the pink locks in a motherly fashion, unconsciously relaxing the girl back into a deep sleep. "One that wouldn't give up this moment for anything," she whispered before setting a kiss on the girl's head.
Usagi draped one of her arms over her mother's abdomen and cuddled a little closer. She'd never admit it aloud (she is a teenager after all, not a child), but she wouldn't give up this moment either.
In…out. In…out.
Her eyes were closed as she listened to the sounds around her. Gulls called to each other, again discussing the menu at the Atlantic All-They-Can-Eat Sashimi. The ocean crashed against the shore, and she was only vaguely aware of the fact that her feet were getting wet.
In…out…
A picture flashed before her eyes, one that she'd been thinking about for a few days, of a crystaline palace, her friends, her family…how she missed them. Even more how she wished she could go home. Just the thought of not returning for another few days brought tears to her eyes.
She stood up and gathered her things before walking back to the tiny bungalow her family was staying in. The look of concern on her father's face as she walked past him didn't escape her – nor did her mother's quick, "Are you okay?" escape the teen's ears as she went directly to her room and laid down on the bed.
Mere moments passed before a knock came on the door. "Usa," came her mother's voice through the wooden barrier. "Usa, open the door."
The princess didn't answer. She didn't want to face her parents right now. She'd acutally begun wondering why she'd come back to the bungalow to begin with. No, she knew why – she'd have gone running if she'd stayed on the beach much longer. Coming back to the bungalow saved her a lecture later. Though, she wasn't sure if she wasn't in for one anyway.
Predictably, the door opened, and the princess soon found herself joined by both of her parents. Her mother sat in front of her, but while she tried to turn, she found her father sitting on the other side.
"Honey," Usako started as she placed a hand on her daughter's arm, "what happened? You were fine after breakfast…"
"I don't know," Usagi answered honestly. "I just…"
"Talk to us, Usa," her father commented. "There's been something bothering you ever since the end of the whole Wiseman issue. Your mom and I want to help."
Usagi turned onto her back so she could see both of her parents at the same time. "I'm exhausted from everything. First the stalker issue, then Wiseman, then that stupid kid and his parents…We're on vacation! Vacations are supposed to be relaxing; they're supposed to be fun-filled; they're supposed to stay happy with beach trips and boat rides and hiking and picnics…" She stopped a minute, trying (and failing) to get a handle on her emotions. "And…" She took a deep breath. "I want…" She stopped, not wanting to voice what she was thinking.
Usako picked up on it, though. "To go home?" she finished while throwing her daughter a questioning look.
Defeated, Usagi let out a sigh. "Yeah. I want to go home." She sat up and looked both parents in the eye. "If I'm going to be saving someone's life, or their kids' lives, while I'm on vacation, I'd rather do it for someone who at least pretends to be thankful! That woman yesterday was just…ugh!"
Her parents chuckled a bit. "Usa," her mother said softly, "it's not the job of the 'hero' to decide whom to save. We cannot discriminate…"
"Yeah, I know," she said as she hugged her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. "Doesn't mean I can't be peeved when I end up with an idiotic set of parents like I did yesterday."
"You have every right to be upset. Yesterday was just…" what was a good word for it? "…odd. However, Darling, you can't judge an entire people based on one person. You know that. Remember the captain? He was thankful. You did something that his crew couldn't…even if you did give your father and me a heart attack."
"Being frustrated is normal, Usa," Mamoru stated as he lifted his daughter's chin, "but being homesick is completely natural." He looked at his wife briefly before looking back to his daughter. "This is actually a topic we were hoping to discuss tonight after dinner, but I guess now's as good a time as any. What would you think about going home early, but staying on 'vacation'?"
"Meaning?" Usagi asked.
"Well," her mother continued, "we'd go back to Japan, but go into the mountains there and maybe camp for a few days, or go to the hot springs? I know I haven't been there in ages, and it's been almost as long for you, and I know you enjoy them as much as your father and I do." She raised her eyebrows to her daughter. "Thoughts?"
"Just one." She straightened her legs out again and stretched her back a bit. "When do we leave?"
*~AUTHOR'S NOTE~*
And so ends the incognito vacation of the Royal Family. I do want to apologize for taking so long to update this. My next fanfiction has started taking form, and occupied much of my time. Not an excuse I know, but hey, it's the only one I got!
To everyone who reviewed – Thank you!
To everyone who added the story to their favorite's list – Thank you!
To everyone who added me to their alerts list and favorites list – a HUGE thank you! I only hope this last installment (short, though it was) kept up with your expectations.
Until next time…
Sayōnara!
