This kind of fic isn't my usual cup of tea but I really wanted to write it. I'm dedicating it to my brother who died 9 years ago. This fic comes out of a place of personal mourning. Everything I wrote about how Usagi feels is really how it felt for me. They say to write what you know, so this time, I did. I wanted to get it out on his birthday but I missed the date by a week. Yes this fic is about loss but it is also about moving on and continuing your life. It is sad, but not for long, I promise. The death of Usagi's parents serves merely as a catalysis for this tale. This will probably be the only fic I write like this and I don't feel that it is my best but I really just wanted to write it. Well I hope you enjoy it regardless!

I do not own Sailor Moon.

The Truth About Tragedy

Ch. 2

"Those who have suffered understand suffering and therefore extend their hand." - Patti Smith

The ride in the car was relatively quite. Mamoru didn't even play any music, we just rode in silence. For the first time in what seemed like forever, no one was asking questions, no one was saying how sorry they were. It was peaceful. They arrived at Shingo's school. Seeing him snapped her out of it. She was soon too aware of her task, the weight of it and what it would mean for them both. As soon as she saw him she hopped out of the car and grabbed him up in her arms. Maybe she should have acted normal, let him have a few more minutes of blissful ignorance because as soon as she grabbed him he knew something was wrong. She pushed him into the back seat of Mamoru's car and climbed in behind him sitting next to him. Mamoru drove on, taking us to some unknown destination, but for now she could only focus on the task at hand. How do I say this? How do I tell him that mom and dad are gone? That our lives from now on will never be the same?

"Shingo...it's mom and dad...their gone, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

She pulled him into a hug and let her words sink in. He fought at first, trying to relinquish her hold on him so that he could run or hit her or she didn't know. But he soon gave in and cried into her sweater. She looked up to see sad deep blue eyes in the rear view mirror watching them, watching her. But he didn't say a word. This was our moment, Shingo's and her's. He seemed to know that.

Mamoru took us back to the arcade. She was still holding Shingo and it's not like she gave him any other place to take them. Where else could they go. With help from Mamoru, they got Shingo out of the car and into the arcade. Mamoru carried him in and she followed close behind. She had to make sure she didn't go back to my hole. Her time for morning was over, she had to be strong for Shingo now. They were all they had now. He clung to Mamoru, unwilling to let go as if his life depended on it.

"Shingo, do want something to eat? You must be hungry?" She cooed, trying to get him to release his hold.

He shook his head side to side vigorously. Motoki came up behind us.

"Aw come on champ, you must be hungry."

Still he shook his head no and gripped onto Mamoru. Motoki chuckled softly at his friend's current position.

"Looks like it's your day of Tsukinos there Mamoru."

He smiled but continued to rub Shingo's back as he sat on one of the near by stools. The arcade doors dinged a hello to the three girls that walked in. As soon as they saw Usagi they rushed over to her. Always the mothering type, Makoto put a warm hand on her shoulder. It was clear to see that they all had questions to her lack of attendance that day, but Rei of course.

"Usagi, why weren't you in school today? Are you sick?"

"Oh come on Makoto, look at her. She's not sick."

"Can it Rei, like you would know a sick person when you saw them."

"Yeah, but I know a faker when I see one. You played hookie today didn't you?!"

Makoto brightened at the thought, "Oh Usagi, you should have let us know. You know we would have played hookie with you!"

"Speak for yourselves." Ami shouted, defensively.

"Oh come on Ami, would it kill you to miss school once?" Makoto cooed.

"You never know." Ami was sticking to her guns.

It was nice to listen to them, to pretend that she just skipped school today and not face the truth. Motoki stood behind the counter, not saying a word as he listened to the conversation. She looked to Shingo who was still hiding from the world in Mamoru's arms. Mamoru still held onto him like his protector. She gave him a gracious smile. It was weak but it was all she could give right now. He just watched her. Emotions passed over his face, quickly changing like the flash from a strobe light. Pity, guilt, and concern? It was hard to tell, he isn't the easiest book to read. The girls continued their chatter, trying to convince Ami to skip even though they had no plans to truly do so. They were only distracted when two cops approached their group. Usagi recognized the younger of the two as one of the cops that came to get her earlier that day but the other one she had not seen before. The younger cop searched the small group till his eyes landed on her.

"Miss. Tsukino. You need to come with us."

Rei and Makoto jumped in between the two of them, blocking their path to her and Shingo.

"Whoa there officer, she doesn't need to go anywhere."

"Ladies, this is police business. Usagi Tsukino and Shingo Tsukino need to come with us."

Rei looked curiously at the officer, "Both of them. Sir, I can assure you that neither of them has done anything wrong."

"Miss. Tsukino ran out of our station in the middle of questioning! Now she needs to return with us. Her and her brother need to wait with us till Social Services can collect them."

"Social Services?!" Everyone but Mamoru and Shingo yelled it out like it was bad milk in their mouths.

Motoki pounded his fist on the counter and seethed, "Excuse me officers, but what is this about. Surely you can wait till their parents arrive and clear things up."

The two cops looked at each other and then at Usagi. Everyone's gaze followed the cops' till all eyes were on her and her alone. The second most dreaded moment of her day had arrived. It wouldn't be as hard as telling Shingo but this admission would make it the most real. Mamoru stood and took Shingo over to a booth outside of hearing distance without the slightest prompting from her. She would have to remember his kindness later. Maybe the next time she wanted to call him an idiot. She took a big, deep calming breath and tried to find her voice.

"They are here because of my parents...my parents...they died...last night."

Makoto grabbed her and pulled her into a deep hug. She wanted to cry but that time was over. Shingo was so close, she couldn't lose it now. Not now, or ever again. She had to be strong now. Even though she didn't cry, Makoto didn't let her go, which she was thankful for. A hand fell on her back and gently made small circles into her skin. Judging by the closeness of her voice when she spoke, it must be Ami stroking her back,

"What happened?"

Did she even know? They had told her and asked her so many questions but she didn't hear a word of it. It had all sounded like the teachers in those old Peanuts cartoons. What could she say. She shrugged her shoulders. Then the other cop, the one she had not met earlier and clearly didn't care about her feelings or her brother who was near by, starting telling the group any details.

"We found their car early this morning after an anonymous tip was called in. So far it looks like they cashed into a tree but a few things don't add up just yet. Time of death is between 1 and 3 am. We should have a better idea further into the investigation. Any information you all may have you should give to us now."

The younger officer glared at his partner, but it was clear the older of the two was in charge and he had decided how this interrogation was going to be run. The group was silent, their eyes dancing from one another. Who would know anything? It was a car crash, what could we possible know. And what would it matter any ways. The older cop looked displeased with their silence.

"Okay, well if no one has anything to say, Miss. Tsukino you need to come with us now. Mr. Tsukino too."

Makoto still didn't let go and none of the girls moved. This was the true power of the Senshi, we stuck together. Protecting each other no matter what. Before a fight broke out, Ami tried to reason with the cops.

"Officers, please. They can just stay with one of us. They don't have to go to Social Services."

"I'm sorry Miss but unless you are 18 or older, you can not take legal guardianship of these two. Get one of your parents to pick them up but until then they come with us."

Releasing herself from Makoto's hold, Usagi ran and took Shingo from Mamoru. It had been a long time since she had held him but he latched on to her just like he use to when we were much younger. If it had been another time, another day she would have laughed at him and reveled in our closeness. She slowly walked over to the cops against my friend's protest. Till Ami said one thing, it stopped me in my tracks.

"If you take them to Social Services they get split up! You can't guarantee that they will be together in a safe place!"

Ami was right. Poor Shingo would be stripped from her and put with strangers. Strangers that would do god know what. The younger cop stepped up to take him from her but she took a step back, turning so he was no longer in reach.

"Miss, you need to give him to me. You have to come with us now. You are both too young to take care of yourselves."

"What about our Aunt?!"

"We have called her and left a message. Until she gets back to us we will have to place you with someone."

"So you expect me to just come with you so you can place us with strangers? Can you even guarantee that Shingo and I won't be split up?"

"...Look it's for the best."

He took a step to the siblings again. She could take him. Scratch that, Sailor Moon could take him. Just as she was reaching for my brooch, a voice stopped all of us in our tracks. A voice that had stayed silent throughout the whole scene.
"That is enough."

The two cops were only momentarily stunned but made a move to Usagi and Shingo again.

"They can stay with me."

The younger cop looked at the now standing Mamoru, sizing him up.

"Sir, I think it would be best if everyone calmed down and these two came with us."

"I understand but that won't be necessary. They both are going to stay with me."

The older cop spoke up at this point, "Sir, I think you need to think about this. Taking care of two children isn't easy. It has been a rough day for everyone so why don't you all say goodbye for today."

He grabbed her arm and panic began to set in. She couldn't let them take Shingo. She may not be able to take care of him right now but she would change that. Any thing to keep them from separating them. Another hand shoved the office's hold on her off. She looked up to see a calm but angry Mamoru forcing the cop back.

"It has been a hard day, for Usagi and Shingo. The last thing they need is to be with strangers, especially split up. I don't give a damn what you think but the best thing is for them to come with me. I'm 19, old enough to be there guardian, I can claim them till their Aunt shows up."

There was nothing the cops could do. We clearly knew and wanted to stay with Mamoru. Even though she couldn't legally take care of her and Shingo, at least at 16 she could have a say in our whereabouts.

After signing some papers at the police station, Mamoru took us to his apartment. They hadn't gotten very far when Shingo fell asleep across the back seat. She glanced at him in the rear view mirror. His face was still red and puffy from crying but at least he had a reprieve from it all in sweet sleep. She wondered if she would get any sleep tonight. Mamoru must have noticed Singo's slumber as well because he talked softly to her.

"Would you like to stop at your house? Pick up some clothes and whatever else you two will need?"

"...I know we should but, I don't think I can. Besides, Shingo might wake up and I'm afraid of how he would react being back at that house."

The car ride was silent once again. He didn't fight her about it and he didn't ask her any questions or even insult her the whole way. She am glad for that, knowing she couldn't handle either one right now.

It was a really nice building, much nicer than she had ever expected Mamoru to live in. And it was in the Azuban district so it had to be pricy. He parked in the underground parking deck that his building provided and she began the task of pulling Shingo's sleeping form out of the back seat and into Mamoru's apartment. A gentle hand rested on her shoulder as she leaned into the back seat.

"Here, let me get him."

She was too tired to protest. Plus, she would probably just end up awaking him or dropping him. She watched as Mamoru gently lifted Shingo up and onto his shoulder. Shingo barely stirred. As they entered the elevator, a passing older gentleman greeted Mamoru as "Mr. Chiba", on his way out. She couldn't help but smirk a little at the interaction. Mamoru caught her reaction in the reflection on the elevator doors.

"What?"

"It' just...I've never know your last name till just now." her voice sounded so weak and foreign to her.

"You never asked."

The elevator kept going up and up till it reached the top floor. The hallway was nice, but nothing special, dimly lit with no windows to speak of and old carpet and wallpaper. Mamoru juggled Shingo a little to reach his keys, then smoothly slipped into the door. He flicked on a few lights and headed straight towards the back of the apartment down a hallway. Alone in the living room, she silently took in her surroundings. It was nice and neat for a man but sparse which screamed bachelor. Books lined his shelves and sleek furniture looked un-used. The thing that stood out to her the most was the lack of photos. Their house had been filled with them. Mama was a photo addict and was always carrying a camera. The memories that filled her were sweet but still she found little comfort in them. The room began to feel stuffy. She needed an escape. The cold night air bit at her face as she stood on the balcony. Her hair was still up in the usual style but only barely. On it's last legs, it pulled uncomfortable at her scalp. It felt good to finally feel something, something besides the dull ache in her heart. As much as she would like to free herself of that pain, she can't. Not yet anyways, so she would have to settle for the ache in her scalp. The cold night breeze flicked her now completely free hair back and forth as her thoughts settled on the distant moon. She never heard another person join her, she just felt the sudden weight and warmth of a blanket on her shoulders. Mamoru leaned against the railing next to her, watching.

"Where is Shingo?"

"I put him to bed. You two can sleep in my bed."

"Where are you going to sleep?"

"Couch."

"...Thank you, Mamoru, for doing this. You didn't have to..."

"Of course I did. If I didn't, all your friends would have been arrested for assaulting a police officer."

She forced a smile. She knew he was trying to be nice so she wanted to reward him. She wished she could have given him a bit more, she was sure it looked awfully fake.

"Usagi...you don't have to talk about it, but if you want, I'm here."

"Mamoru, you don't have to be so nice. You have already done enough for me and my brother. But you don't have to force yourself..."

"I'm not forcing anything."

He was calm. She would have expected him to get angry, insult her like he usually did.

"I've never seen your hair down before."

Her hand absentmindedly ran through her long locks, "It's so long, if I wore it down I would just trip on it."

He reached over and tucked a strand behind her ear. It was a warm and sweet gesture. She felt her heart beat for a little bit, but it soon fell back into numbness.

"You should go to bed. You look exhausted. I put a shirt out for you that you can wear if you want."

Without another word, she left confused. Mamoru's actions today left her stunned. It was too much to think about now. There was so much, so much going on. So many things that plagued her mind right now that she had to push all thoughts out of her mind. She changed out of her clothes and pulled on the shirt that was near the bed. Shingo was fast asleep and softly snoring. The shirt was big, soft t-shirt with some writing on it. It came down mid thigh and was very loose on her, falling off one shoulder. She really didn't care, she just wanted to go to sleep and forget this whole horrible day ever happened. Her last thoughts as she drifted, to what she hoped would be a dreamless sleep, was that she was glad it was Friday. She would have the whole weekend to figure out what to say and do when she returned to school.