Disclaimers: This is a Sailor Moon fanfic. The main characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi, not me. I hope nobody sues me for warping her intentions. Before reading this piece, I would urge you to please read Emporess' 'Fall From Grace' first. This story was inspired from her effort, and I make references to events in her story. Her website is here: www.geocities.com/emporess888/ I wrote this because I wanted my favorite Sailor Moon characters to have their own love story. ----------------------------------------------- Usagi stared vacantly out at the gray sky from Makoto's balcony. She contemplated the recent changes in her lover. Her mood matched the weather and she ached all over from last night's ordeal, especially between her legs. Since his infusion of power from Celeste, Mamoru had decided that it was high time he started to seriously pursue government and politics in preparation for Crystal Tokyo. He had taken up a double major and made himself scarce. He spent most of his time in the university library or at work. Usagi had decided the only way to see him, was to go jog with him at 6am and match his six-minute pace, or study at the same table in the library. Running had never been a problem. After she had raced the clock to get to school on time for years, she had been encouraged by all her senshi to run track in high school. Her record for the mile stood unbeaten all four years for Juuban's district. Usagi had never been an early riser, however, and consequently she had many 'sleepovers' at Mamo-chan's apartment. Since she had turned 18 in June, Mamo-chan had consented willingly to share his bed with her. His lovemaking of late had become as intense, impatient, and as joyless as his life... not to mention, painful. She loved him, but not this way. She wanted her old comfortable Mamo back. When she watched him sleep, she often wondered if it had been the new power that had driven him to change, Crystal Tokyo, or both. Either prospect filled her with dread. For the first time in her life she felt the chill of fear. She was afraid of... Mamoru. She shivered as a gust of early October wind blew past her thinly clad body. A storm brewed. Laughter brought Usagi's attention back to the living room where Mako, Mina, and Ami compared their new teachers' idiosyncrasies while they munched on finger vegetables and dip. Fresh air hadn't helped her sore head. She rubbed it and went to join her animated senshi. She smiled at their antics. "I guess I'll call Rei to see what Grandpa made her do to keep her from this meeting. He probably made her clean bathroom tiles with a toothbrush again." Mako snickered, "Rei calls it discipline, or spiritual purification, I think." Mina groaned, "I would go crazy with all the mindless tedium she's expected to do!" Ami rolled her eyes, "You know, Mina, if you had the kind of discipline that Rei shows, you wouldn't get your clock cleaned by her so often during training sessions! Her focus is what makes her such a strong reliable fighter." Mako grinned, "Not to mention her fabulously focused temper," her arms simulated a volcano eruption. Usagi gave her a withering look. As Usagi picked up the phone to dial her missed friend, the sense of unrest nagged at her. "Moshimoshi, Hikawa Jinja!" Grandpa's strong voice boomed. Usagi cringed and held the phone away from her ear. The girls giggled as they anticipated one of Rei's patented fast, furious tongue-lashes. Usagi glared at them. "Um, may I speak to Rei-chan, please?" "Rei doesn't feel well and requests she not be disturbed." Grandpa replied. Usagi's mouth went dry. Visions of Rei as she shoveled snow off the jinja roof suddenly came to mind. Rei had used her senshi powers last year to melt the snow off quicker behind Grandpa's back. The water left behind had frozen right away and Rei was promptly deposited on her backside, she had badly sprained her left ankle, and had made her an impossibly difficult invalid. The senshi had chipped in their help at the jinja while Rei recovered. Since Rei was frustrated, though, she had made everyone as miserable as she felt. Usagi shuddered. "Um, did she hurt herself? Nani?? The... flu? Could you please have her call Mako-chan's or my house when she feels better? Hai... konnichiha!" she answered, and hung up the phone. That's odd... Rei was fine yesterday. "Rei won't make it today. So, since she called this meeting, I will officially cancel it until further notice. Unless, of course, any of you have some input on our newest enemy. Mina, has Valka spoken any more about what is written in the 'Scrolls of Toro' or if he has figured out who the person is who will control the Earth with power mentioned in them? How about the one who holds the 'Key to the Gates'?" She shook her head 'no'. "Ami, anything from your computer about Valka's boss, Dagon, or why they want the key so badly?" Usagi asked. "Nothing, and Luna and Artemis haven't either." Ami looked as tired as Usagi felt. Usagi watched as Ami went to the kitchen and returned with a box waxed paper. She tore off four pieces and distributed them. Everyone looked at her curiously. Ami smiled. "We are going to make Rei some senbazuru (prayer offering for hardship)." "Mako, has your boss, Aradia, dropped any clues about her role in everything?" Usagi asked as she watched her work in amazement. "Nope, she's very tight-lipped about who she is and her unusual control over Pluto?" Makoto responded. Usagi sighed. She had a bad feeling about everything. "Why don't all of you go shop for Christmas early?" Usagi suggested while she folded slowly and carefully. Ami looked less than enthused, "You don't want to go, Usagi?" She asked as she worked quickly. Usagi shook her head. "No, I think I'll go see if Rei could use some, um, help." She replied in a reserved voice. "Should we all go?" Mako asked as she completed her crane first. Usagi grinned, "Grandpa said she wasn't well. Remember what happened the last time she didn't feel well? Or the last time she was in a snit? Do you really think it is necessary for all of us to get screamed at and thrown out bodily? Why don't I find out what's up with her, first." Makoto shrugged. "Well, ok. That girl needs to loosen up!" Mako said and handed her crane to Ami. Ami's face colored slightly when Makoto's fingers briefly brushed against her own. Makoto smiled, stood up and went to the kitchen, and left the box of waxed paper for a struggling Mina. When she came back she had large thermos in her hand. "Here Usagi, take some of my chicken soup to her, in case she really is sick, it just needs to be heated up. Rei certainly seemed fine yesterday at our senshi practice." Mako said as she patted the ribs on her right side, and offered Usagi the large thermos. Usagi grunted, but managed to stuff it into her already over-crowded large backpack. "I know, Mako... that's what worries me. Thank you for the soup, I'm sure it will be appreciated." Usagi answered in a strained voice. Makoto leaned her 6'1" frame over Usagi's shoulder and remarked glibly. "You know, most people carry a separate gym bag." Usagi muttered something about being late, it was easier to run, and it kept her hands free to smack smart-aleck friends. Mako backed off in mock fright. Mina snarled and threw another waxed paper ball accurately into a waste paper basket across the room. "Well, I for one hope she's just in a snit, and not hurt... ok, I give up on the senbazuru, Ami." Ami smiled at her, while she easily folded another piece of waxed paper into an origami crane for Mina. Ami strung the four birds together on a thread and handed it to Usagi. "Please give the senbazuru to Rei for me. I hope she is all right." She turned to Mina then and said consolingly, "oh come on, Mina, the work we did for Rei at the jinja wasn't so bad." Mina grew fangs. "No? You wore bandages on your hands for 3 days, Ami!" Mina's voice dripped with sarcasm, "and I couldn't see for three days after I bagged all the dead leaves you raked! And you are right... the work wasn't nearly as bad as Rei herself!" Mako tried hard not to laugh, and irritated Mina further. "Go ahead and laugh, Mako-chan, all you had to do was tie a hundred Mikuji papers to a stupid leafless cherry tree!" Makoto lost it then. She raised her two pointer fingers and crossed them in front of Mina's face. "Calm down, girl! Rei didn't know you were allergic to tree leaf molds... and you try to tie a knot with cold fingers! At least we didn't have to shovel any more snow." Usagi raised her hand for silence. "Shame on all of you! Rei does the bulk of the temple work alone every day, and she was hurt while she tried to keep her roof intact. You sit and complain over a few days' work at the jinja. Maybe if she had help more often, she wouldn't be so crabby. If she needs our help, we'll give it. She's our sister." Her senshi bowed low to her in unison. "Hai, your majesty." Usagi bowed back and smiled a little at their tomfoolery, bid them farewell, and set out for the jinja with her heart in her throat.
Back to Of Demons and Love Index - Back to Sailor Moon Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction