Usagi thought she had a normal family, besides the twin that was sent to boarding school when they were six. She thought she had a normal life, besides her admirers having strange things happen to them, going completely insane, or even being killed off by someone or something. She even thought she had a normal friend, besides his desire to dress her up as his favorite shoujo anime characters. Then it all started to come apart with a few words from her usually normal father. "Usagi-chan, meet your new mother." Will Usagi ever be the same when she meets the rest of her new family including her new father and new almost cute step-brother?
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon or any of the characters I borrowed for this.
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Act One:
Scene One:
He smirked with confidence as he vaulted over the high stone wall fence. The
note in his hand stated for him to come to the willow tree in the school courtyard
at midnight. A meeting with the school's most sought after girl was well worth
breaking curfew.
It had taken her awhile to come around, but he knew that sooner or later that he would have her eating out of his hand. The rumors that surrounded her didn't matter at all as long as she was his. So what if her last admirer the idol singer Seiya Kou had been committed to a mental ward at Tokyo General for the next six months. The mere thought of the petal soft lips against...That sweet little body pinned beneath his...
The simple fact that Tsukino Usagi would be his.
Trespassing on school grounds at the dead of night, for the claiming of the little blonde nymph was well worth the trouble and more. A light gust of wind pulled the white slip of paper from his grasp as he neared the willow tree. At first nothing greeted his eyes, and then a hint of gold highlighted by the moonlight caught his attention. A dark shadow leaned against the tree trunk, drooping branches obstructing his view
With a confident grin he took a step forward only to see the shadow disappear. He scowled. So the rabbit wanted the game, did she...
Well she'd get her game.
Blinded by the dark, he followed. It never dawned on him, that a trap could be waiting ahead. He cursed his eyes for never adjusting to the inky darkness around him as he stumbled up steps, down halls and over random objects.
Muttering he tripped out the final door. On his hands and knees, he looked all around him. He was on the school's roof.
There on the ledge, her long skirt swayed in the wind around her long legs and alongside her blonde ponytails. The soft glow of the moon seemed to melt through her slight frame as though she was made of crystal reflecting the light. Blue eyes remained closed and unaware of his presence. She just stood there, completely at ease.
With knowledge that she had no were else to run, he stalked forward, eager to have her within his grasp. Just a mere arm length away, he paused. For a moment it was though she wasn't there. That she wasn't susceptible to a man's touch.
Blue eyes snapped opened as he reached to attempt to touch a satin smooth cheek. The hidden shadows in the normally sapphire clear depths, caused him to stop in his tracks.
A light mocking smirk spread across pink lips as tiny hands lightly grasp the folds of his green jacket.
In that moment the delicate features shifted. Before him, there no longer was the classical image of a serene beauty. The features sharpened, the moonlight highlighting the obliviously stark male beauty, as the apparition solidified.
He had yet to find his voice, as he was jerked off his feet. Below him the faintest trace of the shadowed shrubs below could be seen. Panic setting in, he clawed vainly at the pale hands to release him. Startled by the sudden lack of weight, he looked up. A cold, calculating smile held his gaze, as the spirit faded from view.
Leaving Chiba Mamoru to be found sprawled at an awkward angle in the shrubbery. Fallen roses and scattered petals surrounded him. As if mocking, the self proclaimed Rose Prince... .
Scene Two:
It was a familiar scene that laid before her.
Before the handwritten message from the office was even handed to her, Usagi rose to her feet, her supplies packed away in her bag and arm out stretched. The young teacher looked warily at her, "Tonight's homework is page 39. 1-50, Tsukino-san."
Usagi nodded. The tiny blonde tried to ignored the muffled whispers that followed as she walked past her fellow classmates' desks. Determined to keep from breaking down she looked straight ahead, missing the discreet foot in her way.
"Oomph..." Usagi winced as her hands were scraped by the wooden floor. The flap of her school bag, opened scattering her school supplies across the floor.
"Oh!" Tears stung her eyes as she heard the voice of Usegi Tatshua, her hands balled up into tiny fists. "I'm sorry Usagi-chan! I was stretching. Let me help you up..."
Usagi looked up at the black haired blue eyed boy. She couldn't figure it out. Tatshua was so nice to everyone else but her. In the eight months that she had been here, she hadn't done a thing to him. But he was hell-bent on being a general jerk to her. "No thank you."
In the front row another dark haired boy darted to his feet, quickly gathering the falling objects, a sunny smile for Usagi. "Here you go, Usagi-chan! Kuma-chan, help me pick them up!" Usagi smiled at him, patting the small ever present, pink plushie missing Tatshua's glare.
"Tsukino-san, the office now."
Tatshua leaned against his desk, "Yea, before another innocent victim winds up in your trap, man killer."
Usagi stiffened. She knew what would happen next. Last night's incident with Chiba Mamoru, would be the final straw for this school. Might as well, add another hit to her list Usagi decided.
Glad that she wore her new black shoes, Usagi lifted her leg and aimed.
She hoped that Tatshua didn't need to be carried to the nurse's office.
Scene Three:
Her face was grim when she meet up with the principal.
Her parents were waiting for her inside the principal's office. It seemed that they arrived and rushed over from the airport. Usagi was positive that this wasn't the arrival her parents were hoping for after their romantic getaway.
Tsukino Ikkuko took a hold her little girl's hand, gently pulling Usagi into her arms. "This isn't your fault darling...It wasn't."
"Tsukino-san?
The look on the principal's face clearly disagreed as three set of eyes settled on him. The balding mad was ready to pointed his finger at the tiny blonde without a second thought. "Before we release Usagi for the day, I would like to question her about Chiba Mamoru."
"I didn't do anything." Usagi stated quietly. "I haven't even talked to him all week." Well that was true, she hadn't willingly talked to him...He had cornered her and ordered her to talk him.
"Just yesterday, you were seen following him to the gardens, Tsukino."
Following and being drug across school grounds, were two completely different
things, but she didn't say anything. Usagi knew saying something wouldn't help,
not with her reputation. Beside her, she could feel her father bristle. "How
can you be so sure, my daughter willingly followed him?" Kenji demanded,
"You don't seem to keep a tight watch on your student body. A handful of
boys were ditching classes as we pulled
up to the school."
The principal's cheek turned red at the accusation. "This isn't the first
incident with Usagi. The visiting idol singer. I believe that you know Seiya
Kou's fate...The German exchange student. Words cannot explain how he wound
up tied to the school fountain painted pink and blue, after a meeting with Usagi.
Our star soccer
player...He's a klutz, but that doesn't explain how he sprained his wrist.."
"...Ken-kun was showing me a trick with his soccer ball." Usagi replied, hoping that he would stop.
The principal glared at her, "Now the school's top scholar in dead and no one is convinced that it was a suicide due to your daughter's connection to Chiba-san."
"ARE YOU CALLING MY DAUGHTER A MURDERER?!" Kenji raged, his fist pounded the polished desk causing the man to jump. "How dare you id-"
"Kenji," Ikkuko's voice was a hard as granite, as she cradled her daughter. "I believe that this ill excuse for an educator, isn't worth our time." Usagi's mother glared at the principal, " And you sir, we are well aware of the past events supposedly involving Usagi, in this school and the others. We can assure you that our daughter has had no involvement with these incidents, so watch your tongue before you talk!"
The principal angrily cleared his throat, "That is not the point." It was obvious that he fought to keep his voice neutral, but was failing miserably. "The point is your daughter is expelled from my school!"
Usagi's head jerked up. Bewildered blue eyes focused on the man. "What?! I didn't do anything!"
"You disrupted my school, young lady!" The principal snapped.
"Don't you talked to my little girl like that, you pompous windbag!"
"I demand that you leave my office, right now! Before I call security!"
"Do you have adequate reason to expel Usagi-chan?" Ikkuko snapped, rising to her feet "You narrow-mindedly connected her to the young man, but have no proof. That's not a good enough reason."
"Believe me it-"
"Usagi, leave the room."
The blonde looked up confused at her mother, as the older women, smiled tightly at the principal as she handed him a small business card. A satisfied smile crossed both her parent's lips, as they shared a look. The principal, on the other head, looked as though he had seen a ghost. "Mama?"
"Please wait outside Usagi,"
As the door closed behind her, Usagi missed her mother's words. "Surely, you wouldn't want to bring this issue to my husband's attention"
Beside her, Kenji nodded. "Mikagami-san is quite the attorney. Especially summoned by the emperor to settle..."
The principal cleared his throat. "I understand. Shall we discuss this more thoroughly?"
Scene Four:
The principal glared after Usagi, as her parents whisked the tiny blonde away.
Usagi could feel his heated gaze follow her every step. Maybe it wasn't such
a bad thing that she got expelled...
"Usagi-chan, do you have anyone who could give you tonight's homework from the rest of your classes?" Ikkuko questioned as they entered their car. "I wouldn't want you to fall behind."
"B-but I was expelled..."
Kenji glanced up at the rearview mirror before joining the afternoon commute. "No, you were not."
Ikkuko patted her leg comfortingly. "We explained that you're going to be transferring in a month or so to Meiou Academy Would you like to go to the mall?" The last words rushed, as Usagi blinked at her. "You can buy yourself something pretty. We're having dinner with some friends and their son tonight."
"Transferring...to Meiou Academy?!!!"
Scene Five:
After her little outburst, Usagi got no real explanation.
Instead, she was deposited in front of Tokyo's largest mall with a fistful of money, her father's credit card and directions to the little Chinese restaurant she was to supposed to meet them. Blankly Usagi stared at the giant glass doors of the mall, with a faint sense of deja-vu.
"If you want to make it a little easier on yourself. Put a sign around your neck that says 'rob me'."
Pulled from her thoughts, Usagi turned to glare at the person next her. First thing that she noticed were the blue eyes partial hidden by silver bangs. The next thing she noticed...Was that she had just been insulted. "Oh yeah!" The blonde retorted, "At least I don't scream "Desperate! Will date Godzilla if he's free Saturday night!"
He looked vaguely amused. "Just trying to help you out. Didn't your dad ever tell you not to wave money about? You'll attract lechers, not Prince Charming, little girl."
Usagi just found someone she disliked more that Tatshua and his black inkwells. "Well...It least I don't have hair that makes me look *old*!!!"
Intense blue eyes followed her every move as she stormed inside the mall. Only once did Usagi look back, and that was to stick her tongue out the boy. The boy just seemed to become more amused by her childish actions. It was then when it finally dawned on her, why this seemed so familiar to her...
Her parents had done the same thing when they sent her Aniki away. She still didn't even know why he was sent away...Where they going to send her away too?
Scene Six
Shopping, depression and a free hand with money was never a good thing for your
wallet. But it was good therapy.
Usagi arrived at the restaurant with an armload of bags, dressed in a blue long sleeved knit dress. She got a snotty look from the perfectly groomed hostess before she was guided to her family's table. Peering over her mountain of bags, Usagi frowned at her parents.
Ikkuko stood by a rather handsome man, who whispered something into her ear, that made Ikkuko giggle and blush like a schoolgirl. Kenji seemed enthralled by a green eyed lady who, if Usagi was right, appeared to be playing footsies with her father. Usagi blinked, to make sure, she wasn't seeing things. She pinched herself, to make certain, she wasn't dreaming. "Maybe I just entered the wrong the restaurant..."
"I don't think so," A voice replied. He sat at the center of the table completely undisturbed by the actions going on around him. It was the boy from the mall. "Odangos are on the menu."
"YOU!!!"
"My name is Tokiya, not you."
Usagi would have honestly thrown something at him, if it hadn't been for her father. Well known for his death threats and collection of shotguns, Kenji wasn't known for his tact. Being blunt was his forte, especially when you add in a shotgun and the high school football team. "Usagi-chan, meet your new mother."
Thunk...Crash...Smash...."Is there a doctor present?!"...You get the picture.
Needless to say, the family affair was moved to the emergency room.
Scene Seven:
It wasn't until the next day as Usagi trudged to school, bandages wrapped
about her head and met up her best friend, did last night really sunk in.
As arms wrapped around her, yanking Usagi off her feet. Usagi stared at her friend.
"USAGI-CHANNN!!!!!! YOU CAN'T LEAVE ME!!!!!" sobbed the long haired boy, as he held on to Usagi for dear life. "WHO WILL I GET TO DRESS UP AS MY FAVORITE ANIME CHARACTERS...WHO WILL GO TO THE CONS WITH ME....WHO WILL DO, YOUR SCIENCE HOMEWORK IN EXCHANGE FOR ANIME!!!!!"
Alexander Howell, the biggest otaku from the western hemisphere. "Alec-kun, I can't breathe..."
With a sheepish expression, Alec let go of Usagi. "I'm sorry, but is it true you're transferring to Meiou Academy?"
"Hai."
Big watery eyes zoomed into Usagi's face, as Alec grasped her hands in his. "WHY?!!" he exclaimed piteously. "Meiou Academy is run by computers...You're not good with computers. You just don't want me as your best friend anymore?!"
Usagi was seriously thinking of getting Alec a new hobby. Shoujo anime and manga were making him over dramatic. "That's not true!!! I don't want anyone else as my best friend!"
"Than why?!"
Usagi glanced down the street were a young happy couple were ushering their little child to preschool. She would have bet that, that was once her parents before...They decided to...."Because my parents decided to play musical chairs with bed partners!!!"
Alec blinked. He hadn't really been expecting that type of answer. "Is that all?"
The look on Usagi's face, couldn't be describe as anything less but as murderous. "Is that all? Is that all?! They go away on a vacation for two and come back divorced...and...And married to another couple who has a kid that doesn't care that they just ruined our lives!!!"
"You know I think I read this manga..."
Usagi buried her face, into the leather skin of her book bag as she walked across the schoolyard. The muffled scream that followed, could be heard throughout the campus. Alec followed behind, trying to recall the manga. Giving up, he looped his arm through Usagi's, pulling her away from behind before she walked into another of Tatshua's traps.
"So, when do we transfer?"
"eh?"
Alec smiled sunnily down at the confused Usagi. "Where you go, I go! So how long do we have here?"
"A month...Will it be okay with your parents?"
"I don't know. Should I ask them?"
"Didn't ask them the last time you transfer with me?"
"No."
"They do know you're here in Juuban right?"
"I don't know...The last I talked to them, I was in Kyoto."
"When was that?"
Alec pondered that question. "Two years ago."
Usagi sweatdropped. As the pair bounded up the stairs, she couldn't help but be pleased to have such a caring friend. But it wasn't the same as having her aniki there to comfort her. Before her aniki would be there ready to hold her and listen, but her parents had sent him away.
She wanted her aniki home
Scene Eight:
The blonde-haired boy fiddled with the pink envelope decorated with bunny stickers
as he waited for his best friend to leave the room. The letters from him to
her were private and as much as he loved his best friend he wasn't going to
share his Usagi with anyone. Not to mention that if word got out that he was
writing to a girl, even his own sister, the teacher would sacrifice him as a
warning to the other boys in the school. He sat down the bed and carefully opened
the envelope pulling out a letter in her usual childish scrawl. He dimly took
note of several sets of tear stains and frowned faintly as he began to read.
Dear, Aniki,
He paused reading to scowl. He had told her numerous times to not call him that.
Why did she have to insist on it? With a frown he made a mental note to correct
her in his reply mail.
How are things going there?
He ran a hand through his short hair with a wince. How were things going? The
entire school was being treated like a herd of cattle and the supervisors took
too much delight in shearing the students like sheep. He winced again as he
ran a hand through his tousled locks. Would she even recognize him anymore?
The thought that she might not hurt him far more than anything else could. He
was only partially consoled by the fact that at least he didn't resemble an
army reject as his hair had grown out just a bit. There was no way he was going
to let them shear him bald again. Frowning he turned his attention back to the
letter.
Things aren't going so great here Mom and Dad got a divorce after meeting
this one couple on a vacation! We've all moved in together. Kind of why I haven't
written you in at least three months, I'm sorry! But, with them came their son,
Tokiya. He's my age and I just don't understand him sometimes.
He paused in reading the letter as his eyes narrowed. A step-brother? His Usagi
had a step-brother her age? He frowned deeply as he contemplated the words.
Perhaps it wasn't as bad as his initial reaction? Another thought made him frown
deeply. What kind of hypocrite parents did they have? He had been sent away
when he was still a child and they were just switching partners like it was
normal? Curious and more than a bit worried he continued reading.
At school Tatshua is still picking on me. I tried ignoring him like you suggested
and he dipped one of my pigtails into black ink! Thankfully because of the entire
divorce and moving thing I only have to go to school there for another month
or so. Than I'm joining Tokiya-Niichan's school. Alec broke into tears when
I told him and is requesting a transfer as well so I don't have to be alone.
Isn't that great?
The blonde paused to snort at that. She was a bit too trusting at times. Every
letter she wrote always mentioned her best friend's name. Sometimes she just
didn't see the danger, even when it's right in front of her. He growled lightly
at the mention of her rival in school still picking on her. He made a mental
note to make the boy sorry for torturing his Usagi. His eyes narrowed as he
saw what she called her new brother. He didn't like the looks of that at all
He scanned over the ending paragraph and his frown grew even deeper.
I'm sorry I have to make this letter shorter than I usually do. I have to
help with the move or I'll get yelled at again. This will be my last letter
Before I could just jot one down while mom and dad were at work or while I was
at school. Since I checked the mail I didn't have to worry about them finding
out about our conversations but Now Tokiya-Niichan is in charge of all
that And I don't want to get you in trouble. I'm sorry, Aniki Maybe
it's better this way. We haven't seen each other in ages Probably perfect
strangers by now, ne? I'm sending this off the day before we move into the new
house I'm enclosing a picture so you'll never forget me. I know I'll never
forget you.
With much love and tears,
Usagi Tsukino
His heart seemed to stop as his eyes darted over the final tear smudged words.
She wouldn't be writing him again? He gingerly picked up the picture and smiled.
Just like in his dreams... She was still perfect to him. He knew he had been
born to be with and protect her. He'd fulfill that destiny no matter who he
had to cross. His eyes darted to the date she sent the letter and he smiled
thinly. It was all a matter of timing now. He could only hope she'd be safe
until he got there.
Scene Nine:
Working quickly and silently in the darkness, he gave his dorm one last look
before picking up the picture of his imouto. Taking the picture out of the frame,
he kissed it once before slipping it into his wallet, picking up his bag that
held all his belongings, and made for the open window. There was no way to leave
through the door, since the school had security guards making rounds every half
an hour or so to make sure that the boys weren't doing something they weren't
supposed to. Thank god that his room was only on the second floor, not a big
drop to the bushes below his window.
Carefully dropping his duffle bag out the window, he held his breath hoping
that the loud *thump* didn't wake any of his classmates or catch the attention
of the guards. The more he read Usagi's letter, the more impatient he was to
get back to her side. There was no way that he could just stand here waiting
for the weekend. It was just a day of waiting, but a lot could be accomplished
in twenty four hours of time. And who knows what the step brother, the best
friend, and the rival could do to his helpless imouto if he let them!
This is it, no turning back. The blonde boy thought as he crawled through the
narrow excuse for a window. It seemed that the teachers here were anticipating
this kind of situation before hand and designed the dorms to have tiny windows
too high to be reached by the average boys. But luckily, the blonde boy had
always been taller than others his age.
Just as he was about to push himself out the little restricting hole to his
freedom, two hands suddenly grabbed his ankle and gave a fierce pull. The end
result was a painful headache that resulted from his head meeting the cement
floor, and the cry from a body beneath his.
"Damn it! Did you eat bricks for dinner?! Get off of me!"
Even from the layers of banging in his head, and in a sort of a dream like state,
he recognized the voice as Aki's. With a grunt, he was pushed up from beneath.
Rubbing his sore head, the blonde boy turned around and his suspicion was confirmed.
His best friend was lying on the ground with his own bag, looking at him sheepishly.
"What in god's name are you doing here Aki?!" It was a wonder that
someone who was trying to run away from school could scream so loud.
"Trying to help a best friend?" the other blonde said looking innocent.
He didn't answer as he once again tried to crawl through the window.
"You can't just leave me here! We're best friends after all. How am I suppose
to survive the tortures at this school if you're not here to share in on the
pain?"
No answer.
"Think it about it this way. If you leave me here, the teachers will take
me to the torture room to question me about where you went. And you know how
I can't last long against that kind of pain. They'll be able to catch up with
you in less than ten minutes! If you take me with you, they won't have anyone
to question!" big lavender eyes pleaded up to him.
The other boy sighed as he was half way out the window, but considered his best
friend's reason. He had to admit that even though he knew Aki just made up that
excuse right there, that it was the truth. Everyone knew at that school that
the two blondes were best friends. "Fine come along, but if you cause me
any trouble on the way. I'll leave you to the first person who will buy you
for five million yen."
The only 'thank you' he got was great kick in the behind that sent him falling
'gracefully' out the window, before a bag fell on top of him and the other boy
came sailing down too.
Scene Ten:
"May I see your tickets please?" the stewardess gave the two boys
a suspicious stare as she made the rounds to check the tickets. It was rare
to see two such handsome boys traveling alone on the train.
The two blonde boys gave her an angelic smile at the same time and handed her
their tickets.
"Are the two of you traveling alone? Shouldn't you be at school right now?
Do your parents know about this? Do you have their number just in case?"
the lady asked frowning.
"No, we don't have a number where we can contact them. We're going home
because of an emergency, Miss," he answered, noticing the lady looking
back and forth between him and Aki. "Our grandmother was in an accident,
so our parents were at the hospital when we got the call from a payphone."
There was still a little nagging feeling inside, but these two boys didn't look
like troublemakers right? As if to confirm her thoughts, the two boys looked
up at her with the most innocent and adorable expression. "Okay, but if
there's something wrong, I want you to report to one of the employees right
away got it?"
Both boys nodded, and the stewardess moved on to the next passenger.
"That was close!" Aki said, wiping at his forehead in a mocking gesture.
"I thought that she would never leave us alone. God knows what would happen
if she called the school or our parents."
He frowned, even if they stopped the train and called the school, he would still
find a way back to his Usagi. There was nothing that could stop him now. All
his thoughts were on her.
"I meant to ask you, why are you running away from school? It must be something
important if you can't even tell me about it," Aki asked him.
"None of your business." was the snappy response poor Aki got.
"Geez, I can see that someone didn't get their sleep last night!"
but the lavender eyed boy didn't pursue it any further, knowing his best friend
so well, nothing could get the other boy to spill unless he wanted to. "You
don't have to tell me now."
He nodded, relived to know that he could keep Usagi a secret a little longer.
But what Aki said was the truth, in all his preparation to runaway, he didn't
get any sleep at all. Barely catching a yawn in time, he closed his eyes to
get as much rest as you could until he would have to face his parents.
And step-parents It didn't even cross his mind why Aki would know that
he was planning to runaway.
Beside him, Aki sat for a few seconds restlessly. "Do you have any money
I can borrow? I'm hungry."
Grunting, he handed his own wallet to Aki, too tired to think or wonder why
his best friend didn't have his own wallet, and too tired to remember that Usagi's
picture was still in there
Grinning, Aki took the offered wallet without a second thought and walked down
the hall to the refreshment bar at the end of the train. There was nothing he
liked better than free money, a wicked smile appeared just thinking about all
the things he was going to order for breakfast with his best friend's money.
How much money did the other blonde bring with him anyway? Opening up the leather
wallet, he was surprised as a picture of a girl fell out. It never occurred
to him that the other blonde boy was the kind of person to keep sentimental
stuff like pictures of people in his wallet, let alone the picture of a girl.
Bending down, Aki picked up the picture, wiping off the small bit of dust on
the back. His best friend had always been attentive to even the smallest detail,
it wouldn't do if he found out that a speck of dust was on his picture.
Ever being the curious person between the two best friends, Aki couldn't help
himself as he slowly flipped the picture over to the side with the smiling girl,
and forgot how to breathe.