THE FLASH POINT
(Flashman is sitting in the theater, reading the latest issue of
Mixxzine. For some reason, he is covered in burn marks and it is a
fact that doesn't escape Sakura and Tridents notice as they walk in.
)
Sakura: What happened to you?
Trident: "He" flamed you for no good reason again, didn't "he"?
Flashman:(Trying to act as though nothing has happened) What are you
talking about? Nothing happened.
Sakura:(Sighs) How long are you going to let "him" walk all over you?
I mean "he" calls you an a**h*** just cause you don't see eye to eye
about a character and after a short argument, you let it go. Now,
"he" flames you for no good reason and you're just going to IGNORE it?
!
(Trident frowns dissaprovingly.)
Flashman:(Squirms) Can we drop this and get on with the fic?!
(Sakura and Trident sit down.)
Sakura: Fine.
Trident: Very well.
Flashman: Todays fic is Mama's Hand by Douglas Helm part 2. For
those of you who missed part one: In this reality, Endymion is a...
well... monster is the only word I can think of, but that word
describes it so poorly. Also, Serenity is powerless as Endymion has
hidden the Gizuishou, been involved in the deaths of the other Senshi,
banished Pluto out of the Time Stream and is now pummling his wife
and child every chance he gets.
(Flashman pauses as all three growl in rage.)
Flashman: However, Serenity was able to get in contact with Sailor
Pluto and is now, by way of the Time Key, planning to send her
daughter, Chibi-Usa, back in time to safety. Let's begin shall we.
_______________________
Not as dark as the first part. Might seem slow but I have to
establish stuff first.
[Flashman: Thank goodness. The first part was dark enough.]
-------
Mama's Hand
By
Douglas Helm
Edited/Co-Plotted
By
"Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl
Rated : R+
[Trident: R+?
Sakura: More serious then R, not serious enough for NC-17... sorrta
like Starship Troopers.
Trident:(Small smile) Ah. That movie was enjoyable.]
AUTHOR'S WARNING!!!
[Flashman:(As all three wince) Yow! Watch the volume level.]
This piece of fanfiction contains disturbing images and deals with
material that IS inappropriate for younger readers. Please respect
the rating that I've given it. Morally speaking, I had a hell of a
time writing the first part.
[All: And we had a tougher time reading it.
Flashman: Not that it was bad but to see what you were doing to Usagi-
sama... (shudders)]
Part II
As Serenity entered her daughter's room. Little Usagi ran up to her,
tears streaming down her face. She clung to one of her mother's legs,
burying her face in it. Her little body trembling in fear.
"Usagi, Usagi listen to me," Serenity said desperately. "Usagi!" she
said more sternly. Usagi snapped her head up and stared at her mother.
"Gomen," Serenity said a little more softly, "Listen carefully,
Small Lady. When you go back to the past I won't know who you are."
"Aren't you coming with me?"
[Flashman: Why do I get the feeling that the answer is ultimatly
going to be "no?"
Sakura: You watched too many things dealing with people running from
child abuse when you were little?]
Serenity brushed a tear off of her daughter's face. "I'm going to
come with you," Serenity said, "But we have to hurry. Just remember I
won't know you." <I'm sorry, little one.> Serenity sadly thought as
she reached into her pocket for the Time Key, <I should have left
long ago.> She turned to her daughter, "Usagi-chan, this is the Time
Key. Keep it close to your heart. If we get separated, command it to
take you where you want to go. There is a guardian that will help
you." She gave her daughter a gentle hug. "Do you understand?"
"Hai," Usagi said. She was trying to be brave but her mother was
acting different. She took the Time Key and hung it around her neck.
She looked at it, marveling in its design and colors.
"Are you ready to go on our trip?" Serenity asked.
Usagi was about to respond when a voice cut through the air. "You
aren't going anywhere." It was quiet, too quiet for normal speech,
but the edge it carried was sharp and deadly.
[(All three reviewers growl again.)]
Whirling around both Usagi and Serenity let out a small cry. There
standing in the doorway was Endymion. A small trickle of blood
running down his face. Clutched in his hand was a large knife.
Serenity snatched up the poker and placed herself between Usagi and
Endymion.
Endymion sneered, "I'm not going to tolerate any more. I never loved
that MONSTER! I loved you once, but YOU betrayed ME!" His voice had
became a snarl, "You're going to pay, and continue to pay for that."
He took a step forward.
[(Flashman notices Sakura and Trident staring at him intently.)
Flashman: WHAT?!
Sakura: Oh nothing important. Just that I remember God Boy telling
you once that he was discussing something with a friend of his that
TRIO sparked an idea that Serenity and Endymions marriage wasn't as
happy as it seemed and I seem to remember in the first part Endymion
saying something about Chibi-Usa not being his.
Trident: Is it at all possible...
Flashman: I hope not. (Shudders)]
Usagi didn't move, she was too scared to. Endymion had always been a
frightening figure to her and, after this morning, she was too scared
to anger her father anymore. Her hesitation, though, was all the time
that Endymion needed. Lunging forward, he snatched the poker out of
Serenity's hands and with another quick blow sent her sprawling onto
the floor.
[Flashman:(A barely suppresed rage filling his voice) I hope you die
a slow death involving painful, blistering, pus filled sores that
make you slowly degenerate into a vegatable physicaly, with your mind
intact and Serenity gets to laugh in your face and after years of
being bed ridden, with only a filthy bed pan and the rats that occupy
it for company, then... maybe, you pass away.
S/T: Amen.]
She saw her father raise the poker. Curling into a ball, clutching
the Key, she tightly shut her eyes and started to whimper. <Please
Crystal Key take me to my Mommy. Take me back to the past so I can
make Daddy love me! Where he won't hurt me or Mommy!> She felt a
tingling sensation. The last clear sound she heard was of Endymion
howling with rage. <Please Crystal Key, help me!!!> A single tear
rolled down her cheek as reality slipped away and she found herself
in the stream of time.
[All: YAY!!!!
Sakura: None of us have ever really liked Chibi-Usa, but you gotta
feel happy that she got away from that... that... BEAST.]
******
Present day Tokyo was having fine weather. The April day was warm yet
not overly hot. The freshness that had been released after the
dormancy of winter seemed to blossom and flourish. It being a
Saturday, people were out of doors to enjoy the weather before they
were forced back to work or school on Monday.
[Flashman: In other words, it was a day where the You-Know-What hits
the fan.
Trident: I thought that was only in Nerima.
Sakura: Happens in Juuban too.]
Tsukino Usagi stretched as she yawned. Humming to herself, she got up
and started to dress. Today was going to be a great day. She planned
to spend most of it with her one and only love, Chiba Mamoru. Only
giving a minimal glance to her bookbag that contained the latest
mountain of homework, Usagi trotted from the room.
[Flashman: So... this is before "the betrayal" that Endymion talked
about.
Sakura: If Usagi does go with another... PLEASE don't make it with
Saiya.
Trident: We would rather see her with Tatiwaki KUNO before that.]
"Look who's up?" Shingo sneered out.
"Stow it, Shingo!" Usagi snapped. She then walked over to her brother
and, reaching out, patted him on the head, "Or I'll tell Mika that
you got little hearts on your undies." It wasn't true but right at
the moment Mika was a sensitive subject with Shingo. Shingo was about
to retort angrily and then decided it wasn't worth the hassle. Usagi
smiled to herself as his door closed behind him. <That was kinda fun.
Have to remember that one.>
[(Flashman and Sakura have both their hands over their mouths as they
try to hold in their laughs. Trident fights to keep his mouth his
normal neutral line as a large grin trys to force its way on.)
Flashman: Oh hell.
All:BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!]
"Good morning, Mom!" she called cheerily, "Smells good!"
"Hai, it's a cake," Ikuko said, "It's for dessert so don't even think
of touching it." She glared seriously at her daughter who had
proceeded to stuff a slightly stale piece of toast into her mouth.
"Where are you off to?"
"The park," Usagi said. <To meet Mamo-chan...> She sighed, he was so
dreamy! She could spend her entire life looking at him... in between
bites of food, of course.
[Trident:(Normal monitone) Of course.]
"Are you meeting a boy?"
"Just a friend," Usagi chirped and then scooted out the front door.
Ikuko watched her daughter go and gave a sigh before turning back to
her cooking. Usagi almost floated down the street. She was in such
good spirits that at first she didn't notice the noise.
[Sakura:(Scrunches her nose [cutely] in confusion) Funny. I thought
Ikuko knew about and didn't mind Mamoru, and it was Kenji that didn't
approve.]
However, as she drew closer to the source, Usagi became aware of it.
<Sounds like somebody's crying,> Usagi thought and started to look
around, <Sounds like a little kid.> She started to grow concerned.
What had happened? Usagi started to search in earnest this time and,
within a few seconds, she found the source.
And the sight she saw mad her gasp. A little girl, no more than seven,
curled into a ball. Her hair was a vibrant strawberry blonde. It
was done up in "rabbit ear" odangos. She was wearing a set of shoes
and a little blue track outfit.
Slowly, cautiously, as not to frighten the little girl, Usagi
approached and said in a soft voice, "Are you okay, honey?"
[Flashman: Not exactly.]
The girl's head turned suddenly. As her eyes fell on Usagi, she
stared sadly for a long moment. Then gathering herself up, she shot
forward latching onto Usagi and hiding her face cried out, "MOMMY!"
To say that Usagi was stunned would have been an understatement.
[Trident: That is stating the obvious.
Sakura: I don't know... the scene might have worked better if you had
cut immediatly on Chibi-Usa crying "MOMMY!" Especially since the
nest line somewhat restates what was just said.]
******
It was several seconds before Usagi could speak again. It had been
such a desperate move, as if the child feared to be away from Usagi,
that at first she wasn't sure what to make of it. Gently, she placed
a hand on the girl's head and said softly, "Is your Mommy hurt?" She
could tell that the girl had at least one bruise, that was evident.
However, she got the rather uneasily feeling that the little girl had
more.
[(Again, all three reviewers growl and Sakura starts glowing blue
while Trident starts glowing gold.)]
"Mommy, I found you!" the little girl sniffled out, "I got here and
looked all over but I got lost..." She shivered and gave Usagi's legs
another squeeze, "I'm scared, Mommy."
Gently taking the girl's hands, Usagi pulled them away so she could
kneel. Slowly reaching up, she gently brushed a stray tear away
before saying, "Who are you?" Usagi wanted to add, "Why are you
calling me Mommy?" but something stopped her. <Little one, are you in
trouble?> she thought and gazed at the young face. Her eyes were
puffy with tears, a haunted look was present in her eyes and they
darted about nervously.
"Mommy said that she wouldn't remember me," the little girl spoke
softly. Her voice was hoarse from crying, "I'm Tsukino Usagi." She
blinked as her mother's face slowly turned to surprise.
"Nani?" Usagi squeaked out, "Your name's Tsukino Usagi?!?"
[Trident:(His glow fades) Why is she calling for a Nanny?
Sakura:(Sighs as hers fades as well) Dummy. Nani means "What" in
Japanese.]
"Hai!" She looked at Usagi sadly, "You don't believe me?" The tiny
flame of hope that had sprung up in the girl's eyes died. And Usagi
winced at its passing. She was all alone in a strange world. <Mommy
said I'd meet her past self.> She didn't really understand the
concept but the girl in front of her matched the pictures. She
sniffled, "I wouldn't fib," she said softly. <I hope Daddy doesn't
think I'm fibbing.> She shivered, <Daddy doesn't like it when I fib.>
Instinctively, she raised her hands.
[Again all three growl and the auras around Trident and Sakura return,
twice as big as before as Flashman pulls out and starts sharpening
the Sentai Saber.)]
"Honey," Usagi said softly, "Why did you come here?"
"You said I could go on a trip." She sadly looked at Usagi then
something occurred to her. "You said that you had a cat named Luna.
You said Luna could talk." Usagi lifted her hand to her lips and gave
a little gasp. Seeing this she tried one last desperate thing. "You
told me that you came from the Moon."
"Kami-sama," Usagi breathed out, "You're telling the truth." The
little girl smiled, happy to see that her mother believed her, or she
hoped that her mother believed her.
The little girl leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Usagi's
neck, "You believe me," she said softly. "I'm glad I found you, Mommy.
I love you."
[(All three start sniffling and the auras fade again.)]
Usagi couldn't help but sniffle. She went to give a hug of her own
but found that the little girl gave a yelp of pain and stiffened her
body. "Gomen!" Usagi said hurriedly, "Are you hurt?" She only felt a
little tremble. <I gotta get Mom! But what can I say...> After some
thought, Usagi said, "Don't worry, I won't leave you. But you have to
listen. I have a plan..."
******
Tsukino Ikuko was just setting the frosted cake into the fridge to
keep fresh when the front door burst open and her she heard her
daughter's voice call out, "Mom! I think we need to call the police!"
Now a mother dreads hearing words along those lines. Assuming the
worst, Ikuko sat the cake down and then rushed from the room.
"What's the matter, Usagi-chan?!?" she said in a worried tone of
voice.
"Mom," Usagi said, "My cousin's been hurt."
"Cousin???" Ikuko came up short, "What cousin?!?" The tone still had
worry but it also contained confusion. Slowly, Usagi reached behind
her and slowly drew out the little girl. Her "cousin" clutched at
Usagi's legs and hid her face. She wasn't sure who this woman was.
Ikuko had seen the yellowing bruise on the child's face and tears
that were drying and her motherly instincts kicked in. "Kami-sama!
What happened?!?" As she took a step forward to try and see what
other damage there was, the little girl gave a whimper of fear and
hid behind Usagi's legs again.
"Mom," Usagi said warningly, "Like I said I think we need to tell the
police." <What type of monster would do this to a little girl?>
[Flashman: You DON'T want to know.
(The auras return. Bigger then ever.)]
"Mom?" Shingo called from the stairs, "What's..."
"Shingo, go wait in your room, please," Ikuko directed. Shingo
recognized the tone and headed back up the stairs. Crouching down,
she looked into the small child's eyes. She had peeked around Usagi's
legs. In a soft voice she said, "Honey? What's your name?"
"Tsukino Usagi," came the quiet reply. It was followed by a sniffle.
"It'll be okay, honey," Ikuko said reassuringly, "We'll get you some
help." Getting up she headed towards the phone. Small Lady looked
towards her mother who smiled down at her. The plan seemed to be
working but she kept her tight hold. She didn't want to lose her
mother again.
[Flashman:(takes several practice swings with the Sentai Saber) She'd
better not... Doug.
(With the auras glowing around Sakura and Trident and Flashman
holding the Sentai Saber, the three look VERY dangerous.)]
******
<This is not the way I thought I'd spend my Saturday,> Ikuko thought.
She was sitting in a small waiting area with two police officers,
and a social worker. Rubbing her forehead, she sighed. "Usagi's right.
She does have a family resemblance," she said, "I do have some
family that live in Okinawa. I haven't seen them for a long time. I
vaguely remember a distant cousin of Usagi's that had a baby. That
would fit the child's age."
"Would you happen to have an address or a name?" one of the officers
asked.
"I could look around," Ikuko said, "Off the top of my head, I can't
really remember." She looked at her watch and said, "I wonder what's
taking them so long."
"Tsukino-san, if the doctor was any indication when she came to get
Usagi to help, then that would mena she's likely being careful not to
frighten the child." Haruna Koume said, "We appreciate your help."
[Trident: I think you meant to type "mean" and not "mena".]
They sat silently for a few moments before the doctor entered the
room a grim expression on her face. Giving a sigh she slumped into a
chair and shook her head. Ikuko took on a concerned expression, "What
is it?" she asked, "Is it bad?!?"
"Worst then it first appeared. The good news is that there was NO
sign of sexual assault, recent or otherwise." She puffed out a breath
before saying, "However, there was extensive physical abuse, multiple
bruises, fresh welts, and the beginnings of malnutrition." Running a
hand through her hair, she said, "Although I'm not qualified to offer
firm medical opinions on the psychological aspects, I would say that
she appears frightened of everything that's new and she definitely
has misgivings about anybody she doesn't know."
[Sakura:(Trembling with rage) That... that... MONSTER!
Trident:(Popping out his trident) He must pay for this outrage.
Flashman:(Errily calm) He's mine.]
"We can attest to that," one of the officers said, "When we arrived
at the Tsukino home the child became hysterical and started to scream
about her mother not letting us take her back to her dad." A
quizzical expression crossed her face, "Tsukino-san, why would a
cousin call your daughter `Mommy'?"
[Flashman: Hoo boy. This could get messy.]
"It could be that Usagi looks like her mother. She sees the
resemblance and wants that connection." Ikuko shrugged, "Speaking of
Usagi where is she?"
"She's helping her get dressed." Just as the doctor said that Usagi
and the little girl walked into the room.
"Mom, can Chibi-Usa stay with us?" Usagi asked hopefully.
"`Chibi-Usa'???" Ikuko said, "I thought her name was Usagi."
"It is but that would get kinda confusing," Usagi answered.
[Flashman: Yeah, like having another guy named Christian or Chris in
the same room with me. It gets so confusing who's talking to who
sometimes.]
"I don't know Usagi," Ikuko said, "I think that Haruna-san would be
better able to help than us."
Chibi-Usa let go of Usagi's hand and, padding, over said, "Please
Ikuko-mama, I promise I'll be good. I want to stay with Mommy." She
looked sadly up at Ikuko, "I'd be really scared." She placed her
hands behind back and tilting her head looked at Ikuko and at the
floor at the same time and gave a little sniffle. <I don't want to
leave Mommy,> she thought, <Mommy helped me when Daddy was mad.> A
small tear rolled down her face.
[Flashman: You may want to delete that comma after "padding".]
Usagi walked over and crouching beside her looked hopefully at her
mother. She turned on her best pleading face. "I really want to help
her, Mom." Usagi said. <She says I'm her Mommy and, even if I'm not,
she wants someone to love her and help her. I'm Sailor Moon. I should
be able to help her! And when I get my hands on that... that...> She
just couldn't think of a suitably disgusting word.
[All: We've got some.
Flashman: She's probably not going to take it well when she finds out
who it is.]
"Tsukino-san, if she is family, we would prefer that," Koume said,
"Right at the moment, all our placement homes are full and there's a
waiting list." Koume smiled, "Staying with family, especially when
she knows someone, can be comforting."
Ikuko thought about it, <This little girl needs help.> Ikuko thought,
<She's scared, in a strange place and hurt. How can I say no?> She
looked at Chibi-Usa and saw a resemblance to her own daughter,
especially when she was the same age. The face, the hair and even the
sad eyes were similar but different. "Okay, if Haruna-san approves it.
"
"YAY!!!" Chibi-Usa yelled and for the first time that day a smile was
on her face.
End of Part II
_________________________
Flashman: Good work. Keep it up.
Sakura:(Still glowing blue) Yeah, but if you DON'T make this Endymion
pay for what he's done...
Tridnet:(Still glowing gold)... we WILL.
Sakura:(Turns to Flashman) If you'll excuse us for a moment Flash-san,
we gotta go burn off this extra ki.
Flashman: How ya gonna do that?
Trident: We will use those cardboard cutouts of "him" that Sakura
made last week.
Flashman:(Shocked) You DIDN'T!
Sakura:(VEG) I did. Let's go Tri.
(The two fighters stand up and leave. Soon, explosions can be heard
from outside.)
Flashman: Oh well. Anyway, like I said, good work. It will be
interesting to see how this Chibi-Usa reacts to Mamoru and to find
out why Usagi went with somebody else for a while and got Chibi-Usa
from it. Till then...
May The Spirit Preserve You!