Mama's Hand
                                    By
                               Douglas Helm

                             Edited/Co-Plotted
                                    By
                         "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl
                                Rated : R

Part XXI - Battles of the Heart

On a rooftop some distance from the elementary school, Usagi stood, the
other Senshi surrounding her. Mamoru stood a few feet away glowering at
the street below. The only sound on the roof was the muted traffic and
the wind. Its slightly chilly fingers making Usagi shiver.

Rei and Makoto had not settled their differences but at Usagi's request
had stopped arguing. Taking a step away from the others, Usagi was about
to speak when Makoto placed a hand on her arm. Turning to her friend,
Usagi gave a small smile.

"It'll be okay, Mako-chan," Usagi reassured before turning to face
Mamoru. He had turned to look at Usagi, "Mamo... Mamoru-kun, gomen. I-I
know I should have given you some type of explanation before now..." She
faltered as Mamoru gave her a hurt look and partially turned. "You know
that Chibi-Usa was abused by her father." Mamoru gave a stiff nod, "What
I didn't have the courage to tell you... or didn't want to see was that
Chibi-Usa is associating you for with her abuser."

"NANI?!?" Mamoru demanded, a shocked look coming onto his face.

"You look like her father..." Usagi said and then taking a breath, she
added in a softer voice, "You ARE Chibi-Usa's father." She could feel
her eyes filling with tears. Sniffling a little, she lowered her head.

"What does that have to..." Mamoru trailed off and paused. After a few
moments, his features twisted into an enraged expression. "Are you
inferring that I would hurt that little girl?!?" he demanded angrily.

"You better believe it!" Makoto snarled back while taking a step to come
alongside Usagi.

"Hold it!" Rei shouted, "What are you two getting at?!" She was feeling
confused and hurt. The confusion was over the whole situation. The hurt
was over the thought that Usagi would go to Makoto first with her
problems instead of her. <I thought I was your best friend,> Rei thought
angrily.

"Mako-chan," Usagi said warningly. Lifting her head to look at Mamoru,
she said, "Mamoru, you are Chibi-Usa's stepfather. You aren't her
natural father." She could feel her throat tightening, "In the future,
Endymion... he-he beats her. Endymion beats me." Her bottom lip trembled
as a small trickle of hot salty tears streaked down her cheeks.

"You have to be wrong!" Mamoru protested taking a step towards them. He
glared balefully at Makoto who stepped in between him and Usagi. "I
would never hurt her!" He cried to Makoto, "How can you think that I
would ever hurt Usagi?!? Even Endymion under the spell of Beryl couldn't
truly hurt her!" His face was now red with anger, veins were visibly
pulsing with his hot enraged blood, and his nostrils flared.

"What type of BAKA nonsense is this?!?" Rei demanded of Usagi who had
covered her face, "Well?!?"

Usagi whirled around, lowering her hands to glare at Rei. "Do you THINK
I want this?!?" Usagi demanded, "Do you think I wanted to say this?"
Clenching her fists, she let out a little sob, its sound so painful and
alone. "I still love Mamoru. The evidence is there though," Usagi
sniffled and after several breaths calm slightly. Turning to Mamoru, she
said, "She sees you as her father because you ARE her father. Her
stepfather. Your future self beats her at any provocation."

"Usako," Mamoru said, his voice sounding pained, "Why would I ever hurt
you? Why would I ever hurt that precious child? I don't understand,
Usagi. I would never harm a child. Even if she didn't know me." He took
another step but was prevented from reaching out by Makoto's hostile
look.

"Mamoru, I didn't tell you..." Usagi's voice faltered as she started to
cry again. After a moment, she managed to choke out, "I didn't tell you
because I was scared. I was scared for Chibi-Usa; I was confused. You
have to understand, Chibi-Usa loves you with all her heart but being
around you isn't good for her." Mamoru tried to speak but nothing came
out. "The evidence is there. A pattern that Haruna-san told my parents
and me about IS there. Chibi-Usa is too... `well trained' not to lie.
She would be afraid of you finding out."

After a few moments, Mamoru said, "Don't you think I could get help? Do
you really believe that I would not do everything in my power to make
sure that you were safe?" <That's why I want to marry you.> "Think
Usako, you've told me. I can go and get help. Help me. With you by my
side, I can get past what would ever cause me to be a monster. I see why
your parents won't allow you to marry me now. But if I get help..." he
trailed off as Usagi was shaking her head.

"Gomen," Usagi whispered out, her breath being carried by the cool air,
"Mamo-chan." She had to call him that at least once more, "Mamo-chan, I
can't marry you. Even with the love I still have for you, I've lost my
faith in you."

It was still on the rooftop, as if the world had stopped. After a few
moments, Mamoru transformed. Walking silently over to the edge of the
building, Tuxedo Kamen threw one look back towards Usagi and, with that,
was gone as he jumped over the edge.

With Mamoru leaving so did Usagi's control and she finally broke down,
tearfully falling to her knees, trying to assuage the wound in her heart
that would likely never heal.

                                 ******

As Mamoru and Usagi were talking on a rooftop, Maia was trying to
comfort Chibi-Usa. She liked the older girl as a friend. In fact, it was
a type of badge to be worn proudly. As they waited around the
schoolyard, Maia gave her friend a hug and said, "Are you okay,
Chibi-Usa-chan?"

"Hai, arigato," Chibi-Usa said softly. She was shaking slightly, her
tummy twisting in knots as she worried about her mother and what her
father would say. <I hope Daddy doesn't hit her,> she thought as she
hugged Maia back.

After a few moments, Maia asked, "Chibi-Usa-chan, is your mommy Sailor
Moon?"

Chibi-Usa squirmed a little. <Mommy said it was a secret and that I'm
not allowed to tell.> Unconsciously, at that thought, Chibi-Usa flushed.
<Mommy's a Senshi and they're bad.> She was ashamed that her mother was
a Senshi but they had fought off that bad person who was trying to hurt
them. <Maybe Daddy got mixed up.> "I'm not allowed to tell."

Maia's interest perked up at this comment. Pressing a little more, she
said, "Aw, please Chibi-Usa-chan?" She smiled sweetly, "I thought you
were my friend?" Pouting slightly, she sent a pleading look towards
Chibi-Usa. She wasn't about to resort to the tricks she used on her
parents; Chibi-Usa WAS a friend after all.

"But... I'm not allowed to," Chibi-Usa said softly, "It's a secret."

"I'll tell you a secret," Maia offered, her curiosity demanding to know
the truth. <It'd be really neat for Chibi-Usa's mommy to be Sailor
Moon!>

An internal battle raged inside Chibi-Usa as she fought the desire to
tell Maia with the fear of the consequences if she did reveal that her
mother was a Senshi. There was also a fear that Maia wouldn't be her
friend anymore. <Maybe if Maia likes them, then I know that Daddy got
mixed up.> Leaning over, Chibi-Usa whispered, "Hai, my mommy's Sailor
Moon and Daddy's T-Tu- you know the guy in the hat."

"Really?!?" Maia questioned her eyes going wide with awe, "That's SO
neat!" She then giggled in delight.

"Promise you won't tell anyone," Chibi-Usa begged, "My mommy said that
I'd be in really big trouble if I told about her." She shivered
slightly; it was a mixture of nervousness and the cold wind.

"I promise," Maia stated firmly. Leaning over and cupping her hand
around Chibi-Usa's ear, she started whispering her secret to complete
the deal. As Maia finished speaking, Chibi-Usa's eyes enlarged and she
looked with some disbelief at Maia. "It's true."

Chibi-Usa started to giggle. "That's funny."

"Hai, you should have saw my daddy's face. It got really red. He yelled
a lot too." Maia giggled again and gave Chibi-Usa an exaggerated wink.

                                 ******

It was during the lunch period that Chibi-Usa found herself in a bit of
trouble. She stared at the toilet paper dispenser with some disbelief;
it was empty.

<What am I going to do?> Chibi-Usa thought to herself. She had just
finished using the toilet and had discovered that the toilet paper was
gone in this particular stall. Folding her arms, she glared towards the
dispenser in disapproval. "Baka thing!" she mumbled out.

After a few minutes of deep planning, Chibi-Usa sighed as her stomach
rumbled. <I'm hungry. I haven't eaten my lunch yet.> She licked her lips
in anticipation. "Baka toilet paper!" she growled again at the object
that was keeping her from her lunch.

"Is the toilet paper all gone?" came a voice from outside the stall.

Chibi-Usa jumped slightly. She hadn't heard anyone come in. "Hai," she
finally answered.

"Just a second," the voice called. Now Chibi-Usa heard some footsteps
and a rustling motion. After a few moments, a roll of toilet paper came
rolling into the stall. "There you go."

"Arigato," Chibi-Usa said and blushed slightly. <Why didn't I think
about that?> Picking up the paper, she finished up and exited the stall.
She was about to thank the helpful girl but whoever had been in there
before was now gone. Shrugging, Chibi-Usa proceeded to wash her hands
before leaving.

"Hi," a girl called. She was about the same height as Chibi-Usa. Her
brown hair was tied into a ponytail and her eyes danced with some mirth.
"I check them before I go in."

"Hi, arigato," Chibi-Usa said.

The new girl titled her head and stared at Chibi-Usa for several seconds
before saying, "I'm Sayama Momoko. I haven't seen you around here
before."

"I-I'm Tsukino Usagi, but everybody calls me Chibi-Usa," Chibi-Usa said
softly, unsure how to respond to Momoko's other statement. Her stomach
rumbled. "I guess I should go and have some lunch," Chibi-Usa said.

"Chibi-Usa?" Momoko questioned then before Chibi-Usa could explain, she
shrugged and asked, "Are you in the second grade?"

"Momoko-chan... You're in the second grade?!?" Chibi-Usa asked in awe,
her eyes enlarging as she started at Momoko.

"Hai," Momoko responded now looking puzzled, "And call me `Momo'. Only
my father calls me `Momoko' and that's when I'm in trouble. Aren't you
in the second grade? You look old enough to be there. You must be at
least seven, maybe eight." Taking Chibi-Usa by the arm, she added,
"Let's go get you something to eat before your tummy bursts out and
demands food by itself."

Chibi-Usa giggled nervously as she was led down the hall. <Maybe Maia
knows who she is. Boy, she must be really smart if she's in the second
grade.> "Momo-chan, I'm in the first grade," Chibi-Usa admitted without
hesitation, "You must be really smart to be in the second grade." Then
she furrowed slightly as Momo stopped to stared at her with some
disbelief. "Nani?" Chibi-Usa questioned.

"This, I have to hear," Momo declared and started down the hallway
again.

                                 ******

A day after the failed attack, Rubeus paced around the central meeting
area. His mood, which was already foul, turned darker as Esmeraudo
appeared. The flaring of the emerald light in the eight mirrors that
surrounded the circular platform was just about as grating on Rubeus as
her laughter.

"Well, well," Esmeraudo said while smirking, "Only one more chance,
Rubeus. Why don't you give yourself to Endymion for punishment now?" She
fluttered her fan for a moment before folding it. "Why don't you realize
that it's hopeless? You've failed and so have those lower lifeforms you
call minions."

Now typically, Rubeus had no sympathy for his underlings but hearing
Esmeraudo insult them was like an invasion into his territory. Pulling
himself up to his full height, Rubeus glared towards his tormentor
defiantly. "The only thing I know, Esmeraudo," he said in a low voice,
"Is that I know where the Senshi go to school and what they look like."

Her smirk turned into a smile but there was no warmth in it. Walking
closer, Esmeraudo said, "Watch how you address me, runt. I'm of a higher
station than you." Poking Rubeus with her fan, she added, "So why didn't
you follow the girls home and take them out, one by one?"

Rubeus batted the fan away and gave Esmeraudo a smug look. "Because they
didn't go home. Also an animal tends to defend the home more viciously
than anywhere else." He turned and walked over to one of the mirrors.
"Besides it wouldn't be much fun to attack with only a few bystanders to
watch. Better to crush the Senshi in front of a large mass." Turning
back to face Esmeraudo, Rubeus said, "Also the Senshi will have to make
a hard choice, either transform in a large crowd..." His smile was now
gloating, "Or they'll not fight back. Either way it causes havoc and
chaos." <I won't tell you the rest, Esmeraudo.>

                                 ******

Mamoru poked at his food. His lunch wasn't very appealing and he wasn't
very hungry anyway. Stifling a yawn, Mamoru sighed. Unlike the pervious
nights, the dream hadn't came. It hadn't come because Mamoru hadn't
slept. Yesterday morning's revelations kept running through his mind; he
didn't want to believe it. He didn't want to believe that Usagi was
turning against him. That had hurt. It still did but how was he going to
tell her that? How was he going to convince Usagi to give him another
chance?

"I'm glad you're not working today," came the sudden voice from the
entrance onto the balcony. Whirling around, Mamoru saw that it was
Sailor Moon standing in the entrance, her features framed by the hair
that was gently moving in the breeze.

"What are you doing here?!?" Mamoru questioned. He had tried to keep the
hurt from his voice but failed. Sailor Moon detransformed and entered
into the living room before closing the balcony door.

As she started to speak, Usagi didn't turn to face Mamoru. Her voice was
low, thick sounding, her head hung low as if in shame. "Gomen nasai,"
she said, "I-I know I hurt you, Mamoru. I was confused, upset, scared."
As she turned, Mamoru couldn't see anything but the top of her head. "I
should have trusted you. I should have told you sooner but... I just
couldn't."

"Why?" Mamoru nearly shouted, a pained expression coming onto his face,
"Why Usagi? We've loved each other through death and rebirth."

Usagi remained silent for several seconds before lifting her head. "I
guess," Usagi said slowly, sounding unsure of herself, "I guess I got
too wrapped up in it all. I love Chibi-Usa with all my heart; when my
parents found out about you looking like her stepfather, they told me to
keep away from you." She stopped as she saw Mamoru frown. <He doesn't
believe me and I don't blame him.>

However, that wasn't why Mamoru was frowning. <That's about the same
time that the dreams started.> "So you started trying to keep away from
me?" he asked, trying to cover up the creepy feeling he had just gotten.

"Hai," Usagi said after a pause, "But you kept coming around. A little
bit after that, Chibi-Usa had an accident and... well... she told me
stuff about her stepfather." Usagi shivered a little bit and looked
towards Mamoru. How could this gentle man turn into such a monster? "I
needed to keep Chibi-Usa away from you. It wasn't healthy for her to be
around you. She'd keep trying to behave at... uh, I guess what her
father wanted her to behave at."

Mamoru scowled slightly before saying, "You mean that Chibi-Usa would
keep pushing herself to `be good' even above her already excellent
behavior?" Usagi nodded. "But why didn't you tell me? I would have
understood more."

"I DON'T KNOW!" Usagi nearly wailed before taking several deep breaths,
"I couldn't tell my parents everything and at that point, I didn't
believe that you would hurt anyone but you started to get really
possessive of ME." Clenching her fists, Usagi tried to gain back some of
her composure. "Then when Ami came and told me that you weren't the
father and the evidence that she and Luna had uncovered, then I got
scared!"

"What evidence?" Mamoru questioned starting to feel irritated. It was
several seconds before Usagi spoke again. And as she spoke, Mamoru could
feel his blood running cold, chilling him straight to the core of his
being. At the end, when she had told him as much as she knew Mamoru bent
forward and covered his face with his hands. "Usagi," he said after
several seconds of silence, "I still don't understand why you didn't
come to me directly. What was keeping you back?" After several seconds
of silence, he looked up and found Usagi nervously fidgeting, "Nani?"

"Uh well, there was the matter of um... your arrest record," Usagi said
nervously. <I won't run out on him. He deserves to know all of the truth
and...>

Mamoru sighed and, getting up, he walked over to stand a few feet away
from Usagi. Flushing slightly, he looked towards her and said, "That was
when I made a large mistake. My manly ego got in the way of my common
sense." Usagi just gave him a puzzled look. "I guess I was about
seventeen at the time and I was invited to a party. At this secret party
were several bottles of liquor."

"You got drunk?" Usagi questioned.

"Well sort of," Mamoru said rubbing the back of his neck, "We were
playing a game. Seeing how much we could drink. Anyway I won. Seems the
`champ' that was at this party didn't like it. From what I can tell, he
took a swing at me and I defended myself and broke his nose."

"But..." Usagi trailed off, she felt rather queasy.

"Oh well, I'm not sure what happened next until I woke up in jail. The
leader and his four buddies testified to what happened. I couldn't prove
that I was innocent, mainly because nobody wanted to contradict him.
Also, it looked like what they were saying was true because they were
the ones with the damage and I was clean. Not a scratch on me." He
couldn't help but smile at that - still drunk and able to fight five
guys effectively.

"That isn't funny!" Usagi snapped.

"Gomen," Mamoru said sobering, "I got a light sentence because I was a
top student and I never had any trouble before. The judge chalked it up
to being drunk and told me to keep away from the stuff. I did and
haven't touch the stuff just in case."

"I gotta go," Usagi said suddenly and transforming back started for the
balcony, "I-I gotta think about this."

"You believe me, don't you?" Mamoru asked but all Usagi's eyes showed
was confusion, "Usako, what can I do to prove that I'm trustworthy? What
can I do to gain you back?!?" Mamoru pleaded.

Usagi looked at Mamoru and her heart gave in. She wouldn't lie to him
but she didn't have to answer him directly either. "I have to go. If you
want my trust, then stay away from Chibi-Usa unless she's in danger.
Please Mamoru, do this for me. If you can stay away from her, then that
will be a start." Hearing the clock chime softly, she gave a squeal, "Oh
no! I'm so late!!!" and with that, she ran over to the balcony door and,
opening it, darted out headed back to school.

Mamoru chuckled and shook his head. "Some things never change," Mamoru
said softly before chuckling again.

                                 ******

Several minutes later, Mamoru was walking along the sidewalk. He needed
some air to clear his head and figure out what to do. The conversation
he had just had with Usagi was rather surreal, as if it was illusionary.
He just couldn't get the nagging suspicion out of his mind.

<What's going on? First I have this dream and it tells me keep Usagi
close to keep her safe. I practically force myself on her and frighten
her. I've never scared Usagi before.> He was also hurt that Mercury
would go digging about in his past but he could understand it. She was
doing her job. <If I can convince Usagi that I'm trustworthy, then she
can help me get past whatever turned me into... that monster.> Mamoru
still couldn't really bring himself to believe it. In a way, it seemed
almost like a kangaroo court. No matter what he said, he'd be guilty.
Turning a corner, Mamoru continued to brood. <Usagi didn't even tell the
girls and I...> He came to a halt as a memory floated to his mind. <I
said that the girls were bad!> That was a puzzlement.

That's when he was jerked back to reality by the screaming. Looking
around, he found himself at Chibi-Usa's school once again and there was
screaming coming from inside. Running over to a secluded spot, Mamoru
transformed and then headed back towards the school.

"Why didn't Luna give me a communicator?!" Tuxedo Kamen cursed softly as
he sprang over the closed entrance gate and across the playground. As he
reached the set of front doors, a bell started to ring, the fire alarm.
<I don't think that's a fire...> Tuxedo Kamen said and, jumping up,
landed on a second story window ledge.

What his mind was telling him was even more surreal then the
conversation with Usagi. Whether by luck or some unseen guiding hand,
Mamoru had leapt up to one of the windows in the classroom where the
commotion was taking place. Cowering in corners and under desks,
students huddled and cried. And standing right in the middle of the
chaos was Rubeus!

"Rabbit! I know you're in here!" Rubeus snarled joyfully and blasted one
of the desks. He knew exactly where she was so he just wanted to have a
little fun. Playing with his target before going in for the kill. "Come
on out and I'll take you back to Daddy!"

Whether he was Chibi-Usa's true father or not, Tuxedo Kamen wasn't about
to put up with this. Busting into the room, he snarled and without
preamble, let fly his deadly roses. Rubeus surprised dodged but one of
the roses shattered his kneecap.

Giving a snarl of pain, Rubeus launched his own attack towards Tuxedo
Kamen who easily dodged. It blew out a section of the wall. The children
screamed and cowered even more. Tuxedo Kamen planted his foot on
something soft and, losing his balance, crashed to the floor.

"Kami-sama," Tuxedo Kamen breathed with some horror as he saw what was
obviously the teacher laying on the ground, a small amount of blood
running from her mouth. <She's dead,> a remote part of his mind said,
<Necks weren't meant to bend like that.>

                                 ******

Sailor Moon spat out the dirt that was in her mouth. After the last
attack by Karaberas, she had wound up face down in the dirt. "Mercury,
how'd they know where we went to school?!?" she whined as she got to her
feet.

Mercury shook herself slightly and lowering her visor started taking
readings. "Unknown but they might have followed us. One thing's for
sure, they're smarter than our previous enemies." Mercury said, "We have
to find a weakness. I estimate that this cover position will be
compromised in five seconds."

"Let's try, we have to make it quick too," Jupiter responded, "A
combined attack. Sailor Moon get ready with your attack." After Sailor
Moon nodded, Jupiter and Mercury moved off slightly and started their
attacks.

"There you are!" Karaberas shouted gleefully, "I thought you ran away."
With that, she sent her dark lightning crashing down scattering the
three Senshi in different directions.

"SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!" Jupiter shouted while she was dodging. "SHINE
AQUA ILLUSION!" Mercury chorused after dodging.

The combined attack slammed into Karaberas who was flung backwards.

"MOON PRINCESS HALATION!" Sailor Moon shouted out and, sweeping her
scepter around, launched the giant crescent moon.

Whether it was intentional or not, Karaberas stood up at exactly the
same time that the giant crescent moon made contact with her and in a
dazzling display of dark energy, Karaberas' head was severed. After
falling to the ground, her body and the now loose head were consumed in
the rampant dark energies for a moment before it was consumed. All that
remained was the burnt impression of Karaberas.

"NO!!!!" Sailor Moon said in distress, "I killed her!!!" She seemed to
be on the edge of tears.

"Go check on Chibi-Usa!" Jupiter ordered, "We'll go help the others!"

Sailor Moon stood for a long moment before nodding and headed off in the
direction of Chibi-Usa's school.

                                 ******

Both Tuxedo Kamen and Rubeus breathed heavily. "You aren't going to take
her!" Tuxedo Kamen snarled, his body was aching. He could hear Chibi-Usa
whimpering behind him. "Leave her alone!"

<I have to get her and get out of here!> Rubeus thought. "No way! Give
her to me!" Snarling, he launched another attack. It wasn't enough to
hurt Tuxedo Kamen but it was enough to knock him off his feet.

"No!" Chibi-Usa screamed as her father went sailing backwards. "Leave
him alone!" she shouted while stepping in front of her father, "You just
leave him alone!!!"

"Certainly," Rubeus said. This seemed to throw Chibi-Usa off-guard.
Rubeus took advantage of that and, lunging forward, grabbed Chibi-Usa.
"Gotcha!" Rubeus gloated.

"You monster put her down!!!" Tuxedo Kamen shrieked. <That's it!> It was
time to seriously harm this guy and there was no way to do that in his
Tuxedo Kamen form. So he shifted. Reaching deep within himself, he
summoned the part that was Prince Endymion and called it forth.

"What the?!?" Rubeus was shocked to say the least, and that was his
downfall. Desperate to get away from this stranger, Chibi-Usa did the
only thing she could, with both legs she kicked backwards. Rubeus didn't
even cry out. In shock, he dropped his hostage and fell to the ground.

"RUN!" Prince Endymion commanded and she did.

"No!" Rubeus howled and started his attack, "She will pay!!!" Forget
what Endymion thought, no one did that to him! But Endymion was quicker
and in a flashing gleam from the blade of his sword, it was all over.



Part XXII - Battle of the Mind

The rest of the week was hard on all of the Senshi, Chibi-Usa, and
Mamoru. Usagi had sunken into a depression again. She desperately wanted
to feel Mamoru's warm and comforting arms around her but she couldn't.
Chibi-Usa was having nightmares from her experience. All of them had
nightmares. Mamoru dreamt the now familiar dream but it was even more
intense. The Senshi dreamt about the killing they had done. Usagi
withdrew from the world at large and didn't speak. Her parents were
worried about her and Chibi-Usa.

Late on Friday night, Chibi-Usa bolted upright drenched in sweat. She
wasn't in Usagi's room now. A day before Rubeus' attack, she had been
moved into Shingo's room. Shingo had been moved into the attic room. At
first, Chibi-Usa thought it was great because having a room to herself
proved how well she was behaving. It also allowed her and Usagi some
time apart.

But now, she hated the room. She wanted to be with her mother. Slipping
from the bed, she padded softly over to the door and opened it. The
hallway was dark and silent. Slipping down the hallway, she paused at
Usagi's room. Her mother had asked her to try and stay in bed.

"I'm scared," Chibi-Usa breathed softly to herself. Reaching up, she was
about to open the door when she paused. "Would Mommy send me back to
bed?" She didn't want to take the chance of upsetting her mother. <Daddy
will help,> Chibi-Usa thought and padded down the hall towards the
stairs.

Once down the stairs, she picked up the telephone and dialed her
father's number. It was answered on the first ring. "Moshi moshi,"
Mamoru's voice said. Although not tired sounding, it was definitely
irritated.

"Daddy?" Chibi-Usa questioned softly.

"Chibi-Usa-chan, what are you calling at this hour for?" Mamoru
demanded. He couldn't help sounding annoyed. He was. Not only was he
doing what Usagi asked him but also he hadn't gotten much sleep the past
few days.

"Daddy, you said you'd ask Mommy if I could come live with you."

"I didn't ask her yet," Mamoru admitted, "Honey, you can't come live
with me."

Chibi-Usa gasped slightly, "Why Daddy? I love you a whole bunch and I've
been really, really good! Pretty please, can I come stay with you?"

"NO," Mamoru emphasized. <Better give her a reason to. I don't think
she'd understand the real truth.> "Chibi-Usa, don't fib to me. You were
very naughty!" he said sternly, "You were naughty and that's why you
can't live with me." <I hope this works...>

"I was bad?" Chibi-Usa questioned. She could feel herself near the edge
of crying more out of fear than anything else, "I thought I was being
good."

"You DARE question me?!?" Mamoru snarled. <Damn, that came out a little
too strongly.> "Chibi-Usa, I said you were bad and that's why you
couldn't come stay with me. Now GO TO bed!" With that, he hung up the
phone.

In the darkness, Chibi-Usa started to cry. Slowly, solemnly, she headed
for her room. <Daddy's going to punish me,> she thought sadly, <What did
I do wrong?!?> Once she was inside her room, she climbed onto her bed
and after snuggling deep within the covers, she cried herself to sleep.

                                 ******

Shortly after breakfast on Saturday morning, Chibi-Usa sat in her room.
A look of worry and fear was on her face. Picking up her stuffed rabbit,
she looked into his eyes for comfort and found a little.

"I'm scared, Floppy," the little girl admitted to the rabbit, "But if I
don't go, then Daddy will be even madder at me." She started towards the
door then stopped. <Mommy would try and keep me away from him. I have to
prove to him that I was good. I have to make him happy again!>

But the thought of going to her father's alone frightened her. After a
few seconds though, it was the fear of severer punishment if she didn't
go that settled the matter. Giving her teddy bear a hug, she walked over
to the door and after opening it, looked around. The hall seemed empty
and the house quiet. Slowly, she entered the hall and closed the door
before softly making her way to the top of the stairs.

<I don't hear anything...> Chibi-Usa thought while she strained her ears
to listen for noises coming from downstairs, then she heard her mother
giggling. <Mommy's in her room. That means that nobody else is at home!>
It was certainly a good piece of luck in Chibi-Usa's opinion. However,
she couldn't risk being discovered. Going to her father's was certainly
wrong. She crept slowly down the stairs and into the entrance hall.

Quickly, she put her shoes on and after taking one more look around,
slipped from the house. Chibi-Usa stood for a few seconds hand still
holding the door closed. <Is this right?> she questioned, <Sobo and
Mommy keep telling me to stay away from Daddy.> She could feel her
resolve slipping again then she remembered her past punishments for
disobeying her father.

Nearly jerking her hand away from the doorknob, she ran into the street
and after making sure she was facing in the right direction, headed for
her father's apartment. Chibi-Usa walked, nervously looking about,
clutching Floppy to her chest for protection.

The summer's day would be sunny and clear. Yet despite the day's warming
heat, Chibi-Usa shivered. Her desire of making her father happy again
driving her onward. Then she stopped; a large group of people was coming
down the street. Her heart started to pound. Tightening her grip, she
tried to move on. But as she pressed through the throng, she started to
feel trapped, enclosed. It seemed like an eternity to the small child
but after only a few seconds, she passed through the crowd.

Staggering over to an alleyway, Chibi-Usa walked inside a little way
before sitting sliding down one of the walls. Terror was present in her
eyes and her trembling had increased. "Mommy..." she whispered once
before starting to cry, "Where are you?" Holding Floppy close to her
face, Chibi-Usa cried softly. <Mommy, please come and get me!>

                                 ******

Usagi giggled at one of the manga she was reading but abruptly stopped
when Luna made a disgusted sound. "Nani?!?" Usagi demanded of her feline
mentor.

"Did you notice anything strange about Chibi-Usa?" Luna questioned from
her position on the bed. When Usagi blinked and then nodded Luna said,
"I thought you'd be worried about her... not reading a manga."

Usagi flushed slightly before saying, "I tried asking Chibi-Usa what the
problem was at breakfast but she wouldn't say anything. I thought she
wanted to be alone." She gave a shrug and said, "Dad's gone to work.
Mom's gone out with Shingo to by some clothes, so I thought I'd get in a
little time to myself before I take Chibi-Usa somewhere. Besides when I
was coming up from downstairs, I thought I heard her talking to Floppy."

"Something's just not right," Luna muttered, "Why don't you go check on
her? Maybe she'd like to do something with you. Maybe go visit Makoto or
Ami."

Usagi got up and, walking over to her door, opened it. After entering
the hallway, she walked over to Chibi-Usa's door and knocked on it. When
there was no reply coming, Usagi furrowed her brow. "Strange," she said
before raising her voice a little, "Chibi-Usa-chan?" Again there wasn't
any response. Giving a slightly harder rap on the door, Usagi waited.
<What's she doing?> Usagi thought.

"Strange, would she be downstairs?" Luna questioned.

"Don't know, maybe. Luna, you go check." Usagi opened the door and
looked into Chibi-Usa's room. "Nope, she isn't asleep." Checking the
bathroom and the other upstairs rooms, she discovered that no one was
around.

"She isn't downstairs!" Luna shouted up the steps.

Hurrying down the stairs, Usagi said worriedly, "And she isn't upstairs
either."

"Outside?" Luna asked but she was skeptical of that possibility.

"I don't think so and I KNOW she didn't go with Mom. Okay, you check the
street. I'll look around here one more time... THEN I call the girls."
Luna was impressed. Usagi was actually thinking for once instead of
panicking!

                                 ******

She wasn't sure how long she had been in the alley but at the sudden
noise she jerked and peered down into the gloomy interior. Nothing was
visible that would have caused the noise. <I don't want to go. I want to
go home!> she thought as she pushed herself up and wiped away the drying
tears. <But I have to make Daddy happy! He'll be angry if I don't go to
him. He'll hurt Mommy too.> "What do I do, Floppy?" Obviously Floppy
didn't respond but the questioned unleashed a memory. A memory in which
she had fled from her father. She had done something wrong and was
afraid to be punished so she had ran and hid. That had made the eventual
punishment even worse.

<I don't know what I did wrong. Maybe if I can show Daddy that I'm good,
he won't punish me.> Hugging Floppy for reassurance, Chibi-Usa was off
again but the further away she got from her mother, the closer she got
to her father and that scared her.

Her resolve to face her obviously angry father melted away and it was
only the threat of severer punishment that made her take each new step.
By the time she was at Mamoru's apartment building, Chibi-Usa had shed a
fresh set of tears, her skin was pale, and her eyes were haunted.

After making her way up to Mamoru's floor, Chibi-Usa looked down the
hallway. Her stomach felt as if it were tied in knots. Giving a whimper
of fear, Chibi-Usa took one step and then the other. By the time she was
standing in front of her father's door, Chibi-Usa wanted to run to hide.
But she couldn't and a part of herself watched in horrified fascination
as her small hand gently tapped on the door.

After a few moments, the door opened. Mamoru took on a confused
expression. In a tone of severe disapproval, Mamoru said, "What are you
doing here?!?" Chibi-Usa lowered her head, unable to respond, unable to
cry, unable to escape.

                                 ******

"Where could she be?!?" Usagi questioned as she and Makoto made their
way towards the park, "I can't believe she'd leave on her own."

Makoto nodded but then added, "Ami did have a point, Usagi-chan. The
enemy wouldn't have simply taken her either." <Not that there's any of
them around,> Makoto thought silently.

"You don't think...?" Usagi left the question hanging in the air,
"Mamoru took her?!?"

Makoto grimaced before saying, "Maybe not Mamoru... Maybe it was his
future self. He finally got tired of his underlings running the show and
he decided to get brave enough to come back." An evil smile spread
across Makoto's face, "I hope he came back. I want to have a long and
painful talk with him."

Usagi shivered slightly. After a few moments of silence, she activated
her communicator and said, "Ami-chan?"

"Gomen, Usagi-chan, nothing so far. Have you heard from Rei?" came the
voice of Ami.

"No, Rei's doing a fire reading. If she finds anything out, I suppose
she'll let us know. Anything from Minako?"

"No," Ami said, "She's checking around the schools. There was no trace
of any energy signatures that would indicate some type of transport."
Ami was working up to something and both Usagi and Makoto knew it.
"Usagi-chan, you're going to have to face the possibility that Chibi-Usa
went somewhere. Since it would likely take something VERY important for
her to do something like this, I suspect she's over at Mamoru's or on
her way."

"No, Chibi-Usa knows that she's not supposed to talk to him," Usagi
stated firmly, "She wouldn't do that to me. To him." That last part got
a raised eyebrow out of Makoto, "Will you keep looking?"

"Hai," Ami said and then signed off.

"Usagi-chan," Makoto said, "You're thinking emotionally now. First you
want Mamoru, then you don't, and now you do again. Make up your mind!"
Usagi gave Makoto a hurt look. "I'm sorry Usagi but feeling bad because
you hurt Mamoru's feelings, because of what he told you is...
counterproductive. You had to tell him and there wasn't any easier way
TO tell Mamoru. He might tell you things to make you believe him. You
said that you had lost your trust in him. Can he gain it back so
easily?"

"I love him!" Usagi yelled her eyes misting over, "If he's trying to
turn himself around, doesn't he deserve my support?!?"

"I didn't ask you if you `loved' him. I asked you if you trusted him.
There IS a difference." Makoto pointed out, "Yes, support him but this
feels wrong to me. I don't know, it feels like a setup." She could see
Usagi on the verge of tears; sighing slightly, Makoto said, "Usagi-chan,
I don't want anything to happen to you or Chibi-Usa. Ami's right though,
Chibi-Usa wouldn't leave the house except under extreme circumstances."

Abruptly, Usagi turned and started heading in the direction they had
been coming. "Where are you going?!?" Makoto questioned as she watched
her friend stiffly march up the sidewalk.

"Home, I have to tell my mom!" Usagi said curtly, "Go to the park and
look around. I have some thinking to do."

Makoto was about to follow Usagi but instead shrugged and continued
heading for the park. <She won't listen. I don't blame her but she's
thinking with her heart again and that always leads to more trouble than
it's worth!> Makoto knew that was unfair to Usagi but at the moment, she
didn't care. <That kid HAS to be over at Mamoru's. There's no place
she'd go except one of our houses and I think we would have seen her on
our way over to Usagi's.>

                                 ******

All the way home Usagi fumed. She couldn't believe what Makoto was
insinuating! She didn't want to. <It could be true though,> she thought
to herself, <He could be making up the story about being framed just to
make himself look innocent.> Usagi didn't want to believe that Mamoru
would lie to her either. <Was Makoto right though? Did Chibi-Usa go over
to Mamoru's?> Usagi briefly considered heading over to Mamoru's but
pushed the idea away. She had a more important thing to do.

A few minutes later, she entered the house. Usagi was both relieved and
worried at the indication that her mother, at least, was home. As Ikuko
came out of the kitchen, she said, "Usagi-chan? Is that you?" Then she
stopped and her forehead wrinkled slightly in thought, "Where's
Chibi-Usa?"

"Uh, well..." Usagi said and trailed off. The downstairs hall filled
with silence as Usagi shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know where she
is."

"Nani?!?" Ikuko demanded, a slightly horrified expression coming onto
her face, "What do you mean you `don't know where she is'?!?" Usagi
squirmed, looking for a good answer when the phone rang. Walking over to
it, Ikuko snatched it up and said, "Moshi moshi?" There was a short
pause before Ikuko answered, "Hai, is this Chiba-kun?"

<Oh no!> Usagi thought, <That's all I need.> She watched as her mother's
features became remote and cold, hardened for a moment, and then Ikuko
flared with anger. The veins on her neck were standing out like handles.
<What's he telling Mom?!?>

"I understand. I'll send Usagi over to pick her up. Arigato, Chiba-kun,"
Ikuko said and then nearly slammed the phone down. The silence hung
heavy and Usagi was afraid to speak. Slowly Ikuko turned and said,
"Usagi, go over to Chiba-kun's apartment and pick Chibi-Usa up. She
phoned him last night and asked him if she could live with him." Her
tone indicated that she only half believed him.

"Mom... Wha-what are you going to do?!?" Usagi questioned her, blood
starting to run cold.

"I don't know," Ikuko said, "That's why I'm sending you. I need a little
while to calm down and think properly. You aren't to take too long."
Nodding, Usagi turned to leave the house but her mother's voice stopped
her, "I'm going to have to tell your father about this, Usagi."

Usagi gave a bleak nod of recognition before leaving the house quietly.
<Oh Chibi-Usa, Mesume, what have you gotten yourself into? What have I
gotten you into?>

                                 ******

As Usagi made her way to Mamoru's apartment, she wondered about what
Chibi-Usa had done. It had seemed strange to her; she just couldn't
picture Chibi-Usa leaving the house alone. Why hadn't Mamoru simply
brought Chibi-Usa back home? <Because he's smart,> Usagi thought to
herself, <He's scared of what Dad would do.> Other questions came to her
mind but she was worried. <Mamoru's trying and Chibi-Usa's the one who's
messing this up. Oh I... I wish things were simpler.> She had nearly
said she wished she never had Chibi-Usa but that was nonsense. <I used
to run away from problems. Now I should try and work them out.> Usagi
was also feeling a little queasy at the thought of not having Chibi-Usa
around. In her mind, that equated to murder.

Once she had reached Mamoru's door, Usagi took several seconds to
compose herself. Building her courage up, Usagi knocked solidly on the
door. When it opened, she saw Mamoru looked rather haggard and confused.

"Usako, come in," Mamoru sounded sad and confused.

After Mamoru had stepped out of the way, Usagi entered the apartment and
saw that Chibi-Usa was standing in a corner. She raised an eyebrow
quizzically. Mamoru didn't respond but indicated that they should go out
onto the balcony. After they were both out and the door closed, Mamoru
sighed.

"Mamo-chan?" Usagi questioned. She felt a surge of electricity run
through her at her pet name for Mamoru.

"It's all true," Mamoru whispered as he sat on one of the chairs, "It's
all true!" He raised his eyes to look at Usagi. "Chibi-Usa knocked on my
door this morning. I was surprised to see her all alone. I asked her
what she was doing here."

"And?" Usagi asked, her voice catching her in her throat.

"She said that she didn't want me to be angry with her. She wanted to
make me happy so I wouldn't punish her." Mamoru shuddered slightly, "I
was shocked." Usagi didn't respond; she was in shock now. "Anyway after
asking her several questions, I figured out why you didn't tell me. It's
so clear!"

"It is?" Usagi questioned.

"Hai, see since I'm her stepfather, then he would know where she was."
His voice had taken on a strange quality to it. "It's not everyday that
you find out your beat your wife and child." Mamoru's eyes looked
strange and they were making Usagi nervous.

"Um, so why is she standing in a corner?" Usagi asked nervously.

"Oh that's the real kicker," Mamoru said getting up and starting to
pace, "She expected me to punish her severely. I wasn't about to and she
started to become upset."

"So you put Chibi-Usa into a corner to calm her down?" Usagi questioned.

"Hai, I told her that I'd have to call you and tell you that she was
here. She seemed to brighten slightly that her mother was coming over."

"I have to go. Are you going to be okay?"

"No, don't worry about me!" Mamoru said while grinning, "So I'll turn
into a wife beating monster! No problem. I can handle that." Then he
scowled, "What type of stupid question are you asking? Of course I'm NOT
okay!" Usagi was about to respond but Mamoru stopped her, "Just go,
before you mother calls the police or something." Nervously, Usagi
nodded and after entering the apartment again, retrieved her daughter
from the corner and left.

                                 ******

Chibi-Usa was both confused and relieved. She was also fearful. She had
tried to ask her mother where they were going but her mother had not
spoken. She was fearful of what her father might think but also fearful
at the unexpected. <Mommy's really mad,> Chibi-Usa thought as they
walked down the street, <She's not even talking to me.>

It wasn't that Usagi was ignoring her daughter but she was concerned.
She still did care about Mamoru and him phoning WAS an important first
step in gaining her trust back. She was also concerned about what her
parents were going to do, or more specifically her mother. Usagi knew
pretty much what her father would do once he found out.

They walked in silence for most of the way home; once they were a short
distance from the Tsukino home, Usagi said, "Chibi-Usa-chan, you
shouldn't have gone to Mamoru's." Chibi-Usa remained silent as she
flushed in embarrassment, "Something bad could've happened to you."

"I know, Mommy, gomen," Chibi-Usa whispered out. <Why was Daddy acting
funny?> That was a puzzlement. It only distracted her until they had
reached the Tsukino front yard. Then all her attention was focused
completely on her very angry looking grandmother.

"Young Lady, you march right up to your room, this instant!" Ikuko
commanded.

Seeing the little girl's reluctance, Usagi nudged her daughter and said,
"Do as you're told." Chibi-Usa sent a pleading look towards Usagi but it
did no good. Lowering her head, Chibi-Usa scurried past her grandmother
and into the house.

"Usagi, stay downstairs for a little while," Ikuko said and entered the
house. Walking over to the stairs, she headed for Usagi's room. Feeling
her breakfast congeal into an ice-cold ball in the pit of her stomach,
Usagi made her way into the living room and hunted for something to
read.

                                 ******

After entering the room, Ikuko closed the door. Chibi-Usa was sitting on
the bed looking at the floor. Walking over to the bed, Ikuko sat down
and said, "I'm sorry for yelling at you, Chibi-Usa. It's just you made
me angry with you. You know you aren't allowed to visit Mamoru without
somebody being with you."

<I wish Floppy were real. I took him with me and then I wouldn't get
into trouble.> She sniffled a little bit. "I'm sorry, Obaa-san. It's
just that Daddy said I couldn't come and live with him. He said that I
was bad."

Ikuko frowned slightly, <`Said she was bad'?!?> Filing that away, she
looked sternly at the young girl, "Chibi-Usa-chan, you left the house
without permission and you didn't tell anybody where you were going,
ne?" Chibi-Usa nodded, "And you're not allowed to see Mamoru, ne?"

"Hai," Chibi-Usa said softly and lowered her head again.

Ikuko sighed slightly, "Usagi, didn't I say that if you saw Mamoru again
that you'd have to be punished?" Chibi-Usa's only response was a little
sob. Ikuko wavered for a moment; she was fighting an internal battle but
finally she came to a decision. "Usagi, I'm going to spank you."

Chibi-Usa's head snapped up and she looked with fear filled eyes at
Ikuko. "No, please Obaa-san!" she begged her voice throaty, "I'll be
really good!"

"Usagi, I'm your mommy now. I'm not your sobo," Ikuko stated firmly.
Reaching out, she stroked the little girl's hair and said, "Gomen,
Usagi." This response set Chibi-Usa crying in earnest this time and she
shrank away from her grandmother's hand.

"Mommy..." Chibi-Usa cried out but she somehow knew her mother wouldn't
come. Her crying turned into whimpering as she was place across her
grandmother's lap.

A short time later, Chibi-Usa blinked as she was placed on her feet.
Wiping her eyes to clear her vision, she looked with sad curiosity at
Ikuko. "That all, Obaa-san?" she meekly questioned.

"Nani?" Ikuko asked and gave a little sniffle of her own.

"You only swatted me a few times. Not like Daddy," Chibi-Usa clarified
and then sniffled. In her opinion it had been the mildest spanking she
had ever gotten.

Ikuko smiled and, reaching down, gave Chibi-Usa a hug, "Honey, I love
you very much."

This just confused Chibi-Usa even more, "I thought I was bad."

"You were naughty, but I still love you. Now you go wash up," Ikuko
directed and, after letting the hug go, said, "After you wash up, I want
you to stay in your room for the rest of the day."

"I love you, Obaa-san," Chibi-Usa said softly and gave her grandmother a
hug. <I feel good,> the little girl thought to herself, <Even when I am
bad, Sobo still loves me... Maybe Daddy will be like that too once he's
not mad at me anymore.>

"Chibi-Usa-chan..." Ikuko started to admonish but then sighed, "Come on,
let's go get you cleaned up." Nodding her compliance, Chibi-Usa followed
Ikuko out of the room.

                                 ******

When she came back into her room, Chibi-Usa found Usagi waiting for her.
She hesitated slightly before walking over to the bed and sitting down.
Usagi hugged her daughter close and said softly, "Chibi-Usa-chan, I need
to talk to you about something."

"Nani?" Chibi-Usa asked, the fear returning. <Is Mommy going to yell at
me?> she thought as she watched warily.

"Honey, was Endymion always your daddy?"

"Hai," Chibi-Usa said then she frowned. <Why's Mommy asking that? She's
knows that!>

"Do you ever remember your mommy saying that Endymion was your new
daddy?" Usagi questioned.

Chibi-Usa thought about this for a minute or so before saying, "I don't
think so. Don't you 'member, Mommy?" She smiled slightly as Usagi
giggled.

"I can't remember something that is in the future," Usagi said softly
and gave her daughter a small hug. Even through the roughest spots, she
could see that Chibi-Usa would always be a sign of hope. Lifting the
child so she could look into her eyes, Usagi said, "Honey, did Mommy
ever talk about death?"

More of Chibi-Usa's wariness slipped away as she concentrated. It was
obviously important that she remember something. After concentrating,
she said haltingly, "Well, I kinda 'member Mommy saying that Daddy went
away and wouldn't come back."

Usagi gave a smile of encouragement and said, "Do you remember if your
daddy that went away came back?"

Chibi-Usa scrunched her face up in determined concentration. After a
longer pause, she said, softly, "Mommy said he died." She looked sadly
at Usagi. "He was nice."

"So Endymion came after him?" Chibi-Usa nodded and sniffled slightly.
Usagi hugged Chibi-Usa comfortingly while speaking soothingly to her.
After a few moments, Usagi said, "Chibi-Usa-chan, Mamoru isn't your REAL
daddy."

Chibi-Usa wrinkled her forehead and said, "Daddy only pretending to be
Daddy?" Her frowned deepened as Usagi giggled.

"Um... no Mamoru is your stepfather. He IS your daddy but isn't your
REAL daddy. Do you understand?"

"No," Chibi-Usa said. She looked like she was about to ask something
then closed her mouth. Usagi waited and it was a minute or so before
Chibi-Usa said softly, "Is that why Daddy hits me with his belt? 'Cause
he's my... st-stepfather?"

Settling Chibi-Usa on her lap, Usagi said, "No Chibi-Usa. Mamoru...
Endymion has an illness... He's sick."

Chibi-Usa raised her head and looked intently at Usagi. With a worried
quaver showing in her voice, Chibi-Usa said, "Is Daddy going to die?"

Usagi had to fight the urge to giggle. Chibi-Usa had said it so
seriously. "No," Usagi reassured the little girl, "Maybe with a lot of
help from a doctor, your daddy can get better. But he isn't going to get
better if you stay around him." She could see the panic rising in
Chibi-Usa again, "Honey, listen to me. I want your daddy to get better
but if you're around him, then he might hit you with his belt again.
You've been really good, ne?"

Chibi-Usa considered this for a long time. Except for going over to
Mamoru's, which in her mind didn't really count, she had been extremely
well behaved. In fact, it had been a serious shock to her system when
her father had said that she had been bad. <But Daddy was surprised when
I went to his place. He asked me a lot of questions too.> "Hai Mommy,"
Chibi-Usa finally answered her mother.

"I'm not trying to be mean, Chibi-Usa-chan, but even if you're really
bad, your father shouldn't spank you like he does."

"So Daddy was bad?" The little girl questioned.

"I guess you could say that," Usagi admitted, "Maybe after lunch we can
talk a little more about it. Would that be okay?"

Chibi-Usa didn't answer immediately but then nodded. "Mommy, can I stay
in your room tonight? I don't want Uncle Shingo to think I stole his
room on him. I got really scared last night too."

"Hai, you can stay in my room. I always said that if you got scared you
could come in and wake me up," Usagi said. As her daughter wrapped her
little arms around Usagi, she added, "I love you, Imouto." <Mesume.>
Chibi-Usa's only response was a burble of contentment. She was starting
to understand what the past little while had been all about. But the
other answers she wanted could wait until later on. Closing her eyes,
she laid her head against her mother's chest and was soothed by the
steady rhythm of her heartbeat and her slow breathing. Soon the little
girl was fast asleep and Usagi herself was content to sit and stoke her
little girl's hair. Today had been a rough day and it wasn't even noon.
Hopefully, the rest would be easier.

                                 ******

As Endymion sat on his throne, reality rippled yet again. <Damn those
fools!> he snarled to himself, <Damn that baka Mamoru!> Mamoru's
acceptance of what Usagi was saying was altering the timeline even more.
<That's a problem I'm not sure how to deal with,> Endymion glowered in
silence. He could try and convince Mamoru not to believe Usagi but that
would complicate things even more. His attention was drawn by the
approach of Esmeraudo.

"Speak!" he commanded when she had halted in front of that dais.
Esmeraudo shifted uneasily. <I don't blame her,> Endymion thought, <She
knows the fate of those that fail me. Now it is her turn and she is
scared.> It was quite an exhilarating feeling to him.

"I am sorry, Endymion-sama," Esmeraudo said and bowed low, "Rubeus did
not return and my searching has not turned up anything. Even the Sisters
are missing." She dared a look towards the dais where Endymion's throne
stood and was surprised to see a bit of a smile on his face.

"They are dead," Endymion said without compassion. "Esmeraudo, go and
seek out the Senshi of the past. Remove them. You will only have one
chance. Fail me and you will suffer along with them when I personally
come to the past to retake Serenity's daughter." At a noise his eyes
slid to look at a point past Esmeraudo. "Commander, do you have
something to report?"

"Hai, Your Majesty," the man said, his skin was tight with tension and
he seemed nervous.

"Have you captured Serenity?" Endymion asked, his voice smooth but
chilly.

"No, Your Majesty, but we have located her last location. She was last
seen heading off into the mountains. My squads are currently pursuing
Her Majesty and Sailor Pluto. We did however capture all but two of the
traitors that also went with Her Majesty."

"Excellent, you may continue your efforts. Pray that none of your men
harm my wife, Commander... or that she slips through your fingers or you
will replace her."

"As you command."

Rising, he indicated for Esmeraudo to follow him. They walked out of the
Throne Room and towards his private quarters. Endymion smiled to
himself. He could sense that Esmeraudo was wondering about something; he
could sense her curiosity. But like a good little servant she remained
silent, never questioning. Once they were inside Endymion's private
suite, he walked over to a chair and, sitting down, said, "You are
curious about something?"

Esmeraudo jumped slightly but there were no other indications of her
surprise. "Hai, My Lord." As Endymion's encouraging nod, Esmeraudo said,
"Your Majesty, if we are able to take Her Majesty in the past why do we
not do so? Surely it would easier then searching for here in this time."

"Are you that baka?" Endymion sneered out, "Think! Serenity's past self
must remain to allow the future to unfold as it has. I want Serenity of
this time." As Esmeraudo thought over what she had just been told
Endymion gave a silent sigh. <Stupid bitch. I won't tell her that I want
Serenity of this time to go back with me. I want her here when I save
the timeline, when I bring her PRESCIOUS daughter back.>

"With your leave, My Lord, I shall return to the past and set plans into
motion." With a wave of his hand, he dismissed her. <I will not fail you
Endymion-sama and I shall prove myself worthy of your love!>

End of Part XXII

Doug

"It is major decisions that change the course of our future but it 
is the minor decisions that shape the being who we are."

"I write in broad tapestries, interweaving characters lives leaving
 the little details to the reader unless the detials are important."
	- Anne McCaffrey
	  From the book "Get off the White Unicorn"

"I am Sailor Chibi-Earth! And I will sit you in the corner!"
	- Tsukino Misako, ToYV#6

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