I'm not exactly sure how to spell the Starlights home world… Prolog By Purple_Rose
The almighty disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
Dedication: To Purple Rose, may things become well again for you so I can see your original ideas for this story lift your heart again.
Even Angels Can Fall
By: Lirial Raito
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| Prolog |
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I remember when Kakyuu-hime told us we were retuning to Earth, it was a dream come true for me. I only wish now that I was able to
return sooner, maybe I could have saved her some unneeded
heartache. But, I had obligations on my home planet…
Five years after our departure from Earth, the rebuilding of Kinmosueko was finally completed. Kakyuu-sama released us from our Senshi
duties to her, so that we could return to Earth. We hoped that the Earth's Senshi would remember us, and felt hopeful that at least their
Inner Senshi would welcome us warmly. I looked forward to seeing Usagi, even though I knew she loved another. I still wanted to see her bright shine…
I remember when we arrived on Earth… the summer sun warmed me up pleasantly,
like Odango. I wanted to see her soon. We had chosen
a public park to land in, a block away from Usagi's home. I looked forward to seeing her very much, and imagined a happy meeting. I managed
to refrain from imagining her throwing herself into my arms and saying she loved me, but in the depths of my heart I wanted Usagi to do so, even
though I really knew she wouldn't.
My first visit with Usagi was nothing like I had planned, and not really pleasant at all. The golden haired angel was bedridden, and terribly ill.
She still shined to me, but that glow had dimmed to barely an ember. Usagi was extremely depressed.
Often after that first visit I would wonder how any type of illness or mental
state could afflict such an angel. I later found out I was partially
at fault for that. Usagi was depressed after our send off, and then became overly attached to Mamoru. She became clingy, you could say,
but Mamoru was simply pushed away. He left three months after we did, heading back to America, forever this time. Then a year after his
departure Usagi's family was in a terrible car wreck, one that clamed the lives of her mother and father. Losing Mamoru, her parents,
and us in barely a year was too much for Usagi, and her depression deepened. She wouldn't eat, couldn't sleep, and became very weak.
Being nearly eighteen at the time of the accident, Usagi
was granted the house and custody of her brother.
Her illness came at the time she needed to be the strongest, but still she fell
to the depths of despair. Her brother was acting as her nurse,
and her friends stayed at her house most of the time to help. But they all had lives to live and eventually they had to move on and live the
lives they had created for themselves.
I felt horrible for Usagi's loss, and I stayed at her side as much as I could.
We were fortunate that our sudden, unannounced arrival was a
spark of hope for Usagi, one that guided her out of the darkness that had taken hold. With my constant presence she almost fully recovered
her health. Sadly I could never take the hurt that losing her parents inflicted on her. I could badmouth the pain from Mamoru away, but never
the memories from Usagi's last day of innocence.
And I could never replace the dreams she lost along with Mamoru.
Usagi's sweet dreams of marriage and happiness were stripped away, all because
of that selfish ass whole that I left Usagi with.
I trusted in a man I had just met to look after the most precious person in my life, and my trust was rewarded with the abandonment of that
most precious person.
Usagi will never be the same; she will never be the beautiful free spirit I
once knew. But I will do what ever in my power to help her regain
her dreams and the life she lost.
I will do all that and more, if she will let me.
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|Chapter 1: The Return to Earth|
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The grass around Shabon Park swayed gently as three sparks of light fell from the sky.
Quickly, the sparks of light resolved into the form of three girls clad in clothes that had
been outdated five years ago. The looked around the park quickly, seeing if their appearance
had been noted. Luckily, no one was in the park at the time, and no one saw their appearance.
The silver haired woman glared at the black haired one, her pale golden green eyes flashing
dangerously. "Ok Seiya, you got your wish and we're back on Earth.
Why are you going to see Odango as a woman?"
Being back on Earth, and near Usagi again seemed to revitalize Seiya's natural mischievousness.
She smiled impishly at Yaten and said sweetly, "Now Yaten, do you mean to tell me that you want
the public to see the Three Lights to return? I'm sure even after five years we still have *some*
fans left here that would remember us."
The third member of their group lifted a hand to her mouth, repressing her laughter at the sudden
horrified look on Yaten's face. "Yes Yaten… after all, I'm sure Minako is going to be enthusiastic
enough in seeing you again."
Yaten shook her head vehemently, "No… no, no, no, no, no! I'll see Usagi-san like Seiya wants,
to be polite, but I'm not meeting with that… maniac of a girl." Her delicate frame shuddered under
the thought of the Sailor Soldier of Venus, though a slight smile curved her lips.
Seiya tapped her foot impatiently, watching the smile that crept slowly over Yaten's face grow
bigger, and began to pace slightly about the park. "Come on! Let's get going before the day
gets any later. You do want to eat lunch, right? Time for hamburgers!"
Yaten went back to glaring at Seiya, and Taiki simply rolled her eyes. "You and your hamburgers
Seiya… I could almost swear that you came back to Earth for those, and not to see Usagi again."
Seiya shook her head and turned to walk to Usagi's home. "Whatever…"
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Seiya stood silently in front of Usagi's door, hand half raised to knock. Here she was, about to try
to reclaim a small bit of her dreams about Usagi, and she couldn't shake the apprehension of seeing
the odangoed angel in the arms of her eternal love. Yaten and Taiki watched her with impassive eyes,
refusing to offer comment on the moment. Slowly she finished the motion and knocked loudly on the
door three times, and waited.
A small eternity passed in Seiya's mind as they waited for a response, and she wondered silently if
Usagi was even home, or still living here. For all she knew, Usagi could have transferred to a new school,
or gotten married early to Mamoru-san.
"Maybe I should transform back into a guy now… before anyone answers the door," she whispered softly.
She started slightly when Taiki put a hand on her shoulder, and shook her head. "Things will be easier on
you this way Seiya. And perhaps, easier on her as well."
Seiya sighed and nodded, wanting to become male again, and to be the person Usagi remembered her as.
After a long minute had passed the door to the Tsukino residence opened to reveal Minako, her sunny
personality hidden behind her expression of sorrow.
She looked at the Starlights without immediately recognizing them. "Hello, may I help…"
Her sentence ended as she stared at them in shock, recognition finally setting in after a moment.
"Seiya?! Taiki?! Yaten?!" Each nodded in turn as she said their name, and smiled in the manner they
thought most reassuring.
"Yes Minako, it's us," said Taiki.
"Did you miss me?" asked Yaten, a hint of playfulness in her eyes.
"Is Usagi available at the moment?" added Seiya, smiled hopefully.
Minako frowned at stared at the ground, "Please come in…"
Silently she moved away from the door to allow the Lights entrance. They glanced at her nervously as they passed by;
this Minako was far quieter than they remembered. She turned toward them again after they were inside, motioning to the couch,
"Please, make yourselves comfortable. Would you like something to eat or drink?"
Seiya glanced at Taiki and Yaten, then answered for both of them, "We'll just have some water please."
Minako nodded and disappeared into the kitchen, reappearing a minute later with a small tray, four glasses of water balanced carefully.
"I'm sorry Seiya, but in answer to your question earlier, Usagi isn't available right now. She's in her room asleep,
and I don't want to wake her up. She doesn't sleep much anymore."
She lifted an eyebrow, head tipped to the side. "Why doesn't she sleep much anymore?"
Minako sighed and took a seat opposite the Starlights and set the tray in front of them.
She took a sip of water, wondering how best to explain Usagi's situation. "
Well… I guess you could say things started when Mamoru went away to America, right before Galaxia came.
Usagi didn't want him to go, but she couldn't find the courage in herself to be selfish and ask him to stay.
Usagi has always wanted us all to follow our dreams, even if it meant leaving her. So, Mamoru went.
hen you three came, and the battles with Galaxia… Usagi became attached to you, and she missed you terribly when you left."
She paused, looking around the room. Once Ikuko had kept lots of pictures here, but since those days…
Shingo had taken them down so Usagi wouldn't get so upset. "After you left she became clingy with Mamoru, wanting to know where he
was twenty-four/seven, and when they were together she was always holding onto his hand or arm. She hated to let go, and never wanted
to go home. Her grades did improve for awhile since she did her homework to distract herself from the times she couldn't be with Mamoru.
She spent a lot less time with us, but we understood that she needed awhile to adjust to you guys being gone,
and Mamoru being back with the promise to never leave her again. Well…"
The Starlights continued to watch Minako as she became quiet again, and waited patiently for her to begin again.
After a moment she sipped some more water and looked back up at the Lights, tears sparkling in her eyes.
"Well, after that, Mamoru decided that Usagi was too dependent on him, and he couldn't stand her needing him so much.
He broke up with her, and then told her he was going back to America to continue his studies, and wouldn't be coming back.
He broke her heart more than he needed too, and was cruel about things."
"But you know Usagi… she forgave him for hurting her, and wouldn't let Haruka or Makoto go after him, even though losing him
almost killed her spirit. She studied even more, almost obsessively, determined to change her grades. She went to an afternoon
course that would teach her to be more ladylike, and she started instituting Senshi practices, even though Earth will be at peace
for quite awhile. She did everything she could to become someone she thought Mamoru would love to be with, but her letters and
email went unanswered. Her parents did what they could to make her feel better, and we supported her as much as we could, but nothing
seemed to help. And then, her parents went out for dinner late one night. They got into a car wreck, hit by a drunk driver and sent into a ravine…
they died before anyone could get there to save them. Usagi blamed herself, thinking that she should have known when they got hurt, that she
might have been able to use the silver crystal to heal them."
A small noise upstairs stopped Minako in her narration of the events that led to Usagi's problems. The sound of running water reassured her
that Usagi wouldn't be coming downstairs quite yet, and finished her tale. "Usagi was awarded custody of her brother, and this house.
She's been living on her parents' savings and life insurance, but for five years now Usagi has been truly depressed. Shingo is the only family
she has left, and he has needed her to be there for him, but she… hasn't been able too. We Senshi have done what we could to help them out,
but we have lives of our own now too. We kinda take turns watching over Shingo and Usagi, and Shingo has done a good job of watching over Usagi,
but she's only gotten worse. And there are still occasional youmas to deal with, so we had to tell Shingo about us all being Sailor Senshi.
He took it pretty well, considering. Thankfully none of the youma are too hard to beat, so we haven't needed Usagi to become Sailor Moon."
More noise echoed from upstairs, and a few moments later Usagi trudged down the stairs wrapped in a black bathrobe.
Minako noted that Usagi had actually taken a quick shower before coming down, though her eyes were glazed over somewhat. Minako stood and
walked to the end of the stairs, then guided Usagi to the couch so she wouldn't bump into anything. "Sit down Usagi, I'll heat you some of Mako-chan's soup."
Usagi nodded silently, not fully registering what Minako had said, but she knew that Minako would feed her now that she was awake again.
Minutes passed and Minako emerged from the kitchen with a bowl of soup and some crackers. Usagi took the spoon she was offered and ate
mechanically, slowly. A half hour passed while Usagi ate her soup, and gave the Lights time to examine her house in silence.
Dark blue curtains hung over the windows, and the lights in the room all had dimmer switches, so the illumination in the room was minimal.
Again they noted the absence of any pictures, though for the most part the place was unchanged from five years ago when they had played
bodyguard for Usagi while her parents were gone for a night. They knew that the Earth Senshi had been watching over Usagi, and as they knew
Makoto's penchant for cleaning and cooking, the Lights found it easy to assume that she was the one who kept the place so neat.
Seiya turned back to study Usagi, wondering if she had even noticed that she wasn't alone in the room. A frown tugged at her lips as she watched
Usagi eat with out taking any pleasure in the food the way she would have five years ago. :Oh Odango, how could Mamoru leave you like that?
And to lose your family, and be expected to lead the Senshi. :
She started to lean forward to try and get Usagi to notice her, when Usagi sat her bowl down and started at the floor. "Minako, am I dreaming?"
The Goddess of Love shook her head, and walked over to stand behind Usagi. She pinched her on the arm lightly, "No Usagi, you're awake."
Usagi blinked slowly as something trickled into her mind, and slowly she became aware that Minako wasn't the only other person in the house
with her today. No, there were three other people there with them, people who… she felt she knew. People she hadn't seen in quite some time.
"Please open the curtains Minako-chan."
Minako moved away from Usagi and slowly opened the curtains, giving everyone's eyes time to adjust to the brighter light.
"That better Usagi-chan?"
Usagi nodded slightly, then lifted her head. In the light her blue eyes were puffy and red, tear stains marked paths down her porcelain
cheeks. She looked at Seiya, then Yaten, then Taiki, then back at Seiya again, and stared. She stared at Seiya for a half hour, saying nothing.
Seiya stayed quiet as well, only smiling gently at his poor angel.
Minako moved behind Usagi and pointed to Yaten and Taiki, then motioned for them to follow her. They nodded and stood, and the three headed
outside to leave Usagi alone with Seiya. Minako led Yaten and Taiki back to the park when the Starlight Senshi had landed and sat down on a bench.
Yaten poked Minako in the side, "So, as I asked before, are you glad to see me?"
Minako leaned back and looked up at the sky, shielding her eyes from the bright sunlight. "Oh, I'm glad to see Seiya here for Usagi's sake, and I know
Ami-chan will like to see Taiki again, but you? Why would I be glad to see you?" Yaten stared at her mildly, about to retort, when Minako slumped
forward a bit and threw herself at Yaten, clutching her as if she might disappear at any second. Tears slid down to be absorbed by Yaten's shirt.
"Stupid, of course I'm glad to see you! I've missed you so much, and losing our Princess like this, yet still having her here and not being able to do
much for her has been hell. I wish you guys had never left!"
Yaten glanced at Taiki, wondering what to do as Minako continued to cry on Yaten's shoulder. Taiki shrugged, and smiled slightly.
Yaten repressed a sigh and put her arms around Minako and petted her hair soothingly. "We had to Minako-chan, but we're back now.
We'll stay as long as we can, which, knowing Seiya and Kakyuu-hime's concern for Seiya, will be so long that you'll want us to leave."
Minako sniffled and lifted her head a bit to look at Yaten, "I'll never want you to leave."
Yaten smiled slightly then nodded, and hugged Minako closer.
Taiki stared quietly into the small fountain the park contained, content to wait for his chance to see Ami again.
- -
Usagi sat quietly as her eyes adjusted to the brighter light, taking her time in examining her remaining guest.
Something about the girl was very familiar, though she couldn't quite say what at first. Slowly the warmth and caring in those wondrously blue
eyes seeped into Usagi's mind and heart. ::It can't be…::
Seiya watched as Usagi blinked slowly. Her eyes so much darker than Seiya remembered, so pain filled. Her heart sank as she wondered if she could help ease Usagi's pain.
Usagi felt the barest beginnings of a sad smile lift the corners of her lips as her eyes brightened with a glimmer of recognition, and hope. "Seiya?"
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To Be Continued:
Will be reuploaded in Microsoft Word when Fanfiction allows me too do so.