The Pitfalls of a Past Life |part 2/?
               a story by Crystal Skye
()()()()()()()()()
  I'm back! And I'm so encouraged by the email I received! Thanks a ton to Kathleen, Priscilla,
Lil_Moon, Lena, and Kaylienne! (By the way, in case you've never been to Kaylienne's site, Suns
and Shadows, here's the address- http://www.whz.com/kaylienne/sas/. You don't know how good
a site can get until you see this!) they all helped me get up and start writing this part. Arigatou!(If
I didn't mention you and you emailed me, then I've already sent this, so you'll be in the next
thank yous!) 
  This part is rather fast.(I think.) I tend to do that, so sorry. This is a long part, I'll admit, and
that's why it's taken me two weeks to get out. I knew where I wanted to go, but I didn't know how
to get there! (Kinda like getting to the store...^^;) This part actually has a fight in it! Okay, not
really, but sort of! Just read it and find out. 
  VERY IMPORTANT: Please read my notes at the end of the story; I need to clear something
up.
()()()   
Please note: Minako has appeared,
they know Usagi's the Moon princess, and they don't know 
Mamoru is Tuxedo Kamen. 
    Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. I'm really tired, and can't think of anything funny to say.
If you want something funny, go read a Lilac Summers story.(After this one, of course.^^;)
    Anything between === is something that happened in the 
Silver Millennium, and <><><> just means a break in time.
()()()()()()()()()()
=================
Serenity awoke with a smile. Today was the day that her and Endymion's marriage was made
publicly known. She shivered slightly under her covers. And today...today was also the day that
Endymion would find out he was a father. Right away. Right... after the celebration.
=================

Usagi was glad for the coat's warmth-- she was frozen with fear. 'What have I gotten myself into,'
she thought frantically, as a subdued Mamoru led her to his apartment. 'How am I going to
explain this? I don't lie---yes, I do. What have I been doing the past year? My whole life is a lie.'
Usagi winced at the thought, but continued to quietly follow Mamoru. 'I'll get myself out of this,
I swear. All I need is for Mamoru to ask a small question and then find out I'm a princess from a
past life and a superhero in this one. He'll freak, and then he'll be in danger. If I can't tell my
parents, there's no way I can tell him.' 

Usagi let herself be led into Mamoru's apartment building, and she even managed to smile at the
lady at the front desk. The lady, a cheery looking woman Mamoru greeted as Mrs. Tanaka,
handed Mamoru a small brass key, then waved happily as they stepped into the elevator.

They weren't the only ones in the elevator. An elderly lady holding a small umbrella was there as
well; she smiled rather awkwardly when Usagi and Mamoru stepped in. Mamoru pressed the
button for the ninth floor and the lady nodded; it was her floor also. 

Usagi shuffled quietly in the elevator--she dreaded the opening of the doors. As she pulled at her
coat it opened slightly, and the lady smiled again. "Such a lovely thing, a baby," she exclaimed,
seeming not to notice Usagi's deepening face. "When will you two be married?" 

Usagi balked. She looked up into an impassive Mamoru's face, and as they came to a stop and
the doors opened, Mamoru said, as an excuse, "We haven't decided yet." The lady nodded, and
they allowed her to leave first.   With her elbow in his hand, Mamoru forcefully steered Usagi to
a door on the left. He shoved the key into the hole and opened the door wordlessly, pulling Usagi
into the room.

At any other time Usagi would have been quite impressed with his living room. Its black
furniture was glossy and clean, and his couch and other items had a look of total unrelaxation. It
was very business like, with a wall of black bookcases filled with enormous books. It was quite
the opposite of Usagi's cheery room, with its pink and white decor, but Usagi barely noticed. Her
palms sweaty, she nearly jumped three feet when Mamoru turned and asked, "Would you like
something to drink?"

Usagi shook her head. She would probably throw anything up, even water, at this moment. He
nodded and motioned for her to take her coat off. Usagi briefly noted that he had left his at the
arcade, but she was to nervous to speak. He finally motioned for her to sit down, and as she
chose a spot on a leather recliner, he sat across from her on the couch. 

"So, Usagi-chan," he said quietly, his elbows on his knees, his back bent,  "how did this
happen?"

Usagi decided to play innocent. "This? You don't know?" At Mamoru's raised eyebrow, Usagi
continued, "Well, what happens is that when two people get together and they love each other
and they decide to--"

"Usagi!" Usagi cut herself off abruptly and whispered ,"No, Mamoru-san, I wasn't raped or
anything of the sort. I truly loved him and he truly loved me." "Then where is he?" "He's dead."
Usagi's answer surprised even herself. 'Well, he is dead,' Usagi reminded herself. 'A couple
hundred years dead, but...'

"I'm sorry Usagi. What about your parents? Surely they know?" Usagi nodded. Her head hanging
low, she said quietly, "We had a fight. They kicked me out of the house. I wouldn't go back even
if my father said I could keep the baby." Mamoru started. "He wanted you to put it up for
adoption?" "Hai; but I refused. It's all I have left of...of Endy. I love it too much to give it away."
Mamoru leaned over and grabbed Usagi's hands. "Usa," he said, causing Usagi to look into his
eyes,"don't give it away. This child is yours-- never let anyone tell you what to do with it if you
don't feel it's right." Usagi nodded again, and a light came into her eyes. 

"I'm not alone though. Rei-chan and the others have been so supportive--I'm staying with
Mako-chan right now, and I'm actually happy. Ami-chan is coming over after school every day to
help me bring up my grades--I'm only failing history right now, and I just turned in tons of extra
credit. They don't think any less of me." Suddenly Usagi stopped. She looked carefully into
Mamoru's deep blue eyes. "Do you?"

Mamoru thought. This pretty little girl had given herself away to someone he'd never even heard
of-- maybe. The name 'Endy' had triggered something in his mind--perhaps she had mentioned
him before. Usagi was a good judge of character, and Mamoru figured that if the boy hadn't died
he would have married her. But still....he looked into her wide eyes again, so full of fear he
could have laughed. His answer came clear and strong. 

"I think no less of you, Usagi-chan. And just like your friends, I will be here for you, no matter
what." Usagi smiled and embraced him, and he nearly fell off the couch before he regained his
balance. She smelled like vanilla and something else, something he'd never smelled as a perfume
before. He thought of curry, then almost laughed. She was staying with Kino Makoto-- she was
bound to have eaten everything Makoto cooked, and she dearly loved to cook. He gave the hug
back carefully, then straightened his back. Usagi looked happier and more relieved than she had
in the arcade-- it was nice to know he had caused that.

Usagi's eyes glanced at a digital clock on the table. "Ahh! I'm going to be late! I was going to
meet Makoto and Ami-chan! Gomen nasai, Mamoru-san, but I've got to go!" He grabbed her
hand and smiled at her. "I'll drive you over, ne? Someone in your condition--"

WHACK!
"Ow! Usagi! What was that for?!" "I know you were being sarcastic, Mr. Chiba, and I'll have
none of it. I'm in a hurry and if you're gonna drive me then come on!"

<><><>

Makoto and Ami had just stepped onto the sidewalk when they heard Usagi's cries. Glancing
around, they were surprised to find a waving Usagi inside a red Mustang, with Mamoru at the
wheel. He gave a small uncomfortable wave, and said something to Usagi. Makoto thought she
could hear the slap on his arm from where she was standing. 

As they made their way to the car, Usagi jumped out and pulled the seat up, hopping in the back.
She pointed for Ami to get in the front. "You're getting dropped off first," she explained, and
moved to let Makoto sit beside her. 

"Usagi-chan," Makoto started,"what are you doing here?" Usagi smiled. "Mamoru knows," she
said simply, as if that settled everything. Makoto balked. "Who else knows, Usagi?! I thought
you wanted to keep it a secret, and here you are, telling every--" 

"It was my fault," Mamoru said, as they pulled out onto the street,"I noticed, and the only thing
she could have said that would have stopped me from finding out was what I thought had
happened in the first place-- Usagi had swallowed a watermelon whole."
Whack!
Makoto sighed and leaned her head against the window. 'This baby is going to have one
interesting group of relatives,' she thought. 

<><><>

The days passed quickly for Usagi, and soon enough she found it hard to hide her growing belly.
Ms. Haruna began to find it extremely odd that Usagi would wear her coat all day, sweating until
she looked like she'd been swimming. She meant to question Usagi, but after all, it wasn't
hampering her studies-- Usagi was now one of the top ten in her class.

About the beginning of March, Usagi came to Ms. Haruna after class. "Haruna-sensei," she said
quietly, her eyes studying the floor intently, "I need to-to speak with you about something."
Haruna nodded and proceeded to file papers, her eyes flickering now and then to Usagi.

Usagi took a deep breath, preparing to talk. She and Makoto had thought of a small speech
together, one that would give good enough reasons to leave Juuban Middle, but not specific
enough to let Haruna guess what the real reason was. She thought of the memorized words, and
began to speak, hoping she was saying it right.

"Haruna-sensei, I need all of my exam results and tests from the past year. You see, I'm going to
be transferring schools next week, and -and I need them to be accepted. I -we will be having
another addition to the family, you see, and I'll be moving to a different part of town, so I'm
transferring schools as -as well. If you could, Haruna-sensei, I'd greatly appreciate it if I could
have the papers before Friday." 

Haruna looked at Usagi squarely. "I'm sorry you have to go, Usagi. However, I'm sure I'll be able
to get everything ready; I'll need a signature from your parents before I give those to you; give
me that, and I think everything will be in order."

Usagi gave a small smile. "Arigatou, Haruna-sensei," she said, and walked quickly out of the
room. Makoto met her at her locker. "How'd it go?" she asked, twirling a strand of brown hair
between her fingers. "Easy enough," Usagi replied,"I just need a signature." 

Makoto smiled. "Ami can surely get that for you on her little computer- thingy. She can do
practically everything else, can't she? Come on, we've got to get home."

<><><>

It was a pretty teary goodbye when Usagi moved from Makoto's apartment to Rei's shrine. Usagi
at once realized she wasn't going to be petted as she had at Mako-chan's; there just wasn't time.
Rei and her grandfather seemed to be in two places at one time all day, and Usagi gained new
respect for the fiery priestess and her family. 

While in-between selling charms and organizing a tea ceremony, Rei was surprised to find Usagi
standing in front of her. "Usagi?" she asked as a greeting; Usagi smiled and picked up a broom.
"I want to help, Rei-chan," she explained, and from then on Usagi was as busy as the other
members of the Shinto shrine.

<><><>

"This is so embarrassing, Rei!" "Be quiet and stand still. There's no help for it, you'll have to
live." Usagi cast a furious glance at her friend, then at her feet. Her long crimson skirt seemed to
envelop her, and she looked enviously at Rei's short one. "Why do I have to wear this again?" she
asked whiningly, and Rei sighed. 

"Because you're pregnant, and I go to a Catholic school. It's fine for us to wear short skirts, but
you? No. And if you don't shut up about it I'll make you go back to Juuban!" "But I can't see my
feeeeet!" Usagi whined again, her shoulders slumped. Rei smiled. "You look fine, Usagi-chan.
Come on, the bus is here."

<><><>

Usagi sat awkwardly in her seat. Her English teacher, Ms. Torusata, was a hook nosed woman
who seemed determined to make her pupils squirm. She rapped sharply on her desk. "Today we
will learn the correct way of pronouncing the basic English words. We'll take turns. Tsukino
Usagi?"

Usagi jumped slightly. She was first? In her worst subject? Usagi stood shakily. "Repeat after
me," Ms. Torusata began. "Hello, my name is Usagi Tsukino."

"Hellooh, my namah is Tsukino Usagi?" "No! Usagi Tsukino, Usagi Tsukino! Your given name
first child, just like I said!"

The next five minutes Usagi grew steadily redder, until finally she was permitted to sit down.
She took only a small bit of satisfaction in the fact that she wasn't the worst in class, but her
great joy was when Ms. Torusata tripped and hit her nose on her desk.

<><><>

"So it wasn't so bad, Usagi-chan?" Rei asked good humoredly as they rode the bus home. Usagi
nodded. "It was fine. I made a couple of friends in history, and then of course there was the
Torusata incident, and then Ms. Hikai said I was a bit ahead of the class in math! I'm so proud I
could burst!"

Rei laughed. "I'm happy for you, Usagi-chan. Say, why don't we get off a stop early and walk
home?" "Oooh! That sounds nice, Rei. Can we--" Usagi was cut off by a tiny beeping in her
satchel. She looked at Rei desperately, but Rei had already pulled the cord on the bus. As soon
as it stopped they flew off the bus and hurried around the corner, thankful that there was no one
in sight. 

Usagi was the first to open the communicator. "Moon here." "Sailor Moon," a frazzled Sailor
Jupiter said, "get here quick. We're at the Tokyo Mall, third floor....CRASH!" Usagi and Rei
jumped a bit at the loud sound. "*Cough* Oops...I mean, second floor," Jupiter coughed out,
before the screen went black. 

Usagi looked at Rei worriedly, but Rei was already yelling. "Mars... Power...Make-up!" Sailor
Mars appeared in front of Usagi, and she put her hands on her hips, waiting for her to transform.
Usagi smiled awkwardly.

"Rei-chan," she whispered, "what if I can't transform?"

<><><>
Bwahahahahahaha! I'm going to leave you like that! What will happen?
No, just kidding, there's more to the story. It would be a nice place to stop.... but I've got other
plans. Read on!
<><><>

Sailor Mars looked shocked then angry. "Well, just...just say the words and see if you can,
Usagi! If you can't....well, just see if you can, and hurry up!" Usagi nodded. She took a deep
breath and raised her hand.

"Moon...Prism...Power...Make-up!" Usagi felt the cosmic energy wash over her and she breathed
a silent prayer of relief. The comforting power flew threw her veins, and she felt her moon signil
flash, giving her a sense of comfort. She felt her limbs move automatically into their famous
stance, and as the pink and blue lights disappeared, she stood proudly before Sailor Mars as
Sailor Moon. 

"Sailor Moon," Mars said awkwardly, then pointed to her stomach. The baby was gone.

<><><>

"Ooh," Sailor Moon clutched her stomach as if in pain. What had she done? Was the baby truly
gone? "Mars, what do I do?" she whispered quietly. A worried Sailor Mars grabbed her shoulder.
"Usagi-chan, listen to me. There's no way that could have....I mean, honestly, it's entirely logical
that...Well, I'm sure that--" 

The communicator, which had been hurriedly shoved back into Usagi's satchel, beeped again.
Sailor Mars rushed to the bag and grabbed the calculator-looking object, and after a few seconds
said angrily, "Chill, Jupiter! We're on our way!" She stuffed the communicator back in place and
grabbed Sailor Moon's hand. "We have to go, Sailor Moon," she said, pulling a subdued Usagi.
"The others need us. Ami'll have a look when we're through, eh? It'll be okay."

<><><>

The monster was dead. Although the Tokyo Mall was in ruins, the owners had given a hearty
handshake to each senshi, before the warriors were swept away seemingly by magic. 

It was, however, a worried group of girls that moved so quickly through the oncoming crowd, all
eager to see the senshi. Each one had noticed Usagi's stomach, or lack thereof, and each one was
worried. They crowded around her in Rei's shrine, each not even taking the time to de-transform.

Ami flipped her computer open as soon as Usagi set down. Her eyes and fingers moved quickly
over the tiny blue compact, and after a few scans, her face softened.

"Usagi-chan," she breathed, closing the compact, "de-transform." 

Usagi looked up weakly at Sailor Mercury. She didn't want to de-transform. The lunar energy
running through her veins was the only thing keeping her from breaking down. Her baby. Her
baby girl--she knew it was a girl, somehow--was gone. Sailor Moon had killed her child. To
change into Usagi, to see the flat stomach that used to be an asset, it would be unbearable. Usagi
couldn't. She wouldn't.

"No." Her voice was flat and void of any emotion, and the senshi cringed inwardly. How could
Sailor Moon-Usagi- how could she talk that way? Usagi was known for her optimism, and the
each girl had unconsciously leaned on it. Now that it was gone...

Ami took the few steps over to the emotionally exhausted Sailor Moon. "It'll be okay,
Usagi-chan. If I'm right, and I think I am, you're still pregnant." 

Usagi allowed a sliver of hope to enter her heart. Ami said she was still with child-- Ami was
always right. Wasn't she? 

Sailor Moon gave a small nod then closed her eyes, and a light pink aura surrounded her. It
lasted for only a moment, and the senshi saw Sailor Moon meld into Usagi, her face looking
extremely haggard. She opened one eye cautiously, then her hands flew to her waist.

Usagi's eyes welled up with tears as she felt her round stomach. The baby was still there. She
was still pregnant! She let out a shaky laugh, and saw the senshi de-transforming, then heard
them exclaim their relief.

Rei hugged her last, and said to the other girls, "Minna, it's very late. Feel free to stay tonight. I'll
be whipping up an herbal tea for Usagi-chan, and if you'd like some.." The girls noded eagerly,
and Ami went to call her mother. Minako looked glumly at the blue-haired girl's retreating back.
Makoto put her arm around her friend's slim shoulders. "Minako-chan, what's wrong?" Minako
shook her head and gave an airy laugh. "Wrong? Nothing, Mako-chan, I was just ..thinking." 

Rei stood up from the side of a now sleeping Usagi and said, "Well, I can see how that would
cause you pain, Minako, but I know that's not the reason you looked so depressed. Come on,
spill." Minako, in true Minako-fashion, blew Rei a raspberry, then sighed. "It's just that... well,
Ami and I are the only ones who actually need permission to stay here, and she's the only one
that's going to get it. I can't even call my parents. They're out at an art club gala in Nagasaki; they
won't be back until next week. I'm home alone, and they don't even call. It just so ..demeaning."
Makoto gave her a brief hug. Rei shook her head. "That's so wrong! My father did the same
thing, except he'd never even say goodbye. I could have done whatever I wanted to -- run a crack
house in front of him, prostituted on the street corner-- and he wouldn't have noticed. I was so
fed up with him I moved out. I realized that men like that aren't worth being around. It has to be
harder for you Minako; your mother goes too, right?" Minako nodded, then sighed  again. 

Ami came in from the entrance hall and sat down beside Rei. They made a circle on the wooden
floor, and each drifted in and out of their own thoughts, too tired to interrupt the quiet. Only
when Usagi moved in her chair did Rei jump up and recruit Makoto to move her to the bedroom,
causing each girl to focus on the physical world. They hurried about, planning to sleep in the
living room and let Usagi have the bedroom to herself.(Rei and Usagi shared a bedroom with
two twin beds.)

Finally each girl was settled onto their futon, and Minako, her elbows on the floor and her head
in her hands, asked suddenly, "Does Usagi-chan ever talk about her parents?" Makoto said yes
and Rei exclaimed no at the same time. They looked at each other quizzically. "She used to
mention them sometimes, before we went to sleep," Makoto said, fingering her brown hair.
"She'd say unimportant stuff, like 'Papa would have loved the pasta you made, Mako-chan' or
'Mama made a quilt like that once, too.' I knew she missed them, and I gave as much comfort as
I could, but you know, eventually she stopped talking about them." Rei nodded. "She's got so
much to deal with, I don't think she has time to think about them. They aren't a part of her life at
the moment, and unless her father came and bit her on the ankle I don't think she'd notice him on
a crowded street. She's blocked them out, I can tell. I think she misses them,- this is Usagi-chan,
after all- but I just think she's given up on them. Her mother hasn't even called, and she knows
where Usagi is."  

Ami shook her head. "That's sad, but we can't do anything about them. They made the decision
to kick Usagi out of their lives; I think they need to pay the price. All we can do, minna, is be
there for her, and that's exactly what I'm going to do." At the shout of hai's a muffled voice yelled
out, "Quiet, ladies!" and Rei yelled back, "Grandpa, go to sleep!"

<><><>

Usagi stretched luxuriously. She was well rested and warm, and comfort settled over her like a
blanket. Until Usagi realized she was hungry. Her stomach rumbling, Usagi pushed herself out of
bed and tripped across the floor, grasping for her slippers. She shoved them on and opened the
paper door, shutting her eyes against the bright sunlight. She walked a bit more quietly into the
kitchen, noting that the other girls were still asleep and Grandpa was already out in the temple
yards, praying. She pulled open the cabinets, searching for her hearts desire. Pickled okra*. I
craved the oddest things, she noted, but didn't stop her search. Finally, she pulled out the jar of
the slightly fuzzy green stems. As she was blissfully munching on her second okra, she heard a
knock at the shrine's entrance. She pulled her robe closer, (wondering briefly when she put it on)
and walked towards the door, going through the living room as quietly as possible. 

She popped another okra end into her mouth as she opened the door. Big mistake. She almost
gagged to death when she saw who was there. Her parents.

Her mother looked slightly worried, but her father was like a rock; big unmovable, and uncaring.
Usagi, after finally gaining her composure, noticed a tiny woman standing beside her mother; the
lady smiled at Usagi happily. 

Usagi opened the door a little wider, but didn't invite the Tsukino's in. "Can I help you?" she
said, with as much indifference as she could muster. Kenji Tsukino nodded. "Usagi, this is Ms.
Nusumiyo. She has kindly agreed to adopt your child."

()()()()()()()
What a wonderful ending! I'm so proud of myself; I was going to stop right before she
transformed, but no! I kept going! I'm doing this for you, people, please be grateful.
Important information: I got an email that mentioned the circumstances that led to Usagi's
pregnancy, and I just want to verify this: 
I am a strong believer in abstinence, and I'm quite embarrassed that I didn't make this clear.
Serenity and Endymion were **married** when they died on the moon; the big ball, or gala, was
celebrating the public announcement of the thing, and that night is when they died. So see, it was
perfectly natural back *then* for her to be pregnant; things just aren't right now. Got it? See, that
part of the story isn't really delved into until later, and I don't want any flamers saying I turned
Serenity into a *ahem* slut. (That's a very naughty word, kiddies, don't call your best bud
that--she might slap you.)

Chapter three will be out sometime in the next month-- I want it to be long, and with that darn
thing called life getting in the way, it takes time to write a long part. Sure, I could slap down a
stupid little part to send in, but then it'd be really bad, and I'd end up rewriting it, and no one
would read chapter four because chpt. 3 stunk so badly, and then... you get the picture. You
might have to wait for 3, but hopefully it'll be worth it.
*= pickled okra is so yummy! I really like it, especially if I'm feeling fat(you just feel like you're
eating something so healthy for you, cause it's really sour...) Anyway, none of my friends like
it(some haven't even heard of it) so I thought it would be perfect for Usagi to chomp on. (Yes, I
know in Japan they eat a lot of pickled stuff, so it probably isn't uncommon, but hey; I don't live
there.)

Email is a balm for the soul.
Crystal Skye
      'You read too many romance novels.' 'Oh, please. *You* think the paperboy likes you just
because he comes by your front door every morning!'
                   --Mina and Lita, NA dub of BSSM.