Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Breaking Free ❯ The Beginning ( Chapter 18 )

Breaking Free

Chapter 18: The Beginning

By

Middlen

A motorcycle pulls up to the curb and the person on the bike puts the kick stand down before getting off of it. Natasuki looks up at the small two story building that stood well intact unlike its neighboring buildings around it which have that run down look to them.

Natasuki lets out a sigh before walking over to a small woman with red hair who stands under a sign that reads in elegant script "Arisugawa's Locket." Hanging just below it, another sign only this one animated, shows a locket opening and closing, revealing a cartoon of a pretty girl inside of it.

“Hey, Ranma, how are you doing tonight?” Natasuki asks the slightly shorter red haired woman who smirks at her.

“Hey, Suki! I'm doing great. So, I haven't seen you in a long time. What have you been up too? Are you looking for another date?” Ranma questions while winking at the brunette who just rolls her eyes.

“Knock it off Ranma. The last thing I want is for Akane to be on my ass because you're the one flirting again!” Natasuki exclaims while rolling her eyes and slaps Ranma on the arm making the other girl smirk sheepishly.

“Sorry about that Suki. It was the girl inside of me speaking,” Ranma explains which makes Natasuki shake her head in exasperation.

“Right, I'm thinking that it's more like it's the man inside of you talking. You're still open right?” Natasuki asks with a nod towards the clubs entrance.

“Yeah, but only for thirty minutes more though,” Ranma answers while nodding towards some woman that exit the club and wave towards the red headed bouncer.

“That's alright; I'm not going in there for a social visit. I'll talk to you later, Ranma,” Natasuki states before walking through the entrance and into the club.

A girl walks up to Natasuki when she enters the rather large room and smiles kindly at her.

“Hello, welcome to Arisugawa's Locket. Would you like a table?” The bubbly girl asks while a contagious smile on her face which makes Natasuki smile as well.

“No, I'm fine. Thank you for asking though,” Natasuki answers before smiling once again at the girl and makes her way though the club to the bar.

A woman with long blue hair and red skin tight suit looks up from the glass that she's cleaning only to double take and her mouth promptly drops. She nudges the other woman behind the bar who looks to where the other woman is pointing. The woman's eyes grow wide before the two women look at each other then jump over the bar and head towards the brunette that's making her way to the bar.

“SUKI! It's good to see!” The bluenette exclaims before pulling the other woman into a tight bear hug.

“Yeah are you here for business or pleasure?” The other woman asks from where she stands next to the hugging woman or more like one hugging the other one trying to squirm away from the other.

“Business, Minagi. Now get your sister off me before she suffocates me!” Natasuki exclaims in wheeze.

Minagi pulls her sister off the other woman, much to Natasuki's relief while she sucks in several deep breaths of much needed air.

“You need to learn how to huge gently, Ryouko,” Natasuki states while a grin on her face before she leans over to give a hug to Minagi.

“You always say that and you haven't been hurt that badly yet!” Ryouko exclaims while crossing her arms over her chest and glares at the other woman.

Natasuki waves a hand in front of her face while shaking her head. “Yeah, yeah, so is she in?”

“If by she, you mean Juri then yes. She's upstairs in the office going over some paper work before we close up for the night,” Minagi answers while giving Natasuki the once over with a raised eyebrow. “I'm taking that this isn't a social call is it?”

“No, I'm afraid it's not. It would seem that my family and some friends are having problems with another family. I don't suppose that you two of a family with the last name Chiba would you?” Natasuki asks while looking at the two women in front of her.

“Chiba. Hmm. Chiba. That name sounds familiar. I distinctly remember a young man in here by that name some time ago. We still aren't sure how he got past Ranma. Anyway, he was in here mumbling to himself about lesbians and some girl named Usagi,” Ryouko states while looking at the other woman with a raised eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”

“Because, it's his family or I should say him and his father that's making the trouble for my family. I do hope that you threw him out on his ass,” Natasuki smirks at the thought of seeing the two sisters throw Mamoru bodily out of the women only club.

Ryouko smirks devilishly. “Oh we did a little more then that.”

“Good, I'm actually glad to hear it. Now, if you ladies will excuse me. I have to go talk to your boss,” Natasuki explains before bowing to the two sisters then makes her way towards the steps that will take her up to the owner of the clubs private office.

She takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly before bringing a hand up to the door then knocks on it hesitantly. When the door opens Natasuki puts on a dazzling smile for the person behind it.

“Hey ya, Juri,” Natasuki smirks lopsidedly before her entire world goes black.

HR

Usa, you aren't going out. Not after just going through hell and back. You look like shit!” Haruka exclaims with her arms crossed over her chest while she watches the younger girl dress herself painfully slow.

Usa rolls her eyes and continues to dress herself one handed. “I'm going out, Ruka. If I stay in her anymore I'm going to go stir crazy. Plus, I have to go Christmas shopping. I haven't even gotten anyone anything yet,” Usagi explains while trying to pull her t-shirt over her head with much difficulty.

Haruka lets out a sigh before moving over to the stubborn girl and helps her pull her shirt over her head then steps away. “Alright, since you're insisting on going then allow me and Michi to take you to the mall. It's cold as all hell out there and I don't want your father taking my head off because I allowed you to walk out there and catch a cold,” Haruka smirks while watching Usagi think over her ultimatum then helps the girl finish dressing after she nods her head in agreement.

Once their done they head down to the parlor where Michiru sits waiting for the two girls to come down the stairs. A small pained look crosses the bluenette's features for a moment when she sees Usagi walk through the door, her arm under her black leather jacket in its sling.

“Hey, you two, I see that you're ready to go. How are you feeling, Usagi?” Michiru questions before walking over to the young girl and puts her hand on the blondes shoulder.

“Do you mean aside from the fact that I feel like a 747 landed on me and that Rei turned out to be the one that was giving Mamoru his information? Because other then that, I'm just friggin peachy,” Usagi answers sarcastically then lets out a sigh and leans into the hug that bluenette was pulling her into. “I'm sorry, Michi. I didn't mean to snap at you. I'm feeling pretty lousy to tell you the truth.”

“There that wasn't hard now was it?” Michiru asks before leaning back to look into the girls dark blue eyes while the blonde shakes her head. “Good, now, let's go so we can beat the rush of old ladies trying to get to bargain bins.”

Usagi smiles and chuckles softly before she follows Michiru and Haruka out of the mansion and towards Haruka's vehicle which happened to be a large SUV that the older woman had purchased for the winter time.

They stop when they see two people trudging up the driveway only to recognize Setsuna and Ami walking through the heavily falling snow. Both of them are covered from head to toe in snow and there are large smiles on both of their faces.

The three woman look at one another before looking back at the snow caked woman walking towards them.

“Hey, what have you two been up too?” Haruka questions with a curious look on her face.

Ami laughs before flicking some snow from her jacket. “Setsuna and I got into a snow ball fight in the front yard. I wanted to come outside to enjoy the snow and she came with me. We just sort of ended up throwing snow at one another. I can't even remember how it began,” the bluenette explains in earnest which makes the other woman laugh at the girl's enthusiasm.

“Well, we're going to the mall for some last minute Christmas shopping would you two abominable snowwomen like to come with us?” Michiru questions once she's caught her breath from laughing so hard.

“Sure, that would be great. We were going to go as soon as we got cleaned up and out of these wet cloths. Give us five minutes and we'll be back out here,” Setsuna states before the two women make their way up to the mansion to change out their cloths.

Ten minutes later the five women are on their way to the mall with Ami holding her hands over her eyes after a near miss with another vehicle because the SUV slide around a corner.

Setsuna and Usagi try to calm the other girl down, but to no avail. She finally calmed down when Michiru turned around in her seat and placed a hand on the bluenette's shoulder. She reassured the quivering girl that Haruka was indeed an excellent driver and that no harm would come to her.

Ami smiled at the other woman then nodded her head before relaxing in her seat with her head on her Aunts shoulder waiting for Haruka to pull up into the mall parking lot.

When they arrive Usagi gets out the car and falls to her knees screaming “LAND!” This made Ami laugh in merriment while Haruka scowled at her niece's antics.

Michiru and Setsuna look at each other while the two blondes begin to squabble like siblings. The two women shake their heads before following the two arguing women to the malls entrance. While Ami looks back and forth between the squabbling women with an exasperated look on her face.

When they step inside the argument dies off only because the two blondes have to plaster their selves up against the doorframe when a herd of yelling women run past them.

Haruka looks over at Usagi who's face is horror stricken. The other blonde lets out a laugh before pulling the girl aside so that the rest of the women can get through the doors.

“You're the one that wanted to go shopping,” Haruka reminds Usagi who scowls in irritation.

“I know, don't remind me, Ruka!” Usagi exclaims with a hand rubbing her forehead before the girl sets off with a determined look on her face.

Ami leans over to Haruka while watching Usagi stalk off. “Is she always like this?”

“Oh yes, she's always like this. We enter the mall and it's like she turns into General Patton storming the shores of Normandy or something like that,” Haruka answers before they follow the stalking girl towards a store on the other end of the mall.

Sometime later the girls emerge from the mall without a single heel mark on their face much to Usagi's relief especially after the last time she was in the mall.

She found herself wondering if she had a wheel mark on her butt from where the older woman with the cane had ran her over last time.

Shaking her head at the thought the blonde looks down at the bags in her hand and lets out a small sigh. There was a present in there that she knew that she shouldn't had bought, but a small side of her wanted to get the gift for the other girl.

`Maybe I should allow her to explain herself,' Usagi thinks to herself while walking through the parking lot with her family. `Maybe it's not as bad as Matura made it sound like. She did say that they had her sister. She had no other choice, but it still hurts to know that she was feeding them information behind my back,'

Usagi is pulled out of her musings when she hears someone call to her and looks up only to see Minako, Makoto and Naru walking towards them from the direction of the mall.

“Hey, Usa, we didn't know you were going to be here. Sorry we didn't say goodbye this morning, but we figured that we'd be back before you woke up. How are you feeling today?” Makoto questions before hurrying over to her friends side and takes a couple of bags from the blonde earning her a scowl from the other girl.

“I'm doing fine. You know, I can carry those bags. I still have the use of my right arm,” Usagi supplies while she follows her friends towards Haruka's car.

“Nonsense, you're injured and I'm surprised that you were carrying them yourself to begin with,” Makoto answers looking at the other girl with a mother hen look on her face.

“We tried to take them from her, but she issued the warning which includes knowing where we sleep and a black permanent marker,” Haruka interjects while waiting for the girls to come closer to the SUV. “She's done that before to me and trust me when I tell you that I don't want it happening again. It took weeks for it to come off my forehead.”

The other girls look at Usagi who has a sheepish grin on her face before they begin laughing at the thought of Usagi going into her Aunts room with a permanent marker and drawing on the older woman's face.

“Hey, where's Taru? I'm surprised she's not with you guys,” Minako states after calming down from her laughing fit.

“She's at home. She got a phone call and hasn't left her room since then. We're not sure if she's still on the phone or just hanging out in her room. Either way we didn't want to disturb her,” Haruka mumbles while thinking about just who the person was on the other line.

The other girls look around with a clueless expression on their faces before looking over towards Usagi for help.

“Yomiko called before we left,” Usagi supplies which makes everyone tilt their head back and say in unison, “Oh.”

Haruka looks over towards Usagi with a curious expression her face and a raised eyebrow.

“I told them about Yomiko when Hotaru and I were fighting because I danced with Miko,” Usagi explains while putting the bags into the back of the SUV.

“Ahh, that explains it,” Haruka states before closing the back hatch for Usagi. “So are you guys coming back with us to the mansion?”

“We'll be over as soon as we drop our bags off at home. We're riding with Naru who brought her car last night for the party,” Minako explains before the girls head off towards Naru's car. “We'll see you in a bit.”

Usagi waves good bye with her good arm then moves to the passenger side of the vehicle and gets in before they are on their way back to the mansion.

HR

Natasuki gets up with a groan and rubs her forehead. She blinks her eyes open only to see a head leaning over her curly orange hair falling down around her like a curtain. She lets out a little eep before scrambling backwards on the couch that she's currently laying on.

Only to sweat drop when she sees the curious expression on Juri's face before she clears her throat and looks around the office.

“You redecorated,” Natasuki mumbles before looking over at Juri once again then lets out a sigh. “Did you really have to hit me so hard?”

“Well no I didn't have to hit you so hard. The only thing is, is that I'm not the one that hit you. I was down in the supply room and when I came upstairs you were laying on floor knocked out,” Juri explains before handing over an ice pack that she had gotten from Ryouko earlier.

Natasuki takes the pack from the other woman and places it gingerly on her forehead only to wince at the pain the rather large bump on her forehead emits.

“Well then I think it's safe to say that you had an intruder in here,” Natasuki points out, but raises an eyebrow when the other woman shakes her head.

“Actually, no, I didn't. It was Nabiki who had hit you. She thought that you were an intruder,” Juri explains with a sheepish look on her face before she moves over to one of her chairs and sits in it with her legs crossed at the ankles. “So what exactly brings you to the Locket?”

Natasuki sits up fully on the couch and looks Juri straight in the eye. “I need your help or more along the lines we need your help.”

“And who exactly is we,” Juri questions while leaning forward in her chair with her hands folded together.

“Seiya and I,” Natasuki answers while Juri nods her head.

“I think that maybe you should start from the top,” Juri states while leaning back in her chair waiting for Natasuki to explain everything that was going on.

Natasuki nods her head before launching into an explanation as to what was going on that it warranted the need of the club owner's help.

After an hour of explaining from Natasuki and questioning from Juri the other woman leans back into her chair and rubs her temples.

“Okay, so to recap. Seiya's friend Usagi is being hounded by these two guys because she was once promised to him, but then her grandfather ruled that she didn't exist because she's posing as a man while he kidnapped your younger cousin to insure that your younger cousins sister would get the inside scoop on what Usagi and her family were doing so that they can take over her families business. Have I missed anything so far?” Juri questions while still rubbing her temples.

“No, I think that pretty much sums it up,” Natasuki answers the now melted ice pack sitting next to her on the couch.

“So why exactly are you asking me for help?” Juri asks before getting up from her chair and goes to get a club soda from the mini fridge which sits on the other side of the room.

“Because you have some connections, Juri and you're great in a fight. We need all the help we can get against Chiba that and he's gathering his own people. She and I want people that we can trust and we know that we can trust you,” Natasuki explains before catching a soda that Juri had thrown to her.

Juri closes the door on the fridge with a bump from her hip before opening her soda with a thoughtful expression on her face while she takes a sip from her soda.

“Alright, come by an hour before opening tonight. You can make your case to anyone that will listen and I'll try to get a hold of some people that I know. You're lucky that I know Haruka and Michiru enough to want to do this, Suki. In other words, you have my support,” Juri answers after a couple of minutes of contemplation at what Natasuki had told her.

“Arigato Juri. I won't forget this,” Natasuki states before getting up from the couch and heads out of the room.

“Where are you going?” Juri questions from the other side of the room.

Natasuki turns around and lets an exhausted smile cross her face. “I have another place to hit before I get back to Seiya's office.”

“Have you even slept?” Juri questions with a slight look of concern on her face.

“Yeah when I got knocked out,” Natasuki answers before bowing to Juri then walks out the door closing it gently behind her.

Outside the club the brunette lets out another side before rubbing her still tender forehead then walks over to her bike and gets on. She looks back at the club for a moment then puts her helmet on.

`One down, one more to go,' she thinks to herself before starting up the bike then roars away from the curb with her front wheel lifting off the ground a bit.

HR

Usagi stands in her room looking outside with her head resting against the side of the window watching the snow fall continuously down to earth. `Wow, I lean against this window looking outside a lot,' she thinks with a shake of her head.

She turns away from the window and slowly takes the gauze off from her bicep inspecting her recently acquired tattoo of a crescent moon with a sword and staff in the background. She looks away from the tattoo sharply when the door to her room opens and Haruka walks in only to stop suddenly when she notices the tat on her nieces shoulder.

“What in the hell is that?” Haruka asks after finding her voice while pointing at the tattoo on the other girl's bicep.

“It's a tattoo, Haruka. I'm old enough and it's not like dad or grandfather will ever see it,” Usagi answers while reaching over to the white wife beater that lies on a chair and slowly puts it on though it's easier to get it on then the t-shirt earlier.

“I know it's a tattoo, Usagi. What I want to know is why did you get it?” Haruka asks before moving over towards Usagi's bed and sits down looking at her niece with a concern look on her face.

Usagi shrugs her good shoulder before walking over to sit down next to her Aunt. “I don't know. I saw the tattoo parlor in the mall and decided that I wanted one. I think that they did a nice job on it.”

Haruka leans over to peer closer at the tattoo on the other blonde's bicep then nods her head. “I have to admit that it does look good on you. Though I'm surprised you got it on your injured arm.”

Usagi shrugs her good shoulder. “It's not like it wasn't already hurting, Ruka. Besides with it on this bicep it's easier for me to clean it. Either way it would have to be either on my shoulder or on my bicep. I like it better here.”

“That actually makes sense. Anyway, the reason I came in here was because your friends are downstairs waiting for you plus Michiru and I have a surprise for you,” Haruka smiles before ruffling the girls hair and walks out of the room.

Usagi looks at the closed door and lets out a soft sigh before picking up the suave for her tattoo then applies it then covers it back up with the gauze. She tucks in the front of her beater to show off her belt buckle on her cargo pants.

She walks off down the stairs to the parlor where she's sure that her friends and family is right at the moment. She walks towards the door and hears people scrambling around and shushing going on.

Raising an eyebrow she walks into the room and notices everyone sitting on the furniture with weird expressions on their faces.

“What's going on?” She asks while looking around the room at her friends and family before doing a double take when she notices Yomiko sitting next to Hotaru. “Whoa, when did you get here?”

“After I called Hotaru and we talked for a bit then I decided to come over here so that we could talk together face to face,” Yomiko answers with a large smile on her face.

Haruka comes over to Usagi and takes her by the arm before leading her over to the couch. “Miko can explain everything later. Right now just sit down here and close your eyes.”

Usagi lets out an exasperated sigh before complying with Haruka's wish and closes her eyes waiting impatiently for Haruka to get on with whatever it is.

“Alright, open them,” Haruka states in an excited voice.

Usagi opens her eyes and looks up to see that Haruka is holding a guitar case. Usagi leans her head to the side with a questioning look on her face.

“I have a guitar, Haruka,” Usagi states before looking around at the other girls faces which matches the glee on Haruka's face.

“Ahh, but this isn't just any guitar,” Haruka states before handing the case over to Usagi out stretched arms.

Usagi looks up at Haruka before looking down at the case then slowly opens it only to reveal a guitar that she hadn't seen in a very long time.

“Your father gave it to me to have it restored. It took a while, but it's finally finished. Your dad thought that your mom would want you to have it since you play the guitar so well,” Haruka states with a large smile on her face.

Usagi places her finger tips on her eyes which are burning from the tears that remain unshed in her eyes. “That was so sweet of him,” she mumbles her voice hitching.

“Usagi, are you alright?” Makoto asks before getting up from her where she's sitting next to Ami and goes over to sit next to her childhood friend.

“Yeah, I'll be fine, Mako,” Usagi whispers softly before looking finally opening her eyes and looks up at Haruka. “Thank you so much, Ruka. This means the world to me.”

Usagi holds the guitar case over to Makoto before getting up from her seat and walks over to Haruka. She looks around for a moment then pulls her aunt into a hug.

“You're welcome, Usa, but I think you should be thanking your father as well,” Haruka answers once Usagi has let go over her.

Usagi nods her head before wiping at the corner of her eye. “I will when he gets back. I want to play it, but I can't right at the moment,” she states before nodding towards her dislocated arm with her head.

“Don't worry, it'll heal quickly,” Ami states before moving over to give Usagi a hug which makes Usagi smirk slightly before whispering in her ear.

“You and Mako are really close. What's going on there?”

“She asked me out and I said yes,” Ami whispers back with a large smile on her face.

“Good for you. She's a great woman and she'll treat you right, I just know it,” Usagi whispers then pulls Ami into another hug.

While she's hugging Ami she notices that Minako is glancing shyly at Setsuna who is doing the same thing towards Minako. This causes Usagi to nudge Ami's shoulder.

“Hey, look at those two,” she whispers while nodding her head towards the two girls sitting across the room.

Ami turns her head to watch them and raises an eyebrow before looking towards Usagi with a surprised look on her face.

“When did that happen?” She whispers out before looking back at them.

Usagi shrugs her good shoulder. “I have no idea when it happened, but it looks like they might have a thing for each other.”

Ami smirks then looks over at Michiru. “Think that maybe Michi could help us out with matching those two up?”

“Couldn't be worse then Haruka trying to set me up with Rei,” Usagi raises an eyebrow at Ami with a smirk on her face.

“You knew about that?” Ami questions with a surprised look on her face.

“Yeah, I figured it out when Haruka went to talk to Makoto about something plus there's the whole being there at the same time,” she answers before they move away from one another when Usagi feels a hand on her shoulder.

“What are you two talking about?” Haruka asks with a curious expression on her face.

“We're talking about the possibility of getting Minako and Setsuna together,” Ami answers with a smirk on her face.

“Ooo, I have a good idea…” She's interrupted by Usagi who shakes her hands.

“NO! That's alright, Ruka. We were thinking of asking Michiru instead,” Usagi hurriedly explains much to Haruka's consternation.

“You know, none of you allow me to have fun. EVER!” Haruka exclaims with a pout on my face that makes Ami and Usagi chuckle softly.

“Sure we don't, Ruka,” Usagi answers with a wave of her hand before going over to Michiru to talk about the possibility of getting Minako and Setsuna together.

Haruka looks at Ami before rolling her eyes and moves to hear what Usagi and Michiru are talking about.

Ami looks around at her friends and family then allows a smile to come to her face. She shakes her head while Ruka whines about never being allowed to have fun. Ami turns her head when she feels an arm wrapped around her shoulders. She looks up at Makoto who smiles down at her girlfriend.

“They are a bit strange, but they're my family,” Ami states before leaning her head against Makoto's shoulder who pulls her close while they watch their extended family talk and laugh with one another.

“Yes, it is,” Makoto whispers then leans her cheek against Ami's head.

HR

A door opens and a man with a scar down the side of his face looks out. “Yeah, can I help you?”

“Yeah, I would like to talk to the Ojou,” Natasuki answers while looking at her fingernails with a nonchalant expression on her face.

“Do you have an appointment?” The man asks with a suspicious look while looking Natasuki up and down.

“No, I don't have an appointment at all. Just tell the Ojou that Suki is here to see her,” Natasuki states before looking up at the man with a slight smirk on her face.

“Alright, I'll go see if she wants to talk to you,” the man mumbles before sliding the door shut.

`She? That can only mean one thing. Kumiko is standing in for her grandfather. Oh this isn't going to be good,' she thinks to herself and wasn't disappointed when a tall woman with her hair tied back into two pig tails and glasses answers the door with a slight sneer on her face.

“Natasuki, I'm surprised that you've decided to show your face around here. Let alone at my door step. What do you want and make it quick,” Kumiko states with a distrusting look on her face while her eyes look around as if looking for some sort of ambush.

“Look, Kumiko, I'm not here for a fight and I'm not here to have someone taken to another boss. So just chill it, please,” Natasuki states in a polite yet forceful voice.

Kumiko smirks for a moment before moving off to the side of the door. “I see that you haven't changed at all, Suki. You're still polite and yet take charge woman. Why don't you come on in for a moment? I've already graded my student's tests.”

“I see that you've gotten your degree in teaching. How's that going?” Natasuki asks while following the other woman to the tea room.

“My students can be bastards, but at the same time, they're a bunch of good kids that haven't been given enough of a chance,” Kumiko answers while sitting down in front of the table.

“Kind of like how your two idiots were?” Suki asks with a laugh before leaning back on her arms looking at Kumiko with a found smile on her face.

Kumiko lets out a bark of a laugh while nodding her head. “Yeah, you could say that. So what is it that you need, Suki? I know it's not to inquire about my teaching.”

“Alright, now who's being predictable? Alright, you're right; I haven't come here to talk about your teaching. What I've come to talk to you about was actually a very important matter that has to deal with the Tsukino family,” Natasuki answers before taking a sip of tea that Tetso was currently serving to the two women.

“I've heard of the Tsukino Clan. They are a very old clan and very influential. Please tell me you don't want my Clan's help to go up against them, right?” Kumiko asks with a raised eyebrow in Natasuki's direction.

Natasuki shakes her head quickly. “No, I don't want to take on the Tsukino Clan at all. Actually it's help against the Chiba Clan.”

Kumiko's eyes narrow and she holds up a fist seething in out right anger. “Those assholes! What did they do now?”

“They want to take out the Tsukino's so that they can take over their business so that they can be at the top of the Yakuza families, but they are mostly focused on Usagi,” Natasuki explains while gripping the tea cup between her hands tightly. “They've also kidnapped my little cousin.”

“And this is all because they want to be at the top?” Kumiko asks with an eyebrow raised slightly.

“Yes, they've already attacked Usagi three times. She was hurt pretty badly twice already. One of those times she was shot and was very lucky that she wasn't paralyzed,” Natasuki explains with a slight fire behind her eyes.

Kumiko narrows her eyes dangerously before she hits the top of the table making the cups rattle. “You don't have to tell me anything else. Count my family in. The Tsukino's were always loyal to my grandfather and if they need help then help will indeed come from the Ooedo clan.”

Natasuki smirks before reaching a hand out to shake Kumiko's hand. “That's great, Kumiko. I'm glad to hear it and so will Haruka when I tell her about it.”

“I'll have Tetso show you out. I'm sure that you're busy. Keep me up to date with everything that's going on,” Kumiko states before standing up with Natasuki.

“I will, you can guarantee that,” Natasuki answers before bowing towards Ojou then follows Tetso out of the Ooedo Clans house.

Once outside Natasuki pulls out her cell phone and flips it open then hits a preset button. She listens to it ring before someone picks up on the other end.

“Hey it's me. They're both in. I'll be back at the office in a couple of minutes. I need to stop somewhere first and then I'll be there to give you all of the details,” Natasuki states while walking towards her motorcycle.

Pause.

“No, I'm not going to tell you where I'm going. You'll know when I get there.”

Pause.

“Yeah, I promise. Alright, I'll see you then,” Natasuki answers before closing her flip phone and gets onto her bike.

“Two down, one more to go. I just hope that she won't slam the door in my face,” Natasuki mutters to herself before peeling away from the curb and down the road.

HR

Rei looks at herself in the mirror and lets out a soft sigh. She hadn't seen Usagi since she left the party after Matsuka and Mamoru wrecked it then told Usagi that she was working for them. When in truth she was doing it against her will.

`Damn it! They knew how to get to me and how to make it so that I would tell them about what Usagi was up to,' she thinks to herself while rubbing her face then looks away from the mirror in disgust.

`Why didn't I just go to Usagi to begin with? Because at the time you didn't know that Nate was Usagi, that's why.'

Rei grips her hand into a fist and slams it against her desk. `I have to make it up to her. I can't just let her go that easily. Not after I just found her. I have to think of something to do to help, but what?'

Rei mules it over with her head resting in her hands while a shadow crosses the doorway and a blonde haired girl pokes her head into the room.

She looks at Rei's downtrodden posture before letting out a soft sigh. “Rei, are you alright?”

Rei looks up in surprise before turning her head towards the blonde. “Sayuri, what are you doing here?”

“Well mom called me and told me that you were having some problems. Is there anything I can do for you?” Sayuri asks before walking over to Rei's bed and sits down with a concern expression on her face.

Rei shakes her head while a tear slides down her cheek. “No, there's nothing you can do Sayuri. I have to figure out what to do by myself.”

“Well maybe if you told me what was going on then that might help at least,” Sayuri states with a finger on her chin in thought while looking at Rei with a small light in her eyes.

Rei breaks down into tears and shakily tells her older sister what's going on. Sayuri nods her head while listening to her sister's tale, her fists clenching and unclenching.

When she's finished telling Sayuri everything that's happening, the blonde girl leans back on her arms looking towards her younger sister cool and calm while inside the girl is raging with anger.

“Have you told mom and dad that you know who took Himiko? Have you called up Suki to see if she can help out?” Sayuri questions while Rei shakes her head mournfully.

“No, I haven't told them. If I tell them then it'll be worse for Himiko and I don't want that. At least right now, they have her under the watchful eye of Mamoru's sister Yomiko. As for asking Suki for help, no I haven't. I don't want to be the cause of her getting back into something that she was trying to get out of. You and I both know that she'll jump back into it if I tell her that they took Himiko,” Rei explains to her older sister while staring at her hands.

Sayuri gets up from the bed and crosses over to her sister then takes the crying girl into her arms. “Don't worry, ReiRei, we'll think of something. I'll even go talk to your Usa if you want me too.”

Rei looks up at her sister with a hopeful look on her face. “Would you really? That would be so great, Sayuri. I feel so bad for what happened.”

The blonde pulls her sister closer while nodding her head. “Yeah, don't worry about it, Rei. I'll help you straighten this out. I promise.”

HR

Okay that's the end of Chapter 18. I'm so sorry for taking so long to get this updated. Between me getting ready for college in the fall and some other things that are taking up my time, I haven't had a lot of time to really work on this. However, I did sit down and finish this up.

Alright, first off I want to say that Arisugawa's Locket does not belong to me. It belongs to Shanejayell who has graciously allowed me to borrow the concept for my story. Thank you once again Shane. You rock!

Also, one of the lines from the story does not belong to me either. It belongs to Baka Gaijin30's story Mamoru Must Die! I sort of borrowed it without his knowledge and would like to acknowledge that it's his.

Also, Yomiko and the Ooedo clan don't belong to me, but to the anime series The Gokusen which is a great anime in my opinion.

However Natasuki and Sayuri belong to me. They are mine! MINE I TELL YOU! Heh. Anyway, thank you all for waiting patiently with me for the next update. I greatly appreciate each and every one of your reviews, comments and just little things that make writing this story a joy. I hope that you all keep it up and I look forward to seeing what you all thought of this little chapter.

JA NE!

HR

Aleric: Why must I put Nanami on meds? *thinks for a moment* Come to think about it, maybe I should. I mean, she kept Usagi up to play Yahtzee after all. Heh.

Yes, I have taken away the family/clan thing and just called them for what they are. The Yakuza. As to what Natasuki is really involved in, I can't say right at this time. Simply because it would give a little too much information away. She is in the Yakuza and yet at the same time she's not, but I shall explain that later.

I totally agree with you on that one. The Chiba's wouldn't know loyalty even if it came up and bit them in the butt. The Tsukino's however do because well that's just the way they are. They are an old family with old values. The Chiba's are just money grubbing jerks that just happened to come into working for Hero.

So basically, it's a new family after the power of others. Because of this, it will only lead to their downfall in the end, due to the fact that no one would protect them freely.

Ahh, thank you for that. I will go back and fix it. I thought it didn't look right, but that's the spelling my spell checker came up with. I love spell checker.

Order Of Mertuary: Yeah that would give me a heart attack too. Lol. Yes, it is a Yakuza. I just figured that I'd wait, but everyone already knew, so what would be the point, right?

Ahhh that's good that you have an inhaler. I would hate for anything to happen to a reader.

No, no hit man. I've got idiots working for me. Just kidding. Lol. Anyway, Kawii basically means cute.

Thank you for your review. I hope to hear more from you in the future.

hagancameron: You know I really don't like it when they jump into a relationship either and then everyone lives happily ever after. No, you got to have drama and discord! That's where the story is interesting.

As for what happens to Mamoru. Oh, I'm sure that everyone will be pleased as to what I have in store for him. He will get his just deserts of that I promise. Heh. The story line I'm working with was done by another author who didn't finish the story. Which everyone wished would've been. After playing around with the idea for the longest time I decided that it was time to do something about that and so started Breaking Free.

I'm really glad that you find the story line imaginative. I'm trying my best to make it a worth while story for everyone to read and I'm glad that so many people like it.

I can't give out how Rei is going to earn Usagi's trust back, but I've hinted sort of at it. Though I will say that, it won't be the end of it.

Leading Elephants through Mamoru's house? Okay, I think I've started something with those elephants! Lol. Well maybe not elephants, but something even better I believe.

Thank you for your review and I look forward to any other input that you may have in the future.

CrazyMonkeyPantsIII: Don't you just love it when the crazies get their just deserts? Lol. Thank you for the review and I hope I hear more from you later in the future!

Riku: Thank you for the review once again. I'm glad that you are enjoying how things are going. It's a wonderful ride and I'm going to hate it when it comes to an end.

eowyngwen: Have no fear. Usagi shall forgive Rei. Just not yet. Well I think I answered your question as to when Setsuna and Minako will meet. Now we get the joy of trying to get them together. Heh. Got to love that. Yes I agree! The Chiba's must pay! Thank you for the review and I hope you write more as this story goes along.

Stormforce: Thank you once again. Your review was great as well. Now, let's get started.

Well by the time the fight happened her stitches were pretty much healed. I mean, when she got injured it was a while back and then when the fight between her and Mamoru happened it was several months later. I do believe I made a reference on how long it took her to get out of the hospital, but if I didn't then I'm truly sorry and will fix that. As for Matsuka holding a gun to everyone else. That was just to ensure that no one interfered with the fight that was going on. It wasn't so much that he didn't have faith in his son, but more along the lines that they wouldn't be interrupted.

Yeah, I remembered telling someone that once and decided to use it in the story, though I might've elaborated on it a little bit, but I thought it was funny. Now as for Rei. I do believe that explained what happened there.

That is exactly right. I can't answer that question, but it will be revealed in a little while. So hold on.

Actually I would have bolted too. Oh wait, that's right. The whole rant by Nanami was actually a conversation that a friend of mine and I had the night before I wrote that part. I was just thinking that Haruka and Michi are a bit more sane then that and so I had them bolt out of the room for more of a funny factor.

It'll be a bit of a surprise as to who the rumor spreader actually is. At least I think so.

I sort of thought that it made her appear more real myself. I mean, not everyone likes shopping and I took into consideration that she was brought up as a boy so that might have a little factor into as well. Not saying that she was brought up to shop that way, just that it's a little bit of something that took form in her.

Lol. I really beginning to think that we've started something with that stampeding elephant gag. Lol. A skunk in his closet? Mmm. Nope, still too good for him. Ahh to kill someone with a rubber ducky. I actually had a spiel about how to do that, but the one my friend came up with was funnier. Now, I have to remember it. Heh. I'll let you know when I do.

I wasn't to sure about the encounter with Mamobaka, but I thought it was alright sort of. Lol. Yes! That Episode of Xena is my favorite one. I love it when Xena starts spazzing out because the day keeps repeating. Ugh, I hate the mall, but I hate Wal-Mart even more. I've almost been trampled by stampeding women in that story around Christmas time! MEH! Never again!

Okay, I think I remember that part, but now I really have to re-read that series. Ahh, I simply love Mamoru Must Die! It's my favorite story because really I don't like Mamoru, but I think I've said that. Anyway, I think my two favorite death scenes would have to be the one in Celebrity Death Match, actually I just loved that whole thing to begin with, and the Christmas one. That one was great as well. Yep, you're going to have to find out. Though I think I answered your question.

That and when you have a personal experience that is funnier then all get out. It's great to share it within a story for everyone to read.

Yes, shocked. I know I really can't wait until I start writing that chapter. I'm going to have fun with it.

You're welcome. I'm glad that you like my story enough to want to save it.

That's right! I totally agree with that. It shouldn't matter that you are writing a fan fiction. True the characters aren't yours, but at the same time the concept for the story is and it makes you feel a lot better if you write the thing yourself then if you copy it from someone else and if at least parts of it are from someone else's work then at least credit them for their work.

I thought it was the right thing to do as well, but I wasn't totally sure.

Naw, they get a little testy when you poke them with a broom. I was thinking more along the lines of a spork. Lol.

YES! I so agree. I know several people that should get the Elephant treatment. They so have it coming to them. *evil cackle*

Well the whispering part just came to me. I see Makoto as being misunderstood and to have her get all shy and stuff showed that she has a soft caring side to her. Thus, making her a totally awesome character to work with because she has all sides covered. Lol.

No, they haven't been taken as well. I shall explain more about Rei's parent's next chapter. I did realize that I missed that one, but I made it up within this chapter. At least I hope so.

Ahh that matter will be brought up here in a bit. I've got a scene in my head that I want to do dealing with her and her chest of letters. Heh. *eg*

More then likely something a lot different then anyone will be thinking about. It just might be apart of the Seiya, Taiki and Yaten scene. Heh.

Ahh yes, this war is going to be big and it's coming soon. I can't wait to write it. Though it will mean almost being the end of my story, but I will finish it out with a bang. Of that you can be sure of. Yes, a fine line indeed. Then again maybe that's Nanami's scheme. To pretend to be insane while actually being a genius! Ahh something to think about.

Yep, Suki is Rei's cousin and based after your's truly. I just had to get myself into the action even more. I came up with the strange idea to sort of put myself into the plot line. May not be a great idea or an original and yet at the same time. Totally cool! Lol. Ahh, you shall see who Seiya called and you're right. It wasn't Yomiko. Heh.

Heh. Wait, doughnut thing? Oh boy. I think I might have forgotten something. Oh no! Lol. Anyway thank you for the review it was great as usual. I hope that you get better from your cold. Can't say that I'm like the weather here in the grand state of Iowa. Cool on day, humid as all heck the next and let's not forget the rain! OH MY GOD! So much rain! Lol. Anyway, thank you once again and I hope that I've answered everything. . Don't worry there wasn't too many spelling errors. Heh.

Kira Payne: Thank you ever so much for the kind review. I'm glad that you think I've got something good going here. As I've said once before. I was really afraid to do this story, but not so much anymore. I'm glad that everyone is enjoying this as much as I'm enjoying writing it.

Ahh updating, I know how that is. Lol. Thank you once again and I hope to hear from you in the later chapters!

FeralDemonArtemis3.0: Nope, I don't mind that you put two reviews in one. That is fine by me.

Tell the truth, I really didn't see that coming either. It just sort of came out when I was writing that chapter. When I reread it, I was like wow. That was great. I can't believe how well that came off.

Oh wait Usagi/Nate has in store for Mamoru is going to be great. Of that I am sure.

Yes, Usagi will forgive Rei, but I can't say when and I can't say how. Nor, can I say when they are going to rescue Rei's sister. I'm sorry, but that would give some things away and I can't have that. Lol.

I figured that it was time to get Ami and Makoto together. Next on my list are Setsuna and Minako and I believe that's going to be interesting side quest. Lol.

Well I always viewed Mamobaka as being an idiot to begin with. I mean, how many times can one person get kidnapped? I mean really? And I won't even begin going on about the rose throwing thing.

Heh. Poke dots. Don't worry. I have updated and I hope that I have answered some questions while making many more. Heh.

Thank you so much for the review and I do hope that there will be more from you in the future.