Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Her Battle ❯ A Day of Rest with an Ominous Prediction ( Chapter 6 )

Hello again and since you're reading this I guess that means its time for the next installment of my SM fanfic. Since I made the last chapter so very short this one will make up for that. I said this at the end of the last chapter, but what I am writing here was originally meant to be that last chapter. However, I thought it would be better to give an introspective on Rei and her current state of mind.

To address the lack of Ami/Makoto fluff : It is there if you look hard enough for it, it's just very subtle, I didn't intend for it to be obvious until something happens in the story to change that. I'll try to add in little more so it is more apparent though. Also I never said it would easy for them to just jump into a relationship or that they would be together at start, Haruka and Michiru are the only ones with each right now. Usagi and Mamoru are still together technically, but they are currently taking a break. They did *not* break up and I will address that later on in the story. I really can't stand it when fanfics take the easy way out with declarations of love by two characters without giving something to backup their actions, because that makes that love hollow. Besides, love is rarely that easy and I want their relationships to be meaningful.

Alright, that was a long explanation, but on to another question that was posed by `fan-rei' at fanfiction.net. Mizuno-san does not know Ami and her friends are the Sailor Senshi and even though it's not mentioned in the manga or anime I think it's likely that they need medical attention sometimes. When Mizuno-san says that they have visited often that's more me taking liberty with the story. Oh, and about supporting characters there will mainly be family and Yuuichirou who is in this chapter, but I'm not ruling out adding Motoki, Naru, or Umino in cameo appearances.

I'll finish out this very long authors' ramble by thanking all my reviewers at MediaMiner.org and Fanfiction.net, you guys flatter me more than I deserve, but it does make me happy that people do like this and hope that everyone will continue to enjoy it. With that said, on to chapter 6.

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Chapter 6 - A Day of Rest with an Ominous Prediction

"Rei, time to get up! You don't want to be late for school, do you?" Rei's grandfather called to her.

"I'm already awake grandpa!" Rei responded as she left her room. Rei had not slept more than two hours last night, but that was not from a lack of trying. Rei had already been dressed and ready for school for an hour, it was harder task to get dressed then she thought it would be since her right arm was more a less useless right now; she could even raise it above her head. After she had finished getting dressed she decided to wait in her room for her grandfather to call for her because even though she usually got up early walking around the shrine at four in the morning would be more than a little out of the ordinary.

"Breakfast is ready if you're hungry." Grandpa Hino said and smiled at Rei, but his smile disappeared when he saw that Rei still looked tired. "Are you ok Rei, you don't look like you slept well last night."

"I'm ok; I just couldn't get comfortable enough to sleep well last night." Rei answered as sincerely as she could without tell grandfather about why she couldn't sleep well. Her answer seemed to be enough for him though. "That's too bad Rei. Here, take some miso soup, I'm sure you'll feel better if you eat something." Grandpa Hino offered. "Arigatou gozaimasu" Rei said when she accepted the bowl. Rei finished her breakfast, washed her dishes, and was preparing her to leave when her grandfather, who was still eating his breakfast, called to her. "Oh Rei, don't over work yourself today you're obviously tired. Don't forget you're only human."

"I won't Grandpa, don't worry. Sayonara!" Rei called as she left the shrine. Rei began making her way down the stairs of the shrine sensed someone running after her, so she stopped. Yuuichirou came running down the stairs to catch up with Rei. When she stopped suddenly he tried to stop as well, but instead he lost his footing and began to fall. As he started to fall he reached out to grab onto something and ended up grabbing Rei's arm, the same one that was injured last night, and pulled on it so he didn't fall face first into the concrete. Rei bit down on her lip at the sudden pain that ran up her arm, "Damn it Yuuichirou! What in the hell are you doing!" Rei yelled as she pulled her arm away from him and held it to her side.

"I'm sorry Rei, did I hurt you?" Yuuichirou asked looking at how Rei was holding her arm. Rei looked at him a little confused and then realized how she was her holding her arm, "I'm fine, I just don't need someone trying to pull my arm out of its socket."

"Gomen nasai." Yuuichirou said bowing his head to avoid Rei's gaze. "Look, I really have to go to school now and you should get back to work too, alright?" Rei said hoping that would end this conversion.

"You're right. I'll see you after school then." Yuuichirou said as he finally looked back up at Rei. Rei merely nodded her head in response and walked down the rest of the stairs that lead away from the Shrine.

`I really wish I didn't have to go to school today, I'm so tired.' Rei thought as she ideally walked down the street leading to T*A Private Girls' School. `Maybe I could catch up on the sleep I missed last night.' Rei wondered, `With a senshi meeting tonight, I won't be able to rest when I get home. I hope the youma take a night off today.' That was Rei's final thought before she entered her school.

~~~~******~~~~

"I'm home Grandpa!" Rei called as she entered the Shrine and headed to her room to drop off her bag and pick up a change of clothes. "Grandpa, I'm going to take a bath, but I'm expecting my friends to come over. So if they come by while I'm in here just tell them to wait in my room." "Sure Rei." Grandpa Hino replied.

Rei went into her private bathroom and locked the door. Rei began to run the water and once it was the right temperature she turned the water higher and added in soap, once the water was at the level she turned off the water. Next, Rei took off her top carefully so she wouldn't disturb her shoulder or her ribs or even her tender arms that were burnt from a couple nights ago. Though her shoulder hurt more than her ribs they were still quite sore, two nights in row of tough fighting took a toll. Rei then removed her socks and skirt; afterward she paused in front of her standing mirror and inspected her injuries. All her minor cuts were already healed, but she still had three rather large burses on her torso where her ribs were broken, she also silently thanked you ever designed her uniform to have long sleeves because it covered up her burnt skin that was slowly healing, and oddly enough the only thing that made her shoulder injury noticeable was that it was slightly swollen. `I should take in the bath before it gets cold' she thought. Rei removed the last articles of clothing, her bra and underwear, and got into the tub.

As Rei slid into the water she ignored the dull pain of her burnt arms as they came in contact with the warm water, it was more comfortable after a few minutes anyway. `This feels so good; it's nice to relax if even only for a little while.' Being in the water like this was good for her sore body, plus she liked to think here, other than being with the sacred fire this was one of her favorite places to think. `Maybe I can relax here because I can't be disturbed.'

**KNOCK ** KNOCK**

`So much for that thought.' "Yes!" Rei called out not trying to hide her anger.

"Umm…Rei most of your friends are already here, Grandpa told me to tell you." Yuuichirou said weakly on the other side of the door, he must have noticed Rei mood by the tone of her voice.

"Alright, could you tell them I'll be right there?" Rei said more calmly.

"Sure" Yuuichirou replied and he went off to tell Rei's friends just that.

Rei got out of the bath and grabbed a towel to dry herself. `Just when I had gotten comfortable too.' Rei thought as she removed the plug in the tub to drain the water. `Hopefully someone will have some new information to contribute; this new enemy is really becoming a handful and without better information on them dealing with them will be difficult.' Rei continued thinking as she put on her clothes. `Only way to know is to find out what everyone has to say.' Finishing putting on her skirt she headed to her room.

~~~~******~~~~

Rei entered her room to find everyone there except for Usagi and Setsuna. "Hey guys, where are Usagi and Setsuna? Aren't they coming?" Rei asked after she closed her door.

"I'm not sure about Setsuna, but Usagi should be along soon, it was her turn to clean the classroom and she told us to go on ahead." Makoto answered part of Rei's question.

"I see, but what about Setsuna then?" Rei asked.

"We really don't know. Neither Ruka or I have seen her since our last meeting. I can only assume that she is still trying to gather any information she can." Michiru responded.

"Should we start the meeting or wait for Usagi?" Rei now asked.

"We should wait, she can't take much longer." Minako said and everyone shook their heads in agreement.

"Alright, we wait then." Rei said as she sat down on her futon next to Minako, since everyone had already taken their usual spots; Ami sat next to Makoto on the ground directly across from Rei's futon, Haruka and Michiru stood to the left of them, Luna and Artemis sat in to middle.

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`I wonder if they decided to start without me, I'm sure everyone is there already.' Usagi thought as she reached the steps that lead up to Hikawa Jinja. Deciding not to waste anymore time Usagi hurriedly started her ascent, but slowed down when she spotted someone sweeping the steps. "Hey Yuuichirou, how are you doing?" Usagi cheerfully asked.

"Oh, hi Usagi. I'm fine." Yuuichirou responded as he looked up from the ground he was sweeping, but with much less enthusiasm than Usagi.

"What's wrong? You don't sound like you're fine." Usagi asked with concern.

"It's nothing, really. Rei is just more grouchy than usual. I think something maybe bothering her, but I know she would never tell me about it." Yuuichirou said to Usagi.

"I'll talk to her and maybe I can find out what's wrong." Usagi remarked.

"You will?" Yuuichirou asked as his eyes shined with unshed tears.

A cute smile spread across Usagi's face as nodded, "Yeah. I should get going though, so Rei won't be mad at me for being late." Usagi answered and giggled a little at the end of her statement.

"Ok." Yuuichirou responded and wiped his eyes as Usagi went inside.

~~~~******~~~~

"So Rei, how's your shoulder feeling?" Makoto asked.

"It's felt better, but it's tolerable." Rei answered.

"What about you, Minako? Are you doing ok?" Ami questioned.

"If you're comparing now to last night, I'm feeling marvelous. Though I do still have a small head ache, I think it's going away because it's gotten better as the day's gone on." Minako replied.

"It's normal to still have a head ache for a day or two afterwards, but if it continues let me know, ok?" Ami said.

"Will do." Minako answered.

Haruka leaned against wall listening to the conversations and stared at the ground shaking her head. Haruka's movement caught Rei's attention, "Is something bothering you, Haruka?" Rei asked.

Everyone turned their attention to Haruka for her answer. "Of course something's bothering me! I thought we had discussed last night that if we ran into trouble we would call for assistance. Am I wrong?" Haruka paused to look at her fellow sailor senshi and was met with silence so she continued, "I'll take that as a no. So why didn't anyone give out a distress signal!?"

Suddenly the door slid open, but everyone's attention stayed on Haruka, until the newcomer spook, "Hey guys, sorry I'm late." Usagi said cheerfully, however once she looked around the room and saw all the serious faces her mood changed, "What's wrong?"

"I just asked what happened last night and why no one called for help." Haruka replied.

"I'll tell what occurred last night, Haruka." Ami answered. Ami went on to explain the events of the previous night in detail for Haruka.

"Alright, but that doesn't explain why none of you called for help." Haruka said after she listened to what had occurred the previous night.

"I'll answer that." Makoto replied. "I can't speak for everyone else, but I thought it would be better to try defeat the youma and call only if we need back-up, but when we got into trouble Rei and Usagi showed up. Looking back now, it would have smarter to call for help before we engaged the enemy; however it was attacking someone so we needed to act. Honestly though, it would have been difficult for you two to have arrived in time, since you were across town."

Haruka expression turned to one of shock. She opened her mouth to make a comment about her driving ability, but decided it would be better to end this little argument rather than continue it. "Now that that's been settled, let's move on to something more vital. Did you two find anything of significance at the warehouse where Rei fought the first youma?" Luna questioned Haruka and Michiru.

"No, the stupid police ruined the scene, they left us with nothing." Haruka grumbled frustration evident in her voice. Michiru put her hand over Haruka's, offering her confront. Everyone in the room seemed disappointed by the lack of information they had to work with; the only thing that they had was what the youma had told Rei, which was not much.

"Luna, did Artemis and you discover anything in your research?" Ami asked hoping for a better answer than Haruka's.

"No, with as little as we have to go on we couldn't tell if this enemy is the reemergence of an enemy from the Silver Millennium or if it's an entirely new threat." Luna responded solemnly.

"What about Setsuna, hasn't she returned yet?" Usagi asked.

"No, she has been gone since our last meeting. Michiru told us that before you came, Usagi." Minako said.

"She had to have found something if she's been gone for this long, right?" Usagi said hopefully.

"I sure hope so. It'll be easier to deal with them if we had a better understand about what we're up against here. These youma are stronger than the ones we have fought with in the past, plus they seem to want nothing more than to destroy things and kill people." Rei added.

It was quite for a few minutes after Rei's statement, all of them were thinking about the situation they were currently in.. "Is there anything that anyone would like to add." Luna said signifying that meeting was about to conclude. After waiting to see if anyone was going to speak up she spook again, "Alright I guess that concludes this meeting."

Everyone got up and began moving toward the exit when Haruka, who was in front, stopped abruptly and turned around. "Shouldn't we be patrolling tonight? I mean there have been incidents the last two nights in a row." Haruka inquired.

"That's true, however other than you and Michiru we aren't in much of a condition to be patrolling tonight. As much as I would like to stop any enemy activity that may occur tonight, I realize that if I were to go out I would be less than helpful and the same can be said for others here." Minako said

Haruka mulled over what Minako said before speaking, "I understand. Michiru and I shall patrol alone then."

"Don't be so quick to want to fight! It's dangerous to do this without proper back-up, what will happen if you two if you get into trouble?" Rei said as she stood up and walked over the Haruka.

"I know what you're saying Rei, but Michiru and I are going to do this, we've gotten out of sticky situations before." Haruka countered.

"It's not about whether the two of you can handle yourselves, I know you can. It's just…something doesn't feel right about it, you can't do this without back-up." Rei said.

"I'll be there back-up. I wasn't really injured in last night's battle." Usagi interjected.

"No." Rei said resolutely.

"And why not?" Usagi asked as she turned to look Rei in her eyes.

"Because…Because… `I wouldn't be there to protect you'. There wouldn't be anyone there to protect and back you up." Rei said.

The rest of the senshi remained quite during the conversation, until Ami decided to speak up. "Come on arguing about this will get us nowhere. Haruka and Michiru are doing what they feel is best and they are smart enough to get out of any bad situations, we need to trust their judgment."

"Ami is correct." Michiru said.

"We have been around longer than all of you and we know how to handle ourselves, we don't need a babysitter watching over us. Besides, it's not like fight alone is foreign to us, we did it for a long time before we met all of you." Haruka said her voice full of confidence.

"I know, but you two haven't fought this new enemy yet. No matter how much experience you have can't do this by yourselves." Rei pleaded.

"I know you are looking out for us, but we know what we're doing and I'm sorry Rei, but you can't stop us." Michiru said.

"But…." Rei tried to continue her point, but was cut off by Haruka, "You can't change our minds. I think we can handle one patrol mission by ourselves."

"Fine, but promise me you'll know limits out there and not be too stubborn to escape if the situation gets out of hand." Rei finally relented.

"Me stubborn?" Haruka questioned cockily. Haruka and Michiru then turned to walk out the door, but as they reached it Usagi said, "Be careful."

Haruka turned back around and said while she smiled, "Sure, bunny." With that the pair left the shire.

~~~~******~~~~

Everyone was seated again after Haruka and Michiru left. "I really should be leaving now too. My mom actually isn't working the nightshift tonight." Ami said a short time after Haruka and Michiru left.

"I'll walk you home then." Makoto said and got up. She then walked over to Ami and took hand and pulled her up gracefully. Ami turned her head slightly to hide the redness that she could feel on her face, "Arigato." Ami said quietly as she looked down.

Realizing that she was still holding Makoto's hand Ami lets go to bring herself back to reality Makoto's face turned from one of joy to one of hurt. `I hope she's not upset I held her hand for that long, I don't want her to know.' Ami thought, `I need to stop doing this.'

"So ah, what about you two?" Ami asked Usagi and Minako, hoping not to prolong that awkward moment with Makoto any longer.

"I need to talk to Rei for a few minutes, go on ahead." Usagi answered.

"Alright, let's go." Makoto said in a more subdued voice than before. Both Makoto and Ami started toward the door, but Ami stopped when she realized Minako hadn't begun to leave yet. Instead she stood looking between Rei and Usagi with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"You coming, Minako?" Ami asked snapping Minako out of her thoughts.

"Oh, right." Minako said as picked up Luna and Artemis and headed for the door, but she spared one more glance at Rei and Usagi before sliding shut the door though. The cats gave Minako a strange look as did Ami and Makoto. Ami decided to ask the question everyone was thinking, "What was that about, Minako?"

"Oh, well…it's just that I felt something from the two of them." Minako replied.

"Felt something?" Makoto questioned further.

Minako shook her head at the continued question and answered, "No, no don't worry about it. It's probably just my imagination `I hope'. It's nothing to worry about, I'm sure."

Everyone continued giving Minako a weird look, but decided to let it be. "If you say so." Makoto said as all of them began leaving the Hikawa Jinja.

~~~~******~~~~

Once alone Rei turned toward her futon and sat at the head of it with her legs crossed and her back up against the wall, so she was comfortable, and motioned for Usagi to sit at the foot of it and she did. When they were both sitting comfortably Rei began, "So Usagi, what did you need to talk to me about without the others?" Rei asked.

"First, I wanted to thank you for what you did last night. I know you charged into the youma to prevent that acid from hitting me. I didn't thank you then so I am now." Usagi said.

"You don't need thank me, never let you be hurt." Rei responded.

"Yes I do. Everyone puts their lives on the line for me all the time; you've hurt yourself to protect me. What kind of person….w-would I be….if I didn't thank you." Usagi said as voice started creaking because she was beginning to cry.

"Usagi…." Rei began, but was cut off. "No! Let me finish. I want you to promise that you won't throw yourself into danger because of me, I couldn't bear it if you were really hurt protecting me." Usagi said genuinely.

"I can't." Rei said plainly.

"Why?" Usagi implored.

Rei took a deep breath and replied, "Because…. `you're the most precious thing in this world and if anyone is worth dying for you are' your life is worth more than mine is."

"That's not true! Your life is just as important as mine is, I couldn't handle it if anyone gave up their life so I could live." Usagi said genuinely.

"Usagi, listen to me." Rei said as she moved closer to Usagi and took hold of her hand. "I could never put my life ahead of yours and there is nothing you can say that will change that. I know this isn't what you want to hear and I'm sorry, but it's just the way I feel." Rei stopped when she saw that nothing she was saying seemed to cheer Usagi up. "Besides it will never come to that, we're destine to live in Crystal Tokyo, remember?" Rei felt a pain in her chest when forced herself to say what fate had already ordained, but it was the only thing she could think to say that would cheer up Usagi and her pain was easy to bear if it made her princess feel better.

"I know, but it doesn't make me feel any better when someone is hurt because of me." Usagi said.

"You feel that way because you care about us, but we do what we do because we care about you, you understand, right?" Rei said

"Yeah, I understand." Usagi said as wiped away fresh tears. Rei took that as her accepting her answers even if she may not like them. "Is that all you wanted to tell me Usagi?" Rei asked hoping that would change the current subject.

"Actually, there is something else I wanted to discuss with you." Usagi responded, she did promise Yuuichirou that she would talk to Rei about something too. "Yuuichirou seems to think you're more on edge than usual and I would have to agree with him. Is something bothering you Rei?"

"Nothing's bothering me." Rei said a little quicker than had she intended, "I mean, I may have snapped at him a couple times today, but that's only because I didn't sleep well." Rei said hoping Usagi wouldn't question her further.

"Why didn't you sleep well?" Usagi asked warily.

"It's nothing to worry about, really." Rei said when she saw disbelief on Usagi's face. "I just couldn't get comfortable, every position I tried just aggravated my shoulder. It feels much better now, really" Rei said not very convincingly though.

"Why do I think you're telling me the entire truth?" Usagi asked.

"It is the truth." Rei said a little defensively. "What could I get out of lying?"

"I would leave you alone about it." Usagi stated.

"True. But I'm not lying." Rei said in the most sincere voice she could.

"Ok, but I think you should apologize to Yuuichirou for snapping at him, he really does care about you." Usagi finally conceded.

"Alright, I'll apologize to him." Rei said.

"That's good to hear." Usagi said happily. "Oh my, it's that late already. I really need to head home; my mom is probably wondering where I am." Usagi said when she looked at the wall clock in Rei's room.

"I'll walk you home then" Rei offered.

"You really don't need to." Usagi responded.

"I'll feel better if I do." Rei said.

"Alright." Usagi agreed. Usagi picked up her school things and Rei put on a jacket and they both left her bedroom.

"Grandpa, I'm going to walk Usagi home!" Rei called down the hallway.

"Alright. Sayonara Usagi!" Grandpa Hino called back.

"Sayonara!" Usagi said. With that Rei and Usagi left the shrine and headed to Tsukino residence.

~~~~******~~~~

"What is happening?!" Sailor Pluto asked though there was no one with her. `What does all this mean, what is the connection I see between Rei and this new enemy? If this change occurs in the time line everything will be different.'

Sailor Pluto stood in front of a gigantic gate, which she had just come though looking very confused and very unlike her usual demeanor. `I don't know what to do, if let events carry out the way they are it could be disastrous, but I don't know what course of action to take. This isn't how it was supposed to happen. Maybe I should just let happen what will; what I saw is only one possibility it may not happen at all. I'll talk to Rei and see if what I saw is even possible.'

End of Ch. 6

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I really didn't think would take me a month to finish this chapter, but I guess since I changed virtually everything I previously wrote for this chapter it makes sense. I got question, should I make the next chapter have a lot of action or be more story filled? I can't decided myself I could see myself doing it either way, so hopefully everyone who reads this will give me an answer one way or another otherwise the next chapter may take me longer to write than I would like. So please be kind enough to answer that for me.

I hope everyone liked the way this chapter went, I hope not so little Ami/Makoto clue was evident to all, but like I said in at the start of this it won't be explicit until a *key* moment in the story and that is all I'm going to say on that. That's really all I think I wanted to say, so till next time. Ja ne!

Don't forget to please tell what you want in the next chapter.