Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Her Battle ❯ Temporary Living Arrangements ( Chapter 14 )

Hello again, I'm back for another chapter. This one will pick up right where the last left off. This chapter could have been a part of the last one, but I didn't want that one to be any larger than it already was and I wanted to get something out rather than wait even longer to add this to the last chapter.

fan-rei - Explanations are coming…eventually. I've got no problem answering questions as long as it doesn't take away from plot points that are going to happen.

Thorn on a Rose - Thanks for reviewing :) I wanted to add in fighting because there don't seem to be many that SM fics that include it, at least the Rei/Usagi ones I've read. All the different love angles are what make this fun to write. I'm glad to hear you like it.

LightningStrikes - You really crack me up :) Oh, and the `her' I was referring to was Makoto; not Rei. If I were to rank the inner senshi in order of fighting competency it would be: Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Moon, and Mercury. That's not saying that Jupiter is the most powerful, that title goes to Moon, I do feel that she is the best fighter of the group and I'm sure that shows through in how write them fighting. That's probably a lot more than you asking for me to say but I just like to talk ; P

ms - Thank you for reviewing :) You know, all that praising will go straight to my head ; P thanks :) I'll be as quick as I can. I know waiting can be torturous sometimes, but that's what makes reading the next chapter all the more enjoyable to read :P

James/Master - Yep, I've read `Absence'; multiple times in fact. `Absence' was what inspired me to write this. `Absence' is a must read for anyone who is a fan of Rei/Usagi. The same can be said for `Of Demons and Love' by Byakko Rei.

13 - I can't say anymore about Mina than I've already said, I'll just let her words/thoughts and actions speak for themselves. I plan do a back-story chapter about the enemy in the future, that will explain things. Doesn't seem weird that I haven't given a name to the leader of the youma? ;)

Alright with all that said, here is chapter 14 everyone…

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

Chapter 14 - Temporary Living Arrangements

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

"Uranus, I already told you I don't have time to play with you today. So, if you don't want to destroy this building and kill countless humans; I suggest you take care of your comrades instead of me." Ryuji said seriously.

Uranus looked at the ground and saw Sailor Moon lying on top of Mars. They were covered in dust and dry wall from the explosion, but neither appeared to be seriously hurt. When Uranus looked up again, the two youma were gone. `You won't get away from me next time' Uranus thought before turning her attention back to two senshi on the ground. Uranus knelt down beside the girls and shook Sailor Moon's shoulder a little.

"Hey, Usagi wake up." Uranus said quietly.

Moon shifted a little when she heard someone telling her to get up, "I don't want get up yet. Can't I sleep a little longer, Mom?"

"Princess, get up." Uranus repeated, a little more loudly this time.

`Princess? My mom doesn't call me that.' She thought then remembered where she was. Moon opened her eyes, but quickly shut them when she got dust in her them. She sat up and started rubbing her eyes to clear her vision.

"Are you alright, Princess?" Uranus asked.

"Yeah, I just got some dust in my eyes." Moon said then blinked her eyes a few more times until she could see clearer. Sailor Moon looked around and saw the damage to the room, "We need to get out of here." She looked down at Mars sadly and leaned close to her ear and whispered softly, "Rei, please undo your transformation." Mars frowned a little as if she had heard Sailor Moon's voice and after a few minutes Rei's red and white fuku faded away, leaving her in a blood stained hospital gown.

Uranus looked on with a surprised expression on her face, "How did you undo her transformation?" Uranus asked.

"I didn't, she did it." Moon responded. "Can you carry her out of here, Uranus?"

"Out of here?" Uranus asked.

"Yes, it's not safe for her to stay here anymore. Plus I think it would be best for us to leave before anyone comes to investigate what happened in here." Moon said and stood up.

"Right. Where to though?" Uranus asked as she lifted Rei off the ground.

"Let's go to where Venus and the others are first. I want to make sure they're all alright." Moon said.

"Gotcha!" Uranus said and walked to where the outside wall to the room used to be, with Moon following closely behind.

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

"What was that?" Venus asked when she saw someone leap out of the room Rei was in and ran away from the hospital.

"A youma." Pluto stated simply.

"A youma?" Venus repeated. Then she remembered, before she engaged the youma at the hospital entrance one of the youma had broken away from the group and went somewhere else. `That must be the youma I just saw.' Venus thought.

"We've got to make sure everyone is alright up there." Venus said as she looked back up at destroyed hospital room. Just then she saw two more figures leap down from the third story room. These two didn't run away, instead they ran towards where Venus and remaining senshi were gathered. "Be alert, someone's coming!" Venus commanded.

As the duo neared, it became clear that it was not a pair, but rather a trio. The taller of the two was carrying someone and the shorter one was becoming recognizable the closer the figure got. The hairstyle of the shorter one, indicated that it could only possible be one person.

"Princess, you're alright." Pluto said, sounding relieved.

"Pluto? When did…?" Uranus questioned.

"Not now." Pluto said in an unquestionable tone. "What happened?"

"A youma tried to sneak attack Rei." Moon answered, when she noticed Mercury was kneeling over Jupiter. "What happened to her?" Moon asked and ran beside Mercury.

"A damn youma got me from behind." Jupiter said and pushed herself into a kneeling position.

"You need to have those cuts tended to." Mercury said worriedly.

"If you're telling me to go in there" motioning to the hospital, "These aren't serious enough to warrant that." Jupiter said.

"I'm glad you're alright." Moon said and put a hand on Jupiter's shoulder.

"What happened to Rei? And why did you take her from her hospital room?" Venus asked.

"Well her room isn't in any shape for her to stay there anymore. I kind of destroyed a good portion of it." Uranus said sheepishly.

"And she's hurt because she was protecting me." Moon said somberly.

"But that's what she should be doing." Pluto said.

Moon turned quickly to Pluto and stared at her. A number of emotions flashed in her eyes, the one that scared Pluto most was anger, an emotion rarely shown by Usagi or alter ego, Sailor Moon, for that matter. "I don't want anyone to be hurt because they are protecting me…Rei least of all. I think she's been through recently." Moon's voice lost the angry edge to it when she added, "I was one who was supposed to protect her tonight."

"I'm sorry, that was out of line." Pluto apologized.

Before Sailor Moon could respond, the lights went on all around the hospital, "We should get out of here, before we draw too much attention to ourselves." Uranus said.

"Uranus is right. We need to undo our transformations and leave here before we're notice." Venus agreed.

"Alright, it would be best for us to leave." Moon said as she addressed the Sailor Senshi and all nodded their heads in acceptance.

Jupiter pulled herself to her feet and stood unsteady for a few seconds before falling forward a little, but Mercury held her up. "You ok?"

"Yeah, I just need to find my balance and I'll be alright." Jupiter said and tried unsuccessfully to walk straight.

"Let me help." Mercury said and wrapped her arm around Jupiter's waist, careful not to disturb any cuts. `I know shouldn't enjoy holding her in this situation, but can't help but enjoy this short time when I can be so close to her and this action can't be construed in any other way then me wanting to help a friend.'

"Thanks. I guess I'm not as steady on my feet as I thought I was." Jupiter said with a laugh.

"You really need to have these cuts tended to before they get infected." Mercury said seriously.

"Over here!" Venus called and waved everyone over to a dark and deserted alley. "This would be a good place to detransform."

All senshi went into the dark alley and emerged in their civilian identities. "What now then?" Haruka asked, still carrying Rei.

"I need to get home and clean these cuts." Makoto said, still being supported by Ami.

"I'll help you." Ami offered and Makoto nodded her head in acceptance before they started off slowly.

"Ami could you make sure your mom knows how sorry we are that Rei is gone, but let her know that Rei is indeed ok." Usagi said.

"Sure, I don't know what can say about the room being destroyed, but I'll come up with something." Ami replied before continuing to help Makoto.

"So where to Princess?" Haruka asked after the two girls left.

Usagi thought for a second before replying, "Is your car nearby?"

"It's not too far, why?" Haruka asked.

"I don't think you want to carry Rei as far as we are going to go." Usagi said.

"And how far is that?" Haruka asked curiously.

"I'll tell you when we get to your car." Usagi said.

"Could you drop me off at home than Haruka?" Minako spoke up.

"I don't see why not?" Haruka said with a shrug, "What about you Setsuna?"

"Will there be room enough for me to ride along with you?" Setsuna asked.

Haruka looked at Usagi to see if she had any objections, she didn't appear to have any so she spoke, "I'm sure we can squeeze you in, it might be a tight fit though."

"Let's get going, I think we've lingered here long enough." Usagi addressed the group. They agreed and set off for Haruka's car, with Haruka leading the way.

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

Elsewhere…

"Here he is." Ryuji said and roughly threw Kenjiro to the ground.

An evil smirk crossed the lips of the woman sitting in front of the two youma, "Thank you Ryuji. I trust that you followed the instructions I gave to you."

"As best I could mistress. Uranus tried to stop me, but I didn't raise a hand against her." Ryuji explained.

"Good, I'm glad someone can follow my orders." she said and glared at Kenjiro, who was now kneeling before her.

"How dare you defy me?!" she said and got up from her chair and approached Kenjiro. "I told you not to do anything and yet, here we are." She stopped only a few steps away from the youma.

She placed her hand just above the youma's head, her palm downward. Kenjiro flinched as she just kept her hand, hovering over his head. After a few more long minutes, she retracted her hand, "But I will not kill you, nor will I sully my own hands. Ryuji!" She called.

"Gladly." Ryuji said with a smirk on his face and cracked his fingers.

She backed away and went back to sitting on her thrown. Ryuji raised his hand and prepared to strike Kenjiro, "Just…don't kill him." She stated offhandedly.

"Hai!" Ryuji responded and drove his fist into the side of Kenjiro's already injured face.

Kenjiro grunted as he slammed into the cold ground from the force of the punch. Without letting up, Ryuji kicked him in his side, knocking on to his back. Ryuji leaned down and drove his knee to Kenjiro's side multiple times. When he finally heard a loud creaking sound, he smiled as Kenjiro howled in pain. Ryuji drove his knee into his side more time for good measure and Kenjiro screamed even louder then. The woman sitting at the throne was smiling through Kenjiro's ordeal and smiled even wider when he would cry out in pain. Ryuji got up, walked over to his other side, and proceeded to do the same thing he had done to his other side. Once he had successfully broken ribs on both sides of his rib cage, Ryuji proceeded to straddle him and began punching him in the face mercilessly. Every so often Ryuji would thrust his elbows into his shoulders, hoping to dislocate them as well. Eventually Kenjiro gave in to the pain and passed out. When the woman in black noticed that Kenjiro was no longer crying out in pain she signaled for Ryuji to stop.

"I think that's enough. I want you to chain him up outside, with these energy bindings." She said and held up two golden glowing chains. "He is not to be feed, until I deem it alright for him to. Make sure everyone knows this is what will happen if anyone else decides to defy me. Let them know I let him off easy, but I won't be so forgiving to the next one that goes against my orders. The next one that defies me will be sent to oblivion by my own hands."

"Hai!" Ryuji responded, slightly out of breath.

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

After a short time, Ami and Makoto had made it to her apartment, "Shouldn't you be heading home yourself?" Makoto asked as she eased herself onto the sofa that wasn't too far from the door.

"No one's there, my mom is pulling a double and I would rather be here with you." Ami said without thinking. "I-I mean someone is going to have to help you dress your wounds, you can't reach all of them on your back. Your first aid kit is still in the bathroom, right?" Ami said quickly and without waiting for an answer ran into the bathroom.

Makoto just stared at the space her friend previously occupied, `What the heck is up with her?'

`Oh my God, did she notice what I said? I'm so stupid.' Ami thought as she frantically searched through cabinets for the first aid kit. After opening the cupboard below the sink, she finally found what she had been looking for. Ami took it out and opened it to make sure it had all the necessary things to treat Makoto's wounds. After she was satisfied that what she need was in there she closed the box and took a deep breath, `Calm down. Makoto has already told me I'm acting strangely around her and if I go out there like this she'll know something is really going.' Ami told herself and took another deep breath before looking for the last items she would need. She spotted a dry washcloth by the bathtub and grabbed it. Ami turned on the hot water and soaked the cloth underneath it. She rung out the washcloth, so it wouldn't be too wet and turned off the water. Ami picked up the items, left the bathroom, and went into the kitchen for the last item she needed. Ami quickly went to one of the cabinets and pulled out a metallic bowl. She went to the sink and filled the bowl about half way full with hot water before returning to Makoto.

"I'm sorry about that; I just wanted to get this as soon as possible." Ami said displaying the first aid kit. `It was partially true at least.' Ami reasoned with herself.

"Alright." Makoto said and reached for the metal box, Ami held it away from her.

"No. I told you, I'll help you take care of your wounds." Ami said.

"You really don't have to do that, you know?" Makoto said.

"I don't have to, but I want to. What kind of a friend would I be if I let you tend to your own injuries? And since you refused to go the hospital to let them do anything for you, I'm not going to let you nurse yourself when I'm here." Ami said.

"Still, you don't need to do this. I've taken care of myself, by myself, for this long so tending to a couple cuts is nothing." Makoto said dismissively.

"Just…just let me do this for you. Please?" Ami asked pleadingly.

"Fine." Makoto relented.

Makoto grabbed the sides of her shirt and started pulling it over her head slowly. Ami noticed she was wincing as she was pulling the shirt off, "Do you want me to help?" Ami offered.

"No, I've got it." Makoto replied and finally removed her shirt and sighed in relief, `That was a little more taxing than I thought it would be. It's probably a good thing Ami offered to help. I just wish I knew why she was so persistent about helping.'

`Oh God, to have a body like that. Focus Ami!' "Umm, Mako-chan could you lay on your stomach." Ami said after she lost her focus momentarily.

"Sure." Makoto said and did as she instructed.

Ami picked up the washcloth she had taken from the bathroom, "This may sting a little." Ami said as she prepared to dab the damp cloth on the other girls back. Makoto nodded in acknowledgement, Ami took that as her sign to go ahead and cautiously touched one of the cuts with the towel. Makoto sucked in her breath sharply and flinched at the contact, "I'm sorry."

"It's ok, you said it would sting. It stung a little more than I thought it would, but don't worry about me. I can take this; it's not too painful really. If I try not thinking about, I'll hardly feel it. It's worked for me before." Makoto said and looked over her shoulder at Ami.

Ami nodded and continued carefully cleaning the cuts. Once she was satisfied that she cleaned each cut properly and had wiped away all the dry blood covered Makoto's back, she put the dirty cloth into the bowl she had brought and opened the first aid kit. After a little searching she took out a tube of antibiotic ointment, "This will be a little cold." Ami warned before squirting some of the cream on Makoto's back.

Ami rubbed in the cream and after a couple more applications of the ointment Ami had given each cut their fare share of the ointment. Ami put the ointment away and took out some gauze and bandages, "I'm almost done, I just need to bandage the cuts."

"Ok." Makoto said quietly. She wasn't used to someone else caring for her, but she found herself not minding it. `I thought she wanted to avoid me. Then why is she doing all of this for me?' Makoto thought. She couldn't think of any logical answer, but one thing she knew for sure was that she liked the Ami that was with her right now, not the distant Ami she had been recently.

Makoto continued mussing about Ami when she felt someone tap her on the shoulder, "I'm all done now."

"Oh, alright." Makoto said and sat up. She grabbed her bloody shirt and headed into her room, while Ami cleaned up the medical supplies and brought the first aid kit back into the bathroom. By the time, Ami returned Makoto was in the living room again, but with a clean shirt on.

"I should probably get going." Ami said as she walked over to Makoto.

"Do you want to eat something first? I can whip something up really quick." Makoto offered.

Ami thought about it for a few seconds, it was tempting but…, "No, but thank you for the offer." Ami said and picked up her purse. "If you remove the bandages, make sure apply the ointment again. I don't think you'll need to do that for more than a couple of days; your senshi healing will help."

Makoto nodded her head slowly, "I understand."

"I'll see you at school tomorrow, ok?" Ami said and walked to the door.

"Ami!" Makoto called before the other girl could open the door.

Ami turned around to see Makoto was now standing next to her, "Yes?"

"I...uh…just wanted to say thank you." Makoto said.

"You don't need to thank me. It makes me feel good when I can help my friends." Ami said and another thought entered her mind, `Seeing Makoto without her shirt on was bonus.' Ami pushed that thought aside however.

"Still…thanks." Makoto said and wrapped her arms around the smaller girl, giving her a tender hug and causing her to blush a deep red. Ami stiffed at the contact at first, but hesitantly she put her arms around Makoto as well.

"I'll always be there if you need me, Mako-chan." Ami said and hugged Makoto tighter, but not tight enough to disturb any of her injuries. Ami reluctantly let go of Makoto and she did the same, "I'm going to get going now."

Makoto nodded and Ami opened the door, "Bye Mako-chan." Ami said and waved from the doorway and Makoto waved back before Ami shut the door. Once Ami shut the door, she leaned against the wall next to it. She didn't want to go home to her empty house but there was no way Makoto wanted her to stay, so she pushed herself off the wall and began her walk to her home.

Makoto's hand fell to her side and she shut off the lights before heading to her room. She crawled into the bed, fully aware that she had not changed into her sleepwear, but she didn't see the need to. `Another night alone in this quiet apartment.' Makoto thought and for some reason felt a tinge of sadness at the thought. She could understand why, she has lived alone for the better part of her life but when Ami was here with her it just felt like it was the most naturally thing in the world for that time. She pulled up her blankets as an afterthought and shut her eyes; hoping sleep could answer some of her questions.

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

"Usagi?" Minako asked quietly. Minako sat behind the driver seat and Usagi sat in the middle with Rei on Usagi's other side, while Setsuna sat in the passenger seat and Haruka drove.

"Yes?" Usagi responded.

"Where are you planning on taking her?" Minako asked and glanced over to Rei, she was still out cold. `I hope she wakes up soon, it's not good for her to be unconscious for that long.'

"I don't want to take her to the shrine because that would be too much of a shock to her grandfather to wake up and find Rei in her room without any warning. Plus I'm not so sure it would be much safer for her to be there than the hospital was." Usagi said quietly.

"So, where is it you're thinking of taking her then?" Minako asked curiously. Usagi leaned close to Minako's ear and whispered something. Minako looked surprised at first, but also felt a tinge of sadness, "Oh." she muttered.

"What is it Minako?" Usagi asked when she heard a bit of sadness in her friend's voice.

"We're here Minako!" Haruka called from the front seat.

Minako turned away from Usagi to address Haruka, "Thank you for dropping me, Haruka." Minako said and reached for the door but stopped when she felt Usagi's hand on her shoulder.

"Minako?" Usagi asked.

"Don't pay any mind to me Usagi. Just take care of Rei, please?" Minako said and was out the door before Usagi could respond.

The car was silent as Haruka waited for Minako to get inside safely. "Where should we take her? Do we bring her home, to the shrine?" Haruka asked as she pulled away from Minako's house and looked her rear-view mirror at the two girls.

Usagi looked over to Rei; she looked like she was sleeping. "Go to my house." Usagi said.

`Your house?' "But where do you want me to take Rei to?" Haruka responded.

"That's where we'll take her. Rei can stay at my house." Usagi said seriously, as she looked at Haruka.

"What? You can't be serious Princess." Setsuna said after having remained silent through the entire car ride.

"I am serious." Usagi said quickly and turned to the older woman.

"Shouldn't you consult your parents first?" Setsuna asked.

"Maybe…but I'm not talking about forever here. I just think she could stay there until she fully heals." Usagi said.

"Are you sure that would be best?" Setsuna asked.

"Why are you questioning me so much on this? This is my decision, Setsuna-san." Usagi said authoritatively.

"I'm sorry." Setsuna apologized, "I just want you to be sure of your decision."

"I am sure, so you needn't worry." Usagi said seriously and looked back over the Rei. Setsuna gave her a disapproving look when she turned away, but nodded her head in acceptance anyway.

Haruka looked from Setsuna to Usagi and shrugged her shoulders, "Now that that's settled, it's on to the Tsukino house then!" Haruka announced.

The rest of the ride was uneventful and thanks to Haruka's driving, they were at Usagi's home rather quickly. Once Haruka had stopped, she stepped out of the car, walked over to Usagi's door and opened it for the other girl.

"Thank you, Haruka." Usagi said and stepped out of the car. "Could you do me one more favor?" Usagi asked.

"Sure, what did you need?" Haruka asked.

"You see that window up there?" Usagi asked and pointed at a second story window. Haruka nodded, "I want you to take Rei threw that window. I'll go in through the front door so my parents know that I'm home. I'll be up there as soon as I can, but the window should be open already."

"Alright, think I'll transform to make the climb easier." Haruka said and went to the other door to get Rei.

"I'll remain here, Haruka." Setsuna said from her car seat. Haruka nodded her to acknowledge her statement and opened the door. She picked Rei up and quickly headed to the side of the Tsukino house.

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

Usagi pulled out her keys and opened the door to her house, "I'm home Mom! Dad!" she exclaimed to the house and removed her shoes. Ikuko poked her head out of the kitchen to greet her daughter.

"Oh Usagi you're back. How's your friend doing?" Ikuko asked.

"She's doing better. Where's Shingo?" Usagi asked, changing the subject.

"He's doing homework in his room." Kenji said as he looked up from the newspaper.

"Oh alright, I'm going to my room too." Usagi said and began walking away.

"Do you want any leftovers from dinner?" Ikuko asked.

Usagi thought about it for a few minutes, she didn't want to make Haruka wait, but she also didn't want to say no, to her mother's cooking. `I can always come back down after I talk to Haruka.' She thought and smiled. "I'll come down after I put my stuff in my room." Usagi said and sped up the stairs to her room.

Usagi opened the door and saw Uranus placing Rei on her bed, "Hey Haruka, you didn't have a hard time did you?"

"Nah, scaling a tree while carrying someone is a piece of cake." Uranus joked and undid her transformation.

"Thank you for all your help today Haruka." Usagi said.

Haruka turned around and bowed, "I'm at your bidding Princess."

Usagi blushed at Haruka's antics, "I'm being serious."

"As am I Princess." Haruka said, still keeping her bow.

Usagi just shook her head, "Stand up straight and stop joking around."

"As you wish your Highness." Haruka said lightheartedly and stood up. "Let me know how is doing later." Haruka said more seriously.

"Sure." Usagi said with a nod of her head. She watched as Haruka exited through her window and climbed skillfully down the tree to the street below. Usagi looked down at Rei, `I can't let sleep in that bloody hospital gown, but I'd better go down stairs and eat something before mom comes up here to check on me.'

"I'll be back soon, Rei." Usagi said and grabbed a blanket to cover her so she wouldn't get cold. Usagi walked to her bedroom door and took one more glance at Rei before heading back down stairs quickly.

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

"So nothing happened in my absence?" Setsuna asked.

"No, but what is this all about Setsuna? If the Princess is in danger I want to know." Haruka said.

"The Princess is always in danger until her destiny is fulfilled." Setsuna responded.

"Then tell what this has to do with Rei." Haruka inquired.

"I can not." Setsuna answered.

"Damn it Setsuna! Don't we have the same goals? Are we not fighting to achieve the same thing?" Haruka asked angrily.

"We do and we are, but I have to ensure the timeline and to do that there are some things that I can't say." Setsuna said.

"Fine, but I hope you know if what you're doing is the right thing." Haruka said.

"I know what I'm doing." Setsuna said. `If I doubt myself, what can I believe in?'

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

Morning

Light started filling the room, the rays of light landed on the raven-haired girl's face and she groaned as she started to wake up at last. Her hand went to the back of her head, "Oh, my head." She complained as she slowly opened her eyes. She looked up at the ceiling, `Something's not right. This isn't my room or even the hospital.' Her other senses told her that she was neither place as well. The bed was too soft to be the hospital bed she had slept in, but it didn't feel like her own bed either. Rei took a deep breathe, `This smell, this is…' she thought and turned her head to the right and her suspicions were confirmed. "Usagi?" Rei said and sat up a little too quickly, causing her to wince.

The blonde girl must have heard her because she started to stir on the futon next to Rei. Rei turned away from Usagi, `What am I doing here? The last thing I remember was being hit by that youma's attack.' Rei turned back to Usagi when she heard another groan from her Princess' direction. Rei saw that the other girl's eyes were now starting to open sleepily.

Usagi looked Rei's direction and her eyes opened fully, "Oh Rei you're awake! I was starting to get worried, but I couldn't stay up any longer. How do you feel?" Usagi said as she sat up and looked at the other girl.

"Usagi, what am I doing here? In your bed?" Rei questioned.

"I didn't think the hospital was safe for you anymore, so I thought it was best for you to get out of there." Usagi explained.

"You couldn't have done all that by yourself." Rei said

"No, I had the help of Haruka and Setsuna, well Haruka mainly…" Usagi continued talking, but Rei's thoughts went to the woman who either was ignoring her or just plain forgot she was going have a little `talk' with her, but both actions were very unlike Setsuna. `Setsuna? So she is around, is she just avoiding me?' Rei thought.

"…and Haruka carried you in here through the window. I didn't want to let my parents or brother know by going in through the front door." Usagi finished.

"And this?" Rei asked motioning to the pink pajamas with white bunnies that she was currently wearing.

"Umm…that…well I didn't think you would want to wear that dirty hospital gown, so I…ah…took the liberty of changing you into those." Usagi said as her face turned a light shade of pink.

Rei blinked a few times, had she heard her right. "You changed me?" Rei asked more than a little stunned.

"Well yeah. I didn't think you would mind. I mean it's not like you've got anything I haven't before." Usagi said dismissively, but she continued to blush a little.

Rei turned a bright shade of red, `My God she's dismissing it like it was nothing. Then again it probably did mean nothing to her, other than helping one of her friends.'

"Rei?" Usagi asked, cutting off Rei's train of thought.

"Yes?" Rei asked.

"You're not mad are you?" Usagi asked cautiously.

"Mad? Why would I be mad?" Rei asked confusedly.

"Well, I didn't ask you if I could do any of the things I did. I just did them, I decided to take you from the hospital, I decided to take you to my house, I decided to…" Usagi tried to continue, but Rei talked over her.

"Usagi stop, I'm not mad. I'm glad you were looking out for me when I couldn't look out for myself. You didn't have to do any of what you did, but did it anyway and for that, I'm thankful. How could I be mad at you when you were looking out for me?" Rei said sincerely.

"I'm sorry Rei. You were just being so quiet I thought you were angry." Usagi said.

"Usagi I was just thinking, but there is one more thing I would like to ask." Rei said.

"Yeah, what is it?" Usagi asked.

"Do you think I could use the shower? I feel a little dirty. I wasn't really able to shower at the hospital." Rei asked hopefully.

"Sure, but try to be quiet. I didn't really tell my parents you're here." Usagi said awkwardly.

"Will do." Rei said and got up slowly. Usagi watched her cautiously to see if she needed any help. Once Rei reached the door Usagi thought of something.

"Wait!" Usagi said and ran over to her dresser. After a little bit of searching she pulled out one of her larger shirts and skirts, "Here. You don't have anything to wear, so you can borrow these." Usagi said and handed her the clothing.

Rei smiled, "Thanks." she said and left the room. Usagi sat back down on the bed that Rei was previously sleeping in, leaned back on to it, and looked up at the ceiling.

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

Rei walked as stealthily as she could into the bathroom; luckily, it wasn't too far from Usagi's room. Rei turned the water on. The best way not to be seen would be to finish as quickly as possible. As Rei waited for the water to warm up a little more she looked to the clothes Usagi had given her. She couldn't remember ever seeing Usagi wearing either and she paid close attention to what Usagi was wearing most of the time. `She must have purposely picked out something that I would normally wear.' Rei thought and smiled, `Usagi's too thoughtful sometimes.'

Rei put her hand under the water to test it again and smiled, `Just right.' Rei pulled off her shirt and was surprised when it didn't aggravate the cuts she had received last night. She looked at herself in the mirror and noticed she had bandages where she didn't have them before. Then a thought struck her, `Usagi…she must have bandaged my wounds too.' Rei smiled and took off the rest of her clothes before stepping into the shower.

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

Rei walked back into Usagi's room and saw that she was now sitting at her desk, near her bed, brushing out her hair. Rei shut the door quietly and stepped into the room. Rei just enjoyed admiring Usagi's beauty, the light shined off her hair as she brushed it giving her a certain glow. `Her hair's really long when it's not up in her usual odangos.' Rei ideally thought `I can just admire her like this forever.' Rei thought, but that moment ended when Usagi turned around and noticed that Rei had returned already, so she stood up and walked over to her.

"Oh Rei you're done already." Usagi said and looked at Rei before turning a light shade of pink and looking away.

"What?" Rei asked curiously.

"I just think you look better in that than I would." Usagi said shyly.

Rei couldn't help but blush a little too as looked down at herself, `I doubt that.' she thought. "Umm Usagi can I ask you one more thing?" Rei asked, affectively changing the subject.

"Yeah, what did you want to ask?" Usagi asked.

"Why did you dress my wounds? You didn't need to do that." Rei said.

"I didn't need to, but I wanted to and that's the least I could do for you." Usagi said shyly and then thought of the other reason she felt that she needed to tend to the other girl's wounds. "You got those wounds because you were protecting me." Usagi said quietly.

"Usagi…I would do anything to ensure your safety and I won't stop protecting you." Rei said sincerely.

"Because I'm the Princess." Usagi said dejectedly and looked at the ground.

"No…because you're you. I will always put my life on the line for you at a moments notice, because you're you." Rei said and walked over to Usagi and put her hands on her shoulders.

Usagi looked up at Rei when she felt the other girl's hands on her. When they looked into each other's eyes, Rei saw that Usagi's eyes were sparkling with unshed tears. "You cry too much Princess." Rei said and brushed away a falling tear. "Please don't cry, especially for me. I want your eyes to be filled with happiness, not sadness. It makes me sad to see you crying out of sorrow. So please, don't cry." Rei pleaded, but that only seemed to cause more tears to come.

Rei took her hands off Usagi's shoulders and wrapped her arms around the smaller girl's frame. Rei was surprised when Usagi returned the gesture, "Come on. Don't cry." Rei said and rubbed Usagi's back comfortingly. That seemed to help, so Rei continued drawing circles on Usagi's back with her hands until her crying had slowed enough to satisfy her. Rei reluctantly pulled herself away from Usagi, put a hand on each of Usagi's cheeks, and wiped away the remaining tears. Rei found herself leaning closer and closer to Usagi, who wasn't moving, when her mind screamed out to her, `No! She's the Princess and you're only her bodyguard. She's destined to be with another.'

Rei stopped and step away from Usagi, "You should go and freshen up too. The bathroom should still be free."

Usagi merely nodded and grabbed her school uniform, which was hanging on the door, and left the room without saying another word.

Rei walked over to Usagi's desk, sat in the chair near it, and put her head down, "I'm so weak." Rei muttered almost inaudibly to herself. `I must have scared her out of her mind, that's why she didn't run away.' Rei too deep in thought to notice that there was a black cat sitting outside the open window.

End Ch. 14

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

I didn't intend for this one to take as long as it did to finish, but I can only write so much a night with homework and stuff. Then, there were some scenes that just weren't coming to a satisfying conclusion for me, so I just kept going with them; I hope that didn't make stuff too wordy. I hope that the next chapter won't frustrate me as much as this one did at times <sigh> Oh, and I certainly didn't expect this to turn out as long as it did either, so don't ask me how this one turned out to be almost as long as the last chapter.

Have I successfully confused more people as to what Pluto is doing/thinking? I hope so <laughs evilly> You'll get no more answers from me about her, but feel free to try to draw your own conclusions. It's unlikely that anyone can figure out what's really going on though. I did also want to say is that I tend to throw in honorifics where ever I see fit so don't pay any mind to them, I'm not sure if anyone was though.

That's it everyone, at least for this chapter. The only thing I have left to say is please leave a review if you have the time. Ja minna!