Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon R: A search for a Truth ❯ Running Away ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer standards apply, I don't own Sailor Moon or Batman. Both belong to their respective companies. I do however own Kayla and the plot. Don't sue thanks much.

A/n: Yet, again another idea that refuses to leave my brain. I have a few ideas for this one, but it still may be slow-going. I know where I want to go, just not sure how I'm going to get there. But, that's the power of writing, it'll come to you.

Warning: Standard warnings apply. This story will contain adult situations, as well as implied rape. If you're not into that kind of thing, turn back now. You have been warned.

Chapter 1

Darkness…. Complete and total darkness.

“mommy… daddy!”

“Where are you? Mommy! NOOOOO!
“Mommy….!

A shrill scream sliced through the night air and through the house, as a woman jumped out of a completely soaked bed. Very few things woke 14-year-old Tsukino Usagi, wet bed sheets being only one of them. Then again she was none too pleased about the reason for those sheets. Ripping off her blanket, she glared at the source. A pink-haired child looked up with half-open eyes. Not aware she'd wet the bed. “What's all the screaming for? She asked adjusting to the darkness.

“Like you didn't know!” Usagi shouted at the top of her voice. You wet the bed!”

“I'm sorry!” the child defended as she found herself quite literally booted off of the bed. The resounding crash waking the other members of the household.

“What's all the noise about Usagi?” her mother asked upon entering her daughter's room. The light had been turned on, and Usagi stood on one side of her bed glaring down at the pink-haired child.

“It was an accident! Honest!” the girl cried. “I didn't mean to wet the bed.

“Honestly, Usagi go back to bed and clean it up in the morning. It's too early. Now, can't you be nice to Chibi-Usa for once? She's family after all.”

“But Mom, she—“

“I don't want to hear it.” With that, Usagi's mother exited the room leaving her daughter and niece to work out their differences.

“You know something, you've been nothing but trouble ever since you showed up.” Usagi ranted as she stripped her bed of the wet sheets. “I honestly don't see why Mamoru is being so nice to you. You honestly don't deserve it.”

Usagi may have been speaking in a lower tone, but each word spoken still stung the pink-haired child. All she ever wanted was to find the silver crystal and use it to save her mom and dad in the future. She was extremely homesick, and on days like today, she wished she'd never left. But, who was going to save her home, her time? There was almost nothing left when she saw it last. And, she was starting to regret the choices she'd made. The search for the crystal had come up flat, and she was living with a young woman who hated her.

With silent tears falling, Chibi-Usa picked herself up off the floor and cleaned herself up in the bathroom. The spot on her side where Usagi's foot had made contact with her side stung, and it would no doubt hurt in the morning. Of that she could be certain. Once clean, though she didn't dare re-enter Usagi's bedroom. Instead she leaned against the tub, curled into a ball and cried herself to sleep.

“Why am I the one cleaning up her messes?” Usagi complained that next morning beating her wet sheets with a stick. “She wet the bed, shouldn't she be the one doing the work?”

“You need to cut her some slack , Usagi. She's just a little kid after all.” One of her friends answered. Things had been quiet, and the girls had planned a girl's day. However, they weren't all surprised to see Usagi doing chores. Like homework, if she could, she'd try to get out of cleaning anything. But, her mother had insisted she do it or she couldn't go out.

“Why should I always be the one cutting anybody anything. What has she ever done for me? She's nothing but trouble, and mom and dad are treating her like family. We both know she's not…” Usagi continued. “Hell, according to her claims, if they can be believed she's older then all of us combined.”

“It really doesn't matter does it? She's stuck here for whatever reason, and we should make her feel welcome.” A second female commented. She'd lowered the book she was reading to eye her friend.

“I can't believe this… you're siding with her?!” Usagi cried.

“That's not what we're saying, we only want you to get along with her. This bickering isn't worth it. She's a kid, she acts and looks like a kid. Age is a number.”

Usagi stopped in her work, dropped the stick to the ground, and sat on the fence outside her house. She looked up at the moon, which had vanished due to the daylight, and sighed. “I don't understand why everyone's against me.”

Chibi-Usa was listening and could hear everything. Usagi didn't want her around, and Mamoru… well he might be help her, but could she go to him? No Usagi would just find her, hurt her, and make things worse between them. Maybe Usagi was right. Because of her, there was a lot of fighting. Maybe the silver crystal and past incarnations of her parents weren't here in Tokyo. Had she gone to the wrong time? The wrong place? Or, maybe just the wrong city… yes that was it. But, if not in Tokyo where?

She started to cry again, but stopped herself. No. She was done crying, done with the tears. Usagi would not make her cry any more. While Usagi was gone, Chibi-Usa made her way to her room, and started to pack a bag. She would not put up with this abuse anymore. However, though it seemed she'd have to put up with it for a few more hours at least. It wouldn't be possible to sneak out in the middle of the day, even if Usagi didn't return. She'd be discovered since Usagi's friends, apparently disagreed with how Usagi was acting. But, none of them looked like her mother or father. Nor, did any one of them look like they could hold the silver crystal. She wasn't going to find what she was looking for here. But, the question still remained… where to look? So far she didn't have any leads, or answers. Either of which would've been good right about then. Sighing, she hugged her toy ball whom she called 'Luna P' to her chest. Once again tears came to her eyes, but she didn't stop them this time.

Later that night, before retiring for bed, Chibi-Usa got the lead she'd been hoping for. While watching T.V. with her `family', she saw an add or rather small news report about two men calling themselves Batman and Robin. The report was featuring something that had happened in Japan a few months Prior, even though Robin wasn't with Batman at the time. Though, he was featured as part of the report, when a brief explanation of who they were was added. ::Now where do they live?:: Chibi-Usa thought. ::If neither are my father, then they may know where the silver crystal is.:: Slipping away from the group, Chibi-Usa disappeared claiming she wished to retire kind of early. Since she nor Usagi were fighting, nothing was said. As for the person in question, her attention was glued to the screen as an add came on that caught her interest.

Upstairs, instead of going to bed, Chibi-Usa was searching for a computer she could use. She knew that least one existed. She'd caught Usagi playing games on it. Now where was it? After searching every room, with the exclusion of Usagi, she'd found what she'd been looking for. There in the parent's room, was an old desktop computer. Slow as hell, but it would get the job done. At least she'd hoped. Time not being on her side, she found that luck so happened to be. Not far into her searching, she'd found a town in which they `rescued' quite a lot. Gotham City. It was somewhere in the states, but where? A few more clicks, and she'd found what she was looking for yet again. A click or two later, she had a print-out of what she needed.

Hearing Usagi come up the stairs, Chibi-Usa turned off the computer and darted into Usagi's room which she currently shared. Seconds before the elder girl opened her door, Chibi-Usa stashed the print outs she'd made. “What are you doing?” Usagi demanded.

“If it's any of your business, I'm getting ready for bed. What does it look like?” having lived with Usagi long enough, Chibi-Usa often knew what to say and when. She knew how to get her goat, and often how to shut her up.

“What are you trying to hide? You better not be trying to take any of my manga.” Usagi accused.

“Once again, this is none of your business, but unlike you I was double checking to make sure I had all of my homework.” Chibi-Usa shot back.

That'd done it. With a growl, Usagi simply stomped out of the room on her way to get ready for bed herself. She suspected Chibi-usa of lying, but couldn't quite prove it. That bitch was often one step ahead of her. And, Usagi's mood hadn't tempered any since that morning when she woke to soaking wet bedding. Then again, despite what her parents and friends argued Usagi felt she was in the right.

::Just a few more hours and I'll be on my way to Gotham city. Just have to wait for the family to fall asleep.:: Chibi-Usa thought. She watched the young teen exit her room and sighed. What a long night. And, this time Usagi just… she just pushed Chibi-Usa too far.

Getting to Gotham wasn't as easy as the young pink-haired child would have hoped. Until she tried to board a plane bound for the states. Apparently a lot had happened, and the no-fly list seemed to be growing. Something Chibi-Usa hadn't quite counted on. But, only a minor set back. She'd simply have to influence flight crew, which shouldn't be too difficult. She'd already done it to the Tsukino household, well everyone except for Usagi, and her cat, Luna. How the two saw through her she didn't quite understand. Thus part of her reasoning for flying half way across the world on what could easily be considered a wild goose chase.

She had no proof or logical reason to suspect what she'd saught would be in Gotham, but she'd turned up no leads in Tokyo so had come to the decision to go elsewhere despite the risks. She was bold, cunning and determined. A lot of things Usagi was and more. So getting through security had been a breeze once she'd gotten close enough to security personal who were in charge of the check points leading to the gate. After getting on board, Chibi-Usa settled in for a well deserved nap.

In all honesty, when the plane landed in Gotham, Chibi-Usa didn't quite know what to think. The city was huge. And, she wished she'd been able to narrow it down, at least a little bit. But, if her mom or dad were here she'd find them. At least that's how she felt before exiting the air port. Once in Gotham itself, the pink-haired child felt a shiver run down her spine. Now she wished she had least told someone… then she wouldn't be alone. ::No, I won't cry, I can't.:: she thought to herself hugging Luna P close to her chest. ::I can do this.::

She walked for what felt like hours, that chill never leaving her body. Chibi-Usa didn't know what caused it, weather it was the tempura or the amount of skum that lined the streets. In many ways, Gotham reminded her of Tokyo, the size, the crowds and the activity. But, in others it was different. She saw a lot of dirt, grime and bums sleeping in the streets or using trash cans to light fires to keep themselves warm during the cooler winter months. She hadn't seen any snow, yet however that didn't make her wish for a jacket any less. Clutching the backpack that housed her clothes and other odds and ends she shivered as she continued her walk.

Maybe it was minutes, or just hours. Chibi-Usa had lost track of time at this point, but she'd come to a more lit part of the city. It was a little more inviting then the first direction she'd taken, but it didn't change things. She was cold, hungry and tired all of which taking a tole on her small frame. She bumped into some people, who were gathered around. It took a moment for her to realize most were police, or at least she thought they were. If so, they might know where to find her mom or dad. Sighing, she shook her head. ::Not even they can help me I don't know myself what they look like.:: She thought.

Turning a corner, Chibi-Usa lost her footing and fell into the street. As she stood, or started too, she saw the headlights of a car coming right for her. On instinct and completely frozen in fear, all she could do was scream. As the scream tore from her vocal cords, a bright yellow light exploded from the center of her forehead.ail