Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Moon R: A search for a Truth ❯ Usagi's bright idea ( Chapter 5 )

Disclaimer I don't own Batman or Sailor Moon. I do however own Kayla.

A/n: I wasn't too happy with chapter four, but it had to be done. Sorry. Then again I'm the first to disagree with myself when it comes to stuff like that. I hope to have a little more Drama and such in this chapter. And, I'll be bringing Usagi' back even though she'll not have a center role. And, yes Usagi may seem like a bit of a bitch, but that's how she is people. Deal with it.

Warning: Standard warning disclaimers apply. Please see chapter one for full details.

Chapter 5

It had been four days since fourteen-year-old Tsukino Usagi had heard word on Chibi-Usa who'd run away. Her sister, Kayla, had said she'd found something, but that conversation was brief and Kayla sounded ready to bite the younger moon bunny's head off for even calling her. Then again there was a considerable time gap between Japan and Florida. And, while the two didn't always get along, they did share their love for sleep. But, even taking into account what she knew, it was what she didn't that had her pacing in front of her friend, Rei, on the fourth day. “You need to calm down Usagi-chan.” Rei had warned. “You aren't going to solve anything by going into a panic attack.”

“I just know something's happened to them, I just know it.” Usagi cried stopping to look her friend dead in the eye. “Can't you ask the fire for help or something?”

“You know it doesn't work like that, Usagi. I have no control of my visions or what the fire decides to show me. Besides, I've tried, but it's like you're the only one who remembers that Chibi-Usa exists at all.”

“How can that be? She just didn't vanish into thin air… did she?”

“She could've returned home.” Rei suggested giving her friend a smile. “You and I both know that's what she'd been longing for.”

“I guess you're right, but why would Kayla-sama say she'd found something and then not call me back for four days?”

Are you sure she'd even found anything? You probably filled her voice mail and after trying to tell you that she hadn't, she just gave up on trying.”

“She's not like that, blunt, downright mean, but she'd tell me if—“ Usagi gasped as a thought just jumped out at her. “What if she's hurt and in a hospital? She wouldn't be able to use a cell phone. They make you turn them off…. Now…. Where did she live again?”

Usagi, please… Relax.”

But, if Usagi heard, she didn't reply. Before Rei could get in a word in edgewise, the moon princess had vanished no doubt to track down a number or something she could use to find Chibi-Usa or Kayla. While the raven-haired wouldn't have admitted it, Usagi did have a point. While the senshi remembered Chibi-Usa, it seemed no one else did. Which begged another question: Why?

Ever since being brought to the Hospital, Batman hadn't been able to pry his young ward, Robin, from Kayla's side. Doctors had been able to close her wound, had her on antibodicts to fight any infections and done everything in their power to treat what they could. Her remaining clothes had been removed, and she lie hooked to various machines keeping her alive and watching everything her body did. But, despite doctor's assurances, Robin refused to budge.

Batman knew Robin blamed himself for what happened to Kayla. He knew Robin felt helpless because he could only watch while Kayla, As Sailor Gwaten, had taken on four super-powerful women who would've killed her if he hadn't have created a distraction for her to attack. But, he was Robin, the boy wonder. While he was a great aid to Batman, none of his skills would've helped him against women who could fly and teleport and knew tricks to keep him guessing. He kept going over the battle in his mind, and any one of those attacks should have meant instant death for Kayla, but because of her own powers it left her seriously injured.

“Why don't you go home shower and change. I'll keep an eye on things here.” Batman offered placing a hand on Robin's shoulder.

“No, I want to be the first person she sees.” Robin insisted. “She shouldn't be out nearly as long. I'm sure she'll come back to us.”

Batman looked at Robin and sighed. He didn't want to have to force Robin to leave, but would do so if he felt he had to. So far, Robin seemed alright, all be it a little emotional at the moment. Which he could completely understand having been there before. He understood the feeling of helplessness that came with loosing someone very close to him. His own parents had been gunned down right in front of his eyes, and he being a small child at the time had been powerless to stop it. But, Robin was taking this a bit more personally. And, if Kayla died it would kill him too. “Alright, you can stay… but you need to take care of yourself. If you don't I'll just have to make you.”

Robin sighed. “Don't worry I'm not going to kill myself. I promise. I just don't want her waking up alone.”

Batman nodded taking his leave. During the ride to the hospital and while Kayla was in treatment, Batman's concerns lie in ensuring the well-being of Kayla and now his ward too. He never did like it if he lost a life—especially if it was preventable—but if Dick suffered from it, that would take a bigger toll on him. The young man had already lost a lot in his life, he didn't want him to loose anymore. But, now with Dick safely guarding Kayla as Robin, he could turn his attention back to the other matter learning who Kayla and Chibi-Usa really were. Which provedto be more difficult then he'd expected. Usually he would've had this case solved by now, but why couldn't he find the answers he wanted?

“please… come on… wake up.” Robin begged taking Kayla's right hand in both of his. He hadn't budged from her bedside since Batman had left hours ago. He didn't plan on it, and wasn't planning on it either. He could only hope that by talking to her, she'd hear him and wake up. He just had to know she was alright. He just had to.

Pain indescribable pain, was all that filled her senses as reality drug her out of her dark slumbers. She could hear and she could feel, but she couldn't remember what had happened to cause the pain. Ll she knew, she wanted it to stop. On instinct she tried to clintch her hand which resulted in squeezing someone's hand? She did it again, just to make sure she wasn't somehow dreaming, and sure enough she felt her hand engulfed by someone else's, but whose? Flexing her fingers a third time, she realized she felt like a glove of some kind.

“Kayla…?” her name, someone had called her name, with a tint of… hope? Now Kayla was starting to get concerned. What was going on? “Can you hear me, it's Robin…”

Another fight, had she been involved in another fight? Maybe. It seemed logical considering how she currently felt. That would explain the pain, the smell and the sounds filtering into her brain. No mistaking it now… she was in a hospital. Heart pounding her eyes shot open and she tried to sit with little to no success.

“Kayla please, take it easy. You're safe. Chibi-Usa's at the house and is alright. No one's going to hurt you I promise.” Robin had been pushing her back keeping her from running and jumping out of the bed.

“it hurts….” Kayla whispered. “everything hurts.”

“I know…. I'm sorry, but you need to stay still. You've lost a lot of blood and need to let your injuries heal. That's why you're in the hospital.” Robin replied, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her eyes. “I'll page the doctor.” He removed his hand, lightly tapping the call button by Kayla's bed.

Kayla stiffened at the word `doctor', but realized that if she wanted to get out of here as quickly as possible and away from the tubes she'd better comply. However, that didn't stop her from picking at the thin tube supplying oxygen through her nose. Now she knew what her mother meant by it burning. She bet she could probably have raw flesh in her nose based on how it felt. And, she could breathe just fine and in her opinion probably no longer required it's aid.

A nurse came in quickly restraining Kayla's free arm. “You must leave those tubes alone.” She lightly scolded.

Kayla simply glared up with a look that clearly said : I-don't-give-a-fuck-the-moment-you -leave-I'm-taking-them-out-again.” But, otherwise remained completely silent allowing the nurse to release her arm. If Robin didn't have a firm grip on her right hand, the I.V. tubes supplying fluids to her body would be halfway out, and the tape flung carelessly somewhere probably under the bed if she had anything to say about it.

Kayla Tsukino hated hospitals in general. While she understood the need for them, she simply didn't like being the one in them. A point she made obviously clear when the doctor, an old family Friend of Kayla's host, had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of one of her I-hate… rants. She'd made it abundantly clear, that given the opportunity she would flea the hospital A.M.A. (Against Medical Advice.). So when the doctor warned Robin to keep an eye on her, Kayla could only respond with an eye twitch.

“Come on, it's not so bad. You'll be out of here in no time. The doctor just wants to make sure your wound on your side will heal and you won't loose anymore blood. If you want, I can stay with you.” Robin tried to reassure Kayla, but when she responded with her squeezing his hand, he couldn't tell if fear drove the action, or something else. Either way he resumed his seat rubbing the back of her hand with his thumb in order to calm her.

“I'll stay.” He replied. “It's okay, I'll stay.”

Arriving home, Usagi set to work trying to retrace Chibi-Usa's steps. But, any physical trace had vanished along with the child in question. She had nothing to go on, and she couldn't get Rei's words out of her head. But, why didn't Kayla call her back, why did she get the feeling that Chibi-Usa simply skipped town, and upon her departure any influences she held over Usagi's friends and family vanished along with her? Maybe she had to be within a certain range to hold power over people. When Usagi brought this up to Luna, her feline adviser, Luna didn't completely discredit the idea, but her thoughts seemed to be pointing to what Rei had said as a more logical answer.

“Think Usagi….” Usagi muttered to herself trying to place where Chibi-Usa could've been on the night she'd left. Then she recalled something that made the little light bulb go off in her head. Chibi-Usa had been stuffing papers into her back pack. Claiming it was homework, Usagi found herself buying that excuse. After all Chibi-Usa was a far better student then she was at her age. So what could really be on those papers, and where did they come from? Snapping her fingers a second joined the first. Why hadn't she thought of it before?

It was no secret Usagi and Chibi-Usa never got along very well. Nor would it be to big of a stretch to say she wished she'd ended up anywhere else. And, at times Usagi couldn't help but agree. The two always got on each other's nerves constantly. So what could've she been doing? It had to be something along the lines of leaving.

Making a bee-line for her parents' bedroom, Usagi headed for the computer. While Usagi often didn't appear to be the sharpest crown in the box, she did know how to use her brain if she really wanted to. Pulling up the computer's history, Usagi narrowed her search down to the day that Chibi-Usa left. ::This might take all day, I don't even really know what I'm looking for.:: she groaned. ::It's like finding a needle in a--::

“Gotham city?” she asked aloud to no-one in particular. Aside from Luna, no-one she knew was even upstairs to hear her comment. “What's in Gotham that she'd want…. Hey he looks li—“ Printing the documents, Usagi decided to share them with Luna.

“I think I found Chibi-Usa.” She proudly announced.

Luna had been sleeping when Usagi dropped the documents in front of the cat. With a yawn and a streach, Luna looked at her charge. “Unless this is important, leave me alone.” Luna turned to spin in a circle before lying down. But, a headline from the print-outs caught her eye. “Gotham city? What do you honestly think you'll find there?”

“Chibi-Usa.”

Luna widened one eye thinking the moon rabit had flipped. “What makes you think that Chibi-Usa's there?”

“Because, of Robin. He looks a lot like my Mamo-chan doesn't he? They could almost pass for twins, or even brothers. I mean I might act like I don't care…. But… why else would she sneak half away across the globe? She's looking for her parents and the silver crystal. You've heard her, she wants to go home, but can't until she has that stone.”

Usagi please… I think you're loosing it.

…But, again Usagi had stopped listening. Packing a suite case, she grabbed the slumbering, and now startled Luna, and tried to sneak out of the house. She'd never find her sister or Chibi-Usa if she didn't try something.

“Where are we going Usagi?” Luna mumbled having been stuffed in an animal taxi. “Why would I need to be in this thing?”

Usagi only replied with one word. “Gotham.”

Luna felt her eyes go wide as Usagi rushed the pair out of the house and to the airport. Pausing behind a wall, Usagi used her phone to turn into a flight attendant. With her pack and Luna in hand, she effortlessly boarded the first plane bound for Gotham city. Luna had been forced to travel with the rest of the pets, but she could deal with that. At least Usagi was smart enough to take her along. Though, she wasn't going to like the tongue lashing she would have to give the first chance she got.

The plane ride was rather uneventful, save for the fact since she looked like an attendant she actually had to work. Fair trade considering she basically was sneaking out of the country in search of a spoiled brat, that just a few days ago, she couldn't stand. The irony of the situation had her internally laughing, and if it wouldn't have made her look insane, she'd probably be laughing aloud at the thought. How come she gave a damn? But, perhaps it was her duty as sailor Moon? No, she was finally having a normal life… so why? Maybe this trip wouldn't be for nothing. She'd get Chibi-Usa, find out why she took the trouble to track her down… and get back to being plain old Tsukino Usagi who would be grounded for sneaking off.

…yeah right…

Usagi hadn't been in Gotham long when she found herself in front of an idiot drunk driver who thought it might be funny to run a red light. Before Luna could send out any form of warning, the taxi holding her had gone flying only to land rather harshly on the street several yards away, cracking open as it did. But, Luna was still trapped because the crack was on the side, and the carrier had landed on that very same crack. Luna pawed at the cage to get to Usagi who lie prone on the sidewalk about a foot from where she'd been hit.

:::Usagi!::: Luna thought as she too found herself in the path of oncoming traffic. But, while she braced herself for the promised impact, she found herself still in the broken carrier, out of harms way. But, just who decided to take pity on her?