Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Sailor Star or Sailor Wind ❯ Chapter Five ( Chapter 5 )

"Ja ne, Usagi-chan!" called a group of girs outside Crossroads College.

"Ja!" called back Usagi, before continuing her way towards home. Deep in thought, Usagi had wandered absent-mindedly, and found herself outside Crowns Parlour. `Why not?' she thought, `for the sake of old times'. She walked in and stopped in amazement. Crowns was decorated from top to bottom with balloons, steamers, banners and other such things. `How bizarre' she thought. She made her way to a table, when a rather startled looking Andy barred her way. (*cries* I cant remember his Japanese name!)

"Tsukino-san! What are you doing here?"

"Excuse me?" said Usagi, offended. "Aren't I allowed?"

"No, no! That's not what I meant!" jabbered Andy. "It's just…"

"Just what?"

"Oh… nothing. Hey, you like roses, right Tsukino-san?"

"Yes… they remind me of…" Usagi faltered.

"Well, come sit outside! My sister has done some great work with the flowers!"

"I dunno…"

"And you can have a free sundae! With any topping you want, on the house! Ok Usagi-san? Usagi?" Andrew looked around, but Usagi was already seated outside. Free ice cream was something she was not going to miss. `Phew!' thought Andrew. `That's got her out of the way for a while!' He signalled to a waitress to fill Usagi's order, and entered a back room. In the corner there was a group of jostling, murmuring figures. "Are you almost ready, girls? She's here already".

"What?" cried a voice "But we haven't sent for her yet!"

"I know, but she came by herself".

"What luck!" said another voice. "She would come today of all days!"

"Just hurry it up, ok?"

The June sun was warm on her face, and Usagi felt contented here with her ice cream, amongst the fragrant flowers. She sighed and shut her eyes, but suddenly jumped up.

"Oh no! How stupid of me!" she cried. "I meant to go home and check the post!" She gathered her things and hurried into the parlour towards the entrance. `Please let there be something from him' she thought. But she had only taken a few steps when a sudden flash of light and colour blinded her.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY USAGI-CHAN!!!!!" Usagi staggered back, and began to focus as her eyes recovered from the flash.

"Minna!" she gasped. All of her friends were stood around a large table stacked with cards, and in the centre sat a magnificent birthday cake. Usagi covered her face, and when she took her hands away her cheeks glistened with tears of joy. Rei had come over from the shrine, and next to her was Makoto who had taken the day of college. Ami had flown over from England, and even Minako had taken time off from her tour. With them stood Haruka, Michiru, Hotaru, and Setsuna, who was now a top professor in the local science laboratories. "Minna…" she said again, and hugged them all in turn.

"Happy Birthday Usagi!" piped up a voice. Usagi turned around, and the first thing she saw was a pair of cone shaped odangos.

"Chibi Usa" she choked, and they met each other in a tight embrace.

"I'm down for the night" said Chibi Usa, winking.

"Me too!" squeaked a voice, and a full grown, grey cat landed on Usagi's shoulder.

"Hello Diana" she said, giggling, and tickling the cat's ears while Luna and Artimis looked on watery-eyed.

They partied and had fun until late that evening, and as the event began to wind down, Rei came foreward with an envelope in her hands.

"This is for you, Usagi-chan" she said, and handed the envelope over. The group waited in anticipation as Usagi fumbled with the paper, and smiled when they saw her shocked face. She looked up at Rei wide-eyed, and Rei nodded. "Now you can go and visit Mamoru" she said softly, and placed the airline ticket back into the envelope. Usagi's eyes brimmed over, and she threw herself into her friends' arms.

"Thank you so much!" she whispered, and was about to say more when she heard a strangled choke behind her. Turning around, she saw Chibi Usa hunched on the floor, clutching her chest. "Chibi Usa!" she cried, and ran towards her future daughter. Chibi Usa's breathing was heavy and irregular. Usagi helped her to her feet. "I think maybe you should go home" she said, concern in her voice. "You should be with your Mama if you're falling sick".

"You are my Mama!" Chibi Usa laughed, gasping. Usagi smiled.

Later that evening, after Chibi Usa had returned home, the group were discussing what had happened.

"Chibi Usa looked pretty bad, didn't she?" commented Makoto. The others agreed.

"Maybe she's going down with flu?" said Minako.

"I don't think so," said Rei. "That didn't seem right for flu". Ami looked thoughtful. Usagi had remained silent so far, but her thoughts had not strayed from Chibi Usa.

"Um…err…" she stammered. The others looked at her expectantly. "Di….did any of you notice anything different about Chibi Usa this evening?" she asked. They looked at eachother and shook their heads. "You… didn't think… that her aura was slightly odd? I mean… she almost looked…" Usagi hesitated, and took a breath. "…almost looked… fuzzy… around the edges…". The group stared at her in deathly silence, and Ami nodded.

"But!" exclaimed Minako. "That hasn't happened since … OW!" She rubbed her foot whilst trying to avoid a glare from Makoto.

"I know…" murmered Usagi, and tried to stop her shoulders shaking, as her eyes began to prick. Suddenly she leapt up, with one thing clear in her mind. "I have to go. Thank you all so much for tonight, and for the gift. I love you all!" She ran out of the parlour, her friends watching in surprise. She rushed home as fast as she could, all the while scolding herself on how she could had forgotten. She raced down her drive and hauled open the mailbox. It was empty.