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Moon and Stars	By : Monddame Category: Sailor Moon > General Views: 5134 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon in any way shape or form. I am not given money or any other compensation (not even hugs) for my writing. All I get is the satisfaction of knowing that it's out there somewhere for others to read.

Chapter List
- 5
- 6
- 7
NB: Shingo Tsukino = Sammy in the English dub.
The next few weeks passed slowly. Usagi tried harder than ever to forget her troubles and laugh with her friends. But the harder she pushed herself when they were around, the harder she fell when they weren�t. Even her boss noticed.

�How long have you been working here, Tsukino-san?� Usagi looked up from her desk, her eyes wide, trying to figure out why he wanted to know. Was he going to fire her?

�Over a year Hasegawa-sama.�

�And in all that time, you�ve never taken a holiday, never called in sick?� He frowned at her.

�N-not that I can recall, sir.� He sighed and smiled sadly at her.

�Tsukino-san, I make it a point not to interfere in my employee�s personal lives, and your decision to avoid vacations and work holidays would generally be a pleasing thing. But, my dear, you are not happy.� Usagi�s eyes sank back to her desk. She was a failure even at work. �Why don�t you use some of your vacation time and take a break. You deserve a little rest.�

�But who will answer the phones, who will sort the mail when it comes in? Who will type your letters, sir? You�re not firing me, are you?�

�No, Tsukino-san, you are not being fired: quite the contrary. Of all the assistants I�ve had you are the most kind, the most respectful, and the least complaining that I�ve ever employed. The phone and letters will take care of themselves, just like you need to take care of yourself. Please, take a week and rest. If for no other reason than it will ease my conscience about allowing you to work so much.� His tone brooked no argument, so she nodded. �Good. Take today and all of next week. I don�t want to see you here until a week from Monday, alright Tsukino-san?� He smiled jovially at her.

�Yes, sir. Thank you.� He patted her hand and went into his office.

Over a week until she could work again?! How was she going to survive? It wasn�t that Usagi found her work so enjoyable, but working kept her mind off of things, at least somewhat. Thankfully, Haruka and Michiru and the other girls kept her fairly busy on the weekends, but extended time to �relax� was a dangerous thing for her. She nearly cried as she took the bus back to her apartment.

Alone in her room, Usagi curled up on her bed to allow herself fifteen minutes of pure agony. How had her life gotten to this point? To the point that living was so unsatisfying that she buried herself in work to the degree that even her boss had noticed. Rei�s words from the sleepover pierced her heart. You promised Mamoru you would be happy. You promised Usagi. And you�re not even trying. What do you think he would say if he could see you now? If he knew you didn�t love him enough to keep your promise?

But that was the problem, wasn�t it? Usagi loved Mamo-chan too much to be happy without him. How could such a thing, being happy now he was gone, be possible? It felt as if all the time part of her was missing. She was missing something. If it wasn�t Mamo-chan, what was it? She worried herself until she fell into protective slumber.
She walked into the park, the summer breeze tugging at her long hair. It was an unusual sensation. Her head knew it was a dream, but she could feel the whispering wind on her skin. Everything was alive and rejoicing in the warm air. Children played in the fountain and ran up and down the paths. Mothers pushed their babies around in their little chairs, smiling at each other. Young lovers strolled about gazing at each other in wonder. But she didn�t see them, any of them. All she saw was the dark hair of the man on the bench in front of her. She moved around to see his face, settling onto the bench beside him. It had been so long since they had been together this way. He was gazing out over the lake, and she reached out to touch him, wondering if he were real. As her fingers brushed his cheek he turned and smiled at her.
�Hello, Usa-ko. Beautiful day, isn�t it?� She couldn�t breathe, couldn�t speak, so she just nodded her assent. �I could just stay here forever.� He wrapped his arm around her shoulders pulling her closer to him.
�Can�t we? Can�t we stay here like this, together, forever?� How odd, she never cried in her dreams, she thought as a tear tracked down her cheek.
�No, my love, I cannot stay, and you have to live. You must live for the scouts and for the people of Earth. They need you, need your protection now that I�m gone.�
�But, Mamo-chan, what about me? I need YOU!� He smiled as the pretty blonde hid her face against his shoulder.
�Love, you don�t need me. You are strong and brave and beautiful all on your own.�
�You�re wrong. I do need you. I don�t want to be alone anymore Mamo-chan.�
�Usagi, you are never alone. But the scouts can�t watch over you forever. They need you to be strong. You are their leader. For all our sakes, be happy, Usa-ko.�
�But I don�t know how Mamo-chan. I don�t remember.�
�You will. Don�t worry. You will.�
When Usagi awoke it was dark out and her head ached. She touched her face and was surprised that her cheeks were wet. Apparently her tears hadn�t only been in her dream. Growling and gurgling interrupted her thoughts as her stomach reminded her that she hadn�t eaten all day. Padding into the kitchen, Usagi encountered an irate Luna.

�Next time you decide to sleep all day you might leave a little food out for me so I don�t starve to death.�

�Sorry Luna, I didn�t plan on falling asleep.� Usagi shuffled around the kitchen. Too tired to cook, she pulled out a box of crackers and a can of tuna half of which she scooped into a dish for Luna.

�I know, Usagi, but you really need to stop exhausting yourself with all these tears.� Luna mumbled through a mouth of fish. �Why were you home today anyway?�

�Hasegawa-sama is forcing me to take a vacation.� She couldn�t help but grimace.

�For how long?�

�A week.�

�So, what are we going to do?� Luna�s tail twitched excitedly. Usagi�s exhausting work schedule didn�t leave her much time to spend with her furry companion.

�I don�t know.� Usagi�s tone puzzled Luna; she sounded as if she were upset about getting a vacation.

�What�s the matter Usagi? Aren�t you excited to finally have some vacation time?�

�Finally? I�ve been avoiding taking vacation like the plague. I thought you knew that.�

�But why? You�re wearing yourself out with work Usagi. You need a break.�

�Says you, says Hasegawa-sama, but what about me?! What if I don�t want a break? What if I like wearing myself out with work? What if wearing myself out with work is only way I�m staying sane?� Usagi collapsed on the kitchen floor, cradling her face in her hands. Alarmed, Luna padded over to the distraught girl and placed a paw against one of her hands.

�Usagi, you can�t bury your feelings by keeping busy. You need to work through them or you won�t ever feel any differently, any better. I think this vacation is just what you need to force you to do that.�

�Maybe you�re right, Luna, but I can�t help feeling it will just make things worse. Besides, I�m afraid that the girls might think they need to spend more time babysitting me, and they waste enough of their time doing that already.�

�Well, Usagi, we could fix that.� A plan hatched in Luna�s mind, one she hoped would benefit the blonde as well as relieving some of the strain the scouts were showing.

�How?�

�Maybe if the scouts knew someone else was watching out for you they wouldn�t feel the need to do it themselves.�

�If you�re talking about Haruka and Michiru you can forget it. They�re even busier than the rest of them.�

�No, Usagi, not them. What if we went home for a little while? You haven�t been to see your parents in a long time. So long that Shingo might even be missing you!� Usagi let out a small huff of laughter.

�Yeah, right.� She mused over the cat�s idea. �But at least we wouldn�t have to fend for ourselves in the kitchen, right Luna?� The cat�s eyes sparkled.

�Don�t forget to pack my brush.�
- 5
- 6
- 7
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Moon and Stars