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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
- 8
- 9
- 10
After splashing cool water on her face to wash away the remnants of her tears and practicing a few tentative smiles in the mirror, Usagi stood outside her brother�s door. She knocked, feeling nervous for some reason.

�Yeah?�

�Hey, can I come in?� The door opened to reveal a surprised Shingo.

�Usagi? What is it? Do you need something? Are you okay?� She smiled at the alarm in his voice. It was the first truly unforced smile to light her face in all those long years. It didn�t possess the same potency she had once displayed, but Shingo couldn�t help smiling himself as he watched her.

�I�m fine, really. It�s just been so long since we spent any time together. If you�re not busy I thought we might take a walk or something. You know, catch up.�

�Yeah! I mean, no, I�m not busy.� He closed the door behind him and they walked down the stairs together.

Usagi waited by the front door while Shingo told their parents where they were going. She wondered what he was saying to them. When he rejoined her he gave his sister a tentative smile, one that she returned, marveling again at how much he�d grown.

They walked in silence for awhile, each lost in their own thoughts. Now that she�d removed the cold steel casing of misery from around her heart, Usagi realized that what she�d really been doing was blocking out all her other emotions, emotions that might let her get hurt again. Now that the fetters were gone, she reveled in the novelty of these long lost feelings.

Love: that was what was filling her head and heart at this moment. Love for the pesky little brother walking next to her who she could almost see growing into a man before her eyes. When had he changed so much? She�d missed so much of what was happening in his life already; another failing she was determined to correct.

�When did you get so tall Shingo? You used to be such a little shrimp.� He looked at her with surprise written on his face at her jesting, but then he broke into a smile again.

�You better watch what you say Usagi. I�ll be taller than you soon.�

They talked and laughed together as they walked. She asked him about school, earning a blush from him as she coaxed him into admitting a crush on a girl in his class. Eventually they found themselves in that familiar park, and settling onto a bench in silent, mutual agreement their conversation turned to more serious topics. After a little convincing, Usagi got Shingo to report on the condition of their parents and the anxiety that they had displayed every day since she�d left.

�I�m so sorry Shingo. I�m so sorry for making you all worry about me.�

�It�s okay Usagi. We all knew that it would take time. Besides, they�re parents; it�s their job to worry about us. And with Mom and Dad worrying about you all the time, it took some of the pressure off me to get good grades, so thanks.� She laughed at his attempt to lighten the situation.

�Thanks, for being there for them.� He simply nodded, not sure what to say. �And thanks, for what you said earlier. It means a lot to me to know that you care. It really does.�

�No problem.� Shingo blushed again. They sat in silence for awhile, staring out over the park as the streetlights came on. Usagi studied the emptiness of her left hand.

�I put the box of my things from Mamo-chan in the attic today.�

She cut her glance sideways, trying to gauge her brother�s reaction. She wanted to tell him since he had helped her reach this point, but she didn�t want to burden him with anything he didn�t want to hear. Shingo, on the other hand, was glad to learn anything about how Usagi was feeling. She�d been so closed off to them for so long. But he didn�t want her to feel like she owed it to him to tell him anything. He turned to her and nodded, not knowing what to say that wouldn�t seem pushy.

�What you said put my life into perspective a bit. I�ve been so wrapped up in myself I haven�t had a clue what was going on around me. And seeing you today, seeing how much older you are, how much you�ve matured. I�m ashamed of myself that I�ve let life slip away from me.�

�No, Usagi, don�t. There�s nothing for you to be ashamed of. Even though I was just a kid when he died, hell, I guess I�m still just a kid, but even I could see how important Mamoru was to you. We all knew.�

�It�s sweet of you to let me off the hook so easily. Everyone has been so great to me, much better than I deserve.� She sighed in resignation at her inability to see the harm she had been causing. �But today, for the first time, I feel a little hope that life might be worth living again, that it might get better, that I might get better. I�m going to try Shingo. I�m going to try really hard, for you: and for Mom and Dad and the scouts. Before I didn�t think I could ever be happy again because I didn�t see anything in my life that could make me happy. But that was wrong. I didn�t see because I didn�t want to see. But now, I think I�ve finally opened my eyes. And Shingo, that first little glimmer of happiness was all thanks to you. I love you little brother.� She kept her display of emotion as reigned in as possible, but a single tear escaped as she hugged the awkward boy.

�I love you too Usagi. I�m so glad�so glad that�� He struggled to keep his own tears in check. Coughing and wiggling out of her embrace to disguise his unmanly display, he looked at the pavement, blinking furiously. �I�m glad you�re feeling better. Mom and Dad will be relieved.� She laughed at his act of embarrassment, feeling its effects on her as it bubbled through her soul, lightening her countenance even more.

�Speaking of Mom and Dad, we should probably get home before it gets any darker or they�ll send out the search and rescue team.� He nodded, smiling at the beginnings of the return of the real Usagi.

They rose from the bench and turned to head home. Casually, Shingo threw his arm over Usagi�s shoulder jamming his other hand in his pocket in the sincerest display of affection that a teenage boy can muster. Usagi was amazed at just how much her brother had changed, how much he was helping her without realizing it in his simple gestures. She wrapped her arm around his waist and smiled all the way home.

The next day was a bright new promise of the future. The sun shone, and Usagi felt the comfort of its warmth for the first time in ages. The slow return of her easy smiles brought a great deal of relief to her parents. They saw the glimmer of the old Usagi, a new spark of life in their daughter; and the new-found camaraderie between their children was an unexpected and wonderful surprise.
- 8
- 9
- 10
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Moon and Stars