The Beginning of A Crisis:
Usagi’s Unbosoming
Usagi’s Voice: I don’t understand what’s going on here at all! I just talked to Chiyoko about my feelings and everything’s changed. I’m worried about Seiya-chan and Chiyoko. They seem to be depressed. Has there anything bad happened to them? Or…did I say something wrong? Please! Let me know! =_=
[Title Screen]
Usagi is sitting next to a table, leaning on it with her head on her left arm, caressing Chibi-Odango, (remember the little rabbit that Seiya and Chiyoko gave her?) who’s lying on the table, with her right hand, and staring at two empty glasses on the table. Chiyoko’s sitting oppositely to her face to face with her arms across her chest.
Chiyoko (rising her eyebrows): So?
Usagi (pouting): So? We shouldn’t spend our time on this! This is unfair!
Chiyoko: This is the best way to train your brain. It’s not that hard actually. I simply asked you to fill one of these two glasses – one 300ml glass and one 500ml glass – with exactly 400ml of water, without any scale. Think carefully again!
Usagi: What kind of riddle is that? Why don’t you just give me the answer?
Chiyoko: Try your best, Usagi, and…(smiles)…think of Seiya saying you’re smart.
Usagi imagines that picture and has a big smile on her face. Chiyoko sweat-drops. Then Usagi takes a deep breath and focus on the two glasses again.
Usagi: Ok, obviously, I can’t fill the 300ml glass with 400ml of water. Then…but I can’t fill exactly 400ml of water with the 500ml glass either. So…I’ll fill the 300ml glass full of water. Then…I’ll put that all in the 500ml glass. Then…
Chiyoko: Don’t stop! You’re doing great! You’re almost there! Keep thinking!
Usagi is encouraged and she takes a deep breath again.
Usagi: Ok, I shouldn’t pour out the water because then my first act would be useless. So, I’ll fill the 300ml glass full of water again. Then…could you give me a hint?
Chiyoko (sweat-dropped): All right, this is the tricky one anyway. You should pour the water of the 300ml glass into the 500ml glass again.
Usagi: But there’s not enough room.
Chiyoko (rising her eyebrows): So?
Usagi: If I do that, then there’s 100ml of water left in the 300ml glass…
Usagi has wide eyes first and then has a bulb above her head.
Usagi (excitedly): Oh yes! 100ml plus 300ml is 400ml. I should pour out all 500ml water in the 500ml glass and pour the 100ml of water left in the 300ml glass to the 500ml glass. Then I should fill the 300ml glass full of water and pour that to the 500ml glass. Then there’s 400ml of water in the 500ml glass! YES!!!
Chiyoko (clapping): Yes! You’ve got it! Ok, let me think of another one for you…
Usagi: Chiyoko, I’d like to talk to you about something else.
Chiyoko (joggling a finger and smiling teasingly): Don’t try to change the subject.
Usagi (pushes her finger away gently and seriously): I’m serious.
Chiyoko (smiles fades away and becomes serious): What is it?
Usagi (takes a deep breath): Well, (takes a deep breath again,) I’ve been doing a little thinking lately. Remember what we talked about before Seiya came back? I’ve thought about it all the time. Few days ago, Mamoru-san and I had a talk. He told me once you said we were acting like father and daughter, or brother and sister.
Chiyoko (nods): Yeah, I said that. I hope you don’t mind. That was simply what I felt when I saw you guys. I was just telling my true observation.
Usagi: That’s okay.
Chiyoko: No, I’m sorry, truly. If it wasn’t me, you guys might not break up. I shouldn’t say that when it came to my mind. It’s my shortcoming actually. I keep interfering other people’s problems, especially affairs. Although it was really what I felt, I shouldn’t say it in front of him. I think it’s kind of a therapist’s obsessive hobby.
Usagi: No, I don’t mind at all. In fact, that’s what made my feelings clear. I love Mamoru-san, and I’ll love him always.
Chiyoko picks up her cup and drinks the tea, very calmly. Usagi looks at Chiyoko for a moment then continues.
Usagi: I love Mamoru-san. But I know I loved him in a way a girl dreaming about her prince: adore him, respect him, like him, want to be with him, and dream to get married with him. But that’s very unrealistic. When it comes to long-term relationship, all these are not enough, way not enough. There are too many other things out there that are important to a relationship but we don’t share. We have no common interests, except fighting for the Earth. We often look at things differently…Mamoru-san’s a kind person. He doesn’t argue with me and remains silence. He won’t tell me anything that makes me sad. But…that’s not what I want. I want someone who wants to share everything with me, someone who wants to share all his feelings with me, someone I can see right through him easily because he doesn’t hide anything in front of me. We can be ourselves in front of each other and tell each other anything, even that “things” might make each other feel bad. Maybe that’s why I fell for Seiya-chan. He doesn’t hide anything from me – well, maybe he doesn’t know how to.
Chiyoko: Love maybe a necessary for a marriage, but is definitely not sufficient.
Usagi (nods): Yeah, and the worst thing was: Mamoru-san and I began our relationship in an unusual way. We never really worked on our relationship. We just accepted it, and we thought that’s the way it should be. And we thought there were no way else. On the other hand, I had very little faith in him. I’d give up my life for him, but when it came to the lives on the Earth, I couldn’t give up my friends, I couldn’t give up Chibi-Usa, but I could give him up…
Chiyoko: Usagi…(sighs).
Usagi: I was jealous all the time whenever he had a girl around him.
Chiyoko: Well, that’s quite normal. Remember Keiko-chan?
Usagi: That’s why I say it’s fate! You weren’t there to help us out…
Chiyoko: Oh, oh, oh, you’re bringing up a totally different argument up here!
Usagi: Okay, not a word. I’ll tell you another thing. I was even attached to other boys while I was with Mamoru-san. I’ve been feeling sorry for Mamoru-san since he broke up with me partly…well…mostly because I fell for Seiya-chan. I’ve been thinking…well…I’m a wanton.
Chiyoko: It’s natural that you feel guilty. But Usagi, you can’t control your feelings. I think you should know. “Prince and princess live happily ever after” is just a quotation in the Disney version of fairy tales. It doesn’t exist in the real world. You two did share a good time. No doubt about it. Maybe it just wasn’t the right time to begin your relationship and you didn’t have the source and people there to help you pass the hard times.
Usagi: We weren’t mature enough?
Chiyoko: On the outside, you seem to be the most immature one. But in the inside – if you don’t mind me saying so – they’re not as mature as you might think. They were too obsessed with the relationship of Mamoru-chan and you. They had faith in you, the both of you. They were fighting for the both of you. In their hearts, you’re like their religion, and people will fight until death when their religion is being challenged. I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. If you two wanted to be together, their faith would be a bond and help of your relationship. But if you two wanted to separate, their faith would be very harmful. Luckily, their faith wasn’t strong enough to overcome your friendship. Otherwise, they might try to kill Seiya and me.
Usagi: Haruka-san did try to kill Seiya-chan in the first place. But finally she asked Fighter to protect me. I think I kept myself away from Seiya-chan partly because of them. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing my friends.
Chiyoko: They couldn’t accept you changed your mind. But when they realized that you really fell in love with Seiya, not just some short affection or attraction, or not just using him as a substitute of Mamoru-chan, or not just treating him as a friend. They were okay. After all, they’re not only your guardians, but also your friends.
Usagi: Well, probably Rei-chan and the other three treat me as a friend more than a princess, but Haruka-san and the other three…well I sincerely doubt that!
Chiyoko (laughs): Well, they don’t obey you all the time, do they?
Usagi: Yeah, anyway. Sensibly, I know I did the right thing, but emotionally, I still feel sorry for Mamoru-san. But now Mamoru-san has you and I have Seiya-chan. I’m definitely NOT going to change a thing, although I’m still worried about Chibi-Usa sometimes. In a word, I think my relationship with Mamoru-san was based on our memory from the past life. We THOUGHT we were in love but not FELT we were in love. Even though I might have feelings for him, those were just admiration. After all, Mamoru-san seems to be a good husband. But there’s something between us that I felt wrong. I didn’t love him the way I was supposed to. You know? I was easily attached to other guys even I was with him. I chased Haruka-san once with Mina-chan because we thought she was a boy. I’ve even known the existence of Chibi-Usa at the time.
Chiyoko (chuckles): No wonder Haruka-san is upset with Seiya all the time.
Usagi (a little blushed and smiling embarrassedly): No, it’s nothing like it.
Chiyoko remains silence, staring at Usagi.
Usagi (nervously): Really, it’s not what you’re thinking. Don’t even think about it. And don’t change the subject here. I haven’t finished yet! I have no loyalty, no trust, and no faith…hey by the way, how can you trust Mamoru-san so…unconditionally? How come I couldn’t trust Mamoru-san? I can’t even trust Seiya-chan completely.
Chiyoko (shrugs): The only thing that I can rely on Mamoru-chan the most is his loyalty. He’s the kind of a guy who won’t betray his loved one, not even she died. The only thing that can separate him from me is that I fall for another boy. If I die, he’ll either suicide or remain single for the rest of his life.
Usagi (wide eyes – surprised): Where did you come up with that theory?
Chiyoko: That’s my gift. I can see through people easily. Like Seiya, I know there’s one thing in his head that keeps him from you, like your guilty thing. That’s why you two can’t be honest and trust each other completely.
Usagi (shocked): Really? What’s that? He told you?
Chiyoko: I said I knew. He didn’t tell me. You said Haruka-san wouldn’t be your “boyfriend” because she’s a girl. That’s what kept, and keeps him away from you.
Usagi: But what I meant was simply telling him the fact. I…I didn’t want him to misunderstand me. I didn’t mean that I wouldn’t fell in love with Haruka-san because she’s a girl…(Usagi pouts.) Why he doesn’t think of how sad I was when I saw him with Michiru-san and remember what I did!!!
Chiyoko: That’s his inhibition. You have to conquer it. I don’t know how. By simply talking to him may not work. He may think you’re just trying to make him feel comfortable or something. But I know you just have to.
Usagi: Yeah, I have to, because I love him. I really love him. Seiya-chan isn’t like Mamoru-san. We started our relationship with friendship. Well, at least I think I treated him as a friend at the beginning. Then I was charmed by him. He treated me differently. Mamoru-san put his study, dream, Chibi-Usa, and some other things above me, whilst Seiya-chan always puts me on the top of his list. Although being jealous with my own daughter seems a little bit ridiculous, I just couldn’t help it, even though I trust them. There’s another thing they are different. Mamoru-san treated me the way HE thought was best for me. Seiya-chan treats me the way I think is best for me. I trust you know about the “dream” incident?
Chiyoko: Mamoru-san told me. He dumped you once because of a dream.
Usagi: Yeah, but Seiya-chan kept trusting me, helping me, and saving me in our last battle even though Taiki-kun and Yaten-kun kept warning him we were bad guys. He could give up anything for me, even his mission.
Chiyoko: Well, that’s the difference between Mamoru-chan and Seiya. Mamoru-chan is ideal-husband type of man. Seiya is perfect-lover type of man. Different girls have different preferences. Some girls may think Seiya’s being irresponsible and all that. Some girls like you may think Mamoru-chan’s a follower of androcentric. Again, different girls have different preferences. You just picked your choice. But they’re both good men.
Usagi: No doubt about it. But still, it was kind of insulting. It hurt me deeply inside. I know he did that for my sake so I forgave him. But since then I felt there’s something wrong between us. I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. Then Seiya-chan came. I…it’s still not clear. But I’m sure we were in love even he was here the first time. Again, I just didn’t want to admit it to myself. There were too many things going on in my life that kept me away from him: Chibi-Usa, the warning from Haruka-san and the others, my commitment to Mamoru-san, and so on.
Chiyoko: I understand, and I think he understands too. That’s why he let you go.
Usagi: That’s the only thing I’m not happy about him. He had never told me that he loved me. Yes, he acted like he did. But like I said, I couldn’t believe such a perfect man like him would be interested in a gal like me. Even you guys told me so, and even he acted like so, I still couldn’t believe it. I thought he was just joking. He always made fun of me, you know. Anyway, after Seiya-chan had left, I missed him. I kept thinking him everyday. I think Mamoru-san didn’t want to be the second on the list either, so he broke up with me.
Chiyoko: You’re right. I think he didn’t. That’s another thing. Mamoru-chan and you hate to be the second on the list. Seiya and I can live with it, as long as you two are happy. So that’s all you want to tell me? (Usagi nods.) Well, we’ve made our choices and we’re very happy about it now. So why are you telling me this?
Usagi: I’m thinking I should tell Seiya-chan what I truly feel. I don’t know exactly why I want to tell him, maybe because I want to be open with him, maybe because I want him to know that his love is reciprocated, or simply because I love him.
Chiyoko: Then go ahead! I think he’ll be very happy to hear it.
Usagi: That’s the part I’m not sure about. I’m afraid he’ll get angry with me. He may think I’m just making him feel better. He may think I’m just repaying his kindness. He may not trust that’s I truly feel.
Chiyoko (smiling): You’re truly in love with him. Worrying about personal gains and losses, like “is he really in love with me,” “will he be angry with me if I do that,” is quite a common thing when you’re in love.
Usagi: I know. I didn’t think like that when I was with Mamoru-san because I thought I knew my future with him. But let’s get back to the question here. What do you think? Do you think I should tell him?
Chiyoko: Why not? He gained you after so much pain. He won’t give you up in anyway. He can’t take the risk of losing you. And he loves you so much that I don’t think he’ll be angry with you. He’ll just be touched. Trust me. Tell him. Okay, time’s up. We have an appointment with the doctor for checkup remember?
Usagi: Yeah, let’s go. Are Seiya-chan and Mamoru gonna be there?
Chiyoko: Nah, the boys are busy. So do the others. I guess just you and me today.
Meanwhile, Nicole is standing alone and thinking in her garden.
Nicole: Are those sailor soldiers really so strong? I’d better send two this time.
She changes iris and honeysuckle into two girls.
Iris and Honeysuckle (bowing): Your highness. We’ll get you the Crystals soon.
[CM Break]
Usagi is walking on an aisle along some classrooms. Soon she stops at one of them and leans against the wall beside the door. Shortly, the bell rings and students start coming out, including Mamoru.
Usagi: Mamoru-san! May I have a word with you?
Mamoru: Sure, would you mind if we go for a drink?
Usagi follows Mamoru to the cafeteria.
Usagi: Mamoru-san, I’m worried about Seiya-chan. He’s been acting strangely these three days. What’s bothering him? I’ve asked him to tell me what it is but he changed the subject every time I brought it up. If I didn’t know better, I’d say he’s avoiding me. What’s gotten into him? Mamoru-san? Mamoru-san! Are you listening?
Mamoru: I heard. I’m worried about Chiyoko as well. She’s been acting strangely lately as well. And like Seiya-kun, she has avoided talking the issues.
Usagi: Now that you mention it. Both of them seem depressed since the day Chiyoko and I went to see the doc. What’s gotten into them?
Mamoru (worriedly): Do you think she’s having some health problems?
Usagi: Then what about Seiya-chan? He’s having health problems too? He doesn’t even have the time to go to the doctor.
Mamoru (sweat-dropped): Usagi-san, don’t you think they might have different reasons for being upset? Besides, don’t just worry about your Seiya-chan. Chiyoko’s your sister after all, remember?
Usagi: I’m sorry, Mamoru-san. I’m just too worried about Seiya-chan. Well, what should we do?
Mamoru: What can we do except talk to them…wait a sec! Seiya-kun went to record the new CD the day you two went to see the doc, right? Taiki-kun and Yaten-kun may know something. Should we talk to them?
Usagi: Great idea! Let’s go!
Usagi grabs Mamoru and the coke she’s drinking away with her. He has sweat-drops again. Meanwhile in the Three Lights’ apartment, which is now Taiki and Yaten’s apartment, Taiki’s writing poem in his room, Yaten’s watching TV in the living room, and Seiya’s sitting next to Yaten, staring at the TV, but thinking to himself. When Taiki goes to the kitchen to get a drink, the doorbell rings.
Taiki: Aren’t you going to answer it?
Yaten: Why don’t you answer it? You’re near the door anyway.
Seiya doesn’t even answer him. Taiki gives them a mean look and opens the door. It’s Chiyoko!
Chiyoko: Hello, Taiki-kun. Seiya said he was coming to visit you guys. Is he here?
Taiki (smiling): Oh yes, come on in.
Chiyoko: I’m sorry, but no. Would you ask him to come out? I need to talk to him.
Taiki (shouting): Seiya!!!
But there’s no answer. Yaten pushes Seiya and shouts at him. Finally, Seiya is “up”.
Seiya (shouting): What???
Taiki: What? Chiyoko-san is here! She wants to talk to you.
Seiya: Oh…(walking to the door), what’s up?
Chiyoko: We’d better talk outside.
They get into an elevator and it goes down. At the same time, the door of the other elevator opens, and Usagi and Mamoru come out of it. Usagi rings the doorbell, and this time, Yaten opens the door. But he frowns immediately when he sees Mamoru.
Yaten: No wonder Seiya has been distrait lately.
Usagi (shaking her hands and head): No! That’s not like it! We’re worried about Seiya-chan and Chiyoko so we’ve come to ask you if you know anything about them being upset. They didn’t tell us. And…(sobs), I’m really worried about Seiya-chan.
Yaten: Oh all right! Stop crying in front of me and come in. Taiki!
Taiki comes out from his room. Four of them sit down on the sofa.
Taiki: Seiya and Chiyoko-san just went out.
Usagi: Really? Well, we’d better talk without their presents anyway.
Taiki: What is it?
Mamoru: We know they’ve been upset since the day Chiyoko and Usagi-san went for checkups. But we don’t know the reason. We though Seiya-kun might have told you and we can figure out what Chiyoko’s up to from there.
Taiki: Well, Seiya didn’t tell us anything. But he did seem upset when he went to the studio…oh wait! He seemed happy when the first time he went there. Then he said he lost something at home and went to get it. When he got back, he became very upset.
Usagi: He went home? But I didn’t see him. He might gain the upset outside.
Taiki: No, he had what he went to get with him. He definitely went home.
Usagi: Then why I didn’t…(wide eyes and jumps up). OH NO!!!
Taiki, Yaten, and Mamoru (together): What?
Usagi (to Mamoru): I was talking to Chiyoko. I mentioned I still loved you, as a friend, and as a brother. He must overheard the first part of it and got upset! (Gets up and goes to the door.) Well, I got to run. I need to find him and talk to him.
Usagi leaves and Mamoru follows her immediately. At the same time, Iris and Honeysuckle have made the people downstairs unconscious and got their Crystals out.
Iris: None of them is the one! Her highness is going to kill us!
Honeysuckle: Look! The elevator is coming down. The one maybe in it!
Soon the door opens and Iris and Honeysuckle release their ribbons immediately to Usagi and Mamoru who are in the elevator. They haven’t prepared for this so they just stand there. When the ribbons are just about to hit them, Fighter, who saw the whole thing through the glass front door and has transformed, pushes them away to avoid the attacks. The ribbons hit Fighter, and she ends up on the floor.
Usagi (nervously): Fighter! Are you okay?
Fighter (gritting): I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. Transform!
Usagi and Mamoru transform immediately. At the same time, Protector is fighting with Iris and Honeysuckle to keep them away from hurting the people she loves.
Protector: Hope Crystal Divine Light!
Her attacks only destroy the ribbons but can’t beat Iris and Honeysuckle.
Moon: Protector! Let’s work together! Hope Crystal Eternal Light!
Protector: Hope Crystal Divine Light!
Fighter: Love Crystal Divine Light!
The Iris and Honeysuckle are destroyed. Fighter just forced herself to fight. She falls down right after she attacked. Moon can just catch her falling body.
Moon (with tears): Fighter! Are you ok?
Fighter (gritting): I’m fine. But my leg is killing me here.
They look at her leg. There’re wounds and blood. She feels pain when she moves it.
Tuxedo Kamen: Could you detransform? You might break the bone or something. We have to get you to the hospital.
After they have detransformed, they go up to Taiki and Yaten and call for an ambulance. All of them go to the hospital with Seiya.
Usagi (caressing Seiya’s forehead): You hang in there, Seiya-chan. You’re gonna be alright.
Seiya tries to smile to her but he is in such torture that he can only frown in pain. Usagi sees that and starts to cry.
Usagi (sobbing): I love you, Seiya-chan. You hang in there for me, huh?
Seiya nods and Usagi kisses Seiya on his lips.
Seiya (smiling weakly): Don’t worry. I’m fine. I’ve just got my leg hurt. It’s the slightest wound I’ve ever had. Don’t worry about me. I’m going to be ok.
Usagi nods and kisses him again.
Seiya: I feel a little tired. I’m just going to close my eyes for rest, huh?
Usagi nods and holds his hand. Seiya smiles
and closes his eyes. The ambulance keeps going to the hospital. The siren keeps up loud.
Well, I started working on this episode right after I got my midterm exam finished. I’m a good child, am I? ^.^ So please keep reading my fanfics. Oh yes, I’ve won the FANFIC WRITER OF THE MONTH AWARD for October. Thank you very much for all you guys voting for me. I thank you from the bottom of my hard. In return, I’ll keep up my good work and try to write more Seiya and Usagi’s stories.
This episode is a part of what I think about the relationships between the people in Sailormoon anime version. Especially the part of “prince and princess live happily ever after” and “fighting their faith until death”, I think I speak from the bottom of the hearts of all the fans of Mamoru and Usagi. What the eight girls did, especially what Haruka and Michiru did, is just what those fans are doing. I know. I was one of them. I even posted something very insulting about Seiya on the internet. But people grow and people change. Especially after I read the original version of the stories of <Cinderella>, <Snow White>, <The Little Mermaid>, and <Sleeping Beauty>, I came to realize we have been taught so many things that aren’t true actually. Pick <Snow White> as an example. The prince was actually a necrophilia. The stepmother was actually the real mother. Snow White and her father were actually…well, incest. So come on guys! Grow up! Don’t let the surface fool you! Look deeper! Don’t let the prepossession (parti pris) fool you! Think deeper!
Alright, I’ll leave the profiles to next time because the meanings of the flowers of this episode “work” with the ones of next episode.
For the 2nd edition, I changed something in this episode to suit the coming up events, and express more what I think about the relationship of Seiya and Usagi, and Mamoru and Usagi. You don’t have to agree with me. Those are just my opinion. In literature, different people can grasp different themes. As long as you have good points to prove your argument, you’re fine.