That Special Magic
-by: the Yarnspinner-
the_yarnspinner@yahoo.com
http://strands-of-moonlight.my3gb.com
-or-  http://strands-of-moonlight.6te.net

A Sekkushiaru Roman
featuring characters from the anime "Sailor Moon"

> Chapter 31 - New Complications <

        Mamoru pulled his car up in front of the Tsukino home.
        "Daddy's car is here," Usagi said. "I guess you'd better just drop me off."
        He nodded. "OK, my love. I hope things go well with your mother," he said. "I'll miss you tonight."
        "I'll miss you, Mamo-chan," she said, leaning over and kissing him.
        "Do you want me to pick you up in the morning?" he asked.
        "I'd love that," she said. "I'll call you later tonight."
        He smiled, then kissed her in return.
        She gazed happily into his eyes for a moment, then reached for her briefcase. "I love you," she said, as she opened the door.
        "I love you, Usako."
        She stepped out of his car and closed the door, blowing him another kiss.
        With a smile, he let their link drift open, whispering thoughts of love directly into her mind. Seeing her happy smile growing larger, he waved, then slipped the car into gear and pulled away.
        She stood there for a moment, watching him drive away. With a sigh, she turned and walked toward the house. As she opened the door and stepped inside, she came to realize that the house no longer felt quite the same to her. Everything was still the same, but in her heart, this was no longer really home.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        Later that night, Ikuko entered Usagi's room.
        "Are you feeling OK, dear?" Ikuko asked.
        "Yeah, Mom. I'm fine," Usagi said quietly.
        Ikuko sat down. "Did you want to talk about your appointment with Dr. Hamada?"
        Usagi nodded, opening her journal and looking at the notes she and Mamoru had made. "He said he wants me to gain weight. He's concerned that I'm rather small."
        Ikuko nodded. "Well, that's probably to be expected. And you're certainly going to gain weight anyway."
        "I know," Usagi said. "But he also said that I probably would have to have the baby by c-section."
        "Really?" Ikuko began to feel concern swelling within her.
        Usagi nodded. "He thinks I'm too small there to be able to have the baby normally. He said the risk would be too great."
        "I see," Ikuko said softly. "How do you feel about that?"
        "Well... I was a little concerned at first," Usagi said. "But he explained it all, and it does seem to make sense... especially if it's better for the baby."
        "As long as you and Mamoru are agreeable with this," Ikuko said.
        Usagi sat there. "He said there's another concern with my size... He said a woman's pelvis usually separates at about six months."
        "That's true," Ikuko said.
        "But in my case, he said it will probably happen sooner than that... perhaps about five months," Usagi said. "And when that happens, he said I won't be able to get out of bed on my own."
        Ikuko nodded. "That's right... I remember going through that. I couldn't get up without your father's help."
        Usagi hesitated. "Ahm, Dr. Hamada thinks that Mamoru should start helping me with this as soon as possible, especially since I'm going to need full-time help in only a few months."
        Ikuko looked at her, remaining silent. "How soon?" she finally asked.
        "He, ah, he thinks I'm going to need help in just two or three months," Usagi said. "But he said the sooner Mamoru could start helping with even the small things, the better it will be for both of us as I get farther along." She looked at her mother, trying to determine her reaction.
        Ikuko sat there, considering. "This is sooner than I expected," she said quietly. "And just when were you looking to move?"
        "As soon as I can," Usagi answered truthfully. "Mamoru's moving into a larger apartment in about a month, and he said he'd like to have me join him there."
        With a sigh, Ikuko leaned back and gazed up at the ceiling.
        "I'm going to have to move in with him eventually," Usagi said. "And it will be easier on both of us if I can still do things for myself when I do move in with him."
        "I know," Ikuko said with a sigh. "I... I just need to think about this... Your father is not going to like it at all, and we'll need to handle this very carefully."
        Usagi smiled as a tremendous feeling of happiness swelled within her. "That's so wonderful!"
        "I didn't say yes, Usagi," Ikuko said. "At least not yet... We'll need some time yet to think about this."
        Usagi nodded, still smiling.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        "How did she react?" Mamoru asked, talking to Usagi on the phone.
        "She took it fairly well," Usagi answered, laying back in her bed. "She wasn't expecting it this soon, but at least she does recognize that it has to happen."
        "What about your father?" he asked.
        "I don't know yet," she said with a sigh. "Mom said he isn't going to like it... and I'm not sure just when she'll want to bring it up with him."
        "I understand," he said. "We just have to hope it doesn't take too long."
        "Yes," she agreed. "I hate being away from you, Mamo-chan."
        "I know the feeling," he said. "The apartment feels really empty when you're not here, my love."
        "I'll be so happy when we can always be together," she said, a happy grin forming on her face.
        "That will be nice," he agreed. "We'll be together... in our own home."
        "Our home... I really like that idea," she said.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        Mamoru's car pulled up in front of Juuban Junior High School, and he leaned over and kissed Usagi.
        "Have a nice day, Usako," he said.
        She nodded, kissing him in return. "You too, Mamo-chan."
        "Should I pick you up after school?" he asked.
        "Please," she said. "But I think we'll need to go to the Temple. Luna wants to have a Senshi meeting."
        "That's OK," he said. "I'll see you this afternoon, my love."
        She kissed him again. "I love you, Mamo-chan... so very much."
        "I love you more than anything," he said softly.
        She smiled happily, then opened the door and stepped out of the car.
        Naru was standing there, grinning. She moved closer to Usagi. "Good morning, Chiba-san," Naru said to Usagi. "How's married life treating you?"
        With the door still open, Mamoru leaned over. "We're both really enjoying it, Osaka-chan," he said. "Bye, Usako."
        "Bye, Mamo-chan," she said, closing the car door. As Mamoru pulled away, Usagi turned to Naru. "Yes. We're both enjoying it."
        "I'm glad to hear it," Naru said with a giggle. "So... have you moved in with him yet."
        Usagi shook her head. "Not yet... but we're hoping to manage that pretty soon."
        Naru raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Really? When?"
        "We don't know yet," Usagi said. "But I'm going to be needing a lot of extra help in just a few months."
        "Wow!" Naru exclaimed. "I'd never thought about that."
        Just then, Ami and Ryo hurried along the sidewalk from where the bus had dropped them off.
        "Usagi-chan. Naru-chan. Don't just stand out here," Ami said. "You'll be late."
        Naru grabbed Usagi's arm and pulled her toward the building. "Come on."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        It was mid-afternoon. Usagi sat in the nurse's office. Her teachers had refused to allow her to have any food during classes, and she had suddenly experienced a dizzy spell.
        "What seems to be the problem, Tsukino-san?" the nurse asked.
        "I got dizzy, Ozawa-san," Usagi said. "I think it's because I haven't eaten."
        "Didn't you have lunch?"
        "Yes, I did," Usagi said. "But my doctor said I need to be eating four or five small meals a day."
        "Why? The rules are quite clear. Students may only eat at the appointed lunch time."
        "It's a medical reason," Usagi said.
        The nurse looked at her doubtfully. "Who is your doctor?"
        "Dr. Hamada," she said.
        The nurse scanned her directory, her eyebrows going up as she found the name. "The only Hamada listed is an obstetrician and gynecologist," Ozawa said, turning back with a stern expression on her face.
        "That's the one," Usagi said.
        The nurse still looked at her, less than convinced. "And just what are you seeing an obstetrician for, Tsukino-san?"
        Usagi met her gaze. "Because I'm pregnant," she said.
        The nurse seemed stunned, then shook her head. "This is not a joking matter, Tsukino-san," she said, her voice cool and stern. She reached for her phone, checked the directory again, then dialed a number. "Yes," she said into the phone. "My name is Ozawa. I'm the nurse at Juuban Junior High School. I have a student here who claims to be a patient of Dr. Hamada, and I need to confirm that and what she claims are medical instructions... Yes. Tsukino Usagi... She is?... And her condition?... I see... She says she was told she had to eat four or five smaller meals each day... Yes, having that in writing would be most helpful... Let me give you my direct fax number." She read off her number. "What's that?... Oh, yes... Very well." Ozawa handed the phone to Usagi. "She needs to speak with you."
        Usagi took the phone. "Yes? This is Tsukino Usagi."
        "Hello, Tsukino-san," Hamada's nurse said. "Are you having any problems?"
        "Not really," Usagi said. "I just got a little dizzy. The school's rules don't allow eating during class hours. I'm afraid I didn't think of it before."
        "That's alright. I'll fax a medical instruction to Ozawa-san. Make sure you keep a copy of it."
        "I understand," Usagi said.
        "I just needed to confirm it was you before I can release that information," Hamada's nurse added.
        "Thank you," Usagi said. She rose to her feet and hung up the phone.
        The nurse looked at her, a stern expression still on her face. "I should have been informed of this situation sooner, Tsukino-san." She clearly expected Usagi to respond to an authority figure as the other students did.
        "I don't see any reason for that," Usagi said, returning to her chair. "Really, it's just between my doctor, my fiance, and me."
        "Fiance?" Ozawa asked, even more surprised.
        Usagi nodded, but said nothing.
        Several minutes later, Ozawa's fax machine came to life. A sheet of paper slid out of it, with Dr. Hamada's letterhead at the top. Ozawa glanced over it, frowning.
        "I need a copy of that, please," Usagi said firmly.
        Ozawa glared at her, clearly not accustomed to facing such assertiveness in a student. "Very well," she finally said. She placed the page on her copier and ran a copy. She then took an ink stamp from her desk and stamped the paper, signing her name to confirm that a copy was in her file. "There you are, Tsukino-san... If any teacher should question you about eating during school hours, have them call me. But do be as unobtrusive about it as you can. This does not allow you to create a disruption for other students."
        "I understand, Ozawa-san," Usagi said, rising to her feet. "Thank you." She turned and headed for the door.
        After closing the door, Usagi walked back to the front lockers, where students hung up their jackets and removed their outdoor shoes. Finding a seat, she opened her lunch box and began eating two of the meat dumplings she had brought with her.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        Usagi waved as Mamoru pulled up in front of her school. She opened the door and climbed in.
        "Hi, Mamo-chan," she said. "I've missed you." She leaned over and kissed him.
        "I missed you, Usako," he said. "How was your day?"
        "Not too bad," she said. "I did have to go see the nurse though."
        "Really? Why?" he asked. "Was anything wrong, my love?"
        "Oh, no," she said, shaking her head. "They just wouldn't let me eat during the class periods, and I got a bit dizzy. I was sent to see the nurse."
        He looked over at her, then eased the car into motion. "So what happened?"
        "The nurse didn't believe me, and she called Hamada's office probably expecting to catch me in a lie," she said. "But Dr. Hamada's nurse confirmed it, and faxed over medical instructions that I have to be allowed to eat more than just at lunch."
        Mamoru glanced over at her again as he drove, a wave of concern rising within him. "Does the school nurse know you're pregnant?" he asked.
        "Yes. I told her," Usagi said.
        He frowned. "I think you'd better call your father about this," he finally said.
        "Daddy? Why?"
        "Well, your medical information is supposed to be confidential, including any conversations you have with the nurse, but I've heard that there have been some cases where a student's medical information is reported when it shouldn't be," he said. "If your parents get a phone call from anyone other than the nurse..."
        "Oh, gods," she groaned. "Do you think that could really happen?"
        "It's entirely possible," he said.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        Having reached the Temple, Usagi quickly made her way to the phone, dialing her father's office number.
        "Tsukino-san's office," a secretary announced.
        "I'd like to speak with Tsukino-san, please," Usagi said. "This is his daughter."
        "One moment, please," the secretary said.
        There was a click and a brief period of silence.
        "Usagi," Kenji said. "It's nice to hear from you. I hope nothing is wrong."
        "No, Daddy," Usagi said. "At least nothing serious."
        "What is it?" Kenji asked.
        "Well... I had to go see the school nurse today, and have her call Dr. Hamada's office to confirm my medical instructions about eating several additional meals," Usagi said.
        "Are you all right?" he asked, concerned.
        "I'm fine, Daddy," she said. "But I did have to tell the nurse I'm pregnant... and Mamoru was concerned that this might not remain confidential, even though the law requires it."
        Kenji was silent for a long moment. "Well... as a matter of fact... that has happened before, I'm afraid."
        "You and Mom may receive a phone call," Usagi said. "But Mamoru suspects it may not come from the nurse."
        "The nurse is the only one who has any business knowing anything about this," Kenji said. "But don't worry, dear. Your mother and I will deal with it if something like that happens."
        "Thanks, Daddy. I love you."
        "I love you too," Kenji said. "You'll be home for dinner?"
        Usagi glanced over at Mamoru. "Well... I'll be having dinner with you and Mom."
        Kenji hesitated. "Uhm... Well, I'll see you tonight, dear."
        "Bye, Daddy," Usagi said, hanging up the phone.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        The girls sat around the table, while Mamoru sat next to Usagi. Artemis and Luna stood on the table.
        "We still don't know just why that youma was after Atana," Artemis said.
        "He told me he has had several encounters with youma over the past few years," Rei said. "That would mean the Dark Kingdom was after him even before Minako became Sailor V."
        "But we know very little about him and his daughter," Luna said. "Both are surrounded by powerful magic, of a type that is extremely rare in the world today... but which seems to have been fairly common in the time of the Silver Millennium."
        "Well, that would make sense," Minako said. "It does seem pretty likely that Atana is Rei's soul mate, so maybe he has kept his special power in this life... like the way Ryo has his psychic ability."
        "That is possible," Artemis said. "But it doesn't explain why youma would be chasing him, and not anybody else."
        "Well, since the Dark Kingdom does seem to be after him, we have to protect him and Kara," Rei declared.
        "Defeating the Dark Kingdom for good is probably the best way to do that," Usagi said quietly, her voice firm and assured.
        The others looked at her, noticing the continuing change in her.
        "What do we know about being able to defeat them, Luna?" Makoto asked. "Now that Endymion's former commanders are gone, who's left?"
        "We're not completely sure," Luna said. "But we do know the Dark Kingdom is ruled by Queen Beryl, who in turn serves a tremendously powerful demon called Metallia. Metallia is the one we must fear. Beryl's power comes from her."
        "For the moment, we aren't seeing any sign that the Dark Kingdom is actively up to anything," Artemis added. "And we're looking for a means of taking the fight to them. I think it would be better than waiting for Beryl to attack. We have a few leads on how to achieve that, but nothing definite as yet."
        "Is there anything specific that we need to do right now?" Usagi asked.
        Luna glanced around at all of them. "Not at the moment," she said. "We just need you to be ready to respond on short notice. We could discover our opening at any time... or Beryl could launch her final attack."
        "And we want to move before that happens," Artemis said. "If Beryl breaks through into our world, she'll unleash tremendous devastation, even if you do succeed in defeating her."
        "We have to make sure that doesn't happen," Luna agreed.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        Mamoru and Usagi walked through the mall together, hand in hand. She smiled happily.
        "Have I told you lately that I love you more than anything, Usako?" he asked.
        She nodded. "But you know I always love to hear it, Mamo-chan."
        He stopped and pulled her into his embrace, kissing her deeply.
        "Oh, Mamo-chan," she sighed.
        "My beautiful princess," he whispered.
        "I'm all yours, my prince," she said, kissing him again.
        "That's what I like the most," he said.
        She nodded. "I like it too... And I love the thought that you and I are now making a family."
        He kissed her once more. "You're my family now, Usako." He slid a hand over her abdomen. "You and our baby."
        "Most definitely," she agreed.
        They resumed walking, soon entering a store. Passing through a men's wear section, her eyes caught sight of something. A grin spread across her face as she saw a rack of men's thongs. One in particular drew her attention, being a shiny red, with a small rose pattern on the band.
        "What is it?" he asked.
        She drew him toward the rack and held up the thong. "What do you think, Mamo-chan?"
        "Usako," he protested. "Can you really see me wearing something like that?"
        Her grin became still larger. "Oh, Mamo-chan. Can I ever!" she sighed. "But I do have to admit, you wouldn't be wearing it for very long." She giggled softly, greatly enjoying the mental picture of him wearing only the thong.
        He pulled her back into his arms. "I don't think we need something like that, Usako," he said softly.
        "Oh, but you'd look so wonderful in that," she said. "Or you could go with the black one and wear your bow tie and mask... That would make another really nice picture."
        He smiled and sighed. "Then maybe we should look at something for you, Usako," he suggested.
        "That could be fun," she agreed.
        "But I'm afraid it is getting late," he said. "You need to get back to your parents' house for dinner."
        She nodded, her grin fading. "I know," she said.
        She put the thong back on the rack, and they headed out of the store.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        The next morning, Kenji and Ikuko entered the private office of the principal of Juuban Junior High. Kenji's jaw was set in a stern expression, and he offered only a slight bow to the principal.
        "I am Yoshiro Shinichiro," the principal said. "It is a pleasure to meet you both."
        Kenji nodded, recognizing Yoshiro for what he was, not an educator but a low-level bureaucrat.
        "And this is Ozawa-san, our school nurse," Yoshiro added. "Please be seated.
        "Thank you," Kenji said.
        "I want to thank you for coming," Yoshiro said, remaining standing. "We all share a concern for your daughter, Tsukino-san."
        Kenji scowled, his expression remaining cold.
        "I'm afraid some rather distressing information has come to light," Yoshiro said. "And I must act for the good of all the students here."
        "Indeed?" Kenji asked skeptically.
        Yoshiro nodded. "Absolutely. Now, it seems that your daughter is pregnant, Tsukino-san, and I'm sure you will agree that it is best for everyone that she be transferred to another school... at least temporarily."
        "Transferred? Why?" Kenji asked, now letting his distaste for the bureaucrat plainly show.
        Yoshiro seemed taken aback. "Well... I should think the reasons are obvious, Tsukino-san... The students here are all quite young... And having a pregnant girl among them... Well, that is not conducive to maintaining good order and discipline for studying."
        "And what about Usagi?" Kenji asked coldly. "What about maintaining a good study environment for her, with her friends and the teachers she knows?"
        Yoshiro blinked. "Well... I hardly think..."
        "That much I can believe," Kenji said, rising to his feet.
        "Tsukino-san, please," Yoshiro said. "We are talking about a disruption that would be harmful both to your daughter and the other students here..."
        "No!" Kenji interrupted. He turned and glared at the nurse. "We are talking about something that is confidential medical information. The only way you could even know about it, Yoshiro-san, involves a serious breach of the law."
        Ozawa shifted position in her chair uncomfortably, glancing over at Yoshiro with the beginnings of alarm.
        "As principal, I have an obligation to know..."
        "No, you do not," Kenji declared, cutting him off. "The law is quite clear. Ozawa-san has obviously violated the confidentiality law in telling you what my daughter told her. I am well aware this has happened before, but my wife and I are not prepared to accept this, Yoshiro-san."
        "I am the principal here, Tsukino-san," Yoshiro said, trying to reassert his authority.
        "That remains to be seen," Kenji said. "With one phone call, I can have the full weight of the Chiba media empire down on you. Other papers and networks will of course pick up the story as well, while the Ministry of Education will undoubtedly cast the two of you over the side as scapegoats in an effort to contain the scandal."
        Ozawa jumped to her feet in consternation. "You said nothing like that could happen," she said to Yoshiro.
        Kenji shook his head. "You are very close to permanently losing your nursing license, Ozawa-san... And Yoshiro-san might be barred from any work in education."
        Yoshiro leaned back against his desk. "Are you going to make that phone call, Tsukino-san?"
        Kenji glared at Yoshiro, struggling to think as a managing editor and not an angry father. "Only if there really is a solid story here," he said slowly, his voice cold. "But if there is nothing to report..."
        "Well, perhaps I was a bit hasty," Yoshiro admitted, seizing the offered way out. "I mean, one hears all sorts of rumors, which can be blown out of proportion."
        "A wise choice," Kenji said. "But if I hear anything more about this, or if my daughter is in any way harassed, I'll make it all public."
        "That won't be necessary," Yoshiro insisted.
        "Make sure it isn't," Kenji said.
        Ikuko rose to her feet beside him, and they walked out of the office.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

        Mamoru met Usagi after her classes were finished.
        "You were right about the nurse not keeping it to herself," she told him as he pulled his car out on to the street. "Daddy got a call from the principal first thing this morning... Daddy was really mad."
        "How did it go?" he asked.
        "Mom and Daddy were supposed to meet with the principal this morning," she said. "But I haven't heard anything more about it, so I guess that's a good sign."
        Mamoru nodded. "If your father was willing to risk the publicity, he could ruin the principal and the nurse, and probably set off a scandal that could reach all the way to the Ministry of Education... I doubt your principal seriously thought about that, or he wouldn't have called your parents."
        "So, you think Daddy called in one of the reporters at the magazine?" she asked.
        "Only if the principal was really stupid... or really stubborn," he said. "If the principal has any brains at all, he will have backed down and agreed not to push it any further."
        "I certainly hope so," she said. "I'd hate to make that much of a fuss over this."
        He placed his hand gently on hers. "I love you, Usako."
        "I love you," she said, smiling at him happily.
        "Do you have time to come home with me for a while?" he asked.
        "Of course, Mamo-chan," she said. "I love every chance to be with you at our home."
        "Yes. Our home," he agreed, softly squeezing her hand.
        "And I think I need some help with an assignment," she said. "It really had me confused in class today."
        "I'm always happy to help, my love," he said.
        Still smiling happily, she leaned against him. "I love you, Mamo-chan," she sighed. "And I'm so happy I'm going to be your wife."
        "I really like that idea too, Usako," he said, glancing over at her. His heart warmed at the thought of sharing the rest of his life with this incredibly beautiful young woman he loved so much.

< To be continued >

* * * * * * * * * * * *
NOTE: More to come.

Hopeless Romantic and I now have a message group to notify our readers when we post new stories/chapters. Those who are interested can sign up at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/strands_of_moonlight/ .

Always remember, good gentles, that a yarnspinner works from and within existing legends and stories. The characters of "Sailor Moon" belong to others. In spinning my yarns, I do not seek to infringe on their rights of ownership, but merely to join with other fans to spread the legend still further. "The moonlight carries a message of love." Enjoy.

-02.02.2002
 

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