A Sailor Moon Fanfiction: The Pledge of the Sun.

Chapter 67

"No... it wasn't a dream," Harusuke said to himself. "I... can't transform anymore. If I do - I'll most likely die. So, I can't be a guardian anymore."

At that moment, Harusuke heard a voice call out from outside of his room.

"Harusuke! It's time for breakfast!"

It was, of course, Ikuko, so Harusuke got up from his bed and got ready to go about his day, but not before placing his damaged bracelet on his desk once again. He still had some lingering sentimentality, but he decided to leave it there as he left his room.

After all, he wasn't a guardian anymore.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

After getting dressed and freshening up, Harusuke came down the stairs and joined his family in the dining room a little while later. Kenji had already left, and Shingo had gone with some friends, leaving himself and the girls in his family. As he sat at the table, between Chibiusa and Usagi, he couldn't help but still feel depressed. Ikuko was quick to notice.

"Harusuke, is something the matter, son?" asked Ikuko. "You look a bit down."

Harusuke looked up and put on a fake smile. "Oh, it's nothing, Mom. I didn't sleep well last night, is all," he lied. "So, it's natural that I look a little gloomy."

"Maybe some breakfast ought to perk you up," said Ikuko, as she placed breakfast on the table. "After all, you can't start your day on an empty stomach."

"Thanks a bunch, Mom," thanked Harusuke. "I appreciate it."

As Harusuke began to eat, Usagi couldn't help but feel worried about her brother, about yesterday. She knew that he was feeling a bit depressed, but she had no idea how to cheer him up or help him. Then she looked across to Luna and spoke quietly to her.

"Luna, isn't there something we can do to help, Harusuke?" wondered Usagi. "He looks so down."

"Unfortunately, there isn't," Luna whispered back. "Artemis and I tried to take a look at it, but unfortunately, there's nothing we can do."

"Hey, Usagi? What are you muttering about over there?" asked Chibiusa. "Are you talking to your cat or something?"

Usagi and Luna flinched, and Usagi quickly sat up and saw Chibiusa staring curiously at her with a raised brow. Usagi immediately thought up a lie.

"Oh, don't mind me! I was, uh, thinking of something while talking to myself," Usagi lied.

"Oh, good grief. I thought that you were weird enough before, but now I'm starting to think that you're just plain crazy," Chibiusa said snootily.

Usagi then scowled. "You better watch yourself, Chibiusa! It's none of your business anyway!"

Chibiusa responded by making an akanbe face at Usagi, which made her even more annoyed at Chibiusa. As the two gazed grimly at each other, Harusuke then got up, half his breakfast eaten.

"I'll excuse myself now," Harusuke said. "Thank you for the food. I'll be in my room."

Ikuko, Usagi, and Chibiusa watched as Harusuke left the room and went up upstairs.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

At the Hikawa Shrine, the girls all met up, per Usagi's request.

"So, Harusuke's been feeling a little depressed?" wondered Makoto.

"Yeah, I think the whole issue with his bracelet's got him shaken up," said Usagi. "For the moment, he's been staying in his room back at home."