Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Gundam Wings. There will be notes included at the end of the chapter for things that don't belong to me.

Note: This story is supposed to take place roughly 6 years after the battle with chaos. If there's any grammar or spelling errors, please do not hesitate to correct me. I've been writing this story over the span of 3 months sporadically, always around 3am. There's only so much that spell check can help me with XD;;

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Awakened

Introduction Part. 1

Many years have passed since she was awaken, since the memories came back, since this emptiness appeared in her heart. She never understood where it came from. She had a loving family, wonderful friends who would do anything for her, a loving fiancé that any girl would die for, and a promising future where her and her perfect prince would rule over an utopia with their friends and beloved daughter by their side. She never understood why she felt as if there was something better for her out there, why she felt like something was missing. She knew that her future couldn't get better than it already was, but the feeling still remained. She had a feeling that something was hidden from her. Something important. Something that she knew one of her dearest friends knew but refused to tell her. She had gone to her countless times, insisting that she tell her, but all in vain. For once, the beauty that could have easily been confused as her twin refused to tell. It was rare for the blonde to keep secrets from her, which meant that it was something serious. However, by the time she came to this realization it had become too late.

Her life was claimed by a crazed boyfriend when she insisted on leaving him. It was a gruesome murder, that affected everyone that knew the bubbly aspiring idol. It had forever changed Usagi. It had forever changed everyone. They had nearly died from the despair of one of their brightest lights fading. When Minako's body was found, they decided to let her parents know of her alter ego. It was too much for them to handle. They accused them of being liars, and told them to get out and let them mourn the death of their precious daughter. Once they left, Usagi collapsed, her legs unable to lift her from the weight of her grief. How could she live without one of her sisters? How can she live without her talented, dynamic, boy-crazy Minako? It was a solemn funeral, not a dry eye in sight. Everyone walked up to the closed coffin to say their farewells. Usagi walked over, tears in her eyes. She laid her hand on the coffin to say goodbye, but the words would not come out. She tried to picture her precious friend as how she used to be, lively and upbeat, but could only imagine her pale, lifeless, and in pieces. She wondered if the police were able to find all of her, if they were able to piece her back together [1]. She heard a scream of anguish ripping itself into the somber atmosphere. She clutched her head, wishing the person who was emitting that heartbreaking sound to stop. It wasn't until Mamoru hugged her tightly with her beloved friends whispering words of comfort to her that she realized the heart wrenching sound was from her. That the sound of a soul slowly suffering was from her. That the immense pain felt in that one sound was from her. She tried to calm herself to not create a scene, but it proved to be difficult. She could not stop the cries from escaping. She felt someone gently tug her from Mamoru's arms and into their own. As the person started whispering she realized that it was Minako's mother who had pulled her into an embrace. She found herself fiercely grabbing onto the woman, knowing that if she felt this pain, then what the mother was feeling was something more intense, more heartbreaking, more destructive. She then found herself at her and Mamoru's apartment, sitting in the living room staring into nothing. She had no recollection of getting there, but she decided not to question it. A couple of days later, she turned on the news to find that Mrs. Aino had committed suicide. The pain of losing her beautiful daughter proved to be too much for her to bear. At least she was now reunited with her and would never be separated again.

Many weeks were spent trying to return back to normal. Usagi had gone back to her part-time job as a secretary to help pay for the bills. Many people treaded lightly around her, trying not to cause her any more pain than she was already in. The guilt of making everyone worry was getting to her so she decided to take a small break. Her boss agreed and told her to take as much time as she needed. Many days she found herself sitting in her living room, in the exact spot she was during the day of Minako's funeral. She couldn't get over it, just like the rest of the scouts couldn't. She felt her heart building a wall to keep the pain out, to prevent it from breaking anymore. However, fate decided to test those walls and see how far it could go. Cruel fate decided to claim another light from her life.

The light of Mercury had been snuffed.

It was a bright, spring day when it occurred. Flowers began to bloom and there was not a cloud in the sky. The blue haired genius was reading under the shade of a tree when a maniac decided to unleash his fury at an unsuspecting medical student population. Many fatalities had occurred, including one that looked suspiciously like the princess of Mercury. She would not have known if Naru hadn't frantically called, demanding her to turn to the news. She stared in shock as the Mercurian's picture was plastered all over the news. She already had recognition as one of the top in state since she was in high school, but this time the news anchor kept going on and on about her extreme bravery and how it saved many lives. He also expressed his remorse at a life being ended prematurely. It didn't sound sincere to Usagi. Many people talked about how she was so quiet and reserved, and how they were extremely surprised when she took the initiative as a real leader and saved their lives. Usagi squeezed her eyes shut and looked away, the voices coming from the TV fading into the background noise.

She was being praised as a fallen hero. A hero that should have never fallen. The news kept repeating the students account of her being shy and introverted and her amazing bravery being a product of an adrenalin rush. They speak as if she wasn't capable of being a leader, as if they knew she wasn't capable of being a leader. What did they know? They didn't know her. They didn't know anything about her. About how happy she was, how caring she was, how social she was with her friends, how she always saved them from time to time with her intelligence.

They just didn't know her.

She didn't know how long she was there, in that same unlucky seat. Even now she doesn't know. All she remembered was that she was pulled out of her stupor by Mamoru and the inners, and that it became dark out. She stared at Mamoru, her dull eyes asking why. She felt someone grab her hands, but she didn't care. Even when she felt a stinging sensation on her palms she didn't look down. She desperately wanted to know why. She needed to know why. It wasn't until the person let go of her hands did she finally look down. Her hands were bandaged, while on the floor sat rubbing alcohol and some cotton balls tinted pink. She felt her head descending and her hands caught herself. She sat there, her head in her hands, wondering why. She didn't know when the sobs occurred. All she knew was that they were happening, and they were making her body shake. It shook uncontrollably, reacting from the painful emotions that were felt from deep within her. She would say it's from her heart, but she honestly did not know if she had anymore heart left. She felt no embrace, and she was grateful. She knew that it would do nothing to soothe her, it would be a waste of time. It would add on to the pain.

She doesn't know how much more she can handle.

Days went by. Weeks, maybe even months sped by, she didn't know. Time had no meaning to her anymore. She hadn't left her apartment since. She felt nothing anymore. Two important people are gone from her life, and she felt like she couldn't go on. She felt as if everyone around her was dying. To make matters worse, Rei is in the hospital deathly ill. The doctors said it was a mysterious illness, and they didn't think she had much time left. She felt like she was in a dream, a nightmare, a horrible movie, but she knew she wasn't. This was real. This was very real. This was a life that she wanted no part of. She tried to bring everyone back, but the crystal wouldn't let her. She felt the crystal's presence fading from her, and she fought every day to try to get the crystal's presence back but to no avail. She knew that this distance was permanent, and she had no idea why. She felt like everything was falling apart. She wanted Setsuna to help her, guide her, to inform her of what could be wrong and to tell her what to do. She never appeared. It seemed as if she disappeared off the face of the earth, leaving no clue behind. So she was left here, alone, with everyone dying left and right. She felt a tug on her pajamas pants and looked down to see Luna there. She was tugging her towards the kitchen and Usagi knew what she was trying to say. Luna wanted her to eat. It has been a while since she ate regularly. It felt like forever. She told Luna that she wasn't hungry, but Luna shook her head no. she kept tugging at her pajamas pants, trying to get her into the kitchen. Finally after a long time, Luna finally gave up. She jumped onto Usagi's lap and curled up there. Usagi just stared off into space as she petted Luna. Ever since Minako's murder, Luna has been speaking less and less, until Luna eventually stopped speaking altogether. Artemis visited her every day, hoping that she'll regain her speech, but she never did. Well, it hasn't yet. Artemis is still sure that it will come back. She wonders how it must feel for Artemis to see his beloved so torn, speechless and helpless. Then again, it's probably the same feeling that Mamoru feels whenever he looks at her. Usagi knows that Mamoru is probably upset about everything, but she doesn't know how he feels whenever he looks at her. She sighs to herself as she realizes that she will probably never know. After everything that has happened, he began to hide within himself. Just like before. She knows she has to make an effort to communicate with him, if she doesn't want to lose him too. She knew that it would probably be best if they tried to take their mind off of everything, so they won't lose each other or their sanities. She didn't know where to start. She didn't know if she wanted to start. So detached she was from the world that she wasn't sure if she remembered how to interact with others anymore. She wasn't sure if she knew Mamoru anymore. She wanted to take the easy way out and do nothing, but she knew that it would lead nowhere. She would end up losing Mamoru and the few others she had left. She knew she wouldn't be able to handle it. It was this realization that led to her decision. She gently lifted Luna off her lap and set her on the couch. Luna looked up curiously and jumped off the couch. She walked towards Usagi with a questioning look in her dark red eyes. Usagi walked to the fridge, looked at Luna, and provided a small smile.

If she wanted to help Mamoru, then she would have to help herself.

Luna gave a soft smile back as Usagi took out the materials needed to make a sandwich. She prepared some for her and for Mamoru, knowing that he was bound to come back from work hungry. She was in the middle of boiling water for jasmine tea when she heard the door open. She looked up to see a different Mamoru than she was used to. This one looks like he hasn't slept in days, his shoulders hunched from the weight of a thousand burdens. He didn't look like the Mamoru she fell in love with. But then again, she probably didn't look like the Usagi he fell in love with either. She walked over to him with a sandwich and a cup of tea while he looked at her in surprise. She just smiled softly as she silently offered it to him. He took the plate of food and the cup from her hands and looked at them. After a few seconds, he placed them on the counter and just gazed at her. She started to grow a little uneasy until he suddenly pulled her in his arms. This felt different from his other hugs of comfort and pity.

This hug was full of love.

"I was getting really worried about you," he breathed out. It felt like the first time she heard him speak, as if it was the first time she heard speech before. She felt like thick cotton was yanked from her ears and she was able to hear the world for the first time. The faint sound of traffic told her that the window was open.

"How long was the window open?"

"It's been open all day," he replied, still hugging her as fiercely as before. "I left it open thinking that you might like some fresh air."

"Has traffic always been that loud?" she asked. She felt him nod.

"Traffic has been especially busy today. I was hoping the loud noises wouldn't bother you." Mamoru muffled, face buried in the crook of her neck. Usagi felt tears trail down her cheeks. Hot, silent tears.

"I never even noticed," she choked out. "Everything seems like a blur to me. I don't know what I've been doing the past couple of days."

"You've been hurting," Mamoru whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair. "That's what you've been doing. Hurting. We all have. I'm just sorry I haven't been there for you." Usagi's tears became warmer and more frequent.

"No. I've been selfish. I didn't think about how everyone else could have been feeling. I was in a daze, and I… I could have…" Usagi wasn't sure how to finish that sentence. She wasn't sure if she could. Her words turned into sobs, unrecognizable to her own ears. She felt him kiss her tears away. She closed her eyes as memories washed over her. She knew this gesture all too well. This gesture reminded her of love, of loving and being loved. She felt content, as if everything was right in the world. She opened her eyes and was surprised to see Mamoru there. For some reason, that one gesture reminded her of someone else. Someone from long ago. Before she could think of who, Mamoru's voice broke into her thoughts.

"You weren't selfish. We knew you took it the hardest, we just didn't know what to do. We've all been trying our hardest to prevent you from losing anyone else. Please don't shut us out." She felt him lift her chin up to look into his deep blue eyes. "Let us help you." She then saw how much suffering he's gone through just because of her, so she decided to take action.

"No," she heard herself say. He looked down in sorrow until she gently held his face in her hands. "Let me help you. Let me help everyone. I've been cared for enough. Now it's my turn to take care of you." She gave him a soft smile as she gave him a chaste kiss. She went back to the counter and picked up the forgotten sandwich. "Please eat." She looked back at him to see him nod. She smiled and walked to the pantry to get Luna's food. All three sat together in silence. However this silence was different than before. This was a comfortable silence, and for once in a very long time, everyone was hopeful for the future.

Notes:

[1] This was loosely based on the murder of Jasmine Fiore which occurred on August 15, 2009 by her husband of 5 months. I mention this now because this will play a part in later chapters/story.

This is only part of the product of those 3 months. The original introduction was supposed to be 8 pages long, but I decided to start small and only post 4 pages. I'm hoping to make this into a 2 part story. I have an outline and everything, I just have to write it XD;; Hope you guys like it, and remember if I have any grammar and/or spelling errors please don't hesitate to comment and let me know. I also welcome criticism! I like to learn :3

Also! It might take me a little while to update. I'm busy with school, sorority work, and job hunting. Hopefully I can try to update every 2 weeks. Let's see how this works out. Have a good day everyone :D

- Jiyuu no Megami [might change my name soon. Having changed it since 6th grade XD;;]

p.s. sorry for the cliche title. I couldn't think of anything else XD;;