No Greater Love
By: Bethany
Originally Released: 8/2002
Revised: 7/2015
Prologue
In the late evening, just as the sun's last rays disappeared over the Tokyo skyline, I sat in a chair by the open window and rocked Chibi-Usa to sleep. Her tiny fingers clasped tightly around my pinky while she listened to me sing to her. I gaze at her perfect face, small dimples flashing when she smiled. The patch of strawberry blonde hair she was born with has grown to touch the nape of her neck and curl there. Her eyes are drooping as I rock, every now and then snapping back open as she tries to fight off sleep.
Over two years had passed since my parent's death, and thus mine and Shingo's uprooting of our lives to move to Tokyo. As the reincarnated Princess of the Moon, I always knew I would have to find my guardians one day. After the enemy found me and killed my parents, my guardian cat - Luna - made the decision for us to move. Since I was only seventeen at the time, the children's services would have surely placed Shingo and I into foster care if I hadn't agreed. When I arrived in Tokyo, however, I came upon a scene I hadn't expected. My guardians, the Inner and Outer Senshi, had already formed a team and were fighting an unseen enemy for control of Earth.
The enemy found my where abouts quickly and after only one day in my apartment, Shingo and I were whisked away to live with the Solider of Jupiter; Kino Makoto. Also thrown into my haphazard life at that time was a young man named Chiba Mamoru. Shortly after we meet, I fell in hopelessly in love with him. It would eventually come to light that Mamoru and I had also loved in our past lives. He was the Prince of the Earth that had jumped in front of a fatal blow aimed at me in the final battle on the Moon Kingdom. I had killed myself in my grief shortly after. We had been reborn here, to be together in this life time. But even more shocking was that I was pregnant with his child by the wish of my past self. It had taken some getting used to, that is for certain.
After some arguments and a paternity test, it was proved it to be true. As a virgin, I gave birth to Mamoru's child. Shingo and I moved once more, in with Mamoru, shortly after. Unknown to us was the entire time we were fighting this enemy, Metallia, was feeding evil into my young brother. The night they took him, I had an accident that lead to the premature birth of mine and Mamoru's daughter - a child we named Usagi Tomoko. We call her Chibi-Usa.
An intense battle between Metallia and the Sailor Senshi broke out. In the end we banished Metallia and saved Shingo. It has been over a year since we defeated Metallia and finally brought much needed peace to our lives, as well as those who live in Tokyo. And finally I was able to concentrate on more important things.
Chibi-Usa laid in my arms, finally succumbing to sleep and dreaming baby dreams, waiting for the next day of discovery that was her life. It was up to me to see that her life was full of sunshine and happiness, and not the darkness that haunted my past. But could I keep the shadows out of her days? Or was I fighting a loosing battle?
Mamo-chan always laughed at me when I mentioned these feelings. "We've won, Usako. It's our time to be happy now," he would tell me. I wondered if he only told me that to convince himself of it as well. But then again, he always had a knack for seeing the bright side of the coin. While I... I searched every dark corner for evil eyes.
Chibi-Usa's bright blue* eyes popped open, telling me she wasn't ready for me to stop singing yet. At thirteen months old she was very precocious, spending hours examining her surroundings. A new toy was enough to keep her quiet for hours while she turned it over and over in her small hands, studying every angle and every function. She had inherited Mamo-chan's curiosity and patience, but my features.
I was determined as she grew and explored the world around her she would only find happy things. I prayed I was being realistic and not just naive.
-End Chapter 1/Prologue.
*- Incase you don't remember from the last book, Chibi-Usa's eyes are blue and not the customary red that they are in the SM manga/anime.
So there is the prologue, just to catch everyone up on what happened in the last story - and for anyone who is reading this and don't know; there is a whole other story that proceeds this one that will explain in detail everything that is above. The story is called "Flee to Destiny" and while you don't have to read it first, it might help ^_^
I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed - you just don't know how much I love getting on the computer and seeing what you all thought about the last chapter ^_^!
If you find yourself thinking you've read this story before, this is the revised version. I originally released this story in August of 2003, but it's high time it got a make-over, some help in keeping the tenses straight and the storyline in better order. I hope I'm making it better :)
Reviews and love, minna!
Beth