Name: More Important Than A Secret
Author: SailorChibi
Rating: PG
Summary: We've all pondered the What Ifs. What if Usagi and Mamoru had never gotten back together? What if any of the enemies had won? What if Ami had really gotten on that plane for Germany? Well, what if a simple mistake had caused the senshi's idenities to be revealed? Set in the first season.
The sky was a pure, flawless shade of azure blue. Fluffy wisps of white were scattered lazily about the immense space. If one looked closely enough, you could almost see the brightest of the silvery stars peeking here and there. An enormous, round globe hung in the sky, brilliantly golden. The grass was a deep emerald colored, spotted with violet, blue, pink and yellow blossoms. A tantalizing breeze blew, gently ruffling the jade leaves of trees and the hair of anyone lucky enough to be outside. Birds chirped and sang to one another sweetly. Squirrels skittered around busily, scattering nuts every which way. It was a perfect day. For Tsukino Usagi, it was torture.
'Why does school have to last so long?' wondered the pouting girl, gazing longingly out the window. She leaned forward, cushioning her chin on her hands, and scowled quietly. Her hair, the color of sunshine honey amber, was tied up neatly into two round balls on either side of her head. From those balls, two streamers of hair gushed over the girl's shoulders and tumbled to the floor. Her eyes were a gentle shade of cerulean, glittering with mischief and untold joy.
She squirmed impatiently in her seat and idly fanned herself with one hand, wishing not for the first time that they could wear different outfits to school during the end of spring rather than the sailor-styled uniform. However, it was unseasonably warm that day and now that they were in school, nothing could be done. Even the teacher, who normally came down on students who neglected to pay attention, was perspiring heavily and becoming more lenient with each passing moment.
'I wish I went to Rei's school,' Usagi thought, reclining in her seat. She heaved a sigh; her tiny, 5 foot 5 inch frame trembling with fatigue. 'They got out an hour ago because of that teacher's conference. We still have another hour and a half to go!' Her eyes strayed to the clock. 'Make that another hour and thirty-five minutes.'
"Tsukino Usagi!" Usagi's head whipped around and she gazed into her teacher's impatient and angered cinnamon eyes. Sakurada Haruna tapped her foot impatiently, eyeing the younger female.
"Um... yes, Haruna-sensei?" she asked sheepishly, straightening her posture immediately.
The older woman sighed. "I know it's hot, Usagi-san, and it's late in the day, but please try to pay attention! I'm teaching important things here that you will be required to know for your High School Entrance Exams. It will be much easier if you just learn these things now instead of having to get tutored later..."
"Okay, Sensei," Usagi muttered in acceptance. She watched the teacher move away, resuming her lecture, and tried hard to listen as she slumped backwards again. But it was difficult. She soon began to twitch in her seat again and shift her weight. Something was poking her in the ribs. Sliding her hand down into her skirt's pocket, Usagi pulled out the small pink communicator bequeathed to her by her guardian cat, Luna, and placed it on her desk. There, that was better... her eyes slipped closed and her head tilted downwards as she dozed off.
Haruna continued her lecture, taking note of but not particularly caring that over half off her students had fallen asleep. Those who remained awake appeared to be completely lifeless, and the teacher ceased speaking for an instant as she tugged at the color of her shirt and wished she had worn a t-shirt that day.
A beeping noise filled the silent room. Haruna jerked from her position standing by her desk; she had nearly fallen asleep on her feet. Dusting off her pristine clothing, Haruna blushed slightly and gazed around the room for the source of the sound. Students of the school were forbidden to have cell phones, beepers, watches, or anything else that would beep with them during classtime. She easily zeroed in on the sound - Tsukino Usagi's tiny, rose-colored calculator.
Sweeping over to the slumbering girl, Haruna scooped up the device and shook her student roughly. Usagi snapped awake, eyes springing open and settling immediately upon the older woman.
"You are forbidden to have items like this in the class!" Haruna told her, her booming voice attracting the attention of the other students in the room. "You could very well be suspended for this if I sent you to the principal's office." It was a lie, most likely all the teenager would get was a warning. But Haruna wanted to scare the younger girl, and from the look on Usagi's face, the threat had succeeded. "But instead, I'll just keep it for the remainder of the year."
"No!" Usagi exclaimed in a panic, leaping to her feet. Mouths dropped open; had the odango-haired girl actually outright defied a teacher? "Haruna-sensei, please! I must have that back!" She reached for the communicator without thinking. Startled and unused to protests, Haruna yanked her hand from reach. In doing so, however, she accidentally brushed her fingers over several of the buttons, activating the still beeping machine.
On the other end, all the frantic senshi knew was that someone - she naturally assumed it was a fellow soldier - had answered her cries. Without hesitating, she shouted, "Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, this is Sailor Mars! I have a situation here at the Shopping Centre! There are two youma and I'm being overpowered! I need help, now!"
Usagi paused at the complete looks of absolute shock on the faces of her fellow classmates and students. She knew there were two options. One was to pass the transmission off as a joke and sit down while laughing. But this path meant there was a good chance Mars might die if she were to make a single mistake. The other option meant that the identity of Sailor Moon would be revealed to everyone, and quite possibly the identities of the other senshi once reality had sunk in and someone connceted the dots. For Usagi, there was barely even a choice.
She gently but firmly took the instrument from Haruna's numb hands and peered into it. Her heart nearly broke at the sight of the other girl's frightened expression. Supressing tears, Usagi spoke calmly, "Sailor Mars, it's Sailor Moon. I'm coming; try to remain calm. I'll be there in a few minutes."
Mars gazed into her own communicator, and for an instant violet met cobalt blue. She instantly became concerned about her dearest friend, wondering what had caused the deep sadness in Usagi's eyes. But she had no time to question it at the moment, not unless she had no want to wake up the next morning. Instead, she merely nodded at the screen and shut it off, casting a new wave of fire at the youma she could see.
Usagi glanced up at Haruna, but the woman was still immobile. 'Screw this,' Usagi thought. 'Rei needs me.' She stretched one slim hand into the air, her fingers perfectly straight. "Moon Prisim Power, Make-Up!" she yelled.
Later, Ami would demand to know why Usagi hadn't left the class before transforming. Usagi had to admit, this thought had crossed her mind, but it would take precious seconds she feared Mars might not have. The other senshi had been clearly drawing on her last reserves of power even when Usagi had spoken to her. If she didn't hurry, Usagi had to wonder if Mars would still be alive when she got there.
The familiar rose-colored light surrounded her, and because of her growing franticness and worry, she didn't bother going through her poses. Rather, the light obscured her from view and her clothes shifted instantaneously to her Sailor fuku. She struck her infamous pose and the light faded away, revealing the pretty sailor solider Sailor Moon where Tsukino Usagi had once stood.
Sailor Moon turned towards the window she had just been gazing out of ten minutes earlier and pushed her chair out of the way. Raising her leg, she rested one red boot on the windowsill and hefted her weight up. "If I break anything, I swear I am going to sue," she muttered under her breath as she pushed off. The wind rushed through her blonde odango as she plumetted downwards from the third-story window, but thankfully she landed (for once) gracefully on her feet.
"Score," she cheered to herself as she began to run from the schoolyard, heedless of her gaping watchers. They would come later. The life of one of her best friends was more important than a secret.
This is a one-shot now, but if enough people want it, I'll consider adding one or two more chapters dealing with the after-effects. So, review and tell me your opinion!