Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or anything Sailor Moon related, or any of the characters.

Well, this is my first chapter. It took me forever to name the story :) In the end I chose the title of one of the movies, because it fits with the plot I guess :)

Most characters will be OOC

Set in AU

Enjoy

The Promise Of The Rose

Chapter 1 – Stranger

"Hey Meatball head. I hear your grades are still slipping. Perhaps you should spend more time studying and less time eating." The group behind the boy snickered.

Serena sat against the wall, tears forming in her eyes.

"Hey!" Molly stepped in between the boy and Serena. "Leave her alone Lian!"

"Hmph." Lian turned around and walked away, his group of friends following him.

Molly turned to Serena and helped her up.

"You okay?"

"I am now, Molly, thank you." Serena smiled at her friend.

"Let's get out of here. The pair headed on home.

Serena sighed.

"I need a job."

"Oh! Serena, you should have told me sooner! You could have worked at Mum's shop. But I'm afraid the last vacancy was filled last week."

"Oh, don't worry about it Molly. I'm sure I'll find one if I look in the newspaper." Serena smiled.

"Okay. Well, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Mollie and Serena split up. Serena walked the last few minutes to her home.

"Mom! I'm home."

"Hey sweetie, there's some food in the fridge if you're hungry."

Serena paused for a moment.

"It's okay Mom, I'm not all that hungry right now."

"Okay… Well, I'll be in the kitchen if you need me."

Serena nodded and went to her room. She picked up the newspaper from her desk and looked in the job section. Her expression saddened.

"It's no use." She spoke to herself. "I don't have the qualifications needed for any of these jobs." She scanned the paper again and a small box caught her eye.

Needed

Female to work as a maid

No experience necessary

"Yes!" Serena reached for the phone and dialled the number below the advert.

'Hello?' A woman answered.

"Um, hello. I'm calling about your advert in the paper."

'Oh, yes. You're interested?'

"Yes, I am."

'Could you come for an interview tomorrow at four pm?'

"Yes, of course."

The woman told Serena the address to go to.

'Good, I'll see you then. Goodbye.'

"Bye." Serena grinned as she put down the phone.

She slept with a smile on her face that night.

When Serena went to school the next day, she stayed with Molly and told her that she found a job.

After school, she and Molly went their separate ways and she headed for the given address.

As she walked down an alleyway, a group of boys approached behind her.

"Well, well. Look who it is boys."

Serena froze.

"Where's your protector today, Meatball head?"

"Leave me alone Lian." Serena turned to face him.

Lian pushed her into a wall, grabbed her head and pushed one side onto the bricks, causing the skin the break on her cheek. When Lian let go, Serena crumpled onto the ground and curled up in an attempt to defend herself. Serena watched through teary eyes as Lian and his friends approached her. She shut her eyes tight, waiting. But she opened them when she heard something crack. A young man knocked Lian unconscious. Some of his friends ran away, and the man dealt with those who didn't. The young, dark haired man approached Serena, sunglasses preventing her from seeing his eyes.

Serena curled up tighter, shut her eyes, and rested her head on her bent knees as the young man approached.

He squatted down in front of her and rested his right hand on the top of her head.

Serena flinched a little at his touch, her breathing heavy.

"Hey." He spoke softly, almost whispering.

He moved his hand down to her face and lifted up her chin so he could see her face, it was soaked with tears and her left check was bleeding, the blood melding with her tears. He wiped her bleeding check with a tissue and retrieved a plaster from his pocket, placing it on her cheek.

"There we go." The young man took her hands and pulled her up. "You'll be fine now." He wiped her face from her tears and pulled her into a hug. He could feel Serena's heartbeat. Hard and fast. He pushed her away and adjusted his sunglasses before walking off casually, leaving Serena to let everything sink in.

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Well, there's the first chapter. I hope you like it, but it doesn't matter if you don't.

Reviews would be nice :)

Nat