Please note that this story has been revised and rewritten in parts since the last update. It would be recommended to read everything from the beginning. There should be continuous updates from now on until the story is ended.

Peachy Running

By Licca

Chapter One

Atlantis, thousands of years ago

"Briseis!"

The regal, yet young woman pacing the marmot corridors froze where she stood, then whipped around to look anxiously at her approaching lover and soul mate.

"Angelus!" she fearfully exclaimed. "How bad is it?"

She quickly walked towards him, then paused as she saw his expression. This was not good.

"Angelus?" she asked again. "It's bad, isn't it?"

He gave her a sad smile.

"Metalia has breeched the parameters of our kingdom," he quietly said. "Our army was defeated at Three Birds Pass. She has demons, Briseis, there's no way to stop her now. They're planning to sink our whole island into the sea, and there's nothing we can do without the Silver Crystal and Sere."

Briseis went white. There were millions of people living here at Atlantis. She didn't even want to imagine the losses.

"No!" she softly exclaimed, "I knew she planned on getting rid of you and me, but sinking the whole island? Empress Serenity spoke the truth when she said that my aunt would stop at nothing. Oh, how I wish there was a way to stop her! But it's impossible now. We're too segregated to do anything!"

Her last cry echoed through the empty corridors of the Rose Palace, making Angelus take a quick step forwards to envelope her in his arms.

"I know, love," he said. "They have sealed off the whole island. They won't risk you surviving. The moon will go next; they don't want you to interfere. I managed to get to your brother, but that was the only thing I could do. He's on his way to Sere now."

Tears began to roll down her cheeks.

"So it is over?" she asked.

"Yes" he replied.

A determined look settled on Briseis' face.

"Then it's time for me to send you to Empress Serenity," she grimly said.

Angelus' eyes widened and he was about to refuse when Briseis put a soft finger on his lips.

"There's no use in arguing," she gently reminded him. "Empress Serenity will need your help, Angelus. Without you, the world is lost. Go to her, help her. For me. Together, you can harness enough power from the ginzuishou to save the world."

Angelus gave her a dejected look but nodded. Briseis closed her eyes and drew her power from the ginzuishou that was her birthright. Then she opened a portal. Her love stepped through, and she let go, knowing that her husband were safe. Then the water came…

Tokyo, Japan - year 2000

Usagi Tsukino woke up with a sunny smile on her face as the alarm alerted her that it was time to rise. Normally, she was a heavy sleeper, and not too fond of getting up early, but today was different. Today was the day when she would finish the first step in becoming a true senshi.

Getting up to dress practically in a flowery, lavender skirt with frills on the bottom and a white top, she brushed her hair into her trademark odangos and went down the stairs to eat breakfast. Her family was already out of the house, and so she had to do with two slices of bread and a cup green tea. It didn't disturb her though as breakfast never had been one of her favorite meals. Probably the reason she gulped down her food at lunch.

It was sunny and bright outside that day, a perfect day for a walk. She wasn't walking for pleasure though, she had a goal. And that goal lay on the other side of town. She was looking forwards on walking there though. Why shouldn't she too take advantage of the wonderful weather after all?

When she came into the area where she usually bumped into Mamoru Chiba also known as Tuxedo Kamen, she slowed down. It was too nice of a day for her to want a quarrel with the three years older young man, and they seemed to quarrel every time they met.

She wasn't that lucky. When she rounded a corner in the middle of the area, a tall male with raven hair were just about to do the same and two seconds later, both lay sprawled out on the ground.

"Damn it Odango Atama!" the man swore, looking at the papers spread out all over the ground, papers that had been in his hands two seconds earlier. "Will you ever watch where you're going?"

She gave him a cool look and in her disappointment for having her day ruined once again by the raven-haired college student, she forgot her klutziness and gracefully slid to her feet. A thing that happened increasingly often now, even when she wasn't concentrating especially at it.

"I did, Chiba-san," she neutrally said, adding the slight insult with a flourish she usually lacked. "It's not my fault there's a corner here. Moreover, there is this little thing called 'accident' which happens every day to many people. However, that doesn't matter, right? You don't believe in accidents."

Then she turned her back to him and walked away, leaving him behind. There was no use in initiating any further quarrel with him. She was the first to admit that Mamoru was the most skilful arguer of the two of them.


Mamoru stared after the petite blonde with the hot temper he thought he'd had all figured out. Something about her had changed since the last time he had seen her outside battle for a longer time. Before, she never would have stuck up for herself, now she did that and more. She hadn't screamed or cried at him at all; she had been as composed and distant as he usually was. It confused him.

Making a quick decision, he swiftly gathered the last of his papers up and hurried after Usagi, grabbing her arm gently to catch her attention. She turned to him, a patient and slightly curious look on her face.

"Hai?" she said. "Anything you would like to add to your insult?"

He stared at her. She was behaving weirdly.

"Sumimasen," he blurted out. "I should not have insulted you like that. It wasn't anyone's fault."

Usagi gave him a startled look.

"Excuse me," she said. "But did you just apologize to me? Odango Atama?"

He smiled at her and pushed some of his disobedient hair from his face.

"I did," he agreed. "I do apologize to people I insult on a regular basis, even though I have not done so when it comes to you. For that I ask for your forgiveness."

Usagi nodded, giving him a blinding grin.

"I'm sorry if I was a little harsh back there" she said softly. "It just seemed so sad to disturb such a beautiful morning with a petty quarrel."

Strangely warmed by her surprising admission, Mamoru grinned back at her.

"I agree," he smiled. "Are you headed for somewhere special, or do you want some company?"

"Arigatoo," she softly replied. "It is not needed though. I am heading to a dojo just a few blocks from here for my second lesson this week."

"I didn't know you take lessons in martial arts," he commented, surprised by her revelation. "It's a very good idea though. You can't get enough training with all these youma attacks. How come I haven't heard about this before?"

Usagi's face saddened a little.

"I haven't told the senshi," she gradually admitted. "I want to surprise them by showing that I truly do take our mission seriously. Besides, I do not think I could cope with Rei-chan's teasing all the time. Or your teasing for that matter."

He frowned at her.

"Why would I tease you about that?" Mamoru confusedly asked. "Taking more responsibility as a senshi is a good thing after all."

Usagi nodded in concord.

"Hai" she agreed. "But I've been a klutzy, growing girl for so long now. Why would I change now?"

"Rei-san wouldn't do that" Mamoru disagreed. "She's a nice young lady."

"She is" Usagi allowed. "But she has never really come to terms with that it's me, the klutz, who is the leader among the senshi. She believes that she or Mako-chan should be the one, as they are the best warriors and tacticians."

Mamoru thoughtfully looked at her. He had never considered that. But why should he? It wasn't long ago he joined the team at all, had only worked with them for a short while. But still... Usagi was a good leader. A little clumsy sometimes, but that was to be expected from a still growing adolescent. Moreover, she did fight well when she managed to get her awkward body to obey. The smallish girl had frankly not yet grown into her body, it was just natural that it hemmed her movements. Besides, he seemed to recall that many of the other senshi had the same problem sometimes, if not as accentuated as they were further along their road of development. Usagi wasn't the only one who had her klutz attacks.

"That's not true!" he protested. "You're a talented warrior. When you are fully grown you will no doubt be as graceful as they."

Usagi gave him a hopeful look.

"Do you really think so?" she said. "It just seems like I never will grow into my body. Maybe I'm just clumsy."

"That hasn't anything to do with it" Mamoru quirkily disagreed. "It's a natural stage in your growth. It isn't much more than two years since I myself finally grew out of my own klutz attacks."

"Maybe" Usagi admitted, then she glanced at her watch and made big eyes. "Oh! I have to hurry. Sayoonara, Mamoru-kun."

She fired a last smile at him before starting to walk rapidly through the park. Grinning faintly Mamoru called his own goodbye to her before heading towards the Arcade. He was in great need of a nice, strong coffee right now. He hated mornings.