Mamoru's Unwanted Competition (And other Headaches)
By Madame Meow
Rated: PG (a few swears, nothing big, but not appropriate
for everyone)
Okay, so, everyone brace yourself, for this is my
first attempt at a fanfic. *winces and cowers* Please do
not hurt me. Please, please, send me some e-mail. I'm
actually feeling really tentative about this, and if I
don't get any response to madame_meow@hotmail.com, I might
just not continue to write it. Not that huge a tragedy to
any of you, of course, but some major crushings to my ego.
Anyways, everything is welcome, even flames (though not too
many, I hope). Just SEND something! Blah. I'll shut up
now. Kay? See, this is me shutting up…
Background Info:
My story is the usual Usagi + Mamoru = Luuuuuve story, but
with three main differences.
#1: In the beginning, only the Guardians, Luna and
Artemis, remember who they are, but a few pertinant things
that happened in the Silver Millenium, didn't happen in my
story. For instance, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion
did not, repeat, DID NOT, meet and fall in love. Prince
Endymion was around of course, helping to defend the Moon
Kingdom, or else he would have never been sent to the
future. But he was always busy fighting, or discussing
strategy with the Generals, and Princess Serenity was
always helping the frightened people who fled to the Palace
for safety to find accomodations and means of sustenance.
They would have eventually met and fallen in love if they
had lived, but they didn't. Okay? No preceding certainty
of love everlasting. That isn't to say they aren't
destined for each other. They just don't know it.
#2: Beryl and the Negaverse, and all the other
assorted Dark Nasties do not exist. Queen Serenity
succeeded in destroying the Dark forces with the power of
the Silver Imperial Crystal, but only after everything was
destroyed, and all the young people had died, making it
necessary to send them into the future. This of course,
caused Queen Serenity to die, and that's the end of her.
However, though the Badies do not exist, Queen Serenity
left the Princesses and Prince with their memories
subconsciously within, to awaken when Usagi reached an age
of certain maturity, so that one day, the Moon Kingdom, or
as it turned out, Crystal Tokyo, will rise again. Needless
to say, no one's memories have awakened yet ^-^.
#3: The Sailor Stars are here. Since, with no
Badies, they would have no real reason to be there, I have
employed poetic license, and slashed their history to
pieces. With my masterful creative skills, I have created
a new situation for them. During the time of the Silver
Millenium, they were Ambasadors from the Stars, staying in
the Moon Kingdom to discuss a potential alliance. When the
Negaverse struck, they too were killed, and so included in
the Massive Reincarnation Act. Having no way of returning
to their home stars/planets until someone comes to pick
them up, they will hang around the Moon Court Reborn, and
be the Three Lights, cause they got nothing better to do.
In addition, they are MALE. With no reason for them to
turn into Sailor Senshi, I have basically done away with
that particular trait.
As to the time frame, Usagi, Makoto, Minako, and Ami,
Rei is 16. Mamoru, Reika, and Motoki are all 19. The
Starlights are all 16. Usagi and Mamoru are tentatively
starting to fall in love. Nothing is certain at the
moment, their relationship is REALLY fragile. No emotions
have been revealed, just beginning to be felt.
On with the show…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi stuck out her tongue and bit it. Hard. She
yelped and then mumbled "Got to study…." Her eyes began to
droop again. Catching herself, she jumped up and started
dancing around with wild abandon, trying to get her blood
moving so she could stay awake. She had a major exam
tomorrow, in English, her worst subject, and studying was
still a new enough concept to her that she was having to
struggle with the impulse to just forget about the test and
go to sleep. It was, after all, already after midnight.
Catching a glimpse of her wildly gyrating form in the
mirror, she burst out laughing. Her hair, usually styled
in two buns that she called odangos, on either side of her
head, was in total disarray. One of the odangos had fallen
apart, leaving her with messy wavy golden tresses on one
side, and a now-lopsided bun on the other side. Her pink
bunny pajamas, long treasured relics of her childhood that
should have long been thrown away, were faded and torn in
some places, and the top was hiked halfway up her stomach.
Her face, pale and slender, with rings under her fabulously
blue eyes, was flushed from the sudden exercise. Still
giggling at the sight of herself, she was grateful that no
one was around this late to see her looking so rumpled.
Especially someone in particular…
At the thought of that certain someone, Usagi stopped
laughing, as a tight feeling in her belly made itself
known. Shivering, Usagi hugged herself, smiling dreamily
as she imagined a face of incredible male beauty, dark
sapphire blue eyes that seemed to reflect her image while
at the same time pulling her into their depths, all topped
with midnight-black hair that was silky to the
touch…Pulling herself out of her daydreaming with an
embarrassed laugh, Usagi was aware that her cheeks were
warm now for reasons other than exertion.
Thinking about it, she puzzled. *Why does Mamoru
always do this to me? Whenever I think about him, it's
like I go into a trance. If only he knew that half the
time I was not paying attention in class it was because of
him, maybe he would stop teasing me about my grades.* She
smiled and shrugged uncomfortably. Not that she would ever
tell him that. Things had been going so well between them
lately. Ever glance seemed laden with hidden meanings, and
he didn't tease her much anymore, only in a sort of
affectionate way. And yesterday, she was sure that if
Minako hadn't come along just then, he would have kissed
her. She was sure of it.
Luna, Usagi's cat, opened one sleepy eye and meowed
questioningly. *Is she thinking about Mamoru again?
Honestly, I wish she would stop chasing that boy and start
concentrating on things that are more important.* She
couldn't say this aloud though, as Usagi did not yet
remember her, so she contented herself with giving a
disapproving yeowl.
Usagi gave Luna a dirty look. "Alright, I'll go back
to studying already. Sheesh, anyone would think you were
my mom, rather than a cat I found following me home."
Muttering other uncomplimentary thoughts about the bossy
stray, Serena sat back down at her desk, and tackled the
books once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later, Luna once again opened awoke,
conscious of something missing. She realized with a little
shock that what was missing was the warm presence of Usagi
in the bed. Looking around, she saw her young charge
collapsed on her desk, face down, snoring, and drooling
onto her textbook. Luna sweatdropped, then sighed in
resigned affection. *Ahh, well, I know she's been trying
harder lately. I shouldn't be so hard on her. Though I
have to wonder what caused the change.* Purring sleepily,
she snagged a blanket and leapt to the floor. Jumping up
on the desk, she draped the blanket over the snoring girl.
Nuzzling the girl's cheek for a moment, she then padded
back to the bed and contentedly fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next day…
Miss Haruna stood at the front of her class, already
wishing the day before her over and done, so she could go
out on a date with her new boyfriend Robert.
Unfortunately, since that wasn't likely to happen, she
cleared her throat for attention instead. "Class, I…." She
frowned, "Class. Class!" Growling, she drew in a breath.
"CLLLAAAAAAASSSS!!!!" The room was instantly silent, every
student, save a sleeping Usagi, staring at her in shock.
Smiling in satisfaction, Miss Haruna resumed in a more
moderate tone. "As I was saying. Class, today I have a
special surprise for you. We have three new students.
Boys," she called out into the hall, "will you please come
in now?"
Through the door came three young men, all aging
between 16 and 17. The first, dressed in the typical black
school uniform, was tall, with rumpled looking black-blue
hair that swept down his back in a narrow ponytail, and red
eyes. Surveying the classroom arrogantly, his eyes
lingered in amusement on a golden head with funny looking
balls on top a moment, then swept on, coming to rest at
last on the impatient looking teacher before him. Nodding
respectfully, he moved gracefully out of the way, to allow
the next boy to come in. The second boy/man was tall as
well, though not as tall as the first. With neatly combed
burnished brown hair that also draped down his back in a
ponytail, and cool dark brown eyes, he was aloof, not
bothering to look at the class, and he walked with a
precise, yet fluid stride. Standing next to the first
young man, he fixed his gaze upon a point a bit above the
head of the tallest person in the class, and clasped his
hands behind his back. The last boy strode in, the
smallest of the three. His gate was quick and energetic,
causing his ponytail of silvery-blue hair to bounce around
on his back. His lively blue eyes swept over his new
classmates, and he winked teasingly at a shy blue haired
girl who was blushing in enraptured awe as they came in.
In response to his wink, the girl's blush spread over her
whole face, making it an interesting contrast to her
vividly blue hair. He went to stand by the other boys.
All three were lithe and athletic looking, with narrow hips
that flowed into broad shoulders.
At the entrance of the three young men, the class
erupted into screams of excitement, squeals of delight, and
a concerted rush towards the boys. Miss Haruna took one
look at this and yelled "SILENCE!". Miss Haruna being the
terrifying teacher she was, she got it. Pointing sternly
towards the desks, she watched as the students trudged back
to their seats.
"Boys, would you introduce yourselves?"
The boy with blue-black hair spoke up. His voice was
husky sounding and a medium tenor. "I'm Seiya Kou, this is
Taiki Kou (gesturing to the boy with brown hair), and this
is Yaten Kou (gesturing to the boy with silvery hair)."
The boy Yaten interrupted dryly, in a slightly deeper,
but clearer voice, "No relation."
Seiya gave him a dirty look while a smattering of
giggles ran through the class. He tried to continue, but
was interrupted again, by a excited looking girl with
flaming red hair, who said, "Oh, but you're the Three
Lights too! Please, can I have an autograph? Please?"
The rest of the class started to murmur agreements, the
noise level rising rapidly, everyone chattering with
excitement as the presence of the popular music idols
amongst them.
Miss Haruna was forced to bellow for quiet again.
Seiya looked annoyed at having being interrupted, but
he said, "Yes we are the Three Lights as well. We have
decided to take a short break from our music in order to
catch up with our schooling." He looked to Taiki.
Taiki looked pained, but continued the introduction.
His voice was very deep, a bass rumble at odds with his
preppy appearance. "After school today, we will give out
autographs," he said, looking pointedly at the flame-haired
girl, who blushed. "But only this afternoon. If you don't
come today, you don't get one. We would really like to be
able to settle into this school with a minimum of fuss.
And that means we can't always been signing autographs at
your convenience." Feeling he had said his piece, he
looked at Yaten to continue.
Yaten cleared his throat. "We look forward to
learning much in your lovely school." Taiki glared at him
for both the corniness and brevity of his speech, but Yaten
just smirked at him.
Miss Haruna took back control of the situation.
"Thank you boys, that was lovely. Now, why don't you each
choose someone to guide you around until you are
comfortable with the layout of the school. You may move
one of the spare desks up besides whomever you choose." So
saying, she turned her back to them, and began to write the
first lesson up on the chalkboard, leaving them to make
their decisions.
Seiya looked around the class, passing over the girls
who looked at him adoringly, with stars in their eyes, and
the boys who were either glaring at him for the way their
girlfriends were acting, or looking at him with pure hero
worship. Finally his gaze came to rest on the one person
who didn't seem to be paying any attention to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi was dreaming. Walking in a misty haze of silver
and white, with vague impressions of beauty and peace, she
could feel something. Or someone, she couldn't be sure.
It was a presence, a presence that tugged on her, creating
an ache within to be complete. But she couldn't go pursue
it. She knew that somehow. She was busy. She couldn't be
sure why she was busy…but she was. She could feel it,
moving sometimes away from her, sometimes towards her. It
was moving towards her now, making her feel warmer with its
approach. It was getting closer. Oh it was so close…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi was jolted awake by a hand roughly tugging one
of her ponytails. Yelping in surprise and pain, she jerked
up, crying "I'm sorry Miss Haruna, I was just sooo tired…"
She trailed off, seeing that the face above her was NOT, in
fact, Miss Haruna. Instead, the face was one of the most
handsome faces she'd ever seen. Baring Darien's, she
hastily corrected to herself. Even so, with blue-black
hair that was almost spiky, it was so rumpled, that trailed
down a broad, muscled back, eyes that seemed to look right
into her, and thin, soft lips quirking humorously at her,
this guy was definitely a babe! Frowning to shake herself
out of her daze, she straightened up, flicked her ponytail
out of his hand and behind her back, and glared at him.
"What was that for?" she muttered furiously at him.
Gorgeous or not, NO ONE pulled her hair.
Seiya stared down at what was arguably the most
fantastically perfect face he'd ever seen. Having decided
on this sleeping beauty because she was ignoring him, and
he wanted to irritate her, he was not prepared for her to
be so…so…angelic. Her gold-blond curls were caught up in
two circular buns on either side of her head then let loose
in two long streamers down her back. The style was
unusual, but Seiya decided on the spot that it suited her
perfectly. Two sparkling blue eyes shot sapphire flames at
him. Rosy pink lips were pressed tight together, but still
managed to look eminently kissable. A long, swan-like neck
merged with thin shoulders covered by her school uniform.
The rest of her figure was obscured by a large bow attached
to the front of her uniform with an odd broach, and the
desk, but he was certain it was as perfect as the rest of
her. However, as perfect as she was, it was still odd to
have a girl glare at him. He was more used to having them
swarm around him, trying for autographs or a touch, or if
they were shy, having them watching adoringly from a
distance. Such obvious annoyance was unusual. He wondered
a bit regretfully when it would change to idol worship. He
knew it would. "I'm Seiya Kou, a new student here, as
you'd know if you'd been awake," he smirked at her while
she blushed, her gem-like eyes shooting daggers, "I've been
told to choose someone to show me around, and I think I'll
choose you, Meatball Head."
Usagi gasped in outrage! "How dare you!" she
exclaimed loudly, "NO ONE CALLS ME MEATBALL HEAD BUT
MAMORU!!!"
Heads turned, staring at her in shock. Usagi was
yelling at a celebrity? It boggled the mind. Nary, the
flamed haired girl, leaned over and whispered WAY too loud,
"Usagi, Seiya is the lead singer for the Three Lights!"
Hearing this, Usagi's eyes rolled into the back of her
head, and she fell out of her chair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi felt her shoulder being shaken gently, but
didn't really want to emerge from the nice, cozy darkness.
She mumbled "No mommy, I don wanna wake up yet." Mumbling
to herself about her stuffed bunny, she found something
warm and smooth, and so cuddled up to it. "I'll get up in
a few minutes…"
Seiya's face went up in flames. When he had shaken
the fainted girl's shoulder, he hadn't thought that she
would grab his hand and curl herself around it! Growling,
he hissed at the girl, "Get up, you silly brat, you're at
school, not at home. And I am NOT YOUR BUNNY!" More
embarrassed than he had ever been in his life, he yanked
his hand away from her all too warm grip.
Shocked by the abrupt departure of her bunny, she woke
with a start. Looking around, she looked bewildered.
"Wha...?" Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and looked at
Seiya with quickly dawning recognition. Making a split
decision, that any guy as nasty as this one, teen idol or
not, did not deserve one OUNCE of her worship, she glared
at him. Thinking though, that she might actually have been
in the wrong this time, she grumbled out an apology for
yelling at him.
Seiya considered the strange girl before him. Even
now, knowing who he was, she was glaring at him. Granted,
he had been moderately mean to her, but that had never
stopped anyone before. And then she had gone and
apologized to him for yelling at him, while still spearing
him with her gaze. What a fascinating contradiction! The
embarrassment quickly fading, he looked at her
speculatively. He wondered what it would take for her to
fall for him, like every other girl. Deciding to find out,
he grinned wickedly. Usagi, startled by the gorgeously
wicked grin he flashed at her, blinked at him stupidly.
Seiya reached out and took her hand. Bringing it to his
lips, he gave her hand a lingering kiss. Seeing her blush,
he smiled and murmured, "Usagi, right? Usagi, would you do
me the honor of showing me around the school? It would
give me great pleasure…" He smiled charmingly.
Usagi opened her mouth to refuse, but her friend Naru,
elbowed her in the ribs. "Of course she'll show you around
the school, Mr. Seiya. She wouldn't DREAM," this said in a
warning growl directed at Usagi, "of refusing." Usagi
glowered, caught.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At lunch, Usagi went to join her closest friends.
Sitting on the roof, leaning against the wall, Makoto
called out to Usagi. "Hey Usagi, if you don't hurry, all
the sushi I made will be gone." The other girl sitting on
the roof, Minako, was devouring the sushi at an incredible
rate, though she could not compare with Usagi at her best.
Hurrying towards the girls, Usagi failed to notice that
Seiya was sauntering along behind her.
"Hey, where's Ami?" Usagi asked, noticing a missing
face. She didn't get a response from her friends, however,
because they were both staring behind her, stars and hearts
in their eyes. Turning around, she scowled upon seeing a
smirking Seiya following her. "Don't you have anything
better to do than follow me aroun-" was all she got out,
before Makoto tackled her, holding her down for Minako to
sit on, who did so and covered Usagi's mouth with a sticky
hand.
Makoto gazed up at Seiya dotingly. "Don't listen to
her, she's just cranky from studying too much. Please sit
down and join us for lunch." So saying, she yanked him
down beside her. Seiya sweatdropped.
Minako yelped loudly, waving her hand around as she
jumped off Usagi. "You bit me!"
Usagi glared at her, while wiping pieces of rice off
her face, where they had stuck from Minako's sticky hand.
She growled, and sat down across from Makoto and Seiya.
Eyeing Minako and Makoto warily, she said to Seiya, "I
would have thought that you would want to eat with your
fellow Lights."
Seiya grinned at her in amusement. "Didn't you
notice? Taiki was wandering off to investigate the
computer facilities, followed by the strange guy with the
swirly glasses he chose. And Yaten…well, here come Yaten
now!"
Everyone turned, and sure enough, a very excited Ami
was pulling Yaten along towards the group. Usagi, Makoto
and Minako stared at Ami in shock. Ami, cool, unflappable,
shy Ami, was chattering non-stop to Yaten, who looked
totally overwhelmed. Coming up to the group, Ami took a
few seconds to regain her breath, and "You guys, this is
Yaten, he's from the Three Lights, he chose me to show him
around, isn't he handsome, I'm a member of his fan club, he
already gave me his autograph, I showed him the library,
computer lab, principal's office, lunchroom, bathrooms, and
my locker, in that order!" Everyone except Ami
sweatdropped.
"Umm, Ami," Makoto muttered, "maybe you better sit
down before you hyperventilate, okay?" Ami blinked at her
a few times, but obediently sat down next to Usagi,
dragging Yaten down with her.
Offering some of her homemade lunch to both Seiya and
Yaten, Makoto tried to get the conversation going. "So
Usagi, how do you think you'll do on this afternoon's
test?"
Usagi paled. "Do you think they'll still have it,
with new students and all?"
Makoto looked at her disbelievingly. "Have you ever
known them to postpone a test for new students? They just
won't have to take it, is all."
Usagi sighed. "I guess so. I studied guys, I really
did, but I'm just so nervous. I haven't done well on a
test since 2nd grade, how can I do so now?"
Minako patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't
worry, Princess." Princess was their teasing nickname for
her, she being the farthest thing they could think of from
a princess. "It's never too late to turn over a new leaf.
Just relax, and do your best."
Usagi smiled and hugged Minako. "Thanks Mina-chan."
Just then the bell rang, and they all trouped back
inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seiya watched Usagi while she sweated through her
test. And there was no doubt about it. She was
struggling. Her face was flushed, and when she wasn't
writing, she was chewing desperately on her pencil. He had
never met anyone who had so much trouble writing tests.
From the conversation between the girls earlier, he knew
that she wasn't all that great an academic, but still, this
was different than just stupidity or laziness. It almost
seemed like an active struggle against a barrier of some
sort. It was bizarre, but at the same time, as he watched
her, he could feel his respect for her rising. He knew
this must be difficult for her, but she was trying.
Speculative and considering, he watched her for the
remainder of the test.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the way home, Usagi crossed her arms behind her
head, hanging her bag against her back. She stared at the
sky, frustrated and tired. The test had been harder than
she had thought it would be. The knowledge, there one
minute, gone the next, had seemed to taunt her, as it
flitted through her mind. It wasn't fair. All her other
friends had no trouble with tests. But even when she
studied, she struggled. What was wrong with her anyway?
She sighed dispiritedly as she walked down the street,
paying no attention to where she was going, just staring at
the sky. A familiar rich chuckle distracted her from her
depressing thoughts. "Daydreaming again Meatball Head?"
She flinched slightly. Though Mamoru didn't tease her
much anymore, occasionally it still had the power to hurt
her. She tried to smile for him. "Of course, you know me.
What else would I be doing?"
Mamoru frowned, sensing that this wasn't his usual
bubbling Usagi. Her smile was forced, and there were hints
of hurt in her eyes. The hurt went straight to his heart.
"I'm sorry Usagi, is something wrong?" He stepped up beside
her and put an arm around her. Sighing, she leaned into
him.
"Usagi, what's wrong with me? Do you know, I actually
studied for today's test?" At his skeptical look, she
flared up. "I did! I actually studied for my English exam!
But I still had so much trouble! It's like, no matter how
hard I might try, something keeps me from doing well."
Mamoru thought about this, putting aside for the
moment his doubt as to her ability to actually study hard.
Finally, he sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know
Meatball Head, maybe you're just not an academic. You're
good at other things, though. You have a caring heart, and
you are always there for your friends. Some people just
aren't meant for that that sort of thing."
Usagi clenched her eyes shut. He didn't believe she
could do it. She had been working so hard in the past
months, trying to get up on time, and paying attention in
class, with the notable exception of this morning, even
studying and doing her homework. She had been trying to
make him proud of her, so that maybe she would be more
worthy of him, but he didn't think she had it in her. He
thought she was stupid. She pushed herself away from him.
"Maybe you're right, maybe I don't have what it takes. But
I'm not giving up yet. I have to go, I'll see you later."
Mamoru watched her walk off. He knew he had hurt her
with his doubt, and he hated it. But he didn't know what
else he could have said. Usagi was loving and kind
hearted, and she always knew what to do when it came to her
friends. He knew she was intelligent, and he knew that as
she matured, she would be able to tap into that more. But
she wasn't an intellectual. That's all there was too it.
He just hoped she wouldn't take it too badly when she
failed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seiya leaned back in his chair, flexing his aching
left hand, and gulping warm water from a plastic water
bottle. Though there was still about an hour and a half
left to the autograph session, according to their agent who
never left their side during a publicity event like this,
they were allowed a quick fifteen minute break.
Taiki looked at Seiya closely. "Hey man, what's with
you today? You've been really distracted."
Yaten smirked at Seiya. "Oh don't worry about it
Taiki, he just has a crush on his school guide, that's
all."
Seiya narrowed his eyes threateningly at Yaten. "I
don't have a 'crush' on her, you moron. I think she's
gorgeous, and that is totally different."
Yaten chuckled. "Nuh-uh, I don't think that's all
there is to it. I saw you staring at her during that test.
What's up with that?"
Seiya frowned and stared at his water bottle. "I feel
kind of sorry for her. She was really having trouble. It
kinda makes you wonder if she has one of those learning
disorders or something. But I was thinking that she
deserves something for trying so hard, ya know? Just…" He
trailed off, with a bemused, puzzled look on his face.
Taiki and Yaten looked at each other. Yaten voiced
what they were both thinking. "He's fallen hard."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, so, love it, hate it, write me and tell me!!!
Well?
What are you waiting for!?! Write to
madame_meow@hotmail.com already!! Sheesh, take a hint!
By Madame Meow
Rated: PG (a few swears, nothing big, but not appropriate
for everyone)
Okay, so, everyone brace yourself, for this is my
first attempt at a fanfic. *winces and cowers* Please do
not hurt me. Please, please, send me some e-mail. I'm
actually feeling really tentative about this, and if I
don't get any response to madame_meow@hotmail.com, I might
just not continue to write it. Not that huge a tragedy to
any of you, of course, but some major crushings to my ego.
Anyways, everything is welcome, even flames (though not too
many, I hope). Just SEND something! Blah. I'll shut up
now. Kay? See, this is me shutting up…
Background Info:
My story is the usual Usagi + Mamoru = Luuuuuve story, but
with three main differences.
#1: In the beginning, only the Guardians, Luna and
Artemis, remember who they are, but a few pertinant things
that happened in the Silver Millenium, didn't happen in my
story. For instance, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion
did not, repeat, DID NOT, meet and fall in love. Prince
Endymion was around of course, helping to defend the Moon
Kingdom, or else he would have never been sent to the
future. But he was always busy fighting, or discussing
strategy with the Generals, and Princess Serenity was
always helping the frightened people who fled to the Palace
for safety to find accomodations and means of sustenance.
They would have eventually met and fallen in love if they
had lived, but they didn't. Okay? No preceding certainty
of love everlasting. That isn't to say they aren't
destined for each other. They just don't know it.
#2: Beryl and the Negaverse, and all the other
assorted Dark Nasties do not exist. Queen Serenity
succeeded in destroying the Dark forces with the power of
the Silver Imperial Crystal, but only after everything was
destroyed, and all the young people had died, making it
necessary to send them into the future. This of course,
caused Queen Serenity to die, and that's the end of her.
However, though the Badies do not exist, Queen Serenity
left the Princesses and Prince with their memories
subconsciously within, to awaken when Usagi reached an age
of certain maturity, so that one day, the Moon Kingdom, or
as it turned out, Crystal Tokyo, will rise again. Needless
to say, no one's memories have awakened yet ^-^.
#3: The Sailor Stars are here. Since, with no
Badies, they would have no real reason to be there, I have
employed poetic license, and slashed their history to
pieces. With my masterful creative skills, I have created
a new situation for them. During the time of the Silver
Millenium, they were Ambasadors from the Stars, staying in
the Moon Kingdom to discuss a potential alliance. When the
Negaverse struck, they too were killed, and so included in
the Massive Reincarnation Act. Having no way of returning
to their home stars/planets until someone comes to pick
them up, they will hang around the Moon Court Reborn, and
be the Three Lights, cause they got nothing better to do.
In addition, they are MALE. With no reason for them to
turn into Sailor Senshi, I have basically done away with
that particular trait.
As to the time frame, Usagi, Makoto, Minako, and Ami,
Rei is 16. Mamoru, Reika, and Motoki are all 19. The
Starlights are all 16. Usagi and Mamoru are tentatively
starting to fall in love. Nothing is certain at the
moment, their relationship is REALLY fragile. No emotions
have been revealed, just beginning to be felt.
On with the show…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi stuck out her tongue and bit it. Hard. She
yelped and then mumbled "Got to study…." Her eyes began to
droop again. Catching herself, she jumped up and started
dancing around with wild abandon, trying to get her blood
moving so she could stay awake. She had a major exam
tomorrow, in English, her worst subject, and studying was
still a new enough concept to her that she was having to
struggle with the impulse to just forget about the test and
go to sleep. It was, after all, already after midnight.
Catching a glimpse of her wildly gyrating form in the
mirror, she burst out laughing. Her hair, usually styled
in two buns that she called odangos, on either side of her
head, was in total disarray. One of the odangos had fallen
apart, leaving her with messy wavy golden tresses on one
side, and a now-lopsided bun on the other side. Her pink
bunny pajamas, long treasured relics of her childhood that
should have long been thrown away, were faded and torn in
some places, and the top was hiked halfway up her stomach.
Her face, pale and slender, with rings under her fabulously
blue eyes, was flushed from the sudden exercise. Still
giggling at the sight of herself, she was grateful that no
one was around this late to see her looking so rumpled.
Especially someone in particular…
At the thought of that certain someone, Usagi stopped
laughing, as a tight feeling in her belly made itself
known. Shivering, Usagi hugged herself, smiling dreamily
as she imagined a face of incredible male beauty, dark
sapphire blue eyes that seemed to reflect her image while
at the same time pulling her into their depths, all topped
with midnight-black hair that was silky to the
touch…Pulling herself out of her daydreaming with an
embarrassed laugh, Usagi was aware that her cheeks were
warm now for reasons other than exertion.
Thinking about it, she puzzled. *Why does Mamoru
always do this to me? Whenever I think about him, it's
like I go into a trance. If only he knew that half the
time I was not paying attention in class it was because of
him, maybe he would stop teasing me about my grades.* She
smiled and shrugged uncomfortably. Not that she would ever
tell him that. Things had been going so well between them
lately. Ever glance seemed laden with hidden meanings, and
he didn't tease her much anymore, only in a sort of
affectionate way. And yesterday, she was sure that if
Minako hadn't come along just then, he would have kissed
her. She was sure of it.
Luna, Usagi's cat, opened one sleepy eye and meowed
questioningly. *Is she thinking about Mamoru again?
Honestly, I wish she would stop chasing that boy and start
concentrating on things that are more important.* She
couldn't say this aloud though, as Usagi did not yet
remember her, so she contented herself with giving a
disapproving yeowl.
Usagi gave Luna a dirty look. "Alright, I'll go back
to studying already. Sheesh, anyone would think you were
my mom, rather than a cat I found following me home."
Muttering other uncomplimentary thoughts about the bossy
stray, Serena sat back down at her desk, and tackled the
books once more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few hours later, Luna once again opened awoke,
conscious of something missing. She realized with a little
shock that what was missing was the warm presence of Usagi
in the bed. Looking around, she saw her young charge
collapsed on her desk, face down, snoring, and drooling
onto her textbook. Luna sweatdropped, then sighed in
resigned affection. *Ahh, well, I know she's been trying
harder lately. I shouldn't be so hard on her. Though I
have to wonder what caused the change.* Purring sleepily,
she snagged a blanket and leapt to the floor. Jumping up
on the desk, she draped the blanket over the snoring girl.
Nuzzling the girl's cheek for a moment, she then padded
back to the bed and contentedly fell asleep.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Next day…
Miss Haruna stood at the front of her class, already
wishing the day before her over and done, so she could go
out on a date with her new boyfriend Robert.
Unfortunately, since that wasn't likely to happen, she
cleared her throat for attention instead. "Class, I…." She
frowned, "Class. Class!" Growling, she drew in a breath.
"CLLLAAAAAAASSSS!!!!" The room was instantly silent, every
student, save a sleeping Usagi, staring at her in shock.
Smiling in satisfaction, Miss Haruna resumed in a more
moderate tone. "As I was saying. Class, today I have a
special surprise for you. We have three new students.
Boys," she called out into the hall, "will you please come
in now?"
Through the door came three young men, all aging
between 16 and 17. The first, dressed in the typical black
school uniform, was tall, with rumpled looking black-blue
hair that swept down his back in a narrow ponytail, and red
eyes. Surveying the classroom arrogantly, his eyes
lingered in amusement on a golden head with funny looking
balls on top a moment, then swept on, coming to rest at
last on the impatient looking teacher before him. Nodding
respectfully, he moved gracefully out of the way, to allow
the next boy to come in. The second boy/man was tall as
well, though not as tall as the first. With neatly combed
burnished brown hair that also draped down his back in a
ponytail, and cool dark brown eyes, he was aloof, not
bothering to look at the class, and he walked with a
precise, yet fluid stride. Standing next to the first
young man, he fixed his gaze upon a point a bit above the
head of the tallest person in the class, and clasped his
hands behind his back. The last boy strode in, the
smallest of the three. His gate was quick and energetic,
causing his ponytail of silvery-blue hair to bounce around
on his back. His lively blue eyes swept over his new
classmates, and he winked teasingly at a shy blue haired
girl who was blushing in enraptured awe as they came in.
In response to his wink, the girl's blush spread over her
whole face, making it an interesting contrast to her
vividly blue hair. He went to stand by the other boys.
All three were lithe and athletic looking, with narrow hips
that flowed into broad shoulders.
At the entrance of the three young men, the class
erupted into screams of excitement, squeals of delight, and
a concerted rush towards the boys. Miss Haruna took one
look at this and yelled "SILENCE!". Miss Haruna being the
terrifying teacher she was, she got it. Pointing sternly
towards the desks, she watched as the students trudged back
to their seats.
"Boys, would you introduce yourselves?"
The boy with blue-black hair spoke up. His voice was
husky sounding and a medium tenor. "I'm Seiya Kou, this is
Taiki Kou (gesturing to the boy with brown hair), and this
is Yaten Kou (gesturing to the boy with silvery hair)."
The boy Yaten interrupted dryly, in a slightly deeper,
but clearer voice, "No relation."
Seiya gave him a dirty look while a smattering of
giggles ran through the class. He tried to continue, but
was interrupted again, by a excited looking girl with
flaming red hair, who said, "Oh, but you're the Three
Lights too! Please, can I have an autograph? Please?"
The rest of the class started to murmur agreements, the
noise level rising rapidly, everyone chattering with
excitement as the presence of the popular music idols
amongst them.
Miss Haruna was forced to bellow for quiet again.
Seiya looked annoyed at having being interrupted, but
he said, "Yes we are the Three Lights as well. We have
decided to take a short break from our music in order to
catch up with our schooling." He looked to Taiki.
Taiki looked pained, but continued the introduction.
His voice was very deep, a bass rumble at odds with his
preppy appearance. "After school today, we will give out
autographs," he said, looking pointedly at the flame-haired
girl, who blushed. "But only this afternoon. If you don't
come today, you don't get one. We would really like to be
able to settle into this school with a minimum of fuss.
And that means we can't always been signing autographs at
your convenience." Feeling he had said his piece, he
looked at Yaten to continue.
Yaten cleared his throat. "We look forward to
learning much in your lovely school." Taiki glared at him
for both the corniness and brevity of his speech, but Yaten
just smirked at him.
Miss Haruna took back control of the situation.
"Thank you boys, that was lovely. Now, why don't you each
choose someone to guide you around until you are
comfortable with the layout of the school. You may move
one of the spare desks up besides whomever you choose." So
saying, she turned her back to them, and began to write the
first lesson up on the chalkboard, leaving them to make
their decisions.
Seiya looked around the class, passing over the girls
who looked at him adoringly, with stars in their eyes, and
the boys who were either glaring at him for the way their
girlfriends were acting, or looking at him with pure hero
worship. Finally his gaze came to rest on the one person
who didn't seem to be paying any attention to him.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi was dreaming. Walking in a misty haze of silver
and white, with vague impressions of beauty and peace, she
could feel something. Or someone, she couldn't be sure.
It was a presence, a presence that tugged on her, creating
an ache within to be complete. But she couldn't go pursue
it. She knew that somehow. She was busy. She couldn't be
sure why she was busy…but she was. She could feel it,
moving sometimes away from her, sometimes towards her. It
was moving towards her now, making her feel warmer with its
approach. It was getting closer. Oh it was so close…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi was jolted awake by a hand roughly tugging one
of her ponytails. Yelping in surprise and pain, she jerked
up, crying "I'm sorry Miss Haruna, I was just sooo tired…"
She trailed off, seeing that the face above her was NOT, in
fact, Miss Haruna. Instead, the face was one of the most
handsome faces she'd ever seen. Baring Darien's, she
hastily corrected to herself. Even so, with blue-black
hair that was almost spiky, it was so rumpled, that trailed
down a broad, muscled back, eyes that seemed to look right
into her, and thin, soft lips quirking humorously at her,
this guy was definitely a babe! Frowning to shake herself
out of her daze, she straightened up, flicked her ponytail
out of his hand and behind her back, and glared at him.
"What was that for?" she muttered furiously at him.
Gorgeous or not, NO ONE pulled her hair.
Seiya stared down at what was arguably the most
fantastically perfect face he'd ever seen. Having decided
on this sleeping beauty because she was ignoring him, and
he wanted to irritate her, he was not prepared for her to
be so…so…angelic. Her gold-blond curls were caught up in
two circular buns on either side of her head then let loose
in two long streamers down her back. The style was
unusual, but Seiya decided on the spot that it suited her
perfectly. Two sparkling blue eyes shot sapphire flames at
him. Rosy pink lips were pressed tight together, but still
managed to look eminently kissable. A long, swan-like neck
merged with thin shoulders covered by her school uniform.
The rest of her figure was obscured by a large bow attached
to the front of her uniform with an odd broach, and the
desk, but he was certain it was as perfect as the rest of
her. However, as perfect as she was, it was still odd to
have a girl glare at him. He was more used to having them
swarm around him, trying for autographs or a touch, or if
they were shy, having them watching adoringly from a
distance. Such obvious annoyance was unusual. He wondered
a bit regretfully when it would change to idol worship. He
knew it would. "I'm Seiya Kou, a new student here, as
you'd know if you'd been awake," he smirked at her while
she blushed, her gem-like eyes shooting daggers, "I've been
told to choose someone to show me around, and I think I'll
choose you, Meatball Head."
Usagi gasped in outrage! "How dare you!" she
exclaimed loudly, "NO ONE CALLS ME MEATBALL HEAD BUT
MAMORU!!!"
Heads turned, staring at her in shock. Usagi was
yelling at a celebrity? It boggled the mind. Nary, the
flamed haired girl, leaned over and whispered WAY too loud,
"Usagi, Seiya is the lead singer for the Three Lights!"
Hearing this, Usagi's eyes rolled into the back of her
head, and she fell out of her chair.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Usagi felt her shoulder being shaken gently, but
didn't really want to emerge from the nice, cozy darkness.
She mumbled "No mommy, I don wanna wake up yet." Mumbling
to herself about her stuffed bunny, she found something
warm and smooth, and so cuddled up to it. "I'll get up in
a few minutes…"
Seiya's face went up in flames. When he had shaken
the fainted girl's shoulder, he hadn't thought that she
would grab his hand and curl herself around it! Growling,
he hissed at the girl, "Get up, you silly brat, you're at
school, not at home. And I am NOT YOUR BUNNY!" More
embarrassed than he had ever been in his life, he yanked
his hand away from her all too warm grip.
Shocked by the abrupt departure of her bunny, she woke
with a start. Looking around, she looked bewildered.
"Wha...?" Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and looked at
Seiya with quickly dawning recognition. Making a split
decision, that any guy as nasty as this one, teen idol or
not, did not deserve one OUNCE of her worship, she glared
at him. Thinking though, that she might actually have been
in the wrong this time, she grumbled out an apology for
yelling at him.
Seiya considered the strange girl before him. Even
now, knowing who he was, she was glaring at him. Granted,
he had been moderately mean to her, but that had never
stopped anyone before. And then she had gone and
apologized to him for yelling at him, while still spearing
him with her gaze. What a fascinating contradiction! The
embarrassment quickly fading, he looked at her
speculatively. He wondered what it would take for her to
fall for him, like every other girl. Deciding to find out,
he grinned wickedly. Usagi, startled by the gorgeously
wicked grin he flashed at her, blinked at him stupidly.
Seiya reached out and took her hand. Bringing it to his
lips, he gave her hand a lingering kiss. Seeing her blush,
he smiled and murmured, "Usagi, right? Usagi, would you do
me the honor of showing me around the school? It would
give me great pleasure…" He smiled charmingly.
Usagi opened her mouth to refuse, but her friend Naru,
elbowed her in the ribs. "Of course she'll show you around
the school, Mr. Seiya. She wouldn't DREAM," this said in a
warning growl directed at Usagi, "of refusing." Usagi
glowered, caught.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At lunch, Usagi went to join her closest friends.
Sitting on the roof, leaning against the wall, Makoto
called out to Usagi. "Hey Usagi, if you don't hurry, all
the sushi I made will be gone." The other girl sitting on
the roof, Minako, was devouring the sushi at an incredible
rate, though she could not compare with Usagi at her best.
Hurrying towards the girls, Usagi failed to notice that
Seiya was sauntering along behind her.
"Hey, where's Ami?" Usagi asked, noticing a missing
face. She didn't get a response from her friends, however,
because they were both staring behind her, stars and hearts
in their eyes. Turning around, she scowled upon seeing a
smirking Seiya following her. "Don't you have anything
better to do than follow me aroun-" was all she got out,
before Makoto tackled her, holding her down for Minako to
sit on, who did so and covered Usagi's mouth with a sticky
hand.
Makoto gazed up at Seiya dotingly. "Don't listen to
her, she's just cranky from studying too much. Please sit
down and join us for lunch." So saying, she yanked him
down beside her. Seiya sweatdropped.
Minako yelped loudly, waving her hand around as she
jumped off Usagi. "You bit me!"
Usagi glared at her, while wiping pieces of rice off
her face, where they had stuck from Minako's sticky hand.
She growled, and sat down across from Makoto and Seiya.
Eyeing Minako and Makoto warily, she said to Seiya, "I
would have thought that you would want to eat with your
fellow Lights."
Seiya grinned at her in amusement. "Didn't you
notice? Taiki was wandering off to investigate the
computer facilities, followed by the strange guy with the
swirly glasses he chose. And Yaten…well, here come Yaten
now!"
Everyone turned, and sure enough, a very excited Ami
was pulling Yaten along towards the group. Usagi, Makoto
and Minako stared at Ami in shock. Ami, cool, unflappable,
shy Ami, was chattering non-stop to Yaten, who looked
totally overwhelmed. Coming up to the group, Ami took a
few seconds to regain her breath, and "You guys, this is
Yaten, he's from the Three Lights, he chose me to show him
around, isn't he handsome, I'm a member of his fan club, he
already gave me his autograph, I showed him the library,
computer lab, principal's office, lunchroom, bathrooms, and
my locker, in that order!" Everyone except Ami
sweatdropped.
"Umm, Ami," Makoto muttered, "maybe you better sit
down before you hyperventilate, okay?" Ami blinked at her
a few times, but obediently sat down next to Usagi,
dragging Yaten down with her.
Offering some of her homemade lunch to both Seiya and
Yaten, Makoto tried to get the conversation going. "So
Usagi, how do you think you'll do on this afternoon's
test?"
Usagi paled. "Do you think they'll still have it,
with new students and all?"
Makoto looked at her disbelievingly. "Have you ever
known them to postpone a test for new students? They just
won't have to take it, is all."
Usagi sighed. "I guess so. I studied guys, I really
did, but I'm just so nervous. I haven't done well on a
test since 2nd grade, how can I do so now?"
Minako patted her shoulder comfortingly. "Don't
worry, Princess." Princess was their teasing nickname for
her, she being the farthest thing they could think of from
a princess. "It's never too late to turn over a new leaf.
Just relax, and do your best."
Usagi smiled and hugged Minako. "Thanks Mina-chan."
Just then the bell rang, and they all trouped back
inside.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seiya watched Usagi while she sweated through her
test. And there was no doubt about it. She was
struggling. Her face was flushed, and when she wasn't
writing, she was chewing desperately on her pencil. He had
never met anyone who had so much trouble writing tests.
From the conversation between the girls earlier, he knew
that she wasn't all that great an academic, but still, this
was different than just stupidity or laziness. It almost
seemed like an active struggle against a barrier of some
sort. It was bizarre, but at the same time, as he watched
her, he could feel his respect for her rising. He knew
this must be difficult for her, but she was trying.
Speculative and considering, he watched her for the
remainder of the test.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the way home, Usagi crossed her arms behind her
head, hanging her bag against her back. She stared at the
sky, frustrated and tired. The test had been harder than
she had thought it would be. The knowledge, there one
minute, gone the next, had seemed to taunt her, as it
flitted through her mind. It wasn't fair. All her other
friends had no trouble with tests. But even when she
studied, she struggled. What was wrong with her anyway?
She sighed dispiritedly as she walked down the street,
paying no attention to where she was going, just staring at
the sky. A familiar rich chuckle distracted her from her
depressing thoughts. "Daydreaming again Meatball Head?"
She flinched slightly. Though Mamoru didn't tease her
much anymore, occasionally it still had the power to hurt
her. She tried to smile for him. "Of course, you know me.
What else would I be doing?"
Mamoru frowned, sensing that this wasn't his usual
bubbling Usagi. Her smile was forced, and there were hints
of hurt in her eyes. The hurt went straight to his heart.
"I'm sorry Usagi, is something wrong?" He stepped up beside
her and put an arm around her. Sighing, she leaned into
him.
"Usagi, what's wrong with me? Do you know, I actually
studied for today's test?" At his skeptical look, she
flared up. "I did! I actually studied for my English exam!
But I still had so much trouble! It's like, no matter how
hard I might try, something keeps me from doing well."
Mamoru thought about this, putting aside for the
moment his doubt as to her ability to actually study hard.
Finally, he sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know
Meatball Head, maybe you're just not an academic. You're
good at other things, though. You have a caring heart, and
you are always there for your friends. Some people just
aren't meant for that that sort of thing."
Usagi clenched her eyes shut. He didn't believe she
could do it. She had been working so hard in the past
months, trying to get up on time, and paying attention in
class, with the notable exception of this morning, even
studying and doing her homework. She had been trying to
make him proud of her, so that maybe she would be more
worthy of him, but he didn't think she had it in her. He
thought she was stupid. She pushed herself away from him.
"Maybe you're right, maybe I don't have what it takes. But
I'm not giving up yet. I have to go, I'll see you later."
Mamoru watched her walk off. He knew he had hurt her
with his doubt, and he hated it. But he didn't know what
else he could have said. Usagi was loving and kind
hearted, and she always knew what to do when it came to her
friends. He knew she was intelligent, and he knew that as
she matured, she would be able to tap into that more. But
she wasn't an intellectual. That's all there was too it.
He just hoped she wouldn't take it too badly when she
failed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Seiya leaned back in his chair, flexing his aching
left hand, and gulping warm water from a plastic water
bottle. Though there was still about an hour and a half
left to the autograph session, according to their agent who
never left their side during a publicity event like this,
they were allowed a quick fifteen minute break.
Taiki looked at Seiya closely. "Hey man, what's with
you today? You've been really distracted."
Yaten smirked at Seiya. "Oh don't worry about it
Taiki, he just has a crush on his school guide, that's
all."
Seiya narrowed his eyes threateningly at Yaten. "I
don't have a 'crush' on her, you moron. I think she's
gorgeous, and that is totally different."
Yaten chuckled. "Nuh-uh, I don't think that's all
there is to it. I saw you staring at her during that test.
What's up with that?"
Seiya frowned and stared at his water bottle. "I feel
kind of sorry for her. She was really having trouble. It
kinda makes you wonder if she has one of those learning
disorders or something. But I was thinking that she
deserves something for trying so hard, ya know? Just…" He
trailed off, with a bemused, puzzled look on his face.
Taiki and Yaten looked at each other. Yaten voiced
what they were both thinking. "He's fallen hard."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, so, love it, hate it, write me and tell me!!!
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