My Worst Fear

I don't own Sailor Moon, or any of the characters, and all that fun stuff.

July:

Serena stepped from the quiet, sterile, white buzz of the doctor's office into the deafening cacophonous bustle of the Tokyo street. For a moment she stood blinking in the doorway, tempted to retreat back into the waiting room. She could run back in, and hide like a rabbit in its burrow. She could just sit there and never have to face the world again; she could just wait for life to pass her by.

But she couldn't.

The blonde stepped out of the doorstep's shadows and struggled through the throngs of people toward the street corner. She raised her hand to hail a cab only to let it fall limply back to her side.

"I should walk." She murmured, somewhat comforted by the sound of her voice. "Walking is good for you." Serena stood still for a moment, staring blankly at her feet, before she allowed the push of the crowd to carry her along.

She didn't think about the distance that she would have to walk to get back to her office, or how her new pair of Monolo Blahniks would fair after a walk like that. She didn't think about how her legs would protest. She didn't think about anyone worrying over her whereabouts. She didn't think. She simply allowed herself to be carried down the street with the flow of people.

She didn't think.

She just enjoyed being inconspicuous among millions of people. She just enjoyed being someone that didn't deserve pity, envy, or awe. She just enjoyed being a no one.

The sun was drooping low over the cherry trees, when the pigtailed blonde finally stopped wandering. She sat on the end of a wooden pier that stretched out into the park's lake; her purse and pumps abandoned on the wood behind her. The glassy lake reflected the brilliance of the sunset back up to the sky, but the blonde on the pier was already in shadows.

Serena sighed.

She felt strangely disconnected, as though her spirit had severed all ties with her body.

The doctor had told her to think about her options, but no matter what she chose the end result would be the same. No matter what she chose life would never be the same. In away it was alright, if everything ended up the same then she wouldn't have to think long on her options, and she couldn't seem to direct her mind anyway.

Serena was twenty-seven. She had graduated from college, a feat that still had some of her friends in shock, with a degree in architecture. Now she was one of the up and coming young architects in Tokyo because she managed to blend the traditional Japanese culture with modern comfort.

The blonde smiled, thinking about one of her favorite professors. He had once said, "You'll know that you've made it when you have so many people after you that you can choose what you want to do." He had winked at Serena and added, "And you have really made it when you can afford to make a few people angry."

Serena had really made it. One of her houses had recently been pictured in an international magazine, the article had mentioned that the

Not only was her career racing forward but every other aspect of her life seemed to be just as glamorous. She had a spacious two bedroom apartment which she had decorated herself; in Serena's signature fashion in blended the traditional, over the top, luxury of a geisha's apartment with the comfort and style of a western penthouse apartment. She also had a giant walk-in closet which was brimming with designer clothing and shoes. She even had a sleek blue Porsche which she drove when ever she had to go out of town. Serena's social calendar was packed with exclusive parties, art viewings, concerts, plays, and premiers. To top it all off, her fiancé, Darien Sheilds, was a political marvel. Yes, Serena Tsukino had a life that anyone would envy.

Or, at least on the surface, Serena Tsukino had a life that anyone would envy.

Secretly, Serena was Tokyo's favorite heroine, Sailor Moon. She fought for love and justice with her Sailor Scouts. Lately, however, it had become increasingly difficult for everyone to fight together. It seemed as though they had all been fighting separately. And now Serena had received earth shattering news from her doctor.

"Bunny?"

The blonde turned to see her friend walking toward her.

"Bunny, why haven't you been answering your phone? We have been worried sick about you!"

"I'm sorry Ami."

Ami Mizuno was a petit woman, only a few inches taller than her blonde friend, with dark blue hair that she kept in a short bob. She had the slightly thin, sleep deprived look of a new doctor; as though she hadn't quite had time to catch up on all of the sleep she missed during her residency.

"We missed you at lunch today, Bunny." Ami said quietly, as she sat down next to her friend.

"I know."

Every week on Thursday afternoon Serena met her friends, and fellow Sailor Scouts, for lunch. They had done this ever since college, when they began to have less time. Sometimes their lunch was the only time that the whole group got together during the week.

"I had a meeting with a client. I thought I told Raye?"

Ami nodded. They both knew it was a lame excuse, but there was nothing more to say about it.

"We called your office. They said that you didn't go back after lunch."

Serena nodded. "It went... badly."

Ami's face fell in horror, her quiet reprimand forgotten. "Oh! I'm sorry, Bunny! Do you want to talk about it?"

The blonde shook her head, thinking back to her doctor's appointment, the real reason why she had missed lunch. "It will be fine, Ami. I'm just going to have to deal with something that I didn't think I would have to deal with for awhile." Serena made an effort to turn her head and smile reassuringly at her friend.

There was a pause as the two women sat together in silence.

"Well..." Ami started to speak, but changed her mind with a shake of her head. "Buck up!" She said with a smile. "We are all going out to eat for dinner." Ami scrambled up. "Mina insists that she had great news, but she refuses to tell us if you aren't there as well."

The young doctor retrieved Serena's shoes and purse while the blonde stood up and brushed off her Prada dress.

"Just leave work behind today." Ami admonished playfully. "And turn your phone on!"