This is a short story following chapter 1 in the manga, in which Serena and Darien live in London at the end of the 19th century.
I do not own either "Sailor Moon" or "To catch a thief".
Enjoy! :)
Chapter 1 - All things have their morning
For as long as she could trace back in time, Serena Tsukino had felt like somewhat of a bumpkin. She was not particularly bothered by it, though her lack of skill in playing the pianoforte, painting or embroidering had caused her mother the occasional grief. After all, such accomplishments were essential to a young woman on the marriage market. Serena was not even frustrated by her less than faint grasp on history and geography. And the less said about her mathematical abilities, the better. She was a woman possessed of a candid disposition and had long accepted that her cheerfulness was her most redeeming quality.
Little could she guess that the day her life would turn onto an unexpected path would start in the ordinary fashion – with her awaking late. Her small bedside alarm clock had pointlessly sung at the appointed hour. What Serena lacked in skills and grace, she could compensate in sheer stubbornness. She most stubbornly disliked rising early and that was a flaw that not even the North London Collegiate School could hope to cure. As a student in the ever more celebrated independent day school for girls, her responsibilities were numerous and, to her, onerous.
Her anguished scream was heard all the way to the breakfast room. Some might have doubted that it came from such a small person, but the household had become quite accustomed to it.
'I am late! Oh, mother, why did you not wake me?' That too was a common complaint in the early morning. Irene Tsukino shrugged and continued perusing the Gazette. It seemed like the newspaper, along with the general public, had become increasingly interested in the identity of the mysterious Venus. Her peers saw her as a goddess, the mastermind behind catching the town's thieves, and none were more grateful than the ladies who had had their jewels returned to them. After all, it was so tedious to part with one's diamonds if it meant having to buy new ones and endure fittings for an adequate new wardrobe. To Irene, this woman was nothing more than a vigilante.
'I am leaving, mother!' The loud voice gave Irene a start this time. Perhaps it was time she started attending to the various household matters.
Serena had once learned that young women must never run and as such had perfected the art of the elegant glide. Indeed, there was a certain presence to a person who could go as fast as a trot and not actually run. Such a talent required enormous concentration when wearing a dress and sometimes led to unfortunate accidents, such as tripping on one's own feet or even worse, innocent passersby.
'Oh, dear, why does morning always have to come so soon? I wish I could have slept more! I do not want to go to scho ̴' The sound of Serena's fall startled some of the shop owners on the street, though none were so willing to help as to leave their patrons. The image even gave some of them a few good laughs.
'Well, that was more painful than usual. I must have stepped on something.' It appeared that a lovely cat had become the casualty of her haste. 'I do beg your pardon! I hope I did not hurt you', Serena murmured as she picked up the small creature. 'I must say, I like the looks of you.' Her quiet compliment was rewarded with a pathetic little meow. 'Well, now, it seems as though you have recovered.' Serena stopped her musings and stared fascinated at the cat. The creature sported a very shiny black fur, with a small golden tuff on its forehead shaped as a quarter moon, giving it an unnervingly exotic appearance. Only as a lady hurried past did Serena remember her current plight.
'Oh, God, I do not have time for this now! I will be scolded!' Her shriek and elegant glide only left a perplexed feline behind.
Authors's note (Wiki inspired):
*North London Collegiate School, opened in 1850, is generally recognized as UK's first school for girls.
*Small alarm clocks became popular in the late 1870's; Seth Thomas Clock Company was granted a patent in 1876 for a small bedside alarm clock.
*The London Gazette claims to be the oldest surviving English newspaper.