Title: Coming Home~Prologue
Author: SailorSpectra@msn.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Usagi disappeared years ago, and the Senshi were never able
to find her. What happens when she comes home, married and completely
different?
Author's Notes: Well, it has been a few years since this fan-fiction
was started, and back then, it was called "Saying Goodbye." If you
have been around the fanfic world for over 5 years, you may remember
it. I was really young when I first wrote it, so I decided to revamp
it and pretty much change the whole thing. It still has the same
storyline, but I redid it from a different perspective and started
it at a different time. And this one is going to have some more to
it as well. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy, and don't feel shy to e-mail me ^.^
Disclaimer: If I really owned Sailormoon, do you really think I resign
myself to writing the stories for free online?
***********************************************************************
At first glance, Michiko could tell that they were a formidable
couple. As the beautiful blonde stepped out of the airplane terminal
followed by the sleek, ebony haired man, Kamiki knew that the pair
captured eyes, no matter where they went. She shook her head in an
attempt to dispel the visions they brought to her head. She did not
need them to come back to mess up her life again.
*******************************************************************
The woman stopped, tensely glancing around, nearly oblivious to
her companion's arm gently encircling her waist. She relaxed and sighed.
"They're not here."
"I highly doubt that they would know we came back. You didn't call
them," he whispered in her ear. When she did not respond he continued,
"Usako, it's been five years."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
She did not respond, just walked away, untangling his arm from
around her waist. It was her own way of closing the subject.
********************************************************************
Mamoru gazed down at the cascade of golden hair resting on his
shoulder. He gently ran his fingers through it and remembered how
the entire situation started.
***
He was jogging through the park, finally able to get some
much-wanted exercise into his hectic schedule. Not that he needed it,
mind you, his weekly bouts fighting Youma at the side of Sailor Moon
and the rest of the scouts kept him in shape enough as it was. He
just liked to jog at night. It was his way of relaxing between the
times that he was teasing Odango, going to classes, teasing Odango,
going to work, teasing Odango and going to the arcade. The question
was, had he teased the poor girl today? He wasn't quite sure... Oh
well, he could just double it tomorrow.
He did not know what it was, but something about her got under
his skin. It wasn't the flying tests or shoes. He FELT like he knew
her from some other time, but he KNEW that he did not, and that was
what bothered him.
Anyhow, he shook her from his mind, reminding himself that this
was his time to meditate. The time when he could allow his mind to
seep into his surroundings. Another good thing about jogging at night.
Whenever he meditated around other people their emotions would affect
him. He could 'feel' their emotions...how? He had no clue, but he
surmised that it had something to do with his powers as Tuxedo Kamen.
At night however, with no one around, his mind could wander free.
His feet pounding the cold sidewalk were the only sound. He could
smell the dirt and grass because of the recent downpour and relished it.
He could see the pavement, and on that pavement was a bruised and battered
Usagi laying across his path. He stumbled to a stop, nearly falling over
the prone girl in front of him.
*********************************************************************
Mamoru shivered as he always did in memory of that night. Usagi
snuggled closer into his embrace in an unconscious attempt to soothe
him.
"We're here," the cab driver said. Mamoru nodded, turning to
Usagi.
"Wake up honey, we're home," he said, gently nudging the sleeping
nymph from her slumber.
"Huh? Oh,"
"Jet lag is getting to you isn't it?" Mamoru said with amusement
as he paid the fair. She smiled.
"Yeah, I forgot how much the time difference is."
The doorman came up to the cab to help with the luggage, his
generally stoic face twisting with surprise and enthusiasm as he noticed
whom the male passenger was.
"Chiba-san! Welcome back. It's been a long five years," the doorman
said, accepting the luggage from the cab driver.
"Thank you. We are glad to be back. I didn't expect that you would
still be here after this long, Jiango-san."
The doorman simply smiled and inquired politely, "And who is this
young lady if I may ask?"
"I'm Chiba Usagi. You may call me Usagi though if you would like,"
she answered with a brilliant smile.
"Are you relatives?" he asked, pulling his trolley to the elevator.
"You could say that." At the man's puzzled look, Mamoru added, "Usako
is my wife."
For the second time, the doorman's face contorted, with his jaw nearly
imperceptibly dropping. He never took Chiba to be the kind of man who would
settle down, much less to such an innocent looking young lady. Jiango guessed
that every bachelor had some woman out there that could catch him.
Shaking himself out of his stupor, Jiango congratulated the pair
as they entered the elevator.
The three made small talk in the elevator, going up to the penthouse
that Mamoru, and now Usagi, owned.
Upon giving Jiango a generous tip that he graciously accepted, the
couple retreated into their home, collapsing to the plush leather sofa
in the living room.
"We're back."
"Yeah," he replied. She twisted the ring on her finger and looked
at the dark ceiling trying to blink back the tears.
They sat in silence, allowing the plushness of the couch soothe
away the muscle cramps they collected on their flight over. Usagi
chewed her lip before breaking the peaceful atmosphere.
"I know I have to talk to them. But knowing it doesn't make me
any less scared."
"Don't worry Usako, I'll be right by your side when you go," he
kissed her and gathered her slim form into his arms. "Let's go to bed."
*********************************************************************
"Come on Usako, wake up," Mamoru said gently nudging her. She
did not stir, so he took his second plan of action, pulling the curtains
open to let the sun fall on her face. He mused that his wife looked like
an angel, until she frowned and covered her face.
"Lea-me alone..." She grumbled.
"Odango, I need your help..." He pouted, pulling the sheets off the
bed and the blonde that they covered.
"Fine," she growled sitting up. "But you'll have to fix the bed."
she said looking disdainfully at the sheets that now adorned the floor.
"Not a problem," he said winking. Even after being together for
the length of time they had, Mamoru was still entranced by her form,
gazing over her silk clad body in appreciation. He started moving
towards the bed but was stopped when Usagi jumped out of it.
"I don't think so. You know that if you get in here now, neither
of us will make it to work today."
"But Usako...."
"Stop acting like a horny teenager Mamo-chan," she said chastising
him.
"Ha ha, you forget which one of us is still a teenager huh? And
you know how rabbits are," he said swaddling up to her. Usagi gave him
a look.
"Now do you want help getting dressed or not?"
"I'll help YOU," he replied with a grin. Realizing he was bringing
her closer to her, "shoe hitting his head," mode, he quickly shut up. He
meekly replied an apology to her back. She grinned. I've still got him
wrapped around my pinkie.
She shook her head, helping her hubby tie his tie, still confused as
to how he formerly wore a tuxedo to help her fight all those years ago,
and still couldn't tie a simple neck tie.
"What time do you have to be at work Mamo-chan?" He quickly glanced
at the clock. "DAMN!!! I'm late! Love you Usako, gotta run, see you later,
bye bye!!!"
She giggled as he rushed around grabbing his keys, suitcase and shoes
to leave the house. "It looks as if I'm rubbing off on you," she said with
a grin. He gave her an evil look, but softened it with a smile, pecked her
on the lips and ran out the door.
Noticing the time herself, she realized that she had 25 minutes to get
dressed, eat breakfast, and get to work. Luckily, their apartment was
right down the street from Tokyo University, her new employer.
*************************************************************************
Haruna read the files on the new professor of Humanities. Hmm, Chiba
Usagi. That's interesting, she went to Juuban Junior High...That must have
been before I taught there. Glancing at her maiden name, Haruna blinked.
No, that can't be her, probably just related to her. She's been missing
for much too long. Haruna did not even think to look at the person's
birthdate, or she would have realized that Chiba Usagi was only 19 years
old, the same age of most her students.
**************************************************************************
Usagi walked up to the Employee Resources door and read the name plate.
Huh, I wonder if she'll recognize me. She entered the room and shut the
door behind herself while familiarizing herself with her surroundings.
Bittersweet memories returned to her when she saw that Haruna-Sama had a
picture of her class on her new desk. She did not let it stop her though.
It would be ten times worse when she ran into the girls.
Haruna looked up and a feeling of deja bu washed over her. Blinking
in surprise she asked, "Tsukino-san?" but at the young blonde's blank
stare, she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but you must be Chiba-san."
Usagi smiled and bowed to the older lady. Who knew that the dragon
would follow her wherever she went? "It's a pleasure to meet you
Haruna-sama."
"It is very nice to meet you too. I'm glad that you will be joining
our staff here. It has been a long time since we have had a Western
Humanities professor with your credentials."
"Thank you very much. I have worked hard for my status."
Haruna noticed that she was staring when the blonde's eyebrows furrowed
in questioning.
"Is something wrong Haruna-sama?"
She had the decency to blush. "Excuse me for staring Chiba-san, but
you look incredibly like a student of mine who went missing 5 years ago."
"I am sorry for your loss, Haruna-sama." After a short pause, Usagi
asked for the paper work and room number where her lecture was held in to
avoid any further questioning that her inquisitive superior may have for
her.
***********************************************************************
Minako smiled to one of her friends as they parted towards their
respective classes. Plopping down in one of the seats, she leaned her head
back and stared at the ceiling, once again reflecting on how her life
changed after her friend had left. Sighing and shaking her head, she
looked down at her schedule. "When the hell is this Chiba-sensei going
to show up?" She muttered to herself.
***********************************************************************
Usagi's slightly nervous feeling was understandable as she walked
passed the 200+ students in her Intro to Western Humanities class. She
noticed that a few of the boys' heads turned as she walked down the
aisle to the front of the class, but paid them no mind. She was used
to the attention, but no one other than Mamoru could ever get her
to look back.
Setting her briefcase down and turning on her microphone, she
did not waste a second in getting the class's attention.
"Good morning. I'm am Chiba Usagi, your professor for this
course."
There was a slight mumbling that arose, not surprising to
Usagi. She knew it would occur. Really, how many professors could
these students have had that looked to be 16?
One of the more verbal male students called out, "Aren't you a
little young to be a professor?"
She smiled, "Yes, I know I appear young to be a professor, and
that is because I am younger than most of your professors. But that
is beside the point. Let's begin class now, shall we," she stated,
closing the subject. She did not want to spend the entire time
justifying her credentials.
*******
Usagi was packing up after dismissing her class, glad that she
had the first lecture under her belt. Smiling, she zipped up her
suitcase and began to pick it up to walk out of the room.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi was surprised to hear her name said in that way again.
No one had added the intimate suffix to it in quite some
time, Mamoru only referring to her as his Usako (and of course
Odango whenever he was in a teasing mood) and the Americans
never added any kind of title when calling someone by their
first name. She recognized the voice however and schooled her
face into a blank look, one that she had perfected for just a
time like this. She looked up and was not disappointed in the
least to see one of her former teammates.
***********
After sitting in her seat and staring at the woman in the
front of the room as if she was a body back from the dead,
Minako was sure that the woman who called herself Chiba Usagi,
was definitely Tsukino Usagi, or as to those who had depended
on her, Sailormoon.
How she was back and why she was back Minako did not know,
but she was prepared to find out. Not to mention discovering the
mystery behind her friends disappearance. And another thing...
How the hell did Usagi, terrible student extraordinaire, end up
being one of her professors?
***********
Usagi looked at Minako, who could have sworn she saw a look
of regret pass over Usagi's eyes.
"Minako-chan," Usagi started, "It's so nice to see you again."
Minako blinked. Wondering as to why Usagi was acting so
abnormal in comparison to her former self (who would be jumping up
and squeezing the air from Minako's lungs) she asked somewhat upset,
"Is that all you can say? You left us without a word on where you
were going and why you were leaving. And how the hell did you block
us from finding you?"
Usagi's lips tightened while she looked sorrowfully into the
other blonde's eyes. "Minako-chan, this is not the place nor the
time to discuss this. Soon enough, I will tell you and the others
what happened five years ago, and why I am how I now am. But until
then, I'm sorry but you will have to wait." Ignoring Minako's
crestfallen face, she continued out of her lecture room and swiftly
walked towards her next awaiting class.
*********************************************************************
Usagi's final class for the day ended at noon, so she headed
home to have lunch with Mamoru during his lunch break. She did not
necessarily need to teach, what with Mamoru finally having had
taken his place on the board of Chiba Enterprises, a medical
supplier, after completing his doctorate in medicine in America
while he was helping her get her GED, then Bachelors degree,
and then her Masters in a special program at the same university.
She just wanted to. There was just no way that she could sit at
home all day and wait for her husband to return, so she just had to
find something to do.
Her husband. She just loved saying that. The two had just
gotten married that passed year after Usagi had turned 18. They
had been a couple for a much longer time, although they had to
hide it from the Americans, not wanting to have Mamoru turned
into the authorities for statutory rape or some other crime
involving her age and their relationship.
Speaking of her husband, he should be home at anytime. She
needed to discuss a few things with him, such as how they were
going to go to the temple that evening for Usagi's first meeting
in a long time...
She may as well inform the girls of this unforeseen meeting.
Picking up the phone and dialing the number for the Cherry Hill
Shinto temple, she took a deep breath before asking for Rei.
"Rei-chan?"
"Yes?" Who is this?"
"Call a Senshi Meeting for 8 p.m." and with that, Usagi hung
up the phone.
****************************************************************
Rei stared at the phone in her hands in wonderment. That
sounded incredibly like Usagi, but there was no way she would
have spoken like that if it truly was her. The Usagi Rei knew
would have been gushing about how much she missed her and would
not have let her had a word edgewise. Well, she did not get a
chance to have a word edgewise, but not because the speaker had
kept talking. Worrying if it truly was Usagi, or some negaverse
creep come back to haunt them, she resigned to do what they had
all sworn they would never do again.
The fact that she could still reach into her interspace
pocket surprised her. She guessed that lack of practice did
not hinder Senshi powers in any way. Finding what she was
searching for, she pulled it out, surprised to see that the
communicator was covered in a thick dust. "Hmm, I guess that
even those pockets need cleaning once in a while..."
Pressing the all-call button, she waited until she got
responses from the rest of the girls.
*******************************************************************
Makoto mixed the chocolate souffle creme for the pie she
was making for her very important guests seated at table 57.
The only thing she ever put her mind on anymore was work. After
having finished high school, she forwent college, directly
starting her own business with the money her parents' estate
gave her. They had been wealthy but she was only able to
access the money after her 18th birthday, so after having had
scrimped and saved for the previous 6 years, she knew the
value of the yen. So even though only a year had passed since
she had begun her restaurant, she already had high profile
guests dining there daily, and a very long guest list that
most other gourmet restaurants would kill for. Her surprise
was immeasurable when she heard the distinctive beeping that
had been absent from her life for the past 3 years.
********************************************************************
"Ok, so then we add the potassium permanganate to the
solution and then..." Ami's muttering stopped suddenly when
she heard the beeping that she had wished to and feared to hear
for the past 3 years. Looking around to make sure no one else
had noticed in her Advanced Organic Chemistry for the Study of
Carbon Based Creatures lab, she turned to her lab partner to excuse
herself to the bathroom.
*********************************************************************
Minako was looking at the small round device in her hand,
trying to decide whether or not to break that promise that the
four of them had made in anger, when it started beeping in her
hand. Glad that she was not the one who had gone back on her
word, she flicked it open.
*********************************************************************
"Uh, hi everyone...long time no see huh?" Rei asked. "Ah,
I'm sorry to be interrupting your busy lives, but I just got an
extremely strange phone call." Pausing for a second to wet her
lips, she continued. "It told me to call a meeting for tonight
at 8 o'clock..."
Before she could continue, Ami cut her off, "Look Rei, I
can't come. I have a class tonight."
"And I have to finish off the last meal before I go home
to feed Shingo." Makoto added.
"Look you guys, it sounded like Usagi-chan...I know, I
know, she went missing and we thought she was dead, but I'm
not too sure about that anymore."
Minako who had been silent for a while, spoke up. "It is
Usagi. Or Chiba-sensei, as she goes by now."
"What do you mean?"
"I walked into my Humanities class today, and she was my
professor. How she became my professor I have no clue, but when
I confronted her, she said I would find out in due time before
she walked out. She was so different I was wondering if it was
really her, but I read her aura. She has changed, but it is her."
The girls were silent for a few moments before Ami decided
to speak.
"I guess then, if it is her, I can cut the end of class,
it ends at 8:10 anyways, and I am 8 chapters ahead." She
worried if it was the right thing to do or not.
"I'll get one of my others to cook the meals and pick up
Shingo on my way over. It's about time he's seen his sister,
and it's not like he doesn't know that we are Senshi as it is."
At the others' sharp looks she added, "He walked in on me
transforming that night of our...ah...fallout. He knows how
to keep his mouth shut, don't worry." Whether or not she wanted
to see the other three was not really her choice. She had been
the one most hurt by the groups splitting up, but she did want
to see her best friend again, if it was her.
********************************************************************
"I called her." Usagi said as Mamoru walked into their
bedroom. She was laying in their bed staring at her reflection
in the mirror that was along the top.
"I thought you were going to wait for me."
"I didn't really talk to her, I just told her to call a
Senshi meeting for 8 tonight." Looking at her husband she asked,
"Is that ok for you?"
"Of course Usako, I told you I would be at your side when
we spoke to them." Stretching out on the bed beside her and
pulling her into his arms, he added, "I'll stay home for the rest
of today so we can prepare what to say to them. All my meetings
were this morning and I'm ahead of my paperwork, so it won't
matter if I go in or not." He kissed her forehead, and the two
stayed in the position they were in for a while before Usagi
broke the silence.
"Did you let Motoki-onii-kun know that we came in alright?
He told us to call as soon as we got in, but I forgot last night."
Mamoru nodded. "He was at this morning's meeting. He said
that he would go too if you wanted him around when you told the
girls."
"Yeah, I would like that."
"Come on then, let's go call him." With that, the two arose
from their bed.
*****************************************************************
End Notes: Wow, this thing came out to be a pretty good length
prologue. What did you think? I know it is a little out there,
but the next chapter should be about twice as long as this one
was, because the group will finally find out what happened.
E-mail me or review please! I would really appreciate it.
Until next time, Ja'ne!
Author: SailorSpectra@msn.com
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Usagi disappeared years ago, and the Senshi were never able
to find her. What happens when she comes home, married and completely
different?
Author's Notes: Well, it has been a few years since this fan-fiction
was started, and back then, it was called "Saying Goodbye." If you
have been around the fanfic world for over 5 years, you may remember
it. I was really young when I first wrote it, so I decided to revamp
it and pretty much change the whole thing. It still has the same
storyline, but I redid it from a different perspective and started
it at a different time. And this one is going to have some more to
it as well. Anyhow, I hope you enjoy, and don't feel shy to e-mail me ^.^
Disclaimer: If I really owned Sailormoon, do you really think I resign
myself to writing the stories for free online?
***********************************************************************
At first glance, Michiko could tell that they were a formidable
couple. As the beautiful blonde stepped out of the airplane terminal
followed by the sleek, ebony haired man, Kamiki knew that the pair
captured eyes, no matter where they went. She shook her head in an
attempt to dispel the visions they brought to her head. She did not
need them to come back to mess up her life again.
*******************************************************************
The woman stopped, tensely glancing around, nearly oblivious to
her companion's arm gently encircling her waist. She relaxed and sighed.
"They're not here."
"I highly doubt that they would know we came back. You didn't call
them," he whispered in her ear. When she did not respond he continued,
"Usako, it's been five years."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
She did not respond, just walked away, untangling his arm from
around her waist. It was her own way of closing the subject.
********************************************************************
Mamoru gazed down at the cascade of golden hair resting on his
shoulder. He gently ran his fingers through it and remembered how
the entire situation started.
***
He was jogging through the park, finally able to get some
much-wanted exercise into his hectic schedule. Not that he needed it,
mind you, his weekly bouts fighting Youma at the side of Sailor Moon
and the rest of the scouts kept him in shape enough as it was. He
just liked to jog at night. It was his way of relaxing between the
times that he was teasing Odango, going to classes, teasing Odango,
going to work, teasing Odango and going to the arcade. The question
was, had he teased the poor girl today? He wasn't quite sure... Oh
well, he could just double it tomorrow.
He did not know what it was, but something about her got under
his skin. It wasn't the flying tests or shoes. He FELT like he knew
her from some other time, but he KNEW that he did not, and that was
what bothered him.
Anyhow, he shook her from his mind, reminding himself that this
was his time to meditate. The time when he could allow his mind to
seep into his surroundings. Another good thing about jogging at night.
Whenever he meditated around other people their emotions would affect
him. He could 'feel' their emotions...how? He had no clue, but he
surmised that it had something to do with his powers as Tuxedo Kamen.
At night however, with no one around, his mind could wander free.
His feet pounding the cold sidewalk were the only sound. He could
smell the dirt and grass because of the recent downpour and relished it.
He could see the pavement, and on that pavement was a bruised and battered
Usagi laying across his path. He stumbled to a stop, nearly falling over
the prone girl in front of him.
*********************************************************************
Mamoru shivered as he always did in memory of that night. Usagi
snuggled closer into his embrace in an unconscious attempt to soothe
him.
"We're here," the cab driver said. Mamoru nodded, turning to
Usagi.
"Wake up honey, we're home," he said, gently nudging the sleeping
nymph from her slumber.
"Huh? Oh,"
"Jet lag is getting to you isn't it?" Mamoru said with amusement
as he paid the fair. She smiled.
"Yeah, I forgot how much the time difference is."
The doorman came up to the cab to help with the luggage, his
generally stoic face twisting with surprise and enthusiasm as he noticed
whom the male passenger was.
"Chiba-san! Welcome back. It's been a long five years," the doorman
said, accepting the luggage from the cab driver.
"Thank you. We are glad to be back. I didn't expect that you would
still be here after this long, Jiango-san."
The doorman simply smiled and inquired politely, "And who is this
young lady if I may ask?"
"I'm Chiba Usagi. You may call me Usagi though if you would like,"
she answered with a brilliant smile.
"Are you relatives?" he asked, pulling his trolley to the elevator.
"You could say that." At the man's puzzled look, Mamoru added, "Usako
is my wife."
For the second time, the doorman's face contorted, with his jaw nearly
imperceptibly dropping. He never took Chiba to be the kind of man who would
settle down, much less to such an innocent looking young lady. Jiango guessed
that every bachelor had some woman out there that could catch him.
Shaking himself out of his stupor, Jiango congratulated the pair
as they entered the elevator.
The three made small talk in the elevator, going up to the penthouse
that Mamoru, and now Usagi, owned.
Upon giving Jiango a generous tip that he graciously accepted, the
couple retreated into their home, collapsing to the plush leather sofa
in the living room.
"We're back."
"Yeah," he replied. She twisted the ring on her finger and looked
at the dark ceiling trying to blink back the tears.
They sat in silence, allowing the plushness of the couch soothe
away the muscle cramps they collected on their flight over. Usagi
chewed her lip before breaking the peaceful atmosphere.
"I know I have to talk to them. But knowing it doesn't make me
any less scared."
"Don't worry Usako, I'll be right by your side when you go," he
kissed her and gathered her slim form into his arms. "Let's go to bed."
*********************************************************************
"Come on Usako, wake up," Mamoru said gently nudging her. She
did not stir, so he took his second plan of action, pulling the curtains
open to let the sun fall on her face. He mused that his wife looked like
an angel, until she frowned and covered her face.
"Lea-me alone..." She grumbled.
"Odango, I need your help..." He pouted, pulling the sheets off the
bed and the blonde that they covered.
"Fine," she growled sitting up. "But you'll have to fix the bed."
she said looking disdainfully at the sheets that now adorned the floor.
"Not a problem," he said winking. Even after being together for
the length of time they had, Mamoru was still entranced by her form,
gazing over her silk clad body in appreciation. He started moving
towards the bed but was stopped when Usagi jumped out of it.
"I don't think so. You know that if you get in here now, neither
of us will make it to work today."
"But Usako...."
"Stop acting like a horny teenager Mamo-chan," she said chastising
him.
"Ha ha, you forget which one of us is still a teenager huh? And
you know how rabbits are," he said swaddling up to her. Usagi gave him
a look.
"Now do you want help getting dressed or not?"
"I'll help YOU," he replied with a grin. Realizing he was bringing
her closer to her, "shoe hitting his head," mode, he quickly shut up. He
meekly replied an apology to her back. She grinned. I've still got him
wrapped around my pinkie.
She shook her head, helping her hubby tie his tie, still confused as
to how he formerly wore a tuxedo to help her fight all those years ago,
and still couldn't tie a simple neck tie.
"What time do you have to be at work Mamo-chan?" He quickly glanced
at the clock. "DAMN!!! I'm late! Love you Usako, gotta run, see you later,
bye bye!!!"
She giggled as he rushed around grabbing his keys, suitcase and shoes
to leave the house. "It looks as if I'm rubbing off on you," she said with
a grin. He gave her an evil look, but softened it with a smile, pecked her
on the lips and ran out the door.
Noticing the time herself, she realized that she had 25 minutes to get
dressed, eat breakfast, and get to work. Luckily, their apartment was
right down the street from Tokyo University, her new employer.
*************************************************************************
Haruna read the files on the new professor of Humanities. Hmm, Chiba
Usagi. That's interesting, she went to Juuban Junior High...That must have
been before I taught there. Glancing at her maiden name, Haruna blinked.
No, that can't be her, probably just related to her. She's been missing
for much too long. Haruna did not even think to look at the person's
birthdate, or she would have realized that Chiba Usagi was only 19 years
old, the same age of most her students.
**************************************************************************
Usagi walked up to the Employee Resources door and read the name plate.
Huh, I wonder if she'll recognize me. She entered the room and shut the
door behind herself while familiarizing herself with her surroundings.
Bittersweet memories returned to her when she saw that Haruna-Sama had a
picture of her class on her new desk. She did not let it stop her though.
It would be ten times worse when she ran into the girls.
Haruna looked up and a feeling of deja bu washed over her. Blinking
in surprise she asked, "Tsukino-san?" but at the young blonde's blank
stare, she shook her head.
"I'm sorry, but you must be Chiba-san."
Usagi smiled and bowed to the older lady. Who knew that the dragon
would follow her wherever she went? "It's a pleasure to meet you
Haruna-sama."
"It is very nice to meet you too. I'm glad that you will be joining
our staff here. It has been a long time since we have had a Western
Humanities professor with your credentials."
"Thank you very much. I have worked hard for my status."
Haruna noticed that she was staring when the blonde's eyebrows furrowed
in questioning.
"Is something wrong Haruna-sama?"
She had the decency to blush. "Excuse me for staring Chiba-san, but
you look incredibly like a student of mine who went missing 5 years ago."
"I am sorry for your loss, Haruna-sama." After a short pause, Usagi
asked for the paper work and room number where her lecture was held in to
avoid any further questioning that her inquisitive superior may have for
her.
***********************************************************************
Minako smiled to one of her friends as they parted towards their
respective classes. Plopping down in one of the seats, she leaned her head
back and stared at the ceiling, once again reflecting on how her life
changed after her friend had left. Sighing and shaking her head, she
looked down at her schedule. "When the hell is this Chiba-sensei going
to show up?" She muttered to herself.
***********************************************************************
Usagi's slightly nervous feeling was understandable as she walked
passed the 200+ students in her Intro to Western Humanities class. She
noticed that a few of the boys' heads turned as she walked down the
aisle to the front of the class, but paid them no mind. She was used
to the attention, but no one other than Mamoru could ever get her
to look back.
Setting her briefcase down and turning on her microphone, she
did not waste a second in getting the class's attention.
"Good morning. I'm am Chiba Usagi, your professor for this
course."
There was a slight mumbling that arose, not surprising to
Usagi. She knew it would occur. Really, how many professors could
these students have had that looked to be 16?
One of the more verbal male students called out, "Aren't you a
little young to be a professor?"
She smiled, "Yes, I know I appear young to be a professor, and
that is because I am younger than most of your professors. But that
is beside the point. Let's begin class now, shall we," she stated,
closing the subject. She did not want to spend the entire time
justifying her credentials.
*******
Usagi was packing up after dismissing her class, glad that she
had the first lecture under her belt. Smiling, she zipped up her
suitcase and began to pick it up to walk out of the room.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi was surprised to hear her name said in that way again.
No one had added the intimate suffix to it in quite some
time, Mamoru only referring to her as his Usako (and of course
Odango whenever he was in a teasing mood) and the Americans
never added any kind of title when calling someone by their
first name. She recognized the voice however and schooled her
face into a blank look, one that she had perfected for just a
time like this. She looked up and was not disappointed in the
least to see one of her former teammates.
***********
After sitting in her seat and staring at the woman in the
front of the room as if she was a body back from the dead,
Minako was sure that the woman who called herself Chiba Usagi,
was definitely Tsukino Usagi, or as to those who had depended
on her, Sailormoon.
How she was back and why she was back Minako did not know,
but she was prepared to find out. Not to mention discovering the
mystery behind her friends disappearance. And another thing...
How the hell did Usagi, terrible student extraordinaire, end up
being one of her professors?
***********
Usagi looked at Minako, who could have sworn she saw a look
of regret pass over Usagi's eyes.
"Minako-chan," Usagi started, "It's so nice to see you again."
Minako blinked. Wondering as to why Usagi was acting so
abnormal in comparison to her former self (who would be jumping up
and squeezing the air from Minako's lungs) she asked somewhat upset,
"Is that all you can say? You left us without a word on where you
were going and why you were leaving. And how the hell did you block
us from finding you?"
Usagi's lips tightened while she looked sorrowfully into the
other blonde's eyes. "Minako-chan, this is not the place nor the
time to discuss this. Soon enough, I will tell you and the others
what happened five years ago, and why I am how I now am. But until
then, I'm sorry but you will have to wait." Ignoring Minako's
crestfallen face, she continued out of her lecture room and swiftly
walked towards her next awaiting class.
*********************************************************************
Usagi's final class for the day ended at noon, so she headed
home to have lunch with Mamoru during his lunch break. She did not
necessarily need to teach, what with Mamoru finally having had
taken his place on the board of Chiba Enterprises, a medical
supplier, after completing his doctorate in medicine in America
while he was helping her get her GED, then Bachelors degree,
and then her Masters in a special program at the same university.
She just wanted to. There was just no way that she could sit at
home all day and wait for her husband to return, so she just had to
find something to do.
Her husband. She just loved saying that. The two had just
gotten married that passed year after Usagi had turned 18. They
had been a couple for a much longer time, although they had to
hide it from the Americans, not wanting to have Mamoru turned
into the authorities for statutory rape or some other crime
involving her age and their relationship.
Speaking of her husband, he should be home at anytime. She
needed to discuss a few things with him, such as how they were
going to go to the temple that evening for Usagi's first meeting
in a long time...
She may as well inform the girls of this unforeseen meeting.
Picking up the phone and dialing the number for the Cherry Hill
Shinto temple, she took a deep breath before asking for Rei.
"Rei-chan?"
"Yes?" Who is this?"
"Call a Senshi Meeting for 8 p.m." and with that, Usagi hung
up the phone.
****************************************************************
Rei stared at the phone in her hands in wonderment. That
sounded incredibly like Usagi, but there was no way she would
have spoken like that if it truly was her. The Usagi Rei knew
would have been gushing about how much she missed her and would
not have let her had a word edgewise. Well, she did not get a
chance to have a word edgewise, but not because the speaker had
kept talking. Worrying if it truly was Usagi, or some negaverse
creep come back to haunt them, she resigned to do what they had
all sworn they would never do again.
The fact that she could still reach into her interspace
pocket surprised her. She guessed that lack of practice did
not hinder Senshi powers in any way. Finding what she was
searching for, she pulled it out, surprised to see that the
communicator was covered in a thick dust. "Hmm, I guess that
even those pockets need cleaning once in a while..."
Pressing the all-call button, she waited until she got
responses from the rest of the girls.
*******************************************************************
Makoto mixed the chocolate souffle creme for the pie she
was making for her very important guests seated at table 57.
The only thing she ever put her mind on anymore was work. After
having finished high school, she forwent college, directly
starting her own business with the money her parents' estate
gave her. They had been wealthy but she was only able to
access the money after her 18th birthday, so after having had
scrimped and saved for the previous 6 years, she knew the
value of the yen. So even though only a year had passed since
she had begun her restaurant, she already had high profile
guests dining there daily, and a very long guest list that
most other gourmet restaurants would kill for. Her surprise
was immeasurable when she heard the distinctive beeping that
had been absent from her life for the past 3 years.
********************************************************************
"Ok, so then we add the potassium permanganate to the
solution and then..." Ami's muttering stopped suddenly when
she heard the beeping that she had wished to and feared to hear
for the past 3 years. Looking around to make sure no one else
had noticed in her Advanced Organic Chemistry for the Study of
Carbon Based Creatures lab, she turned to her lab partner to excuse
herself to the bathroom.
*********************************************************************
Minako was looking at the small round device in her hand,
trying to decide whether or not to break that promise that the
four of them had made in anger, when it started beeping in her
hand. Glad that she was not the one who had gone back on her
word, she flicked it open.
*********************************************************************
"Uh, hi everyone...long time no see huh?" Rei asked. "Ah,
I'm sorry to be interrupting your busy lives, but I just got an
extremely strange phone call." Pausing for a second to wet her
lips, she continued. "It told me to call a meeting for tonight
at 8 o'clock..."
Before she could continue, Ami cut her off, "Look Rei, I
can't come. I have a class tonight."
"And I have to finish off the last meal before I go home
to feed Shingo." Makoto added.
"Look you guys, it sounded like Usagi-chan...I know, I
know, she went missing and we thought she was dead, but I'm
not too sure about that anymore."
Minako who had been silent for a while, spoke up. "It is
Usagi. Or Chiba-sensei, as she goes by now."
"What do you mean?"
"I walked into my Humanities class today, and she was my
professor. How she became my professor I have no clue, but when
I confronted her, she said I would find out in due time before
she walked out. She was so different I was wondering if it was
really her, but I read her aura. She has changed, but it is her."
The girls were silent for a few moments before Ami decided
to speak.
"I guess then, if it is her, I can cut the end of class,
it ends at 8:10 anyways, and I am 8 chapters ahead." She
worried if it was the right thing to do or not.
"I'll get one of my others to cook the meals and pick up
Shingo on my way over. It's about time he's seen his sister,
and it's not like he doesn't know that we are Senshi as it is."
At the others' sharp looks she added, "He walked in on me
transforming that night of our...ah...fallout. He knows how
to keep his mouth shut, don't worry." Whether or not she wanted
to see the other three was not really her choice. She had been
the one most hurt by the groups splitting up, but she did want
to see her best friend again, if it was her.
********************************************************************
"I called her." Usagi said as Mamoru walked into their
bedroom. She was laying in their bed staring at her reflection
in the mirror that was along the top.
"I thought you were going to wait for me."
"I didn't really talk to her, I just told her to call a
Senshi meeting for 8 tonight." Looking at her husband she asked,
"Is that ok for you?"
"Of course Usako, I told you I would be at your side when
we spoke to them." Stretching out on the bed beside her and
pulling her into his arms, he added, "I'll stay home for the rest
of today so we can prepare what to say to them. All my meetings
were this morning and I'm ahead of my paperwork, so it won't
matter if I go in or not." He kissed her forehead, and the two
stayed in the position they were in for a while before Usagi
broke the silence.
"Did you let Motoki-onii-kun know that we came in alright?
He told us to call as soon as we got in, but I forgot last night."
Mamoru nodded. "He was at this morning's meeting. He said
that he would go too if you wanted him around when you told the
girls."
"Yeah, I would like that."
"Come on then, let's go call him." With that, the two arose
from their bed.
*****************************************************************
End Notes: Wow, this thing came out to be a pretty good length
prologue. What did you think? I know it is a little out there,
but the next chapter should be about twice as long as this one
was, because the group will finally find out what happened.
E-mail me or review please! I would really appreciate it.
Until next time, Ja'ne!