Twenty-One Surprises

Chapter 1: Me

I crawl myself out of bed when I finally feel the sun hit my eyes. In the past few years I have gotten much better at waking up in the morning, but come on it's a Saturday and also my 21st birthday. I think I get a little leeway. I put on my fluffy bunny slippers and sludge down the stairs. Hey, I said I got up not that I was fully awake . As I work my way towards the kitchen I can't help but over hears some of the voices.

"Are you sure they have everything set up?" I can easily recognize my mother's voice. Now I don't still live with my parents. I share an apartment with my boyfriend Mamoru or as I like to call him Mamo-chan. He is working on a case out of town right now and he is really weird about me staying along when he is gone for more than a few days, so I indulge him and come home for these long trips.

"You know how meticulous they can get when it's about her." This voice is harder to distinguish. I know it, but I'm having a hard time placing it.

I walk into the kitchen and see my mother talking to a young woman who looks to be about mid to late teens. What sticks out about her though is the fact that her hair is bubble-gum pink and in the same style I wear, odangos. Of course this could only be one person.

"Chibiusa!" Chibiusa is my future daughter. See I happen to be Sailor Moon. When I was 14 my talking cat Luna gave me my transformation broach and I started my secret life. Chibiusa came to me and Mamo-chan when her life was in danger and again to train with me as Sailor Chibimoon. I haven't seen her since she left for the future after Nehelenia was defeated.

"Oh Usagi, stop gaping and say hello to your cousin." My parents of course have no idea about my secret life. When Chibiusa first came she made them believe that she is a cousin and we have stuck with that story ever since. They'll probably find out once I save the world and ascend to the throne as Neo-Queen Serenity.

"Chibiusa I can't believe you're here! How are you here?"

"Mom said I could come and visit as my 16th birthday present."

I pull Chibiusa into a tight hug and sit down at the table. "So Chibiusa, what were you and mom talking about?"

Chibiusa looks over to mom before answering. "Oh nothing, just catching up with Ikuko."

I wonder what she is hiding. "I'm sure you were. So Chibiusa, what do you want to do for our birthdays?"

"Nothing really, today is just about celebrating with you."

As mom puts out some pancakes the three of us make small chit-chat. We sit there for about a half an hour when the phone rings and mom goes to pick it up.

"Hello? Oh Hi! Yes she is right here, let me put her on sweetie." She holds the phone out to me. "Usagi, it's Mamoru. Why don't you go take it on the hall phone?" I nod then practically sprint to the other phone.

"Mamo-chan!"

"Happy birthday Usako."

"Thank you! I am so glad you were able to call! How is the case going?"

"Great actually. We just gave the closing statements and the jury is out. Hopefully they will be quick and so I can get back and we can celebrate your birthday. I probably won't be back until tomorrow though."

"At least it is sooner than you originally thought. And since I am on break we can spend the entire day together!" I have been taking to courses at the local college, I'm not full time but my grades never really approved so I've just been taking general classes and working part-time at the arcade. "You will never guess who is visiting!"

"Oh, who?"

"Chibiusa! I guess she was allowed to visit as a birthday gift! Hey maybe she can stay for a little longer that way you can see her too! Oh Mamo-chan you should see her she is 16 now and is so beautiful!"

"Wow, well send her my love and that I would love to see her." You know he doesn't sound that surprised. But then again he has never been that expressive so maybe it's nothing. "Look Usako, I have to go. I have some things I have to take care of so I can leave for tomorrow. I miss you and I love you and I'll talk to you soon okay?"

"Okay I love y-"I get the dial tone. He hung up on me! I can't believe he just hung up on me! He is going to have to something very special to get me to let this one go. You know though, I could have sworn I heard someone say 'Luggage for fli-' right before he hung up. But I must be imagining things.

I walk back into the kitchen. "Mamo-chan says hello." We start talking about Chibiusa's travel plan and decide that she will be able to see Mamo-chan and then leave right after. At least he'll be able to see her.

"Now Usagi, your father and Shingo are out running some errands and will be home soon to take us all out to lunch. After that Chibiusa, you, and myself are going shopping so why don't you go get dressed."

I go up to my room and laying on my bed is one of the prettiest dresses I have ever seen. It is a pale pink, so pale that it is bordering on white. It is some kind of soft fabric and would go down to my thigh. The bottom of the dress is ruffled and has a tighter strapless top. There is also some kind of gold design that looks floral. When I put it on it fits like a glove. As I was looking at myself in the mirror I see something white on my bed where the dress was lying. As I walk over I see it is a jewelry box, one of the necklace types. I slowly open the box to reveal a gold chain that has a 3D butterfly with a little gem above that. In the middle of the necklace is a piece of paper that only says 'Me'.

Why it says 'Me' I have no idea. Maybe it's a mistake. As I am sitting there contemplating the paper I feel a slight breeze. 'I don't remember opening my window'. As I walk over to close the window I trip. Now I am still not completely graceful, but I have stopped tripping over thin air. I look at what was lying on the floor to discover a pair of Peep-toe high heeled white sandals. They have a sling back and some fabric folded over the top. All in all they are the perfect shoes to go with my dress. I don't know where these clothes are coming from, but I really like it.

I put the shoes on and start to leave my room when something else catches my eye. 'What else could there possibly be?' On the dresser was a little blue box. I open it up and inside is some kind of flower clip. I put it in my left odango and go down the stairs and mom and Chibiusa are waiting at the bottom.

"That's a nice outfit" my mom says. "When did you get it?"

"What do you mean? I figured you or Chibiusa got it for me."

"No honey, I don't know where that came from." She says she doesn't know, but what is up with that slight smile she is wearing.

"Come on! Kenji and Shingo are here." Chibiusa says as she urges us through the door and we all step outside.

AN The presents are on a link in my profile