I always find it so very disappointing that there is such a lack of Sailor Scout romances out there that aren't pairing the Senshi with the Dark Kingdom generals or the Sailor Stars. I'm afraid I've never cared for these pairings, though no offense to anyone who does! That's the lovely part of fan-fiction … you take your favorite pieces and make them your own. For me I've always loved expanding on those hinted at romances from the old TV series. So, that being said, this fiction will pair: Ami/Ryo, Rei/Yuuichiro, Makoto/Shinozaki, and Minako/Motoki. Ok – so that last one is pure author preference. Like I said, that's the fun part of fan fiction.

While I love some of the plot additions of the old series, I'll be basing the characters themselves more on the manga/new Crystal series. They are just less over-the-top and, well, 1990's about everything. This takes place during the girls' first year at University. While a lot of great stuff happens in the later part of the Sailor Moon Series, I will pretty much be glossing over that and sticking to what we know from Sailor Moon R and S.

I would love feedback! OK… here we go….

Asleep Among Us

Prologue:

"It's time, Luna. You know it's time."

"Artemis, they are still so young. They have only begun at University. It would be such a distraction from their goals. Their futures."

"I am talking of their real futures. They will be the rulers of the next civilization. They are to guide humanity into the age of the new Moon Kingdom … that's just … it's just … that's huge. The people of this world will not survive without this transition. Sure, they need to take their skills and their passions with them into this future. But what they need more than culinary or medical school is to have their protectors by their sides. It's time."

"So young. So much ahead of them." Luna shook her head.

"Usagi has the youngest spirit of them all, and her love for Mamoru over these past few years has given her immense strength. We torture our girls by holding back this last piece of their memories. I can't do this to them any longer. They are grown women, Luna. They deserve to know the complete story of their past lives."

"You are right." Luna squeezed her eyes tight, blocking out the lovely view of the sun setting over Tokyo. The city stretched into infinity before them as they lay side by side on this rooftop. "I have never hated admitting it more than now."

"Why Luna? Why do you hate this so much?" Artemis reached his white paw over and nudged her dark one.

" You know, I think it is a motherly instinct of sorts. I feel guilty. I always have. We stole their childhood years ago when we first came into their lives. Things have been quiet for a few months now. I just wanted them to live their small lives with their small, normal dreams for without having to remind them of their unfathomably large destinies that lie both ahead of them, and so long ago behind them."

Artemis sighed. It was not a burdened sigh. In fact he looked quite content.

"But Luna," he said, "This is the very best part of that destiny. This is the part that makes it all worthwhile for them."

This made Luna smile, as much as a cat ever does smile. "You are right." Then she reconsidered. "But to awaken the Sun Guardians is to awaken the evil that is attached to them."