A/N: Just as a warning- you really should read the prelude before this. It explains why Duo is in the story, and all that stuff. Ja!
Death and destruction were the only visible things in her mind's eye. It would soon be the fifth year since she had defeated Galaxia and sealed Chaos into the cauldron. Each and every one of the Senshi had perished at her own hands. Even her beloved Endymion. Life was just beginning to give her a chance now that they were gone. Without them she had the opportunity to write her own destiny. Yet ever time she tries to, guilt held her back. She didn't feel right making decisions without them. Molly and the others were still around but most of them had gone off to college. Sighing, Usagi sat back against the sun-warmed wood of the park bench. Perhaps if she left Tokyo she could get her life back on track. The only problem was that she was too afraid to leave.
"Bunny!' Usagi looked up to see Molly running towards her. Her sad, trademark smile appeared as she stood to greet her lifelong friend.
"Hey Mol." The friends embraced one another before beginning their weekly walk to the Crown Arcade. Molly worried greatly about her friend. Ever since the girls and everyone had died during the terrorist attack a few years back she hadn't been the same since. She never talked about them and rarely mentioned the past. Molly also noticed numerous physical changes in Usagi.
First there was her skin. It was pale and seemed to be almost like ivory at times. Her eyes had darkened to an almost black color and a silver ring had appeared around the irises. Usagi had become lean and graceful, two things she had never been before. Not that they were bad things, but they were things that the original Usagi would never be. She was a happy go lucky teenager, eager to make everyone and anyone smile. Now she was quiet and reserved. Her hair was becoming silvery white with only faint highlights of its original golden luster. Molly truly wondered if there were something more buried within Usagi that she simply wasn't meant to know.
"Sorry I'm so late today. Naruru skipped school again so I had to have a conference with her teachers." She rolled her eyes. "I don't know how that girl is going to get through life if she keeps on doing this." Entering the arcade center they took their usual seats at the counter. Matoki came up to them, a large smile on his face.
"What will it be today ladies?"
"The usual." Molly beamed at him, knowing his little secret. Usagi sat with her chin in her hand, staring down at the marble counter top.
"Coming right up." He was gone no less than two minutes when he came back with a root beer float and a vanilla shake. "I don't even know why I bother asking anymore. It's to the point where I have them made at two o'clock so they're ready for you by two fifteen." Molly took her drink and began to slurp away. Usagi tentatively took her float, playing with the spoon.
"Thanks Matoki." Molly and Matoki exchanged bewildered glances.
"What's wrong Bunny?" She sighed taking a sip of the sweet drink.
"Nothing." Suddenly her head shot up and she turned towards the doors. Emotions flashed across her face as she turned back around. She knew she'd smelt it. There was no way she could have imagined a scent that unique. The sweet, aromatic scent of lilacs on a sea breeze. Slightly shaking she sat there, feeling her heart race. They were dead. She had watched them die, unable to do anything. Not one single, solitary thing.
"Usa-chan, are you alright?" Matoki now stood next to her, fear and worry evident upon his features. She snapped out of her daze and pulled away, standing up with her books.
"I'll be fine. I'll see you later." Matoki watched her leave with a deepening sadness. Something was definitely wrong. He just wished she would talk to him like in the olden days. Had she forgotten so soon that he knew her secret? That he knew the true reason she was so upset? Taking the empty seat he sat next to Molly, barely acknowledging her hand on his shoulder.
"Give her some time Matoki. She's just being reminded about it all right now because the anniversary is coming up." Getting up he returned to his place behind the counter. Usagi wouldn't even tell Molly the truth.
"I've been waiting for six years Molly. I'm getting tired of waiting and hiding." She watched as she walked to a customer and began to serve them. If only Usagi could understand that there were still people that cared about her.