Chapter 1

(Tsukino Residence)

Usagi Tsukino was starting to wake up from her peaceful sleep when she started to hear a beeping sound which she recognized to be her communicator. She reached over to her nightstand, grabbed her communicator and flipped it open.

Usagi: till half asleep* Hello?

?: Usagi-chan!

Usagi: Minako-chan! *wakes up entirely*

Minako: Are we still *sup for our get together in the park?

Usagi: Hai!

Minako: Okay, just double checking. See you in an hour! *hangs up*

Usagi looked over at the clock next to the bed and saw that it was 10:30!

Usagi: Oh crap! *scrambles out of bed*

She quickly brushed her hair and teeth, washed her face and put her hair up in it's normal "bun-head" style. She grabbed a pink blouse and blue-jean shorts to wear and looked in the mirror, she really had changed. It had only been 1 year since the battle of Galaxia and the starlights left. She had gotten an inch or so taller, she wasn't a crybaby anymore….(okay she wasn't as bad as she used to be), could cook okay but stayed away from the stove and got pretty good at fighting. She shook her thoughts away and went downstairs.

Ikuko: Well good morning sleepy head! *smiles at Usagi*

Usagi: Morning mom *smiles back*

Ikuko: Don't forget to bring Mamoru his wallet back today.

Usagi: Oh yeah! Thanks for the reminder.

Mamoru had come over a couple days ago to watch a movie with Usagi and forgot his wallet when he paid for the pizza they had ordered. Usagi walked over to the counter where his wallet was sitting, grabbed it as she pulled on her pink and white sneakers and walked out the door.

As Usagi walked to his apartment, she started to think about her "Mamo-chan". Ever since the battle with Galaxia, he had been rude to her and would abuse her for "cheating on him" with Seiya. However, now that she thought about it, he had been like that ever since they first got together!

Usagi: *thinking* I should break up with him. NO! You can't! Come on Usagi, think about Chibi-Usa!

Usagi froze as the truth hit her. The only reason she had stayed with Mamoru is because of Chibi-Usa! She just stood there for a minute, letting the warm fall breeze blow against her skin, thinking about the destiny she was tied to whether she liked it or not. After about 2 minutes of that she shook her thoughts away and ran the rest of the way to Mamoru's apartment.

When she got to his door, she knocked three times and waited. After five minutes of waiting she knocked again. Then after another five minute wait she took the spare key from under the mat, unlocked the door and walked in.

Usagi: Mamo-chan

No answer

Usagi: Mamo-chan! I brought your wallet back!

When again there was no answer, she set his wallet on the coffee table and turned to leave but she stopped in her tracks when she heard noises coming from his bedroom. Usagi walked over and opened the door and her eyes began to burn from hot tears, not sad tears but ones of rage…..Mamoru was kissing another girl!

Usagi: MAMORU CHIBA! *was screaming at the top of her lungs*

When Mamoru heard Usagi scream his name, he shoved the girl away from him and whirled around to see his so called "girlfriend" standing in the doorway. The girl had curly red hair and dark brown eyes, she wore a scarlet colored sundress and a shocked look on her face. Mamoru had the "deer in headlights" look on his face

Mamoru: *horrified* Usako!

Girl: *looks at Mamoru with pure disgust* OMG! You had a GIRLFRIEND and you cheated on her?! YOU SICK PIG! *slaps him across the face then walks over to Usagi with a guilty look on her face* I am so sorry! He told me he was single! *runs out of the apartment*

Usagi: *rounds to Mamoru* WE'RE OVER!

Mamoru: *scowls* Oh come on Usako! I have needs you know!

Usagi: Did I stutter?! WE ARE OVER!

Mamoru: *glares* You little…..*smacks her across the face*

Usagi: *holds her cheek* I'm leaving! *starts toward the door*

Mamoru: Oh no you're not! *grabs her wrist*

Usagi: *turns to face him* let go of me! *tries to pull her arm free*

Mamoru: Make me! *twists her wrist*

Usagi: Great idea!

Quick as lightning, Usagi swung her leg at his knees and knocked him off his feet, causing him to let her go. She ran to the door but stopped in the doorway and turned to see Mamoru on the floor clutching his knees. She scowled and ripped off the ring he gave her and threw it at him.

Usagi: I don't want this anymore you jerk! *walks out the door and says over her shoulder* and stay out of my life *runs out*

Usagi was running out of the building at top speed towards the park. She saw the tree she and her best friends always sit under and ran straight to it. She looked up and could see blue hair, she sighed but started to climb to the top anyway.

A few months ago, she, Minako and Ami discovered that this tree had a sitting space big enough for five people at the top and this was their secret place for just the three of them to hang out. When she reached the top, she saw Ami reading (for the god-who-knows time this week) the book Taiki gave her before he left and Minako messing with her hair.

Usagi: Sorry I'm late girls *sits down*

Minako: It's okay Usagi-chan *looks at her* it just woul…...what the hell happened to your wrist?! *grabs her right wrist* (it had a bad bruise from Mamoru)

Ami: What?! *snaps her head up from her book* and what happened to your face?! (there was a dark red handprint bruise from Mamoru smacking her)

Usagi: You don't wanna know

Ami: Of course we do Usagi-chan…...

Minako: SPILL!

Ami: *sweatdrop*

Usagi: okay but don't say I...

Minako: wait….Usagi-chan…*looks at Ami and nods at Usagi's left hand*

Ami: *looks at her left hand* w-where is your ring?

Usagi: Don't know, don't care

Minako&Ami: What do you mean you don't care?!

Usagi: *crosses her arms and sighs* Call up the others, tell them to meet us at the temple immediately, I'll tell everyone when we get there

Minako&Ami: Okay Usagi-chan *open their communicators*

After making the calls, they walked to the temple in silence. As they walked up the stairs, they could see their friends sitting on the porch waiting for them. Usagi grew nervous when she say the pacing Haruka, wondering how she would take this. She was about to change her mind and leave when Hotaru looked up and saw her

Hotaru: Usagi-chan

Haruka snapped her attention to her Princess and hurried over to her, ignoring the calls from Michiru to leave her be.

Haruka: Koneko-chan what's wrong? *looks at her face* what happened to your face?! *looks at her wrist* what happened to your wrist?! WHO DID THIS TO YOU?!

Usagi: Haruka-chan, please sit down and Michiru-chan *looks at Michiru*

Michiru: Hai?

Usagi: keep Haruka-chan clam

Rei: Stop stalling and tell us already!

Usagi: Okay! *takes a deep breath* I broke up with Mamoru

Senshi(- Setsuna): NANI?!

Haruka: *turns to Setsuna* Setsuna! Did you know about this?!

Setsuna: *hangs her head and nods*

Haruka: AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US BECAUSE?!

Mako: Usagi-chan, why did you break up with him? *looks at her worriedly*

Usagi: I broke up with him because *glances at Haruka* he cheated on me!

Haruka: HE DID WHAT?! *eyes turn red and teeth turn to points*

Ami: Are you sure it wasn't a misunderstanding?!

Usagi: *gets mad* Oh yeah! A misunderstanding! IS THAT WHAT YOU CALL KISSING ANOTHER GIRL?!

Minako: NANI?!

Haruka: When I get my hands on him, I'll rip him apart *clenches her fist*

Hotaru: Princess….what will happen to Chibi-Usa? *gets teary eyed*

Usagi froze. Chibi-Usa was the last thing she wanted to think about. She tried not to cry but was unsuccessful and tears flowed down her cheeks while she looked at Hotaru who was horrified that she made her princess cry. Usagi couldn't hold it in anymore, she let out a heart wrenching sob. Haruka, who at the time had been trying to get out of Michiru's grip without hurting her, instantly stopped struggling and shot her attention to Usagi, who was shaking violently with tears pouring down her face. Usagi dropped to her knees and cried (if possible) even harder.

Haruka: Koneko-chan! *runs over to her*

Usagi: *still crying* I killed her, I killed Chibi-Usa, she's dead because of me!

Haruka: *stares at her with her mouth hanging open*

Taking advantage of Haruka's slacked grip, Usagi jumped up and took off towards the stairs.

Minako: Usagi-chan! *runs after her*

Ami: Wait! *runs after her*

Usagi didn't listen to them, she just kept running until she got to the bottom of the stairs. When she reached the bottom, she collapsed and let sobs rack her body.

Usagi: *thinking* Chibi-Usa-chan, I'm so sorry! All I wanted was to protect you and I couldn't even do that!

?: Usagi-chan…..

Usagi: *turns* Minako-chan…..Ami-chan

Minako: *sits on Usagi's left* Usagi-chan, this isn't your fault!

Ami: *sits on Usagi's right* Yeah, she's right, Chibi-Usa-chan would be happy you left someone like that!

Usagi: *wipes away her tears* Girls, can I tell you something?

As Minako nods, she sees Ami opening her communicator and put a finger to her lips telling her she wants her to stay quiet.

Usagi: If it wasn't for Chibi-Usa, I would've broken up with Mamoru a long time ago.

Ami: Nani? Why?

Usagi: Because Mamoru abused me all the time

?: NANI?!

The three girls whip their heads around and look at the top of the steps where they saw an infuriated Haruka running down the stairs. Usagi sighed and stuck out her leg as Haruka ran past, causing her to trip.

Haruka: OW! *turns to Usagi* what was that for Koneko-chan?!

Usagi: I don't want you to go and rip him apart! You will get in big trouble!

Haruka: Alright, I won't go rip him to shreds

Usagi: Thank you *smiles*

Haruka: *thinks* I'll just kill him some other way

Minako: Hey! I know what will cheer you up!

Usagi: *raises an eyebrow* what?

Minako: Me, you and Ami-chan going to get some ice cream! *smiles*

Usagi&Ami: *smile* Yeah!

The three best friends walk off chattering away and laughing…...totally oblivious that Haruka had run off in the direction of Mamoru's apartment.