If there were one place she would be safe today, it would be the arcade.

Now, if today was any other day except Monday, that would not be the case. Every other day this location would be more like a lethal intervention than a safe haven. But Mondays meant study days, which meant no inner senshi would occupy its booths. And well, if there were a person she would bump into at the arcade, it would definitely not be Seiya.

So, on this Monday, tired, tiny feet pitter-pattered on the sidewalk before the entrance, the joyful bell rang upon her opening the door, and she dejectedly walked past the booths, which held the promise of ice cream shakes, and went straight to the game consoles. A racing game to be exact. For although the sweet taste of vanilla ice cream would put a certain skip in her step, she would have to sit down to drink it. And think. And think about Mamoru and his very loud absence. Or Seiya and their very obvious date. Or just you know, how she now had to deal with star seed stealers and the appearance of three senshi who seemed to despise any idea of them working together and then this crazy appearance of a red-haired two year old who dropped out of the sky from nowwhe-NO.

It would be much better to play the monotonous, action packed, car game.

Usagi sat in the black cushioned seat, inserted her money, and clicked the start button. Her spirits lifted briefly as she chose a red car and started to drive.

And promptly lost.

Her head fell limply upon the steering wheel, not before yelling an unmannered, "Ow, dammit!"

"Odango, are you talking to yourself again?"

Her head snapped back as she gazed at who spoke to her.

Haruka Tenoh.

As if this day could get any worse.

Not that she held any malicious feelings for the tall blonde, mind you. In fact it was quite the opposite. Haruka-chan, in all her charming and talented glory, made Usagi feel things she was certain she wasn't suppose to feel. Especially considering Haruka was a girl. Oh, and because she was eternally devoted to Mamo-chan. No pun here. Eternally didn't even seem to cover the half of it.

It was rather a gift of Usagi's, thanks to many years of Sailor Moon, to learn how to hide and disguise. Not just identity, but her feelings as well. So we with a sweet giggle, and a flip of one of her extravagantly long ponytails, Usagi responded to the entrancing senshi, "Hey, stranger things have happened."

It was a lame come back, not very witty, and not very intelligent, but Usagi had nothing to grab from, nothing to pull from. She felt empty.

"Oh Usagi-chan," Haruka gave a half smirk and gracefully dropped herself in the black seat right next to Usagi. "You can come up with something better than that." Turning away, Usagi couldn't help but noticed the red blaring words "Game Over" appear multiple times on the screen. The cynical thought briefly flitted in her head, just like my life.

"Did you go on that date with Seiya?"

Usagi quickly turned her head back to Haruka and was met with questioning and guarding eyes. "It wasn't a date!" she quickly defended. "We were just hanging out. That's all."

"Well what happened? You look terrible."

Not much happened. I just thought he was trying to sleep with me, but he really only took me dancing, which ended with an enemy being summoned not to mention the Sailor Starli-

But again. Why even go into that?

"He didn't kiss me, if that's what you're implying." Usagi unconsciously gripped the ends of her skirt in frustration. "You and Rei should start an Anti-Seiya-and-Usagi- club."

"Usagi-chan, you're with Mamoru-san-"

"I know!" she spat out. "I know! We're a couple, and he's my boyfriend, and I wouldn't cheat on him!" As an afterthought she added, "Besides, if I were to cheat on him, it wouldn't be with Seiya!"

Haruka leaned forward, her left eyebrow twitching on its own accord as it rose up, "Odango, do you have someone planned to cheat with?"

Yes. You. Unfortunately you need to be a consenting adult.

Her eyes dropped miserable to the floor and focused on a discarded paper cup. "I do love my Mamo-chan, but one can't help but wonder…"

"Usa-"

"But it would never work!" Usagi eyes, wide and blue, looked shock as she gazed at Haruka. "I've already thought about it!"

"What are you talking about?" Haruka dragged an impatient hand through her long bangs and couldn't only stare at her friend in confusion. Ignoring the set rules of personal space, she dropped her hand on Usagi's chair, dropped the other on her steering wheel, and practically almost touched noses with her as her head bent down in exasperation. "You've thought of cheating on Mamoru-san who? And his name is not Seiya?"

Usagi shook her head rapidly. "It's not like that," she whispered, trying to ignore the butterflies in her stomach with Haruka's face at such close proximity. "I'm Sailor Moon, I've very much aware of worst case sceanarios. What if we broke up? What would happen? Would I be safe? Would the world be safe?"

Haruka, backing away from Usagi's face for a millimeter or two, refused to break their stare. "I don't understand why your love life will affect the planet."

"But it will, Haruka!" She winced as she heard her voice become shrill. She paused and lowered her voice again. "At first, it was the Dead Moon Family,"

Haruka's head tilted in question and Usagi quickly muttered, "Before we met."

At Haruka's nod, she continued. "But then, the whole reason the Dead Moon Family came back in the past was because of Chibi-Usa. So maybe if Chibi-Usa didn't exist, they never would have come to present-day Tokyo. I thought I could leave it opened ended. But you saw what happened with Queen Nelehenia! You can't deny it!"

"Usagi," Haruka responded softly. Her delicate hand fell on Usagi's shoulder as a soothing touch. "What are you talking about?"

"'Ruka," Usagi almost choked as she summoned all her energy to not cry. She would not cry. Not in Haruka's presence, on this non-studying Monday. "The only reason Nelehenia was defeated the first time around was because of Chibi-Usa and her dream with Elios. We need Chibi-Usa to survive."

Haruka's hand fell away quickly to ball in a fist on her lap. "You're staying with Mamoru-san to save the world?"

"Isn't that my job?"

A silence filled the air. "That's no way to live, Odango."

Another second passed by.

"That's no way to love."

Usagi's resolve broke into pieces as Haruka's word echoed deep in her heart. Tears beyond her control clouded the lower half of her eyes, making them the color of the sky. She refused to let them fall. Why couldn't anyone understand Seiya kept the demons at bay? Haruka was unreachable figuratively, Mamoru was unreachable literally.

"Usagi-chan, gomen nasai, I spoke out of line. Forgive me."

She spoke, frowning, barely audible, "I always forgive you."

At her acceptance, Usagi found herself in a tight and warm embrace, but knew she was thoroughly misunderstood. Haruka, her favorite confidant, didn't understand a fraction of it. And it was only then with this realization the tears began to fall.

"Koneko-chan, you deserve the best. What you want and desire should always be your top priority."

"Like you?"

A kiss was dropped on her forehead. "I have a family and a child I never thought I could have."

Usagi held back her sobs. "I'm happy for you. You deserve your dreams."

"So do you." With a final squeeze and kiss on the cheek, Haruka carefully let go of the younger girl, leaning back once again in her own seat. Each inch of distance put a bigger hole in Usagi's heart.

She stood up and wistfully looked at Usagi before checking her watch. "Speaking of family, Hotaru is home by now. I should relieve Setsuna." She paused and scanned Usagi's face pensively. "Perhaps you should call Mamoru tonight. It would be good for both of you."

Ha. If Usagi actually knew his phone number. But it didn't seem like the best time to reveal that small fact.

"Usa."

She looked up.

Placing both hands on her shoulders, Haruka once again came close and bumped noses with Usagi. "No more dates with Seiya, do you hear me? I will tear him apart, limb by limb. Understood?"

She briefly thought of questioning why, but figured there would be no point. Who knew why the tomboy felt strangely overprotective over a harmless teenager, but couldn't care less if she married her current boyfriend?

"Hai."

Another kiss was delivered on her forehead and then Haruka was gone.

Usagi briefly thought about having a funeral for her heart.

Once again the blaring video screen entranced her before she heard her name called again.

"What now?" she all but growled, and turned around to see a grinning Motoki.

"Hey Usagi-chan! Sorry to bother your game, I was just wondering how Mamoru-san was?"

A plastic smile sprang to her lips as she stood up and answered, "He's doing great. Keeping busy, but the professors love his work. He might stay in America even longer than planned."

As Motoki eyes grew wide in amazement and congratulated her, Usagi walked away uncaring that she just blatantly lied. Just add it to the list.