Fruits Basket/Sailor Moon

"Outcast Are Odd Ones Out"

As soon as Hotaru Tomoe and Usa Tsukino left Hotaru's house, passing Kaibara boys watched the girls, hearts in their eyes. Both girls were wearing their Kaibara fukus but Hotaru wore one inch heels-a dark blue version of Minako's Senshi heels before Eternal-and Usa wore shoes similar to Usagi's when the Neo Queen was still in school. Hotaru was made for grace, trained to be silent and deadly. Usa was trained for grace but made for cheering and being lively. Complete opposites but best friends none the less. It had been this way since they were kids; always together, always at the same school and in the same class and always a team be it in the classroom or on the battlefield.

"Hey, 'Taru-chan?" Usa asked. "Are you nervous?"

"Just a little. I'm also excited." The Silent Senshi replied with a small smile. Hotaru rarely showed a lot of emotion in expression but her body and eyes with her voice were expressions of their own.

"I'm excited, too." Usa beamed. "Mom and Dad are taking me and Chibi-chan to Ice Cream Parlé after school."

A father. A mother. A little sister. A family. Hotaru had none of that anymore. Her Saturian and Gaean parents were dead. If she had unknown family and they found her, she would never be able to see them anyway. She had no family, just power. She was getting depressed but she couldn't show it. She'd worry Usa and then Usa would tell her mother who would call the Outers…she didn't want to think about it.

"So, Hotaru-chan. Do you think you could snag a close guy friend this year?" Usa was trying to make Hotaru blush. Hotaru was used to this. "Hmmm?"

"It's not going to work this time."

"Aw! Oh, well. Here's Kaibara High. We're going to have fun." Usa was radiating happiness. Hotaru gave a small smirk. "We're going to have a great time!"

"Interesting would be a better word." The Senshi of Silence replied as they walked on to the school grounds. A couple of boys from their new school-Kaibara High-stood in front of them.

"May we carry your books?" One of them asked, politely. Usa glanced at them and then at Hotaru. Her cheeks were a light pink from the sudden question.

"Shall we be your escort to class?" The other asked. The pair of girlfriends looked at each other then Hotaru answered for them both.

"No, thank you. We'll be fine." She said with a gentle smile. "But thank you for the offer. It was very generous of you."

"Anytime you want us to, just call on us. We'd more than happy to help you." The 1st boy replied. They stepped aside and bowed to the girls as they passed. They waited until they were out of earshot to talk.

"How odd…" Hotaru said. "They were polite and yet it seemed that they were being generous only to us." They were being overly polite.

"Maybe things are different here." Usa said with an innocent curious look.

"Possibly but…" She couldn't finish it aloud. She'd only worry Usa. Might be the work of an enemy. They must be looking for Usa-chan, using measures that would prove that she was the future Moon Princess for sure.

Hotaru was utterly surprised to see every boy close by bow gently or wave with a smile and "hellos" or "good mornings". Could the enemy already know? She'd have to be on guard yet appear like a normal girl-like any regular day as the bodyguard of her best friend.