I don't own Sailor Moon at all - I just borrow the characters! I have about 24 chapters written, and am going to start a posting schedule and (aim for) posting a new chapter every Tuesday. Since it's been awhile, I'll post one today and one Tuesday as well. Hope everyone had a good thanksgiving!
"Rei!" Usagi called out, waving to the dark haired girl waiting outside of the school gates. She attended a different school than they did, a private high school up the hill from them.
"Hey Rei!" Minako smiled, giving her a side hug. The three of them had fallen into an easy companionship since awakening Sailor Mars, although they hadn't had a chance to use her again yet – the Negaverse had been freakishly quiet since the senshi's transformation of Jedeite.
'Don't get complacent!' Luna had warned, much to Rei's initial shock. Usagi and Mina were so used to their cats talking it didn't phase them anymore. 'They're probably gathering their forces and getting ready to strike again! You must remain on your guard!'
"Hey guys," she smiled, smoothing out the front of her uniform top. Her uniform was drastically different from theirs, giving her an older appearance. The double-buttoned top was accented with a deep burgundy bow and grey sailor collar, the TA Academy emblem embroidered over her left breast. Her grey skirt was shorter than theirs, skimming mid thigh, and her knee-high socks made her legs look long and slender.
Usagi often found herself marveling at the Soldier of Mars' beauty, and the centered grace that she carried herself with. If she wasn't so clearly associated with the planet Mars she would have guessed her to be the Princess.
"Wow, odango, I'm surprised you haven't scared off your new friend yet," a voice interrupted her, the offender leaning casually against the side of the fence. Another guy stood next to him, his sandy blonde hair messy across his forehead and revealing a pair of jade green eyes.
Green eyes…
She gasped, feeling Rei do the same next to her.
"Uh, hello, earth to odango?" Mamoru continued, waving his hand in front of her face.
"Wha – ooh, Mamoru, why do you have to be such a jerk!" She yelled, stomping her foot. "Honestly, don't you have someone your own age to bug?" She eyed the guy beside him suspiciously, balking when he stepped forward and offered her his hand.
"Hi, I'm Kaidou," he smiled, Usagi's cheeks flushing. It was so strange seeing Jadeite, who had tried to kill them just a week ago, dressed in khakis and a light blue button down shirt and a big smile on his face.
"Usagi," she replied, shaking his hand. "This is Minako, and this is –"
"Rei!" Her friend interrupted breathily, gently pushing her aside. The pair locked eyes, the other three around them looking slightly uncomfortable.
"Hey, you want to grab some coffee?" He smiled, running a hand through his messy hair. Rei nodded, taking his arm and walking off without a second glance back at her friends.
"Looks like you two clowns are back to being on your own!" Mamoru laughed, barely dodging Usagi's hand as she reached out to smack his arm.
"Yeah well… so are you! And anyway, how'd you even trick that poor guy into being your friend, huh?"
He rolled his blue eyes, catching her wrist in his hand as she reached out to swing at him again. His fingers wrapped around her small wrist, the two paling. Why does this feel familiar?
He dropped her hand as if it burned, the two staring at each other in confusion.
"Er…"
"I…"
"You… oh just stop being such a creep!" She sputtered, sticking her tongue out as Minako dragged her off.
Later that night a loud beeping woke a sleeping Usagi, Luna shaking her frantically until she got out of bed.
"Okay, okay! Freaking moon prism power, make up!" She yelled, transforming before launching herself out the window.
"Usa – Sailor Moon! On your left!" Rei shouted, Usagi tumbling to her right.
"Thanks!" She called out gratefully. The great snake reared back, baring its fangs. Mars panted, narrowly dodging its tail as she sent another fireball at it.
"Ahhh!" She screamed as it whacked her with its tail, sending her flying.
A figure appeared from nowhere, catching her easily in his arms and jumping out of harms way before letting her down gently on her feet.
"What the –" Usagi frowned, a pang of jealousy hitting her. But Tuxedo Kamen was supposed to swoop in and save her, not Mars…
As if hearing her thoughts, the real Tuxedo Kamen jumped down, landing lightly beside her. She looked from him to the man with Mars, a realization washing over her.
The man who'd saved Rei wasn't Tuxedo Kamen – it was Jadeite!
"Tuxedo Kamen," she breathed, feeling relieved. "We can't beat this thing!"
"Yes you can, Sailor Moon! You just have to find it's weak spot!"
Well she knew what her weak spot was – the masked man in front of her!
"Yeah, well, it doesn't seem to have one!" She replied slightly frustrated, eyes going wide as the huge snake shot a stream of venom towards her. Tuxedo Kamen grabbed her, jumping skyward and perching in the tree above them, his arms wrapped tightly around her.
"Oh that's just great!" Minako called up to them, sending round after round of crescent beams at the large snake. "You two get rescued while I'm left down here to battle this stupid thing alone?!"
"Err, right," Usagi nodded, reluctantly tearing herself from Tuxedo Kamen's strong arms. She always felt so warm when she was next to him, like she could do anything.
"Go for the throat!" Jadeite yelled, his green eyes bright. He and Rei rejoined the fight with a blast of fireballs, Tuxedo Kamen and Usagi doing the same.
"The throat?! But how…"
Jadeite closed his eyes, a glittering sphere appearing in the palm of his hands. Usagi's eyes went wide with fear – it was the same ball of energy that had almost sent her to her death a week before.
"Tuxedo Kamen! Look out!" She called, diving to push her masked superhero to the ground with her.
They rolled, her body pinned beneath his as he reached up to straighten out his mask.
"Sailor Moon what are you –"
She blushed as she glanced up, Jadeite's attack hitting the youma right in the throat.
Right, he was on their side now…
So weird.
"Oops… sorry, it's just going to take some getting used to…"
"Fire soul!" Rei screamed, aiming her fire directly at its throat. The snake screeched, writhing as it shrunk from 14 feet back down to 4…
"Er, Tuxedo Kamen…" she began softly, tapping his shoulder with a gloved finger. He glanced down at her, raising an eyebrow. "Not that it's not nice but… could you get off me so I can moon dust this thing for good?"
"Huh? What… oh right!" He jumped up lithely, extending his hand to pull her to her feet, a sheepish smile on his face.
"Lunar flash!" She yelled, a bright flash of white light from her compact engulfing the snake and shattering it into pieces.
"Cool!" Mina shouted in approval, toeing some of the snake dust with her shoe before it disappeared.
"Sailor Moon," Jadeite grinned wolfishly, extending a hand. "Care to explain why you thought I was going to kill Tuxedo Kamen earlier?"
She blushed, scratching the back of her head. "Er… reflex? Sorry, just trying to get used to you being on our side now. Not that I don't appreciate it! Your energy attack things are really cool when you're not hurling them at my face!"
"Touché," he laughed genuinely, bowing at the waist to her. "And thank you for saving me. You have removed a huge weight from my shoulders," he grinned, kissing her hand. She blushed openly, unaware of Tuxedo Kamen rolling his eyes beside her.
It was true, though. He looked a thousand times lighter, and his smile was so sincere.
"Well we're happy to have you fighting along our side!" Minako beamed. "Although it would be nice to have someone swoop in and save my butt every now and again."
"I can only hope you will extend the same favor to the other three. Before Beryl's corruption we served the great Prince, Guardian of Earth, and it is our destiny as the four Shitennou to find him and let him lead us once again."
Usagi blanched, blinking slowly as she tried to take in his words. Four Shitennou? Guardian of Earth?
"So where do you play into all of this, then? If you're not one of the Shitennou?" Minako frowned, glancing towards Tuxedo Kamen.
He just shrugged fingering the hem of his cape. "No idea. I'm hoping to find out myself." He stared ahead wistfully, eyes distant.
Prince huh… who needed some other Prince, Tuxedo Kamen was the only guardian she needed.
He turned to leave but Usagi caught up with him and grabbed his wrist, trapping it in her small hand.
"Wait!" She called out, his midnight blue eyes turning back to her in shock. "Don't go yet."
He sighed, turning slowly. His blue eyes were so deep… she felt like they could suck her right in and see through to her soul.
She blushed, pressing her palms to his chest.
"Why do you always save me, Tuxedo Kamen?"
He faltered for a moment as if looking for the words to reply. "I… I don't really know, I don't really have much control over it. I'll be somewhere and I'll get this horrible headache… then the next thing I know I'm on a rooftop dressed like this…"
She frowned, trying not to look too deflated. "Oh well… that makes sense, I guess."
His gaze softened as he looked at her dejected form. "But there's also a part of me that feels like in another life… we were destined to be together. And that's why I'm forced to transform whenever you do… I feel like my destiny is tied to yours."
She gazed back at him with starry eyes, the word destiny repeating in her head over and over again. "Look, I don't know where we fit into this whole Moon Princess, Prince of Earth thing but… Sailor Moon are you even listening to me?"
"Huh?"
He smiled playfully, tapping her nose with a gloved finger.
"As long as you're the defender of love and justice, Sailor Moon, I will always try to be by your side to help you in whatever way I can." He touched his index and middle finger to his own lips, kissing the fingertips before pressing them to her lips.
He winked, whooshing his cape and disappearing into the night.
Her lips burned where his fingertips had touched them, eyes hooded as she stared after him.
"Whoa, Usagi, that was really romantic…" Rei gasped, the two looking over in shock as Minako stomped her foot.
"It's just not fair! I'm the stupid Goddess of Love! I should have some strapping guy swooping in to save me too!"
"C'mon, Mina I'll get you the next best thing – a chocolate milkshake!"
The three girls laughed, ducking behind a cluster of trees to wave their hands over their compacts to power down.
"Last one to the arcade is a Dark Kingdom troll!"