Chapter 10: Fall in Line Part 1: Makoto

"Little girls, listen closely/'Cause no one told me/But you deserve to know/That in this world, you are not beholden/You do not owe them/Your body and your soul/All the youth in the world will not save you from growing older/And all the truth in the girl is too precious to be stolen from her…" ~Fall in Line Christina Aguilera.

" What did you see?" Mamoru yelled.

" Like I said, he was taunting her," Rei commented frustration clear in voice.

" He shouldn't have been able to catch her alone, Ami-"

Chibiusa closed her bedroom door and made her way towards the bed. The fight between three had been the same for at least an hour now. Since Mamoru had returned with a shell-shocked Usagi. To be honest it had been hard to tell if Usagi had been conscious. Chibiusa just watched as Mamoru laid Usagi in started yelling at whom she assumed was Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury. A very loud and vocal fight. No one even noticed that she had walked away. Chibiusa sighed trying to phase out the yelling. Seeing Usagi in that condition was almost as bad as seeing her so frail the other day. Almost. That Usagi reminded her too much of the future. She absently played with the key necklace, as her mind floated back to Pluto.

You must find your past parents, they will protect you. But you can't tell them anything

But-

No Small Lady, this was a very hard time for your mother. She has to work through the pain. I hate to put so much burden on you. But you need to be somewhere safe. Promise me, you'll do this.

How was she supposed to just sit here? Every nerve in her body wanted to scream. Tell them that Diamond was from the future, to drag them there. Put a stop to his Clan. But she knew she couldn't. At this rate, they would probably lose. Usagi weak form from other day was still fresh in her mind. The truth wouldn't change anything. She felt fresh tears in her eyes. Sitting up she reached for the Tuxedo Mask Plush. Her daddy always knew how to put a smile on her face. Even in the past, he seemed to know just what she needed. Her mother...her mother was kindest bravest person she ever knew. To see what the manic Prince Diamond was doing to her in the past and future. Well, it made her more angry then sad.

Chibiusa thought back to her first few weeks in the past. How her mother cared for her. Even without knowledge, Usagi treated her with so much kindness. Usagi was different from her future self. Chibiusa could not recall a time where her mother had cried. Her mother always held a small smile on her face. A smile that made Chibiusa happy. Usagi was exactly as Pluto had said. In pain. Chibiusa wanted her mother to smile. Wanted to be there for her just as Usagi had. She looked at the doll as smile form on her face. A plan came to her quickly. She got up slowly, opening her door carefully. She didn't what to draw attention. She made her way towards Mamoru door, happy it was unlocked. Chibiusa observed Usagi, who was tucked into bed facing away from her.

" Usagi?" she whispered, she wasn't sure if Usagi had fallen asleep.

"Chibiusa?" Usagi replied sitting up, wiping away her tears. In an attempt to hide them. It didn't matter Chibiusa knew.

" Are you okay?" She pulled herself on the bed and curl next to Usagi. Usagi smiled before pulling her into a hug.

" I'll be fine, don't you worry." She whispered in reply. Chibiusa pulled away and handed Usagi the doll.

Usagi eyes looked at her with confusion. " Maybe he'll make you smile." Chibiusa implied before she could ask. Usagi did smile at her. A smile the Chibiusa knew very well. A smile that her mother held.

Makoto stared at the picture. A blonde girl with a strange hairstyle sipping a milkshake, she was clearly annoyed with someone. Most likely Mamoru. She put her head down on the table. She was early for lunch. The arcade slash dinner wasn't even packed yet. Even for a Saturday morning. She was only maybe...she looked at the clock. Thirty minutes early. She couldn't help it though. Ever since the other day when Mamoru Chiba had return her wallet. Her mind wouldn't stop. From the strange vision and shock she had gotten just by shaking his hand. To the strange feeling she got from staring at his girlfriends picture. Was she going crazy? The picture, the girl seem so familiar. Like she should know her. But Makoto didn't have friends. People were always afraid to talk to her. Since the incident at school her life had turned upside down. From being forced to find a new place, to her Emancipation being under investigation. Her social worker Petz Ayakashi, was a nightmare. What had she said yesterday? That she's was a weak pathetic excuse of woman. Maybe she was right.

Makoto had always seen her strength as a good thing. But if just added on to her difference. People tended to find her too overbearing. Yes, she was just under five-ten. She towered over most boys. Her height mixed with her muscular tone body left others fearful. She had taken martial art early in life. Right before her parents died. She prided herself in being strong. But maybe she should have stuck to acting like a woman. A normal person. Maybe she would have a friend. A friend like the girl in the picture.

" When did he take that?!" An annoyed voice screech suddenly pulling the picture away.

" Seriously, I can't believe him!" The girl harped before sitting across from Makoto.

Makoto was stunned as the girl had sat with her without hesitation. No one had ever done that. It felt weird but right. She knew it was the girl from Mamoru picture. The blonde looked different. She still held the same hairstyle. But something was off. It was as if her smile was fake. That bothered Makoto. She wasn't sure why but she felt the need for the girl to smile.

" You must be Mamoru girlfriend," She guessed.

" Yea Usagi," She greeted holding out her hand, Makoto shook it. With a shock, she saw the same vision from the other day. A laughter that reminded her of the softest bells. Usagi in the whitest dress. Her own laughter mixed in. It faded quickly and she left staring into light blue eyes. Usagi almost looked scared.

" Sorry, Makoto?" Usagi mumbled as if she was to just nodded " Mamo-chan tells me you're looking for a job, he's actually talking to Motoki, the owner."

" He didn't-"

" There friends, don't worry Motoki would probably hire you without his help."

" I highly doubt that." Makoto whispered her self doubt from before returning. " I'm sorry but aren't you scared of me?"

" Why would you say that?" Usagi asked her, Makoto was surprise by the concern. She barely knew her. Before she knew it her story spilled out. It felt similar to telling Mamoru but different. As Usagi emotions where clear on her face. A mixture of concern, sadness and even a hint of anger.

" She's wrong." Usagi growled, as Makoto told her about Petz. " Your not weak. You're the strongest person I know Mako-chan." Makoto wasn't sure how to reply she noted tears in Usagi eyes. She felt that same urge to stop the Usagi's tears. Usagi placed the picture in her purse before pulling out a green pen, with a symbol on top. That she right away recognized as the planetary symbol of Jupiter. She wasn't even sure how she knew but she did. " I don't want to give this to you. In all honesty I kinda wish I hadn't started this. But fate seems to work against me." Usagi handed her the pen. Makoto stared at it, she saw a flash of herself dressed in a green sailor fuku. " If Petz bothers you again call me, I would tell you to use the pen. But a part me doesn't want you to." She quietly stated before getting up. " Don't believe her." Makoto watch as Usagi walked out of the Acarde a girl with dark black hair following her.

" Where did Usako go?" Makoto was so lost in Usagi words she hadn't even notice Mamoru walked up to her.

" She left," She comment her eyes still staring at the pen. He said something but she wasn't listening. The way Usagi looked worried her to no end. Why did she want to change it? Why did she feel the need to make Usagi smile? Why had Usagi sounded so unsure? Why did she care?

" Makoto!" She heard Mamoru say pulling her from her thoughts.

" I'm sorry, What were you saying?"

" Motoki wants to interview you, I would stay but I need to find Usako." He was gone before she had a chance to reply. Leaving her to the never ending questions.

She wasn't to be alone. Mamoru had asked her to stay with either the girls or himself this morning. Maybe it was more told her. He was still scared. The look on her face when he got to the shrine was imprinted in this mind. Her eyes wild with fear. Tears pouring down her face as she shook. He had pulled her close at once. Barely even noticing Rei. He wanted to kill Diamond. He still felt the anger in him. Wanting to be released. She never fully told him what happen. But he didn't need to know. It was clear. He promised himself that Diamond would never get a hold of her. Mamoru was never going to allow him a second chance.

He kept searching. She wasn't supposed to leave the Arcade without him. The girls had agree to hang around her. One would always be with her if he wasn't. Currently, it was Rei turn. It wasn't that he didn't trust the girls to keep her safe. They were mad as well. He just needed to see her, feel her next to him. Allow him to know that she was safe. That his Usako wasn't going anywhere. He rounded the corner to see Rei standing outside an alley.

" She asked me to wait here." Rei stated, " I think something happened when she talk to Makoto."

" I'll take it from here." Rei nodded before promising to meet him back at the apartment tonight. Apparently, Ami had found something in the debris from yesterday's attack. A part him wanted to wait till after Usako was in bed tonight to even discuss the enemy. But he knew Usako would insist on listening to the information.

He slipped into the alley and watched her. Tears were falling, her fist were cleched. He approached her quickly pulling her into his embrace. As she continued to cry into his shirt. He wanted to shake her and make her tell him the cause. But he just held her. Allowing her to shed her pain. He lightly kissed her forehead before resting his head between her buns. It pained him to see her like this.

" Usako, please tell me." He begged she only cried. He waited till her tears were silent before pulling away and taking her hand. They needed a different scenery. The dark alley wasn't going to help. Maybe he could change her sadness. He yearned for her to smile. The smile that attracted him so many months ago. An idea formed in his head quickly. He pulled her towards the lake that sat in the middle of the park.

" Mamo-chan?" confusion was clear in a groggy voice.

" Do you remember the time you spied on me and Rei?" He smiled at the memory.

" You mean the date she has tricked you on?" She asked.

" Yes, Umino said you to were on a date?" He teased.

" Ugh, don't remind me?" He couldn't help but notice her small smile, the plan already working.

" Come on," He pulled her to the rowboat rentals.

" You can't be serious?"

" It will be fun come on." He smiled at her as she nodded her head, her puzzled eyes looking at him. She came along quietly . He gently pulled her into the boat as he grabbed the oars and sat down. They sat in silence. He just watch her as she she observed the water. He couldn't help admiring her beauty. The sun made her golden locks shine, and the light pink sundress enhanced her features. If it weren't for the sadness in her face this would be a perfect moment.

" I think I was jealous then," She stated breaking the silence. " I wouldn't admitted it to anyone else or even myself, but I wanted to be Rei. I wanted to sit across from you that day. "

" Me to." He stated watching her smile at him, before looking towards the trees. It was quiet for awhile. He could tell she was in deep in thought.

" Do you remeber Star Light Tower?" She suddenly asked.

" You mean, When Beryl took me?" He asked already knowing the nodded her eyes still not looking at him. He place the oars down and cupped her hands. " Not completely, why?"

" What would have done if Beryl had appeared that day. If she had threaten to kill me if you didn't come with her?"

The question left him speechless, He moved his hand to stroke her chin, pulling her to look at him. Her light blue eyes where glassy. Tear threatening to fall again. He wiped a couple with his thumb.

" What brought this up?" He asked trying to figure out what she was thinking.

" Would you have gone with her?" She asked staring into his eyes. He decided that maybe she just needed to hear his answer. Maybe this would tell him more.

" No." He watched as her eyes looked at him with shock. " I would want to protect you yes, But I know it would hurt you more if I went. I would die before hurting you. I would have fought Beryl." He explained." Does this have to do with what happened yearturday? What did he say to you?"

" Diamond told me that if I didn't come with him willingly, that everyone, you and the girls would meet a fate worse than death. Eternal Darkness." She replied softly, he instantly pulled her to him. " I almost agreed, Mamo-chan…" the rest came out in a sob. He held her in the middle of the lake. Not caring what others thought. He knew that she needed him.

" I promise Diamond won't hurt anyone." He meant it.

Saphir watch the screen closely. He had helped Koan come up with her plan to kill Mars. It had been a flawless plan. That ended wrong. He watched as Koan was sent back before meeting her fate. It shouldn't have been that easy. Yes, the sisters where the lowest rank. But still, they were strong. These Scouts where stronger to and it troubled him. He thought he knew there enemy. There weakness, had been clear. But they were wining and it didn't sit well with him.

" She was always too proud." He turned to watch Petz walk towards him. " Koan always boasted about her powers. Look where it got her." He nodded before pulling her close. The action was uncharacteristic for him. She was usually the one to start any physical action between the two. They hadn't been together for long. His brother didn't even know. But something about the enemy scared him. The idea of losing her. Telling him he had a weakness. One that he didn't need right now. But he still wanted to feel her close.

"Petz, please be careful tomorrow. I know Prince Diamond has order you and Calaveras to kill the remaining Scouts."

" Oh, you worry too much Saphir," She gently kissed him. " I can handle that weak girl."

A part of him wanted to believe her. To trust that she had this. That enemy wasn't a match for the Black Moon Clan. That the future was there. But as he pulled her for a deeper kiss. He couldn't help to think it may be there last.

(( I know short and not a lot of action. I really wanted to address Usagi reactions to Diamond. If you've ever seen the Live Action, you know what Mamoru does. I never really agreed with it. I thought it might fit nicely here. I also loved the opening. As a parent, I know that children may seem obvious. But they can sense a lot more than we think. Don't forget to review!"~ Saianio))