Author's Note:

I know... I know! I will try my best to not be one of those authors that publishes a story and never finishes it. I had a lot of the story done but as time goes I doubt my story line and go back and change things. Since I don't have anyone editing my work, the process can be painstakingly slow. Either way, thank you for everyone that's been so encouraging. I had a question asked long ago about the timeline. As of right now I intend to make the timeline a bit hazy. They are not in an alternate dimension but simply on another planet far, far away. =)

So on with the story...


Waiting for no further invitation, Tael slid into the booth to Per's left and Usagi followed but took to the right of the booth. As she scooted further into the booth the modest slit rode up and the material parted, revealing more and more creamy skin as she went. Mamoru's gaze dropped to her legs taking in how long and toned they were. He had always appreciated her shapely legs but as she scooted across the bench they seemed longer. Now that he thought about it, they seemed longer than a week ago. Frowning slightly he looked down her legs and took in the black laced leather boots on her feet. His gaze travelling up her legs, he took a quick second to admire the rest of her figure, wrapped in her new clothes. Brows knitting in concentration, he quickly shook his head and slid into the booth next to Usagi. If he didn't know any better he could have sworn that she had grown considerably since they had first arrived here. Shaking his head again, he thought of how ridiculous the idea was for her to grow so quickly and noticeably.

"Well then since you've obviously never been here before why don't I order us something to eat and drink while you all…" Persephony paused purposefully lifting her hand and dragging a slender finger slowly across the surface of the glass table and over the edge following along a hidden path under the table, "enjoy the view." On cue, stories above them a dark blind quickly moved into the building revealing a direct, unobstructed view into the night sky. Usagi let out a breath she hadn't known she had been holding. Unlike the hazy dim view she saw on a nightly basis, they could see a dark black and swirling deep navy color. The star dust looked to be painted on the darkness by dragging a broad brush and the yellows and pinks seeped into the darker colors. It was beautiful except for the looming dull grey planet that lay to the right of a bright blue moon. She sucked in a breath filled with an immense sadness that weighed heavily against her chest. Although she had seen the object from afar, starring at it with such a clear view, she shivered as a creeping cold ran up her spine. Hugging herself, she sat back, deep into the cushions, trying to burrow into it for comfort. "What is that?" she breathed out.

Persephony had been leaning into the glass table, the lazy susan was topped with a mirror and she was staring down at it slowly tracing along the edges of the grey orb floating on the table top. Sighing deeply, she lifted her deep chocolate brown eyes and stared at the girl next to her. The clothes she wore stood in stark contrast to her fair porcelain skin but didn't detract from her beauty in the least. She looked positively shaken. Chewing on her lip, she took a moment to really look her over. She hadn't paid much attention to her once she had laid eyes on Mamoru. Usagi… yes that's what Tael called her. "Usagi, what does your name mean?" suddenly very interested in getting to know his friends and completely disregarding her question.

"It means rabbit, a small animal that's thought to be sweet and gentle." Usagi whispered, confusion knitting her brows.

"And they're extremely energetic and light-hearted," Mamoru added chuckling lightly then looking over wickedly at Usagi, "and they're also known for their rapid reproductive rate."

"Mamoru!" Usagi huffed, turning to punch him in the upper arm none too gently.

Rubbing his arm he just shook his head, not at all sorry for teasing her.

"Fitting, I can see the allure but it doesn't match your soul," Tael said sharp eyes looking her over. Looking up at everyone around the table, she found everyone looking at her. Wrapping her arms around herself again, she shrunk back into the cushioned velvet booth.

Persephony couldn't help but notice Tael's observation, something about the girl caused a sharp pain in her heart. Bring her fingers to her chest she started dragging her slender fingers over her collar bones and over the slight swell of her breasts trying to physically soothe herself. "Hmm," she murmured.

"This pale blue moon and its sister are nothing extraordinary, just sister moons," She drifted finally taking her eyes off of Usagi and looking back down to the grey planet swimming on the table top. Settling her arm on the glass she leaned into the table and rested her head on her palm and the other tapped on the mirror. "This used to be my home," she continued wistfully, "although, I myself never laid foot there."

Looking up to the woman laying down food onto their table, she smiled warmly at Persephony and as she bent over the table, outstretched arms reaching for a clear surface, her gossamer shift dress shifted slightly and a calico tail lifted into the air and twitched playfully. Usagi's jaw dropped as she stared at the young woman who playfully winked at her before sauntering away, her tail clearly swaying mirroring her movements as she made her way through the tables.

"This is all that's left of my people and I've been designated as our… historian I guess you can say," Persephony smiled warmly catching everyone's attention once again. Tael having heard it before, quickly busied himself eating. "That's Luna," Per tapped on the mirror, "and it's been dead for over a millennia but the loss still cuts deep, wounds felt in all the souls connected to Luna… for even those that never bore witness to its life or death. It was the last planet to fall during the Grey Wars." Waving off the topic, Persephony raised a manicured nail to tap on her cute chin she thought about how much she wished to share. "See our great King was bent on conquering the universe and bringing each planet to bow before him and those that resisted were destroyed and the star seeds and soul of the planet were extinguished completely. Many planets fell and many lives were lost," she paused and gave Tael a considering look to which he nodded no sharply.

"Like I was saying, Luna was our home, well it had become our home. My people are half feline, half human but we can choose which form to take. Our first home had been attacked and our planet pushed to the point of complete destruction and Luna offered us sanctuary. Those that inhabited the planet, the Lunarians were the most warm hearted and peace loving people. But do not be mistaken, there were rumors throughout the galaxies that they harbored a power so immense and incomparable to any other seen thus far. They were more than rumors I suppose, more like visions prophesied by famous seerers throughout the galaxies. The last house to rule Luna was headed by a wonderful and fair King with hair as fine and white as snow and his Queen was beautiful with warm soft pink highlighted silver hair. The trouble started with their daughter, it's a tragic love story really, but to make a long story short , she was betrothed to our King, but on one of their infamous balls, she met and fell in love with a gorgeous man with hair the color of spun gold," pausing she frowned slightly and pointed to Usagi, "like yours."

Usagi's heart began to race, so enthralled in the story as if her life depended on the outcome she sat at the very edge of the bench her hands, hidden by the table, gripped the velvety cushion like a vice. She couldn't explain it nor understand why it was affecting her so deeply, but her eyes teared involuntarily knowing without a doubt tragedy would befall those in the story.

"Anyway," Persephony continued, "he was an emissary of a world in a neighboring universe and his name was Apollo and her name was Serenity. Serenity was renowned throughout the universe for her beauty, intellect, and wit and had quite a line of suitors. Her father had thought he had made a good match for his daughter and at one point so had Serenity. After she had met Apollo, in her heart she knew she could not marry our King. She went to her father in secret and confessed to him her love and vehemently denounced her betrothal. The King would never deny his daughter anything, so he broke the betrothal. Our King was furious and swore he would take what was his and destroy everything that she loved in order to punish her for her betrayal. Knowing she had brought shame and war on her people, she fled with her court, many citizens, and her lover to the ends of the cosmos. She had hoped that without a prize to be won our King would give up his fight against the Lunarians. She was never heard from again."

"Her family and dear planet were not saved. In his madness, our King brought an army to the very door steps of the Lunarian palace and as their army was being decimated, the Lunarian King release the power of his people which killed both himself and all those left, hoping to cleanse their souls in order to be reborn again. Unfortunately, our King fled like a coward, his body dying, he stole a body that faired much better in the fight against him and fled to a safe distance were he cast his power, destroying the star seeds of those souls the Lunarian King had hoped to save."

Sniffing, Persephony cursed under her breath, she could never get through the story without crying, even the edited version. Looking up she was startled to find Usagi with crystal clear tears streaming down her face.

"Why can't he leave them in peace?" Usagi asked softly.

"I don't know," Persephony continued bitterly, "he's tainted, obsessed with the need to possess her or hers as his only driving force. He has everything else his greed drove him to do, wealth, power, an endless supply of women to warm his bed… but it will never satisfy his unsettled soul. He's never recovered or learned from her abandonment."

"How did you survive?" Usagi asked cautiously, afraid to offend.

"The King feared the worst and so he secretly sent the planet's priestesses, historians, on a ship to a neighboring planet for sanctuary. I am one of their descendents. Although my blood is mixed, that's why we can be in-between forms, the females of our race pass on their dominate genes and characteristics no matter who they mate. Convenient for preserving our race…." As soon as she finished, Persephony pushed back her wavy brown hair and tucked them behind a pair of furry brown cat ears to prove her point. She smiled softly at them taking in how pensive Usagi had become and the clear concern written across Mamoru's features. "Figures," she whispered bitterly to Tael, "beautiful men are always taken."

Staring at him intently, Persephony studied her dear friend's features carefully. He seemed so calm and at peace, hoping that their new company were too involved in their own conversation to mind hers. Scooting over to Tael, Persephony placed her small hand on her friend's hand and squeezed gently. "I can see the pull Tael but don't you think you're taking too great a risk?" she whispered. "What if she is the one they are searching for? You know he will not spare you no matter your past, the moment you harbored them without announcing her presence you've signed your death warrant."

Tael took a moment to finish his last bite and considered what she said, nodding his head in contemplation. "Per, I'm tired of this meaningless life. I have everything in this life but purpose and love so I took a moment to think it over," he smirked as Persephony scowled, knowing full well he had given it a second's consideration and that's it.

"You're always looking for trouble love, and do I really mean so little to you?" she questioned scooting closer to him.

"The world, dearest, and that is precisely why I'm willing to take the chance. I can feel it, things will change. For better or worse, that is yet to be decided but we will soon find out."

Crossing her arms across her chest she pulled up her legs to lounge on the bench. "Oh you and your voodoo feelings!"

After Persephony told her story Mamoru turned into Usagi and quietly brought his head down to her ear. She was still sitting deep into the cushions with arms crossed over her chest. "What's the matter?" he whispered quietly, his breath wafting over her cheek.

"I don't know, I-I," she stuttered struggling to regain her thoughts and reign in her emotions, "I guess it just reminded me of us."

Mamoru stared at her in total disbelief, he couldn't believe that she was comparing them to some star crossed lovers?! I mean they had only kissed once for god's sake! He blushed thinking maybe she was thinking of taking their new relationship to a more intimate level. Closing his eyes and smirking, he just knew she couldn't stay away from him… he was after all Tokyo's heart throb!

Finally looking over to Mamoru sitting back in the booth, Usagi's jaw dropped and took in his smirk. Realizing what she had said, she knew exactly what he thought she had meant! Oh that baka! Of course he would think she meant that THEY were lovers like the princess and her golden god. What an asshole!

Smacking his bicep, Mamoru yelped in surprise. "Hey what was that for!" he whispered angrily.

"You hentai! I meant that I was sad because we're just as lost as they are!" Usagi hissed, quietly sniffing away her tears.

"Oh," was all he could manage, feeling like a complete ass, here she was upset because of their situation and his sex-deprived mind was leading him to other conclusions. "Figures," he sighed.

Looking up at his gracious host, Mamoru took in Persephony's equally annoyed expression and Tael's smug look. It was eerie, like looking into a mirror. He chuckled to himself, drawing everyone's attention back to each other.

"Dinner and history, never done that before… usually dinner and a movie," Mamoru said quietly, trying to lighten the mood around the table. Tael smiled appreciatively, sensing Persephony relax and move to lean into the table admiring Mamoru once more.