Author's Note: This is one of the harder stories I've written. It is based on one of my own mini-stories within a larger tale, but a reader asked me to give a more detailed version. I hesitated, and this has been in my list of requests for so long I wasn't sure I would ever actually get to it, but I decided to try it, and I think the end result is something I can be proud of. Unfortunately, I can't remember who requested it. If it was you, send me a message to let me know so I can give credit.

Reader's Note: This is based on an event told of by the hosts of the Sailor Senshi Hour in my Dark Endymion series, of Usagi arriving on scene too late to save a few children during a Youma attack. This version is altered however, to fit with the Consequences theme. I will warn you, it is a bit angst-ridden. However I feel that the power of selfless love can heal, and that a bond of friendship and romantic love can be built even on the ashes of such a tragedy.

Ages: Usagi 16; Mamoru 18;

Trigger Warning: This story involves the death of two children, though not in detail. Please be aware of this in advance because such stories can trigger highly emotional responses among those who have endured the loss of a child. It also discusses hopelessness and our heroine questions whether she has the will to go on. It is a more difficult read than many of my stories.

Lost Innocents
A Consequences Story

Innocent: (the individual)
a person who is free from moral wrong; not corrupted.
a pure, guileless, or naïve person.
not responsible for or directly involved in an event, yet suffering its consequences.
a person involved by chance in a situation, especially a victim of crime or war.

Innocence: (the quality)
lack of guile or corruption; purity.
the state, quality, or fact of being innocent of a crime or offense.

A Good Day

Tsukino Usagi smiled happily as she skipped to school. For once she had woken up before her alarm, making Luna and her mother both quite proud of her. She grinned, remembering their nearly identical words of praise. She wondered what her mother and Luna would think of each other if her mother knew the cat could talk.

There were flowers blooming, their heavenly scents wafting in the air as early spring painted the world with color. The sun was already up in the east, birds were chirping to welcome the day, and the chittering of squirrels as they chased each other around the branches of the trees made her giggle. It was a perfect morning.

She'd actually finished her homework the night before, and thanks to Luna, had put it into her satchel the moment it was completed. For the moment she had no worries, no responsibilities, and no monsters to fight. It was a good feeling, and she felt it in her step, in the way she felt she could almost fly away with each joyful skip.

Usagi had even had a chance for a real breakfast, sitting down at the kitchen table with her parents and brother, instead of being forced to eat a slice of buttered toast as she raced towards her school. She grinned at the little bunny emblazoned bento box in her hand, which she'd actually remembered, swinging wildly back and forth with her bouncing movements.

Everything was just wonderful. She checked the time. She still had twenty-three minutes to get to school. A grin spread across her features as she spun in a small circle, thinking how wonderful it would be to surprise her teacher, and maybe spend a few minutes with Naru and Umino before class began. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back to soak up the sun. Yes, it was a good day.

She smashed into a hard chest and instantly knew it was Mamoru-baka. Part of her wanted to glare at him, but she was just feeling too good to bother. "Sorry Mamo-baka," she sing-songed, stepping to the side.

"Odango? Are you on drugs?" the upperclassman asked, sounding worried.

Usagi blushed and opened her eyes. Then she snorted. He looked utterly confused, which didn't suit his face at all. She couldn't help giggling at his poleaxed expression. "Nope," she sang out. "No drugs. Just a good day. Woke up on time. Got my homework done, and look at all the beautiful flowers. I just love roses, and look at the sakura blossoms!" she grinned and spread her arms out. "Even you can see it's a beautiful day," she added, giggling again.

Mamoru made a non-commital sound, still seeming perplexed by her uncharacteristic lack of response to what amounted to an insult. Usagi winked at him, then sailed past with a wave and a promise. "Don't worry," she said loudly, "we can find a reason to argue later!" With a last giggle, she began skipping towards her school again. She peeked back and saw he was staring after her. It made her smile even wider.

As she sailed into her classroom seven minutes later, Haruna-sensei gasped, holding both hands over her heart, and Naru's jaw dropped as she stared. Usagi only giggled. "I know right?"

"Is it the apocolypse?" Umino asked.

"Maybe," Usagi teased as she opened her satchel and put her completed homework in the basket on her sensei's desk, causing a further gasp of astonishment from her favorite teacher. "Morning Sensei!" she chirped, before turning to her friends and skipping toward her desk. "Did you see all the flowers this morning?" she asked Naru. "Everything just looked so beautiful."

Naru's mouth snapped shut. She shook herself, then smiled. "They did look pretty."

"You did your homework," Umino accused.

"I know. And I even remembered to put it in my bag. Will wonders never cease?" Usagi was too happy to be insulted by his reaction. If she was honest, her behavior was surprising. "I thought my mother would pass out."

Haruna-sensei cleared her throat and Usagi turned to look at her. "Good job Usagi. I'm glad you're here early and very proud that you did your homework. I might add that you only got two wrong," she said, holding up the paper. Most of the questions had a little green check beside them, only two marred with the dreaded red 'x.'

Usagi bounced up and down. "This day just keeps getting better," she said happily. "I got breakfast this morning too." She giggled for what felt like the twentieth time that morning and slid into her seat.

The rest of the morning passed in a blur. She had a pop quiz, and felt confident that she'd passed it with flying colors. She'd managed to dodge during a rousing game of dodgeball in gym, and hadn't fallen even once. And in math she had been called to the board to answer a question and had only needed a little help. She was feeling proud and happy.

At lunch, Usagi discovered that her mother had snuck cookies into her bento, and a little note telling her she was loved. She hugged the paper to her chest and tucked it away for safe keeping, then hurried to eat while gossiping with Naru and several other girls. Umino lurked in the bushes, ready to pop out with some random fact, or tidbit of gossip, scaring them senseless in the process. It was the best day she could remember since becoming Sailor Moon.

Chiba Mamoru

Watching the little blonde skip away, Chiba Mamoru took a deep breath and let it out slowly, shaking his head at her exuberance. She saw the world as sunshine and roses. It seemed as though nothing could keep her down for long. Not even his worst insults, which usually involved her grades, her hair, or how quickly she shoveled food into her mouth. Still, she did brighten the day of those around her.

Mamoru had been up for hours, studying for a test he had to take that morning. Now he was walking toward the Crown, where he would meet up with Motoki before heading to the high school. As the little blonde disappeared around the corner, he shook himself and turned back to his own path. He still wasn't sure if he had memorized all the information in the packet, and he didn't want to fail. He didn't want to lose his ranking as the top student in the school.

A warm breeze ruffled his thick black hair. It was a rather lovely day. Usagi had been right about that much. The weather was ideal for an afternoon spent studying in the park instead of the library. If he could manage to get out of the arcade in time. Shaking his head, he turned away from those thoughts, and what Motoki had recently accused.

"I don't love her, and that's final," he muttered aloud as he reached for the door.

A cheerful bell announced him, making Motoki look up from the pair of travel mugs he was putting lids onto. "Are you ready?" the other young man asked. Mamoru only nodded. The blonde man smiled, knowing he wasn't very talkative, and began listing all the most recent gossip as they hurried toward their school. After a few minutes the blonde nudged him and his green eyes shone with mirth. "Seriously Mamoru," he said, blowing out an exaggerated sigh. "I don't think you've heard a single word I said. What's wrong, did Usagi not run into you this morning?" He wiggled his eyebrows.

After giving Motoki a glare, and taking a sip of coffee to procrastinate, Mamoru answered. "She did run into me," he said. "And you know how I feel about this subject. You're seeing something that isn't there."

Motoki snorted. "Sure. So you don't follow her with your eyes whenever you see her? You haven't suddenly started hanging out in a place you said made it impossible to study? And you've never noticed that long, silky, honey-blonde hair?"

"Golden," Mamoru corrected. He heard Motoki snicker and wanted to smack himself. How had he fallen for it? "Drop it Motoki. Even if I did like her, which I don't, she hates me."

"No, she doesn't."

They'd had the same argument half a dozen times. Mamoru really didn't believe Motoki was objective enough. He had decided they belonged together and that was that. It didn't matter to him that Usagi was only sixteen, or that Mamoru had just turned eighteen. It didn't matter that Usagi was all light and sound and Mamoru shadow and silence. It didn't matter than Mamoru was Tuxedo Kamen and Usagi a young innocent. Nothing he had said could dissuade his friend from thinking they were perfect for one another.

"Just think about it," Motoki continued, as though he hadn't interrupted. "She watches you too, and I've never seen her so alive as when the two of you have your spats. You two would be great. You could protect her from the world, and even herself, and she could make you smile, bring a little happiness."

Motoki..." Mamoru sighed. The last thing he needed was to get his hopes up and be left alone in the world again. It was easier to stay single or just date casually than to fall for a forever girl like Tsukino Usagi. She believed in family and hope and a lifetime. Mamoru no longer believed in any of those things. Just endless loneliness. He could bring nothing into her world but disillusionment and heartache. He wasn't even sure he knew what love was, no matter what his heart, or his gut, might do when she was near.

"Alright, I'll drop it. For now." Motoki laughed. "So tell me what happened."

"She was early. Very early. She was skipping down the street with her eyes closed. She could have been killed," he added, annoyed. "And she ran right into me and didn't even yell. It was very strange Motoki. She said we could argue later."

His friend chuckled. "Sounds like she was having a good morning. Maybe you should try it sometime."

Chuckling, Mamoru thought that if he had any more strange interactions with his favorite little Odango, he wouldn't have a choice.

The Attack

It was during her last class of the day that Usagi felt the wrongness in the air. She was just pouring the contents of a vial into a beaker when the oily feeling of Youma danced just at the edges of her consciousness. It startled her so much that the vial dropped from her suddenly limp fingers, smashing against the table and shattering, spilling the contents all over her completed page of answers. She shook it off, and put it to the side, hastily grabbing several paper towels and cleaning up the mixture. It burned her fingertips, making her cry out in pain.

Still the feeling of the Youma was growing and she knew she had to get out of there. "I need to use the restroom," she told her sensei and hurried out before he could answer her, dashing out of the lab quickly, wiping her fingers on her skirt. They felt raw, but she didn't have time to stop and wash her hands. Someone was in trouble. The pain wasn't as important as whatever was drawing her. She had never felt the call to transform so strongly before.

Usagi rushed into the girls room and quickly checked to make sure all the stalls were empty before she stepped into one and locked it. "Moon Prism Power, make up," she whispered. When the transformation was complete she jumped to the top of the stalls and crawled along the edges to the window, opening it hastily and crawling outside to a lower roof. She'd found the escape route weeks before and had already used it twice to run to Youma battles.

As she leapt off the building a feeling of panic rushed over her. Something was very wrong. She could sense it. Her feet flew faster than they ever had before, her boots clicking on the pavement as she ran as hard as she could. She raced across the Azabu-Juban district, the clawing panic growing worse by the second. Something bad was happening and there was nothing she could do until she reached whoever it was. She was only glad she knew Naru and Umino were both in school, as they had every class with her.

It took six minutes to hear the first screams. Six minutes in which she ran until her heart pounded painfully in her chest and her lungs felt as though they might burst. Six minutes to reach the scene of the attack.

A daycare.

The Youma was a tall thing, with long curved talons and orange skin. It wasn't one of the most powerful ones, with brains and the ability to camouflage itself as a human, but she could tell right away that it was deadly in spite of that. And there was blood, dripping from those long, deadly sharp claws. Sailor Moon's eyes scanned the area. At the edge of the fence she found them. Two little ones, a boy who looked about three and a girl who was younger, probably under two. They were covered in blood and not moving at all. Not even to breathe.

A scream of rage ripped from her throat. Rage and pain and horror. Desperation clawed at her as she scrambled towards the two children, her white gloves quickly turning red in the blood that covered the innocent babies. She checked for a pulse on the girl first, then the boy. There was none. Their eyes stared at the heavens, faces locked in a look of fear.

Sailor Moon wept. And then she stood and turned to the Youma, who was staring at her stupidly. The rage built hotter and hotter inside her until she lifted her hands and screamed wordlessly at the monster that had stolen two lives. Two children. A flash of bright silver erupted from her hands, surrounding the Youma. She heard it scream in pain as the light flew through it, disintegrating the creature. When the light faded there was nothing left to mark it's existence. Not even dust lay on the ground where it had stood.

She felt empty. There was no dance of victory. There was no hope of healing the two little ones. They were gone. She couldn't save them.

She had lost innocents.

In all the battles she had faced she had never lost anyone before. Sailor Moon wasn't prepared to lose them, or anyone. Falling to her knees she began to scream a keening wail. Her hair pieces picked up her anguish and amplified the sound until it echoed throughout the city of Tokyo, bouncing off walls and resounding through the buildings. Car windows shattered, nearby, but in her anguish, she didn't notice. Blood soaked gloves brushed gently at the hair of the toddlers she had been too late to help.

When she had no more breath in her lungs, Sailor Moon collapsed, sobbing, onto the pavement. She didn't know if she even had the strength to move so she could protect her identity. Didn't know if she had the will to care. 'Let the Dark Kingdom come for me,' she thought, tears streaking her face, 'I'm nothing but a failure.' She closed her eyes tight so she didn't have to see the horror the Youma had wrought anymore, and let herself drift away.

Tuxedo Kamen

Mamoru put the last of his books into his bags and straightened, looking over at Motoki, who was busy flirting with Reika. He smirked at them. They often forgot anyone was there, which had led to some hilarious moments. Once they had been in the classroom talking and suddenly started kissing. He'd nearly wet himself laughing at their shocked expressions when Osaka Sensei had hit them with a wad of rolled up tests.

"Oi!" he called. "Reika, you have cram school, and Motoki, if you don't hurry, I'm leaving without you."

Reika pulled back, blushing, then gave Motoki a peck on the cheek and tore out of the classroom at full speed, her long hair flying behind her. Motoki stared after her as though he was debating following, then turned and glared at Mamoru. "Baka," he hissed. "I was trying to find out where she wanted to go for her birthday."

Mamoru only shook his head and started walking out of the room. He heard the scramble and thump of Motoki shoving his things into his satchel and rushing after him. His best friend was hopelessly in love with the girl, and Mamoru thought they were good together, in spite of Reika's determination to be a world famous archeologist. She might leave the country eventually, but her love of Motoki would bring her back time and again. Unfortunately, Mamoru was very aware that his friend would face a lot of hardship and loneliness while she pursued her career.

"Maybe you should ask her mother. Girls talk to their moms, don't they?"

Motoki shrugged. "I already asked her. She said something about an exhibit, but had no idea which one, so I'm trying to figure it out."

Mamoru opened his mouth to reply when he felt a painful tug in his gut. He nearly doubled over, only stopping himself by sheer willpower. He couldn't transform in the middle of the school. That would be a disaster.

Motoki gave him a look, which made Mamoru realize he must have uttered a sound. "This way," his friend said, tugging his arm. He pulled Mamoru out the side door and into the space between the main building and the gym. Motoki busied himself checking both ways, then nodded. "It's safe. Go. I'll cover for you with Sensei."

Whipping his hand downward, Mamoru felt the stem of the rose in his hand as his clothing became a signature tuxedo, cape, mask, and hat. He nodded to Motoki, the pain of the call finally gone, and leapt to the roof of the gym, running as fast as he could. Sailor Moon was worried. Not afraid for herself, but frightened for someone else. He felt her running away from him, towards the middle of Tokyo, and put on more speed, leaping from one rooftop to another. Glimpses of the street below showed ordinary people going about their lives, with no idea that some sort of life and death struggle was about to take place.

Several minutes passed as Tuxedo Kamen followed after Sailor Moon. She had a head start on him, and he worried she would be hurt before he got there. He had been late before, or even missed battles entirely, when he was trapped in the middle of a crowded classroom. This time he was determined to get to her before she could be harmed.

A sudden feeling of overwhelming sadness made him stumble and almost fall in the middle of a leap, and he felt Sailor Moon cry out in anguish. She wasn't physically hurt. He would have sensed that, but there was something worse than a wound. He knew what had happened the moment he felt her pain. She had lost someone. He hoped it wasn't the little red-head they were always trying to save. Naru. She was a friend of Usagi's and if she got hurt Usagi would never be the same.

Shaking his head to focus, he ran faster than ever, a pull in his chest dragging him towards her. Several long seconds passed before he felt the welling of power in her, stronger than he had ever felt before, and then he heard her scream. It wasn't a scream of fear, but of rage. The sound echoed off the walls of the buildings he leapt over, and then he heard windows shattering and the crash of a car. Checking on the people in it from his spot above, he saw no one was hurt and leapt away.

When he finally reached Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Kamen stopped in shock. She was curled up in a ball on the ground, with dozens of young faces peering out the window while she sobbed. Next to her, obviously beyond help, were two small children. Neither could be older than three. They were dead. Shock, pain, horror, overwhelming anger, and sheer hatred for the Negaverse raced through him in the blink of an eye. But he didn't have time to think about it. Women were rushing out of the daycare towards Sailor Moon. If she didn't move she would be exposed.

Leaping from the roof of the next building, Tuxedo Kamen landed on the pavement and swooped down to lift Sailor Moon into his arms, throwing his cape around the weeping heroine. He glanced at the two children and felt tears coursing down his own cheeks. He had not been fast enough. Not for them, or for Sailor Moon. He looked back to the women who were beginning to crowd around them, bowing his head in shame and sorrow, and leapt from their midst, back to the rooftops.

Moving quickly across the city, Tuxedo Kamen searched his mind for anywhere he could possibly take the distraught Senshi, and came up with nothing. He didn't know what to do, or where to go. There was only one place he knew of that no one could find, and that was his own apartment. It meant she might discover his identity, but beside the loss of two innocents, what did that really matter?

Mind made up, he steered toward his apartment, the blonde hero still clasped tightly in his arms, the cape rustling around her so that only the tear streaked face was visible. Her eyes were closed and he could feel her whole body shaking with her sobs. His own heart ached, but something was desperately wrong with the girl. He needed to get her to safety, and away from any of the dark generals who might have been watching.

Desperation, fear, pain, loss, and horror all came through the strange bond they shared. Tuxedo Kamen wished he knew what to say or do. He wished for a way to turn back time. It was awful, feeling as though he had failed her, and those innocent children, who had never harmed a soul.

Even with the sun still high in the afternoon sky, it felt like midnight as he leapt from the roof of a building and landed lightly on his balcony. Carefully maneuvering Sailor Moon, he slid the glass door to the side and carried her inside. She was shivering as though it was freezing, but he was covered in sweat. Inside, he turned and closed the door, slightly harder than he had intended, as anger at himself raced to the fore.

He wasn't sure he could ever get over this. And judging by Sailor Moon's continuing sobs, he thought it might be as hard for her. He'd never asked to be a hero, or linked to the girl, but he couldn't deny he had become attached to her from the moment of their first fight. She was a special kind of hero to his mind. Sweet and kind, with a heart that seemed to encompass everyone. Always afraid heading into battle, and most of the time screaming, falling, and even crying, she continued to chase after the Youma and dark generals. Now he was terrified he would lose her. Never before had he seen her so lost within herself.

Settling into a chair, he uncovered more of her face and ran the tips of his gloved fingers over the apple of her cheek. Bright cerulean eyes fluttered open. She sucked in a breath and sobbed, turning her face into his lapels. Her fingers scrabbled at the material, clinging to him, seeking comfort, or perhaps forgiveness. "I- I failed," she wailed, shaking and crying. "I was t-too late to s-s-save t-them. Oh T-Tuxedo Kamen-sama, why did it have to go after b-babies!"

Crushing her into his chest, Tuxedo Kamen held on tight, resting his chin on the top of her head to hide the tears he cried. "I don't know," he answered, when he had himself under control. "I just don't know. I'm sorry I was late." She only continued crying, and he thought his heart would break.

How long they sat there, he didn't know. Gradually her sobs came further apart, and after a time her hands relaxed on his tuxedo. Finally, her breathing slowed until he was sure she was sleeping. Leaning back in the chair, he just held on, his mind racing though anything he could have done differently. If only he had been more willing to open up to her and that stupid cat he might have known there was a battle before she transformed. He might have gotten to those children in time. She always ran through the streets. It was much faster over the rooftops. Maybe he could train with her, teach her the best routes through the city.

When the little hero whimpered in her sleep, he looked down at her tear-streaked face and gasped in surprise. Her henshin had faded away, leaving the most precious weight he'd ever carried wrapped in his arms. Tsukino Usagi, her eyes red and swollen, her nose raw, her cheeks flushed and dirty, lay in his hands. His eyes traveled down to her school uniform, slightly wrinkled, but otherwise whole, and down her now bare arms and hands to see red, raw, burned fingertips. Her little feet hung over the side of the chair, the Maryjane's only half on now.

Tsukino Usagi, who always had a smile for a stranger, who loved everyone on sight, who looked adorable when she was angry, but who could never stay that way for long. The girl who had stirred him from the moment he met her, who had made him wonder for the first time in his life if there might be a happily-ever-after for him too. He bit down hard on his lip to stop a sob from escaping. How had he failed her so? He didn't deserve to be her hero.

Rising, he gently moved to his bedroom and lay her down, pulling the covers over her, worried she would be cold. Then he leaned against the wall, covered his face with his hands, and let himself cry. How many times had he teased her? How many times had he called her names, told her she was silly, foolish, and even stupid? How many times had he pulled her down instead of building her up? And what was his excuse? He was afraid to be in love with her. How stupid could a man get?

Finally he understood everything he might have been to her. Clenching his jaw tightly, he escaped from the room and the accusing sun shining through the window. Usagi didn't need someone like him. She needed someone bright and happy. Someone who had the right words instead of standing silent. He let his transformation go and hurried back to the living room, reaching for the phone and dialing automatically.

"Moshi moshi," he heard the happy voice.

"Motoki, I need you." It was all he could say before he broke down again, lost and helpless. He didn't know how to fix anything. He didn't know how to make it better, how to survive his shattering heart. His soul felt crumpled and torn. He had failed, for the first time, and there was no coming back from it.

Secrets Shared

"Mamoru?" Motoki asked, shocked to hear his best friend crying. What could possibly have happened to make the stoic man cry? "Mamoru, tell me you're alright."

After a long pause, during which Motoki threw all of his things into his bag and began rushing out of the drama classroom with a hasty wave and no explanations, he heard Mamoru speak again, his voice rough and breaking. "Hie. It's not me," he said.

"What is it?" Motoki asked, feeling panicked. He had never imagined Mamoru being this distraught. He raced down the path towards the gate out of the school, running as fast as he could. He grabbed the fence post and used it to spin around the corner and onto the sidewalk. "What's happened?"

"Usagi," Mamoru whimpered.

"What do you mean Usagi?" Motoki shouted, more afraid than ever. Was she dead? Had she been attacked by a Youma? She always brought so much light and laughter into his life. Whenever he was feeling badly she would so something silly or sweet to make him feel better. He loved her as much as his sister, Unazuki. She was like a baby sister to him too, and the thought of losing him tore at his heart.

He stumbled and fell over a lip in the sidewalk, the phone flying out of his hand before Mamoru had a chance to answer. He scrambled to where it had landed and picked it up, nearly landing on a cat in the process. Pulling the phone back to his ear, he listened to Mamoru's continued tears. "Chiba Mamoru," he said in his most stern voice. "Tell me what happened to Usagi."

"Usagi-chan!" came a voice behind him. Motoki turned, looking for the woman who had spoken, but there was no one there. Shaking his head he went back to the call.

"Mamoru! Answer me!"

"She's..." Motoki's heart leapt to his throat as he waited for Mamoru to finish. "She's Sailor Moon Toki," he sobbed. "She needs you. I need you."

Shock raced through Motoki, making him feel as though he had been electrocuted. He didn't have a way to process that. He had to find out if she was alright. "Mamoru, is she hurt?" he asked getting back to his feet. He began to run again.

"No. Well, yes. But not physically. Please Toki!"

"I'm coming Mamoru. I'll be there as soon as I can. Hold on."

There was no answer. Motoki chanced a peek at his phone to see Mamoru had hung up. He kept running. He knew one thing for certain. If it was enough to make Mamoru reach out for help, it had to be bad. Mamoru had never asked for help before. Worry and fear filled the young man as he struggled with what could have happened.

"Motoki!"

It was the same voice that had spoken before. Coming to a stop, he turned around, half-panicked, and looked behind him. Again there was no one there except the cat. She must have been running after him. Strange. He shook his head and turned again, determined to get to his friends as quickly as he could.

"Please Motoki," the voice said.

"Where are you?" he asked, frustrated.

"Down here." Motoki looked down and saw the cat again. Recognition struck. She had a crescent shaped mark on her head. That was Usagi's cat. His jaw dropped as she continued speaking. "Please, take me to Usagi."

Without letting himself think about it, he reached down and scooped up the cat. His whole body felt like it would shake apart as he began running again. He wasn't far from Mamoru's apartment now. Surprise and fear mingled, making it hard to think straight.

"What's wrong with Usagi?" the cat asked. Luna. He thought he remembered her name was Luna.

"I don't know," he answered, racing down the street as fast as he could go. "Mamoru was crying though. He said it wasn't physical. I don't know what happened. He said she's..." he cut off, but remembered he was talking to a cat. Her cat. Maybe he was insane, but he doubted a cat would tell a secret. "She's Sailor Moon," he said, panting. "Something bad happened. That's all I know."

"How did Mamoru find out?" the cat asked, sounding shocked and angry.

"I don't know. But he won't tell. He's Tuxedo Kamen." All of this was said as he found himself running into the alcove at the front of Mamoru's building. He opened the door and ran straight for the elevator, pressing the button half a dozen times. He thought he heard a man's voice, but the doors opened and he rushed inside, pressing the button to close the door and the one for Mamoru's floor. "Hurry up," he urged the machine.

The cat was silent. He looked down at her for a second. She looked to be in shock. He shook his head. It didn't matter. He just had to get to them. When the elevator came to a stop he was moving even as the doors opened and in moments he was walking into his best friend's apartment.

Motoki found Mamoru kneeling on the floor by the stand that held the phone. He was staring at the wall. His bedroom was just on the other side of that wall. Seeing that he was alright, Motoki raced past him, through the kitchen and down the hall to see for himself that Usagi was unharmed. The cat in his arms leapt down the moment he opened the bedroom door and streaked towards the bed, a black blur as she ran for the girl.

He stepped into the room. The afternoon sun shone down on the bed and he could see for himself that the blankets rose and fell with her breaths. Her face was ragged and streaked with the remnants of tears and dirt, as though she'd had her face on the ground while she cried. She looked so tiny in Mamoru's huge bed, so fragile, so young.

"Pull the blanket down please," Luna said, looking up at him with shimmering red eyes. "I need to make sure she's alright."

Motoki stepped forward and gently lowered the blanket to her feet. He saw burns on her fingertips, but other than that she seemed whole and unharmed. "She's alright," he said softly.

The cat shook her head, then licked Usagi's hand. "Those burns should heal in a few hours. Go on out and tend to your friend. I've got Usagi."

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Hie. I've got her. Leave the door open though, just in case. Please."

Motoki nodded and walked out of the room. Mamoru hadn't moved. He was still staring at the wall, as though he could see through it to the young girl laying in his bed. Reaching out, he took his friend by the shoulders and lifted him, helping him to the couch. Mamoru settled into the seat and turned his head back to where Usagi lay.

Unsure how to handle the mood Mamoru was in, Motoki went to his standby. He moved into the kitchen, keeping an eye on Mamoru over the counter as he worked pouring grounds into the coffee maker. Once the pot of coffee was brewing he opened a cupboard to the side of the stove and pulled out the teakettle and the hot chocolate. It was what Usagi preferred. He worked mechanically. It was all habit. It was what he was good at, finding the things a person needed and providing them. He also had a willing ear and usually some sort of advice.

He just wished he knew what had happened. Why was Mamoru nearly catatonic, after crying his eyes out? What had happened to Usagi? His jaw clenched as he thought about the worst, but shook his head. No, that wouldn't explain how Mamoru knew she was Sailor Moon. He needed answers, which meant he had to get Mamoru talking.

As he worked, Mamoru left the couch and came to sit on one of the stools at the counter. He folded his arms on the counter and rested his head on them, looking as though he couldn't figure out what to do with himself.

Settling a cup of hot coffee in front of him, Motoki leaned on the counter. "Tell me what happened?" he said at last.

"There was a Youma." Mamoru swallowed hard and scrubbed his hands over his face. "I never even saw it, just what it did." The anguish he was feeling as visible, palpable, like a pregnant energy in the room, with no escape. Motoki could feel it, and desperately wished he could do something to help.

"Go on."

"I felt her, but she seemed different," Mamoru said. "She's never been like that before. So determined, so focused. Her lungs were burning, her legs were cramping. She ran faster than she ever had before. She was worried, but not like normal. She wasn't afraid she would get hurt. It was almost like a part of her already knew, but she had to get there." Mamoru lifted the cup and took a sip, then licked his burned lips. "Then I felt so much anguish, sadness I could never describe, and you know what I've been through. I couldn't figure out what had happened. I was moving as fast as I could, and I knew. I knew I was too late. I knew she was too. But I still kept running."

Motoki nodded his head when Mamoru stopped talking. He reached out and put a hand on his arm. "What happened Mamoru?"

"I heard her screaming. I thought... for a second I thought she was dying, but the pain was wrong. It was emotional, not physical. I could feel her get angry, furious, and there was a burst of energy from her. I felt it, but I had to keep running. Then I could hear her screaming again, but it was louder. So loud I though my ears would bleed. The windows on the buildings started breaking and falling to the ground below me, but I kept going. When I found her..." he stopped and coughed. "When I got there, she was curled into a ball on the ground, and there were two little kids next to her. Neither of us had gotten there in time."

"Two kids died?" Motoki asked, horrified.

"Yeah," Mamoru said, coughing again. "I saw people coming out of the building. I was worried they would find out who she was, or that one of the dark generals was watching. So I grabbed her, and I ran. I didn't know where to go, and she was crying so hard I couldn't ask her. So I came here. And then she fell asleep in my arms, and when she did she changed. And I saw it all so clear for the first time."

He gave a watery laugh. "Who else but my little Odango could have such a big heart? Who else could be terrified and falling on her face but still get back up and keep fighting? Who else could make me fall in love with them?"

Motoki swallowed the lump in his throat and wiped his eyes, not ashamed in the least that he was crying. He walked around the long counter and wrapped his friend in a hug, not caring that it wasn't manly. Right now Mamoru was in a crisis. He was figuring out that he really did love Usagi, which meant he would be hating himself for every mean word he had ever spoken. With the attack and the loss of those children Mamoru would also blame himself. There was no doubt in Motoki's mind that Mamoru needed him more in this moment than he had ever needed anyone before, except perhaps Usagi.

"It will be okay," he said at last. There was nothing else he could say. "I don't know how long it will take, but I think you'll both get through this. Luna's with Usagi. She can help her. But you both need to stop blaming yourselves. From the sound of it those kids were gone before you could get there."

"I should have moved faster," Usagi's voice came from the hallway. She had tears streaking down her cheeks.

"You couldn't move faster," Mamoru argued. "I felt you."

Usagi's mouth parted as though she would respond, but she only shook her head. Motoki went to her and hugged hard, holding tight for several long minutes while she cried into his sweater. When she calmed, he guided the girl to the stool next to Mamoru. The little black cat leapt to the counter and nudged Usagi, who opened her arms automatically.

Motoki busied himself preparing her mug of hot chocolate. After she had taken the first sip the silence that had stretched became unbearable. He cleared his throat and began to speak, hoping either or both of his friends would take some comfort from his words.

"I didn't know you were Sailor Moon," he started. "I've heard about her, of course, from Tuxedo Kamen, but even I didn't put the clues together. It must be terrifying at times, and I bet it's never really fun to face down a monster. I certainly don't want to do it," he added, giving Usagi a little smile. "But I do know you Usagi. I know who you are, who you want to be. I know how much you love everyone you meet, and how it hurts your heart to see anyone sad. So I just have to say that I'm glad you are Sailor Moon. With a person like you out there fighting for us, I know we have real hope."

"I failed," she whispered.

"Did you?" Luna asked. "You said you ran as fast as you could. How far away was that daycare?"

"Several miles," Mamoru answered for Usagi. "She ran faster than I've ever felt her run before. There was no way to get there faster."

"Then how is it your fault?" Motoki asked, looking back at the crying teenager.

"I'm not a good Senshi," was all Usagi said, then lapsed into silence. Luna nudged herself up under the girl's chin and made soothing sounds.

Motoki wished he had the right words. How could you tell someone it wasn't their fault and try and help them get back out there and fight, when in your heart you didn't want them going back out there at all? Was it right for him to encourage her as a Senshi when he thought she should be skipping to school and having milkshakes and throwing fits at the Sailor V video game instead of battling the Dark Kingdom and fighting Youma in the middle of the night. How could a teenage girl be expected to fight such horrible monsters day after day, night after night.

"You are a good Senshi," Luna said. "You need more training. You both do," she added, looking over at Mamoru, who was silently watching Usagi break down. "It sounds to me like you did the best you could, went as fast as possible. Take comfort from that. Learn from this and turn that pain into finding a way we can prevent anything like this from happening again."

Usagi sniffled and wiped her cheeks. "I promise to train more Luna. I won't let my stupid ways hurt anybody else." She slid off her stool and away from the counter. Motoki wanted to go to her, but Luna shook her head. Instead it was Mamoru who went and pulled the tiny blonde into his arms, holding her tight.

Luna and Motoki watched as they comforted one another. He looked back at the cat. "I guess I never thought about what it was really like for them," he said. "Not when I didn't know it was Usagi. I didn't even think about it with Mamoru," he explained. "I just imagined being a hero and rushing to the rescue. I didn't think about what it was like when you didn't move fast enough, or when you didn't think you were good enough."

With a little sigh, Luna nodded her head. "I think even I forget," she said sadly. "I forget that she's just a teenager, and has had no one but me to talk to. I forget that without the other Senshi she's been forced to fight alone. I get on her case all the time, and I forgot to simply ask her if she was okay, or what I could do to make it a little easier."

Motoki nodded his head. He felt the same way. Mamoru needed someone who would ask the question. Who would make him face what was happening to him. He planned to be that person from that moment on.

Luna's Wish

"Usagi-chan, are you alright?" Luna asked from the warm cocoon of Usagi's arms.

They had only left Mamoru's apartment a few minutes before. Normally Usagi would be nearly home, running like the wind and laughing about some funny thing Motoki said, or the way Naru charged after Umino for spying on them at lunch. She would be talking too loud and not paying attention.

Luna missed that Usagi. The person holding her now wasn't the same innocent little girl she had been that morning. None of the other battles had changed her, and Luna had thought nothing ever would. She'd been frustrated because Usagi didn't take being a Senshi seriously and had despaired of ever having a quiet moment.

Now she would do almost anything to have Usagi act wild and impulsive again. She would to anything to see her smile. Luna held back her own tears by sheer willpower. Usagi needed her to be strong, so she would be, until she could be alone.

"Hie," the girl answered, her voice far too soft and calm.

"It wasn't your fault Usagi-chan," Luna said, for what must have been the fifth time. She just wished the girl would start to believe her. She had checked the news using her communicator while Mamoru was hugging Usagi. She had seen how long the attack took, and that those children had been killed almost instantly. Even if she had moved at twice her normal speed she never would have made it in time.

"Isn't it?" Usagi asked. "We both know I haven't been a very good Senshi. I've let my crushes and video games and manga get in the way of training. I've been letting you down, and my family down, and Haruna-sensei down, and my friends down, and now..." she shook her head, tears flying from the corner of her eyes, "I've let those poor kids down."

"Stop it Usagi," Luna said, looking up at her charge. "All the training in the world wouldn't have gotten you there any faster. I've seen how you run Usagi, even when you aren't transformed. Mamoru said he could feel how fast you were going, faster than he had ever felt before. That means faster than I've ever seen. It was miles across town. There was no way you could have saved them."

Usagi only sighed and kept walking. The endless silence was hard to bear. Luna felt like she was failing Usagi and didn't know how to fix it. She needed help. She wished she could contact central, but she didn't feel good about leaving Usagi alone. She had never seen her so unhappy. She had never stayed upset so long before.

"There are things we can do," Luna said after a long minute. "We could put up sensors around Tokyo. And maybe we can get a communicator for Tuxedo Kamen so you can call him."

"Tuxedo Kamen-sama," Usagi breathed, more tears falling. "He was so upset."

"I think he feels the same way you do," Luna explained.

It was more than that. She had overheard part of the conversation he'd had with Motoki. Discovering the masked protector, Mamoru, was in love with Usagi explained a lot. Mamoru's behavior had often baffled Luna. He was always so poised and calm when Usagi wasn't around. But the moment she appeared he would get a gleam in his eyes and before Usagi could blink he would be teasing her, tugging her hair, and driving the poor girl nearly mad with it. In contrast, Tuxedo Kamen had always been a comfort an inspiration, with words of encouragement and compliments about Sailor Moon's beauty.

Watching Usagi digest the information with a serious frown on her face, Luna realized that what she'd assumed was only a childish crush of the masked hero went deeper. And her constant arguing with Mamoru might be the same. She almost never seemed hurt by their petty arguments. More amused. And she blushed a lot when Mamoru was around. Could it be that she was in love with him as well? What did that mean for them? For the Senshi? For their mission?

Unable to think of the answer, Luna longed for someone she could talk to. Someone who would tell her what the right thing was, because she had no idea what her next move should be. Usagi suddenly clenched her tighter, and Luna looked up to see they were passing the electronics store near the arcade. The news was playing on a television in the window. The little bar at the bottom of the screen told of the deaths of the two children and their pictures were on the screen.

Speeding up, Usagi began to rush towards her house, and Luna knew she wasn't yet out of the woods. Usagi needed someone who could get through to her, to tell her it wasn't her fault. She wasn't sure if the girl would listen to her, but she knew she had to keep trying.

Closing her eyes, Luna made a wish, hoping the Moon Queen Serenity could hear. 'I wish someone could heal Usagi's heart and help her laugh again.'

The News

After trudging home, Usagi hid in her room. She didn't want to eat dinner, or talk to her family, but when her brother came to get her, she couldn't think of an excuse. She went down, but when it was over she had no idea what food had been on her plate, or what anyone had said. She hurried back to her room as soon as she could.

She felt so much guilt, so much pain. It felt like she was going to explode with it, and there was no way to hide that she had been crying. Luna sat with her and talked in a soothing voice, promising to be there and to help her, but Usagi felt like a failure. She wasn't sure being Sailor Moon was right for her. She was clumsy and stupid and careless, and didn't deserve such responsibility.

She changed into her bunny pajama's and put on some music, laying across her bed, wishing she could just fade into nothingness so she wouldn't destroy any more lives. Luna finally stopped trying to make her feel better, curled into a ball, and closed her eyes. It was getting late and she was hungry, so Usagi decided to go to the kitchen for a snack.

The news was on when Usagi made it down the stairs. Her mother was sitting on the couch, one hand over her mouth, as she stared at the screen, horror written all over her face as the late night news played. A shudder ran through Usagi. She wanted to turn and race back up the stairs to the safety of her room and Luna, who insisted it wasn't her fault.

"The parents of the two children have a message," the newscaster was saying. "They want to send word to Sailor Moon, who they hope is watching, and to her partner Tuxedo Kamen."

Usagi moved forward and dropped to her knees in front of the television, staring at two couples, one of the women holding an infant, the other holding the hand of a little girl who looked about five. One of the men stepped toward the podium set in front of a police station. He looked nervous as he adjusted his glasses and pulled out a note card.

"We want to tell Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen that we know the deaths of our daughter Akiko, and our friend's son Takeo was not their fault. We've all seen the footage from the daycare security camera. Our children were killed within seconds of the Youma appearing. There was nothing either of Tokyo's heroes could have done. We know that Sailor Moon saved the lives of the others. Children and teachers who were huddled, hiding in the building, waiting for help, including our daughter Maya. We want you both to know that we are grateful that you have been trying to protect the people of this city, and that we know this must be as hard for you in your own way, as it is for us in ours. We just want to plead with you. Don't give up. Thank you."

The man stepped back and wrapped his arm around his wife, who was sobbing, and his daughter, who looked like she might start crying. The other couple looked just as devastated. Usagi sniffled and scrubbed at her wet cheeks. They didn't blame her. Luna said it wasn't her fault, and even Mamoru had told her there was nothing she could have done.

She still felt guilty. No longer hungry, all she wanted was to sink into the floor. It hurt so much, and she didn't even know how to express it.

"Those poor families," her mother murmured, pressing a button on the remote to mute the volume. "Are you alright Baby Bunny?"

Usagi nodded. She turned to her mother, worrying her lip with her teeth. "What do you think?" she asked.

Ikuko shuddered. "I'm not sure. They showed a piece of the footage, when Sailor Moon destroyed the Youma. Then Tuxedo Kamen came and took her away. The reporter said the children were killed almost the minute the thing appeared and it seems to me Sailor Moon couldn't have been very close. She looked like she was exhausted by the time she showed up."

"But do you think it was her fault?" Usagi pressed.

"Of course not. She didn't kill those kids. She isn't a Youma. She's probably about your age. Just a teenager. She might be a sixteen year old girl just like you, with no one to talk to and no idea what she's doing. She might struggle with school and friends and family because her whole world turned on it's head. If she's your age, she was probably in school when that Youma appeared. She would have had to sneak out and maybe she even got in trouble for it. She might have run the whole way there and even now she's probably wondering if it's her fault it happened. Poor thing."

Usagi sniffled again.

Ikuko bent down and pulled Usagi to her feet and into a huge hug. "Why don't you go up and get some rest Usagi. You look exhausted."

"Okay Haha," Usagi murmured, her face buried in the long lavender-blue hair that fell in waves down her mother's shoulders and back. "I love you."

"I love you too Usagi-chan," her mother said softly, guiding her to the bottom of the stairs. "Go on up."

A Mother's Heart

Ikuko stood watching Usagi climb the steps and let out a soft sigh as she heard the bedroom door snick shut. Her poor daughter. It wasn't fair. It was far too great a burden for a sixteen-year-old girl. She'd had her suspicions before, but today had confirmed it for her.

Shaking her head sadly, Ikuko went into the kitchen. Usagi had been so bright and happy that morning. So cheerful about something as simple as waking up on time and getting all her homework done. She had been laughing with her brother as they reminisced about old pranks they'd pulled on one another. She'd kissed Ikuko and Kenji and even hugged a squirming Shingo before leaving for school.

Watching her at dinner at been awful. She hadn't eaten a bite of her food. Just stirred it around with her fork, not even hearing when one of them tried to speak to her. The ravages of tears had still been evident on her face. Paired with the call Ikuko had received from the school that Usagi had run out during her last class and not returned, and all the other things she had seen and heard over the past few weeks, Ikuko had realized the truth.

Her daughter, her little Usagi, was Sailor Moon.

Wasn't that a bitter pill to swallow? She'd seen the bloody clothes and chalked it up to clumsiness. She'd caught her talking to her cat and had convinced herself she was hearing things. She'd even seen her sneak out of the house in the middle of the night, and instead of confronting her, Ikuko had acted on instinct and pretended it hadn't happened. She'd watched as Usagi's grades deteriorated, as she had lost weight and the bubbly happiness she'd shown all her life seemed to float away like smoke.

And now this. Now her little girl was blaming herself for the deaths of two children. And there was nothing Ikuko could do to make it better. She'd covered with the school, telling them Usagi had been sick and she had gone to get her, forgetting to stop in at the office in her worry.

Setting the tea kettle on the stove, she flicked the burner on and leaned back against the counter. She didn't want to tell Usagi she knew the secret. Not at the moment. The girl was dealing with far too much, and the added worry of her mother being in danger was not something she could handle yet.

Ikuko sighed, thinking about the conversation she had overheard between Usagi and Luna. One she had tried to forget, to pretend she had only dreamed. The conversation where the cat had told Usagi that anyone who knew would be in danger. If it was dangerous to know the secret, she would accept that. But Usagi didn't need to be aware of it just yet. The time would come.

For now, she would just do what she could to make life a little easier for her daughter, and she would hope and pray that her little girl got through this horrible mess with her heart intact. What her little girl needed was to have someone who supported her completely, loved her unconditionally, and was always there to listen when things went wrong.

Turning her thoughts to the mysterious Tuxedo Kamen, she frowned. Luna had said his name earlier, when she'd been listening at Usagi's door. Chibi Mamoru. Mamoru, the boy her daughter had a crush on, but who had been teasing her. She would have to watch him carefully to make sure he was good enough for her girl. If he was, then she would support his cause, but if he wasn't then he would have to go through her.

Ghosts

Usagi slept late the following morning, but when her mother came to wake her, there were no shrieks and wails. Instead, Usagi merely nodded, dressed, and left the house, forgetting her bento box and her school bag. Luna and Ikuko stared after her, but Usagi didn't notice. She felt lost, and wasn't sure she could ever come back.

Halfway to the school, Usagi broke into tears and fell to her knees on the sidewalk, unable to muster the strength for even one more step. Covering her face with her hands, she cried silent tears, tears that felt like they were bleeding from her very soul. Though people were walking in both directions, no one spared more than a glance for her, and she felt alone, as though she was drifting on an open, windless sea. None of the people out there could understand how horrible it was to have the lives of two children on their heads. No one could understand how it was to know they would never be enough.

Gentle arms wrapped around Usagi and lifted her from the pavement. It felt so familiar that she gasped and looked up. Midnight blue eyes stared back into her own, and Mamoru lowered his head to rest on hers as he carried her down the street and into the park. Neither spoke a word. None was needed. She pressed her face into his red school blazer, inhaling the smell of coffee, chocolate, roses, and something that was his alone. It was comforting and familiar, and for a second she felt herself forget.

The faces of those children returned to her mind and she let out a sob before controlling herself. Mamoru squeezed her tighter and then they were on a bench and she was sitting on his lap, face still buried, as she let out her pain into that red blazer that had never felt so incredibly safe before. He knew. He understood the pain, the despair, the guilt.

There were no words of comfort. No empty promises that everything would be okay. No murmured apologies or hushed words telling her it wasn't her fault, or telling him it wasn't his. They simply existed, together. In that moment Usagi knew he was the only one who could ever truly see how changed she was from the girl she had been the morning before. She knew he saw through her, to the heart that was beating a little off, and the lungs that were filling a little too slow, and the stomach that was tangled in knots as she dealt with more pain than she had ever known.

How long they sat there, neither knew. Eventually, Usagi knew she would have to get up, go to school, and pretend that everything was alright. But for the moment she couldn't make herself care if anyone discovered her secret. She didn't care if the generals found and killed her. She didn't care about making other people smile.

"I wish I could change things," Mamoru said, so softly she had to strain to hear. "I wish I could go back in time and fix it."

"Me too," Usagi admitted. "I wish I'd trained harder, learned more. I wish I'd taken the generals out already, or found the other Senshi. I don't know if I can keep doing this."

"I guess we don't have much choice," Mamoru murmured. "If not us, then who? Sailor V hasn't been seen in months. Not since that explosion in England. We have to keep going or it will happen again."

Usagi looked up at him. "I hate myself," she choked. "I was so selfish, always thinking about what I wanted to do instead of doing what Luna told me to do."

"I was too focused on finding the Silver Crystal for the princess," Mamoru told her. "Too focused on ignoring my feelings about... someone."

Usagi frowned and looked into his eyes. She wasn't sure what he was talking about, but she wished she knew. Still, she didn't suppose it mattered. Someone like her didn't deserve to know. She didn't deserve to be happy, to have friends, to laugh. She didn't deserve to have a family while Mamoru struggled as an orphan.

"I'm sorry," she said. "For hitting you with my papers, and my shoes, and always bumping into you, and for yelling at you and saying you were a baka."

Mamoru gave a little smile. "I'm not. Odango, every time we argue I feel more like a person. You see me for who I am and you don't take my crap. It's refreshing. But maybe we could start over. Be friends."

"Okay," Usagi agreed. Maybe if she was nicer to him she would feel a little better about herself. And maybe he would feel better too. "Friends."

Mamoru smiled, though it still didn't touch his eyes. "We should probably both get to school," he said.

"Hie." She carefully got up, then turned to wave goodbye. "I suppose I'll see you later," she said.

"You will. Maybe after school we can meet at the arcade. I think there are a lot more things we have to talk about."

"I'll see you there," Usagi said, and began walking. She felt safe with him. Mamoru hadn't tried to lie and make her feel better. He'd understood. Some of the loneliness dissipated, but it still hurt to even breathe.

When Usagi reached the school Haruna-sensei was angry she was late and immediately sent her to stand in the hall. Without a word, or a wail, of complaint Usagi went. She received the same punishment when she told the sensei she had forgotten her bag and her lunch, but by then the teacher was giving her funny looks and Naru was visibly upset. Usagi had a hard time making herself care. If they ever discovered who she was, they would probably hate her for not rescuing those children. So it didn't matter.

Nothing mattered.

After school she made it to the arcade, but she and Mamoru sat in near silence, both dealing with emotions that were to heavy for words. After an hour they both gave up and Usagi headed home, not hearing Motoki ask if she was alright. She trudged on in silence, not looking at the butterflies, the chittering squirrels, or the chirping birds. She didn't even notice the ladybug that landed on her bangs. The world seemed to have a little less light and color, and far more shadows. The bright shining sun would never light her up again.

At dinner Usagi played with her food. At Luna's urging she did her homework, then put it in her bag to take in the morning. Then she lay down and went to sleep. When her alarm went off the next morning, Usagi rolled out of bed, dressed, grabbed her bag and her lunch, and began walking. When she saw Mamoru she nodded to him and continued on, a living ghost, walking through the world, unaffected by it.

While her friends and teacher were surprised she made it to school on time and handed in her homework, Usagi didn't really care. She sat in her seat, chin in hand, looking out the window until lunch, then picked at her food. It felt like she was a living machine. She talked, she breathed, but she wasn't alive. She felt a bit numb. Nothing interested her and she didn't want anything anymore.

A week passed while Usagi stayed in the fog of her new existence. Mamoru seemed to be doing about the same as she, and often they would find themselves sitting on the bench at the park, neither speaking. It was a comfort, being together, but neither was truly whole anymore. Motoki tried to get them both to open up. Luna took them out at night to train. Other friends did their best to get through to one or both of them, but it felt like nothing mattered.

Usagi listened to the news and discovered that both children were being buried in family plots at the same graveyard where Mamoru's parents were laid to rest. She didn't have the heart to tell him, so she said nothing at all when she saw him.

Nine days after the daycare attack a Youma appeared in the middle of the night at the very park where Mamoru and Usagi spent time together. She ran to face it, ready to fight, or as ready as she could be under the circumstances, calling for her masked companion through his new communicator. He promised to be there, so Sailor Moon hurried towards the monster.

The thing spat jets of water that were nearly thirty feet high. It was blue and seemed to have a watery appearance. "Aquama!" it shouted. Sailor Moon threw her tiara at it's face. It just laughed and sprayed her knocking her onto her back. She struggled to rise and threw another attack, and another, to no avail.

The Youma pointed both palms at Sailor Moon and let out a jet of water from each. She didn't bother to scream. She almost hoped she wouldn't wake up, staying still as she waited for it to approach and finish her off.

And then big, warm, strong arms were wrapped tightly around her waist and she was flying through the air with her hero. "Sailor Moon!" he turned her toward him, sounding angry. "Snap the hell out of it?"

Surprised, she looked up at him, eyes wide, feeling hurt. "What?" she asked.

"I can feel what you feel. If you think I'm going to let you go out there and get hurt on purpose you've got another think coming. If I have to I will tie you up and deliver you to your parents with a note saying who you are. Do you understand me? Get your head in the game or get out of it entirely."

"Tux-" she tried, but he cut her off.

"Damnit," he said, "I'm hurting too. I'm miserable too. I know how much all of this hurts, but I will die before I lose you. Do you understand?"

Sailor Moon nodded her head, though she wasn't sure exactly what he was trying to say.

He let out an angry growl, grabbed her cheeks and pressed his lips to hers for a hot, angry kiss. His mouth opened and he speared his tongue into hers, wrapping a hand around the back of her neck to lift her head for better access. Heat speared through her like a knife, and Sailor Moon felt herself coming awake for the first time in days. When he lifted his head and stared at her. "If you die, you sign my death warrant too," he yelled.

Her fingertips itched. Sailor Moon bit her lip and nodded, not meeting his gaze. "Then I'll do my best," she said softly.

"Good. I'll be watching!" He helped her back to the ground and stood back, still close enough to grab her, but giving her enough room to do what she had to do.

This time when she charged her tiara she felt it working, light infused it, and when she threw it she knew her aim was true. She watched the Youma fade into dust and turned to look at Tuxedo Kamen. Her lips felt swollen and bruised. She raised one white-gloved fingertip to them and stared at him. They were silent, still figures in the night, both feeling too much to express in words.

A car door slammed somewhere nearby. Sailor Moon turned to look instinctively, and when she looked back, he was gone. After letting her henshin go, Usagi walked slowly toward her house, wondering what the kiss meant, and why she suddenly no longer wanted the Youma to kill her.

A Hero's Tale

Usagi stared at the tombstone of the little girl she hadn't been fast enough to save. Luna had told her again and again that it wasn't her fault. And she had seen the news story, but still, it wasn't enough to convince her. Could she have been faster? Could she have done something differently? Perhaps if she had found the other Senshi she could have saved the children.

She wasn't sure why she had come. She had just woken up and wandered here, knowing the little ones were both in this graveyard. She sniffled back her tears, feeling that she didn't even deserve the relief of a good cry.

Akiko. A sweet name. It had been her aunt's. Little Akiko who never got a chance to live because Sailor Moon wasn't fast enough. The boy who had died had been Takeo. She had seen his pictures, so proud of his new baby brother. Why did they have to die? Why did it have to be little children?

She was so concerned with keeping Naru safe, and Umino, and so many others she loved. Maybe she hadn't focused enough on others. She sniffled harder. What if she was too slow to save one of them? Or Motoki? Or her brother? She wasn't a good Senshi. She could readily admit that. She wasn't fast or strong and always had to be saved by Tuxedo Kamen.

"You look like you've the weight of the world on your shoulders young one," came a voice from her left. Usagi turned, startled, and found an old man in front of another grave, looking sad as he stared back at her. His gaze seemed to take in everything at once. It felt like he could see right into her soul.

"Sometimes it feels like it," Usagi murmured.

"Ah, I know the feeling. I wasn't much older than you when I joined the military. Had to fight for my country. Learned the hard way that not all fights end the way you want. Lost everyone I served with and all by myself I had to get a group of villagers out of the area when the Americans came." He shook his head.

"That's awful," Usagi murmured.

"Our ship was hit. Went down like a stone. I was knocked overboard and swept out to sea. Woke up on a beach. Heard a bunch of American soldiers talking about going around the island to clear out a village." He frowned. "I was miserable and alone and I had lost all my friends. I thought of taking my life," the man whispered. "The shame of all those lost weighed so heavily on my shoulders."

"What stopped you?" Usagi asked, both curious and desperate. She needed to know. Needed to learn to live with what had happened.

The old man shook his head. "I knew another wave was coming," he said softly. "Four miles across the island. Four miles and less than three hours to warn those on the other side and hide them. I had to get to them. There was a village. Full of people. If I had given up in that moment I would be responsible for them, as I wasn't for my friends. My suicide would have cost dozens of lives. And so I ran through the night," his voice took on a ghostly quality. "I ran and ran as I had never run before. It was nearly dawn when I reached them. They took my warning and followed me into the jungle, leaving everything behind."

"How did you get them away?"

The old man smiled. "Fishing boats. I kept them together and herded them through the jungle as quickly as they could walk. The old, the young. They were all that was left in the villiage. Mothers with babes and small children and the elders who couldn't fight. The trip was long. They were all tired. None complained. No one dared make a sound. Every time someone tripped and fell we all stood still, waiting for the bullets to start flying. But none came. Eventually I got them to the boats and we made it to the mainland."

He held up his hand before Usagi could ask another question. "Still, even after saving them, I wanted to die. I thought about it, thought about the relief from guilt. But then my commander gave me another order. More to save. And another, and another, until eventually the need to take my life faded into nothingness as I learned the truth. It wasn't my fault. There was nothing I could have done."

"How long did it take?" Usagi asked, a tear slipping down her cheek.

"Before it faded completely? Years," he admitted. "But it got easier with every life I saved." He sighed. "Later, much later, I learned the Americans wouldn't have harmed the villagers. But at the time I believed what my superiors told me. And so I went from village to village, clearing them out and transporting people to safety before they had no choice but to commit suicide or be captured or killed by the enemy."

Usagi was shaking. She felt so much that couldn't be put into words. How could anyone survive such horror? She had heard the stories herself. Of entire villages that threw themselves into the sea rather than let the Americans close to them. Among her people honor was greatly valued and she knew the men had been told their wives and daughters would be treated horribly. They had believed they were doing the right thing. Still, she was thankful for soldiers like the elderly man she was speaking to, who had gotten many out before that choice became the only option.

Even now, Usagi felt guilt tearing her into shreds. She wished she had gotten there faster. She'd seen the news reports, seen the children's parents in their plea to Sailor Moon, but the guilt ate at her bit by bit. She turned back to the grave of the little girl. Less than two years old. She would never have a chance to go to school, play at an arcade, meet the boy of her dreams. She would never get to make friends and learn to ride a bicycle, or be in a play, or any of the things Usagi had taken for granted before becoming Sailor Moon.

She had lost two innoncents. That much was true. But she had also lost her own innocence, and it was something she could never get back. She sniffled again, then looked over at the man who was staring at the grave next to the little girl's.

"I'm sorry about your friends," she whispered.

"Me too," the older man said with a sigh. "And I'm sorry you faced something so awful at such a young age. Just remember," he added, "you can choose to live. If you do, maybe you can stop another child from dying. Or two. Or ten. Let every person you save count. Let it be a balm to your soul. You can't hold onto the dead forever. If you do it will tear you down. Instead, live for the ones you can help." He gave her a soft smile. "We all need you Miss Moon." He chuckled at her shocked gasp. And then he turned and walked away, his pace belying his age as he moved smartly through the rows of old tombstones.

How had he known she was Sailor Moon?

Usagi turned back and read the name on the grave again. Maybe she couldn't carry the dead forever, but she needed to carry them for a little while. Needed to remind herself of the price of failure. Needed to remember that if she trained hard enough she might be there in time to save the next child, and the next. The man was right. She could push through for the other innocents out there. But if she was going to save anyone, she needed to train, to work harder at finding the other Senshi, and to take her responsibilities as seriously as Luna always said she should.

With new resolve, she squared her shoulders and left the dead in their graves. She had someone alive who needed her now.

The Balm of Love

Usagi knocked lightly on the door and held her breath as she waited for Mamoru to answer. It swung open and she got her first real glimpse of him in days. She had seen without seeing how upset and traumatized he was. His eyes were sunken, rimmed with dark circles, his hair a mess, and their was a stain on his normally impeccable shirt.

Mamoru opened his mouth to speak, but let out a shocked grunt when Usagi pushed him backwards into the apartment and closed the door. She held up a hand to stop him from saying anything. It was her turn.

"I'm in love with you Chiba Mamoru," she said, not feeling shy in the slightest. "I'm in love with you and it hurts knowing that you are so sad that I can't fix it. And I imagine, you've been hurting too, not knowing how to help me. But now both of us need to wake up and live again. We need to train, we need to find the others, and we need to save all the other innocents out there. Will you help me?"

His mouth opened, then snapped shut again, and he nodded. That was enough for her, but as she turned toward the door, he caught her arm and spun her back around. "Wait," he said. He pulled her to the couch and sat next to her, shifting awkwardly for a moment. "Tsukino Usagi, I have been in love with you from the moment you opened your mouth and called me an idiot."

Usagi let out a gasping laugh, covering her mouth with her hand as she snorted in amusement.

"I'm serious," he said. "I tried denying it, tried to change it, but nothing I did worked. I was so afraid you would be hurt because of who I am, or that you wouldn't return my feelings, or that you would..." he gulped, "that you would die, and I would end up alone again." He sighed. "Motoki told me to give you a chance, but I was scared and stupid, so I fought it, and fought you. I loved Sailor Moon too, and thought if I could convince myself to only love her, then she would be able to stay with me forever. Who would have thought you were the same person?" He shook his head. "I love you so much it terrifies me, and every time I think about you wanting that Youma to kill you... I want to tie you up and never let you go."

Usagi blushed, unsure how to respond. She hadn't known any of that. It had seemed silly for her to fall in love with someone who didn't like her very much. Biting her lip nervously, she peered into his eyes and was surprised by the absolute love she saw in them. Smiling, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek.

"You scare the daylights out of me," she admitted. "There, I said it." She was proud of herself.

When he chuckled, Usagi crawled into his lap, took his face in her hands, and kissed him on the mouth, surprising herself at the forward behavior. She felt his arms going around her, pulling her closer to him, chest to chest, felt his tongue slip out and touch her lower lip, and opened for him.

This time the kiss wasn't one sided, or angry. She explored his mouth, fingertips digging into his hair, and she felt him pulling her long tails together to tilt her head back. Then his mouth was on her neck and Usagi moaned at the intimate touch. His lips were hot, dry, and heavenly on her throat. She ground herself against him and heard a groan.

"Usako," he groaned. "This is going too fast. I don't want to hurt you."

Usagi pulled back slightly and lifted his face so she could look into his eyes. "I can't promise either of us will survive the next battle, or the one after that. I want to be with you forever. I want you to be with me forever, but I know the truth now. Life isn't a guarantee. So I am giving myself to you. Completely. And I will promise to fight to stay alive, to fight to keep you alive. I will promise to love you with my entire being, heart, mind, body, and soul. I am yours Chiba Mamoru."

He stared silently into her eyes for several long minutes, his eyes glistening with unshed moisture. "Usako." He cleared his throat. "Usagi, I am yours. You own my heart. I want you to have all of me. Every hope and dream. I want to marry you, have a future with you. So I am going to keep you alive. I swear it. Both of us will make it through all of this, somehow. We will train as hard as we can, and find all the others, but you can't ever leave me. I'll love you for the rest of my life, and for every other life. Do you understand that?"

"Hie," she answered, but he wasn't finished.

"If I let this go any further, if I agree to be with you, you have to make me a promise. When the time comes, I'm going to ask you to marry me. Do you promise to say yes?"

"I do. I will say yes Mamo-chan."

He smiled at her pet name for him, and ran his fingers over her cheek. As soon as he touched her Usagi wrapped her arms around him, trying to get another one of his delicious kisses. He pulled back again.

"Usako, have you ever been intimate before?" he asked.

Usagi blushed. "No," she answered, looking him in the eyes. This was no time to hesitate, no time to let nerves take away something that could be beautiful. "No. I'd never even been kissed until last night. You were my first kiss, and I want you to be my last kiss."

"Usako," he murmured, then his mouth descended again.

His love was like a balm to her soul. She knew that it might hurt to give him her body, but she knew what she wanted, what she needed, and she knew he needed it too. A reason to fight. A reason to live. And all the love they could give each other. She vowed in her heart that he would never be alone again. Not while she had a breath in her body.

An Eternal Bond

Mamoru couldn't believe how lucky he was as he bent his head and kissed Usagi. She loved him. She really loved him, and that made him feel as though he could take flight. He felt as though the world around him was filled with light and sound.

Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she somehow pressed herself even closer than she had been before, but he wasn't going to consummate their relationship on his couch. He stood, lifting under her bottom, and carried her towards his bedroom. When he lifted his head from hers to look where they were going, she nipped his ear. Mamoru stumbled, but quickly supported both of them against the wall.

Usagi grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head back to hers, taking control of the kisses they shared. Smiling against her lips, he righted himself and hurried toward the bed. When he reached it, he tried to lower her down gently, but she didn't release his hair and he was pulled down on top of her. Their lips parted and they both laughed.

He kissed the tip of her nose. "Usako," he breathed, then took her lips again.

"I love you," she whispered, making him feel ten feet tall. To have one as sweet and caring and kind as her love him made him feel incredible.

"I love you too Usako, you little minx," he said, laughing when she mock glared at him.

"I don't know what else to be like," she answered. "I just want to give you all of me."

He hardened painfully in his pants at her admission. For nearly a week he had walked around in a stupor, hardly able to think. Until he had felt her emotions, her intentions, the night before. Then all he had been able to think, to feel, was that if he lost her the world could end for all he cared. He would follow her to the next life. The desire to take her completely, to make her his, was rising. Humor evaporated, replaced with need.

"I don't want to hurt you," he said, keeping his voice soft, his tone soothing. He brushed her hair back out of her face, and kissed her forehead. "If you're sure, then I will make you mine, and I will make sure you never even need to think about changing your mind."

"I wouldn't!" she gasped, but Mamoru was already moving down from her face. "Please Mamo-chan. Give me you."

Kissing her cheek, her jaw, her neck, Mamoru moved slowly, giving her time to say what she wanted. Slowly and carefully he unbuttoned her shirt, letting it fall open. She wore a simple bra, light pink with a little rosebud in the center, over the front-open clasp. He looked at her face. Her eyes were open, watching him, and her lips were curved into a half-smile.

He leaned back, straddling her stomach as he reached shaking fingers toward the clasp and with a flick of his wrist, opened it, revealing milky breasts with dark pink nipples and small areolas. He groaned as his body responded, then scooted down to lay over her and took her nipple in his mouth, reaching for the other and pinching it between his thumb and forefinger. Her gasp of surprise caught his attention and he raised his eyes, though not his head.

Usagi's eyes were closed now, her head thrown back, and her hands were fisted in his comforter. As he continued to torment her breasts the knuckles of her hands turned white and she gave a loud moan, her hips rising and falling in an instinctive rhythm as old as time. He nipped at her breasts, switching from one to the other to toy with her sensitive peaks. He moved to the side, rolling off her so he could slide his hand over the smooth, soft skin of her belly. She moaned with every new touch.

Finding the button to her jean skirt, Mamoru tugged it open and smiled at her panties, which were covered in masks and roses. Pressing his lips to her bare midriff, he licked a small circle around her belly button, then lower, as he tugged her skirt from her hips. Usagi lifted them as he did, and he nearly swallowed his tongue as he pulled the adorable panties off her and saw her pubic mound. Tiny little blonde hairs covered the top, and as the panties came off he could see glistening moisture between her lower lips.

Once the she was bare to him, Mamoru pounced on her exposed pussy, his mouth clamping around the little bud. He sucked hard and was startled when Usagi screamed, launching her hips off the bed against him. He took both hips in his hands and pressed her back down, as gently as he could, before spreading her open with his fingers and tasting her juices. She was heaven. Sweet and salt, and his. All his.

His hands closed and unclosed over her as he held her thighs open wide. Her body writhed under him, hips trying to jump, legs moving open and trying to close, but stopped by his shoulders. He was in heaven as he moved back to her clit and slipped a finger over her slit before slowly pressing it into her. She let out a loud moan and lifted to him, as though to force him deeper.

"Mamo," she shouted, grabbing a fistful of his hair in each hand and holding him to her. Smiling, he nipped, licked, and suckled her, driving her further and further towards explosion. Her inner walls clutched at his finger and Usagi let out a shriek, before going completely limp, her hands releasing him.

"Usako," he said, lifting up and wiping his mouth before giving her another chance to change her mind, "be sure. This can never be undone."

"I'm sure," she said.

"If we do this, we belong to each other, no one else, forever. We get married, have a dozen kids, walk hand in hand on the beach when we're ninety." He couldn't believe how corny he sounded. But every word was fraught with meaning. If he lost Usagi, he lost himself.

"Mamoru, I'm already yours. And I don't plan on letting you get away from me."

She lifted her arms and Mamoru noticed she was still wearing her opened shirt and bra. Carefully he lifted her and removed them. Climbing off the bed he made short work of his own clothing, tossing it in a pile over hers, then moved to the nightstand. Motoki had given him Sailor Moon condoms a few weeks before. Mamoru had never thought he would need them so soon. He heard her giggle as he was opening the box and rolled his eyes, holding it up to show her.

"Silly right?" he asked.

Usagi only giggled some more, then held her arms out again. Mamoru slipped back onto the bed. "Can I... can I touch you?" she asked.

Mamoru groaned, unsure. "I don't know if I can last if you do," he admitted. "We have all the time in the world later and I promise you can explore."

"Okay," she said, watching in fascination as he tore open the foil packet to protect her. He held the tip then rolled the rest over himself, throbbing as he watched her face. She looked slightly nervous, but determined.

"Last chance," he said, "you can't go back once it's done."

"I want you," she said. "I feel... empty. I need you in me."

Those words were like a fire, driving Mamoru nearly mad with need. He roved his eyes over her small but incredibly formed body. Her breasts, larger than he had thought hidden as they usually were beneath her tight fuku top and bow or her baggy school shirt. Her waist was small, tiny even, her belly sunken in slightly, but her hips widened out and with her legs opened for him she looked like a goddess.

Slowly, gently, he moved closer to her and ran the tip of his throbbing cock over her folds. Usagi moaned and pressed against him, but he took her hips in a firm grasp, not wanting her to hurt herself accidentally. He remembered being told it could hurt the first time. Centimeter by centimeter he pressed inside, and he was enveloped by pure heaven. Tight, wet heat surrounded him. Groaning he tried to control himself, even as he wanted to slam into her and take her hard and fast, he moved slow and gentle until he felt slight resistance.

"Tell me to stop if it hurts too much," he said, then bent over her and kissed her gently. When he lifted his lips he pressed into her, immediately breaking through. She winced slightly, then looked relieved as he continued to press inside. Realizing it hadn't been too bad for her, Mamoru was grateful. He pressed in as far as he could go, then held still, waiting for her to grow used to his length and girth.

The world seemed to light up around them. He could see gold and silver lights, and music seemed to swell in the air as those ribbons of light danced about their bodies. A warm breeze played over their skin, making both of them shiver. He looked into Usagi's eyes, wondering if she saw and heard and felt what he did, and found her staring up over his head. He looked over his shoulder and saw a silvery dome had formed over them.

A word came to mind, one he didn't think he had ever heard before, but felt right. "Soul Bond."

"Soul Bond," she agreed. Then pulled him closer. "Mamo-chan, that feels... I feel..." she wiggled her hips, "full," she finally finished.

"Are you okay?"

"Hie." She ran her delicate hands over his shoulders, making him shudder in delight as she played with his muscles. "More?"

Mamoru pulled nearly out before sliding back, slow and careful. Then again, and again, he moved in and out of her, the tightness of her sheath making him sweat as he tried to control himself, and the orgasm that wanted to break free. He was laying almost completely on top of her, and took advantage of that position, pulling her hardened nipple into his mouth. Usagi's moans and panting breaths in his ear was driving him closer and closer to the edge.

Wrapping a hand behind one knee he lifted her leg and pressed it to the side, opening her more so that he could get deeper inside her. Usagi cried out and lifted her hips again, her movements becoming deliberate and purposeful as their passion grew. She nipped his shoulder, his neck, his ear lobes, making him nearly mad with need for her. His own pace increased, making the bed shake and squeak as he took her harder and harder.

"I'm," she whispered, "I feel something happening, like before."

"You're about to come Usako," he said. "Let it happen."

He sat up in the bed, lifting her bottom until it rested on his thighs and pressed harder, deeper, faster, listening to her panting cries and pleas for more. Then she was shaking and shivering and her pussy clenched down over him. With a shout he released jet after jet of seed, then collapsed back over her, feeling wrung out and blissful. Still locked inside, he twisted on the bed, moving to the side and pulling her over him so he wasn't crushing her.

Memories crashed over him then. Memories of Serenity and Endymion, of a life spent and lost once before. Usagi was right, life was too fragile to waste a single precious moment. He heard her gasp and a moment later copied her as the memories grew in intensity. He saw his men, saw them being taken, saw them forced to murder their wives, saw Metalia in the skies above the moon kingdom and a glistening sword Beryl swung that was meant for Serenity. He had leapt in front of the blade and taken the blow, dying. He'd watched with dying eyes as Serenity took his own sword and plunged it into her belly.

Mamoru knew he would have done the same.

"Mamo-chan, did you see that?" Usagi asked.

"Hie. You were Serenity."

"You were Endymion."

"I think we need to have a talk with Luna he said," pulling out of her to dispose of the condom.

Usagi sat up in the bed, her hair a tangled mess around her head, and he saw the glistening of moisture between her thighs. It brought him instantly back to readiness and he muttered the word, "later," as he tackled her to the bed, thanking the kami for superhero strength and healing.

A Good Day, Again

Usagi was having a wonderful morning. The sun was bright and shining. Fluffy white clouds dotted the sky. Her homework was done and in her bag, she'd had a decent breakfast, and had woken up on time thanks to a call early that morning on her communicator from Mamoru. Now, as she walked towards school, she felt the breeze playing with her hair and tugging at her skirt and smiled at the antics of a couple squirrels who were chittering and chasing each other.

In the weeks since she and Mamoru had reforged their Soul-Bond, they had worked hard to discover the location of the Senshi and Shitennou. Ami had been easy. She'd recognized her the next time she went to school, surprising the bluenette with an invitation to the Crown. A few days later they had rescued Jadeite from the Negaverse. Now they were searching for Mars, or Rei, and Luna thought she had a lead on her at a local shrine.

At the corner Mamoru met her, smiling, with Jadeite in tow. The other teen had nowhere else to go, and no living family except his brother Zoicite, and had moved in with Mamoru after his rescue. Now they often walked together.

"Good morning," Usagi sung out happily, receiving a kiss from her boyfriend.

"You're early today," Mamoru commented.

"It's been a good morning," was all she said. "I had breakfast with my family, pulled the best prank on Shingo, and my father saw my grade and nearly swallowed his tongue. Thanks for helping me study by the way," she added kissing him again.

"What prank did you pull?" Jadeite asked excitedly.

Usagi shook her head and smiled and told him how she had taped plastic wrap to his bedroom door frame. In his groggy state he had walked into it, not once, but twice. "I recorded the whole thing too. I can't wait to see what he tries for revenge."

She was happy. There were still bad moments, or even bad days, when the weight of her responsibility pushed her down, but she wasn't alone anymore. She had Mamoru, and the others, and soon they would have all the rest. And she would prepare them for the bad days and teach them to cherish the good ones. As she told Jadeite all about the prank wars she smiled and lifted her face to the sun.