Author's Note: This is a really short one. It sort of came to me a few minutes ago, and I just had to type it up. I really hope you like the concept though. It's an idea about how the Senshi and their Masked Protector might hide their identities.

The Way We Are
A Love Shots Story

Usagi frowned as she peered into the arcade. It was filled to the rafters, which was rather typical for a Friday after school let out. She didn't mind, but she could see several people she rather wished wouldn't witness what she was about to do. Biting her lip, she steeled herself for the continuation of her performance, looking back over her shoulder at Minako.

"You ready for this?" she asked.

Minako snorted. "Of course. It's only a little acting."

Even knowing that, it was always hard to hide how embarrassed she was. Still, it needed to be done. Sailor Moon was improving too much. Tsukino Usagi couldn't. That was just how it had to be. She nodded. "Lets do this," she whispered, this time to herself.

When she swung the door open the little bell rang and several people looked up as she 'tripped' over the metal frame of the doorway. She hit the ground hard, knowing the bruises would fade soon enough, and wailed at the top of her voice. Minako rushed to her side then, looking concerned.

"Are you okay Usagi-chan?" she asked, louder than she might have if they were alone and Usagi had tripped for real.

"Nooooo!" Usagi wailed, clutching her knee. "It hurts!"

"You know what they say Usagi," Minako said in a louder voice, "no pain, no shame."

Usagi sweat-dropped quite dramatically and stopped her wailing long enough to remind her friend that it was, "no pain, no gain."

Minako pretended not to hear. That was the trick. She actually was learning, but the girls had decided they couldn't appear to be getting smarter. She had to look simple and foolish, as did Usagi, in order to make sure no one suspected who they really were. It had been Ami's idea, originally, when she'd noticed the Dark Generals watching them all carefully. So the better the girls became as Senshi, the harder they tried to appear weak and foolish in their ordinary lives.

Minako helped Usagi up, and the Odangoed blonde sniffled dramatically as she 'limped to the counter.' She might appear foolish and pathetic, but it was a small price to pay for keeping her friends and family safe.

Motoki rushed around the counter as they approached and helped Usagi onto one of the stools. She smiled in thanks and ordered a chocolate milkshake each for herself and Minako. Then, talking slightly too loud, she proceeded to tell Minako how evil math was and that she would never understand it, knowing that Mamoru was sitting next to her, though she pretended not to notice.

"Can't get anything through your head, can you Odango?" he asked.

"Mamoru-baka!" Usagi screamed, "you are such an arrogant jerk. I'm in pain! You should be nice to me!"

No one noticed the way he reached under the counter and grabbed her hand, or the way she winked at him when no one could see. It was always the same. Everyone believed it when they fought, just as they believed it when she and Rei did. Ami had gotten very good at pretending not to notice anything except what was in her books. It was all a ploy. Few knew that of course, and those who did could be trusted with the secret. Like Motoki and Naru who had both discovered their friends identities and were more than willing to help keep up the charade.

She could feel eyes on her and Mamoru as their 'argument' continued, but she didn't really mind. Maybe people thought they were childish, but in reality, it was a way of saying I love you to everyone in their lives. When she thought about it, it made sense, so she didn't mind being foolish. 'We are the way we are for a good reason,' she thought as other teenagers shook their heads. 'And that's okay.'