Author's Note: So, you may have noticed I haven't exactly been updating my stories lately. I put a note in my profile, but I wanted to reassure you, I haven't given up on any of my stories, and I won't stop writing them. I've just been dealing with all of this awful stuff going on in the world. I've been frustrated and angry with my president, and with the people who are following his example and not wearing masks.

Thanks to Astraearose-silvermoon, I finally decided I would just sit down and start writing. This is what I came up with. Chances are it will only have two or three chapters, and will eventually be moved into my Identities Revealed or Love Shots series, but for now I don't know what will happen, so I'm giving you what I've got.

I hope each and every one of you is safe and that you are all well. We aren't living in the best times right now, but I have to have faith that we will get through it. So I'm going to start thinking more like Sailor Moon. Have hope. Be strong for each other. And remember, if all else fails, there is always the world of magic waiting inside every story!

Personal Note: A few of you wrote to me, telling me to keep my spirits up. Thank you. If I haven't already replied, I will soon. I've only gotten through about half. Thank you so much for caring.

DEAR RABBIT
Chapter One

Usagi

Usagi slipped in the grass as she raced through the park toward the screams. She knew she had to find a place to transform, and fast, or she would be no good to anyone. Unfortunately, with the sakura blossom festival in full swing, people were everywhere.

Finally, when she was less than a hundred feet away, Usagi noticed a thick clump of bushes. It would have to do, as there was no time for anything else. Ducking inside, she peeped through the leaves, checking to make sure no one had seen her. When she was convinced it was safe, Usagi clutched her transformation brooch and muttered her henshin phrase through her panting breaths.

"Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"

Brilliant silver light surrounded her as her clothing melted away and fuchsia ribbons flew out around her, forming her fuku and hiding the sparkles that covered her brief nudity. When it was over, Sailor Moon again looked through the leaves. When she knew no one was watching, she jumped up into the branches of a tree and raced the rest of the way toward the Youma.

The monster was in full battle mode, spraying gushes of water at those walking around and screaming what must be its name. "Aquama!" It looked feminine, wearing a blue leotard that barely covered it, making the young heroine roll her eyes in annoyance.

Sailor Moon hurried to put herself behind the Youma, and without warning charged her tiara with a whisper and let it fly. The spinning disk tore through the Youma easily. Soon it began to disintegrate. Sailor Moon raised her eyebrows as she watched the pile of dust flutter to the ground. People that had been passed out in the grass or on the walking path started to stir and a cheer went up from the crowd. Others crowded around Sailor Moon, who had barely returned the tiara to her forehead.

She had no way out, except up, and someone was holding onto the skirt of her fuku. Panicked now, she looked around for help, and found none. It looked like she would have to make a break through the crowd. She could jump, but it didn't seem safe and she didn't want anyone to get hurt because of her.

Then a pair of strong, familiar arms wrapped around her waist and Sailor Moon felt wind rushing against her face as Tuxedo Kamen raced over the treetops and away from the crowded park. They came to a stop in front of a bench looking over the pond, and she sighed in relief, looking up at her masked protector.

"Arigato Tuxedo Kamen-sama," she whispered, panting slightly still.

Before he could answer, someone started laughing. "You know, I thought this would be harder. Anima come!" Jadeite moved into the light, making the two heroes gasp.

"Anima!" Screamed the Youma, then shot bolts of light from its palms at the trapped duo. Sailor Moon felt the light strike her chest with what felt like a ton of weight. Agony raced through her veins, burning like fire. She let out a hoarse scream, but it became strangled until it was a high-pitched whine.

"What?" She didn't get to finish. Soon enough, words were not possible as her body began to writhe and shrink. She heard the cracking of her bones as they reshaped themselves. The pain grew overwhelming and she lost the fight to stay conscious, just as a pair of strong jaws closed around her and sharp teeth pricked her skin.

Mamoru

Tuxedo Kamen raced away from the park as fast as his four paws could carry him, the little rabbit held gently between his teeth. He was afraid he had hurt her when he'd snatched her out of the grass before Jadeite could reach her, but he had been desperate and she was near unconsciousness. He wondered what he could possibly do to protect her in his current form. He was rather sure he had been turned into a wolf.

He was in the middle of the city. Where could he hide? How could he keep Sailor Moon safe? Had he hurt her? He could taste blood.

Praying he hadn't hurt her too badly, he dashed through the bushes and down a steep bank towards the stream. He knew of a place, hidden underneath where a drain pipe released rainwater into the stream. It hadn't rained for a few days and he was sure it would be mostly dry and perfectly hidden. He had often used the place to hide from bullies in his younger years.

He wasn't sure if he was still transformed under all his new fur, but he did know he had become stronger even as Mamoru. He hoped that would filter into this form. He felt his strange tail curl up as he leapt the distance to the pipe and used his now powerful nose to make sure there was nothing dangerous inside. He could smell small animals, probably rodents, but it seemed old.

He circled around until he found a comfortable spot, then lay on his side, resting the still sleeping Sailor Moon bunny in the curl of his tail. Tiny spots of red marred her pure-white fur. She was tiny and incredibly beautiful. Mamoru had never been a fan of rabbits, but this one was sleek and small, with pink ears and a tiny pink nose. He wondered if her eyes had remained the brilliant blue he remembered so well, or if they had been changed to match her new form. For that matter, he wondered about his own eyes.

Resting his jaw on his paws, Mamoru turned his gaze toward the stream burbling along below the pipe. He couldn't see himself from where he lay. With a heavy sigh, he turned back to look at the rabbit. His eyes felt heavy and he knew there was nothing else he could do until she woke, so he closed them and let himself drift into a light doze.

Usagi

Everything hurt. Usagi could feel the aching of her bones and muscles long before she opened her eyes. At least she was at home in her comfy bed. In fact, she felt more comfortable and warm than she ever had in her bed. Blinking her eyes open, Usagi gasped. She was in a shadowy place curled up on something warm, and moving. Glancing around, she nearly screamed when she saw the massive jaws of a wolf only inches from her fluffy new tail.

Tail?

Usagi blinked rapidly, then shook her head. How did she have a tail? Memories of the battle overwhelmed her and she remembered hearing Jadeite's laughing voice mocking them. So this was what he had done with his Youma. Anima. How was she supposed to defeat it as a rabbit? Hopeless despair overwhelmed her and Usagi wept. Except no tears fell. She stared hard at the wolf, knowing now who he was, then curled closer to his soft belly, which rose and fell with his breath.

Suddenly his eyes blinked open, looking eerily familiar. She knew those eyes. Not as Tuxedo Kamen. Those were Mamoru's eyes. Those emotion-filled eyes that couldn't hide his feelings even as he tried to yell and tease her. Mamoru was Tuxedo Kamen! She was laying against Mamoru, the boy she had loved for months. Shock and fear filled her. Could he see who she was too?

Opening her mouth carefully, she felt strange new teeth with her much thinner tongue. Everything felt different. Her whole body was like an oddly fitting outfit. She tried to speak, but only a tiny squeak came out. Again she tried to form words, but nothing that came from her mouth made sense. Frustrated, she buried her face in the thick fur of the wolf's belly.

Mamoru

The shock coursing through his body was ten times what it had been when he'd been turned into a wolf. When those eyes had opened and turned to him, he had known instantly who Sailor Moon was. Usagi. His Usagi, who he pretended to hate so the dark kingdom wouldn't attack her. The girl he had been falling in love with for months.

He watched her attempts to talk with a mix of frustration and amusement. He could tell she recognized him and that made it all the more interesting that she hid her face against him in her embarrassment. It was a confiding gesture. Somewhere deep inside she trusted him, even if she didn't like him all that much.

Instinct took over and Mamoru moved his face closer to her, licking his rough tongue over the soft fur on her head. She peeped up at him, her nose wriggling. He laughed. It came out as a coughing sound. He wished he could tell her not to be embarrassed. This was new for them both.

Her little wounds on her sides didn't seem bad now that he was close. He heard her stomach rumbling and laughed again. She was always hungry, apparently even as a bunny. What did rabbits even eat? Grass? Could she eat grass?

For that matter, he was hungry too. The thought of eating a little animal turned his stomach, but he knew he had to eat something. He wanted to tell her she was safe with him, but didn't know how.

Usagi nuzzled against his jaw and moved so that she was cuddled under his chin, startling him. It was almost as though she knew what he was feeling. He concentrated on her and tried to do the same. He only felt love and safety. And hunger. Laughing again, he nuzzled back. They had to get help, but he wasn't sure where to turn. The only person who knew his secret was Motoki and he was afraid his best friend would have a heart attack when he saw them.

He knew Luna was Usagi's cat, but he had seen her with Sailor Moon. He rolled his eyes. He should have known earlier. He'd heard her talking a few times. Usagi had always denied it, but he knew what he'd heard. He needed to get them to someone who could help them, regardless. He needed to make sure she would be safe.

Usagi

Somehow Usagi knew even before he moved that Mamoru was about to pick her up in his teeth again. This time, when his jaws closed around her, she wasn't afraid. She knew he would never hurt her.

It was late evening. Usagi's parents would be worried if she didn't get home soon. She had no idea what to do. It wasn't like she could speak to Luna and have her help. She didn't know what to do. The sky was growing dark. Even now Shingo would probably be sent out to look for her.

Quickly Mamoru clambered up the slope and looped through the grass towards the bushes and trees along the edges of the park, hiding in the shadows as he made his way toward the road. Usagi was worried. The last thing they needed was to be seen.

"Usagi!"

The familiar voice pulled her up short. That wasn't her brother. It was Luna! She squeaked once and Mamoru moved as though he was reading her mind, heading towards the voice. Luna was standing on a low branch of a tree. Mamoru moved toward the tree, gently lay Usagi in the grass, and yipped at the cat, who jumped, startled, and looked down at them.

"Usagi," Luna whispered. Then she shook her head. "Usagi? Is that you?"

Usagi nodded her head rapidly.

"Who is this with you?" the cat asked, looking suspicious.

Usagi wasn't sure how to tell the cat anything. She couldn't speak. Turning her head to the side, she stared at the feline, hoping she would guess.

"Tuxedo Kamen?" the cat whispered, her bright red eyes taking on a glow as she stared at them. Usagi remembered Luna could access the memories of others and hoped she was seeing everything that she needed.

"Mamoru!" Luna nearly shouted. Then she shook her head and leapt down from the branch and carefully checked Usagi's sides. "She's fine," Luna said, looking up at the concerned face of the wolf. He let out a huff of breath like a sigh, making Usagi wish she could giggle. He even sounded like himself.

"Now what do we do?" the cat wondered aloud. "Naru is out of town, so I can't exactly make your parents think you're spending the night with her. They wouldn't let you go out of town on a school night. Hmm. There has to be something I can tell your mother."

Mamoru let out a yip and locked eyes with the feline. She let out a sigh in response. "I suppose Motoki would be a good ally at that."

Usagi was confused. Did Motoki know who Mamoru was? How had he kept that from her for months? He was notoriously bad at keeping secrets. He had given Reika her Christmas gift already, and Christmas was still three months away.

She didn't have time to ask any questions, even if she could have spoken. Soon she was caught up in Mamoru's gentle teeth again. Luna preceded them onto the sidewalk, looking carefully around. "When I say go, dart down the sidewalk to that first alley. I'll make sure it's safe before you come out again."

A moment later Usagi was rocking from side to side as Mamoru dashed down the empty sidewalk and raced into the shadows of the alley. There was a brief pause and then they were running again, and a third time. Then she saw the familiar brick walls of the alley behind the Crown Game Center.

Luna opened the door, as she had done several times for Usagi when they'd gone into the command center. As soon as it opened, Luna gasped. Unazuki was standing in the break room, a broom and dustpan in her hands as she cleaned up the dirt on the floor. She looked up and gasped, standing quickly. At first Usagi thought she was afraid, but soon she started talking, shocking Usagi all over again.

"Oh Kami!" she whispered, falling to her knees in front of the unlikely trio. "I wasn't going to tell any of you about what I can do, but I suppose you need help, don't you?"

Usagi only stared at the redhead in confusion, but she was soon picked up in gentle hands and cuddled against Una's chest. "It's okay Usagi. I know it's you," Unazuki said. "I can read minds, and the three of you are practically screaming right now."

Doing her best to calm down, Usagi settled in, grateful someone could understand what she was trying to say. She really wanted something to eat. Unazuki giggled in response to her thought and nodded to Mamoru, who was sitting on his haunches, staring at Unazuki with a look of consternation on his face.

Mamoru

He didn't want to feel it, but he was annoyed with Unazuki for taking Usagi away. She was his. He didn't know why he suddenly felt so possessive. He had longed for Usagi for months but had never begrudged her giving her time and attention to anyone else. Now he wanted to snatch her up and run away where only he could see her. Shaking his head in frustration, he watched as Unazuki poked her head out through the break room door.

"Hey Motoki, I need your help back here for a minute," she yelled. Mamoru nodded in approval. She hadn't said anything that would excite the curiosity of the few patrons who remained near closing time.

When Motoki came through the door, he wasn't paying attention and nearly stepped on Mamoru's new tail, which he had forgotten to tuck around himself. He huffed and moved the tail against his body. Motoki looked down and would have shouted in fear if Unazuki hadn't smacked him.

"It's Mamoru," she hissed at him. "And this is Usagi." She shook her head. "You already know Luna. Mamoru and Usagi were turned into animals by a Youma."

"Wh-what?" Motoki sputtered. "How?"

Unazuki rolled her eyes. "You already know who they are, so don't pretend."

Usagi let out a little squeak and Unazuki laughed. "He watched Mamoru take off in a hurry after you left one too many times and put together that he never sees you in the Crown when Sailor Moon is out there." She shrugged. "I heard you freaking out about it when you first met Luna," she added. "I've known about you since the day it happened. And while we're sharing secrets, Mamoru, you should know my brother is an empath."

Shock coursed through Mamoru even as Unazuki reached for the phone. She stood there, still holding Usagi, and lied through her teeth as easily as he could breathe. "Hey Tsukino-sama," she said brightly. "Your daughter fell asleep on one of the booth seats. I didn't notice her until a minute ago. I was thinking I could just take her to my house. Yeah, I have a spare uniform for her. Alright. I'll talk to you later." She hung up the phone and turned to her brother. "Oh don't act like you've never seen me lie before," she snapped. "I've covered for you and Mamoru enough times." She shook her head and settled Usagi onto the couch.

Immediately, Mamoru leapt up and curled around her protectively. He felt better the moment he could feel her next to him. He watched Unazuki digging into the fridge. She pulled out a banana and a package of ham. Soon Usagi was nibbling away on the banana and Mamoru had finished the entire package of lunch meat.

"Alright," Motoki said, having finally gotten himself calm, "we need to figure out how to get them turned back, and fast."

"We need to draw out the Youma and destroy it," Luna said, licking her paw and then rubbing it over Usagi's messy cheeks. "Even as a rabbit you can't eat neatly," she groused.