Chapter 1

"Tsunkino residence. Ikuko speaking." The voice of Usagi's mom came over the line.

"Hi Ikuko. It's Mamoru. Is Usagi available?" Mamoru asked.

"Hi Mamoru. Yes she is. Hang on for just a moment." Mamoru heard the phone get set down, and Ikuko yell to Usagi that he was on the phone. Moments later, he heard another line be picked up, and Usagi yell that she had the phone.

"Hi Mamo! How are you?" Usagi asked happily.

"I'm doing well. How are you?" Mamoru asked with a smile. He loves how happy Usagi always sounds.

"I'm doing well. This conference has been very interesting."

"So you're learning a lot?"

"I am. I look forward to applying it to my work at my internship."

"I'm so glad Mamo."

"MAMO! HI MAMO! I MISS YOU!" Mamoru heard an excited, child's voice come on the line. He hadn't realized another line was picked up.

"Hi ChibiUsa. I miss you too. How are you?" Mamoru asked.

"I'm happy now because you called to talk to me." ChibiUsa squealed.

"ChibiUsa, Mamo called to talk to me." Mamoru heard Usagi say.

"No he didn't he called to talk to me." ChibiUsa snapped back.

"Actually, ChibiUsa, Usako is right. I did call to talk to her." Mamoru answered gently.

"Why would you want to talk to stupid old Usagi. I'm more fun, and smarter." ChibiUsa said.

"CHIBIUSA! He called me because he's helping me with a school paper." Usagi growled.

"Why would he want to help you? You're just dumb, lazy, and beyond help. No matter what he does, you'll still fail." ChibiUsa said, sounding smug.

"CHIBIUSA!" Usagi yelled.

Mamoru didn't know what to say or think at ChibiUsa's words at first. Sure he had heard ChibiUsa pick at Usagi, and they fought sometimes, but this was really bad. He needed to step in because Usagi was right. He called because Usagi was working on a Biology paper he had told her he would help her with.

"ChibiUsa, that was uncalled for. Usagi is not dumb or lazy. I did call to help her with a paper. Right now, you are interrupting that. I want you to hang up, right now, so she and I can get to work please." Mamoru said gently.

"NO MAMO! I WANT TO TALK TO YOU! DUMB OLD USAGI DOESN'T NEED YOUR HELP!" ChibiUsa yelled.

"Mamo, maybe this won't work after all. I'll figure it out." Usagi said softly. He could hear in her voice that she was fighting tears.

"No, Usako, I told you I would help, and I'm going to. ChibiUsa, hang up the phone now. I will talk to you later." Mamoru said sternly, he thought he hear a line hang up. "Usako, are you ok?"

"Yeah Mamo. I'm fine. Let me get my stuff, and we'll start working." Usagi answered.

"Ok. What is the topic again?" Mamoru asked. He knew she wasn't fine, but wouldn't push, for now.

"The human cell, it's different parts, how they function, and what it does." Usagi answered. He could hear books, and papers rustling around in the background. He thought he heard a snort in the background too.

"OK. Tell me what you have so far."

He worked with Usagi for about thirty minutes before he heard a groan on the phone.

"Usako, what was that?" he asked.

"What was what?" she asked.

"I heard…."

"ENOUGH ALREADY! THIS IS BORING! I WANT TO TALK TO MAMO!" ChibiUsa yelled as she cut him off.

"CHIBIUSA! I'M TRYING TO GET THIS DONE!" Usagi yelled.

"WELL YOU'RE DONE NOW! MAMO WANTS TO TALK TO SOMEONE SMART NOW!" ChibiUsa yelled back.

"ChibiUsa, Mamo and I are not done. This is important, and you need to let us finish." Usagi said, frustrated.

"No. It's my turn to talk to MY Mamo." ChibiUsa snapped.

"You know what Mamo, this just isn't going to work today. Thank you for your help so far. Can we try again tomorrow please?" Usagi asked, sounding like she was going to cry again.

"Ok. Usako. I'll call you tomorrow to work on this more." Mamoru replied.

"YAY! Now that you're done with dumb ole Usagi, I get to talk to MY Mamo." Chibiusa singsonged happily.

"Actually ChibiUsa, I have to go. I have some reading I need to do." Mamoru answered.

"What? NO! USAGI, YOU DUMMY! YOU TOOK ALL MY TIME TO TALK TO MAMO BECAUSE YOU'RE STUPID AND SELFISH!" ChibiUsa screamed.

"I'm sorry ChibiUsa. I really needed the help." Usagi answered softly.

Wait. Why is Usagi apologizing for the time we spent on the phone? She did nothing wrong. Mamoru thought to himself.

"Usako…" Mamoru started.

"THAT'S BECAUSE YOU'RE TOO DUMB AND LAZY TO DO IT ON YOUR OWN. YOU DON'T NEED MAMO'S HELP. YOU JUST WANT TO TAKE MY TIME AWAY FROM ME." ChibiUsa said, still yelling.

"Mamo, I better go. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Bye." Usagi hung up before Mamoru could say anything else.

"MAMO! Guess what happened at school today?" ChibiUsa said excitedly.

"I have to go ChibiUsa. I'll talk to you later." Mamoru said, and hung up the phone.

He was in shock over the whole conversation. He couldn't believe ChibuUsa's behavior, the things she said, and that Usagi didn't even stand up for herself. He hoped this was just a one time thing, only occurring because ChibiUsa missed him. This was the first time he had been away since she appeared. He hadn't really been away from Usako before either, but ChibiUsa was a little kid so her understanding of him being gone maybe different.