Chapter One: Precious Moments
Usagi screamed as she shot upright in her bed, gasping for breath as her heart raced. She was trembling, covered in a cold sweat and her eyes were sore from crying …but why had she been crying? She had had a dream …or maybe it was a nightmare, but she could not recall even the faintest detail of it. And yet parts of it were still so fresh in her mind, the sensations and emotions at least, the sadness and terror and being bathed in the choking darkness, that the tears still fell from her eyes and she let her head sink down until her chin rested against her chest and she could finally regain some semblance of calm and relief.
Luna was there then, licking away her salty tears with a tongue like sandpaper but which felt so good against her face. The dark cat was purring loudly, rubbing her forehead against Usagi's chin after the streaks had been washed away from her face and Usagi reached out an unsure hand to gently stroke the reassuring form of her cat. Even now the remainders of her dream slipped away like quicksilver and she fumed at the loss. For so long now she had experienced the dreams and woken with a cry and hot tears and never had the actual contents of the dream stayed to provide some answers. But always there was Luna at her side to bring back the comfort of being at home, safe in her bed and with a friend.
"Oh, Luna," She whimpered. "It was the dream."
"And that is all it was, Usagi, just a dream. You don't have to worry about it anymore because you're awake now and dreams can't reach you when you're conscious." Luna mewed. "I don't suppose you can remember any of it?"
Usagi shook her head and willed herself to stop shaking as she continued to pet the black cat. Her brow furrowed. "Luna, your crescent moon is glowing," She mumbled as sleep lulled her once more. But with sleep came the nightmare and so she fought off the tantalizing leave of awareness to run her fingers lightly over the golden crescent moon that adorned Luna's forehead. Luna looked suddenly thoughtful and flinched as though a jolt of electricity had passed from Usagi's fingertips to her body.
"It shouldn't be," Luna murmured.
Usagi blinked as the glow faded. "Don't worry Luna, it stopped now."
Luna let out a sigh of relief and smiled a cat smile. "I hope it doesn't again. It only means trouble, Usagi. When the crescent moon glows, that means that the Princess is in distress. We can only hope that she remains all right wherever she is, after all, we can't do anything to help her if we don't know who she is."
Usagi pursed her lips in mild frustration and glanced over at her bunny alarm clock. The illuminated red lights read: 3:12 A.M. She groaned and shook her head, quickly earning Luna's concern again. She flashed her feline advisor a half-smile to let her know that nothing was truly the matter. "I don't want to sleep again, Luna. I can't stand it."
"I understand, Usagi, but you must get some rest or you will never stay awake at school tomorrow. You cannot function without some sleep and you must be at the top of your form to work as a senshi …especially the leader. We've gone through this conversation several times before, Usagi, and recall that the dreams usually only come once a night."
Usagi sighed. "I suppose so, Luna." Already her vision was fading as she sank back onto her bed and closed her eyes, asleep the moment her head hit the pillow. And she dreamt of a prison unlike any other wherein she called upon Endymion to free not just her, but him as well …and she called upon her savior and lover to recover the Mystical Silver Crystal.
* * *
Usagi was preoccupied as she hurried down the street to school. She was undoubtedly going to be late again, but at that moment the prospect didn't trouble her as much as it might have. Her thoughts were on the one thing she could ever remember from her twin dreams: Endymion. That man, that knight in shining armor, that man of dreams. She asked him something, demanded something of him …only she couldn't recall. Always he seemed so desperate to help her, with love buried in his heart, but she didn't know what she asked of him, only that she did. Perhaps the Princess would be able to help her find him, once they found her that was. Surely the Princess would want to help!
With a startled 'Oof' she ran into someone and started to fall backwards as she hastily called out an apology. But her tumble to the pavement was cut short by strong, familiar arms catching hers as a voice she knew too well spoke up, "Well, Odango, just can't stay out of my arms for even a day, eh?"
Usagi blushed and quickly stepped backwards. "You were the one who caught me, Mamoru-baka," She informed.
"Would you prefer it if next time I let you fall into traffic?" He inquired mildly, pulling her from the busy street. "Come now, Odango Atama, what kind of gentleman would I be then, ne?" He paused and glanced at his watch. "Late to school again, Odango?"
Usagi's face fell as she remembered why she was late and she replied without much life, "Hai, Mamoru-baka, nothing new for me. Of course, if they hadn't built the building so far from my house this would never happen."
Mamoru chuckled. "Well, Odango, would you like a ride? If we hurry you may just arrive on time." He walked over to a parked motorcycle. "You caught me just as I was walking back here, I had an errand to run before school."
Usagi licked her lips as she stared at the motorcycle. "You want me to ride on that?" She gaped as he nodded. "Are you insane? I would fall off and die!" She yelped.
He grinned. "No you wouldn't, Odango, here put on the spare helmet and hop up behind me." She eyed the motorcycle warily as she accepted the black helmet and fit it on her head. "It fits even with the odangoes," He commented, taking her hands and pulling her to the bike. "Now, you just slip on here behind me and put your arms around my waist."
Usagi slowly climbed on and rested her small hands on his waist, silently enjoying the feeling of his warm body beneath her touch. Mamoru laughed again and Usagi decided that the sound suited him, then he started the engine and suddenly it was all she could do to stay on the motorcycle. Quickly wrapping her arms about his waist she pressed close against his back and shut her eyes as they pulled away.
A century later – or so it felt – the thunderous noise stopped and she heard Mamoru's voice calling to her. "Odango, we're here. Odango Atama? You can ease up on the death grip now. Odango?" She opened her eyes as he shifted to turn around and blinked before a dazzling smile lit up her face. She abandoned her lethal hold around his waist to throw her arms around his neck and hug him close.
"I'm alive! I'm alive and that was sooo much fun! I want to go for another ride, Mamoru-san! Please!" She pleaded, still hugging him close. Mamoru's entire body shook as he laughed and returned the embrace as much as he could.
"Of course, Odango, but right now you're going to be late for school," He said. A very shocked Odango Atama pulled away suddenly and grabbed his wrist to verify this fact with the wristwatch. With a squeal she hopped off the bike and tossed Mamoru the helmet. Smiling gratefully and giving a polite bow, Usagi left him and sped off towards her school to arrive in class just in time.
* * *
Usagi skipped merrily alongside Hino Rei who laughed at Usagi's childlike exuberance and playfully swatted her with one of her flyers. Usagi only giggled and darted away, but not before getting in a hit of retaliation with her own share of the flyers. The raven-haired priestess of the Cherry Hill Temple finally gave in a few minutes later, warding off her golden-haired friend with the flyers until help arrived. Chiba Mamoru wrapped his arms around Usagi's waist and twirled her away, preventing her attack from reaching Rei.
"Arigato, Chiba-san," Rei said, offering Mamoru a polite bow. "While these flyers make exceptional weapons, Grandfather would not appreciate it if they were all destroyed before the winter celebration."
Usagi sobered quickly in Mamoru's arms, glancing up at the strong young man before stepping away. "Hai, you're right Rei, come on," She replied and started off again after taping a flyer to Mamoru's forehead so it hung down over his eyes.
"Odango Atama!" He exclaimed as Usagi grabbed Rei's hand and ran with her to safety.
Rei took in the rosy flush on her friend's face and caught the soft warmth of something beyond mere infatuation that sparkled in Usagi's azure eyes and came to a fascinating realization. Though not particularly interested in boys or a love life for herself of that manner, Rei privately longed for the angel child with honey-golden buns of spun silk hair to find a man to cherish and love her as much as she would he. Deciding to act on her insight, Rei pulled Usagi to a halt outside a busy little café and spun the younger girl around to face her.
"All right, Usagi, what was that all about? Is Chiba Mamoru your boyfriend?" She began.
Usagi blanched momentarily but recovered enough to falter her way through a response. "Oh no, of course not! He doesn't even know my name. We just bump into each other frequently and he teases me some …its actually kind of sweet," She threw in before Rei could go all protective on her. "How do you know him?"
"The T.A. Private Girls School once attended the same seminar as the Moto Azabu School of Excellence and Chiba-san spoke there as a representative of his class. He's seventeen and in the eleventh grade, single and from what I hear he gets good marks in school all the time. That's all I really know about him." Rei explained. For a moment she had been tempted to flare Usagi's jealousy but refrained at the last moment, knowing that Usagi would be stubborn enough in admitting her feelings without having the false belief that she would somehow hurt Rei hovering over her head. Usagi was just the sort to put off her own happiness so her friends could be blessed, at times her way of putting everyone else before her took too much precedence. It was best to let Usagi know early on that Rei had no interest in Mamoru. Besides, what would a Shinto priestess hoping to be the head priestess of the Cherry Hill Temple need with men and love? Such things should never be mixed, she knew from experience.
"Oh." Usagi murmured, seemingly lost in her own world, Rei permitted herself a small smile, sure of what – or rather, who – was on Usagi's mind. Usagi pulled out a golden star watch and Rei frowned in bewilderment, wondering when Usagi had gotten the object. "We still have time to post the rest of these flyers before the senshi meeting at the Crown Center Arcade, Rei, let's get on with it!" She exclaimed. Rei shoved any thoughts of the watch from her mind as she chased after Usagi who had once again smacked her with the flyers.