Disclaimer: MA is the property of DIC, as well as all the characters therein

Disclaimer: MA is the property of DIC, as well as all the characters therein. Sailor Moon is the property of CWI, and Naoko Takeuchi. Shira, Shavati, Alysya, and Mikana are my characters. Again, forgive me for the lion phrase(s). I'm sorry! Don't hurt me! I am going to play the characters as the were intended(ie. Haruka and Michiru are not cousins, they are lovers). May contain graphic descriptions.

Rating-PG13(tentative)

A Kindred Soul

By:  Alysya

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"It is my hope that we will become good friends." Ammenhotep nodded to them, and Usagi stepped forward.

"I bring to you a simple gift. It is a songbird that came with us all the way from Nihon. May its song always be happy and bring you good luck." She handed him a cage, within which a little brown bird sat. It started to sing, and its song was indeed happy.

"I am pleased by your gift, it brings gladness into my heart. Please do make yourselves comfortable here. Feel free to ask my son's guardians if you have need of assistance. You may also have schooling with the guardian, Rath, if you have need of it."

"No, thank you, honorable pharaoh. Ami sensei is my teacher, and she is very good," Usagi said with a confident smile.

"Rath might have something to say about that," Ammenhotep whispered loudly, winking mock-conspiratorially. Usagi giggled behind her hand.

"I would like you to meet my son, prince Rapses. Prince Rapses and his guardians shall escort you around the palace. If you need anything, just ask them."

"You are most kind, honorable pharaoh. I am most honored to meet you prince Rapses." Usagi knelt in front of Rapses.

"I am honored to meet you too, princess Usagi," Rapses said, being as polite as he could.

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Part 2

"We shall adjourn court for now. I am tired, and you two should get to know each other better." Ammenhotep nodded to each set of guardians. They ascended and knelt.

"Watch these two well, guardians. I hope they get along with each other in a satisfactory manner. You will join us for dinner tonight." With a nod to the guardians, a smile to Usagi, and a pat on the head to Rapses, Ammenhotep left. Rapses grinned and turned to Usagi.

"So, what do you want to do now?" The guardians looked at each other, each seeing the dangerous possibilities in Usagi's answering grin.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe we could see more of the palace?" Rapses's grin broadened, and he leaned forward to make sure the guardians couldn't hear.

"Let's play hide and seek." Usagi nodded, giggling.

"Eeto, Usagi hime, perhaps we should get something to eat first," Ami started. She was interrupted by Rapses.

"Go!" And the two little children took off together. Not even pausing for a moment, all of the guardians were after them. It was rather easy to follow them, because they were both shrieking with laughter.

"Does this happen everyday?" Ami called to one of the prince's guardian, a tall man with blue eyes.

"No," he called back. "But I have a feeling that it's going to start happening a lot more often."

"With Usagi hime, it most certainly seems that way," Makoto said. The girls were having no trouble pacing the men, though their kimonos should have stopped them.

Everyone was forced to pause when they came to a cross section, and could not determine where the pair had gone. A younger girl sitting on the steps looked up. She smiled, and gestured to one of the pillars, placing a finger on her lips. With a nod of thanks the man who had replied to Ami went towards the pillar, and Ami took the other side of it.

"Gotcha!" the man announced, nabbing the prince from behind. Ami had the princess as well, but by her hair.

"Usagi hime, I would like you to explain your behavior. That was a very unsafe thing to do."

"I just wanted to have some fun." Ami softened a little. Usagi was rather limited in what she could do.

"I am sure there are other ways to have fun. If you wish to play tag, we could play with you. I thought I saw a practice ground. We could play such games there."

"I guess so. Are we in trouble?" Ami sighed. Should punishment be given? That was really up to Rei, but. . .

"No. At least you are not. I understand the need for exercise, even so wildly given. Next time, however you might tell us what you intend." Usagi nodded, feeling just a little less unhappy.

"I do not think we need to punish Rapses either. He has only been trying to make friends. But the idea of using the practice grounds does sound good. Perhaps after a short lunch we shall go there, if that fits with your highness's schedules?"

"Yes!" the pair chorused together.

"Good. Now let us get lunch before it is much later in the day."

"Good, because I'm hungry," Rapses announced for the fifth time. "Can we all eat together?"

"Yes, please may we Ami sensei? Onegaishimasu?" Ami smiled and looked over at the man who seemed to be the leader.

"Of course. As long as you ladies do not mind?"

"No, it would be a pleasure, I am certain."

"Yay!" the children shouted.

"Usagi hime, shizuka ni itte kudasai! Ladies do not yell." Rei frowned at her young charge. Usagi hung her head.

"Gomen nasai."

"It is not so important that you do everything perfectly, but that you know what must be done when, Usagi hime," Makoto rebuked her gently.

"Me, too?" Rapses asked.

"Yes, my prince. All of us must have good manners. Which is why we should introduce ourselves. I am Ja-kal, leader of the princes guardians." Ami smiled.

"I am Ami Mizuno, in charge of the princess's lessons, and the group. It is very funny to say my name the other way now." Usagi smiled.

"I am Rath, the prince's sorcerer and teacher." Ami nodded to the tall man with dark skin and green eyes.

"I am Rei Hino, in charge of discipline, and religious studies."

"I'm Armon. I teach the prince fighting." Ami nodded to the large man, who had one arm of gold.

"I am Makoto Kino. I also teach the princess some self defense."

"I am Nefer, charioteer for the prince." Ami nodded to the slim "man." She wondered how the others did not notice the presence of a woman in their group.

"And I am Minako Aino. The princess and I learn music and the courtly graces."

"Ami sensei, where are we going to eat?" Usagi asked, having obviously been waiting for her turn to speak.

"I am not sure, shall we leave it up to the prince?" Ami looked at Ja-kal curiously.

"Yes, can I pick this time? Please?" Rapses begged, looking as if he might die if his guardians said no.

"All right. It has to be someplace safe, though. We can't eat outside."

"Okay, let's eat in the gardens then. It's nice and cool in there. Can we take Kahtie too? Please?" Once again the young prince looked like he might die if Ja-kal said no.

"Yes, you may. I am certain these ladies have probably not seen a cat before."

"A cat? Hmm, is that something like a dog, but only more graceful, and with more brains?"

"Yeah," Nefer asserted. "And they are really loveable too."

"Neko! Are there really neko here?" Usagi asked Minako, her eyes bright and hopeful.

"Of course, my princess," Minako laughed. "There are always neko."

"We have a very special cat. Her name is Kahtie," Rapses said, producing the cat. Kahtie purred.

"Can I pet her, please?" Usagi hime asked.

"It's up to her, but you can let her smell your hand." Usagi did as instructed, and Kahtie butted her head against Usagi's hand.

"She wants you to pet her, Usagi. Go ahead, she likes you." Usagi laughed when Kahtie licked her hand, but she didn't stop petting the cat.

"Can you two walk and pet at the same time? I am sure we are all very hungry," Rath pointed out.

"Okay," the children chorused, giggled, and then began walking to the gardens.

"Wow, your palace is very big. How do you maintain it?" Makoto said, managing to keep from whistling for once.

"Slaves," Ja-kal said, pointing to a group of men working in a field.

"What's a slave?" Usagi asked, not taking her hand off Kahtie.

"A slave is someone who does work for you, and has no power. They are property," Ja-kal said flatly.

"But I thought you couldn't own people," Usagi protested. Seeing the view was upsetting the child, Ami shook her head firmly at Ja-kal, and tried to reassure her.

"I'm sure the people don't mind working. They do it so that the gods will be happy. If they didn't like it, I am sure they wouldn't do it, Usagi hime."

"So they are like our servants at home?"

"Very close, Usako," Ami assured her, using Usagi's pet name. Reassured, Usagi returned to petting the sacred cat, and they managed to reach the gardens unscathed.

"Does anyone want to come with me to the kitchens?" asked Nefer. Armon raised his hand, but Ja-kal shook his head at him.

"I'll go, if Ami sama says it is all right," Makoto volunteered.

"Certainly. I am sure you want to look at their foods anyway." Ami hid her smile as Makoto went with Nefer. She returned her attention quickly to the prince and princess.

"What do you want to do after this?" Rapses was asking Usagi.

"Take my nap," Usagi declared firmly, as if she was expecting someone to challenge her about it.

"Why?" Rapses asked.

"I'm tired. If I don't take my nap, I get in trouble with otousan."

"Who's that?"

"My father," Usagi said, wondering just how Rapses could not know that.

"Oh. Doesn't your mom do stuff with you too?"

"No. She is dead." Usagi stated this as a fact. All of the princess's guardians knew that it often bothered the little princess to speak of her mother, especially considering the circumstances surrounding her death.

"Oh." Rapses looked at the ground for a bit, then suddenly picked something up.

"What's that?"

"A bug," Rapses said, poking the thing in his hand with rapt interest.

"Really?" Usagi leaned over to look. "That is an interesting bug. What kind is it?"

"I don't know. Ja-kal, what kind of bug is this?"

"A scarab beetle. I think you should put it down now, my prince."

"He's no fun," Rapses whispered to Usagi, and put the scarab beetle back down.

"Maybe he is, and maybe he isn't. I bet nobody here is as fun as Minako. She lets me do all sorts of things when no one else is with us. I even got to hold a sword," Usagi whispered back, as if this was a great accomplishment. Rapses was about to say so, and then remembered she was a girl. It was a big thing for her.

"That sounds fun," he said, forgetting to whisper. Ja-kal looked over at him questioningly, but Rapses just waited for Usagi to continue.

"It was," she replied, guessing that all the guardians were now listening.

Makoto and Nefer returned from the kitchen, with trays of food. The children ate first, but Ami was not certain just how they did it, with Usagi asking Rapses about everything. He would explain it to her, and the little princess wouldn't eat a bite until she knew all about the food.

"Now that we are done, do you still want to take a nap, Usagi hime? We can still go and play if you wish."

"Arigatou, Makoto sama. Demo, watashiwa nendewo shimashou."

"Okay. You can take your nap, then. We can meet again in an hour, Prince Rapses, if that is all right with you?"

"Yes, that would be all right. I'm kinda tried too." Rapses only barely managed to hide his yawn.

"You know, only one of us really needs to watch the children while they sleep. Why don't the rest of you pair up, and walk around the palace?" Ja-kal suggested.

"Yes, you ladies go ahead, I'll watch Usagi hime today. I already saw the kitchens," Makoto pointed out.

"Well, I'd like to see the chariots," Minako said. "They sound fascinating."

"I'll take you," Nefer offered. "It's what I do anyway."

"Well, I would like to see you way of writing," Ami said with a smile. "I never miss an opportunity to learn."

"I will take you," Rath said. "Since we are both teachers I am sure you will be able to appreciate what I teach."

"What do you want to see?" Armon asked Rei.

"Hmm, I don't really know for certain. Maybe we could just go where you like to go the most?"

"Okay." Rei smiled, and the pairs started off to their individual destinations.

"Be back in an hour, guardians. The children should be awake by then," Ja-kal called after the departing pairs. They waved back at him in acknowledgment.

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"Whee!" Minako laughed as Nefer took her around the practice ring. They zipped around, Minako laughing, and other people staring at the spectacle. Finally Nefer stopped the chariot, and showed Minako how to rub down the horses.

"They are so incredible. Where did they come from?" Minako asked, stroking one of the horse's necks.

"From the north-west about. They really are wonderful. They are much faster than camels, unless you go into the desert." Nefer brushed the horse with a soft bristle brush, then handed it to Minako.

"You try it. Remember, always go with the flow. If the hair points that way flat, then that's the way you brush." Nefer watched Minako carefully doing the same job. She wasn't timid about it, just careful.

"Nefer, how did you become interested in chariots?" Minako asked, still softly brushing the horse's side.

"I saw the races all the time. I loved them. So, I decided to be a charioteer. It took some work, but now I've got the job."

"And for the prince, no less. That shows great spirit, to try so very hard. Did it take long?"

"A while, yes. What about you, Minako? How did you become the princess's guardian?"

"Well, the princess needed to have four guardians, one for each direction, if you will. We actually were picked out of her mother's ladies, except for Alysya. She was born about the same time as Usagi, and they became friends."

"So why were you picked?" Nefer asked curiously.

"I'm not exactly certain. I think it's because of my spirit. I like to be outspoken. Usagi does have three other guardians, and Alysya. We're all fairly different, but Usagi draws us together. You would not believe some of the fights we've had," Minako said with a smile and a shake of her head.

"We have fights too. Ja-kal just mostly leads us, though. He's a good leader, but sometimes he's a little too into doing things just one way."

"Ami chan can be the same way. She likes to follow tradition, same as Rei. Makoto and I think a bit like radicals, I suppose. I guess Usagi needs to have different viewpoints in her life, to help her decide," Minako sighed.

"Yeah, I suppose that's the same for the prince. Everyone who will be close to ruling needs to hear all the people, and the ways they may think." Nefer looked thoughtful. Minako was still itching to ask, but wasn't sure she should.

"Nefer, do you think we could go someplace quieter? I am getting very hot."

"Certainly. Come on, the stable hands will take care of the horses."

"So, what do you want to know?" Nefer

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Definitions:

Hime-princess

Kimono-a piece of Japanese clothing that is used for special occasions, but at this period of time was worn everyday by the members of the royal family.

Odangou-the buns Usagi has on her head

Sensei-teacher, or person entitled to respect

Otousan-father

Nihon-Japan

Nihonjin-a Japanese person

Hai-yes

Eeto(Eto)-umm

Onegaishimasu-please

Shizuka ni itte kudasai-Be quiet

Gomen nasai-Forgive me, I'm sorry

Neko-cat(s)

Sama-title of respect

Arigatou-Thanks

Demo, watashiwa nendewo shimashou-But I should sleep

Ami-

Rei-

Minako-

Makoto-

Haruka-

Michiru-

Setsuna-

Alysya*-Beautiful protector

*-This is my own translation, since Alysya isn't human