Angel's apartment - L.A. USA - year 2001
Her head snapped up and she stared at him, but she didn't seem scared. He raised an eyebrow and smiled a little.
"You know, Usagi-san," he commented. "I think you are the first human to not have a rather violent reaction finding this out from me. Even the love of my life had a rather nasty shock finding out. She ended up screaming her head off in fact. But she calmed down rather fast though. It's usually more of an issue than it seems to be with you. Vampires feeding on humans and all that."
Usagi smiled a little at that.
"Why would I have issues with that?" she asked. "You haven't killed me yet, so it's rather obvious that you don't intend to do so. And as you told me quite readily without being threatening in any way, I'm willing to give you a chance."
Angelus nodded.
"Thank you," he said. "That means more than you'll ever now to me. Even some of my closest friends still have doubts about my trustfullness due to my speices. Now, do you have any questions, or can I ask mine?"
Usagi looked thoughtful for a moment then shook her head.
"Nothing that is of a great importance or cannot wait until later" she said. "You ask me."
Angelus smiled at her, and then looked seriously at her. The next question would be a rather important one. He needed to now why she was here when she was supposed to be in Tokyo.
"Why have you left Tokyo, Usagi-san?" he gently asked. "It's a hard time coming to your city now, shouldn't you be there, helping?"
The golden girl jumped a little and gave him a startled look.
"How did you...?" she started, but interrupted herself. "Never mind. You have all the rights to ask me that."
Taking a deep breath, she began.
"Listen, and I will tell you my story," she softly said, settling back into her seat and stroking an errant lock from her face.
Preparing to start talking, Usagi took a deep breath. It felt weird trusting the man like this, she had only just met him after all, but she could feel in her heart and soul that he meant her no harm. Besides, he seemed to be telling her the truth.
"My full name is Tsukino Usagi" she slowly began, settling deeper into the couch, "and I'm from Tokyo, Japan. I am eighteen years old and a student at the Keyleu University. On the outside, I'm a normal teenage girl, but inside I'm not quite as simple. Have you ever heard of the Sailor Senshi?"
Angelus calmly nodded.
"Yes," he replied. "They are the protectors of the galaxy, the heirs of the kingdoms of the nine planets. Each of them is bound to a ginzuishou which they draw power from, resulting in different skills. At the moment, four is active, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus. One is inactive, Sailor Moon."
Usagi's heart beat faster. He knew about them, more than they knew about themselves. Was he the link to their lost past? Could he help her, them, find the princess?
"Right," she absently said, still caught up in the possibilities. "Well, once upon a time, I was the girl who was Sailor Moon. My cat advisor Luna activated me when I was fourteen years old to fight the Dark Kingdom and the youma. To find the princess."
"Find the princess?" Angel quietly commented, clearly amused. "You were going to find the princess. It's hilarious, really."
She gave him a questioning look, and he silenced, an amused look still on his face.
"Please go on," he relented.
"I was terrified in the beginning," she continued, keeping a stern eye at him, "but I learned how to survive and fight, and soon I received the help of three other Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen-sama, who helps us fight. It doesn't seem like he is a Senshi though. Instead of using magic connected to our planet signs, he throws some sort of nearly indestructible roses."
Angelus gave her an incredulous look and chuckled.
"Tuxedo Kamen?" he said. "Interesting name you have given him."
Usagi shrugged.
"It was the media's fault. You know how those vultures like to give silly names to everyone and their aunt. Shall I continue, or do you want to comment on anything else?"
Smirking slightly, Angelus nodded for her to continue.
"Well" she said with a stern look at Angel. "Anyway, while the other senshi have stopped growing for quite a while ago, I am quite a late developer. To be frank, I'm klutzy as nothing else if I don't watch my movements closely. In the end, it started to become a liability for the senshi in all. In the end, we decided that I would step back from my role as Sailor Moon to give my body time to fully develop before going in to fight again. It's better now, but I have still not grown completely into my body. Taking my classes in aikido and karate helps a lot though.
"The reason I'm here in USA is that I received a scholarship from the Keyleu University here in LA to become an interior decorator. My studies here will be finished in a couple of years, and then, I'm returning to Tokyo."
Angelus smiled warmly at her.
"Sounds like you have had a very interesting life," he said. "I can say that I believe that you and your friends did the right thing to let you grow into your body. I have seen too many almost children loose their lives just because they didn't listen to what their bodies told them."
Usagi nodded and looked curiously at him.
"You seemed very amused during some parts of my story," she finally said. "May I ask what it was that was so funny?"
Angelus gave her a judging look before rising, walking across the room and taking a thick volume from the bookcase. It was in black leather and seemed very old, something that were confirmed by the yellow, almost crispy pages.
"It seems like it's time to recast the conserving spell on this book," he absently commented as he sat down. "A long time has passed since I looked in this chronicle last. Too many memories I guess."
Usagi gave him a sympathizing look.
"Immortality must be hard," she softly said. You are very strong-minded to have survived this long."
Angelus gave her a sad look.
"Maybe," he quietly said, handing the book over to her. "Look at the picture, Usagi-san, and you'll have your answer."
Usagi looked at the picture, then gaped. It was opened to show a beautiful, colored drawing of two smiling humans, a young woman and a young man. The woman was sitting on a field with her ruby red dress spread around her, smiling happily at the artist with her green eyes while fiddling with her waist length, golden hair. The man was standing behind her, smiling adoringly at the woman, his blue eyes alight with love and care. Dressed to match the woman, he wore a black tuxedo with a black and ruby red cape. There was no doubt of who he was.
"It's Mamoru-kun!" she softly exclaimed. "How…?"
Angelus smiled a little at her exclamation then pointed at the text below the picture. Obediently, Usagi read the flowing script.
"The Earthian Royalty" she read aloud. "High Queen Briseis and her brother High Prince Endymion. Bri & Endy the summer of 1023."
"The year before the end of the Silver Millennia," Angelus silently supplied. "Mamoru-san is the reincarnation of Endymion as I'm sure you can see. You are correct when you say he's not a senshi though. He draws power from the ginzuishou of Earth though. My theory on why he uses roses as the manifestation of his powers is that he and his fiancé had them as a common interest. They even created their own rose garden on the Moon. Turn the page."
Turning the page with a slight tremble, Usagi took a deep breath before looking at the drawing there. She had a feeling of what she would find there.
She was correct. Before her was a young woman who could have passed for her twin. Dressed in a beautiful, blue gown there was no doubt that it was she. Reading below, Usagi stared at the words written beneath. 'The Imperial Princess Serenity II. Sere during the engagement ball.'
"She's me…" Usagi breathed. "I'm… I'm…"
Angelus looked seriously at her.
"Yes," he confirmed.
"You're the reincarnation of the Imperial Princess Serenity, Usagi-san.
And if you allow me to, I can help you remember."
