Kimiko S:  Thank you so much for your review!  It was just the medicine I needed!  ^^;; Totally inspired me to write again!   I kinda over did it on the longer chapter… it's spilt now.  The last chapter was fun to write, this one was a bit more annoying…  But I hope you like this one anyway!  I'd appreciate any insight/criticism you have!  Thanks!  [PS: How did you finals actually go?  Couldn't have been that bad.]

First Day: School:

"Usagi-chan!  Your friends are here!"

"Coming kaa-san!" Usagi called out from her room as she quickly slipped into her new school clothes.

"If you don't hurry, you'll be late for the first day of school!  Gomen.  You know how she's always late," her mother apologized.  Her blue haired and blue-eyed friend giggled in agreement.  Usagi and her close friend Ami, the school genius, had agreed to walk to school together.  Minako was to join them on the way.

"Love you Mom!  Thanks for lunch!" Usagi cried as she ran out the door.

"Bye honey!" her mother called and waved from the doorway.

"Must be lonely without Chibi-Chibi or Chibi-Usa," Ami smiled at Usagi.

Usagi paused her eating and looked into the sky.  "I'll learn to get used to it.  But I do miss the noise," Usagi smiled.

"And your mother?"

"She's handling it okay…  I think its because she kind of forgot they ever existed," Usagi sighed and then returned to her breakfast.

"HEY!" A cheery blonde ran to join them, her big red bow waving in the air.

"Ohayo Minako-chan!" the two returned the greeting.

"Did you see how I handled that youma last week!" she flashed her V.

Ami giggled, as Usagi pouted.  "You've been talking about that non-stop!" Usagi whined.

"Plus, we've all handled one," Ami added.  "They were simple enough."

"Yeah, but I took it out the swiftest!" Minako flashed her V yet again.

The two giggled.  "Luckily there won't be anymore," Ami piped.

"But it was nice to get the stretch.  I was starting to miss being Sailor Venus," Minako said dreamily.

"I hope it isn't a new enemy," Usagi said sadly, her steps slowing.  Minako looked to Ami for encouragement, ignoring the odd shadows on the brick walls.

Ami smiled, "You don't have to worry about that, Usagi-chan!  They were too sporadic and undisciplined to be planned attacks.  Besides, we closed the rip, no more can get out, and best of all, no one got hurt!"

"Yeah, and Sailor P got reinstated!" Minako added cheerfully.  Usagi looked greatly consoled.  "We're getting our just desserts.  It's about time we get our rewards for keeping the peace!"

"If this is dessert, then I'm skipping!" Usagi made a face as they entered the school building.  "I don't like school!"

"Without youma popping up everywhere, you could concentrate harder on your studies!" Ami added cheerfully.  To this Usagi moaned and the other two giggled as they passed the school office.  If they had looked inside, they would have seen the new student destined to alter their lives.

\@/ \@/ \@/ \@/ \@/

"The preparations are complete.  Welcome to Tokyo."

A small pale girl nodded her thanks and left the office, keeping her face hidden under the long bangs the times have given her.  Decades of training had given her an immense power that gave her a certain pride and self-confidence.  Unfortunately, the deadly wealth of her power subtly shone through her eyes.  She found that anyone peering into her eyes, when she wasn't wearing her smiling mask, would involuntarily take a step back.

She paused before the classroom.  She felt waves of such happiness her soul had long forgotten.  But as she stepped into it, she felt a wave of darkness swirled around the classroom as her sky blue eyes flashed coldly.

            The story is set with 'everyone' in high school.  I'm not sure if Michiru and Haruka were in their 'senior' year or not when Galaxia attacked, but (a year later) they are now!

Tell me what you think!  I want to know what I'm leading readers into believing! *grins maliciously* I think this chapter sux more, I'll come back and fix it later… so ciao!