Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape, or form, own Sailor Moon.
Mamoru's Love
Chapter 1 : The Death
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"This is so romantic, Mamo-chan," Usagi said, batting her eyes at her boyfriend.
"I'm glad you like it, Usako," he said. Mamoru pulled a small cake holder out of the picnic basket and laid it on the blanket.
They were sitting outside, alone, on a beautiful starry night. The full moon was out and shinning brightly. There was a light breeze, and there was no one else around. The pond they sat by glittered in the moonlight.
"What's that?" Usagi asked as Mamoru slowly took the cover off. Laying on the round plate was a little cake. The frosting was pure white, and drawn in different colored frosting was a crescent moon and the Earth.
"Chocolate cake with white sugar frosting," Mamoru said.
"Oh, Mamo-Chan! It's beautiful." Usagi leaned against him and hugged him. She looked up into his royal blue eyes, and messed up his black hair. "Did I ever tell you I loved you?"
"Maybe once or twice." Usagi punched him. "Sorry," he smiled. "I love you, too." He bent his head and gave her a long lingering kiss.
She returned his kiss, falling into his arms. But he hadn't known that she was relaxing until it was to late. He reached out for her but she fell. She fell down into the cake.
"Mamo-Chan!" She tried to get up but her hands slipped and she fell back down. Chocolate cake and frosting covered her blonde, odango hair.
"Sorry, Usako," he laughed. He held his hands out to help her up. Usagi waved his hands off and tried to get up on her own.
"I don't need you to help me." She turned over on her hands and knees and slowly got to her feet. "See?" She tried whipping the cake off her clothes but it smeared.
"Looks like you had a fight with the cake, Odango Atama." Mamoru smiled and tried desperately not to crack up.
"Ohhh, look at me," Usagi whined. "How am I going to explain this to my parents? They think I'm at the movies."
"Don't worry about that now." Mamoru tried to hug her. Usagi pushed him back and he lost his balance. He grabbed Usagi's hand as they both fell into the pond.
Usagi broke surface and swam the few feet to the ledge. She didn't bother looking for Mamoru, but instead, got up and sat down at the edge of the pond.
Mamoru bobbled in the water a few yards from Usagi. His wet hair glittered from the water and the moonlight. He swam up to her and crossed his arms over the ledge, not bothering to get out.
"At least your clean now," he said.
"What?" Usagi pushed him under. As he went under, he reached up and grabbed Usagi's hand. Again, they both went into the water.
As Usagi entered her house that night, she quickly thought of reason why she was all wet.
"Usagi! What on Earth!" her mother cried. "Why are you all wet?"
"Umm, the toilet flooded while I was in the bathroom, and I kinda slipped and fell."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Just then, her little brother came in. "Man, Usagi. What'd you do? Get in a fight with a hose?"
"Quite, you. I've got to go take a shower." Usagi flipped her hair around and stormed up the stairs.
"What happened to you?" Luna asked as Usagi walked into her room.
"I fell in the pond."
"How'd you manage that, Usagi-chan?"
"It's a long story." She hesitated. "Actually, no it isn't. I just don't want to tell you. I'm going to take a hot bubble bath to clear my head, and I expect you to forget everything I told you by the time I get back." Usagi opened her bedroom door and went to the bathroom.
"Hey, Usagi-chan," Ami said the next day at school. She had short blue hair that laid against her neck.
"Hi, Ami-chan. Where's Mako-chan?" Usagi said.
"I don't know. She said she was going to meet us here. It's surprising that your here and she's not."
"It feels good not being the last to arrive." Usagi smiled.
"Yes. I just hope she gets here soon. I don't wanna be late to class."
"You worry to much, Ami-chan. Hey! Where's Minako-chan? Isn't she meeting us here, too?"
"No. Minako-chan had to take a test she missed yesterday. We'll see her at lunch."
"Sorry I'm late," Makoto said walking up. "I just saw this guy who looked a lot like my last boyfriend." Makoto had long brown hair that was pulled up into a high pony-tail.
"Huhh," Usagi groaned, her head down.
"Cheer up, Usagi-chan," Makoto said. "We'd better get to class before the bell brings."
"Yes. If I'm late I'll be in a lot of trouble," Ami said.
"Stop worrying so much." Usagi waved her finger in front of her face. "We'll be on time."
As the three friends made their way up to the school, Minako came walking out. "Hey. Guess what? I aced the test. Thanks for the lesson, Ami-chan."
"Your welcome. But we should get to class right now."
"What's the hurry?" Usagi wanted to know. Just then the bell rang.
"So Mamoru went back to the states?" Minako asked.
"Yeah," Usagi said. "I wish we didn't have to go. I miss him already."
"He'll be back winter break, won't he?" Makoto asked.
"He said he was, but traveling here to there is getting expensive. I should just let him stay until he gets the money."
"Oh, come on, Usagi-chan. We all know you want him to come back as soon as possible."
"Yeah, but every time he's here, we never go anywhere fancy. He just doesn't have the money."
"Saving for college does cost a lot," Ami said, taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Maybe I'll go there for break, so he doesn't have to spend his money coming here," Usagi thought out loud.
"Would your parents go for that?" Makoto asked.
"They would have to."
"And where would you get the money?" Minako asked.
"I have a lot in my bank account."
"But isn't that for college?" Ami asked.
"There's more then enough in there for college, Ami-chan. Who knows, I might not even go to college."
"Usagi! You have to go to college!"
"I don't have to do anything. By the time we get out of high school, we'll all go our own separate ways."
"That's not true," Minako said.
"But it is," Usagi said. "Chibi Usa and ChibiChibi have all ready gone back to their time. Ami-chan will probably go to some high tech college in the states. Minako-chan, you will probably go to some fancy cosmetology school. Mako-chan will end up going to a cooking school in China. And Rei-chan, for all I know, will probably go high into the mountains to train to be a priestess."
"That's just gibberish, Usagi-chan," Ami said. "None of us our going to leave."
"What about Mamoru? Chibi Usa? ChibiChibi? The Star Lights? They all left."
"But you still have us, and Hotaru-chan, Michiru-san and Haruka-san," Makoto said.
"And you'll always have your family, Usagi-chan," Ami said. "Even if we all went our separate ways, nothing would change. We'd still be friends. We could write letters and talk on the phone."
"It won't be the same," Usagi whined.
"Why are we talking about this now?" Minako wanted to know. "We still have two years before we graduate."
"I just don't want to be left alone," Usagi cried. "I'm missing you already."
"Usagi-chan," Makoto said. "No matter what happens, we'll be with you."
"Mako-chan is right," Minako said. "Even if we do go our own ways, when you wake us up from the sleep, we'll be back together."
"I can't believe that in a few years, that will happen. We'll have just graduated and we'll go into the sleep. I'm worried that we'll all die." Usagi started crying.
"That won't happen, Usagi-chan," Minako said. "We all know that Chibi Usa wouldn't have been here if that was true."
"But what if something goes wrong this time of round. What if..."
"Nothing," Ami interupted. "Even if something did go wrong, with Setsuna-san back in the time gate, she would watch over us. The sleep won't effect her. She could always go back in time and warm us."
"I guess that makes since," Usagi said whipping her tears.
"Cheer up, Usagi-chan," Makoto said. "Here." She handed Usagi her lunch. "You can have the rest. I'm full."
"Thanks." Usagi picked up the rest of the lunch and started eating.
"Serenity," a voice called. "Serenity."
"Huh?" Usagi turned in circles in the white mist. The voice seemed to be coming from every direction. "Who are you?"
"Serenity-sama," the voice said again.
"I love you." This voice sounded younger then the other one.
"Chibi Usa?"
"I love you, Mommy."
Usagi saw a little figure in the mist. "ChibiChibi?"
"I love you, Mommy," she repeated.
The mist around the girl started to fade. Usagi was able to her clearly. She had blonde hair that was pulled up on the sides of her head. The little hair that fell was curled.
Usagi gasped. "Is that me?"
"Mommy!" The little girl ran straight for Usagi's arms. But when she reached her, she kept running, past Usagi. Usagi turned around and saw that the little girl had run for someone else. A tall figure stepped out of the mist.
"Queen Serenity!" Usagi gasped.
"Hello, Serenity," she said.
"That's my name!" the little girl said.
"Shhh, Serenity," Queen Serenity said picking her up.
"Is that...me?" Usagi asked.
"Yes. This is you, when you lived on the moon."
Usagi smiled. "I was quite when I grew up. What ever happened to the loud me?"
"It wore off, Serenity."
"Who is that, Mommy?" Chibi Serenity asked her mother. "Why does she have the same hair as me and you?"
"Because she is you," she told her.
"What?"
"You'll understand when you get older."
Chibi Serenity got quite.
"Why am I here?" Usagi asked.
"Do you believe in making your own destiny, Serenity? Or do you believe destiny is picked out for you?"
"I'm not sure."
"You make your own destiny, Serenity."
"Isn't that what I've been doing?"
"Yes, but things do change from what you know it."
"I don't understand."
"You know who you will become."
"Neo-Queen Serenity."
"Yes. But it is your choice to become her."
Usagi thought for a minute. "Are you saying I can choose not to be her?"
"That's one way of putting it."
"The only way I know of doing that is to not re-awake the world. And I can't do that."
"I know you can't, but what if you don't have a choice?"
"But you just said I make my own destiny."
"Yes. But what if something goes wrong?"
Usagi didn't answer that. "How do you know who I will become?"
"I just know."
"Did you know that the negaverse was going to destroy the moon kingdom?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you do anything to stop it?"
"I knew your future, Serenity, and it was better there then on the moon."
"How did you know my future if I hadn't even made it, yet?"
"I just knew."
"These answers aren't answering any of my questions."
"They will."
"Queen Serenity..."
"Serenity. Usagi. Daughter. " Queen Serenity signed. "Destiny is what you make of it. You have to fight to get what you want. If something goes wrong, you might not be able to fix it."
"So your saying... what?"
"Be careful, Princess. Every thing comes at a price, and some things you just can't change. I love you."
Queen Serenity and Usagi's 3-year old self started to fade back into the mist.
"Wait!" Usagi cried.
But they disappeared. She could only here their last words as they disappeared.
"What about me, Mommy? Do you love me?"
"I love you, Princess Serenity," was the last thing Queen Serenity said.
Usagi knew she was talking to her.
The next day was a Saturday. Usagi sat home alone on the phone, talking to Minako.
"I don't know what to make of it," Usagi said into the mouth piece. She had just told Minako about the dream.
"It is weird," Minako said. "Did you talk to Luna-chan about it?"
"Couldn't. She wasn't home when I woke up."
"I wonder where she went?"
"Me, too." The door bell rang. "I gotta go, Minako-chan. The mail is here."
"Okay. I'll talk to you later. 'Bye."
"'Bye." Usagi hung up the phone and dashed for the door. She was waiting for a package from Mamoru.
The mail lady held a brown box in her hands. "Hi," she said. "Package for Tsukino Usagi."
"That's me," Usagi said.
"Sign here, please." Usagi took the pen from the lady and sighed her name.
Usagi took the package from her. "Thanks." She went back in the house and shut the door behind her. She ran up to her room and jumped on her bed.
She read the return address. It was Mamoru's.
She pulled the envelope off the box and opened it. Inside was a letter. She read it quietly to herself.
Dear Usako, November 29
I missed you as soon as I got on the plane. I looked for you from the window, but I couldn't find you. But I knew you were there. I'll be coming down for winter break, don't worry. I wouldn't miss being with you. I sent you a gift just like I had promised. I hope you like it. When I saw it, I thought of you right away. Actually, there are three gifts in the box. Don't get excited and tear open the box. Read the rest of this letter first. I really had fun that last night we were together. I wish I hadn't had to leave until after the weekend. And I hope you got to school without being late, or fall a sleep in class because you got up so early (laugh). I love you, Usako. I've got to get to work now. I'll talk to you soon. I love you.
Love You Forever,
Mamoru
P.S. Did I tell you I love you? I do, Usagi. I love you more then I've ever loved anyone in both of my lives. See you soon, my love. My princess.
Usagi signed and set the letter down. Then she tore into the box. Surrounded in American newspaper were three boxes covered in a white wrapping paper.
She pulled the largest one out and tore the paper off. She lifted the lid off the box and found a necklace resting in cotton. Attached to the gold chain was a gold locket. Usagi pried it open. Staring up at her on one side was a picture of her. On the other side was a picture of Mamoru, that she had never seen.
"It's so pretty," Usagi said to herself. She unlocked the chain and put it around her neck.
She took out the next biggest box. When she saw what was inside, she almost fainted. Sitting on the same white cotton was a golden bracelet. It looked exactly like the bracelet she had during the Silver Millennium. She clipped it around her wrist.
She took the last box out. It was small. No more then a inch all around. She took the paper off. It was a blue ring box. Carefully she pulled the top up. Sitting in a white cushion cloth was a the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. There were two crescent moons that formed the outside. The tips of the crescent moons were touching. Between them lay a diamond. Usagi gushed and took the ring out. She placed it on her middle finger. She went to close the box when she noticed words written on the inside of the lid. She tilted the box up into the light so she could read it.
Written in Mamoru's hand writing were these words: Will you marry me?
Usagi dropped the box as her hand flew to her mouth.
"He wants me to marry him," Usagi said to herself. "But I'm only 16, and he's 20. Would it work out?"
Usagi jumped up from the bed and ran down stairs. She picked up the phone and dialed Minako's number.
She picked up after two rings. "Hello?"
"He asked me to marry him," Usagi blurted out.
"Usagi-chan? What are you talking about?"
"I got this package from Mamoru. He gave me a heart locket with our pictures in it, a bracelet that looks exactly like the one I had during the Silver Millennium, and a diamond ring with crescent moons on it. In a message in the box it says: Will you marry me?"
"Your kidding, right?" Minako sounded as if she didn't believe her.
"I'm not. He asked me to marry him."
"Now?"
"I don't know. I guess so. It doesn't say when."
"Don't you think your a little too young to get married?"
"I thought of that, and no. I'm ready Minako. I've been waiting over a thousand years."
"What about Queen Serenity's warning?"
"What?"
"Your dream. Didn't you tell me that she said that you can alter your destiny, that if something goes wrong, you may not be able to fix it?"
"Yeah. But she also said that we make our destiny."
"I'm not going to tell you what to do, Usagi-chan. But just a word of caution. Your love may be too much for you both to handle."
"What's the suppose to mean?"
"Just what it says. I gotta go. Think hard about it before you make a final decision." Minako hung up.
Usagi hung put the phone down." 'Your love may be too much for you to handle.' What's that suppose to mean?"
Usagi looked down at her ring. She took it off and looked at it closely. The diamond was real, she was sure of that. And so was the gold. She really wanted to marry Mamoru, but something was telling her to wait.
I'll write him a letter, she thought. I'll explain to him that I want to wait until I graduate.
Usagi went back up to her room and took a piece of paper out. She grabbed a pen and started writing.
Dear Mamo-chan,
The gifts were beautiful! I liked the ring the most. And yes, I will marry you. But did you mean it for right now? I would like to wait until I get out of school, but if you think we should do it now, I will. I love you, too. More then I've ever loved anything or anyone. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, before we fall into the deep sleep. Ami-chan estimated that the world will go into sleep not long after we graduate. That's when I want to do it.
I miss you so much. I wasn't exactly late. I mean, you didn't make me late, Mako-chan did. But that's okay. I only got detention.
It's only three weeks until I see you again. I don't know if I can wait that long. I wish you were here. I wish I could be in your arms right now. I love you. It's only been two days since our last night together, so there's nothing to tell. I'll leave you now.
Love Your Princess,
Usagi
Usagi put on pink lipstick then kissed the bottom of the page. "Forever," she whispered. She put the letter in a envelope and sealed it. She wrote his address and the return address on the envelope, then she set it aside so that she could mail it the next day.
Usagi was alone in her quite room. The curtains were pulled shut, so it was dark. Her ceiling was there, yet, it wasn't. When she looked up, she looked into space. You could see the stars, planets, and the moon. Every once in a while a shooting star would pass by. Usagi connected the stars until she was able to see the image of Mamoru.
She closed her eyes for just a split second. They re-opened quickly, for no reason, except that she had this weird feeling that something wasn't right. She dismissed it, and fell back into a deep sleep.
Usagi stood outside of the front door, waiting for the mailman to come. Finally, she saw him walking up. She was excited. It had been over a week since she had mailed her letter to Mamoru, and she just couldn't wait to hear his response. She thanked the mailman as he handed her a stack of magazines and envelopes. She walked into the living room and threw the mail on the table in front of the TV. She sat down on the floor and started going through them.
She picked out a magazine that had her name on it, and an envelope that had no return address on it. She hurried up to her room. Luna was laying on her bed when she entered.
"Did my magazine come in?" Luna asked.
"Yeah. Here." Usagi threw the cat lovers magazine to Luna, who opened it up and started reading.
Usagi took a seat at her desk and flipped the envelope over and over again, trying to figure out what was inside.
"Just open it," Luna said watching it.
Usagi shrugged and tore into the paper. Inside was a single piece of paper. It looked professional, because it was typed and had borders. She spotted her name in the text and Mamoru's.
She began to read:
Dear Tsukino Usagi,
I am sorry to inform you that a great tragedy has occrued. On the 11th of December, Chiba Mamoru was killed. He was on his way to work, when a big rig truck hit his car. He died insanity without any suffering. He had no will, and no family, but the United States government has decided, since you were his girlfriend, and fiancee, that you will take his belongings and do as you please with them. His body is being sent back to Tokyo, and should arrive early on the 5th. Again, I am sorry for this unconveness. I hope the best for you.
Detective Jack Couty
Usagi stood up and her chair fell to the floor. "No! This can't be! It can't!"
"Usagi-chan!?" Luna got to her feet. "What's wrong?"
"It's not suppose to be like this. We're suppose to be together for ever." Usagi fell to the floor weeping.
Luna walked over the paper Usagi had dropped and read it. "This is impossible!"
"Oh, Luna! What am I going to do?" Usagi was crying hard now. The tears fell down her face like rain.
"Don't worry, Usagi. Everything will work out."
"Oh what will I do without Mamo-Chan?" Usagi bent her head between her legs and started weeping.
The sky was covered with thick black clouds. The wind was picking up, and many people were glomming over the death of Chiba Mamoru.
Usagi sat in a chair in the first row of the cemetery. She wore all black, with a black vail covering her face.
Hino Rei sat next to her wearing a deep red and black dress. In her cupped hands was a red rose. Mizuno Ami, Aino Minako, and Kino Makoto were also wearing black, each holding a red rose, were standing beside the clutter of seats talking.
Luna and Artemus, their guardian cats, were sitting next to Usagi on the ground. Mamoru's best friend, Furuhata Motoki sat in the chair on the other side of Usagi. He wore a black tux. Behind them, were other people, including the Tsukino family, and other friends of Mamoru.
In front of the clutter of chairs, was the casket. It was a midnight black, with red and white, long stemmed roses laying on the top. The head of the casket was open, so that Mamoru was in sight. A minister stood by the head of the casket getting ready for the funeral.
"Usagi-chan?" a voice said softly. Tenoh Haruka walked up with Kaioh Michiru at her side. Behind them were Meiou Setsuna and Tomoe Hotaru.
Usagi didn't make a single move to the call of her name. She just sat in her chair with her head down, looking into her lap.
"Usagi-chan?" Haruka called to her again. No movement.
Rei looked up at the four of them, then at Usagi. Rei put a hand on Usagi's shoulder.
Usagi bolted right up and starred wide eyed at the casket. She starred at nothing else, as if she was hypnotized.
Else where, Tsukino Ikuko, Usagi's mother, was watching her daughter. She stood up and joined Minako, Ami, and Makoto. "Excuse me, girls."
"What can we do for you?" Minako asked. They all had tears in their eyes.
"She loved him, didn't she?" Ikuko said out right.
They all looked at the ground. Makoto spoke. "She did."
"Did he love her?"
"Yes," Ami said.
"At such a young age......?"
"Their love is older then you think," Minako mumbled.
"What does that mean?"
"I'm sorry, Tsukino-San. You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
Luckily, they were interrupted. "If you all would please take your seats," the minister said.
The three girls rushed away from Ikuko and took their seats. Ikuko walked back to her seat. She passed by her son, Shingo, and slapped him on the leg. He was playing with a frog on the ground.
"I want to thank you all for coming. Chiba Mamoru had no family, but was in love with a girl, who he one day wished to marry: Tsukino Usagi." The minister went on and told the little things about Mamoru that he knew.
Throughout the whole service, Usagi starred at the minister, not wanting to look at her Mamo-Chan any more then she would have to.
At the end of the ceremony, each person got up to pay their last respects. Usagi waited to be the last. Her friends and family stood off to the side waiting for her.
She stood up very solemnly, and walked to the head of the casket. Mamoru's loving face starred up at her. His eyes were closed, his mouth not smiling. We wore a black tux and in his folded hands was a single red rose.
Usagi looked down at her dress and moved her hand. She put her hand in her pocket then pulled out a white object. A mask. She reached into the casket and put the white eye mask on his face. She reached into her other pocket and pulled out a large yellow star.
"This is our star locket," she whispered to his lifeless body. She unwrapped his fingers from the rose and put the star locket in their place. "Always remember me." She reached into her pocket again and pulled out a yellow broach that had a heart with crescent moon at the bottom of it. She placed this beside his head. "No more fighting, ever."
A tear fell down her cheek and hit the star locket. It glimmered before it fell off the side. Usagi stepped away from the casket and joined her family and friends.
The people who worked there closed the lid on the casket and started lowering it in the ground. Her eight friends handed their roses to her, and Usagi threw them into the grave. "Forever," she whispered under her breath.
***
Mamoru's Love
Chapter 1 : The Death
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"This is so romantic, Mamo-chan," Usagi said, batting her eyes at her boyfriend.
"I'm glad you like it, Usako," he said. Mamoru pulled a small cake holder out of the picnic basket and laid it on the blanket.
They were sitting outside, alone, on a beautiful starry night. The full moon was out and shinning brightly. There was a light breeze, and there was no one else around. The pond they sat by glittered in the moonlight.
"What's that?" Usagi asked as Mamoru slowly took the cover off. Laying on the round plate was a little cake. The frosting was pure white, and drawn in different colored frosting was a crescent moon and the Earth.
"Chocolate cake with white sugar frosting," Mamoru said.
"Oh, Mamo-Chan! It's beautiful." Usagi leaned against him and hugged him. She looked up into his royal blue eyes, and messed up his black hair. "Did I ever tell you I loved you?"
"Maybe once or twice." Usagi punched him. "Sorry," he smiled. "I love you, too." He bent his head and gave her a long lingering kiss.
She returned his kiss, falling into his arms. But he hadn't known that she was relaxing until it was to late. He reached out for her but she fell. She fell down into the cake.
"Mamo-Chan!" She tried to get up but her hands slipped and she fell back down. Chocolate cake and frosting covered her blonde, odango hair.
"Sorry, Usako," he laughed. He held his hands out to help her up. Usagi waved his hands off and tried to get up on her own.
"I don't need you to help me." She turned over on her hands and knees and slowly got to her feet. "See?" She tried whipping the cake off her clothes but it smeared.
"Looks like you had a fight with the cake, Odango Atama." Mamoru smiled and tried desperately not to crack up.
"Ohhh, look at me," Usagi whined. "How am I going to explain this to my parents? They think I'm at the movies."
"Don't worry about that now." Mamoru tried to hug her. Usagi pushed him back and he lost his balance. He grabbed Usagi's hand as they both fell into the pond.
Usagi broke surface and swam the few feet to the ledge. She didn't bother looking for Mamoru, but instead, got up and sat down at the edge of the pond.
Mamoru bobbled in the water a few yards from Usagi. His wet hair glittered from the water and the moonlight. He swam up to her and crossed his arms over the ledge, not bothering to get out.
"At least your clean now," he said.
"What?" Usagi pushed him under. As he went under, he reached up and grabbed Usagi's hand. Again, they both went into the water.
As Usagi entered her house that night, she quickly thought of reason why she was all wet.
"Usagi! What on Earth!" her mother cried. "Why are you all wet?"
"Umm, the toilet flooded while I was in the bathroom, and I kinda slipped and fell."
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
Just then, her little brother came in. "Man, Usagi. What'd you do? Get in a fight with a hose?"
"Quite, you. I've got to go take a shower." Usagi flipped her hair around and stormed up the stairs.
"What happened to you?" Luna asked as Usagi walked into her room.
"I fell in the pond."
"How'd you manage that, Usagi-chan?"
"It's a long story." She hesitated. "Actually, no it isn't. I just don't want to tell you. I'm going to take a hot bubble bath to clear my head, and I expect you to forget everything I told you by the time I get back." Usagi opened her bedroom door and went to the bathroom.
"Hey, Usagi-chan," Ami said the next day at school. She had short blue hair that laid against her neck.
"Hi, Ami-chan. Where's Mako-chan?" Usagi said.
"I don't know. She said she was going to meet us here. It's surprising that your here and she's not."
"It feels good not being the last to arrive." Usagi smiled.
"Yes. I just hope she gets here soon. I don't wanna be late to class."
"You worry to much, Ami-chan. Hey! Where's Minako-chan? Isn't she meeting us here, too?"
"No. Minako-chan had to take a test she missed yesterday. We'll see her at lunch."
"Sorry I'm late," Makoto said walking up. "I just saw this guy who looked a lot like my last boyfriend." Makoto had long brown hair that was pulled up into a high pony-tail.
"Huhh," Usagi groaned, her head down.
"Cheer up, Usagi-chan," Makoto said. "We'd better get to class before the bell brings."
"Yes. If I'm late I'll be in a lot of trouble," Ami said.
"Stop worrying so much." Usagi waved her finger in front of her face. "We'll be on time."
As the three friends made their way up to the school, Minako came walking out. "Hey. Guess what? I aced the test. Thanks for the lesson, Ami-chan."
"Your welcome. But we should get to class right now."
"What's the hurry?" Usagi wanted to know. Just then the bell rang.
"So Mamoru went back to the states?" Minako asked.
"Yeah," Usagi said. "I wish we didn't have to go. I miss him already."
"He'll be back winter break, won't he?" Makoto asked.
"He said he was, but traveling here to there is getting expensive. I should just let him stay until he gets the money."
"Oh, come on, Usagi-chan. We all know you want him to come back as soon as possible."
"Yeah, but every time he's here, we never go anywhere fancy. He just doesn't have the money."
"Saving for college does cost a lot," Ami said, taking a bite of her sandwich.
"Maybe I'll go there for break, so he doesn't have to spend his money coming here," Usagi thought out loud.
"Would your parents go for that?" Makoto asked.
"They would have to."
"And where would you get the money?" Minako asked.
"I have a lot in my bank account."
"But isn't that for college?" Ami asked.
"There's more then enough in there for college, Ami-chan. Who knows, I might not even go to college."
"Usagi! You have to go to college!"
"I don't have to do anything. By the time we get out of high school, we'll all go our own separate ways."
"That's not true," Minako said.
"But it is," Usagi said. "Chibi Usa and ChibiChibi have all ready gone back to their time. Ami-chan will probably go to some high tech college in the states. Minako-chan, you will probably go to some fancy cosmetology school. Mako-chan will end up going to a cooking school in China. And Rei-chan, for all I know, will probably go high into the mountains to train to be a priestess."
"That's just gibberish, Usagi-chan," Ami said. "None of us our going to leave."
"What about Mamoru? Chibi Usa? ChibiChibi? The Star Lights? They all left."
"But you still have us, and Hotaru-chan, Michiru-san and Haruka-san," Makoto said.
"And you'll always have your family, Usagi-chan," Ami said. "Even if we all went our separate ways, nothing would change. We'd still be friends. We could write letters and talk on the phone."
"It won't be the same," Usagi whined.
"Why are we talking about this now?" Minako wanted to know. "We still have two years before we graduate."
"I just don't want to be left alone," Usagi cried. "I'm missing you already."
"Usagi-chan," Makoto said. "No matter what happens, we'll be with you."
"Mako-chan is right," Minako said. "Even if we do go our own ways, when you wake us up from the sleep, we'll be back together."
"I can't believe that in a few years, that will happen. We'll have just graduated and we'll go into the sleep. I'm worried that we'll all die." Usagi started crying.
"That won't happen, Usagi-chan," Minako said. "We all know that Chibi Usa wouldn't have been here if that was true."
"But what if something goes wrong this time of round. What if..."
"Nothing," Ami interupted. "Even if something did go wrong, with Setsuna-san back in the time gate, she would watch over us. The sleep won't effect her. She could always go back in time and warm us."
"I guess that makes since," Usagi said whipping her tears.
"Cheer up, Usagi-chan," Makoto said. "Here." She handed Usagi her lunch. "You can have the rest. I'm full."
"Thanks." Usagi picked up the rest of the lunch and started eating.
"Serenity," a voice called. "Serenity."
"Huh?" Usagi turned in circles in the white mist. The voice seemed to be coming from every direction. "Who are you?"
"Serenity-sama," the voice said again.
"I love you." This voice sounded younger then the other one.
"Chibi Usa?"
"I love you, Mommy."
Usagi saw a little figure in the mist. "ChibiChibi?"
"I love you, Mommy," she repeated.
The mist around the girl started to fade. Usagi was able to her clearly. She had blonde hair that was pulled up on the sides of her head. The little hair that fell was curled.
Usagi gasped. "Is that me?"
"Mommy!" The little girl ran straight for Usagi's arms. But when she reached her, she kept running, past Usagi. Usagi turned around and saw that the little girl had run for someone else. A tall figure stepped out of the mist.
"Queen Serenity!" Usagi gasped.
"Hello, Serenity," she said.
"That's my name!" the little girl said.
"Shhh, Serenity," Queen Serenity said picking her up.
"Is that...me?" Usagi asked.
"Yes. This is you, when you lived on the moon."
Usagi smiled. "I was quite when I grew up. What ever happened to the loud me?"
"It wore off, Serenity."
"Who is that, Mommy?" Chibi Serenity asked her mother. "Why does she have the same hair as me and you?"
"Because she is you," she told her.
"What?"
"You'll understand when you get older."
Chibi Serenity got quite.
"Why am I here?" Usagi asked.
"Do you believe in making your own destiny, Serenity? Or do you believe destiny is picked out for you?"
"I'm not sure."
"You make your own destiny, Serenity."
"Isn't that what I've been doing?"
"Yes, but things do change from what you know it."
"I don't understand."
"You know who you will become."
"Neo-Queen Serenity."
"Yes. But it is your choice to become her."
Usagi thought for a minute. "Are you saying I can choose not to be her?"
"That's one way of putting it."
"The only way I know of doing that is to not re-awake the world. And I can't do that."
"I know you can't, but what if you don't have a choice?"
"But you just said I make my own destiny."
"Yes. But what if something goes wrong?"
Usagi didn't answer that. "How do you know who I will become?"
"I just know."
"Did you know that the negaverse was going to destroy the moon kingdom?"
"Yes."
"Then why didn't you do anything to stop it?"
"I knew your future, Serenity, and it was better there then on the moon."
"How did you know my future if I hadn't even made it, yet?"
"I just knew."
"These answers aren't answering any of my questions."
"They will."
"Queen Serenity..."
"Serenity. Usagi. Daughter. " Queen Serenity signed. "Destiny is what you make of it. You have to fight to get what you want. If something goes wrong, you might not be able to fix it."
"So your saying... what?"
"Be careful, Princess. Every thing comes at a price, and some things you just can't change. I love you."
Queen Serenity and Usagi's 3-year old self started to fade back into the mist.
"Wait!" Usagi cried.
But they disappeared. She could only here their last words as they disappeared.
"What about me, Mommy? Do you love me?"
"I love you, Princess Serenity," was the last thing Queen Serenity said.
Usagi knew she was talking to her.
The next day was a Saturday. Usagi sat home alone on the phone, talking to Minako.
"I don't know what to make of it," Usagi said into the mouth piece. She had just told Minako about the dream.
"It is weird," Minako said. "Did you talk to Luna-chan about it?"
"Couldn't. She wasn't home when I woke up."
"I wonder where she went?"
"Me, too." The door bell rang. "I gotta go, Minako-chan. The mail is here."
"Okay. I'll talk to you later. 'Bye."
"'Bye." Usagi hung up the phone and dashed for the door. She was waiting for a package from Mamoru.
The mail lady held a brown box in her hands. "Hi," she said. "Package for Tsukino Usagi."
"That's me," Usagi said.
"Sign here, please." Usagi took the pen from the lady and sighed her name.
Usagi took the package from her. "Thanks." She went back in the house and shut the door behind her. She ran up to her room and jumped on her bed.
She read the return address. It was Mamoru's.
She pulled the envelope off the box and opened it. Inside was a letter. She read it quietly to herself.
Dear Usako, November 29
I missed you as soon as I got on the plane. I looked for you from the window, but I couldn't find you. But I knew you were there. I'll be coming down for winter break, don't worry. I wouldn't miss being with you. I sent you a gift just like I had promised. I hope you like it. When I saw it, I thought of you right away. Actually, there are three gifts in the box. Don't get excited and tear open the box. Read the rest of this letter first. I really had fun that last night we were together. I wish I hadn't had to leave until after the weekend. And I hope you got to school without being late, or fall a sleep in class because you got up so early (laugh). I love you, Usako. I've got to get to work now. I'll talk to you soon. I love you.
Love You Forever,
Mamoru
P.S. Did I tell you I love you? I do, Usagi. I love you more then I've ever loved anyone in both of my lives. See you soon, my love. My princess.
Usagi signed and set the letter down. Then she tore into the box. Surrounded in American newspaper were three boxes covered in a white wrapping paper.
She pulled the largest one out and tore the paper off. She lifted the lid off the box and found a necklace resting in cotton. Attached to the gold chain was a gold locket. Usagi pried it open. Staring up at her on one side was a picture of her. On the other side was a picture of Mamoru, that she had never seen.
"It's so pretty," Usagi said to herself. She unlocked the chain and put it around her neck.
She took out the next biggest box. When she saw what was inside, she almost fainted. Sitting on the same white cotton was a golden bracelet. It looked exactly like the bracelet she had during the Silver Millennium. She clipped it around her wrist.
She took the last box out. It was small. No more then a inch all around. She took the paper off. It was a blue ring box. Carefully she pulled the top up. Sitting in a white cushion cloth was a the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. There were two crescent moons that formed the outside. The tips of the crescent moons were touching. Between them lay a diamond. Usagi gushed and took the ring out. She placed it on her middle finger. She went to close the box when she noticed words written on the inside of the lid. She tilted the box up into the light so she could read it.
Written in Mamoru's hand writing were these words: Will you marry me?
Usagi dropped the box as her hand flew to her mouth.
"He wants me to marry him," Usagi said to herself. "But I'm only 16, and he's 20. Would it work out?"
Usagi jumped up from the bed and ran down stairs. She picked up the phone and dialed Minako's number.
She picked up after two rings. "Hello?"
"He asked me to marry him," Usagi blurted out.
"Usagi-chan? What are you talking about?"
"I got this package from Mamoru. He gave me a heart locket with our pictures in it, a bracelet that looks exactly like the one I had during the Silver Millennium, and a diamond ring with crescent moons on it. In a message in the box it says: Will you marry me?"
"Your kidding, right?" Minako sounded as if she didn't believe her.
"I'm not. He asked me to marry him."
"Now?"
"I don't know. I guess so. It doesn't say when."
"Don't you think your a little too young to get married?"
"I thought of that, and no. I'm ready Minako. I've been waiting over a thousand years."
"What about Queen Serenity's warning?"
"What?"
"Your dream. Didn't you tell me that she said that you can alter your destiny, that if something goes wrong, you may not be able to fix it?"
"Yeah. But she also said that we make our destiny."
"I'm not going to tell you what to do, Usagi-chan. But just a word of caution. Your love may be too much for you both to handle."
"What's the suppose to mean?"
"Just what it says. I gotta go. Think hard about it before you make a final decision." Minako hung up.
Usagi hung put the phone down." 'Your love may be too much for you to handle.' What's that suppose to mean?"
Usagi looked down at her ring. She took it off and looked at it closely. The diamond was real, she was sure of that. And so was the gold. She really wanted to marry Mamoru, but something was telling her to wait.
I'll write him a letter, she thought. I'll explain to him that I want to wait until I graduate.
Usagi went back up to her room and took a piece of paper out. She grabbed a pen and started writing.
Dear Mamo-chan,
The gifts were beautiful! I liked the ring the most. And yes, I will marry you. But did you mean it for right now? I would like to wait until I get out of school, but if you think we should do it now, I will. I love you, too. More then I've ever loved anything or anyone. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, before we fall into the deep sleep. Ami-chan estimated that the world will go into sleep not long after we graduate. That's when I want to do it.
I miss you so much. I wasn't exactly late. I mean, you didn't make me late, Mako-chan did. But that's okay. I only got detention.
It's only three weeks until I see you again. I don't know if I can wait that long. I wish you were here. I wish I could be in your arms right now. I love you. It's only been two days since our last night together, so there's nothing to tell. I'll leave you now.
Love Your Princess,
Usagi
Usagi put on pink lipstick then kissed the bottom of the page. "Forever," she whispered. She put the letter in a envelope and sealed it. She wrote his address and the return address on the envelope, then she set it aside so that she could mail it the next day.
Usagi was alone in her quite room. The curtains were pulled shut, so it was dark. Her ceiling was there, yet, it wasn't. When she looked up, she looked into space. You could see the stars, planets, and the moon. Every once in a while a shooting star would pass by. Usagi connected the stars until she was able to see the image of Mamoru.
She closed her eyes for just a split second. They re-opened quickly, for no reason, except that she had this weird feeling that something wasn't right. She dismissed it, and fell back into a deep sleep.
Usagi stood outside of the front door, waiting for the mailman to come. Finally, she saw him walking up. She was excited. It had been over a week since she had mailed her letter to Mamoru, and she just couldn't wait to hear his response. She thanked the mailman as he handed her a stack of magazines and envelopes. She walked into the living room and threw the mail on the table in front of the TV. She sat down on the floor and started going through them.
She picked out a magazine that had her name on it, and an envelope that had no return address on it. She hurried up to her room. Luna was laying on her bed when she entered.
"Did my magazine come in?" Luna asked.
"Yeah. Here." Usagi threw the cat lovers magazine to Luna, who opened it up and started reading.
Usagi took a seat at her desk and flipped the envelope over and over again, trying to figure out what was inside.
"Just open it," Luna said watching it.
Usagi shrugged and tore into the paper. Inside was a single piece of paper. It looked professional, because it was typed and had borders. She spotted her name in the text and Mamoru's.
She began to read:
Dear Tsukino Usagi,
I am sorry to inform you that a great tragedy has occrued. On the 11th of December, Chiba Mamoru was killed. He was on his way to work, when a big rig truck hit his car. He died insanity without any suffering. He had no will, and no family, but the United States government has decided, since you were his girlfriend, and fiancee, that you will take his belongings and do as you please with them. His body is being sent back to Tokyo, and should arrive early on the 5th. Again, I am sorry for this unconveness. I hope the best for you.
Detective Jack Couty
Usagi stood up and her chair fell to the floor. "No! This can't be! It can't!"
"Usagi-chan!?" Luna got to her feet. "What's wrong?"
"It's not suppose to be like this. We're suppose to be together for ever." Usagi fell to the floor weeping.
Luna walked over the paper Usagi had dropped and read it. "This is impossible!"
"Oh, Luna! What am I going to do?" Usagi was crying hard now. The tears fell down her face like rain.
"Don't worry, Usagi. Everything will work out."
"Oh what will I do without Mamo-Chan?" Usagi bent her head between her legs and started weeping.
The sky was covered with thick black clouds. The wind was picking up, and many people were glomming over the death of Chiba Mamoru.
Usagi sat in a chair in the first row of the cemetery. She wore all black, with a black vail covering her face.
Hino Rei sat next to her wearing a deep red and black dress. In her cupped hands was a red rose. Mizuno Ami, Aino Minako, and Kino Makoto were also wearing black, each holding a red rose, were standing beside the clutter of seats talking.
Luna and Artemus, their guardian cats, were sitting next to Usagi on the ground. Mamoru's best friend, Furuhata Motoki sat in the chair on the other side of Usagi. He wore a black tux. Behind them, were other people, including the Tsukino family, and other friends of Mamoru.
In front of the clutter of chairs, was the casket. It was a midnight black, with red and white, long stemmed roses laying on the top. The head of the casket was open, so that Mamoru was in sight. A minister stood by the head of the casket getting ready for the funeral.
"Usagi-chan?" a voice said softly. Tenoh Haruka walked up with Kaioh Michiru at her side. Behind them were Meiou Setsuna and Tomoe Hotaru.
Usagi didn't make a single move to the call of her name. She just sat in her chair with her head down, looking into her lap.
"Usagi-chan?" Haruka called to her again. No movement.
Rei looked up at the four of them, then at Usagi. Rei put a hand on Usagi's shoulder.
Usagi bolted right up and starred wide eyed at the casket. She starred at nothing else, as if she was hypnotized.
Else where, Tsukino Ikuko, Usagi's mother, was watching her daughter. She stood up and joined Minako, Ami, and Makoto. "Excuse me, girls."
"What can we do for you?" Minako asked. They all had tears in their eyes.
"She loved him, didn't she?" Ikuko said out right.
They all looked at the ground. Makoto spoke. "She did."
"Did he love her?"
"Yes," Ami said.
"At such a young age......?"
"Their love is older then you think," Minako mumbled.
"What does that mean?"
"I'm sorry, Tsukino-San. You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
Luckily, they were interrupted. "If you all would please take your seats," the minister said.
The three girls rushed away from Ikuko and took their seats. Ikuko walked back to her seat. She passed by her son, Shingo, and slapped him on the leg. He was playing with a frog on the ground.
"I want to thank you all for coming. Chiba Mamoru had no family, but was in love with a girl, who he one day wished to marry: Tsukino Usagi." The minister went on and told the little things about Mamoru that he knew.
Throughout the whole service, Usagi starred at the minister, not wanting to look at her Mamo-Chan any more then she would have to.
At the end of the ceremony, each person got up to pay their last respects. Usagi waited to be the last. Her friends and family stood off to the side waiting for her.
She stood up very solemnly, and walked to the head of the casket. Mamoru's loving face starred up at her. His eyes were closed, his mouth not smiling. We wore a black tux and in his folded hands was a single red rose.
Usagi looked down at her dress and moved her hand. She put her hand in her pocket then pulled out a white object. A mask. She reached into the casket and put the white eye mask on his face. She reached into her other pocket and pulled out a large yellow star.
"This is our star locket," she whispered to his lifeless body. She unwrapped his fingers from the rose and put the star locket in their place. "Always remember me." She reached into her pocket again and pulled out a yellow broach that had a heart with crescent moon at the bottom of it. She placed this beside his head. "No more fighting, ever."
A tear fell down her cheek and hit the star locket. It glimmered before it fell off the side. Usagi stepped away from the casket and joined her family and friends.
The people who worked there closed the lid on the casket and started lowering it in the ground. Her eight friends handed their roses to her, and Usagi threw them into the grave. "Forever," she whispered under her breath.
***