The Shards of a Fairy Tale
by Jewel (Knowsall5@hotmail.com)
A Sailor Moon fanfiction.
------------------------------------

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and its characters were created by Naoko Takeuchi. It's also copyrighted to her and some other people. I gain no profit from this.

Summary: Usagi might have had a crush on Tuxedo Kamen, but *not* Chiba Mamoru. So why should her feelings change when they're revealed to be one and the same? Events happening thousands of years ago should *not* determine how she should live her life now. Running around in too-short skirts fighting evil is bad enough, and complicates her world enough, but Usagi by no means, wants her life to get stranger. And she'll do anything to see to that...but time is running out and the enemy draws closer to success. Falling back into the past may be necessary afterall...

Special Note: This fanfic was inspired one day after I realized there are too many fanfics in which Usagi just accepts Mamoru as her soulmate and forgets his somewhat-cruel teasing. I didn't like that, so here is this fanfiction.

This fanfic sort of mixes the manga and the anime.
Manga: the ginzuishou didn't shatter into 7 pieces, so Usagi doesn't have the Moon Stick (Crescent Wand) as yet and can't heal people. (This explains something that happens in first chapter.)
Anime: Mamoru is a mean, teasing jerk that Usagi can't stand.

:
Part One (I)

Another day, another battle, another shady triumph. . . Sailor Moon walked swiftly and quietly away from the scene for the recent fight. Her friends and fellow superheros walked away as well, all in different directions; all eager to get home and forget about what had just happened. . . All anxious to purge their minds from the bloody scene that lay behind them.

For this particular battle, all of the Sailor Senshi had appeared late. None of them lived near the docks, none of them had seen the fight start. No one had known the Yoma had been human and not just a monster. . .

This Yoma had been stronger than most. . . Sailor Jupiter's arm would require more than stitches. The Yoma had torn into her arm, ripping away skin and muscle. And Sailor Mars and Mercury both were covered in little cuts, though Sailor Mercury sported a dark bruise that covered the right side of her face.

As for Sailor Moon, her leg had a long gash in it where the Yoma had cut her with its sharp claws. Though she couldn't see them, Sailor Moon could feel the bruises underneath her fuku. She winced with each step and the muscles in her torso protested as well.

The Yoma itself was now only a pile of dust surrounded by blood, its own and that of the Senshi's, glass and wood. Zoisite, the Dark Kingdom's latest general, had turned an innocent, by standing human, into a monster. It had ripped its way from the docks into downtown Tokyo. Several stores along the street were destroyed, including the one they'd defeated the Yoma in.

Only as her Tiara hit it, had Sailor Moon realized the Yoma had been human. She didn't have the power to turn it back to human, and she hadn't known how to stop her Tiara. And having seen the Yoma tear into Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Moon wasn't all too sure she did regret killing the Yoma. But deep inside of her, she could feel the guilt fester. There was a little nagging part of her mind that screamed at her for having taken a *human* life.

And her only defense was that she'd been protecting the world. That should have been enough to stop anyone's doubts. . . but no one else except the Senshi had seen the shock, the helplessness, the suffering, and the *relief* in those human eyes as the Tiara destroyed it. And no one, except the Senshi, would have their dreams haunted by the eyes that held the soul of that person. And no one but Sailor Moon would live with the fact that she'd taken a human life, no matter who she had to save.

*

At the age of fourteen, no matter who you are, you should have the chance to be young, and innocent, and carefree. You should not have to bear the world on your shoulders. . . and you should not have to bear the scars of battle on your body, Usagi thought morosely.

It was late at night and she was still awake while Luna slept soundly near by. Thoughts kept going though her head, making her bitter and angry towards fate and its cruelties.

Turning her head to the side, away from Luna, Usagi couldn't help but feel a twinge of hatred towards the guardian cat who'd disrupted her world so. And a larger helping of hatred for the Dark Kingdom and its evil.

Yawning loudly, Usagi refused to let sleep lull her. She knew what awaited her in her dreams. . . Memories of previous battles fought and previous injuries sustained by the Senshi.

We're too young and inexperienced for this, she raged silently. Why me? Why not someone smarter or stronger? Why can't Ami or Rei or Mako be leader? They're smarter and stronger, and none of them would be as reluctant to lead! What's special about me?

But Usagi already knew the answer to the last question. She was reminded of it every day: Nothing about her was special. . . she only added meaning to the world as long as she rescued it. And sometimes, she couldn't even manage to do *that* without help.

For hours more Usagi laid awake, random thoughts floating around her head. Then, blissfully, a dreamless sleep claimed her.

*

The next day had been a school day, and the afternoon following it found Usagi in the local Arcade hangout. While she played the latest Sailor V game, her friends sat in a close by booth, chatting about miscellaneous things.

Kino Makoto wore a sling for her arm. Already it had started to heal. Within a day or two it'd be back to normal, probably without a scar. Mizuno Ami's face was almost healed as well. By the next day her face would be perfect again. Usagi didn't want to imagine the lie Ami would have had to create to explain the bruise. You couldn't see Hino Rei's cuts and bruises, but Usagi was sure the priestess' wounds had healed. When she'd awaken that morning, Usagi had been more or less surprised to find the gash on her leg completely healed. However, she still had a couple of stiff bruises on her ribs, but she was thankful that none had broken.

Having run out of tokens and her game finished, Usagi sat down next to Rei, opposite Ami and Mako. "What are you talking about?"

"Noth--" Rei hastened to say, but Mako was much quicker with a reply.

"Chiba Mamoru."

Usagi frowned. "Do I know him?"

Rei rolled her eyes. "Yes, Odango. He's the boy you're always yelling at."

"That fool that teases me?"

"Yep," Mako replied for Rei, grinning.

"Why would you talk about him?" Usagi asked, taking a sip of the milk-shake Ami had pushed in front of her. Rei shrugged, but not before Mako made a rude sound, causing Ami to blush. Usagi narrowed eyes as color filled Ami's face. "Well, are you going to answer me or not?"

"Rei thinks he's cute," Ami said in a hushed tone, causing Rei to blush slightly.

Usagi snorted. "Cute, but with the personality of a pimple. That's not my idea of a good combination."

"You don't even know him!" Rei protested.

"Now, Tuxedo Kamen-sama, he's someone worth considering," Usagicontinued.

It was Rei's turn to snort. "If you like the cape wearing, proverb spewing type."

"That's not fair!" Mako said, jumping to his defense. "He's saved us a number of times."

"I have to agree, Rei," Ami agreed. "There were times when we might have died if we didn't have his help."

Usagi gave Rei a triumphant look, which quickly faltered as Rei responded. "We don't know why he *interferes* with our battles. I'm not altogether sure he can be trusted. Besides, Odango, you don't know what he's like out side of the cape."

"Probably better," Ami commented dryly, before realizing she'd said it out loud. Her friends gave her disbelieving looks at which she sniffed. "I'm not stone, you know."

"Look, he even gets Ami's blood going," Mako laughed.

"His personality could be worse than a post!" argued Rei, not about to give up the attack on her friends' crush.

"And it still wouldn't be as bad as Chiba Mamoru's," Usagi dead panned, startling Rei.

Mako's bark of laughter and Ami's suppressed giggles drew stares from around the Arcade.

"Fine, I give up," Rei growled.

After that a few minutes elapsed in silence. When the bell above the Arcade door jingled, Usagi looked up and tried to hide her laughter behind her hand. Confused, the Senshi looked where she had been looking, and Ami and Mako muffled their laughs as well. A blush crept up Rei's neck.

"Go over and say hi," Usagi snickered.

Rei pinned her with a glare that stopped the laughter. "I don't see what's so funny. Just because he's pointed out some character flaws, is no reason to to label him as mean."

"You wouldn't say that if he pointed out some of your flaws, Rei," Usagi said, anger creeping into her voice. Startled that Usagi's cheerful banter had disappeared, Rei and the others had no reply. They sat in silence, looking, covertly, at Usagi.

"You really don't like him," Rei said, marveled. In the time she'd known Usagi, she'd never known the bubbly blonde girl to dislike anything -- except maybe school and the Dark Kingdom -- and she'd never expected her to dislike someone she didn't know. Obviously Mamoru-san's teasing angered her more than Usagi herself even realized.

"No, I really don't." Usagi bit out. "I know I'm no where approaching perfection. Trust me, that is pointed out to me often enough in the day from my teachers and parents and even you all. I don't need some stuck-up *brat* who is perfect to berate me on top of that.

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize--" Rei began, but Usagi cut her off.

"It doesn't matter." Usagi sighed dejectedly, "*He* doesn't matter. Chiba Mamoru isn't anything to me, except a bother. Maybe you can improve his personality."

Ami looked worriedly between Rei and Usagi. "Have you eve considered, Usagi, that maybe Mamoru-sama likes you?"

Rei looked startled, the thought had never crossed her mind. But as Ami said it, it made sense in a strange way. Rei was even more surprised to hear herself say, "Sometimes guys are like that. They tease the girls they like."

"But they don't make fun of her poor grades and hair styles, do they?" Usagi retorted, turning her head to look out the window at the busy street.

"I -- I guess not," Rei said lamely.

"It's getting late, I have to go to cram school." Ami announced, rising from her seat. "I'll see you all tomorrow. Or later tonight," she added with a wry smile before leaving.

"I should get going as well, I have homework to do," Mako said with a sigh. "Bye, Rei. See you in school, Usagi." With that the Senshi of Jupiter left as well.

Moving to sit across from Usagi in the seat Mako had abandoned, Rei looked abashed. "I'm sorry for what I said, Usagi. I didn't mean to upset you. I didn't know he really angered you."

"It's alright," Usagi said with a sad smile. "Like I said before, he's nothing more than a bother to me. And I shouldn't let him upset me."

Rei conjured a smile and look a bite of her ice-cream sundae that had been neglected. They were quiet as they ate. Usagi's mind wondered to her thoughts of last night. With a hesitant look over her shoulder to make sure no one was within hearing distance, Usagi whispered, "Rei, can I ask you a personal question?"

Rei looked at her for a moment before nodding. "Go ahead."

Usagi took a deep breath. "How do you deal with what we do?" At Rei's frown, she elaborated, "What we face as Senshi, how do you deal with the fighting? Does it even bother you?"

Startled, Rei was silent for a few minutes, contemplating her answer. "I don't know," she finally said. "I guess I try not to think about it."

Usagi nodded empathetically. "So do I. But it doesn't work all the time."

"We're saving the world," Rei said flatly, but she didn't look like she believed it anymore that Usagi did.

"Wa--was last night a win for the Dark Kingdom, or us?"

Looking into Usagi's pale blue eyes, Rei could see she wanted an honest answer, but at the same time, didn't want to hear it either. "I'm not sure." Rei sighed, "I'm not sure about a lot of things when it comes to being a Senshi."

"We -- no, *I* killed a person last night. They weren't responsible for what Zoicite did."

Rei heard the sob in her voice, and quickly regretted her answer. "You didn't do it alone," Rei replied softly. "We all had a part in it. We didn't know. It wasn't our faults. None of it was. We did what we thought was right. And if we hadn't, more than one person would be dead," she paused and look a breath. "That wasn't bad. That was what we had to do. And we must be doing something right, I don't see Luna taking away our transformation pens."

Usagi sat back, looking more or less content. "Thank you."

Rei didn't ask what for.

*

Later in the afternoon Usagi was going home. She'd spent a couple of hours with Rei at the Shrine, reading the latest mangas. Now she had to hurry home or else she'd late for dinner. Rei had helped her with her homework, so she wouldn't have as much to do tonight. She was feeling content at the moment and had a feeling she'd be in a better mood tomorrow.

That feeling vanished the moment she walked into someone. ith a THUD, her forehead hit against a hard chest and she would have fallen if she hadn't stumbled back and windmilled her arms to retain her balance. When she was stady on her feet she looked up to see who she'd walked into to. Usagi suppressed a groan when she saw Chiba Mamoru staring down at her.

"Why do you always appear out of no where?" Usagi grumbled, rubbing her forehead.

"Why do you always walk into me?"

"Pick a character flaw and blame it on that," Usagi spat. Mamoru frowed, confused at the venom Usagi was spitting. "Can't think of one? Here let me help you, my bad grades make me walk into you."

"I think it's your lack of concentration."

Usagi blinked up at him, surprised that he hadn't seized the opprtunity to laugh at her. He's probably building up to some big insult, she reasoned. "Step out of my way, I'm late enough as it is."

"What's the matter with you?"

"Do you care?" Her only answer came in the form of another frown. "I didn't think so. Now move!"

"You're angry--"

"Wow, no wonder you're in high school and I'm not. . . what with those astute observations and all. "

"--Why?" he continued, ignoring her remark.

"It's none of your business," Usagi hissed, not about to admit he had provoked any other emotions in her besides annoyance.

"It isn't. But you're not your usual self. I was just concerned you might be coming down with a virus. Wouldn't want you spreading germs around the city." The idiot winked!

"What I wouldn't give to have my Tiara," Usagi muttered softly.

"What did you say? It's not like you to be quiet. You really must be sick."

"Stupid pimply personality," she continued to mutter, staring at his chest.

"Now I'm really worried about you, Usagi," Mamoru said, addressing her by her first name for the first time ever. "That's two chances you've missed to yell at me or maim me with your shoes."

"It wouldn't accomplish anything and I'd only waste energy."

"I'm starting to miss the healthier you."

"And to think I save the world for this kind of slime to continue life," Usagi resumed mumbling quietly.

"You know, Usagi, these arguments aren't as fun if you're not arguing."

With a start she stopped her mumbled rant about the plague and stared into his eyes. Those beautiful, mesmerizing, blue eyes, she thought, slightly dazed. Ami's words came back to her. . .

No, Usagi said to herself, it can't be. He just has some twisted code of honor where he won't pick on the lesser mortals unless they can fairly defend themselves, she thought resentfully, before figuring she *couldn't* defend herself. "You really are a pimple," Usagi said in amazement, not allowing herself to think about his eyes or Ami's words. "A giant, walking pimple with a horrible sense of humor!"

Mamoru stared at her as she just sighed and stepped around him and then disappeared around a corner. He stood in the middle of the side walk, stunned at what had just happened. Since the Dark Kingdom had come to Earth, Mamoru had seen some strange things. Usagi's behavior just now blew them all out of the water. He shook his head and continued walking.

He was near his apartment building when a sharp jab of intense pain short through his head. Mamoru stumbled, leaning against a wall and held his head. No time to worry about Usagi, Sailor Moon was in danger!
*end of Part 1*

-----------------
AUTHOR'S NOTES:
1) This is an AU first season. Don't worry, I'm hoping not to stray *too* far from the anime plot. And I may or may not throw in some things from the manga. Forgive me, I mix them up sometimes.

2) As it is first season, a happy ending isn't a promise that I'm going to make.

3) I ran this through spell check, so I'm pretty certain they're aren't any spelling mistakes. And I reread it ten times to make sure there weren't any grammar errors or anything of the sort. However, if I made a mistake (I'm far from perfect) please point it out so I may change it.

4) Reviews would be greatly appreciated.

Well, that's all. Thanks for reading. There's the review button down there, tell me what you thought.

-Jewel
Knowsall5@hotmail.com