Phèdre: Hey all! I'm back!
Hiei: Heaven forbid!
Yusuke: I never thought I'd ever hear you say something like that, Hiei.
Hiei: I would have said something else, but Phèdre says that if I talk like that (meaning vulgar, foul language), she'll never make a Yu Yu Hakusho fic again.
Kurama: I thought you didn't want her too.
Hiei: And be trapped in her mind all the time?!
Yusuke: He's got a point.
Kurama: Yes, he does.
Phèdre: A-hem! This isn't about you three; it's about my new story. So back to the subject!
Yusuke: Right, Neither Sailor Moon, nor Ruroni Kenshin belongs to Phèdre Nó Delauney. No matter how she may wish otherwise. Happy?
Phèdre: Yes. Thank you, Yusuke. I can already see you as the main character in my next Yu Yu Hakusho fic.
Hiei and Kurama: (snicker)
Yusuke: (pales) R-really? W-why not Kurama? He's a good guy. He won't try to get away from you like the Ruroni Kenshin characters have.
Phèdre: Hmm... That's a good idea, Yusuke. You are a bit unpredictable.
Kurama: (very pale) Um, y-you aren't seriously thinking of it, are you?
Phèdre: It'll take some more thought. Anyway, on with the story!
Chapter 1: Confusing Thoughts........................................................................
Princess Serenity watched in horror as Prince Endymion fell before her, dead. She tried to run to him, but the way was blocked. A small redheaded man with amber eyes was stopping her from reaching her fiancé. She tried to push past him but he wouldn't budge. His piercing eyes were sad and beseeching. Then he said in a soft, sad voice, "Please, Princess, don't you remember me?"
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Usagi Tsukino woke up with a start, a name she couldn't remember on her lips. She glanced her comfortable and girly room. A bit too girly for her taste, but she had to keep up with appearances. Usagi wasn't quite the ditz she made herself out to be. The reason she acted the way she did was so no one would expect anything out of her. She was very smart and could be an A or B student if she applied herself. But that was just it; she didn't want to apply herself.
"Usagi?" asked Luna, Usagi's black cat and guardian. "You're awake early on a Saturday. Is something wrong?"
"No." Usagi told her cat. "It was just a dream."
"Oh." Luna said, "Well, since you're up early, why don't you start on your homework?"
Usagi pretended not to hear Luna as she got out of bed and started getting dressed. "I think I'm going to go see Setsuna." She told Luna. "I have a few questions about the Moon Kingdom."
"Couldn't you ask me?" Luna asked, irritated.
"Sorry, Luna," Usagi said as she walked towards the door. "I don't think you'd know about this." Then she walked out of the room.
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"So what did you want to talk about?" Setsuna asked Usagi.
"I-I had a dream last night." Usagi said. "There was a redheaded man in it. His eyes were so sad." She finished softly.
Setsuna sat up straighter. "His eyes, were they amber?"
"Yes!" Usagi cried, excited. "I thought you'd know! Who is he?"
Setsuna shook her head. "It's best that you try not to remember him. It would only hurt you."
"But-," Usagi began.
"I'm sorry, Princess." Setsuna said. "But as long as Prince Endymion is here, I am forbidden to tell you." She shook her head, a wry smile on her face. "I'm surprised you even remembered him. The queen tried to block your memory as far as he was concerned."
"Why would she want to do that?"
Setsuna sighed, "I'm not supposed to tell you. You're going to have to figure it out on your own."
"Does this have to do with the Time Line or my mother?" Usagi demanded.
Setsuna smiled. "Neither. It has to do with him. He asked me to help him before the end. If you're going to remember him, it's best if you overcome your mother's block on your own."
"All right." Usagi said, slumping down in the chair. "But, aren't memories usually triggered by that person? How am I supposed to remember, if I've never met him in this life?"
Setsuna smiled knowingly, "The same way you're beginning to remember him now. Listen to your small feelings, the ones you often overlook, and question everything. Think of it as a mystery you can solve through examining the facts and clues as much as you can."
Usagi grinned, "And then I'll find out who the villain is, right?"
"Yes." Setsuna said seriously. "And it was the one you will least expect." Then she added gently, "I will be here if you need to talk to someone about this, as are the other Outers."
Usagi glanced up quickly. "They know about him too?"
"Yes." Setsuna nodded. "They just need to be reminded. The Inners, Luna, and Artemis will not remember him favorably." She warned Usagi.
Usagi nodded. "Right. What about Mamoru?"
Setsuna started. "Mamoru? He never met Mamoru." Then as an afterthought, "At least not face to face. He knew of Mamoru, but Mamoru never knew of him. How is Mamoru, anyway?"
"Hmm?" Usagi thought for a moment. "The same, really." Her face darkened, "He's been cheating on me lately."
Setsuna's gaze sharpened. "Does he know that you know?"
Usagi shook her head. "I haven't bothered to let him know. But what's bothering me is that every time I go to break up with him, I either forget or get distracted. I don't understand it!" She growled, frustrated.
Setsuna nodded. "Find the answer to your mystery, then you will understand."
Over the next few weeks and a few conversations with Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru, Usagi managed to figure a few things out. Her love for Mamoru was compelled, forced if you will. It was not a comforting thought. Although she had figured this out, she was no closer to finding out who her mysterious redhead was. She had had the same dream every night, and she could feel his sadness lingering with her long after she woke.
"Usagi?" Ami asked after Usagi walked right past her without acknowledging her.
"Hmm? Oh, hello, Ami." Usagi said absently.
"Is something wrong?" Ami asked carefully. "You've been acting kind of strange lately."
"N-yes, something is wrong." Usagi said, tired of hiding her dilemma.
"Should I call the others?" Ami asked, concerned.
"No, yes, I don't know." Usagi said. "Technically, it doesn't concern them."
"Do you want me to call them anyway?" Ami asked timidly.
Usagi grinned wryly, "Sure, why not?"
Fifteen minutes later, the Inner Senshi were assembled at the temple. "Alright, Meatball-head," Rei said. "What's the disaster this time?"
"It's not really a disaster." Usagi told them. "I'm just frustrated."
"What is it?" Makoto asked gently.
Usagi sighed, "I have a memory of a man from the Silver Alliance, but I can't really remember him. All I have is a dream where he's begging me to remember him." She got a faraway, sad look in her eyes. "He's so sad. It makes me want to remember, to know him, and help him."
"Well, what's he look like?" Mina asked eagerly.
"Yeah, it might trigger some of our memories." Ami said, obviously not thinking the same things as Mina.
Usagi gave a slight giggle, "He had long red hair that he wore in a high ponytail, and burning amber eyes. He wasn't very tall, but he was taller than me. Oh! And he had a cross-shaped scar on his left cheek."
"Sounds cute!" Mina squealed.
Ami had an uneasy look on her face. "Are you sure he was sad?"
"Yes." Usagi said, looking at Ami curiously. "Although, I suppose heartbroken would be a better term."
Rei said angrily, "I remember him! He was working with Beryl."
"What?!" Usagi cried. "B-but-!"
"Hey, yeah, you're right!" Mina interrupted. "What was his name again?"
"Battousai, I think." Ami said, pulling out her computer.
"Usagi?" Makoto said softly. She put her hand on Usagi's shoulder comfortingly. "What's wrong?"
"No, no! You're wrong!" Usagi cried, tears pouring down her face. "He couldn't, he wouldn't!" Then she got up and ran out.
"Usagi!" Makoto yelled, jumping up to run after her.
"Wait, Makoto." Rei said. "I don't think she wants to talk with any of us about it."
"I don't know what you guys' problem is." Makoto said. "Battousai loved the Princess. He only joined Beryl after Serenity fell in love with Prince Endymion." Then Makoto stalked out, leaving her fellow senshi gaping in shock.
End Chapter
Phèdre: That wasn't too bad, was it?
Hiei: For you, that was actually pretty good.
Phèdre: (looks at Hiei like he's grown another head) Um, thanks, I guess.
Kurama: Did you really mean that?
Hiei: Yes, she seems to write Sailor Moon better than anything else so far.
Yusuke: Uh, sure.
Phèdre: Oh, well. Please review!
Glossary:
Senshi— Warrior(s), in this case it means scouts.