Author's Notes: Awh, you're actually coming back to read more? How sweet ^.^ More about Kori's past with the Moon Kingdom is revealed in the upcoming chapters. Anything in italics is a flashback. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I didn't steal the Sailor Moon copyrights.....*runs away screaming like a mad man*

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Episode 2: Recollections

Chapter 4 - Tears and Kisses

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A few days later...

Kori sat on a cliff outside of Tokyo by herself. The view from there was gorgeous. You could see everything around you, especially the night lights of the city. They twinkled just like the stars above her, only in more hues of red, green, and yellow. Kori loved looking at the stars. If there weren't so many, she'd count them one by one. She decided against it though, it would take too long and she figured she'd lose count. She just enjoyed looking at them.

She brushed at the dirt at the ground. The cliff she sat on was just off a biker's trail. She had discovered the path while cycling the past day. Noticing the city lights from her left, she had veered off the path and found the cliff, alone and solitary. She made a mental note to come back later, and here she was, overlooking the city lights.

Although the view of the bustling city soothed her, she thoughts were troubled. Her mind kept wandering to the attack a few days prior. She couldn't figure out why someone wanted to hurt her, much less for what. There had to be something...but Kori couldn't figure it out herself. She'd have to watch her back from now on, just in case she was attacked again. She had also been very surprised to find out she was a Sailor Senshi. She had never personally met or seen them before moving to Japan, but had read about them in the news back in California. Back then she had thought they were just some big bluff. How wrong she was. She was to attend a "scout" meeting tomorrow, as Usagi liked to call it. What had she gotten herself into?

Kori dangled her feet over the cliff and propped her elbows up on her knees. She rested her head in her hands and sighed. Then there was the matter of Luke. She was beginning to really like him, and she didn't know what to do about it. Sure, she had boyfriends in the past, but she had never had feelings like this for any of them. Luke seemed different. There was something about him...something she couldn't put her finger on. Anyhow, she couldn't' stop thinking about him and it was driving her up the wall. Kori prayed that he felt the same for her.

Kori jumped when she heard a voice behind her, "You know, you really shouldn't think too much. You might make your brain swell or something."

Kori turned to see who her visitor was, and was relieved to find it was only Luke. She smiled and pat the ground beside her, inviting him to sit down.

Luke sat down generously. He looked over the sparkling city lights and turned to Kori, only to find her doing the same thing. He turned back to the city and started to speak softly, "It's beautiful ain't it? The lights, I mean."

Kori nodded her head in reply with a small smile. She turned to Luke, eyebrows furrowed with question, "How'd you know I was up here?"

Luke grinned at her question. "I kinda followed you up here. I hope you don't mind or anything. I just wanted to spend some time with you alone," he said with a small scratch to the back of his head.

Kori smiled and shook her head gently, trying to shake off the blush that had enveloped her face, "I don't care at all. In fact, I'm kinda glad you did you follow me. I needed someone to talk to."

A few moments ensued as the new couple looked over the city. Luke looked at Kori and watched her as she looked over the city. The soft moonlight reflected off her face, making it seem as though her whole face was glowing. Her eyes were half shut, as if she were thinking of something, her dark long eyelashes fluttering as she blinked. The light wind tossed up her hair, blowing it slightly across his face. It was incredibly soft, and still smelt of lilies. It must have been the scent of her shampoo.

Kori noticed Luke staring at her, and looked to him slightly, a sly smile playing on her lips.

Luke took a deep breath and looked at her fully, "Kori can I ask you something?" he asked.

Kori nodded in reply, "Of course!"

"Why haven't I met your Dad yet? Is he away on vacation or something?" Luke regretted the words as soon as they came from his mouth. Kori's face had filled with pain, and he didn't want it to ruin her pretty features. Besides, seeing Kori hurt, hurt him as well.

Kori sighed. She suppose she shouldn't have lied to him in the first place. Well she didn't exactly lie, she had just avoided the topic altogether. She figured she might as well tell him though, he had the right to know. Kori let out a small groan and turned to face him, crossing her legs so she'd be more comfortable. "Uh...my Dad, huh. He isn't exactly on vacation Luke. He's dead."

Luke put his head in his hands, feeling like a fool. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," he said tenderly.

"No, it's okay. He died a few years ago...Do you want to hear more about it?" she asked with understanding.

"If you don't mind..."

"No I don't mind," Kori took a deep breath and looked to the stars above her, "My family was at the beach and I was with a couple friends. My dad's friend had rented a boat and a bunch of water skis, tubes and such. It was my Dad's first time out on the water skiing, me and my mom were watching from the shore to cheer him on." Kori looked down at her hands and bit her lip to keep the tears back, "Not too long after he got up, he went down in the waves....He.....he never came back up."

Luke took her hands in his own. His were much larger than hers were, and they enveloped them completely. He enjoyed the warmth of her hands nonetheless. He looked at her face closely to noticed a solitary tear rolling down her cheek. He wiped it away calmly and tilted her chin up so he could see her face better.

Kori forced herself to smile. It was a weak smile, but it seemed to make Luke a little happier.

"It's okay you know...You could've just told me before," whispered Luke, "but I understand. You can tell me anything, and I'd give you all the gratification I can..." Luke lowered his face down to Kori's. His face was so close now he could feel her warm breath on his face.

Kori looked up into his beautiful blue eyes. All the gratification he could possibly give...? Kori smiled slightly as their lips brushed, meeting in a tender kiss. His lips caressed her own, and Kori felt as if she was going to melt away. She felt as if that 'magic' you felt when you loved someone had been laid upon her. Kori's mind was going haywire as they kissed, she felt as if her brain was short-circuiting. Her heart leapt out of her chest as he caressed her bottom lip with his tongue, and she opened her mouth slightly, giving him the invitation to let himself in.

Luke was breathless. He dug deeper into her, caressing her tongue with his own. He noticed she had wrapped her arms around his neck and Luke pulled her closer to him. The heat emanating from her body made Luke tingle inside.

Breathless and in need of air, Kori pulled back reluctantly. A grin was plastered all over Luke's face and she grinned. It was her first kiss with him, and it had been like fireworks. She thought to herself that she would never forget those few moments.

Luke sat there and stared into her grey eyes for what seemed like forever. Her eyes were locked onto his, and if he let his gaze drift away he felt as if he would miss something important.

"I should get going now...unfortunately," moaned Kori with modesty.

"Yeah me too. I'll walk you home," he said as he started to pick himself up off the ground. He looked down at the ground beneath him, and as Kori started to walk away, picked up a glittering stone on the ground. He took a quick glance at it and shoved it in his pocket, following Kori.

Kori entwined her hand with his and the two walked down the path into the city with ease.

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Whee! Their first kiss! =:D Keep reading for more eh, eh? *nudge nudge wink wink*