Chapter 1: Ai wo Shinjiteru
Usagi woke up earlier than usual that morning. Two or three minutes earlier, but still, she felt every second of her 'lost sleep.' It wasn't on purpose, of course.
"Ohayou!"
Usagi lifted her head off of the pillow and looked over toward the door where Shingo stood, arms crossed and face sarcastic.
"Go...away..." Usagi said, dropping her head back into the pillow.
"But there's a call for you!" Shingo said, almost forcing the words out of his mouth.
"Tell Rei to leave me alone, I told her I didn't want to talk about it!" She said into the pillow.
Rei had been pestering her for the exact details of the previous week's battle, but Usagi was still too emotional about it.
"It's not Rei, she knows better than to call you this early!"
He was probably right...Usagi would go ballistic if one of the senshi woke her up, unless it was an extreme emergency, of course.
"It's...him." Shingo said, quickly ducking.
It was a good thing he did, because within the next two seconds, Usagi was not only out of bed, but out the door, across the hall, and on the phone.
Shingo left only when he made sure the coast was clear and that he wouldn't get trampled.
"Mamo-chan!" She yelled into the phone.
"Usako! Weren't you just..." He started, but got cut off.
"Sleeping? Yes! But I'd always jump up to talk to you." She said sweetly.
"Usako..." There was a pause. Usagi got worried, but soon, his voice filled the phone again.
"I love you so much." He ended.
Usagi blushed madly on her end of the phone. He hadn't ever said it to her that plainly before, but she loved it and loved him for it.
"Mamo-chan...." She started, but this time, it was her turn to get cut off.
"Meet me tomorrow at Tokyo tower. I'd make it today, but I have some things to do for college.
He had to make up for missing so much. Since Galaxia killed him on his way there, he wasn't able to get to America, and when he didn't show up, the college got worried. He was in the midst of straightening everything out.
"Hai! I'll see you then Mamo-chan! I love you!"
"I love you too, Usako...so very much."
She giggled, said goodbye, and gently put the phone down.
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Ami jumped in surprise as the glass she set down on the counter smashed noisily on the floor. Rei looked up and, seeing what had happened, got up to get a broom to sweep up the shattered porcelain.
"G...gomen nasai, Rei-chan." Ami said timidly, going over to help Rei.
"Ami-chan, daijoubu! I feel exactly how you feel...we're going to be facing these emotions for a while." Rei said, sweeping up the smaller bits of the porcelain as Ami threw the bigger pieces into a bag.
Usagi wasn't the only one who was emotionally hurt from the battle. Every senshi, even the Sailor Starlights, were hurt in one way or another. It was an emotional roller coaster for everyone, even Chibiusa, who was now living back in the 30th century with her mother and father. But they had gained something too, hadn't they? Usagi loved every one of them and they were sure of this, now more than ever before. Usagi loved this world. She loved Galaxia, even after she had killed everyone who meant anything to her. But now it was Usagi's turn to be loved. She deserved it. Mamoru knew this. That's why he wanted to meet her at Tokyo tower. The senshi all knew it, well, all except Usagi, of course. Mamoru was taking her out for their first real date in a very long time. They did not have a hard time keeping this a secret, however, because at the moment, none of them felt like talking much anyway.
"Rei-chan?" Ami whispered.
"Hai?" Rei answered.
"Where are Mako-chan and Minako-chan?"
"Mako-chan is home. She hasn't left since we got back. She called me and she sounds a lot better. Minako-chan is...Minako-chan. She's trying to be her happy self again."
No one really knew what was wrong with Makoto. She didn't really show any signs of being emotional from the battle, but something was definitely wrong. It seemed that it was best just to leave her alone while she sorted everything out in her own life before they went asking her what the problem was. Minako, though obviously upset, was doing fine. She had that positive attitude that everyone envied. She had, in fact, been singing at a lot of local shows, trying to make a career for herself.
"Sumimasen!" A voice at the door of the temple said shyly.
"Come in!" Rei yelled.
"Konnichiwa Rei-san, Ami-san." The girl said. When she stepped into the room, they got their first glimpse of who it was.
"Hotaru-chan! Genki desu ka." Ami asked.
"Hai! I'm fine."
Silence.
"Ano..." Hotaru said, looking at the floor.
"Where is Usagi-san?"
"At home, she's doing a lot better now. Mamoru-san has cheered her up." Rei told Hotaru, smiling.
She looked like a huge weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.
"That's good!" She smiled widely. Hotaru had begun to feel extremely responsible for anything that happened to Usagi ever since they all returned. Though young, Hotaru was smart beyond her years. Her powers as Sailorsaturn were phenomenal and she was extremely strong, perhaps even one of the strongest senshi. You wouldn't guess that this girl possessed the power to destroy the entire planet. Her burden to protect Usagi was unusual, though. That was normally Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus' position.
"You...remember about the Neo Millennium, right?" She finally said. This is what she had come there for, and she wasn't going to leave without getting it out.
The other two nodded.
"Well, lately, a thought has been haunting me."
More silence.
"I...There had to have been an event that caused the Neo Millennium to be created. This event had to have been really bad for Serenity to use the Ginzuishou like that. According to Pluto, this event isn't too far off. She doesn't know an exact date or time, but we all feel like it will be soon. We may..."
She stopped for a moment, choosing her words carefully.
"...have another crisis on our hands." She finished.
"And it would be one we have no knowledge about as of now. But Usagi...she..." Rei said, turning around and looking up.
"We can't let her do that...she might not be able to handle it."
"Rei-san, when the time comes, we won't have a choice. She's the only one who could do something about it. We can try but..."
They all knew Usagi was going to have to fight again soon, and not just fight, but save their home from total war once again.
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The day passed very slowly for Usagi. The thought of her date with Mamoru made time pass so painfully slow. But, as every day does, it eventually ended and the morning came upon her quickly. It shocked her mother and Shingo, because Usagi was up and ready before them. Mamoru did that to her. Mamoru made her seem like she had a meaning on this planet. Sure, her friends loved her and she loved them, but Mamoru...without Mamoru...
"Don't be home too late, ok?" Ikuko-mama said as Usagi ran out the door at around noon.
"Hai! See you later!" She yelled, shutting the door and running to the bus stop.
The entire bus ride, her heart was pounding. It felt like a first date for her, and she was beyond excited. Her smile was huge and by the time she arrived at Tokyo Tower at 12:30, she felt like her mouth was going to break.
She walked up to the entrance and waited. And waited. And waited. It was taking him forever to get there. She glanced at her watch. It was...12:39.
"Ok, so it feels like forever." She said to herself, laughing at her own impatience.
When he finally did arrive a few minutes later, Usagi thought her heart would explode. He looked more handsome than she could ever remember. This was her man. Her Mamo-chan. She just stared at him for a moment, and he stared back. It was like time froze.
"Mamo-chan!" She said finally, running up to him and hugging him tighter than she ever has. He hugged her tightly back. Usagi knew that this was how she was
supposed to be for the rest of her life: in his arms.
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Chapter 1
Oshimai
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I have some dedications here...
This chapter is dedicated to someone who really means a lot to me. Let me just say it would be so wrong for me not to dedicate anything to them. This person really is so special to me and I don't think I could live if this person wasn't in my life. This person makes me always feel happiness (which is extremely hard to do) and I'd be lost without them. You know who you are. Thank you. After years of having no one in my life who cared, you were the first person to make me feel wanted and loved. Again, thank you so much. You have no idea what kind of impact you had on my life.
So, I dedicate the chapter to this wonderful person.
Chapter 2 is coming soon! It's almost done...and there are some nice twists and stuff. Hope you like the story so far!