Moving Changes
Author's Notes: Konnichiwa! Marni brought up the excellent point that it seemed that Mamoru moved in the middle of the semester. *sweatdrop* Y'know, I really didn't think of that. However, that all gets covered later. Many, many thanks to Kaze, Neo-Princess Serenity, Mairz87, Joycelene, Selene T., and Amanda J.P. for your fun and inspiring reviews. And, above all, THANK YOU HiME-AnGeL-RaCeR and Marni for reviewing me more than once!!!! It's so neat to know that people who read this story when it first appeared are still hanging with me! *Mwah!* Grazie! Domo Arigato! Thank you! *Ahem* And now, back to our story…
Last time:
"I know you guys have been at it for a millennia, but could you please cut the..." Looking straight ahead, all words died from Si's mouth, except for two- "Oh, shit."
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Upon hearing Si's curse, Usagi and Mamoru broke apart, ready to fight at an instant's notice. What they saw wasn't a youma, however, it was simply Drew and Haley.
"Si!" Usagi admonished, hands on hips, "You shouldn't swear like that! You made us think something was wrong…" she trailed off, looking at her friends, who looked like fish gaping at her. "Guys? Are you ok?" Haley and Drew just gawked a bit more at their two friends and the teacher.
"Would someone mind explaining to us that whole scene right there?" Drew asked, "In English?" Usagi got panicky, but hid her discomfort. What if their secret identities were revealed?
"Ehehe, what scene?" she managed with an uneasy laugh, looking nervously to Si and Mamoru. Both men tried to look as if nothing important had just happened, standing normally, but Si still gave out a worried glance. Haley and Drew exchanged a confused, annoyed, and at the same time, excited look.
"From the time Si started spying on you two kissing to now?" Haley suggested, "That business with the whole million years and princes and generals…" she hinted. Usagi smiled, trying to look as innocently clueless as possible. Mamoru had already inched away from her, a blush threatening his face as he realized he had just been caught kissing Usagi. "Usagi," Haley said, still rather dumbfounded, "If that scene didn't tell us that we were missing something, Si acting upset that we were here did. Not to mention," her voice raised a pitch, "You just kissed the new teacher!" Drew jumped in, smiling and ready to defuse the situation,
"All we'd like to know is how you all know this teacher- who's a prince- and how he's your" pointing to Usagi, "fiancé?- and your," pointing to Si, "brother. And" –he started counting off on his fingers- "Who's royalty, and generals, and how long you've been engaged, and what on Earth you're royalty of. Basically," Drew noted brightly, "Everything you haven't told us yet. All the secret-y stuff. Don't leave anything out now."
"Well," Si tried to avoid a situation where their alter-identities came out, "It's a REALLY long story, I'm sure you don't want to hear it all." Usagi and Mamoru nodded at the same time with out realizing it, then, noticing how suspicious that looked, stopped and pointedly looked away from each other.
"That's fine," Drew put in casually, "We all have plenty of time." The whole group stood staring at each other for a while, until Mamoru broke the silence, blushing and looking at Usagi.
"Well, this isn't so much my story, and I am still a teacher with tests to grade…" he trailed off, concerned about his job position if he was turned in for having a romantic relationship with a student. Usagi looked a bit put out by that statement.
"Nonsense, Mamo-chan, this is every bit your story as much as mine, and same with Si."
"Yeah," Si exclaimed, "Without you, I wouldn't be here." He received raised eyebrows. "I know that sounds weird, but its true. With out him I wouldn't be a… er…" he received a glare from Mamoru, "Anyway," he covered up, "It's your story too."
Mamoru still said, "I do think that this is Usa's story. I'm just a side character." Si protested.
"You have more involvement in this than I do, you can't just leave me and Usagi to explain things! I'll… I'll say your REAL name. And title." Mamoru looked skeptical. Obviously Si wasn't picking up the hint.
"That's not much blackmail, considering they've already heard it. Anyway, Usako…" he said, giving her a meaningful glance, which she entirely missed the meaning of.
"Well," Si continued, "Endymion," Mamoru rolled his eyes, "You have to help us explain and leave the tests for later, or I'll…I'll find the others and we'll all come and kick your rear in a friendly, we still serve you but want the best for you kind of way. Imagine, me, Kunzite, Jadeite, and Nephrite all gathered here nagging you to stay…" Mamoru glared, and then sighed and put a hand to his face, running it through his hair in a gesture of defeat. Si had not picked up the hint, and had revealed too much information. No going back now.
"Fine. That was thin ice you were treading on there, Zoi, but the idea of all four of you nagging together is enough to convince anyone," he walked to Usagi's side and put his hands on her shoulders, "Tests can wait. Ask away, guys."
"Well," Haley started curiously, intrigued by the odd exchange between Si and the teacher, "How about you explain your situation to each other." Mamoru nodded, awkwardly drew in a breath, and answered.
"Usako is my fiancé," he said, squeezing her shoulders, "and this," he said motioning with his hand to Si, "Is the second general under my command, and the youngest."
There was an awkward pause as Drew and Haley looked from Mamoru, to Usagi, to Mamoru, to Si, and back to Mamoru. Another awkward pause as they all glanced at each other confusedly, then Drew broke the silence.
"Er, sorry," Drew started, "but I'm a bit confused. Your names change when you talk to each other. Who's who? And your titles. Generals, Prince, and Princess of what?"
"Well," Mamoru started uncertainly, "This is a bit odd…" Usagi interrupted, looking up at him.
"It'll make more sense if we transform. The best way to tell them is to show them." She pulled out her brooch from her pocket and held it in her hands.
"Are you sure?" Mamoru questioned, very uncomfortable with revealing their identities. Transforming in front of non-Senshi was something he had only done for the family of the Senshi, no others. She nodded, and he nodded in return. Si and the others looked on apprehensively. With a glance in her friends' direction, Mamoru continued, "Royal form or Senshi?"
"Royal." Mamoru nodded and turned to Si.
"Ready?" Si nodded, and he and Mamoru placed their hands near their chests,
"Go."
The three of them closed their eyes, frozen in their positions. Usagi glowed white, and then a strong silver color, the brooch turning into the crystal in her cupped hands. In a burst of pink ribbon, she transformed into her white Princess dress. Mamoru glowed a rich gold, and the Golden Crystal floated out of his chest into his hands, but he absorbed it back. He changed into his armor, sword at side. Zoicite concentrated as hard as he could on the memories of him and his prince, slowly glowing a light, pulsing green until Mamoru helped him complete the transformation, lending him a bit of golden energy.
Drew and Haley started on in disbelief. For a while they had thought their friends were weird, but this- this they never could have imagined. They gaped for a moment as the three stopped glowing. Serenity looked around, making sure no one had seen them, and grabbed Haley and Drew's hands, dragging them down the corridor as delicately as possible to an even more deserted area- thank Kami school was out. She then sat them down on a bench and stood before them in her royal glory, but appealing to them as a close friend.
"Now listen," she addressed their stunned looks, "I know what you're thinking. No, we aren't exactly aliens; we were born on this earth of 100% human parents. We consider this our home. But a million years ago, there was a Silver Millennium in this solar system, where peace and happiness reigned on all the planets. I was- and still am- the Princess of the Moon Kingdom. Mamo-chan- Mr. Chiba- is -was- the Crown Prince of Earth. Si was, and is, one of his four guards. We all had different names back then- Endymion, Serenity, Zoicite. We were completely happy until an evil being came and destroyed our kingdoms. My other, past, mother took the silver crystal and gave her life for us to be reborn here, in this time. Here we defeated the evil that caused us so much pain so many years ago, and have defeated many other evil threats to our universe as well. I am not just a princess; I am also a warrior in this time, as well as my protectors, the princesses of the other planets." She looked around, "Any questions?"
Drew and Haley stared at her, wide eyed with open mouths.
"Oh," she continued cheerfully, "and us three, the other generals, and Sailor Soldiers Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are the Earth/ Solar System's best- and only- line of defense from evil alien invaders who more often than not want to suck all of our energy and destroy the planet. Ok?"
The two normal students still gaped at the three super-heroes, so she began to get a little worried. She moved and knelt in front of them on the cement, not caring about the little dirt smudges getting on her pearly-white dress. "Are you guys ok? Guys?" she asked. Drew came around first.
"Oh, God," he moaned, "I feel like I've been hit with a truck. Too much information! So, you guys have known this all of your life?"
"No," Endymion responded, "I've only known since I was seventeen, Serenity has known since she was fourteen, and Zoicite found out about two months ago." Haley spoke up weakly,
"And you two, Usa- I mean, Serenity and… Endymion?... You two have been together how long?" Serenity and Endymion shared a smile and a look.
"Well," Serenity started, "We were engaged a million years ago, but we just met in this century when I was fourteen, and he was seventeen. We teased each other for the longest time, but then we realized we liked each other. We found out about our past lives, dated, and fell in love after the evil passed. Mamo-chan proposed before the threat of Sailor Galaxia- she was not one of the good Senshi you may meet later. And after a long distance relationship for the past few months, here we are." Endymion looked up sharply and stiffened for a moment.
"Someone's coming." Serenity jumped up and turned to Endymion's side. "Should we de-transform?" Serenity shook her head worriedly.
"No, from this form it takes too long." Haley got a glint in her eye and jumped up as the other students came around the corner.
"Excellent! I knew I could count on you to make these wonderful costumes, Usagi! These outfits are perfect for the play! And the three of you make these costumes look so great!" The others smiled and played along as Haley rushed to their side, hand on chin, examining their outfits. "I knew you were a great costume designer, Usagi! This is just great!" The other students walked past them with a curious glance, and then disappeared down the hallway. The whole group sighed in relief.
"Quick thinking," Endymion commented. Haley sat down on the bench.
"Thank goodness they bought it. I was worried they'd be in the drama class or something." She sighed again. "Usa- Serenity?" The other girl smiled.
"It's all right, just call me Usagi."
"Yeah, well, could we have a sleepover to discuss this and everything? It still feels really awkward." Usagi nodded cheerfully.
"Sure, I'll call Makoto to come over, too," she added, "She knows, she's Sailor Jupiter." Haley nodded in agreement. Endymion turned to Si,
"Zoicite? Could you come to my apartment for a 'sleep-over' meeting, too? Kunzite and I had a lot of time to discuss all this, but I hadn't even met you in this time until today," He looked at Drew, "You can join us as well, if you like. Yes, we're older and intimidating, possibly," he smiled, "But you've been closest to Usagi these past months- an advantage I haven't had. I'd like to get to know you better." Drew agreed, and, looking around, the three Senshi de-transformed. Usagi and Mamoru gravitated towards each other, and Si pointedly looked away to respect their privacy, Drew and Haley following his lead as the other couple shared a kiss. Breaking apart, they saw Si, Drew, and Haley with their backs facing them, pointedly staring anywhere but over their shoulders.
Mamoru laughed, "It's ok, coast is clear." The others sighed in relief and turned around, Drew and Si going to Mamoru and Haley going to Usagi. The two groups split up with cheery minds, unaware of the dangers that lay ahead.