Title: Sister Moon, Brother Earth [1/?]
Author: Corbeau Noir
Genre: AU, Action/Adventure, Drama
Rating: PG-13
Email: noir_corbeau@hotmail.com
Site: www.geocities.com/corbeaun
----------------------------------------------------------------
Summary:
Usagi and Mamoru have been reborn in 21st century Tokyo as
twins. Orphaned early on in a car accident, the two siblings
struggled to make a life for themselves in the years past.
Unfortunately, little do they know that their normal lives are
soon to be over.
Disclaimer:
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko
Takeuchi. I'm only borrowing them, and intend to return them as
soon as possible. Really, I promise. ::wink::
================================================================
Naming Conventions: I'm using the names Takeuchi-sama gave, but
I've listed their DiC counterparts in case anyone is confused. :)
Chiba Mamoru = Darien Shields
Chiba Usagi = Serena
Furuhata Motoki = Andrew
Kino Makoto = Lita
Osaka Naru = Molly Baker
Umino Gurio = Melvin
================================================================
Sister Moon, Brother Earth
By Corbeau Noir
Part 1
~~~~~~
The concrete-reinforced three-story apartment building
rose from the asphalt road before them. From a few of the
balconies, rows of faded shirts and socks fluttered limply on
the morning breeze like tired vestiges from a forgotten war. The
only hint of greenery lay in the peach tree that had grown up
against one of the windows on the second floor, unintentionally
it almost seemed.
"Well? What do you think?"
Chiba Mamoru took a deep breath, and turned to smile
politely at the old man waiting eagerly besides him. "Tanaka-san,
it's wonderful."
The older man beamed proudly, and gleefully patted
Mamoru's arm. "No problem, no problem at all. You're just lucky
I was there when the school phoned me." He paused then, beady
eyes suddenly lost in the folds of his face as they narrowed in
puzzlement. "But the school already offered you a dorm. Why
didn't you take it?"
Mamoru frowned slightly, the conversation with the head of
the academy running through his mind. He shook off the
unpleasant memory impatiently. "I have a sister, and the dorms
cannot provide for us both."
Mr. Tanaka nodded with approval. "It's good to see young
people so dedicated to their family. Excellent." He made a note
in the little black book he carried on him, capping the pen with
a flourish as he finished. "I'll tell the academy that you'll
take it, first thing tomorrow."
Mamoru glanced over the slightly run-down building one
more time. The room with the window against the tree, that was
the place he'd been offered. Seemed no one wanted it, claimed
that the tree blocked the sunlight and that in the summer the
sweet fruit attracted insects, but the landlord was not willing
to cut down the decades-old tree.
Usa would enjoy the peaches.
"Thank you, Tanaka-san."
* * * * * *
Osaka Naru, resident class busybody and all around do-
gooder, sighed for the forth time that morning as she absently
flipped through the pages of her notebook. Yumiko and Kuri were
absent again, there was no one to talk to, and nothing out of
the ordinary had happened within the last twenty-four hours.
Naru was bored.
She sighed again.
"Hey, Naru! Did you hear?"
She perked up immediately, and eagerly swung around to
face the newcomer. It was Umino Gurio, otherwise known as the
human gossip machine. Naru almost cried in relief; instead, she
latched onto him like a leech. "What, Umino? What is it?"
The boy's bright eyes peered at her through his coke-
bottle glasses, a wide excited grin on his face. He plopped
himself down at the empty seat opposite her and hurriedly began
talking. "Well, it's like this. I was walking down the
corridors this morning on my way to the newsroom, and you know
how the editor's always ranting about how no one turns in their
articles on time, as if we could help it," Umino snorted
disdainfully. Naru nodded impatiently and motioned for him to go
on. "Anyway, going down the hall. And then I saw the principal
walking past with this girl." He paused, eyes unfocusing behind
his glasses as a silly grin spread across his face. "I don't
know how to describe her, but she was. Wow."
Naru rolled her eyes, and inwardly sighed to herself.
Looked like her relief was premature. But she smiled good-
humoredly at Umino. "So she's what? Pretty?"
The boy nodded enthusiastically, "Very pretty." And then
glancing quickly around them before leaning in closer, "And I
heard that---"
At that exact moment, the teacher entered the room.
"Everyone in their seats please," the middle-aged man announced
loudly.
The students immediately disbanded from the various
groupings and rushed back to their respective seats. Umino also
hurried to his desk in the front, all the while trying to tell
her something. Unfortunately, Naru couldn't lip-read.
In the next few seconds though, that proved to be
unnecessary.
"Class... I'd like to introduce a new student to you."
And saying that, the instructor stepped aside to reveal the tiny,
golden-haired girl who had up till then been hidden behind him.
Even as Naru stared, she could hear the jaws of boys
dropping all across the room. *Kami-sama,* Naru thought, half
with shock, half with envy.
The girl was absolutely, undeniably, drop-dead *gorgeous*.
The new girl, apparently oblivious to the effect she had,
smiled broadly and waved enthusiastically to everyone in the
class.
"Hi! I'm Chiba Usagi, pleased to meet you!"
The teacher smiled benignly behind her, and clapped his
hands together in approval. "Thank you, Miss Chiba. Now please
take a seat next to Miss Osaka in the back there. Okay class,
turn to page four hundred and two..."
There was only the sound of rustling pages in the
classroom as Chiba Usagi made her way down the aisles. Heads
turned as she passed them by.
*Well,* Naru thought to herself happily as she flipped
open her Japanese Literature book, all the while sneaking
furtive glances at the new student now settling in beside her,
*things are finally getting interesting.*
She resolved to make friends with the new girl the first
chance she got.
* * * * * *
It was not until Home Ec that Naru was actually able to
make good with that promise.
"You know, only *you* could make cooking rice this
difficult, Naru."
Naru didn't even look up from the sink. "Not everyone can
cook, Makoto." She tilted the pan, trying to decide if the water
in the rice was clear enough. No, she finally decided, and
slowly drained the clouded water from the pan. Then, carefully
she began refilling the pan with water.
Abruptly, the girl beside her, Makoto, groaned. "Oh, give
me that." And snatched the pan of rice from her hands.
Blinking, Naru watched in bemusement as the tall, brunette
girl swished the rice around furiously and then slammed the pan
back in front of her. "There, finished." Then Makoto turned back
to her own pan of frying tempura.
"Umm. Thanks." Naru winced on seeing a tiny crack appear
on the pan. "I think."
Makoto just humphed, intent on her frying pan.
Carefully, Naru set the pan of rice boiling on the gas
stove. Mopping her hands on a dry cloth, she turned to see how
the rest of her classmates were doing. Many, she noted glumly,
already had their rice cooking and their tempura frying. Even
the new girl, Chiba Usagi, had a plate of finished golden-crisp
tempura in front of her. But for some reason, Usagi was staring
at the plate like it was about to bite her. A basket of
decorative chrysanthemums lay untouched on a nearby table.
Naru walked up behind her and tapped Usagi on the shoulder,
"Your tempura looks delicious, Chiba-san."
The girl swung around, her strangely-styled hair whipping
through the air as she turned to face Naru.
For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence as the new
girl simply stared at her. Up close, Naru belated became aware
of the pair of eyes the vibrant blue of a summer sky, of the
spidery lines of several old scars crisscrossing one cheek.
Fleetingly Naru wondered if she had made a big mistake --- she
had misinterpreted the situation, this girl didn't *look* like
she needed anyone's help...
Then Usagi broke into a brilliant smile. "You're Osaka-san,
right?"
Just as abruptly, Naru became aware that she was staring.
Flustered and more than a little embarrassed, she quickly nodded,
"Yeah, that's right. Osaka Naru." Then she grinned back,
regaining her bearings. "Osaka Naru, resident champion of
babble." She bowed slightly, "Pleased ta meetcha."
"Chiba Usagi." Usagi bowed back happily. "Glad to meet you
too."
At the front of the room, the teacher coughed loudly.
"Less chitchatting and more cooking, girls," old Mrs. Yano said
reprovingly, looking pointedly in Naru and Usagi's direction.
"So..." Lips quirking into an impish grin, Usagi gestured
toward the dish of finished but unadorned tempura. "Can you help
me put the flowers on the food? I can never get it right."
Naru beamed. "Sure, no problem," she said, and reached for
a handful of yellow chrysanthemums from the nearby basket.
* * * * * *
"So where are you from, Usagi?" Naru asked curiously.
School was finally over and the two girls had decided to
go for a walk around downtown Tokyo. Naru watched the fronts of
the shops as they passed, glancing discreetly every now and then
at her strange-looking new friend.
Usagi shrugged, smiling as she paused momentarily in front
of a candy shop. "Oh here and there. All over Honshu." Suddenly
without warning, she darted into the shop, dragging Naru along
with her. She pointed eagerly at a big chocolate bunny behind
the display counter. "That looks delicious! Want to buy it,
Naru?"
Naru giggled at the desperately pleading look on Usagi's
face. "That's a really big chocolate bunny. How're you gonna to
finish it?"
Her new friend Usagi just grinned at her. "Oh, don't worry,
appetite is *definitely* not a problem," she laughed, patting her
stomach. Then suddenly she chanced to look up at the store clock
and her grin died, horrified expression appearing on her face.
"Oh no, I'm late!"
And then before Naru had a chance to object, the golden-
haired girl was pulling her out of the store and running down
the street. "Usagi," Naru gasped, hard put to keep up with the
other girl, weaving and dodging her way through the downtown
Tokyo crowd. "Usagi, wait!"
Then Usagi stopped so abruptly that Naru nearly collided
into her before realizing what was going on.
"Usagi," Naru called out breathlessly, bracing a hand
against the wall, "What are you late for?"
The other girl stared forlornly at glass windows of the
building in front of them. "I was supposed to come here right
after school."
Naru glanced up at the glowing neon sign flickering on the
building's outside wall, and then turned in surprise to Usagi,
"The Crown Arcade? You know about this place?"
The Crown Arcade was a well-frequented establishment, even
better known ever since that nice-looking young man took over as
manager. Most of the local kids came to the place for a well-
deserved game of pachinko after a grueling school day, some of
the girls just to ogle the new manager. But Usagi was new to the
area and Naru didn't really expect her to be familiar enough
with the neighborhood in order to know about it.
One hand already on the glass doors, Usagi turned around
and smiled sheepishly, "I don't, not really. But I do know the
owner." She pushed into the building. "Come on, I'll introduce
you to him if you want."
Naru followed Usagi through the glass doors of the Crown
Arcade, lingering uncertainly behind by one of the coffee tables
as Usagi called out enthusiastically to the young man behind the
counter, simultaneously ordering a drink for herself and Naru.
The apronned young man looked up from the counter with a
bright smile on his face. "Hey Usagi-chan, long time no see!" He
paused, eyes briefly scanning the arcade premise. "Where's
Mamoru-kun?"
"He said he's coming straight from school. He should be
here soon." Usagi quickly took hold of the two strawberry
sherbets she'd ordered, and slid one across the counter where
Naru was now seated. Motoki nodded, satisfied with the answer,
and moved away to help some other customers.
Naru grasped the icy cold beverage gratefully, drawing on
the big pipe straw with big gulps, before turning to look
questioningly at her companion. "Mamoru-kun...?"
"My twin brother. First-year high, same as us."
She perked up. "Twin?" In her mind, she was already
visualizing a male version of Usagi. But one small detail nagged
her. "But why isn't he in the same school as us?"
Usagi grinned proudly at her. "That's because Oniichan got
accepted into Moto Azabu High!"
Naru's eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't that the elite
school for geniuses?" She whistled admiringly, "Only the best
get to pass the entrance exams. Your brother must be brilliant."
"I know." For a brief moment, a small odd smile tugged
down at the edges of Usagi's mouth. But before Naru could have a
chance to ferret out a reason for that strange reaction, Usagi
leapt out of her seat, waving enthusiastically at someone from
across the room. "Oh, there he is! Over here, Oniichan!"
Naru turned, fully expecting to see a slim blonde haired,
blue-eyed boy, when instead she got Chiba Mamoru. She stared.
The greeting on her lips died a quick death, and for all of
thirty seconds Osaka Naru, self-proclaimed champion of babble,
lost all capabilities of speech. Tall, dark-haired, and good-
looking, Chiba Mamoru stood resplendent in his school uniform,
schoolbag slung casually over one shoulder.
"I'm sorry. Was I late?"
The distinctive warm baritone oozed through her insides,
leaving her all warm and gooey. Naru's eyes grew even wider and
she blushed. She heard her heart thump hard once in ecstatic
glee.
Mamoru leaned over to greet his sister. Usagi's face
softened into a warm smile, as she returned the hug. "That's all
right, Oniichan. We just got here too."
"I see. That's good."
*He's Mamoru?* Naru wondered, as her hormones took a
breather long enough for some of her mental capabilities to
return. *Funny, Usagi-chan and this brother of hers don't look
at all alike. Admittedly, they're both gorgeous, but still...*
"Oniichan, this is my friend Osaka Naru."
"Pleased to meet you," he said, bowing slightly in
greeting. "I'm glad Usa's made a friend already." He smiled at
her.
And all rational thought fled Naru's head.
* * * * *
The boisterous redhead looked one last time over her
shoulder, grinned at Mamoru and gave a small wave before turning
to disappear into the crowds. A half-perplexed expression on his
face, Mamoru tentatively returned the gesture.
Usagi's eyebrow twitched slightly. She felt...she wasn't
quite sure *what* she felt. It was strange though to watch her
new friend, the one who had seemed so confident and sensible, be
reduced to a blushing, stammering mess by only one smile from
her brother.
Halfway home, when the downtown Tokyo crowd had been left
behind and there was no one else but the two of them on the
streets, Usagi finally broke the silence they had fallen into.
She glanced thoughtfully over at Mamoru walking quietly beside
her.
"You know... I think she likes you."
"Who?" Mamoru blinked at her, visibly startled by this
sudden remark.
She kept her face resolutely forward, walking steadily
ahead. "Naru, of course."
There was a pause. Then, "Your red-headed friend?"
Usagi tried to look nonchalant, determined not to meet
Mamoru's curious gaze. "Um-hmm." The cement sidewalk and the
tops of her shoes suddenly captured her complete attention.
For a while, a period of silence stretched awkwardly
between them as they walked.
"Usa?" Mamoru finally asked, voice faintly amused. Usagi
could not bring herself to meet his eyes.
"What."
"Are you...jealous?"
Usagi stumbled and whipped her head up to stare at him,
incredulous. "Huh?! No way!" She pointed an indignant finger at
her brother. "That is the most egotistical, ridiculous idea..."
Usagi flushed and swallowed uncomfortably, the rest of the
sentence trailing off.
Mamoru just looked at her thoughtfully. The silence grew
heavier.
Usagi ducked her head down, furiously willing her blush to
fade. Finally in a small voice, "Okay, well, maybe just a
little," she admitted, not able to meet his eyes. She waited
nervously for his reaction.
Mamoru chuckled.
She raised her head to glare at him. "What's so funny?"
she demanded heatedly, feeling the blood rushing back to her
face with a vengeance.
He raised his hands placatingly. "Nothing, nothing." But a
smile still dimpled one cheek.
"Argh, fine!" She rolled her eyes irritably. "Should've
known you would be like this," and turned to go in a huff.
His hand caught hers.
Usagi twisted around to yell at him, but his face was
solemn now, without even a trace of his previous mirth. His
brilliant blue eyes were focused intently on her.
"There's no reason to be, you know that," he murmured,
voice quiet and utterly serious.
Usagi's eyes flickered briefly to their clasped hands, and
smiled softly. "I know."
They continued walking home hand in hand, the silence
comfortable between them.
* * * * *
A scrawny black street cat watched from underneath a bush,
blinking its cinnamon brown eyes as it stared past the leaves
and concrete, to the two humans walking slowly down the street
toward it. When the humans turned a corner and disappeared, the
cat turned tail and quickly began running back to where it'd
come.
Overhead, the crescent moon began a slow rise into the
dimming sky.
[End "Sister Moon, Brother Earth" - Part 1]
================================================================
Author's Notes:
Whew, finally finished. I think I'll keep this version of Part 1;
I'm almost dreading the work on Part 2. This multi-part business
is hard. ^^;;
Feedback needed, please, to keep this fanfic author sane. *^-^*
--------------------------
noir_corbeau@hotmail.com
www.geocities.com/corbeaun
--------------------------
================================================================
Completed: 8/12/02
Author: Corbeau Noir
Genre: AU, Action/Adventure, Drama
Rating: PG-13
Email: noir_corbeau@hotmail.com
Site: www.geocities.com/corbeaun
----------------------------------------------------------------
Summary:
Usagi and Mamoru have been reborn in 21st century Tokyo as
twins. Orphaned early on in a car accident, the two siblings
struggled to make a life for themselves in the years past.
Unfortunately, little do they know that their normal lives are
soon to be over.
Disclaimer:
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko
Takeuchi. I'm only borrowing them, and intend to return them as
soon as possible. Really, I promise. ::wink::
================================================================
Naming Conventions: I'm using the names Takeuchi-sama gave, but
I've listed their DiC counterparts in case anyone is confused. :)
Chiba Mamoru = Darien Shields
Chiba Usagi = Serena
Furuhata Motoki = Andrew
Kino Makoto = Lita
Osaka Naru = Molly Baker
Umino Gurio = Melvin
================================================================
Sister Moon, Brother Earth
By Corbeau Noir
Part 1
~~~~~~
The concrete-reinforced three-story apartment building
rose from the asphalt road before them. From a few of the
balconies, rows of faded shirts and socks fluttered limply on
the morning breeze like tired vestiges from a forgotten war. The
only hint of greenery lay in the peach tree that had grown up
against one of the windows on the second floor, unintentionally
it almost seemed.
"Well? What do you think?"
Chiba Mamoru took a deep breath, and turned to smile
politely at the old man waiting eagerly besides him. "Tanaka-san,
it's wonderful."
The older man beamed proudly, and gleefully patted
Mamoru's arm. "No problem, no problem at all. You're just lucky
I was there when the school phoned me." He paused then, beady
eyes suddenly lost in the folds of his face as they narrowed in
puzzlement. "But the school already offered you a dorm. Why
didn't you take it?"
Mamoru frowned slightly, the conversation with the head of
the academy running through his mind. He shook off the
unpleasant memory impatiently. "I have a sister, and the dorms
cannot provide for us both."
Mr. Tanaka nodded with approval. "It's good to see young
people so dedicated to their family. Excellent." He made a note
in the little black book he carried on him, capping the pen with
a flourish as he finished. "I'll tell the academy that you'll
take it, first thing tomorrow."
Mamoru glanced over the slightly run-down building one
more time. The room with the window against the tree, that was
the place he'd been offered. Seemed no one wanted it, claimed
that the tree blocked the sunlight and that in the summer the
sweet fruit attracted insects, but the landlord was not willing
to cut down the decades-old tree.
Usa would enjoy the peaches.
"Thank you, Tanaka-san."
* * * * * *
Osaka Naru, resident class busybody and all around do-
gooder, sighed for the forth time that morning as she absently
flipped through the pages of her notebook. Yumiko and Kuri were
absent again, there was no one to talk to, and nothing out of
the ordinary had happened within the last twenty-four hours.
Naru was bored.
She sighed again.
"Hey, Naru! Did you hear?"
She perked up immediately, and eagerly swung around to
face the newcomer. It was Umino Gurio, otherwise known as the
human gossip machine. Naru almost cried in relief; instead, she
latched onto him like a leech. "What, Umino? What is it?"
The boy's bright eyes peered at her through his coke-
bottle glasses, a wide excited grin on his face. He plopped
himself down at the empty seat opposite her and hurriedly began
talking. "Well, it's like this. I was walking down the
corridors this morning on my way to the newsroom, and you know
how the editor's always ranting about how no one turns in their
articles on time, as if we could help it," Umino snorted
disdainfully. Naru nodded impatiently and motioned for him to go
on. "Anyway, going down the hall. And then I saw the principal
walking past with this girl." He paused, eyes unfocusing behind
his glasses as a silly grin spread across his face. "I don't
know how to describe her, but she was. Wow."
Naru rolled her eyes, and inwardly sighed to herself.
Looked like her relief was premature. But she smiled good-
humoredly at Umino. "So she's what? Pretty?"
The boy nodded enthusiastically, "Very pretty." And then
glancing quickly around them before leaning in closer, "And I
heard that---"
At that exact moment, the teacher entered the room.
"Everyone in their seats please," the middle-aged man announced
loudly.
The students immediately disbanded from the various
groupings and rushed back to their respective seats. Umino also
hurried to his desk in the front, all the while trying to tell
her something. Unfortunately, Naru couldn't lip-read.
In the next few seconds though, that proved to be
unnecessary.
"Class... I'd like to introduce a new student to you."
And saying that, the instructor stepped aside to reveal the tiny,
golden-haired girl who had up till then been hidden behind him.
Even as Naru stared, she could hear the jaws of boys
dropping all across the room. *Kami-sama,* Naru thought, half
with shock, half with envy.
The girl was absolutely, undeniably, drop-dead *gorgeous*.
The new girl, apparently oblivious to the effect she had,
smiled broadly and waved enthusiastically to everyone in the
class.
"Hi! I'm Chiba Usagi, pleased to meet you!"
The teacher smiled benignly behind her, and clapped his
hands together in approval. "Thank you, Miss Chiba. Now please
take a seat next to Miss Osaka in the back there. Okay class,
turn to page four hundred and two..."
There was only the sound of rustling pages in the
classroom as Chiba Usagi made her way down the aisles. Heads
turned as she passed them by.
*Well,* Naru thought to herself happily as she flipped
open her Japanese Literature book, all the while sneaking
furtive glances at the new student now settling in beside her,
*things are finally getting interesting.*
She resolved to make friends with the new girl the first
chance she got.
* * * * * *
It was not until Home Ec that Naru was actually able to
make good with that promise.
"You know, only *you* could make cooking rice this
difficult, Naru."
Naru didn't even look up from the sink. "Not everyone can
cook, Makoto." She tilted the pan, trying to decide if the water
in the rice was clear enough. No, she finally decided, and
slowly drained the clouded water from the pan. Then, carefully
she began refilling the pan with water.
Abruptly, the girl beside her, Makoto, groaned. "Oh, give
me that." And snatched the pan of rice from her hands.
Blinking, Naru watched in bemusement as the tall, brunette
girl swished the rice around furiously and then slammed the pan
back in front of her. "There, finished." Then Makoto turned back
to her own pan of frying tempura.
"Umm. Thanks." Naru winced on seeing a tiny crack appear
on the pan. "I think."
Makoto just humphed, intent on her frying pan.
Carefully, Naru set the pan of rice boiling on the gas
stove. Mopping her hands on a dry cloth, she turned to see how
the rest of her classmates were doing. Many, she noted glumly,
already had their rice cooking and their tempura frying. Even
the new girl, Chiba Usagi, had a plate of finished golden-crisp
tempura in front of her. But for some reason, Usagi was staring
at the plate like it was about to bite her. A basket of
decorative chrysanthemums lay untouched on a nearby table.
Naru walked up behind her and tapped Usagi on the shoulder,
"Your tempura looks delicious, Chiba-san."
The girl swung around, her strangely-styled hair whipping
through the air as she turned to face Naru.
For a moment there was an uncomfortable silence as the new
girl simply stared at her. Up close, Naru belated became aware
of the pair of eyes the vibrant blue of a summer sky, of the
spidery lines of several old scars crisscrossing one cheek.
Fleetingly Naru wondered if she had made a big mistake --- she
had misinterpreted the situation, this girl didn't *look* like
she needed anyone's help...
Then Usagi broke into a brilliant smile. "You're Osaka-san,
right?"
Just as abruptly, Naru became aware that she was staring.
Flustered and more than a little embarrassed, she quickly nodded,
"Yeah, that's right. Osaka Naru." Then she grinned back,
regaining her bearings. "Osaka Naru, resident champion of
babble." She bowed slightly, "Pleased ta meetcha."
"Chiba Usagi." Usagi bowed back happily. "Glad to meet you
too."
At the front of the room, the teacher coughed loudly.
"Less chitchatting and more cooking, girls," old Mrs. Yano said
reprovingly, looking pointedly in Naru and Usagi's direction.
"So..." Lips quirking into an impish grin, Usagi gestured
toward the dish of finished but unadorned tempura. "Can you help
me put the flowers on the food? I can never get it right."
Naru beamed. "Sure, no problem," she said, and reached for
a handful of yellow chrysanthemums from the nearby basket.
* * * * * *
"So where are you from, Usagi?" Naru asked curiously.
School was finally over and the two girls had decided to
go for a walk around downtown Tokyo. Naru watched the fronts of
the shops as they passed, glancing discreetly every now and then
at her strange-looking new friend.
Usagi shrugged, smiling as she paused momentarily in front
of a candy shop. "Oh here and there. All over Honshu." Suddenly
without warning, she darted into the shop, dragging Naru along
with her. She pointed eagerly at a big chocolate bunny behind
the display counter. "That looks delicious! Want to buy it,
Naru?"
Naru giggled at the desperately pleading look on Usagi's
face. "That's a really big chocolate bunny. How're you gonna to
finish it?"
Her new friend Usagi just grinned at her. "Oh, don't worry,
appetite is *definitely* not a problem," she laughed, patting her
stomach. Then suddenly she chanced to look up at the store clock
and her grin died, horrified expression appearing on her face.
"Oh no, I'm late!"
And then before Naru had a chance to object, the golden-
haired girl was pulling her out of the store and running down
the street. "Usagi," Naru gasped, hard put to keep up with the
other girl, weaving and dodging her way through the downtown
Tokyo crowd. "Usagi, wait!"
Then Usagi stopped so abruptly that Naru nearly collided
into her before realizing what was going on.
"Usagi," Naru called out breathlessly, bracing a hand
against the wall, "What are you late for?"
The other girl stared forlornly at glass windows of the
building in front of them. "I was supposed to come here right
after school."
Naru glanced up at the glowing neon sign flickering on the
building's outside wall, and then turned in surprise to Usagi,
"The Crown Arcade? You know about this place?"
The Crown Arcade was a well-frequented establishment, even
better known ever since that nice-looking young man took over as
manager. Most of the local kids came to the place for a well-
deserved game of pachinko after a grueling school day, some of
the girls just to ogle the new manager. But Usagi was new to the
area and Naru didn't really expect her to be familiar enough
with the neighborhood in order to know about it.
One hand already on the glass doors, Usagi turned around
and smiled sheepishly, "I don't, not really. But I do know the
owner." She pushed into the building. "Come on, I'll introduce
you to him if you want."
Naru followed Usagi through the glass doors of the Crown
Arcade, lingering uncertainly behind by one of the coffee tables
as Usagi called out enthusiastically to the young man behind the
counter, simultaneously ordering a drink for herself and Naru.
The apronned young man looked up from the counter with a
bright smile on his face. "Hey Usagi-chan, long time no see!" He
paused, eyes briefly scanning the arcade premise. "Where's
Mamoru-kun?"
"He said he's coming straight from school. He should be
here soon." Usagi quickly took hold of the two strawberry
sherbets she'd ordered, and slid one across the counter where
Naru was now seated. Motoki nodded, satisfied with the answer,
and moved away to help some other customers.
Naru grasped the icy cold beverage gratefully, drawing on
the big pipe straw with big gulps, before turning to look
questioningly at her companion. "Mamoru-kun...?"
"My twin brother. First-year high, same as us."
She perked up. "Twin?" In her mind, she was already
visualizing a male version of Usagi. But one small detail nagged
her. "But why isn't he in the same school as us?"
Usagi grinned proudly at her. "That's because Oniichan got
accepted into Moto Azabu High!"
Naru's eyes widened in surprise. "Isn't that the elite
school for geniuses?" She whistled admiringly, "Only the best
get to pass the entrance exams. Your brother must be brilliant."
"I know." For a brief moment, a small odd smile tugged
down at the edges of Usagi's mouth. But before Naru could have a
chance to ferret out a reason for that strange reaction, Usagi
leapt out of her seat, waving enthusiastically at someone from
across the room. "Oh, there he is! Over here, Oniichan!"
Naru turned, fully expecting to see a slim blonde haired,
blue-eyed boy, when instead she got Chiba Mamoru. She stared.
The greeting on her lips died a quick death, and for all of
thirty seconds Osaka Naru, self-proclaimed champion of babble,
lost all capabilities of speech. Tall, dark-haired, and good-
looking, Chiba Mamoru stood resplendent in his school uniform,
schoolbag slung casually over one shoulder.
"I'm sorry. Was I late?"
The distinctive warm baritone oozed through her insides,
leaving her all warm and gooey. Naru's eyes grew even wider and
she blushed. She heard her heart thump hard once in ecstatic
glee.
Mamoru leaned over to greet his sister. Usagi's face
softened into a warm smile, as she returned the hug. "That's all
right, Oniichan. We just got here too."
"I see. That's good."
*He's Mamoru?* Naru wondered, as her hormones took a
breather long enough for some of her mental capabilities to
return. *Funny, Usagi-chan and this brother of hers don't look
at all alike. Admittedly, they're both gorgeous, but still...*
"Oniichan, this is my friend Osaka Naru."
"Pleased to meet you," he said, bowing slightly in
greeting. "I'm glad Usa's made a friend already." He smiled at
her.
And all rational thought fled Naru's head.
* * * * *
The boisterous redhead looked one last time over her
shoulder, grinned at Mamoru and gave a small wave before turning
to disappear into the crowds. A half-perplexed expression on his
face, Mamoru tentatively returned the gesture.
Usagi's eyebrow twitched slightly. She felt...she wasn't
quite sure *what* she felt. It was strange though to watch her
new friend, the one who had seemed so confident and sensible, be
reduced to a blushing, stammering mess by only one smile from
her brother.
Halfway home, when the downtown Tokyo crowd had been left
behind and there was no one else but the two of them on the
streets, Usagi finally broke the silence they had fallen into.
She glanced thoughtfully over at Mamoru walking quietly beside
her.
"You know... I think she likes you."
"Who?" Mamoru blinked at her, visibly startled by this
sudden remark.
She kept her face resolutely forward, walking steadily
ahead. "Naru, of course."
There was a pause. Then, "Your red-headed friend?"
Usagi tried to look nonchalant, determined not to meet
Mamoru's curious gaze. "Um-hmm." The cement sidewalk and the
tops of her shoes suddenly captured her complete attention.
For a while, a period of silence stretched awkwardly
between them as they walked.
"Usa?" Mamoru finally asked, voice faintly amused. Usagi
could not bring herself to meet his eyes.
"What."
"Are you...jealous?"
Usagi stumbled and whipped her head up to stare at him,
incredulous. "Huh?! No way!" She pointed an indignant finger at
her brother. "That is the most egotistical, ridiculous idea..."
Usagi flushed and swallowed uncomfortably, the rest of the
sentence trailing off.
Mamoru just looked at her thoughtfully. The silence grew
heavier.
Usagi ducked her head down, furiously willing her blush to
fade. Finally in a small voice, "Okay, well, maybe just a
little," she admitted, not able to meet his eyes. She waited
nervously for his reaction.
Mamoru chuckled.
She raised her head to glare at him. "What's so funny?"
she demanded heatedly, feeling the blood rushing back to her
face with a vengeance.
He raised his hands placatingly. "Nothing, nothing." But a
smile still dimpled one cheek.
"Argh, fine!" She rolled her eyes irritably. "Should've
known you would be like this," and turned to go in a huff.
His hand caught hers.
Usagi twisted around to yell at him, but his face was
solemn now, without even a trace of his previous mirth. His
brilliant blue eyes were focused intently on her.
"There's no reason to be, you know that," he murmured,
voice quiet and utterly serious.
Usagi's eyes flickered briefly to their clasped hands, and
smiled softly. "I know."
They continued walking home hand in hand, the silence
comfortable between them.
* * * * *
A scrawny black street cat watched from underneath a bush,
blinking its cinnamon brown eyes as it stared past the leaves
and concrete, to the two humans walking slowly down the street
toward it. When the humans turned a corner and disappeared, the
cat turned tail and quickly began running back to where it'd
come.
Overhead, the crescent moon began a slow rise into the
dimming sky.
[End "Sister Moon, Brother Earth" - Part 1]
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Author's Notes:
Whew, finally finished. I think I'll keep this version of Part 1;
I'm almost dreading the work on Part 2. This multi-part business
is hard. ^^;;
Feedback needed, please, to keep this fanfic author sane. *^-^*
--------------------------
noir_corbeau@hotmail.com
www.geocities.com/corbeaun
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Completed: 8/12/02