Author's Notes: Yeah, Chapter 1!! I felt a sudden urge to write this... (My head is bursting with ideas!!) It's going to be a long story, with short chapters. ^_^ Bear with me!! (P.S. *huggles Forgotten Sailor* Thank you for reviewing!!!!)

Disclaimer: Do you really have to ask?

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Heaven's Flames

Chapter 1

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            June 28, 2002

            "Oh, hi, Usagi." Tsukino Ikuko smiled sweetly as her daughter bounded into the house. "Where's Kenji?"


            "Dad's in the garage!" Usagi squealed out as she zipped past her mother and up the stairs into her bedroom.


            Ikuko watched her daughter fly up in the stairs in curiosity, eyeing the plastic bag in her hand. "Kenji, dear?" the violet-haired woman called. "What did she sucker you into buying this time?"


            Tsukino Kenji poked his head into the doorway of the house, thoroughly exhausted. "Some new video game." He shrugged. "What else?"


            "Her birthday is in two days, Kenji!" Ikuko scolded. "You couldn't wait until then?"


            "I think it's a matter of whether she would let me wait until then," Kenji retorted before trudging back into the garage.

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            Tsukino Usagi bounced on her bed excitedly as the game began to load. The logo for "Heaven's Flames" lit the screen. After months and months of being on a waiting list, the newest Dreamcast game was finally in! And not a moment to soon.


            Usagi fumbled with the joystick, picking her character and naming her. The blonde sucked in a deep breath and hit "Start."

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            "Usagi, how's it going?" Kenji leaned against the doorframe of his daughter's bedroom. "Like the new game?"


            "It bites," Usagi spat disappointedly. "It's WAY too easy!" She sighed and threw the controller down, not even bothering to turn off the game. "What a bummer..."


            Kenji smiled in sad sympathy for his daughter. "Maybe it'll get better," he tried encouragingly. "Play for a bit longer. Dinner will be ready soon anyway." Kenji blew his daughter a kiss and left the room.


            Usagi lay on her stomach on her bed and took hold of the controller again. While she was having the conversation with her father a giant centaur had stormed onto the screen. The heroine was on the ground with only 6 HP left.


            Usagi blinked in surprise. She was about the check her inventory for any healing fairies, but was cut short as the centaur came in for the kill.

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            "Kenji, Usagi! Dinner!!" Ikuko called up the stairs from the kitchen. "It'll get cold, hurry up!"


            "Coming," Kenji replied. He strode out of his bedroom, running a hand through his graying hair. "Usagi." He knocked lightly on his daughter's door. "Time for dinner, sweetie. You can come back to the game later." Kenji cracked the door open when he got no response. "Usagi...?"


            Kenji gasped. Usagi lay on the floor, writhing with convulsions. Her eyes were wide and bloodshot, matching the trail of blood that leaked from her nose. Gagging noises wrenched themselves from her throat. Every nerve ending, muscle, tendon, ligament, and bone was twitching in agony.


            "Game Over" was the only words on the TV screen.


            "IKUKO!" Kenji bellowed in horror. "Call an ambulance, she's having a seizure!!"

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Author's Notes: Oh, I love cliff hangers!! (Sensing a pattern? If not, then I don't think your working on a full tank...) I'm going to try to get chapter two up today, since I'm home sick and all. (When am I not?) Damned mono... Oh well, review!!