"She will not make it…"

"How bad are the wounds?"

A scuffling noise, then something being turned over.

"Serenity? Serenity, are you ok? Listen to me, Serenity, I need you to open your eyes."

"I…can't." Was that her voice? It was so weak…like she refused to stay alive.

"Oh, Gods, where's Endy when you need him? Kunzite! Kunzite, get Zoicite! Those idiot doctors haven't done anything to help…Nephrite, help me lift her."

A cool hand smoothed her brow. "It'll be ok, Sere. As long as Endy's not here, we'll protect you."

A new voice, "Jadeite! How is she?"

"Horrible. Where are those damn senshi when you need them?"

"If the Lady Mars heard you say such a thing…"

"Shut up and get her fixed, Zoi."

Someone was lifting her hair back. "Serenity? Serenity, it's me, Kunzite. How did this happen?"

Jadeite's voice, as she had come to know it, answered for her. "Damn Endymion, he told her he was going to the front. She tried to stop him, and was running to the transportation gate. Rebels, for Beryl, attacked her. She was sorely wounded, but managed to kill them."

"What a strong, strong child we have on our hands."

"Wo-woman." She protested quietly. There was a stunned silence, before laughter was the only thing she heard.

"Hmm…" Usagi sat up, wincing, and immediately lay down again. Her world began to swim back into focus, and she frowned.

"Where is it?" She whispered aloud to herself. She pawed frantically at her chest, then at her sides. She could not find the ginzouishou anywhere, nor locate its presence.

She lifted a hand, and it came away bloody. There was a wound in her side where she had hit the stairs, and several bruises were becoming known to her.

"Owie, owie, ow…" She whimpered as she sat up once more, and surveyed her surroundings. She was lying on the top stair, and from there she could see her bedroom.

A wave of sadness washed over her as she remembered what had happened. "Otou-san…Okaa-san…"

Only the senshi can help me now.

With an aggrieved sigh, she pulled herself up the remaining step and dragged herself towards her bedroom. She tried desperately not to look at the trail of blood she was leaving behind.

Usagi pushed the door, and half crawled, half squirmed to her dresser, where the communicator lay on top.

"Damn…couldn't have had it easy, could I?" she mumbled, and began to hit the dresser. The communicator toppled on the edge and fell in front of her.

With great difficulty, Usagi pulled herself up to a sitting position and pushed in a few buttons. When Rei's face appeared, surrounded by all the senshi's, she almost cried in joy.

"Oh, minna! I need your help—," but she was cut off as Rei exploded.

"Oh, SURE! Now you need our help! Where were you when we needed it? Ami's ankle is sprained, and Mina has a broken arm! I almost punctured my heart, and Mako is on crutches!"

Usagi's brow furrowed. "What?"

Mina's voice was heard in the background. "Don't tell me you slept through the communicator beeping, Usa. Tell me you had a heart attack, tell me you died and were reborn, but Gods above, don't tell me you slept through it."

"Minna…" Usagi was broken. They believed her to be that lazy and irresponsible? "Gomen, I was attacked—,"

"Forget it Usagi!" Ami's face filled the screen. "Just forget it. Maybe it's time you took a break anyways."

Disoriented from the loss of blood, Usagi blinked slowly.

"Ami-chan?"

"Don't call me that." Ami's voice was sharp. "We know you're upset over Mamorou-san breaking up with you, but we almost died from that youma attack last night, and you were cuddled in bed."

Usagi couldn't take it. "But my parents—,"

"Shut up, Usagi." Mako was speaking now. "Please, just don't say another word, and don't come back until you can be a true princess."

The apparatus went blank, and Usagi just stared at it. For almost twenty minutes, she was immoveable. The tears falling from her face mingled with the dried blood around her jaw line. It was the ringing of the doorbell, and the sound it made as it creaked open, that brought her out of her reverie.

"Tsukino-san? I'm here to pick up Usagi, she Motoki and I were— Gods above!"

Usagi put the communicator down, and crawled to the edge of the stairs. She could see Naru's bob of brown hair and Motoki as he hurried across the debris.

He went into the living room and a long silence was heard. Naru followed him shortly after, and Usagi heard her stifled shriek.

"Naru-chan? Motoki-onii-san?" she called. Her voice was too weak, and she heard them searching for her.

"Both of them, dead, and her cat too!" She heard Motoki say.

Luna was gone? Usagi began to sob brokenly. Her only remaining link to any life she had left was gone. She was suddenly wrapped in a pair of strong arms.

"Shh, Usa-chan. It's okay, Naru and I are here." Motoki lifted her body, and was shocked to see the blood almost immediately begin to soak into his jacket.

"What happened?" Naru asked, as she brushed away strands of her friend's hair.

Usagi couldn't talk, and her crying only escalated.

Motoki said nothing as he bounded down the stairs, with Naru following behind him.

"Usagi?" Naru spoke to her in an attempt to calm her down. "We're taking you to a hospital, and—Oh, Usa, I'm so sorry!" tears were streaming down the faces of the trio as Motoki rushed them to the hospital in his car.

"Can she hear me?"

"I dunno, Jadeite. Check for yourself!"

"Geez, Zoi, you'd think with such long hair you'd be more quiet, like a good wife…"

"What is that supposed to mean! I'm a guy!"

"Serenity? Can you hear me?"

Noises followed his question, and a loud protest from the generals in the room. Soon she felt a hand stroking her face.

"Princess? I am so sorry, we did not hear about anything until now, and only because we were on Terra for a conference. Uranus, bring me some water!"

"Is she ok, Neptune?"

"Of course, I wouldn't doubt Zoicite's stitches for a second. I would merely like some water so that I may clean her face."

"Of course, Neptune."

She felt something cool on her face, and her face suddenly felt lighter.

"I imagine that is better, Princess?"

She nodded, the only thing she could do with such a pounding headache.

"Where is this prince of hers now?"

"Be silent, Uranus. It is not his fault. But the inner senshi…they are not protecting her. Why?"

Kunzite must have stepped into the room, because she could suddenly hear his voice.

"They had been detained, as they were fighting rebels on the other side of the palace. The princess was to have been in her room when she was attacked."

"Neptune, we will have to bring her back with us."

"Of course…of course."

"Usagi? Are you awake?"

"Okaa-san?" Usagi mumbled, and turned over. Whoever had spoken uttered a sharp gasp, and she felt her eyes tearing up again.

"Oh. Right." Usagi flipped over, and found herself in a hospital room. Machine's beeped constantly around her, and she grimaced as she found an IV tube in her arm.

A woman was leaning over her, with the same aquamarine hair as her mother. Usagi choked back a sob, and concentrated on the woman.

"Who are you?"

The woman smiled sadly.

"I'm your mother's older sister…you remember me, don't you? We used to live next door to you until you were three, then my husband and I moved away to America for a new job. I'm sorry we haven't visited…"

Usagi sat up, recognition flooding through her.

"Aunt Misia?"

The two were suddenly hugging, breaching years of separation,

Usagi leaned back, eyes sparkling.

"So how is Uncle Keisuke?"

Misia smiled, and toyed with a frayed edge on the hospital linen.

"Oh, he's fine. He works now with Miyazaki Hayao, can you believe? He is in charge of the American Department where Miyazaki-san's movies are produced. Justin is growing up lavishly, but he isn't spoiled in the least!"

"Justin?" Usagi looked troubled.

Misia shook her head.

"Of course you wouldn't remember! Your cousin, Justin? He was only six when we moved. You two were thick as thieves, and just as troublesome when you were young. I hope you two can get reacquainted as soon as you meet!"

Usagi smiled. "I'm sure we will."

Misia lost her happy look.

"But I must ask you a question, Usagi, that is very important. As your parents are…gone, Keisuke and I are to be your legal guardians. But our lives are centered in America, and yours in Japan. Usagi, I must ask, will you go with us to America? I know it will be a big step, but understand, your uncle and I will do everything in our power to make you happy, and you can visit whenever you like!"

Usagi's head was spinning. Leave Japan? Where all her friends, and her life revolved around? But those same friends had betrayed her this morning, leaving her to die, and her so called boyfriend…he should have felt her transforming. Their link wasn't broken, and he should have felt her terrified emotions, shouldn't he? He did, but he hadn't come to save her. He hadn't tried to help her in the least.

"Aunt Misia?"

The woman looked up from her lap. "Hai, Usa?"

"Where exactly in America will I be living?"

Usagi waved at Naru and Motoki, the only people who were waving good-bye to her besides a few hospital members who had come to love her while she stayed.

"Promise you'll write!" called Naru, as the car pulled away.

Usagi winked.

"You know I will!" And she was gone, turning around a corner, speeding away from her old life.

Motoki sighed.

"I feel like killing Mamorou right now. Kami knows he helped to drive her away."

Naru shook her head.

"She gave us instructions, remember? We can't let them know until they find out themselves. By then, she'll be settling into her new life."

Motoki opened the door of his car for her as she stepped in. He waited until he had started it before replying.

"Does it seem like there's more she's not telling us? She said it was a youma, damn those things, that tried to kill her and her parents. Sailor Moon showed up and killed it, although she was seriously injured as well. Usagi never made mention of the Sailor Senshi or Tuxedo Kamen. Where were they? And then she called her friends, and they're mad at her because she overslept for some stupid meeting! They didn't even give her a chance!"

Naru looked down at her hands.

"What about Mamorou-san?"

Motoki frowned.

"She knows he wouldn't let her get past 'moshi-moshi' before he hangs up on her. That man!"

Naru smiled.

"At least she'll be happy in America! And she promised us a letter once a month at the least, remember?"

Motoki smiled wryly.

"Knowing her, she'll update us on everything every day."

Naru sat down at her desk in school, and watched Haruna-sensei enter the class. The teacher looked troubled, and her eyes were slightly red, as if she had been crying.

A breakup? Mused Naru.

Her eyes narrowed as the brunette noticed Mako, Ami and Mina walk in, and sit down at their seats. Mako was using crutches, and Mina's arm was in a cast. Naru couldn't help but wonder where they came from.

"Class…" Haruna-sensei's voice startled her from her thoughts.

"I have some very sad news. One of our students has left Japan. Tsukino Usagi was the victim of a youma attack, thus her disappearance from school."

A loud gasp was heard, and Naru turned to see Ami holding a hand over her mouth.

Haruna-sensei nodded briefly to her, but continued.

"Her parents were killed, and to avoid media coverage, her legal guardians informed the rest of us she was sick. The attack was two weeks ago, giving her enough time to recuperate and back up her things. She is gone, and is now currently residing in America with her guardians, her mother's sister and her family. Anyone wishing to send a card or some sort of object to her may speak to Naru or Furuhata Motoki, the only known people with her address."

Naru blushed. No one had told her of this! All heads were turned towards her, but she lowered her eyes and waited until Haruna-sensei had turned to start the lesson. She felt someone's eyes boring into the back of her skull, and knew instantly whom it was. She chose to ignore it, and concentrated instead on her lessons.

Naru sat cross-legged underneath a tree at lunchtime, and munched on her bento.

"Where is she?"

Mina was looking down on her, and Naru stiffened. Behind her were the other two girls, both wearing similar features of regret.

"I can't say. She left Motoki-san and I specific instructions not to tell you of where she had gone, as you weren't exactly her greatest confidantes at the time she needed you most!"

Mako's mouth formed a tight line.

"Are you sure?"

Naru nodded, and Ami seemed to wilt.

"We drove her away…Oh, Gods, how are we going to go on!"

The three walked away, and Naru felt slightly upset. Other than that, she was at ease with her decision, and duly ignored them for the rest of the school day.

Mamorou walked into the Crown Arcade, feeling on the edge. He hadn't seen Usagi in weeks! Her friends had stiffly informed him that she wasn't available, even though they had a certain air of unhappiness around them.
"Mamorou-san?"

He turned to see Mina looking up at him.

"Hai?"

She fumbled with her words.

"Did you-Were you-did you feel Usa transform a couple of weeks ago?"

His heart tightened, but he nodded stiffly.

"Why didn't you come?" now her tone was accusatory.

"She has to learn to live without me! If I was there, what good would it have done?"

She was suddenly very angry.

"She would still be here!" And she had spun around and walked away. Mamorou had stood, stunned. What did she mean?

That had been yesterday, and now he needed answers. So he hurried to the counter, where Motoki had been polishing.

"Hey, Motoki, do you know where Usagi is?" he got straight to the point.

He never expected Motoki to stiffen, then straighten, and look at him with rage evident in his eyes.

"Finally!" the sandy-haired man had shouted, and immediately punched him.

Mamorou reeled backwards.

"What the hell, Motoki?"

Motoki glared at him. "Usa said I couldn't let on until you knew she was gone. Well. I got my revenge."

"Gone?" Mamoru had regarded him with his one un-swollen eye.

"She's in America, Mamorou-san."

He turned to see Rei and the others filing in.

"W—what?"

"She left, because almost a month ago, her house was attacked by members of the Dark Moon Family, and her parents were killed. She was devastated, and called us, but we were too wrapped up in our own existence to realize she was hurt. So she moved, with her new guardians, to America."

Mina seemed to be on the verge of tears as she spoke. Mamorou's head was spinning.

"She's not gone…no…no! She can't be!"

"She is, Mamoru. And you were the one who made her go." Motoki's voice was dry, and he turned around and went into the back of the Arcade.

Mamorou felt something being pressed into his hand. He looked down, and found the star locket. Rei was standing next to him.

"She's gone. And it's our fault. Live with it." Though her tone was hard, she walked away with tears streaming down her face. The others followed, leaving the broken man to lie on the floor, alone.

It's your fault. It's your fault. It's your fault.

"Mamo-chan? Why…why would you do this to me?"

"Don't call me that! We're not together anymore!"

"No! Please…it hurts so much when you say that, this is a joke, right?"

A sick, cruel twisted choke, working its way to his heart, burying the knife deeper and deeper.

"Stop it, Usagi!"

Her slap had echoed in the empty street.

"Don't…Mamo-chan…Endymion…"

He had shrugged her away, feeling his cheek. She watched him walk away, cerulean eyes wet. "Gomen…"

Mamorou downed more of the sanke he had found, and amidst tears and the liquid, he found solace.

His balcony door was open; he didn't notice the four sailor senshi watching him.

"Usako…come back, please, I love you…"

His sobs came quickly.

"It was the dreams, Usa, the dreams…you were dying over and over, I had to save you…"

Silently, they jumped off the balcony, landing on the roof the next house over. Mamorou sipped more sanke, unaware of his visitors, and curled up into a ball. His apartment was dark, and his living room a mess.

"Usako…please…" The gold and silver haunted him.

Gold like your hair…Silver, Usa, you're silver all over…where did you go? Why did you leave? Come back, please…Ashiteru…

The darkness that swept over Tokyo that night was not entirely due to the cloud covering the moon.

I really, really hate this chapter, but you tell me if you think otherwise. It's freezing in my house, so my hands were kinda cold while I did the typing. Gods above! There are gloves for every sport and every job but writing!