Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, but I do. (A little MPD humor there.)
Months passed. It was May, and Usagi was happily preparing for a costume party at Nick's house. She had come to know and love the boys. They were like her older brothers, and she couldn't imagine life without them.
Justin and she had rapidly become closer. Their shared love for video-games put them in the spotlight many times, as they were constantly teaming up at any sort of contest hosted at any sort of arcade.
The fact that he enjoyed eating just as much as she did was a double win. Except, as she out it, "some of those radiated thins he eats can't live in a toxic waste dump!" This exceedingly famous quote of hers was said after Justin had drunk a carton of milk three years expired on a dare. Of course, he had been sick for a week.
She had been sucked into Nick's web of martial arts, and soon found herself exposed to several arts herself. Nick had pulled a few strings and gotten them both enrolled in an exclusive Korean martial arts class. Though she came home with bruises, Usagi enjoyed her newfound skill at Kempo immensely. The art involved quick reflexes, which was something she had been thought without, but her petite form was perfect for the maneuvers.
She was even happier when Nick, Justin, Keith, Zach and her began a kendo class together at a local YMCA run by a man from Japan. He was glad to teach them, and told them they had promising futures in kendo.
Zach had dragged her into the world of…well, World Wide Web! The many chat rooms and all the resources she could use had fascinated her. Zach had quickly established an e-mail address for her, so she could keep in touch with all of the guys when she went on the many trips she took with her new family.
Her grades had been pulled up immensely thanks to his tutoring, and although she and Justin spent more time skipping lessons than paying attention, Zach was patient with them. Although, he had reinforced a rule several times, stating if they were late or missed a lesson, they would have to go with him to see whatever museum he was currently interested in.
Keith had been a wonder to Usagi at first. Usually quiet and stoic, she seemed to bring out the worst in him. When she insisted that they hide in trees and drop balloons on the heads on passerbies, he usually relented. But for that he always made Usagi go with him to the beach, where he taught her to surf and boogie-board. She had often taken trips with the guys in which they went Para-sailing or jet skiing.
But she still missed the girls, incredibly. She could see them and the guys getting along famously. Ami and Zach in the library exploring some new theory, Neil and Mako in the gym, Keith getting flustered around Mina, and Justin constantly angering Rei. The images seemed so familiar, she sometimes wondered if she had done these same things before.
And Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru were the same. Michiru often went shopping with her, something she hadn't done much since her first few days there. The lady's impeccable sense of fashion had nearly saved her at times. Haruka had taken her to the tracks, even though Michiru had expressly forbidden it.
Hotaru was different. Usagi felt the girl hadn't exactly had the most comfortable life before, so she had taken her up on her offer. She was delighted to find her slim fingers could easily play all of the keys, and Hotaru was as well. They often ended a lesson with ice cream in a park.
Haruka and Michiru had volunteered to be their chaperones, something all the teens were relieved to hear. The two were strict, but not in a way that made you feel restrained. Usagi had seen their headlights peeking into her bedroom window about ten minutes ago, and had hurried frantically to finish her preparations.
"Hey, Sere! I know you're a girl and all but do you think you could hurry up? The guys are all here, and we're waiting!"
"Even Nick?" she called back to her impatient cousin.
There was a sigh. "Yes, even Nick. I had his costume, remember?"
Usagi giggled. The guys were all going as knights in shining armor! She hadn't seen their costumes yet, and was dying to, but had to wait.
"What're Haruka and Michiru dressed as?"
"Sere! Get down here and see!"
Usagi forced herself to sound teary.
"Gosh, Justin, I didn't mean for you to yell at me!"
There were resounding smacks, and she could hear all of the guys berating her poor cousin. Feeling she had embarrassed him enough, she decided to go downstairs. For the party, she had decided to put her hair back in its traditional odango's, and had gone with Michiru for a dress. She had instantly spotted it, and wanted it mostly for it's resemblance to a dress she hadn't worn in a long time; her Princess Serenity ball gown.
Michiru had seemed shocked when she had seen it, but then a wide smile had creased her features and she had bought it for Usagi, despite the protests. Now as Usagi glided silently (she was wearing white ballet shoes) down the stairs, she swore she could see a secretive smile curving across Michiru's features.
Suddenly, she stopped, as did most of the people gathered downstairs.
"Gods…" breathed Justin.
Nick and Keith stopped form where they were about to jump Justin, and Zach's textbook (Which was held over Justin's head) fell from his hands. Haruka and Michiru were smiling brilliantly at her, and Hotaru was sitting primly on the couch, her violet eyes turning a deep hue of purple.
Usagi too, was in shock, as she realized that she could pin every one of her friends for a general or senshi. Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru were dressed in their senshi forms. Hotaru even had her glaive in her hands, and had been idly twirling it.
"Serenity…"
Usagi looked sharply towards Keith, who had whispered the word. He had quickly covered his mouth with a hand, but Usagi began to walk down the stairs.
"Kunzite…" her eyes were on him, then they flickered to all the others. "Jadeite, Zoicite, Nephrite." She gazed towards the senshi.
"And my Outer senshi, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn."
No one dared to move, much less breathe, as she stopped at the bottom. Then a smile broke across her face, and she did a little hop skip towards the couch.
"Gods, was that cool!"
Justin (Jadeite) hugged her. "You gave us a scare, Sere, when you came here all by yourself!"
She pulled back, shocked. "You knew?"
Nick (Nephrite) grinned widely. "How do you not? You're the perfect embodiment of Serenity-hime, and even without your odango's and dress we could see it."
Not to be outdone, Haruka put in her two cents worth.
"You have an aura around you, radiating of kindness. It was hard to miss it."
"What I want to know is," Keith (Kunzite) began, looking serious. "How in the world did Endy and the senshi let you come here by yourself and let you alone while your parents died?"
Usagi's face suddenly convulsed, and she strode to Keith, who had to hop the couch to get away. "Don't you EVER mention that name around me again!"
"What?" Justin, who was lacking the capacity of brainpower, asked. "Endy?"
With a wild roar, Usagi jumped for him, and a reluctant Haruka held her back at a look from Michiru. Tears were streaming from her eyes.
Justin looked terrified. "What? He's your prince in shining armor and all that crud, why can't we say his name?"
Usagi choked back a sob. "If that so called PRINCE cared about me, then why in Selene's name did he break up with me?"
Usagi suddenly pitched forward with a yelp as Haruka let go of her, and caught herself only because her training.
"WHAT? WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON THAT PITIFUL EXCUSE FOR A PRINCE, I'LL—," Haruka roared, and was suddenly cut off when Michiru clapped a hand over her mouth. Always calm, the senshi of water looked at Usagi.
"I think you should tell us exactly what happened, Princess."
"Endymion…" Where was he? Why did he not come?
"Where are you, you little piece of—," A crunching noise, and the whir of a sword blade.
Serenity tripped over her long robes, and a cry escaped her. She could hear footsteps now, running for her. She dragged herself towards the edge of the balcony, and her eyes grew wide as she realized her friends were dead.
"Jade-chan…" she whispered, seeing his fallen body, protecting the Lady Mars. "My cousins…" For both he and Venus had died, striving to save her.
She could not hold them in anymore. She began to cry, loudly. There was no hope for the kingdom, and she knew it. Where was her love, who had vowed to always protect her?
The footsteps were on the stairs now, and she turned around. A shock of red hair greeted her, and she screamed as Beryl wrenched her forward by her hair.
"No!" She cried, and Beryl sneered.
"Pitiful that you would cry. May you die a slow, painful death, my princess." The last word oozed scorn, and Serenity screamed as the black sword swung towards her neck.
"Endymion!"
"SERENITY!"
Usagi awoke with a gasp, and pulled her hands from the folds of her sheets. Her face was soaked in sweat, and her scalp was burning, as if someone had really been pulling at her hair.
"Why are they coming now?" she wondered aloud. Beryl had been defeated; she had no need of these memories. But they were memories she had not received before. Luna had told them what had happened, and that had been enough for her. A few bits and pieces had come to her, but none as…violent as this.
"Usa?"
She looked up, half expecting to see him there, but instead found Justin smiling groggily at her.
"What's up?" She replied.
He gave her an incredulous look as he sat down next to her.
"You were crying out in your sleep, you whispered such a cryptic sentence you could have been mistaken for an Outer, and it's been happening since you came here. And now, when I ask you about it, you say 'what's up'?"
Usagi began to giggle, and Justin grinned.
"There now, you smiling is better than you frowning!"
Usagi sighed. "It was just a nightmare, Jade-chan, don't worry."
A small gasp escaped him. "What did you call me?"
She smiled innocently up at him.
"Justin-chan?"
He shook his head.
"So that's what's getting you all sprung up. You're getting your memories back! Me and the guys got some of ours a few years back, and let me tell you, there were a lot of midnight sessions involving tubs and tubs of ice cream."
"Geez," Usagi smirked. "You sound like you're pregnant!"
Justin frowned.
"You know, you weren't half bad when you were depressed and lonely."
The two laughed, and Justin stood.
"Chin up, Usa." He said. "We're going to fix it all by summer."
"Yeah." She sighed. "The going back and forgiving and forgetting is not at all to my liking."
Justin chuckled. "You seemed to do that a lot, like the time we dumped that chocolate syrup on you while you were sleeping."
A pillow hit him square in the back of the head.
"I shaved your eyebrows off for that!"
He smiled and shook his head once more as he headed back to his bedroom.
Aw...cousinly love! (sniffs) So you see, it sounds like a normal Goes away, comes back fic, but I have several surprises in the end, involving goddesses, and an unexpected visitor. Reviews, minna-san! They make the fanfic world go round!