Hey everybody! Special thanks to Inuki and Hot Cuttie who reviewed the prologue even though it's so incredibly short. I hoping that as I write this the chapters will become progressively longer. This is an alternate Universe fanfic so luckily I can change a few things to make everything work much better and run a little smoother. I think the only major thing I've deiced to do for now is tamper a little with Shingo's age, he's now Usagi's older brother instead of her younger. I really am sorry about this if it bothers you but that is how it's going to be. I would love to own Sailor moon, but unfortunately I don't. You are welcome to try suing me but all I have to give is some pocket lint where I wish I had cash.
By Your Side
Chapter 1 Crystals and Roses
By: EmeraldSong
"Usagi?" "Just five more minutes mom." She mumbled sleepily "Just let me sleep for five more minutes."
"Damn it Usagi! Wake up!" a finger poked her in the belly, hard. Annoyed she opened her eyes to see Shingo standing over her. Despite his harsh words a small grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Leave me alone" Usagi muttered, burying her face deep into her pillow. Shingo gave one last resigned shrug, and then gleefully grabbing a long golden blonde strand of hair he pulled with all his might.
"SHINGO I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!!" the resulting squeal was just as satisfying as he could have hoped. The petite blonde scrambled out of her bed, tripped over her own feet and landed face first on the floor.
"Happy Birthday! Meatball Head!" he cried out and dashed out of the room quickly, lest she recover sooner than planned. Five minutes later when Ikuko Tsukino came she found her teenage daughter, sleeping face first on the floor where Shingo had left her. Ikuko smiled slightly as she gently shook Usagi awake again. When that failed she whispered the key words.
"Usagi, Breakfast." Usagi's eyes snapped open, quickly picking her up off the floor; she raced out the door and into the kitchen. Ikuko laughed, and followed.
"So how does it feel to be fifteen?" Kenji Tsukino asked, a merry twinkle in his eye as Usagi eagerly sat down at the table.
"Not much different than being fourteen." She replied not looking at her father but at the heaping pile of pancakes her mother was carrying over. Usagi plowed in as soon as they were in front of her on the table.
"Usagi Slow down!" her mother exclaimed horrified.
"You're going to get fat, if you don't slow down" Kenji cautioned.
"Like she isn't already" Shingo ducked as a plate went flying past his head.
"USAGI STOP! THAT'S ENOUGH!" her father yelled. Usagi stopped, eating though whether it was because of her father or the fact that the plate was empty. She had completely decimated a pile of about twenty pancakes meant for the whole family.
"Oh God Dad, I'm sorry." She said, and she really was. The ingredients for them must have cost a fortune. "I don't know what came over me, I was just so hungry" Kenji sighed
"Don't worry about it kiddo. It's your birthday, do whatever you want" he smiled "Besides, I think the only person who you should be apologizing to right now is Shingo. I think he was looking forward to breakfast this morning, even more than you" Usagi still felt guilty, but she didn't let it stop her from sticking her tongue out at her older brother. When he made a face right back at her, Usagi knew that she had been forgiven. Ikuko grimaced slightly than dug around in the cupboard and brought out cereal for everyone else. Usagi also grabbed a bowl and almost before she could stop herself, she reached for the simple undecorated box.
"Usagi are you still hungry?" Ikuko asked eyeing the human vacuum before her with something akin to horror.
"Oh, no. Of course not" Usagi pulled back her hand almost reluctantly, flushing "I must not have been paying attention. Sorry."
"It's probably because you're still growing" Ikuko smiled "I'll pack you a little extra for lunch today."
"Oh no!" Usagi squealed suddenly hopping out of her chair "I promised Shin I'd meet his earlier today!" she grabbed her bag tucked a hat on her head and ran outside, her drab gray skirts swirling behind her.
"Usagi! Try to be home early tonight!" Kenji called after her, though she was already out of earshot. "Why do I even bother?" he muttered, giving Ikuko a kiss before pulling on a plain gray coat of his own and setting off to work.
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Shin Wasori walked slowly down the street to the spot where he was meeting Usagi, he was around ten minutes late or so but he knew that Usagi would be even later. Today was one of those days when her being punctual, would have only distressed further than he was already. Around him people walked quickly; dressed in gray as he was, their eyes on the ground afraid to speak or look around As a child he had heard tales that the sky had once been blue, with a bright golden sun. Shin doubted this; the only sky he had ever seen was the one above. Covered in Smog and Gray cloud, and angry red sun barely filtered through the layers of pollution.
Everything was colorless, and everything was meaningless. He had been born into a world without beauty or love, and Shin knew deep in his heart that he would die in this hated wasteland. A cynical smile grew on his lips as he breathed in the disgusting air. Soon he would no longer have to deal with the foulness of this life and this existence. He would die free with only one regret.
"SSHHIINNN!" a voice wailed "I'm so sorry I'm late!" the only person worth anything in this damned world, barreled into him at a hundred miles per second, knocking him into the pavement with a heavy thud. Black spots danced across his field of vision, as he gingerly picked himself off the ground. Usagi stood over him, her slightly apologetic smile radiating sincerity and warmth. Shin raked and hand through his short brown hair, and carefully did not let his dull brown eyes meet her luminous blue ones. He was afraid that she would see his inner turmoil and the last thing Shin would ever do was cause her pain.
"Happy Birthday meatball head" he was enjoying the way her glare at the childhood nickname turned into an expression of pleasant surprise upon seeing the tiny brightly wrapped package in his hands.
"Open it." He urged, wishing to see the look on her face. Usagi cautiously grabbed the box, and carefully peeled away the rare bright wrapping, to reveal a single fresh red rose petal. A sense of longing filled her as she realized what it was. There were millions of roses in Tokyo, the only plant that still thrived upon this barren earth. But it was red. Crimson as deep and beautiful as heart's blood. Roses, in Tokyo were as black as the heart of the man who ruled them all, with thorns that seemed to reach out and draw blood. A single tear fell down her cheek; Shin brushed it away, hating himself for causing her pain and knowing soon that he was doomed to cause her more.
"Where did you find this?" she whispered as feelings of loss and longing swamped her. "I'm sorry Shin, this is the best present I've ever gotten. I don't know what came over me" Usagi apologized again. Keeping a small smile on her face when inside for the first time in her life she felt barren of happiness.
"Usagi, until I met you, life had no meaning. As a child I wished that one day I could see the sun that existed centuries ago when people still had hope, and life had a purpose. I knew that even if I died my soul could never rest in peace until I had seen its glory for myself" he looked at her smiling wistfully.
"Shin, I don't understand.." Usagi clutched the rose petal in her hand, hopelessly confused.
"I have seen the sun and basked in its soul saving light. You don't have to understand what I'm saying; meatball head, you just have to listen." He chuckled lightly "Always remember that even in this barren hell, life, hope and freedom can still thrive and grow. If I die tonight, I'll die free. I just wanted you to know that" Before she could respond to him, Shin turned around and started walking away from her.
Usagi just stood there dumbly, clutching her rose petal in hand as her best friend walked away from her for the last time. Her long blonde hair whipping around in a sudden wind, She just stood there, unable to comprehend Shin's words to her.
With a shake of her head, Usagi wondered why he had said such things then went on walking her memory already glossing over what had been said.
By the time Usagi had walked all the way over to the facility, all she remembered about that morning's conversation had been Shin wishing her the best on her fifteenth birthday and giving her the present, carefully rewrapped in the shining paper and placed within the pocket of her somber gray overcoat.
As with the rest of the world the place where Usagi spent most of her time learning to be a proper citizen of earth was gray and dreary. As she skipped into the room, it changed from a dour place of repression, to an almost cheerful hall of learning. The radiance that naturally radiated off Usagi permeated itself into the room, affecting everyone around her. Once in a while it was remarked on how the Tsukino girl's presence made life tolerable, even pleasant; to the point where life was almost satisfying. Her blissful ignorance made her the one person in the world's repressed population who could honestly say that she was content and happy with the way her life was run. In a world where hope and love were extinct, Usagi's small light was very contagious.
"Risa!" she called cheerfully, waving at a dignified girl roughly her own age that rose from a group of about a dozen others working on some project or another. Short curled black hair came to her shoulders, and framed a pair of sad gray eyes that almost seemed to contradict the small grin she wore.
"Usagi, Happy birthday" She said, her grin growing a little wider as she held out a plainly wrapped brown package held together with a rough twine. Even though it was not as outwardly beautiful as the one Shin had given her, Usagi nonetheless was happy to receive it.
Other girls who she was friendly with surrounded her, eyes shining with anticipation. She carefully peeled away the brittle paper, and unknotted the dirty twine. Inside the paper, a small hunk of crystal the size of her pinky nail glimmered up at her. Hues of sapphire, violet, rose and silver winked up at her from its faceted depths.
"We all pooled our money together to get this for you" a slight girl named Awn whispered excitedly. "Risa saw this in a shop window, and we all felt that it would be perfect"
"The merchant called it moon crystal, we don't really know what it is." Celia joined her musical voice into the fray of excited whispering girls.
"It seemed like a good name though so we really didn't feel like changing it." Risa said shyly. "Like you, it sparkles with brilliant colours and a warm light. Thank you for being my friend." With that she laughed uncharacteristically, and hugged her petite blonde friend. The others all similarly joined suit, clamoring around Usagi hugging and laughing in a manner that belied the inner sorrow each one held in her heart. Usagi held the crystal fragment close to her chest, unlike the rose petal which had made her feel a sense of loss, the fragment of crystal was warm, and it's sparkling colours felt right.
"If you nitwits are done sit down so we can begin!" a harsh voice broke through their minute celebration. A woman dressed in a very dark gray that was almost black sniffed at them. "Miss Tsukino, now that you are a year older perhaps we can finally, shove some proper respect and sense into your pretty little head." Noticing that the girl she was speaking to had already lapsed into a light sleep her face reddened, and angrily she brought down a stick onto the sleeping girl's hands. Usagi gave a small yelp waking up almost instantly. She glowered for a second at the instructor's back then playfully stuck out her tongue when it was safe.
"As I was saying it's time you realized your place you disrespectful chit. Miss Delaney, recite a woman's duties and obligations to Miss Tsukino so she doesn't fall asleep again." Kaita Delaney stood up and began to speak in a dull monotone voice
"Women are expected to be meek and docile. When of proper age they are expected to marry and begin bearing sons...." Kaita grew quieter and quieter as sleep once again claimed the disrespectful Miss Tsukino.
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"Usagi where were you?" Kenji demanded as his errant daughter walked in shortly after dark. It had been hours since her lessons at the facility were supposed to end, and he had begun to worry that she wouldn't return like the daughter of one of the men from work hadn't. Kenji ran a relieved hand over his forehead to wipe the sweat off his brow.
She stuck her tongue at him, her typical response to everything "Don't worry Dad I'm fifteen now, remember? Besides Shingo is out later than this every night and you don't worry about him so much."
"That's different Shingo's three years older than you, and has a job" Kenji sighed knowing that it was useless, recognizing that stubborn glint in her eyes "I'm sorry Usagi, but I worry."
"Relax Dad" she peeled off her coat and shoes and headed towards the living room "I was just with my friends, celebrating for a little while." Her brilliant smile, eased the last of his tensions and Kenji followed after her.
"Your mother is preparing your favorite for dinner, and when Shingo comes home, we'll give you your present from the family" Usagi was delighted, another present! This was turning out to be the best birthday she had ever had.
She went upstairs for a while. Carefully she put the rose petal to dry by her small window, but kept the crystal fragment with her tucked in her dress pocket. An enticing aroma that had wafted from downstairs told her that supper was on the table or soon would be.
Stomach growling Usagi hurried down the stairs and into the kitchen plunking herself down in the nearest chair, eagerly ready to partake of her favorite activity (eating of course!). Shingo had called earlier to say he would be late and not to bother waiting for him. Usagi had finished one helping of food and was ready to start another when the door burst open, revealing her older brother. She realized something was wrong when she noticed the urgency and strain deep-set into his eyes.
"Usagi.." he huffed "I'm sorry."
"Why" Puzzled and worried she took a step forward and placed a delicate hand on his cheek. "Shin. Something went horribly wrong; they're going to kill him." He looked away unable to meet her eyes. Usagi stood still for a few seconds trembling, and then almost without thought she grabbed her coat and shoes and moved towards the door. Kenji moved to stop her but heedless of her actions Usagi shoved him aside with much more strength than she should have had and ran outside in a hurry.
A full moon rose in the sky, its silver light beaming down on one solitary soul as she mindlessly searched for one dear to her innocent heart. Her mind blank; Usagi ran on, no longer knowing which direction she was going, no longer caring. Shin was in trouble and he needed her, almost instinctively she knew where to go and it did not take her long before she found what she was seeking.
Loud laughter greeted her as she turned a corner to see a large group of black-coated men. An innate feeling cautioned her against approaching and she slipped into a dark little nook where she could see everything clearly. A surge of dark molten gold energy streaked through the air and poured between the black cloaks. And inhuman wail of pain and terror echoed down the streets.
Usagi watched horrified as the black cloaks moved away revealing the charred and bloody mass that had been in their midst. She crept closer, her vision enhancing enough to see the bloody mass clearly. Everything except the face had been burned off, leaving her something to identify him with. A scream even more tortured and agonized than the one a few moments before ripped through the alleyway, as the shield of ignorance that had protected Usagi from reality shattered. Stripped of her illusions, she found herself alone in a world barren of love and filled with hate. Glassy brown eyes stared at her broken blue ones, as a single tear rolled down a ruined face.
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Hi! I just finished fixing up this chapter and I hope it looks better that before, I'm sorry about the delay but the computer crashed and its finally running again. I hope to put out the third chapter soon, however it will be a little while longer. Thanks again to those who have reviewed, are looking out for new chapters, and those who have put me on their favorite lists! I really do genuinely appreciate your support.