Disclaimer - We all know that Sailor Moon and all related characters belong to Takeuchi Naoko. I claim none of them, but thank her for their use. All incidental characters are mine, but if you feel the desire to use them please feel free. I'll just disavow anything I don't like, hahaha…

Greetings, aserene and all my other readers. I think this chapter will give a MAJOR hint as to where this story is going. I hope you like it! (smile)- Raya

Moon's Light

(July, 1998)

Twenty year old Usagi whimpered softly and pressed a hand to her chest as a particularly hot sensation made its way through her heart. "Usa?" she heard Mamoru say softly as he came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Long ago they had discovered that he and Luna could help the pain by sharing it with her. She fixed a bright smile on her face, shook her head, and stepped out of his arms to reach for her jewelry.

"Are you sure you want to go tonight?" he asked in a concerned voice. "It's not important, you know..."

Usagi widened her eyes and turned to face her husband. Her long, black, strapless evening gown swirled around her feet as she moved. "Not important? You're receiving the hospital's top achievement award, the first resident assistant to do so, and you don't think it's important that your wife is there?" She pouted playfully. "Who are you planning to sit with instead? Dr. Deveroux? Or Dr. Mizuno, perhaps?"

He tapped her on the nose, and then took the necklace she handed him and put it on for her after she had turned around again. "I was thinking maybe Miss Yamagawa might have pity on me," he teased back. His expression became serious again as he heard her catch her breath and saw her clench her hand to keep from reaching to her heart again. "Seriously, Usa," he said.

"I'm fine, really," she interrupted. Her cerulean blue eyes met his dark navy ones in the mirror and held them. "It will die down. It always does," she reassured softly. "And I wouldn't miss this for the world." She turned back to him and reached up to straighten his tie. "After all," she said with a real smile, "it's not often that I get to see you in a tuxedo any more..."

The bigger girl opened her eyes and looked into the empty space around her. She blinked as she wondered what it was that had made her wake up. She tightened her arms around the smaller girl that she held as her eyes searched the darkness once more, this time looking for a threat.

"Moon?" she heard a young voice say uncertainly. With a sudden smile, she looked down at the little girl. "Good morning, onee-chama," she said softly as she loosened her grip.

"Moon? What's wrong?" the littler Sailor Guardian asked sleepily as she sat up and rubbed her eyes with little fists.

"Nothing," Sailor Guardian Moon reassured her. The little Sailor Guardian looked up at her uncertainly. "Really, it's nothing."

"Then why'd you wake me up?" the little Sailor Guardian asked curiously.

"Sorry," she replied as she hugged her older sister again. She blinked as she finally remembered what had woken her. She bit her lip uncertainly as she looked down at the little Sailor Guardian again. She knew her older sister was not going to like the knowledge that had come to her.

She took a deep breath for courage, and then smiled softly at the little Sailor Guardian. "It's almost time," she said with a smile. As her older sister stared at her blankly for a few minutes, she began to shift uneasily. "Yes, it's almost time for us to part."

The little girl's eyes widened and she suddenly threw herself at her younger, taller sister. "No!" she cried fearfully. "You can't! You can't leave me!"

"Silly," Sailor Guardian Moon said teasingly as she blinked back a few tears. "I'm not leaving you, onee-chama. I'll still protect you. We just won't be right together any more, that's all."

"Nooo!" her smaller, older sister wailed, sounding like the two year old she resembled. On her forehead, her eight pointed star sigil flared brightly.

In the ladies restroom at the hospital, Usagi dried her hands and checked her makeup. With a nod, she turned and tossed the paper towel into the trash can. She started to walk towards the door, and then hunched over with a moan, and clutched her heart. She dropped her clutch purse, collapsed to her knees and bit back the screams of pain that tried to work their way out.

Ami opened the restroom door and saw her. Immediately, she rushed to her queen's side, calling her name anxiously. When Usagi wouldn't respond to her, she pulled out her computer and ran another scan. Her eyes widened as she saw the high energy level reading, the highest she had seen in years and all concentrated at Usagi's center. Helplessly, she watched as Usagi rode out the pain, and then collapsed sobbing for breath as it finally released her. "Usagi-chan?" she asked tremulously.

Slowly, Usagi lifted her head. Tears of pain poured down her face as she tried to smile reassuringly. Giving her computer another worried glance, Ami quickly stood and wet some paper towels with cold water. "Here," she said gently. "Is it better now?"

Usagi nodded. "Don't... Don't tell Mamo-chan," she said hoarsely as she pressed the towels to her face. Her cerulean blue eyes looked pleadingly into Ami's sapphire ones . "Please!" she begged as Ami looked uncertain and a little rebellious.

"He probably already knows," Ami sighed as she gave in. "He's always known when you were in pain or in trouble, and that bond has just gotten tighter over time. I'm surprised he hasn't thrown the door off the hinges already." She gave Usagi a stern look. "How long has it been this bad?"

Usgai shook her head innocently. "That was the worst it's ever been, honest!" she exclaimed. "It's been getting slowly worse, but never anything like that!"

Ami studied her intently, and then decided to believe her. "You're going to the shrine tomorrow," she told her queen in a matter of fact voice. "Rei and I are both going to check you over with a fine tooth comb. You are also scheduling an appointment with your regular doctor." As Usagi gave her a meekly curious look, she explained. "I don't see anything with the computer, so he probably won't find anything, but it will make everyone feel better if you go."

"She'll go," Mamoru said in a tight voice from behind her. The two women jumped in surprise. "And we'll both be at the shrine. What time tomorrow?"

Ami helped her friend slowly to her feet and led her over to a sink. "Let me check with Rei-chan," she said over her shoulder to Mamoru. "I'll let you know as soon as I can get a hold of her." She studied Usagi's pale face a moment, and then left her clutching the sink as she went back to pick up her friend's handbag. "Give us a few minutes," she said softly to Mamoru. "Please," she added when she saw his face tighten stubbornly.

He studied the back of Usagi's head, and then sighed deeply. Nodding reluctantly, he turned and left the restroom to the women.

"Let's get you straightened up," Ami said gently as she came back to Usagi. Gently, she put the handbag on the shelf in front of her friend.

"Ami-chan?" Usagi asked quietly, looking a little afraid.

"It'll be all right, Usagi-chan," she replied, hoping in her heart that her words were true. "We'll figure it out."

A/N: onee-chama - older sister