Disclaimers as usual, as Sailor Moon still has not become mine (damn).

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"The Fiction We Live" Chapter Five

by Greta

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Stroke … stroke … stroke ... Breaking through the water, she feels the cold air of the morning hit her wet face, breathing it in deeply. Gulping the air greedily down – down – down her lungs, filling her body with strength, before she plunges back down into the cool wetness, which engulfs her, binds her. Arms stretch, hands grab, legs propeller. She feels the need within her body. The need to reach her limits – the need to feel the painful contradiction of her body for oxygen once more, enduring it long – long – longer, savouring the exhilarating need. Her eyes open, her body moves gracefully, swiftly, in the element so natural to her. So beloved … so cherished … so needed. She pushes her body down, further, further, down until she reaches the rough ground of the body of water she is in. Tracing her hand against it, she feels peace. All is calm within her. Closing her eyes she allows her body to do what it has been begging for, begging for painfully and greedily.

Resurfacing, she breaks through the ice-cold water, greedily swallowing mouthful after mouthful of air. Pushing her short wet hair out of her face, she lets her body float softly on the surface of the water, the cool rippling soothing her mind and body.

Breathing in deeply, Ami could feel the sunshine tickle her closed eyelids and feel her body sway softly with the water.

Oh, how she wished to stay here forever; her mind was free of thoughts and worries here, and her limbs woeful at the thought of leaving.

But slowly she opens her eyes, ignoring her body's protest as she takes in her surroundings once more. Her blue eyes blink, having to get used to the sudden brightness. Ever so slowly she swims to the edge of the body of water she is in, taking her time to relax one last time before the day would begin with all its facets, good and bad. The roughly hewn, white stone basin that held the water was easily her favourite place to be on the palace's grounds. Be it the early hours before sunrise or the wee hours of the night, may she be in it, pushing her body's limits further and further along, or simply sitting outside of it, she always felt of this place as her own.

The palace's inhabitants knew it existed just as well as she did, but no one felt the strange desire to come here as the Princess of Mercury did. The rough stone that held the water was dangerously covered in sharp corners and edges, being deep at the same time as well, too deep, some said. There were few ways to get in and out, barely anyone knowing where the stone was smooth enough to pull yourself out of the water without getting hurt.

But the danger made the place only more attractive for the young princess, as it meant that she would be left in peace, unlike anywhere else she went.

Shaking the water from her short blue hair, she stretched beneath the only just risen sun, her head uplifted towards it, before pulling on the dressing gown she had brought along with her.

Feeling ready for a new day to begin, she smiled silently to herself, heading to the Moon Palace, glimmering in the early sun in an almost sinister manner.

--

Slam.

Usagi's nose twitched as she subconsciously heard the loud slamming of a door close by. Snuggling down into her pillow as far as she could, sleep still had a heavy hold on her.

It was when she heard loud voices come ever closer, that she could feel herself slowly waking up. Clamping her eyes shut, she turned forcefully to the other side, hoping to escape the bothersome noise and fall back into deep slumber.

Usagi sat up abruptly though as soon as she heard more yelling, her sleepy face disgruntled, her eyes disoriented by her sudden awakening. Rubbing at them she clumsily untangled herself from her covers, swinging her legs slowly over the side of the large bed she had been sleeping peacefully in mere minutes before. More tripping along then walking she made her way from her bedroom to her adjoined sitting room, clumsily pulling open the curtains as she went along, so she could make out where to go next before tripping over one object or the other. Walking over to the grandfather clock in one corner of the room, it took her dozy head a moment to realise how to read a clock.

"Five o'clock …" she mumbled to herself slowly. That could not be right. She couldn't remember waking up that early since – well, ever. Walking back to the windows, she peeked down into the grounds; the sun had barely risen, its rays still weak in the distance.

So what on earth was she doing up at such a time?

As if to remind her, a commotion rose again that seemed to come from right outside her door.

Grumbling, she stormed towards it, grabbing a dressing gown as she went along, clumsily putting it on while she yanked open the doors. Looking up and down the corridor, she let the door slam behind her, moving swiftly to the cause of her far too early wake-up call. The cold crept up her spine, leaving goose bumps on her skin, as she had forgotten to put on slippers when she had stormed out of her room. Rounding a corner, she found what she was looking for. Three young men she had never seen before her in her life where standing boldly in the Western Wing which held the private chambers of all the young royals. Not only that, but they were walking towards the far end of it, drawing closer to her, to her private corridor. A fact that she would treasure far more from now on as it this allowed her maybe not necessarily peaceful sleep, but at least the possibility to sleep.

Two of them were throwing insults at each other, while the third one was busy lecturing them, his voice rising steadily to be heard over the other two's argument.

"Just what on the Moon do you think you are doing here?" she hissed as menacingly as she could manage, stomping up to them, her hands on her hips.

Stopping a few steps in front of them, she savoured the embarrassed looks they gave her. Well, at least the brown haired one was doing so.

She gave them no time to answer as she raised her voice again. "You do realize that you are making a ruckus at 5 o'clock in the morning in the royal's wing, and more so in the Princess' private corridor? How dare you enter the Western Wing of the palace without permission?"

Taiki sighed as he stared at the girl in front of him. Wonderful. He had really wanted to avoid something like this. Simply wonderful. He tried thinking frantically of something polite that would also explain their extremely unnecessarily and stupid situation, but his companions gave him no chance.

"Hey, dumpling, calm down, won't you? Can't you see we're in a discussion?" Seiya said, making a hand motion as if to shoo her away, seemingly absolutely unimpressed by the fact that they had just been intruding.

Taiki groaned. Trust on Seiya to make a situation worse.

The girl raised her eyebrows dangerously high, her hands clenching into fists. Why, how - how dare he! Alright, she knew that her silk nightdress was crumpled, her feet bare, her body lopsidedly wrapped in the dressing gown as she had yanked it on too fast, her hair unkempt and tousled from sleep. But this! This was ridiculous! Didn't they know who she was?

"What did you just call me?" she whispered slowly, her voice deadly, having to look up slightly at the affronter. Head snapping up at her angry voice, Seiya focused on her fully for the first time. He had merely glanced at her before, that mere sweep with the eye giving him what he needed to know for a comment to bubble up inside of him to brush her off. He really didn't feel like dealing with her at all, no matter what she was accusing them off. And those two dumplings of hair atop of her head really could not have been avoided. He grinned boyishly at this sleepy and disgruntled damsel, his dark hair falling slightly into his face, his dark blue eyes full of mischief.

"Dumpling, dumpling …" he said slowly, savouring the effect the word had on her. "Well, what are you doing here then? Don't tell me a dumpling head like you is actually allowed down here, when we are not?" he said teasingly, not missing a beat, liking how the aggravation rose in her and how her cheeks turned pink with anger.

Smirking at his friend's comment, Yaten eyed the girl critically. "Well, maybe you can show us to where we are allowed then, little lady?" he asked mockingly, his beautiful green eyes narrowed sardonically.

This was more than she would take. Her body shaking slightly, if from the cold, which had now crept into her limbs, or from the temper rising inside her body she did not know, she stepped forward prodding her finger hardly into the dark haired man's chest that she was still facing, accentuating each word with a prod, increasing in strength as she went along. "Oooh, now you want my help, huh? If I'm so unworthy of being here, why should I know my way around here?" she asked loudly and angrily.

"Well, I wouldn't know, pretty dumpling, you tell me," Seiya said smirking, grabbing the hand she had been repeatedly prodding him with away from his chest. Holding her hand tightly in his he raised one eyebrow at her, delighted with her confused look stuck somewhere between anger and embarrassment.

"Seiya!" Taiki hissed under his breath.

"What? Can't a guy have a bit of fun while he's stuck in a strange galaxy?"

Hastily and forcefully withdrawing her hand, Usagi felt her anger triple. So, she was just a bit of fun, was she? Huh!

Pushing his companion aside, Taiki stepped forward, hoping he could somehow turn the situation around at last.

"I am very, very sorry for the rude manners my companions have displayed, and would like to apologize," he began, sighing. "I would also like to apologize for intruding these private corridors, but you see it seems we have gotten lost a bit."

"I take it that you are not from here then," Usagi said coldly after a moment's pause. At least the tallest of the three had manners, and was talking politely to her, very much unlike the other two.

"No, not at all. We've never been to the Solar System."

At this, Usagi perked up. Was that so? The conversation she had had with her mother the evening before instantly came to her mind. Oh, why hadn't she thought of this earlier? She was in enough trouble already as it was, she didn't need the news of her greeting these new guests to which she was supposed to tend with a fight and many angry words, even if they had started this after all.

"My name is Taiki. We come from the planet Kinmoku of the Red Cercis Kingdom," he said, bowing respectfully. "I am one of the Princess' Kakyuu's close royal advisors and protectors. Seiya and Yaten are my companions," he continued, while pointing at each, poking them in their sides to get them to bow as well, which they did after a moments hesitation, Yaten sighing, Seiya still smirking.

"Oh, I am very sorry for the inconveniences you have had, Taiki. You should have been welcomed properly; my mother has already told me about your arrival. I am the Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom. I welcome you humbly," she replied mirroring his manners while trying to curtsy the best she could in her nightgown.

Seiya couldn't help but flinch.

--

Her magenta eyes watched her surroundings worriedly. The mists of time were – strange as it sounded – floating around her hectically, their movements strangely uncoordinated, which was very much unlike them. Her hand clenched her slender staff tightly while taking a few steps backwards. What was happening? This was so very strange for time. It almost seemed as if time was … confused. She had experienced something like this only once before, on a day which now lay almost 18 years in the past. Biting her lower lip, the Guardian of Time and Space worried.

--

Ever so slowly, a blonde head peeked around the corner of a corridor's wall, revealing two bright blue eyes checking their surroundings hastily. The Senshi of Venus was chewing her lip nervously. So she was a Princess? And a royal defender of the Princess? Well, that hardly kept her from being scolded for tip-toeing around the corridors at this time of the day, trailing mud behind her with every step she took. Her early morning training had not only left her bare feet muddy and her body sweaty, but had also made her skin her knees, shins and elbow from dropping to the ground heavily once too often. Her treasured sword was tied to her back, adding to her appearance of a warrior. Her high-heeled shoes in one hand, she tiptoed down the corridor briskly and soundlessly. Only two more corridors and she'd be in the Western Wing of the palace, where her chamber was next to those of the other girls.

Quickly moving on, a grin appeared on her face. Ha. The advantages of senshi training, which had left her step soundless, were nice at times after all.

"Venus!"

The addressed youth flinched, her eyes widening upon hearing a scolding voice. Shit! She had so wished to disappear noiselessly in her room and emerge looking as if she had spent the last few hours sleeping, her scraped skin hidden beneath a billowing silken dress. Sighing she prepared for the worst. Even though she had been of age for over three years now, she - and the other Princesses as well - was still being treated like a child who needed to be brought up at times, or that needed to be told its place.

Well, not today, she decided. Breathing in deeply, she turned around, assuming that she was about to face Magda, the head servant of the palace, who was to be seen bustling around the palace at any time of the day, or even worse, Armina, one of the only people that still cared about proper royal etiquette.

"You know what, I don't give a damn about looking dishevelled, I can train whenever I want to and these really aren't bad wounds or anything –" she started saying loudly, trying her best to sound dignified, before realizing she wasn't facing anybody else but Usagi along with three strangers.

"Oh, Minako, don't fret!" Usagi said, laughing. "But what are you doing up so early?" she asked worriedly, before rushing forwards to her friend and giggling at the muddy sight of her.

Minako released the breath she had been holding, a grin of giddy relief spreading on her face. Smiling warmly at Usagi she found the concern being displayed for her flattering. "Only training, like I said. That shouldn't be a problem, I've finally gotten everybody accustomed to my sword-fighting in the mornings, but I guess Armina wouldn't really like the look of me right now, traipsing about and trailing the mud everywhere. But I mean, it's not my fault that it rained," she laughed, sticking out her tongue playfully.

"Oh Armina only worries about you, you know that. Bur Minako, it's still so early outside!"

"Well, exactly," she replied, smiling, her blue eyes sparkling. Usagi had no idea what it meant to fight and train, never having to do it. She couldn't understand the need to be out in the silence of the morning and savour the strength it gave her, the way it pushed her training forward, how the calm and loneliness in the morning made it easier for her to deal with the thought that her destiny was sealed with death, an early death. But she would not fret on that now. Changing the subject, she gestured towards the three strangers looking at her. "Who are you, if I may ask?"

"Eh, right," Usagi answered, remembering suddenly that they weren't alone after all. Glancing in their direction, she smiled apologetically, completely avoiding the black-haired one's glance. So he might not have known who she was, but she just would not forgive him for making fun of her like that. She couldn't forgive him so easily for that – especially as she had never been made fun of before after all. "This is the Princess of Venus, you three," she said.

"Princess?" the silver-haired male asked sarcastically as if in sheer disbelief, letting his eyes roam Venus' dishevelled body openly. "What kind of Princesses are you people? I mean, look at you," he said, his arms crossed across his chest, rolling his eyes at her.

While Taiki stopped to sigh frustrated halfway through his bow, the blonde senshi's eyes narrowed dangerously. What was that bloody boy saying about her? Loosening Usagi's hand from her arm, she walked forwards to meet him, stopping directly in front of him, eyeing him irritated, her hands on her hips.

"What gives you the right to talk like that, huh?" she whispered dangerously while cocking her head. "Just because I feel the need of training in peace, it does not make me unworthy of being a Princess. Just because I'm good at what I do and rise at early hours …" breathing in deeply, she stopped in mid-sentence, before continuing, her voice deadly. "You don't have to judge someone you have never met before in your life. I am the Senshi of Venus, first royal protector of the Moon Princess. Address me with respect." Her head held high, she never moved her own blue eyes from his green, watching his expression turn first from mild surprise to utter bemusement.

Yaten did indeed somehow feel like laughing out loud. So this girl had guts. Most of the time, people backed away from his sarcasm sullenly, his small stings creeping under their skin painfully.

But that didn't bother him, no, it was actually quite the contrary. He didn't need people to come too close to him, to stay long enough and maybe somehow find a way to penetrate his shell. People were false. People were dishonest. And people were cruel. And before they hurt him, he rather cut them out of his life. He couldn't stand them hurting his soul anymore than they had already done over and over again.

But there was something about that Senshi of Venus. Her eyes were still glittering up at him, giving her a strange aura of dangerous beauty. Her blonde hair was tied back, her gloved hands clenched tightly to her hips, her upper body leaning towards him ever so slightly. He felt respect for her, respect for not letting his comments get to her and for the way she was talking back to him fearlessly, demanding what she felt she deserved. But he wasn't about to show her that much.

"Should I now?" he said slowly. "Well, prove it then. I don't believe in taking what people say for granted, whatever their title may be. I think that's very stupid, don't you? So prove it. Earn it." The words left him smiling deliciously at her, his eyebrows raised slightly. Minako's stare never wavered, but he could see uncertainty rising in her eyes. She had counted on shutting him up with her little speech. After a few moments of studying his face which was quite as defiant as her own, she couldn't help but cock her head to the side and smirk.

"Hey, hey, stop it you two!" a nervous voice kept the Senshi of Venus from replying. Tugging at her friend's arm nervously, Usagi hoped to keep the two from quarrelling any more. Not that they had been fighting exactly, but the power emanating from her friend had rather thrown Usagi off guard herself. Somehow she didn't want to see much more of that unknown side of her friend right now. And all the same, she couldn't help but feel that this had been on its best way to become a full blown fight.

These three boys just weren't getting on a good start on their first day here.

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Shameless plug for my newest ficcy, "Bloodstained Angel": Chaos defeated and gone, Usagi and her friends settle down to their normal lives at last. But tragedy strikes once more, leaving Usagi not only utterly alone, but also immortal. The Gates of Time now unguarded, strange things start to happen, parallel universes overlapping, the forces of time jumbled. Bruised and broken, Usagi has to learn to get on alone, damned to eternity, fighting the new enemy that has come upon Tokyo: vampires. Time passes, leaving her almost unrecognizable to the three shining stars that return to the blue planet one day.

Greta ;-)