Sharon stared outside of her window. The beautiful night's sky wiped her mind blank as she stared out at the moon. It glowed a soft pearly color, hypnotizing Sharon to watch it. And at the same time, Serena was gazing at the rising sun, but her mind was full of feelings and thoughts. Both were desperately missing their families, but they also felt more alive then they ever felt before.
Serena stared out at the fading moon, wishing she could be back among her Millenium kingdom. Back in the place she grew up, with her friends and parents by her side. Her very body craved for the touch of Darien, but he was miles away…
Sharon looked away from the window and instead studied the room around her. For some reason she felt very comfortable here. It made her feel warm; the same way Alden made her feel when he was around. Alden… The sound of his name sent shivers down her spine. How she missed seeing his sweet smile and his casual demeanor.
Both girls were lost in thought about their boyfriends, when a thumping noise at the window caught the attention of each. Both Sharon and Serena looked out of the window to see a dark form of a boy tossing pebbles at them.
"Mamo-chan!" Sharon cried as Serena shouted, "Alden?"
Sharon slipped down the stairs and rushed out of the door without anyone noticing. She rushed up to him, wrapping his neck in a hug.
"Metal mouth." He whispered, patting her back, "What's up with you?"
Sharon quickly peeled herself from Mamoru; the feeling of his thick body under hers left her feeling stunned.
"The name's Sharon, and nothing's wrong. Why do you ask?"
The raven-haired boy took a step back, gazing into her eyes.
"The way you were looking out the window, I thought you heard me coming. But then I realized you were looking at the moon, and you seemed slightly depressed."
"Oh that? That was nothing. I'm fine now."
Sharon smiled slightly, to show she meant what she said, but Mamo-chan still seemed barely convinced; however, seeing he wasn't going to get much else from her, he let it drop.
They began to slowly walk out to the sidewalk, Sharon trailing behind. Mamoru looked back at her.
"Technically, woman are supposed to walk behind men here, but I think we can make an exception just this once."
Sharon raised an eyebrow in surprise, but quickly pulled up from behind Mamoru.
"It's not my fault," she whispered, "your legs are longer than mine!"
He smiled to himself, remembering how short Tsukino Usagi is; she always found a way to keep up, but she was probably used to a fast pace anyway, always running to school when she's late.
"What are you smiling about?" she questioned, leaning in close in the cool night's air.
"Nothing, metal mouth, nothing at all."
Sharon shook her head and smiled as they continued to walk. Then, a question hit her.
"What are we doing up now anyway?"
Mamo-chan looked around the deserted street and pulled Sharon close to him. Sharon's heart raced as she inhaled the sweet smell of his cologne, the tense feeling of his body against her cotton, light-blue pajamas. She could almost feel the fierce kiss she knew was coming, but it never came. Instead, he spoke.
"I'm taking you to my place."
His place? She wasn't ready for that!
"Excuse me?" she whimpered, still extremely close to Mamoru.
"You're going to my place. Some of the girls are already there, and we want to talk to you."
"The girls?" she asked him, trying not to melt into a puddle from the smoothness of his voice.
"The ladies you met earlier. All of my friends."
"Oh!" Sharon cried, relieved.
Maybe too relieved… Mamo-chan glanced over at her, a confused expression on his face.
"What's wrong?"
She shook her head.
"Nothing. That sounds like fun."
Mamo-chan turned his head away from her.
"Yea," he mumbled, "A lot of fun."
They continued to walk in silence, the sound of the shoes hitting pavement echoed about them.
"So," Sharon finally whispered, "You do know I gave the girls American names, right?"
Mamoru nodded his head, glancing down at Sharon as she tucked a hair behind her ear, the sweet smell of her shampoo tingled his nose.
"Well, it's only right you get one."
Mamo-chan stared down at her in disbelief. What would this girl call him?
She had thought long and hard about his name, and had no idea why she picked the one she did, but it seemed to stick.
"I think you should be Darien." She sighed, resting her head on his shoulder.
She was unbelievably tired, but Mamoru had no complaints about her action.
"Darien huh?" he chuckled, wrapping an arm around her shoulder, "Okay, whatever makes you comfortable. Darien works for me."
They walked up to a small apartment, and Sharon removed her shoes. They went up to Darien's room; Sharon feeling more relaxed to meet the girls again. Darien slipped his arm off of her and opened the door.
Sharon looked around, stepping into a dimly lit room.
"They're in my room. This way." He called, stepping into a room.
Sharon looked around as she headed to his bedroom. This was a nice place, but where were his parents?
Sharon stepped into the room and saw the girls scattered around the room. She took a seat on the corner of the bed, and they all exchanged greetings. Rei had obviously fallen asleep, because her hair was tousled and her eyes were droopy.
"So," she snapped, looking over in Mina's direction, "Tell us Minako. What was so urgent you had to wake us from our beauty sleep?"
Ami raised her hand as if she was in school.
"Actually, while you slept, I studied."
"And I was trying out a new recipe." Makoto added.
Rei snarled, glaring at both.
"Like I said. Beauty sleep. Nothing beautiful about the two of you."
Ami rolled her eyes. Sharon muffled a laugh. Rei was even more temperamental when she was tired. Mina lifted Luna and laid her on the bed, next to Sharon. Artemis sat in her lap.
"I'll let Luna tell you."
Everyone looked at her in horror. She was going to expose their secret!
Sharon stroked the dark blue kitten.
"The cat?" she asked, making Artemis jealous as her long gentle fingers scratched the cat's ear, "How can the cat tell me anything? Cats can't talk."
"Actually," Luna purred, melting under the tender movement of her fingers, "I'm not a cat. I'm a guardian. And you, are a Sailor Scout."
Sharon looked down at the kitten, suddenly feeling like she was being pulled in a tornado.
"A, a, S-sailor…."
She passed out. The girls all stared at her and then at Luna, who was working with Darien to wake her up.
"But how is this possible?" Ami questioned.
"I thought we found all the scouts!" Rei cried, "No way is THAT girl a scout."
"Rei!" Luna hissed, "Quit it!"
"Yeah!" Artemis growled, "We've had enough of that attitude. This is very important."
Rei sat with her back against the wall; her anger was still sizzling hot.
Luna watched her carefully, and then turned back to Sharon.
"Don't worry," Minako stated, "I can fill them in."
Luna didn't reply, and Artemis had no protest. He went, instead, to help Luna and Darien wake up Sharon.
"Well Minako? How is this possible?" Rei growled.
"Luna told me that she looked familiar when we were leaving the park. She told me she thought she was a scout." She looked at Darien.
"Pull back her bangs." She ordered.
Mamoru lifted her bangs and was stunned to see a crescent moon scar, but it was different than Serena's. While hers was upside down, Sharon's was a perfect waning crescent.
"It's a moon shaped scar." He whispered, glancing down at Luna.
"Yes." Minako nodded, "Because, she is the sister of our dear Tsukino."
Everyone was silent.
Serena stuck her locket in the folds of her silk, bunny pajamas as she climbed out of the window. Sharon's mother should be awake soon.
Alden quietly watched, afraid the dogs would bark and wake the neighborhood. Serena dropped down to the ground and stumbled. She began to laugh as she lifted herself onto her feet.
"Hello, Alden. What are you doing here?"
Alden glanced around. Then took a step towards Usagi. Serena stepped back, and he stepped forward. It continued until Serena was pinned against the wall, staring at Alden.
"Alden. What are you doing?" she cried, slightly afraid of what he might do.
He leaned close to her ear and Serena squirmed. She couldn't mess around behind Mamoru like that.
"I saw you."
Serena's heart paused as she stared over at Alden.
"Yes. I'm aware of this. You see me now."
"No, I saw you. Yesterday. In the alley."
Serena completely shut down. Her eyes grew large as she remembered fighting the monster in the alley. How had he seen her?
"You forgot this."
He lifted a key chain, a teddy bear dangled off of it. It was the prize she'd won on the arcade games at the rink.
"I came to give it to you, and followed you to the alley. When you turned, I was kind of curious as to where you were going and… I saw you."
Serena struggled to breathe, but she wouldn't allow herself. Her secret had been spilled.
"Who are you? You call yourself Sailor Moon. I want to know, are you like some Japanese super hero?"
Alden stepped back and Serena finally exhaled. Then it was true. He had discovered her identity.
"Great." She mumbled, "Just great."
She looked at Alden and parted her lips to speak, when a voice made her pause.
"Serena, sweetie! I'm making breakfast! Do you like pancakes?"
Serena looked up at her window in horror. Sharon's mom woke up and she wasn't inside!
"I have to go!" she cried, beginning to climb the drainpipe.
Alden grabbed her hand and she paused.
"I'll see you later." He whispered and ran off.
Serena dashed up the pipe onto the roof and jumped through the window to the bed. Unfortunately, she missed just as the mom walked in.
"Oh. Didn't mean to startle you." She laughed, " I didn't know pancakes were such a big deal."
-Tsuyoku tsuyoku naritai kara kyou mo takaisora miageteiru
-Because we wanted to become stronger. We look up to the faraway sky.