Chapter One: A new beginning
Usagi laid in bed, tossing and turning, trying her hardest to fall asleep, but no matter how hard she tried, her mind would not quiet when she thought about Mamoru. Since he broke up with her, she spent the last few weeks sobbing and mourning the love they once shared. The last time she saw him. Mamoru rode his motorcycle with his new girlfriend, a pretty, college-aged brunette.
The brunette girl rode behind him, clutching tightly onto his middle. Her tiny arms encircled around the older teen's waist as the motorcycle screeched to a halt at a red light.
Usagi, having not noticed either Mamoru or the girl, sat on a bench, clutching her melting ice cream, listening to the girls discussing Chiba-Usa and their new enemies, the Dark moon clan. She tried paying attention to the conversation, but her thoughts drifted to her earth prince.
Suddenly, the sound of a roaring motorcycle engine caught the attention of all the girls and disrupted Usagi's thoughts.
Usagi spotted them immediately. She saw her ex-boyfriend, pull-up to the curb at the stoplight. Her wandering eyes landed on the person seated behind him.
Usagi's heart raced, and her throat felt thick like an object was lodged inside as her eyes lingered on the girl wearing the pink helmet Mamoru gifted her on their first date. Her heart thumped as she spotted Mamoru, looking her way momentarily. It almost seemed like he was deliberately trying to catch her attention without her suspecting. Their eyes met briefly. He raised his helmet and turned his head slightly to whisper a few words to the girl sitting behind him. Then, he lowered his helmet, and pretended as if he hadn't seen Usagi.
Usagi rose from the bench and jogged towards the sidewalk. She called out Mamoru's name and asked him who the girl was in a shaky voice. Was she a cousin or a friend? At first, he didn't meet her eyes. Eventually, Mamoru acknowledged her, answering her question in a cold and distant voice. He told Usagi it was none of her business.
The girl behind him looked confused. Usagi asked Mamoru again who she was, but he kept quiet and rode away.
Usagi was now just a distant memory to him.
It felt like he was leaving her. Why? Why was he acting so distant? What had driven them apart?
Usagi wiped away her tears as she remembered how much it hurt to see her beloved Mamo with another girl. Her eyes were swollen and red-rimmed from all the tears she shed.
She rose from her bed, wrapped her pink bathrobe around her middle, and tiptoed out of her bedroom into the dark, quiet hallway. She strolled down the hallway, past her brother and parents' rooms, making sure not to make any noise, trying to prevent her parents or brother or her bratty ward, Chiba-Usa, from waking. The bratty kid had caused so much trouble since her arrival. Mamo and the squirt had formed a strange relationship. Usagi was perplexed by the whole thing. It almost felt like the child and Mamo were long-lost siblings.
Usagi didn't like their close bond. She felt jealous and betrayed. Mamoru had replaced her with a stranger.
Making her way down the stairs, Usagi turned towards the kitchen entrance. She pushed the kitchen door open and walked to the fridge, yanked open the door, and collapsed in a heap on the floor. She cried silently and balled her fists in the dark. She sat up after a few minutes, composed, looking at the bright light of the fridge. She began to grab rice balls, meat buns, and all kinds of stored leftovers her mother had saved away. She unboxed dish after dish, stuffing her mouth in between silent sobs. Food had always been a comfort to her, something she enjoyed doing, besides sleeping and reading mangas.
She had missed several meetings at the temple because of her depression.
Rei always scolded her for her laziness and flaws, calling her mean names, belittling her intelligence and hobbies. Usagi would never admit it aloud, but she felt like a wounded puppy whenever the hot-headed priestess criticized her. She was a crybaby and a little rash, but she was also caring, a good friend, devoted and loyal, and intelligent too, in her way. She was just lazy and didn't apply herself.
Usagi knew it. She realized her weaknesses and mistakes. She thought back to a few weeks prior when this whole nightmare started. School had ended for the day, and she was staring depressingly at her math exam. She had earned another horrible grade. When her mother saw her test score, she would indeed be grounded. Hopefully, Usagi thought, perhaps Mamo would let her crash on his couch or better his bed for the night if her mother kicked her out for her failing exam grades.
Just then, as Usagi had been daydreaming, she spotted Mamoru walking a few feet ahead of her on the sidewalk. She stuffed her test paper in her skirt pocket, dashed towards him, and happily greeted him before giving him a bear hug from behind. Usagi grew startled when Mamoru didn't respond to her affections. Instead, he pried her hands away from his midsection and shoved her gently away. Mamo raised a hand in the air, indicating to keep her distance from him. He told her he didn't want to be in a relationship with her anymore and yelled at Usagi to stop being so affectionate with him. Then, he broke up with her, ending things with her without explaining.
At first, after speaking with the girls at the temple, Usagi assumed it had been a misunderstanding. Mamo must have been feeling unwell that afternoon and was in a lousy mood. She decided to go to his apartment, speak with him, and work things out. However, her fears had been proven right. Mamoru was cold and distant when he greeted her at his apartment door. His eyes didn't sparkle or show any emotion. It was almost like all his love for her had vanished in a mere few hours.
He had reaffirmed what he had told her earlier that day. He didn't want to be with her. He didn't love her anymore and didn't want to be tied down to her because they were reincarnated, star-crossed lovers. Mamoru wanted to move on. And as much as Usagi begged him and apologized, he refused to listen. He raised his voice and screamed at her when she kept trying to reason with him.
Usagi lifted her eyes, wet with unshed tears. She apologized one last time before exiting his apartment.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Usagi, Mamoru stood against his apartment door, with his forehead lowered and his hands fisted in anger, feeling like someone had plunged a knife into his heart.
In a daze, Usagi Tsukino exited her former boyfriend, Mamoru Chiba's apartment building. Quietly crying at first, Usagi wandered down the street. She noticed a phone booth, stepped inside, and collapsed in sobs. Tears poured down her pale face. Usagi wrapped her slender arms around her knees, drawing them up to her chest, and buried her face in her lap, trying to tame her falling tears, but she couldn't stop crying. It hurt so much. Usagi's mind was plagued with unanswered questions.
Raising another rise ball towards her open mouth, Usagi stopped before taking a bite. She closed her mouth shut and slowly put it down onto the plate with the other uneaten balls of rice.
Why was she crying, she thought suddenly? Why was she falling to pieces and crying for a man who doubted their love? A man who abandoned their love without any regrets. A man who used to tease her relentlessly and joke about her appearance and unique bunhead hairstyle and call her an idiot. A man who claimed to love her but never openly showed any displays of public affection.
Usagi was always the one to pour out her heart, initiate kisses, and hugs, confess her undying love. She was tired of crying and mopping around everywhere she went, remembering and reliving how he broke her innocent heart. She was done groveling.
Luna was right. She should show Mamoru she was mature. Starting tomorrow, she would stop looking for him. Usagi would keep her distance and act like a stranger to Mamo. They were no longer friends or lovers, merely allies, working together to restore peace and save the world. Chibi-usa was her responsibility as a guardian but nothing else. She felt for the little brat, but there was something strange about how she acted.
The pink-haired demon hated Usagi for no reason. She belittled Usagi's every action. She and Mamo were like two peas and a pod. They had similar personalities. Both were caring, cold, and rude.
It was creepy when Usagi thought about it. Still, their close relationship caused her to feel pangs of jealousy and bitterness. She admitted shamefully to herself. There were moments when she found herself hating the little girl—hating her for spending so much time with her beloved.
Usagi didn't understand Mamo anymore. Why did he care so much for Chibi-Usa? Maybe it was because she was a child living alone, far away from her parents. Perhaps her loneliness stirred feelings and emotions Momo had long buried when he came of age. Memories of his time as an orphan, living alone and without any relations.
Usagi thought she had filled that void and emptiness inside him with her love. But she must have been wrong.
Usagi closed the fridge door and snuck back into bed without waking Luna. She burrowed into her blanket and vowed to stay away from Mamo while in her civilian role. She would only speak and work with him when fighting their enemies.
With her mind made up, Usagi shed her last tear, turned her head to her nightstand, picked up the portrait of her and Mamo, and dropped it into her trash bin. Tomorrow was a new day, and she wasn't going to waste it crying or mourning over a doomed love. Nope. She was ready to start over and prove everyone wrong.
Tomorrow she would start studying and rekindle her friendship with Naru, her childhood best friend. Usagi loved her guardians, but she had given up her closest friend for the sake of her destiny as a sailor guardian and her past life, Princess Serenity.
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The following day, the alarm clock blared. Usagi was up early, packing up the remaining mementos she collected during her time with Mamoru. Each item was precious and held a fond memory, but the most valuable thing she cherished was the moon-shaped locket Mamoru had recently gifted her. Inside was a picture of a smiling Mamoru and a written inscription that read: I'll love you from the earth to the moon and back forever, my sweet princess.
Usagi wanted desperately to toss the locket, but her heart held her back.
She clasped the locket around her neck, and decided to keep it as a reminder. Usagi sighed, took another box out from the closet, and filled it with more items.
"I know what I want. To move forward and to become stronger and to prove to everyone I don't need to be saved because I can do the saving myself." Usagi muttered to herself.
A few hours later, Ikuko Tsukino knocked loudly on her teenage daughter's door. She had set the table early, cooked breakfast for her two other children and husband, but one of her household members was missing, her crybaby, lazy daughter.
She scowled when she noticed Usagi's absence when placing food on the table. The whole family was gathered around the table, except for Usagi.
Chibi-Usa announced loudly and quite happy she would gladly eat Usagi's breakfast since she was too busy sleeping.
Shingo had agreed and told his mother not to wake up dumb Usagi. Her husband huffed and quietly interjected that Usagi would never change.
Ikuko scolded them and told both children to leave for school. Her husband kept his face buried in his newspaper, reading the latest Sailor-moon headlines and stories. He was a reporter, so he needed to be as informed as possible.
Ikuko stood with her fist raised high, barely touching Usagi's door. Again she knocked louder, but she heard no noise or her daughter's usually high-pitched shrieks and exclamations that she was running late to school.
Concerned, Ikuko opened the door. Stepping inside, she was surprised to see Usagi's bed made and her room all neat and clean. A note had been scribbled and left on her table. Usagi's poor writing was certainly noticeable in the letter she left. That girl needed to study harder, her mother thought. Her entrance exams were quickly approaching.
Ikuko read the note, gasped, and raised a hand to her mouth. Her eyes grew wider when she realized Usagi woke up early to go to school. She was shocked and needed her husband to reread her daughter's note to confirm she was not dreaming.
"Kenji!" Ikuko yelled, waking a sleeping Luna, curled up on a soft pillow.
Arriving at Juban middle school, Usagi entered her classroom and sat opposite Naru.
She put her book bag and lunch down and quietly turned to stare at her best friend. Naru sat at her desk, reading a book, with her brows wiggling and furrowed in concentration. She lost concentration when she was abruptly startled by Usagi's early arrival.
"Am I seeing things? Usagi! You arrived at school early and before the bell too." Exclaimed a shocked Naru.
Usagi shrugged nervously and answered truthfully," I've decided to grow up and stop being so lazy and childish. I'm ready to start studying and try harder to earn better grades. Mom keeps telling me to do better and stop thinking about manga and acting lazy. After thinking about it all night, I figured my mother was right. It's time I acted more responsible and mature."
Naru frowned in disbelief. "Sounds like you. But is it you, or am I dreaming?" She teased.
Usagi looked annoyed and hurt by her words.
"No, you're not daydreaming. It's me. The same crybaby Usagi but just more mature. I'm serious, Naru. I want to change. That's why I'm here early. Ms. Haruna will be shocked when she sees me this morning," Usagi said playfully.
Naru sighed and cracked a small smile at her friend. "Okay, I believe you."
"Hey Naru, I'm sorry about not being around so much. I miss hanging out together after school. Do you think, maybe, you and I can start spending more time together again? You know, just like old times."
"Oh Usagi, of course, if you mean it. You're my best friend. Our friendship will never change. What about today? Do you have any plans this afternoon?"
"Hmm, no, except I did make plans to meet the girls at Rei's temple around 6:00 pm."
"Well, then maybe, we should reschedule for another day," Naru said, sounding disappointed.
Usagi patted Naru's head. "Hey, I said I was going to spend today with you, and I meant it. I realized last night that I've been neglecting my friendship with you. You and I have shared lots of happy times, Naru. I'm sorry I spent most of my time with my new friends and Mam- anyway, you mean a lot to me. You're my best friend. You've supported me during my best and worst times. But I'm lucky to have you in my life, so I hope we can continue being friends."
"Usagi, we'll always be best friends." Naru beamed at Usagi.
They both smiled at each other and continued making plans for this evening.
Usagi hadn't lied when she said she already had plans. Luna and Artemis had scheduled a guardian meeting this afternoon, but Usagi didn't plan to attend. She sacrificed her friendship with Naru in the past and wouldn't repeat her past mistakes. She was the princess and leader.
Luna wasn't her dead queen mother or earth mother. She was her advisor, and she had to learn to listen to Usagi's wants and desires.
Usagi kept imagining her mother's reaction to finding her gone this morning. She must have been in shock. Usagi chuckled.
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Rei Hino sat in her bedroom, surrounded by her teammates, tapping her fingers impatiently against the table, trying her best to stay calm. They waited for their unreliable leader to make an appearance.
"Typical Usagi! Always late. Never on time. I knew she would be late again." The raven-haired Shinto priestess fumed, banging her fist against the tabletop, causing the other girls to squirm in their seats. The girls counted the minutes until she would explode.
"You know Usagi. She must have gotten dentition again. She's probably running late and making her way here now." Chimed Ami.
Luna yawned, stretched her paws, and sat up on the cushion she was curled up earlier. "I'm sorry, girls, as much as I try to teach Usagi to be more responsible. My lessons never seem to stick. She completely dismisses what I say. "
"Come on, guys. We shouldn't be so hard on her. The last few weeks have been rough for Usagi. Mamoru has a new girlfriend. I can only imagine how crushed she must be feeling, knowing the person she loves has moved on. It must be hard." Makoto struggled to say the right words. She knew how it felt to be dumped, but she had never been in love like Usagi.
"She lost someone she deeply loved. We have to be supportive and give her enough time to grieve so she can continue to keep moving forward with her life." Minako suggested.
"Poor Usagi! I still can't believe Mamoru-San is dating another woman and so soon too." Ami paused, pushed her knees to her chest, and laid her head down.
"She'll be fine," Minako interjected. "We have to give her time to get over that jerk. There are plenty of other guys out there. I plan to set her up on many dates. I'm sure that fashion disaster of a jerk will love seeing that. Is it possible that some people are born without a sense of style? I mean, his taste in clothes is so bad. I could vomit. I'll make it my mission as the goddess of love to help Usagi get over that idiot." An evil smile spread over Minako's face. It was one of pure, devious pleasure.
"I think dating is the last thing on Usagi's mind Minako." Rei said, annoyed. "And as much as I agree with you about making Mamoru-San suffer, we still need to remain amicable with him. He is our ally. We need his help to protect Chibi-Usa and to defeat our enemies."
"Rei is right, girls." Artemis moved closer to the table and jumped onto the edge, eyeing everyone. He needed to be the voice of reason again. "Usagi needs time to heal, but she also needs to focus on the mission. Her priority should be her duty as a guardian. It's hard, I know. But we don't have time to waste when the dark kingdom is still lurking and plotting its next move. "
" We should give Usagi some credit. She did make an effort to get up early for school this morning. " Luna reminded them.
"And she did ask me for help with her homework at school today," Ami said happily. "At least she's trying to be more responsible."
Makoto picked up a handful of cookies and stuffed one into her mouth. She leaned her head back on a pillow and smiled in agreement.
"You know what they say, if at first, you don't succeed, try, and try again. Perseverance is better than deceit." Minako explained.
"No, it's Perseverance is better than defeat." Corrected Ami.
" The way I said it sounds better. So, what do you think the dark moon clan's next move will be?" Minako said, irritation lacing her voice as she tried changing the subject.
Naru and Usagi walked around the Juban shopping District, enjoying each other's company and chatting. Occasionally, Naru pointed at something and squealed in delight when she spotted something she wanted to buy but couldn't once she noticed the price tag.
After spending the afternoon shopping and eating, Naru suggested visiting Tokyo's City Central Library.
"Naru, do you think I can borrow yesterday's class notes? "
"Usagi, you'll need to start concentrating and working harder at completing your homework. Copying my notes won't guarantee you'll pass. You need to memorize all the math formulas and practice your English to do well on your exams."
Usagi groaned. Studying and passing her exams would be more challenging than she thought.
"School is so boring," she grumbled, tucking a strand of blond hair behind her ear.
"Naru," Usagi began in a flat tone, linking their arms together as they walked. "Do you think we can forget about the library today? Look at this weather we have. We should enjoy it."
Naru recognized the tone. Her friend was backpedaling. She frowned. "If we go to the library today, tomorrow afternoon, we can spend the evening playing games at the arcade, but I'm not making any promises unless you try to study," Naru warned her friend.
"Okay," she agreed. "But can we stop by for a milkshake at the crown arcade before we head to the library?"
"Sure, but the milkshake is on you," Naru said, laughing.
Motoki worked at the Crown Arcade part-time in the afternoons. During the day, he attended KO University and was majoring in pre-med like Mamoru.
Usagi hadn't confided in her older brother that she and Mamoru had been dating. They both decided to keep it quiet from everyone except the sailor guardians.
The minute Usagi started thinking about her dark-haired prince. Her heart began to hurt and pound. Unable to restrain them, a stream of tears rolled down her cheeks. Usagi blinked them away. Her broken heart was aching and tearing her apart slowly.
Did true love exist? She wondered. Could love make the world stop? Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion were star-crossed lovers, their love was doomed from the start, but they still loved each other fiercely. Why then, after all the pain, fighting, and death, did Mamoru's love for Usagi suddenly disappear and die?
Wasn't she alive before she met him? She used to cheer herself up by reading manga and eating tons of her favorite food and by napping instead of studying, so why did she need Mamoru in her life to exist?
Usagi's inner thoughts were interrupted when she caught sight of her older brother, leaning against the countertop, talking animatedly to the person she was trying to avoid desperately.
Mamoru Chiba sat at the counter, sipping his hot coffee, with his arms rested on the countertop, nodding in reply at the barrage of questions his best friend, Motoki, was asking him about his date tonight.
"Where are you and Hina going tonight?" grinned Motoki, asking with an amused smile as he continued to wipe down the counter, and trying to get Mamoru to spill details about his new girlfriend.
"Nowhere special. We're grabbing dinner at some restaurant and then heading to Hina's place to study afterward." Mamoru replied in a bored tone. He drank more of his coffee, feeling tired of discussing his relationship with Hina. He felt drained.
When he lived at the orphanage, his father's close friend and guardian would drop by occasionally to speak to him about his future and inheritance. Hina's father looked out for Mamoru while growing up without his parents. They met a few times a year and barely kept in contact except for business meetings regarding raising his allowance. Eventually, he met his daughter at one of those business dinners. He was a twelve-year-old junior high school student when they met.
Hina and Mamoru became close friends at school. They enjoyed each other's company and shared similar interests like reading and medicine.
They spent hours exploring the campus grounds and school library.
Hina hoped to become a nurse or doctor like her father in the future. She was very bright and pretty but had a fragile heart.
Hina's father had even hinted he should marry his daughter one day and become part of the family. However, Mamoru constantly changed the topic when he brought up marriage. He wasn't interested in love back then. The only person that ever touched his heart and soul was Usagi. He could never love anyone else but her.
As the years went by, Mamoru lost contact with Hina. At sixteen, he inherited his parents' money and moved away from the orphanage into his current apartment.
He never felt like he truly belonged anywhere. His heart always felt void of happiness and love. For years, he was searching for his identity but also something else. His princess. The girl that called out to him in his dreams. Growing up an orphan, he didn't need friends except for Motoki. He was fine being alone.
However, the feeling of being left behind was never assuaged. It didn't matter how much time passed. Everyone Mamoru loved had forgotten him. That feeling of loneliness never vanished until Usagi entered his life.
"She seems very interested in you. Are you planning to take her out again?"
"We're taking it slow."
"Do you like her?" Motoki asked, interested.
"We're figuring things out," Mamoru answered in a bored tone.
"Sounds to me like you like this girl if you accepted her invitation to go out. Are you staying over at her place tonight?" Motoki said, already moving away to grab another pot of coffee.
"I haven't seen her in a long time. We were just kids the last time we spoke, discovering life and figuring things out. I care for her but-"
Mamoru was an idiot to think that by coming to the game arcade, where they'd shared so much. He could face up to the past and get Usagi out of his system. The arcade was where they'd dreamed of a future together, and every thought of her led him back to that time.
He needed to do something to make it clear to Usagi that the relationship they had was over. But what? Hina planned to meet him here in ten minutes for their study date.
His thoughts were interrupted when the door to the arcade opened, making Mamoru jump. Motoki waved happily to the new arrivals.
That's when Mamoru felt her presence. Usako.
From behind him, the sweet voice of his princess spoke. " Hi, big brother!" Motoki turned and locked eyes with Usagi.
She walked up to the counter quietly with her red-headed friend, Naru, to greet his blond best friend.
The arcade was bustling, loud, full of conversations from teenagers laughing and playing games. Motoki approached Usagi with open arms and engulfed her in a bear hug.
" Hi, Usagi-Chan! How's my adorable little sister? Oh, hi Naru-Chan! " Motoki greeted his sister's best friend, surprised to see both girls together. He let go just enough to get a good look at Usagi's sad face and then pulled his sister in for another tight embrace.
" We want to order some chocolate milkshakes to go. Usagi and I have plans this afternoon, so we can't stay long." Naru explained.
" That's too bad. I have a new racing game I wanted Usagi-Chan to try." Motoki said, disappointed, releasing his hold on Usagi.
The blond bun head stayed quiet, keeping her eyes downward throughout the conversation. Naru noticed her friend's distress and turned down the offer.
"No, we're good," Naru replied, her eyes not leaving Motoki's face. Motoki continued to look between them. "Are you feeling okay, Usagi-Chan?"Motoki asked his sister in concern. He placed a hand over her forehead to check for a fever.
Usagi shook her head slowly, and Motoki decided not to ask her any more questions. He finally turned to Naru. "I'm going to grab your orders to go. Give me a minute."
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Mamoru straightened in his seat as he kept his eyes on his best friend preparing the girls' orders. Both girls had walked away to look at some kids playing arcade games. Mamoru looked around the room with panicked caution. He needed to leave before Usagi and her friend returned to pick up their drinks.
"What was that about?" Naru asked a strangely quiet Usagi.
"Did you two fight? Mamoru-san is your boyfriend. Right?"
Usagi lifted her head in surprise. How did Naru know about her and Mamo?
"Don't act surprised that I know. I heard you talking about going out with Mamoru with Ami and Makoto at school."
Usagi seemed genuinely surprised. "Dating didn't work out for us. I'm not his type anymore." She looked over her shoulder to glance at Mamo seated at the counter, ignoring her existence
and then back to Naru, realization dawning. Mamo had moved on. He was now dating someone else.
"How long ago did you two break up?" Usagi's thoughts were interrupted by Naru's question. She avoided her eyes, staring at her feet for a moment before answering. "We didn't- I didn't. He said he loved me. He'd love me forever. Then left- "
"Wait! What? I thought you said—"
"He ended it with me. I still love him. He gave up on us. I never did, or ever will." She lifted her chin, meeting Naru's eyes. Usagi's eyes glistened with tears.
"Oh, Usagi! I'm sorry." Naru enveloped her in a hug.
Mamoru looked over his shoulder to stare at the girl he loved. She seemed so fragile and tiny. She wasn't acting like her usual, carefree, happy self. Usako. It was all his fault, but it had to be this way. No matter how much he loved her. They had to be apart. It all lay heavy on his mind, the things that could have been, the decisions he should have made sooner or differently.
Mamoru took another sip of coffee; this was already his second cup.
Briefly, he looked over at Usagi again. She was crying in her red-headed friend's arms. Her shoulders were slightly shaking. She hadn't lifted her head once since she entered the arcade. It killed him to see her in so much pain. For a minute, all he could see was the woman he loved. It ate at him, having her so near and not being allowed to touch or hold her, making his stomach feel queasy even as he fought his instincts to comfort her.
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The longing to see him again, hear his voice and feel his touch was almost more than Usagi could bear as Naru comforted her with an embrace.
The girls pulled apart. Usagi wiped away the tears streaming down her face with the back of her right hand.
"I can't do this." sniffed Usagi. "Move on. It hurts too much."
"Yes, you can," Naru said, placing a hand on her best friend's shoulder. "It'll take time. You once told me it would be best to forget my first love. I told you I couldn't because I still loved him even though he wasn't a good person. I'm telling you the same thing now. I understand how it feels to lose someone you love. It might not be the same. I'll never get a chance to speak to him again. But you can. " Naru gave Usagi's cheeks a sharp pinch to bring a bit of color back into them.
"Ouch. That hurt." Usagi said, rubbing her now redder cheek.
"Good. You look so pale like death. Cheer up. There's always tomorrow. " she smiled. "You need to let him go. Let your heart heal. And maybe one day, you'll meet a cool guy that'll love you for you. Someone even better than Mamoru-san."
"I'll try."
Usagi's face felt like it would crack as she tried to lift her lips into a grin. Naru laughed at the comical sight. "Perfect. Oh, here comes your brother with our drinks. I'll wait for you by the door. Motoki-san looks like he wants to have a big brother chat with you. " Naru pulled her into a tight hug before releasing her and walking back towards the front door of the arcade entrance. Motoki handed Naru her drink as he walked past her towards a lonely-looking Usagi. Naru plopped herself down at an empty booth and started sipping her milkshake.
Motoki gently grabbed Usagi's hand and pulled her down to sit down next to him. He propped his arms on the table. He didn't say a word, which was probably the worst thing he could do.
"What?" Usagi finally asked.
It took a minute for him to answer. "Why are you so quiet today? Why are you crying, Usa-Chan?." He paused. "I saw you were standing here, crying, and I don't know. It seemed like you might be upset. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, big brother. I'm just being silly. There's a boy at school I like, but I found out a few days ago, he likes some else." She rubbed the remaining tears away with her finger thumbs. " I am crying like an idiot for a boy who doesn't like me." She groaned in faking embarrassment.
Motoki smiled, but his shoulders were tense.
"Do you want me to punch him for you?"
"No!" Usagi said, waving her hands.
She shook her head again, smiling at the thought of him imagining her involved romantically with a guy.
" I'll get over it. I decided today to stop chasing after him. I'm ready to move on. It'll take time to get him out of my heart. Still, it hurts to be around him and see him with another girl at school. " she admitted truthfully. She couldn't hide it from Motoki.
Motoki bumped Usagi's shoulder with his. "Hey. Don't worry. If he continues making you cry, I'll have Makoto punch him for me. " He petted her head and laughed. It was a valiant attempt to bring her out of her sour mood.
"Oh, um.." Usagi looked up at Motoki. He could be scary sometimes.
"So, where you off to?" Motoki was quick to change the subject. His sister was trying to hide the truth from him.
"Naru and I are on our way to the national library to study. Mom keeps nagging me about my failing grades. I thought about it. I should try harder to get better grades. "She admitted.
"Wow! I never thought I'd see the day when my little sister made plans to study." He said shockingly.
"Hey, that's mean," Usagi whined.
"Ha. You two have fun. Remember if you need to talk about anything else. I'm here for you, squirt." He poked her forehead with his finger.
" Thanks, big brother," Usagi said, smiling.
Just then, the arcade door opened, a beautiful woman entered, carrying a bag full of food. She looked around the place until she found the person she was searching for, Mamoru Chiba. Her eyes landed on him.
She approached him from behind and caught his attention when she placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Excuse me. Can I join you for a minute?" Mamoru looked up to see a very striking brunette woman addressing him. He hadn't noticed her when she walked in, but then, he'd made an effort not to make eye contact with anyone, especially his former girlfriend, who was seated with her older brother, obviously talking about him. "Hina-San." He half stood as she settled down across from him.
"Oh, don't get up. I'll just be a minute." She sat down opposite of him on the counter.
"I thought we were going to grab something to eat," Mamoru said
"I got out early from work and brought some leftovers from work for us to eat. Is that a problem? I thought we could save time and go to my place to talk. " she gave him a small smile.
Mamoru nodded. "Okay. Let's go."
He watched Usagi turning her eyes towards them. She looked hurt and in shock when she spotted them together. Now was the moment that would change their relationship, thought Mamoru. He stood up and grabbed Hina's warm hand, and entwined their fingers together. She looked surprised by the gesture but smiled warmly back at him.
Mamoru turned his attention back to Usagi. He watched a parade of emotions cross her face and saw the pain in her eyes when she looked at him. Her eyes looked void of emotion, almost lifeless.
He tore his eyes away from her. It pained him to see her suffering.
"I hope you enjoy eating what I brought-" Hina said amusedly.
He cut her off as he claimed her lips. She grunted as he pulled her forward, pulling her body against his. She looked surprised but returned his kiss. She buried her fingers in his hair, pulling his head around to give him the best angle to kiss her.
Mamoru looked up just enough to see Usagi's haunted state. Their eyes connected. She looked devastated and betrayed.
The smile she had faked earlier left her face, dissolving into pain. Usagi felt her heart was about to explode as she watched Mamoru kiss another woman. She was shaking. Tears began falling down her cheeks. She felt like she couldn't breathe. She needed to get out of here.
"Usagi! You're trembling!"Motoki exclaimed in concern.
She wiped at a tear that threatened to fall. "I'm fine. " she lied. "Seeing Mamoru-Baka with his new girlfriend makes me feel lonely and unloved. If that girl could love such a cold-hearted jerk like him, why can't someone love me too?"
" That's not true. I love you. So do you're friends? We all love and worry about you. One day you'll meet the right person, and they'll be your destined one." Motoki embraced his sister, comforting her as she cried.
His instincts were correct. Usagi fancied his best friend, but her love was one-sided. He needed to help her forget Mamoru.
Mamoru pulled away from Hina's kiss even as she leaned forward, trying to keep that connection. Mamoru took a breath, letting his emotions and his betrayal sink in. From afar, he watched Motoki embrace his princess.
"Let's get out of here. I'm ready to talk about us." He told Hina. Mamoru took her hand and walked out of the arcade. He felt like Usagi had ripped out his heart.
I'm sorry, Usako, but it has to be this way. For me to protect you, I need you to hate me.
Several open and stacked books lay around each end of the table Usagi and Naru were studying. They both were working on math homework. Usagi looked uninterested in the math problems she was trying to decipher. No matter how much she tried. Nothing ever made sense to her.
Bored and distracted, Usagi started to doodle on the notepad in front of her, lost in her thoughts. She was trying her hardest to forget what had happened earlier. Mamoru had made it loud and clear he was over their destined love.
"Hey," Naru said worriedly, clasping Usagi's left hand. "Are you okay?" She said, squeezing her hand in comfort.
"No," Usagi muttered, looking up from her drawing only briefly.
"So, how are you feeling? I mean, you haven't said a word all evening?"
"I'm concentrating."
"You don't want to talk about him, do you?"
"No! He makes me so angry." Usagi stopped drawing, and clutched her pencil tightly. " I've never been this furious. He lied to me. He told me he loved me then took it back. When I saw him kissing that girl today, I realized I'd been a fool. I believed him when he said he loved me, but it was all a lie. "
She paused to stare at her drawing. "Mamoru was looking at me as he kissed her. He's torching me, and he thinks he can win. He's trying to make me suffer. It's not going to work, though. His words and empty promises mean nothing to me. Not anymore, not after today."
Naru studied Usagi's face, knowing she was still walking on eggshells with her regarding this topic. "So, now what?"
"I want to forget him. What we shared is over. I don't care why he broke up with me anymore. It doesn't matter." Usagi tapped her pencil against her notepad. She was trying to regain concentration on her studies.
Naru decided to change the topic by grabbing another book to read.
Suddenly, the table began to shake, startling both girls. The books toppled over to the floor. The lights above them flickered from the movement.
"Earthquake!" Exclaimed a frighted Naru.
"Oh, no!" Wailed Usagi.
They both dropped to the ground, clinging to the edges of the table.
"It's okay. I think it's over." Said a shaken Usagi.
The sound of a book falling to the ground surprised them. Usagi and Naru turned to their left and noticed a book lying open inside a dark room. The locked room had opened after the earthquake. The door sign read Restricted: Do not enter. Usagi felt a foreboding feeling as she glanced at the book and back at the open door.
In the corner of her eye, she saw an unusual red bird appear, flapping its long wings, before disappearing into thin air.
"What was that?" Asked Usagi, frightened.
"What was what?" Naru looked at her perplexed. She was sitting on the floor, gathering up her textbooks.
"Nothing. Never mind. I must have imagined it."
Usagi stood up and looked inside the room.
"What's inside this room? " Usagi inquired.
"I don't know, but we should put the book back on the shelf," Naru suggested.
They both entered the room cautiously, looking around, investigating their new surroundings.
Both girls cried out in fright when the room began to shake again. They clung to one another until the shaking stopped.
Usagi broke free from Naru's death grip and wandered around the dark-lit room. There were rows of large books shelves to her left and right, filled to the brim with old dusty tomes.
"Wow! Ami would love reading these old relics."
"All these books look pretty rare." Said Naru. She pulled out a book from a shelf and started to flip the pages.
As she studied the room, the lights outside caught something on the floor. Usagi eyed the book on the floor and retrieved it. She picked it up, crouched to the floor, kneeled, and opened the book.
Usagi's eyes roamed over the first page. She began reading.
The book was titled the Universe of the Four Gods. It was a Japanese translation of an ancient Chinese text.
"Herein contains the tale of a young lady and her quest to gather the seven constellations of Suzuku. And if the reader should read to the story's end, the spell contained within the book shall bestow upon you the powers of the heroine and grant you a wish."
"What are you reading?" Naru asked.
"I don't know. Some kind of old Chinese legend." Usagi answered, bored. "I hate reading books. Unless they are fairytales, but this one has pictures." She said, amused.
"What's a Suzako?"Naru wondered. She eyed the book with curiosity.
"That's the bird I saw. Maybe that's what it is." Usagi pointed to the picture of a bird on the first page.
" Wait?! What bird?" Naru asked.
" Oh, that's right. When you picked up your things from the floor, I thought I saw a bird. A red bird. This bird, right here." She studied the images, scrutinizing every little detail of the bird.
"Are you sure you weren't just hallucinating?" Naru laughed.
" No. I'm serious. That's the bird I saw, the red bird. Anyway, let's finish reading this last sentence and leave. I need to get to the temple to meet the girls."
Naru nodded, sat down next to her friend, and listened to Usagi read the story.
"For indeed, once the page is turned. The story will become a reality." Usagi read aloud. Then something strange happened after she turned the page. A bright red light engulfed them. The light was so bright it blinded them with its intensity. Usagi felt a dizzy whirling feeling in her head, causing her to scream out in pain. Mamo, help me! Usagi pleaded in her mind. Luna! Minako! Makoto! Ami! Rei! Mamo-Chan! Save me! Usagi cried.
All she could see now were flames. Golden, deadly, blinding flames and a red bird. "What's happening?!" Usagi screamed, dropping the open book to the floor.
She closed her eyes as the room began to shift and sway. Usagi grabbed onto Naru, fear gripping her heart, as the objects around them disappeared.
"Mamo-Chan! Help me!"
Mamoru woke up. His heart felt like it was being squeezed, and it was about to burst right out of his chest. He was drenched in sweat. He clutched his chest. Did he imagine it? He thought he heard Usako calling for him just now.
Mamoru tried to calm himself down. Calm down. It was just a nightmare. Usako is safe at home.
He had to learn to ignore his dreams. With his mind made up, Mamoru mentally closed the link they shared. He would stop sending signals to Usagi. Mamoru needed to bottle up his emotions until she fell out of love with him. It was the best thing to do for both of them.
Mamoru remembered Usagi's pained face and felt a heavy ache in his chest as he rolled over to his left, to wrap his arms around a sleeping Hina.
"This isn't real," she muttered, grabbing and pulling one of her pigtails tightly. "I'm dreaming…."
Breathing heavily, Usagi opened her eyes and became instantly blinded by the red, bright, burning light. She clutched Naru's left arm.
Naru was sprawled on the floor next to her. She wasn't moving. Only her chest rose and fell with her shallow breaths. She was alive but looked asleep.
Usagi blinked a few times and turned her head to examine her new surroundings. Was this a hallucination or a trap from the enemy? She closed her eyes again in fear and reopened them.
When she started panicking again, she remembered she was wearing her wrist watch. She pulled up her right sleeve and tried alerting Luna through her communicator, but the connection was broken.
Oh great, now what was she going to do? How were the girls going to know where she was?
Stop it, Usagi. Now is not the time to panic. She had to think on her feet and try saving herself and Naru.