Chapter One

I woke to the sound of chirping outside of my room. It was odd, somehow, to think this was my last day waking here in this room. This room held a lot of memories for me. From my birth to my transformation to now, this had been my home. Mama, Papa, and Shingo were always there, then Luna had come with the biggest burden a fourteen year old could hold on her young shoulders. I stretch out, bones cracking and muscles screaming in protest from being in disuse for eight or ten hours.

"Usagi! Time to wake!" Mama's voice wove through the door, and a knock came after. I grimaced, knowing this could be the very last time I heard her voice in a very long time. College was calling out like Cinderella's bad stepmother. Fear and anxiety started at the end of my thoughts and ended up causing me to hyperventilate as it coiled through to the main thoughts. I wasn't sure what College would bring, and I knew my anxiety was for nothing. I couldn't help it though. While I could fight enemies and defeat them with my eyes blindfolded if need be, I couldn't think about going to college without getting a cramp in my brain.

Another knock jolted me. Mama sounded furious. I sighed. Perhaps I should get up and face the day. I only had until three-thirty today to get ready. Thankfully with the help of Mama and Papa, and sometimes Mamo-chan, I had gotten most of my packing done.

"I'm up!" I cried when I heard a loud thump on my door. "Honestly, you'd think I'm back in middle school." I whined as I finally got up. I dressed in a hurry, making sure my hair was still intact and opened the door to find my mother with her signature spatula in her crossed arms. "Morning Kaa-san." I smiled at her, kissed her cheek and slid around her.

"Just a minute." Her voice was harsh, almost steely. I stopped, turned, and frowned when I saw her back was still facing me. "I want to know one thing."

"Yes, Mama?" I answered hesitantly. I gulped a bit and perspiration soon started to fall on my forehead. It was a quick reflexive reaction when my mother held that posture and to hear that note in her voice that was borderline angry still got me to retract back my steps of what I had done the following day. All I could think of for a reason to her being angry was because I didn't pack everythinglike she told me to. I had valid reasons why and she didn't seem that upset about it when I mentioned it to her.

She sighed, turned a good one eighty and stared at me. "I am so very proud of you Usagi. I want to know though, are you going to be all right? Out there all alone?"

I sighed in relief, "Mama, I am only going to be a good thirty to forty minutes away. You can come by car to see me every waking moment if it'll ease your heart. I also have Rei and Ami staying next door." I said placidly. I placed each a hand on her shoulders and squeezed reassuringly. I was surprised when Mother put her hands around me, dropping her spatula in the process and hugging me tight, tight.

"You have grown so much." Mama rubbed my arms and patted my cheek. "Let's get ready now, so that we won't be late. Mamoru is meeting up with us?"

"Yeah, he sure is." I smiled thinking about him. Mama chuckled and let out a sigh. Whether the sigh was sadness or relief, I couldn't tell. All I could think about was, perhaps this wasn't so bad.

##

The car packed, I buckled into the backseat with Shingo. Mama and Papa were in the front seat. Papa was nervous about the whole trip to downtown Tokyo, but didn't quite show it once he was behind the wheel. The miles felt long as the seconds turned into minutes that turned into hours, or so it felt. It gave me time to think.

Here I was, eighteen years old, about to embark on a chance of a lifetime that should make me proud and excited; however, the more I thought about it, the more depressed I felt. It was strange, I know, to have thought that I should be happy, but had been turned opposite. I couldn't oppose going to college. It was what my parents expected of me, my boyfriend wanted of me, and my friends begged of me.

But, one errant thought that kept jabbing me in one part of my mind full of doubt was what caused the fear to keep bubbling in my stomach. I was nauseated when I saw the tall buildings.

Mama looked back at Shingo and me and smiled placidly. She could tell from the way I was looking at the tall buildings that I was writhing with nerves. She reached out and patted my hand before righting herself in the front seat. I could see Dad's reflection in the rearview mirror. It was a mixture of my own mirrored anxiety and something else I couldn't explain.

"So," he started, while turning from the freeway. "My daughter, Usagi, college bound. Never thought I'd see that day." He laughed a little at his own pathetic joke. I sighed.

"Dad." I whined, stretching the vocals just a bit. "You're not funny."

"Oh come now, Usagi, I was only trying to get you to laugh." Dad said with a leveled sigh.

"It's okay dear, I still think you're funny." Mama said, placating my father as per usual.

"Yeah, he's funny looking." Shingo said with a light cackle.

"Good one, son!" They both laughed.

I sighed again.

##

Rei, Ami, and Mamo-chan were waiting for us near the apartment complex I was staying in. Papa was already out of the car with Mamo-chan behind him, grabbing things from Papa's hands. They worked in sync trying to get as much as they could before letting the others get the rest. I couldn't help but think it was some sort of competition between the two men that were very important to me. I had to stifle a giggle when Shingo tried to get something out of Papa's hand.

"I've got it, Son." Papa said, grunting from the large, heavy box he had procured out of Mamo's hands. Mama winced and looked at Papa with concern.

"Papa, you're back…are you sure it's…"

"I'm fine!" Papa said, grunting as he staggered toward the building interest.

"Tsukino-san, are you sure you don't need help?" Mamo asked, cautiously walking along side my father who was still struggling badly to keep the box in his hands.

"Chiba-san, I said I was fine. I am a man, and Usagi's father, I can take care of one simple –" There was a pause and silence as a cracking sound ripped from his backside.

"Oh dear…your pants…"

"Dad! You're not wearing any underwear!" Shingo gasped, covering his eyes.

Tears welled in my father's eyes as he finally allowed Mamo to take the box. "My back!" He yelled, rubbing his back furiously, trying all his might to alleviate his pain.

Ami and Rei were both red in the face at seeing my father's bare bottom promptly wiggling in front of him he rubbed his back and groaning. They seemed so transfixed, that when I finally turned away from my struggling father in embarrassment, I pushed them into the building to save face. This was beginning to be a day already. I could tell that from here on out, this was going to be truly a strange and unique journey.

I was just scared that something would come and try to destroy what peace we had.

Well, it's been four months since I've updated. I've been extremely busy the last 4 months and I can't tell you how long I had this chapter sitting on my computer collecting dust. I wanted to make it longer, but this seemed to fall into place. Thanks for waiting patiently and thank you for the reviews! :)