A/N: One of my favorite story lines is from the -R season, when Mamoru breaks up with Usagi (because of the dream). I gravitate towards stories that focus on the couple breaking up for some (illogical) reason. I started to wonder: what if their roles were reversed. What if the Usagi broke up with Mamoru? Anyway, this was one way I envisioned the situation. But there are a few changes:

1. Usagi is 17 (You can definitely pretend she's another age if you want).

2. They've been together for 2 years now.

3. I'm basing much of their personality on the original 90s anime.

4. This isn't an 'action' type of story line. There will be extremely limited scenes focused on their fighting with the enemies. It's really about their the way they're handling the situation/relationship.

Warning: If you don't like a dark portrayal of Mamoru, then you should probably click out of this. I tend to write Mamoru as an aggressive and possessive person. I always pictured his personality being shaped by the need to survive in the system. Which means he can get extremely aggressive and doesn't like to share, his behaviors are usually based in fear that someone might steal it or it abandons him. Because he wasn't brought up in stable family home, his behaviors can be extremely bipolar. Being naturally intelligent, keen, and talented, he learned to use his skills of observation and survival instincts, he realized early on that certain things needed to be manipulated and controlled, which led to his current cold, austere, and reserved personality. He prefers to keep people at a distance, it aids in keeping his 'inner demons' under control. So...forewarning...Mamoru is not a very soft character here.

Key

I***'''***I

II***'''''***II

The symbol above indicates that it is the same day but different setting or change in point of view.

Key

~'"'"'"~

I***'''***I

II***'''''***II

The symbol above indicates a different day.

/***'''***/

The Premise Series

How Not To Handle a Break Up

Chapter 1

~'"'"'"~

I***'''***I

II***'''''***II

It was beautiful out; a rare thing in late June. The sun radiated across all of Juban-Azabu. The expanse of blue sky, the soft white tufts, the warm weather, and the slight cool breeze composed her a perfect day. The irony was not lost upon the petite blonde. It had taken her over an hour to select an outfit, and that was with Minako's help. Yet, despite having someone to provide affirmations of beauty, it wasn't enough. Each outfit was, inevitably, shed due to its connection with a 'happy' memory. In the end, she relented and went with today's "Ironic" theme.

She wore the same outfit she donned on their first date; a billowy pale-yellow dress that had fallen just above her knees. But over 2 years had passed since she last put it on. She pushed down the bottom of the blouse and turned to look at her reflection.

"Uhh...Usagi-chan. Don't you think that's a tad bit...on the sexy side? I thought we were going for pretty, soft, graceful," Minako said, voicing her concern.

"Hmmm?" She looked back at her reflection, confusion painted on her face: she didn't look sexy. "I wore this on our first date," she said softly. "He said I looked cute." Minako sighed. Her friend needed to wear something that made her comfortable, and if that short and tight dress made the girl feel comfortable, well so be it.

Most people never notice their own physical growth, Usagi was the same. In fact, many people neglected to notice that the Moon senshi had developed in the past three years. However, the outfit certainly revealed she did. She'd grown taller, so the dress now fell to her lower thighs. Her chest had also bloomed, and the top squeezed her breasts tightly, lifting them up seductively, although seduction was the last thing on her mind.

"Thank you," she said. "I better get going. I'm already 8 minutes late." But she didn't move. She stood in front of Mina, her hands clenching her white purse. Was she doing the right thing?

"You got this," Minako put her hands on Usagi's shoulders. "We've practiced over and over. You know the words by heart now. We'll be at Makoto-chan's." She smiled softly and walked out of the room. Usagi took a moment to breathe, then she rolled her shoulders back, strapped on her purse, and made her way out of the house.

-I***'''***I-

-II***'''''***II-

The park wasn't busy. In fact, it was pleasantly quiet. There were several older couples along the pathway and two or three people walking their dog, but other than that it was rather empty. Typically, the park would be crowded with families and couples with such warm conditions. Yet today, it seemed like everyone stayed home, as if they knew the weather could suddenly lash out in temper and bring back the torrential rains of yesterday.

Mamoru sat on their park bench just beside the lake, waiting. She was already fifteen minutes late, but it wasn't something that bothered him. Her routine tardiness had turned into part of their norm. Today, he wore a black t-shirt with the number 05 embroidered in yellow. Two yellow lines ran two inches parallel along his shirt, starting just outside the left of his collar, and trailing down to the very bottom. His jeans were dark and his shoes were black. It was the first time sporting the sneakers. They were a gift from Usako over a year ago, but he never got around to wearing them. He preferred his dress shoes. He wasn't sure why he suddenly had the urge to put them on.

Usagi saw him from afar. His ebony colored hair, his reading glasses perched on his nose, reading his book. Perhaps he should've dated Ami, the two could have had book dates. She smiled a little at the joke. But then quickly deflated once she remembered what she needed to do. She made her way to him slowly. She wanted to prolong the wait as much as possible. Perhaps she could say she felt sick and then run home? No...probably not. She'd have to meet with the girls after this, there was no escaping it.

She cleared her throat attempting to gain his attention.

"Hey Usako," he said, his nose still in the book. She waited for a minute, hoping he would look up so she could start her monologue. When she thought about this, she had imagined they were standing. That way, it would be very easy for her to run away after it was over. But he didn't look up. She exhaled audibly; walked to the bench and sat.

"Mamoru-san." She hoped he'd notice how she'd said his name. He hummed an acknowledgement. The blonde faced forward, her eyes on the water and started her speech.

"I've been thinking...and I think- I mean-no...I mean what I know is that our relationship isn't an amorous one. It's more familial. We are trying to compel ourselves- to…" she paused, "To replicate a past union; coerce ourselves into loving one another. But we don't have to be beholden to our past." She paused again and thought back to what the next line was supposed to be. She repeated the previous line in her head. Right, she remember now. "We were reincarnated and given another chance at life. We aren't the Prince and Princess anymore. We're just Usagi and Mamoru. I am going to do and be what I want, and I think you feel the same way too, right?" She heard him say something akin to a "yea" and a noise of agreement. "Therefore, we should choose our own paths from here on out separately, don't you agree?" She looked over to see him reading.

"You're absolutely right," he told her. She felt her heart break at his response. She was hoping he'd fight her on it; tell her she was wrong. Instead, he'd given her "Ami's best case scenario" answer.

"The best case scenario" Ami had said, "he agrees." She felt like crying. But she didn't want to look like a baby. She'd rehearsed for so long in order to keep the interaction as quick and painless as possible. She felt a mixture of hurt and pride. Hurt because of his quick agreement, but proud that she'd presented everything so well.

When she imagined the whole thing, she wanted to come off refined. She wanted Minako to come over and help her select the perfect outfit. She envisioned that Mamoru would think how mature she'd become, as she so gracefully departed after such an emotional situation. Instead, she ended up staring at the lake, nodding her head, and quickly standing up

"Well then," she turned towards him and clutched her bag, "I hope we can still be friends." Oh darn. That wasn't part of the speech. She was supposed to end with, don't you agree?" or if they she had to go into the "worst case scenario speech," her last words were going to be, "If we really are fated then we'll end up together." There wasn't another scenario that ended with "can we still be friends?" Where'd that come from? She shook her head and started to walk away.

She had gotten in two steps when she heard him say, "Still be friends?" He sounded confused. She turned around a little. He was staring up from his medical text, his brows furrowed.

She put on a small smile and said, "Yea. I hope we can still be friends." Then she waved and ran away.

Mamoru sat at the bench completely confused. I hope we can still be friends? What was that about? What was she talking about earlier? He was trying to finish reading the chapter for tomorrow. He needed to study, but he'd also promised his girlfriend that he'd spend time with her. He thought he could kill two birds with one stone. Usagi was always talking, he could read while she gossiped and complained about whatever it was and he could catch up on his work. He hadn't bothered listening. But, he caught some words..."familial," "replicate." However, he didn't know the actual context. He did know one thing though, "I hope we can still be friends," was the ending sentence of a breakup. She hadn't broken up with him had she? He shook his head. No she'd never. He knew Usako, she loved him completely and unselfishly. She'd probably been irritated that he wasn't paying attention. He'd apologize for his negligence tomorrow. Today he'd give her space.

-I***'''***I-

-II***'''''***II-

As soon as she turned the corner she picked up speed. She continued running despite bumping into dozens of people, never stopping to apologize. She wanted to see her friends. She wanted to see them now. It was as if her entire world was crumbling away, like the premonition. Perhaps this was the dream, maybe her dream was a metaphor and not a message from the future. She hoped so many things, but most of all she hoped that she could handle the strain of lying to the love of her life. She wasn't good at lying to him, he always saw right through it. Which was why the girls were essential. They'd be the ones doing most of the lying and blocking. They ran interference. All she needed to do was avoid and run away. Those were two things that she was very great at. Those were her strengths.

The first night she had the vision she shrugged it off as a horrible nightmare. But then it happened the next night, then the next, and the next. Finally, she'd had enough. She went to Rei and asked her whether her dreams could be real. They had a long stupid argument, and at the end of it, Rei had her sleep over. That night she woke up crying as she always did, but this time, Rei was crying beside her. Her voice was shaking as she hugged her best friend, "Usagi-chan...I'm so sorry."

It ended with Rei telling the senshi that Usagi had been given a vision of the future. She then had her Princess explain the nightmare, how the world ended and everyone died, how the voice warned her that "this" will be the only future if she and Endymion did not separate. The messages varied from dream to dream, but the overlying theme was, "if you stay with him, everyone will die." So together, with her best friends, they came up with the best way to break up with him. They planned everything from the break up speech to everyone's roles after.

She ran into Makoto's apartment and flung herself into the brunette's arms. The moment her hands went around her tall friends neck, her legs gave out and she sobbed. It wasn't a soft or silent cry. It was loud. It was ugly. It was the type that had her gasping for air and screaming like she was being tortured.

In most cases her friends would try to quiet her down to deter the embarrassment. But today, they let her cry. They crowded around her and whispered words of endearment, they stroked her hair, and held her hand. She looked so broken, but it was to be expected. Her soul had been broken in two. Despite having an extremely small apartment, all five girls slept over, they refused to leave their Princess alone that night.

~'"'"'"~

I***'''***I

II***'''''***II

The Crown was swarmed with pre-teens. The rain had started again, and it was like every kid had gotten a notice to "Come to the Game Center Crown." They were flocked amongst the game stations, waiting their turn, cheering each other on, and some accusing another of cheating. Thankfully, the pre-teens were concentrated to the arcade instead of the diner. Mamoru was glad he wouldn't have to sit next to some strange kid who still didn't understand that they had to use deodorant everyday, not just when they were reminded to. He walked through the sliding doors and closed his umbrella. He picked one of the small plastic umbrella bags and covered it. Once it was in the container, he ran his hands back and forth through his hair, shaking off the excess water. His eyes wandered around the booths and finally settled on the girl he was looking for.

She was sitting at the edge of one of the benches, her hands holding her glass cup, drinking her milkshake. He heard her laugh at something one of the girls said. Abruptly she stilled and turned his way. He gave her a wry smile, when she didn't smile back he knew she was probably still angry about yesterday.

"Hey girls," he waved. They all inclined their head, but gave no verbal response. Why were they behaving so strangely?

"Can we talk?" He asked Usako. The girls began mumbling, but he had tuned them out.

She turned her head towards them and said, "It's okay, just give me a minute." She slid out of the booth and followed him to the last one at the end of the diner. As soon as they sat down, Mamoru started his apology.

"Usako, I'm sorry about yesterday. I shouldn't have brought my book, it was rude." He received no reply. She kept her eyes on the table. A minute passed in silence. She shifted in her seat.

"Okay then, if that's all I'm gonna go back-"

"What's wrong? I said I was sorry for being rude."

"I'm not mad at you Chiba-san."

His eyes widened in disbelief. He leaned back in his seat. "Chiba-san? Why're you...What's going on?"

"I told you yesterday," she sighed, her shoulders sagged. She looked tired.

"Tell me again."

"Why? I already told-"

"Just, tell me again," She could hear the irritation in his voice. She conceded.

"What I said was, our relationship isn't an amorous one. It's more familial."

"Familial?"

"Yes," she nodded, her eyes focused on his chest. "Familial. And we are trying to compel ourselves- to replicate our past union." Mamoru eyebrows drew down, furrowing in complete confusion. She continued on, "We shouldn't...I mean, we should not coerce ourselves into loving one another. We don't have to be beholden to the past. We were reincarnated and given another chance at life."

"What are you talking about?"

"We aren't the Prince and Princess anymore. We're just Usagi and Mamoru. I am-"

"I know who we are," his frustration was evident. He leaned forward. "I asked you what you're talking about." Usagi paused and looked up at the ceiling. She was doing her best to recall the next lines. What was it that came next?

"Um...I was saying that...we're just Usagi and Mamoru and I am going to do and be what I want, and I think you feel the same way too, right?"

"Right, yea," he said, his confusion clearing some. "People make choices based on what they want."

"Exactly!" she said excitedly. Now that he fell into one of the practiced responses, she felt comfortable. "Therefore, we should choose our own paths from here on out separately, don't you agree?"

"What?"

"Um...therefore, we should choose our own paths from here on out separately, don't you agree?"

"Are you asking if I agree that we should break up?"

"...well...I mean that...that, we should choose our own paths-"

"I heard that part," he growled.

"Oh," Usagi paused, this must be the worst-case scenario. She switched speeches.

"Serenity and Endymion, they were the ones who were in love. But...we're not them-"

"Yes!" He shouted, interrupting her memorized speech. He noticed people looking and lowered his head. "Yesss we are," he seethed.

"No," She shook her head, as if admonishing a small child. "We're Usagi and Mamoru. The environment, experiences, and genetics all contribute to who we are." He felt like shouting again. The nature and nurture concept was not one he was unfamiliar with. He was a medical student; he'd taken psychology and sociology. "Our…our reincarnated lives…" she paused to look down at her fingers, struggling to remember. "Our…reincarnated lives…um…it…" she suddenly recalled the next words.

"Our reincarnated lives could not be more different than the ones they had millennials ago. I'm not the same." She placed her hand on her chest for emphasis, "and neither are you." The small gesture flared her memory. She'd gesticulated so much during her practicing, like they had during the play. It was something that had helped when she was first learning to memorize. Now, she fell into her comfortable rhythm. "Even if we were to disregard all of that, we are still young and deserve to be able to live our lives. All of us have been pushed to what they say is 'our destiny.' But destiny means it is predetermined," she said pointing up her index finger. "And no matter what we do or choose, the end will always be the same. If we really are fated, then we'll end up together."

Usagi felt her pride swell once more. She had recited two speeches, everything near perfect. And her concentration to remember had blocked out her feelings. She wasn't able to do both things at once; she could either let emotions overwhelm her or she could use her brain power to recall each and every word. She put her hands on the table to stand up. However, before she could completely stand, he snatched her wrist.

"We are together," he stated.

Usagi wasn't sure what she was supposed to say after this. This was the part where she walked away, while he had time to think about his own desires and things. The part where she had previously pictured Mamoru watched her gracefully exit thinking, 'wow, Usagi sure has matured.' His hand gripping her wrist disabling her from walking away not something she had prepared for. She looked back to her senshi, they'd been watching the entire interaction. Her frightened eyes signaled it was time for Intervention One: Separate Usagi and Mamoru. In an effort to fill the silence, she repeated the last sentence of the first break up at the park.

"I...I hope we can still be friends."

Rei was the first at Usagi's side. "Come on Usagi-chan." She linked her arm with the tiny blonde. She tried to pull her away, however Mamoru refused to let go. Instead he tightened his grasp. His eyes were boring into Usa. He didn't flinch, he didn't blink.

"Mamoru-san, we have to go." Minako was the one who spoke next.

"I'm not done talking to Usako yet." It was unnerving the way he spoke to them with his eyes on their best friend. Thankfully, the princess kept her eyes on Rei, she was too afraid to look anywhere else. If her eyes moved, she was sure it'd gravitate to his, and then...well she didn't know what, but she was sure it was going to be bad.

"Mamoru-san, you need to let her go." Makoto tried.

"No."

"Mamoru-san," Ami said softly. "Usagi-chan's hand is turning blue, your cutting off her circulation."

He looked down at her hand, and had seen indeed, her hand was blue. His hold was preventing her blood flow. He quickly let go and the girls hurried her out.

He watched them leave, completely flabbergasted. What was going on?

~'"'"'"~

-I***'''***I-

-II***'''''***II-

He tried calling her all yesterday. And today as well, after the fourth call he was pretty sure she'd blocked his number. Then he called each senshi member, and they too provided him with the same treatment. He rubbed his face in agitation. He wasn't sure what was happening. What was she talking about? They weren't the Prince and Princess anymore? Of course they were! They both knew that, they'd battled Beryl, they beat Metalia, they were constantly saving the world. They had a whole life time before this. Maybe even more than this one. What did she mean she wanted to make her own decisions? Wasn't that what they were already doing? He had so many questions and no one to ask. He sat up from the couch and paced. When his phone began buzzing he almost jumped onto it.

"Hello!" he nearly shouted into the receiver.

"Hello, Mamoru-san? It's Ikuko Tsukino."

"Oh," he sagged. "Hello Tsukino-san. How can I help you?"

"I was calling for Chibi-Usa-chan. I'm going to be running errands, but she asked if she could spend some time with you instead. Would that be alright?" It was if a light had suddenly dawned on the handsome man. Of course, Chibi-Usa!

"Yes, of course!" he replied, a little too excitedly. "She'd asked me to take her to the zoo, I've been meaning to take her."

"Oh, that's perfect! Thank you. I'm about to leave, can I drop her off?"

"Sure, I'll wait in the lobby."

"I'll be there in about fifteen minutes."

He waited patiently downstairs, tapping his foot and thinking himself a genius. Mamoru heard Chibi-Usa before actually seeing her. She squealed in excitement, ran toward him, and flung herself into his arms.

"Mamo-chan!"

Something had changed when she came into their lives. He wasn't quite sure what it was. But having the pretty pink haired child around made him feel grounded...was grounded the right word? Nevertheless, her presence, it was like she confirmed he had a good future. He felt confident. He wasn't sure why.

"Shall we go to the zoo?" He placed her back down on the ground and bent down to his knees to be at her eye level.

"Yes!"

"Alright," he laughed. "Before we go though...I need you to help me with something..."

-I***'''***I-

-II***'''''***II-

When Usagi saw the name on her caller ID, she blanched. She thought about refusing the call, but then reconsidered. She'd most certainly end up paying for it if she didn't. She'd probably end up as the brat's indentured servant, courtesy of her mother and father.

"Chibi-Usa."

"Odango Atama come and take me to the zoo!" Usagi pulled her ear away from the phone. The child's high pitched voiced was beyond irritating.

"It's raining, no thanks."

"Ikuko-mama said you have to. And not the whole zoo is outside baka."

She didn't want to go anywhere today. She wanted to stay at Makoto's, eat cookies, and cry. Was that so much to ask for? It'd been three days since she'd broken up with Mamoru the first time and yesterday she had to redo it. Today was supposed to be the day where she could just be with her friends… and also figure out how to avoid the oncoming end of the universe.

Usagi had to borrow Makoto's rain jacket. Her friend was so tall that the rain jacket became a dress; it fell just above her knees. On her legs she put on her dark black jeans and combat boots. Wearing black when it rained was always the best choice. Black remained black even when it was wet, and it wasn't see through.

She was running towards the front of the zoo with her hood flopping about her face. She could hear Chibi-Usa shouting at her to hurry up. She was thankful when she finally reached the entrance. The little girl already had the tickets, she said Ikuko-mama had already paid for them. Usagi was grateful. Heaven knew how limited her funds were. She'd spent half her allowance already on food, and the jumbo fluffy bunny. She was so happy walking out of the store with him. He was as big as she was. Usagi sighed dreamily, thinking about Jumbie always made her happy, she could almost feel how soft and fluffy he was.

"Hey."

Usagi and Chibi-Usa had just walked into the aquarium exhibit, when she heard the deep and familiar voice.

"What- What are you doing here?" she asked nervously. She was trembling. Luckily it was raining out, so she could excuse her shaking for being extremely cold.

"I wanted to spend the day with Chibi-Usa and my girlfriend." Her heart fell into the pit of her stomach.

"I don't think my parents would approve of this…"

"I already cleared it with Ikuko-mama," the child interrupted, eating a large chocolate bar. Usagi wondered where the girl had gotten that chocolate bar. She hadn't had one when they arrived. Chibi-Usa oohed and awed, running from display to display.

"Don't run too far," Mamoru called over his shoulder. "Shall we follow before she runs away?" He smiled.

Usagi didn't move. What was he doing? Why was he acting as if their conversations never happened. He was there, she told him… twice. Was he trying to smash her into little pieces? Was she stuck in some type of sick ground hound's day where each day she had to break up with her soulmate until she went insane?

He took a step closer to her. She could feel the butterflies in her stomach respond to his nearness and perfect smile. A tingle shot through her chest causing her breast to feel tender. She bit her lip. Mamoru took another step closer and took her hand in his. Why was it, even after two years of dating, he still had her weak in the knees with a single touch? She felt her stomach flip. Her hand curled around his instinctively. The sudden heat of his palm against hers sent a shock wave, an inextricable reminder to her brain: death. She could see her senshi turning to ash as she frantically tried to hold on to their disintegrating bodies. She felt the his warm blood on her shins, a sword piercing her lover's chest. She heard the screams of the people dying throughout their universe. She immediately ripped her hand away.

"No..." she stated shakily.

"No?"

"This...me and you...we're not together anymore." She wrapped her arms around herself, willing herself to stop shaking.

"It was a book Usagi-chan. You don't have to throw a fit." His eyes narrowed.

"I said, were not-"

"You're really going to act like this? Like a child?" His anger roared its ugly head, morphing him into a person he thought he'd outgrown. His outrage seeped into his bones. He laughed contemptuously.

"You're right, you are definitely not the princess," He shook his head lightly. Although he was smiling, the feeling it evoked was startlingly contradictory. It was gave her a sick uneasiness. "She was intelligent. She was elegant. She was mature. She didn't cry like a baby when things didn't go her way." The blonde gasped.

Why was he being so cruel? It was like she was 14 all over again; he was laughing at her, demeaning her entire person. "I mean, where can you expect to go? It's a good thing you already have a set position as Queen." He sneered, "Your incessant whining and dimwittedness exudes pathetic. No one would hire you willingly. I mean, look at you! Usagi Tsukino," He shook his head, "such a disappointment." His eyes stared coldly into her own. "I'm leaving. Don't call me." Then he turned around and walked away.