AU: What might have happened if Tuxedo Kamen (Chiba Mamoru) had stayed to talk to Sailor Moon (Tsukino Usagi) after the first fight? Could they have saved the Shitennou? Would Mamoru ever have been turned evil? How would they find the other Senshi?

Chapter one

Mamoru POV

Chiba Mamoru had been seeing her around for a while now and could feel such untapped power within her. Chiba Mamoru knew he loved the clumsy silver-blonde with odangoes for hair, but didn't know how to approach her, and only knew her name was Tsukino Usagi and that she was fifteen thanks to his best friend.

He had often insulted her and made her cry, and he hated himself for it. It did not help the fact that he had a deep secret. He feared that if she was ever caught while they were an item. The enemy would undoubtedly use her against him. Just the thought made him feel like his world would end, so he kept her at arm's length even if it meant crushing her spirit little by little every day.

His 'sister' disapproved as well; it was like she knew something he didn't with the mysterious smile she always wore on her face when he came in from school, irritated if he either hadn't bumped into her or she got under his skin.

Yes, the thirteen-year-old was still a mystery to him even after a year of living together. He needed a more significant place to keep her safe ugh, why was life so difficult?

Then, there was the problem of his dream princess. She was getting more desperate every night for him to find the maboroshi no ginzuishou, but she still hadn't revealed her face, so he had no way to identify her apart from the unique birthmark on her forehead.

He looked at his clock and realised he had better get moving before he missed their morning run-in. It happened every day, and in spite of the bruise on his chest, he rather looked forward to it.

Usagi POV

Usagi awoke with a start, her pillow drenched in sweat and tears from the previous night. No matter how hard she tried she could never remember the full dream, nightmare, whatever you want to call it. Only glimpses and flashes and she felt as if she was slowly going insane.

She looked at the clock and 'eeped'. She quickly got dressed, did her hair, and then ran down the stairs, quickly realizing it was a mistake and fell down the stairs on her butt.

When she dusted herself off and made sure she didn't do any damage to herself. She ran into the kitchen.

"Mom, why didn't you wake me?" Usagi moaned while rubbing her still sensitive coccyx.

"I did try dear, several times in fact, but each time you told me to go away," Ikuko replied sipping her tea and reading her morning newspaper.

Usagi looked at her mother sheepishly, "I don't remember." Usagi replied. She had to admit she may love to sleep a little too much but the fifteen-year-old decided there and then she would try and go to bed earlier, even though Manga was much more interesting.

Usagi grabbed a piece of toast and stroked her cat Luna's forehead and ran out the door. Her mother called after she ran out and Usagi rushed back in and got her lunchbox.

"Thanks, Mom, you're the best," she said, kissing her mother on the cheek.

Luna POV

The young cat looked on forlornly as her charge ran out the door. She was going to have to awaken her hastily, but she was so young and it just felt so wrong she had been drawn to the little blonde when they met two years ago and now she felt like there was lead in her stomach after feeling the power from her morning fuss.

She looked at Ikuko and made the decision to speak to her while there was no one there, so Ikuko could get any supplies that she was going to need for her children in the near future. She jumped on the couch and gave a loud meow for attention.

Ikuko turned to the cat and smiled. "I suppose five minutes sit down won't hurt," Ikuko smiled and sat on the chair. Luna jumped up onto her knees.

Luna purred as Ikuko stroked her. No matter how much she was enjoying it, she had a task.

Ikuko POV

"Ikuko-Mama," the cat said. Ikuko almost had a heart attack when she looked around but there was no one there but her and Luna.

"Are you talking to me?" Ikuko sharply whispered.

The cat nodded. "I'm not just a house cat, I'm an adviser to the Moon Kingdom from many, many years ago. I used to be humanoid and could shapeshift into a cat but because there are only two Guardians awake right now my power is very limited."

"And one of them is Sailor V?" she guessed.

Sailor V was Usagi's Idol. Everything Sailor V was in Usagi's room. She had even dressed up as her once.

"Yes, and the other guardian is Sailor Pluto. She has a separate duty for now, but I will be calling rank soon."

Ikuko knew she probably would not like the answer but she asked: "Why?"

Luna gave an audible sigh. "A great evil is threatening to break free from its prison and it's up to your daughter and someone she has met a couple of times to forever destroy this evil."

Ikuko was immediately on guard. Her little girl was going to be fighting an unknown evil. She had lost one child already, the pain was still so raw nine years later.

Luna bristled at Ikuko's discomfort. Queen Serenity spoke through her mind. "Luna, you must know now Usagi is my Serenity, Shingo is Tsukiyomi, and that Ikuko lost a child almost a decade ago to stillbirth. Oh, Luna, she was so perfect she is in the place of rest where I reside, please tell Ikuko this for me."

A thousand memories hit Luna at once. "Oh what am I going to do?" she lamented and then cried gently, her tiny kitty paws covering her face.

Ikuko scooped the cat into her arms and made shushing noises until Luna's cries settled into sniffling.

There was a bright flash of light and before Ikuko knew it. There was a young child in front of her.

"Luna?" Ikuko whispered

"Oh, sweet Serenity. I am older than the girls by 3 years but because there's so few right now I'm a little girl." Her voice sounded alien to even her.

"Well, since my little girl is going to be saving the world I better get to work," Ikuko said.

"Shingo and Haruki." Luna coughed.

Silent tears graced Ikukos face. "Just keep them safe Luna," she pleaded.

"I will try," she promised.

Back to Usagi

Usagi ran as fast as she could. Why did mornings have to come so early?

She bumped into a wall and looked up. The wall was a chest. "Baka, I'm already late!'' she exclaimed.

"Thanks, Odango. I had only just recovered from our last run in," he scooted around her, "later Odango."

Usagi stamped her foot "I have a name you jerk. It's Usssaaagggiii!"

"Sure, whatever you want to believe in, Odango."

"Jerk, oh I am soooo late." And she took off.

She was out of sight, but not out of mind for Chiba Mamoru.