A/N

The Sailor Moon timeline is utter bull and I am 1,000% over it. Literally its all over the place, the ages don't match up with what the timeline says and I am not willing to believe that Usagi was thirteen for like half the first season its unsettling and wrong and makes no sense so we're now going by what I can live with.

Too many conflicting sources, and damn them all.

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon belongs to someone that sadly isn't me.


Everyone has bad days.

The ones where their hair just won't fall right, they stub their toe, forget something important on the way to wherever they're going, and get yelled at by a boss or teacher. That's how things should be, bad days are important, because if you never have a bad day then you can never really appreciate a truly good one. I'm a firm believer in the necessity of having a bad day, the only problem was that my bad days appeared to be stockpiling.

Surely this was some sort of cosmic karma, the odds that I would run into one of the last people I ever wanted to meet, on Serenity's birthday. Words had failed me as I stood before Mamoru Chiba, covered in filthy puddle water. His hands were still around my shoulders, as though to keep me steady, and he seemed to be waiting for a response I couldn't get past my lips. It was then that, as I got my first real glimpse of him, something caught my notice; there and gone between one heartbeat and the next, but I was sure I'd seen it.

A glimmer of perception.

I couldn't make sense of it at the moment, and as my silence grew Mamoru continued to observe me. When his gaze caught sight of my elbow cradled protectively against my chest he inhaled sharply. One of his hands moved to my upper arm as he leaned forward in order to get a better look. "That doesn't look too good, you must have landed hard."

Guilt dripped from his voice as he examined it further, and as I attempted to not choke on my words he glanced up once again to meet my gaze. "It doesn't look like it needs stitches." He began. "Do you want to go to the hospital, just to make sure?"

"No." The words came out soft as I tried to get my bearings.

"Ah, okay then." His expression, while remorseful, seemed to soften at my response. "Lets get you cleaned up then."

He let go of my arm, placing a warm palm between my shoulders and guiding me away. Walking hurt my hip a bit, adding to the sting and throb of my right side. It began to rain as we exited the park, and for lack of anything better to do I focused on the pain, hunching over a little to shield my injury from the rainfall. There wasn't any solid reason for why I was allowing myself to be led away by this man, I was a mess and returning to the Tsukino residence like this would earn me any favors, but it wouldn't be the end of the world either.

Surely there was something to be gained here?

The rain was a bit cold despite the fact that we were in the midst of summer, and with the addition of the chill to the pain I felt and my emotionally drained state, I honestly didn't care where we went. If it was dry, and close by then I was game. Mamoru led us to an apartment building maybe ten minutes from the park, and though I wasn't paying attention to much of anything, I still sensed the glances he sent my way.

We went up an elevator, out onto a floor and down a hall before he stopped at a door and unlocked it. I was still caught up in my own thoughts, of how I could turn this bad day to my own benefit, and so it wasn't until Mamoru herded me in and I found myself sitting on a leather couch that I returned to reality. He disappeared behind another door briefly, coming back with towels and what looked to be a first aid kit. I shivered, finally feeling the cool bite of the air conditioning.

"Here, this will help." Mamoru draped the towel around me before kneeling on the ground and opening the first aid kit. It was such a kind gesture from him that I found myself at a loss.

Who the hell invites a complete stranger into their home?

I eyed him for a moment, only to redirect my gaze as he looked up. The first aid kit caught my attention, and I felt my brows furrow as I took a closer look. It was big, almost the size of a briefcase and quite literally packed to the brim, neatly prepared for seemingly any disaster. It was nearly overflowing, and for some reason this was hysterical to me.

The rose throwing, earth prince was a safety nut.

A laugh slipped out against my will, And I met Mamoru's eyes once more to see a raised brow. There was a bit of relief in his expression, as though he'd truly been worried before and my laughter had eased that. At his questioning glance, I couldn't help but ask. "Are you a boy scout or something?"

"Nothing wrong with being prepared." He replied, shrugging. There was a faint smile on his face as he dug through the kit, and I took that moment to examine him. Mamoru Chiba was younger than I had realized, looking as though he was not yet out of high school. In light of this, he appeared less intimidating, and I felt my body begin to relax as I continued to observe him. For some reason, I'd had it in my mind that he would be someone dangerous.

Now though, he didn't seem like much of a threat.

Still, that didn't mean I was going to stick around; he was looking for the very crystal in my possession, and he was very much a part of a life I wanted nothing to do with. Mamoru, having laid out what he had deemed useful from the kit, turned to me with a sympathetic gleam in his gaze. "Right, let's take a closer look at that elbow of yours."

Hesitantly, I moved my arm out, leaning forward and allowing him to place a hand under it. Together, we stared at the mess between us; it was bloody, a little swollen and sported a large scrape. I was willing to bet it was inflamed under the dirt and blood. Mamoru's expression was stony as he cleaned up the wound, working in silence as though it was a grave affair and not the stumble in the park it had actually been.

What a boy scout.

I fought to keep the amusement off my face as he finished up, bandaging my elbow nicely and clearing his throat before meeting my gaze. His lips parted; ready to say something, only to close as he blinked up at me. He huffed, glancing away for a second as he ran a hand through his hair. When our eyes met again he seemed almost amused yet exasperated, as he said. "Are you hurt anywhere else?"

I was, but those felt more like bruises and there wasn't much he would do able that. I shook my head letting my arm lean gently at my side, and Mamoru nodded in understanding. "That's good, I really am sorry you know. Didn't mean to mow you down like that."

"It's okay." I sighed. "I've been having one of those days, probably should have seen it coming."

I seemed to be having one of those years, but I wasn't about to bring that up in front of a stranger, especially him.

"Well, here's to brighter days then." He laughed, beginning to clean up. His smile faded when he moved to stand and his gaze stopped at my chest. "Oh… maybe we should get you a change of clothes…"

I looked down at myself, ready to give a biting response at his line of sight when I noticed the state of my shirt. The white color had absorbed a decent amount of blood from when I'd cradled my injury to it. Part of it was also dirty from falling in the murky puddle at the park. I really couldn't go to the Tsukino residence like this, poor Ikuko would have a heart attack.

"A change of clothes would be nice, thanks."


Standing in Mamoru's bathroom, there were several thoughts swirling through my head, but the most prevalent one was this: the Boy Scout was loaded.

The towel I dried myself off with was fluffy, thick and soft to the touch, and part of me felt back about soiling it. The bathroom was pretty spacious, sporting a large mirror over two adjoined sinks, a deep bathtub, and a separate shower behind a clear glass door. It wasn't obnoxiously huge, but it was big enough to remind me that this apartment was luxurious and far beyond anything I'd ever be able to afford. Why he was so obsessed with finding the Silver Crystal I would never understand; god knows if I had this kind of money I'd never want for anything ever again.

I stripped out of my wet clothes, careful of the forming bruises, and dropped the damp garments into a plastic bag. Mamoru had left me a spare set of clothes to change into, and they dwarfed me; I had to roll the sleeves up several times on the long sleeved shirt, but I was grateful nonetheless as it shielded me from the chill. the gym shorts given to me had been tied as well as possible, and still they hung low on my hips.

They were clean and dry though, so I made do.

My hair hung loose, damp but no longer dripping as I hung the towel on an empty bar. I rinsed up in the sink, liberating myself from whatever dirt remained, before calling it quits and exiting the bathroom. I found the living room empty when I returned, the sound of movement coming from a closed door at the other end of the room. For a moment I paused, unsure of what to do; did I wait for him to return, or did I leave without saying anything?

Memories were a tricky thing, and what worried me most was the possibility of accidentally triggering any of Mamoru's past life. There was no way to know what would or wouldn't do it, so I was treading on thin ice here. If I could get some information while I was here though, it'd make my life a little easier and right now with him out of the room I had a golden opportunity.

What secrets did this place have to offer me?

I tiptoed around the apartment quietly, looking closely at the few items on display. By the door was a set of shoes, an umbrella leaning next to them. The coffee table was bare, and the overall place was very minimalist; the TV was impressive, but I was looking for papers, anything that told me more about Mamoru Chiba. There was a bookcase filled with books, and I only paused one them for a moment before the titles grew confusing and I was forced to move on.

I moved around the corner, past the dining room and into the kitchen, both of which were equally bare.

There was something rather depressing about the lack of personal things in this apartment. There were no knickknacks, no plants, no picture frames; the only colors in the place were blue, black, and white. On the kitchen counter were the essentials, toaster, coffee maker, microwave, etc. It was like there was no personality to this place, and I had seen hotel rooms with more appeal.

With nothing on the surface to be found, I contemplated poking through some of his drawers. It was a bit risky, as there was a stark difference between walking around and actually invading his privacy; if I was caught, I didn't have a good excuse for it. As I turned to leave the kitchen I spotted steam coming from a kettle on the stove. That meant he expected me to stay at least a little while, if he was going to offer me tea. Perhaps it wasn't such a terrible idea, if I couldn't find anything lying around, then my only choice was to get information right from the source.

My mind drifted as I stared at the kettle, back to that feeling that had led me to the park in the first place. I didn't understand it, the pull; it had brought me to Mamoru, I was sure, only there shouldn't have been a reason for it. Serenity was his love, and she was gone so the connection should have broken. Was it simply him, or did it have something to do with all of serenity's past? Would I feel it if I ever encounter Luna or the others? Whether or not that would be the case, I knew now that if I ever felt the pull again, I would be running away in the opposite direction.

Fingers brushed the edge of my shoulders, and I startled, losing my train of thought.

The kettle was squealing, and I craned my neck to see Mamoru behind me, hand outstretched and expression curious. I had a hand pressed to my collarbone as I moved out of the way, making room for him to reach the stove. He turned the burner off, setting the kettle down beside it before moving to a different cabinet and pulling out a pair of mugs. He nudged me out of the way, opening a drawer I'd been blocking to fish out two small spoons. There was something pleasant about the way he moved, before when he was tending to my wound and now as he went about the kitchen, preparing tea.

Was he supposed to be this nice?

I couldn't recall, just that him and Serenity had gotten along on and off. Maybe he was a decent person, and they simply butted heads a lot. Either way, this entire meeting had been a bit odd; sure he had knocked me down, and rightfully felt bad, but to invite me into his home, patch me up and give me tea? It was all rather forward, and maybe I didn't exactly look threatening, but you never really knew with people. Something inside me wanted to flee, but I wouldn't leave until I could get some information out of him.

I needed to know the best way to avoid him in the future.

"What's your name?" I took initiative, causing him to glance over at me in surprise. It was a fair reaction, considering I hadn't been very talkative before. I shrugged, leaning against the wall and adding, "You never told me."

"You didn't tell me yours either." He replied, amusement dancing in his gaze. He picked up the mugs and came over to me. "It's common curtesy to give your name before asking for another's."

"Yes, but since you're the one that mowed me down I think we're past such things."

Mamoru grimaced.

"Chiba Mamoru." He handed me the steaming cup, and I smiled in thanks as I took it.

"Nice to meet you, Mamoru." I paused. "You can call me Usagi."

It didn't feel right, using Tsukino as a surname. It was taboo, and only served to make me feel more like a pretender. I had gotten used to Usagi, but it was as far as I would ever be comfortable going. Whether or not it bothered him that I had used his first name, Mamoru didn't let on. He appeared to be mulling over something instead, and had I not been on a mission, my curiosity might have made me ask. I continued while I was in charge of the conversation. "So, do you often invite strangers into your home and serve them tea?"

"It isn't a habit of mine, no." Mamoru said, eyeing me. "Why, do you often follow strangers home?"

"Only every third Tuesday of the month."

"It's Sunday." He pointed out.

"I'm going through a rebellious phase." I waved my hand, getting back on track. "Anyway, maybe a kid like you should be more careful about letting just anyone into your apartment; the world's a dangerous place you know."

"I'll be eighteen in August, I'm not a kid." Mamoru narrowed his eyes. "And if anything, I should be the one scolding you; what kind of girl goes willingly along with someone she's never met?"

"It's different." After all, he wasn't a complete stranger.

"There are some twisted people in this city, you need to be more cautious."

"I'll give it an honest effort."

He sighed, running a hand down his face. "You're going to be trouble, I can feel it."

I grinned behind my mug. He didn't even know the half of it, the poor guy. "Well, it's a big city, maybe we'll never run into each other again."

If I had anything to say about it, we never would. It was quiet as I took a sip of my tea, and Mamoru watched me neutrally. There was a hint of something in his expression, an emotion I couldn't pinpoint. Part of me wanted to stop and take a moment to understand, but that wasn't what I was here for. "So then, tell me, what does Mamoru Chiba do when he isn't in muggy parks or at home? Are you a school club type of person?"

"Not really, no. School is fine, but there are other things to occupy my time." He said.

"Ah." I said, thinking of his heroics; it was likely what he spent most of his spare time doing. "What school do you go to?"

"I go to Moto Azabu high school."

I made note of the name, though it didn't appear to ring any bells. It wasn't much, but I knew three places he spent some of his time at, and odds were I could work with that. I downed the rest of my drink, burning my throat in the process, before setting the mug on the counter. I stretched, thinking about my wet, dirty clothes still in his bathroom; I certainly wasn't going to put them back on, and neither would I be inclined to stick around while the dried.

I was antsy to get out of here, already I'd probably given him too much time, and I wanted to stay as far away from the princess in his mind. It was a fair trade off, my clothes for his; I wasn't overly attached to anything that used to belong to Serenity anyway. I strolled over to the kitchen doorway, pausing to look over my shoulder at Mamoru.

"Well, thanks for everything, Boy Scout." A genuine smile graced my face as he choked on his tea. "Don't go letting strangers into your apartment, alright? And I won't let anyone strangers take me home, scouts honor."

I hightailed it out of there before he had a chance to reply, beginning the journey back to the Tsukino residence.

There were plans to be made.


I spent the next couple days doing some major mapping.

I had made note of the address to Mamoru's building, scoured the district for his school, and after some careful dissection, I was able to pinpoint the possible paths and bus routes he was likely to haunt. Since the only other thing I'd been able to pick up from our interaction was that he liked to read, I added a list of the libraries and bookstores in his immediate area. Every single one of these places became blacklisted, and with the lengths I'd gone to, it was highly unlikely I would ever cross paths with him again.

Perhaps it was a little extreme, but then, this was my future at stake here, and I was willing to make sacrifices if that's what it took. Regrettably, my normal route to school crossed through his, so I was now forced to walk twenty extra minutes in order to assure total avoidance; on the bright side though, I was definitely getting my daily exercise.

As the week flew by, my thoughts kept wandering back to our talk.

I'd forgotten what it was like to be around someone who only saw me. There was no preconceived idea of how I should act, or what I should say and it had been a breath of fresh air. It was a shame he was so intent on looking for the Silver Crystal, of living that kind of life because I think if it'd been different, we could have been friends. Part of me mourned for the tragedy that was Mamoru Chiba; desperately seeking a crystal he would never find, and a moon princess that was already gone.

There would be no happy ending for him.

I still had a chance at one though, and I wasn't going to waste it on anyone else; other people weren't my problem, I had to save myself and I was beginning to get an idea of how I could do it. This world faced destruction at the hands of the dark whatsit, and while that was a problem it wasn't necessarily my problem. The biggest hurtle I faced was being found by Luna or the other Sailor Scouts. As soon as they figured out who I was supposed to be, I'd have a target on my back.

With talk spreading about a new Sailor V game, I could be sure that Sailor Venus had been…awoken. She was supposed to be the true leader of the Sailor scouts, and it was her that should have searched for the others. Right now she was in London, if I recalled correctly, so all I needed to do was lure her here. That said, there was only so much I could do; getting her here didn't mean she would guide the other girls and awaken them. I couldn't force her to play along, and I wasn't going to spoon feed her success, so either they would ban together or they would die.

I didn't want to watch the world crumble, or see innocent people die, but I wasn't some warrior of justice.

I wasn't Sailor Moon.

But then, I didn't have to be in order to get what I want.

It was difficult, finding the Aino family in London; difficult and time consuming, but not impossible. Minako had been an excellent volleyball player at one point, her team even making the paper as Shiba Koen Junior High's star pupils, proudly going to state. Her old school would have what I needed, though giving out personal information such as an address wouldn't be allowed.

A phone number, however, was all I needed.

"Aino Residence." A woman's voice answered from the other end of the payphone.

"Hi there," I began. "Um, I was wondering if you could help me with something. I'm looking for Aino Minako, would this happen to be the right number?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid Minako isn't home at the moment." The UK was around eight hours behind, and though I had purposely called when Minako was supposed to be at school, part of me hadn't actually expected it to work. The woman on the phone continued. "May I ask whose calling?"

"Oh, how rude of me!" My voice softened. "My name is Tachibana Hana, I used to go to school with Minako-chan. I was actually calling because I found some of her old things and wanted to send them to her. A couple photographs, a bracelet she lent me, that sort of thing."

"That's very kind of you, Tachibana-san." It really wasn't. "Here, let me give you the address, do you have a pen and paper?"

Once she'd given it to me and made promises to tell her daughter I had called, I was finally free to hang up. Earlier in the week I had taken some liberties at school, borrowing the materials required to make this endeavor a success. I had the envelope, and I had the stamps, all I was missing were the words. It had to be perfect, just right or she wouldn't be lured in to take the bait, and it had to be in English or I would be here all night struggling with grammar issues and a headache. Sailor V struck me as someone that enjoyed being shrouded in mystery, so maybe something vague would better catch her interest.

Slowly, the words came to me and though I wasn't thrilled with the finished result, it would simply have to do. Hopefully she'd take the poetic nature of it and pin someone like Tuxedo Mask as the sender; it was certainly cliché enough to sound plausible.

After sealing the envelope and gifting it an obscene amount of stamps, I sent it on its way. I didn't know how long it would take to get there, and I didn't care so long as it arrived. This was it for me, this was as far as my part went; all I could do now was wait and see. The outcome of my letter left so much uncertain, everything was up in the air at this point. Well, that wasn't entirely true; there was one guarantee I had no matter the outcome, one decision I was determined to stick to.

I was getting the hell out of Tokyo.


When Minako Aino arrived home on the last day of school before summer break, she had no idea of the letter sitting in her mailbox.

She had no idea of the weight it carried.

Venus,

The Moon Princess is in grave danger, she is close to being found.

Tokyo is falling, the city in which she resides is about to become a hunting ground.

It's time to do your duty as leader of the Sailor Scouts; awaken Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars

Ami, Makoto, Rei

Find them, and find them quickly, or the princess will become prey.

Time is of the essence


A/N

I had a plan.

I had a plan of how this story was going to go and the story said screw you, we're going in this direction.

Writers make plans and stories laugh.

Anyway,

Thoughts? Questions?

Please Review!