AN: I do not own Sailor Moon or its characters. I acknowledge Naoko Takeuchi as its creator and its owner.

Kudos to LoveInTheBattleField, Starrlight1812, doratonks12345, Nana von Bldsinn and yukikiralacus for a review, alerts and favouriting this story. I will do my best to ensure that I do not let you down! For the record, I do have some general ideas for the story, but I will let the characters come to life rather than force a certain approach.

The Shadow Of Darkness

Chapter 1: A chance encounter

A blaring noise awakes Usagi from her slumber, as she glares at the offending object from disturbing for her only refuge: sleep. Groaning, she gets up while she plots how to best murder the alarm clock. As she is getting dressed, there is a light rapping on her door.

"Hello?" She called out to it.

"It's me" the voice, Shingo's , whispered in response.

"Just give me a second. I am getting dressed"

"Okay. Just let me know when I can talk to you."

As I open the door I ask, "Is something bothering you?"

"To be honest, there is. Has something been bothering you, sis? You just seem to be very tired and bothered recently. I just don't want to see you suffer through more after what you already have. So if something is bothering you, please tell me!"

Feeling incredibly guilty for lying to him, I put on fake smile and say: "I am fine Shingo, I am just worried about what is going on at school. But thank you for your concern!" We both know it is a lie, but he can't know the truth. I need to be strong for him, not the other way around

"I know that you are lying. But I will let it go until you want to talk about it."

"Thank you, Shingo." I smile appreciatively.

As I hear him walk back to his room, I let out a big sigh. 'I am tired of living a lie. I just want to be free. Why is that too much?! Why is it that I can't just have an escape.'

"Will you two idiots get it in gear, you need to get to ready for the day. I have company early today, and I want you gone!" Our mother called out.

"Company" is another word for a bunch of drunken morons coming by for a day of drinking. Since I live in a poor neighborhood, there is a vast number of people like that in the area. Frankly, they are disgusting, which is why I always leave before they arrive, because it make my mother happy and lets me avoid them.

I know not to expect breakfast, so I grab my bag and call for Shingo, and we leave.

"…. I just couldn't believe it!" Naru, my "best friend" was saying.

I have a habit of tuning everyone out, including her. Nothing against her, she is a really nice girl but today I just cannot stand such petty concerns that she has. Today, I can sense will have a huge impact on my life. As strange as it sounds, whenever I get these feelings, they tend to be correct so I am on edge. Stirring from my thoughts, I notice Ms. Haruna walk in with a strange stride today.

"Good morning class, today I bring news of a transfer student joining our class. Please welcome him into our school properly. Please come in and introduce yourself, Mr. Himeragi."

As she says this, a tall and lanky male come into the room. He has long, white hair, which is completely different from anything I have ever seen amongst all the people in world. For some reason, I am getting a sense of déjà vu, as though I once knew him very well."

"Hello, I am Himeragi Yoshinda. It is nice to meet you all, please treat me well." He says.

"Please take a seat in the back, Mr. Himeragi."

"Hai, sensei"

As he walks by me, he glances at me and in that one moment I can tell by the look in his eyes that he has seen and been through a lot more than my peers. While he does not look haunted by it, his eyes convey experience that all my peers lack. A understanding of the harsh reality that life can have at times.

"Who might you be?" he enquires.

"Tsukino Usagi," I reply dully "it is nice to meet you."

He gives me a puzzled look, as though there was something about me that he did not quite expect and was trying to figure out.

"It's funny, I might have gotten the impression you be one of those people who was very open to new people."

"It can be hard to keep an open heart when it is constantly hurt. But I just never was particularly approachable, I am awkward with strangers." I cautiously answer; feeling very uncomfortable with the direction that this conversation was headed.

There a look of comprehension on his face and then a brief flicker of….horror?...and the he states "Well would you mind introducing me to the people of the class? I must admit I would have a very hard time approaching them."

"Okay this is my best friend, Naru…."

With the end-of-day bell ringing, I gather my stuff and leave rather quickly. I am perturbed by the interest shown in me by the transfer student. It goes beyond someone who might be attracted to me….it is almost like he is trying to measure me up as much as he can. I am trying to leaver quickly to avoid any further investigation.

My efforts are for naught, as he spots me leaving the building and runs over, "Tsukino-san, please wait."

I turn to him and ask: "What is it Himeragi-san? I am in a hurry to get home because I have a lot to do"

"To be honest, we have a lot to talk about and I had hoped to discuss it with you. I was going to wait, but it seems that my reasons for doing so would be pointless. It would seem that you have already been through a lot and being protected from the truth could only harm you more than help."

"What can we possibly have to discuss, we have just met!" I panic, knowing something is really off about this person.

"Well let me say this in advance, I do apologize for the necessity of doing this."

We had been walking up to this point, and I choose to take a route off the beaten path to get home and am sorely regretting as there is no one who can directly see us. I try to run away, but I feel a sharp pain and my world goes black.

AN: Who is this person that has kidnapped Usagi? What are his intentions? I gave a slight hint, but you need to really think carefully to get it J.

Next time, the wheels start turning as the forces at work start to converge. Also, the chapters will get longer, I just need to establish the story without doing to much at one time!

Please R/R!