Author's Note

I cannot apologize of Usa's new attitude. I cannot apologize for the briefness of the emotional side of the scene... I cannot apologize for any lack of explanation. When you started reading this story you gave me creative reign, and you'll probably regret that be the end... But understand that I know where this is going and there is a reason for it... but you won't know that today... I will say that I would not make such a drastic character change with out the creativity and the plot devices to explain it.

Hope you enjoy this...

Monday Morning 8:15 A.M. Azubu High School

Motoki was worried. His arcade had been empty that weekend. Not truly empty, plenty of kids had graced the four walls with their presence... But there were six people missing. Five bubbly teenage girls and one grumpy teenage man.

"There he is. Hey Mamoru!!"

Mamoru looked up from his book. He knew he would see Motoki today, he glanced at his watch, but it was early. "You're early. Don't you have a shift to finish at the arcade?"

"My dad is covering for me. I was worried. I haven't seen you since Friday. You're normally in seven days a week at 7:45 A.M. For your coffee."

"I wasn't thirsty this weekend."

"No, you were angry. I just can't believe you let her get to you."

"She didn't get to me."

"Really? Then why else would you miss your dose of early morning caffeine."

"I didn't feel like coffee this weekend."

"Mamoru, you're an addict."

"I am not an addict."

"You come to see me twice a day when I'm working, at exactly the same time. If its not the caffeine you need, then maybe its a certain blond?"

"Which blond?"

"I believe you call her Odango Attama."

Mamoru's eyes narrowed, "Referring to the girl that said I could never be loved?"

Motoki gulped at that look, "That might be the one." There was an awkward silence, "I'm sure she didn't mean it."

The bell rang.

Mamoru stood up, dusted off his pants. "That girl doesn't say anything she doesn't mean. She's incapable of lying."

Motoki shook his head in disagreement as they headed off to their first period class.

First Period Advanced Physics for Seniors 8:30 A.M.

All the students were seated, it was five past and the teacher opened the door to end the chatter.

"Sorry I'm late class I was speaking with the principal about a new student."

A brunette in the front row smiled, "There's a new student?"

"A young girl." The smile of the inquiring student faltered a second. "She should be here just as soon as the principal finishes showing her around."

The door opened and the principal stepped in. "And this is your first period class, you have your schedule. Will you be needing anything else?"

"No thank you." The principal stepped out and cleared the view of a tall man in a dark suit standing next to a petite girl with Odango's.

"Class I would like to introduce to you.."

"Odango Attama? What the hell are you doing here?"

The teacher cleared his throat. "Chiba-san seems to know this student. As you'll be in all the same advanced classes, Miss Lua can follow you until she gets more comfortable around here."

Mamoru was startled a moment, "What did you call her?" And he examined the girl more closely. Pale ice blue eyes, that were sparkling with silver splashes. Long silver hair. Not Odango.

"Miss Lua. Serenity Lua. Not your friend then?"

Serenity shook her head and smiled and looked Mamoru in the eye, "I'm who he thinks I am. But we're not by any means friends. Just old acquaintances. And I'm comfortable enough to show myself around, thank you."

Motoki's jaw dropped, but he said nothing.

"Fine then, please take your seat in the front row. Will your body guard be present for the whole session?"

She shook her head, "No. John, would you mind waiting outside the door?"

The body guard shook his head and stepped outside the door. The teacher took him a chair and the class continued.

All the boys sat admiring the beauty and grace of the new student. All the girls sat green eyed over the pet name she'd received from Mamoru.

Mamoru didn't believe for a minute that this was really Usagi. And so he kept himself quiet until lunch, and immediately took after her as the lunch bell rang, Motoki following behind like a shadow.

He'd been caught up in the flow through the halls, but caught up with Usagi in the court yard. He grabbed her shoulder, and the body guard grabbed his hand. "Sir, please keep your hands off Miss Lua."

Serenity smiled, placed a gentle hand on top of John's, "Its okay, John. I know these young men, and I would like to have a private chat with them. We'll talk over here in this corner, under the shade of the tree. You wait here. I'll call you if I need you."

"Miss Lua, I'd prefer to be a bit closer for your protection."

Serenity smiled, "I'd like a private chat John. And as good as your intentions are, it won't feel private with you looming over me. I'll be fine, just wait here."

The body guard nodded stood his post as the three went to sit under the shade of an old oak tree in the corner of the school grounds.

"Did you want something Mamoru-san?"

He frowned. "You're not Usagi."

"Pardon me?"

Motoki gave a sideways glance at Mamoru, "What he means to say is, you're so different, whats going on?"

Serenity's polite smile stayed in place, "Ask me questions, Motoki-san. I'll give you what answers I have to give."

"How the hell did you get accepted?"

"I took an entrance exam."

"You're an idiot I've seen your test scores, with the grades you had to have there is no way with one entrance exam you get placed in advanced classes. With the seniors!"

Polite smile still in place, "Actually they had me take four separate multiple choice entrance exams on Thursday. I returned on Friday to take four more tests, each of them essay. My scores are in the office if you don't believe me. Besides Mamoru-san you've only known me for seven months. And during that time I've had a lot more on my mind than my studies."

"Like what?"

"Not that its any of your business, but my adoption."

Motoki was startled by this, "You're what?"

Polite smile gone, the frown started to set in, "My adoption. The Tskunio's are not my real parents. My mother died when I was five. Psychologists say I was scarred by the incident and blocked off all memory of her."

Mamoru narrowed his eyes for a moment, "And this dead woman is the reason for these changes."

(Okay, looking at this now, I know exactly where I'm going to go with it, and you'll be confused as hell... just shut up and read someday it might make sense... but probably not any time soon.)

"No."

Motoki looked startled. "Wow. What was your mother's name?"

"Serenity Lua."

"Oh. Is that why you chose that name?"

Serenity shook her head. "Its the Tskunios that chose a name. Tskunio Usagi was chosen by them as part of the agreement to keep me away from the eyes of the media. I am actually Serenity Lua XV."

Motoki smiled, unsure of what to think of this 'new' Usagi, and continued. "Oh. That explains the technical. What about the physical?"

Serenity looked confused.

"The fucking hair!! You used to have freaking blond hair! And deep blue eyes? For fucks sake. Remember that?"

Her eyes narrowed. "Keep your temper in check, or John will rush back here. The hair was Mrs. Tskunio's doing. She's been forcing me to dye it since I was first adopted. Blond hair isn't traditional for a girl in Japan, but it stands out far less than a small girl with silver hair. The color is natural."

"And the eyes?"

"I don't know."

"Thats complete bullshit."

"And you have no choice but to buy it or walk away."

"Fine. Thats two down. What about the emotional side of things?"

Her eyebrows rose, "Emotional?"

"You had friends, Usagi. Four girls that you made very upset last Friday before you turned your temper on me."

Her eyes narrowed once more, "I do not have a temper Mamoru-san. A very precise way of thinking things through, but no temper. I simply felt that they were holding me back. And I simply couldn't take it any longer."

"And me?"

"You were in my way."

"You're an impossible brat." He turned and stalked away.

"Sorry Usa-chan. You really got to him last Friday."

"I know, Motoki-san. I knew he'd be like this. I understand, and I'll do my best to stay away. However, I'll see you in class and on Friday."

"Friday?"

"I've arranged to take Shingo out once a week to the arcade. We might not be blood related but he has been my little brother for the entire nine years of his life, why change that now?"

Motoki nodded and waved as he went off in search of a steaming Mamoru.

Motoki quickly found Mamoru stalking towards the front gate. "Where are you going?"

"This is wrong. I need to talk to the girls."

Motoki grabbed Mamoru's shoulder and turned him around. "You're right. Thats not the Usagi we've known."

Mamoru looked shocked and then his anger returned, "Then why are you stopping me?"

"Because its not quite twelve thirty yet, the girls will still be in school. What do you need to talk to them about anyway?" The bell signifying the end of lunch rang.

"Something changed last week. Before Friday. There has to be something. I have to believe that or what she told me was true."

Motoki nodded in understanding, "But maybe this is the money."

Mamoru looked confused as he followed Motoki, "The money? What money?"

Motoki sighed, "She kept saying she was an heir. She'd received a legacy. It sounds to me like she got a fortune. Maybe this is was Usagi's like when she has money."

Mamoru shook his head as he walked away from his locker, "This isn't money. I know this kind of cruelty."

Motoki stopped just outside the classroom door, "What kind of cruelty?"

Mamoru stopped in the doorway and turned to face his friend, "The cruel mask a person places to keep the world an arms length back. People at an arms length. Without people nothing can happen. Its safe. It allows you to be in control of everything."

Motoki raised an eyebrow, "And you know this because?"

"Its how I handle the world."

The second bell rang, and they quickly found their seats. Each knowing the conversation would be picked up immediately after school.