This chapter contains mature scenes that might not be suitable for very young readers. Nothing too graphic, just some suggestive scenes.
Anyone who isn't supposed to be reading such material, those below the age of 18, and most especially those who are not comfortable with the idea of two girls involved a mature, sexual relationship, this serves as a warning.
Please be advised that this chapter is Rated R (or Rated M using the new fiction rating guide).
(Personally, I don't think some of the scenes in this chapter merit the R rating. But I put the announcement above just to be on the safe side.)
Again, this chapter is Rated R / Rated M. This is your final warning.
A Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Fanfic:
"A Promise of Forever"
by: s16thunderjet
Chapter 2:
Memoirs of a Non-Existent Past
The sound of birds chirping filtered through the thin curtains that covered the balcony, the high-pitched tones waking the sleeping Princess inside the chamber.
The Princess groggily opened her eyes to reveal shiny, sapphire orbs as she lay comfortably on her side. She yawned softly, taking in the light breeze that accompanied the early morning sun.
Deciding it was still too early to be awake, she closed her eyes and leaned backwards to lie on her back, but found that something was impeding her progress.
She wondered idly what it was, but any form of logical thought was wrestled away by her sleep-filled mind. So she let her senses, minus her sight, guide her in figuring things out.
It took her a moment to realize three things; that she was naked under the sheets, that there was an arm wrapped snugly around her waist, and that someone was spooning her from behind.
The dumbfounded girl snapped her eyes open in surprise.
She rolled around to face whoever it was that was holding her, albeit with a little difficulty, what with the tight grip the arm had around her midsection.
The look of surprise faded in her eyes as she gazed upon the sleeping features of her lover. She sighed softly as she relished the beauty the other girl possessed even when asleep.
A naughty grin adorned the Princess' lips as she noted that her lover was also naked, and that certain parts of their bodies were touching rather intimately.
All thoughts of sleep vanished from her mind as she recalled just why they were naked under the covers. Her hand began to wander aimlessly over her lover's curves, a sigh of contentment escaping her lips.
"Usa..." her lover whispered, then moved to snuggle closer to her, her love's face nuzzling her neck.
She chuckled slightly as she felt her love's warm breath tickling her, the young Princess squirming half-heartedly, as if trying to get away, but not really wanting to.
She supposed she just got what she deserved, seeing as she had been tenderly stroking her love's skin to the point of drawing goose bumps from the other girl.
"So beautiful." she whispered, her fingertips finally resting on the soft skin of her love's cheeks.
Her lover mumbled incoherently, as though she were answering Serenity's words. The Princess giggled as she pulled back, the movement of her love's lips catching her complete attention.
She wanted so much to kiss her lover's inviting lips, but the young Princess did not have the heart to wake the love of her life from such a peaceful slumber.
Serenity groaned slightly as her lover moved even closer, drawing their lips to within an inch of the other, and the Moon Princess had to wonder if her lover was actually awake and torturing her on purpose.
"Oh, I wish you would wake up so I could kiss you already." the Princess grumbled, her eyes never leaving her love's lips.
Moments later, her lover's eyes fluttered open, as if granting the Princess' wish. Serenity's face lit up instantly, and the blonde had to fight the urge to ravish her still sleepy lover with overzealous kisses.
Not that she thought the other girl would mind, but Serenity wanted the other girl to return her kisses with the same passion and eagerness she had. Her lover had to be wide awake for that to happen.
"Morning, Angel." her lover whispered, smiling lazily at her.
"Morning." Serenity replied, licking her lips in excitement as she stared hungrily at her lover's lips.
The other girl noticed this almost immediately, a wry grin forming on her face as she began to tease her lovely blonde Princess for being such an impatient and insatiable young woman.
"Can't get enough of me, huh?" the other girl smiled wickedly at her Princess, but found the blonde smiling just as wickedly.
She wanted to ask why, or maybe she wanted to continue teasing the blonde, still maybe, she wanted to wipe that smirk off her Princess' face, but she forgot whatever it was that she was going to say.
The words died in her throat as she felt a hand brush past her navel, then drift lower until the fingers lay against her dark curls. She bit her lower lip to keep herself from moaning in anticipation.
"You were saying?" Serenity whispered, her eyes twinkling with mischief, her hot breath mixing with her lover's as their lips moved to the point of touching.
"Serenity..." her lover breathed and moved forward to close the distance, but found herself growling in protest as the blonde Princess purposely pulled away.
"Ah ah ah. What have I told you about calling me that?" Serenity asked playfully, her other hand moving to touch her lover's breast.
Her lover writhed against her hand in response, wanting to blame the blonde's teasing caresses for her momentary lapse. She did not back down, however, as she stared defiantly at her Princess.
"I'll call you... whatever I want... Your... Majesty..." the other girl hissed, drawing a gasp of feigned incredulity from the Princess of the Moon.
"Is that so?" the Princess challenged, a devious smile on her face as both hands resumed their respective tasks.
A low groan erupted from her lover's chest as a result, and the blonde smiled in delight. The groans of frustration turned into moans of desire moments later as her lover surrendered to her touch.
"Usa... please..." her lover pleaded almost painfully, and the blonde finally relented.
Amethyst met sapphire as the world faded into nothingness, the two girls gazing lovingly at each other as though they were the only two people in the entire universe.
All their fears for each other, all their uncertainties about the future, even their duties to the Kingdom and to the Universe were forgotten in that single moment.
They had each other, and they loved each other. Nothing else mattered.
One girl moved towards the other until their lips finally touched, the soft kiss turning deep and passionate in an instant as they kissed each other senseless.
Their breaths intermingled as they lost themselves in each other, their hands roaming freely to caress all over, their bodies writhing against each other in ecstasy.
The love they shared was so hot it burned everything away. All their inhibitions were thrown into oblivion as they growled and moaned loudly, screaming their passion for all the world to hear.
Their cries escalated past the point of no return as they reached the peak of their desires, the two lovers sharing a glimpse of heaven in each other's arms.
"I love you, Usa." the raven haired girl whispered almost reverently as she gazed adoringly at the blonde resting atop her.
"I love you, my darling Rei. I will love you, always." Serenity whispered, pulling her love into another intimate kiss.
Before their lips could touch, the room was suddenly engulfed in a shinning, radiant light, and Princess Serenity had to close her eyes to shield herself from the blinding glare.
She opened her eyes and found herself transformed into Eternal Sailor Moon, with Sailor Chibi Chibi Moon in her arms. Golden orbs of light floated all around them, and she remembered where she was.
She looked around her and found Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter all fading away as the three Inner Senshi made the Sailor Starlights promise to protect her and the world.
She screamed internally at the horrific sight, tears abounding as three of her closest friends began to fade away. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she hesitated to turn, knowing what was waiting for her.
She swallowed audibly in fear, then turned to relive her worst nightmare all over again. Sailor Mars lay bruised and lifeless in front of her, the Senshi of Fire beginning to fade into the next life.
"Rei-chan... Rei-chan... Rei-chan! Minna!" Eternal Sailor Moon cried miserably as she held her best friend in her arms.
"Matte! Mako-chan, Minako-chan, Ami-chan. Oitekanaide. Atashi wa, hitori ni shinai de." she wept, imploring her friends to stay with her, to not leave her alone.
"Ah?" she gasped as she felt a hand gently touch the top of her head.
Eternal Sailor Moon opened her eyes just as Sailor Mars opened hers. The two best friends looked at each other, Usagi begging Rei to not leave her, Rei telling Usagi to be strong and to never give up.
"... Shikari shinasai." Sailor Mars whispered, her vision blurring slightly as she fought to stay awake. She knew though, that she was not going to make it.
"Rei-chan... Dame dayo. 'Saigo made issho datta.' Yakusoku shitan ja nai?" Eternal Sailor Moon said, reminding her best friend of their promise to stay together until the end.
"Onegai dakara, hitori ni shinai de." she pleaded through the tears, but some part of her knew that it was too late, that she was going to be alone.
"Baka. Usagi ni wa, Mamoru-san ga iru ja nai?" Sailor Mars chided, reminding her that she was not alone, that she still had Mamoru.
Sailor Mars gasped in agony as the pain became all too much to bear. She summoned all her willpower and forced a smile on her face as she gazed at her best friend one last time.
"Gomen, mamotte agetai(ta)kute." Sailor Mars apologized for no longer being able to protect her. The Fire Senshi fought the coming darkness, but in the end, succumbed to the inevitable.
"Rei-chan!" Eternal Sailor Moon wailed as Sailor Mars closed her eyes for all eternity, her best friend fading into nothingness in her arms.
The world was silent for a moment as it bid farewell to four of its greatest protectors. The silence lasted for only a moment as Eternal Sailor Moon finally gave in to her grief.
"Iya." Eternal Sailor Moon whispered helplessly, looking up to the heavens, to the place where her four friends had gone.
"IYA!" Eternal Sailor Moon screamed in agony, her tormented heart and tortured soul begging for an end to all of her suffering.
Usagi sat up on the futon, beads of sweat rolling down her face as the dream, rather, the memory of the battle with Sailor Galaxia and the death of her Sailor Senshi haunted her to no end.
The Princess of the White Moon had been having dreams for a while now. The dreams always begin from the Silver Millennium, she was not sure if it was a memory of some sort, then end with the death of her friends.
The sun was beginning to rise, evidenced by the streaks of light shinning through the open window to the left side of her. She reached to her right to check what time it was on her clock, but found nothing.
Blinking back slightly, she realized that she was on a futon, on the floor, instead of her bed. She wondered where she was for a moment, then suddenly remembered that she had stayed at the shrine with Rei.
She turned to look at her sleeping best friend, the raven haired priestess alternating between smiling, giggling and mumbling quietly as she slept through the sun's rays on her face.
Rei-chan. She thought, a blush forming on her cheeks as the first part of the dream came back to her.
She could not understand why she kept seeing the memory of her friend's deaths. More importantly, she had no idea why she was having dreams of a romantic relationship between her and Rei.
I can't believe I'm having dreams like that about my best friend! Sure I've had fantasies before, but I thought I'd have outgrown them by now! She chided herself, looking back at the girl resting on the bed across from her.
Beams of light illuminated the sleeping girls' features, and Usagi sighed at the absolute beauty her best friend possessed. Even when asleep, the other girl was gorgeous.
"Mmm..." Rei moaned, her face scrunched up in a cross between pain and pleasure.
Usagi clamped both hands on her mouth to keep herself from gasping in response. She could feel her entire face heating up, and was thankful that the light did not reach her part of the room.
Not that Rei-chan could see me. She mused, noticing that her friend was still dead to the world.
A gentle smile adorned Usagi's face as she watched her best friend mumble incoherently, the blonde pleased to see the usually angry and hot-tempered priestess in all her unguarded glory.
I wonder what Rei-chan's dreaming about. Curious, she pushed the covers aside as she slowly made her way to her best friend's side.
"Usa..." Rei groaned her name this time, and Usagi could swear that she was going to faint from having too much blood rushing up her brain.
Oh my God... Could she be having the same dream? Usagi blushed, her face hovering slightly over Rei's.
Their faces were so close to each other that Usagi could feel Rei's smoldering breath on her lips. Their mouths were less than an inch apart, any more and they would be touching.
"Rei..." Usagi breathed heavily, her eyes closing as she let her desires take control. She leaned in slowly, closing the distance.
BEEP. BEEP.
Usagi suddenly opened her eyes and almost squealed in surprise as she pulled back. The blonde crawled over to her beeping communicator and turned it on.
"Yes?" Usagi asked, a bit breathless.
"Usagi-chan? Are you alright?" Luna asked, slightly worried.
"Uhm... yeah, I'm fine. Why? Is there a youma?" she asked, praying that there was not any. She had no intention of having a battle so early in the morning.
"No, no emergency. I just wanted to wake you up for school. But you're already awake, so..." Luna drifted, partly amazed and surprised that her charge had woken up early on a school day.
"Uh, yeah. Thanks. See ya later." she said nervously, turning off her communicator without waiting for a response from Luna. She hoped that her guardian cat had not picked up on her current disposition.
She searched the room and found the bag she had brought with her the previous day. She took out her bath things and her school uniform as she prepared to start her day.
Standing up, she folded up the futon she had gotten from the hall closet the night before. She usually did not have enough time to fix her bedding because she always woke up late.
She figured that since she did have some time, she was going to return the futon to its cabinet. She was in Rei's house after all, and she knew very well that her best friend liked to keep tidy.
Try obsessive compulsive. She thought wryly, chuckling to herself as she headed out to the hall to replace the futon. She then went back into the room and gathered up her things for the bath.
She stared at Rei once again, her free hand touching her own lips as she remembered what she had almost done. The blonde wondered, not for the first time, if the Fire Senshi was having the same dream as hers.
What was I thinking? I almost kissed her!
The blonde Princess shook her head slightly as if to dispel the confusion building inside of her. With one last glance at Rei's sleeping form, Usagi made her way out of the room and into the bath.
Escaping the room, however, did not mean escaping from her mind's confusion over her heart's true desires. Questions plagued her endlessly even as she walked away.
The sun shone brightly through parted curtains, and the Princess of Mars growled inwardly at the rude awakening. Rei's eyes fluttered open as she blinked rapidly to adjust her vision.
"Good morning Rei-chan."
The raven haired priestess turned and looked up to face an already wide awake and ready for school Usagi. The blonde had a smile on her face as she helped the sun welcome Rei into the new day.
Oh, that's right. I'd forgotten that she had spent the night here.
She was completely thrilled when Usagi had been adamant about staying with her through the course of the night. At least in that gesture, she felt that Usagi cared for and loved her.
She did not think she would get any sleep at all, seeing that Usagi was in the same room with her. But now that she thought about it, sleeping was the only memory she had of the previous night.
Of course, there was that dream about me and Usa... She recalled, a slight blush forming on her cheeks. She stole a glance at her best friend and found the other girl watching her intently.
"Good morning Odango. How can you be up this early?" Rei asked, teasingly, hoping that Usagi did not notice her flushed cheeks.
"Hey, you! I can be up early when I need to be. Besides, I wanted to help you get cleaned up." Usagi said, frowning slightly.
"Usagi?" Rei asked, a bit troubled by the look on her Princess' face.
"I'm really sorry, Rei-chan. I keep getting into trouble and you always keep me from getting hurt. But you always throw yourself in the way." Usagi said, her voice breaking a bit.
"Usagi..." Rei started, sitting up from her position. The bed sheet fell to her lap, revealing a good portion of her upper body to be wrapped in bandages, and nothing else.
"Look at me..." she said, raising the tear-stained face of her one true love with her hand under Usagi's chin.
"Never apologize for that. You can apologize for always being late, or for eating too much, or for not studying, but never apologize for that." Rei stressed, intent on making her Princess understand.
"But I..." Usagi was interrupted by a determined Rei.
"I would gladly give my life for you, Usagi. It would be an honor to die for you, Princess. So never, ever apologize for that." Rei insisted, locking gazes with the blonde.
Usagi found herself staring into her best friend's amethyst orbs, the blonde seeing the Senshi of Fire's devotion to her, coupled with an emotion akin to something more.
Not for the first time that morning, the Moon Princess wondered if her dreams had any truth in them, or if those dreams were actually memories, signs if you will, that were trying to tell her something.
The Princess of the White Moon nodded, succumbing to her Senshi's resolute gaze. She knew that she could not argue with Rei when the priestess was like this. There was nothing that could change her mind.
Silence reigned for a moment, and Rei decided to lighten up the mood.
"Besides, if I didn't save your butt, then no one would be constantly late for our meetings, eat all of the food, goof off on their studies..." Rei trailed off as Usagi punched her shoulder lightly.
"I get the picture..." Usagi said with a slight smile on her face and a blush on her cheeks.
Usagi reached over and caught Rei in a tight embrace, one which the other girl returned with much fervor. Rei did not want to let go, but knew that she had to at some point.
"Thanks Rei-chan." Usagi murmured.
"You're welcome, Usagi." Rei said with a smile.
Her wounds! I can't believe I forgot. They must hurt a lot! She silently berated herself.
The blonde Princess then pulled back, a look of horror on her face as she realized that she had held the other girl almost to the point of crushing her. She had her hands covering her mouth as she looked on, her eyes wide with surprise. Rei panicked a bit, seeing Usagi in this state.
"What? What's wrong? Are you hurt? Did I hurt you?" Rei babbled on, trying to figure out what was wrong with Usagi.
"Your wounds. They're gone. It's like you never got hurt." Usagi said in amazement, her hand coming up to lay on the bandages covering Rei's supposed injured side.
"Huh?" Rei looked down at the bandages wrapped around her torso and found them to be clean, no blood stains whatsoever.
"You're right. Wow! I never knew I could heal this fast. Must be a result of my Senshi powers growing or something." Rei added, slowly removing the bandages around her stomach to reveal untarnished skin.
Usagi's blush returned full force at the sight of her half-naked best friend. She could not help but stare as each strip of bandage slowly and tantalizingly unveiled a small part of Rei's midsection.
Fortunately for her, the bandages were cut just below the raven haired priestess' breasts, and the blonde Princess sighed in relief as she was spared from an impending nosebleed.
Gah! What am I thinking? I've become a pervert! She thought as she turned away from the barely covered Rei. She placed her index finger under her nose and was thankful that there was no blood.
"Usagi? Are you alright?" Rei asked, wondering why her best friend suddenly had her back to her.
"Uh, yeah. C'mon! You'd better get ready, you don't want to be late for school." Usagi said nervously, hoping that she was not blushing like crazy.
Rei was silent for a moment as she studied her Princess. Something told her that Usagi had suddenly become uncomfortable, and that the blonde was trying to hide behind that nervous smile.
The Fire Senshi thought of pressing the other girl, but decided against it. Opting to spare her Princess from whatever it was that made her uncomfortable, Rei chose to go along with her.
"Geez. Since when did you become an advocate of education and punctuality?" Rei teased the blonde haired goddess, who blushed heavily in return.
"Rei-chan!" Usagi complained, before pouting like a five year old girl, her earlier discomfort clearly forgotten.
"I was just kidding Usagi! Tell you what, I'll meet you in the dinning room after I take a bath, then I'll make breakfast. Is that OK?" Rei said, acting as if she were trying to console a child.
Usagi's sad blue eyes lit up, a huge grin gracing her once forlorn features. She nodded fervently towards Rei, then stood up to leave for the dinning room.
Rei sat on her bed, utterly mystified by the vision of her blonde Princess. She felt herself flush as parts of her dream flooded her mind. She shook her head as she spoke.
"Usagi..." she called.
"Yeah?" Usagi asked in return, looking back at Rei from the threshold of the door.
"Thanks for staying with me through the night."
"No problem. Anything to make sure you're safe and happy." Usagi said as she turned to walk out of Rei's room, closing the door behind her.
You have no idea just how happy you make me, Usagi. Rei smiled as she prepared herself for school.
Usagi sighed unceremoniously as she trudged languidly on the sidewalk, having parted ways with Rei at the previous corner to go to their respective schools.
The smile she had worn as she bid farewell to her friend had faded as soon as the raven haired priestess was out of her sight, and she became confused and disgruntled shortly thereafter.
Thoughts of the dream filled every fiber of her being as she tried to decipher what it meant in its entirety. She could not talk to anyone about it, and that left her to figure things out on her own.
Why am I having dreams about the death of my friends? And what about Rei-chan? It's been a long time since I last had a fantasy about the two of us like that, and this dream feels different, somehow.
She had been having dreams for months now, but she had never let them bother her this much. She had always thought that they were just dreams until they began to merge with what seemed to be her memories.
And Rei-chan called me, 'Your Majesty.' Could it have been a memory from the Silver Millennium? She wondered, her brows furrowing in confusion.
It did not help any that she was on her way to school, the one place that she did not want to be going to right now. Not that there was ever a time that she actually wanted to be in school this early.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi turned to her side and found Luna walking beside her. The guardian cat looked worriedly at her Princess, a feeling of helplessness gnawing at her.
"Hey Luna. What's up?" Usagi asked, smiling widely at her.
Luna eyed her charge intently, trying to gauge the blonde's current disposition. Her lips turned into a thin line as she sensed the turmoil of emotions behind that forced smile.
The guardian cat had been sensing a strange aura about Usagi for a while now, as if her young charge was troubled over something, and their earlier conversation on the communicator just added to her suspicions.
"Nothing really. Artemis and I still haven't found any lead on the latest attacks. Ami-chan hasn't been able to figure anything out either." Luna answered carefully, her eyes never leaving Usagi.
"I hope we find something soon. I don't want anymore people to get hurt." Usagi replied.
"Speaking of people getting hurt, how's Rei-chan?" Luna asked, noting the minute change in the blonde's expression. The guardian's eyes narrowed slightly at that, but she did not say anything.
"Rei-chan's fine. Her wounds have been completely healed." Usagi declared, a tender smile gracing her previously solemn features.
The two were silent for a moment; Luna worrying about what exactly was bothering her Princess, Usagi barely keeping herself together as she thought of what to do.
Luna looked up and found that they were near the playground that Usagi used to frequent when she wanted to be alone, so she was not surprised when the blonde suddenly pulled into the park.
The guardian cat stopped at the entrance and watched as the Moon Princess settled herself onto the empty swing. Luna checked the small clock tower and was thankful that it was still early.
She then focused her attention on the blonde sitting across from her, noting the girl's forlorn features as she sat listlessly on the swing set.
Usagi looked lost and confused, and Luna's heart went out to her Princess. She wanted to help the blonde, but she had no idea where to even begin.
She had only seen Usagi this distressed when her and Mamoru had a fight or had broken up. The only other times had been during the battles where the fate of the world hung in the balance.
As far as the guardian could remember, neither had happened in the past weeks. Especially not with Mamoru, since the man had only called Usagi twice since he left, and that was about six months ago.
It was always Usagi who would call him to see how he was doing. The blonde did not care how much it cost her, not to mention how long it took for her to save the money.
She was calling the love of her life, and that was all that mattered to her. Luna just wished Mamoru would show the same kind of effort.
Of course, Usagi-chan's very good at hiding her emotions when she wants to, so there are probably other reasons. Luna surmised, praying that her charge would open up to her.
"Luna..." Usagi began, as if answering Luna's prayers.
"Tell me about the Silver Millennium." the blonde said, looking up from her study of the ground for the first time.
Luna was a bit startled at the look of pleading in Usagi's eyes, and the guardian cat could almost feel the desperate need displayed in those sapphire orbs.
"Well... when Beryl and Metallia launched their attack..." Luna started.
"Not that. I want you to tell me about the beginning." Usagi said albeit a little impatiently before catching herself.
"O-okay... My memories haven't completely come back to me, either, with most of them triggered only by certain events and instances in the present." she began again, and this time, there were no interruptions.
"The earliest I can remember was the celebration of your 16th birthday. That was probably the first time you met Prince Endymion in disguise." Luna added, drawing a nod of understanding from Usagi.
"So I'm assuming that was before I found out he was actually the Prince of Earth."
"As a matter of fact, yes. You were very quiet during the ball, almost as if you were bothered by something. Mercury told me afterwards that he came up to you and asked you to dance... but you rejected him."
"Really?" Usagi asked, somewhat amused.
"Yes. You refused him again and again, until your patience grew thin. You finally burst out screaming, drawing the attention of your Senshi as he slipped away into the crowd."
Usagi chuckled slightly, as though she were seeing it happen right before her very eyes. A small smile graced Luna's face, the guardian cat thankful to see some semblance of happiness in the blonde.
"What happened next?" Usagi asked with childlike curiosity.
"Mars went ballistic and would have chased after him had you not started crying, Mercury tried to calm you down while Jupiter cleared the way out of the ballroom, and Venus called security to find out who he was!" Luna exclaimed, her excitement getting the better of her.
"I take it they didn't find out." Usagi surmised.
"No, but you were floored when a certain Prince was introduced to you the following week." Luna said, earning her another chuckle from her Princess.
"What happened?" Usagi asked, her smile growing in anticipation.
"Well, you recognized him the moment you saw him, but didn't want to believe that he was the same man. Come to think of it, your attitude towards him was the exact opposite." Luna paused.
"What do you mean?" Usagi queried, the look of bewilderment on her guardian's face making the girl even more curious.
"Jupiter told me that you wanted nothing to do with him during the celebration, but you seemed to like him when you the two of you were formally introduced." Luna recalled, her brows furrowing slightly.
The two were silent for a moment, Luna's last statement leaving them both pondering the reason behind the change in Princess Serenity's attitude towards Prince Endymion.
"Maybe it was because I found out he was a Prince?" Usagi offered, but her guardian just shook her head.
"Hmm... not likely. You never liked any of your previous suitors, and most of them were Princes, too." Luna added, her brows remaining creased on her forehead.
"Maybe something happened during the week to change my mind." Usagi supplied, nodding at the possibility.
"Or maybe it's because you two are destined to be together." Luna said, bringing up the age old explanation that Usagi had been told since they remembered bits of their past.
"Destiny huh? Wait a minute. Didn't you tell me that we were actually forbidden to see each other?" Usagi remembered, effectively changing the topic.
"Well yeah, but that was a little later when the threat of Beryl began to loom over the horizon. All Earthlings were suspected of spying for her, y'know?" Luna answered.
Usagi nodded her assent as she remembered that small bit of their history. She contemplated ceasing her questions for the moment, but something that Luna had said made her decide otherwise.
"Hmm... let's back up a little. You said I had other suitors before Endymion?" Usagi asked, starting another discussion.
"Most of them were Princes from outside of the Sol System, but like I said, none of them really caught your attention." Luna replied, wondering just where this was going.
"And you don't remember me having a relationship with anyone prior to Endymion?" Usagi pressed on, her eyes glazing slightly as though she were having another train of thought in her mind.
"Not really. You were hardly seen with anyone outside of your Senshi. Besides, any relationship you had wouldn't have mattered since you and Endymion are destined for each other." Luna reiterated.
The mention of destiny silenced Usagi yet again, the Princess of the Moon biting her lower lip as she barely contained her distaste for the said topic.
She could not remember when she had started to dislike talking about her destiny. Maybe it began the first time Mamoru broke up with her during the Black Moon crisis.
Or maybe it began when Mamoru left for the States the second time, disregarding the whole Galaxia incident and leaving his destined love to pursue his studies halfway across the planet.
Still maybe it began when Usagi herself had started to have doubts regarding the entire issue altogether, especially since her supposed destined love has not been making her feel loved at all.
Can't even find the time to call me. She groused internally, frustration getting the better of her.
Usagi sighed in defeat, reminding herself that Mamoru was studying his ass off in the States so that he could give her a better future. She should be proud of him, instead of feeling sad, lonely and neglected.
Even if she had every right to feel all of those things and more.
"Maybe you could ask Minako-chan or Rei-chan and see if either of them remember anything." Luna suggested, hoping to remove the frown that had suddenly appeared on her Princess' features.
"Minako-chan and Rei-chan?" Usagi raised her eyebrows at Luna.
"Well yeah. Minako-chan was the head of your security, so anyone courting you would have had to pass through her." Luna explained, and Usagi nodded at the logic behind it.
"And Rei-chan?"
"She was your best friend, and still is, isn't she? She's bound to know something." Luna answered, a-matter-of-factly.
There was a slight twinkle in the blonde's eyes as they instantly lit up, and Usagi's smile turned into a wide grin. Luna was glad to see the smile, but she did not know what to feel about the reason behind it.
The blonde Princess contemplated everything for a moment before nodding to herself. She stood from the swing seat, then stretched her arms upward.
"You're right. Thanks Luna."
Luna watched as Usagi exited the playground, a part of her happy to have helped the blonde, while another part of her was still wondering about the girl's sudden interest in the past.
"Usagi-chan? Why all the questions?" the guardian asked carefully, not wanting to inadvertently dampen the blonde's current mood.
Usagi hesitated for a moment as she resumed her journey towards the school. She looked down at Luna, who was still waiting for her reply, then decided to answer.
"Just curious. I mean, I know nothing about the past, apart from the little bit I remember and what you and Artemis have told me. I was just wondering..." she drifted off as Juuban High School came into view.
"Wondering what?" Luna prompted, seeing the school as well.
"If there was ever a time that I loved someone else as much as I love Mamo-chan." she answered casually.
That last sentence stopped Luna in her tracks, and the guardian stared incredulously at Usagi's back for a moment, before racing past the blonde.
"Usagi-chan, you do realize that you have Mamoru-san, right? That the two of you are destined to be together and will create Crystal Tokyo in the future." Luna reminded her almost desperately.
"Yeah, I know. That doesn't change the fact that he hasn't called me in months." Usagi ranted slightly, the blonde not being able to keep her feelings bottled up anymore.
"College is a lot more demanding than high school Usagi-chan. You know he'll call you when he gets the chance." Luna replied, defending the absent Prince of Earth.
"I know that. I just... I guess I just miss him." Usagi uttered, her shoulders slumping slightly.
Missing him is one thing, beginning to doubt your relationship, your destiny is an entirely different matter!
Luna kept her thoughts to herself, the guardian cat not wanting to provoke her young charge. She remembered hearing from Usagi about the missed call from Mamoru, and she decided to change her tactic.
"Mamoru-san called yesterday didn't he? You told me your mother said so. You just missed it, that's all. He'll probably call you again later." Luna added for good measure, her face brimming with confidence.
"You're right." Usagi replied softly.
The certainty in the guardian cat's mind crumbled slightly at the wistful smile on Usagi's lips. Luna stared after her Princess' back as the blonde continued on into the school.
That feeling of helplessness came roaring back as Luna could only watch the defeated posture of her young charge. She did not need to see Usagi's face to know that the blonde was wearing a matching expression.
Destiny. Why does it always have to be destiny? Usagi began her internal monologue with the slightest bit of irritation as she idly walked up the main school building.
There was still half an hour before the morning classes started, and the blonde grumbled at the thought of spending all that time cooped up in her classroom.
It did not help that she had a ton of things weighing on her mind, especially since said things were connected to her relationship and her destiny, which ultimately, were related to the future of the world.
Luna said that Mamo-chan and I are destined. Couldn't she have said that we're in love aside from being destined? She grumbled, making her way up the steps.
It's like, it doesn't matter if we actually love each other or not anymore. All that matters, all that's important is that we fulfill our 'destiny' because an entire future depends on it.
The sun had now fully risen to its proper place in the bright and early morning sky, and Usagi had to shield her eyes from the rays that penetrated through the glass windows.
It's not that I don't love him anymore. I do, I still do. I just don't know if loving him is enough, especially since I haven't been... I haven't been feeling loved for a long time now.
A number of her classmates greeted her as they passed on their way up the staircase. She nodded absently to them in response, her thoughts shifting to a related subject.
Now I'm having these feelings for Rei-chan that shouldn't even exist! Feelings that I used to ignore, reject, and pass off as a silly little crush. Feelings that I thought I had buried so deep that they wouldn't resurface ever again.
She paused as she reached the halfway landing area of the stairs, her hand tightening its grip on the railing. She shook her head slightly as tears threatened to fall, then lifted her head to continue her trek.
But they're feelings that I welcome, that I hunger and long for. These forbidden feelings have brought me some semblance of happiness and love that I've been wanting, no, needing for the longest time.
The third floor hallway was awash with students, and Usagi had to sigh at the loss of the serenity that she so desperately craved, no pun intended.
I don't even know if Rei-chan feels the same way, and yet, it doesn't seem to matter. All I know is that my silly little crush has developed into something deeper and more meaningful.
She begrudgingly headed for her classroom, ignoring the bewildered looks some of the students were giving her. She did not know if it was because she was early, or because she looked like hell, or both.
At that point, Usagi did not really care.
My feelings are starting to manifest in my dreams, dreams that I've started to confuse with memories of the Silver Millennium. While a part of me is filled with guilt, another part is ecstatic.
Usagi's thoughts completely drowned out the noise in the hall. She welcomed the solitude and was thankful that no one had tried to approach her yet since she did not want to end up snapping at anyone who dared.
What about love? What about happiness? When did destiny become more important than either? Or both?
She almost gasped in surprise at her own thoughts. Her questions may have been general, but they had sprung from a well of selfishness that resided somewhere deep within her tired and weary heart.
She was Princess Serenity in the past, she is Eternal Sailor Moon in the present, and she will be Neo-Queen Serenity in the future. All were incarnations that represented love, justice and hope for mankind.
She is all that, but she is also Usagi Tsukino. She is a human being who deserves to be happy, who deserves to love and to be loved. She deserves to live life however she wants to, destiny be damned.
"Usagi-chan! Usagi-chan!"
Usagi's brows creased to the point of touching. She felt confused, lost and downright frustrated about everything, and though she did not really feel like talking, she turned to the caller with a forced smile.
"Good morning, Minako-chan." Usagi greeted as the other blonde screeched into a halt in front of her.
"You... O-K? Been... calling... you... last... ten... min-utes..." Minako managed as she bent forward, struggling to catch her breath.
An indulgent smile graced her lips, erasing the fake smile that had previously been there. Minako had always been able to make her smile no matter what, and Usagi was thankful that she still could.
"Sorry about that. I was just thinking about something. Are you alright?" Usagi replied, bowing slightly in apology.
"Yeah. I'm good. Whew. That took a lot outta me." the Senshi of Venus answered, pulling herself upright.
"Why were you running anyway?" Usagi asked as they made their way to their classroom.
"Kato-sensei told me the other day, and I quote, 'Aino, if you're late this Friday, I'm gonna send you back to London with our guests!'" she finished her impression of the balding fifty year old man.
"Guests? From London? Really?" the Moon Princess asked with honest interest, her earlier dilemma momentarily forgotten.
"Yup. The Vice Principal announced it during last week's morning assembly. Don't tell me you've forgotten about it." Minako raised both eyebrows at her in surprise.
Usagi tilted her head slightly to the side as she blinked back at the Goddess of Love and Beauty. The lost and bewildered look on the Moon Princess' face said it all.
"Usagi-chan?"
"Huh? Uhmmm. It must've slipped my mind." Usagi mumbled quietly in response.
Minako watched Usagi worriedly from out of the corner of her eye, the Leader of All the Senshi noting the almost blank expression on the other girl's face.
She saw a number of their classmates standing outside their room, indicating that the aforementioned professor and their guests had not arrived yet. She saw it as an opportunity and decided to take it.
"Hey, Usagi-chan? Want to stay out here for a while? It looks like Kato-sensei's not here yet, so..." she drifted, hoping to get a reaction from her friend.
"OK. I didn't want to get in yet anyway." Usagi replied, shrugging as she made her way towards the railing.
Usagi set her book bag on the floor beside her, then rested her elbows atop the steel railing as she looked out at the school yard with a melancholy smile.
Minako settled herself quietly beside her Princess, the Senshi of Love debating whether or not she should ask the other blonde to open up and discuss what was bothering her.
She wanted to help, but she knew that there was nothing she could do until she figured out just what the problem was. She would have rathered Usagi tell her on her own, but was bordering on asking the girl herself.
Please tell me what's wrong, Usagi-chan. I can't bear to see you like this. Minako pleaded, a feeling of helplessness gripping her heart.
"Say, Minako-chan..." Usagi began.
"Yes? What is it Usagi-chan?" Minako replied almost instantly, the blonde a little too excited at the prospect of finally being able to help her friend.
"Do you think... I mean... Is it possible to been in love with two people at the same time?"
Minako gawked at Usagi like the other girl had grown another head. The Senshi of Venus wondered if her Princess was just joking with her, but the seriousness in the other blonde's eyes told her otherwise.
"Usagi-chan... is there something you'd like to tell me?" Minako asked slowly, careful not to scare the other girl into retreating.
"Wh-what? Y-you mean... No! It's not me! I mean, I just have this, ah... friend who thinks she might be in love with two people. Uhm, yeah, that's about right. Ahahahaha..." Usagi stammered rather nervously.
The blonde Senshi of Venus was not regarded to be the smartest of all the Senshi, but it did not take a genius to figure out that Usagi was hiding something.
Minako had an inkling as to why Usagi had asked her that question. She just was not sure if her theory was correct, and at that point in time, she was not sure if she wanted find out.
"Well... I guess you can be in love with two people at the same time, but you can't be in love with them in the same degree or manner." Minako answered, earning her a confused look from Usagi.
"It means, you can love them both, but you must love one person more than the other." she explained further.
"Oh... I guess that makes sense. That was good advice Minako-chan! That would sure help me... I mean, my friend." Usagi praised the other blonde.
"Well, what do you expect? I am the Goddess of Love after all!" Minako replied, striking a pose that could only be described as divinely goddess-like.
Usagi burst out laughing at her friend's antics, the Princess of the White Moon shaking her head slightly at what she thought of as just pure Minako.
"Then maybe you should try getting to school a lot earlier, Your Royal Divine-ness." a voice mocked from behind them.
The two blondes turned to find Kaishu Kato standing by the door, the vertically-challenged, balding old man tapping his foot somewhat impatiently behind them.
"Ah... Good Morning Kato-sensei!"
"Yes, good morning. I hope you two can continue coming to school early even without the guests." Kaishu said.
"Oh, speaking of our guests, Sensei..." Minako began.
"They're not arriving today, Aino. The Vice Principal just told me that our guests had to reschedule their flight. They will inform us as soon as they get the new schedule." Kaishu replied.
"Drats! That means I woke up early today for nothing! And I had hoped to use my charms on them, too..." Minako drifted, the previously excited young girl practically deflating on the spot.
An image of a tall woman suddenly appeared in Minako's mind. She was in her early to mid twenties, with long, chestnut colored hair that reached past the waist of her Metropolitan Police Board uniform.
The woman had deep, dark eyes that seemed to see into your soul, eyes that had once looked at Minako and found the then frightened young girl beneath the mask of the courageous hero for justice and love.
If things had been different, Minako would have let those eyes see the real her. The blonde would have stayed in London, and would have pursued the love that the older woman gladly and freely offered.
But Minako had a duty to fulfill, a duty that she could not and would not forsake for anything, not even for a love that some people would say, only came once in a lifetime.
Onee-sama... Minako thought, the words coming to her for the first time since she had left her old life and first love in London.
"You can use your charms on them when they arrive, Aino, because the Vice Principal has decided that you and Mizuno will be picking up our guests at the airport." Kaishu's voice pierced through her musings.
"Really? That's great! Matsuda-sensei is the best!" she proclaimed rather loudly, just barely recovering from her thoughts.
"Matsuda-sensei said that we needed someone who has some knowledge about the language and the country, so I recommended you because you had lived in London before."
"Oh, wow! Kato-sensei, you're the greatest!" Minako cheered, the blonde patting him on the shoulder, before rushing into the classroom to inform Ami.
"So then, why did Matsuda-sensei ask Ami-chan to go, too?" Usagi asked.
"He was worried about the guests, so he wanted someone who could assist your friend with them and keep her from embarrassing herself and the school." Kaishu explained, then stepped into the classroom.
Keeping Minako-chan from... uh... expressing herself is something even Ami-chan might not be able to do. She thought, chuckling slightly to herself as she followed her professor into the room.
Makoto played with the straw of her vanilla shake, twirling it around the inside of the tall glass. They were at the Crown Arcade, and her and Ami had been sitting at their table for a while now.
The two blonde Senshi were playing the new Sailor V game, with Rei hovering near them and mercilessly teasing Usagi every time she lost a round to Minako.
Artemis and Luna were still out gathering information about the sudden youma attacks, and have yet to arrive for their meeting turned outing that afternoon.
"Mako-chan? Are you OK?" Ami asked, slightly worried. She set the book that she had been reading on the table and eyed the girl sitting across from her.
The auburn haired Senshi found the other girl staring worriedly at her and had to fight an oncoming blush. She had originally been thinking about the recent youma attacks until Ami's beauty mesmerized her.
"Uh... I'm fine, Ami-chan. You don't have to worry." she managed, leaning back towards the seat and away from the blue haired Senshi's worried gaze and oh-so-kissable lips.
Gah! What am I thinking? I'm going to hell for this! Makoto cried inwardly.
Ami tilted her head to the side, wondering if there really was not anything wrong and if she was just worrying too much. She decided that she was probably a little too pensive because of all the attacks.
"OK." she agreed, albeit somewhat reluctantly, before turning back to the book she was reading.
The Senshi of Thunder sighed inwardly and slumped into her seat, thankful for the reprieve. She did not think she could handle any more lapses like the one she just had.
Makoto had been having feelings for the Senshi of Mercury for over a year now, and had been trying to work up the nerve to tell the blue haired genius about them.
She had absolutely no idea if Ami also had feelings for her, and she certainly did not know how to find out without resorting to just out right asking the other girl.
It's either hell or the loony-bin for me. She thought in defeat, then sneaked a glance at her companion.
Who was staring intently back at her.
"Are you sure you're OK, Mako-chan?" Ami asked yet again, setting the bookmark as she placed the book down on the table.
Gotta stop spacing out!
"Really Ami-chan! I'm good!" she squeaked out, blushing slightly as she cleared her throat.
"You seem... distracted, Mako-chan. Plus, your face is flushed." the Senshi of Wisdom said, reaching forward with her hand to touch the other girl's forehead.
Makoto noted the gentleness in Ami's touch and had to stop herself from groaning at the contact. She tried to get rid of naughty thoughts and concentrate on something other than the warmth of Ami's hand.
She turned towards Usagi and the others, but an arm was blocking her vision. She turned her head towards the other side, but found the wall staring back at her.
So intent was she on trying to get rid of the thoughts in her head that she had not anticipated the Water Senshi using her other hand to hold her head steady.
"Ami-chan?" she squeaked yet again, but did not dare look at the other girl.
"Stay still for a moment, OK? I'm trying to check if you have a fever." Ami said sweetly, keeping one hand resting on the brunette's forehead, the other, attached firmly to the side of Makoto's head.
At that point, the Senshi of Jupiter did not trust her own voice anymore. She nodded obediently, but still could not look her friend in the eye, so she just stared straight ahead.
Right into Ami's blouse.
Her face flushed the deepest, brightest shade of red that ever existed, and she fervently hoped that the other girl finish with her soon, else, she would die of embarrassment.
As if on cue, Ami removed both hands from her face and sat back. She had a hand beneath her chin in a thinking pose as the blue haired Senshi tried to figure out what was wrong.
"You're not warm enough to have a fever. But your face has become even more flushed. I wonder what could be wrong."
"I... I... I just remembered I had an assignment to do. Gotta go!" Makoto stammered, then rushed out of the booth and out of the arcade.
Ami stared after Makoto's form as the other girl disappeared out the door. She noticed that her auburn haired friend had been acting weird lately, most especially this afternoon, and was curious as to why.
"Ooooh! Can I have the vanilla shake?" Usagi asked, eyeing the untouched drink on the table. When the blonde did not get a response from any of her friends, she quickly attacked the aforementioned drink.
"What was that about?" Rei asked, squishing into the booth beside Usagi.
"I'm not too sure." Ami replied, casting one last look at the door before turning to her friends.
"Is it me? Or has she been acting weird lately?" Rei opined.
"Maybe she's just tired with going to school and taking care of the apartment. She does live by herself." Minako offered, the Senshi of Love sighing inwardly.
She had a hunch as to why Makoto had been acting strangely for a while now. She just had no idea how to get the brunette to talk to anyone about it.
Part of her wanted to be able to help the other girl admit her feelings, while another part of her was even afraid of acknowledging what the other girl was feeling.
I guess having a crush on Mako-chan is kinda useless, especially since I know she's in love someone else, and that the person she's in love with kinda feels the same about her... Minako thought resignedly.
"Who? Mako-chan?" Usagi suddenly asked, her face covered with shake and cream.
"No Odango! The vanilla shake! Of course, Mako-chan!" Rei teased, earning a pout from one blonde and an admonishing look from the other.
"Waaah! Rei-chan! Why do you have to be so mean?" Usagi cried, weeping openly.
That started another round of 'Tease the Rabbit' between the raven haired priestess and her blonde Princess. Minako just shook her head and prayed to whoever was listening for patience.
"I gotta go, too. I... I have to finish the paper for Monday." Ami suddenly blurted out, the lame excuse sounding even lamer coming from someone who never had to rush to beat a school deadline.
The Senshi of Water abruptly left without waiting for a reply from any of her friends, her actions all but confirming the Senshi of Love's earlier deduction.
Rei and Usagi stopped their bickering as their blue haired friend rushed past them and out of the arcade. They looked at the closing door, then back at Minako.
So I was right. Ami-chan does feel the same way... She thought, a frown gracing her features.
Feeling as though she was being watched, she turned to see that Usagi had gone back to attacking the vanilla shake while muttering about 'annoying best friends,' and that Rei was studying her intently.
She offered the Shinto priestess a small smile and received a nod and an understanding look for her efforts. The raven haired girl squeezed her hand gently, offering some semblance of comfort.
"Oh, I just remembered! Luna said that Mamo-chan might call from the States! See you guys tomorrow!" Usagi said cheerfully, then waved to them as she hurried home.
From out of the corner of Usagi's eye, she saw how Rei fought to keep her smile from faltering, and the blonde had to will her own smile to remain on her face.
She had a vague idea why her words had that kind of effect on Rei, but the Moon Princess did not want to pursue that train of thought until she was entirely sure about her own feelings.
Usagi already knew that she was going to end up hurting someone one way or the other. She just wanted to make sure that she did not end up hurting the wrong person.
DING DONG. DING DONG.
Either she's not home, or she just doesn't want to be disturbed. Ami concluded as she stood outside Makoto's apartment door.
The Senshi of Wisdom looked outward into the sky and noticed that the dark clouds were looming over their part of the city. Lightning could be seen decorating the skies, with thunder following thereafter.
It was sunny and bright earlier that day, and the forecasts said that it would be for the rest of the week. But for some unknown reason, the skies were on the verge of opening up.
The sun had all but disappeared from the sky. Lightning flashed once again in the heavens, and Ami almost jumped at the roar of the thunder that followed.
Both just reminded her of Makoto, and she wondered if the weather had anything to do with the temperament of their auburn haired friend who was in fact, the Senshi of Thunder.
I have to get home. I'll just call her from there. Ami decided, then raced out of the apartment complex.
Mako-chan. Please be safe. She thought as she ran to escape the rains.
"Stupid Kino! Just stupid!" Makoto berated herself.
She had just gotten home from running around the neighborhood at least twice. She was soaked to the skin as the rain caught up with her a few blocks from her apartment.
So much for knowing when it's going to rain... She smiled wryly, blaming her current lack of concentration for not being able to sense the oncoming downpour.
She began to take off her clothes in a frenzy, slamming the door behind her as she moved deeper into the apartment, leaving a trail of wet clothes and footmarks in her wake.
The Thunder Senshi had run around the neighborhood to keep her mind off of her feelings for Ami, but was frustrated when she ended up passing by places that just reminded her of the Senshi of Mercury.
It got much worse when it started to rain, and Makoto decided that the gods were not going to take pity on her anytime soon. That, and the fact that rain meant water, and water meant Ami.
Now, Makoto stood in front of her bath tub. She stared dumbly at the tempting warmth of the water, steam wafting into the air as the water slowly filled the tub.
"Is this some kind of a test?" she sneered at the irony of it all.
She shook her head slightly in defeat, then stepped into the tub, a soft, hissing escaping from her lips. She settled her head comfortably on the edge of the tub, letting the water soothe her.
How can I forget her, when it's something of her that I seek for comfort? Makoto thought hopelessly, closing her eyes and letting the gentle movement of the water lull her into sleep.
"Hachoo!" Usagi sneezed loudly as she closed her bedroom window, the blonde shivering as she fought to keep warm.
It was almost midnight when the Senshi got a call from Artemis about another youma attack. Usagi set out almost immediately even though it was raining like there was no tomorrow outside.
There was a youma attack just that afternoon near the Warehouse district, but none of the Senshi were surprised to be fighting again on the same day since it had been happening quite a lot lately.
They were surprised to find Uranus and Neptune battling a number of youma when they arrived at the scene. The battle did not take very long because of that, much to the delight of all the Senshi present.
Questions flew all over the place once the fight was over, but the two Outer Senshi calmly avoided answering all of them and suggested that they have a meeting tomorrow instead.
Venus was not about to let them leave just yet, the Senshi of Love practically demanding to know just why the Outer Senshi have not been responding to any calls.
Another flash of lightning and the sound of thunder rumbling quickly changed her mind, however, as the Leader of All the Senshi decided it was better to discuss things when they were all dry and warm.
"Here, Usagi-chan." Luna nudged a couple of towels towards her huddled charge.
"Thanks Luna." Usagi replied, wrapping one towel around her shoulders and using the other to dry her hair.
The blonde shuddered again as the towel from her shoulders became waterlogged and fell to the floor, leaving her vulnerable to the cool, night air.
"Maybe you should take a warm bath, Usagi-chan." Luna suggested, carefully ushering the still shivering girl out of the room and into the hall.
Usagi agreed without much argument as she followed her guardian until they reached the bathroom. She murmured a barely audible 'Thank you' to Luna, then gently closed the door.
Luna could only watch in despair as the Moon Princess looked even paler and frailer than she had when she returned after the youma attack earlier that afternoon.
A beeping sound interrupted her worried thoughts, and the guardian cat reluctantly left to answer Usagi's communicator. There was a crack of static for a moment before Artemis' face appeared on the screen.
"Hey Luna. Did Usagi-chan make it back alright?" he inquired, a worried look etched on his tired features.
"She's in the bath right now, Artemis. A little cold, but she's fine. Minako-chan?"
"Yeah. She's OK, too." Artemis answered, although somewhat a little unsure.
Luna noticed this almost instantly, the two guardians having known each other long enough to know when one was either hiding something or being bothered by it.
"Artemis? Is something the matter?" Luna asked anyway, not wanting to take any chances.
Artemis held his breath, the white guardian cat poised to speak his mind, but then decided against it. He shook his head at Luna, as if to dispel her suspicions.
"It's nothing, really. I guess I'm just getting all mother-hen again because of the frequent attacks. Add that to the fact that we have almost zero information about the new enemy..."
His obvious concern for everyone's welfare and safety earned him a appreciative smile from Luna, and it was enough to lift up his somewhat weary spirit.
"Don't worry too much, Artemis. We'll get through this. We always do." she whispered.
"You're right. Good night Luna." he replied with a smile.
"Good night."
The image flickered for a second, then finally faded as Luna turned the communicator off. She replaced it atop Usagi's dresser, then settled herself by the window sill as she waited for her charge to return.
The dark evening sky was momentarily illuminated by streaks of lightning, and she grimaced as heavy rains continued to pour. The sound of thunder echoed seconds later, Luna flinching at the angry noise.
She searched the heavens for any sign of her namesake, the guardian hoping for guidance from the White Moon. The worried look remained on her face, however, as the Moon was nowhere to be found.
The smell of incense filled the chamber housing the Great Fire as Rei chanted quietly in front of it. The priestess had been sitting there since she had returned home from the midnight youma attack.
Beads of sweat trailed down the side of her face as the flames danced restlessly for a few minutes. The flame grew to the point of touching the ceiling, then began to retreat.
Rei slowly opened her eyes moments later, drained, confused and utterly frustrated amethyst orbs hardening at her current inability to communicate with the Fire.
It had been months since the last time she had done a fire reading connected to Senshi matters, the last one being Sailor Starlights and Sailor Galaxia related.
The raven haired priestess was actually thankful that she had not needed to use the Fire for such purposes, but was now regretting it due to her sudden incompetence at reading it.
Why? Why can't I see anything? She mentally grumbled, growling low in her throat.
She had spent the past couple of hours trying to discern whatever she could from the Great Fire. So far she had not found anything, and that ate away at what little faith she had left in her abilities.
Rei knew she could not give up no matter how many times she failed. The Senshi needed to find out who it was they were up against, and they were hoping that her fire reading could help.
The Fire Senshi began a series of breathing exercises, hoping to clear her troubled mind and calm her raging nerves. She needed a vision and needed it fast, and she knew she had to concentrate to get one.
"Rin, pyou, tou, sha, kai, jin, retsu, zai, zen!"
Rei held her breath for a moment as she waited for a response from the Great Fire. She bit back a curse as the Fire remained silent, as if refusing to answer her pleas.
She was about to give up and rest for the night, seeing as she was not really accomplishing anything, when she felt a slight tingle at the back of her neck.
She could feel it coming, feel the vision rushing towards her, and she barely had time to settle herself before her entire body froze up and the images flooded her mind.
A surprised gasp escaped her just as her eyes rolled back in their sockets, the force of the vision rendering her unconscious. Her body fell sideways onto the floor as the flames flared up wildly before her.
Luna yawned softly, her slumber interrupted by a sudden movement above her. The guardian cat turned to her blonde charge and found Usagi staring sleepily back at her.
"Usagi-chan? What are you still doing up?" Luna managed to keep her voice down, mindful not to wake the rest of the family.
Usagi smiled wanly at her, then pointed to the telephone resting on the table. Luna's eyes widened in disbelief at the time displayed on the small clock, and instantly felt sorry for her Princess.
"It's already 2:00 AM, Usagi-chan." Luna said, urging the blonde to get some rest.
"I'm OK, Luna. I don't want to miss Mamo-chan's phone call." Usagi whispered, her throat dry and her voice hoarse due to lack of sleep.
"I'll wake you when the phone rings. C'mon, you need your rest. I know the youma attacks have been draining your energy." Luna pleaded, her heart breaking at the sight.
"Thanks, but I'd rather wait. I really don't want to miss his call again." Usagi replied.
Luna practically jammed both paws down her throat in the hopes of stopping the gut-wrenching sobs that threatened to explode from her chest.
The guardian cat had not realized how much Usagi had been hurting, and Luna felt that in her desire to preserve the future, she had failed in her duty to protect her Princess.
"Mamoru-san's probably not going to ca..."
"Don't say it. Please? I'll wait..."
The look of despair on Usagi's face robbed Luna of all thought, and the guardian cat just lowered her head, part in helplessness and part in shame.
She jumped onto the bed and settled herself in her Princess' arms, nuzzling Usagi's cheek in an effort comfort her. The blonde took what was offered without question, tears falling down her face.
I'm so sorry, Usagi-chan. I'm so sorry... Luna frowned, wishing that she had acted more like a loving and understanding friend to Usagi, rather than a serious, almost unconcerned guardian.
Luna glanced up moments later and was thankful that Usagi had somehow managed to fall asleep. The guardian cat looked past the blonde and glared at the telephone and the picture frame resting beside it.
Damn you, Mamoru-san. Damn you for doing this to her. She cursed internally, her eyes narrowing at the man standing with Usagi in the photo.
Her gaze softened as it returned to Usagi a little later, and Luna prayed to the heavens for guidance and strength. She may have failed in protecting her Princess, but there was still a chance to make amends.
I'll make it up to you, Usagi-chan. I promise.
"Tell me again why I go to these things." Princess Serenity grumbled, the practiced smile she had been wearing the entire night crumbling slightly in irritation.
She was stuck in yet another ball being hosted in the Moon Kingdom Palace by the Council, a ball that doubled as an arena for the Princes of the neighboring Kingdoms to court her favor.
All of the four Senshi, along with the Moon Princess, were dressed in their official Court attire; each of the girls donning beautiful white gowns.
"You go to these things because you love your mother too much to embarrass her to the Council. This one's supposed to be for your 16th birthday, though." Princess Mercury answered with a slight smile.
The Great Hall was filled with representatives from all of the Great Houses of the Silver Millennium, excluding Saturn, as well as a number of nobility from the member Kingdoms.
House Saturn had sent no representatives, and that did not come as a surprise considering the lone citizen of the planet was currently in a deep slumber and would only rise should her power be needed.
Princess Uranus and Princess Neptune were currently entertaining a number of guests at the Palace Gardens including the visitors from House Pluto, since Sailor Pluto was conversing with Queen Serenity in private.
"But it's boring." Serenity whined rather openly, turning her back from the crowd to face her Senshi.
"C'mon Usagi-chan. One hour 'till midnight. Surely you can last a little longer." Princess Jupiter encouraged her, smiling indulgently at her.
"I wouldn't mind having these balls so much if I could dance with the one person I want to dance with." Serenity admitted, her shoulders slumping even further.
"There's not much we can do about it. The Council does this so you can find a suitable husband." Princess Mars answered a bit gruffly, part in annoyance and part in frustration.
Princess Serenity almost took a step back in surprise at the anger that resonated in her Senshi's voice. Mars chided herself silently, then smiled apologetically at her.
"I'm sorry, Usagi. It's just..."
"I know. I understand, Rei-chan." Serenity replied, reaching over to squeeze the other girl's hand.
"There is a way for you to stop these gatherings, Usagi-chan." Princess Venus uttered, her eyes glued to the handful of men making their way towards them.
"Really? How?" Serenity asked, genuinely excited at the thought of ridding herself of these parties once and for all.
"Tell the Council you don't need a suitable husband because you've already found yourself a suitable wife!" Venus exclaimed, chuckling to herself.
Serenity's breath caught in her throat at the suggestion, her hand coming up to her lips as she fought to keep calm. Her eyes began to water slightly at the added frustration.
"Minako!" Mars growled, scowling at the other blonde who shrank back from her penetrating gaze.
"I'm sorry, Usagi-chan. It was supposed to be a joke." Venus offered.
Serenity nodded in understanding, and Venus sighed in relief. Mars then turned back to Serenity, the raven haired girl whispering words of comfort to the teary-eyed Princess.
"Minako-chan, you idiot! You know how much pressure Usagi-chan is under because of the Council!" Jupiter glared at her.
"The magistrates could forbid them from seeing each other. You shouldn't suggest things like that, Minako-chan." Mercury added.
"I know, I know. It was a bad joke. I'm really, really sorry." Venus pleaded, clapping both hands in front of her and bowing to them.
"It's alright, Minako-chan. I know you're just trying to cheer me up." Serenity uttered through slight hiccups, smiling at the other blonde.
"I'm really sorry. I'll make it up to you somehow." Venus promised her.
"You can make it up later. We've got company." Jupiter said, motioning to the other Senshi about the approaching guests.
Serenity grimaced at the sight. She reached her hand backwards and was extremely grateful when Mars caught it. Mars gave it a warm, gentle squeeze, then moved away with the others.
The four Senshi watched helplessly as their Princess barely kept herself together amidst the sea of men surrounding her. Jupiter turned away from the scene, Mercury following to comfort her.
"I hate seeing her like this." Venus snapped, turning from the scene as well.
She noted that Mercury and Jupiter had gone over to the balcony, no doubt to relieve the helplessness they were both feeling. A quick glance told her that both her and Mars might benefit from it as well.
"It's alright. I'll watch her. Go punch the wall with Mako-chan or something." Mars answered, her jaw set in a tight line.
Venus contemplated joining her friends duke it out with the marble wall, then decided against it. She laid a hand on Mars' shoulder as if to remind the other girl of her duty.
"I'll keep my distance and I won't do anything stupid. I'll just watch her, like always." Mars replied, her eyes never leaving her Princess.
"I'm gonna go get myself a drink. You want any?" Venus asked.
"Later, maybe."
Venus nodded to her, then slowly made her way towards one of the nearby banquet tables. She took one last glance at her Princess and prayed that none of those men had the audacity to harm her.
I don't think any of them are planning to die a fiery death, especially not tonight.
After what felt like an eternity of smiling and mindless chitchat with some of the guests, she finally reached the closest banquet table and immediately ordered a glass of wine from one of the servers.
Venus turned to the balcony as she waited, nodding to both Jupiter and Mercury as the two reemerged from the outside. The two nodded back at her before spreading to the rest of the ballroom.
Guards were situated at every entrance and at every balcony to ensure everyone's safety. There were also a handful of guards roaming around the Palace, and still some camouflaged in civilian clothing.
She looked back at where Mars and her Princess were situated, the Leader of All the Senshi and head of Serenity's security smiling to herself in approval.
Between the four of them, they had covered a good portion of the massive hall, but were all still close enough to run to Serenity's side should an incident occur.
"Princess Venus." the server called, handing her the glass.
"Thank you." she replied, taking a quick sip as she braced herself for the arduous task of traversing the dance floor once again.
She made it halfway across the hall before being interrupted by a Prince from one of the Kingdoms outside of the Sol System, and Venus had to force herself to smile and entertain him for a few moments.
Those moments proved to be vital as a scream rang out through the halls, effectively halting the festivities. Venus dropped the glass in her hands as she rushed towards the source.
She found Serenity huddled in Mars arms, with Mercury desperately trying to calm her as Jupiter escorted them out the ballroom. She made eye contact with the auburn haired Senshi who nodded back at her.
Venus scanned the crowds for the culprit, but found none hastily leaving the room. One of the guards in civilian garb approached her, the two conversing quietly.
"He's gone. He must've slipped out by way of the balconies." he reported.
"Find out who that man is and report back to me. Get Artemis and Luna to take care of the remaining guests. I'll report to the Queen." she ordered, before abruptly exiting the ballroom.
Instead of heading straight for the Queen's chambers, Venus made a quick detour towards the younger Serenity's room. She needed to find out what exactly had happened before she even mentioned it to the Queen.
She rounded the corner that lead to the Princess' quarters and was surprised to find the three Inner Senshi talking just outside her door. She did not think that Serenity was too upset to want to be alone.
"Hey guys. How is she?" Venus asked as she came upon them.
"She's OK. She just wants to rest for a bit." Mars answered.
"Did you find him? Do you know who he is?" Mercury asked.
"I didn't get a good look at him so I'm not so sure. He must've gotten out before all the exits were sealed. The guards are searching the grounds and the rest of the Palace as we speak." Venus replied.
"Dammit!" Jupiter growled, slamming her foot on the marbled floor as her right fist connected with the wall.
"Enough with the stomping and punching. Usagi needs to rest." Mars scolded as calmly as she could.
"I'm sorry. It's just..." Jupiter drifted, her gaze firmly on the ground.
"We're all frustrated because we knew that it could happen, and yet we left her alone because the Council ordered us to give her suitors some time with her." Mercury supplied, laying an hand on Jupiter's arm.
"And that damned Council still insists on marrying her off to some stranger. She's not some piece of meat to be sold! She's the Princess! She's our friend..." Jupiter ranted, tears running down her cheeks.
Mercury stepped up behind her and took the weeping girl into her arms. Jupiter leaned into the smaller woman, cherishing the offer of comfort. Venus looked to Mars, who nodded back at her.
"Ami-chan, why don't you take Mako-chan to her room? I'll check in with the guards and report to Queen Serenity for all of us." Venus said, to which Mercury smiled in thanks.
Once the two were out of sight, Venus turned to the stoic Princess standing beside her. Mars had a grim and calculating expression on her face, and Venus was thankful that she was not the target of her hatred.
"Did he try anything?" Venus asked carefully, not wanting to accidentally tick off the Fire Senshi.
"He didn't touch her, if that's what you're asking. He insisted on dancing with her even after being rejected a number of times. She's been on the edge lately, so she just flipped." Mars explained.
"If he didn't do anything, then why did he run?" Venus wondered, her brows furrowing slightly.
Mars remained silent, her eyes glinting dangerously as her gaze hardened even more. Venus noticed this out of the corner of her eye, the blonde surmising that Mars had not told her everything.
She studied her friend closely, debating on whether or not she should press the other girl. She chose not to push it, deciding that she still valued her life and that she could find information elsewhere.
"I'll do another sweep after I report to the Queen. You gonna be OK?" Venus asked.
"Yeah, I'm good." Mars replied curtly, and the blonde took that as her cue to leave.
"Good night." Venus whispered, then proceeded to the other side of the Palace, where the Queen's chamber was located.
Mars waited until Venus had turned the corner before going into Serenity's room. She found Serenity curled up on her side, the blonde's back facing her.
She quietly walked across the marble floor to the other side of the bed, careful not to startle the already agitated Princess. She took a moment, then settled herself on the bed by Serenity's bent legs.
"I'm sorry." Serenity mumbled, looking towards the edge of the bed at Mars.
"It wasn't your fault, Usa." Mars replied, smiling lovingly at her. The raven haired Princess inched a bit closer, her thigh touching the other girl's legs.
"I shouldn't have reacted the way I did. He was just wanted to dance." Serenity reasoned with a frown.
"You had every right to refuse him. He pushed you too far. That man deserved more than what he got." Mars snarled, her eyes narrowing at nothing in particular.
"Rei-chan..."
"He should be thankful that you had screamed when you did. If you hadn't, I would've..." Mars drifted, her hand practically crushing the sheets in her grasp.
"Don't say that, Rei-chan. He didn't do anything wrong..." the blonde explained, hoping to alleviate the anger the other girl was feeling.
"I saw him lean over and try to kiss you." Mars uttered, raising her head slightly to look her Princess in the eye.
Serenity lifted her head in surprise, the blonde not expecting that admission from the other girl. She pulled herself up into a sitting position, her folded hands resting on her lap.
"I... but he... how did you..."
"I saw how he pushed and pursued you, how he practically had you cornered. I saw everything, but I couldn't do anything." Mars muttered helplessly, bowing her head to hide the tears.
"Rei-chan..." Serenity whispered, her heart breaking at the sight of her suffering friend.
"I saw him move, but I could only watch. I wanted to protect you, Usa. I wanted to keep him from touching you, but there was nothing I could do." Mars added, as if wanting to prove her loyalty to the blonde.
Serenity crawled over to her anguished Senshi, wrapping her arms gently around the huddled figure of her friend, the blonde's front to the other girl's side.
"It wasn't your fault. I know that you and the others were just following the Council's orders. Don't do this to yourself, please?" Serenity pleaded, holding the other girl close.
They stayed like that for a moment, one girl offering comfort and warmth, the other welcoming both with concealed, desperate need. Words were not needed as they conveyed their emotions in that single embrace.
After what seemed like an eternity, Mars lifted her right hand to touch the arm around her chest, eliciting a small sigh from Serenity as the blonde Princess raised her head from the other girl's shoulder.
"Feel better?" Serenity asked, tucking a stray hair behind Mars' ear.
"Not really. But I'm getting there." Mars answered truthfully, turning to smile at her Princess.
"I wish we could tell everyone that we love each other. That way, we won't have to go through something like that again." Serenity huffed, her shoulders slumping slightly.
"Is that your official birthday wish? Because I haven't given you your present yet and I could just do that instead." Mars asked, earning her a look that said 'Are you crazy?' from her love.
"You know the Council will separate us if they got word about our relationship. I'd much rather endure those endless parties than spend eternity without you by my side." Serenity replied.
Mars' eyes softened at the other girl's words. She mentally chided herself for even joking about something like that, the raven haired girl muttering something about hanging around Venus too much.
She slowly leaned towards her Princess, laying a gentle kiss on the other girl's cheek. Serenity tilted her head slightly to the side, as if granting more access to her Senshi.
"I love you." Mars whispered, before laying another kiss, this time just below the blonde's ear.
Serenity held her breath in anticipation, her eyes fluttering closed as her lover trailed tender kisses along her jaw, then down the curve of her neck, then back up to her ear.
She gently bit her lower lip as she tried to suppress the low moan that threatened to erupt from her throat. Her tongue sneaked out to wet her lips as goose bumps decorated her skin.
Feeling somewhat satisfied with her work, Mars abruptly pulled away from her Princess. She stood from the bed and stretched her arms over her head, before turning to leave.
"Good night, Usa." Mars uttered, waving her hand as she headed for the door.
Serenity's eyes snapped open in surprise, her bright sapphire eyes focusing on her best friend's retreating form. Her mouth hung open in disbelief at the raven haired Princess.
"H-hey! What about my present?" Serenity cried, her brows creased in frustration.
"That was your present." Mars answered without facing the other girl.
"What? Well it's... it's... it's not complete!" Serenity declared, then groaned at how lame she must have sounded.
"Not complete? It's my present to you, remember? So I should know if it's done or not, and I'm telling you, that was it." Mars replied, her hand already opening the door.
"What? I've been waiting for my present the entire day and you're saying that that's it? Rei-chan, you are so mean!" Serenity spat, then threw a pillow at the other girl.
The Fire Senshi took a couple of steps to her right to evade the projectile, then finally turned to face the now pouting Princess. A wry grin adorned her lips as she made her way back to the blonde.
"That's what you get for teasing me so much the other morning." Mars chided gently, then settled herself on the bed and in front of her Princess.
"Ooooh. I can't believe you'd pull something like that. And on my birthday no less." Serenity grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Ah, but it's not your birthday anymore now is it?" Mars replied, pointing to the clock on the far wall.
Serenity looked over to the crystalline timepiece, noting that it was a minute after midnight. She rolled her eyes at her Senshi, pouting like a five year old child who had just lost her candy.
A hearty chuckle rose from Mars' chest, the raven haired girl shaking her head at the display. She inched closer until she had her arms around her Princess, mimicking their earlier position in reverse.
"I was just kidding, love. Forgive me?" Mars uttered, wrapping her arms snugly around the blonde.
"I'll forgive you if you finish my present." Serenity answered somewhat playfully, then turned to lay a tender kiss on her love's lips.
That gentle kiss became passionate in mere seconds, as both girls let their intense desire for each other take over. A few minutes into the kiss, however, Serenity did the unexpected.
She abruptly pulled back from Rei's embrace, then yawned. Widely. Loudly. Like a mighty king lion roaring fiercely at his subjects in the savage grasslands of Jupiter's provinces.
"Uh... sorry." Serenity said, smiling sheepishly at the other girl.
"Oookay... I think that means we have to finish your present some other time." Mars replied, managing to keep her giggles to a minimum.
"Aww... it's not fair. I've been waiting the whole day!" Serenity whined in a rather non-princess like manner.
"You're tired, and apparently, very sleepy." Mars pointed out, earning her a pout from her Princess.
"Please?" Serenity pleaded, flashing her baby blues at her lover.
"That's not gonna work tonight. You have a few visitors joining you and your Mother for breakfast tomorrow morning so you really need to get some sleep." Mars reminded her.
A frustrated sigh escaped Serenity's lips, matching the scowl now present on her face. The Moon Princess crossed her arms over her chest, muttering a few curses that surprised even the Senshi of Fire.
"Tell you what. Meet me by the small fountain near Mako-chan's garden after breakfast. I'll take you to our spot out in the hills and we'll have a picnic for lunch. How's that?" Mars offered.
Serenity's eyes immediately brightened at the prospect of spending the entire afternoon with her love. She flung her arms around Mars, the Fire Senshi barely keeping the two of them from falling off the bed.
"Thank you." Serenity whispered, part in gratitude and part in relief.
"You're welcome. Now go to sleep." Mars replied, releasing the other girl from the embrace.
The raven haired Princess laid a soft kiss on her love's forehead, then stood to leave for her room. A gentle tug on her hand stopped her from going further, and she turned to Serenity with a questioning look.
"Stay."
The quiet voice nailed Mars to her spot, the silent pleading in her Princess' eyes blocking out all the logic and reasoning her mind was throwing at her.
She nodded without any hesitation, her ardent desire to satisfy the burning need displayed in Serenity's sapphire orbs overpowering all rationality and good judgment.
The two settled in for the night, the blonde Princess laying her head on Mars' shoulder, her arm wrapped snugly around the raven haired girl's waist.
"Love you." Serenity whispered, leaning upwards to lay a gentle kiss on her lover's neck.
"And I you, Angel. Good night." Mars answered, enveloping the blonde in a warm embrace.
Usagi gasped as she returned to the land of the living, the blonde Princess of the Moon clutching her hand to her chest. She glanced around her, sighing in relief at the familiar surroundings.
A soft mewl made her turn towards the edge of the bed, where a slumbering Luna lay. The image of her guardian brought her back to her dream, making her shiver at the accuracy of the events.
It was the first dream in a long while that did not end with the death of her friends at the hands of Sailor Galaxia, something the blonde Princess was very thankful for.
Except for the last parts, it's exactly the same as the memory Luna told me this morning. Usagi thought, her conversation with her guardian earlier that day coming back to her.
If the dreams were actual memories, then that means that Rei-chan and I were... She drifted, a blush forming on her cheeks at the thought.
She had been looking for answers the entire day and had even asked Luna in hopes of finding them. Now that she may have inadvertently found those answers, she did not know if she was ready to accept them.
Is it possible? Could my dreams be actual events that took place in the past? She wondered, her eyes drawn to the luminous display of her digital alarm clock, which read 3:30 AM.
Even with the limited lighting, the blonde could see the framed picture of her and Mamoru standing beside the alarm clock, with the still non-ringing telephone beside it.
If Rei-chan and I were in love with each other during the Silver Millennium, then how come Mamo-chan and I are the ones destined?
A small frown made its way onto her face as snippets from the dream gradually came back to her. She turned away from the picture frame and onto her side as she looked out the window.
How can I love him... if I used to... and might still be in love with someone else? She asked, looking up at the dark sky as if it held all the answers.
Sleep eluded Usagi for the rest of the night.
Across town, amethyst eyes snapped open in surprise as the Senshi of Fire pushed herself up off the floor, beads of sweat trailing down her flushed cheeks as she stared at the Great Fire in disbelief.
"Oh... my... god..." Rei whispered, her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath.
Serenity's words echoed loudly in her ears as images from the vision flashed in her mind. The raven haired priestess shook her head slightly as if to drive the forbidden scenes away.
"It can't be..." she breathed, looking up at the Great Fire for an explanation of some sort.
Please tell me that I was dreaming... please tell me that it wasn't a vision...
Silence was the Fire's response to her pleas, leaving the already confused priestess with more questions than before. She slowly leaned back on the floor, staring up at the ceiling in contemplation.
Rei stayed wide awake through the break of dawn.
End of Chapter 2
Author's Notes:
1. To anyone wondering, yes, that first series of scenes was part of Usagi's dream. I created the beginning, where the two of them made love to each other and stuff. The latter part is the scene in episode 196, when the Inner Senshi died to protect the Sailor Starlights and Eternal Sailor Moon.
I chose to use the original Japanese dialogue because it sounds more dramatic and I feel that it's more appropriate. I wrote the dialogue, or what I could decipher as best I could (I know I'm missing a couple of words from Rei, but I can't quite figure that part of her dialogue out). If you're looking for the translation, read that part again and you'll realize that the translations are right there. I translated the dialogue myself, so if someone thinks the translation is wrong, feel free to correct me.
By the way, I don't own episode 196. I just borrowed the scene where the Inner Senshi died, and wrote a transcript of the dialogue to the best of my abilities. Please don't sue me, I don't have any money.
Also, in case anyone's wondering, Rei and Usagi had the same dream up to the point where the two of them made love. The memories of the Senshi's deaths at the hands of Galaxia in episode 196 is Usagi's dream and hers alone.
2. For the life of me, I can't remember when and where Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion met for the first time, or if it was actually mentioned in both the manga and anime. Sheesh, that's what happens when you haven't slept for three straight days! Too much work, less time for everything else. *sigh*
Anyway, the history that Luna and Usagi talked about is mostly made up by me, so don't go getting mad at me for overstepping any existing history concerning the Silver Millennium.
3. Wow, Usagi goes from simple - minded to introspective. I think I might have gone overboard somewhere, but I really felt the need to show everyone what Usagi thinks about the entire situation. I've been told that a number of fanfics that feature the Rei/Usagi pairing give a lot of importance to Rei's feelings and thoughts, but little and almost none about Usagi's. Most of the time, it's Rei who's troubled by the situation, or is depicted contemplating her feelings.
I'm not saying that that's a bad thing, OK? I don't want people misinterpreting what I said. It's just rare that we see Usagi in this situation, so I decided to give her some 'air time' to voice out some of the things that are troubling her.
4. About the line '...a pose that could only be described as divinelygoddess-like.'
I know that I was redundant in that phrase, but please don't fault me for that because I actually did that on purpose. This is Minako Aino I'm describing. She's not only one of the most beautiful girls in the world, she can also look like a goddess effortlessly. Of course, she is one of my most favorite anime characters of all time, so I might be more than a little biased. ;)
5. I have to say that I'm probably the most unfortunate Minako Aino fan because I haven't even read or seen the Sailor V manga! It's not available anywhere in my country, and I haven't found a website that would accept credit cards even without a account as a form of payment. Grrrr...
On that note, all the information regarding Minako Aino's tenure as Sailor V came from Sakura-kun, a member of the 'quintet,' and a fellow Minako Aino fan. If there is any mistake concerning the information about Sailor V or her history in this chapter or any of the remaining chapters, please tell me so that I can fix it.
However, I would advise people to react or comment about the Sailor V information after the end of the whole fanfic. I can't really divulge what kind of information I'm going to use from the Sailor V manga so even if any of you reacted or commented right now, I wouldn't be able to answer it without revealing how the story will go. Besides, I won't be focusing a lot on Minako's love life anyway, so I don't think it'll bother a lot of people.
The only thing I'll tell you right now is that the brown haired woman from London (yes, I know her name, I just don't want to use it yet) probably did not have any romantic feelings for Minako, and vice versa. So this pairing is non - cannon, and a product of Sakura-kun's imagination and persistence.
Oh, one last thing... the Sailor V information is probably the only manga - based information that I'm going to use, so Katerina and Alan, who are both from the Sailor Moon anime, DO NOT EXIST!
6. About Luna's feelings... Well, she's basically like Minako in terms of the blonde's thoughts on Rei. Luna wants to ensure that Crystal Tokyo will come about in the future, but she also wants Usagi to be happy. She pushes the idea of destiny and duty to Usagi to the point of dictating how the blonde should live her life. Luna later on realizes that she's hurting Usagi more than helping her, and though she does not necessarily like the idea of Usagi deviating from her destiny, she really does want her Princess to be happy and so decides to support her instead. She may be a prude sometimes, but I believe Luna wants Usagi to be happy above all else.
7. I honestly can't remember how Rei does her fire readings. All I know is that she sits very close to the fire, does ritual chanting and hand movements, and then the fire supposedly flares up and Rei can read whatever message it has for her. Sorry if I made a mistake on that.
Also, I don't think I've ever seen Rei having visions that are as complete as the one I put in this chapter. I remember her getting flashes and symbolic premonitions, but I can't remember seeing her have visions of entire scenes/conversations/events. At any rate, the vision she had is legit, no matter how complete it may be.
All comments, suggestions, criticisms and the like, please click the 'Review' button below.
All Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon characters copyright to Naoko Takeuchi. They are used without permission. Please do not sue me, I don't have money.
©2005 Shirley Joy Gadia, all other characters used in the fanfic and the story itself, all rights reserved.
Thank you!