Flee to Destiny
By: Bethany
Originally released: 3/2002
Revised: 7/2015

Chapter 8 - No greater love

Silence.

Even the sounds of the cleaning crew who had been in the hallway earlier had faded. The clock sitting on the mantel clicked - now 8:42a.m. Mamoru's mouth opened, but for a few agonizingly long seconds, he said nothing. I currently sat, mentally kicking myself - hard, I might add - for what I had just said.

"W-What?" he finally whispered, his eyes wide as he stared at me.

My own eyes were strangely dry. My damp face was the only sign of my resent tears. The strong odor of alcohol suddenly hit me, making my stomach turn and threaten to rid me of everything in my stomach. Which was really only stomach acid at this point. Mamoru's stutter of words stayed in the air between us, repeating over and over again in my head. When finally I regained control of my limbs, I moved back - pushing myself against the back of the chair, wrapping my arms around my stomach as if to protect my baby from the argument that was sure to follow.

Mamoru tried to clear his throat, his eyes staring at me oddly. "Usa," he finally mumbled. "You know that's - well, it's impossible." He spread his hands out as he spoke, still staring at me with an odd glint.

"Look, I know you won't believe me. I had no intention of telling you this way.."

"This way?" Mamoru all but shouted. He stood up, his voice rising more the longer he spoke. "What way? Look Usa, I don't care to be a father for your child, okay? I care about you that much, I want to be with you that much. But you and I both know this baby is not mine!"

I felt the tears - to my disgust - return to my eyes. I pulled myself into a tighter ball, burning my face in my hands and attempting to disappear. "But it is!" I cried even though I knew he didn't believe me. "In our last life I became pregnant, but then the battle on the Moon happened and I wished on the Crystal for our baby to be reincarnated with us. And now.."

I stopped, noticing the blank expression on Mamoru's face. He had stopped trying to talk and now sat on the couch across the room from me. His focus didn't seem to be on me, but rather through me. I suppose he was seeing his own thoughts - perhaps searching his memories to see if what I said may be true. I bit my bottom lip, waiting for his reaction.

"If what you're saying is true.." he whispered slowly, looking dead into my eyes. "Will you take a paternity test? I am not calling you a liar, but the scientific part of me needs this."

His uncertainty was a welcomed change from his all out rejection of my child. Relief flooded through me. Just as I had needed medical proof that I was pregnant - Mamoru needed proof the child was his. I shook my head yes, trying to stand up. Suddenly the baby felt heavier, pressuring on my pelvic bone. I felt off center, almost like I needed to sit back down and try it again. Placing my hand on the chair arm, I gained the balance I needed to get to my feet. "When do you want to have it done?"

"Ami's mother is an OB-GYN. I'll call Ami and see if her mother can do it for us. I'm sure there should be no problems."

He looked to be attempting to convince himself of that, as well as me. I watched him go into the kitchen to use the phone. While he spoke I looked around the apartment.

What would happen when he found out the baby was his? Would he want me and Shingo to move in here? Would he want us to get married before the baby was born? It felt odd to be thinking about marriage when I was still trying to get used to the idea of so many other things in my life. Did I really want to throw marriage in on top of it? I didn't think I was ready for that. I wasn't ready for a lot of things lately.

"Usa?" I looked up, slightly startled to be so abruptly pulled from my thoughts. Mamoru scratched the back of his neck, smiling at me boyishly. "Ami said to meet her mom at her office in the morning. I'll pick you up at nine, okay?"

I nodded, standing up and walking towards the door slowly. I wanted to say more, I felt like I should be able to make this better. But I could come up with nothing. Mamoru silently followed me, the tension sitting in the air between us. "I guess I'll see you in the morning then," I said after putting my shoes on and opening the door. He said nothing as I went out the door and down the hall. I stopped as I reached the elevator - looking back towards his apartment. His smiling face was still there, staring at me when the doors closed.

Doctor Minzuno Saeko was a tall, beautiful woman who looked very much like Ami. I had met her once before, only briefly. I felt awkward sitting in front of her now. Ami explained last night that she had already told her mother about being a Sailor Senshi a while ago, so this wasn't necessarily as weird as I felt it was. It didn't stop me from blushing over and over again.

Doctor Minzuno moved back from the door way, her hand waving to indicate two empty chairs sitting in front of her desk. I sat down, Mamoru sitting next to me. She looked at me, as if she could sense all my fears and identify with them. I immediately felt some of the tension run out of my body when she sat down at her desk.

"Tsukino Usagi," she said, moving some papers out from in front of her. "And Chiba Mamoru. Ami tells me that you want to have a paternity test ran on the unborn child?"

I nodded my head, unable to take my eyes from hers while she spoke. She said things so lightly, like she was asking someone how they were doing today. Her blue eyes were so bright, so focused. I was thankful she didn't ask any more questions than she did, thankful that Ami had already told her all she needed. I definitely didn't want to have the entire story laid out again; I was nervous enough. "Okay, what we are going to do is take a sample of fluid from your womb called the amniotic fluid. With the DNA strain we pull from that, we will compare it to a DNA sample we will take from you, Usagi-san. Whatever strains that don't match yours, will need to match Mamoru-san's for him to be the father. Now, usually this takes around four weeks - but I think I maybe able to speed up the process in this case." She sat back, one hand under her chin thoughtfully. "Do you have any questions before we get started?"

I looked at Mamoru, but he just shook his head. Just from the way he held himself, I could tell he was nervous - anxious even. I looked back to Doctor Minzuno. "No, I think we're ready."

As we walked down the hall towards the medical room, Mamoru reached over and took my hand. Smiling, I took strength in the fact that he was by my side. I could do this - we could do this.

Doctor Mizuno had me lay on a medical table, raising my shirt to reveal my swollen stomach. After washing her hands, she turned back towards me with a long needle. I felt a shiver go through my body. Squeezing my eyes closed, I turned away from and her and towards Mamoru. Suddenly I felt fingers brushing against my cheek. I opened one eye, looking up to see Mamoru slightly bent over my head, his breath on my face. His eyes were locked on my stomach, almost memorizing. When our eyes meet, he smiled - his eyes so full of love that it took my breath away.

When Doctor Minzuno had finished, she took DNA samples from mine and Mamoru's mouth and sent it off to lab. When she returned she leaned up against the counter, crossing her arms in front of her. "While you are here, do you want to go ahead and have a routine check up, maybe take a peek at the little one? Ami tells me you haven't been having regular prenatal appointments," she chastised lightly.

I felt my eyes go large. Actually see the baby? I didn't even look to Mamoru for confirmation - immediately I nodded my head.

The cream was clear, oddly looking like jello - and cold. Doctor Minzuno gave me a two second warning before placing the jelly on my stomach. When I inhaled sharply, my eyes widening as my senses picked up the feeling of the cold - she laughed airily. "If I told you any sooner, you would have laid there and dreaded it, ne? Better just to get it over with, I always say."

I nodded, though I didn't feel too much relief from her comment. She placed a hand held machine on my stomach and moved it around for a few moments, searching. I saw movement on the black and white screen it was attached to, but couldn't make out shapes. I looked to Mamo-chan, but he was staring at the screen intensely.

"Have you felt the baby move yet? You probably won't be able to distinguish it from your stomach growling unless you pay close attention. Don't worry, that will change very soon! You are entering the part of your pregnancy where the baby is much more active. Your uterus is growing and you might feel pangs of pain caused by the ligaments stretching in your abdomen." She paused for a moment, studying the screen. "There you are," she said sweetly, pointing to the screen. "There is your baby." Reaching over, she turned a knob on the ultra-sound machine and a sound that resembled a horse running filled the otherwise quiet room. "And that is your baby's heartbeat. Beating about one hundred and fifty-three times a minute, which is perfectly normal."

I couldn't believe my eyes or my ears. I felt tears rise up, and my breath caught in my throat. That small being, inside me, right there on the screen, was my baby. And for the last five months I had been ignoring him or her. Shame filled me, but also determination. I wouldn't ignore her anymore. No matter what, I would be a good mother to this baby. The mother mine had been to me, passed on to her grandchild. The feeling in my heart made a smile break out on my face that I couldn't stop if I wanted to. I felt so much love inside me for this small life. Up until now pregnancy was just a word. I was pregnant, and that was as far as I thought about it. Today would mark a new mile stone in my life and in my heart - the first day I felt love for my child. It was breathtaking.

"She is 17 centimeters, crown to rump," Doctor Minzuno said, clicking on the computer and measuring a line she drew between what looked like the bottom of the baby's spine to the top of it's head.

I gasped, looking at the doctor instead of the screen. "Did you say 'she' ?"

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't think before I spoke. If you didn't want to know the sex, I'm so sorry!" Doctor Mizuno blushed. "I noted the sex when I first began looking and, forgive me, I wasn't thinking."

A few sparse tears left my eyes as I giggled, looking up at Mamo-chan. "A girl? Wow… and, wait, I've gained ten pounds and she is only 17 centimeters long?!"

"And beautiful," Mamoru replied, still memorized by the image on the screen. I nodded my head, a smile planted firmly on my face as I looked at our baby.

The doctor did more calculations, moving the device around my stomach at different angles, taking measurements of the baby's bones, size of her head and pictures of the four chambers of her heart. Finally she wiped the jelly off my stomach and smiled. "Congratulations, you have a healthy 23 week fetus. Now, I want you to stop by the labs and have some blood drawn and then leave a urine sample as well. Make an appointment with the front desk; I definitely want to see you back next month so we can make sure everything is going well."

Mamoru helped me sit up. "Don't worry, Dr Minzuno, we will be here."

I couldn't stop smiling.

The crisp February wind blew against my face and neck as I walked to work. My hair blew in waves behind me, the sun picking up the blonde and making it shine when I saw it in front of me. My thoughts kept returning to the day before, at the doctor's office with Mamoru. Even though we hadn't gotten the results of the paternity test yet - Mamoru was every bit the happy father. Something changed in him last month, something that also sparked in me, I believe. No longer did I feel depressed about my pregnancy, or darkened by its meaning. I would make due, and love my child no matter what. Almost in response to my happy mood, my daughter started kicking my stomach.

I hummed as I walked into the arcade, heading upstairs to the Fruit Parlor. Motoki smiled and waved as I bounced by, running to clock in before I was late. Tying my apron around my waist, I headed back out the swinging door and behind the counter. "Konnichi'wa Naru-chan!" I smiled to the young girl whom I often worked shifts with.

"Hello," she replied, wiping her hands on her apron. "How are you feeling today?" She turned away from me, placing a ticket in the machine and ringing up the order. Even as she stayed busy, I knew she was still listening to me and waiting for an answer.

"I'm wonderful," I replied enthusiastically. "I have had this whole load of energy since I woke up this morning. We saw the doctor yesterday, everything looks great. She also said now that I was in my sixth month that I would get some of my old energy back." Grapping a pen and ticket pad out from underneath the counter, I went over to the dry erase board on the wall. "You want counter or floor tonight?"

"Counter!" Naru replied, her short brown hair swishing around her face as she headed to the floor to take the ticket to its own. Beside the word "Counter" on the board, I wrote Naru's name and then drew a small bunny next to "Floor". Looking out across the room, I noted that we weren't too terribly busy - which was odd for a Friday night. Shrugging it off, I walked towards the group who had just came in.

The night that had started out so dull didn't stay that way for very long. Before I knew it we had only one table free and five people in line for it. Leaning against the counter, I brushed my bangs away from my face with my hand. I had turned the air conditioning down twice, but with all the people talking and laughing around me I could feel the sweat dripping off my forehead.

With the added work load time flew by, and before I knew it Naru and I was cleaning tables - only a couple of people at the counter that left not too long afterwards. Putting both hands on the table, I closed my eyes and tried to stretch the muscles in my back. The tips were good tonight, but I was bone tired. Suddenly I felt long fingers massaging into my spine. I moaned softly in pleasure, peeking back to see who was behind me.

"Feel good?" Mamo-chan mumbled in my ear as I leaned back against him.

"Very." I felt his arms slip around my waist and squeeze lightly. The thumping of his heart was in my ear, his breath on my neck. Exhaustion made my eyes close wearily and I wondered what it would be like to stay in these arms all night.

Mamo-chan and I pulled away slightly when we heard footsteps in the room. I relaxed when I heard Naru giggling. "Don't mind me, I'm just finishing up."

"I need to go help her," I told Mamo-chan, lighting kissing his lips. I backed away from him, our eyes never breaking contact.

"I'll be waiting for you downstairs with Shingo," he replied, turning away from me. I walked behind the counter when I heard him call my name. As I turned around he was smiling at me, a strange glint in his eyes that I couldn't identify. "I love you."

Before I could reply he was gone through the door. Smiling to myself, I walked into the kitchen. Naru turned to me, smiling. "You two are so cute!" she exclaimed. "I wish I could get my boyfriend to act like that..." she sighed wistfully and began washing trays down again."You are so lucky."

The pain Dr. Mizuno had warned me about was worse in my lower stomach after working a busy shift. I picked my rag up and walked into the lobby and began taking apart the coke machine and cleaning it. After standing for so long, I felt like I would collapse any minute. Lucky, she says? I wasn't feeling it at the moment, but I knew she was right. I was very lucky to have my family.

On the way home that night Shingo fell asleep in the backseat. Mamo-chan and I had discussed Shingo and I sleeping over, but hadn't really came to a decision until we heard the soft snoring of my young brother in the backseat.

Using Mamo-chan's cell phone, I called Makoto and told her not to expect me in tonight. Thankfully, she said she would explain to Luna. I cringed at the thought of my feline guardian's reaction. But, then again, Luna had spent most of her time lately with Artemis - supposedly "discussing" the enemy. I knew better if I knew Luna.

With a huge ear to ear smile, Mamo-chan pulled the car into the garage and parked. Shingo barely opened his eyes when Mamo- chan picked him up and carried him to his apartment. Putting my little brother in the spare bedroom we tucked him into bed and the shut the door.

For an odd moment I had no idea what to do; what to say. Appearing equally as nervous - Mamo-chan went into the kitchen. He fished through the cabinets, pulling out cups. I followed him, sitting down at the table while he fixed us both a cup of hot tea.

"So, um, how are you feeling?" His nervous air did nothing for my own nerves.

Quickly I tried to think of an answer that may make both of us feel a little easier. "Well," I began, staring into my cup of tea and then at him. "I go through periods of being extremely tired to extremely energetic. And then there's also the feeling of having a small watermelon lying on my pelvic bone twenty-four hours a day." I laughed at the expression on his face, which in turn caused him to smile. "Otherwise it's a wonderful feeling to be carrying our child."

For reasons I couldn't explain at the moment, Mamo-chan's expression changed. I wondered what I had said wrong and connected it to the fact that we had not gotten the paternity test results yet. But since last month at the doctor he had seemed so suddenly at ease with my pregnancy. I bit my bottom lip and watched my beloved stand and go to the counter to pour another cup of tea. When he turned back to me, I found I couldn't take my eyes from his intense stare.

"Usako, I've been thinking about what we should do." When I gave him a blank stare, he motioned towards my stomach. "About the baby. About us." Oh no, my mind screamed. Here it comes. I had no earthly idea what 'it' was - but the feeling in my gut said it couldn't be any good when the conversation was on such a serious note. I just stared at him as he crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. "I think it would be in the best interest of all of us if you and Shingo moved in here with me."

I continued to stare at him until the words finally made sense in my slightly over stimulated mind. Relief, like a dam bursting, flooded over me. Mamo-chan sat down at the table across from me, taking my hands in his. "Now don't say anything. Just hear me out. I'm not proposing marriage - yet. Unless you want to, because I will marry you some day. For now, just some stability in our future. Shingo, I think, would be happier if he had two parent figures. And I want to be here for every second of your pregnancy. I don't make a ton of money, but I make enough to provide for all of us without struggle. We could turn the spare bedroom into a bedroom for Shingo and the baby..."

Suddenly I began giggling. Mamo-chan stopped, looking at me oddly. The way he babbled on about this made him appear like a child with a new toy. His eyes were bright with excitement. "How long have you been planning this, Chiba Mamoru?" I asked when finally I could catch my breath from his frequent change of subjects.

He gave me a lopsided grin and blushed (very adorably, by the way), looking at our joined hands. "Well, since the first time we saw Dr. Mizuno." When he meet my eyes again, there was the smallest trace of sadness in them. "I don't remember my parents very much, they died when I was young. I've never had a family, anyone to care for. I want us both to be here for our child like my parents couldn't be for me. I want to be here for you, during everything you experience. I want to be here for Shingo, he needs a family, too."

I felt the tears in my eyes. I heard the longing in his voice, the love and need. Without thinking I jumped up and hugged him. His arms encircled my waist as he brought me down to sit on his lap. "Don't worry love," I soothed. "You have a family now and we aren't going anywhere." I felt years wiser in that kitchen. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck, kissing his cheek. His strong arms encircled me, squeezing me to him. For the longest time we sat, holding each other. I felt myself opening the idea of the new family we could all have. My previous family was taken away from me, but I had a new one and I was thankful.

Contrary to what I thought may happen - Mamo-chan and I only slept in each other's arms that night. As I was putting on one of his shirts to wear as a night gown, he asked me what I wanted. Unsure, I admitted that I wasn't ready to add a physical relationship into everything else in my life. Not hesitating for a second, Mamo-chan slipped his arms around my waist and hugged me; reassuring me it was perfectly okay. "I just want to make you happy."

So that night I stayed curled up against his chest - discussing baby names. "I like the name Keri," I announced after saying and then rejecting several names in a row.

The only light in the room was that which shone through the sheers on the window. For the first time in months I was completely comfortable. Not once did being a princess cross my mind, nor saving the universe. Mamo-chan's hand rubbed small circles on my stomach as I continued to rattle on. Occasionally our daughter would kick or move around and Mamoru's hand would still over that area, his face glowing. "Do you have any ideas?" I asked him when he said nothing.

"Usagi."

I looked at him, slightly puzzled. "Nani?" I questioned, wondering why he hadn't addressed me by the pet name bestowed on me almost immediately after we meet.

He leaned up, propping his head on his hand and looking down at me. I felt a blush creep up my neck and to my cheeks at his intense stare. It turned even brighter when he explained. "I want to name her Usagi. After the most wonderful, beautiful woman in the world." He then reached down, placing his lips on mine softly. "No objections, I hope?"

Shaking my head no, I buried my self in his arms and started to say something when a tingling feeling of dread and fear ran up my spine. My eyes widen, causing Mamo-chan to become alert. Immediately my thoughts when to Shingo, but before I could voice my mind we heard a scream.

"MAMA! HELP ME!"

I don't remember getting out of the bed, or going to Shingo's room. Mamo-chan went in ahead of me, bursting through the door and searching for the problem. The room was empty, save for Shingo lying on the bed tossing and turning. His arms struck out at the empty air, tears running down his face as he let another howl of terror rise from his throat. From one side of the bed Mamo-chan held Shingo's arms down so that he didn't accidentally hit my stomach as he thrashed about. Shaking him, I tried to wake him up from the nightmare. He squirmed, fighting both Mamo-chan and I - but not waking up.

"Usako," Mamo-chan said gruffly, his voice demanding. "Go get a cup of cold water and pour it over him." I began to shake my head no when Shingo forced on of his arms loose and stuck Mamo-chan in the nose. At the sight of the blood I began to whimper. "Hurry Usako. It's the only way," Mamo-chan insisted. "He's needs to wake up. He might hurt himself."

As fast as my legs would take me, I ran down the hall and into the kitchen. Looking around frantically I realized I had no idea where the cups were. Instead of stalling any longer, I began flinging cabinet doors open, crying harder every time I heard Shingo scream for our mother - and then for me. Finally I found the cups and filled one full of cold water. Running back to the bedroom I stood above my screaming brother and closed my eyes before pouring it over his face.

Abruptly the room went quiet. Mamo-chan let go of Shingo's arms and they fell to his sides limply. Quickly his eyes opened and he chocked, sitting up and coughing. He looked at Mamo-chan, then at me, confused for a moment, wiping water off his face with his shirt sleeve. "Usagi, why did you pour water on me?" he asked, seemingly totally ignorant to why we were even in his room. His eyes stayed on Mamo-chan a bit longer. "Why is your nose bleeding?"

Mamo-chan and my eyes met briefly. Shingo looked back and forth between us, confused. How could he not remember anything? Not even a trace of the situation was evident in Shingo's features. Mamo-chan went to the bathroom, coming back with a towel. Quietly he dried Shingo's face, neck and hair. I continued to stare at my brother - dumbfounded.

"You.. you was having a nightmare. Do you not remember?"

Shingo shook his head no, reaching up and wiping a tear off my face. "Did I make you cry?" he asked solemnly.

I looked to Mamo-chan for help, but he looked as helpless as I felt. I reached over, brushing a strain of hair away from his eyes. "You need a hair cut," I mumbled, unthinking. Suddenly everything hit me - the fear in his voice, the urgency, his arms swinging about trying to protect himself because I couldn't. Shingo stared at me worriedly when the tears started again in earnest. I pulled him into a hug. Shingo moaned slightly - sounding in pain. "What's wrong?" I demanded, terrified.

"I hurt all over," he mumbled in my shirt, snuggling more into my embrace.

Mamo-chan came over to our side of the bed and felt Shingo's forehead. "He feels a little warm. Hey buddy," he took Shingo from my arms and stood up. "Do you want to sleep with us?"

Shingo nodded his head sleepily, lying on Mamo-chan's shoulder. Wiping the tears of frustration and fear from my face, I followed them into Mamo-chan's room. After Shingo fell asleep, Mamo-chan moved him over on the other side of the bed. I gave him a questioning look as he tucked him in. "Just incase he has another nightmare I want him away from you and the baby," Mamo-chan explained softly.

As softly as I could I pulled Shingo's shirt up and searched for more bruises, or any indication of why he would be sore. I found nothing but the healing bruises from before. Finally I laid down, snuggling up to Mamo-chan and laying my head on his chest, thinking. I was terrified of what I had seen. Shingo had looked possessed as he lashed out at his nightmare. I prayed it was only a dream - some fiction in the small mind of a six year old - but something told me different.

After listening to Mamo-chan and Shingo snore softly for hours - I finally fell into a - thankfully - dreamless sleep.

The warm rays of the sun greeted me the next morning. I laid still, basking in the knowledge that when I opened my eyes I would see Mamo-chan laying beside me. I thought about his proposal last night, telling me he wanted us to move in. I could wake up every morning with the love of my life beside me. it was a wonderful thought. I couldn't wait to open my eyes and see his handsome face next to mine. Goes to show how much I know.

Slowly I turned over and, with a smile on my face, opened my eyes and saw... an empty bed.

Confused, I sat up and looked around the bedroom. Empty. "Okay," I mumbled to the baby in my womb as I got up. "Let's go see if we can find your papa." It didn't take long - all I had to do was follow the sounds of Shingo's giggling and the occasional deep laugh of Mamo-chan. I peeked around the corner into the living room. Sitting on the floor, surrounded by empty breakfast plates and cups - was Mamo-chan and Shingo playing a racing game on the Nintendo.

"I'm going to beat you!" Shingo exclaimed, moving the controller about in the air as if it were helping him go faster.

"Not today!" Mamo-chan replied, laughing. "I am the master of this game!"

Holding my hand over my mouth to keep from giggling out-loud, I walked up to the two on the floor. "Master, huh?" I asked, seemingly impressed. "I bet I could beat you both," I stated, smiling at them.

Mamo-chan's attention left the screen to smile up at me, and the room immediately was loud with the sound of Shingo screaming his victory. "Hey!" my beloved protested, standing up and hugging me. "I was being distracted by a beautiful woman!"

"Not my problem," Shingo retorted, grinning from ear to ear. "I still won."

"Alright, kiddo, you won." Mamo-chan reverted his attention back to me, pulled me closer to his firm chest and kissing my nose softly. "How are my two favorite people in the world doing this morning?" He glanced at his watch. "Or should I say this afternoon?"

I giggled, inhaling his invigorating scent. "We are hungry."

"Why don't that surprise me?" he replied, winking. "You sit down, and I'll make you a plate. After breakfast maybe we can move your stuff over here?"

I nodded, smiling. I watched him disappear into the kitchen and I walked over to the balcony. Sliding the glass door back, I stepped outside and let the warming air brush against my face. From twelve stories up, the city was beautiful. The sounds of the city below floated up to my ears, filling my mind with a peaceful calm.

But it was times like these that my mind had time to go over my life - retract, and think about stuff that I didn't need to be thinking of. A haunting image of Shingo, his arms swinging out madly in the air, forced itself into my mind's eye. My parents; lying dead atop each other. The eerie image of the words, scribbled in my parent's fresh blood on the wall. Fleeing, into the arms of destiny. Headlong into a country I hadn't stepped in since I was the tender age of two. Mamo-chan, and the period before I knew who he was. Searching for my guardians, the heartache deep in my chest when I first realized I had died. And the latest trial added into the mess called my life - my pregnancy.

I had often wondered how much the human mind could take, how many blows could be added on top of blows before one just couldn't take it anymore. I hoped I never found out. For now, I would cope. Go on, fight, thrive, live and win. Over all, except for my own personal crisis's, it had been peaceful. Aside from the occasional youma attack, I just lived my life. I settled in my new town, my new job, my new life. I got comfortable. Too comfortable. I should have known, I should have kept the image of my parent's death fresh in my mind, never letting it fade. I knew what the enemy was capable of, and that fact should have never, never faded from my memory. They had found me once, ripping my life to shreds. It was only a matter of time before they found me again.

An unearthly, shrill scream rose above the sounds of the city - blocking out every other thought in my mind. It was followed by many other screams, and the people on the road below began running in all directions - without purpose, without destination. Away. Far away from where they were.

Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. They scrambled, and my fear filled eyes rose towards the heavens where I saw the object of their terror. My mouth dropped open, my hands clutching the rail with a such a force that my knuckles turned white and ached. I paid it no heed to the pain as I stared at the sky.

"Oh, my God," I whispered, unable to take my eyes from the once clear blue sky. I couldn't move, the only thing that responded to the commands of my brain was my voice. There was an explosion, and I felt the scream release from my throat.

"MAMO-CHAN!"

-End Chapter 8.

In case anyone was mistaken, I don't own Sailor Moon or any of the characters. I do own a POS laptop, an ipad and a phone. Everything else the kids own ^^;

You will begin to hate cliffhangers from me, I'm sorry but not sorry enough to stop. Right now it's ok because I'm just revising this story and it's coming out quickly. When that ends and I only update once a week I feel the death threats may begin again. It's been about 13 years since I've gotten any good death threats, I must just be missing them ^_^;

I glanced back at previous chapters and realized that this website is deleting the link to the Sailor Moon website I have been posting. So I'm trying this again: for the best place I have found to read manga (all of them!) and watch Sailor Moon Crystal, type in this link: www dot sailormoon dot xyz

God Bless!
Beth