A/N: After reading over the chapters again some of my old muse returned and I came up with this chapter. The updates will remain super sporadic as I focus on other stories. Eventually I do plan to continue and finish this story though. I mentioned the first awakening would be in the next chapter but it made more sense to pair it with this one.
One translation may need clarification for those not completely familiar with Japanese. Oishisou means 'looks tasty/delicious'.
Disclaimer: Simply, Sailor Moon is not mine. This is purely a fan work.
Usagi hummed lightly, tapping the table in a gentle rhythm. She was walking home after getting some much needed fresh air and a break. With school, work and helping with the final preparations of the charity event tonight. The walk home she listened to some of her favorite music from Aino Minako. The young college student was practically jumping with glee when her friend confirmed that the singer would be there tonight. Her hands clasped beneath her chin in a mix of enthusiasm and excitement. She was going to meet her favorite idol. One way or another, she was planning on it tonight.
First thing first, she had to prepare. Her budget did not allow for any high end clothing. She dropped off one of her old dresses at her mother's so she could properly iron it, or do whatever it was that made it suitable. Pushing the door open of the apartment, she immediately went over to her closet. She failed to notice the black cat that lingered outside. Focus went toward grabbing her dress. It was a light pink halter dress with a fabric flower fastened below the neck. A pink frill erupted from the hem, the end going to mid-thigh once she put it on.
Calling up her mother to thank her, she received a chuckled no problem. Saying that she had to finish getting ready, the conversation stayed short. The event started at five o'clock and it was already four thirty. A squeak escaped her. It would take her fifteen minutes to get there at the least. There was a chance she was going to be late! The memories of being late while in the lower levels of education flashed through her mind as Usagi went into overdrive. She was out in ten minutes, chances that she would make good time if she did not run into any detours.
This did not stop her from sprinting out the door, her pigtails flying out behind her. The cat blinked, focusing its concentration on the young woman. The warmth she felt was the same and remained strong since she first spotted her. Quietly, the cat followed. A foreboding feeling suddenly came over the feline. She shuddered, hoping that nothing would go disarray tonight.
Usagi got there a couple minutes to five, some guests already arriving. Usagi let out a distressed sound. She was supposed to arrive a little early. She sprinted through the doors, flashing the ID that covered for access of the charity event.
When she got into the building she let out a sigh of relief. Ever the one to show emotions on her face, the twenty year old beamed at all the success ready to take off and all the cheerful faces. A small voice called up from across the room.
"Usagi-san! How are you?" A little boy of six stared up at her with dark brown eyes. He wore a red shirt with a foreign rocker she couldn't recognize. Overlarge blue shorts were pulled tight in a waistband. An awkward assemble but childishly pleasant nevertheless.
"Aoi-chan. I'm doing fine. I'm glad you could show up." Aoi was one of the kids she became close to once she started at the daycare. The job was harder than what she first expected and only had a babysitter qualification beforehand. All the kids loved her easy going personality though and quickly were a favorite of the kids. The part time work paid well but the real reason she stayed at it was the enjoyment. She loved kids and hoped to have her own one day.
The charity event was for the childcare offered in Japan and for the different children clinics set up at different parts of the city. It was a cause Usagi had powerful belief in. The fact that Minako and other famous people would come well that was extra icing on the cake. She was about to ask Aoi how the rest of the week went when she heard another voice callout to her. Smiling warmly at the little boy, she shooed him off back to his mother before heading over to her friend.
Kino Makoto felt her lips turn up in a smile while watching her friend come over. She wore a white shirt with a dark forest green blazer over it. A matching green skirt went down just passed her knees. Topping off her assemble were a pair of brown dress shoes. Her hair was in its customary ponytail, a few brown locks escaping and falling to frame her face. She looked the professional businesswoman.
"Mako-chan! Those look delicious!" Her eyes went to the assortment of pastries set up at the brunette's table. Reaching out to grab one, a slap at her wrist stopped her.
"Donation please," a playful grin crossed Makoto's face while staring down at her friend. Usagi pouted before shelling out 500 yen and grabbing a doughnut.
"I've helped out enough, I deserve some food!" Stomach ruling supreme once more in her perspective, she started devouring the fried dough in vengeance. A minute later, the final remains disappeared and the odango haired woman patted her belly in satisfaction. "Brilliant, they're going to love this." Her eyes travelled through the crowd, the final guests pooling in while she was talking to her friend.
"Well, I promised to help set up the few final touches. I'll check back here soon!" Before Makoto could say anything else, or the fact she saw Minako enter a minute earlier, chestnut eyes winked at her as the owner headed into the masses- promptly tripping over her feet in the process. She rolled her eyes at the antics, calling out a farewell.
X_X
Minako stared evenly at the people crowding into the room. Something sparked in the air, good and bad vibes sent through her body. She could hardly call herself one to have six sense but with the amount of energy in the air she could sense something on the verge of happening.
A sigh escaped her lips, looking down at her white companion. "Something's going to go down," she muttered. A questioning voice came from her left and she looked up with a beaming smile. "Nothing, nothing." There was the formality of talking to other celebrities and prominent people in the community. Since she was the youngest out of them, she found the conversations dull. Excusing herself, she slipped into the crowd.
She expertly pulled on a cap, tucking her hair into the folds. Then came the sunglasses and her operation to blend in was on. Her dress was on the expensive side, a flowing pale yellow satin gown with a golden colored sash draped over one shoulder. Hopefully the people wouldn't pay her much mind and think of her as just a rich girl. It was not complete success. Most people knew she was here and thus keeping a lookout for her. Unless someone looked directly at her the majority did not give her a second glance. Satisfied, she felt something jump at her shoulders.
"Act stuffed," Minako muttered to her fluffy companion. Artemis dug his claws briefly into her skin, showing he did not appreciate the comment.
"I'll keep a look out," without another word he jumped off again and disappeared in the rush of feet. She snorted, rolling her eyes. 'Don't get run over,' she thought amusedly.
She walked through the other end of the room, where tables were set up to collect a variety of donations. A smell caught her attention she walked over to a young woman selling a variety of baked items.
The tall woman's eyes widened as she recognized her and Minako held back a sigh. She managed a grin and handed 10,000 yen over before grabbing two lemons and a strawberry pastry. Taking a bag for one of them, she debated sharing it with Artemis in a little bit.
As she was set to walk away, something stopped her. Not being able to describe the feeling, she held out her free hand. "Aino Minako, that you probably guessed. Oishisou ne." She nodded to the pastries.
A handshake was not custom in Japan but the idol had gotten used to the habit on her short tour overseas. When Makoto took her hand hesitantly, a pulse surged through her body, almost like an electric shock. She pulled back, eyes wide. She stared down at her hand, silent for a moment until she figured that she seemed rude.
"Ah, gomen. These do look good. And you are?" she couldn't shake the feeling off and figured that she would have to ask Artemis about it later. She had no idea if the other woman felt what she did but knew that this could not turn awkward with questions concerning it.
"Kino Makoto," the brunette fiddled with her ponytail trying to discern what was going on. This was not how she imagined meeting her idol.
"Well, Makoto-san, I will have to keep your name and place in mind. Have a good day." She turned and walked away, pastries in hand. Out of the corner of her eye she could see her manager motioning toward her. She was set to perform before the charity auction kicked off for the event. She sighed, pushing the thoughts of any senshi business out of her mind. It was time to embrace the other part of her life.
X_X
Usagi slowly found her way back toward her friend's table after organizing different paperwork for the events that would be happening. One of them was the auction, which she had a set amount she put aside to use for. Until then, she was going to enjoy the hard work and the atmosphere around those she loved.
Stopping besides the table, her smile brightened as she grabbed a couple dumplings. She sent a sideways glare at Makoto, slamming down 1000 yen before her friend could say anything about it.
The taller woman laughed, "Shimatta, I'm getting hungry watching everybody eat my work."
"Can't you pay for it yourself?" Without waiting for an answer, Usagi handed her one of the dumplings. Patting the style on her head, she started devouring the other.
"So I met Aino-san earlier…"
"What? Why didn't you call me over?" Usagi said indigently. She continued, "Anyway, how did it go?" Wide chestnut eyes stared at Makoto, waiting for an answer.
"I dun know… a little awkward." The baker was rubbing her hand, a look of confusion crossing her face.
Usagi failed to notice this; instead she brushed the conversation aside before she could become jealous of her friend. "It's too bad Ami-chan couldn't come."
"She's busy Usagi-chan." Bending down to pick up a bag, she started unwrapping the third round of her goods.
"She's always busy…" Usagi whined, brushing a few crumbs off her hand.
The night moved on. The two women watched the performances like they were in high school again. Usagi jumped around her friend in excitement while Minako sang, having to be held by the arm so she won't go crazy. Finally, the auction came up and Usagi grabbed her card determinedly.
"Anything you have in mine, Usagi-chan?" Makoto laughed, leaning back in the chair she acquired.
"Mina-chan's signed album and the big meter tall teddy bear." Her eyes shone with the same determination as the first item came up.
Usagi successfully claimed the teddy bear but used almost half her budget. She was worried she wouldn't have enough money for the signed album. Biting her lip as it came up, she held up her card in excitement before a number left the auctioneer's mouth.
"1500 yen!" he shouted out before going to the next person.
Usagi had no strategy and held up her card while it remained in budget. Soon though, it was coming close to her max and she looked uneasily around at her competition. A raven haired beauty was holding up her card alternatively with a disinterested look. As Usagi watched, she sent a glare in a direction she failed to see the recipient. There was also a middle aged man and another woman around her age.
The limit was reached quickly and Usagi started to doubt her decision to buy the bear. Makoto patted her shoulder in comfort. "Don't worry, you'll get another shot."
"Do you think I can hunt her down after the event and get one then?" She played with the hem of her skirt, casting a longing look at the stage.
"That wouldn't be fair for whoever buys it tonight, Usa-chan." Usagi huffed at the response, arms stubbornly going over her chest. Makoto couldn't tell if she was going to try to find the idol after all this was done or not.
It came down to the middle aged man and the woman around her age. The raven haired woman dropped out shortly after Usagi did. When she thought the man was going to get it, something made her change her mind and did a final bid. No one else met with a counterbid.
"Sold! 10,400 yen!"
Usagi was moping, kicking her shoe around like she was kicking dirt. She managed a smile for her friend before straightening up. She would head home soon. Everything was starting to wrap up, she will grab her new huge teddy and head home.
A scream suddenly echoed out at the other end of the room. Not knowing what it was, Usagi also screamed in shock. It was either that or the original scream that sent everything into chaos. She was running toward the exit all thoughts of the stuffed bear and album leaving her mind. People were pushing each other side, trying to find their own way out. Through the top of the head, she spotted a big youma thing swiping arms at the masses.
The terror turned into tiredness as it seemed that all the energy from it was being drained from her. Usagi made it to the edge of the room. The area was deserted and she leaned up against the wall, slowly sinking to the ground.
"Sailor Moon!" she stared in daze shocked as a black cat came over. Its eyes were blazing and a crescent mark glowed on its forehead.
"I think you got the wrong person..." Looking around, Usagi refused to believe that it was the cat talking. Cats did not talk, youmas did not attack charity events and Usagi was not here. She was in bed, dreaming. She already went home with her new teddy bear and was having a nightmare in bed.
"No!" The cat sounded furious and pushed something that was not there a second ago toward her. It was an ornate locket, a light pink hue with a silver design etched to it that she failed, nor cared, to decipher at the second. The cat continued, failing to acknowledge the shock and fear coming off the young woman in waves. "Take this and call out, 'Moon Prism Power, Make-up!"
Usagi took the locket, finding it hard to breath at the lower energy. She closed her eyes, 'this is a dream. Since it's a dream, I might as well do it. This is a dream. This is a dream.' The thought in mind, she stood up, holding the locket high.
"Moon Prism Power, Make-up!"
X_X
Rei walked away from the building, Minako's album in hand. She stared at it, reading the flamboyant handwriting. Thanks for donating to a good cause – Aino Minako. It was an impulse buy. Her father said he will pay for whatever she wanted in the auction. And she decided to buy one of the most expensive things, minus the paid for trip for two in Japan. That would mean probably going with him and that was the last thing she wanted.
She denied the offer to be driven home, instead deciding to walk to the subway and take it home. Rei did not care for any danger this offered. Tapping her finger to the album cover, a frown marked her face. She usually did not listen to Mina's music. It always sent a sad note under the cheerful lyrics. The sense was a longing and trying to reclaim something lost. Rei felt helpless after listening to it so she stopped after the first few songs.
Leaving right after she claimed her prize, she did not witness the youma attacking. She did feel a sense of danger though and turned worried eyes behind her. The raven haired woman turned back toward home, ignoring it. There was nothing she could do, she knew for the moment. As a warm feeling rushed through her a couple minutes later she felt calmed and reassured.
X_X
In her apartment, Ami felt the wave of warmth covering her like a blanket. She stopped the work on her medical homework, looking around in confusion. Seeing no cause for it, she yawned leaning back in her chair. She needed to get this done.
X_X
Makoto was knocked over while trying to reach the exit. She wanted to grab Usagi but her friend had fled in terror without much sense where she was going. Now the tall brunette pushed herself with support of the wall. She was feeling drained. Looking over the heads and for once grateful for her height, she tried to pinpoint her friend. Failing at that, she did get a good look at the youma and shuddered. Then a refreshing feeling of sunshine basked her body and she blinked in shock. A youma won't give that reaction. She looked across the room, sensing the sensation coming from that direction.
X_X
A rush of power surged through Usagi as it manifested itself in light surrounding her form. She blinked open her eyes, staring down at her new outfit. A white leotard fit snugly on her torso while a blue mini-skirt and collar of the same color. Elbow length gloves, boots and choker finished off the outfit. Reaching her hand up, she touched the tiara on her head. Her hair turned silver and jewels adorned her odango buns. "So weird…" She felt reenergized and ready to fight. Fight…!
She jumped on top of a table that stayed upright. Steadying herself she shouted out to the youma. "Hey you! How dare you disrupt an event for a good cause? I'm Sailor Moon and I will punish you!" She posed dramatically, pointing at the youma. It looked at her and the newly made senshi balked, almost tripping off the desk.
The youma stood at eight foot tall without clothing besides a loincloth. Tan leathery skin wrinkled over its form, long arms hanging at its side. Talon like claws extended out of three fingers. An elongated face and soulless eyes bore into Moon's and she shivered. The mouth looked tiny but opening it she found it was gaping with large spiked teeth. A howling sound similar to that of a howler monkey escaped the nonexistent lips.
Moon successfully tripped and with that she started screaming. They magnified and rivaled those of the youma. It seemed like her first battle will be a screaming contest.
"Sailor Moon!" The cat was back and yelled angrily at her. "You can't do it like this. Use your tiara. 'Moon Tiara Action. Now!" To get her point across, she raised a claw and scratched down her exposed thigh.
It was painful but it worked. Moon jumped up, gripping her calf in pain. The pain turned into desperation as she saw the youma jumping at her. She quickly took off her tiara, feeling it powering up in her hands. "Moon Tiara ACTION!" The last bit turned out in a scream as the blazing tiara went to strike the youma. Coming at her and a few strides away, it hit squarely in the chest. In a moment of panic, she thought it was going to bounce off and she would lose her head. Concentrating hard in hopes that it will destroy her opponent she closed her eyes. The glowing tiara flashed in intensity, ripping through the youma and disintegrating it into dust.
X_X
Sailor V stood in the shadows. She transformed and was going to help when she felt an unmistakable warmth flow through her system. She rushed back to the main room, her eyes going to the senshi dressed similar to her in mingled surprise. V was planning to enter the fight and almost did when she saw it was nothing but screaming and then the youma attacking Moon. It was defeated however and she let out a breath. Her eyes going to Artemis, she smiled. "Let's get home."
When she arrived home, Minako pulled on comfy yellow pajamas. Her hair back to brown after she transformed back into her civilian identity, she got on her bed, it falling into her face. She placed her head in her hands, trying to clear her head. "Another one awakened." She muttered silently. When she thought she would feel elation at what happened instead she felt rather empty.
"Do you think it's who you ran into? Kino-san?" She had told her feline companion about the brief meeting during the auction.
"No, the senshi was way too short. If anything, we appear taller when we transform not the other way around." Minako lifted her head, eyes traveling to the window. The moon was almost full and its serene light comforted her. "The hairstyle reminded me of Serenity."
The comforting feeling fell off as a sense of dread came in. She jumped up, knocking the white feline off the bed. "No! Serenity must not be able to fight! She has to stay safe." The thought of the princess fighting stiffened her spine. Who she remembered hated fighting; she wouldn't be able to do it effectively without getting hurt.
Artemis blinked up in shock at her charge as she started pacing in thought. Mina had a habit of doing so when she was trying to think through a hard problem. A minute passed, two, before the idol stopped. She walked over to the mirror, staring her reflection down. She took a strand of her long hair, criticizing it for a moment.
"It's ok Artie. I have an idea."
X_X
Usagi quickly dropped her transformation after defeating the youma and left the scene. She did not want to register all the injured and unconscious people. Some had long slashes down their faces, torsos, limbs. One man she caught sight of before fleeing she had no idea if he would survive, looking impaled through the stomach. The blood drained from her face as quickly as it drained on the floor of the victims. She spotted Makoto trying to get up after unconsciousness. Having no idea what she could say to her friend, glad she was alright, she left without confronting her.
"This is a dream! This is a dream!" Usagi called out, in an all out sprint toward her apartment. The black cat disappeared into the shadows glad she knew where the woman lived. Twenty minutes later she slipped through the window causing the small woman to scream.
Usagi was exhausted after her run. She did not get a workout run like that since her daily sprints across town to school while in high school. After she collapsed in her bed, she sat up hoping that doing so would wake her up and send the nightmare away. She was still exhausted though. That happened after waking up from a traumatizing dream right?
She successfully got it in her head that it had been all one messed up event of her imagination when the cat entered through her window. Screaming she fell back and hit her head hard on the headboard of her bed. "I'm still dreaming," she gasped under her breath.
"This is not a dream, Usagi." She did bother asking how the cat knew her name.
"Who are you?" She asked instead. If it was a dream, the cat would disappear in the morning. If not, she was unsure how to take it.
"My name is Luna. You are destined to be a senshi. You-" Luna was cut off.
"No! In the morning please. I can't take all of this tonight." With that, Usagi buried herself under the covers. Eyes squeezed shut she drifted off to sleep.
A/N: So what do you think? Tell me in a review!
There a couple things to mention. No Tuxedo Kamen in this chapter, I know. I am planning to have the first Usagi/Mamoru reaction in the next chapter. As for the masked crusader, if it makes sense in the next battle I will throw him in there as well. Also, in the manga version of SM where V decoys as the princess I always felt was unclear. As there was no Sailor Moon in the Silver Millennium, knowing who she was off the bat was a little stretched even with full memories. Luna did not know and she was the one spending the most time with Moon transformed after awakening. So I included the bit of the thought process on how Minako figured it out, through her hair. The hair color will change during the transformation for all characters like it did for Usagi. Moon's hair silver, Mercury's blue, Venus' blonde etc.
