Act III

No Beginning Without An End

A beautiful old cathedrial stood before me, Usako standing there in an elegant white gown by a glass stain window with a breathtaking golden cross surrounded by a field of blue and red. I approached her causing her to turn her head a single tear falling from her baby blue eyes as the gown was replaced with the royal garb of the Moon Kingdom a golden crescent moon upon her forehead as the ground beneath her feet erupted and in a flash she was gone. "Usa…." I cried out falling to my knees. "You must not be with the princess of the moon, prince of the Earth. To do so shall mean her death," an otherworldly voice said to me. "Iie. It can't be true; why must this be true," I yelled out as my eyes snapped open and I found myself setting up in my bed covered in sweat. "Again," I whispered to the empty room as I looked over to a picture of myself and Usako that Setsuna herself had taken shortly after her awakening of us underneath a tree.

I gasped as I watched the glass protecting the picture cracked and Usa fell to the side dead before the picture returned to normal, though I still dropped it in shock. This dream that had been plaguing me now for a solid week, this premonition made it far to true, was me being with Usako, could it, would it cause her death. "I can't take that chance," I thought to myself as a tear fell from my eye, before they became as steel with determination. I knew what I had to do, Usagi, never again would I let her be taken form any of our lives, even if I could never again be at her side. Usa would live, she would be here with us; I would make sure of that, even if she hated me for the rest of time, her breathing, happy, alive I would walk through the nine rings of hell itself to insure that remained fact.

~ Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon ~

I remember when I first brought Chibiusa as we now called her home. Setsuna had but her hair up in a bun and was wearing reading glasses, something she did all the time now, though she never explained why, simply telling me it was time for a change. When Chibiusa had opened her eyes for the first time she looked from me to Setsuna and frowned. "Puu," she had called her causing me to blink though Setsuna simply smiled. "Sorry little one, you must have me confused with someone else, my name is Meioh Setsuna," "Oh, you look just like her though," she whispered after that; though I still heard her. "Sets-chan," I said in a questioning manor. "Later Usagi, I promise," she had said and I had nodded. "I'll call you Sets-chan to, ne," the little girl in my arms had said breaking the tension and things had gone easily sense then.

Later when I had a chance to talk with Sets-chan she told me she truly didn't know anything of Chibiusa or how the child had the knowledge she held. I believed her, but still felt as if she was keeping something from me in order to protect me, I could not fault her for that, so I simply let the matter drop. Still it was strange how easily Chibiusa fit into our life. Sets-chan got her easily accepted into Juban Elementary School, and I would always walk her to school before heading to the Junior High which was only a few blocks away. But it was Sunday and their was no school today so I was taking Chibiusa to the park, the poor child always seemed to be worried and acted far older than her age, I wanted to give her a chance to relax, to truly be the child she was. Sets-chan was not following us, she whispered to me that she knew I could care for myself, but I still had a feeling we were not alone, and I wondered if she had contacted Haruka and Michiru or perhaps even one of the girls.

There was going to be an open chess tournament, held latter at the park. Ami-chan was going to take place in it but only after being convinced Shirai, I have no idea what he said to her, or how he got her to agree, but I was going to be there to cheer her on the entire way. "Look Usagi, its Mamo-chan," Chibiusa said to me tugging on my arm to get my attention, and I waved at him with a smile only to have the smile slip when he simply nodded to me. "Usagi," he said his voice so distant it sent a chill straight down my spine. "Mamo-chan," I said in a questioning manor. "We need to talk," he said looking towards Chibiusa. "Chibiusa go play with those other children I'll be over shortly," I told the little girl who looked concerned between myself and Mamo-chan before with a nod she walked away.

"What's wrong Mamo-chan," I asked placing my hand on his arm only for him to shrug away from my embrace. "Please, Usagi don't call me that. I….I don't think we should be together anymore," he said causing my eyes to widen in shock. "What….why," I said barely holding myself together as tears threatened to fall from my eyes. "We should not build a relationship on lives we lived millennia ago Usagi. I mean before you awakened, and my memories returned I didn't even know who you were," he said. "But our friendship, we knew each other once before we knew of the past, cared for each other…" "But we were only friends, it didn't become more until our memories returned to us….that isn't right Usa-gi, you know it isn't. I'm sorry, goodbye," he said turning away from me; so I didn't see the tears falling from his eyes as he walked away from me, from us.

"Mamoru," I whispered finally letting the tears fall. "Usagi," a small voice said as a tiny hand slipped over my own. "I'm ok Chibiusa," I said looking down at her my words not true but I would hold up my mask for her, she was far to young to worry about the things she did; I wouldn't add my problems to those she seemed to already hold. "Come on, lets go see if we can find Ami-chan," I said to her and Chibiusa nodded and smiled, and I couldn't help but do the same, it seemed that her excitement was just that contagious and for the moment I could forget what had happened just moments before, and not have to think about it. Chibiusa was the one to spot Ami-chan, but she was not alone as Shirai was with her, but the other girls were here, Rei, Minako and Mako-chan with Hanako, Hirose and Akai. Chibiusa went over to talk with Ami-chan about the chess tournament but the other girls shared a look before Rei walked towards me with Hanako at her side.

"Usagi-chan, what's wrong," she asked me; and I couldn't help but smile it seemed that I wasn't the only one who was able to read when something was wrong without so much as a word being spoken. I knew I would not be able to lie to her; but at the same time I didn't know if I could tell her the truth. All of the girls were very protective of me, and I could see Rei actually going to find Mamo-chan iie Mamoru and threatening to set him on fire. But I needed to talk about it, I knew that, so taking Rei's hands in my own so that I would be able to calm her I told her about what had happened. "He…did…what," Rei-chan said having to take a deep breath between each word so she wouldn't start yelling; though her body was literally shaking, I think the only think keeping her from totally losing it was my being so close to her.

"Rei, please. It's okay….I'm," but here Rei stopped me. "No you aren't," she whispered. "I can see the pain in your eyes Usagi, you are keeping up a strong front for Chibiusa's sake but there is no hiding that," she whispered to me and using the fact that I was holding her hands to her advantage Rei drew me into a hug; whispering, "it's okay." Such a simple statement but it allowed everything that had happened to crash down around me, and I began to cry as Rei-chan comforted me. Hanako worked quickly moving over to the girls and telling them that Rei needed their help while she and the other Shitennou kept Chibiusa occupied so she would not see me crying. Rei explained what had happened, and if I thought she had been angry, it was nothing compared to how Minako, Ami and Makoto felt. The only thing that kept them from going and finding Mamoru was me begging them not to, tears still in my eyes my cheeks wet; the need to make sure I was okay winning out over the anger they felt.

Ami whipped away all of my tears with her handkerchief and Minako who always carried little wet wipes with her cleaned off my makeup just as Chibiusa came over to me looking up at me in concern. "Usagi, are you okay," she asked me and I smiled somehow this little girls concern for me making me feel warm inside, allowing the pain of loosing Mamoru to be pushed into the back of my mind. "I'll be alright little one," I said taking her into my arms. "I have you and all the girls to help me after all," I said and I could see the anger fading in their eyes as well as the Shitennou went to their sides. "I may very well give Mamoru a black eye the next time I see him Hirose," Minako told the leader of the Shitennou. "Not if I do it first," I heard Hanako whisper making Rei laugh as Akai shook his head and Shirai and Hirose sighed. "Hanako," Hirose said. "Is Mamoru in trouble," Chibiusa asked me. "Iie, little one; he just did something that upset everyone," I replied unable to lie too her but not wanting her to know the entire truth either.

"Oh, okay," she said leaning against me and wrapping her arms as far as she could around me. "Ami-chan, I know you may not wish too; but you should still enter this tournament today, I think it will help all of us get our minds off of all of this," I asked her. Ami-chan looked at me for a moment and only smiled as she nodded. "That is a good idea," she said and I noticed that all of the Shitennou stayed very close to each of the girls, and in that moment I wondered what would happen when Haruka and Michiru learned about this, "I'll have to make sure I am the one to tell them," I thought to myself as Chibiusa looked up at me and started talking to me about the friends she had made in the park, and once again I smiled knowing what she was trying to do; it was strange how similar the two of us could be at times.

The chess tournament was divided into two brackets, and of course Ami-chan was easily winning her way through the A bracket while over in the B bracket a young woman with soft white hair held in a braided ponytail that fell to the middle of her back with ice blue eyes and porcelain like skin named Beruche was doing the same it was clear that this was who Ami-chan would be facing at the end of the tournament and with both of their skills it was going to be an amazing match to watch. Ami set down across from Beruche frowning, and for a moment I wondered why; Ami-chan was never cross or rude with someone unless they insulted her or a member of our extended family so to speak as we all thought of each other.

~ Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon ~

Their was something about this Beruche that I did not like, though I could not place what it was, her smile almost predatory as we set on opposite sides of the chess table. "Hello Mercury," she said to me causing my eyes to widen as she laughed, but thinking quickly I reached into my pants pocket and using a special button on my cell phone called all the girls leaving my phone on, smiling when I saw all the girls had their phones to their ears as I waited for Beruche to speak and reveal herself to the others as she had to me. "Honestly, I didn't realize how popular this little idea of mine would be Mercury," she said to me. "But not only are you here, but the little rabbit as well," she said her eyes moving to look at Chibiusa though Usagi quickly stepped in front of the young girl without revealing a reason why, and the young girl remained oblivious to what was going on.

"So, Beruche what do you plan to do, if you recognize me; then I wonder if you also realize I am not here alone," I said to her and her eyes quickly scanned the crowd landing on Minako, Rei and Makoto before coming back to me. "So I see," she said and I wondered why her eyes had not even once glanced at Usagi; but thanked kami that even if this new enemy seemed to know who we are, that Usagi-chan's secret was safe. "So what will you do now Beruche, as long as any of us breath you shall not touch a hair upon that child's head," I said the sheer determination in my tone surprising even myself and Beruche looked at me strangely before she laughed. "Your loyalty to her has always astounded us, but I can not shy away from this. Droids," she said as Minako yelled out, "now," each of us going for our wrists as Usagi took Chibiusa in her arms and started to run.

We all transformed as the faces in the crowd became mechanical, they were machines. "Dark Water," Beruche said launching an attack at me as I rolled out of the way. "Shine Aqua Illusion," I yelled out and Beruche was not as lucky as the attack froze her to the ground. Around me the other girls easily disposed of the Droids. "Time to end this," I heard a familiar tenor tone. "I agree," a softer voice said as Uranus and Neptune appeared. "World," "Deep," "Shaking," "Submerge," the two yelled out as one their attacks combining as one and rushing towards Beruche who with a strangled laugh only righted herself allowing the energy to encompass her reducing her to nothing more than dust. "Is, is it safe now Usagi," I heard Chibiusa ask as Usagi walked into the field looking at each of us, pride in her eyes. "Yes little one, it is safe now, thank you; Sailor Senshi," she said to us as we nodded and Chibiusa looked to us in awe the look unreadable on her young face.

"Minna, lets go," Minako said and we all left even Haruka and Michiru who looked towards Usagi who mouthed, "later," and the two nodded their heads as we all dashed away leaving Usagi and Chibiusa to their selves. ["There here….they are really here," I heard Chibiusa whisper, though I am sure she had not meant for me to here. It was yet another mystery to aid to the many that surrounded this child; I did not say anything, would not say anything as I drew Chibiusa closer to me and let her cry for whatever reason, knowing that I would continue to do everything in my power to make sure she was protected….]

Note 3

And so ends the third act of my story. This one was hard to write, especially when I knew that I would do the infamous break up that happened in R arc of the anime between Usagi and Mamoru; but hope to give it a manga twist….I will say nothing more on the matter than that as it would give far to much away.

So till next act,

I humbly remain a . . . .

KuRSeofTime