Author's Note: It's been awhile since I've started a new multi chapter story. I'm simply writing this to get out of my head. Hope everyone enjoys it.

Onto the story:

Usagi Tsukino knew that when she met Taichi, they were going to be friends. It wasn't a matter of how but more so when.

It was odd though because it felt like they'd known each other for years already although it had only been just a blimp in time. He smiled warmly, and she waved like a dork before beaming like the sunrise.

It was for a fact, she knew, that Usagi looked like a goofball to everyone who saw the scene. It didn't really matter though. Not at that time. Usagi was meeting one of the friend's of Mamoru that he's told her about while in America.

Well, he didn't say much, more like Minako spied on him and reported back on the people that Mamoru spoke to while out there studying in Harvard. He did send a picture, in which Taichi photobombed though.

Mamoru also said that he was a person of great interest since he once saved the world as a kid. He was fond of him despite the fact that they didn't go to the same school, but he'd seen him play soccer at one of the college games. A girl named Mimi told Mamoru to go to the game.

"Hey bun head!" Taichi tapped her shoulder, "You should probably be careful."

Usagi turned around, expecting to see Mamoru but was surprised by the messy mop of brown hair belonging to a goggle wearing teen around her age. "I'm always careful," she snorted while nearly slipping on the curve.

He hurriedly grabbed her arm to attempt to stop the fall but ended up tripping alongside her into the street.

Still, he was quick enough to pull her from hitting the sidewalk directly though it meant that he took the crash and her body weight falling directly into him. "Y-yeah, I can see… that."

He chuckled. "Always careful, eh?" He winced as she stared for a moment then grabbed her fallen bags then tried to help him back up.

Usagi didn't know what to say. She stayed quiet and tried to get her mind back straight as he finally stood up and tried to clean up the dirt off his school jacket. "Can't go in looking like we're not ready for the entrance ceremony for Uni, ya know?"

His brown eyes looked so sincere. It reminded her of Mamoru. It was no wonder why they had become friends…

"I think he'd be proud of you…"

Usagi's eyes widened at hearing that statement. She felt them dilate.

"Chiba Mamoru-san, I mean…" Taichi must've not noticed that she had stopped walking because he kept talking and strolling along without her no longer by his side. "He always talked about you, and he said that he couldn't wait to see you again…"

Usagi took a moment to gather herself before following slowly from behind.

"I told him that I would protect you…" Taichi stopped walking and looked directly at her. "Like he protected me…"

There was a shooting in Harvard University. A young Japanese-native male was said to have rescued twenty five students before apprehending the suspect.

The suspect was an All-American football player with a well-to-do family. People describe him as being charming, handsome, and a very kind man but something turned within him that day.

It's said that the Japanese student was the initial target but came out unscathed. Police find this suspicious and will not rule that he was involved in some terrorist act and may have put Brandon Lawrence up to the act.

"Usagi." Taichi grit his teeth. "We will not only make it through this year, but we will prove that Mamoru was innocent of those crimes… even if he can't defend himself."

Mamoru disappeared that day. Yes, that was the day that Rei had a vision that he was killed and set up.

Two Years Ago

"I can't breathe?" Mamoru read aloud. He hadn't been in the United States very long, maybe two or three weeks but he'd seen shirts and signs everywhere with those words imprinted on them.

A black male turned up an eyebrow and looked like he was surprised to see someone actually staring at him at eye level. Probably more surprised that it was an Asian, especially with how Americans typically stereotype Asians as short people with high voices.

"You must be new here." His eyes were steeled light brown with teeth whiter than any actors or models Mamoru had ever seen in his life. He was tawny, probably an athlete based off his build and short wavy curly hair and a hairline that Mamoru had only seen on the African American shows he'd seen on Netflix.

Mamoru was prepared to have some sort of scuffle based on what some of his American professors had told him before he landed in the States about the situation with people of color and their sensitivities with everyone around them.

"You wanna know why my shirt says 'I can't breathe,' right?" His expression darkened but his tone didn't fit what Mamoru had been told. No, his tone got quiet and while his expression wasn't full of hope, it wasn't malice either. There was a sadness that he knew from experience that comes from going through life and it's hardships.

Mamoru nodded. He didn't feel right saying anything. While his English was good on paper and he spoke well enough to go to one of the most prestigious English speaking universities in the world, he didn't know what to say or how to articulate what could be said.

"My name's Terrance." He looked around then shook his hand as if to make sure that Mamoru wasn't sent there to spy or something. To be honest, Mamoru wasn't sure what to think. "You should probably do your own research though," Terrance said softly.

Mamoru nodded. Again, he wasn't sure why he thought nodding seemed to be the right action. It felt as if he needed to assure him he understood even if he didn't have a clue what to think or how to react to his words.

What exactly did he need to research? He highly doubted googling I can't breathe would do him any good. He imagined that it would take him to some medical articles about how to master the art of breathing, or maybe it was some inside American joke for newcomers like him to look up and be forced to understand a dialect that he hadn't quite mastered just yet then laugh to not feel like an idiot.

Just as he was about to open his mouth to speak, he stopped upon seeing a young woman about the same age as Terrance come and slap him in the back of his head. "Damn peanut-head nigga." Her voice was soft and harsh and yet somehow it felt like she spoke with a fondness to the male.

"You serious?" The young male touched the spot he'd been slapped and scowled. "Momma musta taught you how to make that hand into a fucking whip!"

She snorted. "You stupid." She laughed. "You know she ain't neva whooped me."

She whipped her hair behind her then stared blankly at Mamoru. "Oh?" She paused for a moment then awkwardly handed Terrance her purse while whispering something into his ear then looked at Mamoru. Looked away. Then stared for a brief five full seconds then looked away and whispered something to Terrance again, stood behind Terrance and suddenly she glared at Mamoru.

"Did I do something?"

There was silence before she decided to move from behind Terrance and grab her purse back from him again then walked over to Mamoru with an unexpected smile. "You were talking to my brother?"

"Your brother?" Mamoru repeated back to her.

"Yes." There was an odd shock to her tone. He hadn't expected her answer to be so concise and yet so confusing. "His name is Terrance MacIntosh… and you weren't about to fight?"

"Fight?"

"Yes, fight…" she began to imitate two boxers, "Yanno like a fight, two guys taking it out on each other's faces…" The young girl was punching the air. It would've been more comical had it not been for the fact that she'd obviously been trained well in the art of combat.

She rambled on trying to explain the word to Mamoru though he already knew the word well. She seemed to think he questioned the meaning though he really wanted to know why she thought that they would be fighting in the first place.

At some point, she finally ran out of breath and had her hands on her knees. "So anyways… yeah, that pretty much explains what I mean by fighting."

Mamoru laughed. "Yeah, I figured that." He leaned down so that he was at her level. "I just don't know why someone would want to fight your brother."

There was silence. She looked away for a moment then looked at him. "This nigga really had me explaining like he didn't understand English. You wild, bruh!"

Terrance stared at his sister with an amused look on his face. "Nah, you just assumed he barely spoke English."

"It's fine. If you were in Japan, I'd probably assume you didn't speak Japanese."

"Bet!" She exclaimed while slapping Mamoru hard on his shoulder.

Terrance chuckled. "You'd be right except for what she's learned by watching anime." In almost a comic duo response, she elbowed her brother in the rib.

"He dun need to know that, nigga." She put her hands on her hips and it became obvious to Mamoru that communication was probably not her strong point… and probably not her brother's. They seemed somehow most comfortable talking to him when only acknowledging him when talking to each other.

They reminded him of how the senshi tended to be around others.

"My sister's name is Aaliyah." He paused then said, "She was named after the singer."

Mamoru never heard of the singer but nodded anyhow. Maybe it was another research subject that he could look up. He may even ask Ami about the singer since she became a bit of a fan of American English music, specifically in the hip hop and rap genre. They would often talk about English music together and discuss lyrics and their meanings.

He tended to favor old English music like the Beatles and Elton John, but he listened to movie scores and classical music the most while studying.

Ami was surprisingly into American 90s hip hop. She also talked about rhythm and blues, pop music, and all sorts of rap. She loved artists like Tupac, Notorious, NWA, Janet and Michael Jackson. She often talked about how their music speaks to the soul of human condition and the struggles of what it means to be considered second hand citizens in a society that tells you that you're not good enough.

Unlike Mamoru, she seemed to have a passion for what she listened to. He just listened to music to calm himself, to make himself not think so much, to stop wondering the "ifs" or the "why's."

He wasn't sure why that came to his head in that moment.

"Anyways, bruh…" Terrance interrupted his thoughts. He pulled at his own shirt then sighed. "I don't know how much US news gets to where you're from, but look up 'George Floyd' or even 'can't breathe' then you will understand why I wear this today."

"Boy!" Aaliyah spat, her full lips going into this look of disgust. "Look up, yanna what? Give me yo phone, nigga." Before Mamoru could respond, she already had his phone in her hand. "Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner, George Floyd, and ya wanna get real real?! Look up Emmett Till." She went and he could see she was texting fast in his notes then she went into his text messages and sighed. "My nigga… text me when you got questions."

Aaliyah stood there with her hands on her hips, her chest out and standing like the American superhero... what was his name again Superman. She had this look of pride like she wanted someone to compliment her, or maybe even pet her like a dog. The more she stood there, Mamoru oddly saw Usagi. Yes, it reminded him of how Usagi, despite her name meaning rabbit, always seemed more similar to an inu, a house dog of some sort. Mamoru always wanted a house dog; he found himself in a dream-like state.

Coming to, he saw Aaliyah tapping her foot as if she just witnessed the fact that he was in idiot-mode and saw the intrusive thoughts clearly and was second-hand embarrassed. "Really, bruh, I know you ain't pettin' me like I'm some kind of cat?!"

Mamoru wondered if it would be worse to tell her that he imagined an adorable inu instead. Luna and Artemis were pretty cool too, so he guessed cats weren't that bad.

He glanced at her when he figured she wasn't looking to cement who he had been talking to and for the first time, he realized the way she stood and carried herself reminded him of Usagi. Aaliyah, though, had this confidence when she talked that made him think of Ami and Michiru but spoke as blunt as Minako.

She was pretty, different from any girl he'd met in Japan. She was tall like a model but thick like the girls he'd seen in the music videos that Ami jokingly sent him as a way to prep him for the American culture. Aaliyah had a reddish undertone to her caramel color skin and darkish green eyes with long thick wavyish curly dark hair. Her hair was in a ponytail that went down past her shoulder blades.

He had to guess that if she ever straightened her hair, it would probably go past her butt. Aaliyah turned away from Mamoru and was facing Terrance now, and they seemed to be speaking in hushed voices. She was nodding her head; it seemed that the guy was doing most of the talking.

"I get it. I get it." Mamoru heard her say with her hands up. She glanced back at Mamoru, gave an exasperated smile (maybe it was more sad than anything) then turned back to Terrance. "At this point, I think Gotham City would be safer."

"Hey, don't say shit like that." Mamoru turned to see a handsome white boy speak as he walked in her direction. He wasn't quite as tall as Mamoru or Terrance but what he lacked in height he had in muscle. His shirt was probably a size or two too small so that everyone could see the shape of his biceps and his pectoral muscles. He was just a little bit taller than Aaliyah.

The white male wrapped his arms around Aaliyah and she comfortable fell into his embrace. Mamoru didn't know why he was so surprised. "Babe, I'll always protect you."

"…" Terrance stared at him before looking away then walking away.

"I don't think your bro likes me very much…"

Aaliyah giggled. "Justin, you're good. Just gotta give him time."

Justin nodded and watched as Terrance walked away then looked at Mamoru. "Who's the new guy?"

"That new guy is my nigga. That's who he is."

It was just then that Mamoru remembered that he never introduced himself. "My name is Mamoru… this will be my first year here at this university. So it's very nice to meet everyone."

Justin frowned then laughed. "Can I just call you M for short… I know I can't call you 'Aaliyah's nigga'… her brother might try to kill me."

Aaliyah glared but said nothing. Mamoru could tell that Justin said something wrong but wasn't sure if it was a cultural, dialect, or something deeper than that so he chose to not to comment on anything at that point.

"Or maybe I can call you 'Mom' for short," Justin snorted. As he was talking, Aaliyah kept trying to enunciate what she just heart but was failing miserably.

Finally, she said, "Can you message the spelling please… that might be easier for me if I can visualize what I am saying." Mamoru wasn't sure, but she looked forlorn at Justin then at Mamoru. "I hate when people mispronounce my name."

Mamoru nodded then took out his phone and did just as he asked.

Justin grabbed Aaliyah's phone as soon as the vibration came through, alerting her of the text. "Ma'am-OH-Wooh…" the enunciation seemed purposeful. He laughed as a group of guys that all seemed to be friends with him began to laugh.

They took turns saying the name wrong.

One short black guy said, "Shit, shouldn't he just make it easier and be called Ching Ching Chong." He cracked the hardest laugh next to Justin who acted like he couldn't breathe from laughing so hard. Justin's face was red from laughter.

Mamoru wasn't sure how to take it. He wasn't sure if it was just his mind playing tricks or his lack of experience with American people and the English language. In school, he was taught proper grammar, not the dialect… at least not the American way of speaking English.

"For real though!" Justin cackled. "Why they calling him ma'am… were his parents just that relieved…"

Another guy made movement suggesting he was a pregnant woman giving birth to a child… "The nurse was like, 'wha chu name baby… can't tell if boy or girl yet… penis no big yet…'"

Justin continued on the act with pretending like he lifting up the invisible baby… "I no know… but we or I call him 'Ma'am oh woo!' Because I so shock baby so big."

"Nigga!" Aaliyah spat out finally, slapping Justin across his face as she moved herself in front of Mamoru. "You are ignorant. You are the definition of a nigga."

It felt like the world was going in slow motion. For some reason, he remembered the first time he met each of the senshi and how they reminded him of some kind of animal. Well, at least, when he met Rei, Ami and Usagi. And now this girl.

Rei reminded him of dark and mysterious crow whom had somehow found the keys to heaven. Ami was a beautiful lionfish, beautiful but poisonous and always shocking everyone around her with the light she can bring into the room without even knowing it. Usagi was a rabbit that found knighthood, was wearing armor that didn't quite fit them but in the moonlight of that jewelry store, while screaming for her life, Mamoru knew that armor was only holding her back from the warrior rabbit he saw inside of her.

And now… there was Aaliyah. She reminded him of a beautiful protective dog, an Irish Wolfhound. Like the females aforementioned, he will never tell her what he saw with her. No, it's embarrassing. Yes, she was an Irish Wolfhound, big, powerful and beautiful. When she spoke, it was like a spell was cast and everyone fell silent. Or maybe it was more like… she was a commander of an army, fighting a war that couldn't be won but she was never going to give up.

Like the three senshi who he imagined were some amazing animals in a children's book, he stood shock and amazed. He found someone here who he also thought was amazing.

He didn't know what to say so he did what ever came most naturally to him. He walked over to Justin without saying a word, grabbed her phone and handed it back to her.

As he began to walk away, he stopped after getting a few feet away then said. "Thank you, Aaliyah." He paused then looked at the group of guys. "It's just in, Justin… you're not that funny."

"What the fuck you say?"

Mamoru didn't feel the need to respond. He just kept walking so that he could find his dorm. He had no time to waste his introduction to his brand new school on people like them.

—-

Harvard University had a pretty large campus. It was much bigger than he imagined. He investigated every nook and cranny. Mamoru half expected a monster to pop up and start attacking.

The year prior, he didn't even make it to the entrance ceremony, never made it off the plan since Galaxia had made him the first target when she landed on Earth. He should've been a second year but instead, he was just starting.

There were a ton of foreign exchange students walking around, a lot of them from China.

Bzzt … Bzzt… Mamoru checked his phone and saw there was a message from Usagi. [What time is it there? I can't sleep!]

It's 4pm here… so it must be 5am there. Surprised she's up this late…

Mamoru thought he should ignore it so she can fall back to sleep but remembered how worried she'd be if he didn't respond. He couldn't imagine how she was feeling when he never responded to all her letters the year prior.

[Get some sleep. I know it's early there. It's only 16:00 here… you are thirteen hours ahead so it's like you're sending a message to a day behind.] He sent the message then tried to think of something kind of charming to say. [Mama like daughter borrow the key of time from Pluto? ;-)] Mamoru snickered to himself.

Usagi's response was a question mark so he guessed she didn't get it. He was going to explain the joke but remembered when Ami and Rei agreed that if he needs to explain the joke, it's not funny and chose not to.

Another message came in. This one, he knew who the message came from and what it would say as it was the same message he got everyday. It was from Rei, and he was sure that it was on automatic.

[Have you been shot yet? Just some reminders since you're in the US. Don't test to see if a rose and a bullet will win in a fight. Your roses have done a lot, but it worries me that Japanese roses are different than American roses. Also, don't allow yourself to be put under mind control. That would suck. Here I am using words like Minako and Usagi. Anyways, be safe. - R.H.]

Mamoru sighed. He wasn't sure if that was a joke or not anymore and if it was meant to be funny. Rei Hino sent that message everyday since his reincarnation after the battle with Galaxia.

He thought that Ami would send a message also like she normally did, but he got nothing.

He laid in bed and decided to check on his WhatsApp and discord to see if Ami sent him any new music. He hated to admit it, but those songs felt a bit more relatable today than they did yesterday.

[Miss you Mamo-chan… love you.] Mamoru could hear Usagi's voice as he read it and it calmed down his weary heart. He missed home already.

He put on his headphones while he started reading a book. The book was backwards and the headphones weren't playing anything. He used to do the same when he rode the bus.

After what seemed like forever, he decided to listen to some of the old music that Ami sent him that he lied and said he already listened to. The song he played was "Drake - Find Your Love" then moved to the next and then another and finally to a song called "I Can't Breathe… Again…"

The song caught him off guard. He read the message next to it from Ami: [Nick Cannon isn't known for rap skills, but this song is important. Listen to it. You're going into a pretty rough political situation in the US.]

Mamoru sat up as the song came to the line, "I don't want to learn shit from a nation that's racist… definition of policing."

Just as he sat up, a familiar face came into the dorm room. This person was obviously his roommate.

Terrance who was wearing the shirt that said, "I can't breathe…"

Terrance smiled lightly. "So, uh, you told Justin that he's not funny?"

"It was the only thing I could think of."

Terrance sighed. "That's my sister's boyfriend. He's a racist retard if you ask me."

Mamoru was sure that "special" should've been the word used but nodded anyways. "She can do better."

Terrance nodded then grabbed his own headphones off the table and threw them to Mamoru. "Beats by Dre are a lot better than the shit you got bruh… everyone deserves better."

At the time, Mamoru didn't realize how much the words would mean in the future. He just thanked him and fell asleep.