A/N: Wow, thank you for the responses you all! They truly mean a lot, and I hope to keep your interest piqued. I will try to update as often as I can so please keep reading and reviewing. We now go back to Present day Tokyo

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the rights to Sailor Moon, I just owe Naoko Takeuchi my first born.


Chapter 1

-Present Day Tokyo-

It was a strange sight.

The full moon shone brightly in the clear night sky, and yet there were no visible stars lying next to the pearlescent astronomical body. If possible, the stark contrast between the dark sky and the moon, made it glow even more.

"You look lonely up there with no stars. Me too," Tsukino Usagi murmured quietly as she sat on the roof of her parents' home in her pajamas.

It had been a couple of months after the scouts' final battle with Ail and An. While it meant peace for Earth as they hadn't faced a new enemy since, it began an internal war for the sixteen year old sitting underneath the moonlight.

With her memories back, Usagi thought it would give her a sense of relief to understand her purpose and her duty. But then her body began to change. Her silken golden locks grew at an impractical rate, forcing her to cut it almost daily. Her legs grew impossibly longer (while still not changing my height she acknowledged grumpily), her features more angular; even her voice began to change.

"You're turning into the Princess," Luna had reminded her after her last temper tantrum about the changes. Why do I have to change at all? Aren't Usagi Tsukino and Princess Serenity the same? Which one am I?

And to her utter horror, those thoughts began to irritate her. She felt trapped in her own body, and in her destiny. And so she sat here awake, the only time she could be alone with the moon and her thoughts.

She wanted to share her feelings with Rei, Ami, Makoto, and Minako. She almost did last week at lunch at the Fruit Parlor. She wanted to tell them she hated the meetings. She hated not being a normal teenager. Most of all, she hated the burden of this identity.

But it was the first time she remembered seeing Ami-chan looking so content, and hearing the gentle chimes of bells that was Rei-chan's giggles. Her senshi reveled in the peace and she couldn't bear to take away from their joy, not when they'd been through so much and all because of her. Her and Mamoru.

Mamo-chan… It was now more than ever that she wanted to rely on him, have him be the protector that destiny had dictated he be. But if there was anyone struggling more with the uncovering of identities from these past two years than her, it was Mamo-chan.

He really tried. Shortly after An and Ail's defeat, they walked hand-in-hand around Tokyo Bay and talked about their memories, until she would trip over nothing and he would catch her. He would give her chaste kisses that would make her heart beat faster, and onto the walk they would continue.

And then it just stopped. He'd been distant for weeks. It was if touching her physically pained him. She would walk into the Fruit Parlor with the girls only to catch him on his way out. She could feel him blocking their bond, the tether that they shared, and it only made her feel more lonely.

Why won't he touch me? Why won't he talk to me? Maybe he's mad at destiny too… The ugly part of her brain wondered if he was mad that destiny paired them together. She knew that logically they made no sense together. He was so handsome, so poised and intelligent, and such an adult. She never came off as more than a kid. In reality, they knew nothing about each other as Chiba Mamoru and Tsukino Usagi. Just as Prince Endymion and Princess Serenity.

Maybe you should just let him go, put him out of his misery. Usagi shook her head at the thought, even the mere idea terrifying her. She didn't even know why, but she could not let him go… could she?

"Aaaand it's time for bed. Goodnight moon, thanks for the company" she whispered above, knowing she would maybe get about four or five hours of sleep before she woke up late to get to school yet again. At least that part of Usagi Tsukino, she got to keep. Had Usagi stayed a couple minutes longer, she would have seen a small star appearing next to moon, basking in its warm glow.


"Mamo-Chan!" Usagi called out, running down one of the narrow side streets of Azabu-Jūban to catch up with her beloved. She chose to ignore the hurt she felt at how his body stiffened at her call, and instead barrelled full speed ahead to crash straight into his tall and muscular body.

While he usually allowed her to hold him in her embrace, it seemed like he couldn't get away fast enough. "Sorry Usako, you caught me by surprise", he bit out in response to her hurt look. She nodded, feeling her thoughts from last night loom over her like a dark cloud, and even without the soul bond he could tell she was bothered too.

"I'm sorry I haven't been available recently, I'm getting prepped for my first round of exams" Mamoru replied, even though both he and Usagi knew that wasn't it. But Usagi played along, and nodded. He had just started his first year at Keio University studying medicine and Usagi knew that was his first priority. At least he still wants to protect your feelings, she thought glumly.

She glanced over at him as they walked side by side. Everything about his stature looked tense, as if he couldn't bear to be in her vicinity. His unnaturally blue eyes were marred by dark eye bags, indicating a lack of stayed planted in front of him, his hands planted deep in his pocket.

She thought back to seeing some of her classmates holding hands and stealing kisses in the hallways the other week. Rumors of first loves and lost innocence spread amongst her class, and she could not even get her boyfriend to look at her in the eye. It's not even his fault, he's forced to be this role that he never chose.

In that moment, she knew what she had to do, even if the very thought of it made her heart contract with pain.

"Mamo-chan, I know you're really busy but could I stop by your apartment for a little bit today? Please? I promise I won't take very long at all and won't be a burden," she pleaded, feeling the shame of just how needy she sounded. He stopped and looked at her with a pained look in his eye.

"Hai," he responded, nodding slowly and she felt herself letting out a breath to exhale.

"Gotta run otherwise I'll be late again, see you later Mamo-er Mamoru-san," she exclaimed, oblivious to the flinch he showed of her formality. She ran off, and he also realized it was the first time she left him behind without a kiss.

Well you've successfully pushed away the only person you've ever loved, what's next? Mamoru pinched his nose to escape his infuriatingly nightmare-addled brain and kept walking towards Keio. He was already dreading their meeting later today; He just couldn't handle her crying, knowing she was going to beg for him to change.

Maybe one day she'll forgive him when he knows she's safe.