Sailor Moon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi and TOEI Animation. "Perfect" is owned by Flyleaf. "Roar" is owned by Katy Perry. "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" is owned by Elton John. "Shissou" is owned by LAST ALLIANCE.

Note: I guess I never said this, but Jose is dating Kousagi, Usagi's future daughter. I know she only appears in the parallel, but you know what, I don't care XD I'm screwing around with canon and parallel here :D

When he says Princess Serenity, he's talking about Chibiusa. In his time period, she's 23 and already married to Helios. I'll include a Jose story, too, someday T^T

Dap- share a cool handshake, compiled of a handslide-slap and grabbing of the thumbs. I dunno how else to explain it, but do ya get me? D:

Hiro- Bleached-blonde hair and brown eyes. Wears button-down shirts untucked and buttoned low. Playful. Natsu's older twin, Joselyn's boyfriend, Yuuki's cousin. 21 years old.

Yuuki- Wild, dyed-red hair and wears golden contacts. Wears v-necks and skinny jeans with Jordans. A little full of himself. Hiro and Natsu's cousin. Has a big crush on our heroine, Akira. 20 years old.

Joselyn- Dark, wavy, brown hair and slate grey eyes and tan skin. Wears blouses with skinny jeans or jeggings and flats or Toms. Keeps the boys in line, but plays with them, too. Hiro's girlfriend. She's Hispanic. 20 years old.

Natsu- Black hair and wears icy-blue contacts. Wears band shirts and long, cargo shorts with Chuck Taylors. Always trying to make himself seem bigger and tougher than he really is. Hiro's younger twin, Yuuki's cousin. 21 years old.

Sakura- Short hair dyed light pink pulled back by a headband and wears green contacts. Nice personality, and laughs at her friends' silliness, though she plays around, too. Very perceptive and observant. Yuuki's younger sister. 18 years old.

Kohaku- Dark brown boy cut (like Haruka's) and blue eyes. Wears baggy T-shirts and jeans with Jordans and Snapbacks. Very tomboyish. 19 years old.

~A Basketball Court~

"Akira! Over here!"

Akira passes the ball to Hiro, who shoots and scores a three-pointer. "Nice shot!" she says, and gives him a high-five.

"Aiight, that's it! Shirts:13; Skins:10. Shirts win!" Sakura says from the sidelines as the scorekeeper.

Akira woops, and Yuuki and Hiro chest-bump.

"Next time!" Natsu says, pointing a finger at Hiro. "I'll beat ya!"

"Okay," Hiro says sarcastically. "I'm sure." Natsu punches him on the arm, and Hiro shoves him back. Before they know it, they're pushing and shoving and punching and kicking like there's no tomorrow.

"Ugh, you guys!" Jocelyn says, but Akira just laughs.

"Haha, yeah, that's the spirit!" she calls.

"Yo, Akira!" Yuuki says.

"Sup?"

"We're all going to karaoke after this! Wanna come?"

"Yeah, it'll be loads of fun!"

"You should come!"

"Well," she says, contemplating. "I gotta talk to my roommate first. He's kind of, uh… old-fashioned, I guess." Which is weird, since he's from the future. "I'll try," she says.

"Wait, you live with a guy?" Joselyn asks. "I thought you said you were single! You little dog!" She grins, and winks.

"Oh, please, he's not even my type," she says. "And anyway, I'm not… interested in men. And he's got a girlfriend back at his home."

"Wait. You're lesbian?" Yuuki asks in astonishment.

"Yeah, so what if I am?"

He looks away. "N-no reason. I don't judge."

Kohaku laughs. "Aw, that's so cute. Yuuki's first heartbreak!"

"Sh-Shut up!" Yuuki says defensively. "It's not like I like her or anything."

"Your crimson cheeks say otherwise," she teases.

"Y-Yeah, whatever. I don't care."

"Yeah, uh-huh. Sure."

"Wanna face full of fist?!" he threatens.

"Ooh, I'm so scared!" She dances playfully and runs off. "'Run, run, run, as fast as you can! You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!'" she quotes, and he growls.

"You wanna bet on those odds?! Try me!"

She cartwheels away, giggling. He sprints towards her, and catches her ankles midair. "Whoa!" she says, and shouts as she falls, and he falls, too. "Ow, you jerk! Don't do that!" She sits up and punches him in the arm.

"Why, you-"

"Hey, now!" Joselyn warns. "Anymore of that, and it'll be the end of both of you!"

Akira's cell phone buzzes, and she turns on the screen. A text from Jose, saying 'Where are you?' She sighs. "Damn. It's my 'mommy'!" she mocks. "I'll catch y'all later!"

"Bye!"

"Hey wait!" Hiro says. "Ask him if you can come to karaoke!"

"Oh, right!"

'Hey, me and some friends were gonna go to karaoke. Is it okay, Mommy?'

'Hey now. Watch it.'

'Chill.'

'Well. Who all is going?'

'Some guys and some girls.'

'Do they know about your… status?'

'Yeah.'

'Remember Haruko-sama.'

'Yeah! I get it! Damn'

'Alright just making sure.'

'Well, you don't hafta. I'll be home late.'

'You still got the house key?'

'I'm not that irresponsible.'

'Well, I don't know...'

'Oh, whatever. See ya.'

"Yeah, it's all good," she confirms.

"Sweet! Let's go!"

"Alright!"

~Crown Arcade; Karaoke Room~

"Don't go breakin' my heart!" Joselyn sings.

"You take the weight off of me!" Hiro replies.

"Ooh, nobody knows it! But when I was down!"

"I was your clown!"

"I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, dancin' through the fire, 'cause I am a champion, and you're gonna hear me roar!" Kohaku belts.

"Woop woop! Akira!"

Akira laughs nervously. "Yeah whatever." she clears her throat. "Can I get 'Perfect' by Forever Flying?" It's a song that she herself had written and performed originally, as the member of the band, Kikyuu, what seems like a lifetime ago. She had written it for Haruko a few years ago, but only recorded it last month when they were signed by "a guy Blondie knows". Apparently, Peach Hips, her old band full of those idiots she calls friends, is signed to him, too. He knows their secret, and protects it with his life, even though he's just an ordinary human.

"Ooh, you like them? Who's your fave? In my opinion, Celeste is pretty cute, but I gotta say, Kikyuu's rockin' the punk style," Hiro says, and Joselyn punches him. He rubs it playfully, saying, "Ouch…" and sucks in a loud breath to illustrate his "pain". "Sorry, baby, I don't mean it like that. You know you'll always be my number-one bae," he says, leaning in to kiss her.

Joselyn leans away, playing along. "Yeah, whatever. Celeste isn't that cute. She's really plain."

Akira bites her tongue against the awful things she wanted to retaliate with, because how dare she say that about Haruko?! Haruko is in no way, shape, or form plain in the least. Haruko is, or at least was, Akira's light. Her Sun.

The familiar opening plays, and she hums along, then, her entry.

"Sick of circling the same road

Sick of bearing the guilt

So open the windows to cool off

And heat pours in instead.

Perfect in weakness

I'm only perfect in just your strength alone

All my efforts to clean me

Leave me putrid, filthy

And how can you look at me

When I can't stand myself?

Perfect in weakness

I'm only perfect in just your strength alone

I tried to kill you

And you tried to save me

You save me

You save me

You save me

You save me

Perfect in weakness

I'm only perfect in just your strength alone

Perfect in weakness

I'm only running in just your strength alone."

"Woo-hoo!" Joselyn hoops.

"Dang, girl, you sound just like her!" Kohaku says.

"For real, doe!" Hiro says. "Betchu like her even more now, huh, Yuuki?"

Yuuki blushes, but puts on a smug smirk. "Just 'cause she lez don't mean I can't make her go straight!"

"Ooh!" they all holler.

Akira snorts. "Yeah, okay. Try me. You got a real cute girl to compete with!" Akira pulls out her wallet and shows them a picture her and Haruko at a theme park last year.

"Oh-ho!" Natsu shouts. "She's real cute. Maybe I can make her go straight!" He grins, and Akira whacks him on the arm.

"Yeah, go ahead and try, and I'll smash your face in if you touch her, you perv!"

"Hey, question!" Sakura calls. "If you've got a girlfriend, why're you living with that guy?"

Akira sighs. "Well, the three of us used to live together with another girl, but then we got into a big argument, and the two of us left together. I guess I caused the whole thing, but it's… I dunno."

"Ooh, look at Akira's hair! It's long and black, and in a ponytail! How weird," Joselyn points out. Akira's current hairstyle is a punk cut dyed blue, but her roots are black.

"It looks cool!"

"And that tube-top-vest combo is sweet!"

"You never lose the fingerless gloves, do you?"

Akira grins. "They're my thing."

"Nice!"

"Got some shiny black short shorts goin' on there, huh?"

"That was my style then!"

"When was this taken?"

"'Bout a year ago."

"Bet she's even cuter now," Hiro mutters, earning another whack from Joselyn. "I love you, baby," he says, smiling sheepishly.

Joselyn rolls her eyes. "Just shut up, alright?"

"We should probably git," Yuuki says, checking his phone for the time. "It's almost midnight, which means less time for video games."

Sakura and Joselyn both raise an eyebrow, and Akira laughs. "Y'all pullin' an all-nighter?" she guesses.

Hiro winks at her, and Joselyn rolls her eyes. "You know it, girl!"

Sakura laughs. "S'long as Mom doesn't find out. She always made us go to be at 8, even in high school. Hmm, I wonder what she would say now?" She eyes Yuuki mischieviously.

Yuuki's eyes widen, and his brow furrows. "No, don't you-" Sakura laughs, and runs off, pulling out her phone. "Sakura!" he shouts, running after her.

"Hello, Mom? I thought you should know that Yuuki is-"

"-not doing anything, I swear!"

"Hi, Aunt Akane!" Hiro shouts.

Sakura laughs as Yuuki pulls the phone away from Sakura's ear. "Mom? Mom?"

"If you would like to make a call, please hang up and try again. If you need help…"

"You little-"

"Akira!" she calls, ducking behind her. "Please protect me!"

"Eh?" she says. "Aiight. I won't hold back, so you don't either." She grins lopsidedly, and cracks her knuckles.

"Not in my nature," Yuuki says.

"Except when it's the girl you're in love with," Hiro points out.

Yuuki turns around. "After I'm done with her, you're next."

"Oh, I'm so scared!" he mocks. "Akira, protect me!"

"What's that all about?!" Joselyn says, punching Hiro. "I'll take care of him for you, Yuuki!"

"Oh crap!" he says, and runs.

"Good grief!" Sakura says. "It's always like that with those two!"

"Haha, man, I wanna join!" Kohaku says, and punches Natsu in the face.

"Hey, watch it!" Natsu says, and swings back at her.

"Gozen MILE hashitte iki wo kirashite ADRENALINE hyaku LITER go tai subete FULL kadou," Akira's phone sings.

"Ugh," she says, pulling her phone out. "He's just like a helicopter mom." She answers the phone, growling, "What do you want now?"

"Aren't you done yet?"

"What do you care?"

"It's not good to stay up so late, Akira."

"So?"

"So, you should come back."

"Why? What if I just decided to mooch off my friend, Natsu?"

"What?! Nuh-uh! No way!" Natsu protests.

Akira grins and waves her hand back and forth to imply she was just kidding, the points her forefinger into her open mouth to illustrate gagging while rolling her eyes.

"What would Haruko-sama think of you for that?"

"Psh, what do I care? She probably hates me."

"I don't think she does. She might be mad at you, but I don't think she has the capacity to hate anybody, let alone you."

"Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it. But, for the time being, I'm here to just do my thing without a nag. So, just leave me alone, will ya? You're starting to sound like the mother I never had."

"Akira. Be respectful."

"Sorry, Mommy."

"Whatever. I'm just worried about you, is all. I mean, I'm not sure you're taking this very well."

"Well, what makes you say that?"

"You're not… digesting it properly. You're just off having fun and stowing away your feelings to deal with another day. Princess Serenity does that a lot, too, you know."

Akira groans. "Yeah, whatever. Later."

"Bye-" Akira presses end call before he can finish his sentence.

"Do you need to go?"

"Nah. We're good."

"You know, he seems like he cares a lot about you," Sakura points out. "You should give him a chance."

Akira shakes her head, chuckling without humor. "Naw. He's got a girlfriend, I said. So do I. Sorta."

"Mm. Alright."

"I've got an idea! How 'bout us girls also pull an all-nighter?" Joselyn says, breaking the tension.

"That sounds like fun! C'mon, Akira, how 'bout it?"

Akira shrugs. "Fine. But if y'all pull out the nail polish, I'm out." Joselyn and Sakura both laugh.

"Don't you worry," Kohaku says, holding her hand out. She and Akira dap, and laugh. "I'm right there with ya!"

~One Week Later~

Akira walks around the park, looking. She knows if she looks hard enough, she'll find him. And if she waits long enough, he'll be alone. She didn't want to talk to her. Just him.

She finally spots him on a bench, sitting alone. She pumps a fist, and runs in a roundabout direction so he won't spot her. She hides in the bush behind him.

"Psst! Hey!" she hisses. "Hey!"

He sighs, and shuts his book. "Which one of you weirdos is it this time?" he says without turning around.

"I'm not one of them!" she whispers. "Well, sorta."

He turns his head around and scoffs. "Is that you, Akira?"

"Hi, Mamoru," she says. "Listen, I gotta talk to you, but first, are you here with anybody?"

"No. Just wanted some fresh air and alone time. What is it?"

"Does Haru hate me?"

He sighs. "Why don't you come talk to me face-to-face like a normal person?"

"Ugh, fine." She stands up, groaning.

He inspects her, and chuckles softly, taking in her button-down-shirt-button-vest combo with skinny jeans and combat boots, with her punk-style cut, as opposed to the tube-top-open-vest combo she had before with her high ponytail. "Well, you sure have changed in the past ten days. Anyway, no, she doesn't hate you. She's really pissed off at you, enough to tear your head off, but she doesn't hate you. I think she really just misses you."

"You guys talk?"

"Yeah, all the time. She comes over to my place sometimes, and we just talk. I think she mainly comes to me because you and I are the most… alike. She tells me that all the time."

"Good to know you two are buddy-buddy. How does Blondie take it?"

"I don't think she even knows. It's not like we're sneaking around or anything, but it's just, some things are more private."

"So, lemme get this straight. She trust you more than Blondie, even though she's known Blondie for three years, and you for ten days."

Mamoru shrugs, and shakes his head. "I don't think it's really like that. I think she just sees a sort of kinship with me because of you."

Akira scoffs. "Why do I have to be such a baby?"

Mamoru snorts. "Elaborate."

"I mean, I'm the one who threw the tantrum that started this whole thing. I'm the one who left in a fit of anger. It was probably a stupid idea."

"Maybe. But, are you making friends at your school?"

Akira nods. "Yeah, I guess you could say that," she says, thinking of the people she went to karaoke with, the people she played basketball with, the people she hung out with.

"Are you enjoying yourself?"

She remembers all the good times and laughs she always has with them. "Yeah."

"Then you're alright."

"How are you so good with this?"

Mamoru laughs. "Years and years of practice. You think dealing with those girls is easy?"

Akira snorts. "Gee, if I knew 'em."

He laughs again. "Well, did Usako ever talk about them?"

"A little. Not much though. She said it 'hurt too much', I guess."

He's silent, and his smile fades away. "Yeah. I can see where she's coming from. The five of us had a really tough time while she was gone. But we're doing better now. She's our light in the darkness of this world. Our 'Moon of the night', you could say."

"'Light in the darkness'? She was hardly a bright ray of sunshine back in Kyoto. She never smiled."

Mamoru's eyebrows shoot up, and he looks at Akira straight. "If that's supposed to be a joke, it's not funny. You are joking, right?"

Akira shakes her head. "Serious as a heart attack."

Mamoru sighs heavily, and looks forward again. "That's really hard to imagine. And what you said about her back at the arcade, I mean, I guess it's understandable, but I can't imagine that she would be mean about it. You know, anything about that place seems to just bring out the worst in her. Whenever she even hears any sort of mention of 'Kyoto', it sets her off. And the name 'Arisa'. Do you know anything about that?"

Akira laughs once without humor. "Oh, do I know something! She bullied Usagi. Awfully. All three of us, but mainly Usagi."

He looks back at her, his mouth in an "O" shape in awe, and his eyebrows raising to the heavens. "Are we talking about the same Usagi?"

"Tsukino Usagi, Sailor Moon, good sir."

"No way," he mutters, and stands. He runs his hands through his hair. "There's no way…" He looks back at her. "You've got to be kidding me. There's no way someone could… hate Usako unless they had Chaos inside them."

"Kay-what-now?"

"Chaos. Every enemy we've ever fought was just a copy of Chaos. They were all self-righteous beings who wanted to take over the world and/or kill Usako. They all hated her." He looks off into the distance, just staring off.

"Anyway," she says.

"Right."

He moves to sit down again, when he hears someone in the distance call out, "Mamo-cha~n!"

"That's her! You'd better get going."

Akira sighs. "Aiight. I'll catch ya later." She shakes his hand, and smiles. "Thanks a bunch."

"Yeah. See ya." He waves slightly, and smiles politely. "Bye… Hikari," he makes up as Usagi reaches him, recalling the name of her counterpart in his "dream".

"Who was that?" she asks.

"Just a friend from class."

"You know who she reminds me of?" she says, linking his arm.

"Who?"

"Akira."

Oh-ho, does Usagi have it figured out? Or not? Mm-hm. I wonder ;) Stay Tuned, my fellow Moonies!