...

Woke up this morning

don't believe what I saw

hundred billion bottles

washed up on the shore.

Guess I never known it being alone

a hundred billion castaways

looking for a home

As expected, Usagi woke up late. She had been so anxious the night before about making her letter just right that she had gone to bed late. Then, when finally in bed, Usagi had been too restless to sleep and could only lay thinking about seeing the man once more. She was both nervious and giddy about the whole thing. One part of her wanted to just skip school and go right then, but another was so nervious that Usagi felt like she might make herself sick.

As she ran down the street she didn't pay enough attention to what was going on in front of her, and when three men appeared around the corner she couldn't stop in time before running into one of them. The man was only thrown off his center of balance for a moment while Usagi fell to the ground.

"Hey! Why don't you look where you are going?!" One of the men shouted as she tried to lift herself up.

"Gomennasai!" She rose to her feet and bowed quickly, but it appeared as if she wasn't going to be let off too easily. The three men stood over her menacingly.

"For someone so small you sure have a lot of guts!" Usagi bowed once more.

"I'm sorry! I just wasn't looking! I didn't mean too!" One of the men stepped closer to her and grabbed hold of one of her streams of hair; keeping her from walking away.

"You think a simple apology is going to satisfy us?!" Usagi wasn't sure where they were going with this, but she sure didn't like it.

"Let go of me!" She smacked his hand away from her hair and the three men laughed.

"She sure has a lot of guts!" The other two men nodded, Usagi tried to turn, but each of her tails were yanked behind her.

"Let go!" She reached for her head trying to lighten the pull on her head. The men let go and she fell to the ground. The three of the towered over her once more.

"HEY!" The three men turned around to see where the voice had come from and Usagi looked up to see a tall brunette standing behind them. "Picking on a smaller girl for your own entertainment. I will never forgive it! You cheap cowards." The men were all clenching their fists.

"Why you!" The tallest man charged towards her. "No one talks-" before he even finished his sentence he was on the ground, pinned by the girl. The other two men took aggressive stances. The girl's rose earrings shone in the light, and one of the men took notice of them.

"Hey, your the chick that beat up my cousin!" The girl crossed her arms.

"Your cousin attacked first, I only acted in self defense." The other man charged at her and her knee collided with his stomach. The final man stood hesitant to attack. The tallest man on the ground attempted to get up.

"Don't just stand there! Get her!" The man began to back away.

"No way, man! She totally obliterated my cousin!" He began to run away.

"You coward!" The girl stood over them.

"If I were you, I'd run too." The look in her eyes could have turned them to stone. The two men stood up and began to scamper away like dogs that had just been beaten.

Usagi had watched the scene from the ground and the tall brunette offered her a hand.

"Are you okay?" Usagi was now standing and her personal wounds were forgotten as she admired the girl.

"Wow!" The girl looked at Usagi in surprise as Usagi beamed up at her. "So pretty and strong! I wish I could be like that!" The girl's brow furrowed but she did not frown, she was only confused.

"You're not afraid?" Usagi shook her head, confused as to why she would be.

"No, why?" The girl only stared at Usagi, still with a look of surprise. "I'm Tsukino Usagi!" The girl watched as Usagi bowed before her and then she stammered out her own introduction, though she hadn't expected it.

"Kino Makoto." Usagi found herself thinking once again about how familiar all of this was, but she pushed it aside.

"Nice to meet you, Mako-chan!"

Usagi walked out into the schoolyard all alone as everyone else settled down for lunch. Earlier she had not been sure if she would have been able to eat her lunch safely, but now that she felt calm enough, or maybe just hungry enough, to eat, she had realized that she hadn't even remembered to grab her lunch that morning.

Usagi scanned the yard for any signs of Naru and Umino, but they were nowhere to be seen. Usagi sighed as she sat down next to the large tree in the center of the yard and watched the people around her eating happily while she had nothing. Usagi was about to lay down and take a nap when she caught sight of someone she knew that she might be able to schmooze a few bits of food off of.

She was sitting by a nearby bush, reading a book that Usagi would have never been able to comprehend. Even if she had been able to read the kanji, Usagi would have been left in the dust as to what all of it meant. Mizuno Ami pushed back a strand of her blue hair behind her ear as she turned the page of her book, and Usagi spied the average sized lunch pouch beside her.

Usagi had only talked to Ami a few times, mostly when she was out in the hall awaiting her punishment. Always, Ami had given her a bright smile and had encouraged her in her "struggles". Usagi had always admired her, with a ting of jealousy, and had once contemplated trying to make friends with her. But unfortunately, the chance had never arisen.

As Usagi approached her from behind, the feeling of hunger subsided a bit and she found herself only wanting to talk to Ami.

Always, Usagi had been a bit worried that Ami would think her boring because of how stupid she was, but right then Usagi didn't care. So many things had happened in the past week, and for once Usagi just wanted to be able to do what she really wanted. She wanted to be able to follow her heart's desires without there being a million obstacles. She just wanted to speak to her. As long as she didn't reveal to Ami how much of a crybaby... the lunch bag lay empty beside Ami.

No! Usagi fell to her knees beside Ami at the sight of the empty bag. Usagi's stomach had gotten the best of her. Ami looked at her in surprise.

"Tsukino-san?!" Usagi looked at her trying not to reveal how disappointed she was that Ami had no more food. "Are you alright?" Usagi bit her lip, but then she pushed her hunger aside and nodded.

"Yes, I just..." She didn't want to tell her, but Ami was waiting expectantly to finish her sentence, and lying to her felt completely wrong. Usagi gave up trying to think of something. "was wondering if you had any food I could have eaten." She looked back down at the empty bag. "I forgot my lunch this morning." Ami smiled apologetically.

"Sorry, I just finished." Usagi groaned and laid down on her back beside Ami. Ami put down her book and crossed her legs.

"You were late again, weren't you?" Usagi sighed and then nodded. Ami shook her head woefully.

"You really should get here on time, I know not everyone is as studious as me, but you really should get to class. You do want to get into a good college after school, don't you?" Usagi did not answer for a moment. "Don't you?" Ami seemed to grow a bit concerned.

"Not really." Ami's face grew pale and she looked as if Usagi had just confessed to a murder. Usagi wished she could take that statement back. "Well, its not like I don't WANT to go to college," She corrected herself frantically sitting up and waving her hands in front of her. "its just...I know I wont." Usagi slumped back down into the grass and she closed her eyes not wanting to see the horror on Ami's face anymore. "I'm just too stupid." She felt Ami lean over her.

"How can you say that?" Usagi opened her eyes. Ami was starring down at her with a fierce look in her eyes. "How can you just give up like that?! Its not like you to just give up without a fight!" Usagi supported herself with her elbows.

"What do you mean?" Ami blushed and she sat back again.

"Nothing, its just... I'm sorry." She looked down at her feet. Usagi sat up completely and scooted closer to Ami.

"No, say it," She said trying to coax Ami to open up again. She had never seen the girl so riled up. Every time they had talked, she had always been a bit shy and polite. Usagi had never known or even suspected that she could make her voice that forceful. Ami bit her lip and then looked Usagi in the eyes, her force was gone, but she did not hold back.

"Its just that, you're always so happy and cheerful, you never let something keep you down for long. You always pick yourself back up again and press on no matter how hard and fast the difficulties come." Usagi sat there speechless. "Though you are a bit of a crybaby." Ami realized what she had just said. "Gomennasai!"

"Y-You got all that from me standing in the hall?" Ami's face burned a bright red.

"I've seen you around." She said. "And I could just tell, the first time I saw you." Usagi sat there thinking a moment. A person that can overcome anything with a smile? Usagi didn't think so. She couldn't even overcome a simple English test, and in the past week she had walked around in a haze of depression.

"I wish that were true." Usagi said finally. Ami shifted her position as they sat there in silence for awhile. The only noise was from Usagi's complaining stomach. "I'm so hungry!" Ami suppressed a smile.

"Perhaps I can help with that." The two sitting girls looked behind them to see Makoto standing over them.

"Mako-chan!" Makoto motioned to the ground beside Usagi.

"Can I sit with you guys?" Usagi and Ami both nodded and Makoto sat down, and as she sat down she lifted up a lunch pouch. "You said you were hungry?" Usagi's eyes lit up. "Dig in, I have enough to feed a small army."

Or at least one Usagi.

Usagi grabbed the pouch happily and opened it up to see an array of delicious food.

"You're a lifesaver! Arigato!" She pulled out one of the pork buns. "Itadakimasu!" She bit into it happily. Ami leaned forward to be able to look at Makoto more easily.

"You're Kino Makoto, right? You transferred here a few years ago." Ami asked and Makoto nodded.

"I had some trouble at my last school." Usagi continued eating between them. "Things here aren't much better."

"Its just soo good!" Usagi said as she moved on to more of the food. Ami and Makoto laughed, but after a few seconds it died away. The mood in between the two loners felt strange to them. The laugh they had just shared felt as if it carried the weight of a thousand years . Each had troubles making friends, and they were not friends now, but as they sat there with Usagi in between them, it felt as if they had always been friends. Neither of them knew what to do about it.

For the rest of lunch, the conversation between the three came more quickly as time went by and the strange feeling became more natural. Eventually, like everything else with Ami, the conversation returned to school. Apparently, Makoto was in the same boat as Usagi. Poor Ami closed her eyes as she took all of this in with disbelief.

"I wont allow it!" She said. "I will not let you both fail!" Usagi and Makoto glanced at each other and then looked back at Ami.

"I think I have established I'm a lost cause." Makoto said. "There is no way I'm going to do good on the exams." Usagi moaned and she fell back onto the ground.

"My mom is going to kill me when all of this is done!" The other two girls laughed at her exaggerated emotions.

"No she wont," Ami said as she grabbed hold of a school book. "We are all going to study together!" Usagi smiled up at her, and at the sight of that smile, two other girls felt something inside them stir. More importantly, they didn't feel so alone.

As Usagi neared the arcade her heart began to beat furiously. She had never been so nervous in her life, and if it were not for the intense ache in her heart she might have ran away and abandoned the plan.

Usagi did not notice the pair of blue eyes watching her from the shadows, but as she turned the corner, she began to feel as if she were being watched. She stopped for a moment and looked around, but no one was in sight. After a moment's pause she began to walk forward once more towards The Crown.

Behind her a black cat stepped forward into the sunlight and observed Usagi as she walked. Usagi felt a cold shiver run up her back and she looked over her shoulder once more as the feeling intensified.

The glint of gold caught her eye and Usagi turned around to see the cat staring up at her. The cat's blue eyes pierced into her and Usagi felt as if it were looking straight into her soul, but more strange than its eyes, was a golden crescent moon that could have been mistaken for a bald spot, but the slight shimmer of sunlight reflecting off of it gave itself away as something else. The cat stood up and began to walk towards her, cautiously, and Usagi stood there unsure of what to do about it. Usagi stared intently into the cat's eyes.

"Usagi-san!" Usagi's eyes jerked away from the cat and she looked to see Minako walking towards her. "Are you ready, Usagi-san?" Usagi looked back towards the cat, but to her surprise the sidewalk was now empty. She looked around, but the strange cat was no where to be seen. Minako was now standing beside her and waiting expectantly. "Usagi-san?" Usagi pulled herself away from her search and turned to face Minako with a nod.

"Yes, I'm ready."

Luna watched Usagi and Minako walk down towards The Crown, but she stayed out of sight within the shadows. She was still unsure of how to proceed with her plan, actually, she didn't even have a plan. Everything in this timeline was too messed up, but not in the way Luna had ever expected.

Luna had rocketed through space and time believing that the past was run amuck with evil creatures and foes, but now that she was here, she found no threats to the Earth at all. When Luna had gone to D-Point to verify this, she had found it abandoned and desolate. The Sailor Senshi hadn't even been awakened and were living normal lives. Luna shook her head as she corrected herself.

"Almost all of them."

From what she could see, Sailor Venus had awakened three years before, just like she was suppose to, but then, something happened. The enemies stopped coming, and Sailor V had retired. Only recently had she reappeared with the coming of Tuxedo Kamen. This fact was the only reassurance Luna had.

Luna didn't understand why her past self had not been awakened yet. Yes, she had come after Artemis, but she should have came by now. Even if Usagi didn't need to awaken as Sailor Moon or Serenity, Luna was her guardian and sworn to always be by her side. She should have arrived by now!

Luna followed a few yards behind the girls making sure to stay out of sight. She didn't want to risk Minako seeing her and telling Artemis. She didn't really understand why, but Luna felt certain that if she met Artemis, or worse, herself, things would become very hectic and it may cause the paradox to become permanent. Luna really wished Pluto had given her more advice, but she knew that Pluto hadn't known what was going on either.

Luna sighed as she thought over her options once more, and she realized that staying in the shadows was not one of them. She had to solve this problem quickly, and the only way she could begin this was by doing one thing that should have happened three years ago. Luna had to awaken Sailor Moon.

The tall, black gate towered above the two girls as they stared at the enclosed mansion. Usagi stood with the love letter in her hands, but she could not find the strength to move forward and press the intercom. The gate overshadowed her and Usagi felt dizzy as her nervousness and excitement overwhelmed her. A part of her sung at the thought of seeing him again, while another felt so nervous that she was on the verge of becoming physically sick.

"I..." Usagi stared at the intercom and rubbed the paper of the love letter between her fingers. "I can't do it!" She felt like she was going to cry again. Her hands wrapped tightly around the love letter with her fingernails digging into her palms. She couldn't stop shaking. If he rejected her, she didn't know what she would do.

"You can! I believe in you!" Minako encouraged. Usagi felt a surge of courage flow through her from Minako's words and Usagi clamped her eyes shut as she leaned forward to press the button.

"Can I help you?" The voice didn't come over the intercom, but to the right of them. Usagi opened her eyes, her finger still an inch away from the intercom.

The girls looked over their shoulders and a man with long white hair and blue-grey eyes was staring at them. Beside Usagi, Minako seemed to become rigid. Usagi stood up and faced him, her voice became urgent.

"You live here?" The man shrugged.

"Might as well," He said crossing his arms, "I am Kunza, the head executive of the Yoruno's family company." Kunza appeared a bit annoyed. "Now, again, may I help you?" Usagi bit her lip and looked down at the letter in her hand. Minako seemed to snap out of whatever had struck her and she nudged Usagi with her elbow.

"Go on," She urged. Usagi looked up from the letter and into the man's eyes. They were not warm and soft like the man she had danced with, they were cold, but there was also something kind about them. She bowed and held out the letter towards him.

"Please, this is a very important letter!" The man looked at her stunned and he was surprised by the urgency in her voice. The head executive of one of the richest companies in Japan was unsure of what to do about a single pair of girls.

"And how may I help you with this letter?" Usagi looked up at him pleadingly.

"I... I... just don't know who to give it too." Kunza reached out and grabbed the letter, looking over the outside of the letter, it was blank with no intended recipient.

"You have a name?" He said looking back at Usagi. She shook her head. "Anything?" Usagi's eyes began to fill with tears once more.

"The man who danced with me at the ball was one of the guests of honor." She said finally. He looked back at the letter.

"A thank you letter?" He sounded skeptical as he looked Usagi over once more. "A love letter?" She nodded, her face flushing red. He handed the letter back to Usagi. "Its best if you do not try to contact this man." The two girls stared at him in surprise. "It would only put you in an embarrassing situation." Minako stepped forward angrily.

"If it is love than it cannot be stopped!" Kunza shook his head. Usagi felt the tears building up in her eyes. She knew he was right, the masked man probably did not remember her, let alone share her silly childish feelings. "You are-"

"Stop!" Minako stopped short in her rant and they both looked at Usagi, surprised by the force in her shout. Usagi stared down at the love letter through her building tears. "It's okay, Mina." She said. "It was never meant to be. I would have had to face it sooner or later. It might as well be now." Usagi pulled the letter to her chest and looked at Kunza. "Thank you for your time." Usagi slowly turned to walk away and the other two watched her go.

As Usagi rounded the corner, Minako turned her anger back towards Kunza.

"You could have at least delivered the letter!" The man stood up tall.

"It would have been unfair to both of them." He said. Minako's anger faltered as she looked up at his face, he was still looking at where Usagi had disappeared, and not at Minako directly.

"What do you mean?" The man glanced at her, but then continued to stare after Usagi.

"It would have given her false hope, and it you have hurt him, knowing that he could never," He paused as he tried to collect his words carefully. "It would have stressed him to hurt a young girl's feelings." Minako looked back at the towering mansion.

"You are protecting a shallow man then." Kunza smiled sadly.

"You're friend seems very kind hearted and sincere. Though, a bit too curious." Minako stiffened as he said this, she felt like she had discussed this before. She followed his gaze, back towards where Usagi had turned the corner.

"I don't know." She said truthfully. "We just met." The man looked a bit amused.

"Oh?" He tilted his head. "You two acted like very old friends." Minako didn't like the turn this conversation had taken, he had avoided her other statement entirely! Besides, Minako wasn't comfortable with how she felt around him.

Minako began to pull herself away from him and turned to follow Usagi.

"I gotta go." She walked away quickly, but she could feel his cold eyes watching her as she went.

Usagi just wanted to be alone. Once she was out of view of the others she dashed ahead hastily and then turned another corner, just in case Minako followed after her. She just wanted to be alone to cry.

She stood supporting herself on a building in an alley way with the letter still pressed close to her heart.

"Baka, Baka, Baka, Baka!" She pressed her eyes tightly together as the tears began to spill over and she suppressed her sobs. She was so stupid! What had she expected?! That the man would have let her come in? That he would have sat her down and talked to her in his future wife's home?! She was too stupid.

Usagi opened her eyes, unable to see anything through her tears. Baka! Her hand squeezed the letter, crumpling it. She had to face it, she was never going to see him again, and he would never know she had existed. She bit her lip trying not to cry out. "I want to see you!" She suppressed her outcry but she still stood there helpless. This letter was pointless, it was never going to be read. "Baka!" She threw the letter in a blind furry and she did not know, or cared where it landed. She began to stand up once more, but a voice called out to her.

"Littering again, I see, Odango Atama." Usagi froze as she heard his voice. She heard his footsteps approaching her. He was the last person she wanted to see right now, especially with her tears. "You should really-" She looked up at him and at the sight of her red eyes he stopped. "Are you okay?" His voice was urgent. Usagi's fist clenched tightly. She was so sick and tired of being asked that.

"No!" She said bitterly as her anger seeped through, but then she was overcome once more with sobs and she covered her face, not wanting him to see her cry. "No," She sobbed. His strong hands grabbed her shoulders and she lifted her head to see his eyes staring directly into hers.

"Did someone hurt you?" His voice was forceful and serious, as if he might be the one to avenge her. The tone shocked Usagi into stopping her tears. She tried to even out her breathing, but his deep, serious, eyes took her breath away. They were like a deep ocean that was about to engulf her.

"No, I just-" His eyes softened at this and Usagi found herself mystified. His eyes were filled with genuine concern. "Its nothing serious." She found herself saying finally, even though it was a lie. His grip on her shoulders loosened as he realized how tightly he was gripping her.

"Are you sure?" Usagi nodded. The man stood up straight with a sigh. "You are too soft, Odango." Usagi found herself frowning.

"Who are you to say?" She said closing her eyes and crossing her arms. The man laughed. Usagi opened her eyes and stared up at him. He seemed too amused by her, but the sound of his laugh made her heart soar, and she found herself almost happy again. Yet, that didn't make any sense.

"Well, see you, Odango." He turned to walk away and Usagi watched him for a moment and then found her voice once more.

"The name is USAGI!" She called after him. The man did not turn around, but he lifted his hand and shook it as if to acknowledge he heard her but didn't care.

"Whatever you say, Odango." He called over his shoulder and Usagi stomped her foot childishly as she turned to storm away.

"What is with that guy?!" She fumed, but then the sight of his eyes came back to her and she stopped to look back at him. "Who are you?"

Usagi watched the man for a moment longer, but then turned around to start walking home. All of this was too confusing, he- "Ahh!"

A black blur flew in front of her from behind and Usagi lifted her arms to protect herself. It had almost struck her head and it had jolted Usagi out of her thoughts. She stood still for a moment wondering what had just happened.

"Nyaaaa." Usagi moved her arms in a way that she could see in front of her. The black cat from earlier stood staring up at her expectantly. "Nyaaa." It said once more. Usagi sighed in relief as she dropped her arms. As Usagi bent down, the cat took a step closer, but held back a bit.

"You scared me!" Usagi said smiling at the cat. Something about the cat made her forget about her previous sadness and a flicker of joy began to fill her heart. Usagi lifted her hand out towards the cat and slowly inched her hand towards the cat. The cat rubbed its head against her hand while it purred and Usagi found herself laughing for the first time in a week. "You're a nice kitty, aren't you?" Usagi continued to pet its head and the cat meowed once more as if to agree. Usagi's hand stopped mid-stroke and she looked it over once more.

The cat's eyes were a bright blue and they looked up at her happily, but they also seemed to portray a mission. Usagi laughed again as she thought that, it was just too silly.

"See you later, Neko-chan!" Usagi began to walk away, but hesitate for a moment. Was it really that silly? She looked back over her shoulder, but the cat was already gone. Disappointed, Usagi turned around once more to begin her journey home; her happy mood had vanished along with the cat.

Usagi took the long way home, she didn't want to run into anyone she knew or get home too early and have to face her mother. She just wanted to think and the long walk would give her that time. Her emotions had gone on a very bumpy roller coaster ride. From panic, to crying, to laughing? The day had taken its toll on Usagi. There was also another reason she was taking this way home; the Hikawa Shrine.

Usagi had never gotten the courage to go to the shrine itself, but the feeling she always got when she passed it was warm and comforting. Just walking by the shrine always lifted her spirits up, just like sitting by the fountain at the park did. These two places, along with The Crown, were her lifelines. Yet recently, The Crown and the fountain had stopped giving her that fantastic glow. Instead they seemed to be filled with the ghosts of forgotten memories. As Usagi approached the shrine, she hoped, she prayed, that this would still feel the same. She just couldn't take any more sadness filling her.

Usagi turned at the foot of the steps leading up to the shrine, but no sense of happiness filled her. Usagi stared looking up at the once comforting buildings, and she felt the sadness beginning to fill her. She closed her eyes trying to keep it from seeping through her, but it was already too late. The shrine had filled her with its ghost.

Always the crybaby, she felt the tears building up behind her eyelids.

"Please..." The plea escaped her lips and the sound of shrill screeching filled the air. Usagi opened her eyes frightened, and two large crows swooped down around her. Usagi screamed but the crows were not going after her, but something to the right of her. The two flew by her and began to attack their intended victim.

The black cat swatted at them trying to defend itself, but the two crows were vicious in their attack.

"Stop it!" Usagi rushed forward and began to swat at the birds.

"Phobos! Deimos!" Someone shouted in anger as Usagi scooped up the cat in her arms, shielding it with her body. The crows descended upon her, but the bristles of a broom swept the two crows away before they struck her. "Get away!" The two crows screeched and began to fly away. Usagi looked up at their savior.

A black haired Shinto maiden who looked about Usagi's age stood over them protectively as the two crows flew away.

"I wonder what got into them..." The girl mused as she watched them fly away. After she was sure that the crows were gone, she looked down at Usagi and the cat. "Sorry about that." She bent down to inspect Usagi for cuts. "Are you okay?" Usagi nodded and looked down at the cat. It had several cuts on its back, but other than that it seemed alright.

"We're okay." The Maiden sighed in relied.

"I really am sorry about that, they usually aren't anything like that!" The Maiden began to pet the cat's head. "I'm just glad you and your cat are okay."

"Its not-" Usagi began to protest but than she stopped as she looked down at the cat once more; it was staring up at her with grateful blue eyes. It really could be her cat.

"You better take her home and clean her up." The Maiden said as she began to stand up. She offered Usagi her hand. "What's her name?" Usagi grabbed her hand and began to rise to her feet. A name, what was a good name for a cat? The glint of the crescent moon emblem caught her attention. The Moon.

"Luna." Usagi said looking back at the Maiden, the name meant moon, but Usagi wasn't sure how she knew that. She was always failing in English, and she didn't even know what language the name came form. The Maiden smiled as she pet the cat's head once more, and the cat mewed softly.

"Nice name." She took a step back and bowed. "I'm Hino Rei. My grandfather and I run this shrine." She said motioning to the shrine behind her. Usagi bowed slightly trying now to be rude, but at the same time trying not to press too tightly on the injured cat.

"I am Tsukino Usagi."

"Again, I'm really sorry." Rei said, she looked back at the cat. "You should probably get Luna home before Phobos and Deimos come back." She advised. "I don't know what got into them, but whatever it was, its best to be on the safe side." Usagi nodded and she cradled Luna as she began to walk away.

"Arigato." She began to walk away from the shrine and then she looked back at Rei who was still watching her. "See you later." Rei seemed surprised by this, but then she smiled.

"See you."

Rei watched as the strange girl and cat became smaller and smaller down the street. Her hands wrung the handle of the broom nervously as she thought about the entire experience.

The aura around Usagi had been strange but powerful, and the Luna was an entirely mystifying being. As Rei had touched her, an unknown power had flowed through Rei. The power had felt familiar, but Rei could not name it. It was like a fire in her soul, igniting and spreading throughout her body.

There was something else about the two that was completely mystifying and confusing. Phobos and Deimos would never attack anything without cause. Occasionally they would screech at people whom Rei had already suspected as shady, but this was different. The cat had not provoked them, but they had attacked anyways. They must have felt the unfamiliar aura around Luna as well.

There was something wrong about Luna and Usagi that Rei could not figure out. Rei sighed as she began to walk up the steps towards the shrine. She would just have to keep an eye out for them.