Part III: The Past

Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days
La la la la...

Minako entered into the arcade and glanced at the clock once more; she still had an hour until she had to go. Minako walked right to the counter where the bright smile of Motoki greeted her.

"Well if it isn't Minako-chan." Minako forced a smile onto her face for his account. "I was begining to think you had left us all behind." He said and she knew it was true. she hadn't been to the arcade when the sun was still up in a week or two, and she had to admit she had missed it. "What have you been up to?"

"Just been busy is all." Minako said standing there. "You know, school and stuff." Motoki nodded.

"Those pesky teachers." He said, but she could tell it was in jest. "Can't they see that a beautiful young woman like you has better things to do than school work?" Minako laughed genuinely and he smiled.

"Oye, Motoki." The two at the counter turned to see a man Minako recognized, but could not name.

"Oh my!" Motoki exclaimed. "It seems that today is the day for my two prodigal coustomers to make their glorious return!" Minako watched as the man sat down across from Motoki with a scowl.

"Just been busy." He said gruffly, and Minako found it hard to take her gaze off of him. There was something familiar about him. "Kimi's had me trying on suit after suit after suit." He seemed worn out, and then the man looked at Minako as she stared intensely. "Can I help you?" He asked, and Minako's cheeks began to burn.

"Uh, no. Its just that you look familiar." She said quickly. The man seemed to look her over as well, and then nodded slowly.

"Yeah." He agreed and his scowl deepened. Motoki leaned over the counter.

"This is Minako-chan, remember?" He asked, and the man gave Motoki a quick glance, and then nodded slowly once more.

"I think. You told me about her a month ago." The man said, and then he forced a smile for Minako. "I'm Chiba Mamoru." He introdunced himself, and she offered him her hand and he took it, but as their skin touched a surge of energy rushed between them leaving them both wide eyed and speachless. Their hands fell away from each other and Minako's eyes narrowed as she watched him, and his remained watching her as well, with less intensity, but only surprise.

"Well now that you are both properly introduced," Motoki began, "I've got to go and actually work." He waived to them, and then they watched him disappear into the back of the arcade carrying his clip board. "We just got in a whole new set of games in! Minako, I'm sure your gonna love..." His voice trailed back to them, but it was muffled and Minako felt an uneasiness at being near Mamoru all alone.

"So..." He began to speak, but then his voice trailed off. They only remained there staring towards the back of the arcade where Motoki had vanished. Minako glanced back to him in the corner of her eye, and caught him doing the same. Both looked away quickly, and Minako felt her breathing become more heavy. There was something about him, something familiar, but not necessarily threatening. Minako took a step away from him, and she felt his eyes on her as she made her way to the Sailor V game. Playing, or practicing as it really was, always made her feel better. She sat down at the controls and the game instantly activated as it recognized her energy reading. At least it was one game she didn't have to pay for...

She fought endlessly as her mind trailed off into her recent problems. The information the others had told her the night before bothered her greatly, and it made the anger and worry fill her as she desimated the animated monsters on the screen. She hadn't told Artemis yet of their information, but she knew that when she did so he would... Minako didn't even know how he would react. Minako blasted the creatures on the screen without mercy, but the monsters kept coming; it was endless. The battle was endless; in real life as well as in the game. No matter how hard Minako fought ot make it end, the Youma seemed to come endlessly; just like in the game.

The screen turned darker as the next level loaded and Minako could only stare at her own reflection in the glass, and the sight of her eyes startled her. Minako could finally see what Artemis had noticed a few weeks earlier. She was so angry and dark. When had she turned into that woman in the glass? When had Minako fully become Sailor Venus?

"Your really good at this game." The voice startled her and she looked back and up at Mamoru as he stood watching from behind her. Minako sat there at the game and her uneasiness about him returned.

"So? I'm good at a lot of games." His eyes moved from her face and the big red ribbon on the back of her head suddenly felt like a burning beacon announcing to all her identity. But it was silly really. No one could guess her identity unless they actually saw her transform. It was like some sort of rule, some sort of magic.

"Of coarse, but don't you grow tired of this game?" He asked. "She always has to fight. On and on. Its never ending. The levels keep coming and the hardness increases each time. Its scary really." He said. "As if Sailor V's mission will never be complete, and she will never be able to live a normal life like she wants to." Minako frowned.

"And how would you know that's how she feels?" She demanded. She was hating the pity in his voice, and he had touched the pin on the head exactly. "Maybe she likes fighting." She suggested. Mamoru shook his head.

"No one likes to fight." He said. "Especially Ve-." He stopped short and Minako notices his nervous end. "She must have something really important to fight for." He finished softly.

"Yeah." Minako agreed just as softly. The uneasiness was becoming stronger, but it was because Minako found it harder and harder to resist her trust of him. There was something not right about him, and the fact Minako felt trusting towards him only made Minako even more on edge. She had no reason to trust him. Not at all. Not only had they just met that day, but the power surge she had felt from him should have caused her to be weary of him. It was almost like a Youma reading, but... different. She tried to shake it off. This guy was one of Motoki's friends. Surely he couldn't be something like that. Right?

Minako glanced at the clock above the front counter and stood up. She was going to be a little early, but it could not be helped.

"Well, I gotta go." She said and she started towards the door.

"See you around." He called after her, and she looked back at him for a moment. She would definitely keep him in her sights. He was someone who should not be left alone.

Chibiusa...

The name was now haunting her. Wherever Usagi went, the name would come to her. Where had she heard it? It was driving her crazy. Ever since two days before when she had spoken to Mamoru, it had followed her around and would come to her at the most random of places.

"Usagi-chan!" Ami was next to her with a cheerful smile, and Makoto was right behind her. The smile on Ami's face vanished as she view Usagi's face completely. "What's wrong?" Usagi looked at her two friends and her mouth opened to tell them everything, but just like before with Luna no sound came out and she only sighed.

Chibiusa...

"Usagi-chan?" Makoto joined in and Usagi smiled up at the two.

"It really is nothing." She assured them, and she really thought so. It was just her fantasy... a fantasy that would never come to be.

Usagi and the others stood at the bottom of the steps looking up at the shrine.

"Study group?!" Usagi looked at the two in front of her and she saw Rei walking down the steps above them. "Waaah! Its Friday! You promised to go out and celebrate!" The others smiled and each glanced at each other.

"Of coarse." Ami said and Usagi's eyes sparkled excitedly.

"Really?!" The others laughed and nodded in agreement.

"And I know someone who would love to come with us." Rei said leaning towards Usagi as she stood a few steps above them. Ami nodded happily, and Makoto stood standing with a cheerful smile.

"It would be wrong to keep her out." Makoto agreed and Ami continued to nod. Usagi looked at each of them unsure of who they were refering to.

"Luna?" Usagi asked tilting her head to the side, and Makoto laughed while Ami's nod turned into a shake. Rei stepped forward and grabbed Usagi by the shoulders.

"Someone we know you've already met, Usagi-chan." Makoto said, and Rei began to drag her upwards by her arms.

"You've been holding out on us, Usagi-chan!" Rei complained and Usagi could only follow her lead in confusion. Once they reached the top of the stairs, Rei pushed her forwards towards the study building and the others followed after her. "If we were going ot celebrate the gathering of The Senshi..." Usagi was pushed through the door of the study building and she stood there staring at the blonde figure before her. "We have to have all of The Senshi." Rei finished and Usagi stood there speachless as she watched the blonde sitting there on the table smiling up at her.

"Minako-chan!" Usagi cried happily, and then she froze as the true identity of the girl in front of her became evident. "V-chan!" Minako stood up.

"Hello Usagi-chan; Sailor Moon." Usagi could only there stunned. "A princess should not be seperated from her guardians." Usagi nodded still quiet and then her hands clapped together and Usagi jumped happily.

"Minako-chan!" She hugged her laughing and Minako staggered backwards and fell back sitting on the table, but she allowed a smile to form on her face as Usagi cried.

"Sailor Moon, don't you go soft on me." Minako teased. "My lead Guardian Senshi has to remain strong." Usagi nodded.

"Mmhmm." Usaig agreed wiping at her eyes.

"Why are you crying, Usagi-baka?" Rei asked standing over her. "We're all together now, silly!"

"I'm just too happy!" Usagi shot back at her. "We... We're all together again." Usagi repeated more softly. Rei smiled and put her hand on Usagi's head and began to rub it comfortingly.

"I'm happy too." She said smilng softly. Makoto and Ami stood a nearby smiling at the scene as well, but their smiles faded slightly knowing that soon they would have to crush Usagi's heart. They just wished there was another way, but just like before, there was no way around it. It was the only way to keep her safe. One day, they hoped, she would understand and perhaps might be happy again after all of this was over.

Usagi walked arm-in-arm with Minako and Rei as the group continued to laugh and talk happily. Never in her life had Usagi felt this happy and excited. All together! They were brought together once again and nothing was going to separate them! Usagi laughed and the others responded to her happy mood with just as much laughter.

"Where do you want to go next?" Minako asked and Usagi looked up at her with sparkling eyes.

"The park!" She exclaimed. The sun was beginning to edge closer to the horizon and if they hurried they could make it to the fountain just in time to see it begin to change the colors of the sky. "We can watch the sunset!" The others nodded, and Usagi began to pull them forward. "I know the perfect place!" Her happiness could not be contained. She had to complete her experiment. With all five of them together once more Usagi had noticed how The Shrine had given off that fantastic feeling in Usagi's heart just like it had done in the past. Usagi had dragged them to the arcade and Crown Parlor on the pretense of eating and playing, but in truth she had had an ulterior motive. Just as Usagi had expected, The Crown had filled her heart with a feeling surpassing happiness when they were all together sitting in the far left corner. Now Usagi just needed to get them to the fountain in the park. Usagi didn't understand why those places gave off such an amazing feeling, but she did know that it appeared to have to do with her friends. As if they had spent such happy times there together; a happy nostalgia.

"Okay, okay!" Minako laughed as Usagi pulled them forward hastily.

The area around the fountain was filled with a golden light as the setting sun shone upon them through the buildings in the distance, and the fountains casted its shadow upon the ground and cement wall behind it. The others continued to walk, chatting happily, and Usagi disentangled herself from the others as they all began to sit down looking towards the changing sky.

"You're right Usagi-chan, its very beautiful. Just perfect for watching a sunset." Makoto chimed in, but Usagi remained standing beside them as they sat down. There was no one else around besides them, and Usagi closed her eyes waiting to feel the sweeping emotions of happiness, but as she stood there with them all giggling beside her she felt... sad. Usagi's eyes opened and she looked at the three girls who were still joking around happily, and Makoto who was staring dreamily at the sunset. The warm nostalgia escaped Usagi's reach and she could only stare down at them with the sadness pressing down upon her. She didn't understand! She was here with them! It should be different now! Usagi felt the tears forming in the back of her eyes and a large lump was clogging her throat. Minako looked up at her with a bright smile that vanished at the sight of her.

"Are you going to sit down, Usagi-chan?" The others looked up at her as well at the sound of worry in Minako's voice.

"Are you alright Usagi-chan?" Makoto asked from her sitting position on the ground. Usagi looked up towards the sky and blinked back the tears.

"Yes." She choked out. "I'm just... happy." She lied hoping they would think her tears once again from her happiness. The sky above her was a mixture of pink and purple and as Usagi looked upwards the whole sky blurred as tears overcame her vision. She continued to look upwards, but it was not just to avoid the other's gaze. It was as if she was subconsciously waiting for something to happen. As if the sky would rip open and reveal all of the answers to her. As if the answer to everything would fall from the sky.

"Usagi-chan?" Ami's voice broke through her thoughts, and she felt a hand on her shoulder. Rei stood beside her with a sorrowful and worried face and Usagi smiled at them to push away their worry.

"I'm fine. Really!" She lied, and she could tell by their faces that they knew it. They knew she was sad for some reason that she wouldn't, or couldn't, tell them.

They were all beside her... she should be happy. The sun was just sinking behind the horizon as Usagi looked at her friends who were engulfed in golden and pink light. They were all next to her... they had all found her. She was no longer alone, and yet...

"Mamoru." Usagi whispered, and Rei leaned in closer to hear, but didn't quite make it.

"What was that, Usagi-chan?" Minako asked, and Usagi looked over each of them individually. They were close to her, but he was still so far away. The fountain... its nostalgia was different than the other two places... All the times in the past when Usagi had felt lonely and missed her friends in her heart, Usagi would make her way to The Crown or near The Shrine. Those were their places. This place though... this fountain... was his.

"Mamo-chan..." Usagi thought sadly as she looked at the fountain and the rest of the area around her as she tried to get a clue. Why? Why was this so important to her, and what did it have to do with Mamoru? She never saw him here all of the times she had come. Why did she associate him with this place?

She froze in her scan and she felt a chill sweep through her as the breeze brushed against her. She twisted hastily away from the sunset and to the rising moon. It was the same feeling she had when the moonlight floated into her room and the same sorrow she felt when she was near him and yet unable to be with him.

"Usagi-chan?" Rei asked with more fear and Usagi looked at her for a moment with the tears in her eyes unable to be hidden. "What is it?" She demanded. "Did you remember something?" Usagi blinked and tears dripped down her eyes. Oh if only she could remember! It might make this mess seem less chaotic. "Did you remember something from the past?" Rei repeated and Usagi looked at the others not comprehending their worried faces as they leaned closer to her.

"Sailor Moon?" Minako's voice was the most worried out of them all, and at the sound of her voice Usagi brought out her handkerchief and wiped her eyes, and smiled up at them again. She couldn't let her sorrow ruin this cheerful reunion.

"I'm okay, really." She said. "I didn't remember anything yet. But, maybe soon." She said as happily as she could. Rei wrapped her arm around her.

"How about we get going?" She said. Usagi looked at Rei's violet-blue eyes to see they were still worried like all the others, but there was also understanding hidden beneath it. Perhaps she could feel the force at work here as it attacked Usagi's heart. If she told them her secret love, would they support her, or would they tell her to keep away? To keep away from Mamoru... Usagi couldn't bear it, and yet she knew it was possibly what she needed. She just couldn't though. No matter how painful it was to be near him and see him knowing she couldn't be with him, she just had to see him. Not seeing him was the worse pain she could think of. As long as she could see him, she could keep going. Even with this pain and this suffering. To see him... it was enough...

"Chibiusa..."

Usagi looked back up to the sky in sorrow as the mysterious name came back to her along with its mysterious emotions. This place was more than just a place of sorrow... but also regret... Just like the mysterious name.

She felt Rei moving her away from the fountain and the others began to follow after them. Usagi could still feel the sorrow on her heart as they walked and looking over her shoulder at the rising and falling of the water in the fountain she pushed back more tears.

"Fix this..." She begged in her heart and she felt her heart skip a beat as a surge of power flowed through her and a few blocks away she had just unknowingly triggered something that would change everything.

Mamoru stepped through the door of his apartment and leaned back against the closed door; his entire energy seeming to be drained. It had been such a long day, and the constant measuring and trying on of tuxedos, tuxedos he hoped to never wear, had left him bitter and a bit angry. The only highlight of his day would have been visiting Motoki for the first time in weeks, but then that had even backfired. Motoki had been to busy to even talk to him for a full whole minute, and then there had been the whole situation with Minako. The girl's touch had filled him with a startling sense of power. At first he had thought nothing much of it, and it had only been a shock, but then they both had continued to keep an eye on the other. She had appeared just as uneasy as he did, and there was something oddly familiar about her, but it felt more than just having seen her at the arcade before.

He just couldn't put his finger on it.

He groaned as he took a step forward and his feet moved like lead weights. It was only five o'clock, but he felt like he had been awake forever. In fact, the night before he had tossed and turned endlessly with the phantom woman's voice in his ears.

"Find me, find The Silve Crystal..." Her voice was the saddest and the most desperate he had ever heard it. "Please, fix this!" Mamoru would find it. If it was the last thing he did, he would find it for her. He would find The Princess! Serenity...

"Mamo-chan..."

Mamoru entered into his bedroom and collapsed onto his bed with another moan. As he began to drift off to sleep, he swore again that he would find it.

"Mamo-chan..."

Again Mamoru found himself standing within the fog, and he followed the sound of the sad voice to where he knew he would find the now familiar vision, and dream take place. He knew that once he got there, he would be amongst several other figures and each would be looking upwards to the same woman who was begging them all to do the same thing. "Find me... Find The Silver Crystal... It will fix everything..." Mamoru stepped forward and as he did so, his clothes transformed into his familiar tuxedo and mask; the only tuxedo he ever wanted to wear again. He stepped closer, and the dark figures began to take shap, just like he knew they would. Then... it was different. The number of dark figures was different. Only two remained at the bottom of the steps staring up at the woman. Tuxedo Kamen stepped in between them, but he could not see their faces, but just that they were looking towards the stairs above. Following their gaze, Tuxedo Kamen looked upwards and he let out a small gasp.

Four figures were standing halfway up the stairs, and their images were easier to see as the moonlight shone down upon them. Why? Why had the dream changed? Why had the four of them left him and these other two behind?

"Everyone," Tuxedo Kamen looked past the four standing there and up to the woman who had brought them all here. She was standing in her usual position with her head looking over her shoulder at them. "Please, find The Silver Crystal..." As Mamoru took in the entire scene again the sight of the four above him caught his attention again. The blonde in the center wore a big red ribbon in her hair, and he took notice of their attire.

"Venus?" Mamoru whispered and then he looked at the others. Why had he not noticed it before? They were all Sailor Senshi!

"Please," The woman's voice echoed and he looked back at her. The moonlight shone around her face and he strained to make it more clear. He had to know who she was! He had to put an end to all of this! He tried to take a step upwards onto the steps, but found he couldn't. Why not? He could look around and move freely down here, why could he not step closer to her? The woman who broke his heart with every tear running down her cheek? The bright tear he knew would end the dream glistened at the edge of her eye and for a brief moment it illuminated her face enough to see her face clearly, but as the light blinded him and he found himself waking up from the dream, he found the image of her face impossible to keep in his mind.

Mamoru's eyes opened and the light of the setting sun filled his apartment. Sitting up he rubbed his forehead sorrowfully as he tried to remember her face, but it seemed impossible. It was as if it were forbidden to remember her face until he figured it out on his own. He hit the bed with his other fist in frustration. Why couldn't this come easier?! Why couldn't he just catch one simple break?! Instead of focusing on the woman's face his mind ventured towards the others with him. The ones right next to him were nothing but shadow, but the four in the middle had been clearer, and now that he thought about it he knew who three of them were: Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury. The fourth he had recognized faintly, but he could not name her. She was a Sailor Senshi as well; in red and purple with raven black hair, and she had stood right next to Venus as they looked upwards. He froze. His mind tried to bring up the shape of the figures next to him and the more he thought about it the more he was certain; Sailor Moon was not there in the dream. Her long, distinct hair was no where to be seen on the Senshi, but was more like...

"Mamo-chan..."

Slowly Mamoru's hand left his forehead and he looked up at the setting sun from his window and the street lights were already flickering on.

"Sailor Moon?" He whispered and as he spoke her name it was like a lock turning in his mind and the image of her face came clearly back to him and as the tear fell from her eye once more a strong warmth washed over him and settled in his chest. "Serenity..."

"Mamo-chan..."

There was something else... Mamoru's chest was begining to burn hotly and he pressed his hand against it. It was familiar... What was this burning sensation? His mind hurt as he tried to rememeber what this sensation was, and also tried to remember the thing that was sitting at the back of his mind.

"Mamo-chan..."

There was someone else who had called him that... and very recently. The woman's image came back and it felt like there was a vibrant fire erupting in his heart and a new power began to flow through his veins.

"Usagi!"

Mamoru was out on the street less than a minute later and as he did so, he almost knocked over one of his neighbors.

"Watch it!" The man growled, but Mamoru took no time to stop. He had only had an hour and a half of restless sleep, but now he was filled with a new energy and was no longer tired. He had to find Usagi. She was the woman... The woman in his dreams, she was Sailor Moon! It all made sense now! It was like he had found a piece of a puzzle he had never known existed. It changed what he thought was three separate puzzles into a single large jigsaw. His legs moved him quickly towards the only place he knew he could find a clue as to where she might be. A place he had seen her many times before.

The Crown.

Barging into the arcade he moved to the counter where Motoki was giving him a concerned look.

"What's wro-"

"Where is Usagi?" Mamoru asked quickly, and Motoki's face revealed his confusion.

"What do you want with Usagi-chan?" Motoki asked with a smile now forming on his face.

"It doesn't matter!" Mamoru answered back. "Where is she?" Motoki's eyebrow went up questioning.

"She and her friends were here a half hour ago. They ate upstairs and then they said something about going shopping." Motoki answered. "You know, I never knew, all this time, that Usagi and Minako knew each other? I mean, it makes sense. They are both always here, but now that I think about it, never together. One would be here, and then leave right as the other came storming in. It really strange-"

"Did they mention where they were going?" Mamoru demanded, and Motoki frowned.

"Did Usagi-chan do something wrong?" Mamoru shook his head violently. No. She had done the exact opposite!

"I just have to talk to her!" Motoki looked out towards the street.

"Well, I think they went to the right. Towards the park." Mamoru nodded, but then wasted no time in rushing towards the door. "Hey! Whats this all about?!" Motoki called after him. Mamoru turned to look back at him, but couldn't tell him the truth for two reasons:

1.) Motoki would never believe it, and

2.) Motoki would have had to say "I told you so."