CHAPTER ONE


She was late. For the second time that day.

Usagi raced down the sidewalk as fast as her weary legs would carry her, cursing the Dark Generals Zoisite and Kunzite between panting breaths. If it hadn't been for them and their energy sapping doom dome she wouldn't have been so exhausted this morning. And if she hadn't been so exhausted, she wouldn't have overslept by an entire hour. By the time she'd fallen under Haruna-sensei's withering glare, detention had been an inevitability.

Which meant she was now late for the Senshi meeting, and her one chance of making a good first impression on Sailor V—Venus, she reminded herself—as Usagi was ruined. She could just picture the girls sitting there, waiting for her. Rei would be bad-mouthing her for sure. Makoto or Ami might try to defend her, but Luna would be furious. And Sailor V… Sailor V would write Usagi off as a total flake.

It wasn't fair. How could things go so wrong so fast?

Usagi veered around a corner and groaned when she spotted a poster for the upcoming Sailor V movie. One thing was for sure: there would never be a Sailor Moon movie… Who would want to watch a clumsy crybaby fumble her way through battles when they could go see someone cool like Sailor V instead? She was so accomplished, so graceful. Never late, never scared. Always getting the bad guys without putting a foot wrong.

Usagi had never been like that. When Luna had told her she was Sailor Moon, a part of her—the part that wasn't terrified—had hoped that it meant she could be like Sailor V. Things hadn't turned out quite the way she'd hoped, but seeing her idol in person last night, learning that she was another Senshi—Sailor Venus, in fact—had been like a dream come true. Sailor V was on her team! Sailor V could help her be stronger, cooler, braver! Sailor V could be her friend!

A surge of doubt deflated Usagi's bubble of excitement. She wanted to impress her new teammate, show her that she could be a strong leader. But a leader wouldn't show up an hour late to a Senshi meeting. Her shoulders slumped and her pace faltered as she considered her new role. Usagi, leader of the Sailor Senshi. She wasn't smart like Ami, or courageous like Rei, or strong like Makoto… The others didn't cry when a youma showed up or trip over their own feet trying to dodge a blow. They certainly didn't need Tuxedo Kamen swooping in to their rescue every time they fought a battle.

Tuxedo Kamen! One thought of the mysterious masked hero was all it took to set her mind and heart racing. He'd been injured last night trying to save her. Well, what he'd thought was her, but had in fact been a scheming Zoisite in disguise. When Venus had recounted the tale of his near escape—saved by Venus herself—Usagi's insides had twisted with guilt. Tuxedo Kamen was always there to save her and last night it had led him into a trap. Thank goodness for Sailor Venus!

Maybe now, with a fifth Senshi on the team, things would get easier. Maybe Venus had been sent as a sign, a blessing. After all, once Makoto had awakened as Sailor Jupiter, hadn't Luna said that they'd found all four Senshi? She'd never spoken of a fifth. Venus's sudden arrival had to mean something big was about to happen, Usagi was sure of it. She could feel it deep down in her bones. This was destiny. They would finally find the princess and put an end to the Dark Kingdom once and for all. Sailor V meant victory!

Cheered, Usagi clutched the handle of her schoolbag and picked up the pace. When she got to the meeting she would tell everyone her theory and inspire them all, like a true leader. Rei would eat her words and, more importantly, Venus would see that Usagi wasn't just a clumsy airhead. They'd all be in awe of her epiphany, her amazing intelli—

The collision came out of nowhere, derailing her buoyant train of thought with jarring immediacy. Usagi's right knee struck rough pavement a moment before her chin smashed against something almost as hard, knocking her teeth together. Smarting from the impact, tears welled up in her eyes as she made an awkward attempt to right herself.

Then, a low, pain-filled groan sounded somewhere beneath her, filling Usagi with an all too familiar sense of foreboding. Large hands grasped her shoulders, evoking a light jolt of connection that halted her awkward fumbling. Next she knew the hands were pushing her up and back, away from another body. The body she had crashed into. The body she was always crashing into. Cursing beneath her breath, Usagi winced in anticipation.

"Odango Atama, I think it's time I consider a restraining order."

Usagi cringed at the familiar nickname, an annoying moniker he'd coined at their first meeting that had stuck ever since. The notion that she would purposely seek him out was so ludicrous it bordered on laughable, but she chose to simply ignore the gibe. Without sparing him a glance, she swatted his hands away and scooted back, putting a safe distance between them.

The hasty movement pulled Usagi's attention to her injured knee. After surrendering a considerable amount of skin to the sidewalk, the wounded joint looked raw and angry. She released a shaky breath before pressing a tremulous finger to the broken flesh. The ensuing hiss sounded sharp in her ears as she sucked cool air through clenched teeth. Channelling her pain into anger, a talent she possessed in spades, Usagi finally looked up to face her assailant.

"As if I need any extra encouragement to stay away from—oh!"

The uncharacteristic sight of a dishevelled Chiba Mamoru, sprawled out on the sidewalk before her, stopped Usagi short. He sat there, stunned, the contents of her schoolbag scattered all around and on top of him. Tufts of his jet-black hair poked out at all angles, and the impeccably tailored navy blazer of his school uniform hung askew off one shoulder. Usagi's fit of pique morphed into amusement, but she stifled the urge to laugh when he grimaced and clutched his shoulder. After a wicked moment of hesitation her good manners won out, and she scrambled over to his side and began gathering her belongings and stuffing them back in her schoolbag.

"I'm sorry, Mamoru, I wasn't watching where I was going."

"Isn't that always the case, Odango?"

Usagi's jaw clenched as she collected the last of the scattered papers. He was always such a jerk, even when she tried to be polite. Why did he always have to make fun of her? Didn't he have better things to—

A sheaf of papers appeared beneath her nose. She looked up to find Mamoru was handing them to her, a smile on his face. Not a mean smile either; a nice one.

"It's my fault too, Odango. I was a bit distracted."

Usagi's jaw nearly dropped at the rare concession but she managed to catch herself in time. Instead, she gave a little sniff—dignified, she hoped—took the papers from him and slipped them into her bag before clicking it shut with dainty precision. "Gee, Mamoru, that's unusually civil of you. Did you hit your head when you fell?"

Though she made no effort to suppress her snotty tone, he chuckled at the comment. "You've given me so many concussions already, Odango, what's one more? You must be trying to pound some sense into me."

Usagi almost laughed at the comment…almost. But when Mamoru grunted and struggled to rise to his feet she did jump up to help him. Strangely enough, he let her, and together they got him back upright. He was lifting a hand to smooth his unruly hair when Usagi spotted his lopsided blazer once more. Without thinking, she reached out and pulled it into place, running her hand up and over his shoulder to smooth out the wrinkles. Wincing at the touch, he jerked and pulled away before pressing a hand to the shoulder.

Despite a mild rush of embarrassment, Usagi's eyes softened in concern and she took a step toward him. "Are you all right, Mamoru?"

"I'm fine, Odango," he told her, flashing a weak grin. "Just a little stiff from the fall is all."

Her pale brows knitted together as she frowned up at him. "Are you sure?"

"Of course I am," he insisted, but his tone was clipped. "I've got to go, I have somewhere to be."

Usagi opened her mouth to protest when he turned away but decided against it. He'd said he was okay, so who was she to question him? She was reaching down to grab her schoolbag when she spotted a flash of red and paused. Raising her left hand, she spread her fingers and stared in confusion at her bloodstained palm. A quick glance at her injured knee confirmed that the wound was already turning a deep shade of maroon as the blood dried, but she'd touched it with her right hand, not her left… She'd used her left hand to smooth Mamoru's blazer. Was he bleeding?

Usagi's head shot up, and she spotted his navy-clad back departing down the street before looking back at her hand. If the blood had already seeped through his clothes, the injury might be serious. What if he needed a doctor? Her gut told her to follow him and make sure he was all right, but she was already late for the Senshi meeting. Any further delay was sure to annoy the girls. Luna would lecture her for days. Besides, Mamoru was a high-school student, he wasn't a child; he could look after himself.

But when Usagi's eyes fell upon his departing silhouette, she didn't see the familiar navy school blazer, she saw a black tuxedo and cape. She shook her head to clear the image, but her thoughts weren't so easily dismissed. Somewhere out there Tuxedo Kamen was hurt and she couldn't help him. Now Mamoru was hurt too. The least she could do was make sure he was all right. The girls would just have to wait a little longer.

Mind made up, Usagi grabbed her bag and set off after him.


Catching up to Mamoru took longer than expected. While she'd been deliberating, he'd managed to completely disappear. After making several wrong turns and surprising a bewildered upperclassman wearing the same navy school blazer, Usagi began to regret her decision. How was it that she had the misfortune to cross paths with Mamoru on a near daily basis, yet now, when she actually wanted to find him, he had suddenly vanished into thin air?

It was only when she was retracing her steps that she happened to spot him in an alley. Releasing an exasperated sigh, Usagi slung her schoolbag over one shoulder and marched in his direction. As she closed the distance between them she forced herself to squash an irrational surge of resentment. Making sure that he was okay was the right thing to do, and stomping up and snapping at him straight off would be churlish. Mamoru couldn't have known that she would follow him, so of course he hadn't meant to lead her on a merry chase. Nor was it his fault that she'd made a complete fool of herself in front of that cute upperclassman…

Usagi slowed her pace when she noticed that Mamoru hadn't moved since she'd spotted him. He was standing at the mouth of the alley with his back to her, so she couldn't see his face, but there was something odd about his rigid posture and—she squinted her eyes—were his fists clenched? Was he waiting for something? Usagi looked around. Where were they, anyway? She'd lost her bearings while tracking him down. Did he live somewhere around here?

She cast another anxious glance at her wristwatch then shrugged. What did it matter? It was none of her business, and besides, she didn't have time to wonder about Mamoru's social life. Rei was probably fuming by now, campaigning to have Usagi ousted as leader. While the prospect of a demotion wasn't altogether unwelcome, the idea of Rei getting one over on her was much more distressing.

This wouldn't take much longer. She'd just check and make sure that Mamoru was all right, and then she'd get the heck out of here. Usagi reached out to tap him on the shoulder but before she could touch him he whirled around, quick as lightning. Next thing she knew he had her pinned against the alley's brick wall.

She let out a startled squeal then gasped when her back made contact with the cold, rough brick. "Hey! What's the big idea?"

Mamoru's eyes widened before he released her and took a step back. "Odango? What are you doing here?"

Scowling, Usagi moved away from the wall and tugged at the hem of her shirt. "Yes, it's me," she huffed before reaching down to retrieve her schoolbag. She'd dropped it in the scuffle. "Who were you expecting, Jack the Ripper?" She shot Mamoru a withering glare but he just stood there, staring down at her with the same stunned expression. Nettled by his ninja antics but unnerved by his silence, Usagi blew out an annoyed breath and averted her gaze. "I was worried about you. You didn't have to attack me."

Mamoru blinked. "Worried about me?"

"Your shoulder," Usagi clarified. "It's bleeding, or haven't you noticed?" She held out her left palm, still stained with his dried blood.

He said nothing at first, then frowned and tilted his head. "I told you I was fine, Odango, didn't you hear me?"

She waved her blood-smeared palm in front of his face. "Yes, I heard you, but it's obvious that you're not fine, Mamoru."

His eyes flashed when she said his name and Usagi felt a blush warm her cheeks, but she held firm under his intense regard until Mamoru glanced over his shoulder. When he turned back his gaze had hardened. "Look, Odango," he said, his voice terse, "I have somewhere to be. If I'm hurt, I'll deal with it. It's not your job to worry about me."

Chastened by his bluntness, Usagi faltered. "I know that," she muttered, "it's just—"

"Go home, Odango." He emphasized the brusque order with an abrupt turn of his back and strode away.

Slack-jawed at his curt dismissal, Usagi felt her ears grow hot with embarrassment. What was his problem? She was now inexcusably late for the Senshi meeting and for what? To help some jerk who didn't even deserve it? Had she really thought someone as socially inept as Mamoru would appreciate her concern?

A scowl twisted her mouth as she glared at his retreating back. She hadn't followed him all this way just to be dismissed. Why should she feel foolish when he was the fool? Filled with renewed resolve, Usagi clenched her fists and marched after him. She'd do what she came to do, and she'd give him a piece of her mind too.

She caught up to him in less than a dozen paces, barely noticing the looming presence of the Starlight Tower ahead. Poised to rip into him, Usagi's scathing reprimand died in her throat as a cold tingle of premonition travelled up her spine. Harsh static buzzed in her ears before a red haze descended upon them. Uneasy, she took a cautious step toward Mamoru.

"What is this?" she asked, hearing the slight tremble in her voice. "What's happening?"

Mamoru whirled around and his stern expression melted into one of pure astonishment. "What are you doing here?" he demanded, his tone thunderous. "I told you to go home!"

Forgetting her fear, Usagi glowered in response. Where did he get off ordering her around like that? "You're hurt, Mamoru! I don't care if you—" Her speech halted as he began to flicker and fade out of visibility, then the world around them began to spin. Usagi's stomach heaved, launching a wave of nausea up into her throat. "What…" She looked down at her hands and discovered that they too were fading away. A low whimper escaped her lips as she turned a fearful gaze upon him.

"Mamoru…"

He stepped toward her, eyes brimming with guilt. "Odango, I really wish you had listened."

The last thing she recalled before the red glow consumed them was the gentle whisper of his embrace.

And then there was nothing.


Thank you for reading!

For those of you unfamiliar with the 90s anime, our journey begins with episode 34 (prologue excluded).
It's safe to assume that everything up to this point has followed canon with two minor exceptions: a) Mamoru is manga/Crystal age (17, in gr.11) because I prefer it that way, and b) the masquerade kiss never happened...for the same reason.

Feedback of any kind is humbly encouraged and greatly appreciated.