Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 45: The Path to Crystal Tokyo
By: Sora Kazeno
"There you are."
Usagi turns around and gasps. She wasn't expecting to see him at the shrine. "I'm surprised to see you here."
"What's wrong with escorting you home?" He smiles at her. "I thought we could stop somewhere get a bite to eat on the way home."
Usagi didn't understand. Home? There was something about the way he said home to her, as if it was a place where they both belonged.
She tries to make sense of everything. She just finished the battle with all those creatures, hadn't she? She places a hand on her necklace. Alarm sets in when the necklace was not there. She had it moments ago; she was just Sailor Cosmos fighting those creatures. What if the creatures attack again? She didn't understand how she ended up in Tokyo either. She was in Boston. She lowers her hands. That's when she saw it. The heart shaped ring she had received from Mamoru when he first went to America. Her heart hammers inside her chest. She immediately inspects the man's hand and notices a golden band on his finger.
"Usa, what's wrong?" Mamoru asks his wife, not understanding why she seems to be acting so strange.
Why did he just call her Usa? When did she start going by Usa? Why isn't she in Boston? Why aren't both of them in Boston? Why isn't he dressed as King Endymion? Where are Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus? Sailor Earth?
She takes a deep breath and again looks at the promise ring Mamoru gave her. This time she noticed a slim diamond band under the heart shaped ring. She never seen it before. Then it hit her. If they are both wearing rings, does that mean they are married? But she does not recall a ceremony or anything. How could she not remember something like a wedding ceremony and marriage? When did she get married? She just graduated from Juuban and went on tour with the Three Lights, Rei, and Minako. Why is she, Mamoru, and Rei not in Boston? Why is her necklace gone? Where is Seiya?
Something is not adding up. It was as if she was in a time that didn't make sense to her. Time? Setsuna. The original timeline dictated she would marry Mamoru. But it changed when she awakened as Sailor Cosmos. She needs answers. When she awoke as Sailor Moon after the animates attacked her she went to Setsuna for answers and she explained everything. Maybe Setsuna knows what happened. She is unable to calm her racing mind.
Usagi snaps out of her thoughts and realizes everyone is staring at her waiting for a response. She forgot Mamoru asked her a question. "I'm just tired…" she finally responds. There is a lot of truth to the statement. "Before we head home, can we see Setsuna-san? It's been a while since I've seen her." That statement is true. She last seen Setsuna at the mini concert the Three Lights put on under the sakura trees.
Mamoru seems surprised by Usagi's sudden desire to see Setsuna but figures it would be a good idea. "Sure. I'll walk with you." It also gives him a chance to talk to her to find out what is wrong with her.
Usagi's first instinct is to say she will be fine on her own. But is Setsuna still living in the same apartment? Another question is where she, Usagi is living at the moment. Mamoru escorting here would help her figure out where to go. "That sounds great." She smiles at him while internally scrambling on figuring out a topic they can talk about on the way without giving away she was out of place. "I'll see you soon Rei-chan." Usagi flashes another smile at Rei.
"Bye Usagi." Rei watches the duo leave the shrine wordlessly. Why did Usagi asked about Seiya when she and Mamoru were married just a few months ago? The entire situation bothered her. She couldn't let it go and yet she was not about to confront Usagi in front of her husband. She shakes her head and spins around her heels to return into the shrine.
Whenever she struggles with answers there is always one place she can turn for guidance. The Great Fire. It would have to do for today and she can ask Usagi at a later date.
Usagi attempts to pay attention to where Mamoru is walking so she can remember the path in the future. So far it is the same.
"Usa, what is bothering you? You're so quiet." Mamoru asks in a caring tone. Normally she would be filled with excitement to see him after a long day of work. He isn't used to Usagi not telling him what is wrong.
"Nothing that dinner after talking with Setsuna won't fix!" Usagi responds cheerfully. Food sounds great; she didn't realize how hungry she was. "What have you been up to today?" She has to ask general questions. Maybe it will help her understand what is going on.
"Residency is going well. I'm learning a lot from the other doctors. Hard to believe I started there a few weeks ago. But when it's over next year, we'll go on our honeymoon where ever you want." Mamoru smiles as Usagi.
Usagi tries to take in all of the information at once. "Honeymoon… sounds great… we still have plenty of time to figure it out. I'm just glad you're able to start your career." She knew how it important it is for him to be a doctor. She remembered him discussing the process to her in the past, several years of medical school, residency, and then hopefully a full time position. "What was your favorite part today?" She tries to talk about anything other than a honeymoon with a man she doesn't remember marrying and broke up with.
"You seemed so full of ideas for a honeymoon several days ago," Mamoru thought discussing their future trip would brighten her mood. "Is there somewhere you wanted to go besides Hawaii?"
Usagi bit her lip. What was she supposed to say, I was just there with Seiya a month ago and it was wonderful? Instead she slowly responds, "Hawaii... the pictures look beautiful."
"The resort that you showed me last week looked amazing. As soon as know the last day for the residency, we'll go afterward." His eyes lowered a little. "I'm sorry you'll have to wait for a while. You've been so patient while I finish my schooling."
"I want to see you succeed Mamo-chan," she genuinely smiles at him. She looks around when they stop outside of a familiar building. Usagi is relieved they are here and Setuna is living in the same building, hopefully in the same apartment. It should be easy to find again in the future if she needs to return.
"Here we are," Mamoru says while holding the door open for Usagi to enter the apartment building. "I hope she is home."
"She probably is. Where else would she be?" Usagi tries not to show frustration at the thought of the Guardian of Time not at her residence. It never crossed her mind Setsuna could be elsewhere when she needed answers more than anything. She takes a deep breath to calm her racing heart, following Mamoru into the elevator. They have to journey to the twelfth floor. The numbers on the top of the elevator slowly highlight as each floor passes. Finally the destination floor is illuminated.
The door opens and Mamoru leads Usagi down the hall to Setsuna, Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru's apartment. He knocks loudly on the door and waits for a response.
Usagi tries her best not to fidget and constantly shifts her weight from foot to foot while she waits for the door to open. What is taking them so long? They usually answer right away. After what seems like an eternity, the door finally opens.
"Good evening," Haruka responds when she realizes the Prince and Princess are at the door. "What brings you here?"
"Usa was hoping to talk to Setsuna-san for a little bit," Mamoru explains as he removed his shoes once he is inside their home.
"You're in luck, she arrived back from some errands a little while ago," Haruka walks away toward the bedrooms to find her.
Usagi feels some relief she will able to speak with Setsuna. She waits as patiently as she can.
A few moments later, Setsuna enters the room and appears exhausted. She displays a faint smile. She already knows why Usagi is here. "I've been expecting you," she addresses the younger woman. "Perhaps we can talk privately for little while?" It would be impossible for them to talk freely with the others present. They did not understand what happened or even know anything is amiss.
Usagi nods her head and follows Setsuna back to her bedroom. Setsuna offers Usagi a chair to sit in but she is anxious for answers. As soon as Setsuna closes the door she begins to ask her first question. "What happened? The last thing I remember I was in Boston with Rei-chan and Mamo-chan investigating a new attack and then all of the sudden I wake up at Rei-chan's shrine and she tells me we haven't seen the Starlights since the battle against Galaxia. But that's not true. Something is wrong." Usagi pauses before she adds the final piece, "and somewhere along the way Mamo-chan and I are married, I think."
"I don't see what is wrong with you and Mamoru-san being married, that is how things are supposed to be." Setsuna sits down on her bed with her hands folded on her lap.
Usagi's take a sharp intake of breath and she realizes what Setsuna is implying. Setsuna was angry Usagi chose Seiya over Mamoru, most of the senshi were and she spent months defending her decision until they started to come around. "You… you did this somehow…" she speaks softly.
"Is it not what you wanted?" Setsuna asks, watching Usagi closely.
Usagi's heart hammers in her chest as she pieces it together. "You changed the timeline…"
"Changed? Hardly. I corrected." Setsuna speaks calmly. She wasn't sure how Usagi would react to this information.
"There was nothing to correct."
"Crystal Tokyo disappeared and that was unacceptable. Choosing the Starlight was not an option."
"So you… changed it." Things were starting to make sense to Usagi. She is in shock more than anger. "My pendant is gone." She had so many thoughts running through her mind and struggles to form them into words.
"Of course. You never awakened as Sailor Cosmos so those abilities do not exist."
"Those powers let me keep everyone safe. You have no right to do this."
"I had every right. Your mother allowed the key to be created; she even used part of the Ginzuishou's power to forge the key."
"What key?" This is the first time she ever heard of any type of a key.
"The Crystal Key. It made it possible to change things to how they should be."
Usagi's anger begins to flare but she knows she can't shout at Setsuna when she still needs answers, it would also cause the others in the apartment to run in and abruptly end the conversation. "Who are you to decide what the future should be and shouldn't be? If you are so concerned about me being with Endymion, then why didn't you stop Queen Beryl from destroying the Silver Millennium?"
Setsuna hesitates. "It is not that simple. Peace would not be everlasting at the Silver Millennium during that time. Those events had to happen in order for the creation of Crystal Tokyo."
"I don't believe you. It is just an excuse." Usagi dismisses the older woman's claims. "If you changed everything back, why is it the both of us still know about my awakening as Sailor Cosmos?"
"Your previous abilities as Sailor Cosmos allowed you to sense the shift in time. But by then it was done. Time cannot be changed back to what it was."
"No…." Usagi shakes her head, tears beginning to trickle down her eyes. She didn't want to believe Setsuna but based on how everyone has acted in the past hour, it was beginning to make sense. She collapses to her knees as tears stream down her cheeks. She has never felt so helpless.
"Your memories will adjust within time," Setsuna kneels down on the floor next to her. "Cosmos will be a thing of the past. Here, things never ended between the two of you. You had a beautiful wedding ceremony only a few months ago."
Usagi interrupts her. "A ceremony that I don't remember, to a person that I am not in love with anymore. I love Seiya."
"You belong with Prince Endymion." Setsuna cuts off Usagi. "In this timeline it is only a matter a time until Crystal Tokyo appears and Small Lady is born."
"Chibi Usa…" Usagi slowly repeats. She recalls a comment she once made to Mamoru that it was difficult for her to be with him knowing Chibi Usa would not exist. That is no longer true in this new timeline. She is silent. Usagi's eyes narrow. "You expect me to forget about the past year, as if it never happened? I'm supposed to go on my way with Mamo-chan even though things ended between us?"
"You could try to explain to him and the others, but they will know what you are talking about. No one has memories of this alternative time you speak of."
Usagi brushes a few tears from her eyes and grips her hands tightly into fists. She knew Setsuna has a point. She couldn't explain to the others what happened, she is the one that is out of place. They wouldn't understand. She is stuck. Without her abilities as Sailor Cosmos she cannot travel through time. She inhales a deep breath. "What else is different in this timeline?"
"Ami-chan is studying in Europe. Makoto-chan is in culinary school in Kobe. Minako-chan is struggling with her idol career; she never had the extra assistance. The others are the same. Mamoru-san finished school and shortly after you were married."
"It's not that easy to just forget everything."
"I know it will take time to adjust. Feel free to stop by at any time."
"What about Seiya? Where is he?"
"Where he belongs on Kinmoku at Queen Kakyuu's side."
Usagi slowly wipes away her tears; it is a lot for her to take in at once. Her stomach growls loudly. "I should probably be leaving." She stands up and heads back to the door.
She pauses at the door to turn and face Setsuna again. "I will never forget what you have done." Her eyes fill with anger.
"You will in time as you adjust to your current timeline. There is no avoiding it."
Usagi glares at her one more time. She inhales deeply to calm her nerves. She can't leave here visibly angry, it would raise too many questions. For now she needs to leave to eat dinner and try to adjust to her circumstances.
Mamoru notices the change in Usagi since he met with her at the shrine. She seems even more distracted than before after she spoke with Setsuna. He waits a little while for Usagi to tell him what is wrong like she normally does. Ten minutes pass, he waited long enough. "Usa, what's wrong? You haven't seemed the same since we left Rei's shrine."
Usagi didn't respond. She is lost in her own thoughts. She continues to walk slowly next to Mamoru.
"Usa?" Mamoru waits a few moments for a response. He begins to feel concern; she has never been this distant. He touches her shoulder lightly, trying not to startle her.
Usagi flinches slightly at the sudden touch. On instinct she expected it to be Seiya next to her and almost said his name. She turns her head and sees Mamoru instead. This was going to take a lot of adjustment. "Sorry…" Usagi tries to turn her focus to Mamoru. "I've had a lot on my mind."
"Tell me about it." His response is short and to the point. He waits for her to say something, anything.
"It's… complicated… I…" Usagi thinks quickly for an excuse. What could she say to explain? "I've just been thinking about the future…" There was a lot of truth to it.
"You're worried about when things will change." Mamoru feels relief. Usagi has discussed this with him the past. Knowing the future is a blessing and a curse. A person knows about the joyful events and the less pleasant ones at the same time. You have no choice but to wait for the events to unfold. They've talk about at length what it might be like when the Earth essentially becomes frozen before Neo Queen Serenity awakes up a sleeping planet. He tries his best to comfort her. "We still have a lot of time before any of those events happen. Centuries, I believe."
Usagi isn't sure what Mamoru is referring but she needs to run with it. "There has to be… some event that worries you more than others?"
"Being King. But instead of worrying about the future, we should focus on the present and where you would like to eat. I know you're starving."
Usagi's initial thought is to blur out a place she loves but stops. What if that place didn't exist, closed or they never ate there? Instead she responds, "Surprise me Mamo-chan," with a smile.
"Surprise you?" He repeats slowly, clearly surprised by her response. "A place that we've been to or a place we haven't been to?"
Usagi is taken back by his comments. "Hmmm…. How about some place new?"
"Sounds great, I know just the place. It isn't too far out of the way and it's a place you mentioned you wanted to try. Mako-chan said it was really good." Mamoru directed Usagi to the subway.
Usagi followed him without a word. As angry and confused as she felt, she realizes she needs to act like her old happy self when she was with Mamoru, before the anger of his past actions surfaced when she became Cosmos. She can't make his suspicious. But… how is this Mamoru different than the one she was with? Did marriage change him?
She has to keep telling herself to act normal. Setsuna will not help her and for now all she can do is learn about this new timeline and try to follow it. Maybe in time, she can adjust. She smirks. Adjust to not being with Seiya like she had for the past year? She doesn't want to change that. Adjust to not having the ability to travel among the stars and protect the world from all dangers. After all… she knows a part of her still loves Mamoru but she's in love with Seiya.
How much time had passed? Was it still the same year? It couldn't be if Mamoru graduated from college. It took years to complete that. She sits down next to Mamoru, her eyes searching for a sign or an advertisement that had a date on it. There are multiple advertisements inside the train car but none with a dated event. Maybe when she arrives at the next station. She leans back in her seat, brushing up against Mamoru. She is about to apologize but stops.
Mamoru reaches over and lightly squeezes her hands that are resting on her lap. "You've feel better after some dinner." He tries to reassure her and calm her nerves. He is unsure what else he can do. The topic isn't something that could quite discuss in public, especially when the train car is so quiet.
Usagi looks down at his hand on top of hers. They are warm and comforting. A part of her is surprised by his actions since he was always the type to not show affection in public places, regardless of how minor. Is it because she is older and their married? An idea strikes her and she moves her hands to look in her purse. She forgot she had it with her. She has to have wallet or an id.
She frantically looks for her wallet and finds a small one with little cats on it. She opens the clasp to inspect it. She first checks her name, Tsukino Usagi, id card was issued in 1998, when she turned eighteen. Her parent's address was still on the identification card. "I just want to make sure I didn't leave it behind," Usagi tries to justify her actions while she places her wallet back in her purse. She wasn't any closer to figuring out the date.
"We still need to update your id with your new name. I'm surprised the paperwork is taking so long." Mamoru said with a slight frown. "This is our stop," Mamoru says while he stands up and helps Usagi to her feet.
Usagi follows him off the train and immediately searches for a sign to identify a station name. She could see kanji in the distance but she was too far away to read them. They headed to the exit and she was able to see the station name, Akabanebashi.
Near the exit, a bright color poster is on the wall advertising a concert in the Tokyo Dome for Hikaru Utada. She had never heard of the person but she stopped when she saw the concert date. August 24th, 2002. She froze looking at the date. How much time passed? It was 1998 this morning. She was supposed to be turning eighteen soon. She is missing years of her life. Of course it will be a difficult transition. Why didn't Setsuna mention years passed? Four years.
"I'm glad Minako-chan was able to get you tickets for the concert next month," Mamoru said when he realizes she was staring at the advertisement. "You were so disappointed when all the tickets were sold out before you had a chance to purchase them."
"It should be a lot of fun," Usagi comments while making a note she needs to listen to some songs of the artist. She had so much to catch up. She develops the sudden urge to read some newspapers for current events and to confirm the date. If Mamoru identified the concert as next month, it is July 2002. Her growling stomach changes her focus. She needs food. "Can we eat? I'm starving." Things will be easier once she has some food, she tells herself.
"Of course. I'm surprised you've lasted this long without eating," Mamoru teases her lightly. "The restaurant isn't too much further. I'm hoping it won't be too crowded."
"I'm sure it will be fine."
A short walk later, they arrive at their destination. Usagi pauses to read the name of the restaurant. Her heart stops. "Tango," she whispers, recalling the last time she was here. She was on a date with Seiya. She shallows the lump forming in their throat. It didn't feel right to eat here. So soon.
Mamoru opens the door for her, "Are you coming Usa? You've talked about coming here for weeks."
"Sure," Usagi forces herself inside. She is silent while they are seated in the dining room. She is grateful she is not outside on the terrace. She looks at the menu half-heartedly and notices a majority of it seems the same. She settles on an Italian dish. Her hands grip the menu tightly as a familiar song plays in the background performed by the Three Lights. This is too much. "I'm going to go the bathroom really quick." She stands and begins to leave the table.
"What should I order you if the waitress comes by?
"Oh.. ummm…" she points to a pasta dish in the menu. "Thank you," she adds before dashing off to the restroom.
She turns a few corners and the bathroom is where she remembers it. She leans against the counter in front of the sink. Their song is louder in the bathroom. She hears the saxophone mini solo before it turns back to singing, Seiya's solo part.
Sweeping across the distant night sky
I'm wishing on a falling star
I want to see you and whisper (tell the Starlight)
If too much time passes, we will grow up
You finally recognized me
There aren't enough pieces (I'm close by Sweet heart)
She doesn't even try to stop the tears from falling.
Why did she have to hear his solo part about wanting to see someone and wishing on a falling star? She feels like a fallen star. Her powers are gone. Seiya is millions maybe even billions of kilometers away and so much time has passed. She clenches her fingers tightly on the corner to the point her knuckles turn white. She could feel her anger building but without an outlet.
She wants to talk to Seiya but it is impossible. She wants to yell at Setsuna. She wants to go to the Silver Millennium. She wants to do so many things that she could not do. She is powerless.
Powerless… after the first time in her life, she didn't feel powerless. In a matter of seconds, Setsuna took it away, in the blink of an eye. She breathes deeply to try to calm herself. Anger will not solve anything right now but lead to anguish.
She splashes cool water on her face. Her cheeks are flushed. She wasn't sure how long she was gone and left Mamoru at the table. She didn't want to be asked a lot of questions, it would only irritate her. She needs to ask a lot of questions of him about this time. Having some answers would calm her she tells herself. She tries to focus on this new task. Learn what she can about where she is and then try to go back.
She grabs a few paper towels and pats her face dry. She looks at herself in the mirror for the first time and is startled by what she sees. She is a few years old, taller, very slender. She is more mature than she was this morning. There was no mistake she was few years in the future. She adjusts her hair in the mirror.
She exits the bathroom and heads back to the table. "I'm sorry I was gone for so long."
"It's okay." Mamoru responds, reaching across the table to rub the top of her hand. "It's still hard to hear some of their songs. I know you and the other girls still miss them."
Usagi parts her lips slightly in surprise. She didn't expect Mamoru to catch on.
"Yeah…" She looks up from his hand on hers. "How long as it been? A few years?"
"Yes. I think it was shortly after they left I returned to school, so at least four years. A lot has changed during those four years. You finished high school and worked for a little while at Crown. I graduated from medical school, we got married and I started my residency." He squeezes her hand. "I know we talked about watching a movie tonight at home but they changed my hours for tomorrow and I have to be in early. Can I have a raincheck for tomorrow?"
"…sure." Usagi finds her voice. She just heard an abridged version of her life that she doesn't remember. She hoped she would feel a little better by tomorrow night. "Whatever you need Mamo-chan. I know your residency is important to you. Besides, we will have lots of time together." She tries to smile as genuinely as she can.
This Mamoru is a lot more affectionate, so different than the one she was with. Is this the Mamoru he would have become had she never became Sailor Cosmos? This was the Mamoru she always wanted to see. She pushes those thoughts to the side as dinner arrives.
Dinner smells delicious and she finally realizes just how hungry she is as she digs into her food.
Usagi stands with Mamoru in the elevator. They are in the same apartment building she has come multiple times in the past. The door opens and she is about to walk out when Mamoru grabs her arm to stop her.
Usagi freezes and turns around. She was certain this was his floor.
Mamoru laughs at her confusion as the doors close and the elevator climbs higher to the next lighted floor, five floors up. "Sometimes I forget too that I moved when we married but the new apartment is a lot bigger for the two of us."
Usagi smiles. "Yeah… out of habit." She stands patiently, awaiting for the doors to open again on the correct floor. She waits for Mamoru to exit and follows behind him. It was easier this way. She had no way to tell which apartment was theirs.
She is a few steps behind him when he stops in front of an apartment at the end of the hall. Mamoru opens the door and enters, pausing to take off his shoes by the front door. Usagi mimics the same behavior. When she was in middle school and the beginning for high school, she couldn't wait for the day she could live with Mamoru, the day was here but it didn't feel natural due to the events of the past year. She turns around to look at the apartment, what is her current home. It is similar to the apartment Mamoru used to have. The kitchen is slightly larger as is the living room. There is a balcony attached to the living room.
Mamoru turned on the light and heads down the hallway. Usagi continues to follow him. There are two rooms. Usagi peaks into the room across the hall from the one Mamoru entered. It looks like a work area with books and desk. She follows him into the other room and realizes it is a bedroom with a large bed.
Married, she reminds herself. Of course she would be expected to sleep in the same bed at him. She could feel her cheeks flush. She glances around the room and realizes there are two closets. Mamoru is standing in front of one and begins unbuttoning his shirt. Usagi quickly turns to the other closet and opens the door, immediately seeing women's clothing.
Usagi searches for clothing she can quickly change into and leaves the bedroom. She found the bathroom to left. She closes the door and changes. Searching the items on the counter, she finds one to wash off what remains of her make up. This is her home now but she feels like a stranger. She finishes and exits. The light is on in the other room and Mamoru is sitting at a desk. She's not sure what she should do next. She decides to head back into the living room area and out onto the balcony.
Usagi silently watches the city beneath. Everyone rushes around, they are all moving forward and she is stuck in a timeline that is not hers. She can't see or talk to Seiya, he's too far away as Setsuna graciously pointed out. All she can do is attempt to blend in with this timeline at the moment.
Is this it? Be married to someone when her heart is telling her it's wrong. It took her months to be at peace with everything that happened and all the sudden everything changed. If she never became Sailor Cosmos this would have happened. But she was Sailor Cosmos. That will never change.
She and Setsuna are the only ones with memories of what was. How could she speak to anyone else, they wouldn't understand. She would have to try to explain everything to them. She didn't know where she could start. She's married to one man but chose another.
She sighs. She can't even remember the ceremony. There are several framed pictures in the living room area of the apartment she saw when she first walked in. She wore a beautiful wedding dress and she looked so happy. The tricky part will be to still appear that happy to everyone else.
She has to adjust. Rei already appeared confused at her and there was no way she could tell Mamoru what happened. Seiya is in Kinmoku. She does not have a way to contact him. She sighs when she realizes five years had passed since he left in this timeline. So much could have changed for him during that time. He might not even be the same. He might have moved on.
She feels like she should be able to do something. She is not used to feeling this helpless or hopeless. She looks up at the crescent moon in the night sky, wanting to go back to her home. She can't make it there as she is now. She isn't powerful enough. The Silver Millennium is still in ruins, it was never restored. She is grounded on Earth.
Usagi gasps and is startled when she feels a pair of strong arms around her waist, hugging her tightly. Mamoru. She stands there like a statue for a moment. He leans in and kisses her on the neck, an act that gives her goosebumps. "Mamo-chan…" she murmurs.
"I'm worried about you Usa," his voice is full of concern. "You haven't seemed like yourself since we left Rei-chan's shrine." He rests his cheek next to her forehead.
Usagi notices just how much taller she is. She is still shorter than Mamoru, but the distance is less than what she is used to. She subconsciously leans back into his embrace. Standing here with him like this, took away a little of the tension she feels. Is this what she would be missing out on? "I've been really tired all day. I probably just need some rest."
Mamoru chuckles, "Yet you're out here."
"I needed some fresh air. I love being able to see the city from up here. It's so peaceful."
"I know how you feel. I do the same from time to time when I can." He loosens the embrace and pushes a stray strands of hair from her shoulder. He takes a few steps forward so he can stand next her, and places his arm around her shoulders. He stands next to her in silence enjoying the scenery before them.
Usagi appreciates the quiet. For the next couple of minutes she didn't have to worry about anything. She places a hand to her mouth, trying to hide yawn escaping from her lips. "I guess…. sleep would be good," she smiles lightly.
"Come on," Mamoru speaks softly and guides her back to the bedroom. "Go ahead and lay down, I'll shut off the light."
Usagi flips back some of the covers and lies down. She adjusts the pillow and tries to find a comfortable position to sleep.
Usagi tosses and turns again. As exhausted she felt, her mind would not stop racing long enough for her to have any resemblance of restful sleep. She is full of anxiety. She gets up and heads to the living room to sit on the couch. She finds a blanket nearby and drapes it over her. She's irritated, so tired but just can't sleep.
She turns on the television and turns the volume down. Watching television didn't require her to think and she hoped it would lead to restful sleep. The station was playing a special about the end of century and what was popular up to the new millennium. Of the course the special was discussing music and really popular bands and singers during that time.
"Every high school student knew who they were in 1996 and 1997. They were the idol group the Three Lights. They took Tokyo by storm and what seemed to be the height of their career ended abruptly when one day they made the announcement they were separating. Sources have speculated the group disbanded due to a girl. They seemed to fall off the face of the Earth afterward and have not been seen since. Rumors state the Three Lights have moved to some unknown location. Some question if they are even still alive."
Usagi changes the channel to some type of anime with high school girls. They did fall off the face of the Earth she thinks to herself. They left Earth and returned home. Quite possibility to never be seen again. The thirty seconds of the news program woke her up more than she anticipated.
Frustrated, she stands up; her eyes are drawn to a picture frame on a shelf near the television. It is a picture of a bride and groom. The frame says Mr. and Mrs. She looks at the smiling couple in the photo of herself with Mamoru. She examines the dress she is wearing. It is gorgeous. Too bad she can't remember any of it. She looked so happy.
She sits back on the couch. If this is the life she was supposed to have, why does she feel so miserable? Because she knows the alternative and what her life could be. She had a chance to cast destiny to the side. It wasn't her destiny any more. But now things where back to what they were destined to be whether she agreed with it or not.
She replays the conversation with Setsuna over and over in head. She referenced Crystal Tokyo and Chibi Usa. Does that mean Chibi Usa could still be born in the this timeline? As long as she is with Mamoru. She regretted the knowledge that Chibi Usa would no longer exist when she became Sailor Cosmos.
She rubs her temples when she thinks about the other visions she had of the future, herself with Seiya and having two children. Those visions would never come to pass; she has to be Sailor Cosmos in order for that future to occur.
In this time, she never stopped the Dark Moon from rising. The Wiseman will appear one day on Earth. She will only be able to banish him and one day in the future he will wreak havoc once more. She would not be strong enough to stop him when he rises like she did as Sailor Cosmos and then as Neo-Queen Serenity. That is the future she is heading toward.
Setsuna told her she never awakened as Sailor Cosmos in this timeline. She couldn't help but wonder if there was another way she could awaken as Sailor Cosmos in the present. She may not be Cosmos right now, but the powers exist. Knowledge she would normally not have in this timeline. How would she even start?
She feels like she has more questions than answers now. A glance at the clock on the wall lets her know she has been up for the last two hours watching television and contemplating what she would do. She yawns loudly. She feels calmer at the prospect of having a plan, some way for her to try to fight back. The only other people that knew about the legend of the Guardian were Luna, Artemis, and Ayumi-san.
Ayumi-san, did Mamoru ever meet her? Did he know he has a sister? Or is that something that was only a part of her previous time line? She would have to ask Mamoru later if he still keeps in touch with anyone from college.
She realizes it is nearly two o'clock in the morning. She quietly walks back to the bedroom to go to sleep.
Usagi wakes up to a few rays of sun peeking out from behind the curtains. She looks around at her surroundings and confirms yesterday was not a dream. She rolls to her side and realizes Mamoru is already gone. Not surprising since he told her he would have to leave early for work.
She walks into the kitchen and find a note on the counter. Mamoru is working until 2:30 and is going to go shopping for dinner on the way home so they can cook dinner together.
Usagi shakes her head. This Mamoru is so much more thoughtful. This is the side of Mamoru she had craved to see. A part of her questions if this version of Mamoru and Chibi Usa in this timeline, is that enough? She inhales sharply. Serenity would be content with this.
She knows herself too well; she has to know if she can go back or if she is essentially trapped. Until she knows, it will be difficult to adjust to her life here.
After breakfast, Usagi leaves the apartment. She closes the door behind her and looks at the number of the apartment, trying to commit it to memory. She needs to make sure she returns to the correct one this afternoon. She has four hours until Mamoru is done working and however long it takes him to go shopping. That would give her enough time to reach her destination. She wasn't expecting much but she has to rule it out.
An hour and a half and two subways later, she is standing in front of a familiar apartment building she has gone to so many times. She enters the front complex and immediately heads for the stairs rather than taking the elevator. She pauses when she reaches the fourth floor.
Her heart is racing and she begins to walk down the hallway. She pauses outside of apartment. She knocks softly and waits for a response. Nothing. She knocks again. Louder this time and the door opens slightly. Whoever was the last to leave didn't close the door all the way.
"Hello?" She calls out, not sure what to expect. She sees sheets covering a few pieces of furniture in the front room. The room did not look how she last remembered it. The drum set was gone, as was the guitar.
It feels eerie to be here, the more vacant it appears, the more out of place she feels. She walks over to his old room. The door is wide open, a complete empty space full of dust. It was clear no one had been here for a while.
Usagi walks out of the apartment the Three Lights stayed at when they lived on Earth. Usagi feels dejected. Tears stream down her cheeks. A small part of her hoped he would be here. She knows that hope was misplaced but she had to see if for herself. She has no way to contact Seiya. She didn't know if he still felt the same way about her.
She slowly descends down the staircase to the front lobby. The clock wall told her she had about two hours until Mamoru might be back. She wasn't sure how she would be able to pull this off. Mamoru already knows she is acting different, but how is she supposed to act? What is supposed to be her new normal? How can she just jump into a relationship and pretend to be the loving wife?
Maybe talking to Minako would help, listening to her talk about her career. That seemed to be the only overlap so far from her time. She pauses outside of the apartment building. Where does Minako live? Does she have the same phone number? She rubs her head in anger, she wants to scream and shout. Instead she begins to walk back to her apartment to search for answers.
Usagi doesn't waste a second when she arrives home by open drawers in the living room. She searches for anything that could be a clue to her current life. She finds nothing and heads into the other room with the desk.
She opens the desk drawers and finds various papers written in English. She slams the drawer shut and groans. She stands in the middle of the room racking her brain where she would most likely put her address book. She is certain it would have updated information for Minako and the other girls.
Usagi walks over to a dresser by her closet and opens the first drawer full of her possessions. She gradually shifts through the drawer and finds a composition book. She picks it up and flips through the pages, they are full of her writing. She recognizes it as her old journal. She flips to the front to find the earliest entry dated in 1997, when the Starlights left Earth to return to Kinmoku. She remembered this entry. She skims the entry and realizes it is the same as the one she had written. She proceeds to the next entry dated a few days later; it discusses Mamoru returning to college in a few months. Her jaw drops. Mamoru didn't return to college until over a year later. She reads the entry again from the beginning. She is halfway through when she hears footsteps. Mamoru is back.
"Feeling any better Usa?" He asks as he places some of his belongings on a dresser.
"A little bit. I was really tired," She closes the composition book and places it back on top of her dresser. She would have to read the remaining entries later.
"I picked up some vegetables and meat to make curry. I'm going to start it in a little bit. Can you make the rice?" Mamoru walks over to her to hug her tightly.
Usagi hesitates for a moment but wraps her arms around Mamoru. There was nothing wrong with hugging him back. "That sounds great."
"One day, you'll be able to cook on your own," he teases her.
Usagi genuinely laughs. She is somewhat relieved somethings do not change between the timelines. She is a bad cook in either one. She then realizes how horrible that sounded. She would like to be able to cook and have the food actually be eaten and enjoyed. I guess Makoto was never able to teach her after all these years. "I guess I can't mess up the rice too badly. Anything else I can help you with?"
"Start with the rice and then maybe you help me cut up or peel some of the vegetables. I don't think you cut your finger the last time," He continues to tease her playfully.
"Mamo-chan!" Usagi pouts at him and places her hands on her hips. It was like old times.
Usagi managed to assist with dinner by peeling a few more vegetables. Mamoru discussed his day at the hospital while they ate. He asked Usagi what she did. Usagi kept her answer somewhat vague that she went for a walk around Tokyo taking in the sites and noticing how the city has changed.
"Which movie did you want to watch tonight?" Mamoru asks, walking over the television to see what was recorded in the past few weeks.
"I'm not sure. Maybe something funny?" She wanted something to lighten her mood.
Mamoru flips through some of the channels and settles on a Pixar movie, Ice Age. He starts the movie and sits down on the couch right next to Usagi, leaving very little space between them. He places an arm around her shoulders and holds her close.
Usagi rests her head on his shoulder. Sitting here with him feels comfortable. Bit by bit she tries to adjust to this new time. She tries her best to relax and enjoy the movie.
As the ending credits roll, Usagi turns to face Mamoru. "That was a good choice. I enjoyed it a lot."
"I'm glad," he responds as he leans in to kiss her.
Usagi panics and moves her head to the side just enough to for Mamoru to miss her lips and kiss her cheek. She then leans forward to hug him. She was trying to hide the fact she is avoiding kissing him. It didn't feel right. She has Seiya.
Mamoru hugs her back tightly. "Thank you for being so patient while I was in school. I know it wasn't easy for you being so far apart."
"I knew it wouldn't be permanent," Usagi responds without thinking. She hasn't sure where that came from. Are her memories beginning to adjust already? It couldn't be. "Ne, Mamo-chan… do you still talk to any of your classmates?" She changes the subject.
"We e-mail each other every now and then. But sometimes it is hard to keep up due to the time change and everyone is really busy. But it seems like everyone is where they want to be."
"Thanks great," Usagi has no way to determine which friends he was referring to. Where any of them named Ayumi? There was only way to find out. "How is Ayumi-san doing?"
Mamoru looks at her confused. "Ayumi-san?" He slowly repeats the name contemplating if the name was familiar to him. "I don't know anyone named Ayumi-san."
"Oh… I must be confusing the name with someone else…" Usagi brushes it off. Her eyes are downcast. Since he went to school earlier than her timeline, he never met Ayumi. He would never meet his sister. She had no way to contact her and Ayumi didn't know who she was. Worse, if she did reveal herself as Princess Serenity, Ayumi would definitely attack her and ask questions later.
She sighs inwardly. Mamoru and finally found a family member but it was in a different timeline. He would never know what it would be like to experience having his sister back in his life. Maybe she could look for Ayumi tomorrow on the internet. It couldn't be that hard.
"Usa?" Mamoru notices the faraway look in her eyes.
"Sorry… I was trying to think of which name I was confusing Ayumi-san with…" Usagi's voice trails off. She didn't even believe her excuse.
"You seem upset. Are you worried about what we discussed yesterday?" Mamoru is concerned about Usagi's behavior. She seemed a little more relaxed today but immediately tensed up when he tried to kiss her.
A light scratch at the door never gave Usagi a chance to answer. Mamoru stood up and walked over to front door. "I didn't realize how late it was." He opens the door and a black fuzzy object darts by and heads into the living room toward Usagi.
"Luna!" Usagi exclaims when she sees her mentor. She wondered why she didn't see Luna earlier.
"I'm going to head into the other room to review a few medical articles and give the two of you some time to talk." Mamoru says before he leaves the room. He closes the door to the other room.
Luna approaches Usagi and stops suddenly. "Something isn't right."
"Luna what are you talking about?" Usagi looks at her oldest friend since becoming a senshi. Her tone made Usagi nervous.
Luna's nose twitches. "Something smells… off." Luna takes a few steps closer to Usagi and pauses again. Her nose twitches again. She sees Usagi in front of her but something about Usagi's scent makes her feel uneasy.
"Everything is fine Luna," Usagi tries to reassure her but struggles to sound convincing.
"You don't sound fine. I spoke with Rei-chan earlier. She's worried about you said and you were acting strange after you fell."
"I just needed sleep," Usagi tries to downplay her different behavior.
Luna sits down in front of Usagi and glares at her. "I can still tell when you're lying Usagi-chan. Something is bothering you."
"Err…" Usagi isn't ready to discuss with anyone what is really bothering her. The future did bother her. She could tell Luna that part. "I'm just wondering about the future when the Dark Moon will appear."
Luna sighs in relief. "There isn't anything we can do about that. They will come when it is time and not before. No one has attacked us in the past five years. You were able to finish your remaining high school student years as regular student, the one thing you always wanted. Celebrate that and enjoy that. One day the Dark Moon will return and threaten that peace."
Usagi knows Luna is correct but she can't just sit by and watch. "It's just hard, knowing the challenges that await and not being able to do anything to stop it." She pauses for a moment. "Sometimes I wonder if it is better to not know the future."
"But you do know the future; there is no going around it." Luna looks at Usagi with curiously. "This is unlike you Usagi. There were so many times you couldn't wait for the future and now that it is arriving… you don't see as happy as you were the previous week."
"It is just a lot to take it. It's hard to enjoy it when you know what is hanging over your shoulders. I'm not sure how Setsuna-san has been able to this day in and day out." Usagi's voice is quiet as she finishes.
"You never had an easy life being Princess of the Moon. The Earth always needs to be protected."
Usagi asks a rhetorical question. "The Earth always needs to be protected but what about the other planets? Who protects them? They need… a Guardian."
Luna stiffens at the phrase Guardian but does not respond.
Rei takes a deep breath and attempts to read the message concealed in the dancing flames. Usagi is standing in front of a shadow, the shadow is a few centimeters shorter than her and she appears to be wearing a fuku with a cape, wings and a staff. Rei squints her eyes when she notices heart shaped odangos rather than the traditional round shape.
Rei inhales sharply and the vision disappears. She questions if the person standing behind Usagi is an adult version of Chibi Chibi, What does it mean? Is that why Usagi has been acting strangely?
She should talk to Usagi about the vision but for now she will keep it to herself. She will try another reading in the morning, hoping for more answers.
Rei sits down in front of the roaring fire the following morning. She begins to chant, wondering what she will see today. Images start to form in the flames. A pair of dark silhouettes. Rei stands up to talk closer to the flames as her jaw drops. The first silhouette looks like Neo Queen Serenity. The second one is harder to make out. They are a little taller than the Queen. It is definitely not King Endymion standing beside her. Rei studies the second silhouette and isn't sure if a man is even standing next to her. She studies the outline and sees what might be part of a fuku. Her heart begins to beat faster when she realizes the odd shape near the head might actually be hair. Was that a Starlight standing next to Neo Queen Serenity? Rei closes her eyes for a moment and the image is gone. What is going on here she questions. She has more questions than she had the day before. A realization hit her, is this why Usagi was asking about Seiya?
Rei sits down and contemplates her next course of action. Usagi is married to Mamoru. It was obvious to Rei, Usagi had some feelings for Seiya but to what extent she would never know. She can't share this with anyone until she knows what it means. She needs to complete more readings in the next couple of days and hope some of the readings will fill in some of the answers.
Usagi finishes the last entry for 1997. The entry focused on her excitement to see Mamoru for the holidays. She didn't have any concerns other than finishing high school. Life seemed so much simpler. She sighs.
The other day, Mamoru talked about becoming Neo Queen Serenity. But she was already Queen… in another timeline. There was a simple solution to this. She closes her eyes and a long white dress emerges. She opens her eyes and immediately notices sleeves. She sighs, still a Princess. She heads to the mirror in the bathroom and inspects her hair. All blonde, not a hint of white. Shrugging her shoulders and reverts back to Usagi.
Usagi reruns to the living room to resume reading from her journal. Maybe there would be something helpful. She finds the next entry in mid-January 1998 after Mamoru returned to school. She had various ideas jotted down about a dream wedding after Mamoru completes college. She sounded so excited and happy. The next entry discusses Valentines Day and giving out chocolates. She discusses how she wanted to give out more chocolate but the important people in her life are too far away. Without noticing her eyelids became heavy and she dozes off.
"I can't believe you're just giving up like that Odango, giving up on us."
Usagi gets up from the couch and sees Seiya standing in the apartment. He seems upset.
"Seiya!" Usagi exclaims while rushing over to him.
Seiya stops her before she can hug him. "You're just sitting there, you gave up on our relationship and just like that, you're with Mamoru-san."
"It's not like that Seiya!" Usagi pleads to him, tears in her eyes. "I don't know how to get back! Setsuna-san took my powers. I don't have a way to return!"
"I thought you were stronger than this. That is why I lent you my strength. I guess it was a mistake."
Usagi spun around to see herself as Sailor Cosmos standing at the other end of the room.
"You should have seen this coming. You know how upset Sailor Pluto was you chose Seiya. If you paid attention more, this never would have happened. You ignored all of the warning signs. You have no one to blame but yourself." Sailor Cosmos glares at Usagi.
"How could I have known?" Usagi shouts back in anger. She is upset about her circumstances and her frustration grew with each remark from Seiya and Sailor Cosmos. "How could I haven know what Setsuna-san would do? How can I change it back? I never awakened as Sailor Cosmos in this timeline. I can only transformed into Sailor Moon. I'm not strong enough on my own to travel to Kinmoku."
"You would never survive it. Sailor Moon is not immune to the toxins in the air of Kinmoku," Seiya countered his voice softer. "Odango, there has to be something you can do. If you can't undo it, I'll never see you again."
Tears form in her eyes at the thought of never seeing him again. "I want to see you again."
"Then you have to figure something out and not give up. Otherwise this is it." Seiya vanishes from her sight.
He is gone in the blink of an eye before she can say anything else.
"So what are you going to do?" Sailor Cosmos asks redirecting Usagi's attention.
Usagi jumps back a few steps; Sailor Cosmos is now standing next to her. "I don't know. I'm reading a journal to help me understand this timeline. Everyone is already worried I'm not acting like myself so I'm trying to figure out how I am supposed to act. How they expect me to act. I have to try to draw as little attention to myself as possible."
"And what about Mamo-chan? He is going to try to kiss you. How are you going to avoid him when he tries to make love to you? You are his wife."
Usagi doesn't respond. She ignored how this relationship would be more mature than other she has had.
Sailor Cosmos frowns. "But you want to him to kiss you. You like this version of him better than the one from your timeline. Maybe you do want to give up so you can be with him."
"I'm not giving up Sailor Cosmos." Usagi tries to sound confident but her voice waivers at the end.
Sailor Cosmos shakes her head in disgust at Usagi. "So you've already decided. Attempt to restore the timeline and then if unsuccessful go along and be Mamo-chan's wife. Blindly following the path that angered you in the past."
"I never experienced that anger until Chaos."
"Usagi-chan! Usagi-chan!" Luna pushes down on Usagi's leg with her front paws.
"Hmm?" Usagi gradually opens her eyes. She blinks and then scans the room realizing she is alone with Luna.
Luna takes a few steps closer to her. "You were mumbling on your sleep."
"I always do that," Usagi brushes off Luna's concerns.
"Usagi-chan, you called out to a Cosmos. Who were you talking to?"
"Sailor Cosmos," Usagi responds without thinking. Her jaw drops open as she realizes what she has said.
"Sailor Cosmos? Usagi-chan do you know who that is?" Luna stares at her wide eyed.
"I.. err…" Usagi realizes she is stuck. There is no way to take is back. Whatever excuse Usagi would try to use, Luna wouldn't believe her. It was easier to tell her the truth. "I am Sailor Cosmos, or at least I was in my timeline."
Luna stared at her but does not speak for several moments. "Your timeline? Usagi-chan what are you talking about?"
"The other day I woke up in this timeline, one where I am not Sailor Cosmos or Neo Queen Serenity." Usagi pauses. She isn't sure what else to tell Luna and waits for a response.
"You're not making sense." Luna's tone makes it clear she does not believe Usagi. "How do you know about Sailor Cosmos?"
"I already told you Luna. Sailor Cosmos was the legendary senshi that was at the heart of the Sailor Wars. Why wouldn't you believe me?" Usagi could feel her anger begin to rise. She wasn't sure what she could say to make Luna understand. There was nothing she could show her to back up her story either. She needs to find a way to convince Luna.
"Usagi-chan, this is serious. Sailor Cosmos hasn't been seen since well before the Silver Millennium."
Usagi does the only thing she can think of. "I know what happened during the Silver Millennium when my mother sent the Moon Senshi to Nemesis. They never returned." However, she didn't speak in Japanese but in the ancient language of the Moon. She is thankful she could still remember the language for now. Sadness washes over her. Would her native language be lost in this timeline? It was Sailor Cosmos' ability that made it possible to recall the language.
Luna states at her with her mouth agape. She is in disbelief of what she just heard. She recognized the language though some of the context is foggy to her. There was no mistaking the language of the Moon. "Usagi-chan…." Luna finally finds her voice. "I… when did you learn Lunarian?"
Usagi sighs. "It's like I've been trying to tell you Luna. This is not my timeline. But Sailor Pluto sent me here because she didn't agree with my decision."
"What could you have done to a change the timeline so much that cause her to do something like this? Explain it to me from the beginning." Luna sits down right next to Usagi, anxious for some understanding on Usagi's behavior and the recent turn of events.
Usagi recaps to Luna the second battle against Queen Beryl, the return of the animates, Chaos' return and the awakening of Sailor Cosmos. Taking the other senshi's starseeds, the final battle, choosing Seiya, going to Kinmoku, the battle against the Dark Moon, her ascension as Neo Queen Serenity, her return to Kinmoku, the Three Lights tour, and Sailor Earth.
Throughout Usagi's story, Luna tries to keep up. When she is finally done, Luna can only think of one response. "I don't know what to say Usagi-chan. It is a lot to take in at once."
"Don't you believe me?" Usagi asks, she needs to have someone on her side. Someone to understand her struggle and what she is experiencing. Someone she could vent to. She feels relief after sharing her story with Luna.
"It does explain why you've acted different these past few days." There is one glaring thing with Usagi's story. "You mentioned you chose Seiya-kun."
"I did. This is when things with Mamo-chan fell apart when I became Sailor Cosmos. I will always love him but things will never be the same."
"But in this timeline you're married to Mamoru-san. And up until a few days ago you were ecstatic to be married to him. What are you going to tell him?"
Usagi shoots a look at Luna. "You know I can't tell him this. It would break his heart."
"Why are you the only one that notices a change? Nothing seems out of place to us."
"It wouldn't to you." Usagi tries to find the simplest way to explain it to Luna. "One of my abilities as Sailor Cosmos allowed me travel through time. I saw the future for my timeline. This was not it. Crystal Tokyo did not exist."
Luna stares are her in shock, attempting to process the concept of a future without Crystal Tokyo. "That must have been a shock for you."
"It was at first," Usagi agreed. "But it also made it easier for me chose Seiya over Mamo-chan. I realized I couldn't be with Mamo-chan in a world where Crystal Tokyo and Chibi Usa did not exist."
Luna watches Usagi's expression carefully during her next statement. "But you are here, in this timeline, Crystal Tokyo and Chibi Usa-chan will exist."
"Don't you think I know that Luna?" Usagi is hurt by Luna's words. "I thought this over in my mind so many times… but so much has changed. I've changed. This is not where I belong. I need to return to where I belong. This is not my reality."
Luna frowns. It sounded as if her heart was really set on Seiya at this moment. She hopes it would change in time but it was not her decision to make. "If Sailor Pluto did this, she can undo it."
"I've already spoken to Setsuna-san. She wouldn't help me nor does she want me to. All of the Outer Senshi still hate Seiya. Their anger only increased when I chose Seiya. Sailor Uranus actually tried to attack him but I used my powers to block her. I'm on my own to find my way back and I'm terrified Luna I won't be able to return."
"But would it be that bad to be with Mamoru-san if you can't return?"
Usagi did not respond. The conversion didn't go how she anticipated. Luna is still skeptical of Usagi's story. Luna wants her with Mamoru.
A few more days pass. Usagi finished reading the journal but it did not provide any more answers. She knows Mamoru is worried about her. She tries her best to alleviate his concerns but is unsuccessful.
Usagi is sitting on the couch in the living room, attempting to read a manga but she is not absorbing any of the contents on the pages.
"Usa, we need to talk." Mamoru sits down next to her on the couch.
Usagi was dreading those words. She knew sooner or later he would try to talk to her again. She could only avoid it for so long. She thought of what she would say when he brought it up again but her mind is blank.
"You've been really distant this past week. Did I do anything to upset you?"
"You didn't do anything wrong," Usagi tries to reassure Mamoru. "I'm still struggling with what I know is waiting ahead for us. When I spoke to Setsuna-san about it, it didn't seem to help the situation." Her statement wasn't a complete lie. "We've spent all this time preparing for a future… and I guess now that the future is here… it's just a lot of take in. It always seemed so far off." The future of this timeline did unnerve Usagi. She was used to this future being inaccessible. This timeline gave her a second chance but if she took it, she would be betraying Seiya, even though they weren't together in this timeline. Everything was so complicated and she couldn't tell her husband. It would break his heart to know in another timeline she gave up on their relationship.
A doorbell interrupts their conversation. Usagi gets up from the couch. The break gave her a chance to organize her thoughts. She opens the door to her surprise, Minako is standing there.
"Did you forget we were going out today Usagi-chan?" Minako eyes Usagi's state of dress. Usagi is supposed to go shopping with Minako for a few outfits for some upcoming events she will be performing.
"Sorry I wasn't paying attention to the time," she lies to Minako. She didn't know what else to say. "Let me get ready and I'll be right back." Usagi heads to the bedroom to quickly change.
Minako notices the look of frustration on Mamoru's face and wonders if she interrupted something. She breaks the awkward silence by asking, "How is work Mamoru-san?"
"It's good. I'm learning a lot and I like it there." Mamoru responds. He pauses for a little while before he speaks again and lowers his voice. "I'm worried about Usa. She hasn't seemed like herself this past week. I'm not entirely sure what is bothering her. Can you try to talk to her?"
"Sure," Minako agrees. "I'll see what I can find out." Minako finds it strange Usagi would keep something from Mamoru. She would wait until they are alone.
Fifteen minutes later, Usagi is ready to leave. "I might get back after you go to bed. I know you have an early shift tomorrow."
Mamoru nods his head. "Have fun Usa." He walks over and kisses her on the forehead.
"Bye Mamo-chan." Usagi smiles at him as she leaves. She is glad their discussion was interrupted.
An hour after they left, Mamoru didn't want to wait anymore. He needed answers. He picks up the telephone and calls Setsuna. Something happened when Usagi visited her. The phone rang twice and he hangs up. He decided it is better to speak to her in person. He grabs his helmet and his motorcycle keys. He is tired of walking on eggshells.
I'm sure you've notice a change in how I'm writing Mamoru. This timeline version is more like the manga version of Mamoru.
Minako speaks to Usagi and realizes something is definitely wrong with her. Mamoru tries to get some information out of Setsuna. Usagi finds some of her memories from the other timeline are starting to fade. What will she do? Find out on 9/24! Act 46: Usagi's Inner Turmoil