Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Learning to Love Again ❯ Chapter 3

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Learning to Love Again
Part 3
Rated PG
By Alecto
Edited by Jenny
Email Alecto: Chiba_Ohiko@yahoo.com
Email Jenny: SelenityAngels@aol.com

Jenny: *wailing* My Plastic Wall Is Gone!!!
Alecto: We did that last week
Jenny: Oh... *thinks*... *pause*... My plastic wall is gone!
Angel Of Saturn: oi... *sweatdrops* And I SEE these people 5 TIMES a week... ^_~ Pity me
Jenny: You're pitied, but I'm psycho
Stef-chan: Believe me, I only talk to them once a week. I pity you.
Angel Of Saturn: Whatever. As long as you know it! =)
Jenny: *runs around in circles with a guinea pig tucked under her arm* YAY!! Muahaha!! Death to Martian invaders! We rule over Germany!! May peace not prosper! Beggars CAN be choosers!
Alecto: *sweatdrop* Anyway...
Jenny: YEE HAW!! I'm a cowgirl with my trusty guinea pig!! YEE HAW!! No plastic wall... haven't forgotten about you...
Alecto: Ahem... as I was trying to say... Congratulations to RinoaAngl for getting the right answer: Final Fantasy VIII. She was the only one who emailed me *sniffle* I'm hurt
Jenny: TWIRL YOUR SPAGHETTI FASTER!!!
Angel Of Saturn: If you think about it, spaghetti-> noodle-> brain...
*A guy in a T-shirt runs past... with a black tank top over it -we think it's a girl one...-*
All: O.O;;;
Angel Of Saturn: It just happened, as we were writing, IRL. Now that you know why us crazy people are in this school... to go along with the other insane people...
*A guy wobbles past in a trash bag, looking happy about it*
Angel of Saturn: ... no comment.
Stef-chan: 0_0 Help me!
Disclaimer: Yes, it's true... we don't own SailorMoon... We're sorry! *sobbing* We tried to tell you! You just... *breaks off in a sob*

Nothing happened. Mamoru peered out from his lowered eyelids. His four generals and guardians stood protectively before him as the senshi rushed to their princess' side.

"I don't need this." Kaolinite growled.

"And we don't need trash like you." Sailor Jupiter sneered. An unconscious moon princess was leaning against the pissed off Jovian princess.

"Burning Mandala!"

Sailor Mars' fire rings clashed with one of Kaolinite's fireballs. A violent explosion erupted between the two attacks; the fire rings flew right back at her, barely missing its mistress.

~~~

On the roof above, a duo concealed by the shadows watched the battle below.

"It doesn't look like it's going too well."

"Who is she anyway?"

"Who cares? The question is should we help them? It isn't time to reveal ourselves yet."

"Of course, she did hurt the princess."

"World Shaking!"

"Deep Submerge!"

~~~

Two balls of energy dropped from above, landing on either side of Kaolinite. Kaolinite jump with a start, the two attacks rocked the small alleyway.

"What was that?" Sailor Mercury exclaimed.

Jupiter took this chance of distraction and attacked Kaolinite. "Who cares? Take this! Sparkling Wide Pressure!"

Jupiter's lightning disk flew right over Kaolinite. Kaolinite laughed at Jupiter's attempt to defeat her. She was cut off when a ton of bricks that cascaded down onto her from the wall behind her that Jupiter had hit.

"Way too go, Jupiter!" Sailor Venus cheered.

Kaolinite rose from the pile of rubble upon her, her right arm hung limply at her side, it was broken. "You're going to pay for this dearly. You better watch your backs, I know who you all are." With that threat Kaolinite vanished in a flash of bright light.

"That was interesting...for a lack of a better word." Sailor Mercury said.

"Come on, let's regroup at the shrine. Plus I'd like to hear the generals' story." Venus said.

"As you wish Venus-sama." Kunzite bowed.

"What did I say about calling me that?" Venus scowled.

Mamoru walked toward Usagi, who was being carried by Jupiter. Jupiter glared coldly at him as he matched her challenging gaze. Jupiter shot him a look of death and ran off. Mamoru sighed; he proceeded to follow everyone else to the shrine. All the warriors failed to notice a pair of girls flee along the rooftops.

~~~

Kaolinite dragged herself into the dark cave, her right arm protested in extreme pain.

"You failed." A voice called from the darkness.

"I'll get them next time, I swear it." Kaolinite shouted. "Please."

"There won't be a next time." The voice simply replied.

"Please, Hexas-sama, give me another chance. Don't send me back." Kaolinite begged. She dropped to her knees and bowed to the darkness before her.

Hexas, a tall cloaked figure stepped forward from the blackness, it was he one who had brought the blooded pouch. His two minions appeared by his side, cloaked and their faces hidden by the shadows.

"Please, I'm begging you, give me another chance. I'll get them next time." Kaolinite shouted.

"Your enthusiasm intrigues me, very well, I'll give you one more chance." Hexas said.

Hexas raised his hand toward Kaolinite's broken arm. Kaolinite winced in pain as the broken bone began to repair itself.

"Do not fail me." Hexas said darkly.

Kaolinite held Hexas' icy hand and kissed it gently. "Of course Hexas-sama."

~~~

The group made their way up the temple steps. At the top a shy temple hire and her shriek of horror greeted them.

"Rei-san, what happened?!" She shrieked.

"Yueki, get some bandages and rubbing ointment and bring them to my room. And don't disturb my Ojii-san while you're at it." Rei ordered. The girl nodded and quickly scurried away.

Mamoru looked around, the shrine hadn't really changed in the past ten years. He took comfort in that fact, hopefully it would be this way with many other things.

Rei led the large group to her room. Everyone crammed into the small room, finding somewhere to sit on the floor. Makoto laid Usagi down on Rei's bed as Ami started to treat her injuries right away. Mamoru stared silently at his ex-girlfriend, no one in the room could tell what he was thinking or feeling.

Yueki soon arrived with a tray of bandages and bottles. She left it by the doorway and scurried off to attend to her chores. Rei got up after Yueki left and closed the door.

"Is Serenity-sama going to be okay?" Kunzite asked from his spot by the window.

"She's gonna be fine as soon as I treat her injuries." Ami reassured all the people in the small room.

"Are her injuries serious?" Minako questioned.

"Iie."

An awkward and tension inducing silence fell upon the group. The only sound was of Ami wrapping and unwrapping bandages.

"What are you doing here?" Makoto finally asked in a challenging tone.

"Kunz's here on work, we just followed him here." Nephrite said simply.

"Who was the blond Mamoru-san? Your new girlfriend?" Rei sneered.

"Her name is Claudia Fortunes and she's my secretary. You have a problem with that?" Mamoru replied in a cold tone.

"Yeah, right." Makoto mumbled.

"What are you here for Kunzite?" Minako asked to quickly break the tension.

"I'm a lawyer. I'm working on Serenity-sama's father's case."

"As far as I'm concerned, he's innocent. Her father can be quite intimidating at times but he's not capable of murder." Minako sighed as she brushed strands of hair out of her eyes.

"I know and who's this Gojona guy anyway? He just sprung out of nowhere." Makoto growled.

"Justice will be served in time as the stars expose the true culprit." Nephrite said as he zoned out again.

"Does this guy always talk in riddles?" Minako sweatdropped.

"Hai, unfortunately." Jadeite sighed.

"How is it even possible that you guys are alive?" Rei asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"We don't know how either. One day we just woke up and we were in hospital beds. Mamoru was on his rounds when he spotted us. He nearly rose us to death before he gave us a chance to explain." Jadeite rolled his eyes at the memory.

"We don't remember being under Beryl's control. We were reincarnated with the rest of you and we were meant to find our prince and protect him like you guard your princess." Kunzite explained. "Unfortunately, Beryl got to us before our time to remember arrived and brainwashed us again like in the last life." A dark look passed over his face at the thought of Beryl's manipulation upon them. Minako slid over to him and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.

The others took note of the apparent affection between Minako and Kunzite. The other generals envied Kunzite's closeness to his soul mate, seeing how they could not be with theirs.

Mamoru was happy for his friend but all he could think about was Usagi. Her laugh, her smile, her voice, and everything else about her.

"We're not proud of what we've done and we're here to make amends. We want to repent for our sins in this life and the last." Nephrite said firmly.

"It's not your fault, you were brainwashed by Beryl." Minako tried to reassure them.

"To be truthful, the reason we're really here is because of the new enemy." Jadeite confessed as he blew some bangs out of his eyes. "A few weeks ago, Neph kept zoning out more than usually. When we asked him what was wrong, he began talking in riddles, worse than usual. When this happens, Neph's aura would change and well... it wasn't Neph anymore."

"Our theory is that someone else is using Neph's body to warn us of the coming danger. In the end everything led back to one point, Tokyo. So we brought the next ticket out of California and came here. It just so happened Kunzite got hired for Serenity-sama's case. I don't believe that's a coincidence. But the question is who is using Neph?" Zoisite looked up from Rei's collection of spiritual books.

"If what you say is true, it's also possible the enemy tricked you guys into coming to Tokyo." Makoto rubbed her chin in a thoughtful manner.

At that moment two very breathless and irritated cats stumbled into the room.

"Why didn't anyone wait for the cats?" Luna panted before she collapsed.

"Gomen, Luna but we had to attend to Usagi-chan." Ami apologized.

That was when Luna got a good look of Usagi's condition. "Usagi-chan!" The cat raced forward to her mistress' side. "Who did this?!" Luna demanded in rage.

"She calls herself Kaolinite of the Death Busters, the one who attacked us earlier." Mamoru spoke for the first time since he arrived at the shrine. "She mentioned somebody named Hexas and she seemed to know us, said something about us not remembering her. She also mentioned a Sailor Uranus and a Sailor Neptune."

"The Death Busters, are they our new enemy?" Minako wondered.

"Remember when those two attack hit Kaolinite, who did that?" Rei wondered.

"I heard something vaguely like 'World Shaking' and 'Deep' something." Minako said.

"Sailor Uranus? Sailor Neptune?" Artemis wondered for a second before a light bulb lit over his head. He glanced at Luna. "Could it be?"

"It can't be." Luna nodded.

"What can't be?" Makoto asked as she scooted over to the cat.

"Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune were two of the four Outer Senshi. They are also princesses of their own respective planets but they didn't work with us, the Inner Senshi. Their goal was to protect the moon princess too, but they did this from afar. They were stationed at the ends of the galaxy, protecting the Silver Millennium from outside invaders. In a sense they are stronger then any of us will ever be but they lacked in teamwork. The Outers and we often clashed in the past but in the end we always came to some kind of agreement. Sailor Uranus, the solider of the sky. Sailor Neptune, the soldier of the deep seas and embrace. Sailor Pluto, the soldier of eternity and the guardian of time and space. And Sailor Saturn, the soldier of death, destruction, and rebirth." Minako explained.

"How do you remember all of that Minako-chan?" Ami asked.

"I was the leader of the Inner Senshi in our past life, there was no Sailor Moon. That's why I have a guardian like Usagi-chan. Lately I've been having dreams about the Silver Millennium, I'm beginning to remember our past lives. Occasionally the outers would make an appearance."

"Minako, why didn't you tell me about this." Artemis scowled.

"I wasn't sure if they were true. Besides, you don't have many memories of the Silver Millennium."

"If they truly are with us in this era, why haven't they revealed themselves to us?" Luna asked, mostly to herself.

"I remember them." Jadeite stated. "Not a group you'd want to mess with."

"I'd take it you speak from personal experience." Rei raised her eyebrow.

"Unfortunately." Jadeite muttered as the group broke into a small laughter.

Mamoru continued to ignore the conversation around him, his mind refused to register anything but Usagi. He held her small hand within his own. It felt strangely cold. Her skin was as soft and silky as he remembered it to be but it seemed to have lost all warmth.

He felt someone's stare burn through his back, he turned around to match Makoto's gaze. He hadn't expected them to welcome him with open arms after how he abandoned Usagi. He hadn't expected anything less kind than fireballs and lightning bolts from Rei and Makoto.

He lightly brushed aside Usagi's bangs, spun gold sliding through his fingers. How he had missed her, the last ten years had been more than eternal torture but he couldn't bear to face her anymore after what he did.

Usagi began to stir as everyone gathered around her. Usagi slowly sat up in Rei's bed. The first thing her mind registered was the warmth and protectiveness of Mamoru's hand.

"Usagi-chan, how do you feel?" Ami asked in a concerned manner.

"Fine but my head hurts a little." Usagi groaned.

"You'll be just fine." Amy smiled in relief.

Mamoru stood up to leave and suddenly doubled over in pain. Kunzite caught his friend.

"Mamoru-san!" Usagi exclaimed.

"I'm fine, Kaolinite just happened to get the better of me." Mamoru waved Kunzite off. He stood up, only to sink painfully back to the floor.

"Ami-chan, why didn't you treat him?" Usagi demanded.

"Gomen, but I didn't think he had any injuries." Ami apologized.

"I'm fine. It's nothing to worry about."

Usagi got off of Rei's bed and forced Mamoru to sit down. Their eyes met for a second, but only for a second before Usagi quickly looked away.

Usagi stood up as she looked at her watch. "You guys take care of him. I have to meet Mama, Papa and Shingo for dinner."

Mamoru sunk back onto the mattress, watching Usagi leave with Luna at her heel, never looking back.

~~~

Usagi walked up to her house, her home five years ago, hesitating to knock on the door. In the end she rang the doorbell.

"Usagi-chan, I'm so glad you could join us." Ikuko said as she opened the door for her daughter. When she got a good look at Usagi, the mother gasped in horror. "What happened?!"

"Nothing, I just ran into some trouble, nothing serious." Usagi reassured her mother, brushing off a nagging feeling.

Ikuko sighed before letting the issue flee from the conversation. There was no way she could get Usagi to say what was wrong but as a mother, she couldn't help but worry about her daughter. Ikuko bent down and fondly pet the black cat at her daughter's feet, Luna purred. "I'm glad you could join us too, kitty."

Usagi walked into the house almost like she hadn't been there for years. Kenji came out of the dining room to greet his daughter. He was a terrible sight to behold, his normally groomed hair was tousled and his eyes red with black rings from lack of sleep.

"Oh Papa." Usagi sighed as she hugged her father. She pulled away and looked over her exhausted father. "You have to get some rest or....or...."

"Shush, I'll be just fine, don't be silly. I've just had a little trouble sleeping for the past few weeks. What about you? What happened to you?" Kenji shook his head.

"Nothing Papa." Usagi brushed him off.

"Komban wa Usagi." Shingo greeted his sister with a hug.

Mika, Shingo's fiancé, greeted her future sister-in-law with a peck on the cheek. During high school and college, Shingo and Mika had dated steadily. Shingo had proposed last Christmas and their wedding was due to be this coming summer in July.

The small group settled at the dining room table.

"It's been so long since we were able to have a family dinner like this." Ikuko smiled brightly before she disappeared into the kitchen. Usagi couldn't help but smile too. The nagging problems of the day began to fade into the back of her mind.

*Flashback*
"Usako, it's time to go." Mamoru called to his girlfriend at the top of the hill. When he didn't get a response, he ran up to her.

Usagi continued to stare out at the setting sun.

"Usako, what's wrong?" Mamoru wrapped his arm around his girlfriend's waist.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about the future." Usagi replied quietly. "Our powers are a constant attraction for evil, will we always be able to protect this planet and the future of its people, *our future*."

"Of course we will. I'll always be here to protect you and the other girls. *Always*."

"As long as you're here, with me, I can take on anything."

"Then it's settled. If I promise to always be by your side then you'll always protect this world to the best of your abilities."

"Pinky swear?"

"Pinky swear."

Mamoru and Usagi hooked their pinkies together and shook. Mamoru leaned in and captured Usagi's lips with his own. Usagi sighed and giggled within his embrace.
*End of Flashback*

'I broke my promise.'

Mamoru and the generals had left the shrine since and returned to their hotel rooms. Mamoru had his own, Jadeite and Nephrite shared a room, and Zoisite and Kunzite shared one as well.

Originally Jadeite was to room with Zoisite but as intelligent as Zoisite was, he could never turn down a dare, especially from Jadeite. The last thing they had needed was Jadeite daring Zoisite to jump off the roof, or worse.

Mamoru stared at a patient's file before him, but he couldn't concentrate if his life depended on it. His thoughts centered on Usagi and the other senshi.

'Why couldn't Usako transform? Are the Outer Senshi really in this era with us? If so why don't they reveal themselves to us? Who are our enemies this time? Hexas? Why is Usako's dad being trialed for murder? He isn't possible of that, right? Although there were times in the past I thought he would kill me.' Mamoru groaned, 'Too many questions but not a single answer. I should get some rest. I have a feeling tomorrow will be a very trying day.'

~~~

Three women, hidden by the mist, stood in a barren wasteland. The air was gray and in the distance you could see something that resembled a door?

"Are you sure that's them?" One of them asked another that seemed to carry some sort of a staff in her hand.

"Of course, there's no question about it." She replied to her questioner.

"I don't know. They sure don't seem to be very strong." The first one stated.

The third remained silent as she continued to gaze into something that appeared to be a mirror in her hands. "True but never underestimate the extents they'll go for the princess."

~~~

Jadeite stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He reached up and touched the glass, the surface rippled like water. The image changed to that of another person's, a beautiful dark-haired shrine maiden. As abruptly as the image appeared, it vanished. Her present name rolled softly on his tongue, "Rei-san."

~~~

Nephrite looked up from his novel, wondering why Jadeite was taking so long in the bathroom. Brushing the issue aside, he took a moment to gaze at the stars as he often did these days.

As he spotted the various planets, he thought of their princesses. Mercury and her cool intellect, Venus with her bubbling beauty and boundless energy, Mars and her fiery temper, and Jupiter... There were no words good enough to describe her as far as he was concerned. They really haven't changed, except for their hostility, even after a thousand years.

Mako-chan was what they called her now. Kino Makoto, faithfulness of a tree.

~~~

Zoisite stared at the papers before him on the table. Another frustrating moment later, he scribbled on a paper and tossed it into the trashcan.

"What's wrong?" Kunzite asked as he entered their room.

"Nothing, I just can't concentrate." Zoisite groaned in frustration. "Where have you been?"

"No where." Kunzite snapped suddenly.

For a moment something caught Zoisite's eye, he squinted to see better. Zoisite stood up and walked over to his friend. "Is that, lipstick?"

"No." Kunzite snapped as he furiously wiped his cheek with his shirtsleeve.

Zoisite grinned slyly and nudged his friend's rib, "Oh, I get it now. How's Venus-sama?"

"Shut up." Kunzite groaned.

Zoisite continued to heckle his white-haired friend. Kunzite was sort of glad he was providing a distraction for both of them from the real problems, sort of.

*To Be Continued*

"Dreams are my reality. The only kind of real fantasy."


Alecto: FEEDBACK!!!

*Friends run up, panting* : Did you see the seagull man?! Where is he?!
Alecto: *sweatdrop* He went that way... *pointing in random direction*
Jenny: *singing loudly, typing away on a calculator* MARY HAD A LITTLE LAMB!
LITTLE LAMB!! LITTLE LAMB!!!
Angel Of Saturn: I wouldn't call that singing... ^_~;
Alecto: *sneaks up on Jenny and knocks her out with Stef's baseball bat*
Thanks for letting me borrow this Stef-onee-chan
Stef-chan: No prob. If it shuts Jenny up for a minute, keep it. Sides, I owe her from the last AN's!
Angel Of Saturn: *sweatdrop*
Jenny: *asleep* zzzSNOREzzzSNORE... Little lamb... *drool*
Alecto: I think I'll end this here *blackout*
Jenny: *smiling* ... little lamb...