Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Prelude ❯ Creme and Sugar ( Chapter 1 )

Prelude
Pairing: Ikuko Tsukino (Usagi's mom)/Setsuna

Summary: Takes place BEFORE Sailor Moon first season timeline; but gradually goes through most of the seasons.

Setsuna (age twenty-four) was sent to protect Ikuko Tsukino, the future mother of Usagi Tsukino. However matters become complicated as the Time senshi develops a crush on the one she's suppose to protect.

Ikuko Tsukino(twenty-two) finds herself strangely drawn to Setsuna. Her infatuation conflicts with society's perception of `right' especially since she's a married woman.

Attraction forges their bond, secrets wounds it, and the simple strand of silk is wound into a complex web.

Will true love have to be sacrificed for the greater good of destiny?

Warnings: Centered on an affair (bits of angst). Minor OOC, F/F lemons, oral. Other warnings to come.

Disclaimers: If I were to own Sailor Moon…they would have never been able to show it on Cartoon Network…or even on Japanese daytime television for that matter…ohh yeah sorry for the ramble. I obviously don't own Sailor Moon!



Chapter One:
Cream and Sugar


Steam steadily rose from a ceramic cup of black coffee with a swirl of crème was stirred in by a delicate spoon. Holding the spoon was a slender hand which slowly withdrew the utensil, a brief pause before the hand returned to lightly pick up the cup by the handle. Lips with no more coloring than a pale lip gloss parted to partake of the bitter brew.

All the while maroon colored eyes watched these simple actions, while taking small sips from an identical cup. Sitting directly across from her was a woman who to most would seem utterly ordinary.

Ikuko Tsukino was her name. This woman didn't know it just yet; but the sole reason Setsuna was here was because of rather who she would give birth to, rather than who she currently was.

As mentioned before Ikuko wasn't plain, nor was she strikingly beautiful; long wavy blue hair usually pulled back away from her heart-shaped face. Kind blue-gray eyes seemed to always be smiling, even when her lips weren't.

Maybe it was this quiet sense of contentment that had first drawn her attention.


“Setsuna?” the woman in question asked, a look of concern flittering across her face.

“Yes?” Setsuna replied in turn, having enough grace to feel ashamed for being caught staring,

Carefully Ikuko placed her teacup down, with a subtle hint of pose that most wouldn't be able to take note of; she did though.

Ikuko gently folded her hands into each other, “Is there something on your mind? I mean you're usually quiet but tonight…you seem to be preoccupied.”

Setsuna winced slightly. She couldn't possibly share what she was thinking about.

For the past few months the two women had forged a sort of friendship. The Time Senshi had to alter the other's memory to make her honestly believe that they were old friends from high school. Now that they had `reconnected' both women would take time out of their busy daylight hours to come to this very café to share some coffee and conversation.

It was all a farce though.

“Oh nothing special Ikuko-chan,” Setsuna said softly, a small smile twitching on the corners of her lips.

For a moment the seeking gaze of Ikuko penetrated Setsuna's calm countenance. Finding no further answer Ikuko giggled softly.

“You're so good at secrets Set-chan that I can't help but wonder just how much you're keeping from me.”

Hearing that statement Setsuna nearly scolded her tongue since she was taking a quick sip of her coffee.

Lowering the cup back to the table Setsuna smiled again, this time it was sincere, “ Insightful as always Ikuko.”

Placing her elbows on the table Ikuko rested her head onto of her palms, not for the first time, gazing at her friend.

Long moss-green hair which simmered in the low lights of café, in contrast her dark skin tone seemed to glow due to the same lighting scheme; and those deep all-knowing crimson eyes. All of this wrapped in a fashionable dress of lavender which contrasted just about everything about her, and yet still seemed to `fit' her perfectly.

A frown marred Ikuko's face; she always found Setsuna's eyes to look a bit `sad', as if something was deeply paining her.

Slowly and cautiously Ikuko's right hand snaked from across the table and reached to Setsuna's hand. Delicate fingers gently intertwined, pale ivory skin clashing against a darker cinnamon tone.

A sudden jolt which occurred when their fingers touched caused Setsuna to glance up at Ikuko, who apparently noticed nothing, and if so took no notice of it.

She smiled in blissful ignorance, “We're friends Setsuna-chan, so you can tell me anything,' the blue-haired woman reassured.

It was this brief touch that Setsuna obsessed over once they had parted ways.

 

Even now several minutes after their hands had brushed against Setsuna could swear that she could still feel the same sensation of Ikuko's fingers lightly touching her downturn palm.

Silently crimson eyes watched as Ikuko walked down the sidewalk, her wave back towards Setsuna nothing more than a brief memory as she was gradually lost among the crowd of pedestrians.

Setsuna lingered in the alcove leading to the café, looking down at her right hand in momentary bemusement before sighing and turning to walk the opposing sidewalk; but instead of disappearing into a crowd, the woman managed to `vanish' all together.

A brass key twisted into the lock, with a click the front door was opened. With her right foot Ikuko nudged it open, while in her hands were loaded with bags of groceries that she had picked up after leaving the café.

“I am home!” she called out, amazingly balancing the grocery bags while slipping off her shoes and slipping on house slippers. Somehow she had managed to waddle into the kitchen before placing the heavy bags on top of a pristine countertop.

No sooner had she set the bags down then did Ikuko proceed to rummage through them to put the purchased goods away. Just as she opened the fridge to put the milk up the answering machine clicked on.

“Ikuko, honey? I know it's late but I've got some things to catch up on here at the office, so if you don't mind go ahead and make dinner. I'll be there in an hour or two. Love you.”

A soon as the answering machine clicked off Ikuko looked over the refrigerator door, a slight sour glance crossed her face.

`He's been working later at the office nowadays,' Ikuko allowed her mind wander on that thought only to quickly squash suspicions.

However, it didn't bode well for a new wife's self-esteem if her husband started spending more time at work instead of home.


Meanwhile, Setsuna's form materialized once again; only instead of appearing on a sidewalk, a house, or even an apartment the woman found herself in what looked to be a literal expanse of space. Nothing but twinkling stars with bits of inky blackness in-between.

Her outfit had changed from a conservative lavender dress to a white bodice which hugged her middle tightly before tapering off around hips, to which a short ribbon skirt colored onyx took over from there. Fitting on her legs were black boots which clanked against the marble floor. In the grasp of her right hand was a slender silver staff, at one end the staff formed a heart shape which protected a large garnet colored orb, whereas the other end was jagged like a key.

At a brisk pace the young woman traveled to a large hologram screen. Upon reaching the panel Setsuna pressed a few buttons. The screen blinked for a moment before gradually fading from black to a fuzzy gray then coming into focus.

The picture revealed was Ikuko standing in her kitchen chopping up some vegetables for dinner.

A fond sort of smile graced Setsuna's lips before the screen flickered off again.

 

Notes: Now I've got to warn in advance that this particular yuri romance story will take awhile before it comes to fully develop; so just be patient with me as the story progresses and I promise that you won't be disappointed.