Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ When Destiny Changed ❯ Prologue/Chapter One ( Chapter 1 )

Prologue

The sky had been silent for many days, and then weeks which in turn became months. Peace seemed at hand. It felt the damage had been erased and soon people forgot that it ever happened. How one could forget…that was something. But so it seemed and the stars once again took their reign in the skies. Nothing more then a soft shooting of stars at the right times.

So it seemed peace was here at last. I wanted that. I didn't feel like fighting anymore. But I doubt that anyone ever noticed that I had. Oh yes, there were reports and such, the usual tabloid front page. But in turn everything was scientifically explained as some form of weather pattern gone wrong. I hear the latest was called El Nina. Funny, I hear that mean "small child". Well what happened was no small child. But that doesn't matter. It was over.

So I thought…

When Destiny Changed

Chapter One

Mmmm, this felt good. This felt right. How long had it been? Almost half the school year and so much had happened. And it all ended in one night. Life was good. But this right now felt oh so good.

"Mmmm, Mamo-chan," I murmured softly, cuddly closely to my love as he held me close to him. It felt like we'd never part. Had he missed me as much as I had?

He looked down at me from his stargazing and the smile he showed was enough to convince me of that. I giggled and snuggled against him, looking up into the same star filled sky that had once cracked open with fire, but now it was silent and twinkling. The night was chilly as we sat on the park bench but his arm around me kept the breeze from piercing my warm skin.

"So, you are staying then?" I asked again with obvious excitement radiating.

He chuckled, "I told you, Odango. I'm not leaving. Harvard will wait for now. I can finish up my courses at KO and then…maybe later. Besides it gives you time to finish school. Perhaps after…" he glowed which I always found so cute.

"Maybe…" I blushed then quickly giggled, "I've always wanted to see America. I even made up my own club where you can eat sweets, sleep and go to America to see cute boys."

Mamo-chan chuckled, "I heard about that from Luna. She was sure you belonged with the `go-home' club." He laughed more when I turned red, tapping a finger on my nose; "It's okay. It was probably the best way to deal with it."

I went quiet, nodding, "Yeah. And had I known that…" I held his arm tighter.

He shushed me silently, a finger to my lips, "It's okay now. Everything is the way it should be. I knew you'd come through for me and for everyone. You never let your heart be swayed by anything. You stood firm. That makes me proud of you."

He gave me a soft kiss before resuming stargazing. I smiled yet not as strongly as before. His words seemed to have touched me somewhere deep down, a secret place I never wanted to admit to. Sudden images floated to my mind.

A fiery sunset, my friends, Mamo-chan and I standing on a roof top, wishing some "friends" farewell. One in particular turned my way briefly.

`Odango. I'm glad you got your boyfriend back.'

I grinned, `It's because you were with me Seiya, that I could hang in there.'

His face was so still, a little color there perhaps. `Odango.' A pause.

`I'll never forget you.'

My heart thumped but I gave my usual friendly grin, `Yes! We'll be friends forever.'

I saw the brief moment of surprise and…could it be? Yes sadness in my words but he quickly grinned his obnoxious grin, `Oh, come on.' His friends had laughed.

`I like this one.'

My friends had stared at me; `She still didn't get it!'

`Get what?' I had asked innocently and arguing had ensued between Rei and me again.

`You won't get it in your whole life.'

`Rei-chan, you're so nasty!' But they didn't know. Know what I felt deep down.

I did get it.

`Mamoru-san,' his voice was serious, `Protect her!' There had been a tense moment but it was quickly followed by his familiar grin.

`It's some words from some guy.'

Mamo-chan nodded, `I understand.'

Did he?

`Bye Odango!'

As they had left, those three that had helped me in the end along with their princess, I had silently mouthed, `Thank you Seiya.'

Thinking of it as I sat with Mamo-chan this moment, I sighed quietly. Some guy. Yes, some `special' guy. But I just pushed it aside as I had the whole time Seiya had been here and Mamo-chan had not. I loved Mamo-chan. That was it. It would stay that way.

He looked down at me, "Usako? You feeling all right? Should we go inside?"

I blushed momentarily and gave a quick laugh, "Oh, I'm sorry. No, I'm fine. Just thinking about the past months, that's all. It was…"

"Difficult? I know. But it's over now. Just focus on the future." He leaned in and we shared a blissful kiss before he gently pulled away slightly, "Our future."

I smiled contentedly as we kiss again, rose and began walking the park path again, arm in arm. I would just have to leave the past where it was, keep it in that small special place where it would be forgotten…in time.

About halfway through the park, Mamo-chan spoke, "So the school year is almost done, ne?"

I stretched like some one just finishing an exercise, "Yeah! One more month before summer vacation and then two more years and I'll be done school forever!" I gave a whoop of delight; "I can hardly wait!"

Mamo-chan chuckled, "I can understand the feeling. You know Usako. Right now, how you glow, I really like your shine."

My mind stopped at those words. So familiar, from a time not so long ago, said by someone else amidst a battle.

`I really like your shine, even to the end.'

I pushed it aside even as another phrase floated to my mind, a voice filled with determination and maybe even…

`I'll protect this girls shine. Even if it means my life!'

`Fighter.' I whispered.

I shook my head. No, we were just friends. I looked at the twinkling sky. Besides, I probably wouldn't see him again. I turned to where Mamo-chan was looking at the same sky and smiled.

Everything was the way it should be.

~~~

I turned to see her staring at me and blinked but smiled. She had been doing that for some time. Perhaps it was just the fact that we'd been separated for so long. It would explain why she had asked those questions soon after.

`Mamo-chan.'

`Yes?'

`Do you love me?'

This came as a surprise. `Yes.'

`Really?'

Confused by this yet deciding to go along with it I grinned, `Yes.'

`Like how?'

I gave a quick chuckle, `Why so suddenly?' This must be one of her cute games.

`Please, like how?'

Her face seemed to show worry. I grew concerned but didn't show it. Instead, I gave what I knew to be honest.

`Let's see… it feels wonderful to be with you.'

This made her smile and I relaxed.

But now I thought about it. Was she really worried about it or was it something else. Something did preoccupy her mind these days I felt it was more then school. What had happened during that time I had disappeared?

"Mamo-chan?" she cocked her head in that cute way I always loved.

I grinned as I took her hand, pulling her close, caressing her face. That soft cream colored face accented by slight shade of red glowing in her cheeks.

"Only two years left." I whispered, causing her to sigh happily. She lent her head on my chest, clinging to my shirt. She's so like a child sometimes. The urge to protect came over me again.

`Mamoru-san. Protect her!'

I was surprised to hear this.

He grinned nonchalantly, `Just some words from some guy.'

`I understand.'

I looked down at my Odango. Why had that come to me?

`There are people on this planet that fight for love and justice!' I could feel the pain overcome me. I looked up, tears in my eyes. Maybe she could hear me.

`Usako.'

I remembered that, the feeling of disappearing, becoming nothing.

`She's trapped within a dream where she will never awake.'

`No!'

That had been so long ago, a time where I had felt that avoiding her would save her life, protect her.

`Usagi. Usagi! Wake up! Usagi! Liar. You promised.' Mars's eyes as well as the others were filled with tears. Earth was saved but my love lay in my arms…dead. Her crystal shattered.

I've almost lost you so many times. Thinking this was odd at a time where nothing should happen again. Still, I held her tightly, almost afraid that she'd disappear if I didn't.

"Mamo-chan?" Her worried voice whispered and I smiled down at her. She grinned back.

`You're my family now.'

`Mamo-chan. I promise I'll always protect you.'

`Usako.'

"I love you, Usako." She grinned, "And I love you." She fiddled with a ring on her finger, the one I'd given her before that awful flight.

"I'm happy that I will be in your future." She said shyly.

"And I want you there. Never forget." I kissed her deeply, then looked deep in her eyes with all sincerity, "Always and forever."

Her eyes, so true and pure full of light. I loved those eyes, that smile and knowing she was mine to protect forever.

I never wanted to see that light go out again.

~~~

`I've found you.'

~~~

Suddenly there was light everywhere, stars shooting like crazy, the loud screaming of air being burned at a great speed. The ground shook as if hit.

"Mamo-chan?!" Clinging to him was all she could do as the world seemed to shake all around her. Sounds like sirens, lightening cracking in the air though there was none. Then in a sudden boom, it was gone. The air was still. Eerily still as if nothing had happened.

I looked around in surprise, shaken up to say the least. Nothing had changed. The street on which we walked beside was empty and no damage could be seen.

"M-mamo-chan. You saw that…didn't you?"

He nodded, "But…what happened?" He looked worried as he stepped away…

It felt like slow motion. His hand slowly left mine and was only a few feet away when I heard something.

It sounded like a horn yet not quite. My head turned, I heard Mamo-chan, saw a brilliant light…and all I could do was gasp.

~~~

`You're mine!'

~~~

Slow motion, like slow motion. I couldn't move, nothing would obey my commands. The blaring horn, then brilliant light…it had to be a vehicle. It swerved so fast, turned so sharply.

"USAKO!!!!!"

The sound. I never wanted to hear it, couldn't burn it out of my memory. The light was gone, as if it had never been there. My blood went cold, words choked me as I finally demanded my body to move. And move I did. I collapsed beside her, my precious one.

She looked like a rag doll thrown aside. But a doll that had not gone without a beating.

Blood, torn clothes, choked breathing, her limbs in a shape they shouldn't be. I held her close, trying to keep her awake. "Usako! Usako, you've gotta wake up!"

Her eyes tried to open but it looked so painful and non-coherent, "Mma-mamo…"

"Shh, don't talk. Just stay awake. I've got to get you to a hospital." I looked into the sky. How could this happen? After all that they'd been through, how could he lose her like this. No! He wouldn't lose her! She'd be all right.

But she looked so frail, her body so badly damaged it didn't seem possible that it could be healed. She'd been hit so hard… I clenched my eyes shut. No, I wouldn't believe it.

"Mmamo-c…chan," she choked and more blood dribbled from her mouth, "I-I'm sssorr…y…"

"Usako…" No, don't speak like that.

"I-I'm sorry…*cough* I…wwon't be *gasp* …apart of…*cough* of…y-you'rrre …fu-uture…"

"Damn it, Usako, you'll live! Just stay awake! I won't let you die." I tapped her communicator, calling Ami, telling her what I could before she could reply and saw the horror in her eyes. She would call the ambulance right away and be there.

I nodded as the communicator went dead. I did all I could to show no tears, to be there for her, to show no fear in my eyes. But her look was one that said she knew.

"Ma-mo…chan…" I didn't want listen. I knew what she'd say. Her face was growing so pale. Her words became faint whispers even the distant sound of sirens grew.

"…I love…you…"

Her head went limp, her breath slowed till I felt nothing. My hand flew to her wrist for a pulse. I could feel it grow fainter and fainter.

"No," I whispered. I wanted to grasp it, keep her heart going, and felt as if sand slipped through my fingers. Tears fell readily, "No!"

The pulse slowed even more and then…

Silence.

"USAKO!!!!!!!"

@%@%

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