SailorStars Awakening
Chaos Theory: Act One

	A new beginning?:
		The bishoujo senshi become just pretty girls!



Begun on 9/3/99, finished on 9/27/99 REVISED!!!

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CHAOS THEORY

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By Hoshi and Sora: kaelali_su@hotmail.com



	"Are you really leaving?" asked Ami, clasping her hands in front of
her.
	"Hai. The others are expecting us." Princess Kagyuu smiled at her,
then at the others standing behind her.
	"We'll create a new world with our Princess!" Yaten flashed them a
thumbs up sign.
	Luna, who was laying across Ami's shoulder, looked at him,
starry-eyed. "Gambatene!"
	Artemis, on Minako's shoulder next to her, glared at her.  Ami and
Minako turned to look at Luna, surprised.
	Yaten winked. "Arigato, Luna."
	Luna meowed, embarrassed, and hid her face in her paws as Artemis's
jaw dropped. "LUNA!?"
	Usagi and Mamoru watched, smiling.
	"Odango!"
	Both looked over to where Seiya was standing. "Hm?"
	Seiya studied her for a moment before speaking. "I'm glad you got
your boyfriend back."
	Usagi smiled. "It's because of you, Seiya!" She lowered her eyes and
said softly, "It's because you were with me, Seiya, that I could hang in
there."
	Seiya's face grew wistful, and almost sad. "Odango."
	She raised her head to meet his eyes. "Hm?"
	Seiya blushed slightly and his lips parted, but there wasn't enough
time to tell her everything. His brow furrowed. 'She must know anyway.'
"I'll never forget you," he said, his face hardening with determination.
	"Hai! We'll be friends forever!" Usagi exclaimed happily, tilting
her head to the side.
	There was a moment of silence.
	"Ah."
	Yaten burst out laughing, doubling over, and Princess Kagyuu
giggled, covering her mouth. Taiki rolled his eyes and groaned.
	"Oh come on!" exclaimed Seiya, his head falling forward and his hand
covering his eyes.
	"I like that one!" said Taiki, laughing.
	"?" Usagi's head perked up.
	"She didn't get it," Ami sighed.
	Makoto next to her made a face. "No, she didn't."
	"What's that, Ami-chan?" demanded Usagi, confused.
	"Usagi-chan! You're slow aren't you?" whispered Minako, leaning
over.
	Usagi frowned. "About *what?!*"
	Rei jumped over and smacked her on the head. "It's obvious!" she
growled.
	Usagi leapt to her feet. "I'm asking because I don't get it!" she
shouted crossly.
	"You won't get it for your whole life!" Rei placed her hands on her
hips.
	"Oh please! You're nasty, Rei-chan!" cried Usagi.
	Everyone laughed, which just made Usagi more angry, until finally
she just gave up and laughed with them too.
	After the laughter died down, the Princess turned her face to the
setting sun. "Alright, let's go!" She began walking away, Taiki and Yaten
behind her, with Seiya following slowly.
	He paused in mid stride. He looked back over his shoulder.
"Mamoru-san!"
	Mamoru looked up at his name. "Hmm?"
With the red sun to his back, his face was mostly in shadow. "Protect her!"
	Mamoru looks slightly surprised.
	Seiya grins and laughs, losing his serious expression. "It's just
some words from some guy!" he says as he winks.
	Smiling, Mamoru nodded. "I understand."
	Giving Usagi and Mamoru one last look, he paused and closed his
eyes, summoning the strength. Throwing one arm up, he yelled, "Ja, Odango!"
and went to stand by his princess.
	Silhouetted against the sunset, a shine envelopes them and they are
once again in their true forms. They turn to say their final good-byes.
	"Take care," said Star Maker.
	"See you!" said Fighter.





	The moon rose huge above them, it's silvery presence dominating the
midnight sky. As the beautiful warmth of his lips pressed against her own,
Usagi relaxed completely for the first time in a very, very long while. Just
having his arms around her again... her heart soared with the very thought of
it. She leaned into his embrace, waiting for the familiar feeling to wash
over her. It had been so long since Mamoru had held her, the warmth of him
was almost strange.
	As the kiss ended, the sweet taste lingered on her lips. Usagi looked
up into Mamoru's blue eyes, and couldn't help but think that she remembered
them a shade darker. He reached down and touched her cheek lightly.
	"Usako," he murmured. "It's so good to be home. If it wasn't for your
strength and your courage, we'd all have perished. You are the Light of
Hope."
	Usagi, unused to such praise from Mamoru, blushed lightly and lowered
her eyes. "Oh Mamo-chan, it was everyone's courage that saved us all, I could
never have done it alone."
	Mamoru's lips lifted slightly in a smile. "Now with the final enemy
defeated, the time when Crystal Tokyo will arise quickly approaches. You will
take your rightful place as Queen as you would have long ago, though in this
lifetime, you'll be the Queen of Earth instead of the Moon."
	Usagi waved a hand at him. "Oh that's silly, Mamo-chan! I can't
become Queen until..." Startled, her head jerked up. Usagi gazed up at him,
her eyes huge and trembling. "You mean...we'll be married?"
	He looked a little surprised. "Well of course..."
	"OH MAMO-CHAN!" Usagi squealed, throwing her arms around him and
squeezing him as tightly as she could. "What a perfect ending! And now that
I'm sixteen, we can be together! Oh it will be the most wonderful wedding!
Everyone will be there, and the senshi can be the maids of honor, with new
dresses of course! And Motoki-oniisan can be the best man, and you'll be the
*handsome* groom with your black tuxedo! And *I* of course will be the
beautiful blushing bride with a gorgeous long white gown with pearls and lace
and..."
	Mamoru, finding it hard to draw breath with Usagi crushing him and
with her talking non-stop, said, "...of course we'll be married when you're
older."
	"?" Usagi's mouth stopped blabbering for a moment as she paused with
one leg raised in the air.
	"We will need your parents' permission, of course, and I think you
should at least finish high school..." He grinned at her forlorn expression.
 	She pulled away immediately, throwing one arm behind her head,
blushing profusely, and laughed. A large sweat drop rolled down her head and
she stuttered, "Gomen! I thought...well......uh..." she giggled, embarrassed.
"....Um..."
	Mamoru smiled and drew her into a hug again, kissing her hair. "I
can't wait either. It's been too long since I have been able to hold you, and
I plan to take every chance I can get."
	Usagi felt warmth spread across her cheeks as she lay her head on his
shoulder. 'It's so nice to have him here again...but I feel like something's
missing. This embrace is different from the one I used to dream about at
night, when he was gone...' She giggled happily and buried her face deeper
into his chest. 'Oh well. I'm sure that it will turn out okay! Everything is
finally back to the way it should be.' Her thoughts turned to the Starlights.
I'm glad they found what they were looking for and went home. It's what they
always wanted, I guess.' Her face fell and she sighed, her shoulders drooping
a little. 'I really will miss them a lot. Especially Seiya. But I couldn't
ask him to stay, he's needed at home, and with no more enemies to fight, we
don't need him here anymore.'
	Hearing Usagi's sigh, Mamoru asked, "Daijoubo, Usako?" He stroked one
of her long ponytails, twirling it around his finger.
	Usagi drew away from him. "Mamo-chan, what happens now? Now that the
battles are over and the senshi are no longer needed? The Earth doesn't need
protection anymore."
	"But it needs a Queen." She looked up at him, her face brightening
immediately.
	"Of course! You're right. I mean, after all, you can't run the
kingdom by yourself, Mamo-chan! You need the beautiful and wise Neo-Queen
Serenity to run your Kingdom!" She placed her hands on her hips and laughed.
	Mamoru laughed as well and ruffled her hair. Taking her hands, he
said, "Of course, after all, I am but a man." Gazing up at him, her cheeks
turned red and he lowered his lips to hers once again, lingering close to
her. "We have so much time to make up for, Usako." Studying her for a moment,
he said, "I can see how exhausted you are. You can tell me everything in the
morning."
	Usagi, realizing how tired she was after he mentioned it, yawned
hugely and said, "Ooh, but Mamo-chan, I'm not..." She yawned again. "Well, I
could use a little nap. After all, I *did* just save the universe from
Chaos."
	She reached up and kissed him on the cheek, throwing her arms around
his neck. "And of course, I'll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, Mamo-chan!"
	"Goodnight, Usako," he replied, stealing one last kiss from her that
filled her with warmth all over.



*     *     *     *     *



	Returning home, Usagi walked slowly, thinking about everything that
had happened. The hugeness of what had almost occurred was just beginning to
dawn on her, and it left her feeling cold, though the night was warm. Hugging
herself she whispered out loud, "I almost wasn't strong enough. There was
even a time when I almost stopped believing in Uranus and Neptune... What if
this wasn't the last battle? What if I'm not strong enough to protect those I
love next time?" One hand wandered up to her neck where her locket *should*
have been, but her hands only touched the cottony fabric of her shirt. "I
can't transform anymore...Chaos destroyed my brooch...." Her thoughts
inevitably returned to the Starlights.
	Pausing in her walk, she looked up, past the moon and the stars.
"Seiya, I hope that you are okay. I miss you and Taiki and Yaten already."
Her eyes lowered but did not see her surroundings. "I hope that you are happy
with your Princess, back home."
	Taking a deep breath, she lifted her head and continued walking home,
whistling out of tune.


*     *     *      *     *



	Though that night, as worn out as she felt, she couldn't sleep. Luna,
who had been asleep when Usagi got home, had woken to Usagi's sobs earlier
that night. In silence, she had licked Usagi's tears away, and now lay awake
with her body pressed to her side.

	Luna's heart filled with compassion for her friend. 'I know that
Usagi is still young, but I hope she can allow herself to enjoy the rest of
her life without dwelling too much on the past.  She must be hurting deeply
inside, though now that Mamoru has returned, she has someone to share her
burdens with again. Maybe if I can get her to talk about it, she'll feel a
little better.' Rising on her four paws and shaking herself, Luna padded over
and sat on Usagi's pillow so that they were eye to eye. "Usagi-chan, do you
want to talk?"

	There was a moment of silence before she responded. "Oh Luna, it's
all so confusing. I'm so happy and scared and sad at the same time; it makes
my poor head hurt." She propped her chin on her hands and looked at Luna.
"Everyone is alive, and Mamo-chan is back, and Chaos had been banished..."
she trailed off.

	Luna's gaze was serious. "Honestly, Usagi-chan, after It was released
from Galaxia, I'm not quite sure what happened. I know that Chaos is still
free, somewhere in the universe." Luna's whiskers drooped a little. "I admire
her, Galaxia. Even after everything that Chaos has done to her, she is still
determined to capture it some way. To save everyone."
	Usagi's head plopped back onto the pillows. "But now, It can't steal
starseeds, ne?"
	"Hai. Didn't you see It disappear into the clouds? It has most likely
dissipated into nothing. After all, Galaxia tried to rid the entire universe
of evil by gathering It all up into one large mass and sealing It inside
herself. Chaos has most likely simply reverted to It's former state after It
was released and poses no threat."
	But Usagi was tense, thinking of the horrible things that Chaos was
capable of. "Luna, I don't think I could defeat It again, if It ever
returned." She flipped onto her back and held her hands out in front of her,
examining them. "I suppose Chaos will always be here. There's a little of
Chaos inside us all. Even you and me."
	"Oh Usagi-chan, please try to get some sleep. You have been under a
lot of stress; you're just overtired."
	There was a pause. "It's not just Chaos that I'm worried about. It's
Mamo-chan." Usagi's voice grew quiet and faraway.
	"Nani? What is wrong? He's home and safe."
	"Yeah, I know, but it's...strange. Different somehow. I love him more
than anything in the world, but..." She giggled, trying to brighten the
mood. "I'm sure that I just need to get used to having him back. I missed him
too much while he was gone. Maybe I'm just being silly."
	"Usagi-chan?" Luna looked up at her, concerned. Staring at her for
just a moment longer, she repeated, "You've been under a lot of stress. You
have gone through many trials, and have grown tremendously. We are all very
proud of you. You can't expect everything to be the same as it was before."
She licked Usagi's cheek. "Get some sleep. You can sort it out in the
morning."
	Usagi gave Luna a pat on the head.. "You're right." She settled back
into the pillows. "Goodnight, Luna."
	"Goodnight Usagi-chan. Sleep well."



*     *     *     *     *



	The roaring of the sea reached their ears as only a soft murmur. As
the last crimson rays of the sun faded into velvety darkness, the bright
shimmering of stars became visible as points of light in the infinity of the
sky. Together, they sat, watching the exquisite moon rise across the watery
horizon, turning the churning ocean into a shifting, silver mirror of the
brilliant moonbeams.

	Drawing her closer, Haruka lay her cheek on Michiru's hair.  "Is
that it, then? Is it finally over? The endless fighting..." Her voice was
weary, and Michiru turned away from the breathtaking scene to place both
arms around Haruka.
	"I do not know. Now there are no enemies to fight, there is no need
for warriors such as us." A sorrowful smile appeared at the corners of her
lips. "Perhaps this is what we've always dreamed of, Haruka, freedom from
our burdens. Perhaps there will be no more killing, and we can live like this
in peace."
	Drawing the undulating turquoise curls back from Michiru's face,
Haruka returned her sad smile. "I don't think that there can ever be peace.
Even when something as great as Chaos is defeated, there will always remain
things that would threaten what we cherish. We must remain on our guards for
all time. We became distracted and almost faltered in our mission, and the
Princess was almost destroyed. We must not do so again."
	"But what, after Chaos, could possibly come next?" Worry haunted
behind her eyes.
	Haruka sighed. "There's nothing we can do now, Michiru. What will
come, will come. We can do nothing but wait." Michiru drew one hand from
around Haruka's waist to clasp her hand tightly.
	"I do not sense any evil, and my mirror shows nothing. But still.
It is a shadow that hides behind my thoughts and my heart."
	"I feel it as well. It isn't something that I immediately recognize,
but more like something is simply out of place."
	There was a pause, and Michiru looked back at the other girl, her
eyes unexpectedly filled with tears, surprising Haruka. "Do you think that
it's possible? Do you think that it could finally be done with?"
	Haruka's face softened, and she brushed away Michiru's tears with her
thumb. She pulled Michiru into a gentle embrace and whispered, "I don't
know." She repeated it, as much to herself as to the girl in her arms. "I
don't know."
	They fell silent, lost in thought, and looked back out to the
crashing waves, letting it's song soothe their thoughts.



*     *     *     *     *



	Hotaru walked alongside Setsuna, holding her hand tightly. Though the
moon was bright and full in the sky, a scent in the air carried on a strong
breeze promised rain before the night's end. 'That's what this planet needs,
a shower to cleanse it, to erase the last traces of evil from its ground.'
	After a moment, Hotaru looked up at Setsuna. "What happens now,
Setsuna-mama?" Her eyes wandered back to the streets, that were for the most
part deserted. This city had not yet recovered from the shock that had struck
it. "I feel as if it *is* over, but..." Hotaru shook her head. "But I never
completed my destiny. I was born to die, to die here, for this planet, and
yet I am still alive."
	Setsuna smiled gently. "Your life is a gift from our Princess. It is
though her love you were able to live." Grasping her hand more tightly, she
said, "Despite your memories and your quick growth, you are still a child.
Now you can actually live like one."
	Considering this for a moment, her face broke into a grin and she
closed her eyes, allowing Setsuna's hand to guide her. "Right, Setsuna-mama!"
	Setsuna's smile faltered vaguely, and she would not look down at the
child attached to her arm.



*     *     *     *     *



	Usagi frantically shoved her head through her shirt and pulled it
over her, thrusting her arms through the holes. "Luna! You should not have
let me sleep late! It's my first day in a new life and it's starting out just
like the last one!" she wailed, quickly jumping into her skirt and throwing
her books into her bag.
	Luna leaped onto her dresser, and when Usagi sat up from the floor,
searching under her bed for her math book, she licked Usagi's cheek. "Calm
down, Usagi-chan! One day late won't harm you."
	Usagi sighed and set down her book bag, sitting on her bed. "I know
you're right, but I don't want to mess up this time."
	Luna grinned. "You didn't mess up, Usagi-chan! Everyone loves you
just the way you are."
	Usagi hugged her and laughed. Catching a look at the clock over the
cat's head, she almost dropped her. "AGH! I'm gonna be sooooo late!!" Giving
Luna a quick pat, she rushed out.
	Grabbing the offered piece of toast and her lunch, she rushed to the
door, paused, then ran back to her mother. "Arigato, Mama," she said,
reaching on her toes to give her mother a kiss on the cheek before slipping
her shoes on and speeding out the door.
	Shoving the toast in her mouth and making extraordinary leaps to and
fro to avoid puddles on the sidewalk, she skidded to a halt just outside her
gate. "Mamo-chan!" came the muffled exclamation.
	Mamoru called a good morning, "Ohayoo, Usako! I figured you'd sleep
in today, and thought you might like a ride."
	Gulping down the piece of bread, she beamed. "Would I!"
	As Usagi ran to the other side of the car, Mamoru got out and opened
the door for her. Blushing with pride, she climbed in and carefully sat
down, placing her bag on her lap. Mamoru walked around and slid into the
seat next to her.
	Starting the car, he looked over and grinned. "Still coming to school
late, Usako?" He sighed dramatically. "I leave for a few months and come home
to find nothing is different."
	Usagi giggled uneasily, and looked out the window as the scenery
flew past, looking at his transparent reflection in the window. "But
everything is different Mamo-chan," she said softly, her cheery mood fading.
	She watched in the glass as his face fell a little. "I feel like I
missed so much, Usako. I wasn't here for one of the biggest moments in your
life. It's as if I had abandoned you, left you all alone when you needed
someone the most."
	"Even though I never once stopped thinking about you, I was never
alone," Usagi whispered, a tear sliding down her cheeks, surprising her.
Reaching to her face to touch it, she quickly wiped her fingers on her skirt
before Mamoru could see it.
	But he had caught the reflection on the glass. Pulling the car to a
stop in front of her school, he turned to her and placed one hand on her
shoulder and turned her to face him. "Ai shiteru, Usako," he said softly,
touching her chin. "Now and forever."
	Slowly she smiled, and he pulled her into his arms, kissing her. She
kissed him back fiercely, pushing back more tears, and he tightened his hold
around her protectively.
	Suddenly, a loud bell rang, and she jumped back. "Oh my gosh, the
first bell!" she yelped. Flinging open the car, she leaned over and kissed
him gently on the nose. "Arigato for the ride, Mamo-chan my love!" Glancing
at her watch, she grabbed her bag. "If I run, I can still make it to class on
 time!" Blowing him a kiss and waving, she dashed off.

	Shaking his head and laughing, he called after her, "Meet me after
school at the Crown! I have something for you!"
	She threw up one hand to show she had heard and disappeared inside
the doors.
	Letting out the breath he had been holding, he turned the key and
sat silently for a moment. Then, looking back, he pulled out and drove away.



*     *     *     *     *



	Speeding down the hall, Usagi finally caught sight of the small sign
that hung above the doorway to her destination. "There...it...is..." she
huffed. Reaching out and grabbing a hold of the doorframe, she attempted to
swing into the classroom.

	Unfortunately, she didn't see the pail of water hiding just inside
the corner.
	"No worries, Usagi is heeeeEEERREEE!" she shrieked, her foot catching
on the rim of the bucket and sliding forward. With a great cry and a large
amount of arm flailing, she landed on the ground with a thump, the bucket on
her head, just as the final bell rang. She had one arm and half her torso
inside the frame with the rest sprawled out in the hallway.
	Lifting one hand, she sheepishly peered out from under the bucket.
The entire class was silent and staring at her.
	"Well, Tsukino-san, at least you weren't late. Half of you is on
time!" said the teacher, Urashima-sensei, and the class erupted into giggles.
	Blushing, Usagi set the pail aside and stood up, wringing her
drenched clothes. Looking up, she saw the janitor returning from his break,
who started to run towards her, yelling.
	With a shout, she entered the classroom completely and shut the door.
Now everyone was laughing, including the teacher. Usagi grumbled to herself
as she walked to her desk, passing Minako who was on the floor with giggles.
She paused and looked down at her, placing her hands on her hips.
"Minako-chan!" she warned, her face getting red.
	Minako looked up at her and made a sincere attempt to stop laughing,
"Ah, gomen Usagi-chan!" she gasped, but when on of Usagi's wet pony tails
flopped in front of her face, she couldn't help herself.
	"Alright now, minna-san, settle down, settle down! It's time to
start class," said the teacher in a loud voice. The class quieted, and
Minako got up and brushed herself off.
	Usagi's eyes swept past her to Yaten's vacant seat, and her eyes
slid to where Seiya had also once sat.
	'Seiya.'
	With a sigh, she sat at her desk and folded her arms in front of
her, laying her head down on them. She peered up at the teacher over the fold
of her long sleeves, but didn't hear a word he said as he began to lesson.
	'I keep feeling as if any moment he is going to tap me on the
shoulder and whisper some joke about the janitor. But he won't. Not ever
again.' Her eyes fell from the front of the class to her desk. Immediately
her gaze focused on a small carving that she had made into the desk. Smiling
sadly, she reached out and traced the outline of a cartoonish face with it's
exaggerated expression representing Mamoru, her finger resting on the tip of
his chin.
	'Oh Seiya. We never did get a chance to get to know each other as
well as we would have liked, the way we promised we would. She traced one of
the hearts by his face. Even if you did tease me a lot, you never judged me
or tried to change me. I had never felt so open around anyone. She folded
her arms again and pressed her face into them. I wish Mamo-chan was here. I
think I'm still in shock over what has happened. I need someone to hold me
right now.'
 	Her eyes wandered to outside the window, where everything sparkled
with the drops from the rain last night. The sky was a dazzling blue and the
trees a vibrant green, and she wished she didn't have to be in school today.
'Maybe I can say I'm sick...'



*     *     *     *     *



	Minako looked over and saw Usagi with her head down. 'Oh, Usagi-chan,
I hope you are alright. You'll get used to this soon.' She bit the fingernail
on her thumb hard, wishing that Usagi would just look up, or move, or
*something*, but she remained dormant throughout the class.
	Looking back, she caught Makoto also watching Usagi with a worried
expression. Their eyes met and Minako could see that Makoto was also
concerned.
	Glancing up at the teacher, she pulled out a piece of paper and began
to write Makoto a note.




Mako-chan,

	I'm worried about Usagi-chan. We have to try extra-hard now to make
her laugh and be her normal cheerful self. Let's be careful to not leave her
alone for too long so she can think about what has already passed. Let's
make her excited about the future instead!

							      Minako





	Folding the note and checking to make sure the teacher wasn't
looking, she nudged the kid behind her and whispered for him to pass it back.
	After a few minutes, she received a poke in the back and turned
around to take the returning note.




Minako-chan

	I'm worried too, but maybe we should give  her a few days to work it
out. Of course, we're all going to be nicer, I even asked Rei-chan to make
an effort not to tease her, but no promises in that department. Let's walk
home with her after school.

								 Makoto





	Minako looked back and gave her a solemn wink to show that she
agreed, and doodled on the edges of the note. She'd pass it on to the others
later.



*     *     *     *     *



	"It was so romantic," Minako squealed, clasping her hands to her
face and blushing. "Ninigi-kun actually walked up to me and said 'Hi,
Minako-chan.' And then he *smiled* at me!!"
	Makoto rolled her eyes. "We know, Minako-chan! You have talked about
nothing else since we got here!"
	Minako, obviously ignoring Makoto's comment, folded her arms over her
chest and proclaimed, "I know I saw the beginnings of love in that grin! I
knew that the great and beautiful Minako-chan's irresistible charms would win
him over some day!" She beamed across the table and caught Rei's glance. She
looked over at Usagi, who sat quietly with her drink.
	Turning her bright smile to Usagi, Minako asked, "So Usagi-chan, how
was your day?"
	Usagi seemed not to hear her and continued to stir her beverage with
her straw, staring at it.
	"Usagi-chan?" asked Minako, leaning over the table and waving one
hand in front of her face.
	Usagi's head jerked up. "Oh, hi Minako-chan! I was just thinking."
She looked around. "Where's Mamo-chan?"
	Ami peeked at her over the top of her book. "He's not here yet. I'll
bet he's on his way, he'll be here soon."
	"Oh. Okay." Usagi sipped her drink and stared off into space.
	"Usagi-chan?" asked Luna, but there was no response.
	Giving Usagi a strange look, Minako turned back to the others.
"Ami-chan? Do you still have your nose stuck in a book? How could you be
reading at a time like this?"
	Ami set her book down. "A time like what, Minako-chan." It was not a
question. "It's over. There's nothing else to do anymore but devote myself
to my studies. There's no need to train anymore, no enemies to fight."
	Usagi looked up at Ami. Everyone was silent, and Minako's face fell.
	"I disagree," said Makoto quietly. "I don't think we should ever
stop training. We must not forget our duties as soldiers. I know that the
battles can't be over forever, because Wise Man still attacks Crystal Tokyo,
remember?"
	"You're right," said Rei, her face brightening. "We can't just forget
about preparing for the future. But I think that maybe this is the time when
we can truly begin to pursue our dreams." She turned to Minako. "Do you still
 have that letter from the idol tryouts that you participated in?"
	"Yeah, Minako-chan, maybe now you can take them up on that offer, and
have your songs produced!" said Artemis.
	Minako's eyes lit up. "I had forgotten about that!" She picked up her
cat and hugged him. "Oh Artemis, we'll be famous!" She laughed, raising one
hand in the air. "The Fabulous Minako-chan and her Amazing Kitty!!!" she
cried.
	Everyone laughed, and even Usagi smiled at her enthusiasm.
	"Yes, and I can really work hard at my school work to become a
doctor, so someday I can help people, just like my mother," said Ami.
	"And I can practice cooking," said Makoto.
	"Oh good! That means we all get to eat lots of snacks!" said Usagi
happily.
	Surprised to see Usagi talking, they all looked at her.
	Ducking back, a small sweat drop slid down her head. "Nani? What did
I say?"
	Ami giggled and soon they all joined her, laughing more out of relief
than anything else.
	At that moment, the door opened and Mamoru walked in. "Usako?"
	Usagi's head shot up. "Mamo-chan!" she cried, jumping to her feet and
running to him.
	He laughed and caught her, holding her closely. "Gomen, I didn't mean
to be late, but there was a lot of explaining to do with my landlord and the
traffic was bad."
	"Oh that's okay, Mamo-chan, as long as you're here!" she sighed
happily. Taking him by the arm, she dragged him over to the table and pulled
him to sit next to her.
	Rei smiled at the image of them sitting there together, Usagi
giggling happily and burying her face in Mamoru's jacket. "It's so good to
have you back with us, Mamoru-san. We all missed you."
	Mamoru looked up at her, a content look on his face. "It's wonderful
to be home." Kissing the top of Usagi's head lightly, he said, "Oh, I almost
forgot. Here, Usako." He gently removed his arm from her grasp and reached
into his pocket, pulling out a small parcel wrapped in pink tissue paper. He
held it out, and she carefully took the offering.
	"Oooh, a present!" Her eyes glittered eagerly as she quickly untied
the bow and began removing the thin layers. "I wonder what it is!" As she
took of the last layer, her hands paused in the air. Her lips parted and her
eyes grew wide, reflecting the sparkle of the golden object in her hands.
	"Oh Mamo-chan...I...how..." Cautiously, she picked up the locket in
the form of a star and held it up to the light. Reaching out to touch the
small switch, the top flew open and began playing a light, tinkling tune.
"How did you find it? I thought the Star Locket was destroyed in the battle
with Beryl, years ago!"
	"Amazing, isn't it?" he said, taking it from her hands and placing
the thin chain over her head. "Of course, it's not the original, but it is a
replica that I had specially made. It is exactly the same in every way."
	Makoto reached across the counter and picket it up off Usagi's
chest. "Amazing! It's just like the last one! I wouldn't be able to tell the
difference by just looking at it!"
	Usagi's smile wavered for a moment before she took the locket back
from Makoto. 'Of course it's not the original locket, baka! You know that
was destroyed. Don't feel so down, this is just as good.'
	She watched the locket as the small table inside turned, going
through the phases of the moon as the delicate, tinny song played. Her heart
softened and she regretted thinking any less of it because it was new.
	"I had the work on the locket started months before I left for
America, and planned to have it delivered while I was gone to help lessen
the loneliness." Regret flashed across his features. "It's a symbol of our
love, a symbol of when we were in love during our past lives, made anew to
stand for the rebirth of our love in this life."
	Usagi's eyes trembled with tears and she pressed her hands to her
breast. "Oh, Mamo-chan, that's beautiful...so beautiful..." And promptly
began to wail, streams of tears flying from her eyes.
	Rei, sitting next to her, raised her arms to shield herself from the
wetness that was flying everywhere. "Usagi! Jeeze! You don't have to drown
us!"
	Abruptly Usagi stopped crying and glared at Rei. "At least I have
someone to tell me beautiful things! Not like you, Rei-chan, who doesn't
even have a boyfriend!" she crowed.
	"Why you little..." said Rei, jumping up.
	"Yeeek!" said Usagi, ducking as Rei swiped for her.
	"Rei-chan!" exclaimed Ami, grabbing her arm, "Settle down!"
	Rei turned to her angrily, about to yell, but instead, the tension
in her shoulders slipped, and she sat down again. "Gomen, Ami-chan, Usagi,
minna."
	Usagi paused in mid stride. "?" She looked confused. "Rei-chan?"
	Rei forced a smile. "Hai, Usagi?"
	Usagi frowned, but sat down again next to Mamoru. 'Hmm. Rei sure is
acting weird, she didn't even chase me around.'
	"So," said Mamoru, breaking the quiet, "Usako, minna, I think you
can start filling me in on what I missed. Were the senshi able to struggle
through without the aide of Tuxedo Kamen?"
	"Oh yeah, we were fine! Actually, since Usagi didn't have you there
to get her out of trouble, the job fell to a few others. But we somehow
managed," said Makoto.
	Mamoru rested his elbows on the table. "Oh? Tell me everything that
I missed." He looked over to Usagi.
	"Oh Mamo-chan, I don't know how to start!" she exclaimed.
	"Hmm, well, I guess it all started when we had three *totally*
kawaii transfer students! I, Minako, dated all three!" Mamoru looked at her
and raised an eyebrow.
	"Minako-chan!" everyone exclaimed. "Don't exaggerate! You never
actually dated any of them!" huffed Rei.
	"You just tricked the Lights into getting pictures taken with them
and then made up stories for the papers!" said Ami.
	Minako slouched over. "Oh come on, you guys! I was close!"
	Mamoru laughed. "Who were these three?"
	Minako reached under the table and pulled out a magazine from
seemingly nowhere. "They're on the cover here, see? They are three
marvelously cute boys who formed their own band and sang these beautiful
songs and became super-popular!"
	"But we found out later that they were actually only disguised as
men, and are actually sailor senshi from another galaxy, looking for their
princess," said Rei.
	"Disguised as men?" asked Mamoru, confused.
	The girls looked at each other and giggled nervously, teardrops
forming all around.
	"Yeah, well...don't hold it against them!" said Makoto.
	Everyone nodded solemnly. "We did not treat them differently after
we found out!" exclaimed Rei.
	"Of course, Haruka and Michiru were suspicious of them, and we
weren't allowed to see them," said Ami, looking at Usagi. "Usagi-chan,
though, became good friends with one of them, and through that friendship,
we were able to come together and heal Galaxia."
	"These three," he said, pointing at a picture of the Lights, "were
those senshi that were fighting with Usagi against Galaxia?" He sounded
surprised. "What a strange disguise." Mamoru set down the magazine and
turned back to Usagi. "They are the ones you said goodbye to then, after the
battle. I knew they had helped fight, and was therefore grateful to them for
helping to protect you. I couldn't really see, but more sense the battle
while it happened, and I know how they sacrificed themselves for you."
	Usagi lowered her eyes and nodded. "There was a time when the others
weren't sure about who's side they were on, but I knew all along that Seiya
would never hurt me." When she looked up, there was a pleading look in her
eyes. "You have to try and understand, Mamo-chan! You were gone for so long,
and I was so lonely! I didn't know what to do!" A few tears escaped her eyes,
and quickly Mamoru wrapped her in a hug.
	"Usako, it's alright, I'm here now and will never leave you again,"
he murmured, rocking her lightly back and forth. He met eyes with Rei over
her head. Her lips were pressed together, like she wanted to say something
but didn't know how. He nodded that he wanted to speak with her later.
	Usagi sighed and let his embrace calm her. Her hands clasped the
locket around her neck and she felt its smooth shape against her palm. "I
want to go home," she said. "I still feel worn out." Pulling away, she asked,
"Mamo-chan, will you walk me home?"
	Brushing her bangs away from her face, he said, "Of course, Usako,
of course."



*     *     *     *     *



	They didn't speak much on the walk home, and after a long goodnight
kiss, Usagi quickly ate dinner and ran upstairs to her room to lie down. It
hadn't been a lie, she was tired, but she also wanted to be alone. She knew
everyone was trying hard to be cheerful around her, but for some reason, that
only made her feel worse. Her head lying on the pillow, she glanced over and
saw her headphones. She knew what CD was in the player. She reached for it,
and stopped, her hand dropping back onto the sheets, and she rolled over to
face the other side of the room.
	Luna slid into her bedroom, and jumped up on the bed next to her.
Looking her over once, she sighed and lay next to her. Usagi felt her furry
warmth, and the exhaustion began to sink in. She was almost asleep...
	BRIIING!
	Usagi jumped up with a yell. Springing over to her night table, she
picked up the phone. "Moshi moshi?"
	"I am sorry to disturb you, Princess," came Setsuna's voice, "but we
must meet tomorrow, after you are released from school. I am calling everyone
to organize a gathering at the tea shop where Michiru and Haruka often go.
Do you know where I am talking about?"
	"Hai. I've been there once or twice," said Usagi.
	"Good. Then we will see you there." There was a pause and a low
chuckle. "Providing of course, that you do not get a detention." Usagi
looked at the phone, surprised that Setsuna would say something like that.
	"No, I'll try to be on time tomorrow. Arigato for calling me. Konban,
Setsuna-san."
	She set the phone down in its cradle. 'I suppose we do need to have a
meeting, to discuss what happens now.' She lay back on the bed and stared up
at her ceiling. 'Setsuna has acted strangely throughout this whole ordeal. I
wonder if she knew about Galaxia...she must have. She's the guardian of time.
Then I guess she knew about Haruka-san and Michiru-san's plan the whole time
too.'
	Usagi blew air out of her mouth at her bangs as she reached up to
undo the small balls of  hair on top of her head. 'What a tough job. No
wonder she's so serious all the time.'  She frowned a little as her fingers
hit a small knot in her hair. 'Then she must have known about the Starlights
the whole time too...but why did she try to keep me away from them? She must
have known that we were fighting for the same thing!'  Usagi quickly pulled
a brush through her hair and tied it back.
	Shrugging out of her uniform, she slipped the thin cotton nightgown
over her head. "Oh well," she said out loud. Returning to her bed, she said,
"Goodnight Luna, I'm turning in early tonight. Wake me up *on-time* tomorrow,
okay? I can't be late."
	"Alright, Usagi-chan, I will. Sleep well."


*     *     *     *     *






	Well, did you enjoy the first chapter?  If you did, please please
PLEASE e-mail us, because we are right now making this into a radio play!
Depending on when you read this story, you may either try out for a part or
see how progress is coming. The web site should be up very soon, and I really
look forward to making this production. This story has been the brain-child
of two, extremely talented and beautiful authors, Hoshi and Sora, at:
kaelali_su@hotmail.com and you may e-mail either of us at any time, we would
really love some feedback!