Note to the reader: I rate this story PG-13. There's some incidental nudity and some curse words. It's not like I made it hentai or anything (although that might be an idea for my next story [if I ever write another] ). This story may be confusing to those of you who have become accustomed to writing, reading, and seeing Seiya as a "he". In this story Seiya remains female 90% of the time. If you have any fanmail or flames, send them on through. I love getting any e-mail. It's like my birthday or something. 8) (my e-mail: cheesier@hotmail.com ) I'm not a very good author, so take that into consideration. But I did have a lot of fun writing this. Inspiration tends to hit me after I haven't slept for 3 days. Enjoie, mes cheries. Chapter Two - Friendships Remembered Usagi's eyes fluttered open, focusing on her alarm clock. "8 o'clock? Already? But I feel like I just fell asleep... right after Mamoru and I..." A blush crossed her cheeks as she looked up at Mamoru's angelic face while he slept. 'It sure was fun though,' she thoght to herself, smirking. She threw her legs silently over the side of the bed and stood up. Stretching, the sheets that had been draped over her slender body just seconds ago, fell to the floor. She quickly glanced over at Mamo and noticed he wasn't covered by anything but a thin glow of persperation that remained after their lovemaking last night. Usagi smiled to herself and lay the sheets over him quietly. She was still reluctant to place them over that body, it's lean muscularness was such a glorious sight. She opened the closet doors and flicked through hangers of clothes. Unbeleivabely enough, she'd picked up her grades enough to get into Harvard so she could join Mamo. There she'd discovered that she really was intrigued by politics. Rei had lectured her that it was probably a good idea since she'd be ruling the world given a few centuries. Last year, Mamo and herself, had transferred back to universities in Japan. Both were homesick for their beloved Tokyo and the friends that remained there. So, as she tried to pick out an outfit, something stopped her. "Why do I get the feeling I should wear something special today?" Usagi sighed and shruged it off as she picked out a nude coloured dress and white stockings. The top dresser drawer creaked as she opened it to get her underwear. She span to look at Mamoru, but he just groaned and rolled over. "Lucky guy, I'm stuck with an early class this morning and he gets to sleep in." She pulled the dress over her head, and tugged the underwear up her legs and over her hips. As she sat on the edge of the bed and started to push her toes into her nylons the photos on her bedside table caught her eye. Her eyes grazed over all the familiar faces as she smiled. There was a photo of her parents and Shingo. Shingo had entered high school just this year and he looked very handsome in that uniform. The next photo was that of Umino and Naru on their wedding day. Umino had gotten a job with Microsoft in America, and Usagi had missed them both since she'd left Harvard to return to Japan. Slowly, pausing at her knees, she pulled up her right stocking as she smiled at the next few pictures. Her lifelong friends, the senshi. There was a photo of Makoto and Motoki kissing, which was the picture that Minako had used for blackmail 2 years ago, and a photo Rei and Ami walking arm in arm past Tokyo Tower. Then there was a picture of Minako, Chibiusa, and herself holding each of their respective cats. Next was a picture of Hotaru sleeping peacefully in Setsuna's arms who was also taking a little nap. Apparently they'd stayed up late in another millenia helping Neo-Queen Serenity the 4th through labour. And how could she forget the last picture, Haruka and Michiru the lovebirds. With their adopted Vietnamese daughter of course. Just after they'd been revived from the deaths bestowed upon them by Galaxia, they'd gone public with their relationship. 'As if we didn't already know,' Usagi had laughed as she received glares from everyone else present. Soon after, they'd recieved confirmation of their application to adopt Sou Lim, their little girl. Her eyes rested on the final photo saddly. Three idol singers, including a man she could have fallen in love with. She finished pulling up the stockings, her eyes not leaving the photo. She glanced away and darted her eyes around the room looking for her sneakers. When she spotted them and slipped her feet into them she walked back to the picture of Seiya, Yaten and Taiki. Her eyes grew wide when she noticed the photo had changed. "Oh my God," she whispered. In the photo, Seiya had fainted and Taiki and Yaten were each holding one of his arms, trying to keep him sitting up. Her eyes followed a glimmering light down Seiya's right arm. "What's that," she wondered quietly as she narrowed her eyes and brought the photo closer to her face. Her head started to spin. 'What is Seiya doing with my transformation locket,' she pondered dizzily. Just as she'd regained her balance, she felt something wet drip through her sneaker. She looked down, then back at the photo. Her eyes glazed over as she kept glancing back and forth at the dark red liquid. Usagi's knees buckled under her when she realised that it was blood and not even her own, but it was coming from Seiya... in the photograph. She threw the photo frame against the wall, and hearing the glass shatter behind her she grabbed her purse and ran out of the apartment. Mamoru sighed heavily and turned over in the bed, not waking up. * * * * * Rei stood up from trying to read the fire and wandered back to Usagi, who was sitting under a cherry blossom tree at this point. "What did you get?" Usagi sighed. "Nothing," her best friend responded quietly. "Nothing?" "Nothing," Rei repeated. Usagi broke into sobs, "Oh God, what the hell is happening to me? I probably imagined it all. I'm going crazy, that's gotta be it." Rei comforted her silently by wrapping her arms around Usagi's shoulders and rocking her. Usagi continued to sob, "He can't be dead, he can't be." Rei put her right pointer finger to Usagi's cheek and turned her head to face her own. "Usagi-chan. No one said he was dead. He might not have been dead in the photo, just slightly injured. Besides," Rei motioned down at Usagi's dress, "You might have been dreaming. Your dress is so wrinkled it looks like you slept in it last night." Usagi laughed and wiped at her tears, "Trust me, I wasn't wearing it. In fact, I wasn't wearing anything." Rei rolled her eyes and looked away, "Jesus! You two are like Engergizer bunnies! You keep going, and going and going..." Usagi punched her teasing friend in the arm and broke up laughing, "Shut up you! At least Mamo and I break for air! I'm surprised you and Yuuichiru haven't died from oxygen deprivation yet!" The two hugged each other tightly and continued to laugh insanely. * * * * * Yaten shreiked at the top of her lungs and motioned Seiya and Taiki over to her spot. "What is it Yaten?! Did you find Usagi?!", Taiki responded as she jerked to a stop at Yaten's side. Seiya stopped right after Taiki and then paused as she tried to stop a chuckle. The attempt was in vain though, for about 3 seconds later she erupted into laughter. Taiki just blinked, obviously confused about the whole situation. "Only Yaten would stop at Frederik's of Hollywood to drool over a tight, leather bondage costume," Seiya tried to explain through tears of laughter. Taiki smirked and bit her lip. "Not that dumbass," Yaten yelled as she smacked Seiya upside the head, "Look who's trying on the same outfit inside!!!!" Both Seiya and Taiki followed Yaten's gaze. Their jaws dropped suddenly as they watched Ami twirl around, mock whipping a guy about the same height as her, with large brown eyes. Taiki started to drool and then furrowed her brow in dissappointment as she saw Ami flirting with the much shorter young man. Seiya bit her lip as her laughter started to return. Taiki folded her arms across her chest, and stormed through the automatic doors that had opened while the three were standing outside of them. She stalked up behind Ami who was still fooling around with the other young man. "Excuse me, miss, can I help you," she asked tartly. "No, Urawa's all mine," Ami smiled before she turned around. Slowly she turned to the woman behind her and eyed greedily the woman's voluptuous body, "But, if you'll bend over I can certainly help YOU," and she snapped the whip on the ground. Ami's eyes grazed the curvy body and then met the angry purple eyes that held hers. She blinked, noticing how familiar the face was, then in recognition that she knew this woman, she screamed and bolted back to the dressing room, grabbing Urawa by the collar and dragging him in there with her. Grasping for breath she gripped the plush chair beside her with one hand and shoved Urawa's head out of the curtain with the other. Hoarsely she whispered, "Oh God, Taiki.... Is he still there...?" "Yes, SHE is still there..." Urawa managed to choke out. Watching the whole situation, Seiya had managed to stifle her laughter while Taiki stomped outside and Yaten flicked through the racks. She sit in a refurnished chair and crossed her legs. 'Usagi...' she thought to herself, wondering where she might be. Closing her eyes for just a moment, she began to doze off to sleep. ***** Seiya stood in a fighting stance in front of the shadowy figure. "Why would you do that to someone you supposedly love?", Seiya yelled at the man who was a bit taller than himself. The figure turned his back to Seiya, "That's something you'll find out soon enough." Seiya went to take a swing at the caped monster when something stopped him short. He fell to his knees, his clenched fists hitting the cement. Cough after cough racked his body. When they finally ceased he opened his eyes, only to see a pool of blood surrounding his knees. Slowly, Seiya brought a hand to his mouth a wiped at a trickle of blood. Everything went black and he collapsed into his own blood. ***** "She's awake," Mamoru whispered to Usagi as he looked over at the hospital bed to see the black haired beauty flicker her dull blue eyes open. Usagi ran to the bedside and grabbed girl's hand, "Seiya... are you alright...?" "Uzzagi..." Seiya slurred, "Wheream I..?" "You fainted at Frederik's. I was supposed to meet Mamoru there, and when I arrived, Mamoru was performing CPR on you and the ambulance was just driving up." Seiya sat up quickly and then painfully slid back. She turned her head to the side only to see Mamoru looking half-heartedly concerned. Seiya swallowed hard, with the pain in her entire body holding her back from killing him right then and there. Usagi ran up to Mamoru's side and linked arms with him, "We've missed you so much! Haven't we Mamo-chan?" Mamoru smiled wickedly, "Yes... yes we have, Usagi. Welcome back to Earth Seiya. Bienvenue." Seiya reached for the glass of water next to her bed and went to take a sip, her hands visibly trembling. She held the glass tighter in her hand and closed her eyes. Hesitantly she turned towards Mamoru and Usagi and opened her eyes, watching them hold each other. She raised her arm ignoring the pain running through it and threw the glass directly towards Mamoru, "Get the hell out of here you bastard!!!!" The glass passed over Mamoru's shoulder and struck the wall, glass shards flying everywhere. Usagi stared at Seiya in shock and pulled on Mamoru's hand, "Let's go. I think she needs sometime alone." Then she ran out of the room leaving Mamoru behind. Mamoru winked at Seiya, "Sweet dreams." As he left the room chuckling, he tossed a red rose over onto Seiya's bedside table. Seiya hugged her knees to her chest and started to sob. She cried all night, more for the pain in her heart than the pain in the rest of her body. Seeing Usagi had never hurt so much, she'd never be the same. To be continued...