Feb 2002

 Disclaimer: I don't own the characters I'm just borrowing them.  This story,
 however, is mine.

Family Secrets
Chapter 2

	
	Usagi swung her bag back and forth as she walked away from Shingo's
 school.  Her brother was a problem.  He seemed like two different people. 
 The first was lost and didn't know who to turn to for help, and the second
 was someone who hated everyone and everything around him.  She shook her
 head to clear it.  Trying to clear her head she scanned the area around her.
  Her gaze fell on the entranceway to the park a few blocks away.  For some
 reason she seemed drawn to it, the area lending her a peaceful sense of
 self, of belonging.  

	Her gaze ahead of her, she didn't see the dark shape coming up
 quickly behind her.  She shrieked as something ran into her from behind,
 sending her sprawling across the sidewalk.  Her hands came out in front of
 her, her bag dropping, as she fought to break her fall.  There was a tearing
 noise as her skirt tore, and a burning sensation as her knees and palms were
 scoured of all skin.  She whimpered, her head down as she stared at the
 sidewalk.  She felt as if her hands were on fire, her knees burning.  The
 deep voice behind her started her.

	"Gomen, Gomen nasi, oh my god, are you alright miss?"

	She pushed herself off the sidewalk slowly, "I think so."

	Gentle hands grasped her right elbow and helped her to sit up.  She
 winced as the skin on her hands and knees pulled painfully.

	"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to run into you, are you sure you're
 alright?"

	She looked up into the most startling pair of ice blue eyes she'd
 ever seen.  She blinked before finding her voice, "Hai, I'm sure.  Nothing a
 few band-aids and some peroxide can't cure."

	He offered his hand, "I really am sorry.  How can I make it up to
 you?"

	She smiled, tossing her hair over her shoulder.  Somehow it had
 become tangled around her arms.  "I'm Tuskino Usagi," she took his hand as
 he pulled her to her feet.

	"Masato Kunzite.  Pleased to meet you, Usagi-chan."

	"Hai, as am I.  Though it would have been better under different
 circumstances."

	Kunzite chuckled, "Hai, I agree completely." He left her standing by
 herself as he went to retrieve her bag.  

	Usagi took the chance to check herself over.  Her knees were
 bloodied, her palms the same. Her skirt was torn.  Torn?!  Oh no!  She felt
 her cheeks heat as she tugged her skirt up and fought to hold it in place. 
 The seam next to the waistband had torn and her underwear was visible
 through the fabric.  She bunched it in her fist and held it in place, her
 cheeks flaming.

	Kunzite turned back to her and did a double take, "Is something the
 matter, Usagi-chan?"

	She shook her head, "I just need to get home." She took her bag and
 smiled at him, "Arigato, Kunzite.  Careful you don't run into any other
 pedestrians."

	He grinned and waved as she ran from him.  "Stupid," she chided
 herself.  Her hands hurt, her knees hurt and worst of all her pride hurt. 
 She'd been run over by a handsome man and all she could think about was how
 much she hurt.  Some teenager-

	"Aie!  Watch where you're going!"

	She skidded to a stop as she was about to slam into someone.  "Aie!"

	She fell backwards, landing with a painful thump on her tailbone. 
 Tears rose in her eyes as it smarted.  She dropped her head.  This was not
 her day.

	"Usagi-chan?"

	Her head flew up, "Mamoru-kun!"

	He crouched in front of her, "Odango atama, are you alright?"

	"O.. dango?"

	He smiled, gently nudging one of her buns, "Hai, odango."

	Tears spilled down her cheeks, "You're mean, Mamoru," she slipped
 into English as she tried to push herself to her feet, not noticing it in
 her distressed state, "You're cruel.  You don't know what kind of day I've
 had and to top it off you're calling me names!"

	He looked at her stunned.  She spoke fluent English, better than he
 did!  She looked like such a ditz, how was it she knew two languages almost
 flawlessly?  Admittedly her Japanese had a North American accent to it, but
 she could converse like a local.  "I'm sorry, Usagi." He replied in English.

	Her tirade stopped as she stared at him open mouthed, "Nani?  What? 
 You... you speak English?"

	He nodded, switching back to Japanese as she did the same, "Hai.  It
 is my second language.  I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, your hairstyle is
 just so different."

	She blushed, suddenly remembering her previous encounter and grabbed
 her skirt.  At this rate she'd be showing all of Tokyo her underpants!  She
 winced as he grasped her free hand to help her up.  He saw it and released
 his grip, turning her hand over, "Nani?  What's this?"

	She pulled her hand from his and pushed herself to her feet, grasping
 her bag, "I was knocked over by a man earlier.  I was heading home to clean
 up this mess."

	"Usagi-chan, you're bleeding pretty badly.  Your socks are tinted
 red."

	She glanced down.  He was right, her knees were bleeding steadily,
 the blood running down to her white socks and being absorbed by the fabric.
  "My mother will patch me up just fine, Mamoru-kun, it's not your fault."

	He looked her over from head to toe, "Come on, I'll patch you up.  We
 have a lake and I've got bandages in my bag."

	"Iie, no Mamoru-kun, it's not your fault.  I can get home, trust me."

	"Iie yourself, Usagi-chan." He scooped her up in his arms and carried
 her into the park.  She kicked her legs but he wrapped her securely in his
 arms, "Don't fight me, Usagi-chan, you'll make your blood flow faster and
 you'll be no use to anyone.  Hold still."

	She crossed her arms over her chest, keeping her skirt secure as she
 calmed down.  "Why are you helping me, Mamoru-kun?"

	He met her gaze, his dark irises meeting hers squarely; "I want to be
 a doctor, that will be my job one day.  I'm getting a head start."

	"But..."

	He sighed, "Let me help, Usagi-chan, and I promise not to call you
 odango atama around Motoki-kun."

	She shut up.  The last thing she wanted to hear was Mamoru calling
 her that awful nick name around her friends.  He carried her through the
 gardens, slowing as they approached the waterfall, his gaze drawn to the
 cascading water, "Remarkable," he murmured softly.

	She followed his gaze.  So the bottled up man could appreciate
 beauty.  That was something of a reassurance.  He seemed to have to force
 himself away from the sight to place her on the bank of the lake.  She was
 hit by a sudden flash of deja-vu.  Of sitting on the bank of a lake, not
 unlike this one, the reeds off to the side...

	"Ducks."*

	Mamoru looked up from where he was gathering water in a bottle at the
 edge of the lake, "Pardon me?"

	Usagi looked around, "There are supposed to be ducks around here,
 aren't there?"

	He looked around briefly before going back to his job, "Ducks are
 very common here, but they don't like me too much.  They tend to stay away."

	Usagi stretched her legs out in front of her, carefully arranging her
 torn skirt before resting her hands, palms up, in her lap, "Any idea why
 they don't like you, Mamoru-kun?"

	He shook his head as he walked back to her, "Iie, no.  They've never
 liked me.  Most animals don't."

	She watched him as he carefully washed her injured knees and applied
 some kind of medication from his backpack, "Do you have lots of injuries,
 Mamoru-kun?"

	He glanced up at her, "Iie, no, why do you ask?"

	She shrugged, wincing as the medication stung her raw flesh, "Well, I
 just find it a little strange that you carry medication for cuts, along with
 bandages, in your bag, that's all."

	"They were part of my course today, Usagi-chan." He was gentle as he
 applied a bandage.

	She blinked at him, "Oh, your doctor studies." Her head began to
 spin, "I feel like I've been here before," she murmured softly.

	"You too?"

	She glanced at his serious profile as he was gently cleaning her
 hands, "I can't explain it though.  Has something to do with ducks."

	She thought she saw him smiled briefly, "It all comes back to the
 ducks.  You are certainly different, Usagi-chan."

	She flexed her knees and sat cross-legged as he finished tying off
 one of the two bandages on her hands. "Actually I'm quite normal,
 Mamoru-kun, or at least, I think I am."  Her bandaged hand drifted up, her
 fingers gently caressing her lips, "Why do I feel so strange?"

	Mamoru looked up at her.  Her eyes were glazed, as if she was seeing
 something other than the lake in front of them, her posture rigid.  Her brow
 was puckered as if she was trying to remember something but couldn't quite
 grasp what.  Her hair was pooled on either sides of her like molten
 sunshine, healthy and shining, the gentle breeze pulling the light strands.
  His gaze fastened on her other hand, watching in complete and utter
 fascination as she slid the tips of her fingers across her slightly parted
 lips.  Something inside him, some whisper soft voice, urged him to take the
 unconscious invite, to lean in and kiss those soft-

	He shook his head to clear it.  What was he thinking?  He didn't even
 know this girl!  And girl she was.  She couldn't have been more than 14 or
 15.  He bent his head to continue bandaging her hand.  He heard her sudden
 intake of breath and felt her collapse.  Her posture slackened and her head
 bowed.  Unwilling to ask what was wrong he finished tying off the last
 bandage.  "There, you'll live, Usagi-chan."

	Her gaze met his and he was startled to see tears shining in her
 eyes, "Arigato, Mamoru-kun."

	He nodded and pushed himself to his feet, closing his bag before
 brushing at the seat of his pants to get rid of the clinging grass. 
 "Anytime, Usagi-chan.  Be careful, alright?"

	She nodded, blinking rapidly.  He nodded to her, smiled a half smile
 that didn't quite reach his eyes and walked away from her.  Usagi watched
 him leave.  "What's wrong with me?" she whispered to the wind, her gaze on
 the place where Mamoru had disappeared.  There was no answer, only the soft
 sound of the water falling into the basin of the lake, and the whisper of
 the wind wiping away long forgotten secrets.

	*				*				*

	"Usagi-chan?"

	"Hai, Naru-chan.  Gomen, sorry I didn't call earlier, I had the worst
 afternoon!"

	"Nani?"

	Usagi flopped down onto her bed, the portable phone tucked next to
 her ear, "I was walking home from helping Shingo with his Japanese when I
 got run over by this man.  You wouldn't believe it, but he's gorgeous in a
 very supermodel kind of way.  Ice blue eyes, white hair," she sighed and
 then giggled, "I've never been run over by a hunk before."

	Naru laughed on the other end, "Did you at least get his name?"

	"Hai.  Kunzite.  He looked like he was running from something but I
 didn't ask.  I met Motoki's friend, Mamoru on my way home too.  He took me
 to sit by the lake so he could bandage my knees."

	"Nani?  Your knees?"

	"Hai, when Kunzite knocked my over I managed to skin my knees and my
 hands.  Mamoru-kun was nice enough to help me.  He's strange, that one. 
 Mysterious.  So, what did you and Motoki talk about after I left?"

	Naru giggled, "You.  You're turning into someone who has too many
 things to do and not enough time, Usagi-chan."

	"Don't I know it!  Tomorrow is Friday thankfully.  I only have my job
 on the weekends."

	Naru grinned, the smile showing in her voice, "Oh, did you hear about
 the kid who's transferring to our school?  The teacher wouldn't say if
 they're a boy or a girl but apparently they're into fights.  Just what we
 need, hey?"

	Usagi rolled her eyes, "Oh yes, just what we need.  I was talking to
 Umino and he said there are four new girls coming to our school.  Is that
 true?"

	Naru giggled, "I don't know, but you talked to him after school and I
 didn't get the chance.  You know Umino, he's got all the latest gossip."

	Usagi joined her friend's laughter, "No kidding.  He's worse than
 some of the girls at the school, but he's alright I suppose."

	"What time are we walking to school in the morning, Usagi-chan?"

	"Call at 7 so I'm up in time, alright?"

	"Hai, see you in the morning!"

	Usagi hung the phone up and tossed it on her pillow.  She stared at
 the ceiling, "What happened at the lake today?" she asked softly.  She
 rolled over and looked out the window.  There was a large tree outside and
 the sun was just starting to set.  She pushed herself off the bed and
 quickly changed out of her torn skirt.  

	Her mother hadn't been too impressed with the tear or her injuries
 but once she'd been told the whole story she's relented and agreed to fix
 it.  Thankfully.  Usagi pulled on a pair of jeans and changed into a white
 t-shirt before grabbing her jacket and slipping into it.  She scooped the
 skirt from the floor, the phone from her pillow and then bounced out of her
 room.  She skidded to a stop at the base of the stairs, "Iko Mamma?"

	Her mother's voice floated out from the living room, "In here,
 Serenity darling."

	Usagi rolled her eyes, walking towards the living room, "I told you
 already, Mom, call me Usagi."

	Her parents were seated on the couch; her mother sewing while her
 father was watching TV.  "Here's my skirt.  I'm going out for a bit, I'll be
 home later, alright?"

	"Sure, dear.  Your skirt will be ready for you in the morning.  Be
 safe, ok?"

	"Of course mom.  Thanks."

	Her parents waved her away as she slipped into her shoes and out the
 door.  She took a deep breath and spread her arms wide.  Tokyo was such an
 incredible city, but that wasn't the reason for her walk tonight.  The
 incident by the lake, the sensations and the feeling that she was missing
 something important, wouldn't leave her alone.  She stuffed her hands into
 her coat pockets and, eyes ahead of her, began walking.  

	The sounds of the city washed over her, yet she heard none of it. Her
 thoughts were inwards, her motions mechanical, as she walked through crowds.
  She moved as if in a dream, her feet leading the way.  She walked for
 hours, the sun having set behind her as she crossed the city, her feet
 refusing to stop.  She walked into the hills, the urban area dropping off
 drastically as she entered the countryside.  Unable, or unwilling, to stop,
 her feet continued to walk.  The sound of a voice, so familiar, and yet so
 strange, beckoned her, called her onwards.  She felt compelled to continue.

	Night deepened but she felt no fatigue as the moon came up, brilliant
 against the midnight sky, casting its soft illumination over the
 countryside.  "Serenity..."

	"I hear you." She called, the whisper sliding softly over her skin,
 "I hear you, where are you?  Who are you?"

	"Serenity... I'm waiting for you... find me..."

	She looked around her, shaking her head to shake off the voice, "Who
 are you?" she cried, her head thrown back as she screamed at the sky in
 frustration, "Why are you doing this to me?"

	Her voice echoed around her, through the hills, as she collapsed to
 her knees, her head bowed.  "Why are you doing this to me?" she asked again,
 her voice soft.

	"Serenity..."

	Her head came up, her eyes swimming with tears as she fought the
 hopelessly lost feeling that enveloped her.  "Don't do this to me," she
 begged softly.

	The figures of a woman and a man were walking towards her, hazy
 through her tears, seeming illuminated by, to be living in, the silver
 moonbeams.  "Who are you?" she asked softly, "Why me?"

	"Serenity, darling..." the man's voice was soft, like the breeze, "I
 have to find you, Angel..."

	She felt a tear slip down her cheek, "You're torturing me, please,"
 she cried softly, "don't do this..."

	The woman smiled, extending her hand, "Follow your guardian, she will
 be with you shortly, and always follow your heart..." the woman seemed to
 dissolve into the light.  

	The man, his eyes boring into hers, extended his hand to her and
 then, slowly, pulled it back, "I will find you, Angel, I promise." She
 blinked as he, too, seemed to dissolve as the woman had.  In their place a
 small animal seemed to be walking towards her.  She blinked away her tears
 as a black feline with a crescent moon stopped in front of her, sitting on
 its haunches.  In its mouth was some kind of circular, gold pendant.

	She wiped her eyes with her coat sleeve and looked at the cat.  It
 opened its mouth, dropping the pendant to the ground and, slowly, began to
 speak.  Unable to move, Usagi could do nothing but listen.

	"Tuskino Usagi.  I have waited for this day for a long time.  Your
 mother put me in charge of your safety but I had to wait until you found
 your way here.  I am Luna, your guardian.  It is our job to find the
 warriors of the stars."

	Usagi blinked, "Pardon me?"

	Luna sighed, "I'm sorry, Usagi-chan, I know this is all very sudden,
 but there is something coming, something tied in close to you and the world
 will need a champion, its champions, very soon."

	"Luna, you said?"

	The cat nodded, "Yes, Usagi-chan."

	"Why me?"

	Luna bent her head and nudged the pendant towards Usagi, "Because you
 have royalty in you, Usagi-chan, and you are the only one who can use this
 transformation pendant."

	Crystal blue eyes dropped to the pendant.  "And if I refuse?"

	Luna looked up at the moon, "You will doom all of the earth to a fate
 worse than death."

	Usagi swallowed, "Again, why me?"

	Luna sighed, "Usagi-chan... You have been chosen to protect the
 world.  Your friends, your family, none of them can do this but you.  There
 are other warriors who can help you, but only if you find them.  Only you
 can control the powers of this locket and use them for the forces of good. 
 Only you, Usagi-chan, can reinforce that power, can control that power,
 though your force of will because of your heritage."

	"What heritage?  If I accept what you've told me, Luna, I will have
 to give my life to this, right?  I'm going to have to put my life on the
 line for peace, for the rest of my days."

	Luna nodded, "I know the choice is not easy, Usagi-chan, but it is
 one that is vital to the earth's survival.  Something is going to happen
 here in Tokyo and if you and the others are not prepared to fight it, the
 earth will suffer."

	Usagi hesitantly reached for the locket, her fingers pausing as the
 tips just barely touched the edge.  Energy seemed to flow through her body
 at the slight contact and she gently picked up the locket.  It hummed with
 some kind of internal power and she couldn't help but smile.  She was 14,
 but she was going to be a heroine, someone for people to look up to.  She
 met Luna's gaze, "What do I have to do?"

	Luna's smile almost took in her ears, "Moon Prism Power, is all you
 have to say."

	Usagi nodded, taking a deep breath, "Are you my guardian, Luna?"

	She nodded, "I am.  I will become a family pet and your advisor.  I
 will do everything I can to help you."

	Usagi swallowed hard and nodded, carefully examining the golden disk
 in her hand.  It had a crescent moon in the center, framed in four places by
 four stones.  Blue, Green, Orange and Red.  "You'd better be around to help
 me, Luna," she forced a smile, "you're getting me into this, you'd better be
 around to get me out.  Moon Prism Power!"

	Luna watched as the young woman was enveloped in light for a few
 moments before a sailor fuku appeared.  She nodded approvingly at the final
 pose.  "You are now, Sailor Moon."

	Sailor Moon extended her arms, looking at her gloved hands.  Her
 knees didn't hurt anymore, her hands felt fine.  She looked down and jumped.
  "High heels?  Mom would flip!"

	"Your mother will not know, Usagi-chan.  No one but I must know of
 this.  When we find the other guardians they will have to know, but none of
 your friends or your family must suspect who or what you are.  Your safety
 will depend on it."

	Sailor Moon made a face.  She did a run over of her body.  White body
 suit, small skirt, elbow gloves and red high heel boots.  Her hands ran
 over the golden tiara on her forehead and she looked down at Luna, "It will
 do.  So what kinds of powers do I have, anyway?"

	Luna smiled, "You do not mind having to become a heroine?"

	Sailor Moon sighed, "I mind.  It means I have to give up the already
 small amount of free time I have and probably stop doing a lot of the
 activities I like so much to do this, but if I don't, there won't be a world
 for me to do those activities in.  Tell me something, Luna.  One day, will I
 have the chance at a normal life like every other young woman?"

	Luna sighed, "I don't know, Usagi-chan.  I just don't know."

	Sailor Moon nodded, "I'll take it one day at a time then.  Come on
 Luna, I'd better learn how to use whatever powers I've got otherwise I'll be
 no use to anyone."

	Luna nodded, jumping from the ground to her shoulder, "First of all,
 let's get back to the city.  You have the ability to jump further, higher
 and faster than any human.  We'll practice this first, it should get us to
 your house in no time."

	Sailor Moon grinned and set up to jump, "This super hero thing is
 awesome!"

	Luna just shook her head as they left the ground and bounded back
 towards Tokyo.



 Author's Note:  The "*" next to Ducks has to do with the Story before this.
  It's a reference to "Secret Garden - part 8".  Questions, comments,
 anything you have to say, write me I love to hear from you!

Jademax@hotmail.com

Thanks for reading!
Jade_Max