Aug 2002 
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, I'm just borrowing them.  The story is mine, however.


Family Secrets
Chapter 6



	Usagi slid into her seat at school on Monday morning and pulled out her
 books.  She glanced at the time before turning around in her chain, "Naru-chan,
 can't you forgive me?"

	Naru looked at her, "You're not supposed to be speaking to me Usagi."

	Usagi flinched, "Gomen nasai, Naru-chan, but I can't let this go on any
 longer.  I need to know if you're going to hate me forever for a little mistake?"

	"You forgot about me, Usagi, completely.  No phone call, nothing.  That
 hurts, I thought we were friends."

	"I'm human, Naru-chan, I can't help it.  I'm going to make mistakes."

	Naru sighed, "Alright, Usagi-chan.  I forgive you, but if it happens
 again..."

	Usagi grinned, getting out of her seat to hug her friend, "If it happens
 again you should have me flogged."

	Naru giggled, "Arcade after school?"

	Usagi nodded, "I don't have practice, so sure!"

	Naru grinned, "Great!"

	The bell rang, silencing them as they slid into their seats.  Usagi smiled a
 wide smile.  Monsters were attacking her city, but she and her best friend were
 back on talking terms.  Nothing would keep her away from that arcade this
 afternoon.  Nothing at all.

		*			*			*

	Sailor Moon covered her mouth as the monster in front of her sprayed the
 area with some kind of gas.  Gritting her teeth she dove away from it.  She was
 late and this monster was not helping her mood.  To make things worse it had next
 to no solid form except when it attacked.  She spun to face it again as the
 gaseous mass moved towards her, "You will no escape from Sanketsu, Sailor Moon."

	"You won't defeat me so easily with your oxygen sucking attacks!" she told
 it angrily.  All around the schoolyard were the unconscious bodies of other
 students.  She pulled her tiara from her forehead, "Moon Tiara Action!"

	The glowing disk slammed into the mist, seemed to pause as it shrieked but
 then continued straight through.  The hovering mist let out a cackling laugh,
 "Your Frisbee won't work on me, Sailor Moon!"

	Catching her tiara again in her hand she held it, diving out of the way as
 the mist came towards her.  She couldn't defeat it with her tiara, what now?  

	She stumbled over the inert form of a student, sprawling on her backside as
 the mist came towards her.  A red rose slammed into the pavement, going right
 through it.  "You who suck the life from defenceless girls will pay for your
 actions." Intoned the deep voice of her masked rescuer.  She rolled away, feeling
 her headache come back with a vengeance as she moved away from the small student
 she'd fallen over.

	"Sailor Moon!" she turned, looking at Luna with surprise.

	"Look out!"

	She didn't look over her should but sprang from her crouched position
 towards her guardian, rolling quickly to her feet, the cat in her arms.  She
 turned, seeing the mist monster being held at bay by Tuxedo mask, the whirlwind
 created by his cane not allowing it to pass.  She advanced, crouching beside the
 girl again as Tuxedo Mask held the monster off.  She brushed blue hair from the
 girl's forehead, "What an unusual hair color," she murmured.  

	Luna gasped, seeing the girl's forehead begin glowing with a blue symbol. 
 "You've done it, Sailor Moon, you've found Sailor Mercury!"

	Sailor Moon smiled wryly.  The blasted headaches were not in evidence in the
 girl's presence; that was the only reason she'd come back.  "Press the button
 again, Sailor Moon, quickly."

	She made a face but did as she was told, blue light enveloping her as she
 reached out with one hand and placed it on the newfound senshi's shoulder.  Blue
 lightening traveled down her arm and into the girl, jolting her awake.  Luna
 licked her face as she blinked and then recoiled with a shriek.  The hair on her
 forehead framed the blue-lighted symbol as Luna dropped a strange looking pen on
 the ground.  "Sailor Mercury!"

	"What!" she shrieked, backing away from the talking cat.

	Sailor Moon groaned, "No time to explain, Blue.  Take the pen and do as she
 tells you, please!"

	The girl looked into the earnest face of the strangely clad sailor girl and
 hesitantly took the pen.

	Sailor Moon looked over her shoulder as Luna shouted words she paid no
 attention to at the new senshi.  She set her face and threw her tiara as the blue
 haired girl rolled out of the way.  Tuxedo mask scored a hit on the monster as it
 tried to turn solid and attack, but then turned mist again as Sailor Moon's tiara
 slammed into it.

	"Shabon Spray!"

	Sailor Moon froze as the area was suddenly covered in a thick mist.  She
 looked over her shoulder and did a double take.  Standing before her was the same
 girl, or so she assumed, dressed in an outfit similar in style to her own. 
 "Sailor Mercury?" she asked, absolutely sure whom she was addressing but feeling
 she should ask anyhow.

	The blue suited sailor senshi looked at her calmly, "Yes, Sailor Moon."

	Tuxedo Mask strode towards them, his cape flying out behind him as the mist
 monster began sucking in the atmosphere, and dissipating the mist.  He had one
 hand on his hat, "Now Sailor Moon!" he cried.

	Sailor Moon grabbed her tiara as it spun back towards her and then flung it
 with all her might at the monster. "Moon Tiara Action!" she cried again as it
 slammed into the mist vacuum, yellow light encompassing the solid form and, with
 a hideous shriek, a brilliant flare and a puff of smoke, disintegrated the
 monster into dust.

	The mist in the area dissipated, leaving the three figures standing around. 
 Tuxedo Mask tipped his hat and leapt away, quickly disappearing without a word.

	Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury stared at each other for a long moment.  Luna
 pulled herself off the ground at their feet and shook from nose to tail to
 dislodge the dust from her coat.  She sneezed before looking at each of the
 senshi, "Much as I think it would be a good idea to get you two acquainted, here
 is not the best place."

	Sailor Moon made a face.  "I hate to agree with Luna but she's right.  Meet
 me on the roof of the school."

	Sailor Mercury raised an eyebrow, "We're not allowed on the roof of the
 school, how do you propose we get there?"

	Sailor Moon cocked her head.  The other girl had a most interesting English
 accent.  "We jump.  Don't look at me like that, in these forms we can leap to the
 top of that building without a problem.  Luna tell her, I have to look around."

	Luna hopped to Sailor Mercury's shoulder and said something to her that made
 the senshi laugh.  She shook her head and then crouched and jumped.  Sailor Moon
 grinned at the girl's delighted exclamation.  Well, she'd have no trouble
 adapting.  She went to the pile of ash and sifted through it, glad that her
 uniform didn't seem to need washing or repair after a fight.  She pushed a pile
 out of the way, feeling a weird shape and blew softly, unveiling the top of a
 bottle.  She grabbed the neck and pulled, a shattered bottle coming out of the
 dust.  "Dammit!" 

	She dug in the dust, looking for any evidence of what had been in the
 bottle.  White powder coated her gloves in contrast with the dark ask and she
 pulled off her left glove, quickly scooping both ash and powder inside.  Holding
 it closed, she picked up the broken bottle stem and leapt towards the roof.

	"Find what you were looking for, Sailor Moon?"

	"No, the bottle was broken.  There was this powered white stuff mixed in
 with the monster's ashes so I collected some in my glove, not that it will help,
 since I have nothing to transfer it to."

	Sailor Mercury tapped her earring on her right earlobe, a blue visor sliding
 across her eyes as she extended her hand, "Here, let me see if I can make
 something of it."

	Sailor Moon handed over the glove and started to pace, looking down every
 now and again to see if the people who'd been rendered unconscious were starting
 to wake yet.

	"Ah ha!"

	She spun to look at the blue haired girl, "What?  What is it?"

	"Powdered filaments of people's lungs, but why would a monster want to do
 that?  What would something that sucks air need these for?"

	Sailor Moon shrugged, "I haven't a clue, they're as mysterious to me as the
 last few."

	"Last few?  You mean you've found more bottles with stuff in them?"

	Sailor Moon nodded, "Yeah.  You wait here, I'm going to go sneak into the
 lab downstairs and get a new vial.  Be back in a jiffy!"

	Sailor Mercury didn't even have time to voice a protest as the other girl
 disappeared.  Waiting patiently, she examined the follicles of the lungs, nodding
 her thanks to Luna when a little blue computer was nudged into her hands. 
 Without thinking, she opened it, keyed in the password and began examining them
 at a greater depth.

	Sailor Moon landed back on the roof, extending the bottle to Sailor Mercury,
 "Here, I found something, but that ash is going to make them hard to separate."

	Sailor Mercury shook her head, looking up, "Actually the ash should
 disappear within the day." she took the vial, quickly emptied the contents of the
 glove into it and put the stopper in.  "You said you've got more of these
 things?" 

	Sailor Moon nodded, "Tell you what, I have to go meet a friend but meet me
 by the park in about 3 hours and we can go back to my place and see what we can
 find, alright?"

	Luna made a sound in the back of her throat, "Drop down to the street and
 both of you get out of uniform so you know who you'll be meeting."

	The two senshi stood and did as they were told, Luna perched on Sailor
 Mercury's shoulder and dropping to the pavement as they landed.  They quickly
 reverted back to their school uniforms.  "Usagi!" the blue haired girl's eyes
 were wide, "Wow, I never thought it would be you!"

	Usagi smiled, "You know me but I don't know you."

	"Mizuno Ami," she said, extending her hand, "but if you prefer to call me
 Blue like before..." she shrugged, "I won't mind."

	Usagi laughed.  "Thanks, Ami-chan, but you've got a pretty name, would be a
 shame not to use it.  I'll meet you back at the park in a while, alright?"

	Ami nodded and waved as Usagi turned and ran, kicking up a cloud of dust
 behind her as she sped off.  Luna jumped to Ami's shoulder, the vial in her mouth
 and accepted a caress from the senshi.  Ami took the vial and, turning, went to
 collect her school bag.


	Usagi raced into the arcade as Naru was just starting to push herself out of
 the booth she'd chosen.  "Gomen!  Gomen nasai, Naru-chan!"

	Naru looked at her with a straight face, "You're late, Usagi."

	Usagi doubled over, her hands on her knees as she sucked in huge breaths of
 fresh air, trying very hard not to faint from lack of oxygen.  Naru sat back
 down, her fingers tapping on the tabletop impatiently.  Finally Usagi slid into
 the booth across from her, "Gomennasai," she said again, "I didn't mean to be
 late, but at least I'm here.  I got detained at school."

	Naru searched her guileless eyes and finally relaxed, seeing the truth
 reflected in those azure orbs.  "Alright, Usagi-chan, I won't hold it against
 you.  So tell me, what've you been doing these last couple of weeks without me?"

	Usagi chuckled, "Studying mostly.  Mamoru is my tutor for math and I'm
 helping him with his English.  Mostly it's been really quiet without you around."

	Naru grinned, "So instead of hanging out with me you've been monopolizing
 the gorgeous University student.  Go Usagi-chan!"

	Usagi grinned back at her, "He's just my tutor, Naru-chan, nothing more."

	"Sure he is, Usagi-chan.  I bet you're just waiting for the opportunity to
 get him alone and pounce!"

	Usagi laughed, her head thrown back, clutching her sides.

	Naru sat back watching, laughing softly as Usagi drew every eye in the
 place.  Across the room Motoki watched with an amused smile on his face.  Finally
 the laughing blonde curled up on the bench, reduced to silent laughter, tears
 rolling down her cheeks.

	Naru grinned and waved Motoki over, "Motoki-kun, can we get two shakes
 please?"

	Motoki nodded and, before Usagi had her wind back and was able to sit up,
 placed them on the table.  His gaze strayed to the silently laughing Usagi.  "Is
 she alright, Naru-chan?"

	Naru nodded, taking one of the shakes and motioned for Motoki to join them,
 "I just commented on her activities the last couple of weeks and she went into
 convulsions.  Turns out she and Mamoru are teaching each other different
 subjects."

	Motoki chuckled, "When you put it like that I see how it's humorous.  He's
 tutoring her in math, and she's helping him with his English.  Whatever else
 they're teaching each other they don't tell me."

	Naru laughed, swatting him on the shoulder, "Motoki, you're the limit." 

	Usagi wiped her eyes as she sat up, hiccupping, "No worse than you, Naru
-chan.  You suggested the same thing.  Howw ridiculous!  Mamoru and I indeed!"

	Motoki slid the shake in front of her, "Drink up, Usagi-chan, before you end
 up in convulsions again."

	Usagi coughed, trying to stop laughing as she took a sip of her shake. 
 Motoki looked over her shoulder and waved, "Mamoru!  Over here!"

	Mamoru nodded to his friend, "Hey, Motoki.  Naru.  Usagi-chan."

	She grinned at him, sliding over so he could sit next to her across from
 Motoki, "Motoki and Naru think we're teaching each other more than just math and
 English," she said with a sly smile.

	Mamoru's eyebrows rose but his eyes were carefully blank, shielded, as he
 looked at Naru and Motoki.  "Really?  Now why do they think that, Usagi?"

	She shrugged, unable to wipe the smile off her face.  A mischievous gleam
 came into her eye as she slid one hand over his forearm where it was resting on
 the tabletop.  She leaned up, watching Naru and Motoki out of the corner of her
 eye, as she placed a gentle kiss on Mamoru's cheek.  She felt the heat of the
 contact fizzle through her as she saw Motoki and Naru's eyes widen.  Under her
 hand she could feel Mamoru's muscles tense, his cheek twitching under her lips. 
 She pulled back; whispering softly, "Go with it."

	Mamoru turned to look at her and then, slowly slid an arm around the back of
 the booth, behind her, playing with one of her silken tails.  She sat back next
 to him and put her head on his shoulder as Naru and Motoki continued to stare at
 them dumbfounded.  "Mamo-chan," purred Usagi, "how do you think they guessed?"

	She felt electrified sitting so close to him.  Under her cheeky exterior she
 fought butterflies and nerves, afraid he'd pull back, and terrified he wouldn't. 
 She felt her heart flutter as he let his arm fall loosely about her shoulders,
 "Motoki, could you get another shake for Usako?" he asked pleasantly, reaching
 for hers and making as if he would drink.

	"U... sako?" Motoki's eyes nearly bulged out of his head at the name coming
 from his friend.  He looked from one to the other and then Mamoru started to
 chuckle.  It was quiet at first, and Usagi could feel him laughing from where she
 was seated.  Finally she giggled, as she saw Naru's face.  Motoki and Naru looked
 as though they were watching a pig sprout wings, or something.

	Mamoru's arm dropped from her shoulders as he threw back his head and
 laughed, slapping both hands on the tabletop.  Usagi curled over, her head barely
 missing the tabletop as she convulsed in laughter, tears streaming down her
 cheeks.  "Naru-chan, Motoki," she gasped between giggles, "You should see your
 faces!" she fought for breath, hugging her ribs as her stomach began to hurt.

	Mamoru slid out from the bench, grinning.  "Motoki, if you're not too
 shocked by our joke, could you get me a cup of coffee?"

	Motoki blinked at him, not understanding.  "A joke?  You mean you're not...
 the two of you are just..."

	Usagi grinned, "We're just friends, right, Mamoru-san?"

	He nodded, "Hai, Usagi-chan."

	Her smile faded as she watched his eyes.  For a moment while he was laughing
 and smiling, they'd been unguarded.  She'd seen turmoil, pain, and indecision. 
 She blinked as he turned away, walking towards the bar where he normally sat,
 Motoki scrambling out of the booth to go join him.  "Don't ever do that to me
 again, Usagi-chan!" he scolded as he darted away.

	Usagi grinned, turning back to Naru, "Does that answer your question, Naru
-chan?  Mamoru and I are just friends, onees who happen to enjoy each other's
 company."

	Naru sipped her shake, eyeing her friend thoughtfully, "Hai, Usagi-chan.  I
 believe you."

	Across the room Mamoru watched Motoki pour his coffee, "You don't honestly
 thought I really would go for such a young girl, did you?" he asked, unsure if he
 should be insulted or flattered.  Usagi was certainly lovely, there was no
 question about that, but she was too young for him.

	Motoki shrugged, placing the cup before his friend and leaning against the
 counter top, "I don't know.  For a moment I thought it had to be true, you have
 pet names for each other for crying out loud!"

	Mamoru smiled, "Actually, they're not bad for spur of the moment, ne?"

	Motoki snorted in disgust, "Sure sure, no one, not even 3.9 GPA Chiba Mamoru
 an come up with something like Usako on two seconds notice."

	Mamoru raised an eyebrow, sipping his coffee, "No?  Think about it, her name
 is Usagi.  Usako makes sense.  More convincing than Usa-chan, and more personal."

	Motoki grumbled, "I hate it when you're right.  How'd she come up with yours
 though?  I mean, no offence to her, but she's not the brightest crayon in the box
 from what I've seen."

	"Actually, she'd a lot smarter than she seems," Mamoru glanced over to where
 Naru and Usagi were almost head to head in some low discussion, "her marks hardly
 reflect the level of her intelligence."

	"I take it your tutoring sessions with her are going well?"

	Mamoru nodded, "Better than well.  My English has improved quite noticeably. 
 Her math skills are still developing but with a little time and patience she
 won't need a tutor anymore."

	"Guess you'll just have to take her out on a date or something then," Motoki
 timed his remark as Mamoru was taking a sip of the hot brew.  He laughed as his
 friend nearly spit the black liquid all over the counter, managing to put most of
 it back into the cup as he swiped at his chin with his napkin.

	"Take her out?"

	Motoki grinned maliciously, "Well, if you're not tutoring each other
 anymore, there'd be no reason why you two had to get along.  Makes sense to me
 that if you want to keep your easy-going relationship, you might want to take her
 out."

	Mamoru placed his cup on the counter.  "Funny.  Bill me, I'll talk to you
 later."

	Motoki watched his friend leave.  "Was it something I said?" he murmured
 softly.  He watched as Mamoru just about ran into a young woman on his way out
 the doors.  He shook his head as the brunette giggled, accepted her case from
 Mamoru and then entered the arcade.  "Makoto?"

	The brunette glanced over, did a double take and then her face split into a
 huge smile. "Motoki!  Kuwabarakuwabara!  How long has it been?"

	Motoki came around the counter and scooped up the tall brunette in his arms,
 hugging her tightly, "Too long.  What brings you back to Tokyo?"

	Her face fell as she pulled back, "I got kicked out of my school."

	
	Naru looked up from her shake, "Well I'll be..."

	"Nani?"

	Naru nodded towards the main counter and Usagi turned.  Her jaw dropped as
 she watched a tall brunette laugh at something Motoki said.  "Motoki has
 girlfriends other than us?"

	Naru laughed, "It's not like it's illegal, Usagi-chan."

	"I know, but I feel cheapened in some way." she grinned, glancing at the
 clock, "I've gotta run, but I'll see you tomorrow morning to walk to school, ok?"

	Naru grinned, "Hai, Usagi-chan.  See you bright and early!"

	Usagi grinned, grabbed her things and bolted out of the arcade.  She paused
 at the door, glancing back at the brunette.  Something about her seemed
 familiar...  She shrugged and ran off.  She still had to get the rest of the
 vials before her meeting with this other senshi.  If she didn't want to be late
 she'd have to really run.



 Author's Note: And so continues Family Secrets.  I'm really sorry to all my
 readers for putting this on hold for so long.  I just didn't want to confuse it
 with "To be or not to be a Princess" when both stories were so closely linked in
 my mind.  Hopefully, I'll stay inspired and be able to get the next chapter out
 shortly!  Critiques, e-mail, any kind of feedback is most welcome.  

Jademax@hotmail.com

Thanks for reading!

Jade_Max

 By the way, if you wrote me at "Jade_Max@hotmail.com" I mis-typed my e-mail
 address and wouldn't have gotten anything you wrote me there... Please, try and
 write me at the above (Jademax@hotmail.com) address since it's my fault for mis
-typing it.  I'm sorry about that, but I rreally would love to hear from you!