Eridanus2000@go.com Senshi Avatars Standard Questionably Useful Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all related characters were created by Naoko Takeuchi; and are copyright to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha, Toei, DIC and whoever else. This fanfic is intended solely for entertainment purposes and no violation of said copyrights is intended or implied. If you want to put my fanfic on your site, please e-mail me asking for permission first. This story and all new characters are MINE!! Author's Notes: Rated PG-13 for mild language My series begins where Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars ends I use the Japanese names, last name first Nagesya = Dark Empress = Empress Eban = young warrior tousotsu = elite leaders ginzuishou = silver crystal sensei - added to name of teacher chan - used for babies, small children, close friends sama - used for formal occasions and to show a great deal of respect kun - used after a boy?s name (sometimes for a girl) Senshi Avatars Episode 04 - Silent Tears & Quick Good-byes Usagi ran up the steps of the Hikawa Shrine and promptly crashed into Yuuichiro. "Usagi-chan! Here, let me help you up," Yuuichiro offered once he picked himself up. "Thank you, Yuuichiro-san," Usagi replied as she was pulled into a standing position. "You should be careful, Usagi-chan," Yuuichiro scolded with a smile. "I came to see Rei-chan. Can you tell me where she is?" Usagi asked. "Actually, Rei-san is meditating right now..." Yuuichiro began but was interrupted by Usagi. "Please, Yuuichiro-san," Usagi pleaded. "It?s really important." "Well...I?ll take you to her room where you can stay while I tell her you?re waiting," Yuuichiro proposed after a moments consideration. "Perfect!" Usagi exclaimed with a smile. Yuuichiro shook his head in amazement at how easy it was to make Usagi happy, and was stunned by the expression he glimpsed on Usagi?s face. If he didn?t know better, he could have sworn she was about to cry, but a second later her normal smile was in place. Yuuichiro led Usagi to Rei?s room, then made his way to the room where Rei was meditating. Not wanting to frighten Rei, he slid the door open instead of knocking. "Rei-san," Yuuichiro said softly. "What is it, Yuuichiro?" Rei asked, annoyed at having been disturbed. "Usagi-chan has come to visit with you," Yuuichiro explained hurriedly. "Tell her I?m busy," Rei replied curtly. "I think you should talk to her," Yuuichiro advised. "It seemed important. She?s waiting in your room." "You left her alone in my room?" Rei asked incredulously as she turned around to stare at him. "Why not?" Yuuichiro asked, causing Rei to sigh heavily. "I?ll bet you ten to one she?s reading my comic books again," Rei said tiredly as she stood up and stretched. "Oh, and thanks for not knocking when I was meditating," Rei called over her shoulder as she walked towards her bedroom to meet Usagi. "Anytime," Yuuichiro called back with a smile, and then added some more wood to the fire to keep it burning through the night. Tyriah lounged in the captain?s chair of the transport ship, contemplating different plans of attack. The scout ships had just been launched, and she had ordered them to invade low-risk planets on the trip. Low-risk, meaning that even with their limited amount of soldiers they would undoubtedly win in battle with few--if any--casualties. By her side, stood a general directly under her command. His eyes were cold as he narrowed them at some of the warriors within the ranks. "I have heard there are Senshi on that planet Earth," Eban confided. "I know, General. I too have read the reports. We should expect at least eight to be protecting the planet," Tyriah responded calmly. "Why the hell is this planet so damned important?" Eban hissed. "The planet is a refuge for very powerful beings of Light. Besides, the Empress has her own reasons for wanting the Earth. There is one there who trapped the Empress in that prison," Tyriah informed Eban quietly. "Hatred has consumed our Empress, but that only makes her the more dangerous. Those imbeciles will never know what they are up against, never have a chance to live. They are weak because they fight for the Light, and we are strong because of the supreme power of the Darkness. The Senshi make no difference," Tyriah finished, effectively ending the conversation. Eban looked at Tyriah with admiration. No one could accuse Tyriah of not being prepared, or of not being confident of her powers. After all Lady Tyriah is the leader of the Four Tousotu, the most powerful warrior, and in Eban?s opinion, the most beautiful. He was content to stand by her side as her second, for as long as she would allow him to live. One day she will choose another when she no longer believes me to be capable of leading the troops, Eban thought. He shifted around at the uncomfortable thought, which was noticed by one man, who smiled evilly. Eban didn?t see him, and continued to stare out the large screen showing the deep space they were passing through. Rei slid the door to her room open, fully expecting to see Usagi immersed in a recent copy of a comic book. Though she wasn?t all too surprised to see Usagi sitting on the floor with her eyes closed, appearing as though she had fallen asleep. As soon as Rei steeped into the room, Usagi opened her eyes and turned her head. "I was beginning to think you weren?t going to come," Usagi said with a grin. "For your information, I was in the middle of meditating!" Rei snapped. Usagi slowly stood up and walked over to where Rei stood. "I know I interrupted you, but it?s really important that we talk," Usagi said softly, looking Rei directly in the eyes. "So what is so important that it couldn?t wait until tomorrow," Rei asked softly. "For this you might want to sit down," Usagi suggested. Rei arched an eyebrow, nodded once, and made herself comfortable on the floor. "I?m ready now," Rei said after she plumped her pillow, expecting a very long discussion to take place. As is usually the case, she was right. Usagi wandered over to the door, and let the wind blow upon her face for a minute before pulling it closed. She then chose a pillow from in the corner and strategically placed it on the ground a few feet away from where Rei sat. Usagi plopped down upon the pillow in a very unladylike manner, and commenced her story. "You know, you were right before," Usagi murmured distantly. "What? You mean you admit it? Wait! Which time are you talking about?" Rei asked smugly. Usagi stuck her tongue out in response, then frowned slightly. "I?m being serious. I never deserved him," Usagi said sadly. "Who? You mean Mamoru-san? Well, there was never any doubt about that. Hey, did you two have a fight?" Rei asked sitting up straight. "Not really," Usagi sighed and wondered exactly how she was going to put this. "You remember when he went to the United States, right?" "Yeah, he never got there because Galaxia attacked his plane," Rei replied, wondering where this discussion was headed. "Then you also remember how close Seiya and I became?" Usagi asked slowly. "If Mamoru-san is angry about that, he doesn?t have anything to worry about. I mean, you and Seiya-san? There was nothing..." Rei was interrupted by Usagi slamming her fist into the wall. "Enough!" Usagi cried angrily, taking Rei by surprise. "I?m sorry," Usagi apologized to Rei, whose mouth was still hanging open. "It?s just that I...I am in love with Seiya," Usagi explained quietly, unable to look Rei in the face. "What did you say?" Rei asked, hoping fervently that she had heard wrong. "I said I love Seiya," Usagi repeated softly. Usagi wasn?t lying because she did love Seiya, but only as a brother. Mamoru was the only man she could truly love as a husband. Rei stood up angrily and turned her back on Usagi. "You mean to tell me that you?ve been leading Mamoru-san on for a month!" Rei exploded. "I had hoped it was just a stupid crush, but when Seiya and the others left I realized the truth only a few days ago. I thought you of all people would understand, Rei-chan! I have to be true to my heart," Usagi pleaded desperately with Rei, tears streaming down her cheeks. Rei turned around then, tears in her own eyes and hugged Usagi. "I do understand," Rei said softly as she released Usagi from the embrace. "Being true to one?s heart is very important, I admire your courage. So what are you going to do? You did already tell mamoru-san, didn?t you?" Rei inquired gently. Usagi nodded in response before glancing away again. "I told him before I came over here. I also told him that I have to leave..." Usagi explained. "What are you talking about!?" Rei asked in complete confusion. "I have to find Seiya, tell him how I feel," Usagi said quickly. "You are going to go into the depths of outer space alone and search for him?" Rei asked incredulously. "Yes," Usagi replied firmly. "What are you going to tell your family and your friends at school?" Rei asked after a few moments consideration. "I?ve already worked that out. I will become a foreign-exchange student and travel to different countries. Once a week, I will manufacture a postcard and send it to my parents so they won?t be worried," Usagi explained. "Manufacture? How can you send a postcard from across the galaxy?" Rei asked in bewilderment. "I can create one and teleport it to different countries on Earth. They will be sent from those countries to my parents, who will think I?m really there," Usagi clarified calmly. "You have really thought this through, haven?t you?" Rei asked in surprise. Usagi smiled and continued to explain her plan. "I already talked to Haruna-sensei, and she has agreed to write me a letter of recommendation. She is also going to put in a good word for me with some people she knows. I told my parents about it, and after they talked to Haruna-sensei, they agree that it is a good idea. I?m going to leave on Wednesday," Usagi finished. "That?s only four days away!" Rei exclaimed. "I know but I have to go soon. The longer I wait, the farther I might have to search. Please, don?t tell the others," Usagi begged. "What?" Rei screeched. "They would try to stop me and I can?t let them. This is something that I have to do, and I wouldn?t have even told you until Wednesday but I thought you deserved to know. In my absence you will be the leader of the Senshi," Usagi announced firmly. "What? No! You are the princess and our leader. I could never take your place, no one could!" Rei exclaimed. "We are all princesses, and now you are the leader. I will not be returning, and you will do a better job than I ever did. They will need you to lead them, it will be your job to hold the team together. Please, for me," Usagi entreated. "Even for you, I could never do such a thing," Rei replied horrified. Usagi looked at her sadly, then slowly walked away. "Promise me you?ll keep my secret, at least until Wednesday," Usagi begged and Rei nodded slightly. "Thank you, for everything." Usagi walked out of Rei?s room, her eyes stinging as a new wave of sadness hit her. She would miss Rei and the other Senshi so much. "Mamo-chan," Usagi whispered the name as the tears finally escaped. Rei sat in her room completely stunned by what Usagi had told her. She just couldn?t believe that Usagi had fallen in love with Seiya when she had Mamoru. Mamoru-san and Usagi had been destined to be together, so how could this have happened, Rei thought as she fought to control her tears. Does destiny truly exist, Rei wondered as she buried her face in her arms. "Usagi-chan!" Naru called from across the street. "If you don?t hurry you?ll be late again," Naru warned as she ran to Usagi?s side. "Naru-chan, I can?t be late today! Come on," Usagi cried as she began to run. "Why can?t you be late?" Naru asked as she caught up to Usagi. "I have to stay on Haruna-sensei?s good side until Wednesday," Usagi panted as they reached the school. "What?s Wednesday?" Naru asked bewildered. "I?m going to be leaving to join a foreign-exchange program," Usagi explained quietly. "What!" Naru exclaimed, and stopped dead in her tracks. "Please, be quiet," Usagi begged. "I don?t want the others to know yet." "You mean the day after tomorrow, don?t you?" Naru asked. "Yes, but if I tell the others they?ll try to stop me," Usagi explained. "You really are going to leave," Naru said quietly. "Yes, it?s something I have to do Naru-chan. We will still be friends, and I?ll write you every week," Usagi promised. "I...I?m glad for you. Really I am. I promise not to tell," Naru stammered. "Thank you, Naru-chan. You have no idea how happy I am that you are supporting me," Usagi said honestly as they walked into the classroom. "Just don?t forget to write," Naru reminded Usagi with a grin. "I want to know everything about the places you go." "I won?t forget, Naru-chan," Usagi replied with a smile of her own. I?ll never forget you, Usagi promised. "Mom, have you seen my black skirt?" Usagi asked on Wednesday morning. She was supposed to meet the others at Rei?s temple in twenty minutes, and she was still packing. She planned on stashing the suitcase at Rei?s in one of the extra bedrooms, because she had to make it appear like she was really going to another country. At that moment she was searching under her bed for the missing skirt, and accidentally discovered the disguise pen Luna had given to her years before. "I think it?s on your bed," Ikuko called to her daughter. "Thanks, I see it now," Usagi called back and finished packing, stuffing the disguise pen in her pocket. "Bye Mom," Usagi said giving Ikuko a hug. "I?ll write you as soon as I get there." "Have fun," Ikuko said tearfully as she hugged her daughter. Usagi ran out of the house, with Luna right behind her. "Usagi-chan, you can?t do this. You?re a Sailor Senshi, you can?t just leave and travel around the world!" Luna exclaimed. "Too late Luna," Usagi replied sadly as she boarded the bus and smiled smugly. "No cats allowed." Five minutes later the bus stopped at the Hikawa Shrine. Usagi climbed off and ran up the steps of the shrine, lugging her suitcase behind her. She managed to stash the suitcase before she ran into Rei. "Usagi! You?re early," Rei remarked when she saw her. "Actually, I?m late," Usagi replied. "No you?re not. No one has arrived yet," Rei informed her. "Actually, that?s what I was counting on," Usagi admitted, then transformed into her princess attire. She held her old brooch discreetly in her left hand. "Are you crazy?" Rei asked glancing around to make sure no one saw Usagi change. "I?m sorry Rei-chan, but you no longer have a choice," Princess Serenity stated calmly. "Excuse me," Rei replied confused. "I am declaring you the leader of the Sailor Senshi," she announced. "We have already been over this and I refused," Rei reminded her. "I allowed you to refuse then but like I said, you no longer have a choice." Rei opened her mouth to say something, but Serenity grabbed Rei?s hand and placed her brooch in it. "I want you to keep the ginzuishou for me," Usagi divulged and walked away. "Wait! I will not take your place! And I won?t keep the crystal!" Rei exclaimed running after the princess. Serenity turned around then and stared hard at Rei. "Take care of him for me," Serenity said softly. "Galaxy teleport!" she cried and disappeared in a white burst of light. "No! Serenity!" Rei wailed as she rushed forward. She knew she was too late and with an angry cry she ran towards her room, clutching the brooch tightly in her hand. Ten minutes later the other Senshi arrived expecting to see Usagi, and instead found Rei crying. "What?s wrong Rei-chan?" Ami asked rushing to her side. Wordlessly Rei held Usagi?s brooch out to her and Ami gasped. "Where is she?" "Gone. I don?t know where. She transformed into her princess form and used a power I never saw before, a teleportation. She claimed to have fallen in love with Seiya-san and was determined to go after him. Before she left she gave me her brooch, and..." Rei stopped as a sob escaped. "And what?" Haruka asked coldly, clenching her fists tightly. "And said that she wanted me to be leader," Rei finished. "I refused! Then she left, saying I didn?t have a choice." "Dammit!" Haruka exclaimed, and then looked sharply at Michiru. "Didn?t your mirror foresee any of this?" "You know as well as I do that the sea has been calm and so has the wind. There was no sign of any trouble," Michiru stated. "I knew," Mamoru said quietly from the doorway. The Senshi turned around startled. "She came to my apartment on Saturday and told me how she felt. I released her from our engagement and she left. I never thought she would actually leave..." Mamoru couldn?t finish the sentence and the Senshi looked away embarrassed. "I?m so sorry, Mamoru-san," Ami said quietly. "We all know how much you care for her." "I guess it wasn?t enough," he replied bitterly and walked away. Rei gasped and began to follow him when Makoto stopped her. "Let me go," Rei demanded. "No. He needs to be alone," Makoto replied firmly. Rei watched Mamoru walk away and sadly nodded. "I can?t believe she left us. After all we have been through...I don?t care what she said, I won?t be the leader. She?ll come back eventually," Rei said evenly, hoping with all her heart that she was right. "Without her brooch she won?t be able to transform into Sailor Moon," Ami said quietly. The others gasped as they realized Usagi had left and really wasn?t planning on coming back. Ever. "No!" Rei cried. "She has to come back. She has to!" Ami looked at her sadly and then at the brooch she was holding. "Usagi...Princess Serenity...Sailor Moon...come back to us." Special thanks: To Naoko Takeuchi for creating this wonderful series. To Sarah Anderson, editor and friend, who gave me great advice and helped me through hard times. All the fanfic authors I have ever read: couldn't have done this without all of you!