The couple hung on to each other for dear life, trying to comfort each other at the same time. "What do we do now?" Usagi whispered. She sniffled, and rested her head on Mamoru's shoulder.

"I dunno," Mamoru whispered back. He carefully undid the knots in her hair, allowing it to flow like a gentle river of gold. He stroked her long, beautiful hair, giving himself something to do as he thought to himself. For the first time in his life, he was scared, not only for himself, but also for his family. He remembered back to when the Sailor Senshi and himself had traveled with Chibi-usa to 30^th Century Tokyo, and the promise he'd made to the King of the Earth. His eyes watered. Somehow he felt as though he'd broken that solemn vow to the King, his future self.

"Mamo-chan, I'm scared," Usagi said aloud. She held him tighter. "I can't loose you too; I don't know how I'd be able to live without you," she sobbed. "I've lost you so many times. I…I can't do it again."

"Don't worry, Usako." Mamoru held the tiny girl closer to him. "We're going to find a way to get Chibi-usa back, ok?"

Usagi looked up and searched his eyes. Damnit, she thought. Why is he so good at hiding what he feels? He's just like Ami-chan.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Sailormercury, Sailormars, Sailorjupiter, and Sailorvenus ran up the stairs of the huge apartment building. The four girls reached Mamoru's apartment and knocked in the door. It fell to the ground with a loud crash.

"Stop right there!" Sailorvenus shouted, pointing her finger at the astonished couple. "We are the pretty suited Sailor Senshi, and we fight for love and justice! On behalf of Venus-"

"Mercury-"

"Mars-"

"And Jupiter-"

"We'll punish you!" the four girls chorused in unison.

Usagi and Mamoru looked at each other, and then back to the four inner senshi with huge eyes. "What are you doing here?" Usagi asked quietly, still gripping to Mamoru as if he would disappear if she let go.

"Where's…the…youma?" Sailor Venus asked as she eyed the apartment.

Usagi blinked. "Youma, what youma?" She looked around. "There's no youma here."

"But-" Sailor Venus started.

"We called you on the communicator, and then tried here at the apartment but didn't get an answer," Sailor Mercury explained. She lowered her head. "When we called here, we heard crying in the background and got worried."

"Ami-chan…" Usagi started.

A crowd of people peered in through the doorway of Mamoru's apartment. "Chiba-san, what in the-- the Sailor Senshi!" the old man's face lit up with delight. More and more people crowded around the doorway; camera's started flashing.

"Maybe we should fix the door and leave," Sailorjupiter suggested over the din.

Luna nodded. Sailorjupiter and Sailorvenus walked over and picked up the fallen door. They stuck it back in place, creating a temporary fix.

"Usagi-chan, what was the crying that we heard in the background?" Sailormars pried.

Usagi looked up at Mamoru and then back at Rei. "I-It was nothing." She forced a smile. "You know me! I cry at everything. I'm nothing but an Odango Atama, right?"

Rei studied her friend. Usagi's normally bright and curious blue eyes were bloodshot and swollen. Her cheeks were tear-stained and her aura felt sad, even though she had a smile on her face. Even her long, silky blonde hair was sad-looking. "Usagi-chan, you're such a liar," she whispered. "What's wrong?"

Mamoru gripped Usagi tighter, and held her closer to him, giving her the confidence and reassurance that she needed. "Nothing's wrong, Rei-chan." Usagi said again. "I just was worried about my exam, that's all, ok?" Usagi hated lying to her best friend. "I'm sorry if I scared all of you. But there's really nothing wrong."

Sailormars sighed and put a hand to her head, trying to think of what she should say. Sailormercury came to her rescue. "Maybe we should get out of our sailor fuku and just calm down first, huh?"

Before anyone could answer, Usagi's communicator beeped. "Hello?" she asked quietly, her voice quivering a little.

"Princess, is that you?" Sailorpluto asked through the static.

"Um, yeah. Hold on a sec." She turned to Mamoru. "I'll be right back, ok?" she whispered. Mamoru nodded and Usagi excused herself to another room and sat down. "Pu? Are you there?"

"Princess, why haven't you told the Senshi about the Small Lady yet?" Sailorpluto asked sternly.

"I'm sorry, Pu, but I can't do it. I don't even wanna believe it myself," she sobbed. Tears began to flow from her eyes again. "Can't you just hint at what happened to Mamo-chan in this time so that we can prevent it?"

Sailorpluto sighed. "Princess, you know that I can't do that! I'm sorry, I really wish I could, but my mission is clear. You know too much already. All that I can tell you, I have told you, Princess. But do yourself a favor, and tell the rest of the Senshi. Farewell for now." The communicator cut off and Usagi was once again left alone.

Usagi sighed and leaned back against the wall. "What do I do?" she asked herself. She wondered how long it would be before Mamoru got the hint and came in to check on her. A knock on the door jerked her out of her thoughts.

"Usako? Are you ok?" Mamoru's voice traveled through the door.

Usagi smiled. "Yeah, I'm ok," she answered back. "Can you come in here for a minute?"

Mamoru opened the door and stepped in the room. "What did she say?"

"She said I should tell the others."

Mamoru sat down next to her and wrapped his arm around her back, moving his hand in little circles at the small of her back. Usagi rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes, trying to forget what she was so worried about. "Usako, maybe you should tell them what happened." Usagi looked up at him. "Who knows. Maybe Rei-san has had a vision. Or Makoto-san could help us go on, or Minako-san could cheer you up a little. Ami-san could figure out what could've caused this, and if we have to, we could call on the other Senshi, even the generals to help us too."

"You're right," Usagi sighed. "C'mon, let's go." Mamoru got up and reached out his hands to Usagi. She grabbed his hands and he pulled her up off the floor.

When Usagi and Mamoru returned to the living room, four teenage girls, Mizuno Ami, Hino Rei, Kino Makoto, and Aino Minako replaced the Inner Senshi of the Sailor Senshi. Rei stood up from the couch when the couple entered the room and sat down on the couch next to the four girls. "What did Sailorpluto want?" she asked quietly.

Usagi took a deep breath and closed her eyes. "Rei-chan, I'm sorry…about before. I really am."

Rei carefully touched her shoulder. "Usagi-chan. What's wrong?" she asked again.

Tears brimmed Usagi's eyes once again. "Chibi-usa…something happened to Mamo-chan, and then happened to Chibi-usa." The petite girl wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, and tried not to let herself cry.

Mamoru hugged her close to him. "Sailorpluto came here earlier today, while Usako and I were studying and said something was wrong with the future. Apparently, something in this time will cause myself and Chibi-usa to cease to exist in that time."

"I wonder what could've happened?" Minako wondered. "Rei-chan, is this what your vision was about?"

Rei was silent for a moment. Her dark eyes narrowed in thought. "Unfortunately no, all my vision told me was that the both of them are in danger." She sighed. "I didn't get a thing as to what we are now up against."

"Mamo-chan," Usagi whispered. "Can you take me home now?"

Mamoru nodded. "Do any of you need a ride?" he asked the girls.

"No, thank you," Ami replied. "Rei-chan drove us here. Come on, guys. Let's go." Ami stood up and walked towards the door. "I'll see what I can find." Makoto, Minako, and Rei followed close behind. No one had to say 'Call if you need to talk;' Usagi knew she could always count on them.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Mamoru turned off his car in front of the Tsukino residence. "Are you sure that you don't want to come inside, Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked quietly, almost pleadingly.

"What about your dad, Usako? He still hates me. Last time he answered your phone he said he'd gotten a shotgun for the next time he saw me."

Usagi smiled. A real smile. Her father still thought her child, even though she was almost eighteen. "Don't worry. He's not home, neither's my mom." Her smile faded. "I don’t wanna be home alone, and I'm worried about you."

Mamoru sighed. "Ok, Odango Atama. C'mon." He opened the car door and climbed out.

"Do you want some tea?" Usagi asked, putting her briefcase down on the counter.

"Yeah, please." Mamoru sat down on the couch, his head in his hands, elbows on his knees. Usagi returned from the kitchen, two cups, sugar, and a teapot on a tray in her arms. She carefully laid them on the coffee table and filled the two cups with tea.

Usagi looked up at Mamoru and put down his cup. Silent tears were running down his face and over his fingers. She put an arm around his back and rested her cheek on his shoulder. It was her turn to be the strong one. Mamoru turned into her embrace and cried into her shoulder. Gods, what are we going to do? her mind screamed. We can't live in fear like this. Mamoru pulled away from her. "Mamo-chan-"

"I'm sorry, Usako." His voice quivered. His midnight blue eyes were clouded with grief and pain and sadness. He reached down and picked up his teacup. Usagi did the same.

Tsukino Ikuko walked up to her house and opened the door. She sighed and shifted the weight of her groceries from her left to her right. Tossing her keys on a table, she yelled "Usagi! Shingo! Anyone home?" and stepped into the living room.

Mamoru and Usagi were cuddled up together on the couch, Usagi's head on his shoulder, his chin rested on her head, on arm round her shoulder.

Ikuko put her groceries on a nearby table and gently shook Usagi awake. "Usagi-chan," she coaxed. Usagi's crystalline blue eyes fluttered; she snuggled deeper into Mamoru's arms.

Usagi's mother sighed and headed into the kitchen to start dinner.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Makoto trudged up the stairs to her apartment. Poor Usagi-chan. Her gaze shifted to her phone and answering machine as she walked into her kitchen. No calls, maybe they're ok.

A knock on the door jerked her out of her thoughts. She opened the door. "Hey, Mako-chan!" Shinosaki greeted his girlfriend with a kiss and a sugar pink rose. "C'mon. Let's go out to dinner," he suggested, taking her hand and starting out the door.

Makoto laughed. "Hold on a sec! I have to get changed and put this in water!"

"You look great; you don't have to change! Let's go!" Shinosaki urged.

Makoto looked over her shoulder at him, blushing as his intense gaze caught hers. "Where are we going? Fancy or casual?" she asked, looking through her closet with the bedroom door open.

"Uh…" Shinosaki looked down at his own apparel. Khakis, collared shirt… "Casual!" he answered. "Just put on that little black dress and let's be off!"

Makoto's face went pale as she caught sight of the tiny dress. It was black velvet, no bigger than for a six-year-old. Tears stung her eyes for a moment as the memories flooded back.

Shinosaki cursed himself. How could he have been so stupid! He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "I'm sorry, Mako-chan. I didn't mean it like that-"

"I know," she cut him off abruptly and broke from his grasp. She wiped her eyes quickly and turned back to her closet. Arms surrounded her from behind. She leaned back into them. "What should I wear?" she murmured.

"Uh…how about…that," Shinosaki suggested pointing to a pair of black jeans and white blouse.

Makoto sighed. "Guess that works." She shooed him from her room. "Now scoot! I have to get changed." She pushed him out and shut the door in his face.

* * * * * * * * * * *

A beep came from Usagi's wrist, jolting the two from their slumber. Her head snapped up and her blue eyes opened wide. She sat up from the comfort and security of Mamoru's embrace as reality came crashing down around her. "Yeah," she answered groggily to the beeping.

"Usagi-chan, There's a youma attack at 3^rd and Main," Ami spoke calmly into the receiver. "Rei-chan, Minako-chan, Makoto-chan are there fighting already. Jupiter Knight's there too, and Mercury and Mars Knight are on the way."

Usagi sighed. "Ok. I'll be there in a minute."

Mamoru stretched behind her. "Let's go then."

"Go where?" Ikuko walked into the living room as the two lovers were leaving. "So, you finally woke up."

"Mama! I-I didn't know you were home," Usagi stammered.

"Apparently not."

"We have to go…" Usagi searched for an answer, "run an errand!"

"Ah, Senshi business," Ikuko replied with a grin.

Usagi almost collapsed. "You-you know?!"

Ikuko nodded. "Go! Before the Dark Kingdom takes over Tokyo!"

"Moon Crystal Power, Make-up!" Usagi yelled, tearing the broach from her school uniform.

Expect The Unexpected

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