Chapter Text
Inside the Tsukino household, the festivities were just starting to settle down. The family was celebrating Shingo's 14th birthday, albeit a bit early. It was August 2nd, and even though his birthday was not until the following week, a special family celebration was held in advance.
Tsukino Ikuko was cleaning the kitchen, putting away the rest of the birthday cake so her daughter couldn't finish it. Her husband, Kenji, was helping Shingo set up his new Nintendo system in the living room. She smiled faintly as she heard her husband and son laughing together as they worked.
In another part of the house, two other figures paused to listen to the laughter emanating from below. Tsukino Usagi followed her boyfriend, Chiba Mamoru, onto the balcony. For all intents and purposes, Mamoru was not officially a part of the Tsukino family. Yet. Ikuko had accepted him as her daughter's soul-mate, however, so he was included on those occasions reserved strictly for family gatherings. It had taken a lot of work on Ikuko's part to restrain Kenji from keeping a shot-gun at the dinner table, but in the end, the housewife's power had prevailed.
Usagi laid a hand on her boyfriend's shoulder. Through their special link, she could pinpoint what was bothering him this evening. It was the day before his 19th birthday, for one, and also the anniversary of his parents' death. And although Mamoru was included, for the most part, as a member of the Tsukino family, he still felt he didn't really belong. He still felt isolated and alone, even in the presence of his Usako.
Sighing, Mamoru turned his head to Usagi, offering a wane smile. "I'm all right…" He flinched slightly as another round of laughter echoed from the living room. It would have been nice to have parents as loving as Kenji and Ikuko, but fate had dealt him another destiny. He had accepted it a long time ago, but in early August, he always seemed to reflect back on his past and wonder about his lost parents. What had they been like? How much different would his life had been if the car crash had never occurred? Would he have still met Usagi? All he knew about his parents were their names and appearances, and that was only because of the sole picture the hospital had given him before they mercilessly shipped him off to the orphanage.
Usagi shook her head. "No, you're not all right, Mamo-chan. I can tell when something is bothering you…"
Mamoru again turned to his girlfriend. "I will be fine in a few days. It's just hard remembering- er, trying to remember- my parents on the anniversary of their death, that's all. I'll mourn for a couple days and move on until next year, it's no big deal."
"Mamo-chan…" the young teenager shook her head again. "They've been dead for thirteen years." Inwardly, she winced as she thought back on how cruel and heartless that sounded. If her parents died, she'd never get over it…
Mamoru's dark head shot up to scrutinize his girlfriend. Something was wrong if she didn't immediately start to hug him or remind him of how she was his family now. He straightened up from leaning over the balcony, grabbing his Usako and pulling her close against him. "I think it's about time I was getting home, Usako. I want to be alone right now. I don't want to be around anybody, even you." He kissed her lightly on the lips, as if in apology for his demeaning manner towards her.
Tears started to fill Usagi's eyes as she stared into Mamoru's face. "I'm sorry if I upset you, Mamo-chan. I didn't mean to sound like I didn't care about your parents." She clung to him fiercely, not ready to let him go just yet.
The dark-haired man sighed, angry at himself for his behavior towards his girlfriend. Usagi didn't need to be treated like that. "You didn't do anything wrong, Usako. I'm just uptight these days; it has nothing to do with you. I still love you, and I always will, so stop looking so scared," he chided her, leaning down to give her a proper kiss.
Some time later, after they had had to come up for air or pass out on the balcony, the odangoed girl gazed again at her lover of two lifetimes. Her cheeks were flushed a brilliant red, sky-blue eyes sparkling from the intensity of their kiss. "I never doubted your love for me, Mamo-chan. I just didn't want you to go home alone and upset," she explained, burying her face into the crook of his neck.
Mamoru, for his part, was again amazed at just how wonderful his soul-mate was to him. Besides how attractive she looked to him, especially after their recent kiss, her soul inside was made of pure love. He squeezed her tighter, nuzzling his face in her hair, between her 'odangoes.' "I'm not quite as upset anymore, Usako. I know that you're my family now, but just for these couple days, I want to remember what I can of my parents. And that's something I have to do by myself."
His girlfriend nodded against his neck as her arms slowly untangled themselves from around him. "I love you, Mamo-chan. I'll see you tomorrow. Thanks for coming to Shingo's party tonight. I think he's really starting to look up to you as an older brother," Usagi smiled, hoping to lighten Mamoru's heart even more.
Reluctantly letting his hands slide from her waist, the young adult nodded, shooting his own brilliant smile to the girl who owned his heart. There were no words that needed to be spoken; she knew he loved her with all his being. After making sure the coast was clear, Mamoru dropped a light kiss on Usagi's forehead and vaulted himself off the balcony, landing easily thanks to his powers from being Tuxedo Kamen and the Prince of Earth.
The girl giggled slightly, waving him off. She stood there for a moment, watching where she had last seen her beloved's form. So intent was her gaze that the feeling of a hand on her shoulder deeply startled her, causing her to slap the hand away and crouch into defensive mode.
To say Tsukino Ikuko was surprised at her daughter's graceful actions would be an understatement. Where had she learned to defend herself? And against what? "Usa, honey, where's Mamoru? I was sure he was out here with you."
"Oh." Usagi shook her head to clear it. "Um, Mamo-chan went home. You were probably just too busy to notice…" She offered a wavering grin to her mother, who, as per usual, didn't look like she believed Usagi's story.
Shrugging, the blue-haired woman wrapped an arm around her daughter's shoulders. "Since I don't have any evidence otherwise, I'll have to accept your story. But know that I know everything that goes on in my household." She smirked down at her fidgeting daughter, hugging her tightly. "Your father wanted to speak with him about something, but they can have a private chat later."
The teen blinked. "Mom? What does Otou-san have against Mamo-chan, anyways?"
Ikuko groaned softly, thinking on how to answer. "Your father doesn't have anything against Mamoru, honey. He just wants to protect you from getting hurt. He cares about you, which is why he wants to make sure Mamoru is the right One," she explained quietly.
Usagi blinked, tilting her head to gaze at the moon- her original homeland. "But Mamo-chan is the One…why doesn't Daddy realize that?"
"He will, Usa-chan. He just needs time to get to know Mamoru-san," Ikuko smiled at her daughter, turning to head back inside. "Be sure to come in soon, Usagi. I don't want you outside all night," she called from the doorway, leaving her blonde daughter alone on the balcony.
"Mamo-chan is right. I'm lucky to have parents who care so much about me. He deserves that love, too, and no matter how much my mom and dad care for him, that still doesn't make them his parents. Oh, I wish there was something I could do to help him!" Usagi mused to herself, blinking back tears. "I wish there was some way to save his parents from that car crash so he would never have to go through that pain and loneliness. Mamo-chan deserves his parents…"
The blonde heaved yet another sigh and headed back inside, leaving one last lingering gaze at the spot she had last seen Mamoru. "Even with all my Senshi and Princess powers, there's nothing I can do to save them. I mean, I couldn't even travel back in time thirteen years—" She stopped mid-thought. "Well, I can't control the flow of time, but I know someone who does, which is just as good!" Usagi giggled to herself and rushed to the privacy of her room. She pulled the curtains and locked the door, so as to have no interruptions during the beginning stages of her brilliant plan.
-+-
"PLUTO!"
"Absolutely not."
"Please?"
"No."
"Why not?" Usagi pouted, folding her arms across her chest in what she hoped was a pleading stance.
Sailor Pluto groaned as she held a hand to her forehead, trying to stop the inevitable headache. "Princess, what you ask of me would disrupt the Timeline. Do you want Crystal Tokyo to come into being?"
Usagi nodded, unsure of where this was going. "So, Mamo-chan's parents needed to die so that Crystal Tokyo could rise? Isn't that a bit harsh?"
The green-haired woman nodded curtly. "Usagi…Mamoru needed to experience that loneliness. The tragedies in his life helped him become a stronger person, and he needed to be at his strongest to help you as Tuxedo Kamen and Prince Endymion. He could only be truly alone, and thus grow, if his parents passed away. I'm sorry, but I will not save them," the Senshi of Time explained, avoiding her Princess's pleading stare.
"But Mamo-chan's so sad…" Usagi whimpered.
"Princess, there is nothing I can do that wouldn't jeopardize the Earth's future existence."
The two women were joined by a third. "My daughter, Pluto is right. The Chibas needed to die…as Pluto told you, Endymion's reincarnation had to learn to be on his own. As future King, he'll need those experiences," Queen Serenity spoke softly, laying a hand on her daughter's shoulder.
Usagi shrugged it off. "Ok…say there was a way to save the Chibas and still have Mamoru live as an orphan. Would that work, Pluto? Mother?"
Pluto raised an eyebrow. "I don't understand what you mean, Princess. Elaborate. If there is a way, I'll see what I can do. But if there's no way to save Mamoru's parents, then you'll have to accept that. Understood?"
Usagi lowered her eyes as she thought. She couldn't accept it; she was going to save her lover's parents no matter what. But better to deal with a willing Pluto than an angry Pluto, so… "I understand." As she lifted her head, her eyes were determined. Nothing could sway her from her mission.
The Moon Queen nodded. "Did you have an idea, then? We're listening."
"What if we saved Mamo-chan's parents, but instead of just saving them, we brought them back here instead? That way, the world will have assumed their deaths, Mamo-chan will live as an orphan, and the Chibas will live…" The teenager faltered at Pluto's and her mother's incredulous stares. She huffed, "It could work!"
"That's very complicated, Usagi. I'm not sure if that would jeopardize the Timeline or not…I'm afraid we can't risk it," Pluto said, turning around so that she wouldn't have to face the disbelief on her Princess's face.
"There are some flaws in that plan," Queen Serenity admitted, "but it could work. And maybe the Timeline will even be better because of it. Why don't we try it, Pluto?"
"Mother!" Usagi flung herself at the Lunarian Queen, sobbing her thanks for the support. "Oh thankyouthankyouthankyou…!"
Sailor Pluto turned again, this time to stare at the Queen. "Are you sure, Majesty? It could have disastrous effects on Earth's future. Something this major would most certainly affect the future."
"You promised!" Usagi cried, pointing an accusing finger at her most mysterious Senshi. "You said that if there was a way to save them without damaging the Timeline, you'd look into it. You have to, Setsuna-chan, you just have to…" By calling her 'Setsuna-chan,' Usagi hoped to get her point across as from a friend to a friend, not as a soldier's duty to her princess.
"I said I'd look into it, not that I'd actually carry out your nonsensical plans," Pluto admonished.
"Pluto." Queen Serenity's voice held a warning note.
Pluto sighed. "Alright…two Lunarian royalty against one Senshi. But if this messes up—"
"The timeline, we'll be responsible, we know," Usagi finished for her, smirking triumphantly. "Now, I think that my own time period would be best to drop them off in. After all, we're done with fighting any enemies but Crystal Tokyo has yet to rise. It's perfect!" She gushed, dancing in excitement. Possibly thanks to her, Mamoru might have his parents back!
Queen Serenity smiled down at her daughter. "We'll take care of everything, Daughter. You should stay in your own time and get some rest. Pluto and I will save them and bring them to that time period."
Usagi sputtered, waving her hands around frantically. "But, but I wanted to save them!"
The green-haired Senshi shook her head. "Wouldn't you want Mamoru to introduce you to them? Have faith in us, Princess. Since I have to do this, trust that I'll do it right. Now. Go home and bother Luna or something. I have some saving to do." So saying, she winked in Usagi's direction and disappeared through the Doors of Time. After all, Setsuna was Mamoru's friend and she did want to see her Prince happy…she just had a duty to the Timeline, which was of utmost importance.
"You should go," the Queen whispered reluctantly to her daughter. She hugged her once more in farewell then watched as Usagi disappeared back to her own time.
-+-
The Lunar cat stretched lazily on Usagi's bed as she lifted her head, glaring at her charge suspiciously. "Where have you been, Usagi-chan?"
"What do you mean, Luna?" asked Usagi, feigning ignorance.
"You've been gone. Where did you go, and what did I tell you about using the Crystal to teleport yourself! You weren't in Mamoru-san's bedroom-"
The blonde gasped, blushing deeply. "NO! Luna, you hentai!"
Luna smiled smugly. "Just making sure, Usagi-chan. Now, seriously, where were you?"
Usagi grinned to herself, throwing Luna off her bed so she could climb under the covers. "Oh, just a little surprise…I'll tell you tomorrow."
Luna hissed as she was thrown against the wall, her next words sounding angrier than she had originally intended. "And what did I say about the Crystal? You're not to use it outside Senshi purposes. Usagi, are you even listening to me!" the cat ranted on, the crescent moon glinting gold on her forehead. But alas for poor Luna, Usagi had developed the art of tuning out her cat's voice. She had to sleep, after all.
And like a little kid awaiting Santa Claus on Christmas Eve, Usagi snuggled into her bed sheets and clamped her eyes shut, hoping that by tomorrow, she might have future in-laws.