Well almost to the end. If you the type of person that skips over sections,
I don't suggested for this part. It's confusing enough as it is. ^_^

Doug
----
Tales of Younger Earth
By Douglas "Candle Light Author" Helm and "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi, and all terms, names, etc.
associated with the series are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi and
Kodansha. We make no claim to them and this work of fanfiction should
not be seen as making a claim.

Those characters that are original and the story "Tales of Younger
Earth" are copyrighted (c) 1998 by Douglas Helm & Will Wolfshohl.

This fanfic and hundreds of other Sailor Moon fanfics reside in "Tuxedo"
Will's SM Fanfics Archive at http://log.on.ca/users/helm/anime/index.htm

Send comments to: Douglas "Candle Light Author" Helm (dhelm@log.on.ca)
or "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl (wwolfshohl@logicon.com)


Chapter 20 - We Ain't in Crystal Tokyo Anymore

Home...

She watched from the large bay window as the first rays of sunlight
peeked over the horizon casting the evergreens into deeper shadow as the
first light of day fought off the cloak of night. It filtered into the
house, her home, yet not her home.

Turning away from the window, she softly padded over to the hallway and
down it to the first door. Laying her hand on the door, she gently
opened it, looking in at the child asleep in the bed. The covers were
drawn up so that only hair and face showed -- contentment, dreams,
peace.

She felt a lump in her throat, swallowed and entered. Bending down, she
kissed the forehead, feeling the gentle warmth; hearing the slow, steady
breathing of sleep. A tear shimmered down her cheek, regret and pain
welling up inside her. Softly, she padded from the room, gently closing
the door.

Quickly now, before she was discovered. She gathered up her suitcase and
slipped from the house, knowing that she might never return. The pain of
the fight the night before, the hurt that was forced into her heart, the
despair at losing yet another child.

Was she running away, or to something? As she drove away, the sun,
blinding with purity, washed over her and she knew... she knew where she
was running to...

                                 ******

Home...

The word echoed within her mind, filling her with a deep longing and
warm memories. The longing would soon be satisfied and more warm
memories would be added to those she cherished. Those memories were what
had kept her going for twenty years, kept her moving forward instead of
giving in to the urge to return home when she knew she could not.

Now though, she was drawing ever closer to home, to her family that she
loved, she needed, she wanted. Old memories filled her of happy times,
pushing away those dark bitter ones that normally, unconsciously, ruled
her life. It had been a long hard journey, twenty years long. Through
sadness, grief, happiness, loneliness, love, and despair, she had worked
always keeping in mind her goal.

Now as she looked out of the vehicle's window, she recognized things
that had not changed. She saw some things that were new and things that
were gone. But the one thing that she looked for, the one thing that she
hoped would be there was...

The Crystal Palace.

Home to Their Royal Majesties, Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion. It
was her home despite a long absence. Where she lived, would live again
if she were permitted. With every step, she drew closer and with every
step, the more nervous she became. Worries, doubts, and fears sprung to
her mind. What if it was not time to come home? But she was so sure that
it was. What if they didn't want to see her? Would they still remember
her? These and other fears hovered around her, picking at her
self-confidence.

Then she was home... A burst of tears came, finally, the journey was
over. The road had come to its end. It seemed they were waiting to see
her, expecting to see her. She felt the old song inside her swell as she
approached its kin, felt the power of her Senshi form crying to be set
free, and in a swirl of magical light, it was.

                                 ******

The Throne Room of Crystal Tokyo fell silent except for the excited
whispers of some of those gathered there. Neo-Queen Serenity and King
Endymion sat upon their thrones, hands clasped together, waiting.
Finally, the Court Herald announced the person that they were expecting,
the one person that they wanted to see.

"Your Majesties, Lord and Ladies of the Court of Crystal Tokyo, Her
Royal Highness, Sailor Earth!" The double set of doors swung open and
the legendary Sailor Earth, the Queen's sister walked into the Throne
Room for the first time in twenty years. Her Sailor fuku swayed as she
walked towards the dais on which Their Majesties sat; her long
blonde-white hair done up in the traditional odangos and pigtails of the
Royal Family fluttered behind her.

"Your Majesties," Sailor Earth greeted as she bowed deeply.

"Welcome home... Imouto," Neo-Queen Serenity replied. Tears welled up
and spilled onto her cheeks as she rose and stepped down from the dais.
"You have been gone a long time."

<Not long enough,> Endymion thought, <You were the one that denied me
the daughter I loved. The little girl I looked forward to seeing born.>
But he smiled because his wife was happy. <I know you missed her,
Serenity, but why have her come now? There's nothing for her here.
Misako is running again, just as she's done every time before.>

"I will stay, if you will allow me, Your Majesty," Sailor Earth stated.

"I would never turn my imouto away. Both Endymion and I know why you had
to leave but it was not in spirit that you left. Your home is here."

<Iie,> Endymion thought, <You never belonged here. You should have never
made that terrible decision.> It had scarred Misako for the rest of her
life and had caused friction between the Senshi. <I know it hurt
Serenity for Luna to refuse to come... but I understand Luna and
Artemis' view of things.>

Sailor Earth shifted back into the regal dress she had ordered for the
occasion. Bowing again, Princess Tsukino Misako smiled and said,
"Arigato Onee-sama." Serenity hugged her sister wholeheartedly.

Standing in the two rows of the Sailor Senshi observing this was a
timid, fairly shy creature of twenty, known as Sailor Chibi-Venus. She
was staring with bold openness at the woman that was Sailor Earth.
Closing her eyes tight, Chibi-Venus fought the urge to run. Here was a
legendary Sailor Senshi. Here was the Senshi she had heard so much about
in her history classes. Chibi-Venus knew she would be introduced and was
dreading that moment; she was the disgrace of the Sailor Senshi.

                                 ******

Once the formalities were over with and the Throne Room cleared of
spectators, the Sailor Senshi gathered to be introduced or re-introduced
to the Queen's sister. The Elder Outer Senshi were the first to greet
the new arrival and leave. Misako was not offended though. It was their
typical manner. She also received cool receptions from Elder Jupiter and
Mercury. They also quickly withdrew, making it obvious that they were
not happy to see Sailor Earth return or more specifically, Misako
return.

Elder Mars was only slightly less chilly. Misako thought this was out of
respect for Serenity rather than any type of friendship that Hino Rei
might have felt. Misako had hoped the intervening twenty years would
have helped smooth some of the ruffles. But after almost a thousand
years of being disgruntled at her, why expect to have them greet her
with open arms after only twenty?

Elder Venus smiled sadly at Misako and then gave her a hug. "We missed
you so much, Your Highness," Minako remarked, "Don't pay any attention
to them. They've had a bee up their butts ever since you decided to stay
in the past with us."

"I know, Commander," Misako answered while returning the hug, "It still
hurts though."

"Now let me introduce you. Some of the faces you already know but we got
some new ones too," Venus stated as she directed Misako over to where
the Younger Senshi had gathered at a respectful distance.

"You know Younger Jupiter," Elder Venus began.

"Sensei," Younger Jupiter said and bowed, "I am pleased to see you again
after so long."

Misako bowed and then asked, "How is your husband, Sakuya-san?" She saw
the confused expression spread across Younger Jupiter's face. "My
apologies if I'm incorrect; I thought I read something about you being
married."

"You are mistaken, Your Highness," Younger Jupiter said stiffly.

Elder Venus gave Misako a sympathetic smile before proceeding to
introduce the other Younger Senshi. Most of the older ones she had
already met. The younger ones, though, hadn't been Sailor Senshi or even
born before her departure. Part way through the introductions, Misako
glanced down the line. <Onee-chan...> Misako became aware that Kimeko
was looking at her oddly. In addition, she had expected Younger Moon to
be standing next to her former guardian. However, there were many
reasons why Princess Usagi might not attend such a ceremony.

By the time they had reached the end of the line, Kimeko was looking as
if she were ready to run away and hide. "Misako-sama," Elder Venus said
with formality, "This is my daughter, Aino Kimeko... Sailor
Chibi-Venus." The admission seemed to hurt Minako. "Kimeko-chan, this is
Princess Tsukino Misako, Her Majesty's sister."

"K-Konnichiwa, Your H-Highness," Chibi-Venus stuttered out and bowed
deeply, "It's an honor."

<CHIBI-VENUS!?!?> Misako wondered in surprise. She gave the young woman
in front of her a hard look. Chibi-Venus blushed deeply and lowered her
head. She seemed almost to crumble under Misako's stern gaze. "I am
pleased to meet Elder Venus' daughter. I bet you are a good addition to
the Sailor Senshi," Misako mused after having recovered enough from her
initial shock. <I remember you being such a great Senshi.>

"I try," Chibi-Venus squeaked timidly. Someone within the Younger Senshi
group softly snorted and Chibi-Venus flushed with guilt. Even Elder
Venus was looking distressed.

"I hope I may join in a Senshi practice with you some time, Kimeko-san,"
Misako added.

"That... would be nice, Your Highness," Chibi-Venus said softly. <Oh
Kami-sama, iie...> The last thing she wanted was to have a legend show
up at her practices. <I already look baka.> All she needed to do was
screw up yet again and kill "the" Sailor Earth.

Before Misako could make anymore comments, Serenity came over and
announced, "Minna-san, let's allow Misako to settle in and unpack." <I
can't wait for you to meet Usagi and Misako.>

                                 ******

The shock Misako felt when she entered the Royal Suite was intense. She
stood both stunned and confused at the sight before her. Princess Usagi,
who appeared to be thirteen and still wearing rabbit ear odangos, was
sitting astride a child of about ten. A child that should not have been
there. Usagi gave Misako a bored look before turning back to tug on the
little girl's own rabbit ear odangos.

"Usagi," Serenity admonished with irritation, "I told you to be nice to
your sister, ne?" Walking over, she lifted Usagi off of the whimpering
child. "We have a very special person here today, Mesume."

Misako was shocked to see that Usagi at thirteen was still taller than
her although only by about a half an inch. In addition, Usagi likely
would still keep growing for a few more years. Standing somewhere around
five feet three inches, she had to look up slightly to glare at her
teenage niece.

"Come on, Miko-chan," Serenity said and lifted her youngest daughter
from the floor. "Shh... don't cry." Turning to Usagi, she asked, "Why
were you pulling her hair, Usagi?"

"'Cause she wouldn't listen to me, Onee-san," Usagi explained, "I told
her to go brush her hair and she didn't."

"You could have done something else beside pull her hair," Serenity
stated sternly, "You're her onee. You should protect her, not hurt her."
Turning to Misako, Serenity said, "Imouto, I want you to meet Tsukino
Usagi, the Crown Princess and my eldest daughter. Usagi-chan, this is
Tsukino Misako, my sister and your oba."

A cold fury had started to pound through Misako when she had seen Usagi
hurting the child. Serenity's admonishments sounded to well practiced to
be effective and this irritated Misako even more. "I want you to
apologize to you sister, Usagi," she directed.

"Yeah right," Usagi snorted, "I'm the Crown Princess. I don't have to do
anything you say. 'Sides, she didn't listen to me."

"Usagi," Serenity snapped sternly, "Do as your oba tells you."

Usagi rolled her eyes but said, "Oh okay. Gomen Misako." Turning to her
aunt, Usagi questioned, "Happy?"

Misako didn't respond. Instead, she walked forward and looked at the
little girl who was hiding her face. "Konnichiwa Miko-chan," Misako said
softly. <You aren't supposed to be here! What the hell are you doing
here?!?> She could feel a headache starting to form. <I didn't think I'd
meet myself...> This little girl was supposed to be in the past. This
little girl was supposed to be Tsukino Misako, the one who had left the
future and decided to stay in the past. Could she have made a mistake?
Maybe this was the wrong time but she was so sure.

"Miko-chan," Serenity began, "This is my sister." Serenity smiled and
turning to her imouto, said, "I named her after you, Misako." Her smile
grew broader and she added, "We can call her Chibi-Misako now, just like
we did for Usagi in the past." Looking back to her youngest daughter,
Serenity asked, "How's that sound?" She got a small nod in response.

<Kami-sama, please don't let this be real. Let it be a dream,> Misako
thought desperately. "Come here, little one," Misako said softly while
reaching out her hands. After a brief moment, the little girl slipped
from her mother's arms and hugged her aunt. She snuggled closer and hid
her face. Misako felt a cold shiver run down her spine as the warmth
from Chibi-Misako pressed against her. Misako could feel the small
trembling of the body and this brought tears into her eyes.

"Oh you're so pretty," Misako continued softly, "I'm so happy to meet
you." <But you should be gone back to the past.> "I'm happy to meet
Usagi as well," Misako added for Serenity's benefit but something was
troubling Misako deeply. She felt the smaller version of herself shudder
when Usagi's name was mentioned. Clinging tighter, the child began to
whimper. <Kami-sama,> Misako thought sadly, <This isn't how it should
be. This isn't how I remember it!>

                                 ******

Two days later, Misako was relaxing in the living room of the Royal
Family Suite with Serenity, Endymion, and Usagi. Chibi-Misako had gone
to bed earlier in the evening. In some ways that was a relief to Misako.
She was having a hard time equating the little girl she had met to the
little girl she herself had once been. Now though, she sat and watched
her niece and Serenity interact. The more she watched, the more she
didn't think that she could ever be an onee to Usagi again as she had
long wished. That was clearly Serenity's job and it had been made clear
that Usagi thought that Misako was a trespasser.

"Okay Usagi, it's time for bed," Serenity instructed. To Misako's
surprise, Usagi didn't argue about it. Instead, the teen got up and gave
her mother a hug. "You look in on your imouto."

"Hai, goodnight Onee-san," Usagi replied. Turning, she gave her father a
hug as well, "Goodnight Dad." Turning again, she started down the hall.

"Usagi," Serenity said softly. The girl turned and looked at her mother
expectantly. Misako watched with some curiosity as the pair held a
silent conversation. "Go on," Serenity prompted.

Sighing, Usagi walked up to Misako and said, "Goodnight Oba."

"Goodnight Usagi-chan," Misako replied. She then gave the girl a hug for
good measure. Giggling at the sour expression on Usagi's face, she
added, "I'll see you in the morning." Usagi grumbled darkly before
heading off towards her room. Turning to Serenity, Misako commented, "I
wouldn't think Usagi was the type to check on her sister without a
fuss."

"Usagi loves Misako and Misako loves her," Serenity stated, "I wouldn't
want you to judge her only by the hair pulling incident; besides, this
is one of Usagi's chores. Misako has a bladder problem. Before Usagi
goes to bed, she goes in to wake Misako up to go to the bathroom and
check the bed to see if Misako's soiled it."

<Fabulous! Just what I DIDN'T need to hear!> Misako thought, <Wait a
minute... I didn't wet the bed when I was ten!>

Any comment she would have made to Serenity was cut off when they heard
Usagi's voice shouting, "Mom! She did it again!!!!"

"I'll go get some clean sheets," Serenity called and, getting up, headed
for the linen closest. Misako though, rose and headed down towards the
bedroom, the bedroom where she lived as a child. As she approached, she
heard the angry voice of Usagi.

"You're just a baby!" Usagi shouted, "Maybe we should put you into
diapers!" Misako hurried to the doorway. "Do you remember what I said
would happen the next time you wet the bed?"

"Iie Onee-sama," Chibi-Misako begged, "Please don't!" She was standing
in a pair of pink bunny pajamas, a large wet patch was clearly visible.
"Please Onee-sama, I didn't mean it!" She peeked at her sister over the
top of the teddy bear she was tightly holding.

<What's she going to do?> Misako thought as she wrinkled her noise,
<Kami-sama, she must have wet it a while before.> The air inside the
room was pungent with the foul odor.

Usagi grinned and said, "You irritated the monster." Turning to the bed,
she raised her hands and shouted, "Monster! Monster under the bed! Come
on out and you'll get fed! Monster! Monster under the bed! Eat my sister
and you'll get fed!" As her sister chanted this menacing incantation,
Chibi-Misako backed into a corner, cowering in fear. Hiding her face in
her teddy bear, she started to cry.

"It ain't my fault, Onee-sama," Chibi-Misako wailed, "I can't help it."

At this point, Misako was white with rage. Storming into the room, she
tiled her head slightly so she could glare up at her niece and shouted,
"Stop this! She's your sister and you should help her, not terrify her!"

"Kami-sama," Usagi muttered, "Look OBA, she wets the bed all the time.
I'm just following through on my punishment that I told her would
happen." Lifting her hands, Usagi started chanting again before saying,
"Oh I hear the monster, Miko-chan. It's mad at you now."

"Iie," Chibi-Misako whimpered.

"Stop this at once, Usagi, or I'll be doing some punishing of my own!"
Misako bellowed.

"Oh, I see a fang, Miko-chan," Usagi commented ignoring her aunt, "It's
as big as you are. That'll likely hurt when it starts eating you VERY
slowly."

Misako looked over to where Chibi-Misako was in the corner curled up
into a ball. Her angry grew even more as Chibi-Misako began shaking with
fear and a puddle of urine appeared below her. "THAT'S IT!" Misako
roared. Grabbing Usagi by the arm, she pulled the teen closer. "I warned
you!" Misako yelled. Usagi tried to struggle but Misako's strength and
agility was no match for hers. What happened next was an absolute shock
to Usagi. Misako proceeded to spank her.

At first, Endymion had been attracted by Misako's yells; now as he stood
in the doorway, he was torn by mixed feelings. On the one hand, he was
happy that Usagi was being punished for treating her sister, his little
girl, in such a manner. However, Endymion was also outraged that Misako
would take such liberal action with his children. These conflicting
feelings kept him from doing anything except watching.

It was even more of a shock to Serenity when she pushed past her husband
before coming into the room. She stopped dead in her tracks as she found
her sister handing out some rather strong discipline to her eldest
daughter. Chibi-Misako who had been attracted by her sister's howls of
protest watched first with shocked horror that quickly turned into a
sense of glee. With every swat her aunt delivered, Chibi-Misako silently
cheered but was careful to hide her delight from her sister.

When Misako was finished, she lifted Usagi up and ordered, "Now get to
your room and stay there!"

"You overgrown cow!" Usagi bellowed with tears running down her face.
<How dare she touch me?!>

"SMALL LADY!" Serenity bellowed in return, "Get to your room!" Serenity
then jabbed a finger in the direction of Usagi's room. Her daughter gave
her an indignant sneer before stomping angrily out of the room. "What
brought that on?" Serenity questioned. Endymion deciding it was best not
to interfere had slipped away, intending to speak with Serenity once
things had settled down.

<How can she be so blind?!> Misako seethed. Not answering, Serenity
immediately she walked to Chibi-Misako and crouched down, "It's safe
now, honey. Your sister's gone, no more monster." She carefully helped
the child up and suggested, "Why don't you go and get washed up, ne?"

"Would you come and help me, Oba-sama?" Chibi-Misako asked hopefully.

Misako blinked and said, "But you're ten, sweetheart. You're a big girl
now. I bet you can get cleaned up on your own."

"Hai," Chibi-Misako squeaked but then confessed softly, "But I'm really
scared the monster will come and get me."

"Chibi-Miko-chan," Serenity said, "Why don't you just keep the bathroom
door open. That way we can protect you if the monster comes in there."
Chibi-Misako nodded and started for the bathroom. Once the little girl
was inside, Serenity questioned, "What in the name of Serenity's Ghost
happened?" Misako regarded her as she started to strip off the soiled
bedding. "I mean I go to get some clean sheets and when I come in here,
I see you nearly skinning my daughter alive."

"Your daughter was terrorizing Chibi-Misako," Misako snarled, "So much
so that she peed herself all over again. Usagi said she was going to
call a monster up to eat Misako for wetting the bed."

"Oh," Serenity said, "I... I believe you but... I've never seen that
happen before. I know Usagi teases Misako about her problem; I've tried
to get Usagi to understand..."

"Not hard enough," Misako snapped tersely cutting Serenity off, "If you
think I've overstepped my bounds in this matter, I'm sorry but Usagi
would not stop when I asked her to." As her anger seeped away, Misako
wavered, "I have never, ever seen that type of treatment in our family."
Misako looked like she was about to say more but the smell and the
headache she felt coming on made her wobble.

After they had settled Chibi-Misako back into bed, Misako allowed
Serenity to help her to her room. Placing her hand on the door, Misako
turned to Serenity and said, "Gomen Onee-sama, I will understand if you
think I am in the wrong."

Serenity smiled. "You are my sister, Imouto. If I can not trust you to
help instill the values that you and I hold dear, then whom can I trust?
I will have a talk with Usagi to ensure that she doesn't repeat this
type of behavior again." Serenity sighed, shook her head, and said, "I
really should have done something sooner. I am ashamed that you had to
step in." Taking Misako's hand, Serenity added, "But I'm glad you did.
That's one of the few times Usagi's really terrified Misako."

Misako could not repress the shudder. Opening the door, she slipped in.
"Goodnight, Onee-sama."

"Goodnight, Imouto," Serenity replied, "I hope you feel better
tomorrow."

She gave Serenity a soft smile before gently closing the door.

                                 ******

Usagi paced around her room. Indignation and disbelief raged within her
and the throbbing of her backside only increased her emotions. <How dare
she?!> Usagi thought through the haze of rage, <I'm the Crown Princess!>
Stopping her pacing, she stared out the window. Breathing hard, Usagi
snarled out, "I promise I'll make you pay!"

The soft voice that came in response startled Usagi. "You will not."
Usagi whirled to see her mother enter the room. After Serenity had
entered and closed the door, she walked to stand in front of her
daughter. "You will not `make her pay'."

"Onee-san..." Usagi started to whine.

"Usagi," Serenity interrupted, "I am your mother. I am talking to you as
a mother; I want you to apologize for calling your oba an overgrown
cow."

"Okaa-san, she spanked me!" Usagi spat out through gritted teeth, "I'm
the Crown Princess; nobody touches me." Her eyes widened in surprise as
Serenity gripped her arm.

"Small Lady, I don't care whether she spanked you with her hand or took
the backside of a hairbrush to your backside. You show respect to your
oba and let me deal with my sister." Serenity let her grip go and rubbed
the bridge of her nose. "Gomen, I understand your anger; however, you
were terrifying your imouto and after finding out what happened, I don't
blame Misako in the least."

"You're taking her side?!?" Usagi demanded.

"Mesume, Misako is my imouto. I would trust her with my life. I would
trust her with my children. It's late so I'm only going to say this
once. Your Imouto has a problem. A problem that she might have to live
with for a long time. As an onee, you should be supporting her and
comforting her. I was ashamed to hear how you were terrifying her."

"But Mom... she's ten and still wets the bed," Usagi countered.

"Usagi, you were eight and still wet the bed. Would you like me to put
you into diapers to make sure you don't wet the bed?" Usagi opened her
mouth but closed it as Serenity shook her head. "See how silly that
sounds? If you love Misako, you will try to help her and comfort her."

Usagi stood still for a long moment and then nodded, "Okay, Mom. I'll
try to be nicer about Misako using her bed as a toilet." She blushed as
Serenity gave her a stern look. "Gomen, it just slipped out."

"That's the type of thing I'm taking about, Usagi. That hurts Misako,"
Serenity explained, "Now to the other matter. Misako is my sister and I
trust her fully. If she punishes you for some reason, then I'll support
her, Usagi. Just like I'm supporting her for punishing you for what you
did to Misako. My mother certainly wouldn't have tolerated what you were
doing and neither will I or your father."

The fire in Usagi's eyes smoldered with anger but she did not respond
for several seconds. "I understand," Usagi spat out, "But I don't have
to like it." Serenity nodded and left the room, leaving her eldest
daughter thinking dark thoughts and swearing vengeance. Maybe not right
away, but sometime, someday she would get her revenge.

                                 ******

While Serenity discussed the situation with Usagi, Misako was trying
desperately to organize her thoughts and emotions into something more
coherent than the chaotic swirl they were in now.

Once that barrier was between her and what she had come home to, what
she had not expected, Misako allowed her control to slip. Leaning
heavily against the door, she closed her eyes, drawing in deep breaths,
forcing the bile she could taste back down. After a few moments, Misako
turned and shakily made her way towards the bathroom that was adjacent
to her room.

Once inside, she flicked the lights on before running the cold water;
she splashed some over her face and across the back of her neck before
stopping up the sink to fill it. Leaning over, she watched the water
flow into the basin and fill to the overflow point to be drained away.
Slowly, Misako reached up and turned the water off, staring at the water
as it rippled as a drop from the faucet then another splashed down.

She looked at the face that was reflected back at her. It appeared to be
twenty. The eyes though, they were said to be the window to the soul.
The once bright blue eyes of her childhood now held all that she had
been through in her life. They told of her true age, not the youthful
looking face, nor did the sleek and elegant body she had told of the
hardships she had endured.

For not the first time in her life, the little girl that Mamoru had said
he had lost came rushing at Misako; seeking desperately to know why she
had chosen to live in the past. Misako closed her eyes denying the
questions. She had been happier in the past. It had been easy to simply
remain, to never return home. After a moment or so, Misako recovered
herself and retrieved a clean facecloth.

<Kami-sama, what happened?> Misako thought as she dropped the facecloth
into the water. <What in the name of Serenity's Ghost went wrong?>
Shaking her head, she winced. The throbbing that had retreated was back,
pounding through her temples again. Picking up and then wringing out the
facecloth, she reentered the bedroom. Switching off the lights, she
slowly lowered her body onto the soft, comforting bed before placing the
cloth over her eyes.

<First Sakuya... what happened to the woman I knew?> She shivered with
unease as a picture of Kimeko came to her. <What was that look in her
eyes?> Misako would describe Kimeko as spineless, almost self-loathing.
A soft, almost timid tapping at the door drew her from her
introspection. A sense of irritation rose within her. <I need time to
figure this out. I need to find out what went so wrong.> If anything had
gone wrong, was it her time that had run amuck? Had she been truly
destined to be terrorized by what at one time was her onee, now her
niece?

Slowly rising and tossing the facecloth into the bathroom, Misako walked
to the door. As she reached it, the timid knocking repeated itself.
"Hai," Misako said softly as she opened the door and was confronted,
once again, with a painful sight -- her younger self. Chibi-Misako was
now dressed in a set of powder blue bunny pajamas and holding a teddy
bear tightly in both arms.

"Oba-sama, gomen," the young girl said, "I didn't know you were asleep."
A look of fear and disappointment came into her face. "Gomen nasai."

Glancing up and down the hall, Misako drew the little girl into her room
and closed the door. "I wasn't asleep, Chibi-Miko-chan. Don't worry." <I
still can't get over I'm talking to myself... I suppose she isn't really
me though. If she were this child, she would be in the past right now.>
>From the light coming in through the window, Misako could see the fear
in the little girl's eyes, and something else that Misako couldn't
identify. "Are you okay?"

She shuffled nervously then and stared towards the floor. "I... I'm
scared; Usagi-sama will make the monsters under my bed come out and eat
me." Chibi-Misako sniffled. "I didn't mean to wet the bed. It was an
accident." She peeked up at Misako while chewing on her bottom lip
nervously.

<Damnable little spore! And I thought I could be her onee!> Misako
angrily thought. Pulling the little girl over so that they could sit on
the bed, Misako asked, "So you came to me for protection, ne?" <I won't
even ask about Kimeko...>

"Hai Oba-sama," her younger counterpart replied, "You can stand up to
Usagi-sama."

"Oh?"

The grin that Chibi-Misako gave her aunt was of pure delight. Hugging
her arm, Chibi-Misako elaborated, "Hai, you spanked her real good!" That
brought and image of her tormenter to mind. <Usagi-sama deserved it for
being mean to me.> Every swat her sister had received had been
delightful to watch.

<Hai, I did.> Misako felt guilty about how she had reacted to Usagi. It
was, however, irritating to find that Serenity, once her mother, now her
sister, allowing Usagi to torment the younger version of herself.
<Kami-sama knows that if I had ever done that to Chibi-Usa, or if Usagi
had ever done that to me, we would have been in more trouble than I care
to think about.> What was even more disturbing was the lack of response
from Sakuya and Kimeko on similar matters Misako had observed.

"Would you come sleep in my room, Oba-sama?" Chibi-Misako asked.

"What if you sleep here?" Misako countered.

"I might wet the bed again," Chibi-Misako said softly, now flushing red
with shame.

"But if you do, your sister wouldn't know," Misako replied gently, "And
I think you're a big girl. You don't mean to wet the bed. It was an
accident just like you said, Chibi-Miko-chan."

Chibi-Misako sat silently for a long time. "Oba-sama," Chibi-Misako
finally asked, "Could I sleep in your room, please?"

"Sure sweetheart," Misako responded. Rising, she lifted the little girl
into her arms before drawing the covers down. "There we go," she said
gently as she laid the little girl into bed, "Now you'll be able to
dream nice dreams. I promise that I'll keep you safe."

"Arigato," Chibi-Misako replied and gave Misako a hug before kissing her
gently on the cheek. Snuggling under the covers, Chibi-Misako smiled.
<Try that again, Usagi-sama, please... I want you to get punished
again.>

Giving the little girl a hug and a kiss, Misako settled back onto the
edge of the bed. Gently, she stroked the little girl's silky hair,
trying desperately to figure out what had happened. Why the future she
had expected was no more solid than the dreams she had held when she was
young.

                                 ******

Sunlight softly entered the room, its quiet softness creeping across the
floor and up the side of the bed. Misako stirred after the golden light
had kissed her eyelids; slowly, they fluttered open and she looked up at
the ceiling.

<Kami-sama,> Misako thought dimly, <Was that a type of nightmare?>
Slowly, she turned her head and saw Chibi-Misako snuggled close to her.
The little girl's head was resting on Misako's shoulder while Misako's
arm protectively hugged her. Chibi-Misako's teddy bear was being crushed
in between Misako and the little girl as the child attempted to hug both
her life-long friend and her aunt.

As Misako watched the little girl sleep, she felt her eyes clouding over
with tears. She tried to blink them away but without success. A lump
formed in her throat and the sadness she felt welled up within her. <I
ran out on her.> Misako sniffled a little and rubbed at her eyes. <But I
had to come home; this is where my home is.> The closeness of
Chibi-Misako was bringing back memories that she did not want.

Without hesitation, Misako pushed the little girl away and got out of
bed. She stalked to the window, looking out, determined not to let some
unimportant memory cause her guilt. When the little girl's voice came
though, it was like a knife that stabbed a Misako's heart.

"Oba-sama?" Chibi-Misako said.

"Get out," Misako snapped, "Just go back to your own room."

With her back turned, Misako did not see the little girl's face droop in
sadness. Her voice, though, conveyed it perfectly, too perfectly for
Misako's liking. "Did I do something wrong, Oba-sama?" She checked
herself and gave a slight sigh. <At least, I didn't wet the bed.>

"Chibi-Misako, just please leave," Misako stated angrily. <I should be
home, making my daughter's breakfast!> What had her father told her?
<Did he tell her that her mother ran away?> Misako snorted as she
thought bitterly, <Hai, he likely told her the truth.> And that hurt.

She was pulled from her thoughts by Chibi-Misako who had gently tugged
on her pajamas. "Oba-sama, if I did something wrong, you could..." she
trailed off and gave Misako a look of pure trust but it was mixed with
apprehension.

Misako closed her eyes, unsure of what to do. <I'm sorry, Mesume,
gomen.> Reaching down, Misako lifted her namesake into her arms and held
her close. "You didn't do anything wrong," Misako said softly, "I'm
sorry that I yelled at you." Chibi-Misako snuggled against her aunt and
sighed. Closing her eyes, the little girl laid her head on Misako's
shoulder. "What say we get dressed?"

"Oba-sama, would you help me? I don't want to wake Onee-sama up."

Misako grimaced slightly and said, "Your sister helps you get dressed?"
Her niece gave a burble that could have been anything from a yes to just
a sound of contentment. "But you're ten."

"She's my onee," Chibi-Misako countered, "She wants to help me.
Usagi-sama puts out my dresses and makes sure I put them on right." She
wiggled then and dropped from Misako's arms. "I gotta go to the
bathroom," Chibi-Misako explained and scurried into the bathroom before
closing the door.

Turning back to look out the window, Misako pondered what she had
learned and wondered how things had altered so radically from the
timeline that Misako knew.

                                 ******

The coming day presented more surprises for Misako. First was her
niece's desire to wear dresses. In fact, most of her clothing was suited
more towards a little girl than what Misako remembered liking to wear as
a child. The next shock was Chibi-Misako's insistence on the wearing of
rabbit ear odangos. Chibi-Misako recoiled from the thought of not
wearing rabbit ear odangos as if the thought was a terrifying monster.

Breakfast was not the most enjoyable of affairs Misako had ever been at.
It started out with Usagi apologizing to both her aunt and sister.
Although Usagi sounded like she was trying to put some real warmth into
her apology to Chibi-Misako, there was definite venom in Misako's. The
rest of the meal was spoiled, at least in Misako's opinion, by
Chibi-Misako's behavior.

Instead of a ten year old girl who was fairly independent, Chibi-Misako
was VERY dependent. It was almost as if she were seven or eight. Misako
at first thought that it might be some form of punishment like what her
parents had done to her sister. However, a few choice questions
dispelled this notion.

What was even more distressing was the fact that Endymion seemed to want
to keep Chibi-Misako as a little girl. It was almost sickening to watch.
After the children left for school, Serenity commented that she had to
visit Ami and she'd like Misako to come along since Endymion wasn't able
to attend. Unaware of what she would learn at this meeting, Misako
accepted. Upon later reflection, she would admit that it was almost as
sickening as Chibi-Misako's submissive behavior.

                                 ******

Mizuno Ami ran a hand through her hair while sighing. She had not been
looking forward to this meeting and Misako's presence would likely make
the meeting that much more uncomfortable. It wasn't that she didn't like
Misako, more that she didn't like what Misako had done. Most of the
Inner Senshi felt the same way, although the ability to suppress the
displeasure varied from person to person.

"Serenity-sama," Ami began in a business-like manner after collecting
her thoughts, "You must really speak with your daughters... Princess
Usagi in particular."

"Is there another problem with her grades, Mizuno-sensei?" Serenity
asked.

"Serenity-sama, it just isn't her grades. Usagi is disrupting the other
students. She's also dragging her sister's grades down." Both Serenity
and Misako cocked an eyebrow quizzically. "In the past two months, Usagi
has received twenty tardy slips, twenty-two detention slips, and five
summons to my office. She has never showed up once for a detention. She
does not recognize my authority over her."

"What are you saying?" Serenity asked. She sounded almost scandalized,
"There has to be some mistake, Ami. I know that Usagi isn't the best
student but... couldn't you get her a tutor or something?"

"Her Highness has made it quite clear that she does not wish a tutor.
Serenity-sama, I have tried to tell you of these problems before. I have
tried to be as flexible as I can."

<Uh oh!> Misako thought, <It's gonna hit the fan now.>

Ami paused and then said in a quiet voice, "I have sufficient grounds
for Usagi's expulsion from this school. I will exercise that right if
she causes any more trouble. I will be sending her home early,
Serenity-sama. I respectfully suggest you talk to her."

Seeing that Serenity was on the verge of exploding, Misako asked
hastily, "Mizuno-sensei, how is my other niece doing?"

Ami gave her a sharp look before replying, "Princess Misako is carrying
a `C-' average. She is failing in art and languages. She has the
potential to have a higher grade average; however, she has indirectly
indicated that if her sister stops doing homework, she does as well."
Shifting a few papers, Ami then dropped the bomb. "She is also socially
crippled."

"NANI?!?!" Serenity and Misako demanded.

Licking her lips, Ami folded her hands in front of her. "Princess Misako
behaves as a child of age six or seven."

"She's just shy," Serenity argued.

"With respect, Your Majesty, Princess Misako is shy but the her social
interactions are with girls of a younger age. She has no friends within
her class except for Yuki and she thinks Yuki's a little scary." Ami and
Serenity's attention was attracted by a groan from Misako.

<Kami-sama, say it isn't true!> Misako thought, <I was a good student. I
tried hard. I even wanted to help 'Sagi when I was little.> She rubbed
her temples. <Well at least Serenity can't ignore this. She doesn't have
a choice now; something has to be done.>

                                 ******

Two days later, Serenity sat at the desk in the study. Before her lay
the expulsion notice that Mizuno Ami had given her. <Ami, don't you see
that I can't send my child to school abroad? The press is having a field
day with this.> She glanced across the desk to where her sister was
sitting. "Will you tutor Usagi, Imouto?"

"Hai," Misako responded, "But I must also be allowed to tutor
Chibi-Misako as well. I will also need authority to ensure that Usagi
completes all of her homework assignments on-time." Serenity shook her
head. "Nani?"

"I will accept you also helping Chibi-Misako but I will not force my
daughter to do all of her homework. Mizuno has had it in for her from
the start. Usagi told me Mizuno ordered her sensei to give her extra
homework."

"Onee-sama, you can't really believe that," Misako replied.

"Please Misako, I won't argue over it. You want to help Chibi-Misako as
well as Usagi then that's fine but I will not lend my authority to make
Usagi do excessive amounts of homework." Misako was stopped from making
a sharp retort by a knock at the door. "Enter," Serenity commanded.

After entering the room, Ami bowed and greeted, "Your Majesty, Your
Highness." Usagi followed closely behind her.

"Mom," Usagi said and flopped into a chair in the corner and started to
sulk, "I had plans."

"This is more important," Serenity snapped. "Let's get right to the
point. Misako has agreed to tutor both Usagi..."

"Nani?!?" Usagi demanded as she sprang to her feet, "Mom, you can't be
serious!" <That cow can't teach me anything!>

"Usagi, SIT DOWN NOW!" Serenity ordered, "You were expelled, Usagi, so
as far as I'm concerned, you don't have anymore say in this matter." She
gave her daughter a stern look and the teen slumped back into the chair,
her bottom lip jutting out in a defiant pout.

"As I was saying, Misako has agreed to take on both Usagi and
Chibi-Misako for tutoring." Serenity continued as she swung her gaze
back to look at Ami, "Now, Minuno-sensei, what will it take to get my
daughter back into school? This school?"

"Your Majesty, I am not in the habit of reversing an expulsion," Ami
replied. <Don't you see, Serenity, you are putting Japan at peril if you
force this issue.>

"But, you have to see that Usagi can't be sent away to school; her
friends are here, her home is here." Serenity countered, "Why not let
her back in?" Ami shook her head. "I could order you to."

"Serenity-sama, you know how the Senshi Council feels about this matter.
You know how most of my department feels about this matter," Ami stated,
"You force this issue and we will resign. I have already gotten several
requests to teach, along with other staff in my department." <We will
not live under the type of ruler that Usagi would make. I would not
suffer long nor would I see my family suffer.>

<What can I do?> Serenity gripped the pen she had been holding but
slowly, she relaxed. "All right then. What would it take for you to let
Usagi back into school here, Mizuno-sensei?"

"Three simple demands, Your Majesty: One, the ability to enforce
detentions and office summons. Two, the authority to discipline Usagi
for violating school rules. Three, the ability for my authority to flow
through my staff as well. In short, Your Majesty, when Princess Usagi is
in my school, she's a normal student."

Usagi shifted and Serenity's gaze swung onto her. Pursing her lips,
Serenity considered for several seconds before saying, "All right
Mizuno, I'll have the papers drawn up immediately. While Usagi is in
your school, she will be treated... like a regular student."

"Mom, you can't be serious!" Usagi protested, "I am the Crown Princess."

<You're a right pain in the neck!> Misako thought but kept her mouth
shut.

"Gomen nasai, Usagi-chan, Mesume. You are my special girl and you always
will be. The Senshi Council though is forcing me to give Mizuno this
authority. It's political and I'm being forced into it. I know what you
think of Mizuno and I agree, I just don't have any choice."

Ami was shaking in rage and she stood up, fists clenched, "Contrary to
what your daughter tells you, Serenity-sama, I am not `out to get her'.
It is a matter of being lazy, selfish, and egotistical!" Turning, she
stormed out of the office, slamming the door as she left.

                                 ******

It was a few days after the meeting with Ami that Misako finally decided
to take in a Senshi practice before spending some time alone to figure
things out.

As Misako walked down the hallway, she ran a hand through her hair.
<What a day!> she thought tiredly, <I spend the morning getting creepy
looks from Kimeko. Then I listened to Usagi pester her sister...> And it
was just enough to torment Chibi-Misako but not enough for Misako to
really justify doing anything. Lunch had not been a pleasant meal,
mainly because Misako's mind kept worrying what Usagi was doing to
Chibi-Misako while Misako and her parents were away.

Misako blinked as she came to a sudden stop and looked around. She
giggled and shook her head. <Baka Misako, you haven't came to feed
Kimeko's cat in I don't know how long.> A brief thought to visit Kimeko
sprang up but Misako shook it off. Her former guardian was painfully shy
and it was difficult to even coax the merest of statements from the
young woman.

She started walking again and then came to an apartment. <Sakuya's...>
Misako thought and knocked on the door. After a moment, it opened and
Misako smiled. "Konnichiwa Sako-chan, I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Iie, please come in, Misako-sama," Sakuya replied as she stepped out of
the doorway. After Misako entered, Sakuya shut the door and said, "Would
you like some tea?"

"Hai, arigato," Misako replied. Giving a slight nod, Sakuya headed off
to prepare the tea.

A few minutes later, they were seated on the couch, each quietly sipping
at their tea. Finally though, Misako decided to break the silence,
"What's with this `Misako-sama' stuff? What happened to you calling me
`Miko-chan'?"

Sakuya stared into her tea while rotating her cup. "You left, without
real reason," she began after a long pause, "We... I never heard
anything from you in the past twenty years. I'm... I'm not sure how I
feel about that; it hurt though." <You were my best friend and my
sensei. Why did you leave me?>

"Oh Sako-chan," Misako said gently, "I would have stayed. I would have
wanted to be here when Usagi was born, when Misako was born but I
couldn't. Just like Serenity couldn't tell us about the Black Moon War
that was coming." A deep scowl flitted across Sakuya's face. "I knew
what was coming and had to be away."

Sakuya took a long sip of her tea before turning to face Misako. "I
needed you, Sensei," Sakuya said angrily, "You left me holding together
a group... You gave me the responsibility of the Youngers after you
left. I never wanted it. I didn't have anyone to look to for support
over these past years."

"I don't know what to say, Sako-chan," Misako remarked softly, "I regret
leaving Crystal Tokyo. It wasn't something I wanted to do. But at the
time, I thought I had to." Reaching out, she gave her friend's arm a
squeeze and said, "Please Sako-chan, understand."

A reluctant smile came onto Sakuya's face and she sighed. "Okay
Miko-chan, next to Obaa-san..." she trailed off and Misako nodded her
understanding, nothing more needed to be said.

"Can I ask you something?" Misako questioned.

"Hai."

"Why don't you stop Usagi from tormenting her imouto?"

"I'm Usagi's guardian, just another fancy name for a bodyguard. I am not
a babysitter," Sakuya responded, "I'm not her family and she IS the
Crown Princess." <As she keeps telling me over and over.>
"Responsibility for her discipline falls to Their Majesties."

"It looks like they hardly ever scold her," Misako replied darkly.

"Hai," Sakuya agreed then flushed. At Misako's questioning look, Sakuya
said, "Miko-chan, I take it you've heard about the pudding thing, ne?"
Misako nodded. "Well Serenity-sama just hugged her and said that maybe
she could spend more time with Usagi. Both Sobo and I agreed that what
Usagi needed was a few well placed swats on her behind, not an
understanding hug of forgiveness."

"Well Usagi was young at the time, ne?" Misako pointed out. <I was just
a baby.>

"Hai, I suppose it could be seen as kawaii... I don't think Ami was very
pleased though." Sakuya ran a hand through her hair and said, "I suppose
I should tell you about a more recent incident before you hear something
even more far fetched." Misako waited expectantly but Sakuya finished
off her tea before continuing to speak, "You know Minako's son Masao?"

"Hai, I've met him," Misako answered. <He's supposed to be your
husband!> She couldn't shake the feeling that she knew where this was
headed. In a way, she did.

"Masao got married. Minako invited the Royal Family and I guess Serenity
figured that since Usagi was Crown Princess, she had to attend as well."

"How long ago was this?"

"Hmmm..." Sakuya said thoughtfully, "Say two or three years ago." Sakuya
shook her head. "It wouldn't have mattered I don't think. I mean,
Usagi's age. Anyway, Masao opted for a western style wedding. I think it
had to do more with his fiancee being from Britain or someplace like
that. The ceremony's going along just fine until they get to the part
where the priest asks if anybody has any reason why these two should not
wed."

"Oh Kami-sama..." Misako breathed in horror.

"Yep," Sakuya said and nodded, "Up shoots, `Her Highness'. She demands
to know how he could betray his nation by marrying a gaijin and why
would he ever want to taint a great Senshi line by having such a
scrawny-necked buzzard for a wife."

"Great Serenity's Ghost!" Misako screeched with horror. <That doesn't
sound like the girl that was my onee.> "You can't tell me Serenity
didn't punish Usagi for doing something like that!"

Sakuya snorted then. "Well it was explained away as Usagi being under
pressure at school and as the Crown Princess, she didn't mean anything
by it. Frankly, the worst thing that's ever happened to Usagi for
discipline was the time she failed the Juken. Her parents agreed with
Mizuno-sensei about holding Usagi back."

"I bet she wasn't pleased by that development."

Sakuya considered for several seconds before saying, "Their Majesties
were ready to support Usagi in her demand that Mizuno-sensei let her
into junior high school anyway. If it weren't for Ami being so
stubborn... Still if you added up all the days that Usagi has ever been
grounded since birth, I bet you'd see it's not more than a year."

<What changed Serenity so much? What changed her to act this way?>
Misako thought as she absorbed the new information.

"Miko-chan, would you consider doing something for me?"

"Nani?"

"Talk to Serenity, have her replace Chibi-Venus with somebody more
qualified."

<Nani?!> "Chibi... Venus?!?" Misako asked as she blinked, "Not Younger
Venus?"

"Iie," Sakuya replied, "Kimeko has not passed her Younger Designation
test yet. Minako was just trying to be kind to her daughter and talked
Her Majesty into being Misako's guardian."

"I take it that ruffled some feathers, Sako-chan?"

"Hai. What makes it even worse is that we don't think Kimeko will ever
pass. As a Senshi, Kimeko is the bottom of the barrel." Sakuya saw
Misako bristle at this and she shook her head. "I feel sorry for her
too, Miko-chan. She can't even hit a stationary target if she thinks
somebody's watching her. Every sim in which she has to protect Princess
Misako usually winds up with her getting killed, one of the Senshi
getting killed, or her charge getting killed." Sakuya threw up her hands
in despair. "One time, she managed to wipe out the entire Royal Family
and half the Elders in one stroke."

"So you'd like me to talk to Serenity?"

"Hai, Sensei," Sakuya said, "The theory that a timid child needs a timid
Senshi doesn't hold water with me if the Senshi that is supposed to
protect you is more dangerous than the threat. Little Misako deserves a
true Senshi as her guardian. Perhaps Younger Neptune who could help her
with her studies as well. I tried a few times over the years to approach
Her Majesty on this subject but she won't hear of it." <Neither will the
Commander.>

Misako blew out a breath. What was she supposed to do now?

                                 ******

Misako paused outside the study door. A wry smile played across Misako's
face as she felt the wood on the door. <Even after all this time, I
still think of this room as my parents.> The last time she had been in
this room as a child with her parents came back to her. <Strange after
all this time, I remember the night I was punished for spoiling Sakuya's
wedding.> That had been the start of a very interesting week that Misako
still remembered. As she knocked on the door, she giggled. <I can't see
this Usagi doing what my onee did.>

"Enter," came the voice of Serenity.

Misako entered and saw that Minako was also present. <Well I wanted to
talk to Serenity alone but I might as well kill two birds with one
stone.>

"Kobanwa Miko-chan," Minako said while standing. "Well I'll let you two
have some time alone."

"Iie," Misako said, "I wanted to talk to Onee-sama but I need to talk to
you as well, Minako-chan." Minako turned to give Serenity a quizzical
look but Serenity shrugged. Coming into the room, Misako closed the
door.

"Here, come sit by the fire, Imouto," Serenity directed as Minako pulled
up a third chair. This she took, giving up the more comfortable chair
for Misako who nodded her thanks. "Now, what was it you wanted to talk
about?"

Misako kneaded her hands for a moment before folding them in her lap. "I
wanted to talk to you about Kimeko," Misako began softly, "I have the
greatest respect for her but..."

"But?" Minako prompted.

"I don't think she's best suited for Chibi-Misako's guardianship,"
Misako admitted. <Gomen nasai, Onee-chan. I know you can be a great
Senshi, but not in this timeline. My namesake needs someone she can rely
upon. I know she loves me but I'm too tangled up in my own plans and
goals to really look out for her.> That admission in itself hurt Misako.

"Imouto," Serenity said after a long moment, "I don't understand. You
talked for years about how great a Senshi Younger Venus was. How
wonderful a guardian that Kimeko had been to you."

"I know Kimeko doesn't seem like the guardian that you had but she will
pass her Younger Test. She will succeed," Minako stated firmly. "If you
take this away from her..."

"Minako-chan," Misako argued softly, "We aren't talking about what's
best for Kimeko. I'm talking about what's best for Chibi-Misako. As
Commander, you've seen the simulation training reports; Chibi-Venus is
ineffective and a danger to her fellow Sailor Senshi and those she's
sworn to protect."

"Misako," Serenity snapped, "How can you say this? Misako is content
with Kimeko. To replace Kimeko with a new guardian would crush both of
them. I truly think Kimeko is the best..."

"Hai, the best at letting Misako be picked on," Misako countered, "She's
the best at doing nothing for Misako." <Gomen nasai, Minako-chan.>

"How dare you?!" Minako shouted while springing to her feet.

"How dare you," Misako countered, "jeopardize the well-being of Misako
for the sake of Kimeko's image? Don't you see that Kimeko is not the
Senshi I described? She is NOT the guardian I told you about."

"She certainly is..." Minako began indignantly.

"Is she? Would this Kimeko even consider disciplining Chibi-Misako like
she did to me?" She saw the surprised look speed between Minako and
Serenity face. The implication was clear and she sighed. <I never told
them that.> "Onee-sama, what about appointing Younger Neptune? She could
help Misako with her studies. Chibi-Misako needs someone to have a
strong hand that will help her grow into a young woman."

Minako looked to Misako, tears running down her cheeks. "Are you so
ashamed of Kimeko that you hate her? Do you not think she can be this
strong hand that Misako needs?"

"Iie, not the way she is. Gomen, Minako-chan. Kimeko is still
Chibi-Venus. That means she is still learning. Misako as a princess. She
deserves a Younger Senshi," Misako stated. "I love Kimeko with all my
heart, even this one... especially this one. I just can't stand by
though and not take any action on this matter."

Minako slowly sank back into her seat and started to shake her head.
"Iie, please Serenity-chan. Don't take this away from my little girl.
Don't take this one last honor away from her." Serenity sat silent
though, lost in thought.

                                 ******

All of the Younger Senshi along with Sailor Earth were gathered in the
Senshi Training Area early one morning. Younger Jupiter looked towards
Sailor Earth and muttered a curse. <I don't know why Sensei won't take
her command back,> Younger Jupiter thought, <I would be much happier.>
Flicking her eyes to Chibi-Venus, she sighed. She was not looking
forward to seeing the young woman fail yet again. <Well, at least
Chibi-Venus shows up to try. Chibi-Moon doesn't seem to care about being
a Senshi.>

Chibi-Venus might not have held great respect among the Senshi but they
at least considered her to be a "real" Senshi. Chibi-Moon, on the other
hand, was, in the Younger Senshi's opinion, even more of a disgrace than
Chibi-Venus. Chibi-Moon rarely attended Senshi practices or briefings.
While Chibi-Venus was dead last in everything; at least, she tried.

Younger Jupiter sighed and thought, <Maybe I should take a nice long
vacation...>

Chibi-Venus was thinking about a vacation also. <I need a vacation...
I'm going bonkers,> Chibi-Venus thought, <I got this really weird
feeling that something's not quite right with Sailor Earth. And I keep
remembering things that haven't happened yet and...> She bit back the
cry of frustration that had risen in her throat.

"Okay, let's get this over with. Chibi-Venus, you're up first," Younger
Jupiter announced.

Chibi-Venus nodded bleakly. She started to walk towards the small "safe
room" when she stopped dead in her tracks and blinked. <What's going
on?> Chibi-Venus wondered as she watched the world around her
shimmering. <What's happening?!> It looked like reality was a pond and
someone had dropped a rock into it, creating ripples across its surface.

"Venus!" Younger Jupiter snapped, "I know you don't want to do this but
you have to."

Venus shook her head and blinked. <That was weird,> she thought, <Very,
very weird. Maybe I should find Pluto.>

"Let's go, Chibi-Venus," Younger Jupiter commanded.

<Kami-sama, Sakuya's in a grouchy... Wait a minute... Sakuya shouldn't
be here practicing!> She furrowed her brow. <And why'd she call me
`Chibi-Venus'?> "Hai!" Seeing her friend's glare, Venus headed off to
wait for the simulation to start. <That woman, she kinda looks like
Misako... but that's impossible.>

After a brief wait, the simulation was prepared and Chibi-Venus entered.
<This looks familiar,> she observed, <I know I've seen this sim before.>
She just couldn't place where though. Continuing to walk along, she
waited expectantly. <I know where I saw this before!> Any further
thought was cut short as she caught movement to her right. Whirling
around, her suspicions were confirmed when she saw the enemy. <This is
the same one Chibi-Earth went through.> "Very kawaii! Now where's the
real monster?" As expected, there was no reply.

"STARLIGHT SHIMMER!" Venus cried launching her attack and effortlessly
blowing away the enemy. Hearing a "whooshing" noise, she leapt to the
left and turned. "STARLIGHT SHIMMER!" Again, the threat was easily
decimated. Landing gracefully on the ground, she grinned up to where she
knew the Control Room was with smug satisfaction.

In the Control Room, Younger Jupiter was sitting with a stunned
expression on her face. Her shock started to grow as the computer began
to automatically increase the difficulty level. At first, the rating
shot up exponentially but soon it flattened out at a level just above
what Younger Mars could normally obtain.

<Kami-sama, what happened?!?> Younger Jupiter wondered as she started
studying the various readouts. <This is incredible!> Younger Saturn who
was standing by the window gave a startled curse and took a few steps
back. "Nani?"

"She just used a different attack!" Younger Saturn screeched in shock,
"It's... it's... frightening."

"Let's see how she handles this," Younger Jupiter replied and entered in
a series of commands. "Let's see if she can keep Princess Misako alive."
What followed was such a shock to Younger Saturn that she fainted.
Younger Jupiter and the other Younger Senshi watched in fascination as
Chibi-Venus, the least effective of the Sailor Senshi, did the job she
had been given as Princess Misako's guardian without a flaw. Rescue,
retreat, defend, it was as if it were completely natural. Elder Venus
had been summoned during the rescue sequence and was bouncing with
absolute delight by the time the simulation was completed.

She rushed from the Control Room, down the stairs, and into the
Simulator to give her daughter a large hug. "Mesume, that was so good!"
Elder Venus declared, "I was just about to tell you that Her Majesty had
decided to remove you as guardian when..."

"NANI?!?!" Chibi-Venus declared, "Why would Serenity-sama remove me?" <I
thought I did a pretty good job.>

"Well Misako didn't think you were doing a good job but now you've shown
everybody that even if you don't have your Younger Designation, you can
still protect Chibi-Misako!" Elder Venus gushed joyfully and tightened
her hug. <I'm so proud of you, Mesume.>

"What are you talking about, Mo... Commander?" Chibi-Venus asked. <I
already have my Younger Designation. And who's Chibi-Misako?>

"Congratulations Chibi-Venus!" Sailor Earth remarked, "It was great
watching you put that type of effort into your training." She watched
with surprise as Chibi-Venus turned, looked at her, and gave a whimper.
The young woman's eyes rolled back and she slipped from her mother's hug
as she fainted. "What did I say?" Sailor Earth questioned.

What was to follow over the next few days caused Kimeko even more
stress. She discovered that she was not Younger Venus, however, that was
soon solved by redoing her Younger Designation Test. She found a little
girl who should not have been in the future. She found a sister who was
menacing and obnoxious. But the most distressing of all was that she was
no longer friends with Sakuya, nor was her brother married to the person
he was supposed to be married to.

To the others that were witness to this transformation, they came to a
shocking conclusion. Kimeko had finally developed a backbone. However,
the young woman seemed to be struggling with the decision to take stands
or let people walk all over her. Misako, however, began to grow
suspicious at these new developments. Nevertheless, she did not act.
Instead, she waited and watched hoping that Sailor Pluto would soon make
her presence known.

                                 ******

With her eyes closed, she drew in deep breaths of clean air. The air was
cold, crisp, and clean. It revived her mind, her spirit. It also brought
back a happy memory. One of Usagi and herself running outside to play in
the snow instead of opening their gifts. Shivering slightly, Misako
reached up and slid her window shut.

Turning, she was startled to discover that she was no longer alone in
the room. Her transformation words leapt into her mouth, ready to be
used; it was then that she recognized the figure who was calmly standing
before her.

"Great Serenity's Ghost! Don't you ever knock?!?" Misako demanded. She
didn't see any hint of amusement but Misako was sure Pluto got a kick
out of sneaking up on people.

"Gomen Princess Misako," Sailor Pluto began, "I did not mean to frighten
you but I needed to speak with you alone."

Misako felt her stomach knot as a cold lump formed there. Moving to the
bed, she sat down on it and looked up at Pluto. "It's... It's about the
changed timeline, ne?" Pluto gave a small nod. "I'm trying, Pluto,
really I am but things have changed so much... I don't know if I can fix
them."

"You can," Pluto stated simply, "IF you are willing to face your
problems."

Misako felt a surge of pride rush through her. "I knew it!" she declared
smugly, "I'm the one that changed things."

"Hai, but do you know what the critical point was, though?"

The smug expression that had come onto Misako's face melted away.
Scowling slightly, she looked towards the window for a moment. "I think
it was when Mamoru rejected me as his daughter. I... couldn't handle
that. It hurt too much." <It still does. I know he isn't happy with me
here. He only keeps his peace because Serenity wants me here.> She
started to feel disconcerted when Pluto just continued to stare at her.

"I thought you were willing to face your problems, Misako," Pluto
remarked after a long pause, "You must if you hope to repair the damage
you have caused." Misako opened her mouth to speak but Pluto raised her
hand. "This is too important so listen. Mamoru's rejection of you,
although a major factor, was not the critical turning point. There were
major shifts already before that point."

"Then what?" Misako asked, "I don't know what else it could be. All my
life I ran away from being hurt. I couldn't face any difficult decisions
in a relationship. I was the one that always fled. I thought it was
because Mamoru rejected me. I thought that I had altered the timeline by
not facing some difficult decision."

For the first time, Misako noticed a hint of a smile play across Pluto's
face. The Senshi of Time walked to a chair and sat down. Banishing her
Time Staff, she made herself comfortable before looking Misako right in
the eye. "The critical point, Your Highness, was when you made the
decision to stay in the past permanently."

"Nani?" Misako questioned, "How could that shift everything to... this?"
She waved her hands broadly to encompass tangible and intangible items
that were different from the timeline she had remembered.

"I can not explain all the intricacies of time to you. Think, however,
did you not cause friction between your mother and the other Elder
Senshi? Did you not stifle Younger Jupiter's and Younger Saturn's
command potential?" Misako shook her head, a confused look upon her
face. "What don't you understand?"

"I know I caused friction between my mother and the other Senshi. I
suppose that is what led up to Mamoru's rejection of me." <My mother
needed support so she turned to Mamoru. But I was still looking for a
father in the past that would love the mother that I loved. I forced
that on Mamoru and he finally had to choose.> The memory bought tears to
Misako's eyes and she wiped them away. "But the rest I don't get," she
said in a slightly croaky voice.

"Younger Jupiter, and by extension Younger Saturn, never had to lead.
You were always around, took care of all the problems the Younger Senshi
had. You had your life to devote to making sure the Youngers worked as a
group. Younger Jupiter, the one that you knew as a child, was the same
way. She was leader at first because she was first; then because she
proved herself capable."

Misako sat silently for a long moment after Pluto had finished speaking.
"I see," she said and nodded her head slowly, "I was like Sakuya then;
she had no real need to take command and became satisfied with her
position." There was another long pause and then she added, "Younger
Saturn was the same way I guess. I know Sakuya was friends with Yasha,
but now... I took that role as well."

"You see, time is a web. If you jiggle one thread, the others vibrate.
You destroy one thread and you weaken the entire web," Pluto stated.

"So what about Kimeko?" Misako questioned, "I mean she seems to be
improving but when I first met her..."

"Younger Jupiter, as leader of the Younger Senshi in your timeline,
befriended a little girl named Aino Kimeko. Through her duties as
Younger Senshi Commander and Minako's friend, she learned to first like
Kimeko and then helped her build confidence. Kimeko's support pillar is
Sakuya; with you staying in the past and changing these critical, if
subtle things, you altered the fabric."

"What must I do to fix this?" Misako questioned, "How can I repair these
things?"

Rising, Pluto summoned her Time Staff and commanded, "Come, Princess
Misako, I must show you something." Seeing Misako's reluctance, Pluto
gave a sharp gesture and said, "Come." Slowly, reluctantly, Misako rose
and approached the Senshi of Time. With a thought, a portal opened and
Pluto entered, "Stay close, if we get separated, stay where you are.
Even to me, this is a dangerous journey." Before Misako could question,
Pluto she was drawn into the timestream and the portal closed.

"Oba-sama?" Chibi-Misako questioned with anxiety, "Are you in there?"

"Don't bother running, Misako," Usagi said softly, "That old crone isn't
going to protect you this time."

As her sister started to advance, Chibi-Misako made a stunning and
unexpected decision. Quickly opening her aunt's door, she slipped inside
and locked it before her sister could reach her. <I don't care what Oba
does to me. Usagi's not gonna punish me anymore.> Crawling up onto the
bed, Misako hid under the covers. Holding her teddy bear close, she
tried to block out the cries of protest from Usagi.

                                 ******

The trip through the timestream was the roughest that Misako had ever
encountered it. As they emerged out of the portal, her eyes started to
water from a sooty black smoke that the wind drove into their faces. She
blinked and stumbled until a firm hand caught her.

"Where are we? Why was the timestream so rough?" Misako demanded.

"It was difficult travelling because we entered an area of extreme
liquidity," Pluto answered softly, "We are in a future that is so
unstable that even I have trouble travelling into it."

Fear rose in Misako and she turned to face Pluto, "Then what the hell
are we doing here? For that matter, where is here?"

Pluto did not answer. Instead, she stretched out her arm and pointed.
Turning, Misako gasped then staggered back. There before her was a
shattered city, her city, her home. The great Crystal Palace of Crystal
Tokyo was nothing but smoldering ruins. The city was even more of a
barren waste then when the Black Moon Family War had raged. Off in the
distance, several explosions could be heard. The ground rumbled and then
the cries of humanity wafted to them on the breeze.

<Kami-sama,> Misako thought as she looked out over the devastation, <Is
this our future?> From the hill she and Pluto were standing on, they
could see what appeared to be tiny figures moving about. "Pluto," Misako
started softly, her voice fully of fear, "We are in the future?"

"Hai."

"We are in the future, my future?" There was no response. Misako turned
to look at Pluto. "Was it another invasion?"

"Nothing so simple, so painless," Pluto remarked.

"Painless?" Misako questioned, "The Black Moon Family War was certainly
not painless."

"True," Pluto agreed while tilting her head slightly, "But then Crystal
Tokyo did not turn in upon itself to devour its soul."

Misako paled and she raised a hand to her mouth. "Iie," she whispered
out, "We plunged into civil war? Over what?"

"Come, and I will show you," Pluto replied and opened another portal.
Pluto stepped in and looked at Misako. "Hurry!" she commanded. Giving
the war-ravaged city one more look, Misako followed the Senshi of Time
into the portal. As it closed, a brilliant white light streaked from the
remains of the Crystal Palace, engulfing the entire city.

                                 ******

Misako did not even notice the portal closing behind her. Instead, her
eyes were locked onto the macabre scene before her. Younger Jupiter was
impaled on a sword, its bloody blade sticking grotesquely from her back.
Beside her, sprawled on the ground was something that Misako could not
bear to look at. She whirled around and vomited. Squeezing her eyes
tightly shut, she willed the image away but it was seared onto her mind.

"Her Royal Highness, Tsukino Usagi `Small Lady' Serenity took the
Crystal Tokyo Throne by force at the age of sixteen. She took the
Ginzuishou and killed her parents when they resisted and then disbanded
the Senshi Council. That was the spark," Pluto explained, "Amazingly, it
lasted almost a year. Today is Queen Usagi's seventeenth birthday."

Wiping her mouth, Misako turned around and slowly approached the figure
of a young teen. Gently, she sat down and drew the limp form into her
arms. Tears welled up in her eyes as she stroked the silky blonde-white
hair. "And her?" she questioned softly, not daring to ask yet needing to
know.

"Princess Tsukino Misako stayed loyal to her sister despite the desires
of the Senshi Council to the contrary. Her sister killed her when she
tried to save you. You were the Senshi Council's only hope for a ruler,
one that would bring Japan back from the brink."

"Where... where is Usagi?" Misako asked after a terrible moment of
silence.

Pluto did not answer immediately. Instead, she stood listening to the
wind whisper through the now dead and shattered city. "She was
consumed," Pluto finally answered, "In her loathing and hatred, she used
the Ginzuishou to defeat her enemies. In doing so, her very soul was
consumed."

<'Sagi...> "How can I stop this then, Pluto?" Misako asked in despair,
"How can I save these people?"

"Seek your proper path. You must return to where you really came from,"
Pluto answered, "Seek out your sister, have her help you for she will
understand."

                                 ******

Chibi-Misako shuddered as her sister's voice shouted at her, "Come on
out of there, you rotten little spore!" Chibi-Misako shook her head and
tried to curl into a tighter ball.

<I didn't do nothin' wrong,> Chibi-Misako thought, <'Cept Onee-sama
wants you.> She hugged her teddy bear closer. How could her sister take
away her teddy bear? <I hope Oba-sama comes back soon.> Suddenly, there
came a slight rushing of air and then a mild thump. Nervously,
cautiously, Chibi-Misako peeked out to see what had happened. Her sense
of unease grew when she didn't see anything. "Onee-sama?" she question
softly.

Her response was a groan. Chibi-Misako hid again, shuddering in fear.
Somehow, her sister had let a monster into the room; now she was going
to be eaten. She gave a scream of terror as the covers were ripped away
from her. The unexpected voice was even more of a shock.

"Chibi-Misako," Misako whispered softly as she reached out to brush her
fingers lightly across the little girl's cheek. <You're real, alive...>
Tears came with her relief; Pluto had brought her back safely. <I must
try to understand Pluto's message.> For now though, she was too
overwhelmed with relief to do any more than draw the little girl into a
hug.

Whimpering in fear, Chibi-Misako at first hesitated; then as she
realized that her aunt was not a monster, Chibi-Misako allowed herself
to be drawn into the hug. She clung desperately to her aunt, seeking
protection. "What are you doing in here?" Misako asked softly. The
question almost sounded like an afterthought yet there was a tinge of
anger in her voice.

At that moment, the door fell inward and Usagi came rushing into the
room. "WHERE ARE YOU?!?" Usagi roared. Her gaze fell upon her sister and
her aunt and it hardened. "Misako, I want you to come with me this
instant!" Her anger grew as her imouto hid her face and clung even
tighter to her aunt.

"I'll be happy to come with you, Usagi. Is there a problem?" Misako
responded.

Usagi's face twisted into a snarl. She seemed on the verge of yelling
something when she calmed suddenly. "Iie Oba," Usagi responded, "I was
talking to my imouto." <Where'd she come from?>

"Oh," Misako said, "You sounded angry. Did she do something wrong,
Usagi-chan?" Usagi stood silently for several seconds before finally
nodded. "What would that be?"

"Her teddy bear needs washing. It stinks. I don't want my imouto to get
sick," Usagi replied. Seeing her aunt's dubious expression, Usagi added,
"Go ahead and smell it if you don't believe me."

Gently shifting Chibi-Misako, Misako sniffed at the teddy bear. <Hmmm...
Well it could use a wash.> "Gomen, Usagi, I hadn't smelt it before,"
Misako said and then thought, <That still doesn't mean I'm going to let
you have it.> Usagi and teddy bears didn't seem to get along real well.

"She ran in here, without permission, I might add," Usagi pointed out
while glaring at her sister.

Misako had the urge to accuse Usagi of tormenting her sister again but
repressed it instead. "Ne, Chibi-Miko-chan, what if you give your teddy
bear a bath?" Her niece looked towards her and Misako added, "Hai, I'll
come have one too. What about you, Usagi-chan? You guys got an extra
large furo. It should fit the three of us easy." <When did Serenity get
a king size furo? For that matter, why didn't Serenity have it attached
to her bedroom instead of connecting it so anybody could use it.> Not
that Misako was complaining but it was a curiosity.

"Iie Oba," Usagi said while backing away, "Uh I think I should maybe go
and check my homework."

<Do your homework more like it,> Misako thought. "What do you say,
Chibi-Miko-chan?"

"Hai!" Chibi-Misako said, "That would be nice, Oba-sama." She turned her
gaze onto her sister and asked, "Please, Onee-sama, come with us?" Usagi
shook her head and hurried from the room. Chibi-Misako frowned but then
grinned; this was going to be fun.

                                 ******

Two days later, Misako walked down the hall towards Kimeko's apartment.
She peeked into the bag she was carrying and grinned. <Baka Misako,> she
thought to herself, <Here the future is in ruins because of your
selfishness and you go shopping, for yourself!> It was ironic though.
Giggling, Misako knocked at the apartment door and waited.

When the door was opened, she was met with a very stern looking Minako.
"Misako-sama, this is unexpected." And by the look Minako was giving
her, unwanted as well.

"Konnichiwa Minako-chan, I came to speak with Kimeko. Is she in?" Misako
questioned.

"She's not feeling very well," Minako stated defensively.

"Mom," Kimeko called from within, "Who is it?"

"Misako," Minako replied, "She wants to speak with you." Minako gave
Misako a long look before waving her inside. "Kimeko-chan, you stay in
bed and I'll head home to get you something nice to eat." With that,
Minako gave Misako a tight smile and left.

<Poor kid,> Misako thought, <One death sentence coming up.> Slipping off
her shoes and then into a pair of guest slippers, Misako walked into the
bedroom. "Kami-sama!" she exclaimed, "I've seen Minako take care of
people but..." The bedroom appeared to be a complete disaster area, all
of it centered around Kimeko.

"Konnichiwa Your Highness," Kimeko moaned out, "Excuse the mess, Mom's
been trying to help." <You look so different, not like the little girl I
remember. Not like the woman I thought you'd grow up into.> As Misako
approached, reality rippled around Kimeko and she braced herself. After
a moment though, it settled down again. <I hate that!> she thought, <No
Pluto around to talk to. I'm stuck in some far out timeline and every so
often, everything ripples.>

"Are you okay?" Misako questioned.

"I've just been feeling, strange," Kimeko said cautiously. <Careful
Kimeko, you've attracted enough attention as it is.>

"I wanted to congratulate you on passing your Younger test. You fainted
the first time."

Kimeko lay quietly for a moment or so blushing before saying slowly,
"Arigato, Your Highness. I don't know what happened really. One day I
was really terrible," Kimeko winced and thought, <Was I ever that
terrible? I don't think I was that bad, and to have spent all this time
at the Chibi level.> "Then one day, things just... er... rippled into
place." <The way they should be.>

Misako smiled lightly and said, "I have confidence in you...
Onee-chan..." She was about to say more but Kimeko's eyes had enlarged
and the young woman bolted upright. "Nani?"

"You... you remember?"

"Nani?"

"The other timeline," Kimeko stated cautiously, "You remember when
Sakuya was married to my brother?" She grabbed Misako's arms, hope and
pleading mixing on her face.

"Remember it?!" Misako snorted, "I doubt I'll ever forget it. That was
one of the worst things I've ever done. I was living in fear that Sakuya
would come storming off the plane, the ground melting with every step
she took."

"Oh Miko-chan!" Kimeko cried and hugged the older woman tightly, "I
thought I was going crazy for a while there." She sat back and grinned
now, looking very relieved. "It's been so weird. I couldn't believe I'm
Chibi-Venus, or that... that... Princess Usagi."

Misako chuckled and nodded, "I know what you mean; it was a surprise to
me too."

"Have you seen Pluto?" Kimeko demanded, "She hasn't shown up and I don't
know how long I can stay in this new role." She looked towards the older
woman, hoping she would understand.

"Hai," Misako responded and shivered. <All of that pain because I was
selfish. Because...> Shaking her head slightly, she gave a weak smile,
"Hai, I've talked with Pluto. This timeline was not meant to be." Kimeko
gave her a blank look. "You remember the other one. The one where I left
for the past?"

"Hai," Kimeko replied, "Misako, you shouldn't have done that. Usagi was
hurt because you left in the middle of the night. She moped around for a
solid month."

"I was wrong, Kimeko. I know that now."

"But what can we do? Why did you leave like that? The note you left me
was so strange. The one you left your parents was..." Kimeko screwed up
her face in anger. "How could you ever doubt that your mother loved you
and wanted you around?"

Misako closed her eyes as she sighed deeply. Drawing her hand over her
face, she opened her eyes and looked at Kimeko. "What I'm going to say,
what I need to tell you if we're going to set this timeline on its
correct path will be difficult to hear. You have to understand how I saw
things when I was little."

"I'll try," Kimeko replied, "But I won't think it's right."

"I'm just asking you to understand, Kimeko-chan," Misako responded.
Seeing Kimeko's nod, she lapsed into silence trying to collect her
thoughts. "Let's start with what went wrong: Firstly, I chose to stay in
the past, to run away from the problems I was having in the future. I
didn't want to go home and have to face that... cold home."

Kimeko started to speak but Misako raised her hand. "Let me finish.
Listen to it all so you can see." She waited until Kimeko had closed her
mouth again before continuing, "My decision to stay in the past caused
friction. You've seen the results of that friction. It caused critical
events, like Sakuya being Commander of the Younger Senshi and Misako
heading back into the past in the first place to never happen. But my
decision led to something that I regret deeply. I forced Mamoru, my
father, to make a choice between Usagi and me. He chose Usagi. I didn't
take it very well."

There was another moment of uncomfortable silence before Misako said in
a softer tone, "I ran, from every difficult situation, I ran. I
abandoned friends, family, and lovers. To my shame, the only one I could
never bring myself to run out on was Serenity and the girls." She shook
her head before adding, "There were times that I thought about coming
here to see Chibi-Misako, but I was too scared. I thought I was keeping
the timeline pure, that I was ensuring I could be Usagi's onee once
again."

"What caused this, Misako? What were you running from in the other
timeline?" Kimeko asked gently while sliding to sit beside Misako.

"I was tired of always being in Usagi's shadow. It wasn't the public
glamour I wanted, but I wanted my parents and the other Senshi to treat
me the same." Misako lowered her head slightly before adding, "I was so
sure that Serenity didn't want me there. I was so sure that Usagi didn't
love me. I wanted to outshine my sister in some way. Being a Senshi was
something I thought I could do better. Just once, I wanted to be me, an
individual, not just Usagi's kid sister."

"Oh... Imouto," Kimeko said, "Don't you know that others think you're
the best?" She gave Misako a one armed hug then.

"In this timeline, hai," Misako said, "But my younger self doesn't."

"So what do we do?" Kimeko questioned.

Reaching around her neck, Misako withdrew the Time Key that hung there.
The same one Pluto had given her as a child over a thousand years
before. Placing it in Kimeko's hand, she instructed, "Take this,
Onee-chan, go back to the past, to when I was there. You have to
convince me... Misako that staying in the past after her training is the
wrong idea. Misako has to want to come back though."

Kimeko frowned and asked, "You want me to convince Misako but do it so
she thinks she's making the decision on her own?" Misako nodded. "Why,
Miko-chan? Why not just force her to come back?"

"Because, she'd resent you and when she gets back, I think she'll need
your support," Misako said, "Please, Kimeko-chan, do this."

It was a moment or so before Kimeko nodded. "All Right, but how do I
explain me being there? What do I tell her?"

"A vacation. Your new job's getting to you, ne?" Misako queried. Kimeko
nodded. "Good, now I want you to give Misako this, but when you're
talking to her alone." With that, Misako handed Kimeko the very bag she
had brought earlier.

Kimeko was about to look in the bag when the voice of her mother could
be heard. "Now what?" Kimeko questioned.

"You go, Onee-chan, I'll hold off Minako," Misako commanded and got up.
She looked back as she reached the doorway and said urgently, "Hurry...
And Kimeko, if I give you any problems, give me a swift kick in the
rear." <I love you, Onee-chan.> Turning, she walked across the room to
where Minako was just putting on a pair of slippers and said, "That
smells good, Minako-chan. Did Hiroshi make it?"

Minako opened her mouth to answer and it was then that reality
shimmered.

                                 ******

"Commander?" Younger Saturn questioned, "Are you all right?"

Elder Venus blinked as she looked around the briefing room. The other
Younger Senshi were looking at her with mixed expressions. "Hai,
gomen... did I miss something?" This brought some muffled giggles from
the group.

"Younger Moon tends to get this glazed look when she listens to my
briefings." Younger Moon promptly blushed and lowered her head. "But I
didn't think this one was boring enough to put you to sleep too." Elder
Venus blushed then. "Now as I was saying, we've decided to all chip in
on a gift for Sakuya, Masao, and their new baby. Anybody have any
ideas?"

End of Chapter 20

Coming next in Chapter 21 - The Parting Vale