Hello! So this is my first Sailor Moon fanfic and I hope for it to be a decent length. It's mostly based off the manga but it does have a mix of anime events slipped in. I've already got the outline and everything so I plan to update at least every two weeks. If it's gets close to that mark and I haven't said otherwise, please feel free to harass me. Be nice though? Alright, there is something in this chapter that mentions events for a Sailor V story line that I also have outlined and plan to do at some point, so don't be confused if something seems off. I'll explain what it is at the bottom for those who notice or are confused. Alrighty. Well...Enjoy everyone! Also please review! I love feedback! Thanks!

Sirens blared as the police car pulled over the neon green sedan that had ran the red light two blocks back. Further down the road, a small but lanky boy walked hand in hand with the frail elderly lady, who had previously been buying oranges from the rebellious bleached haired teen running his family's small market on the corner; who was helping who across the street was yet to be clear. A shriek could be heard across the street as the young woman dressed in a short checkered skirt and platform go-go boots jumped up and down waving to a plain young man looking decidedly out of breath. Their styles clashed as his jeans and tee looked more casual than the playfully edginess the girl's was clearly displaying; but to the girl who sat across the street at the shaded café could plainly see, the love passing through their eyes confirmed that they were going to be just fine. Of course she couldn't be a hundred percent, she couldn't see the red strings anymore after all, but she wasn't the Goddess of Love for nothing.

Right. She was the Goddess of Love. Rumored to be able to spot a match a mile away, sniff out shy feelings and misguided beliefs, bringing understanding love and happiness to all. She was that goddess. She threw back her head, downing the last of her favorite peach water with a quick gulp and a swipe of her hand against her lips. Fat lot of good being that goddess did her, or her friends for that matter. Sure Usagi had Mamoru and Michiru and Haruka went hand in hand, literally, but what about the rest of them? Hotaru was still young, but what about Setsuna? She had seen the pain and loneliness. She had also seen the desire for a certain future king. Could she fix that if she had her original power? Rei would spit fire before she admitted she'd like a man and Ami broke out in a rash anytime she ever got a love letter, but she could see the isolation in their eyes when things got a little too sweet between the prince and princess in front of them. Could she help save them from themselves? As for Makoto, ah poor sweet Makoto, if anyone deserved love it was that girl. You couldn't bake cookies the way Makoto did and not have somebody to love and hold close at night.

When it came to herself, well she already knew her destiny, even if her power was missing. She was meant to guide, never receive. What a harsh lesson that had been. She would still wake up, mouth ready to scream and sheets clutched tight, in memory of that night. She had tried to fight it but it wasn't long before reality set in and she knew her life was to her duty. More than being any silly guide of love though, she was meant to protect her princess, protect Usagi. That last point was exactly why she had been so damn frustrated lately. Was she really meant to protect her? It's not like she had a problem with it but then shouldn't she be a little bit more capable? A little bit more powerful? As the leader of the scouts, that included the Outers despite their denials and protests, shouldn't she be the strongest or at least as strong as her strongest scout? Though even if she were, it wouldn't hold a candle to Usagi's true power. Usagi was the one always saving them in the end. Not that she had a problem with her being the strongest, she was the princess after all, but she was supposed to protect her, not the other way around. So then where did that leave her? She couldn't guide love properly anymore and she couldn't even protect herself, let alone her princess. The incident with Galaxia still rubbed her raw and that had been over two years ago.

She dropped a few bills on the check, a generous tip by any standard. Having overheard the waiter describing his grandfather's medical bills to a coworker and how he was working an additional job to help him and go to school, she couldn't help but want to bring hope and joy to his life. If a thousand or so dollars could help do that? Well it's not like she couldn't afford it. Working with the police, as well as the Sailor V franchise earnings she had received, had gained her a hefty wallet. Throw in a few wise investments and some part-time modeling? Again, it wasn't like she couldn't afford it. She snatched up her bags and walked off, her eyes still maintaining their sharp inventory of her surroundings despite the disinterested and bored attitude she gave off. Slowly her mind wandered back to Galaxia. Remembering how easily she had been taken down, her body just disintegrating, as if she wasn't a scout from the strongest solar system. How had the Sailor Starlights survived but she hadn't? Her feet came to a stop, ignorant of the heated glares shot her way. Something was wrong. Her gut was telling her this. She was supposed to be stronger. Brief visions of the Silver Millennium flashed in her mind, and she felt power, more power than she could ever recall having. Then it was gone.

Her eyes went wide as she quickly glanced around her. People were still glaring at her, but nothing out of the ordinary. If she had truly contained all that power so suddenly, even for a brief moment, someone would have noticed. She shook the feeling off and continued walking. It didn't take long for her to come across the bookstore she needed. Professor Yoshiro…or was it Yahiro? It didn't really matter. Her professor had assigned an additional text, as if the first twelve wasn't enough, and wanted several chapters read by Monday. Gods she couldn't wait for summer break. Majoring in law was already tough but to double major with political science thrown in the mix was killer. There was never any time to sleep or eat or relax with friends. Plus she was way behind on her favorite television shows. Still, someone had to be ready for Crystal Tokyo and she refused to fail at this. Today was a rare free day though, and she had been using it to recuperate some much needed self-time. Shopping, fine eating and book browsing—she had headed to the manga section after finding the needed textbook—it had made for a good day. She was currently debating how to end her Self Day, should she hit a movie? Though a stroll through the park with ice cream sounded good, it was a gorgeous day after all. Her eyes fell on a book in the neighboring section and narrowed as she read the title: How to Recall Your Memories. You've got to be kidding me, she thought grimly before stomping away. She managed only two steps before she stopped to stare back at it.

So then it had been a memory. That feeling of power had been what she felt, what she had in the past. Why hadn't she known that? Weren't all their memories restored? No of course they weren't. She couldn't recall them after all and yet now she was stuck with them. For a brief moment she wondered if her fellow scouts' loves lives weren't completely doomed but she quickly dashed the idea. She would never condone sleeping with the enemy. No, no, that was wrong, former enemy. Still a bad idea but that was a headache for another time. Her lip throbbed and she realized she had been biting it during her internal debate. Ignoring the book, she rushed towards checkout. Once her books were paid for, she slipped them into one of her many bags and hurried towards the local ice cream parlor, determined to enjoy the rest of her day.

It wasn't long before she was sitting on a bench racing the sun, before her double fudge chocolate ice cream could melt down the large waffle cone. The only thing that could make today better would be a dip in a pool, feeling the sun warm against her skin. That and someone to spend it with but again, she had come to terms with that. The sun continued to beat down and she could tell from the temperature that the coming summer would be a brutal one. Good thing she loved the heat. Ami would sure melt though. A large smile spread over her face as she got to the bottom of her cone, she had won. She popped the last bite into her mouth as her smiled stretched. The last bite of an ice cream cone was her favorite part and she closed her eyes as she leaned her head back against the bench, loving the texture and flavor combination. When she heard the soft chuckle she knew it was the end of her good day. Damn, should have gone to the movies.

Her eyes flew open as she took him in. He was ridiculously tall with broad shoulders and a slim waist. He looked like one of those American superheroes minus the absurd bulging muscles. His long silver hair hung braided over one shoulder and his blue-grey eyes danced with laughter, as if he had caught a child doing something silly. Well, she probably had looked like a child while eating her ice cream but that was beside the point. He always had that damn look in his eyes, at least since he came back, and she couldn't figure out why. Was he mocking her? Did he think her foolish and incapable? He was the leader of Mamoru's men, so they should be equals and yet she always felt off balance around him. The strange thing though, was that only she could see it. The other girls thought he was completely emotionless, like a steel wall or some other emotionless thing. Compared to the other three, she could see why they'd think that, those guys were all over the board, but he was just subtle with his emotions not lacking. It was all in the eyes. She blinked rapidly a few times, trying to shake her thoughts off without completely exposing herself.

"Greetings Minako-san," He murmured in a deep voice, one that made her remember everything and nothing all at once.

"Keisuke-san," she gave a slight tilt of her head in an almost imperceptible nod. It was the only acknowledgement she'd allow his status as the Shitennou's leader. After all, why did a traitor need respect? No, that wasn't right. Hadn't her body been used against Sailor Moon in her fight with Galaxia? It was similar. Then again, she knew she was good, what they were like prior to being evil was still debatable.

"I see you're enjoying your day," Keisuke responded, "I would have thought a double major similar to mine would be slightly busier."

There it was. The subtly implied, smug suggestion that she was in some way failing compared to him. It didn't matter that perhaps she was just more capable than she looked and worked herself into a free day. Never mind that his double focused on psychology and criminal justice or that her interests when not focused on her core majors fell to similar subjects, resulting in the unpleasant circumstance of having several classes together, and that he too seemed to be seizing the afternoon. All that mattered was that she seemed lazy compared to him. Damn it. Couldn't she catch a break? Even Superman had a Fortress of Solitude.

She raised one eyebrow in a look bordering between haughty and smug, "Only if one doesn't arrange their time wisely. After all," she purred leaning back, her arms resting across the top of the bench, as her legs crossed in front, "all work and no play makes for a very dull day."

He frowned, "Isn't it 'makes Jack a dull boy'?"

She shrugged dropping the pose, "My name's not Jack nor am I dull. Besides, I like the way I say it better."

The corner of his mouth twitched in response, "Yes, I do believe you're right, in every aspect."

She tilted her head at this. If she wasn't mistaken, it almost sounded as if he, Keisuke, formerly known as Kunzite of the Dark Generals and formerly the Golden Kingdom before that, it almost sounded as if he was flirting with her. There was no way that could be. She had to be wrong. Then again…she remembered her encounters with the general back in her Sailor V days. After every new encounter she got the impression that he was…well…he seemed a little less evil than the last. Then there was that last night in London. He had been there. Hell, he was the reason she was still alive. A blush fought to rise to her cheeks as she remembered the way he had looked at her that night. How close he had been. For a second—a very long second—she had wanted to kiss him. Alan had been completely forgotten. Then the grenade had been thrown and Kunzite was shielding her. It was then when Jadeite had shown up, pulling Kunzite into the darkness with him. After her next encounter with Kunzite, she knew what good there had been was gone. Beryl had reinforced the darkness in his heart and nothing was going to break that.

She cleared her throat. That memory had been another life, a more innocent time. "Anyways Keisuke-san, I really am all caught up and ahead of the game. The only thing I've got left before the end of the semester tests is to finish up my case readings for that paper in Takahashi's class. The language is so technical that I find myself going slower with it, but I so enjoy finding all the loopholes." She said with a sly grin.

"Oh? I can help you work through them if you like?"

Minako eyes lit up at the thought of quickly finishing her assignments without having to work her way through the jargon, but her features quickly faded to a frown. "I appreciate the offer but I can't and now I have to leave." She said as she glanced at her watch, "Sorry, but if I don't get going I'll be late meeting the girls. Bye!"

Swiping up her bags, she raced towards her apartment. If she was quick enough, she'd be able to take a quick shower before heading out again, not to mention she probably needed to feed Artemis. Meaning she'd probably have to get some groceries after her visit with the girls. Maybe she could swing by the one five blocks over and pick up a DVD while she was at it; the clerk there was really cute. In this manner Minako hurried on home, never noticing the eyes that followed after her.

He sighed outwardly as he watched her race away, her reply repeating in his head. "I can't." she had said but why? He dropped to the bench in defeat realizing the answer as he asked for it. It was because she didn't trust him. Not that he could blame her. He wouldn't have trusted her either had their positions been switched. Still, it irked him that she could play friendly so well, the other guys hadn't a clue. It was easy to tell where they stood with the other scouts. Mars was ready to burn their heads off, they were seconds away from certain death as far as Jupiter was concerned and Mercury…well Mercury was polite but distant. He shuddered. He didn't even want to think about the Outer Scouts. It was Venus though that was the most confusing. She was the friendliest of the scouts towards them. She was always laughing and joking around, always quick to share food and gossip with them. When her liege had ordered her scouts to get along with them, she had taken one deep breath and that was it. No negative comments ever flew from her mouth and she was as quick to help the men as she was her own team. The men were relieved, believing they had at least one Scout on their side but he knew better. She may have fooled everyone else, but he definitely knew better. Her heart was never in it. She followed orders to the letter but still maintained a stubborn defiance. He gave a small chuckle. They were more alike than anyone realized. He sighed once more, weary from his thoughts. At least the other girls were open with their animosity. It was better to know where one stood.

Okay everyone, let me just point out if you hadn't notice, that Kunzite was not originally in London. In my future Sailor V fic he will be, but that has very little effect on the here and now. I just didn't want to come out with the prequel later and have it be confusing in relation to this story. (In the Sailor V fic, it will be from after the end of the Sailor V manga to when she meets up with the other girls, thus I added in the anime details of going to London).

So I hope you enjoyed the start of my story and I look forward to what everyone thinks! Thanks!