1 this is unedited
2 this is Usagi-centered
3 this is a mix between the BSSM anime and the manga
4 this happens at the end of the Fruits Basket anime
5 I've taken creative liberties when it comes to character backgrounds (i.e.: there is OOC)
6 I am merely borrowing the BSSM and FB characters and their backgrounds from their rightful owners
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" The shrill ringing of the bell that signalled classes were over for the day woke Usagi from her troubled slumber. Blinking her eyes, she noticed that she and the teacher were the only ones left in the room. She gathered her books and stuffed them into her black messenger bag hurriedly before the teacher could scold her for sleeping again. She honestly didn't mean to make Mikagawa-sensei upset, but she had been very tired lately. Tin Nyanko didn't particularly care whether her relentless search for starseeds kept the senshi up really late at night or not. Add that to the fact that two of the Starlights not only refused to cooperate with the Inner senshi, but were also adamant in keeping an injured Starfighter away from her. Life was the pits alright.
When she was ready to leave, she noticed that the teacher had already left. 'She must have given up on me already,' she thought sadly. It wasn't as if Usagi could blame her. Her grades had always been dismal. Hadn't Haruna-sensei, her junior high teacher, warned her numerous times to do better or else she wouldn't amount to anything? Well, it wasn't as if she could devote all of her time studying. She had to prioritize her senshi duties after all. It wouldn't be wise to let the enemies win; there was too much at stake. She couldn't let Earth be destroyed like the planet Kinmoku. She couldn't let all of the senshi's hard work and sacrifice be for nothing.
Glancing at the clock, she realized she had only five minutes before the meeting at Rei's shrine started. Not wanting to disappoint her friends, she left the building as fast as she could. She couldn't afford to be late. She couldn't afford to screw up anymore. Everyone was counting on her.
Usagi arrived at the shrine just as the meeting was about to commence. Taking her usual spot at the table, she tried to listen intently to what the others had to say, but other thoughts plagued her mind. For starters, was Seiya feeling better? Did he blame her for getting hurt? Did he hate her? Was her Mamo-chan so busy with his studies in America that he couldn't reply to any of her letters? Was he doing well in his classes? Who was Chibichibi really? Was she an enemy? But she was so adorable, she couldn't possibly be evil. Could she?
"As far as I know, Galaxia's henchmen haven't been successful in finding a starseed," Ami said after analyzing the data on her mini computer. Luna looked over the blue-haired genius' shoulder before nodding her head.
"And a good thing too. Who knows how many they already have before they arrived here on Earth?" Makoto asked while serving her delicious freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies.
Minako reached for one before saying, "Probably a lot. I mean, the universe is big. Our system is probably the only one Galaxia hasn't conquered yet. Didn't Princess Kakyuu tell us that her planet has already been destroyed? That's why she had to flee. She had to find help..."
"And the Starlights followed her here," Rei finished. Directing her gaze at Usagi, she asked, "Do you have any news about Seiya?" She didn't like seeing the other girl so quiet, so miserable. It was so unlike the Odango Atama she had known for a long time to pointedly ignore the heavenly scent of the cookies wafting in the air.
Usagi snapped out of her reveries. It took her quite a while to respond, but when she did, all she could do was shake her head. "I tried talking to him, but Yaten wouldn't let me. He told me to leave them out of the fight with Galaxia."
Haruka snorted from her place in the doorway. "It was their fault Galaxia is here in the first place. Why I oughta pound them senseless into..." A gentle nudge from Michiru halted her from completing her tirade.
Ami, Rei, Makoto, and Minako looked up. They weren't expecting to see the Outers here. And if they were here, then the whole situation must be very bad. The Inner and Outer senshi only got together in times of grave danger, like when Badiyanu tried to put everyone on the planet into an endless sleep or when Nehelenia broke out of her glass prison and kidnapped Mamoru.
"It is unfortunate that they would respond that way," Setsuna said. "Princess, you know you aren't supposed to have any contact with them. It is not safe."
Usagi didn't reply. Yes it was true that when the Starlights entered the Solar System, Galaxia followed them. But she believed that even if the Starlights didn't, Galaxia would target Earth eventually. "I don't understand why we can't work with them. Wouldn't it be better if we joined forces together? If all of us combined our powers, I'm sure we can beat the bad guys."
Little Hotaru who had been silent the whole time decided to put her two cents in. "I agree with you." She saw her Papa give her a funny look and so she hastened to add, "But it's not just our decision. The Starlights themselves don't want to cooperate with us."
"But... but if I talk to them, maybe they'll change their minds."
"Out of the question! You are not to go near them!" Haruka said vehemently.
"Why?" That one simple word was uttered so softly that everyone almost didn't hear it.
Michiru chose to answer. "Do you not know how scared we all were-how helpless we all felt-when Tin Nyanko ripped the starseed out of your body? When you decided to let Lead Crow take it, it was because your senshi instinct told you to protect everyone at the school from getting sucked into the black hole even if it meant giving up your life. As your guardians and your friends, we all feel the same way. We will gladly give up our lives if it means keeping you safe."
Overwhelmed by the love and support emanating from her friends, her sisters, Usagi didn't know what to say. So she cried. But not before telling herself, 'You won't have to give up your lives for me. I won't let you.'
But she didn't keep her promise. Her senshi died protecting her. Their starseeds, along with her Mamo-chan's (he was the first one to perish), merged with hers even though she pleaded for them not to. She cried for what seemed like hours and hours afterwards. She was inconsolable. When the spirit of Queen Serenity explained that it was necessary for her final transformation, she recoiled. So what if she was now Sailor Cosmos? So what if she managed to heal Galaxia and restore what the war had destroyed? She still couldn't bring her friends back. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair.
Not wanting to be reminded of everything and everyone she lost, she left the Earth. (But not before she erased everyone's memories of her and the senshi. It would cause their families too much grief, after all, and she didn't want that.) She devoted herself to her duties. She travelled in space and eradicated evil before it could spread. Once she visited Kinmoku to see how Kakyuu and the Starlights were doing, but she didn't stay long. As she was leaving, she couldn't help but think, 'Weren't we supposed to build the eternal city of Crystal Tokyo? Weren't Mamo-chan and I supposed to have Chibiusa? Weren't we supposed to live happily ever after?'
Weary of her travels, she went back to the moon, her former home. She slept. And slept. And slept. She dreamt of the time when she and friends weren't burdened by destiny. For a very long time, she was in a state of suspended animation until the Ginzuishou which nestled on her chest burst into a brilliant light... "
Shigure rubbed his eyes. He had been staring at the computer monitor for what seemed like ages. This was getting nowhere. And the deadline was tomorrow. Mit-chan would get upset if he pulled another one of his disappearing tricks again. He thought it'd be easy combining fantasy and romance together, but he was wrong. He was fresh out of ideas. How could he tell his agent that his novel would take a while before it'd be finished? Curse him for starting it at the last minute!
The sweet aroma of whatever it was that Tohru-kun was cooking drifted into his office. He sighed. Maybe he'd be inspired after dinner. He stood up and stretched his muscles before heading into the kitchen. As soon as he left, the room was bathed in silver before everything went dark.
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Just because Shigure is the first bishounen to get mentioned here doesn't mean I'm pairing him up with Usagi. I mean, I could do it if I want to. But, seeing as I've already narrowed it to three other FB guys (I'm not telling yet!), Shigure's chance of becoming Usagi's love interest may be slim to none. Of course, nothing is definite yet... Oh yeah, please review. Thanks!