I do not own Sailor Moon.

Chapter 8 Strangers

"Mama, can we get some ice cream?" A little girl, no older than five, looked up to her mother in curiosity and excitement. A look of concentration took over the woman's face. The small child began to swing the hand clasped in hers, trying to gain brownie points towards the debate going through her mother's mind. "Please?" She added in afterthought.

"I don't know, your father will be home soon. Wouldn't you rather go home and have supper with your father and I?" The beautiful red head looked down to her mirror image and smiled.

"We could do both mama!"

Laughter bubbled out of the women's throat as she continued to allow her arm to swing with her daughter. A smile lit up her face as she tried to make her child pick the right answer for herself. "You would fill up on ice cream and lose your appetite. If we don't hurry, we will be late to greet your father. Wouldn't he be sad if we weren't there to greet him after a long day at work?"

"Oh no! Hurry mama! I don't want daddy sad!" Suddenly the small child let go of her mother's hand as she raced ahead.

"Slow down honey! Unfortunately, the child ignored her mothers call and continued to race up the side walk, not noticing the red flashing sign before her.

'What is there to do around this place?'

After spending an eventful night jumping around town exploring and avoiding the scouts, I couldn't help but feel boredom try to consume me. Sure, it was fun dodging the scouts left and right for a while, but eventually it got old and I ended up giving them the slip around two this morning. Ever since then I've been hanging around on this rooftop watching the people below.

I am reminded of ants from this view as the citizens continue on with their normal commute, walking through the crowd, ignoring the strangers surrounding them. Pushing and shoving are foreign for this rare breed, instead choosing to form unorganized columns. One line going at a normal pace and the other in a rush to get to their final stop.

Suddenly two of the ants catch my eye. Focusing in I realized it was my old teacher and the little girl I saved yesterday. The two red heads were walking down the street hands interlocked, engrossed in conversation.

'They look so cute together.' I continued to smile in wonderment as I watched the mother and daughter walk together from my perch. My legs gently swinging off the ledge. 'They look so alike, it's almost uncanny. To think my old middle school teacher finally got her chance at happiness. No more distractions from detentions I guess.' A laugh escapes me at the thought.

Suddenly I watch as the little Haruna races ahead for who knows what. Looking fast I notice the crosswalk sign flashing red for the universal signal to stop. 'Oh no!' Quickly I jump down from my perch into an alley and race across the street, ignoring the honking of horns and curses being thrown from passing motorist.

"Sakura!" The mothers scream pierced through the crowd, carrying all the fear and anxiety through the air. No one batting an eye from the masses as they pursued their daily lives, disregarding the little girl standing in the middle of the road. The screeching tires echoing through my head. 'Oh please let me not be too late!'

Ignoring the stich forming in my side, I forced my legs to move faster in hopes of reaching Sakura in time. She continued to stand there like a deer entranced with headlights, too scared to move. The smell of burnt rubber raced through my senses as I forced oxygen into my protesting lungs.

I felt the heat radiating off the engine as I finally reached her. Arms quickly encircling her small frame, my momentum pushing us the last few feet out of the way of the passing vehicle. Forcing my body to rotate as we sailed through the air, I used myself as a buffer to shield Sakura in my arMrs. A feeling of déjà vu took hold of me as we hit the ground hard.

'I feel like you, little one, are a hand full.' Finally, out of danger I allow myself to relax as my head hits the pavement in relief. "Don't worry Sakura, I got ya," I mutter as I hug the trembling, little girl to my chest in comfort. The normal city sounds surround us as life continues on.

"Sakura!" Screams Mrs. Haruna as she finally catches up to us from across the street. "Baby, are you alright?!"

As soon as Sakura hears her mother she begins to wail. I relinquish my hold allowing the worried woman to gather the trembling girl in her arms, murmuring soft apologies and comforts. This immediately halts the loud wails in favor of quiet sniffles and whimpers.

I remain on the ground, forcing air down into my greedy lungs. Finally, I raise myself up to rest on my scrapped forearms, I take in the beautiful sigh of mother and child. "That was a close one for sure." I can't help but say in relief.

Mrs. Haruna looked up from her daughter finally noticing my presents. "Oh, I'm sorry! Thank you so much for saving my daughter!" Shock quickly takes form across her face. "Usagi…?"

"Hi Mrs. H. Long time no see."

She continues to blink. Once. Twice. "What in the world?"

"Sorry again for imposing on you like this." For the millionth time those words escape my mouth as Mrs. H. continues her work.

"If you apologize one more time, I swear." Instead of finishing her threat she jerks on the bandages causing me to grimace.

"Yes ma'am." I can't help but fidget as the silence consumes the small bathroom. The only sound coming from Mrs. Haruna as she continues to treat my back from the accident. I don't know how bad it is but considering she's been at it for the last half hour I can only assume the worst.

After the crosswalk fiasco Mrs. H. immediately noticed the state of my back and dragged me all the way to her small two-bedroom house located on the outskirts of the city. She initially wanted to take me to the hospital, but I was able to talk her out of it thankfully. Focusing back on the present I barely caught her question.

"Now tell me Usagi. What have you been up to since last we met?"

"Just trying to finish college Mrs. H."

"Have you decided to finally join the track team like I suggested years ago. It's seems you've only gotten faster. You could get a great scholarship you know."

'Always the interested scholar.' "No ma'am, due to my clumsiness I wouldn't make it very far."

"That's too bad. Alright I think that's as good as it's going to get without going to the hospital. Are you sure I can't convince you to go?" I felt her hands as they checked over the bandages one final time.

"No, I'm alright. It's not too bad. Thank you again for all your help Mrs. H!" I reach for my shirt and slowly put it on, ignoring the pain running through my body from the motion. "I really am grateful everything worked out!" Turning around I wasn't expecting to see tears in her eyes.

"Thank you again for saving my daughter Usagi. I don't know what I would do if anything were to happen to her."

Giving her a small smile, I couldn't help but pull her into a hug. This woman was like a second mother to me after my family passed. "It was not a problem Mrs. H, I couldn't forgive myself if I did anything less."

We continued to stand there in silent comfort together. That was until I heard her ask, "What happened to you Usagi?"

I pull away in confusion only to wish I hadn't. The pain in her eyes told me this wasn't about today's events.

"The last time I saw you. It was like you didn't recognize me. Then today it was like old times, you calling me Mrs. H?"

I stand there in silence, because what can I say? She doesn't know anything about the scouts. Slowly I pull away from her grasp completely and begin to gather my things. Using the distraction as an excuse to not look her directly in the eyes, I try to explain to the best of my abilities.

"Unfortunately, something happened that caused me to change. I'm still just a stranger to you and will remain that way no matter what happened today. Tomorrow I will be just another person walking down the street with no recollection of past memories. However today I was able to come and give a proper goodbye." Finally looking up I tried to put on a smile for her. Just like I have always done in the past for the scouts. This smile is forced, and I prayed she would leave it alone.

"I…I don't understand Usagi. What caused you to change? Why are you saying goodbye?"

"You probably will never understand, but that is the best way for me to describe it. I can not tell you anything else no matter how much I wish otherwise." I knew she would not be happy with so little information, but I really did try to explain.

"Thank you again for all your help Mrs. H. I think it's time for me to go. I really am happy for you by the way." Making a gesture towards the doorway to indicate the child on the other side, I was able to manage a real smile. "She really is a beautiful kid. Just make sure to be more careful in the future." With a wink I exited the bathroom.

"Wait Usagi!"

Quickly making an about face I watched as Mrs. H. walked calmly out of the bathroom and gathered young Sakura into her arms. "Yes ma'am?"

"It's no longer Mrs. H. I got married shortly after you left for high school. My name is now Mrs. Sato, or as you would say Mrs. S."

"Thank you again Mrs. S for everything." With a final wave I exited the Sato residents.

'I have no desire to hurt anymore friends, I need you to wake up sister.'

I really wanted to make this longer, I had a lot more planned for this chapter, but this felt like the right place to stop. I started working on this chapter on the 25th of November and it is now the 15th of December so take that as a rough estimate on when the next chapter will be out.