In present-day society, arranged marriages are supposed to be a thing of the past. However, for Usagi, sole heir to the Tsukino fortune, it is the only way to assure the future of her family name and good standing.

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and its characters are the work of Naoko Takeuchi no copyright infringement is intended by this fanfiction and all credit for the Sailor Moon Universe goes to its original owners. The story, plot, and any original characters are my original work, copyright SAEDS, 2011.

It was a beautiful sunny day outside, but inside the Tsukino household a storm was brewing. Ken Tsukino had just told his only daughter of his plans for her future, and she had been given no say about it. Not one to be outdone, Usagi was currently demonstrating just how well she was taking the news. Objects were flying across the room; shouts could be heard throughout the whole mansion. The servants were nowhere in sight, for they knew that when father and daughter argued, you did not want to be caught in the crossfire.

"Daddy I cannot BELIEVE you would do this to me, your only daughter! I thought you loved me…" Usagi was very convincing; her eyes shook with emotion.

"Sweetheart, I know how you are feeling at the moment, but you must know that I did this for your own good I-"

"For my own good? For my own good? Sending me off to college and making me earn a degree was something you did for my own good, but selling me off to the highest bidder? That is low daddy, even for you." With that, Usagi stormed upstairs to her room, knowing full well that her words had hit home.

Ken Tsukino had never been the best father. Sure, he was doting, always buying her expensive gifts and giving her the best education money could buy, but he was never truly there for Usagi and her mother. Ikuko had been everything to Usagi, she was the fountain of love that every parent should be. This is the reason why it was such a shock for Usagi when she found out that her mother had been in on it all along. Her whole life had been one big set-up formulated by her calculating father and his snake of a business partner, the second most powerful tycoon in the country, and Usagi had no way to escape it, for she knew deep in her heart that it was the right thing to do for her family. She had been bred to sacrifice. She just could not believe that the day had finally come. Tomorrow she would meet her fiancé.
"Usagi went straight to her favorite stuffed animal, one that was given to her by her only true friend. The bear made her think back to the simple days. She did not remember much about the boy, for she had been only three at the time, but she treasured the few memories she had of that sweet boy in daycare who had helped her trough her very first day away from her mother.

*Flashback*

"Mommy, I don't want you to leave! I can go to Daddy's office with you," said a cute little girl with blonde pigtails and baby-blue eyes while clutching her mother's skirt.

"No sweetheart, you can't. Mommy has some very important things to discuss with daddy, and you have to stay here." What Usagi did not know was that Ikuko was on her way to her father's office not to discuss business, but to confront the woman that was currently tearing her family apart. "Mommy will be back shortly sweetie, and then we will go for ice-cream. Now be a good girl and go play with your new friends."

As Ikuko left, Usagi turned to a corner and sat quietly, not knowing what to do or how to interact with anyone. She was truly terrified. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up into the most mesmerizing blue eyes she had ever seen. They were accompanied by a friendly smile. A boy of about nine was crouching in front of her, staring curiously. "Hi, what's your name? Is this your first day here? I can tell 'cuz it's my first day too. Why are you crying?"

"My name's Usagi, and my mommy just left me here. I'm scared she'll never come back." The little girl wiped some tears from her eyes and attempted a brave smile that did not reach her eyes.

"Well, I'll tell you what Usagi," said the little boy while sitting down next to her, "I'll keep you company until your mom gets back, how does that sound?" Seeing no reaction, he added "and you can hold on to my bear until the next time we meet. I'll even let you name him!"

Usagi's eyes lit up, and she gratefully took the offered bear, beaming a genuine smile at her new friend.

*End Flashback*

Usagi had named the bear Isamu, and he had become her source of comfort when she needed courage. Now was definitely one of those times.

Although Usagi knew that her life as the sole heir to one of the greatest fortunes in Japan would be a tough one, she never realized that she would have to sacrifice her heart in order to secure her own future. Her mother had calmly explained to her how she had to marry into a good family, a man who would be able to take over her father's business when the time came. However, she always thought that this only meant that her choices would be limited to businessmen. When her father had told her that her husband had been chosen, Usagi's hopes for any semblance of a choice had shattered.

"Oh, I can just picture daddy's choice now: a pompous, womanizing, two-timing twit who won't give a hoot about me. He will be arrogant, and probably old to boot. Otherwise he will be just as heartless as daddy."

'Isamu, what should I do? I'll tell what I should do: nothing. I have to accept my fate.' With tears in her eyes and Isamu held tightly to her chest, Usagi fell asleep emotionally drained. She dreamed of princesses and towers, and ugly, greedy villains. No shining knight who would rescue her.