I really like the song sequence for the Super S movie, you know, where they were shown as kids. This interlude is the Senshi/Shitennou meeting as kids, they don't remember of course, but why should Mamoru be the only one to meet his soul mate as a kid. Just short encounters.

Did we pass each other

Before we finally

Collided?

-Kimberly Chadwick

Fruits Basket Fan Art Volume 14

It's funny, isn't it? What the mind chooses to forget. What it remembers. Ami had a photographic memory when it came to equations, biology, poetry, and language, but she could not remember much from her childhood. She remembered making cookies with her mother at Christmas and a shadowy figure who was probably her father, painting in the living room. But, mainly her life was so routine that one day was hardly worth distinguishing from another.

She could not remember an insignificant meeting so many years ago, it was lost somewhere between her hippocampus and her frontal lobe.

If she could remember, she would know that it had been raining that day. Not hard, really a drizzle, but it was raining. Her mother had dressed her in galoshes and a rain coat. There were puddles on the ground from the storm the night before. She carefully avoided each one, wincing slightly when her foot got submerged even a little. She had been walking with her father, but he had stopped under a tree to paint the sky. She was left to keep herself busy. That was okay, she was good at that.

She had spotted a type of flower she had never seen before. Being a curious girl, she wanted to know how it smelled, what it looked like up close, and if the petals felt smooth like grass or soft like roses. Picking her way around the puddles, she didn't notice a boy ten feet away.

He was jumping from puddle to puddle, avoiding the drier cement that Ami had preferred. Giggling as the water splashed up around him. He didn't notice the small four year old either.

It was coincidence, perhaps, that when Ami had almost reached the flower, he reached the puddle next to it. And that the puddle was deeper than most the others. When he splashed up the water, it sprayed over the shy girl. Frightening her. She shrank in on herself so that it took the boy a few moments to notice she was there.

She stared at him as he laughed joyfully, her chin tucked into her neck. Finally, he saw her and his smile shrank to a small frown. "Are you 'kay?" he asked, seeing her frightened look, but not really understanding.

Ami didn't say anything, but pulled her extremities closer to herself. The boy was unperturbed by her lack of response, his smile returning, "Splashing is fun! Splash with me!"

He didn't wait for her answer, pulling her by the arm so that she was directly in the middle of the puddle, and he jumped, causing the puddle to spray again. Ami stood there, wondering if she could just walk away. He paused when he noticed that she wasn't moving.

"Try it!" he urged, his smile turning to a pout. Lifting her foot hesitantly, Ami watched the puddle as she lowered it slowly. The water merely swayed at the movement. The boy shook his head, laughing; his ear-length blonde hair slapping his face. "Not like that, silly."

He took hold of her hands and said, "Bend your knees, 'kay? We jump on three."

She closed her eyes, and when he said three, she jumped with all her might. The loud SPLASH was satisfying to her own ears. She opened her eyes slowly, and the first thing she saw was their entwined fingers, she looked up at his face, and his huge grin made her smile.

Suddenly, he started running through the puddles, pulling her behind him. His giggles streaming past her, and unexpectedly, Ami felt laughter burbling in her own throat. She timidly let out a small laugh, then another. Soon she was running with him, her giggles mixing with his laughs. Together, they danced in the puddles in that way that children had, throwing all caution to the wind.

The only thing she regretted about the day was that her father called her name much too soon. As she left, holding her father's hand, she snuck a glance over her shoulder to look at the strange boy, hoping to see his huge grin just once more. But, his smile was a little sadder than before as if he would truly miss her splashing with him.

By the time the week was out, the boy had faded from her memory, but sometimes, for reasons she didn't understand, the now sixteen year old Ami would walk outside the day after a storm and stare at the puddles, a feeling of wistfulness filling her.

They were not supposed to meet. But, Minako had never been interested in what was supposed to happen. Even at the tender age of three. Her parents had taken her to London to visit her aunt. They hadn't even been on the same continent. But, they met anyway.

Her aunt had brought her to London Zoo as a treat. The girl wore the poor woman out the first five minutes of their adventure, as Minako thought of it. She wanted to see everything! The lions, the monkeys, the giraffes! But, at noon, her aunt put her foot down about racing from one exhibit to the next. She made them sit at the playground for a while. Minako had pouted for a moment, but then decided that she could spend her time much better by playing.

Since they had just seen the monkeys, they were fresh in Minako's mind. She decided that it would be great fun to pretend to be a monkey. She was on the top step of the monkey bars, which her mother always said were for older kids, but momma wasn't here, so it didn't really count. She reached her hands up to try and grab the first bar, but she couldn't quite reach. Looking around for her aunt, she sulked slightly when she saw that her aunt was sitting on a bench, her eyes closed. It would take too long to go ask for help, she wanted to go on the monkey bars NOW.

Minako stood on her tiptoes, holding onto the side beam with her left arm, her right stretching. Her fingertips could only just brush the bottom of the cold metal bar. Frowning, she tried again. It didn't work. Finally, Minako decided if she couldn't reach it, she would just have to jump and grab it. She closed her eyes, her small face screwed in determination, and she bent her knees. What Minako didn't realize was that jumping and grabbing hold of something is not as easy as it looks in the movies.

Her fingers curled around the bar for just a moment, before it slid from her grip. She was falling. She opened her mouth to scream, but before a sound could come out, a pair of hands plucked her from the air. She looked down at the hands on her hips, and followed them to the older boy who held her. He was so big! His silver hair fell into his eyes, that were looking at her harshly.

"You shouldn't be on those." he said in those weird words that her aunt spoke and that she only barely understood.

"Monkey. Monkey." she chirped joyfully.

The boy shook his head at her, before sighing and stretching her up higher. When her fingers clutched the bar, she felt as though she was on top of the world. She reached her hand out for the next one. She didn't notice that she had to let go of the first one to reach it. She knew that she was swinging like a monkey in a tree.

The boy holding her up, smiled slightly at how crossing the monkey bars was making her so happy. She kept on saying with more happiness than he could ever remember feeling, "Monkey, monkey, monkey." He could tell that she didn't even feel it when it was he alone who was keeping her up in the air, she thought that she was doing it almost completely by herself.

Together, the boy and girl crossed the monkey bars, when they got to the end, Minako held onto the bar for a moment, and the boy pulled her slightly to indicate to let go, but Minako suddenly felt a little nervous.

"It's okay," The boy said softly, "I've got you."

Minako closed her eyes, and slowly released the bar, and the boy lowered her. When she was even with his shoulders, she reached out her arms and wrapped them around his neck. Startled, he almost let go of her, but held steady. One of his own arms wrapping around her shoulder to give her a small hug. She let go of him after a moment and he gently placed her back on the ground.

"Stay off the monkey bars, Little Monkey."

The girl gave him a radiant smile and a small wave before scampering back to where her aunt was. He smiled slightly and put his hands in his pocket, and went to look for his father who was guarding some guy who was giving a speech in the Zoo's auditorium.

She remembered that day clearly. She remembered that it was the first day of preschool, and she was feeling nervous. She was dressed in her favorite green dress and had begged her mother to let her bring her favorite stuffed dog. She remembered getting to the school and seeing all the other kids.

She had hid behind her mother's leg, trying to ignore the fear that was overwhelming her. None of the other kids would like her. She would be stupid. Mamma wouldn't come back.

The older woman looked at her daughter with compassion. Makoto had always been so sensitive. The woman prayed that the young girl's day would go easy, if it didn't, she shuddered at the thought of convincing the stubborn girl to go again.

Makoto's mom had warned her about bringing a stuffed animal, how it was possible she might be teased for it, but Makoto hadn't understood, not really. Besides, she needed Roo.

So, when the first thing anyone said to her was a nasty on her dog, she cringed in surprise. Mommy was not supposed to be right!

Through out the day, boys teased her for her dog and her tears. She tried to avoid them, but they followed her where ever she went. It was the worst at recess, they surrounded her and stole her dog. She hooked her hands behind her back, refusing to give them the satisfaction of trying to get it back. There were tears streaming down her face.

Then he appeared. He was the only thing that she didn't remember clearly, over time his face had become that of a superhero. She would never recognize him if she met him again, but whoever he was, he saved her and Roo.

"That's not yours." his voice sounded like Batman in her memory, but he was a little boy, only a few years older than herself.

The other boys laughed at him. He didn't flinch. He valiantly grabbed one of the boys' arm and twisted it. The boy shrieked and his friends dropped the dog and ran, to try and find easier prey. He watched after them for a moment before reaching down and grabbing her dog off the ground. He dusted it off before holding it out to her.

She stared at him suspiciously, half expecting him to snatch it back when she reached for it. Slowly, she extended her arm and when he didn't move she yanked it from his hands. Her fingers soothing its fur.

The boy gave her a mysterious smile before fading into the crowds of children. She felt her heart go out to him. He had saved her! She had a hero. The next day she planned to thank him, but he was gone. When the same boys as the day before teased her again, she tensed.

Makoto grew angry. She thought that she would only have to go through teasing once. But once her hero was gone, they came back? How was that fair? Scowling, she pulled her arm back and let it fly at the nearest bully. She hit him hard enough that his nose squirted blood. The sight of which was innately satisfying to Makoto. She was not to be teased. Not anymore. If her hero wouldn't save her, she would have to do it herself.

She never saw the boy in the second floor window who watched her punch her tormentors with a smile and pride. Even as his parents filed the papers to remove him from the school. A position had finally opened at the prestigious academy they had dreamed of sending him to.

She was training to be a miko. She would be the best miko ever! She would show daddy that she worth more than a meal every once in awhile. She would show everyone. If this annoying boy would stop interrupting her sweeping. Rei gave him her best glare, but she supposed she would have to work on it. The boy didn't seem fazed. He just kept talking.

"Mamma and pappa brought me here on vacation. I've never been to Japan before. But they say that its our roots. That's why we speak Japanese at home. They say we are touring the country. But a lot of the times we come to these shrines. Mamma says that we are seeing the many different ways people respect the gods, but I think that they are kinda boring."

"Shrines are not boring!" Rei shouted, how dare he insult her home!

The boy grinned, "I knew I could get you to talk to me, Cinderella."

She stuck her tongue out at him, and then thought for a moment, "Why did you call me that?"

He shrugged, his blue eyes dancing, "Because you are always sweeping, and that's what Cinderella does."

Six year old Rei, held up her broom, "That's not the only thing these are good for." she said trying to sound threatening.

The boy laughed at her, and she frowned. That wasn't supposed to be funny. It was supposed to make him run away in fear. She hit him experimentally, and he just laughed harder. She swatted him again, and he put his hand out, taking the broom from her.

"Just because you are funny, doesn't mean I'll let you hit me over and over. What kind of man do you think I am?" he asked puffing out his chest.

Rei stuck her finger on it, "Not a man at all, you are just an itty-bitty, germy boy!"

"Germy, huh? I thought it was girls who had cooties. I bet your the queen of cooties!"

Rei could not believe her ears, no one had ever spoken to her in such a way. She could not allow this! She stormed closer to him and snatched her broom from his hands.

"I do not have cooties."

"Do to, Cootie Queen!"

Rei screeched and the boy began running, his blond curls bouncing with each mocking step. She chased after him, her broom swinging down every few seconds trying to hit him. He was able to dodge most hits.

"Cootie Queen. Cootie Queen." he yelled over his shoulder as he ran. Each time adding to Rei's rage, keeping her energy up.

Neither child noticed the three adults watching them with whimsical smiles. The boy's father said, "She's a spitfire isn't she?"

A little old man nodded his head vigorously, "She listens to me now, but I wouldn't bet on that lasting. So I'll be painfully abused in my old years."

"We'll pray for you." the only woman said, her face straight.

"Lovely lady, to be in your thoughts is compensation enough." the man flirted, waggling his bushy eyebrows.

Both the man and the woman laughed, before the man called to his son, "Jed? Tell the nice miko good-bye. We have to go now."

Jed turned to the "nice miko" and tried to wink at her, blinking instead, "Do I get a good bye kiss?"

"Never!" a panting Rei said.

"You're right, I wouldn't want to get your cooties, Cootie Queen."

She shrieked, but he had already raced over to his parents, and loathe as she was to admit it, adults made her nervous. Except the old man, he wasn't adulty enough. The boy gave her a cheeky grin as he and his parents walked down the stairs. Just one of thousands of visitors who passed through. Forgotten as soon as her initial anger disappeared. But if she ever remembered, she would still hold a grudge.

Deleted Scene

Funny story...not really, but this fanfiction started out completely different. Just a usual Shitennou (they were actually the evil generals, but after Moon's healing...) finding Mamoru after Sailor Moon ends. I don't know how it morphed into this idea, but there you have it. This scene is a deleted one as it would not work in this story. It was supposed to be the second mini-scene in the first chapter. The first being the first mini-scene of next chapter with Beth/Beryl being unable to find Metallia in Antarctica because it is the second time around, so Sailor Moon had already defeated Metallia and had to reverse time to get rid of everything that had happened. (I always figured that is what happened, instead of her just erasing memory, I just thought that it made more sense that way. How else would the Senshi and Mamoru come back to life?) Anyway, in the original version I was going to have Beryl as the villain, but then I realized I didn't have any ideas for an evil plot, sob. Besides I'd rather write about the character and relationship dynamics than make up a new evil. So this is how Beryl became in control of a new plot...

'Here I am.' she (Beryl) wanted to shout, 'Where are you? Please don't resign me to mediocrity!'

Two dimensions to the side and one up, the wicked left ear of Fate perked up. Fate, the two-faced man whose right hand never let the left one know what it was doing and vice-versa. Half of his body was serene, the other half had a perpetual sinister smirk. It was this smirking side whose hand started working at a tangled loom.

Throughout the tapestry, a silver thread was entwined with a gold. The entwined threads began an eighth of the way through the piece, surrounding them were ten threads. Paired together, dusty orange and tan gently wrapped around each other. Crimson and black, tightly knotted, closer to a battle than an actual connection. Deep blue and turquoise, spread from each other, that only on a closer look is their connection noticeable. Forest green and tree brown threads hugging each other so tightly that it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began. The last two, violet and white threads circled each other without touching as if they themselves were unaware of their own connection. But, around and through these six pairs a jarring, poisonous green thread weaved. This thread had been a pleasant dusty green but shortly into its life, it bled to this nauseous color. Which just before the twelve strings could gather together, it forced all but the gold and silver apart. And, abruptly, all thirteen of these threads disappeared. Only to reappear a little bit a way from what was now being weaved. But, this time, the tan, black, turquoise, and brown threads were ensnared by the vile green. Completely under its influence, and with this influence, they were cut off. Only to go backwards, starting again three inches earlier, with the other eight threads.

It was the continuation of these threads that both sides of Fate focused on. While the left side was busily reworking the poisonous green, the right was gathering the other twelve together. The right, serene side allowed himself a rare, small chuckle. These twelve belong together, but it was going to be an all out war to get them to admit it. As the left tied his final knot, he thought, 'Don't worry, my gem, you are too good a vessel to be left alone.'

For a moment, the two sides of Fate laughed together and time stilled in recognition. When all of Fate laughs its cacophonous laugh, it alters the course of Life itself.

The violet and white threads are Luna and Artemis, I think the rest are self explanatory...maybe.