*-----[ Supernova ]-----*

Chapter I

Earth: Juuban, Japan - 1 year later and 4 years after Starlights' departure from Earth

"I thought I would NEVER get my own place !" Tsukino Usagi sighed, contented to hear her voice bounce off the walls of her new apartment.

She smiled excitedly as she dropped a single box that she was carrying and ran through the empty place. Usagi swung her way around a corner, down a short hall and stopped at the doorway to the biggest room.

The long stretch of a sheet of glass bordered her and the beautiful view of the afternoon city outside. A sliding glass door led the way to a balcony. She even had a walk-in closet. This room was perfect, Usagi couldn't wait to get her furniture up here.

Anxious for the rest of the place, Usagi wandered over to the room across from hers. She opened the door wide and peered in. This room was smaller in size than what was to be hers. It would do well for a guest room perhaps.

The room a few steps down from the guestroom looked like it would make a promising study and workplace. There was a hall closet and a bathroom complete with a shower and bathtub. Another hall compartment looked like a closet except it was the place of her washing machine and dryer.

The living room was an open place and the kitchen didn't look crowded or closed in by walls. Usagi could imagine just having a wonderful time staying here.

She looked around once more and smiled. She was now in college and was itching to move out. High school passed like a flash and before she knew it, she was graduating. Her parents had tears in their eyes to see Usagi graduate with marks they all knew she was proud of. She finally started to work hard enough to pull herself together. And Usagi owed a large part of that to Ami.

Usagi had wanted to move out and upon shopping with Minako, she found an ad for this place. Her parents were very pleased, even Shingo was impressed. Usagi remembered their reaction when she showed them the papers.

"That looks so charming." Her mother had said.

Usagi sighed. [ Hopefully things will start to go my way, ] she thought to herself.

The moving men were going to be here any minute now. The blonde had left in a hurry and jumped in her car to get to her new apartment. She was too excited.

The doorbell rang and Usagi positively skipped to the door. She greeted the burly-looking men with a cheery attitude and a bright smile. She didn't have that much with her: just a couple boxes of clothes, bedsheets, towels and other necessities. The dining set that she purchased two days ago would be here later in the day, along with her new double bed.

This place was going to be empty for awhile, considering that she still had to go and pick out more furniture.

Usagi carefully instructed the men to what she wanted. The boxes that held clothes and such were deposited into her room. Others were just left in the would-be living room.

She thanked them ecstatically and waved good-bye. Shutting the door, Usagi picked up her phone. She called about her dining set and bed that were to be arriving later and they assured her that they'd be on time.

Usagi looked around again. [ I'll unpack later when the rest of the stuff comes. ] Her stomach made growling noises. Instead of frowning, Usagi smiled. She was reminded that she didn't eat anything since this morning. All this deserved a reward.

The keys were on the ledge where she left them. Usagi picked up her purse and decided it was time for some take-out food. She'd be back in time to see to her furniture.

Taking a last look, Usagi stepped out into the hall and locked the door.

* * * * *

About three days later, Usagi was out with Makoto and Rei. Today was warm and beautiful. The sun was shining and the heat wave was coming on. The girls fully mirrored this with their sleeveless tops and sandals. They sat at a quaint little outside restaurant.

Usagi pushed her blue-tinted shades up her nose and took a long sip of her shake." Have you ever considered getting a place of your own Rei-chan ?" she asked.

Her raven-haired friend gave her a smile and shook her head." Nah. My duty is running the temple. I guess it'll always be, you know, with Grandpa and Chad. But it's not like I would want to leave or something. Chad's probably going to stay forever anyway." She chuckled.

" Well," Makoto said." All I know is that when I get my own place, its going to be great." Makoto sat back and sighed happily." But I'm still so jealous you got your own so soon." She gave Usagi a playful punch in the shoulder.

Usagi beamed happily." I know. I'm pretty proud of it. But if you guys need anywhere to crash or something, I'm free. I've got a guest bedroom."

Makoto and Rei nodded thoughtfully. Makoto smiled," Hey, be expecting it." She gave Usagi a wink.

All her friends have stopped by to see her place. They were impressed at the most and couldn't wait to see how everything turned out for their friend.

The only one who hasn't seen Usagi's place was Mamoru. It was really important for Mamoru to accept the opportunity to study in America again. It was the second time and this was concerning his desire to be in the medical field.

Changes also have arisen with the past four years. Each and every one of her friends was growing up. They were women now and going out into the world. Usagi wasn't a little girl anymore. She noted greatly how much she matured with Mamoru's first absence.

When she met someone by the name of Kou Seiya. He must've been the central reason of her change. It's like he helped her grow up and see things more clearly. He was the shoulder she cried on and the comfort she sought so badly after Mamoru left.

A short while with the Three Lights had been an interesting chapter in Usagi's life. Usagi even wondered if that chapter was truly over. Now that Mamoru was back in her life…sort of… perhaps it was closed.

But Seiya…..Many times Usagi would catch herself spontaneously thinking about him. She'd never know where those thoughts came from. They were buried and deep within, surfacing frequently to remind her of who was there in her time of need. Usagi couldn't help but miss him…..terribly.

[ I wonder what's going on with him ? ] Usagi thought for a moment.

Makoto and Rei exchanged odd glances. Usagi was sitting there, heedlessly stirring her chocolate shake. Usagi's sapphire eyes were glued to the checkered table spread and had a touch of sadness.

"Usagi ?"

Their friend didn't react. It's been a long time……maybe too long…..but I could never forget, how could I ?

"Usagi ?" Rei snapped her fingers in front of Usagi's face.

The blonde's train of thought was cut at the sudden click. She blinked twice and came back to the real world." Huh ? You were saying something about houses Rei ?" Usagi said, her attention diverted back.

Rei raised an eyebrow." Houses ? No, I asked you if anything was wrong."

"Wrong with me ?" Usagi said, a hand gesturing to herself." Oh no, nothing."

Makoto looked at her worriedly." Are you sure ? You just kinda blanked out for a few seconds and your eyes weren't moving. Looked sort of creepy."

Usagi gave a brief smile. There was a long pause before she talked again."….Guys ?…..Do you ever think about how strange it is that everybody around us thinks that the Three Lights have disbanded ?" she asked them." I mean, we're the only ones that actually know what happened."

This was strange. Usagi had never mentioned their encounter with the three Star senshi in quite some time. The time after Seiya, Taiki and Yaten left, Usagi had been silent and melancholic. They would ask her what was wrong but she would always find a way to brush them off. With Mamoru's presence once again, Usagi's mood changed….only a bit. It was like someone took a part of Usagi with him. It must've been Seiya.

After Mamoru left this second time, Usagi felt dejected again and seemed extra upset. The fact that Seiya was not there and would probably never come back for this second time, upset her even more. That realization might have stayed in the back of her mind but it was there.

" Uh, yeah I guess." Makoto said." How do you think they're doing ?"

"Probably doing a great deal of rebuilding." Rei answered." It's been a long time, maybe everything looks prosperous."

" Maybe." Usagi sighed. It was funny the way that Seiya's memory would creep up on her out of nowhere. A sense of incompleteness would follow with it and another feeling as well. Was it regret ? That was crazy though. Regret about what ?

A short time after Seiya left, Usagi would look at Mamoru and abruptly wish she wasn't bound by destiny. It was crazy but that wish still remained inside her. It just went on unnoticed.

" So anyway, I haven't seen Luna around in a long while." Rei said.

" Oh, she took a trip to the future. Didn't Minako tell you ?"

Makoto replied," No. Why would Luna want to do that ? Is there any trouble ?"

Usagi shook her head." Artemis is with her. They wanted to visit Diana."

They continued to talk a little bit more. It was more on life than about the future and what it held. Ever since the Starlights' departure, Usagi mindlessly avoided the subject of the future.

" I think we should go." Makoto said suddenly, breaking the subject. She looked at her watch. " I've got somewhere to go and I can't be late."

" Yeah." Rei agreed. She watched Usagi nod as well.

They gathered their things from the day's shopping and made their exit.

Usagi, Makoto and Rei made their way back to their parked cars. Rei had hitched a ride with Makoto and was putting both their parcels in the back seat. Makoto got in and rolled down her window.

" Don’t forget next week okay Usagi-chan ?" Rei said as she slipped on her dark glasses.

" Of course not." Usagi said smiling. The next time Ami and Minako were going to be taking time out of their by schedules to hang around." I can't wait."

" Okay then. Ja ne Usa-chan !" Makoto said. She shifted the car into drive and before Usagi knew it, they were speeding away.

Usagi watched them as they disappeared around the corner. Then she got into her own car and headed for home.

While she was heading towards a stoplight, she slipped back into the thoughts that always plagued her. Usagi wondered what couldn't have caused her to speak about the Three Lights out loud ? It's been too long, she couldn't help but say that she missed them. Especially Seiya.

She was all the more reminded as she passed the park where Seiya told her to meet him. Usagi smiled briefly with a touch of sadness. Those days were gone. It wasn’t fair. Also gone was the teenager in her. The Usagi that Mamoru left the first time was the Usagi that didn't exist anymore. The Usagi that was here now felt trapped. She secretly wanted freedom. As far as she knew, the key to her freedom didn't exist.

Out of the corner of her eye, Usagi spied the little bear key chain dangling as it was attached to the rest of her keys at the ignition. She just sighed.

Usagi pulled up into the driveway and into her own designated parking spot. Pulling an armful of bags and packages from her trunk, she proceeded on to head towards her building.

She entered and walked to the elevator. It only took a few seconds this time for it to come.

Usagi stumbled only once as she picked up her things from the floor while getting out of the elevator. Upon getting out, her door was only a short way down the hall.

But she stopped. Usagi blinked. [ What ? ] She thought as she stood just a few feet away from her apartment Her lips pursed themselves as she struggled to keep her things in her arms. Usagi walked slowly to the door. The frightening realization came over her as she drew near.

A crack from her OPEN door peaked up at her.

Usagi gasped as she ran the rest of the way and abruptly dropped her things. A wave of fear hit her. Robbed ?

Without thinking, Usagi took the doorknob in her shaking hand and slowly pushed it open. Her breathing had turned short and quick the moment she stepped in. Her eyes slowly scanned the room.

She expected everything in her boxes to be raided through because some of them were still out in her furniture-less living room. But no, everything looked exactly as it had been when she left it.

Her head swerved keenly to the side at the sound of a rattling noise. Oh no, that robber was still here. It was coming from down the hall. Usagi's face scrunched up, the stupid bastard was probably in her room !

Quickly and quietly, Usagi had decided to put him down herself. Swiftly, she ran to the kitchen and grabbed the nearest thing she could find. A pan.

She grasped the handle tightly with two sweating palms. Her pace was ever so slow as she nervously made her way down the hall. There was fear building up inside her as well.

[ Oh God, what if I miss ? He's going to tie me up and rob me for everything I have ! ]

Usagi shook her head frantically for any negative thoughts about this. No, she was going to show this thief a thing or two about raiding her new apartment. She paid good money to stay here and she wasn't going to allow some creep to take anything.

Nonetheless, Usagi could feel her heart pounding in her ears as her knuckles turned white from grasping at the handle of the pan so tightly. She had to, or it was going to slip from the sweat from her palms.

Usagi moved down the hall. The noise stopped awhile ago. What if he sensed her ? Didn't that ruin her element of surprise ? No, she had to keep going. She was going to get him for good.

Looking down to watch her footing, her eyes caught something. It was on her new white carpet. Usagi's eyes widened as she stooped a little lower to examine it. She covered her own mouth quickly to keep from gasping loudly.

Blood.

Looking up this time, Usagi saw that the horrific and moist little pool close to her feet was a trail. The crimson streak ran from where she was standing, in various drops all the way to her room.

By now, Usagi's chest was heaving up and down in fear. What was happening ? A million grotesque images floated in and out through her head. Killers, murderers and dead mutilated bodies. She was starting to feel sick.

She didn't know why but her feet continued to move her closer. She commanded her feet to stop but they wouldn't listen, so instead she raised her pan to strike.

A guttural groan that was almost a whisper was emitted from her room and reached her intent ears. He was right there, so close. Maybe even close enough to hit a few good times to knock him out.

Usagi held her breath tightly as she took the last few slow steps to the doorframe of her room.

The pan was raised higher as she squeezed the handle with fear-widened eyes.

Instantaneously, Usagi bolted forward and was about to strike. Instead she struck only thin air when the sudden realization came upon her that the attack came from the side.

Usagi's head swiftly turned to the left, but not fast enough. She didn't have enough time to scream as a body landed on her. Under the body's weight, Usagi was almost crushed and was pushed down onto the carpet.

Then she screamed at the sight of where the trail of blood lead to. There was a large stain right there.

Usagi's eyes opened wide, gasping for air when it dawned on her. An unbelievable wave of mixed shock and horror crashed upon her. It was like somebody gave her a direct kick to the stomach. Usagi felt paralyzed in the spot as she recognized the face despite the blood that ran down near the eye from a huge forehead gash and numerous scrapes and bruises.

"SEIYA ?!!!"