PROLOGUE

Tomoe Hotaru peered up into Meioh Setsuna's maroon eyes. "Setsuna-mama?"

Setsuna looked troubled for a moment. "Nani?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, Hotaru, I'm fine." Setsuna looked at the seemingly eight year old girl, with her bright purple eyes and shiny black hair. The girl with unknown powers who had awakened them all. She thought, "Will this little girl ever grow up?" *~*~*~*~*~*

PART ONE

Well, I did. Yes, I am the Soldier of Death and Rebirth, Sailor Saturn. This story is how I conquered my fears and the enemy with the love of the people closest to me.

At this point in my life, I was seventeen, a senior in high school. Then, I met *him*. An angel just walked right in my classroom.

He was tall, around 6'1", with piercing blue eyes, and short, blond hair. His skin was tan, like Setsuna's. He looked strong and mischievous.

And the angel sat right next to me, with a glance in my direction. My teacher, Mr. Hitoshi, said, "Class, we have a transfer student from the United States. His name is Smith Chris. Chris, do you have anything to say?"

The new boy rose and, amid the snickers about his odd name, said, "Konnichiwa, minna. Since my name is hard for some of you to say, you can call me Chiisu if you want. That's what my relatives here call me." The snickering abruptly stopped. They were all amazed by his Japanese. He smiled a beautiful smile and sat back down. I smirked thinking of how dumb the other kids must feel laughing at him and then hearing his perfect Japanese. But I had to wonder, 'Who is this new kid?'

At lunch that day, he was looking for a place to sit. I waved him over to my table, mainly because I sit alone everyday. I needed a change. As he came over and sat down, I smiled and said, "My name is Tomoe Hotaru. Nice to meet you."

"Hello, Hotaru. Thanks for giving me a place to sit. I was going to go insane."

"Ara...no problem. I usually sit alone anyway. So how are you today?"

"Daijobu. And you?'

"I'm fine. So what brought you to Tokyo?"

"Umm...my parents sent me here because I was a troublemaker for them. I live with friends of my family, who moved here about five years ago."

"Oh." I blushed. "Well, your Japanese is very good."

"Arigato. So, what about you? Where're your parents?"

"Um, right now, I live by myself. The three girls I used to live with went to college. My mom died when I was three, and my dad died when I was fifteen. I get by because the three girls, Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuna, send me money from college. They go to Tokyo University."

His face paled. "Ara....gomen ne! I didn't mean to....kamisama..." Now, he was turning crimson.

I touched his arm. "Hey, don't worry about it. I'm fine, see?"

"*sigh* okay. But gomen ne anyway. I never thought a bishoujo like you could be...well..an orphan."

I blushed. "Well, I never thought a kakkoii shounen like you could be hard to handle."

His eyes twinkled mischievously. "We have a lot to learn about each other, then."