Hi-hi minna-san!!  I'm back!!  Are you all excited?  All right, this one is called Sunset and it is set during the Silver Millennium.  I think this one is going to be a little bit more romantic.  In this first chapter, it flashes a lot through the years, so try not to get confused.  Let me know what you think!  (runnerup2001@netscape.net)  Should I keep writing it or not?  Let me know! 
If you really must know, I don’t own Sailor Moon.  (No matter how many times I wish on the evening star!)  And I’m not making any money off of this, nor do I have any money, so please don’t sue me. 
Sunset by Chichiri 
Chapter 1 - Thunder and Roses 

“Mommy?” the eight-year-old princess asked. 
     “Yes, little one?” the Queen replied. 
     “Why don’t people from different planets like each other?” the girl asked.  “Why can’t everyone be friends?” 
     “I honestly don’t know, little one,” the Queen replied sadly. 
     “I think it would be nice to have all the planets be friends and everything be peaceful,” the girl said dreamily. 
     “I wish it were as you say too,” the Queen said softly.  “Perhaps someday it will be.  Your name suits you.” 

~Ten Years Later~ 

“Are we all agreed then?” Queen Serenity asked. 
     The representatives of each planet from each Universe looked around and nodded. 
     “Good,” Queen Serenity said.  “Then let this day be celebrated each year as the birthday of the Silver Millennium.  If any planet disobeys the codes of peace and honor we have lay forth and agreed upon today, then that planet will be banished from the Silver Millennium.  Let us all hope that the day never comes for a planet to be banished.”  The other representatives bobbed their heads in solemn agreement. 
     Queen Serenity had become the Queen of the Moon Kingdom at the young age of fifteen, when her parents had died.  Queen Serenity’s parents had been two of the many casualties of the Great War of the Planets.  At the age of eighteen, Queen Serenity had finally managed to fulfill her dream of having all of the planets exist together as friends in peace.  Her warm and caring heart had easily gotten her elected as the Ruler of the Silver Millennium.  The Silver Millennium had been Queen Serenity’s idea for peace among the planets and Universes.  Today, all of the Kings and Queens of each planet had signed an agreement of peace.  All except for the planets of the Negaverse, that is.  Queen Serenity’s only disappointment had been that the planets of the Negaverse had refused to join the Silver Millennium. 

~Seventeen Years Later~ 

Queen Serenity now had a seven-year-old daughter of her own, named Princess Serenity after her mother for she, too, loved peace.  Princess Serenity was called Princess Serena by everyone to avoid confusion with her mother.  But there was something different about Princess Serena.  She had a different air about her.  Wherever she went, she radiated joy and happiness and a sereneness came over people when they saw her or spoke about her.  Somehow the people knew that Princess Serena was very special.  And for this, the members of the Silver Millennium valued her more than anything else in the Universes. 
     Today was a special day of much rejoicing because, after much negotiation, the Negaverse had finally agreed to join the Silver Millennium.  It had taken seventeen years, but Queen Serenity was happy nonetheless, and so was her daughter. 
     “Are we really going to a ball tonight?” Usagi asked excitedly. 
     “Yes, Serena,” Queen Serenity replied.  “The Negaverse has finally agreed to join the Silver Millennium and, to prove that they are serious, they are having a ball at the palace on Tartarus, the ruling planet of the Negaverse.” 
     “A ball!  A real ball!” Usagi squealed with delight.  “I can’t wait!  It will be so much fun!  Wait till I tell the others!”  With that, Usagi ran off in search of her friends.  Queen Serenity smiled at her daughter’s joy. 

~That Evening, at the Palace on Tartarus~ 

Princess Serenity gasped with delight as she and her mother entered the ballroom in the palace.  “The Queen Serenity and Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom,” a guard announced as they entered.  People danced about the ballroom, creating a swirl of the different colors of the planets.  Usagi looked among the crowds for her friends but didn’t see them.  ‘They must not be here yet,’ Usagi thought. 
     “I have to go talk to Queen Echidna for a while, will you be all right alone?” Queen Serenity asked. 
     “I’ll be fine,” Usagi assured her mother. 
     “All right,” Queen Serenity said, leaving Usagi to her own amusements. 
     Usagi looked around again and saw a girl about five or six years older than herself standing off to the side alone.  Usagi, being the friendly person that she was, decided to go introduce herself.  “Hi!  I’m Serena,” she said warmly as she approached the other girl.  The other girl wore a solid black dress that showed her to be from Tartarus.  Her red hair floated around her head, flowing over her shoulders.  She had dark green, penetrating eyes.  (AN: guess who? : P)  Usagi was about to go on, but the other girl cut her off.  “Oh, so you’re the high and mighty Princess of the Moon, heir to the Silver Millennium,” she said icily.  “Well I am Beryl, Princess of Tartarus and heir to the Negaverse.  I honestly don’t know why my mother decided to join the Silver Millennium.  When I become Queen of the Negaverse, the Negaverse will cease to be a part of the Silver Millennium.  And then we will destroy your stupid little plan for peace called the Silver Millennium.”  With that, Beryl turned and walked away. 
     Usagi was shocked at Beryl’s harsh words.  Sighing sadly, she decided to look for the gardens of the palace.  She wandered out of the ballroom and into the hallway.  As she walked through the hallway, she heard voices coming from behind a door that was slightly ajar.  Usagi would have continued walking right by the door, but one word caught her attention: “Serenity.”  Pausing to listen, Usagi heard the conversation clearer. 
     “...And once our plan is in action, it will be easy to take over the three Universes,” a man’s voice said. 
     “Those Moon people are so naive,” a woman’s voice snapped.  “As if the Negaverse would actually stoop so low as to be ruled by those Moon Twits!” 
     “Yes, my Queen,” the man returned.  “Soon, the Universes will be no more, only the Negaverse will prevail.” 
     “Soon we will have our chance, Lord Malachite,” the Queen replied.  “I must go talk to the Moon Queen now.  Our plan must wait for the perfect opportunity.” 
     Usagi ran out the first door that she came to.  She found herself in a darkened hallway.  She concentrated on her mother and called out, ‘Mommy!  The Negaverse tricked us!  They don’t want to join the Silver Millennium, they want to take over and--’ 
     ‘Serena!’ Queen Serenity cut in.  ‘You’re talking nonsense!  I don’t know how you got such an idea in your head, but stop it now!’ 
     ‘But Mommy, it’s true!’ Usagi protested.  ‘They're going to kill us all!’ 
     ‘Stop it Serena!’ Queen Serenity commanded.  ‘Queen Echidna is coming in to talk with me, so please stop your ridiculous rambling!’ 
     Usagi looked around the dark hallway that she was in, letting her eyes get accustomed to the dim silvery light that her body gave off.  The darkness was always lit for her unless she wished it to be dark.  The elements were at her command.  She walked softly down the hallway and came to another door.  Opening it, she found that it led outside.  She stepped outside and was dismayed to find that the stars were hidden by a thick shroud of clouds.  Usagi had always loved to look at the stars and the other planets.  Her favorite planet to look at in the sky was Terra.  She would often spend hours gazing at the stars and Terra.  She loved the beautiful colors of blue, green, and white that covered Terra.  But now she was in the Negaverse, and even if the clouds had been gone, she would not have been able to see Terra because it was in the Universe of the Moon.  A wave of homesickness swept over Usagi and she ran out into the gardens, changing her clothes from her royal dress to pants and a t-shirt with only half a thought. 
     Usagi began looking through the gardens for roses.  Her favorite flower was the rose from Terra.  She liked its delicate beauty and gentle smell.  The only roses she found were black, the color of the Negaverse, and they were not very pretty.  All of a sudden a flash of lightning lit up the sky, followed by a loud crash of thunder.  Usagi jumped when the thunder crashed and she looked for the path back to the palace.  It began to pour and Usagi couldn’t see anything anymore.  She began to cry when another flash of lightning and crash of thunder came from the sky.  She wandered over to a hedge and crawled underneath it for some shelter from the rain.  She curled up and closed her eyes, trying to shut out the storm.  But with the next crash of thunder, fresh tears stung the young Princess’s eyes. 
     Mamoru had wandered into the garden, bored with the party.  When it started to rain, he began to follow a path in the direction he hoped the palace was in.  As he passed a hedge near the black roses, he heard someone crying.  Looking around, he saw a girl curled up in the hedge crying. 
     He pulled a red rose from behind his back and held it out to the girl asking, “Why are you crying, little one?” 
     Usagi looked up at the red rose that was held in front of her face and a small smile spread over her lips.  Then she looked up at the boy who was holding the rose.  He looked about two years older than her and his stormy midnight blue eyes were full of concern as he looked at her.  His hair was blacker than a moonless night and he was all together very handsome. 
     Mamoru stared at the beautiful girl who sat in front of him.  She had smiled when she had seen the rose and that made him happy.  He didn’t know why, but he felt drawn to her.  Her eyes were the gray-blue color of the ocean after a storm, and they were as deep as the deepest part of the ocean.  Her golden hair was swept back in an elegant bun, but now loose strands of wet hair clung to her face.  Sitting there on the ground, she had a soft glow about her and Mamoru thought she looked like a moonbeam. 
     “Where did it come from?  The rose, I mean,” Usagi asked.  “And where did you come from?” 
     “Well, you could say that I found the rose, and I was walking through the gardens when it started to rain,” he replied.  “What are you doing out here?” 
     “I came out to look at the stars, but it was cloudy, so I decided to look for the roses,” Usagi answered.  “Roses are my favorite flowers.  But there’s only black roses here.  And then it started to rain and--” Usagi stopped and cringed when thunder crashed again. 
     “And you’re afraid of thunderstorms,” Mamoru finished. 
     “Well, yeah...” Usagi said, flushing slightly. 
     Noticing her blush, Mamoru reassured her, “It’s okay.  Everyone is afraid of something.” 
     She smiled again.  He offered her his hand and she accepted it, getting to her feet.  Mamoru held her hand as they made their way back to the palace.  ‘His hand feels nice,’ Usagi thought.  ‘It’s strong and gentle, and it’s comforting.  Our hands fit together so perfectly.’ 
     ‘Her hand is so delicate,’ Mamoru thought.  ‘It’s warm and delicate, rather like rose petals.  Yet there is a hidden strength inside her, I can feel it.  It feels like we belong together.’ 
     Another crash of thunder caused Usagi to jump again.  Mamoru put his arm around her shoulder and whispered, “It’s okay, you’re not alone.  We’re almost back to the palace.” 
     ‘I feel safe in his arms,’ Usagi thought.  She didn’t even jump at the next crash of thunder. 
     “What is your name?” Mamoru asked. 
     “I would rather not say,” Usagi said, reluctant to hear another remark like Beryl’s. 
     “Then I shall call you Usagi, because you reminded me of a rabbit when I saw you hiding from the storm,” Mamoru suggested.  “Do you like your name?” 
     “I think it is a lovely name!” Usagi exclaimed. 
     “I’m glad,” Mamoru said.  “You can call me--” 
     “I shall call you Mamoru, because you have protected me from the storm,” Usagi cut in. 
     “Very well,” Mamoru agreed. 
     In a few moments they had reached the palace and entered the hallway.  “Shall I escort you back to the ballroom?” Mamoru asked. 
     “No, thank you,” Usagi replied.  “I think I will just go back to my room.” 
     “As you wish,” Mamoru sighed.  “Goodnight, Lady Usagi.” 
     Usagi giggled and replied, “Goodnight, Lord Mamoru.” 

~Later That Night~ 

“Usagi!  Where were you?  We looked all over the ballroom for you!” Rei shouted storming into Usagi’s room.  The other three princesses of Usagi’s court followed her in. 
     “I was in the garden,” Usagi said calmly. 
     “In the middle of a huge thunderstorm?” Rei asked skeptically.  “You’re afraid of thunder!” 
     “Oh?  There was thunder?” Usagi asked innocently, deciding to play with Rei.  It worked. 
     “Aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!” Rei screamed.  “Where were you?  You didn’t notice that there’s a huge thunderstorm outside?” 
     “Rei, stop it!  Why do you always have to be so mean to Serena?” Makoto demanded, lightning flashing in her eyes. 
     “Stop it!  We don’t need to have an argument!” Ami commanded. 
     “That’s right,” Minako agreed. 
     “But I wanna know where she was!” Rei complained. 
     “You’re so nosy!” Usagi said.  “But if you really must know, I was in the garden with a friend.” 
     “But we’re your friends!” Rei protested. 
     “I just met him today,” Usagi explained. 
     “Him?”  Usagi now had everybody’s attention, especially Minako’s, she was the Senshi of Love after all.  “Did you say ‘him’?” Minako asked. 
     “Yes,” Usagi replied calmly. 
     “So, what happened?” Minako prompted. 
     “What do you mean what happened?  I’m seven years old!” Usagi cried.  “I got caught in the rain and he walked me back to the palace.” 
     “What was his name?  Where is he from?” Minako asked. 
     “I don’t know.”  Usagi smiled. 
     “All right,” Minako said.  “You met this guy in the garden in the middle of a thunderstorm and you don’t know his name or where he's from?” 
     “Yep,” Usagi nodded. 
     “But what about his clothes?” Makoto asked.  “Wasn't he wearing his planet's colors?” 
     Usagi shook her head.  “I don’t know.  He wasn't wearing formal clothes so he might have changed before coming into the garden like I did.  As for names, we gave each other names.  He called me Usagi because he said I reminded him of a rabbit when he found me.  I called him Mamoru because he protected me from the storm.” 
     “That’s so romantic!” Makoto sighed dreamily. 
     “Yeah,” Minako agreed. 
     A loud crash of thunder rumbled through the room.  “You didn’t even flinch at the thunder,” Rei said. 
     “It’s just not scary anymore,” Usagi said. 
     “What did this guy do to you?” Rei whined.  “Now I can’t make fun of you.” 
     Usagi shot a glare at Rei.  “That’s okay,” Rei muttered under her breath.  “I’m sure it'll come back.  And if it doesn't I’ll find something else to make fun of.” 
     “There was something special about Mamoru,” Usagi explained.  “His hand was so gentle and strong.” 
     “You held hands?” everyone asked. 
     Usagi blushed and nodded.  “There was something about him that made me feel warm even though it was cold outside.  I can still feel that warmth in me now.” 
     “You’re soulmates,” Minako stated. 
     “What?” Usagi asked. 
     “I’m the Senshi of Love,” Minako explained.  “I know all about soulmates.  You two are definitely soulmates.” 
     Usagi smiled, but then she said, “What if I never see him again?” 
     “You will,” Minako promised.  “Nothing can keep soulmates apart.” 
     Usagi smiled again and looked at the red rose she held in her hand. 

~Eight Years Later~ 

“What are you doing?” Usagi demanded as she approached the roses in the gardens of the Moon Palace and saw someone else standing there. 
     “Take it easy, Meatball Head,” Mamoru said.  “I was only looking at the roses.”  Neither recognized the other from their encounter in the garden in the Negaverse eight years earlier. 
     “Did you just call me Meatball Head?” Usagi asked angrily.  “Do you know who I am?  I am Princess Serenity, the Princess of the Moon Kingdom.  How dare you come into my gardens and insult me.” 
     “Umm... I meant Meatball Head in a good way,” Mamoru said.  “I’m sorry if I insulted you.  I didn’t know that you were the Princess.” 
     “Sure you didn’t!” Usagi snapped.  “Everyone knows who the Queen and Princess of the Moon are.  Now what do you think you’re doing to my roses?” 
     “The red ones are dying, I was trying to help them,” Mamoru explained.  “I’m sorry if I disturbed them, Meatball Head.” 
     “Stop calling me that!!” Usagi shouted.  “And get out of my gardens before I call the guards on you.” 
     “Why are you so protective of the roses?  They're just flowers aren't they?” Mamoru asked. 
     “They are not just flowers!” Usagi shot back.  “They happen to be the most beautiful flowers, and they remind me of someone that I met long ago.  Will you please leave now?”  Usagi had calmed down a little. 
     “Very well.”  Mamoru gently brushed his hand against a rosebush as he left. 
     Usagi watched him go and thought, ‘There was something familiar about him.’  Looking down at the rosebushes again, she was startled to see that one of the red ones was blooming.  She reached out and gently fingered one of the red blossoms.  When she touched the rose, a warm feeling flooded through her.  ‘That was Mamoru!’ Usagi thought, a bright smile lighting her face.  ‘What is he doing here?  And I was so mean to him!  I must see him again.’ 

Usagi grabbed the last book that she needed from the shelf and carefully placed it on the stack of other books.  She picked up the huge stack of books and was almost to the door when someone ran smack into her, causing her to fall backwards.  The stack of books fell on top of her, burying her. 
     “Oh my gosh!  I’m so sorry!” Mamoru apologized profusely as he began to move the books aside.  “Gomen nasai!” 
     Usagi struggled out from under the books, a stray book falling off her head.  She looked up and was startled to see Mamoru again.  “Mamoru?!” Usagi asked. 
     “Usagi?!”  Mamoru was just as surprised, although he didn’t recognize her as the Princess since she was wearing her hair back in a single braid and she wore civilian clothes. 
     “What are you doing here?” they both asked each other at the same time. 
     “Well, I live here,” Usagi said. 
     “Really?  It’s so amazing that we’re meeting again!” Mamoru said, avoiding answering the question himself.  “It’s been so long since I've seen you.  Sorry I ran into you like that.”  Mamoru offered Usagi his hand and helped her stand up. 
     “That’s all right,” Usagi said.  Mamoru helped Usagi pick up the stack of books. 
     “I’ll help you carry them back to your house,” Mamoru offered. 
     “Uh, that's okay!” Usagi protested, not wanting him to know that she was the Princess. 
     “I insist,” Mamoru said firmly as he picked up some of the books. 
     “All right...” Usagi decided to go to one of her friends’ houses instead of the palace. 

“Hi, Naru-chan!  I’m home!” Usagi called as she opened the door and walked into the small cottage. 
     “Oh!  Hi, Your Majesty,” Naru said rushing into the hall to greet her Princess. 
     “Ah, ha-ha!” Usagi laughed.  “Naru-chan, how many times have I told you to stop calling me that and curtsying every time you see me.”  Then under her breath she added to Mamoru, “She's a little sick, if you know what I mean.” 
     “But Your Majesty--” Naru protested, thoroughly confused. 
     “My name is Serena, please,” Usagi said, staring straight at Naru with a look that said, ‘Don’t challenge me.’  Naru stopped protesting. 
     “This is my friend,” Usagi introduced.  “What's your real name?  I only know my nickname for you.” 
     “Darien,” Mamoru replied. 
     “Welcome to our house, Darien,” Naru smiled. 
     “Naru is my sister,” Usagi said quickly. 
     “Thank you for letting me in,” Mamoru said, pulling a yellow rose from behind his back and offering it to Naru. 
     “Ooohhh!  It’s beautiful!  I’ll go put it in a vase!”  Naru left the room with the rose to go in search of a vase. 
     “So this is where you live?” Mamoru asked. 
     “Yep,” Usagi replied.  “Let’s go put the books in my room.”  Usagi led the way to the tiny guest bedroom and they dumped the books on the floor.  “Would you like some tea?” 
     “Sure,” Mamoru said. 

An hour later, just after Mamoru left, Naru exclaimed, “Who is he?  And what on Terra was going on?” 
     “He’s an old friend,” Usagi answered dreamily.  “He doesn’t know that I’m the Princess, and I kind of had a nasty run-in with him as the Princess, so I don’t want him to know it was me.” 
     “Um, Serenity?” Naru said.  “I’m sorry, but I think he’s going to notice something’s up when everybody bows to you.  I mean, you can’t pass everyone off as insane.” 
     “Sorry about that, Naru-chan,” Usagi said, unsuccessfully trying to suppress a giggle.  “But you’re one of my best friends, that’s why you recognize me.  Everyone else won’t recognize me without the royal dress and hairstyle.” 
     “You just don’t get it, do you?” Naru said, exasperated.  “You have a special glow about you that people recognize.  You’re different from most princesses, you’re kind and caring, you’re selfless not selfish, and you come down from your royal palace to mingle with the common people.  That’s why you’re so special in the people’s hearts, and that’s why they can recognize you anywhere.” 
     “Oh, rats!” Usagi sighed.  “I guess I can’t take him out in public!  Hmmm...  I bet I could find a spell somewhere...  But that’s too much trouble.  Oh well, it’s settled, I won’t take him out in public.” 
     Naru and Usagi giggled. 
     “Well I suppose I had better be going back to the Palace,” Usagi said.  “I’ll have to use a teleportation spell to get myself and the books back safely.  I hope it works this time.  Last time some of the books got left behind...” 

A week later, Usagi walked through the palace gardens, thoroughly bored.  She stopped by the roses and bent to smell their gentle scent. 
     “Serenity!” Naru shouted as she ran across the gardens to the roses where Usagi was standing. 
     “Hi, Naru-chan,” Usagi greeted as Naru came to a stop.  “What’s up?” 
     “That guy you brought over last week, um..  Darien!” Naru exclaimed. 
     “What about him?” Usagi asked. 
     “He stopped by to see you today!” Naru said excitedly.  “And, well, of course you weren’t there so I said you’d gone to do some errands and he’s coming back later but he left you this!”  Naru held out a beautiful white rosebud. 
     “It’s beautiful!” Usagi exclaimed.  “But, oh!  I have a boring meeting that I have to attend tonight.  I wonder if I could get Mina-chan to stand-in for me.  We only got caught once.” 
     “How many times have you traded places?” Naru asked. 
     “Well, actually only twice,” Usagi admitted.  “Oh no!  She just got her hair cut.  Now it’ll be too short to look like mine!  Nothing’s going my way!” 
     “Hmm,” Naru pondered the situation.  “How close a friend is this guy?” 
     “He’s one of my best friends,” Usagi replied. 
     “How late is your meeting supposed to go?” 
     “Till nine, but they always run late.”  Usagi sighed. 
     “I could tell him to come back tomorrow morning,” Naru suggested. 
     “Oh, that would be great!  Can you ask him to come over at eleven?  That’ll give me some time to get over there.  Okay?” 
     “All right, but what am I supposed to tell him tonight?  I mean, why you aren't there?” 
     “Tell him I unexpectedly had to go visit my cousin or something, I don’t care, just make something up!  I have to go get ready for the stupid meeting!  See you tomorrow!  Ja ne!”  Usagi ran off toward the palace. 

Usagi awoke early the next morning, as she always did.  It was before sunrise, so she went out on her balcony to look at Terra among the stars.  Usagi decided to go to her favorite spot to watch the sunrise.  She quickly got dressed in civilian clothes and braided her hair.  She climbed down the trellis beside her balcony.  She walked out to the back wall of the gardens and climbed over where the guards wouldn’t see her.  Landing softly on the ground on the other side of the wall she took off running.  She loved to run, to feel the wind rushing beside her.  She ran through the dark streets of the town outside the palace grounds with a bright smile on her face.  She reached the outskirts of the town and slowed down to a walk.  She walked beyond the town to a small forest.  She found “her” tree and curled up among its roots.  She reached into the air and pulled out a book to read.  Since it was still dark, she needed a light.  So she looked up in the sky and found “her” star, then whispered, “Bright Star of night, I need your light.  Please come light the dark for me.”  The star fell gently from the sky and hovered above Usagi’s head.  “Thank you, Little Star,” Usagi said. 
     A while later, Usagi heard footsteps coming through the forest.  She looked up at the star and said, “You can go home now, Little Star.  Thank you for lending me your light.”  The little star flew back up into the sky.  Then Usagi shoved the book back into the air and turned around to see who was coming.  She smiled when she recognized Mamoru’s form coming through the trees. 
     “Ohayo gozaimasu Mamoru!” Usagi called. 
     “Ohayo Usagi,” Mamoru smiled.  “What are you doing out here?” 
     “I always get up early to watch the sunrise, and usually I come here,” Usagi answered. 
     “So you got back early from the Farming Conference you went to?” 
     “What?” 
     “I stopped by last night and Naru said that you had gone to a farming conference,” Mamoru explained. 
     “Oh, like I said before, she’s a little unstable,” Usagi laughed.  “I was visiting a friend yesterday and didn’t get back until late.”  Usagi scrambled onto her feet.  “Oh, thank you for the rose!  It was beautiful!” 
     “Your welcome,” Mamoru replied. 
     Usagi leaned against the tree and they watched the sunrise in silence.  Then Usagi asked, “So what are you doing out this early?” 
     “I get up early to see the sunrise as well,” Mamoru answered.  “The trees remind me of my home.” 
     “Where are you from?” Usagi asked curiously. 
     “It doesn’t matter anymore,” Mamoru said sadly.  “I can’t go back.” 
     “Oh.  I’m sorry.”  Usagi decided not to press him.  “Hey, do you want to race back to my house?” 
     “Sure,” Mamoru agreed with a smile. 
     “Ready?” Usagi asked and he nodded.  “Go!” 
     They took off down the dirt road in the dim rosy glow of the dawn hours.  They were matched for speed most of the way, but Usagi called upon the wind to help her at the end and she won by a small margin.  They collapsed laughing on the porch of the cottage. 
     Mamoru pulled a red rose from behind his back and held it out to Usagi.  “A rose for the winner.” 
     Usagi took it from his hand, lingering for a moment when their fingers touched before pulling away.  “Thank you,” she said quietly.  They stared into each other’s eyes, lost in their depths.  Usagi smiled brightly, then pulled a sprinkle of water out of the air and splashed it in Mamoru’s face.  She ran off laughing at his startled expression and then he ran after her and couldn’t help but laugh as well. 

That’s it for chapter 1!!  What do you think?  Do you like it?  Hate it?  Do you want more?  E-mail me!  (runnerup2001@netscape.net)  Please let me know what you think!  And just so you know, I've decided not to let you know when I post the next chapter on my web page unless you e-mail me!  So please e-mail me!  (runnerup2001@netscape.net)  So, is this a good start for Sunset?  Let me know please!  Ja ne! 
~Chichiri 
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