Kon'wa, minna! Here is the newest installment to my story, and it even has a title now! Just wanted to give thanks to all my pre-readers on AIM, and to Naoko Takeuchi for inventing Sailor Moon. Forest Walker Chapter Two by:Lazuli Usagi leaned aganist a tree, tired slightly from all the walking she had done, but was glad to have company. She glanced at Mamoru out of the corner of her eye, and was surprised to see herself being observed by him! She faced him suddenly, startling him out of his careful studying, and grinned up at him. "Mamoru, where were you hiking to originally before you crossed paths with me?" She asked. It was nice that he *was* there...he was nice and sweet and funny...the perfect guy, but she didn't want to detain him from going to his destination. All she had to do was walk from one end of the forest to the other. He might actually be doing something constructive with his time. Mamoru smiled though. "Well, I am going to visit the old estate in the woods. It was a beautiful place, or so I am told." He grinned at her. "It happens to be the way we are walking now. Would you like to come with me? I'm almost certain you would like it." Usagi nodded. She loved history...loved the legends that surronded old places and the people who had lived there during that time. She nodded to Mamoru with a happy smile on her face, and they walked further into the woods, to the old estate that Mamoru had spoke of. While they were walking, Mamoru told her of the legends of the forest, and the people that had lived there before the forest grew to the size it was today. "People really thrived off of the forest. They were driven into this patch of woods by people who didn't really like them, but they enjoyed the solitude of the forest and eventually has an estate equal of any nobleman outside of the woods. They were respected and looked up to in the town." Mamoru paused for a moment. "Then one day, they were...attacked. Some people didn't like them, you could say, and the whole family, down to the youngest child was killed. They didn't stand a chance...they were ambushed in their sleep." Usagi could sense a sadness about Mamoru as he spoke of the story, and she wondered what he was leaving out. There did seem to be some gaps in the story. She didn't ask, though, but she wondered one thing. "Mamoru...what was the name of the family?" She asked quietly. Mamoru didn't turn around, but his voice came to her clearly, tinged with sadness. "It was Kishuku, the last of a *very* old family." Usagi blinked away the tears that his story had provoked, and walked a little faster so that she could be right next to Mamoru, letting him know in her own way that she was there for him. She wasn't worried about him harming her. She has already gone through that possibility a thousand times over, and rejected every time. It wasn't like he *had* to drag her off to some secluded spot to harm her. And the way he spoke of the long-ago family made her almost weep. She felt like that a lot of the time when she read about how innocents were killed in a war. Mamoru must be like that, too. After walking for several more hours, and one more rest, they came across a house set back into the woods, deep set, and breathlessly beautiful. Usagi had never seen something so picturesque in her world....the world of hate and anger...this seemed to be set in its own peaceful atmoshphere, as if has achieved something after the deaths of the Kishuku family. She noticed Mamoru giving her a speculative look, and she finally asked what it meant. "I was just wondering what you felt when you looked at the house. It takes my breath away everytime." He said, and she smiled. "It makes me feel happy, almost, Mamoru. Like I belong." He smiled at her expression, and held out his hand to her. "Come on, we have some exploring to do. I want to show you how wonderful this house had been, from the inside out." She complied and took what he offered, and stepped into the house unknowing what was in store for her. She was amazed that the house was in this good of shape. It was like an old painting, but the sights around her seemed so fresh...so pretty! She wandered around the rooms, seeing a vase here and there, looking up at the skylights in the windows, and the carvings in the banisters. Mamoru followed her every footstep, warning her if there was a rotten board near, and telling her of what certain things were for, and what the family used them for. She was utterly fascinated, and loved every minute of it. She finally explored the house to the very limits, and sighed with content when the exploring was done. The home wasn't large by today's standards, but it was a good sized home for the area, and large enough to be considered an estate at the time. Mamoru finally guided her out of the house, although she protested leaving the ancient dwelling. "Usagi, it's time for bed, and soon you will have to start back. I'm sorry I cannot come with you this time, but I have to get back to work. It was wonderful meeting you, Usagi." He kissed the back of her hand gently, much to her shock and delight, a light blush spread over her face. She set up her camp once more, sad that she wouldn't be able to see Mamoru again after this night. He grinned and handed her a slip of folded paper. "Look me up when you get home." When she moved to open the note, he shook his head. "Promise me you won't open it up until you get back home, okay Usagi?" He asked. Usagi nodded, tucking the note into a side pocket in her travel bag. With one more hug goodnight, she fell asleep, already saying her goodbyes to Mamoru. Usagi made it through the forest with no mishaps, and was grateful. When Mamoru was with her, she felt protected. She had to smiled at that. His name *meant* protector! She shook her head and watched as the girls greeted her with sly smiled on their faces, that soon turned into shock as they realized that Usagi wasn't pale and shaking, or running from the woods as every other girl had done. She smiled at them, her smirk replacing the ones that they had lost. "What's wrong girls? Didn't think I would survive? It's just a trip in the woods. Nothing to be scared of!" She said, but saw several looks exchanged between the group, and in spite of herself, she was starting to get nervous. "What? Something bad happen to you all when you went in?" She asked. Aiaka shook her head, her brown eyes serious, and with a bit of awe in them as she regarded Usagi. "Let's talk about this in my room. I don't want to talk about it so close to the woods." The others nodded their agreement, Usagi shrugging and following them, only stopping long enough to drop off her pack, and take a quick shower. When she had arrived in Aiaka's room, the rest of the girls had assembled, and we're all staring at Usagi with the same look that Aiaka had given her before. The eyes that were serious, but regarded Usagi as if she had done something great. "Good, you're here." Aiaka said, and gestured to a spot on the floor, where the rest of the girls were scattered. "Let me tell you why we are so surprised. Did you ever hear of the legend of the Kishuku family." Usagi shrugged. "I heard what happened to them, but I know of nothing else." Aiaka leaned foward. "Well, here is the Legend..." Ending it there....I hope you all like and I would LOVE feedback!!