Because an AU isn't enough, how about a timeskip!

[dress_up_wings]

Stumbling through the Nexus is a very confused looking young man, who while looking familiar, looks like someone else entirely. The one thing clear is that he's very very lost. "Oi!" he calls, "Kaasan! Tousan! Where the heck are you? Did you remodel the house without telling me or something?" He sighs, hooking his thumbs in the pockets of his black

Comments

[dress_up_botany]

Have a confused Shin! He hasn't quite noticed the glaringly obvious similarities in appearance, especially since they're not exact as they would be with an alternate. Instead, in his usual bumbling way, he's managed to find himself here by accident.

"Ah, excuse me!" he tries when he notices Tsubasa. "I arrived here by accident, so, it's possible the same thing happened to you." He does, after all, recognize the perplexed look of a first-timer.

[dress_up_wings]

Seeing the person talking to him, Tsubasa beams. "Ah, there you are, tousan!" he replies with a grin, "So, we're not at home?"

[dress_up_botany]

Eh? To his credit, Shin recovers quickly. He pastes on his usual smile, but holds up his hands.

"Ah, no!" he says. "I'm sorry! I'm not the person you think."

Because clearly someone is likely to mistake a stranger for their father. When they're looking directly at him. In good lighting. Close-up.

[dress_up_wings]

Tsubasa's expressions shifts from confused to worried. "Crap," he mutters, "Don't tell me you have amnesia! Tousan, did you hit your head?" He rests his hands on Shin's shoulders and looks him over, because he is a CONCERNED SON and that's what CONCERNED SONS do.

[i_wont_dress_up]

"I'm sure she does."

Great, another Japanese kid. Just what she needed. Well, at least she had paper clips to toss at him. Maybe the nexus wasn't so bad after all.

[dress_up_wings]

Tsubasa gave the girl a look. "Who put sandpaper in your vagina?" he mutters, crossing his arms and looking irritated.

[i_wont_dress_up]

"The same person who shoved that cucumber up your yellow Asian ass." A paper clip is flipped into the air. "I'm sure you're used to that though."

[dress_up_wings]

Heard it before? Yep. But he just smirks. "Ever consider a colonic?" he asks, "Maybe that'll get the massive stick out of your ass. Oh wait, you probably put it there yourself."

[earthvictorious]

A man who looks enough like Tsubasa, and is perceptive and observant enough to notice it, leans against a nearby wall, arms crossed over his chest, observing the boy in silence.

Loud nuisance, is Kunzite's first impression.

He'll be over here staring. And continuing to stare. And staring some more.

[dress_up_wings]

Tsubasa sees Kunz and... SMILES. "Tousan! You found it!" He jogs over, looking at the costume with a critical before beaming and giving him a thumbs up. "Super cool!"

[earthvictorious]

With the costume comes the patented Kunzite bad tempter. Because this is Kunzite, and not his cosplaying alternate. He restrains himself only out of consideration for the fact that a gawkish, inelegant boy is still no enemy of his, and a curiosity about the whole situation unfolding in front of himself.

"What?" Even the voice is that harsher, colder tone of Kunzite rather than Shin's gawkiness or warmth.

[dress_up_wings]

"Ah, perfect!" cries Tsubasa, "Oh crap, is today an event, too? Does kaasan need help finding her costume?"

[dress_up_amazon]

"Eh?" And here's a Makoto, looking at you, head-tilted. "Who comes running?"

And why do you look so familiar, Tsubasa?

[dress_up_wings]

Tsubasa turns. "Ah, my mom," he replies, "She's big on grades and stuff." He pauses, brow furrowing. "Wait, if you're here... This isn't my house, is it?"

[dress_up_amazon]

"No..."

A squint.

"Do....do I know you?"

[dress_up_wings]

Tsubasa tilts his head. "I don't think so," he replied, holding out a hand and smiling, "I'm Tsubasa."

[waterfell]

Have a staring Mercury - now in enhanced Dark flavor!

Tsubasa looks so much like Kunzite. She has to ask: "Who are you?"

[dress_up_wings]

Tsubasa looks... confused. "Kaasan, what did you do to your costume?" he asks, "Is this a story arc I don't know about?"

[waterfell]

"Kaa-san?!" But he looks so much like- Right. Been there. Moving on.

Logically, there could be a thousand worlds where the senshi and everything Mercury knows are only stories and cosplay. But it definitely means he's not from her world, and she's only encountered once such cosplay-world. Could he be from that one, somehow?

"I'm not the Mercury you know," she says finally.

[dress_up_wings]

Tsubasa narrows his eyes, sizing up his mother's look-alike with his fingers. "You are a little bit shorter than kaasan," he admits, "Mama always was short, though..."