The Rose
Prologue:
Mamoru's Devotion

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. I just really wish I did.

Request: The Rose ... takes place during the Sailor Stars episode "Holy War in the Galaxy! Sailor Wars Legend", where Usagi sees the rose, and sees the person who threw it. In the episode, it's Seiya, but for the fic, I'd like it to be Tuxedo Mask... Knowall7

AN: Took some details of the request out so I didn't give the story away!
AN2: This story is almost entirely based on the Anime version of events... my new AU... I'm gonna have fun with this.

Goodbyes

Walking away from Usagi in the airport made him feel as though his heart were being split in two. Half would stay here in Japan while the other went with him to America. No matter how much she urged him to go, he knew her heart was breaking as much as his. One year apart. Well, about nine months. It wouldn't be so bad would it?

Perhaps he could come visit for the holidays. Those weren't too far away. American schools had long winter breaks. He didn't know how long he could go without seeing her. They'd been separated for times before, but this was so much longer, and more difficult. He couldn't help but be nervous leaving for so long.

For some reason Mamoru felt it was a mistake to go, though his professors had all urged him, and it was a scholarship. A part of him feared being so far from his Usako. Not in her normal form of course, but his little Princess was also Sailor Moon. She'd saved him time and time again, and the world in general. But so many times he had been the only thing between her and death. He was worried that if he was not there to protect her she would fall to some plot he couldn't even begin to imagine.

True, things had been quiet since Nehelinia had finally been defeated, but he wasn't sure it would last. In spite of the final boarding call he turned back and ran to her, gathering her tightly into his arms. "Be careful Usako. If it gets bad you call me and I'll come straight home. I love you." He kissed her hard and hugged her tightly.

Finally he released her and turned away before she could see the tear that fell. He ran the last few steps to the gate and handed over his ticket. He hoped she would be fine to get home with all the commotion going on. Those pop stars had turned the airport into a madhouse. He turned one last time and waved, catching the shimmer of tears flowing down her cheeks. He was pushed into the long tunnel and stumbled forward into the plane.

As soon as he was in his seat he pulled out the small envelope he kept in the pocket of his jacket. He opened it and flipped through his favorite photos. No one who had known him a few years before would have ever pegged him as the sentimental type. He had only one photo from his days before Usagi. Just the one of him and his parents.

The first was the only photo he'd ever had of his own parents. It was taken about the time he was five he assumed, as his parents had died on his sixth birthday, in the car crash that had also stolen his memories. He could tell by the photo that they had loved him very much. He had vague recollections of asking to go for a ride that morning, and of a doctor telling him his own name later. He flipped past it, not wanting to focus on anything sad, lest he embarrass himself here.

The second photo in the stack was a cute one with him and Usagi at the beach. She was leaning up against him as they watched the sunset. They were far to the right in the photo, and Rei, who had taken the shot, had captured Luna and Artemis in a similar pose just down the beach from them. The sky was a vivid canvas of reds and pinks and oranges, the sea reflecting the same colors. He smiled. He loved the photo.

The third photo was sillier. He was with Usagi and Chibi-Usa in the arcade. Usagi was swinging Chibi-Usa around while he swung Usagi. His future wife and daughter had been squealing with delight the whole time. He remembered getting very dizzy and almost falling. Ami had told him it was the best picture she'd ever taken and he had to agree. You could see the red gleam in Chibi-Usa's eyes, and the bright cerulean sparkle in Usagi's. His own eyes were a darker blue. He wondered, for about the millionth time, why Chibi-Usa's eyes and hair were so different from their own.

He slipped the next photo to the front. This one looked more like a portrait. It was him with Usagi beside him and Chibi-Usa in front of them. He smiled at the glint in Usagi's eyes. That one had been taken back in the days when Usagi had still been ridiculously jealous of Chibi-Usa, who looked about five in the picture. Usagi had one hand wrapped possessively around Mamoru's arm, and was clenching him to her tightly.

He smiled and looked out the window as he pulled the next photograph to the front. He saw a bright light and...

Fight to the Death

He found himself on the wing of the plane, his cape fluttering behind him, creating drag that threatened to suck him away. This was not a safe place to be. How the hell did he get here? What was going on? In a blink the wind stopped and the plane seemed to be stalled in the air. There was no movement. Nothing could be felt, not a stir of air, even his own breath.

"What was that," he whispered to himself, unsure what was going on.

There was a chilling feminine laugh that seemed to echo out of nowhere. It sent shivers down his spine. "I feel it. The Shining energy of a star seed."

"Who are you?" Tuxedo Kamen stared, but could see only a bright light. He could not imagine what she was talking about. Was she after his Golden Crystal?

"Ruler of the entire galaxy. Galaxia." The light surrounding her was too bright and Tuxedo Kamen was forced to cover his face for a moment. When the light faded, a woman appeared before him, wearing golden armor and a helmet that covered her head.

"Why are you doing this? What's the purpose in inflicting pain and suffering on innocent people?"

"The entire galaxy belongs to me. I decide on how things are going to be treated."

"The galaxy belongs to nobody!" Tuxedo Kamen insisted angrily.

"Do you want to clarify that?" The woman settled down on the body of the plane and gave him a look that said he was being ridiculous. His anger rose in him. What was this woman playing at? His Usako would fix her.

"I will take the star seed of earth, and then this planet will be in my hands." She lifted her arms, pointing them outward so that little markings on her golden cuffs were pointing at Tuxedo Kamen. Something told him to move, and quickly, and he ducked and launched himself to one side.

Angrily he turned and watched golden lights fly out from her cuffs. They rounded behind him and turned after him again. He dodged and the lights disappeared. Tuxedo Kamen was livid.

"On this planet there are agents of Love and Justice. Sailor Solders who keep the peace. They will definitely strike out your evil ambitions." With those words he did leapt from the wing of the plane towards the ocean. He would rather die than let her have his star seed. He tumbled through the air, curled himself tightly into a ball and rushed though the air. "USAKO!" He huffed out a breath.

Nightmares

Floating. Flashes of light, moments of absence and darkness. Dreams of battles past, and new monsters. Worries of Usako, of Sailor Moon, of the Senshi, faltering and failing in protecting her. He could be thankful now, he supposed for Uranus being a bit possessive of Usagi. Her need to protect the princess she had always been forced to watch from afar would pull her to his love and she would do what she could to protect her.

But what if this new evil, this Galaxia, found her before the Outer Senshi came to help? What if he could never see her again? He continued to float, unsure how long he had been here. He was only half aware of his own existence. He knew somehow the Crystal was trying to save him, keeping him afloat and breathing, and also trying to heal him.

He had to warn Usagi and the others. Had to tell them about the new danger. Her floated in and out of consciousness, in and out of nightmares.

Rebirth

Pulling himself out of the ocean Mamoru crawled further under the dock. Golden light began to surround him, filling the darkness with sparks. The energy encircled him, covering him from head to foot. The Golden Crystal enfolded him in it's light, creating a hard, unbreakable barrier between him and any danger. It would not let Galaxia or her minions take him.

He lay there, panting softly as the Crystal lifted him and transported him to a place of safety. He recognized his surroundings. He was in his own bed, but the crystal did not release him. Without his continued protection, Earth would be vulnerable. It would not allow that. For if the Earth was vulnerable, so too would the moon be vulnerable, and the Golden Crystal, though not possessing of human emotions, recognized danger to it's mate, as much as Mamoru recognized the danger to Usako.

He was warm now, his clothing somehow completely dry. His eyes closed. He could do nothing in his current state of weakness. He was powerless unless he healed, and so he trusted the crystal to protect him, and sent out a prayer that if he was truly he needed it would release him to protect his love. A feeling of warm reassurance filled him and he let himself fall into sleep.

His Princess

He could almost feel her. His Usako. More than anything he'd ever wanted in the world he wanted to see her, to know she was alright. He was cocooned in the light of the crystal, unable to go to her. He wanted to know she was okay.

He could hear her words in his head, as though she were right there with him, see her expressive face, her eyes struggling not to release her tears as she longed to hear from him. It had been weeks since he'd left. Weeks when she'd heard nothing. He felt horrible. He would do anything to get to her, to tell her he loved her.

His eyes closed. He just needed a little rest.

He woke, he watched, he slept. Woke, watched, slept. The cycle played on repeat as she continued through her days. She was facing a new enemy, and their were new fighters that also battled it. Fighters she seemed to trust, though no one else did. His Usako had always trusted so easily...

He opened his eyes to new images. Boys. Three boys, popular, perhaps famous boys. This wasn't good. They would bring too much attention on Usagi and the other Senshi. He wished they wouldn't go to her school.

And one of the boys kept trying to hit on her. Mamoru grinned. His Usako was clueless. She had no idea what the kid was doing. He wished he could go to her, maybe explain what was going on. Seiya seemed like a decent enough fellow, though he needed to learn to take a hint.

A new little one had appeared. Chibi-Chibi. He wondered if they'd had another daughter in the future. That was one thing he intended to change. He wasn't content with just one child. He wanted Chibi-Usa to never feel as alone as she had again. He wanted to give her brothers and sisters. They didn't age the way others did in the future. Everyone aged slower, but the royal family apparently aged even slower, which meant, after Chibi-Usa was done her last training mission when they had helped Helios, he would be having a serious talk with his future wife about giving her siblings.

Jealousy

Though he trusted his Usako, he was jealous. Not of Seiya swaying her. No, he was jealous of the one who could be near her, protect her, speak to her. Sailor Star Fighter had saved his Sailor Moon. He was grateful, but he couldn't lie to himself. He wanted to be the one there protecting her, saving her.

No, he was starting to wake more and more. He often heard her voice, calling out to him, especially in the dark of night, or just after a battle. This new enemy was too much to handle alone. He was on the fence about the new fighters, but they had saved her several times... saved all of them. But he wanted to be the one to help. His powers had grown over time, and he knew if was there with her it would make a difference.

He understood the need the Golden Crystal had to protect him, it was his star-seed. The thing the new enemy was after. And if she had it, the battles would be easier for her to win he was sure.

The outers were back, and they didn't trust the new fighters. He wondered if Haruka was jealous of her place in the Princess' heart. He could understand.

Stronger

Mamoru could tell he was stronger. Perhaps the crystal would let him out now. He focused, asking to be released. He needed to go to his Usako. She needed to know he hadn't forgotten her. Needed his love, his protection, his devotion to her.

Let me out! The thought was fierce, almost angry. His only response was silence. The crystal was meeting all of his needs. All but one. His need for his one and only love. He had to get to her, had to let her know he loved her more than life itself. But the Crystal did not obey his commands.

He curled his hands into fists. "I'm stronger!" He growled the words, wanting to hit the crystal, pound on it until it let him go. He remained as motionless as ever. "I'm stronger," he murmured in defeat. "Usako!"

The Crystal showed him more images of her. Images of her trying to show all her friends and family that she was okay, while inside she died, little by little. It was too much for him to bear. He wept.

Usako's Need

His Usako was in danger. He opened his mind to her and the Crystal poured new images out for him. She was at school, alone on the roof of the building, watching what appeared to be a soccer practice. Something, or someone, was watching her. Where were the others? They'd set up a watch, why weren't they keeping it? Her skirt and hair fluttered as though there were a breeze.

Something was wrong. Very wrong. He could feel it. Ready or not, healed or not, he needed to get out of this Crystal... now. He focused all his energy on his need. He had to be there, had to protect her. This time, if the crystal did not release him, he would refuse to use it ever again. If his Usako died because of the crystal, he would destroy it utterly. His anger and need were fierce.

AN: You see what I did here? Much like what happens to him and Usagi (Manga Version) in the fight with Metallia or to Neo-Queen Serenity with the Silver Crystal using itself as a barrier of protection, I did the same with Mamoru's Golden Crystal. I was really happy when the idea came to me, because to be honest, I had no idea how he was going to survive a fall from a PLANE! I really hope you enjoyed this, and that you will enjoy the next chapter as well!