Chapter I – "Status Quo"
Note: This story is a sequel to "In The Beginning". If you read on and feel lost, don't say you weren't warned. Now, onto the story.
"Don't look at me," were the last words she'd whispered before slumping into his lap unconscious.
Mamoru sighed, shaking his head exasperated. This scene had become too familiar over the summer。Usagi who'd been fine the day prior, opened his front door and in a fit of rage began to scream, grabbing and launching books, remote controls, shoes, whatever she could wrap her hands around at Mamoru. Minutes later, she sank into tears. Confused, angry and yearned to be in his arms.
But how many times would he have to pacify her? Here it was, another rerun of the same episode. It was getting old. Usagi, Sailor Moon, the Moon Princess was once again throwing a tantrum like she was a three year old.
Because of 'him'.
Though she didn't say it, Mamoru knew. He could feel it. Her mind, heart and soul still lingered on the sacrifice of her knight.
Strategically moving in an L shape across the squares of darkness and light, he'd misdirected the enemies attention whilst indirectly affecting the battle and being a potent weapon until he'd met Usagi.
It had been Leo who'd paid the price, that settled the old score. Leo intrepidly charged into battle and fought. Mamoru simply tossed a rose and waited for Usagi and the senshi to finish the enemy.
Too often Mamoru had heard this comparison. Too often.
'Your name is Mamoru not Leo. Remember that. You've gotta be the bigger person.' Artemis had advised.
All Mamoru could do was sigh and patiently wait for his future queen to pull out of this emotional tailspin she'd trapped herself in.
Impatience and anger, he thought of Minako who'd been the primary supplier of alcohol for Usagi. Makoto, who'd kept it secret for so long.
"Why does it always end up like this?" Mamoru sighed, staring down at the slumbering Usagi. It'd been nine months sice Leo had scorched the sky and never returned.
In his heart, he loved Usagi. But what if his love wasn't enough?
In this world, snowfall was eternal. All around her, thousands of unique flakes glided onto the ground, Moments later, the individual glacial shards became sakura. Cherry blossoms?
Rooted to the sand, and watching the see-sawing waves, he stood. Back turned to her, hybrid eyes keenly waiting.
"I'm back." Usagi shyly called to him.
Leo sighed, closing his eyes. "Why? Why do you keep coming back?"
"I," Usagi searched for the answer. "We're friends? Right?"
Leo turned his head. "No. We're not."
Usagi's heart sank.
"You are the future queen and I am the knight. That is all we are." Leo replied sternly.
"What if we-"
"There is no what if." Leo responded.
Usagi sighed staring at the fallen sakura. Were they like her?
For three seasons, she'd drank herself into a miracle mile to see him. Why? Therapy, perhaps. He'd sacrificed himself to save everyone. That guilt stayed with Usagi, buried within her soul. How many times would she have to feel this way? How many would die on her road to the throne? For her?
No more. She'd swallowed the so-chu.
Minako had always been close to her. But Minako also knew something that the others didn't. The pain of loss. The agony that guilt created. The pressure of being the leader. Minako had showed Usagi a new and better way to cope than just crying into a pillowcase.
But everytime Usagi's mind became distorted by the toxins of alcohol, she saw him! And since that moment, she'd been hooked it. Alcohol was a gateway back to Leo.
"Don't come here again." Leo grunted.
"But you'll be alone. You'll be lonely and-"
"It's better that way." Leo countered.
"Better for who? Because it sucks for me!" Usagi shouted. "We barely knew you and you-"
"I did my duty as a knight to the kingdom. You have a life. A man that cares about you and friends. Don't ignore them and use me as an excuse." Leo replied sternly.
Usagi downcast her eyes. He was her knight. Why did he speak to her in this way? So rude and arrogant.
"Don't even think about it." Leo quipped. "Save the royalty card for someone who cares. You're a young adult, stop acting a damn baby. I'll be back soon anyway."
Usagi blinked. Staring at him. "When?"
Leo's eyes widened. The face of a man that had said too much.
"When are you coming back? How? Are you...alive? Why can I see you?" Usagi asked. It was a question she'd asked time-and-time again. In her dreams she always saw him. But only when she drank, could she speak to him, touch him or he would even notice her.
Leo snorted. Why bother coming back? The senshi didn't need him no more. He'd stopped Wiseman. He'd carried out his duties and nearly died doing it. The senshi had the usual youma of the day now. There was no threat to Tokyo or the Lunar Crown for that matter. There was no reason for him to return.
"I almost died without you Leo. I know you felt it." Usagi reminded him.
Leo turned away from her. "I'm not your babysitter."
Tears bloomed in Usagi's eyes. He was glacial towards her.
"I never asked you to come here. I never wanted you to see me again." Leo admitted. "But it can't be helped at this point. Enjoy peace and live your life. That's all you've ever wanted, right? You kill one monster a week, everything else is roses. Enjoy it and stop searching for things to complain about."
"You are such an -" Usagi begin but in the blink of an eye Leo vanished. Usagi was awake, lying on Mamoru's sofa. Her head throbbing, Usagi sat up as a voice invaded her ears.
"I'll try Chiba-san, but you understand how Masuda-san is." A woman's voice called.
"I know, I just need a bit more. Now's not a good time."
"Why? Is someone else there?" The voice asked.
"Not anymore." Usagi slurred, shoving past Mamoru and past the woman. She was average height with shoulder length dark hair and appeared to be in her thirties. No wedding ring. A scavenger. A cougar. A reject. Alot of names popped into Usagi's head at that moment. She felt too hungover to argue. All she wanted to was to be in her bed, dreaming again.
"Usako!" Mamoru called, chasing after her. "What are you-" reaching out and catching her arm.
"Please Mamo-chan, I don't wanna argue. I just wanna go home and-"
"And what?" Mamoru asked. "Drink? Usako, I've sat back and been patient with you for the last nine months hoping you'd snap out of this but-"
"Fine," Usagi sighed, "If you don't want me to drink, its okay. I won't," shaking her head, "...no more."
Mamoru wanted to believe her, but he already could see how this would turn out. Usagi hiding alcohol and only getting worse. If Usagi wanted to quit, it had to be her own choice. Was she already too far gone for him to do anything?
"Have you had sex with her?" Usagi asked.
Mamoru shook his head. "It's not like that. She's just the caretaker for the apartment complex."
"Then why is she knocking on your door in the middle of the night. Don't caretakers have office hours?" Usagi asked, glancing at the clock on her cell phone. It was ten 'o clock at night.
"She was just," Mamoru began, searching for the words but what could he say. How could he tell her?
"I don't care. I'm not stupid, Mamo-chan. But, I don't wanna argue tonight so just...leave me alone." She sighed, turning away and leaving.
Mamoru followed. He couldn't let her go. She was still drunk and barely walking straight. He caught her arm oncemore. "Usako, let's just go upstairs and talk about this."
It happened before Mamoru could process it. All he could feel was the sharp sting of pain in his cheek. She'd slapped him. "Go upstairs with you," Usagi snorted, "I'm not your caretaker, why don't you call her." Usagi snapped, darting away.
Usako! He wanted to cry out, but his pride clouded his judgment at that point. He'd done nothing wrong. Yet, once again he was being punished for it. Playing the villain when he was the hero.
Mamoru dug in his pocket, withdrawing a crumbled piece of paper. The source of his anger and pride. How could he tell her? What would she think of him? Mamoru stared at the piece of paper.
NOTICE OF EVICTION
How had things gotten so screwed up? Mamoru wondered, staring at the paper. What was the point of complaining to Usagi about it? She was so lost in her own misery she didn't seem capable of noticing how badly everyone else around her was struggling.
The most painful thing about this was that Usagi was supposed to be the leader. She was supposed to hold everyone together when in fact, it'd been Rei who'd taken up the slack. Patrolling for youma and monsters. Checking on the other senshi while juggling her own schoolwork and temple duties.
Mamoru's thoughts lingered on the raven-haired lass. His memories of the time they'd dated. Had he been weak? Allowing fate to dictate his life. Perhaps he should have been stronger. Did he make the right decision? Wasn't that what their 'break' had been all about? Time for him to figure himself out. There'd always been more to it than that. He loved Usagi and her heart was the last one he wanted to ever break. Now, it was his turn. It was Usagi's turn to break his heart.
When would the games end? When would they both be adults, hold eachother every night? Trust eachother? Or was that impossible in any relationship?
Mamoru held the eviction notice in one hand, in the other he held his cell phone. It'd already been locked onto one phone number. The only person he could call at this moment.
He raised the phone to his ear and called.
She picked up after the third ring. "What's up?" Haruka answered, turning to the nearby shower that Michiru had just stepped out of. Her eyes scanning Michiru from head to toe, tracing her slender legs and over the valley between her breasts. Michiru giggled mischievously before coyly wrapping a towel around her body, teasing her lover.
Haruka snorted, "Yeah, everything's great. How about you?"
("Not good." Mamoru admitted. "Is 'he' there?")
"You okay?" Leo's stoic voice asked moments later.
"She's getting worse." Mamoru reported.
Leo shrugged. "So."
"When are you coming back?"
"What good will that do?" Leo rolled his eyes. "This is bigger than just me. This goes back to you and all the others. She's been dealing this for awhile now. If her destined lover can't snap her out of this what makes you think I can."
"She see's you. When she drinks. She see's you. Talks to you. At least that's what the others have told me."
Leo's eyes narrowed. "How? Does she know I'm not dead."
"We don't really talk much. Just," Mamoru sighed, "are you coming back or not?"
Leo scoffed, "You're one in a million. Not many guys would call another guy to pull their girlfriends out of depression."
"Part of being a good leader is knowing your limits. Right now, I don't know what to do. Ever since Mako-chan found her that night, bleeding in that shower. I haven't known what to do."
"So why are you looking to me?" Leo grunted irritably.
"You're the only one who can figure out what's going on inside her head."
Leo shook his head. "It's not that simple. Besides, if she decides to start cutting herself again what do you want me to do about it. I have my own life as well. I'm her knight, I protect her from the enemy. I won't babysit her and protect her from herself. Usagi needs to grow up. If she's going to be queen one day she'll have to learn to cope with that others will feel pain for her decisions."
Mamoru sighed, "There's nothing I can say to get you to change your mind.?"
"I know you love her. But me coming back, that's not the answer. Usagi needs to stop relying on others to give her strength. She'll be an adult soon. She needs to look inside herself and pull through this."
"What is she can't, Leo?"
Leo shrugged. "Look to her husband. Don't look at me."
Mamoru ran his fingers through his hair. It was useless. Leo was still the same guy. Smug, proud and stubborn. "Kay," Mamoru sighed as the phone was returned to Haruka.
"You're being an asshole again, Leo!" Haruka shouted before turning back to the phone as Leo raised his middle finger in response.
"Mamo-chan," Haruka chuckled, shaking her head. "Don't listen to him. He's just being, well, Leo, ya know."
"Yeah, well, that's not helping anyone, is it?" Mamoru drawled.
"We're coming back tomorrow." Haruka announced.
Mamoru's eyes widened. "Really? Leo, too."
"Yeah," Haruka nodded, "You really think Leo's dad is gonna bankroll us to live in Osaka forever?"
Mamoru shrugged, "Its not like he can't afford it. Leo coming back too?"
"Yup," Haruka nodded. "Bullet train, we'll be back tomorrow evening."
A smile crossed Mamoru's face.
"Think about it, Mamo-chan." Haruka sighed. "Usagi's been seeing Leo in her dreams. You know who else she's been seeing, right?"
"No." Mamoru admitted.
"Wiseman."
Mamoru's eyes widened. "Why didn't she tell me?"
"She claims to be talking to Leo but Leo says he hasn't seen or spoken to her since that last day."
Mamoru's eyes narrowed. "That's not Leo she's talking to in her dreams." Dread filling Mamoru's soul.
Haruka nodded. "Whatever it is, it isn't acting yet. Perhaps its gathering strength to strike or maybe its trying to pull us all back together for something."
Mamoru stared at the sky. "So that's why he didn't come back."
"Whoever it is knows who Leo is, they want him to come back to play bodyguard. They're waiting for him. But there's so much going on. Leo survived!" Haruka shrugged. "Someone or something saved him. Who? He doesn't know but it couldn't have been any of us. So who? He woke up in Osaka and has been waiting for something to happen, but so far, nothing."
Mamoru sighed, "So you're coming back now."
"Got no choice really. DeCruz-san wants his son back and won't front anymore cash for this vacation, or," Haruka rolled her eyes, "Leo's dad found out that Leo was using his dad's card to pay for this and found us and he's pissed."
If only I had that option right now. Mamoru thought bitterly. "So tomorrow, we're back to normal. Status quo all over again?"
"Look after buns-head." Haruka nodded. "I know it's not easy but-"
"You have no idea." Mamoru shook her head.
"We'll be back tomorrow. Okay?"
"Got it." Mamoru sighed.
"And...don't tell buns-head." Haruka added, rolling her eyes at Leo.
"Okay." Before hanging up.
The linear darkness sent a chill up Usagi's spine as she strode down the road on her way home. She'd just stumbled off the train and into the Azabu-Juuban district and was making her way home but with every step she took a sense of dread began to overtake her.
In the blink of an eye, she saw it again. At her feet, Mamo-chan lied under the guise of Tuxedo Mask, blood pooling beneath him, eyes clear as glass and skin pale as death. The wicked laughter of Queen Beryl echoed in Usagi's eardrums.
Usagi slumped against a brick wall. (No.) She thought as the memories began to resurface.
Usagi gripped her heart as the vision of Prince Diamond last breath returned to her. The dying gasp One-by-one, the sacrifice of her senshi replayed before her eyes. Every ounce of pain, all willfully given for her.
Then, it happened again. Leo, her knight, charging into the sky to stop Omni-Cannon.
She needed to drown it out. To make it all go away. Her mind craved more to drink. Beer, wine, sake, shochu, it didn't matter. She just wanted it to stop.
Tears trailed down her cheeks as she stepped forward. What face would she see tonight when she closed her eyes? She wondered, staring at her house with dread. Usagi sighed, opened the door and headed for bed.
From the shadows, it had been watching her with the blackest of desires, it'd been tracing its target. Under the cover of darkness it'd followed her and soon it would have her.