untitled

Within You
Chapter 1: Oddities
By Lady Starra
E-mail: ladystarra@angelfire.com
Rating: PG
Standard disclaimers apply.

Greetings, minna! This is a short chapter, I'm SO sorry about that! I
didn't know what else to write, but it basically puts all of Mamoru's
thoughts and feelings together, I really like the way it came out
anyway, although it is kind of short. Well, here it is!



Mamoru stood out on his balcony, staring at the beauty of the
full moon from his apartment. He stood, almost mesmerized, gazing at
the silver orb above him. He couldn't remember the last time it had
looked that beautiful. He didn't know why, but for some reason,
staring at the moon made him feel strange and warm all over, almost
like a peacefulness washing over him. Did he need it after the week
he'd had, though. Watching over little Manami was no easy task, and
he wondered how hard it would have been if Usagi hadn't been there to
help. He hated to admit it, but he was glad she'd been there. She
honestly did take a huge load off his shoulders that week by helping
out.

Mamoru then thought back to what had happened at the day care
center. That vile creature had sucked the energy from everything in
that place. Usagi and Ami had been dangerously close. If they had been
standing just a few more feet inside, they would have gotten hit, no
doubt. Thank God they didn't, Mamoru thought.

'A lot of weird things have been happening lately,' he thought
to himself. It had all started when that meteorite had landed just a
few weeks ago. Right after that, there had been more and more talk of
people collapsing from exhaustion, and of people being attacked by
strange creatures. Mamoru had a hard time believing it himself, until
he came face-to-face with a real live youma at the virtual reality
place.

That had been more than just a weird day for him. It had been
chaotic! First, he had Usagi and Natsumi hanging all over him,
annoying him greatly. Being squished in between them in that little
contraption made for two was no picnic. Then he remembered how Usagi
had gotten thrown from their car and landed right into Sejjorou's
arms. He didn't know why, but Mamoru had felt a twinge of jealousy. It
puzzled him. WHY did he feel that way?

Later, when they went through the mazes, he'd held Usagi's hand
as they ran, and he felt a warmth surrounding him. He couldn't explain
it, but being with her that day had made him feel so calm, so relaxed,
the most laid-back he'd felt in weeks. And if THAT wasn't odd enough...

It was immediately after that when that creature had attacked
the people in the theater. Then, Sailor Moon showed up, and Mamoru
remembered getting a huge case of deja vu. She was so familiar to him.
Who was she? The first thing he'd noticed were those long, shapely
legs, then that long golden hair, those gorgeous blue eyes. She was by
far one of the most beautiful creatures he'd ever seen. But when that
guy called Tsukikage no Knight made the scene...well, then his mind
REALLY started to swim. Then, four more Senshi showed up...oh God, had
that day been one for the books!

The citizens' reports of weird youmas kept piling up after
that, and he remembered reading about school buses getting attacked,
weird things happening at the Cherry Blossom Festival. Everywhere
there was talk of Sailor Moon this, and Sailor Moon that. Mamoru still
couldn't shake this weird feeling about her, as if he'd known her from
someplace before. Then, after that attack on the babies, Mamoru was
completely convinced Tokyo was turning into some kind of alternate
dimension.

However, one thing that puzzled him more than anything else,
was how Usagi had changed towards him. It was like she'd changed
overnight. One day he was Mamoru-baka, the next he was Mamo-chan.
Thinking about it, he smiled.

'Mamo-chan. Wherever did you come up with that one, Usagi?' he
wondered, chuckling. It was cute, he had to admit. But he couldn't
permit her to call him that though, just the sound of it made his
heart skip beats. That was also about the time Natsumi had started
chasing him around, driving him to the brink of insanity. Mamoru
couldn't understand why he'd suddenly become the object of affection
for so many girls lately.

Usagi. Well, she was a strange one, no doubt. But she was the
most vibrant, cheerful, and he had to admit, beautiful person he had
ever known, just as beautiful as Sailor Moon. Although he could never
tell her that.

Suddenly, a familar odango-headed figure crossed the bridge in
front of his apartment building. Was that...sure was, he'd know that
hairstyle anywhere. But why was she out at this hour? Also, she looked
a little...sad.

Mamoru was concerned. That was definitely not the Odango Atama
he knew. She was heading to the park. Quickly, he threw on his jacket
and hurried downstairs to follow her.

When he reached the park, he looked around until he saw her
sitting on a bench by the lake. And was that music he heard? As he
listened, he thought it sounded vaguely familiar. He just stood there
for a moment, transfixed. The shimmering moonlight created a silvery
glow around her, almost as if she were surrounded by some heavenly
aura. Her hair looked like strands of golden light, her face like that
of an angel. Her blue eyes, though filled with tears, sparkled like
stars and looked even more blue than they already were, something he
never thought was possible. Dear God, had she always been so
blindingly beautiful?

Mamoru couldn't take his eyes from her. He was enchanted,
entranced. Suddenly, he a strange, deja vu-ish feeling washed over him.
He couldn't remember her ever being so beautiful, and yet, he felt that
he had seen her this way before. The moonlight enhancing her exquisite
features, her eyes looking so melancholy, so sad...and suddenly...

FLASH...

"Serenity, we can't keep meeting like this..."

"Endymion...I love you. I don't care what our kingdoms think,
I just want to be with you. Please...don't turn me away."

Tears, like shimmering crystals, fell from her face.

"Serenity..."

FLASH...

Mamoru roughly shook his head. 'Wha...what was THAT?' he wondered.
'It was...like I was dreaming or something...but it was so familiar.
Like I'd lived it...'

It was only the sound of Usagi's voice that brought him out of
his thoughts and back into the real world.

"Mother," he heard her say, "I don't know if you can hear me,
but I just want to do what's right. I know you are probably
disappointed about how I have turned out here, and I want more than
anything for you to be proud of me. I'm sorry I have failed you."

Mother? Was her mother dead? No, that couldn't be, he knew for
a fact that couldn't be it because Usagi always bragged about her
mom's cooking. Was she adopted, and perhaps lost her real parents,
just as he had? He was puzzled. Perhaps there was a lot more to
Tsukino Usagi than he was aware of.

She began to sob quietly. Mamoru could feel his heart breaking.
He hated seeeing her like this. It made him ache, knowing she was in
pain. He wanted to comfort her, soothe her, tell her not to worry. He
wanted to go to her, hold her tight and kiss away every tear, every
sorrow. But...he couldn't. Something held him back, but he couldn't
leave without at least talking to her. Gently, he made his presence
known.

"Usagi?"


That's all for now, folks! Again, sorry it was so short! Stay tuned
for Chapter 2: Mystery.

Sincerely,
Lady S