Chapter 1
Feeling bleary, Mamoru opened his eyes. His mind felt fuzzy. Blinking twice he stood up. When his eyes fell on his surroundings he froze in surprise. Last thing he remembered being at was actually inside the arcade. But now, by the looks of it he was in an abandoned site.
In front of him were the ruins, of what appeared to be, a destroyed castle. The marble white stones were scattered everywhere, resembling bread crumbs. Although something about it tugged at his heartstrings, at his mind. It was nagging him. He recognised this place. Something in him certainly did. But what, he didn't know. It was when he looked at the marble floor he was standing on did the epiphany hit his head.
This place looked familiar because, because this was the site where he was always inside his dreams. The only reason he didn't recognise it at first glance was that the castle, in which they princess's silhouette always was, was truly in ruins instead of being solid.
But how did he get here? Was he dreaming currently? And if so, why was the castle destroyed? He looked around to see if the Princess was around and he couldn't find her. Fear settled in him. If her castle was in this bad shape, then was his princess in danger? Oddly enough he wasn't in his Tuxedo this time, but in the clothes he was wearing inside the arcade. His signature green jacket in place.
"You are absolutely unbelievable." A deep and rather familiar voice spoke out loudly. Surprised, Mamoru stiffened and turned around. As soon as he turned his eyes went wide. For standing in front of him was….him. Or at least a version of him. The doppelganger looked exactly like him physically yet he was wearing something else entirely. Instead of his normal clothes he appeared to be wearing an armour of sorts with a sword stashed on his side. He blinked in surprised a few times but the doppelganger didn't leave.
"Who-what?"
"How unfortunate that I turned out so insolent in this time. Every single thing I was taught went over you," he heard the doppelganger mutter angrily while glaring at him in accusatory look. Even his voice caused him to blink. Yes it was his own voice but the tone of it was different, more polished some how.
"What on earth are you talking about? Who are you?" Mamoru asked, feeling utterly confused for a second.
The man sighed and pinched his nose.
"Unfortunately I am you. Or you are me, my current incarnation," the man declared as he started walking towards him. His words were incredulous and Mamoru's eyes went wide but he carried on talking "How on earth I ended up losing all my manners in a thousand years is baffling."
"Hey, hey, hold on!" Mamoru shouted loudly and put his hands up while staring at his twin…or rather an incarnation, "Are you implying that you are my past life? That I am a reincarnation?" disbelief coated his words as he stared at the man infront of him.
"Of course" he replied as if it was an obvious fact.
Mamoru didn't believe a wink of the word. Instead he sighed and rubbed his own head.
"I wonder what on earth Motoki mixed in that coffee to make me dream this…" he muttered out-loud. At this he saw his doppelganger growl and whacked his hand.
"Christ's sake, this is not a dream!" he said it while looking at him exasperatedly "Well we are inside our mind because that's the only way we can communicate. But this is not a dream. I pulled you in to talk some sense into you." He spoke calmly while casually sitting down at a chair, which literally seemed to appear out of nowhere.
Mamoru though only seemed even more confused. This wasn't a dream yet they were inside his mind. Wait, he pulled him inside his mind by force? Immediately doubts triggered inside him. Mind, someone was messing with his mind. Was this a Dark Kingdom trick? Where they messing with him? Suspiciously he glared at the doppelganger, ready to attack. But to his astonishment the doppelganger only rolled his eyes.
"No I am not one of Queen Beryl's pawns. Although her Generals…" sadness seemed to appear in his eyes for a second before it became steel and he looked at him again, "I am you. Where do you think your powers came from? Thin air? I had that power in my life when I was alive. You gained it because you are me," he said it while staring at the ruined castle, "Only difference is you are currently weaker than me and you wear a Tuxedo. That's only because you weren't aware of me." He said it. The initial anger which he had spoke with before vanished into nothingness as absolute calm overtook him. He sat there looking actually regal. Every bit royal. The only thing Mamoru thought was missing was a crown.
Mamoru though couldn't process this bit. It seemed bizarre. Too bizarre. As if able to hear his thoughts, the guy whipped his head and looked at him with a full dead pan expression.
"More bizarre that fighting monsters daily with roses?" he spoke dryly. That was the last straw. Mamoru opened his mouth to shout.
"How are you doing that if you aren't evil?"
"Are you deaf? Have I turned deaf as well as rude? I am you, we are in the same body and same mind, what you think I hear!" He shouted loudly, seeming to lose his cool for a second. After a second he froze and took a deep breath. And once again he was under control. It was rather eerie to see how quickly his mood changed. Though him being so composed seemed rather intimidating to Mamoru.
He didn't want to listen. Rationality deemed this impossible. But lately everything impossible was being chucked out the window. Every youma sent was defying all the rules. Would it really be a big leap of faith to think of reincarnation as a possibility? Especially him being one?
There have been times he had found certain incidents déjà vu-ish. Familiar actions. But with his memories missing, he couldn't tell if it was a result of his life before amnesia or an actual life which his doppelganger was claiming to have. Though the things which sent him on trance were things which not even a young child could have experienced. So he calmed and looked at him.
"Say you are telling the truth. Why have we been reincarnated? And how?" he asked. Acceptance took place and curiosity took its hold quickly. This was a phenomenon and he wanted to know more. Especially if it is a past, his past. Yes, not the memories he was looking for but still they are some.
At this he noticed his…past self? His eyes lightened up and he smiled slightly.
"We were created once more to protect our Princess."
As soon as those words left his mouth Mamoru froze.
"The Princess? Wait you know her?" His eyes were wide. This was the first possible answer of the princess he had. A first acknowledgement of their connection. He needed to know more.
"Of course I do. I am the reason you have those dreams, they are my memories. Our memories. We-you were born to protect her and be by her side." His past self said looking happy, genuinely happy.
Mamoru even smiled. This the first time someone, anyone gave him any indication of his princess being alive and not a figment of imagination. To say he was attached to her would be an understatement. She was the earliest memory he had so to maybe meet her one day made him happy. Even if he was getting the confirmation from a strange source. From himself...kind of.
When he looked back at his past self he froze. The serene smile he had a minute ago disappeared and he looked beyond irritated.
"What? What's wrong?"
"I died for her. I died protecting her. We were born again to meet and live in peace, the peace that was torn from us. You are me, yet you have spent time and time again destroying that chance at every turn, practically driving her away from us! Are you insane?" his past self calmly spoke, his voice steel.
But Mamoru finally registered his words. And they perpetuated confusion and shock.
"What do you mean? Have I already met the Princess?"
