Tuesday June 25th: Items- Throughout their story, Mamoru and Usagi have shared items. From roses, to the pocketwatch, to the handkerchief. What did they do with these items once they came into possession of them.


AN: This originally was meant to be funny, and yet I wound up spinning this into a very serious side of Usagi as the leader of the Senshi. Oof. Well, either way, I hope you like it! I decided to use the rainbow crystals as the item for today's prompt, and how three sides fighting for one item isn't working out.

Also, because this is day three and it's... oh, 23:00 in New York, it's unedited because I suck at getting stuff done on time apparently? xD Pia Bartolini does have it, but the poor girl deserves to go to bed! So I will upload the new and improved beta'ed version tomorrow at some point, but in the meantime, here is day 3!

Let me know how you like it!

AN UPDATE: Thank you to Pia Bartolini for reading over this and finding the errors, which have been promptly made :D Woohoo!


All was quiet.

Usagi hated to admit to herself, but this time of day was quickly becoming her favorite. The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon, stretching its rays across the slumbering city of Tokyo. To a normal person, it would be a picturesque scene, but to Usagi, it meant that all was calm once more. The battle was won, and the slumbering civilians were able to see another day.

To a normal person. Hah! Usagi wrinkled her nose at that one. How she longed to be a normal girl, to be blissfully unaware of the dangers in the streets of Tokyo at night. To wake up, not knowing that four girls and one caped crusader regularly endure bruises, cuts, scrapes, concussions, and broken bones on a regular basis. The Dark Kingdom was getting stronger by the day, currently led by Zoisite and his quest for the rainbow crystals. It pained Usagi to recognize that Zoisite had the upper hand; not only did he hold three of the five revealed crystals, but he continued to challenge the Senshi by sending unrelated, yet powerful youma in hopes of dislodging the remaining crystals from their possession.

At the moment, Usagi held one crystal. Tuxedo Kamen, of his own volition, also held on to one. Worse, Tuxedo Kamen originally had three, only to lose them to Zoisite after falling victim to a trick.

Usagi dug at her eyes with her gloved hands. She knew she needed to leave the rooftop soon, as 5:00 was quickly approaching. Perhaps if she was back in her room by 5:15, she could catch an hour nap before school began.

A faint, yet familiar billowing noise startled Usagi out of her thoughts. Her alert heightened, she quickly spun around to the source of the noise, posed in a defensive stance. With a quick scan of the area, she noticed the pointed end of an unmistakable black cape.

Usagi swallowed; she was alone… with Tuxedo Kamen! She could feel her heartrate double in speed. Had they ever had an encounter alone before? At least, pre-discovered additional Senshi? One thing she knew for sure, though, was that she was never, EVER, alone with him at this time of night. Except in her wildest fantasies!

Only, Tuxedo Kamen was after the rainbow crystals, too. And not for the intentions that the Senshi were; but for his own fulfillment, his own need.

Be wary of him, Luna had instructed her. Why, oh why, was Luna inside her head right now?! Of all times?! Usagi inwardly pouted; this was the crush of a lifetime, the man she fantasized about day in and day out. Yet, she knew she needed to be on her guard, even though it felt so, so wrong.

"Tuxedo Kamen," she finally called out to the void space, commanding him to present himself. It felt like a lifetime as she remained still, her body still positioned as if she were to face a youma. Finally, the click of a heeled shoe ended the silence, her masked hero stepping out from behind the partition which he was hiding behind.

"Sailor Moon," he acknowledged as he stepped further into the rooftop light, his hypnotic, stormy blue eyes connecting with hers. Silence greeted them one more, accompanied by a gust of wind which danced between their ankles, leaves and Usagi's golden streams along with it. Usagi felt her heart thump beneath her armor, her fingertips itching to stretch out and see the man beneath the mask. For months she had wondered about what she would do if she was ever alone with Tuxedo Kamen, and here was her moment!

But all she could think about was that stupid line. Be wary. Be wary. Be wary.

But what did that mean, exactly? Be suspicious of him? How? How could she be suspicious of the man who saved her, time and time again?

Avoid him? When her heart called out to him each and every day, from the deepest slumber to the most random times of day?

Hate him? No. No, she could never do that.

Be wary. We're only wary because we don't know what is going on with him, Usagi deliberated.

"What are you doing here?" she eventually asked. Quiet remained, Usagi quickly moving a stray hair behind her ear to keep her from asking once more. He continued to watch at her, as if he were deciding what to do next. After all, were they allies? Or were they enemies? Unfortunately, the line was not clear. Perhaps he was thinking the exact same thing: to be wary of her.

"The rainbow crystals," he suddenly announced, Usagi's heart falling fast. Of course it was the crystals. Of course Luna was right to be wary of him.

"You know I can't give it to you," Usagi immediately countered, her eyes narrowed. "If you thi—"

"I – I know that," he interrupted. "I'm not asking you to give it to me."

"Then… what…"

"I wanted to… apologize. For seeming to be your enemy. I hope you know, that's not… that's not…"

Usagi blinked. Whatever she was expecting, it was certainly not an apology from him.

"I let him get it."

Reika's crystal.

Usagi shrugged sympathetically. "He… he tricked you."

"So? I let him play me like a fool. All because… "

Usagi watched him earnestly; was he, was he going to share his need to collect the crystals? To find the answers behind why he won't alliance with the Senshi? Usagi was desperate to ask, the words on the tip of her tongue as she watched Tuxedo Kamen hesitate.

When he shook his head, those ebony bangs beneath the wide brim of his hat shaking gently, Usgai knew that the chance to learn the real reason was long gone. Whatever opening she had was closing quickly. After all, they had been… sort of allies all this time. He never, ever revealed anything about himself. Not his power, not his reasons for saving her, nothing.

Yet, she felt so… connected? She knew, that for whatever reason he needed these crystals, his mission was true and just. Sure, it wasn't as diplomatic, or as heroic as the Senshi's quest for the crystals, but it didn't make it any less important.

"May I… may I ask you something?"

Tuxedo Kamen gently bowed his head, but she could see the uncertainty in his eyes. Maybe even mistrust. But if not now, when?

After all, she was the leader of the Senshi. And she needed to capitalize on this moment.

For the world.

For her team.

For… for him.

"I know you need the crystals. But… this being pit against one another for them … it's not getting either of us anywhere," Usagi stated with a shrug of her shoulders.

Tuxedo Kamen nodded his head in acknowledgement, his head downcast in defeat once more. And while she didn't want to point out the loss of the two crystals was all his fault, she needed to get through to him. To show him that maybe, just maybe, they could work together.

Like, truly work together.

"Can I propose a truce?" Usagi suggested to the caped crusader.

"A truce," he repeated back to her, his eyes narrowing beneath the mask. Usagi nodded in confirmation.

"Yes, a truce. I know that you said that maybe we're enemies since we're both after the same thing, but, I can't believe that! Otherwise, you wouldn't continued to saved me all those… all those times," she finished softly, her gloved hand resting against the bow of her fuku. "I know that you care about the safety of the people, otherwise you wouldn't try and intervene."

"That could just be because I need you to lead me to the crystal," Tuxedo Kamen countered, but Usagi knew that was devil's advocate speaking. Without a doubt, she knew that was not the reason at all.

"No, I don't believe that for a second. Because when I got the yellow crystal, you didn't interfere. You didn't try to take it for yourself. And I know you were watching when I healed Ry—the boy."

Tuxedo Kamen crossed his arms. "I don't work with others," he gruffly stated.

"You can still work alone," Usagi smiled. "Just… let's keep the crystals safe. Together. Let's not let Tokyo be terrorized by all the youma Zoisite keeps sending our way."

"But how would it work… if we get all the crystals, that is? Who gets them?"

"What if," Usagi suggested, "we both use them? You need them to figure out some great mystery, and we need them to save the moon princess. Can't we do both?"

Usagi frowned when Tuxedo Kamen scoffed. "You really think it's that simple?"

"Isn't it worth trying?" Usagi countered. "Zoisite already has three crystals. We each have one. Let's protect them, together. And when the last two appear, let's work together to try and get them before Zoisite can get his grubby little hands on them."

"I don't know," Tuxedo Kamen replied, his lip curling in reluctance. A moment of silence fell between them, Usagi watching as he pondered the proposed alliance. His glossy, black shoes rocked against the rooftop, the heels clicking against the blacktop as he shuffled. When he turned his back to her, Usagi clenched her fists at her side.

She knew that proposing an alliance was risky, especially one not approved by Luna or the Senshi. Deep in her heart, though, she knew this was the right thing to do. They could continue to save lives together. Keep Tokyo safe. They could work jointly to retrieve the crystals in Zoisite's possession. She could… she could even try and help him find whatever he was looking for.

"Sailor Moon."

His voice, deep and tranquil, pulled her out of her thoughts. When she made eye contact with him once more, she felt her heart pound. Only this time, it wasn't because of her teenaged schoolgirl crush, it was because she wanted answers. She wanted the alliance. To work with him rather than parallel to him. To be to him… what he is to her.

Suddenly, a gloved hand cupped her forearm, causing her to gasp from the unexpected contact. "You've come so far in such a short time," he complemented. Usagi immediately felt the blush run to her cheeks, her heart beating erratically from the contact.

She watched as he removed his hand and mechanically grasped at his cape, followed by a powerful leap in the air. As he soared over to the next rooftop, three words echoed in the night's sky. Words that made her feel like maybe, just maybe, she knew what she was doing as a leader. And that perhaps… Tuxedo Kamen trusted her a bit more than he let on.

"I'll consider it."