Chapter 4.
I got up Saturday morning with mixed emotions. Wearing one of Usagi's button up pajama tops, I strolled across my room. Funny how the room felt like mine now, but the things in it didn't. My real world clothes were still in the bottom of my closet, and I still wore my pentacle necklace every day, all day. I never took it off. Now that the bruises were gone, I almost didn't want to. Maybe I'd go back to reality if I did. And I was stuck with a terrible feeling in my gut. So selfishly stuck between trying it, and going back to that awful place, with that awful man and getting my daughter back, or just riding this out. If I really cared, wouldn't I try it? Well, wouldn't I?
I called myself a selfish coward and went through the pockets of her school uniform. I found a paper in the pocket, oh! It was one of Rei's talismans, the one that had hit me in the forehead. I took it to my mirror and wedged it in between the glass and the frame so it would stay. Cool, I could use all the protection I could get. Okay, I thought, I'm going to the shrine today. It was just after nine when I chose a cute white skirt, black thigh high socks and pink top.
I experimented in the mirror with different hairstyles, a long braid, a side pony tail, low odango, but I ended up going with the usual odango pigtails. I was Usagi after all, nothing else really suited me as nicely as those did.
It wasn't much longer before I went downstairs. Shingo was running around the house with his shirt pulled up over his nose.
"What are you doing brat?" I asked,
He pulled his shirt down to stick out his tongue, "I'm playing ninja, and you're not invited."
"I don't want to play anyway," I retorted, "I have my own plans, way cooler than anything YOU could be doing." I wrinkled my nose at him.
"Going out with Naru again?" Asked mother, reading over her paper with her coffee.
"No, I made a new friend yesterday. She's a shrine maiden over at Hikawa shrine. I said I'd go visit her today."
"Oh look at my Usagi, you're making so many friends lately! It used to be just you and Naru, you know, you two have been inseparable since grade school."
I smiled and went for some orange juice, and started at something on the counter.
"Are those...red bean buns?"
"Hm? Oh yes, I saw a new recipe I wanted to try. Tell me if you like them!"
I'd never had red bean paste before, but I heard it was really popular. I picked up the treat and crunched into it. Yum!
"Mom, this is delicious!" I said, letting the flavor take me.
"Really? Thank you!"
"I'm serious, you should enter this in a contest or something!"
She chuckled modestly, "You're too kind Usagi-chan."
I smiled, just then Shingo zoomed by Naruto-style and stomped on my foot.
"Ow you dork! Watch it!" I called, he stopped to look over his shoulder and pull down his lower eyelid with one finger and take off again. It was an insulting gesture I recognized from anime so I did it right back.
Mom didn't say anything, just kept reading her paper. I sighed through my nose, annoyed, but I let it go. I finished my orange juice and the bun and went to pick out a purse. I put some of the yen I'd been saving along with my school ID, I chose a different pair of shoes too than Usagi's usual navy blue heels. Some white mary-jane style flats were much better.
Off I went. I called Ami on the communicator.
"Hey, I'm heading to the shrine now, are you coming?"
"Sure!" She replied, "I want to help, if I can."
Luna was already beside me.
"Okay, see you soon."
I walked to the bus stop by the school, Ami was there a few minutes after, just as the bus was pulling up.
"You look cute today!" She complimented. But I was the one who was stunned. She was wearing a black and white striped shirt with a high neckline, almost like a turtle neck, but it had no sleeves, a blue skirt and white knee-high socks. I thought the outfit was actually very cute and suited her perfectly the longer I looked at it.
"So do you!" I said back. She shrugged her shoulders and blushed. It made me a little giddy to make her react like that, we got on the bus and were at the shrine in just minutes.
We walked under the archway and up the steps to the actual building. I stopped before a small water basin with fancy spoon-like dippers and washed my hands, then went up to the thick rope than hung from the shrine bell. I put some yen in the box, rung the bell and clapped my hands. All this ritual was the proper way to go about making a wish at the shrine. I went through the motions, but I didn't know exactly what to wish for. That this would never stop? That it would? That my daughter could somehow be here too?
"Not bad," said Rei.
I looked up to see she was holding a broom.
I smiled and bowed, Ami bowed too.
"Hello," I said. Rei bowed back in greeting.
"I wasn't expecting you so early, but come on inside. I'll make that tea."
I looked at Ami excitedly and smiled. She shrugged happily.
Inside we went, we removed our shoes and Rei led us to a room with a short table and some seating pillows.
When she brought the tea and we were all seated, all eyes were on me, even Luna looked interested.
"Okay," I began, feeling a little nervous. "Let's talk about Luna."
"M-me?" she mewed.
I laughed a little, "Luna is our guide, I know you both had visions when you saw me. A white palace sound familiar?"
They looked at each other and then back to me intently, nodding, "That's the moon kingdom." I continued, "Luna came from that place, and so did I, but..." I tried to think carefully about how to word the next part, "your memories have been wiped, mine too for the most part, but Luna does remember her mission is to gather us so we can find the princess and ultimately the silver crystal. You may have guessed she can talk because essentially, she's no earth cat."
"Thank makes sense," said Ami, "I feel like I already knew that, aside from the obvious. When she spoke the day I transformed, I wasn't surprised. It was almost like I had expected she knew how to talk all along."
"Lucky, Phobos and Deimos don't talk," said Rei, crossing her arms.
"It's so cool that they protect you though," I said.
"I guess...so, what do you mean princess?"
"The silver crystal," I explained, "is a very powerful artifact. We need to find it in order to...well, save the world. The Princess is bound to have it, and chances are she's here too, memory-less like the rest of us."
It was a pretty good lie I thought. It fit with the situation I was pretending to be in. I wondered how I could tell Luna I was really the one she was looking for? It occurred to me that Usagi had to experience some kind of great emotional stress to become Serenity and force the crystal to appear, and that was not something I could just do on a whim. At this point, I doubted that seeing Mamoru in danger would spur such a huge response, but if Naru or Ami were in danger, I'd do anything for them.
"I see," said Rei, looking into her tea, "So, what about these powers?"
"The powers of our transformed selves...I don't know, I think we are reincarnations of people from the Moon Kingdom. That's were they come from...but I'm not sure, it's something like that."
Luna put a paw up by her mouth, thinking hard, as if she was trying to confirm what I said with her own memories, but was drawing a blank. Ami looked very intent, like she was memorizing every word.
"As for your powers, when you aren't transformed Rei... I'm not sure, I think they may be a bleed over from you being so closely connected to the occult. Being a spiritual person, believing in magic and things like that, it probably made you more open minded to your past self and it comes through."
"I suppose that makes sense too," she said, sounding unsure, but having no real argument.
My mouth felt dry, I sipped the tea. It was bitter, but this was REAL shrine tea. Of course it wasn't going to have sugar in it.
"So what happens now?" asked Ami.
"We aren't the only senshi," I answered, "There are so many others we are going to meet; I think Jupiter is next, I'm not sure what school she goes to, but she's very tall, boyish with brown hair and green eyes."
"How do you know that?" asked Rei, her eyes narrowing. Her voice was filled with honest curiosity, but her eyes said she was suspicious.
"I asked the same thing when she knew about you," said Ami, "she has a sixth sense for this sort of thing." She said, parroting Luna's explanation. I decided to expand.
"You know...how you can look into fire and see things?" something sparked in Rei's eyes and she leaned forward slightly.
"It's like that I guess." It was a more acceptable explanation, but it could be true. She looked into a fire, I looked at a magic electric box with moving pictures. I might have laughed lamely at myself if I'd been alone.
She sat back a little, "Oh."
Was she disappointed with my answer?
"And there's this guy, Tuxedo Mask. Luna, you might remember, he was there the day I first transformed, and he caught you yesterday when I followed the bus through the portal."
"Oh yes. I ran away as fast as I could. I didn't want him following me."
"He's a jewel thief. He's looking for the crystal too. Remember the boy on the bus who almost caught me talking to you?"
"Yes, I've been researching him. His name is Chiba, Mamoru."
"Tuxedo Mask and Mamoru are the same person." I revealed, Luna frowned.
"Is he a threat?" asked Rei.
"I'm not sure," answered Luna, "but he's suspicious...and what Usagi just said confirms that. If he's looking for the crystal, that's a problem,"
"Not if we are careful." I said, "He's prone to being influenced by that man we met in the Dark Kingdom and others like him. He doesn't know it yet, but we are allies. We just have to show him he can trust us, without losing all our leverage in case he goes the other way."
"We'll leave that to you, since you're the only one who's seen him." said Ami.
"Ah...I guess I have, he's a high schooler." I said.
"Eh? So that's your type? Older boys?" teased Rei. I felt myself turning red. No! I wanted to say, my type is a certain long haired brunette evil guy with an eye for short haired red heads. Or even long haired whitenettes with a little bit of homo in their blood. Oddly, I was attracted to all the brainwashed evil guys more than my, or rather Usagi's, beloved Endymion. Rei was right though, no matter which way you cut it, they were all older than I was, at least physically.
"Stop it Rei!" laughed Ami, "You're embarrassing her!"
"I was just having fun," she chided, looking at me. I smiled at her.
"That's all for now," I looked at Luna, "Oh wait, one more thing. Luna, give her a communicator."
"Oh! Right!" She said. Just as my compact had appeared in a glimmer, there appeared a communicator on the table. Rei looked stunned, but picked it up.
"Just open it to contact either of us." I said.
"Wow," she said, slipping it on her wrist, "I can't believe this is happening."
I smiled at her knowingly, "It is Rei," I looked at Ami and then back to the shrine maiden, "we're in this together. Never forget that okay?"
She looked at me, emotion in her lavender eyes again, but then she snorted.
"Don't look so serious! Geez!"
I sighed and blinked. Maybe I was the emotional one.
We wrapped up at the shrine and left Rei to her work. Ami said she wanted to get home and study, so Luna and I went back to my house, since I'd forgotten my cell phone.
"What are you doing?" She asked as I flopped down on my bed.
"Texting Naru," I said, having a flashback. My ex used to always ask who I was talking to at any given moment. Sometimes so forcefully I would jump and feel bad for even talking to my mom or my sister, but Luna's question was genuine, and not laced with some jealous ulterior motive.
"What about the mission?"
"The next target is Princess D. Go research that if you want, but nothing is going to happen until she comes to Japan."
"You could have mentioned that at the meeting."
"Don't worry," I said, "I have a feeling it's still a while before that happens...we won't be able to find anything out until then."
"Well, smarty pants, I think I will go look her up...wait, do you know about-"
"Your secret computer room under the Sailor V machine? Yes."
Luna laughed, "You really should tell me what you know."
I shook my head, "I can't, if I tell you everything, who knows what could happen. Given my situation, I don't want to break reality here or something weird like that."
She sighed, "I'll see you tonight?"
"Yeah." I could have tried to stay over with Naru again, but honestly I missed having time alone. Living in a house with someone who was always breathing down your neck, in your business and judging you made you really treasure just being alone. Funny, before him, alone time made me feel sorry for myself, lonely even, but now I longed for it.
My phone buzzed, a cheerful text from Naru said she was free if I wanted to come over, we'd go catch lunch and then go back to her house to hang out.
Ah, this was so nice!
I ended Saturday with an armful of manga I borrowed from her. It was cheesy Shojo stuff, but I was so in love with it. It gave me something to do in my alone time that made me feel like it really might be okay to fall in love again- and not be afraid of some loser jumping to weird conclusions about everything and threatening me within an inch of my life.
I loved the manga so much, that it consumed my night. Sunday was another story.
It was mid day and Luna was napping on my bed. I sat at my desk studying the transformation pen. I could use this to look like my real self, I thought. But...again, fear of going back to reality was there. If I did make myself look like that, maybe I'd wake up. Maybe I didn't want to.
What was I supposed to do?
I put it away and then as evening drew to a close, it was back to reading manga until late.
I had trouble getting up the next day, I ended up running behind. I felt kind of bad for breaking my perfect attendance since I'd appeared in this world. But stopped on my way when I saw the road was blocked off. Today was the day. We'd be going to a ball tonight.
I was relieved that when I arrived in class Sakurada-sensei wasn't angry, but asked if I was feeling okay and ushered me to my seat, ignoring my attempts to tell her I was fine. She told me to rest and kept shooting me worried looks all period.
It seemed I'd really changed her opinion of Usagi. After school, I knew I'd be meeting with Ami and Rei at the arcade. Luna told us she wanted to talk.
After school, I said goodbye to Naru, then Ami and I went together, Rei came separately. I sat back to wait while Ami pulled out a study pamphlet and got to work. Apparently cram school issued study guides to fill out at one's leisure?
Rei appeared and joined us while we waited for Luna.
"You're amazing," said Rei, breaking the silence that had settled over the group, "how many questions can you solve so fast?"
"It's really not that difficult," chimed Ami.
Rei smiled and changed the subject, "This is my first time in an arcade."
Ami shut her study book, "It was my first time when Usagi brought me here a while ago," she glanced at me a little shyly. It made me smile too, feeling heat in my ears.
"Wanna play a game?" Offered Ami to Rei, soon, the two of us were hunched over her shoulder watching her fail at button mashing. I was glad someone was worse at it than I was.
"It's harder than I thought," Rei mused, sounding frustrated.
"While playing, hit the attack button repeatedly, jump back and forth." Instructed Ami. Almost immediately Rei improved and beat the boss she'd been fighting.
"Yay! I did it! Thanks for the advice!" She exclaimed.
Just then Luna appeared. She hopped up on one of the stools and mewed softly. We all turned to her and arranged ourselves so we could listen in.
"Now there are three of you," she began. I looked at the shape of her head and eyes, watching how her cat mouth was able to form words. It looked bizarre, and yet not bizarre at all.
"I still cant believe it," said Rei, "I'm sick of evil spirits and youma already. Who are they after all?"
"Not even I know, but you are guardians to fight against them and protect the princess at all costs."
I shifted and looked off to the side. I knew who they were, but how could I explain?
"But how? We don't even know who the princess is," replied Rei.
"Usagi was onto something when she explained some things the other day. I believe her power has been sealed away so enemies can't easily find her."
"Sealed?" Ami breathed the word as if it were some kind of mystical secret.
"Why?" Asked Rei.
"The princess may have the crystal, if our enemies get it, it will be a disaster."
I found myself fidgeting and tried to make myself stop.
"I'm sure they are looking for it," said Ami.
"If she doesn't have it, and they find it, our princess will be in danger," warned the cat.
"If only we had a clue..." Rei said softly, looking like she was thinking hard.
I almost broke down, I should say something right? It would help everyone relax, but then again, how could I prove it? They would surely want to see for sure that I wasn't just trying to be a glory hog. Even though I was Sailor Moon, there was still room for them to doubt me. I stayed quiet.
"You are the key to making that happen, when all the senshi are awakened the seal will be broken and we will know where the crystal is."
Rei and Ami both leaned forward like they were going to ask something, but the Arcade doors opened. Motoki and Umino strolled inside.
"So many officers on the street today," said the tall blond.
"It's because the princess of the Kingdom of D is visiting the embassy," replied the nerd.
"I see. Hi everyone," he smiled a charming grin at the three of us, even gave Luna a pat on the head.
"I've got a picture of her, even though its nearly impossible to get." Umino bragged. He presented a picture to me and the others of a blonde girl with thick spiral glasses like his.
"That? She looks like you!"chuckled Motoki.
"She has a very noble face doesn't she?" he said. "There's going to be a dinner party tonight where she will reveal some kind of special treasure. Kindgom D is known for it's rare and precious gem exports."
"How interesting," said Ami.
"I've got a bad feeling," said Rei quietly, leaning close to my shoulder so she could say it very quietly. She smelled sweet, like cherry blossoms.
I walked home with knots in my stomach. I had so much to worry about, for one, I couldn't remember this episode very well. What was I going to do? What was going to happen? Until now I'd been confident in my memory about how things played out, now, I was nervous. I came home to a rare glimpse of Usagi's father. In the past weeks, I knew he was around, but I'd always been doing homework or with Naru or Ami, I almost never saw him, but there he was, straightening the tie of his tux.
"Hello father," I said too formally, "going to the masquerade tonight?"
"Yeah, how'd you know? It's for an interview for my magazine."
"Good luck," I said with a smile and bowed, then left him (looking rather shocked) for my room with Luna on my heels.
"You were right about Princess D, this treasure she's presenting is worth going to look at."
"It's not," I confessed, plopping onto the bed.
"What? Why?"
"Princess D's treasure is just a sculpture of her, it's not the silver crystal, but we still have to go. She's in danger."
Luna seemed to have accepted my knowledge and sighed, "So then what?"
"Just because I know it's not the silver crystal doesn't mean anything. Our enemies believe she may have it and she's going to be attacked."
"Then we have to stop them." She looked determined, but for a moment, I thought I saw suspicion in her eyes.
"We had better get going, do you know how to get to the embassy?" I asked. Luna nodded and jumped down from my bed. I pulled out the pen.
"Change me into a beautiful princess!" I said. I felt the warm rush of magic and was dressed for the part.
On the way out I used the communicator to contact Rei and Ami, filling them in and telling them what to wear.
"When we get there Luna, you'll have to sneak in the balcony, the guard will catch you if you try to come with us in the front." She nodded.
We met the others outside the arcade where Ami phoned a cab.
"Why do you look so nice?" commented Rei, eyeing my outfit.
"I think it's beautiful," said Ami.
I swayed a little, showing off the gown, "Magic." I winked at them. Ami laughed cutely, Rei smiled and shook her head.
The cab took us straight there, Rei paid the fare and we got out.
"I've got a bad feeling," she said again.
"Then we have to find her as soon as possible," said Ami.
"Right," said Rei.
"You guys look down here I'll look above." I said, genuinely not remembering where she was and hurrying up the steps. It wasn't until I stumbled upon the ballroom that I remembered what was going to happen.
Oh no. No. I'd dance with him. Soon. I wasn't ready for this. No way.
What would my heart do if I were touched in such a dreamy romantic way? I'd been abused, mentally, emotionally, physically by someone I had once loved. This night with Tuxedo Mask was supposed to be one of their first romantic meetings. How could I deal with this? I had to get out of there, now.
I turned and bumped into a woman who spilled her drink on me. She sort of snubbed me and kept moving. Rather than get upset about that, I was more upset that she was in my way and hurried off with a grunt. I'd forgotten all about the handkerchief that would fall from my gown when I did this.
I ran outside and hid, not remembering the episode at all. I used the pen to renew my dress and erase the stain, figured if I stayed out here alone, maybe he wouldn't find me. A couple came out complimenting each other about dancing, it was laced with subtle flirting and a small flutter in my heart told me I missed that, even as afraid of love as I was.
"Beautiful princess, will you dance with me?" purred his familiar voice.
It's him. I know it's him. Tuxedo Mask, Mamoru...Usagi's soul mate. He held his hand out to me and my stomach became so full of butterflies I had to swallow in order to calm my nerves. My mind was screaming that I can't, I was afraid. Somehow, I was so afraid. Afraid to feel again.
The moonlight reflected off his dark hair, shone in his blue eyes behind that white mask. In spite of my feelings about the Dark Kings being hot, Tuxedo Mask was a different kind of handsome tonight. Something reflecting deep in his eyes went beyond physical attraction, it was so inviting. I tentatively took his hand, my heart beating like a rabbit's.
I allowed him to lead me to the dance floor where I felt like everyone was looking at us, even though no one even noticed. He placed my hand against his shoulder and I could feel his warmth.
"I'm so afraid," I whispered, trembling as he guided me around the floor. I knew he wouldn't hurt me, but even so...
"I wanted to see you," he said gently.
"You don't understand, I can't-" I tried to explain to him what I was feeling, tell him about the state of my heart, that he can't be in love with me, but the soft fabric of his glove silenced me as he pressed a finger to my lips.
He smiled and led me in a twirl, which made me blush. Raising my arm up so high, held by his hand, left my body open, vulnerable, but his other hand gently applied support to my lower back and he dipped me low. The angle made me trust him not to drop me, and his arm was strong. He met my gaze and my heart skipped. I was still afraid, but also effectively seduced . He pulled me up and to his chest, where for only one heartbeat, I felt him hold me before we were twirling around the floor again.
I was always terrible at being led around in a dance, I was always told that I tried to lead when it came to dancing. But this time, like the time on my first day, my feet just seemed to know what to do. I watched him, unable to stop, and he looked at me too. I wanted to explain, I wanted to cry, I wanted to run away, and yet, I didn't want to stop. All at once though he left me standing there as he ran off into the crowd without another word.
I stared after him, pressing my hands to my chest. I was still trembling, I had a knot in my throat. Why did I feel this way? I tried to understand it, was I relieved? Did I like his attention? Was I really afraid of him? Or afraid of myself? I didn't have any more time to think, Luna's voice broke into my fragile thoughts.
"Usagi, are you okay? You're blushing!"
"I...I'll be fine." I realized I was crying, but I wiped the tear away before it fell, Luna didn't seem to notice.
"Where are the girls?"
"Crap!" I said, turning to the left. Luna followed my gaze to see Princess D charging toward us with her body guards chasing after. They managed to grab her. She wrestled free and with forceful swipe of her arm, she released an energy wave from her fingertips that sent then to the ground.
"Don't get in my way!" She said, "Anyone who gets in my way will be sacrificed to our great ruler!"
She help up an arm and darkness flooded from her feet. I stared at it, of all the supernatural things I'd seen so far, this was the most terrifying. A blackness so evil crawled from her feet that my heart sank and my eyes grew wide.
"Oh no, get out of this room now!" shouted Luna, which forced my terrified feet to move. This was real evil, not that "bad vibe" sort of evil, a real tangible darkness that sucked the energy from everyone in the room. It was one thing as a cartoon, but when it was this real, it really was horrible.
I ran to the balcony followed by the possessed princess. "
"Move!" She shouted, shoving me. Her supernatural strength sent me flailing to the railing and right over it.
My breath caught in my throat with a trapped scream when suddenly I felt a jolt. My wrist locked securely in a strong hand, putting tension on my arm and shoulder. I almost started crying, the sudden jolt and catch reminded me of my assault in the real world. After all the emotional feelings going on tonight, I didn't need something triggering some kind of panic attack. I forced myself to pull it together. I knew we were going to fall, and couldn't remember what to do about it.
As his grip failed, I felt his body pass mine, cradling me from behind against his chest so he would take the brunt of the fall. My heart filled with a longing I couldn't explain.
"Usagi-chan, use your pen!" Thank goodn.0ess for Luna, or I never would have moved at all.
I pulled the pen free and willed it to change into an umbrella, which defied all physics and safely ferried us to the ground.
He pulled my chin gently, making me turn slightly, my shoulder still pressed to his chest, turned just enough to look at him. He was so close, his breath was sweet, "You saved me today, are you hurt?"
His eyes flashed from a soft gaze to something more concerned, but I could't fully read his expression around the mask. Could he see how distraught I was? He moved his hand from my chin to my fingers that now gripped the umbrella tightly.
My mouth opened , but I couldn't speak so I shook my head. Just like that, he turned from me into the night. I was in a stupor, I just stood there.
"Transform now!" Luna shouted. I shook my head hard, snap out of it! I pulled the compact from my bodice and thrust it into the air.
"Moon prism power, make up!"
My worries about Tuxedo Mask were swallowed in that feather-soft and invigorating transformation. It was so exciting! Warming me with energy from my toes all the way up to the top of my head.
When it was done, I felt more focused, and in fact, a little angry. I reached for my forehead when I felt no cool metal, just skin.
"Ah-?" Was all I could get out before I remembered the last battle, when I'd thrown it to save Rei from Jadeite's disk, it had been destroyed. My middle finger pressed against the central point of my forehead for a moment, how did Usagi get it back?
All at once I remembered the dance floor and a long forgotten rush of nervousness and attraction moved down my spine. I felt warm, hot almost, remembering his gentleness. That strange fear that came from how I felt about him was behind a fuzzy curtain of longing. He cared for Usagi, he loved her the way I had wanted to be loved by the one who had hurt me, that person who I didn't love anymore.
I saw Mamoru's face and felt some kind of inner wall inside my heart break and a rush of warm emotions flooded me centering under my fingertip where I felt something form into a solid mass. The new tiara. When I opened my eyes I felt the walls around my heart shoot back up into place.
I turned my gaze up to the balcony and used my anime jump to get back up to the others.
My favorite King's face flickered in the black flames over the Princess' possessed body. It was so twisted and evil, it made me step back. There was no CG graphics that compared to seeing something like this for real.
"I'll be taking the treasure now,"
"Take it if you want Nephrite, it's useless to you." my voice comes out extra cold, too cold for the sort of voice I'd like to show him.
"Sailor Moon!" exclaimed Ami, surprised at me.
"Evil spirit be gone!" called Rei, a fireball erupted from her hand and launched at his face, but it merely passed through.
"Sailor Moon," I couldn't help the way my head whipped around to find the source of Tuxedo Mask's voice.
"The only thing that will defeat him is pure light."
Oh yeah, I thought. I channeled my erratic heartbeat, and the turmoil of emotions into the tiara, drawing the moonlight into me, imagining that it was cleansing me and the tiara began to glow. I used all my energy to glare at the black flames and released everything at him in a beam of light.
I didn't expect it to be so powerful, I felt a vibration pass through my heart and my forehead shooting out at him. I was in no mood for fancy one liners announcing my name tonight.
The light caused the black fire to retreat, the Princess collapsed to the ground as it solidified elsewhere on the adjacent rooftop.
"What you attacked was my shadow," said a voice; the solid shape became Nephrite and my heart couldn't take it. He was even hotter than Jadeite, that long hair and broad chest, hard and angled features, there was no kindness in his gaze. It made me frown, trying to look brave in spite of all my spinning emotions.
"How careless of you Nephrite," came an even deeper voice. My breath caught and I couldn't help the anguished squeak that left me when he appeared. It was loud, even his eyes focused on me. He didn't look amused, but he did tilt his head a little, eyeing me closely.
Zoisite appeared, followed by Jadeite and my fan-girl heart was going to be the death of me. This was no time to be freaking out!
"K-Kunzite, Zoisite, Jadeite, N-Nephrite...you guys..." I said, I started strong, I was going to tell them something, I had to! "Don't listen to Beryl, she's brainwashed you. Everything she's said is a lie! If you don't stop, she'll kill you!" I said, forcing myself to square my shoulders. Kunzite looked angry but Zoicite looked entirely taken aback even as the others matched Kunzite's frown. The whitenette in the cape shouted back at me,
"I won't listen to your lies, we will get the legendary silver crystal at any cost, and we will make you and the world obey our great ruler."
I didn't want them to die, but even if they did believe me, the queen would kill them anyway I realized. Was there any way to save them? I felt so helpless.
"We wont let that happen!" cried Luna, giving me an odd look.
"Hm," chuckled the handsome whitenette "stop us if you can."
They all disappeared. Ami, Rei and Luna all turned to me, Luna's expression was one of frustration, Rei looked suspicious, Ami just looked curious. I wanted to explain, but the princess at our feet began to stir.
"What was I doing? where are my glasses?" Without her glasses, she was beautiful, but I couldn't focus.
"Lets go!" called Luna, realizing the princess couldn't see us.
"We need to talk," threatened Rei as we ran.
"I wonder if Umino looks like that without his glasses," asked Ami, apparently, she hadn't heard Rei just then. I hung back, almost forcing Rei to answer Ami's words.
"No way," said Rei, "if he's that dork you showed me on your phone, then there's really no way."
Ami chuckled, I let them run ahead pausing at a bench outside the ballroom again.
I sank down, crossed my arms and hid my face. Not bothering to change back, I could think more clearly like this.
What was my problem? Was it Naru's Shojo manga that had me all emotional? I'd been fine until he came. Was I upset because I thought I was supposed to feel something I didn't? Or was it because I was afraid to feel something? Maybe I knew it wasn't real, or doubted it was real, how could I just accept his feelings when I wasn't really Usagi? And besides that, after what I'd been through barely a month ago, I couldn't just go falling for someone. He didn't even know me, or Usagi...but really, he didn't know me at all.
I felt a caress against my cheek. It was him. I pretended to be asleep, he couldn't see me in this messed up mood. Not like this. Not till I knew what to say to him. I felt his body draw nearer as he knelt over me, moving in, turning me to face him. I tensed, but still tried to look asleep. I could scream and push him away, but...but...I didn't want to...
The warmth of his body drew nearer and nearer until I could smell his sweet breath again, his cologne that smelled of musk and moonlight. And finally...the soft petal touch of his lips pressing to mine. It was new, sweet and...kind. A kiss I hadn't experienced in far too long. And also one I couldn't respond to if I was pretending to be asleep. I held back a noise that gathered in my throat and squeezed my eyes tighter shut. A tear escaped in a warm trail down the side of my face. I hoped he wouldn't notice.
"Get away from her!" shouted a furious Luna, "We know who you are, and I don't like the effect you have on her. Sailor Moon says we can trust you, but I don't. Not when you make her cry!"
I wished I could open my eyes and see his expression, was he looking at me?
"Are you on our side, or our enemy?" she asked firmly.
"Who knows? If we are both seeking the same thing, I might be your enemy." He answered. I felt him pull away. There was a moment, just long enough for his body heat to fade before I felt something cold hit my cheek. Then my arm, and another on my thigh. I blinked slowly opening my eyes to the silver-blue moonlight all around. It's starting to rain, and the moonlight was waning under the cloud cover.
"Sailor Moon...did he hurt you?" she asked, stepping toward me.
"No," I said, sitting up and feeling my voice trembling, even as my heart warmed and my stomach was once again full of flitting butterflies,"just the opposite." Luna looked at me, I knew she had questions. There was so much to say, maybe I should finally come clean, but not now. I couldn't say anything at all, not if I wanted to. So we listened to the increasing sound of rainfall, the distant sound of the party deep inside the building. Everything seemed far away just then, I lifted my gaze to the brilliant white moon just before the clouds covered it completely.
