Chapter 9 – The Princess returns
Chiba Mamoru
"Hey! Hey, hey, hey! Come on, stop that! You can't just kiss her like that, it's gross." I grimace, that's not quite what I wanted to say. Bunny has her back to me, but I can see her distress because she tensed up in an obviously fashion. Great, I've upset her. Again.
But the… kid… well, he doesn't hide his disgust. He clearly hates me, if glares could kill, I' be not six but twenty feet under. Bunny turns to face me, her face is a picture of serenity; I smile and then she speaks.
"Mamo-chan…", I love it when she says my name like that, in such a soft manner.
"Meatball head.", I smirk. God, picking on her makes my day; I can't seem to help it! She takes a deep breath, and I scowl when she says my name in a cold fashion, her lips a thin line.
"Mamoru." Pause. "I'd appreciate it if you could make a tiny little effort not to be such a jackass." My jaw drops, the Ginga kid looks like Christmas came early. "Furthermore…"
"Wow, Odango, I had no idea you knew such long words…", I practically purr. She blushes, furious, eyes closed.
"Furthermore, I'd appreciate it if you were a bit more grateful."
"What for? Traumatizing me by snogging Ginga in front of me? After you chased me for months up until a few minutes ago? You're a nasty little…" Ginga beats me to it, and yells at me.
"Don't you dare talk to her like that! You were in pain, she lent you a hand and this is how she's repaid? And I kissed her, I didn't give her a chance to think about it and say no." He seems to feel a little guilty about it.
"Well I didn't hear her complaining. In fact, I'd say you were both enjoying yourselves." I flinch, shit, I didn't mean to say that either. Ginga smiles and turns to address Bunny. Too bad she's gone.
"Odango?"
"Curse you, Chiba Mamoru. You made her leave, you…"
"Both of us did, I am not the only one who…"
"Shut it! I don't wanna hear it." He turns and leaves, chasing after the silly blonde. Luna, her black cat leaves the bushes nearby, stops to stare at me for a couple of seconds and turns, running after Ginga and Tsukino.
There is something strange about that guy... and the cat too. But what?
Bunny Tsukino
How dare they! Arguing over me, like I'm not there, again! I sigh, exasperated.
"Bunny! Buuuunnyyyy!", I hear Makoto shouting for me. I yell back and start running towards her. We finally meet, I hug her.
"Hey! I'm so sorry I left you worried, I didn't mean to."
"Bunny Tsukino! You nearly gave me a stroke; I was so worried!", a pissed off Makoto is very intimidating… there's only one thing to do about that!
"I have gossip to share. It involves me, Mamo-chan and Seijuuro. Wanna hear about it?"
Ah-ha. I can pretty much see wheels turning inside her head, she sweatdrops and…
"Oooohh, fine!", she sighs. "So, did baka-Chiba apologize? Did you talk to him?"
"Well…", I share all the details, minus the Sailor Moon thingy, of course.
"My my, Bunny Tsukino…" Mako-chan suddenly seems huge, fires of hell burning in her eyes. I squeak. "Not one, but two handsome guys at your beck and call, I see… Oh, man, I wish…"
"It's not like that! Mamoru can't stand me…"
"Hmmm, I dunno about that! If he doesn't like you, then why does he seem to enjoy riling you up? You keep meeting all the time, always arguing, true. But if he doesn't care, why can't he do a better job avoiding you, huh?"
"You have a point." I sigh. "It's getting late, I should go home. Oh… I have homework, almost forgot."
"Bunny, Bunny, always the same!" We laugh at each other, hug and depart. I wave at her. "See you around!" I turn around a corner; home is really close. Unfortunately I was in such a hurry I crash against someone with such force, we fall.
"Bunny, are you alright?"
"Seijuuro!" I scramble and stand up. "I'm so sorry, I didn't notice you, I mean… it's not that you're insignificant, I mean…" I always ramble when I'm this nervous… "I was in such a hurry, that I just." I meet his eyes, looking at me in such a way I shiver.
"Please forgive me; I hope I didn't crush you. Are you cold? I'll lend you my jacket if you want to…" he reaches for it; I stop him, touching his hand.
"That's alright, you don't have to." We blush at the close contact and blush a bit, suddenly awkward.
"I was just going home. You?"
"I… was looking for you, Bunny. I hope…"
"Yes?"
"I care about you Bunny, very very much. No matter… our differences."
"I'm late. I have to go home." He pales, he looks like I just punched him, and I turn my back to him. "Seijuuro?"
"Yes, Bunny?"
"I care about you too. See you at school?"
"Always!", I can hear him smiling.
The Makaiju.
My child suddenly comes into the room, positively glowing. Ah, love in itself makes all living beings more beautiful than they already are; it makes me feel more alive than ever. Finally, one of my children is on the right path. He morphs into his alien form and sits into one of my branches. He tells me about his day; about how he watered his white and purple orchids first thing this morning.
"They are beautiful; they are also Bunny's favorites." I'd smirk if I had a face. He then starts telling me, in detail, about the rest of the other day, the day he thought he lost his Bunny.
He is happy she is back, not caring about his Cardian, or energy harvest. He is happy he held her in his arms, furious with Chiba Mamoru (even I wouldn't mind sucking that idiot's energy, just for fun, since I don't need it) for insulting her, and…
"Oh, Tree, if you only heard her! Saying she cared about me too!", he has such a goofy smile on his face that I forget myself and chuckle loudly. Suspicion immediately mars his features, his stance defensive.
"Tree?"
Oops.
Luna.
I know what I saw that day. I didn't alucinate. The… boy… humanoid… alien… whatever he is. I sigh. He acts like he's in love with Bunny. And ever since that day, no Cardians have been plaguing Tokyo.
I know I should inform Sailor Moon. There was a time I thought she should be with the Prince, but he doesn't seem to care for her the way Ali cares. Because he does care. He said, "no matter… our differences". And, again, he hasn't created another Cardian. Oh, I've followed him whenever I can, he's careful, I'll give him that, but he can't hide from a magical cat no matter how hard he tries. He sucks energy from a person or another, when he needs. He feeds mainly on energy, that much is obvious. But he never needs to feed when he spends more time than usual with Bunny. I know it.
There is something about Sailor Moon that keeps him grounded. And he hates our Prince. Completely.
This has been going for weeks now. Soon, I will have to tell my Princess.
"Hey Luna!"
Bunny is in the living room, putting away her finished homework. Ginga-chan has just left, Mother has gone shopping. She's been studying with him at home; wonder of wonders, a change I agree with. The boy never takes her to study at his place; not a problem, I can only imagine what a bogey man he must hide under his bed. Or his starship; if he has one. That's not a comforting thought.
"Guess what?"
"What?"
"There is going to be a play. A friend of Chiba Mamoru" I wince, Ali has been affecting the way she talks about Mamoru, which I kind of understand, considering the way Mamoru keeps treating her; "had a few problems with the cast and financing. I volunteered to help, and… I'm going to be Sleeping Beauty!"
"Oh, that's good news Bunny! And the evil Queen?" She mumbles. "Sorry, didn't catch that."
"Evil stepbastard.", she mumbles again. I'm confused. "Yeah, well… they adapted the play. The evil stepfather wants to marry Sleeping Beauty and guess who that is…"
"Well, with your luck I'd say it's Mamoru."
"Correct." She brightens up suddenly. "And guess who the prince is?" she giggles.
No, that's just NOT possible!
"Seijuuro is! Isn't it wonderful?"
"Hardly." She stops spinning around the table, looks at me and lifts an eyebrow.
This can't go on like this.
"Bunny, there's something I have to tell you."
Bunny Tsukino.
It's a beautiful spring day. Every step brings me closer to school and… to Seijuuro. To Ali.
I still find it hard to believe. How can it be?
But now, I do understand.
So many things, the little odd things about him and his behavior; and all things considered, they weren't that strange considering where he comes from.
I've been avoiding him and Mamoru for the entire weekend, in rehearsals. I've been trying to stick to the scenes without them; I'm not very fond of Mamoru anymore, I guess I'm tired of being insulted. The worst part? It only seems to motivate him more! Great, just wonderful; he must be thinking I'm playing hard to get.
If Minako was here, she'd be devastated, she'd lecture me about love, relationships, hardship and… whatever. It doesn't matter what we had. I was, and I stress, was the White Moon Princess and he was Earth's Prince. But that's the past; we were different people back then. He was so considerate, polite, cultured. Well, he's intelligent now, as much as he was then, but I'm not and… considering how he gloats it, I have to say we're not such a great match anymore. We are simply Bunny Tsukino and Chiba Mamoru, and that's the way things are going to stay.
If only he was more like Seijuuro! Ali. Whatever.
I don't know what to do! I can't avoid him forever, or lie to him. What can I say? Stop sucking energy from people? Oh, and by the way, no more Cardians, 'kay. And I think Bunny Ginga sounds so much better than Bunny Chiba.
I'm ridiculous.
It does sound better, though.
I pout and shoot daggers at the school gates, only a minute away. He's there. Waiting.
Oh, God. He doesn't look very happy. I sweatdrop, it's my fault. Bad Bunny. Oh, now he's looking at me.
"Bunny." Uh-oh, he looks like the cat that ate the canary.
"Seijuuro." I gulp. "How are you today? Ready for another test from hell?"
"Yes, I think so.", he smiles tentatively. He has such a wonderful smile. Maybe Luna is wrong. Maybe she hallucinated! "About the play…"
"Oh! I came up with a solution for Sleeping Beauty's dress." Low budget play, so yes…
"You did? So soon? That's wonderful, Bunny. Maybe you can show me your dress later, when we study together."
To hell with caution!
"Sure, how about today? We have rehearsal, anyway… everybody will be able to see it then."
"Oh, so that's how it is…", a playful voice suddenly scares me.
"Mako-chan!" I grip my chest. "Don't sneak on me like that! You nearly gave me a coronary!" I grumble. "Then again, that would save me from the hellish test…", I mumble. Seijuuro laughs.
"Dear Bunny, you always know how to cheer me up.", he smiles tenderly at me.
"Well, I'll go with you two to the rehearsal; I want to see that dress for myself…"
"Sure, not a problem. I'll just have to stop by home first."
Later. Tsukino residence.
"Bunny, are you sure this is a good idea?"
"Oh, lighten up Luna, will you? No worries; Mamoru is not going to the rehearsals today, I checked."
I fill a bag, big enough to hold a dress, with a fluffy dark red robe of mine. "It'll be fine. Don't be such a party pooper. Look, if you want to, you can get in the bag, if you're afraid Seijuuro will see you. Even if you're caught I'll just make up some excuse."
"Well, maybe he won't notice… he was pretty out of it when I was spying on him, too shocked I guess." Luna shrugs. Cats shouldn't shrug, it looks weird.
"Pop in, then!" Luna gets in the bag, I go down the stairs, close Luna's bag, leaving a bit still open for her to breathe. Mako-chan and Seijuuro are waiting in the leaving room and we bid my mother adieu and leave the house.
On the way, Seijuuro and I practice some lines, Makoto gives us some opinions… When we finally reach the senior high school, where rehearsals (and the play) take place, we split. Makoto chooses a place to sit and the two of us head towards my dressing room. Seijuuro stays outside, by the door.
I close it and the first thing I do is take Luna out of the bag. She keeps quiet, since the door and the walls might be too thin to guarantee enough privacy; she'll leave with me, hidden in my skirts; she'll manage. I take my clothes off, put my robe on. I was going to use the Disguise Pen, but I have time… I stare at the ceiling and wonder. If it doesn't work, at least I'll know. I do a quick transformation into Sailor Moon, take the Moon Scepter out of my subspace pocket and raise it. I focus, trying to bring forward the memories and the being of Princess Serenity and I feel it, the merge and my Sailor Moon uniform elongating into a dress.
I look at the mirror; the White Moon Princess stares back at me, from the white dress, golden pearls around my wrist and in my hair, to the golden crescent moon in my forehead.
Luna proudly smiles at me and whispers "Beautiful as always, Princess. You'll knock them out."
I'm so glad Mamoru's not here today. Nothing can go wrong!
A bit longer chapter, I know… Hope you enjoyed that. Please review! You know you want to. :-D
