Chapter 9: A Bad Date
After the chaos that had ensued, most of the people woke up feeling groggy and unsure what had happened. A few got up to leave, muttering about taking naps at home, while someone went to ask the manager to start the movie.
The girls met Mamoru outside of the theatre in their civilian forms. "Wasn't that an adventure?" asked Mamoru casually.
"That was certainly different. I wonder if we could get a refund. Good thing we left in time. Did you see what that thing was?" Rei asked, trying to sound as if she didn't just dust the creature.
Mamoru shrugged his shoulders. "Some sort of energy draining monster, I suppose. It was a good thing the senshi showed up. Who knew they went to see movies?"
"Yeah," Makoto and the others laughed nervously. "Like they have time when they're busy saving the world."
"That Sailor Venus is something else, though. She pushed me out of the way. Saved me twice now," Mamoru commented, staring in Usagi's direction. Usagi looked away.
Rei was fuming. "But really, Sailor Moon does all the work. She's the leader of the group. The only thing special about Sailor V is that she has a video game." She sighed heavily and composed herself. "Why don't we go somewhere a little more private?" Rei asked Mamoru. "There's this neat little place on the other side of town that I heard has the best sushi…." She half-dragged him in the opposite direction, waving goodbye to her friends, but glaring at Usagi.
"Well, that was awkward," commented Minako.
Ami nodded. "You're telling me."
Usagi looked wistfully at the couple walking down the road. Even if she never did admit it to herself, she did like Mamoru.
Mamo-chan….
…..
At a later senshi meeting, Rei was in Usagi's face. "I'm so sick of Mamoru talking about you all the time," Rei told her. "Honestly, can't he see how great Sailor Moon is?"
"Well," Usagi said slowly, "maybe you should stalk him, save him from every apparent danger. He'll learn how awesome you are. Besides, you're just dating him, not going steady."
Rei stomped her foot. "But why does he like you so much? And you hate him in real life! Gah, it sucks!" She sat down and pouted.
Makoto and Usagi shared knowing glances.
Luna whispered to Artemis, "Do you think we should tell—"
"No," he murmured back. "Don't. She'll just get even madder at Usagi, and it wasn't even her fault…technically."
"Maybe you're just jealous," remarked Ami boldly.
"Yeah, and you shouldn't be; after all, Usagi did set you two up!" declared Minako. "I wish I could play matchmaker…"
"Yeah, just leave Usagi alone," defended Makoto. "Besides, I'm sure if Mamoru found out you were a Princess, it would be a different story."
"But she's not supposed to say anything!" said Luna.
Rei moaned, "It's just not fair…"
"Cheer up, Princess," Artemis told her. "I'm sure Mamoru likes you for who you are, and that is the important part."
"Hmm…" Rei looked at Usagi. "You don't suppose you can lend me your henshin pin? I can pretend to be you…"
"What?" Usagi shook her head. "Somehow that seems wrong."
"And what would you want to do that for, when you have a Disguise Pen?" Artemis asked.
Luna pawed at her partner. "Don't give her any ideas."
Rei smiled. "Oh yeah, I forgot you guys gave me that thing. Maybe I'll use it…"
"You know, it was considered an offense in the Silver Millennium to pose as another senshi," Luna stated matter-of-factly.
"Really? Punishable by what?" asked Usagi.
"By…death."
"That's sort of dramatic."
Luna shook her head. "But it was necessary in that time."
"Well, that was a thousand years ago," said Rei. "Things have changed."
"Don't do it, Rei. Win him over for who you really are. Sure he talks about Venus a bit, but she's a fantasy character. You're real, Rei-chan." Usagi winced inwardly as she said this. But I have to make her believe I don't care about Mamoru…
"You're right. I'll win him over somehow…"
"Besides, aren't we here to talk about the new enemy?" Artemis asked, trying to change the subject.
Makoto folded her arms. "Yeah, who are these people? Have you gotten any readings on your computer?"
Luna shook her head. "All we can tell is that they are within the vicinity of the town—right in the heart of it. That is why we keep seeing the monsters near the arcade. They do not have to go far for their energy they plan to seek—many people are always in the center of the city."
"So we just need to explore more of the city," stated Ami. "Perhaps they are based in a warehouse or a business center?"
"There is no telling where they are. We strongly caution you to be careful," remarked Artemis. "Your powers are coming back, but they do not seem to be as strong as they used to be."
"Really?" asked Minako. "How can that be?"
Luna piped up, "Artemis and I think perhaps you should take it easy—you all have been very stressed lately."
"So….we need to relax but be on our guard?"
Artemis turned his head and scratched it with his paw. "It doesn't make much sense, does it…but I'm sure you girls will find a way to balance things out."
As the others discussed their schedules, Rei was still fuming about the Mamoru incident, and was staring into her fireplace. The flames seemed to shape into a familiar shape….like a princess…but then disappeared. Rei said nothing about it, but wondered if that was her own form she saw.
…..
A few days later, Mamoru and Rei were sitting in a nice Indian restaurant, waiting for their order. The room was lit only by candles and was very romantic. "Ah, Mamoru, I'm so glad to be here with you," gushed Rei.
"Yeah, me too, Rei." Mamoru smiled.
"You don't sound very enthused."
"But I am."
"Well, at least you're not talking about her again…"
"And what's wrong with admiring a superheroine?"
"Because Sailor Moon is much cooler," Rei argued. "She's a Princess, after all."
"Oh really? And how would you know that?" Mamoru asked.
"Oh. Um…I just do. I heard it in one of her speeches. She's a Princess of the Moon."
"Princess of the Moon…" repeated Mamoru. Why does that sound so familiar? That girl…in my dreams…the one with the silver hair glowing the moonlight…
He had almost forgotten about the distant dreams, but they were calling out to him again.
"Mamoru? What's wrong?"
Her date shook his head. "Nothing. Just thinking what a Moon Princess would be like."
"I bet she would be beautiful, and wise, and intelligent, and special…" Rei went on and on while Mamoru drifted off in his thoughts again. The dream was almost so clear now…the Princess with a crescent moon on her forehead…she begged him to find himself so they could be together again… "Mamoru! Are you even paying attention?" demanded Rei.
"Of course I am."
"No, you're not, you're staring off into space again." Rei's eyes swelled up with tears. "Don't you want to be here with me?"
"Of course I do."
"No you don't . You're a horrible liar, Chiba Mamoru!" And with that, Rei stormed off from the table. "If you don't want to be with me, why not just say it?"
"I don't want to be with you." Rei turned around, her jaw dropped in horror. "…At least, not when you're like this," Mamoru finished.
Sniffling, Rei stormed off again. The waiter, an old man who had witnessed the commotion, came by. "I suppose you would like the check, sir?"
Mamoru did a facepalm.
…..
Ail came up to Usagi while she was putting her books away in her locker. "Hey Usagi, I was wondering…would you like to come over to my place tomorrow? Maybe for some coffee or hot chocolate?"
Well, it's not like Mamoru's going to miss me…"Sure. I'll come."
"Great. See you later after school."
Later that day, at the arcade, Ann was waiting for her crush to show up. When he walked through the door, she called out, "Hey there, Mamoru." He just glared at her. She got up from her seat and walked over to him. "Look, I'm sorry about what I said about Usagi. I've been hanging out with her lately and she's actually a pretty cool person." Okay, Ann didn't really think so, but she was trying to impress Mamoru. "In fact, my brother invited her over this afternoon for some hot chocolate and to hang out. Would you like to come over?"
Seeing Usagi would lift his spirits. She reminded him so much of Sailor Venus…the only woman who never tried to argue with him or push him away. "Yeah, absolutely."
"Cool. Let me show you where I live…"
"Wow, you live here?" asked Usagi as she and Ail walked into the apartment where Ail and Ann lived.
"Yeah, we live by ourselves."
"That's cool. Don't you miss your parents?"
Ail shook his head "Didn't really know them."
"I'm sorry," Usagi said sympathetically. "I think everyone needs a parent somewhere in their life."
"Yeah, well, you can't miss what you don't have. Say, let me get that hot chocolate started up."
"Oh, and can you put whipped cream on it?" Usagi pleaded.
Ail laughed from the kitchen. "Sure, anything for the Bunny girl."
Usagi grinned.
"So this is where I live…" Ann said, putting her key in the door and opening it. Usagi was already sitting on the couch. She looked up, surprised to see Mamoru entering with Ann.
"Hi there," Mamoru greeted.
"Hi…" Her cheeks flushed, thinking of the last time she had seen him. That one little kiss….
Ann stared at her. "Something wrong, Usagi?"
Usagi turned away. "Ah, it's nothing."
Ann rolled her eyes. "I'm going to help Ail in the kitchen."
Mamoru went over and sat down on the couch next to Usagi. Usagi tried not to look at him, but couldn't resist asking a question. "So what happened with Rei?"
"Ah, I'm sure she told you already," replied Mamoru.
Usagi pointed out, "She told me her side. There are two sides to every story."
"True. Well, I think I'm in love with someone else. Or maybe two people."
"Two people?" Heh. What if it was Sailor V and me? Usagi shivered.
"Yeah. There's this princess in my dreams, with a white dress and long silver hair, sort of like yours, actually. She keeps asking me to find myself, whatever that means. And then…there's Sailor V."
Usagi tried not to giggle; she could see Mamoru was torn up about who he cared about. "Hm, well, who says either one of them is real…"
"Yeah, well…I even kissed Sailor V…"
"Really? How was it?" asked Usagi curiously.
"It was like…kissing an angel."
"You're exaggerating."
"No, I'm serious," insisted Mamoru.
"Hot chocolate is ready! And yours has extra whipped cream, Bunny," Ail said affectionately, carrying a tray into the living room.
It sickened Ann to see her Ail doting on Usagi, but she decided to get even by spending her attentions on Mamoru. "So Mamoru, here is yours. I put extra chocolate in it."
"Thanks," replied Mamoru. "I love chocolate." Ann beamed.
The four young people sat around, talking about school, movies, and even video games. It was a pleasant conversation.
After a while, Ail got up to put the dishes away. Mamoru went to help him. Ann, seeing this as her chance to be rid of Usagi once and for all, asked her, "Would you like to see more of the apartment?"
"Sure." Wow, Ann is sure being nice to me. Maybe she's not so bad after all. I wonder how she convinced Mamoru to come in the first place…Usagi got up from her seat and followed Ann to a door across the room.
"This room is very special to us," Ann said.
"And you're showing me? Wow."
"Well, I was thinking perhaps you could help with something…"
"What's that?"
Ann threw open the door and pushed her in. "By giving us your energy!" she replied with a manical laugh. Inside the door stood a tree with at least a hundred roots and limbs. It filled the room almost completely.
"What are you doing, Ann? Not Usagi!" Ail cried out, running to the door.
"What's in there?" asked Mamoru, following Ail. He gasped when he saw the tree lift its limbs and head for a helpless Usagi. He ran into the room and pushed her out of the way.
"Mamoru?" she asked.
"Hang on, Usagi, I'll—" Before he could finish his sentence, Mamoru was picked up by the tree and flung against the wall.
Usagi cried out, "Mamoru!" She watched as he fell to the ground, unconscious.
