Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. All rights are reserved for Naoko Takeuchi.
Author's Notes: Thanks to angeliclin, Perfect Beauty, LoveInTheBattleField, Leslie wjack, Serenity Rein, Guest, CherrySerenity-sama, and yukikiralacus for their wonderful reviews and support.
angeliclin: I wish for them to spend more time with each other too. I'm working on it!
Perfect Beauty: Aww, thanks.
LoveInTheBattleField: Thanks! I can't wait for Sailor Moon Crystal.
Leslie wjack: I'm really glad that you're enjoying the story. I'm a huge Mamoru and Usagi shipper, but where this story will end, I'm not even sure myself.
Guest: The next chapter is here!
Serenity Rein: Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long.
CherrySerenity-sama: I'm glad to hear that you think the relationships are interesting. Hopefully they're not too outrageous.
yukikiralacus: It's a work in progress, but I won't give up! Thanks for reading.
I cannot contain my excitement for Sailor Moon Crystal! I hope you guys are pumped for it as well. Moon pride!
I have uploaded this chapter a little earlier than intended. But to be honest, I would have just let this rot on my desktop and edit it here and there for days at a time. It's not my best work, but I am doing this in celebration of Sailor Moon Crystal (*crying on the inside*). Reviews are appreciated! Enjoy.
-S2-S2-S2-
"Motoki-oniisan!" Usagi cried. "I'm not ready yet!"
"Usagi-chan, you have to face your fears!" Motoki replied as the dragged the blond by the wrist. "Now quit complaining. People will start to think I'm kidnapping you."
"That's not too far off from the truth," Usagi grumbled to herself.
"What was that?"
"Nothing!" she quickly denied, contemplating on whether she should scream for help. Imagining the situation in her mind was amusing. "What about work? Didn't you want me to start today?"
"That can wait. This is more important!"
Passing by a bike rack, Usagi grabbed onto it with her free hand and held on for dear life. Her grasp slipped as her palms became sweaty due to the summer heat and from the struggle with Motoki. Motoki was able to easily yank her away. The girl whimpered at the loss of contact. They continued their way to the Crown Fruit Parlor with Usagi still resisting. Once they reached the glass doors, Motoki held onto Usagi's shoulders. He could tell she was anxious.
"Don't be afraid. They're your friends right?" Usagi nodded at Motoki's words. "And you did promise me yesterday that you would see them today."
"I know I promised, but I didn't think that you were serious. I'm not mentally or emotionally prepared! I…I don't know how to face them."
"Don't worry," Motoki said while offering a comforting smile. "I'll be here."
"I'm not sure," came her hesitant reply. She was worried. When Motoki said he had a surprise for her this morning, she didn't think it would be seeing her friends.
"C'mon. Be brave! Be confident! Don't make your friends worry more than they already have."
"You're right…"
"Then it's settled!"
Before Usagi could have a chance to back out, Motoki grabbed Usagi's wrist and pulled the door open into the shop. Two patrons sitting at the counter quickly turned around to see what the commotion was all about. Usagi hid behind Motoki's tall frame while he still held onto her hand. Motoki slowly approached the two girls sitting on the bar stools who were waiting for an explanation.
"Motoki," greeted two girls.
"Hi Mako-chan! Ami-chan!"
"Motoki-san, what did you want to see us about today?" asked the short haired girl. "Who's that behind you?" Ami pointed out. A subtle gasp came out, wondering whether or not her eyes were fooling her.
The big grin on Motoki's face could not be concealed. He was itching to reveal the news and he was sure that they would be delighted to know what he had in store for them.
"Ta-da!" Motoki tugged on Usagi's hand and brought her to stand in front of him. Usagi tried to regain her footing from Motoki's abrupt jerk. Standing in front of him, she faced her friends. Lifting up her hand, Usagi greeted them with a meek hi.
"Usagi-chan!"
Usagi flinched at their reaction, readying herself to be berated for being such a terrible person. No such words came from Makoto or Ami. The worse scenario came to mind. Were they ignoring her? Usagi wasn't prepared what was about to happen next. The two girls ran up to Usagi and tightly embraced her. Feeling suffocated, Usagi struggled to break the hug.
"I'm sorry! But please, I can't breathe."
Releasing the tight grip she had on the girl, Makoto glared at her blonde friend.
"You. You've got some explaining missy," Makoto chided. "We have been worried sick! I thought something bad had happened to you."
"And your parents said you moved," Ami remarked.
"I'm sorry. I've been a terrible friend. I can explain."
"You better!" Makoto grabbed Usagi upper arm and started hauling her out of the Crown Fruit Parlor. "Your day better be free. I am not letting you go until you tell me everything!" Giving Motoki a glance, the Amazonian woman gave him a grateful look. "Thanks for bringing her out. Ami-chan and I are going to take her for the rest of the day."
"Wait! What?! I have to work today!" Usagi mentioned, hoping that the excuse would get her out of the situation.
"I'm sure you can miss one day. Isn't that right, Motoki-kun?" the brunette asked. Motoki winked back at her in approval.
"Motoki-oniisan! Don't do this! Save me!" Usagi begged with desperation. She sounded like she was going to be eaten alive. Her pleas were useless and came upon deaf ears.
Covering his ears and closing his eyes, Motoki shook his head. He could only laugh at the situation before him.
"Sorry. What I do not see and hear is none of my concern."
"MOTOKI!" Usagi screeched.
"C'mon you, resistance is futile." The two girls left, with one being dragged against her will. It was near impossible to break away from Makoto's strong grasp. At least with Motoki, Usagi had a fighting chance. This was the day Usagi had come to dread. Once the two left, the Crown Fruit Parlor became less chaotic.
"Are they gone yet?"
"Yes, Motoki-san," Ami giggled.
"Whew."
"We'll bring her back safe and sound. Don't worry," the shy girl assured.
"Thanks, Ami-san."
"I better get going or else I won't be able to catch up with them. I'll see you later!" Ami sprinted towards the exit and tried to find the pair out in the streets. It wasn't hard considering how loud Usagi's cries for help was.
"Good luck!" Motoki shouted while waving.
The three girls went to a nearby park and talked in private. Usagi and Ami sat on the swings while gently pushing back and forth. Makoto leaned against the metal swing pole with arms crossed. Only the creaks of the swings' metal chains penetrated their silence.
Usagi had explained the events of the past month to her friends: discovering Motoki's identity, learning of her marriage, and moving to the Imperial Palace. Ami and Makoto were stunned. They also felt bad that they weren't there to support Usagi through the transition. However, they knew that Usagi had a bad habit of keeping important matters to herself, especially if she did not want the people close to her to worry. It was unavoidable.
"What do you plan to do now Usagi-chan?" Ami was truly worried for Usagi. Even though Usagi kept things to herself, it wasn't like her to not keep in touch with her friends. Ami admired Usagi's loyalty to her friends. It was one of Usagi's attributes that attracted Ami and on which their friendship was founded on.
"I don't know," Usagi finally answered. "Where do I go from here…?" Even if they were her close friends, Usagi did not want to tell them more about her predicament. It wasn't that she didn't trust them, but rather Usagi didn't want to drag them into the situation. She also wanted to be independent and overcome her own problems.
"Something about this doesn't feel right," Makoto commented. "My sixth sense is tingling."
"What's wrong?" Ami asked her friend.
"This idea of an arranged marriage…It doesn't feel right. I know you said that your grandfather and His Imperial Majesty were good friends, but isn't this excessive. We live in the twenty-first century. Even if arranged marriages are still occurring, I would at least think that His Imperial Majesty would choose someone more suitable."
"Mako-chan," Usagi spoke with a look that could kill. "Are you saying that I'm not princess material?"
"N-no, that's not what I mean at all!" Makoto put her hands up in defense. It was not her intention to offend Usagi. However, it also didn't help to know that the blond was a klutz at times, which would further support Makoto's suspicions. Imagining her as a princess was a bit absurd.
"I think you're thinking too much into this," Ami interjected. "You forget that arranged marriages are common. It's a practice parents and grandparents take part in. The fact that Usagi's grandfather and the Emperor were very good friends meant that they took everything into consideration in order to give their grandchildren a good life and believed that this match is compatible."
Both Makoto and Usagi gave their friend a blank stare.
"Maybe you're right. I was overreacting," Makoto laughed. "Disregard what I said earlier Usagi-chan!"
"I guess so." Usagi bit her nails. Something was bothering her. Makoto's reasoning made sense and she herself had the same thoughts. But Ami's reasoning also made sense. Questions filled her mind as she was deep in thought. Her gut feeling was telling her that there was more to this marriage than what she already knew. Trying to figure that out would be a challenge.
"Let's stop talking about this. We're wasting our youth! We have to do something before summer ends. Not to mention that there's so much more to catch up on," exclaimed the Amazonian woman.
"I agree!" Ami chimed in. Ami jumped off her swing. She looked at Usagi with an extended hand. "What do you think Usagi-chan?"
Usagi nodded her head. It had been a long time since she had an outing with her friends. She owed it to them. The debt would be paid with her time.
The crackling of the fireplace released warmth into the room and was the only source of light. A figure stood in front of a bookshelf filled with various genres of reading material. Skimming his hand along the spine of each book, his hand finally rested on a thick black book. Pulling it out, he brushed off a thin layer of dust that had collected. It was the Book of Answers. The book provided answers to the user's questions. The user would put his or her hand on the cover and think of a question to ask the book. Flipping to a random page, an answer was provided in the form of a word or a sentence.
Mamoru smiled at the memory of purchasing it. During his most difficult times, he would consult the book whenever he didn't have anyone to talk to. It offered a form of solace. Sometimes it provided great wisdom whereas other times it provided only silly nonsensical responses. Walking over to his bed, Mamoru sat down. His hand glided over the smooth black cover.
There were so many questions he had about the past, present, and future. Perhaps the book would provide him with the advice he was desperately seeking for. He thought about it. Should he consult the book? This was so unlike him. He didn't believe in superstitions. Believing that the book could provide him the answers he sought after when he flipped to a random page was preposterous. He was out of his mind. But at the moment, it seemed like the best solution.
"This is crazy. What will this really tell me?" But he wanted to know. It was worth a shot. "I guess it might not hurt to try," he mumbled to himself. Laying a hand on the cover, Mamoru closed his eyes and took a deep breathe almost as if he was trying to put himself in a trance.
"Am I doing the right thing by accepting this marriage?" Carefully running his fingers along the pages, he flipped to a random page. The black font displayed itself clearly against the white background with a simple phrase.
Trust your intuition.
The simple answer puzzled Mamoru. How was he supposed to trust his intuition when he felt wishy washy? For the first time in his life, he felt unsure about his decisions. He closed the book and repeated the process again.
"Is it possible to find happiness?"
Don't be afraid to want it all.
It was true. He did want happiness. He did want it all, but his wishy washy feelings were the source of his fears. Was it possible? He wanted to get rid of these fears. He wanted happiness to be a possibility. But he knew that something was holding him back.
"What do I do with the past?"
Once again, he carefully flipped to a page after running his fingers along the edge of the pages. Upon opening the book, a picture slipped out and gracefully landed on the floor. Placing the book on the bed, Mamoru leaned forward and picked up the photo. On the bottom right corner was the date. March 14. Turning it over, it revealed a picture of Mamoru and a blond girl in a loving embrace. Mamoru clearly remembered the day. His eyes became affectionate at the memory. It was White Day. It was the last White Day they celebrated. Looking at the book he placed on his bed, he read the words.
Let it go.
Was that the answer? He had known it for a long time, but to have a book tell him of what he already knew was like a slap to the face telling him to stop dwelling in the past. Mamoru gave a small grin. After carefully slipping the photo back in the book, he closed it. Getting up from his sitting position on the bed, he walked over to the bookshelf and returned the book to its original spot. He stood there with hands in his pockets. Although the book provided some insight, Mamoru still felt conflicted.
"Perhaps I should consult the fire." Glancing at his watch he noted the time and left.
It was almost around seven. The sun had begun to set and it was getting darker. Usagi hopped off the last bus of the night in front of Hikawa Shrine. As it drove away, her hair blew in the wind it created. Looking around, Usagi let out a tired breath. It was going to take around thirty minutes to walk back to the Imperial Palace. Placing her hands in the pocket of her gray cardigan, she began to move her heavy tired body.
Five minutes had passed. The eerie sense of being followed made the hairs on the back of Usagi's neck stand up. Her hearing became sensitive for any unusual sounds. She stopped. The footsteps behind her also ceased, but the delay made Usagi believe that she was being tailed. She didn't want to look back, afraid of what she would see. Taking a deep breath, she prepared herself for a strenuous workout. She sprinted.
With her eyes clenched in fear, Usagi ran as fast as she could. It was exhausting. Her lungs burned with the need of air. Her heart was beating so fast that she felt like it would pop out of her chest at any moment. Beads of sweat formed at her forehead. She could feel the veins in her temple pounding and it gave her a headache. The energy within her was draining rapidly. She didn't know how long she could hold out for before she felt like she had reached a safe place or before she felt like she had lost the person behind her. A couple of feet away from her, Usagi noticed a familiar figure. She pumped her arms with fervor, trying to get close to the individual. Upon reaching the man in front of her, Usagi opened her arms and tightly embraced him.
"Mamoru-san!"
Not having enough time to process what was happening to him, Mamoru's arms automatically encircled the girl and held her close to him. Usagi buried her head in Mamoru's firm chest. Her fears subsided momentarily with Mamoru's protective embrace. It was like a safe haven. Looking down at the girl holding onto him for dear life, Mamoru voiced his concerns.
"Usagi, what wrong?"
Peering up, Usagi whispered with trembling lips, "I think someone is following me." The terror was evident in her eyes.
In the distance Mamoru could see a suited individual approaching them. When he was about twenty feet away, Mamoru instantly recognized him as a royal guard. The guard bowed. Looking past the royal guard, Mamoru also noticed a black car in the distance. Not wanting to cause anymore panic to the girl he was holding, Mamoru signaled for the guard to leave. The guard nodded at the command.
"Usagi," Mamoru began as he gently patted her to calm her down. "Do you have a cellphone on you?"
"No, why?"
'No wonder,' Mamoru thought to himself as he glanced at the darkening sky. 'Grandfather must have been worried where she was. Has she been tailed the entire day?'
"Is something the matter?"
"Nothing. Let's go home. It's getting dark."
Pulling out of the embrace, Usagi unconsciously linked her arm with Mamoru's. It was like an automatic response. The two began to walk.
"What were you doing out so late?"
"With friends." Hues of orange, pink, and purple adorned the sky. Usagi smiled sheepishly as she noted the sunset. "I guess I lost track of time. Where were you heading?"
"I needed some air, so I came out for a walk. I was planning on going to Hikawa Shrine."
Usagi stared at the ground as she walked, feeling embarrassed and apologetic.
"You made a big detour because of me. Sorry."
"It's fine. I can go another day." Mamoru spotted Usagi taking a peak behind her. "No one's there if that's what you're wondering."
"I could have sworn that I heard footsteps. Was that just my imagination?"
"For an odango like you, it's very possible," he teased. Usagi chewed the insides of her cheeks in irritation. "Don't worry. With a black knight like me by your side, no one would dare kidnap you."
"Black knight?" Usagi almost snorted at the idea. "You're Prince Chiba of Japan! I'm worried that I'll be ambushed by fan girls of yours and die at their hands."
"You don't have to worry about that. I have none."
"Liar!" Usagi gasped. "You're tall, dark, and handsome. The qualities that would make any girl throw herself at you."
"Such as yourself?"
"I-I…" Usagi fell for her own trap. Mamoru suppressed a grin and watched her reaction. "No! I was just complimenting you. You're not my style."
"Too bad," he said trying to play it off coolly. "I was hoping I would be your ideal type."
The two continued their journey back to the Imperial Palace in comfortable silence, not conscious of how close they were to one another. Side by side. Their steps were in sync. Their arms were linked. From an onlooker's perspective, it would seem like they were long time lovers. Reaching the black iron gates of the Imperial Palace, they made their way to the side specifically designated for foot traffic. The door automatically unlocked and the pair went in. The driveway was illuminated in lights, making it easier to see the path they were walking on. As they continued to make their way to the palace, Mamoru broke the silence.
"Usagi…"
"Hmm?"
"About our conversation last night, I-"
"Look at you two!" Usagi and Mamoru jumped a little at the sudden interruption. "Such a lovely couple."
Usagi and Mamoru looked up. The Emperor stood at the front steps as Mamoru and Usagi were approaching the palace. At the Emperor's words, Usagi became more aware of her surroundings. She noticed that she held onto Mamoru's arm. But since when? She quickly withdrew her arm, feeling a little embarrassed for the close contact.
"Come inside you two, it's getting late." The Emperor went back inside the palace before giving a hearty chuckle at the pair.
"I…uhh…Sorry about holding on to you." Rubbing her upper arm, she tried to calm herself down from the awkwardness and for shamelessly holding onto Mamoru. "Thank you for escorting me back. I'll see you later. Goodnight Mamoru-san." Without another glance, Usagi sprinted up the front steps, wanting to get away.
Mamoru mentally chuckled at her embarrassed state. It wasn't until she was about to head inside that he remembered what he wanted to say to her before the interruption.
"Usagi, wait."
'Ahh! So damn close.' Usagi didn't want to turn around, but it would have been rude to not respond. She wished she could crawl into a hole.
"Yes?"
"About what you said last night, I would like it if we became friends."
Usagi eagerly nodded at Mamoru's request.
"Me too."