This one goes to all you Mamoru haters out there. Hope you enjoy it.
Chapter 10 – Remembrances
Chiba Mamoru.
Shit, I'm almost late. I wasn't supposed to go to the rehearsal today, but what the heck, I'm already finished with tutoring Takashi. I dodge a couple of annoying fan girls of mine (the worship-the-ground-I-walk-on kind) and quickly get away from them. I enter the building and climb the steps.
I open a set of doors; Hiroshi is talking to that friend of Tsukino's (must have come to watch her friend, hmm), what's-her-name? Maki or Moki, or something like that. She pales at the sight of me. Is something on my hair? I stylishly slide my hand through it; nah. Something else, apparently.
"Hi." I nod at her. "Hiroshi."
"Chiba-chan, you made it after all. That's good.", he seems slightly relieved. The Moki or Maki girl not so much.
"Sorry I'm late, I came as soon as I finished my business. Didn't expect it to end so early, so, here I am."
"Sure, no problem. I'm glad you showed up. Guess what?", he smiles. "Mako-chan here told me Tsukino-chan solved the Sleeping Beauty's dress problem." I raise my eyebrow.
"Really?"
"Yeah!"
"Have you seen it already?"
"What?", I exhale loudly, exasperated.
"The dress.", I drawl.
"Oh, no, not really."
"It's probably some shitty old thing from her grandmother's or something, completely unsuitable for the play. You don't know Tsukino the way I do." That does it, the Mokiki ou Makiki girl opens her gob to stand up for Odango.
"You listen, you…", Hiroshi beats her to it, staring into the stage.
"Oh, my."
Both of us look into the stage. No. That cannot be Odango Atama. Odangos don't look like that; heavenly and beautiful and… That… My God, my head feels like it's going to explode! I feel so cold and someone whimpers pathetically. When the Moki girl looks at me and asks me if I'm alright, I realize it was me.
I don't bother with an answer. I toughen up and storm into the stage.
Seijuuro Ginga. Dressing room door.
What's taking her so long? My eyes roll over. Human females! Always taking so long whenever they go to the bathroom, changing before gym class, … and heaven help us if they do so in groups.
It makes me wonder what is it they discuss when they're there… I wouldn't mind being there when Bunny was changing... tee hee hee. Well, I am impersonating a teenage boy, after all. I also wonder if Bunny talks about me on such occasions.
I hear some noise coming from her dressing room. My hearing is good, but I can't seem to recognize it.
Then, I feel it.
A surge of energy, so subtle you'd be pressed to dismiss it at first, but powerful nevertheless, now nearly palpable. And with a wonderful feel, like it's calling to me, enveloping me in a warm, comfortable cocoon. Then, just as suddenly as it came, it goes away, leaving me. I feel hollow, alone…
And nearly stuffing my noise against the dressing room door. I sweatdrop and look around me. Good, nobody saw that, I do have a reputation to uphold! I clear my throat and retreat a few steps.
I sigh. What was that? My eyebrows crumple against each other. Was Bunny turning into Sailor Moon? No, it couldn't be, what for? Besides, I've seen it happen before.
Well, you can't be really sure, can you? You were glued to the ground from the shock.
Yes, I nod stiffly. I can't be positive, but that feeling, just now. Like it was… Home. My eyes water. Don't be silly. You don't really know what a real home is. It certainly is not just a house, you've been here for a while, and that apartment is like Antarctica compared to that utterly delicious sense of belonging.
I nearly smash my fingers against my eyes. Be strong. You know this won't last, don't you? Shut up! Maybe I'll settle down here on Earth. Who knows?
With whom? Bunny Tsukino, your enemy? She'll end up killing you or worse… finding out who you are!
Now, that doesn't make sense, I reason with the treacherous little voice. How is ones survival less important compared to…
Then I imagine it in my mind, blue eyes watering with tears of disappointment, then betrayal and anger. Panic rises in me. Yes, being found out would be… horrible. I feel like crying again.
I try to clear my head, pacing back and forth. I don't even notice Bunny come out of the dressing room.
"Trying to open a hole on the floor, Seijuuro?"
I stop and turn my head to face who spoke. My jaw drops.
"Seijuuro? Are you all right?" God, oh, my Bunny, my beautiful Bunny! Don't drool, don't drool. I nod feebly.
"Do I look okay? Is something wrong with my dress?"
I nod repeatedly and then sputter. Okay, just okay? Are you barking MAD?
"Bunny, you look divine.", I whisper reverently.
I feel like such an idiot. She looks even more beautiful than before. And as I bow and stretch my arm; she extends her own, her sweet hand touching mine… my heart beats wildly in my chest. What is this feeling? Is this love? I rub my thumb in soothing circles and inhale sharply as I look at her.
"What is that moon on your forehead, Bunny?", she inclines her head, looking so cute I could kiss her. Where have I seen that symbol? It's important to remember, but…
"It's all part of it." hmm, enigmatic, so not like my Bunny, and I draw her to me, safely tucking her arm against mine.
"You feel different Bunny." She shivers against me. There's a glimpse of that delicious feeling again and I tremble, my eyes closing, hoping for a bit more of ecstasy, begging for just another taste.
Shocked, I then realize this girl isn't really Bunny Tsukino. I look suspiciously at her. She looks at me and pales a bit.
"What is it?", she whispers. I have to make sure. I know it's stupid; but I have to check.
"Do you mind if I go… take care of something first? It will only be a second."
"Oh, my goodness! Bunny, is that you?", its Naru and Gurio. Perfect! I leave the two girls chattering away, Naru gushing at the dress. I take a few steps and enter the boys' toilet, locking the door. I then transport myself to the dressing room and carefully lock it from the inside.
I quickly and silently search it. Apart from Bunny's school uniform and basic toiletries, there's nothing out of the ordinary. What did you expect? Bunny Tsukino tied up in the dressing room, the girl outside an evil twin? I sigh.
I kinda did, and it makes me feel ridiculous and a bit disgusted with myself. I leave everything as it was, silently unlock the door and go back to the toilet, flush, wash my hands and get out.
Chiba Mamoru. On the stage.
"Started without me, did you, Odango?", why does it anger me so much – beside the usual, that is – to see the Ginga kid holding her like they're walking to a bleeding altar? Hell, like they're married already? Like she belongs to him? She's mine! She turns to the guy, ignoring me; an angel with grace and an ethereal look about her.
"Please Seijuuro, would you mind? I need to go out of the stage for a while." He narrows his eyes.
"Whatever he has to say, he can say it in our faces, my Bunny." His Bunny. Really?
"This is something I have to work out with Chiba-chan. Please." He nods, her eyes pleading with him, and he releases her.
She passes me by, not making eye contact and walks behind the stage, stopping and finally facing me. She says something but I don't hear it; those blue eyes… Picture after picture explodes in my head; memories long forgotten, and I remember. The Silver Millennium, the battles, the deaths,…
"I said… if there's something you have to say, go ahead. Say it." I close my eyes; what have I done? Idiot!
"Princess.", her eyes harden.
"I beg your pardon? If you want to rehearse we can do so at the stage."
"Princess Serenity, my beloved. I have returned, Usako.", she gasps, our eyes meet again. Her mouth closes, her lips are in a thin line. "I see."
"Please, forgive me, I…"
"Now is not the time nor the place, Endymion.", she whispers urgently, looking around us.
"But… but…", her eyes flash.
"Don't!"
"You're mine, Princess, you promised yourself to me. Forget about the Ginga boy, he's nothing… You belong to me.", she looks furious. Did I say something wrong? I've said nothing out of the ordinary, I've said it many times before.
"I don't really want to hear it right now."
"I must insist, I…" You're mine, you promised yourself to me!
"She already said she's not interested, Chiba Mamoru.", I wince. The cavalry, or should I say, the Ginga kid, comes to the rescue, so to speak. If that's how things are, I should destroy what you two have, hmm?
"Eavesdropping, Ginga? Don't you trust Tsukino?", I smirk at him and regret it. Displeasure radiates off the Princess like a tidal wave, all of it directed at me; it's so intense I feel like puking, I fight the need to gag. She has never acted like this on the Moon before, she was always so agreeable when we were together!
"Endymion! That is enough! Do not even attempt to break us apart!" I wince, she saw right through me, damn. Ginga smirks back at me and says,
"Actually, Hiroshi is calling everyone to the stage." He walks to her and bows at my Princess, placating her. "Shall we?" She looks every bit like her name.
"We shall." I fume and glare at Ginga. Don't look so smug, this isn't over yet, kid. That's a promise.
Princess Serenity.
I take Seijuuro Ginga's hand and we head towards the stage; leaving the Prince behind us. I gently shake my head; how did it come to this? I have had enough of Endymion's behaviour. As far as the Royal Court and polite society were concerned, we always got along splendidly, he commanded and I obeyed; and perhaps therein lay the problem. I was never his inferior, but I played the part, during our courting, and that was my biggest mistake. The Lunarian society was matriarchal something which did not bode well with Endymion. He always enjoyed being in command… and making me feel like I needed him, like I would never be more that a damsel in distress. It also didn't help that I was an innocent, far too sheltered for a Royal, easily impressed by his beauty and manner.
Unlike what many might have thought, Sailor Moon, no, Bunny Tsukino, had reasons to say she did not want to be the Princess. Being the heiress to the Moon Kingdom throne brought great responsibilities. She saw, with our first merge, the danger she'd be in. The Silver Chrystal holds immense power, and the line of the Royal Lunarians lightens up the galaxy. We are light, it surrounds us, but it also draws darkness to us.
So, naturally, the Prince is attracted to our warm light, even though he doesn't truly love Bunny Tsukino. As for the Princess… well, I was a mere fledging as a Royal then. I already began to grow into my powers, you could say, when I first used the Silver Chrystal against our last enemy. More than that, that taste of death put many things into perspective.
Ali is also attracted to us. Perhaps, dear reader, you think that Seijuuro Ginga is not a good match for a Royal Lunarian, that perhaps the Prince of Earth is better, because Ali is evil. But to be of darkness doesn't necessarily mean to be of evil. Love is the strongest power in the universe. And next to it is Hope.
"Bunny?"
I look into Seijuuro's eyes, so full with love. Does he know how he really feels?
"What happened between the two of you, just back there?"
"A disagreement." I pause. "Endy-… Chiba-chan and I were together once, long ago. He had amnesia but apparently his memories came back just recently; so he wants me back."
He now looks like a little lost boy.
"And?" I hold his eyes to mine.
"Logically I should go back to him; I have been chasing him for quite some time; I wanted him to remember. However, someone else has been on my mind lately; someone who has not treated me the way Chiba-chan as of late."
Seijuuro's eyes fill with hope.
"Let's just get through the rehearsal, Seijuuro. I want to depart as soon as possible. I have a feeling Chiba-chan will be chasing me, for a change, after this is over." I chuckle a bit. "I'd appreciate it if you'd gang up with Makoto and deny him access to my dressing room." He nods and gives me a one-sided grin.
"Make that the entire hallway that accesses it."
Luna.
I look at my Princess' back. Back in the Silver Millennium, she never was this happy when she was in love with Endymion. I can't say she is doing the right choice, though.
I gulp, it doesn't really matter; Artemis is going to strangle me, either way!
The Prince looks murderous. He's been standing in the same spot for half a minute now, clenching and unclenching his fists. We are alone, so I leave my hiding spot and go to him.
"Your Highness." He turns and faces me.
"Luna. It's good to see you. What is going on with the Princess lately?"
I simply stare at him. Anger, despite his controlled stance, rolls off him in waves. I have to be careful. He snaps.
"Well?"
"The Princess has been doing her everyday life, as usual."
"No, that's not quite exact, is it?" I freeze. "She hasn't been at the game arcade so often. Why is that?"
"She's found other hobbies."
"Apart from eating, sleeping, reading mangas and playing Sailor Moon videogames at home and at the arcade? I'm surprised." I remain silent; he sighs. "What is it about that boy? Why are they so… connected? There's something odd about him." I can't tell him Bunny has taken to study with the… boy, who just happens to be an alien… at her home, can I?
"It's only natural, You Highness. They go to the same school."
"Oh?"
"Yes, same school, same teacher and classroom, same assignments, same…"
"I get it." he suddenly sounds tired. "I have competition, I understand that."
"You have been hurting her whenever you could; I'm starting to think you lost her affection."
"That's not possible. We promised each other, back in the Moon, that we'd love each other forever. I can't lose what's mine, what has always been mine for centuries, like this. And I always get what I want. Always."
That particular phrasing leaves me a bit unsettled, anxious even.
"I will require your assistance, Luna. Do you understand?"
"Yes." Your royal snarkyness. My cat senses tell me there is someone coming this way, so I hide. "You do understand my loyalties rest, first and foremost, with the Princess, don't you?"
Oh, that ticks him off. Too late, unfortunately for him. Hiroshi shows up.
"Hey, Mamoru! Time to head up to the stage and this show on the road." He glances around. "Who were you talking to? Nevermind that; did you see the Tsukino girl? God, she's looking great. Wish I was in Ginga-chan's shoes!" Mamoru glowers at him. "You're jealous!"
"What if I am? It's none of your business!", he growls.
Hiroshi drags him to the stage. That's just as well. I hope Makoto doesn't get to see the Princess upfront. It wouldn't do to for her to remember everything.
Later. Tsukino residence. Bunny's bedroom.
"Why didn't you just use the Disguise Pen, Bunny Tsukino? Did you really have to turn into the Princess?", I whine.
Bunny and I are trapped inside the room. She managed to avoid Makoto while in Princess form, just by chance. Mamoru was outside the top of the hallways for a while, yelling at Mako-chan and Seijuuro. At least they're not so close. Closing the hallway was an excellent idea.
"Well," she sweatdrops, "I didn't know for sure it would work, Luna. I wanted to try it." I sigh, exasperated. "I know this isn't a valid excuse but, as soon as I changed into my Princess form… it just felt… right."
"Yes, but it drew the Prince to you. As if we didn't have enough to worry about!"
"I know. But it felt wonderful, and it gave me some insight on the Princess' feelings about Endymion."
"Really? That's interesting. Everybody thought they were the perfect couple…", Bunny's eyes narrow.
"Not really."
"What do you mean?", I try her. Let's see if my suspicions are correct.
"I mean… wasn't she more powerful than him?" I fidget.
"What does that have to do with anything?"
Bunny then explains to me some of the thoughts she had recently, in Princess form. I nod and remain silent for a minute; trying to bring old memories to the surface.
"Yes, Bunny, she was, although she didn't flaunt it. Was there anything else?"
"Well, Seijuuro did ask what the moon on my forehead was…" I freeze.
"Bunny, are you ready?", I hear Seijuuro knocking on the door.
"Just a second!", she hollers, I wince at such a loud sound.
"We'll talk later, Bunny.", I jump into the bag, she closes it and leaves the dressing room.