Hanako hadn't ridden in at least two years, and never in a maid's outfit, but she was holding her own. She kept a distance of a good two horse-lengths behind her mystery man, both to protect herself and her horse and to avoid upsetting his. She didn't know these horses well, but she had studied enough about horse behaviors to know that horses could lash out violently if another came too close for comfort, even if they were normally friendly to each other. Plus, it was just smart thinking, following her leader with enough leeway to avoid any pitfalls he might encounter or to change her mind and leave him.
They hadn't spoken since they had hightailed it out of the castle gates. Thundering down the road, they headed for the forest. Hanako didn't know where they were going from there, but he had protected her before, so she surrendered herself to his care – for the moment anyway. Yet her mind wouldn't be silent. He had said something had happened to her father. And that she was in danger. She wanted to know the full story. Waiting for answers did not suit her.
Takeshi, also known as Lord Mask, was grateful the princess was silent. He glanced back every now and again to make sure she was alright, but as long as he heard two sets of horses' hooves pounding the dirt road, he wasn't too concerned about her. They had to get to safety before he could tell her what he had seen in her father's room. Then he would tell her all the background information he had on Akemi. If she reacted the way he hoped she would, they would then have to make plans to travel north, in search of aid. Defeating Akemi and restoring Nobuo to his rightful place was the task he had been charged with by Satsuko, a white mage who had foreseen the troubles in the first place. They would have to find her. She alone would have the answers on how to break the spell over Nobuo.
The horses slowed, growing nervous as they approached the dark woods. Hanako's horse began sidestepping and snorting, trying to refuse his mistress' command to enter the woods. Hanako leaned forward, whispering softly into the horse's ear, refusing to give him his head, tightening the reins to show him she meant business. He pricked his ears backwards, appearing to focus on the comforting sounds she was making, and his prancing stopped. His eyes were still wide with nervousness, but he obeyed her instructions and slowly followed the other horse. Takeshi watched appreciatively, surprised that the princess was so competent with a horse. His own horse had been more forcefully tamed, the difference between a male rider and a female rider. A stern grip on the reins and a firm dig of his heels into the horse's side had let him know that his rider would not tolerate any shenanigans. He was pleased that the horse listened to him so quickly. If he could gain the horse's trust, he would allow Takeshi to lead him anywhere. He kicked the horse's flanks and his steed broke out into a gallop. Hanako spurred hers forward as well and the light from the clearing behind them dwindled as they turned right and the forest closed around them.
Rei was officially out of commission, settled at the table in her front room, reading the last few pages Mamoru had stolen from her earlier. Usagi was seated next to her, glaring at Mamoru, while Ami was playing hostess. She had brewed some tea and found some snacks and was busy serving them to the other three. Mamoru thanked her softly and took a bracing sip of Ami's green tea. Usagi reached for a handful of salty chips and munched them noisily, wondering if Rei was ever going to finish reading. She couldn't believe the girl had suggested they all meet here, then refused to talk until she'd finished the last pages of Usagi's manuscript. She drummed her fingers on her leg and sighed heavily. She was too overwrought to even kill time by writing, which she fully blamed on Mamoru. If he gave her writer's block, she would kill him! This assignment was due in less than 10 days!
Ami and Mamoru chatted politely and quietly, ignoring Usagi's evident frustration and annoyance. Ami felt deeply conflicted over her role in the Usagi-Mamoru situation. Like Naru, she too suspected Usagi of having unacknowledged feelings for her proclaimed enemy. In addition, she knew all about Usagi's huge crush on Tuxedo Kamen. Thinking back, she could see now just how much of her Takeshi/Lord Mask character reflected Tuxedo Kamen. She idly wondered if she had always known but didn't want to point it out or if she had really been too caught up in Usagi's story to notice.
Mamoru mused over his cup of decently brewed green tea. The look of belligerence on Usagi's face warned him that she was truly annoyed with him. He had no idea how to appease the furious blonde and half-wondered if he should have asked Motoki for help instead of Ami. A horrified look crossed his face as his imagination played out the torment Motoki would inflict on him.
Usagi glared at Mamoru again and caught the look of horror on his face. She gave him a puzzled stare in return, confused as to what he could be horrified by. She was tempted to turn around and make certain nothing disgusting or creepy was on the wall behind her, but at that moment Rei plunked the stack of papers down and sighed contentedly. "You do love to stop at cliff-hangers, Usagi," she teased. Usagi's smile was wan, as if the last thing she really wanted to talk about was her story. Rei seemed to read her mind.
"So . . ." she began, wanting to break the tense silence, but finding herself lacking anything else to say. She took refuge behind her slightly cooled green tea.
Ami looked from Mamoru to Usagi, and back. She didn't know what to say and was feeling very uneasy. She could tell her friend was extremely uncomfortable just being in the same room as Mamoru and didn't see this conversation improving any time soon.
Setting his cup on the table with a firm thump, Mamoru gained the silent attention of all three girls. "I guess I really should start with an apology." He cleared his throat a bit. "I'm sorry for misleading you, Rei-chan. I think of you as a friend and I never should have used the knowledge of your feelings for me to manipulate you this afternoon. Please forgive me."
Rei nodded graciously, determined to save what was left of her pride. "I share some of the blame, Mamoru-san, I simply assumed things. You were, of course, only being friendly and I took it to mean something more."
Mamoru then turned his attention to Usagi, who was looking at Rei with more than a little irritation. She had wanted Rei to rip him a new one, but instead she acted like a politician. "Odan . . . Usagi," Mamoru had to forcibly stifle his habitual nickname, knowing she hated it and that using it now would thwart his attempts to make nice. "When we first met, we both set into action a chain of events that has led to our current hostile state. But there is no denying that we are allies against a threat to our planet. As such, I really think we should try to be friends. I would like to apologize for my past behavior and start over. Do you think we can?"
Usagi stared at the man offering the proverbial olive branch as if he had lost his mind. He wanted to be friends? She didn't think he knew the meaning of friendship, let alone how to treat her with any kindness. His behavior with Rei earlier today only showed the depths he would sink to in order to hurt and anger her! She was supposed to forgive him? She bit her lip, thinking about that. She, as Usagi, often forgave people, but as Sailor Moon, she was in the habit of never forgiving anyone. She just eliminated them. She glanced at both Rei and Ami for support and was stunned to see them urging her to make peace with their expressions.
Mamoru tried again, "I promise I will stop teasing you. I know that I have embarrassed and upset you far more than you ever deserved. You just are so . . . different from the people I usually spend time with that I judged you unfairly. Following you around lately has made me realize that I have overlooked your good qualities. Your friends love you for good reason and . . ." he felt like an utter fool, groveling like this to a 14 year old who just happened to be able to transform into his dream girl.
Usagi threw up a hand to stop him. "Oh, shut up!" All three stared at her, Ami frowning in disappointment. She sighed. "I'd really like to give a little Moon speech about not forgiving you and punishing you for being a heartless jerk, but . . ." she rolled her eyes. "You're Tuxedo Kamen. You help us out at every battle and you are clearly a handy ally against the Dark Kingdom. Although, clearly there are things we need to talk about if we are to really be allies. I truly have no choice here. But I'm only going to forgive you on two conditions. One: stop calling me Odango. And two: stop following me around! It gives me the creeps!" She felt hypocritical, claiming she would forgive him. Calling a truce with the big jerk would be friendly enough, she decided. The girls couldn't make her be his best friend. She glared at the two girls, letting them know she felt unfairly pressured by them.
Mamoru readily agreed, but asked, "How did it give you the creeps? You only found out about it after the fact." He was wary, a warning thrumming through him that Usagi wasn't going to forgive him as easily as this.
Usagi rolled her eyes, "I'm used to your glares, Mamoru. It's like having a disapproving teacher staring at you all the time. I always know when you're watching me." Rei and Ami exchanged a significant glance at that comment. Mamoru just thought it over, a cocky half-smile forming on his lips.
Further discussion was killed by Luna, who walked in at that moment, calling out to the girls without noticing the surprised man seated with them. His gasp caught her superior hearing, however, and she narrowed red eyes on the intruder accusingly. "Luna," Ami took control, using her calmest, most soothing voice, "we'd like to introduce Tuxedo Kamen."
Luna closed her eyes in dismay. "Why is he here?"
"We're discussing the terms of his joining the team, Luna," Usagi announced too brightly. All heads swiveled in her direction. She glared back at them. "Have you forgotten he has one of the Nijizuishou? A teammate shouldn't hold back from his team." She smiled all too sweetly and Mamoru began to sweat. The shard of crystal was the closest he had gotten to the Princess in months!
"We'll talk about that later, Usagi-chan," Rei interrupted, sensing a strange form of panic from Mamoru. "We really need to focus on how Zoisite identified us in our civilian form."
Luna yowled, "He did what?" The girls explained what they remembered, with Ami and Mamoru throwing in their observations now and again. Luna's ears pricked when Usagi and Rei mentioned the kurozuishou in Zoisite's hand. "Perhaps the crystal isn't as specialized as we thought. The crystal may have hit on Usagi as a carrier of a Nijizuishou shard and Zoisite thought he was pursuing a youma." Usagi shuddered at the thought of becoming a youma.
Mamoru mused on this tidbit. If Zoisite could use the crystal to find the senshi who carried the Nijizuishou, then he could also use it to find him. He would have to be extra cautious. He couldn't give the crystal to any of the senshi, even though they had far more useful abilities. He couldn't explain how deeply it disturbed him to think of giving away one of the keys to finding the Princess, even to the senshi.
Luna stared hard at Usagi and Rei, thinking about something else the girls had mentioned. Her narrowed eyes rested on Usagi as she snapped, "I'm extremely disappointed in the two of you, talking about senshi business on the street so carelessly!"
Usagi's temper was already straining its leash and Luna's comment was about to push her into snapping at someone again. She levered herself up into a standing position using the table, trying to obey Ami's advice. "I've got a lot more writing to get done to finish this assignment, so I'm going home. Call me if you need me." She waved and excused herself from the group, calmly walking away as if the anger within her had dissipated. She ignored the protests of the small group, anxious to get away.
Once Usagi descended the temple steps, however, she started to shake. She was amazed she had held her emotions in check for so long. She didn't want to admit it, but the look in Mamoru's eyes when he was apologizing and being sincere was just so disconcerting. She rubbed her arms to hide the shaking, but she didn't understand why the way he had looked at her when she told him she had sensed him watching her was making her feel strange. She felt vulnerable, and transparent, and something she couldn't quite describe. She knew she would have to be polite to him, for the sake of their shared mission, but she was hardly thrilled about the possibility of spending more time in his company. Or was she? Usagi stalked home. She couldn't wait to take refuge in her story.
The ride through the woods was uneventful, but the horses were tiring. As they neared the far edge, the rising sun forced Takeshi to stop the horses. "We'll have to make camp here and wait for nightfall before riding through the peasants' land." Hanako stared at him with wide eyes, fear evident in their depths. "We will be perfectly safe," he assured her. "But my existence is rumor and if I go riding about in broad daylight, I will definitely attract attention. While you are well disguised now, we need to leave no trace. Queen Akemi must not have any suspicions as to where we have gone."
Hanako nodded. "I understand, I just . . ." she looked around and waved her hand at the dark trees. "What are we going to do until sunset?"
Takeshi tossed her a rough blanket from his saddlebag. "Sleep. Over there, off the road." He helped her down and took her horse's reins in his hand. Leading them both into the underbrush, he tied the long reins to the branches of a tree and let them graze. Then he spread a blanket for himself and used his horse's saddle for a pillow. "Set up by me. I'm going to look for water for the horses," he instructed, before vanishing into the depths of the forest. Hanako reluctantly followed his instructions.
Takeshi returned a few minutes later to find her backed into the exposed roots of a tree, trying to see in all directions at once. He didn't know whether to smile in amusement or sigh in frustration, so he did neither. "Princess, get your horse and follow me."
When they arrived at the small pond, Hanako couldn't resist pulling off the rough and uncomfortable boots he had found her and dipping her feet into the water. Takeshi knelt beside her, slightly upstream, scooping water up with his hand to drink. The horses waded into the knee-deep water to cool off a bit. "So," Hanako started, splashing her feet a bit, "what should I call you?"
He was silent for a moment, uncertain. "There are some peasants, the ones I took you to for help. Their son calls me Lord Mask. But, I really haven't thought about what to call myself," he confessed. "Since you've already seen my face, there really isn't any need for pretense with you. But only if you swear never to reveal my identity." Hanako promised and was rewarded when he lowered his mask.
"Lord Takeshi," she breathed, startled. She kicked herself mentally for not making the connection earlier. "Ah, your boldness last night makes sense now."
He nodded. "I needed to draw attention to myself and make sure I was seen by Akemi and her advisors before I could attempt to reason with your father. I am sorry, Princess, for using you in such a manner."
Hanako laughed it off as if she was unaffected. "Please, call me Hanako. And don't apologize. You were the only decent dance partner of the evening. Stepmother thinks I don't realize her plans, but I do. I'm just helpless to stop her." She carefully swallowed back the hurt his tone had brought about, but she couldn't deny that she had taken his dance with her to mean that he was truly interested in her.
Takeshi mused on her words. It was hard for those without power to understand how a princess could be helpless. As a man who walked in both worlds, however, he could appreciate her predicament a bit. Hanako had not been brought up with hardships and adversities, so she was having to adapt and learn as she went. Her deep love for her father no doubt prevented her from speaking out to him against her step-mother. Akemi's growing power and influence had not escaped the princess' notice, he was relieved to note. Sighing, he decided that he would have to teach her how to stand up the demonic witch. "Hanako, from now on, you will be working to stop her. I need you to be strong and willing to do whatever it takes in order to do so. I will help you to become strong, but I need your promise that I can rely on you. You will have to put behind you the pampered life of a princess in order to save your father and your kingdom. Can you do this? If you can't, I will have to leave you in the care of people I can trust, but there is no one who lives in luxury that can protect you," he warned.
Hanako frowned defiantly. "I am not going to be left behind. My father and my people are in danger. I want to be there to see her face when she is beaten. I understand that I lack certain skills, but don't underestimate me. You are not leaving me behind." She glared at him for a long moment, annoyed by the faint look of amusement in his eyes. "You can rely on me," she vowed. I will save my father, she swore internally. I swear it on my mother's grave.
AN: Chapter 11 is here! Sorry for the delay, but I felt revising Chapter 10 was a priority. If you read it between Monday and Tuesday afternoon, you might want to flip back to check for the revised version with more Zoi. It should make a lot more sense. Today you get a bit from both stories as well as a tense scene at Rei's. Chapter 12 will be completed tonight or tomorrow afternoon, after which I will no longer be posting daily. TPP4 update: I expect to post this weekend, thank you for your patience! Review thanks: TreeHugger101, SmTwilight, Chrissienuil, rakusa, pruningshears, Caytlyn Rose, and Saori Knight!