It didn't come out as soon as I would have like, but it's still here! As always I don't own Sailor Moon, just like to write fan-fiction about it.

Chapter 13:

Mamoru sat quietly in his dark apartment. He had entered the apartment through the veranda like he always had, except he had to be careful with the rain. With the railing being slippery Mamoru took extra precaution, already remembering the first time it had rained and used the balcony to get inside. There was a reason why he enjoyed wearing the large shades some days.

Now he just wanted to understand what had happened. When he had entered under the curse of the youma it was almost as if he was watching his body from a far. He had heard the voice of the princess, or so he had thought. He watched as Sailor Moon was trying to reason with him, but when she had gotten in his way he began to fight her. Then there was the fight with Kunzite. Mamoru could feel that he had been very close to the man, 'Maybe in my past life we were friends and he wasn't under the influence of the Negaverse.'

Sighing deeply Mamoru let his body sink into the green couch facing the large windows. He let the thrashing rain and thunder lull him into a half sleep. It was some where in the haze that he heard a knock at the door. Turning his head to look at the door, there was someone blocking the light from the hall.

"Coming!" Mamoru tried to rub the sleep from his eyes, but who he saw standing in his doorway was enough to wake him up.

Usagi stared up at Mamoru as he looked down at her. "Odango Attama, what are you doing here?" Mamoru mentally kicked himself for the brash tone in his voice.

Usagi could feel heat flaring up on her cheeks. "Well, if you are going to act like that then I'm-"

Mamoru caught Usagi as she began to head back down the hall. "Wait, Usagi! I'm sorry."

Usagi turned back to look up at him only to see sincerity in his eyes. Taking a deep breath, she faced him again. "Can I please come in?"

Mamoru stepped to one side allowing her to walk in. Not very many lights were turned on as she noticed. The kitchen light was all that was turned on leaving the living room mostly in darkness. A sneeze from the girl caused him to look at her a little more carefully.

"Usagi, you're soaked to the bone! Didn't you have an umbrella or rain coat with you?" he asked with concern.

Usagi shook her head no feeling the weight of her wet hair. "Well, you better no stay in those clothes."

The two turned to look at each other with pink staining their cheeks. "I mean, you could catch a cold with them." Mamoru turned ackwardly away. "Stay here for a moment."

Usagi watched as he walked down the hallway and disappeared for a moment. 'What am I doing here? Can I really talk to him?'

Mamoru came back a moment later with several items. "Why don't you go take a shower so you can warm up. Here is a towel and some old clothes that you can put on until yours dries. Have you eaten dinner yet?"

"No, I was supposed to go home, but I didn't make it before the storm got really bad." Usagi prayed that Mamoru didn't figure out her lie.

"Well, I'll go make us something and when you get out we can eat."

Usagi gave Mamoru a smile that warmed his whole heart. "Thanks! I'll try not to be long. Um . . . where's your bathroom?" Mamoru pointed to the first door in the hallway and waited until she closed the door before he set out to make dinner.

- - - - - (o) - - - - -

Queen Beryl sat on her throne, the waves of anger sensed by all standing in the great hall. She had granted powers from Melatia to the lowly youma in order to hopefully take the rainbow crystals and resurrect the greatest of her warriors, but the brats had somehow down it again. Nothing had changed and all of the rainbow crystals were out of her possession. One of minor servants came up to the side of the throne bowing low on the ground.

"What is it?" she hissed.

The youma tried not to tremble. "Your highness, it has been discovered that Kunzite has returned."

"Send him here than."

"Your highness, I'm af-fraid that I can't d-do that."

Queen Beryl leered down at the youma beside her. "And why can't you do that."

"H-he is currently in a-a coffin along side the other g-generals."

She didn't even look down when she sent a fire ball engulfing the youma in black flames. The screams echoed against the walls making the other youma nervous. Beryl closed her eyes and tried to regain her composure. After a few moments she left the throne room, staff in hand, with the quaking youma behind. She had to see for herself what the dead youma had said.

It didn't take her long to get to the black marble room. As always it was silent since no one else was supposed to go into the chamber. 'But how did Kunzite figure out the purpose of the room?' Queen Beryl looked at the four pillars now all lit up with glowing crystals.

She walked towards the pillar on the far right. Kunzite's still body stood suspended in the clear crystal. "So what did you do? I didn't send you to fight the senshi, nor did I ask you to help the youma. Did you discover who you really were and couldn't handle the truth?" Queen Beryl sneered at the silent general.

"Well, it doesn't matter now because your dead like you were supposed to be after I won the Moon Kingdom. Except now it looks like I'll be doing everything on my own."

- - - - - (o) - - - - -

Usagi relished the hot water from the shower. After being in the cold rain it was nice to warm up again. As she washed her hair, Usagi tried to think of how she could tell him. 'I'm sure that anything I could tell him would send him straight through the roof.' Sighing Usagi rinsed the rest of the shampoo out of her hair. Once the water was off she took the surprisingly soft towel and dried herself and then pull her hair up with it. The clothes that Mamoru had given her were a small black sweatshirt and a pair of grey shorts. Both must have fit him at one point because as she pulled the sweater over her head she could smell the same fragrance of roses. 'I wonder when I picked that up. Most likely when ever he would carry me away from a youma.'

She looked around for a brush to tame her hair, but had to settle for a comb. Unwrapping the towel she set it aside and started working the knots in her hair. It didn't take her long, but she didn't want to keep Mamoru waiting. Usagi walked back down the hallway out into the main area. To her right was the living room with the veranda displaying the light show outside, while to her right the sounds of cooking could be heard coming from the kitchen. Wandering into the kitchen she found Mamoru stirring a pot with two plates set aside with sandwiches.

Mamoru had to almost take a second glance at Usagi when she came into the kitchen. He didn't heard her coming and was shocked to she her standing there. His eyes were drawn to how long her hair really was. He had never seen it down before.

"Your hair is really beautiful."

Usagi giggled lightly making Mamoru blush knowing that she had heard him. "Thank you. I didn't scare you, did I?"

"No, just you came in so quietly. The sandwiches are ready on plates and the tomato soup will be done shortly. I figured you might want something warm." Mamoru pulled down two bowls and served each of them a portion. They took their food into the living room each sitting at opposite ends of the large couch facing the veranda. As they ate Mamoru found himself wondering about how lucky he must be to have Usagi here with him. It was almost like he had a family. It didn't take long before the peaceful silence became less then comfortable and Mamoru decided to talk first.

"Usagi, why were you out in a storm like this? It could have been really dangerous for you." Mamoru watched as the spoon stopped halfway to her mouth.

"I needed to think about things by myself."

"Why did you come here?" Usagi avoided any eye contact with Mamoru, just as she was about answer the lights in the apartment went out.

"Well, it looks like this storm is going to be really relentless. Don't worry I'll go grab some candles." The light from the storm outside was just enough for Mamoru to find several pillar candles and a match book. He brought the candles over to the coffee table and lit them. He watched as the glow from the candles cast a very gloomy look on Usagi's face.

"Usagi what's the matter." Mamoru came to sit next to her on the couch taking the bowl away from her seeing as she was no longer touching it.

"Have you," Usagi paused for a moment and looked down at her clenched fists. "Have you ever had to keep a lie from someone because you're afraid of what the truth means."

Mamoru looked over to Usagi who stared back with her eyes glittering in the dark. He knew exactly what she meant. Being Tuxedo Kamen was something that not every one should know. That kind of knowledge could put anyone around him in danger. Yet, what was she asking?

Usagi sighed and let her head droop to her hands. "I'm so tired of keeping all of these lies, but I'm too afraid to let them go."

Mamoru moved close enough to her to rub her back slowly. "What would be so hard to tell your friends and family?"

He felt her chuckle lightly, "My family would send me to insane asylum, but not before my friends would walk away from me."

"Usagi, you're not making any sense."

Stamping her foot she stood up. "I know I'm not making any sense! I don't know how to tell anything to anyone anymore. I just want to be normal again. Every time I think that I have figured out what I'm supposed to do, something or someone decides that it isn't going to be that simple. Why can't it be that simple! I hate-"

Mamoru's sudden embrace was enough to leave Usagi speechless. She didn't know when he had stood up but his strong arms were enough to wash away all of the anger inside her. She felt tears sliding down her cheeks, to hide them she buried her face into Mamoru's chest.

"You have helped me with so much. Before the accident I wanted so much for you to be my friend, but we never got along. But now we're different and I still want to be there for you. I never knew that you were holding so much in, though I do have to say that I'm still a little confused."

"Would I make any more sense if I told you that I love you?"

Usagi froze. Glancing up at Mamoru she saw him stare at her with a mixture of emotions. She watched him try to find something to say so instead she broke in first.

"I hadn't planned on tell you like this. Though every time I tried to tell you something always came up, but there's more."

"Huh," Mamoru had felt his heart skip a beat when Usagi had said the one thing that he craved to hear. He didn't want anything to spoil the moment.

Usagi pushed away from Mamoru slightly and pulled out something very familiar to both of them. "How did you get that locket?"

"You gave it to me." Mamoru stared with wide eyes.

"Sailor Moon?" He said tentatively.

Usagi nodded her head. "Then you remember."

"I remember giving the locket to her, you. How long have you known that I was Tuxedo Kamen."

Usagi walked over to the veranda doors. "Do you remember the day that you left the hospital?" Mamoru nodded. "When I picked up your jacket from the table your rainbow crystals fell out of a pocket. I knew then."

Mamoru looked down at the golden locket. His heart felt torn in two. Hearing Usagi say that she loved him and that she was Sailor Moon was almost more than he could hope for. He didn't know when he had fallen in love with them, but now that they were the same person his life seemed so clearer. Yet, the princess had given him this locket and he knew that his heart was supposed to belong to her. So, he decided to voice his heart to her.

"Usagi," He waited until she tore her gaze from the outside to look at him. "You have no idea how happy you've made me, but-"

"But I'm not finished." Usagi sat down on the couch and patted the spot next to her. Mamoru followed taking one of her hands into his own if only to give her some support.

"When you were hit by the car and taken to the hospital I started having strange dreams, dreams about my past."

Mamoru began to rub small circles on the back of her hand "You mean like your childhood?"

Usagi shook her head. "No, dreams about my past life. You see, while you were in a coma Tuxedo Kamen couldn't come and save me. Instead a man called Moonlight Knight came. He helped me to become stronger and he helped me to remember who I was, who I'm afraid to be.

"I had no idea what was happening to me. I had dreams about walking through garden mazes, mirrors, a ball, and people all from a past that was taken away from me. I began to remember everything. I'm afraid to live that way again, I want to be normal."

When Usagi looked up at Mamoru again he was suddenly hit with a feeling that she was much older. A woman in a white dress standing beyond a black mirror frame crossed his mind. Then something clicked in his mind. "Usagi, you had a dream about a hedge maze didn't you."

A bolt of lightening shot through the sky lighting the room, he watched for a moment as her hair shone brightly. "Yes."

His eyes widened, his voice barely coming out in a whisper. "Are you her?"

"Yes." Her voice seemed to echo in the room. Slowly pieces of Mamoru's mind awakened from a long slumber.

"I remember now, the Earth Kingdom and the Moon Kindom, the generals, oh Kunzite." Mamoru shook his head while new memories flooded his senses. One had briefly past when it brought a new thought.

"I remember a lady in a white dress in my dreams while I was in a coma. Was that you?"

"It must have been, because I saw a man in armor, but I couldn't see his face. Do you think we didn't recognize each other because we weren't ready?"

Mamoru ran a hand through his black hair, "I don't know." He looked up to see her once again fighting emotions that wanted to take over.

Usagi couldn't stand the silence anymore. A question burned on her tongue, but she fought hard to contain it. It was a concerned look from Mamoru that brought it forward.

"Ever since I started remembering who I was and began to realize who you were I have tried to separate my feelings. I know that in the past that I loved you as Endymion. As Sailor Moon you were my savior when ever I was in trouble, but as Mamoru I have fallen the hardest for. Through all of the taunting I found that I liked you. When you were hurt I found out that I liked you more than that. If you had left then my entire world would have collapsed. Not as the princess, not as Sailor Moon, but as Usagi. I didn't mind being called your fiancé because I secretly hoped that maybe one day I would be called that. So, now that you know my true feelings, who is it that you truly love?"

Mamoru simply put a finger under her chin to have her look straight into his eyes. Slowly he moved forward until their lips lightly touched. Usagi had closed her eyes to relish the short moment before he moved away. He watched her bat her eyes dreamily as she tried to refocus.

"You see, I don't have to choose. You are all of those people, but more over you are you and I know with my entire heart that I love you, Usagi." He picked up one of her hands and placed it on his chest. "This heart belonged to you the first moment I saw you."

Tears began to spill over again. Usagi launched herself at Mamoru embracing him around the neck grabbing a fist full of hair in one hand and shirt in the other. Mamoru just wrapped his arms around her and stroked her back.

After a while her sobs subsided and she pulled back enough that their foreheads touched. Mamoru gave her a lopsided smile. "I don't think that you'll be going anywhere in this storm. Why don't you stay the night here? Your parents know that you're here right?"

Usagi lightly shook her head. "Oh boy, I'm going to be starting off on the wrong foot."

"I think they will give you a little leeway since you saved my life from the car and if they knew anything else, how many times you've done that before."

"Well, how about I go make us some hot coco before we head off to bed."

- - - - - (o) - - - - -

The girls had set up blankets and pillows on the floor of Rei's room. They girls had been steadily talking while both cats slept contentedly on the bed by themselves. Everyone once and a while they would giggle and look up at the sleeping couple.

Makoto propped up her elbows and let her head sit in her hands. "What do you think will happen once the princess is found?"

The girls were quiet for a moment. It was Ami who ventured an answer. "Once she destroys Queen Beryl, I guess we get to live a normal life again."

"Huh, a normal life, I've forgotten what that is like." Huffed Makoto.

Minako rolled onto her back staring blankly at the wall. "It will be nice to be 14 again and finding love."

The girls all sighed. Rei began to fiddle with a piece of her hair knowing, a clear sign that she was fidgeting about something. Makoto was quick to catch on.

"Rei, you have been antsy all night, what is on your mind?"

Rei dropped her hands into her lap while three pairs of eyes turned to her. "I'm worried about Usagi. Something didn't feel right after she left the temple, in fact her aura has been feeling increasingly troubled over the past couple of days."

"You mean troubled by the car accident?" Ami questioned.

Rei shook her head. "No, in fact I think it started the day before Mamoru woke up."

Ami and Minako shared a look, "We think that something has been happening to Usagi as well."

"Well, what ever it is it's going to have to wait until this storm passes." Makoto yawned stretching her arms out before she shimmied under her blankets. Minako followed suit shortly after with the image of a man with platinum blonde hair. Rei and Ami went to bed after Rei stole the bluenette's book saying that it was time for lights out.

- - - - - (o) - - - - -

Ok, so I really agonized over this chapter, so I hope it was worth the wait. Reviews always welcomed.

-EmpKaylenatye