Chapter 14

The Senshi of the Moon panted as she ran through the park, silently praying to the moon that Tuxedo Kamen left a clue to his whereabouts. As if the moon was answering her, she saw a glimpse of dark fabric duck behind a tree. "Wait! Onegai. Don't go…" She called out.

The masked man stopped in his tracks and looked up at the sky. "What is it, Sailor Moon?"

She jogged up to him, and then placed one of her gloved hands on her chest in an attempt to regulate her breathing. "I-I just wanted… needed to say that… I like you, Tuxedo Kamen—"

"I know," the man said, looking down at the girl. "You already told me that."

"Iie," she shook her head, averting her eyes away from him. "I mean… I like you. I think I always have." She placed her hand back down by her side, knowing that her heart was now racing for a different reason. "…Usually, you're such a baka to me. You tease me about pretty much everything… and I get so flustered and frustrated that all I can think about, all I can talk about is the way you annoy me. However… over the last couple of days you've not only shown me, but you have proven to me that you care about me in some way. I mean, time and again you were there to save me before I got injured. Not you, as Tuxedo Kamen… but you…" Her cheeks flushed slightly as her heart began to flutter against her chest. "And I know that caring about someone means to do nice things for them… like helping them out when they're in trouble or buying them food and clothes… right? You've done all that for me, and so much more." She took a deep breath in; her stomach filling with butterflies as she turned her gaze back to him. "You didn't have to watch over me, talk to me, or do anything nice these past few days, but you did—"

He smiled softly. "I believe you're rambling now, Sailor Moon," he whispered.

Her cheeks flushed more as she opened and closed her mouth a few times while her mind flooded with words upon words to say. After she was able to gather her thoughts, she took a deep breath and said, "I wouldn't trade these past few days… being with you… for anything in the world. I… I've fallen for you…"

"Really?" He asked, watching her step closer to him.

"H-hai. Aishiteru, Tuxedo Kamen…" She stood toe-to-toe with him and whispered, "Mamo-chan."

He inclined his head and replied, "Aishiteru, Sailor Moon…" His breath ghosted over her lips. "Usako." And he closed his eyes before gently pressing his lips to hers.

The girl's eyes fluttered closed and her body shivered slightly at the feeling of his lips, and she gasped softly when she felt his tongue slowly slide across her lips. She stood on her tip toes and wrapped her arms around his neck, and felt his arms wrap around her waist.

The kiss was lingering with lips so soft, two separate heartbeats falling in sync while his fingertips lightly caressed her lower back and hers the nape of his neck. Both feeling a sense of familiarity, of being home. And when they parted, they still held each other close.

"I… should probably get home. My family will be back in the morning…" Sailor Moon said softly.

"You mean in a few hours." Tuxedo Kamen corrected as his hands slowly slid from her waist and dropped back down to his sides. He felt her hands slide from his neck, down his shoulders, and down his chest. He quickly reached for one of her hands and brought it up to his lips. "We'll see each other tomorrow, I'm sure." He kissed her gloved hand.

"Hai… tomorrow…" Her voice still soft as she brought her hand back to her side.

And as the two went their separate ways, they heard a faint voice in the wind…

You'll stay small
'til you fall,
Realize love
In your hearts.

"I can't believe I had to go through that in the future," Princess Serenity murmured as she shook her head.

"I still can't comprehend why I had to go through that just to secure the future." Neo Queen Serenity sighed. "Though I must admit that seeing Mamo-chan shop for clothes was a wonderful source of entertainment."

"For you it might have amused," Prince Endymion remarked, walking toward his princess. He took her hand in his and intertwined their fingers together. "However, I happened to feel that young man's embarrassment as if it was my own."

"That's because it was, just in another time." King Endymion looked down at his past, past self. "But yes, I concur that it was an extremely embarrassing moment."

"I'm glad you washed all the clothes and held on to the dolls and the doll house, Endy." The Queen smiled and leaned closer to her husband. "Chibiusa absolutely adores them and continues to keep them in pristine condition, too…"

The Prince of Earth raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms as he looked at the King. "Chibiusa? Who's that?"

The King frowned a bit. "I'm afraid I cannot divulge that information."

"By the way," Princess Serenity interrupted, looking at her future, future self. "How were you able to play a song on the radio in the past? And how we are able to talk to each other right now?"

The Queen shrugged. "I am not exactly sure. The author hasn't— omph!" She winced as she felt her husband's elbow jab into her side. "—that wasn't very nice, Endymion."

He leaned down close to his wife's ear and whispered, "I believe there is some sort of unspoken code about this."

"Oh…" She blinked. "Ooooh!" She said as realization dawned on her.

Prince Endymion cleared his throat. "Who knew that it would take them this long to realize love in their hearts?"

The King shook his head, sighing softly. "Let's just say that, in that time, they were rather… dense—"

"—blind—" The Queen cut in.

"—fools."

"Ah." The Prince nodded in agreement as he squeezed his Princess' hand. "At least now we won't have anything to worry about, my dear." He smiled at her.

The King and Queen looked at each other nervously. "Y-yeah," replied the King.

Of course, the King and Queen of Crystal Tokyo knew exactly what lay ahead for their past reincarnations, but decided to allow the couple to assume their relationship was flawless in their next life.

But that's a story that we already know.

Holy moly, it's the end! *Wipes away a tear* To reiterate what I said in the A/N on Chapter 8: I really don't think that a simple "thank you so much" is sufficient enough to express how much it means to me that you've either: read, followed, favorited, whatever'd this nonsense that I call a story since the beginning or have read, favorited, etc. etc. etc., whatever'd this after I have completed it. You're superduperamazinglyawesome. Seriously.

Sincerely,
moth touch