Okay everyone: Hello! Here is my new story. I've been working on it for three-ish years now and I'm finally far enough into writing it that I feel comfortable sharing the first bit. I've uploaded the first two chapters together because chapter two is embarrassingly short, but didn't fit with chapters one or three.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Sailor Moon related except three VHS from the mid-90s. And some trading cards.
Tuxedo Kamen watched from above, relieved when Sailor Mercury regained consciousness and joined the other two in battle. Since Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars hadn't been able to quit fighting for more than two seconds, the youma was easily winning.
Suddenly- and with unexpected coordination- All three Senshi launched into their attacks simultaneously. 'Well done Senshi.' Tuxedo Kamen thought as he turned to leave, certain the youma would be destroyed. A sharp pain instantly stabbed in his heart, and he caught a shimmer from the corner of his eye. .
'Sailor Moon!' In a last minute attack the youma spit out its sleep spray. With the other two senshi busy casting their attack, Sailor Moon was left vulnerable. Tuxedo Kamen dove down, hoping to get between the Moon Senshi and the oncoming attack. He touched down as her eyelids began to close and her knees buckled underneath her.
She smiled up at him as he wrapped his arms around her. "Tuxedo Kamen...heh, I hope you're real this time." She whispered, eyes finally falling shut and body going lax in his grasp. The moment her eyes shut, her white armour turned to pink ribbons, which then disappeared to reveal green shorts, a pink shirt, and a blue jacket.
Tuxedo Kamen froze. He recognized those clothes. He knew that face.
'Odango Atama is Sailor Moon?' He glanced back at the other two Senshi, knowing he only had a split second to make a decision. The pair had just finished their attacks and were no doubt about to turn to talk to their teammate. 'I can't take the chance that they don't know who she is.' The masked man quickly tossed his cape over the blonde's body, obscuring her identity. In a moment he was back on the window ledge he had previously been perched on, and with no more than a desperate shout from Sailor Mars, he was gone.
Usagi slowly regained consciousness before snapping up to assess the battle at hand. It took a few moments for her to process that she was no longer at Dreamland battling a youma, but instead in a bed she did not recognize. Nervous and on guard, she examined the room for any sign of where she was. 'Have I been taken by the Dark Kingdom?' She wondered, sliding back the covers and stepping out. Noting that her jacket was carefully folded and on a chair with her shoes, she crept towards the door with light spilling out from underneath. Cracking open the door, she peered out into what seemed to be a regular apartment.
Usagi frowned. 'Okay, I doubt the Dark Kingdom is headquartered in a normal apartment, but if they haven't taken me, then where am I?' A scratching sound broke through Usagi's thoughts, and she refocused. Quickly she opened the door and slipped through into the short hallway and made her way towards the main of the apartment. When she made it to the end of the hallway, she stopped, surprised.
"Ma-Mamoru-san?" She said, confused. The upperclassman looked up from his books and put his pencil down.
"Ah, Usagi, uh, Usagi-san." He began nervously. "Please, have a seat." He said, gesturing to the other three seats at the table. Usagi slowly moved to sit kitty corner to him, still staring like he wasn't real.
"Um, Mamoru-san. What-I mean why am I here? The last thing I remember was being at Dreamland this afternoon." She said, deciding to stick close to the truth.
Mamoru took a deep breath. "Your transformation released." He started, glancing up to see her eyes go wide. "I wasn't going to just leave you there."
"I-but...you weren't..I mean, how-"
"Usagi-" he cut her off with a hand on hers. "I…" He paused, unsure of what he could say to reassure her. Looking into her panicking eyes, he gestured with his hand, conjuring a rose for her. He swallowed, watching her process as she stared at the rose in his hand.
She slowly reached out and took the flower from him. "You're…" she asked, finally looking up at him.
Mamoru nodded. "Yes."
A moment of silence passed. "Oh."
Mamoru sighed softly. "The Youma attacked you just after you cast your Tiara. When you fell asleep it must have caused your transformation to fade. I- I wasn't sure if the other Senshi knew your identity. I mean, with the way you and Sailor Mars fight, I'm not always even certain you're on the same team at all."
Usagi nodded. Everything he said made perfect sense. 'I'm just still caught up on the fact that my dream guy is Mamoru-san.' Shaking herself out of it, she finally managed to reply.
"Thank you Mamoru-san. Mars and I are actually good friends, but I can see how that might not come across to others. And, um, thanks for saving me. Imagine if Jedite had seen me. Uh-" She paused, realizing her words. "You uh, aren't working with the Dark Kingdom, right?"
Mamoru looked affronted. "Of course not! I may not have been the most polite to you in the past, but you should know I wouldn't hurt innocent people!"
Usagi let out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. "I didn't really think you were, to be honest. But Mars and Luna are always warning me that you could be. And now that I know who you are...well. You're right. You might be a jerk, but you're not evil." She said, drawing a chuckle from the older man. "So, then what are you doing at the battles? If you're not on our side, and you're not on the Dark Kingdom's side…"
Mamoru eyed the blonde suspiciously, considering her question. 'The Sailor Senshi aren't allies with the Dark Kingdom, that's for sure. But I don't know why they're fighting. What if they want the crystal for their own purposes? How do I know I can trust Odango?' he wondered, suddenly realizing that was exactly why he could answer. 'She's Odango Atama. She's the kindest, most pure person I know. There's no way we could be enemies.'
Resolved to trust Usagi, he replied, "I'm looking for something called the Silver Crystal at the request of a Princess."
Usagi gasped. "So are we!" Mamoru's face turned to confusion.
"Wait, really?"
"Yes!" Usagi replied, sitting up on her knees. "Luna has told us that we are to be the guardians of the Princess and her Silver Crystal when she appears. It's our duty to find her and her Crystal!"
"So, we're looking for the same things,"
"For the same reason! Oh I knew Tuxedo Kamen wasn't our enemy! I'm gonna make Mars eat her words! Oh this is such good news. You can join our team!" She said, looking excitedly back at Mamoru.
He frowned. "The other Senshi don't trust me the way you do. I don't feel comfortable joining with them. Not yet anyway," He said, cutting Usagi's protests off. "You said it yourself- they think I'm evil. I'm not okay with them knowing who I am."
Usagi deflated. "Oh, okay. But what about me?"
Mamoru smiled slightly. "I know you Usagi. You might stink at school, but you're a good Senshi. You've never doubted me. I trust you." He said, suddenly confident in his own words.
Usagi tried to hide her smile at his words. "So, truce then?" She offered, sticking out her hand.
"Truce." Mamoru replied, shaking the offered hand with a full grin.