Welcome to chapter 2! I was going to wait a few days to post this chapter, but a lot of people seem to think I wasn't planning to finish or saying, "I hope you finish this." Guess what. It was already done! Hehe! I wrote it all at once! So, since I've had such good reviews on it, for the most part, I decided to go ahead and post this today for you guys! I hope you like the ending, especially Kasienda. This is for you, girl! ^_^
As always, thank you so much to my beta and best friend, Beej88! I don't know what I would do without you, girl.
And thank you to everyone who gave me love and support and told me how much they loved this story so far, despite a not so great review; Kasienda, Floraone, and Beej88. You ladies are beautiful!
I hope you all like chapter 2!
oOo
Just Say Bubbles
Chapter 2
Written for Kasienda in the UsaMamo Gift Exchange 2020
oOo
Once they'd established that she would indeed be staying with him, Mamoru's first order of business was to feed her. She'd said she was starving, grasping her stomach dramatically as it rumbled beneath her fingers. Being hungry was always a good sign. So, he'd recommended she rest a little longer while he made her something to eat.
While he was far from being a world-renowned chef, he'd taught himself a few tricks over the years. Living on your own meant you had to learn to take care of yourself, and he'd had plenty of time to figure out the basics of cooking a decent meal. He was pretty good at ensuring he kept a well-stocked pantry and fridge as he refused to overeat the processed stuff. Though that probably would have been easier between school and moonlighting as Tuxedo Mask.
Quickly scanning the interior of his fridge, he decided on udon; simple and easy to make.
While the noodles simmered on the stove, he made his way back to the bedroom to check on her. She'd certainly perked up a bit after having decided on a temporary name that suited her. And it definitely did suit her. Serenity. The name was beautiful, just like her.
He pushed the door open slowly, doing his best to keep as quiet as possible in case she was sleeping again. She wasn't, and he smiled as he leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed across his chest, and watched her.
Serenity was standing in the middle of the bedroom, long golden hair whipping around her as she spun, watching her dress as it flared around her legs. The light from the setting sun streamed in through the balcony windows, illuminating her in a brilliant glow of gold as she twisted on her toes, dancing in circles around the room. He was entranced, unable to tear his eyes away from her.
She stumbled, face adorably flushing as she steadied herself, and Mamoru couldn't hold back a chuckle. She immediately stopped, an enticing red blush tinging her cheeks as she looked at him, wide eyed, with a rueful smile.
Propping her hands on her hips, she fixed him with pursed lips and an indignant glare. "How long have you been standing there?"
He grinned, pushing himself away from the door frame, taking a few steps into the room. "Long enough." Her eyes narrowed, and she bit the corner of her lip shyly. It made his stomach flip and his breath hitch. "You're supposed to be resting. What are you doing?"
Her hands folded behind her back as she gave him a one shoulder shrug. "I'm just playing with my dress." He chuckled again and she took a step back, grasping the sides of her dress and holding it out as if putting it on display. "It's so pretty!" she exclaimed with childlike exuberance, her expression bright as she spun again, slower this time, giving him a 360 view. When she stopped, she glanced down, flattening the skirt of the dress a bit with her hands before looking back at him. "Why do you think I'm wearing this dress? I might not remember who I am, but I still know that it's not typical to be walking around in a gown. Right?"
Mamoru hesitated, considering his words as he met her expectant, confused gaze. He wanted to say that maybe it was because she was a princess? The princess. The gorgeous beauty he'd been searching for for as long as he could remember?
He couldn't say that, though; unwilling to load her up with an overwhelming amount of new information and questions that he still didn't really even know the answers to himself.
Instead, he shook his head. "I don't know. But the food is almost ready. How is your head feeling?"
Nodding, she graced him with a reassuring smile. "It still hurts, but it's better than it was." She licked her lips, looking around him towards the door as if the food had rolled in on a cart. "You said the food was ready? I'm soooooo hungry."
When she looked back at him, her eyes were bright with excitement at the prospect of eating and he smiled as he led her out of the room, and to the table.
As she took a seat, he made his way back into the kitchen, scooping the udon into bowls and bringing it back out. She gasped, clapping her hands together lightly in excitement before grabbing her spoon and digging in.
He couldn't help but watch her with amusement from the other side of the table as she took big, unladylike spoonfuls, slurping down the noodles in a noisy fashion.
He couldn't look away, warmth unfurling in his chest. She was unlike any princess he'd ever seen on tv or read in books, and she was definitely not what he'd expected from the doe-eyed, mournful silhouette of his dreams. What kind of princess spun around in her dress just to see it flare around her ankles, and shoveled food into her mouth like there was a shortage of noodles in the world?
While she'd lost her memories, that didn't mean she'd lost her personality, right? So when her memories came back, she'd still be like this. The thought made his heart thud, and he hoped he'd be able to help her get back what she'd lost; and be able to stay in her life after she did.
In his dreams, she'd always pleaded for his help. What if after he did indeed help her, she'd decide she didn't need him anymore, and moved on? The thought sent a sharp pain through his heart and he inwardly shook his head, dispelling the idea. He'd cross that bridge when he came to it. For now, he planned to enjoy the time with her, and help her as best as he could.
When he finally turned his attention back onto her, tearing away from his thoughts, she was staring at him, noodle hanging from her pink-tinged lips as if she'd stopped mid-slurp.
He quirked an eyebrow and the corner of his mouth, and she slurped the rest of the noodle before wiping her lips with the back of her hand. "Are you okay?" she asked, her eyes full of concern.
He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile and nodded. "I'm fine," he replied and motioned to the almost empty bowl sitting in front of her. "Is it good?" he asked with a chuckle.
She nodded profusely, her lips breaking out into a big smile. "It was delicious. Thank you so much."
He smiled in amusement as she picked up her bowl and held it to her lips, slurping down the remainder of the broth. A little dribbled down her chin and she wiped it away with her wrist before giving him another big smile. No, she definitely wasn't like any princess he knew of.
oOo
Mamoru headed down the street toward the arcade, mouth curved into a small half-smile. He hadn't seen Motoki in over a week, and his friend had called him quite a few times to check in. He'd answered a handful of them, keeping the conversation short, sweet, and to the point in order to hang up quickly. But mostly, though, he'd ignored the calls, telling himself he'd call him back later. Admittedly, he'd been very busy; enamored by the princess who'd barged into his life with golden spun hair, and big blue eyes that made his heart skip a beat even as she rearranged all of his priorities.
The uncharacteristic half-smile, that was fixed permanently onto his face as of late, widened as he thought of her, running a hand through his hair. Serenity. She'd come into his life like a whirlwind, sitting next to him in the arcade, irrevocably changing him forever.
Motoki lifted his gaze as he walked through the door, a smile on his face and a sandy blonde brow arched in question. Mamoru grinned in response, making his way to the counter. "Mamoru-kun!" he greeted warmly. "Where have you been? I've barely heard from you all week."
Mamoru took his regular seat, the unexpected dull heat of a blush creeping up his neck and fanning across his cheeks, tinting the tip of his ears. "Yeah, sorry about that, man," he replied, clearing his throat, running a hand through his hair again. "I've been a little busy the last few days."
The ding of the door opening drew Motoki's attention and he waved at the incoming customer before turning his focus back onto Mamoru. "I'll get you a coffee, take care of this person, and then I want to hear all about it."
Mamoru nodded, and Motoki held up a finger to the newcomer indicating he'd be just a moment as he poured his cup of coffee and set it in front of him. With an apologetic smile, Motoki headed down to the other end of the bar to serve the new customer, who was soon accompanied by a few more guests. His friend looked like he'd be busy for a few minutes.
Mamoru smiled and lifted the cup to his lips, taking a sip. He gulped it down quickly, slightly scalding his tongue, in a hurry because he didn't want to stay too long. He had a certain princess at home, eagerly waiting for thedaifuku he'd picked up for her after he'd gotten out of class today.
He let his mind drift back to her and the week they'd spent together. After she'd practically inhaled her udon on the first night, he'd resolved to put his emotions aside; to be practical about this. So —purely for practical reasons— he'd offered her some clothes to wear. As much as he loved the beautiful white dress on her, especially as it was a staple in his dreams, he knew it couldn't have been comfortable, especially to sleep in. Instead, he'd brought her a pair of grey sweatpants and a dark blue t-shirt to change into.
He'd known they were going to be way too big for her, but as he sat in his living room, reading over a randomly picked school book, absentmindedly raking over what he was going to do next as he waited for her to get changed in his room, he hadn't prepared himself for that bedroom door to open.
When he finally lifted his gaze and looked at her, his breathing completely stopped; just as it had done in the arcade earlier, the first time he'd seen her. Now, dressed in his clothes that swam on her, he couldn't seem to catch his breath. She was absolutely gorgeous, and his heart flipped so hard in his chest, it actually hurt. So much for just being practical.
Stuttering like an idiot, he'd stood and motioned towards the couch, offering that they could watch a movie. She'd blushed and nodded excitedly, a big smile covering her perfect heart-shaped face.
Serenity picked a romcom, one Mamoru hadn't heard of before. But before the movie started, she'd asked for a snack; "some munchie foods for the movie!" Since he didn't have anything, as he wasn't much of a "munchie food" person, he offered to go to the conbini while she stayed home and relaxed.
But upon hearing the word conbini, she perked up even more, her back straightening with excitement as a breathtaking smile graced her lips. There was no way he could have denied her anything, even though he did feel the need to point out that she was wearing his clothes.
She'd snorted in the most adorably dismissive manner, stating that she didn't care what she was wearing; she just wanted junk food. So together, they headed out, his heart racing as he tried to reign in his emotions and remind himself that she was here for a purpose as they made their way to the conbini down the street.
Her eyes lit up when they entered the little store, her head darting in every direction as she looked for desserts, and he was equal parts shocked and fascinated with how uninhibited she was. It elicited something protective inside of him, and he knew that she was his princess even as he marveled at how quickly she'd scampered to the aisle, loading her arms up with a variety of snacks that she couldn't possibly eat all on her own.
He shook his head, amused with a grin on his face as she made her way back to the counter. "Get everything you want?" he'd asked, chuckling. She'd tapped her finger on her bottom lip, contemplating if there was anything else she wanted.
With a gasp, she swiveled around, practically skipping to the ice cream box, humming as she reached inside. He tried to ignore the way his sweater slid down, baring her shoulder, and he frowned as he watched her. She looked like she was searching for something specific. Her face brightened as she pulled out a carton of rocky road and dashed back to him, triumphantly plopping the iced container onto the counter.
Mamoru looked at it before handing it to the cashier. "Rocky road, huh?"
She'd nodded excitedly. "It's my absolute favorite! I could seriously eat it every night."
His brows furrowed, and he glanced at her sideways. "You remember your favorite ice cream?"
Her smile faltered, and he'd definitely caught her off guard as her expression sobered as she considered it. "I guess I do. That's a weird thing to remember, yeah?"
Mamoru thought for a moment, too. If she remembered what her favorite ice cream was, maybe that meant she would start remembering other things also? This was a good sign, and he smiled, relieved as some of the guilt generated from not bringing her to the hospital dissipated.
He shook his head, smiling softly. "No, it's not weird," he reassured. "It's a good start."
They'd headed home, and he'd carried their bags of snacks while she chattered on about how much it "sucked having, like, no memory." The way she spoke was definitely not like he'd imagined. Though really, what did he even know about the princess? Besides, her words were filled with warmth and kindness, and it filled the unbearable silence that he'd become accustomed to in his life.
In fact, more than once, his mind drifted towards another chattering blonde that he teased mercilessly, and it was strange, but Serenity did kind of remind him of Usagi in all of the best ways.
That night, they sat together on the couch and he caught himself staring at her a few times. He couldn't help it; the way she sat cross legged, eating ice cream straight from the container with a spoon, practically swimming in his clothes, hair askew as she stared entranced at the movie. She took his breath away.
It was only later as he slept on the couch, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, that he realized he'd forgotten about his obsession with finding the Silver Crystal. He couldn't remember a single moment that he hadn't been driven to find it; to discover who he was. And all it had taken was one silly night, with a grinning princess, mouth filled with ice cream, to make him forget.
It alarmed him enough that the next day, he'd renewed his efforts to discover more, and he made the decision to show her the rainbow crystals he'd collected so far, in hopes that it might jog her memory.
As he'd laid the crystals in front of her on the table, heart pounding in his chest because, really, he didn't know if this was going to do anything, her eyes lit up for just a moment; a flash of recognition that made his heart leap.
Her eyes were wide, filled with confusion. "I don't understand," she whispered. "I think I know what these are, but I can't hold on to the memory. Should I know what this is, Mamoru-san?"
Her face dropped, tears springing to her eyes in frustration, very clearly distraught that she couldn't remember. It only solidified what he already knew, and he'd wanted to ask her more questions, prompt her more in an attempt to help her recall something about the crystals. But she'd only become more upset and he'd smiled, reassuring her that it was nothing as he quickly put the crystals away, not willing to make this any worse for her than it already was.
He already felt like he was spiraling, heart panging in his chest, confused, because how the hell had his priorities started changing in such a short time? This was even more evident when instead of staying on campus after class the next day, like he would have typically done, he'd rushed home to get back to her. And it had nothing to do with discovering more about the Crystal and jogging her memories, and everything to do with seeing her.
He'd come home just in time for lunch, which she'd decreed in no uncertain terms that she was going to make for him. It had been a disaster. She'd tried to make him miso soup as thanks for taking care of her. He wasn't sure how someone could even manage to burn something as easy as miso soup, but she had. His kitchen was full of smoke when he rushed in to help. She'd been so upset, angry at herself for not being able to "do something nice for him."
She stomped her foot and took a seat at the island as he cleaned up, her expression dejected. "Oh, bubbles! I can't believe I burned it! How lame do you have to be to burn soup?! Bubbles!" she huffed, dropping her chin into the palm of her hand, elbow propped on the island.
He turned to her, his brow knit in confusion. "Why do you keep saying bubbles?"
Her expression was stricken, he'd caught her off guard, and she frowned as she considered it. "I...I don't know why. I can't remember," she whispered, fixing her gaze on the counter in front of her. "I just know that it's impossible to say bubbles angrily, and when I try, it makes me laugh. So, I— I think I say it when I'm mad? Or frustrated?" She lifted her gaze, eyes wide and filled with a vulnerability that made his breath catch in his throat. "Oh, god. That's such a weird thing to do? Mamoru-san! I'm a weird person!"
Mamoru smiled, his expression softening as he regarded her warmly. "You're not weird," he chuckled, and when she blinked, ridiculously long black lashes framing the biggest eyes he'd ever seen, he had no control over what he said next. "I think it's really adorable."
Her cheeks tinged beet red, and she smiled shyly, tucking stray curls behind her ear with the most adorable expression. His heart flipped in ways that he wasn't prepared for. After that, she began to say it a lot more; cursing out the word 'bubbles' whenever she was frustrated with anything.
And she became frustrated a few times. Mainly when she tried to remember something because he'd asked her a random question, like what her favorite drink was, for example, and she couldn't remember.
It wasn't anything a few bubbles couldn't take care of. That is, until a few nights later. He'd walked into the living room, hair still damp from his shower, to see her sitting cross-legged on the couch, her face twisted up in beautiful concentration. He'd smiled, quietly taking the seat on the opposite end of the sofa, to unobtrusively observe her when she wasn't looking.
His doting smile instantly faded when her gaze finally met his, and there were unshed tears welling in her eyes. His own eyes widened, alarmed, and he straightened as he turned to face her. "Serenity? What's wrong? What happened?"
Despite the fact that she was a girl with no memory, he didn't see her sad very often. Mostly she was bouncy, bubbly, talkative with the ability to lift his spirits with her unfailing optimism. Though he detected a little bit of frustration sprinkled in occasionally, she was always quick to recover with a muttered 'bubbles,' and a deep breath as she reverted to the cheerful princess he'd brought home.
The look in her eyes now felt crushing, like a punch to the gut. He'd left her to figure out what she wanted to do that night while he took a shower. He'd expected to come back to find her bouncing on her toes in excitement with whatever she'd decided, not on the verge of tears on his couch.
"I was just sitting here," she sniffed, looking back down at the couch as she twisted her wrists in her hands, "trying to think of something to do tonight. Something that I like to do."
She sniffed again, wiping her nose on the back of her hand before wiping it on her pants. His eye twitched slightly and he reached over, grabbing a tissue from the box on the coffee table, and offered it to her.
She took the tissue with a watery smile. "Thanks," she mumbled, wiping her nose with the tissue. "Mamoru-san...it's been days. Days. And the most I've been able to remember about myself is that my favorite ice cream is rocky road, I absolutely hate carrots, and I say bubbles like a weirdo. That's it. That's all." A tear streamed down her face and it broke his heart even more.
Mamoru immediately moved from his place on the couch, sliding over to pull her into his arms. She came willingly, laying her head on his shoulder with a sigh as he comfortingly rubbed his palm across her back, tucking her closer to his side as he took her hand in his, lightly running his thumb on the back of her hand.
"Hey, it's okay," he reassured softly. "Don't worry. I actually have experience with memory loss after head trauma, believe it or not. You're going to be okay. I'll make sure of it."
She sniffed, sat up, and pulled away just enough to look up at him, her eyes full of confusion. "What do you mean you've had experience with head trauma and memory loss? What happened?"
He froze for a second, going rigid, his eyes widening a fraction in alarm. He'd never told anyone what had happened when he was a kid. No one except Motoki. But as he stared into her eyes, big, blue, and filled with worry, his body instantly relaxed and he smiled. Surprisingly, he wasn't afraid to tell her anything.
"On my sixth birthday," he started, taking a deep breath, "my parents and I were in a car accident. I... was the only survivor."
Serenity gasped, her hand flying out of his to cover her mouth; her eyes wide, stunned, and glistening with tears. He paused; breath hitched as he studied her expression. He didn't like to talk about this, terrified to see that shuttered look of pity that he hated so much. There wasn't an ounce of pity in Serenity's eyes, though, and his heart skipped a beat because she understood, and for the first time ever, he wanted to talk about it.
It spurred him to continue. "When I woke up in the hospital, I couldn't remember anything. Nothing about the accident. Nothing about my life before the accident. Nothing about my parents. I didn't even know my own name. I had to be told what it was. Who I was."
He trailed off a bit, his gaze drifting as he thought back to that day, waking up with no one. For a moment he was lost in the flood of memories that he tried so hard to suppress. He'd felt so lost and alone, just a small boy drowning in thin sheets that smelled like disinfectant in that big hospital bed...until…
He smiled to himself as he remembered her. His first good memory after waking up into a living nightmare. "There was a girl," he reminisced, his tone soft and tender. "Her mom was having her brother that day. And she was wandering the halls when she saw me. She gave me a rose."
Serenity squeezed his arm and it startled him out of his memories. As if just remembering where he was, he snapped his head back to her. He was stunned to see the tears gone from her eyes. Instead, she looked determined and confident. "You're helping me, especially having gone through all of this once already? You're incredible."
Mamoru laughed, feeling the air lighten in the room already. "Surviving a car accident doesn't make someone incredible."
She shook her head slowly, lips puckering in that adorable, resolute way that he was coming to recognize. "No," she countered firmly. "You're incredible because of what kind of person you turned out to be after having survived such a horrible thing. Even with all of that, you still turned out to be such a kind, caring, sweet person."
He stopped breathing, caught off guard by the fierce look in her eyes. With his heart pounding, he couldn't tear his gaze away from hers. He'd hardly ever been considered kind, caring, or sweet. In fact, he'd spent most of his life purposely conveying the exact opposite to anyone he'd ever met. Staring at her now, the beautiful contours of her face set with such resolute trust and faith in him, he wondered how it was possible that she'd managed to change everything for him in such a short time.
Then she broke into a smile that took over her whole face, lighting up her eyes with excitement as she sat up fully. His hand that had still been rubbing her back fell back to his side as she clasped her hands together tightly at her chest. "When this is all over," she said with a dazzling grin, "I'm going to help you! I promise!" Then she held up one hand as if taking an oath, her expression serious in that dramatic, almost playful way that was heart-wrenchingly adorable. "I solemnly swear that I will help you remember who you are, Mamoru Chiba!"
He couldn't help the laugh that rose from his chest at her exuberance, and he shook his head at her antics. "It was a long time ago, Serenity," he replied warmly. "But thank you."
She gently took his hand in both of her small ones and gazed up at him with a soft smile. "You're helping me. And I'll help you. We'll figure out who you are, Mamo-chan."
His breath hitched at the nickname, and a blush spread across her cheeks that tinged them an adorable shade of pink. If she knew who she was, the princess of his dreams, maybe she would have the answers to the exact thing that she was vowing to help him with.
Suddenly, he found that he didn't really care about that, and he smiled lightly, overwhelmed, as she followed suit, smiling beautifully up at him. His heart began to race, and he needed it to calm down before he did something like kiss her.
And man, did he want to kiss her. By the look she was giving him, her wide eyes, that were so, so blue, blinking up at him slowly, her gaze occasionally dropping to his lips, she might want to kiss him, too. He noticed they'd both moved closer to each other; her breath hot on his lips.
But he couldn't. As much as he wanted to, as much as his heart pulled at him to close that small distance between them and claim her lips for his own, he just couldn't. She was in such a vulnerable state right now; no memory, and completely dependent on him. He refused to take advantage of that.
Instead, he smiled softly and, using every ounce of restraint he had in him, he pulled back. Her face dropped, and the confusion brimming in her eyes at the perceived rejection crushed him. He took her hand again, smiling in a way that he hoped conveyed reassurance, and her soft smile returned. She nodded with understanding.
Mamoru thought for a moment before giving her hand a soft squeeze. "How about we go for a walk in the park?"
Her responding smile lit up the room as she nodded enthusiastically and hopping up, she skipped to his room to change. Earlier that day they'd done a little shopping and he'd bought her a few outfits to get her through the rest of the week so she didn't have to keep wearing his clothes.
When she walked back into the living room, dressed in white shorts and a pink t-shirt, he froze, blinking, confused as his blood ran cold. She looked familiar; almost like…
"Are you ready to go?" She chirped, bouncing excitedly on the balls of her feet.
He exhaled, internally shaking his head as he pushed that intrusive thought aside. There was simply no way. He stood, straightening out the wrinkles in his pants. "Yeah. I'm ready," he smiled, and together they headed out the door and toward the park.
They walked for a while, their steps in sync, and he was surprised to find that the conversation with her came easily. And although she couldn't tell him much about herself, she still spoke with enthusiasm over every little thing. It was mesmerizing to watch her and impossible not to fall hopelessly entranced in her orbit of light.
They took more walks after that, enjoying each other's company. Some of their conversations were about things that confused her. She told him about the dreams she was having; flashes of fire; a girl with blue hair and a blue visor across her eyes.
Whenever she talked about these dreams, guilt churned in Mamoru's stomach. He'd always known, on some level, that the Senshi were also somehow connected to his Princess. Why else would he feel the pull to rescue Sailor Moon every time she was in trouble? It was clear that Serenity knew them, too. He should have said something, but selfishly, he couldn't help but want to keep her all for himself. At least for a little while longer.
Besides, he hadn't even seen the Senshi since he'd found her. The moment that he'd whisked Serenity back to his apartment, he hadn't felt any of Sailor Moon's transformations; hadn't been called to any fights. It was strange, but when he'd stopped to ponder on it, Serenity would be there, bringing him out of his thoughts and distracting him with her beautiful smile and clumsy footing.
Mamoru took another sip of his coffee, smiling to himself as he relived the night before. That beautiful moment when she'd stumbled out of his bedroom in the middle of the night, a halo of blonde hair frizzed and tumbling over her shoulders, her slender form drowning in his oversized Keio T-shirt.
He was studying on the couch, laptop perched on the table in front of him, notes and books strewn across his lap when a thunderstorm started. He'd barely noticed the rain that had begun to pelt relentlessly against the window panes, and only briefly noted the sound of thunder as it roared outside as he focused on his assignment. While he'd thought nothing of it, she'd come rushing out on the second bout of thunder.
Her face was pale as she fixed wide baby blue eyes on him. He dropped his book on the coffee table in front of him, alarmed, as he shifted to face her, confused by the fear plainly written in her expression. "So," she croaked, wringing her wrists as she spoke, "apparently I'm afraid of thunderstorms."
Another clap of thunder crashed, and she squealed, crying out "bubbles!" as she covered her ears, dropping to her knees into a crouch on the ground.
He immediately stood, rushing to her without a second thought. He didn't hesitate to cradle her trembling figure in his arms as he helped her stand, whispering nonsensical soothing words as he guided her to sit on the couch. He tucked her into his side, soothingly running his fingers through her hair, when the apartment lit up with another flash of lightning. Serenity gasped, burying her head into the crook of his shoulder as the subsequent thunder rolled throughout the apartment.
He pulled her closer, and she snuggled in, curling against his side, burying her face in his t-shirt. They didn't speak as he simply pressed her close, offering comfort. Eventually, her trembling stopped, and the tension left her body as she fell asleep.
He didn't move, holding her as she snored softly into his chest. It felt like he couldn't breathe suddenly as he continued to run his fingers through her hair, throat constricted with emotion as he felt the steady rise and fall of her chest that was pressed flush against his. It was when she muttered something about disgusting carrots, grumbling adorably in her sleep, that he knew. It hit him like a ton of rocks.
He wasn't sure of the exact moment that it happened, but at some point, he'd stopped caring about the fact that she was the Princess. He didn't care that she didn't have her memory back yet, even though her memories would unlock the secrets of his past. He would take her with no memory because she was perfect, beautiful, lighting up everything with her vibrance, and he just couldn't lose her. He was in love with her.
The realization made him gasp, the intake of breath sharp and painful, and he wasn't sure if it was the noise that woke her, but her eyelids fluttered open. Her long, full lashes framed breathtaking blue eyes that blinked, disoriented for only a moment, before she peered up at him.
He held his breath when their eyes met, and her expression softened, her lips curling at the corners into a soft, tender smile. He swallowed hard, not daring to say a word as the energy swirled and sizzled between them in a way that took his breath away. Her expression was soft, inviting, her eyes hooded, forcing him to suppress a groan.
She reached up to cup his cheek, her fingers lightly caressing his jaw as her other hand moved to the couch, stabilizing herself enough to push herself up towards him. The closer she got, the more he felt her breath fanning warmly across his face, igniting a fire in his veins.
His heart skipped a beat, his hands trembling as he used all of the restraint he had to keep them still, as the tip of her nose grazed across his, sending shivers of pleasure rolling down his spine.
It was everything he wanted, but he knew he had to stop. "Sere—" but that was all he managed before she closed the distance between them and captured his lips with hers.
He responded immediately, his pulse racing, his mind hazy, as he groaned against her lips, moving them in tandem with hers. They were soft, molded perfectly, like her mouth had been crafted specifically to fit against his.
His arms coiled around her waist, his grip tightening when her hand moved from his face to tangle in the hair at the nape of his neck. When her head tilted a little to the side to deepen the kiss and her tongue trailed across his bottom lip, it took everything in him to pull away, breaking the moment.
The storm had since passed, and a sliver of moonlight illuminated her form sprawled in his lap. Her expression, wide-eyed, breathless, lips parted in confusion, made his heart stop. "Wait, Sere," he breathed, clenching his eyes shut against the onslaught of emotions rolling around in her gorgeous eyes. "Stop."
"Mamo-chan?" she breathed, blinking long lashes at him.
He sighed, reigning in his emotions, as he pulled a hand away from the slope of her waist to rake it through his hair. "You don't have to do this, Sere," he rasped, fighting with himself not to claim her lips again. "I don't want to take advantage of you. You're in a really vulnerable place right now, and I—"
She giggled softly, interrupting him with a slender finger that she pressed against his mouth to silence anything else he might have said. "Shut up, Mamo-chan," she grinned, shifting onto her knees on the couch to straddle him.
He inhaled sharply, stunned, confused, hopeful as wispy blonde strands of hair from her bangs fell into her eyes, a wide, breathtaking smile curled onto her lips as she lifted her hands to frame his face. "If anything, I'm taking advantage of you," she whispered, her tone soft and sultry as she leaned down, angling his face for better access to kiss him again.
This time, he didn't fight her; couldn't turn her down again. He gripped her hips to steady her as his lips moved against hers, parting to allow her tongue entrance when it slipped across his bottom lip once again.
Mamoru jumped when a pot of coffee was set in front of him on the counter and he looked up to see Motoki, one eyebrow lifted and a grin on his face. "I don't think I've ever seen you smile so hard." The dull heat of a blush crept up Mamoru's neck, fanning across his face. "So, what were you thinking about just now?" he asked, leaning over the counter toward him, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
Motoki had always possessed the uncanny ability to read him like a book and Mamoru knew he had to get out of there and get back home. "Uh, I need to go," he blurted, standing abruptly as he threw a few yen in front of his friend to pay for the coffee.
Motoki grinned. "You'll tell me later, yeah?"
Mamoru nodded, not really sure what he was going to say as he turned to head out the door. He stopped short when the arcade door flew open, and he was forced to take a step back as a familiar black-haired girl rushed in.
She brushed past him without a word, and he frowned as he looked over her haggard appearance. It took a moment, but he recognized her as Rei, the poised, scowling faced Miko that was typically here with Usagi.
She wasn't walking with confidence and grace like she usually did. Instead, she shuffled along, her feet dragging, and her shoulders slumped. She looked like she hadn't slept in days; bags under her eyes, her hair a mess.
Mamoru glanced back at Motoki, who looked just as confused, his gaze trained on her. "Hey, Rei-san," Motoki called out, but she didn't hear him. She was seemingly too focused on whatever she was thinking about as she headed toward the back of the arcade.
He thought about following her to make sure she was okay but decided against it. He had a princess to get home to, and he didn't want to be late. Pushing thoughts of Rei aside, and with a final wave to Motoki, he headed out the door, eagerly pressing into pedestrian traffic because, for once, there was something other than loneliness waiting for him at home.
oOo
Mamoru unlocked his apartment door, hurriedly stepping over the threshold, heart in his throat with anticipation. He removed his shoes, kicking them off in the genkan, and headed into the living room with the bag of daifuku for Serenity in hand. He froze, caught off guard by the sight of her and how much she affected him.
She was a vision of perfection, sitting on his couch, endlessly long legs curled underneath her, head tilted to the side. Her rosy-hued lips curled into that sweet, unabashed half-smile that never ceased to take his breath away as she flipped through manga that she'd gasped with excitement over when they'd ventured out earlier in the week. Somehow, he wasn't surprised that she liked shoujo manga and, without hesitation, he'd bought it for her, rewarded by a squeal of excitement and a dazzling smile that lit up her whole face.
She lifted her gaze when he entered the room, her small smile widening, eyes brightening in a way that made his throat constrict when she saw him. "Mamo-chan!" she exclaimed excitedly as he took a seat on the couch beside her. "You're home!"
His heart skipped a beat at her choice of words, and he couldn't help the lovestruck grin that curved onto his lips as he handed her the bag of requested treats. She clapped her hands in that adorable, exuberant way, squealing as she snatched it from him. He chuckled as he watched her pull out the box of delicious confections, diving in, eagerly shoving one into her mouth. She closed her eyes, sighing and moaning with delight as she chewed, and he blushed, clearing his throat, shifting on the couch as the sound sent shock waves rolling through him.
When she opened her eyes again, lashes fluttering, cheeks tinged pink, smiling at him with sugar-coated lips, a bit of daifuku lingering on the corner of her mouth, his heart raced, warmth spreading throughout his body. He knew that he was living in a bubble with her at the moment. There were so many things that were still unanswered, and he probably should be trying to help her remember, contact the Senshi, figure out who she was. He swore that he would, but he wasn't ready. He needed more time. She was all that he needed in life; memories be damned.
As if she could sense the direction of his thoughts, she reached for him, framing his face with delicate hands as she pulled him towards her, capturing his lips with hers. She tasted sweet like the daifuku she was eating and he melted against her, his arms instinctively coiling around her slender waist to pull her closer.
When she pulled away, a pink blush fanning across her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, she smiled, seemingly just as dazed as he was. "Thank you," she murmured softly as she pulled away, and he couldn't help the grin that had become a permanent fixture on his face.
She leaned forward to grab the manga that had slipped onto the couch between them during their kiss and propped it back onto her lap. "So, how was class?"
He shrugged one shoulder, and draped an arm across the back of the couch behind her, watching as she flipped through the pages of her book, not really reading the words; just looking at the pictures. "It was interesting," he replied nonchalantly, more interested in what her day had been like rather than discussing his.
She huffed through her nose, the sound barely perceptible, but he heard it. "What?" he asked, grinning because it was not the first time that she'd become flustered when the topic of school came up.
"I don't know," she shrugged, blonde strands of silken hair falling over her forehead, hiding those beautiful blue eyes from him as she flipped another page. "I just don't get school. It seems like a lot of work."
He laughed, something he realized that he'd done very rarely in the past but found himself doing more and more often over the last two weeks since he'd found her. "Well, it is a lot of work," he replied lightly. "But I like it. It's how you learn new things."
Serenity shrugged one shoulder again, eyes remaining fixed on her manga. "Just seems like a place where teachers can get their kicks from yelling at students all the time." Mamoru's smile faded, brow furrowing into a frown of confusion. Where had he heard that before? Serenity finally lifted her head to look at him, a smile on her face. "I guess I don't like school very much, huh?"
"No," Mamoru replied softly, only half paying attention now. Usagi. She'd said something similar about school once...or was it the exact same thing? "I guess you don't."
Serenity frowned, shifting a little closer to him. She lightly laid her hand on his chest, and he snapped out of his thoughts, glancing down at her upturned face, expression filled with concern. "Mamo-chan, are you okay?"
Mamoru forcibly pushed those thoughts aside, not willing to delve into it any further, and smiled down at her in response, allowing himself to get captured in the beautiful cerulean pools of her soulful gaze. "Yeah," he answered huskily, lifting his hand to cup her face, tenderly running his thumb along her cheekbone. "I'm fine."
She smiled that dazzling smile, moving away just enough to discard her manga on the coffee table before shifting herself back up onto her knees to loosely wrap her arms around his neck. He, in turn, wrapped his arms tightly around her waist, entranced by her and the way she could so easily fill his senses, pushing any other thoughts out of his head with one smile.
He knew that there was so much more he should have been doing to help her. Why wasn't unlocking the secrets of his past, his dreams, and his driving obsession to find the crystals important anymore? All that mattered was Serenity and, in two weeks, she'd lit up his life in a way that he hadn't realized he needed. It wasn't fair to her, though, and he probably should have told her everything he knew about her.
Instead, he smiled, and brushed a playful kiss on the tip of her nose. "So, what do you want to do tonight?"
She thought for a moment, pulling a hand back to tap her bottom lip before curling her arm back around his neck. "I don't know," she replied, grinning contentedly. "Maybe just take it easy tonight? Get some dinner and watch TV for a bit?"
Mamoru nodded, smiling at how doing something so simple could unfurl such happy feelings inside him. He could definitely get used to this. He was pretty sure he already had. "That sounds perfect."
She beamed up at him as if he'd just given her the world. His heart flipped in anticipation when her smile turned into a sultry grin, and her arms tightened around his neck.
She bit the corner of her bottom lip, eyelids fluttering in an enticing, sexy way that stole the breath from his lungs. "But, first," she breathed, pulling him in for another passionate kiss.
He was lost, gladly drowning in a haze of everything that was her. He couldn't suppress the moan that slipped from his mouth, muffled against her lips as they moved against his. She giggled, yanking on his neck, pulling him down with her onto the couch.
Later that night, after they'd eaten, they sat together and watched a show that Serenity picked out. Well, he was watching the show. She was asleep, tucked securely under his arm as she snuggled against his side, snoring softly into his chest.
He was starting to doze himself, his eyelids getting heavier as he blinked slowly, his vision blurring slightly on the screen, when the show they were watching switched to a breaking news report. The jarring theme song jolted him awake, and he blinked a few times, ridding himself of the daze he was in before refocusing his attention back on the tv.
It took a moment for it to register, but his blood ran cold, eyes widening as he stopped breathing. There, on the screen, playing out before his eyes like a nightmare, was live footage of a youma fight happening downtown. He choked in disbelief, body stiffening as he inhaled a sharp breath. Why hadn't he felt the pull of Sailor Moon's transformation like he normally did? How had he missed this?
He pushed his confusion aside, knowing that he needed to first focus on just getting there. He tried to control his breathing as best as he could as he shifted Serenity as gently as possible off of him and laid her on the couch.
He frowned, confused, as he fixed his gaze on the steady rise and fall of her chest as she slept. She was beautiful, the moonlight illuminating the soft, peaceful expression on her face. The strange moon crescent tattoo on her forehead glinted in the light. Typically, the pull that drove him to transform into Tuxedo Mask and dash off to aid the Senshi in battle was unbearable. So, why was it that all he wanted to do was curl up beside Serenity, forget that he'd ever seen the news report, and coil his arms protectively around her?
He shook his head as if to clear it, knowing that he had to go, and quietly draped a blanket over her before tiptoeing toward his balcony. With one last mournful look at her sleeping figure, he quickly transformed, inhaling deeply before jumping with ease onto the nearest rooftop, bounding toward the battle, trying to ignore the unnerving feeling that he wasn't being guided towards his intended destination as usual.
He didn't need the pull that usually led him to Sailor Moon this time, though. The closer he got to downtown, the more hectic it became with people fleeing from the battle. He raced in the opposite direction, heading toward where everyone was running from. He recognized the area; it was the Statue of Kimi-chan.
As Mamoru came to a halt on the rooftop across from the statue, he crouched and scanned the battle raging below him. Mercury and Mars threw attacks at Zoisite as he hovered in the air, avoiding them with ease, tossing back his own balls of dark energy with a sneer on his face. The senshi looked tired, ragged, completely out of their depth. Evidently this battle had been going on for a while.
Mamoru frowned as he swept his gaze over the area again. Sailor Moon was nowhere to be found. No wonder he hadn't felt the pull of her henshin. Where was she? Fear unfurled like acid in his chest. He'd never seen a battle without her. What'd happened in the last two weeks?
Whatever it was, he couldn't keep watching this fight on the sidelines. He had to help, at least until she got here. His expression hardened with determination as he leapt gracefully from the roof, landing with precision on his feet.
As he stood, straightening his stance, it was Zoisite who noticed him first. The Dark King ceased his attacks on the senshi and turned to him with a cruel smirk that made Mamoru's stomach turn. "Tuxedo Mask. There you are," he sneered, crossing his arms across his chest. "It's been quite a while since you've graced us with your presence. I was starting to think you and Sailor Moon had run off together." He chuckled, clearly amused with himself. "I believe the other senshi were starting to think that as well. Weren't you, girls?"
Mamoru inhaled sharply, turning a confused look toward the Senshi of Fire and Water, a ball of dread forming in the pit of his stomach. They were gawking at him, wide-eyed, and looking just as confused as he felt.
He swallowed past the lump in his throat, gloved fingers clenched into fists. "Where is Sailor Moon?" he asked, suddenly terrified of the answer.
"We don't know," Mercury replied quietly, her voice full of sadness, and was that regret?
Mars took a step forward, swallowing down her emotions. "We haven't been able to find her. She hasn't shown up to any battles." Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, and he fought the urge to take a step back. "Neither have you."
Mamoru frowned. He knew why he hadn't been to any battles. He'd been completely enamored by a certain gorgeous princess who was currently asleep on his couch. Plus, he hadn't known there had even been any battles without the pull of Sailor Moon's transformations. But why hadn't she been to any of the fights? Where was she?
"I don't know where Sailor Moon is," he confessed, terrified by what all of this meant. Something must have happened to her.
A surge of guilt wracked his body. Wasn't his job to protect her? How could he not have even noticed she was missing? He should have thought about it; recognized that something was wrong when they'd gone so long without the Dark Kingdom attacking, especially after the last encounter with Zoisite when he'd seen…
"Well, well, well," Zoisite practically purred, and Mamoru froze, knowing damn well the last time he'd spoken like that was because— "It seems our little princess has returned as well. Where have you been, Princess?" The Dark King's eyes were focused behind him and he was terrified to turn around. "I've been looking for you."
When he finally did turn, it felt like someone had punched him in the gut. His blood ran cold and his head spun. There, a few feet away, stood Serenity, dressed in her leggings and his oversized shirt, staring horrified at the scene in front of her. Her eyes were wide with terror and she took a step back, as if hoping she wouldn't be noticed, even with all eyes directed at her.
"No, no, no," Mamoru cried out, panic spreading throughout his body. She shouldn't be here. "What are you doing here?"
He heard Mars cry out, "Oh my god!" behind him but he didn't turn around; his focus solely on the terrified love of his life in front of him
She blinked, tears in her eyes as she took another step back. "I'm sorry," she said softly, wringing her wrists. "I was looking for...someone. I followed him here and...well, I thought this was where he came. And I just…" she trailed off, clearly not knowing what else to say.
It was like he'd been punched again. She'd followed him here. Did she wake up when he got off the couch? Had she seen him leave the apartment? Did she see him transform? As she turned her gaze onto him, her eyes piercing through his soul, it was clear. She knew who he was.
"Serenity," he whispered her name out like a prayer; a plea. He had to get her out of here. He had to save her.
"Oh my god, guys. This is soooo boring," Zoisite called out from above them, flicking his hair over his shoulder. "Can we do something other than stand around and gawk at each other? Like, I don't know, maybe attack each other instead? Here. I'll start."
Mamoru turned to see the Dark King with his hand raised, a ball of dark energy forming in his palm as he directed squarely at Serenity. "No!" he screeched as he turned back to his princess and ran.
Her eyes widened as Zoisite's projectile of darkness flew at her, and she whimpered as she crouched, holding her head between her hands, squeezing her eyes tightly shut, waiting to be hit. But he got to her in time, leapt in front of her, and wrapped them both in his cape, shielding her from the attack.
When it was over, heart in his throat, he dropped his worried gaze onto her. She peered up at him, trembling, her eyes wide and filled with fear. "Serenity," he breathed. "Are you hurt?"
"No, Mamo-chan," she whispered back, confirming that she knew who he was. "I'm fine."
She gave him a small reassuring smile, and he opened his mouth to tell her she needed to run when something suddenly slammed into his side, sending him flying across the road, and away from the one he was protecting. He skidded across the concrete, through debris from the battle, and slammed into the base of the statue, groaning in pain. His head spun and he struggled to sit up, shaking it slowly to clear it, when he heard a cry from Mars.
When he looked up, Serenity was gone. His heart stopped as he snapped his eyes onto the senshi, whose expressions were filled with horror as they craned their necks, staring up into the sky. It felt like he couldn't breathe, his throat constricted with panic as he followed their gaze. He thought he'd known fear before, but it was nothing compared to the sheer terror coursing through him now as the sight of Serenity encased in a bubble, filmy and pulsing with purple-tinged dark energy, hovering in the air in front of Zoisite.
His horror doubled when a beam of fire flew through the air in their direction. Mars had attacked, aiming for Zoisite, but coming close to the bubble that contained his princess.
"Mars," he cried out, fury and desperation tingeing his voice. She turned angry eyes on him, and although he knew she was trying to save Serenity like he was, he couldn't help the panicked, irritated shout that tore from his throat. "Be careful! You almost hit her!"
Mars' eyes narrowed and he was sure she wanted to throw her next firebolt at him. "Well at least I'm trying to save her! You're just standing there like a bump on a log!" she screeched, motioning at him with her arm.
"Guys, stop," Mercury chided, moving to stand between him and Mars so they could both see her. "We're wasting time!"
"She's not wrong, you know," Zoisite chuckled from above them. When they all looked up, he dramatically feigned like he'd come to a sudden realization, clutching at his chest with a cold, condescending smirk. "Oh! I suppose I did forget to mention that the bubble she's in doesn't have any air. So, yeah. While you're all bickering, she's suffocating." His grin widened. "So that's fun, right?"
Mamoru inhaled sharply, blood draining from his face as she snapped his gaze onto her slender form in the bubble. Zoisite was right. She was struggling to breathe, her fingers clawing at the vibrating wall of darkness as she stared down at him with tears in her eyes. Then her eyes rolled back in her head, and she passed out, slumping against the inside of her bubble prison. That's when he got angry.
He exchanged a fierce, resolute look with the senshi. They nodded, their expressions hardened, determination in their eyes. Turning his steely gaze back onto Zoisite, shoulders squared, muscles tensed with rage, he produced a ruby red rose, throwing it with stunning precision at the Dark King. Zoisite sidestepped, maneuvering out of the way. But Mamoru had anticipated that and gave a look to Mercury while the King was distracted.
She nodded, holding her hands out, shouting loudly as the sky filled with fog. Mamoru took that as his opportunity, crouching down before leaping into the air toward the man that held his love captive. As he flew through the air, he could see Zoisite, fighting through the fog, frustration getting the better of him.
When he finally appeared in front of him, Zoisite's eyes widened. With a smirk he couldn't help, Mamoru drew his fist back and, with all the force he could muster, he propelled it forward, slamming the King in the jaw. He relished, for the first time ever, the sound and feel of bone crunching under his knuckles. Man, he'd been wanting to do that for a while.
Reeling back from the assault, Zoisite lost his concentration. The bubble surrounding Serenity popped, and Mamoru gasped as she began to fall. He fell, too, a few feet away from her. Panic tore through him because he knew he wouldn't get to her before she hit the ground.
Then Mars appeared, vaulting forward in time to catch Serenity mid-air. He couldn't breathe as he watched their tangled limbs twist, a whirlwind of black and blonde as they crashed to the ground, and Mars swiveled her body, using herself as a cushion for Serenity. Mamoru sighed with relief as he landed a little ways away.
Above them, Zoisite roared in anger. Mamoru glanced up just in time to see the sneering Dark King disappear with a flick of his wrist, his glare furiously directed at Mamoru. The tension left Mamoru's body as he turned back towards the girls.
Mars had transferred the unconscious Serenity to Mercury, who was crouched down, scanning her with her handheld computer. As he took a step toward them, Mars stood, shooting a handout to halt him, and he stopped, confused. "Has she been with you this whole time?" she asked through gritted teeth.
Mamoru felt the panic start to rise in him again. "Mars—" he started, taking another step toward them.
"No!" she screeched out again, causing him to stop short. "We've been looking everywhere for her! And she's been with you all this time?" She yelled, causing both him and Mercury to flinch. "Did you do anything to her?" she accused, purple irises blazing with rage, lips twisted into an angry sneer.
Mamoru inhaled sharply, eyes wide as he stepped back with the force of the accusation. "What? Of course not! I love her!" he cried out defensively. How could she ever think he would ever do anything to hurt her?
Mars' eyes darkened. "She's not yours to love," she spat and with one final look, she grabbed Mercury's hand and all three of them disappeared, teleporting away.
Mamoru paled, stomach churning, and bile rising in his throat with the sickening realization that he'd lost her. Tears filled his eyes, and he fell to the ground, crashing hard to his knees, his head spinning with grief. She was gone.
oOo
Usagi's steps were slow, absentminded as she made her way down the sidewalk, instinctively dodging pedestrian traffic as she walked the familiar path to her favorite place on Earth; The Crown parlor and arcade. She hadn't quite been herself for a while, not since she'd woken up a week ago with no memory of what had happened to her.
She bit her lower lip, barely paying attention to the direction she was going in as she tried, once again, to grasp at something in her mind that would give her an indication of where she'd been in the two weeks that were seemingly just a blank void of nothingness in her head.
She'd been disoriented, head throbbing, vision blurred when she'd first woken up at Hikawa Shrine, Rei on her right side, and Ami on the left. They'd clearly been hovering over her, watching her sleep. Which Usagi remembered had been totally creepy.
"Usagi-chan?" Rei asked, her eyes full of concern and uncharacteristic emotion.
Usagi blinked, wincing as she slowly sat up, pressing her palms into her temples in an attempt to soothe her pounding head. "What the hell happened? " she croaked, trying her best to focus under the pressure of the headache racking her brain. "Is Mamoru okay?"
Rei and Ami exchanged a confused look before Ami turned back to her with a frown. "Mamoru?"
Usagi nodded slowly, trying not to flinch at the pain. "Yeah," she muttered. "Do you have any water?"
Rei stood quickly, moving in that brisk purposeful way that she always managed as she rushed into the other room, returning with a glass of water, her gaze intense and steady as she handed it to her. Usagi smiled gratefully, chugging a few big gulps before wiping her mouth on the back of her hand, then wiping that hand on her pant legs. She frowned, confused, when she realized she was now wearing leggings and an oversized man's shirt. Hadn't she been wearing the silky white Princess dress?
She twisted her fingers in the fabric of the shirt, puzzled by the change of clothes. "What the hell am I wearing?"
The girls ignored her blurted question. "Usagi-chan," Rei pressed. "You mentioned Mamoru-san?"
Usagi cringed, trying to think clearly through the haze of her headache and nodded, "Right," she exhaled, lifting her gaze to meet Rei and Ami's expectant looks. "Mamoru."
She recounted the event as she recalled it. How she'd let the girls go ahead into headquarters at the arcade so she could sit beside Mamoru, eager to tease him with her new Princess disguise. Then how she'd chased after Zoisite when he attacked, and how Mamoru had stupidly chased after her. Then, the last thing she remembered before waking up and peering into their faces; how she'd pushed Mamoru out of the way, taking the blow from some kind of rock that Zoisite had hurtled at her.
The girls exchanged confused looks, their lips pressed into thin, grim lines, which prompted her to ask again. "Guys," she stressed, worried now. "How is Mamoru?"
Ami cleared her throat, shaking her head. "Actually," she replied softly, "We don't know. I don't remember seeing him very much at all, Usagi-chan." She glanced at Rei for confirmation, and her black-haired friend promptly nodded in agreement.
Usagi was alarmed, worried about what had happened to Mamoru under Zoisite's hateful sneer and powerful attacks, and she opened her mouth to voice her concerns, when Rei leaned over, tightly clasping her hand.
"We've been so worried about you, Usagi-chan," she said gently, her tone almost regretful. "We've been looking everywhere for you. We tried using the computer at headquarters, searched every nook and cranny of this city, trying to—"
"Wait, wait," Usagi interrupted, breath caught in her throat as she held up her hand. "How long have I been out?"
The girls exchanged looks again, and this time it was Rei who answered. "Usagi-chan…" she paused, lowering her gaze in a way that seriously alarmed Usagi, before she cleared her throat. "You've been missing for two weeks."
Usagi's eyes widened, stunned, and her breath caught in her throat. "What do you mean I've been missing for two weeks?" she choked. "Where have I been?"
Rei rolled her eyes, sighing. "If we knew where you were, you wouldn't have been missing," she drawled, one eyebrow arched, the hint of a smirk curving on her lips.
"All we know," Ami interjected gently, pausing to cast Rei a reproachful look before continuing, "is that you've been with Tuxedo Mask."
Usagi blinked, swallowing, caught off guard. "What?!" she screeched, then moaned softly as she grabbed her head, the pain still very much present, pounding steadily behind her temples.
Ami winced sympathetically. "He was at the latest fight with Zoisite," she continued softly. "We hadn't seen him since you disappeared, either. He didn't show up at any of the battles like he usually does. Then all of a sudden, he was just there."
"Yeah, he said you'd been with him," Rei added, her violet eyes avoiding her gaze. "He also said…" But she trailed off, sharing yet another look she couldn't decipher with Ami.
Usagi frowned, her eyes darting between them, wondering what they were leaving out. "So," she started tentatively, trying to wrap her head around the fact that she'd been gone for two weeks, "these are his clothes?"
She pulled at the fabric again, staring down at the beautiful blue t-shirt that somehow looked vaguely familiar. There was a wisp of something on the edge of her mind, and she tried to hold onto it, but it faded just as quickly as it appeared. Where had she seen this shirt before?
Rei shrugged, black hair tumbling over her shoulder with the movement. "I seriously doubt Tuxedo Mask wears leggings," she replied jokingly, clearly aiming to lighten the serious mood in the room.
Typically, Usagi would have snorted, giggled, waved her hand dismissively. But she didn't react that way because she felt like she was spiraling. It was all too much; too much information at once. Too much uncertainty with the unknown. How could she have lost two weeks of her life? She felt nauseated, stomach churning because she had no idea what had happened to her.
It was hard to come to terms with right away, and she peeled the thin blanket off of her thighs and made a move to stand.
"Whoa, Usagi-chan," Rei warned, standing up with her, lightly grabbing her arm to help steady her. "You need to rest."
Ami stood as well, the blunette reaching out for her. "Yes, Usagi-chan. You've been through a lot. You really should—"
Usagi shrugged out of their hold. "I'm fine," she reassured, though her tone rose an octave in a squeaky high-pitched note that did not sound natural as she swatted away her friend's hand. "I just need to get some air. I'll catch up with you guys later."
She ignored their protests, head spinning as she rushed out of the shrine, the sound of the girls calling after her fading into the night.
She didn't know where she was going; her feet carrying her while her mind drifted, a whir of confusion and frustration as she desperately tried to search for memories that just weren't there.
She tried to ignore the panic unfurling in her chest, lips pursed in concentration, arms curled around her torso, when she halted to find that she'd absentmindedly made her way to the park. She frowned, shifting her weight from one foot to the other and wondered why she'd come here of all places.
She sighed, frustrated beyond belief, feeling unlike herself, when someone in the distance caught her eye. She narrowed her eyes on the figure walking ahead of her, moving frantically as if searching for something or someone. He stopped, raking his hand through his hair, and Usagi started because it was… was it Mamoru?
She automatically took a step forward because she wanted to talk to him; ask him what was wrong, and press him for details of their final encounter. He was the last one that she'd had any contact with before being bludgeoned with a rock and losing two weeks of her life, after all. He had to have seen something.
She froze, gnawing on her lower lip as she hesitated, wracked with indecision. She'd just learned that she'd been missing for two weeks, no memory, apparently with a masked vigilante who may or may not be her enemy. With so much information packed into her head, her brain still aching with the headache from hell, the last thing she needed was a sparring match with him.
So she ignored the strange flutter in her chest pulling her towards his pacing figure that was disappearing in the distance, and instead, she turned on her heels to head home. Just because she felt weird, and she was desperate to feel a little more like herself, she stopped at the nearest conbini for her favorite, and much needed, pint of rocky road ice cream.
After climbing into bed with her ice cream, binging the whole carton in one sitting, she felt decidedly better as she snuggled in to get some rest. She tossed a bit at first because her bed felt weird; like she wasn't used to sleeping in it anymore. She tossed a couple of times, punching her pink pillow with a sigh, and took comfort in the fact that at least this was the most comfortable shirt she'd ever slept in. The scent wafting up from the fabric was oddly reassuring, and it helped her sleep that first night, and every night after that.
Usagi sighed as she turned the corner, the arcade coming into view as she inwardly worried over her missing memories. Really, worrying had become a full-time gig apparently, but she was learning to hide it well.
The rest of the week was spent trying to catch up on what she'd missed. The girls had been relentless in their search for her, but they'd ensured that her life didn't fall apart in her absence too.
Rei had told Mayumi that Usagi needed to go on a last-minute trip with her parents. The excuse worked so, thankfully, she still had her part-time job at OSA-P. Then when her mom had called for her weekly checkup, frantically reaching out to Ami because she couldn't get a hold of her, Ami covered for her, assuring Ikuko that Usagi was fine. Her phone was in for repair, and she'd just been super busy at work.
Usagi was grateful to her friends, like incredibly so, but even with all her bases covered, she'd still had a hard time concentrating at work; her mind constantly drifting, scrambling to remember any minor detail that might unravel the mystery of her disappearance. She'd spent two whole weeks with Tuxedo Mask, for crying out loud. How could she not remember any of it? How was that even possible?
Ami had relayed the details of her final battle to her. Recounting Zoisite who'd trapped her in a bubble of dark energy. That she'd ultimately passed out from lack of oxygen. The Senshi of intelligence theorized that this may be the root of her missing memories. She'd used a ton of sciency words that had flown right over Usagi's head. But ultimately, they'd determined that this was why she couldn't remember anything from the two weeks she'd been missing.
Ami and Rei had both relayed how horrible those two weeks were for them. Usagi realized how truly lucky she was to have them, and it bothered her that she couldn't recall what had kept her from at least calling them to tell them she was alive, at least.
They'd fixed her disguise pen almost right away, but by the time they'd emerged to fight off Zoisite, she was already missing, still trapped in that weird sort of glamor, and a pretty white dress. She wondered if that had something to do with it, and again, for the hundredth time since Luna had found her after she'd woken up and returned her pen, she curled her fingers around the cool, comforting brooch at her chest.
Either way, despite the fact that the girls tried to hide it, she knew they hadn't slept much, eaten very little, and were completely physically and emotionally exhausted. She'd tried to suppress her guilt when Luna inadvertently let it slip that the night she'd finally been found, safe and sound in her own apartment, the girls had finally had a full, deep and restful, night of sleep.
She wished she could say the same for herself. But, admittedly, she was having a really hard time. And not just with sleeping, but in general. It felt like something was missing; like there was something, or someone, that wasn't there that should be. It had something to do with Tuxedo Mask. She knew it did. She just didn't know why that was...or who he was.
As she reached the doors to the Crown, she took a deep breath, squared her shoulders with determination before stepping inside. Along with everything else that felt changed about her, one of the most difficult things she'd had to come to terms with was how hard it had been just to visit her favorite place on Earth over the last week.
The first time she'd found the courage to walk in after being gone for two weeks, Motoki smiled in his usual warm, totally welcoming way and asked where she'd been. It was an innocent question, one she normally would have answered with a smile, a wave of her hand, and something quippy and teasing, like, 'miss me that much, 'Toki?"
But instead, she froze. When he frowned, expression etched with confusion and worry, she quickly muttered something about being super busy, quickly slinking to a booth toward the back instead of her normal seat at the counter.
She was a relatively carefree person normally, so this type of anxiety was new to her. She took comfort in the fact that, over the course of the past week, she was getting better. She was able to cheer up, put her winning smile back on with the usual bounce in her step. Because for the most part, apart from missing two weeks of her life, things had gone back to normal. Well, except for one thing…
She still hadn't seen Mamoru-baka the whole week. Not since she'd spotted him, strangely frantic, slightly distraught, in the park the night she'd woken up. She wasn't sure why she was putting off asking him about that fight, and she wished now that she'd said something to him when she'd the chance.
Apart from wanting answers about the day she was hit with the rock, she genuinely wanted to make sure he was okay. It was strange, but whenever she thought about him, and he'd popped into her head more than once in the past week, her heart fluttered in a way that it never had before.
She couldn't figure it out, and when she thought of him at the park, or during that battle even, she was confused. She'd never seen him act like that before, and although their relationship, if you could even call it that, was tumultuous at best most of the time, she had this crazy urge to make sure he was okay.
Shaking her head, she scanned the interior of the Crown and her heart leaped in the most confusing way when she fixed her gaze onto his usual spot at the counter and he was there. Mamoru-baka.
Suddenly, she felt better, and she smiled, feeling lighter than she had all week. That was strange, and she paused, biting the corner of her lip, suddenly nervous. Why the hell was she nervous over Mamoru? This was definitely a new feeling...but, oddly, one she didn't seem to mind.
She didn't suppress her anticipation to talk to him this time, but her smile faded as she stepped closer to him, and she tilted her head to the side with a frown. In all the time that she'd known Mamoru-baka, he'd always been the picture of poised perfection with an arrogant smirk on his lips. She'd never seen him look like this.
He looked terrible; bags under his eyes like he hadn't slept in days, a slight scruff on his jaw like he hadn't shaved, ruffled, disheveled. He looked completely wrecked, cradling his coffee in his hands and staring into it, looking lost, like he was seeing something that wasn't there
She swallowed past the lump in her throat, threw on her best smile, and hopped onto the swivel stool beside him. "Sup, Baka," she greeted cheerfully. Maybe sparring with him a bit would help pull him out of whatever funk he was in? "You're looking awfully surly today. What happened? Get an A- on an assignment?" she teased, trying her best to get a rise out of him.
She expected a scathing retort. Maybe a comment about how she'd used the word surly, but it didn't work.
Instead, he slouched his shoulders a little more, wearily lifting his hand to rub his eyes. "Not today, Usagi," he sighed, his tone mournful, alarmingly defeated.
Stunned, she snapped her mouth shut, quietly observing him with concern. The pain and anguish emanating from him hurt her heart, and the breath caught in her throat as she glanced up at Motoki who stood a little ways down the counter, brewing another cup of coffee. He gave a sad, confused shrug, his gaze darting to Mamoru before falling back onto her, clearly indicating he had no idea what was wrong.
Usagi swallowed past the lump in her throat and swiveled her stool toward him so that she was facing him completely, her legs spread just enough for her hands to grip the edge of the stool between her thighs.
She leaned forward slightly and cleared her throat. "Mamoru…" she took a deep breath and he sighed beside her, not bothering to even look her way. "I don't know what's going on or why you're so upset," she said carefully, "but sometimes when I'm upset, I just say bubbles."
He froze, and Usagi swore he stopped breathing completely for a second as his head shot up, expression startled, wide-eyed as he fixed his gaze onto her. "What?" he rasped hoarsely.
She blinked, confused by the stunned look on his face and her face flushed under the intensity of his stare. "Yeah. My mom taught it to me. It's a silly word to say in English. I say it when I'm mad or frustrated. It always cheers me up," she shrugged with one shoulder, her face heating up with embarrassment. "I don't know. You could try it? Might help perk you up a bit?"
He stared at her, his mouth hanging open just slightly, and she started to feel a little uneasy under his gaze. She swallowed, chewing on her lower lip, suddenly very aware of how stupid that probably sounded. And she was definitely feeling nervous again, though she still didn't know why. She only noticed she was wringing her wrists when his gaze slowly dropped to her hands.
When his eyes made their way back up to hers, she was shocked to see that his gaze had softened and a small, warm smile curved onto his lips. She frowned in confusion, suddenly feeling like she was under a microscope. "I know that sounds silly," she backtracked uncomfortably. She definitely didn't want to give him something else to mock her about later. "It's just something my mom said. I don't really—"
"Usagi," he interrupted, and she suddenly couldn't breathe. Her gaze locked into the deep blue of his eyes that were staring straight into her, sending tingles rolling down her spine as his mouth quirked up into a small, soft smile, that seemed so familiar for some reason. "Would you like to go out with me?"
Her heart fell to her stomach, and her throat constricted because she couldn't breathe. Mamoru Chiba was asking her out? She felt the heat of a dull flush creeping over her face, spreading across her nose and tingeing her ears.
"Wha-what?"
His smile widened, and her heart skipped a beat because she knew that smile. She loved that smile? His eyes only seemed to soften more, as he leaned forward, and she was struck by the warmth in his gaze. "Maybe an ice cream date?"
She was surprised suddenly by how much she actually wanted this date and she bit the corner of her lip shyly, which only made him grin more. "Okay," she replied tentatively, and there were so many confusing emotions coursing through her. There were so many things she should have said in that moment, but instead, for some reason, she wanted him to know. "My favorite ice cream flavor is—"
"Rocky road," he interrupted, his smile tender as he nodded softly. "I know."
oOo
Ahh! It's done! I hope you all liked it! Please review and let me know what you think!
Happy Gift Exchange, Kasienda! Mwah!