Usagi
"Ohhh, good morning Usagi...how...uh...nice to see you...isn't it, Seijuro?"
That's how that awful Natsumi greeted me at the school gate this morning. That sly witch wants nothing more than to get in good with me so she can score points with Mamoru. This stupid cow is so transparent! I honestly feel sorry for Seijuro, unlike her he seems to be really interested in me. At least he never tires of complimenting me and hanging on my arm since I met him...but it's completely pointless to try.
My heart has long since been taken.
Yesterday, I understood. It's really the strangest thing I've ever experienced in my entire life, but maybe that's the way it is with love. It is simply magical.
I didn't quite understand what happened after my outburst to Mamoru...but still, I couldn't help but accept that he really loves me. Why ever someone can do that after such a short time. Well, here we go again with the topic of love and magic.
I honestly don't know if I could love him the way he seems to love me. In love I am, no question, and attracted to him I feel to this man more than anything else. But when I looked into Mamoru's eyes yesterday, just before he left, I was sure that he would be willing to die for me.
I think that's really quite...extreme. I'm just Usagi. An ordinary fourteen-year-old girl? What is so special about me that someone would give his own life for me?
For a short moment, I also had the feeling that someone else had taken possession of my body. It was almost as if I was under someone else's control when I followed Mamoru into the hallway. Geez! I think I really need a distraction from this emotional chaos...and Natsumi will be anything but a big help. Quite the opposite.
Now she is standing in front of me in the classroom again and uses the short break in the double lesson to ingratiate herself with me once more.
I rise from my chair and look at Natsumi suspiciously.
"What do you want?"
She obviously wasn't prepared for my direct question, because she blushes slightly and then finally continues with her actual request.
"Uhhh, well it's about our planned laser tag visit after school today...I somehow couldn't reach Mamoru yesterday and we were supposed to...Uhhh...all go together. Do you have his number? Then you could also tell him where we can best meet."
That snake. I knew it! Pff, let her think what she wants. She has no chance with Mamoru anyway...at least I hope so. I've only known Natsumi for a short time, too. The two Ginga siblings are from abroad and came here as exchange students. At first they both went to my parallel class but since yesterday Natsumi was transferred to my class. Supposedly because it would be better for both siblings to study separately.
I sigh deeply and finally say
"As far as I know, he'll be done with university around four-thirty today, and then he was going to wait for us at the school gate."
At my words, Natsumi's expression immediately brightens and I imagine I see something like absolute ambition in her eyes. Even if Mamoru has no interest in Natsumi, this girl won't take no for an answer and will do anything to win Mamoru over. As if love is something you can just take from others. Absolutely ridiculous!
"Perfect! Seijuro is coming along as well! That makes four of us. For the course in the theater, though, you need teams of three...but you already said that we'll figure that out on the spot then."
If I didn't know better, I'd say that Natsumi is up to no good other than cheating at puzzles. There's something about her that my inner voice has already repeatedly told me to be very careful of her.
With Seijuro, I think it's different. By the way, all the girls are very happy that Natsumi's brother is going to our school. They are always hanging on him during the breaks as if he were a grape tree. Naru is also crazy about him, even though she has Umino. I'm completely immune to his aura, thank God, and unlike the female rest of my school, I'd be happy if he didn't paw me like that all the time.
The school day goes by faster than I'd like and although I'm happy to see Mamoru again on the one hand, I'm quite in doubt whether it's such a great idea to have the Ginga siblings coming with us
After picking up Seijuro from his classroom, we walk together to the school gate. My heart beats faster when I catch sight of Mamoru. He is wearing a stunning outfit today; the jeans are most likely Diesel - Larkee cut I would guess at first glance - and are in a washed-out light blue. The white sneakers match perfectly. I wonder if he bought them new. His apartment is clinically clean. I'm sure he loves to clean...even his shoes.
The white polo shirt is a little bit posh and for the style nowadays somewhat conservative but Jesus Christ! He has sinewy, muscular arms! So far, I've only seen Mamoru in a longsleeve or a jacket. He's rowing or lifting weights! Such a perfect body certainly doesn't come from running alone. I was just wondering what it must be like to be carried by him on these hands, when Natsumi snaps me out of my daydream and calls out to Mamoru in delight
"Hello, hello, I'm so glad you could make it to laser tag today...I'm soooooo excited!"
Before Mamoru can say anything in reply, the beast clings on him AGAIN! Well at least this time Mamoru looks anything but happy and with an apologetic look he gazes over at me. I'm caught off guard only a few seconds later by Seijuro, who does the same to his sister and clings himself on me as a matter of course.
I flinch, but Seijuro seems completely unimpressed by my reaction to his brazen action
"Oh come on, Usagi. Don't be such a prude. This is all purely friendly!"
I hear his sister chirp as she snuggles a bit tighter against my Mamoru. Stupid-cow!
"You have to know, Mamoru, from the country we come from, this is completely normal...we sort of fill up our energy reserves with it."
In fact, Natsumi's face color has just changed; a minute ago she seemed quite pale, kind of ashen...as if she were slightly bruised...but now I see a delicate shade of pink glowing on her cheeks. Her brother also looks like he just went through a makeover...and I feel a little dizzy right now. Strange.
Mamoru
I should be careful...something is wrong with the Ginga siblings. Also, I honestly don't believe Natsumi's more than unusual explanation regarding her pronounced need to grope me. I can barely resist going back to her grip and feel energy being drained from me. I really should tell Luna about this.
When we arrive at the virtual reality theater, Natsumi finally lets go of me and I take a few steps towards Usagi, with whom - except for a brief exchange of glances - I haven't really had any contact that day. Fortunately, she is also standing there alone, after Seijuro probably didn't feel like groping her anymore. She seems at least as annoyed by the situation as I am. How I would rather be alone with her now.
Natsumi snaps me out of my thoughts again with her penetrating voice and grins at me expectantly.
"Fortunately, the queue isn't too long, we should start in ten minutes at the latest!" with a quick glance at Usagi, Natsumi continues with raised eyebrows "Usagi wanted to figure out who will be on a team with whom and since there should always be three per team, I suggest we just ask the two girls behind us and then draw slips of paper. I've got something prepared there."
As Natsumi rummages in her bag, I slowly turn around and get rather wide-eyed. There are two girls standing behind us...one has raven long hair that she wears down. The other is blonde, also has nearly knee-length hair, with part of her mane tied up with a red bow at the back of her head.
None other than Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus in their civilian forms are standing behind us! Rei is well known to me...but I don't even know Sailor Venus' name in this life. She joined the other warriors just before I was brainwashed by the Dark Kingdom.
However, both girls seem to know each other even though they shouldn't have any memories of their past lives thanks to Usagi. With Rei, I have the feeling that she senses something with her psychic power. Anyway, she stares blatantly at me as well as Usagi and the Ginga siblings...maybe I'm not the only one who can remember after all? Having Rei on the laser tag team right away would be one way to find out.
Before I know it, Usagi is already willingly carrying out Natsumi's order and addressing the two warriors.
"Uhhh, excuse me. Do you still need someone for your team? There are four of us but in this game you have to form teams of three."
For a moment, Rei looks at Usagi, completely taken aback, and she has to blink hard twice. She totally stiffens and puts on an artificial smile. I know Rei and her impulsive temper too well from our previous run-ins. I guess she has to pull herself together a lot, and finally answers, addressing Usagi
"Yeah right!"
There is definitely something going on inside Rei as she continues to insistently eye Usagi. She, in turn, doesn't recognize in any way who is standing there in front of her.
"Great, I'm Usagi and this is Natsumi, Seijuro and...Mamoru."
Usagi's cheeks turn a sweet pale pink as she looks at me and says my name.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Rei and this is Minako."
And the white cat that just jumps on her arm is Artemis. No introductions are needed between me and him in this regard. Luna must have told him everything that happened between Usagi and me in the last few days. In any case, he looks at me more than warningly, while Minako gently strokes his fur.
So that makes a moon princess who has no memory of her past life, two very suspicious siblings with an annoying urge to paw at Usagi and me, a white tomcat who nastily glares at me, two Sailor warriors, at least partially without any memory...and me, the earth prince...who's going to go into this VR theater now and crack the high score. Yay! I love games like this and with Usagi by my side, I will defeat all the monsters in there!
Usagi
"Sooo, let's see what's on your slips...ahhh yes, very nice."
Natsumi claps her hands enthusiastically and I'd like to strangle her myself for that!
"So team A then consists of Mamoru, me, and Rei...Team B will be Usagi, Seijuro, and Minato."
"Uhhh, my name is Minako."
"Yeah, that's what I said!" Natsumi grins triumphantly from ear to ear...but this is only a temporary victory for her. I'm quite sure she secretly manipulated the slips so she could play on a team with Mamoru. That stupid bitch!
"Don't worry Usagi, they don't stand a chance against us anyway...not only am I very good at car racing, but I'm also an excellent shot...my skill with weapons is almost legendary."
Seijuro obviously wants to encourage me, and I don't doubt in the least that he's willing to break a new high score...but I wanted to be on a team with Mamoru so much.
Oddly enough, though, I feel connected to the two girls Rei and Minako as well. It's a different kind of bond than with Mamoru. I think the three of us would stand a very good chance against the brother and sister team. It's like they're the bad guys and we're the good ones. How strange.
Seijuro waves over to the blonde girl and gestures for her to put on the lasetag gear.
"Let's get right to it, Minazu!"
"My name is still Minako."
it comes back from her immediately. She is really pretty and seems to have a very friendly nature. From the first second I'm in tune with her. I could very well imagine spending nights with her talking about boys, trying out the latest makeup trends, and digging through all the tests and horoscopes from girls' magazines.
Minako's cat Artemis would be a very good match for my cat. He is all white and would make an interesting contrast to Luna with her midnight black fur. Funnily enough, both have a similar feature on their foreheads. What a shame Minako didn't get to bring Artemis to the theater with her. If I meet her again somewhere, we definitely have to bring our cats and introduce them to each other.
With Rei it is quite different. When I look at her, images come up in my mind of a temple, of blazing flames and...of an old little, crazy man. I don't think Rei is the kind of girl who idolizes boy groups, paints her toenails a different color every day, or flirts with boys at all costs...she looks more like she likes to read manga.
Well, my knowledge of human nature isn't far off but what I can say for sure about them is that I feel protected by them. Very much so. This becomes more and more obvious the longer we stay in the VR theater.
The reason for the three-person teams are mainly the cars, which we are put into right at the beginning after we have put on our equipment. Natsumi wants to secure the seat on the far right next to Mamoru, but Rei jumps into the cart at the last second and pushes herself into the middle between them, beaming with joy. I chuckle when I see Natsumi's stupid face because of Rei's spontaneous action, but she remains completely unaffected and now starts firing at the moving targets in front of them while they drive through a kind of moonscape peppered with aliens.
Minako is at least as skilled, as she is able to convince Seijuro that she has to sit in the middle because otherwise she'll get sick on the edge. I slowly relax next to Minako and concentrate on targeting the various monsters with my laser tag gun.
So somehow I imagined this would be easier. Seijuro and Minako are actually very good at this game. One monster after another they shoot down. Unfortunately, I totally tear down their good performance with my absolute inaccuracy. I haven't even scored so far!
Mamoru, Natsumi and Rei are one car ahead of us and the three of them have successfully shot down everything so far, even the bonus enemies! The car in front of us comes to a stop and the three of them get out. This time Natsumi is faster than Rei and throws herself right at Mamoru. Minako correctly interpreted my concerned expression and puts her hand on my shoulder encouragingly.
"Don't be sad, Usagi. That was just the beginning, after all. We can still easily catch up."
"Minaru is absolutely right-"
"Minako!"
Undeterred, Seijuro continues, while gallantly helping the blonde girl next to me out of the car.
"Told you! Anyway, the current points gap isn't dramatic...because the next stop will be one-on-one duels!"
Seijuro grins broadly at us and rubs his hands. I, meanwhile, have also made it out of the stupid car and am now facing our opponents with my team members.
"Ahhh, there are already the next participants. Come on!" a young guy calls out to us. Obviously he's something like a guide, because he leads us into a black room illuminated by neon lights and starts explaining - without any introduction on his part - the rules of the game from the next station.
"Okay guys. Now the point is that you must watch to defeat your opponent in a direct duel against each other. The one who shoots the most monsters within three minutes has won his duel. You have to make sure that you shoot only your monsters and not your opponent's, otherwise you will get a point deducted. There are two colors - red and blue - and you can recognize your monsters by tiny little details that are designed in the respective color...got it? Good, then I will divide you up now."
I have no clue how this game works...firstly because the guy mumbled so badly and secondly I just can't take my eyes off Mamoru. He just looks sooo great in his laser tag gear! He obviously has a much better grasp than I do, because he listens intently to the weird instructor.
"You...and you...you two are on in the third duel." Great, I have to compete against Natsumi, who just looks at me more than arrogantly, forms her index finger and thumb into a pistol and points it at me. With her lips she forms a soundless "phew" while she fires her imaginary gun at me. She's going to regret this so much... Pride comes before a fall, as we all know!
Mamoru
I'm going up against Seijuro...and I'm so ready to go into this fight. It doesn't suit me at all how this suburban Casanova makes eyes at my moon princess all the time and chums up to her disgustingly. Now I have the opportunity to give this penetrating Mr. Congeniality a proper lesson. I will not leave the field to him!
We are the first pair and have to stand in the middle of the room with our backs turned to each other. I have been assigned the red villains, Seijuro has to shoot down the blue ones. I feel that pleasant tingle rising inside me that has accompanied me so many times in battles against the Dark Kingdom. This time I have a new, unknown opponent and, as always, I will do my best to emerge victorious.
There is now absolute silence in the room because the other team members have to wait outside. I can literally feel the tension emanating from my counterpart. My weapon is firmly in my hand, ready to be used immediately. I notice a bead of sweat slowly trickling down my temple. The weird instruction guy lowers his voice and almost whispers the start sign.
"Ready...Set...GO!!!!"
Virtual monsters appear around us immediately after this exclamation...and I freeze, because they look more than familiar! Geez, who the heck has a complete knowledge of all the Youmas from the Dark Kingdom here?!
Without hesitation, I fire at Morga and land the first hit directly in my favor. Morga was the youma from the OsaP store when I first met Sailor Moon as Tuxedo Kamen.
However, now is not the time to remind myself of the history of each villain, I must act...and act with lightning speed! As if someone had seen all the battles between the Sailor Team and Queen Beryl's henchmen and recreated them for this theater, all the Youmas now appear cheerfully one by one.
I catch every single one. I don't even look at the color anymore, because I know they are meant exactly for me. Every single one! Seijuro is absolutely powerless against my impeccable performance and pinched he tries to identify and shoot down his own opponents as quickly as possible. Out of nowhere, a bell suddenly rings and the fight is over.
"Okay...that would be a total of 33 correct hits for the black haired guy. Congratulations, you got all the monsters."
With a slightly sympathetic look at my opponent, the comical instructor says
"...And you had...uhh...13 correct."
Seijuro's face is chalky white at first, but changes to a deep shade of red within seconds. Snorting with rage and emitting a volley of expletives, he leaves the battlefield. Once outside, he stands slightly apart from the others, folds his arms and pouts. What a childish reaction, but at least he knows his place now! I could almost feel sorry for him...but only almost.
Next up are Rei and Minako. The two of them give each other meaningful looks just as we come out and quickly disappear into the dark room to the strange guy.
While we're waiting for them, I risk a glance over at Usagi, who seems to be lost right now. Even if she had regained her memories of her time as a warrior for love and justice, this place would be no more for her than it is right now.
Born a Moon Princess, it had never actually been her destiny to fight, no. Rather, she had strong bodyguards in the form of the Sailor warriors who could protect her at any time. And she had me. Even now I would always fight for her without hesitation. Until my last breath. As I have proven already.
I smile encouragingly at her. On Usagi's face, a small smile flashes back for a brief moment in response. We understand each other. And I'm really glad I told her straight out that I love her. Since then, I don't feel that heaviness around my heart when I look Usagi in her beautiful sky-blue eyes.
One day, maybe soon, she will be able to have the same feelings for me. Be it through her memory or because we meet in the here and now. I wish for it so much.
The loud ring of the bell snaps us both out of our nonverbal conversation, and shortly after, Rei and Minako are back at the door with the instructor.
"So that was really close between you guys...but Minuku won the race."
"I just told you three times in that room that my name is Minako!!!"
The weird guy just shrugs and without paying any further attention to Minako, he looks over at Usagi and Natsumi.
"Hey, you two are up next. Between you, it will be decided which team will emerge victorious from this station!"
Natsumi looks very confident of victory and marches ahead.
"Don't worry Mamoru...I'll win for us!" she blows me a kiss and disappears into the dark room in the best of moods. I would love to fight for Usagi against Natsumi. Somehow the thought creeps into my mind that the Ginga sister will fight with unfair means.
But if the Youmas are also assigned to Usagi, then she might have a chance. Maybe her subconscious will help her in the upcoming duel.
While Usagi passes me, I briefly put my arm on her shoulder and whisper to her
"You can do it...for love and justice."
Usagi pauses for a moment and looks at me with wide eyes. Something is working between the cute blonde odangos. Behind her, the stupid instructor pushes Usagi into the room. I narrow my eyes and instruct him tonelessly
"Give her the red opponents."
Usagi
For love and justice? What's the point of that? Why is Mamoru telling me something like that...with that knowing look in his eyes...and why does such a strangely familiar feeling arise in me? As if the sentence were incomplete. As if I had to add something.
I'm standing in this dark room now, my weapon clutched tightly...and probably won't be able to use it at all. Natsumi doggedly wants to win this game and I think she'll use any means to do so. She already cheated at the notes earlier. Why should she play fair all of a sudden now?!
The instructor puts us back to back. I have the red opponents and Natsumi is supposed to fire at the blue ones. After the bell rings, we start right away. One scary monster after the other appears. My knees shake at the sight and I would love to go home to my mom...or take refuge in Mamoru's strong arms. He told me yesterday that he loves me. So I'm sure it will be a real pleasure for him to protect me against those scary Youmas...HOLD ON...Youmas? That was something!!!
That's right, Youmas. The emissaries from the Dark Kingdom! They're in the Sailor V game too, aren't they? Geez! Am I Sailor V right now or what???
With a flare-up of fighting spirit, I grab my laser tag rifle and aim at an ultra-ugly light-blue Youma with boxing gloves...the monster had tried to attack Naru back then when we were together in Yokohama at that graveyard. He almost got me, too, but luckily he helped me...
"Tuxedo Kamen"
I sputter out in the middle of the fight against my virtual opponents.
"Usagi, give you obligingly more trouble! You're going to walk out of here with a zero if you keep staring around like that!"
Natsumi snaps me out of my shock with her gruff statement. She is right! I will not surrender without a fight. If then I go down with dignity and decency.
The next opponent, however, shakes me again and causes an absolute chaos of thoughts in me; I can't turn my weapon against Endymion!
Yes, it is him. Clearly! That's exactly how Endymion looks in my dreams when I desperately call for him and beg him not to die. Until now, I could never remember anything specific about my dreams, but suddenly I realize that Endymion looks exactly like Mamoru! Can this all be a coincidence?
I am unable to move. I'm beyond dizzy right now. The sequence has changed again and now the opponent is a woman with long red hair in a purple dress. The neckline is really oversized obscene and also otherwise this monster is completely repulsive to me.
Before I quite understand, Natsumi has aimed her gun at this horrible appearance and eliminates the opponent for me. Just as the bell rings again, she looks at me almost pityingly.
"Tsukino...I don't think you can even do something as simple as shooting. I really feel sorry for my brother that he has to be on a team with you."
With those words, she walks towards the exit with an arrogant grin. I really don't care if she won and I didn't hit anything. Within three minutes my world has changed dramatically again. So many emotions are inside me that I can't categorize. So much confusion. I hardly dare say any of it out loud. What if it were to come true then?
Why did I see Mamoru just now? In that armor? He didn't seem like a fairy tale prince to me at all. More like a prince from a distant past...is that possible? If so, what do I have to do with it and since when is Mamoru one of the bad guys? Or have I just gone crazy and am seeing things that don't exist at all?
A hand suddenly grabs my shoulder from behind and I slowly turn around, still in this trance state. Light blue, friendly eyes look at me.
"Minako."
I barely manage to get out. I would like to start crying on the spot. Not because I lost to that stupid Natsumi, but because so many emotions are raging inside me at once.
Minako seems to understand that something powerful is going on inside me, and sighing heavily, she looks deep into my eyes.
"Don't worry, Usagi...everything will be fine."
I want so badly to believe her words and hope that I can quickly return to my usual normality without all this confusion.
I am Usagi Tsukino. A fourteen-year-old normal girl.