"Allié - Ally?"
I look thoughtfully at the black, graceful lettering on a creamy white background that adorns the exterior of this posh restaurant.
"The best French cuisine is served here. The ambience is chic, noble and the ideal place for your perfect date with Usagi. Besides, the name alone says it all!"
Rei and Ami stand beside me and accompany me tonight on the search for the suitable restaurant...after Makoto and Minako formed the vanguard so to speak, now Mercury and Mars have been harnessed for the further planning. Better said, they have literally forced themselves on me! In addition to the perfect bouquet of flowers, a perfect food location is of course also required for a perfect date...only I'm not at all sure whether the mini portions from the haute cuisine are sufficient to be able to satisfy Usagi's enormous appetite.
"I don't know about that...maybe Japanese would be better after all. It's supposed to be a perfect date for Usagi, you have to know."
"If it were up to Usagi, video games and tons of fast food would probably be more to her liking." Rei pretty much hit the nail on the head with her statement. I just didn't want to say it out loud.
"I think Japanese sounds great and would be appropriate for the occasion." Ami gives me with a friendly smile as she holds her Super Mini Computer in her hand and types some commands on the keyboard.
Thanks to Minako, all the warriors have received their transformation fillers as well as the Mercury Computer again only a short time after their rebirth. Artemis is apparently pretty lousy at hiding magical objects; behind his litter box, his owner found them while cleaning and since then the Sailor tools have been in regular use. For the warriors, through Rei and her psychic abilities, have also recently located a dark energy source and have been on patrol in their transformed alter egos every night since.
After a short while, Ami receives a signal from her computer and looks up with satisfaction.
"Then I would recommend the Izakaya Hakata Hotaru. It's cozy, the crowd is mixed, and there's all the food Usagi's heart desires...at least the probability is 99.8%. However, a certain residual risk remains."
I like the suggestion and it's just more in line with what I expect from this evening with my moon princess. A casual atmosphere with good food, where we can both just be Usagi and Mamoru and hopefully she will finally realize that we belong together in this life.
How had Minako explained it before? We need to create common ground. Explore new places that we can use to link experiences together. That way, we could succeed in making Usagi happy without all her memories. With all of us together at her side.
Tomorrow, the girls want to do something similar with Usagi regarding their newly emerging friendship. A karaoke party at Usagi's home is supposed to kick things off. Anyway, I'm full of hope that it will work out and have agreed to drive Minako's karaoke equipment and Rei's manga collection, which weighs tons, to Usagi's place in my car for tomorrow evening.
"...And if you like, you can also book a private room in the izakaya. In case you want to do "karaoke"."
Rei raises both her hands, now indicating quotation marks at the word "karaoke". I can really only roll my eyes at such nonsense. Ami turns all red and looks down at the floor in embarrassment. Oh boy.
"Okay, so now I have the bouquet, the restaurant...anything else missing?"
Ami types around in her computer again while Rei thinks feverishly...and finally, sighing loudly, pulls out her communicator and presses a button.
"I thought you were only supposed to use that in an emergency?!" I gaze at her with a raised eyebrow.
"But this is an emergency!" Rei looks up indignantly, but then turns her full attention back to the small device in her hand.
"Minako, we need your support for a moment regarding Operation Dream Date."
They're out of their minds!
"We'd need something else to really blow Usagi's mind...so that she feels nothing but pure love for Mamoru afterwards and he can finally win her over again."
"Yaaa, that's gotta make a proper BOOM!!!!!"
I turn around and see with great amazement how the usually controlled Ami has clenched her hand into a fist belligerently. A look she has on her face...fierce determination sparkles in her eyes! They're all really rooting for me here!
"Got you!" it sounds from the communicator tersely, "I'll coordinate with Makoto and get back to you. See you tomorrow at the latest!"
So far I had - except for Rei - not so much contact with the other Sailor warriors. In the time when the Dark Kingdom had threatened our planet, we were all initially without any memories of our former lives. Therefore, we have seen each other only briefly in everyday life and during the Youma battles.
And in the silver millennium we had almost no contact. The Sailor guardians were the royal family's bodyguard, nothing more really. Serenity was often alone in this great palace and had always longed to spend more time with her protectors. As friends.
Now it almost seems to me...and in such a short time...as if we were already very good friends. We all kind of belong together. It just fits...only that our link, Usagi namely, can't remember. Maybe I should tell Luna the truth and ask her to give Usagi her memories back.
As if Ami had heard my thoughts, she gives me a warm smile and says
"Don't worry, Mamoru. You'll win Usagi back over. We can do this together."
"Exactly. You two are superheroes meant for each other. That's deep inside Usagi and she already feels it, I'm more than sure by now."
I give Rei a curt nod back, wanting so badly to believe her words.
UsagiSailor Moon.
Ever since Naru left last night, I've been reciting that name to myself over and over like a mandra. The door to my memories opened wide, but I didn't really understand the scenery that presented itself to me there.
I saw Naru kneeling in the grass in her orange and green pajamas, crying, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Next to me were two girls in magical uniforms, and as I looked down at myself, I saw on me red boots, a short blue pleated skirt, and a large red bow adorned with a gold brooch in the center.
Sailor Moon.
Naru knows who Sailor Moon is. Something clicks in my head, but nothing else happens.
Sailor Moon.
Does this name have something to do with this exclamation of mine from the VR theater? I saw that Naru was in danger. Without hesitation, I put my right hand in the air and wanted to say something. What was it again?
"Moon Prism Power...Make..."
"Hey, Usagi!" it suddenly hisses behind me.
Oh god, was I asleep? Slowly, I straighten up from my table and look ahead at the board. Lucky again! Mrs. Sakurada is looking in a completely different direction. Slowly, I turn around and look into Natsumi's fake face. Her expression is superficially friendly. She's up to no good, that snake. What does she always want from me? Somehow she gives me the creeps.
"What?" I whisper.
"Do you have plans after school?"
"Yes, I do!"
"Ohhh oh well...what a shame. Well, then I'll ask Mamoru. It was really...nice with him yesterday."
What the heck is this? Is she pulling my leg? She's lying! I give Natsumi a nasty glare and, without answering her, quickly turn away from her and towards what's going on at the blackboard. The rest of the hour I sit like on hot coals and am tormented by the purest mental cinema.
Mamoru took me to school this morning. He didn't say a word about meeting Natsumi yesterday! Why should he? He loves me. He told me that. Yes, sir! Natsumi just wants to get one over on me because Mamoru defended me against her in the VR theater. Rubbish, I don't give a damn about her stupid talk!!!
When the school bell rings, I get up from my chair and march straight out of the classroom. I'm hopping mad...why do I let this goat make me so insecure, please? Mamoru has already clearly told me that...umm, well, our relationship status isn't really settled yet...buuuut, we do have a date tomorrow. A real one, HA! Take that you stupid Ginga brat!!!!
Just as I step out of the front gate and hurry down the stairs to the schoolyard, I spot Ami...along with Mamoru! I quickly hide behind a pillar. What am I doing here? This is totally silly! But I'm curious and prick up my ears. I actually catch a few scraps of words, even though the two aren't exactly standing close to me. How Ami managed to get out of the classroom so quickly before me, I don't know either...she's probably not only super smart, but also super fast!
"Don't let on...mumblemumble...Natsumi...mumblemumblemumble...in front of Usagi...mumble...date...mumble."
"Uhhh, Usagi...what are you hiding here for?"
"Umino!"
He truly can be counted on. He always shows up right when I don't need him!
"Shhhhht!!!!" I hiss at him and pull him into my hiding place. What a pinhead!
"Ahh I see...that's where the Chiba is...with the genius from our class?" Umino looks back and forth between him and me, confused.
I notice myself blushing, my head literally glowing...with anger and...jealousy?
"What do I know... let them talk! I'm waiting for...hey, Naru!"
Before Umino can say anything, I grab Naru for cover and run down the stairs with her artificially happy-go-lucky. I'm sure it's for a completely innocent reason that Ami is talking to Mamoru about Natsumi and a date and he's not supposed to let on in front of me...NO, it didn't and I'm pissed off right now!!!! So the chief dumbass is driving double-tracked?!
What does Ami have to do with the whole thing? Do they know each other only since the encounter at the library or...or...or...
"Hey."
Ahhh damn! Mamoru uses his "I've been searching for you for over a thousand years" look again. I'm melting like chocolate...and can't do purely anything else except to reply to him with a
"Hi"
I act like a dumbass in love. I haven't even noticed that Naru has broken away from my arm and is now standing next to Umino. At least that's what I assume, because I hear her calling behind me as if through a veil
"We'll talk on the phone tomorrow then, Usagi. Have fu-un!"
"I figured you could use an escort home today."
Where am I? Am I still standing in front of my school or is it a palace that is behind me and in front of me the prince who wants to secretly kidnap me to earth? That tingle of the forbidden...the adventure...I...I know that! All my previous confusions about Mamoru I just mentally stowed away in a rather large box and fastened a heavy, wrought-iron padlock in front of it.
Works perfectly!
I nod briefly, but then pause and look at him questioningly.
"Uhhh, aren't you here by car today?"
He just grins at me and only now do I see that Mamoru is holding a helmet. A motorcycle helmet. And right behind him is a motorcycle. HIS motorcycle. Along with a second helmet. For me.
Wow, how COOL!!!
MamoruThere she is.
In all her beauty. My Princess of the Moon steps down the marble steps from the gleaming white Moon Palace and comes floating towards me. I want to take her with me. Abduct her into my world. Show her the blue planet, which she loves so much, although she could only look at it from the moon so far.
Yes, that's how it was back in the silver millennium, when the kingdom of the moon watched over the earth with the help of the imperium silver crystal and protected all its inhabitants. Now you and I are reborn here on this wonderful planet. Through the magic of the sacred crystal, which did nothing but follow Usagi's wish, and gave us all new life.
A normal life? Never will there be one for me...because every single second Usagi is with me makes this life absolutely extraordinary...perfect.
"Hey" is the only thing I am able to say right now because of this sight of the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. This déjà vu experience has just left me speechless. It seems to move her heart as well, because Usagi just murmurs a "Hi" to me. Sometimes it just doesn't take more words. But actions.
"I figured you could use an escort home today."
Her dreamy look now gives way to slight confusion, because she obviously counted on my car as a suitable vehicle to coach this royal highness home.
"Uhh, aren't you here by car today?"
That's right, she's only seen my Alfa Romeo so far. I just grin at Usagi and wait for the penny to drop on her. Whether it's a horse on which I kidnap my princess or a two-wheeler with a little more horsepower, it doesn't really matter...you might think, but Usagi proves me wrong.
"Wow, a motorcycle? That's totally cool!!!"
Usagi joyfully hops over to me like a little bunny and grabs the helmet. A cutout for her topknots would certainly come in handy but instead of squishing her hairstyle, she simply removes a few bobby pins and undoes her signature Usagi hair style.
On a scale of one to ten, this was a straight eighteen! in terms of "what is the absolute hottest thing I've ever seen!" Now how am I supposed to stay cool and ride a motorcycle? I don't even want to think about the effect it will have on me when Usagi takes off that helmet again and throws her head lasciviously into the neck while her beautiful, velvety blonde hair is being blown around by the rising wind?!
First I have to swallow briefly to gather new courage. I approach Usagi and embrace her waist. She turns powder red as I lightly lift the blouse from her school uniform. I truly have only chivalrous intentions; even though she is probably the most powerful creature in the entire galaxy...she needs a kidney belt when riding a motorcycle in any case!
When Usagi notices what I'm actually up to, her complexion changes to a rich dark red.
I quickly put on my helmet without a word, get on my Bimota Tesi 1D and start the engine. The practical thing about having passengers on motorcycles is that they have to hold on to you...but I didn't think it all the way through when I chose my bike earlier. Usagi's arms are wrapped around me a bit too tightly...I didn't know she had that much power!
Also, I feel her hands are so dangerously close to areas of my body where they can actually significantly affect my ability to drive. Having Usagi Tsukino as a pillion on the motorcycle is beyond breathtaking!
We fly through the city together! The airstream brings me that familiar exhilarated feeling again; it's almost like we're back in our superhero transformation. Ready to face the enemy and protect people from evil. We are a team. We have been from the first moment we met when I helped Sailor Moon in the jewelry store with my rose attack.
However, it was she alone with her magical power that eventually turned the youma to dust. It is always Usagi who has the unique power to banish evil from this world and bring peace. I admire her and her strength...but most of all I admire her humanity, her kindness and her warmth.
Usagi is the best person I know. And since she's completely unaware of what she can do in others, that naturalness makes her a thousand times more endearing. But...complete she just isn't. Her memory of everything that was is missing. I become more and more aware of this the more time I spend with my princess.
After a while, we finally arrive at her house. Usagi swings off the seat, most ungallantly...but before she runs the risk of hitting the ground backwards, I have my arms wrapped tightly around her waist. I'm pretty damn fast, but it's probably always been my destiny to save Usagi. No matter from what and whom.
Now we look each other so deeply in the eyes again. The helmets block our way to more. Maybe it has to be like this between us today.
Before I know it, Usagi wriggles out of my arms and takes off her helmet. Not quite as I had imagined earlier, but so breathtaking that I almost fall over together with my motorcycle! She surprises and fascinates me again and again. The kidney belt she strips now also -somewhat less erotic- and stretches it to me with helmet.
"Uhhh...that was really a pretty cool experience. Thanks for that."
I have a strange feeling that Usagi isn't done and still wants to tell me something. I slowly get off my machine and take off my helmet as well. It's a little easier to communicate that way...even though there's still so much insanely unspoken between us.
"I guess you have some preparations to make for tonight."
I begin to lighten the suddenly somewhat awkward atmosphere between us as I remove her motorcycle clothing. I don't think Usagi was really listening to me, because she is rocking back and forth, crossing her arms behind her back and looking closely at her shoes. Okay, I need to know what's going on!
"Hey...is something wrong?"
"Say, Mamoru...I...I know you're hiding something from me...that you have a...secret."
Before I can answer her anything to that statement, Usagi looks up and smiles at me with a rather sad face.
"...You just can't tell me because it might put me in danger...right?"
Does she have more knowledge of her former self than any of us have assumed so far? What am I supposed to say to her in response? I sigh and decide to do what my heart tells me.
"Yes...Usagi, it's true. I can't tell you. But I ask you to trust me. I know I am asking a lot, but you told me that we could find our own way...please...trust me."
She closes her eyes for a brief moment to collect herself.
"Do you know that you really are a very cool boy, Mamoru?"
'Hurry up, leave this place...
Yes, Usagi, you have to go back to normal life...you have to go back and find yourself a cool boyfriend or something...'
Those were my words! Just before I died in her arms. How close am I to being not only a very cool boy, but THE COOLEST BOY for her? How close?
All of a sudden, I realize something. Something that has been bothering me all along. It was right in front of me and only now do I understand!
"It was me!"
"What?" Usagi is now looking at me rather confused.
After all, she CAN'T know, has absolutely no idea what is going on inside of me right now. The realization...the reason! why Usagi didn't want to remember in this newly given life and sealed her memories with the help of the imperium silver crystal...it is me!
UsagiFigure out Mamoru Chiba...now he stands in front of me as if he had just solved some great mystery of human history. I just said that he is really cool?! Yes, he confessed to me that he loves me...and I also firmly believe that this unique love for him is also hidden deep inside me. Only...oh, I don't know!
Everything has been boiling inside me since the moment I met him for the first time. I wonder if it will ever stop. Emotionally, I'd love a breather...and thankfully I'm getting that tonight in the form of a real girls karaoke manga feast video night...HURRAY! And also, I'm going to be checking out the four girls. Because they're hiding something too, in my opinion! Slowly it wouldn't surprise me if they - however - were in cahoots with Mamoru. Ami was already acting so secretive with him at the school gate. There's definitely something up!
Mamoru has obviously regained his composure and is stepping out of his slightly weird state...and getting dangerously close to me again. God, how does he do that? All he has to do is snap his finger and I fall for him, wanting to throw myself on top of him and repeat our front door kiss on the spot...but this time without a reproachful cat, splashing water bottles, thick books on Greek myths, and especially without a huge emotional mess at the end!
But this boy surprises me again...because he pulls out something from the inside pocket of his motorcycle jacket...is that
"A rose?"
"It's to tell you something, Usagi."
With those words, he hands me a single, red rose. It glows almost magically...and it actually works inside me. Images of more single roses appear before me; red roses flying through the air and getting stuck in the ground, roses turning black...a rose splitting a dark, giant crystal into a thousand pieces and...a rose whose leaves fall all at once.
"Thank you...I will treasure it."
Then I turn around and walk through the front door. Slowly the lock engages and I slide down the door leaf. No, I don't want to let it happen right now! I am Usagi, a normal girl...with a normal life!!!
A few moments I recovered from this emotional moment. Thanks to this strange energy inside me that always manages to get a grip on my emotions. It's not me, I know that by now. It's more like a spell that works on me and lasts until something breaks it...or someone.
My little cat Luna is standing in front of me again and looks at me with a worried face...but maybe I'm just imagining it. Cats can't look worried at all. Only reproachful, right? I take several deep breaths in and out. Then I pick myself up from the floor, put the rose in a small bowl and clap my hands together. Let's get to work! There is still a lot to do before the girls arrive.
Thanks to Mamoru and his fast motorcycle, I have saved time on the way home, but I have lost the advantage through my emotional hullabaloo. I spend the next hour decorating the living room (I've built up a decent fund of decorations over the years) and now look at a really great party room with a bright pink bunny decoration. I'm pleased as punch.
After I've showered and changed, I'm just about to get the drinks including glasses from the kitchen, when the doorbell rings. They have really all come. At the same time. Ami still has the easiest job and has a DVD in her hand next to her overnight bag.
Rei and Makoto are each armed with two huge tote bags and I can already smell the seductive scent of Takoyaki...I ordered them specially from Makoto. In her bento box she has quite often what. Even though I've only known her for a short time, I've noticed her soooo often during the breaks...or rather, her food!
Minako I do not see at first. But that's because she's carrying a huge karaoke set in front of her. How she dragged that behemoth all the way from herself to here, I don't even want to know. I'm going to ask Mamoru tomorrow if he can maybe give Minako a lift to her home...and Rei and her manga books best too.
The girls are so great, I'm really looking forward to this evening. I absolutely love doing something with girlfriends...and nothing else the four of them convey to me...that I am a friend of theirs.
First, we dig into the finger food Makoto brought. I'll probably have to marry her one day, because she cooks at least as well as my mother. The others also have a good time. In the end, we can hardly move, but Minako grabs the microphone without mercy...and has one vocal battle after another with Rei!
I can hardly decide who of the two can sing better. Minako wants to make it big and become a stage star. She definitely has potential. Rei is not so ambitious to step into the limelight and become a celebrity, but she tells us that she likes to write songs and generally enjoys organizing events, even if she is then often totally tense nervously.
Ami, when it comes to the topic of "dreams," much to my surprise, also comes out of her skin. She tends to be quiet at school and only intelligent things leave her mouth, which I often don't understand in class...but here with us she tells us that she would like to be a doctor later and work in a hospital like her mother...and that she would like to have fun with boys!
The four girls have wonderful ideas and talents to achieve great things in life and make their dreams come true.
And me? What is my dream and purpose in this life? It is the first time that I consciously think about it. While everyone is chattering happily and showing each other funny clippings from Rei's manga books, I'm feverishly thinking about what makes me tick and what I actually want.
It's not as if I'm in a phase of finding myself. A lot of girls my age are struggling with similar issues...And yet I feel like I'm missing something. It's as if there's a huge part of my memory that doesn't exist.
Who am I? I have yet to find the answer. Or better - when I look around - find it again...find out. I also already have an idea how I could open all these locked doors in my head, at least partially. A crowbar would be quite helpful...in the form of a game.
"Righto," I interject to the happily cackling crowd. "How about 'Truth or Dare'?"
"Ahhh, what a fantastic idea!" Minako is immediately fired up and fumbles out an empty plastic bottle from under the living room table. The other girls sit down in a circle with me and Minako is the first to spin the bottle. After a few rotations, it stops and the neck of the bottle points to me, of course! Figures.
"Sooo, the first one is Usagi. Excellent!!!"
I fix Minako, who now lowers her eyes in a played theatrical manner and looks at me challengingly.
"Truth or dare."
"Truth."
"Is there a boy you are in love with?"
"Yes" my curt answer puts a satisfied grin on Minako's face.
Now it's my turn to spin the bottle. Makoto hits it this time. Of course she takes
"Dare"
Okay, she's welcome to it.
"Perform a Supreme Thunder!"
Makoto looks at me like I'm from the moon.
"Uhhh...okay." she finally says hesitantly, and I notice the other girls draw in their breath sharply. Makoto stands in the middle of our circle, crosses her arms and calls out words...so familiar...so magical, as if I've heard and experienced them many times before.
Then she sits back down and spins the bottle as if nothing had happened. I can't reach it for long. Have they manipulated something? But at least I learn a lot of funny things about the girls and their lives.
Rei's grandfather regularly reads Rei's Dōjinshi mangas in secret, Ami is crazy intelligent but can't recite a poem by heart, Makoto is secretly in love with Motoki (it's a shame he has Reika as a girlfriend, they'd make a really nice couple), and Minako collects condoms. But we should never tell Artemis about this, strangely enough she looks with beseeching eyes at Luna, who is sitting in a circle with us.
After what feels like an eternity, it's finally my turn again and I say with conviction.
"Dare."
Rei beams at me briefly and it seems to me as if she is fighting an inner battle with herself. Something has finally won, because she sighs deeply and then commands me to something very very VERY strange
"Pretend you're a superhero."
No one says anything for a long time. I stay in my position and stare into space. At first I think to myself that I could...I already want to stand up and put on a performance like Makoto did earlier. But there's that energy inside me again, speaking to me and telling me that I wanted so much to be just a normal girl after all.
For him.
Just like he wanted for me.
'Hurry up, leave this place...yes Usagi, you have to go back to normal life...you have to go back and find yourself a cool boyfriend or something.'
All I bring out of me is finally the implementation of his will
"No, I don't want to fight anymore."