The streets of what should have been her familiar neighborhood seemed almost new, or rather; it felt like she was walking this way, past the Game Crown Center, the OsaP jewelry store, all the fashion houses and food stalls... for the very first time.
Together with HIM!
This time everything was different.
Well, it was already in the evening, half past six to be exact, and the first stores were about to close. Usagi slowly but surely got hungry as she passed all the restaurants, but she probably wouldn't get a bite down right now anyway. Instead of a stomach growl, she was having terrible heart palpitations and was desperately concentrating on every step she took.
Badoom badoom badoom badoom badoom!
'Now just don't have a klutz attack or say anything stupid... the best would be to keep my mouth shut... Forewarned is forearmed.'
Usagi talked herself into courage as best she could, but as hard as she tried, she couldn't keep that loud pounding of her heart at bay.
Badoom badoom badoom badoom!
Never would she have even remotely dreamed this morning that she would be walking through Azabu-Juban with Mamoru Chiba in the evening of the same day. With the aim of going to his apartment !!!
Of course, this afternoon had been anything but ordinary and actually she would have done better to immediately inform the Sailor scouts and Luna about... yes about what actually?
That she had transformed into her superhero alter ego Sailor Moon right in front of her arch-nemesis Mamoru? That she had no other choice, because otherwise they both would have died? That the seven Rainbow Crystals they had been constantly searching for over the past few weeks had now all ended up in the hands of the enemy? That she had to doctor Mamoru's wound as soon as possible at his apartment?
'Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into today?'
She could only shake her head in silence and bewilderment at all these crazy developments... Needless to say, her gesture did not go unnoticed. The tall student walking right next to her had been furtively watching the little superheroine out of the corner of his eye the whole time - ever since they had set out together from Starlight Tower. How pretty she was... and as open as a book. At least now, in this situation.
He had known Usagi for something like eight months, and had gradually seen just about every stage of redness in her face. Strictly speaking, he was something of an Usagi expert in the field, knowing every possibility, every button that had to be pressed to infuriate her from one moment to the next. He knew a lot more about her besides the possible shades of her picture-perfect face; Usagi was an outspoken fan of all new frippery, she loved video games, food in any form, her friends above all else, and was something of a sunshine to everyone she met in her life. The fact that she could be loud, lazy, over the top, scatterbrained, and a bit of a crybaby strangely didn't cross his mind right now.
Actually, Mamoru was quite amazed at himself as he looked at the middle school girl with the unique topknots from the side and just had to react to her head shaking. The urge to respond to her was strangely always there, and so far they had done so many things together, (considering her superhero personality); they've argued, fought, eaten, kissed... HOLD ON !!!
When the last realization hit him, Mamoru escaped a shocked
"Oh my god!"
Now Usagi was quite confused.
'What the hell is wrong with him now !!! Why is he holding his hand in front of his mouth and has his eyes so wide open? Is it his injury? Is he in pain? Or did he forget something on the hobs at home? Is he supposed to meet up with someone? With Rei????'
"Oh dear!"
Mamoru received as a sort of response to his previous, mindlessly blurted out exclamation.
'What's the matter now? Doesn't she know that I'm Tuxedo Mask and was just thinking about what we did together in the embassy? Does she regret our kiss???!!!'
Deeply burying his hands in his pockets now, he decided he'd better get back into safe silence mode. This was truly too delicate territory at the moment. He couldn't just walk in and confront Usagi with the whole topic on the open street and possibly take her by surprise.
Usagi felt a slight stab in her heart. Even if she imagined that she only wanted to go with him because he needed her (medical) help, she still had a rather bad conscience towards her friend Rei. Precisely because there was suddenly something between Mamoru and her that she had not felt so far, when she now looked at him so furtively out of the corner of her eye. Or was it always there, this strange feeling... deeply hidden under all their quarrels?
Hadn't his handsome, aristocratic, masculine and so noble features already caught her eye that afternoon when they had been portrayed by Yumemi Yumeno? From a purely objective point of view, Mamoru was intergalactically handsome. But there was still Rei. After all, they were a couple... weren't they?
Usagi prayed fervently that it would not be long before they reached his apartment. She wanted to avoid a meeting with the black-haired miko on the open street at all costs. There was too much that had happened today and Rei was probably already pissed at her for skipping the important senshi meeting.
Well, you could call it that. Saving Mamoru's and her own life was probably closer to the truth this time.
After what felt like an eternity of both of them eyeing each other wordlessly and unobtrusively, they finally reached a larger apartment complex. Mamoru, of course, lived almost at the top. Just as they arrived in the entrance hall, they were met by a friendly older gentleman who turned out to be the doorman. With a slight smile on his lips, he turned to Mamoru and gave Usagi a friendly nod.
"Good evening Mr. Chiba. Ah, what a lovely visitor you've brought."
"Hello Mr. Akiyama. Yes, indeed. We just don't have too much time..., so-"
With a knowing smile, the porter waved it off, but then put on a regretful expression
"I see, however, it will take a little while for you to get to your apartment, Mr. Chiba. The elevator is being serviced right now. So I'm afraid you'll have to take the stairs."
Mr. Akiyama looked into two expressionless faces. Finally, Mamoru cleared his throat and smiled back, slightly pained
"Oh, it really doesn't matter. Thanks for the info."
Lightly, he silently pushed Usagi over to the stairwell and sighing loudly, the blonde girl began to climb step after step. No. She really didn't feel like riding an elevator with Mamoru right now. But climbing stairs was still pretty hard after all that had happened today.
From the fifth floor on, she actually only gasped and began to complain loudly
"Geez, how much longer is this going to take? I hope you at least have a spectacular view."
She earned a slight smirk for her grunting comment, followed by a rather ambiguous reply (if you wanted to take it that way)
"Oh yeah, it's the most beautiful view in Tokyo, come on!"
Mamoru took heart and reached for her hand. He just had to ignore the electric shock that ran through his entire body in response and keep concentrating; Usagi was tired, worn out, and really she shouldn't even be here, but at home with her family. With Ikuko, Kenji and Shingo. He had really learned a lot about Usagi in the last eight months, although he had mostly met her by coincidence and in passing.
Usagi was wide awake with one blow! This warmth of his hand. So familiar. Had she ever felt him like that? Earlier, in front of the Starlight Tower, she had already had the pleasure, but this time, she thought she could sense a certain energy that she could not put a finger on. That brief look to her from him. So full of...
"Okay, here we are." with another clearing of his throat, Mamoru brought Usagi back to reality. She hadn't even noticed, because since Mamoru had taken her by the hand, she seemed to rather float. So all at once they were standing in front of his apartment door. He unlocked it and Usagi followed him into the small Genkan. After taking off her shoes, she looked up from the floor and saw a man's apartment for the first time. Her breath caught for a moment.
So this was Mamoru Chiba's realm.
Everything was so neat, in its place, and clean. An adult lived here. Alone. Clearly. The barren walls literally screamed it that Mamoru could not have any kind of roommate. All feminine touches were also missing.
'I wonder if Rei has been here before?'
Again, Usagi remembered the miko for a short time and felt guilty again... and another stab in her heart. Usagi had to pull herself together and concentrate on the essential; she had come here to help Mamoru. Otherwise, there was nothing at all between them. Always keep telling herself that this was also the truth and nothing but the truth.
"Please tell me... why have you been shaking your head all this time?"
Usagi blushed deeply again at Mamoru's question and tried to look closely at her socks which suddenly had become very interesting
"Oh it's nothing, nothing at all." she finally brought out shyly under a slight cough. What was wrong with her? This was Mamoru-baka, after all. Just Mamoru... Or maybe it wasn't?
"Okay" he spoke in response, stretching, crossing the living room and opening his balcony door. With an inviting gesture, he told her to come closer.
"Come on!"
In return, he received another questioning look from Usagi.
"Well, I promised you the best view."
That's when the penny dropped for the blonde middle school girl. Just once her heart had stopped pounding so loudly that half of Tokyo must have heard it, when the Baka wanted her to go with him to his balcony. Enjoy the "view". Damn!
Badoom badoom badoom badoom!
Tentatively, she followed his request, and immediately after plunging into the cold, drafty evening air of Tokyo, was flashed for the second time on this eventful day. In front of her, Tokyo Tower shone in the most beautiful and magnificent colors of her beloved hometown.
It was simply gorgeous. Absolutely romantic. This view... almost like earlier in the elevator of the Starlight Tower when they were both trapped by the enemy... and for a little while in their own little world.
"You really didn't promise too much."
she stated with a rapturous gaze and looked up at Mamoru, who had stepped next to her. Lost in thought, he agreed with her as he returned her gaze and began to sink into the sky blue of her eyes.
"Yes, I often stand here looking at the tower. In the morning as well as in the evening. And... think about..."
Well. There they stood. Side by side. Looking deep into each other's souls. They were alive, had made it out of the fire inferno. But somehow there were a thousand thoughts and emotions between them right now.
Mamoru cleared his throat for the umpteenth time on this special evening
"Do you want something to eat?"
the question was not so far-fetched with Usagi but still Mamoru felt more than stupid because of the abrupt change of topic. The day today was somehow also really... extraordinary.
There. Again he was presented with this strange head shaking of hers. Usagi managed to break away from his gaze, turned around silently and prepared to go back into the apartment. Quite obviously she was shivering, but he couldn't possibly offer her his blood-soaked jacket. That was no longer necessary, because Usagi was already back in the living room and stared in shock at the blood stain on his door.
He had forgotten all about it!
"Sooo, right. First of all we have to doctor your wound. Unfortunately my moon rod isnt able to heal such injuries. Where do you have bandages and stuff?"
Usagi sounded now more than resolute. There was again this certain tone from before. As the leader of the Sailor Team, she had obviously learned quite a bit.
"In the bathroom," came his curt answer and Usagi immediately opened the door highly motivated. By mistake, though, to his bedroom.
Oops.
A large king size bed was waiting there and immediately she was overcome by quite a bit of tiredness coupled with some nervousness. She yawned heartily, trying to cover the violent tingling in her stomach area. In return, she heard a slight chuckle in the background.
"Say... Do you own a purple cat pillow?"
Rapid changes of topic dominated her as well.
In disbelief, Usagi stepped closer to the bed and curiously took the soft, cozy pillow in her hand.
'My god, that smells so good. Like him.'
"I never knew you had such a soft spot for other people's bedrooms."
There was the slightly ironic, all-too-familiar Mamoru-Baka-Chiba undertone in his voice as he leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching Usagi with slight amusement. However, a little too intensely and also a little too long, as it could have been meant platonically. Strictly speaking, he had already half undressed her with his penetrating gaze! Quickly she looked around with the cat cushion in her hand and tried desperately to find something with which she could tease him, in order to loosen up the situation a bit. Hot she became. Quite hot.
'Ha!'
"And I didn't know you were so into Sailor Moon."
With one grip she had pulled the small doll out from under a large pillow by the blond braids and held her prey triumphantly in her hand. Only then did she notice how red her supposed opponent's face became... and at the same time her head turned into a red tomato at her realization.
"Yeah so you know, I..."
What was he supposed to explain much now as the real Sailor Moon held a doll edition of her in her hand. Pulled out from under his pillow!
'At least she didn't discover the Sailor Moon - Tuxedo Mask - Dojinshi' he thought dryly and then tried to distract skillfully
"Would you like something to eat now?"
Usagi desperately tried to get her heartbeat under control. He was bound to hear the loud pounding at any moment as well.
Badoom badoom badoom badoom!
'What the hell am I doing here anyway? And what is he doing with the doll in his bed???? Wait a minute... if he likes Sailor Moon so much, it could be that he likes Tux...'
Again she shook - this time violently - her head
'No no no no. They're all just coincidences. He might have gotten them from the crane machine at the Game Crown Center, and he probably still has the whole Sailor Team lying around here. Concentrate on your mission, Usagi!'
Wordlessly, she dropped the doll and pillow onto the soft bed and rolled up her sleeves.
"We really need to take care of your wound now. Everything else can wait. So come on, take off your shirt so I can fix you up!"
'Again this slightly bossy tone from her but well, she can have it.'
He had already taken off his jacket, only his black turtle neck shirt was still on. With a jerk, he had casually slipped it over his head and was now standing in the doorway, shirtless.
Badoom badoom badoom badoom badoom badoom... probably the whole of Tokyo could now hear her heartbeat. THIS view now was truly even better than the one on the balcony and Usagi drew in her breath sharply.
Mamoru was a real HUNK!
His well-shaped, muscular upper body looked perfect. Simply perfect! So to drool perfect!!! There wasn't an ounce too much, he didn't seem pumped up, but had muscles as hard as steel as a true superhero. How she would love to touch him now and run her fingers gently over his body lines.
Damn. Damn! Damn! DAMN!!!
Usagi swallowed. Twice. Then she started moving and directed Mamoru to his bathroom.
"Okay, let's get started then."
"Are you sure you're not hungry?"
Mamoru was worried that Usagi was obviously refusing to eat! Had she gone on some kind of hunger strike? Since they had arrived at his apartment, he had tried to offer her food three times already. Her lack of appetite was as new to him as the fact that this little blonde, bubbly girl he used to argue with regularly on the streets of Azabu-Juban was none other than the superheroine Sailor Moon.
"Mhmmm, you know I'm very busy with your shoulder right now."
She answered him highly concentrated, while she was busy carefully cleaning his wound with a swab. Mamoru sat on a stool in his bathroom. Usagi had moved behind him and tried to focus all her thoughts on tending to the wound
"You're very lucky it hasn't started bleeding again. It doesn't need stitches either. At least it doesn't seem as bad as I first feared."
While she rummaged in his first aid kit for a large band-aid as well as a suitable dressing, Usagi's mind literally drifted off to the events which took place in the Starlight Tower before the two had landed in the elevator.
"It's really strange ... for some reason, I feel like the Dark Kingdom has no idea how to use the Rainbow Crystals. I mean, they have all the shards now, but is anything special supposed to happen with them? I'm really sorry, but to be perfectly honest, I don't know why everyone is so desperate for them when they can't do anything more spectacular than sparkle?"
Usagi talked more to herself as she continued her search for a suitable band-aid.
Luna was never tired of reiterating that the Sailor soldiers should find the Moon Princess and the Imperium Silver Crystal, but so far Usagi had yet to get a clever answer as to what exactly would happen once all the crystals had been collected.
"Mhmm, maybe something is still missing," Mamoru frowned and had his hands folded under his chin as he rested his elbows on his knees "Such as an activator to make the Imperium Silver Crystal appear?"
It was actually only a rough idea, but this thought now hit Mamoru like lightning.
"No, in fact I'm very sure there must be something like that, otherwise the Imperium Silver Crystal would have appeared right in front of me in the Starlight Tower after I added my shards to Zoisite's stones... But there was no reaction at all, absolutely nothing!"
He grinned almost contentedly from ear to ear at his fantastic conclusion.
"Okay, mission accomplished, I guess." Usagi finished her treatment and took a step back to better inspect Mamorus' shoulder. A large band-aid adorned his wound, and to top it off, she had bandaged his shoulder with a rather creative wrapping technique.
"I can only keep my fingers crossed that I did everything right, otherwise we'll have to take you to the hospital," she sighed. "Ami's mother is a doctor, so maybe it would be better if I called her and made sure I didn't make a mistake?"
"Let me see."
Mamoru stood up and reached for a hand mirror that was on his bathroom cabinet. Thoroughly, he turned to all sides and inspected Usagi's work.
"Mhm, should be fine, thank god I have a strong self healing power"
he smiled mischievously and turned his attention back to Usagi. Suddenly he became aware of the fact that he was practically half naked and not even half an arm's length away from her. Worse, he was standing in the middle of his rahter tiny bathroom with a schoolgirl he had just found out was none other than a superhero with amazing, life saving, magical powers.
Hectically, he reached for a fresh T-shirt and pulled it on. Usagi's deep blush on her face just confirmed all the awkwardness that had immediately filled the small room.
"This is a pretty strange situation, to be honest...I'm really sorry for getting you into such trouble, Usagi."
"Oh, you really do know my name."
Usagi didn't know what else to say to him in response to that statement. Mamoru had been none other than her nemesis just a few hours ago. Always, in fact always, he had only called her "meatball head." His new friendliness towards her had hit her so unexpectedly and was simply overwhelming for her... and her heart literally burst when she looked at him at that moment
BADOOM BADOOM BADOOM !!!
That undeniable fact that Mamoru HAD to have a secret identity that matched a certain masked superhero one hundred percent, it was on the tip of her tongue. The very secret identity he had regularly used to get her out of all sorts of danger as Sailor Moon. Except for the last time, when he had been stabbed in the shoulder by Zoisite... which in turn didn't look so bad now, thanks to her moon scepter and care.
"Speaking of real names, Mamoru... "
Usagi decided to confront him with what she had come to. There was simply no doubt left on her part, and she just had to admit it to herself now
"I think...I know what your name is, too."
Her almost toneless statement was followed by an awkward silence that filled the small bathroom all at once. His answer was only a whisper, but touched her deep inside and caused her to shiver coldly
"Yes, you know... And you're right."
This verbal revelation led to an unspoken agreement that both were now well aware of the truth about their secret identities.
The cards were finally put on the table... and Usagi's previous world view completely collapsed like a fragile house of cards.
This room here, it now seemed like the elevator in the Starlight Tower. A place filled with confessions and great secrets between two people who - as different as they both might be - felt deeply attracted to each other in an inexplicable way.
Suddenly, images of Usagi's encounters with his two personalities came to mind; when they had first met in front of the OsaP jewelry store. When they had first met in the jewelry store as transformed superheroes. Images of his numerous insults as Mamoru, of his countless compliments to her as a masked savior in need. All of his mockery, his heroic rescues, his nasty teasing, his...his...his...there arose in her a feeling that was intangible to her. Everything was so overwhelming, confusing, and completely... well...new!
"You are Tuxedo Mask."
The tension that had been hovering until now now had to give way to a true but silent storm of emotions and uncertain feelings between the two protagonists after Usagi's statement. Neither of them was currently brave enough to freely express their thoughts around the fact what consequence this mutual knowledge of each other now entailed.
This time, it was Usagi who had decided to take flight. Her heart was about to jump out of her chest. Mamoru Chiba was just completely unbelievable. He was exactly what she wanted but was not allowed to have. And this sudden realization threatened to tear her apart if she didn't get some fresh air to breathe right now
"Okay, I better go now, it's... it's late and I was supposed to be home hours ago. You know, I have a family that doesn't have the slightest clue what else I do besides sleep, eat, and go to school...so-"
"Yeah, I think you better do that. I... I understand."
He couldn't ask her to stay, he just knew. Mamoru had never been the type of person who could be as free and open with his feelings as his friend Motoki. And especially not in front of Usagi, who had changed everything for him from one moment to the next. His whole world was shaken. Since that moment in the elevator, nothing was the same for him as before.
But Mamoru was just too reserved, too rational, too unaware of what was going on in his heart right now. He had to let her go for now. Even if... no, not now, not here. He desperately needed time. Time to process all of this, to be able to form a clear thought.
'Usagi.'
Stricken with a slight dizziness, she stumbled out of his bathroom. Slowly, she walked through the living room to the genkan, where she put on her shoes. This man had robbed her of all her senses. Nothing was in place in her heart anymore.
'Is it the right thing to leave now? Should I really leave him?'
Mamoru had slowly followed her out of the bathroom and now watched her, paralyzed, as she stopped in the Genkan and seemed to hesitate briefly over her intention to leave.
Before she opened the apartment door, Usagi turned to him, tried to put on a smile and finally confessed in a low voice
"By the way, I really meant it just like I told you in the elevator... You do realize that you are now only the second biggest creep in the whole world..."
He showed her the same expression he had given her in the elevator, but this time she saw something else flash in his eyes; something dark, serious, hidden... a twinkle, so mysterious... was it... Longing?
"All right, Usak...Usagi. Take care of yourself, okay?"
A short, barely noticeable nod came from her in response, and at the same time, a shy gesture of farewell. Closing the door behind her, she leaned against the front and immediately took a deep breath as she slowly slid down the door panel.
'What a crazy day! My whole world has completely changed from one moment to the next and nothing is the same anymore!'
She would have preferred to stay here. With him. What had happened all of a sudden! This attraction between them, she had not imagined it! Could it be...Usagi finally stood up, shook her head again vehemently and walked a few steps until she reached the elevator.
This was quite obviously in operation again, because the doors opened. She simply could not and would not walk up and down stairs today. Her legs were heavy as lead, she felt tired and starved. Her heart would not take it anymore either. When she finally pressed the button for the first floor, she tried to come to terms with recent events
'Mamoru is Tuxedo Mask. He really is. My God...This is such a big secret, how am I going to hide it from the girls? I can't possibly tell them. What am I going to do now?!'
When the doors opened again, she looked into the kind eyes of the porter, who greeted her cheerfully in the entrance hall
"Ahh, is your visit over with Mr. Chiba yet?"
The older gentleman seemed less pushy than genuinely interested, which she acknowledged with a friendly smile.
"Yes, I guess. Unfortunately." Usagi's openness to him also made him smile.
"Well, I hope you come back soon. After all, Mr. Chiba never usually has female visitors." he remarked with a meaningful expression on his face
"Oh really?"
Usagi actually marveled regarding this statement. Mamoru had Rei after all. Had she really never been here before?
"Yes really. Mr. Chiba leads a rather... private life. Except for Mr. Furuhata, he receives no visitors. After all, I should know, because no one can get past me."
Mr. Akiyama pointed to an open book on his counter. Obviously, a list was kept here of the visitors to this apartment complex. How exclusive. Usagi hadn't noticed at first that this building seemed to be so monitored. How the hell did Mamoru get in and out of this Fort Knox as his alter ego?!
"If you tell me your name, I'll be happy to make you a pass for the apartment complex. Otherwise, you won't be able to get in without a key card."
Somehow this all seemed more than crazy right now. A few hours before, they were arch enemies and now Usagi was getting an ID card so she could go in and out of Mamoru's place??!!!
"Usagi Tsukino is my name."
A glow flitted across the doorman's face as he jotted down her name on a piece of paper.
"Next time you come, your ID will be ready, Ms. Tsukino."
He called after her, but Usagi didn't actually hear his words anymore. The blond teenager left the building and headed home, deep in thought and filled with new emotions and feelings about a certain baka.