A/N:
Sorry it's been so long between chapters! Between COVID and job problems, I haven't been writing very well. If you haven't checked out a fic I was working on after I posted chapter 4 of this fic, definitely go check out Always Think of Her. It's a Haruka x Michiru fic that I did as a little bit of a writing exercise. Also, there are still plenty of updates to come on this story, and I'm excited to write it for you.
As always, please review and let me know what you think. You guys are the best!
Chapter 5: I hope I'll watch you grow
It had been nearly a week since the events of the concert had occurred. Usagi and Seiya had spent the days and nights together as frequently as they could. They went out for ice cream, played games under the air conditioner, and reminisced about their early days of dating. The days had been hot, the nights cool, and life was basically back to normal. Usagi smiled at the thought of normal. Just last week she was sure her life was to be changed completely—she couldn't go a step without feeling uneasy; she had not only been attacked by a monster, but a man she had only known for barely a day had wreaked havoc on her psyche. After all of that though, she was here, her head resting in Seiya's lap as they watched anime and ate sweets Ikuko had made for them on Usagi's bed. There was truly nothing better.
Usagi let out a contented sigh as she popped another bite of lemon pie in her mouth. "Ah, I'm so happy!" She smiled up at Seiya, pulling his head down to kiss him, but he pulled away, grinning mischievously. There was a look in his eyes—a smolder she knew very well. He leaned in close to her ear, his breath causing a shiver to run down her spine and goose bumps to cover her skin. She could feel the energy in the room change, a sudden urgency and heat taking the place of the mellow, lazy day they had been having
"You missed some pie," he whispered, kissing the corner of her mouth where a crumb of pie crust still laid. His lips lingered a little longer against hers than the peck she planned on giving him. Her face flushed slightly, causing Seiya to chuckle contentedly. "Don't worry, dumpling, I would never do anything while Ikuko-mama is around." He winked before sitting back up.
Usagi huffed, rolling onto her stomach. "You are such a bad boy!" she teased in a whisper. Seiya ruffled her hair a little bit laughing.
Suddenly, a red banner with an alert streamed across the bottom of the TV: "Strange happening at Tokyo Station...a large group of people attacked by a humanoid figure when a group of young women saved the day...more on tonight's 8 o'clock news…." Usagi frowned and looked to Seiya who stared at the television, deep in thought.
"That's the second time this week," Usagi murmured.
Seiya looked down to Usagi, seeing fear in her eyes; the same fear he had seen during the concert. He brushed a few strands of hair behind her ears. "Don't worry, Usagi. I'll protect you. I promise." She smiled meekly back at him but couldn't push away the restlessness she felt growing in her chest. Three incidents in nearly a week. The chances were good that she would end up caught again. What if Seiya wasn't there? She snuggled her face into his chest, taking in his warmth. For now she was safe….
There was a light knock at Usagi's bedroom door when Ikuko popped her head inside the room. "Usagi, you have a phone call. The girls want to talk to you about hanging out today." Ikuko smiled brightly at Seiya before stepping in the room and picking up the empty dishes. "Did you enjoy the pie, Seiya? I know it's your favorite!"
Seiya grinned back to Ikuko, putting on his best charm. "Of course, Ikuko! No one makes lemon pie like you! I keep wishing to the stars that someday Usagi will be able to bake as well as you!"
Ikuko and Seiya laughed together as Usagi grumbled beside him. "Well, when pigs fly, they say!" Ikuko joked with a mischievous smile, patting Seiya on the shoulder.
"I think you like Seiya more than me sometimes," Usagi huffed, crossing her arms causing her boyfriend and mother to laugh even harder at her expense.
Ikuko was a little more serious, careful not to tread on Usagi's fragile emotions, "Now, Usagi, you know that you'll always be my first and most beautiful daughter!" There was a little twinkle in Ikuko's eyes—the kind that meant she was just a little lost in reminiscing. "But I also can't help it that Seiya is such a fine young gentleman! Now, here's the phone," Ikuko pulled the house phone from her apron pocket. "You've been putting those girls off all week. Now make some plans with them!" She handed the phone to Usagi before twirling around and leaving the bedroom.
"Such a fine young gentleman!" Usagi mocked playfully after her mother left. She stuck her tongue out at Seiya who tried to grab it between his fingers, causing Usagi to squeal.
Seiya chuckled before settling down a little. "So, what're you going to do?" He nodded to the phone in Usagi's hands. "You have been putting them off. I'm sure they're worried about you."
Usagi hummed quietly for a moment, a small frown on her face. She could only remember their eyes looking at her pitifully as she came to after she had fainted. Like she was weak and helpless—like she needed protecting but didn't know it. The truth was she knew those things, she knew she wasn't very brave or strong. She needed people around her to keep her safe. But maybe Ikuko and Seiya were right. Maybe the moment had just been overwhelming. Surely her friends wanted to see her and didn't feel like she was a burden.
"I think I'll see them...just for a bit at least," Usagi whispered, looking to Seiya timidly. He smiled back at her and placed a kiss on her head as she answered the phone.
"Usagi, we've been trying to reach you all week! We've been worried sick," Rei's voice yelled, scolding her.
"Now, now, we all were tired after everything…." Ami's voice pitched in from somewhere in the background.
Next Minako butted in, knocking sounds coming from the line as if the girls were fighting over the phone, "Usagi! Please come over! No one else wants to look at these beautiful new posters I got of the Three Lights!"
Rei's voice chimed in again, this time from further away, "We see them everyday, Minako!" Minako whined an unintelligible remark that started Ami and Rei to both start talking at once.
There was more knocking from the line, and then Makoto's voice came in a sing-song way: "Usagi, I made cookies! And a bentooooo!"
Usagi laughed at her friends' antics. It truly seemed like everything was back to normal, even if the world wasn't quite yet. "Okay, okay! I'll be over soon!" She ended the call and looked to Seiya, shaking her head. "They are a mess."
Seiya chuckled, looking over Usagi, "They're in need of their fearless leader!" He brushed his fingers down the side of her face gently, taking her in one extra moment. "Be safe, my dumpling."
Usagi crinkled her nose at Seiya and grinned, pecking him on the lips quickly. "I will. I can take care of myself, you know!" She said it as confidently as she could muster, but in her chest she could still feel the anxiety from the previous week. She hadn't been able to protect herself then, they both knew she was lying. She watched a look of worry flit over Seiya's face, but then he smiled.
"Of course you can," he said simply. "You can do anything." The words were nothing Usagi hadn't heard before from parents, teachers, and even Seiya himself, but in this moment the way he spoke implied something different than usual. His voice was reassuring and confident. His eyes were knowing, but also a little sad. Where had this come from so suddenly? Usagi inhaled and nodded, her wide eyes surely giving away her internal monologue, but Seiya didn't seem to notice. He kissed the top of her head once more and smiled brightly. "You'd better go! I'll help mama with the dishes."
Suddenly Usagi felt fine again. She nodded to Seiya, smiling back, and hurried to collect her things so that she could make her way to Hikawa shrine.
The day was bright and sunny, perfect for a gathering with friends. Usagi skipped happily up the stairs to Hikawa shrine, her spirits lifted at the idea of seeing her friends again. The cicadas buzzed loudly in the humid summer air while Rei's pet ravens cawed from atop the large torii gate as if greeting her. Aside from the sounds of nature, the shrine was peaceful. In the distance she could hear the muffled voices of her friends from Rei's room. As she neared the sliding door outside of the room, she thought she heard her name uttered by a distantly familiar voice. Usagi stopped in her tracks, feeling her blood run cold. Something wasn't right. Beneath the cries of the cicadas, Usagi listed in, her body frozen from fear.
"She doesn't know?" The voice asked, surprised. Usagi's brain struggled to connect the voice to a face. She knew she had heard it before, but the memory was hazy, like an echo that had neared the end of its call. It was too distorted for her to recall.
Rei was next to reply, "No, it doesn't seem like it." There was a sound of agreement from Ami who then said something so softly Usagi couldn't make out the words.
"Perhaps it's time to tell her," a male voice added. It was a sound similar to the first voice in the way that it was just on the precipice of recollection.
"Maybe it's for the best she doesn't know," a strong voice pitched in. This voice was much nearer in her mind. Usagi tried to remember where she had heard it when it suddenly dawned on her. She had heard it there, in that very room. It was Haruka's voice. The woman from before with the younger girl, Hotaru, who had scuffed her knees—but why was she here? What could she possibly know about Usagi? They had only met once, hadn't they? The deja vu that had come to her in waves before now seemed to linger under the surface. It was a constant nagging, no matter where she was or who she was with. It felt more like dread than just a memory she couldn't remember.
Usagi's thoughts were interrupted again by Minako's voice, soft and concerned, but also strong. "It seems cruel to tell her...she's already been through so much." There was a pause. Usagi could almost imagine her friend's face, filled with concern. "None of us really remember what happened. Maybe there's a reason she doesn't know."
There was another short silence and then shuffling as someone stood. The next person to speak was easier to remember after she had recognized Haruka. It was Michiru, the beautiful woman who had been with Hotaru too. "It does seem strange. Of us all, she should have been protected or brought to her senses first. Why hasn't the silver imper—"
Suddenly the door to Rei's room opened. Usagi screamed as she came face-to-face with Makoto, who shrieked back in response to Usagi's screams. The room full of people was suddenly gathered behind Makoto, their faces tense and serious. As Usagi's eyes flitted across the faces of her friends trying to get clues about what had them so on edge.
Makoto exhaled sharply after the scare, bringing Usagi's attention back. "Oh, Usagi! You scared me. That was quick! How long have you been here?" The others calmed almost immediately, deflating back to their seats around the room.
Usagi giggled nervously, her heart still pounding in her ears. She knew she wasn't supposed to have heard their conversation. She lied, surprisingly smoothly, the words tumbling out of her mouth before she even realized it. "I just got here! I was reaching for the door when you opened it!" She laughed loudly, her head falling back as she waved her hand apologetically. "Where were you going?"
Makoto smiled, "I was just coming to see if you were on the way. Come, sit down!" She walked to the table where everyone had resumed chatting, and she patted a cushion that sat in front of a plate of sweets and tonkatsu bento. "I told you these were awaiting your arrival!"
Usagi rushed to the table, careful to keep her usual happy persona going. She sat on the cushion and smiled as she looked around the room, her friends greeting her happily. Everyone was there. Her usual friends, Minako, Makoto, Rei, Ami...and then the women from before...Satsuna, Hotaru, Michiru, and Haruka. Her eyes continued to scan the room. Where had the male voice come from? Surely he wasn't hiding. Then her eyes fell to Minako's lap, where a white cat was curled up. Beside her, there was a black cat cleaning its face with its paws.
"CATS!" Usagi shouted happily, reaching over the table to pick the black one up. It meowed loudly as she held it under its front arms, the cat struggling to break free. "So cute! She—" Suddenly the cat's large green eyes were staring back at her. On its forehead was a strange, golden moon shape. Usagi inhaled sharply, cutting off her own sentence. She knew this cat. "Luna." Her breathless whisper of her name seemed to shock the cat, as if she could understand what she was saying. Luna's green eyes were wide, quivering ever so slightly as she stared back at her.
"Usagi," Minako whispered, her voice disrupting the sudden silence that had filled the room, "you remember Luna?"
Usagi looked away from the cat and to Minako, while setting Luna on the ground and scratching the top of her head gently. "Of course. I can't believe I forgot. Luna was our family cat, but she ran away at least a year ago! I guess I've just been so busy at school…" Suddenly a wave of fear and sadness washed over Usagi. How could she have forgotten? Luna had been a part of the family for years. She frowned, looking to the tatami flooring beneath her. Her mind felt fuzzy, like after she had woken from the dream about the prince. A memory was trying to crest in her mind, like a word on the tip of her tongue, but no matter how hard she tried, it wouldn't come.
"Busy with school?!" Rei scoffed, "Busy with Seiya and strange men from the arcade." Rei laughed boisterously, and Usagi looked up at her, a small smile finding her way to her face.
"Yeah," Usagi agreed softly. She watched worry flit across Rei's face. It wasn't normal for her to not respond to Rei's playful jabs, she knew. But in this moment, all Usagi could think was how glad she was that things were normal despite the strange feelings she couldn't seem to shake and the serious conversations her friends had been having before she arrived. She scanned the room, suddenly reminded that she had been the hot topic of conversation just a few moments ago.
Usagi smiled, looking to the women whom they had just recently met. Why were they here in Rei's room? They barely knew one another. She knew she had to probe for information, but carefully. "It's good to see you all again. What brings you all back to Hikawa Shrine? Rei's charms surely didn't let you down!"
There was a small but noticeable look between Michiru and Haruka as Setsuna spoke. "We stopped by to check in on everyone. We all met, by chance, at the concert last week. When the attack happened we lost sight of one another. I had feared that perhaps someone had been injured. Quite a few people were harmed." Setsuna spoke calmly, matter-of-factly. There was no sense of fear in her voice at the idea that a strange monster had attacked thousands of people. It sounded as though to her, this was an everyday occurrence. That if she was walking down the street and the monster were to appear again, she would have gone on without a thought that she had never seen something like this before.
In the next moment, before Usagi had time to process a further response, Hotaru had leaned toward Usagi from her seat. Her fingers reached out and touched the brooch at her heart. "Oh, this is pretty! Where did you get it? What's inside?"
The young girl's age showed itself with her stream of questions, causing Usagi to giggle. "Seiya found it in a box of his things," she said, removing the brooch from her blouse. "There's nothing inside, but I'm sure I could find something to go in there!"
As Usagi showed the inside of the brooch to Hotaru, Haruka's rough voice interrupted them, "Seiya? Why would he have such a thing?" Usagi's eyes shot up to meet the woman's amber eyes which were suddenly fierce. She pulled the brooch away back toward herself, suddenly fearful. Around the room, everyone was staring at Haruka, completely still, their eyes as wide as Usagi's.
Michiru placed her hand on Haruka's shoulder and piped in softly."I think Haruka is concerned," she began, making noticeably pointed eye contact with the woman, "as to why your boyfriend would have a woman's jewelry in his things?"
The room suddenly felt hot. The question was understandable. It didn't make sense for Seiya to have it, but even he said he didn't know what it was. Perhaps it was a past girlfriend's, or something a fan had given him to remember her by? There were a million explanations, but the words wouldn't leave Usagi's mouth. She knew none of them were correct, but she couldn't explain why. Her thoughts raced, her friends stared at her, their eyes softer, but still questioning. They knew something she didn't. They knew the answer to Haruka's question. But why didn't Usagi? Why was she the only one out of the loop about herself?
Usagi stood abruptly, feeling her cheeks burn and tears brimming at the edge of her eyes. She clenched her fists, her body shaking. "Since you all are so concerned about it, maybe you can tell me. You all already know something I don't. I heard you all talking about me." The words tumbled out of her mouth like lava. Hot, angry, toxic. She felt defensive. She barely knew Haruka and yet here she was practically accusing Seiya of something that she wasn't even completely sure of. If they wanted to accuse, then she could accuse right back.
"Usagi, it's not like that," Minako began, reaching out for her friend, but Usagi pulled away from her. She turned on her heel, running from the room.
She could hear her friends shouting her name, telling her to wait, but she didn't want to listen. This was the last thing she needed. Usagi was already so confused about so many different aspects of her life. Her brain seemed to be playing tricks on her constantly. She kept forgetting things, her memories were hazy and jumbled, and worst of all she couldn't stop thinking about Mamoru. It felt like there was a whole other life she had lived that had buried itself deep inside her and was trying to escape from her mind, but this was all she had ever known. There were no princes and princesses or monsters or charming men trying to save her. In her world there had only been school and friends and Seiya. Her heart ached at the thought of his name.
A small drop of rain fell on top of Usagi's head, causing her to look around. She wasn't far from Hikawa Shrine, just down the stairs and around the corner, but she couldn't hear anyone. Raindrops dotted the warm pavement slowly, and then suddenly the rain was coming down with a loud sssshhh. Usagi looked up, squinting into the rain, her heart heavy and confused.
"What do I do?" Her voice was meek in her surrender. If only someone could show her where to go or what to do. She sighed, closing her eyes, listening to the rain as it fell against her skin.
"Dumpling head?" The rain had stopped falling against her skin, but she could hear it against the earth. As her eyes opened, she was met by the now familiar, cerulean blue eyes of Mamoru Chiba. He stood beside her, a black umbrella covering them both. "You'll get sick standing out here in the rain, silly. Did you forget your umbrella?" His eyes were soft and joking, but also concerned. His warm hand reached out and pressed against her damp back, pressing her closer to him, beneath the umbrella. His touch brought a strange feeling of calm over her and he smiled down to her, awaiting her response.
Usagi blushed, suddenly nervous. "Y-yes. I did. I guess. I didn't realize, or maybe I didn't," she stammered, patting her bag, unsure of where her umbrella actually was. In truth, she had been too wrapped up in her thoughts to even remember to get it out in the first place.
Mamoru grinned, laughing. "You're a strange one, that's for sure." His demeanor had completely changed from the last time she had seen him when he had taken her outside of the concert hall. There had been that electricity between them; he had been so gentle. Now it felt as though they were just meeting again at the arcade, flirting and teasing one another to thinly veil the strange chemistry that was pulling them together.
"Where are you going? I can at least walk you there."
Usagi stopped rummaging through her bag and looked up to meet Mamoru's gaze. For a moment the look from the concert was there, but he turned his head to look down the road. Her heart squeezed in her chest with longing, but she tried to stamp it out, thinking of Seiya's face whispering to her in the night.
"I was just going home," Usagi mumbled, gesturing in the direction of her home. Mamoru nodded and they began to walk down the street together. They were both silent for a long while, only the whisper of the rain and the hum of the cars as they passed them on the street. Usagi swallowed hard, unsure of what to say. She was sure they both still felt the connection, but Usagi had Seiya and Mamoru had his girlfriend. Perhaps it was best that they left the past in the past.
The two waited quietly at the corner crosswalk, the sign on the opposite corner blinking bright red. Usagi shuffled her feet, breathing in as she contemplated what to say. But as the light turned to green and began to beep, it was accompanied by the screeching of tires. Screams came from the end of the block from where they had come. Both Usagi and Mamoru gasped as they turned toward the sound of the commotion, Mamoru stepping in front of Usagi protectively. As they stared, a humanoid figure like they had seen at the concert appeared around the corner, but this time its skin had a purple hue. It had long black hair and dark eyes that were locked down the street at Usagi.
"Tsukino, you're absolutely bad luck," Mamoru's voice was joking but full of worry as he took a few tentative steps backward, pushing Usagi further behind him.
Usagi hid behind him, one hand pressed against his back as she peaked around his shoulders and between the umbrella she shakily held in her other hand. "I was going to say the same thing about you, Chiba," Usagi whined in a whisper, adding extra emphasis on the formalities of their name. There were worse things to worry about, like the monster in front of them, but she still couldn't shake him calling her by her last name. "We're going through this twice now, I think you can just call me Usagi."
Mamoru glanced back to her, another smirk on his face. "Well, perhaps we can discuss this another time, because right now, I think we need to run!"
At that moment, the monster lunged forward breaking out in a sprint toward the two. Usagi screamed, letting the umbrella fall with a clatter, and Mamoru grabbed her arm, taking them off into a run around the corner down the street. They could hear the maniacal laughter of the monster behind them as she chased them down the busy street. Usagi's lungs burned and her heart beat frantically in her chest, but for some reason she wasn't as afraid as she had been at the concert. Her adrenaline had ramped up her senses. She felt like she could feel, hear, and see everything more intensely: each of Mamoru's warm fingers wrapped around her wrist, the sound of their breathing as though it had become one, and the weight of the brooch at her chest feeling like it weighed a million pounds. She brushed her fingers against it as she ran. It was all so familiar. She began to slow and tried to turn toward the monster, but Mamoru pulled them into an alleyway, both of them pressing their backs against the wall.
"Maybe she'll lose us," Mamoru panted as he tried to catch his breath. His eyes never left the street. "We can't run forever."
Usagi leaned her head back against the wall, trying to breathe more deeply. "What do we do then, it's not like—"
Suddenly the monster's laughter was in their ears again, but this time from behind them. They turned to face the opposite end of the alley where the monster was slowly floating down from between the buildings. Her purple face was twisted into a maniacal grin, her sharp teeth glistening somehow despite the overcast sky.
"Usagi Tsukino," she growled, "or should I say, Sailor Moon! You're mine now!" The monster cackled, pulling back her fist as it turned into a bunch of spindly, black vines, which all pointed toward Usagi.
The burning weight of the brooch at Usagi's chest grew. Her fingers grasped around it, but she didn't know why. There was something she had to say, she could her own voice whispering in her ear, distant. Everything felt like it was in slow motion. Usagi could see each vine wrapping around the monster's hand, slowly but with purpose. She felt her lips move to form the first syllable while at the same time she inhaled a breath full of life and energy from the world around her. There was something special about this brooch, these words. She suddenly knew what to say as she pulled the brooch from her blouse.
"Moon et—"
"Stop right there!" A familiar voice called out from the street, interrupting her. The monster seemed distracted too, its pupils darting away from its target and further behind her. Usagi looked over her shoulder, Mamoru's protective stance still close against her. Four girls stood on the street in sailor uniforms of varying colors.
The girl in the front who wore an orange skirt swiped her hand through the air before pointing to the monster. "We're the pretty suited soldiers, here to protect the earth from scum like you! We won't let you harass Usagi! We will punish you!" A beam of light cut through the air from her pointer finger, just barely cutting through the monster's cheek as it attempted to dodge the attack. A trickle of emerald green liquid oozed from the scratch and the monster screeched in retaliation.
Suddenly there was a crack as a bolt of lightning erupted from the green-suited soldier and toward the monster. The black haired soldier in red sprinted toward the monster with the leader following behind. The last soldier in blue turned toward Usagi and Mamoru, clutching her fist against her chest.
"Usagi! Mamoru! You have to run! We'll take care of things from here!" She turned on her heel, a hazy mist suddenly filling the alleyway where the other soldiers were fighting the monsters.
Usagi and Mamoru looked to one another for just a moment in shock, before they began running in the opposite direction. Behind them they could hear the girls' voices between wooshes and explosions echoing off of the alley walls. They ran for blocks until they could no longer hear or see anything from the frightening encounter. The two slowed, Mamoru holding the back of his neck as he stretched. Usagi leaned her head back toward the sky to breath. It had darkened to a deep blue in the distance. The clouds and rain from earlier had mostly disappeared, she realized, putting out her palm. Muted crimsons, pinks, and oranges filled the other side of the sky and shimmered off of the edges of the clouds. Usagi felt herself shiver in her wet clothes. Her gaze turned to Mamoru who had a distant look in his eyes, as if he had left this world and was watching the destruction of another. She reached out to him, her hand falling softly against his forearm.
"Mamoru?"
He turned suddenly, his dark blue eyes glistening and the rain just barely clinging to his dark locks. "How did they know?"
Usagi's wide eyes looked at him, confused. "The monster? Where we were?"
Mamoru shook his head softly, his eyes fading into the distance. "Our names."
Usagi's breath caught in her throat. This had happened before, when she had met Hotaru, but this time it all seemed to come together. She knew those girls, she knew Mamoru...she even knew that she herself was somehow a part of all of this. She stopped walking and Mamoru turned to her.
"Is it weird to say that I think I'm one of them?" Mamoru's dark eyes watched her again, but seemed to be looking for something in particular. He watched Usagi's small frame shiver in the coolness of the night, her hands clasped beneath her jaw to stay warm. Her long hair blew in the breeze under the light of a nearby street lamp. She was beautiful in a sad sort of way.
Suddenly Mamoru wrapped her up into his arms, holding her chilled body close against his warm chest. There was the familiar smell of roses and spice. He smelled like Seiya, but wrong. There was something else there…. Mamoru's warm fingers ran up Usagi's arm and then neck until they found themselves at her jaw, pushing her eyes to look up at his ever so lightly. Their eyes met again, Mamoru's head dropping as Usagi pushed up onto her tip-toes so that her lips could meet his. As they came together, Usagi wrapped her arms around Mamoru's neck and his hands pulled her closer, if possible, against him. She could feel a familiar heat rising up in her body as Mamoru walked her backwards to a shadowed alcove on the strangely empty street. It wouldn't have mattered if all of Tokyo had been on that street, though; all she could think of was Mamoru, of how badly she needed him in that moment as his hands held her in the dark. They didn't speak as Mamoru kissed a line down her neck. They didn't need to speak. It was as if an invisible force spoke everything they felt for them, and they only had minutes to spare. It would only happen this once. It could only happen this once.
A/N:
Uh-oh, Mamo is getting spicy! Let me know what you thought about the chapter. Also, what are you hoping to see in future updates? I can't wait to hear from you all. Until next time!