To Remember The Truth
by Annabelle (hannah@pred.ml.org)
Part 1: Memories: Remembrance
What if it was Usagi who wanted to protect Mamoru so much (when they died
in the first season, SM) that it was *her* who got her memories separated
from herself?
*This is what my story is all about, the possibilities of the outcome of
events if Usagi never remembered anything in the beginning.
*Ratings: This chapter (or rather, story) is rated PG, no swears, just
romance.
*Disclaimers: I don't own everything that you might read--they're Naoko
Takeuchi's, Kondansha's, DiC's, and all of those other companies w/ lotsa
money. The plot, and some of the characters are mine, though. Please,
nobody sue me, I don't want to have men in EXPENSIVE Armani suits to come
knocking on my door w/ bunches of papers & with LOTSA words to say.
EXTRA STUFF:
*Comments: This is my first, serious attempt to write a fic, so go easy on
me. Anyway, I'm sorry if you'd see typo & grammar errors, I don't have
someone to edit them for me. If you're good in English, or if you want to
volunteer yourself as my editor, please e-mail me. I'd owe you BIG!
Comments, suggestions, flames & all of those other stuff are welcome at
hannah@ml.pred.org
*Recommendations: I'd like to recommend these fics & authors that inspired
me to do my work:
Lianne Sentar (author of Usagi & Mamoru's Love), you're too good. Fushigi
Kismet (author of Past Loves), I like your stories. Crystal Heart, I always
wait for your awesome "what if" series. Ninx, I love your "Four Lovers"
fic. Razzz (First Love), cool eh? To MJ-thanks.
*Dedications: This is all dedicated to my really annoying sister, whose
laugh would make you want to punch her. Thanks Abby. And of course, to the
BIG G. & to Marmee, who inspired me most of all.
Let me clarify a few things first:
Two Aliens & their alter-identities :
Allan = Ginga Seijuurou
Ann = Ginga Natsumi
Terms:
Odango Atama = Meatball head
Henshin yo! =Transform now!
Warning: This is the first part...the beginning of this chapter is boring,
but it gets a little better in the end, though.
'________'symbolizes a thought.
*_______* symbolizes emphasis
~~~ symbolizes a change of scene, view or time gap.
Story:
Two months later (from the prologue):
A young man walked down the busy sidewalks of Minato-ku. He went on
with his usual life...waking up early, taking his daily jog, washing
himself up and finally, going to the university.
'A normal day for normal people...' he thought as he ran his fingers
through his jet-black hair. He smiled and went on with his way...suddenly,
he jerked his head back.
'Why do I have this strange feeling I'm being watched?' he thought as
he looked around. Then he saw a figure from the corner of his eye, but when
he turned to look up the certain building where he saw it, there was no
one. 'Nothing, probably just a figment of my imagination,' he thought as he
continued towards the university. But he felt that same extraordinary
feeling almost all the time...for the past two months.
WHAM!!
He adjusted his shades and saw the same girl he had bumped into for
who-knows-how-long (for the last 2 months *too, * to be exact), he smiled
unknowingly. But then he covered it with a smirk.
"Late again, Odango?"
Her eyes narrowed "As I've always said, don't call me that. And for
your information, my name is Usagi. Tsukino Usagi."
He nodded, absorbing everything he heard and carefully storing the
offered information in his mind. Actually, (he, once again, doesn't know
this) he was memorizing *her voice. * For he had known her name the day
after they met. He had asked Motoki -his best friend- about it, "Tsukino
Usagi Odango Atama."
Unfortunately, he never knew HOW MUCH he had been asking about her.
He laughed secretly as he saw her face go red with anger, "Why
you...conceited...two tongued...jerk! WAHH!"
This time, he laughed out loud, "My name is Mamoru, Chiba Mamoru."
She just stuck out a tongue at him. His eyes danced in amusement.
"Aren't you going to be late *again,* Odango?"
She gave him a smug look in contrast to the smirk on his face, then she
got up, stuck her tongue out again then ran off.
He watched and quietly observed her golden blonde hair that shone like
the sun...very beautiful bluish eyes, and her very cute smile, which
becomes cuter *when angry. * He briefly stated that she was a unique and
cool kid...
'Not that I'm any having interest in her, she's just...' he thought,
ambushing his mind to find the appropriate word, 'something,' Somehow,
running into her brightened up his day.
Then he felt something in his palm, there was a piece of crumpled paper
on it, 'Probably Odango's,' he thought. Then he looked at it. A test paper,
she probably left it accidentally...
"A thirty percent! Hahaha!"
~~~
A dark cat followed Usagi from behind, "Man, that girl should change!"
A white one followed her, both had crescent moon sigils on their
foreheads.
"Luna, cool it! She'll change soon!"
"Whatever Artemis, whatever."
~~~
That night...
Usagi was fast asleep in bed. Then there was an explosion in the
distance. She woke up with a start.
"Luna, what was that?" she asked the cat on the edge of her bed as she
groggily began to dress up.
Luna meowed a response.
"Mmm…Maybe we should check it out."
Luna jumped to her shoulder as she crept downstairs.
~~~
A reporter stood a few inches away as he began talking.
"A meteor has been reported to have landed right here in Minato-ku,
Tokyo. As you can see behind me, it is the meteor that has caused the
explosion, which is why many civilians are here..."
Mamoru looked behind the reporter and saw the huge crater the meteor
caused.
"Wow..." he managed to say, "this is big."
And it was quite big, must be many meters across.
"Hey Luna, whatcha think about it? Ain't it HUGE?"
He turned around and saw Odango Atama looking at the crater.
"Meow!"
And there was a cat with her too. 'Cute pair.'
"I bet this is like, two times bigger than our house..." she uttered
listlessly.
"Hey Odango!" he yelled.
She looked up, "Oh, its you," she muttered.
Mamoru just laughed, "Hey, how's school? I managed to see one of your
failing tests. You should really study, you know..."
Then he waited for her original trademark phrase. The one he had always
heard...and enjoyed hearing.
"WAHH! Why do you have to be so mean??"
"Let me think...because I want to!"
Usagi looked up. Then she went over to him and punched him squarely on
his nose.
"PHHTTBBB!" she stuck her tongue out. Again.
Mamoru was in a haze after the punch. But when he came to his senses,
she was gone.
He rubbed his nose, 'What a temper!'
~~~
The next day...
"Tsukino Usagi?"
Ms Haruna looked around the classroom, without hesitating, she began to
write 'late' on the piece of paper she was holding.
"Ms H, Ms H I'm here!!"
Ms Haruna just gave the sweaty & tired girl, who just came in, a glare,
"You're still late. You're late again. You're always late. And you'll
always be late."
"Ms Haruna, there's this guy I always run into whenever I go to school.
He teases me and everything. And whenever he does that, I forget the time
and I'd start arguing with him..."
"I don't care and would you please take your seat, detention for later."
The dejected girl sat down quietly as the teacher finished taking
attendance.
"Class, I forgot, we have to gather up in the assembly court since
there are two new students we'd like to introduce."
A girl raised her hand, "Are the both of them boys?"
Ms Haruna frowned, "Actually, there's one girl & one boy, he's in third
year. The girl's joining this class. Siblings."
She raised an eyebrow as she varied the reactions of her class. There
were sighs, groans, secretive smiles, laughter, and...a sad face?
"Usagi, stop drooping, okay...I'd spare you detention, for today only,
okay?"
Usagi suddenly smiled, "Yeah!"
Her sudden outburst turned heads.
A girl with blue hair asked, "Is anything the matter?"
Usagi looked at her, "Yeah, I'm fine."
A flash of recognition glimmered in the girl's eye, "I know we've never
been close. But I feel like I've known you forever...I wonder why?"
Usagi just gave her a puzzled look, "Maybe it's because you hear about
me everyday, I mean...Ms. Haruna bugs me often y'know." 'as I bug her...'
she added in her mind, a gleam flashing past her blue eyes.
The girl with blue hair shrugged. "Oh, by the way, I'm Mi--"
"Mizuno Ami, everyone knows about you, you're the top student of this
class, not mentioning the entire batch!"
Ami blushed, "And you're Usagi..."
"Tsukino Usagi, call me Usagi-chan," Usagi said.
"Okay, Usagi-chan."
Usagi beamed, "Wow, you must really be smart. I admire you."
Ami blushed again as they began to walk toward the Assembly court.
~~~
Assembly Court:
'It's a good thing Ms H spared me. Ooh, Mamoru Chiba. I promise I'm
gonna kill you the next time I see you.'
They bumped into each other again this morning, 'how strange.' Then he
had teased her mercilessly once again. He also remarked about her test
scores *and* her temper.
'Why, if he wasn't cute & if I weren't gonna be late, I'd murdered him
then & there.'
Usagi fumed more.
'Wait! What have I been thinking of? If he weren't cute? Yuck! Gross! I
wouldn't even consider liking him if he was the last man on earth!'
'Why do we have to meet each other always, anyway?'
"Hey Usa-chan, are you OK?"
Usagi snapped out of her mad trance & saw her best friend, Naru. "Oh, yes
Naru, I'm fine."
Naru looked doubtful, "You seem so angry back there, why?"
Usagi sighed, "It's just that Mamoru Chiba--he makes me so angry..."
"Really, I thought you looked cute together!"
Usagi gave Naru a glare, and Naru laughed.
"ATTENTION EVERYBODY! MAY WE PRESENT TO YOU, TWO NEW STUDENTS.
NATSUMI & SEIJUUROU GINGA."
Usagi & Naru stared at the stage as the two new students went up.
Immediately, they had hearts in their eyes.
"He's a major hunk!"
Usagi stared at him, "MAJOR, major hunk,"
~~~
Lunch:
"Natsumi, do you really know English?" Usagi was totally curious about it.
Natsumi just glared at her and sighed, "Yes, Usagi, yes. Now would you
please leave me alone?"
Usagi looked hurt. Then she went out of the classroom.
Naru followed her and gave Natsumi an evil stare.
"Are you OK?" Naru asked as she went outside.
Usagi wiped away the tears in her eyes, "Yes...I'm fine. It's just,
why? Why does *everyone* like being mean to me?
"Oh, Usa-chan..."
Suddenly, they heard music. "A flute?" Naru asked.
Usagi shrugged and they ran to the source of the sweet melody.
There was the "Major Hunk" they saw earlier, Seijuurou, playing
his...um...unusual flute. They listened and stared with hearts in their
eyes. Suddenly, he looked up.
Usagi was in heaven. Was he staring at her?
She jumped when he went near her.
"I'll play this sweet tune for you, my princess."
She couldn't move, the music was beautiful.
"ALLAN, I mean...SEIJUUROU, COME HERE THIS MOMENT!"
She turned around and saw Natsumi, staring daggers at the two of them.
"Oi! Natsumi, what's wrong?" Seijuurou asked.
Natsumi's eyes narrowed, "How dare you ask me what's wrong?"
Seijuurou looked back at Usagi, "Excuse me."
Usagi looked at Naru, "Oh, well."
~~~
Afternoon, 4:00 Tokyo Streets:
Mamoru was on his way to his apartment. He looked around then he slowed
his steps. But then he asked himself why he was doing so.
'Because you're waiting for Odango Atama.'
He didn't know why, but he deliberately bumped into her this morning,
in fact, he was ready with what he was supposed to say. It was like getting
a script ready for a show.
His inner consciousness swirled in conflict, ravishing and fighting,
arguing harder about the certain girl. He had hard difficulty understanding
himself. All his life, he had hidden himself-to the point, which he himself
forgot how to understand his own being.
Come to think of it, was his preparing to meet her earlier this day the
*first* time he had done that?
'But why do I like doing this? Or even so, why do I do *this*?'
He didn't know why.
~~~
Usagi was on a verge of tears. Who else but Ms. Haruna had just scolded
her.
'It's all because of Natsumi,' she thought as she went on her way home.
Earlier this day, Natsumi had purposely put a gum in her hair. And when
they began arguing about it, Ms. Haruna saw them and she put all the blame
on *her.* She shouted at her and made her stand in the hallway. And what
made Usagi really sad (not mad) was that triumphant grin on Natsumi's face.
'Why did she have to do that anyway? Was it because of...Seijuurou?'
she asked herself.
"Usagi, Usagi!"
Usagi turned around and saw...Seijuurou. He looked tired.
"I was chasing you...gee you walk FAST," he panted.
Usagi blushed, "Um...well, what?"
Seijuurou blinked, "Huh?"
"Why were you looking for me? Do you want to talk about something?"
Seijuurou blinked again, then he snapped his fingers, "Oh, yeah! I came
to apologize about what happened earlier in class. Natsumi told me all
about it('she was really proud about it too'). Sorry."
Usagi suddenly brightened, "Natsumi said that??" She seemed hopeful.
Seijuurou suddenly looked nervous, "Erm...no."
"Oh."
"But I'm here to apologize in her place!"
Usagi smiled, then she brought out her hand for him to shake, "Apology
accepted. Peace? Well...with you anyway."
"Peace," Seijuurou said, shaking *and* taking her hand.
Usagi put one hand behind her head, "Oh well...better go now," she
said, smiling.
But Seijuurou hadn't released her hand yet, "Hey, maybe we could go
somewhere, an eatery or something? My treat."
Usagi was about to refuse but thought again, 'Food...arcade...and to
think I don't have to spend my entire allowance! WHOA! I can't pass up this
chance!' she thought.
"OK...Let's go!"
The two walked off. Seijuurou was STILL holding her hand, it felt
unusual, but Usagi just shrugged the thought off and continued walking.
Meanwhile, behind them, Natsumi stood, her head fuming, her hands
balled up into fists.
The look in her eyes weren't normal.
They were evil looking.
~~~
"Anyway, Ms. Haruna couldn't believe I passed the test... so she
fainted right in front of me!"
Seijuurou laughed, "She really doesn't believe in you, eh?"
Usagi nodded, "Yep, and I've got a reputation for that!" she said,
raising a fist and shaking it in the air.
The two had gone from the arcade and were now walking from the eatery.
Usagi then decided to stop.
"Well Seijuurou, shouldn't you be going now, no offense, but I still
remember the look *I* got from Natsumi last lunch."
A sweatdrop formed on his head, "Oh, yeah! Don't worry 'bout her! She
was just angry about something, I think--Don't mind her."
He nudged her a bit, so she continued walking.
Usagi suddenly stared up ahead.
"What's wrong, Usagi?"
She just stared, mesmerized.
She stared at a face with the same expression as hers, only, he was
looking at Seijuurou too.
Her mouth moved, "Mamoru."
~~~
'So, Odango Atama has a date...' he thought.
'Better not disturb them, better go away...' They were only a couple of
feet away from each other.
Yet, he couldn't move. He was staring at her, staring into her eyes.
For the first time in the two months they've been withstanding each other,
he saw her inner self.
He was trapped...trapped in those eyes, trapped in his desire to learn
about something he never explored...
A voice rang out in his head, 'I am the one. The one who knows...'
'The truth.'
Pools of love & pain, of longing, of innocence. He was captivated in
those cerulean eyes, which bore into his. They gave him a special message
...they show hidden & unknown affections, directed to...
'Me?'
He suddenly looked away, 'No, probably to that guy...'
He forced a smile, and for the first time in his life, he really,
really forced one.
"Ey Odango! It seems like you have a date 'round here."
She was still staring at him, then she jumped, "Err...wha?"
He might have not realized it, but he jumped too.
"I said, 'looks like you have a date around here.'"
She blinked, then she looked at the guy beside her.
"Date?"
The young man shrugged.
Usagi suddenly came to her senses, "Oh, well, we're not on a date, we
just ate together and went to the arcade, we're on our way home anyway."
Mamoru felt his head boiling, 'Eating TOGETHER, going to the arcade
TOGETHER *and* walking home TOGETHER??' His hands balled up into fists.
'What else do you call moments like those? Normal friendly get-togethers?'
But then, he took a deep breath and introduced himself.
"I'm Chiba Mamoru, and you?"
He thought he saw a flicker of annoyance in the guy's eyes.
But the guy smiled when he turned to look at Usagi, then he turned to
back to him.
"I'm Ginga Seijuurou. Pleased to meet you." The glare in his eye was
clearly seen.
"So, is he your boyfriend?" Mamoru managed to choke out. There was this
dreaded feeling in the bottom of his stomach.
"Gosh, no! He's a new student from our school. We're just friends,
right?"
Seijuurou nodded, yet Mamoru doubted.
"I bet." he muttered.
Usagi suddenly turned to him, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Mamoru clenched his teeth, then he thought, 'I bet that your "friendly"
relationship will change soon, that's what it's supposed to mean...'
He gave her an innocent look, "Nothing! What did I say?"
She looked confused, then she shrugged.
Mamoru suddenly seemed determined, '...but not if I can't help it.'
'WHAT HAVE I BEEN THINKING OF?'
Usagi, who saw the mad expression on his face, looked at him, "Are you
okay?"
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Well I better go now! Enjoy yourselves!"
He walked off, not looking back.
"So, wanna go home now?" Seijuurou asked.
~~~
When he was out of eyeshot, he kicked a nearby garbage can.
"Yeah, enjoy yourselves...I hope you hate each other!"
Then he stopped dead in his tracks.
'Why do I feel this way?'
'Because you're jealous...'
He shook his head, 'No, I'm not. Nope, no.'
The voice persuaded on, 'Well I guess they *do* belong together, and I
know you wouldn't mind at all...'
He saw an image of *THAT GUY* holding *the* Odango Atama. Him, looking
into her eyes, holding her frail body, whispering promising words...HIM!
"NO WAY! I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT HAPPEN! NEVER!"
People began to stare at him, as if he was a mental escapee.
Then color creeped into his face. Mainly because of the attention he
caused.
The color faded away, leaving a pale face.
This time, it was because of what he had said.
~~~
Natsumi watched as Mamoru suddenly screamed his head off.
'He's gorgeous...'
He just shook his head and walked off.
Natsumi has hearts in her eyes.
She had been spying on Allan AKA Seijuurou and Usagi. But now, she
thought she had a better subject to track down on.
'Mamoru...Chiba Mamoru."
~~~
Moments later...
"Seijuurou, I'm not the least bit happy with you. In fact, I'm boiling
mad!"
Seijuurou sighed, "All I did was to give her a meal, played with her
and walked her home, is something wrong with that?"
"Yes Buster, and you know it."
Seijuurou put his hand on Natsumi's shoulder, "Look Ann--err--Natsumi,
we're supposed to pretend as brother and sister in school, we can't go on
being jealous of each other! I'm just doing these things so that we won't
be that...obvious, y'know. I was doing all those for us. You must forgive
me."
Natsumi wasn't convinced, "I still doubt you, you stare at all those
girls too much, especially that Odango headed Usagi."
Seijuurou sighed dreamily, "Maybe it's because she's pretty..."
"WHAT??"
He suddenly looked uncomfortable, "Look, I'm just being nice to her,
okay? Anyway, why do you have to put that gum on her hair?"
Natsumi pouted, "Because you give her too much attention. When we came
to earth using the meteor yesterday, we promised to love each other and
ONLY each other, remember?"
"Yes, yes."
"Also, you must not forget the true reason we came here."
"Yes too. Because we need energy to feed the Doom Tree and to keep us
alive."
Ann then stared at him, "And "the very veridical fact?""
"And what?"
She raised an eyebrow.
Seijuurou finally nodded, "We're aliens."
Ann smiled, "Yes, meaning we, or rather you, can't have any
relationships with humans. Get me?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Good...ugh...oh!" Ann dropped down to the floor and put her hand on
her head.
"Ann--are you OK?"
"Allan, I need...argh...energy!"
"Yes, let's go."
In less than a second, they disappeared.
~~~
Allan and Ann were in space, a different dimension that had a giant
tree. Allan began playing his flute. The tree gave some energy to Ann.
Then Ann recovered.
"Allan?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Look!"
The two stared at the giant tree as it glowed faintly, a branch fell
off.
They both knew it.
The "Doom Tree" was dying.
Ann whacked her fists, "We need..."
"Energy. Life Energy," Allan finished.
"Earth is full of it..." Ann murmured wistfully.
Allan brought out a set of cards, "Choose one."
Ann picked a card.
Allan played his flute. The card revealed a picture of a monster. As he
finished playing, the card became the monster illustrated on it.
"A Cardian."
Ann told the Cardian to get life energy from girls since they were full
of it.
The Cardian nodded and left.
~~~
The Cardian went out and started stealing energy from girls.
"AAAAH!"
"Help us! NOW!"
"EEEK!"
~~~
Usagi's House:
Luna heard the screams, "What was THAT?"
Artemis jumped from the window, "A new enemy, a Cardian!"
They ran off and went to a girl on the ground and found out that her
energy had been stolen.
"Maybe we should revive the Sailor Senshi..." Artemis drifted off.
"No way! They're living their own peaceful lives right now," Luna
snapped.
~~~
Naru looked out of her window and saw a small group of girls looking at
the displays on her mom's jewelry shop.
'It's 9:00 and their still awake?? Well...it's a Friday anyway.' she
thought to herself.
Suddenly, a monster appeared out of nowhere and began sucking up their
energy.
She screamed.
The monster looked up.
He spotted her.
She was his next target.
~~~
Luna & Artemis ran up to the Jewelry Store and went up the window above
it.
"Naru!"
The Cardian was taking Naru's energy!
"Usagi...someone...help..."
Luna looked at Artemis, "Naru often gets attacked by monsters, eh?"
Artemis looked frantic, "Y'know I'm the male cat, but we really should
get help. I don't think we'd easily defeat THAT."
Luna at last nodded, "I'll go get Usagi."
~~~
Usagi was looking out of the window.
'I wonder why Mamoru looked that way when we met each other earlier
this day...He's a great mystery.'
His midnight blue eyes suddenly flashed through her mind...
"Wait a minute! What am I DOING?"
She sighed and went to her bed when, suddenly, Luna jumped on top of
her.
"GAACK! Luna what was that for?"
Suddenly, Luna's crescent moon sigil glowed, and Usagi's did too.
She had one. They were RELATED.
"Remember..." Luna muttered.
"Luna Mind MELD!"
A ray of light passed between the two sigils. And finally, the process
ended.
"Usagi, do you remember?"
Usagi gave her a blank look.
Luna gasped, 'Oh my golden tuna cans! She can't remember anything about
her past!'
Usagi closed her eyes, "Luna's talking...I must be dreaming. I better
get back to sleep."
"Why?" a bewildered Luna asked herself. But Usagi was asleep.
"She won't remember!"
Luna, deciding not to panic, looked around. "I better get some help!"
She jumped out of the window and headed for the main streets.
~~~
'I am staring once more at her eyes. *In* her eyes. I can see
everything. Everything about her.
Golden locks of her hair are blown in the wind, whipping gracefully in
tresses. Her face--oh so beautiful! And those lovely deep red lips...Oh,
how I want to kiss them so.
She is smiling at me, her white arms, soft as silk are around me.
"Mamoru..." she whispers.
"Odango Atama," I whisper back huskily.
Then she leans up to kiss me...
BAAMM!'
Mamoru woke up from his dream, then he saw his alarm clock lying in the
floor. He must have knocked it over in his sleep.
'Oh, and it was such a nice dream...' he thought as he touched his lips.
'Nice? That's hardly a word to describe it. It wasn't just nice, it was
perfect! Fantastic! Enchanting…Beautiful.'
He sighed.
"Here I go again. Why do I keep thinking about her anyway? Now I'm even
dreaming about her!" he asked himself for the 557th time that day.
Why? He hadn't felt such emotions before! 'Well,' he admitted, he
remembered thinking about her the first day they had met, or seeing her
face whenever he needed some cheering-up, or staring back at her whenever
she ran off, or...
'STOP! I didn't know what I was doing anyway!" he persuaded.
"Anyway, we could never be together...
"Firstly because she's younger than me...WAY younger.
"Secondly, because she HATES me. It has always been that way ever since
we've met. I never hated her though; I just teased her...
And finally...because of her soon-to-be boyfriend."
'He's really lucky...OK, there's no use hiding it now. I'm jealous.
Truly, really, utterly, madly jealous. But she won't know that, it would be
the end of the world before she finds out.
'I wonder what it feels like to love someone like that Odango Atama.
Maybe the guy would really be happy. She's so vibrant, innocent & pure. To
stare into those eyes, to kiss those lips...'
Mamoru suddenly frowned, 'I should stop thinking about her, then
*MAYBE* I'd forget about her...'
He lay back down and tried to sleep.
Only, all that he could see was HER.
'Am I...falling in love with her? No, that's impossible.'
He knew that the voice, the one from his soft side, would return.
'Hey, you just admitted that you were jealous, right? Not to mention
the incidents earlier. Boy, that garbage can really suffered from the nasty
kick you gave it earlier! And about what you said...'
"But that couldn't happen! Maybe I just want some attention for once in
my life!" he screamed out to no one. But he knew that he was only lying to
himself.
"Oh, what's the use, I've fallen for her at first sight. And to think I
teased her often and wanted to see her all the time. I've loved her from
the first time I saw her, two months ago. I just wouldn't admit it... I had
never been good with feelings, and I never will be. Maybe I'd just keep it
to myself..."
"MEOW! MAMORU, YOU HAVE TO HELP!"
He turned around and saw Usagi's cat.
"Luna, aren't you? Wait...YOU TALK!"
Luna rolled her eyes, "Yes, I do. Now listen. Look at me."
Mamoru, being a controlled person, did as he was told without doubt.
Suddenly, her strange crescent sigil glowed.
A different sign glowed on his forehead, the sign of Earth.
"Remember...Luna, Mind MELD!"
Mamoru gave a sharp intake of breath as memories flooded into him.
There were memories of his shrouded first life, memories of his fights,
Sailormoon, roses, love, crystals, Serenity, being alone, everything! They
rushed back to him, came back to him. 'Usagi, no wonder...'
"Usako..." floods of emotions were flowing swiftly up inside of him. He
didn't know what to think. He couldn't get organized. 'Her...'
He didn't move, his disheveled situation briefly paralyzing his senses
as he tried to regain his fading composure.
"No time Mamoru-san, there is an enemy, a Cardian in Naru's house."
"But what about the others & (choke) Usagi?" he managed to get out, he
didn't know what to do. But he caught up with the situation soon after.
"Henshin-yo!"
"I don't have a henshin stick. Don't get mad, just to remind you."
He transformed and jumped out of the window; soon, Luna and him were on
rooftops, jumping here and there.
He was quiet, but then he spoke.
"Why did you revive my memories, me, first?"
"Because you could take everything easier than the others since your
older and more mature. Anyway, your apartment's the nearest to Usagi's
house."
"What's that supposed to mean? And aren't you supposed to revive Usagi
first since she's the only one who can beat them THAT easily?"
The dark-colored cat was quiet.
"Luna?"
"It didn't work."
"Huh?"
It didn't work, I tried to revive her before you, but it wouldn't work.
She can't--she won't--remember. I tried my best..."
Tuxedo Mask felt something churn down his stomach. Something -a heavy
burden- dropped itself on his shoulders. It was heavy.
"She didn't...remember? She didn't...oh my...Usako."
Luna looked at him with sympathy, "Mamoru-san..."
They arrived at Naru's house just as the Cardian was walking on the
other side of the street. Tuxedo Mask threw a rose before it.
"Wait, you think you can just walk away after what you've done? I'm
afraid I can't allow that. For taking the energy away from these innocent
girls, I'll punish you!"
The Cardian looked at him then it smiled evilly.
"Fine Cape Boy,* if that is what you want..."
(w's.n: sorry if this is a clash between the original version and the
English dub, I just can't help it)
They took their fighting stances and engaged in heavy combat. Tuxedo
Mask threw roses and used his cane while the Cardian attacked.
The Cardian unleashed a tentacle, which wrapped itself on Tuxedo's leg.
Then he began showering him with horizontal fireballs.
Tuxedo Mask had enough, he pulled up his cane, then, to his surprise, it
turned into a sword. He gave a triumphant look.
He cut the tentacle from his feet. He charged in the direction of the
Cardian, then he leapt and struck the sword on his opponent, causing it to
split into two. A card replaced it, which soon disintegrated.
He grinned.
"My victory..."
Luna & Artemis gathered in front of him.
"...and my loss."
There was no need to ask about it--they knew what he was thinking about.
The two of them watched as he hopped away into the moonlight. Back to
his apartment.
A tear appeared on Luna's eye.
As Mamoru's tears glistened in the moonlight.
~~~
'No wonder, Usagi...Odango Atama...Usako...Serenity...'
He stared at the moon.
'Why won't you remember? You wouldn't know how I'd feel without you.
You promised that you'll always be by my side, why? Why? Oh Odango, we're
much, much closer than you think.'
'I feel so confused, with what is *now* and with what was *then.*
Although, I still feel the same way about her. In fact, my feelings are
stronger. They grow more, truly yearning for her & wistful. But now, she's
so far. It's hard to reach for her...'
"Mamoru."
He turned to his bedside table, there Luna stood.
"I don't know why I can't. I tried," tears fell down her furry cheeks.
"...."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Mamoru turned away, tears cascaded down his face quietly.
"Maybe--no, I made a mistake, I shouldn't have come here."
"Maybe what, Luna?"
Luna looked up at him, "Maybe we could try one more time."
~~~
Usagi lay there, a peaceful smile on her lips, sleeping steadfastly.
'She's so beautiful, oh Odango, I would have fallen for you even
without remembering...' Tuxedo Mask thought.
"Does it work, I mean, even when she's asleep?"
"Of course it does. Why--it works even if you're in a coma."
Tuxedo Mask nodded.
Luna stood on Usagi's stomach. She concentrated...her sigil glowed once
again.
Artemis jumped inside, he saw what was happening and joined Luna as his
sigil glowed.
Usagi's forehead revealed a glowing crescent moon.
"Luna..."
"Artemis..." (W's N: I know this sounds corny...)
"Mind MELD!"
The three linked...
they just stood there...
and stood...
and still stood...
Tuxedo Mask waited, his eyes tentative...
...then Luna yelped.
Tuxedo Mask asked, "What? Does she remember?"
Luna went to the window, "I entered it."
Artemis listened, "You managed to enter what?"
"Her mind."
"Oh."
"I saw lots of things, but when I tried to retrieve her memories, a
gate appeared before me. I think opening it is the only way to retrieve
them. I tried to open the gate, but I couldn't. There was a keyhole. It
needed a key! But I couldn't find one...
Then, I woke up. I'm sorry Mamoru-san. I don't know what it is but I
can't possibly retrieve her memories now that something's blocking my path."
He just stood there.
"It's OK, thank you for trying your best. Can you leave us for a
minute?"
The two nodded as they went out the window.
Tuxedo Mask went and half kneeled at the side of the bed, then he
removed his mask.
"Usako... I love you so. But now that you're living your life normally,
I'll try not to interfere with whatever you do. This is because I love you.
I don't know why you won't remember. But I'll always remember. I'll always
remember the truth."
He leaned down and kissed her, then he went away.
If only he stayed a little more...
He would have heard her whisper in her sleep...
"Mamoru..."
End of Chapter 1 Memories: Remembrance
Story by Annabelle (hannah@pred.ml.org)
Next Part: Chapter 2 Memories: Rejection (The Senshi Awakens)
Here, Mamoru has difficulty in controlling his emotions for Usagi. Soon,
all the girls are rounded up since they were chosen to audition for a
magazine. But Ann & Allan brought out a Cardian and use it to take their
energy. Read the next chapter...
*Note: Please, send me feedback! I really appreciate mail. Whether it's a
cool comment or a criticizing flame.
by Annabelle (hannah@pred.ml.org)
Part 1: Memories: Remembrance
What if it was Usagi who wanted to protect Mamoru so much (when they died
in the first season, SM) that it was *her* who got her memories separated
from herself?
*This is what my story is all about, the possibilities of the outcome of
events if Usagi never remembered anything in the beginning.
*Ratings: This chapter (or rather, story) is rated PG, no swears, just
romance.
*Disclaimers: I don't own everything that you might read--they're Naoko
Takeuchi's, Kondansha's, DiC's, and all of those other companies w/ lotsa
money. The plot, and some of the characters are mine, though. Please,
nobody sue me, I don't want to have men in EXPENSIVE Armani suits to come
knocking on my door w/ bunches of papers & with LOTSA words to say.
EXTRA STUFF:
*Comments: This is my first, serious attempt to write a fic, so go easy on
me. Anyway, I'm sorry if you'd see typo & grammar errors, I don't have
someone to edit them for me. If you're good in English, or if you want to
volunteer yourself as my editor, please e-mail me. I'd owe you BIG!
Comments, suggestions, flames & all of those other stuff are welcome at
hannah@ml.pred.org
*Recommendations: I'd like to recommend these fics & authors that inspired
me to do my work:
Lianne Sentar (author of Usagi & Mamoru's Love), you're too good. Fushigi
Kismet (author of Past Loves), I like your stories. Crystal Heart, I always
wait for your awesome "what if" series. Ninx, I love your "Four Lovers"
fic. Razzz (First Love), cool eh? To MJ-thanks.
*Dedications: This is all dedicated to my really annoying sister, whose
laugh would make you want to punch her. Thanks Abby. And of course, to the
BIG G. & to Marmee, who inspired me most of all.
Let me clarify a few things first:
Two Aliens & their alter-identities :
Allan = Ginga Seijuurou
Ann = Ginga Natsumi
Terms:
Odango Atama = Meatball head
Henshin yo! =Transform now!
Warning: This is the first part...the beginning of this chapter is boring,
but it gets a little better in the end, though.
'________'symbolizes a thought.
*_______* symbolizes emphasis
~~~ symbolizes a change of scene, view or time gap.
Story:
Two months later (from the prologue):
A young man walked down the busy sidewalks of Minato-ku. He went on
with his usual life...waking up early, taking his daily jog, washing
himself up and finally, going to the university.
'A normal day for normal people...' he thought as he ran his fingers
through his jet-black hair. He smiled and went on with his way...suddenly,
he jerked his head back.
'Why do I have this strange feeling I'm being watched?' he thought as
he looked around. Then he saw a figure from the corner of his eye, but when
he turned to look up the certain building where he saw it, there was no
one. 'Nothing, probably just a figment of my imagination,' he thought as he
continued towards the university. But he felt that same extraordinary
feeling almost all the time...for the past two months.
WHAM!!
He adjusted his shades and saw the same girl he had bumped into for
who-knows-how-long (for the last 2 months *too, * to be exact), he smiled
unknowingly. But then he covered it with a smirk.
"Late again, Odango?"
Her eyes narrowed "As I've always said, don't call me that. And for
your information, my name is Usagi. Tsukino Usagi."
He nodded, absorbing everything he heard and carefully storing the
offered information in his mind. Actually, (he, once again, doesn't know
this) he was memorizing *her voice. * For he had known her name the day
after they met. He had asked Motoki -his best friend- about it, "Tsukino
Usagi Odango Atama."
Unfortunately, he never knew HOW MUCH he had been asking about her.
He laughed secretly as he saw her face go red with anger, "Why
you...conceited...two tongued...jerk! WAHH!"
This time, he laughed out loud, "My name is Mamoru, Chiba Mamoru."
She just stuck out a tongue at him. His eyes danced in amusement.
"Aren't you going to be late *again,* Odango?"
She gave him a smug look in contrast to the smirk on his face, then she
got up, stuck her tongue out again then ran off.
He watched and quietly observed her golden blonde hair that shone like
the sun...very beautiful bluish eyes, and her very cute smile, which
becomes cuter *when angry. * He briefly stated that she was a unique and
cool kid...
'Not that I'm any having interest in her, she's just...' he thought,
ambushing his mind to find the appropriate word, 'something,' Somehow,
running into her brightened up his day.
Then he felt something in his palm, there was a piece of crumpled paper
on it, 'Probably Odango's,' he thought. Then he looked at it. A test paper,
she probably left it accidentally...
"A thirty percent! Hahaha!"
~~~
A dark cat followed Usagi from behind, "Man, that girl should change!"
A white one followed her, both had crescent moon sigils on their
foreheads.
"Luna, cool it! She'll change soon!"
"Whatever Artemis, whatever."
~~~
That night...
Usagi was fast asleep in bed. Then there was an explosion in the
distance. She woke up with a start.
"Luna, what was that?" she asked the cat on the edge of her bed as she
groggily began to dress up.
Luna meowed a response.
"Mmm…Maybe we should check it out."
Luna jumped to her shoulder as she crept downstairs.
~~~
A reporter stood a few inches away as he began talking.
"A meteor has been reported to have landed right here in Minato-ku,
Tokyo. As you can see behind me, it is the meteor that has caused the
explosion, which is why many civilians are here..."
Mamoru looked behind the reporter and saw the huge crater the meteor
caused.
"Wow..." he managed to say, "this is big."
And it was quite big, must be many meters across.
"Hey Luna, whatcha think about it? Ain't it HUGE?"
He turned around and saw Odango Atama looking at the crater.
"Meow!"
And there was a cat with her too. 'Cute pair.'
"I bet this is like, two times bigger than our house..." she uttered
listlessly.
"Hey Odango!" he yelled.
She looked up, "Oh, its you," she muttered.
Mamoru just laughed, "Hey, how's school? I managed to see one of your
failing tests. You should really study, you know..."
Then he waited for her original trademark phrase. The one he had always
heard...and enjoyed hearing.
"WAHH! Why do you have to be so mean??"
"Let me think...because I want to!"
Usagi looked up. Then she went over to him and punched him squarely on
his nose.
"PHHTTBBB!" she stuck her tongue out. Again.
Mamoru was in a haze after the punch. But when he came to his senses,
she was gone.
He rubbed his nose, 'What a temper!'
~~~
The next day...
"Tsukino Usagi?"
Ms Haruna looked around the classroom, without hesitating, she began to
write 'late' on the piece of paper she was holding.
"Ms H, Ms H I'm here!!"
Ms Haruna just gave the sweaty & tired girl, who just came in, a glare,
"You're still late. You're late again. You're always late. And you'll
always be late."
"Ms Haruna, there's this guy I always run into whenever I go to school.
He teases me and everything. And whenever he does that, I forget the time
and I'd start arguing with him..."
"I don't care and would you please take your seat, detention for later."
The dejected girl sat down quietly as the teacher finished taking
attendance.
"Class, I forgot, we have to gather up in the assembly court since
there are two new students we'd like to introduce."
A girl raised her hand, "Are the both of them boys?"
Ms Haruna frowned, "Actually, there's one girl & one boy, he's in third
year. The girl's joining this class. Siblings."
She raised an eyebrow as she varied the reactions of her class. There
were sighs, groans, secretive smiles, laughter, and...a sad face?
"Usagi, stop drooping, okay...I'd spare you detention, for today only,
okay?"
Usagi suddenly smiled, "Yeah!"
Her sudden outburst turned heads.
A girl with blue hair asked, "Is anything the matter?"
Usagi looked at her, "Yeah, I'm fine."
A flash of recognition glimmered in the girl's eye, "I know we've never
been close. But I feel like I've known you forever...I wonder why?"
Usagi just gave her a puzzled look, "Maybe it's because you hear about
me everyday, I mean...Ms. Haruna bugs me often y'know." 'as I bug her...'
she added in her mind, a gleam flashing past her blue eyes.
The girl with blue hair shrugged. "Oh, by the way, I'm Mi--"
"Mizuno Ami, everyone knows about you, you're the top student of this
class, not mentioning the entire batch!"
Ami blushed, "And you're Usagi..."
"Tsukino Usagi, call me Usagi-chan," Usagi said.
"Okay, Usagi-chan."
Usagi beamed, "Wow, you must really be smart. I admire you."
Ami blushed again as they began to walk toward the Assembly court.
~~~
Assembly Court:
'It's a good thing Ms H spared me. Ooh, Mamoru Chiba. I promise I'm
gonna kill you the next time I see you.'
They bumped into each other again this morning, 'how strange.' Then he
had teased her mercilessly once again. He also remarked about her test
scores *and* her temper.
'Why, if he wasn't cute & if I weren't gonna be late, I'd murdered him
then & there.'
Usagi fumed more.
'Wait! What have I been thinking of? If he weren't cute? Yuck! Gross! I
wouldn't even consider liking him if he was the last man on earth!'
'Why do we have to meet each other always, anyway?'
"Hey Usa-chan, are you OK?"
Usagi snapped out of her mad trance & saw her best friend, Naru. "Oh, yes
Naru, I'm fine."
Naru looked doubtful, "You seem so angry back there, why?"
Usagi sighed, "It's just that Mamoru Chiba--he makes me so angry..."
"Really, I thought you looked cute together!"
Usagi gave Naru a glare, and Naru laughed.
"ATTENTION EVERYBODY! MAY WE PRESENT TO YOU, TWO NEW STUDENTS.
NATSUMI & SEIJUUROU GINGA."
Usagi & Naru stared at the stage as the two new students went up.
Immediately, they had hearts in their eyes.
"He's a major hunk!"
Usagi stared at him, "MAJOR, major hunk,"
~~~
Lunch:
"Natsumi, do you really know English?" Usagi was totally curious about it.
Natsumi just glared at her and sighed, "Yes, Usagi, yes. Now would you
please leave me alone?"
Usagi looked hurt. Then she went out of the classroom.
Naru followed her and gave Natsumi an evil stare.
"Are you OK?" Naru asked as she went outside.
Usagi wiped away the tears in her eyes, "Yes...I'm fine. It's just,
why? Why does *everyone* like being mean to me?
"Oh, Usa-chan..."
Suddenly, they heard music. "A flute?" Naru asked.
Usagi shrugged and they ran to the source of the sweet melody.
There was the "Major Hunk" they saw earlier, Seijuurou, playing
his...um...unusual flute. They listened and stared with hearts in their
eyes. Suddenly, he looked up.
Usagi was in heaven. Was he staring at her?
She jumped when he went near her.
"I'll play this sweet tune for you, my princess."
She couldn't move, the music was beautiful.
"ALLAN, I mean...SEIJUUROU, COME HERE THIS MOMENT!"
She turned around and saw Natsumi, staring daggers at the two of them.
"Oi! Natsumi, what's wrong?" Seijuurou asked.
Natsumi's eyes narrowed, "How dare you ask me what's wrong?"
Seijuurou looked back at Usagi, "Excuse me."
Usagi looked at Naru, "Oh, well."
~~~
Afternoon, 4:00 Tokyo Streets:
Mamoru was on his way to his apartment. He looked around then he slowed
his steps. But then he asked himself why he was doing so.
'Because you're waiting for Odango Atama.'
He didn't know why, but he deliberately bumped into her this morning,
in fact, he was ready with what he was supposed to say. It was like getting
a script ready for a show.
His inner consciousness swirled in conflict, ravishing and fighting,
arguing harder about the certain girl. He had hard difficulty understanding
himself. All his life, he had hidden himself-to the point, which he himself
forgot how to understand his own being.
Come to think of it, was his preparing to meet her earlier this day the
*first* time he had done that?
'But why do I like doing this? Or even so, why do I do *this*?'
He didn't know why.
~~~
Usagi was on a verge of tears. Who else but Ms. Haruna had just scolded
her.
'It's all because of Natsumi,' she thought as she went on her way home.
Earlier this day, Natsumi had purposely put a gum in her hair. And when
they began arguing about it, Ms. Haruna saw them and she put all the blame
on *her.* She shouted at her and made her stand in the hallway. And what
made Usagi really sad (not mad) was that triumphant grin on Natsumi's face.
'Why did she have to do that anyway? Was it because of...Seijuurou?'
she asked herself.
"Usagi, Usagi!"
Usagi turned around and saw...Seijuurou. He looked tired.
"I was chasing you...gee you walk FAST," he panted.
Usagi blushed, "Um...well, what?"
Seijuurou blinked, "Huh?"
"Why were you looking for me? Do you want to talk about something?"
Seijuurou blinked again, then he snapped his fingers, "Oh, yeah! I came
to apologize about what happened earlier in class. Natsumi told me all
about it('she was really proud about it too'). Sorry."
Usagi suddenly brightened, "Natsumi said that??" She seemed hopeful.
Seijuurou suddenly looked nervous, "Erm...no."
"Oh."
"But I'm here to apologize in her place!"
Usagi smiled, then she brought out her hand for him to shake, "Apology
accepted. Peace? Well...with you anyway."
"Peace," Seijuurou said, shaking *and* taking her hand.
Usagi put one hand behind her head, "Oh well...better go now," she
said, smiling.
But Seijuurou hadn't released her hand yet, "Hey, maybe we could go
somewhere, an eatery or something? My treat."
Usagi was about to refuse but thought again, 'Food...arcade...and to
think I don't have to spend my entire allowance! WHOA! I can't pass up this
chance!' she thought.
"OK...Let's go!"
The two walked off. Seijuurou was STILL holding her hand, it felt
unusual, but Usagi just shrugged the thought off and continued walking.
Meanwhile, behind them, Natsumi stood, her head fuming, her hands
balled up into fists.
The look in her eyes weren't normal.
They were evil looking.
~~~
"Anyway, Ms. Haruna couldn't believe I passed the test... so she
fainted right in front of me!"
Seijuurou laughed, "She really doesn't believe in you, eh?"
Usagi nodded, "Yep, and I've got a reputation for that!" she said,
raising a fist and shaking it in the air.
The two had gone from the arcade and were now walking from the eatery.
Usagi then decided to stop.
"Well Seijuurou, shouldn't you be going now, no offense, but I still
remember the look *I* got from Natsumi last lunch."
A sweatdrop formed on his head, "Oh, yeah! Don't worry 'bout her! She
was just angry about something, I think--Don't mind her."
He nudged her a bit, so she continued walking.
Usagi suddenly stared up ahead.
"What's wrong, Usagi?"
She just stared, mesmerized.
She stared at a face with the same expression as hers, only, he was
looking at Seijuurou too.
Her mouth moved, "Mamoru."
~~~
'So, Odango Atama has a date...' he thought.
'Better not disturb them, better go away...' They were only a couple of
feet away from each other.
Yet, he couldn't move. He was staring at her, staring into her eyes.
For the first time in the two months they've been withstanding each other,
he saw her inner self.
He was trapped...trapped in those eyes, trapped in his desire to learn
about something he never explored...
A voice rang out in his head, 'I am the one. The one who knows...'
'The truth.'
Pools of love & pain, of longing, of innocence. He was captivated in
those cerulean eyes, which bore into his. They gave him a special message
...they show hidden & unknown affections, directed to...
'Me?'
He suddenly looked away, 'No, probably to that guy...'
He forced a smile, and for the first time in his life, he really,
really forced one.
"Ey Odango! It seems like you have a date 'round here."
She was still staring at him, then she jumped, "Err...wha?"
He might have not realized it, but he jumped too.
"I said, 'looks like you have a date around here.'"
She blinked, then she looked at the guy beside her.
"Date?"
The young man shrugged.
Usagi suddenly came to her senses, "Oh, well, we're not on a date, we
just ate together and went to the arcade, we're on our way home anyway."
Mamoru felt his head boiling, 'Eating TOGETHER, going to the arcade
TOGETHER *and* walking home TOGETHER??' His hands balled up into fists.
'What else do you call moments like those? Normal friendly get-togethers?'
But then, he took a deep breath and introduced himself.
"I'm Chiba Mamoru, and you?"
He thought he saw a flicker of annoyance in the guy's eyes.
But the guy smiled when he turned to look at Usagi, then he turned to
back to him.
"I'm Ginga Seijuurou. Pleased to meet you." The glare in his eye was
clearly seen.
"So, is he your boyfriend?" Mamoru managed to choke out. There was this
dreaded feeling in the bottom of his stomach.
"Gosh, no! He's a new student from our school. We're just friends,
right?"
Seijuurou nodded, yet Mamoru doubted.
"I bet." he muttered.
Usagi suddenly turned to him, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Mamoru clenched his teeth, then he thought, 'I bet that your "friendly"
relationship will change soon, that's what it's supposed to mean...'
He gave her an innocent look, "Nothing! What did I say?"
She looked confused, then she shrugged.
Mamoru suddenly seemed determined, '...but not if I can't help it.'
'WHAT HAVE I BEEN THINKING OF?'
Usagi, who saw the mad expression on his face, looked at him, "Are you
okay?"
"Oh yeah, I'm fine. Well I better go now! Enjoy yourselves!"
He walked off, not looking back.
"So, wanna go home now?" Seijuurou asked.
~~~
When he was out of eyeshot, he kicked a nearby garbage can.
"Yeah, enjoy yourselves...I hope you hate each other!"
Then he stopped dead in his tracks.
'Why do I feel this way?'
'Because you're jealous...'
He shook his head, 'No, I'm not. Nope, no.'
The voice persuaded on, 'Well I guess they *do* belong together, and I
know you wouldn't mind at all...'
He saw an image of *THAT GUY* holding *the* Odango Atama. Him, looking
into her eyes, holding her frail body, whispering promising words...HIM!
"NO WAY! I'M NOT GONNA LET THAT HAPPEN! NEVER!"
People began to stare at him, as if he was a mental escapee.
Then color creeped into his face. Mainly because of the attention he
caused.
The color faded away, leaving a pale face.
This time, it was because of what he had said.
~~~
Natsumi watched as Mamoru suddenly screamed his head off.
'He's gorgeous...'
He just shook his head and walked off.
Natsumi has hearts in her eyes.
She had been spying on Allan AKA Seijuurou and Usagi. But now, she
thought she had a better subject to track down on.
'Mamoru...Chiba Mamoru."
~~~
Moments later...
"Seijuurou, I'm not the least bit happy with you. In fact, I'm boiling
mad!"
Seijuurou sighed, "All I did was to give her a meal, played with her
and walked her home, is something wrong with that?"
"Yes Buster, and you know it."
Seijuurou put his hand on Natsumi's shoulder, "Look Ann--err--Natsumi,
we're supposed to pretend as brother and sister in school, we can't go on
being jealous of each other! I'm just doing these things so that we won't
be that...obvious, y'know. I was doing all those for us. You must forgive
me."
Natsumi wasn't convinced, "I still doubt you, you stare at all those
girls too much, especially that Odango headed Usagi."
Seijuurou sighed dreamily, "Maybe it's because she's pretty..."
"WHAT??"
He suddenly looked uncomfortable, "Look, I'm just being nice to her,
okay? Anyway, why do you have to put that gum on her hair?"
Natsumi pouted, "Because you give her too much attention. When we came
to earth using the meteor yesterday, we promised to love each other and
ONLY each other, remember?"
"Yes, yes."
"Also, you must not forget the true reason we came here."
"Yes too. Because we need energy to feed the Doom Tree and to keep us
alive."
Ann then stared at him, "And "the very veridical fact?""
"And what?"
She raised an eyebrow.
Seijuurou finally nodded, "We're aliens."
Ann smiled, "Yes, meaning we, or rather you, can't have any
relationships with humans. Get me?"
"Yeah, I do."
"Good...ugh...oh!" Ann dropped down to the floor and put her hand on
her head.
"Ann--are you OK?"
"Allan, I need...argh...energy!"
"Yes, let's go."
In less than a second, they disappeared.
~~~
Allan and Ann were in space, a different dimension that had a giant
tree. Allan began playing his flute. The tree gave some energy to Ann.
Then Ann recovered.
"Allan?"
"Yes, dear?"
"Look!"
The two stared at the giant tree as it glowed faintly, a branch fell
off.
They both knew it.
The "Doom Tree" was dying.
Ann whacked her fists, "We need..."
"Energy. Life Energy," Allan finished.
"Earth is full of it..." Ann murmured wistfully.
Allan brought out a set of cards, "Choose one."
Ann picked a card.
Allan played his flute. The card revealed a picture of a monster. As he
finished playing, the card became the monster illustrated on it.
"A Cardian."
Ann told the Cardian to get life energy from girls since they were full
of it.
The Cardian nodded and left.
~~~
The Cardian went out and started stealing energy from girls.
"AAAAH!"
"Help us! NOW!"
"EEEK!"
~~~
Usagi's House:
Luna heard the screams, "What was THAT?"
Artemis jumped from the window, "A new enemy, a Cardian!"
They ran off and went to a girl on the ground and found out that her
energy had been stolen.
"Maybe we should revive the Sailor Senshi..." Artemis drifted off.
"No way! They're living their own peaceful lives right now," Luna
snapped.
~~~
Naru looked out of her window and saw a small group of girls looking at
the displays on her mom's jewelry shop.
'It's 9:00 and their still awake?? Well...it's a Friday anyway.' she
thought to herself.
Suddenly, a monster appeared out of nowhere and began sucking up their
energy.
She screamed.
The monster looked up.
He spotted her.
She was his next target.
~~~
Luna & Artemis ran up to the Jewelry Store and went up the window above
it.
"Naru!"
The Cardian was taking Naru's energy!
"Usagi...someone...help..."
Luna looked at Artemis, "Naru often gets attacked by monsters, eh?"
Artemis looked frantic, "Y'know I'm the male cat, but we really should
get help. I don't think we'd easily defeat THAT."
Luna at last nodded, "I'll go get Usagi."
~~~
Usagi was looking out of the window.
'I wonder why Mamoru looked that way when we met each other earlier
this day...He's a great mystery.'
His midnight blue eyes suddenly flashed through her mind...
"Wait a minute! What am I DOING?"
She sighed and went to her bed when, suddenly, Luna jumped on top of
her.
"GAACK! Luna what was that for?"
Suddenly, Luna's crescent moon sigil glowed, and Usagi's did too.
She had one. They were RELATED.
"Remember..." Luna muttered.
"Luna Mind MELD!"
A ray of light passed between the two sigils. And finally, the process
ended.
"Usagi, do you remember?"
Usagi gave her a blank look.
Luna gasped, 'Oh my golden tuna cans! She can't remember anything about
her past!'
Usagi closed her eyes, "Luna's talking...I must be dreaming. I better
get back to sleep."
"Why?" a bewildered Luna asked herself. But Usagi was asleep.
"She won't remember!"
Luna, deciding not to panic, looked around. "I better get some help!"
She jumped out of the window and headed for the main streets.
~~~
'I am staring once more at her eyes. *In* her eyes. I can see
everything. Everything about her.
Golden locks of her hair are blown in the wind, whipping gracefully in
tresses. Her face--oh so beautiful! And those lovely deep red lips...Oh,
how I want to kiss them so.
She is smiling at me, her white arms, soft as silk are around me.
"Mamoru..." she whispers.
"Odango Atama," I whisper back huskily.
Then she leans up to kiss me...
BAAMM!'
Mamoru woke up from his dream, then he saw his alarm clock lying in the
floor. He must have knocked it over in his sleep.
'Oh, and it was such a nice dream...' he thought as he touched his lips.
'Nice? That's hardly a word to describe it. It wasn't just nice, it was
perfect! Fantastic! Enchanting…Beautiful.'
He sighed.
"Here I go again. Why do I keep thinking about her anyway? Now I'm even
dreaming about her!" he asked himself for the 557th time that day.
Why? He hadn't felt such emotions before! 'Well,' he admitted, he
remembered thinking about her the first day they had met, or seeing her
face whenever he needed some cheering-up, or staring back at her whenever
she ran off, or...
'STOP! I didn't know what I was doing anyway!" he persuaded.
"Anyway, we could never be together...
"Firstly because she's younger than me...WAY younger.
"Secondly, because she HATES me. It has always been that way ever since
we've met. I never hated her though; I just teased her...
And finally...because of her soon-to-be boyfriend."
'He's really lucky...OK, there's no use hiding it now. I'm jealous.
Truly, really, utterly, madly jealous. But she won't know that, it would be
the end of the world before she finds out.
'I wonder what it feels like to love someone like that Odango Atama.
Maybe the guy would really be happy. She's so vibrant, innocent & pure. To
stare into those eyes, to kiss those lips...'
Mamoru suddenly frowned, 'I should stop thinking about her, then
*MAYBE* I'd forget about her...'
He lay back down and tried to sleep.
Only, all that he could see was HER.
'Am I...falling in love with her? No, that's impossible.'
He knew that the voice, the one from his soft side, would return.
'Hey, you just admitted that you were jealous, right? Not to mention
the incidents earlier. Boy, that garbage can really suffered from the nasty
kick you gave it earlier! And about what you said...'
"But that couldn't happen! Maybe I just want some attention for once in
my life!" he screamed out to no one. But he knew that he was only lying to
himself.
"Oh, what's the use, I've fallen for her at first sight. And to think I
teased her often and wanted to see her all the time. I've loved her from
the first time I saw her, two months ago. I just wouldn't admit it... I had
never been good with feelings, and I never will be. Maybe I'd just keep it
to myself..."
"MEOW! MAMORU, YOU HAVE TO HELP!"
He turned around and saw Usagi's cat.
"Luna, aren't you? Wait...YOU TALK!"
Luna rolled her eyes, "Yes, I do. Now listen. Look at me."
Mamoru, being a controlled person, did as he was told without doubt.
Suddenly, her strange crescent sigil glowed.
A different sign glowed on his forehead, the sign of Earth.
"Remember...Luna, Mind MELD!"
Mamoru gave a sharp intake of breath as memories flooded into him.
There were memories of his shrouded first life, memories of his fights,
Sailormoon, roses, love, crystals, Serenity, being alone, everything! They
rushed back to him, came back to him. 'Usagi, no wonder...'
"Usako..." floods of emotions were flowing swiftly up inside of him. He
didn't know what to think. He couldn't get organized. 'Her...'
He didn't move, his disheveled situation briefly paralyzing his senses
as he tried to regain his fading composure.
"No time Mamoru-san, there is an enemy, a Cardian in Naru's house."
"But what about the others & (choke) Usagi?" he managed to get out, he
didn't know what to do. But he caught up with the situation soon after.
"Henshin-yo!"
"I don't have a henshin stick. Don't get mad, just to remind you."
He transformed and jumped out of the window; soon, Luna and him were on
rooftops, jumping here and there.
He was quiet, but then he spoke.
"Why did you revive my memories, me, first?"
"Because you could take everything easier than the others since your
older and more mature. Anyway, your apartment's the nearest to Usagi's
house."
"What's that supposed to mean? And aren't you supposed to revive Usagi
first since she's the only one who can beat them THAT easily?"
The dark-colored cat was quiet.
"Luna?"
"It didn't work."
"Huh?"
It didn't work, I tried to revive her before you, but it wouldn't work.
She can't--she won't--remember. I tried my best..."
Tuxedo Mask felt something churn down his stomach. Something -a heavy
burden- dropped itself on his shoulders. It was heavy.
"She didn't...remember? She didn't...oh my...Usako."
Luna looked at him with sympathy, "Mamoru-san..."
They arrived at Naru's house just as the Cardian was walking on the
other side of the street. Tuxedo Mask threw a rose before it.
"Wait, you think you can just walk away after what you've done? I'm
afraid I can't allow that. For taking the energy away from these innocent
girls, I'll punish you!"
The Cardian looked at him then it smiled evilly.
"Fine Cape Boy,* if that is what you want..."
(w's.n: sorry if this is a clash between the original version and the
English dub, I just can't help it)
They took their fighting stances and engaged in heavy combat. Tuxedo
Mask threw roses and used his cane while the Cardian attacked.
The Cardian unleashed a tentacle, which wrapped itself on Tuxedo's leg.
Then he began showering him with horizontal fireballs.
Tuxedo Mask had enough, he pulled up his cane, then, to his surprise, it
turned into a sword. He gave a triumphant look.
He cut the tentacle from his feet. He charged in the direction of the
Cardian, then he leapt and struck the sword on his opponent, causing it to
split into two. A card replaced it, which soon disintegrated.
He grinned.
"My victory..."
Luna & Artemis gathered in front of him.
"...and my loss."
There was no need to ask about it--they knew what he was thinking about.
The two of them watched as he hopped away into the moonlight. Back to
his apartment.
A tear appeared on Luna's eye.
As Mamoru's tears glistened in the moonlight.
~~~
'No wonder, Usagi...Odango Atama...Usako...Serenity...'
He stared at the moon.
'Why won't you remember? You wouldn't know how I'd feel without you.
You promised that you'll always be by my side, why? Why? Oh Odango, we're
much, much closer than you think.'
'I feel so confused, with what is *now* and with what was *then.*
Although, I still feel the same way about her. In fact, my feelings are
stronger. They grow more, truly yearning for her & wistful. But now, she's
so far. It's hard to reach for her...'
"Mamoru."
He turned to his bedside table, there Luna stood.
"I don't know why I can't. I tried," tears fell down her furry cheeks.
"...."
"Is there anything I can do?"
Mamoru turned away, tears cascaded down his face quietly.
"Maybe--no, I made a mistake, I shouldn't have come here."
"Maybe what, Luna?"
Luna looked up at him, "Maybe we could try one more time."
~~~
Usagi lay there, a peaceful smile on her lips, sleeping steadfastly.
'She's so beautiful, oh Odango, I would have fallen for you even
without remembering...' Tuxedo Mask thought.
"Does it work, I mean, even when she's asleep?"
"Of course it does. Why--it works even if you're in a coma."
Tuxedo Mask nodded.
Luna stood on Usagi's stomach. She concentrated...her sigil glowed once
again.
Artemis jumped inside, he saw what was happening and joined Luna as his
sigil glowed.
Usagi's forehead revealed a glowing crescent moon.
"Luna..."
"Artemis..." (W's N: I know this sounds corny...)
"Mind MELD!"
The three linked...
they just stood there...
and stood...
and still stood...
Tuxedo Mask waited, his eyes tentative...
...then Luna yelped.
Tuxedo Mask asked, "What? Does she remember?"
Luna went to the window, "I entered it."
Artemis listened, "You managed to enter what?"
"Her mind."
"Oh."
"I saw lots of things, but when I tried to retrieve her memories, a
gate appeared before me. I think opening it is the only way to retrieve
them. I tried to open the gate, but I couldn't. There was a keyhole. It
needed a key! But I couldn't find one...
Then, I woke up. I'm sorry Mamoru-san. I don't know what it is but I
can't possibly retrieve her memories now that something's blocking my path."
He just stood there.
"It's OK, thank you for trying your best. Can you leave us for a
minute?"
The two nodded as they went out the window.
Tuxedo Mask went and half kneeled at the side of the bed, then he
removed his mask.
"Usako... I love you so. But now that you're living your life normally,
I'll try not to interfere with whatever you do. This is because I love you.
I don't know why you won't remember. But I'll always remember. I'll always
remember the truth."
He leaned down and kissed her, then he went away.
If only he stayed a little more...
He would have heard her whisper in her sleep...
"Mamoru..."
End of Chapter 1 Memories: Remembrance
Story by Annabelle (hannah@pred.ml.org)
Next Part: Chapter 2 Memories: Rejection (The Senshi Awakens)
Here, Mamoru has difficulty in controlling his emotions for Usagi. Soon,
all the girls are rounded up since they were chosen to audition for a
magazine. But Ann & Allan brought out a Cardian and use it to take their
energy. Read the next chapter...
*Note: Please, send me feedback! I really appreciate mail. Whether it's a
cool comment or a criticizing flame.