by Lady Aishiteru
Chapter 5 - Mamoru's Solution
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
Author's Note: Sorry I don't have any nutty "disclaimers." This time, I'll write a brief author's note. Hey, don't scroll down with your mouse yet...
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hey....
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waitaminit....
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I SAID STOP!
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Okay, now that I've gotten everyone's attention, I just wanted to say a few things about this fic before I wrap it up. First of all, I've tried all of these methods myself, well, except for the yoga and the sleep aid that will be in this chapter. They actually DO work, well, for me, anyways. I find that Ovaltine takes the edge off of the bad taste in warm milk, kind of like hot cocoa, but without the caffeine. As for the bathing, I think it's something about being warm, or is it the transition from lukewarm to ordinary temperatures? I got the idea for the "sensual jasmine" from something I gave a friend as a birthday gift. Don't get the wrong idea...I got it because it smelled good. Honest! ;^_^
Another method I would reccomend to chase away insomnia are taking an antihistamine. One Benadryl usually does the trick. It's important to only take ONE pill, though....overdosing is bad, 'cause it could...ah...kill you. Then where would my audience be? Hee...just kidding. I'm not THAT much of a jerk.
As for alternative methods and assorted folk cures, I tried counting sheep before, but that never works for me. What does work is reading a book until my eyelids feel nice and heavy, petting my Siamese, Zena, lighting scented candles in a dim room, my Yanni CD, and my white noise maker. That thing is great....it even has ocean sounds. Ooh, ocean...and fuzzy bunnies, and kitties and lollies....
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
*snap*
Who? What? Where? Oh yeah...I was writing the author's note to ch. 5. Well, you all enjoy the ending, and in the meantime, I need my beauty sleep. Later!
- Lady A
~*~Flashback~*~
"How long have you been Tuxedo Mask?"
I fought hard to control the surging of emotions I felt, and it was even more difficult to mask them on my face. "As long as you've been Sailor Moon."
"So you know," said Usagi, staring at the ground. "Now what?"
At that moment, an alarm beeped. "Oh no! I've got to..got to..," she stammered, then took off in a sprint.
I sat there for a moment, completely poleaxed. Then it finally reached my sluggish mind - Sailor Moon was being called into action. "Damn it!" I shouted. "Of all the rotten timing!" I transformed into Tuxedo Mask, then high-tailed it in the direction Usagi had run off to.
~*~End of Flashback~*~
~*~Usagi's P.O.V.~*~
The buildings go up...the buildings go down. Up, down. Up, down.
I just barely resisted the urge to vomit as I clung tightly to the fabric of Tuxedo Mask's cape. At each leap, the buildings would dip slightly into the recesses of my eyesigh, then the tip of his heels of his wing tipped shoes would touch down briefly on the surface of a rooftop, just to take to the air once more. The skyline would rise, then abruptly stop, just to plummet once more in a downward spiral that was making me increasingly nauseous. It's true that as Sailor Moon, I travelled the same way, but somehow, it wasn't as scary when my body was in control, and I definetly wasn't in control at the moment. My body began to quiver as the bile built up in my throat.
"Don't look down. It makes it easier," he said. I couldn't see his face, but somehow, I knew he was smiling. I did what he said, and my stomach quieted a bit.
"Wh-where are you taking me?" I asked Tuxedo Mask.
"To my apartment."
I laughed nervously. "I-isn't there a place we can...um...talk...that's not so..."
Tuxedo Mask landed on a balcony and stopped. In one quick motion, he removed his top hat and de-transformed. The gesture was graceful, yet masculine and powerful. "Isolated?" he asked, giving me his lopsided grin.
"Yeah," I said, looking down at my boots and fiddling absently with my tiara.
He opened the door and motioned for me to come in. "Don't worry. I won't do anything that you aren't ready for."
'Not...ready? What's that supposed to mean'?' I wondered, as I detransformed, my rapid heartbeat filling my ears.
"Okay," I said, walking through the sliding glass door. I took my seat on the sofa across from him.
I was the first one to speak. "I didn't mean to hide anything from you. I just couldn't tell anyone, that's all," I said.
"That's not what I wanted to talk about," said Mamoru.
"What?"
"It's okay."
"How can it be okay?" I asked. I knew it was stupid to question him, especially when he sounded so sincere. And even though I didn't want to start a fight, I felt like I had to make sure we could trust each other.
"I know how you feel about Tuxedo Mask. I can see it in your eyes whenever you do battle as Sailor Moon."
I blushed. Was it that obvious?
"Are you disappointed?" he asked.
I had just opened my mouth to respond, when I noticed that I wasn't the only one who was nervous. His was breathing was ragged and nervous, something I hadn't seen in him before. This was the real Mamoru, the man behind the mask.
There were so many things I wanted to say to him, but I couldn't find the words. Instead, my eyes never leaving the ground, I shook my head. Then I felt him sit down next to me, and he cupped my chin in his hand so I was looking into his eyes. A single tear rolled down my cheek, and he brushed it away.
"Mamoru, I wanted to tell you-"
I was cut off when without any further warning, his lips silenced any further conversation on my part. Impulsively, I wrapped my arms around his neck and his drew me closer by the small of my back. Liquid fire ran in my veins until he drew back just enough to break the kiss. If I had any doubts about how he felt, they had been skillfully put to rest.
I sighed happily and turned around and put my head on his chest. He held me there under arms, and his grip was firm, yet tender. I noticed his breathing gradually slow down, then become steady. For the first time in my life since becoming Sailor Moon, I felt safe, and my body relaxed until I fell asleep too.
~*~Epilogue - Hearts at Rest~*~
Mamoru's P.O.V
I woke up feeling the warmth of the sunlight on my cheeks. Putting my nose in Usagi's silky hair, I inhaled deeply, the smell of lilacs tickling my nostrils, intoxicating. I looked down at her peaceful face, and she stirred a little in her sleep. Even though I really wanted to stay there by her side, I had to get up anyways. After all, it was a school day. I began preparing breakfast, glad that it was still early, a mere 5:30.
Soon, she came into the kicthen, hair tousled and sleepy-eyed, twitching her nose like a bunny. "Is that blueberry pancakes I smell?"
"Far be it for me to hide food from you, Usako."
She smiled, and I tweaked her cute little nose. "Sleep well?"
"Actually, yes."
"Me too," I said, giving her a peck on the cheek. "I don't suppose I could bottle you up and keep you in my medicine cabinet?"
"'Fraid not, Mamo-chan," she said, putting her head on my shoulder and her arms around my waist.
"Usagi, if you don't sit down, I'm never going to be able to make you breakfast."
She drew back and pouted a little, but I could tell she really didn't mind. Soon, the pancakes were ready, and she cheerfully wolfed them down, leaving little specks of blueberry on her lips. "So, what do you think was keeping us awake at night?"
"I don't know. Maybe, in the back of our minds, we felt something was missing, and we couldn't rest until we had found it."
She nodded. "That sounds about right. So now what?"
"Looks like we're stuck with each other. For as long as you'll have me, that is."
"Yep. No choice, really," she said, smiling.
I looked into her eyes, and I could see forever in the radiant blue orbs. Not even death would tear us apart. Whatever we would face, both as our alter egos and as ourselves, it would be together. I was certain, more than anything in my entire life, that neither of us would ever be alone again.
~*~END~*~