Disclaimer: Sailormoon and all its characters do not belong to me. Any
resemblance to any other story is coincidental and not intentional.
This story happened after the senshi defeated Beryl and slightly deviates from the original version.
I could not remember the Japanese version of Tuxedo Mask, so I kept his name as it is. Sorry!
Chapter 4: Weakness
They flew over Tokyo, jumping from building to building like cats, always landing on their feet. Usagi began to wonder how Tuxedo Mask was not straining after carrying her for over 10 minutes. She knew she wasn't the lightest of all things. Many people often commented that she ate like a pig. But as soon as she lifted her head from her masked hero's chest, she would start feeling queasy.
"Grow up, Usagi, don't be so weak" she thought to herself, "You are Sailormoon. You should not be frightened of heights."
***
Mamoru looked down at his precious cargo, smiling at the way she snuggled closer every time she lifted her head. He didn't feel tired at all. This was his beloved, after all.
He saw the park looming in front and heading straight to his special spot, in the midst of the rose gardens. Mamoru always felt connected to these parts of the public park because of the flowers it grew. He found the area one day after helping Sailormoon fight a particular nasty youma, it had drawn him towards it, surprising Tuxedo Mask as he found a large garden full of his recognizable roses.
As he made his way towards one of the benches dotted around the garden, Mamoru thought about his Usako and how much she was like a red rose. She was as delicate as the flower, during and after blooming. When still in bud, Usagi was shy and revealed nothing to no one. When she was in full bloom, his beloved opened to the world, filling it with happiness and joy; sweetening the air that everyone breathes. Nevertheless, Usagi wasn't totally defenceless, as much as people might think. The rose's thorns were like Usagi's fighting ability. It was hidden since her personality often overpowers a person's first impression of her but the thorns were there; ready to strike. The redness of the rose symbolises the passion Usagi had for everything in life.
But now his Usako was back in her bud, her thorns tightly woven around herself, protection against the harsh world.
"Usagi. Please, we're here. You may look up now," whispered Mamoru as he slowed down to let Usagi's feet fall to the ground.
*** Where was she? Usagi thought to herself, stood looking around. Then she recognised the place Tuxedo Mask had brought her to. It was her favourite place! She was here earlier this evening but now, the mist had gone and the smell of roses lifted her spirits.
She lifted her head. "Why did you bring me here, Tuxedo Mask?" She sat down on the bench next to where they had stopped. "How did you know this was one of my favourite places?"
Mamoru turned to face her, surprise showing on his face. "This is also one of my favourite places to stop and think. I thought it might help calm you down and talk about what was troubling you."
"Well, you were right. It does calm me down" Usagi said, her head ducking and voice lowering.
Mamoru sat down beside her. "Do you want to continue with what you were saying in your bedroom? Why do you want to change?"
"Why?" Usagi laughed. "If you've been in my shoes, you would have changed ages ago."
"What do you mean?" What was she talking about? Mamoru thought about what her life included. Sailor V games, milkshakes at the arcade, sleeping late in the mornings and a family to love her. It sounded pretty good to him.
"What about all the criticism, Mamoru. You should know about it. You give her enough of it each day." That little voice returned.
This confused Mamoru even more. It was true that she got criticised often. Maybe she was sick of all that.
"Is it because everyone criticises you all the time?" Mamoru asked Usagi.
"Of course it is!! I am tired of it!" She replied angrily. Usagi turned towards Tuxedo Mask. "Why would you care? And how did you know where I lived, Tuxedo Mask?"
Mamoru stuttered, "Uh.uh.I followed you home a few months after you were caught in a youma fight."
Usagi, startled by the statement, if he had followed her home, does that mean."What do you mean?"
He looked uneasy, "Well, after the fight, I saw all the senshi leaving and then I saw you in the bushes by yourself, running away. So I followed you to your home. I wanted to make sure you were all right and not hurt by the fighting."
Usagi remembered that night. She felt a presence following her home that night but dismissed it after she saw a dog following her, in search of some food. Usagi had had been hurt quite badly during that fight but had hid the wounds from the other senshi until she had gotten home. It took a few days for the pain to lessen to a dull ache on her arms and legs.
"Uh.did you see anything.when you followed me.?" she asked tentatively, hoping he did not see her tending her wounds that night. It would create so many questions Usagi was not prepared to answer yet.
"See anything?" Mamoru asked, "No. I just followed you to your door and left."
"Oh." Usagi said, relieved that he did not find out about her secret identity. She ducked her head again, shy that her favourite hero knew where she lived.
Then she felt Tuxedo Mask lifted her head with his fingers under her chin.
"Don't be shy, Usagi. Not around me. You can tell me anything." Tuxedo Mask reassured her.
She looked into his eyes; a sense of familiarity overwhelmed her. She had seen those eyes before. Somewhere. But where?
***
"Now what were you saying about Mamoru Chiba?" Mamoru had to ask her. What did she mean about having feelings for him?
"Mamoru? Well.well." Shy once more, Usagi ducked her head and Tuxedo Mask again lifted her head to look into his beloved eyes.
"Please tell me. I need to know."
"Well, I.kinda.like.him," Usagi stuttered out and then said quickly, "Please don't tell him! I would be so embarrassed if he found out!"
"Why? What would happen if he had feelings for you too?" Tuxedo Mask asked.
"Me? Mamoru would have feelings for me? Silly, stupid me? Clumsy, always late me?" Usagi laughed again, entertaining the notion that a handsome man would actually like her.
"Don't ever put yourself down like that again, Usagi!" Mamoru scolded her. "You are wonderful just the way you are." He was breaking apart inside with the thought that Usako did not deserve him. Rather it was the other way, he did not deserve her.
He reached for Usagi, pulling her close and onto his lap. Mamoru circled his arms around her, hugging her, hoping to dissolve all her negative thoughts about herself.
Usagi looked up, "Tuxedo Mask?" she asked innocently.
Mamoru was starting to hate the mask he was wearing. But what will happen if she found out he was Mamoru, her arch enemy and from what she had just said, someone she liked. Will she be angry for having being deceived or will she react the opposite way? He decided to take a chance, she was his weakness and yet she gave him strength to do anything.
"What if he really did have feelings for you? Actually love you for who you are, Usa?" he asked gently.
Usagi leaned back against his chest. "Well, if he did have feelings for me, then.it would be wonderful!"
Mamoru felt her smile with the idea of having someone love her for who she was. He smiled as well. Maybe she would not take it the wrong way when he revealed who he was.
"But it is such a different side of him. He always teases me, criticises me. You wouldn't believe what he would say to me." Usagi said.
"But I do know. I know what he has done to you and I know he won't do that to you anymore." Tuxedo Mask said behind her.
She pulled back from his hold and turned to look at him, "What do you mean? How would you know? Anyway, how do you know his feelings for me?"
"I.uh.I know.uh.because." Tuxedo Mask uneasily moved around the bench.
"Spit it out. How do you know?" Usagi was getting angry now.
"Do you promise not to get mad at me, whatever I say?" asked Tuxedo Mask.
"Of course I promise," Usagi drew a cross on her chest. "Now would you get on with it?"
"O.K. Here goes." Mamoru took a deep breath, ready to tell his beloved his true identity.
What will Mamoru say to Usagi? How will she react to his confession? NEXT CHAPTER: VULNERABILITY
This story happened after the senshi defeated Beryl and slightly deviates from the original version.
I could not remember the Japanese version of Tuxedo Mask, so I kept his name as it is. Sorry!
Chapter 4: Weakness
They flew over Tokyo, jumping from building to building like cats, always landing on their feet. Usagi began to wonder how Tuxedo Mask was not straining after carrying her for over 10 minutes. She knew she wasn't the lightest of all things. Many people often commented that she ate like a pig. But as soon as she lifted her head from her masked hero's chest, she would start feeling queasy.
"Grow up, Usagi, don't be so weak" she thought to herself, "You are Sailormoon. You should not be frightened of heights."
***
Mamoru looked down at his precious cargo, smiling at the way she snuggled closer every time she lifted her head. He didn't feel tired at all. This was his beloved, after all.
He saw the park looming in front and heading straight to his special spot, in the midst of the rose gardens. Mamoru always felt connected to these parts of the public park because of the flowers it grew. He found the area one day after helping Sailormoon fight a particular nasty youma, it had drawn him towards it, surprising Tuxedo Mask as he found a large garden full of his recognizable roses.
As he made his way towards one of the benches dotted around the garden, Mamoru thought about his Usako and how much she was like a red rose. She was as delicate as the flower, during and after blooming. When still in bud, Usagi was shy and revealed nothing to no one. When she was in full bloom, his beloved opened to the world, filling it with happiness and joy; sweetening the air that everyone breathes. Nevertheless, Usagi wasn't totally defenceless, as much as people might think. The rose's thorns were like Usagi's fighting ability. It was hidden since her personality often overpowers a person's first impression of her but the thorns were there; ready to strike. The redness of the rose symbolises the passion Usagi had for everything in life.
But now his Usako was back in her bud, her thorns tightly woven around herself, protection against the harsh world.
"Usagi. Please, we're here. You may look up now," whispered Mamoru as he slowed down to let Usagi's feet fall to the ground.
*** Where was she? Usagi thought to herself, stood looking around. Then she recognised the place Tuxedo Mask had brought her to. It was her favourite place! She was here earlier this evening but now, the mist had gone and the smell of roses lifted her spirits.
She lifted her head. "Why did you bring me here, Tuxedo Mask?" She sat down on the bench next to where they had stopped. "How did you know this was one of my favourite places?"
Mamoru turned to face her, surprise showing on his face. "This is also one of my favourite places to stop and think. I thought it might help calm you down and talk about what was troubling you."
"Well, you were right. It does calm me down" Usagi said, her head ducking and voice lowering.
Mamoru sat down beside her. "Do you want to continue with what you were saying in your bedroom? Why do you want to change?"
"Why?" Usagi laughed. "If you've been in my shoes, you would have changed ages ago."
"What do you mean?" What was she talking about? Mamoru thought about what her life included. Sailor V games, milkshakes at the arcade, sleeping late in the mornings and a family to love her. It sounded pretty good to him.
"What about all the criticism, Mamoru. You should know about it. You give her enough of it each day." That little voice returned.
This confused Mamoru even more. It was true that she got criticised often. Maybe she was sick of all that.
"Is it because everyone criticises you all the time?" Mamoru asked Usagi.
"Of course it is!! I am tired of it!" She replied angrily. Usagi turned towards Tuxedo Mask. "Why would you care? And how did you know where I lived, Tuxedo Mask?"
Mamoru stuttered, "Uh.uh.I followed you home a few months after you were caught in a youma fight."
Usagi, startled by the statement, if he had followed her home, does that mean."What do you mean?"
He looked uneasy, "Well, after the fight, I saw all the senshi leaving and then I saw you in the bushes by yourself, running away. So I followed you to your home. I wanted to make sure you were all right and not hurt by the fighting."
Usagi remembered that night. She felt a presence following her home that night but dismissed it after she saw a dog following her, in search of some food. Usagi had had been hurt quite badly during that fight but had hid the wounds from the other senshi until she had gotten home. It took a few days for the pain to lessen to a dull ache on her arms and legs.
"Uh.did you see anything.when you followed me.?" she asked tentatively, hoping he did not see her tending her wounds that night. It would create so many questions Usagi was not prepared to answer yet.
"See anything?" Mamoru asked, "No. I just followed you to your door and left."
"Oh." Usagi said, relieved that he did not find out about her secret identity. She ducked her head again, shy that her favourite hero knew where she lived.
Then she felt Tuxedo Mask lifted her head with his fingers under her chin.
"Don't be shy, Usagi. Not around me. You can tell me anything." Tuxedo Mask reassured her.
She looked into his eyes; a sense of familiarity overwhelmed her. She had seen those eyes before. Somewhere. But where?
***
"Now what were you saying about Mamoru Chiba?" Mamoru had to ask her. What did she mean about having feelings for him?
"Mamoru? Well.well." Shy once more, Usagi ducked her head and Tuxedo Mask again lifted her head to look into his beloved eyes.
"Please tell me. I need to know."
"Well, I.kinda.like.him," Usagi stuttered out and then said quickly, "Please don't tell him! I would be so embarrassed if he found out!"
"Why? What would happen if he had feelings for you too?" Tuxedo Mask asked.
"Me? Mamoru would have feelings for me? Silly, stupid me? Clumsy, always late me?" Usagi laughed again, entertaining the notion that a handsome man would actually like her.
"Don't ever put yourself down like that again, Usagi!" Mamoru scolded her. "You are wonderful just the way you are." He was breaking apart inside with the thought that Usako did not deserve him. Rather it was the other way, he did not deserve her.
He reached for Usagi, pulling her close and onto his lap. Mamoru circled his arms around her, hugging her, hoping to dissolve all her negative thoughts about herself.
Usagi looked up, "Tuxedo Mask?" she asked innocently.
Mamoru was starting to hate the mask he was wearing. But what will happen if she found out he was Mamoru, her arch enemy and from what she had just said, someone she liked. Will she be angry for having being deceived or will she react the opposite way? He decided to take a chance, she was his weakness and yet she gave him strength to do anything.
"What if he really did have feelings for you? Actually love you for who you are, Usa?" he asked gently.
Usagi leaned back against his chest. "Well, if he did have feelings for me, then.it would be wonderful!"
Mamoru felt her smile with the idea of having someone love her for who she was. He smiled as well. Maybe she would not take it the wrong way when he revealed who he was.
"But it is such a different side of him. He always teases me, criticises me. You wouldn't believe what he would say to me." Usagi said.
"But I do know. I know what he has done to you and I know he won't do that to you anymore." Tuxedo Mask said behind her.
She pulled back from his hold and turned to look at him, "What do you mean? How would you know? Anyway, how do you know his feelings for me?"
"I.uh.I know.uh.because." Tuxedo Mask uneasily moved around the bench.
"Spit it out. How do you know?" Usagi was getting angry now.
"Do you promise not to get mad at me, whatever I say?" asked Tuxedo Mask.
"Of course I promise," Usagi drew a cross on her chest. "Now would you get on with it?"
"O.K. Here goes." Mamoru took a deep breath, ready to tell his beloved his true identity.
What will Mamoru say to Usagi? How will she react to his confession? NEXT CHAPTER: VULNERABILITY