Written by: Neeko
(tanpopo_nyo@hotmail.com)
Notes: This chapter is going to rush into the story line because I don't want to drag it onto another chapter, since I started with such a vague prologue. Mamoru has told Motoki everything about the Moon Princess, etc.
***
Chapter 1
***
One day, she'd run a marathon. Really. She would. With her long legs, and tons of practice running, she should be able to run a marathon. A 14KM marathon. Of running.
Of course, she'd pass out _way_ before the finish line, but wouldn't anyone running a 14KM marathon do the same thing?!
"*huff huff* Must... get to class!" Tsukino Usagi cried, on her traditional mad dash to school. Already in her last year of junior high school, and she's *still* late to class. Oh, Luna said she'd grow out of it. It's just a silly teenager habit.
Luna and her damn lies.
It's not HER fault there was a burglar attack at OSAP. Some stupid idiot decided, 'Hey, lets rob some jewellery stores! Gurk gurk, don't mind me!' and just *had* to interrupt her beauty sleep. And it definitely WASN'T her fault that she decided to stick around with Tuxedo Kamen. And it sure as HELL wasn't her fault she decided to hang out at his apartment for about 2 hours, before having him bring her home around 5 AM, giving her about, say, 3 hours of sleep.
Really, it wasn't her fault. At all.
'If I get to school in the next 30 seconds, I can make it. Let's see... 2 blocks left... I have to pass each block in 15 seconds...!'
15... 14...
'Whoops didn't see that garbage can!'
10... 9...
'I didn't run over that cat, did I?'
6...5....
"SORRY LADY!" She cried, trying to dodge an old woman on the side walk.
2...1....
Almost there!!
*SMACK*
With the force of a train, Usagi flailed her arms, as she went soaring backwards, landing on her rear end. This just wasn't her day. "Would you watch where you're going--"
"Usako?"
She looked up and gasped. "Mamo-chan?!"
Who would have thought? Punctual, Mamo-chan.
Late.
For school.
Was the world coming to an end?
"Daijobou ka?" He asked, extending a hand to help her up. Eagerly accepting his hand, she placed hers onto it, and with the help of his weight, she flung herself into his warm arms.
"Mamo-chaaaaann!!" If there was one thing in the world that could cheer her up from ANYTHING, it would be her Mamo-chan. With his 'I just woke up' raven hair, his gorgeous smile, and the fact that he looked absolutely HOT in his uniform and reading glasses, he was just... well, perfect. The world could be ending right now, and she'd feel absolutely safe.
And just a few weeks ago, she despised this man. Loathed him with every single part of her body. And now, there isn't one part of her body that isn't in love with him.
It all changed when she found out they were lovers in the past. Feelings from her past helped her realize that she was in love with Chiba Mamoru after all. Underneath the loathing, underneath the hating. She loved him because she was Chiba Mamoru, and the fact that they use to be lovers in another lifetime.... well, that was a bonus.
She looked up into his eyes, and smiled. She loved his smile. Those cute dimples would show up, his face would light up, and she'd melt into a puddle of goo. Everything about him... was perfect.
But he wasn't smiling. He was worried. Stressed. Like he had a bad sleep. "Something wrong, Mamo-chan?"
He looked away from her smile. "No."
"Did you sleep well? I know I shouldn't have stayed with you... I must have kept you from your well needed sleep, ne?" Guilt plagued her. He shook his head, and slowly pulled away from her embrace. "Mamo-chan?"
"I'm late; Usako... and so are you. I'll chat with you later, ne?"
"H-hai..." Usagi watched as Mamoru smiled faintly, and dashed into another direction. Sure, he was late... and sure, this was his first time being late, and it'd make anyone edgy...but, something else was wrong. Something was bothering him. And losing his perfect attendance wouldn't cause this much damage. He couldn't even look her in the eyes. 'What's wrong, Mamo-chan?'
2....1....
Usagi groaned. "Aww crap..."
***
The teacher lectured _him_ on being punctual. 'I've been on time since kindergarten, and he gives ME a lecture on managing time.' Mamoru rested his weary head on his desk. 'It's not my fault I had to stay up with my girlfriend... why doesn't he lecture her?!' He almost slapped himself for even thinking that. 'No... that's not true. I *wanted* to stay up with Usako... why did I even think that?'
He felt bad for giving her the cold shoulder earlier. As much as he wanted to stay with her, all he could think of was that dream. Acting all loving towards another woman--well, in a way, she *is* the same as Usagi, but.... not entirely. Still, he felt like he cheated on her.
Sure it was just a dream. Just a normal dream. Hell, she probably had a few dreams about being with another man.
Jealousy hit his chest. 'I hope that isn't true....'
But a dream meant nothing.
'Then what about the dreams of the Princess I had before I found Usako...? That dream meant everything to me. I'd be a hypocrite if I said dreams meant nothing.'
A frustrated sigh escaped his lips. 'I'm so confused... what could this dream possibly mean? Acting all lovey dovey towards Princess Serenity? If I was Endymion, maybe I'd understand, but I wasn't Endymion. I was...
..me.'
"Mamoru-kun?" The raven haired man raised his head, towards a small whisper coming from his left. It was Ryuji, a friend of his. "What's the answer to number 5? I forgot to do that one..."
"Oh. It's 14." He replied.
"Arigato Mamoru-kun!"
He smiled and nodded. 'Maybe Motoki-kun will know something about this dream... I should talk to him about it.'
***
"So you dreamt you were with another woman?"
"Right."
"Who technically is the same person as your girlfriend?"
"Right."
"And you're feeling like you betrayed her."
"Right."
Motoki scratched his head. "I don't really get it, Mamoru...."
"Well, y'see, they are, technically, the same. Serenity and Usako are the same."
"So then it's okay if you dreamt of Serenity. They're the same!"
"But, they're not the same! Serenity was a princess! Elegant, beautiful, graceful, and future queen of the moon. Usako is.... well, beautiful... not graceful.. not exactly elegant... and it's not like she's going to be a queen anytime soo--"
"So, they're the same, but they're not the same."
"Exactly!"
Motoki snapped his fingers in front of Mamoru's face. "Are you feeling okay, Mamoru-kun? You're not making sense at all today."
"I guess it's hard to explain... they're the same in other ways, but completely different in other ways."
"Hey, maybe it was a fantasy?"
Mamoru's left eyebrow rose up to his hairline. Him? A fantasy?! He bursted out
into laughter. "Me? C'mon Motoki... why would I have a fantasy, when I
have someone like Usako?"
The blonde arcade man smiled, while wiping a mug. "Well, everyone has it.
It's that moment where you get rid of reality, and delve into something that
could have happened. Your reality may be wonderful, but a fantasy is just a
fantasy. It's not like you *want* to be with Serenity, right?"
Mamoru paused. That was right, wasn't it? It's not like he wanted to be with
Serenity.
Right?
So why wasn't he saying he didn't want to be with her?
"Mamoru...."
"What?"
"You haven't replied to my question. You don't want to be with Serenity,
right? You're with Usagi-chan."
Again, the pausing. "I..."
That's where Motoki got worried. He feared this day would come. Ever since he
heard Mamoru and Usagi got together. He was hoping it was just his little worried
self, but now it all may be coming true. Placing the mug down on the table,
he sighed. "Mamoru, come with me in the back. Let's have a talk."
Both men got up and walked towards the back room. Mamoru took a seat on a nearby
couch, and Motoki took a seat next to him. "I'm really happy for you, Mamoru.
After a life of such hardship, you're finally in love, with the woman you want
to be with for the rest of your life."
Mamoru closed his eyes, resting his head back. "Thanks."
"When I heard that you got together with Usagi-chan, I was... thrilled.
I mean, here are my two favourite costumers, who fought like there was no tomorrow.
I was hoping you'd end up together someday, but you'd always go on and on about
the princess who visited you in your dreams. You were in love with her. I know
it."
He was right. Ever since he was a child, she'd always visit him. He found himself
falling in love with the Princess, which is one of the main reasons why he wanted
to help her. It was the first time Mamoru ever experienced love.
His eyes widened. Mamoru knew where Motoki was heading.
"Then, you find out, she's the same as Usagi. The person who you were looking
for, was right there, in front of you. The woman you loved since you were a
child. Right there!"
"Motoki..."
"But she wasn't the same. She was, well... Usagi. Both of them were there."
"Motoki...."
"There is no doubt in the world that Usagi-chan loves you for you. The
fact that you were her lover in your past life just helped her realize she was
in love with YOU, Chiba Mamoru, all along. I could ask her right now, if she
were to choose between you and Prince Endymion, she'd choose you."
Here it came.
"What I'm trying to get here is... maybe, you were never in love with Usagi-chan
at all. Maybe you see her as a shadow of who she was before. Maybe that's what
the dream was trying to get at..."
Mamoru held his head in his arms. He wasn't in love with Usagi?! That can't
be true. He loved her with all his soul....
...didn't he?
"That maybe... you were always in love with Serenity..."
Mamoru's heart began to ache with pain. He clutched at his chest, breathing
in heavily. "Stop it..." He pleaded.
But Motoki kept going. "Tell me, Mamoru... tell me you love her. For who
she IS, not for who she was."
Sweat ran down his face, as he desperately gasped for the air. The pain intensified.
The more he thought about it, the more it hurt. 'Tell him you love her! Tell
the truth! Tell him... now!'
"I--"
Mamoru suddenly broke into a spasm of coughs. He clutched at his throat, as
cough, after cough, after cough, forced itself out his mouth. His throat burned
with pain. His mind was hazy, and his vision was blurry. Most of all, his heart
felt like it was going to burst out of his chest.
"Mamoru-kun!!" Motoki cried, quickly rushing to his aid. "What's
wrong?! Mamoru?!!"
"Serenity..." He whispered, before closing his eyes and losing consciousness.