(Yes it's another song, this one a beautiful song by Crystal Lewis, I hope that's how it's spelled.)
Serena never got the chance to tell Amanda her plan as far as Mamoru was concerned for by the time that she had gotten back to the hotel that day she'd already accepted an invitation for his friends to show them around town for the next week. She still told Amanda what was going on so that maybe she could help but at the malicious look in her eyes it wasn't likely.
First thing Monday morning nine people were in the lobby waiting for them with even another surprise, the two cats in their possession. There was a small black one and a slightly larger white one but both had the same crescent moon marking on their forehead.
"Are they from the same litter?" Serena asked petting the one named Luna; which was draped over Ami's shoulder. Ami shook her head quickly and said no with a laugh. "Wow that must be like a one in ten million chance of two cats having that same mark on their foreheads like that." Serena pet the cat and turned away missing the look Ami shot Mamoru. He just shrugged and led the way outside to where his car and another convertible were parked. There was no way they could all fit in the two cars so the four visitors rode their cycles and followed the two cars.
First on the list of places to go was a huge nursery that had every type of flower imaginable. Serena and the others exclaimed over the colors and flowers before they each started wandering off in their own directions. Serena found herself wandering off towards the near acre of roses in every shade imaginable. She smiled softly and leaned over to smell a delightfully pink rose with a scent she could smell a ways away.
"You know each of these flowers have about twelve different meanings." Mamoru's voice startled her and she jumped almost running into him. He had managed to wander over after her effectively accomplishing everything she had been trying to avoid. Still she couldn't manage to be upset about anything this man did.
"True plus each country will have it's own meaning and name. I don't think that there's a way anyone could know them all, but I can come close." She knew, somehow, that she could easily name off all the names of the roses around them along with the other flowers. It wasn't the only thing unexplained by her past.
The day, despite being long, was fun filled and exciting as they went through the nursery then on to a local mall. The girls ended up dragging the guys from store to store and even Serena got into the fray. It was a good thing they had their own money for the girls were forever asking Mamoru for it except the older girls had money of their own. He didn't mind much though, despite the exaggerated grimace each time he pulled out his wallet.
After that they grabbed some burgers at a local shop and went to a movie, a cute comedy about a couple always trying to get together but somehow always managing to miss each other. The Americans, except for Serena had a harder time following the story but it was still a good opportunity for them to get some culture. Once they were back outside in the muggy night they split up for the evening heading their own directions to join back up in the morning. Serena wanted to linger a bit but Minako was watching Mamoru closely and in order to try and throw them off they split quickly.
They spent most of the week together doing most of the things that Makoto and the others said was what teenagers normally did and it was obvious that really the two countries weren't all that different. They had a lot of fun but as the week started drawing to a close their laughs seemed to last just a little to long and they stay out later and later trying to fight the inevitable.
The Friday before they had to leave they went to a nearby amusement park and while the others went on a particularly large ride that Serena knew would make her sick, she sat on the bench with both cats on her lap. Artemis had stretched across her legs but Luna sat there staring up at Serena's face while she ate an ice cream cone.
"Pretty kitty." Serena said offering her some ice cream; which Luna sniffed but refused. She continued to watch Serena who also continued to pet her. "Someday I'm going to have to get a cat, I hope that I can find one as well behaved as you two." She scratched behind the cat's ears and smiled meeting the cats' eyes and froze.
Ami was the first to see Luna using her special powers on Serena trying to wake her up. She elbowed Rei hard getting the other girls attention but managing to keep it from their new friends. With a tilt of her head Ami motioned Mamoru to go in that direction and they made some excuse for him while directing the others to another ride before trading a worried but hopeful look.
Mamoru walked up slowly so as to not disturb Luna and Serena as they were still frozen with their eyes locked. Artemis was on the bench nearby looking back and forth between the two while Mamoru sat on the bench on the opposite side. It was nearly five minutes before either moved and it was Luna who did. Serena was still staring strait ahead not talking or saying anything.
"Something, she I think, is fighting the Luna mind beam. I can't force her to remember without running the chance hurting her." She spoke softly so no one would over hear. Artemis rubbed his face against Luna's in a cats gesture of affection." But there's no doubt about it. She's our princess." She sat next to Artemis on the bench looking at Serena who was beginning to show some signs of movement.
"Serenity?" Mamoru asked softly so as not to scare her or jolt her out of her stupor. To his surprise she turned her head and looked strait at him her cerulean eyes wide and aware.
"Yes?" She answered sounding slightly preoccupied but still looking right at him.
"Do you know who I am?" He asked resisting the urge to reach up and move a couple of strands of hair out of her face.
"Of course I do. Chiba Mamoru, your twenty-two and live in your own apartment in Jubaan. Your my friend." She said like of course she knew who he was and he was insane for asking.
"And how long have you known me?" He asked still looking right at her but this question threw her off and she had to think about it for a moment. She turned away from him and put her hand to her forehead trying to figure it out.
"Well we came here a little over a week ago so a week right?" She turned back to him her eyes questioning. She didn't seem to know what exactly she remembered. Mamoru sat back trying to hide the disappointment.
"Right." He said and covered his eyes with a hand. Serena had gone back to petting the cats even going so far as to pick up Luna and cradle her in her arms.
"You should tell me what's happened in the last couple years." Mamoru was shocked to hear from Serena and lowered his hand to find her talking to Luna like she expected her to talk back. The girl must not have really been paying attention to what she was saying but it sounded like she meant while she was gone. She froze again when Luna tried her mind beam again hoping that while the girl was dazed that maybe she could get through but to no avail.
"Hey guys what's up?" Amanda came walking up quickly with the others following slower behind them. Apparently the girls hadn't been able to keep them away any longer but it didn't matter much since they weren't accomplishing much anyway. Serena shook her head and lost the glazed over look.
"Hey Makoto-chan, how bout you make dinner tonight? I bet we could go over to Mamo-," She paused for a second and all the girls and Mamoru thought she might just slip and say it, "Mamoru-sama's house and have a second to last night party, how's that sound mina?" For a whole minute there was dead silence among the group both parts for different reasons.
Mamoru and the girls were silent because for a few sentences it was like they had their old Usagi back, the others because they'd never heard Serena talk like that. In order to cover it up Makoto and Minako burst out that it was a great idea and Mamoru rapidly agreed to letting them use his apartment and even buying the food. He and Makoto left the group to go get groceries and head over to the apartment while the others lead the way. Serena kept Luna and draped her over her shoulder and talked to her just like old times going so far as to leave pauses where Luna would reply. She along with the other girls made their way back to Mamoru's apartment like it was a route they'd memorized long ago.
After having only been there twice Serena somehow managed to know that he kept a spare key in a locked black box behind the plant by his door and unlike them she knew the code. They let themselves in and lounged around for a few minutes until Minako and Mamoru came home. He looked slightly shocked that she had gotten them in but he really should have known that in her current half aware state that anything was possible. One thing that hadn't reverted back to his old Usagi was that she was still sharp as a tack and knew more than he thought possible in the years she had been gone. While Makoto was cooking Ami kept going through Mamoru's books, the really hard ones, and asking Serena questions out of it to which she answered correctly even getting some Mamoru couldn't. He wasn't the only one who was shocked and amazed by the changes in her, the other girls didn't know what to think but they did know that she wasn't the girl who they'd yelled at, nor the one who'd been klutzy to the point of being dangerous.
They had a blast that night, staying up until very late partying and playing games. It was hard to part when morning came but they were all so tired that they had to call a taxi to get home. When the car showed up they stood outside saying their goodbyes and promising to get together again that night so that they could hang out one more time before they had to leave. Serena was the last to get in and she stood holding the door open and looking back at them while the wind ruffled her hair. Mamoru's heart caught in his throat as her cerulean eyes met his deep blue ones and for an instant the feelings hiding deep in her soul surfaced and she made to take a step towards him just as he took one towards her.
"Serena, come on." Amanda tugged on her coat and Serena lost that clear look and turned her head away from her old friends towards her new family. She didn't dare glance back at the others, she didn't understand what kept happening to her whenever she looked at them or their pets but somehow it was like looking at the world from the bottom of a well or waking up from a dream but to what? How could she be dreaming when she was already awake?
Serena had problems sleeping and after only a few hours of fitful tossing and turning she got up and dressed in a pair of loose shorts and a midriff t-shirt that Amanda had insisted she buy the day before. Not entirely sure where she was going she headed out of the room but her feet found their own way to the spare room that the hotel had offered for them to use as a practice room. Their equipment was mostly put up ready for the flight tomorrow but she was happy to see that her keyboard and an amp were still out and plugged in.
With a soft and wistful smile on her face Serena trailed her fingers over the keys then turned on the machine listening to the barely audible hum of its electronic parts. Then half paying attention to what she was doing she played a few experimental cords warming up her fingers then hummed along with them to warm up her voice. Just in case she hit the record button and went back to the music. Then of their own accord her fingers began picking out the beginning of a song that she'd never heard before. The amazement didn't last long for words began forming in her mind and she had to sing.
"When I can't feel your love for me
the pain in my soul it won't let me sleep
I imagine you here and it dries up my tears
even though I can't see I still believe
I believe in love, I believe in peace
I believe someday, you'll return for me.
I believe in things, that I cannot see,
and when my heart says no,
I still believe.
Just when I think my faith is gone,
I hear your sweet voice crying out hold on.
It is amazing how we were always meant to be
and now I can breathe again.
I believe in love, I believe in peace
I believe someday, you'll return for me.
I believe in things, that I cannot see,
and when my heart says no,
I still believe.
I believe the sun will shine again.
and the loneliness someday will end.
I will stand right here 'till your voice I hear
forever and always.
I believe in love, I believe in peace
I believe someday, you'll return for me.
I believe in things, that I cannot see,
and when my heart says no,
I still believe."
"So when my heart says no,
I still believe."
"I still believe."
Outside the door that she'd left open just a bit stood a dark figure who would have been ominous if it weren't for the fact that he stood as though frozen with the most sorrowful and love filled face anyone could ever imagine seeing. As the music died away the words still haunted him just as the words from the last song he'd heard her sing did nightly. Those had been one of the reasons he was here now, another that he refused to give up on her and spurned on by the words that she'd just sung he knew that somewhere in her soul she didn't want him to despite how her mind fought.
"Mamoru-chan!" Serena exclaimed having opened the door the makeshift studio to find him standing there barely breathing. She said his name first out of being startled by seeing him then again when he didn't move to make sure he was alright. She was about to reach out and touch him when he jerked upright and his eyes met hers. She saw briefly the pain and loss he'd been concealing there for who knows how long but she also saw underneath the deep and intense love that he had for … someone. As though swept under a rug the emotions where quickly stripped from his eyes and he looked like a rabbit trapped by a cars headlights.
"Serena!" He reached a hand up to his head and raked through his hair trying to think again and fast for an excuse for him to be here. Serena looked up at him while shutting the door behind her so she could put her back to it. She knew he was stalling for a small amount of time and stood there patiently giving it to him.
"Sorry to startle you, I had thought that you might like to go catch a late lunch with me, if you would like to that is." He seemed so unsure of himself that Serena momentarily wondered if he was really the same man that she'd been hanging out with lately, but of course he was he was just flustered about something. She debated saying no and going to her room to try and sleep some more but her stomach grumbled loudly just as she opened her mouth and she quickly shut it again.
"My stomach says yes." She said giggling softly and Mamoru smiled widely his eyes flicking down to her agreeable stomach. 'Same old Usagi' he thought to himself before he led the way out to his car. He pressed the button that turned off the alarm then unlocked the doors as they exited the building but before they could get in he tossed her the keys and headed toward the passenger side door. Serena caught them deftly but looked at them dumbly.
"It's okay, I trust you." Mamoru said as he climbed in but then he stressed putting on his seat belt and pulling it tight. Serena gave him a confused look before heading for the drivers' side.
"This thing costs more than I do Mamoru-chan, are you really sure about this?" She asked just sitting down in the drivers seat but not getting in the car. Mamoru looked slightly startled at her words.
"For one, don't ever let anyone tell you that you aren't worth as much as this car, 'cause it isn't true, and for two, I'd trust you with my life." With that said he crossed his arms and looked out the front window waiting patiently. Serena looked at him for a long moment before climbing in herself and putting on her own seat belt.
"So where to?" She asked starting the engine and revving it just to listen to the sound. He knew better than to answer before she was done.
"There's that pancake house nearby where I live, I thought you'd enjoy that." He said pointing out the right direction as she left the hotel's parking lot. It was to bad that she was driving in town. She would have loved to just put the pedal to the metal and let the car go.
"But where do you want to go?" She asked still following his directions. It wasn't fair that they go just where she wanted to go. He was spared from having to answer by a soft beeping filling the car. Serena looked over at him to see what it was but he seemed to be ignoring it.
"Do you have a pager?" She asked and he gave her a suffered look.
"Yes, would you mind pulling up to that payphone over there?" He pointed to one on a nearby corner and Serena obligingly turned the car in that direction. She then waited patiently while Mamoru got out and went inside the small booth but his back was to her so she couldn't guess what he was saying or who he was talking to, but he kept gesturing and looking back over his shoulder at her. After nearly five minutes he hung up the phone and raced back out to the car.
"I'm really sorry about this but it turns out that I really need to be somewhere fast, mind if I drive?" He didn't give her much chance to answer before running over to the drivers side. Serena climbed over the stick shift to the passenger seat and buckled herself in while he did the same on the other side. "I'd hold on." He warned before mashing on the accelerator and launching them out into traffic.
Now despite the mad dash across town that ensued after that Serena had to admit that Mamoru was a very good driver. He was always careful of who was around him and only took chances when it was obvious that no one would suffer from it. From the look of steely determination on his face she didn't dare ask questions although of course she was curious as to what was going on, and she didn't get a chance to ask when he pulled into a parking lot with a screech of tires.
"Okay I'm going to leave the car on so you have air conditioning 'cause I'm not sure how long I'll be gone. Just promise me you'll stay here, okay?" He looked at her with those same steely eyes until she nodded. With her promise secured he literally leapt from the car and took off at a run. Serena sat there a little lost and confused but she kept her promise at least until she felt what she had previously called the hibby-jibbys.
All of a sudden her entire body was filled with a rush of elation and something coursed through her veins like fire although she couldn't have known what it was. She'd felt this a lot over the last year or so but never so strong that she couldn't move because of it. Once she was able to breathe again she rested her forehead against the dash letting the air conditioner wash over her. A shadow crossed over the car but was gone before she could look up. Still she could have sworn she'd seen something out the back window in the corner of her eye.
Promises forgotten she turned off the car and got out making sure to lock it before looking around. They were in the parking lot on the outskirts of an industrial park but for such a hi-tech place there was almost no one around. Serena got that feeling again, although much less this time and she was able to discern a direction and without thinking again she headed in that direction.
At first the heat of running on the pavement was suffocating and every step she took in that direction seemed to drain the energy right out of her until she had to stop wondering what was going on. She shook her head several times then with a look of fierce determination she started off again.
The first few steps where as hard as before but then something seemed to pop and she had no problems moving at all. Again she started running coming up a small walk-through underpass. Dark as it should have been flashes of light came through from the other side to play their lights along the walls in odd patterns. Serena looked at them as she continued to move spurned on by the beginning of noise, the first she'd heard since getting out of the car.
What sounded like toothpicks snapping but have really been something much larger for she was still far away when she heard it the first time. There were voices shouting, but the walls of the underpass distorted it but the flashes of light were getting stronger and although Serena was running as fast as she could it didn't seem like it was fast enough or maybe she was slower than she'd thought.
Finally rounding the last corner sunlight caught her by surprise blinding her for a moment and she stopped with her hand on the wall so she didn't lose her balance. After what seemed eternity she could blink through the light and make out the scene in front of her but what she saw didn't assure her that she was seeing things correctly.
Five beings of incredible strength and flexibility seemed to be fighting a series of creatures with what looked like magical powers of some sort. One instant they would be in fighting poses then the next they would call out something and water, fire, lightning, or light would arc between them and the creatures who could be called nothing less than monsters. The fifth figure, the only male, was ensconced in old fashioned battle armor and fought with two weapons, a sword and a handful of razor sharp white roses. Despite the fantastic thing she watched them do it seemed that the monsters were winning.
The creatures, there were originally eleven when she'd come across them, were down to seven and seemed to be made out of shards of glass, mirrors and multihued crystal pieces that glittered in the sun and reflected the attacks of those who were obviously the good guys. As she watched those colorful monsters began showing some form of strategy and she almost called out when the woman with long black hair and flames coming from her fingertips went down.
The longer this went on, the more she watched them, the more some sort of emotion kept trying to grab her attention and escape from her mind. At first Serena tried to figure out what it was but each time she tried it escaped her. Instead she went back to watching in hopes that it would make itself known and for a brief instant, when the last three monsters were fighting the armor clad man she thought that her heart would burst from the fire inside her that was trying to burn from the inside out, but at the last possible moment three more figures, more women in the same sort of uniform, showed up and with new, more powerful powers and the last three monsters were destroyed.
The battle was over and the four people went over to their fallen comrades and Serena found herself walking towards them despite a sharp reminder to herself that she shouldn't be seen. Not that she should have worried they were far to busy with the others to notice her.
"I think Mars is just unconscious, let's see if we can get Mercury up so we can find out." A tall young woman in one of the curiously similar outfits but short blond hair was kneeling next to another woman with deep blue hair. One of her companions, an older woman who carried a long staff, walked over and waved the staff over the woman's body before there was a slight rustling and the girl opened her eyes looking right at Serena.
Serena froze and for a moment hoped that the girl was two out of it to see her but when she whispered something else to the others they all turned and looked at her with a gaze so intense she wanted to melt right there. Even the man turned to look at her and when Serena caught his eyes she felt cold and warm rush all the way through her body from her toes to the ends of her hair. She flushed brightly then turned to run back the way she came without saying a word to any of them. Unknown to her, that same man cursed to himself under his breath and apologized to the others before taking off into the air.
Okay yes I know this is a bad place to end, but I figured I'd better get something before I'm scalped.