Mamoru paused as he lifted his jaw off the floor. "What?"

"After him?" Ami absent-mindedly dropped her computer, and scrambled to pick it up and examine the condition of her tool. "But why? And even if they are after him, why did they kidnap Usagi-chan?"

"I think these actions against the Prince and Princess are in retaliation to something that may have happened in the past," Pluto replied as she sat in the chair behind her. "The Brutes are the only one who know for sure."

"Do you have any idea," asked Mamoru as he began to pace. "Any idea at all who it is we're dealing with?"

"I think I may have an idea." Pluto's face turned grave. "Either of you wouldn't happen to remember an individual named Prince Cadmus, would you?"

"Now that you mention it," Ami replied after a moment's contemplation. "The name does sound familiar."

"A shadow right out of the past," Mamoru mused. "And I had a close connection to this Prince Cadmus?"

Pluto nodded. "You were the only thing standing between him and the throne of Earth during the Silver Millennium."

"Ah," he said sarcastically. "And this gives him the right to kidnap a non-terran princess...why?"

"Uh, Mamoru-san?" Ami said as she brought a chair over to him. "Maybe you ought to sit and calm yourself down." She didn't want to have to explain to Usagi after they had saved her why Mamoru had a gash in his head that looked like Setsuna's staff.

He sighed as he sat. "I'm sorry, Setsuna-san. I really am. Please, continue."

"It's okay, Prince. I expected this. Anyway, Prince Cadmus was the Earth King's younger brother, as well as head of military for the kingdom. He led an active campaign against the Moon Kingdom when the final war broke out. He was a constant fighting machine with a deep hatred and bitter jealousy for those of the Moon.

"When it was discovered that you, Prince Endymion, had maintained a secret relationship with Princess Serenity, and that it had gone as far as an engagement of marriage, Cadmus was outraged. He demanded to his brother that you be tried for treason during wartime, stripped of your rights and power, and sentenced to die. The kind King could never do such a thing without due process to no one, let alone his own son.

"You were allowed to defend yourself before the royal court, and Cadmus did everything he could to keep you from that hearing. Still, you made it there and successfully defended your love of your kingdom, planet, and Serenity. The king called an immediate halt to the military campaign against the Moon and made arrangements to meet with Queen Serenity in order to discuss plans for a courtship that did not have to mean dark rendezvous.

"Cadmus was livid. He led an unsuccessful coup against the king in order to overthrow him and his Moon sympathizers and take over. The king allowed him to live, but exiled him. Cadmus couldn't believe that his own blood could betray him. In his mind, he was doing the right thing, and a love-struck fool had ruined it. No offense, Prince."

"Uh," Mamoru tried, as he became aware that Pluto had stopped. This was getting interesting. "Oh, no offense taken. Please, go on."

Pluto smiled briefly as she continued with her story. "About this time, Metalia appeared. Cadmus and a small band of followers were seduced by her promise of power and accepted her dark, hateful energy. The result of this was severe deformation. No one ever saw them again, but rumors floated around of hideous beasts attacking small units of royal military on patrol of the outer borders of the kingdom. The six warriors stayed in their mountainous fortress even after the final battle. After the Moon Kingdom had been destroyed, and Metalia had been sealed away, Cadmus had no way to return to his true self. The Earth had been left without a ruler after the King and his court had been destroyed, and after Prince Endymion fell protecting Princess Serenity.

"So Cadmus stayed in his mountains growing more and more bitter. No one was really sure if he and his warriors had been granted eternal life, but not long ago, during the second battle against Queen Beryl and Metalia, there was definite activity in those same mountains. He knows that you still exist, Prince. And he will do anything he can to ensure you never become king."

"Like steal away the one thing I live for," Mamoru mumbled. "He wants Usako because he knows that I'll follow her to the mouth of Hell to protect her." He stood and looked at Pluto as he ran a hand through his midnight black hair. "I guess I'll have to keep a really close eye on her. Please, Sailor Pluto, open another gate." He drew out a red rose and transformed into Tuxedo Mask. "I refuse to lose her again."

"I'm going too," Ami said as she rose. "Usagi-chan is my responsibility too. I'd do absolutely anything to make sure she's safe. And it's my duty as a part of her royal guard to see that the two of you rule Crystal Tokyo." She drew out her henshin stick and recited her incantation: "Mercury Crystal Power…MAKE UP!"

"I'll stay here and continue to monitor the Brutes," Pluto said. "If I can keep on edging them more in sync with the time warp, I'll be able to force them out of it and into your capable hands."

"They'll regret they ever touched her," Tuxedo Mask grumbled.

"We'll stay in touch with you via the communicators, Sailor Pluto," Sailor Mercury said as she inserted another translator into her ear. "If we need a quick escape, you'll be our key."

"Good luck, you two," Sailor Pluto said as she raised her staff. A door appeared before them and they passed through it. "I'll be ready to help if you need me."

As the time warp disappeared behind them and Serena's neighborhood appeared, Sailor Mercury turned to Tuxedo Mask. "We probably will need extra help. Maybe we should call the others."

"There is another solution," he said as he dug around in his pocket. He finally produced a golden heart-shaped brooch. "If we can get her to remember enough to have faith in herself and her heart, she'll be able to use this and defeat those asinine Brutes by herself."

"Does she have that kind of faith in herself?" Mercury asked as she stopped walking.

"I think so," Tuxedo Mask replied as he stopped as well. He paused and returned the brooch to his pocket. "Ami-chan, we're the ones who have to unlock that in her. You're her first soldier, and I'm…well, I'm the one who got her in this in the first place."

Mercury laughed. "You're the one who she loves more than anything else. Even if this was your fault, which it isn't, she still has more faith in the love you two share than anything. That is where her true power lies. So, it's up to you to bring that back to the surface. I'm just here to make sure you keep your cool."

"What would I do without you, Mer-…" he was cut off by a very loud beeping. "What is that?"

Mercury activated her visor and computer. "It's my early-warning device. Serena's being attacked a few blocks from here. Let's go!" They ran down the street and found a frightened Serena in the midst of four large men.

"You scream, and you're dead," one threatened.

Serena whimpered and backed up until she hit the wall at the end of the alley. "What do you want?" she whispered.

"Don't worry about it, we'll just look until we find it!" Another man said as he licked his lips and attempted to pin her to the wall. A red streak flashed past him and sliced through the skin on his hand. He drew it back quickly away from Serena and looked around. He saw a single rose sticking out from the pavement. "Who did that?"

"Pretty girls shouldn't be out on their own this late at night," a male voice from above said. Every eye on the ground turned upward as two shadows materialized on a fence above the wall. "And smart men should know not to attack such fragile flowers."

"So, who the hell are you?" the man asked as he held his still-bleeding hand.

"I am just a figment of your imagination," one shadow said as it disappeared. The four men became frightened and began to back away. "But I'm not," Tuxedo Mask said from behind them. One swift motion from his cane sent them tumbling.

"And neither am I," the other shadow said as she came into the light. "I am Super Sailor Mercury, fighter of Love and Justice! On behalf of my icy planet Mercury, dunk your head in some cold water and repent!" She began to power up her attack as one of the men leveled a gun at her.

"No!" screamed Serena as she threw a trash can at the man. It hit him in the head with a terrific metallic sound, but it only caused him to turn the gun on her.

"NO!" Tuxedo Mask said as he belted another of the attackers in the face with his fist. He and the other two fled the scene. "Sailor Mercury, quick! Freeze him!"

"Mercury…Aqua Rhapsody!" Streams of powerful freezing water sprayed the battleground. Tuxedo Mask hurried to protect Serena, who was whimpering loudly in his arms.

The gunman flinched and then screamed as Sailor Mercury's attack froze the gun to his hand just as he was about to pull the trigger. The gun went off, blowing apart the ice block, as well as a few fingers. He got up and staggered to another wall with his crippled hand clutched to his chest.

Mercury jumped down from the fence and stepped in front of Tuxedo Mask, who still held the trembling girl tightly. The man began to shake out of fear and drew out a switchblade with his unhurt hand.

"You'll never learn will you?" She began to power up another attack. "Shabon Spray!" A thick cold fog surrounded everything as Sailor Mercury and Tuxedo Mask made their escape.

As the fog lifted, the confused thug noticed that several police cars had pulled up. He stood there shaking and muttering with a switchblade in one hand and several fingers missing off the other.

"Looks like we've got a live one here, boys," one of the cops told his buddies. They all laughed at they went to take the knife away and handcuff the man. "We've got a nice padded cell for you, guy."

Not far away, Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Mercury stopped on a rooftop to check on their cargo. Serena still clutched to him like a baby possum. If he hadn't been there…she didn't want to think what would've happened. It seemed strange at first to cling to this stranger, but he just seemed so familiar…and so very warm.

Not that Tuxedo Mask minded at all. He wrapped his arms around her again and began to stroke her mussed red hair. "Shh. It's all over now. You're safe."

"Tuxedo Mask?" Sailor Mercury asked, reminding him that she was still there.

"She's fine, Sailor Mercury," he replied. "Just incredibly shaken."

"Well, peel her off of you, and let's try to calm her down," Mercury said with a smile.

He replied with a pout as he tried to convince her to let go and sit down for some air. "Do I have to?"

"Does he have to?" Serena mumbled into his shirt. There was no place she would have rather been then. She felt…complete.

"Yes," came an irritated reply. They both groaned as they reluctantly separated. Mercury helped her to sit down on the rooftop and attempted to soothe her, though she knew she couldn't do that NEARLY as effectively as Tuxedo Mask did. "Now, miss, are you going to be okay?"

Serena took a couple of ragged breaths as she began to reply. Her breath came out in white puffs as she shivered in the winter night air. Tuxedo Mask removed his cape and draped it around her. She clutched it as if it were the Golden Fleece. "I…I think so. Thank you both for saving me."

"It was our pleasure," Mercury replied. "Now, do you know what they were after you for?"

She shook her head and auburn bangs fell over her eyes. Tuxedo Mask went over to her and pushed the hair out of her eyes. He studied her face closely, and she could feel a deep blush on her cheeks. "Did they hurt you at all before we got there?"

"No," she managed to croak out.

"I'm so glad to hear that," he replied with a relieved smile. "Uh, my name is Tuxedo Mask, and she is Sailor Mercury." He pointed over to the blue-haired soldier who was typing on her computer.

"Tuxedo Mask, I need to show you something," she finally said.

"Don't move, I'll be right back," he said as he stood to follow Mercury. She nodded in response. "What is it, Ami?" he asked.

"Our 'digitally impaired' friend there was a Brute. The others were just in it for a fight, apparently."

"So that's why your early-warning alarm went off, huh?"

"Yeah. Someone should stand guard overnight. She shouldn't be left alone now."

"Agreed."

"Do you want to take the first watch, or shall I?"

Tuxedo Mask looked over to the girl curling up in his cape and smiled warmly. Just watching her sleep could fill his heart.

Sailor Mercury noticed the smile, and smiled herself. "You're in for a long day tomorrow, Mamoru-san."

"My Usako is definitely worth a little lost sleep. You head back to Sailor Pluto and see what she has. Meet me tomorrow, and we'll take it from there, okay?"

"Okay. Good luck." Mercury went over to Serena and checked to make sure she wasn't entirely asleep yet. "You take care of yourself, okay?"

"Okay," she replied with a yawn. Her eyes slowly fluttered shut. Mercury looked back at Tuxedo Mask as he went to gather her up in his arms.

"See ya tomorrow," she said as she jumped off the roof.

He just nodded as he looked down at the warm black and red bundle in his arms. She curled up close to him as she fell further asleep. "Usako," he whispered as he kissed her lightly on the cheek before heading off to take her home.

Sunlight peeked through her slightly parted drapes into her eyes. What time was it? Did she care? Not really. Not like she had anywhere important to go that day. Serena looked at the clock on the nightstand. It said 8:30 am. She groaned as she remembered the events from the previous day as she slowly emerged from her peaceful slumber. She remembered how close she came to getting fired for an arbitrary offense. Then she remembered Darien. Her knight in shining armor who had come to comfort her in her time of need. It seemed strange that he would have found any interest at all in her, let alone care about her dreams. Yet, it also seemed comforting to be with him. Comforting, like Tuxedo Mask's cape that had managed to get tied up around her ankles.

"WOAH! WAIT A MINUTE!' She scrambled through her covers and found a black and red satin cape keeping her feet warm. She also noticed that she had made it into bed in the same clothes that she had changed into when she left the apartment last night. "My God, it wasn't a dream," she muttered as she swung her legs out of the bed.

A sudden thought hit her. 'Why did I leave here last night?' All she remembered was walking home with Darien, changing clothes, then getting an intense headache. The next thing she knew, she was in Tuxedo Mask's arms on a rooftop somewhere. Tuxedo Mask's caring, yet intense blue eyes shining from behind his mask lingered in her memory. Never before had she felt so cared for. He was actually genuinely concerned about her well being, and that made her feel warm from head to toe. A new energy filled her heart as she prepared to face her day. She paused for a minute before rising out of the bed. Tuxedo Mask's eyes played a lot of the same tricks on her as Darien's. In fact, something was tugging at her mind.

'That's because he IS Darien.' Could she be so lucky? Her two saviors, and the only men in the galaxy who had been there for her when she needed they be the same man? She hoped so. In that case, she'd better get that cape ready for him when she saw him later that day.

She straightened her covers and retrieved the crumpled cape. "Good Gracie, I'd be pissed if this was mine. I'd better get it dry cleaned." She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes as she stretched and yawned.

She draped the cape over her left arm as she turned the doorknob of her room with her right. "Add going to the dry cleaner on my list of things to do," she muttered as she went over to the kitchen counter. She scribbled the note on a piece of paper and draped the cape over the counter.

Her spine then went rigor-straight as she backed back up into the living room. Her eyes nearly fell out of their sockets, and she had to rub them to make sure that she wasn't hallucinating. A sleeping man with messy black hair wearing an unbuttoned tuxedo shirt and black dress slacks was stretched out on her sofa. His long legs were dangling off of the armrest, but otherwise, he looked very comfortable. A black top hat and jacket along with a pair of white gloves were tossed on the coffee table next to him. Serena also noticed a white mask lying on top of the hat, and her suspicions were confirmed. She went closer to him and studied him a bit more carefully. His dark bangs fell over his eyes and framed the rest of his face just as Darien's did. She knew then for sure, and smiled warmly. He looked just as innocent as a child when he slept. He had brought her back here last night and stayed in her living room until he had succumbed to sleep. He was protecting her.

'What are you trying to save me from, Darien?' she thought. She sighed to herself as she made her way into the bathroom. After a quick shower and a change of clothes, she came back to the sofa and checked on him. He hadn't moved. There was no way she was going to wake him up. He looked like he hadn't slept in a week. She recovered a blanket from her closet and draped it over him. He stirred a bit, but never woke. She then carefully slipped out the front door and locked it behind her.

Mamoru began to stir again as he heard a popping noise and faint cursing. He could also smell something burning. A faint chatter also caught his attention. His eyes opened slowly and became aware of his surroundings. Serena's apartment. Uh oh. He had not planned on staying this long. What time was it, anyway? He turned and saw the TV was on with the volume turned way down. In the corner of the screen had the time. 12:00 noon.

"Well, good morning, Sunshine!" a voice chirped from above him. He looked up and saw Serena's smiling face looking back at him. Her hair seemed to glow a golden red around her face as it hung loosely around her shoulders.

He had to smile back. "Good afternoon, Dumpling Head!" He yawned and stretched as he folded his arms behind his head.

She turned her head and harrumphed. "What kind of name is that?"

"A really cute one," he replied as he removed himself from the sofa.

"It doesn't even make sense," she put her hands on her hips and attempted to glare at him. She knew she could never be mad at him.

Even in her altered physical state, the posture she took was nostalgic, as well as amusing to Mamoru. He smiled. "Something's burning, Serena."

Her eyes went wide as she remembered the bacon and eggs she had been attempting to make. She hurried over to the stove and flipped the food out of the pan. She whined slightly as she sniffled over her ruined masterpiece. "Oh well, Blackened Cajun Style, my favorite."

She offered Mamoru a plate. "Well, are you hungry, Darien?"

He looked over the meal that she had prepared. Compared to Usagi's legendary culinary disasters, this breakfast looked really, really appealing. Well, either that, or he was really, REALLY hungry. He didn't care enough to ponder on the situation long. "Sure am. It looks great."

"Really?" she asked incredulously. "Okay, sit yourself down and I'll get you some orange juice, okay?" She smiled brightly at him.

He loved to see her this happy. He nodded as he sat down at the small table near the kitchen. It was then that he realized that he had left all of his stuff laying around for all to see. "Uh oh."

"What is it?" Serena asked as she brought over two glasses of juice. She followed his gaze over to the coffee table that had his hat, jacket and mask laying on it. "Oh." She smiled and blushed as she patted his hand. "You don't have to worry about that. Your secret's safe with me."

That really wasn't the problem. Mamoru was more concerned with bombarding her mind with too many memories so soon. Nonetheless, he took comfort in her respect of his secret identity. "Thanks." He smiled as he looked up at her.

Time almost seemed to stand still as they were locked in each other's gazes. Serena shook her head to keep herself from dropping the glasses of juice, and cleared her throat. "Um, here you go," she said as she set one glass down in front of him and pushed a plate in his direction. "Dig in."

They ate in a somewhat comfortable silence. Finally, Mamoru pushed his empty plate to the side as he sat back, closed his eyes and sighed. Somehow, this all seemed perfect.

"So," Serena said as she swallowed a gulp of orange juice. "Did you sleep okay?"

He opened his eyes and smiled at her. "Never slept better in my life." He sat up straight up in his chair, and then leaned over to talk to her seriously. "But one thing was bugging me all night."

"What?" Serena's eyes went wide at the seriousness of his face.

"Why were you out wandering the streets that late at night?"

She sighed in response and folded her hands on the table. "I don't know. Really, I don't. I was wondering that myself."

"What do you mean?" Mamoru sighed. He didn't mean to come across so demanding. He took one of Serena's hands gently. "Please know that I'm just trying to protect you."

A light blush rose on her cheeks as she glanced down at her hand in his. He absent-mindedly, yet hardly noticeably, stroked her hand. She looked back up at Mamoru, and saw a small smile on his face.

She sighed. "Why would you want to do that? Why waste your time on a nobody like me?"

He was taken aback, and he studied her eyes carefully. His grip on her hand tightened slightly. This poor girl had no idea how special she was to him. No matter how she looked. The light from her laughter and pure heart were what made him fall in love with her in the first place. The fact that she was knockout gorgeous before the attack didn't hinder his emotions any either. But Serena had her own mysterious beauty that intrigued him. She was by no definition of the word ugly. She wasn't the same, but she was just a different kind of gorgeous. "I will always protect you, Serena, no matter what. You are way too special to be left alone."

"I am?" She hoped that this wasn't a dream...that would just be too cruel.

"Yes, you are," he replied. "And if anything were to happen to you...I don't know what I'd do. Don't be afraid to tell me anything. Maybe I can help if you tell me what happened."

"Well," she hesitated slightly. Another reassuring squeeze from Mamoru gave her enough will to tell him. "I really don't have any kind of clue. All I remember is coming home with you last night, changing clothes, and then all of a sudden, you're rescuing me."

Mamoru lowered his eyes in contemplation and took her other hand. "Did you feel anything? Were you dizzy? Nauseous? Did you have a really bad headache?"

"You think I'm making this up," she accused as tears sprang to her eyes. She attempted to free herself from his warm hands, but he held fast.

"No, I don't." He closed his eyes and concentrated his power through her. She stopped tugging on their hands and went limp for a second. "Did it feel like that?"

She shook off the initial headache and disorientation. "Kinda, only a lot more violent. It was like someone came up from behind me and attacked me."

"It was an attack, of sorts," he declared. "It's a special power called psychometry. It allows whomever to control the power to heal, or even attack with just a thought or touch. All anybody would need to attack you like that would be some item you cherish to act as a medium into your mind."

"And you have this psychometric power?" she asked carefully. "How?"

"That is a long story, but yeah, I have that power," he replied. "And I think I may know who could've attacked you, which leads me to suspect what those punks were after last night." He clenched his jaw and squeezed her hands a bit tighter.

She saw the change in him. She squeezed back reassuringly. "Darien, what's wrong? Tell me. I want to help you, too."

He relaxed his jaw and looked back up into her eyes that were so full of caring and compassion. He smiled slightly. "This is my fault. They're after you to get to me."

"I...I don't understand," she stuttered as they clutched each other's hands. "Why me?"

"Because they know how important you are to me," he said as he rose out of the chair and gently pulled her out of hers. "But don't worry about that right now. You'll completely understand when the time is right." He wrapped his arms around her rather possessively, yet reassuringly.

"What is it with you and time?" she asked with a smile. She rested her head on his shoulder. This all seemed too familiar, too right. She didn't want the moment to end.

He had to laugh, and it felt go to. "I tell ya what. Let me get changed out of this, and then we can go run your errands, okay?"

"Okay," she replied without moving. "I got most of my stuff done while you were still asleep. I went to the supermarket, and it turned out I didn't have to face the boss. But there are things to be done outside of this apartment."

"Good," he said. "I think we both need to get out to clear our heads."

She smiled again and sighed. "Darien?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks again for saving me. I owe you."

"Hush," he said as he kissed her hair. "You owe me nothing. But, you're welcome all the same."