Hola everyone! I'm so sorry about the annoyingly long delay. I've been sick and stressed, and busy, not to mention battling a bad case of the block, but here I am! I am dedicate to this story and the people who read it! Yay! I hope I don't miss anyone in the little replies. Feel free to let me know if I do.
WingsofaDream: Love your pen name. I'm thinking of changing mine, but I got no suggestions and no ideas so far. LOL! Your review was one of my favorites! Very encouraging! I'm very grateful that you mentioned the specific scenes you liked! Love that. Thanks so much for leaving it! I hope I didn't leave you hanging for too long. As for Rei and Mamoru? I shall just leave you to find out! (evil grin)
FireSenshi2: Oh, thank you so much! I hope I didn't leave you hanging too long.
krystelo: Domo Arigatou! Thanks for the encouragement! It's very much needed and appreciated!
Starlit Warrior: Thanks! Again, I hope I didn't leave you dangling for too long. Forgive me? And God bless you, too!
emmastarz: Thanks! I see your name very often on ! You are a dedicated reviewer, and I for one, am eternally grateful! And I was kind of worried about the length, but everyone seems to like them so far, so I'll keep um long and stuffed full!
devilsheart: Word.
Lunar-Chickie-Babe: Arigatou! The last chapter was very fun to write. Glad you liked it! And I've made replying to reviews a new tradition! Hopefully, people don't get annoyed by it too much. Maybe it will encourage people to review! Thanks for all the wonderful reviews so far!
Neonlights: For your and my pleasures, I've decided to chunk the whole Princess D thing. Not exciting enough. Mako it is! Hope you didn't get too annoyed by the wait! Thanks for reviewing so much, and giving me the needed harassment to update!
m1s7ress: I think poor Mamoru is branded, considering the 100 mph hugs. Hah hah! Thanks for reviewing! Hope you stick with the story!
PHEW! BTW, I decided against doing a chapter on the Princess D encounter. It didn't seem to fit. I wanted to jump straight to Mako, and then, next chapter, its really gonna start to turn away from the original.
One more reminder. This is a sequel. The first story is recounted in my other epic, In Happy Hiding. It's a short, exciting read, so go try it out, if you want to understand the prophecy and some of the flashbacks and references
Now, on to the chapter that has even me hanging in the balance.
Chapter Five: Eyes Clouded
Rei tossed an aggravated glance at her comrade. Three weeks had passed quietly, with few attacks here and there; quietly enough for Usagi to be asleep on her History textbook. Rei closed her eyes, and forced the annoyed shout back down her throat. She opened them again, and violet eyes studied her two friends, already in the category of "best".
Ami was oblivious to her sleeping friend; she was buried in an advanced calculus textbook, far more advanced than general level 9 mathematics. (AN: I never liked the idea of middle-school Senshi. They're freshmen, now. It's just one year people.) Her black eyebrows appeared blue in the light from the shrine's brightly lit sunroom. They were knit in concentration, her eyes sharp with thought. She was oblivious to anything happening around her.
Almost the exact same could be said of Usagi, Rei noticed, taking a closer, more concerned look. Usagi wasn't snoozing out of boredom or laziness, as Rei had seen her do before. Her eyes were clenched shut, darting about rapidly behind her delicate eyelids. Deep, black circles underscored them, extremely out of place on her pale, smooth skin. Her hair was messy in the odangos; something Usagi normally took great care in fashioning had obviously been fixed in a daze this morning. A long strand of entwined blonde tendrils fell in front of her face; the hairs danced frantically in the wake of Usagi's short, rapid breaths.
Rei was caught in indecision as she stood, quietly. Ami's eyes flicked up from the book, and locked with her own, a question in her raised eyebrows. Rei's eyes were solemn, as she slowly approached her friend, and gently placed two fingers on Usagi's neck.
Green eyes flashed with fury, and lighting shot to the ground behind a warrior in green. Chestnut hair fell from painfully tight pony-tail, drenched by the rain, and the strands around her face were caked with blood. Electricity crackled in her tight fists.
Rei's eyes widened, and she felt herself pushed away by a force she did not understand. Usagi's skin was hot, and Rei was shocked by static when she touched it. Her pulse was erratic and alarmingly rapid. But whatever Usagi was seeing… Rei knew she herself was not meant to see yet. Even as she pondered it, the memory faded into only a sharp concern for her friend.
"Rei-chan?"
The question came from the warrior of ice. Rei lifted her eyes, and felt a deep sadness. Without a word, she dropped her school book from the crook of her other arm, backed slowly away from Usagi, and walked to the room where the Sacred Fire burned.
"Do not wake her," was all she said.
Ami turned her blue eyes to Usagi, voicing neither her apprehension nor her bewilderment.
Green eyes flashed with fury, and lighting shot to the ground behind a warrior in green. Chestnut hair fell from a painfully tight ponytail, drenched by the pouring rain, and the strands around her face were caked with blood. Electricity crackled in her tight fists. Thunder boomed overhead, and the rain only increased its fervor.
"An impressive show, Lady Jupiter," came a voice. The focus swivels to a man even taller than his adversary, his wavy brown locks, coveted by women everywhere, were soaked and stuck to his angular jaw line. His eyes were darkly amused, but obviously he had taken a beating in the encounter. Burns from electric shock ran jagged over his uniforms, and a particularly bad one now left a scar across an eye, over his nose and down a cheek. "But as you can see, I am still here, and you are still far from Serenity."
Rage was barely contained by the Scout of Jupiter. A furious tear fell from her eye, and popped on her charged cheek. She did not blink.
However, she did laugh, effectively angering her adversary.
"You weaklingYou poor, disillusioned, twisted fool!" she screamed, laughing. The thunder echoed her.
"You flirt with death."
Sailor Jupiter did not wait for the man to question the remark. She crossed her arms, her eyes fierce and unwavering. Her entire body was charged, crackling with green voltage.
"You are charged with treason by the Silver Millennium, the Earth's Golden Court, the Court of the White Moon, and the Crown Princess of Jupiter. Do you deny it?"
The man was silent, unsure of whether to be afraid or amused.
"Don't bother to consider the answer, Nephrite, because you die at my hands either way."
A sick grin crawled across the general's face, as he resumed his fighting stance. "Fine. Have it your way, Senshi. No. I do not attempt to deny it."
Jupiter grinned, an eager, hungry expression storming over her face. "Good. Then I know Metallia left some good in you, since you remain honest. However, it remains my duty and pleasure to kill you, you vile piece of slime."
She slid back into a fighting stance, throwing one arm into the air, and the other hand behind the antenna that stuck from her tiara. She remained still for a moment, cracking with potential force.
"Any last words?"
Nephrite matched her hungry grin, and arrogantly crossed his arms. "I dare you, Lady Jupiter. Give me your very best shot."
Tears ran down her face, cracking. Still, the innate thrill of battle rose, and she grinned. "With pleasure, love."
"Supreme Thunder!"
Charged current descended violently from the stormy black sky above, through her antenna, and then she channeled through her arms, and directed at the only man she had ever loved. He was blasted full-force, and his body staggered as he was electrocuted, and flew backwards through the air until a tree stopped him.
Jupiter was motionless for a moment as the adrenaline faded. She approached the charred body slowly, and watched as the chest rose and fell weakly. She gathered him into her arms, felt his body grow colder as she held him. She gazed at his face, stiffening in the approaching death.
"I win, but I still lose you, Nephrite. I loved you, fool."
After this, he took his last haggard breath and was still. She swept a kiss over his lips, static shocking her, but she welcomed it.
She took both hands and gripped her antenna tightly with both. She closed her eyes, forcing the remaining tears to the ground.
"Farewell, Princess. Have faith in yourself, as I do."
She tightened her grip on her tiara's antenna, bracing herself.
"Protector Jupiter, send a storm! Thunder and lightning!"
She welcomed the electric shock. Her body danced violently as she was electrocuted, and thunder crashed the moment her limp body hit the ground.
Usagi shot up, eyes wild, and knocked over her chair in her hurry to stand. Ami caught her before she could stumble backwards, and gently stroked her arm.
"It was a dream, Usagi-chan! Nothing more!" she soothed.
Usagi was not to be calmed. Her eyes darted to Rei, to quiet Luna, then back to Ami.
"I don't have dreams," she gasped. "Only nightmares." She backed away from their concerned faces, until her back found the wall of the room. "I need to be alone right now. Gomen!"
With that, she turned, and ran out the door.
Rei took a deep breath and began to run after her, but Ami gently took her wrist and held her back, her expression amazed and fixed on the empty doorframe.
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Usagi ran blindly through the streets, completely unaware of where she was going. She begged pardon from every form she bumped into, but took little notice.
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Mamoru dragged himself towards home after a particularly exhausting day of school. A test in every class. Suddenly, someone bumped into him.
A sobbed "Gomen!" he heard, then the figure ran ahead, two long blond pigtails trailing behind her.
"Usagi?"
He'd caught a glimpse of her face. She was exhausted, delirious. But what caught his attention and his breath, was her tears. She was weeping.
He dropped his bag, and took off after her.
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I'm sorry, he mouthed. I love you. Then the hand fell limply to the surface of the moon, already stained red.
Then, with a sharp intake a breath, she plunged her lover's sword right through her broken heart
Then, the Princess of Mercury took a last breath, and then exhaled, her breath creating a foggy mist, then released all of her pain, and collapsed on her icy sword.
Then, her face still upturned to the heavens, and her eyes closed reverently, she spread her arms out to her sides, then walked into the flames.
Her body danced violently as she was electrocuted, and thunder crashed the moment her limp body hit the ground.
"So much death!" she whispered, crying, oblivious. "How can I possibly stop history from repeating itself? I don't know what to do…"
She darted out into the street and froze, as two bright headlights of a truck zoomed closer and closer, bright in the low dusk. A horn sounded.
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Mamoru's heart froze in his chest, and he urged his legs faster.
He wasn't going to make it. The truck would hit her frail frame before he could blink again.
"USAGI!!!!" he howled, running desperately.
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Usagi was just wondering if one more death would count for anything in the universe she was destined to protect, when a slender form slammed against her. She flew across the street, and landed roughly against a tree, and the world went black.
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Mamoru felt he could faint with relief. The tall, brown haired young woman knelt over Usagi's still form, breathing heavily. He hurried across the street, and felt he could hug the stranger, but didn't.
"Thank God!" he breathed, gathering Usagi in his arms, feeling he could cry for joy. "Thank God, you were there!"
The tall brunette stood, still breathing heavily. Mamoru looked up at her, and caught her gazing at Usagi with a strange expression of recognition.
"Do you know Usagi?" he asked, holding her tightly.
She paused. "No… But she looks familiar…"
Mamoru cocked an eyebrow, then dismissed the remark. He began to examine Usagi, being careful of her head. He gently probed and found a growing bump on the back of her head. He looked her over for any broken bones, and found none.
He glanced up. The brunette was looking off into the distance with an unreadable look on her face.
Mamoru turned his attentions again back to Usagi, making sure no one was looking. The small crowd that had gathered had already dispersed. So, Mamoru put his hand on Usagi's head injury, and healed it using his powers. Then, he remembered she'd been upset before the incident, so he swallowed a strong urge to scold her like no other when she awoke.
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Usagi open her eyes when she felt a strange tingling at the back of her head. Her vision was double, and blinked owlishly until it cleared. When it did, she found herself looking into a worried, pale face, and concerned sapphire eyes.
"Endymion…" she whispered, then faded back into unconsciousness.
Mamoru froze. The name was familiar to him; in what way, that he couldn't guess. His mind was too scrambled to think rationally, but the name falling from her lips sounded perfect.
He pushed this thoughts away, and hefted her into his arms. He looked towards the concerned brunette. "Hi. I'm Mamoru."
She smiled. "Makoto. It's a pleasure. Is she going to be okay?"
"I think so. I'm going to take her to the temple; that's where she and her friends usually study at this time of day. I really think you should come too, because I think Usagi would want to meet the girl who saved her life," Mamoru said, eying her.
The intimidating girl actually blushed. "If you say so."
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Rei paced the temple. Finally, Ami gave up on studying, and slammed her books shut. Luna jumped, hissing.
"Gomen," the girl genius mumbled.
Rei grunted restlessly. "Something bad happened to her. I can't just wait here."
Just as she was about to storm out the door, she bumped into a male form.
Immediately, her worry evaporated and a fiery blush lit her cheeks. "Oh. Mamoru. What a pleasant surprise!"
Ami rolled her eyes, and gently pushed Rei aside, noticing an unconscious Usagi in Mamoru's arms. "What happened, Mamoru-san? Is Usagi okay?"
Mamoru shuddered at the hungry look Rei was giving him, and turned his attention to the more sensible friend. "Ask Makoto here," he said, coming in, and lying Usagi very carefully on the nearest sofa.
They turned and looked at the new figure. Rei thought something was familiar about her, but couldn't reach the memory.
"Hi. I'm Kino Makato. Your friend looked really upset about something, and she didn't look before she ran across the street, and almost got hit by a truck. Luckily, I got there in time."
Mamoru smiled at her modesty. "Makoto here leapt across the road, and tackled Usagi out of the way."
Rei was about to make a comment about Odango's incompetence, when she received a scorching look from Ami to remain silent. Luna's keen eyes studied the new figure carefully.
"Thank you so much for saving her!" Ami said sincerely, taking the girl's hand.
Makoto smiled modestly. "No prob. Just a right place, right time kind of thing."
Usagi awoke groggily, but before Mamoru could slip out from the overly female occupied room, she locked eyes with him, and smiled a broad thank you. He smiled back, then slipped out.
While the two Senshi tried to explain what had happened, Usagi stared at the tall girl standing before her.
Sailor Jupiter in the flesh.
Usagi shook herself back into reality, trying to push the image of this young woman killing her fiancé for her princess's sake from her mind's eye.
"Thanks so much! I don't know what I was thinking."
What a crappy lie.
Before anything else could be said, Rei, noticing the look in Usagi's eyes, took action. "You know, girls, why don't you all just stay for dinner? It's already dinner time, and we want to get to know Makoto!"
Usagi was thrilled at the idea, and arrangements were made. Makoto volunteered to prepare supper.
"No way! You cook?" Usagi squealed, delighted.
Makoto grinned. "Hai, and I like to think that I'm pretty good at it."
This statement was proved true a half hour later when she presented a scrumptious dinner to them all.
"Oh, I'm in Heaven!" Usagi sighed.
"Yeah. Hog heaven," Rei grumbled, still miffed that Usagi had gotten to be in Mamoru's arms.
Usagi stuck out her tongue, before remembering she was eating, and then sucked it quickly back in, embarrassed. Ami scolded both of them.
Makoto watched, amused. Usagi began to question her.
"Well, I got kicked out of my last school for fighting." Makoto supplied, embarrassed. "But it wasn't my fault. A guy was harassing me, so I kicked his butt. But when I told the school officials that, they believed the guy's story, and booted me."
Rei sniffed. "Men. Who needs um."
Makoto began to really relax as she saw that the three girls truly accepted her. Her eyes lingered on the blonde, as she tried to figure out why she already felt such a deep respect and fierce loyalty to her. Usagi didn't even question her about her expulsion, but began to praise her cooking.
Makoto felt she had found part of what she was searching for.
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THE NEXT DAY….
Usagi tossed her school bag over the counter as she'd seen Mamoru do many times, pulling Makoto by the hand. She had to perform a test, though the assertive, sensitive Mako was a perfect match for Jupiter already, she had to prove it.
"This is the best game in the entire arcade!" Usagi declared, motioning for her new friend to sit down.
Makoto laughed, pleased at the attention, and agreed to play a round.
Usagi watched intently. So far, Rei, Ami, and herself held the three highest scores. Mamoru was pretty good too, she noticed, as his score fell at fourth.
Soon, Mako found herself absorbed in the game. Instincts she didn't know she had began to take over. Her fingers twitched over the buttons faster than lightning, and her grip on the joystick was deathly.
Usagi noticed, and had to turn away for a moment.
She tightened her grip on her tiara's antenna, bracing herself.
Usagi closed her eyes, and willed the dizziness to pass and to take the horrid image with it.
"Usagi?"
Usagi opened her eyes. She found herself floating in the most gorgeous midnight eyes she'd ever seen.
"Mamoru?"
Mamoru sat down in the booth across from Usagi, his eyes never leaving hers. He cleared his throat, eager to calm his nerves before he lost them.
"Daijobou?"
Usagi took a moment to process this. Bake was asking very sincerely if she was ok. She wasn't. She hadn't been okay since she first laid eyes on Luna, but she couldn't tell him that. Why was he asking? Did she look bad?
"Hai, Mamoru-san. I'm ok."
He was not satisfied. "Usagi, you almost got hit by a truck yesterday, and you blacked out for half an hour."
Usagi smiled ruefully, rubbing the back of her head, which was surprisingly only a little sore. "So I noticed. But really, I'm fine."
Mamoru studied her for a moment.
"I'm not asking you about your head, Odango, I'm asking about your heart."
Usagi looked up sharply. Mamoru's eyes were imploring. He really was concerned. He must have seen me upset yesterday, before the truck thing. Usagi smiled half-heartedly, and parted her lips just slightly to take a breath.
"Mamoru-san… Do you ever feel like your own enemy?" she whispered, eyes cloudy and off into the distance.
Mamoru gazed at the girl before him, and tried to stop himself from falling in love.
"Yes," he whispered, seriously, leaning forward slightly.
Before Usagi could say another word, a youma crashed through the large windows of the Crown. Instinctively, Usagi turned and tackled Mako to the ground, attempting to shield her from the shards of glass shooting through the air. That same instant, Mamoru stood, and whirled, throwing his back against shards of glass meant for Usagi. His heart swelled at the sight of her protective position over her friend.
Makoto climbed back to her feet, helping Usagi up, who groaned as the movement disturbed a deeply embedded shard in her side. Usagi clenched her jaw tightly, then with a sharp breath, ripped it out soundlessly. She quickly took in the scene. Screaming citizens were running towards the back exit, Motoki's voice rising over all of them.
"Quickly, everyone! The emergency exit. Follow me!"
She turned towards Makoto, but found her missing.
"I WAS ON THE FOURTEENTH LEVEL, YOU CREEP!" came a fierce yell.
Usagi whirled only to see Mako twirling the youma above her head, then throwing it across the room. Her jaw dropped. "YES!" she hissed.
"Mako!" she ran for her friend, and pulled her around a corner, clamping a hand over her mouth with strength out of place in the slender arm.
"Listen. No time to explain now, but here."
Usagi handed her the pen that had popped from the arcade. "Uncapping this means your life as you know it is out the window. You will face danger every day, but you will be fulfilled as no one else can be. If you uncap this, you will find everything you have ever searched for."
Unlike Rei and Ami, Makoto didn't even hesitate. "Jupiter Power, Make up!"
Usagi grinned. "Welcome to my team, Jupiter."
Jupiter stared down at the frail girl, confused. "Who are you, Usagi?"
Usagi shrugged. "No one."
She looked around quickly, and saw Mamoru gone, and Tuxedo Kamen fighting the monster with the other Senshi. She moved out of his eyesight, then threw her hand in the air.
"Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"
"Now, go make an entrance, Jupiter!" she commanded.
Jupiter nodded shortly, grinning, a hunger for battle fierce in her eyes. Sailor Moon watched calmly as she threw herself at the youma, tackling it fiercely off of Tuxedo Kamen. Sailor Moon all but strolled to Tuxedo Kamen's side, to inquire after him.
The other three Senshi raged the youma, obviously enjoying themselves.
"SHABON SPRAY!" Even introverted Mercury seemed to be satisfying a deep thirst to overcome evil.
"Daijoubou, Tuxedo Kamen-sama?" Sailor Moon inquired innocently, helping him to stand straight.
He smiled at her, nodding; she could feel his affectionate glance even if she couldn't see his eyes.
"You don't have to do anything now, do you?" he asked playfully.
"FIRE SOUL!" Mars was just as feisty as ever.
Sailor Moon laughed, observing the performance of the magnificent Senshi against a truly terrified youma.
"I don't know if I'd go that far…" she said, smiling.
"SUPREME THUNDER!" The other Senshi didn't even blink at the introduction of the new attack. They immediately recognized Makoto underneath the Senshi of Jupiter.
At this point, the youma was pretty much dead. But Sailor Moon was needed to finish it off. "See?" she told Tuxedo Kamen, falling into her fighting stance.
"MOON TIARA ACTION!"
The youma exploded into dust. Tuxedo Kamen was about to slip away when a new, arrogant voice cut through the air.
"Very impressive, Sailor Senshi. But can you defeat a true general of the Dark Kingdom?!"
Sailor Moon whirled, and when her eyes fell on the tall, intimidating figure with long, brown, deviously wavy hair, her heart chilled. Tuxedo Kamen watched alarmed as all color drained from the heroine's face, and her eyes turned not to the new enemy, but to her newest comrade.
Sailor Jupiter's eyes held nothing but contempt. Her fighting stance was confident, her eyes, daring.
She did not remember the man before her.
Sailor Moon trembled, helpless, as the brazen new Senshi uttered words that stole her breath.
"Protector Jupiter, call on a storm…"
Tuxedo Kamen watched his paramour closely. She began to shake as Jupiter prepared to open fire on the Shitennou. He found his eyes drawn to the enemy, and discovered he had no desire to destroy the man. He heard Sailor Moon whisper frantically to herself, "I cannot allow history to repeat itself!"
Then, the unthinkable.
"STOP, JUPITER!"
Jupiter froze, her fierce loyalty to her leader kicking in. The lighting crackling on her antenna faded slowly.
Sailor Moon took a deep breath, and found the only way to keep her friend from destroying her lover was to fight him herself. She straightened and resumed her fighting stance.
"I, Sailor Moon, am your opponent, Nephrite!"
Tuxedo Mask's heart stopped, then began to race. The name brought unexplainable feelings and the declaration from the woman he was sure he loved terrifed him.
The Senshi were just as shocked, but Sailor Moon paid no heed. She leapt into the air, and viciously kicked Nephrite from the sky. He fell, but landed gracefully on his feet, falling into an eager stance that reminded Sailor Moon of Jupiter.
"So, the legendary Sailor Moon, we finally meet," he said conversationally, throwing his fist out for a punch.
She dodged, reflexes quicker than lightning. "I see my reputation precedes me," she tossed back, executing a perfect tornado kick.
Nephrite jumped backwards, wary of the inhumanly fast Senshi. "Yes. I am aware that you stopped your partner from killing Jadeite, just as you stopped the tall one from killing me. Although, who's to say they would have succeeded." His foot connected with Sailor Moon shoulder. She staggered, but threw a kick of her own into his side. He grunted, and moved to slap her, but she dodged quickly.
"They succeeded once, they could do it again. And I could not allow that to happen."
Nephrite paused to study the warrior. She was a young girl, had no weapon, but fierce fighting skills. Her eyes didn't waver. However, two things bemused the general. "We have never fought you pitiable Senshi before!" he declared. "And why should you stop your comrades from fighting the enemy? It seems foolish to me. I certainly wouldn't stop Jadeite from killing you."
Sailor Moon ducked a kick, but continued the conversation. "You are no enemy of mine, Nephrite. My only enemy is Beryl. You once fought on my side."
The pause before his barked laugh showed that she had hit a nerve. But he didn't show it. "What fascinating rubbish. Well, Sailor Moon, let's get this over with."
She smiled grimly. "Let's." Sailor Moon whipped off her tiara, gripping the sharp metal like a dagger. She swept Nephrite's feet from under him, then squatted, hooking her arm around his neck, and placed the sharp, glowing tiara at his throat. He froze, silently furious at this turn.
"I could kill you right now with three little words. Or I could just slit your throat," she hissed dangerously in his ear. "But you are not my enemy, Nephrite! I don't want to fight you. I want you to fight against the evil that has misled you! I want you on the side of good again. You are not evil." She straightened, and removed her weapon from his throat. "Think about what I've told you," she said, taking a step back.
Nephrite was oddly quiet. A respect for his adversary as well as a curiosity to find out what she was talking about bubbled up in his mind. He bowed. "You fight well, Sailor Moon. The fight remains a draw. Until we meet again."
With that, Nephrite disappeared.
The Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen were motionless, watching Sailor Moon's hair dance in the wind. They were completely amazed at her display of power, but much more so by her gift of mercy. Not only were they utterly fascinated with Sailor Moon, but they were utterly baffled by her as well.
Tuxedo Kamen watched closely. He saw her shoulders begin to tremble, and her fists clench tightly. He realized that none of her Senshi knew of her dreams about their own past. He was nonplussed and honored that she'd told him, though he found that her dreams and this past life had nothing to do with himself, and so decided that since none of her Senshi could understand, none of them could comfort her.
Besides, he didn't like the idea of anyone else doing it.
He approached slowly, and gently laid a hand on her shoulder. She turned slowly, obviously fighting against tears that desperately needed release. He tenderly brushed a stray tear from her cheek with his gloved finger.
Mercury led the other two Senshi away, explaining to Mars and Jupiter the extent the two hero's relationship to her own knowledge, and urging them to give the not-quite-couple space.
"Why do you fight, Tuxedo Kamen?"
The whispered, agonized question came as a surprise, but easily answered. "I fight to protect you."
"Why else?"
He didn't even hesitate. He trusted Sailor Moon more than anyone he knew. Besides one other.
"I am searching for the Silver Imperium Crystal, as you are. It can give me memories that I've lost, and I believe that it will lead me to my princess."
Sailor Moon felt her heart sink. Her feelings could not be returned because of his love for an unknown. However, her mind perked as she realized that he was searching for her as well. She must find out why. "Do you love the princess?" she asked, very quietly.
He paused. "I have no memory of her. I don't know where I met her, why I have to find her, or even what she looks like. But I am bound to her."
He became aware of how much his statement had pained Sailor Moon. So he took a deep breath, willed his racing heart to slow, and spoke.
"But I feel I have already betrayed her because I am in love with another."
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Hah! I just had to end it there. What did you think? Am I evil, or what? Throwing you over the cliff like that. How merciless of me. Please review! The next chapter is going to be loaded with stuff. We might have some revealed identities, a decoy princess, two very confused people in love, an encounter with Zoisite, and maybe even a glimpse of the Dark Kingdom. OOH, I can't wait! I hope you feel the same!
Please review!!!
-Moon Pie