Immediately, Mamoru's reflexes were kicking in, heightened by the haze of adrenaline, and he was donning a familiar attack stance. But then his eyes adjusted, and he saw that he had been pulled onto a balcony, and lo and behold there was the missing Usagi. He was on her in seconds, hands on shoulders.

"Usako! Where did you go? Are you alright? Why are you-" Relief was the primary emotion fueling his barrage, and now that Mamoru was giving her a thorough inspection he saw that she looked absolutely fine, if not for a little confused. That intense once-over was how he noticed the hand tugging at her chiffon sleeve, and how he realized... he was still being gently manhandled as well. He turned, seeing for the first time the unsuspecting individual who was their captor.

"You two..." the strange woman was exclaiming, nearly gasping on the words. Her dark luminescent eyes seemed even larger when framed by circular spectacles, the prominent feature upon her otherwise delicate face. She had brown hair that was plaited down one side, and she had to be a gala attendee with her long but plain pink dress. "You two!"

Mamoru glanced at Usagi, who still wore just as nonplussed an expression as he. Seeing as she was rooted to the spot, Mamoru took charge of the situation.

"Erm... can we help you?" he asked this rather mousy young woman hesitantly, wondering if perhaps she was having a medical emergency and in need of a doctor. She didn't look like Dark Kingdom bait, but then again the youma never looked as dangerous in their fake human forms.

The stranger seemed to realize she finally had their attention. She released them, and Mamoru inched closer to Usagi just in case he needed to jump into action and protect her.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry," the woman was now babbling, disconcertingly magnified eyes flickering back and forth between the two. "You must think me mad. I swear I'm not a crazy person... despite that show back there. I just - I've never been hit with inspiration so hard as when I saw the two of you! You're perfect! Just like the couple I've seen in my dreams sometimes, I mean it's almost uncanny the resemblance really..."

Far from feeling reassured by her sanity, Mamoru was getting more and more alarmed. Who the hell was this woman? His throat caught and he grabbed at Usagi as she took a daring step forward, but even she had some sense of self-preservation because her tone was very quiet, like coaxing to a frightened animal.

"I think you might not be explaining yourself very well... perhaps you could start at the beginning? Introductions, for start. My name is Usagi. What's yours?"

The other girl took a deep breath, like trying to center herself back to reality. "You're right... sorry again... I have a tendency to just sort of, live in my head sometimes," she said with a vague gesture. "I'm not great at conversation, or um, people really. Forgive me - my name is Yumeno Yumemi."

Mamoru's jaw dropped.

"Wait - Yumeno... Yumemi?" Usagi squealed. "As in, the artist!?"

Yumemi blushed. "The one and the same."

Usagi was immediately trusting, her own blue eyes growing just as large and starstruck, undoubtedly ready to avail her with numerous questions and requests for autographs. But Mamoru was not so convinced, his reply full of skepticism.

"You can't be Yumeno Yumemi. We saw her self-portrait. She's a blonde," he said flatly.

Yumemi didn't look caught out - just embarrassed. Her cheeks went red again and she ducked her head, speaking to her feet. "I know... I purposefully painted her that way. People don't... they don't look at someone like me and see a famous artist. They want beauty to match the pictures and I... well, I know I fall short of expectations."

Mamoru blinked; it definitely wasn't the answer he was expecting, and by this point he was starting to feel that she must be genuine, the way she was baring her heart to them. Usagi's face softened.

"That's silly. I think you're very pretty, Yumemi-san!"

Yumemi if possible blushed even more. "T-thank you, Usa-chan," she whispered.

Mamoru had to marvel at Usagi as she just went with the nickname, enchanted simply being in the presence of the artist.

"So... you needed us for something?" Usagi prompted, inclining her head.

"OH - yes! Yes, I was actually wondering if... if you two wouldn't mind modeling for me?"

"Model!?" Usagi screeched. Modeling was nothing new for Mamoru, he had done a few gigs for various clothing stores to help him save for med school, but Usagi acted as though she had never dreamed she would be asked the question. Which was surprising, because one look at her and Mamoru wanted to drop to his knees with the force of her brilliance.

"It would only be for an afternoon. Maybe tomorrow? I can give you my address-"

As Yumemi went fishing around in her purse, Usagi turned to Mamoru. The excitement she exuded was nearly palpable. "Well? What do you think, Mamo-chan? We can afford to skip a lesson, yeah? Oh, it would be so cool!"

Mamoru would not have been able to deny her anything wearing that face. "I suppose it should be fine," he surrendered, accepting the business card Yumemi then offered him.

"I'm afraid I haven't much to pay you with," she murmured apologetically. "It's been a long time since I've released a new piece and my pocketbook is definitely feeling it. But I make a mean cup of coffee and fresh homemade cookies."

"Sold," Mamoru smiled politely. "You had me at free coffee!"

Usagi chuckled and he started at the note of affection to be found there. "You and your coffee. Blegh. I'm just excited for cookies, Yumemi-san!"

Yumemi beamed. "Oh, you two are just lovely. I can't wait for tomorrow. I've never felt so moved by a couple. Thank you, thank you again! I'll let you enjoy your evening now." She bowed low, then disappeared out the door, back into the throngs of people admiring her work without even realizing they were in the presence of the creator herself. It was a little sad, really.

Left alone on the balcony, Usagi turned to Mamoru and giggled.

"That was... something else," Mamoru commented, scratching at his head, the flutters of his previous terror still dying a slow death deep in the pit of his stomach.

"She thinks we're a couple," Usagi sniggered, apparently stuck on other matters.

"We do kind of look like one," Mamoru shrugged, trying to maintain a composed affect even through his furiously beating heart. Oh, how he wished they were. Standing here, just the two of them on this marble balcony drowning in coruscating moonlight, he had never felt the desire more intensely. Nor such a strong sense of... deja vu...?

He took a step closer, and he could have sworn he heard Usagi's breath hitch.

"I had a lot of fun tonight with you, Mamo-chan. Thanks for inviting me," she said, in a rush. Blinking rapidly as she stared at the lapels of his tuxedo-clad chest, where Mamoru was sure she saw his strange golden glow that still plagued him with curiosity as to its meaning.

"There was no one else I wanted here," Mamoru admitted. Another step. He wasn't sure what he wanted, but it was as if he were a puppet to the whims of his desire, so consuming as it was. There was a fire burning in his chest, maybe spurred by the fear he had felt upon briefly losing her, maybe flamed by the sight of her silver and resplendent under the moonlight, hair plastered beautifully into a single bun, face framed in escaping curls. She gazed up at him with parted lips.

He was getting locked on those lips.

One more step and their chests were practically brushing. Usagi still hadn't moved, one way or the other, but he could feel how powerfully her lungs were working, taking deep breaths in and out. He reached out to tuck one of the errant strands of hair back behind her ear.

"My - my papa... you know, it's getting late, he's... he's probably starting to worry," Usagi said suddenly, in a shaky voice.

Mamoru dropped his hand... nothing killing the moment and bringing him back to himself quicker than talk of her father. He sighed, trying not to let himself sound too disappointed. "Right."

This time he moved in the opposite direction. Usagi seemed to relax, standing a little less stiffly, but there was confliction on her face and Mamoru was dying to know if she had been feeling it too, that overwhelming need to...

Give in.

There was pull in the moonlight - a force beyond explanation. Like magic. Dressed like this, the pair of them in their ballroom finest, it was like he was in touch with a whole other side of himself that even he didn't quite understand, or recognize. Like he was seeing Usagi... and yet more. The man shook himself of these unnerving musings; Yumemi must be rubbing off on him. It was indeed getting late, and he certainly didn't want to elicit the wrath of Tsukino Kenji. Gingerly, Mamoru laced his arm through Usagi's. She was warm, almost hot to the touch, and he noticed her racing pulse was evident even through this meager touch. She averted her face but leaned into him, cheek against his upper arm.

"Ready to head home, then?"

"Mmm-hmm," she said, sounding sleepily content.

"Can't have any Cinderellas on my watch," Mamoru teased, and he enjoyed the snort he received in response.

The night hadn't exactly ended like he hoped it would...

But he wouldn't trade this time with her for anything.

He smiled as Usagi nestled further into his grip.

Usagi fell asleep quickly that night, brain a muddled puddle of mush so tired was she after the night's events, but it more than made up for its lethargy come the following morning. That Sunday, Usagi sat at the breakfast table with her family scarfing down food, but her mind was miles away. Yumeno Yumemi wanted her to model for her next composition! It was terribly exciting. But even that wasn't giving her as much pause for thought as one Chiba Mamoru. She couldn't seem to stop replaying a particular moment in her head. Them... on the balcony... his voice softer and gentler than she'd ever heard it, so full of - of feeling - and the warmth of his body as he moved slowly closer...

"Usagi, you're making a mess of porridge all over the table!" Ikuko exclaimed, and Usagi started, jerking her spoon back so fast it must have sloshed even more onto the wood.

"Sorry, Mama."

"No mind, no mind," she sighed, and Usagi heard her getting up to retrieve a towel.

"You look a little tired. That Mamoru-san didn't keep you too late, did he?"

Usagi rolled her eyes, knowing perfectly well her Papa knew at exactly what hour she got in last night, no doubt having waited up for them until he saw his little girl safely back home. Had Mamoru actually been late, this conversation would be going much differently.

"No, Papa. He made sure to get me home on time."

"Usagi's always tired," Shingo sniggered into his bowl. "What's new?"

Usagi threw him a disgruntled look but it wasn't long before Mamoru invaded her mind once more. Had he... had he been about to kiss her? Usagi ducked her head as she felt her cheeks heating up. It was like her dream all over again. She thought he might have been about to, but she hadn't been certain. So many emotions had stolen over her then, she could hardly categorize them all. A part of her had wanted him to. Fiercely. So fierce, it absolutely terrified her. And then came the spiraling wave of fear, so much more fear. Fear that what if it ruined everything? She'd finally gained not only an ally in Mamoru, but a friend. Bordering on a best friend, if she were honest with herself. She spent just as much if not more time with him than she did her Senshi, nowadays. He just related to her on a level that sometimes, the others couldn't. He understood her pain, her struggles, and he was so very, achingly patient with her. He never gave up, and he pushed her to be better. To be more. They shared the garden, the secret of their identities, and now they were training to find the last crystal together so maybe, just maybe, Mamoru's lost memories of his past would be returned by the mysterious princess. The thought of messing with that, especially if she were wrong about this...

But his voice.

His golden glow tentatively drawing closer...

There was no one else I wanted here. The softness, the sincerity. Oh, why couldn't this be simpler? As simple as that one statement; the surety with which he imparted that sentiment to her?

Usagi wanted to bury her head and moan about the confusing nature of it all, so she did the next best thing, she excused herself early from the table and headed out into the entry hall, tossing on a forest green jacket for the weather. Nothing cleared her head like a nice walk. In the dining room, she heard her father commenting "Usagi's sure daydreaming a lot today, isn't she?" And her mother's knowing, "Let her be, Kenji."

Usagi sighed, slipping out the door, but not before she heard Luna's nagging voice in her head telling her not to go anywhere without the crescent wand, so it was with her favorite red backpack in tow that she set out into the brisk morning air.

She had a feeling her mother knew, or at least had some inkling of, the tumult that was currently racing through her mind. Mothers all seemed to be omniscient like that. Usagi wondered if it was something that happened once you had children, like you gained a sixth sense after their birth, or if maybe Ikuko understood because she had lived through a situation similar.

She was young and in love once, too, Usagi reasoned, before catching herself short, shoes freezing in their tracks. Wait... in love!? I'm not... He's just... Am I?!

Usagi began to breathe quickly, reaching up before she even realized what she was doing to grab at her star locket, find strength from its familiar solidarity as she had done for weeks before this when panic unwelcomely burst in. But her hands grasped at air, purchasing nothing but the fabric of her turtleneck, and suddenly she remembered that she had given it back. Mamoru had never said a word, but he had to have come across it by now, and just the thought made her deflate a little bit.

Did he care, what she had done for him? Losing the locket had been like surrendering an old friend. It had become in some weird way like a security blanket after the blindness took everything from her. She knew it rightfully belonged to him, and had had every intention of doing so from the moment she discovered it in the cemetery, but god... it had been so hard. She missed it daily. And him not saying a word, not even a thank you, it stung.

Usagi clung to that feeling with desperation. She wasn't even all that upset about it, she knew it had been difficult for him too, but oh, it was just the distraction she needed to not have to think about other feelings. This walk was supposed to be about clearing her mind... and now she was thinking about him more than ever!

"Usa-chan?"

Usagi nearly jumped out of her skin, turning in the direction of the voice, but she quickly recognized it and the quirky nickname, as quirky as the speaker herself.

"Oh! Hello, Yumemi-san!"

"I almost couldn't tell it was you with the hairstyle! I like it."

"I feel more like me with it like this," Usagi answered, cheerfully poking at either odango.

"It's very unique. So... you're very early," the woman chuckled, "But I suppose if you want to catch the worm..."

"I... what?"

"You're outside my apartment! Or didn't you realize...?"

Usagi blinked, before letting out a marveling laugh at where her feet had taken her, without even her knowledge. "Oh, that's so funny. I had just been out for a walk!"

"Well I'm making the cookies right now. I could use a hand if you'd like to help?" Yumemi offered, and Usagi's stomach growled as if reminding her she'd not eaten nearly as much at breakfast as she normally would've. The girl agreed with gusto.

oOo

Yumemi's house was cozy. It was a small studio, but Usagi had the distinct impression that it was very bright and airy, as if the predominant selling point were large windows, maybe even floor to ceiling. She supposed if you were a famous artist you could afford such decadence. But she also had the feeling that, like Mamoru, Yumemi lived minimally. There wasn't a lot of clutter, and from how Yumemi described it she really just focused her space on the ability to make art. Usagi couldn't see them, but there was a whole corner of unfinished - many abandoned - canvases, as well as a couple easels and one couch for those she invited to model. Usagi could smell the tangy scent of paint in the air, but currently, the delicious waftings of homemade matcha cookies were relegating it into the background. Usagi joked that she was a better taste tester than a baker.

"I've made cookies before. They come out of the oven looking like they should be fine, but they taste horrible!"

Yumemi laughed indulgently. "Now, now. I'm sure your boyfriend eats them no matter what."

Usagi blushed. "No, we're not... we're not a couple, Yumemi-san," she hastened to explain, hands waving dramatically in the negative.

"Oh," Yumemi said, still not sounding altogether convinced. "Really? Because the way he reacted when he found you-"

"He was just shaken. I disappeared and um, I'm blind you know, so he was just worried I... yeah. He's my friend. Just a friend," Usagi mumbled, rubbing self-consciously at the back of her head. She could feel Yumemi's stare like a piercing x-ray into the current state of her heart, and she had the brief thought that why was it everyone seemed to understand this except her? It was not so cut and dried as they made it out to be. This was complicated.

Right?

"Just a friend," Yumemi repeated, slowly. And still with that underlying edge of disbelief.

"Can we talk about something else?" Usagi pled, having had enough soul searching for one day. Mamoru was Mamoru and that was that.

Even if he might have wanted to kiss her yesterday.

"Of course," Yumemi chirped, sensing her guest's discomfort. She ushered Usagi out of her tiny kitchen. "While those bake, maybe I could show, er, describe to you my process?"

"That would be neat," Usagi replied with relief.

TO BE CONTINUED...

Author's Note: Cookies for everyone who correctly guessed the reason as to Usagi's disappearance! As I'm sure you're all now aware, these next two chapters are my take on episode 28, doing my best to keep it true to canon while also turning everything on its head. Heh. "Usa-chan" is indeed what Yumemi calls Usagi and it's probably the cutest thing. I feel for this lonely artist so much. This was always one of my favorites of the Rainbow Crystals arc. Hope you're enjoying her so far! This chapter was a lot of introspection... next chapter dives into more action! Usagi is finally starting to wrestle with her own feelings for Mamoru... AHH I JUST CAN'T WAIT FOR ALL THAT COMES NEXT GUYS! It's good, I promise!

Pregnancy is progressing well! 13 weeks and I appear to be one of those lucky few who breeze through the first trimester without morning sickness or really many other symptoms! I am sure come third trimester I will eat my words, heh! We are SO excited and can't wait to find out the gender in October. Hubby and I are feeling boy. We'll be so stoked either way but that's the current guess based solely off of my lack of symptoms. They say girls make you sicker. Obviously that's just an old wives' tale and everyone handles pregnancy differently :P But I dunno, gut feeling says I've got my Bradley in there? ;)

You readers are so sweet! Thank you ever so much to the following: aldoraspritelette, RogueAlly, GraphicsChyk, lolopptt, Princesakarlita411, FleurSuoh, merendinoemiliano, Ruk, chastityjk, Tina Century, Oreo596, karseneau1, SaphireShimmer, liveforDBZ, Jwalla1986, afionna262, JJen.A, smoon4409, naruhinakiralacus and altrealitylover! So many new faces this time around too, it was GREAT to hear from you all and welcome to any just stumbling across this story! You guys keep me going even when I might feel too overwhelmed with real life to want to write!

See you next chapter,

AngelMoon Girl