Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or her characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.
Title: A Consequence of Stress
Usagi x Mamoru
Rated: T
Romance/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Few know how badly stress can affect a person. Usagi finds out the hard way, but discovers an unexpected silver lining along the way.
The Tsukino household was quiet as the day gradually shifted from late afternoon to early evening. The television in the living room was off, no sounds or smells were coming from the kitchen, and there was silence from the upstairs bedroom of the youngest Tsukino child.
Down the quiet hall, a door stood halfway open, and inside the room on the floor was a blue and white junior high sailor uniform as if it had been dropped as the owner moved around the room. Near a floor table a school bag sat on the floor, as if the owner hadn't had the energy to make it to the desk.
Under the covers on the bed laying on her side facing the door with her eyes closed was the only current resident of the house and owner of the uniform. Only her head was visible, resting on her pillow, her hair still done up in her usual twin bun style as she took slow deep breaths through her mouth.
Tsukino Usagi groaned in discomfort. She felt terrible. She had been feeling bad all day, and it was the main reason she had come straight home after school and gotten into bed as quickly as possible. She actually had been feeling worse and worse as the days passed and couldn't understand why. All she knew was that she felt horrible and everything she had been going through and having to deal with had not been helping.
Only two days ago her parents had left to visit family for a week. She and her little brother, Shingo, couldn't go because they had to go to school, and being a sailor senshi meant she couldn't just up and leave if she could at all help it.
So she hid her discomfort from her parents and sent them off so they wouldn't worry about her. Then she helped her brother pack since he would be staying with another family member since their parents wanted an adult watching over him while he went to school. Thankfully they felt she was old enough to stay at home alone for the week.
Before her parents departure there had been a meeting that had been the start of all of Usagi's stress. Luna had called a meeting in the middle of the night, and after trekking to Rei's shrine home and gathering with Ami, Rei, and Makoto Luna informed them about the Moon Kingdom, the Moon Princess they needed to find and protect, and that they needed to wake up and remember their past.
That had been a shock. They had all thought they were just supposed to be fighting their enemy, keeping the public safe, and keeping the rainbow crystals out of the Dark Kingdom's hands. To learn that their job was much more than that, doubled in purpose, was daunting.
They were actually the guardians and protectors of this Moon Princess they were supposed to find. On top of what they had already been doing with protecting the city they now had to somehow find this princess and protect her. How were they supposed to find her without knowing what she looked like, how old she was, or a general location to where she could be? She could be anywhere on the planet!
Did she remember her past? Did she know she was this Moon Princess? What if she didn't want to be found?! What if she didn't want them protecting her?
These were only some of the questions that had been swirling through Usagi's mind. All that had been stressful enough but since Luna had dropped those revelations in their laps they all started blaming her for not getting the rainbow crystals. Rainbow crystals which could incidentally help find the princess, and for losing the ones they got to either their enemy or Tuxedo Kamen who might as well be an enemy in their minds.
If that wasn't enough they were now telling her at almost every turn that she wasn't strong enough to protect their princess and that she needed to get better. It didn't help that only a day before her parents left her friends, Naru and Umino, among others, had been endangered, and she'd had to give up their only rainbow crystal to save them.
Usagi had managed to defeat the youma and save everyone there, but she hadn't been able to get the rainbow crystal back and no one had liked that. Nor did they let her forget it.
Now here she was home alone and feeling miserable. Not even Luna was home. The feline had been staying with the girls splitting her time between Ami, Makoto, and Rei, and hadn't been to the house in weeks beyond the brief visit.
Usagi didn't know if that was deliberate, and at this point she didn't care. She wasn't feeling up to dealing with Luna and was glad she wasn't there. She had been feeling so tired, like she didn't have the energy to move around like she used to, and her body had been aching and getting worse every day.
Maybe I'm just sick. She thought as she blinked her eyes open briefly. Maybe it's just a cold. That must be it. It's been so long since I've been sick that I've forgotten how horrible it can be.
Usagi was sure that had to be it. She just had a cold. She was sick and was feeling more terrible then she thought she should because it had been a long time since she had last been sick. She just had to take some medicine and rest.
Yes. I'll find the medicine and take it after I wake up. She thought tiredly as she closed her eyes. She was just too tired to look for the medicine at that moment, and hoped that when she woke up she would feel at least a little better.
xXxCSxXx
Usagi's eyes peeled open wearily at the sound of her communicator going off and she realized she had managed to doze off. It wasn't dark quite yet, so she knew she hadn't been asleep long.
I don't want to answer that. She thought tiredly as she gave a barely there gesture, and watched as the pink calculator looking communicator practically appeared in her hand. She pressed one of the buttons and watched as Luna's face appeared on the little screen.
"Usagi! There's a youma attacking people at the main park near the downtown area." The cat said urgently without waiting for a response, her voice coming through clearly. "I've already contacted the girls, and they're on their way to the scene. You have to hurry."
"Right. I'll be there. Usagi out." She replied quietly before she pressed a button and cut off the connection.
Usagi sighed heavily as she put the communicator back in her subspace pocket. She really did not want to go out. She didn't even feel up to climbing out of her bed let alone running through the city to go participate in a fight. A fight that was sure to be strenuous.
At least I know exactly where the fight is. She thought optimistically, knowing the park well since she liked to spend time there when she wanted to be alone.
She pushed her covers back and sat up slowly and groaned as a headache suddenly made itself known, pulsing somewhere behind her left ear and threatening to spread. She whimpered but continued moving out of bed, sliding to the floor to save energy, and crawled toward her school uniform.
She grabbed her top and shifted it until her golden brooch was visible. She plucked it off her uniform top and laboriously got to her feet before she walked over to her balcony doors and opened them. She paused, hesitating before she stepped through.
Am I strong enough to leap to the ground and run somewhere to transform? She asked herself. No I'm not. She immediately answered herself as her body pulsed with aches reminding her of her condition.
Usagi shut the doors and slowly made her way out of her room, down the stairs, and toward the backdoor. She unlocked and opened the door and stepped out, closing the door behind her, before she looked around to see if anyone was outside or looking out their windows.
Seeing that the coast was clear she raised her brooch up to her chest and quietly transformed. Pink light surrounded her and when it cleared Sailor Moon stood there. She took a steadying breath and began to run, grimacing as she jumped over fences until she made it to a sidewalk.
She ran out of the neighborhood and toward the more urban area cautiously. She stuck to ground level on her way, not trusting herself to leap rooftops without falling. As a result it took her nearly half an hour to reach the park.
Taking so long because she had to go slower, because she was feeling dizzy and trying not to be seen and be delayed further by someone wanting a picture or autograph. Plus her stomach was starting to cramp on top of her other bodily complaints.
Sailor Moon moved further into the park, following the screams and the direction people were apparently still fleeing from, and finally caught sight of her fellow senshi and the youma they were up against.
It had glowing yellow-orange eyes, short yellow and purple straight hair, blue-green skin, stood tall on two legs, and had four arms- two on each side. It had the physique of a male toy doll; defined abs and muscled arms and thighs, but no genitalia.
She sighed wearily but continued to run, pulling off her tiara and charging it up as she prepared to join the fight. She stopped once she reached the general area of her fellow senshi and launched her tiara at the youma.
The youma dodged the glowing spinning disk and lifted two of its arms, one on each side, and sprayed thick six inch brown thorns from its palms at them. All the senshi ran and dove out of the way to avoid the large thorns.
Sailor Moon rolled as she hit the ground and groaned as she shifted into a crouch to face the youma, her head spinning and pulsing in pain as her stomach rolled nauseously.
"Supreme Thunder!" She heard Sailor Jupiter shout from somewhere off to her left as she struggled to get to her feet.
"Come on Sailor Moon! Get it together! Come fight!" She heard Sailor Mars yell and she glanced to her right to see the fire senshi standing near Sailor Mercury.
Likely guarding her while she tries to find a weakness. She thought as she briefly eyed the blue minicomputer in her hands before she silently summoned her tiara back to her. The tiara appeared in her hand and she charged it yet again and forced herself to head back into the fighting.
Sailor Moon tried, she really did try to fight, but she was feeling so tired and nauseous. Her head was practically pounding in pain and her body ached, to the point where she was having trouble moving properly, which was more than a pain as green energy and thick wiry green vines joined the large thorns.
Her fellow senshi were yelling and grumbling at her to help more. She tried to tell them that she wasn't feeling well, but they didn't believe her. They just thought she wasn't doing her best; that she was being clumsy, lazy, and not really trying to fight.
"Alright you guys! It's only a normal, albeit powerful, youma. It doesn't have a rainbow crystal, and it doesn't have any traces of human energy so it didn't used to have one." Sailor Mercury called out.
"Fire Soul!" Sailor Mars yelled.
"Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Jupiter shouted.
As the attacks raced toward the youma Sailor Moon lifted her hand to remove her tiara from her forehead where she had returned it as she dodged, but before she could the youma shot a series of thorns at her. She stepped back but her legs were refusing to move sideways to get her out of the way, and she knew she had finally run out of luck.
She braced for the pain even as her stomach cramped painfully and closed her eyes. The next thing she knew she was being swept up gently yet quickly in strong firm arms. Knowing who it was she opened her eyes, and confirmed what she knew; it was Tuxedo Kamen.
Tuxedo Kamen glanced down worriedly at Sailor Moon before he focused on getting clear of the danger. He had been there at the park since she got there. In fact, he had gotten there at the same time she did since he had been following her.
He had sensed her transformation as he always did and had taken off in her direction believing he was going to be led to a fight in progress. Instead, he found her still moving through the streets clearly on her way to the fight. That had surprised him but he didn't think anything of it, so he followed her and they had eventually made it to the fight scene.
He had concealed himself in the trees and kept his eyes on the fight and on Sailor Moon. He couldn't help noticing that she was having issues. She was moving slowly and kept him on edge as she barely dodged attacks. He could tell that the Senshi were upset with her, yelling at her and she was responding, but he couldn't hear what they were saying.
Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mars attacked the youma and his eyes darted back to Sailor Moon as he circled around through the trees to move closer to her. He saw instantly that she wasn't going to be able to get out of the way of the attack headed her way and quickly dashed out toward her. As soon as he reached her he scooped her up and continued forward away from the danger.
He began to slow to a stop and she suddenly began to struggle before she quickly pushed away from him and out of his arms. She had never done so before and he knew instantly that something was wrong, especially since as soon as she gained her feet she ran to the closest bush and began to throw up.
Her heaves and retching assault his ears, making him frown and wince at the very clear sign that she was obviously sick. He glanced back toward the fighting before he stepped toward her and took in her kneeling form. As he watched her and listened to her whimper he became even more protective of her, and hyper aware of the danger around them. She was very vulnerable and needed protection at this point more than she ever had before.
Sailor Moon groaned as she scooted away from the bush before she struggled to her feet. Now that she had vomited it seemed her nausea had spiked dramatically and the cramps in her stomach got worse. She stumbled in her dizziness as she began to walk back toward the fight, and was steadied by the tall figure of Tuxedo Kamen.
"You shouldn't have come out to this fight." He said in a quiet chastising tone as he firmly held her arm.
"I didn't have a choice. I had to come." She said softly as she leaned into him.
Tuxedo Kamen frowned at the feel of her leaning against him. He didn't mind it but she had never done such before, and that obvious weakness on top of her being sick was very concerning. He brought his free hand up and felt her forehead, ignoring the feel of her tiara, and realized she was running a fever. A fever so hot he could feel it through his glove.
"Come here." He said as he guided her behind him. "Lean on me and hold on." He added and felt her do just that, wrapping her arms around his waist. The fact that she didn't protest also let him know just how badly she was feeling.
He shook his head and looked back toward the fighting, and frowned as it appeared the other senshi hadn't even noticed or didn't care that something was wrong with their fellow senshi. He decided this needed to end. The longer this fight went on the more danger Sailor Moon would be in.
He pulled out five red roses in each hand and let instinct take over as he never had before. The flowers rose from his hands floating in the air before they went flying through the air. They sped toward the plant-like youma from different angles and slammed into it causing multiple explosions.
It screamed in pain which grew louder as Mars and Jupiter's attacks collided with it, but it still wasn't enough to finish it off.
Sailor Moon moaned quietly and tightened her hold on him. He pressed his lips together in determination as he placed a hand on one of hers. She was obviously in no condition to finish off the youma, and he wasn't willing to let her try and end up weakening herself further. He was going to have to do it since the other senshi had never done it before and didn't seem capable at that moment either.
But how am I going to do it?! I can't get up close. She needs me right here with her. It has to be something that will work long distance. All I have are my roses and they clearly aren't enough. He thought quickly as the youma slowly began to recover. But I have to do this! This has to end so she can get out of here. He thought fiercely.
Unknown to him Tuxedo Kamen's eyes began to glow a soft gold and suddenly a green stemmed golden rose appeared in front of him. He plucked it out of the air, suddenly sure it would get the job done, and launched it at the youma as the other senshi once again launched their own attacks.
All the attacks, including his golden rose, reached the youma at the same time and it screamed loudly. A scream that turned into a shriek, that cut off almost instantly, as it suddenly exploded in a slight fiery ball.
Tuxedo Kamen nodded slightly to himself, the gold fading from his eyes, as he realized the effect his rose had would have been hidden so the Senshi believed they had destroyed the youma. He didn't mind as that would keep them from questioning him, which was the last thing he needed right now with how Sailor Moon was feeling.
"It's done." He told her quietly, and felt her squeeze him before she let go and slowly came around to his side.
"Thank you." Sailor Moon said as she looked up at him wearily, knowing he was responsible for defeating the youma. In all the time the girls had been senshi none of them had been able to destroy a youma without her, so she knew they hadn't done it this time.
"You're welcome." Tuxedo Kamen replied and was gifted with a small smile before watching her slowly walk toward her fellow senshi.
He stayed where he stood but kept his eye on her, knowing how weak she was and wary of a possible hidden attack. Not to mention he had seen that her fellow senshi were unhappy with her.
"You didn't even help! What we're you thinking?!" Sailor Mars yelled in frustration.
"Yeah! Why didn't you attack it?" Sailor Jupiter asked with a frown.
"I told you I wasn't feeling well." Sailor Moon said quietly as she wrapped an arm around her stomach, feeling like it was bubbling and rumbling.
"The only thing likely wrong with you as is that you're tired." Sailor Mercury said. "Apparently too tired to fight as you should. This is unacceptable and can't happen again Sailor Moon. It is just too dangerous!"
"Yeah! Get it together Sailor Moon. You're flakiness is the last thing we need to deal with." Sailor Mars said angrily.
With those words said Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Mars turned and began to run from the area, scattering in different directions when they approached the entrance to the park leaving Sailor Moon standing alone.
xXxCSxXx
Tuxedo Kamen watched the Senshi leave the area before he looked back to Sailor Moon. She suddenly looked so small standing there alone, and it made him angry that her fellow senshi had just left her there after practically telling her off. He huffed in quiet disgust and walked toward her.
"Do you have someone at home to take care of you?" He asked the sick warrior as he came to a stop next to her.
"No. My family is away." Sailor Moon said as she wrapped her other arm around her stomach.
"In that case I'll take care of you." He said firmly as he looked at her. "Especially since your fellow senshi don't appear to care or notice that you're seriously ill."
"You can't do that!" She said as she looked up to him quickly, wincing at the pain that pounded through her head as a result. "I have no idea how long I'll be sick, and my sailor uniform isn't all that comfortable and I don't stay transformed twenty-four hours a day."
"Sailor Moon." He said firmly as he moved to stand in front of her as he looked down at her. "You've trusted me all these months; don't stop now. Trust me more. Let me know who you are so I can take care of you. I have no problem revealing my identity to you, but either way I'm not leaving you alone in your condition." He said seriously.
"What if you throw up in your sleep and end up choking on it? I'm not going to risk your life because of the fear of your identity being known." He added just as seriously. "I don't know if you know the other senshi outside of being senshi, but they obviously aren't going to be there for you and help you the way you need right now."
Sailor Moon blinked as warm tears trailed down her face at his words. She couldn't help feeling sad that he was right on top of feeling miserable. He was right that she had trusted him all these months, even more so in the last few weeks. She didn't think that should or would change because they learned each other's real identity.
And with the way she was feeling since leaving home she was worried that she had something other than just a regular cold. She didn't want to be alone in case it wasn't. What if she got worse and couldn't get herself any help? The girls obviously didn't care that something was wrong with her or just didn't want to see it. It was either put all her trust in this mystery man that had been keeping her safe or nothing.
She looked back up to him and nodded. "Okay." She agreed softly.
"Alright. Let's go someplace else." Tuxedo Kamen said as he scooped her up in the gentle way he always did.
He glanced around before he began to run, being extra careful of her since she obviously had an upset stomach at the very least, until he had reached a fairly secluded area. He looked around and nodded slightly, satisfied that no one would see them release their transformations.
Kneeling down in the grass he gently sat her down among the green bed; apparently just in time for her to jerk away from him and quickly crawl toward a bush. Once she reached it he heard her heave, and grimaced at the wet sound that followed.
He sighed and moved toward her and gently rubbed her back, feeling the tension there as she retched in the bush. He glanced at her hair and idly thought that at least she didn't have to worry about her hair getting in the way. He winced slightly as he listened to her heave and gag, and wondered if she had anything left in her stomach to come up.
Sailor Moon moaned and let herself tip on her side to fall in the grass. Her stomach was starting to kill her, and she didn't know if she could take much more of this. She opened her eyes as she felt soft gloves wiping the tears from her face.
"Let's do this Sailor Moon, so I can help you properly." Tuxedo Kamen said quietly as he knelt at her side.
"What if we know each other and don't like each other?" She asked as she looked up at him, holding her stomach as she felt a cramping rolling sensation.
"Then we'll have plenty of time to work out our differences while you're getting better." He stated as he returned her look. "I'm still not leaving you alone in your condition."
Sailor Moon sighed lightly and closed her eyes. I hope he means what he says. She hoped fervently as she released her hold on her transformation.
Tuxedo Kamen squinted his eyes as his sick companion suddenly glowed with a pink light briefly before it faded away. He blinked his eyes and then blinked them wider in surprise at who he found lying in front of him wearing a light purple two-piece pajama set with little yellow stars on it.
"Oh Usagi." He breathed out softly as he listened to her whimper in pain. He'd never seen her sick before, but then again that didn't mean she never had been.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he released his own transformation in a brief red light. When the light cleared he knelt in a pair of black sweats and a gray t-shirt, which is what he had been wearing as he sat at home studying.
"Mamoru?" Usagi said as she opened her eyes.
"Yeah it's me. Who would've thought right?" Mamoru said with a slight smile.
"Not as strange as anyone actually thinking I could be a senshi, let alone Sailor Moon." She replied before she grimaced as her head pounded.
"Well, we are who we are, and now we need to get you better." He said, getting down to business as he saw her peel an arm away from her stomach to put a hand on her head. "Where do you want to go? Your place or mine?" He asked.
"You're the one who wants to take care of me. You'll be doing the bulk of the work, so where do you want to go?" Usagi asked as her stomach clenched painfully.
"You're the sick one. You should want to be comfortable and not worried about me." He replied, and she shrugged tiredly.
"I don't care." She said as she closed her eyes and held her stomach as if that would stop the discomfort and pain.
Mamoru sighed and ran a hand through his hair. If he was sick he would want to be home and not worrying about how his sickness would affect his surroundings; especially if he knew he would be throwing up regularly.
"Fine. Then I'll take you home since you'll be more comfortable in your own surroundings and especially in your own bed." He decided.
Now he just had to figure out how exactly to get her there. He would have to ask for directions since he had never been to her home before, and he would obviously be carrying her. The question was would he be carrying her as Mamoru or as Tuxedo Kamen?
He looked her over, his eyes taking in every detail, from her pajamas to her bare feet to her body language.
Definitely as Tuxedo Kamen. It will look less strange and prevent anyone brave enough from trying to ask questions of why I'm carrying around a girl. He thought with a nod. Not to mention it will be quicker.
"I'm going to transform since it'll be easier and quicker to get you home that way." Mamoru said.
"Whatever you say." Usagi moaned out miserably.
He looked at her worriedly and quickly got to his feet and pulled a red rose out of thin air. A moment later he was being surrounded in bright red light, which cleared almost as quickly leaving him standing as Tuxedo Kamen. He then knelt back down and gently slipped his arms beneath her and lifted her into his arms as he stood up.
"This might be uncomfortable for your stomach, so don't hesitate to let me know if you need to throw up okay?" He said, and she nodded weakly. "Alright. I'm going to need directions." Again she nodded before she gave him the location of her neighborhood.
He firmed his grip on her and took off running, deciding he could get precise directions once he reached the area.
Mamoru made it to Usagi's house and around to her backdoor at her direction, only having to stop once on the way when she felt she was going to throw up. He opened the door, struggling slightly with her in his arms, and stepped inside and pushed the door closed with his foot.
At her direction he made his way to the stairs and up them and part way down the hall until he reached her bedroom. He gently placed her on her bed and released his transformation as he looked around. It was dark since there was no light on but he could see her uniform on the floor as well as her school bag. Clearly she had just dropped everything and changed into her pajamas and crawled into bed.
"How long will your family be away?" He asked as he turned on the light brightening the room instantly.
"A week. My parents left two days ago." Usagi answered as she curled on her side.
"Don't you have a brother?" He asked as he knelt next to her bed.
"Yeah. He's staying with some relatives. My parents decided I was old enough to stay home alone." She explained.
"Alright." He said with a sigh before he stood and pulled her covers over her. "Now, how long have you been feeling sick?" He asked.
"Since before my parents left." She answered.
"Tell me how you've been feeling. What have your symptoms been?" Mamoru asked.
"Tired and achy. Like I didn't have the energy to move around and was hurting when I did." Usagi answered. "Then when I got the call for the attack earlier I realized I had a headache, and on my way to the park I felt dizzy and my stomach started to cramp."
Mamoru hummed thoughtfully at her list of symptoms, and mentally added her fever and throwing up to the list. He placed his hand on her forehead, and felt her lean into his cool hand as he noted that her fever was still very much there.
It sounds like she didn't have any of the usual symptoms for a cold and still doesn't. No coughing, no runny nose, no sore throat, and no sneezing. So where did this sickness come from? He wondered.
"Has anyone been sick around you?" He asked.
"No." She answered.
"Okay. Do you have a cloth and thermometer around here?" He asked. "I need to find out your temperature, and see if it's getting too high or not."
"In the bathroom, down the hall. It's all in there." Usagi said quietly as she closed her eyes.
Mamoru pulled his now warm hand away and stood up before he left the room and began to cautiously search for the bathroom in the hallway. The last thing he wanted was to accidentally go into someone's bedroom. Luckily her brothers room was clearly labeled so he avoided it, then he found a closet full of towels, blankets, and pillows, which was good since he was going to be sleeping there for the next few days.
Thankfully the next door he tried was the bathroom. He flipped on the light and immediately saw a clean light green wash cloth hanging on a rack. He grabbed it and placed it on the sink before he began to look through the cabinet for the thermometer. He found it on the second shelf and quickly grabbed the digital stick before he hurried back to Usagi.
"Usagi?" He questioned as he saw her now lying on her back with her eyes closed. Said eyes opened slowly looking glassy. "Open up." He said and watched her lips part slightly. He carefully placed the thermometer in her mouth and made sure her lips closed before he hurried back to the bathroom.
He turned on the cold water in the sink and soaked the wash cloth before he turned the water off. He rung it out, flinging off the last drops of water, and hurried back to the bedroom just in time to hear the thermometer beep. He placed the folded cloth gently on her forehead and pulled the thermometer from her mouth and read the number.
101.2. Definitely higher than it should be but not a dangerous level. Yet. He thought as he placed the thermometer on the nightstand. He grabbed the cloth and began to gently press it around her face and neck to help cool her down before returning it to her forehead.
"Do you have a bucket around here somewhere?" Mamoru asked.
"What for?" Usagi questioned as she opened her eyes and looked at him blearily.
"For you to throw up in so you won't have to waste your energy trying go to the bathroom." He explained.
"Oh." She said before she looked around thoughtfully, trying to think, and spotted her small yellow garbage can. "Can I use my garbage can?" She asked tiredly.
Mamoru looked in the direction she was and spotted her garbage can. He went and grabbed it, seeing that it was thankfully empty, and decided it would do. It was made of plastic so it wouldn't leak and could be rinsed out easily; plus it was deep enough so she wouldn't get splashed in the face when she threw up.
"How are you feeling?" He asked as he placed the makeshift puke bucket next to her bed, and sat down on the side of her bed.
"My head still hurts and so does my stomach and the rest of me, and I feel slightly nauseous and sleepy." She answered quietly.
"Okay. You should try to sleep if you can. It will definitely help." He said. "I'm going to go get you some water. We need to keep you hydrated, especially if you keep throwing up." He added and watched her nod slightly.
He got up and walked out of the room, stopping to turn off the light in the bathroom, and made his way downstairs and to the kitchen they had passed earlier. He flipped on the light and searched the cabinets for a cup and thankfully found a nice sized plastic cup. He filled it halfway with water from the sink, and returned upstairs to Usagi's room and placed it on her nightstand after moving the thermometer out of the way.
He sighed and idly picked up her school uniform and folded the skirt and top and placed them on the chair to her vanity table. He was definitely going to be staying to take care of her since she was going to be alone for days. But he was going to need a few things, and that meant leaving her alone while he went to get them.
I'm going to need some clothes, my textbooks and notes, and my car. Not to mention depending on what's in the kitchen I might have to go out and get her some things. Maybe some apple or orange juice and soup. He thought as he looked over to her, wishing he could give her some aspirin for her headache but knowing she would just throw it back up before it had a chance to work.
I might as well do it now. The sooner I go the sooner I can get back. He thought as he walked back over to the side of Usagi's bed.
"Usagi?" He said quietly, not really wanting to wake her if she had already fallen asleep, and watched her eyes open slowly. "I need to go home and get some things so I can stay here and take care of you." He said, and watched her nod slightly.
"My keys are in my school bag. That way you can come back through the front door." Usagi said softly.
"Thank you. I shouldn't be gone long. If you don't have to get up don't, and don't forget the bucket here if you feel sick." Mamoru said.
"Okay." She said and he watched her close her eyes with a sigh.
He held in a sigh himself and went to her school bag, and after a brief search found her keys. He quickly put them in his subspace pocket, turned off the light, and left the room with a last look at Usagi. He went back downstairs and to the kitchen and quickly yet thoroughly looked through the refrigerator.
He saw some orange juice and water, but thought Usagi's stomach might appreciate some apple juice. He looked around at all the cabinets and decided he could search them when he returned, but in the meantime he would pick up some soup as well as apple juice on his way back.
Flipping off the light he walked to the backdoor, opened it and locked it as he stepped out, and closed it firmly. He twisted the knob to make sure it was locked, and once he was sure he looked around to make sure no one was outside or could see him before he transformed. Once in his tuxedo he looked around again and took off, determined to get home as quick as possible so he could get back just as fast.
xXxCSxXx
Standing in the large courtyard at the top of the long stairs to Hikawa Shrine was the Sailor Senshi, Tuxedo Kamen, and a beautiful young woman.
Sailor Mars stood on one side of the young woman, and Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury stood on her other side. Facing them across a large gap separating them stood Sailor Moon, and off to the side between them was Tuxedo Kamen.
The beautiful woman had long wavy black hair stretching down pass her back, intense blue-gray eyes, and wore a red top and a knee length black skirt. She was the Moon
Princess the Sailor Senshi had been tasked to find and protect. They had surprisingly found her the day before while saving people from a youma attack.
They had just finished a fight with a youma that night, and Sailor Moon had just finished listening to her fellow senshi complain about her fighting ability yet again. Only this time the princess they were supposed to guard and protect was there witnessing it.
"You are simply not good enough to be one of my Guardian Senshi." The princess added in a firm serious tone. "I refuse to put up with second rate protection; not with this dangerous enemy after me or for any other reason."
"You just didn't try hard enough." Sailor Jupiter said as she shook her head.
"You didn't take your duty seriously enough." Sailor Mercury said with a frown.
"I always knew you weren't good enough to be one of us." Sailor Mars said in disgust. "I don't know what Luna was thinking."
"It no longer matters." The princess said. "What matters is the here and now, and now I am saying I do not need you or want you as one of my guardians." She continued as she looked to Sailor Moon.
Sailor Moon could only stare wide eyed. How could this be happening?! Ever since Luna had come into her life she had tried her best to be the best senshi she could be. She had forced herself into dangerous situations when all she had wanted to do was run and get to safety. She had protected people, and helped find her fellow senshi.
She had in fact accepted and befriended each of them when no one else would, and now they were rejecting her! She had even been the one to directly save the Moon Princess during the attack that revealed her to them and all she got was an injury for her efforts! Not a thank you or even a grateful look. She got nothing!
She was good enough for all that, but she wasn't good enough for the princess because she wasn't as good as the other senshi at fighting. It was outrageous! It hurt! It hurt that her suppose friends could just reject her like that; after all they had been through together. It was like it meant nothing now that the Moon Princess, this unknown girl, had spoken.
Sailor Moon looked to Tuxedo Kamen. He had always been on her side, always supported her, encouraged, and helped her.
"Now I don't have to waste time helping and protecting you anymore." Tuxedo Kamen said curtly before he turned and walked away.
Sailor Moon blinked in surprised shock at the unexpected reaction from her mysterious crush.
"Apparently even he does not want you." The princess said before she lifted her hand.
Sailor Moon looked back to the group of young women and saw the princess with her hand facing her. She blinked in confusion before she gasped as light suddenly surrounded her. She squinted her eyes at the pink light and realized in shock that it was her transformation unraveling.
Within moments the light faded and she was back in her school uniform with her brooch attached to the bow on her chest. A second later her brooch flew off her top and into the princess' hand.
"You can go now. You are no longer needed here." The princess said dismissively before she turned and began to walk away.
Usagi stood there and watched in sad shock as the girls she thought were her friends turned and followed the princess without a word or a glance back at her.
Usagi's eyes snapped open, her heart racing and her stomach rolling, and quickly leaned over the side of her bed. She grabbed her makeshift bucket and heaved as she practically stuffed her face into it.
She closed her eyes, unwilling to look at what was coming out of her mouth, as she struggled to sit up and keep her hold on her bucket. She moaned miserably as she placed the bucket on her lap and wrapped her arms around it as she heaved uncontrollably. Tears leaked from her eyes as she gagged, noticing that nothing was coming out, and she blinked them open and saw a small amount of clear liquid.
After a few long moments her heaving stopped. She gagged occasionally but nothing more came up, and eventually that stopped as well.
Usagi sighed uncomfortably and grabbed the cup of water Mamoru had left for her. She sipped some and rinsed her mouth out and spat it into the bucket before she cautiously swallowed a few sips. She waited a few moments and sighed lightly in relief as the water stayed down. She put her cup and the bucket down and leaned back on her pillows.
Even though her stomach was still cramping, though not as intense as earlier, and she was nauseous it occurred to her that she hadn't eaten much in days, and thought that maybe if she ate her stomach would settle down.
Maybe it will help, and then I can take some medicine. If this is just an extremely intense cold the medicine will work. She thought optimistically. But all that will involve actually getting up. She thought with a little moan.
Despite her reluctance she pushed back her covers and cautiously got to her feet. Her legs shook slightly and she knew her trip to the kitchen wasn't going to be pleasant. She took her time walking from her room out into the hallway and toward the top of the stairs. She grimaced at the stairs but slowly began to ease herself down as she held onto the railing.
I wonder when Mamoru will get back. She thought as she paused and sat down halfway down the stairs to rest her tired aching body. What will it be like with him basically living here for a few days? She wondered before she stood back up and continued on her way.
She made it down the rest of the stairs and walked toward and into the kitchen using the wall for support to help keep herself upright. She went to a specific cabinet, ignoring the light switch, and grabbed a package of crackers from a cracker box before retracing her path to return to her room.
When she made it back up the stairs she suddenly remembered the medicine she wanted to take, so she turned her steps toward the bathroom and grabbed a little bottle of red medicine. Once back in her room she practically collapsed on her bed and sighed in relief that she no longer had to support her own weight.
After relaxing for a few minutes she sat up against her pillows and placed her medicine next to her cup of water. She opened the pack of crackers and slowly nibbled on one, and when nothing happened she tried another and another until she had managed to eat ten of them despite her nausea and cramps.
Usagi slowly sipped at her water and then took her medicine. It tasted nasty and despite drinking a bit more water she was afraid it would all come back up. Thankfully the crackers, water, and medicine all stayed down, and she laid back down and closed her eyes to try and sleep.
Hopefully when I wake up I'll be feeling a little better. She thought as she breathed slowly through her nausea.
Slowly she began to feel sleepy, her own fatigue and the cold medicine kicking in, and gradually drifted off to sleep.
Usagi's eyes snapped open some time later, her mind unable to determine exactly how much time, and she snapped a hand over her mouth to keep the vomit coming up her throat from spewing out before she got the bucket. She quickly pushed her covers aside and slid onto the floor, practically stuck her face into the bucket next to her bed, and heaved loudly.
xXxCSxXx
Mamoru sighed as he pulled up and parked along the curb outside of Usagi's house. He turned off the engine and looked toward the house and saw no lights on. He supposed that might be a good thing as it meant she was still asleep.
Or it could mean she was feeling too weak to bother with turning on lights. He thought as he unbuckled his seatbelt.
He grabbed his bags from the passenger side seat and got out of the car. He had two duffle bags, one stuffed with his toiletries and clothes and the other full of his school things, and a grocery bag of items he thought Usagi might be able to stomach over the coming days since he thought he knew what was wrong with her.
While he'd been gathering his stuff from his apartment he'd wondered if Usagi could possibly have the stomach flu. She'd said she hadn't been around anyone sick, but you never know if the person wasn't showing symptoms at the time.
Then again there are other causes, one of which is stress. I wonder if Usagi is stressed in some way. He thought as he walked toward the front door, pulling out her keys on his way.
Now that he knew Usagi was Sailor Moon it was possible that alone was enough to cause her stress. He was going to have to try to get some details out of her to see if he was right. But either way, a virus or stress, he was positive she had the stomach flu, and he was sorry for her. He'd had it once before when he was a child, and that episode was bad enough that he still remembered it vividly all these years later.
Mamoru held in a sigh and unlocked the door and went inside. He closed the door and the first thing to greet his ears was the unmistakable sound of vomiting. He grimaced in disgust and sympathy, and hurried toward the stairs.
He took the stairs two at a time and quickly moved toward the sound and stopped in the doorway. He looked on sadly as Usagi knelt on the floor at the side of the bed with her face in the makeshift bucket heaving and gagging.
He shook his head and put his bags down just inside the doorway and joined her on the floor and gently rubbed her back. She turned her head and peeked over at him, over the rim of the bucket, but quickly turned back and heaved again.
"I didn't think you had anything left to throw up." Mamoru said quietly as she finally pulled her face from the bucket, seemingly finished emptying her stomach.
"I ate some crackers when I woke up since I hadn't eaten in a while, and thought maybe I would feel better if I put something in my stomach." She said with a groan as she pressed her hands to her stomach as it started cramping again. "And I took some medicine since I hadn't up to that point. I figured if I had a cold then the medicine would help."
"It all stayed down and I managed to get to sleep, but I suddenly woke up feeling like I was going puke all over myself just now." She finished as she leaned against her bed.
Mamoru looked over and saw the package of crackers and bottle of red medicine, and decided to keep his eyes firmly away from contents in the bucket.
"I think it's likely that you have the stomach flu." He said with a sigh. "I had it once when I was little and you're feeling and acting the same way I did. You said you haven't been around anyone who was sick so I think it's stress since that's the only other cause. Either way, virus or stress, taking medicine will not help." He explained and listened to her groan miserably.
"Have you been stressed? Are you stressed?" He asked gently after helping her back into her bed, and listened to her sigh tiredly.
"Yes." Usagi said, not even having to think about it. "Just before my parents left; me and the girls had been informed about there being a Moon Kingdom in the past and a Moon Princess that we needed to find and protect, and that we needed to remember our own past at that."
"That was a shock." She continued. "I thought we were just protecting people and the city from the Dark Kingdom, and keeping the rainbow crystals out of their hands. To be suddenly told that on top of that we're guardians and protectors of a princess that we need to find and protect, and that it had also been our duty in the past that we needed to hurry up and remember was very stressful."
"Then after that revelation they all started blaming me for not getting and keeping the rainbow crystals, that we also learned could help find the princess, implying that I was preventing us from finding the princess." She added with a frown. "On top of that they're all complaining that I'm not strong enough to protect the princess and that I need to be better."
Mamoru frowned through her explanation, not at all liking what he was hearing. It was enlightening to learn that the rainbow crystals could find this Moon Princess she spoke of.
Could this Moon Princess be the same princess I'm trying to find? He idly wondered. It likely is since I very much doubt it's a coincidence, and there are two princesses out there needing to be found.
However, he didn't like that Usagi was being blamed for not getting the rainbow crystals. He fully admitted that he was trying to collect them as well, apparently for the same reason they were, and so was the Dark Kingdom.
But really?! What exactly did those senshi expect? That she was supposed to somehow be better at getting and keeping the rainbow crystals than them?! Were they even taking responsibility for not getting any crystal's themselves or were they just doing nothing and blaming her?
"If medicine won't work what will get me better?" Usagi asked as she groaned miserably, unknowingly interrupting his thoughts.
"Unfortunately there's nothing to be done except ride it out." Mamoru said sympathetically. "Drink lots of liquid, to keep hydrated, and get lots of rest."
Usagi whimpered and closed her eyes to try and shut out the knowledge that there was nothing she could do or take to make herself feel better. She didn't want to ride out this sickness, this stomach flu! She had already been doing that for days now. How much longer was it going to last?!
What about school? How much am I going to miss? She wondered as she opened her eyes, only to wince and close them again as her head pulsed with pain.
"I'm going to miss school." Usagi said softly as she opened her eyes slightly and looked to Mamoru.
"Yes." Mamoru said as he nodded. "You wouldn't want to be at school feeling the way you do anyway. Going to and from school could make you worse and make this last longer, but you can always make up what you miss in class by studying." He pointed out.
"In fact, I'll help you." He added. "Once you're feeling better I'll have you caught up in no time." He said with a smile.
"I'll remember you said that when you see just how terrible I am." She said in weary amusement.
"I don't think you're terrible. I just think you're easily distracted and worry too much about your progress in comparison to others." Mamoru said.
"Really?" She said thoughtfully as she blinked at him; that had never occurred to her.
"Yes." He said seriously. "Every time I see you studying with your friendsthere's so much going on around you, and then I see you look at what they've accomplished in that time and listen to them talk of finishing their homework and trying to study ahead and your expression falls. Of course you hide it quickly every time, but I was watching you so I saw it."
"Hmm...seems you see more than my friends do." Usagi said as she looked away. She was surprised that he watched her so much that he had been able to tell all of that, but then she watched him just as much since she knew he was very smart and fully capable of helping her catch up in her studies.
"Yeah." He said quietly. "You didn't mention missing any attacks; because you will be missing them if they happen while you're still sick." He said after a few quiet moments.
"I know." She said as she looked back to him; knowing that even if she wanted to go out and fight he wouldn't let her. "I didn't mention it because I don't care right now." She answered.
"I'm likely going to have to try and find reasons to care from now on; especially after tonight." She added, disturbed that her friends had not noticed that something was wrong with her.
Add that to what Mamoru just said, and I wonder if they're really my friends at all. She thought as she considered their behavior and attitude toward her for the past few weeks.
Usagi wasn't sure Ami, Rei, and Makoto thought of her as a friend anymore. It was like they only spent time with her because Luna expected it of them, because they were the Sailor Senshi; they were a team. When they spent time together it was either just studying and doing homework or having a senshi meeting. Nothing fun at all.
"They seem to treat you that way at a lot of the attacks." Mamoru said. "Are they like that all the time? Do you know them outside of being senshi?" He asked as he gently put his hand on her forehead to check her temperature.
"Yes." She answered to both questions. "They're my friends. Ami, Makoto, and Rei." She said, but grimaced and clutched her stomach as a cramp seized her.
She hated the pain, but it allowed her time to consider how much she wanted to tell him. He had asked simple questions that didn't involve detailed answers, but she reminded herself that he wasn't just the baka she had known since the day she became a senshi. He was Tuxedo Kamen; the guy she trusted more than her fellow senshi at this point.
Usagi supposed she should feel some loyalty toward her friends, but they hadn't been acting like friends for months now. Perhaps she should feel loyalty toward them as her fellow senshi, but they hadn't been behaving very loyally toward her. They seemed incapable of accepting her as she was, and helping her overcome her weaknesses rather than condemning and berating her for them.
Mamoru on the other hand had been, in his Tuxedo Kamen persona, helping and encouraging her from the beginning. He saved and protected her when she needed it, left her to stand on her own and fight when he knew she could, and observed and helped her when she needed it.
Just as I did tonight. She thought softly as she closed her eyes against the pain rolling through her stomach. He saw me with clear eyes, and knew immediately that something was wrong. Not only did he show concern he showed that he was willing to protect and aid me beyond our secret identities.
He deserves to know, and it will help him understand me better. He already understands me better than my supposed friends, and he sees things about me that even I didn't see. She thought as she made her decision.
She opened her eyes and breathed through her cramps and nausea before she slowly began to tell him her story of how she became a senshi. She told of rescuing Luna, how she appeared in her room later that day and shocked her with the revelation that she was a senshi, and the subsequent fights against the various youma.
Meeting and befriending first Ami, then later Rei, and lastly Makoto before each were discovered to be a senshi, and the various fights with youma they all participated in and how they gradually began to have problems with her.
First with her study habits, how much she ate, how much she slept, and then it moved into her abilities as a senshi. Complaining about not getting to attacks quick enough, not fighting good enough, not doing enough, and not acting the way they thought she should act. Especially not for a soldier that was a protector of a princess.
xXxCSxXx
Sailor Moon ran through the cool foggy early morning air as she avoided getting blasted by the youma's energy attack. She glanced over her shoulder as the blasts seemed to taper off, and skidded slightly to a stop before she turned and raised her wand at the youma.
"Moon Healing Escalation!" She called out while the youma was distracted by her fellow senshi.
Bright white light streamed out from the crescent of her wand and hit the youma. It screamed and she focused to keep her power going until the creature was defeated, but suddenly screamed herself as a slight explosion burst through the ground in front of her.
She cried out as she was struck hard in the chest, barely seeing that it was a dark green tentacle-like vine, and sent flying back; clearly a last ditch attack by the youma before it was gone. She crashed into something hard, and her world instantly went dark.
xXx
Sailor Moon groaned softly as she became aware again. The back of her head and her back were killing her, but she knew she needed to get up. They had been in the middle of a fight; she had been in the middle of destroying the youma.
She opened her eyes to see the morning fog still visible so she couldn't have been out long. She climbed to her feet and rubbed her back as she looked around for the others, and turned around only to stop in surprise at seeing Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mercury standing at Sailor Mars sides.
Only she wasn't transformed anymore. Rei stood there wearing a deep red velvety dress as if she was on her way to some formal engagement. Tuxedo Kamen was still there, but he was standing away from everyone.
"What's going on?" She asked in confusion.
"Isn't it obvious?" Jupiter replied.
"She's the Moon Princess we've been looking for." Mercury enlightened her.
Sailor Moon blinked in surprise, and wondered what happened after she was knocked out to reveal Rei as such.
"Yes. I have finally been awakened, and I don't need you as one of my Guardian Senshi." Rei said as she took a step forward; her dress shifting in a way that made it look black. "I always knew you weren't good enough to be a senshi, and now I know why."
"Because all along I instinctively knew deep down inside that you were never one of us, and had never been one of us; not even in the past." Rei said, her voice a mix of satisfaction and triumph.
"Tuxedo Kamen." Sailor Moon said pleadingly as she looked to him, and watched as he stepped away from her. "Mamoru?" She said.
"Now I don't have to worry about protecting you. I can focus on the one I've always wanted to focus my attention on." He said before he looked away from her.
He stepped toward the princess, toward Rei, and wrapped his arms around her. He lifted her into his arms in the next moment, and carried her off with Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter following them protectively.
Usagi's eyes snapped open and she gasped, her stomach rolling nauseously, feeling shocked and sad. In the next moment she felt bile rising up her throat, and tried to sit up quickly but almost immediately felt her stomach cramp so severely that she whimpered in pain.
Still, she pushed her covers away and hurried out of her room, and to the bathroom as quickly as her aching body would allow completely forgetting about her puke bucket. She stepped onto the tile floor, not bothering with the light switch, and collapsed in front of the toilet and threw up; heaving and gagging as she hugged the toilet, her stomach cramping painfully.
Mamoru grabbed the green washcloth he had been using to keep Usagi cool and followed her to the bathroom. He turned on the light so he could see where he was going and not step on her hair, and placed the cloth in the sink before he knelt at her side and rubbed up and down her back.
He had been sitting at her floor desk doing some studying while she slept since he wanted to be close if she vomited again. She'd fallen asleep soon after she finished telling him about her time as a senshi, and he'd been thinking about it off and on while he studied.
He could not believe those girls! If Usagi was to be believed, and he had absolutely no reason not to, she had basically befriended each of those girls when no one else was willing to, before they were discovered to be senshi, and now they acted like they were too good for her.
Now they had a problem with her personality and behavior when they clearly hadn't had one when they first met her. They became senshi, had an easier time adapting to being one, and suddenly they thought they were better than her.
And that supposed cat advisor! How could she let that happen? How could she let such behavior stand?! They were treating Usagi like the weak link of the team when she was really the most powerful and caring of them all!
She was the one who cared enough about them to befriend them, which lead to them being discovered as senshi. She was the one who could heal youma and return them to the people they had been, and she was the only one of them that could destroy the youma who were nothing but youma.
Mamoru listened to Usagi groan and watched her lay on the floor, weakly rolling onto her back, after she finished emptying her stomach, then he flushed the toilet since she appeared to be done.
Looking at her now confirmed that something had clearly aggravated her stomach and woken her out of her sleep, because she had been sleeping fairly peacefully. Then just before she woke up he heard her whimpering and saw her shifting in her sleep.
Perhaps she had a bad dream. He thought as he rose to his feet and moved over to the sink.
He turned on the cold water and wet the washcloth thoroughly before he turned off the water and rung it out. He flung off the excess water and knelt back at her side, and began to wipe her face as he felt her forehead.
She's getting hot again. He noted with a frown.
"What woke you up? Was it a bad dream?" Mamoru asked quietly as he gently moved the cloth over her face.
"Yes." Usagi breathed out, her eyes closed as she lay as still as possible to try and not aggravate her stomach. Unfortunately her strategy wasn't working and it continued to cramp.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" He asked gently. "It might help so it doesn't happen again." He added since she was clearly hesitating.
Usagi sighed and grimaced as another cramp made itself known. She quietly describe the dream telling how it started at the end of a youma fight and how she had been knocked out by a last attack by the youma as she was destroying it. When she came to she found that somehow during that time it was discovered that Rei was the princess they had been looking for, and she rejected her as a guardian senshi because she hadn't been one in the past.
Mamoru grimaced as she described him being there and telling her that he didn't have to worry about her anymore and could focus on the one he really wanted to, which was obviously Rei; Sailor Mars and the newly awakened princess. Then he shook his head as she described him hugging Rei and taking off with her in his arms as the other senshi followed them.
"I had a similar dream earlier; probably not long after you left." She revealed as she opened her eyes. "All of us were there and there was this young woman who I knew was the newly awakened Moon Princess. She was dressed casually, but she was beautiful. She had long wavy black hair, and blue gray eyes."
"She said I wasn't good enough to be one of her guardian senshi, and she wasn't willing to risk her safety on second rate protection. The other senshi all agreed with her in their own way." She said, and Mamoru couldn't help recalling their behavior toward her, especially that night. He could easily picture them telling her she wasn't good enough to be one of them.
"The princess said she didn't need or want me as one of her senshi, and you said you didn't need to waste your time helping and protecting me anymore. Then you left." She said. "After that she reversed my transformation, took my brooch, and told me I was no longer needed."
Mamoru sighed heavily as she finished. It was clear to him what was happening and it was another factor in why she was stressed. The words of her supposed friends and that cat were getting to her, and she was feeling like she wasn't good enough to be a senshi. She worried about it and worried about what would happen when the princess was found.
"Come on. Let's get you back in bed, and then I'll tell you what I think of your dreams." He said as he placed the washcloth on her forehead.
Usagi nodded and he put his arms under her and gently lifted her up and began to walk back to her room. He carefully placed her on her bed and pulled her covers back over her and sighed as he sat on the side of her bed.
"I think the words of your friends and that cat are getting to you. It's part of what's making you stressed and therefore sick. You're worried that they're right, and that you'll be discarded when this moon princess is found." Mamoru said as he looked at her. "And you're also worried I'll walk away from you as well or turn on you."
"I've revealed my true identity to you just so I could take care of you while you're sick. I was determined to do this without even knowing who you were." He said. "I'm not going anywhere Usagi. I'm not going to betray you and leave you even if this princess comes along, and she and everyone else starts telling you you aren't good enough."
"I know that you are good enough. I have been with you since day one. I've seen how you've improved. You're not the best fighter I'll admit that, but you've gotten better over time. And more importantly you're the one with all the power." He pointed out as he reassured her.
"You're the one who can heal youma back into people, and destroy them if they're just regular dangerous youma." Mamoru said. "You don't see the other senshi doing that. Yeah Mars and Jupiter have fire power, but all their fire power still doesn't allow them to destroy youma. And Mercury doesn't have any. She has her bubbles. What the hell are bubbles going to do when there's a youma trying to kill you?!"
Usagi smiled even as grateful tears trailed from the corners of her eyes. This is why she had grown to trust him more than her friends. He was always helping her and looking out for her. Encouraging her and making her feel better when she was down. He saw things clearly and objectively; watching from a distance as he did.
"I know those girls are your friends, but you have got to stop letting their words get to you. Stop listening to any negative thing they say if you have to! It's not healthy for you." He said. "I don't know what's going to happen when this princess is found, but don't let anything she says get to you either. You lived your life perfectly fine without her opinion, and you definitely don't need to live by it after she's in the picture."
"Thank you." She said gratefully. "And I'm not the only one with the power to destroy youma." She added as she raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah you noticed that did you." He said and she nodded. "Apparently I do have that power. I have no idea where it came from. I thought all I had was my roses."
"Well I don't know where my power comes from. After all, it's not an element like the girl's powers are." Usagi said as she gently rubbed her stomach.
"It's yours. That's all that matters. Don't even think of comparing it to those girls' powers." Mamoru said intensely, and she smiled and nodded lightly.
"Do you think you can stomach some apple juice?" He asked curiously.
"I don't know but I'm willing to try." Usagi said. "You said I needed to keep hydrated."
"Yes I did." Mamoru said as he nodded. "I'll be right back." He said before he got up and began to leave the room to head to the kitchen where he had stored the apple juice he had bought.
xXxCSxXx
The rest of the night and most of the next day passed in a similar fashion as the beginning of the previous night had. Usagi had thrown up twice since then, but she mostly slept the hours away. Thankfully she had not experienced any more bad dreams if she dreamed at all.
Beyond that she tried her best to drink as much water and apple juice as she could. Not just to keep hydrated but to keep something in her stomach so it didn't hurt when she had to throw up.
When she wasn't asleep Usagi and Mamoru were talking and getting to know each other better or Mamoru told her about his studies as a way to distract her from her aches, pains, and nausea. To their surprise and excitement she found what he was studying interesting and completely understandable; making Mamoru wonder if her classes were too easy and if that was why she had the difficulties she was with studying and falling asleep in class.
At present the sun was setting and Usagi was not feeling at all better. Her head was aching with a headache that seemed to pick and choose where in her head it wanted to strike, and she was running a fever that had him constantly refreshing her cold wet cloth to help bring it down.
Aside from that she was still nauseous and plagued with cramps, but the cramps were what was really concerning him at present. They were hurting her so much that she was pressing her hands against her stomach where the most pain was, and curling herself up in a ball despite the other aches going on in her body.
Mamoru sighed in frustration. He absolutely hated that he couldn't do anything for her. He refreshed her washcloth to keep it cold and wet and rubbed her back when she threw up, but that was all he could do to help her and that was not making her feel better.
There has to be something! He thought as he racked his brain for something anything that he could do to help as he knelt on the floor at the side of her bed and watched her cry.
I hate that I've seen her cry so much. He thought quietly. He had never seen her cry before discovering she was sick, and he didn't like that she was in so much pain that she was forced to shed her tears.
Perhaps...perhaps I can give her a massage or at least massage where it hurts to try and ease the pain. He considered as he looked at her stomach where her hands looked like she was trying to dig inside herself.
"Usagi I want to try giving you a stomach massage." He said, and watched her eyes open to look up at him sadly. "Do you want to give it a try?" He asked, and she nodded slowly.
"I'll try anything at this point." Usagi said softly as she sniffled.
"Okay. Stretch out on your back for me." Mamoru instructed as he stood up.
Usagi whimpered as she uncurled and slowly stretched out and rolled until she was on her back. She took a slow deep breath and moved her hands away from her stomach and rested her hands at her sides, but curled them into fists in her sheets at the sharp pain.
Mamoru pulled the covers back until they rested over her lower legs and feet, and leaned one knee on the side of her bed as he steadied himself and pulled her pajama top up until the skin of her stomach was exposed.
"Are you ready?" He asked as he rubbed his hands together to try and make them warmer.
"Yeah." She answered.
"Let me know if it hurts or if I need to ease up or increase the pressure." He said, and she nodded slightly.
Mamoru nodded in return and lightly placed his hands on her stomach, feeling the heat of her skin, and began to slowly and gently rub the heels of his hands in circles. He looked at her but her eyes were closed and her lips were pressed firmly together. He then began to roll his hands, wave-like, from the heel onto his palms to the tips of his fingers.
"Does it hurt?" He couldn't help asking as he glanced over to her face.
"It...aches." Usagi said, and then she grabbed one of his hands and pulled it toward the right side of her stomach and placed it in the middle. "Press here." She insisted.
Mamoru did as she said, moving his other hand to join it, and began to rub circles with his fingers as he pressed down. He watched her sigh and relax her body a little, and he smiled lightly at the fact that he was able to help relieve her pain even if only a little.
He continued to rub her along and around her stomach pressing here and there or wherever she directed him, and as his fingers and hands moved he watched as gold sparks appeared around his fingers.
He didn't think anything of it since it had happened a few times before when he had somehow healed himself and others. He took it as a good sign that he could somehow stop her stomach cramps and possibly cut her illness short.
xXx
Deep inside the sick girl's chest an object lay away from any vital organs and blood vessels in its own protected pocket. A gold spark of light suddenly blinked against it and faded before another came and replaced it. Within moments gold sparks were flickering all around it until a soft white glow sparked within it as if it had been agitated awake.
The gold sparks continued as the white glow gradually grew brighter and brighter until the object was lit up like a lightbulb. Now that it was awake it could act, and act it did; immediately.
xXx
Usagi's body completely relaxed as the cramps and the pain they caused completely vanished from her stomach. She sighed in relief. Her body still ached, as did her head, but the sharp pain that was causing her the most trouble was gone. She still felt hot, but she knew she still had a fever so she didn't worry.
As she lay there focused on the warm feel of Mamoru's hands moving over her stomach she began to feel a pulsing warmth in her chest that gradually grew warmer and warmer. It didn't hurt or make her feel hotter than her fever already made her feel. It was actually comforting and made her feel like she was going to be okay.
The ache in her head began to decrease but as it stopped she gasped lightly. Images, names, sounds, faces, and more suddenly began to fill her head in place of the pain much to her bewildered surprise. However, as it continued her confusion waned as understanding took its place.
Mamoru looked over to Usagi's face as he heard her gasp worried that he had hurt her, but her eyes were still closed and her body was still relaxed.
He continued to watch her face as he massaged her stomach and just as he was about to look away, deciding that she was okay and must just be lost in thought, he saw a glow on her forehead. It was a tiny white glow that slowly grew and shifted until it was a golden crescent moon.
His eyes widened at the sight, and then he gasped as her body began to take on a soft white glow.
The glow continued for long minutes, and he just sat there, no longer massaging her, watching her. He didn't know what to do or what exactly was happening. He just knew that she was glowing, had a crescent moon on her forehead, and didn't appear to be in pain any longer.
Does this have something to do with her being Sailor Moon? Or did I somehow cause this with those gold sparks? Maybe it's both. He considered thoughtfully, his eyes trained on Usagi.
The white glow eventually dimmed and faded away, but the gold crescent moon remained as she continued to lay there. She was so still that he began to worry even though she was clearly breathing.
"Usagi?" Mamoru called quietly, and watched as her eyes slowly opened.
Usagi blinked. My Endymion. Was the first thought that came to her mind at seeing the young man looking at her with such clear concern. For there was no doubt in her mind of exactly who her concerned companion was, because she now remembered exactly who she was.
She was Princess Serenity, heiress of the Moon Kingdom, and future guardian and wielder of the imperial silver crystal.
Or I suppose I should say no longer heiress as there is no longer a kingdom on the moon, and current guardian and wielder of the imperial silver crystal since it is here with me. She considered idly as she gazed at her prince.
For that was who he was. Prince Endymion, heir of the Golden Kingdom, and her love.
He had been with her all these months. Protecting her, encouraging her, being the teasing jerk that lightened her days and eased her stressed mind, and now being the gentle caregiver that was easing her through her illness.
Her prince was with her. She was glad he was with her, so very glad. She was glad she remembered him, and glad she remembered herself. She could not describe how glad she was to remember who she was. It was as if her soul had been awakened from a terribly long sleep.
No longer did she need to feel stressed about her skills as a senshi, about what her fellow senshi thought of her skills, of her place among the Sailor Senshi, or what would happen to her when the Moon Princess was found.
She was relieved of it all for the simple fact that she was the Moon Princess. The Sailor Senshi were her Guardian Senshi. It was her decision, her right, to be or not to be Sailor Moon. No one else's thoughts or opinions mattered.
"Usagi? Are you okay?" Mamoru asked, and she blinked again.
Yes. She was still very much Usagi, but she needed him to remember. She needed her prince to remember who he was.
"I am." She finally answered as she silently called on the power of her silver crystal from where it rested inside her.
You have awakened me, and you have my gratitude for your deed. Now I would be eternally grateful if you will aid me in awakening my prince, my Endymion. She said softly, and felt her crystal pulse gently.
Mamoru blinked from Usagi's face down to her hands as they began to glow white, and watched as she lifted them up toward him. He shifted his eyes from her hands to her face to her hands and back again, and flicked his eyes up to the golden crescent moon still visible on her forehead.
He wasn't afraid or concerned about what she was going to do with her glowing hands, but he was curious and confused about what was going on.
She gently placed her hands on the sides of his face, and he felt nothing but a gentle comforting warmth that slowly began to spread through his body.
xXx
Deep within the young man the gentle white light moved, easing around bones and organs, until it reached a place that would not be visible on any type of X-ray. The light circled and swirled around a pocket space that would have looked empty if not for the cracks emitting golden light.
The white light surrounded the space before it wedged into the cracks forcing them wider until they began to grow and spread. Within moments the cracks covered the entire space, the golden light shining brighter as if it knew it would soon be free.
The white light circled around the space once more before it eased back and swirled wider as if waiting. Suddenly the cracks grew even wider until the area looked as if it was crumbling, revealing a brightly glowing golden crystal.
With the seal gone it could now do what it was supposed to do.
xXx
Mamoru closed his eyes as a warmth, separate from the white light, began to grow in his chest. It pulsed again and again and again before it began to spread out rapidly, filling up every part of his body from head to toe. It felt comforting, as if he knew it from somewhere, but before he could think on it more he was distracted.
Locations, places, people, and faces began to appear in his mind. Sounds, smells, words, phrases, names, and thoughts soon joined them in a swirl of new yet somehow old information. It was confusing; right up until it wasn't.
Soft hands moved away from his face and he blinked his eyes open to see a gentle familiar face. More familiar then he had known. My Serenity. His thoughts whispered.
He moved his hands from where they had still rested lightly on her stomach and cupped her face, taking in her blue eyes and the golden crescent moon on her brow.
It was her. She was his princess. The very same princess he had been dreaming about and searching for for so very long. She had been with him outside his dreams for months and he had not known.
Or did I? He considered as he thought back over his time knowing her.
As Usagi he had been unable to stay away from her when he saw her, and felt he simply had to speak to her each and every time. As Sailor Moon it was now crystal clear why his Tuxedo Mask persona had been created. A part of him locked away knew who the warrior was and that she needed him to be there for her.
And he had been. He had been there from day one protecting her, encouraging her, helping her, and caring for her when it became clear to him that she had no one else.
Now here we are. She clearly remembers who she is, and more importantly I remember who she is and who I am. He thought. I am Endymion, prince of the Golden Kingdom, guardian and wielder of the august golden crystal, and she is the princess of the Moon Kingdom, Serenity, the woman I love.
"Serenity." He breathed before he leaned down and placed a light gentle kiss on her lips. "Finally. I have been searching for you." He said as he pulled back.
"And here I am. No more searching." She said gently.
"How are you feeling?" Mamoru asked, putting his quiet elation at being with his princess away for the moment.
"Much better. The stomach cramps and headache are completely gone." Usagi answered.
"But everything else is still there." He said.
"Yes. My body still aches, the fever is still there I think, and I'm still nauseous. Although I don't feel like I need to throw up. It's only the queasy feeling." She said.
"I can take care of that." He said confidently before he silently called on the power of his crystal.
It responded instantly without any problems, and he directed it into his princess' body to heal her and remove all traces of her illness. The golden light glowed from his hands, still cupping her face, and moved over her skin before sinking through.
Usagi closed her eyes at the familiar comforting warmth of his power flowing through her. It felt just as nice as it had earlier and the times she had felt it in the past. Her body relaxed further and she sighed as all her aches and discomforts eased until they vanished entirely.
She opened her eyes as the warmth left her body and smiled as she watched the golden glow fade from his hands and wrists.
"Thank you." She said softly as she sat up. "Sit with me." She said, and watched as he instantly sat down where he had been half kneeling with a smile.
"What are you going to do about your Senshi?" Mamoru asked, his expression turning serious.
He was still outraged at their behavior and attitude toward his princess, and now that he remembered who he was and who she was he was even more so. They had made her so stressed out with their complaints and accusations that she had become seriously sick.
"I don't know." Usagi said with a heavy sigh. "Perhaps it's time I get new guardians." She said thoughtfully, because she did need them.
Not because she couldn't take care of herself, but because it was clear the planet had supernatural beings coming there and endangering everyone. This was their home in this present time and they needed to keep it safe, and she did acknowledge that if there were more enemies than she could handle on her own then she would need their protection.
"Just because they were awakened as senshi doesn't mean they can't be replaced." She said firmly. "I have a few options in mind, but it will take time because I've drifted away from them as far as our friendship goes."
"Why is that?" He asked.
"The girls and Luna." She said with a sigh. "As each of them was awakened as a senshi I spent more time with them and less with the friends I had before, and then when I tried to start again Luna said it was best if I actually put more distance between us so they wouldn't learn my secret; and Ami, Rei, and Makoto agreed."
Mamoru huffed out a breath in anger. It was like those girls and that cat were emotionally abusing her. They didn't seem to like much of anything about her, and as a warrior they thought she was weak and useless. Then when she tried to reconnect with her old friends they try to hinder that. It was like they couldn't stand her, didn't want her around, but didn't want her with anyone else either.
"Then take your time reestablishing those friendships, and while you're doing that you can see if they have the potential to be senshi." He said. "In the meantime you should distance yourself from your current senshi, as civilians and as senshi, so they don't do anymore damage to you. That cat as well."
Usagi nodded, completely understanding why he would want that. She remembered who she was, and that had given her relief and security, but she was used to their looks and words. She would need distance to give herself further relief and allow her remembered persona to fully settle.
"That can be done. Perhaps not easily since I go to school with Ami and Makoto, and Luna usually lives with me, but it can and will be done." She said intensely. "We have the occasional meeting when something needs to be discussed or information relayed, so I can simply go to those and nothing more. We don't have any training sessions, so there is no worry there."
"Despite all their complaints no one insisted you all train together?" Mamoru asked incredulously.
"I suggested it but I seemed to be the only one who needed it, and they had other things to do." Usagi said with a delicate shrug, and he shook his head as he ran a hand through his hair.
"Well, you and I will train." He said seriously. "Now that I have my memories I can teach you everything I know, and make you the best warrior you can be. That way you can train your new senshi so they can function the way you want them to."
"Thank you. I can't wait." She said appreciatively. "There is the matter of Sailor V." She added.
"Now that I know she is actually Sailor Venus I can summon her, and see if she is a better senshi and person than the others. Hopefully she will be and that will be one less senshi to worry about replacing. She might even be able to help train up the new girls." She explained.
"Depending on how she turns out to be she may be able to help train you as well." Mamoru said as he nodded. "Do you plan on letting your current Senshi know who you are?" He asked.
"No." She said as she shook her head. "Venus will know since I'll be summoning her, but I will have her keep the knowledge to herself. Since I will definitely be replacing them they don't need to know I'm the princess until I remove their powers." She said, and then tilted her head thoughtfully.
"And even then I will remove their memories of ever being senshi, so they cannot endanger me later on by telling the wrong person. The same with Luna." She added.
"Smart idea." He nodded approvingly, and she smiled.
"One thing that concerns and confuses me is the rainbow crystals." Usagi said. "What are they for if not to locate me?" She questioned. "I do not recall them being in the past."
"Perhaps they were an alternate means to find you or a smokescreen of sorts. Something to distract the enemy and buy the Senshi time to find you." Mamoru suggested thoughtfully.
"I still have the few I managed to collect so we will take some time to find out. Perhaps our crystals will be of use in the discovery." He added, and Usagi nodded thoughtfully.
