Welcome to the first annual Dendy Week, hosted by the lovely Lin Lamont! (you can find her here, on AO3, and Tumblr!)
Because I am currently wrangling Dendy in my WiP Once More, with Feeling! (Chapter 11, if y'all would like to check it out), and will probably be addressing some of these amazing prompts in there, I decided to only write one story for this event.
Dendy Week 2022 Day 4
Prompt: Fog/"I saw you coming."
I used Fog
Technically, I also used Day 3's prompts - Nightmares/"This isn't real" – but this story was specifically written for Day 4, so I decided it keep it here.
There are depictions of violence in this story, but nothing overly graphic
Please see the end for more notes.
I hope you enjoy!
Mamoru jolted awake, his heart and head pounding, his body and sheets drenched with sweat. A trembling hand brushed away damp bangs and pressed against his forehead.
Debilitating pain?
A woman's scream?
It wasn't unusual for Mamoru to be wrenched awake by terrifying nightmares, but the inability to recall the contents of his nightmares was. The harder he tried, the faster the memory fled, so he let it go with an uneasy sigh.
Mamoru glanced out his window, taking note of the soft morning light.
What time is it?
His ocean blue eyes found the bright red numbers of his bedside alarm clock, and he frowned at the 5:36 time.
Were those numbers always so… red?
That bright color almost reminded him of….
But with a shake of his head, the thought was gone, and Mamoru threw back his covers.
May as well get this day started.
o0o
The hot steam from the shower fogged up the bathroom mirror, which he wiped away with an absentminded swipe of his hand while brushing his teeth.
His now visible reflection smirked at him.
The toothbrush clattered around the sink as Mamoru stared, but the mirror fogged over again, clouding the image from his view. He slowly wiped away the new layer of condensation but found only his wide eyes and gaping mouth staring back.
I must have imagined it…
But that realization was not enough to quell the thundering beat of his heart.
o0o
"Now open your workbooks to page…"
Mamoru turned his gaze to the window, and his pensive expression reflected back. What happened this morning? Why did he feel so out-of-sorts? First the forgotten dream, now he's see-?
"Chiba-kun, I need you to swear fealty to our great leader."
Mamoru's head jerked away from the window. "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
His teacher's mouth pulled down into a near imperceivable frown, but his disapproval radiated out from his stern brown eyes. "Chiba-kun, I asked you for the solution to Problem Seven. I know you are doing well in my class, but I still expect you to pay attention."
"Yes, sir," Mamoru murmured. As he stood, a couple of his classmates snickered, but he paid them no mind and recited the correct answer. His teacher nodded, then called on another student to answer the next problem.
Mamoru sat back down with a sigh, and slid his fingers into his hair.
I could have sworn…
His eyes returned to the window, and his reflection winked.
Mamoru flew from his chair, sending his pen skittering across the desk and knocking his workbook onto the floor with a deafening thud. All at once, the attention of his classmates and teacher fell upon him, their murmurings expressing a mixture of shock and confusion.
"Chiba-kun," the teacher began softly, "what's going on? Why are you out of your seat?"
"I … um…" Mamoru stammered. Wary eyes slid back to the window but found a normal reflection. If wide, panicked eyes were considered 'normal'. "May I use the restroom?"
The teacher's lips pressed together as he considered the request, but he finally nodded his head towards the door. "Make it quick."
o0o
Mamoru closed his eyes and splashed cold water onto his face
He stood hunched over the sink, his head hung low as he concentrated on the dull sounds of the water dripping off his face and into the bowl.
Just breathe…
… in through the nose, out through the mouth.
In through the nose…
…out through the mouth…
As his mind focused and heart rate slowed, the urge to look in the mirror became too great to ignore, and he dared a peek through one barely raised eyelid before cautiously raising both.
A disheveled Mamoru stared back through wide, reddened eyes, small drops of water beading along the tips of his hair.
A shaky sigh expelled from his lungs.
What's wrong with me?
o0o
"What the hell happened in Trig today?" Motoki asked around the rice ball held up to his mouth, his green eyes wide and tone concerned. "It isn't like you to zone out in class, but to then cause an actual scene…"
"Motoki-kun…" Mamoru hesitated, his lunch sitting before him untouched, "do you never have days where you swear you're going crazy?
Motoki grinned. "All the time! Working in an arcade will do that to a man." But when Mamoru's brow furrowed, Motoki tilted his head and looked at his friend with new meaning. "What's going on?"
Mamoru's lips moved but no sounds came out. When Motoki's eyebrow raised, Mamoru cleared his throat and shook his head. "Nothing, forget I said anything."
o0o
Mamoru awoke with a start.
A woman's scream.
Debilitating pain.
He sat up and ran a hand through his hair. His heart thumped painfully in his chest, each beat carrying a sense of devastation and loss, but the memory of the dream once again refused to be recalled.
What time is it?
The alarm clock read 5:36 am.
He laid back down with a sigh and stared up at the ceiling, clutching his bed covers to his chest.
To not remember one dream was unusual. That he couldn't remember two was downright concerning. He'd been able to recall all his dreams since he was a young child. Dreams were his escape, his sanctuary, first from the harsh living conditions of the orphanage in which he was raised, and later, from the bleak, oppressive loneliness of his daily life.
He welcomed them all, even the scary, unsettling ones - which these two forgotten dreams must be, if the state in which he found himself upon waking was any indication - because those dreams sometimes whispered or showed prophetic clues about his life, and Mamoru learned early on to pay close attention. He was certain these two most recent dreams were trying to tell him something, and his inability to recall them added to his unease.
There was nothing Mamoru hated more than forgetting. The first six years of his life were already a mystery, and he didn't want to forget anything else.
Mamoru sighed and stretched out his arms and legs.
The sun's early rays were not yet powerful enough to burn away the dark shadows lurking in the upper corners of his room, shadows which provided the backdrop for the floating specks of dust, shimmering and dancing in the soft morning light. Watching them float calmed his troubled mind, and he decided it was time to get up and start his day.
But when he tried to push himself up off the bed, he was shocked to discover he couldn't move. His arms and legs were pinned down against the mattress, and a weight distributed over his chest, preventing Mamoru from arching his back as he grunted and strained from his efforts to free himself.
Something in his peripheral vision moved, and dread unfurled in his chest as Mamoru dragged his gaze towards the source.
That dread quickly exploded into full-blown panic.
The shadow in the far-left hand corner of his room now bore a face, its only features the two glowing pupilless eyes and lipless mouth pulled into a jagged, toothy grin. When their eyes met, the creature's grin spread across its poorly defined face. Two billowing hands extracted themselves from the darkness and dug their sharp claws into the drywall with a loud crunch as the creature began dragging itself towards the helpless Mamoru.
He redoubled his efforts to escape, but the binds refused to budge, and with each crunch into the wall, Mamoru's terror deepened. As it made its way across the room, the creature's shapeless form blanketed the small space with a dense fog, absorbing all sources of light, leaving Mamoru in total darkness.
All other sounds were drowned out by Mamoru's petrified screams until the creature's thundering laugh had him clenching his eyes and jaw shut against the painful assault on his ear drums.
Soon…
Mamoru's eyes flew open and flitted about in search of the voice, but his eyes struggled to adjust to this unnatural darkness.
Soon…
A sharp talon carved a straight line down the center of his chest, making him cry out in both pain and fear. It stopped at the end of his sternum, where a vile, clammy warmth then fanned over his skin, and burning red eyes flickered into existence within the darkness.
You'll be mine…
Gut-wrenching revulsion shocked through his system, threatening to expel the meager contents of his stomach. But Mamoru tamped down the urge through sheer will and began once again fighting against his binds.
No!
He didn't know how he knew this, but its truth was branded in his soul: his heart already belonged to another, and she was waiting. Tears squeezed out between his clenched eyelids as he grunted and he strained to free himself.
Mamo-chan…
His eyes shot open with a cry, but he found only the creature, its glowing red mouth twisted into a snarl.
"NO!" Its thundering voice boomed, but just as it lunged at him, blinding white light forced it back and wrapped Mamoru into a warm, protective embrace.
He gasped against the onslaught of images flooding his brain.
Sparkling blue eyes…
Silky blonde hair…
Warm, inviting smile…
Soft lips…
Tender embraces…
Whispered secret names…
A voice within the white light called to him, and Mamoru reached out a desperate hand towards the sound. An unseen hand responded, interlacing its fingers with his and squeezing tight.
Mamo-chan…
Come back to me…
Mamoru sat up with a start.
The soft rays of the morning sun filtered in through the gap between his curtains, illuminating the floating specks of dust dancing in the sunlight. His eyes darted around his room before landing on his bedside clock.
5:36 am.
A dream?
He wasn't so sure.
It certainly felt real enough.
What was that creature, and what did it want with him?
How did he…
Mamoru looked down at the hand still thrumming with energy.
She saved him.
Whoever "she" was, her light pushed back the monster and set him free. Though he'd never before seen such a light, it felt familiar, made him feel warm and safe, made him feel…
Loved…
His hoarse voice whispered into the stillness of his room, "U-" but tears coursed down his cheeks when the rest of the name refused to materialize, and Mamoru was overcome with a crippling sense of loss.
He closed his eyes and curled his hand against the lingering heartache, but when that small amount of pressure resulted in a burning pain, Mamoru pulled away his shirt to look for the source.
All the air expelled from his lungs when he found a thin red line running down the center of his chest.
o0o
He trudged along the sidewalk, his satchel dangling from his fingertips as his mind lost itself to the young woman in his vision.
Who was she?
How did she know him?
Why didn't he know her?
Was she the one to whom his soul claimed to belong?
She saved him from that creature, yet he didn't know anything about her, nor even what she looked like. The pieces were there, but none fit together, their edges jagged and sharp.
As if they'd been cut…
Mamoru halted his steps and vigorously shook his head.
What a strange, paranoid notion.
"Oof!"
A soft, familiar body crashed into Mamoru with the ramming speed of a freight train and knocked them both down to the sidewalk. The wrap of his arms around his assailant's waist was instinctual, cradling her to his body so he'd bear the brunt of the fall.
Together they sat on the ground, her head pressed against his chest and soft hair tickling his cheek, until she scrambled out of his arms and to her feet.
"Oh, I am soooooo sorry! I'm running late to school, and I was trying to beat the light, but I didn't see you, and did I mention I was sor- hey," her head tilted as her tone slowed and softened, "Are you ok?"
Mamoru gaped at the blonde girl with the unusual hair. When she knocked him down, the force of the impact filled in and settled the pieces to the puzzle that was his mystery girl into place, finally completing the image.
She was her.
He was absolutely certain of this.
The sun illuminated her golden hair from behind and created the dark shadows obscuring her face.
But she was her.
And he continued to stare, watching her mouth drop into a frown as she fidgeted on her feet, and saying nothing even when she extended a hand to help him up. The moment he grasped her smaller hand in his, a new vision flooded Mamoru's mind.
Exhausted, clinging embraces
Mournful whispers
Desperate reassurances
When his awareness returned, Mamoru found himself staring into the bluest pair of eyes he'd ever seen. And those wondrous blue eyes stared back, wide but bright, and a delicate brush painted her cheeks a pretty pink.
Mamoru licked his dry lips. "What's-"
"Usagi!" A girl, who's short red hair was tied back in a bow at the crown of her head, came running up from behind. "Get moving! We're so late!"
Her friend's voice broke the spell, and brought awareness back to Usagi's face. "Oh right!" Usagi called out to her. She turned back to Mamoru.
"I'm sorry, again!" She said with a bow of her head before chasing after her friend with a shrill "Naru-chan! Wait for me!"
As he watched her leave, Mamoru couldn't shake the feeling that he shouldn't have let her go.
o0o
"Usagi?" Motoki repeated. "Of course I know her. Her family and mine go way back." He tilted his head in confusion. "Haven't I told you this before? Why are you asking me about her, anyway?"
Mamoru resisted the urge to run a hand through his hair. Motoki could read him too well as it was. "She just… She crashed into me this morning, and…"
"Is that why you were late?" At Mamoru's nod, a knowing grin pulled up his mouth. "I should have known. 'Overslept' my ass. Isn't it too early in the day for that sort of thing?"
Mamoru's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"
"Hold on…" Motoki's eyes narrowed into a glare. "You're seriously asking me who she is? This isn't some kind of weird joke?"
Mamoru pinched the bridge of his nose. "Motoki-kun, are you going to get to a point anytime soon?"
"Mamoru-kun?" Motoki said with a shake of his head, "Usa-chan is your-"
But he was interrupted by the piercing trill of the bell signaling the end of the lunch period, and he walked away with another shake of his head. "Look, I don't know what's going on with you, Mamoru-kun, but you gotta figure it out, OK? I'll see you later."
o0o
The soft chime warned Mamoru the school library was closing in five minutes.
He closed his eyes and stretched, clasping his hands together and pushing his arms straight up above his head, then he shook out his shoulders with a quiet sigh. After this morning's "dream" - he wasn't sure what else to call it - he didn't want to go home, so instead he barricaded himself behind his large stack of books in a well-lit corner of the school library.
No longer able to delay the inevitable, he began gathering his belongings. After returning all his reference materials to a cart for reshelving, he made his way to the desk to check out.
The librarian looked at Mamoru over the rim of glasses sitting low on his nose. "Here late today, aren't we?"
Mamoru nodded. "I hope I didn't keep you."
"No," the librarian responded with a shake of his head as he scanned Mamoru's books. "We never leave until well after closing anyway." He arranged the three books about dream theory into a neat stack. "I require your allegiance, Prince."
Mamoru took a wary half-step back. "Excuse me?"
The librarian's expression didn't change as his eyes slid to Mamoru's. "Your student ID. If you want to check out these books, I'm going to need it."
"Of course," Mamoru mumbled as he fished out the ID from the inside pocket of his dark blue blazer and held it out to the elder man. "Here. Sorry about that."
He regarded Mamoru a moment before taking the ID from his hand. "Haven't been sleeping well?"
"You could say that," Mamoru sighed.
The elder man nodded. "That would definitely explain the books." He placed the ID on top of the short stack. "Hope they help."
"Thank you," Mamoru responded with a shallow bow of his head, and then turned to leave.
Endymion…
"Did… Did you say something?"
The librarian looked up from the computer. "I did not," he said as he lowered his glasses, which were hanging by a beaded chain resting around his neck. "Are you all right? Do you need to call someone? I don't mind waiting with you for someone to pick you up."
His grip tightened around the handle of his satchel. "No, I'm fine. Thank you."
o0o
The evening was warm despite the chill of the rain, creating a thick, swirling fog illuminated only by the white glow of the street lamps standing vigil over the empty street.
Mamoru trudged along the equally empty sidewalk, downtrodden and soaking wet, grumbling about his lack of umbrella the entire time. The pattering of rain against the concrete sidewalk and the squish of his shoes were his only company, and he cursed their presence with each soggy step.
How fortunate for everyone else, to be dry at home, their hands warmed by a hot cup of coffee…
Wait…
Mamoru paused, really taking in his surroundings since he first stepped out into the rain.
Tokyo is a city that never sleeps, not really. The restaurants should be filled with the dinner rush, awnings crowded with people waiting out the rain. But the storefronts were dark, the streets and sidewalks deserted.
The sound of a splash behind him had Mamoru turning around for the source of the noise, squinting through the drops of rain beating against and rolling down his face.
But there was no one.
Mamoru spun back around, thinking he misjudged the direction, yet the path ahead was as bare as the one behind. The breath he'd been holding released as a misty cloud, and he glanced back once more, just to be sure.
A lone caped figure stood silhouetted against the streetlight.
He was about to call out when the fog surrounding the mysterious figure began to swirl and shift, wrapping around and traveling up until it formed the rough shape of a head. Two billowing hands fell upon the figure's shoulders, and with each twitch of its fingers, a metallic sound carried across the damp air.
Mamoru choked down a scream when two green-glowing eyes and large, blood-red mouth opened and stretched against the darkness.
"The time has come," the creature's voice boomed, "You will submit, and swear fealty to the Dark Kingdom." A heavy thud echoed off the empty storefronts as the caped figure took a single step forward. "Or we shall force you."
The warmth spreading out from the center of Mamoru's chest gave him courage, and he clutched a cold, damp hand against it. "And who is 'we'?"
The caped figure moved forward with calculated slowness, ferrying the creature across the divide as if it weighed nothing. Every footfall echoed louder, and Mamoru gritted his teeth against the urge to cover his ears. He would not show weakness, not now.
But then the figure stepped into his streetlight, and that pretense flew straight out the window.
Standing before Mamoru, clad in armor - dark blue cuirass, silver faulds and tassets, black thigh high boots, a red-lined black cape affixed to silver spaulders, and a broadsword strapped to his waist - and carrying a creature of unfathomable darkness draped across his shoulders, was himself.
Except his eyes were the coldest, darkest shade of black Mamoru had ever seen.
"You put up a brave front, but I'll always know better," his voice said. "It's time to accept your destiny."
"Who are you?" Mamoru whispered.
His other self grinned. "What? You don't recognize me?" At Mamoru's stunned expression, the not-him chuckled. "Why, I'm you. The better you. The 'you' that you were always meant to be." He held out his hand. "Join me, and together we will take back the Golden Kingdom!"
Mamoru stared at the hand that was, yet wasn't, his. "The what? And from whom?" He asked, his voice trembling.
"You really have forgotten everything, haven't you?" Mamoru's eyes flew to the not-him's face. "Allow me to jog your memory."
Not-him's hand shot forward before Mamoru could react, and a quick flick to the forehead threw Mamoru's head back.
Unbidden images burst behind his eyes as the memories locked away within the deepest reaches of Mamoru's psyche were unsealed, ripping a tortured scream from his lungs as the blinding pain and loss tore through his body.
A powerful energy blast
A determined embrace
A woman's scream
Debilitating pain
Frantic pleas and shaking hands
In a flash of golden light, Mamoru's school uniform dissolved into a caped tuxedo, and he collapsed to his hands and knees, his chest heaving. The rain abated, leaving behind the swirling mists surrounding the light of their streetlamp.
"Do you remember now?"
"I don't… I don't understand," Mamoru gasped, "How am I… I thought… On the tower, didn't I-."
Endymion, Mamoru now understood, crouched before him and lifted Mamoru's chin with a gloved finger. "You did," Endymion confirmed with a nod, "but through the great power of Metalia, we are reborn. Now we have the chance to take back what is rightfully ours, and destroy those who dare get in our way."
All the color drained from Mamoru's face. "'Get in our…' You don't mean…"
Usako…
"Yes, the princess will be dealt with in time. She managed to survive, no thanks to you."
Mamoru's eyes widened with the flutter in his chest. "So it is true? She's… She survived the blast? And she isn't…" His eyes squeezed shut as he searched for her, but he picked nothing but static. "She isn't here?"
Endymion sighed, his annoyance pricking at Mamoru's skin. "No. I am told her senshi successfully shielded her while the Shitennou rescued our body and brought us back here."
Mamoru nearly collapsed under the weight of his relief.
She was alive!
He ignored Endymion's irritation and closed his eyes as the gratified smile stretched across his face. All this time, as he watched her take hit after hit in the name of duty; as he stood by and did nothing while she routinely gave up her energy to save lives, nearly killing herself in the process, all he ever wanted was to protect her and keep her safe. And he finally did it. For all his previous failings, he managed to do this one thing right.
"Mamoru." Endymion's black eyes bore into Mamoru's ocean blues with unnerving intensity. "Those feelings you harbor for the Moon Princess' reincarnation are lies. The sooner you realize this, the better off we'll all be."
"No," Mamoru grunted. He wretched his chin out of Endymion's grasp and sat back on his heels to place distance between himself and the prince since he lacked the strength to stand. "You're wrong. My feelings for her, and hers for me, are about the only certainty I have in this life." His gaze returned to Endymion, who frowned. "I seem to recall it was the same for you, especially at the end."
Endymion's black eyes narrowed. "If that's what you think, then you're more of a fool than I thought. If she loves you so much, why hasn't she come to save you? Where is the great and powerful Sailor Moon when you need her most? It's high time you understood the princess has abandoned you."
"She didn't abandon me," Mamoru said with a shake of his head.
An eyebrow raised. "You seem pretty confident about that."
"I am-"
"It doesn't matter," Endymion interrupted with a wave of his hand, "We need to discuss how we are going to proceed."
Dread unfurled in Mamoru's chest and began eating away at his relief. With a flash of lightning across the sky, the rain resumed as a light drizzle. "What do you mean?"
"After we were brought back, I was shown the truth." Endymion began to pace as he spoke, his eyes never leaving Mamoru's. "The Moon Princess bewitched us both: me in our past life, and you in this one. I cannot fault you for falling under the same spell I did, but we need to cleanse you of her magic before we can move forward. The Moon Kingdom has held sway over our lands and our people for too long, and I, the Earth's last Crown Prince, will be the one to end it.
"Mamoru." A black flame burned within his dark eyes. "I want you to join me."
"What?" Mamoru's brow furrowed. "What 'truth'?" 'Cleanse'? We weren't bewitched or enchanted. We fell in love! That isn't the same thing."
"So you aren't going to help me?" Endymion said coolly.
"Of course not!" Mamoru screamed. "This is madness!" He bent one leg to stand. "I'm putting an end to this right now, and we're-"
"You're not going anywhere."
Mamoru paused, and his eyes flew back to Endymion. "Excuse me?"
The prince crossed his arms. "This is happening with or without you, though 'with you' is preferable. This body is as much mine as it is yours, and I won't let anything, or anyone, stand in the way of my mission."
"No. You will not take over my body." Mamoru's jaw lifted in defiance. "I won't allow it."
Endymion's mouth pressed into a thin line. "I was afraid you would say that." His eyes shifted to the creature which had long-since removed itself from his shoulders to watch their interactions from afar. "Metalia-sama."
Searing pain erupted in Mamoru's biceps as Metalia materialized from behind and dug her claws into his arms. He grunted and gritted his teeth against the pain. A thunderclap cracked open the sky, unleashing the rain in torrents.
Endymion lowered to one knee before Mamoru, seemingly unaffected by the heavy rain. "This is your last chance. Swear fealty to the Dark Kingdom, forsake the Moon Princess and everything she represents, or die."
Mamoru's attempt to free himself from Metalia's grip only resulted in more pain, which Endymion regarded with a single raised eyebrow. "Who told you these 'truths'? Was it Beryl?" Mamoru ground out. "Did it ever occur to you that she lied? Or manipulated your memories? Tell me, what does she get out of this if you succeed?"
The force of Endymion's slap threw Mamoru's face to the side and split his lip. His cheek burned, but the dripping blood was lost to the rain. "You will not speak so informally about my intended again, do you understand?"
Mamoru's wide eyes shot back to the enraged prince. "Your what?"
Endymion huffed. "Now who's memory has been manipulated?" He sneered. "I was betrothed to Beryl before the lunar witch cast her spell. She stole me away from my intended out of jealousy and spite."
"No!" Mamoru yelled, resuming his fight against Metalia's grasp despite the pain. "I do remember! We met Serenity first! We fell in love with her! Beryl was the one to-"
Endymion slapped Mamoru's other cheek with more force than the first. "I warned you," he growled. Metalia dug in her claws even deeper, and Mamoru cried out from the pain. "If you aren't with us, you are against us. This conversation is over."
Panic clenched Mamoru's stomach when Endymion stood and unsheathed his sword. "Why are you doing this?" Mamoru pleaded. "I am you! How can you kill a part of yourself? You need me!"
Endymion's smirk sent an icy chill down Mamoru's spine. "No, I don't," he said, his tone low and taut. "It's a shame, really. You would have been a powerful ally. Just look at what your mind managed to create even in your weakest state. None of this is real!" He gestured to the empty street, his upright palm catching the falling rain. "Your mind created this entire existence just to protect your memories and sense of self.
"Getting through your mental barriers was far more difficult than we expected." His eyes shifted to Mamoru's. "A truly remarkable feat, considering the power at our disposal."
But Endymion released a defeated sigh. "I thought we could help you see reason, but I clearly gave you too much credit." He turned his head to watch the rain pool and splash in his gloved hand. "Simply locking you away within our shared mind is too great a risk. I don't trust you to not break free and take back control."
Mamoru shook the rain water off his face, his eyes wide and panicked. "You can't!" Metalia's talons shredded the sleeves of his tuxedo and the skin of his arms as he pulled and twisted his body to free himself. "If you do this, everything you fought for, everything you died for, would have been for nothing. You resisted her power before, I know you can do it again!"
Endymion's gaze was dark and intense. "For seventeen long, tedious years I've slept inside you, and I will sleep no more. Goodbye, Chiba Mamoru."
Mamoru felt the cut, yet no pain, when Endymion's sword sliced through his abdomen, nor did he feel the extraction of Metalia's claws from his arms. The only indication he felt anything at all was the momentary flicker of the muscles in his face.
Usako…
Endymion's fingers tangled into Mamoru's hair, his breath hot against Mamoru's ear as he whispered just loud enough to be heard over Mamoru's gasping, stuttering breaths. "I'll send your regards to your princess."
With a shove of Mamoru's head, Endymion stood and walked away, the heavy thud of his boots fading with his departure.
Mamoru crashed face first into the ground, though managed to turn his head at the very last moment so his cheek bore the brunt of the fall. Glazed over ocean blue eyes stared out into nothingness as the pooling blood from his mouth and stomach was washed away by the rain.
Out of that nothingness came a white light, brighter and warmer than the sun.
A ghost of a smile pulled at Mamoru's mouth, and a trembling hand reached for that light with his last bit of strength.
"Usako…"
End Note:
So, I'm not saying this is a companion piece to OMwF!, but I am also not not saying that either. Certainly seems like it references certain events in that story, especially ones which occurred in Chapter 8, don't you think?
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this story. I wanted to write something that read like an 80's psychological thriller, and while I didn't quite hit that mark, I am very happy with it all the same. This fic took me outside of my comfort zone, and I had a lot of fun writing it.
I hope you'll check out the other stories in the Dark Endymion Week 2022 collection.
Until next time!
