Sailor Moon X by Starling Sinclair

Chapter 9: A Date to Remember

4/23/2019

Mamoru double checked the address in her text message. Yeah, it was the same apartment number. He ran his hand through his hair.

He knocked again. Then called. No answer. His hand tapped against his thigh as he counted seconds. All he could think about were the victims of the sleeping sickness. People sitting in their room while something drained their energy to the point of death. It was why what he did next seemed totally sensible to him.

He kicked in the door.

Her apartment was dark and ransacked. Adrenaline coursed through his system, and he resisted the impulse to transform into Tuxedo Kamen. He didn't even think about his shoes as he rushed onto the tatami floor. He found her quickly. She was lying on her bed, the TV casting a blue glow over her. One hand rested clenched above her head which was tilted gently to the side. Wearing a red dress that had slipped up a little higher than decent, she looked like sleeping beauty.

"Usagi!" he called. He didn't even wait the second for her to respond. He grabbed her shoulders to jostle her awake.

And as soon as he did, her eyes flew open.

"Mamo…" she started, then he was hugging her. Tightly.

"Oh thank god," he said. "You're all right."

"Um, yeah… what are you…" she started, groggily, then pushed back. "Wait. What time is it?"

"7:10."

"Shit!" She stood up and turned on the light. "I fell asleep!"

Then Mamoru laughed, hard. He fell back on her bed.

"Asleep. Of course, you were asleep," he said between peals of laughter.

"What does that mean?" she asked. She walked into the kitchen hall. "And why is my door broken?"

"I thought you were in danger," he said.

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you didn't answer your door," he said. "Or phone."

"Fuck," she rushed back into the bedroom. He watched as she jumped on the bed, skirt riding up. She produced her phone from under her pillow.

The screen had several missed call. She groaned.

"I didn't hear it because it was under the pillow," she whined.

He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him. Following his lead, she straddled him. Smirking, he pulled her in for a kiss. He cupped her face as the kissing intensified. He moaned and felt himself grow distracted.

"If we don't stop," she said between kisses, "We'll be late for dinner."

"I expected that, so I lied about the reservation time," he answered. Then slid his hands under her skirt and up her thighs.

She pushed off him. "Seriously Mamoru?"

"Well, you aren't exactly known for your promptness," he answered.

"I'm not fourteen anymore," she continued. "And I'll have you know, I was ready early."

"Is that so?"

"It's why I fell asleep."

He shook his head then stood up from the bed.

"Come on, Odango, let's get going," he said, taking her hand and walking to the door.

"But, what about my door? It won't shut!" she argued.

"Maybe you can convince the police you were robbed. It'll be fine," he continued.

"Why did you kick the door in any way? It was unlocked!"

XXX

Usagi had been on dates before. She'd been taken to dinner (often a poor choice as she always ate far more than her date intended to pay). Yet, she'd never been to a fancy dinner. This was a place adults with respectable careers went. Usagi was a questionable adult with a questionably respectable career.

The host brought them to the table and pulled out Usagi's chair. The champagne was already chilling at the table, which the host poured. He bowed and left.

Usagi scanned the menu apprehensively. This was not the food she was used to. There were words she sort of understood, but, had this feeling it involved parts of animals she'd never eaten before. Then there were no prices. These were signs of someplace way too fancy for her.

Mamoru filled her champagne glass for the third time. She drank it like a shot.

"Do you know what you want?" Mamoru asked.

She chewed her lip. Did she admit she wasn't sure what half the items on the menu were? Or did she try to order and hope for the best?

Mamoru watched her suspiciously. "You have no clue what to order do you?"

Usagi blanched, then scowled. "Of course I do. It's just difficult to choose only one thing."

Mamoru took a sip of his champagne. "Then let's order a course selection."

"Aren't those expensive?" Usagi asked.

Mamoru shook his head. "Don't worry about it Odango," he said. She scowled harder.

"Ugh, I hate that name," she said, slapping her menu closed.

Mamoru's demeanor shifted. He reached across the table to take her hand. She pulled it away.

"Does it really bother you that much?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"Yes!" she exclaimed.

He pulled his hand back, looking a little like a scolded puppy. "I'm sorry. I thought it was cute."

"You think calling me Odango is cute?"

"Translated, it means dumpling in English, which is a term of endearment," he retorted.

"So, are you trying to tell me that you were giving me a pet name all those years?" she asked.

He shrugged, turning vaguely pink.

"But that's like me calling you something infantile, like Mamo-chan or something."

"I think Mamo-chan is cute," he countered.

"Of course you do," she said back with a smile. She sighed. "But I still don't like Odango."

"Okay, okay," he went on. "I'll come up with something better."

Thankfully, Mamoru signaled the waiter, and he placed the order. Usagi filled his glass with the last of the champagne, so he added a bottle of sake. The waiter collected their menus then bowed, and the two were alone again.

"How about mochi?"

"I thought we ordered dinner?" Usagi asked.

"No, as a pet name," he said, sipping on the champagne.

She rolled her eyes, then snarked, "Because the rabbit of the moon pounds mochi?"

"Or maybe because I want to pound you?" he whispered with a smirk. She flushed bright pink.

"No."

He laughed. "Wagashi?"

"Ugh, how about something not food related?"

Sake and the first course arrived. Usagi stared at the soup in front of her. Floating in the clay bowl was a turtle shell. She poked at it with her soup spoon.

"What's wrong?" Mamoru asked.

"Nothing's wrong."

"Something is clearly wrong. You're not eating."

Damnit. He knew her too well. She glared at him, then deliberately, dipped her spoon in the soup. Bringing the spoon up to her lips, she mimicked a toast, then took a sip. It was surprisingly good. But still distressing.

Mamoru chuckled. "It's Suppon Turtle soup, Usa," he said.

Usagi quirked her eyebrow. "Wait, isn't that supposed to be for male impotency?"

Mamoru smiled and took another spoonful. "I don't think I have a problem with that, wouldn't you say?"

"The turtle soup suggests otherwise." She grinned as she slurped her soup.

Mamoru flushed. Score one for Usagi.

Her spoon hit the shell, and she felt uneasy. "I don't know about this," she admitted.

"You don't have to eat it if you don't want to," Mamoru said.

"Did you just hear the words coming out of your mouth? Me, not eat?"

Mamoru signaled the waiter, who came and took their dishes. Shaking his head, he refilled her Sake.

"Is this a place you really like to eat?" Usagi asked, sipping her sake.

Mamoru tugged on his collar. "Not really," he answered.

"Then why are we here?"

"Honestly?" His eyes shined as he looked at her, so very vulnerable. "I was trying to impress you."

Usagi preened. "You thought floating dead turtle soup was how to impress a lady?

"I have a lot of ground to make up for."

Usagi tapped her Sake cup to his. "That you do," she said with a sip. "Why were you so mean to me all those years ago?"

Mamoru took a moment to think about his words. "Would young and stupid count?"

"Nope."

He sighed. "You were the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen. I was always tongue-tied around you," he continued.

"That counts a little."

"Then, I found out you were… way too young for me. I mean, what does a first-year college student have in common with a middle school girl? So, I tried to push you away," he said.

"Four years isn't such a big age gap."

"It isn't anymore."

He smiled at her, something hidden and beautiful, like cracking open a geode. The waiter interrupted the moment as he placed the new course in front of them. A long thin plate had a squid, body finely sliced, but still very clearly a squid. A small saucer of vinegar accompanied it.

"My dinner is staring at me," Usagi said. "I don't think I can eat something that still has a face."

"Do you want to get out of here?" Mamoru asked.

Usagi had never felt more relieved in her life. "Yes," she answered.

He nodded and signaled the waiter.

Mamoru wrapped his arm around Usagi as they walked out of the restaurant onto the cool Tokyo street.

"Next time, I know of a fantastic ramen shop," Usagi said.

Mamoru kissed the top of her head. "I promise not to pick a restaurant without your approval in the future."

"Good, because I'm a walking Yelp review of cheap and tasty in Minato," she said.

"How about something sweet?" he said. "There's a cafe just down the street."

"Oh yes. I am so hungry," she answered. Mamoru chuckled.

"Come on then," he answered, and they walked a block down to the little cafe.

XXX

The place was surprisingly busy, but they found a little two-person table by the window. Mamoru ordered a coffee, and Usagi ordered a hot chocolate plus one of everything on the dessert menu.

"I said I was hungry," she said.

They waited at their table, trading in small talk. Then, the emergency tone wailed from nearly every phone in the room. All conversations halted as everyone checked their phone. Youma alert. Last seen a block before the restaurant they'd just left.

Usagi chewed her lip and took a screenshot. She sent the picture to Rei with a message: Help! Please don't tell Minako!

There was a scrape of chairs and a hush of footfalls as people exited the cafe. Usagi looked up to see a drastic reduction in population as patrons left to seek better shelter. She clutched her phone to her chest.

"Do you want to leave?" he asked.

"Not without my desserts," she answered. "Besides, we're probably safer here than out there."

A waiter brought out small plates of desserts, dancing around the exodus of customers. Usagi beamed at Mamoru, her stomach churning. Shouldn't she be leaving? She should be out there - helping people, fighting youma. But, how could she excuse herself? How could she slip away to transform without Mamoru noticing?

She took a small bite of brownie and watched him. He held his coffee halfway to his face, looking out the window pensively. The hairs on her arm stood up. She checked her phone and saw a response from Rei: OMW. Why can't you handle it? Still out with Booty Call? She glanced at Mamoru, then out the window. The silence was heavy. They were waiting.

Usagi saw the girl first. She was small, maybe seven years old, and holding the largest cat Usagi had ever seen. Youma rounded the corner, and she realized who the monster's target was.

She didn't think. Didn't even realize she'd dropped her spoon and knocked her dessert to the floor. Didn't hear Mamoru screaming her name. She ran. Out the door and into the street, she grabbed the little girl. The youma's claws scratched at the air where the child was.

Usagi hit the pavement, cradling the child. The cat fell from the girl's arms and scampered off towards an ally.

"Rhett!" the girl screamed. "Let me go! I have to save Rhett!"

The child squirmed in Usagi's hands, but she did not let go. The youma turned its attention to her, snarling. Sharp teeth, long claws, angry red skin. It pointed one long finger at Usagi. She gripped the girl's arm, put moved the girl behind her. She would protect this child.

"Foolish human," it said. "You will not keep me from my prey."

The child whimpered. Usagi jutted her chin.

"Watch me."

A rose slammed into the youma's temple. It howled and stumbled before crashing into a nearby window. The window of the cafe Usagi had just left.

"No!" she screamed.

She jolted forward. A cape blurred her vision as Tuxedo Kamen appeared between her and the youma.

"Get the girl somewhere safe, now," he commanded.

Damnit. She looked at the cafe and the youma climbing back through the broken window. Mamoru was tough. He had to be fine. She took the little girl's hand and started to move away from the scene. The child resisted.

"But Rhett!" she cried. "I won't go anywhere without Rhett!"

Usagi knelt in front of the girl, placing her hands on the girl's shoulder. "I'll come back for Rhett if you promise to get somewhere safe," she said. Usagi held the child's gaze, doing her best to both reassure and impart the gravity of the situation.

The child nodded, and Usagi took her hand. Down the street, she could see where the police were forming a blockade. Behind her, she could the battle unfolding. Her stomach twisted in knots. An officer blew his whistle and gestured with his hand for them to keep coming. Usagi let go of the girl's hand and watched as she ran into the officer's arms. Then, she turned and headed back toward the battle.

Tuxedo Kamen was fighting with a passion she hadn't seen before. He was quick, experienced. He parried and dodged, keeping just out of the youma's reach. Could everyone fight up but her?

Speaking of fighting, where the hell was Mars? Usagi fingered her brooch. Was there even some place for her to transform? Would she be able to help?

Tuxedo Kamen took a hit, crashing into some trash cans. From the cans, Usagi saw the cat scurry out.

"Kitty!" Usagi cried.

For being phenomenally fat, the cat was surprisingly fast. He bolted over Usagi's feet and into the cafe. Well, that was convenient. She glanced at the battle, tilted her head as she weighed what to do, then chased after the cat. Tuxedo Kamen had this right?

Usagi didn't realize she was holding her breath until she exhaled. Her desserts were scattered on the floor, and her purse had been thrown several feet away, but there was no Mamoru. No blood. No sign that anyone was hurt other than the pastries. He was safe. She looked at the rest of the cafe and saw three heads poking out over the deli counter.

"Did you see what happened to the guy I was with?" she called out.

"He followed you," one of the people answered.

She looked at the door. Tuxedo Kamen was struggling. He needed help. She looked back at the three people still in the cafe.

"Is it over?" one of them asked.

Usagi chewed her lip. "Not yet," she answered. Rei was sure taking her sweet time.

"But we need help," another said. Usagi looked back over. There was a man, holding his arm. It was wrapped in a towel. The two employees stood beside him.

Usagi closed her eyes. Goddamnit.

"Okay, follow my lead," she said and waved them over. They stood there.

"Really?" she asked. "There's a police barricade just down the road!"

"I'm not going out there," said the man with the injured arm. "There are monsters."

Usagi threw her hands up in the air. "Fine, be that way," she grumbled. She still needed to get this cat, then get back and help them. She knelt on the ground, looking under tables.

"Here, kitty, kitty, kitty," she called.

The cat, Rhett, just stared at her from beneath a booth.

"Damnit," she grumbled, "I don't have time for this."

On her hands and knees, she crawled over to the feline. Bits of glass bit into her knees and palms, but she didn't care. The cat cowered further under the table. That would not do. Channeling the best new superhero reflexes, Usagi reached an arm out and grabbed the cat. Rhett was heavier than Usagi expected. What was this cat made of? Lead? But she had him, and she used all her might to pull him to her. Wrapping her arms around the animal that had to weigh at least fifteen kilos, Usagi stood up.

She glanced back at the trio cowering behind the deli counter.

"I'll send help," she said, then walked out the door.

Out on the street, she didn't even have time to look at her surroundings before the youma beside her appeared.

"Where do you think you're going?" it growled.

"Shit," she said. Usagi squeezed the cat and braced for impact.

"Evil Spirits! Be Exorcised!"

The youma froze, claws millimeters from Usagi's face when an ofuda scroll slapped against its chest.

"Fire soul!"

A torrent of flames streamed towards the monster. Heat blasted Usagi, and she struggled to keep the panicked cat in her arms. Heels clicked beside Usagi. Sailor Mars flipped her hair over her shoulder as she looked Usagi and the giant cat over. She pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Please don't tell me you got blood and rubble on my dress," she said. Usagi smiled weakly, then looked at her knees.

"Probably not?"

Mars focused instead on the youma, flames sprouting to her hands. Before she could attack again, Tuxedo Kamen's sword sliced through the youma's neck from behind. It crumbled to dust before its detached head hit the pavement.

Mars's flames intensified as she stared at Tuxedo Kamen. He sighed then said, "Thanks for the distraction, Sailor Mars."

"I could have handled him on my own," she said.

His shoulders hung, and he shook his head. He looked at Usagi for just a moment, then said, "Get her to safety," before springing away and out of sight.

Usagi watched him go, small butterflies in her stomach. Man, that guy had great timing…

"Where's your boy toy?" Mars asked. Then frowned. "Is he okay?"

Usagi shrugged. "Hopefully? He wasn't at the cafe when I went back," she answered.

"Do I even want to know how you two split up?" Mars asked.

"I ran out the door to protect a little girl," Usagi said. "It was all very noble."

"I'm sure," Mars grumbled, "but you could have protected her better as Sailor Moon."

Usagi sighed and rubbed her face in the cat's back. If she had waited, would the girl be alive? Would that man in the cafe need medical attention? Would Rei's dress have been okay?

"There are people in the cafe who need help," Usagi mumbled.

Mars closed her eyes, trying to think of the right thing to say. "Head to the barricade. Boyfriend is probably there. I'll take care of those guys, and we'll catch up tomorrow, okay?" Mars asked.

Usagi nodded and watched the Senshi head into the cafe. She started towards safety, snuggling the very large cat. Paramedics rushed past the barriers. A little girl squeezed through as well.

"Rhett!" she cried.

Usagi was helpless to stop the cat. Seeing his human, he put all his 15 kilos of power into escaping Usagi's grip. She didn't put up much resistance and smiled as the reunion unfolded.

"Usako!"

She almost didn't hear the name, but she recognized the voice. Mamoru pushed past the paramedics and swept her up in a tight embrace.

"Never do something so reckless again," he whispered in her ear.

"Usako?" Usagi said as he set her back on her feet.

His face flushed.

"Much better than Odango Atama," she said and took his hand in hers. Together, the walked away from the blinking lights and chaos of the attack.

XXX

AN: I want to do a special thanks to my regular reviewers: SaturnnFoxx, Celestial Cat, and phillynz! Thanks so much for all your comments. The light up my day whenever I see one.

A special thanks to Chelsea for beta-reading this chapter. I finally could cut something! My Prince Ferdinando, thanks for being an alpha and helping with my story bible. And as always, a super special thanks to my hubby, who is the best alpha reader a writer could ask for.