A/N: Although there are other characters, the story is focused on Mamoru and Usagi's relationship.
Summary: The senshi and Tuxedo Mask, as well as Beryl, are searching for the Endymion. It's been three years since they began their search. For Usagi, the man she loves is Mamoru Chiba, a reincarnation of one of Endymion's generals, and he loves her. Although they know they shouldn't be, they pursue a secret love affair. Will things change if Endymion is found?
Time Period: Beryl has not been defeated, but all the generals have been killed and their stones are, currently, with Mamoru. All the senshi were aged up, finding out they were scouts at 16 instead of 14.
Key for Symbols:
= = ". * ." = = : Text under or above this symbol indicates that the story is current/ if it is used within a paragraph already established as current it means a change in POV
",~~," : Text under or above this mark indicates past/ if it is used within a paragraph already established as past it means a change in POV
The Earth King Returns
Chapter 1
There was a hollow laugh that echoed through the evacuated mall, what was left of it anyway. Large marble chunks littered the floor. It was one thing that the scouts were thankful for. The destroyed pillars provided multiple barriers to hide behind.
Beryl had created a new set of generals, or perhaps she brainwashed more warriors from the Silver Millennium. Nevertheless, Beryl had new powerful underlings. They appeared immediately after the senshi purified the popcorn yoma in the food court. It had been difficult, the screaming running patrons had become easy fodder for the transmuted thing. It threw the people about like kernels from a kettle.
Once they had purified the movie theater employee, they found four women standing on the second floor of the mall. They introduced themselves: Pirami, Taima, Ulan, and Banji. The women looked strangely familiar, however they weren't given time to contemplate. After their introductions, they let loose seven yoma and three of the four disappeared.
It had been hours since the battle started. Four hours and they hadn't landed a critical hit on the woman. Four hours: three Moon healing activations, four Mercury Shabon Spray Freezings, two Mercury Shine Aqua Illusions, three Venus Rolling Heart Vibrations, five Venus Love Me Chains, three Mars Fire Souls, eight Mars Fire Soul Birds, two Mars Flame Snipers, two Mars Burning Mandalas, two Jupiter Supreme Thunders, three Jupiter Supreme Thunder Dragons, and five Jupiter Sparkling Wide Pressures.
= = ". * ." = =
Perspiration soaked their uniforms; fukus hung heavy from the sweat and debris it accumulated. The senshi were scattered among the rubble. In what was once a skate shop, Kamen and Moon took refuge. He knelt over her, his fingers on the gash just below her breasts. The general named Pirami had shot a large icicle her way. The Princess managed to moved rapidly to avoid being pierced, but not rapidly enough to escape unharmed. It sliced through her uniform and half an inch of her skin.
Gold tendrils emitted from the hero's fingers, weaving through the skin and stitching up the flesh. Moon closed her eyes and focused on the tingling sensation that came with the healing. She always enjoyed it. It sent a pleasurable chill throughout her body. At the same time, his power also caused her jealousy to rear its ugly head when he would tend to the others. Knowing that they too felt the effects of his ability, knowing they too were likely aroused by it all.
Abruptly, she pushed his hands away.
"Go and find the others." The caped man stopped her from sitting up, his hands returning to the cut.
"Don't! I'm not done healing you," he retorted angrily. He tried to continue, but she pushed him away once again and quickly stood up.
"It's enough to keep fighting."
"Sail-"
"No," she dismissed. "There's no time to argue. The other senshi are hurt. You need to find them. Heal them as much as possible and then get to the next," she commanded. His cerulean eyes narrowed. He was reluctant to leave her side. In most cases he would have ignored Sailor Moon's request. But, this was not Sailor Moon asking. Through gritted teeth he bowed.
"As you wish Princess."
The blond heroine captured the crook of his elbow. Her posture exuding a power only a royal could evoke. "Be careful." Her voice was devoid of romance. It was not a lover's plea, it was a queen's demand. "You're the only one who can heal and restore. If you go down, we don't stand a chance. You are not to engage in battle. Do you understand General?" she ordered. The masked man nodded once and went in search for the others.
Several meters away, Mercury lay on the floor, clinging onto consciousness. She had three gashes from the demon battle, one on her left forearm and two on her right. She'd used her arms as a shield against a former clothing employee turned yoma. It wielded belts that slashed like barbed wire on contact. But the reason she lay struggling to stay awake was the not due to the monster. It was the head wound she sustained when the dark powered woman had blasted her with freezing wind.
The dark haired general was engaged in a fight with Jupiter. The blue senshi sent a blast of bubbles toward the enemy. Although the attack gave Jupiter time escape, it did not reach its intended target. It was as if Pirami had the sensed strike, because she countered it with a freezing wind. It shattered her bubbles and sent Mercury flying backward, her head hitting a piece of jagged marble on the floor. The blue haired senshi was vulnerable, too dizzy to move or speak. But strangely, the dark general had turned and walked in the opposite direction, not giving Mercury a backwards glance.
Closest to Mercury, the red senshi lay behind a food counter. She was exhausted. The raven haired protector wasn't sure she had strength to call forth the power of Mars. Compared to the other senshi, she looked physically untouched. Although her uniform was torn, smudged, dirty, and soaked in sweat, but otherwise her skin was unscathed. She wasn't suffering from any open wounds. Yet, of all the senshi, it was she who was closest to death's doors.
As the fight went on, Mercury had ascertained the only senshi affecting the dark warrior was Mars. The general had similar powers to Mercury. Pirami's ice and water abilities made her own attacks useless since they simply canceled each other. It also meant that Pirami could bend Venus' light attacks and absorb Jupiter's lightning. The only one who had a serious impact was Mars. The evil warrior wasn't able to bend or absorb her fire. She could only put forth an equally powerful ice attack.
Once the raven haired hero was informed, she pushed herself even further, pulling all her energy into each attack. In the third hour, she had successfully launched three consecutive attacks that set the woman on fire. Her screams of agony filled the empty building. The sound of her skin sizzling off her bones was sickening, yet glorious to her ears.
As Pirami cursed, the Princess waved her wand and aimed a healing activation. The light from the crystal suffocated the fire and swallowed the general's body. When the ribbons of light dissipated, the dark general was still standing; the left side of her face burnt and raw from the fire. But, she was not mortally wounded.
Between Moon and Mars, at the center of the mall, the warrior of love clenched her teeth in pain. Venus' uniform had soaked up her owner's blood and now adhered to her skin. It pulled at the large slash on her deltoid whenever she moved her arms. On her right leg she was splashed with acid from one of the seven yoma. It had sizzled off the skin, revealing the muscle underneath. Hiding behind an overturned carousel; she pressed her back against the lion headed 'boat' trying to determine the next best move.
Within the second hour of battle, Venus realized that Pirami wasn't interested in their Moon Princess. The woman was seeking out Jupiter. The orange warrior had come to the conclusion because the enemy did not engaged with any of the other senshi until she was assaulted first. Venus discovered when it came to herself, Mars, Mercury, and Moon, the dark general used defensive moves. However, when it came to Jupiter, she attacked without mercy.
= = ". * ." = =
Pirami, cupped her hands around her mouth and taunted the scattered senshi.
"Marco!"
The click of her boots hit the tile making a sharp clopping sound.
"Maaaaaaaarrrrrrrco..."
Jupiter could hear her footsteps getting closer. Her anxiety rose. None of her attacks made a difference, lightning was useless. The muscles that she'd toned through the years were aching and for some reason, it was she that the general was concentrated on. Her legs were riddled with gashes from the bullet like hail Pirami had hurdled at her earlier. They'd pierced her legs and spurt out blood as they bombarded her. Jupiter had called on her Supreme Thunder Dragon. The lightning did nothing to the ice, it simply passed past through. It was Mars, who used fire soul, that saved her. The wall of fire sprang up in front of the green senshi and evaporated the deluge of pellets.
Additionally, she had a chunk of flesh missing from the upper right quadrant of her abdomen. Jupiter pressed her glove to the open wound, unsure if part of her intestines were cut with the icicle attack. It was the first damage she'd sustained from the evil warrior. She had surprised Jupiter, immediately attacking her as soon as the four had finished speaking. The guardian hadn't even had time to digest the information that they'd just been given. The seven demons and Pirami's attack were let loose instantaneously. One minute they'd been astonished at the appearance of four new generals and the next she was on the ground, bleeding profusely. The attack would have killed her, had not one of the yoma accidentally bumped into the icicle prior. It was pure luck.
Pirami was a savage, and none of Jupiter's attacks did much damage. It was frustrating, she felt like sobbing. It didn't matter how many times they attacked Pirami, she just came right back; right back to hunt her down.
Just an hour ago, the senshi thought they'd won. The woman was set on fire! But they didn't win, instead the dark general appeared from the moonlight-ribbons with a face from a horror movie. Her flesh still burning on the side of her face.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are," the enemy sing-songed. It went quiet. Jupiter's heart picked up pace. Pirami had stopped walking. Where was she?
"Gotcha!" Catching Jupiter off guard the evil water-powered warrior was in front of her. The senshi had no time to defend herself.
"Icicle barrage!"
"MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
A stream of fire melted the ice whilst in mid air. Jupiter rolled out of the way, her hand still clutching to her gaping side.
"Moon Healing Activation!" The beams rushed out of the scepter. Sailor Moon held her position, watching as the ribbons smothered its target. It has to work this time, she thought.
When Tuxedo Kamen had left Sailor Moon's side he set out to find Mars first, knowing that she was the only warrior who was capable of fighting their new enemy. She had been easy to find. Her body was in plain view, draped over a jagged piece of pillar. The moment he put his hands on her, he could feel she was dying. Despite not having any physical wounds, the priestess had drawn upon all her life energy to strengthen and aid in her continuous attacks. She was out of energy, her life's fire flickering out.
He closed his eyes and worked on healing her as much as possible. He could not restore her fully, it would take too long, and he needed to find the other senshi as well. He brought her back from the brink of death and revived just enough energy for her to get up and move. He then found Mercury and later Venus. By the time he had given some energy to orange senshi he heard Pirami shout out "Gotcha!"
Without a thought for Venus or her injuries, Kamen abandoned her to be at Moon's side. The Princess had revealed her location, and if any new enemies suddenly emerged, he needed to be there. If need be, he had no qualms with taking Moon and running from the battlefield. He and the senshi had made a vow to ensure their Princess would be saved above all, even if that meant dooming everyone else to death.
= = ". * ." = =
"God!" The moonbeams had yet to vanish when Moon heard Pirami drawl. "God! I know you were reborn with Terrans, but you really are Terrans aren't you." Based on the way the woman had stressed the term, it was clear that it was an insult. "How many times are you going to try and heal me before you realize I'm not under anyone's control. I'm not poisoned by the negaverse, I'm not a mindless puppet." The light vanished and Pirami stood tall, her head held high. "I am an Et-Mercurian, and the hate I carry... is all mine." Moon looked to her caped protector.
"Hate?" his voice boomed angrily. "Hate for the Princess who saved the universe?!" Pirami laughed, her right brow in a high arch. She shook her head.
"No," she paused and straightened her back. "No, I am here for revenge. I will kill Princess Hera, and I will kill all of you if you continue to stand in my way and" her voice softened and she broke eye contact with Tuxedo Kamen, "that includes you too Princess Khione," she sounded almost apologetic.
"We have no idea who this 'Princess Hera' is!" Sailor Moon shouted angrily. Pirami shifted her gaze to the Princess of the Moon. Her eyes narrowed and she snarled at her. The expression made her burnt face even more grotesque.
"Don't make me laugh. She's always been part of your harem."
"Excuse me?!"
Suddenly, Pirami fell forward with a loud echoing crash. Moon was startled to see her green senshi knock the woman down. While the Et-Mecurian was still in shock, Jupiter quickly whipped the woman onto her back. If she couldn't use her powers, she could fight her physically. She straddled her and punched: right, right, right, right. She continued to pummel the woman's burnt face. Her intention, to crush the woman's skull in. With each blow, droplets of crimson sprang from the Et-Mecurian onto the senshi's face. The squishing sound of the blood and muscle gave Jupiter hope, that it would only take a few more strikes before the woman's skull caved in.
It had seemed Jupiter had the upper hand. The brunette was in the dominant position, her right fist striking the left side of Pirami's face. But, unexpectedly the Et-Mercurian's wrapped her legs about the green senshi's upper back; Jupiter crashed to the ground, their positions now reversed.
"HOW" -left punch- "does it" -right punch- "feel" -right- "Princess" -right- "Hera" -left punch- "to be" -left- "helpless" -left- "under " -left- "the mercy" -left- "of ME!" Her right fist slammed into Jupiter's face. She lifted both hands in the air, this time calling forth her power.
"Ice-"
"Venus Love-me chain!"
"Sabou spray!"
The chain wrapped around the woman's chest and pulled her away violently. The moment Pirami's weight was gone, Jupiter rolled to the right and quickly crawled on all fours behind the large broken pillar Rei had been previously laying on. The green senshi wheezed, her nose broken. Her left hand still clutched the missing chunk of flesh on her left side.
"So stupid!" Pirami yelled, "You think your fog will obstruct my sight! Did you forget Princess Khione, I too am Et-Mecurian!" Blood from the punches that Pirami sustained, dripped from torn muscles on her face.
"FIRE SOUL BIRD!" The burning predator circled around Pirami, trapping her in a ring of fire.
"We need to run!" Mars shouted hoarsely, she was still extremely weak.
The battered senshi nodded their heads and prepared to bolt. They were close to the exit when a they heard choking. Turning, they saw Mars fall to her knees, a sharp icicle piercing her chest. They ran to her.
"God damn Marsians, always in the way." Pirami was on her hands and knees, her arms and legs still burning from the fire. "I admit, you got me for a second," she laughed dryly. "I was so wrapped up, that I forgot to keep my eye on y-"
A whistling sound was heard and then a sickening thump. The Et-Mecurian found herself stumbling forward with the powerful force of a weapon, the one that was now piercing her abdomen.
"So close," she whispered harshly. "No. I-I refuse to die- I will not…" but it was too late. She could feel the life draining from her. Her hand grasped the tip of the spear. If the smell and sound of her burning organs hadn't confirmed it, seeing and feeling the the blade did. She would die, the weapon guaranteed it.
"I will never forgive you Hera," Blood splattered from her mouth as she choked on her words. "I pray Hades will pull you down into the deepest horrors of Tartarus for your sin against my family."
Jupiter's eyes widened, she took an unconscious step back. The dying warrior spit blood from her mouth. The woman's umber eyes emanating such hate and spite it sent chills throughout the group.
"Watch me die, you wench.
Watch like you did my brother.
Watch the line of Kaloris be cut."
Then the woman's body began to disintegrate. It's flesh and bone reverting to stardust.
The change in atmosphere was tangible. Pirami's revelation, being the last in her line, had left a heavy weight on the survivors. Tuxedo Kamen was still tending to Mars, Mercury had managed to dissolve the ice. She lay on her back, the flesh slowly regenerating. When Moon heard Mars breath in and out evenly, she let out an audible sigh of relief.
Venus spotted a light, it was bronze and a small distance away. They weren't sure if it had always been there. They were too wrapped up in the battle to pay attention to anything other than Pirami. The sound of footsteps could be heard, dull thumps.
Hearing the familiar sound of feet, Mars pushed Kamen's hands away sluggishly and stood up, readying to protect her princess. The male hero placed himself in front of Moon, his hand just touching hers. As the sounds grew louder the ball of light grew larger. Then suddenly, it contracted.
= = ". * ." = =
It's difficult to explain, the way her whole being reacted to seeing him. It was as if everything around ceased to exist, the only thing in the world was the man that stood 15 meters away.
Beautiful golden light wrapped around his skin in tribal patterns. It was etched across his naked chest and arms. He was dark and bronze in color, his calves were naked and covered in glowing tribal patterns.
He was moving closer, or perhaps she was moving closer. In any case the space between them was growing smaller, and the illumination was fading. Black ink began to peek through the dimming light. Without thought or permission, she slipped her hand around the back of his neck and guided his lips to hers.
The effect was immediate. Her body buzzed. And she saw it. she remembered this, this same feeling.
",~~,"
At sixteen Serenity was finally able to attend the official summit. As future queen she would have to be familiar with the business of politics. This year the summit was held on the moon. Initially it was supposed to take place in Venus, but Queen Hedone had requested the summit be moved to the Moon.
The young princess roamed the upper floor. Her fingers grazed the railing as she walked about the balcony. She was bored. She wasn't very good mingling with strangers. Unlike Princess Aphrodite, she was not blessed with a golden tongue. For some reason, what she intended to say and what others heard her say were not always the same thing. Which, of course, led to confusion and annoyance. She was also impetuous and impulsive, something Aphrodite called 'passionate.'
She heard laughter. The sound was full of mirth. Emotions that were rare for the young princess. She followed the noise to the front of the building. Silvery blue eyes scanned the lower floor, seeking to identify the source of such joy. They landed on a man on the floor below, several meters away.
He was beautifully exotic. His skin was brown, a color nonexistent in the Lunarian race. His clothing left his arms bare, revealing beautifully inked designs. The man was speaking with a couple of Amazons and Mecurians. She noticed a dimple formed on his right cheek when he smiled. He was focused on the company in front of him, fully engaged. The group around him smiled and leaned toward him as he spoke. Then, it happened. His eyes, the one thing she could not see, finally came into view. His gaze turned up, and the most beautiful spectrum of greens and yellows found her silvery blue.
Serenity's heart stopped. Time stopped. Everything else faded and all she could see was him. Her knees went weak and the next thing she knew, she was falling, figuratively and literally. She'd been, unconsciously, straining forward on the terrace trying to move closer to him, and she fell over the railing. There was a collective shout of panic. She realized what was happening in mid air, she shut her eyes. She would fall to her death, her head splattered across the beautiful moonstone, in front of that man. She felt embarrassed, although that should've been the last emotion she was feeling.
But the crash didn't happen. Opening her eyes, she was met with his beautiful twinkling eyes and dimple forming smile.
"You know," he said gazing into her eyes," I can tell everyone that the Princess literally fell head over heels for me."
",~~,"
= = ". * ." = =
Things had changed drastically since the Earth King had been found. The most painful being Mamoru's relationship with Usagi. His heart ached as he recalled that night, the way her eyes locked onto Endymion's. Her steps toward the dark skinned man- slow.
At first, Mamoru hoped she'd apologize to the King, tell him she was sorry and she'd fallen in love with his first in command. She didn't. Instead she wrapped her right hand behind Endymion's neck and pulled him into a kiss. And any hope he'd had of a future dissipated, replacing it with memories of a millennium past.
Their kiss had triggered a blinding light, and everything he'd forgotten crashed into him like a tidal wave. He felt it suck him in as he floundered about helplessly in the undercurrent that was forced upon him. Images, conversations, thoughts, and emotions crashed like waves.
He remembered his time in the guard, training, and...her. Even then, oh even then, he'd fallen in love with her. How cruel fate was to put him in the same predicament, to fall in love with the same woman who loved another.
That had been four months ago. Since then he'd hardly spoken with Usako. She was always an inch out of reach. Not to say he didn't see her. No, he saw her everyday. But their interactions were- different...and yet...the same. She paid him little attention, which was different, but when she did focus on him he found they bickered, which was the same.
The king was very much like his first incarnation. His brown skin reflective of the earth and bronzed by the sun, eyes that were a collective of nature's green, and hair the color igneous obsidian. He was not a lean man by any means. His body was defined, broad, and muscular. Endymion could have been a body double in Aquaman. He remembered it being his first thought when he'd seen his King. It made the Earth general feel lacking. However, Mamoru was taller, much taller. His height was the one thing that made him feel somewhat superior. Despite being his subordinate, the King had to look up at him when they talked.
Endymion was not a bad person, though. Quite the contrary, he was a good man. He was what they call a "people person." People naturally flocked him, he moved through a crowd with ease, and made everyone around him feel important. It made Mamoru feel guilty, guilty that he loved his King and still wished the man out of existence. In the Silver Millenium, Mamoru, whose name had been Chatoyant, was the Prince's first in command and head of the guard. Being eight years older than the Earth Prince, Chatoyant had trained the young prince to be a warrior. Chatoyant was proud of Endymion, as an elder brother to his younger sibling. But then came Serenity.
Mamoru sighed and placed his keys on the counter. Walking toward his bedroom he was presented with the most glorious surprise. His Usako, asleep in his bed. She hadn't been to his place since Endymion. But there she was, her hair spread across the covers. Why was she here? He was about to wake her when he decided against it. He didn't care why. She was here, and that's all that mattered. Mamoru didn't dare shorten the time he'd been gifted. Rather, he laid a foot away, his head level with hers, and watched her sleep.
An hour later her eyes fluttered open.
"Mamo-chan?" she whispered hoarsely. He smiled softly in return. "I used my key to get in... sorry," she paused. "I should probably give them back huh?"
"It's yours. I gave it to you."
"But-"
"I gave it to you, keep it."
"Thank you," she whispered.
His hand twitched, he wanted to touch her so much. She was so close. He could feel the heat radiating from her body.
"I miss you." Her words caught him off guard. Whatever he expected to hear, it wasn't that. Mamoru wanted to tell her he reciprocated the feeling. But doing so, although would not be traitorous, would be a betrayal to his King.
"Usako," he whispered gruffly.
She put out her hand, ordering him to stay his words; it hovered inches from his lips. She shook her head lightly. She slowly retracted her hand and lay it close to her chest. They stared quietly, eyes drinking in the sight of the other.
"How does it feel?" -she hugged her arms into her chest- "To have your memories back?" Before he could respond, she added, "I'm sorry it took me so long to ch-"
"You're here now," he interrupted. "You had just as much happen to you and your senshi, you needed to take care of them first."
"You're important too."
He took a heavy breath, "It was hard to reconcile at first. I felt...disoriented. I couldn't discern between now and then."
"It was the same for us as well," Usagi said. "But they said that after a week things started to clear, everything came together as one. The part of them they felt was missing, was now whole. Was it like that for you too?"
"Yes and no. Yes things settled after a week, but no... I don't feel whole. I feel the same. What about you?"
"Me?"
"How do you feel? Do you," his heart constricted painfully, "feel whole now?" She closed her eyes and clutched at her chest.
"I feel too much and too little." Her breathing became labored and she squeezed her eyes tightly.
"Usako," Mamoru lifted his head off the bed, "are you in pain? Should I g-"
"It'll pass. Just- just give me a moment." Mamoru anxiously waited for her to open her eyes. After a few breaths she rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling.
"It's hard to explain, but the moment I saw Endymion...it was like, like... my whole soul cried; it wept. At first it was amazing. It was like...I dunno..it was...euphoric. Every memory was a treat, it came with a rush of emotion... and this delicious" - she shivered- "sensation.
But then, it became too much. The way Serenity loves Endymion, it's" she paused and squeezed her eyes shut "consuming me. I feel like Serenity's memories and feelings are trying to...push me out...push out all the memories I've made now. It's like this constant battle. But her emotions are just...so strong, it's like I'm crushing under this heavy weight."
"You're talking about Serenity like she's someone else. You're the same person."
"I know...but it doesn't feel that way. I don't feel like a whole...I feel like someone's trying to erase me. It's hard to explain. It's...I mean...I feel what I felt then. You know? Just like everyone else, I remember how I felt all the things I did in the Silver Millenium. At the same time it's like... those memories...those things I remember...it's like they're someone else's and they need to leave. I know it doesn't make sense, but it's the best way I can think to put it."
"What's Endymion say about this?"
"I...I haven't told him. I've tried to- but then, I get this horrible, hateful feeling that washes over me. I feel so jealous Mamo. How can I be jealous of myself? I don't understand. But, it just- happens. I'm Serenity and Usagi, but...I hate-hate- when he calls me Usagi. I feel angry, angry with him, angry with me. But I don't understand why. Mamo-chan, I'm so confused."
"I think I understand what you mean," he replied, moving onto his back as well. "The memories can feel alien, especially when they contradict the memories we've made now." As they lay, their breathing became in sync, the air entering their lungs, and expelling from noses at the same time. She turned her head briefly to look over at Mamoru's profile.
"I remember you," Usagi stated. "You didn't talk very much. I guess you kept that trait," she chuckled.
"As a general, I learned not to waste time talking. People use words uselessly. Actions say more than words."
"I guess you didn't impart that type of thinking to Endymion. He loves talking," she giggled. "That man can talk more than I can, and that's saying something!"
"Yea well, he was an energetic kid, loved everything, asked questions about everything, bothered me about everything. And everything loved him. It wasn't a surprise that he'd been able to form an alliance with the Moon Kingdom, and less surprising that you'd fallen in love with him. Everyone did."
"I remember the first time Endymion introduced me to you. You had the ugliest scowl on your face. I remember thinking, 'how can Endymion have such a grump as a best friend?'"
"Yea?"
"Mhmmm...I also remember thinking how handsome you were when you didn't scowl."
Mamoru felt himself blush. Had Serenity really thought that? Had she actually seen him in spite Endymion's bright light ?
"You were in love with me weren't you?"
"Wha-what?" Mamoru replied in panic.
"Serenity, you were in love with her."
"Did you- did she know that?"
"No. But, after I had sorted through the memories- I saw it. I saw it in your face, the way you would look at me or how you'd look away whenever Endymion would kiss me. Back then I didn't know, Serenity didn't...but it's obvious to me now."
"I- I used to wonder. You know. Would she...if I had met her first, would-"
"Would I have fallen for you? Yes...definitely." Mamoru grinned, but her continued sentence removed it. "But- once I'dve met Endymion, I wouldn't be able to see you...for Serenity, it was love at first sight. Destiny."
"How ironic. I met you first in this life, like I had wished those eons ago. But even so, the moment you saw him...he eclipsed everything else. Being around you two...I can't stand the way you love him," he said hoarsely, heartbreak embedded in every word.
They both rolled onto their sides, to view the other. Once again, the two fell into silence. The sound of their breathing the only thing filling the room.
"Mamo-chan?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you love me? I mean...before your memories were restored?"
"I -"
"Wait, stop!" She initially shouted. Then she quieted to a whisper. "Don't say. I'm sorry I even asked, you're sworn to protect him...and he loves you as his brother, and you him. But I- I wanted you to know... that I, Tsukino Usagi loved you Chiba Mamoru. I didn't get to tell you that. And I know I'm being selfish again, that I'm putting you in an impossible place, but...I didn't want you to go on thinking that what we shared meant nothing. It meant everything to me.
And I don't want you to feel like you're betraying Endymion. My telling you, isn't a betrayal on your part. Even now, Tsukino Usagi, me, this me, this reincarnation, loves you. But, the way Serenity loves Endymion is too strong. All my feelings, my fear, anxiety, happiness, everything...they are so so small compared to her emotions. I hate it. I wish...I wish...that I wasn't her reincarnation. I wish I could just be me, free to feel the way I do in the here and now, without all the burden of whatever else happened. I just...I want to love you Mamo-chan. I want to feel you, I want you to make love to me again, but the memories, they just wont...they won't let go. They won't let me be free to be yours...and I hate it. And yet, when I'm with Endymion...I don't. When I'm with him...it's...But then, when he's not not around...the way I feel for you comes back and I miss you so much. I miss you so much."
So there you go. Endymion is now in the mix. I want to mention that when I think of Endymion I imagine him as a Native Polynesian (probably because I'm Native Hawaiian). Although, I don't picture the King with a beard though...he's like Jason Mamoa without a beard. But, your free to imagine him as another ethnicity if you chose.
I also want to mention that although this story is called 'The Return of The Earth King' the story focuses on Usagi and Mamoru. It will be about the change in their relationship because Endymion's return.
If you are wondering about the title of king and prince. It's because Endymion is both. In the Silver Millennium he was the Prince and his father the King. Since their rebirth, the Prince has now become King (as his father is now dead).
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