AN.Soooo sorry for not updating in forever. Don't kill me, please? Holidays got in the way. I was at my parent's house forever. Anywho, you have no idea how painfully hard it was to finish this chapter. I had major writer's block and the last part hinged greatly on what would happen in the following chapters. So writing it was a delicate process. And I knew I promised more Mamoru (wait, did I?) so I really wanted to get that part right. Also, out of fear of more procrastination, I haven't exactly edited this yet. So it might drag a bit with "Oh, I forgot!", "Oh, me too!" and "Hey, but we remembered!".

Oooh, I got the "Serenity" DVD for Christmas so I'm thrilled. Best blooper reel ever. And I can't wait for "Pride and Prejudice" to come out on DVD. I know many Austen fans were annoyed with the ending but I loved it! Finally the characters stepped out of the book and acted like real people. And they were the right ages. I thought the Colin Firth version was only ok. I prefer the 1980 mini. Yeah, ok, on with the story:

Memory

by moonangel

Chapter 3b

"I feel stupid," Ami moaned, shaking her head in shame. She glanced around the table she and her friends had gathered around in Rei's room. Makoto gave her a Makoto nod of agreement and Rei offered a comforting smile while an overly chipper Minako just grinned madly.

"Don't worry. I feel that way all the time," Minako said, consolingly placing her arm around her friend and giving her shoulders a comforting squeeze. It wasn't like the genius should feel like an idiot anyways. After figuring out their problem, Ami had been the one to find a surprisingly easy solution. They'd just grabbed Luna and with minimal explanation, had her zap everyone's brains and voila, instant memories. Good kitty. Minako patted Luna's head affectionately. Luna grumbled in annoyance about not-so-gentle hands but she continued to let the blond pet her. Artemis, who had to be literally dragged into the meeting in the middle of a cat nap, just rolled over and snored. Despite her original misgivings about caring for two cats, Minako had found that taking Luna had made her life easier. Now she actually had a useful companion to keep her company every day.

On the way to the temple, Ami had speculated that it could be possible to restore Usagi's memories in the same way. They had ruled it out for now, since they were letting Usagi live her life the way she wanted. Anyways, Minako's intuition told her that it wouldn't be so easy. It was doubtful that Luna could have any effect on Usagi's memories if it truly had been Usagi's wish to forget. Princess, and could-be future ruler of the universe, trumped imperial furball.

Makoto shook her head in disbelief. "How could we forget something like this? A person like this? I even remember my favorite color, sports teams and recipes. So how the hell did I forget the frigging prince of Earth?"

Luna frowned in agreement. "This is a highly suspicious development," she added in gravely. "If only one of you had forgotten I might have attributed it to something trauma or temporary memory loss. But for both of you to forget! That's just absurd. Though, oddly enough, I have noticed that Rei and Minako seem to be more informed on the latest developments. With Rei it's understandable. But Minako…"

Minako gave her a less than gentle pat on the head, earning a loud squawk from Luna.

"Yeah, what's so special about those two?" Makoto asked smirking. Minako leaned across the table to try to whack her too but fell over when Makoto dodged her.

As she helped the blonde sit up, Ami speculated, "It does seem unusual that the two of them remembered Mamoru-san so easily. I'm mystified that we could forget an entire person that was so integral to our past lives. But let us not forget that Luna and Artemis also remembered him. In fact, of the four, Minako-chan was the only one who didn't know that Usagi-chan had lost her memories. So the key to this mystery may lie in that. Minako-chan, how did you remember?"

"I just did," Minako replied with an indifferent shrug.

Rei rolled her eyes. Just when they needed her to be serious the girl just had to play dumb. Sure she could be a good leader when she actually tried, and occasionally her intuition tended to... wait a second.

"Minna, isn't it odd that the two psychics in the group are the only one who remembered him?"

"Yeah, Minako's a real psychic," Makoto snorted before dodging another failed attack from Minako.

Rei stared speculatively at Minako.

"No. Not quite psychic in the way that I am. But she is attuned to people, especially when it involves matters of the heart. And, interestingly enough, she felt when he regained his memories. If she hadn't, I wouldn't be surprised if she would have failed to remember him too. I think something was trying to block us from remembering him. The four of us who did remember were only able to because we're either psychic or, er, feline and, uh special?" she finished lamely, earning an insultedglance from Luna.

Ami slowly nodded her head in agreement. "That almost makes sense. Do you think Usagi did this? She's the only logical suspect since she is the reason for our rebirths. But that raises the question of why would she want us to forget him."

Minako stood up resolutely, nearly knocking over the table. "Exactly! That's why we need to see her. Because at this point, all we're getting is more questions than answers. Girls, I think we need to do some research."

Ami cringed.

"Why do I get the feeling this isn't going to be my kind of research?"

Minako snorted, "Because it'll be fun."

---------

Rei stared at the door in front of her pensively. She was starting to wonder if Aino Minako was really the best choice for senshi leader. Maybe that was just her biased opinion getting in the way. After all, Rei knew that she was the best candidate for this particular assignment considering how she was the only one who had ever held an actual conversation with him. But she was dreading it. Who knew what she would encounter on the other side of the door? Certainly not a cheerful, bubbly blonde. Hino Rei was not exactly an expert in personal relations and even she was self-aware enough to realize that sending the team hothead to deal with heartbroken coed wasn't the brightest idea. Oh well. Sensitivity was overrated anyways. Worse comes to worst she could just slap him out of his misery. With more confidence, she resolutely knocked on the door.

Tapping her foot impatiently, she waited until the owner of the apartment reluctantly poked his head out. He stared at her.

"It's you," he stated bluntly.

Rei was certain that inwardly he was surprised. But his blank expression gave nothing away, as usual. Eyeing his slightly disheveled appearance, she was slightly impressed to see that he looked more or less put together in a simple white shirt and jeans. Of course, for a guy like him, any hint of haggardness was a bad sign.

"Chiba Mamoru. Good to see you too," she replied, undeterred by his lack of enthusiasm. They were always like this with each other. Neither cared much for formalities and façades so neither bothered with them in each other's company. It was oddly comforting in a way. Not the healthiest relationship but that was probably why both of them needed someone like Usagi in their lives. Anyways, the last time they had met he had tried to kill her. Lucky for him, she was a very forgiving person. It would be immature to hold a grudge over something that he had no control over.

Besides, she could get him for that later.

"Rei. So you remember me," Mamoru said wryly, leaning against the door frame. He made no attempt to let her in. Jerk. He added, muttering, "It's nice to see that someone does."

"Gee, aren't you cheeful today?" Rei commented dryly, tapping her fingers on her folded arms. "And of course I remember. We all do. How can we forget, considering our last few encounters with you?"

Okay, slight lie. Well, half of them had remembered him. That should count for something. Hm, it would probably be best to steer the subject away from the unpleasantness of the past. "Minako told me that you ran into her already."

"Yeah. At the arcade. Can you tell her sorry for me? I should have stopped to talk to her," he said absentmindedly.

"But you had other problems to deal with?"

He didn't meet her eyes.

"Yeah."

"How are you holding up?" Rei asked gently. Maybe they had never become very close in either of their past lives but despite that, she liked to believe that both considered the other to be a good friend. Before the battle with Beryl had heated up they had established a tentative friendship that she valued as much as she did her relationship with the other girls. She knew he was the type to suffer alone and it worried her more than she cared to admit. For his sake, she hoped the other senshi would warm up to him in time. Especially with Usagi absent from his life.

He eyed her guardedly then sighed, "Well enough... considering the circumstances."

"Wow, how poetically tragic, huh? You two beat the bad guy and then get deprived of your happy ending," Rei mused.

"Please tell me you're not mocking me."

"I'm not... Well, mostly not anyways."

"Probably as much as I can hope for from you," Mamoru replied, not unkindly. "So, is there an actual reason for your visit?"

Rei took a deep breath. Tact would never be her strong point. And he was a big boy. He could take it. So why bother dancing around the subject?

"Why did she forget you?"

Mamoru didn't move. At all. In fact he seemed to freeze at her words. Only his eyes flickered with some unknown emotion. Rei could only assume that it was something akin to pain.

"You don't pull your punches, do you?" he muttered.

"Should I?"

He shrugged. "Why did you think I'd know?"

"Okay, so that's a no. Honestly, I didn't really think you would know. I just had to ask. We probably don't have any of the answers you're looking for and, from the looks of it, you're probably going to tell me the same thing. I told Minako as much but nooo, she insisted that I had to grill you. That little prick."

"What are you girls planning to do?" Mamoru asked softly, ignoring her random ranting.

Rei suddenly felt slightly nervous. It was annoying that this man could make her this uncomfortable. This guilty. She knew how he'd react to what she was going to say but she couldn't back down. Looking him straight in the eye, she stated, "We think it's a good idea that she remember. Everything."

"And did your oh-so-brilliant leader come up with this genius plan?"

Rei gave him an annoyed glare. "Minako, along with the rest of us, has everyone's best interest in mind. Including yours, for some reason," she added with a growl.

"She doesn't want to remember. As her friend, you should respect her wishes," Mamoru chastised her harshly.

Rei bristled but she didn't let herself take it to heart. It couldn't hurt him to not try to alienate one of his few friends. But she knew that when Usagi was involved he tended to be less accommodating.

"You know that you're the one that wants her to remember more than anyone. Why are you making yourself suffer like this?" And why had she known that he would take this route?

"She comes first."

Oh, right. That's why. Because he was an idiot.

"And you come last. If you even matter at all," she retorted.

They both knew it wasn't her opinion she was voicing. It was his. This irked her more than anything else.

"I tried to kill her."

His words were hardly above a soft whisper and she could hear the pain lacing his voice.

Rei rolled her eyes. "Is that it? Kami-sama, you're so thick. You think she cares about that? That wasn't you. She knows that. So stop torturing yourself over that."

"Rei…"

"Mamoru," Rei mimicked. Looking away, her voice softened. Slightly.

"That's not why she forgot you. And hey, Mr. Self-Involved, she forgot us too. Do I seem like I'm gonna waste time angsting over that?"

When he didn't reply she groaned in irritation.

"She loves you."

"Don't."

"You know it. Deep down. Whether you think you don't deserve it or you're afraid to believe it, either way, you're hiding from the truth. If it's not this it'll be something else that you're going to hide behind. Why are you so afraid of happiness?" she demanded, her sharp eyes penetrating straight through him as he glanced away.

"I'm not! If she had remembered then I... " he trailed off, uncertainly.

"You want her to be happy, right?"

"Of course!" His response was automatic.

"So if being with her makes her happy, will you do that?"

"Rei, you don't know that she woul-"

"And neither do you. It's her life. Her choice," she interrupted. He was silent for a moment and was about to speak when he froze.

Rei frowned, had she just heard something?

---------

Usagi stared bleakly at the gorgeous raven haired girl standing next to Chiba Mamoru just outside his doorway.

She really, really wanted to leave.

"Uh, gomen! I didn't mean to interrupt. Ignore me," she quickly blurted out, backing away quickly as she noticed him staring at her in shock.

Kami-sama, she really didn't need to see that, she thought as she hurried away.

"Wait! Usagi!"

She froze.

'Usagi?'

Turning around slowly, she stared at the young man chasing after her.

"You know my name?" she questioned softly.

He stopped in midstep in front of her. Nervously, he avoided her question, asking, "Why, um, why are you here? And how did you get here?"

Wow, she really did love his voice. How cute it was, seeing him so nervous. She blushed at her train of thought.

"I asked Motoki-san," she answered, just as nervously, staring at the floor very intently. "I'm sorry. It was probably pretty rude of me to kinda, well, stalk you like this. But I, um, needed to talk to you."

"Oh."

And then they were silent, both staring at their feet.

'This is pathetic.' Rei grumbled inwardly. As thrilled as she was to see Usagi, this non-conversation was just painful to watch.

"Well, I seem to be getting in the way here."

The two swiftly jumped apart, turning around to see Rei nonchalantly strutting towards them.

"Chiba-san, thank you for the advice," Rei said, bowing formally as she neared them. Mamoru arched an eyebrow at her but gave her a returning nod as she cast her glance towards Usagi. "I apologize for taking up so much of your time. I wish you had informed me that your girlfriend would be visiting. Then I would not have bothered you."

Usagi blushed an even brighter red, stuttering, "I'm not his, er, um..."

Rei winked at her, stiffling a laugh. She forced an airy giggle, causing Mamoru cast her a disturbed look, "Don't worry about it. I hadn't been aware that Chiba-san had a girlfriend but it's so obvious. You don't need to hide it."

Smirking, she waltzed past a stuttering Usagi and deadly silent Mamoru. He was going to kill her for this. True, it was painful mimicking Minako's ditzy demeanor, but it was worth it just to see his face.

As she recovered from her embarrassment, Usagi coughed awkwardly. Staring intently at the raven haired girl, Usagi somehow felt it was odd to hear her laugh so flightily. 'Yeah, that's my job,' she thought. 'Not yours... It doesn't suit you...'

"Ano, excuse me," Usagi called out hesitantly, "But do I know you?"

Beside her, Mamoru froze, a hint of something flashing in his eyes, and turned to stare at her. Turning right before she rounded the hall corner, Rei smiled. "No. But you should stop by the Crown Arcade sometime. I go there a lot."

Something clicked inside Usagi's head as the girl left her sight.

'I go there a lot.'

'Yeah,' she thought. 'Me too.'

To be Continued…

Ok, so comment! Tell me if I'm redundant or if I misuse words (which is very common in my family for some reason) in Japanese or English. Just any bits of general constructive criticism helps.

AN. I was thinking that in the manga the senshi never (?) meet Chiba Mamoru in the first season. I don't think Rei or Minako even get a glimpse of him. They all only know Tuxedo Kamen. In the anime and live action version they all barely interact. So I like making Rei the only one with a connection to him. I like their relationship, as long as she's not chasing after him. Drooling over and hopelessly persuing an uninterested guy just doesn't suit the Rei I like to write.

On Usagi and Mamoru: I wanted Mamoru to seem a bit cold in this chapter, at least with Rei, so sorry if I threw that in your face. In all BSSM incarnations I've seen/read, first season Mamoru is a bit of a prick. But everyone likes to write him as a cocky jerk or a romantic (which, I admit, is more fun). So I wanted my Mamoru to be aloof and a bit, er, jerk-ish but not mean. He is still Mamoru.

It also made complete sense to me for her to already be in love with him. As Minako said in the last chapter, she retains all the growth she went through in the missing months of her life. So her feelings for him never went away, even if her memory did. Think "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". So yeah, sorry if you guys wanted him to romance her into falling. I'll try to work on the romance part at least. Actually, the hardest part about this last section was that I realized I was rushing the Usagi/Mamoru romance. I know more or less how this story will end and it might help to have more interactions between the two.

I feel that I really should have named this "The Wish" or something like that. But I still like this title. It fits the Usagi/Mamoru dynamic.