You've Always Deserved My Love
Chapter Five
Inviting, warm smells were coming from the kitchen of Mamoru's apartment, but the man was completely oblivious to it.
Minako sat in a chair across from Mamoru, watching him with curious eyes. She turned her head, looking at him at different angles. She pursed her lips together and crossed her arms, leaning back in her chair.
Makato walked out of the kitchen. "Hey, guys, breakfast is ready!"
"SHHHH!!!!" Minako hissed. She pointed at her interesting subject. "He's been sleeping for the past half hour."
Makato raised an eyebrow. "You've been watching him sleep for a half hour when you COULD have been in the kitchen helping me and the girls?"
Minako twiddled her thumbs together. "Yeah…but I'm a mess in the kitchen anyways so it's not like it's a big deal."
It was quiet for a moment.
"Yeah. Good point." Makato scratched her head.
"Besides, just watch him for a few minutes and you'll see he's very odd."
Makato sat on the arm of the chair in which Minako was sitting. "How do you mean odd?"
"Well… for one, his face goes from happy, sad, angry, and back to peaceful in a matter of seconds. Plus one second, he'll be very…. I don't know… bright. And then the next he'll be dark. And the sun will switch with him." She glanced at him. "It's like he can control the sun."
Makato shrugged. "I don't care. I'm sick of all this weird stuff surrounding Mamoru. Come on, wake him up. He needs to eat."
Minako flashed terrified eyes up at her brunette friend. "You have GOT to be kidding me. No way am I waking him up!"
Makato grumbled something incoherent, and then stood up, pulling the apron she was wearing over her head. She stood in front of him for a moment before smacking his head with the apron. "Hey, moron, wake up! You've been sleeping all night AND all day! It's time to eat!"
Mamoru sprung up, going from laid back to fighter stance in an instant. He looked down at Minako curled up in a chair, to Makato standing next to him with her arms crossed, and then back to Minako, who grinned sheepishly at him.
He let out a heaving sigh and rolled his eyes. "I swear if I could, I would kick you all out."
"You'd starve yourself, and all you'd ever do is sleep." Makato barked. "Now get in that kitchen NOW or I'll kick your a--"
"ALRIGHT!! I get it!" Mamoru pushed past the girl and went into the kitchen, grumbling "Stupid girls" as he went.
Makato followed him with a triumphant grin on her face. "Yeah, uh huh, that's what you get, sir!"
Minako giggled and followed them as well. Her stomach was rumbling, and she was pretty sure that this would be her only good meal of the day. Makato wouldn't go through the trouble for Mamoru again. She was mad at him already, and it was only 10 in the morning.
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Chibiusa and Setsuna stood in front of Mamoru's apartment building, looking up.
"It's unusually dark around Mamoru's apartment." Chibiusa said to Setsuna, looking at the taller woman.
She nodded. "That it is. It's his depression."
"Oh… his elements have quite the effect on earth, don't they?"
"That they do, my dear, that they do." Setsuna picked up one of Chibiusa's many suitcases and walked inside the building.
Chibiusa followed her and they walked up to the front desk, where Chibiusa dug around in her pockets and found the old pass Mamoru had given her years ago. She showed it to the desk clerk that she did not recognize ('I guess old Merl finally retired.' She thought) and was buzzed through, allowing them to go to the elevators.
When they reached the floor that Mamoru lived on, they lugged what seemed to be Chibiusa's entire wardrobe down the long hallway to the very end of the front hallway where his apartment was. Standing in front of the door, Chibiusa took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
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The girls and Mamoru were sprawled all over the kitchen at the time, with Makato and Minako at the counter eating, while Mamoru, Ami, and Rei sat at the small kitchen table.
Minako jumped up when there was a knock at the door. "Oooh, I'll get it!"
Mamoru rolled his eyes, but didn't say anything when she rushed out.
They heard the door open, and then Minako's shrill scream.
Panicked, they all rushed up and out into the hallway, where a tall, green haired woman was standing looking down at Minako toppled on top of a pink haired teenager.
"Setsuna!" Rei gasped.
Setsuna looked over at the others and smiled her usual gracious smile. "Hello, senshi. Majesty."
Mamoru paid no attention to her. He was watching the floor, where the teenager was shoving Minako off of her.
"It's great to see you, too, Mina-chan… but you could let me breathe!" Her high, bubbly voice practically gasped out, trying to pry Minako's arms from around her porcelain neck.
Mamoru dropped to his knees in front of the girl. "Chibiusa."
Chibiusa looked away from Minako at the man. She took in a swift breath of air. "Mamo-chan."
He grabbed the girl in a tight hug, and her arms instantly wrapped around his neck. "I thought that… if Usagi was gone… that I'd lose you too."
"No… but just because I'm here, it doesn't mean she's coming back, Mamo-chan." Chibiusa pulled away and wiped her teary eyes with the back of her hand. "Setsuna and I are here to explain to you guys what's gonna happen next. I'm here… to be Sailor Moon."
"What?!" Rei nearly yelled. "What are you talking about?!"
Setsuna shook her head. "We'll explain everything; don't worry."
Chibiusa looked at Mamoru for a long moment before speaking. "Is it alright if I have my old room?"
Mamoru looked down at her. His face took on a sad smile. "Of course."
He stood up and pulled her to her feet. They started gathering together all of her luggage and taking it inside.
Setsuna and the girls went into the living room and sat down on the couches. Setsuna and Makato sat on one couch, while Rei took the recliner and Minako and Ami took the other couch. It was eerily quiet while Mamoru and Chibiusa finished getting everything inside.
When they joined the rest of the group, Setsuna sat forward in her seat and looked around at the somber faces. "I'll go ahead and save you all some sleepless nights."
Mamoru was just sitting down beside Makato when Setsuna said, "Usagi will not ever be coming back."
He looked at the woman's face and noted no laughter, no joke, nothing but sorrow hidden within them.
He promptly stood and went out to the balcony, sliding the door sharply and locking it behind him. They all watched him through the glass as he leaned over the edge with his head down. They knew he was crying, but no one had the nerve to say so.
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It had been nearly twenty minutes since Mamoru had gone outside to the balcony.
Chibiusa chewed on her lip in frustration. Rei looked down at her hands and picked thoughtlessly at her nails. Ami picked at lint on her skirt. Makato sat numbly with her eyes staring out at Mamoru. Minako hiccupped in tears softly. Setsuna sat with her head bowed.
"It's my fault." The woman's soft voice broke through the silence like a sharp knife. "I shouldn't have said that."
"No. It's better this way." Makato said, turning away from the balcony windows. "It's better he have his heart broken now instead of ten years from now when he finally realizes she isn't going to come back. No; this is better. This will help him heal."
Minako hiccupped yet again, tears streaming down her face. "What are we going to do without her, guys?"
Ami was sitting beside the girl. She put her arms around her and ran her hand through the girl's soft blonde hair. "It'll be alright, Mina-chan. We have each other. We'll be fine."
The girl's cries continued quietly, with Ami shushing her every once in a while.
Rei sighed heavily. "I can't believe, though… that we all trusted her so much."
Minako stood up angrily. "No, Rei! No! You didn't trust her! You called her a crybaby, a terrible leader! You made fun of her all the time! You drove her away, you did this! This is all your fault! It's all your fault!"
Makato jumped up and slapped Minako across the face. "Shut up. Just shut up. This is NOT Rei's fault. This is not your fault, my fault, or Ami's fault. This is not Mamoru's fault. This is Usagi's fault. This is USAGI'S fault. Do you hear me? Do you get me, Minako?"
The girl burst into heavier tears, dropping down to her knees. Makato knelt, grabbing the girl in a hug. "It's alright. I'm sorry I slapped you. Now come on, you don't need to act like this. Do you want Mamoru to come in here and see you like this? When he's having such a hard time? Now come on, dry your tears…" She helped Minako to stand up. They sat down on a couch, where Minako laid her head in Makato's lap and tried to calm down.
Chibiusa watched everything with distant eyes. She looked around the apartment at all the pictures of Mamoru and Usagi together. She spotted one of herself with Usagi's arms around her. Hot, angry tears brimmed in her eyes as she stared at it, and she stood up and strode over to the fireplace mantel where it and other pictures of Usagi sat. She picked them up, one by one, and threw them into the fireplace, shattering the glass frames.
Rei watched her and stood up, walking over the fireplace. Putting one arm around the girl's waist, she raised her other hand, watching as a small flame sprouted from her fingertip.
She looked at Chibiusa. "Let's rid us all of her."
Chibiusa nodded.
Rei shot the fireball into the fireplace, sprouting a fire. They all watched as the fire consumed the pictures, deteriorating them into nothingness.
The glass door of the balcony slid open.
Everyone turned and watched as Mamoru, his face tear stained, walked in and sat down beside Ami. He appeared calm, but did not utter a word.
Chibiusa and Rei left the fireplace, but they did not extinguish the fire.
Rei went and took her chair back, while Chibiusa stood contemplating if she should try and sit beside Mamoru. Noting that he would not look at anyone, she simply sat beside Ami again.
Makato, with Minako's head still in her lap, looked at Setsuna. "Why are you and Chibiusa here? You might as well tell us all and get it over with."
Setsuna nodded, but looked at Mamoru for some sign of approval. He gave none, only looking down at the floor.
The time keeper sighed, but acquiesced. "Chibiusa is now the only Sailor Moon of her time, since her mother's retirement of the title. Since there is no danger in the 30th century, and since this century, the 21st, is the most dangerous, and since there is a dire need for Sailor Moon in this time, Chibiusa has the responsibility of caring for it… since the absence of the first Moon child."
"But Chibiusa is of Earth and Moon." Rei interjected.
"That only adds to her power." Setsuna retorted. "Now… since…" She glanced at Mamoru. "Usagi will not return… Chibiusa is the leader of the senshi. You'll need her, so her parents and I have agreed that it is best if she stays in this time for a while and protects it."
She looked around. "Now I suppose the only thing to answer is… why Chibiusa still exists."
"That'd be helpful to know." Makato laughed softly.
"Well…" Setsuna started. "It's not that difficult to understand, if you let it sink in. Chibiusa, her mother, and her father are now what are called 'uniques.' This is the term Chronos, the god of time, and I have learned to dub those who are stuck in a time period that will be discarded in the original time line. There are now a total of 6 of these time periods. There is one time period such as this one where, because of a nuclear bomb that was not meant to go off, but did, the United States was completely sunken into the sea. If this had been allowed to happen, then during what you know as World War II, the United States would have ceased to exist. But, Chronos and I look at what SHOULD have happened in the time line and noticed that this was not meant to be. Thus, Chronos and I took it off, putting it in our Uniques time line. That time line will continue, but will not affect any other. It has not affected your lives. Your lives are the normal time line."
"So Chibiusa really doesn't exist in our time line?" Makato asked.
"Exactly. She and her family are now part of a different time line."
"She isn't my daughter anymore, is she?"
The room grew very quiet as Mamoru posed this question, his head rising and gazing into Setsuna's eyes.
The woman closed her eyes. "No, Majesty. She is not. She is the daughter of Neo Queen Serenity and Neo King Endymion of the Crystal Tokyo time strain."
Mamoru didn't say anything. No one uttered a word for quite some time, until Chibiusa, full of anxiety, broke the silence.
"I may not be your biological daughter of the future… but I'm still the same little girl, Mamo-chan."
Mamoru's head dropped down, and he stared at the floor. "I know, Chibiusa. I know."
Rei had to break in. "I have another question."
"What?" Setsuna asked.
"You still call Mamoru Majesty. Will he still be king?"
"Yes, of course. He is still of royal blood, the royal strain of Earth. Nothing anyone can do can change that."
"Who can be queen? No one? Usagi isn't here." Rei raised an eyebrow.
"Any woman of royal blood."
"Woman of royal blood?" Ami asked.
"Of course." Setsuna smiled. "You all know that each of you is of royalty of another planet. You are not only senshi. You are princesses, royalty, of your own respective planets."
The woman stood. "I'm sorry, but I have neglected my post for long enough. Chibiusa can answer any of your other questions. I have told her nearly everything." She kissed Chibiusa's forehead. "Be good, Small Lady. I'll report back to your parents."
"Thanks, Puu." Chibiusa smiled.
Setsuna nodded and left, not daring to look back for knowing that Mamoru's eyes were watching her in anger.
She walked outside and stood beside the door. She frowned. "I think he knows."
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Sailor Pluto cleared her throat as she entered the grand hall of the Crystal Palace. Neo King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity were standing together at the end of the hall, and were about to leave the room when they heard her voice.
Serenity rushed up to the woman and hugged her. "How is my baby?"
"She's just fine. Making adjustments. Trying to figure out how to act toward Mamoru now. Things will be fine." Pluto smiled brightly.
Endymion looked at the time keeper and knew she was faking. "There is something you aren't telling us, Pluto."
Pluto bit her lip. "I believe Mamoru knows. The others took my story. Even Chibiusa believes she is a unique."
Serenity frowned. "Mamoru knows it is his time strain that is the unique?"
"I believe he does." Pluto sighed. "And I believe he blames me for this. His angry eyes followed me as I left."
Endymion shook his head. "It will take a long time for him to adjust, that's all. But if I were you, I would not approach him and the others for quite some time. The others, perhaps. But don't mess with him for now. This is the time when he needs to be healing and starting his life over."
Serenity tipped her head. "Tell me, Pluto. For my own curiosity. Who will be queen in the unique time strain? Who will my beloved Endymion fall in love with?"
Endymion gave her a nasty look, but she only grinned.
Pluto laughed. "I'm afraid that would be horrible to tell you. I shall spare Endymion and not tell you. But when Mamoru marries, then I shall tell you."
Serenity squealed. "Oh, good!"
Endymion covered his face with his gloved hand. "I'll have it out then, won't I?"
Pluto laughed. "I'm afraid you might."
Serenity giggled gaily. "Well, it will just give me a clue as to who you might have been with if not for me."
Endymion groaned. "No, you will make it into a horrible thing, I just know it."
Pluto shook her head and left the two to joke at each other. She watched them from the doorway for a few moments. Her eyes grew sad as she watched them laugh, hug, and kiss each other. She sighed. "I am so sorry, Mamoru." She murmured, leaving.
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End Chapter Five