A/N:
Two things you should culturally be aware of. 1) In Japan, you don't meet your significant other's parents until you are seriously talking marriage. 2) Whenever you go over to someone's house for the first time OR come back and visit friends/family after a traveling you bring a gift (or souvenir), which is referred to as an omiyage – usually a consumable like food or perfume so that it won't take up space forever in tiny Japanese living spaces. It is considered very rude not to bring a gift. Interestingly enough, your host won't open it while you're there – that's considered rude too.
….
Chapter 1: The Warning
Motoki tapped his fingers agitatedly on the arm of his best friend's dark leather couch. His laptop sat three feet away on the coffee table, their presentation on 'How to Maintain a Just Society' lit up at him mockingly. How had he let Mamoru get on the subject of vigilantes? The presentation would never be completed at this rate. He turned pleading eyes toward Setsuna, their third partner in the project, but her attention was on Mamoru, grinning in superior amusement.
"It's the road to anarchy," Mamoru insisted again. "Plain and simple."
"Actu…" Setsuna began to counter, but Motoki cut her off.
"How can you say that?!" he demanded heatedly, leaning forward from his seat rejoining the debate against his better judgment. "You have been personally saved by the Sailor Senshi! Not to mention your girlfriend and your best friend that have both been rescued on multiple occasions."
"Motoki-kun, you know that I'm glad you're alright. I have no objection to the heroism. But you cannot deny that with the Sailor Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen, you basically have a task force that runs rampant across the city. They answer to no one. What happens if they decide to take the law into their own hands? Or, what if they hurt someone? How do you hold them accountable?" Mamoru challenged.
Motoki sighed in frustration. He usually found Mamoru to be pretty open minded even if he was a tad bit reserved. Motoki could not understand why his friend was so dense on this one particular issue.
"They don't actually fight crime Mamoru-kun! They don't go after ordinary criminals and haven't for the last two years! They fight and destroy monsters and supernatural phenomena! Do you really think a police force is equipped to deal with that kind of thing?"
"No, but I think anyone who hides their identity and refuses to work within the infrastructure has ulterior motives," Mamoru countered.
Motoki swore he saw Mamoru's mouth quirk up into a smirk, but it was suppressed so quickly, he couldn't be sure he hadn't imagined it.
Setsuna laughed. "Are you saying that you would want the Sailor Senshi working for the government?"
"Yes," Mamoru said firmly.
"That's a terrible idea!" she argued. "They'd get so bogged down in procedures and approval processes, they'd never get to the fight where they were needed."
"Everyone should be under review Setsuna-chan," Mamoru insisted gently.
"What makes you think the Sailor Senshi are not?" she countered, her eyes sparkling.
Motoki flicked his eyes between his two friends. They both were trying not to laugh.
"Have I missed something?" he asked, suddenly feeling very left out of the loop.
They both turned startled glances his way.
"What are you talking about Motoki-kun?" Mamoru asked.
"You both seem like you're incredibly amused. And I just do not see what is so funny."
"Just enjoying getting into the debate," Setsuna reassured him. "It's not often I get to mentally test my wits. Mamoru-kun can give me a run for my money."
Motoki shook his head in amazement. They both seemed to love the art of debate and he just did not understand it. He argued for what he believed with passion and tried to make others understand what seemed so obvious to himself. Whereas, Mamoru and Setsuna would often argue the opposite of whatever a stated stance was just to play devil's advocate.
"Well, would you cut it out?" he begged. "I find it exhausting!" he complained.
"I'm sorry Motoki-kun!" Setsuna said with a smile, rising to her feet. "I probably should be going anyway. I'm supposed to meet some friends for dinner. She waved a fairwell to Mamoru and he winked back.
"See you tomorrow Setsuna-chan! We'll wrap this presentation up then and see if we can't free up some evenings again!" Mamoru promised.
"Trying to get rid of me Mamoru-kun?" she mock accused. "And I thought I had already stolen your heart. I'm hurt!"
"I just know when to give up because I have no chance," he countered.
Motoki snorted at the blatant flirting. All three of them knew Mamoru's heart was completely and irrevocably stolen by another.
Setsuna finally made her way through the door with another parting wave.
It was silent for a moment at her exit.
"Would you like a drink before you head out?" Mamoru offered.
"Please," Motoki said with some relief. Finals were stretching him thin and it would be nice to just sit and relax. So he sprawled across the couch, glaring at the work laid out on the coffee table before him.
No sooner had Mamoru disappeared into the kitchen there was a knock at the door. Assuming it was Setsuna who had forgotten something, Motoki leapt up to open the door. He found himself face to face with a blue eyed blond.
"Usagi-chan!" Motoki greeted delightfully. "Mamoru-kun didn't tell me you'd be swinging by."
"Motki-oniisan!" she exclaimed throwing her arms around him in an exuberant hug. "It's been ages! What've you been up to?"
"Oh nothing much. School and work mostly. In between attempting to talk sense into your idiot boyfriend," he said as he jerked his head toward his best friend who had just walked back into the room. Mamoru handed him the much-desired beer.
"What's he done this time?" she asked in mock concern.
"Oh nothing! We were just arguing about the merits and detractors of vigilantes on the street protecting Japanese citizens from youmas and the like."
She grinned, finally turning her attention toward Mamoru completely.
"You still worried about a handful of teenage girls in mini skirts taking over the world?" she asked playfully walking into his arms.
"I was more worried about the odd ball that runs around in a tuxedo and a cape," he countered, his attention centered on her fully.
"He uses roses, Mamo-chan," she said patiently as if explaining it to a small child. "A symbol of love, to fight. I don't think you need to be concerned."
"Plus, he's gorgeous," she added as an afterthought. "No one that handsome would have designs on ruling the earth."
"Careful Usako. I might get jealous," Mamoru said with dancing eyes.
For the second time that night, Motoki felt like there was a second layer to the conversation that flew completely over his head.
She stood on tip-toes and kissed him tenderly. Despite the fact that it was a completely chaste kiss, the two of them positively glowed in one another's presence – even after a solid two years together.
Motoki held his breadth, feeling very much like an intruder to a private moment. He slipped around the couple trying to quietly pack his things even as he hurriedly gulped down the beer, but he was not quiet enough.
"Going somewhere?" Usagi asked.
"Yeah, it's getting late. Reika-chan will be worried…" he explained quickly.
"Reika-chan is still in Africa," Mamoru pointed out.
Motoki winced. Why couldn't Mamoru ever just play along? Didn't he want to spend time with his lady?
"But she's supposed to call me in… uh… about half an hour," he improvised. "I just lost track of time."
Mamoru rolled his eyes, but didn't contradict him.
"Motoki-oniisan!" Usagi objected. "You don't have to leave. I was the one that interrupted your studying by arriving unexpected and unannounced!"
"It's okay Usagi-chan. I've stolen him from you for the whole week. Spend some time together. It'll be good for you both," he insisted with a smile as he pulled his backpack to his shoulder.
"I'll see you tomorrow Mamoru-kun," he said with a salute to his friend who mouthed a 'thank you' at him. Motoki nodded in acknowledgement. That's what friends were for.
"Usagi-chan, always a pleasure," he said with a wink before making his way to the door.
"Good-bye Motoki-oniisan! But consider yourself warned that next time, I'll take it personally if you decide to dash off the moment I arrive!" she called after him.
He laughed at her threat. "Fair enough."
"Say hello to Reika-chan for me!"
"Of course!" he agreed flashing her a bright smile before gently closing the door in his wake. He walked away from the flat with a grin on his face. Mamoru was certain to be in a delightful mood on the morrow. It'd be a good time to ask him for a favor.
…
The second the door had closed, Mamoru seized Usagi and captured her lips with his own. She melted into his embrace.
"Mamo-chan," she moaned as she pulled away. "I've really missed you, but why did you invite me over if you were having a study session?"
"I had time for both. You just showed up early. A solid hour early," he repeated for emphasis. "Not that I'm complaining," he said caressing the side of her face. "I've missed you too."
She blushed. "I may have rushed through some homework," she admitted.
"Usako," he scolded, "you have finals next week. This is not the time to be giving less than your all."
"So do you!" she countered. "And that didn't stop you from letting Motoki leave early."
"We have been working all afternoon. We both needed a break."
"Didn't sound like it. You were arguing about the ethics of vigilantes."
"Believe it or not, that was related to the presentation. It's for our political science class."
"Why do you insist on torturing him with that anarchy nonsense?" she asked.
He allowed the subject change even though he knew she did it to distract him from the topic of her own study habits.
"You know why I put myself publicly against the 'vigilantes'!"
"That's with strangers and acquaintances! Not with your best friends!" she insisted.
"How else can I protect him Usako?"
"You're never going to convince him that the vigilantes are a menace. He's been saved by them too many times. And by arguing with him you push him away. He'll be less protected then," she insisted.
"Motoki-kun's not going anywhere. We still have plenty of other things we share."
"But…"
"Usako," he interrupted gently, "can we talk about your study habits and my debates with Motoki later? There was something else that I really was hoping to talk to you about tonight."
"What is it?"
"I thought we might go shopping tomorrow after school if you're free."
"You want to take me shopping?" she asked in mock disbelief.
"I thought I could use your help in picking out an omiyage," he said casually.
"Absolutely!" she said brightly. "Who are we shopping for?"
"…your parents?" he said feeling suddenly uncertain.
She turned wide eyes toward him and froze before she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly. He breathed in her essence, relieved that she was excited. He had been half afraid she would freeze or freak out.
"Mamo-chan! Really?"
"Only if you don't think it's too soon."
"How about Saturday night?" she suggested excitedly. "Dad will be back from his shoot in London and mom has something special planned for dinner that night as a welcome home."
"Woah," he said chuckling. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves. We both have finals coming up. We should probably stay focused on those and set up the meeting for sometime over break?" he suggested.
"Oh of course, Mamo-chan," she agreed readily. "Now, we just have to decide what to buy. We could get some individually wrapped cakes. Or maybe some wine? Ooh! How about melon? It's my mother's favorite!"
Mamoru basked in her excited ramblings. He didn't have the heart to tell her that it was December and melons were completely out of season.
"I'm sure we'll find something perfect tomorrow," he assured her.
"I just want everything to go smoothly," she said softly.
He grinned. "I know…"
An audible rumble interrupted his assurances. Usagi blushed even as she clutched her nagging stomach. Mamoru chuckled.
"Let's get you fed, shall we?" he suggested.
She nodded enthusiastically as she followed him to the kitchen.
"What's for dinner?"
"I was going to throw together some okonomiyaki. Any requests for fillings?"
"I want it all Mamo-chan!"
He laughed.
"Of course you do."
Twenty minutes later, Mamoru presented his little rabbit with the savory pancake covered in shrimp and a variety of vegetables.
She dove in without comment. He grinned in amusement as he slowly worked his way through his own meal.
"You make the pastry come out perfectly!" she moaned. "I'm going to have to give my mom your recipe."
"You're not going to learn to make it yourself?" he teased.
"Why would I need to? That's what I've got you for!"
"And you're never going to cook Usako?"
"Umm…. I can try! Don't know if you'll appreciate the results," she said seriously, rising to her feet.
"Do you need a ride home?" he offered.
"No, that's okay Mamo-chan," she asked standing over him in his seat. He felt nervous about her walking all the way home. It was late and it was dark.
"I'd feel a lot better, if you let me take you home," he said gently, kissing her hand.
"Mamo-chan! You worry too much. I'll be fine!" she insisted. "Besides," she continued with a playful smile, "if anything bad were to happen, I have this really amazing caped protector that always shows up just in the nick of time!"
"Usako, that is not something to joke about," he scolded.
"Stop," she said seriously. "There hasn't been any youmas in months."
"There are other evils in this world besides youmas."
"You know I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself!"
"I know, but I worry. I don't know what I'd do without you."
"There's no need. I'm right here," she reassured, wrapping her arms around his neck as she tilted his head up for another kiss.
"Maybe I just want an excuse to be with you longer," he suggested softly when she pulled away.
She grinned.
"Could we have breakfast tomorrow?"
"You sure you want to get up that early?" he questioned with raised eyebrows.
"Mamo-chan! I can't go another week without seeing you. It's torture!" her eyes sparkled as they met his own.
"All-right," he chuckled. "Seven o'clock. At the arcade."
She pressed her lips gently to his again. His eyes fell closed and he savored the initimate contact. Somehow he never tired of kissing her.
"See you there," she said breathily as she pulled away.
"I love you Usako," he called after her as she quickly gathered her things.
"Love you too!" she shouted back casually and seconds later he heard the door close after her.
He sat for a moment letting his mind obsess worriedly, most likely needlessly. Disgusted with himself, he forced himself to get to his feet and do something useful, such as washing the dishes.
He had only managed to wash Usagi's plate when he felt his chest tighten up in the all too familiar warning that meant Usagi was in trouble. He really hated being right sometimes.
He transformed as he ran from the kitchen and leapt off his balcony with practiced ease – the running faucet left behind, forgotten.
…
A scream pierced the silent night. Tuxedo Kamen found a new burst of speed. He turned the corner.
In the distance, Sailor Moon faced a snarling shadow with glowing yellow eyes. The creature resembled an animal more than a humanoid, unlike most of the youmas they had encountered in the past. But it was like no animal he had ever seen. The long snout and ears resembled a canine, but rippling scales seemed to break through the rolling shadows suggesting something amphibious.
The beast pounced, muscles rippling and Sailor Moon screamed again as jagged claws sliced through the muscles and tendons of her left calf like butter. The masked vigilante let loose four roses is slicing succession.
Every one of them missed.
The young heroine crashed to the ground as her leg collapsed beneath her.
She sat up and faced the snarling beast, only a few inches remained between her and the threatening creature. Tuxedo Kamen stood frozen, his heart fell to the pit of his stomach as he realized he could not get there and sweep her out of the way in time.
But the creature did not press its attack.
"Sailor Moon!" the masked man shouted. Broken from her reverie, she scuttled backwards a few paces. He threw his own projectile again, but the beast seemed to evaporate before the rose ever struck.
He stood over her protectively determined to protect the girl he loved more than life itself, glancing in every direction certain the beast would rematerialize.
Seconds of dark silence turned into minutes. Whatever it was, it seemed to have vanished. He turned his attention to Sailor Moon about to ask if she was okay.
"Don't even say it!" she said hotly.
"I didn't say anything," he pointed out.
"You were thinking it!" she complained.
"Thinking what?" he asked innocently, fighting off a superior smirk.
"That you were right about talking me home."
"What was that thing?" he asked, trying to divert her attention. Maybe next time she would listen to him.
"No idea. It almost seemed like it wasn't there."
"What do you mean?"
"It was like it was… made of mist. It wasn't completely solid."
"It was solid enough to do this!" he said gesturing to the three deep slices that were welling red. "Now will you stay still so I can heal it?"
She squirmed under his ministrations. She always did, but he had had far too much practice for this to be much of an issue. She didn't acknowledge his medical attention. Instead she kept describing the nature of this new enemy. "Yeah, but my tiara went straight through it. Like it was…"
"A non-coporeal entity," he filled in.
"A what?" she
"Non-coporeal means that it's not solid. It's made of only energy."
"You mean like a ghost."
"I wouldn't use the term, 'ghost'," he objected.
"You wouldn't," she agreed waving away his objection. "I will have to check in with Mercury and Luna. See if they've detected anything strange lately."
Finished with his healing, he pulled her to her feet. She leaned her weight experimentally on the previously injured leg. When it held, she looked up at him with a beaming smile.
"Have I ever told you how handy it is to have you around?"
"Not today," he said returning the grin.
"Well, it really is. Thank you Tuxedo Kamen!"
"My pleasure. I don't suppose you're going to let me walk with you the rest of the way now?" he asked trying to maintain a neutral voice.
For a second, he thought she was going to object, but then the tension in her shoulders dissolved and he knew he had her.
"Well… since you're here, might as well," she conceded.
The walk home was uneventful, but he made sure to see her all the way to the door before returning home. He had trouble falling asleep. It had been too much to hope that just maybe there wouldn't be a 'new enemy' this time. What would the future hold? Would there ever be peace for the Sailor Senshi? Would he and Usagi ever find peace together?
…
Mamoru stood in a crisp white tuxedo, his heart threatening to thump out of his chest. He began adjusting his cuffs nervously when the orchestra began playing. He looked up and met sparkling sapphire eyes. His pulse accelerated and he quickly forgot how to breathe.
Usagi stood at the end of the pathway, dressed in pure white dress that flowed around her, caressing her sides as she slowly moved forward. Her hair was done up in her trademark odangos – she had originally had far more intricate plans for their wedding, but he had said that he treasured the style as it reminded her of the day they met.
But it was her eyes – two gleaming sapphire pools of light that had captured his soul – that stole all of his attention. Her love and compassion always poured from her eyes. And it amazed him that he would be the benefactor of that loving gaze. He truly felt like the luckiest man in the world.
She smiled and he felt like he had a glimpse of heaven. He forced himself to take in a breath filling his senses with the scent of summer roses.
The music stopped and for a split second everything was perfect. They were the only two people that existed.
A second later, the silence seemed deafening. He turned, glancing around. Everything froze in perfect stillness.
Then the world exploded in sound and heat. The ground itself ripped itself apart, directly under Usagi's feet. She began to fall into the chasm seemingly in slow motion. Mamoru attempted to dive forward, but something held him back.
He turned furiously around intending to destroy whatever obstacle prevented his action. He froze when he realized he was staring into his own face.
"She's already gone," the man who was, and yet was not, him said sadly.
"But…"
"You can still save her," he reassured.
"How?"
"You caused this. Stay away from her and it will never happen."
Mamoru turned to face the gaping crevasse in the middle of the rose garden. The edge was only centimeters away. He forced himself to peer over the edge. He intestines writhed painfully and his throat pushed down into his chest. Her crumpled form lay broken on red glowing rocks below unmoving. Her dress glowed red and orange as the edges burned like paper before a candle.
He jumped down ignoring the heat and cradled her lifeless body in his arms. Dead clouded eyes looked through him, no longer seeing. He desperately pulled her cold blue lips to his own. She remained icy and unresponsive. Salty tears splashed onto her once flushed cheeks. His throat clogged with despair and anger. This could not be real. He could not accept it.
He awoke panting and shaking. He clutched sheets soaked in sweat and forced himself to breathe, taking in slow measured breaths.
It was only a dream, he tried to reassure himself. He felt tempted to call Usagi immediately just to assure himself that she was still breathing, but calling the girl at four in the morning was not going to make the best impression on her parents.
It was just a dream, he repeated to himself. His dreams had been slightly prophetic in the past, but since they had defeated Beryl he had been having what he had been told sounded like normal dreams. They baffled him with random and disjointed events.
He tried to convince himself that this dream was just like those others. But he couldn't. The nightmare was too vivid and its events followed a logical progression – not at all jumbled and nonsensical as 'regular' dreams usually were.
But this dream couldn't be true. He refused to even consider it.
The dreams you had before turned out to be true, a voice in his head haunted him.
Yes, but you misinterpreted them! He argued back to himself.
Can you afford to ignore this dream?
He tore out of the bed and paced agitatedly back and forth. When the apartment proved to be too confined to work out his frustration, he threw on some shoes and stalked through the mostly empty streets of Tokyo.
He contemplated just going straight to her house, but he felt she would be angry with him for worrying too much and for jeopardizing what would a carefully "meet the parents" evening.
He had to wait and trust that even if the dream were true, it was a warning so she was definitely fine at this moment. He continued his directionless meandering walk trying to recenter himself, but he couldn't manage it for more than a few seconds at a time.
He returned to his apartment an hour before their breakfast date and immediately picked up the phone. He couldn't wait any longer. He rapidly dialed the number that he had memorized almost two years ago. And he held his breath through each synthetic ring.
"Moshi moshi?" The small voice that reached through the plastic receiver was not Usagi's. The woman's voice sounded similar, but more refined.
"May I please speak with Usagi-chan?" he managed to ask, his heart had fallen into his stomach.
"Who is this?" the voice accused suspiciously. "If you know Usagi, you would know that the girl never wakes up before she's five minutes late."
"My name is Mamoru," he said feeling strangely vulnerable. "Please," he entreated, "I need to talk to her."
"Oh! Mamoru-san!" the woman's voice seemed delighted. "Give me a second as I go attempt to wake the dead."
He flinched at her choice of words.
"USAGI!" he could hear the roar of the woman through his receiver and had to pull the phone away. The long-suffering voice of Usagi's mother went further than anything in reassuring him that all was well.
And a few agonizing minutes later Usagi herself could be heard stumbling loudly down the stairs with a complaining, "Oy! Ma-ma!"
Mamoru took an easy breath for the first time since he had awoken from the nightmare.
"The phone is for you Usagi. I think you'll want to answer it," her mother explained.
"Moshi moshi?" the sleepy voice imparted through the phone.
"Good morning Usako," he greeted trying to sound normal.
"Mamo-chan!" she greeted delightfully and then her tone changed. "You're not cancelling on me are you?"
He laughed. "No Usako. I just wanted to make sure that you woke up early enough to come see me as we had planned," he said in what he hoped was a calm, smiling tone, hiding the urgency of which he needed to see her.
"You have no faith in me Mamo-chan!" she mock complained.
"Not true Usako. I just miss you and didn't want to take any chances."
"Aww!" she squealed. "I love you too! I will see you at seven!" and she hung up the phone with a definitive click.
He dressed for the day and left for the arcade knowing he would still be half an hour early. He could not wait here with his nerves building in tension again as each minute passed agonizingly slowly. Better to wait with Motoki there to distract him.
But he felt much better. Hearing her bright voice went a long way toward soothing him that she was indeed still alive. The nightmare had felt so real. Too real.
…
Motoki turned over a mug and was about to fill it with the dark blend that was Mamoru's favorite when Mamoru shook his head.
"No coffee today, Motoki-kun." Mamoru felt anxious and jittery enough without the added stimulant.
"No coffee?" Motoki repeated, shocked. "You feeling okay?"
Mamoru was spared from having to answer when Usagi slipped into the stool next to him.
"Morning Motoki-oniisan!" she greeted with her usual brightness.
Mamoru drank in her presence like he was seeing the sun for the first time in years.
"Usagi-chan! I love it when you join us in the morning. Can I get you something?" Motoki greeted.
"A hot chocolate would be amazing!"
And his friend departed with a smile to make it happen.
Then Usagi turned her attention to him and grinned.
"It's good to see you," she said.
"Always," he said softly. She didn't hear the catch in his voice.
"Ami-chan didn't have any useful information," she whispered. "She said that she hasn't detected any type of dark energy build up. Hopefully without the energy buildup it was just a one time thing?" she ended asking for him to agree with her.
"One can hope," he managed to put together. He had his doubts.
Usagi filled the rest of morning will endless inane chatter. He soaked it all in, still trying to calm his racing erratic heart. He started when he realized that she had cut herself off and studied him carefully.
"Mamo-chan, are you alright? Has something happened?" she asked with genuine concern.
"No Usako. I'm fine. Just didn't sleep well," he said and forced himself to smile.
"It's not like you to stress about finals," she commented.
He shrugged, not correcting her interpretation of his behavior.
"Well," she said rising to her feet. "Just a few more days and then we'll be free."
She leaned over and kissed him.
Her crumpled form lay broken on red glowing rocks below unmoving.
"See you later Mamo-chan!" she called back as she dashed away.
He didn't move for several seconds, feeling shaken to his core all over again. It was just a dream. He repeated the litany over and over to himself even as he forced himself to his feet to exit the arcade.
Mamoru walked a block from the arcade when his chest seized up again in warning. He ducked into an alleyway to transform and leapt to the rooftops above to follow the internal compass. Usagi only had a five-minute head start on him. She couldn't have made it far.
He saw the birdlike fiend circling the tall buildings first. The creature was the opposite of the shadow beast from the night before in every way possible. Instead of shadow, fiery orange and reds bursts of energy emanated from the flying spirit. It dove down between buildings with an earsplitting caw. The masked man had no doubt who its target was.
He jumped blindly over the edge, knowing he had no time to take in the situation. He arrived just in time to see Sailor Mercury shove Sailor Moon to the side as the flying monster struck. He threw his living projectiles rapidly as the creature soared upward.
They fell back to the earth with no effect. The creature was too insubstantial. It screeched before it dove viciously down again. This time he was the one who swept Sailor Moon out of the way, taking her slight form and holding it against his own. They fit together as if they were cut from the same stone.
The monster soared upward and vanished once again.
"Where did it go?" he demanded of no one in particular as he searched the sky.
"It's… gone," Sailor Mercury reported scanning the sky with her blue visor. "There's no trace of anything anywhere within a two point five kilometer radius."
"What is going on?" Sailor Moon asked, "What are these creatures? Why can't we hurt them?"
"I don't know. The enemy doesn't seem to be after energy," Sailor Mercury reported. "Both attacks seemed to have a single target – Usagi."
Tuxedo Kamen froze at this observation. "What do you mean?" he demanded.
"Just that both creatures focused their sole attention on Usagi and then Sailor Moon once she transformed. It was not interested in, or even distracted by, you or I, even though we both attacked it directly. In addition, it showed no interest in going after other civillians."
"Why would they be after me?" Sailor Moon asked, her voice small.
"Do you think this new enemy knows your identity?" Mercury theorized.
"I hope not!"
Mamoru was only distantly aware of the conversation. He thought back to the dream warning. Usagi was being specifically targeted by the enemy.
"It was not manifested from dark energy," Mercury confirmed.
"Well, then what is it?" Moon demanded.
"I don't know. I need more data."
The dream said he had to stay away from her. Could this possibly be his doing somehow?
"Earth to Mamo-chan?" Usagi called waving a hand in front of his mask, forcing his attention back to the present. "You okay?"
He forced a smile. "Am I okay?" he repeated. "You were the one that was attacked! Twice now!"
"You worried for me?" she asked playfully.
"This is not a joke!" he said angrily. She turned sober.
"Mamo-chan," she began patiently, "I have to keep things light. You don't think Mercury's conclusions terrify me? But if I think about it, I might freeze up and then where would we be?"
"I'm sorry. I just have a bad feeling," he said with forced calm.
"Well! We'll just have to chase those feelings away. We still on for this afternoon?"
He nodded.
She detransformed and kissed him.
He cradled her lifeless body in his arms. Dead clouded eyes looked through him, no longer seeing.
She grabbed Ami's hand and dashed away. "We're late Ami-chan! You'll get to serve detention with me today!" she yelled delightedly.
…
Motoki didn't have time to worry about the fact that his best friend hadn't shown up for their first final. The restaurant above the arcade was packed full of students that had just finished their first round of exams. So he was busy running from table to table, collecting orders, then back to the kitchen to place the orders.
But Motoki would kill him if Mamoru failed to show up for their presentation tomorrow.
When Usagi slipped into what had become her regular stool next to Mamoru's usual seat, Motoki seized the opportunity.
"Usagi-chan, have you heard from Mamoru since this morning?" he asked urgently.
"Umm… I saw him once since then. Why?"
"He didn't show up for his final this morning," Motoki explained. "And I haven't heard from him so I've been worried something happened to him."
"That doesn't sound like him at all, but there was an… accident this morning that may have made him late. I wouldn't worry Motoki-oniisan! He's supposed to meet me here anytime now. You can yell at him then," she said with a reassuring smile.
"An accident? Is he alright?"
"He's fine! It wasn't him. Someone else," she explained vaguely waving away his concern. "But you know how Mamoru is – he always tries to help those in need."
Motoki smiled indulgently. That didn't sound like Mamoru at all. Usagi didn't understand that Mamoru was really only like that with her. He expected everyone else to be pretty self-reliant most of the time.
Well, maybe that wasn't completely fair. Mamoru had bailed him out on more than one occasion, as well as got him through three semesters of calculus that were better off forgotten.
"Well then, can I get you something while you wait?"
"A chocolate shake please? And can you make a strawberry one too for Mamo-chan?"
"Coming right up!"
He went up to the kitchen and came right back down with the requested shakes. He added an extra cherry to each and then slid them in front of Usagi. She smiled gleefully at the 'show'.
"Thanks Motoki-oniisan!"
"Anytime, Usagi-chan. I'll be back when I can, but it's super busy upstairs. If I miss you both be sure to give Mamoru-kun a stern talking to for me!"
"Only for you!" she grinned before happily slurping away on her chocolate shake.
He returned to work serving and taking orders, no longer worried at all. Usagi had a way of just putting all his worries to rest, especially when they concerned Chiba Mamoru.
He wasn't able to make it back to the arcade floor for a solid thirty minutes. When he came back and found Usagi still there, now spinning forlornly on her stool with her tall glass long since empty, while the strawberry shake still remained untouched.
"Usagi-chan?" he said in conern. "I thought you'd be long gone by now."
"Motoki-oniisan, may I use your phone?" she asked stoically. His heart went out to her. It was unlike Mamoru to ever leave her waiting and his worries plummeted to new depths. Could something have happened to his cynical friend?
He lifted the barrier between customer and employee workspace and gestured for her to follow. He led her to the employee breakroom and handed her the receiver.
She dialed the number and he stood waiting awkwardly over her shoulder. For a moment there was only silence.
"Mamo-chan!" the relief in Usagi's voice echoed his own.
"Where are you?" she demanded.
She paused as Mamoru presumably explained himself. Motoki found himself wishing he could hear the other side of the conversation.
"We're supposed to be shopping this afternoon… for my parents…?" she reminded him.
She paused briefly again.
"You forgot."
Motoki cringed at how carefully she controlled her voice.
"Mamo-chan, is something wrong?"
There was a longer break as Mamoru explained something in more detail.
"Mamo-chan…" she began patiently. "This was your idea."
She listened again before she slowly hung up the phone. She didn't move for a long second.
"You okay?" Motoki asked, breaking the silence.
She nodded, but did not turn around.
"What did he say?"
"He said that he forgot. That he accidentally double-booked. That he was meeting with an advisor for something about med-school. And that we would just reschedule for sometime after finals," she managed to convey all this unemotionally, but she didn't fool Motoki for a second.
He didn't comment. Motoki knew that the counselor offices were closed during the week of finals. But he had no explanation for why Mamoru would suddenly start lying to his girlfriend.
Not knowing what to say, he just put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed.
"I can go beat him up for you if you like?" he offered, only half joking.
She laughed. It was small, but it was genuine. He called it a win.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Motoki nodded. "That's what big brothers are for right?"
She nodded.
Mamoru was such an idiot.
…
Mamoru stared distastefully at the stack of textbooks on his coffee table. He had been hoping that attempting to solve impossible differential equations or memorize the name of every muscle in the human body would have been complicated enough to keep him distracted, but he was unable to focus on any of it long enough to make any progress. He had already missed one final, and turned in an almost blank test paper for the second. There wasn't any point in the exams.
His rumbling abdomen interrupted his pointless musings, but he ignored it. There wasn't anything to eat in his cupboard anyway.
He had had the dream every night that week. It had become much more difficult to convince himself that it was just a dream. He hadn't spoken to Usagi in three days. Not in person, not even over the phone. During that time, she hadn't been attacked once.
He couldn't help but draw a connection.
He leapt to his feet and kicked the table over sending the heavy books scattering everywhere and a glass shattering to the hard wood floor. Before he could spread the destruction to the rest of the apartment, there was a knock on the door.
"Just a minute," he called hastily.
The door opened before he could move an inch and Usagi walked in. His stomach lurched painfully, suddenly no longer hungry. She couldn't be here.
"Usako!" he shouted. "What are you doing here?"
"I haven't seen you in days Mamo-chan! And I seemed to miss you every time I called."
Mamoru looked down guiltily into his hands. That wasn't strictly true. Mamoru had been screening his calls very carefully.
"I'm sorry Usako. I can't hang out today. I still have a few finals to study for. Don't you have one tomorrow as well?" he said trying for any excuse that he could come up with to get her to leave.
"Mamo-chan, I know you'll ace it. You always do! And I can't concentrate on anything I'm supposed to be studying because all I can think about is how much I miss you. Please? Just for half an hour?" she pleaded.
His gaze fell into her eyes – eyes that threatened tears. He took a step forward and took her hand without thinking. He had missed her.
He desperately pulled her cold blue lips to his own. She remained icy and unresponsive.
He gasped involuntarily and managed to pull his hand away.
"Mamo-chan? What happened to your table?" she asked curiously.
"I…"
"See! You need a break just as much as I do! Come with me," she ordered. And glancing at the overturned table he found it difficult to argue with her. She dragged him out of the apartment by the elbow.
They walked to a small café across the street from his building and they sat at an outdoor table. He said nothing. His mind was awhirl trying to come up with a reason that he couldn't see her just then.
"What's wrong Mamo-chan?" she asked insistently into the silence. "Why won't you talk to me?" she asked gently taking his hand that had been resting on the table.
She began to fall into the chasm…
He flinched away.
Her face fell at his physical rejection. His throat constricted painfully. He forced himself to swallow the sudden lump in his throat as he rose to his feet. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't pretend everything was okay. He had to stay away. He wouldn't survive the consequences if the dream proved to be true.
"I'm sorry Usagi-chan," he apologized as he rose to his feet. He inwardly felt his own heart breaking as her whole body visibly tensed at the use of her regular name. Her eyes shining a little too bright as she suppressed the tears he knew she wanted to shed.
"Mamo-chan?" she asked looking up at him, her eyes full of anxiety and hurt.
"I… I can't be with you right now," he said to her and he fled without explanation.
"Mamo-chan!" she called after him. But he didn't turn to acknowledge her. In fact, his pace increased.
"I'm sorry Usako," he cried to himself. He had to stay away. At least, until he knew more.
…
A/N: Gah! I hate battles! Please help to fix them!