The world burst into a spectacular show of color and light, a sense of weightlessness lifting the normally stationary ground out from below her. Pain erupted from the side of her face, quickly followed by scraped knees and bloody palms as she collapsed into the rocky earth below. A heady sense of nausea rippled through her stomach, aided by the strange fog suddenly covering her vision like a broken kaleidoscope. The fresh smell of tonight's drizzle faded behind the stench of coppery blood. The side of her face throbbed and screamed as she forced herself to breathe again, hoping her stomach would stand still long enough for her to catch a second wind.
She blinked, once, twice; the world washed grey and blue for a moment before the yellow rocks below her finally began to take shape. Dribbled innocently across the ground below lay a small spatter of red, the obvious evidence a newly split lip. Heaving a second breath and forcing her head to turn toward the others, she noted almost listlessly that they were rushing toward her. Their mouths were moving, but for some reason, she couldn't hear a thing other than the ringing in her ears.
Well, so much for afterschool training sessions. Maybe she should have transformed after all…Her mind suddenly went blank, her chest freezing over as if the devil himself had ripped her heart free. She gasped in shock, not ready for what was about to happen. But by then, her body had crashed into the earth below, sending tiny pebbles scraping along her face and body as she did. The pain was miniscule; hardly worth noting as the fog grew thickly across her eyes.
The sensation of soft paws against her eyelids felt feverish, the sounds became jumbled and unclear as the world finally slipped away from her.
.
.
…..
Mist hung thickly across the vine-choked grounds, the air dense even in the bitter cold. Massive trees speared toward the heavens in a senseless, wild tangle of limbs and claw-like branches. The broken, uneven ground dipped and rose with all the eccentricity such a place could boast, often concealing it's twisted, writhing paths in shadow till nothing could be judged safe. Hollow, creeping sounds skittered across the interwoven expanse of nature's chaos, and quickly sent a shiver racing across the skin. Turbulent nerves coiled in agony at the eerie scene, accenting the preternatural composure of the small, backwoods temple hidden away beneath the hills.
It was ancient, the age-worn structure filled with mist from the burdening night. Across its ivory stone pillars lay a thick coating of moss and plant life, winding their way upwards toward the chilling sky. It was cool, enough to be slightly uncomfortable should a breeze flit past, and the air hung low with a sallow, musty stench. The frightening aura was augmented by the sounds of forest animals rustling through the underbrush, the soft hooting of the Terran owls, and the distant flap of leathery wings.
Had it been any other circumstance, Serenity would have been terrified in such a lonely, abandoned place so far from any known civilization. But with a strong arm wrapped closely around her, and the comforting feel of his steady breathing to break the heavy atmosphere, she was content. Her long fingers tangled in the mid-weight cloak wrapped around his broad shoulders to ward off the cold. Her feet tangled helplessly in the uneven ground, heavy dress burdened by branches and vines as they passed. On more than one occasion, she was sure the hem of the thick, intricate ivory-colored gown had been ripped during the excursion, but the thrill humming through her veins was enough to dispel any care she might have felt for it.
It was their last night. Though the thought brought an intense jolt of sorrow burning in her chest, she fought back the tears enough to enjoy it. Her handsome prince had declared war on the Gods in taking her from her quarters, something she had thought even he would hesitate to do. Yet here they were, off to meet some unknown person for a secret wedding hidden within the shadows of the forest. She could only hope her mother had not yet noticed her disappearance and gone to search for her. The Queen had not been pleased in the slightest at the news of her daughter's betrayal, and since had been easily angered over the matter.
Endymion stilled, and with him, her shifting thoughts. A solitary figure stood among the broken pillars, black robe folding garnet in the bitter moonlight. The omnipresent mist coiled and furled across her form, creating a scene easily mistaken for supernatural. Within the darkening night, the figure appeared ghostlike and terrifying. The face was hidden in shadow, eyes lost in the darkened pit of cowl pulled about the head. Within one disturbingly pale hand, a large staff held steady against the quickly rising gust that threatened the weaving branches. The air felt suddenly cold, the moment frozen in time as Endymion's sure hand at her back pushed her forward.
The Lunarian beauty had been born and raised surrounded by the Gods, and therefore easily sensed the figure's well concealed power. She –for it was definitely a she- beckoned the two closer, pale fingers crooking in the half light. The uneven ground was touched here and there by jutting marble and rotting wood, making the journey across a long and difficult one with the added bonus of Earth's gravity. Though her steps were unsteady, in time the figure stood before them with hand outstretched. Serenity forced herself to remain perfectly calm and poised, though inside her body was shaking terribly in fear and hope. In a vain attempt to calm herself more readily, she reached out to this new figure, testing the boundaries of her power as only one Goddess could to another.
Her surprise could not be more complete at what she felt, though. The woman's aura was ancient, tinged with time and deeply set sorrow. The dark garnet folds of her cloak seemed aged, though still beautiful. The strange woman was an antique of sorts, a hidden treasure as yet unknown to the world of mortals. A wry smile tickled the corner of the Moon Goddess's mind, but she did not act on it. This was a sense she had not experienced for herself, though stories were enough to confirm their visitor's identity.
"Lady Setsuna," Serenity bowed softly, humbled that the daughter of Kronos had graced them this last evening. It would make perfect sense for her to be the officer; so far as she knew the other Gods would have nothing to do with them. The sudden question of this particular Goddess's motives came and went without further explanation or thought. Kronos must have sent His daughter here for a specific reason; and though Serenity herself had no clue as to why such was the case, she accepted the honor gratefully. The Others had not been terribly kind once news of the affair had leaked out through her Inner Guard, and so this meeting was to be kept secret for as long as possible.
Should the moment be discovered by the Immortals, it would serve far better than any cry to battle. It was hours away even now, no matter her greatly she wished otherwise. With every halting second that passed, the opposing armies neared the ill-fated battle grounds. It broke her heart to think that soon, all of this world would be lost. Her hand tightened around his softly, knowing the greater pain was the thought of losing him. A million lives were not so important if he was to be lost in exchange. It was selfish, just like this wedding, but she would make the decision time and time again if it meant she could have him.
The cloaked figure bowed likewise, turning to her prince and following suit. The pale white gloves on her hands glowed faintly as the cloak opened wide to reveal her battle attire. Serenity had never known the ancient woman to be of the same following as her guardians, yet the black and red fuku clearly spoke otherwise. Often, she had wondered if the daughter of the outmost planet joined ranks with those of Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn in defending the far borders from intrusion.
A soft smile did break free now, for such a ridiculous thought at a time like this. Dear, she was beginning to become quite flighty and the ceremony had not even begun. This did not speak well for the short honeymoon to follow.
There were no introductions, no fancy speeches as Serenity had often imagined at her wedding. The Gods loved to hear themselves speak, and did so even when there was no occasion. But the words coming from Lady Setsuna were not of any language the princess had ever heard before; it was not a tongue of this era. The whispering, haunting, melodic language floated around them, filled the short space between them, bound them together with a nearly tangible thread. The meaning of the words had long since been lost to the pages of history, but it did not stop her from wondering at such a ceremony now. Would not some simple passing of a cup work as well, as it had at the wedding of Eros and Psyche?
When her low, soft voice began to rise, reaching a piqued climax, she slowed and paused, cowl falling back from her head as her eyes lifted toward the heavens. Sharp, glittering black eyes burned against them; the color of her skin not unlike a dark shadow in high contrast to the stark white of her attire. The striking combination, along with the bell-like floating words that lingered, left her breathless and lost in anticipation.
"The Token?"
.
.
…
He called this one the secret wedding. The way the princess stood beside him, and the quiet manner in which everything was conducted seemed to present such a case. The silent woman at his side was perfectly still, her hand soft and confident in his. The vision was set in a dark forest, surrounded by crumbling pillars of what appeared to be an ancient Greek temple. The officer was always cloaked and hooded, and the question she asked seemed to echo into the silent night.
The Token was a small white thing, a plant that he felt strangely sure held some sort of deep significance, though he had no idea what it was. As much as he tried to focus on the object through the indefinite haze, it was taken much too quickly by his companion. She was smiling, fingering the item in pleasure and curiosity. It signaled the familiar end of the dream as her face turned upward with a suggestive tilt. But it was not a kiss he saw, nor did he want to.
His body shuddered helplessly as the frigid grip loosened inch by inch, allowing him to breathe once more. His blood was pounding heavily in his ears, racing through his veins as he sucked in deep breaths over and over. Every muscle relaxed slowly, painfully reminding him of how long they'd stood on end throughout the vision. It was a point that bothered him immensely, he could never figure out if these images were memories, or him standing in the place of another person entirely.
If they were memories, they wouldn't make him seize up like they did unless something else was going on; and if they were visions of another person, he'd just be pissed. The only other option outside of those two was that he was finally losing his mind and hallucinating the whole thing. Considering the fact that that would mean Moon herself was also an illusion, the idea didn't exactly induce ecstasy.
One thing resounded loud and clear, however; that the Moon Princess was staking her claim on him with every intimate little scene. They'd had hot make-out sessions, dirty joke contests, and a wild romp through some meadow. They always, always felt like a secret, as if they were hiding from someone. With every dream, she seemed to beg soundlessly for the Silver Crystal; even though their actions had nothing to do with the mystical gem, it left him burning to find it. Never once had she even whispered the name of it, but he'd always known what she wanted, what she needed.
This…Ginzuishou: the name seemed to be some sort of innate knowledge, and he was sure that it was the reason he could transform into Tuxedo Kamen. It was this fact alone that kept him from rebelling. At least he could see Moon every time he went out in search of it, instead of simply acting on command of some imaginary being. She held no real sway over him, except to search for the gem. Each vision would signal a battle soon, and was exactly what he'd been looking forward to for weeks now. He was waiting, eager to start already. All he needed was the signal from his hot little warrior, and he'd be racing out the window in a heartbeat.
Yes, the Crystal was all that the Princess needed; and so he was willing to find it for her. This…disturbing claim of ownership over him, however, was not something he was willing to negotiate. He had no intention of doing more than finding the magical object, if only to get her highness off his back and let him focus on more interesting things. The Moon Princess could pine away in her ghostly prison in the back of his mind, so long as the Senshi ended up in his arms.
Well, however high up her station was, he had a few words to say about it all. He didn't enjoy being used as a puppet, no matter how encouraging the companions were. He also didn't like having his days so rudely interrupted every time she dug her nails into his chest and sent visions spinning through his head. This most recent one was only a single snapshot in many that had kept him up at night, and nearly cost him his job a few times. The princess had to be conceited in the worst way to think these things were a temptation in the slightest.
After all, Mamoru did not consider himself a fickle man; for years he'd lived his life one single conquest at a time. Once realizing said amusement wasn't what he wanted, he'd moved on. In a way, he was grateful to her Highness for pointing out his obvious match so nicely. He'd be a moron to think even for a second that he and Moon wouldn't be perfect for each other. Even the popular news had hinted at their chemistry more than once, and he was fairly sure the pairing had its own small following among his classmates.
So what was it that drew him to Moon and not to this ghost of a princess anyway? Well, for one thing, if Moon decided to stick her cute little hands in his chest, at least she had the decency to follow through with an appearance! That fact alone completely obliterated whatever irritation he might have felt for it. Not to mention that every time he watched Moon jump headlong into battle, it made his blood sing with an acute mixture of pride and arousal. The princess probably hadn't worked a day in her life, if the feel of her overly-pampered hands had anything to say about it.
Mamoru liked his women a little more passionate, more robust and ready for action.
And if the icy-cold grip suddenly tearing at his heart was any indication, he'd be seeing it firsthand very soon.
.
.
….
Warm rain splashed haphazardly across the stone face of the courthouse, drenching the pillars and stairs in a sheet of highly reflective water. Streetlights danced in the constant patter on the ground, like a million fireflies swarming round and around each other forever. The fresh scent of the storm lay thickly in the air around them, pushing the uncomfortable humidity straight into their lungs. It was warm out, at least. If there were only one consolation for a late-night fight, this would be the one Moon herself would choose.
He had no idea how he knew that. What he did know, however, was that his cloak was abominably heavy when soaking wet. He suppressed an irritated grimace as his feet shifted uneasily. At least the ridiculous top hat kept most of the rain out of his eyes as he watched their progress from a few hundred feet away. He didn't have a whole lot of power, unlike the other Senshi, so each attack had to be well timed to be the most effective. Twenty minutes into the fight, and he still had yet to hit anything. Moon was staying fairly well out of range of the thing, and the other two seemed to be distracting the monster as much as possible without drawing attention to the short blonde. This, he had to admit, was a new song and dance.
"Fire soul!" the red Senshi burst into flaming glory more than a hundred feet to his right, attack sizzling through the downpour to crash heavily into the youma. This signaled Moon's first move of the night as she dove forward with fists swinging. At this, he couldn't help but smile a little knowingly. She was short and probably weighed less than a hundred pounds, but he definitely did not want to be on the receiving end of that punch.
"Shabon spray!" Mercury's ethereal voice drifted into the open, quickly coating the large stairwell in impenetrable mist. The last thing Kamen managed to make out was Moon slamming an uppercut into the reeling monster's face –then, all was mist and shadows.
The stifled curse barely broke free before he was moving. His feet pounded along the pavement, blood rushing painfully loud in his ears and breath coming in short gasps. The sudden tug at his chest was enough to send him diving headlong through the mists to scoop up her prone form. The ground rumbled ominously, emanating from the space she'd previously occupied. Had he not moved when he did…shit! He rolled to his feet, grateful the girl hardly weighed a thing as he did. Each pounding step from behind brought that thing closer, and he had to get to safety long enough to see if she was alright.
The grounds lit an angry red color, bleeding through the mist as the footsteps receded from behind them. He took the offered moment to duck behind a nearby pillar and catch his breath. It was times like these he wished he had better attacks, or power he could use more often. At least then, he'd be a little more help to the Senshi, instead of ducking in and out of the fight like a coward.
"You ok?" He called a moment later, carefully setting the small girl down. She nodded; her face pale but steady, and quickly pushed him away. He sighed agitatedly as she stepped back and rushed headlong into the fight. The sudden loss of warmth left a palpable feeling of regret burning through him, which he quickly ignored. They were in the middle of a fight, and now was not the time to be worried about whether or not she was purposely ignoring him.
Something about the lines of her body, partially hidden by mist…
She burst out with new strength, firing the tiara with painful accuracy as the monster leapt in for the kill on Mars. Moon raced after the burning object, moving much more quickly than she had before to shove the fire Senshi out of the way. A growl boomed through the quickly dissipating mist, accented by the soft, drizzling patter of rain and wind. Mars' angry shriek was lost beneath all the noise, but Kamen was already moving to their rescue.
His hand warmed with the charge, then flicked. An explosion rocketed through the small clearing, following by the horrified screech of their enemy. Green spurt in every direction, soaking the frost littered ground. There was no time to think as the area exploded in red, the fire from Mars' attack reflecting and bouncing through the paltry haze till nothing could be seen because of it. He wasn't fast enough to hide behind the cloak, and was so blinded by the light burning into his eyes that by the time they cleared, so had the mist. The monster was still smoking, lying draped across the stone stairs of the courthouse with two less limbs than it had had previously. From both stumps leaked a strange green liquid he was fairly sure passed for blood wherever this thing was from. The clean cut on the right arm clearly marked Moon's specific touch, where the battered mulch of the leg marked his. He couldn't help but wonder if there was some sort of symbolism in that.
"Twilight flash!" Her familiar voice rang clear as a bell before the purplish-pink light of her attack burst through the rain. A fine sheen of ash was left mixing in the rainwater as it slid and slung down the stairs and into the empty street. Now that the youma was out of the way, he breathed a quick sigh of relief and glanced around curiously. Mercury was hefting herself up from the ground not far from the others, Mars was leaning against her knees tiredly, and Moon…was grinning like mental patient.
A faint chuckle broke free at the look on her face as she turned to the other two. What an odd girl she was. The fight had been fairly routine. Now was the time when they would jibber and talk about everything that happened, and he would slip off into the night. Well, he amended, that was about to be another irregularity in a string of many. He had no intention of disappearing. His gaze fell on the currently celebrating leader of the Senshi and couldn't help the wistful smile at the sight of her jumping up and down excitedly and laughing at to the other two.
She didn't seem ready to leave yet, and for that he was grateful. The Smoking Bomber took a lot out of him, and he needed a moment to catch his breath before asking to speak with her. He spent the time watching her, not something he did very often due to certain regulations he had felt were in place. Instead, he found himself strangely fixated on her twirling, laughing form as she spun through the rain in dizzy abandon. One glance at the others proved that they were also amusing themselves at the childish display, Mercury smiling along quietly and Mars with folded arms.
Moon's ringing laughter tinkled like wind chimes through the steady noise of falling raindrops, and could make anyone smile in response to it. She was so…innocent; in spite of all the horror she'd seen for over a year and a half, she could still act like a juvenile child directly after defeating something from a nightmare. For one small, unbelievable moment, Kamen found himself completely entranced by her, feeling as though she were something not quite human. Was it possible to see the things they did and still find that much joy in a little thing like rain?
After a childhood like his, there had never been a questioning thought on the matter. Joy and happiness were foreign words usually found in books and poems, not in real life. Life did not hand out free love, or free anything for that matter. It was hard and cold, something to live through and endure with as little personal sacrifice and pain as possible. It was not something that should be wasted on the superfluous. It was not something that should be spent without a goal in mind. So, that begged the question, what was the point of spinning through the rain like a loon?
For the second time that night, he found himself on the brink of something that could not be put into words. It was something as strange and alien as his thoughts of happiness –something he could see and understand on a logical basis, but could not in fact touch or taste or feel. Like the outsider looking through the glass at a conundrum, it was too complex for even his mind to work out. And he did not like the feeling, nor did he want to spend all night pondering something so worthless.
He pushed himself away from the pillar as the other two Senshi wrapped companionable arms around their leader and began to pull her toward the street beneath cute little squeals of protest. He had already chosen his words before hand, but it didn't squelch the immediate need to push the other two free of her and let her frolic as long as she liked in the downpour. So long as she laughed, so long as she smiled and made his knees go weak with desire…
"Oi, Moon." He called, just loud enough to freeze her mid-step. The other two paused as well, all three faces turning in astonishment to stare at him. There was a tiny shiver of self-awareness crawling up his spine, and he wondered faintly if it had been the best idea to corner her while the other two were still around. The whole point of asking her out in civilian form had been to avoid them entirely. He cleared his throat authoritatively, pushing away the awkwardness of the moment, and ignored the other two. "Don't go running off just yet, I've got some questions I want answered first."
The wind swept her hair back toward him, driving the sharp, stinging rain directly into his mask and face and blinding him momentarily with a watery sheet. It was enough to miss the awkward shock carving lines into her otherwise smooth face. He carefully wiped the mask clean and peered meaningfully at her, willing her to understand that he was not just going to disappear, and neither would his intentions.
Slowly, as if in defeat, her arms dropped from the shoulders of the surrounding Senshi.
.
.
…..
There was no time to waste on the other two. Now that the fight was over, he'd hardly even noticed their presence as he came forward to grip her hand carefully. She was limp and cold, her eyes stared blankly at the ground before her in abject misery. The rain continued to fall around them as he stepped closer, willing her to meet his eyes. She seemed so lifeless…so utterly devoid of human emotion or light. It was a stark contrast to how she'd acted only moments prior. The sight sent a cool shiver down his spine as he bent, quickly pulled the cape around her shoulders and leapt off into the mist-shrouded darkness.
It stung against his face; the tiny, pounding missiles that rained down from the murky heavens in a warm torrent that raced across the exposed skin and drug balefully at the heavy cloak. Yet he fought through it, carefully holding his prize as if she were a fragile trinket in a world constructed entirely of pain and remorse and fear. The warm rain washed away these things in part, cleansing the hot August summer in preparation for the coming cold. Soon now, it would be his favorite time of the year, when life slowly drained it's gaudy, brilliant colors in exchange for the softer, cooler tones he had always admired and preferred.
It wasn't his birthday anymore, but that didn't quell the subtle smile playing on his lip. Enjoying her in the fall would be just as sweet. He wondered if someday soon, after this whole misunderstanding had blown over, she might like a little romp in his favorite spot: a meadow lost deep within the embracing arms of the national forest. It would soon be the most beautiful time of year there, when the grounds were speckled golden and red, and the dying sun burned through the still-burdened trees. Her hair would mingle with the leaves that would fall around them, her eyes catch the dying sunlight as they always had before. Her pleasured shrieks would fill the forest around them, mingled with playful wind-song and the rustle of disturbed plants as they had their fill of each other.
Hell yes. He grinned thoughtfully, tightening his hold around her as they sailed across an especially wide gap between buildings. By autumn, then. They'd have this little chat, clear up any misunderstandings and be happily on their way before the clock struck midnight. Well, maybe twelve thirty, he conceded, because of the whole broken nose business.
By the time he'd finally pulled himself out of his stupor, the rain had begun to dwindle to a soft patter. The moon peeked out from behind the bruising clouds mischievously, mixing her silvery light with the dim, sallow streetlamps below. His eyes scanned the shifting mists, certain they were getting close to the area he'd planned on taking her. The courthouse wasn't terribly romantic, and the rooftops just weren't as safe as he'd thought before. He grinned, both at the sight of his destination and the feel of her stiffly shifting in his arms.
"Just a minute." He murmured to her quietly before taking to the skies again. It only took a couple more jumps before they descended again to street level. Luckily no one hung around this place longer than absolutely necessary –it was why he'd been so deliberate in choosing it above all others. It was quiet here, secluded and far from the ears and eyes of the world during the storm. Not to mention the fact that a girl of any age would find their surroundings quite romantic.
The scene was set against an exquisite background of color and form. The soft, melodic trickle of a nearby stream eased the silence. The fresh, robust scent of a garden mid-rain hung about them companionably while the breeze shifted the night onward. Broken, wounded shafts of silver moonlight breathed heavily along a pale, stone path and dripped across the perfectly clustered flowers. By daylight, their colors and hues melded and clashed in a symphony of elaborate design –but the gentle, lover's caress of deep shadow and moonlight truly showcased the endless beauty that lay around them.
Late summer, and the flowers piqued in anxious climax; their scents heady and lingering within the recent downpour. Already, their dewy lips pursed before the brewing sky; begging, aching to be released from the long awaited agony of summer. Their bursts of fragrance and life would soon wither and fade beneath the unrelenting cold to come. It was both pitiable and beautiful in a tragic sort of way. All things pleaded for sweet release, only to shrivel and die the moment their greatest wishes were realized.
He glanced down at the bundle in his arms. She smelled like rain; as if she'd been washed clean and stood before him pure and untouched. Maybe even untouchable. He let go then, noting to himself that she had made no move to pull away from him. She was acting very strangely tonight. Normally, she'd be half crazed to be drug off by her hero to some romantic spot. Now she knew who he was though, and that had ended the eager fire in her eyes as quickly as it had first appeared.
The thought sent a sharp pain through him as he longingly watched her back away a few steps. His only obsession, his dream lover…his goddess; her hair was wet and curling around her form possessively, her skin nearly glowing beneath the subtle mixture of moonlight and streetlamp. He was lost to her, and had no will to fight it. In that moment more than any other, he realized that no matter what happened –even if it meant the complete surrender to death and hell, he needed her. Not desired or wanted her, but honest-to-god would die without her.
"I'm sorry to steal you away like this," he began hoarsely, throat heavy and dry for no other reason than his own nerves. The cool façade receded tonight; he knew he had done something terribly wrong at their last meeting and therefore was determined to rectify it. Besides, she'd never been one for pretence. "I won't keep you out long. You must be tired."
The resounding silence throbbed in his ears, slowly uncoiling the bundle of nerves floating in his stomach. His throat scratched in the damp air, eyes watching her for any sign that she'd heard him. But she remained perfectly still, outlined by the drooping, swaying branched of a nearby weeping willow. Thick golden tresses swung in time, alternately lapping at her figure in greedy lust and trailing through the playful night wind. He took her silence in hand, though, steadying himself before speaking again.
"I wanted to apologize; ask you to forget everything I said the other night." His words signaled her first movement. Her head tilted to the side in curiosity, eyebrow rising in silent question. The silvery moonlight smoothed across her face like cream across ivory, and quickly stole what tiny bit of breath he had in his lungs. She said nothing, but her question froze the nervous bundle in his abdomen and sent shivers dancing across his lower spine.
"Not the part where I told you I loved you," he amended quickly, suddenly feeling quite sheepish and awkward before her, "I meant that." The quiet sincerity gave him courage, even though he suddenly wished he'd never spoken the words at all. Ever since that night, he'd felt nearly every emotion there was, had pondered things he'd never bothered with before. Since when had he been so childish and afraid of a girl? He'd always felt calm and determined before. She was ruining him with her silence, with her anger. He was trying to apologize! Didn't that mean anything? He swallowed again, nearly coughing at the painful scratch in his throat. "Please say something."
"What do you want me to say?" Her countering reply was curt and guarded as both arms folded hastily across her chest.
The words died in his throat at the immanent signs of fire. It was something yes, but he knew all too well how she could be when provoked. She was angry, obviously shielding herself from him. One could almost see the steam rolling off her stiff form- or was it the mist? He fought the urge to shake his head, replacing it again with a tiny bit of his earlier confidence.
" 'I forgive you' would be a good place to start, I think." He grinned, hoping to lighten the sallow mood and ease her concerns. Instead, heated blue eyes slanted in irritation. The first chill wind of the season swept past, tugging at her hair and skirt with sharp fingers. Her stance shifted, legs set slightly wider as if readying for a fight.
"But I don't."
There was a dull thud. His heart maybe? All the breath rushed from his lungs in one great puff of anxiety and the smile sputtered and went out. That aching spot in his chest that always seemed to react to her throbbed in time with his heartbeat. His already dry throat scratched and hurt, as if he were swallowing all the painful words he could think of at once.
"You don't even know what you did, I bet. You can't be sorry for it."
"Yes I can. What kind of dumb rule is that?" He countered confusedly, mind spinning. Her initial attack had lit something in him, and instinctual need to defend himself. Besides, what was he, some sort of mind reader? "How the hell was I supposed to know it would piss you off?"
"What?" from the confused look on her face, she obviously had not been able to follow his train of thought. He groaned; that much should have been obvious, she wasn't a mind reader either.
"Sorry." He shifted, feeling his hackles rising for a fight like they did with the Odango. But this wasn't some whiny middle school brat, this was the woman he was going to spend the rest of his life with. He had to be calm and cool, get the answers he needed and convince her to give him a chance. "Can I at least ask why you won't go out with me?"
"You mean," she paused here to kick at a small pebble with a red boot before continuing, "besides the fact that you're an arrogant, womanizing, self-centered jerk? Maybe the fact that I don't really want to be just another notch in your belt? Gosh, I don't know, Mamoru-kun."
God, sarcasm? From Moon? The world had officially gone nuts in the last few minutes. The girl was sweet as sugar and definitely fiery, but sarcasm was not something he'd ever seen from her. Especially not of the scathingly true variety, that was the worst. He had to admit, with a look back, maybe revealing his civilian identity hadn't been such a good idea to begin with. Coming from his side, such relations were normal, but from hers he must look like the a-typical male. Well…shit.
"Look, let's just…focus on the subject, k? I haven't been like that in a long time, and it's all because I met you, Moon. I just want a chance…"
"To what?" She broke through the nervous tirade with a calm retort. "Take me on a date? At your place? Then what, you want to sleep with me and brag to all your college buddies about it? Everyone's hero gets to sleep with the stupid little Senshi girl. Very honorable."
"Now wait just a minute…" he broke through, fire rising again at the accusations. He had fantasized more than once about her and him, but none of that had anything to do with anyone from the college.
"How did you describe me again? Big boobs? Great legs? I forget the exact wording."
The words fizzled out on the tip of his tongue as the conversation with Matsumori came to mind from a few days earlier. She'd heard about that? Shit! He hadn't meant it seriously! It was just to throw them off the trail, not for her to somehow overhear! Had she been close enough to eavesdrop on them? Had she been there? Had the pining brat actually published it in hopes of getting him back? A cold chill went through him at the thought, and suddenly all the hostility made sense.
"I was really mad at first, because I thought only a class 'A' jerk like you would talk about me like that –like I was just some little toy. Now I just don't care. I spent way too long caring. If you're done, I'd like to go home." The cold wind tugged at her unrelenting form, almost the same way his eyes ran over her longingly. He felt like the wind, begging and pleading for something he could never have.
She turned to go, arms dropping down to her sides as she went. The hollow click of heels against concrete broke the burgeoning silence in a steady rhythm. Each little tap felt like a nail in the coffin, and each gust of wind sputtered against the dying ember of hope flickering in his chest. It was the loneliest time of his life that he could remember, even more so than waking half dead in a hospital bed with no memory at all. And he was alone again…just like always. And he always would be without her. So alone…
"Wait!" he called, desperate to stop the sudden sense of helplessness drowning his soul. She paused, barely turning her head at all to show she'd heard him. It was enough to see the faint glimmer of tears running down her face, and enough to prove he could still make things right. She was as hurt as he was, and even if it took forever he'd make it up to her. "Moon, please don't go."
God, he sounded so pitiful. But he didn't care, as long as she turned to him, came back. Tears stung the backs of his eyes for the first time in…forever. For once he was glad to be wearing this ridiculous domino mask, because it hurt like hell to watch her walk away from him.
"Please." He forced his voice to steady though it took more effort than he would have liked. "I would do anything for you."
She reached up to wipe at the streaks on her face with one hand, he watched her take a steady breath. The moment stretched on forever between them before she turned to him again. The moonlight glittered across her tear-stained face and trembling mouth, and reignited what little hope he had left.
"Mamoru-kun, the day you can look the real me in the face and say that, we'll talk. Until then, don't count on it."
A smile split across his face a moment later, the cloud of despair ripped from him as he came forward quickly to grip her shoulders. He could have kissed her! Of course, considering how things were between them right now, that probably wasn't the best idea. It didn't stop the warm grin plastered to his face –but then, he didn't think anything could.
"Consider it done."