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Chapter Ten: One Day of Serenity

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The youma was ready to shout out for victory. Already the creature with its leathery wings and beady yellow eyes was tasting victory. It was obvious that the three preys was not capable of escaping the attack that Lord Nephrite had ordered and it relished the adulations it would receive to be the only one who had defeated these enemies.

Nephrite flipped his silky hair and made ready to disappear. The job was done. Zociete could go to hell now, along with his sick master Kunzite, because he and he alone, had defeated the Sailor brats.

None was expecting the sudden rain of petals that swirled around them.

The air became perfumed by it, as if the entire night wind had stripped all the red petals of every rose in existence and brought it to where the fight was happening. It created a swirling vortex that changed the trajectory of the ebony stakes.

The force of the wind was strong enough to carry the stakes upward instead of straight towards the Senshi. The stakes hovered in mid air before it was aimed at its creator. With a blink of an eye, the stakes were released by some invisible force and begun its onslaught on the Dark Kingdom general and its ugly minion.

In the midst of these swirling flora, a masked man with onyx hair appeared, his grin filled with sinful pleasure, while in his left hand, a cane twirled with lazy abandon. His staccato steps moved closer and closer towards Sailor Moon and with a flourish, he handed her a single red rose. He looked pleased with himself for once again saving the girl from the big bad…bat. And the big bad general.

"Err…Thanks?" said Sailor Moon, unsure what to make of this new character. She tried to remember if she should know him, but all she can come up with was a strange person in an idiotic top hat and velvet cape with red silk lining…and cheesy opening lines.

Tuxedo Mask raised a sardonic eyebrow. "Thanks?" he inquired. 'Not exactly how I imagined she'd say with my new dashing entrance…'

Sailor Moon gave Sailor Mercury a desperate look, asking for help, but the blue haired Senshi was once again gaping. In fact, Mercury, Mars, and even the delirious Jupiter looked liked they were having a hard time from keeping their eyes from bulging from their heads. Tuxedo Mask looked white hot! And sexy. And romantic.

And sexy.

All three Senshi blinked. When they opened their eyes, Tuxedo Mask was still sexy. Unfortunately, for the sexy man, the Senshi leader was too worried about the whos and the whats to notice this very prominent detail about him.

With a deep breath, Moon gave the man before her a small smile and said, "Look…Uh, err…Uhm, this is Senshi business, so…You know?"

Underneath his mask, Tuxedo gave his dream girl a look. He didn't have an idea why Sailor Moon was acting so out of character, but he really wasn't sure if he wanted to find out. The hero was desperately hoping that this golden haired distraction did not go all loopy at him the way the Odango did. Because if that was the case…God help her.

He gave her a secret smile, trying his best to project what every woman wish for in life…A hunk to fulfill their every desire. "I know."

"Oh…"

The young woman's blue eyes were squinted as she peered from his shoulder, standing on tiptoes. "You know, the bad man has escaped your roses," she confided in a little girl's voice. "The monster, too, in fact…"

The hero gave her a small, tight smile of disbelief that she would take notice of something so trivial when he was doing his best to charm her off her revealing new gear, before turning towards Nephrite and the youma again.

Nephrite's brown gaze was furious. He sported wounds from where the stakes had been too fast for him to block. The Dark Kingdom minion raised his hands, ready to summon black energy, but Tuxedo Mask was too keyed up to give him the time of day. Therefore, instead of giving his famous speeches, he drew his brows in concentration and gave the enemy a smart salute.

With a flick of his wrist, the same petals that had now settled to the ground, raised again and created another deadly dance. It surrounded the general, and the now sobbing youma. Where the petals graze their skin or any surface, it created little cuts. It was as if all the softness was taken from the flowers and all that were left were a thousand silken blades.

Grimly he watched his lovely roses do there job. Tuxedo had never tried this form of attack before, but he was feeling fearless and daring, and the idea popped to him while he was flying towards the fight. He was broken from his dark mood by a tentative tapping on his broad shoulder.

He turned towards Moon and cocked his head to one side, in a silent gesture of asking. His tall form was waiting, tense and ready, for anything she will say.

"Anou. Uhm. Who are you?" she asked.

Except that.

"Let me make this clear…" his voice held a slight trace of stoic indifference doing its best not to be a growl. Barely there, but still, at least it was there. No matter how miniscule it was. "You are asking me who I am."

Her long silken hair followed the bobbing motion of her head. There was an earnest and very confused look on Sailor Moon's beautiful face and her small hands were clasped behind her while one foot was busy scuffing the ground. It was an adorable picture.

Except for the bloody question, it should have been endearing. And cute. As it was…

'Calm,' Tuxedo ordered to himself. 'I have got to keep my fucking calm.' His hands made small gesture of choking as he held them still, stiffly by his sides.

"You. Do. Not. Know. Who. I. Am." It was not a question.

Sailor Moon, still in her 'I'm so adorable' pose, tilted her head and bit her lower lip. She flashed her blue eyes at him from the protection of long lashes.

"I wouldn't ask if I knew now, won't I."

Her answer, delivered with a hint of exasperation, grated his frazzled nerves. She was now in the process of twirling a strand of crimped hair, occasional giving the tall man before her suspicious looks. He looked like a person contemplating of the benefits of killing someone. Behind him, Nephrite and the bat-like youma was fighting a losing battle with the rose petals.

There were times when a man had reached his very limits. In Tuxedo Mask, it was getting to the boiling point. It had been triggered by a blonde and now, another blonde was doing her best to tend the fire that would have him shooting steam. Not good at all…

However, Mask considered himself a gentleman, both in his hero form, and in his alter ego. True, this day as Chiba Mamoru had been less than exemplary, but he could figure out how to remedy that tomorrow. With the senshi in front of him, he would not make the same mistake. He would approach the problem with a straight and rational head, he would do his best to be the dream guy every teenager in Tokyo dreamed and sighed about.

He would generously give the Senshi a benefit of a doubt. Even if the encounter was fast following - step by step - his own moments with the Odango Atama. 'Why would Usagi and then Sailor Moon both act like they don't have a clue about who I am?' He raked his hands to his hair before he collected himself. 'Fine, you brat. I'll play your bloody game, since I played with Odango. But if you pull the 'I love you' at me, better start running.' Even a gentleman has his limits.

"I am Tuxedo Mask," he said, his voice deep and suave. He had cocked his hips in a manly imitation of her body movements and his strong arms he crossed before him. The hint of a devil- may- care smirk was dancing on his lips. He had a reputation to live up to. Plus, he wanted to impress the idiot before him in case she really had been rendered with amnesia.

Charm oozed from him like a siren's call.

Sailor Moon's blue eyes widened at his answer. She digested this interesting knowledge and was surprised to hear a small vestige of approval from inside her. A part of her had recollections of him, it seemed. The image of the same man as before with his cape billowing in the wind as he balanced himself on top of a lamppost – 'Why would anyone be crazy enough to balance himself on a lamp post?' – persisted in her confused mind.

She smiled tentatively. She now had a very hazy idea of him, and it was obvious the girls were not that worried about this conversation, since Mercury and Mars had yet to call out a warning. And, he has saved them from getting skewered. That was a heavy thing going for him.

'A friend, then,' Moon decided. She nodded, more to herself and addressed her hero.

Her mind shortly lost its line of thoughts as she finally saw what she should have been seeing in the first place.

He was very tall, with a lean, muscular physique admirably shown by the half opened dress shirt. His shoulders were broad and the waist slender. The chest, somewhat half hidden by his well-muscled arm, was admirably smooth and beautiful. A strong column of neck supported a face too handsome, hindered by a mask. Somewhat visible behind it were mocking blue eyes the color of twilight. The rich black hair was thick and it fell to his hidden orbs, giving him a boyish charm.

His nose was straight and his full pink mouth was sensually seductive. There was a hint of a dimple on his right cheek, nothing too big, but visible enough to give him that extra charm that he really did not need. All in all, a damn good specimen of the male sex. Definitely drool worthy.

"What's your name again?" Sailor Moon asked in a dazed voice, her beating heart suddenly going crazy. 'Why does he look so familiar?' she troubled herself more. 'Is he the same man on the lamp post? He could be him…except without the moronic hat and bow tie…' She wet her lips that had turned dry all of a sudden and spoke again. "You look familiar, you know?"

It came out suspiciously like a croak.

She huffed, irritated and flustered at the same time. 'Why do I have a feeling I should know how he kisses…' Moon's face became beet red at her line of thoughts. 'Focus, Usagi! Focus!' To rectify her bemused state she gave herself a hard whack on the noggin.

The man before her smiled slowly, aware of his impact toward the young woman, And glad that everything was becoming normal again. 'Now we are getting somewhere,' he thought.

"Mask," was his smug reply. "Tuxedo Mask."

Moon cleared her head by giving it a shake. A hard one. Her cerulean gaze took in that the enemy had yet to get away from the perfumed nightmare that they were in and focus once again towards the raven-haired man before her.

'Okay, I can do this.' She gave him another once over. 'Handsome, I'll give him that…But still…'

She leaned close and said in a pitying voice, "Demo…Do you realize you have a stupid name?" Sailor Moon gave her hero a sympathetic pat. 'I wonder who gave him such a weird alias. Such a shame, really, since he is sooo gorgeous…'

Behind her, Jupiter, no longer dazed, gave Mercury a leveled look and whispered in a tired voice, "Damn…I wish I brought popcorn. This is actually very entertaining…" She gave Tuxedo Mask a Cheshire grin and said "Moon's right, you know? That really is a horrible name, Tux."

Her comment went ignored. All of the masked hero's focus was tuned it towards Sailor Moon.

The Senshi of Storm and Lightning turned a little, still hurting, but with the amused smile still occupying her lips. She had caught the gist of the conversation while recuperating and was now holding Luna in a vise grip. Just in case the cat intervened in what was proving to be a very 'out of the ordinary' exchange between her leader and the very red, sexy, masked man.

While Mercury, seeing the darkening scowl on Tuxedo Mask face, was too frightened to answer. Instead, she offered a silent prayer for her leader. Because judging from how the day is turning out… insanity was beginning to brew like, well…crazy…

Inside a silvery-fogged place, two young women were giving each other death glares. The younger of them was demanding for the older one to shut the hell up, before secrets were revealed and promises made, became promises broken.

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She could not quite believe her eyes.

Sailor Mars sat down due to weak knees. She felt dazed, suddenly unable to breath. Once more, she opened her third eye to take one more peek and almost fainted.

For Sailor Moon, sweet klutzy Sailor Moon, was blinding.

No more of the silvery pulse or the crystal white glow, instead the Senshi leader was a swirling light show of intense power. So great and brilliant, she could no longer see Usagi anymore. In fact, the light that Moon's aura was emitting was engulfing Tuxedo Mask himself.

'My gods,' thought the miko, 'This power…How is it even possible for anyone to posses such?' Her purple eyes begun to tear and she drew her head down to stare at the ground. The boring dependable ground was brown and bland and therefore gave her a moment to compose herself. Mars tried to recall every story that her grandfather had told of her and then flashed back to every powerful person she had ever looked at.

No one could rival Usagi's shine.

It was not…human.

It could not belong to a mere mortal.

Keeping her head lowered, she pushed her way to her two friends and to Luna who was held by Jupiter. She needed company, for what she was seeing was chilling. The implications of the powerful aura around the Moon Guardian were something not even she could fully grasp. Mars needed Luna's knowledge.

Mercury saw her first. The blue haired senshi looked worriedly at her and would have spoken had not Jupiter took notice of Mars and spoke first.

"Glad you wizened up and stopped sulking," said the green-eyed warrior with a light tone. She raised herself up to a more comfortable sitting position while still holding on to the struggling cat and gave the newcomer a cheeky grin. "It would not ever be the same without you, you know?"

Mars stared at her friend and gave a weak smile. It had been hard trying to cope with what happened in the temple, harder to fully admit she had lost to Usagi yet again. The leadership was the first, then Tuxedo Kamen, and last, Chiba Mamoru's affection. But her grandfather had went to her and instead of comfort had delivered a put down she herself had never thought the old man was capable.

-flashback-

"Are they right, mago?" he asked, his old face looking more ancient than any other time. "Did people speak the truth when they said you were a cold stuck up bitch who believes herself better than anyone?"

Rei had looked at her sofu with shock. The priest should have just slapped her instead of just saying those words. How could her own Grandfather speak to her with so much cruelty?

The old man had turned away fully intending Rei to digest his words. As he left, he left another parting shot. "If you hold on to your anger and pride, mago…Then they could be right after all." Hino-sama gave his granddaughter a backward look full of sympathy and knowledge. "It won't lessen my love for you if they were right. Ah, but little flower, how sad your life be, if you were such…"

-end of flashback-

His words had hit home. Rei had remembered the lonely life she led before she became Sailor Mars. The whispers spoken behind her back, the jeering she knew that followed her. "She is so stuck up!" they always said. "Who does she thinks she is?"

It had been very lonely, indeed. She ignored the fact that she had no friends, even when she ached for one. She wanted so badly to not stand out. To be accepted, even though she possessed the Vision. She ignored the look of resentment she received from other girls whom she met because she refused to be cowed by their cruelty, because she could See that she really was better than her retractors. Hino Rei never asked to be a seer. She never asked if she could become a priestess. But her grandfather had no one else, and she did not want him to feel as alone as she was. She truly loved her sofu-sama. And like or not, she could Look, so look she did.

Because of this gift, she saw how insecure other people truly were. How petty and insignificant they could make their lives simply because they were always envious of what other people had. She realized they only spoke cruel things about her because they resented the fact she had more than they did.

Rei became cold, haughty, until the time came when she herself believed herself to be such a person.

Better, prettier, smarter, and stronger. Everything other people could never be all at once.

Then Usagi came with shy Ami. With them, was Luna…and the henshin wand of Sailor Mars.

And that was when Rei realized she was not smarter after all, because Mizuno Ami had full monopoly there, nor was she the strongest because when Kino Makoto joined their ranks, even Rei knew she could never rival that.

Then Luna had given Usagi the title of leader and the moon wand. Both Mercury and Jupiter had agreed it was the best choice. Rei hid her resentment. Because she did resented that she was overlooked. She resented greatly. It should have been her, Hino Rei, who should be leader. Was she so worthless? What good was she, then, if not for that?

It was mystifying, though, that Usagi never pulled rank, as Rei would have done in her place. Never once did the smaller girl use this superiority over any of them. If anything, the blonde was always humbled by the responsibility. As if awed by the reality that she was leader. Frightened even. And her attitude humbled Rei. Because deep down in the miko's heart, she knew Usagi deserved what was given to her. Ami, Makoto and her own self…they were dispensable. But Usagi – Sailor Moon – was not.

The blonde never showed Rei a moment of envy. There were a great number of times when Usagi would be disappointed at herself, but not once was she ever resentful that others were better than she could ever be. She whined when she had problems, but it was all talk. For when Rei would Look, the miko would realize it was just that. All for show. There was no real reason for her wailing. It is as if Usagi simply liked the fact that she could wail and used the privilege every time she can.

But let her see a baby or a butterfly, or even a small flower from a weed in the sidewalk and the wailing and whining goes to a sudden halt, to be replaced by the most radiant of smiles. Because nothing, absolutely nothing, could depress Usagi. She enjoyed life too much to be weighed down by such silly things like medal and school trophies. She could not quite understand the need for people to hoard jewelry and acclamation.

True, Usagi could be shallow most of the times…However; this shallowness did not roost in her soul. Like a child, wanting something with obnoxious tenacity only to be completely happy if all she got was a bedtime story. It was a light spirit that the blonde possessed.

Usagi simply loved to love people. Surprisingly enough, though it could mean her downfall, she saw no particular reason to change her motto. It was something that always left Rei in awe when she remembered this about her ditzy friend.

The blonde had the unique ability of being at peace with what she had. Then she became Sailor Moon and people started nagging her to get better.

Rei and Luna, being the loudest of those voices, demanded her to change. From Luna, the nagging was the simple fact of Usagi being the leader of a group of warriors the only one capable of holding the Negaverse at bay.

But Rei had different reasons. She was not a fool. When she saw Usagi's aura that very first time, it surprised her how little Usagi had to show for it physically. Such a powerful chi, should be nurtured and mastered. Too bad Rei was so impatient. When she should have been tolerant, she merely shouted. When she should have explained the reasons why to Usagi, all she was capable of was snapping at the blonde.

And unlike Usagi, Rei has a shallow and petty spirit that did roost in her soul…Because Rei was only human and prone to such emotions - not her fault that her golden haired friend was not struck down by the same limitations.

There were times when Rei did feel that life had been unfair. All that potential power wasted on Usagi, a girl, who saw no need to utilize it.

Until now, that was. Because she Saw what Sailor Moon was doing. She Saw the tendrils of power coming from the Moon Warrior slowly enveloping Jupiter. She Saw how it merged with the other senshi's emerald aura, overpowering and strengthening it. And what enchantment! This regeneration was something only the mages and monks of old were capable of. The kind of power that made legends and heroes. Right there, happening before her very eyes…

'How can I rival that?' Mars mused. 'Even those who have no Vision will caught a glimpse of that shine.' She sighed and allowed peace to enter her heart. 'Usa was right, anyway. Mamoru-kun had never even shown any sign he wanted me in his life…'

'I've always known that if I do manage to nab him, I will always have to content myself with the knowledge that I will have to share him with Usagi.' She willed the tears to not come-it still hurt a little to know how futile her efforts were. 'That would have been awkward anyway. Me clinging to his arm as he and Usagi proceed with insulting each other like there was no tomorrow.'

She huffed. Aloud, she said the next words to no one in particular. "No girl will ever be able to distract him enough to not want to spar with her anyway. I've always known that." She shrugged. 'And I should be honest enough to admit that while they were fighting, there auras were most definitely not. Enemies have repulsing auras when they get together. In those two, they merge beautifully.'

Something clicked at the Fire Senshi's mind. Something she missed. Something about auras and chis…She would have pursued it except Moon's light show was escalating so that even without her Inner Eye, she could see it, albeit in a less glaring brightness. Her thoughts zeroed back towards her leader.

'Hmnnn,' Mars thought as she looked at Jupiter's laughing face and Luna's angry one, 'Why do we bother looking for a princess when Usagi herself – alone- could defeat the enemies? What can the princess do that Sailor Moon can't? How much more power could the Silver Crystal we are looking for posses against what I am seeing right now?'

She looked at her leader and felt a gentle tug at the corner of her lips. 'Would it even be possible to find someone greater than Usagi? Greater in kindness and in her honesty…Greater in how she spread her love and joy to anyone, no matter how unkind to her? Greater than this power?' She turned to Luna and asked the adviser her next question. "It'll be a let down, wouldn't it be, Luna, if the princess turned out to be lesser than Sailor Moon's shine?"

She plopped down to Mercury and watched as Tuxedo Mask and her leader proceed with their discussion. She was not finished talking. "If you ask me, I think we already pretty much got everything covered."

"Why…why would you say that?" Mercury asked with an inquisitive look in her serious face.

Mars laughed. In the night air, the sound was free and unhindered by jealousy and petty emotions. "You are not seeing what I'm seeing, Mercury. Because if you can…God help us if the princess we are looking for can't even summon half of what Moon there," her finger pointed at the golden haired senshi, "can dish out."

It was the brown haired Senshi of Storm and Lightning, who spoke next. "Huh?"

"Her aura. I'm not sure if you can believe me, but…it rivals the sun."

Luna stopped struggling. A nagging thought entered her mind and she stopped mewing in frustration from Jupiter's grasp. A past knowledge crept like a thief in the cat's consciousness. 'No one but of the immortal bloodlines posses such auras,' thought Luna. 'Not even the Guardians of the Princess can boast of that…' To emphasize her point she gave all three senshi a hard look as if by doing so, she could posses the psychic eye and look at each one.

She looked at Sailor Moon currently twirling her hair and giving Tuxedo Mask shy looks beneath her lashes. 'Why should she posses the aura of the titans and the gods?' She looked at Mars and saw the Fire Senshi smiling with sheer delight. Her purple eyes were laughing as she followed on what was going on between Tuxedo and Moon. It pleased her to see that Rei was past what had happened in the temple.

Though Luna would never admit it, the Lunarian adviser had always thought it was a lost cause between Chiba-san and Rei. There just was lack of response in the young man's part when he was with Rei-chan. None of the spark she had the chance of seeing on the rare times Luna was present while Usa and he fought.

A vision of a young woman in a white gown pouting and giving a handsome knight a silent treatment rose to her consciousness. There was something…oddly familiar about the scene. About the two involved. She tried to remember more and was shock when the two emitted a glow in her memory. The man in a golden light, while the woman in a silvery crystal hue. 'Is that…the princess?' Luna thought, disquieted. It was like both, in there silent war was now battling on who possessed the stronger aura. The female had anteed up and she was surrounded by a crystal white light.

It was the same light that surrounded Sailor Moon in her recent transformation.

"Mars, when you said…she rivals the sun, what did you mean?" asked Luna.

The senshi tossed her long black hair with a flick of a wrist before answering, "Just that. I had to close my psychic eye to it. The whole bling was gonna render me blind."

The cat would have asked some more, except Tuxedo Mask was now holding on to Sailor Moon in a death grip and hissing, "Tell me you are just being funny. And for your information, you blonde twit, your name is just as stupid. Who in heaven's name ever heard of anyone naming themselves Sailor Moon?!?"

To which the Moon Warrior replied, "Hah! Just admit your name is stupider, why don't you! I mean, Tuxedo Mask? Where in the devil's name did you get that anyway? It's just soo-o-o moronic. You are not even wearing a tuxedo, you jerk!" She fidgeted and scowled at the masked hero. "Hey, you're hurting me!" She tried to kick Tuxedo's shin, but he ignored the pain and pinched the scout on her side for retaliation.

Luna, worried for her charged, shouted at the young man. "Unhand her, you scoundrel!"

All three senshi watching the unfolding drama gave the black furred adviser a look of irritation. They really wanted to see just how much Sailor Moon could ruffle Tuxedo Kamen's feathers, and Luna had better not be a spoilsport. Jupiter, her hands still gripping Luna's body, would have squeezed it in annoyance, saved at the very last moment, pink swirling rose petals appeared where Nephrite was standing, still trapped in Tuxedo Mask's attack.

The blonde haired general appeared and besides him, was another general, this time with silver hair. The new addition to the ranks of Negaverse big bosses had a disdaining air around him, a look of boredom on his sharp features. They looked first at the larger group before turning their heads towards Nephrite and the now dying youma. A look of displeasure passed on the taller of the two, while the blonde one tittered behind a delicate looking hand.

Jupiter, still holding onto her hostage, drew Luna nearer and whispered, "Did that guy just tittered?"

The Senshi of Ice felt a sudden bout of disappointment. "I think he is gay…Shame, too. He's rather cute…"

Nearer her, Mars gave Mercury a hard whack in the head. Luna started spluttering. "What did you just say?!?" This sudden confession from the usually reserved scout was big enough to chase Sailor Moon and her verbal clash with Tuxedo Mask clear from Luna's mind.

Mercury bowed her head and blushed scarlet. She prayed for intervention and almost whacked her own head as well for saying aloud what she had said. 'Honestly Ames,' she chastised herself, 'It's so obvious that new general was a fruitcake…Whatever were you thinking…'

She raised her head, ready to defend what she had said, except in doing so, she encountered a very peculiar sight. The Ice Scout stared hard…

…eye to eye to a luminous white cat, a crescent mark of gold on the feline's forehead. Behind the animal was a silhouette of a young woman, her features hidden by the shadows.

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A/N: Sorry, guys. I will be updating in about two days or so. I just wanted to see if I got this editing right…

All help and comments are welcome.

Hugs.

Oh, last, but not least, I finally figured out what the stats in my account meant. I saw this story is now in a C2, and I checked it out. To who ever placed it there, thank you very, very much. It was an honor, considering the terms for a story to be included there.

That it was my first attempt in writing a fan fiction so for it to be added for that was a really nice surprise.