The Princess Problem

by bunniko

Usagi and Mamoru are together, but the dreams of the princess haven't stopped. Jupiter has been awakened. When a new senshi appears, Mamoru's vow that he will only love Sailor Moon is tested. In addition, the team will face internal and external challenges that may cost them everything. Sequel to An Unlikely Encounter. DRAMA, not mush.

6. Of Hopes and Dreams

The Princess Problem Six

AN: Just wanted to give everyone who might be wondering a rundown on ages. If you check some of the links in my profile about the ages of the senshi, you will see that there are a lot of discrepancies. I've had to lock myself into one interpretation, but I don't think I have ever clearly addressed it before. The main problem I have with figuring grades is that in Japan, you start 1st grade in the April AFTER you turn 6. So all the other girls (except Rei), would be a year ahead or would have to be younger than Usagi. Since it is stated that Usagi is the youngest of the group, I've made it that you have to be 6 by September 1st of the previous year. (Working with Usagi's birthday as June 30th, 1978, that would make her start 1st grade in April 1985. Ami's birthday would then be September 10, 1977 and she would miss the September 1st cut-off for the April 1984 term, meaning she, too, starts 1st grade in April 1985). That way, none of the girls' birthdays put them ahead of Usagi. So here is my timeline: An Unlikely Encounter occurs when the girls are in 8th grade at Juuban Middle School (Apr 92 to Mar 93 term) and Mamoru is in 11th grade at Azabu High School. So, at the beginning of 8th grade, Ami, Minako and Makoto are 14 and Usagi and Rei are 13. Since Usagi is 14 when she becomes a senshi, I decided that happened towards the end of the 8th grade term. School runs from April 5th to March 24th. AUE begins in the spring, just before the new school term begins, so Usagi and Rei are mere months away from their 15th birthdays. I went with Mamoru being 16 at the beginning of the 92-93 term, so he is 17 at the beginning of AUE. Therefore, in the beginning of TPP where one month has passed since the end of AUE (which took place over a 10 day period), the new term has started, Usagi and the girls are in 9th grade (which is still considered junior high/middle school in Japan) and Mamoru is now in 12th grade. Ami, Minako, and Makoto are almost 16, Rei has just turned 15, and Usagi is almost 15. Minako shows up at the beginning of September, when school has resumed after summer break. That puts most of TPP as happening in September, with all the girls being 15 (except Ami, who is 16), and Mamoru now 18.

AN2: Thank you to everyone who has reviewed me and contacted. The writing of this chapter was interrupted by a very painful heartbreak and it played a big part in helping me to move forward again. I'm sorry I haven't personally responded to everyone like I usually do, but I want you all to know that your constructive criticism, praise, and encouragement was greatly appreciated. Though I write for the love of writing, I am always interested to hear what part of the chapter really impacted you or made you laugh at loud. ADABN and my other secret project are to be the main focus of my writing efforts for the next few months. Please enjoy and let me know what you thought!

The Princess Problem Six

At Artemis' worried prodding, Minako returned to bed, allowing him to think her gloomy musings were already forgotten. She fell into a restless sleep, her dreams mere shadows of the past.

Venus stood on the balcony, gazing at the Earth wistfully. Beside her stood Mars, her face concerned as she, too, pondered the blue-green planet hanging in space. They were silent, lost in thoughts Minako could not access. Instead, she seemed more like an invisible third party looking out through Venus' eyes.

"The darkness is strengthening," Mars murmured. "I can feel its malevolence."

Both incarnations of the blonde senshi noted Mars' hand at her throat, as if the girl's psychic self was under attack by the hateful energy.

Venus spoke softly, her voice pitched from Mars' ears alone, "How far has it spread? Can you tell?"

Mars closed her eyes and became impossibly still. While she sought answers, Venus surveyed the palace grounds with a practiced eye, Minako hungrily studying everything, her ancient soul soothed by the tranquility of her half-forgotten past home. She noted guards in the bushes, along the path, and at the outer gate, and thought how futile their presence was. The "darkness" Mars spoke of would brush them off like newborn kittens.

Her train of thought was derailed when Mars gasped audibly. The shocked visage of the proud warrior filled Minako's vision. "It sensed me and threw me out!" The Martian's purple eyes flashed, offended at the audacity. "It is very serious. The shadow swirls even about Earth's palace, reaching for their Prince. He is in great danger, but I could not find out who it is that threatens him."

Venus's arm rose to rest on her frustrated comrade's red shoulder. "Earth has declined our aid, despite Endymion's pleas. Their xenophobia is pitiable, but not surprising." Earth rose up in Minako's line of sight again as Venus swung her head to stare at the enigmatic planet. "For now, we can only offer love and support to those that trust us."

Minako felt her perspective shift and she stared a moment longer at the two warriors' backs. Mars' arm had wrapped comfortingly about Venus's waist, but they both stood alone in their thoughts, eyes trained on the horizon. She could tell that they continued to speak, but their words were lost to her. A moment later, they were gone and a new scene appeared.

Five girls were seated at a long table with many other dignitaries. Minako noted Queen Serenity at the head of the table. At her right sat Usagi's past self and at her left sat Minako's. Beside Minako was Rei and across from her was Makoto, with Ami next to her. She paid them little attention, instead scoping out the people with them. She vaguely recognized them as delegates from the various planets, with the exception of Earth and Pluto. It was clear from the frozen tableau's faces that there was a bit of a disagreement occurring. Her gaze swung back to the Queen, who wore a patient to look upon her face.

"This is ludicrous! You cannot be serious, Your Highness!" The abrasive shouts startled Minako violently and she turned her attention to an irate man near the far end of the table. "Princess Rei is obligated to marry a man of equal standing and some Earth general-lackey is beneath contempt! You insult our heritage and our princess by including her in this ridiculous agreement to appease your own daughter's childish infatuation with a boy who doesn't even have full control of his own people!"

Minako couldn't fault the man for his anger. And his description of Endymion was highly accurate. After all, she knew full well that from the moment Endymion had announced his plan to petition the Moon for entry into the Silver Alliance, Earth had been plunged into disarray, escalating towards a global civil war.

As she watched Princess Rei, Minako was impressed as the fiery young woman merely watched Queen Serenity and took her cues from her. It reminded her yet again how different the girls were from their past selves. As Queen Serenity calmly began to address the Martian dignitary, a slender man with piercing blue eyes and long white-blond hair stepped forward and caught her attention long enough to deliver a brief message.

Queen Serenity nodded to the man and then quietly made an announcement to the group, looking each of the girls in the eye before she spoke. "Ladies and gentlemen, the delegation from Earth has arrived." She rose and the entire room's eyes were riveted to her. "I expect that they will be afforded every iota of respect they deserve." Her tone even chilled Minako and she vaguely felt as if the Queen's words were directed at her as well.

Moments later, the door at the far end of the room opened and Prince Endymion and his Shitennou entered. Their faces were carefully schooled to be impassive, but Minako could read a great deal of frustration under the surface. It seemed to her dispassionate eye that there was dissension in the ranks.

The image of Kunzite's face lingered in her mind as her dream shifted. Something about his eyes caused her to recall her brief encounter with him during the afternoon's battle. Though the cold hatred for the senshi had been blatantly obvious at the shrine, his eyes had held something else when he'd been looking at Tuxedo Kamen. As she pondered the way he was looking Endymion, she realized he'd been gazing at the crowned Prince of Earth with contempt.

Troubled by the revelation that at least one of Endymion's Shitennou had already turned against him before the attack on the Moon Kingdom, Minako jerked herself awake. Pushing herself up carefully, she sat silently staring into the darkness of her room for a moment. Artemis snored lightly at her feet. The idea that Kunzite had already fallen to Beryl's sway and had still been moving freely about the Moon Palace infuriated and horrified her. All of the changes they had made to security would have been laid bare for Beryl's spy to inspect and no one would have even questioned his nosing around.

Anger and self-disgust washed over the teen. As the leader of the senshi, she should have been more cautious with Endymion and his men, instead of trusting them to the point of allowing them to share the senshi's duty of protecting the Palace and its occupants. She felt like she had personally handed the keys to castle over to Beryl.

Minako pulled her knees up to her chest gingerly and rested her head on them. For some time now, she'd been tormented with strange memory-dreams. They had begun only once she had surrendered to her past self. It embarrassed her to remember how reluctantly she had accepted her role, giving up her carefree existence slowly. A sardonic smile pulled at her lips as she considered how similar she had been to Usagi.

Minako had been awakened by Artemis the day she had planned to give Higashi-sempai her love letter. He'd actually thwarted her attempts twice that day, she remembered with a fond smile. Aptly named Narkissos by the Dark Kingdom, she'd caught her crush draining admiring girls of their energy. Forced to transform and kill him, she had been devastated. She had thought she had found her true love and he had turned out to be a pathetic youma.

Life had continued like that, falling first for a gang leader who was in love with her teacher, and then for a young police officer who despised her alter-ego. She'd flirted with love, but always felt pulled away from it by her destiny as a senshi. Her duty as a senshi had also pulled her away from her friends and pretty much ruined her school career. She had mourned the loss of her friends, but she hadn't really been upset about school. Her face twisted into an embarrassed grimace as she remembered thinking of her carefree daily persona as a "disguise", but then forgot about her obligations whenever a cute boy passed by.

"Of course, that was before I met . . . him," she mused sourly, her moment of lightheartedness vanishing quickly. She closed her eyes tightly against the welling pain in her chest that had nothing to do with the damaged flesh covering her torso and everything to do with a man who had resembled Kunzite and behaved like Tuxedo Kamen. Well, at least at first.

Ace's face surfaced in her mind's eye and it was a difficult task to hold back the whimper of misery he brought with him. His death had been the key that unlocked her past, but it had also been the catalyst for the end of her dreams.

Sighing, she lowered her aching body back onto the mattress and allowed the last man she would ever love to fill her memory, feeling she owed him that much. Artemis would no doubt disagree.

Ace had appeared out of nowhere, helping her fight against the Dark Kingdom. She'd immediately fallen for him, unfazed by the fact that he was really an action star/idol. She accepted him whole-heartedly as her destined partner. He was everything a girl could want: handsome, dashing, charming, and sweet. But the talent agency he worked for was suspicious and Artemis wanted to investigate it. It had been the final mission she would undertake as naïve little Minako.

Unable to believe that Ace could be involved with the Dark Agency, she'd auditioned for the leading lady role more fan-girl than senshi. He'd chosen her in a heartbeat and began openly romancing her, especially once they arrived in China. He'd seemed to know too much about her, especially her past life, but she had tried to ignore it.

The day he told her he loved her played out in her mind. He'd slipped a ring on her finger, kissing her suddenly as he declared his devotion to her, and she had been eager to return his affections.

He'd doubted her. That had stung; it made her focus on the way she'd fallen in and out of love so quickly. It made her question if being Sailor V was the most important thing in her life. And she hadn't really liked the answer. He'd pulled out his love fortune cards and challenged her to pick one.

Her lips still tingling from his kiss, his ring on her finger, and words of love pouring from her lips, she had pulled out the ace of clubs. He told her the card represented a crossroads in fortune. Then he had asked, "Do you love me?"

"Yes," she'd whispered, staring up at him, not understanding the significance of the card.

"That's a lie," he'd declared, stepping away from her, eyes cold. "You're never serious. You always choose something more important than love."

She blinked away his accusing face. His accusations were unfair after his own duplicity was revealed. She might have fallen into his trap, if not for the fact that every time she lost herself in his arms, a vision of someone pleading for her help would snap her back to her mission. Though she had convinced herself the visions were about him at first, the Princess had soon made herself unmistakable. Realizing her feelings for him paled in comparison to her awakening sense of duty and devotion to her, she had snapped out of her own delusions and confronted him about his knowledge of her past life.

He'd revealed his past identity as a lowly Venusian foot soldier named Adonis who had loved her from afar and had been among those chosen to serve the Prince in the war on Earth. He told her how deeply he loved her and how he had worked to rise up through the ranks to finally meet her, only to realize she couldn't put love before duty. He even went so far as to hint that she had loved someone else, but that her love hadn't been whole then, either.

He had then spoken of how he had fallen with the Shitennou and the rest of the army to Beryl's sway, revealing his current identity as Danburite, a loyal soldier who served the Shitennou. He had attacked then, blasting her away from him, forcing her to strike back. Her attack had knocked him off his precarious perch and she had lunged for him, catching his hand. As he had dangled there, he was less concerned with his safety or his mission than he was with their relationship.

"There is only one destiny. My path ends," he'd murmured, "without ever reaching you."

Minako had clutched his hand tightly and demanded, "Is it your fate to defeat the ones that I love?"

An ace of hearts had appeared before her. "I'll tell you your final love fortune." Ace's voice had been distant and it seemed he either had not heard her question or had not deemed it worth answering. "Your love will be hopeless for all eternity."

Minako's eyes still welled up with tears when she remembered those words. Her devastated look had caused Ace to laugh hollowly.

"What's wrong? You should look happier. Now you can go on living, without having to torment yourself over the ultimate choice – your love or your duty. Your fate is to continue fighting. Your true battle begins now . . ."

He'd disintegrated before her overflowing eyes. She had destroyed him for the Princess, his last words predicting that she would always choose the Princess over herself. She was doomed to never find love because her duty was her destiny.

Her duty… Minako's eyes opened, sparkling with resentment. It was a higher price than she had first realized. After he died, her memories of the Silver Millennium had begun to awaken, and she had been filled with a burning zeal to protect the Princess and to be reunited with her beloved friends, warriors who would understand and appreciate her. In her memories, she saw only the love and affection that bound the five together. Sacrifice meant little when she was with them.

But then came the discoveries. First, the memory of their last days, when Earth broke out into a full-scale civil war over their Prince's intention to marry the Lunar Princess. Then, she'd come to realize her own role in facilitating the forbidden romance. Finally, she'd had to face the fact that the Prince's most trusted men had not only betrayed him, but had seduced the senshi in order to tip the balance against the Silver Empire, resulting in their deaths at their lovers' hands.

That final memory of her death finally broke the dam and silent tears rained down onto her pillowcase.

Venus half-knelt, staring in shock at her bloodstained hand. A dark chuckle forced her to look up at her handsome, maniacal assailant. "Look around, you overconfident hussy, and see what your ideals have come to."

Weakly, Venus obeyed, the blood loss causing the view to fade in and out erratically as she did. Mercury, the first to have fallen, lay crumpled in a heap, half-buried underneath the rubble from an alabaster pillar, a pool of blood cooling about her. Zoicyte was still absently brushing off flakes of ice from his uniform.

Jupiter was splayed out on her back, eyes vaguely staring up at the stars, her neck broken. Her body was battered and bloodied, numerous sword wounds having slowed her down, allowing Nephrite the cruel intimacy of snapping her neck with his gloved hands.

Mars' fatal wound was hard to detect. Jadeite had stabbed her so many times in the chest and neck that her entire upper torso was an unidentifiable mess. As she died, he'd even gone so far as to pose her, arranging her ruined body on a slab of what had been the outer wall. He placed her in such a way as to make her look like a sacrifice to some bloodthirsty god. He was still standing beside the makeshift altar, admiring his handiwork.

She found her Princess cowering in her lover's arms, the demonic witch hovering over the both of them. A desperate need to go to Serenity caused her to surge to her feet, eyes glued to the terrified girl.

A foot swept out, knocking her headlong to the ground. Kunzite's hand fisted in her hair and he hauled her up to dangle helplessly in front of him. Her right hand reflexively reached for her own sword, but she knew it lay yards away, knocked from her nerveless grip when Kunzite had run her through. Blood filled her mouth and she coughed violently, speckling his face and uniform. He didn't even flinch, just dropped his sword and curved his right hand about her throat.

She absently noted his left hand release her hair as he began to squeeze. He strangled her very slowly, letting her watch his Queen torment her beloved Princess as she died. Her vision went dark just as Beryl pulled Endymion away from Serenity, the agonized screams of her precious charge the last sounds Venus heard.

Minako buried her face deeper in her pillow, knowing she would always bear the guilt of her failure in the past. She was torn between cursing Queen Serenity for allowing her to know carefree happiness in this life and groveling in thanks to her for allowing her that temporary reprieve from the reality of her failure. She doubted any of the other senshi would ever understand the despair and joy that filled her as she devoted herself to the mission.

She doubted Artemis even fully understood her mission. Dropping into their midst like a bolt of lightning, declaring herself Princess Serenity, and whipping them all into shape was only half her mission. She was to teach the real princess how to survive, was to protect her at all costs, and was, quite honestly, expected to die for her. All to keep the real Lunarian heir hidden, even from the Prince she had killed herself for. She rolled her watery eyes at the burden laid on her.

As much as she wanted the old camaraderie back, she feared it. If the girls remained hostile to her, then they would not really mourn her when the inevitable happened. She just needed to figure out where the Ginzuishou was. If she could do that, Minako was certain the remaining senshi could carry the Princess to victory.

Wallowing in self-pity, Minako imagined the senshi after her death. They would perhaps be angry at her death, but their delight at the revelation of the real Serenity would far outweigh their concern over her fate. No doubt Artemis would eulogize her beautifully, impressing on the girls the dedication and meaning behind her life and death. It wouldn't matter, though. Kunzite's mocking words would still ring true, "No matter how willingly you throw your life away for her, it will make no difference in the end. She will pursue her own happiness as selfishly as ever. You've never lived your own life; preferring to call your devotion to your occupation a life. You should thank me for setting you free."

Remembering how alike they had once been, how he'd been just as devoted to Endymion, shamed her. Though her compatriots had fallen truly in love, Minako had to accept that she would never have chosen Kunzite over duty. Regardless of which master he served, she knew Kunzite would have never have chosen her, either. Without the manipulations of Beryl, he might have regretted killing her a bit more, but he would not have balked at the order.

Nor was Kunzite alone in that mentality. Adonis' love for her had been warped by Beryl into an obsession. And that obsession had only fueled his willingness to kill her for the Dark Kingdom. To Minako, it was proof that she was not only incapable of truly loving someone, but also that she was undeserving of someone truly loving her.

Tossing restlessly, her foot struck the softly snoring cat at the end of her bed. He stirred briefly, but sank back into a peaceful sleep effortlessly. She calmed the tears a bit, gazing at the unconcerned cat glowing faintly in the moonlight.

She smiled sadly at him, remembering how overjoyed he had been when she had matured so quickly. He had been so happy at first, she mused, and now that they were finally here, he seemed miserable. Perhaps he understood the mission better than she had given him credit for.

She knew she hadn't been a particularly fun person to be around lately. Her journey back to herself had been extremely painful and she knew she was jealous that she had been forced to go through it alone. As she'd fully realized her obligations as the decoy princess, her mood had further soured. It was ludicrous to her that she should be expected to be bright and bubbly after learning her true value. She was nothing more than a shadow of senshi, not even important enough to keep alive.

A heart-wrenching sob clawed at her throat and it took all her willpower to suppress it. Surrendering to the overwhelming pain in her soul, Minako finally cried herself to sleep, finding brief respite from her ghosts.

/\/\/\/\

Mamoru groaned in his sleep, arms tightening unconsciously about the softly snoring blonde in his arms. A mewl escaped her as her diaphragm was crushed between his arms and chest, a subconscious plea for air. That small sound pulled him from his sleep, immediately attuned to her distress. His grip loosened and Usagi snuggled closer, readjusting herself without awakening. He appreciated the intimate press of her warm body against his and buried his face briefly in the curve of her neck.

He had been in the grip of a disconcerting dream. His face was tense and a slight sheen of sweat covered his forehead and upper lip. The fabric of Usagi's T-shirt clung to his bare chest. He absently brushed a few stray strands of her hair away from his nose and slid away from her reluctantly.

Mamoru sat beside her, head resting tiredly in his hands. He wanted to shake off the dream, pull his beautiful girlfriend back into his arms, and try to get a few more hours of sleep. However, he didn't feel like he had the right to be near her.

Princess Serenity had returned.

Glancing at her peaceful face one last time, he rolled away from her and padded to the bathroom to wash his face and try to analyze the dream.

The dream had started like all the others. Serenity was still shrouded in a misty darkness, pleading with him to help her, repressed tears evident in her voice. She gazed at him from the shadows, her hands clasped in front of her chest in supplication.

He walked towards her slowly, feeling like the ground beneath his feet fought his every step. His approach seemed to startle her and she fell silent, drawing back further into the shadows. "Why are you hiding from me?" he demanded, irritated as she denied him irrefutable confirmation of Minako's claim.

"Why are you pushing me away?" she countered, mournfully.

They argued a bit longer, Mamoru trying to press her to reveal her identity and Serenity sidestepping each question. Finally, she cryptically answered, "Every question will be answered when the Ginzuishou is found." Once again, she vanished behind a bright light that intensified the pain of his headache. As the pain increased, he had reflexively tightened his hold on Usagi, her mewl of protest the catalyst that yanked him from the dream.

Frowning at his reflection as he leaned heavily on the sink, Mamoru admitted defeat. He was disgusted with himself. He knew he would not have the privilege of sleeping next to his beautiful girlfriend again for quite awhile and he ended up dreaming about another woman. His gut tightened and his body pulsed with anxious energy.

Already having given up on further sleep, he decided the most useful thing he could do was to go for a run to clear his head and expend his excess energy. He dressed quickly and quietly, sneaking from his own apartment in order to avoid wakening Usagi.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Mamoru emerged from the bathroom, fully dressed, hair still damp from his shower. He checked the time on the alarm clock, noting that it was 6:30 am. Usagi was still soundly sleeping. She appeared not to have noticed his departure or return. He sighed, torn between relief that her sleep had not been ruined and resentment that she hadn't noticed his absence.

She whimpered softly in her sleep and he moved swiftly towards her. A frown crossed her face and she muttered something, freezing him in place. It hadn't been clear, but he was certain she'd called out for someone in her sleep. It hadn't been his name.

Minako's warning came back to him like a physical blow. Usagi had loved one of other Shitennou in her past life. Like Ami-chan, she had been betrayed. He backed away from his bed, his heart breaking. He was afraid of her memories. The brokenness he'd seen in Ami's eyes haunted him. He didn't want to see that pain in Usagi's eyes, but he had no idea how to protect her from it.

His conscience pricked him, giving him pause. Like her, he had loved someone else in their past life. He might dread the inevitable pain of her former lover's revelation, but how could he expect her to trust him about Serenity if he couldn't trust her about a traitor who was possibly already dead? Whoever she had fallen for in the past, he was not going to return for her. Usagi was his, free and clear. She was the one who had to constantly deal with his old love.

As he stood there staring at her, mulling over Usagi's past, the alarm blared. He jumped a bit, startled by the insistent buzzing. Usagi, on the other hand, just buried her head under the pillow and curled herself into a little ball. He shook his head, amusement clearing away his darker thoughts. Hitting the snooze button, he decided she could sleep a little longer.

Usagi sighed softly as the scent of bacon and eggs began to fill the air. Her stomach rumbled, demanding she forfeit a few more minutes of sleep in order to eat a filling breakfast for once. Acquiescing to her hunger, she sat up, blearily taking in her surroundings. As soon as she realized she was not in her pink, bunny-filled room, she was wide-awake. Waking up in her beloved Mamo-chan's bed filled her with giddiness and a strange sense of being a grown-up. She giggled happily to herself and bounced out of bed.

Mamoru was standing over the stove, his back to her, so she decided to sneak up on him. Tiptoeing past the living room and into the kitchen, she was almost behind him when he spoke, "Good morning, Usako."

Undone by the smoky humor in his voice, all the more effective because he hadn't turned around, Usagi could only squeak out a shy good morning and back out of the kitchen. She settled awkwardly on the couch, waiting for him to finish cooking.

Mamoru's smirk faded at her sudden shyness, reminding him yet again of her youth. He felt horribly selfish at having begged her to stay the night, knowing she wouldn't have denied him anything, even though it meant lying to her parents about her whereabouts. Setting the pan on a hot plate on the table, he glanced over at his shy rabbit. She was starting at him thoughtfully, her knees pulled up into his T-shirt, her hair tumbling wildly about her face.

When he sat down beside her, Usagi smiled softly up at him. She freed her long legs and curled into his side. "I didn't know you were so domestic," she teased softly. "I could get used to that."

Mamoru didn't smile back. Instead, he stared back at her, watching her smile fade in the face of his seriousness. "Usako, I'm sorry for asking you to stay," he began.

Usagi shook her head vehemently, "No, Mamo-chan, I want to be with you all the time. I belong beside you."

"No, you don't," he stated flatly. Realizing how he must have sounded, he quickly continued, "At least, not yet." He framed her face with his hands, willing her to accept what he was going to say. "You're not even 16 yet, Usako. Your father hates me. As much as I loved waking up beside you, that's a privilege I don't deserve yet." Tears pooled in her eyes and he knew she was taking his words as rejection. "Don't cry," he whispered softly, "Once we are married, I intend to wake up in your arms until the day I die." He sealed his promise with a gentle kiss.

Mamoru's tenderness caused her tears to spill anyway, but she knew he wasn't rejecting her. He was right about her age. She no longer felt grown up. Even if she chose not to continue school next spring, she would still be legally under her parents' control until she turned 17. Her tears fell a bit faster as she realized she had a little less than two years to wait before Mamoru would even consider marrying her.

Mamoru broke the kiss, gently wiping away some of Usagi's tears. "Let's eat before it cools. You still have to get ready for school."

Usagi let him lead her to the table, but groused, "I hate school." Mamoru pretended not to hear her.

/\/\/\/\/\

Mamoru washed the dishes distractedly while Usagi quickly got ready for school. They had eaten quietly. At first, they had been talking about meeting at Crown Arcade after his classes, but the reality of yesterday's battle came crashing back to them. They decided Usagi should go to the temple to check on Rei, Yuuichirou, and Grandpa after school and that he would meet her there. She reminded him that the battle had interrupted plans for a Senshi meeting.

They had avoided the topic of his meeting with Minako but he knew they had to discuss it before she saw her again. So there he was, standing in the kitchen, washing a few dishes for all they were worth while he tried to think of a way to start this discussion.

Usagi pulled her second bun tight and stepped back from the sink. She hastily confirmed that her uniform didn't look too wrinkled, then stepped out of Mamoru's bathroom determinedly. She was ready to ask Mamoru what Minako had been talking about earlier. Her glance fell on the rumpled bed she'd just shared with Mamoru. She wanted to just pull him back into the room, lock the door against the world, and curl back up in his arms. If only doing so would make the Princess and the Dark Kingdom vanish, she thought wistfully.

Mamoru dried the last plate and turned to face his petite girlfriend. She was sitting on the arm of his couch, her schoolbag at her feet, her face serious. He hung the towel on the oven handle and walked towards her. "Mamo-chan, what did Minako mean when she said she 'borrowed' you?"

Mamoru nearly choked at the choice of words, "What?"

Usagi nodded, "That's what she said." There was no sign of distrust in her eyes or voice, just curiosity.

"She came to talk to me before the test. She told me a few things about the past and said that she wasn't going to interfere in our relationship. She seemed to be looking for someone to lean on."

"What did she say about the past?"

Mamoru ran his hand through his hair. Ami had chosen to keep her memories secret from Usagi, but he decided she needed to know. "Minako said that she wasn't the only one who fell in love with an Earth man. She said all of the senshi found love, too."

Usagi's mouth opened in protestation, but he continued, "Ami discovered hers yesterday."

"What? Who?" When Mamoru didn't answer her, Usagi realized the answer, "Zoicyte?" Usagi's voice failed her and she covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes filled with tears.

Mamoru pulled her into his arms. "They were my closest friends, Usako. At least, that's what Minako claims. They came with me to the Moon Kingdom."

"Are you saying that I was in love with one of them?" she whispered, feeling sick, as if she had been unfaithful to Mamoru. He nodded and she pulled away from him, "I don't believe it."

"Usako . . ."

"No, I won't believe it. I couldn't have loved someone else. I would know if I had," she insisted. Her eyes sparkled with angry tears.

Mamoru decided to change tacks, "Rei knows, but Makoto was with you when Ami told us. She feels terrible. I think you should keep a close eye on her today." Grateful that Mamoru had let the possibility that she had loved one of the Shitennou go, Usagi nodded.

"There's something else you should know about the Senshi and the Shitennou." She stiffened and he paused, then plunged headlong, "They killed the Senshi at Beryl's order. Each one killed the girl who loved him."

Usagi turned away, merely nodding in acknowledgement of his words. When she found her voice again, she asked, "Do you remember them?"

"No. Minako swears they were my closest friends, but when I think of them, all I see are my enemies, your enemies." He pulled her back against him, resting his head atop hers. "I'm sorry to burden you with all of this, Usako. But your friends will need you." A part of him burned with the need to tell her of the name she had said in her sleep, but either she was in denial about her dream or she had no memory of it. He decided it was best just to let it go.

They stayed like that a moment longer. Finally Usagi sighed, "I guess I'd better get to school." She pulled out of Mamoru's arms and grabbed her schoolbag.

"Hold on a minute and I'll drive you there." He still hadn't told her about Kimiko. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and dove in, "Have I ever told you about my stalker?"

/\/\/\/\

Usagi kissed Mamoru goodbye as she hopped out of his car in front of her school. She made a big show of looking around for a high school girl with a bad bleach job. Laughing, she waved as she ran inside the school gates, knowing he would watch her until she disappeared inside the building.

Makoto and Ami were waiting in front of the main doors for her. Both were tired and rumpled and Usagi could tell that they, too, were wearing the previous day's uniform. "Good morning," she murmured, smiling at them.

"Mornin'," Makoto greeted behind a yawn, "You're lucky to have a boyfriend who picks you up in the mornings."

Makoto's gentle teasing fell flat when Usagi confessed, "He didn't pick me up this morning."

Ami's shriek filled the courtyard, "What?"

Makoto clamped a hand around Ami's mouth and laughed, "Way to go, girl!"

"Oh hush," Usagi scolded, embarrassed at how openly she was talking about this. "It wasn't like that."

Ami, red-faced, finally pried Makoto's hand off her face and scolded, "Usagi-chan, you are only 15! You could get him in serious trouble!"

"Thank you, Ami-chan, but we've already talked about that. And nothing happened!" Usagi hissed back, looking aroundin a hunted manner.

Both of her friends looked more than a little relieved to learn that there hadn't been any hanky-panky. "Well, alright then, I guess," Makoto murmured awkwardly. "Still, this probably isn't something you should tell Rei or Minako."

"Or Luna," Ami added. "What did you tell your parents?"

"That I stayed over at your place."

"Hmmm, I stayed at Rei's last night. So did Makoto-chan."

"Ah," Usagi murmured. That left her in a bind as to what to tell Luna, but she'd deal with that later. It would probably be best to just tell the overprotective kitty the truth. Lying to Luna guaranteed more trouble when she got caught. "How is Rei?"

"Hurting, but stubbornly trying to deny it. It took us almost an hour to convince her she couldn't go to school today," Makoto answered, annoyance clear in her voice.

"She probably wouldn't have given up if Artemis and Minako hadn't shown up. He didn't want either one left alone," Ami added. She looked concerned, but she wasn't going to say anything else.

"That should make for an interesting day," Usagi murmured, wondering how the two would get along.

"Plenty of time for Rei to continue kissing the Princess' bu…" Ami elbowed Makoto in the side, cutting the taller girl off. "Fine, pretend that Rei isn't switching sides, then."

Usagi looked at both girls, "Look, I know she hasn't been the nicest girl and that we are conflicted about the story she's told us about the Silver Millennium and all, but she still is the Princess. We don't have to like her, but we are supposed to protect her." Both girls stared at her in shock, surprised Usagi was telling them the same thing Rei had, "I'm not excusing her behavior, but I think she is really lonely."

"I just plain don't trust her, Usagi-chan," Makoto stated bluntly. "You are our leader and you are the person I will protect first. End of story." She turned away, stalking up the steps away from her, effectively preventing Usagi from responding.

Ami shook her head, "She's unbelievably stubborn."

"Agreed. But this dissension in our team will only benefit Zoicyte and Kunzite." Her eyes filled with sympathy when Ami flinched at Zoicyte's name and she put a hand on Ami's shoulder, "I'm so sorry, Ami-chan."

"Mamoru told you, then?" When Usagi nodded, Ami sighed, "I didn't mean to hide it from you, but I really thought I had been played for a fool and been the one that opened the door for Beryl's attack. When he said all four of us loved them and that they weren't bad at first," she paused as Usagi stiffened. "What did I say?"

Shaking her head, Usagi tried to smile, but Ami saw through it. "You feel guilty about that, about having been in love with someone else," she murmured softly, her eyes shining in sympathy.

"No. I don't have anything to feel guilty about. The past is dead, Ami-chan. Even if I did love one of the Shitennou, which I find very hard to believe, it wouldn't matter. Mamoru and I love each other and nothing from the past is going to interfere."

"You sound much surer of that," Ami mused.

"I am. I've decided that my insecurities are ruining my life and are unfair to my Mamo-chan."

Ami wanted to congratulate her friend on her new-found maturity and peace, but the bell rang loudly in their ears and she settled for a quick hug before they rushed inside to start the day.

/\/\/\/\/\

Mamoru's day got off to a lousy start. He was painfully aware of the giggling girls on the front steps. As he approached, they began whispering in a pathetically obvious manner, only to fall silent as he passed. As soon as he entered the hallway, he could see his locker. He groaned in annoyance and disbelief. The damn thing was decorated with hearts and a bright pink envelope was taped to the front. Motoki was standing in front of it, his camera phone out, grinning at Mamoru like a daft monkey.

"Hey, buddy," he sang out.

Mamoru ground his teeth, tempted to hit his best friend. Instead, he took his temper out on the paper taped to his locker, ripping it off with tightly controlled movements. Wadding everything up, including the unopened letter, he dumped it into the nearest trash can.

Motoki unrepentantly grinned at him as he returned and began to unlock his locker. "So, do you want to hear what they're saying about you?" he asked. Mamoru suspected some of the joy Motoki was taking in this debacle was due to yesterday.

"How about you drop it and we go off campus for lunch today?" he counter-offered. "That way, you can still lend me your ear and you won't have a black eye."

Motoki laughed at the mock threat, but was more than happy to agree. But before he could say anything, Mamoru opened the door to his locker and a packet of photos fell out, strewing themselves across the floor. Both men looked down at the glossy pictures curiously. "Oh my god . . ." they muttered simultaneously.

Across the floor lay pictures of Kimiko in various outfits. Wedged beneath his foot was a photo of Kimiko in a Western-style wedding gown. Closer to Motoki was a shot of Kimiko at the beach in a bikini. Still another was a picture of Kimiko posing in her old middle school uniform. The most disturbing picture, though, was one she had apparently Photoshopped. In it, Mamoru and Kimiko were standing side by side in the front yard of house, a toddler sitting on the grass in front of them.

Motoki couldn't look away from the Photoshopped image as he dropped to his knees to hastily gather up this odd collection of life stepping stones Kimiko had created and shoved into Mamoru's locker. "Okay, this isn't funny anymore. Where did she get a photo of you?"

Mamoru tore his eyes away from the pictures and shrugged, "I don't know and I don't care. Just toss them in the trash with the rest of her garbage." His jaw was set tightly and he grabbed his textbooks with more force than necessary. Silenced by the ire evident in his friend's body language, Motoki complied with Mamoru's command, slipping the pictures back into their paper packet before trashing them.

Neither saw the teary-eyed Kimiko whirl away from the far end of the lockers and rush into the girl's bathroom.

/\/\/\/\/\

With Ami and Makoto's help, Grandpa Hino and Yuuichirou had been moved to their own bedrooms early that morning. They had helped Rei feed the two men, who had finally regained consciousness about 4 am, but had abandoned her when it came time to head off to school. Rei would have abandoned the men, too, if Minako and Artemis hadn't shown up. Minako hadn't been any more enthused about being kept home from school than Rei had, but they accepted their fate. Between the two of them, they had managed to concoct an explanation for how they had gotten hurt and then claimed the Sailor Senshi had shown up to save everyone.

Rei roped Minako into helping her clean up the main room of the shrine. They would have to keep it sealed off from the public until Grandpa was well enough to perform the purification rites, since blood had been spilled in the room, but there was no point letting any traces of blood sit and seep into the wood flooring any more than it already had. The two girls worked slowly, mindful of their own injuries. Rei was grateful for Minako's help and Minako was grateful for the way the work kept her mind off gloomier thoughts.

When they took a break around noon, Minako suggested they stay indoors, despite the pleasant weather. "I feel like a sitting duck here, Rei-chan. They know that you and I are seriously injured and they know this is where you live. The only thing that is working in our favor right now is the extent of Zoicyte's injuries." She paused for a moment, then wondered, "Do you think the Shitennou heal faster than we do?"

Rei shrugged, "I have no idea. The amount of damage we did to Zoicyte was rare for us. The only other time one of us has really injured a Shitennou was when I killed Jadeite."

Minako stared at her in shock, "You killed Jadeite? How?"

Rei leaned back against the wall, rubbing her right shoulder, which throbbed from the strain of scrubbing floors, "He was kidnapping people who visited this shrine, before I was awakened. Usagi came to investigate. That day I had a vision of her in danger, so I went to help her, only to get captured myself. Usagi followed. She transformed, somehow bringing Mercury through the portal to her. Mercury told me to transform and I did. I killed him with a simple Aku Ryou Tai San demon banishment attack." She smiled softly, "There was a time when they thought I was the princess, actually."

Minako smiled back, "Rei-chan, there is something I want to talk to you about regarding my position."

Rei turned her full attention to her princess, shaking off the faint memory of Jadeite's handsome face, "Of course."

"If anything should happen to me, the other Lunarian can take my place. You must guide her into that role if I should fall. Only one of Lunarian royal blood can wield the holy weapon. For some reason, destiny had created two of us. Perhaps the fall of the Moon Kingdom was already known at the time of our births," Minako got lost in her musings.

"But isn't it our purpose to protect you first?" Rei protested.

"My cover is blown, Rei-chan. You say you want to make amends for that. Then do as I say. Protect her as your duty tells you to protect me. It is possible that I will survive the Dark Kingdom's attempts on my life. But they can not be allowed to take both our lives and she is another walking target."

"I thought it was our job to die for you, if need be," Rei protested, unable to comprehend why Sailor Moon should be more important than the Princess.

"All of you already have. It would serve no purpose to do so again in this life. I do not wish for any of you to die for me again. If my death would satisfy Queen Beryl's hatred of my people, then I would gladly sacrifice myself to her. But she is power-hungry and she needs the Ginzuishou to fulfill her desires. So all I can do is buy time for it to be found and used against her. She is more than capable of this. All of you have bright futures, while I only have a bright past."

"So you are just going to give up?" Rei was incredulous.

"If you want to see it that way, I can not stop you. But I do not see it as giving up. I want her protected at all times. You trust him, so I must trust him. However, he doesn't have the powers the three of you do. You must keep her safe."

"And if we find the Ginzuishou before you die?" Rei pressed, angry at the princess.

Minako smiled at Rei's anger, "Then I will do what must be done. But there is something else you should know about the Ginzuishou. Use of its power is harmful to the wielder. Even if I use it and defeat Beryl, it may still claim my life. This is only for you to know, so that you can take charge if I do not survive what is to come. She is my successor." Her eyes caught Rei's and pinned her, "Do you swear to keep this information between us and to protect her for me?"

Rei had no choice. Duty and honor rose up within her, filling her in a way that felt as familiar as it felt alien. She knelt before her princess, never breaking eye contact, "I swear it on my life."

Minako laid a hand on Rei's shoulder. "You are beginning to awaken, Mars. I am relieved and glad."

/\/\/\/\

Zoicyte slept soundly, tended only by Kunzite. He'd spread word that the younger Shitennou was locked in Kunzite's study preparing for the next attack and was not to be disturbed. The servants and underlings of the Dark Kingdom knew to stay away from Kunzite's realm. No one except Danburite had ever been allowed free entry into Kunzite's quarters and that foolish boy had been dead for quite some time.

Zoicyte had always hated Danburite. He had hated the amount of trust Kunzite had placed in the Venus-obsessed lad. In fact, the only comfort Zoicyte had taken was that Danburite's interest in the blond senshi had guaranteed he would have no interest in Kunzite. When Danburite had been sent to the surface to deal with Sailor V, all communication between the two men had been cut off, by Zoicyte himself. Even though he and Kunzite had been involved long before Danburite left, Kunzite had always been careful to keep him at arm's length. While he understood the need to keep their relationship a secret, he still chafed at Kunzite's restrictions.

Kunzite knew Zoicyte was the jealous type. He was careful not to encourage that behavior. Beryl would not tolerate any strong connections in her kingdom, except to herself. She believed each of her Shitennou to be desperately in love with her. To prove that false would be to invite death. Try as he might, he could not impress this reality on the headstrong man he loved. He kept himself aloof, preparing himself for the eventual loss of his beautiful Zoicyte. He would either be annihilated by the Senshi or by Beryl. Nephrite had foreseen Zoicyte's death for him, but had not been specific as to whether one of the Senshi would kill him or if failure against the Senshi would be why Beryl removed him from this life. In either case, at least as far as Kunzite was concerned, both parties would be responsible for Zoicyte's death.

Kunzite was tired. Too tired to be concerned with the risks of having Zoicyte in his quarters. He tossed his jacket over the back of his chair and tugged off his boots before sliding into bed beside the injured blonde. He lightly kissed the sleeping man's lips, vowing in a hushed whisper, "They will die for what they'll do to you."

/\/\/\/\

The lunch bell rang and high school students poured gratefully off the campus. Mamoru usually chose to eat a packed lunch under a tree on the nearly-deserted campus with only a textbook for company, but for once he was looking forward to leaving the confines of education's hallowed halls for a fast-food lunch. Motoki had made him promise they could ride around with the top down, his friend's desire to show off lightening Mamoru's mood.

Finally opting for a McDonald's located on the 3rd floor of a department store near a busy music store, Mamoru and Motoki claimed a table in a corner. Both had ordered cooling melon sodas and they sipped them casually while waiting for their burgers and fries.

"So?" Motoki pressed once the food arrived. He leaned forward interestedly, shoving several hot fries into his mouth gracelessly.

Mamoru found himself at a loss for words, uncertain about where to begin. Finally, he decided to start with information Motoki already knew, "You know those weird dreams I told you about?" Motoki nodded. "Well, there's something more about them than I had told you. You absolutely cannot tell anyone else about this, though."

Mouth full, Motoki could only mimic the American "cross-my-heart" hand motions, much to Mamoru's reluctant amusement. The coerced half-smile dropped from Mamoru's face quickly as he contemplated the expectant look on Motoki's face and tried to find the necessary words.

"This is going to sound really strange," he sighed, leaning forward to ensure his voice carried only across the tiny table. "The dreams are memories from a past life."

Motoki snorted in disbelief and disappointment shot through him. "What are you trying to pull here, Mamoru-kun?"

Mamoru gave Motoki his best "shut-up-and-listen" glower and was relieved that it worked. "Just listen and you will understand everything in a few minutes," he snapped. "The reason I have been having these dreams is because I am Tuxedo Kamen," he blurted out quickly, needing to get the confession out before he lost his nerve. Motoki choked on his soda, but Mamoru ignored the interruption, "She has always been asking me to help free her by finding some kind of crystal."

Motoki found his voice, "So you knew this princess in a past life?"

"We were engaged," Mamoru stated flatly.

"Have you told Usagi?"

"She knows she is the only one that matters to me. But the problem is that I am not the only reborn soul. All of the Sailor Senshi are as well. As is the princess."

"If you were engaged to a princess, then you must have been . . ."

"A prince, yes. The prince of Earth, actually."

As he feared, Motoki found the idea of Mamoru as the ruler of the entire planet quite amusing. It was several minutes before Motoki was able to ask how much Usagi knew about all of this.

Mamoru hesitated and Motoki's gaze sharpened suspiciously. Knowing Motoki would eventually make the leap himself, he divulged his beloved's alter-ego, "Usako is Sailor Moon, Motoki-kun. One of the Moon Princess's sworn protectors."

"Ah," Motoki murmured, instantly empathizing with the young girl. "She must feel like a traitor."

"We've discussed this," Mamoru conceded. He quickly gave Motoki a superficial explanation of the downfall of the Silver Empire. "The princess blames me for the destruction of the Moon Kingdom," he concluded. "She claims to have no interest in me and to have no plans to tear Usako and me apart, but I don't trust her."

"So, yesterday had something to do with youma, then?" Motoki deducted.

Mamoru nodded, "Sailor Mars was ambushed by two of the Dark Kingdom's generals." He closed his eyes against the horror of the previous day's battle and Motoki wisely kept silent, despite his burgeoning curiosity.

They finished their meal quietly, lost in their own thoughts. After chucking their trash and riding the escalator down to the first floor parking lot, Mamoru finally spoke, "I'm sorry to have burdened you with all of this, Motoki-kun. I may have put you in danger."

Motoki waved away Mamoru's concern, "A burden shared is a burden halved, right buddy? You need to have someone to talk to about this. Usagi-chan is a wonderful girl, but she can't be your whole support system." Mamoru could tell that Motoki was a little hurt that Mamoru hadn't confided in his sooner.

"Thanks, Motoki-kun. I don't know what I would do without you." He offered the blonde man an apologetic smile.

"You'd wallow in your despair and spend all of your inheritance on coffee," Motoki shot back good-naturedly.

/\/\/\/\/\/\

Lunchtime at Juuban Middle School was a noisy affair. Tired from the toll PE had taken on her sore body, Usagi had not noticed that Ami and Makoto didn't join her group at the picnic table. They snuck off to eat lunch together, leaving Usagi with her old friends. They hadn't let the blond out of their sight, but they hadn't wanted to include her in the discussion just yet.

"Mako-chan, I discovered something yesterday that troubles me," Ami murmured, her eyes haunted. When Makoto simply waited for Ami to elaborate, the smaller girl took a deep breath before plunging into her tale, telling her about the memories and feelings Zoicyte had awakened within her as well as the information Serenity had given Mamoru about the senshi's past loves.

As Ami fell silent again, Makoto's eyes glittered suspiciously. But whatever tears might have been lurking there were quickly chased away as the girl swore colorfully. After another moment of silence, Makoto asked bitterly, "So she's going to lay the blame for all that destruction on us as well?"

Ami shook her head, "No, Mako-chan, I think she is focused on the guilt of the Prince and his men. She apparently assured Mamoru that it was real love and not an artifice the Shitennou used to trap us." Her pale blue eyes grew wistful and Makoto's heart ached to see such sadness on her friend's face. "Whatever powers Beryl wields gave her the ability to turn them against us, despite that love."

"Perhaps that is why she values the love between Usagi and Mamoru so cheaply," Makoto reasoned. "She says she was the last to die, besides her mother, and the psychological wounds of that tragedy do not seem to have healed." There was an air of authority to her words that Ami attributed to the emotional scars Makoto bore over her parents' tragic deaths. "But while she may be deserving of compassion, I still do not trust her. She is lying to us about the last days of the Silver Millennium."

Ami nodded in agreement, her own instincts in accord with Makoto's. "It is hard to say exactly what part of her story is fabricated," she muttered, "but I know she is not being entirely truthful. Is it because she does not trust us or does she have a good reason for this deception?"

"I can't imagine a reason good enough to lie to the people who are supposed to have been the closest to her in the past. She said she was eager to rejoin us, but her attitude has certainly been ambivalent, to say the least."

"You're right. It's almost as if there is something preventing her from really opening up to us." The two girls fell silent, musing over their concerns as they finished their homemade lunches.

As the bell rang, Makoto rose, brushing off her skirt and staring up at the bright blue sky. "Usagi is my priority, Ami-chan. I will do what I must to keep the peace for her sake, but when trouble strikes, it will be Usagi's back I watch."

Ami nodded in agreement, "I have come to the same conclusion."

/\/\/\/\/\

The afternoon dragged by slowly, but finally the bell rang, releasing the three girls into the sunshine. Ami and Makoto flanked Usagi as they slowly walked towards Hikawa Jinja, their behavior making Usagi nervous. She felt like they were on the defensive. She knew they would need to be more cautious about their movements, but she resented it.

Ami and Makoto kept exchanging glances over Usagi's head, communicating silently.

Their conversation lingered in their minds as they escorted their leader to the shrine.

While they were worried about the two wounded girls waiting for them, they were more concerned about Usagi's safety. Ami, in particular, was fearful of another trap awaiting them. The Shitennou would not pause for a heartbeat to use the injured senshi against them, especially if they thought they could destroy Sailor Moon.

/\/\/\/\

Artemis and Luna sat on the rooftop of the shrine, keeping their own silent vigil over the wounded senshi. Luna was giving Artemis the cold shoulder and kept glaring at him every few minutes, irritated by his presence. Even more irksome was his poorly hidden amusement at her pique.

After several hours, the white feline finally broke the silence, "Enough with the petulance, Luna. It was not appropriate for me to tell you that I was Central." He smiled as he settled closer to her, murmuring, "You would have stopped listening to me."

"Of course I would! You are a foolish twit. Whatever were you thinking turning the Princess into a warrior and forcing her to fight alone?" Luna sidled away from him, her eyes glowing as if on fire, "You put her in extreme danger!"

"I did what I had to do. No one involved in this is safe. Every single family member and friend of the senshi and the Prince are in just as much danger. More so, since they are oblivious to the threat and defenseless against it."

The cruelty wreaked upon Grandpa Hino and Yuuichirou rose up unbidden in both cats' minds and silenced them. "There has to be a way we can prevent this from occurring again," Luna murmured sadly.

Artemis sighed heavily. "Luna, I know you aren't going to want to hear this, but we are talking about saving the planet, not just the senshi's loved ones. There is no guarantee all of the senshi will survive, let alone the civilians around them." He refused to meet her wounded eyes, hating to have to be so harsh with her.

Artemis' words were not surprising to Luna, but they were horrible to hear. As memories from her past began to slowly surface, she remembered the way the senshi were isolated from their peers, kept apart from the civilians they would risk death to protect. That was not an option now, since their families would be horrified to learn their daughters were all that stood between them and the forces of destruction. She sighed softly, settling down on the high ridge of the roof, resting her head dejectedly on her front paws.

Artemis gazed at her lovingly, taking advantage of her distraction to let his bottled-up emotions shine free. His connection with his charge meant that as her memories returned, so did his. He missed the secret affection they had shared when court eyes were focused elsewhere. It was hard to wait for her memories to return, but he trusted that his presence would soon trigger her old feelings for him. Of course, he groused internally, it would be easier if he had his old body back.

"Luna," he murmured softly, the longing tone of his voice lost in the wind.

/\/\/\/\/\

Rei and Minako were prepping the meeting room, oblivious to the tension above their heads. As a precaution, Rei had mixed a sleeping tonic into her last batch of tea for the two injured men, hoping it would take hold before the girls arrived. The sneakiness had tweaked her conscience a bit, but she justified her behavior by telling herself they needed the sleep. It pained her more than she wanted to admit that her presence at the shrine put them in danger.

Sleep had been difficult to come by for the fire senshi because of the guilt she felt over their injuries. The only family member that cared about her had nearly died just to lure her into the Dark Kingdom's trap. But she instinctively knew this wasn't a discussion she could have with her Princess. The girl was clearly suffering from her own demons, especially if she couldn't find the will to survive. She would readily confess that her Princess was an enigma to her. Although she was pleased for Usagi's sake that the Princess wasn't going to lay claim to her former fiancé, as someone who had fallen to the perfection Mamoru once herself, she couldn't understand why the Princess didn't want him back. She felt traitorous as she thought that, the thought seeming to betray Usagi somehow. But it was an honest question that troubled her. Even if the Princess dumped all the blame for the tragic ending of the past lives at Mamoru's feet, surely the love that had inspired her to defy her culture's taboos had to still linger within her.

She ached to ask the Princess all the questions burning in her mind, but instead they sat in silence at the meeting table, waiting for everyone to arrive. As the long moments dragged by, Rei began to wonder if she should leave Hikawa Jinja until this business with the Dark Kingdom was settled. But where could she go?

/\/\/\/\/\

Mamoru had promised Motoki a lift to the arcade after school, so he lingered beside his locker after the bell had rung, waiting for the perpetually tardy youth to meet up with him. As he caught himself checking his watch for the fifth time in three minutes, Mamoru became aware of someone's eyes on him.

Kimiko stared at the gorgeous man across from her, drinking in every detail. He was everything she had ever wished for in a man, tall, handsome, fit, intelligent, and kind. She didn't mind that he was shy and introverted or that he seemed dispassionate. She could still remember the gentle way he had tutored her in their science lab, how patient he had been with her and how alive he had become as his interest in the subject had displaced his aloof mien. She was sure she could awaken that kind of fire within him if he would only give her a chance.

His destructive dismissal of her affection that morning had been cruel and hurtful, but as she'd dwelt on the failure of that gesture, she realized that she had probably been unintentionally cruel and hurtful, too. She knew he was a private sort who preferred not to have attention focused on him and yet she had pulled a stunt that had brought all the gossipmongers of the school out in droves to see what would happen. He was probably humiliated and had reacted so harshly in order to save face. Forgiveness and self-recrimination had instantly sprung up within her and she burned with the need to apologize. So she planted herself against the wall opposite his locker and waited for an opportunity to catch his attention.

Mamoru's eyes met hers and her breath froze in her chest. She found his dark blue gaze inscrutable and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. He seemed to be waiting for her to speak and she shoved herself away from the wall to stand mere inches away from him, searching his eyes for any sign of warmth. "Mamoru-san," she whispered, tears pooling in her eyes, "I am so sorry for embarrassing you this morning." She bowed low in apology, the top of her head grazing his blazer and making Mamoru back up against the locker to avoid her touch.

"Thank you for your apology," he muttered stiffly, feeling more uncomfortable with her presence than he ever had because of her sickening love letters.

Kimiko's head shot up, hope and happiness shining in her eyes, "Please, let me make it up to you. I know this great little coffee shop, my treat, and we . . ."

Mamoru blanched, shocked that Kimiko was actually trying to ask him out. "Kimiko-san," he blurted, interrupting her. The shocked, embarrassed, wounded look she shot him softened his heart and he closed his eyes for a moment, searching for a way to shut her down without being cruel, "Your interest in me is flattering, Kimiko-san, but I have a girlfriend," he murmured gently. He hoped this revelation would snap her out of her obsession with him, but he didn't stick around for her reaction. Sidling along the lockers until he was clear of her, he walked briskly down the hall, relieved to finally catch sight of Motoki.

Kimiko stood in stunned silence where he left her, her mind spinning. Her perfect man had a girlfriend? How could that have happened? Suspicion swirled in her heart and she was filled with doubt at his claim. She resolved to uncover the truth. Brushing her orange-blond bangs out of her face, she followed Mamoru into the afternoon heat.

/\/\/\/\/\

Rei and Minako greeted their compatriots quietly. Usagi immediately began to fuss over the two, wanting to know if they had rested well, if they had eaten anything, and if they were in any pain. Ami checked their wounds and was pleased to see that they had healed quite a bit since she'd last seen them.

Both girls endured the fussing and prodding with stoic faces, but Rei's attention was focused on Makoto. She could sense the distrust rolling off the taller girl and was disappointed to find that it was not just directed at Minako, but at herself as well. She realized she would have to have a serious talk with the stubborn senshi about her responsibilities towards the Princess.

Finally appeased, both Usagi and Ami settled at the table. Minako glanced at the spot next to Usagi, wondering if Mamoru was going to join them, but not inclined to ask. The diffidence she sensed from the warriors of Jupiter and Mercury troubled her, but she suspected that they would be happy by her announcement about Sailor Moon.

/\/\/\/\/\

Mamoru divulged the latest debacle with Kimiko to Motoki's amusement as they cruised uneventfully to the arcade. Motoki jumped out, grinning like a maniac and singing out, "Go forth and protect thy lady love, my liege. Be wary of other damsels that might set their caps for thee."

Mamoru stared at the blond menace to his sanity for a moment, before retorting, "Go to work, you buffoon, before I call Reika and tell her you're flirting with middle schoolers again."

Laughing despite making an injured face, Motoki waved and vanished into the arcade, leaving Mamoru to momentarily ponder such a carefree existence. Of course, as soon as his mind pointed out the similarities between Motoki and Usagi, he snapped out of his contemplations, suddenly needing her presence more than air.

/\/\/\/\/\

"As you know, Usagi wields a talisman of great power against the youma. Yesterday, you saw the unmitigated savagery of the Dark Kingdom clearly for perhaps the first time. Even though none of you have fully awakened to your past abilities, Sailor Moon's items possess their original powers and allow us to survive. Therefore, her safety must be guaranteed at all times, even over mine."

Shocked silence greeted Minako's instructions to protect Usagi above all others. Rei kept her mouth shut, wondering just how much Minako planned to share with the others and knowing that it was not her place fill them in on anything the Princess chose to leave out. But despite the obvious fact that Sailor Moon had the best advantage currently against the youma and perhaps even the Shitennou, she thought that they would be better served by guidance in awakening their true selves rather than re-dedicating themselves to Usagi's care.

Makoto smiled softly at the surprising turn of events, but resisted the urge to glance at either Ami or Usagi, choosing instead to keep her eyes focused on the bandaged Princess. As she did, a twinge of pity for the isolated girl snaked its way into heart, momentarily causing her to wonder what her life had been like out there on her own.

Ami and Usagi exchanged glances, the logic of Minako's statement satisfying the blue-haired girl and the shock of it radiating from the blond. Ami could tell that Usagi was about to protest, so she shook her head slightly to discourage her leader and friend.

Minako waited out their silence, but when no argument or question was raised, she continued on, "Yesterday," she began softly, "I was able to see you tested in a very real, very dangerous situation. There were many strengths and I want to commend you on the way you never gave up and how you covered for your sisters-in-arms. That the civilian lives were saved is a sign of your dedication to the people you love and of your inner strength. I am proud of you." She allowed them a moment to accept her praise, noticing the way Rei closed her eyes in pain and guilt over her grandfather and friend's torment. She wanted nothing more than to comfort her old friend, to assure her that everyone understood her feelings, but she feared being rebuffed.

Footsteps crunching through the gravel soon made their way up the wooden steps. All heads turned attentively towards the paper-screened door, watching Mamoru's silhouette as he slid off his shoes and moved to slide open the door. "Sorry I'm late," he apologized politely, with a slight bow to the group out of habit.

As head of the meeting, Minako accepted his apology with a slight bow of her own head, waiting for him to find his seat beside Usagi. She tried not to watch as he slid his arm around her, tucking her close to him. Something seemed different about them, she mused thoughtfully. They seemed to be closer today, if that was even possible. Perhaps the events of the previous day had deepened the bond between them. She resolved to talk to Artemis about it later.

"Usagi-chan, if you will catch Mamoru-san up on the beginning of the meeting later, I'll just continue from where we left off," Minako began, not waiting for Usagi's reply. "However, we have to work on other areas. Within each of you, the memories of the past lie dormant. Those memories are the key to fully awakening the senshi you once were. We need to recover these memories and the powers they will unlock if we can ever hope to sway the balance against the Dark Kingdom and defeat it once and for all."

She glanced from face to face, ensuring she had their full attention, "What I am demanding is not easy. There is a lot of pain in those memories. You will remember people and places that you loved that will never be restored to you. You will be forced to accept your own shortcomings. The cold, hard truth is that the senshi failed in that final battle for the Moon Kingdom. We can not repeat that mistake and lose the last habitable planet of the Solar System. If Beryl comes to power over Earth, the human race is doomed. Queen Serenity sent us here to save this planet, to stop Beryl. If we don't, the sacrifice of the Silver Empire is in vain."

A passionate desire to protect his planet coursed through Mamoru's veins, thrumming in his ears like distant war drums. His eyes darkened at the thought of all that was good and wonderful about humanity being extinguished. Deep within his psyche, a thought rumbled like low thunder, "I will not tolerate the false Queen's taint upon my kingdom."

Minako and Rei both sensed the ancient soul stirring within Mamoru. Rei's eyes widened in shock as she felt the planet itself shiver in response to the energy within the young man. Minako averted her eyes from Mamoru, instead focusing on Rei's reaction to the psychic sensation.

Wary of the others becoming curious as to Rei's reaction, Minako plunged ahead, "To awaken your past selves, I have to ask you each to train on your own. Your natural elements will aid in this, so you should seek to strengthen your minds and bodies in close proximity to your elements. Rei-chan, you will need to be near fire; Makoto-chan, the forest; Ami-chan, water. Usagi-chan, as you are a talisman wielder, I would like you to train with me." All of the girls nodded in turn.

Usagi's thoughts turned momentarily glum at the description 'talisman wielder'. She felt inferior, not having an element that was all her own, but instead having to rely on her tools that seemed imbued with a set level of power that did not vary based on her awareness of her past self. Remembering her theory that she was actually the real Sailor Venus buoyed her hopes, however, since if the Princess wanted to train her in private, then maybe the truth behind the mysteries would be revealed.

"And what would you have me do?" Mamoru questioned, a subtle annoyance for Minako's ears only tingeing the words.

Minako arched a brow innocently at him, "You are the reincarnated Prince of Earth. You need to tap into that past identity as well. You've already begun, as evidenced by the healing powers you poured out on Rei's grandfather and Yuuichirou. I have no idea how you awaken it though." She turned back to the girls suddenly, as if a thought had just occurred to her, "Although you each need to train independently, I want you to be close to another senshi at all times. If you absolutely must be on your own, take one of the cats with you and stay in close contact."

As she finished speaking, Artemis and Luna entered the room. Luna immediately made her way over to Usagi, burrowing into her charge's lap for comfort without thinking about the strangeness of her behavior. Artemis' glum demeanor was evident only to Minako and she scooped him up gently and rising to her feet. "I'm very tired, as I'm sure Rei-chan is, as well. If you will excuse me, I am heading home." She met Rei's eyes and reassured the dark-haired priestess, "I will contact everyone when I get there."

Usagi and Mamoru rose as well, the young man wanting to check on the wounded men and Usagi wanting to interrogate Luna. Makoto and Ami remained seated, knowing Rei would not want to be left alone.

As soon as the door shut behind the couple, Rei shifted, settling her bottom onto her heels to look more authoritative. "Minako may be right about Sailor Moon's importance, but we cannot forget that the Princess is just as important, if not more so. It has always been the responsibility of the senshi to protect the Moon Princess and we must continue to do so, even at the risk of our own lives."

Makoto rolled her eyes, "Oh stuff it, Rei-chan."

Rei glowered at the brunette, several scalding comments begging to roll off her tongue. But, in a remarkable example of self-control, she simply pushed herself into a standing position and padded off in the direction of the Great Fire, tossing a dismissal over her shoulder, "Excuse me for not showing you out, but I believe you know the way."

Ami and Makoto watched the miko go in disbelief. The unraveling bond between them pained both girls. Ami gazed intently into her ice-cold tea, trying to stave back wounded tears by not allowing herself to blink. Makoto watched her, her own emotions fluctuating between anger and disappointment, unsure how to comfort the girl genius. Any conflict in the group always upset Ami, who seemed to need the security of their shared friendship and affection the most.

/\/\/\/\/\

Kimiko walked briskly from Azabu High School towards the arcade, finding the exercise soothing to her aching heart. She hoped that Mamoru would spend the afternoon with Motoki, or else she was afraid she wouldn't catch up to him. She slowed as she approached Hikawa Jinja, enjoying the shade provided by the ancient trees that spread their branches high above the towering brick wall that surrounded the hill upon which the shrine was built. Several cars were parked along the sidewalk and one of them caught her eye. The red sports car sat near the bus stop, its top down, an Azabu blazer carelessly tossed in the back, half-covering a schoolbag. Her heartbeat picking up, she moved closer in order to inspect the license plate.

It was his! Mamoru was at the shrine. Kimiko glanced up the impressive staircase, confused. In all the time that she had studied him, he had never given any indication of being a religious person. Why would he be here? She searched her memory for any information she possessed about this place. She vaguely recalled the strange disappearances of girls from this site. Almost like lightning, a news report flashed into her memory, the image of the mysterious priestess chilling her. Could she be the girl Mamoru had chosen?

Sinking onto the bus stop bench, Kimiko watched the stairs, not caring who saw her waiting for him. A part of her wanted to run up those stairs and find him, and another part wanted to run away and forget she had found him here, but the majority of her was determined to sit right there and wait for him, too afraid to intrude on his time with her and yet intent on finding proof that he was telling her the truth.

/\/\/\/\

Several moments passed in silence before Ami raised her head and met Makoto's concerned gaze. "I'm sorry," she murmured, feeling guilty for troubling her friend. "I'm okay, now." She smiled softly for Makoto's benefit, but it faded as she became serious, "I want to awaken my past self as soon as possible, Mako-chan. I need to understand everything. I'm tired of waiting."

Makoto nodded in complete understanding. "Perhaps we should go to the park? We can both connect with our elements there. I'm not quite sure how this is supposed to work, though." She could tell Ami was uncertain as well. However, once Makoto had an objective, she became fired up. Shaking off the unpleasant encounter with Rei, she leapt to her feet, dragging Ami along with her.

From the side door, Rei watched them go, her own heart heavy at the separation widening between them. "Let their training be successful," she murmured, uncertain to whom she was praying, "Let the questions in their minds be answered."

/\/\/\/\/\

Mamoru knelt between the two men, gently infusing them with a bit more of his healing power. Usagi sat behind him, her hands resting on his shoulders, giving him some of her own strength to lessen his burden. Luna for them waited outside, her usual attitude resurfacing. Once satisfied that Grandpa Hino and Yuuichirou were resting comfortably and that their health was steadily improving, Mamoru and Usagi slipped away, walking hand in hand through the historic grounds.

The drain on Mamoru troubled Usagi and she guided him to a quiet spot to rest. Sinking down onto the plush grass, the young man was silent, content to simply drink in the natural beauty and peace around him while holding Usagi close beside him. They stayed like that for quite a while, until they heard Ami and Makoto's voices drift past them as they left the main building.

"They sounded very serious," Usagi murmured, glancing at Luna.

Luna merely stared back at her young mistress, knowing she could sense the rift between Rei and Makoto widening. Ami was no doubt torn between the two. "I'm going to check on Rei," she muttered after a long moment. "I'll see you at home." She sent Usagi a meaningful look and the blonde flushed hotly, knowing Luna had already figured out where Usagi had spent the previous night.

"There's something almost scary about her, Usako," Mamoru chuckled, his own cheeks flushed a bit in guilt.

"What scares me is the way she looks at me. Almost like she knows what I'm going to do because she's seen me do it before."

Usagi's words hung in the air, though she was oblivious to their cloaked meaning to Mamoru. Unbidden, an image of Luna watching Usagi's past self sneak off to meet her Shitennou lover rose up in his mind, twisting his gut. He stood quickly, releasing Usagi so swiftly that she nearly toppled over, her shocked face shaming him. "I'm sorry, Usako," he sputtered quickly, grasping for an excuse, "I think something bit me." He made a show of brushing his pant leg as if trying to find a malicious ant.

Usagi's immediate acceptance of his excuse and attempts to help rid him of any creepy-crawlies only deepened his guilt. Once he'd convinced her he was no longer under attack, she let him lead her away from the shrine with the promise of milkshakes at the arcade before taking her home. Distracted from senshi woes, Usagi chattered happily as they descended the stone steps, her hand tightly clenched in Mamoru's, his mind and body slowly relaxing.

/\/\/\/\

Kimiko watched a beautiful blonde girl with sad eyes leave the shrine, followed by a white cat. She was mesmerized by the young woman. She wondered if Mamoru had come here to meet with her. She could picture them together easily and her gut churned momentarily. But the sad expression on the girl's face was familiar to Kimiko, reminiscent of her own pain when she thought about how loveless her own life was. A sense of kinship filled Kimiko as the younger girl vanished around the corner. No, the beautiful blonde was not Mamoru's girlfriend, she decided. That girl seemed to be locked in her own secret pain.

Even as curiosity filled her as to the source of her pain, two more people appeared on the stairs. A tall brunette stormed down the stairs, her eyes almost scary as they glowed with an intense determination. Behind her, scurrying to keep up, was a smaller girl with short, bluish hair whose left hand was gripped tightly by the taller girl. Kimiko almost wanted to back away from the pair as they dashed past her bench and in the opposite direction from the other girl.

Shaking her head, Kimiko contemplated giving up. Perhaps Mamoru had only parked here and had walked somewhere else. Knowing his penchant for jogging, she entertained the notion that he might come round one of the corners of the shrine, his body sweaty, yet only slightly out of breath. The image nearly transported her into fantasyland, except that she realized only his blazer was abandoned in the car and Mamoru was far too fastidious to go jogging in his crisp white dress shirt and perfectly pressed dress pants. Not to mention that it couldn't be comfortable to run in dress shoes.

Letting the fantasy of a hot and sweaty Mamoru running up to her, a knowing sparkle in his eyes, slip away, Kimiko was startled by a young girl's laugh. Glancing up, she saw a couple making their way slowly down the steps, their eyes on each other. She quickly sprang away from the bench, staring at Mamoru and Usagi with tears forming in her eyes. Unable to look away, she found herself hiding behind a tree as they walked past her and got into the car. She couldn't help but notice the genuine smile on Mamoru's face, or his relaxed posture, or the reluctant way he released her hand as he closed her door. Forcing herself to study the girl, she was disappointed to find that she was as beautiful as the first girl she had seen. She was surprised by the youthful exuberance she exhibited, having expected Mamoru to be more attracted to an intelligent, quiet, mature girl.

The pair sped off, leaving Kimiko staring after them. Tears streamed gently down her face as she accepted he was happy and that she truly had no chance. With a broken heart, she trudged home, knowing it would take a while to get him out of her heart and mind.