Author: Princess Destiny
Email: In Profile
Author's Homepage: destinysgateway DOT com
Rating: M 15
Summary: 'One Hour Challenge' #1 and 657 Combined: Response Fanfic. Eleven years ago, Mamoru's father married Usagi's mother. It's now almost Usagi's sixteenth birthday and she has to juggle her secret life as Sailor Moon, on top of school and a job at Motoki's shop. Her life is turned even more upside down when she begins to suspect the masked hero she is falling in love with is actually her awful step-brother!
Genre: Romance/UST/Comedy/Adventure/Action/Angst
Couple: Usagi/MamoruRei/Mamoru
Category: SMTK
Chapters: 24/?
Status: Unfinished
Year Completed: N/A
Size: 685 KB
Comments: Hi everyone! Hideki the gang leader is finally making an entrance. He will be a regular character in book two, so I hope that you like him. The reason for this character will be made clear in the Sequel, but I have been dropping hints through this Fanfic, for those of you who are sharp. :) This is the longest Chapter yet.
Reviewer Response: Some of you asked why Minako is acting like the Princess. Well she is merely serving as a decoy to protect the real princess, Usagi. She has the most memories of the Moon Kingdom out of all the Senshi. As for why she is acting more serious than you are used to seeing her in the Anime. In the Manga, she has just come from England where she was caught in an explosion and assumed dead, as well as her heart being broken by a guy called Alan.
Live Journal: Please come and join my Live Journal. It's for Fanfiction, mostly Sailor Moon and you can read some of my writings there that aren't posted here on Fanfiction DOT net. The link is in my Profile.
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A KISS IN THE DARK
By Princess Destiny
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sailor Moon stared for a long, shocked moment. Another attack? The Dark Kingdom didn't usually use this method-how could they be so smart? "Tuxedo Kamen!" She shouted to him, closing her eyes as debris flew about them, whipped up the wind from the portal. It had been hard not to call him Mamoru, but it was hard to say who was listening on the other side of that vortex.
"Stay there!" He ordered her, stepping out in front and readying some roses in his hands. They were sending in another Youma? That meant that someone had been watching and waiting for the Sailor Senshi to split up. Damn them. He would protect Usagi and Rei at all cost. Whatever was coming out of there wasn't getting past him.
A high-pitched laugh came out of the dark funnel, and then Zoisite floated out, her face smug. "Well, well. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen all alone with no Senshi to protect your Rainbow Crystals." Her eyes went to the unconscious form of Mars and she smirked. "Is Sailor Mars dead? I sure hope that she is."
Tuxedo Kamen cursed under his breath, his blue eyes narrowed in anger. So it was the Rainbow Crystals that she was after? Facing a General was far worse than another Youma, and she was targeting he and his sister specifically. He hoped that the blonde would listen to him about staying back, and that she wouldn't be stupid enough to come and face Zoisite with him. "You can't have them." He retorted to the floating woman.
She gave him an unpleasant smile and walked closer. "Oh, I'm not worried at all, Tuxedo Kamen," She said, gesturing. The wind suddenly roared all about them, sucking things into it now. She watched as the hero stumbled and tried to keep back. "If you won't give them to us, then we'll take you and them to our dimension. Unfortunately, you will probably not survive the interogation."
God, she was evil! Sailor Moon bent low over the still form of her injured friend and hoped that her brother had a plan. At the moment, he was using his body, and that large cloak of his, to shield her and Mars from the worst of it. As everything lose about them began to be sucked into the portal, she saw Tuxedo Kamen's shoes slid along the grass, and his cloak was streaming out in front of him. His hat went into the portal just then, leaving his light brown hair waving madly in the wind.
And then to her horror, she and her fellow Senshi also began to be pulled in.
"Lay on top of her!" Tuxedo Kamen called back. His mask was barely hanging onto his face, and he feared that any moment the Dark Kingdom would know exactly what he looked like. He let loose with a few roses at Zoisite, hoping that they would find their mark. She merely deflected them with a laugh, and they were sucked to the vortex behind her. She was not affected by the wind pull at all. 'Damn it!' He thought frantically, his weapons having no effect. If he and the two Senshi were taken to the Dark Kingdom, he had little doubt they they would all soon be killed. Probably after the torture.
He wouldn't let it happen.
Sailor Moon obediently lay on top of Mars, wincing as her friend moaned in pain. It couldn't be helped. She noticed that with their combined weight, they were now no longer sliding along the grass towards the portal. Tuxedo Kamen was another matter. He turned towards her and tried to use his arms in the wind to come towards them both, but it was a losing battle. He fell to his knees and clawed at the grass with his gloves. "Tuxedo Kamen, don't let go!" She screamed at him, having a horrible vision of what was to come.
She would die if he was sucked into the Dark Kingdom. She knew she would.
His dark-blue eyes met hers, and he felt a little resigned and a lot furious. If it came down to it, he would rather only he be captured than the other two Senshi. "It will be okay." He said with a twisted little smile.
At the same time as his gloves finally lost their hold on the ground, the Senshi threw herself off of Mars. She grabbed his wrist in a bruising hold and they both fell to the ground on their stomachs. Their eyes locked.
"If you give up to protect me, I'll never forgive you, Mamoru!" She growled into his face, eyes angry and fearful. If she lost him, she would just die. He was everything to her. He was her lo-
"Oh no you don't." Zoisite called out. She gestured and the vortex began to roar in their ears.
Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen's bodies rose slightly from the ground, and then their forms were pulled sideways so that they were horizontal to the portal now. The two rolled onto their backs, their hands still linked, and then onto their stomachs again.
Tuxedo Kamen looked away from her as something caught his vision and he saw Sailor Mars tumbling helplessly towards them. He let go of one of Sailor Moon's hands and grabbed the priestess by her collar. They were losing! He felt despair filling him as both Senshi's dead-weight yanked on his arms. He was trying to keep on the ground, but he knew a moment later that all three were going to be sucked into there.
The blonde Senshi saw what was happening and looked at Tuxedo Kamen, her eyes filling with tears. She would sacrifice herself for them both. She loved them too much to send them to their deaths. One by one, her fingers came off of his wrist, knowing that she was going to certain doom inside the Dark Kingdom, and saddened that she would never see Mamoru again. Her eyes clung to his-and then she let go.
"No!" He roared as he watched her fragile body buffeted by the winds before being sucked into the portal.
Tuxedo Kamen would never forgive himself, but he made a split-second decision in that second when he saw his step-sister's body disappearing from sight. Between Usagi and Rei. There was no contest. His heart already knew. He let go of Sailor Mars, his heart freezing in his chest. Thank god she was unconscious and would never know about his betrayal.
'Let me in!' Someone said inside his head as he dove for Sailor Moon's arm, the only thing remaining on this side of the portal. He heard Zoisite laugh as his fingers closed about his sister's wrist. Sailor Mars went by him head-first.
"Bloody hell!" Someone roared into his ear and two hands grabbed Mars by the ankle before she was completely gone. Hideki yanked backwards, his face strained. Tuxedo Kamen was never so relieved to see his friend in his life.
'Mamoru, let me in! I can help.' It was Endymion's voice, he noticed with shock as Sailor Moon's body came back out of the portal under his weight. She was only half out, and he saw with fear that she was unconscious. What had happened on the other side?
"Come out, damn you!" Hideki shouted, boots sliding on the smooth grass. He threw his weight backwards, and grabbed onto Tuxedo Kamen's shoulder at the same time. The two men fell to their backsides with their combined weight, the Senshi's in their arms.
The hero grabbed at his friend's belt loop and held on as well, hoping it was enough. He was almost blind and deaf at this point, and he couldn't spot Zoisite. But Endymion was speaking to him, as he had never done outside the dream. He didn't know how or why, but if the Prince offered his help then Mamoru was not going to turn him down. He opened his senses, and felt something entering him. It wasn't invasive and he realised in surprise that it was familiar and he suddenly felt-whole.
His grip on Hideki and Sailor Moon almost lost grip as his senses were suddenly flooded with images and overloaded. The Moon Kingdom, the Golden Kingdom, he and Serenity, the last battle, the sight of his Princess plunging his own sword through his chest. Tuxedo Kamen cried out, unable to see the battle any more. His soul felt suddenly complete and he felt powerful.
Endymion swiftly took over Tuxedo Kamen's body. The power of the Earth surged up through him from his feet and all around, and he raised his gloved hand to the portal. A blast of golden energy broke loose and shot directly into the vortex. It exploded, hurting the four of them backwards. They all rolled into the bushes, the men trying to shield the girls with their own bodies.
"Damn you!" Zoisite screamed as the portal collapsed onto itself and began to diminish. "We were so close."
Hideki scrambled to his feet and rushed towards Zoisite, a thick tree branch in his hand. She was so surprised that she didn't move when it swung hard into her stomach. She spat up blood and tumbled back, falling into her own vortex. He groaned and fell to his knees, eyes watering from all the dirt that had blown into his eyes. "Stupid bitch. I hope your punishment is death." He swore.
Tuxedo Kamen had his arms about Sailor Moon, and he was staring down at her face with a thunderstruck expression. Endymion had retreated inside, and now the two of them were merged. It all made sense, his love for his sister when it was forbidden. His feelings for Sailor Moon. God, she was his past love. His Serenity. He felt tears falling down his cheeks and hid his face in her soft hair. "Oh god, Serenity. My Serenity." He whispered fervently, pressing light kisses to her forehead. She was still unconscious and would never know what he was doing to her. Usagi would be shocked; she didn't have her memories back yet.
"Mamoru, you okay man?" His friend's hand fell hard onto his shoulder, voice rough with concern.
The dark-haired man finally looked up, surreptitiously wiping away his tears. It was lucky he was wearing a mask or he would have been really embarrassed. "Yeah, we're good," His voice was rather choked with emotion and he cleared his throat a few times. This was not something he wanted to share with Hideki right now, and it was an earth-shattering revelation. "How is Sailor Mars?" He said, suddenly remembering her. He felt guilt over the decision he had made, but he knew that he would not have changed it for the world. Usagi was Serenity, and he would sacrifice a great deal for her. Even her friend. 'I'm such a bastard. Poor Rei.'
His friend knelt down by Mars, his blonde hair filled with leaves and spiking in all directions. "She's okay, I think," His voice was concerned. "Was she injured before?" He quickly straightened her limbs, noting that terrible bruises were starting to form on her beautiful face. Damn, he had tried to get there on time when he sensed that Mamoru was in danger.
"Her back. She was slammed into a tree," Tuxedo Kamen turned his anguished eyes towards her friend, who he had not been able to rescue. Despite Rei being his girlfriend now, his first thoughts and fears had been for his sister. It was very telling, especially now since he knew he was Prince Endymion, and she was Princess Serenity. Even though fate had chosen that they be related by marriage in this time, they had still started to fall for each other because of their past.
"I'm going to kill Zoisite when I see her next," Hideki said darkly. He smoothed a hand over Mars' hair, liking how silky it was. Then he found there was blood on his fingers and his expression became even more enraged. He very gently took her into his arms, hating how she winced even though she was unconscious. He should have killed Zoisite when he had the chance, rather than just slam that tree branch into her mid-section! 'Next time I won't go so easy on you, bitch.'
Tuxedo Kamen carried Sailor Moon over to her friend, and then he collapsed onto his backside with her on his lap. He was exhausted from his battle. "They were looking for the Rainbow Crystals Sailor Moon and I had on us. She said she could sense them in our sub-space pockets," He said, arms wrapping about the still form of his sister. He kissed her cheek absently, eyes searching Sailor Mars' face. "Has she woken up at all?"
Sailor Mars cradled in Hideki's arms like she was the most delicate and fragile of china. "She hasn't woken at all. I think she's hurt badly," But he didn't blame Mamoru or the other Senshi for not protecting her. He knew how it went in fights and people almost always got hurt. He stared down at her, his expression fixed and longing. "Sailor Mars is beautiful," The blonde man whispered. "What's her real name?"
"She's called Hino Rei," The hero eyed his friend carefully. "We just stated going out." As he had expected, his friend levelled a killing gaze at him. It looked like Hideki had fallen in love at first sight with Rei. How...fated. "I'm sorry." He shrugged ruefully, not knowing quite why he was saying all this.
"What?" Hideki almost growled, anger flashing in his eyes. He had only just met Rei, but- And then he recalled he was speaking to one of his best friends in the whole world and he relaxed his muscles. "You had your reasons. You did have a good reason for dating one girl and being besotted for that one, right?" He nodded his chin at Sailor Moon. She was pretty. And was Mamoru's sister, not that anyone would have been able to tell by the way the dark-haired man was cradling her so close to his chest. It was more like he was holding a lover.
The last of the dark portal vanished behind them and the two men finally relaxed.
"You didn't call for me! You have your cell phone, yeah?" Hideki said almost accusingly. He glanced down at Sailor Mars' face. "And she almost got fried by Zoisite. Not to mention the Dark Kingdom almost got their hands on the Leader of the Sailor Senshi." The man sighed. "Of course, there isn't a whole lot I could've done against anyone from the Dark Kingdom. If I'd gotten another shot though, I would have stuck my knife in that floating bitch." Why the hell hadn't he? Was it because he was feeling some sort of stupid pity for the woman?
Tuxedo Kamen's lips firmed and his eyes closed for a minute as he thought about what could have potentially happened if his friend hadn't come by. "Luckily, you knew I was in trouble-as usual." His friend had good timing and if he hadn't known better, would have assumed that he was psychic like Rei. But Hideki didn't have any powers. He was bloody good with weapons though, especially the sharp ones.
"Lucky I have an excellent feel for danger, when it comes to you, my man," He boasted with a chuckle. "All these years leading the gang have counted for something. You learn all sorts of things on the street." He gently pushed the silky hair back from Mars' forehead and touched the bruise forming there. "We should get these two home." Hideki suggested, and then frowned. "No, we have to get Mars to the hospital. Her back could be broken." He didn't like the bruises that were starting to show up on her pale skin either.
"We can't take her there!" The hero protested, feeling apprehensive and angry. "She's not going to show up on any tests as any way human."
Hideki's eyes narrowed. "Then we get her de-transformed first." He said in a silky tone, expression dangerous.
Tuxedo Kamen stared at his friend for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. "Any ideas?" He asked more calmly. When the blonde man shook his head, Mamoru turned inward for an answer. Did Endymion know? 'Well?' He asked, knowing that his past self would have already been aware of the problem.
'Grasp her fuku over the bow and pull.' Came the answer.
The hero quickly put his hand onto her chest and grabbed at the bow. Before Hideki could voice a protest over her modesty, the fuku exploded into ribbons and then Rei's red dress came back on.
"Christ!" The man choked out, arms almost dropping the unconscious girl. "She was naked!" He said, his blue eyes totally awe-struck.
"Tell me about it," Tuxedo Kamen said dryly, reversing his own transformation. He had seen the very same thing when Rei had transformed earlier. Thank god Usagi would never know that he had seen her best friend naked twice. The Senshi had never seemed self-conscious, so it was entirely possible that they didn't know about it. He got to his feet and Hideki did the same. "I'll get to a phone and call 119."
But his friend shook his head and gently placed Rei on the ground. "Hell no. I't'll take too long. I've got friends on the inside who can come and get her ASAP in an ambulance." He took off in a loping run, leaving Mamoru and the two girls alone.
Tuxedo Kamen looked about the battlefield and felt a cold anger filling him, replacing the relief he had felt that none of them had been taken by the Dark Kingdom. Poor Rei though, she was badly injured and she wasn't waking up.
Mamoru pressed his lips against Usagi's forehead, his eyes dark with rage. "I'll kill them for this," He whispered vengefully, wondering if he was feeling so protective and furious because she was his sister, or because he was now thinking of her as more. As Serenity. That brush with death had opened something in his mind, and for a moment, his past self had taken over. Endymion had helped him. And then they had become one. And he...hadn't been having any warm brotherly feelings towards Sailor Moon. Oh no, he hadn't. "I'll kill them."
On the other side of the park, two Senshi chased down a Youma who was becoming increasingly slower as her wound bled out. They wanted to kill it so badly for hurting Sailor Mars, that they would have chased it to the ends of the earth.
"She's slowing down!" Mercury called out to her companion, her blue eyes like chips of ice. She sent out a wave of bubbles, which abruptly obscured the area. They heard the Youma curse, and then a thudding noise.
"Venus, Love-Me Chain!" An unfamiliar female voice called out. Clearly it was a Senshi power-but that was impossible.
Mercury and Jupiter slowed down and halted a few yards from where they could see the Youma. It was mushed up, face-first into the bark of a tall tree and about it's waist was something glowing gold.
"We should be careful, it could be a trap." The Senshi of Mercury whispered, laying her hand on Jupiter's wrist as a caution.
Her friend nodded and the two crept forward. They looked past the Youma to where the golden-rope was pulling and saw a girl on the other end. Her face was stern, yet pretty and her eyes had not left the monster for a minute. In her hand, was the other end of the golden lasso, which, as the fog cleared, they could make out was made of tiny little hearts.
"A love-me chain alright," Jupiter muttered under her breath. She walked past the Youma and stopped a few feet from the new Senshi. "How do we know that you aren't one of them?" She demanded.
The blonde girl nodded. "I can see why you wouldn't trust me, and to be honest, I'm very relieved." When Mercury and Jupiter gave her identical confused looks, she sighed. "Never mind. I'm glad you're on your toes. I'm Sailor Venus." Her held up a transformation wand like the other Senshi's and saw their eyes widen. At least these two looked capable, and she hadn't been disappointed like she had with Sailor Mars.
"And I am Artemis," A male voice called out from somewhere beyond the blonde.
After looking around in confusion for a moment, searching the ground and the trees, they finally spotted a small cat the size of Luna partially hiding behind a tree. A cat with a golden crescent moon on his forehead who talked. Well, that cinched it. He was a Moon Guardian of the Senshi alright.
"Let me go!" The Youma shrieked, her green blood dripping all over the ground and the tree under her. She was truly a gruesome sight, having had pieces taken out of her by ice, sharp roses and lightning.
Despite what it had done to Mars, Mercury wished that it would have a swift death. It wasn't in her nature to be cruel to any creature, despite having been majorly pissed off at it not long ago. Until the new Senshi had turned up and their rage had dribbled out of them like it had never been. Perhaps it was the calm expression on her face that meant business, but was totally professional. Or the deft way she kept the Youma's struggling form to the tree, despite the noxious liquid of her blood making it's way up the chain.
"Finish this Youma off and we can talk!" The small cat called out, his eyes going to the creature.
It had no fight in it. Jupiter readied her lightning, and then it shot down from the sky, frying the monster into dust. It didn't even scream, so maybe it was relieved to be spared all it's pain. "Dusted." The brunette crowed in satisfaction, dusting off her gloves.
"We have to get back to Sailor Moon. Sailor Mars was badly hurt and only Tuxedo Kamen is there," Mercury said anxiously, hoping it was true. The hero might have taken off by now.
Sailor Venus quickly shot a look at Artemis before joining Mercury at Jupiter's side. They ran off towards where the two Senshi had left the others.
Sailor Mercury looked at the blonde at her side, and the golden crescent moon shining brightly on her forehead. Her fuku was in white and orange and blue, but didn't seem to different from the other Senshi's. She had a golden chain belt about her waist. "Are you-the Moon Princess we've been looking for?" She asked tentatively. That moon on her forehead was like Luna's and Artemis', so it had to be special. The others only had a tiara with a stone.
The blonde shot a look at the blue-haired girl and nodded with a slight smile.
Jupiter's breath escaped her in a rush. "The Moon Princess? Wow. We finally found you-and you're another Senshi." She grinned all of a sudden, feeling a weight coming off of her shoulders. Now the Dark Kingdom didn't stand a chance and they could finally put the Rainbow Crystals together to aquire the Mystical Silver Crystal.
Sailor Venus stopped dead when she saw Mamoru kneeling on the ground with the two Senshi. She cursed under her breath as she recognised Prince Endymion of earth. And he knew the Sailor Sensi? This was awkward. Why hadn't Luna ever mentioned this when she reported to Central? Then again, Artemis didn't remember as much about the past as his charge did, so Luna may not even realise what was under her nose.
"I can't come any further," She told Mercury and Jupiter, injecting reluctance into her voice. "There's something that Artemis and I need to do." She couldn't meet the Prince just now. It was possible that he knew of his past and would reveal her deception in letting them think she was the Moon Princess. "Who is that guy?" She asked warily, when they stopped to look at her in surprise.
"He's Chiba Mamoru, Mars' new boyfriend. Oh, and Sailor Moon's step-brother." The brunette said knowledgably. "You really need to go right now? We could use your help." She frowned when she didn't spot Tuxedo Kamen. "Typical guy. He appears from nowhere, and goes back there. He better have stayed for a while and watched over them." If Jupiter found out he'd bailed right after they went after the Youma, she was going to break his nose. Slowly.
He was Rei's new boyfriend? Then...that was the guy she had heard talking at the Temple the other night. The one who had feelings for his own sister. Why was he dating a Senshi and not being with his lost love? Unless, he wasn't even aware that his feelings for his sibling was love. If his emotions from his past self had followed him into this life, which it looked like it had. And according to what she had overheard, Usagi didn't return his feelings. But had a crush on Mamoru's later ego, Tuxedo Kamen. What a mess!
"I'm very sorry," Venus winced and wished that she could have been there to help as well. Sailor Moon was unconscious, and she was the real Princess. No, it would be best, considering that this was the man who had been talking to Sailor Mars the day before and she had not approved of. It was a disaster that this was Sailor Moon's brother. Clearly, the Prince and Princess had no idea that they were lovers in the past, and were now trapped in the present as siblings. Damn. Now the conversation she had overheard at the Temple made terrible sense.
"We have to go," Artemis took his queue from his charge and the two of them quickly turned back the way they had come and were gone.
Jupiter shook her head and grabbed the blue-haired girl's arm to yank her towards the group gathered under the tree. They stopped and took a deep breath, winded from their run from the other side of the park. The people all about them were very still under the bright sun. The Youma had failed, but Zoisite had managed to take her energy by the look of it. This made things all the worse. A Senshi down, and human casualities. Her green eyes fell on the still form of their leader next to Mars and she paled. Two Senshi down.
"What-happened to Sailor Moon?" mercury demanded, falling to her knees beside the blonde. "And where is Tuxedo Kamen?" She asked Mamoru.
"I'll kill him whe I see him next!" Jupiter growled. "He just left you guys here with no protection."
"When you left, a portal opened from the Dark Kingdom and tried to pull in Sailor Moon. Tuxedo Kamen managed to stop it, and hurt Zoisite. The portal collapsed and he left to call an ambulance." He said shortly. Mamoru wasn't inclined to go into any details, such as himself abandoning Sailor Mars to the portal in favour of saving Sailor Moon, or him realising he was the Prince of Earth. He eyed Jupiter. "He didn't leave until the danger was over." He added pointedly.
"Well, that's something I suppose," She responded moodily.
"So," Mercury said rather shyly, her hands running over Mars' form to assess the injury. Her friend winced and her eyelids fluttered for a moment as if she would wake, but then she lapsed back into unconsciousness. "You know that Rei is Sailor Mars now/" She looked at him rather penetratingly. "You're not feeling guilty for hiding during the battle right? I know you vanished when Tuxedo Kamen got here." One minute Mamoru had been there, and the next Tuxedo Kamen had been tossing roses at the Youma.
A weird thought crossed her mind, which she almost immediately discarded. What were the chances that Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen were in the same family? Several million to one? A billion even?
Mamoru nodded, trying to keep straight in his head who knew what. From Ami's words, he deduced that they hadn't seen his quick transformation from civilian form into a superhero. Thank god for that. As if he didn't have enough trouble without the Senshi being down his throat. They barely trusted Tuxedo Kamen as it was.
And he had luckily been able to head off Hideki before the other Senshi got back and wondered what the hell he was doing there. Then he had waited. Usagi had not woken up in the interval and he was very concerned.
There was a commotion at the edge of the clearing and a couple of ambluance crew rushed towards them with stretchers.
Mamoru quickly leant over and de-transformed Sailor Moon, aware that the Senshi were eyeing him suspiciously. Obviously wondering how he knew to do that.
"Are these the two civilians? Christ!" The ambulance man swore as he looked around at all the unconscious people. "Why weren't we informed there were so many casualties?" He demanded of the Senshi. "Who called?"
"A friend," Mamoru said warily, knowing that Jupiter and Mercury would assume he was talking about Tuxedo Kamen. They didn't need to know his friend had also been present for a while. "He didn't tell you about the others?" He questioned in exasperation. Damn it, hadn't Hideki considered the other people? But then, when the Youma was killed, the people would usually just wake up. Usagi was going to be so upset when she awoke and found that the Senshi had failed.
A scathing look was his reply. As it was radioed in and the police called, Usagi and Rei were carefully loaded onto the available stretchers. The two Senshi melted back out of sight to de-transform, and then they were running along with Mamoru and the ambulance crew out of the park.
"Damn it, Artemis!" The Senshi of Venus swore from her position up on the wall near the main entrance to the park. She watched as Sailor Moon and Mars in their civilian forms, were loaded into the ambulance. Prince Endymion and two other girls accompanied them, obviously the other Senshi. "The situation is way worse than Luna led us to believe."
The cat shook his head, whiskers twitching. It had been a real shock to hear from Minako that the man Sailor Mars was going out with was really the Prince of Earth. The Senshi's memories were far superior to his when it came to the Silver Millennium, but that was probably because she was destined to be a decoy for the Moon Princess, and had been the Leader of the Sailor Senshi a thousand years ago. "And he is Sailor Moon's brother?" He said in disbelief.
"Right, and the sooner we talk to Luna, the better," The blonde said grimly, dropping down from the wall. She de-transformed where none of the crowds would see her and watched for a moment as many unconscious people of all ages were brought out from the park on stretchers. Obviously the Dark Kingdom had found a way to keep the energy they had stolen, despite the fact that the Youma who was the vessel had been annulated.
They had failed in their duty to the people of the city.
"Damn it," She whispered again under her breath. "Come on, let's go find that fuzzy companion of yours and find out what on earth is going on around here." This was something she should have done first thing, but she had been more interested in finding out about her fellow Senshi in their daily lives. Now she wished she had gone with her first instinct.
"She has no internal injuries, and her back in not broken or fractured, but she might be paralysed for a while. She needed a couple of stitches on her head for the cut there, but it isn't serious. I'll need to speak to her grandfather."
This is what the doctor had said fifteen minutes ago, and he had left to make that call. It had only been because Mamoru had said he was Rei's brother that the man had even spoken to them. Luckily, he had the same colour hair as hers, and the eye colour difference could be readily explained. The way he was clinging to Rei's hand and looking so concerned had been a big factor in the medical man believing them.
Usagi had come around in the ambulance, and after being examined, was given the all clear. Mamoru could have collapsed in relief, but settled for a warm hug instead. She had clung to him for a minute, glad that everyone was alright, and then she had quickly let him go with a blush.
They were now all sitting about Rei's bed, watching for signs that she would wake. The girls had obviously not considered it was weird to him to suddenly come out of nowhere right about the time Sailor Mercury and Jupiter had vanished. Honestly, they needed a keeper. The dark-haired man's eyes rolled skyward.
"It's good news," Ami explained to them. She winced at their glares. "What I mean to say is, she doesn't have any injuries inside of her that could kill at a later stage, and her spine isn't broken. It is damaged, but it should repair itself in a few weeks, being that we're Senshi." Her face fell. "But Rei most likely won't be able to walk for a while, and will be in a wheel chair."
The medical staff were frankly amazed that it wasn't worse, considering what they had heard happened to her. The Senshi and Mamoru weren't inclined to elaborate.
"You two came out of nowhere," Mamoru said slyly, directing his gaze at Ami and Makoto. He knew that they were the Senshi, but was happy to go along with it if they didn't want their secret known. Honestly, it wasn't much of a secret right then, considering that he knew at least one of Usagi's best friends was a superhero. If he hadn't known, he would have easily figured it out.
"Crap, the bag! My binoculars!" Makoto suddenly wailed, remembering what they had left behind when they transformed. Her head dropped onto Rei's bed with a thunk and she began bashing her head repeatedly.
"Binoculars?" He said suspiciously. His blue eyes narrowed on the girl, and then Ami, who had the good grace to blush wildly in embarrassment. Lastly, he stared at Usagi. She bit her lip and didn't meet his eyes. "Oh, I see." he said darkly, remembering Makoto and Usagi's vocation on top of the school roof. "You three were peeping toms on my date with Rei!"
His steps-sister looked at her feet for a moment, feeling really bad. It had been her idea after all. But if she hadn't been there- "The Dark Kingdom would have won if we hadn't been spying," She said quietly. Then she shot a look at Ami and Makoto. "Umm, if I hadn't been there. Luckily Mercury and Jupiter came when I called them."
It was such a blatant lie from a girl who didn't fib easily, that Ami and Makoto winced and Mamoru just gaped at his sister.
Ami levelled a look at Mamoru, who hadn't left Rei's side. He looked so guilty. Was it because he had let her go off and fight while he hid? Yes, that was probably it. Usagi's brother was a proud guy, and he had found a situation in which he had been helpless to protect his new girlfriend. "Mamoru, do you mind giving us a minute with Rei?" She asked delicately, not wanting to offend.
He figured out pretty quick that the three of them needed time to discuss it all, and relented, even though he would rather have been at Rei's side. She was hurt because of him, and he could never forgive himself for it. Usagi too must be feeling guilty, as she had left Mars to come to his aid. She probably had acted by instinct.
"Okay, I'll go get a coffee," He nodded to them, and then his eyes went to Usagi, tenderly tracing her features. Before she could look at him and see that betraying gesture, he looked away. She didn't know she was his love of the past, and so would take his scorching look of adoration very badly. Especially in light of the kiss they had shared that she was desperately trying to forgot. He however, now clung to the memory.
As soon as he left the room and closed the door most of the way, the girls began to talk.
Mamoru prudently decided to lean against the wall and ward of anyone who got too close to the girls. They really were very careless about who could overhear Senshi meetings. He sighed and shook his head. He was destined to be their dark protector, and that was clear. They might not have known that he was very much caught up in their drama, but he really was. As Tuxedo Kamen, and as Prince Endymion. It was his duty and his right to defend them to the death, especially his Princess.
"Holy shit, Usagi. I totally forgot to tell you-" Makoto said, eyes wide. "You won't believe it, but we just ran into another Sailor Senshi!"
"She said that her name was Sailor Venus," Ami noted, still typing into her computer. "And we believe she might be the Moon Princess."
Out in the hall, Mamoru almost slid off his comfortable perch leaning against the wall. 'What?!' He wanted to shout aloud that this wasn't right, but he couldn't go in there and say a thing. He wasn't supposed to know that Ami and Makoto were Senshi, after all.
And he was the only one who knew about Usagi being the Princess. The girls were unlikely to believe what he said-even his sister, who knew he was Tuxedo Kamen. "What does she look like?" He asked himself curiously, so he would know if he spotted her in civilian form. To his surprise, Usagi mirrored his answer as if she had heard it. Perhaps it was just that they thought alike.
"She's about Usagi's height with long blonde hair and blue eyes," Ami peered at Usagi, and then gave a little laugh. "She could almost be your cousin or something! Her eyes are a lighter blue though...and she was pretty serious for someone our age."
"Yeah, and she was real good with those attack of hers. I'd say she's been a Senshi longer than us." Makoto noted absently, thinking about their new ally.
Blonde and blue eyed, and a Senshi. Mamoru's lips compressed and he briefly wondered if this girl sounded like she could be a relative or something. Of the Moon Kingdom royals. He did remember a Senshi called Venus from the past. She had been affianced to Kunzite. And she most certainly had not been the Moon Princess.
"Oh dear," He murmured. If the two saw each other, would they know their past? The Senshi didn't seem to recall much of their past at all, going by the fact that they were very good when they first started out as warriors, didn't recognise each other, and considered the Generals as enemies.
Mamoru turned to the door and opened it hurriedly, interrupting them in mid speech. The three of them stared at him like deer in the headlights, and he almost grinned. He crooked a little finger at his step-sister. "Come here."
The blonde blinked her eyes slowly in surprise and then obediently went to his side. She stared up into his dark blue eyes and saw that he wanted to ask her something important. His expression was a little strained.
"Did she specifically say she was this Moon Princess you're all looking for?" Mamoru whispered to Usagi to ask the others. He smiled at her. "Oh, and can I get you a drink?"
"Sure, I'll ask them and tell you later," She whispered back, aware that they were standing all too close to each other. Unlike a couple of days ago, he didn't seem to be avoiding contact with her. In fact, Usagi could almost say that he was happy to be invading her personal space. As his hand went to her forehead to brush a few stray hairs out of her eyes, she was disturbingly aware of him as a man, and not a brother. She moved back a little, and saw a hurt look flash across his face before his eyes became stern. "I'll have a soda." She added in answer to his other question.
"Does anyone else want a drink of something?" The dark-haired man asked over her head coolly. Ami wanted a coke, and Makoto a tea. Once he had their orders, he fairly stomped out the room, this time shutting the door with a bang.
Ami and Makoto stared in surprise, and the blonde flushed, knowing that she had been the cause of his bad mood. But he knew what had happened between them, and that they shouldn't have any bodily contact until they were over each other. Right? For some reason, his anger made her very sad.
"Did we do something to piss him off?" Makoto wondered, scowling at the door.
"He's probably concerned about Rei," Ami said soothingly. Poor Rei, who how had a shaved patch in her hair. The Senshi winced at the thought of her friend finding out that fact. Rei was so proud of her beautiful black hair. It was her crowning glory.
As she realised that this was probably true, Usagi's face fell. And here she had been sure he was angry over her rejecting his touch just now. Of course it was Rei! She was his girlfriend, after all. She immediately flashed a smile at them. "Hey, did this new Senshi say she was the Princess?" She asked casually.
Ami's nose wrinkled in thought. "Well, Makoto said something like 'Are you the Moon Princess we've been looking for?' and Venus sort of nodded and smiled. So we took it as a yes." It had been a little odd, but the girl had no denied it. Maybe she was shy?
"I wonder if Luna can get in touch with her, or at least, Artemis." Usagi said thoughtfully. Her two friends gave her a quick look. "What? I can't say something intelligent once in a while?"
Mamoru sighed deeply from outside and quickly headed off to get the drinks before the girls became suspicious that he was listening.
To Be Continued...
Write me if you liked! Comments are adored and much appreciated.
Okay, just to rehash on who knows what: Usagi knows that Mamoru is Tuxedo Kamen, but the Senshi don't. Motoki also knows about Tuxedo Kamen and who the Senshi are. Mamoru knows who all the Senshi are, but they don't know that he knows. The Senshi know that Tuxedo Kamen knows Sailor Mars is Rei. Hideki knows that Sailor Mars is Rei, and Usagi is Sailor Moon and that Mamoru is Tuxedo Kamen. Got that? LOL.
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Princess Destiny