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"Random Subject Prompts"
Chapter 028: Mamoru Chiba/Darien Shields
Sequel to: "What would you dream about tonight?" (Chapter 6)
Anime: Sailor Moon Crystal
Prompt: (none)
Chapter Warning(s):
Author's Note: Thinking of making this into an actual story. What do you guys think? Leave your thoughts/suggestions at the bottom (:
*Dedicated to: TeaLovingShrineMaiden
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Last Time:
"Kagome," Mamoru muttered under his breath, still dazed and confused.
As if hearing him, Kagome's eyes immediately darted in his direction. Navy and amethyst clashed, an electric current passing between the two, as their respective worlds shifted and realigned.
Just as quickly, reality snapped back into place, and Mamoru could breathe again, a hidden weight leaving his shoulders. Unknowingly, his gaze softened, became tender, and he wondered…
He wondered if she, perhaps, had dreamed of him too. If she remembered what they had shared a lifetime ago. If she, maybe, recalled the love they had felt for the other.
His thoughts continued to whirl, but his eyes never once wavered from hers. The two were caught up in their own world, both silent, emotions swirling within, as they ignored the confused glances of their audience.
Finally, Kagome parted her lips to softly murmur one word:
"Mamoru."
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Present Time:
Mamoru couldn't stop staring at Kagome after the raven haired beauty had introduced herself to the class and was assigned a seat a couple of rows away from him. In the back of his mind, he wondered if his classmates thought he was being a creeper but he couldn't help it. His dream from last night was still fresh, and now a very real part of it was standing in front of him.
He had to speak to her. He had to know what Kagome knew. If she remembered anything from their past lives. If she remembered anything about… them. It was worth knowing and finding out, to finally understand if Mamoru was insane or gifted or cursed with these memories.
Mamoru finally got his chance when the bell signaling break dinged. He stood from his seat, intent on getting Kagome alone so that their conversation could be as private as possible. There was no way he'd want anyone to overhear them.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" he politely asked.
From her seat, Kagome stared up at him with unreadable amethyst eyes. Mamoru unknowingly held his breath, waiting. Then she nodded. "Okay."
As the two walked out of the classroom, the blue eyed male knew they were being closely scrutinized by everyone. But he didn't care. Let them think what they wanted. It didn't matter.
The two were silent until they reached the rooftop. It was the only place where they would have the most privacy, and the last thing Mamoru wanted was for someone to intrude. He turned to face Kagome, not sure how to start the conversation. Although it seemed like she remembered him – at least his name – it was an awkward situation.
Kagome didn't seem to have the same qualms. Her gaze was direct, arms crossing under her breasts in an almost defensive gesture. "What did you wish to talk about," she paused for the briefest second, "Prince Mamoru?"
A scowl instantly colored his normally neutral expression. "You know I hate it when you call me that, Kagome," he lightly reprimanded. Inwardly, however, he was relieved. She must have memories of their past life if she was addressing him like that. His deep blue eyes softened as last night's dream once more entered his thoughts. "But I suppose you already know that. Correct?"
The way her brows furrowed in confusion instantly caught Mamoru's attention. "I don't understand what you mean," she said. "What are you talking about?"
It was his turn to furrow his brows. Alarm was starting to tingle along his body. "You called me 'Prince Mamoru,'" he pointed out slowly. "You would only call me that if you had memories of me from… before."
"I do," Kagome confirmed. "I've had these images in my head almost my whole life…"
"Me too." Mamoru took a step closer, one hand coming up to his chest. "I have dreams. About being the Prince of Earth. About traveling to the Moon Kingdom." A hint of desperation colored his tone. "About meeting you. About us falling in love, Kagome."
Kagome's arms dropped from their crossed position. As if his words had been a physical blow, she staggered back a couple of steps. Mamoru reached out to steady her, but she waved his concern away.
"I'm fine," she reassured, though her now-pale complexion said otherwise. Her eyes widened, shocked. "That can't be right." The last came out as if she were talking to herself. But of course he'd heard it.
That tingle of alarm grew more persistent. He dreaded asking, "What is that supposed to mean?" He physically braced himself for her response, his posture becoming stiff.
"Those… Those are not the memories I have."
Mamoru's eyes widened. "What?" he breathed out. His stomach dropped, and he swore his heart stopped beating for several seconds before restarting painfully. No. No, that can't be right.
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Mamoru's Dream
Mamoru glanced around the Moon Kingdom. It was honestly beautiful. Everything, from the mansion to the greenery, seemed to glow with a luminous light that was enchanting and a little mystical. Things were different than on Earth, his home planet, but no less wondrous. His only regret was that the circumstances behind this visit involved talks of an alliance against an ever-growing evil.
The blue eyed male stopped in his tracks when he noticed a feminine figure sitting on the edge of a fountain. Her silky, raven colored hair gently moved with the breeze, and the small smile that appeared on her face as she watched tiny butterflies flutter in the air was beautiful. Mamoru felt his breath stall in his lungs when he caught sight of her gorgeous amethyst eyes.
Who is she? He silently wondered. He hadn't met too many of the occupants of the Moon Kingdom yet, but he would've definitely remembered her. She was too breathtaking to forget.
As if sensing his presence, the unknown young woman turned her head in his direction. Amethyst clashed with deep blue, and Mamoru distinctly felt his world shift on its axis. His heart started thumping within his chest as if trying to escape.
"Hello," she greeted, smiling sweetly. "You're Prince Mamoru, right?"
Mamoru had to mentally shake himself to regain his focus. He returned her smile with a polite and, unknowingly, charming one of his own. "You may call me Mamoru. And you are, milady?"
"Kagome," she answered. "It's nice to meet you… Mamoru." A pretty pink blush dusted her cheeks at the familiar way she addressed him, and Mamoru knew he would have to make her blush more often. She was adorable.
"It's nice to meet you, too, Kagome."
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End of Dream – Mamoru's Bedroom
With his alarm ringing in the back of his fogged mind, Mamoru slowly sat up in bed and used one hand to cover his face to help scrub away the sleepiness. But not the memories. He'd had another dream of he and Kagome, this time of their first meeting.
Their connection had been so instant, even before they'd made eye contact. It was impossible to believe that they hadn't formed some sort of relationship. The attraction was too strong to ignore. There had to be a reason for why Kagome's memories were so different from his own.
Why didn't she remember we were in love?
Mamoru's brows furrowed thoughtfully. There had to be a way to get her memories of them back. But how? After his accident, his mind had been a complete blank. All he could rely on were the images from his past life, which had led him to seeking out the Silver Crystal. If his dreams had been accurate, the legendary crystal held immense power. Anyone who wielded it would practically be unstoppable.
If I found the Silver Crystal, he thought, not only could I cure my amnesia, I could unlock Kagome's memories of our time together.
It was risky… But Mamoru knew it would be worth it. If it meant getting Kagome back into his life, he would do it. It should be strange how determined he was but it also made perfect sense to him. Being with Kagome felt right. They were destined to be together, weren't they?
And that was all the justification Mamoru needed.
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Kagome stared warily at the blue eyed male. They were once more on the rooftop of their high school. Why she kept following his lead and letting him drag her into his crazy life she had no idea, but something… something about Mamoru Chiba was intriguing, and she couldn't help wanting to know more about him. It was insanity. She hadn't even known him more than twenty-four hours, yet here she stood with him.
Her conclusion? She must be losing her mind.
"So, what did you want to talk about this time?" she asked, mentally preparing herself. While she did admit to having dreams about her past life as a priestess of the Moon Kingdom, this was present-day Tokyo, Japan. Things – she – was a lot different from then and now. She was the priestess of her family shrine, and a high school student. That's it. That's all she wanted to be.
Mamoru seemed to brace himself. "I was wondering," he started, "if you would be willing to share what memories you have?" He needed a starting point.
Kagome raised a single brow. "Is that all?"
"Yes."
Wondering what his game was, she shrugged. Telling him wouldn't make a difference. "I remember that you and Princess Usagi met at a ball the Moon Kingdom was hosting in honor of your arrival. It seemed like love at first sight for both of you. You danced the entire night together."
A frown touched his handsome features. That had been one of his dreams in the beginning, when he'd thought he'd been in love with the Moon princess. He didn't remember Kagome being there, however. "What else do you recall?" he questioned.
Kagome rubbed her forehead, expression contemplative and almost pained. "Not much else, I'm afraid. I remember a big battle. We were facing the Dark Kingdom…" Her eyes closed, trying to clear the fog in her mind. "Everything is a blur after that."
"It's alright, don't push yourself," Mamoru soothed, gently touching her shoulder. She had given him enough to start his search. There was no point in pushing, especially if it only pained her. The last thing he wanted was for Kagome to suffer.
Amethyst eyes opened, and there was a gleam of sincere regret in her gaze. "I'm sorry I couldn't help you more, Prince…" She stopped herself. "Mamoru. I'm sorry, Mamoru."
"Like I said, it's alright," he repeated, smiling softly. "I think I may have a way for us to get our memories back."
His abrupt confession had Kagome's eyes widening, incredulous. "Why would you want them back?" she asked.
Mamoru didn't have a problem explaining that, when he was six-years-old, he and his parents had been in a car accident. Although he had been declared the only survivor, he had lived with amnesia ever since. His one source of comfort and identity had come from the memories of his past life as the Prince of Earth and – ultimately – of Kagome and the love they had shared. He didn't want to remember bits and pieces of his life, he wanted to remember everything.
Understanding gleamed within her amethyst eyes, and Kagome sighed with a hint of resignation. "Okay," she said, gaining Mamoru's full attention. "I'll help you find the Silver Crystal. But," she added, eyes sharpening, "it's only to help you regain your memories back. I'm perfectly happy with the life I'm currently living. Got it?"
He frowned but nodded in acquiesce. If his theory was correct, it may not matter what Kagome wanted; once the Silver Crystal was recovered, it could awaken their memories from the past whether the person was agreeable or not. He'd just have to take the chance and hope for the best.
"So, what do we do first?" she asked.
Mamoru casually shrugged. "How do you feel about a little breaking-and-entering?"
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"This is such a bad idea," Kagome deadpanned, eyes on the jewelry store the two high school students currently stood in front of.
Both had changed into different attire so that they couldn't be easily identified. Instead of her school uniform, Kagome had changed into a white silk blouse that was tucked into a black pencil skirt, with crimson pumps on her delicate feet. Around her neck, dangling from a long chain was a pinkish sphere she'd claimed was a family heirloom.
On the other hand, Mamoru was dressed in a tuxedo with an eye-catching gold accessory that connected to his white bowtie. Shielding his deep blue eyes from the sunlight was a pair of dark sunglasses. Overall, the two seventeen-year-olds looked chic and like they had just stepped out of a magazine cover.
"Come on, Kagome. It doesn't look that bad," Mamoru reassured, eying the security cameras he could see. A slight smirk curved his lips upward. "It'll be a piece of cake."
His companion scoffed. "That's not what I meant, Mamoru. I'm getting some serious negative vibes from this place." Goosebumps dotted her skin, and she rubbed her arms as if chilled. "Something is definitely not right here."
He could feel the same thing, though not to the extent Kagome could. He wasn't discouraged. If anything, that could only mean that they were on the right track. "I'm not worried."
"Maybe you should be."
Before Mamoru could respond to Kagome's pouty grumble, a balled up paper bounced off his head. He felt his brow tick as he stared at the harmless paper on the concrete. Where the heck had that come from?
Following the trajectory, he noticed a blonde middle school student. "Hey," he called out, "you shouldn't throw stuff around. Are you trying to give me bumps on the head, like you? I noticed you have two bumps already."
His words seemed to be the blonde's breaking point. She whipped around to face him, sky blue eyes flashing angrily. "These are not bumps," she exclaimed, hands gesturing to her hair style. "They're buns! Are you so dumb you couldn't tell the difference?"
From the sidelines, Kagome blinked at the two, a little shell shocked. However, the moment she'd laid eyes on the newcomer, she had felt an odd jolt within her chest. It was as if some part of her – something deep – had recognized the younger girl. What did that mean? How could that be? Kagome had never met her before in her life.
Mamoru ignored the pig-tail wearing female. Instead, he leaned down to unravel the paper ball. He blinked, incredulous, at the big '30' written in bold, red ink at the top.
"Between the two of us, bun head, you're the idiot. You need to study more. How in the world did you get 30 points? That's just embarrassing."
Finally, his eyes connected with the blonde's. Even through his sunglasses, a type of awareness shot between them, connecting them in a way that was unfamiliar but life changing. However, Mamoru only felt like he'd met her from somewhere before. It wasn't the same when he'd been reunited with Kagome in their classroom. With the raven haired beauty, there had been an instant attraction. With the blonde, he felt practically nothing.
Obviously, the unknown middle school student didn't feel the same way. She'd gone unnaturally quiet, her eyes never leaving Mamoru, and there was a pretty pink blush dusting her cheeks.
Kagome watched the scene with interest as the younger girl slowly backed away after taking her exam sheet from Mamoru. Her wide, sky blue eyes never left the older male, though she did have to come back when she forgot her school bag on the ground. Clutching the object to her chest like a lifeline, the unknown girl left without another word. Kagome, however, still couldn't shake the feeling she'd met the blonde somewhere before.
"I think you charmed her speechless, Mamoru," the raven haired beauty teased, smirking in amusement.
Her words seemed to snap Mamoru out of his thoughts. He rolled his eyes. "Don't make me laugh, Kagome." He turned his gaze onto the jewelry store once more, sliding his sunglasses down the bridge of his nose to peek over the top. A sense of satisfaction settled within his chest. "This looks like a good place to start. The Silver Crystal could be here."
Kagome sighed in resignation. "I guess I'm adding 'cat burglar' to the resume."
"You're only a cat burglar if you actually steal something – and we're only doing that if the crystal is somewhere inside."
"And when exactly do you want to do this little… night time activity?"
Mamoru fixed his sunglasses back in place. When he turned to her, he smiled. "Tonight."
"… I was afraid you would say that."
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Later that Night
"I didn't realize this would be a formal event," Kagome commented. "I feel so underdressed." In an almost self conscience gesture, she picked at the ends of her clothes.
Currently, she wore something similar to her family's priestess robes, though she'd added a few accessories. At the ends of her large sleeves, she had sewed on small, tinkling bells that jingled with every movement. On her feet, she wore black leather combat boots that matched the black leather fingerless gloves on her delicate hands. Slung over one shoulder, she had a quiver full of arrows along with a longbow that looked ancient but sturdy. Dangling from a long chain, she once more wore the pinkish sphere. Lastly, to hide her identity, she'd found a porcelain kitsune mask that was painted white, red, and black. Her voice was slightly muffled when she talked but still understandable.
On the other hand, Mamoru wore a tuxedo with a long cape and top hat. His face was covered with a white mask that mostly covered his deep blue eyes and, all in all, he looked cool, mysterious, and handsome.
"Don't," Mamoru said, referring to her insecurities about her clothes. "You look beautiful no matter what you wear."
Behind her kitsune mask, a pretty dusting of pink colored her cheeks. Embarrassed but pleased by the praise, she softly muttered, "Thank you… Mamoru."
He smiled. "Anytime, Kagome." Turning his focus onto the jewelry store, he said, "Let's go. I don't want to linger before someone spots us."
She gave one nod, determination shining in her amethyst eyes. "Right."
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Kagome narrowed her eyes on the creature that was tormenting the blonde sailor scout. "That… thing… is unnatural," she stated. Without thought, she silently drew her bow and an arrow, carefully aiming at the monstrosity.
Mamoru nodded in agreement, brows furrowed as he took in the situation. While he knew that Kagome could handle herself, he also had the impression that the unknown blonde had a hidden depth of power. His instincts didn't normally steer him wrong. He just had to wait and see.
"Let's wait. I want to see what she'll do."
She shot her companion an incredulous look. "Are you crazy? She looks like she's about to cry."
"Have a little faith in me. I would never allow an innocent to be harmed."
Kagome huffed but lowered her weapon. "Alright. We'll play this out your way," she conceded. "But I'm stepping in the moment it looks like she's in mortal danger."
In the end, the two teenagers had to step in when it appeared as though Sailor Moon would be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of women being controlled by Morga. Kagome jumped into the fray to knock the attackers unconscious, while Mamoru acted as backup to make sure no one snuck up from behind. With a few words of encouragement from the masked male, Sailor Moon was able to find the strength to finish off Morga on her own, thus breaking the evil, life-draining control that had been placed upon the cursed jewelry.
And as she watched Tuxedo Mask leave, Sailor Moon had to wonder – with a love-struck expression – if she would ever see him again.
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At the Top of Tokyo Tower
"Well, we didn't find the Silver Crystal," Kagome commented with a sigh. She removed her porcelain mask, exposing her angelic features to the cool breeze. She breathed in deeply, shoulders relaxing, and smile appearing. "But I will admit – that was pretty exhilarating."
Mamoru removed his own mask, knowing no one would be able to see their identities from so high up. "We'll find it eventually. The Silver Crystal has to be somewhere." He had to admit, however, spending time with Kagome like this had been amazing. Now more than ever he wanted her memories of them to resurface.
"You're right. We'll find it – and once we do, we'll restore your memories. With the two of us looking, it can't stay hidden forever."
It's not just my memories, he thought, deep blue eyes softening as he continued to gaze at the raven haired beauty. Her memories were at stake too. I will find it.
I will find the Silver Crystal... for you. For us.
It was a solemn vow he made, one he would achieve even if it was the last thing he did.
To be continued?
*TeaLovingShrineMaiden: I hope you enjoyed the sequel! I had a lot of fun writing it, and it gave me ideas to keep developing it into a full-length story. What do you think? (:
Special thanks to everyone who reviewed, followed, and added this list of prompts to their favorites list! You're so awesome :D
Would it be too bold to ask for 15 reviews?
~Celestial Law