Picking up where the cliffhanger left off in Chapter 11: What They Don't Know, Usagi and Mamoru inform her parents about their past lives and who they were to each other. What are their reactions? And what will they do?

(Late Sunday Afternoon)

Ikuko and Kenji just started at Usagi and Mamoru after they confessed their alter egos to her parents. "You can't be," Kenji said. "I don't believe it."

Since these were Usagi's parents, Mamoru thought it was a better idea to let her take point. He looked up at her as she rose from her chair.

"Dad, I am Sailor Moon," Usagi said. "But it's more than just saving the world from Beryl's Youma, saving the people of Earth." She looked over at Mamoru and all of the love she had for him had shone in her eyes.

Ikuko, who hadn't said a word, just stared at her daughter when she looked over at Mamoru. It was the look in her eyes when the title and the name first left her mouth. "Princess Serenity," Ikuko uttered.

When Ikuko said that name, both Usagi and Mamoru stared at her in shock. "How do you know that name?" Usagi asked.

"It's true, isn't it?" Ikuko asked. "This has to do with righting a wrong from your past lives."

"Yes," Usagi said, refusing to lie to her mom. "Mom?"

Ikuko covered her face with her hands as the tears started to fall from her eyes. "Since I met Minako, I have been dreaming of a kingdom on the moon," Ikuko said. "I remember a woman with white hair and blue eyes. She had on a white dress, and she had a bow on her chest tying her dress there."

Usagi and Mamoru looked at each other and then back at her. "That sounds eerily like my mother from my past life," Usagi said.

"Usako, it's possible other people also got a second chance in this life," Mamoru told her. He was already going through his head of people who could be from their past lives.

"It's got me wondering about the people who were the Rainbow Crystal carriers," Usagi said. She brought out her Transformation Brooch, her Moon Stick, and their Star Locket and laid them on the dining room table.

"Usagi, are you sure?" Mamoru asked her, knowing what she was planning to do. He took Usagi's hand.

"Yes," Usagi told him without a hesitation. "It's the only way to convince my father." She leaned down and kissed Mamoru before she got up and closed the curtains in the dining room and living room.

Mamoru grabbed Usagi's Transformation Brooch, and when they met in the middle, he passed it over to her.

"Thank you," Usagi said. She looked at him when she realized what he was planning on. "Are you sure you want to do this too?"

Mamoru kissed her forehead. "With you?" he asked her, nonchalantly. "Always." He kissed her forehead again and then faced her parents. He laid a fist on his heart, and waited for her to start first before he conjured a rose.

"Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"

As Usagi and Mamoru transformed into Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, respectively, Ikuko and Kenji just stared at them as they transformed. Neither one could believe their eyes. Their daughter has been saving Tokyo for months, and neither one had known it was her.

"You don't look the same, but you do at the same time," Ikuko commented. She stood up and started to survey her daughter. "That's eerie."

"It's the glamour," Tuxedo Mask stated. "It keeps her identity as well as the other girls' identity safe."

"Ami, Rei, Mako, and Minako," Kenji said. "Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus." He looked over at Mamoru and then started making his conclusions. "If Usagi is Sailor Moon, then your planet must be Earth."

"That's correct, sir," Tuxedo Mask. "I'm the only male Guardian in our Solar System."

"And what about Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto?" Kenji asked.

Before Tuxedo Mask could answer, Sailor Moon cut in. "I got this one," she promised him, and when he nodded, she continued, "They protect our Solar System from outside forces. If that's what they are still doing, I don't know, Dad."

"And what about your enemy?" Kenji asked. He couldn't deny the fact his wife was remembering things about her past life. He heard the name she spit out before either Usagi or Mamoru could say it.

"Queen Beryl?" Tuxedo Mask asked. "A vile woman with a jealous streak. In our past life, she

had set her sights on-"

"Prince Endymion," Ikuko said. "That's who you were in your past life, wasn't it?" She walked over to him and faced him. "Knowing who you were in your past life, Prince Endymion would have gently rejected her advances."

"Yes, ma'am," Tuxedo Mask agreed. He had a lump in his throat realizing she knew too much about him. "Endymion did gently reject her advances, but she found out who he was spending her time with." The lump grew bigger as he continued to explain their past.

Sailor Moon sensed his distress. She walked over to him. "Tell us the rest," she urged him on.

Tuxedo Mask nodded. "Somehow she broke the seal of Queen Metalia who had already been sealed from one of the former queens of the Moon and one of the former kings of Earth in the past. My Shitennou Knights were looking into the rumors swirling around when they weren't on guard duty," he said, recalling. "All of my Shitennou Knights had disappeared, the day after Nephrite had informed me of his feelings for Jupiter." He swallowed the lump.

"Then days later, Queen Beryl and Queen Metalia attacked the Moon Kingdom," Tuxedo Mask said. He groped for Sailor Moon's hand hoping she would give him strength he needed to finish it, and he felt her squeeze his hand as he knew she felt his heartache. "My Shitennou Knights, Kunzite, Zoisite, Nephrite, and Jadeite, were now her generals. The men Endymion knew since childhood, his loyal vassals, his best friends, had been brainwashed by that vile jealous woman." Tuxedo Mask looked over at Sailor Moon. "As I fought alongside her Sailor Guardians, my Shittenou each, Kunzite with Venus, Zoisite with Mercury, Nephrite with Jupiter, and Jadeite with Mars, murdered their true love. Venus, who had been the last one standing, ordered me to protect my true love."

Sailor Moon squeezed his hand to let him know she could explain the rest because she knew he was nearing his breaking point. She never knew the Shitennou Knights had murdered her Sailor Guardians in their past lives; though, something told her, as he was saying it out loud, he was remembering more than he actually remembered. She wouldn't tell either her Sailor Guardians or his Shitennou Knights. "He did protect me," she told him. "Or as much as he could. I still followed him, and we both died."

Tuxedo Mask wrapped his arms around her middle as Sailor Moon laid her hands against his chest. "We all died. Everyone on both sides," he said. "Including the baby Princess Serenity was carrying."

"Baby?" Ikuko said, with surprise. "Oh, well." She tapped her chin. "Nothing to do with this life, right?"

"No, Mom," Sailor Moon answered. "I'm so not ready for that." She peaked up at Tuxedo Mask who nodded.

"Queen Serenity," Ikuko said. "That's who your mom was in your past life, wasn't it?" Though, if she was going to be honest, the minute she said Princess Serenity, she knew the name Queen Serenity was tossing around in her head.

"Yes, Mom," Sailor Moon confirmed.

"I need to sit down. Information overload," Ikuko explained. She walked over and sat down in a chair at the dining room table. "Some of the things are coming together. I think I was one of her ladies-in-waiting. If I remember correctly, I was her best friend."

"She may have given me to you, Mom," Sailor Moon said. She knew the Legendary Silver Crystal would have done that for her past mother, if she wished for it. "She wouldn't have trusted just anyone. Give yourself some time."

"If you start to remember something, say it out loud," Tuxedo Mask said. "It could be something small or insignificant, but you would remember the whole memory that way."

"Or so the rest of us have found out," Sailor Moon said.

Sailor Moon de-transformed and Tuxedo Mask followed. They sat down in a chair at the table too.

"So Kun, Neph, Jae, and Zoi somehow fit into this?" Kenji asked. "Into your past lives?"

"They do," Usagi answered. "Dad, could you write their given names on a sheet of paper?"

Kenji just gave her a look.

"Trust me, Dad," Usagi said. "I want to show you something."

"Alright," Kenji said, "but this better be good." He got from the table to grab a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote down each name carefully. Then he passed the paper over to Usagi.

Usagi took the paper, then the pen, and started writing. The paper was as followed:

Kun — — — Kunzite

Neph — — – Nephrite

Zoi — — —- Zoisite

Jae — — — Jadeite

Usagi passed it over to Mamoru to check. "That's exactly it, isn't it?" she asked him.

"Yes," Mamoru said. "That's exactly right." Then he passed the piece of paper over to Kenji.

Kenji studied the piece of paper. "Are you telling me that those missing boys are Queen Beryl's generals?" he asked as his eyes popped.

"My Shitennou Knights," Mamoru corrected. "They were never meant to be Beryl's generals, only my Shitennou Knights. Just like Usako had her Sailor Guardians."

Usagi heard Mamoru's comment, but she didn't say anything. "Dad, we've already saved two of these people," Usagi informed him. "Kun and Neph. With Minako and Mako's assistance respectively."

"Nobody can know that they have been found or rather saved, Mr. Tsukino," Mamoru said, anticipating her father. "Beryl would just go after their families. She knows my Shitennou Knights' identities."

"And she doesn't have yours?" Ikuko asked. She was already starting to put things together. "You were clearly gone for months, right around Usagi made friends with Minako, right around when Venus joined the team, and I have a certain feeling you were the dark prince that hung around Kunzite." Ikuko had tracked her daughter's depression. She knew how long her daughter hadn't been eating right nor sleeping well.

"You're not wrong, Mrs. Tsukino," Mamoru said. "According to a source who has been helping us, only Zoisite had that information." He would have continued, but he saw Usagi shake her head.

"I told you there was a reason why she was worried and played that locket," Ikuko told her husband as she gestured to the locket. "She was worried about him, and trying to find a way to heal him." Ikuko spied the Moon Stick and pointed at it. "That is what she healed him with, using the Legendary Silver Crystal and saying the words 'Moon Healing Escalation'." She looked at Usagi and Mamoru with shock.

They just smiled at her. "Sometimes, Mom, it happens like that," Usagi told her. "And yes, that is what happened."

Mamoru took Usagi's hand. "I rather be saved than be under Beryl's spell," he said. He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it. "I know Kun and Neph feel the same way."

"So if you and Kun are no longer brainwashed, what is Beryl doing now?" Kenji asked.

"That is a very good question. I don't know, but when, because it will be when," Mamoru said, "we will find out, I will protect Usagi."

Usagi sighed. "Remind me again, Mamo, who's the stronger one of the two of us?" she asked.

Mamoru gave her a look stating 'Don't argue with me'. "We're stronger together," he told her. "You know it. Think about what Ami said about the Tale of the Two Crystals."

"Isn't that supposed to be the Tale of Two Cities?" Kenji asked.

Ikuko shook her head, starting to get used to how the memories were coming to her. "No," she said. "Not in this case; it's the Tale of Two Crystals."

"You remember?" Usagi asked her mom.

"I do," Ikuko said. She crossed her arms. "Though it was meant as a warning. Something you two did not heed to."

"It's already done, Mom," Usagi said. "You're the one that taught me love is a gift."

"And out of everything you have been taught, that's your best skill," Ikuko said with a sigh. "I suppose I can't be totally disappointed."

"You told me I inspire loyalty," Usagi reminded her. She looked over at Mamoru. "Because of loyalty, we have found that love is the answer."

"Usagi…" Kenji said, exaggerating the last syllable.

Usagi gave her father a look. "I'm not going to lie about my feelings especially when it comes to Mamoru, of all things, Dad," she said.

"Fine," Kenji said. He looked over at Mamoru. "Do I need to have to make you sorry? Or are you going to tell me you feel the same way?"

"Kenji, is this really necessary?" Ikuko asked him. She was slightly horrified that he was putting Mamoru on the spot as she was aware he didn't like being in the spotlight.

"Of course, it is, Ikuko," Kenji said without even looking at her and keeping his eye on Mamoru as if he were his prey. "Mamoru, answer the question."

Mamoru didn't shrink, but he did look over at Usagi and smiled at her. "She's my everything," Mamoru told them as his feelings spilled out of him. "When she healed me, all I could do was hold her like a lifeline as my memories returned from both from my past life and this life." He looked back over at Kenji. "I love your daughter to the Moon and back."

"You kept apologizing," Usagi said. "I didn't need your apology; I wanted, needed you." She took his hand. "I love you." She leaned over to kiss her.

"Well, that makes me feel a little better," Kenji said. "So you said love is the answer, and you mentioned Minako and Mako. Did they help you heal Kun and Neph?"

"Yes," Usagi answered.

Between Usagi and Mamoru, they told Kenji and Ikuko how they resurrected and healed both Kun and Neph.

Ikuko waited until they were done talking when she asked. "Wait," she said. "So Luna and Artemis can talk and hold conversations?"

"Luna was Queen Serenity's advisor in our past life, and Artemis was always Venus's advisor," Usagi explained. "Do you not remember?"

Ikuko shook her head. "No," she said. "I don't remember."

"When the others come back, maybe your mother should have a conversation with Ami," Mamoru said.

"That's a good idea," Usagi said. She was curious as to what could be blocking her mother from remembering. She held a good portion of her memories, but she knew she wouldn't remember everything. It was impossible to remember everything, but Luna and Artemis were important to Queen Serenity. Ikuko should have a memory of Luna and Artemis.

"How much information did I give to Luna without realizing it in the last several months?" Ikuko asked, wondering about Friday night.

"More than you think," Mamoru said. "She's clever." He looked over at Usagi. "But nobody can say they don't love each other."

Usagi smiled at him. "Even when she drives me crazy," she said.

"On Friday, I was talking to her about you," Ikuko said. "She understood every word I said." She just stared at them.

"It's alright, Mom," Usagi said. "It was out of love. I know that."

Ikuko sighed with relief. "I don't suppose I can be mad; you lied to protect us," Ikuko said. "If Beryl found out about your identity, Usagi, she would definitely come after us. I completely understand."

"Honey, she and her friends still lied to us," Kenji said. He was still adjusting to the fact his daughter is Sailor Moon and her boyfriend is Tuxedo Mask which he didn't like either, but he saw the look in the boy's eyes. He would indeed protect her until his dying breath.

Ikuko turned to him. "Kenji," she said. "I am aware of that fact, but I don't think either of us would have been prepared for the truth until today." She looked back over at her daughter. "Love is a powerful tool; use it, just don't abuse it."

Usagi nodded. "I understand," she said.

"And I agree with what your father hasn't voiced yet," Ikuko agreed. "Kun's parents need to know he's alive." She looked over at her husband for confirmation. "And Neph's mother needs to know, too." She sighed. "If Jae and Zoi are dead because of Beryl and there's a possibility of them being resurrected, then their parents have a right to know."

"Mom…"

"Usagi, listen to me," Ikuko said. "I'm a parent; you're not. If you had disappeared or died, it would kill me." She cleared the lump in her throat and battled her tears back. "These parents have been through a lot. Blaming themselves. They believed they did everything right to teach their child right from wrong, to teach them how to be careful, to teach them how to love, to teach them to be themselves." She laid her hand on her Usagi's. "Trust me. They need to know."

Usagi looked over at Kenji. "Dad, is that your opinion too?" she asked him, needing to hear him say out loud.

Kenji nodded. "It is," he said.

Usagi felt this stance start to crumble as she stood up. She refused to look at Mamoru as she already knew how felt about this and what he would say. She walked away from the table.

"Usako?" Mamoru said.

Usagi opened one of the curtains to look outside of the window, to let the sun spill through it. She could feel the tears battling back and tried to keep them at bay. She had a very small taste of what her mother was talking about, and Mamoru even a smaller taste, so he didn't quite understand it. "Mamo, this isn't just my decision," she told him. "This isn't just your decision."

"And think about what Ryo said," Mamoru said, reminding her of the conversation they had yesterday morning. He couldn't help, but realize that a lot had happened in twenty-four hours. "Each decision could help or harm our desired outcome."

Usagi whirled around at him. "You think I don't know that?" she spat. "Since Ryo told us, I feel like we have all been on pins and needles, trying to figure out what the next step is."

Mamoru saw the tears she was keeping at bay and reminded himself she was the one who stood up to him and made him remember her, made him remember how much he loves her.

"Before we parted last night, I saw the strain on Rei and Ami's faces. They're the ones who need to figure out how they feel about Jadeite and Zoisite," Usagi said. "It's my Sailor Guardians who are going through the heartache and turmoil in order to resurrect your Shittenou Knights." As the words left her mouth, the tears started to fall from her midnight blue eyes. "We may have saved half of them, but we're far from winning against the Dark Kingdom, Mamo."

Mamoru stood and walked to Usagi. "You're such a good leader," he told her as he wrapped his arms around her. "I love the way you worry about the people you love." He kissed her forehead. "We'll leave the decision for Kun and Neph, and when Jae and Zoi are resurrected, to them."

"Alright," Usagi said. "It should be their decision."

"Great," Kenji said. "Where are Kun and Neph?"

"Looking for the door to the Moon Kingdom with Ami, Mako, and Minako," Mamoru informed them. "Ami wants to get more information about the enemy who gave Beryl who powers as a sorceress."

"Queen Metalia," Ikuko said without thinking. "And I thought Mercury read all the books in the Moon Kingdom library."

"Maybe she wants to double check something," Usagi said. "Ami has reasons for what she does, and I have just learned to let my Sailor Guardians play to their strengths."

"I told Neph and Kun before they left this morning to join the girls; however, you girls had time to figure that out," Mamoru said, "but we'll probably be fumbling."

Usagi just looked over at him. "I don't think it's going to be as bad as you think, Mamo," she said.

"We'll see," Mamoru said. He didn't want to push her faith aside, but she was right. There was a lot they still needed to do.

"So we're not going to tell Kun or Neph's parents they're alive?" Kenji asked.

Mamoru shook his head. "For now, we're not going to say anything," he said. "It's going to be Kun and Neph's decision."

"Mamo, we both know they would want their parents to know," Usagi countered, "as my mom just pointed out."

Mamoru squeezed her hand. "I know," he told her, "but I'm not going to take that decision out of their hands."

Usagi nodded. "I understand," she said. "And you're not wrong." She looked over at her parents. "We'll leave it up to them."

When Kenji was about to argue, Ikuko shook her head. "No," she told him. "They're right. We don't know what Beryl has planned. We don't know if she knows Mamoru and Kun have their memories back. It's a risk for them to figure out if they want their parents to know they are alive."

Kenji huffed. "Doesn't mean I don't have to like it," he told them.

"No, it doesn't, Dad," Usagi agreed. "But what do you know about Jadeite and Zoisite's real identities?"

Kenji sighed. "I'll be right back," he said and then walked away. He left the room.

Usagi looked over at Mamoru. "Are we sure that's the right decision?" she asked him.

"For now?" Mamoru said. "Yes, it has to be until we can check back in with Ryo." He will always worry about the outcome of each decision.

Ikuko furrowed her eyes. "Who's Ryo?" she asked.

"A friend and a psychic," Usagi said. "He sort of has a thing for Ami. He was the Yellow Crystal Carrier."

"Oh, I suppose Ami has her hands full trying to figure out what she wants," Ikuko said. "Is she using searching for the door as an excuse to not think about her feelings for both Ryo and Zoisite?"

"I don't know," Usagi said. "I know I heard he had decided to catch up on his studies today." It made her wonder now as it was brought up if Ryo was using that as an excuse so the two of them could be apart.

Mamoru made a face. "I wonder if he knows something," he said, speculating. "Something he can't tell us because it will influence a decision."

"Maybe," Usagi said. "He has been such a big help in this. I hope we can call him a friend after we win this battle."

Mamoru watched Usagi. He loved her optimism and how she can see the light at the end of the tunnel when he hasn't quite gotten there yet, even when she claims she doesn't see it.

When she caught him watching her, Usagi asked Mamoru, "What?"

Mamoru chuckled. "You," he said as he took her hand and brought her hand to his mouth to kiss it. "So very much you." Because he couldn't resist, he leaned over and kissed her temple too.

Ikuko watched the couple. She could see it was still very new to them, but she could see they loved each other deeply. She worried how much of it was Princess Serenity and Endymion versus Usagi and Mamoru; though, she wondered if it was just a bit of both.

While she was thinking, Usagi's growling stomach cut through Ikuko's thoughts. "Usagi," she said.

"Like I could help that," Usagi said.

"Point," Ikuko said. "I suppose while we're waiting for your father, you two could help yourselves." She looked directly at her daughter as Usagi made the first scoop full of food. "Just make sure you leave enough for me and your father." Ikuko walked away to go find her husband.

xXx

Ikuko found her husband in their bedroom looking through the file cabinet he had. "Kenji?" she asked as she walked in.

"How did we not know?" Kenji asked her. "How did we not piece together that our daughter is Sailor Moon?"

"Because all we wanted to see was that she was a teenage girl," Ikuko answered. "Not someone who had the weight of protecting this world."

"And she does it beautifully," Kenji said, pulling out the two files he was looking for. "It's amazing to me I was on the right track."

"And apparently letting her try out her wings had already started more than we thought," Ikuko said.

"You think?" Kenji said. He sighed. "I'm sorry, Ikuko. That wasn't fair. I know how Usagi is when it comes to people's feelings."

"And she loves hard," Ikuko pointed out. "What do you think about Mamoru?"

"Now that I know the young man?" Kenji said. "I can clearly see how much he loves Usagi. He's stubborn, but Usagi knows how to get past him there, especially if it's important to her." He walked over to Ikuko. "I believe very much he would protect her with his dying breath."

"It's interesting Earth started the whole business in our past lives, and she decided Earth will be our planet in this life," Ikuko said. "I wonder what Queen Serenity was thinking."

"You said you were one of her ladies in waiting and best friend?" Kenji asked.

"I was," Ikuko said and smirked. "I also remember a certain archivist who had his eye on me."

Kenji just stared at her. "I was part of the Moon Kingdom?" he asked her.

"It took me a little bit of time, but it seems some of my memories from the Silver Millenium have come back to me," Ikuko stated, "but yes, you were, and it didn't take you long at all for me to fall for you. We were married, and I bore you a son."

"Shingo," Kenji said, realizing what she was telling him. "So Queen Serenity still gave us to each other. I wonder what else she was able to give others. I wonder why I can't remember, and you can."

"Maybe Ami can answer that," Ikuko said, having every confidence in Sailor Mercury. "I also do remember Queen Serenity knew how her daughter felt about the Prince of Earth." She tightened her grasp on him. "Kenji, Queen Serenity had asked you to look into it, and the day before the Moon Kingdom was attacked, you had told me you had a good lead."

"Did I tell you what it was?" Kenji asked.

"No," Ikuko shook her head. "You didn't, but you were really excited about it."

"I wonder what it was," he said. "Come on. I want to give Usagi and Mamoru what I have about the two remaining Shitennou Knights."

xXx

When Ikuko and Kenji returned downstairs, Usagi and Mamoru had finished their portion of their lunch. "I suppose I should be grateful that you left us some food, Usagi," Kenji teased.

Usagi rolled her eyes and then spied the files he was holding. "Are those the files on Jadeite and Zoisite?" she asked him.

"They are," Kenji said and passed the first one over to Usagi. As Usagi looked over it, Kenji continued, "Jae Taitou or as you call him, Jadeite. He is eighteen years old in first year of college. From what I have been told, he had balked at school, but his parents made him a deal he couldn't deny. If didn't feel like school was the right fit, he could pursue his music without interference from his parents. Though, he still pursued his music anyway. He was the lead singer for a band called Desolation, and since his disappearance, the band has been on hold. He's a punk kid with a number of tattoos and piercings."

Usagi couldn't help it and just laughed. "Oh, my God!" she said. She saw the profile picture her dad had in the file. "Mamo, you should see this."

Mamoru leaned over and saw the picture. "It fits his personality," he told Usagi. "Though, I am curious what Rei's reaction to him would be."

"Me, too," Usagi said. Though something told her he would be perfect for Rei. "And what about Zoisite?"

Kenji passed over the second file. "Zoi Saitou or as you call him, Zoisite. He's sixteen years old. He's a second year student at his high school, Moto Azabu High School. He's on the shy side, but he's very studious as he is first in class. He's really good with computers, and he had planned on going to university to study them."

"That's the high school I went to," Mamoru said. "Another connection."

"What university did Jae go to?" Usagi said.

Kenji looked straight at Mamoru. "K.O. University," he answered.

Mamoru looked over at Usagi. "Another connection," he said.

"Well, we're riddled with them," Usagi said.

"Do you think having this information will help Rei and Ami?" Ikuko asked.

"I don't know," Usagi said. "But it's better than not knowing." She looked over at her father. "Thank you for being a great journalist."