Hello!
After a little while I managed to come back to this story. Reviews and new followers always motivate me a lot to go on with new chapters. I am currently very busy with a new project called 'your are the coolest, Mamoru' which I'll publish on this platform soon. It's a story full of emotion, so watch out for it :)
This time I inserted two comments in this chapter. Normally I don't do this but since this story is interwoven with another of mine, there is a small hint for a better understanding.
Stay safe and have fun with the next chapter!
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It was Diana who saved him. Sort of.
Before his past self - who was walking towards them with his nose deeply sunken in a book - could look up, Diana had managed to jump into Mamoru's face, desperately trying to cover his identity.
The loud shriek which had escaped his lips because of her more than strange and unexpected move, made the past-Mamoru look up from his book.
Mamoru continued his walk blindly, trying to pretend it was the most normal thing in the world to have a cat in your face.
To add even more expression to his crazy looks, he started whistling the next best song that came into his mind.
Unfortunately, it was none other than Moonlight Densetsu in a pretty quick version, but when Diana realized Mamoru's mistake, she began to meow loudly.
With this more than weird picture that they must have given everyone walking on the streets of Azabu-Juban, they somehow managed to get past Mamoru.
A few moments later, Past-Mamoru had gone around a corner and Mamoru was able to take off his "mask".
"This is so ridiculous and the absolute opposite of being inconspicuous!"
He complained while trying to fumble some cat hair out of his mouth with his hand.
"How long do we have to do this hide-and-seek? When does this damn light of hope appear?!"
He didn't address anyone, but gave Diana a very annoyed look, who just shrugged and explained
"I hope soon. We have at least a rough time frame so it could be worse. Let's go back home."
She jumped off Mamoru's arm and without adding anything to her current problem, both of them made their way to the house of Mamoru's future in-laws.
A seductive scent of home made fluffy pancakes was flying through the air when he opened the front door.
"Ahhh, welcome back, Endy! I hope you haven't eaten yet. I just made dinner. Do you like some pancakes?"
Ikuko's head popped out off the kitchen and cheerfully she swung a spatula in her hands.
"That's very kind of you, Ikuko. I'm nearly starving to be perfectly honest." He admitted by smiling brightly at her.
It was something he willingly had get used to it during his stay in the past. Ikuko was always very kind to Mamoru and made the most delicious meals he could think of.
Probably because of the fact that he did everything what she expected as a mother like waking up early enough to arrive on time to school/university/work, passing exams with good grades/getting promoted, and don't miss home made cooked dinner because of working too long/getting detention/being involved with too many study projects.
Unfortunately 'fighting the Dark Kingdom successfully' wasn't included in her list to be treated always nicely by her, otherwise Usagi would have scored in this point tremendously.
The rest of the list didn't belong to her strengths at all...but Mamoru was certain to change this from now on.
Before he had agreed to help Usagi with her homework, Mamoru had also tried to support her to wake up early during the week. With a little help of Artemis T.
The fat chicken alarm clock had been replaced with the magical ball. For Usagi it was not visible at all since the outer appearance had remained the same for her.
However, her new alarm had a new function which annoyed Usagi that much unconsciously that she nearly freaked out every morning from Monday to Friday (Note: you'll find out why in a later chapter!).
It was a little mean of him, but Mamoru had thought that it would be the only way to get Usagi out of her more than confusing dreams in the morning (Note: for more information concerning those dreams, please read my story "Is it you again?").
So at least this time it had worked and Usagi had made it on time to the five o clock bus at the Hikawa shrine because she hadn't overslept.
"I'm doing all of this only for you, Usako."
He mumbled under his breath while he was still standing in the corridor.
A few moments after Mamoru had entered the Tsukino house, Usagi got in as well. She stuck her nose in the air and immediately smelt the pancakes with a frightening precision like a detection dog.
„Mama, I'm home...mhmmm yummy, I can't wait for the pancakes, I'm already starving...oh hey Endy, so good to see you!"
She cheerfully sung and thus, she changed Mamoru's mood within a single second. He always had admired her unique gift to lighten up a room with her presence by shining brighter than every single star in the whole galaxy.
She always was the center of attention to everyone as soon as she stepped into a room. This wonderful, beautiful, innocent girl with the big heart he had been fallen in love for so many times before but this moment - even if it lasted not more than a glimpse of an eye - had been the most of the precious ones for him as he didn't know if he'd ever be able to find the Light of Hope and thus, give the world peace again.
'I love you more than a lifetime can take and wherever I'll go, you are deep in my heart. Regardless what, time, date or situation might come, I will always and forever recall your beautiful face...'
"Since you touch my heart so deeply."
He spoke out loud this whole emotion while he rested his loving eyes on her beautiful silhouette.
Usagi was more than confused because of his emotional reaction to her greeting and replied with a bewildered expression on her face.
"Umm, Endy...are you alright?" Usagi stepped closer to him while she was keeping eye contact with him. Mamoru was that close to loose control.
There wouldn't be anything in this world to hold him back from what he wanted to do next. He wanted to feel her...take her into his arms...he wanted to kiss her...he just wanted -
"Pancakes!"
A female voice called behind him and got Mamoru straight out of his reverie.
Usagi's expression changed to utter excitement instantly.
"Hooray!" She yelled and sprinted to the dining room.
"Come on Endy, otherwise Usagi will eat your portion as well." By Ikuko's exclamation, Shingo had come downstairs and quickly dragged Mamoru through the corridor.
"Don't worry Endy, I know Usagi's good appetite! I've made enough for everyone." By saying this, the blue haired woman carried the huge plate with approximately 50 pancakes to the dining room.
„I can smell my favorite dish!" Kenji finally arrived through the front door and came straight to the dining table where Ikuko already had started to serve the pancakes.
While everyone was peacefully chewing their fluffy dinner, the blonde bun-head explained to her parents and Shingo,
"Today Endy agreed to tutor me in a couple of subjects while he has semester holidays."
This information made Ikuko's day.
"That's brilliant! I am glad you can make some time available in order to help Usagi. That's really kind of you, I really do appreciate it."
Before Mamoru could reply to her, Kenji added cheerfully.
"Oh, sounds like I am not the only one who has good news."
When everyone turned around in order to listen to him, he cleared his throat and explained.
"I got some extra days off and wanted to book a family trip for all of us for the summer holidays."
Usagi swallowed a huge piece of her pancake and asked her father.
"When and where are we going? I'm asking cos I just made plans with Amy and Ray to spend a few days at the seaside of Kujukuri-Hama in a couple of months."
"Oh that sounds great, what about we go there too but you can extend your vacation with us, then?" Kenji suggested innocently. „Besides, in this region is the hotel where we go to on an annual basis, celebrating our wedding day. It would be great to stay there."
"That's sounds like a perfect plan." Ikuko agreed without giving anyone else the opportunity to say anything against it.
Mamoru sighed deeply when he arrived back at the attic.
"I really hope that we will find the Light of Hope before we go on holidays, I personally doubt that it would wait for us here in Tokyo while we are doing sunbathing at the beach."
„I think it's a nice idea and who knows what will happen in the meantime."
Diana was back at her computer and while she was starring at the screen, she continued by muttering under her breath.
"Sooo riggt, the third Sailor Soldier just has been awoken...hmmm."
Suddenly, Diana froze.
"Royal Highness? I think there is something, you should have a closer look at it." Mamoru stepped behind the feline in order to have a proper look at the screen and listened carefully to her declaration.
"I didn't recognize it in the first place but there had been a certain kind of power registered by my computer when Amy found out that she was a Sailor Soldier. The signal was very weak though, much smaller than the intensity of the signal I got when we were at the shrine today."
Diana frowned and tiredly rubbed her eyes.
"I need to do some research concerning the moment when Usagi transformed for the first time into Sailor Moon. If its the case that the power had occurred around this time, too, than we probably can find out a pattern behind all those special events."
"When I saw the little girl today hopping on the tree, do you think she has something to do with the Light of Hope?"
Mamoru gave her a questioning look but Diana stayed in her current position when she replied.
"I need more time to give you an appropriate answer to this."
By saying this, she switched off the device and yawned excessively.
"It's enough for today. Let's start tomorrow again."
Mamoru nodded at the little cat, knowing somehow too well that the next day wouldn't give them any clarification concerning their mission.
He had been right and they didn't find out anything new. Not on this day and not for the next few weeks which were filled up with learning and tutoring Usagi in mathematic and English.
It had been nothing but a torture for Mamoru. In both ways. Usagi was terribly bad in both subjects, mainly because of the fact that she wasn't interested at all and secondly she had to fight the evil force at night and wasn't able to pay much attention during her free time.
The meetings at the Hikawa shrine also had started to take place on a regular basis for her after school which he learned from Diana.
The third reason for his torture-tutoring was that Usagi was always so close to him and used their meetings to tell her from the things which were lying on her mind. Apart from the senshi business which she never mentioned.
So Mamoru was well informed about his encounters with Usagi (it was quite surprising for him how well she could recall any single detail from each accidental bump in with him) and he was also on the same page with her when it came to school gossip or the latest activities concerning the unsuccessful business start ups run by the Negaverse.
Mamoru was amazed how well she managed both identities during that time and honestly felt sorry that she got so criticized for her behavior in her civilian life.
Today seemed to be a special day of tutoring, when Usagi came up to his room in the attic by having a strange mixture of annoyance and disappointment on her face.
When Mamoru wanted to know what had upset her, she replied while she was slumping herself next to him on his bed and gave him nearly a heart attack by snuggling close to him.
"It's because of Mamoru-Baka!"
"W...what happened?"
He couldn't remember with what his past self had caused her so much anger but time stood still when he realized what kept Usagi that busy in her mind.
"He...he's dating Ray." There were tears coming up in his beloved girl's eyes and Mamoru was close to freak out. He had never assumed that Usagi would be upset to see him and Ray meeting each other every now and then.
He liked Ray but never had thought of her to be more than a friend. He was utterly shocked when he saw how much pain this misunderstanding had given to Usagi and he wasn't able - he simply was not allowed! - to clarify her more than wrong conclusion she had drawn by seeing them together at the park.
"Why do you mind at all?"
He heared himself asking but actually didn't need to get confirmed what he had already known for a while now.
With a quick move, she wiped away her tears and tried to sound as normal as she could. He still noticed the slightly hurt tone in her voice.
"You are right. He is such a baka! I really can't stand him. Every time I see him he insults me. Moreover, he is so much not my type...I mean...well, he looks not that bad...perhaps if he'd be nicer to me...well, actually you are right. It's not my business and there is someone else who I like much more anyway."
She tried her very best to calm down by telling herself that she was okay with the situation but Usagi was open like a book for him.
Throughout the last one and a half year Mamoru had seen her in almost every shade of sadness...up to the times when he sacrificed himself for her.
She was hurt and he could see that she suffered being in love with him.
"I've been such a complete JERK!" He almost screamed the last bit and confused Usagi a lot with this unexpected emotional outburst. She looked up to him with questioning eyes.
"What do you mean, Endy?"
"Well, I never had thought that you would misjudge this whole thing." He began to explain until he heard something climbing up the stairs to his room.
It was Diana and Luna who tried to give Usagi a sign by meowing kindly. Without paying any more attention to Mamoru's attempt to tell her something, she only said and got up quickly.
"Let's skip the tutoring for today, okay? There just came up something. I need to go now, bye."
Within a second, Usagi had gone and left behind a frustrated Mamoru who had managed to stand up as well. He still could smell her infatuating scent of vanilla and dahlia.
"Forgive me, for being so blind at that time. I'll try my best and bring you the Light of Hope so we can be happy together again."
It was hardly a whisper which escaped his lips while he was standing in the now deserted attic, a single tear making its way down his cheek.
"Aishiteru, Usako."