Till We Meet Again

Chiba Mamoru woke up with a jerk in his bed. The summer's night was hot and humid, but Mamoru felt the chills down his spine. They were all gone, and he was terribly alone. He looked out from the window to the city lights and sighed.

"I miss you all so much," Mamoru sighed again, "If I had only remembered earlier."

The image of a young Jadeite pulling him out of a ditch flashed across his memory. Young Nephrite has I-told-you-so pasted all over his face. Of course he knew that Mamoru was going to fall off that horse, and of course Mamoru didn't believe in his star readings. Young Zoicite did though, and he brought what he needed to patch Mamoru in so much bandaging that he could hardly move. Kunzite had a slight smirk of arrogance as he jumped off from his horse, but Mamoru could tell that Kunzite was really worried that Mamoru was hurt. He didn't really mind that Kunzite was a better horseman than he was, after all they were his guardians, they were supposed to be good . . .

A tear dropped on pillow. They are all dead, he repeated to himself over and over again like it was a horrible chant that he couldn't get out of his mind. He couldn't sleep anymore, he got up from his bed and walked over to the punching bag and began to punch at it as if it were his worst enemy. The punches grew in intensity until he knocked the bag so hard that the sand inside began to gush out. His hand fell to his sides, red and swollen.

While he tried to catch his breath his eyes fell on the picture of him and Usako, he begin to wonder once more that if it was a good idea to not tell Usagi and the girls about his guardians. As he gently stroked the picture frame, his memory of their last ball together rushed through him. Usako . . .Serenity looked so beautiful in her white dress Endymion wondered how he got so lucky. Kunzite was winking at him, while he dunked Venus, daring him to try it with Princess Serenity. Nephrite and Jupiter was gracefully gliding through the dance floor, one of the court's favorite couples. Zoicite and Mercury were the good dancers too, but they were to conservative to demonstrate their true capacity. He could sense Zoicite glancing over at him, reminding him that it was almost time to leave. And Jadite, he was too lost in Mar's eyes to notice anyone else. After fourteen years of courtship, Mars finally agreed to dance with him just once. Mamoru had to admit Jadite was persistentant if unsuccessful. They were all in love, and who better than with the Princess's guardians . . .

That memory was cut by Jadite's final fight with Tuxedo Kamen when he didn't even know who he was. The numerous times Tuxedo Kaman fought with Zoicite are fresh in his memory. As are the verbal fights he had with Kunzite when he was in Beryl's control. They were all in Beryl's control! They were so different from who they had been. If only he had remembered earlier then perhaps Sailor Moon could of saved them all like she did him. If he had only . . .

"That line of thinking will get you nowhere," Mamoru said aloud to himself, "But knowing that won't make me stop."
Perhaps it was a better idea to not tell the girls, the memory of them had only brought him guilt, sorrow, and more loneliness than he could stand.

Mamoru knew Usagi was trying very hard to find out what was bothering him. She always took his worries to be her own. The earnestness in her eyes were so blatantly obvious, and her willingness to share his burdens was so unconditional, that Mamoru found himself falling in love deeper and deeper with Usagi, which he didn't think was possible.

"Mamo-chan, you look so pale! Are you sick?" Usagi asked, her eyes big and teary.

"I'm fine Usako, I've just been doing a lot of studying lately," Mamoru lied. He hated to lie to Usagi because she believed everything he said no matter how absurd. He wondered how she could trust everyone so much, especially him.

"I always rest before I study," Usagi said triumphantly, but then her face fell as she continued, "and before I read manga and watch TV and . . ." She looks so cute, Mamoru thought with a grin. He always thought Usagi was adorable even when she tripped and fell, chiefly because he would be there to catch her, or they will both end up on the ground, which was fine with him too. This, however, was a special indulgence that he kept to himself. He feared that if he ever let Usagi know that she will go out of her way to fall, and she will do real injury to herself.

"But you should watch your health!" Usagi declared.

"You're right, Usako. How about we go see a movie?" Mamoru asked.

"Actually, I'm saving my money right now," Usagi was blushing. She was planning something for him, he could tell.

"My treat, come on," Mamoru didn't question her further, he loved her surprises, even when they don't work out the way Usagi plans them.

"Okay!" Usagi's face brightened up in a flash as she clutched his arms. Sometimes he was a little embarrassed by this gesture. He was so noticeably older than her that people stared. Most times though, he didn't care as long as he got to be physically near Usagi.

"How is Luna these days? I haven't seen her around," Mamoru asked.

"She's been groom lately too. She keeps on talking to Artemis without telling us what they are talking about," Usagi's face fell again, "I would be happy if they were just going out, but Luna always end up sad after she talks to Artemis. I'm really getting worried."

What if they remembered too, Mamoru thought with a start.

"Mamo-chan, what's wrong?" Usagi noticed the sudden change in his face.

"Nothing, I'm just wondering what Luna and Artemis are talking about," Mamoru answered, mentally making a note to speak to the cats about the guardians.

Ahead of them, they heard some commotion and a crowd was gathering around a food market.

"Get him out of here!" someone yelled.

"Dirty beggar!" someone else cried.

Some large men were beating a blonde man clutched to the ground. His gray jacket torn in various places.

"Hey, stop it!" Mamoru called out, "What did he do?"

"He stole my apples!" a large bulky man answered as he stood in front of Mamoru.

"I was just so hungry," the blonde man looked up, and Mamoru held his breath. The face was beaten and marred by dirt and bruises, but it was unmistakable.

"Jadite!" Usagi gasped softly.

"How much does he owe you?" Mamoru asked pulling out his wallet, avoiding Usagi's questioning eyes, "I will pay for him."

"1000 yin," the man answered.

"He couldn't of eaten that many apple . . ." Usagi begin, but was silenced by a look from Mamoru.

"I only have 700 yin," Mamoru held out the money, "Take it or leave it."

The man grabbed the money from Mamoru's hand and counted them briefly, "I will let you go this time." He kicked Jadite as he signaled his men and walked into his store.

"Thank you," Jadite got up from the ground, but his feet was shaking so much that he nearly collapsed down again if Mamoru didn't catch him, "I don't want your help." He pushed Mamoru away, as he begin to walk in the opposite direction limping slightly as he walked.

"Hey, he just saved you!" Usagi yelled angrily, her eyes getting big again, "What's wrong with you?"

"Go home Usagi, there is something I have to do," Mamoru called after Usagi as he begin to follow Jadite.

"Mamo-chan . . ." Usagi whined, but Mamoru didn't hear it. His eyes were focused on the back of Jadite as he stumbled through the street.

Jadite staggered slowly through the streets, stopping only to catch his breath. Mamoru caught up to him, he couldn't stand the sight of his friend suffering any longer.

"Jadite," Mamoru tapped his shoulders gently.

"How do you know my name?" Jadite turned around startled.

"I . . .I heard someone call it out from the crowd," Mamoru suddenly remembered that Jadite do not remember him nor does he know that Chiba Mamoru is Tuxedo Kamen.

"Who was it?" Jadite demanded.

"I don't know . . ."

"Why are you following me?" Jadite asked severely.

"I thought you could use some help. You're bleeding," Mamoru pointed to one of the more nastier bruises on his body.

"I'm fine," Jadite snared, "I don't need your help. I am a dangerous man. So do yourself a favor and stop following me." He begin to glow in a slightly red aurora.

He still has his powers, Mamoru sensed it, but then why didn't he use it to protect himself?

"By the way," Jadite said, as he walked away, "If you happen to see the Sailor Senshi or Tuxedo Kamen, warn them that their enemies has returned."

"I don't understand," Mamoru followed Jadite around the corner, but he had disappeared in the crowd.

"None of this makes sense . . ." Mamoru was interrupted in his thoughts as he automatically transformed. Sailor Moon was in danger, he could feel it. Sighing briefly to himself, he begin to follow his senses to him.

The scene before him looked startlingly familiar. The five Senshi were facing a nasty looking youma that looked like it was created from water. He quickly held out his hand as a red rose appeared, and threw it in front of the monster. Someday, I'm going to figure out how I can create roses at will, Tuxedo Kamen promised himself as he leaped from down the building to avoid the blast of water.

"Who are you?" the monster asked him.

"Water is an element which gives life, it should not be used for evil," Tuxedo Kamen uttered, slightly disgusted with himself. Someday I'm going to figure out where I get these lame lines from too, he made another mental note. He waved his cane at the monster and watched the cane go through the monster without hurting it. Should of figured that one, he thought with a groan as he rolled back to avoid the youma's attack.

"Mars Fire Soul!"

A blast of fire engulfed the monster in a sea of flames as it died a quick death.

"Mercuy Agua Illusion!"

"Venus Love Me Chain!"

"Jupiter Thunder Bolt!"

"Moon . . ."

"It's died, it's died!!!" Tuxedo Kamen exclaimed as he ducked, and rolled from the Sailor Senshi's attacks, almost catching fire on his cape, "It wasn't that tough of a youma."

"Is there a new enemy?" Venus asked as she stared at the puddle where it had stood.

"It seems to be a leftover youma from Queen Beryl," Mercury scanned the remains of the youma.

"Queen Beryl?" Jupiter repeated, "But she's long died."

"Yeah, if this youma was a left over, we should of discovered it a long time ago," Mars wondered aloud.

"Perhaps it was dormant all this time," Mercury suggested as she picked up a very small black substance.

"What is it?" Jupiter asked approaching closer.

"It's a piece of a larger black crystal," Mercury answered as she ran her scanner over it, "It's definitely is not part of that youma."

"Then, what is it from?" Sailor Moon asked.

"I don't know."

"More than one Beryl's minions have come back," Sailor Moon suddenly said, "Mamo . . .Tuxedo Kamen and I saw Jadite today."

"Really?" Luna and Artemis appear from apparently nowhere.

"Yes," Mamoru answered, transforming back to his real cloth, "And he still has his powers."

"But why did he let himself be beaten then for stealing food?" Usagi demanded, also changing back.

"He was beaten for stealing food?" Rei asked incrediously.

"This may be some evil plan foiling," Minako proposed.

"But that youma we just killed didn't seem to be part of any thing," Ami countered, "It wasn't even collecting energy. It just randomly attacked us. In fact, it was blasting energy at us for no good reason."

"Perhaps, everyone let over from the Dark Kingdom and Queen Beryl are all crazy," Makoto blurted out.

"I don't think so," Mamoru said slowly, "Jadite told me to warn the Sailor Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen that their enemies has returned."

"None of this makes sense," Luna scratched her head.

"Oh my goodness!" Usagi cried, "I forgot to pick up Chibi-Usa! She went to the new playground with Haruka and Michiru . She is probably still at the playground with them."

"Let's get her then," Mamoru said quickly. He was slightly annoyed at Usagi for always being so careless about Chibi-Usa, but she looked so guilty and worried, he quickly forgave her.

As they walked past the playground, he suddenly noticed something that almost made his heart stop.

Chibi-Usa was bandaging Jadite's wounds, while Haruka and Michiru was no where to be seen.

"Chibi-Usa!" Usagi screamed loud enough to break a few ear drums.

"Usagi, Mamo-chan!" Chibi-Usa waved toward them, as she sit up from her task and ran to Mamoru for a hug. As Mamoru picked her up, he looked toward Jadite, but he had disappeared again.

"What were you doing Chibi-Usa?!" Usagi demanded, "I thought I told you not to talk to strangers."

"But it's . . . but he was bleeding!" Chibi Usa defended herself, while sticking out her tongue at Usagi, who made a face back. Mamoru couldn't help but frown, but he was smiling inside. He was the luckiest man he knows having both an adorable daughter, and a cute girlfriend.

"Listen Chibi-Usa, that was a very dangerous man and if you ever see him again, you should run away from him as fast as possible." Mamoru loved the way Usagi's face could be so serious and so precious at the same time. He mentally slapped himself, stop indulging yourself already, there is a problem at hand, he told himself sternly.

"Aright," Chibi-Usa actually gave in. That's a first, Mamoru thought happily, perhaps their mother daughter relationship was finally forming. Unfortunately, he was disillusioned quickly as the two resorted to making faces at each other.

"Where are Haruka and Michiru?" Mamoru broke off the face off.

"They went to get me some ice cream," Chibi-Usa answered as her face light up finding Haruka and Michiru returning with her ice cream sunday.

Haruka valiantly gave up her ice cream for Usagi, knowing that it meant a lot more to Usagi then it did her. Mamoru watched Usagi, Chibi-Usa, and Michiru eat their ice cream on the park bench while talking softly enough to Haruka on another bench that the others couldn't hear them.

"We had a run in with a youma from the Dark Kingdom," Mamoru filled Haruka in.

"Queen Beryl's?"

"Yes, but it wasn't very strong," Mamoru reassured her, "Mar's fire killed it quickly."

"I bet. Michiru and I didn't even feel it," Haruka shrugged, "Maybe it's a leftover . . ."

"Where did that man go?" Haruka asked curiously.

"You knew Chibi-Usa was talking to him?"

"Of course, you don't think I would really leave your daughter all by herself without watching her do you? I kept an eye on them," Haruka leaned back on the bench.

"Did you know who that was?" Mamoru asked carefully.

"He looks familiar. Wasn't he one of yours?" Haruka asked casually.
"You remember him too?" Mamoru's eyes widened.

"Sure. I remember now. He was one of yours. Didn't they all disappear couple days before the final fight?" Haruka seems to get interested in the subject too, "What happened to him?"

"I'm not sure--" Mamoru looked over to see that the girls were almost finished with their snack, "I will talk to you more about it later. Until I'm sure of some things, don't talk about this to any of the girls."

"You don't consider me one of them . . .one of the girls, do you?" Haruka asked, and laughed when Mamoru blushed, "Good."

"Mamo-chan, what are you discussing with Haruka-san?" Usagi asked curiously after she finished her ice cream.

"We're just chatting manly things," Haruka said with a smile, that widened when Mamoru blushed a little redder, "Well, Michiru and I better get going, we'll see you guys later."

"Byiii," Usagi and Chibi-Usa said together.

"Bye," Mamoru stared after Haruka.

"Thanks for meeting me, Haruka, Luna, Artemis," Mamoru glanced over the little assembly in his apartment. Luna and Artemis were sitting comfortably near each other, while Haruka sit with her arms crossed, waiting for Mamoru to start.

"The reason that I called you all here today is because I think all of us remember my guardians . . ." Mamoru paused to looked at Luna and Artemis. From the way that the cats dropped their heads, Mamoru knew that they remembered, "And I want to find a way to get back Jadite."

"Jadite, that was his name!" Haruka uttered, "He was the one that kept on giving Mars the roses. Didn't she not like him?"

"Yes, that's him," Mamoru sighed, "You don't know this, but right before the last battle with Beryl, my four generals were turned against me by the Dark Kingdom. Even when they were reawaken, they fought on Beryl's side. Zoicite and Kunzite were killed by the Sailor Senshi in battle. Nephite was killed by one of Zoicite's minions. We assumed that Jadite was killed by Queen Beryl when he lost a battle with the Sailor Senshi and I, because he disappeared until now."

"But we don't know if he is still evil or not," Luna begin, "He did allow himself to be beaten by humans for stealing food, but Usagi tells me he was most unappreciative of Mamoru's help."

"I have a question," Haruka said as she sat up, "Why couldn't you save your generals in the first place?"

Mamoru felt a sharp stab to his heart, "I . . . didn't remember them."

"It's not your fault, Mamoru," Luna walked over and gently laid her paw on Mamoru, "None of us remembered, not even Artemis and me."

"But you remember now?" Haruka asked with a raised eyebrows.

"Yes, after two weeks ago, all of my memories of the four generals suddenly begin to flash back," Mamoru walked over to the balcony glass, and pressed his hand tightly against it to hide his face, and all the pain that it wore.

"That's the same time Luna and I begin to remember," Artemis exclaimed.
"What?" Mamoru turned his head over his shoulders in surprise.

"Something must of happened two weeks ago," Haruka concluded, "That's when I started to wonder whatever happened to your generals. Especially the one that always chased after Mars."

"I think what ever made us remember has to do with what happened to Jadite all this time," Luna said thoughtfully.

"Why don't we find him and ask him?" Haruka suggested coolly.

"That might be a good idea," Artemis nodded, "From what he told Mamoru, it appears that he is trying to find us as well."

"How do we know if he is still controlled by the Dark Kingdom or not?" Luna asked.

"I don't know," Mamoru shook his head as he banged his hand on the glass door.

"Stop that," Haruka ordered, "I'm guessing that's how you got your punching bag in that shape." She pointed to the hole in the bag, and the sand beneath it, "I know this is hard on you, but you have got to get a grip on yourself." She walked over to him and laid her hand on his shoulders firmly.

Mamoru stared into Haruka's eyes and nodded.

Suddenly Mamoru begin to feel himself transform. Not again! He thought desperately.

"This time I can feel it too," Haruka was alert immediately, "We've got trouble." With that she too transformed.

Mamoru shook off the urge to stare. As attractive as Haruka is in her uniform, Usagi was far more stunning. Still Mamoru always gawked at the difference it made from Haruka's more masculine outfits.

"Let's go guys," Artemis and Luna were already outside the window. Sailor Uranus and Tuxedo Kamen followed behind. Someday I'm going to jump out a window without my transformation and kill myself, the thought flashed through Tuxedo Kamen's mind. He had grown so acustomed to leaping from roof to roof that he sometimes forget that his alter ego doesn't always have the same powers. Those thoughts didn't slow him down however, as he followed Uranus from roof to roof at an amazing speed.

Sailor Neptune and Pluto also appeared out of nowhere as they joined the pack of roof leapers.

Mamoru noticed with some amusement that though no words were said, Neptune and Uranus exchanged a look that assured each other that everything was aright. Usagi wasn't as good with words, but the way she looked when she said it made no one doubt the genuineness of her unconditional love to everyone. Tuxedo Kamen mentally slapped himself again. Focus Cape Boy he thought to himself.

This youma was considerably stronger than the last, as the Sailor Senshi all have varying degree of brusies over their body. It looked very much like a giant lamp actually, Tuxedo Kamen thought to himself. As he threw his rose to distract the monster, it threw a dozen light bulbs him. Almost by instinct, Tuxedo Kamen threw a dozen roses to defect the light bulbs, but to before he realized it, he was pushed down from the roof by a figure as the light bulbs exploded in mid air upon collision turning the part of the roof he was standing on to dust. Luckily the three outter Senshi had leaped out of the way barely enough to be unscarthed.

Dazzed, Sailor Moon had finished off the monster and rushed off to him where he had fallen to the ground.

"Are you aright, Ma--- Tuxedo Kamen?" Sailor Moon asked as she helped him up.

"I am thanks to whoever it was that pushed me off the roof," Tuxedo Kamen explained as looked over to his rescuer who had fallen several feet away from him.

It was without surprise that Tuxedo Kamen watched Jadite stumbling up from the ground.

"Don't thank me, if I had time to consider it I never would of saved you," Jadite said coldly, "I'm here to warn you that all of Queen Beryl's exiled warriors are back. She had punished us by trapping us in black crystals, but with her dead I presume, the crystals have begin to crack and youmas like this one and me have escaped. That's only the beginning. The more powerful ones are yet to come. Good luck defeating them. You'll need it."

"Why are you helping us?" Makoto asked skeptically.

Jadite's eyes glossed over for a moment, as he turned away and walked away, "I don't know." He said in a distance.

Usagi was started to follow him, but Mamoru put out his hand to stop her.

"I'll follow him," Mamoru's tone let Usagi know that there would be no argument.

"I'm coming too," Luna said in the same tone, and then added as she turned to Artemis, "By myself."

Usagi and Artemis both looked as if they were about to cry, but Mamoru and Luna walked on.

"Why are you coming Luna?" Mamoru asked after they were a distance away.

"Because I owe it to him," Luna said simply.