Within You
Chapter 4: An Evening of Memories
By Lady Starra
Rating: PG
E-mail: ladystarra@angelfire.com
Standard disclaimers apply.
What's up, minna? I've finally gotten another chapter out! Sorry you
had to wait for this, but I've been majorly busy lately. Oh, and
I would also like to thank Brandee for pointing out to me that the
term "kun" is used for boys, not girls, so in the last chapter, Mamoru
should have called Naru "Naru-chan" rather than "Naru-kun." My bad!
I'm still learning, ya know? I really hope you like this part, I think
Mamoru has more flashbacks in this chapter than any of the others,
basically while he's at the ball he's having visions of that last
night on the Moon. Since I'm using the JA names I'm not going to quote
the DIC version, I haven't seen the JA so I just decided to write
whatever came to mind.
On a different note, some of you who may have gone to my website may
not have been able to sign the guestbook. I don't know what's wrong
with it, but I am finding out very quickly that I DO NOT LIKE
GEOCITIES! The site hasn't even been in business for a month, and I'm
already considering moving it. Pretty sad, eh? Well, please send us
all the first season fics you can, since the guestbook is down, just
tell us in your e-mail what you think of the site so far and your
home page url. The archive is found at:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Spa/4410
Please send us your stories and poems!
I personally wish to thank Alicia Blade for her continuous support and
great stories. Luv ya lots, girl! Well, enjoy part 4, minna!
Tsukino Kenji was not exactly thrilled at the fact that his
daughter had found an older college student to escort her to the ball.
If it hadn't been for Ikuko's intervention, Usagi probably wouldn't
have been able to go with Mamoru at all.
"I don't like it! The nerve of some college flirt, trying to win
MY daughter over with expensive gifts! I won't have it!" Kenji cried.
"Just give this boy a chance, Kenji. After all, he DOES go to
one of the best universities in Tokyo. He might be very good for Usagi
and might even be able to help her in her studies," Ikuko told him.
"He's too old!"
Ikuko and Kenji went on and on about it for a good hour, and
Usagi insisted that he was just a friend. Then Ikuko threatened not to
attend the ball herself if Kenji didn't permit Usagi to go with
Mamoru. That was basically the end of it, and Usagi didn't get anymore
lectures from her dad after that. She was just happy that she would be
with Mamoru.
Meanwhile, Mamoru was walking out of the Azabu University Library
with a mountain of books. All afternoon, he'd been looking for
books about the moon and legends, whatever he could find, and checked
them all out. If anything, they should shed some light on this whole
"Serenity" thing. Unfortunately, he wouldn't have any time to do it
that night, seeing as he was going to the Arisawa Company Ball with
Usagi.
He smiled, remembering the astonished look on her face when he
presented her with the pearls. He'd been surprised at his own actions
because he'd never bought a gift for a girl before, much less an
expensive one. But Usagi was someone special. If he could, he would
give her anything her heart desired.
'Since when, Mamoru?' he thought to himself. 'Why are you
feeling like this all of a sudden?'
It puzzled him. Perhaps it was because Usagi looked so much like
the girl he dreamed of and was desperate to find out who she was. But
Usagi WAS beautiful, and sweet, and a lot of fun to be around. He
suddenly found that he was very happy that he would get to take her to
this ball.
Mamoru showed up at the Tsukino residence at around six-thirty,
and suddenly became very nervous. What did her parents think of a
college student taking their daughter out on a date? He walked up the
pathway with a dozen red roses in his hands, and rang the doorbell.
Usagi's mother swiftly answered the door. She was wearing a blue
velvet gown, with matching sapphire jewelry.
"Hello. You must be Chiba Mamoru. I'm Tsukino Ikuko. Please,
come in," she said, smiling.
"Thank you, Tsukino-san," Mamoru said as he entered the
Tsukinos' home, and shook Ikuko's hand.
"Usagi's not quite ready yet. She'll be down in a few minutes,"
Ikuko said. "Weren't you the young man in the play?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Just then, Kenji entered the room. Mamoru gulped when he saw the
suspicious look in the man's eyes.
"Kenji, meet Chiba Mamoru, the young man taking Usagi to the
ball," Ikuko introduced.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Tsukino-san," Mamoru said
causually.
"Hello," Kenji said quietly. Then he started in on the game of
Twenty Questions. "What exactly do you study in school, Chiba-san?"
"I'm...studying to be a doctor," Mamoru said.
"Is that so? How is it that you know my daughter?"
"Oh, don't you remember, Kenji? They were in that play together
not too long ago," Ikuko said.
"Ah, yes. I remember you now. Pity the play didn't go as
planned."
"I know. It was..."
Mamoru's words were halted as everyone saw Usagi come down the
stairs. Mamoru could not believe his eyes. She wore the same dress
he'd seen her in, but it looked different somehow. She had on the
pearl jewelry he'd given her, and her hair was in its usual style,
with soft curls down the sides. She had makeup on, just enough to
bring out her features and make her look a little older. She was
positively gorgeous.
FLASH...
A beautiful girl dressed in white came down the stairs. He
reached out to gently take her wrist, surprising her.
"Pardon me, Princess. May I have this dance? We may not have
another opportunity."
FLASH...
Mamoru lightly shook his head of the vision. It was not a good
time to be spacing out, especially in front of Usagi's parents.
"Mamoru-san," she said when she saw her date.
"Usa, you look...absolutely beautiful," he finally said.
Usagi smiled, blushing.
"I got these for you," he said, presenting her with the bouquet
of roses.
"Thank you, Mamoru-san. They're beautiful."
"Just friends, hmm?" Kenji muttered to his wife, and Ikuko
jabbed him in the ribs. Kenji didn't know what to think. 'First
jewelry, and now this?' he thought. 'Who does this kid think he is,
the Prince of the Earth or something?'
"Usagi, why don't you and Chiba-san head to the ball and meet us
there? Your father and I will be along after I put these in some
water," Ikuko said, taking the roses from Usagi.
"Are you sure, Mother?" Usagi asked.
"Of course. Go ahead."
Usagi looked at Mamoru, and he extended his arm and she took it
eagerly.
"We'll see you there, sweetheart," Ikuko said.
"Okay, Mom. Bye."
When the door closed, Kenji fumed at his wife.
"I can't believe you're actually encouraging this!" he cried.
"Oh, stop it, Kenji. Did you see how happy she was with him? I
think she's totally fallen for him."
"He's too old for her!"
"Excuse me, but wasn't YOUR father six years older than your
mother?"
"That's different!"
Usagi knew her parents would be having it out over Mamoru once
she stepped out the door. She tried not to think about it as Mamoru
opened the passenger side door of his red sports car, being very
gentlemanly and polite.
'I'm on a date with Mamo-chan,' Usagi thought excitedly. All she
wanted now was for him to get his memories back.
They chatted a little on the way to the ball, and when they got
to the hotel, there were already dozens of cars waiting in a long line
for valet service.
"This place is a zoo! How many people work for this company?"
Mamoru exclaimed.
"A lot," Usagi said. "I guess you could say my father is one of
the more important people. He has a lot of people working under him."
"Is he really strict with you then?" Mamoru asked.
Usagi sighed. "Only when it comes to boys."
Mamoru laughed. "I guess he probably doesn't like me very much."
"He'll get over it. Let's just have fun tonight, okay?"
"Sounds good to me."
When they finally reached the front, they got out and a valet
driver rushed over to them. After Mamoru got his ticket, he and Usagi
headed inside. The main ballroom was on a lower level of the hotel,
with grand stairs leading down to it. Usagi couldn't get over the
splendor of the place, and slowly took it all in. She had never seen
anything so splendid since she'd lived on the Moon.
"I guess we should wait for your parents, huh?" Mamoru asked.
"I know! Let's go wait over by the refreshments!" she said,
suddenly noticing a table of sweets not far away. She took him by the
arm and led him to the table, where she delved into various chocolate
treats, fruits and crackers. Mamoru had to smile at her enthusiasm.
She was so lively and vibrant, especially when she was happy.
"Well, I did miss dessert. Guess a few goodies won't kill me,"
he said as he took a chocolate eclair.
"Wow, they've even got chocolate-covered strawberries! I wish
Dad's company would have these parties more often!" Usagi squealed.
Eventually, Usagi's parents found them. Ikuko knew that her
daughter could always be found sampling sweets, so it didn't take them
long to track her down. Kenji then introduced his daughter to some of
his colleagues, most of which Ikuko already knew. Surprisingly, one
person even knew Mamoru!
"I know who you are. Weren't you the young man who appeared in
a commercial for Suzuki a while back?" asked Ms. Kitsuishi, an
associate of Mr. Tsukino's.
"Um...yes, I did do something like that," Mamoru said.
"Yes, I do recall now. You're Chiba Mamoru, right? Your daughter
sure knows how to pick 'em Tsukino-san!" Ms. Kitsuishi said to Kenji.
Usagi and Mamoru blushed.
"What commercial?" Kenji asked, suddenly interested.
"When I worked for Suzuki Motors we were looking for a young,
sexy model to advertise our newest motorcycle. As I recall, he was
even granted a motorcycle of his own. Still got it, Chiba-san?" Ms.
Kitsuishi asked.
"Yes, as a matter of fact," he answered.
"How's the modeling career going?" she said.
"I gave it up, actually. I really didn't like it much."
"Hmm. I don't blame you. I don't know if I could live off salads
for the rest of my life, either!" Ms. Kitsuishi laughed.
People had started to dance, and Mamoru suddenly felt daring. He
took Usagi's hand in his and smiled.
"Shall we?" he said.
Blushing, she nodded with a small smile. Mamoru led her out on
the dance floor, thinking to himself that he was dancing with the most
beautiful girl there.
FLASH...
"I'm so happy you're here," the young princess said as she
danced with her prince.
"I had to see you, even if it meant my life," he answered.
FLASH...
"I had to see you, even if it meant my life..."
Usagi gasped. He was having another vision. Only this time, he
was talking, as if he were actually reliving it. She recognized those
words. That was exactly what he'd said to her that last night on the Moon.
"Mamoru-san?" she said softly.
The sound of Usagi's sweet voice broke him from the trance. He
once again shook his head to clear his mind.
"Is anyting wrong?" she asked, although she knew very well what
was happening to him.
"No...I'm fine, Usa. Are you ready?"
She nodded. Smiling, he led her into a waltz and smiled down at
her lovingly, surprised that she could dance so well.
'This is just like when we danced at the Embassy Ball,' Usagi
thought.
FLASH...
The beautiful young woman smiled up at him with glittering eyes.
"Just now...I was thinking that I wanted to see you," she said.
'She looks so much like the princess in my dreams. I wonder who
she is...'
FLASH...
Mamoru's dancing had slowed, and Usagi took note of that dazed
look in his eyes again. This was not a good night for him. He quickly
came out of it and resumed dancing, and when the music ended, he
suddenly felt exhausted.
"Hey, why don't we go get some air?" Usagi suggested. I saw a
balcony upstairs. We can go there."
"What about your parents?" Mamoru asked.
"Don't worry. Dad's busy with his business discussions and Mom
is talking with some of the executives' wives. They won't worry about
us."
Mamoru and Usagi climbed up the huge stairs, and found the
balcony Usagi was talking about. They walked outside, where the fresh
scent of roses lingered in the air. It was a perfect night, just the
right temperature, the stars glittering like diamonds and a gorgeous
crescent moon lighting up the skies.
"I love nights like this," Usagi said.
"Me too," Mamoru replied, looking into Usagi's beautiful pools
of blue. He was thinking somehow, this perfect atmosphere and the
intensity of Usagi's azure gaze was vaguely familiar...
FLASH...
"The Dark Kingdom is advancing more dangerously than I thought,
Serenity. They want the ginzuishou and will go to any lengths to get
it," Endymion said, gazing into his love's eyes. "I must go out there
and help in the battle. But...I may not come back alive, Serenity. If
anything happens to me...please know that I love you with all my
heart."
"You WILL live, Endymion. And I will wait for you forever," she
said.
"I love you," Endymion said.
"And I love you."
He embraced her, and they shared a sweet, passionate kiss...
FLASH...
Usagi couldn't move. Mamoru's lips were on her own, holding her
in his embrace. All she could do was close her eyes as Mamoru sweetly
kissed her lips, thinking this was too amazing to be true. Mamoru came
out of his visions and suddenly realized he was kissing Usagi, but her
lips were so soft and sweet beneath his that he didn't want to pull
back. It was a pleasing, yet shocking surprise. He pulled her tighter
to him, and Usagi wrapped her arms around his neck and began to return
his kisses. Mamoru nudged her lips open with his own, and slowly he
began to taste her, causing Usagi to gasp at the feel of his tongue in
her mouth.
'This feels so familiar,' he thought. 'Oh, Usagi...my beautiful
odango atama. I don't know who you really are or what you're keeping
from me...but I do know that my feelings for you are changing. I think
that I'm...'
"AAAHH!"
Their moment together was suddenly interrupted by screams from
inside the ballroom.
"What was that?" Usagi exclaimed.
"We'd better see," he said, and they walked back inside, and
there was chaos coming from the ballroom. As they ran down the stairs,
they were horrified at what they saw.
Another one of those blasted cardians was stealing energy! Oh,
why did this have to happen while she was kissing Mamo-chan?
"We're being attacked!" someone shouted, running up the stairs
past Usagi and Mamoru.
FLASH...
"THE MOON IS UNDER ATTACK!"
"Everyone take cover!"
"Get the senshi together NOW!"
FLASH...
Mamoru was starting to wish he would get a dollar for every
vision he had that night. He had to keep Usagi safe, no matter what.
"Usa, get out of here! Go upstairs and hide!"
"You can't stay here! What if you..."
Quickly, he silenced her protest with another kiss to her lips,
then quickly separated from her.
"I'll be fine, Usa. Now go!"
She did as he asked, but only because she needed to transform.
She went back out to the balcony they were on, making sure no one was
around.
"Someone will pay for interrupting me tonight!" she said. "MOON
CRYSTAL POWER...MAKE-UP!"
Mamoru didn't know what possessed him to play hero all of a
sudden. He wished he'd thought twice, because the cardian was an
extremely tough one. It had gotten Usagi's parents, and Mamoru was
enraged.
"Hey you!" he growled. The cardian stopped to look at him.
"Let them go!"
The cardian began to go for Mamoru, until Ann appeared on the
scene.
"Not him," she said to the cardian. "Find that date of his and
take all her energy!"
"Stop right there!"
Suddenly, everyone turned to see Sailor Moon at the top of the
stairs.
"How dare you come to this party and steal people's energy? I
am the agent of love and justice, Sailor Moon! In the name of the
Moon...I WILL PUNISH YOU!"
"Oooh, I'm trembling, Sailor Moon!" Ann spat. "Cardian Dryad,
after her!"
'Oh, boy,' Mamoru thought. 'I hope she handles this better than
last time!'
The cardian charged at Sailor Moon, but she leaped in the air
and dodged it. However, the cardian disappeared and then reappeared
right behind Sailor Moon, grabbing her suddenly.
"Nice try, Sailor Moon! Now, your energy is no more!" Ann
laughed.
The cardian began to drain her energy mercilessly.
"AAAHH!" she cried.
"Sailor Moon!" Mamoru said, panicked. He had to do something!
Suddenly, a white flash of light streaked by, and the cardian
immediately dropped Sailor Moon. A single white rose had struck the
cardian across the face, and became embedded on the ballroom floor.
"Tsukikage no knight-sama!" Sailor Moon exclaimed, trying her
best to get away from the cardian on her low energy. Mamoru rushed
over to help her, and looked once more at the mysterious knight. He
couldn't help thinking there was something familiar about the way
he'd thrown that rose...
"I cannot let you ruin the atmosphere of this beautiful night.
An evening like this, an evening perfect for lovers, cannot be
tampered with by the likes of you!" the knight said.
"Oh? Well, we'll see about that!" Ann said, getting ready to
strike at the knight herself.
"SHABON SPRAY!"
The room suddenly got very cold, and very foggy. When it cleared
up, there were the other senshi, standing there.
"Minna!" Sailor Moon exclaimed.
"Time for you to say goodbye!" Sailor Mars said. "AKYORYOU
TAISAN!"
The charm hit the cardian, freezing it in place and causing it
to scream.
"THUNDER DRAGON!"
"LOVE CRESCENT SHOWER!"
Jupiter and Venus attacked, messing up the cardian pretty badly,
but not destroying it.
"It's strong!" Jupiter said.
"Sailor Moon, attack!" Mercury said.
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Sailor Moon said, taking out her
Moon Rod. "MOON PRINCESS...HALATION!"
The magic struck the cardian, and it soon disintegrated back
into its origial form, falling to the floor and melting.
"This is far from over, Sailor Moon!" Ann said, and disappeared.
Slowly, the people in the room began to get their energy back.
"You did well, Sailor Moon. Until we meet again. Adieu," said
Tsukikage no knight, and disappeared.
"Ahhhh," the senshi said in unison, getting starry-eyed. Mamoru
couldn't help but feel jealous of the knight, who seemed to have
captured Sailor Moon's heart.
"Well, our work here is done," Sailor Moon said. "Come on,
minna!"
"Hold on! Sailor Moon, wait!" Mamoru called after her, grabbing
her by the arm. He looked into her crystal blue eyes, thinking they
were very beautiful...and very familiar.
"What is it, Chiba-san?" she asked.
"Sailor Moon, forgive me, but...you seem very familiar to me.
Have we met someplace before? Who are you? Do we know each other?"
"I know many people, Chiba-san."
"Just Mamoru, if you please."
"I know many people, Mamoru-san."
"Sailor Moon, I...if you know something I don't...please tell
me," he said.
"I don't know what you could possibly be talking about,
Mamoru-san."
Somehow, Mamoru knew she was lying. He could FEEL it.
"I must go now."
"No, wait!"
Sailor Moon and the other senshi fled the ballroom, disappearing
into the night.
"Humph!" Mamoru exclaimed. "She's as stubborn as Usagi!"
Well, that's about it for now, minna! Sorry if the fight scene was
kinda cheesy, but gimme a break, I write romantic fanfiction, I'm not
a screenwriter for Toei Animation! You know the drill, GIVE ME YOUR
INPUT! Also, I am still looking for Motoki/Andrew pictures, if anyone
knows where I can find some please e-mail me. Ja ne!
Sincerely,
Lady S
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