Within You
Epilogue: Awakening
By Lady Starra
Rating: PG-PG13
Well minna, it's here, at long last! I am very, very, VERY sorry you
all had to wait so long for this! Honestly, my life has been extremely
rough lately, plus I had writer's block and had zero inspiration for
the longest time, but everything is a lot better now! ^_^ Well, I won't
keep you any longer, here's what you've been waiting for!
Mamoru thought he was going to go deaf at the sound of the
hollering senshi over his shoulder, but he didn't care. All he wanted
now was the truth. He took her back to the old house, and never once
did she stop screaming or kicking her legs. Also, the screaming going
on around him didn't seem to keep him from going deep into thought.
'If Usako is Sailor Moon...then that would mean that she's
also...'
"PUT ME DOWN!!!" Sailor Moon yelled once more when they reached
their destination.
"As you wish."
He set her on her feet, and he was greeted by a red and angry,
yet beautiful face. He could almost see the steam blowing out of her
ears and she looked like she was ready to kill. She didn't know what
else to do but yell at him.
"Baka!" she cried. "Who knows who could have seen us?! Can you
imagine the talk, about Chiba Mamoru kidnapping the agent of love and
justice?! How are you going to explain this to people? I told you to
put me down, but would you listen? NOOOOO! Now, you're never going to
be able to live this down! You are a true baka, Chiba Mamoru! You..."
She was instantly silenced as he crushed her to his body and
pressed his lips against hers hard. She struggled, but try as she
might, Mamoru wouldn't release his grip on her. He held her so tightly
to him that her transformation brooch rubbed up against his chest and
deactivated, turning her back into Usagi. He broke the kiss, and they
both gasped for air.
"Usako...we haven't finished our date yet," he said, still
holding onto her.
"Let me go," she demanded quietly, looking away from him.
"No."
"Please. It's late, I have to go..." she still wouldn't look up
at him, not wanting him to see the tears building up.
"Usako. Look at me."
She didn't budge.
"Usako," he said again.
He heard soft whimpering and obvious sadness, and grabbed her
chin to force her to look at him. Her eyes were shut, and tears were
streaming down from the lowered lashes.
"Usako, look at me," he repeated. When she still wouldn't, he
decided he needed to get her attention a little better.
"Princess Serenity!"
She gasped, her eyes flying open, totally stunned. "Nani...?"
she said softly to herself. "H-how do you...how did...why-why did you
call m-me that?" she stammered.
He wiped the tears from her eyes, and leaned in gently to kiss
her forehead, her eyes, her cheeks, then lightly pecking her lips.
Usagi relaxed a little at his gentle touch, as he held her to his
chest and he kissed her hair and rubbed her back, soothing her.
"Usako," he whispered, "I don't understand everything that's
going on, but one thing I do know is that something about all this is
hurting you. You're hurting, and something about me is the cause of
it. I won't let you be in pain because of me. I WON'T. Do you hear me,
Usako? Please...tell me," he pleaded into her ear.
Usagi clung to him tightly and sobbed, harder than she had ever
sobbed in her life. Her legs gave way and he lowered her to the
ground, and he held her and kissed her head as she cried into his
chest.
"Mamo-chan," she moaned through her tears. "I can't tell you,
Mamo-chan. I can't..."
"Usako!" he cried, gripping her shoulders and looking at her,
"Why are you being so stubborn? I won't let you leave until you tell
me, Usako! PLEASE!"
"I CAN'T!" she practically screamed, her sobs taking over once
more. "Oh, Mamo-chan...I want to tell you, but I can't...I love you
too much...and I want you to love me too...but not because of...of..."
She was surprised when his lips were on her own once more. He
deepened the kiss, trying to let her know what he felt for her was
true and pure. When it ended, he held her close again.
"Usako...because of what?" he asked, returning to their
conversation. She shook her head slowly. Mamoru sighed. Why did the
odango have to be so blasted stubborn? He then realized she still had
doubts about his love for her. He'd always loved her, from the moment
they met, and he hadn't realized it until recently. But Mamoru DID love
her. He did, and he had to tell her so.
"Usako...I love you. I love you regardless of anything that might
have happened before. I need you to believe that. I also need you to
talk to me. I want to be with you, to love you like no man has ever
done, but we can't have secrets between us for this to work, Usako.
Please, tell me..."
She was silent for a few moments, and then spoke.
"Do you...really love me, Mamo-chan?" she asked, her voice
trembling.
"Oh, Usako, I love you more than anything on this Earth. I began
falling for you long ago, but I never wanted to face my feelings. When
I began to have visions of you, and of Sailor Moon, things got so hard
and I couldn't deny what I was feeling for you any longer. Don't you
see? I LOVE you. I am IN LOVE with you, Tsukino Usagi, my Odango Atama.
But I can't love you the way I want to, if you won't let me in. Let me
in, Usako. Trust me, confide in me. Tell me everything, please," he
finished.
"Mamo-chan," she moaned through more tears, clinging to him
fiercely.
"Tell me, Usako. Am I Endymion?" he asked.
Usagi took a deep breath, before responding silently. "Y...Yes."
Mamoru let out a deep sigh. "But...how? Why don't I remember?"
"It's a very long story, Mamo-chan."
"Then let's go back into the treehouse, where we'll be more
comfortable."
That was where Usagi finally told him everything...their love in
the Silver Millennium, the Dark Kingdom and the destruction of the
Moon, their death and rebirth, how he had been Tuxedo Kamen and how
Beryl had kidnapped and brainwashed him. During that part of the story,
she was crying again, as she told him how he had almost killed her,
and Mamoru comforted her, wanting to cry himself. Finally, she went
into the final showdown with Beryl, how she had died while using the
ginzuishou and how it resurrected them all without any prior knowledge
of what had happened. Mamoru listened to all of this in total awe and
disbelief. Him, a prince AND a superhero? He could not believe that he
had allowed anyone to brainwash him into almost killing his love.
"Then, when the meteor landed, the new enemies came, and Luna
revived all of us. But she said she couldn't give you your memories
back because you weren't a senshi. That's why you don't remember," she
finished.
"Usako...isn't Luna your cat?" Mamoru asked, confused.
"Another long story, Mamo-chan. One that I'm too tired to give
right now," she sighed.
"What about this Tsukikage no knight, Usako? What's his deal?"
"We don't know. One night, he appeared out of nowhere, and at
first I thought he was you. But...that day at the virtual reality
arcade was when I found out you two weren't the same person. I don't
understand it at all."
"Neither do I..." Mamoru was completely confused. Then, he
changed the subject. "Usako, what REALLY happened to your arm?" he
asked.
Usagi looked up at him, stunned. "There...there was an attack in
the middle of the night. I got hurt while I was fighting," she
explained.
"Now I have more reason to worry about you. I wish I could be
there to fight for you...so you wouldn't have to get hurt."
"I'll be okay, Mamo-chan. I have the other senshi to back me up,
and you'll remember soon. I know you will," she said.
"I truly hope so, Usako. Now, as I recall...we were interrupted,
weren't we?"
Usagi blushed. Before she knew it, she was in Mamoru's arms,
being taken back to the small room they had been in previously. Mamoru
set her back on the blankets, stroking her face as he gazed into her
crystalline eyes.
"Mamo-chan...promise you won't ever leave me," she said.
"I'll always be yours, Usako. Always," he whispered, then leaned
down and they kissed, yet again, under thousands of glittering stars.
Mamoru was woken by a sudden presence in the room. The energy
was great...but it wasn't anything evil. Suddenly, he gasped as the
familiar form of Tsukikage no Knight appeared before him.
"You," he said.
"We have much to talk about."
"Yes we do. Tell me, Tsukikage no Knight...who ARE you? Show me
your face!"
"Brace yourself."
Mamoru gasped as he was suddenly looking at his own image. The
knight was...HIM!?!?!
"NANI?! How is this possible?!"
"Calm down, Chiba Mamoru. Allow me to explain," the knight said.
"You see, when the princess defeated Queen Metallia, the ginzuishou
revived her, the senshi and yourself, without your memories. When the
senshi were once again revived, the ginzuishou tried to seal your
memories away. However, the love you had for her and your vow to always
protect her was so strong and true, that I was incarnated by those
feelings to protect the princess. That is how I am to be."
"But...how do I get my memories back? What can I do?"
"You must prove your love to the princess."
"But...I DO love her, I've told her that, and I mean it with all
my heart. I don't know what more I can do," Mamoru said.
"Everything happens in due time, Endymion. All I can tell you,
is that when she needs you, you must be there for her, no matter what.
You are already beginning to remember things, and you must prove once
again that you are worthy. Take heed, Endymion, and protect the
princess." He began to disappear.
"Wait! I still have things I need to know!" Mamoru cried, but
the image of Tsukikage no Knight simply vanished in the darkness.
Mamoru sighed deeply, and walked out onto his balcony, staring at the
moon.
"Usako."
~ THE NEXT AFTERNOON ~
"Hey Usagi-chan, want to go get some crepes with us?" Makoto
asked after the last school bell rang.
"Gomen, Mako-chan. I'm meeting Mamo-chan at the arcade," Usagi
said.
"Wow, another date with Mamoru-san, huh?" Ami asked.
"Yeah," Usagi sighed, getting starry-eyed. "He never tells me
what he has planned though. He always wants to surprise me."
"Oh? I'll bet it was a REALLY good surprise last night, ne?"
Makoto winked.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
"Oh, come off it, Usagi-chan! You've been out of it all day.
You were daydreaming way more than usual, and you have that glazed
look in your eyes. You and Mamoru-san went all the way, didn't you?"
"EHHH?!?" Usagi cried, and Ami clamped her hand over Makoto's
mouth.
"Not so loud, Mako-chan! Do you want the entire school to know?"
Ami scolded.
"Gomen. But...it's true, isn't it, Usagi-chan?" Makoto said
quietly. "We heard how late it was when you came home. You're just
lucky your parents were out late! And that look in his eyes when he
carried you away...don't tell me nothing happened, Usagi-chan!"
"I...I don't know what you mean, Mako-chan! Heh heh! Oh, look
at the time! Well, I have to go meet Mamo-chan now! Ja!"
"Usagi-chan! Don't you dare try to hide this from us! You'd
better give us all the details!" Makoto said, but Usagi ran, ignoring
her.
As Usagi scampered off, a jealous, angry Natsumi emerged from
behind a large tree. "No one will take Mamoru-san from me! This time,
you WILL pay, Usagi!"
"Mamo-chan!" Usagi cried, waving as she came down the street.
She threw herself into his arms, and he embraced her tightly.
"Good afternoon, Usako. How was your day?"
"Fine, but it's much better now that you're here," she beamed.
He smiled. "Well, shall we go? Why don't we go for a boat ride
on the lake?"
"Great!"
He took her to the park, where they rented a boat and rowed out
onto the lake. Usagi suddenly went deep into thought, remembering when
she'd been spying on Rei and Mamoru at this exact same park on their
"date." She giggled.
"What is it, Usako?" he asked.
"I was just remembering something about you."
"What?"
"Well, you probably don't remember, but before, when you were
Tuxedo Kamen, you and Rei-chan used to go out a lot together."
"We...did?"
"Uh-huh. I remember, I saw you guys together one time and I got
so jealous. I followed you two around all afternoon, and you and Rei
were rowing in a boat just like we are now," Usagi giggled.
"Really? Hmm, you're right, I don't remember that. I suppose I
called you Odango Atama back then as well?" he grinned.
"Oh, yes. You always made me so mad!"
"Well, I'm sorry that I don't remember, Usako. But...I have to
tell you something that happened last night."
"Huh? What?"
"Tsukikage no knight appeared before me, and told me that he is
an incarnation of myself, of my memories. He said that the only way
for me to regain my memory is to..."
Suddenly, they felt a strong force begin to rock the boat back
and forth.
"Mamo-chan, what's happening?!" Usagi cried, panicking.
"Stay calm, Usako! Just..."
And then, the boat tipped over, with Mamoru and Usagi plunging
into the water. They both came up for air, totally stunned.
"What's going on here?!" Mamoru said, gasping for air.
"So nice to see both of you again."
They both looked up to see Ann hovering in the air.
"Not you again!" Mamoru yelled at her.
"Sorry to spoil your little date, but this little klutz WON'T
get away from me again!"
Ann thrust her hand out and a strong force suddenly hit Usagi,
paralyzing her.
"Aaahhh!" Usagi cried, suddenly feeling helpless. Mamoru began
to panic.
"No! Stop this right now!" he shouted.
'First you steal Ail's heart, then Mamoru-san's! This is
unforgivable!' Ann thought, her anger building up. "GOODBYE, TSUKINO
USAGI!"
Ann used her power and Mamoru watched in horror as Ann forced
Usagi beneath the water.
"NO! USAKO!" he cried, and dove into the water after her.
'Why is he going after her? He can't possibly love someone as
dumb and klutzy as her!' Ann thought angrily.
Ann had pushed Usagi to the bottom of the lake, the force of the
power keeping her there. Mamoru swam quickly towards her, although the
currents from Ann's power were pushing him back.
'I won't let her die! Hang on, Usako! I'm coming! I'll get to
you, I don't care if I die trying!'
However, it seemed that the closer he swam to her, the stronger
the currents got. But Mamoru wasn't about to give up.
'Usako! Please, hang in there! Can't you see how much I love
you? You can't leave me now! Not after all we've been through. Please,
Usako...Serenity...my love...'
Suddenly, a warmth enveloped Mamoru, accompanied by the voice of
Tsukikage no Knight.
"Endymion. Remember who you are."
Another flashback came into Mamoru's mind. Him, as Prince
Endymion, protecting Serenity from Beryl. Him, as Tuxedo Kamen,
protecting Sailor Moon from Zoisite. He'd loved her deeply on both
occasions. And he still loved her. Now, he would protect her, Tsukino
Usagi, as Chiba Mamoru. No matter what the cost.
Determined, he swam towards the figure of his one true love. Now
the currents seemed like no bother to him, as he swam through them
easily, grabbing Usagi and swimming to the top. When they emerged, Ann
watched in shock.
"Impossible! There's no way you could have saved her with the
power I used!" Ann snarled furiously.
"Your magic is nothing compared to what I feel for this girl!"
Mamoru yelled. "I love her with all my soul and I won't let you harm
her!"
Suddenly, Ail appeared next to her.
"Ann, what are you doing?" he cried, looking down at Usagi.
"Trying to get rid of HER!"
"Ann, you're acting crazy! Stop this now!" Ail shouted.
"You stay out of this, Ail! This doesn't concern you!" Ann got
ready to attack again, ready to throw her fist out.
"Ann, stop!"
"FIRE SOUL!"
Ann saw the stream of fire headed her way, and leaped away from
it just in time. While she was distracted, Mamoru began swimming back
to dry land, hoping it wasn't too late.
"We won't let you touch Usagi!" Sailor Mars stated angrily as
she was followed by three other senshi.
"Trying to kill an innocent girl? That's low, even for you!"
Jupiter spat.
"Come on, Ann! We're leaving. NOW!"
"What? But the senshi! Summon a cardian to destroy them!" Ann
cried.
"Not this time, Ann. Not after what you did to Usagi-san! We're
not here for that! We are leaving now!"
"Ail!"
"Fine. When Sailor Moon gets here, see if you can defeat five
senshi all by yourself."
Ail disappeared, and Ann knew that her actions against Usagi had
angered him tremendously. She growled in frustration.
"Just you wait, Sailor Senshi! I'll be back!" Ann promised, and
disappeared.
Meanwhile, Mamoru was doing CPR on Usagi, trying to get her to
breathe.
"Come on, Usako! You have to make it!" he said. Tears burned his
eyes as he breathed air into her mouth, as he tried to get the water
in her chest to come up. He didn't know what had just happened beneath
that water...but after he'd felt that strange warmth, he remembered
everything about his past: being Endymion, being Tuxedo Kamen, and
falling in love with her in both lifetimes. Now that he'd found her
again, he couldn't lose her. He couldn't.
The senshi called the ambulance and then stood by watching
Mamoru trying to revive Usagi. They were all terrified, it didn't seem
like she was responding at all. It looked hopeless.
Suddenly, she seemed to come out of it. She began to cough as
the water came up from her throat, desperately gasping for air.
Mamoru held her tightly as she came to, the senshi sighing with
relief. Sirens could be heard as the ambulance approached, and one of
the paramedics instantly recognized Mamoru.
"Hello, Chiba-san. Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm fine, Tetsuro. It's my girlfriend...it was one of
those monsters, it attacked us and pulled her under the lake. I did
CPR on her and she's breathing, but I still want to get her to the
hospital..."
"Don't worry, Chiba-san, we'll take good care of her."
"Thank you, Tetsuro. May I ride?"
"Of course."
Usagi was hardly aware of what was going on, only knowing that
she felt very exhausted, and that she wanted Mamoru. Her eyes opened
as they rode in the ambulance, and looked up to see him staring down
at her with concern.
"Mamo...chan..."
"I'm here, Usako. Everything is all right. You're going to be
fine." He kissed her forehead and took her hand in his lovingly,
stroking her hair. "I'm right here."
Ami called Usagi's family and they rushed to the hospital the
moment they were informed. There, Ami and the others filled them in on
everything. They were quite amazed when they heard of Mamoru's heroic
efforts, leading Usagi's father to the conclusion he might not be so
bad after all.
"Where is she? Can we see her?" Ikuko asked Dr. Mizuno.
"Yes, Tsukino-san. She's going to be fine, it's a good thing
that young man had done CPR when he did, otherwise she would be a lot
worse off. She's very exhausted, but she'll be able to go home this
evening. Also, I would suggest maybe keeping her home from school
tomorrow so she can get some strength back. The attack took a lot of
energy out of her."
"Of course, Doctor. May we see her now?" Kenji asked.
"Absolutely. Room 103."
Meanwhile, Mamoru was at Usagi's bedside, looking down at his
angel who was now sleeping. He had never been so afraid in his life,
when he thought he would lose her. She lay there, obviously exhausted
but still so beautiful, so enchanting. Not able to resist, he leaned
down and kissed her lips softly.
His touch caused her to stir, and her eyes fluttered open
slowly. When she saw his face, she smiled.
"Mamo-chan."
"Hello, Usako. You're in the hospital now, and you're going to
be fine. Your parents have been called, they'll be here soon," he told
her.
"Mamo-chan...you saved me, didn't you?" she asked.
"Yes. I wasn't going to let that monster take you from me. Just
like Zoisite almost did that day at the Crystal Tower..."
"M-Mamo-chan, you...you remember that?"
"Yes, Usako. I don't know what happened to me when I was under
there, but I think maybe Tsukikage no Knight merged with me somehow,
giving me strength. And now...I remember everything. About Endymion,
about Tuxedo Kamen...everything."
"Mamo-chan, really?" she asked, tears swelling in her eyes.
"Really."
She threw herself at him and began to cry.
"Oh, Mamo-chan...I'm so happy! I knew this day would come! I
love you, Mamo-chan, I love you..."
"I love you too, Usako. And I'll never let you go. Ever."
Then, Usagi's family entered the room.
"Mama, Papa, Shingo!"
Ikuko rushed to her daughter and gave her a big bear hug.
"Oh, Usagi, we were so worried! We came as soon as we found out.
And I understand we owe it all to you, Chiba-san," she said.
"Yes, young man. Thank you for saving my daughter," Kenji said.
"I would do it all over again, Tsukino-san," Mamoru said.
"Please, you must come to dinner tomorrow evening. I'll make you
anything you like," Ikuko offered.
"His favorite food is chocolate!" Usagi exclaimed happily.
"Then I'll make a chocolate cake, just for you!" Ikuko smiled.
"When did Usagi get a boyfriend?" Shingo whined, who hated to be
the last person informed of things.
"The doctor said it was best if you stayed home from school
tomorrow and get your strength back. She said you could come home
tonight, but that you need to rest," Kenji said.
"Yes, Papa. I will."
"I'm glad you're safe, sweetheart." Kenji kissed his daughter
on the forehead. "I'm going to talk to the doctor to see about getting
you home."
"All right, Papa. See you later."
Ikuko, Shingo and Mamoru stayed behind, and talked with Usagi
for a while. Usagi was glad that her family was getting to like
Mamoru. After all, he was the man she loved. All she knew, was that
she could NEVER let her father find out about what had happened the
night before, or Mamoru would wind up in the hospital bed next to her!
Kenji allowed Mamoru to accompany them home, even let him carry
Usagi to her room and serve her supper in bed. Mamoru even fed her a
little bit, trying to pamper her and make her more comfortable.
"Mamo-chan, did you say that Tsukikage no Knight helped you?"
Usagi asked.
"Yes. As I told you before, he was an incarnation of my
memories and he merged back with me. Now that I have my memory back, I
think now he's where he belongs, deep within me."
"Within you? You mean...he isn't coming back?" Usagi asked
sadly.
"Not in that form, no. But don't worry, love. I'M back, and I'm
sorry I made you wait...Tsukino Usagi with the odango atama."
He kissed her, and she eagerly returned the gesture. They kissed
for a few moments, silently proclaiming their love to one another.
When it ended, she smiled at him, her blue eyes gleaming with
happiness.
"Welcome back, Mamo-chan."
GOMEN, GOMEN, GOMEN, GOMEN! I'm very sorry that getting this last part
out took as long as it did, but all of my reasons are legitimate, I
swear! I've never had writer's block so bad in all my life...but, it's
finally DONE! WOOHOO!!!! Thanks to everyone who kept pushing me to
finish it, and to all my loyal readers, whom I adore and love dearly!
Of course, THANK YOU, ALICIA! You have been a lifesaver these past
couple of months, I really don't know what I would've done without
you, girl! Also, thanks to all who loyally visit my website, I love
you all!
And now, on to other business. I am sure many of you are wondering
about my unfinished fic, I Don't Belong. I've already decided it's not
going to have many more parts, maybe one or two more chapters and an
epilogue. Time has been very scarce for me lately, as you all have
noticed. I had hoped to get this story, I Don't Belong and my holiday
fic done by now, but...it just didn't happen. I had a lot of other
ideas for fics, started to make some character shrines (as some of you
might remember, I had wanted to do a Motoki shrine) and a lot of other
stuff, but now, I don't see myself finishing them anytime soon. So
much is going on right now, I barely have enough time to write AND
work on my webpage. I'm hoping to get a lot done within the next six
months, BEFORE my life gets crazier than it already is.
Well, that's it for now, minna. Check out my website, the First Love
Story Archive, at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Spa/4410 if you want
more Usagi and Mamoru fanfiction! Ja ne!
Sincerely,
Lady S
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