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Subject:  Together Once More Part 4
   From:  Andre Garde 
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   Date:  Oct. 29, 1996  8:57 PM :49

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Darn, looks like those SM writers in Japan beat me to the punch.  I truly did
have an idea for a part where the Sailor Team and the Starlights were forced
to reveal their identities to each other.  That's originally what I had in
mind.  Oh well.  Back to the drawing board.
------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----
                  Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars
                           "Together Once More"

                     by: Andre Garde (aj113@torfree.net)

                           Part Four: Moon Revenge


     Moonlight shone through Usagi Tsukino's bedroom window.  She knelt by
her window, staring at her former home, which was flanked by the countless
stars in the night sky.  Luna, her feline guardian and advisor to the Senshi,
lay comfortably cradled in her arms as she petted her softly.  Usagi was in
her usual pink pajamas; her hair was down, long blond tresses flowing behind
her.  The cool, night, breeze, made several stray hairs blow softly about her
head.

     "Are you sure this is wise, Usagi?" Luna asked.  It was mostly Luna who
provided the answers to all of her questions, but this one particular night,
she found herself in the dark as to Usagi's motives.

     "Yes, Luna," Usagi replied, obviously tired from the night's events at
Da Bronx, where her friends had a little more than a minor scuffle.  When
Luna had heard about it from Usagi, she could hardly believe her ears.

     "Mamo-chan totally lost it last night.  I can't have my boyfriend go
around jumping at my friends, Luna."

     "I know," the black cat sighed wearily.  "But you can't really blame
him.  I mean, you do recall Seiya's words, don't you?"

     "Yeah.  Seiya pretty much said that Mamo-chan didn't care for me, since
he never returned any of my letters that I sent him.  At least, that's what
Mamo-chan told me before we dropped him off at his place."

     "You've no reason to doubt him?"

     "Of course not!" Usagi snapped.  She turned her head sharply down,
fixating Luna's gaze with her own.

     Luna saw her error and apologized.  Usagi did the same, not wanting any
ill will between them.

     "It's for the best," she continued.  "They have to learn."

     "The same could be said about you, you know." Luna replied, with a sly
grin on her face.  Usagi's sour expression made Luna chuckle softly.  "All
right.  I just hope you know what you're doing, Usagi-chan."

     "You promise not to tell anyone, not even Artemis?"

     "I promise."

     Usagi, satisfied, crawled up into her bed, tucking herself in.  Luna
stationed herself at the foot of the covers, curling up into a tight, warm,
ball.  "Good night, Usagi-chan.  Usagi-chan?"  She was fast asleep.  Luna
yawned and drifted off into her own peaceful slumber.

                                     --

     As night came and went, a beautiful sunrise greeted the citizens of
Tokyo, Japan.  The sun casted its rays of warmth down on the busy streets,
full, and ripe with life.  The feelings of one Mamoru Chiba however, did not
reflect those of the weather.

     He stood alone on his balcony, watching the cars and pedestrians on the
streets below him.  He paid no attention to the traffic snarl, to the honking
of car horns, nor the shouts of angry motorists.  No, Mamoru's mind was en-
tangled in a web of spite, and hatred.  Self-hatred, for what he had done --
what he had thought he directly caused -- the previous night.

     He had picked a fight Seiya Kou, a member of the Three Lights, a super
star rock band.  Teen idol, movie star, singing sensation.  All of these were
fit to describe Seiya.  Mamoru conceded that, but he could have also added
snobby, arrogant, and full of...

     "What am I doing!?" Mamoru said aloud.  "What was I thinking!?"  Seiya's
words had touched a part of his soul that he was none too proud of.  A part
which had deceived him into thinking that by staying away from Usagi, she'd
be safe in the future.  How wrong that idea turned out to be.  Apart, he and
Usagi were two mere halves of a greater entity.  Together, they were a whole
that could not be separated.  "Until now," Mamoru thought.  He leaned down
with his arms on the railing of the balcony, when the doorbell sounded.
"Hmm, wonder who that could be," he said as he approached the door.  "Maybe
it's..."  Anticipation rose as he unlocked the door and turned the knob.
Pulling it open, Mamoru didn't find the person whom he had hoped was there,
but found a welcome face just the same.

     "Hello, Mamoru-san."

     "Oh, hi Makoto.  What brings you here?"

     "Well, just wanted to stop by to see how you were doing.  I heard the
news and..."  She saw Mamoru tense up.  "Um, I brought THIS to cheer you up!"
She presented him with the cake that she had been carrying, that Mamoru had
neglected to notice when he opened the door.  It looked delicious; frosting
covered the edges of the rectangular, chocolate, cake.  Rainbow-coloured
candy sprinkles spelled out "MAMORU" diagonally across the top.  "If only
Usako were here," Mamoru thought to himself.

     "Oh, wow, thanks.  Uh, come in, come in."  He motioned Makoto inside and
pointed towards the kitchen.  Makoto set it down on the counter, and then the
two fell into a silence.  Makoto saw that Mamoru was trying to fumble for
some words, so she decided to speak up.

     "I heard what happened last night.  All I have to say is, GREAT JOB!"
She put on her biggest happy face, hoping that it would lighten the spirits
of her friend.

     But Mamoru only smiled grimly in response.  "Yeah, thanks.  Sure doesn't
feel great to me, though."  He turned away and stared out towards his
balcony.

     Makoto rested her hands on the counter.  "So, she hasn't spoken to you?"

     "Not since last night when they dropped me off.  She asked me what went
on in the club, so I told her."

     "And then?"

     Mamoru wasn't having an easy time replaying events he so desperately
wanted to forget.  But he knew he could not.  "She stepped back into Haruka's
car without saying a word.  I tried calling her this morning but her mom says
she's out.  I was even going to try Luna..."  His voice trailed off.

     Makoto, determind as ever not to see them fall apart, was adamant.
"Look, you two are crazy about each other.  I'm sure she'll come back to
you.  Really."

     "You think so?"

     "Well, of course!"

     "No, you don't!" Mamoru snapped, more harshly than he intended.  He
whirled back on Makoto, but she stood her ground.  "I've hurt her.  AGAIN!
Do you know what it's like to hurt someone?  Not just someone, HER!"  Mamoru
clenched his fists tightly, moisture forming in his eyes.

     Makoto finally understood.  She knew that Usagi was always a cheerful
person.  Whenever she was down, she'd bounce right back up without missing a
beat.  But whenever she was emotionally hurt, and hurt badly, she became
trapped in a cocoon of sorrow and anguish no one saw fit to disturb.  Makoto
suddenly stopped herself in realization.  Every time Usagi felt this bad, it
was always because of...

     "Me," Mamoru continued, in a somewhat cynical tone.  "It's all my fault,
as usual.  Leave it to me to be the one who--"

     "STOP IT!" Makoto shouted.  She surprised herself with her outburst, but
found that Mamoru was no less startled.  "You can't keep doing this to your-
self.  Burying yourself in self-pity won't do you any good.  You don't think
I know what it's like to feel lonely?  We're both orphans, Mamoru-san.  We've
both been alone for a long, long, time.  But if you think Usagi would leave
you over a little fight, you're a fool!  You mean everything to her!  If you
can't understand that by now..."  She turned away from him angrily and rested
her hands on her hips.  She found herself at a loss for anything else to say,
but her point was made.  Makoto's words struck a chord deep within the
recesses of Mamoru's mind.  She was right after all, and Mamoru knew it.
Wordlessly, Makoto headed towards the door of his apartment.

     "Mako-chan..."

     She turned around slowly, the anger gone from her face.  Only concern
written all over it instead.

     "Thanks."  He smiled lightly.  Makoto smiled back, and left, shutting
the door behind her.  Deciding himself to get some fresh air, Mamoru left his
apartment a few minutes later.

                                     --

     "How long has he been this way?" Yaten Kou asked of Taiki.  They were
both kept watchful eyes on Seiya, who was in turn watching over the still,
serene, lake.

     "Ever since this morning.  I came around here during my usual run when I
saw him standing there.  Hasn't moved since I called you over here."

     "Is he feeling THAT bad?  Maybe we should..."  Yaten thought the better
of it, then continued.  "Come on, he needs some time alone.  Let's go see
what the girls are doing."  Taiki followed Yaten down the path, as they left
their fellow Starlight to ponder amongst himself.  So peaceful and calm was
the lake, that Seiya felt out of place.  He was tormented; emotionally as
well as physically.  His bruised jaw had yet to heal completely.

     "I probably won't have much to say for awhile," Seiya murmured to him-
self.  "All the better I suppose."  He picked up a small rock and cast it far
into the lake.  It fell beneath the surface, causing ripples to emanate from
the center.  Seiya sighed heavily, looking down at the dirt on the ground.
Regretful, ashamed, and feeling disgusted at himself for what he had done, he
turned to go, not really have any specific destination in mind.  But some-
thing froze him in the middle of his tracks.  Pure adrenaline began pumping
through his veins, his heart beat faster, nervousness creeping throughout
every pore on his body...

     "Usagi." he whispered, more to himself rather than as a greeting.

     She smiled as she came over to him, and without a word, she took his arm
and led him away from the lake.  Seiya, startled as he was, managed to speak.
"Uh, Usagi, where are you taking me?  Shouldn't you be with..."

     "We're going for a little stroll Seiya."  She didn't even turn her head
towards him.  She had her sights fixed on some point on the horizon as she
replied.  Seiya found that he could say nothing.  He was too confused at the
moment to say anything.  "She should hate me by now." Seiya thought.  But he
simply followed Usagi's lead, oblivious as to where she was taking him.

     When they stopped, they sat down on a bench surrounded by tall trees.
The area seemed secluded, and Seiya thought that they must be in a park some-
where.  It was then that Usagi broke the silence.

     "Seiya..." she said softly.  "I can forgive you for what happened last
night at the club."  Seiya's eyes widened in response.  Perhaps there was
hope after all.  "But, you've got to apologize to me, and to Mamoru, okay?"
The pleading look in her eyes made Seiya finally utter the words.  When he
apologized, Usagi's face lit up.

     "So radiant a smile," Seiya thought inwardly.  "Such beauty.  She's like
an angel..."  He took no notice of her warm hand upon his cheek, which drew
him closer and closer to her.  Seiya closed his eyes, realizing that he was
being drawn into a kiss.  Not from just any girl, but a goddess.

     As their lips nearly met, Usagi opened one of her eyelids slowly.  She
saw Seiya, eyes shut loosely, coming closer to her.  Out of the corner of her
eye, she caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.  "Mamoru," she thought.
"Right on time."  The place where she had brought Seiya was a place where
Usagi and Mamoru shared their moments with each other, in the arms of the one
they loved the most.  It was their spot, their own domain, in the little park
in the midst of Tokyo.  Mamoru had no doubt spotted them, and Usagi saw that
he turned away sharply and ran back the direction from which he came.  When
she was sure that he was truly away, Usagi put the final part of her plan
into action.

     Seiya waited for the inevitable.  Finally, he was getting his chance
with the one he desired most.  A simple kiss, but the start of so much more.
He heard a sharp sound just then, like something hitting flesh.  Bewildered,
he finally opened his eyes, and realized that he was kneeling on the ground.
"How did..." Seiya began, when he felt the sting and the swelling on the
other side of his cheek, the one that hadn't felt Mamoru Chiba's fist.  He
had been slapped.  Hard.

     He looked up to find Usagi's form towering over his.  "Funny, she looks
larger than life from down here."  Seiya forced the thought from his mind,
and tried to concentrate on what was happening.  He dared to look into
Usagi's eyes.  They seemed to burn into his own.

     "That was for insulting Mamoru, Seiya." she said simply.  "Nobody does
that to MY boyfriend, got it?"  He could only nod, still somewhat shocked at
the cold look Usagi was giving him.  And then suddenly, the warmth returned.
She giggled and gave him a big smile.  "Great!  I'm glad that's settled.  See
you around, Seiya!" she said cheerfully.  She turned around gracefully,
walking away from him, but only the shock refused to leave.  He blinked, and
watched Usagi stroll down the path into the distance, a gentle sway in her
gait.


     Mamoru sat alone, silent and brooding.  Sitting on another bench, which
gave him a spectacular view of the lake before him.  The very same lake which
he and Usagi had taken a boat ride in, just before Chibi-Usa had dropped --
literally -- into their lives.  It had been several hours since he had seen
his girlfriend -- former girlfriend, he corrected -- leaning in towards a
kiss with the person he had fought the night before.  "I've lost her," he
said softly.  "And of all people, to him."  Mamoru stared up into the sky,
dry eyes basking in the sun's warmth.  Tears refused to form; they had all
been shed before now.  Despite Makoto's words, Mamoru felt as lonely as ever.

     "Penny for your thoughts, young man?" a strange voice said behind him.

     Mamoru shot up straight, not expecting someone to sneak up on him.
"Huh, what?"  He turned around, and found himself looking upon a cheerful old
woman.  "Oh, it's nothing.  Really."  He moved over to one side of the bench
as the old woman came over to sit down.

     "My name is Serena," she said simply.

     He nodded.  "Mamoru Chiba."

     "Well, Mamoru Chiba, you're not a very good liar, are you?"  She put it
bluntly, which surprised him.  He regained his composure in an instant.
"Yeah, well, I've had a rough night followed by a rough day.  I don't expect
you to understand."

     "Try me, young Mamoru-san."

     Mamoru thought that he should end the conversation then and there, but
for some reason, he felt safe confiding in the old stranger, as if he had
done so all his life.  He couldn't describe the feeling, but it was as if he
knew this woman, somehow.  He dismissed the thought from his mind.  "My girl
left me for another guy."  His tone was flat.

     "Indeed," the old woman said slowly.  She seemed more interested in the
conversation.  "What had occured to make her do such a thing?"

     "Oh, I punched out a guy she was friends with.  He said something that
really bothered me.  He said I didn't care about my girlfriend."  Mamoru
chuckled, but it was self-mockingly.  "He didn't know how much I loved -- no,
love her.  So I slugged him anyway, figured he needed a little attitude
adjustment."

     The old woman almost smiled.  "And then what happened?"

     Mamoru breathed deeply.  "This morning I saw her kissing the same guy I
hit.  She's dumped me."  The colour drained from his face, all emotion gone.

     "Kissing, or, about to kiss?" the old woman said.

     Mamoru froze.  "What?"

     "Did you see her kiss the one you hit or not?"

     Mamoru was suddenly uncomfortable.  "Well, they were going closer and
closer.  It quite clear to me what happened next, Serena-san."

     She frowned.  "But you did not see them kiss, and so you can assume that
they did not do so."

     "What are you talking..." Mamoru started to say, when he paused.  "You
were there weren't you!?  You saw what happened!"

     "No young man, I was not there.  You had said they were about to kiss,
and yet you did not see it actually happen.  I merely stated the obvious."

     Mamoru considered the possibility.  There was the slight chance that
Usagi and Seiya hadn't gone through with it, but there was no way he could
tell.  He was running at breakneck speed, as fast and as far away from them
as possible.  But they must have, unless...

     "And what of you, my young friend," the woman said.  "Will you not try
to make amends with your loved one?"

     He folded his arms.  "Ha!  She won't even speak to me.  I tried getting
in touch with her this morning but..."  He was frustrated, and it showed.

     "But you haven't tried again, have you?"

     "Well, no, but..."

     "Then try again."

     Mamoru exhaled aloud.  "Look, I'd apologize to her at the drop of a hat.
I'd give my life for her a thousand times over if I had to.  She means more
to me than you could possibly ever know.  If she'd let me tell her, I'd say I
was sorry.  Sorry that I had ever hurt her in any way, shape, or form.  And
then I'd ask for her forgiveness."  Mamoru got on his knees and demonstrated
for the old woman.  "I'd beg her, Usagi, could you ever find it in your heart
to forgive me?"  Mamoru rested an elbow on the bench, head held in his hand
in obvious grief.  His eyes were tightly shut, so he couldn't see the flash
of light as the old woman began to change.  Not just changing, transforming,
into a different being than she was before.  When she had finished her meta-
morphosis, she put a comforting hand on Mamoru's shoulder.  In that same old,
tired voice of the old lady, she spoke three simple words.

     "I forgive you."

     Mamoru was caught off guard by the simple statement.  "Wha, what?"  He
looked up, expecting to find the old woman's face before him.  Instead, Usagi
gazed down at him, love in her eyes.  Mamoru couldn't move.  He didn't know
whether this was mere illusion or reality.  All that passed when Usagi
smiled, bent down, and kissed him full on the lips.  A kiss that sent sparks
flying through his mind.  A kiss he would feel all throughout his body, as if
it revived his physical form, and healed the tortured soul within it.  Usagi
broke the kiss, the smile returning once more.

     "Am I dreaming?" Mamoru said simply.

     "Not this time, handsome."

     "But how did you, the old woman, where did she..."  He looked at the
small object that Usagi held up before him.  The Luna Disguise Pen.  Mamoru's
eyes grew wider.

     "Penny for your thoughts, young man?" Usagi said, in the old woman's
voice.

     "You tricked me!?!"  Mamoru was shocked.  "So that means, you didn't
kiss Seiya did you?"  He anxiously awaited Usagi's reply.  She leaned over to
him and whispered in his ear.  Mamoru gave her a questioning look.  Usagi
returned it with a nod, keeping her smile in place.  Still on one knee,
Mamoru took Usagi's hand in his.  "So we're still together after all..."

     Usagi was about to say something, when the incessant beeping from her
communicator.  "Perfect timing..." Usagi grumbled.  She sat back against the
bench as Mamoru got up and joined her.  Upon activating her communicator, she
found Ami's face staring back at her.

     "Ami!  Hey, what's up?"

     "Trouble."

     Mamoru leaned over to look at Ami's face.  "Where?" he said simply.

     "At the library.  I'm here with Hotaru, Michiru, and Rei.  Come quick!
We're going to need you!"  Ami turned her head back for a moment.  Usagi and
Mamoru could hear screaming and shouting going on in the background.  "Lead
Crow is at it again it seems, along with Siren."

     Ami's head nodded in the communicator's little screen.  "They went after
the librarian's Star Seed."

     "Don't sweat it Ami," Usagi said.  "Transform already and we'll be right
there."  With that, she signed off and looked back at Mamoru.  She sighed.
"Duty calls."

     Mamoru smiled, perhaps the first true smile in a long time for him.
"Not exactly what I had in mind for our second date during my visit here, but
I'm sure it'll do.  Come on, let's transform and get down there."  They ran
off looking for a safe place to transform.  They ended up in a darkened alley
between two quiet apartment buildings.  No windows or open doors could be
seen on either side.  Satisfied, Usagi called out her henshin phrase.

     "MOON... ETERNAL... MAKE, UP!"  She transformed instantaneously, and
found Mamoru similarly transformed into his Tuxedo Kamen guise.  Eternal
Sailor Moon surprised Tuxedo Kamen by taking him into her arms and flying
upwards into the sky.

     "We're taking the express route there."  She winked.

     Tuxedo Kamen smiled.  "Lead on, Sailor Moon."  They flew off together
towards the library, about to step once more onto the field of danger.

--
End of Part Four

Andre Garde (a.k.a. Veritech) | Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Team HQ!
            aj113@torfree.net | http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/5991

Comments?  Any advice that you have to offer is always welcome.  My email
address is as above.

     "Sailor Moon" character names et. al. are Copyright (C) Naoko Takeuchi,
Toei Animation, and Kodansha.  In other words, companies with big wallets and
a collection of high-priced lawyers who aren't to be trifled with.  The story
I wrote, but everything else (the characters, the names) is theirs, theirs,
theirs.  Please don't sue me.