Chapter 9

Morning Escapades

Bunny Pajamas

By Ummster

A/N:

Hard to disappoint, but this chapter has hardly any humour in it. My corny muse has disappeared, temporarily, to be replaced by the romantic one. But that's a fair exchange, for there is loads of fluff in this chapter. Also, this is almost like an interlude between chapters. The span of the whole chapter is only about an hour, while Usagi reflects on her feelings for Mamoru, etc. and Mamoru reveals something to her as well. But of course, she's too stupid to realize…(GAAA!)

Anyways, thanks to all my reviewers! I might as well mention them- it always makes me feel good to be acknowledged by an author. So, thanks to vinh, Dertupio, Butterfle, InvisibleOrphan, Poisonmoon, Miss DnG, sailormoon-is-eternal, Sailor Libra24, KiwiKol, blonde-gal, heartofblades, PallasStar, Champion of Justice, milkshakelvr, supersaiyanx, PrincessMorgan, Counterfeiting Shakespeare, Elin-Di, Amydali86, Eternal Dragon101, and just checking. You're reviews are always so supportive, and I'm eternally grateful!

If you haven't figured it out already, I changed the ending. If you've already read the first change, then you've read it. It's just the whole 'thinking it was Mina' think was throwing people off, so I took it out. No, Mamoru does not have feelings for Mina. That supposed to almost be a red herring for Usagi.

It's been forever since I last updated, so thank you for sticking with me. Meanwhile, I've updated 'Meet the Tsukinos' and added the stories 'The Way I Love You' and 'Mika'. Check them out and review!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, of course, does not belong to me.

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I stretched languorously on my bed, stifling a yawn as I adjusted the covers on top of my lean form. With the glorious thoughts of sleeping in mind, I poked a leg out over my bunny blanket, welcomed by a refreshing slap of cool air on my bare thighs. Sighing, I brushed endless tails of hair from under me over my ear, trying to find a nice cold spot on the white sheet for my bare side to rest against. My neck stretched against the arch of my pillow and I muffled a moan, lying flat on my back, my hands on my stomach. Flashes of memories swam across my clouded vision, whispering incessantly in my ear as I grew increasingly reckless.

Princess…I rolled over, my long-lashed eyes drooping as I dreamed of a tuxedo-shrouded hero holding me in his arms… your hair is like gold, spun from the sun, your skin rose-tinted porcelain, your eyes crystal sapphires …murmuring sweet nothings in my ear… and when I look into them it's as if I can see the whole universe through your glassy orbs …bending closer… …and when I kiss you…brushing his lips against mine…time stops, for a breathless moment, as if the earth has stopped revolving…gently pulling away to bore his eyes into mine…My Odango…

Odango?

Odango!

Odango.

My eyes blinked open carelessly, but instead of the blinding light I had expected I was met with a disconcerting darkness. I rolled to my side and blinked at my alarm clock: 2:47. I groaned and rolled over again, tucking my bunny covers snugly over my odangoes and curling up against my knees. It took one exceptional man to wake me up this early on a Saturday morning.

The shock that had pursued me after discovering the identity of Tuxedo Kamen's civilian form had been delirious. Had it been a week earlier, I would have found it impossible to connect the infamous masked crusader with a man like Mamoru. Yet times had changed. Mamoru had revealed a side of himself I had hardly thought existent, attributes I would never have thought him capable of carrying; care, decency, and plain humanism. He wasn't the invincible bastard I had made him out to be –though he was still annoyingly cocky. Along with this startling revelation came the perception that Tuxedo Kamen wasn't simply an enigma to be wondered and swooned at. He was a person, more than a superhero. I smiled a little.

I clambered out of bed, my gaze instantly meeting my reflection gaping at me from the long mirror perched across the room. My feet unconsciously shuffled me towards it, and in a few minutes I found myself peering candidly at myself sitting on the ground, my face propped up between my hands and my head cocked slightly to the side.

I rose slowly off the ground, my hands reaching for the crystalline glass, my fingers lightly brushing against the soft arch that formed the cheek of my heart shaped face. Widened sky blue held my gaze, softened by long eyelashes and the subtle murmur of melancholy. They reached up to tap the round odangoes lightly, and I watched them flop easily downwards and blend gracefully with the rest of the long tails of golden hair.

How did he see me? My fingers reached towards the glass one last time. What did he really think of me? Unsatisfied, I shuffled towards the window under the dusty moonlight and the earliest tinges of dawn, settling myself in the rocking chair by its corner. Mamoru's bunny leaped into my lap, nestled comfily in my arms. Luna, who had noticed my interrupted slumber, padded back and forth behind me, occasionally pausing to scratch her shiny midnight black fur against the legs of the chair and nip at my pajama leggings playfully.

"Usagi, are you alright?" she asked in her pert little feline voice. I sighed and burrowed my head in the crook of my neck. I was quite the contortionist, one of the reasons gymnastics came so naturally to me. Dancing however was another story. I could hardly help stumbling over my own feet on a daily basis; how was I supposed to move them to a synchronized rhythm? It was rather ironic that I was paired off with the one man whose perception of me matters the most. My head perked up a little. Hadn't the girls scheduled another dance class later this morning? They seemed especially preoccupied with it, for a reason I was unaware of, and I usually dragged myself with them out of sheer boredom and curiosity. The oddest things happened at the studio. Not to mention I had learned some of the oddest steps in my life…one of which had been, the one, the only…flamboyamoya.

I nearly fell off the chair in a fit of giggles, finally forcing myself to bite my tongue to rid myself of the sensation. It was of little help. Mamoru and I were beginning to finalize the steps to our routine. The competition had proved much more popular than we'd expected. Couples all around Tokyo were showing up to the numerous dance studios around Tokyo, hoping for a chance at stardom. I hardly cared. Dancing really wasn't my forte. Even if it had been, I would have been too bored to pursue it. Mamoru, on the other hand, was a natural; immensely graceful –no doubt from leaping around high-rise apartments and saving damsels in distress… (cough) me.

I hadn't responded to Luna's question. She continued to tug at my bunny slippers. I reached down to swoop her into my lap next to Mamoru Jr., who seemed more than a bit uncomfortable being placed next to an animal of the predator species. Luna glared at the snow-white rabbit, her blue feline eyes murderous. With a little twitch, Jr. leapt off my lap with a high spring of his legs and hobbled towards my bed. The cat watched it leave with a little frown. "Must you really have two pets? It's hardly necessary."

I scratched her behind the ears and she responded by purring in approval. "Jealous, Luna?"

She snorted, an amusing half-meow, and burrowed her head into my chest. "Still thinking about Mamoru?" she asked, a bit concerned. Of course, she had been the first one I'd told. Her sixth sense had noticed something wrong with my distinct happy-go-lucky aura, and there was practically nothing that I could withhold from Luna. I hadn't yet told the senshi, however. I was hardly in the state of calling them up without sounding like a lunatic. Besides, this was personal. It didn't really affect senshi duty, though I was sure they might've liked to know. I sighed belatedly. They all were exceptionally talented. In some, upside down, twisted sort of way I had become their leader. It figured. Life was so cruel.

Either way there was no chance I was going to get anything done cooped up in my bedroom. I gazed longingly out the tier, watching the stars twinkle to oblivion. "I'm gonna take a walk. Care to come with me?"

Luna seemed surprised, scratching her moon imprint tentatively. "USAGI! It's nearly 3:00 in the morning? Are you insane?"

"You don't understand." I shook my head sadly. "I need some way to clear my thoughts, and staring out the window will only make it worse."

"It's dangerous out there! You could get hurt-"

Ahh, the ever prevailing sense of protectiveness. She was so motherly sometimes. "I'll bring my communicator if anything happens to me. Besides, I won't go too far. I promise."

She seemed to be contemplating this for a second. "Alright."

"Are you coming?" I hope she'd say no. I needed some time alone, and though Luna was extremely comforting, at times she could be overbearing.

"No." I released my breath shakily, only then realizing that I'd been holding it. "Just change into something decent. If you need anything, don't hesitate to contact me or the senshi. That's why we're here, you know." Nodding, I felt my way to my dresser, watching Luna curl into a ball and fall fast asleep. Unable to resist, I scratched her furry, dark black head, then turned to pull out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. Slipping on my converse, I quickly tied the laces, and trudged my way towards the balcony. My eyes clenched as I went for the leap, and in a few second felt my feet make contact with the ground. I looked down at myself, virtually unscarred, and then grinned. Senshi abilities and trusty converse made a great combination.

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I wasn't sure where I was going, but my feet moved on their own accord under the dimly lit sky, albeit slowly. I wasn't quite used to it; everywhere I went I was usually in a rush. I strolled past the Crown Arcade, surprised to find that for once, I was able to pass without a disturbance: without the crash outside the arcade I had come to expect…and even anticipate.

I was helpless to the tide of emotion that swept through my body. I was startled at my own feelings, but once emerged they were impossible to withhold. My shaking fingers and countenance betrayed my confusion. Here I had been, thinking Chiba Mamoru was nothing more than a rich, genius of a jerk but now…there was so much more to him. Like the way he laughed when I was being exceptionally silly or trying to annoy him; the way his eyes turned cobalt when he wanted a direct answer and darkened when he didn't receive one; the way he ran his hands through that gorgeous mane of black hair when he was especially perturbed about something; the way his face always seemed to brighten when he saw me…

…Probably out of annoyance, I thought snidely, interrupting my own thoughts. Then again, it didn't hurt to hope. Did it? The fact, as I had finally realized, was that I was hopelessly begotten on the man.

Sky blue eyes stopped to admire the smoky grey color of the sky in the morning. My sneakers padded across the ground in lengthy strides, following the movements of my long legs. They shuffled to the left as I unconsciously tried out a few of my dance moves. To my surprise, my left foot effectively twirled around my right and I ended up in the same position I had started.

I grinned and patted myself on the odangoes, delighted that I had been able to perform, at least, one step correctly. With a little squeal of 'I can do it! Yes I can!' I skipped forward, my hands dug into my pockets, only to find myself, once again, toppled to the ground.

I spoke too soon.

I was not too surprised to realize that my feet had brought me to the park, the one area where I could trust to be left alone in peace and quiet. There had always been one lonely spot that seemed to catch my attention, far down at the corner of the bank, just overlooking the pert little lake that had always amused me as a toddler. It was secluded, set apart from the bustling streets of Tokyo by a large expanse of pine trees that grew around it. The grass was damp, but with a little cleaning up it proved the perfect resting place. Someone had planted a batch of spring bulbs and roses in a furrow by its side, and it was the most pleasing thing to look at.

I followed the edge of the bank behind the quaint spot, only to find a picnic blanket spread out a few meters away from the lake. I could vaguely make out a familiar masculine form bending over the spring bulbs, clearing the dirt and making room for a fresh batch of flowers, which he seemed to be conjuring out of his hand…

My eyes widening, I froze. It was Mamoru!

…And he was…planting. Hah! Potential blackmail material.

I stooped behind a pine, my knees grazing the bark, and watched as rows and rows of roses seemed to sprout from his fingers and into the dirt. It was awe-inspiring, watching him work. The hem of his trousers had ridden up as he crouched in the grass, his plain white undershirt stained with dirt and every few moments he would take the time to pause and peruse an elbow through his silky ebony locks. Each of his simple actions made him look extraordinarily sexy. It was unnerving, really, watching him work. I groaned a little. He didn't even have to try, did he?

I ogled at him for a very satisfying five minutes before deciding that it wouldn't do any good to simply stare. I grappled for my Luna Pen, mumbling a few words under my breath. In a second, I emerged, my hair in a short blonde ponytail, my stature taller, and my eyes deep violet.

I stepped out from behind the tree, pinching my pants uneasily and made my way towards him. He seemed to sense my presence a few yards away for he stopped and looked up at me with those gorgeous, intense midnight blue eyes of his. My mind swooned, but maintaining my physical composure, I crouched down next to him. "Do you mind?" I asked, my disguised voice of a higher quality and breathier than usual. He shook his head and handed me a handful of flowers, which he had stopped conjuring when he had sensed my presence. Little did he know that I already knew, and hardly minded. We worked together for a few minutes in silence. It really was pleasant work, a possible anesthetic to my current pains, if only I hadn't been working alongside the man I was trying to forget. I filed the notion away in my brain for future reference.

He paused for a second, taking hold of my hands which were padding the dirt behind a crimson tulip. "Could I ask of you a name?" he crooned lightly into my ear as I blushed pink. "It isn't everyday that I have a beautiful young lady helping me plant spring bulbs at three in the morning." So I was beautiful was I? I smirked inwardly. The bloody romantic. I hadn't taken the time to look at my disguise, but I instantly decided that this wouldn't be the last time I used it.

"Serena," I replied breathlessly. I couldn't help it; I smirked again, hoping he didn't notice. Mamoru was being nice; almost flattering.

He hadn't. "Ah. Beautiful name if I may say so." Definitely flattering. He let my hands fall to my sides. "I'm Mamoru." I nodded and turned back to the smoothing of the dirt, but he didn't take his eyes off me. I knew I must have been blushing incessantly. "You like planting?"

I shrugged nervously, wondering whether he could see through my guise and was just playing along. If that had been the truth, I wouldn't have been surprised; I had no doubt that if he did, that's exactly what he would have done. "I don't really…I don't know. It's just you seemed so intriguing, crouched over here, planting bulbs…probably the first man I've seen that's taken an interest in flowers…"

I was babbling and I knew it, but he didn't seem to mind. He laughed lightheartedly, that immensely masculine laugh of his. "Was that a compliment?"

I snorted delicately, knowing full well that if I had still been Usagi it would have sounded obnoxious, but rather, it reeked of nonchalance. I was beginning to like this guise. "The fact that you're the most feminine man I've ever seen in a while? If you want it to be, sure."

He quirked an eyebrow but looked rather amused, leaning down to brush his lips against my ear. I shuddered. "If you dare tell anyone…" he trailed off, his breath hot against my skin. He leaned back, satisfied, taking in my flustered countenance and reddening cheeks.

My lips curved upwards. "Is that a threat?"

Grinning, he plucked a rose from the ground and raising it to his nose. "Perhaps. Planting is just a distraction, something I do when my mind needs a rest. And it's plenty masculine."

"Oh?"

"Yep." To prove his point, or so it seemed, he grabbed a fistful of dirt flung it at my arm, followed by another at my stomach. My jaw hinged open. The nerve of that man! (A/N: YES, dirt fight!)

"YOU ASKED FOR IT BUDDY!" I screeched, uprooting a batch of dirtied flowers and flung them at his chest. Of course, they just bounced off him. To my horror more bullets of compacted dirt hurdled my way. I was quick to retaliate. Finding myself lacking at this type of warfare, I turned to the secret weapon I had, since the age of six, viciously engaged on my brat of a brother Shingo. I flung myself at Mamoru who for a second seemed startled, then growled huskily as my hands closed in on his shoulders, wrestling him to the ground.

It was only after I had strangled him to the ground that I realized how ludicrous the whole situation was. Here I was, under the façade of, what I assumed, was a stunningly beautiful female, straddling the man I had recently realized I was hopelessly enamored with. And there he was, positioned under the weight of a person he hardly knew. I blushed profoundly and stared dumbly down at him, for it was the only thing I could do given the circumstances, bent inches away from the man of my dreams (literally) in the most embarrassing position I'd ever fallen into in my pathetic seventeen years of immature living. And the worst part was, he seemed to be enjoying it, for his hands had somehow latched themselves around waist and he had the goofiest grin imaginable writ over his handsome countenance. I wondered what he was doing. He hardly knew me, and yet…

I gaped down at his ridiculous, boyishly write face, hardly blinking. A piercing pain seemed to register in my thumb and suddenly I squealed and tumbled off him, clutching the finger to my eyes for better eyesight in the misty morning. A rose thorn protruded out of the side, a trickle of blood rolling down the side. I whimpered softly, attempting to pry the thistle out of my finger.

"May I?" He asked, but seemed to disregard his own words as he grabbed my hand and prodded the wound lightly with his fingertip. I cried out in alarm at the pungent pain that shot through my finger, temporarily immobilizing it, but he disregarded me with a cluck of his tongue. "Close your eyes."

"Why?" I asked suspiciously.

He rolled his eyes quite obviously. "Just do it." I did, wondering what he was up to. Instantly I felt warmth encircle my bleeding finger and a second later the hurt had faded almost completely. Peeking my eyes open, I barely made out the faint glow of golden sparks erupting from his fingertip, and gasped inaudibly.

My hand slipped from his grasp and I examined it under the fading moonlight. The thorn seemed to have vanished, and along with it, the scarring and the ache accompanying it. It was miraculous. "What did you do?" I asked softly, trying to catch his eyes. For a second I saw them twinkly mischievously; then they looked away, towards the shoreline.

"Nothing."

As if he expected me to be content with that, he studied the landscape in silence, his expression turning melancholy. His brow had firmed and his chin clenched, sure signs that he didn't wish to be bothered. I complied with these unexpressed requests, wondering if as Tuxedo Kamen, Mamoru was blessed with psychometric abilities. As I would soon find out, I wasn't too far from the truth.

"Beautiful sunrise," he murmured gently, still gazing at the lake. He stretched his limbs luxuriously on the grass, tucking his hands behind a head of ebony, his elbows protruding outwards. I nodded in assent and he turned towards me, his features tightening. He acted so different around other women. I sniffed with indignity. Why me? I asked myself for the millionth time. "What're you doing wandering around at three in the morning?"

His black hair ruffled slightly in the breeze, and I felt my own mirror the actions. I was so unaccustomed to the short hair that every now and then I would bend back, expected to be greeted by the sight of long tails of blonde, my vision only seeing the pale blue back of my shirt. I let it down, the feeling of the breeze sweeping through it oddly comforting. "Supposing I asked you the same question?"

He chuckled. "I'd simply say I couldn't sleep and decided it better to come here and entertain myself. No one ever comes here, you know."

"I'm aware of that." That was, until he'd decided to come. I'd thought I was the only person who knew about the secret hideaway.

"And you?"

I sighed, wondering it I could trust him. I decided it would do no harm, for Mamoru had no idea who I truly was. Poor man. He was being duped. "Same reason. My mind has been…somewhat preoccupied lately."

My lips curled upwards as I watched his dark eyes dance with mirth. "Let me guess. Love."

"The only." This was getting interesting. What did he know about love?

I only realized I had voiced my question when he responded. "As hard as it is to believe, I've had my own troubles."

"I know the feeling," I replied honestly, falling to the ground next to him and propping myself on my elbows so I could look down at him. He gazed at the sunrise nostalgically; his eyes glazed over darkly with something…love? It was hard to believe that Mamoru had ever experienced such troubles. He could probably have had anyone he wanted, had he ever really wanted anyone. He had all the qualities women looked for; the looks, the money, the brains, and the chivalry (well, excepting with me). I could name hoards of girls who would willingly become his slaves if he merely glanced their way. Oddly, however, though he flirted with girls incessantly, I couldn't remember him ever dating…

On the other hand, I was destined to be an old maid with my foul mouth and tendency to klutz and pig out. Damn Man! I could have easily said I hated him for it, but that would be lying, and I was too tired to lie to myself anymore.

"Try me. Perhaps I can help you?" Mamoru turned towards me and cocked his head to the side, taking me in, his black bangs falling dreamily into his eyes. I gulped, realizing that he was serious.

"I'll be darned, the invincible Mamoru Chiba wants to help me," I muttered under my breath, wondering what I was getting myself into, and why exactly Mamoru seemed so friendly with someone he hardly knew.

Unfortunately, he had heard me. "You know my last name?" he asked, taken aback. Puzzled, he swept a hand through his bangs. "You know who I am?" His glare darkened. "How do you know who I am?" he interrogated, bending closer, his blue eyes slitting. Against the pale moonlight, he looked murderous.

Oops. I shuddered, burrowing my head in my knees, blonde bangs winnowing over my eyes helpfully. "I- uh…" I nearly smacked myself, trying to find a way out. "I've seen you around." His eyes widened a little, but he didn't break the death glare. "I go to Tokyo U too. Besides, I know Motoki. He's always talking about you."

"You know Motoki?" he wondered incredulously, more to himself than to any one else. His eyes wavered from mine as he plopped back down onto the wet grass, resting his head between his arms.

"The one and only. Motoki Furuhata. Or as I like to call him, Toki-oniisan."

A slight smile tugged at his lips when I said that. "I know someone else that calls him that." At least he believed me now. That was a start. "You know what he says?" He turned back towards me, grinning now. "He's always telling me to voice my problems."

I grumbled a little. "Alright, fine. Well…"

"Yes?"

"There's this boy." I choked on my own words. Way to be specific, Bunny.

His eyes glinted devilishly as he leaned closer, resting his hand on mine and patting it soothingly. "Glad to know you don't lean towards the other side."

I rolled my eyes. "Anyways, he's a lot older than me, and there's no way he would ever like me, but I can never get him out of my mind and it's driving me crazy." I shifted my weight to my back, staring longingly up at the fading moon. "He has no idea I like him, because see…I used to hate him, and we argue 24/7. We still argue. But he's changed. I don't really know what to do."

Mamoru frowned, pausing to scratch his chin, and then look back down at me. "Are you sure he doesn't like you? If he's 'changed' as you put it, that's a high possibility."

I nodded. "For the record, most of the girls he's interested are…you know…model-like, and way past my age."

He looked me over slowly, his eyes hardly twitching. "You could be a model. Trust me, I know, I've delved in the industry more than once myself."

Had Mamoru Chiba just checked me out? No way. Then I realized that it wasn't my own. Damn illusions. "N-no, not really…"

"I'm serious," he said genuinely, an amused smile gracing his features. His blue eyes brightened and twinkled. "You're the modest type, aren't you?"

I chose not to reply. "He's never really taken an interest. All we ever do is slam insults at each other. That is, until he got all weird and asked me…never mind."

"What?"

"He…er…asked to be friends." I look of sudden interest crossed his features, as if something had suddenly dawned on him. "Just out of the blue, he asked to be friends."

"Friends, huh?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow. Uh-oh. "Sounds like love to me." He paused, resting his head on his elbows, looking at me under long lashes, his gaze whimsical. "See, a guy only asks to be friends if he wants to be romantically involved." He chuckled to himself, like he was sharing an inside joke. "Trust me, I have experience."

Now I was even more confused. "But…he doesn't have to hide it…he could just tell me. He wouldn't do that, I mean, he's not shy or anything-"

"See, that's where you're wrong," he interrupted, "if this guy really likes you, and it sounds like he does, that's exactly what he'd do. Judging from the circumstances, and the fact that you guys argue all the time, he probably thinks you hate him. He's just taking it slow."

"But I don't hate him."

He shrugged, pulling up his undershirt to brush dirt off his flat abs. My eyes eagerly took in his movements. "Well maybe he thinks you do." He took my hand in his, rubbing it between his fingers soothingly. "Have you noticed any other changes in the way he acts towards you?"

My tongue crept out of the corners of my mouth unconsciously as I pondered over this. "Well…" I finger grazed my chin as I wondered. "He doesn't yell at me anymore. He just laughs." I faintly heard Mamoru grunt in assent. "And sometimes, he…he…" I sucked in my breath, slowly, "he hugs me, and plays with my hair, but I always thought it was just to annoy me but now…it's different. Sometimes he even tries to make me feel better when I'm…when I'm…"

"When you're feeling down?" Mamoru murmured softly, and I had to strain to hear his words. "Because no one else will take you seriously, and it just breaks his heart to see you try to hide your emotions just for the sake of others. Then when he takes you in his arms… suddenly everything is okay again…" his voice had turned to a breathy whisper as he bent closer. "And when you're especially mad he kisses you on the neck, willing you to know how he feels because he can't bear to know what you'd think if he kissed you for real…"

We were so unbelievable close now, his nose brushing mine ever so gently, and as all these surprising revelations floated disbelievingly around my head he put his arms around my shoulders and pulled me to him. I sucked in a wary breath, startled, and then snuggled tighter into his chest, pearly tears trickling down my cheeks. "You really think he feels that way?" I whispered.

"Yes," he said slowly, his eyes and fists clenching with emotion. "I know so."

"I don't believe you," I sniffed in defiance, pulling away and crossing my arms under my heaving chest. "I don't think it's possible for a man to hold that much emotion."

Mamoru laughed softly. "I bet if he knew you were Sailor Moon he would be worshipping your feet at this very moment."

If I had been sitting in a chair, I would have collapsed out of it at that very moment.

My jaw fell open as I gaped up at him in disbelief, trying to form words. "What- but I- how did you-"

He looked down at me knowingly, smiling to himself. "Oh, come on, it was obvious. I knew the moment I set eyes on you. Blonde hair…" he fingered it gently, "impossibly long legs," he gestured and I blushed a little, "and that same sense of sarcasm."

It didn't make any sense, I told myself, my eyes widening. "But I know of plenty of other people that can boast that!" Namely, me. The other me. "Come on, you can't be that sure."

"Well, am I wrong?" he challenged, his eyes twinkling.

"No," I resigned in defeat, slumping over dejectedly, "But that still doesn't explain how you knew."

"I guess something just clicked the moment I saw you. Like it does when you meet your soul mate. And since I'm Tuxedo Kamen, I'm bonded to you somehow." Of course. He knew that I knew he was Tuxedo Kamen, because I had unceremoniously blurted it out after my communicator had dropped out of his pocket. "Trust me, I don't usually engage in dirt fights with random girls I meet while (cough) planting flowers."

"O…K…" It still didn't make sense. If that was true, why hadn't Mamoru figured out that I, Usagi, was Sailor Moon, if he could identify her by some sort of bond? Suddenly it occurred to me: The Luna Pen. Undoubtedly, because I was using the same magic that transformed me into the sailor or justice, the glamour accompanying Sailor Moon had carried on to the disguise. That was also why Mamoru hadn't realized that I was Sailor Moon in my civilian form. Without the magic of my broach, I was just a normal Tokyo resident, like anyone else.

"Hey, Moonie," he remarked, as I flushed at the use of the intimate nickname, "You know Tuxedo Kamen had the hugest crush on Sailor Moon?" There it was again, that teasing smirk I was so accustomed with. When my mouth dropped open again, my eyes bulging, he quickly clarified. "I mean, it was just a crush, nothing too serious. That guy is all yours." He smiled lightly. "Just thought you'd like to know."

(A/N: I hate it when people think that they only fell in love because they were partners in fighting crime or whatever. It was their civilian forms first. Though finding out each others identities brought out the truth, like when Usagi finds out that Mamoru is Tuxedo Kamen).

"Oh," I stuttered, my cheeks red and my eyes averting his gaze, "I- uh- well, that's nice. You see, I don't usually have guys following me around." I grimaced slightly. I'd attempted, once, to learn the art of seduction from the all-knowing Rei, but it hadn't turned out too well. (A/N: I bet you could refer to another fanfic for the full scoop. I've read tons that expand on that plot).

"Perhaps you just haven't noticed them yet." I shuffled closer and surprised us both by wrapping my arms around his torso and letting my head nod against his shoulders. Lack of sleep was finally getting to me. Mamoru's arms closed around my waist and he rested his chin above my head. "Really, I hope everything turns out alright with that guy you like…" his voice strengthened, "even though he obviously already likes you."

"What do you know," I muttered under my breath.

"Really," he murmured assuredly, looking down at me affectionately as I yawned and closed my eyes, "I'm sure it'll turn out all right. Like they say, 'all's well in the game of love'."

My arms tightened around Mamoru's shoulders as I curled up beside him. "The guy that wrote that obviously smudged his h –and it somehow looked like a w. It's supposed to be: 'All's hell in the game of love.'"

He chuckled, the laugh resonating against my head. "Oh, stop being such a pessimist."

"It's who I am," I slurred sleepily.

"Maybe I'll see you around, then?" he asked.

"Mmmph…" I murmured, before falling asleep in his arms. The sun, unbeknownst, crept over the landscape, filling its crevices with soft streams of light.

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A/N:

Awww. That chapter was actually very long, even though not much actually happened. About double the size of my normal chapters.

Holy shit a fox just ran across my lawn! Umm…hehehe…see my computer is positioned in front of a window that looks across my backyard, which is really big and is right in front of this humongous cornfield. I've seen deer, rabbit, squirrels, cats, and moles before, but never a fox…that's just creepy…alright enough of this side note.

Do a good deed, review, and tell me what you think! Karma goes around…-

Thanks for my new beta and good friend Eternal Dragon 101. (Hey Dee!) This is Ummster's Beta saying remember to review guys because this chapter is 12 pages long!! Hehe! (Hey VK!!).