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Prince in White - A Mamoru Story by Aph

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The scenes from this chapter are taken from Episode 23-24 of the PGSM Live Action.


Chapter 10 – THE TRUTH IS OUT


It was right about that time when I had decided to forget my past that Zoisite came back into my life. A ghostly apparition (with a piano, no less!) had materialized in my house just when I came back from a shopping trip with Hina.

An apparition who once again called me "Master Endymion".

Zoisite.

"I knew I was not mistaken. Master... it is you."

"I want you to remember a time when you were once called Endymion."

So, my speculation is correct. My name had been Endymion.But why couldn't I remember that? Who is he? Why does he know me?

"Quietly let our minds become one." His voice had echoed softy.

As the piano strains continued, I had felt myself lulled into a kind of dream-like state.

The distant past.

I could almost taste it. It had been so close within my grasp... when Hina's voice barged in.

The spell had broke, and with a surge of panic, I suddenly remembered that I had left Hina outside the house when I first heard the music, and rushed out to stop Hina from going in. Hina should not know all that. She was not involved in that part of my life and it was going to stay that way.

After I sent her home, I had been conflicted once again.

Why now? When I have just decided not to search for my past anymore?

It had been bitter to realize that with Zoisite, I might just be able to find the thing I had been looking for; he was the key to my memories, but he had re-appeared too late.

I... had promised Hina and Takeda-san. My life was no longer my own. I had decided to cut myself off that part of my life. It had been decided.

************************

Fate did not let me off the hook that easily though.

Almost as if on a string, I was led to her again. I had not wanted to meet her again. It would test my resolution too much. But it was lucky I was there to save her that time.

I had been out to dump my tuxedo, a symbolic act for me to cut off the last evidence of my alternate identity when we met on the streets. As I was trying to compose myself at the unexpected encounter, she had walked right onto the road!

I did not think. I had just rushed to move her out of the way of a massive truck about to hit her. I was furious. If she had been hit... if she had died...

Idiot! The light is still red!

"Why are you calling me an idiot!" she had cried. Before looking away in embarrassment at her outburst.

I had startled. I had not realized that I had yelled the words out loud. I could never keep a calm and collected front before her. She was aggravating. And looking at her flushed face, my heart pounded. She was... adorable.

I had decided to escort her to the Crown, not trusting her to keep herself safe even with that short distance.

Or more probably, I was an addict. Trying to get my last shot of heroin before I quit.

Whatever it was, I had given the excuse of going to see Motoki and went with her. We did not talk but I had been very aware of her by my side. I had savoured the moment, storing up the image and feelings, for when I could not be by her side.

All too soon, we had reached the Crown.

Unexpectedly, Motoki had broken the news of my impending departure to Usagi. She looked taken aback and there had been a strange expression on her face that I could not decipher at that time. Now I know she had been feeling a sense of loss but then, I had not even thought she felt that way about me. Before I could puzzle out what that expression was, Makoto had arrived, with a hostile expression directed at me and I had been diverted.

Then, she turned away and I did not even get a chance to say goodbye.

************************

Depressed, I had gone on my original mission when suddenly, a voice captured my attention.

"Master... this way... way..."

Zoisite.

And then, I found myself in the Science Building, in the Planetarium Room.

I did not even know how I got there.

Zoisite was there and as the music played, his voice brought me to a trance once again.

"This is the distant past that we are looking at. The night sky. And the thing that you couldn't stop loving. The Moon. You are Master Endymion. Before, to protect this planet, you fought."

As my eyes closed, I had started to remember. Bits and pieces of memory had flashed past my mind.

The Moon. An inferno. Princess. Myself with the princess, hand in hand.

Then, another more recent memory had intruded.

The first time I saved Sailormoon.

It seemed that even in the trance I was in, my heart had refused to see me with another girl.

My eyes snapped open and I had broken out of the trance.

"Stop it!" I shouted. I was not about to go through that again. I had made my decision and I was not going through the whole agonizing process again.

With determination, I had continued. "I am Chiba Mamoru." That was who I was. I was not Endymion. No matter how much I had known deep down that I was.

"I do not need some surprise past turning up!" With effort, I had turned away, from my past, and strode out of the building.

It should have ended there, except that Kunzite had turned up. What is it with the Shitennou and their strange fascination with me?

He was no Zoisite though. He had wanted to kill me.

As we sparred, I had known I was no match for him. As I had felt instinctively since the first time I saw him, Kunzite was dangerous.

"How sad. Once you were Master Endymion. Now you are this powerless," he had mocked before moving to strike me down.

Why was I not surprised? He had known me too. He was probably also from that distant past Zoisite had told me about. A past life?

"It's your fault. You betrayed us and thus this planet was destroyed. I will have my revenge on everyone against me. First, Master, will be you!"

Betrayed? Planet destroyed? What is he talking about?

I had been confused. Did I really do all that? Inexplicably, I had felt guilty. But I had not even been sure what I was guilty about.

I had no time to think though. He had started his attacks almost immediately. I had been rendered powerless. Until Sailor Moon showed up, like an avenging angel.

Zoisite appeared too but like me, he had been no match for Kunzite and was defeated quickly. That left Sailor Moon.

Ironic. Our roles had changed and she had been my protector. Perhaps she never did need my protection. Her power at that instant demonstrated that point amply enough. As she withstood Kunzite's energy blast and was forced down her knees, I had feared for her, and struggled to get up to help her. But then, she glowed golden. Her power increased exponentially.

She was glorious.

"Moon Twilight Flash!" With that, Kunzite had turned tail and disappeared. I had been immensely proud of her but just as immediately, she had fallen in exhaustion. I stumbled to my feet and struggled to her side, holding her as she had tried to catch her breath.

"It's my fault. You covered for me. I'm sorry." It was my fault. I should have been the one protecting her, not she me.

"No." Of course she would not let me blame myself. "More importantly, have you seen this man? He's about as tall as you. Chiba... Mamoru is his name. The enemy might have attacked him! Have you seen him?"

Her face had been one of anxiety. Mine was of shock. Luckily my expression had been hidden behind my mask.

Why would she be looking for me? How did she know I was here?

Questions buzzed in my mind, and I could only reply, "No."

Her face had fallen in disappointment, then set in resolve. "I must hurry... and save him!"

She got up with difficulty and started limping away.

"No! The enemy's already gone. Just forget it!" I had tried to persuade her. After all, she obviously would not be able to find me. Unless I found a chance to transform back.

"No!" Her refusal had been adamant. "What if he's been hurt?"

Her energy had obviously been spent but she still trudged on.

I could not believe what I was seeing.

Why would I matter so much to her?

I could not help myself. I had to know. "Wait! Why are you going so far?!"

She hesitated before murmuring softly, "Before... I told you about a person I wanted to give a muffler to, right? He's that person. So, I have to save him!"

My heart had stuttered to a stop. Then it raced again. She likes me? It can't be!

My mind had been a blank before emotions flooded in again. I wanted to laugh. To sing. To yell. To hug her. I had felt too much at that point, and I had barely been able to keep a lid on my emotions. It was an impossible fantasy come true and I had not known what to do nor how to deal with it. And so, I had just continued following her, watching her, waiting to see if all that happened was just a dream, a cruel joke and if I was going to be awoken at any time. It simply couldn't be happening.

Then she had tripped and fallen down the stairs. I had not been in time to catch her.

Horrified, I rushed to her side and in a move reminiscent of that morning, I had yelled at her.

"Are you an idiot?!" Till today, I am still not sure why I said that. It might simply have been a slip, something unconscious on my part. Or it might have been that, subconsciously, I had wanted her to know my identity.

"Why are you calling me an idiot!" she had cried reflexively. The damage was done.

Recognition had bloomed in her eyes. As if in slow motion, she had reached up and removed my mask. I did not stop her.

The truth had finally been out.

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A/N:
Hello to the readers of this fic. ^_^

How do you like this fic so far? Hopefully I've portrayed Mamoru's thoughts and feelings adequately enough.

Anyway, I just want to apologise ahead, I've started my school semester and hence, is going to be very busy from now on, which probably means I won't be updating double chapters as I have been doing. But I promise that I'll try to update as much as I can, so please don't give up on this fic! =P

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