The scenes from this chapter are taken from Episode 32 of the PGSM Live Action.
Chapter 15 – RETURN
After countless attempts, I had finally managed to get the hang of teleportation. I needed to get a precise image and lock on my location.
Taking a deep breath, I had tried again and smiled with relief when I shimmered into my apartment. I was back in Juban.
Just then, I had felt a tug through my connection to Usagi.
Danger.
Usagi had been in danger. I didn't hesitate. Immediately, I had focused on Usagi and in a moment, I had teleported to where Usagi was. I thanked my lucky stars that I had perfected my skill at that. For I had arrived just in time. The youma had been strangling Usagi!
Seeing Usagi limp in the youma’s stranglehold had sent a boiling rage through me. A sudden red haze filled my vision. But there was more.
Fear.
Usagi had to be fine. Desperately, I had struck a blow at the youma with my sword and caught hold of Usagi as the youma was forced to release her to defend himself. Clasping her close to me, I willed her to open her eyes while focusing on keeping the youma away from her with a few parries of my sword.
When she finally did become conscious, I could breathe again. She's fine.
Then, I concentrated on the youma as Usagi transformed. Between the two of us, the youma never had a chance. He was vanquished in just a few minutes. It had been good to feel powerful for once.
After re-sheathing my sword, I had slowly turned to face her.
Usagi. Sailor Moon.
She had walked towards me, an inexplicable expression on her face, an expression caught somewhere between happiness and sorrow.
"I heard you were missing." Disbelief flashed in her eyes.
Oh. Right.
I had been too anxious to find Usagi, too caught up with experimenting with my new found power that I had totally forgotten that I would be considered as missing in London. I had not thought to contact anyone in London regarding my whereabouts. I would have to settle that problem later. But first, Usagi.
"I returned without telling anyone." I had thought to explain about my teleportation later.
There had been more important things to say at that moment. The rest could wait.
To my astonishment, she had suddenly collapsed, as if a great load was lifted off her.
"I... thought something happened," she had sighed with relief, "I'm so glad." A beautiful smile graced her face.
I had not been able to speak. My heart was full to overflowing at that point. I felt that I would never be able to love her more than during that instant. I could only gaze into her eyes, trying to convey all that I was feeling to her. She had blushed a rosy red under my gaze before looking down and softly suggesting that we de-transform.
Moments later, we had strolled along the harbour, back in our normal guise. The sunset had cast a warm glow over the area and the fiery orange disk had muted to a gentler shade. Watching the light dance on the waves, I had decided to broach the topic. Then chickened out.
"Do you remember everything about your past life?" That was a safer area than what I had really wanted to say. Moreover, we had to confront that sooner or later.
"Not at all..." she had replied. I had not known what to feel at that. It meant that she would not be troubled by our past lives, but it also meant that we still did not know what had happened before, and hence still had no clue as to how to prevent it from happening again.
"My relationship with you destroyed the planet. We are a threat to those who desire to prevent the past life from repeating... Do you believe it?" I had looked at her, intent on conveying my determination with my next words.
"I won’t believe it. That's what I decided. That's why I returned. To prove that with you." I had stated my resolve quickly, wanting to get it across before my nerves got the better of me.
Usagi's eyes had widened with shock. Is that a good sign? Or not? I had not been able to tell. I swallowed.
To the main subject matter.
All of a sudden, I had felt awkward, like a young boy all over again. It was a similar feeling that one got before taking a major exam, multiplied ten times.
I knew she liked me, or perhaps even love me, but I had not known if her liking for me had been strong enough to make her want to brave through the uncertain future together with me. After all, we were not a usual couple. Being together with me had meant defying our past lives and fighting to prove to all the others that we would not destroy the planet. It was a heavy responsibility to shoulder. Besides my heart, I had nothing else to offer her, and instead had to saddle her with an enormous burden.
I had been unsure. And nervous. I stumbled over my next question.
"That muffler..." I had hesitated, then plunged on, "if you still have it... may I have it?"
A round-about way of asking her if she still wanted to be with me.
I had held my breath as I awaited her reply.
Her face had crumbled. My heart fell.
"That... I can't!" Tears rolled down her cheeks.
My heart had constricted painfully. I could almost feel it starting to shatter.
"It'll be summer soon," Usagi had continued, still sobbing.
I could almost sweatdrop, anime style, if there had been such a thing in real life.
The shattered portions had pieced themselves back together rapidly. My face broke into a grin and the relief made me sarcastic.
"Baka! That's not the problem," I had declared before doing something I had wanted to do for a very long time. Hugging her.
As I enclosed her within my arms, breathing in her light floral scent, I had vowed both to her and to myself, "I swear... the planet will not be destroyed."
She was finally mine. I had never felt happier.
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A/N: How do you like this chapter? I love their reunion... too sweet for words. ^_^ And how typically Usagi. =P
