Disclaimer:

I dont own Sailor Moon at all. Not even one DVD.

I have changed the rating of this story to a "T". To be honest, I dont know what the ratings are meant to mean, they are so vague. There will be sexual themes in this story, but it won't be graphic (just mentioned). I dislike gratuitous sex (there's plenty on TV if you want it) but there will be a lot of kissing and some strongly suggestive themes. I say suggestive because its in there, but I would like to think that its been written so its not ecchi.

Mainly, this story explores the depth and breadth of Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon's feelings for eachother, and the eventual fallout when they find out who the other is. If you want a hint at how later chapters will go, I strongly suggest you take a close look at how TM and SM react to eachother and how they are viewing eachother. Perception is a major thing in our lives, and how we see others determines the way we treat them.

Happy reading :o)

Rendezvous

Chapter 1: Serena

I wipe the sweat from my brow as I face off against the latest youma to attack Tokyo. A lone soldier, I stand alone in the park that has become a battlefield. The other scouts are not here, having left this morning for the entire weekend; Lita had a karate competition, Raye was going to some priestess retreat, Mina was visiting a cousin while Ami was visiting her sick grandmother. It wasn't the first time one or more of the girls had been out of town, but it was a rare occurrence when all but one was left. They had thought it would be ok; the NegaVerse had been quiet lately. But the blood trickling into my eye and the stinging sensation on my arms and legs from several nasty gashes sustained in the fight told me otherwise. It was definitely not ok.

"Where are your friends Sailor Moon? No one to save you tonight?" the monster known as Flavara crowed.

I honestly don't know why the NegaVerse named them when we scouts defeated them almost as soon as they had been summoned. Nevertheless it had a good point, Tuxedo Mask had yet to show himself in this battle, and it unnerves me that maybe the hero of Tokyo himself was also out of town and unable to help either.

It was all up to me now.

The monster continues to cackle while I fight the overwhelming tide of fatigue threatening to overcome me. It's near 12pm on a Friday night and I've been fighting for the last half hour. It's time for this battle to end. I desperately draw on all my remaining energy reserves and prepare to fling the tiara at the beast. The tiara alights in my hand, becoming brighter and brighter as it energises. But just as I ready myself to hurl it, the youma sends a wave of energy towards me. I've been knocked off my feet and my current position is now flat on my back on the ground. Ouch.

I raise myself up on my elbows to glare at the youma, only to find it's no longer where it had been. I frantically look around but still cannot see it.

"AH-HA!" I hear the cry from above me.

I look up to see the youma leap from a tree to land with its feet planted either side of my waist. Fear makes me freeze with the realisation that I am going to die. I meet the youma's eyes, but I'm no longer afraid. I am going to die. I wonder briefly if they would find the body of Sailor Moon or Serena Tsukino in the park the next morning.

"Sayonara Sailor Moon!" it sneers, raising its hands to deliver the final blow.

The blow never comes. I hear a howl of denial echo through the night as a dozen black roses pierce the thick armour of the youma, and watch awestruck as one of the roses miraculously hits the 'sweet spot'. The youma cries out its last breath before exploding in an array of coloured dust to be swept away by the wind, nevermore to disturb the peace of Tokyo again.

I breathe a sigh of relief before allowing myself to fall back on the grass. My eyes close as the last few particles of the youma drift away into the night, borne by the cool wind. My mind is blank with the shocking realisation that it could well have been my soul drifting away into nothingness but for the saving grace of a rose well aimed. My respite is all too brief as a pair of hands grasps my shoulders to shake me harshly while a panicked voice cries my name.

"Sailor Moon!"

I will myself to open my eyes and face my saviour. I'm slightly surprised to see his face stricken with panic and fear that recedes to be replaced by relief when he sees me looking back at him. I open my mouth to speak, to let him know I am alright. But my voice is silenced by his lips crashing down upon mine while his arms wind around me, pulling me roughly to him.

I respond with equal ardour, wrapping my arms around his neck as my tears fall down my cheeks to mingle with our fevered kisses. We need each other right now, in this moment when death had so ominously hovered over us. I press myself into him, forgetting everything but the feel of his hard body against me. He leaves my lips temporarily to kiss away my tears before trailing a path of butterfly kisses down the side of my face and along my jaw to return to my waiting mouth. I welcome him readily and give him entrance when his tongue demands it. He slides fully into my mouth to mate with my tongue possessively. There is nothing soft about this kiss. It is our lifeline, proof that we still exist in this world.

I never expected my first kiss to be like this.

All too soon we break away from each other, panting lightly. He lays his head in the crook of my neck as if to assure himself that I am still there.

"Will you be ok?" he asks me, his voice husky.

"I will be," I reply.

He helps me to my feet and I thank him softly before turning away toward home. Had I bothered to look I would have seen him watching me go for a moment before turning away himself to disappear into the night.