View source for 361/Secrets and Things Left Unsaid

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/09/02
|Location=Pikarigaoka/Uminari City - Hikawa Shrine
|Synopsis=Mamoru asks to meet with Rei and Makoto to discuss Mio Kuroki, and they also end up talking about Sanjouin, Kimiko, Sailor V, and moon cats. Also, ice cream mochi melts.
|Cast of Characters=38, 42, 64
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:38|Tuxedo Kamen (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>One thing that can be said about Mamoru Chiba is that he knows how to pick visiting gifts. He'd handed over the cold wrapped box of mochi ice cream balls immediately upon arrival, looking a little sheepish and hoping they hadn't melted too much on the way.<br /><br />Notably, he ''also'' brought Makoto's bento and her thermos, having not actually had the chance to predict her presence anywhere prior to now.<br /><br />Mostly, he's sitting cross-legged at the low table the girls usually use for schoolwork, trying not to look as awkward as he feels. "All right, so-- it wasn't just me, right?" he asks Makoto a little helplessly. "I am dead certain that girl is not the moon princess. But the way she was talking -- and she *did* feel familiar? -- maybe she's one of the guardian soldiers..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:64|Rei Hino (64)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rei wasn't there when the rest of them met Mio, so most of this is news to her. Still, another senshi would be important. She hadn't ''quite'' had a chance to tell the others that Mamoru knew her secret identity but... that particular cat was out of the bag already.<br /><br />Rei tries not to focus on the story behind that too much. Awkward questions are awkward! Let's just glaze over that and move on to something else!<br /><br />"So, another senshi? Well... there's still..." Rei holds up her fingers to count, "Venus, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. I feel like Earth isn't on that list for some reason." Well now why would that be? "If she is one of us... she might be one of those?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Makoto Kino (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Makoto frowns slightly, nibbling on some mochi as she thinks back to the other day at the arcade. "I don't know if I'd say she seemed familiar," she says slowly. "The feeling she talked about... I've felt like that, so I believe her. But she didn't feel like someone I knew."<br /><br />The ice cream inside the mochi is melting. Mako occupies herself for a few moments taking another bite of it, and licking the melting ice cream off her fingers. "Mostly?" she admits when her mouth's not full, "She kind of creeped me out a little, the way she was staring at you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Tuxedo Kamen (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Mamoru shrugs at Rei, biting an obstinately sticky piece of mochi off his thumb after finishing one off. "Probably because we all live here, I guess? I mean, Earth doesn't show up in astrology for exactly that reason. You look up at the heavens, and you don't see the ground," he says wryly, then fusses with a napkin after the fact, a little.<br /><br />"Most likely Venus, if you're going for close and you all protect the Princess of ''our'' moon. But really you're right, there are a lot..." The high-schooler glances to Makoto and looks both grateful and embarrassed. "Pretty much that exactly, yeah. She's not the first girl this month to be creepy at me, either-- the first was actually one of the teachers at Infinity. I actually put in a complaint about her with the school board. She was..."<br /><br />He's really red and uncomfortable-looking; won't meet either of them in the eye. He folds and unfolds his napkin. "Probably not actually a teacher, just a creeper, since they're insisting they have no one by that name. But anyway, Kuroki wasn't anything like that, just-- you saw, Mako-chan, thank god you saw. Thank you. It's just that I feel like I can't completely write her off, because she ''does'' give me a similar feeling to you, a little, or to, say, Sanjouin-san. If not a senshi, then at least someone mixed up in this-- which reminds me, Sanjouin found out about me having been caught in the Witch's labyrinth, and I think he knows things about what's going on, too."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:64|Rei Hino (64)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Ugh, she was creeping on you? Gross!" Rei sticks out her tongue. "And a teacher no less?" Getting Rei's temper to flare up isn't that hard to begin with, and that sure seemed to do it. She angrily munches on a mochi ball as she considers the implications of that. The fact that Mamoru's so obviously awkward about it only solidifies her opinion. "Not a real teacher... so she just showed up to creep on you, basically? What a weirdo!"<br /><br />Rei isn't sure what to think about all of this. She knows the reading she did on Mamoru, and she knows what she and Makoto think about it, but even so it's hard to think that their precious Moon Princess would be a creeper. Yet...<br /><br />"Well, she may be caught up in it, but that doesn't necessarily mean she's on our side." She pauses for a moment, "Okay, look, I know I'm kinda paranoid about that kind of thing," apologetic glance towards Mamoru, "but from what you two are telling me, I still have to wonder."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Makoto Kino (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Finishing off her own mochi-ball, Makoto nods firm agreement with Rei's indignation. "Whether she was a real teacher or not, either way that sounds seriously skeevy," she says. "I mean, how desperate can you ''be?''"<br /><br />--speaking of 'desperate,' when Mamoru mentions Sanjouin, Mako's cheeks turn faintly pink and now it's her turn to momentarily find somewhere else to look. Nevertheless, her voice is steady and certain when she says, "I don't know about Kuroki-san, but you don't need to worry about Sanjouin-san. He's on our side."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Tuxedo Kamen (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Mamoru gives Rei a lopsided smile and spreads his hands: no harm done, and totally understood, still. But then he nods. "I know. That's why I really wanted you to know about her... Usagi-chan wanted me to be nice to her. Kuroki-san, not the teacher. And the things she was saying--" He nods to Mako, "It's like you said, having felt that way before, I'm obligated to believe that it's true. But..."<br /><br />Another look to Rei, and Mamoru rubs at the back of his neck, looking away. "There were a lot of mixed emotions. I do know I'm sure she's not the Princess. She might be a friend. She might be an enemy. She's sad and she's lonely. And she says she's drawn to me, but-- I am not at all, at all drawn to her. But if she needs friends, you are all better friends than I am, in a heartbeat."<br /><br />Finally, there's a crinkle-eyed smile Mako's way; Mamoru's hair falls in his face as he leans over a little and abruptly ''grins'' at her. "So sure you are~~!" Then he laughs and edges away hurriedly, scooting on the floor closer to Rei. "No, I know. I was very suspicious about him at first since he felt strange and was so fixated on you, but he helped me book it out of the hospital early, once, and he's said I should ask him for help if I have trouble with things like the Witch again. I mean, I won't, but it was nice of him to offer."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:64|Rei Hino (64)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rei curiously glances towards Makoto as she says Sanjouin-san is on their side. Huh? She seems awfully confident about that... "If you say so, Mako-chan."<br /><br />Usagi-chan said to be nice to Kuroki-san? Well, Rei has to consider that. As much as she teases her, Usagi's been right about some very questionable people. "Well, I guess. I mean, I'd have to see her myself to really get a feeling for her."<br /><br />Rei shrugs helplessly, "So, she's sad and lonely. She feels drawn to you?" She shakes her head, "I don't know, that sounds like a cheesy pick-up line to me."<br /><br />She thinks about how that sounds for a moment and then holds up her hands, "Sorry, sorry, I'm just not sure what to make of all this. Even if she's not our enemy, all we really know about her at this point is that she's involved right now. If she ''is'' one of the guardian senshi, do we have any way to know if she's awakened yet or not?"<br /><br />Sanjouin's good deeds pile up, and Rei listens. "So I guess that kinda makes him a good guy. I mean, I can't imagine a bad guy worrying about your health."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Makoto Kino (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Makoto's blushing promptly turns about three shades brighter, and she takes a (purposefully ineffectual) swipe at Mamoru as he edges away. "Is that why you were so determined to butt in?" she asks, making a good-naturedly accusatory and ''very embarrassed'' face. "Geez, Mamoru-san!"<br /><br />A deep breath is let out in a sigh, and Mako reaches for another mochi ice cream ball, composing herself. "''Anyway,''" she says, very firmly, "it's Kuroki-san we're worried about. I don't mind being friends with her, if she wants to be friends. I don't know how to tell if she's a senshi or not, unless she approaches us or something. I haven't heard of any others running around out there, unless Sailor V counts, but she's not named after a planet so probably not, right?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Tuxedo Kamen (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"... the whole situation felt like a cheesy pick-up line. I'm afraid this sort of thing really isn't my forte," Mamoru says, reddening again himself and glancing away. "I really can't trust my judgement on it. I mean, if she's involved because she's in trouble, we should help her, right? But I don't know how much of a help I'd be, I attract more trouble than I'm worth."<br /><br />He looks down at his hands, and only gives Makoto the faintest of smiles at her JEEZ. "It's because I was worried about you, yeah. Sorry. You're all really important, and you all protect ''her'', and you're all so good-- I just wanted to make sure you'd be okay. And if ''he's'' all right, and I get the same sense from her that I get from him-- like there's danger and knowledge there, but there's also a kinship of some kind, or friendship, or something..."<br /><br />He shrugs a little helplessly. But then Makoto brings up Sailor V, and Mamoru looks uncomfortable again. "Well, V got weirdly cagey when the whole Nephrite misunderstanding was going on. She accused me first-- that's how I knew who you thought I was, remember, Rei-san? And I asked her what made her think that, and if it was her allies -- because I thought she was working with you at the time -- and she protested way too much. Something about finding the way something something."<br /><br />He coughs a little. "And she did help me get the hell out of that creepy teacher's office. Maybe something's stopping her from coming forward. I think I'm going to try to find her cat."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:64|Rei Hino (64)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rei frowns, kindof pouty. "Well I guess I could be her friend." One might wonder how good of a friend Rei would be if she's super suspicious, but she hasn't ''actually'' set anyone's apartment on fire yet. "I don't know. I mean, I guess we can look into it at least. It sounds important. I'll try not to be too quick to judge. Even if she's a little off people do just make mistakes sometimes."<br /><br />She shrugs on the topic of V. "I'm not sure what to think about Sailor V. She ''has'' worked with us before but like... we still don't know her that well. Yeah, I remember that, but like... actually..."<br /><br />Rei pauses. She pauses for a long time.<br /><br />"Now wait a darn minute. When I first heard the suspicion that Mamoru might be Nephrite, there were only like... It was just us, the sailor guardians. How in the heck did Sailor V find out about that? Does someone from our group know her?"<br /><br />Rei's legitimately confused here. There's something that just didn't add up. "On top of that, I very clearly remember ''not'' being in my henshin. None of us were. Even if she just ran across us at random she couldn't possibly know who we were."<br /><br />She's scratching her chin now. "It's true that she showed up when we were doing the fire reading on Corvus, but like... ... ..."<br /><br />"... how much does she really know about us?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Makoto Kino (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Glancing from Mamoru to Rei as she listens, Makoto starts frowning again. "If she is connected but can't come forward for some reason, I wish she'd at least toss out some hints," she says, a little grumpily. Somebody's still miffed about that time V showed up unnanounced at Rei's fire reading. "All these unanswered questions are bad for my stress levels."<br /><br />The irritation fades quickly enough, but the frown remains. "...Rei-chan is right, though. Sailor V was there when I transformed the first time, so she might have been able to guess from that if she saw - it was all pretty confused - but even so, it's not like we were having that discussion right out in public where anybody could hear us. I don't know how she could've heard that we were going to meet up for your reading that time, either. It seems like maybe she knows a lot more than we thought."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Tuxedo Kamen (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Well, she ''does'' have a cat with a crescent moon," Mamoru offers hesitantly. "And she HAS been doing this for over a year... I'll try to talk to her again. I mean, her cat first, but then definitely her."<br /><br />Probably only Mamoru can say this completely earnestly and not even think it sounds funny. He's looking at his hands again, open and palms up on the table. "Maybe she thinks you won't let her help if you find out more about her. Or maybe she's waiting for the right time. There are a lot of reasons an ally might keep themselves hidden or out of reach, helping only when it's necessary, trying to stay out of the way otherwise."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:64|Rei Hino (64)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rei glances at Makoto. "I see. Well. I can't say I've been super flawless either. I've tried to be, but His Highness here still found out." She playfully punches Mamoru on the shoulder. "If she does know who we are, then that might explain some things. Still... I'd like to know. I wonder why she feels the need to hide, if she knows so much about us. She must have a reason."<br /><br />Mamoru mentions a cat with a crescent moon on his forehead. "Huh. So like Luna, then. I guess that makes sense. By the way, I don't think Luna's going to be happy once she finds out that you know about us, Chiba-san."<br /><br />Rei reaches for another mochi ball and starts to eat it. She doesn't want to let it melt! "I don't really suspect Sailor V that much. I mean... it's a little weird that she knows so much about us, but she doesn't... she doesn't ''feel'' wrong, if that makes any sense."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Makoto Kino (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"That doesn't mean all the secrecy isn't annoying," Makoto grumbles. But then she leans forward, resting her elbow on the table, and nibbles on her ice cream mochi ball. She's contemplating something, and as she does her expression grows distant and faintly wistful. "...No, you're right. Both of you. She probably has her reasons. She's helped us up until now, I don't think there's any reason to be suspicious of her."<br /><br />She goes quiet, polishing off the mochi. "Maybe V-san's cat will be able to help. Either way, Kuroki-san is the one we should worry about more right now, at least until we know a little more about why she feels so drawn to Mamoru-san. Right?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Tuxedo Kamen (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Mamoru looks affronted -- not at the arm punch, but at "His Highness?" he retorts indignantly. "Look, just because the timing happened to be terrible, I called you just like you said to!" He rubs at his arm peevishly anyway, grumbling almost in unison with Makoto. It also doesn't last long.<br /><br />He nods to Makoto. "Right. I mean if she was my friend at whatever point it was that these dreams are coming from, then that might explain it? Neither of you really knew what to make of me either--"<br /><br />As if they really do now!<br /><br />"--so maybe it's like that. But she really lookedlike she wanted to touch me and I'm not okay with that. I wish we had more information, in general."<br /><br />Then the older boy's pocket chimes, and he reflexively reaches to take out his watch. "Aaa, kuso, I'm going to be late if I don't book it." He starts getting up, straightening his shirt once he's on his feet. "I'm sorry, I have a tutoring session in about twenty minutes. Thank you so much for meeting with me," he says with a quick bow.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:64|Rei Hino (64)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rei smiles sympathetically at Makoto. She remembers what happened before at the fire reading. To be fair, having Sailor V just barge in like that ''was'' pretty worrying.<br /><br />"I know, Chiba-san, I know. It wasn't your fault. I mean, if there was ever a time to call me, that was an appropriate time."<br /><br />She thinks back to the incident with the doll and the strange girl. She hopes she's doing alright, but now's not the time for that.<br /><br />"If she was a friend of ours... well... it would explain some things. It would also bring up more questions, of course. And you don't have to let her touch you, geeze. You're in enough romantic trouble already."<br /><br />Rei watches as Chiba stands up. She stands up as well, bowing slightly. "Thanks for coming, Chiba-san. Let us know if anything else comes up."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:42|Makoto Kino (42)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Following Rei's example, Mako also gets to her feet, though she doesn't bow. "If she keeps seeming like she wants to get all touchy-feely on you," she tells Mamoru brightly, "you can use me as a wall again. I don't mind."<br /><br />She doesn't bow, but she does lift a hand to wave. "Thanks for the ice cream! We'll get in touch if we find out anything. In the meantime, take care, okay?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Tuxedo Kamen (38)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Mamoru's eyes crinkle at the corners again, that small, real, affectionate smile. "I will," he tells Makoto. And he pffs at Rei, waving a hand! "I'm not even going NEAR that, I always get a splitting headache when I even try to think about that-- you two take care too!"<br /><br />With that, he's out the door, lightly jogging down the path to the steps.<br /><br />Someone ought to tell him princes ride horses, they don't drive Teslas.<br> <br>
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