Light of Hope

Chapter 2

Ever since the day he had become aware of being a masked super hero, Mamoru had bravely taken any kind of obstacle and sacrifice in order to rescue this lovely planet.

He had never really questioned anything and since his name was "protector", his destiny always had been connected to the earth.

However, once he had left Elysion by using the time travel key and had landed into the past, no one had considered that it was indeed a difference to carry not his own Star Seed. He didn't feel the strong connection to the planet any longer, neither he possessed any kind of super hero's skills.

Simply saying, Mamoru was nothing but an ordinary guy now.

"At least you have Artemis T and me of course."

Diana gave him an encouraging smile after Mamoru had given up trying to transform into his alter ego Tuxedo Kamen. Almost thirty times he had tried to held up a rose in the air. Without any success.

"Well, you can tell, Diana...I've been assigned with a quite important mission and now I even cannot use my magical powers in order to achieve it. This is more than frustrating."

He muttered under his breath while he was stepping into the OsaP store.

"Oh hello, are you looking for something in particular?"

Obviously Mamoru had gained the attention of a sales person. Somehow this woman reminded him of a friend of Usagi with her dark red hair.

After a second, the penny dropped and Mamoru remembered the first youma he had met. It was Naru's mother who had been manipulated by the Dark Kingdom.

Suddenly, another thing hit his mind. If he'd succeed and Galaxia would be defeated, why shouldn't he take the opportunity and buy something special for him and Usagi in this shop?!

After landing in the park where Chibiusa used to travel back in time, his feet had automatically taken him to this jewelry store.

'It would certainly have a special meaning for her when I buy them here.'

He pondered and decided to let the disguised youma helping him.

"Well, ahem, actually yes there is something what I could need. I am looking for wedding rings."

"Ohhhh, Lucky you! Congratulations! Today we have a special deal, you'll get the best price you could think of. My colleague Ms. Tomoe will show you the rings."

While the said woman let him to the wedding ring section, a bunch of other people entered the shop. Actually it was nearly a hundred women, containing any age, who were more than willed to make a good bargain in this shop today.

Mamoru was rather afraid of so many female bargain hunters and quickly had a look at the wedding ring offer.

His eyes stuck to a sparkling silverly ring, having a brilliant-cut diamond, shaped into a heart. It looked almost like the engagement ring he had given to Usagi before he made encounter with Galaxia.

Next to it, there was the version for the groom, at least as graceful like the bride one but without any sparkling elements; there were three little stones in different shades of green inserted, a fourth one was rather dark pink.

'Zoisite, Jadeit, Nephrite, Kunzite.'

Mamoru concluded while his gaze rested on the four little stones. After a few moments Mamoru had made a decision.

„Those two please!"

He said and the assistant happily took out the rings from the showcase.

„A very good choice indeed. Normally they would cost a fortune but today they are 95% off sale. How do you like to pay?"