A.N.- Hey guy's it's me again and I have chapter 10 ready for launch. Hope you guys enjoy and…. Yeah I have no more to say -.-

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor moon and I never will. There I said it, feel better now? Gosh... Bite me!

Chapter 10- Thorn's Of A Rose

~~~Mamoru~~~

As a boy I was alone, left to raise myself. My parents died in a car crash, and with them my childhood followed. I had no one… or at least I thought this was so; until she appeared- A young girl who didn't ask, but instead chose me to be her friend. Her carefree nature, her calming smile, and her ever shining light… that was Usagi Tsukino. She was my only companion and the one constant in my life.

In a sense I feel like she saved me from a darker path. She gave me a reason to fight, to protect and eventually to love. I'll admit it… love was not what I expected to find in her at first. I was after all a few years older than her and usually those circumstances lead to an older sibling relationship. In fact that's exactly what we were; squabbling kids always teasing and challenging each other. It was silly how we were always trying to outwit the other.

It wasn't until fate intervened when we found something more special; a bond we never shared before. It was like all the things that use to seem irritating between us, just magically became enticing. We fell in love in the most purest way; Nothing lustful or superficial; just young and inexperienced.

Youth is what I would like to blame for my fall from grace, but I've come to terms with what I truly am; selfish… plain and simple. The day she left for her training, was the first time I truly witnessed how selfish I was. Mamoru the matured, responsible and understanding boyfriend had fell into a void that day. Where I should have felt understanding, I felt anger. Where I should have remained strong and comforting, I replaced with bitter silence… yes I was selfish.

At first all I could do was wonder how she of all people had willingly made up her mind to leave. Usagi was never one for more responsible reasoning; not that I embrace discrediting her, but it truly wasn't in her nature to make big decisions outside of dire circumstances. In any case… seeing her go numbed me, and at first I struggled with the urge to stop her. The result ended with me staring after her retreating form, with a feeling more dark replacing my saddened state.

That day I returned to my apartment drenched from the rain, not realizing how long I had actually stood outside. The pain I thought I felt had transformed itself to relief and acceptance, but not because I had come to terms with Usagi's decision. Instead it was because I had reached a decision of my own; one I longed for without me ever realizing it till that very moment.

Usagi had chosen to free me from our bond… free 'us' to be exact; when she ended our relationship. Her reasoning was to be fair to me in her absence, so I wouldn't feel tied to a person I couldn't be with for an unofficial amount of time. Anyone would have accepted her sacrifice for what it was but the dark emotion, the one I themed as selfish had summoned thoughts within me I had never allowed myself to consider. Like devilish whispers the thoughts sprung forth 'she doesn't trust me to be faithful?', 'clearly she must be protecting her own interest… perhaps another man would tempt her?'

These thoughts were all it took to stare me down the path I now follow.

~An Apartment in Shibuya~

As the first streaks of sunlight seeped through the shades of the unfamiliar room, Mamoru found him self wide awake as he stared towards the ceiling in silent thought. A slight stir from a dark haired woman draped across his bare chest was the one initiative that ended his private musings as he took in her peaceful features. She was resting soundly, clearly exhausted from the nights previous endeavors which Mamoru couldn't help but acknowledge with a short smirk of male pride before he decided to lightly stroke the woman's back. His purpose in doing so was only to wake her gently, which he had done successfully when a soft groan from the lady gave hint of her awakening.

The stranger looked up at him with a half smirk as the chains of sleep still clung to her partially conscious state. He gave her a moment to adjust herself in an upright position, as she lazily pulled her sheets to her chest and sat up taking in the sight of him fully.

"You're… still here."

Was her statement as her eyes met his, but the evidence in her attentive look revealed the hint of questioning towards his presence.

"I am."

He replied as he rose from the bed and stood in his fully exposed glory, searching the room for his discarded clothing. He dressed himself routinely leaving an air of calm in the room that could only seem natural to a couple.

"Careful, I might forget this was a one night stand."

The woman stated this teasingly as she watched him dress, leaning on elbow and resting her head in her palm for support. She caught the chuckle Mamoru emitted as he finished dressing and turned to face her with a look of sincerity.

"I suppose you expected me to play the part of a thief in the night?"

She shrugged in response "It's what I'm use to anyway."

He grinned at this, then sat at her bedside as he took hold of her hand and kissed the knuckles gently.

"A woman should always be treated as such… no matter the terms."

He stated with this with simplicity as he brushed a strand of her dark curls from her face and took in the sight of her provoked blush. He could tell she hadn't expected the tender response and wouldn't embarrass her further with his lingering.

"Thanks for having me. I'll see myself out"

He made no further contact after stating this, leaving the woman to her private thoughts as he excused himself out of the apartment. He left knowing she had been one of many ventures and felt no regrets when he took off on his Suzuki cycle to his own home. A look of contentment seemed to grace his lips as the new day of work and classes awaited him.

~~~Mamoru~~~

Two years have passed and to those who were closer to me, it's fair to say they find me disgusting, heartless, and deceiving. I don't blame them for that perception, knowing that my actions now contradict how I once portrayed myself. That woman I had the previous night was one of many, and though I should… I feel no shame from the amount of indulgences I've had. Depravity and selfishness came at the price of solitude from the life I once considered my destiny, an exchange I realized was not to difficult for me to make.

I had made my decision of what I truly wanted the day Usagi left, but I had not followed up on it till a few months had passed. The reason for that simply was because I hadn't understood why I felt the way I did. Was it because I was upset? Was it because it's how I've always been?

I just couldn't bring myself to act on my decision with out truly understanding what drove me to it. Then it came to me one night, as a charm of memory, the one thing that had been a symbol of my existence; a red rose I kept in a book of my childhood. It was withered, but it held a much deeper meaning for it was a gift from Usagi when we had first met as children.

It occurred to me it was that day this spell I consider fate had weaved our lives into the string of events that would follow. From that day on I had always watched over her, even as we grew apart in age. Our distance grew eventually as we became teens, but little did I know, I would subconsciously seek her out.

That same subconscious state made me fight for her every time, protecting her and every being of Earth. Then that's when I arrived at my answer; a fate that was forced upon me. Sailor moon and the Senshi swirled into my life like a whirlwind without warning, and I was branded Tuxedo kamen, a knight and a prince. All these invasions of creatures from other planets and realms, and these encounters with our past and future clashing without fail became overwhelming. I for one could finally admit I feared it all.

I feared that my life was staged and my choices were not my own. My feelings, my thought's and my entire being began to slowly reveal itself as the continuation of a man I once was and I couldn't help but question who I truly am now.

It's sad that and I could only imagine what Usagi would think of me, seeing as this has become my choice of reason, but I feel even she would have to question if the love between us is real, or merely the mingling of our destinies. That truly is something she will need to discover for herself, if she should ever choose to question it… but as for myself, I had made the decision to create my own destiny.

If anyone knew my reasoning, it would probably be considered childish. Again I don't deny this… However as I see it, despite whatever I might have felt for Usagi, I used the day she broke our bond as a liberation of all my obligations to fulfill a prophecy I never chose. I instead choose to live the life I always wanted, not as Prince, or a warrior, but as a man, a doctor…

My only regret is that Usagi will come back, and I know she'll be looking for the prince she left. In his place she'll find me… the true me, and I know she won't accept what she sees. She'll grow to hate me, and I've resigned myself to accept this now that we both travel different paths. I now know that I am Endymion no more.

~Mamoru's Apartment~

Once Mamoru arrived at his home, he tossed his keys on the kitchen table, and made his way to the bathroom to shower. He took his time, enjoying the warmth of the water and the moment to himself to relax as he prepared himself for the day he would have a head. Thought's of last night's venture seemed slip into his consciousness of it's own will as he washed away all evidence of what had transpired many hours before. It was just as the familiar feeling of lust had gained his intrigue; when the sound of his phone ringing echoed through out the silent halls of his apartment.

Taking a moment to grab a towel, he wrapped it around his waist as he made his way over to an end table in the living room. By the time he had reached the device, the ringing had already stopped but he could hear the end recording of a message as the flashing of a number 1 appeared on the screen. He pressed the play back button and heard the automated voice announce 'You have one new message' before he heard the beep and a male voiced resonated from the device.

'Mamoru it's Motoki, Stop by the arcade when you have your lunch break… we need to talk.'

The voicemail then closed out the message with an 'End of message' notification causing Mamoru to pause for a moment. It was rare for him to hear from Motoki, considering that the last time they spoke was a year ago and it wasn't under the best circumstances. If he had taken the time to reach out, something serious had to be afoot as far as Mamoru was concerned, and he noted the blunt tone in Motoki's voice from the message.

"Strange…" He couldn't help but whisper under his breath as made his way to the back room to change.

Usually his instinct never failed him, and he was certain it wouldn't this time when that familiar sensation began to return to him. Taking a moment, he sat down on his bed and searched his side table draw, only to come across the fairy tale book he had been given as a kid. Beside it suddenly appeared a gold gem that rolled from the further back portion of the draw with a strong glare.

He stared at it for a moment than, Shaking his head he quickly closed the draw back. Casting his glance a side he stood heading for his closet to change for work.

'It's no concern of mine…'

A.N.- Well this ends chapter 10 and I hope you guys enjoyed. I tried to give a little insight into Mamoru's mind and hopefully you guys can get an idea of where I may or may not be going with this XD. His personality may not be well received the way I plan to take this but I'm going to give it a shot. Trust that I'll try to make this more complex simply because I adore a torturous love story. Now back to Usagi with chapter 11- "Am I Worthy?"