I decided to take a break from "Amazing Grace" and write a more comical 
piece.  It's about a matter that many of us Sailor Moon fans have 
pondered over -- Mamoru's green jacket.  Everyone has asked themselves 
the question, "Why does he wear that jacket so much?"  I intend to 
answer this question.  This is my first short story in over a year, so 
please don't be mad if it sucks. ^^;

As always, thanks to Meara for proofreading my stories.  I only hope 
this story is at least a quarter as funny as you think it is.  

And finally, I don't own Sailormoon.  Naoko does.  I own nothing.  And 
if you lawyers think you can get money out of me, you're crazy.  It's 
impossible to get blood from a stone, but it's even more impossible to 
get money from a teenager!






The Green Tweed Jacket

By: Masked Maiden

Rated PG-13 (mild language)






Good evening.  My name is Chiba Mamoru.  Yes, I am that man with the 
atrocious green tweed jacket.

Clueless as to what jacket I'm referring to?  Damn, haven't you been in 
the dark!  If that's the case and you don't know what jacket I'm 
talking about, you need to either a) congratulate yourself because you 
may very well be one of the few manga purists; or b) enlighten yourself 
by leaving this memoir for now and visit the nearest Sailormoon image 
gallery.  Trust me, they will have a picture of me in that jacket.  

If you do not qualify for option A and you have no interest in 
following option B, I'll do my best to explain.  It is the jacket that 
should be put out of its misery with a public spectacle -- such as a 
bonfire -- and given the proper burial by dropping its ashes into Tokyo 
Bay, never to be heard from again. 

Do you now know which jacket I'm talking about?  You do?  Good.  Now 
let's continue.

I suppose you're wondering why I wear that jacket so often.  Obviously 
it's become a well-known tradition for me, one of the most well drawn 
men in anime, to walk down the bustling streets of Tokyo in khakis, a 
black turtleneck, and that sickening green jacket.  If I'm not wearing 
the described attire, I'm usually in my tuxedo.  Give me that tuxedo 
any day.  It may be a little tight around the stomach (heheh -- Usako's 
learning how to actually cook), but at least it has some class.  I bet 
you've even found yourselves looking for tiny fuzz balls on my jacket. 
You know what fuzz balls I'm talking about.  Those teeny tiny fuzz 
balls that almost always appear on an article of clothing when it has 
been washed repeatedly.  You've probably also wondered if I even wash 
my clothes.  I've heard it all.  Mamoru doesn't know how to wash 
clothes.  Mamoru is dull.  Mamoru has bad taste.  Mamoru is a 
cheapskate and won't buy clothes, but just like all men with big egos 
he'll splurged money on a motorcycle and a fast car.  Mamoru doesn't 
pay enough attention to his Usako.  Mamoru can't fight.  Mamoru can't 
make speeches.  Mamoru needs to get down from them high places and 
actually protect his princess... 

Uh... seems I've gotten off the subject.  Where was I?  Ah yes, the 
jacket!  Trust me, if you are able to conjure up a reason, I have 
already heard it.

Now before I proceed any further, let me go ahead and tell all of you 
that I have an excellent explanation as to why my jacket has made so 
many cameos in the series.  It's not because that's what the animators 
drew on me.  Wait... that is a reason.  It's not *the* reason, though. 
I have a better one!

I wore it because of Usako. 

Confused, are we?  It's okay.  At times I am too, but I can explain 
everything, as I said already.  So here we go!

For the record, I hate the jacket.  Seriously, I do.  I always have and 
I always will.  Hell, I didn't even buy the damn thing.  Of all the 
things it could possibly be it was a birthday gift.  You already know 
that I don't have good luck with birthdays.  I lost my parents on my 
sixth birthday, and Usako slapped me when I didn't know hers.  
Birthdays and me just don't get along.  So why was I expecting 
something nice?  Mainly because the jacket was from Reika, Motoki's 
girlfriend.

Reika is a very attractive woman.  She's intelligent, compassionate, 
trustworthy, and has exceptionally good taste - especially in clothes. 
(Ever took a gander at her clothes in the manga?  Very nice.  Course 
I'm sure Motoki would rather look underneath the clothes, but that's an 
entirely different subject.)  So why Reika gave me the ugliest, most 
vile jacket ever made is a mystery that will never be solved. 

Ugh... I remember that day clearly.

"Well?" she asked.  "What do you think?"

Motoki stared at me, wondering what I was going to say.  He could tell 
that I didn't think too much of the gift.  And quite frankly, I could 
tell he didn't like it either.  So what was I going to tell his 
girlfriend?  That I liked it?

Bingo.  That was exactly what I was going to say!  I know I act like a 
self-righteous jerk once in a while, but I have learned from experience 
that there are times when a man must lie to a woman.  That time 
qualified.  So through my teeth one of the biggest fibs I have ever 
told in my life!

"It's very nice," I answered. 

It would take more than that to convince Reika.

"You hate it, don't you?" she inquired.

I nearly shouted.  "No!  No, no, no... It's not something that I would 
pick out for myself, but I like it."

"Really?"

"Of course.  Would I lie to you?"

Motoki desperately wanted to answer that question.

After Reika left my apartment, I asked Motoki, "So what do you think?"

"About that jacket?" he retorted.  "You could have made her cry for all 
I care.  It's the color of pea soup and vomit combined." 

"Does she ever pick out clothes like that for you?"

"Reika knows to give me money."

Mental note to self -- next year, be greedy and ask everyone for money!

A whole month passed and the jacket never left my closet.  It stayed 
there, in the back and in the dark, where I keep my sweats and the 
T-shirts I usually sleep in.  I had no intention of ever wearing it.  
Never, ever, ever!  Let me clearly get through to everyone that I did 
not like that jacket.  I hated it, with a passion, and I was never 
going to wear it.  If you have absorbed this information you realize 
that I hate to eat my words.

Every once in a while, Reika would subtly mention the jacket.  I don't 
know why.  I'm not her boyfriend.  If she'd bought the jacket for 
Motoki I could see why she'd pester him about it.   But me?  What for 
God's sake?  Is it something about women that men will never 
understand?

I take it is. 

Also during that time, I began to have these strange dreams.  You know 
the dreams I'm talking about.  They're not the dreams about Usako being 
in danger and then I feel like I have to break up with her.  (What were 
them animators thinking?  I'd never break up with Usako!)  That was 
after Usako and I became an item.  These dreams were about a princess, 
Princess Selenity.  Each night she stood by the moon and begged me to 
find the Ginzuishou.  And each night I'd wake up in a cold sweat.  By 
the way, that's no fun.  You have to take a shower and then your pillow 
is wet! 

And ever since that first dream, I felt as if I was on a mission.  I 
had to find something, or someone, or both.  I had to find the crystal. 
I had to find the princess.  Hell, I had to find both!  Problem was, I 
didn't know how.

Now back to Reika.  Since I didn't want to hurt her feelings, I decided 
to wear it ONCE as an appeasement.  It fit, unfortunately.  I then 
realize I could have told Reika it didn't fit and that would have 
solved everything.  Then I could have returned it and bought something 
I liked.  But noooo... it never came to my mind.  That brilliant 
Godsend never came to me and sometimes I want to kick myself for not 
thinking it sooner!  The jacket was itchy and hot and terribly 
uncomfortable.  With the knowledge of knowing I could get a better 
product in its place was a harsher punishment that actually wearing it. 
Damn it!

I made sure Reika saw me wear it.  When that mission was completed I 
made the attempt to hurry back to my apartment and change clothes... 
but something stopped me. 

You see, it was also the day that I met Usako.  Or, as I called her 
back in those days, odango atama.

Not surprisingly, her hair was the very first thing I noticed.  She was 
a blonde, which is very rare in Japan.  The animators for some reason 
love making Japanese people appear American.  Doesn't that bother 
anyone?  Perhaps not.  Still, she was a blonde, and her hairstyle was 
one I'd never seen before -- two long ponytails with two round odango 
on the sides of her head.  I didn't hate it.  On the contrary, I 
thought it was cute.  It was just unusual.  I couldn't help but imagine 
two hot, steaming odango in place of those buns of hair.  That was how 
I came up with the nickname "odango atama."  

Now back to the girl.  She was upset about something.  Her body 
language made that very obvious.  She was bent and moping over the fact 
that since her test score was low and because of that her father would 
not buy her a gift or give her money for the arcade.  There was a 
friend with her, a red headed girl, and she tried to cheer the blonde 
up.  I didn't think it was working.  I mean, the girl was so distraught 
over not getting a gift.  I bet she thought the world was going to end 
over one little test grade.  Maybe for her, if her father was a 
maniac... which later proves to be true, but let's not get ahead of 
ourselves!  Back to the story! 

I then watched as the blond balled up a white piece of paper and threw 
it over her shoulder.  Never did she look over her shoulder, but why 
would she?  I wasn't supposed to be in the way.  At least I don't think 
I was.  She thought it would simply fall on the floor and become 
another piece of litter, right?

Well, it didn't.  The ball was airborne and hit me square in the face.  
From my observations I knew the poor girl wasn't in the mood for any 
teasing, but I couldn't help it.  In a way she asked for it when she 
hit me in the face with the paper ball.  No, it didn't hurt.  How could 
it?  It was paper!  But that was beside the point.  She was asking for 
it!

I picked up the paper ball and called out to the girl.  "Thanks a lot, 
odango atama," I quipped.  "Right in my face.  Try a wastebasket next 
time." 

Now I know everyone has seen lightening.  Everyone will agree that it 
is fast, right?  In a split second it strikes the earth and then 
disappears.  Quick as lightening!  That's where the saying comes from. 
Well, this girl's head spun around at least a hundred times faster than
a lightening bolt.  One second I saw the back of her head, and then the 
next she was glaring at me with her blue eyes filled with malice.  And 
I loved every minute of it!

"Why don't you leave me alone, stupid!"

That remark was left way open.  Anyone could make a comeback, 
especially after I took a peek at her test grade.  

"A 30?" I retorted.  "Who's calling who stupid, odango atama?"

"GIVE ME THAT!"

I had no idea a human being could reach the same decibels as a foghorn. 
Talk about becoming deaf in a split second.  I could not hear 
momentarily after that!  So through a large amount of amusement and 
just a tad amount of fear, I handed her the test.  She jerked from my 
grasp, nearly tearing, spun around and marched away.  As my hearing 
came back I heard her mumbling about me.

"Stupid jerk... I can't believe he said that to me... He should be more 
considerate, that pompous, arrogant jerk!  But still... he is kind of 
cute..."

You could have been knocked me down with a feather.  After our run-in 
and exchange of put downs, she actually thought that I was cute.  Cute? 
I am cute to her?  What about rugged and handsome?  What about damn 
sexy?  What about too sexy for my jacket?  (Definitely too sexy for 
THIS jacket!)  So sexy it hurts?  What about... Hell, I'm not that 
picky.  Cute was fine with me! 

I took off my shades, which was another thing.  Usually I only wear 
sunglasses while driving.  That day I wore them twenty-four seven so no 
one would recognize me.  It was that embarrassing.  I did not want 
anyone to recognize me if I were to wear that jacket in public.  I 
would not accept such a dangerous mission for most people.  Reika 
should feel very honored that I risked my life just to appease her.

Back to the story, again.  I took off my shades and stared at the 
blonde until she disappeared in the horizon.  I didn't know much about 
her.  From her school uniform I knew she went to Juuban Junior High, 
and from her test score I knew she wasn't fond of studying.  I also 
could tell she was a very emotional girl.  More like a bipolar 
disorder.  One minute she's sobbing over her test and the next she's 
biting my head off, but perhaps I was the reason behind her sudden 
change of moods.  I knew all of this about her, and yet I didn't know 
her name.  I didn't know where she lived, other than somewhere in 
Juuban.  I didn't know what her favorite color was, or her favorite 
food.  I didn't know if she thought I was more than cute.  I didn't 
know if she was interested in me...

Because to me, she was more than cute.  She was beautiful.  After fate 
had introduced us to each other under the worst of circumstances, I 
knew she probably *wasn't* interested in me.  I acted like a total 
jerk.  Instead of being nice to her and ignoring the paper ball I had 
to throw my ego around.  Normally I never treated girls like that.  She 
just picked the wrong day, I suppose.  Or maybe I picked the wrong day 
to soothe Reika's troubled mind.  I don't really know.  All I knew was 
I liked that girl and I wanted to see her again.  There was something 
about that girl, something I couldn't place.  It was as if I knew her a 
long time ago.  But it couldn't be so, because back then I didn't 
believe in reincarnation or much of anything for that matter.  But that 
girl... it's so hard to explain, even now when I understand what it was 
I felt back then.  It was like... all my life I had been searching for 
something, and at that moment my search was over. 

That evening when I returned to my apartment, everything changed.

It was the night I first transformed into Tuxedo Kamen, even though I 
didn't remember what happened until AFTER collecting one of those 
nijizuishou.  It was the first time I met Sailormoon.  Imagine.  
Sailormoon was the same girl I met that day on the sidewalk.  I would 
have never guessed it.  And I would have never guessed that she was my 
princess, my one true love... not back then.  I believe it now, but I 
didn't back then. 

It was around midnight when I returned to my apartment for the second 
time.  Even though it was late, and even though my head throbbed, I 
began to work out a plan.  I wanted to see her again and I was going to 
see her again.  I just had to figure out how.  I couldn't look up her 
address in the phone book because as I said, I didn't know her name.  I 
knew where she went to school, and I also knew where a lot of students 
from Juuban Junior High hung out after school.  That was the arcade, 
the very same arcade Motoki's father owned.  So I decided that the next 
day I would go to the arcade and wait and see if she showed up...

And guess what!  I wore the damn jacket!

Why did I wear the jacket?  It was half ingenious, half stupidity.  I 
wanted to make sure she noticed me.  And what better way to get 
someone's attention is by wearing the same outfit again the next day?  
You people who watch the show seem to notice me!  So it works, right?!

Motoki believed I needed psychiatric help.  Ladies and gentlemen, I 
probably did!

"Forget to wash your clothes?" he teased. 

Once again, I told a lie.  I nodded and mumbled, "Yeah, I did."

Thirty minutes passed.  Motoki and I did not exchange any words, and 
the blonde never showed up.  I began to ask Motoki a couple of 
questions, just to see if he at least knew who she was.  I prayed he 
knew her name.  Calling her "the blonde" wasn't working for me. 

My prayers were answered; Motoki knew her!  

"You must be talking about Usagi-chan," he said.  "Tsukino Usagi, to be 
exact.  She comes here quite often, even if she doesn't have a lot of 
money." 

Usagi!  Her name was Usagi!  Wait... she's named after a bunny rabbit?!

"What kind of name is Usagi?" I asked. 

"The name her parents gave her," Motoki teased.  "Why'd you wanna know?"

"I was just wondering."  

Lie after lie after lie... You see, that's what happens when you begin 
to lie.  You tell one lie, and then you have to lie to cover up the lie 
you already told.  Pretty soon you have done so much lying that it 
makes a whore look like an angel.  If I kept it up... Ah, let's not 
think about that.  I don't hang my hat on a different door every night, 
or any night.  Hell, the only hat I have appears during combat.  Wait, 
that didn't sound right either... Let's just drop this! 

Motoki started giving me that I-know-you-that-better-than-that look.  
Everyone knows what that is, whether you want to or not.  Your left 
eyebrow arches while your right eyebrow drops, and then your lips 
produce a sinister smile.  I should have known I couldn't keep lying to 
Motoki.  Some things I could lie to him about, like the jacket for 
instance.  But when it came to women, there was no lie I could get away 
with.  Not even if my dear life depended on it.

I watched Motoki as he leaned over the counter and chimed, "Oh 
REALLY... You just happened to think of a girl with blonde hair and 
odango that goes to Juuban Junior High and isn't the best student in 
the world.  Oh yeah, Mamoru, there's a lot of blondes in Japan just 
like her."  Then he stood and blurted with much joy as he could 
possibly muster, "You like her, don't you?" 

"Please..." I sneered.  "I can barely stay interested in a girl for 
five minutes.  And why would I consider going out with a junior high 
student when there are plenty of colleges girls that would love to go 
out with me?"

"Have you considered going out with Usagi-chan?"

"She in junior high!"

"Age does not matter in the eyes of love."

"It does in the eyes of fathers."

By the way, does anyone know how old Elios is?  Just wondering... 
 
Motoki shook his head.  "Fine," he said.  "She's not your type anyway. 
She knows better not to go out with a guy like you."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing..."

While causing a scene in the arcade by punching my best friend square 
in the face sounded very appealing, I decided against it.  I said my 
good-byes and left out of the arcade...

Just as someone bumped into me... REAL hard!

"Oh my God!" she shrieked.  "I'm so sorry, I'm sorry, so sorry..."

I immediately recognized that voice.  It was my bunny, and she 
repeatedly bowed and apologized for bumping into me.  Obviously she 
didn't take a good look and had no idea that it was that pompous, 
arrogant jerk from before.  

Now, let me call a time out.  I have to stop here for a moment because 
I have to explain something to you... about men.  

Ladies, I have a feeling you already know this, but it is important 
that I explain this to you.  That way you may not hate me as much.  (I 
know, you'd rather have my manga form, and truthfully I can't blame 
you.)  You have no idea how hard it is for a guy to get a girl's 
attention.  It's one thing to be popular and have girls come to you, 
but it's another thing when your eyes are on the woman, of your dreams 
and you have no idea how to get her to notice you.  You'll do anything. 
Junior high boys will place all their leftovers in their milk and blow 
bubbles in it during lunch to get a group of girls' attention from 
across the table.  They act stupid and make complete idiots of 
themselves.  When they gets into high school they realizes being gross 
won't cut it, so they only think of more mature ways of making idiots 
of themselves.  Act like a macho man, follow her around, put her 
down... 

See where I'm heading?  The only way I could get Usako's attention was 
by acting like an asshole.  And I know enough about women to know that 
if I started acting nice and kind and considerate, she'd think that an 
alien took over my body.  So as I planned of ways of sweeping her off 
her feet in my mind, my actions only drew her away.  I'm not proud of 
it.  Even if we are destined for each other, it doesn't make up for 
what I put her through.  I hope she knows I'm sorry.  If our 
introduction was any different, I know I wouldn't have acted in such a 
way...

I looked at the beautiful angel before me and mocked her.  "Am I 
invisible to you, odango atama?"  I made sure to use my little pet name 
for her.  

Usako's eyes widen.  Her nose flared and a frown appeared.  She's so 
cute when she's mad!

"You again!" she exclaimed, and pointed at me.

"The one and only."

"Do you mind getting out of my way?"

"Wait, you were the one that bumped into--"

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

"Gladly!"

She's also cute when she walks away in a mad huff.  

For months I followed the same routine, never tiring from it.  Day 
after day, I would wear the same jacket.  Sometimes I would give it a 
break, like when it needed washing.  Most of time, however, I wore it. 
And night after night, I roamed the streets of Tokyo until I found 
Sailormoon and rescued her. 

Now, doesn't that make you wonder?  It's almost as if the two were 
somehow connected.  Why, you ask? 

Whenever I was Tuxedo Kamen, Sailormoon was around.

Whenever I wore the jacket, I ran into Usako.

So, after finally realizing, the reason why I wear the green tweed 
jacket is because...


~*~*~


Usagi shook her head, displeased.  "Mamo-chan," she accused, "I don't 
believe you're telling the truth."

Mamoru looked at her, doing his best to seem bemused.  "What do you 
mean?"

"That's not what really happened.  You lost a bet with one of those 
animators before production started for the series.  Remember the coin 
toss?  Heads meant they'd draw you Naoko-style and tails meant they'd 
draw you Toei-style.  THAT'S why you have to wear that thing all the 
time!" 


~*~*~


My darling Usako, you know how much I love.  With all my heart and 
soul.  There's nothing I wouldn't do for you.  But there are times when 
I begin to wonder about you... one of those times is now.  

Why do you have to be so truthful!?

Okay, okay, okay... I'm sorry.  I honestly am.  I can assure you that I 
do not wish to sleep on the couch tonight.  Yes, yes, I will clear 
everything up.  

I lost a bet.  Plain and simple. And that's *the* real reason why I 
wear the green tweed jacket.

Was that good enough, Usako?  It was?  Excellent!  Now...

I think I know what we should do tonight.  What do you think?

Heheh, I love you too, Usako.  


======
Fin.


05.17.01


Email: masked_maiden@hotmail.com or gracefulangel15@yahoo.com

Web Site: http://miracleromance.cjb.net/