Spin the Bottle, part 1

Chapter One

The sun was just beginning to set on the horizon as the three best friends sat outside the 'Crown Game Center', eating an early dinner.

Usagi reached out to stir her straw about in the thick-shake glass, expression bored. The chocolate milkshake spat up bubbles, for the moment grabbing her attention. ["I am SOOOOO bored!"] She thought, rolling her blue eyes towards Makoto.

The brunette was slumped in her chair over the table, eating a thick hamburger. "NOT as good as mine" Makoto sighed, taking another bite. She swallowed and licked her lips lightly, eyes thoughtful. "Well, maybe. Motoki makes a mean burger"

"Anything he does is great" Usagi agreed dreamily, looking to their left. Through the arcade window, they could see Motoki at the counter, serving people. The place had been so packed that Usagi, Makoto, and Ami decided to sit outside.

"I knew you'd say that, Usagi" Makoto grinned at her blonde friend in amusement. She looked across the table at Ami, eyebrows rising. "Ami, come on!" Makoto protested, reaching out to pry the thick book from Ami's startled fingers. The book fell to the table with a thump. "You CAN'T do homework on a Friday, girl!"

"Uh huh!" Usagi said, eyes glinting with excitement. "It's a Friday-which means you get to hang out with all your very best friends. And have FUN!"

"I AM having fun, really guys" Ami protested, blushing. As if to prove her point, she reached out and snagged a fry from Makoto's brimming plate and popped it into her mouth. "See?" She told them, smiling.

Usagi and Makoto quickly exchanged a glance. "Sure Ami, like a fry is going to liven up the evening!" Usagi said, shaking her head. She frowned in thought, then looked out into the crowded streets. "And WHERE is Rei exactly?!" She demanded, sinking back into her chair. Usagi crossed her arms, looking annoyed.

"She said that she'd BE here. Just calm down Usagi" Makoto suggested. She cast a rueful glance at Ami.

"Right" Ami agreed, looking absently down at her book, which was just out of her reach and close to a watchful Makoto. Sometimes it amazed her how much she had changed since meeting the other Senshi. Once upon a time, NOTHING could have pried her from her studies!

"Well, I think that she should be here by now!" Usagi announced, slurping down the rest of her shake noisily. Her eyes flickered to the right and past another table as hasty movement caught her attention. She raised her head to see a dark-haired girl bolting quickly down the sidewalk towards them. "Speaking of!" Usagi drawled.

Rei skidded to a halt, dodged around a couple of table and arrived at their table-side, panting breathlessly. "Sorry I'm late"! Rei gasped, bending over.

"Did you run all the way here, Rei?" Ami said, eyes wide.

"Uh huh" Rei straightened, flinging her head back. She gasped a little more, then thankfully sank into a spare chair next to Ami. "All the way from Mamoru's apartment" Her eyes glittered. "He's totally loaded you know, you guys! It was amazing. He's got ALL of the newest high-tech stuff. A motorbike, a FERRARI-and wow, is his apartment big" The Priestess in training bragged, flicking a sideways glance at Usagi.

Usagi sat thee, fuming. At any mention of Chiba Mamoru's name, fury filled her. "THAT creep?" Usagi exploded, thumping a fist onto the table. She half-rose, towering over the rest of them. "What were you doing there? And I suppose that HE'S the reason that you're late?" The blonde accused, pointing a finger in Rei's face.

The dark-haired girl brushed Usagi's finger aside coolly, eyes half-closing. She glanced through her lashes in satisfaction. "I thought that would be your reaction, Usagi. Jealous?" Rei suggested quietly.

"JEALOUS?!" Usagi shouted, face flushing with anger. "Of YOU? Of that JERK?! No way!" She sank back into her chair, pouting. "No way" She repeated.

"Sounds like to me, Usagi" Rei said silkily, still smiling with satisfaction. "You're just jealous that I have a boyfriend and you are all on your own"

"Whaaaaaaat?" Usagi looked horrified. "Who could be jealous of the girlfriend of that creep?" She wondered aloud. ["Not ME, that's for sure!"]

"Usagi!" Rei growled, thumping a hand onto the table.

"Guys, please!" Ami pleaded, a hand over her eyes wearily. "Didn't we come out tonight to have fun together? Rei is here now"

"Right" Makoto said, getting to her feet. She grinned around at them all. "And it's Friday night late shopping!" She thrust a hand up into the air. "Who's with me!"

"I am!" The three other girls chorused happily, getting to their feet.

"I wanted to look at that totally cool new dress shop that opened on the second floor" Usagi exclaimed.

"Oh yeah? Where?" Rei said with interest.

The girls all walked away from their table and headed down the street, gathered closely together. There was nothing like a good shop to have fun!

2 hours later, they were all slumped around another table inside the shopping mall. Bags were piled around their feet, overflowing with clothes and things.

Usagi rested a giant pink bunny on her lap, playing absently with its floppy ears.

Rei watched with amusement. "I knew you couldn't resist that rabbit, Usagi"

"It's so cuuuuute, Rei" Usagi crooned, adjusting the large white bow around the bunny's neck.

"What are you going to call it?" Makoto wondered, staring at the giant bunny with a strange expression.

"Tuxedo Kamen-Bunny?" Rei suggested with a smirk.

"Very funny" Usagi gritted, glaring at her friend. "It's a SHE bunny!"

"Sailor M-" Rei began again, eyes wickedly glinting.

"No! Don't even SAY it, you pyro!" Usagi yelled, accidentally ditching the bunny off of her lap. It hit the floor, then rolled up against a pair of expensive black shoes.

The girls-who had all followed it progress with curiosity-all looked up simultaneously.

Usagi's eyes trailed up over the black shiny shoes, over black slacks, a black turtle-neck and a familiar green jacket. Her eyebrows drew together, a thunderous expression forming on her pretty face. "Mamoru!" She growled, finally looking into his face.

"Odango Atama!" Mamoru said teasingly, eyes amused.

"Oh, Mamoru" Rei said, sounding surprised and glad. "What are you doing here? I thought that you had a 'thing' to do tonight?" She glanced at him inquiringly.

Usagi reached down for her giant bunny, which Mamoru obligingly kicked lightly in her direction with one shoe. "DON'T kick my bunny!" Usagi said, hastily grabbing the bunny. She held it to her chest defensively, as if it had been a real animal and Mamoru a hunter.

"I should have KNOWN that it would be YOUR bunny, Odango" Mamoru taunted, rolling his eyes. "It's as silly-looking as you!"

"WHAT? You take that back, Chiba!" Usagi yelled, getting to her feet hurriedly. Once more, the bunny went flying, landing on the floor between them.

Mamoru rolled his eyes, then bent over gracefully and picked up the bunny. He raised it easily to his face, staring at the dark beady eyes. "Yep" he said, laughing. "Its eyes are as vacant as yours, Odango Atama!"

"Creep! My name is USAGI!" The blonde shouted, snatching at the bunny.

Mamoru held on for a moment, eyes mocking. ["How much does she want this bunny?"] He wondered laughingly as Usagi tried unsuccessfully to pry it from his stronger hands.

"Let go-!" Usagi began furiously. When Mamoru complied unexpectedly, the blonde flew backwards, bunny in her arms. "Arrggggggh~!" Usagi shrieked, falling back over her chair. She ended up half on the floor, legs flung over her chair and skirt riding up on her legs unexpectedly.

Mamoru blinked, then looked away. "Er-sorry about that" He muttered, trying to wipe the vision of an amazing pair of slender legs from his mind. ["She's fourteen. What am I thinking?"] Mamoru asked himself, frowning. He decided to ignore the blonde, turning instead to Rei. "The 'thing' I had tonight was a party, Rei" He turned around to the table behind him, reaching out for a couple of bags.

Usagi struggled up from her undignified position with Makoto's help, fuming. Her face was red from anger and embarrassment and the bunny had caused more problems than happiness! "Jerk" She muttered, brushing off the back of her skirt and glaring at Mamoru's profile. Her eyes flittered over the bags in his hands, from which some delicious smells were emanating. "Oooh. What's in the bags?" She exclaimed, thrusting the bunny at Makoto and hurrying to Mamoru's side. She leaned over near his chest, peering into the first bag. "Chips!" She squealed.

"There aren't for you, Odango" Mamoru's voice came from just over her head. He sounded amused and exasperated. "They're for the party tonight"

"What party? YOU have friends?!" Usagi straightened hurriedly, stunned. ["The cold jerk has friends?"] Her eyes met Mamoru's which were just centimeters above hers. She blinked and backed off slightly, aware of just how close they had been.

Mamoru similarly blinked and gave her a strange look. Then he grinned. "Yes, I have friends, Odango Atama. From College. It's a College party to celebrate the end of the exams" He gave a sigh of great relief, glancing skyward. "And boy, am I glad they're over!"

"A party Mamoru? How exciting" Rei exclaimed, eyes brightening. "Can I come?" she belatedly remembered her friends and changed her plea. "Can WE come?"

"Sorry, Rei" Mamoru said, shaking his head. He hefted the bags in his hands, preparing to leave. "This party is for older students. Everyone there will be at least 18 years old"

"Older men?" Makoto yelled, eyes wide with delight. She moved closer to Mamoru. "Oh please! This is my chance"

"Are you kidding, Makoto?" He said, dark blue eyes surprised. "These guys are way to old for you guys. You're only fourteen"

"YOU date Rei!" Makoto accused.

Mamoru looked uncomfortable. "That's different. Rei and I-we have fun together" He tilted his face towards Rei, smiling. "But we're just friends. Rei knows that, right?" He asked her.

Only Usagi and the other girls saw how pale Rei's face went, expression deflating. "Umm-" She hesitated, then smiled shakily. "Right. Sure-I do, Mamoru. Just friends" Rei murmured. "Go-have fun. Okay? And I'll call you on Monday"

"Sure. I'll look forward to it" Mamoru smiled wider, turning to look at Usagi. "Don't accost anyone with that bunny on the way home, Odango" He advised. "You couldn't afford to pay damage bills"

"Who asked you? Go away!" Usagi told him haughtily, slipping back into her chair. She completely ignored him, eyes on a pale Rei. The girl sank into the chair across from Usagi, eyes bleak. ["Oh, poor Rei. She must have had no idea"] Usagi thought, heart clenching. She cast a furious glare at Mamoru. ["How dare he do this to her!"]

He met her gaze squarely, seeming startled at her heated glare. "Well, I'll see you all around!" He looked down at the watch on his wrist, blue eyes widening. "Oh jeez, I'm late for my own party! I hope Motoki is there already"

"Motoki?" Makoto said, unheard. Her green eyes brightened mischievously.

"See you!" Mamoru called out, striding away.

The girls were all silent until he had disappeared into the crowd, then they all exchanged a glance.

"Oh, Rei!" Usagi exclaimed, sliding her hand across the table. She gripped Rei's cold hands tightly, trying to convey comfort to the silent girl.

"I'm really sorry, Rei" Ami said sincerely.

"Yeah, me too. I really thought you guys had something going on there" Makoto put in. She looked at Rei thoughtfully. "But maybe-we can do something to bring you CLOSER?" She suggested lightly.

The girls looked at her, eyes curious.

"How?" Rei said slowly.

"Well-" Makoto began. "YOU know where Mamoru lives-right? What if we were to just 'drop in' to the party tonight?"

"Drop in?" Usagi said, amazed. "You want to go to that jerk's party, Makoto?"

"Motoki is there" Makoto reminded Usagi. "Oh and LOTS of food and older guys! It should be a blast!"

Rei looked doubtful. "I don't know, Makoto. He said that we were only friends" Her head lowered. "Too old for us, he said. 18 year olds. HE'S 18!"

"Oh, give it a chance, Rei" Ami said, surprising them all. "It could be, that he just doesn't know all of you. Show him your party side"

"It could work" Usagi said slowly, nibbling on her lip. She shot everyone a nervous look. ["This is for Rei though"] She thought slowly. "I think that we should DO it!" She announced, grinning mischievously.

Rei smiled slowly. "Really, Usagi?" She said with surprise and delight. "I didn't think that you'd go for it. Because you hate Mamoru and all"

"Nah!" Usagi waved a hand dismissively. "I can just stay away from the jerk all night, while YOU get closer!"

"It's a plan then!" Makoto said triumphantly. She looked down at her green overalls and pink shirt. "We aren't really dressed for a party though and we LOOK fourteen. What we need is to go home and dress up, then put on a little makeup" She said, thinking ahead.

"I can't go home!" Usagi suddenly wailed. "I'm supposed to be staying over at Ami's. And I only have my bunny pj's at her house!"

"Stop the wailing, Usagi!" Ami commanded, closing her eyes and wincing. "Look, we won't tell Luna if you use the disguise pen just this once"

"All right! The disguise pen. I'd forgotten all about that" Makoto said, grinning widely. She leaned closer to the blonde. "You can make yourself older and totally hot! But don't steal all the guys! Leave a few for me...And Motoki!"

"Motoki?" Usagi stared hard at the brunette.

"Sure" Makoto reasoned. "Rei can have Mamoru. I can have Motoki-and if Tuxedo Kamen happens to turn up, he's yours"

"Tuxedo Kamen!" Usagi said, dreamily. "Do you think he'll be-MAKOTO!" Usagi finished on an angry tone. "As IF he'd turn up at that jerk's apartment!"

Makoto giggled. "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't help it. But there will be plenty of guys there, Usagi!"

"It should be fun" Ami said. She touched a finger to her chin, eyes distant. "And I can take a book if I'm bored..."

"WHAT?!" Usagi, Makoto and Rei shouted at her.

"Don't be silly, Ami!" Usagi said, horrified. "You CAN'T take a book to a PARTY! Tell her Makoto!"

"She's right" Makoto said firmly. "NO books"

"Have a little fun" Rei got to her feet. "You and Makoto go to your houses and change, then come over to my place. I'll take Usagi with me" She suggested.

The others got to their feet quickly, grinning with excitement.

"Party crashing!" Makoto gloated, rubbing her hands together. She grabbed her bags, then Ami's hand. "Come on, Ami!"

"Let's go, Usagi" Rei ordered, picking up her bags in one hand the giant bunny in the other.

Usagi picked up her bags and trailed after the dark-haired girl, wondering if she was going to enjoy the party after all. They WERE going for Rei-but that jerk would be there! "But so is Motoki" She said aloud. Usagi grinned. "All's fair in love and war! Makoto can share him!"

Chapter Two

Half an hour later, Ami and Makoto met at the Temple, below the steep stairs.

"Hey Ami, wow you look good" Makoto complimented, looking Ami dark blue dress over. She also had a blue bow in her hair, setting of the color of her eyes.

"Thanks, Makoto" Ami blushed. "You look good too. Green always suits you"

Makoto looked down at her tight green dress, which ended just above her knees. "Hey thanks, Ami! Lets see if Usagi and Rei are ready"

The two girls walked up the steep stairs and into the Temple. As they got closer to Rei's room, they heard Usagi wailing loudly. The two exchanged a glance.

"What can she possibly be wailing about now?" Makoto wondered. She flung open the sliding door, revealing the two within.

Ami peered past Makoto, eyes wide.

Rei was chasing Usagi about the room in her underwear, purple eyes eager. "Give it to me!"

"No! It's mine! Luna gave it to ME to use!" Usagi protested. She flung herself at Makoto, eyes panicked. "Help Makoto! Rei's gone nuts! She wants to use the disguise pen!"

"Come on Rei, you don't need it" Ami said, frowning.

Rei fell to a stop, putting her hand haughtily on her hips. "I just don't get why this ditz only gets to use it! What about the rest of us? I could use a new dress"

"You have plenty, pyro!" Usagi yelled, ducking behind the taller form of Makoto.

Makoto walked away, revealing the blonde crouched behind her. "What about that red dress I saw you buying this afternoon?"

"Yep!" Usagi realized that her cover was gone and ducked behind Ami.

"Oh, Usagi. Really" Ami said, walking away from the blonde also.

Usagi stood there, looking nervously at the angry priestess. "Yeah, Rei. That dress looked great" She prompted eagerly.

Rei nodded. "I guess it DID. But all the same" She dove for Usagi, knocking the girl to the floor. She grabbed the pen from Usagi's fingers, holding it up. "Disguise power! Dress me up as a gorgeous model!" Rei shouted. Immediately, something happened. But not what anyone had expected. The pen gave a lurch, then turned an angry red. Electricity formed, moving along the pen to Rei's finger. She yelped, throwing it away from her. "Arrgggggh! It fried my fingers!" Rei screamed, sticking her fingers into her mouth and glaring at the offending pen.

"What-happened?" Usagi muttered, staring. "Has the pen gone wacko?"

"I don't think so" Ami said, looking carefully at the smoking pen. "It's just that it's made only for Usagi to use"

"Ha!" Usagi shouted gleefully, diving for the pen. She picked it up, wincing. "Ouch! Still hot" She wailed. "Disguise power! Umm-dress me up really nice!"

"Really NICE?" Rei remarked from around her fingers, eyes incredulous. "She could be anything in the world and as asked to look NICE?"

The light cleared from around Usagi, revealing her dress in a short grey skirt, soft leather half-boots and a pink blouse. Crescent moon earrings dangled from her lobes.

"Well" Ami blinked at their leader. "I think she LOOKS nice. It's Usagi"

"Right" Makoto agreed. "Usagi doesn't need to dress up"

"Thank you guys" Usagi said, sniffing happily.

"Mmm" Rei muttered in agreement, still standing around in her underwear. "But what do I wear?"

"I have an idea!" Usagi exclaimed. She took out the disguise pen and aimed it at the startled Rei. "Disguise power! Make Rei into a really sexy model!" The blonde shouted.

Rei screeched as she was consumed with pink light. When it cleared, she glanced down at herself and gave another little scream-but of delight. "Oh Usagi! I love you!" She yelled happily, throwing herself at the blonde.

Usagi caught her friend, blinking. "Umm, sure Rei. You look great" The blonde frowned and added reluctantly. "Mamoru will fall at your feet"

"He'll DROOL at your feet, girl" Makoto whistled admirably, looking Rei over.

Rei had never looked so beautiful. With a blood-red dress that fell to her feet, but had slits right up to the thigh. She wore her hair loose and shining gloriously and there was red lipstick on her lips. She wore heels similar to Sailor Mars.

"Wow, Rei" Ami said admirably, looking down at her own dress. "Maybe-you could do me too Usagi?"

"Ami!" Usagi said in surprise. "I thought that you weren't interested in any of the guys"

"Well-" Ami began, blushing. "I don't know"

"In that case, do me too!" Makoto announced.

"Okay!" Usagi yelled, disentangling herself from Rei. "Disguise power! Make Makoto and Ami sexy models too!"

Moments later, the girls all looked at each other, grinning like idiots. Ami and Makoto were in a blue and green number, as tight and slinky as Rei's.

Makoto smoothed her hands down over her hips, grinning in satisfaction. "Motoki won't be able to resist me now!" She gloated.

"What about you, Usagi? Don't you want a tight clingy dress?" Rei said, frowning.

"No-not really. I'm fine" Usagi flushed, looking down at the floor. "I-don't have as much confidence as you guys do"

"Okay, then!" Makoto cried, looking at the clock. "It's nine O'clock and we're late for the party crashing!"

"Lets go" Rei said, leading the way from her room. She frowned as they got to the bottom of the temple stairs. "Luckily, I'm USED to walking in heels as Sailor Mars, or this would be hell! Mamoru's apartment is a few blocks away"

"NOW you tell us" Makoto groaned, struggling on her heels. She glanced down at Usagi's sensible boots. "Is it too late to change?" She wondered.

"YES! Let's go" Usagi said impatiently. She was beginning to get excited over the prospect of the party. ["Maybe I'll find my true love there?"] She wondered to herself, glancing up at the bright moon overhead.

"You knock" Rei whispered, abruptly nervous.

"No, you knock!" Makoto hissed, pushing Rei forward.

The girls all stared at the door of Mamoru's apartment, hearing loud music and laughter from within. It suddenly seemed all so daunting.

"Maybe this was a bad idea?" Ami said weakly, leaning against the wall.

Usagi stared at them all, then stepped forward resolutely. She banged on the door authoritatively and waited.

The door was opened and a freckled-face guy looked out inquiringly. "Yeah? Wow" He breathed, looking them all over from head to toe. "Say you're looking for me!"

"Uh, no....we're looking for Chiba Mamoru's apartment?" Rei said. "Is this the right place"

"BOY, is it!" The guys said, grinning. He held the door open further. "Come on into my life, beautiful ladies"

"You're too kind" Rei said dryly, sweeping past him.

"Thanks, I'm Makoto" the brunette introduced herself.

"I'm Ricky" The guys said, linking arms easily with Makoto. "Come with me and I'll get you a drink"

"Okay" Makoto breathed, totally taken in by his looks.

Usagi and Ami stood outside, staring down the long hall. People dotted it here and there, talking and drinking.

"Should we-go in?" Usagi wondered nervously.

Ami nodded, talking a step forward. "I think we should. We're here for Rei, remember?"

"Right" Usagi swallowed, then stepped inside, dragging Ami the rest of the way with her. The blonde closed the door behind her and locked it, back resting against the wood.

A girl looked up at them, eyes widening slightly. Usagi recognized Reika, Motoki's girlfriend. ["But-I thought that she went off to some distant country to dig stuff?"] Usagi wondered.

"Usagi. What are you doing here?" Reika asked, coming over to them.

"Umm-we came for Rei" Usagi lowered her voice. "You see-Rei wants to go out with Mamoru, but he sees her only as a friend. So we thought we'd give him this opportunity to get to know her" The blonde finished triumphantly.

Reika smiled slightly, but there was doubt in her eyes. "I can't stay long girls, I just came back for a visit. Motoki is coming a little later. But-I really don't think this is the place for girls so young" She began.

"Oh, really?" Ami said, clearly regretting her decision already.

Usagi waved a hand around divisively. "Nah!" She said, grinning. "It'll be okay! We'll have a few munchies, wait for Rei and Mamoru to hit it off, then go home to sleep"

"All right. I have to go soon though. Take care of yourselves" Reika said, them leading the way down the hall. It opened into a huge lounge room, filled to the brim with people.

Usagi and Ami gaped around, taking in the crowd, the food filled with food and drinks against the far wall and the large stereo system.

"Wow, he IS loaded" Usagi breathed, looking around in awe. She spotted Rei talking to Mamoru in a corner and they seemed to be arguing. "Oh no!"

"What is it? Oh" Ami said, noting Rei's unhappy face.

The priestess turned away from Mamoru and walked over to them, forcing a smile. "Mamoru said it's okay to stay, now that we're here" She announced. She leaned closer to the girls, eyes swimming with tears. "I don't think he's going to get to know me any more though, guys. He's just not-interested. I saw him talking to this girl when I came in"

"What girl?" Usagi exploded, ready to march over to Mamoru and bash him over the head.

"It-doesn't matter" Rei said, smiling bravely. "Really" She walked away towards the table, picking up a full glass of something. She chugged it down before Reika's eyes.

"Oh dear" The woman said, sighing deeply. "I never knew it was so bad between those two. But she's right you know. Mamoru isn't interested in ANYONE. He never has been" Her eyes never left Rei, as the girl had another cup of drink. "Uh oh" She breathed under her breath. "I think those drinks were spiked"

"Spiked?" Usagi looked at Reika in confusion.

"I think that they were filled with alcohol" Reika amended.

Ami and Usagi's eyes widened. "Really? Oh" Usagi said, looking over to Rei, who seemed to be swaying slightly.

Reika smiled at the girls. "I'll take her over to the couch and have a talk to her. You girls try and enjoy yourself-and don't drink anything!"

Ami and Usagi watched the woman walk over to Rei and take her by the arm, leading her away into the crowd.

"Now what?" Usagi asked.

"I don't know-oh wait!!'' Ami's eyes widened. "I know that guy. He talked to the class in my old School about advanced physics. Excuse me, Usagi? I have to talk to him!" Ami exclaimed, walking across the room to a tall blonde-haired guy.

"Great. Leave poor Usagi guy-less" Usagi said dourly.

"So what's changed exactly, Odango?" An annoying voice drawled into her ear.

Usagi started violently, spinning around. Her nose smashed into a muscled chest.

Mamoru's arms came up to rescue her, before she could fall backwards onto the floor. "What are you doing here anyway?" He asked her, staring down into her eyes with annoyance.

She glared back, forgetting to move from his arms. "I came for Rei! She's really upset-Umm...Never mind" Usagi trailed off, looking uncomfortable. She suddenly realized where she was and wrenched herself backward.

Mamoru blinked at her, then let her go, having forgotten himself. "What was that about, Rei?" He wondered aloud.

"Never mind, jerk! And keep AWAY from me" Usagi said haughtily, sweeping away. "I have guys to meet"

"I don't think any of them would be interested in baby-sitting you, Odango Atama" Mamoru said clearly. Then he laughed and walked off into the crowd behind her.

Usagi fumed for a long moment. Then she realized that she was really thirsty. She eyed the long table of cups nervously. "They-look okay" She said, reaching out for a cup. Usagi took a hesitant sip and her eyes brightened. "And it tastes fine too" She hastily gulped it down. Then grabbed for another and then another. As she placed the cup down, she swayed unsteadily. Everything seemed sort of hazy and she was supremely happy. "Oooh! Food!" She squealed, grabbing for the plate of chips.

"I like a girl who enjoys her food" Someone said from beside her.

Usagi turned her head to see a tall guy there, with dark blonde hair and grey eyes. Immediately she saw hearts. ["He's way dreamy!"] She thought, mouth gaping slightly in surprise.

"Hello, I'm Brad" the guys said, smiling charmingly.

"Usagi" Usagi muttered, thrusting the chips into her mouth. She stared at him while she munched, vision slightly blurred. "I feel-really happy, but dizzy" She told Brad.

"That would be the drinks" Brad said, eyeing all the empty cups near her. "Maybe we should go out onto the balcony for some fresh air?" He suggested.

"Sounds *hick* romantic" Usagi said, smiling dreamily at him.

"I'm sure it does" Brad murmured, taking her arm and steering her from the room.

From behind them, Mamoru watched with narrowed eyes. He was leaning against the far wall of the room, with arms crossed-and had witnessed the entire conversation. ["Brad is too dangerous for a young girl like Usagi"] Mamoru thought grimly. Then-after a slight hesitation-he began to follow them, moving smoothly through his guests and towards the balcony.

"You know, this music is REAL upbeat" Usagi said, wincing slightly. "I would have figured the jerk-er Mamoru for the classical music type" She trailed off.

"Mamoru?" Brad said incredulously. He leant on the balcony railing next to her. "You must be kidding"

"Actually" A voice drawled from in front of them. Usagi and Brad's faces jerked up to see Mamoru standing there, slightly in the shadows. His face was hidden but for his mouth, which was twisted sardonically. "I quite LIKE classical music-when I study"

"Really?" Brad said slowly, looking from Mamoru's tall form to Usagi. It was obvious, even to HIM, that something was going on there and that Mamoru seemed to be...protecting the little blonde?

"We didn't ASK you" Usagi gritted through her teeth. Then she smiled, trying to look as if she were an invited friend of Mamoru's.

"Wait here Usagi" Mamoru said to her. Then he looked at Brad. "A word, Brad?" He said coolly.

Usagi watched as the two men walked off, incensed. Trust that jerk to take away the only older guy that had ever been interested in her! ["Well, other than Tuxedo Kamen"] She amended silently. She slowly moved closer to where the two guys had gone and strained her ears.

"-Away from her, Brad. She's not as old as she looks" Mamoru was saying.

"But she's such a pretty little thing. I really like her" Brad emphasized, then laughed deeply.

"I'm warning you" Mamoru said quietly.

Brad stiffened. "But what happened to that beautiful girl in the red dress from earlier? She's yours-right?" Brad paused in an incredulous silence. "Don't tell me that the blonde is yours TOO?!"

"She is-under my protection" Mamoru hesitated over the first few words, as if struggling with himself. "And so are the other two girls that came with them. Stay away from them"

"Or?"

"You'll find out, just how much of a friend you AREN'T, Brad" Mamoru said curtly.

"Fine, fine" Brad backed away, hands held out. He smiled at Mamoru cynically. "Maybe I'll see her on the street sometime...when you aren't around"

"I'm always around Usagi. You can ask her" Mamoru said, staring into Brad's eyes with his own. They were glittering with suppressed rage and warning.

Brad quickly got the hint and left, melting into the rest of the party.

Usagi stumbled back to the balcony railing, never so stunned in her life. ["Mamoru not only got rid of that guy, he threatened him!"] She gasped internally, eyes wide in disbelief. What was going ON here?

Chapter Three

She waited for Mamoru-or Brad to come back, but neither did. Usagi frowned, then pushed herself away from the balcony railing, looking inside. Mamoru was still standing there, looking deep in thought and his forehead was creased in a thunderous scowl. For a moment, she hesitated. ["Do I really want to be near that jerk when he's obviously in a way scary mood?"] she wondered to herself, biting her lip. Then, Usagi's frown deepened. "Hey, am I a Senshi or a mouse? No creep is going to-freak me out AND take away a real cute guy!" She announced to the night air. Usagi straightened, plastered a smile to her face-and stormed inside. She stopped a foot from Mamoru, then glared up into his startled eyes accusingly.

"Eh? What's wrong now, Odango?" He said with amusement and exasperation. ["She really is cute when she frowns like that"]

"What's WRONG?" She fairly shrieked at him. Usagi gestured furiously around, then pointed an accusing finger into his face, a centimeter from his nose. "You just DID something to Brad! The only guy who talked to me here and really cute too! How DARE you!" She knew it was childish-but Usagi stomped one delicate foot into the carpet, thoroughly irritated.

A smile spread over Mamoru's face, a second before he could hide it from the fuming little blonde. Then he frowned down at her, like a chastising older brother. "That guy I got rid of, has a reputation a mile wide-for treating girls like crap, Odango Atama" He informed her smugly. "Did you want to be just another notch on his belt?"

"What? Notch? Mile wide?!" She shouted. Usagi pulled back her accusing finger, dropping it to her side. "You're LYING, Chiba" She accused him.

"Me?" He pointed at his chest, giving her an incredulous look. "Oh please, Odango! Why on Earth would I lie about a thing like THAT exactly!?"

"Jealousy!" She blurted out. Then, Usagi gave him a horrified look, before her hands slapped over her mouth. ["Oops? I really didn't mean to say that out-loud"] She dropped her hands cautiously, waiting for him to make some crack.

Mamoru gave her a searching look, eyes glinting strangely. He moved closer, smiling down at her superiourly. "Of YOU?" He demanded quietly.

"Umm-umm-" Usagi stuttered, looking up at him nervously. She summoned her pride and gave him a smug look. "Of course! That I can attract an older-GORGEOUS guy-and you can't even KEEP a girlfriend-oops!" Her hands again slapped over her run-away mouth, eyes looking around nervously for Rei.

"Are you talking about-someone in particular, Odango?" He asked suspiciously, looking around the room also, to see what she was so nervous about.

"Uh-no!" She said, hastily backing away. "No one. Really. Bye!" She turned and bolted into the crowd, desperately looking for her friends.

She ran into Makoto near the kitchen, which was spacious and elegant-looking. Once again, Usagi was consumed with jealousy. ["Why can't I have a nice place like this?"] she asked herself silently, watching Makoto and the guy, Rick. They seemed to be getting along great, if their faces were anything to judge by. Makoto looked dreamy-eyed and Rick just couldn't take his eyes from her. Usagi backed away carefully and went to look for Ami.

But when she found the blue-haired girl, she was deep in conversation with a cute-looking guy.

"Her too?" The blonde turned and went to look for Rei. She found her with Reika, talking in a corner of the room quietly.

"Okay! Attention all!" Someone boomed.

Usagi turned quickly and looked at the blonde guy standing in the center of the room, cheerfully holding an empty alcohol bottle over his head for the rest of the room to view.

"We're playing spin the bottle! Who's in?" He yelled.

There was a mad scramble towards the center of the room, but most of the males and a few of the girls.

"Spin the bottle?" Usagi asked, perplexed. She'd never heard of it.

"Are you playing, beautiful?" A voice purred into her ear.

She turned quickly to see Brad standing there, grinning mischievously. In his eyes was a strange expression that she didn't understand. "I-don't know what it is" She said truthfully, biting her lip.

Brad's eyes opened wide, then narrowed. "It's-a game, Usagi. A really fun game" He stressed, taking her arms and steering her towards the center of the room with the others.

Usagi let him, a smile beginning on her mouth. A game, she could DO! It was MUCH easier to do, than mingle with a bunch of strangers-right? "It sounds good" She said, but nervously. Her eyes skimmed over about 25 people, who had gathered in a circle in the center of the room. She frowned, but let Brad push her in beside a strange guy and a girl. She sat down cautiously, looking for instructions.

Mamoru frowned from his position a few people down from the blonde. "She's too young for this-what is she DOING?" he asked himself quietly. He didn't want to play personally, but it WAS his party, after all.

Brad grinned, threw a triumphant look in Mamoru's direction, then sat across the way from Usagi. "Lets start, Michael" he prompted the guy who had called them all to the 'game'.

"Right" Michael grinned slyly. "I've decided to change the rules a little bit though everyone. Instead of the usual kissing-the couple picked has to be locked in the bedroom closet for-five minutes!"

There were gasps from all around, sounding excited and thrilled.

Usagi flushed, then gaped all around. "THIS is the game?" She demanded, half-rising.

"Oh come on, Usagi. There's no harm" Brad called across to her.

Everyone looked at her, making her uncomfortable. Usagi sank back onto her bottom, nibbling on her lip nervously.

"It's all fun and games. No harm in it-right everyone?" Michael added his vote for Usagi staying.

There were nods and murmurs from all around.

"Unless you're scared" Mamoru's voice came clearly from a few people down. "You CAN back out. You may not like this game, Usagi" He taunted.

Usagi's head spun in that direction, her eyes blazing wrath. "ME? Scared?" She scoffed. "Hardly" She looked at Michael firmly. "Spin the bottle!"

"You heard the lady" Brad drawled.

"Don't say I didn't warn you" Mamoru told her calmly.

"Don't talk to me" She snapped, eyes on the bottle, which was placed in the center of the circle by Michael.

"I'll do the honors" Michael grinned around at the girls, then spun.

Usagi watched it spin around and around, then come to stop on a girl across from her.

"Well, well. Just the girl I was hoping for" Michael said slyly, getting to his feet. He looked at another guy, who wasn't playing. "Just so you all know that we kept the rules, the closet has to be LOCKED behind us-okay Steve?"

The girl giggled, taking Michael's hand. Steve followed them both into Mamoru's room and then there was a short silence.

Brad sighed. "Can someone turn on the music again?" He complained. "They'll be five minutes in there!"

Immediately, the room was filled again with techno music and the party resumed.

Usagi sat there, nervous. ["What are they doing in there exactly?"] she wondered, eyes on the closed door that Steve was leaning against.

Mamoru looked down at Usagi, smiling mockingly. He noted the nervous way her hands were clenched in her lap. "Scared Odango?" He taunted loudly, to be heard over the music.

A few people turned their heads to listen.

Usagi frowned, then glared at him. "Don't CALL me that you creep!" She yelled at him.

"Now, now" Mamoru said lightly, crossing his arms and looking superior. "Manners, manners. This IS my party after all"

"And I can act how I want to!" She told him fiercely. "So quit telling me what to do"

"I'm only trying to WARN you, little girl"

"Who's little?!" She fairly shrieked at him, totally embarrassed. "You JERK!"

"Odango Atama!" he yelled back.

"Wow, are they like fighting?" a girl asked her friend.

"I don't know. I guess so"

"A lovers tiff?" Steve drawled from his position against the door.

Usagi flushed with embarrassment and shame. "With HIM?!" She shouted incredulously, pointing a finger towards Mamoru. "Are you joking? NOT in a million years!"

"Ditto on that, Odango" Mamoru said coolly, amusement in his eyes.

"Can't you two ever stop fighting?" Makoto demanded, walking over with her new guy.

"He started it" Usagi said, somehow managing to sound more childish than cutting.

"Hmm" Mamoru murmured, smiling slightly. "I was merely trying to warn her about her stubborn refusal to leave this game"

"Game?" Makoto looked around the circle and then at the bottle laying innocently in the center.

"OH!" She gasped, grinning. "Spin the bottle? Cool!"

"With a difference" Steve said, grinning also. "The couple gets locked in Mamoru's closet for five minutes"

"WAY cool" Makoto breathed, turning to Ricky. "You want to play, Ricky?" She asked slyly.

"I'm game, Makoto" He said, smiling at her.

Makoto slipped in beside Usagi, while Ricky went to the other side. "So" she said, looking at Usagi. "I never thought you'd go for this sort of thing, Usagi"

"What sort of thing? It's a game-right?" Usagi said, completely confused.

Mamoru laughed out-right. "You'll find out, of course" He told Usagi, shaking his head.

"I'm hoping that she will" Brad said silkily, smiling over at Usagi.

Usagi blushed, not knowing why.

"Go girl" Makoto whispered, grinning.

Steve stepped away from the door, then opened it and disappeared inside.

Michael and the girl emerged, both grinning.

"Next?" Michael said. His eyes looked the circle over, coming to rest on Usagi. "Since we're not playing the original game, let's give the pretty little blonde a go next, hmm?"

"Sounds good" Brad drawled.

Mamoru sat up straighter, glaring at Brad warningly. His hands clenched on his knees. ["If he touches her-"]

Usagi knelt forward, trembling slightly. Her fingers touched the bottle and she spun it around, then sat back quickly. Her heart was beating furiously. ["What happens now?"] she wondered, suddenly scared. The thought of being locked in a dark closet with one of those strange guys was abruptly frightening.

Makoto watched the bottle eagerly.

"Too late to back out now" Mamoru said, shaking his head again. ["She'll learn from her mistakes"] he told himself, trying not to worry,. She was a pain-but his friends were much older and likely to take advantage of Usagi. She was so innocent-

Usagi held her breath and the bottle slowed. She watched with wide eyes as it passed her at a crawl-and then stopped. There was a dead silence in the room, as everyone followed the pointing bottle up to the winner. It was Mamoru.

"Oh no!" Usagi gasped.

"They'll KILL each other!" Makoto gasped too.

"You've GOT to be kidding me!" Mamoru fairly roared, blue eyes wide with disbelief.

He and Usagi looked at each other, faces shocked.

"Rules are rules, Mamoru" Steve said calmly, motioning Usagi and Mamoru to their feet.

"Usagi-you don't have to do this" Rei's voice came from the side, sounding faint.

Usagi looked quickly at her friend, noting the tearful eyes and drawn features.

"It's too late to chicken out NOW, Blondie" Michael said, looking between her and Mamoru. "It's a shame that you two obviously hate each other-but too bad. Closet!" he ordered.

Usagi swallowed, getting reluctantly to her feet. She was both nervous and relieved that it was Mamoru that she would be locked in with. She KNEW the jerk! And she hated him!

"I don't believe this" Mamoru muttered as he lead the way into the bedroom.

Usagi trailed behind, throwing her friend's a nervous look. "What happens now?" She asked Steve quietly.

He gave her a lecherous look, pushing her into the open closet. "Use your imagination, little girl. You have Mamoru here all to yourself. You might hate each other, but whatever you do in your five minutes is YOUR business"

Usagi stumbled into the closet, eyes wide. ["What does he mean?"] She thought frantically, watching with wide eyes as Mamoru was thrust after her. The space in which they were, was barely tall enough for his head-and CLOSE! His body squeezed in next to hers, both facing each other and plastered firmly along each other's length.

"Have fun!" Steven laughed, then slammed and locked the closet, leaving them both in darkness.

Usagi swallowed, her entire body stiffening with panic and a strange excitement. "So-what now?"

"NOT what they're thinking" Mamoru drawled, sounding annoyed. He breathed in, his chest inflating.

Usagi could feel his steady heart-beat and realized that he could probably feel her panicked one.

"Calm down, Odango Atama!" he instructed curtly, breath stirring the bangs of her fringe warmly.

Usagi shivered, then glared into the darkness, face tilting up towards where his was-there abouts. "Don't call me that you utter creep! This is all YOUR fault!"

"MINE?" He said incredulously. "How do you figure that exactly? I warned you away from this-you're really lucky it was ME you ended up with. And YOU spun the bottle" He told her angrily.

"Ugh! Everything is your fault! This is YOUR party! And I didn't deliberately aim for you anyhow!" She screeched at him. Usagi raised her hands and thumped them onto his chest with fury.

He responded by grabbing both of her wrists in a firm grip. "Don't hit me, Odango" He warned. "I won't hit back, but you'll regret it all the same"

"Why did you send Brad away?" She said through gritted teeth. Her eyes rolled to the side, as she tried to release her arms-to no avail. She struggled a little more, glaring. "Why couldn't it have been him I got stuck with?"

"You wanted HIM? Are you crazy?" Mamoru almost roared into her face. "Have you any idea of what he might have DONE to you, locked in here alone?"

"He's a nice guy!" Usagi yelled back. "Let me go, you jerk!"

"Then stop struggling, you ditz!" he yelled back. "And HOW can you say such a dumb thing? Boy, I really thought you had more sense, but I see that I was wrong"

"What is that supposed to mean?" She hissed at him, tilting her face back further. She frantically tried to see his face, but there was nothing but darkness-and the annoying weight of a certain jerk pressing her into the wall!

"You honestly don't KNOW?" He said, seemingly stunned. "This is spin the bottle, you klutz"

"And?!" She demanded. "That means WHAT exactly" She glared more, frustrated with the situation.

"And what is the point of being locked in this closet anyway?!"

There was a short silence and then the grip on her wrists tightened almost painfully. "This" Mamoru said swiftly.

Before Usagi could even blink, she was pressed further into the wall and a pair of warm lips had claimed her own in a searing kiss.

Chapter Four

"Ugh! Everything is your fault! This is YOUR party! And I didn't deliberately aim for you anyhow!"

The screech from Usagi was heard clearly over the loud music. Makoto grinned towards where Rei and Reika were standing. The priestess in training looked much calmer now. Almost-at peace with herself. As if she'd come to a decision. "Wow, hear them going at it? I hope they don't murder each other!" Makoto said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Is this a normal occurrence or what?" Steve said, from his position against the door. "Those two have the perfect situation to make out-and all they cane do is fight?" He looked incredulous.

Brad looked ready to kill someone.

"Yes, it is. Unfortunately" Ami said, walking over to stand near Rei.

"Every single day" Makoto added.

"They LOATH each other. It was hate at first sight" Rei said calmly.

"Some day, I want to hear ALL of the details about our esteemed patron" Michael murmured, looking thoughtful.

"How is it possible to hate someone that much?" a girl wondered. She looked worried. "Are they going to hit each other?"

Makoto shook her head. "Nah. It hasn't come to that" She said, with certainty. "Usagi and Mamoru might hate each other, but she's really very gentle-and I can't see Mamoru hitting a girl"

"You're right about that!" Rei said emphatically.

Usagi shrieked again and Mamoru bellowed something back. Then, there was silence.

"Okay-now I'm worried" Makoto said, staring at Mamoru's bedroom door in concern.

"Maybe you underestimated Mamoru's gentlemanly nature" Brad sneered.

"Meaning what, exactly?" Rei glared. "Mamoru wouldn't hurt a fly!"

"Are you sure about that little girl? He's probably hiding quite a temper under that cool veneer"

"Shut up, Brad" Makoto said, all set to bash the guy.

Steve checked his watch. "Well, the five minutes are up! Either they're alive-or they've killed each other" he grinned, opening the door carefully. Personally, he was hoping to find the two kissing and use it to his advantage! Cold Mamoru-kissing a girl. Ha! What a juicy piece of gossip THAT would be. Mr. cool never dated.

The moment that Usagi felt Mamoru’s lips touch hers-her whole world exploded into liquid electricity. She felt her eyes go impossibly wide, then close languorously. Her whole being was focused on one point-him. ["Is he-really kissing me?"] She asked herself dazedly, only half-forming the coherent thought. Mamoru's body moved even closer to Usagi's-if possible- crushing her between the wall and his tall body. She shivered lightly at the sensation, mind going into overdrive. This was Mamoru! And he was kissing her as if she was the last woman on earth.

["So sweet"] Mamoru thought, mind barely functioning. What had possessed him suddenly to kiss the Odango Atama-was beyond him. He knew that he'd regret it later, but her words had fuelled him. Little did she know, that her words had been a challenge-innocent though they had been. And before Mamoru could think, he'd acted. He pressed closer to her, lips devouring Usagi's hungrily. It was like coming home. As if-suddenly, everything was complete and right in the world-

["This is Chiba Mamoru!"] her mind shrieked at her, trying to escape the seductive web that the man had weaved for her. She just couldn't THINK!

Mamoru stiffened abruptly, as his ears caught the faint sounds of someone trying-not very successfully-to enter the room and sneak up to the closet. Then, Usagi also stiffened, which made him wonder. Mamoru immediately pulled away from Usagi's lips, practically flinging himself back the bare foot that could be spared between them, in such cramped quarters.

Usagi's stiffened as she heard someone. Perhaps it was her increased senses that she had gained as Sailor Moon-but she knew that someone was trying-and not very well-to sneak up to the closet. ["No doubt to see what Mamoru and I are DOING!"] She flushed in the darkness, as Mamoru flung himself back away from her. Obviously HE had heard the person too. Which made her wonder. Usagi frantically reached up, straightening her hair and clothes and hearing Mamoru do the same in the darkness.

The door was abruptly wrenched open, a slightly drunk Steve stood there, eyes suspicious. He saw Usagi and Mamoru standing a foot from each other and groaned. "Oh come ON! Tell me you did more than STAND there?" He practically growled at them, disappointed.

"I TOLD you" Mamoru said curtly, eyes like shards of blue eyes from the light spilling into the closet. "We HATE each other, Steve"

"Right" Usagi said, voice trembling slightly. She was shaking from head to foot from the aftermath of the kiss-but if that jerk wanted to play the 'nothing happened game', then SHE could too!

Mamoru stepped out of the closet easily, throwing Usagi a quick look. But his eyes were indefinable.

She watched him walk out of the room, then stepped out herself. Usagi looked up at Steve, hoping FERVENTLY that she didn't look like a girl who had just been kissed almost senseless. "Thank the gods THAT is over! What a creep" She groaned, rolling her eyes and glaring at nothing. ["I have to say that I'm a little miffed that Mamoru pretended nothing happened"] She admitted to herself, stepping lightly out of the room and into the main swing of the party. The music was still blaring-which would explain why no one had probably heard a thing. She sighed in relief.

Steve shook his head, looking disgusted. "They did NOTHING but yell!" He announced to the waiting room.

Their were groans from all over.

"Oh well" Makoto said, shrugging. "At least they didn't kill each other"

"Right" Rei murmured, watching Mamoru and then Usagi carefully. Was it her imagination, or did both of her friends look really shell-shocked?

Mamoru watched through half-closed lids as the blonde exited the room. His eyes went immediately to her lips, which looked more inviting than ever. ["But, it will NEVER happen again"] he told himself, glaring at Usagi unconsciously. She was more trouble than she was worth! And worse-if anyone ever hear of what happened, neither of them would EVER hear the end of it. ["Besides. She's fourteen!"] he told himself fiercely.

Usagi looked at Mamoru, who was leaning against the kitchen counter and staring at her. No-GLARING at her. She blinked, unaccountably hurt for a moment-but then she glared back fiercely. ["FINE!"] she shouted mentally. Who needed the upper-class jerk anyway?! The kiss had been a fluke.

"Wow, Usagi! You look like you're still in one piece" Makoto's voice said from somewhere below.

Usagi looked down to see that she was standing near the brunette, who was still sitting amongst the circle of party-goers playing the game. "Sure I am" Usagi almost growled, casting one more glare towards Mamoru. Their eyes met and locked for a long moment, then both of their glares faded simultaneously. Usagi flushed, wrenching her eyes from his deep blue gaze. She plopped back down beside Makoto and stared around the circle. "Like I'm going to let THAT jerk ruin my night?" She announced loudly.

"I CAN'T believe that you're going to play again, you Odango Atama!" Mamoru growled from above her.

Usagi tilted her head back, eyes startled as they met his. Mamoru was right behind her, looming like some hunting wolf. His form was stiff, she noted absently. As if he were holding in some emotion furiously.

His eyes glinted at her with barely-hidden rage for a moment, before it was hidden behind the usual mockery. "Haven't you done enough damage for one night?" he said, only his double meaning was known to her.

She blanched, eyes growing huge. ["That's all it was? I damaged him? But-he kissed ME!"] Usagi was suddenly furiously angry. her eyes became fiery with an equal rage. "How DARE you, you jerk! What about MY mental damage?" She shouted at him, half-turning to stare up at him properly.

He flinched slightly at the emotion in her eyes. ["Does she really care that much that I scorned the kiss?"] he wondered. It meant nothing to either of them-right? "Oh grow up!" He snarled at her, walking away from her. He went back to his place in the circle and sat down resolutely.

"Way to go, guys" Makoto said, surprised.

"The game goes on!" Michael grinned.

"Next?" Steve added.

Usagi stared with wide eyes, spinning to follow Mamoru's process around the circle. He sat down exactly where he had been before. "YOU'RE playing again?" She said incredulously, nibbling on her bottom lip.

"If you are, then I am, Odango" He told her cuttingly, eyes drawn to her lip, where her white teeth were nibbling unconsciously. His chest tightened with an unknown emotion. Mamoru summoned the energy and flashed her a mocking smile. "Why should I let YOU ruin my party? Hmm?" He reached up to run a hand through his dark hair.

"ME? Ruin your party?" She shrieked at him furiously. Well, it was mostly fury. His motion of running his hands through his dark hair made her chest tighten. In some way-his small unconscious movement had touched her. "Get a life yourself!"

Mamoru's hand dropped back into his lap. He threw the blonde an infuriating smile. ["Back to business as usual"] he thought wryly. Despite the fact that the kiss had been absolutely shattering to his senses-he would forget it. What were the chances that it would ever happen again anyway? ["A billion to one?"] Mamoru shook his head. "Grow up, brat" He told Usagi.

"Brat?!" She yelled, fuming. "You CREEP! I ought to-"

"Guys please!" Ami said, walking over. She looked hideously embarrassed-thought the rest of the room was highly entertained.

"Hello all!" A cheerful voice called out, announcing his presence.

Usagi turned at the familiar voice, smiling brightly. "Motoki!" She yelled happily.

"Hey Usagi" Motoki said, walking over to where Reika and Rei were standing silently in a corner. "Hello beautiful" He told his girlfriend. "I thought that you'd be gone by now"

"I waited for you" Reika said, tilting her head up for a kiss.

Usagi watched the kiss, heart clenching in her chest. She suddenly got a flashback of the earlier kiss between her and her most hated enemy-and remembered every little sensation. Her breathing altered, becoming more frantic. Usagi turned her bewildered eyes from the couple, to Mamoru, wondering what he was thinking.

Mamoru's eyes met Usagi's, both of their eyes filled for the moment with a barrage of emotions, barely hidden. it was a tension-filled moment, as they stared silently across the circle, thankfully ignored by the whole room. They wouldn't have believed what they saw anyway. Mamoru swallowed, eyes darkening as he stared across at the blonde-who was staring back as if she'd been pole-axed.

"This-is not good" Usagi murmured under her breath, wrenching her eyes away from Mamoru's. She looked desperately at the floor, her hands clenching around each other.

"So-wow, Usagi. I NEVER expected YOU to play a game like this" Motoki said from above her.

Usagi's head shot up, looking at Motoki with vulnerable eyes. It was still too soon after the look she and Mamoru had just exchanged.

Motoki swallowed, just staring into Usagi's eyes. He saw the naked fear, bewilderment and desire in them. And-despite the fact that she was looking at HIM-he KNEW that the emotions were not directed at him. Motoki looked away, staring around the circle of people. Whoever had caused these emotions had to be there. "How are you, Usagi? Hmm?" He murmured to her, hunkering down on his heels. Motoki spoke to her, but his eyes were skimming all the guys in the circle. His eyes came to rest on Mamoru lightly, studying his friend. Mamoru looked-frankly-CAGED. As if he wanted to do something badly and was suppressing emotions that were tightly held in check. His eyes were darker than usual as he stared beyond everyone and out into the night through the balcony doors. ["I wonder-"]

"I'm good, Motoki. Great" Usagi babbled, flushing. Then she went pale.

"Spin the bottle guys!" Makoto said, turning back to the circle.

Michael smiled, turning to Mamoru. "You know the rules buddy. Spin the bottle"

Mamoru turned back quickly, frowning. ["Oh right. It's my turn to spin"] He thought. Inwardly, he was a seething mess of emotions. He HATED the little blonde just down from him-but now...He knew that he desired her too....Mamoru reached out and spun the bottle roughly. He didn't WANT to be stuck in a closet with one of those girls. He'd be required to kiss her-but didn't know if he could. Not after kissing Usagi. He groaned silently. Melodramatic he knew it was-but she had effectively ruined him for anyone else now.

"So-I hear from Reika that you and Mamoru got stuck in the closet together?" Motoki said lightly, eyes searching. "It's amazing that you didn't KILL each other"

"There was a lot of shouting. We could hear them from out here" Rei said dryly, coming up behind Motoki with Reika.

"Yeah, well. We very nearly DID kill each other" Usagi lied.

"Ditto on that, Odango" Mamoru said smoothly, eyes on the gradually slowing bottle. It slowed-and then stopped. His heart stopped also-then began to thunder in his ears. Mamoru felt his eyes darken until he was feeling faint.

Usagi looked away from Motoki as their came an incredulous gasp from around the room. Her started eyes flew first to Mamoru-and saw that he was looking at her with blazing eyes. In them was incredulity, anger-and something else that she could not define. But it sent a wave of excitement through her.

"No. Way" Makoto said, pointing.

"What are the odds?" Steve wondered, staring also.

Usagi finally moved her eyes from the dark-haired guy and looked to where everyone was staring. Her mouth dropped open, face going as white as a sheet. The bottle had been spun-and it was pointing right on her. Swiftly, her eyes shot up to meet Mamoru’s-and her heart almost stopped at the look in his eyes. She swallowed, eyes locking on his. ["Oh no!"] She thought, frightened. ["Not again! I CAN'T be locked in with him again"]

["I can't believe it"] Mamoru thought, looking at the blonde. Were the fates cursing them-or was there something more at work there?

"Here we go again!" Makoto groaned. "Just don’t kill each other!"

Across the circle, Brad glare at Mamoru, then at the bottle. "Unbelievable" He growled.

{"I honestly don’t think killing each other is an option" Usagi thought frantically, looking into Mamoru’s intent gaze. He looked like a starving wolf. If she didn’t know better-she’d say that his eyes were almost-hungry...

Chapter Five

"Well-up you get" Michael motioned for Usagi and Mamoru to rise.

Usagi sat there stubbornly, eyes glazed. That look that had been in Mamoru's eyes-both scared and frightened her. "No way" She yelled, crossing her arms.

"Usagi-play the game. Come on" Makoto protested, pushing at Usagi's back.

The blonde tumbled forward, almost landing on her face. Her arms shot out in time, stopping her ungraceful landing. "Thanks Makoto. What a pal" Usagi muttered to the carpet, leaping to her feet.

"I don't want to be locked in with YOU either, Odango" Mamoru said, frowning darkly.

She glanced at him, uncertainly. Now, his eyes were only annoyed. Anger was good. Sort of. "Fine, lets get this five minutes over with, okay?" Usagi growled, storming through the circle and into Mamoru's bedroom.

"Don't kill him, Usagi!" Rei called out, laughter in her tone. "I kind of like him how he is"

"Oooh" a girl sighed.

Mamoru glared at Sally Freeman. "We're friends" She growled, striding after Usagi.

"Why are all the girls interested in him?" Brad snapped, exasperated.

"He's handsome" Rei said quickly.

"Dashing" Makoto sighed.

"Rich" Michael put in, grinning.

"Stop my blushes" Mamoru's drawled, then disappeared into his room.

He and Usagi came to a stop before the dreaded closet, staring at each other.

"In you go" Steve said, grinning. "And no hitting"

"Yelling is okay though-right?" Usagi said anxiously. "I don't have to be NICE to him?

"Shout all you like, beautiful" Steve told her.

Mamoru glared, eyes burning into Steve's eyes warningly.

Steve swallowed, then thrust Usagi into the closet, gesturing at Mamoru. "In" He ordered.

Once Mamoru and Usagi were in, he locked the door behind them and turned to leave. Steve emerged from Mamoru's room, then turned and closed the door behind him with a resolute click.

"YOU CREEP!"

"YOU ODANGO ATAMA!"

The shriek and answering bellow was heard easily by the entire party.

Steve and Michael exchanged a quick look across the room.

Makoto watched, green eyes narrowing. "What's going on here?" She demanded.

"You look like the cats that got the cream" Rei noted, frowning at the pair warily.

"Spill, you two" Motoki advised, crossing his arms and staring the two down. Usagi and Mamoru WERE his friends, after all!

"Oh nothing" Michael said easily, grinning. "We just decided to take a little action-where our esteemed host and pretty blonde were concerned"

"Action" Steve nodded. "Since they were bound to try and never work this out-we've decided to help them along the 'getting to know and like you' bit"

"How exactly?" Makoto demanded, eyes incredulous.

"We’re locking them in that closet for half an hour, instead of five minutes!" Steve said gleefully.

Michael gestured and the music was turned up really loud.

"Shut up, Odango!" Mamoru told her, glaring like a thundercloud as they were thrust again into the small space.

"YOU shut up!" She snapped.

Both barely noted as the closet door was closed, locked and Steve retreated from the room.

"YOU CREEP!"

"YOU ODANGO ATAMA!"

There was a short silence, in which Usagi tried to gather her thoughts. HOW exactly had they ended up like this again? And she pressed up closely against her worst enemy-who she'd KISSED. ["And I liked it! OKAY?!"] She shouted inside her mind. This thought, of course, both horrified and excited her-since she was again in the darkness of the closet with the one guy who had ever kissed her-and might again...

"NOOOOOOO!" Usagi wailed at the top of her voice, utterly horrified to find herself-once more-plastered along Chiba Mamoru's length...and wanting a kiss. "Let me ouuuuuuut!"

"Shut up, you Odango-brained dimwit!" He bellowed back, loosing all patience. "I am NOT going to hurt you"

Usagi breathed a deep sigh of relief, slumping against Mamoru's tall form. ["Does this mean that he won't touch me either?"] She thought hopefully. Yet was terribly disappointed at the same time.

"Quite the opposite, in fact" He told her, voice filled with barely-suppressed feelings. She had no idea exactly how much he wanted to kiss her again.

Usagi jerked back, trying to see his face in the near-total darkness. It was, of course, a futile gesture, but to say that Usagi was abruptly EXTREMELY nervous of her companion was an understatement. "Oh, that makes me feel HEAPS better! Don't touch me, creep!?" She shouted up at him, raising a finger quickly, she thrust it at his chest hard.

He flinched under her finger, then laughed low in his throat. "I just can't believe this" he murmured. He let his head drop backwards bonelessly, hitting it painfully on the back wall. He barely noticed though, still convulsed with helpless laugher. This whole situation was just too ironic! He WANTED to kiss the little blonde. Mamoru had come through a complete about-face.

"Why are you laughing?" She demanded crossly, withdrawing her little finger. She stuck it into her mouth. ["Boy, Mamoru's chest is hard!"] She thought silently. ["He REALLY must work out. Who'd have thought he had muscles under that jacket?"] Her eyes narrowed. "And while you're at it-don't call me a dimwit!"

"But it's okay to call you Odango?" He drawled, raising his head. he tried to peer down at her, but pretty-much had to guess. It was pitch-black. he could feel her pressed against most of his length though-and it REALLY wasn't helping him!

"Yes" She said absently.

Mamoru gaped at her in the dark, then his dark eyes narrowed speculatively. "What was that, Odango?" He asked her gently. "Did you just give me permission o call you Odango Atama for the rest of your life? And that you're OKAY with it?"

"Hmm?" Usagi said absently. "I said-WHAT?! No you creep! I do NOT give you permission!" She fairly shrieked at him. ["I want him to call me Usagi, just once! And I'll make him if I have to"]

"Lower the decibels!" He yelled back.

"Thhhbbb!" Usagi blew a raspberry at him, then flushed scarlet. "I can't believe I just did that to you"

"I can't EITHER, Odango" Mamoru’s voice echoed Usagi's incredulity. He smiled at her in the dark. "What are you? 5 years old or something?"

"What was that, Chiba?" She said dangerously, eyes narrowing. She poked him in the ribs hard for the insult.

Mamoru responded by poking her back in the ribs.

"Arrgggh! Stop! It tickles!" Usagi gasped at him, flinching back.

"Really?" he drawled, poking her again.

"Stop ittttttt!" She wailed, poking him back twice.

"Are you trying to send me deaf?" he winced. Mamoru rolled his eyes. "Now you have ME acting like I'm 5. Cut it out Odango" he ordered.

She stuck her tongue out in the dark-which he SOMEHOW sensed.

"And don't stick out your tongue at me-unless you intend to use it" He finished quietly.

"WHAAAAAAT?" She shrieked. "You hentai! Like I'm going to EVER kiss you again! Not if I was DARED!"

"Sure" Mamoru said, grinning. "Like you didn't enjoy it. And by the way, how exactly DID you know what I meant?" He reached out for her, hands sliding possessively around her waist.

"Umm-" Usagi tried to back off further as Mamoru's hands slid around her hips and settled firmly around her waist. "Stop that!"

"Stop what?" He said innocently, stroking the material around her waist lightly with his fingers.

"That!" She yelled, struggling. It did no good though, for as much as she struggled to get loose, Mamoru's hands would tighten. "EXCUSE me" She hissed at him, coming to a dead halt in the circle of his arms. She could hear her heart thundering and knew that he could feel it also. They were that close to each other! Usagi hesitated, feeling that HIS heart also was thundering, but then her expression firmed in the darkness. "But aren't we ENEMIES?"

"WERE" Mamoru hissed back, sounding strangely both exasperated and confused.

Well, so was SHE! And his roving hands weren't helping in the slightest. "WHAT? What do you mean 'were'?" Usagi asked, bewildered.

"Just as I said, Tsukino" He repeated firmly. "Were"

"Were?" She muttered, blinking. "One...kiss? And 'bang', we're...WHAT?" She demanded.

"I haven't the faintest idea" He muttered back, fingers smoothing over the material at the back of her waist. Then deftly, he swept the material up with his forefinger and slipped the rest of his hand under her shirt.

Usagi promptly shrieked with a mixture of startlement and anger. "Arggggh-What are you...oooh! That tickles!" Usagi giggled, trying to smoother them by burying her face in his chest. She inhaled some of his t-shirt, while still giggling and it made the situation seem even funnier. "What do you think you're doing? I'm ticklish!" She gasped out into his chest.

Mamoru gave a wicked laugh, rumbling from low in his chest. "I know"

Usagi felt every moment of it-since her face was buried there anyway. "Quite it!" She snapped, wiggling in his arms.

Mamoru gasped, fingers abruptly digging into the tender flesh of her waist. "Don't DO that!"

"Ouch! Creep!" She gasped back, in pain. Usagi wiggled again, trying to get free.

Mamoru's fingers slid quickly around to her back and jerked her closer to stop her movements. "What did I just TELL you? Are you crazy? Do you have any idea what you're doing to me?" He shouted at her.

Usagi gaped in the darkness, suddenly TERRIBLY aware of the man she was crushed to-along every little inch of his body. In fact, they were breathing in unison! "What are YOU doing?" She yelled back. "Let me go, jerk!"

"Look here you ditz" He growled at her, lowering his forehead in the dark until it touched hers. His warm breath wafted over her face as he continued to berate her. "I know you're young and all-but you are driving me NUTS! So keep still or bear the consequences!"

"Excuse me, you creep?" She growled back, tempted to bite his chin or something. He was the most infuriating person! And what did he mean exactly by 'bear the consequences'? "And what did I do to you exactly? You're the one with wandering hands, Mr!"

"And you wonder why?" Mamoru groaned at her, rolling his eyes in the darkness. Something occurred to him and he pulled back his forehead, looking blankly at nothing. "Why are we still here?" He wondered out loud.

"What? What do you mean?" Usagi blinked. Then she too remembered the five minute limit. "OH!"

"Yes. Oh" Mamoru said, frowning. "Why do I have the feeling that we've been deliberately left here?"

"LEFT here? They left me? With YOU?" Usagi shouted, horrified. She promptly tried to wrench herself from his arms, having completely forgotten that they were wrapped tightly about her small form. "How could they? Traitors"

"Make a guy feel wanted, why don't you, Odango?" Mamoru said dryly, stubbornly refusing to let her go. But even he didn't know WHY. It just felt-so right with her held close in his arms.

"Why would I want you to feel wanted, creep?" She demanded, straining to be free of his tight grip. She was crushed up against him. "Let me go-now!"

"Stop. Struggling" he gritted at her, tensing.

"Jeez, are you all muscle or what?" She muttered at him, raising a hand to grip his forearm. "Even I work out and I can't get loose. Huh!"

"What was that? You said that you worked out?" Mamoru leaned closer to hear her words, a brow raised incredulously.

Usagi gasped. ["Ooops? Mamoru doesn't know I'm a Senshi and have to work out to fight the Youma!"]

"Are you awake, Odango?" He said teasingly, leaning his forehead against hers again. Warm skin against skin.

She muttered something vague at him, thinking hard. ["Why would the guys have left me here with Mamoru?"]

"I was wondering the same thing" Mamoru muttered.

"WHAT?!" Usagi shrieked in his face.

He winced, but didn't pull back. "WHAT?" He bellowed back, annoyed.

She winced. "You answered my question!"

"So?" He said, confused.

"I DIDN'T say it out loud, you moron!" Usagi hissed.

"What? Don't be stupid, Odango" Mamoru laughed at her. "It was a coincidence. We were thinking along the train of thought, is all"

Usagi leaned closer, deliberately thrusting her forehead at his hard to hurt him. "Creep" She glared at him.

Mamoru glared back in the darkness. ["Fine, if she wants to play games"] He pushed his forehead back hard. "Cry-baby" He told her smoothly.

"Jerk" Usagi said back, pushing harder. It was hurting-and really childish-but HE was doing it too! And there was no way she was going to let that jerk win!

"Odango Atama" He hissed back, the pain starting to get to him. But there was no way the girl was going to win!

"Ouch" Usagi moaned. "I mean-umm...Upper-class snob!"

"Ugh" Mamoru muttered under his breath, moaning silently. This really was beyond stupid, but the blonde ALWAYS did this to him. "Umm-slob"

"Slob? Excuse me, but when have I been a slob? I dress nice!" Usagi protested, shutting her eyes tightly.

"So you do-I mean, well, I'm positive that you don't clean your room" Mamoru taunted, recovering.

"I-clean it. Sometimes" Her glare increased. Usagi tried to elevate the pain a little by angling her head higher, but not letting off the punishing pressure.

Mamoru knew what she was up to and lifted his forehead also, glaring into the dark. "This is dumb!" he groaned at her.

"I know!" She groaned back. Usagi stiffened. "But you aren't winning this, Chiba"

"We'll see, Tsukino" he groaned back, moving his forehead higher back. They were now almost nose to nose.

"Well, I see that YOU live all alone!" She said triumphantly. "What-no girlfriend?"

Mamoru stiffened. "No girlfriend, why?"

"No reason" Usagi snapped. "So-did your parents dump you here with heaps of money and take off on a world cruise?"

"My parents are dead, thank you" He told her tightly.

Usagi's forehead jerked a little upwards in her shock. Her nose grazed his in the dark. "They are? I'm-I'm really sorry, Mamoru" She whispered. Her fingers came up, resting on his chest lightly and stroking unconsciously to ease his pain.

"I don't want your pity, Usagi" he whispered back harshly, warm breath wafting over her mouth.

"I don't PITY you, you creep" She growled at him, hands clenching into holds on his shirt. She grabbed hand-fulls and held on angrily. "You really are a creep-despite your loss and I feel pathos!"

"Do you even know what that means?" He asked her, feeling curiously detached. He'd truly never felt so-strange. Here he was, plastered along the length of a girl, who he hate, who he'd kissed, who's forehead was mashed against his in some sort of childish game-and who was the only other person than Motoki that he'd told about his parents.

"Do you HAVE to be so impossible?" She snapped, hauling him closer with her handfuls of shirt.

Mamoru gasped slightly as they both fell off balance and crashed into the wall behind Usagi. Thankfully-or not-they had been holding each other so close that not even their head separated as Usagi was crushed between the wall and him.

"Ouch?" Usagi groaned, practically into his mouth. Her lips touched his innocently.

Mamoru's eyes widened in the dark, abruptly realizing their positions. What had been a childish game had suddenly developed into much more for him. "Oh damn" He murmured, lisp brushing against hers helplessly. The barest touch.

Usagi stiffened as their lips brushed lightly. She was sure that it had been intentional on Mamoru’s part and ignored it, trying to inch her face back. But of course, there was nowhere to go. Their foreheads and noses were touching, lips barely brushing each other and she was crushed between him and the wall. "Mamoru?" She said tentatively, lips brushing his lightly again.

"Mmm?" He groaned, lips brushing hers. With every word either of them spoke, he was becoming more frustrated. Because he was unable to LEAVE her! It felt as if it were an impossible task that would take all his willpower. It was just-impossible.

"Are we still enemies?" She asked him, eyes wide. Her heart began to beat faster in her chest at his closeness. She didn't know why, but the situation made her blood burn. Her pulse was acting like a crazy thing and her forehead had become beaded with a light sweat.

"Of course" he told her, blithely lying. Did she really think that they could go back to what they had been after he'd been THIS close to her?

"Oh" Usagi trailed off, unable to think. All she could think of was him pressed against her and how wonderful it felt. Now, if only he's kiss her...Usagi's eyes widened even more. ["Do I-want him to kiss me? My worst enemy? What about Tuxedo Kamen?"]

["What about Sailor Moon?"] Mamoru thought simultaneously. Did he really have a chance with the girl anyway? Usagi was real, flesh and-in his arms.

"Do you think someone will come soon, Mamoru?" Usagi whispered, lisp brushing against his lightly again. She swallowed as her lips tingled pleasantly and a thrill shot down to her toes. Unconsciously, she had used his real name.

"Quite frankly, Usagi-" Mamoru began harshly, using her real name also. His hands tightened around her waist, as he pressed himself even close, breath ragged. "If anyone walks in now-I'll KILL them!"

Usagi blinked and then her lips were crushed beneath Mamoru's. ["Oh"] She thought blankly, then melted into his embrace willingly. ["I think I'll kill them too"] She thought hazily, releasing his chest and sliding her arms up his chest slowly. Her fingers slid around his neck and then into the hair at the base of his neck.

Mamoru groaned into her mouth, then deepened the kiss almost desperately. ["She's mine now"] He thought vaguely. And he'd kill anyone that tried to take her away. Usagi was HIS.

Chapter Six

["This feels so right..."] Usagi thought vaguely. It was the only thought that could filter through the feelings overwhelming her. And all from a kiss. Who would have thought that the kiss of her worst enemy could reduce her to this?

Mamoru's thoughts were along similar lines-yet far more intense than the young girls'. And though he was overwhelmed, the realization that she was only fourteen was like a barrier between them. He'd tried to protect her from BRAD and now was doing exactly what his 'friend' had intended! Mamoru wrenched his lips from Usagi's swiftly, groaning in disappointment. "No" He breathed harshly, moving back from her warmth.

"What?" Usagi’s eyes slitted open in the darkness. She was completely bewildered. One minute, she'd been in heaven and the next-Mamoru's comforting warmth was gone. That amazing feeling of melting. His hands were still about her waist, but he was no longer pressed into her. "What's wrong?" She said, dazed.

"This is wrong!" He said, breathing hard. He groaned again, then let his head fall sideways until it thunked on the back of the closet. "Not only are you only fourteen! You're also my worst enemy!"

"Oh...right" Usagi agreed, blinking. Suddenly though, the words really meant nothing. Not like they once had. "This is way beyond weird" She said abruptly, frowning. Usagi tried to straighten in her cramped position and Mamoru's arm fell away from her. Her skin felt cold from its absence and her frown deepened. ["How can this be wrong? It felt so right! Even if he IS my enemy"] Usagi thought, biting her bottom lip. Inspiration hit her then and she brightened. "Well-I guess...we can just pretend that this never happened?" She suggested, tone dubious. "Tomorrow, it'll be back to 'jerk' and 'Odango Atama'. Right?"

Mamoru groaned loudly, thunking his head again with deliberate harshness. "No, Usagi. It WON'T" He said strongly. "Everything has changed now!"

"Well-" Usagi glared in his direction. She'd only been trying to HELP! "Then, you shouldn't have kissed me!"

"Oh, so it's MY fault now?" He yelled at her, straightening. He forgot where he was and bashed his head on the top of the closet roof hard. "Ow, damn it!" He shouted.

"What?" She yelled back, ignoring his obvious groan of pain. "Of course it's your fault, jerk! When WASN'T it?"

"Excuse me?" Mamoru said, holding a hand to his head, where there was a noticeable bump growing. It irritated him almost as much as the blonde did! "But I seem to recall you kissing me back, Odango Atama!" He shouted at her.

"Oh, so we're back to the name-calling, you creep!?" she shrieked loudly. Usagi glared the more, then clenched the first of her right hand and shot it up swiftly into the darkness.

Mamoru was stunned when something connected painfully with his ribs, thrusting him backwards. He yelped with surprise and pain as he kept going-falling through the hanging clothes and finally bashing head-first into the far side of the closet. It shook threateningly as he crashed through the hanging clothes, which could not hold his weight. Mamoru tumbled the rest of the way to the floor, half-raised and bashing his head painfully on the wall. The closet wasn't THAT large, after all.

"Mamoru? Ooh! I didn't mean...what happened?" Usagi called out anxiously. She tried to peer into the darkness, but could see nothing. From the crashing noises she had heard though, Mamoru had fallen through the clothes and possibly bashed his head! In fact, she was SURE of it! The whole closet had shaken like a boat after she’d punched Mamoru. ["Oh no! Is he okay?"] She wondered silently, again biting her bottom lip nervously.

Mamoru stayed in his position, half against the wall and half on the floor, next and head at an oddly painful angle. "Stay away" He told her expressionlessly. He really couldn't decide what was worse about that night. Being locked in the closet with the Odango Atama? Well, he'd kissed her and liked it-so maybe that wasn't the worst. Maybe her shrieking in his ear? And now, the punch to the ribs. What next? And WHY exactly had they been in the closet for so long? What was Steve up to? ["Is he TRYING to make us murder each other?"]

"Ugh! Are you hurt or not, you moron? Answer me!" Usagi yelled at him. She awkwardly crouched down, felt around until she found his ankles and then began to crawl along him. Her head bashed into something dangling from above and she winced, halting. "Ouch!" She gasped, reaching up with one hand cautiously. Usagi found that she’d hit a pair of jeans. The HARD object had been the buckle of a dangling belt. ["He hangs his belts on a hanger?"] Usagi thought, astonished. She put hers in the drawer...Maybe it was a guy thing?

"This is just-too much" Mamoru muttered under his breath, laying there painfully. His back was beginning to cramp, but he’d be damned if he’d move! The girl had hated-and now liked, had just punched him! "I never thought that she had it in her" He whispered wonderingly. All in all, he deemed it far safer to lay there until someone came and got them. They’d BELIEVE him if he said that she punched him for insulting her…and she would be at the other side for the closet and away from his kisses. Safer for HER to. If Usagi had known just what thoughts he’d had about her-she’d KILL him! Mamoru frowned as he felt Usagi crouch and touch his legs cautiously. Then he heard the hangers clink together as she moved them slightly. He waited in the silence and then Usagi’s fingers touched his ankle delicately. ["What is she doing?"] He wondered, eyes going wide.

Usagi felt along the jeans and then further on, to discover that there were FAR to many clothes in the way for her to even reach Mamoru. ["I’ll-have to crawl low then"] She decided, reaching down for his ankle. Then, she moved further forward and then lay herself down until her chest touched Mamoru’s long legs. If she staying close to his body, her head wouldn’t bash anything from above. NOT that there was much room! What did Mamoru have so many blasted pairs of slacks and jeans? ["Because he’s a guy, you ditz!"] She yelled silently at herself. And they WERE locked in a closet!

Mamoru's eyes widened as he felt delicate fingers on his ankle, then he felt Usagi's body starting to press against his legs as she crawled up his length. ["What is she DOING?!"] Mamoru shouted mentally, thoughts going wild. Here was his worst enemy-turned greatest lust...crawling bodily up his form and pressed against him in the most enticing manner!

Usagi groaned, pressing closer to Mamoru and trying to duck all the overhanging slacks and shirts above her head. The closet, to make things WORSE, was so small that she had to crawl up Mamoru's length, pressed close. She couldn't crawl on her knees, because of the overhanging clothes and how much space the jerk was taking up. ["Well, maybe not the jerk any more"] She said mentally, smiling slightly as she reached his chest. Her fingers spread over the now-familiar material, trying to find a purchase. He was STILL dead silent and she was worried that something had happened to him. ["How did this happen in the first place? Oh WHY did he have to kiss me...and me LIKE it?"] She wailed mentally, laying over his full-length. Her fingers felt over the skin of his neck and then up to his face. Usagi pulled herself up further with her hands and Mamoru groaned. "Are you okay? I thought that you were unconscious!" She breathed, fingers trailing urgently over his lips to see if he was breathing okay.

"NOT if you don't keep STILL, you blonde ditz!" He almost roared at her, body tense as a spring. She was driving him utterly NUTS! And she didn't KNOW it!

"What?" Usagi gaped into the darkness, stunned. "I was only trying to see if you were okay, jerk!"

"By laying on TOP of me and wiggling around?" He yelled back disbelievingly. "What did I tell you about that before?"

"Well-" Usagi began defensively, blinking at him in the darkness. "With al the clothes up there, the only way I could REACH you was to crawl! Maybe if you didn't have so many clothes in here-"

"It's a bloody closet, Usagi!" He yelled at her, exasperated. "Where else would you find clothes?!"

"Umm-right" She giggled with embarrassment, resting her elbows on his chest and absently playing with a lock of his hair at the base of his neck. "Are you okay?" She repeated her earlier question anxiously. "I didn't mean to punch you so hard"

"You did it very well" He said dryly, trying to adjust his head comfortably. It was near impossible. "Hang on a second" He muttered, shifting his form. There really wasn’t enough room for her on top of him-and he at this awkward angle.

Usagi shrieked as she almost tumbled off. She reached up and wrapped her hands about his broad shoulders as Mamoru shifted them both down until he was laying almost flat on the floor. He moved his legs and both of her tumbled between his, leaving her again pressed full-length into him. Usagi flushed scarlet. "Umm-" She began.

Mamoru laughed, moving his legs until they were bent at the knees. The closet wasn't that big, after all and he was tall. "I really don't believe this" he gasped at her, trying to stifle his laugh. He raised his hands hesitantly, then reached out to wrap them behind Usagi's back, linking the fingers.

"Can believe what? That we're trapped in a closet, on the FLOOR? That you kissed me? That we HATE each other-" Usagi said heatedly.

"That would it, yeah" Mamoru rolled his eyes, shaking his head. Despite the weirdness of the situation, having the blonde laying on top of him on his closet floor-just seemed...comfortable? Natural?

"So-now what?" Usagi asked him timidly. She was tense from how close she was pressed against her and the way that his fingers had once more crept under the material of her shirt and was stroking the skin of her waist. Somehow, she sensed that he didn't know he was even DOING it! And it was that reason alone that kept her from screaming bloody murder. ["Besides-I kind of like it"] She whispered mentally, blushing.

Mamoru abruptly felt something hard digging into his chest, which he had felt before as he kissed her against the closet wall. He'd ignored it then, but now it was really hurting, being pressed between him and Usagi. "What IS that?" He demanded, letting go of her waist. He tried to reach in between them for the object and his fingers accidentally brushed against the side of her breast. "Oops"

"Hentai!" Usagi screeched at him, jerking back. Her skin tingled strangely, making her breathing erratic. "What are you DOING?" She shrieked, flushing.

"Hentai? Me?!" Mamoru yelled at her, embarrassed. "I was trying to see what the bloody hell was digging into my chest so hard!"

"Me!" Usagi shouted back, then paused. "No-wait. Oh! This!" She giggled in embarrassment, face the colour of a tomato in the darkness of the closet. And she would glad that Mamoru couldn't see her! When his fingers had brushed her breast, she'd felt a zing of excitement fill her body. She'd never felt anything at all like this in her life. It had been like-when Mamoru kissed...Usagi shook her head and reached for her broach, which had been on her shirt and digging into them. Personally, she was used to it, so had thought nothing of it. But Mamoru was not.

"What is 'this'?" Mamoru growled, annoyed. Really, what was he to think? She was his worst enemy, but he'd kissed her and now he was not only fiercely protective and willing to do bodily harm to any guy that touched her-other than himself-they were STILL fighting! "Unbelievable" He muttered.

"My broach" Usagi said, taking it off of her shirt and reaching down for one of his hands. Her fingers touched his and another wave of excitement went though her. She groaned involuntarily, then tried to muffle it.

Mamoru heard her and knew what had caused it. He two had felt stirred by the touching of their hands. ["Why did we never feel this in all the times we crashed into each other on the street?"] He wondered to himself, letting her guide his hand upwards.

"Here" Usagi whispered, pushing the broach into his hand. Immediately, the closet was filled with a pulsating silver light, as the broach exploded in power...

Chapter Seven

Everything exploded into light, momentarily blinding them both. Then the light engulfed them both and a vision appeared. Mamoru recognised it immediately, stiffening. He was standing at the base of a balcony, almost everything around them obscured in a thick fog. His eyes swung upwards expectantly and a moment later SHE appeared at the balcony railing. ["Princess"]

"Tuxedo Kamen? What are you-" the Princess began, seemingly shocked at his appearance.

Usagi looked up at the figure of a woman at the railing, obscured by the fog. However, she seemed hauntingly familiar. ["Who is she? Where are we?"]

"NO! Leave! She is not meant to be here!" The Princess cried out, looking down. Her voice was filled with horror and panic.

"Princess! What-" Mamoru cried back, startled. He turned his face to see Usagi standing at his side, eyes wide with astonishment. She looked almost as panicked as his dream Princess.

"Leave!" The Princess almost screamed at him.

"We can't! I don't know how we got here!" Mamoru shouted back, not knowing what was going on.

At his side, Usagi stiffened. A strange sensation had begun at her temple and was spreading through the rest of her body slowly. Her eyes went blank.

"It's too late" the Princess' voice whispered despairingly from above them. "Too late...too early. This should not have been..." her form disappeared as if she'd faded like a ghost.

Mamoru felt a surge on panic, then the vision began to waver like a reflection on water. "Princess!" he cried out.

["She's the Princess?"] Usagi thought, eyes clearing in time to see everything waver sickeningly.

["I'll love you forever"] The words whispered through both of their minds caressingly. A memory perhaps. And neither Usagi nor Mamoru could say who had thought it, or once spoken it.

["Princess"] As the vision faded and Mamoru could again feel the floor of the closet beneath his back, he realized with faint horror, that he had transformed into Tuxedo Kamen! His breath drew in sharply-then he realized that the gloved hands resting around Usagi's waist were now resting on a different material. He felt curiously, stiffening as his fingers encountered a long bow at the base of the blonde's back, where there had been none before. ["It can't be!"] he thought, shocked. Swiftly he felt down further, encountering the beginnings of a pleated skirt. His head thumped backwards to the floor, eyes glazed. ["Oh my god"]

Abruptly, Sailor Moon felt a searing across her forehead. Not exactly painful-more like....a release. Something-filled her being, moving through her body like a warm caress. She felt Mamoru pull her closer, an arm about her waist almost painfully. She felt him feel along her back with strangely seeking fingers, then he went still. Usagi blinked, feeling slight horror. She knew that she was transformed. She could feel the tiara on her brow. ["Oh my god! What do I do? I've transformed into Sailor Moon!"] Mamoru didn't know that she was Sailor Moon and now she was laying on top of him, transformed. "Mamoru-let me go" she said slowly, struggling. If she could get out of the closet, before he could see her-maybe everything would be okay.

But Mamoru tightened his hands more, clamping her to his length. "Not just yet, Usagi" He said in a strange voice. He narrowed his eyes in the dark and released one arm from about her waist, feeling for her face. His fingers brushed dangling earrings, then along the smooth skin of her cheek up to her brow. There, he encountered smooth cold metal. Familiar. His breath hissed out sharply as his thoughts were confirmed. "You have some explaining to do Sailor Moon"

"Sailor Moon?" she said weakly, trying to draw away with more fervor. It was too late by then, of course.

"Stop that, Usagi! And feel my face" Mamoru said coolly. He silently urged her to obey him. It was important that she did.

"Feel your face?" Sailor Moon said with bewilderment. She slowly lifted a hand from his shoulders and felt along his neck and then his cheek curiously. "What am I feeling-for?" she broke off weakly as her gloved fingers encountered a familiar-shaped half-mask over Mamoru's eyes. She traced it carefully, eyes wide in the dark. "Tuxedo Kamen?" she yelped in shock. ["If he's Tuxedo Kamen, then my secret is safe"] Of course, now she had kissed-and several times-not only her enemy, but her dream guy too.

"Bingo" Tuxedo Kamen drawled.

Sailor Moon sank weakly against him, cheek resting on his chest. Absently, her skin registered that she was laying against the material of a tuxedo. She hadn't noticed it before. "Is-is this good or bad?" she asked him, biting her lip. His chest rose and fell under her face, lulling her into a strange calm. ["Have I done this before?"] she wondered silently, eyes half-closing. Laying against his chest like this seemed familiar.

Tuxedo Kamen’s eyes were wide in the darkness. The blonde super-heroine's face laying on his chest suddenly seemed familiar. "Honestly, Sailor Moon?" he said wearily. "I have no idea. But of course, finding out that your worst enemy-who you've just made out with several times-is really the girl that you...care for, is really the girl that you save regularly was a shock"

["Care for?"] Sailor Moon's heart leapt, then began to thunder in her ears. "It's a shock for me too" she whispered, moving her cheek lightly against his shirt. Her blue eyes widened. "What do I tell the other girls? And how did this happen? I didn't say the words!"

"Words?" Mamoru's fingers began to lightly stroke Sailor Moon's waist through the Fuku, trying to calm her.

"I use my broach and certain words to transform-don't you?" She told him softly, shivering as his fingers caressed her through the Fuku.

"No-I use a rose" Tuxedo Kamen said lightly. The question was, what did they do now? "Can you de-transform?" he asked her questioningly.

"I don't know" She replied nervously. She sighed. "Was that the Princess of the Moon?"

"Yes" he said shortly. "You somehow shared my vision. But nothing was the same. She always asks me the same thing-but now she seemed horrified" he hesitated. "It was because you were there"

"Me? What happened anyway?" Sailor Moon said weakly, touching her forehead with a tentative finger. "Something strange happened-"

Just then, they both heard the outer door to Mamoru's room open.

"Oh my god!" Sailor Moon hissed, frightened. She scrambled to her knees at the same time as Tuxedo Kamen, both crouching awkwardly on the bottom on the closet, heads hitting various items of clothing from above. She pressed herself back against the far side of the closet, huddling close to Tuxedo Kamen.

Tuxedo Kamen’s eyes narrowed in determination as he swiftly got to his feet, puling the blonde up beside him. He pressed her to his side, reaching into his tuxedo unconsciously for a rose. All he could think about was protecting the girl at his side, as he always did.

They stiffened as the other side of the closet was wrenched open-and there was a startled silence. "Where ARE they?" Steve demanded, sounding baffled. Light spilled into the closet from the other side. "Hello? Mamoru? Usagi? How did they get out?"

"Maybe they're on the other side?" Rei snapped. "Or maybe they picked the lock and got out! You shouldn't have left them alone in there for so long!"

"Tuxedo Kamen!" Sailor Moon whispered, burying her face into his jacket. "What do we do?"

"Stay calm and I won't let anyone hurt you" he answered firmly, arm tightening about her waist. "If Steve opens the closet, I'll hit him with my cane and try to knock him out before he sees anything"

"What about Rei?" she said urgently. "You can't-"

"I don't WANT to hit Rei, but if she opens the door-" Tuxedo Kamen said reluctantly.

Sailor Moon grabbed his arm swiftly, stopping him from making any movements. "NO! Rei is my friend and she KNOWS that I'm Sailor Moon!"

HOW does she..." He trailed off as he suddenly guessed. "Never mind" He finished, stiffening. The closet door before them rattled and then was abruptly thrown open.

Sailor Moon slumped in relief as she saw Rei's startled face. The priestess' eyes swept over her and Tuxedo Kamen and then widened with shock and horror. She let out a loud shriek and before either of them could say a word, the door was hastily slammed shut in their faces.

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen waited in tense silence as Rei ordered Makoto to escort-firmly-Steve from the room.

Sailor Moon's fingers wound into Tuxedo Kamen's vest tightly as they waited for the closet door to re-open. "Why did Rei look so horrified?" she whispered to her companion.

But Tuxedo Kamen had no answer. The priestess should have shown shock at seeing Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen locked into an embrace of sorts at the back of Mamoru's closet...but not the horror that had been displayed in her purple eyes. Something was terribly wrong...

Rei unlocked the door and then flung it open swiftly, opening her mouth to say something witty. Her voice died in her through though, when she saw Sailor Moon held tightly in Tuxedo Kamen's strong arms, both backed against the far side of the closet. Tuxedo Kamen had an arm about Sailor Moon's waist and his eyes were wary. "Arrgggggh!" Rei shrieked, practically throwing the door away from her. It banged close and then clicked shut automatically.

"What is it Rei? Did Usagi bash Mamoru into a blood pulp?" Makoto asked in a blood-thirsty manner, green eyes gloating.

"Yeah, give" Steve said, walking over to the closet. "What's in there?"

"No, no!" Rei flung her hands out, waving them frantically at Steve not to come any closer. ["He CAN'T look in there! Oh my god!"] she thought in horror.

"Rei?" Ami said curiously, eyebrows risen.

"Umm-give me a sec. And YOU stay there!" Rei hissed at Steve. She flung open the door in his face, staring inside again as if expecting to see Usagi and Mamoru fighting-and not the two most famous superhero's in Tokyo crushed together in a small closet-looking ready to fight whoever opened the door-

"Rei?" Sailor Moon whispered, looking frightened. She clung tighter to Tuxedo Kamen, as if he were the only stable thing in the world.

"Oh my god!" Rei shrieked again, slamming the door in Sailor Moon's startled face. She hadn't been completely sure that she wasn't seeing things-but NOW she was. Not only was Sailor Moon clutched to Tuxedo Kamen’s side as if by glue-she was DIFFERENT! ["What happened?!"]

"What is going ON?" Steve asked, afire with curiosity.

"Nothing!" Rei shouted. She gestured at Makoto quickly. "Take him out!" It was an order, from one Senshi to another and the three girls knew it. Rei had not asked it, Sailor Mars had.

"What?" Steve said, shocked when the brunette abruptly grabbed him and startled to shove him from the room.

"Get him out, Makoto" Ami said urgently, heading for the closet.

"What? No way? What's going on in there" Steve demanded, a moment before he was thrust from the room violently and the door slammed in his face.

"Now" Rei said, slowly opening the closet door.

The other two girls watched in shock as Sailor Moon...and Tuxedo Kamen stepped out of the small space. But something was wrong. And it had not only been Tuxedo Kamen’s presence with their leader-and them transformed-that had made Rei so shocked.

"Your-your HAIR, Usagi" Rei whispered, eyes wide and disbelieving.

"God!" Makoto hissed in shock.

Tuxedo Kamen looked down at the girl next to him for the first time, in the light and-his mouth fell open in astonishment. "Sailor Moon" he said softly, deep blue eyes wide.

"My hair?" Sailor Moon tentatively reached for a lock of her hair, bringing it around to where she could see it. She almost shrieked when she saw her hair. The once blonde locks-had turned completely silver! "My hair!" she whispered, not as shocked as she should have been. Something-seemed just too familiar about the colour. As if she had seen it before.

"WHAT happened?!" Makoto shrieked, much like Rei had earlier.

"What is going ON here?" Ami demanded, eyes wide as saucers. She reached into her sub-space pocket and removed the Mercury computer, quickly scanning Sailor Moon. Other than the hair colour, nothing else seemed wrong. There was nothing that the genius could detect.

"We don't know" Tuxedo Kamen said darkly, a hand reaching out to wrap about Sailor Moon's waist protectively. He pulled her closer, watching the other girls carefully. ["They must be the other Senshi"] he thought, eyes flickering over Mercury's computer. Now that he knew, he could easily see through their glamour’s.

"What happened to you? You've-changed. Your hair..." Rei murmured, looking at Sailor Moon helplessly. "What happened in that half an hour? Where is-" she trailed off, staring at Tuxedo Kamen. He'd always seemed to have a strange bearing and presence to her-and now she knew why. ["I should have guessed it"] she murmured mentally.

"What happened?" Makoto demanded. "And how did YOU get in there, Tuxedo Kamen? Where is Mamoru?"

The girls all looked expectantly at Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Moon-all but Rei, who had already guessed.

Sailor Moon stiffened as Tuxedo Kamen pulled her closer, protecting her seemingly from her friends. One arm was completely around her waist, the other rested on her opposite shoulder, holding her almost facing his chest. She had to tilt her head back to even look at Rei and the others. She looked up at him tentatively. He seemed reluctant to let her go.

Tuxedo Kamen smiled grimly at them, eyes cool It seemed that not only Sailor Moon had changed-but HE was changed inwardly by their revelation. "I AM Mamoru"

Chapter Eight

There was a dead silence in the room, punctuated only by erratic breathing. They all stared at each other, stunned by the evening's revelations.

"I should have KNOWN it" Rei murmured, touching a finger to her pounding forehead. Not only had she gotten a rotten headache from crying, now there was the stress of knowing that her 'boyfriend' was their 'ally'. ["Or is he? I went out with him-sort of...and he protects Sailor Moon, but HATES Usagi..."] her thoughts trailed off as her purple eyes slid swiftly over her leader and the cloaked hero. Sailor Moon was held so tightly against Tuxedo Kamen's side that Rei doubted a ruler could have been inserted between them. So something HAD happened in the closet-and she had a feeling that it had been much more than just screaming and involuntary transformations.

"So-you're the one who constantly rescues Sailor Moon, but can't stop fighting WITH her?" Ami commented blithely.

They blinked at her and then all eyes went back to Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Moon.

"Wow" Makoto said finally, green eyes wide with astonishment. "So-" she went on, smiling slightly at Tuxedo Kamen. "How long have you been the caped crusader, Mamoru?"

"Makoto!" Sailor Moon groaned. The tension in the room dropped greatly as the girls all giggled and Tuxedo Kamen smiled slightly. His fingers were digging into her waist, however, belaying his curved lips. He was still tense-ready for action. She looked up at him hesitantly, trying to see his eyes through the half-mask. "Mamoru? Are you alright?" she whispered into his ear, leaning closer.

He nodded slightly, then sighed and released her completely. He had forgotten for a minute, just who Sailor Moon was. And what her friends shouldn't know. "I'm fine" he said loudly, stepping a pace away from her warmth. It would not be good for them to be found out by the girls. If they found that he'd kissed Usagi senseless-well, they might beat him to a bloody pulp! After all, he was Tuxedo Kamen and they had no idea-STILL-if he was a friend or an enemy. ["And are they ally's?"] he wondered silently. This had changed everything. The girl he loved was the girl he hated. And the Senshi that he had not learned to trust-turned out to be friends. Good friends of his and Motoki. He'd even dated one of them and never had a clue.

"Now what, guys? You hustled Steve out of here so fast that everyone out there is probably wondering what happened" Ami said, breaking the long silence.

Sailor Moon continued to stare up at Tuxedo Kamen, strangely hurt. It seemed that once he had assessed the situation and deemed it safe for her, he had abandoned her entirely. He was once again, the cold hero who she didn't know but had secretly fallen for. "I don't know" She murmured to them all, turning her face away to hide the tears. She stiffened as someone wrapped arms around her tightly and then realized that it was Rei.

"Are you alright, Usagi? Did he-hurt you?" Rei whispered, drawing her slightly away from the others.

Sailor Moon almost shouted at the priestess, but then realized that Rei was asking something else. "He hurt me" she agreed quietly, leaning into the girl's warmth. "As he always does. But now it worse, because I know it's Mamoru"

Rei understood completely. After all, she had dated Mamoru and loved him more than a little. And now, poor Usagi. Rei KNEW and had for a while, that their leader had a thing for Tuxedo Kamen. ["I WISH I knew what went on in that closet!"] she thought angrily, turning her eyes towards the silent Tuxedo Kamen. The expression in his eyes chilled her. Protectiveness, rage, shock, resignation. He was like a caged animal.

"I have an idea. Why don't we pretend that Usagi is claustrophobic and she got sick on the closet floor when she was locked in too long?" Makoto said abruptly.

They all looked at her, eyes wide.

Sailor Moon flushed. "Me? Sick on the floor. Makoto! I'll be so embarrassed?" she wailed, mortified.

"Would you prefer us to say that I opened the closet door to find Sailor Moon wrapped up in an embrace with Tuxedo Kamen?" Rei said calmly, releasing the now-silver-haired girl. "However, I don't know what to do about your hair"

"Fear?" Ami suggested. "Sometimes people's hair has been known to change to white when in highly stressful situations"

Sailor Moon flushed again and looked at the floor. ["Stressful-right"]

["NOT stressful. Stimulated-yes"] Tuxedo Kamen thought, groaning mentally. It was like physical pain, not being able to wrap his arms about her. But not with her friends there-and maybe not ever again, now that they knew. Sailor Moon, he protected as Tuxedo Kamen-but he wasn't exactly their ally. They were all after the Rainbow Crystals. And he had his Princess to think of. "It's a good idea. Mercury" he said politely, at the same time letting Ami know that he was aware of the girl's Senshi identities.

"You'll have to de-transform" Ami said pointedly, nodding slightly at Tuxedo Kamen. She noted the tension in the air about Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen and wondered at it. She knew that her leader had a major crush on the cloaked stranger, but the air between the two seemed frankly strained. Wary. Explosive.

Sailor Moon sighed and put a hand to her broach, willing a de-transformation. The ribbons exploded about her and then moments later, she was dressed as Usagi. She looked at Tuxedo Kamen, who was standing there frozen, mouth slightly open. And his eyes-were shocked. ["What?!"] she wondered, looking down at herself. Sure, her clothes were a little rumpled and her hair was still silver...wait CLOTHES! Usagi's eyes darkened angrily, eyes locking on his pole-axed ones. ["Mamoru-hentai!"] she growled furiously, hands curling into tight fists.

Tuxedo Kamen had watched curiously as Sailor Moon de-transformed, waiting to see how it was done. What he HADN'T expected-was for her to be stark naked during the process. As he saw her nude form briefly beneath the red ribbons, his mind went into overload and he couldn't help his eyes glazing over numbly. ["Oh my GOD! She IS trying to give me a coronary! Does she have any IDEA what that DID to me?!"] he practically screamed mentally. Tuxedo Kamen focused his thoughts quickly and blinked. As his vision cleared, he was abruptly aware of a kind of WAVE of outrage and fury directed at him. His eyes locked on those of Usagi's and she was ENRAGED!

[And then there was a sort of-hollow rushing sound and a sense of her presence bombarding him. "Mamoru-hentai!"] her voice shrieked at him, seeming to come from everywhere at one. He gaped at her. ["Hentai?"] he said falteringly in his mind, eyes shocked.

"That's what I SAID! You CREEP!" she shouted at him out loud, then her eyes popped wide in disbelief, mouth gaping.

"Said what, Usagi?" Ami said curiously, fingers tight about her Mercury computer. Usagi had just burst out like that from the blue, both her and Tuxedo Kamen looking shocked beyond words. Pole-axed.

"You guys are fighting AGAIN?" Makoto groaned, not noticing that Tuxedo Kamen had said nothing to provoke Usagi's wrath. "He's not even de-transformed yet!"

Rei's mouth was gaping too as she felt the waves of shock and more coming from Usagi and Tuxedo Kamen. Something HUGE had just happened and they'd all missed it. "What is it?" she asked the two suspiciously.

["Arrggggh! She's going to find out I kissed Mamoru! Several times!"] Usagi thought in panic, biting her bottom lip savagely.

["NOT if you don't look so bloody guilty!"] Mamoru's voice said acidly into her mind, making sure she was aware of his displeasure. ["And while you're at it-stop wailing into my head, you Odango Atama!"] he practically roared at her.

Usagi winced, reaching up with both hands to clutch at her head. She blinked and then glared evilly over at the cloaked hero, murder in her eyes. ["WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT CALLING ME THAT!?"] she bellowed mentally, as loud as she could manage.

Tuxedo Kamen groaned and reeled back, clutching at his head with both gloved hands. ["YOU brat! Keep it down!"] he shouted at her, abruptly de-transforming. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he thought that their sudden mental link might have had something to do with their transformations. When he was Mamoru again, he looked at the silver-haired girl expectantly.

She glared at him hatefully as he de-transformed, gleefully happy that he too had an awful headache from her shouting inside his head. Usagi opened her mouth to blast him, then glanced at her friends, who were looking from Mamoru, to Usagi with interest and confusion.

"Are we missing something here?" Makoto questioned with interest. "You two are getting the WEIRDEST expressions on your faces-"

"Pained" Ami said calmly, looking at Usagi and Mamoru, who both looked suddenly guilty, afraid and angry.

Usagi gave Mamoru a sideways glance. ["This is your fault, say something!"] she screeched at him. There was no response. Her blue eyes opened wide with surprise.

Mamoru saw Usagi's eyes narrowed at him as she obviously said something mentally. he winced and waited-but nothing happened. He gave her an equal look of surprise, then shrugged. ["It must have been a fluke"] he thought. In some way, he was disappointed-in another, he was very glad. Linked to the girl he hated-who was also the girl he thought that he had loved-would have been a disaster. Mamoru sighed. ["Do I love her anymore? Now that I know that Sailor Moon is Usagi? I don't think my hate can turn that fast and I'm sure it wouldn't for her"] he thought, staring hard at Usagi.

She stared back, then sighed and turned away, shoulders bowed. For a moment, something wonderful-yet frightening had happened to them both. A mind link. But how did she feel about it now that it was gone? He was Mamoru, but he was Tuxedo Kamen too, then man she thought that she loved. Of course, it had changed now. She didn't know if she could love a man she hated! ["This is all a big mess!"] Usagi groaned mentally, absently listening to the music thumping through the apartment.

Then, someone knocked furiously at the door to the bedroom, making them all jump in shock.

"Open up in there! What's going on?" Steve bellowed through the wood furiously. He banged again, shaking the door in the frame.

"Go away!" Makoto bellowed back, racing to the door to set her back against it.

Usagi gasped and grabbed handfuls of her long silver hair in concern and fright. "Guys! My HAIR!" she wailed at them.

"Keep calm, Usagi!" Rei snapped, eyes hunting around the room.

"BUT-" Usagi went on, getting more and more panicked by the second. She'd kissed Mamoru, her hair had turned silver, he was Tuxedo Kamen-the evening was too much to bear!

"Keep calm, Odango Atama" Mamoru said coolly.

She gaped, turning to look at him. ["What did he say?!"] she thought incredulously, eyes filling with hurt and disbelief. ["He called me Odango Atama"]

Mamoru deliberately kept his eyes cold as he stared back at her. ["It's safer this way-for both of us"] he thought silently, crossing his arms. He kept an indifferent look on his face as he felt her eyes move over every inch on it, as is memorizing the features. And her eyes were-sad.

Usagi's lips moved with difficulty and when she finally spoke, her voice was rusty-sounding, as if she hadn't used it in years. "Don't call me that, Idiot"

"Are you okay, Usagi?" Rei said slowly, glaring at Mamoru. She knew what he was doing-and hated him for hurting her friend in this way. He was deliberately forcing a wedge between the two of them. To keep Usagi AND Sailor Moon at a distance. It was different to yell at Usagi in the day as Mamoru, then rescue Sailor Moon as Tuxedo Kamen and then go off into the night alone and unknown-but now....The priestess sighed deeply.

"I'm-fine" Usagi said, lips curving into the semblance of a smile. But inside, she was hurting. If Mamoru wanted things that way-then he would get it...and some. Anger filled her chest and she glared over at the upper-classman. "Work this out, jerk! Get me out of here before they see my hair!" she yelled at him furiously.

For a moment, blank surprise filled Mamoru's being. Then he frowned darkly at the girl who so threw his world into chaos. She was playing along and that was good-but he WASN'T happy that she had complied so quickly! Then, his dark blue eyes narrowed. He quickly strode past all the girls and pulled a thick blanket from his bed.

"What are you doing, Mamoru?" Rei demanded as she watched the dark-haired guy turn away from the bed and advance on Usagi, intent in his eyes and blanket held wide open.

Usagi's heart fluttered nervously at the reckless look in Mamoru's eyes ["What is he going to do with that?"] she yelped, stumbling backwards.

"Mamoru?" Makoto shouted from the door, arms clinging to the frame in order to keep Steve out. She couldn't believe that he was STILL pounding on the door and throwing his weight on it to get in. "Give it a rest, you jerk!" she shouted through the crack in the door.

"Let me in! What's going on in there?" Steve shouted back, sounding more than a little drunk.

"Makoto? Is everything okay?" Motoki called through now, sounding concerned.

Rei abandoned Usagi, striding towards the door. "Everything is fine, Motoki! Usagi got sick from being locked in the closet for too long!" She yelled urgently.

"She's sick?" Reika shouted with worry. "Can I help?"

"No, no! We're just cleaning her up-" Rei began to shout back, but then she head a scuffle behind her and spun around to see Usagi wrestling with a determined Mamoru. He seemed to want to smother her in a blanket!

"Get AWAY from me, you creep! What are you trying to do? KILL me?" Usagi shouted into Mamoru's face, hands firmly holding onto two sides of the large blanket in a death grip. Mamoru seemed to be determined to throw it onto her, his blue eyes glittering with anger and exasperation.

"No, you Odango Atama! I'm trying to wrap you in it so that they won't see your hair!" he shouted back into her face, lips centimeters apart. She blinked up at him, only the blanket between them keeping her from tumbling into his arms. He had a similar hold on the same side of the blanket as she did, hands slight above hers on the material. The two stared at each other for a long moment, both stubbornly glaring into each other's eyes.

"Usagi? Let him muffle you! I can't hold Steve and the others back for long" Makoto said, groaning cheerfully. Actually, she was totally amused with the situation. If someone had said that she'd EVER see Chiba Mamoru locked in a closet with Tsukino Usagi-she would have laughed in their face. But she HAD seen it and both of them had walked out without killing the other-and NOW-Mamoru was trying to bundle up Usagi like a mummy! ["Unbelievable"] she rolled her eyes skyward.

"It won't kill you" Rei added, grinning widely at her friend. Her eyes skidded from Usagi to Mamoru, noting the tension between the two. ["I wonder what DID happen in that closet before they transformed?"] she thought curiously. And did she really want to know? After all, she loved Mamoru-on some level. But she loved Usagi too.

"No way! How come you're on HIS side, guys?" Usagi shouted at them all, taking her eyes from Mamoru's for a split-second to glare around.

Mamoru's eyes narrowed and then he wrenched the blanket from Usagi's slender hands and deftly wrapped it about her form before she could even blink. "Got you" he murmured, bending to pick her up into his arms. An outraged girl stared up into his face, eyes wide. She really was TOO adorable! ["And kissable-remember Chiba! Her friends are here!"] he shouted at himself mentally, arms tightening about Usagi. He sighed and pulled a piece of blanket over her face and hair.

"I can hardly breathe, you creep!" Usagi said, voice muffled. Actually, it was wonderful being held so tightly in his arms again. And now that she knew-she could recognise Tuxedo Kamen's familiar sense. Like-a force-field around her. Protective. Possessive. She flushed, burrowing closer to his chest and waiting. ["Noooooo kisses, Usagi! Stop thinking about his kisses and muscled chest and strong arms-"]

"Here we go" Mamoru murmured to the bundle, watching as Makoto opened the door cautiously.

Immediately, several people flooded into the room. Michael, Steve, a few girls, Reika and Motoki.

"IS that Usagi?" Motoki questioned pointing to the bundle in Mamoru's arms.

"Are you okay, Hon?" Reika said, walking over to Mamoru. She was VERY startled when the guy she had known for years-and was her boyfriend's best buddy-stiffened at her approach and clutched the blankets closer protectively. Her eyes went wide. She looked around, but no one else had seen the move.

"I'm fine, Reika" Usagi’s voice came from the bundle of blanket in Mamoru's arms, sounding muffled.

"Can she breath in there? Why is her face covered?" Motoki noted, peering curiously.

Reika started to reach out to move the blankets so that Usagi’s' could breath, but Mamoru jerked backwards swiftly, eyes turning into ice.

"She's fine" he growled, muscles bunching under his shirt.

Everyone's mouths fell open at the clearly protective move-of a man who had professed to HATE the girl in his arms.

"She's cold. She threw up" Ami supplied swiftly, stepping towards Mamoru. She gave him a warning look. "She needs the blankets as tightly around her as possible"

"I didn’t know she was claustrophobic!" Steve protested, throwing his hands up. He gave them all a suspicious look. "So how come she didn't say anything the FIRST time and then-she played again!"

"She was only five minutes the first time" Makoto snapped, rounding on Steve. "But you kept her in there for 40 MINUTES"

"It was 40?" Mamoru said under his breath, eyes going slightly wider. He shifted his grip slightly, bringing the bundle closer. He didn't know WHY, but with all those people in the room, he felt OVERWHELMINGLY protective of Usagi. So much so, that he was ready to fight. And he couldn't say WHY.

Usagi kept silent, listening as everyone talked and argued. She sighed as Mamoru brought her closer, closing her eyes and resting her head on his chest. She didn't know why, but she felt totally protected in his arms. So much, that she totally ignored everything around her and merely waited for Mamoru to take her out of the apartment. "I want to leave" she whispered from a crack in the blankets into Mamoru's right ear. "I can hardly breath in here, Mamoru"

His eyes darkened. He raised his head and stared coolly around at everyone, then unceremoniously strode past them all and out into the party without a word.

"Mamoru. Wait!" Rei yelled, running after him.

"Where is he going?" Motoki said curiously, trailing behind the others. He watched as Mamoru shouldered his way past everyone, who was staring and down the main hall to the door. His friend practically MOWED DOWN anyone who go in the way, holding the bundle of blankets to him like it was the most precious item in the world. ["Well now"] he smiled. ["So HE is who Usagi's look was for. I wondered who could possibly make her seethe with so many emotions. I should have known"] he walked along with Makoto, Ami and Reika as they followed Mamoru out the front door and slammed it behind them. ["Who else but Mamoru can EVER make her feel so much?"]

"I'm taking her home" Mamoru said curtly, leaning down slightly to push the 'down' button for the lift.

The girls gathered around him with Reika and Motoki and merely waited in silence for the lift doors to open. Then, they all piled in.

Reika watched with a large smile-barely hidden-as Mamoru settled into the far corner of the lift, leaning against the wall and holding his bundle close. An slender arm shot out of the blankets as the lift began to move down, grabbing at Mamoru's shirt in panic. She watched as Mamoru bent his head slightly and murmured something to Usagi soothingly. ["Will wonders never cease? I think he actually CARES for Usagi"]

Usagi couldn't help but panic as the world around her began moving down. Her arms shot out of the blankets to grab Mamoru's shirt in a death-grip. "What's going on?" she said, frightened. With her head covered and the strange falling sensation, it was all she could do to keep from screaming-but for the fact that Mamoru's arms were tightly about her.

"It's alright. Just the lift, Usagi. We're taking you home" Mamoru murmured from above her head, voice soothing.

She sighed and relaxed her grip, but didn't let go. A moment later, the floor stopped moving and came to a stop. She heard the others walking away and then Mamoru was moving fast. Then, a cool breeze flapped at the blankets and she felt it brush her face caressingly. ["We're outside"] she waited, but it seemed that Motoki and Reika were not leaving-so she had to contend with just laying there and letting Mamoru carry her. Not that she didn't LIKE it. Usagi smiled and closed her eyes again, snuggling closer into his embrace and keeping a firm hold of his shirt with her fingers. Gradually, the up and down movement of his pace lulled her into sleep.

Mamoru smiled gently as he felt Usagi snuggle into him and then sensed that she had fallen asleep. He looked down and saw that her fingers were still keeping a grip on his shirt as of she would never let go. A strange expression crossed his features in the darkness of the night-one that would have had Usagi's friends and Motoki and Reika gaping in shock. However, they saw nothing-talking amongst themselves-and though the expression lingered for many blocks, it was firmly hidden by the time they reached Usagi's house.

[  Part Two ]

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