Spin the Bottle, part 2

Chapter Nine

"Usagi, wake up" Mamoru said softly into the blankets.

Usagi's eyes slowly opened, all she saw was darkness for a moment and she panicked. "Where am I?" she cried out, struggling against the steal bands that were holding her. She realized that there was softness all around her and over her face and that she was clamped tightly against something...

"It's okay! Stop struggling, Usagi!" Rei's voice said urgently.

"You're home, Usagi" Reika said, walking over the path to Mamoru. She casually jerked the blankets from Usagi's face and the girl bent over in Mamoru's arms, breathing hard. As she did, her long hair tumbled out. Her long SILVER hair.

"My god! What happened to your hair?!" Motoki bellowed, staring at the long silver tresses. No, it was NOT just a trick of the moonlight. Usagi's golden hair had turned silver. Not just silver blonde-actual SILVER! It pooled around Mamoru's shoulder and arms, as well as Usagi and the blankets and the tresses seemed to go on and on, almost touching the ground. ["IS her hair longer-or am I imagining that too?"] he wondered, shocked into silence.

"IS this what you were hiding?" Reika said wonderingly, reaching out to touch a lock. She had barely moved her hand, when the girl was taken out of her reach, with amazing swiftness and agility.

Mamoru stepped backwards, looking warningly at Reika. His mouth set firmly, arms tightly about the gasping girl. "Don't touch her" he said curtly, an arm going about Usagi's shoulder. He drew her to his chest, patting her lightly on the back as she coughed and spluttered for air. She leaned over his shoulder, breathing deeply of the night air and clinging with both hands to his broad shoulders. Mamoru felt every single touch of her delicate fingers on his shirt, they burnt like fire-singing in his veins. ["What is wrong with me? I can't even touch her without wanting her!"] he groaned mentally, disgusted and frustrated at himself.

"Thank you" Usagi gasped, coughing again. "I must have been in the blankets for too long. There was no air!" she wheezed a little more, then settled into Mamoru's arms comfortingly and stared around. They were standing on her front porch, the light on. "Did anyone knock?" she inquired, slinging an arm about Mamoru's shoulder. She rested her head under his chin, for the moment, completely forgetting that she was nestled in the arms of her worse enemy-and that she ought to have been hiding her changed feelings from her friends! ["Why did they bring me home?"] she wondered silently, frowning.

"We were about to when you woke up" Motoki said dazedly, still staring. "Tell me how this happened?" he questioned, pointing at Usagi's hair almost accusingly with his index finger. "This is NOT a normal thing, Usagi! You went to the party with your normal hair-and now this!" he squinted at her suspiciously. "Did you do a dye-job?"

"In the CLOSET? Don't be a moron, Motoki!" Makoto snapped, crossing her arms. She too was bewildered at the change in her leader. Usagi was changed more than her hair-there was a whole air of difference about her that all could sense. And the fact that she was LETTING Mamoru carry her around was like a titanic event. The two most popular rivals, close together as lovers. Makoto glanced sideways at Usagi and Mamoru speculatively. ["Hmm-I wonder"]

"Then what changed her hair?!" Motoki almost screamed in frustration, eyes wild.

"Fright?" Ami, Makoto and Rei said simultaneously, then they all blushed.

["Great going guys"] Rei thought, wincing.

"Uh huh" Reika said skeptically. "Why did that sound a little too choreographed?" Her eyes skimmed over all the girls, then Mamoru and Usagi. The two seemed remarkably at ease in each others arms. What could POSSIBLY have happened in that closet to change their hatred?

"We just all came to the same conclusion, is all" Makoto said loftily, tossing her pony-tail and trying to look nonchalant.

"Right" Ami blurted, then flushed brighter and stared fixedly at the ground.

"Mamoru scared her?" Motoki said, turning to stare at his silent friend-who was STILL holding Usagi close in his arms-despite the fact that she could now have walked that Motoki and Reika had seen what she was hiding. Mamoru seemed to have NO inclination at ALL to put Usagi down-and SHE had her face nestled in his neck contentedly. No screaming-no fighting-no hitting....the world was coming to an end!

Usagi unconsciously reached up and wound her other arm about Mamoru's neck, holding on as she looked around at her talking friends. It still remained that she had to get inside without her parents seeing her hair. "What about my haaaaaair guys?" Usagi suddenly wailed urgently. She could have snuck in-but she couldn't hide her hair forever. ["What can I say?"]

"Stop wailing Odango" Mamoru murmured, seemingly distracted. His eyes were far away and his whole being wasn't into the words. He was wondering what to DO about the situation. ["Usagi is Sailor Moon. HOW am I supposed to act in battle now? Or around Usagi at ALL?"] He sighed deeply, stirring the silver bangs of Usagi's hair.

"We'll just give them the same story that we gave everyone else. Shock" Ami said calmly. She nodded at them all, as if it were a completely logical explanation.

"Ah ha! Now I have you...It wasn't shock!" Motoki crowed triumphantly, waving an accusing finger at them all.

"Oh really?" Mamoru drawled, eyes boring into Motoki's face. If looks could kill, Motoki would be a puddle of goo on the floor. His best friend DEFINITELY didn't want him hazarding a guess.

"IS there something you're hiding?" Reika said calmly, eyes intent.

"Great going Ami" Rei snapped, slapping her forehead with the palm of one hand. "Tell them it was shock! In fact-tell the whole world!"

"Sorry-but maybe they should know? They're Mamoru's best friends and ours" Ami said meekly.

"Tell us what?" Motoki almost shouted. He waved his arms about, frustratedly. No one was talking and it seemed that the girls and Mamoru knew something BIG, that they weren't telling another soul. "A secret?" he finished eagerly, waiting.

"The best-kept secret in Tokyo, idiot!" Rei hissed angrily, waving a hand frantically for Motoki to keep his voice down.

"Sorry" he whispered, leaning in closer. "So what is it?" He frowned in thought. ["The best-kept? Now what could that be...nah! That can't be it!"] he thought, eyes widening. The only thing that Motoki could think of was-

"We-all of us are-" Makoto began...

But then the front door opened quickly. Usagi's Mother, Father and Brother stood there-in their nightwear and looking startled to see the group on their front porch. Kenji brandished an unlikely-looking broom, missing most of its straw and tried to look menacing. Of course, one never looked menacing particularly in an old pair of checkered-faded-pajamas and floppy rabbit slippers.

Usagi gripped Mamoru's neck tighter, wondering suddenly why her friends had brought her HOME. She was supposed to be staying at Rei's house. ["Keep calm-it doesn't mean anything"] she told herself frantically.

"What's going on here?" Kenji demanded, peering at them all through his glasses. He tightened his grip on the broom, as if for comfort. Then-he noted his daughter and the broom dropped like a sack of bricks, clattering loudly on the ground. "U-Usagi?!" he uttered, stammering. His glasses fogged over.

"USAGI? What happened to your hair?" Ikuko shrieked, finally spotting her daughter off to the side-held possessively in the arms of a gorgeous young man. ["Oh my"] Usagi was wrapped up in a blanket, but her long hair as flowing loosely over the blanket, the man's shoulders and her daughter. And it seemed much longer than usual, despite the fact that it was up in its usual buns.

"Hair? Usagi? It's SIL-WHO IS THAT YOUNG MAN?" Kenji bellowed, breaking off his stuttered words. He dove to the ground and picked up his protective object-then aimed his broom menacingly at the startled Mamoru, who backed off further with his precious bundle from the madman in bunny-slippers.

"Chiba Mamoru" came the curt response. Mamoru straightened, looking abruptly authoritative and commanding. "Now-would you like to get out of the way, or have your daughter out here in the cold night?" he said coolly, pushing past everyone and into the house.

Everyone gaped-for different reasons and then followed Mamoru inside and shut the doors.

Silently, they all sat down on the floor or the couch and chairs in the comfortable room and waited for-someone-to speak.

"Well-can someone please explain why you're all here, when Usagi is supposed to be staying over at Rei's?" Ikuko began, then her eyes fell again on Usagi's long silver hair. "But first-what on earth happened to you HAIR?"

Reika and Motoki exchanged a quick look, then said simultaneously. "Fright!"

The girls and Mamoru were silent though, giving each other occasional serious looks.

Usagi bit her lip, looking at Ami questioningly. That the girls had brought her HOME, instead of the Temple, meant that they had come to some sort of decision that Usagi did not know about. "Guys?" she said weakly, afraid that she knew that they were going to reveal.

"We thought-Usagi, given that your hair has changed so drastically-and for no apparent reason-" Ami began falteringly.

"What Ami means is-we have something to tell you, Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino. About us and your daughter" Rei finished, then looked at the ground. She sighed deeply. "We're the Sailor Senshi" she added quietly.

"YOU'RE WHAT?!" Reika, Motoki and the three Tsukino's shouted in shock and disbelief. They all looked at Usagi, then at the other girls. The only one who was not noticeably shocked was Mamoru.

"Yeah right!" Shingo scoffed immediately, looking bored.

"You KNEW?" Motoki accused his best friend, glaring at Mamoru heatedly.

"I just found out myself-when you locked us in together" Mamoru said slowly, staring at Usagi with a strange expression. ["A time that I will never forget"]

"Locked in with my daughter?" Kenji bellowed, leaping to his feet. His hands opened and closed convulsively as he lunched for Mamoru's neck.

Ikuko threw herself at her husband and locked her arms about his neck, slowing him down to a crawl. "Now, now dear" she soothed. "I'm sure there was a reason-right?" the look she gave Mamoru and the others was scary.

"It was-just a room" Makoto put in quickly, giggling nervously.

"A room-right" Rei added, grinning. She waved a hand around negligently, making it look as if it were an every-day occurrence to be locked in a room with your hated enemy.

"Uh huh" the others chorused, a little shocked by Kenji's violent behavior. They stared at him as he sank back onto the couch, with Ikuko's arms still tight about his neck in case he tried to jump up again.

"Why were Mamoru and Usagi locked into a room?" Shingo said, perplexed.

"Umm-" the girls all looked at each other and then at Usagi and Mamoru.

"It was like this, Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino" Reika put in calmly. "You've probably heard Usagi go on and on about an annoying jerk named Chiba Mamoru?" she asked Ikuko and Kenji in a questioning way.

Ikuko turned to look at Mamoru. "This is 'the annoying jerk'?" she giggled like a school girl, looking vastly amused. "But Usagi-he's so handsome, dear!"

Usagi flushed to the roots of her hair, eyes skittering away from Mamoru's and the other girls. She deemed it safer to look at the floor, than the guy sitting next to her on the floor near the TV, ["How exactly did he come to be sitting next to me anyway? I would have thought that he'd avoid me like the plague after his act earlier"] she glanced sideways at him, startled to find that he was already looking at her with a similar look. She jerked her eyes back to her mother's. "Yes, this is him" she admitted slowly.

"THIS is the guy that Usagi is constantly saying annoys her and makes fun of her hair" Shingo said excitedly. He grinned impishly at Usagi, then at Mamoru. "Boy are you welcome here! Anyone that came up with the name 'Odango Atama' is a friend of mine" he announced gleefully.

Kenji threw Shingo a warning look, then turned to give Mamoru 'the look of death'. Anyone that made fun of HIS daughter was definitely NOT welcome! "What gives you the right, young man-" he began hotly, but Reika hastily interrupted.

"Anyway, as you know, these two HATE each other-so at the party a couple of guys got together to lock them into a room and talk out their differences...but something went wrong" she stopped and stared at Mamoru and Usagi expectantly.

"Can you go back to the part about MY sister being Sailor Moon?" Shingo said, eyebrows up to his hairline. His lips twisted derisively. "Because I just DON'T believe it!" he announced.

Usagi shot to her feet swiftly, glaring at her brother. "Oh no!" she said loudly. "I am NOT going to transform just to satisfy this brat's curiosity! I've had a long night of unbelievable stress and-and-" she broke off, a strange expression crossing her face. A strange pain was spreading over the back and sides of her hair. She quickly looked down and her eyes widened as she saw the cause. Her hair-she was STANDING on her hair! "Oh my GOD! I'm standing on my hair and it's UP!" she shrieked, eyes shocked and twice their normal size.

"Oh my" Ikuko said, staring at the long silver tresses. Usagi was indeed standing on her hair, which was at least twice its normal length. It was pooling around and under her daughter's shoes. "HOW did you say this happened, Usagi?" she said, eyes wide as saucers. Fear, she could allow, for making the hair change to silver-but to GROW it?

"Okay Mamoru, spill" Rei said harshly, startling them all with her tone. She got to her feet and walked over to tower over the sitting upper-classman. "What happened to Usagi?!" she demanded.

"Rei! It's NOT his fault!" Usagi cried out, stepping between Mamoru and the steaming priestess. "He touched my broach and we-sort of-well...our minds merged for a little while and we saw..." she trailed off as she sensed Mamoru get to his feet behind her. The skin at the base of her neck crawled and she tried to shake off the feeling as he moved to stand beside her.

"Our minds merged for a little while and we-shared a memory of some kind" Mamoru finished quietly. "I can't remember it well, but when we came out of the trance, we were both transformed and her hair was like this" he reached out and gently picked up a handful of Usagi's incredibly long silver hair, letting it trail through his fingers with a wistful expression in his eyes. Her hair was warm and seemed to cling to his fingers. When all the strands hand passed smoothly through his fingers, he lowered his hand and turned away from them all. ["This is dangerous. I didn't mention the Princess, but Usagi may. And there really ISN'T any explanation for her hair"]

Usagi stood frozen like a statue as Mamoru let her long hair trail over and through his fingers like silk and she SWORE that she could feel it like a caress along the whole of her body. Just his fingers in her hair sent frizzons of sensation through her-familiar. ["Is my hair more sensitized now or what?"] she thought, supremely startled. It had been as if he'd touched her cheek-or her lips with his fingertips. She sighed. ["He didn't mention the Princess-so he doesn't want them to know. All right Mamoru"] she sighed again and gave him a slight look, but his face was turned away. ["He really doesn't want to be here. It is me? Now that he knows I'm Sailor Moon, does he regret our kisses?"]

"You say that your minds merged?" Ami broke into the long silence, in which everyone had watched Mamoru and Usagi with a frozen fascination. The room had seemed to warm when those two interacted-and there had been a strange tension. Everything had abruptly seemed to center about the two and Usagi's hair. But still, what did the hair length and color have to do with their minds?

"I want to see this transformation!" Shingo put in eagerly. He crossed his arms. "Come on, I deserve to see this!"

"Yes, Usagi. Please?" Motoki put in, curiosity getting the better of him.

"Wait-this merge-" Rei said, frowning.

"Oh, all right" Usagi said tiredly. She put her hands to her bow, where her broach was resting. "Moon-" she began. ["Moon"] the words seemed to echo inside her mind, accompanied by the toll of some faint bell. She hesitantly began the next word, listening hard. "Prism" once again, it echoed deep inside, seemingly repeated by a softer cultured voice-yet it was her own.

"Usagi?" Rei questioned, a strange expression on her face. She had begun to sense something was different about the transformation words. And Usagi's face was-distant, as if she were listening hard to something.

Mamoru turned away at the last minute as Usagi opened her mouth again. She'd KILL him if he were to witness her naked state again!

"Power...make up!" Usagi cried out. Everything exploded into power around her and her clothes dissolved into red ribbons. Her eyes closed-and then she saw it...the place from Mamoru's dream. A great towering palace, with columns and a great lake of shimmering water. ["Remember..."] a voice whispered. A mysterious surge came from somewhere inside and to the left-And then, it was over. She opened her eyes and looked down at the familiar Fuku.

"NO WAY! She IS Sailor Moon!" Shingo cried out, shocked. "My sister, the ditz. Unbelievable" he stomped away, muttering under his breath.

"AND NAKED!" Kenji thundered, outraged and furious. He shook a finger into Sailor Moon's face. "That's IT! You are forbidden to transform ever again, young lady!"

Of course, everyone ignored his ridiculous comment.

"Usagi" Ikuko said, marveling. "So this is why you're always tired?"

Sailor Moon stared at her numbly, still overwhelmed by the strangeness of the transformation. ["Where was that place? And why did it feel so familiar?"]

["I saw it too"] Mamoru's voice said resignedly.

Sailor Moon's head whipped around to see-Tuxedo Kamen standing next to her. "Tuxedo Kamen? What?" she said, shocked. ["We're linked AGAIN?"] she shrieked inwardly.

["So it seems"] Tuxedo Kamen's voice was filled with disbelief. ["So-at least one of us has to be transformed...and we're mentally linked again?"]

["Is this-a bad thing?"] Sailor Moon asked, wincing. She looked at him anxiously-but there was no answer. He shook his head and closed his eyes.

"How come he transformed when she did?" Motoki said, wide-eyed. His eyes narrowed then, in anger. "And hey, while we're at it-why the hell didn't you TELL me that you were Tuxedo Kamen, Mamoru!" he yelled.

"It didn't come up!" Tuxedo Kamen said angrily.

"This is too much for me" Kenji said weakly, slumping back into his couch cushions. "We're surrounded by super heroes and ONE is our DAUGHTER!"

["This was a really bad idea"] Sailor Moon whispered mentally. She sighed. ["This whole night was a disaster"]

["The WHOLE night?"] Tuxedo Kamen asked her quietly. He turned his eyes to look at her from behind the half-mask, the blue depths burning.

Sailor Moon flushed, their eyes locking. ["Maybe not...all"] she admitted timidly. She sighed deeply. ["But-now that we know...we can't do it ever again, Mamoru"]

["I know"] came the soft answer. He turned fully to look down into brimming blue eyes. Usagi was close to tears and neither of them knew why. They were enemies-right? But they were also ally's, and that was the most important thing of all.

She silently nodded at him, then de-transformed. "All right, I'm tired" she announced to everyone else-and her family, who were still gaping in awe and shock. Motoki and Reika however, looked positively evil as they exchanged a look, then simultaneously began to back towards the front door.

"Of course you're tired, Usagi!" Reika said hastily.

"You WON'T tell a soul-will you, Motoki…Reika?" Tuxedo Kamen said abruptly, in a chilling voice. The expression in his eyes was fierce and alien as he stared at them from Usagi's side. ["Do I have to take some sort of action?"]

["Are you suggesting tying your best friend up?"] Usagi responded involuntarily, almost giggling at the thought of hog-tying Motoki.

Mamoru shot her a strange look, lips twitching. But he said nothing.

Rei stared hard at her 'ex-boyfriend'. Mamoru had changed and even as Tuxedo Kamen. It had not only been Usagi's hair. The upper-classman was colder, more authoritative and more…commanding. "They won't say a thing, Mamoru" she murmured.

"Of course not!" Motoki said, looking offended. "But Usagi looks absolutely done-in…and so do the other girls. So we'll be running along now" he blurted out hastily. Motoki grabbed Reika's hand and wrenched open the front door, bolting out the entrance. He'd forgotten to close the door and so the Tsukino's and Tuxedo Kamen bore witness to two brand-new pro-runners for the Olympics.

["They're fast-but I can beat them hands tied"] Usagi thought, smiling slightly.

["On your hundred-mile dash for school?"] Tuxedo Kamen muttered dryly. He studiously ignored her glare and the wave of anger that hit him from her direction. This 'link' was becoming a hindrance!

["Shut up, jerk! Or I'll punch you again"] Usagi threatened, staring hard at her 'hero'.

He stared back, eyes wicked. ["And if you do, I'll have to kiss you senseless-right in front of your parents"]

["WHAAAAAAT?"] she shrieked mentally. ["You would DARE!"]

["Try me"] he dared her, REALLY wishing that she'd try.

Makoto looked surprised as she went forward to close the door and lock it behind her. "I wonder what those two were up to??"

["Match-making"] Tuxedo Kamen murmured dryly, eyes thunderous behind his mask. He sighed. ["Like we NEED help getting together. Our trouble is staying APART! Different rooms from now on, Tsukino!"] he told her firmly. ["And NO closets! Or I won't be responsible for the consequences"]

Usagi started in shock, staring at Mamoru with a gaping mouth. ["Match-making? Kissing?! Closets!? As if I want to be anywhere near you, creep!"] she demanded, rounding on Tuxedo Kamen an staring up into his startled eyes. ["SO JUST SHUT UP, ROMEO! You're not the only guy in this town!"]

He groaned mentally. [""Damn, I forgot about that. STOP SCREECHING, YOU BRAT! I happen to know that you have a crush on me-Tuxedo Kamen...so don't say that there's someone else...or I'll have to kill him"] he warned her seriously, then rapidly de-transformed before she could blast him.

Usagi glared at him accusingly. "That wasn't FAIR! What are you playing at, jerk? There's PLENTY of fish in the sea-and I do NOT have a crush on Tuxedo Kamen!" she almost shouted into his face.

Everyone stared at her and then at Mamoru, who had suddenly taken on an equally thunderous expression. "Who said life was fair, Odango Atama? Get used to disappointments! And I'm COMPLETELY serious" he told her cuttingly, eyes burning into her own. If anyone even TOUCHED her, he'd kill them. She was HIS!

"Umm-" Makoto began, face bewildered.

"What is going on here?" Rei demanded.

"Serious about what?" Ami added, staring.

"That's what I want to know-AND WHY DID YOU CALL MY LITTLE GIRL ODANGO ATAMA?!" Kenji finished on a bellow. His face was red as a beet and his fist were clenching and unclenching at his sides uncontrollably.

"Now dear" Ikuko said, taking a firm hold of his arm.

"Well?" Usagi shouted at Mamoru, completely ignoring the others. After all they'd shared, the idiot was STILL treating her like this! ["That CREEP! How dare he say he'd kill any guy that came near me! I'll teach him!"] she vowed, already making plans.

"Well, what?" he shouted back, knowing fully what she was saying. ["I don't want to get into a fight with her-especially with her parents there-when all I want to do is really kiss her"]

"This means war, Chiba!" Usagi ground out.

"You're on, Tsukino. May the best...super hero win" Mamoru purred back.

"We seem to be missing a large portion of this conversation" Ami noted, staring from the fuming silver-haired girl to the tall arrogant guy. Their eyes shot blue flames at each other, literally sizzling the air.

"CREEP!" Usagi screeched. ["I'll teach you! I'm going to go out and find that guy Brad! Or anyone else and make then kiss me right in front of this jerk! I'm NOT his property! Just because if ONE kiss!"]

"Little girl" Mamoru sneered. ["If I see anyone NEAR her, I'll rip his head off!"]

"Jerk!" she muttered, heart not really in it, all of a sudden. The way they kept staring at each other was beginning to melt her bones. Mamoru's eyes had began to kindle with an inner fire, practically eating her up ion the spot. If her parents hadn't been there-she was certain she would have thrown herself into his arms. She hated him-but wanted him....a LOT! But it was still war!

Mamoru had come to the same conclusion, standing but a foot from his angel-who he'd protect till the day he died. And all he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms and forget the witnesses! "BABY" he drawled, forgetting to add the bite. And SOMEHOW-it came out as more of an endearment. His eyes went wide with shock at the same time as Usagi's did and several gasps filled the room from the other Senshi. ["Oh dear. So much for secrets! Suuuure, Chiba. Let your obsession show!"]

Makoto, Rei and Ami gaped at Mamoru, stunned at what they had heard in his tone.

"Young MAAAAAAAN!" Kenji growled, trying to leap up from the couch. "How dare you insult my daughter that way!" he shouted, having completely missed any undercurrents in the fighting.

Ikuko, however, had a slightly dreamy look in her eyes. "Now Kenji, leave the poor young man alone. It's not his fault that he and Usagi-rub each other the wrong way" as she said this, she looked sideways at her daughter.

Usagi suddenly got a vision of herself crawling along Mamoru's length, being pressed against the wall of the closet and Mamoru's hands under her top. She couldn't help it! She promptly lost it and turned the color of a bright red star. She doubled over, convulsed in a coughing fit, eyes watering. ["Oh my god! Does she KNOW?!"] she thought frantically. Why was it that everything someone said, reminded her of Mamoru? She breathed harder, eyes dilating. Her fingers itched to touch him-she NEEDED to. She took a half-step forward and Mamoru took one back simultaneously, trying to keep his distance.

Mamoru similarly began to choke and doubled over, gasping for air, with eyes wide and stunned. ["I can't stand this! Practically everything someone SAYS has an unconscious reference to something Usagi and I did in the closet!"] his pulse sped up, beads of sweat beginning to bead on his forehead and his eyes dilated slightly.

Rei rushed over and patted Usagi and Mamoru on their backs hard, eyes startled and yet suspicious. Ikuko's innocent words had made an extremely violent reaction from the silver-haired girl and her 'worst enemy'. ["Something DID happen in that closet! I knew it!"] her thoughts sobered. But how did she feel about that? Her best friend and the guy that she thought she loved, but only saw her as a friend?

"Usagi? Are you okay?" Ami said anxiously, reaching for her Mercury computer. It fell out of her sub-space pocket easily and into the palm of her hand. She quickly scanned the gasping pair and her blue eyes widened in astonishment. There were elevated levels of hormones-almost sky-rocketing! Ami looked up slowly, eyes wide as saucers. The sexual tension between Mamoru and Usagi was almost off the charts! And they were a few feet from each other! ["Oh my god. How did this happen?"]

"Are they okay, Ami?" Ikuko demanded, walking over to look at the bewildering display on the computer. She shook her head, blinking numbly.

"They're-fine. Just tired I guess" Ami said in a strangled tone, still staring at Mamoru and Usagi with wide eyes. Who would have thought it? Two worse enemies, famous for their fights-were actually in lust for each other! She wrenched her eyes away and looked quickly at Usagi's worried parents. "I suggest that Usagi and Mamoru go to bed-" she began.

But Mamoru was way ahead of her, already on his way to the door. ["I have to get OUT of here!"] he gasped harshly. He had just reached the paneling and fingers touching the handle, when an agonizing pain hit him. His heart faltered, eyes dilating slightly. He suddenly felt as if he were dying.

Usagi's heart gave a huge leap, then faltered altogether. Everything went dark and she keeled over. ["Mamoru!"] she cried out silently, even though she knew he couldn't hear her.

Mamoru felt a wave of nausea and dizziness consume him-at the same time as an uncontrollable burst of hunger and longing. Everything started to go black and he began to fall. He turned back to look at the others, bewildered-then he saw Usagi start to keel over and made one last amazing leap. ["Usagi!"] he shouted, afraid. He covered the space between them in seconds and caught her up into his arms, turning their bodies so that he landed beneath her…then it all went black.

"-separately" Ami finished in a weak voice, staring at the two prone figures on the floor. Usagi was cradled in Mamoru's arms protectively, even though they had both just fainted. Even as everyone around her shrieked and panicked, Ami looked at her computer and what she saw frightened her desperately. Usagi and Mamoru's minds had shut down in defense from something-and it had to do with Mamoru's trying to leave. Their brain-waves were erratic, heart-beats weak and stuttering.

"Usagi! Oh my god!" Ikuko screamed, trying to wrench her daughter from Mamoru's arms, but they were like steel bands about the girl's slender waist.

Makoto leaned over and tried to pry Mamoru's arms from about Usagi's wait, frowning with the effort. "I can't even BUDGE him!" she gasped in amazement. She grabbed at the hand clamped protectively around Usagi's lower chest and wrenched-

When a golden light enveloped Mamoru and Usagi. His eyes opened briefly and they all saw that they were no longer deep blue-but a burning liquid gold. He snarled something to her in another language and a blast of power surged from his body. It hit Makoto hard, throwing her backwards by several meters. She fell over the couch and hit the floor hard, laying stunned.

"Makoto!" Rei gasped, shocked. She and Ami ran over to their friend's side urgently, while the Tsukino's watched Mamoru and their daughter with fascinated horror.

"I'm fine" Makoto groaned, getting to her feet with Rei's help. Then all three looked back towards the two unconscious forms on the floor of the room. Mamoru's eyes had closed again and his arms were still tight about Usagi's waist-as if he would never let her go.

"Was that-natural?" Ikuko whispered uncertainly, staring at her daughter as if she had never seen her before.

"No" Ami said grimly. "It wasn't" she opened the top of her computer and scanned Mamoru swiftly. Then, she sighed. "Amazing! The power emanating from Usagi and Mamoru are almost identical and completely off the scale!" she bit her lip, averting her eyes from the others. ["But their heart-beats have steadied and their brain-waves are almost identical! Impossible"]

"You're kidding? Odango Atama?" Rei breathed, shocked.

"Why did they faint?" Ikuko asked anxiously, reluctant to touch her daughter in case she should hurt her. Besides, she looked so at peace in the young man's arms!

"They appear to have some sort of connection. I don't know how it happened, but when they try to get a certain distance away from each other, their minds shut down in defense. It must be that link they mentioned"

"This is not good" Rei said slowly, shocked. Mamoru and Usagi stuck together by some bond-and them hating each other?

"And-" Ami sighed deeply, eyes glued to the computer. The blue suddenly deepened almost to black, dilating with extreme shock as she stared at the read-outs. "Oh my god!" she breathed.

"What is it?" Re said suspiciously, knowing something was terribly wrong.

Ami gasped for breath, sinking weakly to the floor next to the couch, eyes wide with shock. Then, slowly, she raised the computer and aimed it at herself, then the other two girls. "Oh dear" she murmured.

"Ami?" Makoto questioned warily, frowning as she knelt next to the girl. "What is it?"

"I have some-disturbing...unbelievable news. I just don't know how to say it" Ami said, looking lost. "I've never had the opportunity to scan any of we Senshi before now-and so I never realized..." she trailed off, eyes bewildered and scared.

"What is it?" Kenji demanded, jumping to his feet angrily, as if to shake the answer from Ami.

"I just scanned us all-we Senshi and Mamoru and-I don't know how to tell you this-"

"Just tell us" Usagi said weakly from the floor, still firmly ensconced in Mamoru's strong arms. She blinked at them all, then struggled weakly to move.

Ami panicked and quickly leant forward to thrust Usagi closer to Mamoru's chest. "DON'T MOVE!" she hissed urgently. "It's important that you stay as close to Mamoru as possible"

"What?!" Kenji bellowed. "She'll do no such thing!"

"Do you want her dead?" Ami said bluntly.

Everyone paled at the blue-haired girl's words.

Mamoru woke simultaneously with Usagi, arms tightening about the blonde as he realized their position. Given what had happened to them both to make them faint-he knew that there was no avoiding their desire and passion. They could NOT be separated! Then Ami had spoken-and her words were so very frightened. "What's wrong?" he demanded coolly.

"You can't be separated by a certain distance-or you might die. That's why you fainted." Ami explained. "Somehow-you and Usagi linked and now, you have to stay together or-"

"No" Usagi murmured, fingers digging into Mamoru's chest with fear. ["How did this happen?"]

"Are you sure?" Mamoru said, eyes piercing into Ami's face.

She nodded grimly. "There's more" she whispered.

"What could be worse than finding out that Mamoru and Usagi-the two worse enemies in Juuban have to stay joined at the hip or die?" Makoto said sarcastically, crossing her arms.

"MUCH more, Makoto" the genius said curtly. She took a deep steadying breath, looking frightened. "Brace yourself Mamoru, guys-" Ami said clearly. "None of us are human"

Chapter Ten

"What?" Usagi whispered, mouth open in shock. Everyone was staring at Ami as if she had grown another head.

"Are you positive?" Rei exclaimed, rushing over to Ami to look at the Mercury computer. She blinked, crossed her eyes and tilted her head from side-to side in an effort to understand the weird gibberish on the screen. "Er-that's what this says?" she said tentatively, glancing sideways at her blue-haired friend.

"I'm afraid so" Ami breathed, pointing the computer slowly over the Tsukino's and then Mamoru. She glanced up. "Hmm" she muttered, staring hard at the startled guy.

"What?" Mamoru said, staring back cautiously. Ami was looking at him as if she'd just found a rare species of butterfly.

"You-AREN'T human, Mamoru" Ami said, biting her lip and looking perplexed. "But you ARE of earth...whereas, we Senshi are NOT"

"WHAT?!" the girls all shrieked.

"But Usagi IS my daughter! She grew in me and-popped out of me!" Ikuko yelled, looking faint.

"I was there!" Kenji added emphatically, glaring. He quickly reached out to grab Usagi and drag her to his side, but before he could move, Mamoru had-blurred. He suddenly appeared between Usagi and her father, eyes burning deeply blue.

"Don't touch her" he growled at Kenji.

"You MAN-" Kenji began, opening his mouth to blast Mamoru.

Mamoru swiftly reached towards his hip, eyes burning a brilliant blue. He paused as he groped at the side of his trousers, eyes looking suddenly blank and bewildered. As if he had thought to find something there, at his side-but discovered it missing.

Everyone was staring at him strangely, shocked.

"Er-Mamoru? That's her father-not a Youma or Zoisite...and don't you HATE Usagi?" Rei said delicately, eyes penetrating.

"Mamoru?" Usagi said tentatively, touching his shoulder.

He spun around swiftly, eyes still bewildered, but filled with rage that had been aimed at her father. She flinched as his arm shot out and caught hers-but gently. "Sere-" uttered faintly, blinking. His eyes looked glazed. "I mean...Usagi" he corrected, eyes clearing. He looked around, unconsciously rubbing at the soft skin of Usagi’s wrist. "What just happened"

"You just went psycho on Usagi dad and then almost attacked Usagi" Makoto said, glaring accusingly.

Mamoru's eyes iced over. "He tried to touch her-and I reacted. If none of you have forgotten, I am her protector!" he looked down at Usagi, eyes strangely filled with tenderness and something familiar. "And as for hurting Usagi-I would NEVER" he blinked, eyes hazing over slightly. "I...knew it was her, even as she touched me"

"He's freaking me out, Mom" Shingo muttered, chewing at his thumb.

"Well, you'd better get used to him really quickly" Makoto said, grinning evilly. "Because he's going to be here a while"

"What?" Usagi and Mamoru said in shock, still staring into each other's eyes and he holding onto her wrist lightly. The world started to fade around them and they totally forgot the others in the room.

"You look tired" Mamoru murmured to her eyes penetrating. He noted the bags under her eyes.

"So do you" Usagi murmured back, blinking slowly, as she stared at him, she began to become more concerned. "Are you injured from the battle?" she inquired, reaching up to brush a stray lock of his dark hair from his eyes.

"Hello?" Rei said, waving a hand wildly around near the pair.

"They can't seem to hear us" Ikuko said, eyes perplexed.

"Its like they're in a trance" Shingo said, crossing his arms and looking curiously at his sister and the tall guy.

"Don't touch them" Ami warned, looking down at her computer. "They're radiating strange energy waves"

Mamoru released Usagi's wrist, reaching out to cup her face between his hands and draw her closer to stare into her eyes. "I am fine. You worry too much"

Everyone moved closer, staring at the strange intimate scene unfolding. It was like-the two were no longer aware that there was anyone else there!

"What battle?" Kenji demanded, looking his little girl over for injury.

Makoto shook her head. "There WAS no battle today-I have no idea what they're saying"

Mamoru drew Usagi closer, their eyes closing-lips inches apart. "Do not leave me again" she cried softly, arms clinging to his shoulders.

"The war-" Mamoru began.

"You PROMISED ME!" Usagi cried out desperately. "You promised, End-"

Then something soft began to play, in a hauntingly familiar melody. Everyone blinked as something shining fell from between Usagi and Mamoru to the floor.

Everything shattered then. Usagi and Mamoru both blinked, stared at each others proximity in horror-and leapt away from each other as if they had the plague.

"Oh my god!" Usagi said, pointing accusingly at Mamoru. "What did you DO to me, creep?" she screeched in horror. ["He was going to kiss me in front of my parents!"]

"Me? You did something to ME, Odango" Mamoru said, frowning darkly. ["What just happened here? I almost kissed her in front of her parents!"]

"The charts are off the scale!" Ami announced with stunned incredulity. "You two just linked again! And I can't even BEGIN to measure the power or psychic waves the Mercury computer just absorbed!"

"What? Rei said, staring at Ami and then a dismayed Usagi and Mamoru-who currently were doing their best not to look at each other at all. "Are you sure"

"What battle?" Kenji said, looking bewildered. "You said there was no battles today"

"He said war. I specifically remember it" Ami corrected, looking at Mamoru strangely. "What war, Mamoru?"

"I have no idea what you mean" Mamoru said, staring stonily at the wall. He turned his head slightly to glance at Usagi-who turned to look at him. They'd shared a memory again-and no doubt. Maybe something from the Moon Princess' memories, that they were acting out.

"Then what did he promise you?" Ikuko urged her daughter.

"Promise me?" Usagi said weakly, sinking to the floor. "I don't-remember" she lied, still looking up at Mamoru. ["He promised never to leave me"] she bit her lip. It had to have something to do with their connection to the Moon Princess. Somehow, they must be re-enacting her memories-with...whoever the man was.

"Amnesia?" Rei surmised, not sure if she believed Usagi or Mamoru.

"It's possible, I suppose" Ami sighed.

"I need-to go to bed" Usagi muttered, getting shakily to her feet. She muttered a bleary goodnight and then started to head for the stairs.

"Usagi! Stop!" Ami screamed, before Usagi could even pass the couches. "You can Mamoru CAN'T separate!"

Kenji stared at Ami in horror. "You're NOT subjecting-"

"Do you want her dead?" Rei put in harshly.

"What?" Usagi said, bewildered.

"Darling-Mamoru will have to sleep in your room with you" Ikuko put in delicately.

Mamoru and Usagi’s heads jerked around simultaneously, to stare at each other in acute shock and horror.

"No way!" she shrieked. ["US? Together? In my ROOM? ALONE?!"]

"No way" Mamoru said also, shaking his head. ["ME? In Odango's room-ALONE with her in nothing but her nightwear? NO WAY!"] he shook his head again and crossed his hands over his chest. "NO WAY" he said emphatically.

"Of course, no way! Are you NUTS?!" Kenji almost screamed at Ami. "You want some GUY to stay in the room of my little girl-in her NIGHTWEAR?"

"He can sleep on the floor dear" Ikuko said calmly.

"No! No! Bad idea!" Usagi waved her arms around urgently, trying to dissuade everyone. "We HATE each other! We'll-KILL each other! You'll find our bloody corpses on the floor come dawn!" she said frantically.

"You're never awake at dawn, dear" Ikuko said calmly. "Its Sunday tomorrow-you'll be lucky to be up by noon"

"Moooom!" Usagi wailed.

"Really?" Mamoru said evilly. "Anyone else care to tell me more about my-room mate?"

"She has nightmares and snores loudly" a voice announced haughtily from the stairs.

Everyone's heads swung that way, looking around for the woman who had spoken-then down at the innocent small cat sitting on the bottom step.

"Who said that?" Ikuko demanded, still looking around.

"Er-" the Senshi all muttered, having forgotten about Luna entirely.

"I DID" Luna said.

"Ugh!" Kenji said, fainting.

"Cool!" Shingo yelped.

Ikuko stared at Luna and then at her daughter-and finally at a pole-axed Mamoru. "You didn't know either?" she surmised dryly.

"Nope" Mamoru said, gritting his teeth. "Hello kitty"

"My name is Luna, Mamoru! I am the Senshi's trainer and guardian-and when we find the Princess, I am her royal adviser!" Luna announced cuttingly, leaping up onto the couch.

"Yadda, yadda, yadda" Rei said dismissively. "I suppose you heard it all, Luna?"

"Yes" the cat said, glaring at Mamoru. "Touch even her little toe, Romeo-and I'll rip you to shreds" she warned him, extending her sharp claws.

The other girls and Ikuko all looked at each other. "Chaperone!" they all uttered together with relief.

Mamoru and Usagi looked at each other, chagrined and relieved. Well, that fixed THAT problem.

"You girls can sleep here for the night" Ikuko said, smiling around. "And then in the morning, you can tell me how you all became Senshi" she looked at Usagi and Mamoru. "This way, you two" she ordered, walking towards the stairs.

Mamoru muttered something and followed Usagi's mom, while Usagi snatched up Luna and followed closely behind.

"How did this link happen, Usagi?" Luna hissed at her charge as they headed down the hall towards Usagi’s room.

"I have NO idea. Other than the locket. He touched it-and boom" Usagi hissed back.

Luna's eyes went wide in horror. "He TOUCHED the locket? GREAT SERENITY!" she screeched.

Usagi and Mamoru both came to a complete stop where they were, standing like statues. Slowly, Mamoru turned around and looked down at Luna, while Usagi did the same.

"What did you say?" Mamoru demanded.

"I said-what? Oh great Serenity" Luna said, perplexed.

Usagi and Mamoru looked up at each other, eyes wide. They both KNEW that name!

"Who is Serenity?" Usagi said tentatively.

"She was the Queen of the Moon of course" Luna said loftily. "Haven't I told you this before, Usagi?"

"No, you haven't" Usagi said faintly, almost dropping the cat.

Chapter Eleven

Luna stared into Usagi's face-so close to her own-for a long moment, as if trying to perceive whether she HAD told the girl before or not. Coming to the conclusion that, no she hadn't told the Senshi about the Princess Serenity, Luna sighed and her eyes softened. "Perhaps I was remiss, Usagi" the cat admitted graciously, eyeing her charges still-startled blue eyes. ["Why does she look as if she just learnt something huge-oh. I suppose that the Senshi HAD wondered at one time or another, just exactly who they were looking for"]

"This is the first you've ever said her name" Usagi noted, biting her lip with unconscious worry. The name 'Serenity' had hit her like a lightning bolt. She threw a sidelong look at Mamoru, who had managed to recover his composure somewhat and was looking cool and uncaring. She frowned at him, wishing that she could read his mind again. ["Of course, then I'd have to explain to Luna and mom, why I transformed into Sailor Moon to go to bed"] Usagi giggled, holding Luna closer.

"Come on Usagi, it's time to settle down" Ikuko said indulgently. She looked at her daughter with considerably more favor, since she had discovered Usagi's secret. She had always known that her daughter was hiding SOMETHING, but nothing to compare with what she had discovered that night. Her daughter was Sailor Moon, she was bonded to a very handsome young man and-their cat Luna talked. Ikuko looked down at Luna as the four entered Usagi's comfortable room. "You don't mind being chaperone for them, Luna?" she asked politely, determined to accept the bizarre situation as any good mother-of-a-super-heroine would.

Luna padded over to Usagi's bed and leapt up lithely, then sat and turned her face towards Usagi's mother. "No. Not at all" she said. Luna's eyes swung towards a frozen Usagi and Mamoru, who stared at her icy look. "In fact, I would have insisted" she finished, red eyes glinting with disfavour. "I dislike this situation as much as you, Ikuko. But it cannot be helped. Usagi must be kept safe-so that we can fulfil our mission to find the Princess and the Rainbow Crystals-"

"Thanks, Luna" Usagi muttered, flushing dully. So that was all she meant to the cat and the others? It hurt. She blinked back tears, then smiled widely at Luna's next words.

"Of course, that isn't the main reason" the cat went on, looking at Usagi with soft eyes. "Usagi is important to us all and her safety means much to me-" she glared again at Mamoru. "Especially against you, Tuxedo Kamen!"

"Me?" Mamoru said, taken-aback. His eyes hardened into blue chips. "Hey! Exactly who always rescues Sailor Moon from danger? Are you really trying to tell me-"

"Us" Usagi cut in, glaring at her guardian also and crossing her arms haughtily.

"-US" Mamoru went on, after throwing the silver-haired girl a quick, startled look. "That you don't TRUST me with her life?" his words finished on an almost-yell, incredulity in his blue eyes.

"I'm sure she didn't mean that" Ikuko said calmingly, moving to stand beside her daughter. All three looked at Luna with varying expressions.

"Well...no. Not with her LIFE" Luna uttered. looking taken-aback. "I meant with Usagi herself. In her room. Alone" she emphasized, looking pointedly at Usagi and Mamoru as if she could psychically SEE what had happened between them at Mamoru's apartment...in his closet.

Usagi stiffened, blushing brightly. "Luna!" she gasped out, embarrassed. She pointed a finger sideways at Mamoru, vaguely in the direction of his muscular chest, which was an inch away. "I don't even LIKE him!" she protested.

"You could have fooled me!" Luna growled back. "You forget, Usagi! I was standing at the top of the stairs and saw everything"

"Then you must have heard me yelling at him for being a jerk!" Usagi snapped, huffing. She rolled her eyes towards her mother curiously to see what she was thinking. Ikuko had a slight smile about her mouth, watching the two teens and the cat with amusement. Usagi grimaced. ["She probably thinks that this is romantic!"] she groaned inwardly.

"Now, now-" Ikuko began soothingly to everyone.

"So-let me get this straight, Luna" Mamoru drawled suddenly, eyes as amused as Ikuko's had been a moment before. He also crossed his arms casually, then leant against the side wall of Usagi's bedroom, looking for all the world as if he owned it.

Usagi swallowed hard as her blue eyes skimmed over Mamoru's body subconsciously, absorbing everything. She could see the muscled in his chest and arms and longed suddenly to throw herself at him and kiss him senseless. She gaped and stepped a few feet from him discreetly, not trusting herself not to jump him right in front of her mother and Luna. ["Am I crazy?"] she gasped mentally, groaning. She firmly drew her eyes from his body and looked into Mamoru's eyes-then promptly wished that she hadn't.

He was watching her with a knowing expression in his eyes, along with a familiar hunger that made the bottom of her stomach drop out. "-You trust me with Sailor Moon's life-but not with HER?" he said slowly, eyes incredulously centered now on the black cat.

"Right" Luna said, sniffing haughtily. "I will stand guard over her EVERY hour of the day and night! If you so much as touch her, I'll scratch your eyes out" she announced importantly. Completely serious.

Usagi stared at the cat, startled by Luna's intensity. She stared sideways at her crush-what exactly was Luna so worried about? Usagi suddenly had a flashback to the closet, her kissing Mamoru like there was no tomorrow. ["Oh-right"] she flushed brightly. ["That's why"]

Ikuko looked at the three as if their conversation was completely normal and everything had been worked out-which it hadn't. She turned to leave. "I'll get Shingo and your father to bring in a mattress for Mamoru, while I get blankets"

Usagi, Luna and Mamoru watched the woman until she disappeared out the door and her footsteps down the hall.

Mamoru rounded abruptly on Luna, walking forwards and smiling mysteriously. "I'll accept your mistrust of me-for now" he said silkily. His shoulders went back proudly, an unaccustomed light of determination in his stance. "But don't think you can watch Usagi every moment of the day-"

"Mamoru!" Usagi gasped out. ["What is he DOING?!"]

But Mamoru went on, without giving Usagi a glance. "-Because I am just as much her protector as you and the Senshi. I always know when she's in danger and transforms-not you. I carry her away from the Youma. I'm ALWAYS there, watching" he went on relentlessly, ignoring Usagi's horrified eyes and Luna's enraged one's. Mamoru abruptly relaxed his stance and smiled gently at the cat. "Give me a chance Luna. Despite Usagi and my dislike of each other, Tuxedo Kamen is very fond of Sailor Moon and would never see her harmed" His eyes went distant as he remembered Brad stalking Usagi at the party earlier. "Especially from myself and others" he finished, with a certainty that shook both Luna and Usagi to the core.

Usagi reached up for a piece of her long silver hair and played with it, while watching Mamoru closely. ["He's changed too. I'm not sure how or why-but we BOTH were affected by that vision"] she was certain of it.

Luna's eyes softened as she continued to look at Mamoru. She sighed as if feeling very old and then lay down on the bunny and moon quilt. "I know that. I just-take my responsibility very seriously" Luna said slowly.

Usagi sighed as her parents and Shingo re-entered the room, carrying a large mattress and some sheets and blankets. They placed it a discrete distance from Usagi's bed-all the way across the room-and then filed out and closed the door.

Mamoru immediately went over and began to make his bed, his movements methodical and calm.

Usagi moved over to hover anxiously behind him, as thrilled with his being in her room as she was scared. If not for Luna, who KNOWS what might have happened! "Is that enough blankets?" she said nervously, eyes widening as Mamoru removed his jacket and then his shirt. Her eyes popped wide at the rippling muscles on his chest, arms and stomach. She thought that she was going to faint. ["Oh my GOD! He's trying to give me a heart attack!"] she gasped silently, staggering away before she threw herself physically at that perfect specimen of maleness. Mamoru was DEFINITELY a hottie!

"Mamoru! Cloth yourself this instant! Usagi is only fourteen!" Luna screeched from the bed, leaping up with indignant rage at the sight of a half-naked male.

Mamoru lifted an eyebrow mockingly in Luna's direction, then grinned with open amusement at the widely flushing Usagi-who refused to look at him at ALL. "I can't sleep fully dressed, Luna" he dismissed her words coolly. He sighed as she looked about ready to leap onto him and claw his eyes out. "I'll leave my pants on, for modesty's sake. Okay?" he bargained with the cat almost wistfully.

She paused, reconsidering. Her red eyes flashed from the fully-clothed Usagi, to the half-naked Adonis standing on the other-side of the room. "Fine. But stay your distance, Chiba Mamoru" Luna retorted, turning her back on him pointedly, as if to say that his body didn't interest her in the slightest. Of course, that was just a facade. Luna HAD once been a human girl! ["Oh my! Mamoru is very handsome, just as Artemis was"] she thought worriedly, trying to hide a flush on her furry face. ["I really hope this doesn't go to Usagi's head!"]

Usagi made her blush fade, then casually reached under her pillow for her bunny Pi’s. She grimaced when she saw them, holding them against her chest to hide them from Mamoru's intent gaze.

"What color are they, Odango?" he drawled from behind her.

Usagi spin, cloth still held frantically to her chest. Mamoru was across the room, laying lazily on the top of the blankets. "Er-" she gaped, eyes involuntarily going over his chest with hunger. The blue of her eyes glazed over. "Pink, with white bunnies" she finished weakly, stumbling blindly towards the door. It really couldn't be helped, what she wore. It wasn't sexy, but then again-did she really WANT Mamoru's attention? Sure they had kisses, a lot, but he was still her enemy- ["Arrggh! AND my crush!"] she groaned mentally, reaching for the door handle.

"Cute" Mamoru said, voice amused. "It's-very you, Odango Atama"

Usagi blinked, straightened and then turned to give the conceited jerk a glare. "Thhhhhb!" she stuck her tongue out at him, without thinking.

Mamoru's eyes grew abruptly intent and he half-raised himself from the blankets as if to go to her-but then remembered Luna's presence. ["What did I tell her about doing that?! Is she ASKING for me to jump her in front of her cat?"] he thought with exasperation and anger. The need to kiss the silver-haired girl was near-overwhelming. And now, he had to spend every night ALL night in her room...a few feet from her body...and not do a thing! "I can't take this" he groaned, rolling over to bury his face in his pillow.

Usagi flushed brightly, drew her tongue in and hastily exited the room-knowing EXACTLY what Mamoru had been thinking.

Chapter Twelve

She raced down the hall hastily-as if he might come after her...and she wasn't entirely sure he WOULDN'T. As she reached the bathroom door, an agonizing pain overwhelmed her. She gasped in pain and clutched at her stomach, feeling searing agony everywhere. ["Mamoru!"] she screamed silently, darkness startling to roll in. As she collapsed towards the floor, Pj's dropped unknowingly from limp hands, Usagi vaguely recalled Ami saying that she and Mamoru couldn't be separated-or they would die...Hands suddenly caught her up strongly and she was pulled into a tight hold against a muscular chest. A naked chest! Suddenly, the pain was gone and Usagi knew that it was Mamoru holding her. "Ouch?" she gasped, sweat beading her forehead. She looked up cautiously, expecting Mamoru's anger.

"You forgot?" he said, eyes tender. Mamoru cradled her into his chest with one hand and reached up with another to gently wipe the sweat from her fevered brow. ["Silly, Odango. We both forgot"] he shook his head. "Don't ask me how, but we both somehow become adjusted with me being in your life and forgot WHY" he said, groaning with incredulity and annoyance.

Usagi was thrilled to be in his arms, happy not to feel the pain any longer-and slightly annoyed with Mamoru's words. It was true, she HAD become accustomed to him being in her life-and it had only been one night. "Amazing" she said under her breath, slightly sarcastic. ["Exactly, how did my worst enemy suddenly become my only safe haven, in one night?"] Faintly, she felt disgusted at her weak mind and body. She was letting Chiba Mamoru get to her too much!

"Are you okay? Mamoru asked, after a moment of staring into her glazed eyes. His angel looked vastly annoyed about something and he had a feeling that it was over him. He smiled slyly, releasing her warm body and stepping back a pace.

Usagi saw his grin and looked at him warily. She KNEW that look in his eyes. Mischievous and hungry. "What are you up to, jerk?" she said automatically on the defensive. He HAD called her Odango Atama several times that evening, after all. If he wanted to play 'normal', then she would too!

"Oh, nothing, Odango" Mamoru said casually, leaning around Usagi to twist the bathroom knob. The door creaked open and they both stared into the darkness.

She was startled when Mamoru passed her and went into the bathroom, switching on the light. Her eyes narrowed on his naked back, wondering what he was up to now. ["Does he HAVE to walk around like that?' she complained mentally, eyes glued helplessly to the skin of his back.

He stared around with a thoughtful expression-noting the screen around the bath/shower, the toilet and then basin. "Hmm-this could be interesting" he murmured.

"WHAT could be, mister?" she demanded, barreling hastily into the bathroom behind him and closing the door. It would NOT do good for her parents-her dad especially-to see their daughter in the bathroom about to get changed and a half-naked superhero.

Mamoru threw her a devilish grin. "Why, the set up in here, of course" he gestured around the room grandly. 'NOT that I WANT to invade your privacy and destroy your modesty-but we REALLY can't be separated, Usagi" he said, half-serious and half-amused by the whole situation. The chance at seeing his angel naked was a VERY strong pull. EVEN if she was only fourteen. He could look, but not touch-right? ["Suuuure, Chiba"] he told himself mentally, viciously sarcastic. ["Like THAT is going to hold water, in court! I never touched her, your honor! Honest!"] Mamoru snorted out-loud and focused on Usagi's red face. Boy, she was STEAMED!

"WHAT?! She almost shrieked at him, eyes wide and incredulously horrified. "You CAN'T mean what I think that you mean! There's NO way in hell that you're staying in this bathroom while I have a shower naked!" she bellowed at him, enraged and embarrassed at the thought. Also, a niggling of excitement in the base of her stomach made her even more furious. She just couldn't resist him, could she?! ["He's going to PAY for this, I swear"] she promised herself, vowing revenge.

"Do you have another solution, Tsukino?" he roared back, exasperated and excited. ["This can only lead to a fight-or a round of frantic kissing"] he thought, half-eager.

"What's going ON in there?" Kenji shouted from outside the door.

Usagi and Mamoru froze, startled and horrified as Mr Tsukino banged authoritatively on the door.

"Oh nooooo" Usagi wailed quietly, biting her lip. Her eyes fell on Mamoru accusingly. "NOW look what you did, hentai!" she hissed in panic.

"Me?" he hissed back, leaning closer and eyeing the door warily. It wasn't locked, all said and done. "Are you forgetting the agonizing PAIN of being separated, Odango?!"

"Usagi? Is that BOY in there with you?!" Kenji yelled, voice shaking with rage. He was ready to pound Mamoru to a pulp if his suspicions were confirmed. "I'll KILL him!"

"Now dear. I'm sure nothing is going on" Ikuko's voice said calmly. "Usagi, dear?"

"I didn't forget-well, sort of" Usagi muttered, thrusting a slender foot against the base of the bathroom door to stop her father from bursting in.

Mamoru sighed and calmly reached over to lock the door, then took Usagi's arm and pulled her away from the door. "This is not good" he muttered, looking nervous. He was sure that Kenji's threat was completely serious. "Does your dad have a gun, by any chance?" he asked the shaking girl at his side, clinging to his arm.

"Er-no" Usagi said hesitantly, frowning heavily in thought. "At least-I don't think so" she bit her lip and raised her voice to shout out the door. "Dad! Do you have a gun?"

"YES!" Kenji bellowed thunderously.

"No, he doesn't!" Ikuko said firmly. "Is Mamoru in there with you, Usagi?" her voice was no-nonsense.

Usagi gulped and looked up at Mamoru, meeting his worried eyes. "Well, no gun-but he'll still try to strangle you" she finished matter-of-factly.

"Great" Mamoru said, swearing softly under his breath.

"What is going on here? Usagi? Mamoru?" Luna said, sounding accusing. "WHAT'S GOING ON IN THERE?" she shrieked suddenly, loosing her temper.

"NOTHING!" Mamoru and Usagi shouted simultaneously. Of course, that MADE them sound even MORE guilty than circumstances demanded. The two immediately glared at each other, accusing the other of being stupid.

"Bloody hell" Mamoru said, eyes narrowing. "I'm Tuxedo Kamen! I've faced Youma and Zoisite-I can face your father" he said, straightening his shoulders.

She took one look at the determination in Mamoru's eyes and promptly dug her feet into the cold tiles of the bathroom, hanging off of his arm frantically. "No, no! What are you going to do?" she wailed at him loudly, visions filled with bloody carnage. What chance did her broom-wielding father have against Tuxedo Kamen and his roses?! "Calm down, Mamoru!" she screeched as he tried to drag her with him towards the door, ignoring her weight entirely. "Stoooooop!" she commanded the unmovable mountain, grabbing hastily at his hand as it closed over the lock.

"Usagi?!" Kenji shouted suspiciously. "What's going on young lady-I'm ringing the police!"

"Noooo!" Usagi wailed through the door in panic. ["What did I do to deserve this mess? Mamoru and dad want to beat each other to a pulp!"]

"Don't be silly, Kenji. You can't ring the police over this incident" Ikuko said calmly.

"But I'LL go get the Senshi!" Luna growled threateningly. "Unless they open this door right now!"

"Right!" Kenji added, backing up the cat to the hilt.

"Fine with me!" Mamoru growled, trying to shake Usagi off again, without hurting her. She let go of his hand and arm and turned herself to fling her body into his. Mamoru stumbled back, arms full of her form and hair.

"Calm doooown! Don't kill each other! I need you both!" Usagi yelled into Mamoru's ear, arms clinging in a death-grip about his neck. Her legs swung up on either side of his hips to cling to his waist and keep him from the door. Really she WASN'T thinking very clearly at that moment and so could be excused from her really STUPID move.

Mamoru froze like a statue as his angel plastered herself from waist to neck on his body and refused to move an inch. Not that he could have inserted a ruler between them anyway... "Umm-Usagi?" he said in a strangled tone. "This REALLY isn't a good time to be clinging to me-" he groaned into her little ear, repressing his desire valiantly. ["The things I DO for this girl!"] he didn't move an inch as the pounding began on the door again. Mamoru's eyes frantically sought out the doors lock and confirmed that yes, it was locked and a homicidal father couldn't burst in and see his innocent daughter in a VASTLY compromising position. He could feel her breasts pressed against his naked chest through her top-and cursed the fates that she was only fourteen.

["Calm DOWN? Is she crazy?"] he thought dazedly, staring into her silver hair.

"What?" Usagi said, yanking her face back to look into his eyes, so close above hers. She abruptly seemed to realize just what position she was in and tired to hastily scramble down from his arms, face as bright as a tomato. "Ugh! Mamoru-hentai" she hissed with embarrassment, hands to her flaming cheeks. She’d almost reached the floor when hands wrapped tightly about her waist and yanked her back up into strong arms. She gaped at Mamoru as his head swiftly descended. ["Is he crazy?!"] she wailed, then as his lips touched hers-she promptly forgot everything and melted into his embrace. "Hmm"

"Mmm" Mamoru muttered back, around her lips, eagerly kissing deeper. Banging at the door reminded him and brought them both back to harsh reality. He blinked and let go, his angel almost falling onto her butt at his feet.

Usagi stumbled, glared up at him and stomped a foot furiously. "Quit throwing me about, you jerk! I’m not a teddy bear!" she thrust a finger against his bare chest and then hastily drew it back as the urge to run her fingers over him filled her.

"You ARE soft and cuddly though" he said seductively, grinning at her outraged face. He REALLY couldn’t feel sorry for that kiss!

"Oooh! Only you could think of kisses at a time like this! My dad’s ready to break down the door and you want smoochies?!" she screeched under her breath-an amazing feat, considering her lung capacity.

Mamoru obligingly looked impressed, then laughed low in his chest and grinned wider. "Yes" he drawled. "And I’ll kiss you again and again-"

"Ugh! I’m not listening, you hentai!" she wailed at him, clapping her hands over her ears. Truth be told though-if her parents and Luna weren’t outside the bathroom door, she would gladly have given Mamoru more smoochies than he could handle! She flushed and lowered her hands, staring at him sullenly. Really, life sucked when you wanted to kiss your worst enemy!

Mamoru was too busy trying to breath slowly and calmly to even reply to her words. ["Sure, I'm hentai! What does she expect when she throws herself into my arms and plasters her whole body against mine?!"]

Usagi gulped, decided that the firing squad was safer to face than a certain hunky guy-and promptly unlocked the door and flung it wide open. "Come in!" she yelled brightly, willing her cheeks to fade back to their normal color.

Kenji took one look at the half-naked Mamoru and lunged for his throat, face mottled with rage. "Young maaaaaan! Diiiiie!"

"No, dad!" Usagi yelled, realizing her error in judgement too late.

"Kenji!" Ikuko shouted, lunging after her husband and grabbing the back of his shirt.

Mamoru dodged sideways as the older man barreled into the bathroom, gibbering with rage. Kenji passed him so fast that he bounced off of the shower/bath screen and back into his wife. Both went sprawling to the floor.

"Hentai!" Luna screeched vengefully from the door. She promptly leapt at the offender to her charges virtue, claws extended.

To everyone shock and surprise, the black cat was caught mid-air in a dazzling display of reflexes-by Usagi. She stared down at her hands in equal shock, holding onto Luna firmly. ["I just-reacted. When I thought that she was going to hurt Mamoru"] Usagi thought wonderingly. She looked from her guardian to the guy who had so disrupted her life. "What-happened?" she asked weakly, letting Luna fall to her feet on the bathroom tiles.

"You moved so fast" Shingo said admirably from outside the door. Everyone looked at him and he stuck out his tongue. "What? You really think I could have slept through all that racket? Give me a break!" he snorted, winked at Mamoru and went back to his room.

After his door slammed, there was a long silence. Everyone staring at each other in perplexity.

"Where is your shirt, Mamoru? You'll catch a cold" Ikuko said slowly, getting up from the floor and dragging Kenji with her.

Kenji opened his mouth, then shut up without saying a word. But he glared at Mamoru accusingly, all the same.

"In the bedroom" Mamoru said shortly, running a hand through his hair distractedly.

"Nothing happened, everyone" Usagi suddenly burst out, annoyed with the whole situation. "I separated from Mamoru and he came-they pain was horrible" she bit her lip, eyes filling with tears. "We can't even go a room from each other without it happening"

"Ah, I see" Luna said, a little shame-facedly from below. "I apologize, Mamoru"

"That's fine" he muttered, staring at Usagi with a weird expression. He could have sworn that he saw something golden flash on her forehead when she caught Luna so fast. Her reflexes had been smooth and trained, like the other Senshi sometimes betrayed. But never Sailor Moon. ["I'm beginning to suspect that her change was more physical than mental"] Mamoru mused inwardly, eyes skimming over her long silver hair. It was pooling onto the floor and looked entirely too enticing.

"But still, we can't have you in the same room with Usagi when she has to be-naked" Ikuko blushed. She glanced around the room in thought. "How about Mamoru-you stand with your back against the bathroom door-and Usagi jump into the bath" the woman instructed.

Mamoru obligingly went to the door and pressed his back against it as Usagi climbed into the bath and stood there looking confused.

"Any pain?" Luna inquired with interest and concern. The nature of their bond was still a mystery to everyone.

"Just-sort of twinging" Usagi said, wincing slightly. It wasn't overly painful.

"The same here. It’s bearable" Mamoru confirmed, eyes coming alight with amusement. So he and Usagi would have to stand at doors for each other? When they had to change, take baths-go to the toilet. "Good lord!" he gasped, remembering something.

"What?" Usagi said in panic, seeing horror in his blue eyes.

"What about School?" he said, trying to sound patient. Inside, he was seething with panic and anger. He had tests! Studying-classes. What could they do?

"Oh dear" Luna groaned, an understatement.

Uncharacteristically, Usagi took over, voicing her thoughts. "Lets just take one thing at a time, okay?" she told them, feeling utterly weary. It was as if all the energy had suddenly drained out of her. She looked at them all and then Mamoru with tired blue eyes. "First things first. I need to change and then get some sleep. We still have Sunday to think this over. Everyone go back to bed" she commanded them all, eyes distant.

Mamoru nodded, eyes slightly startled and penetrating. "Good plan" he nodded, stepping out of the bathroom. The pain increased, but slightly and he tensed for a moment.

Usagi winced, then nodded her parents out. The door closed and she was left alone. She slowly climbed back out of the bath, locked the door and undressed. Her blue eyes were slightly glazed as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. The way she had commanded them-where had that come from? "What's happening to us?" she whispered, frightened. She and Mamoru were changing...

Chapter Thirteen

When Usagi made it back to her bedroom, clothed in her pink bunny Pj’s and her clothes under her arms, she noted that the light was still shinning under the door. She frowned lightly, biting her bottom lip. ["I was hoping that he'd be asleep by the time I got back"] she whispered mentally, chagrined that she'd have to face him after the fiasco in the bathroom. The kiss, the almost-strangling...her legs wrapped about his waist in a provocative manner... "Ugh!" she gasped, breathing hard. How, exactly had she ended up straddling Mamoru's hips in the bathroom-with her parents ready to break down the door to defend her virtue? Usagi snickered, trying to muffle it behind her free hand. The look on Luna's face as she pounced at Mamoru!

Suddenly, her bedroom door was yanked open ceremoniously, a figure looming up in front of her. "Just where have you been, young lady?" Mamoru boomed theatrically, face thrown into the shadows menacingly.

Usagi gaped at him, falling back a pace. She blinked, then spotted the grin playing about his sensuous mouth. ["I'm gonna kill him!"] she swore, plastering a sweet as sugar smile over her lips. Her blue eyes gleamed with mischief as she opened her mouth to give him an ear-full.

"Er-I've always wanted to say that" Mamoru said under his breath, stepping back. His face was very embarrassed, but also wistful.

She stared at him for a moment, mouth closing quickly. He had the strangest look in his eyes. "Umm-why?" she asked, sweeping past him. She walked to the bed, dumped the clothes at the end next to Luna and then turned back to face her room mate.

"Well, I never had any brothers or sisters..." he began, then glared. "Why am I telling you this?! How long does it take to have a bloody bath anyway? I’ve been waiting impatiently for you for an hour, Odango Atama!"

Usagi's expression, which had begun to soften at his confession, promptly hardened into a burning glare. "Jerk! I have a right to relax in my own house! You don't own me, Chiba!" she shouted at him, face going red with rage. ["How dare he!"]

"Oh, don't I just!" He roared back at her, eyes flashing.

Usagi and Mamoru froze, mouths falling open in shock. She went white and then red in the face, mouth gaping like a fish. "What did you just SAY?" she squeaked at him disbelievingly. ["Did he just say what I THINK he said?!"] she felt excitement and indignation seething inside her. Part of her wanted to throw herself in his arms and be damned with the consequences-and the other wanted to punch him. She settled for the latter.

"Er-" Mamoru began, looking horrified and sheepish at the same time. Before he could blink, the silver-haired girl had flown over the space separating them and pulled back her arm.

"Eat FIST, you CREEP!" she shrieked, swinging up in a right-hook. It caught Mamoru squarely under the chin. He flew back, eyes glazed. It really was quite a punch, she had to admit. Worthy of Sailor Moon. Her crush/worst enemy flew backwards an amazing distance and hit the far wall of her bedroom with a satisfying crash. He slid down the wall, head slumped.

"Thank you, Odango" he muttered at her vaguely, eyes trying to focus. Mamoru gingerly raised a hand and felt at his jaw to see if it was broken. When he established that he would only have a HUGE bruise come morning, he raised his blue eyes to stare at her balefully. "That was uncalled for!" he snarled at her, eyebrows lowered.

Usagi snorted, crossing her arms and glaring at him. "Oh really? Just when exactly did I become your property, jerk-" she began heatedly.

"When I made out with you in my closet AND the bathroom" Mamoru said loudly, staring at her with penetrating eyes.

Luna gasped in shock from behind them and they both jerked around to look at the furious cat. "You WHAT?" Luna bellowed, fur puffing out in every direction. She abruptly grew in size, eyes glinting with menace. "I KNEW it! You cad! You hentai! You-"

"Luuuna! Mom and Dad will hear you!" Usagi wailed, biting her lip and staring from the homicidal cat to the decidedly miffed Chiba Mamoru. Okay, so MAYBE she shouldn't have hit him? ["Nah!"]

"What did he touch?!" Luna hissed at her charge, ready to launch an all-out assault on the offender.

"Calm down, Luna! It was only a kiss-" Usagi began hastily.

"Lots of them" Mamoru added distinctly, getting to his feet.

"Mamoru!" she hissed at him in horror. "Don't say anything you moron! Luna is really to murder you in cold blood!"

"Exactly!" Luna said, baring her teeth at Mamoru threateningly.

"Just try it" Mamoru said calmly, lips curving. ["I can handle a cat-right?"]

"Time out!" Usagi waved her hands around frantically, trying to distract them both. Without her noticing, one arm of her Pj’s slid down, exposing a great deal of one creamy white shoulder and an enticing view of her cleavage.

Mamoru shut his eyes, groaning. "Oh no! Not again!" he muttered, shaking his head in denial. ["I'm supposed to sleep in the room with her-and her clothes are falling off?!"] It really was too much! He opened his eyes and fixed a burning gaze of the unknowing Usagi. She looked like an angel there, with her silver hair. His eyes drew over her features, seeming so familiar to him. He'd known her for months and hated her as much as she hated him, but how was it possibly that he had memorized every single feature so completely? He could have drawn her with his eyes shut. ["I can't take it! That's it!"]

"Take it like a man, Mamo-Chan!" Usagi blurted out at him, hearing him groan aloud and mistaking his thoughts. "You and Luna have to get along-eeep!" her calm words broke off as her guest fairly LEAPT at her, blue eyes flashing. Before she could blink, or Luna shriek with outrage, Usagi was swept into Mamoru's arms tightly and kissed thoroughly. And all she could think was how long Mamoru was going to be allowed to live once he released her and Luna got her claws into the hunky seducer.

Mamoru was similarly encumbered, but by the silver-haired girl in his arms. All he could think about was kissing her-again and again...and her parents and guardian be damned! ["I don't care!"] he thought rebelliously, deepening the kiss with Usagi. ["She's mine, whether she admits it or not-"] Usagi's arms crept about his neck, holding his even closer and throwing herself eagerly into the kiss. It startled him for a moment, then his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She wanted him as much as he wanted her-even if she wasn't aware what all the feelings inside meant. She groaned into his mouth, trying to pull him even closer into her body as feelings coursed through them both uncontrollably. Mamoru was shocked at how fast their heart beats felt against each other's chests. The two were pressed so close-one of his legs in between hers-that he was loosing control. ["What am I saying? I'm HERS too"] he thought hastily, knowing it to be the absolute truth. ["Usagi...."]

["What did I call him before he kissed me?"] Usagi thought in a daze, trying to recall anything past the warmth of his lips. She felt the leg between her own acutely, as if separated from her body. Excitement spiraled through her, making her gasp around their frantic kissing. She wanted-something...so much! Frantically, her fingers tightened in the dark locks of his hair. ["I want...I want..."] she thought, knowing only him. Nothing existed but this...

Abruptly, the haze of excitement and pleasure exploded into a vision. Usagi and Mamoru didn't even have time to gasp before they were both pulled into a memory of the Moon Princess'. But this time, they were just there to watch, they weren’t really there as they had been the last time.

The room was cavernous and brightly lit with candles and bright silks along the walls, long tables filled with food piled high-and the room was crowded almost uncomfortably with people in strange garb. Mamoru and Usagi's wide eyes took in the beautiful women dressed in silk, lace and velvet gowns, the men no less resplendent. It was a beautiful room, with beautiful people...and very alien to the two watching. It was a scene from another century entirely.

["What's happening?"] Usagi said in dismay, reaching over to clutch at his arm. She started in surprise as her fingers wrapped around naked flesh. ["It MUST NOT be a memory! I mean-how can he be half-naked in a memory so old? Are we really here?" she looked up at him, bewildered.

Mamoru looked down at her quickly, as if sensing her feelings. His blue eyes narrowed at her, as if trying to determine her thoughts. Her fingers tightened around his arm and he glanced down involuntarily. "My shirt-so, are we awake?" he murmured. Mamoru reached out to draw Usagi close, noting that no one seemed to look in their direction at all-which suggested that they couldn't even SEE he and Usagi standing there. He glanced down at the trembling girl in his arms, feeling like he had to protect her from this, no matter the cost. They were in a strange place and among possibly hostile people. His fingers clenched into Usagi's shoulder with rage-he could do nothing but watch! They were just witnesses in the Princess' memories...if that was were they were... ["I'm as confused as Usagi-but I'll never let her know. She needs me to be strong"] he thought, stroking a hand down her hair absently.

Usagi's finger curled into the top of Mamoru's slacks, holding onto him in a death grip. This place was strange and frightening-yet SO very familiar to her. Her blue eyes skimmed around the room, noting the high roof with delicate paintings. And the people-was that someone she knew? She frowned, staring about with curiosity. She knew this place! She was sure of it!

"Attention, nobles all" a cultured voice said, filled with warmth and love. "The Crown Princess Serenity, my daughter, will now sing for you all"

Usagi started at the name 'Serenity', absently getting up onto her tippy-toes to see over the crowd. "The Princess?" She exclaimed in excitement. "She's here? We MUST be in one of her memories!"

"Yes" Mamoru murmured, striving to be calm. "It seems that we thought aright, Usagi" he spoke slowly, with a strange inflection as he stared over the heads of the crowd.

Usagi glanced at him, a perplexed frown forming between her brows. ["Why do we both sometimes sound like someone else?"] she wondered, biting her lip.

The crowd burst into enthusiastic, yet polite applause, an excited murmur spreading from person to person.

"Serenity is singing. What an honor" someone breathed.

"The Princess' voice is said to put everyone who hears it, under her spell" another whispered, giggling.

"I've never seen her before" a woman murmured in front of Mamoru and Usagi, her voice hushed and awed. "She is said to be the most beautiful woman in all the Silver Millennium"

"It's true" her companion boasted pridefully.

"I can't see her, Mamoru" Usagi whispered to him, trying to see the Princess they were all speaking of. They'd seen her briefly, that first time in the closet-before she faded and was gone. ["We're going to see the Princess clearly!"] she thought happily. ["I can identify her to the other Senshi-Luna will be so happy!"] At last, they'd know the appearance of the girl they were searching so faithfully for...

"Come on" Mamoru said, voice full of impatience. He took a hold of one of Usagi's small hands and calmly began weaving through the crowd.

Usagi shied away in horror as her arm actually went THROUGH the body of a woman in the crowd. "Mamoru!" she gasped in horror.

He looked down sharply, saw what she was frightened about and promptly tried to edge his way to the front of the crowd without touching another soul. His skin crawled. ["This is really weird"] he thought, grimacing. ["But I HAVE to see the Princess. Her face has never been clear to me"]

But before they could clear the crowd and see the Princess-she began to sing. Mamoru stopped dead, halting Usagi as the voice wrapped around them. There was no way to describe her voice-but everyone in the room was helplessly enchanted. ["An angel"] he thought dazedly. The Princess sounded like an angel! No mortal could sing like that!

Once upon a time,
Love was just so easy,
The Prince would climb the tower,
And conquer the Princess' heart.

But times have changed so much, for now,
The Fairytales are gone,
But I believe, that some day, somehow,
Love will find a way.

So, Believe in magic,
Believe in love,
Believe in all the things you're dreaming of.

Believe we'll be together,
Though life stands in our way,
Believe we'll be together,
Forever and a day.

Many hardships stand before us,
And life will drag us down,
But take hope, in all that's deep inside,
A love that is unbound.

So, Believe in magic,
Believe in love,
Believe in all the things you're dreaming of.

Believe we'll be together,
Though life stands in our way,
Believe we'll be together,
Forever and a day.

No time will bring weakness nor regret,
I'll wait here for a lifetime,
And search the skies for a sign,
Whether mortal or divine...

The Princess' voice trailed off into a sort of longing regret just as Mamoru and Usagi reached the foremost of the crowd. He caught sight of a slender figure standing upon a dais, long silver hair gleaming in the candle-light...then everything began to fade...

"That was beautiful, my love" a man said, voice filled with love, pride and tenderness.

"Thank you, Endymion" the Princess' voice breathed.

Everything disappeared into darkness. Mamoru and Usagi came back to reality very slowly. They blinked, eyes wide and unseeing. It was as if they were still there, locked inside the memory of the Princess.

Mamoru could still hear her voice, so lovely and haunting. It had touched his soul. ["Beautiful"] he murmured mentally, blinking to clear the haze from his eyes.

Usagi blinked and realized that she was warm and-her lips were still locked on Mamoru's. She gasped and jerked back, eyes wide and unseeing. "Did that really happen?" she breathed, shocked. It had been so vivid! Suddenly, she groaned and fell fully against Mamoru, energy gone.

He stared over her head, arms automatically coming about her shoulders comfortingly. He hadn't really seen her face, only felt her lips jerking from his with an unpleasant rush of air separating their bodies. He was dazed and lost in the memory, but vaguely head Usagi's words. "I don't know" he murmured at her, resting his chin on her silver locks.

They both continued to breath hard for a long time- ["Probably from lack of oxygen"] Mamoru thought wryly. If they'd kissed the whole time they were lost in the memory, they were lucky they hadn't passed out! ["So why do I want to kiss her again?"] he asked himself, eyes closing tightly. He was incorrigible!

"Why did you do that?" Usagi groaned at him, panting. She couldn't have left his arms if a bomb went off under their feet. It wasn't only physical, but mental bonding too. Now-she could feel it acutely, the tie between them. "The kiss-I mean" she muttered almost incoherently. They'd just gone through an amazing experience and all she could think about was Mamoru's lips on hers. ["I'm an idiot!"]

"I acted like a man" he panted back, holding her close. They both leaned into each other for strength after such a world-shattering kiss... "What was that-" he began, recalling the memory. The Princess-singing like an angel, her voice wrapping about him...

"Serenity again. Why are we getting HER memories? What did we do when we bonded?" Usagi whispered, raising her head to look into his eyes and see what he was feeling. "Were you a part of the Moon Kingdom too, Mamoru-" she broke off abruptly as her eyes fell upon something unexpected. On Mamoru's forehead was a glowing deep blue symbol. She gasped, falling backwards. His arms fell from around her, but neither seemed to notice. Usagi's eyes jerked back to Mamoru's to tell him-and saw that he too was staring at HER in shock. "WHAT?" she asked swiftly.

"Your forehead...is glowing gold..." He said faintly, eyes deepening to almost black. He seemed shocked and-stunned.

She looked at him the same way, studying the symbol. ["It looks familiar"] she thought, stepping closer.

Mamoru's eyes narrowed. He stepped towards her also and reached up a gentle hand to rub at her forehead. "It won't come off, Usagi" he murmured disbelievingly. The crescent moon on her forehead was like a tattoo. It was under the skin and...beautiful. SHE was beautiful. ["What does this mean?"] he thought, taken-aback. Yet, he was strangely calm too.

"What does mine look like?" Usagi demanded, trying to peer upwards. She glared and then spun away in frustration to stare into her dresser mirror. "A crescent moon?" she exclaimed, eyes wide. Indeed it was. And it hadn't faded. A golden crescent moon on her forehead. She reached up to touch it lightly, then harder, scrubbing at the skin frantically.

Mamoru walked up behind her and pulled her hand away from her reddening skin firmly. "It's there to stay-for now" he told her, peering at his own forehead. "Hmm-I'm not update with my astrology, but this looks like the symbol for Earth" he murmured to her thoughtfully, studying the blue symbol on his skin. On her, it looked natural, but he wasn't so sure if he liked his newest addition.

"Do you think that the Princess gave them to us? I wonder what they mean" Usagi said, voice lower.

Mamoru's face shot towards hers, at her astute observation. Was it just him, or was the Odango becoming more intelligent lately. Sometimes that night, she'd said thinks that seemed for beyond her age. "I suppose so" he said slowly, not so sure. "I mean, we had a vision of her-and then this...I just don't know, Usagi"

"But-how do we hide it? Everyone will be staring at our foreheads" Usagi whined slightly, destroying his adult image of her. She was still a fourteen year old girl-who had admittedly made out with him like there was no tomorrow-and she still had doubts and fears.

Mamoru sighed, staring at them both in the mirror. So much had happened to them that night. And in the morning, they had to explain their glowing symbols to Usagi’s homicidal father.

"Where's Luna?" Usagi suddenly asked, realizing that her cat was missing.

Across the room, the curtains blew out gently, betraying the open window.

Chapter Fourteen

Luna ran frantically down the sidewalk, looking neither left nor right. Her eyes were still impossibly wide from the revelation of minutes ago. ["How could I have been so blind? So stupid!"] she seethed with anger-directed entirely at herself. Her paws flashed over the pavement as she ran faster than she ever had in her life-towards the Crown Game Center. A minute of frantic running later, she finally reached her destination. She halted, gasping, with head lowered for a moment. Luna's red eyes rose and briefly her golden crescent moon glowed. The glass sliding doors to the arcade opened immediately, admitting the cat into the darkness. She headed straight for the Sailor V video game and leapt up onto the control panel. "Computer-contact me with Central Command! This is urgent!" she cried at it, body filled with anxiety.

"Confirm name and password" an expressionless voice asked from the video game. The screen glowed at her, waiting.

"This is Luna-password...Kittynap" she said, pausing slightly over the ridiculous password which her contact at Central had suggested.

The screen glowed brighter and then another voice spoke. A male. "This is Central, Luna. What do you have to report?" the voice inquired, with a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"Control, we've made a big blunder that I don't know how we can recover from!" she almost shouted at the screen.

"Calm down, Luna and tell me what happened" the voice ordered.

"I've found the Princess!" Luna said urgently. "She was right under our noses-I can't believe how stupid I was not to see it before!"

"You've found the Princess?!" he exclaimed in shock. "Are you sure, Luna?"

"Positive, Control! She's the ditzy blonde girl that we made leader of the Sailor Senshi!" Luna said with exasperation and disbelief. After all this time, sleeping in the same room, being a guardian to her and instructing Sailor Moon-Luna had discovered that they'd made a BIG mistake and made their Princess a warrior. "I can't believe it! All this time looking for the Princess and she was the first Senshi we found!" she thumped a paw down hard on the controls, filled with rage and desperation.

"Tsukino Usagi? Sailor Moon?" he said with incredulity. 'The girl you said was so clumsy and lazy is actually our Princess?" he paused. "Are you POSITIVE? This has to be a mistake"

"I'm POSITIVE, Control!" Luna spat impatiently. "And not only THAT-I've also found Prince Endymion!"

"The Prince TOO?" he was again startled. "How....tell me everything!" he commanded.

Luan sighed, sat down on the controls and tried to think back over the night's events. The whole picture wasn't clear though. She just couldn't see how locking Usagi and Mamoru in a room to scream at each other had started a chain reaction. "All right" she said, more calm now that she had relayed the shattering news. Slowly, she began to recount the conversation she had heard from above-stairs.

Control was silent for a long time, after he heard Luna's story. "How could we have missed it?" he wondered aloud, berating himself, as Luna had done earlier. "Luna-do you...remember anything more?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, frowning lightly.

"Specifically tonight?"

"Why-yes" Luna said, taken-aback. "As a matter of fact, I didn't recognize her as the Princess until her moon symbol and his began to glow...then I suddenly began remembering Princess Serenity and her fiancée the Prince of Earth. It was a blank before that. Almost as if her birthright triggered my own memories"

"It's strange that you should say that Luna" he murmured thoughtfully. "I too tonight began to remember the past more clearly. But not knowing what this Tsukino Usagi looked like, I could not connect her with my memories of the past"

"It's very important" Luan lowered her head, sighing deeply. "We can't tell her! Not only that, the other Senshi will never believe the girl they think so ditzy is their beloved Princess"

"No, you're right. If what you say is true, the Usagi has no idea what her slow transformation into Serenity means. Nor would Mamoru. It's best if we keep an eye on her, but say nothing"

"But we have to guard her!" Luna cried out in frustration. "I've made the heir to the Silver Millennium, the crown PRINCESS a warrior. What if she had been killed during a battle? What if it could still happen. How do I have the others guard her without telling them?"

"We'll think of something, Luna. Be calm" he soothed.

"Control, can you come here?" she asked anxiously. "I need help with this"

"I'm afraid that I cannot, just yet, Luna" he replied regretfully. "I've just located a girl that I believe to be Sailor Venus. She has no idea that she is a Senshi and is untrained. The Princess already has three guardians, as well as you. This is important also"

"I know" she sighed. "Luna out"

The screen went dark again, leaving Luna in pitch black, but for the light shining from the moon outside. She leapt down from the console, tail dropping wearily. ["How could I have made such a mistake?"] she wondered, leaving the arcade and heading back home. Usagi would be safe enough for now, with Tuxedo Kamen close by and the house filled with family. But what happened when Usagi had to go to school? Or left the house? Or-had to go into battle? She shuddered, picturing the silver-haired girl laying injured. Queen Serenity's daughter. Luna groaned, walking slowly along the sidewalk, eyes unseeing. "What have we done?"

"What do we DO, Mamoru! I can't hide this!" Usagi wailed at him, eyes tearing up. It wasn't that she hated the newest addition to her body-just that she had no idea what it meant and why it was THERE.

"Calm down, Odango" he sighed at her, frowning into the mirror. He turned his face left and right, wondering if his hair would be sufficient to cover the blue symbol.

"And don't call me that, creep!" she yelled. She paled, threw a hasty look at her closed bedroom door and swallowed hard. ["I hope that didn't wake dad again"] she winced. Her father was just LOOKING for an opportunity to bash Mamoru unconscious! ["Over my dead body!"] she shouted mentally, eyes narrowing. The blue burned for a moment, mind filled with flames. No one hurt Mamoru! Well-only HER!

"Stop shouting, Odango! You'll wake the whole house" Mamoru said absently. Then he froze and turned slowly to look into her stunned eyes. "You er-didn't say that out loud, did you?" he asked rather weakly.

Usagi shook her head, mouth gaping. ["Mamoru? Can you hear me?"] she thought towards him tentatively, half afraid that he would hear her.

He groaned, covering his face with his hands. Mamoru shook his head slowly, as if in disbelief. "Yes" he said, resigned. He removed his hands and looked at her with incredulity and then weary acceptance. "I heard you, Usagi"

"How-?" she began, then paused, looking over his shoulder towards her dresser mirror. She stared hard at the glowing golden crescent moon on her forehead. "Never mind! I know how!" she seethed, lifting a finger to point accusingly at her reflection in the mirror. "THIS did it! The Princess' memories! AND the moon broach" her eyes fell down to the offending broach, laying precariously on the edge of the dresser corner. "None of this happened until we had that vision of the Princess when you touched the broach!"

"Don't blame the Princess" he warned her quietly, eyes glinting. He sighed, expression calming. "We just deal with this, like everything else that happened tonight"

"But WHY?" Usagi said urgently, nibbling on her bottom lip. She watched him as he frowned deeply, lost in thought. ["What is he thinking about so hard?"] she wondered, momentarily forgetting their mind-link.

"I was thinking what this-" he pointed a finger at her forehead, then gently traced it around the crescent moon. "Has to do with the Princess-and why are we linked? And why will we die if we don't stay together?" he finished in frustration.

Usagi shrugged her shoulders lightly, uncertain. She was as much in the dark as the handsome guy standing in front of her. Her eyes involuntarily fell to his naked chest, tracing over the muscles with hungry eyes. He really was beautiful....and she REALLY wanted to run her hands over his chest! She groaned. ["How like me to be thinking about running my hands over Mamoru's chest and kissing him senseless, when we're in deep trouble"] she thought incredulously.

["Please, don't let the situation stop you"] Mamoru suddenly drawled at her.

Usagi's eyes jerked up, widening with horror and embarrassment. ["The bond! Arrgggh! He heard me"]

["Can still hear you"] he thought back at her, eyes burning into hers. He stepped closer, presenting his chest to her. ["Run your hands over my chest and kiss me senseless, please"] he said silkily, lowering his head until their lips were a breath away.

She swallowed, face blushing furiously. "Er-well, that is...shouldn't we be trying to figure this out?" she stammered, gazing into his eyes.

["She's really beautiful when she blushes"] Mamoru thought, lips curving into a smile.

"Thank you" she blushed brighter.

He started slightly in surprise, then smiled wider. "This is going to take some getting used to" he murmured, reaching out to wrap his arms about her waist tightly.

Usagi was drawn up close to his body, chest to chest with a half-naked Mamoru. Her blood began to burn in her veins, excitement coiling in the pit of her stomach. Her eyes fell to his lips and before she knew it, she'd leaned up on her tippy-toes and closed the space between their lips. Vaguely, she remembered that the last time they kissed, they had a vision of the Princess-but really didn't care. All she could feel was his warmth, his intoxicating scent...his tongue lightly brushing against hers. She was sinking beneath a tidal wave of sensation.

Mamoru groaned into her mouth, fingers slipping beneath the top of Usagi's bunny pj's, seeking the warmth of her silky skin. He traced his fingers along the elastic of her pants slowly, enjoying the feeling. She smelt so sweet, like roses...or was it him? ["I want her so much..."] he thought with dismay and excitement. She was only fourteen!

["Want me?"] Usagi thought back vaguely, perplexed. ["You already have me...and kissing me...and..."] her thoughts trailed off into pleasure as he deepened the kiss abruptly. ["I wish this would never end"] she thought dreamily.

["So do I"] he groaned back, pulling her in closer to his body. He half-glanced up at the ceiling light with annoyance, wishing he could turn it off. Then something hit him and he jerked back from Usagi swiftly, their lips tearing apart.

She gaped at him, eyes glazed over and bewildered. ["What? What did I do?"] she thought to him, stunned and hurt by his withdrawal.

Mamoru immediately reached out for her, pulling her into his arms comfortingly. "Nothing, Usagi. Nothing at all. You were...perfect" he frowned over her head. "I just remembered that we left my apartment all alone and defenseless before a room-full of drunken College students"

Usagi's eyes widened in shock. "Oh no!" she gasped, then broke into laughter. "They probably all passed out on the floor" she whispered hysterically at him, eyes filling with helpless tears at the vision of dozens of teens laying at weird angels all over Mamoru's expensive apartment.

"It's not funny" Mamoru protested. "My god! My wallet is there! Ugh!" he broke away from her again, glaring at nothing. It wasn't that he didn't trust the people from his College...right? ["Suuuuure, Chiba! Keep telling yourself that! I bet the alcohol died up a while back and they were looking for more"]

"They like getting drunk that much?" Usagi said, in surprise. She couldn't picture it at all. The drinks that she'd had earlier had given her a dreamy feeling-but nothing that she'd like to repeat.

"We have to go there" Mamoru suddenly exclaimed, thumping a fist into the palm of his other hand with impatience.

Usagi's mouth fell open. She glanced at the clock on her bedside table and noted that it was three in the morning. "GO THERE?!" she almost shrieked at him, startled at the time. ["Are you nuts? I'm in my pj's and you're half naked and you want to go to your apartment?!"]

He winced at her mental shrieking and crossed his arms, looking at her determinedly. "Right, Odango"

"Don't call me that" she gritted at him through her teeth, extremely displeased. "Can't you go alone?" she asked hopefully.

"Only if you want us both dead" he pointed out, eyes rolling. Once again, the ditz had arisen out of his angel.

She glare furiously at him, tempted to thump him over the head with something hard. ["Annoying jerk"] she thought resentfully, knowing that he'd hear. She pouted for a moment, then gave in. "Fine, but turn your back while I change"

Mamoru grinned at her slyly, very pleased that Usagi hadn't ordered him out into the corridor. ["Maybe I have a chance with her after all. Maybe when she's older"] he mused, pleased.

["Older?"] she thought back at him, perplexed again. The way he thought sometimes was bewildering.

"Never mind" he muttered, embarrassed. "Er-do you need to change? What I mean is, when you transform, you don't need to be wearing anything at all?" he looked at her challengingly as she flushed brightly.

"Mamoru, hentai!" she hissed, then nodded, still glaring at him. "We go transformed then?" she inquired, then nodded as she answered her own question. "Of course we do. But what about these?" she pointed up at her forehead significantly.

Mamoru stared at her, then rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I completely forgot, for a moment" he groaned.

Usagi smiled at him impishly. "Now who's the ditz?" she teased lightly.

["Just transform, Odango"] he growled at her playfully, hands itching to yank her into his arms and give her a thorough kissing.

"Right!" she saluted and walked over to the dresser for her broach. "Moon Prism Power, Make up!" she cried out.

Nothing happened.

Usagi and Mamoru both stared at each other, then at the broach.

She shook it impatiently, frowning. "It is broken? Did you break it?" she accused, staring up at Mamoru threateningly.

"Don't be stupid, Odango Atama" he said, stalking forward to look at the broach intently. He reached out a hand tentatively, paused and then bravely touched the broach. Nothing happened. No vision, no power...nothing.

"I can't transform?" Usagi breathed incredulously. She tried again, this time filled with panic. "Moon Prism Power, Make up! Moon Prism Power, Make up!" But it was no use. Either the broach was broken...or somehow, something was interfering. She looked up at Mamoru with anxiety and fear. ["I can't become Sailor Moon"]

Chapter Fifteen

"I'm sure-there's something we can do. Maybe Luna-?" Mamoru suggested, eyes concerned. He could tell how much being Sailor Moon and protecting her friends and Tokyo meant to the angel. ["It will be all right, Usagi"] he murmured soothingly, pulling her again into his arms.

Her hand dropped limply, fingers opening so that the golden broach fell unnoticed to the carpet. Usagi felt-numb. ["I can't be Sailor Moon. The team-what can I do?"] she felt tears start in her blue eyes and tried to fight them back bravely. ["Rei would say I'm a big baby if she saw me now"] she sobbed mentally, clinging to Mamoru tightly about his waist.

["I'm sure she wouldn't"] Mamoru said, frowning. Did Rei really treat Usagi that badly? Or was she exaggerating and upset?

"Of course I'm upset!" she flared at him, rubbing her face hard into his naked chest to force back the tears. Anger worked good. "And I'm NOT exaggerating! You know what a temper Rei has!"

"Yesssss" Mamoru said, drawing out the word doubtfully. Sure, Rei always fought with Usagi-but not when it counted, right?

"I suppose" she mumbled sighing into his warm skin. She kissed the skin under her mouth absently, grateful for his comforting presence.

Mamoru gently kissed her forehead over the crescent moon and then released her. Now would be a good time to distract her. "Come on Odango. Lets go to my apartment now and think this over after we've had a little sleep" Mamoru coaxed, grabbing one of her slender hands in his larger one's. He yanked her purposefully-yet gently-towards the open window.

Usagi dug her heels into the carpet, glaring at the back of his head. "Odango?! I told you NOT to call me that, jerk!" she yelled at him, infuriated. ["Creep"] she muttered resentfully into his mind. ["And what makes you think I want to go back to the place where all this trouble started?"] she yelled as an afterthought.

["Trouble? That's what you call out making out?"] He turned around to face her in time to see her flush brightly. His eyes glinted with suddenly devilry. "Okay then" he purred, stepping close to her. Mamoru pulled her hand against his chest and held it captive there, looking down into her beautiful face. "What should I call you then? Angel face? Crescent? Moon beam?" he suggested randomly, eyes sweeping over her form speculatively. She certainly LOOKED like an angel.

Usagi's face filled with chagrin. "NONE of those names, thank you! It's Usagi, Mamoru!" she told him furiously, yet inside she was aware of a brief surge of satisfaction. He was willing to give up the hated name, yet wanted a pet-name for her. She grinned slyly, trying to hide it from him.

["I have it"] he whispered into her mind mockingly. ["I shall call you...Usako!"]

"WHAT?!" she shrieked at him, flushing brighter with embarrassment. Her blue eyes filled with incredulity. "Since when am I your little bunny, exactly?!"

"Are we going to have to re-enact the multitudes of kisses we've had over the night?" he asked her mischievously, eyes burning with desire. ["Not that I MIND, Usako. But do you really think that you can make out with a guy that way and NOT be his?"]

Usagi stamped her foot on the floor, glaring at the hated jerk. Involuntarily, her eyes fell to his chest, where her hand was held against the warm skin tightly by one of his. ["They were only kisses"] she answered weakly, not really sure if her heart was in it. She HAD enjoyed his kisses-a lot. And who else had she EVER kissed like THAT? "Eeep" she uttered, flushing brighter.

"Besides" Mamoru went on slyly. "I seem to recall a certain silver-haired girl calling me, Mamo-Chan before I kissed her"

"You-you stop that! I did NO such thing!" Usagi shouted at him, trying to yank her hand free of his. ["How dare he mention that?! I thought he didn't notice"]

["Of course I noticed. We're in each other's head's now-remember?"] Came Mamoru's amused response.

Usagi rolled her eyes at him resentfully. "Fine then jerk, You're Mamo-Chan and I'm Usako...happy?" she glared up at him, bottom lip pouting out.

She looked so adorable that Mamoru wanted to kiss her-bad. He deemed it now the time to retreat back to his apartment, before they did something they'd regret. "Okay, lets go" he said abruptly, turning again to the window.

Once again, Usagi dug in her feet. "Waiiiiit! Mamoru! I can't transform and you want us to jump out of a second story window?" she fairly wailed at him.

Mamoru sighed. "Right" he muttered. ["Way to go, Chiba. Be soooo distracted that you completely forget to transform"] He reached into thin air and sort of gestured. A perfect red rose dropped into his hand.

Usagi blinked at him, then power surrounded Mamoru and he disappeared beneath it. Her fingers tingled, still locked within his and then suddenly-there was glove under her hand. She noted the soft material, then looked Tuxedo Kamen over slowly, from head to foot. He was gorgeous and-A smile spread over her face. ["Mine"] she thought, a surge of jealously hitting her.

["Now you know how I feel, Odango"] he told her mockingly, smiling at her from under the white half-mask. His eyes glittered at her hungrily. ["I'm still perfectly willing AND able to kill any guy who so much as lays a finger on you"]

["Are you SERIOUS?!"] she shrieked at him, eyes going wide with shock. And he WAS completely, she could see. "You jerk! You DON'T own me!" she yelled aloud.

Tuxedo Kamen sighed, rolled his eyes and quickly released her hand. Before she could run off, he bent swiftly and swept her up into his arms, cradling her close to his chest. ["You talk too much, Usako"] he complained lightly, turning towards the window. ["Why don't you just accept that we belong to each other and that's it?"]

"Because we DON'T..." Usagi gritted at him from between clenched teeth, eyes rebellious. She halted her words as he reached the window frame and threw a leg over the sill. "Does this mean that I can kill any girl YOU look at?" she demanded petulantly.

He grinned down at her. "But of course, Usako. I wouldn't expect any less of my girlfriend" Before she could hit him, he leapt from the window neatly, landing on the grass of the front lawn. Usagi was completely silent and he looked down warily to see that her face was red as a tomato, eyes glazed over with shock.

"GIRLFRIEND?!" she suddenly exploded at him. ["I never said YES, you conceited jerk! And when exactly did you even ASK ME?"] she bellowed at the top of her lungs into his mind. ["Put me down this minute!"]

Mamoru winced as her voice thundered around inside his mind, then nodded. "We'll talk later. I have an apartment to rescue. And since I can't be separated from you-you're coming with me, Angel" With that, he sprinted off into the night, Usagi in his arms and his cloak swirling dramatically behind them. But of course, he couldn't escape the wrath of one who was psychically connected to him. And her mental shrieking followed him all the way down the street.

["Mamoru! I'm going to KILLLL YOUUUUU!"]

Luna reached home a few minutes later. She leapt up into the tree outside Usagi's window and crawled along the branches nimbly. The light was still on, so she assumed that Mamoru and Usagi were still awake and- ["And what? Still kissing?"] she halted on the branch nearest to the window, reluctant to interrupt the couple. Which they WERE. Affianced actually. The Princess and Prince had been meant for each other for over a thousand years. ["Maybe-I should go to Ami's for the night?"] she wondered, trying to see through the curtains and into the room. There was no noises from within and cautiously Luna jumped onto the sill. "Usagi I'm coming in!" Luna called out loudly. She paused, waiting for an answer, but there was none.

"Usagi?" she called out again, thrusting her face out between the curtains. Her red eyes widened as she saw that the room was completely empty. Her heart began to thunder in her chest uncomfortably. "On no, where are they" Luna said weakly, jumping to the floor. ["I shouldn't have left her!"] she ran to the bedroom door and commanded it to open silently, her golden crescent moon glowing with power. The hall was dark beyond and as she went down to the stairs, she saw that the rest of the house downstairs was empty. Luna froze, eyes wide with horror and self-loathing. "She's gone!" she cried out in panic. "Great Serenity, preserve us. What happened to her?" Luna frantically turned tail and ran back to Usagi's room. Perhaps she'd made a mistake and Usagi was under the covers in her bed? But then, that would mean Mamoru...

Luna flushed, but bravely leapt up onto Usagi's bed, digging at the covers with her paws. When she discovered that there was no one there, her vision began to swim, pure horror over-taking her senses. "Serenity!" Luna called out frantically, looking around the room as if the Princess would appear magically. ["She's gone! What do I do?"] she began to pant, limbs shaking. ["I discovered the Princess-and now she's missing!"] Maybe she went for a walk with Mamoru? They couldn't be separated, after all. They could have gone to talk or something...the Dark Kingdom didn't know exactly WHO they were anyway, so they couldn't have taken the Princess. Luna began to calm down, paws pulled in close, protectively. She looked around edgily, uncomfortably aware that she was all alone with her guilt and shock. She couldn't tell Usagi that she was Princess-nor the Senshi. No, she would have to look after the Princess all by herself. Usagi wasn't ready to know her birthright. Not by far. And if the Dark Kingdom should find out...

She shuddered with horror, then uncurled and did a back-flip in the covers. A black communicator dropped out of sub-space and landed on the pink covers with a thump. Luna licked her lips nervously, prayed to her Queen and then pushed the symbol for the moon.

Usagi was still furious at Mamoru, by the time they reached his apartment complex. ["You really think that they're still there at three thirty in the morning?"] she demanded sulkily, wanting to be in bed. She didn’t mean to sound like a child, but it came out that way instead of the cutting tone she would have liked. ["I'm so exhausted, Mamo-Chan"] she whispered wearily to him, leaning her head against his vest as he bunched his leg muscles and leapt up eight stories easily.

Mamoru landed lightly on the railing of his balcony, warily looked around and then jumped down to the ground. He looked through the glass into the living room and didn't see a soul. ["I know, Usako. But I have to check. I wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise, from worrying"]

"Okay" she sighed into his chest, eyes closing. She could sleep in his arms easily, protected and warm... "Mmm" she purred, rubbing her face against the material of his vest contentedly.

Mamoru gave a strangled groan and his arms tightened almost painfully about her shoulders and legs. ["Don't do that Usagi, or we'll never make it back to your house"] he told her, voice strained. Did she really have NO idea what she did to him?

["What do you mean, Mamo-Chan?"] she asked innocently, raising her head to stare at him curiously.

Mamoru groaned again, sighed and then stepped towards the balcony doors. He slid it open easily, frowning. ["Whoever left last, should have locked up the apartment"] he murmured disapprovingly.

"Then we wouldn't have been able to get in" Usagi yawned widely, staring around into the darkness. No one was there. "Can we go now?" she asked, slipping down from his arms. She stretched her arms over her head, top riding up over smooth skin.

Mamoru’s breath hissed out. "Usssagi!" he moaned at her, eyes darkened in longing. She could see them gleaming in the moonlight from outside.

"What?" she exclaimed in annoyance, arms still above her head. She suddenly felt a draft and her eyes jerked down to see that her top was almost up to beneath her breasts and showing a great deal of skin. "Ooops! Sorry, Mamo-Chan" she giggled, quickly lowered her arms and looked everywhere but at him.

He sighed and fumbled for the wall, hitting a switch. The room was quickly lit up. They both squinted blearily around, exhaustion catching up abruptly.

Usagi sagged, then stumbled over to Mamoru's couch and threw herself onto it wearily. "I'm beat" she said, yawning again. Her eyes closed briefly, then struggled to open as she sensed him move.

Mamoru threw himself into a chair across from her. He raised a hand and rubbed at his eyes. ["I'm tired too. We can rest a while here. I can't carry you back yet"] he thought at her, yawning too.

"Fine-but we have to be home by the time the sun is up-dad really wants to kill you and this would be a perfect excuse" she giggled again weakly, silver eyelashes falling over her darkened blue eyes. She was just SO tired. So utterly weary all of a suddenly-as if she'd been drained.

["Yeah, me too, Usagi"] Mamoru said, voice faint.

Usagi forced open her lids and gazed across at Mamoru, seeing that his eyes were shut. His head was resting peacefully back against the chair and his chest was rising slowly. ["Are you asleep, Mamoru?"] she whispered at him mentally. There was no reply. She smiled, lips curving tenderly as she gazed at his face. ["Girlfriend, huh Mamoru?"] she felt a surge of happiness. They'd gotten together in a strange bewildering way, but despite their fights and yelling, their kisses were passionate and true. "Maybe there's hope for us after all" she told him gently, eyes tracing over his features almost lovingly.

Tiredness hit her again, overwhelmingly and her eyes slid shut. She was safe. They were at Mamoru's apartment eight stories up. What could happen? Just before she drifted off, she vaguely remembered that they hadn't closed the balcony door. But she was too tired to care...

A few minutes later, a familiar beeping filled Usagi's head. She jerked upwards, waking immediately.

Across from her, Mamoru jerked awake also, eyes swinging automatically around the room for danger. He calmed when he saw that they were still alone. "What is that beeping noise?" he questioned, frowning slightly.

"You can hear it?" Usagi said with shock. She stared at him for a moment, then gestured. Her pink communicator fell into her hands. "It's my communicator. There must be a battle" she quickly looked down at the glowing symbols and saw that Luna's was lit up brightly. Usagi frowned. ["It's Luna. I wonder what's wrong"] she pressed the crescent moon button and the screen sprang to life.

"Usagi!" Luna cried out in great relief, sagging. "You're all right. I was-worried when I returned to the house and saw that you and Mamoru were gone"

"Oh, Luna!" Usagi cried out, filled with shame. "We didn't think-I'm sorry"

"I forgot" Mamoru grimaced, running a hand through his dark hair distractedly. He shook his tense shoulders, trying to relax. He was still so tired.

"Where ARE you?" Luna said urgently.

"We're at Mamo-Mamoru's apartment, Luna. He was worried that all the people he left here might steal something"

Mamoru looked a little sheepish as Usagi turned to throw him a grin. "Well...you never know. Hordes of drunken College students aren't a pretty sight, Usagi" he warned her.

"So-you're both alone?" Luna said, tensing. She'd been relieved to see Usagi was all right and further so when the girl said that they were back at Mamoru's apartment-but to learn that there was no one there with them...

"It looks like Motoki and Reika cleared everyone out" Mamoru said from behind Usagi, stretching his arms over his head.

"Luna!" Usagi cried out, abruptly remembering her lose. "I can't transform!"

"What?" Luna breathed, shocked. Her mouth dried out, eyes dilating. "Are you-sure?" she managed, trying desperately to focus on Usagi’s face in the communicator screen.

"I'm sure" Usagi said, voice filled with tears. Her eyes felt damp. ["What do I do? I can't be a Senshi"] her head lowered, unable to meet Luna's horrified gaze. "I tried and-I can't be Sailor Moon anymore! Oh Luna!"

["I'm here"] Mamoru said into Usagi mind, coming up behind the girl. His arms wrapped about her tiny waist from the back, pulling her against his chest comfortingly. it hurt him just as much as her when she was upset. it was almost like-he could feel it. His eyes closed as he rested his head on top of her soft hair, breathing in her scent.

["Thank you"] she whispered back to him mentally, trying to summon a smile. "Can we do anything, Luna? I-I don't know what happened"

"I might" Luna said grimly, staring right into Usagi's eyes intently. She hesitated, mouth half-opening to tell the girl what was really wrong. ["I can't. She isn't ready to hear it, nor has she come into her powers"] Luna thought regretfully, feeling fear. Usagi had not fully changed into Serenity and didn't have her mother’s Silver Crystal either. It was the only explanation she could come up with for Usagi not being able to transform also.

"What did you say, Luna?" Usagi said hopefully.

"I said, we'll work it out. Don't worry...Usagi" the cat took a deep breath, trying desperately to stay calm. This was much, much worse than she had feared and she was alone with her burden. Central Command couldn't help her, because he was training a new Senshi. "I'm coming over to get you both" she said suddenly, startling both Mamoru and Usagi.

Mamoru eyes shot open. He frowned slightly and looked down at the pink communicator in Usagi's hands, over her shoulder. "Oh?" he said cautiously, the skin at the back of his neck tingling. He had a terrible feeling that Luna wasn't telling them something. His eyes narrowed on the screen, seeing how her red one's seemed to be filled with apprehension and fear. ["Luna is afraid?"] he murmured mentally.

Usagi jerked in his arms, shocked. ["She's afraid? Are you sure?"] the girl looked at the communicator doubtfully, then saw that Mamoru was right. Luna looked-petrified. Usagi's skin crawled at the look in her guardian's eyes. ["Something IS wrong. Luna is actually afraid of something and look, her body is so tense. She's coiled like a spring"]

He nodded, saying nothing aloud. ["I know"] he said grimly, tightening his arms about his angel. Something was terribly wrong-and he would protect Usagi even if it meant his death.

["Oh Mamo-Chan!"] Usagi cried out, spinning within his grip. She buried her face into his naked chest, arms going about his waist frantically. ['It won't come to that! We won't die!"] she tried to smile, but failed, eyes tearing over again. "I mean, you don't have to protect me as Sailor Moon anymore-right? And the enemy doesn't know who I am?" she muttered into his skin.

"That's true" he said thoughtfully, blue eyes glinting.

"Usagi? Mamoru?" Luna frantically called out. The communicator had tipped at an alarming angle and she was seeing mostly the floor and Mamoru’s legs.

"I'm here, Luna" Usagi sniffed, raising the communicator to her face, one arm still slung about Mamoru's waist.

"I'm coming over. Stay where you are!" the cat ordered, voice wavering. "And lock the doors, for Serenity's sake!" the words were almost hysterical. "Why did you have to leave the house?"

"Luna!" Mamoru said sharply. "What is going on?" he commanded her harshly.

Luna blinked at the screen, taken-aback. "Of course, Pr-er Mamoru. I'm just worried for Usagi, that's all" she lied blithely, tensing. For a disconcertingly long moment, both Usagi and Mamoru stared at her in the screen, with identical expressions of haughtiness-as if about to ORDER Luna to tell them the truth. Luna was stunned into silence. ["They look like the Prince and Princess at the moment"] Even their symbols were glowing brightly on their foreheads. "Serenity?" Luna said tentatively.

Usagi blinked and then smiled dazedly. "Yes, Luna?" she said, felling a little strange.

Luna's eyes went even wider. ["Oh good lord! She even answers to the Princess' name!"] The cat bit her lip, wondering if she was doing the right thing in trying to push her Princess' memories into consciousness. "What did I just say?" she asked lightly, eyes expectant.

"You said my name, of course" Usagi giggled, looking at the communicator screen as if Luna were mad. "Are you all right, Luna?" she asked worriedly. ["Does she look okay, Mamoru?"] she asked him anxiously.

["Maybe she's ill"] he suggested. Luna's eyes DID look a little feverish.

"I'm fine" Luna said wearily. "I just wanted to know if you were listening to me" she closed her eyes for a moment. This was going to be so hard. Knowing that Usagi was the Princess and trying to protect her from all harm. She should have KNOWN that Usagi wouldn't be able to transform into Sailor Moon as the Princess emerged. The Queen of the Moon and her daughter were never meant to be Senshi. They were meant to rule and use the Silver Crystals' power, that sustained their lives. Somehow, the Princess and Prince's souls were waking up inside Usagi and Mamoru. "You can still transform into Tuxedo Kamen, Mamoru?" she asked tentatively.

"Yes" he frowned at her. "Why?" Mamoru was getting VERY suspicious at the questions.

Luna drew her breath in sharply, relieved. At least the Prince would be there to protect her, for now. He had not as yet been affected. ["But then again, Prince Endymion was never exposed to the power of the Silver Crystal"] she frowned thoughtfully. ["I wonder if the emergence of the Rainbow Crystals has anything to do with this. All seven for the Silver Crystal-I wonder if THEY caused this. Sailor Moon has touched one of them, after all. She has one in her sub-space pocket right now"] Luna's eyes went wide at the implications of THAT thought. Perhaps even removing the Rainbow Crystal from Usagi’s body would be dangerous. It might kill her. ["I can't tell her"] she agonized over it for a moment. "I'm coming over. Don't move" she ordered them both. "We'll talk when I get there"

"I can bring her back" Mamoru said, eyes narrowed on every movement that Luna made.

"NO!" Luna almost screamed. "Don't-please, just STAY there. Both of you. And for Serenity's sake, don't separate from each other-" she hesitated. "Or the Rainbow Crystal in Usagi's sub-space pocket!"

"Why?" Usagi started, but the screen went blank. She stared at it for a long moment, utterly bewildered. Her head turned to look up at Mamoru, as if he had the answers to Luna's bizarre behavior-but he looked as clueless as she did. ["I'm getting a terrible feeling that Luna isn't telling us something important"] she threw at him, concerned and a little fearful. Why was Luna afraid for Usagi to leave Mamoru's apartment? And why was she coming across town-just to speak to her and Mamoru?

"We'll see in about 20 minutes" Mamoru responded to her silent questions slowly, eyes like icicles. His finger absently stroked the bare skin between her pj top and pants, soothed by her presence. He led her silently to the couch and sat both of them down, Usagi pulled close to his chest and an arm about her waist.

Usagi bit her lip, glancing over at the clock on the wall. Almost four in the morning. Soon the sun would rise. But neither of them could sleep. They were now wide awake and tense. Usagi tried to calm down, but her heart was beating loudly in her ears. ["What could possibly scare Luna?"]

[  Part Three ]

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