Spin the Bottle, part 3

Chapter Sixteen

Luna arrived at Mamoru’s apartment exactly twenty three minutes and twenty seconds later, by the wall clock in the lounge. Usagi and Mamoru had spent the time, sitting close to each other, yet not speaking. He held her tightly about the waist, the other hand playing gently with a long lock of her glorious silver hair-which was spilling over both of their laps and a great deal of the couch. They were filled with apprehension and not a little fear, following Luna’s bizarre warnings. The cat had clearly been very scared about something. Therefore, when she finally scratched on Mamoru’s front door, the two were on their feet in seconds.

Usagi stood before the couch, shaking slightly as Mamoru went down the front hall to the door. There was a short silence and then the sound of Luna and Mamoru having a low conversation. ["What are you talking about Mamoru?"] Usagi demanded silently to him, wondering nervously what they weren't telling her.

["She’s just worried about you Usagi,"] Mamoru’s reply came calmly. A moment later, he and Luna walked down the hall and into the lounge.

As soon as Luna saw Usagi, she bounded across the room and threw herself into the girl’s waiting arms. "Oh, Usagi!" Luna cried out, burying her nose in Usagi’s neck, paws digging into the girl’s shoulders.

"I’m all right, Luna," Usagi said gently, frantically stroking the upset guardian along her back and ears in a soothing manner. "Tell me what’s wrong."

"I was so worried," the cat muttered against Usagi’s warm skin, then finally pulled her face back to stare into Usagi’s concerned blue eyes. "It’s just a theory, mind you...but I think that the Rainbow Crystal you are carrying has a great deal to do with your transformation," she added slowly. ["I can’t tell her too much-just why I was so worried and insisted the Crystal remain on her,"] she thought, eyes falling away from Usagi’s. She wanted so much to tell her Princess who she really was-but it wasn’t time.

"How is that, Luna?" Mamoru asked curiously, passing Usagi and Luna to sit down again on the couch. He relaxed into the soft cushions, crossing his legs, one arm resting along the back of the couch. He looked perfectly at ease with the situation, now that he was in his own home. Even his dark blue eyes were faintly amused, as he watched the two girls reunite.

Usagi’s lashes narrowed at him resentfully. ["How can you be so calm, Mamoru?"] she demanded crossly, deliberately moving away from the couch and sitting in the chair across from him. She sat gracefully, then placed Luna upon her lap and gazed at him balefully.

He half-smiled at her, a lazy curving of his lips. ["More experience, Odango Atama,"] he drawled, raising a hand to study the nails on his hand negligently. ["I’m always protecting you from Youma and Zoisite. I’ve come to expect the unexpected."]

["Yeah right,"] she said snidely, wrinkling her nose. ["It was another story at MY place."]

["It’s a story everywhere with you, Usako,"] Mamoru laughed aloud in delight, startling Luna-who had no idea of the silent conversation going on under her eyes. ["We’ve now kissed in my place AND yours-"] He paused, eyes staring mockingly into her own. ["Where to next, angel?"]

"Nowhere with YOU, you conceited jerk!" Usagi burst out, incensed. How DARE he suggest such things, given the circumstances? And right under Luna’s nose too! She glared at him furiously.

Luna looked from Mamoru to Usagi, utterly bewildered. And then, even as her mind tried to figure it out-the solution suddenly clicked into place as another memory surfaced. "You have a psychic mind-bond!" the cat screeched out, stunned.

Usagi choked, coughing uncontrollably for a moment, hunched over Luna. "How *Cough* did you *Cough* KNOW that, Luna?" she spluttered out, gasping. She threw herself back into the chair until her head was level with the top and took deep breaths. A hand waved into her face, rapidly cooling her red skin. ["She figured it out! HOW did she do that, Mamo-Chan?"] she gaped across at Mamoru, who didn’t look half as calm as he had a moment before. He too looked as if he were going to choke, but then burst out laughing again, thoroughly amused with the situation.

"What’s so funny, creep?" Usagi snapped at him, eyes burning resentfully. She didn’t get the joke at all.

"Just this whole entire evening, Usagi!" Mamoru gasped out, trying to stop the laughing that escaped his lips. He pounded at his chest, face going red with the strain. "In one night, we’ve gone from enemies to-er...more. I’ve kissed you more times than I can count. We have glowing foreheads, an uncontrollable bond that not only links our minds, but our bodies-and now, Luna thinks it has something to do with the Rainbow Crystals we’re carrying?"

Luna stared at him in horror. "You’ve got one too?" she exclaimed, jumping to her feet on Usagi’s lap. Her eyes closed, feeling utterly wretched. "Of course you do-Tuxedo Kamen. You have two, don’t you?"

"Yes. I do, as a matter of fact," Mamoru said thoughtfully, frowning. His eyes grew intent. "So, you seriously think that the Rainbow Crystals we’re carrying have affected us in this way?"

"I’m afraid so," Luna said grimly, staring at him. ["I should have realized earlier. Mamoru is carrying a Rainbow Crystal also! So-he must be bonded in a way to the Silver Crystal."] She frowned deeply, trying to recall. But nothing came to her. All that she knew was that Serenity and the Queen had been bonded. Mamoru and Usagi’s bond was still a mystery. It was now clear though, that even though Usagi and Mamoru had no idea of their past selves emerging-they were closely linked never the less. ["This troubles me considerably."]

"That’s why you were so worried, Luna?" Usagi asked, arms wrapping gently abut the black cat in her lap. "The Rainbow Crystals could truly be that dangerous to us?"

Luna nodded. "It’s changing you, Sere-Usagi," she hastily corrected. ["It’s so hard to remember that she is not yet my Princess."] She looked hesitantly at Usagi and then Mamoru. "Do you understand, that your changes have something to do with the Crystals? It may not be dangerous to take more from the Dark Kingdom’s possession-but it COULD if they take it from yours."

"Then we guard them," Mamoru said grimly, eyes shifting to Usagi’s startled ones. "You’re essentially human now, Usagi-to the Dark Kingdom at least. Without them knowing that you’re Sailor Moon, you’re safe."

"But you are not," Usagi said slowly, a strange inflection to her voice.

Luna stiffened looking up at the face above her. Usagi’s face had softened, eyes clear and unwavering upon Mamoru’s. ["Serenity,"] she whispered to herself triumphantly. This could be a very good sign. That whenever the situation demanded, the Princess would emerge from Usagi.

"I will not have you in danger," Usagi went on sternly to Mamoru.

"I am quite capable of looking after myself." Mamoru sighed, running a hand through his hair. He gave Usagi a tender smile. "Do not worry, my love. Nothing will happened to either of us. I swear it."

"Don’t forget the Senshi, Endymion," Luna said absently. The Prince was right, as Tuxedo Kamen, he could look after himself. However, since Usagi and he could not be separated, she would have to go repeatedly into battle with him.

Mamoru and Usagi slumped simultaneously.

"Yes, the Senshi," Usagi murmured, only half-aware of what she and Mamoru had just said. "What can we tell them? I can’t be there for them anymore."

"I will be," Mamoru cut in. ["I’ll help the Senshi."]

"But Mamoru, haven’t you realized that Usagi HAS to go everywhere with you?" Luna said urgently. "You can’t be separated!"

"Oh my gosh! She’s right!" Usagi said in horror, hands clenching together.

"I won’t let her be in any danger," he said shortly, getting to his feet. He paced backwards and forth before Usagi’s chair, face thunderous. This was a no-win situation really. The Senshi were down one of their own AND a leader.

"And if you don’t help them, they’ll be without Tuxedo Kamen, too," Usagi whispered fearfully.

In the silence that followed, all three tried to figure out what to do if a battle should arise-and then, one did.

Suddenly, Usagi’s communicator began to beep frantically. She pulled it from her sub-space pocket swiftly, face paling. Before she pressed the glowing sign for Mars, she looked at Luna and then Mamoru, eyes shadowed. "Usagi here," she said hesitatingly. She cleared her throat loudly as Rei’s face appeared in the screen.

"I need help, Usagi! I was out meditating on the temple stairs when I saw a Youma creeping around! Grandpa is on the roof, I think it’s after HIM!" the Priestess said frantically, eyes wild. "What do they want with him?"

"Rei, Usagi can’t become-" Luna began urgently, but Usagi cut her off, taking uncharacteristic command.

"We will be there in a moment Rei. Call the others and try to stall the Youma until we get there!" she ordered.

"Right," Rei replied, too concerned for her grandfather to be startled at Usagi’s tone. Her image disappeared.

"We must go now," Usagi said strongly, eyes glinting with determination. ["There must be a way to keep us together,"] she thought, looking about the room.

["What about you? You can’t go in those bunny pj’s, Usako,"] Mamoru told her, eyes moving over her slight form lasciviously.

"Not now, Mamoru! You can kiss me all you like later!" Usagi exclaimed, exasperated.

Luna flushed at the sudden words, guessing that the two had been having a mental conversation again. "Yes. Later," she said hastily, forgetting that she was supposed to NOT approve of Usagi and Mamoru together and kissing. But she was becoming accustomed to it, mixed with memories of their being engaged a thousand years ago. "What about your pj's though? You WON’T go like that, young lady!" the cat seethed, sounding remarkable like Ikuko.

Usagi blushed furiously. "It’s not like I have a choice, you know! Who cares if Zoisite sees my bunny pj’s anyhow?" she demanded, pouting.

"You AREN’T going into public like that, Usagi!" Mamoru suddenly thundered. "I won’t have all of Juuban ogling my girlfriend!"

"Who exactly agreed to that?!" she shouted back at him, crossing her arms and glaring.

"You asked Usagi out? When?" Luna asked eagerly, secretly delighted that her Princess and Prince were getting along so well. Romantically well.

"NO!" Usagi shouted.

At the same time as Mamoru shouted. "YES!"

"You did NOT!" she yelled at him incredulously.

"Can we talk about this later? Rei is waiting!" Luna bellowed at the couple. Inspiration struck. "Usagi, use the Luna pen and ask it to change you into Sailor Moon!"

"Wonderful," Mamoru approved. ["Whatever it is"] he finished silently, looking expectantly from Luna to Usagi.

"Will it work?!" Usagi said, eyes lightening with excitement. ["It's a disguise, Mamo-Chan!"] she told him absently.

"You won’t be able to fight, Usagi," Luna said regretfully, watching as Usagi’s face fell in disappointment and grief. "It will just like any costume the Luna Pen gives you-for show only."

"It’ll do to confuse Zoisite, I suppose," Usagi sighed, then called forth the Luna Pen from her sub-space pocket.

"Luna Pen?" Mamoru queried, eyes on the small pink pen clutched in his angel's hand. ["Disguise?"]

"Usagi has used it on occasion, to confuse the Dark Kingdom Generals," Luna muttered, glowering at her charge. She still remembered at time when Usagi used the pen to try and get Yuuchiro and Rei together. ["The pen is for Senshi business only!"] Luna had STRESSED that point to the Senshi-but Usagi CONVENIENTLY forgot.

"Luna Pen! Turn me into Sailor Moon!" Usagi called out, holding the pen above her head. Moment’s later, Sailor Moon was standing there. But changed. Her tiara was gone, revealing the golden crescent moon that now permanently adorned her forehead. Sailor Moon reached up and tentatively felt her forehead, having immediately missed the weight of her tiara. ["It's gone!"] she exclaimed to Mamoru, bewildered.

["Yes. Strange"] he murmured back, eyes narrowed on her. He truly didn't know what to make of the strange changes Usagi was going through. Not even a magic disguise could hide the golden symbol on her forehead.

"How do you feel?" Luna asked anxiously, having no idea how the Luna pen might effect the Princess. The only visible changes were the absence of the tiara and-her hair.

Sailor Moon frowned, looking down at herself. She tentatively felt at the blue skirt, then grimaced at her long silver hair. "My hair isn’t gold. Even Zoisite is going to notice that. And my tiara is missing."

Luna shook her head, as bewildered as Sailor Moon. It looked as if the Princess’ hair was not going to change, no matter what the disguise. And as for the tiara...well, they'd just have to work around it. It was only for looks anyway. "It will have to do. Let’s go!" she ordered, heading for the balcony.

Mamoru quickly reached for a rose and transformed back into Tuxedo Kamen. HE felt no different. "This way, Angel." He gestured gallantly towards the open balcony doors.

Sailor Moon nodded at him regally, stifled a giggle and swept out the door. She was REALLY surprised when she didn’t trip and fall flat on her face. ["Is it me, or am I not clumsy anymore?"] she asked him, confused and delighted.

"No, you’re definitely more graceful, Odango Atama. Even I’VE noticed that," he said aloud, for Luna’s ears. He turned and closed the doors, then twirled back around to face Sailor Moon, eyes glinting wickedly. "Okay-Sailor Moon. You carry Luna and I’ll carry you."

"I can manage." Sailor Moon flushed, then looked down eight floors and shuddered. "I keep forgetting that this is only a disguise and I can’t jump high anymore," she said slowly, lashes hiding her eyes from them. She quickly bent and gathered Luna into her arms, then Tuxedo Kamen’s arms came under her knees and around her back. They were both swept carefully into his arms and cradled protectively against his chest. ["Are you ready?"] he asked her gently, mind brushing hers.

"Lets go," she sighed into Luna’s fur.

Luna relaxed in Sailor Moon’s arms, knowing that the blond wouldn’t let her drop. Usagi was already gaining Serenity’s grace-as well as her features. ["I wonder how long it will be before Mamoru and Usagi start to remember their past? The sooner that all the Rainbow Crystals are found and the Silver Crystal formed-the better. And it would be a great advantage if the Princess could wield it..."]

As they reached the Temple, Sailor Moon's skin suddenly crawled. She looked down at the cat cradled in her arms, feeling danger acutely. "Luna, you have to go home" she exclaimed, as Tuxedo Kamen set her on her feet.

Luna looked startled, eyes wide. "What? I can't leave you!"

"You have to-something is VERY wrong here" Sailor Moon said urgently, setting her guardian down. The black cat hesitated, staring upwards in her charges concerned eyes. "You have to go! Do as I say!" Sailor Moon suddenly burst out, commanding the cat.

"Go Luna. Do as she commands of you" Tuxedo Kamen said coolly, eyes on the cat.

Luna gaped up at them both, realizing that the orders had NOT just come from the Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen-but her Prince and Princess. "I-all right, Serenity" she said, resigned. She gave them one last look, then turned and rushed towards home-praying that she was doing the right thing.

They watched her leave, expressionlessly-then simultaneously blinked and stared at each other in a daze.

"Umm-lets go" Sailor Moon said, blinking again. The last few moments had seemed like a dream. Not quite focused.

"Yes" he murmured to her, frowning. ["I feel strange"]

["So do I"] she admitted, turning. She sprinted up the many stairs to the Cherry Hill Temple, Tuxedo Kamen close behind-making sure that their bond stayed intact. Sailor Moon stopped at the top and he almost crashed into her back. Tuxedo Kamen rested his gloved hands on her shoulders as they both looked around for the others. At the same time, they both heard the sounds of battle and their heads swung simultaneously to the left.

"They must be at the back of the temple, in the trees" she said urgently, grabbing his gloved hand. His fingers curled tightly around hers as they swiftly ran together, feet barely touching the ground. A few minutes later, they broke through the trees in a small area with a pond. There was no sign of Grandpa or Yuuchiro-but Zoisite was there, floating over Sailor Mars and laughing maniacally.

Sailor Mercury and Jupiter spotted Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen and the four came together a few meters from the two battling it out. Dark fire and red fire clashed together, preventing the others from getting any closer.

"Usagi!" Mercury exclaimed, staring at the golden symbol on Sailor Moon's forehead. "Your forehead is glowing! And-where is the tiara?!"

"AND Tuxedo Kamen too!" Jupiter said, staring at the bright blue symbol visible under Tuxedo Kamen's dark hair.

"Never mind that! We'll discuss it later. We have to help Sailor Mars" Tuxedo Kamen said curtly. He threw a strange look at Sailor Moon, then reached out and pulled her in close. ["Do you have a handkerchief or something?"] he asked her mentally, looking her fuku over.

["What?"] she looked at him, confused. "Umm-maybe..." she muttered, gesturing. A thick pink ribbon fell into her hands. She cast a look upwards curiously. "Will this do?"

"It'll do" he said, quickly tying one end about his wrist above the white gloves.

Sailor Mercury gave him an approving look and quickly tied Sailor Moon to the other end, binding them close. "Good idea, Tuxedo Kamen" she looked at a still-bewildered Sailor Moon. "So that you can't separate"

"OH!" Sailor Moon said, realizing what they were doing. "Yes, a great idea, Tuxedo Kamen" she breathed at him, smiling.

He stared at her for a long moment, feeling an irrational urge to sweep her into his arms then and there-and kiss her till she passed out from delight. ["Later"] he purred at her mentally.

["Right"] she uttered, startled.

"Where is your tiara?" Sailor Mars shouted, leaping back from the fight. She panted, the ends of her white gloves looking singed.

"What? Giving up so soon?" Zoisite cooed, giggling.

"Not bloody likely!" Jupiter growled. "Jupiter-"

"Uh uh!" the Dark Kingdom General laughed. Her eyes swung over Jupiter's head, to where Sailor Moon was standing with Tuxedo Kamen and Mercury. "I'd rather play with the little moon brat" she frowned slightly at Sailor Moon. "Who did your hair?"

"What?" Sailor Moon gaped at the General-and wasted precious seconds.

"And no tiara either-pity" Zoisite murmured, flicking her hand negligently in Sailor Moon's direction. A great burst of dark energy spewed forth at Sailor Moon. Sailor Mercury jumped out of the way, at the same time as Tuxedo Kamen swiftly turned and scooped Sailor Moon into his arms. The Senshi made it free of the blast-but Tuxedo Kamen had lost more precious time to rescue his angle. His eyes raised just in time to see the deadly energy bearing down upon him and Sailor Moon-barely hidden razor sharp crystals in its swirling depths. And he knew that he was looking into death.

"No! Sailor Moon! Watch out!" Sailor Mars called out frantically. With a burst of adrenaline, she threw herself past the dark energy and barreled into Sailor Moon-just as it hit them. Sailor Mars screamed in agony as the energy hit her, dark crystals ripping her back to shreds. She felt a tremendous pain, then the light faded from her eyes-and she knew no more.

"Mars!" Sailor Moon cried, trying to struggle out from under the girl's dead-weight. There was no response. "Rei?" she whispered, looking down at the girl. Mars' fuku was in shreds mostly, dark blood spilling freely down her mangled skin. Sailor Moon shut her eyes, then looked instead at her friend's face. It was deathly pale-purple eyes wide and blank. "Rei?" she whispered again, numb.

"NO! Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!" Sailor Jupiter screamed, throwing the ball of lightning swiftly at the smirking General. Zoisite floated backwards quickly, but the lightning singed her hair. She glared, then laughed in delight. "I won't even bother to respond to that brat. Queen Beryl will be SO pleased with me!" she smirked widely, then faded away. "I killed one of the Sailor Senshi!"

"It can't be" Tuxedo Kamen said under his breath. He realized that he was feeling pain in the wrist and saw that his hand was twisted at a strange angel where Sailor Moon was frantically hugging Sailor Mars. He pulled out a rose and cut through the pink ribbon with the sharp end-leaving his angel with her friend...who was obviously dead. His eyes closed. ["Rei"]

["She isn't dead! She's just-unconscious!"] Sailor Moon shrieked at him mentally, lightly shaking Mars. She felt for a pulse in the girl's neck, but there was nothing. She wasn't even breathing.

Mercury quickly took out her computer and scanned Mars' body. Slowly, her eyes filled with warm tears. She looked at their leader and shook her head. "She's gone, Usagi" she said, voice wobbling.

"No!" Usagi wailed in grief, holding the Senshi's body tightly against her heart. Her arms were frantically wrapped about Sailor Mars' body-as if willing life back into the rave-haired girl's body. "You can't leave me!" she sobbed, burying her face into the still-warm dark hair.

"She's gone, Sailor Moon" Mercury said, voice full of helpless tears. Everyone's eyes shimmered luminously in the moonlight, filled with grief. She closed the cover on the Mercury computer slowly. "There's no life in her body"

"NO! I won't believe that!" Sailor Jupiter suddenly shouted at them all. Her fists clenched with impotent rage at her side. "When I find Zoisite, I'm going to KILL her!" the brunette lowered her green eyes to the grass, grief surging again. "Even if it means my death"

"Don't say that, Jupiter" Tuxedo Kamen murmured, sitting close-by Sailor Moon. Even though the material binding their wrists was undone, they still could not separate. ["Usako"] he murmured soothingly to her, eyes tender. ["There's nothing we can do to bring her back"]

"She's dead" Jupiter repeated coldly, eyes raising to look at Mars' lifeless face in grim determination.

["Don't SAY that!"] Sailor Moon cried out mentally to Tuxedo Kamen. She pulled Mars' body closer into her arms, cradling her like a baby. ["My dearest friend..."]

Everyone watched silently, tears running down their faces, as Sailor Moon cried heart-brokenly over her friend's lifeless body. Mars' head rolled limply back, purple eyes wide and staring. The blood had stopped running and was in great damp patches over the back of her fuku. Sailor Moon's gloves were soaked through, as well as the white body-suit she wore-and Mars'.

Tuxedo Kamen didn't cry, though his eyes were full of tears. He had to be strong-for his Usako. He hesitatingly moved closer, arms coming around her trembling body-and Mars' still one. ["My Usako"] he murmured comfortingly, resting his head in her silky hair, even as she did the same to Mars'. ["I'm here-"]

["I know"] Sailor Moon said quietly, shaking stopping abruptly. She stiffened in his embrace and his arms fell away. She pulled back from Mars also, gazing down at the still face.

Tuxedo Kamen barely noticed her withdrawal-KNOWING with certainty that all of her bring was focused on one point-Mars. It was as if she knew he was there, but accepted his presence as one of protection and...love? Sailor Moon's deep blue eyes on the suddenly glowing golden crescent moon on her forehead. It was glowing like a small sun, stark against her pale skin. Her blue eyes blazed down at Mars' face.

"I WON'T allow you to leave me, Sailor Mars!" Sailor Moon suddenly commanded, hands gripping Mars' shoulder tightly. She shook the life-less body, angered. "COME BACK TO ME!" she ordered desperately. Her voice seemed to echo around the area, the trees trembling with the force of her words. The crescent moon on Sailor Moon's head gave off a brilliant burst off light.

["Come back to me...come back to me...come back to me..."] it seemed to echo around inside all of the Senshi’s and Tuxedo Kamen's head. Repeating over and over.

Abruptly, the body in Sailor Moon's frantic grip shuddered. Then Mars' body gave a great gasping breath and she sat straight up, eyes staring and blank. Sailor Moon still cradled her, as the dark-haired girl gasped for breath, panting. Before Sailor Moon could say a word, her eyes fell upon Mars' forehead, which began to glow faintly. Then more steadily with a red light. In moments, a glowing red symbol had appeared on her pale skin, stark against her long dark hair.

Tuxedo Kamen sensed her question before she even uttered it. ["It's the symbol for Mars"] he told her mentally, eyes startled behind his half-mask. ["How did she come back to life?"] he wondered, flabbergasted. NO ONE ever came back from death! But Sailor Mars had-right before their eyes. And she had seemed to do it at the bidding of Sailor Moon, who had ordered her...to come back. He got to his feet, staring at the two girls.

Sailor Moon's eyes were startled as she stared at him, having heard his thoughts. ["Yes-she did"] she whispered to him. But-that wasn't possible. Dead...was dead-right? She looked down at Mars, who was leaning against her weakly, eyes flittering around in bewilderment-then realization and pain.

["Ouchhhh! That hurt! Oh my head!"] Mars moaned loudly. Unknowingly, she spoke mentally in her pain. Rubbing at her head gingerly. She looked up at Sailor Moon, who was still cradling her-looking stunned. "Did I faint? Are you okay? Where's Zoisite and Grandpa?" she demanded anxiously. The silver-haired girl just gaped at her, blue eye wide with shock and horror. Even her fingers trembled on Mars' back, where they held her. Mars felt her skin crawl weirdly and looked swiftly at Tuxedo Kamen, then Mercury and Jupiter-ALL of them were gaping at her with the same expressions as Usagi.

"They're-safe. And Zoisite is gone" Jupiter said, in a strangled tone.

"Oh no!" Tuxedo Kamen groaned, turning away from the group in disbelief. He threw his gloved hands up to the sky and shouted. "Why me? Really? What did I DO?!" he demanded of the morning sky. Of course, the sun seldom spoke and he got no answers. He DID, however, get bewildered looks from Mercury and Jupiter. Sailor Moon merely looked resigned and a little excited. She absently looked at Mars' fuku, then her own, eyes gong wide again. All the blood was gone! Every bit. Their fukus were as clean and white as if they had just transformed.

"What?" Jupiter said, looking at Tuxedo Kamen as if he'd gone mad. "What did I miss?" Her eyes filled again as she looked at Mars. But HOW was she alive? She tensed, ready to throw herself at her friend-who seemed to have no idea of her demise. ["She's all right! Oh thank Jupiter!"] she didn't want to frighten Mars, but she was having a HARD time not throwing herself at the priestess and sobbing out her happiness.

"She's ALIVE!" Mercury suddenly shrieked, loosing all decorum. She threw herself at Sailor Mars. Sailor Moon was pushed backwards unceremoniously as the blue-haired girl caught up Sailor Mars in a strangle-hold about her neck. "Oh Rei!"

"I'm all right," Mars said, embarrassed by Mercury's sobbing wildly into her ear. She threw the others a strange look. "Why is everyone so emotional?" She frowned at Sailor Moon, who looked happy to be sprawled gracefully on the grass at Tuxedo Kamen's feet, where Mercury had shoved her. And misty-eyed too. ["What happened?"]

["You died, Mars. For a whole minute-and then you came back,"] Sailor Moon said faintly, eyes resting on her best friend with fascination and awe. The red symbol for Mars was glowing bright upon her forehead. ["My dearest friend"] she murmured to Mars, eyes shimmering with happy tears.

"I DIED?! Are you serious?" Mars thundered, throwing Mercury off of her and leaping to her feet. She ignored the teary-eyed looks they were all giving her and glared about-not believing them in the slightest.

"Who told you that? HOW did you find out?" Jupiter demanded back, frowning suspiciously. ["How did she find out? No one said a thing?!"]

Mars glared around. "Sailor Moon just TOLD me! Weren't any of you listening?" they were all silent, merely staring-and it frightened Sailor Mars considerably. ["Is it-possible?"]

"Sailor Moon didn't say a thing," Mercury replied, staring hard at Mars. ["Well, she DID hit her head rather hard,"] she mused, wondering if Mars had a concussion. And if that was the only thing she had escaped with-but...how had she come back at all?

["They couldn't hear me, Rei,"] Sailor Moon thought, giggling slightly. She covered her mouth to keep the mirth back at looked at her friend's uncomprehending face. She was just so happy! A smile curved her pink lips, delighted giggles threatening to escape her.

["We're speaking mentally, Sailor Mars,"] Tuxedo Kamen added patiently, waiting for the coin to drop. He eyed her expectantly-knowing why Sailor Mars was having such a hard time comprehending that she had died and come back to life-mysteriously.

Suddenly, Mars' face filled with comprehension, shock and disbelief. ["WHAT?!"} she shrieked mentally. ["Are you kidding me?"] her purple eyes were wide and stunned, seeking out all their faces one by one for confirmation.

Both Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen winced loudly, slapping their hands over their ears.

["STOP thinking so loud, you pyro!"] Usagi screeched back. ["Are you trying to send me deaf?!"] she glared at Mars, falling automatically back into their usual routine.

["Are you BOTH trying to send ME deaf?"] Tuxedo Kamen demanded cuttingly.

["You Odango Atama! What did you do to me?"] Sailor Mars yelled, stalking towards Usagi in determination.

Sailor Moon stared up at her, blinking. "I didn't do a thing, Mars. You got hit by Zoisite’s dark energy and died-then, you came back...with that." She pointed at Mars' forehead, fingers shaking slightly.

"What?" Mars tried to look up, but could see nothing.

"Your forehead is glowing like Usagi's and Mamoru's, Mars," Mercury informed her. She peered closer. "It appears to be the symbol for Mars."

"What's it DOING there?" Mars yelled, rubbing at her forehead hard, as if to get rid of the unseen mark.

["We already tried that,"] Tuxedo Kamen told her, resigned. ["Usagi just ended up hurting her skin. It's there to stay."]

Mars stared at him in shock. ["To stay? And I...died? For real? And then came back and this was there?"] She pointed vaguely at her symbol, not seeing the weird looks that Mercury and Jupiter were giving them all. Mars' mouth opened as if to say something, then she glanced at the two oblivious Senshi and decided to make her rage mental. ["Did YOU die? What is GOING ON?!"] she bellowed at them both.

["STOP YELLING!"] Usagi shouted back.

"Both of you quit it, or I'll throw you in the pond," Tuxedo Kamen groaned at them, rolling his eyes in agony.

"You've er-completely lost us, you guys," Jupiter noted, studying all three with extreme interest. SOMETHING was going on-though she didn't have a clue as to WHAT.

Mercury suddenly seemed to guess-at least part of it. "Oh no!" she gasped out, eyes going wide. She help up her Mercury computer and quickly scanned Sailor Mars. "You're now pure Martian, Rei. You've been transformed like Usagi and Mamoru-and..." She hesitated, staring at the raven-haired priestess. "Can you walk over to that tree over there, Mars?" she instructed blandly.

Mars gave her an incredulous look. "Why-Oh never mind." She changed her mind and began stalking away, muttering under her breath. Abruptly, pain hit her suffocatingly. She fell to her knees, gasping. Behind her, there was a commotion and she forced herself to look. Usagi and Tuxedo Kamen were laying on the ground, groaning with pain.

Sailor Jupiter hastily ran over to Mars, scooped her up into her arms and dashed back to where Usagi and Tuxedo Kamen were laying. As soon as they were close, all three felt the pain leave them.

["Oh my god! Is this what you and Mamoru were feeling?"] Mars gasped mentally at them both, wincing in remembered pain.

["Exactly,"] Tuxedo Kamen said tightly, holding a hand to his chest.

["It's not so bad, as long as we stay close together,"] Usagi soothed, reaching out to take Mars' gloved hand into her own. She squeezed it reassuringly.

"You're ALL three linked together now," Mercury announced, as if nothing out of the usual had happened. "I'm not really sure what happened with Usagi and Mamoru-but when Rei did and came back, it appears that she may have come back fully as a Senshi Her blood has completely altered. Only Makoto and I remain untouched." She frowned at the screen. "Hmm-this is strange…Mars’ link isn’t as strong as Usagi and Mamoru’s seem to be. In fact, she got a lot further away from them than Mamoru had from Usagi, when they first had an attack at her house earlier"

"What a relief" Mars said dryly.

Jupiter whistled low under her breath, green eyes wide with disbelief. "You mean that WE might bond to Usagi and Mamoru ALSO, Mercury?" she queried.

"It's entirely probable." Mercury paused, looking seriously at Jupiter, eyes shadowed with shock. "Of course, to do so...we have to die as well."

"Die?!" Jupiter gasped, stunned. Her green eyes flickered over the Senshi, then Tuxedo Kamen, reflecting the horror that she was feeling.

"It’s just a hypothesis" Mercury offered tentatively, stunned herself. ["However,"] she mused silently, blue eyes dropping to the mini-computer in her gloved hands. ["The Mercury computer is rarely wrong-and I DID enter all available data from tonight’s events"] she turned inquiringly towards Sailor Moon, who was standing forlornly a few feet away from everyone else, eyes fixed on the rising sun. "Usagi, I need exact details on everything that happened between you and Mamoru last night" her gaze moved towards Mars. ‘And you also, Rei" she added thoughtfully.

"None of us have died before" mars murmured faintly. "I don’t FEEL very different though" she added as an after-thought. She peered doubtfully down at herself, as if seeking physical evidence of her change. ["Only the symbol of Mars on my forehead"] she corrected herself wryly, throwing a curious gaze over Sailor Moon, then Tuxedo Kamen.

["You get used to it"] Tuxedo Kamen said dryly, crossing his arms. ["Believe me, Mars. All too soon, having other people living in your head becomes common-place"]

["Mmm"] Mars thought back non-commitally. She looked again a the silent Sailor Moon, who had barely given one glance to anyone who had spoken to her. The silver-haired girl’s eyes were firmly fixed upon the morning sky, as if seeking something there. "Are you okay, Usagi?" She said hesitantly. The fact that Usagi could no longer become Sailor Moon would be the hardest on her.

"Telepathy" Sailor Moon suddenly said, voice clear.

"What was that?" Mercury gasped, not quite sure if she’d heard aright.

Sailor Moon turned her head slowly, the sunlight streaking through her long hair and haloing her like an angel. "I said telepathy, Mercury" she took a deep breath, blue eyes flickering over to Tuxedo Kamen briefly in apology.

["What are you doing?"] he asked her sharply.

Sailor Moon ignored him, smiling instead at Mercury. "You wanted to know about tonight? About my bond with Mamoru-and to Rei? Well, all three of us are bonded mentally"

"You mean that all three of you can hear every single thought that one of you has?" Jupiter exclaimed disbelievingly.

"Yeah. It looks that way" Mars muttered resentfully. Above all, she valued her privacy-and now, two others would always know what she was thinking. And not only THAT-she couldn’t leave their presence or die! She scowled.

"So-" Jupiter began mischievously. "Tell us how Mamoru and Usagi REALLY feel about each other!" she said eagerly.

Sailor Moon promptly flushed, eyes skittering nervously around.

Tuxedo Kamen’s eyes began to glitter strangely behind his white half-mask. ["Should we tell them?"] he threw at Sailor Moon’s mind, devilishly.

["Tell WHAT?"] Mars demanded.

["Shut up, jerk!"] Sailor Moon yelled mentally. She crossed her arms, glaring mulishly at Tuxedo Kamen.

Tuxedo Kamen’s grin widened in response. He stared at Sailor Moon mockingly. ["Why should I hide that we’re-"]

["SHUT UP CREEP!"] she shrieked at him, eyes blazing wrath. "Or I’ll punch you again" she threatened aloud, voice haughty.

"You punched Mamoru? When?" Mercury said curiously.

"Twice" Tuxedo Kamen touched his chin lightly, eyes narrowing on Sailor Moon. "She’s lucky I’m a gentleman"

"You’re lucky I didn’t knock you into next Sunday, hentai!" she seethed back, completely forgetting the presence of the others.

Immediately, three sets of insanely curious eyes were glued to Sailor Moon. "HENTAI?!" Mercury, Jupiter and Mars echoed simultaneously, eyes wide.

["Good one, Odango"] Mamoru drawled.

["Shut up you!"] she growled at him, whirling. She stomped away from everyone, glowering at nothing in particular.

Jupiter stared after the slowly retreating form of their leader, who was heading out of the trees and in the direction of the front of the temple-then she was promptly bowled over by Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Kamen, who thundered past in hot pursuit, groaning in pain and holding their heads.

"Where is she going? Hey, wait up!" Jupiter shouted after them. She and Mercury hastily followed the retreating trio, not wanting to be left out of anything exciting.

"Sailor Moon, you idiot!" Mars screeched as she reached the girl. "Are you trying to kill me-and Tuxedo Kamen too?"

"I forgot" came the sheepish reply. Sailor Moon slowed and turned, letting them all catch up. Then she glared at Tuxedo Kamen. ‘This is all YOUR fault!" she pointed one imperious finger at him face.

"MINE? How do you figure that, Odango Atama?" he drawled insultingly, passing her. Of course, Mars and Moon had to follow hastily, trying to keep up with his longer strides.

Mercury and Jupiter trailed behind curiously.

"So-Usagi" Jupiter said gleefully from behind. "It looks like you’re going to need a larger house!"

Chapter Seventeen

The Tsukino’s were in the dinning room, talking to Luna, as a glowering Sailor Moon entered the room. Followed by three Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen, in a tight-knit group. It was a little hard to stomp away furiously, when two other people were practically TIED to your side. But Sailor Moon sure gave it a try.

"Sailor Moon! Tuxedo Kamen! Senshi!" Luna cried out with relief, not realizing that she'd said HIS name before the rest of her charges. "You're all right"

One of Mercury's eyebrows rose slightly as she noted Luna's words. ["It's-almost as if she were WORRIED about him more than us"] she thought silently, looking at Luna's relieved red eyes. ["For someone she's professed so much to hate and not trust-she sure looks happy to see him unharmed...maybe even more than us"] the thought was disquieting to the quiet Senshi. SOMETHING had changed-but what?

"Of course we are, Luna" Sailor Moon's thunderous expression lightened. She smiled gently at her guardian.

"We're all in one piece" Jupiter grinned around, green eyes alight with amusement. "Some of us, anyhow" she muttered under her breath.

Sailor Mars stayed in her position right behind the others, but close to Sailor Moon. She didn't want Luna to see what had happened quite yet. ["Maybe she won't notice?"] she thought hopefully. She shook her head and then frowned, rolling her purple eyes skyward. "What am I saying?" she said loud.

["I'm glad you realized that"] Tuxedo Kamen said dryly, mind touching hers. ["I hate to state the obvious, Mars-but your head is glowing like a help beacon"] his words trailed off into a mental laugh.

["Mamoru!"] Sailor Moon and Mars both exclaimed at the same time, glares on both of their faces as they turned to look at him.

Tuxedo Kamen shook his head, looking smug. ["Oh come on, you know I'm right"]

["Don't be so rude!"] Mars snapped at him, throwing Sailor Moon a long-suffering look. ["Is he always like this?"]

"Yes" Sailor Moon said, shrugging lightly. She grinned at Tuxedo Kamen's offended expression.

"Ser-Sailor Moon? Are you sure, you're okay?" Luna said anxiously, jumping onto the table-top to scrutinize her charge thoroughly. "You seemed so sure earlier that something was going to happen"

Everyone was silent, the Senshi surprised and the Tsukino's worried and curious.

"You did?" Ikuko said slowly, staring at her daughter with a strange expression.

"Well-it's better if you see for yourselves" Sailor Moon murmured, feeling suddenly drained. She'd had very little sleep in over 24 hours. Mamoru also.

"Explain what?" Luna demanded.

"Yes-explain what?" Kenji demanded a moment later, eyes glaring at Tuxedo Kamen. His fingers twitched as if he were dying to use something on the hero.

"Mom, can you please set up another mattress in my bedroom?" Sailor Moon asked wearily, sinking into a chair at the table. She deliberately avoided the question, knowing that everyone there would see Mars' newest addition in a moment anyway.

The others followed suit, Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mars sinking into the chairs on either side of Moon.

"What’s this?" Luna demanded, eyes suspicious, as they flickered over the Senshi one by one.

Mars walked out from behind the others and Luna finally saw her forehead, glowing brightly. "Oh no!" Luna gaped at Mars incredulously.

"I’m bonded to them now," Mars said, sighing. ["This is just plain weird,"] she muttered mentally.

"Tell me about it," Tuxedo Kamen replied wryly, running a hand through his dark hair. He reached up and casually took the white half-mask from his face, revealing his deep blue eyes. "Who would have thought that my party would end up with me bonded to two 14 year olds?"

"Oh dear," Ikuko exclaimed. She looked across at Kenji, who was glaring accusingly at Tuxedo Kamen-as if everything was HIS fault. "It looks as if we’ll have to go looking for another mattress," she finished thoughtfully.

"Make that three," Jupiter said impishly. "According to Mercury, ALL the Senshi could soon be bonded."

"Are you joking?!" Kenji yelled at them all. "I won’t have my house turned into a circus!"

"Don’t be silly, honey," Ikuko said calmly. She reached out for his hand on the table-top and patted it reassuringly. "You can't blame everything on, Mamoru"

"Oh Can't I-" Kenji blustered, then sank sullenly back, staring daggers across the table at Tuxedo Kamen.

"All right!" Shingo gloated. "I’ll have all the Sailor Senshi living at MY house!" he sighed enviously. "I wish we could afford a camera!"

"What about Grandpa and Yuuchiro?" Mars asked, subdued. She slumped, dark hair falling over her shoulders and into her lap. With the glowing red symbol of Mars on her forehead, she looked even paler than usual.

Ikuko nodded firmly. "We’ll invite them both over for breakfast. I’m sure that they’re already looking for you, Rei."

"Is that a good idea?" Mars asked nervously. "Grandpa will find out that I’m a Sailor Senshi."

"You can’t exactly HIDE it now, Rei," Mercury pointed out, referring to Mars’ glowing forehead.

"Or go to school," Jupiter added enviously. She frowned. "I’ll have no problem moving in-if we’re bonded-but Ami has her Mom living with her."

"We’ll deal with it, when we come to it," Tuxedo Kamen murmured, looking silently at Sailor Moon. "Are you okay, Usagi?" he suddenly questioned her sharply. The silver-haired girl looked as if she were about to fall out of her chair and into his lap. Not that he would have MINDED- ["Ugh! Stop thinking like that!"] he warned himself, throwing Mars a sideways glance. She was now witness to any hentai thoughts that he might have about his Usagi.

Mars stared back at him, eyes narrowed. ["What thoughts?"] she said, curious.

Sailor Moon ignored them both, wilting like a delicate flower in her chair. She barely knew what was going on around her. "Just tired Mamo-Chan," she whispered tiredly, blinking around with dazed blue eyes, not realizing what she was saying.

The Senshi gasped and stared at her, eyes wide. Kenji stiffened and Ikuko quickly grabbed at his closest arm. Shingo grinned, looking at his sister eagerly for details.

"Mamo-Chan?!" Jupiter questioned eagerly, leaning closer.

"When did THIS start?!" Mars demanded. Her eyes flashed from Sailor Moon to Tuxedo Kamen, trying really hard to read their thoughts. Nothing came through but blind shock for a moment-both from Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen.

"Er-" Tuxedo Kamen said, swallowing. It might be that their relationship would come out sooner than anticipated.

Sailor Moon stiffened, eyes wide and a delicate blush on her cheeks. "Oops" she whispered, staring hard at the table-top. ["Sorry about that, Mamoru"] she apologized guiltily. Under the table-cloth, her finger reached out for his.

He curled his own fingers about her and squeezed gently. ["Don't worry about it"] he muttered soothingly, casting a sardonic look around the table of curious and eager faces.

["Well I am! Where did Mamo-Chan come from?"] Mars shouted at them both mentally, fingers digging into both sides of her chair. She glared at Tuxedo Kamen. ["What did you DO in that closet exactly?"]

Usagi blushed brighter, mouth falling open at Mars' forceful questioning.

Tuxedo Kamen glared back, holding onto Sailor Moon' hand tighter. ["None of your business, Mars"] he said cuttingly.

Mars closed her mouth, eyes blazing at him in promise. They'd talk later! Even if she had to drag the both of them into a room and beat it out of them!

"What did you touch?!" Kenji thundered, jumping to his feet and looking around the kitchen for a weapon.

"Why does everyone assume that I did something?" Tuxedo Kamen complained loudly, looking as exhausted as Sailor Moon did. He stifled a yawn, which Sailor Moon promptly echoed.

["Maybe because you DID something?"] Sailor Mars shot back.

["Maaaaars!"] Sailor Moon wailed, flushing painfully. She released Tuxedo Kamen's hand to put both of hers over her flaming cheeks. "I need some sleep first, before anything-Mom can you call Grandpa and tell him to come over later this afternoon?" she suggested hopefully, trying to change the subject.

["Good idea,"] Tuxedo Kamen approved.

"Of course, dear," Ikuko murmured. "You’ve had a long night."

"Great Serenity" Luna groaned, staring around the table. ["This is a nightmare!"]

"Is it okay if I stay here too?" Jupiter inquired, stretching her arms over her head. "I’m exhausted-and my apartment is on the other-side of town."

"Of course you can, Makoto. You’re welcome to stay here as well," Ikuko said warmly. "I always wanted some more daughters-and now I’ll know what it feels like."

"I have to get home," Mercury said, somewhat sadly. "My mother will be home from her shift at the hospital in an hour."

Jupiter quickly reached down for Mercury’s gloved hand, squeezing it lightly. "Don’t worry Ami. If the Mercury computer’s predictions are right-then we’ll all be together soon enough."

"It’s the dying that I’m not looking forward to," Mercury said, shivering.

"DYING?!" Luna exclaimed in horror. "What do you mean, Mercury?"

"I died at the battle," Mars said uncomfortably, shrugging her shoulders. "And when I came back, I was linked to Mamoru and Usagi-and had this symbol on my forehead."

"You didn’t die-did you, Sis?" Shingo gasped at Sailor Moon, stunned and horrified.

"No, I didn’t-and neither did Mamoru. But Rei DID-which is why we think that Ami and Makoto are in danger." She bit her lips, agonized. ["This is worse than I thought."]

"There's-something else too" Luna added slowly, as if reluctant. "We didn't want to tell you others quite yet-but it can't be avoided"

The table was silent, everyone's eyes on Luna expectantly.

"Usagi can no longer become Sailor Moon" the cat blurted out, hopelessly lost. She truly had no idea how to handle a situation like this. ["The Senshi's powers were never MEANT to stop working! We didn't prepare for this"] she lowered her head, ears dropping unhappily.

The Senshi erupted.

"WHAT?!" Sailor Mars screeched, eyes flying to 'Sailor Moon' sitting beside her. "What do you mean? She's transformed now!"

"Are you kidding?" Sailor Jupiter shouted, jumping to her feet.

"Are you sure about that, Luna?" Mercury said weakly, eyes flittering over the table to their leader.

"I'm sure" Luna said wearily. "And she looks like she's transformed-because she's using the Luna Pen. Her inability to transform into Sailor Moon, I would hazard a guess, has something to do with the changes that she is going through"

"Luna Pen?" Ikuko said curiously.

"It's a small devise that allows Usagi to take on any appearance. We discovered tonight that she could no longer transform and then Rei called us on the communicator to say that there was a battle"

"So, you made Usagi use it so that Zoisite wouldn't suspect any change?" Mercury said, admirably. "I'm impressed Luna.

"Actually-Usagi came up with the idea at the same time" Luna admitted, looking at her charge proudly. Her Princess was really maturing!

"Odango Atama?" Mars snorted unlady-like. "An original thought?"

"Rei!" Ikuko protested, looking disappointed.

"MAAARS!" Sailor Moon wailed mentally and verbally.

["Quit it!"] Mars snapped at Sailor Moon, wincing. "Don't act so surprised" she muttered, looking apologetically at Ikuko. "Sorry-habit"

Sailor Moon suddenly shimmered and de-transformed back to Usagi. She blinked, looking surprised. "Hmm-the Luna Pen's power must have run out" she said intelligently.

The Senshi stared at her, along with Shingo.

She blinked at them again, frowning lightly. "What is it? It's a logical assumption, everyone. The Luna Pen is powered by a Lunarian Crystal. It's now the day-so its power is less than usual"

Everyone gaped, completely stunned. Even Tuxedo Kamen.

Luna's eyes widened in horror as she realized what was happening. ["Oh no, Serenity! Not now!"] she cried out silently, praying that the Princess would disappear as soon as she had appeared.

"HOW, did you know that?" Mercury gasped out, swiftly taking out her Mercury Computer to scan Usagi.

"WHAT did you just say?" Sailor Mars said, eyes wide with shock. Their purple depths were partly glazed over at the large words Usagi had used-and in what context. "Am I dreaming, or did Odango just sound like Ami?"

"She sure did" Jupiter said, staring at the bewildered Usagi.

Tuxedo Kamen de-transformed and leaned slightly to the side, waving a hand in front of Usagi's deep blue eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Of course I am" she said sweetly, smiling at him with loving tenderness.

He caught the look, sinking back into his chair in complete shock. ["Usagi?"] he said to her-but there was a frightening silence.

["Usagi?"] Sailor Mars tried, eyes widening at the lack of response. She and Tuxedo Kamen exchanged a quick look, bewildered. They both sought Usagi mind-but came up again a barrier.

"Are you okay, sis?" Shingo asked anxiously.

Usagi turned to look at him, eyes clouding over. "Who-are you?" she said clearly, staring at him, then her parents.

Once again, everyone gaped.

Mercury snapped her computer closed and looked at Usagi with a white face. "Her blood has changed again-the Computer says that it's pure Lunarian now" she said in a hushed voice.

Luna's eyes widened in fright. ["They're too close to finding out!"] she thought in panic.

"How do you know so much about the Luna Pen all of a sudden?" Jupiter said, almost at the same time. Both she and Mercury stared at each other in surprise.

Usagi smiled serenely. "My Mother of course, Jupiter. You know that she taught me-"

"SERENITY!" Luna screeched out, in horrified tones. Everyone stared at her in shock and she hastily corrected her words, to make it sound like she was praying for help. "Great Serenity, give us aid! This is a nightmare!"

"What is?" Jupiter said, bewildered by Luna's outburst. At first, it had seemed as if she were yelling at Usagi-but then she was praying for help?

"Sailor Moon not being able to transform. Mamoru, Usagi and Rei bonded. The symbols glowing on their foreheads that we can't possibly hide! Usagi parents and brother finding out our secret-and now Rei's grandfather and Yuuchiro will find out! This was never meant to happen!" Luna burst out, hyperventilating. Her golden crescent moon began to glow brightly in her agitation, breath coming in gasps and eyes glazing over.

"Luna!" Usagi cried out in fear. She jumped to her feet, Mamoru and Mars quickly following as the silver-haired girl raced around the table and swept the black cat into her arms. "What is wrong?"

Luna's eyes rolled back as she recognized the sweet tones of her Princess still. Usagi's personality had not returned! "Serenity! Take me upstairs-quickly!" Luna whispered into the girl's ear. "I can't control-"

"Your form!" Serenity gasped, eyes widening with recognition. She quickly turned, looking slightly bewildered at her surroundings-then automatically bolted up the stairs with all the grace she could muster. She heard two others follow and cast a look back to see Endymion and Mars close behind.

"Usagi! What's going on?" Ikuko called frantically from downstairs.

Usagi never answered-because she was Serenity.

"We'll find out! Stay down there" Mars called back, following Mamoru and Usagi into the girl's room.

"No!" Luna cried out weakly, seeing Mars and Mamoru enter behind her and the Princess. "I need to talk to Seren-Usagi alone!"

Mamoru and Mars looked at Luna, confused.

"But-we can't separate" Mamoru said, eyes narrowing on Luna's writhing body. The cat was sweating heavily, eyes glazed over with pain. Something was VERY wrong. ["Lets leave them be"] he thought to Mars carefully, looking Usagi over. There was something different about her, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"But we can't leave-" Mars said urgently, but was hustled hurriedly out of the room by Mamoru. "Ouch! It hurts!" she screeched, as the pain hit her.

Mamoru's mouth tightened grimly. "We'll be just outside the door-stay as close to it as you can, Usagi" he instructed Usagi, then closed the door behind him and Mars.

"Who is Usagi?" Serenity said, eyes bewildered.

Luna gave out a pained moan, then leapt from the Princess' arms. As soon as her paws touched the carpet, she shimmered briefly silver-and change. She felt her form growing, fur disappearing. A moment later, all the pain was gone. She blinked around, noting the weird angle she was laying at on the floor.

Serenity knelt beside her guardian. "Are you all right, Luna?" she said, reaching out gently to brush the long locks of black hair from Luna's pretty face. She smiled tenderly at the girl-who was about her age-19. "Did you get nervous again?"

"Yes" Luna gasped, then blinked-startled at the sound of her voice. She raised her head and stared down at herself, noting long slender legs, a yellow dress, black hair curling about her shoulders and-hands. She smiled in wonder. ["It's been so long"] she remembered her Princess and looked up quickly, eyes lighting with delight. "Serenity!" she cried out, throwing herself at the silver-haired Princess. Her arms hugged the girl to her tightly, their hearts beating together.

"Luna?" Serenity said, concerned. Her friend was holding her far more tightly than usual-and was that...trembling. "Are you all right? You left it too long-didn't you? What worried you this much?" she said admonishingly, pulling back to stare into Luna's face.

Luna's red eyes widened. ["So-Serenity doesn't REMEMBER some things that she says or does as Usagi!"] she thought with astonishment. On the other hand, that could be a BAD sign.

"Did Artemis and you have a fight again?" The Princess said, sighing. She stroked the dark bangs back from Luna's face, eyes calm. "Would you like me to talk with him?" she offered.

"Artemis?" Luna gasped, eyes gong wide again. ["Artemis-I haven't seen him since..."] her mind blanked off at that stage. She couldn't remember the last time she's seen the white cat. A long time-at least... "No. Not him. Just the Council" Luna said hastily, throwing the first words out that came to mind.

Serenity's blue eyes darkened more. She gave Luna a serious look. "The Council? There was a meeting? But-why was I not there? Mother said nothing-" her anxious words broke off, eyes glazing over.

Luna's heart leapt into her mouth as she realized that she only had seconds before Usagi returned. She took a deep calming breath and concentrated harder than she ever had, forming a shape in her mind. Her crescent moon flashed-and then she was a cat in Usagi's arms again.

Usagi blinked dazedly down at Luna, looking perplexed. "What are we-" she swallowed hard, frowning. "You know, Luna-I just had the weirdest dream" she said slowly. "You were a human-"

"It was only a dream, Usagi" Luna said swiftly, eyes anxious. "I was feeling sick and you brought me up to your room-but then you suddenly fainted. I was worried" the cat finished HOPING that she sounded truthful enough.

"Oh. I'm sorry Luna" she giggled sheepishly, yawning. "I guess that I was really tired. This has been a long night"

["I'll say"] Mamoru said dryly.

["Are you finished with Luna, yet, Odango?"] Mars said tiredly, sounding snappy.

["Yes. I guess so"] Usagi responded, still confused about how she had ended up in her bedroom with Luna.

The bedroom door was flung open and Mars stomped inside, followed by a curious Mamoru. "Are you okay? You look a little pale" He said to Usagi, then looked down at Luna, who looked much better. "And you, Luna?"

"I'm fine, thank you, Pr-er...Mamoru" Luna hastily finished, silently cursing herself. It was getting harder and harder to remember that Usagi and Mamoru were NOT yet her Prince and Princess. Especially when they continued to mysteriously change into their past delves at the moment disconcerting of times!

"I'm fine too, Mamo-C...umm-Mamoru" Usagi blushed brightly, throwing Mars a guilty look.

Sailor Mars looked at them both narrowly, then smiled teasingly. "So-you never did say what it was with you calling Mamoru 'Mamo-Chan'. Spill girl" she ordered.

"Yeah-like she said" Jupiter said from behind them.

The three turned to see a crowd standing there in the doorway.

"Sorry, we couldn't wait to see if Luna was all right" Mercury said softly, looking around Mamoru to the small black cat. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly. She smiled then. "You look much better"

"I'm better. I just felt faint-I must be tired too" Luna said faking a wide yawn. She padded over to the bed and leapt up, quickly burrowing down into the cool covers.

"The rest of you can come downstairs" Ikuko said, smiling around at the girls and Mamoru. "Jupiter and Mercury helped me set up some blankets on the lounge floor"

"Are you all right alone , Luna?" Usagi said tenderly, looking at the cat with loving eyes.

Luna blinked, astonished. Usagi had NEVER looked at her with that degree of love in her eyes before. Only Serenity had. ["Good lord! Usagi must be starting to retain her memories!"] she thought, nervously. "Go and go some sleep, Usagi. And I'll do the same here"

"You aren't going to chaperone them?" Sailor Jupiter said, raising an eyebrow incredulously.

Luna again cursed herself silently, then her eyes fell on Mamoru standing close beside Usagi. "No-not with Rei there" she said calmly, then closed her eyes.

Everyone trooped out of the room and down the hall.

"You didn't answer Rei's question, dear" Ikuko whispered into Usagi’s ear as they went down the stairs and into the lounge.

Usagi flushed, knowing that her mom referred to. "It was a slip" she muttered, throwing Mamoru a look. ["A big one. Sorry, Mamo-Chan!"]

["You could say that, Usako. I'll think of SOMEWAY for you to make it up to me"] he responded teasingly, looking her up and down suggestively and-AGAIN forgetting Mars.

"WHAT?" the Senshi burst out, pausing next to her blankets. The Tsukino's stared at her-as well as Jupiter and Mercury.

"What, what?" Mercury said, confused.

Mars flushed, then de-transformed into Rei. "Nothing-just thinking aloud" she told them, sinking down to the floor. She cat a look at Mamoru and Usagi-who had frozen in embarrassment from her over-hearing them. ["We are GOING to talk about this-later"] she warned them both, before jumping under the covers and closing her eyes pointedly.

Usagi and Mamoru gave each other a chagrined look, then she lay down close beside Rei.

"Goodnight dear. Goodnight girls" Ikuko said happily. "Come into the kitchen and have come breakfast before you go, Ami"

"Thank you, I will" Mercury said, smiling.

The Tsukino's walked out, followed by Ami-then Ikuko turned off the light and closed the door between the kitchen and lounge. With the curtains fully drawn-the room was in relative darkness.

Mamoru inched down close to Usagi and pulled the blanket over him, staring up at the roof. On his other side, he felt Makoto de-transform and then curl into the blankets.

"Night everyone! Er-I mean-day!" Makoto giggled at them sleepily.

"Goodnight, Makoto, Rei-Mamoru" Usagi said yawning. Without thinking, she turned sideways and curled into Mamoru.

He was so tired that he automatically lifted an arm to make room for her, feeling her head coming to rest on his naked chest-form clinging close to his. ["Goodnight, Angel"] he murmured to her, arms wrapping tightly about her slender body and molding it to his own. He nestled his face into her soft hair and drifted off.

["Goodnight, my Prince"] she thought back tiredly, hardly knowing what she was saying. Then she too fell asleep"

On either side of the peacefully sleeping two, Makoto and Rei lay there with wide eyes, each incredulous.

["Angel? My Prince?"] Rei thought, shocked. Also, the two had come together as if it were the most natural thing in the world. She stared at their forms in the darkness, with wide eyes.

["He's HUGGING her?"] Makoto thought with disbelief.

Simultaneously, the two Senshi raised their head and stared at each other over Mamoru and Usagi's forms. "We HAVE to find out what happened in that closet!" they both said at the same time. They exchanged a sly grin, then lay down again to sleep.

Chapter Eighteen

Usagi's eyes opened slowly. She felt warmth all around her. Her head was on something warm and soft that moved up and down in a rhythm. She frowned for a long moment, perplexed. ["Where am I?"] she wondered mentally. She moved her legs experimentally, then her arms and suddenly knew exactly where she was.

["In my arms-where you belong"] Mamoru's voice was sleepy and possessive.

Usagi flushed slightly, then stiffened as she remembered that Rei now shared their bond. She reached out tentatively towards the priestess' mind-and encountered a blank. Her eyes widened.

Mamoru's arms tightened around her shoulder, his other picking up a long lock of silver hair that pooled over his chest. "She's asleep-as is Makoto" he murmured just above her ear, playing with the silver lock gently.

Usagi relaxed, sinking deeper into his protective embrace. Strangely, she had taken no offense to his words about her belonging in his arms. She was beginning to see that he was right. ["Of course I am, Angel"] his voice was more awake now, filled with amusement.

Usagi's eyes skittered around the near-dark room and landed on the closed door between the kitchen and then lounge. If her dad should peer in on them to see if they're awake- ["He'll beat Mamo-Chan to a pulp!"] she thought, fingers curling tightly into his chest. ["I won't LET him!"] she narrowed her eyes rebelliously. There was no way in hell that her dad would hurt Mamoru!

["Easy! Down, Usako. He's your dad-remember?"] Mamoru said, laying a comforting hand over hers as it lay on his chest. Instantly, her fingers uncurled, realizing beneath his.

She moved closer, burying her face beneath his chin, into the warmth of his neck. Usagi purred in delight as his scent surrounded her. ["Nice"] she purred into his mind.

["Usako! We're not along here"] Mamoru's voice was strangled-even as his arms tightened possessively about her slender frame. ["Mine"] he thought, burying his face into her soft hair and breathing in deeply. She smelt of the night and flowers and-everything beautiful...

["I know"] she said silkily, possessed by the devil suddenly. She abruptly didn't CARE that Rei was sleeping just behind her, or that Makoto was on Mamoru's other side. It just made it more exciting-the thrill of not getting caught. Something started to coil low in her stomach, making her breath in little gasps.

["You're going to get me shot!"] Mamoru groaned mentally at her as she threw a leg over his and tried to pull him closer. Then, he felt her release him slightly and lean over. Her warm breath stirred in his hair and over his face tantalizingly.

"Kiss me, Mamo-Chan" she breathed into his ear, lips brushing the skin slightly. She moved her head back until she was positioned right over his lips teasingly. ["Don't you want to?"] she taunted him, eyes glittering strangely into his. She lowered her lips slightly till they just brushed his.

["Don't I WANT to?"] he asked her, half crazy with desire. His whole body was suddenly on fire and he could feel every inch of the angel leaning over his, pressed to his chest. ["To hell with the others"] he growled at her, his blue eyes darkening with desire. He reached up and hooked a hand behind her back, pulling her face closer to his so that their lips finally met in a searing kiss. His other hand snaked about her slender waist, pulling Usagi fully onto his body.

Usagi groaned into his mouth, in complete heaven. Her hands came up, reaching into his dark hair to cling to the locks desperately. She felt like she was drowning! ["I hope it never ends"] she thought to him blissfully, wiggling.

He stiffened, groaning into her mouth. ["Usagi, PLEASE don't do that! Kissing is fine-but there are other consequences to your actions that I'm not willing to take in front of the girls!"] he told her with exasperation, kissing her harder.

She melted in delight, fingers entwining into his dark locks tightly. ["Consequences?"] she thought vaguely, easing off the kiss-she wanted to try something. She moved her head back until her lips were merely brushing his, then brushes her across his a few times teasingly.

In response, his fingers dug into her waist and the hand at the back of her neck slid down slowly until his hands were comely about her tiny waist. ["Consequences, my angel"] he said, moaning mentally and verbally as she nibbled at his bottom lip with her little teeth. Mamoru's hands spanned her waist, then abruptly pulled her close into contact with him.

She stiffened in slight shock, pulling back to stare at him with wide eyes. ["What is that-"] she began, perplexed as she felt a hardness against her lower stomach. Whatever it was, it was sending the most delicious shocks of electricity through her body. Her eyes half-closed in delight, but her question still lingered in her mind.

Mamoru realized that he was going to fast with a VERY innocent girl-and promptly turned over, burying her beneath his body as he'd always wanted to do. The covers hid them from head to toe as Mamoru rested on top of the girl, their breathing erratic.

Usagi moaned, writhing beneath his body, trying to understand what she was feeling. She felt alive everywhere. All electricity and pleasure. She reached her hands up, running them slowly over his smooth chest. ["Nice"] she said silkily, raising up her head slightly until her lips brushed his chest. Mamoru stiffened above her and she smiled secretively. Then her mouth opened and she flicked out her tongue quickly to taste him.

Mamoru almost lost control as he felt her small tongue touch the skin of his chest. He quickly pushed her down by the shoulders and pinned her beneath him. "If" he whispered into her ear seductively, "You're trying to drive me crazy-it's working" his words finished in a groaned as he again sought out her sweet lips and kisses her passionately.

She moaned into his mouth. ["I drive you crazy?"] she thought, half-pleased and half bewildered. ["Is that good?"] she questioned, opening her mouth beneath his. She started slightly as his tongue brushed hers, then closed her eyes and surrendered to the sensation.

["It's VERY good, Usako"] he told her, a hand moving down from her shoulders to her chest. It slid along the sides of her breast, then headed lower. He brushed tentatively over her hips, not wanting to scare her.

["You're not scaring me"] she told him, almost deliriously, burying everywhere. When his hand brushed her outer thigh she groaned at him, wiggling beneath his form.

Mamoru suddenly realized what he was DOING-and to a 14 year old! He removed his hand carefully from her leg and pulled back from her lips reluctantly. "You're too young" he murmured, dropping a light kiss onto her sweat-beaded forehead.

"Am I?" she said, disappointed. Her body still burned and yearned for his touch. As he rolled off of her and the blankets fell back to let in cool air, she quickly grabbed his hand and pulled it to her chest. "Can you feel my heart?" she breathed at him, forcing his fingers open and pressing his open palm just below her breast.

His eyes went wide, hand trembling slightly within hers as he felt the underside of her breast. ["You're trying to kill me! I KNEW it!"] he growled at her, yanking his hand back.

"What?" she gasped out, stunned by his words. "What do you mean?" she was bewildered, excitement quickly dying as she saw his eyes glittering at her angrily. ["What did I do?"]

["You know, Usagi-for a fourteen year old innocent girl, you're sure doing your best to seduce me!"] he said cuttingly into her mind, sinking back onto his back.

She eyed him in bewilderment, eyes filling. ["What did I do?"] she almost sobbed at him, starting to shake.

Mamoru held out for a total of three seconds-before groaning in self-loathing and reaching out for the angel. He pulled her into his arms, wrapping them about her as if he'd never let her go. ["I'm sorry, Usako. Ignore me"] he told her soothingly, stroking her long silver hair. He kissed her forehead once-then twice and lay back down with he glued to his side. ["You didn't do a thing-you were wonderful"] he reassured her. He kissed her nose and then brushed his lips over hers lightly. Desire stirred again and he groaned at himself. ["This is bad"]

["You BET it is, buddy!"] Rei's voice growled furiously into Usagi's and Mamoru's minds. The two yanked away from each other, rolling to their knees. Rei sat there, arms folded across her chest and purple eyes glittering with suppressed fury. ["I was three seconds from knocking your lights out!"]

"Rei" Usagi tried, paling.

["You could have TRIED"] Mamoru growled back at her. ["You AREN'T keeping me and Usagi away from each other!"] he swore, prepared to back up his words with actions.

"AWAY from her?" Rei almost screeched aloud.

Makoto stirred and leapt up into a fighting position, green eyes wide and pony-tail askew. "What's wrong?" she demanded, looking around the room warily. When she saw that there was no danger, she stared at the three curiously, sinking back onto her blankets.

"Nothing-just an argument" Rei muttered, looking at Mamoru in exasperation and anger. ["I wasn't going to keep you AWAY from her, you jerk! I was going to knock you flat for telling her those things!"]

["WHAT?"] Mamoru and Usagi said at the same time, eyes going wide. Rei wasn't disagreeing to their kissing?

"Another argument? Oh, come on guys!" Makoto said with disgust, flopping back down to the floor and closing her eyes. "How about a little more shut-eye here?"

"Sorry about that, Makoto" Rei said with embarrassment, wishing she hadn't screeched her words out-loud. This was a big enough event without EVERYONE knowing. ["Especially Mr. Tsukino"]

["Especially"] Mamoru agreed dryly.

"Oh Rei" Usagi said quietly, feeling remorse. ["I'm so sorry you had to find out like this. I know you and Mamoru-"]

["Are just friends"] Rei said firmly, smiling. ["I'm happy for you-but I STILL want to KNOW when exactly this happened!"] she finished in a shout. ["What the heck did you two DO in that closet exactly?"] she paused, grinning slyly at Mamoru and then her friend. ["Or should I just guess?"]

["Reiiii!"] Usagi wailed at her mentally, mortified. Her cheeks flamed.

["We don't kiss and tell-how about you, Mars?"] Mamoru said seductively, reaching out to pull Usagi onto his lap. He felt her stiffen, then melt back into his chest-almost purring.

Rei watched with fascination, awed. ["Unbelievable. You two HATE each other for months-then in one night-you're making out like there's no tomorrow?"] she finished admirably. Only some of their feeling shad come through the link-in fact, she thought it was the thing that WOKE her, but what she felt from them was amazing in its intensity. Desire had raged between the two as if it would set the room on fire. Rei flushed as she realized that Usagi and Mamoru were watching her with wide eyes, mouths gaping. ["I can't HELP it, okay!"] she flared at them, blushing as brightly as Usagi. ["Everything seems to come through this damn link!"]

["Everything?"] Mamoru said weakly, ardor cooling. There was nothing like a witness to his and Usagi's passion-to destroy it.

["It's not MY fault!"] Rei almost screamed at him, eyes burning into his. She was ready to erupt. ["IS it MY fault that you two can't keep your hands off each other?"]

["REI!"] Usagi wailed loudly, making Rei and Mamoru wince in slight pain. ["We CAN too keep our hands off of each other!"] she shouted back furiously, jumping off of Mamoru lap and towering over the priestess.

["But we choose NOT to"] Mamoru added in amusement, watching as Rei leapt to her feet also and faced it off with his angel.

]"Mamoru! You're NOT helping, you idiot!"] Usagi hissed at him, putting her hands on her hips and regarding them both haughtily. ["You're just jealous"] she told Rei smugly.

["JEALOUS"} Rei screeched mentally, outraged. ["I'm NOT jealous, you Odango Atama! Anyhow, I have...Yuuchiro! So there!"] she stuck her tongue out.

["Ah ha!"] Usagi crowed triumphantly. "I KNEW you had a thing for him!"

Rei swallowed, realizing her mistake too late. ["Oh no!"] she groaned, sinking back onto her blankets weakly. She'd never hear the end of this!

"A thing for who?" Makoto muttered half-asleep. Right after her words, she fell into a doze and began to store.

The three stared at her for a long moment, then suddenly burst into hysterical laughter.

["Oh Usagi! This is just too rich!"] Rei said, laughing hard. ["You and your worst enemy making out on your parents lounge room floor!"]

Usagi and Mamoru threw each other a guilty look, then simultaneously looked nervously towards the closed door. It made Rei laugh even harder.

["You can't tell anyone!"] Usagi said urgently, laughter draining out of her.

Rei eyed her uncertainly. ["Why?"] she said, puzzled.

["Her homicidal father, for one"] Mamoru said pointedly.

["AND?"] Rei went on, still confused. Why on earth would the two want to hide their relationship?

Mamoru and Usagi exchanged a slightly confused look, not understanding it themselves.

"Please, Rei?" Usagi murmured pleadingly to the girl.

"Please Rei?" Mamoru said in a sweet voice, similar to Usagi-then batted his lashes at the dark-haired girl.

Rei's lips twitched uncontrollably. ["Okay, I surrender"] she gasped at them, then fell into laughter again. "But you OWE me now, Odango!" she added slyly.

Usagi groaned, covering her face with her hands. "I knew it!"

Later on, they gathered in the kitchen for lunch. Ikuko had cooked a lot of food with Makoto's help and the table-top was covered in delicious food. Kenji and Shingo were missing, but Ikuko said that they'd gone out for something.

Mamoru took a cup of coffee and sat there, drinking quietly and reflecting on the near-disaster of earlier. He'd practically JUMPED Usagi-a 14 year old girl. And right in front of her best friend, no less! He was damn lucky that Rei was so understanding about it!

["Yes you are"] Rei said in satisfaction, smirking at him. ["I'll make sure you treat her right-or else!"]

["Or else-what?"] Mamoru said silkily, turning his eyes to look into hers. As he was sitting right beside her, he was quite close.

Rei still felt something for him and felt herself blushing, but then remembered Usagi and was angry. ["Just make sure you don't stray, Romeo. Or ALL the Senshi will make you pay"] she promised him.

Ikuko looked at the clock on the wall. "It's almost time" she said to Rei.

Rei stiffened, throwing a panicked look at the clock also. "Oh no" she moaned slightly, biting her lip.

"Don't worry, we're here" Usagi said soothingly. She squeezed Rei's cold hand and then reached for a piece of toast. She loaded it on with food and then brought it back to her plate.

Rei was about to make a crack about Usagi's eating habits when the silver-haired girl got the strangest look in her eyes. She picked up the toast and begin to scrape the food back onto their respective plates, a frown on concentration on her pretty face. Rei exchanged a bewildered look with Mamoru, Makoto and Ikuko, who watched with open-mouth. "Usagi?"

"Hmm?" Usagi said, making sure that there was the smallest of amounts of egg and mushroom left on her piece of toast. She brought it back to her plate and absently picked up a knife and fork from Mamoru's plate.

"Er-you aren't hungry?" Ikuko asked her daughter, bewildered. Usagi ALWAYS loaded up her plate to the brim!

Usagi cut off a piece and raised it to her mouth, then put it inside and chewed delicately. They watched in complete silence as she ate slowly, every movement graceful. And when she had finished she EVEN took up a napkin and wiped off her mouth gently. Then she placed the knife and fork back onto her plate and places her hands into her lap demurely.

Mamoru blinked at her, suddenly seeing double. Another vision pushed itself on top of the one of Usagi sitting there and he seemed to see a girl in a long flowing dress, laughing at something. Her face was alight with laughter, lips curved enticingly. He had a sudden urge to kiss her...

Rei felt a strange sensation in her mind and suddenly realized that Mamoru's presence was gone. She glanced at him sharply and saw that his eyes were glazed over, resting squarely on Usagi. She almost said something scathing-but didn't see any desire in his gaze at all. ["It's like-he's transfixed"] she thought worriedly.

"Usagi?" Ikuko said sharply, looking at her daughter.

Rei quickly switched her gaze to her friend and saw that Usagi eyes TOO had glazed over...and she was staring right at Mamoru with a half-smile. ["Usagi?"] she murmured in her mind-but Usagi's presence too was gone. Her eyes widened in shock and panic as Mamoru and Usagi continued to gaze at each other...lovingly. "Oh no-not again" she said aloud, realizing with dismay that her friends were going into a trance again.

"Is she okay?" Ikuko said worriedly, taking a sip of he tea to calm herself.

"They're in a trance again" Rei said in a hushed tone, watching the two carefully.

Usagi began to hum suddenly, her voice beautiful and melodic. It was a haunting tune that neither Ikuko nor Rei had ever heard-but it made the hairs on the back of the priestess' neck stand up straight.

["Princess-may I have this dance?"] Endymion said, smiling at his love.

["Of course you may, Endymion"] Serenity smiled at him, lips curving in excitement. She loved when she and her Prince danced together.

He got to his feet and extended a hand to her courteously, half-bowing.

She got to her feet gracefully and took his hand, laughing low in her throat as he kissed the back of her hand lingeringly. He led her out and they began to dance, taking absolutely do notice of the room around them. Serenity was in heaven.

Rei and Ikuko watched with eyes wide and gaping mouths as klutzy Usagi danced like a pro around the kitchen-area. She practically seemed to float within Mamoru's arms-and they never took their eyes off of each other. "Er-Ikuko? Did you get Usagi dancing lessons?" she asked in a strangled tone, watching as the two floated gracefully together, oblivious to the surroundings. Suddenly, she felt deja vu as she watched the two-and she KNEW that she'd seen them dance before...somewhere. Rei went pale with realization.

"No-as a matter of fact" Ikuko's voice was similarly strangled as she gazed with shock at her forever-klutzy daughter. "We tired last year, but she kept tripping and stepping on the instructors feet" she finished weakly.

"That's what I thought" Rei murmured, mind seething with thought. Her purple eyes narrowed. "In that case-I think that they've been taken over by spirits" she said slowly. "I can't feel their minds at all"

"Spirits?" Ikuko exclaimed, jerking in her chair. She looked at Rei with shock. "My daughter is POSSESSED?!"

"No-well...I don't know" Rei said truthfully. "I can't feel any danger and all they seem to be doing is dancing" she shook he head at the bizarre sight of the two enemies dancing so close together and gazing into each other's eyes with love. "This is weird"

"Tell me about it" Ikuko said weakly, a hand coming to her cheek.

Usagi and Mamoru came to a halt. She curtsied low to him and he bowed, kissing her hand in a courtly manner-then both stiffened and blinked around in a daze. Immediately agonizing pain hit Rei and the other two.

"Usagi!" Rei gasped out, staggering to her feet. She made her way around the table, hardly able to see.

Usagi had no idea what she was doing, but stumbled towards her friend with Mamoru at her side. The three came together and fell into a pile of limbs, clutching at each other.

"What happened?" Mamoru demanded, a hand about each other the girl's waists. They both leaned on him, panting. His arms tightened about them protectively as he abruptly remembered EXACTLY what had just happened. Blue eyes narrowed.

"I don't remember leaving the table" Usagi said fearfully, bewildered. She DID in fact remember-and clearly. But not HOW it happened. She looked up at Mamoru's face, silently seeking reassurance.

He smiled at her, but neither said anything mentally, knowing that Rei would hear them.

Ikuko and Rei exchanged a look and came to a silent decision.

"Don't worry about it, Usagi" Rei murmured, reaching around Mamoru to clutch at one of Usagi's hands. "You just had another trance"

"Oh" Usagi said, unconsciously burrowing closer to Mamoru's chest.

In response, he pulled her even closer and rested his head upon her head, deep blue eyes troubled as the stared at nothing. ["I don't know what's going on, but I'll protect you both-I swear it"] he told them, voice full of confidence.

Usagi nodded. ["I know you will, Mamo-Chan"]

Rei said nothing, but smile-still startled by the events of a moment before. ["Let's hope it doesn't come to that, Mamoru"] she murmured thoughtfully.

Ikuko watched her daughter with a smile. ["Those two must be in love, but don't realize it"] she thought happily. She couldn't have chosen a better guy for her daughter, herself. Tuxedo Kamen, no less! And her best friend was Sailor Mars. Usagi would always be safe.

The three held each other silently for a long time, Makoto and Ikuko watching and waiting. Finally, it was Usagi who pulled away. "We have to clear the table" she said brightly, smiling all around.

Mamoru and Rei followed her closely about the table, collecting plates, while Ikuko watched in astonishment. ["Usagi....helping to clear up?"] she gasped across the table at the deadly silent Makoto, who's green eyes were glazed. She'd not said one word in all the time that Usagi and Mamoru were in their trance, nor after. She seemed to be-in shock. "Are you all right, dear?" Ikuko asked her, worried.

Makoto blinked and then grinned sheepishly-but her eyes were haunted. "No, nothing. I'm fine" she got to her feet to help the other three. ["It's just that-for a moment when they were dancing...I seemed to remember seeing it before"] she thought, bewildered.

Usagi went to the sink, with Rei close and Mamoru hanging slightly back as he put jars and packets away in the cupboards.

"You wash and I'll wipe" Rei suggested lightly, trying to shake the haunted feeling hanging over the room.

"All right" Usagi said, frowning slightly at the cloth on the bench. She picked it up slowly and stared at it-as if she'd never seen one before. She shrugged and smiled, waiting for Rei to fill the sink. As the first plate was passed to her, covered in water and suds, she suddenly began to hum under her breath. In her mind, she heard the words clearly...

When the Earth and the Moon,
With loving grace,
Meet under the stars and take their place,
And true loves power takes a hold...

Usagi's eyes glazed over slightly and she completely missed the startled looks everyone was giving her. "Destiny's path will unfold..." she finished aloud, in a clear voice. She turned slowly to face Mamoru and Rei, who were watching her as if she were a stranger. "What is happening?" she whispered, feeling stirrings of fear.

Mamoru locked eyes with hers, feeling strange emotions spiral through him at the sweet sound of her FAMILIAR voice-and the words too, he had heard before. "We'll find out" he said softly. Sure that it was as certain as the sun rising.

From the kitchen doorway, Luna stood frozen, eyes wide with disbelief. She'd come downstairs with the weirdest feeling that something was going on-and had witnessed Serenity and Endymion dancing gracefully about the room. ["Great Serenity! This is getting out of control"] she thought with horror. At this rate, there was no way to hide the changes that Usagi and Mamoru were going through. She sighed, watching as they washed the dishes. At least Mamoru didn't seem to be changing as fast-however, Serenity was fast overcoming Usagi's personality.

"I have to contact Central" Luna murmured, turning to leave. And that was when Usagi began to hum. The cat spun back, red eyes glazing over. ["That's Serenity's voice!"] she thought incredulously. She was even more panicked when Usagi said the last line out-loud. She shook her head, reluctant to leave her Princess-but.. "I HAVE to get to Central Command!" she quickly spun and raced from the kitchen, as if the devils of hell were after her. ["I can't do this alone...."]

The three Tsukino's sat on one couch, Makoto in an arm-chair to the side and Usagi, Rei and Mamoru were on the couch across the coffee table. Mamoru and Kenji were facing each other and Usagi's dad kept throwing death-glares at the hero every few moments. Rei's Grandfather and Yuuchiro would be there any moment-and the air was thick with tension and worry. 

["This is not a good idea"] Rei said mentally to Usagi and Mamoru, tensing herself. ["This is really not a good idea"]

Usagi sighed and leaned over Mamoru to take up Rei's closest hand into a warm grip. "Don't worry about it Rei" she said reassuringly. "It'll all work out-you'll see" she smiled brightly at the raven-haired girl, who returned a tentative smile of her own.

Mamoru restrained himself with difficulty as his angel leaned over him closely, almost in his lap-and right in front of her PARENTS, no less. ["Er, Usako?"] he said quickly, eyes on a seething Kenji. ["You're dad is about to throttle me-you better sit up"] he said, rather nervous.

Usagi and Rei looked up to the couch across the small table from them. Sure enough, Kenji had 'I'm gonna kill you, Chiba' look written all over his face. His hands were gripped tightly together until they were white, eyes blazing wrath at Mamoru.

["He wouldn't hurt you Mamo-Chan"] Usagi said rebelliously, almost glaring at her father.

Rei glared also, fiercely protective of her best friend's budding relationship with her so-called worst enemy.

Mamoru rolled his dark blue eyes. ["Of COURSE he would, Usako! He's been trying to kill me ever since the first time I put my foot inside his house"]

Kenji blinked as he was confronted with three pairs of accusing eyes. "Er-is something wrong, honey?" He asked Usagi, swallowing hard.

"You BET there is, dad!" she burst out, outraged at her dad's behavior towards Mamoru. "Stop looking at Mamoru as if it's all HIS fault!"

"But it IS!" Kenji shouted, pointing an accusing finger across at Mamoru.

"Kenji, please" Ikuko said, sighing. She reached out and grabbed her husbands hand, pulling it onto her lap. "Try and get along with Mamoru-for Usagi's sake?"

"No-wait a minute. HOW exactly is it Mamoru's fault?" Makoto broke in, eyes flickering eagerly from face to face. ["What did I miss?"]

Kenji's mouth opened, then he paused and suddenly looked uncertain. "Well-I don't KNOW...yet! But I'm sure it's his fault!" the man blustered at Makoto, looking annoyed that he'd been caught out with NO particular reason for hating the hero.

["See what I mean?"] Mamoru said wearily, leaning back more comfortably against the cushions. He crossed one long leg over the other and raised a hand to rest along the back of the couch. His fingers were in the perfect position to touch Usagi's beautiful silver hair and he absently picked up a lock, feeling it between his index finger and thumb. ["Usagi? Have you brushed your hair since last night?"] he asked her curiously, feeling the strange soft texture of the girl's locks.

She turned to look at him, eyebrows raised enquiringly. ["No-at least, I tidied it when we got up, but didn't give it a brush"]

["Why?"] Rei asked him, afire with curiosity. Mamoru had the strangest look on his face. Almost tender and unfocused as he continued to stroke a lock of Usagi's long hair between his fingers.

["I don't know-it feels slightly different for some reason. Softer"] he frowned lightly, giving a mental laugh of embarrassment. ["I thought that long hair like this would take constant brushing-but your hair looks as neat and tidy as if you'd just spent an hour brushing it"]

Rei and Usagi stared at him for a moment with identical expressions of surprise, then both burst into giggles.

Makoto watched as her two friend's began giggling uncontrollably, eyes watering. She looked at Mamoru, who looked patiently tolerant, eyes glinting with amusement as he watched the two girls. "Okay, give. What were you three talking about?" the brunette demanded enviously. She REALLY wished that she were linked with the other three!

"Nothing-much, Makoto" Rei gasped out, clutching at her stomach.

Usagi threw a wary look across at her dad and hastily nodded. "Nothing much" she agreed innocently.

But still Kenji KNEW something was up and proceeded to glare again at Mamoru menacingly.

Makoto's mouth turned down slightly at the corners. She sank back against her seat and folded her arms, slightly hurt. Usagi and Rei were keeping secrets now. And the Senshi ALWAYS told each other everything. She sighed in a slightly melancholy way, disappointed at the bond that the two girls were now sharing-and that Makoto was not a part of. "Okay" she said slowly.

"This is just really weird" Shingo said, voicing everyone's thoughts. He'd watched his sister and Mamoru and Rei get the weirdest expressions on their faces, before the two girls burst into laughter. ["Having a psychic bond must be WAY cool!"] he thought, grinning across at the three on the other couch. ["But WEIRD!"]

"You said it" Makoto said, helplessly grinning at the situation. Instead, she should be feeling sorry for MAMORU! ["The poor guy"] unconsciously, she grinned wider-looking right at him with sparkling green eyes. ["Linked to the Odango and the spit-fire!"] a giggle escaped her mouth, before she could stop it.

Someone knocked on the front door then, and everyone tensed, smiles disappearing rapidly. Everyone one looked at each other, wondering if they should answer it.

"I'll get it" Ikuko murmured, getting up and walking calmly into the front hall. She opened the door and saw three people standing there. "Ami-oh good!" Ikuko said with relief, welcoming another calm person to the meeting. Ami had a good head on her shoulders. The blue-haired genius smiled briefly, then passed Ikuko and went into the house to speak with the others.

"Good day, Mrs. Tsukino. You can call me Grandpa-and this is Yuuchiro" the small old man said, grinning cheekily.

Ikuko looked startled for a moment, then smiled kindly at the old man, then at Yuuchiro. "Please come in. And do call me Ikuko"

"When I got your call, Ikuko, I admit that I was bewildered" Grandpa said, as he and Yuuchiro followed Ikuko down the hall and into the lounge, where the others were gathered. "You didn't say why-" he trailed off as he saw the large group gathered.

"Hi Grandpa" Rei said somberly, having her left hand at him nervously, eyes filled with apprehension.

"Rei! I didn't know that you were here" Grandpa said, throwing a surprised look back at Ikuko. Then, he caught sight of Rei's forehead and his eyes boggled.

"I didn't mean to be so mysterious when I rang you" Ikuko said, smiling with embarrassment. "But it's very important-and concerns Rei"

"I see" Grandpa said, looking at everyone searchingly. He suddenly leered at Rei. "Did you get a tattoo? Is that it? And you were afraid to tell me?" he said boisterously. "You can't exactly hide what's on your forehead"

Rei blushed furiously, then glared. "Get a life, Grandpa!" she snapped at him, crossing her arms. ["As IF I'd get a tattoo!"] she shouted mentally.

["Well-it might have looked nice....depend upon what it was...and where it was"] Mamoru said suggestively, turning to look Rei in the eyes.

Both Usagi and Rei stared at him in shock, mouths open.

"MAMO-CHAN! HENTAI!" Usagi suddenly screeched, face going red as a tomato. She leapt to her feet and stood towering over her 'boyfriend' menacingly. Her dark blue eyes blazed with wrath.

Rei wasn't to be out-done and quickly leapt to her feet also, looming over the smirking Mamoru. "YOU JERK!" Rei screamed at him, waving a fist under his nose.

Everyone else watched with wide eyes.

"Why do I get the feeling that I just missed something?" Yuuchiro said, confused. He peered around from under his shaggy blonde bangs.

"But-that young man didn't SAY anything" Grandpa said, blinking at the three. When he'd been invited mysteriously over to a stranger's house, he didn't expect to see his grand-daughter and her best friend shrieking like banshees at a grinning young man.

"You get used to it" Makoto said, nonchalantly, blowing gently on her nails.

"Get used to what?" Grandpa demanded, getting the distinct feeling that he was being left out of a big secret.

Usagi and Rei finished glaring threateningly at an unrepentant Mamoru and turned to face Grandpa. The two girls exchanged a sideways glance. ["I'll do it"] Usagi said, then took a deep breath and let loose. "It's like this, Grandpa-ReiandIandAmiandMakotoaretheSailorSenshiandsomeofus-includingReiarepsychicallybonded-andit'snotmyfault!" she finished this amazing speech with a wail, looking unhappy.

Yuuchiro's eyes had glazed over, but miraculously, Grandpa had managed to follow every word. "You WHAT? A Senshi? Who said that you could be a Senshi Rei? You're grounded till your twenty, young lady!" he paused, calming. "A psychic mind-bond, you say?"

Rei stared at her Grandfather, astonished by his calm behavior after such a heated outburst. "Er-yeah" she muttered, sinking back onto the couch beside Mamoru.

Usagi did the same, panting hard. ["That was easy"] she congratulated herself smugly.

["Your lucky he spoke gibberish, Odango Atama"] Mamoru drawled.

She turned her head to glare at him. ["EXCUSE ME? What did you just say?"] she bellowed at him, glaring daggers.

"Which part?" Mamoru said teasingly, watching her slowly-turning red face with some interest.

"I've TOLD YOU not to call me Odango! And what do you mean gibberish?!"

"Something unintelligible" Ami supplied helpfully from the side.

Usagi's glare grew. She pointed a finger at Grandpa. "HE understood me fine!" she announced.

"Now dear, calm down" Ikuko said soothingly, regaining her seat beside her husband.

"What did you do THIS time?" Kenji thundered at Mamoru, leaping to his feet. He was pulled off balance as Ikuko latched her fingers into the back of his trousers and yanked. He tumbled back into his seat, glowering.

"He called me, Odango Atama!" Usagi shouted, infuriated. And just when she thought they'd gotten past this stage! ["YOU CREEP!"] she shrieked at him.

"QUIET!" Rei shouted at everyone, clapping hands over her ears. "This isn't solving anything-and Mamoru, WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT TALKING TO USAGI THAT WAY?!" she bellowed at Mamoru.

Usagi sniffed. "Thank you, Rei" she said, smiling.

Rei calmed, lips twitching. "Even if she IS an, Odango" she said under her breath.

"WHHHHHHAAT?" Usagi screeched, using her full lung capacity.

Mamoru winced, touching his fingers to his temple lightly. "I shouldn't have opened my mouth" he muttered sourly.

"You didn't open you MOUTH, you creep! it was what you THOUGHT!" Usagi yelled at him, putting her hands on her hips. "And YOU, pyro!"

"Me?" Rei said innocently. She smiled at her grandpa. "I think you can guess the nature of the bond, by now. Usagi, Mamoru and I are linked by minds. We can hear EVERY thought any of us have"

"ANY thoughts?" Kenji growled, glaring daggers at Mamoru and ready to leapt to his feet.

"Just what are you implying?" Mamoru growled back, glaring also.

"You're a nineteen year old guy! You know EXACTLY what I'm talking about!" Kenji leapt up, face mottling with rage. "My poor little girl! So innocent!"

Usagi flushed-and then Rei.

Makoto watched with interest, then threw a look at Ami inquiringly.

"This is interesting" Grandpa said with fascination, looking Rei, Usagi and Mamoru over thoroughly. "Especially your glowing foreheads. Hmm"

"They're our planet symbols" Ami said helpfully, sidling over to Grandpa.

He smiled at her pleasantly. "While the rest of them fight, why don't I pull you over to the side and you can tell me all about it?" he suggested, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Ami blushed, then sighed and followed him into the kitchen.

"Innocent?!" Mamoru roared back. "Let me tell you how many times we've made-oomph!"

["MAMORU!"] Usagi shrieked at him in horror. ["WHAT are you doing, you idiot?"]

His words were cut off as a fist caught him solidly in the chest, knocking him backwards. He flew over the back of the couch, legs caught on the back. He lay half on the floor and half in the air as his legs dangled over the opposite side of the couch. His vision swam for a moment, everything spinning. ["Thanks, Usako"] he groaned at her, deciding not to move-for his own safety.

Usagi and Rei hastily scrambled onto the couch to keep in close contact with their 'victim'. The two peered over the back, hands resting on Mamoru's sprawled legs, which were hanging over the back of the couch.

"Are you okay, Mamoru?" Rei asked, stifling a giggle.

"Owwwww?" Mamoru said, moving gingerly. He glared up at the amused face of his angel, who was surrounded by a halo of silver hair. "We REALLY have to talk about this, Usagi" he growled at her. "There are some things that you just don't do to your boyfriend!"

"BOYFRIEND!" Kenji roared from behind them. "I-I'll KILL him!"

"Now-Kenji! Please dear!" Ikuko said, throwing herself onto her husbands back and slowing him down to a crawl. "It's not nice to kill the guests!"

"What did he touch?" Kenji demanded, trying to dislodge his wife and murder the hero.

Mamoru quickly leapt to his feet and walked around the couch to stand next to Rei, eyeing Usagi's dad warily. He tensed in case he had to defend himself from a homicidal father.

"GIRLFRIEND?" Rei, Ami and Makoto screeched from different positions around the room.

"I KNEW it!" Makoto yelled triumphantly.

"I didn't expect him to come right out and say it" Rei muttered under her breath, resentful. So much for secrets. And here she'd looked forward to knowing some things that the others didn't know! ["Darn it!"]

"U-Usagi and Mamoru are going out?!" Ami exclaimed, eyes wide. "But-they HATE each other!" she finished, flabberghasted.

"Not since last night" Usagi said uncertainly, wringing her hands together and avoiding everyone's eyes.

"Ah ha!" Makoto crowed. "So GIVE, girl!" she ordered. "Exactly WHAT happened in that closet?"

"CLOSET!?" Kenji bellowed, trying to waddle towards the couch, murder in his eyes. And his wife hanging off of him in a strangle-hold.

"Closet?" Yuchirro said intelligently. His eyes widened with realization. "Dude! You played spin the bottle!"

"WHAT?" Ikuko screeched, sliding limply down her husbands back. She glared at Usagi accusingly. "You WHAT, Usagi?"

"I didn't know what it waaaaaaas!" the silver-haired girl wailed, upset. The signal on her forehead began to glow brighter.

"You are grounded, young lady!" Kenji and Ikuko said simultaneously.

Shingo had been silent throughout the proceedings, watching with great interest. "Er-what's spin the bottle?" he demanded curiously.

"Never mind!" his parents shouted at him.

"I can't believe you were so irresponsible" Ikuko went on, fuming.

"Mom-" Usagi whined unhappily. Her head drooped, long ponytails pooling onto the floor in a silken heap.

"It wasn't her fault" Mamoru cut in, looking unimpressed by Usagi's parent's venting against his angel.

"Then it was YOURS!" Kenji said triumphantly, throwing his wife an 'I told you so' look.

"Well...yes" Mamoru admitted.

The Senshi gaped at him.

"I knew it!" Kenji said, pointing an accusing finger at the young man. "What did you touch?!"

"Why do you keep on harping on that?" Mamoru said scathingly, running a distracted hand through his dark hair. He gave the older man a cool look. "And why do you ASSUME that I'd TELL you what I did to Usagi's delicious body?"

Usagi shrieked in mortification, disbelieving. "Mamoru! How could you SAY that!" she wailed at him, tears pooling in her eyes. ["You creep! You jerk! You-you HENTAI!"]

["Oh please"] he said sardonically. ["You enjoyed every minute!"]

"Arrggggggh! That's it!" she screamed at him, body filled with pure rage. "I'm going to KILLLLLLL you, Endymion!" after voicing her fury incoherently, she launched herself at him. She hit him full-on, knocking them both backwards onto the couch. She lay sprawled over his long body, a little dazed, but still furious. "How could you say those things?" she demanded, eyes filling with embarrassed tears. "How can you be so cruel!" a strange inflection had crept into her voice, noticed only by Ami and Grandpa.

"Endymion?" Rei said loudly, eyes wide. "Why did she call him that?" But no one heard her, they were too interested in the drama unfolding before them.

"I-" Mamoru looked bewildered for a moment, as if uncertain about what was happening. Then he looked right into the eyes of the angel above him-and was lost. "I'm sorry, Serenity" he whispered to her, reaching a hand up to stroke her wet cheeks. "I'd never willingly hurt you, my love. You know that" he said louder, oblivious to their audience.

"My LOVE?" Makoto, Ikuko and Kenji uttered in shock, eyes boggling.

"They don't know what they're saying" Rei murmured, eyes on the couple. She knew for a fact that it was NOT Usagi laying plastered from head to toe over the gorgeous Mamoru. No-it was someone ELSE. "It's a trance they both keep going into. They're taken over by someone else"

"Possessed?" Grandpa said sharply, lifting his head to smell the air sharply. He frowned. "It doesn't seem to be an evil entity"

"That's what I thought" Rei said eagerly. Before she could say anything, the two on the couch began to speak again.

"I know you would never hurt me, my Endymion" she murmured to him, leaning closer. She closed her eyes, lips brushing his lightly.

Endymion closed his eyes also, lifting his had slightly to close the distance between them. Their lips met and touched tenderly, then with more passion.

There were multiple gasps from around the room, as everyone watched Mamoru and Usagi kiss.

"Oh my" Ami said, eyes wide with astonishment.

"Woo!" Makoto breathed in awe. She never thought she'd see the day when the two enemies would be making out-she stared closer as the kissing became more urgent and passionate. ["What am I SAYING? It WAS kissing"] she watched them admirably as the two proceeded to devour each other's lips, fingers tangling urgently in hair. ["This is full on making out!"]

Kenji stood there, gaping like a fish as his little girl french-kissed the hero of Tokyo. "Gah" he managed, then went back to gaping, his eyes impossibly wide.

Ikuko was startled at first, then happy...then exasperated as the two didn't come up for air. "HOW long can they keep this up?" she asked no one in particular.

"Don't know" Makoto uttered, never taking her eyes off the couple on the couch.

Usagi and Mamoru suddenly stopped, bewildered. They blinked, then stared at each other's faces, which were VERY close. They realized a few things simultaneously. One, they were in a VERY compromising position. Two, they were KISSING like their was no tomorrow and three-her PARENTS and friends were watching!

["Oh no"] she groaned at him, in horror.

["He's going to kill me for sure, this time"] Mamoru thought back, reeling with shock. ["Exactly how did we go from 'bashing Mamoru' to 'kissing like there's no tomorrow'?"]

["That's what I want to know!"] Rei broke in, utterly stunned. ["Yeesh, Usagi! I never thought you'd kiss someone in front of your parents!"]

["Please let me die now"] Usagi wailed mentally, unlocking lips with Mamoru reluctantly. She hesitantly turned her head to view seven pole-axed people and a smirking Rei.

Mamoru turned to look also, deeming it the time to make a run for it. In moments, he'd reached into his pocket and clutched desperately at a rose. Then, he'd brought it out and transformed into the dashing hero Tuxedo Kamen within seconds. Before anyone could say a word or gasp, he reached out and slung a hand around Rei's hips and yanked her into his arms. Then he grabbed Usagi the same way and pulled her in close. The two girls' feet dangled a foot above the floor as he strung them like sacks of flour over each shoulder-then bolted to the stairs. He was up them in seconds and down the hall, sprinting like a pro towards Usagi's room...and safety. As soon as the shock wore off, Usagi's parents were going to MURDER him!

["Not if WE kill you first"] Rei said ominously, thumping his back hard.

["I get first dibs! He's MY boyfriend!"] Usagi said menacingly.

Tuxedo Kamen skidded round the corner into Usagi's room, whirled and locked the door. He groaned and let the two girls slide down his chest-then turned bravely to face the firing squad.

[  Part Four ]

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