SPIN THE BOTTLE By Princess Destiny [princessdestiny@hotmail.com] Chapter Thirteen When Usagi made it back to her bedroom, clothed in her pink bunny Pj's and her clothes under her arms, she noted that the light was still shinning under the door. She frowned lightly, biting her bottom lip. ["I was hoping that he'd be asleep by the time I got back"] she whispered mentally, chagrined that she'd have to face him after the fiasco in the bathroom. The kiss, the almost-strangling...her legs wrapped about his waist in a provocative manner... "Ugh!" she gasped, breathing hard. How, exactly had she ended up straddling Mamoru's hips in the bathroom-with her parents ready to break down the door to defend her virtue? Usagi snickered, trying to muffle it behind her free hand. The look on Luna's face as she pounced at Mamoru! Suddenly, her bedroom door was yanked open ceremoniously, a figure looming up in front of her. "Just where have you been, young lady?" Mamoru boomed theatrically, face thrown into the shadows menacingly. Usagi gaped at him, falling back a pace. She blinked, then spotted the grin playing about his sensuous mouth. ["I'm gonna kill him!"] she swore, plastering a sweet as sugar smile over her over. Her blue eyes gleamed with mischief as she opened her mouth to give him an ear-full. "Er-I've always wanted to say that" Mamoru said under his breath, stepping back. His face was very embarrassed, but also wistful. She stared at him for a moment, mouth closing quickly. He had the strangest look in his eyes. "Umm-why?" she asked, sweeping past him. She walked to the bed, dumped the clothes at the end next to Luna and then turned back to face her room mate. "Well, I never had any brothers or sisters..." he began, then glared. "Why am I telling you this?! How long does it take to have a blood bath anyway? I've been waiting impatiently for you for an hour, Odango Atama!" Usagi's expression, which had begun to soften at his confession, promptly hardened into a burning glare. "Jerk! I have a right to relax in my own house! You don't own me, Chiba!" she shouted at him, face going red with rage. ["How dare he!"] "Oh, don't I just!" He roared back at her, eyes flashing. Usagi and Mamoru froze, mouths falling open in shock. She went white and then red in the face, mouth gaping like a fish. "What did you just SAY?" she squeaked at him disbelievingly. ["Did he just say what I THINK he said?!"] she felt excitement and indignation seething inside her. Part of her wanted to throw herself in his arms and be damned with the consequences-and the other wanted to punch him. She settled for the latter. "Er-" Mamoru began, looking horrified and sheepish at the same time. Before he could blink, the silver-haired girl had flown over the space separating them and pulled back her arm. "Eat FIST, you CREEP!" she shrieked, swinging up in a right-hook. It caught Mamoru squarely under the chin. He flew back, eyes glazed. It really was quite a punch, she had to admit. Worthy of Sailor Moon. Her crush/worst enemy flew backwards an amazing distance and hit the far wall of her bedroom with a satisfying crash. He slid down the wall, head slumped. "Thank you, Odango" he muttered at her vaguely, eyes trying to focus. Mamoru gingerly raised a hand and felt at his jaw to see if it was broken. When he established that he would only have a HUGE bruise come morning, he raised his blue eyes to stare at her balefully. "That was uncalled for!" he snarled at her, eyebrows lowered. Usagi snorted, crossing her arms and glaring at him. "Oh really? Just when exactly did I become your property, jerk-" she began heatedly. "When I made out with you in my closet AND the bathroom" Mamoru said loudly, staring at her with penetrating eyes. Luna gasped in shock from behind them and they both jerked around to look at the furious cat. "You WHAT?" Luna bellowed, fur puffing out in every direction. She abruptly grew in size, eyes glinting with menace. "I KNEW it! You cad! You hentai! You-" "Luuuna! Mom and ad will hear you!" Usagi wailed, biting her lip and staring from the homicidal cat to the decidedly miffed Chiba Mamoru. Okay, so MAYBE she shouldn't have hit him? ["Nah!"] "What did he touch?!" Luna hissed at her charge, ready to launch an all-out assault on the offender. "Calm down, Luna! It was only a kiss-" Usagi began hastily. "Lots of them" Mamoru added distinctly, getting to his feet. "Mamoru!" she hissed at him in horror. "Don't say anything you moron! Luna is really to murder you in cold blood!" "Exactly!" Luna said, baring her teeth at Mamoru threateningly. "Just try it" Mamoru said calmly, lips curving. ["I can handle a cat- right?"] "Time out!" Usagi waved her hands around frantically, trying to distract them both. Without her noticing, one arm of her Pj's slid down, exposing a great deal of one creamy white shoulder and an enticing view of her cleavage. Mamoru shut his eyes, groaning. "Oh no! Not again!" he muttered, shaking his head in denial. ["I'm supposed to sleep in the room with her-and her clothes are falling off?!"] It really was too much! He opened his eyes and fixed a burning gaze of the unknowing Usagi. She looked like an angel there, with her silver hair. His eyes drew over her features, seeming so familiar to him. He'd known her for months and hated her as much as she hated him, but how was it possibly that he had memorised every single feature so completely? He could have drawn her with his eyes shut. ["I can't take it! That's it!"] "Take it like a man, Mamo-Chan!" Usagi blurted out at him, hearing him groan aloud and mistaking his thoughts. "You and Luna have to get along-eeep!" her calm words broke off as her guest fairly LEAPT at her, blue eyes flashing. Before she could blink, or Luna shriek with outrage, Usagi was swept into Mamoru's arms tightly and kissed thoroughly. And all she could think was how long Mamoru was going to be allowed to live once he realised her and Luna got her claws into the hunky seducer. Mamoru was similarly encumbered, but by the silver-haired girl in his arms. All he could think about we kisses her-again and again...and her parents and guardian be damned! ["I don't care!"] he thought rebelliously, deepening the kiss with Usagi. ["She's mine, wither she admits it or not-" Usagi's arms crept about his neck, holding his even closer and throwing herself eagerly into the kiss. It startled him for a moment, then his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. She wanted him as much as he wanted her-even if she wasn't aware what all the feelings inside meant. She groaned into his mouth, trying to pull him even closer into her body as feelings coursed through them both uncontrollably. Mamoru was shocked at how fast their heart beats felt against each other's chests. The two were pressed so close-one of his legs in between hers-that he was loosing control. ["What am I saying? I'm HERS too"] he thought hastily, knowing it to be the absolute truth. ["Usagi...."] ["What did I call him before he kisses me?"] Usagi thought in a daze, trying to recall anything past the warmth of his lips. She felt the leg between her own acutely, as if separated from her body. Excitement spiralled through her, making her gasp around their frantic kissing. She wanted-something...so much! Frantically, her fingers tightened in the dark locks of his hair. ["I want...I want..."] she thought, knowing only him. Nothing existed but this... Abruptly, the haze of excitement and pleasure exploded into a vision. Usagi and Mamoru didn't even have time to gasp before they were both pulled into a memory of the Moon Princess'. But this time, they were just there to watch, they weren't really there as they had been the last time. The room was cavernous and brightly lit with candles and bright silks along the walls, long tables filled with food piled high-and the room was crowded almost uncomfortably with people in strange garb. Mamoru and Usagi's wide eyes took in the beautiful women dressed in silk, lace and velvet gowns, the men no less resplendent. It was a beautiful room, with beautiful people...and very alien to the two watching. It was a scene from another century entirely. ["What's happening?"] Usagi said in dismay, reaching over to clutch at his arm. She started in surprise as her fingers wrapped around naked flesh. ["It MUST NOT be a memory! I mean-how can he be half-naked in a memory so old? Are we really here?" she looked up at him, bewildered. Mamoru looked down at her quickly, as if sensing her feelings. His blue eyes narrowed at her, as if trying to determine her thoughts. Her fingers tightened around his arm and he glanced down involuntarily. "My shirt-so, are we awake?" he murmured. Mamoru reached out to draw Usagi close, noting that no one seemed to look in their direction at all- which suggested that they couldn't even SEE he and Usagi standing there. He glanced down at the trembling girl in his arms, feeling like he had to protect her from this, no matter the cost. They were in a strange place and among possibly hostile people. His fingers clenched into Usagi's shoulder with rage-he could do nothing but watch! They were just witness' in the Princess' memories...if that was were they were... ["I'm as confused as Usagi-but I'll never let her know. She needs me to be strong"] he thought, stroking a hand down her hair absently. Usagi's finger curled into the top of Mamoru's slacks, holding onto him in a death grip. This place was strange and frightening-yet SO very familiar to her. Her blue eyes skimmed around the room, noting the high roof with delicate paintings. And the people-was that someone she knew? She frowned, staring about with curiosity. She knew this place! She was sure of it! "Attention, nobles all" a cultured voice said, filled with warmth and love. "The Crown Princess Serenity, my daughter, will now sing for you all" Usagi started at the name 'Serenity', absently getting up onto her tippy-toes to see over the crowd. "The Princess?" She exclaimed in excitement. "She's here? We MUST be in one of her memories!" "Yes" Mamoru murmured, striving to be calm. "It seems that we thought aright, Usagi" he spoke slowly, with a strange inflection as he stared over the heads of the crowd. Usagi glanced at him, a perplexed frown forming between her brows. ["Why do we both sometimes sound like someone else?"] she wondered, biting her lip. The crowd burst into enthusiastic, yet polite applause, an excited murmur spreading from person to person. "Serenity is singing. What an honor" someone breathed. "The Princess' voice is said to put everyone who hears it, under her spell" another whispered, giggling. "I've never seen her before" a woman murmured in front of Mamoru and Usagi, her voice hushed and awed. "She is said to be the most beautiful woman in all the Silver Millennium" "It's true" her companion boasted pridefully. "I can't see her, Mamoru" Usagi whispered to him, trying to see the Princess they were all speaking of. They'd seen her briefly, that first time in the closet-before she faded and was gone. ["We're going to see the Princess clearly!"] she thought happily. ["I can identify her to the other Senshi-Luna will be so happy!"] At last, they'd know the appearance of the girl they were searching so faithfully for... "Come on" Mamoru said, voice full of impatience. He took a hold of one of Usagi's small hands and calmly began weaving through the crowd. Usagi shied away in horror as her arm actually went THROUGH the body of a woman in the crowd. "Mamoru!" she gasped in horror. He looked down sharply, saw what she was frightened about and promptly tried to edge his way to the front of the crowd without touching another soul. His skin crawled. ["This is really weird"] he thought, grimacing. ["But I HAVE to see the Princess. Her face has never been clear to me"] But before they could clear the crowd and see the Princess-she began to sing. Mamoru stopped dead, halting Usagi as the voice wrapped around them. There was no way to describe her voice-but everyone in the room was helplessly enchanted. ["An angel"] he thought dazedly. The Princess sounded like an angel! No mortal could sing like that! Once upon a time, Love was just so easy, The Prince would climb the tower, And conquer the Princess' heart. But times have changed so much, for now, The Fairytales are gone, But I believe, that some day, somehow, Love will find a way. So, Believe in magic, Believe in love, Believe in all the things you're dreaming of. Believe we'll be together, Though life stands in our way, Believe we'll be together, Forever and a day. Many hardships stand before us, And life will drag us down, But take hope, in all that's deep inside, A love that is unbound. So, Believe in magic, Believe in love, Believe in all the things you're dreaming of. Believe we'll be together, Though life stands in our way, Believe we'll be together, Forever and a day. No time will bring weakness nor regret, I'll wait here for a lifetime, And search the skies for a sign, Whether mortal or divine... The Princess' voice trailed off into a sort of longing regret just as Mamoru and Usagi reached the foremost of the crowd. He caught sight of a slender figure standing upon a dais, long silver hair gleaming in the candle-light...then everything began to fade... "That was beautiful, my love" a man said, voice filled with love, pride and tenderness. "Thank you, Endymion" the Princess' voice breathed. Everything disappeared into darkness. Mamoru and Usagi came back to reality very slowly. They blinked, eyes wide and unseeing. It was as if they were still there, locked inside the memory of the Princess. Mamoru could still hear her voice, so lovely and haunting. It had touched his soul. ["Beautiful"] he murmured mentally, blinking to clear the haze from his eyes. Usagi blinked and realised that she was warm and-her lips were still locked on Mamoru's. She gasped and jerked back, eyes wide and unseeing. "Did that really happen?" she breathed, shocked. It had been so vivid! Suddenly, she groaned and fell fully against Mamoru, energy gone. He stared over her head, arms automatically coming about her shoulders comfortingly. He hadn't really seen her face, only felt her lips jerking from his with an unpleasant rush of air separating their bodies. He was dazed and lost in the memory, but vaguely head Usagi's words. "I don't know" he murmured at her, resting his chin on her silver locks. They both continued to breath hard for a long time- ["Probably from lack of oxygen"] Mamoru thought wryly. If they'd kissed the whole time they were lost in the memory, they were lucky they hadn't passed out! ["So why do I want to kiss her again?"] he asked himself, eyes closing tightly. He was incorrigible! "Why did you do that?" Usagi groaned at him, panting. She couldn't have left his arms if a bomb went off under their feet. It wasn't only physical, but mental bonding too. Now-she could feel it acutely, the tie between them. "The kiss-I mean" she muttered almost incoherently. They'd just gone through an amazing experience and all she could think about was Mamoru's lips on hers. ["I'm an idiot!"] "I acted like a man" he panted back, holding her close. They both leaned into each other for strength after such a world-shattering kiss... "What was that-" he began, recalling the memory. The Princess- singing like an angel, her voice wrapping about him... "Serenity again. Why are we getting HER memories? What did we do when we bonded?" Usagi whispered, raising her head to look into his eyes and see what he was feeling. "Were you a part of the Moon Kingdom too, Mamoru-" she broke off abruptly as her eyes fell upon something unexpected. On Mamoru's forehead was a glowing deep blue symbol. She gasped, falling backwards. His arms fell from around her, but neither seemed to notice. Usagi's eyes jerked back to Mamoru's to tell him-and saw that he too was staring at HER in shock. "WHAT?" she asked swiftly. "Your forehead...is glowing gold..." He said faintly, eyes deepening to almost black. He seemed shocked and-stunned. She looked at him the same way, studying the symbol. ["It looks familiar"] she thought, stepping closer. Mamoru's eyes narrowed. He stepped towards her also and reached up a gentle hand to rub at her forehead. "It won't come off, Usagi" he murmured disbelievingly. The crescent moon on her forehead was like a tattoo. It was under the skin and...beautiful. SHE was beautiful. ["What does this mean?"] he thought, taken-aback. Yet, he was strangely calm too. "What does mine look like?" Usagi demanded, trying to peer upwards. She glared and then spun away in frustration to stare into her dresser mirror. "A crescent moon?" she exclaimed, eyes wide. Indeed it was. And it hadn't faded. A golden crescent moon on her forehead. She reached up to touch it lightly, then harder, scrubbing at the skin frantically. Mamoru walked up behind her and pulled her hand away from her reddening skin firmly. "It's there to stay-for now" he told her, peering at his own forehead. "Hmm-I'm not update with my astrology, but this looks like the symbol for Earth" he murmured to her thoughtfully, studying the blue symbol on his skin. On her, it looked natural, bit he wasn't so sure if he liked his newest addition. "Do you think that the Princess gave them to us? I wonder what they mean" Usagi said, voice lower. Mamoru's face shot towards hers, at her astute observation. Was it just him, or was the Odango becoming more intelligent lately. Sometimes that night, she'd said thinks that seemed for beyond her age. "I suppose so" he said slowly, not so sure. "I mean, we had a vision of her-and then this...I just don't know, Usagi" "But-how do we hide it? Everyone will be staring at our foreheads" Usagi whined slightly, destroying his adult image of her. She was still a fourteen year old girl-who had admittedly made out with him like there was no tomorrow-and she still had doubts and fears. Mamoru sighed, staring at them both in the mirror. So much had happened to them that night. And in the morning, they had to explain their glowing symbols to Usagi's homicidal father. "Where's Luna?" Usagi suddenly asked, realising that her cat was missing. Across the room, the curtains blew out gently, betraying the open window.