SPIN THE BOTTLE By Princess Destiny [princessdestiny@hotmail.com] Chapter Fifteen "I'm sure-there's something we can do. Maybe Luna-?" Mamoru suggested, eyes concerned. He could tell how much being Sailor Moon and protecting her friends and Tokyo meant to the angel. ["It will be all right, Usagi"] he murmured soothingly, pulling her again into his arms. Her hand dropped limply, fingers opening so that the golden broach fell unnoticed to the carpet. Usagi felt-numb. ["I can't be Sailor Moon. The team- what can I do?"] she felt tears start in her blue eyes and tried to fight them back bravely. ["Rei would say I'm a big baby if she saw me now"] she sobbed mentally, clinging to Mamoru tightly about his waist. ["I'm sure she wouldn't"] Mamoru said, frowning. Did Rei really treat Usagi that badly? Or was she exaggerating and upset? "Of course I'm upset!" she flared at him, rubbing her face hard into his naked chest to force back the tears. Anger worked good. "And I'm NOT exaggerating! You know what a temper Rei has!" "Yesssss" Mamoru said, drawing out the word doubtfully. Sure, Rei always fought with Usagi-but not when it counted, right? "I suppose" she mumbled sighing into his warm skin. She kissed the skin under her mouth absently, grateful for his comforting presence. Mamoru gently kissed her forehead over the crescent moon and then released her. Now would be a good time to distract her. "Come on Odango. Lets go to my apartment now and think this over after we've had a little sleep" Mamoru coaxed, grabbing one of her slender hands in his larger one's. He yanked her purposefully-yet gently-towards the open window. Usagi dug her heels into the carpet, glaring at the back of his head. "Odango?! I told you NOT to call me that, jerk!" she yelled at him, infuriated. ["Creep"] she muttered resentfully into his mind. ["And what makes you think I want to go back tot he place where all this trouble started?"] she yelled as an afterthought. ["Trouble? That's what you call out making out?"] He turned around to face her in time to see her flush brightly. His eyes glinted with suddenly devilry. "Okay then" he purred, stepping close to her. Mamoru pulled her hand against his chest and held it captive there, looking down into her beautiful face. "What should I call you then? Angel face? Crescent? Moon beam?" he suggested randomly, eyes sweeping over her form speculatively. She certainly LOOKED like an angel. Usagi's face filled with chagrin. "NONE of those names, thank you! It's Usagi, Mamoru!" she told him furiously, yet inside she was aware of a brief surge of satisfaction. He was willing to give up the hated name, yet wanted a pet-name for her. She grinned slyly, trying to hide it from him. ["I have it"] he whispered into her mind mockingly. ["I shall call you...Usako!"] "WHAT?!" she shrieked at him, flushing brighter with embarrassment. Her blue eyes filled with incredulity. "Since when am I your little bunny, exactly?!" "Are we going to have to re-enact the multitudes of kisses we've had over the night?" he asked her mischievously, eyes burning with desire. ["Not that I MIND, Usako. But do you really think that you can make out with a guy that way and NOT be his?"] Usagi stamped her foot on the floor, glaring at the hated jerk. Involuntarily, her eyes fell to his chest, where her hand was held against the warm skin tightly by one of his. ["They were only kisses"] she answered weakly, not really sure if her heart was in it. She HAD enjoyed his kisses-a lot. And who else had she EVER kisses like THAT? "Eeep" she uttered, flushing brighter. "Besides" Mamoru went on slyly. "I seem to recall a certain silver-haired girl calling me, Mamo-Chan before I kissed her" "You-you stop that! I did NO such thing!" Usagi shouted at him, trying to yank her hand free of his. ["How dare he mention that?! I thought he didn't notice"] ["Of course I noticed. We're in each other's head's now-remember?"] Came Mamoru's amused response. Usagi rolled her eyes at him resentfully. "Fine then jerk, You're Mamo-Chan and I'm Usako...happy?" she glared up at him, bottom lip pouting out. She looked so adorable that Mamoru wanted to kiss her-bad. He deemed it now the time to retreat back to his apartment, before they did something they'd regret. "Okay, lets go" he said abruptly, turning again to the window. Once again, Usagi dug in her feet. "Waiiiiit! Mamoru! I can't transform and you want us to jump out of a second story window?" she fairly wailed at him. Mamoru sighed. "Right" he muttered. ["Way to go, Chiba. Be soooo distracted that you completely forget to transform" He reached into thin air and sort of gestured. A perfect red rose dropped into his hand. Usagi blinked at him, then power surrounded Mamoru and he disappeared beneath it. Her fingers tingled, still locked within his and then suddenly-there was glove under her hand. She noted the soft material, then looked Tuxedo Kamen over slowly, from head to foot. He was gorgeous and-A smile spread over her face. ["Mine"] she thought, a surge of jealously hitting her. ["Now you know how I feel, Odango"] he told her mockingly, smiling at her from under the white half-mask. His eyes glittered at her hungrily. ["I'm still perfectly willing AND able to kill any guy who so much as lays a finger on you"] ["Are you SERIOUS?!"] she shrieked at him, eyes going wide with shock. And he WAS completely, she could see. "You jerk! You DON'T own me!" she yelled aloud. Tuxedo Kamen sighed, rolled his eyes and quickly released her hand. Before she could run off, he bent swiftly and swept her up into his arms, cradling her close to his chest. ["You talk too much, Usako"] he complained lightly, turning towards the window. ["Why don't you just accept that we belong to each other and that's it?"] "Because we DON'T..." Usagi gritted at him from between clenched teeth, eyes rebellious. She halted her words as he reached the window frame and threw a leg over the sill. "Does this mean that I can kill any girl YOU look at?" she demanded petulantly. He grinned down at her. "But of course, Usako. I wouldn't expect any less of my girlfriend" Before she could hit him, he leapt from the window neatly, landing on the grass of the front lawn. Usagi was completely silent and he looked down warily to see that her face was red as a tomato, eyes glazed over with shock. "GIRLFRIEND?!" she suddenly exploded at him. ["I never said YES, you conceited jerk! And when exactly did you even ASK ME?"] she bellowed at the top of her lungs into his mind. ["Put me down this minute!"] Mamoru winced as her voice thundered around inside his mind, then nodded. "We'll talk later. I have an apartment to rescue. And since I can't be separated from you-you're coming with me, Angel" With that, he sprinted off into the night, Usagi in his arms and his cloak swirling dramatically behind them. But of course, he couldn't escape the wrath of one who was psychically connected to him. And her mental shrieking followed him all the way down the street. ["Mamoru! I'm going to KILLLL YOUUUUU!"] Luna reached home a few minutes later. She leapt up into the tree outside Usagi's window and crawled along the branches nimbly. The light was still on, so she assumed that Mamoru and Usagi were still awake and- ["And what? Still kissing?"] she halted on the branch nearest to the window, reluctant to interrupt the couple. Which they WERE. Affianced actually. The Princess and Prince had been meant for each other for over a thousand years. ["Maybe-I should go to Ami's for night?"] she wondered, trying to see through the curtains and into the room. There was no noises from within and cautiously Luna jumped onto the sill. "Usagi I' coming in!" Luna called out loudly. She paused, waiting for an answer, but there was none. "Usagi?" she called out again, thrusting her face out between the curtains. Her red eyes widened as she saw that the room was completely empty. Her heart began to thunder in her chest uncomfortably. "On no, where are they" Luna said weakly, jumping to the floor. ["I shouldn't have left her!"] she ran to the bedroom door and commanded it to open silently, her golden crescent moon glowing with power. The hall was dark beyond and as she went down to the stairs, she saw that the rest of the house downstairs was empty. Luna froze, eyes wide with horror and self-loathing. "She's gone!" she cried out in panic. "Great Serenity, preserve u. What happened to her?" Luna frantically turned tail and ran back to Usagi's room. Perhaps she'd made a mistake and Usagi was under the covers in her bed? But then, that would mean Mamoru... Luna flushed, but bravely leapt up onto Usagi's bed, digging at the covers with her paws. When she discovered that there was no one there, her vision began to swim, pure horror over-taking her senses. "Serenity!" Luna called out frantically, looking around the room as if the Princess would appear magically. ["She's gone! What do I do?"] she began to pant, limbs shaking. ["I discovered the Princess-and now she's missing!"] Maybe she went for a walk with Mamoru? They couldn't be separated, after all. They could have gone to talk or something...the Dark Kingdom didn't know exactly WHO they were anyway, so they couldn't have taken the Princess. Luna began to calm down, paws pulled in close, protectively. She looked around edgily, uncomfortably aware that she was all alone with her guilt and shock. She couldn't tell Usagi that she was Princess-nor the Senshi. No, she would have to look after the Princess all by herself. Usagi wasn't ready to know her birthright. Not by far. And if the Dark Kingdom should find out... She shuddered with horror, then uncurled and did a back-flip in the covers. A black communicator dropped out of sub-space and landed on the pink covers with a thump. Luna licked her lips nervously, prayed to her Queen and then pushed the symbol for the moon. Usagi was still furious at Mamoru, but the time they reached his apartment complex. ["You really think that they're still there at three thirty in the morning?"] she demanded sulkily, wanting to be in bed. She didn't mean to sound like a child, but it came out that way instead of the cutting tone she would have liked. ["I'm so exhausted, Mamo-Chan"] she whispered wearily to him, leaning her head against his vest as he bunched his leg muscles and leapt up eight stories easily. Mamoru landed lightly on the railing of his balcony, warily looked around and then jumped down to the ground. He looked through the glass into the living room and didn't see a soul. ["I know, Usako. But I have to check. I wouldn't be able to sleep otherwise, from worrying"] "Okay" she sighed into his chest, eyes closing. She could sleep in his arms easily, protected and warm... "Mmm" she purred, rubbing her face against the material of his vest contentedly. Mamoru gave a strangled groan and his arms tightened almost painfully about her shoulders and legs. ["Don't do that Usagi, or we'll never make it back to your house"] he told her, voice strained. Did she really have NO idea what she did to him? ["What do you mean, Mamo-Chan?"] she asked innocently, raising her head to stare at him curiously. Mamoru groaned again, sighed and then stepped towards the balcony doors. He slid it open easily, frowning. ["Whoever left last, should have locked up the apartment"] he murmured disapprovingly. "Then we wouldn't have been able to get in" Usagi yawned widely, staring around into the darkness. No one was there. "Can we go now?" she asked, slipping down from his arms. She stretched her arms over her head, top riding up over smooth skin. Mamoru's breath hissed out. "Usssagi!" he moaned at her, eyes darkened in longing. She could see them gleaming in the moonlight from outside. "What?" she exclaimed in annoyance, arms still above her head. She suddenly felt a draft and her eyes jerked down to see that her top was almost up to beneath her breasts and showing a great deal of skin. "Ooops! Sorry, Mamo- Chan" she giggled, quickly lowered her arms and looked everywhere but at him. He sighed and fumbled for the wall, hitting a switch. The room was quickly lit up. They both squinted blearily around, exhaustion catching up abruptly. Usagi sagged, then stumbled over to Mamoru's couch and threw herself onto it wearily. "I'm beat" she said, yawning again. Her eyes closed briefly, then struggled to open as she sensed him move. Mamoru threw himself into a chair across from her. He raised a hand and rubbed at his eyes. ["I'm tired too. We can rest a while here. I can't carry you back yet"] he thought at her, yawning too. "Fine-but we have to be home by the time the sun is up-dad really wants to kill you and this would be a perfect excuse" she giggled again weakly, silver eyelashes falling over her darkened blue eyes. She was just SO tired. So utterly weary all of a suddenly-as if she'd been drained. ["Yeah, me too, Usagi"] Mamoru said, voice faint. Usagi forced open her lids and gazed across at Mamoru, seeing that his eyes were shut. His head was resting peacefully back against the chair and his chest was rising slowly. ["Are you asleep, Mamoru?"] she whispered at him mentally. There was no reply. She smiled, lips curving tenderly as she gazed at his face. ["Girlfriend, huh Mamoru?"] she felt a surge of happiness. They'd gotten together in a strange bewildering way, but despite their fights and yelling, their kisses were passionate and true. "Maybe there's hope for us after all" she told him gently, eyes tracing over his features almost lovingly. Tiredness hit her again, overwhelmingly and her eyes slid shut. She was safe. They were at Mamoru's apartment eight stories up. What could happen? Just before she drifted off, she vaguely remembered that they hadn't closed the balcony door. But she was too tired to care... A few minutes later, a familiar beeping filled Usagi's head. She jerked upwards, waking immediately. Across from her, Mamoru jerked awake also, eyes swinging automatically around the room for danger. He calmed when he saw that they were still alone. "What is that beeping noise?" he questioned, frowning slightly. "You can hear it?" Usagi said with shock. She stared at him for a moment, then gestured. Her pink communicator fell into her hands. "It's my communicator. There must be a battle" she quickly looked down at the glowing symbols and saw that Luna's was lit up brightly. Usagi frowned. ["It's Luna. I wonder what's wrong"] she pressed the crescent moon button and the screen sprang to life. "Usagi!" Luna cried out in great relief, sagging. "You're all right. I was- worried when I returned to the house and saw that you and Mamoru were gone" "Oh, Luna!" Usagi cried out, filled with shame. "We didn't think-I'm sorry" "I forgot" Mamoru grimaced, running a hand through his dark hair distractedly. He shook his tense shoulders, trying to relax. He was still so tired. "Where ARE you?" Luna said urgently. "We're at Mamo-Mamoru's apartment, Luna. He was worried that all the people he left here might steal something" Mamoru looked a little sheepish as Usagi turned to throw him a grin. "Well...you never know. Hordes of drunken Collage students aren't a pretty sight, Usagi" he warned her. "So-you're both alone?" Luna said, tensing. She'd been relieved to see Usagi was all right and further so when the girl said that they were back at Mamoru's apartment-but to learn that there was no one there with them... "It looks like Motoki and Reika cleared everyone out" Mamoru said from behind Usagi, stretching his arms over his head. "Luna!" Usagi cried out, abruptly remembering her lose. "I can't transform!" "What?" Luna breathed, shocked. Her mouth dried out, eyes dilating. "Are you- sure?" she managed, trying desperately to focus on Usagi's face in the communicator screen. "I'm sure" Usagi said, voice filled with tears. Her eyes felt damp. ["What do I do? I can't be a Senshi"] her head lowered, unable to meet Luna's horrified gaze. "I tried and-I can't be Sailor Moon anymore! Oh Luna!" ["I'm here"] Mamoru said into Usagi mind, coming up behind the girl. His arms wrapped about her tiny waist from the back, pulling her against his chest comfortingly. it hurt him just as much as her when she was upset. it was almost like-he could feel it. His eyes closed as he rested his head on top of her soft hair, breathing in her scent. ["Thank you"] she whispered back to him mentally, trying to summon a smile. "Can we do anything, Luna? I-I don't know what happened" "I might" Luna said grimly, staring right into Usagi's eyes intently. She hesitated, mouth half-opening to tell the girl what was really wrong. ["I can't. She isn't ready to here it, nor has she come into her powers"] Luna thought regretfully, feeling fear. Usagi had not fully changed into Serenity and didn't have her mother's Silver Crystal either. It was the only explanation she could come up with for Usagi not being able to transform also. "What did you say, Luna?" Usagi said hopefully. "I said, we'll work it out. Don't worry...Usagi" the cat took a deep breath, trying desperately to stay calm. This was much, much worse than she had feared and she was alone with her burden. Central Command couldn't help her, because he was training a new Senshi. "I'm coming over to get you both" she said suddenly, startling both Mamoru and Usagi. Mamoru eyes shot open. He frowned slightly and looked down at the pink communicator in Usagi's hands, over her shoulder. "Oh?" he said cautiously, the skin at the back of his neck tingling. He had a terrible feeling that Luna wasn't telling them something. His eyes narrowed on the screen, seeing how her red one's seemed to be filled with apprehension and fear. ["Luna is afraid?"] he murmured mentally. Usagi jerked in his arms, shocked. ["She's afraid? Are you sure?"] the girl looked at the communicator doubtfully, then saw that Mamoru was right. Luna looked-petrified. Usagi's skin crawled at the look in her guardian's eyes. ["Something IS wrong. Luna is actually afraid of something and look, her body is so tense. She's coiled like a spring"] He nodded, saying nothing aloud. ["I know"] he said grimly, tightening his arms about his angel. Something was terribly wrong-and he would protect Usagi even if it meant his death. ["Oh Mamo-Chan!"] Usagi cried out, spinning within his grip. She buried her face into his naked chest, arms going about his waist frantically. ['It won't come to that! We won't die!"] she tried to smile, but failed, eyes tearing over again. "I mean, you don't have to protect me as Sailor Moon anymore- right? And the enemy doesn't know who I am?" she muttered into his skin. "That's true" me said thoughtfully, blue eyes glinting. "Usagi? Mamoru?" Luna frantically called out. The communicator had tipped at an alarming angle and she was seeing mostly the floor and Mamoru's legs. "I'm here, Luna" Usagi sniffed, raising the communicator to her face, one arm still slung about Mamoru's waist. "I'm coming over. Stay where you are!" the cat ordered, voice wavering. "And lock the doors, for Serenity's sake!" the words were almost hysterical. "Why did you have to leave the house?" "Luna!" Mamoru said sharply. "What is going on?" he commanded her harshly. Luna blinked at the screen, taken-aback. "Of course, Pr-er Mamoru. I'm just worried for Usagi, that's all" she lied blithely, tensing. For a disconcertingly long moment, both Usagi and Mamoru stared at her in the screen, with identical expressions of haughtiness-as if about to ORDER Luna to tell them the truth. Luna was stunned into silence. ["They look like the Prince and Princess at the moment"] Even their symbols were glowing brightly on their foreheads. "Serenity?" Luna said tentatively. Usagi blinked and then smiled dazedly. "Yes, Luna?" she said, felling a little strange. Luna's eyes went even wider. ["Oh good lord! She even answers to the Princess' name!"] The cat bit her lip, wondering if she was doing the right thing in trying to push her Princess' memories into consciousness. "What did I just say?" she asked lightly, eyes expectant. "You said my name, of course" Usagi giggled, looking at the communicator screen as if Luna were mad. "Are you all right, Luna?" she asked worriedly. ["Does she look okay, Mamoru?"] she asked him anxiously. ["Maybe she's ill"] he suggested. Luna's eyes DID look a little feverish. "I'm fine" Luna said wearily. "I just wanted to know if you were listening to me" she closed her eyes for a moment. This was going to be so hard. Knowing that Usagi was the Princess and trying to protect her from all harm. She should have KNOWN that Usagi wouldn't be able to transform into Sailor Moon as the Princess emerged. The Queen of the Moon and her daughter were never meant to be Senshi. They were meant to rule and use the Silver Crystals' power, that sustained their lives. Somehow, the Princess and Prince's souls were waking up inside Usagi and Mamoru. "You can still transform into Tuxedo Kamen, Mamoru?" she asked tentatively. "Yes" he frowned at her. "Why?" Mamoru was getting VERY suspicious at the questions. Luna drew her breath in sharply, relieved. At least the Prince would be there to protect her, for now. He had not as yet been affected. ["But then again, Prince Endymion was never exposed to the power of the Silver Crystal"] she frowned thoughtfully. ["I wonder if the emergence of the Rainbow Crystals has anything to do with this. All seven for the Silver Crystal-I wonder if THEY caused this. Sailor Moon has touched one of them, after all. She has one in her sub-space pocket right now"] Luna's eyes went wide at the implications of THAT thought. Perhaps even removing the Rainbow Crystal from Usagi's body would be dangerous. It might kill her. ["I can't tell her"] she agonised over it for a moment. "I'm coming over. Don't move" s he ordered them both. "We'll talk when I get there" "I can bring her back" Mamoru said, eyes narrowed on every movement that Luna made. "NO!" Luna almost screamed. "Don't-please, just STAY there. Both of you. And for Serenity's sake, don't separate from each other-" she hesitated. "Or the Rainbow Crystal in Usagi's sub-space pocket!" "Why?" Usagi started, but the screen went blank. She stared at it for a long moment, utterly bewildered. Her head turned to look up at Mamoru, as if he had the answers to Luna's bizarre behaviour-but he looked as clueless as she did. ["I'm getting a terrible feeling that Luna isn't telling us something important"] she threw at him, concerned and a little fearful. Why was Luna afraid for Usagi to leave Mamoru's apartment? And why was she coming across town-just to speak to her and Mamoru? "We'll see in about 20 minutes" Mamoru responded to her silent questions slowly, eyes like icicles. His finger absently stroked the bare skin between her pj top and pants, soothed by her presence. He led her silently to the couch and sat both of them down, Usagi pulled close to his chest and an arm about her waist. Usagi bit her lip, glancing over at the clock on the wall. Almost four in the morning. Soon the sun would rise. But neither of them could sleep. They were now wide awake and tense. Usagi tried to calm down, but her heart was beating loudly in her ears. ["What could possibly scare Luna?"]