SPIN THE BOTTLE By Princess Destiny [princessdestiny@hotmail.com] 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 realising 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 realised 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 scrutinise 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 realising 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 apologised 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 it's power is less than usual" Everyone gaped, completely stunned. Even Tuxedo Kamen. Luna's eyes widened in horror as she realised 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 recognised 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 realised 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 moulding 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.