SPIN THE BOTTLE 2 By Princess Destiny [ princessdestiny@hotmail.com ] Chapter One It took a surprisingly little amount of time to purchase a house, Usagi realized with shock. Her dad had pulled up next to the curb and in the morning sunshine a strangely dressed group of people alighted from three different cars. How surprised the two sales men had been to see them so early-and so eager to buy. Mamoru led the way to a large desk, one arm each about Rei's and Usagi's shoulders to keep them in close contact. Usagi had held her blue coat closed against the curious eyes of them men, who had looked them over assessing as if doubting they could have afforded a shack. Mamoru put a swift end to that, by coolly pinning the two men to the spot with his gaze and demanding to see the largest secluded house in Juuban. Hastily scrambling, a brochure was procured and they were all soon looking eagerly from photo to photo. It took five minutes for Mamoru and the Senshi to decide on the most strategically placed house. It was a mansion really, but Mamoru had never even blinked at the price. He'd reached into his jacket as if for a wallet and then gestured into his sub space pocket. The wallet had dropped into his palm and he'd calmly withdrawn it and got out his Gold Card. Everyone's eyes had almost popped out at the sight of it. Cool, calm Mamoru, who always wore the same green jacket-was stinking rich! Not that it had mattered to Usagi. She loved him. A transaction later and one of the sales men were leading them to the posher side of town, just a few blocks from Mamoru's apartment actually. The man stopped outside the large iron gates, with a white drive behind and jumped out of his car to run back to Mamoru. Mamoru wound down his window and took the keys, password to the security system and the main gate. Then, delighted at his easy sale, the man had driven quickly off to leave the new owners alone with their 'cozy shack'. Usagi blinked up at the front gates now, as Mamoru told Kenji the password for the main gates. ["It's-really big"] she said mentally to Rei. She frowned in thought, silver eyes curious. "Not as big as the Moon Palace though" she finished in a murmur, regretting that she remembered so little about her past. Her Mother, Queen Serenity had told them very little, she and Endymion about their past. Just the last day and the decision to send her dead daughter, her lover and her guardians into the future. And in the process, the Silver Crystal had stolen Queen Serenity's life. ["Mother..."] Usagi thought painfully, silver eyes filling with tears. She was jolted as the car started up again and began its slow wind through the main gates and up the drive. She glanced out the window as they passed the open gates, which had swung so ponderously outwards. The place was really beautiful. It had lush green lawns, trees everywhere, flowerbeds and then house-it was enormous! "WOW!" Makoto shrieked from the car behind them, voice clearly heard. Though the large house led off of a busy Juuban district, the house itself was so far into the property that it was secluded. Safe. ["Safe"] ["Yes. Safe my darling"] Mamoru murmured, slipping an arm about Usagi's waist and pulling her close. He felt Rei lean against his arm from the other side, her breasts pressed against his jacket. For a moment he tensed, then smiled wryly. Rei was like a sister to him now... ["Lucky you said that, buster"] Rei muttered teasingly into his mind, adding a mental slap. Usagi smiled at her best friend, eyes alight. Maybe everything would turn out okay after all. "Did we-really need such a large place, Mamoru?" Kenji chocked out from the drivers seat, flabbergasted at the sight of the huge white house looming over them. He pulled up right outside the double front doors and gaped. Next to him, Ikuko did the same, eyes glazed over with delight. "Oh my! This is wonderful!" she exclaimed, hastily undoing her seat belt and scrambling out of the car. Usagi, Mamoru and Rei exchanged an amused and bewildered look. "She's always wanted a large house" the silver-haired girl confided to them in a whispered. She undid her seatbelt and reached for the handle of the car door, throwing it open. She hopped out, feeling Mamoru exit the same way behind her. Rei got out the other side and slammed the door behind her loudly, breaking the awed silence. "Hmm-impressive" she muttered derisively, unimpressed. She stomped up the five front steps to the front door and waited for Mamoru and Usagi to sprint hastily after her, both glaring. "Sorry-forgot" she said sheepishly. Mamoru's eyebrows rose incredulously. ["You-forgot?"] he said to her disbelievingly. After ALL they'd gone through-she FORGOT? ["CUT IT OUT JERK AND OPEN THE DAMN DOOR!"] she bellowed into his mind, infuriated. There was nothing Rei hated MORE than for someone to harp on about something! She crossed her arms and waited impatiently as Mamoru entered the security code on the panel beside the double oak doors. He sighed, reached for one golden handle and threw open the door grandly. "Ladies" he gestured inside grandly. Rei sniffed and swept past him. What was all the fuss about, anyway? It was a hide-out, that was...all. She gaped upwards at the spectacular staircase, clad in blood red carpet. A double staircase! "Wow!" she breathed, finally impressed. Usagi giggled, walking past her best friend. As she did, she reached out and playfully yanked one of Rei's long locks of purple hair. "Suuuure Rei. It's just a hide-out!" the silver-haired girl giggled, voice echoing musically around the hall. EVERYTHING was impressive. As everyone entered the house, they gaped around, eyes huge. "Jeez, Mamoru" Makoto breathed, utterly taken-in by the surroundings. "Remind me to ALWAYS let you pick our hide-outs!" "Oh I AGREE, Makoto dear" Ikuko said enthusiastically, eyes glowing with excitement. She passed by Usagi and Mamoru and Rei, reaching out absently to pat his back. ["After all, he'll be my son in law some day"] she thought, giggling like a Schoolgirl under her breath. It was plain to see that Mamoru and Usagi were as much in love as the Prince and Princess had been a thousand years ago. Her smile faded slightly as she remembered the revelations of an hour ago. ["I'm not her real Mother...but does it really matter? We both raised her in different lifetimes, Queen Serenity and I"] she sighed. Kenji walked up behind his wife and wrapped his arms about her waist, resting his head next to hers as they gazed up the broad staircases. "Magnificent, isn't it?" he said, mouth twisting slightly. "I hate to admit it, but I'm beginning to like that young man" he admitted in a whisper. Ikuko's eyes widened. "Really? Well-maybe we're both growing up finally, Kenji" "I LOVE it!" Ami squealed happily, throwing her arms wide and twirling about crazily in the hall. "Now that's very un-Ami-like behavior," Rei said with some surprise as they watched the blue-haired girl's exuberant face. Usagi was silent for a long moment, lost in a vision of the past. Mercury laughing, smiling, in love...kissing... ["Kissing who?"] Rei cut in curiously, trying to trace Usagi's visions. But she couldn't. It was like she was thrust entirely out of Usagi and Mamoru's minds as soon as they became the Princess and Prince. ["That's really awkward you know"] she scowled up at Mamoru, who's eyes were a little above hers. "Are you Mamoru or the Prince?" "Both" Usagi and Mamoru answered simultaneously. They looked at each other and smiled tenderly. "We are-past and present...and future. Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion, Tsukino Usagi and Chiba Mamoru...and we'll probably die both also," Usagi said slowly, eyes shadowing over. Her Mother had hinted about the future. Something...something that she could not tell of, but knew. ["One day, all will be revealed, daughter"] ["Will it really?"] Usagi whispered wistfully, eyes glinting with silver lights from the sunlight streaming though the windows high above them. ["Of course it will, silly"] Rei cut in, thumping Mamoru's shoulder next to her nose, as she clung to his arm tightly. "We're all here for you, Princess" "Thank YOU, Rei" Usagi said with great surprise. ["How quickly they are accepting our past"] she thought to Mamoru, focusing her will. A look at Rei's blank expression showed that she had NOT heard Usagi's mental words. Mamoru eyed his love with shock, then his lips curved into a seductive smile. ["Really?"] he purred at her, trying to direct his thoughts just as tightly. "Really what?" Rei exploded, eyes flashing purple fire. ["Did you two just leave me out of a conversation!?"] "Tried to" Mamoru muttered sourly, fingers tightening about Usagi's small waist. He stepped forwards, towards the main staircases, pulling the two girls along with him. "It looks as if Usagi is more proficient at her mind-bond than I am, Rei" "No-I think it might be the Crystal, Mamoru" Luna said from behind. She bounded in up to the first set of stairs ahead of Mamoru and then girls, scouting ahead as usual. "Just how big is this place? I couldn't hear a thing from inside the car" she glanced back inquiringly to Mamoru, who was now the Prince to her and had earned as much respect as Serenity had. She would defer to him from now on. Not Central! That cad! She gritted her teeth and bounded further up to the first floor. ["When I get my claws into Artemis-!"] she threatened angrily. ["You'll probably smother him with kisses"] Usagi's voice said with great amusement. Both the cat and the girl froze abruptly, realizing that neither had spoken aloud. "I WONDERED when that was going to kick in!" Luna groaned, turning to face her Princess. The two eyed each other with delight and amusement. "What?" Makoto demanded, jumping up next to the others on the top step. She glanced from face to face. "What'd I miss?" "Luna and I have bonded-just now I think" Usagi said faintly, yet smiling with great love at her guardian. "HUH?!" Rei, Makoto and Ami exclaimed in shock and astonishment. "Say again?" Makoto said suspiciously. "It sounded like you said-" "But she didn't DIE!" Shingo protested from behind them all. "Did she?" he finished doubtfully. "NO!" Luna yowled, outraged. "I did NOT!" "She doesn't NEED to die" Usagi hastily said, trying to cut off any arguments. She stepped forward this time, yanking Mamoru and Rei along with her so that the rest of her 'family' could come up the stairs. They all gathered beneath a huge painting of some strange man with penetrating eyes. "Luna was bonded to both my Mother and I on the Moon Kingdom. Luna and Artemis are the royal advisers of the Moon family" Usagi frowned, trying to recall her lessons. "Luna and Artemis were also bonded. The Senshi were all bonded to each other-and Endymion and I were bonded" "We were ALL bonded to everyone?!" Ami cried out in shock. A hand flew to her pale cheek. "Why didn't you say so on the way here?" "I-" Usagi frowned, perplexed. The answer didn't readily come to her. "Usagi is just starting to remember her past as Serenity. Mamoru will be similarly affected" Luna sighed heavily, lowering her head to the carpet in slight shame. "I didn't want to mention it, but I too had forgotten quite a lot about the Moon Kingdom-" "Like Usagi being the Princess?" Rei teased. She rested her cheek against Mamoru's shoulder, skin against the soft material of his jacket. She frowned lightly as she realized what she was doing. Something-strange was happening to her. She felt so much closer to Usagi and Mamoru lately...Her eyelashes swept up and she gazed sideways at Mamoru and then Usagi's profiles. Neither had noticed anything out of the ordinary. ["What do they remember that I don't?"] Rei thought curiously. ["We'll talk later, Rei"] Mamoru said with amusement threaded though his tone. Rei flushed brightly, having forgotten that both he and Usagi could read her mind. ["Don't you-FEEL closer? Somehow?"] she asked them tentatively, a strange feeling coiling in her stomach. ["Yes, we do"] Usagi said gently, reaching out a slender hand to touch the side of Rei's face. An angel's touch. "Which way are the bedrooms? I'm dead on my feet!" Makoto groaned theatrically, weaving on her feet as if she were about to fall down the stairs. "I haven't the faintest" Mamoru muttered, looking first left then right down the halls branching off from the staircases. The place was only two stories high, but STILL large enough to get lost in! "This place is going to be FUN!" Shingo announced gleefully. "NO running in the halls, young man!" Ikuko shot in quickly before her son could rush off to explore. "Oh moooooom!" he pouted, and then sped off anyway. "Let him go. He needs to relax" Grandpa said quietly. "Like yeah" Yuuchiro muttered, peering around at them all through his bangs of brown hair. "I'm toasted!" "Toasted?" Ikuko whispered to Ami, who looked rather amused. "Tired?" Ami offered, yawning widely. She stretched her arms over her head languorously, grinning around. "Lets find somewhere to lay down before we sleep on the landing," she suggested, heading off down the left hallway. "Is Ami way more laid-back than usual, or is it me?" Makoto hissed in a stage-whisper to everyone, eyes on the genius' back as she peered into each room she passed. "Actually" Mamoru said, grinning. "As I recall, Mercury was always so happy on the Moon Kingdom. She was always smiling and so in love with-" he broke off, mind going completely blank. As if a wall had come down into place. "That's weird," he murmured, trying to recall what he had been thinking. "In love with who?" Makoto demanded, wanting the gossip. "Ames was in love in the Silver Millennium?" "I can't remember" Mamoru said shortly, annoyed at his memory loss. "But you all were in love-I remember that much" "It must have been nice. I wonder who they were," Rei murmured tiredly, leaning her weight into Mamoru's side. For some reason, Usagi suddenly got a flash of a vision-four men. But their faces weren't clear enough to make-out. "Darn" she gasped, suddenly furious. "What is the point of these powers if we cannot even remember anything of our past!" she cried out in frustration, that strange inflection entering her voice. Everyone exchanged a glance, and then stepped back to let Mamoru handle it. But Rei stayed close, still clinging to Mamoru's arm. For reassurance more than anything. He and Usagi were at the center of her crazy life. Her only lifelines. "Serenity" Mamoru said, saying her name easily. "Calm down. It will come to you" he soothed, kissing the top of her head gently. "Right, of course it will" she murmured to him. A smile broke over her face at the worried looks on Kenji and Ikuko's faces. "Don't worry mom, dad. I remember whenever I change into Serenity now. She IS me. We aren't separate souls anymore" Usagi told them tenderly. "You won't loose me again" "I hope not," Ikuko whispered, eyes filling. But she quickly blinked them back and smiled. "Now, about those bedrooms-" "I found one! It's huge!" Ami called back from further down the hall. She waited for them to catch up to her and then pointed into the room she was standing in the doorway of. Sure enough, it was HUGE! In fact, it looked the size of the Tsukino's HOUSE! "Oh my!" Ikuko exclaimed, looking at the huge french windows, the large canopied bed, the spare furniture, then fireplace and the Persian rug in the center of the room. "I don't really think that we need to use this one. It's so large dear," she told Ami, blinking at the luxury about them. "I was thinking of the bond," Ami said, shaking her head. "If my calculations are correct and the memories Usagi has recalled, then all of us NEED to be together in ONE ROOM" she emphasized the last two words pointedly. "Oh dear, you're right" Rei exclaimed in dismay. She blushed bright red as something occurred to her. "FIVE GIRLS and one GUY in a room together?" she gasped out incredulously, tilting her head back to stare at Mamoru. "Are you trying to be funny?" Mamoru said sardonically. "You-" Kenji began automatically, then he bit his lip and choked back the hasty words. Not only could the young man take him on, he was a Prince...and would probably marry Usagi one day! ["A son in law!"] he thought proudly. In that case, it was okay for Mamoru to be in her room... "But keep your clothes on!" he blurted out. The girls all flushed brightly, staring at Kenji. "Daaaaad!" Usagi exploded, face as red as a tomato. "Endymion is a gentleman!" "Is Mamoru?' Ikuko giggled. "YES" Mamoru gritted out from between his closed teeth. "Can we please go in and get some sleep now?" he said with exasperation, coming to the end of his strength. He'd barely slept in days! "Makoto and I'll find another room next door" Ami suggested, eyeing the large canopy. "I think we'd all roll off the side in that thing. Six of us, that is" she mused, eyeing the bed with thought. "Well, when Minako comes, that is" "We can carry another bed or so in here later on" Makoto said from behind the others, peering about eagerly. "It's a NICE room!" she said admirably. "So are the others" Ikuko said firmly, reaching out to grab both Kenji and Makoto's arms. She dragged them from the room, followed by a smiling Ami. The blue-haired girl closed the door behind her, winking. "Well..." Rei said, breath exploding from her chest. "Finally, some peace!" She yawned, stretching her slender arms over her head, flinging her long purple hair over her shoulders. She felt a gaze and looked up to see Mamoru staring at her fixedly. "What?" "Just-flinging your hair back like that. It looked familiar" he murmured, a strange look in his eyes. "Mmm-it's weird. Remembering" Usagi agreed, detaching herself from her love and walking warily towards the canopy. The other two followed slowly, silence awkward. ["What's it like?"] Rei finally demanded a second later, afire with curiosity. ["It's like-seeing two of you sometimes. Not seeing DOUBLE, just-" Mamoru halted, unable to explain the visions he had. "It's like seeing your past self integrated over your present self," Usagi explained casually, patting at the covers on the bed. She frowned as no dust came off of them. "Who cleans here? Are we likely to be disturbed?" she asked the other two worriedly. The thought that some stranger could just walk in on them...asleep and helpless... "It WON'T happen" Mamoru said grimly, flexing the muscles on his arms easily as he slipped off his tuxedo jacket and then his shirt. He felt Rei's wide eyes on him and looked up to meet her startled gaze. "I'm not sleeping in a tuxedo, Rei," he warned her. She blushed and averted her eyes. "You're keeping the pants on-right?' she said rather weakly. "REI!" Usagi shouted, eyes blazing wrath. "That's MY guy you're drooling over! Eeek! I can't believe I said that!" the silver-haired girl said weakly also, flushing as brightly as a tomato. "I'm SO sorry!" she apologized to her friend, feeling her heart clench. Not long ago, Rei had been dating Mamoru. Mamoru's eyes softened as he picked up what the two had been hiding from him since the party. "Oh, Rei" he said softly. 'I didn't know" "It's fine" Rei said quickly, waving a hand about negligently. She dived onto the bed, laughing as it gave way slightly beneath her weight. She lay her face against the slightly cool covers and closed her eyes contentedly. "I have my best friends in the whole world with me, right here in this house. I don't need anything else," she murmured sleepily. It really didn't hurt as much as it had...it was like her thoughts were drifting away from Mamoru and towards someone else. A man standing in the shadows of her mind...only half-remembered and loved... Usagi crawled up beside Rei, grabbing a pillow from the headboard. She slumped down next to the purple-haired girl and buried her face into the pillows softness. On her left, she felt the bed depress and knew that Mamoru was lying down. His warmth enveloped her a moment later, hand sliding over her back. "Goodnight" Usagi murmured, turning her face towards Rei's. The two girl's eyes met, so close to each other. ["All I need is right here"] ["And for this moment in time, everything is perfect"] Rei agreed sleepily. ["You didn't die. We found the Princess-and you found your true love"] Usagi's arms slipped about her waist and pulled her closer comfortingly. The three lay there sleepily, minds drifting and arms about each other, wondering what the rest of their lives would bring. "Can you pass the flour please, Luna? And Shingo, you can bring me the milk from the fridge" Ikuko instructed from the counter, deftly mixing the ingredients in a bowl. "Sure mom!" Shingo sang out cheerfully, bounding towards the huge fridge. Luna nodded. "Of course" she murmured, padding along the bench top until she reached the bag of flour. She leant down and grasped the bag in her teeth, then carefully picked it up. She kept her head high above the bench top as she awkwardly made her way along the bench and then the sink to the other side of the kitchen, where Ikuko was busy making pancakes. "Thank you, Luna" Ikuko smiled down at the cat, feeling a little guilty. ["I keep forgetting that Luna is a cat She was just s-human all the time. Even her mannerisms. Luna caught the expression on the woman's face and grimaced slightly. "Don't worry about it. I was forever running after Usagi when she forgot her lunches-" Luna smiled, eyes lightening with the memory. "Or that time she dropped the crescent moon wand" "She DROPPED it?" Ikuko exclaimed, taking the milk from Shingo and carefully pouring it into a measuring cup. "That's my kluzy daughter all right" she murmured fondly. "Believe it or not, Princess Serenity was very graceful and lady-like. She was brought up right from birth to be every inch a royal personage" Luna mused proudly. "MY sister? Graceful?" Shingo said disbelievingly, glancing askance at Luna. He waved a hand about negligently. "NAH!" "No-really" Luna said, watching Ikuko pour the pancake mixture onto a hot pan. ["Usagi will enjoy these"] "Can't see it" Shingo disagreed, eyes greedily fixed on the rising pancake in the pan. "Can I have the firs tone, mom?" "No, this is for Usagi" Ikuko said, grinning fondly at her son. "She's bound to be hungry after the goings on of the last few days" "Well-so am I!" Shingo grumbled. "We didn't even get to EAT before that Zoisite woman attacked last night!" "Oh dear" Ikuko paused, stricken. "I hope I turned off the stove" "It would have probably been in the papers if the house exploded" Shingo said gleefully. "When dad and I picked up the groceries, we would have seen it" "We were lucky that the real-estate men had turned on the power here so quickly" Ikuko murmured thoughtfully. "He DID pay cash, mom" Shingo said, eyes gleaming. "Boy, I'd kill to be as rich as Mamoru!" "Maybe one day, you will, dear. Who knows what you'll be when you grow up?" "I'm already brother to Sailor Moon AND a Princess!" he announced grandly, chest puffing out. "What more do I need?" "GOOD LORD!" Luna suddenly gasped, eyes going wide. "Sailor Venus!" "Sailor Venus?" Shingo said, confused. "Yes!" The cat was panicked. She leapt down from the bench, landing on the tiled floor easily. "She's supposed to be ringing us when she gets to Tokyo! No one is at HOME!" "Oh dear, yes" Ikuko exclaimed, dismayed. "When was she coming in?" Kenji asked suddenly, walking into the room with a newspaper folded under one arm. He glanced inquiringly at Luna, who still looked horrified and dismayed. "I'm not sure. But how could I have forgotten! Sailor Venus is the new leader of the Senshi. She will be most responsible for protecting Serenity" "Usagi has Mamoru and Rei to protect her" Ikuko soothed, turning back to the pan to flip over the pancake. "They can't leave her side- remember?" "Right" Luna said, relaxing slightly. "The fact still remains that Venus will be calling-and maybe already HAS-home!" "Lets call the airline" Kenji suggested helpfully. "What's going on everyone?" Ami asked, walking into the kitchen. She blinked around sleepily, then yawned and grinned, "Mmm! Pancakes!" "They'll be ready soon" Ikuko smiled at the blue-haired girl. "You look much better, Ami" "I FEEL heaps better, thank you, Ikuko" Ami said cheerfully. She looked around the kitchen, eyes widening. "Wow, this is a big place!" she exclaimed. "Makoto will love this!" "We were saying how Sailor Venus was going to call at the Tsukino's house when her flight came in, Ami" Luna said, rehashing the previous conversation. Ami blinked in surprise, then slapped a palm against her forehead. "Oh! I should have remembered! How could we have left without informing Venus?" "We WERE a little rushed, Ames" Makoto drawled from behind. She was leaning against the door frame to the kitchen, long pink-brown hair loose from it's confining ponytail. Shingo gaped at Makoto. ["Wow, I never noticed how beautiful Usagi's friends all were"] he thought. "Has anyone called the airport yet?" Ami inquired, looking around for a phone. Then her expression changed into one of chagrin. "Oh! why didn't I think of that before!" she exclaimed, self-mocking. She made a gesture with her left hand and her communicator dropped smoothly into her palm. "Boy are we out of it" Makoto groaned, rolling her green eyes skyward. "Did we completely forget that we were Senshi or what?" "It's understandable, dear" Ikuko said, smiling slightly. She eyed the communicator with interest. "What IS a communicator exactly?" "sort of like a phone-but you can see each other" Makoto explained impishly. "Makoto! The Senshi's communicators are NOT a phone!" Luna yowled, supremely disappointed with her pupil. "I know that, Luna. Just kidding" Makoto grinned at the cat. "Hey, did YOU get any sleep, Luna?" she asked suddenly, surprising Luna. Luna looked at everyone self-consciously. "Why-no actually. I watched over the house while you all rested" she admitted sheepishly. ["Now that I know who the Princess is, how can I possibly rest with Queen Beryl out there?"] "You should rest" Ikuko admonished the cat, serving out pancakes rapidly from the pan. If she was right, then Usagi would soon smell the cooking and come bolting down to the kitchen. "Er-did Serenity like pancakes?" she asked worriedly. "We-didn't have any back then" Luna said, smiling. "But you know, Usagi is essentially still Usagi. She may be Serenity also, but the Princess will not fully emerge for quite some time" "Ah" Ikuko said with some relief. To know that her daughter was not really her daughter had been shock enough, but if she had completely turned into her past self-Usagi would be no more... "Mercury to Venus!" Ami called out, after pressing a previously unused symbol in one corner. Now that they knew there was another Senshi, they could see that it was the orange symbol for Venus. "Now why didn't I think of that?" An annoyed male voice came over the communicator clearly. "Because your a cat, silly!" Minako giggled. "Minako!" Artemis yowled indignantly. "What a ditzy thing to say!" "You've never met Usagi-have you?" Makoto stage-whispered over Ami's shoulder. "The Princess?" Minako said innocently, smiling. "But I thought that you said she was graceful, Artemis!" "YOU KNOW?!" Ami, Makoto and his wife yelled, shocked. "We sort of got a clue when my hair turned from pale blonde into gold" Minako giggled, angling the communicator so that they could see her hair. Everyone gaped in astonishment. Minako's hair was now as golden as Usagi's had used to be! "Then, of course, we had to explain to the flight hostess' that I'd dyed it in the toilets during flight-" the blonde rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't BELIEVE the stink-up that caused!" she grinned wider. "Anyhow, Artemis decided to spill the beans then when we landed and contacted you and got no answer" "I assumed that something had gone wrong, since you knew we were coming" Artemis said from somewhere in the background. "Yeah" Ami said grimly. "Something DID happen. We don't live at the Tsukino's house anymore. Zoisite attacked us there and she knows what Usagi looks like-" "So Mamoru got us this MANSION!" Makoto squealed in delight. "MANSION!?" Minako shrieked. "Really? I've always wanted one!" "Ditz" Artemis muttered. "Hey!" Minako protested. She looked back at Ami in the communicator. "So-the Princess was revealed, right? And you found the Silver Crystal?" "Yep" Shingo said, popping up beside Ami. Minako grinned at him. "well hello there cutie, and who might you be?" Shingo got a star-struck look in his eyes as he saw Sailor Venus for the first time. "wow!" he uttered, then recovered and tried to act cool. "I'm Shingo-Usagi's brother" "Adorable!" Minako squealed. "I just can't WAIT to meet you guys! What's the address?" "Hang on a second, Minako" Ikuko said, gesturing for Kenji to go find the piece of paper the real estate agents had given them. She peered over Ami's shoulder at the golden-haired girl. "My husband is just going to get the address" "So-I guess that this means you all know about Usagi being Sailor Moon and the Princess?" the girl giggled. "How cool! My parents don't have a clue that I'm sailor Venus!" "Not at all?" Ikuko looked a little dismayed. "And I understand that you're just here on holiday, Minako? But-aren't you head of the Sailor Senshi now?" she finished, confused. "Yeah-but how did you know that?" Minako demanded, throwing a startled look at Artemis. "Luna told us" Ami said, regaining control of the communicator from the others. She blinked slowly at the communicator, expression wary. "You don't know-do you?" she said in dismay. "Know what?" Minako queried, perplexed. "Didn't Luna tell Artemis that Usagi can no longer become Sailor Moon?" Makoto said, just as shocked that Luna had kept something so important from the new Senshi. "Umm-" Artemis muttered. "WHAT?!" Minako's shriek echoed around the kitchen. "But the Princess hasn't fully emerged!" she wailed, looking very upset. "You mean to say that Serenity can't defend herself at all?! The Senshi of Venus was horrified to say the least. "Hey! What are we then?" Makoto said indignantly. "Put Serenity has-umm...Endymion and Sailor Mars bonded to her" Shingo added, feeling really weird about calling his sister and her friend by those ancient names. He grinned proudly after, pleased that he was adjusting so well to the weirdness that was now his life. "Of course she does" Minako said with relief, slumping. "Where ARE you exactly?" Ami asked, curious. "In a hotel room. I figured that I'd wait for you guys to find ME" the golden-haired girl answered cheerfully. "Here's the address" Kenji murmured, walking back into the room. He handed it to Ami, who swiftly scanned down the list till she came across the address for the place Mamoru had bought for them. "Write this down, Minako and get here as soon as you can" Ami advised. "The Princess is still asleep, but we need to discuss all of this as soon as possible" "Right!" Minako saluted. "I'll be there soon! Venus out!" Ikuko sighed, brushing her blue bangs back from her eyes and studying Luna and then Ami and Makoto. All three were silent, yet looked excited at the prospect of meeting the new Senshi. "I hope you all like, Minako" she said lightly, turning back to the pancakes. Makoto grinned wildly, throwing her long hair back over her shoulders. "I'm SURE we will Ikuko. She's one of us, after all. And she sounds funny!" the girl giggled. "I wonder if she's smart?" Ami murmured, wishing for someone with her own intellect to talk with. "With Artemis calling her a ditz all the time?" Shingo said, frowning incredulously. "I think she's going to turn out to be more like Usagi" "I have to agree with you there" Luna said wryly. "Lets hope that Serenity is a good influence on Usagi-rather than the other way around" "I like Usagi how she is" Kenji said quietly, looking wistfully at the pancakes. "The klutzy little girl who eats everything in sight, trips over her own feet and makes everyone who knows her love her" "Yeah" Makoto muttered, green eyes shadowing. ["Just how WILL changing into her past-self affect Usagi?"] "Don't forget that you yourself are changing into your past-self Makoto, Ami" Luna pointed out rather scathingly. She honestly couldn't see what it was about Serenity that everyone was so upset about! Usagi and Serenity were one soul. Serenity had been a Princess and brought up that way, but Usagi had been just a plain girl...both were merely facets of the same personality. Usagi would never truly be gone... Ikuko grinned and spun back to her cooking, eyes alight. "Well, I better make some more food! We've got two more guests coming!" she announced. "Everyone who's not helping-get out of my kitchen!" she told them all laughingly. Hastily, Kenji and Ami retreated, but Makoto went to stand next to Ikuko eagerly. "What can I do?" Usagi's eyes fluttered open as she felt a delicious sense of desire sweep through her body. She groaned and realised that there was a skilful pair of lips upon hers, delving deep into her mouth. A tongue brushed hers, sending waves of electricity down every limb. ["Endymion..."] she groaned at him, having no doubts whatsoever to who was making her bones melt in such a delicious way. ["Afternoon my angel"] he said silkily, mind wrapping about hers. He smiled against her lips, then pressed his even deeper into hers passionately. Serenity was in heaven-but vaguely remembered that something was amiss. Then it hit her- ["MARS!"] she gasped at him in panic, trying to wrench her lips away. How embarrassing for- ["She's asleep. Forget her"] he prompted, wrapping his arms about her tighter. A hand delved into her long silver hair, then other brushing her waist and upper thigh. She pressed herself even closer- yearningly...then felt a mind brush theirs as Mars woke up. The first thing that Rei felt was an overwhelming sense of desire and passion, swirling abut her. She gasped in shock, then buffeted the feelings away, realising that they were coming from the bed right behind her. Usagi and Mamoru were OBVIOUSLY er-enjoying each other's company! A lot! "Oh great Mars!" Rei groaned at them disbelievingly. Her purple eyes stared at the head board fixedly, refusing to turn over and witness...that! ['Will you two get a room or something? Preferably one far away from me!"] she snapped at them. There was a startled silence, then Mamoru's full-throated chuckle of amusement. "But we ARE in a room, Rei" he purred at her silkily, bending down to kiss Usagi's inviting lips again. Rei rolled her eyes, spun over onto her side and glared daggers at the two eagerly making-out behind her. "Let me rephrase that-GET ANOTHER BED!" she bellowed at them. Usagi peeked a silver eyes out at Rei, filled with a languorous desire and amusement. ["Are you really so upset at Mamoru and I being in love, Rei?"] she asked teasingly. She reluctantly unlocked her lips fro Mamoru's to stare thoughtfully at her friend. Rei looked almost- haggard, despite the sleep they'd all had. "Are dreams bothering you?" she asked her friend gently. Rei started in shock, staring with incredulity at the silver-haired beauty laying next to her on the bed. ["Dreams?"] she queried, getting a flash of a man's face...but then it was gone. "Yes" she said slowly. "I keep seeing this man's face-but not. It's frustrating me" she stared down at her slender hands. "I can't quite see who it is, but I have a feeling that we've met before" Usagi and Mamoru exchanged a speaking glance. ["I don't think that we should tell her who she was in love with a thousand years ago"] Usagi said on a tight thought to Mamoru. Since he had not yet mastered it, he merely nodded at her, agreeing. "I'm sure it's nothing" he told Rei out loud, reaching out to brush a lock of dark purple hair from her troubled eyes. His fingers lingered on her cheek, a deep frown between his brows. "You let us know if you need to talk about it, okay Rei?" he ordered her softly, fingering a lock of her fringe. She blushed and nodded, slightly bewildered at Mamoru's sudden concern and-tenderness? She looked into his dark blue eyes, perplexed. Familiarity-yes. That was what was in Usagi and Mamoru's expressions. Familiarity with...her. Rei's lashes swept down over her eyes to cover their expression. What did Mamoru and Usagi remember that she didn't about their past? Ever since Mamoru had discovered that he was Endymion, he'd treated Rei almost like a sister. She hesitated, then blurted the first thing that popped into her mind. "Mamoru-were we...related in any way?" she asked him anxiously. Mamoru's eyes widened in surprise, then shuttered over completely. "Why do you say that?" he asked casually, rolling away from her and off of the bed. He stood there, staring down at Rei and then Usagi. Rei bit her lip, unable to convey the weird feelings that she was sending within her self and him. "Just-a feeling" she said uncomfortably. She looked up coyly. "You can tell me, Endymion" she teased, lips curving into a sly smile. He stared at her, startled at her changed emotions. Mamoru threw a wary look at his love. ["Why do I have a feeling that Rei is up to something, Angel?"] he questioned wryly. He stretched his arms over his head easily, muscles rippling. Usagi watched him admirably, eyes darkening. She smirked at him. "Nice" she said silkily. "Later" he answered mockingly, glancing significantly at Rei, who was blushing furiously. "Cut it out, you two" she muttered, jumping off of the bed. She looked back at Usagi, who had not moved off of the bed, but was laying there with the strangest expression on her face. "What is it?" Rei asked quickly, concerned. "Usako?" Mamoru said sharply, going to the bed. He sat down on the end, next to Usagi's head and brushed her silver bangs back from her forehead lightly. ["Is-anything wrong?"] he said hesitantly, also feeling a little strange. "I feel...weird" Usagi said on a faint tone, silver eyes clouding over. Her whole body felt light and she was dizzy. Mamoru and Re were shocked when the golden moon symbol on Usagi's forehead flared to brilliant light, bathing the girl from head to toe in shimmering gold. Usagi smiled brightly, wiggling within the golden aura. "I feel-really good actually" she told them, giggling. She blinked as the golden light disappeared, leaving her feeling euphoric. ["I felt so weird just then"] she thought to them, dazed. "Weird?" Rei said, still concerned. She looked her Princess over for injury or change-but there was nothing. "Describe weird" she ordered, eyes narrowing. "Sort of-nice and free and joyous" Usagi uttered faintly, still smiling like an angel. She nodded at them both. "Incredibly free" "Free?" Mamoru questioned, frowning slightly. He was as perplexed as Rei was. Are you sure that you are okay?" he asked her searchingly, eyes sweeping over her delectable form. Even in bunny pj's, Usagi was...delicious! Both Usagi and Rei flushed brightly, then stared at him with twin accusing expressions. He shrugged at them sheepishly. ["I can't help it. Honestly"] he told them mentally, a grin spreading across his lips. His eyes glittered at them mockingly, as if daring them to say something more. "I can't be bothered with defining the bizarre workings of the male mind" Rei said flippantly, stomping towards the window. She glanced outside and noted what a nice day it was. "We should go for a walk" Mamoru gestured at his forehead meaninglyfully, to where the symbol of earth was shining brightly blue. "And what did you intend to do about these? Hmm?" "Bandanna?" she said helplessly, casting around her mind for a solution. "A bandanna?" Mamoru choked out indignantly. "It would hardly go with my hero visage" he told her sarcastically, striking a Tuxedo Kamen pose. Both girls giggled at him helplessly. Suddenly a scream came from downstairs, full of horror and shock. The three of them were on their feet and running for the bedroom door simultaneously within seconds. Mamoru wrenched the door open and then fled down the hall. ["It came from downstairs"] Usagi said urgently. "It sounded like mom" she went on out loud, eyes filling with dread. They ran down the hall to the double stairs and practically flew down them a few steps at a time. As she reached the bottom, they ran into Kenji, Grandpa and Yuuchiro running in from out back. "Where did the scream come from?" Kenji demanded, eyes frightened. He'd know the sound of Ikuko's voice even in the thick of a blizzard. "In here!" Makoto called out from the direction of the kitchen. "Hurry!" Everyone ran in that direction, skidding into the large kitchen. Then, they just stared-gaping. Ikuko was on the floor, legs spread and Makoto and Shingo and Ami knelt around her. "Great Serenity!" Luna gasped out from her perch on a bench, her red eyes impossibly wide with shock. "Mom?" Usagi said weakly, eyes on the woman. At first, nothing had seemed wrong-that was until they looked at her stomach...which was no longer flat. In fact, Ikuko looked to be about 5 months pregnant...