Trapped Together Till Haloween

“Yoo-hoooo! Trick or Treeeeat! Happy Halloweeeen…!”

Usagi and Mamoru slowly woke up to a very annoying voice yelling these ridiculous phrases. In the last few days since they had first made love, they had taken full advantage of their private little paradise. The two of them had enjoyed this new stage of their relationship so much, that they had pretty much worn each other out. The last time had been under the stars on the beach and they had fallen asleep where they were, on top of the sleeping bag.

Usagi and Mamoru sat up with confused and disoriented expressions. Their eyes finally focused on the source of the god-awful screeching. Out on the ocean just a little past the breakers was a small yacht. Six people stood on the deck looking at them and the one with long blonde hair was waving and hollering at them like a loon.

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Motoki, Reika and the girls had set sail for the island the night before Halloween. They neared the island in the early morning hours and all six, for many different reasons, were anxious to see how the feuding pair had faired.

They had approached the beach area so they could sail around to the small pier just past it. Suddenly Minako started hollering like a banshee and waving her arms. The others shushed at her and tried to grab her to shut her up.

Minako excitedly exclaimed, “There they are!” then she yelled, “Hiiii…!” and waved her arms to the two people sitting up on the beach.

The rest of the group looked toward the beach. After a moment of shocked silence, they all started to snicker. Even from that distance they could see the hickys on Usagi’s fair skin and many were in places clothing would have covered to keep them secret. They snickered more when they realized they saw a few on Mamoru too. The pair had obviously settled their differences and gotten along!

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Mamoru’s brain finally kicked in. He realized their supposed friends were staring at them. He didn’t care so much about himself, but he especially didn’t like the fact that Motoki was looking at Usagi. Mamoru quickly stood up in front of Usagi to block their view of her. Turning his back to the group, Mamoru crouched down and pulled the sleeping bag up around Usagi’s shoulders.

Usagi looked up at Mamoru with tears in her eyes. Their time together in paradise was over and now they’d have to return to real life, battles and all.

Mamoru smiled sadly and leaned forward to give her a gentle kiss. With a sigh, he reached for his wrap and stood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When Mamoru had stood up to shield Usagi, all five of the girls (Much to Motoki’s annoyance) stared and smiled appreciatively. A few of them had quietly whistled and the ones who didn’t know how to whistle cleared their throats. Mamoru stood before them in bas-relief to the light sandy beach. The newly risen sun spotlighted his raven-black tousled hair and created highlights and shadows that emphasized the sculpting of his lean, toned body. Mamoru then turned his back to them and all the girls gasped in shock. Motoki pumped the air with his fist and silently cheered at the red nail marks and scratches they saw etched across Mamoru’s back and upper arms. It was very clear their plan had worked even better than some of them may have expected.

By the time Mamoru stood back up, tied his wrap around himself and turned around, the group had mostly composed themselves. Mamoru glared at them as his voice boomed out over the water, “You had *better* have some clothes for us!”

Minako reached down and grabbed a shopping bag at her feet. Waving it in the air, she sang out, “Here they are! We’ll meet you at the dock!”

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Mamoru and Usagi sat on the yacht’s deck next to each other. Usagi clutched her purse in her lap and Mamoru’s arm was around her. Watching them, Rei couldn’t decide if he held her in a possessive way or a protective way. Either way she was worried. There was more to Usagi than Mamoru knew and this could complicate things for all of them. Rei now realized they really should have thought this whole thing through a little more.

Motoki tried to joke with the quiet pair. He even mentioned some of the arcade gossip they had missed over the last month. Mamoru gave Motoki a look that clearly said, “Cut it out. Don’t even bother trying.”

Finally Motoki couldn’t take it any more. With an exasperated sigh he stated, “Okay! It may not have been the nicest thing to do but you can’t be too angry with us. You’re obviously much closer now. You should be *thanking* us for that!”

The couple continued to be silent. The others started to wonder if realizing their hopes for the couple would be at the expense of their friendship.

Usagi had watched Mamoru deal with their friends at the island and here on the boat. She had seen an almost physical wall go down over his eyes and face when the others had shown up. Mamoru now wore his reserve and aloofness like a cape over his shoulders. He was so different from the man, who just a day ago was joking, smiling and so tender with her.

Usagi could also see the difference Endymion’s memories had made in him. Before, his reserve was a desperate shield to keep others from getting too close and his attitude was arrogant and defiant. Now, he carried an aura of self-assurance and quiet dignity. The difference was subtle, but having known him both as Mamoru and Endymion, she could see it. He wasn’t afraid and alone anymore. He knew who he was. She looked down at her hands and wondered if Serenity’s memories had made a difference in her too.

Usagi knew her and Mamoru’s relationship was destined to be, but how would it fare in the day-to-day struggles of this world? She was afraid. She knew their ages alone would be a difficult bridge to cross with her family.

They finally reached the marina later that afternoon. Mamoru helped Usagi off the boat then turned to the others with a hard expression. “What you did to us was unforgivable,” he ground out between his teeth, “Don’t call us or try to contact us.” Mamoru, with his hand possessively on Usagi’s waist, turned and walked away.

Makoto, Ami, Rei and Minako jumped off the boat. Desperately they called to her back, “Usagi!”

Usagi stopped and turned to look at them. The sad look in her eyes broke their hearts. It was clear she didn’t consider them trustworthy anymore. Silently, she continued on her way with Mamoru.

Ami tearfully whispered, “What have we done?!”

Makoto shook her head and quietly responded, “Luna is going to *kill* us when she finds out!”

“Oh, Usagi!” Rei mournfully sighed.

Minako, apparently oblivious, offered, “Hey! I’m starved! Let’s go get some burgers!”

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“Oh…Mamo-chan…please…” Usagi whispered a sigh.

Her plea almost made Mamoru turn around and take her back to his apartment. Never mind the fact that they had just left there! Mamoru caught her lips with his and pressed her up against the brick wall behind them. [There’s a definite naughty thrill to making out in public!] he fuzzily thought.

The couple could hear the dull noise of the arcade they were leaning against. Every so often someone would enter or leave the arcade and the noise was louder until the door shut again. Usagi and Mamoru were in the alleyway, hidden in the shadows. At first they would freeze when someone walked past the alley, but they soon realized no one even glanced their way. They were stalling and they both knew it. Neither of them really wanted to go inside the building and do what they knew they needed to do.

Mamoru trailed kisses down her neck. He ran into the shoulder of her shirt and mentally cursed. He had gotten used to not having to deal with clothing. It kept getting in his way! With a sigh he changed directions and instead kissed along her collarbone to the base of her throat then back up to her waiting lips. Mamoru had his fingers tangled in Usagi’s ponytail and he rubbed the strands lovingly.

Usagi’s hands had slid down to Mamoru’s hips and butt and she was also annoyed with the fact that except for his face, neck and hands, she couldn’t *get to* his skin!

Mamoru released their kiss and rested his cheek against one of Usagi’s hair buns. Sighing he quietly said, “Usako, We can’t keep avoiding this. The arcade will close in a few hours and we should get this over with.”

Pouting, Usagi whined, “I don’t know if I can be angry enough to do it! I’m really not mad at them anymore. They actually did do us a favor.”

“I know,” Mamoru admitted, “I’m not as angry as I was either but this needs to be done. Just because everything worked out okay in the end doesn’t mean what they did was right, especially the Senshi. They knowingly trapped Sailor Moon and that has to be addressed. I also have a personal score to settle with Motoki. Let’s just get this over with, okay?”

Usagi sighed then reluctantly agreed.

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Makoto, Ami, Rei, Minako and Reika sat in a booth together. Motoki was working, but all six of them looked up each time the door opened. They all breathed a sigh of relief when they finally saw the striking couple enter the arcade. Almost immediately, their feelings of relief turned into leaded weights of anxiety and sank to the pit of their stomachs. The stony expressions the couple wore made it worse.

Mamoru nodded to Usagi then resolutely strode toward Motoki who was taking an order across the room from the girls.

Reika quickly jumped up and called, “Mamoru!” as she tried to intercept his path. “Motoki just wanted to help you! Please!” she pleaded. Mamoru ignored her words as he grabbed her arms and moved her aside. “Damn it, Mamoru!!” Reika desperately cursed.

Stepping in front of Motoki, Mamoru’s low voice clearly carried in the now silent arcade, “Let’s talk…in the alley out back.”

Motoki blanched and he stuttered, “Um…M-M-Mamoru, I-I’m working…”

“Now!” growled Mamoru.

Motoki sighed with resignation. He looked at his sister as he took off his apron and said, “I’m taking a break.”

Both men headed for the back hallway. Reika followed. Grabbing Mamoru’s arm she begged, “Please, Mamoru! Please don’t take him out there! Sit in here…*talk* in here!” He continued to ignore her and she started to cry, “I’m coming too then!”

At this Motoki turned and pushed past Mamoru to Reika. He hugged her and whispered, “Please, stay here. I don’t think he’ll kill me. You don’t need to see this.”

“But-but-but…Mo-chan!” Reika whispered, “I don’t want him to hurt you at all!”

“Stay inside,” Motoki reiterated firmly. Reika searched his face a moment more then pulled out of his arms and ran to the women’s room crying.

“Let’s go,” Mamoru impatiently stated.

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Mako growled and stood, “I’ll be damned if he’s…”

“Makoto, sit down!” Usagi quietly ordered.

All four girls turned shocked faces towards the petite blonde. Mako slowly sat again.

Usagi silently stared at her Senshi for a moment then quietly said, “We need to talk. We’ll use the storage room.” It wasn’t a request. It was a command and each girl knew it.

Rei’s eyes started to snap angrily, “She can’t just…”

Ami put her hand on Rei’s arm to stop her words. Ami reminded her, “Yes she can, Rei - and she did. Let’s go.”

Ami stood to leave the table and the others reluctantly complied too.

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Mamoru and Motoki stepped out the back door of the arcade. The dim glow of a light bulb over the doorway lit a little of the alley but the area behind the building had only moonlight. As they passed the corner of the building, Mamoru turned and grabbed Motoki by the shirt. Swinging the blonde off his feet, Mamoru roughly threw him against the wooden fence that surrounded the small area. The fence shook with the impact and the garbage cans against it in the corner fell over, clattering together like discordant cymbals in the quiet, night air.

Motoki knew he deserved whatever Mamoru dished out but he had still hoped. [Apparently not!] he ruefully thought as he looked at the shadowed face in front of him.

Letting go of Motoki’s shirt, Mamoru lifted his fist. “*This* is for slipping us mickys!” He hissed as his fist shot forward. The second fist quickly followed as he said, “*This* is for not leaving us any clothes!” The next was punctuated by, “*This* is for all my bills being a month over due and I don’t have a job!” “*This* is for letting the plants in my apartment die!” “*This* is for suckering the girls into helping you abduct us! *This* is for making us stay there a whole month!

Motoki had steeled himself for the pain and silently stood still as Mamoru’s fists had repeatedly flown. Mamoru paused and Motoki peeked open his eyes. He had felt the wood splintering around him and now there were six fist-sized holes in the fence around Motoki’s head and body.

A sigh of relief exploded from Motoki’s lips and Mamoru socked him in the stomach. Not as hard as he could have, but hard enough to knock the wind out of Motoki and make him wish he hadn’t eaten dinner. Motoki doubled over gripping his stomach and fell to his knees.

“*THAT* was for cutting Usagi’s hair and making her cry!” Mamoru growled angrily.

Once Motoki was able to breath and he was fairly certain he wasn’t going to loose his dinner, he whispered, “Making her cry?” He then looked up at Mamoru and bitterly exclaimed, “Making her cry! You hit me for *making her cry*! Shit, Mamoru! *You’ve* made her cry many more times than I have! If I deserved to be hit for *that* then *you* deserve to be hit even more!”

Mamoru blinked, surprised by Motoki’s verbal come back, “Cry? When did I make her cry?!”

Motoki grabbed the fence to help him slowly stand. He still held his stomach as he angrily glared at Mamoru. He answered, “You know all those times you two fought and Usagi had stalked away from you and out of the arcade with her head held high?”

Mamoru nodded and Motoki continued, “As soon as she was out of sight of the arcade windows she’d turn into the alley and cry! Many times I’d go out the back door and find her standing there. I’d try to comfort her and tell her you were a jerk. I wanted to go back inside and beat the pulp out of you for hurting her, but I couldn’t. She made me promise not to and not to tell you she was crying. She told me that someday she hoped you’d stop pushing her away and then the two of you could become friends.”

Mamoru was shocked by Motoki’s words. All along Usagi had been trying to reach out to him! She had known he fought with her because he had been afraid to let her get close!

Motoki explained, “I was fed up with waiting for you and decided I had to do something. Because of my promise to Usagi I couldn’t knock you around or even tell you. I needed to find a way to make you face her and not be able to hide or push her away. I had actually been thinking about it for quite a while. The last big fight you two had was what finally made me angry enough to try it.”

“You’re right,” Mamoru sadly whispered, “I feel horrible about hurting Usagi all those times!” He looked up at Motoki then suddenly grabbed him and traded places against the fence. “Okay, Motoki, give me your best shot. I deserve it,” Mamoru instructed.

Motoki stood there considering Mamoru’s offer. He pulled his fist back and with an eager expression, swung with all his might. His fist crashed into the fence beside Mamoru’s face.

“Ow! Oh, shit! That *hurt*!! Ow!!” Motoki moaned as he shook and held his injured fist. He examined it for splinters then pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and dabbed at the blood seeping from his cut knuckles. Looking up at Mamoru he added, “I’m still bound by my promise to Usagi to not hurt you so I can’t really hit you.”

Motoki looked at the fence and considered the splintered holes Mamoru’s fists had left. Motoki hadn’t even dented the wood when he had tried. Curious, Motoki asked, “How did you do that without breaking your hands or even cutting yourself, Mamoru?”

Mamoru nervously ran his fingers through his hair then hesitantly answered, “Um…I guess my hands are…um…callused or something…from Karate class.” Motoki nodded and didn’t question Mamoru’s answer. Mamoru silently sighed with relief.

“Motoki,” Mamoru said and Motoki looked up from his hand. Mamoru quietly admitted, “I…I really do love Usagi, a lot. Thank you for telling me what a jerk I’ve been to her. I’ll try to make it up to her, I promise.” Hesitating, he then impulsively grabbed Motoki and hugged him tightly. “Thank you!” he choked out, “Thank you for doing one of the nicest things anybody has ever done for me and for being the best friend a guy could ever have!”

Mamoru quickly let go of the stunned Motoki. With a threatening glare, Mamoru warned, “If you *ever* tell anybody I said that or hugged you, I’ll deny it!”

Motoki blinked a moment at Mamoru’s mercurial behavior then began to laugh, “You’re still the same old Mamoru!” He shook his head and chuckled, “Someday, Usagi and I are going to get you to drop that tough guy exterior, loosen up and enjoy life!”

Motoki then thought of something. He asked, “How did Usagi’s hair grow back so quickly? I *know* we cut it and you even said it.”

Mamoru curtly answered, “Magic and don’t ever ask again!”

Before Motoki could think of a good response, Mamoru looked up as if he had been called. Looking back at Motoki he said, “Excuse me, I have another appointment,” then quickly went back inside the arcade.

Blinking a few more times at his friend’s odd answers and behavior, which weren’t really all that odd for this friend, Motoki finally dismissed it with a shake of his head. Turning around, Motoki looked at the broken and splintered fence. He ruefully sighed, “That’s going to come out of my paycheck.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The four girls and Usagi walked down the hall and entered the storage room. Usagi walked to the far end of the room. She looked at the folding chair and the shelves. [So much has changed since I was here last!] she thought.

Turning around Usagi contemplated her friends, her Senshi.

The girls shifted around uncomfortably on their feet. None of them knew what to expect.

Finally, Usagi sadly stated, “You didn’t protect me. You sent me away knowing full well that you could have been putting me at risk and even worse, the entire world at risk! I’m certain Luna didn’t agree to the plan. Rei, what did you tell her to get around her?”

With a guilty flinch the Priestess started to sputter. She looked up into Usagi’s eyes then sighed in resignation. There was something different about Usagi that made Rei unwilling to antagonize her. Rei answered, “We told Luna and Artemis your parents had sent you to visit your aunt for a month in Osaka. We then had Luna stay with Makoto so your family wouldn’t make Luna suspicious.”

Usagi nodded, “That would work.” Looking up at all the Senshi, Usagi continued with a hard stare, “Luna and Artemis will have to be told.”

All four girls gulped and nodded. They knew that was not going to be pleasant. Luna could be a harsh taskmaster when provoked.

Makoto looked up and hopefully pointed out, “Nothing bad happened though. There wasn’t even one attack from the Dark Kingdom all month! Maybe we got the last of them. Maybe there wasn’t danger to the Earth after all.”

Usagi sadly shook her head, “Makoto, don’t try to tell me that. I now know for a fact that our battle has only just begun. The Dark Kingdom is alive and well and we have yet to meet their strongest fighter.”

Usagi’s quiet reprimands stunned the girls and filled their hearts with dread. Usagi continued, “You were fortunate…*we* were fortunate…the Earth and all who live here *were fortunate*…to not have paid for your actions with their lives! It wasn’t because you four were vigilant with your mission!”

Ami, Makoto, Minako and Rei hung their heads. They had no good answer to Usagi’s accusations. All four girls wondered what had happened to their easy-going, fun-loving and gullible leader. They had never seen Usagi so serious. Even as her words stung, they couldn’t help admiring Usagi’s new attitude.

“Rei, I want my brooch and wand,” Usagi commanded.

Reaching into her sub-space pocket, Rei quickly complied. She could finally see that Usagi was the only person qualified to use the weapons. She found the brooch and placed it in Usagi’s hand. Rei reached far back in her pocket searching. A frown crossed her face as she searched again. After the third time she searched, panic was filling her eyes. Rei looked up at Usagi with trepidation and whispered, “I-I can’t find the wand! I-It’s not here!”

“What!” the others shrieked horrified.

Silently, Usagi pined her brooch to her shirt then reached into her own sub-space pocket. All four girls gasped when Usagi showed them the wand in her hand. The crystal’s scintillating glow spoke of the strong power it contained.

Usagi held the wand above her head and whispered her transformation. The four shielded their eyes from the bright shine that came from the crystal.

When the crystal’s power subsided the girls raised their heads and were speechless with surprise. Usagi now stood before them in a gown of purest white with gold details and a crescent shaped emblem glowed on her forehead. She was beautiful and every inch of her radiated royalty.

The Silver Crystal had also restored the four girl’s memories of the Silver Millennium. They were totally overwhelmed with the information that had flooded into them. Minako finally rasped out, “The Moon Princess! Usagi, you’re the Moon Princess!”

The door to the storage room opened behind them and all four girls spun around in battle stance even though they hadn’t yet transformed.

Mamoru entered the room and locked the door behind him. The girls stood between Mamoru and the Princess. Their expressions of distrust were impossible to miss.

Makoto growled, “I *locked* that! How did you open it?! This is a *private* meeting, leave at once!”

Mamoru didn’t look at all intimidated or concerned by the amazon’s aggressive warning and stance. With a deft movement Mamoru pulled a rose and transformed into Tuxedo Kamen right before their eyes.

Without a word, Tuxedo Kamen stepped forward and confidently passed between the shocked girls.

When he was within arm’s reach of the Princess, Tuxedo Kamen again transformed and became Prince Endymion. He bowed to his Princess then handed her the rose with a smile.

Turning around he stood next to Princess Serenity. He bowed and formally spoke, “I am Endymion, Prince of Earth.

The four girls were totally bewildered as they stared at the stunning couple. It took a command from their Princess to remind them to transform.

The girls transformed and as soon as they had finished, Mars blurted out, “Endymion and Serenity?! How is this possible? We all died on the Moon!”

Mercury had her computer and visor out and frantically typed as she tried to make some sense of all she had learned and seen. Shaking her head she muttered, “We must have been sent to the future and were reincarnated! The power needed to be able to accomplish something like that would have been enormous!”

Jupiter was shaking her head in bewilderment and Venus, with stars in her eyes, was gushing, “You two look *soo…* good together! It’s *so…* romantic! You found each other again after a thousand years!”

Princess Serenity, still silent, gave them a disapproving stare. It was Sailor Venus who finally realized. As she quickly bent her knees to kneel, she jerked on the skirts of the two Senshi standing next to her. Startled, all three of them followed suit to show respect to the Princess and her Prince.

Sailor Venus formally introduced herself, “I am Sailor Venus and I swear my allegiance and loyalty to her Royal Highness, Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom and to Prince Endymion of Earth, our Princess’ betrothed since the Silver Millennium.” The other Senshi each followed Sailor Venus’ example in turn.

Prince Endymion spoke first, “We thank you for your pledges of fealty. However, warriors who are loyal to their leader would never have allowed Motoki’s plan to succeed. The entire world’s safety and future depends on Sailor Moon. You knew that and yet you deliberately deceived her and rendered her powerless. I am skeptical of your oaths.”

Princess Serenity gripped her hands together and made a conscious effort to not wince. She had not put it as bluntly or as harshly as Endymion had. It hurt her to see her friends look as if they had been slapped.

All four girls bowed their heads. Their cheeks were red with shame and more than one of them had tears in her eyes. They knew the Prince spoke the truth. If they were stripped of their powers and banished or even counted as enemies, it wouldn’t be more than they deserved.

Venus looked up and tears ran down her cheeks. She spoke, “I need to take the majority of the responsibility for this.” The other three Senshi looked perplexed but Venus continued, “I had seen right away that Usagi and Mamoru were soulmates. It was pretty obvious they, or rather, you two weren’t going to stop fighting on your own. When Motoki told us his plan I thought it would be a way to force you to get to know each other better. I didn’t really consider all the possible consequences and I pushed the other three girls into going along with the plan. I’m *really* sorry. Even though I like how it worked out, I now see it was foolish and risky.”

Mars and Jupiter protested, “We weren’t pushed into anything! We chose to participate. We are as much to blame as Venus.”

Mercury had a thoughtful look on her face. She hesitantly spoke, “Um…guys? Actually, when I reviewed our conversations, Minako was pushy about it. I agree we chose and are responsible too, but Minako worked really hard to convince us.” The three girls turned to Venus with shocked, angry glares.

Fearing for her life, Venus threw her hands together and with a bow, begged, “I’m *sorry*! *Please* forgive me!!” She opened one eye to peek at them and make sure they weren’t going to grab her, wrap her in packing tape and throw her off a bridge. Her expression was so comical the girls couldn’t help but laugh.

Makoto then looked to the Princess and Prince. She admitted, “What we did was wrong and we apologize.” Then, with a sorrowful and desperate voice she begged, “Please forgive us and give us another chance. We have finally found our Princess! Please give us the chance to help protect her!”

Princess Serenity had tears in her eyes and it took everything she had to not run and throw her arms around her friends to comfort them.

Prince Endymion could feel Princess Serenity’s emotional turmoil and decided this was enough. Looking at the Senshi he answered, “Princess Serenity, our powerful Sailor Moon and precious Usagi has a big and forgiving heart. I have been a grateful recipient of her forgiveness and she gave me a second chance more than once when I didn’t deserve it at all. If she is willing to forgive you then I will be willing too.”

All five of them turned to look hopefully at Princess Serenity.

With tears running down her face, the Princess held her arms up and simply said, “My friends!”

All four girls ran to their Princess. They hugged and cried and things were finally as they should be.

Everyone de-transformed and the pall of emotional tension that had filled the room, lifted and faded away.

Usagi and Mamoru with their arms around each other explained to the girls how the crystal and wand had appeared to them on the island and what they now knew about the enemy.

Just before they left the storage room Makoto looked meaningfully at the couple and grinned. She joked, “At least we sent Tuxedo Kamen with you, Usagi. That has to count for something even if we didn’t know we had done it!”

Usagi laughed and much to Mamoru’s embarrassment, she added, “Yes, sending the hottest-looking, hunkiest guy in all of Tokyo was definitely something you did right!”

All the girls had a mental flash back of Mamoru standing naked on the beach. Fanning themselves they all chorused, “You got that right! Uh-huh! Whoa! Yes, no contest there!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just before closing time, the whole group sat together and ordered ice cream to celebrate not only Usagi and Mamoru’s very friendly truce but also the truce between them all. Motoki and Reika sat at one end of the booth, Mamoru and Usagi sat across from them and the girls had all sat around the rest of the table.

During a lull in the conversation, Minako looked up. With a mischievous twinkle in her eye she asked, “Usagi? Did you two use up all the ‘presents’ I had left for you and Mamoru?”

Everyone turned to look at Mamoru and Usagi curiously. With a surprisingly mature grin, Usagi responded, “Why do you ask, Minako? Do you want any that are unused back? Do *you* have a use for them?”

Minako scowled then looked down and stabbed at her ice cream. Everyone was waiting for her answer. Finally she blurted with exasperation, “No, and *thank you so much* for reminding me!” She then went back to muttering under her breath about gratitude while stabbing her ice cream. Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

Usagi turned to Rei and asked, “Are my parents expecting me back tonight?”

Rei answered, “I told them tomorrow just incase we got delayed.”

Usagi smiled. Turning to Makoto she asked, “Do you mind keeping Luna for one more night?”

With a conspiratorial grin, Mako said, “Sure, but only one more night. She’s a pain to live with. She gets up *way* too early and all she does is talk, talk, talk!”

Usagi laughed, “Yes, I know! She can be a pain sometimes!”

Rei, Ami, Minako and Mamoru were looking at the two girls aghast. More than one of them tried to kick the two girls in the shins. Needless to say all six of them suddenly yelped and glared at each other.

Motoki and Reika were very perplexed as they listened and watched their peculiar friends. Motoki asked, “Isn’t Luna your cat, Usagi? She talks?”

The others looked nervously at each other and as usual, it was Ami who saved the moment by saying, “Sure! You know, ‘Meow, Meow, Meow’. She’s *very* vocal.”

Reika and Motoki answered, “Oh,” in unison and everyone sighed with relief. They all wondered when one of their slip-ups would prompt a question they couldn’t find a good answer to.

Reika then looked at the others and asked, “By the way, what happened with Usagi’s hair? I know we cut it. How’d it grow back so quickly?”

[And there it is!] they all thought in panic as they looked at each other. Not even Ami knew what to say.

The silence stretched out at the table then Motoki answered his girlfriend, “Magic and don’t ever ask about it again.”

All the other girls stared bug eyed at Motoki.

Reika, who had given Motoki a dubious look, said, “Oh, really?”

Motoki shrugged and added, “That’s what Mamoru told me.”

Mamoru put his head in his hands as he ruefully thought, [I *know* I’m going to hear it for that one!]

Reika decided to shrug it off too, so the subject was dropped.

Mamoru leaned over and whispered something in Usagi’s ear. She blushed and looked up at him with a smile.

Usagi then turned to the others as she and Mamoru hastily stood, “We’ll be going now. Bye everyone.” Before anyone could blink the couple was already out the door.

The girls, Motoki and Reika watch the couple cuddle together in each other’s arms as they walked past the arcade windows.

Minako observed with a sigh, “Damn! I wish I could go on a good vacation like that!”

The End! ^_^v


Thank you so much for reading my story. Thank you especially to each of you who reviewed. You made my day! ^_^

For those who didn\'t review, I\'d really love to know what you thought of my work too. ^_^


Sincerely,

Luna Hope ^_^

Disclaimer - Sailor Moon and friends don’t belong to me! Thank you Takeuchi-sama for creating such fun characters. ^_^