*Ely pulls Laz out of the WAFF vat*I told you to stay out of there unless you need it for something!
*Laz pouts* But we just got them together! Aren't you proud of yourself?
*Ely grins evilly* But remember, this is how we got to be EMSiT's in the first place... don't you think we have something to live up to?
*Laz echoes Ely's grin* Hai! Now, shall we let them read?
But of course...read on, fellow readers! All disclaimers are implied this time. Don't you think you've heard them all by now?
The Longest 24 Hours 1/?
sequel to Crazy for You
by Lazuli and Elysia
PG
"Mamo-chan!"
The black haired man looked up at the sound of his name and smiled. "What is it, Usako?"
"Where do you do want this?" she replied, motioning to the heavy piece of furniture. They were in the process of re-arranging the living room, and right now all it seemed like was one big game of musical chairs.
Mamoru came over to Usagi's side and inspected the bookcase. "I think we can put it in that corner. But I like right where you're at," he grinned and drew her into his embrace. "Mamo-chan!" Usagi protested loudly, but made no move to leave his arms. "You've interrupted me three times like this. We'll never get this done in one day if you keep stopping me."
He buried his hands in her hair, and leaned forward, inhaling her sweet scent deeply. Leaving light, feathery kisses along her neck, he mumbled, "You really want me to stop?"
Blushing deeply, Usagi brought her hands up and clasped them behind Mamoru's neck. "You know I could never refuse you."
As their lips met, Usagi lifted one hand and snapped her fingers, magically moving the heavy bookcase to the corner
"Usa..." Mamoru growled lowly, still kissing her. She couldn't help smiling. "You never said I couldn't, Mamo-chan," she replied smugly.
"Don't you want to do things normally, Usako?"
She frowned and stepped away from him. "What is normal to you, Mamo-chan? How can I do something in a way that I know I'll never be?"
He started towards her. "Usa, that's not what I meant."
Tears came to her eyes and she didn't bother wiping them away. "Oh, I know that, but it still hurts. You made the wish to be with me forever, and not only did I grant that with my power, but I also granted it with my heart. You are the first person I've ever truly loved, Mamo-chan. I want to be as normal as I can for you, but I can't do everything."
He gathered the trembling girl into his arms and held her close. "And it's not fair of me to ask anything more of you. I love you for who you are, Usako." He kissed her forehead gently. "Promise you'll never leave me?"
Usagi's head came up sharply. "Why would you think that? You made your wish, and I love you. I'm here to stay."
Mamoru smiled. "Just making sure," he replied huskily, capturing her lips again with a kiss.
*****
Usagi surveyed the room quietly, a smile on her lips. It was perfect! Something they did together. It had only been a short while that she had been living with Mamoru--six months since they had fallen in love and they had made their wish together.
Her thoughts suddenly went back to when Mamoru made that comment about being normal. She hadn't been mortal for so long; she'd forgotten what it was like not to use magic to fix things. It simply wasn't in her nature to do it the "normal" way anymore.
She didn't want to be normal. She wasn't under anyone's command anymore, but she still had the magic that had trapped her so very long ago. She stared out the window, up at the clouds, her blue eyes growing dark with anger and resentment.
"You didn't win! I managed to keep my dream alive! I fell in love! I became free, regardless of what you said humans were like! You lost in the end! You lost!"
She didn't realize that hot tears were streaming down her face, or that Mamoru came up from behind until she felt his strong arms hold her, and turned her into his chest where she sobbed freely. He didn't know how scared she was; that she still feared that she would be captured again. That she would be made to go back to that hated realm where she had been a prisoner for most of her life. She lifted her head for a moment, then glared at the ornate bottle innocently resting on the dining room table.
"I hate you too!! You may have been a home for me, but you were nothing but a prison!! A prison!" Usagi fought her way out of Mamoru's arms, and went to sweep the bottle off the table. Before she could do so, a hand held it out of reach.
Usagi stopped dead in her tracks as she observed the woman that suddenly stood before her. Long pink hair done up similar to hers and a black and hot-pink outfit swathed her body. Usagi's eyes narrowed. She knew that the odango that this girl wore was just a mocking imitation of her own.
"Small Lady. How... nice of you to drop by. Why are you here?"
Mamoru didn't know who this stranger was in his kitchen, but the hostility level from Usagi was overwhelming. She was clearly very unhappy that this girl was here.
"Usagi... I wouldn't break that if I were you. You'll die without it, like we would all die without our bottles. Remember what happened the last time your bottle broke? We all saw it happen. You've broken the rules too many times... and now look where you've ended up. With a mortal!"
She got a scornful look on her face and her pointed noise turned up into the air. "I don't know where you get your taste, but if you come along now, we'll make sure nothing happens to you. You'll never get locked in that bottle again. You passed our test. Come now, aren't you happy?"
Usagi's response was silver fire shot directly at the pink pigtails.
"TEST? You mean all of this... all of that time I was forced to live in that... that prison," she spat, "was just another one of your stupid tests? Of all the insidious, pig headed... I'm not surprised they wanted to punish me in such a manner. But why have they sent you, Small Lady?"
The teenager's eyes narrowed. "You think your taunting me with that ridiculous nickname is going to make it any better? For the last time, my name is Lady. The only name I answer to, for that matter." Her twin pink pigtails swung back and forth as she turned her head away in defiance.
"I don't care if your name is mud, you are not welcome here!" Usagi raised her hand, ready to strike Lady again. Mamoru laid a hand on Usagi's shoulder, trying his best to calm her down. "Usa..." he whispered, but that was as far as he got. She pushed him out of the way. "Please, Mamo-chan, don't interfere. This is between me and Small Lady."
"You're not welcome here either, Usagi. Children of the immortal plane like us don't belong in such a uncivilized world," the pink-haired girl stated firmly. "The Council sent me after you, if you're curious. You've been here too long. It's time to bring you home."
Usagi stared at her in shock. Grabbing tightly onto Mamoru's arm, she replied, "This is my home now. I belong here, with him. I have fulfilled my destiny."
Lady shook her head. "Are you sure you want him involved in this? I tried to make you see it our way, but now you've refused, it will be much harder for you. For your sake, I hope you make it." With that, the teenager disappeared in a puff of bright pink smoke.
Usagi turned to Mamoru, an apology already in her eyes. "Mamo-chan, I am sorry to have involved you in this. I never meant for this to happen."
Mamoru noticed that Usagi was close to tears at this point, and he went to her, holding her tight against him. But she backed away. "I don't know what's going to happen now. I was under the impression that because I granted your wish and you set me free in the process, I didn't have to answer to them anymore."
He took her in his arms again and she didn't resist. "I'm scared, Mamo-chan. These are the same people who took me away from my family. I don't want to lose you either." Mamoru leaned down and gently kissed away her tears. "I won't let you out of my sight, Usako. I promise."
oooh, is that foreshadowing I sense? Stay tuned for part two!
Ely and Laz