Title: Day And Night: Evolutions 1: Black Moon
Author: Princess Destiny
Email: In Profile
URL: destinysgateway DOT com
Couple: Usagi And Mamoru
Rating: M 15+
Summary: Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen are attacked by a wolf-monster, during a fight, the injuries worse than they could know. It begins to change them. Their senses more acute, their hearing and sight increasing ten-fold...as well as their awareness of each other, despite the natural hatred Mamoru and Usagi share. They each are hiding their secrets from all those they know and love, while fighting an undeniable attraction, fighting Zoisite for the Crystals and looking for the Princess.
Couple: Usagi And Mamoru
Chapters: 3/7
Status: Completed
Year Completed: 2000

Comments: Hi everyone! Chapter Two is out for you to read. I hope that you're all enjoying the plot. There are five Fanfics this large in this Series and I'll be putting them all up.

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Hugs,
Princess Destiny

The Day And Night Evolutions Series 1:

BLACK MOON

By Princess Destiny

Chapter Three

"Usagi!" Luna's voice came out of the darkness.

Usagi shot up in bed, gasping for breath. Her eyes were wide, staring at nothing. She'd been dreaming. Deeply. About a beautiful place. She'd been dancing in someone's arms, a person she loved with all her heart-

"Usagi!" The black cat shouted in her ear.

Usagi jumped the glared into the black of the room. She could barely see her fury companion, the moon having gone behind clouds sometime in the night.

"What?" The Senshi of the Moon demanded, irritated. Her mind sought after the dream, elusive though it was. She'd had such a feeling of belonging. Luna's weight on the bedspread disappeared, only to be replaced a moment later. Usagi saw something glinting faintly in the cat's mouth had reached for it curiously.

"Uf ooch oopd." Luna muttered.

Usagi's hands closed around cool metal. Familiar.

"Oh, my communicator beeped." She said, heart sinking. She'd hoped it wasn't something like that. Usagi felt for the buttons and pressed Mars. After a moment, the Senshi came on screen.

"Finally!" The raven-haired girl snapped. Her purple eyes flashed with irritation as she glared into the communicator. Usagi noted her hair looked rather windswept. "We've got trouble down here at the Arcade. Some sort of wolf-creature."

Immediately Usagi was on the alert. "I'm on my way." She promised. The communicator went blank and the blonde leapt out of bed quickly.

Luna scrambled out of the way, amazed at how quickly Usagi threw on her clothes.

"You aren't usually this...prompt, Usagi." Luna commented, following the blonde to the window.

Usagi glared at her through the darkness, reaching for the sill clumsily. "I'm not totally without responsibility, Luna!" She snapped. She touched the sill and pulled herself onto it, balancing for a moment. Just as she was about to drop, she slipped and fell into the bushes below with a crash.

"Arrggggh!" She shrieked. The leaves and branches of her mom's plant bit into her and she froze for a moment. Her parents hadn't seemed to have heard her and she sighed with relief.

Luna dropped down beside her nimbly a smirk on her face. "So I see." She commented.

Usagi had no time for her and got to her feet, wobbling slightly. Something felt...wrong tonight. She paused for a moment, then headed off the lawn and down the street. Luna trailed behind. At that time of the morning, there was no one around and she reached for her broach confidently. She bit her lip as her fingers closed around it. She'd never tell Luna, but she'd almost forgotten to pick it up from her bedside table on the way out the window!

"Hurry, Usagi!" Luna urged, catching up.

The small girl nodded, holding the Broach up to the moon. It glinted eerily, almost seeming to take the moonlight into itself. "Moon Prism Power!" She shouted. As always, the power surged through her, giving her confidence. It consumed her and she felt a surge of fierce joy. As the power faded, she broke from her pose and continued down the street.

As Sailor Moon reached turned the corner from the Arcade, she saw what had worried Sailor Mars so much. Tables were upturned, shattered glass lying all over the sidewalk. Lights were coming crazily from inside, showing the Senshi's different powers as they battled the monster.

"Ahahaha!" a high voice laughed, annoying familiar.

Sailor Moon's eyes narrowed. "Zoisite," She murmured. Sailor Moon looked down at the black cat at her feet. "Luna, I want you to go back home and wait for me there."

Luna looked up at her, eyes worried. "I'd rather see-"

"No," Sailor Moon said with unaccustomed firmness. She startled both her and Luna. The blonde touched a gloved hand to Luna's forehead gently, tracing the crescent moon there. "I-I just want you at home safe, Luna. So I know you're there."

"All right," The adviser agreed, backing away. "For Serenity's sake, be careful, Sailor Moon."

"I will," Sailor Moon promised. She took a deep breath and ran through the doorway, boots crushing glass beneath them. Luckily she hadn't been heard, the Senshi repeatedly firing their attacks at something very tall. Sailor Moon's eyes widened when she saw the latest monster.

"Eww. Ugly." She muttered, creeping closer. It was really tall, covered in fur and looked furious. It's fur showed signs of fire and electricity. Sailor Moon scanned the room and saw Zoisite floating a few meters away. She was holding a small purple crystal in her hands that looked familiar.

"You Senshi are such a laugh. I don't know why I bother to show up," Zoisite sniffed haughtily. Her eyes turned towards the monster. "However, Queen Beryl is pleased with the huge amount of energy Worella here collected. The new video game was my idea of course,"

"Video game?" Sailor Moon, Mercury and Mars said in surprise, glancing around them.

"That's a girl?" Jupiter demanded, staring at the monster.

Sailor Mars turned to look at her. "Does it matter?" She yelled at her friend.

Sailor Jupiter scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. "Uh, no." She said, flushing.

Zoisite watched them, a frown on her face. "Enough talk, Worella, get them!" She ordered coolly.

The monster growled and charged Jupiter, who dodged nimbly. It's arm swung back though and knocked the Senshi off her feet. She flew back with a gasp of surprise.

"Jupiter! I'll get it" Mars cried out angrily, stepping forward. "Mars Fire-!"

"Uh, uh," Zoisite taunted, flinging her hand towards the raven-haired Senshi. "Zoi!"

A black ball of darkness formed in the palm of her hand and shot towards Sailor Mars almost before she could gasp. Mars dodged, but got caught on the shoulder. She fell to the floor, wincing.

Zoisite looked at Mercury, who was standing defiantly between the others and the monster.

"Mercury, I've got do something." Sailor Moon whispered. She moved closer, reaching for her tiara automatically. She couldn't use the Moon wand; her friends were in the way. The wand was good yes, but it had never been aimed at a Senshi. What if it accidentally hurt her friends?

"Are you going to stand up to me, Mercury?" Zoisite laughed at the thought.

Sailor Moon narrowed her blue eyes in concentration, aiming for the monster's shoulder.

"I will if I have to-" Mercury shouted defiantly.

Sailor Moon removed the tiara, golden energy forming in her hands. "Moon Tiara Magic!" She shouted, flinging the energy. It flew from her hand like a bullet, streaming golden energy.

Mercury stepped back, the monster turning away a little too late. It howled chillingly as the tiara hit it square in the shoulder.

The golden-haired Senshi watched with awe and horror as the smell of burnt fur filled the room. The monster's shoulder smoked and Sailor Moon saw with a fascinated horror that the skin was black. It roared again in agony, rearing back.

Zoisite fell back in shock as it raced past her, heading where Sailor Moon was standing.

"Urgh!" Sailor Moon shrieked in terror as the wolf-creature sprung at her, faster than she could blink. Blinding pain bit through her and she screamed. At the same time, the creature howled in her ear, seemingly echoing the agony of the Senshi. Sailor Moon fell back, the creature on top of her.

"Sailor Moon!" a deep voice called out, full of fear and pain.

Her eyes cracked open as the weight of the monster was lifted from her. In the dim light overhead, she saw the shape of a top hat. "Tuxedo Kamen?" She gasped weakly. Sailor Moon tried to move and agony shot up her side. Her entire arm felt heavy, yet pained and she was sure it was bleeding. The monster was pushed from her and warm hand slid under her shoulders gently. A comfortable feeling swept over her as she was held in Tuxedo Kamen's arms. She saw the faint glint of his eyes through his white half-mask.

"Are you okay?" He asked anxiously.

She felt his hands run over her form. Sensed his pause as he saw her arm. But she didn't want to look. It would heal, she was sure. Since she could still feel her arm. "It's okay...what about Zoisite?" She whispered.

His teeth glinted briefly in a grimace. "She left as soon as her creature was killed" He said coldly. Ice in his voice. She blinked at him, wondering suddenly why he was still with her.

"Is she okay?" Jupiter asked from behind Tuxedo Kamen's back.

Sailor Moon felt him stiffen. He pulled away from her, arms sliding to his side.

"Sailor Moon, are you hurt?" Sailor Mars rushed to her side, kneeling on the floor.

Sailor Moon smiled weakly, feeling a bit nauseous. But it was nice to have Mars worry over her. "I'm fine Pyro" She said teasingly.

Sailor Mars snorted. She got to her feet, hands on hips. "And here I was worried about you. Ugh!" She stomped away.

Jupiter grinned faintly at Tuxedo Kamen. "Hey, thanks for your help. You showed up just in time" She commented. "Like always"

Tuxedo Kamen said nothing. He got to his feet, leaving Mercury to help Sailor Moon.

The blonde got to her feet, shaking slightly. She looked down at the monster lying a few feet away. "It's ugly" She commented.

Tuxedo Kamen nodded slightly, as if his part were over and turned to go. He paused suddenly, staring at the monster hard. "Why hasn't it-" He began.

"Hey. I just wanted to say thanks" Motoki said, walking up. He and Reika came into the faint illumination of the security lights. She was supporting him under one shoulder, a worried look on her face.

The Senshi all blushed.

"It was nothing" Sailor Jupiter clasped her hands in front of her, looking at Motoki with a star-struck gaze. She completely ignored Reika's presence.

Sirens were suddenly heard in the distance and the Senshi all stared at each other in consternation.

"Gee, they took their time getting here" Jupiter commented.

Motoki looked faintly apologetic. "I uh, turned off the alarms. I didn't think you'd want the police to see you fighting" He hesitated. "Or the reporters"

Mars rolled her eyes. "Oh yes. DEFINITELY not the reporters" She said dryly.

Sailor Moon sighed, turning her eyes towards Tuxedo Kamen. She frowned in puzzlement when she saw he was standing over the monster, cane out. Sailor Moon walked over, wincing as she jerked her arm. She reached out a hand to touch his Tuxedo lightly.

"What is it?" She asked him quietly. He jumped slightly, moving out of reach of her hand. Sailor Moon lowered it, hurt.

He was silent a moment. "Don't the monsters usually dissolve into dust...not just die?" He asked her.

She frowned at the question, staring at the ugly creature. It didn't connect.

"Yeah?" She said hesitantly, wondering what he meant. Her eyes widened as he poked the wolf-creature with his cane. "Oh-look out!"

The creature abruptly stirred and reared back, fangs flashing in the light. Things seemed to move in slow motion for her. She saw the creature get to its feet, claws extended.

Tuxedo Kamen raised his cane and the claws sheered right through them.

"Jupiter Thunderclap Zap!" Jupiter screamed from behind.

Tuxedo Kamen was grabbed by the shoulders and lifted up to dangle above the monsters head.

Sailor Moon gasped with horror, reacting on instinct. Her hand reached into her sub space pocket even as the muzzle lowered towards Tuxedo Kamen's head.

"No, Tuxedo Kamen!" Sailor Mars shrieked.

The monster's muzzle ripped into Tuxedo Kamen's jacket to the skin below. There was a sickening crunch-and then lightning hit both he and the monster.

"Nooooo!" The monster howled, dropping Tuxedo Kamen's limp body.

Sailor Moon's eyes teared over as she stared at the body, then the blue of them hardened icily. "Moon Healing Activation!" She screamed out her power. It exploded from the Moon Wand in a blinding display of light. They were all blinded. Golden light filled the place, fuelled by Sailor Moon fear, agony and fury. The monster screamed one long agonised sound and then there was silence. The light died abruptly.

"Oh my." Mercury said.

It was a vast understatement. Everyone blinked around. The room had almost been obliterated behind the monster. Luckily there had only been wall. But what had once been white floor and roof was covered in black soot. The monster was also gone, completely.

Sailor Moon stood frozen for a moment, then her eyes blinked. They fell on the hunched form of Tuxedo Kamen and she raced over to him.

He groaned and opened his eyes.

The Senshi raced over.

"Is he-he's okay," Mars said with relief. She stared at Sailor Moon with awe. "Remind me never to get on your bad side, Moon."

"Mmm," Sailor Moon said. Her eyes all for Tuxedo Kamen. His shoulder was a mass of blood and ripped cloth. "Are you okay." she asked him anxiously.

To their surprise, he pushed their hands away and got to his feet.

"I'm fine" He told them, straightening. His eyes glinted at Sailor Moon. "Like you Senshi, I heal fast in this form."

Before they could open their mouth, his cloak had swirled around him and he disappeared into the darkness of the Arcade.

The Senshi gaped for a moment.

"Some gratitude," Motoki commented. "Is he always like that?"

The Senshi sighed.

"Yeah," Mars said. "Always."

"Hello? Is anyone is here?" a voice called out crisply.

The Senshi exchanged a quick glance.

"It's the police." Jupiter whispered, looking towards the front of the store.

Sailor Moon looked that way, seeing the red and blue flashes of light that announced the Tokyo Police had arrived. Several people entered the Arcade.

"Time to book it." Mars looked at the other three Senshi.

Sailor Moon nodded. "Right," She said. She and the others raced swiftly out the back entrance, sparing only a brief glance at Motoki and his girlfriend. Outside in the alley, they jumped onto the roof of the place. Using the rooftops as an escape, they moved rapidly away, towards Rei's Temple.

As they passed Mercury's place, she stopped. "See you at School, you guys." She called, dropping down the side of the house.

The others paused, looking at each other.

Sailor Moon sighed, shifting. The pain in her arm was less, but still fiery.

Sailor Mars stepped closer, eyes on her friend. "You okay Sailor Moon?" She asked testily.

Sailor Moon nodded, looking down at the wound. The cloth of her sleeve was bloody and ripped, but the skin underneath seemed no too badly damaged.

"It seems all right. Nothing that won't heal quick." Jupiter said confidently, also looking at the wound. She touched it lightly.

A frisson of pain and a strange sensation went down Sailor Moon's arm, but she said nothing. "I'll be fine guys," Sailor Moon's words were punctuated with a wide yawn. She smiled at them both sheepishly. "I think we need to get some more sleep before the sun rises."

Sailor Jupiter yawned also, stretching her arms above her head. She hitched up her ponytail automatically. "I bushed guys, later!" She called, leaping away.

Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon watched as she disappeared from sight, a blurred figure moving with inhuman speed over the roof tops of the Tokyo houses. There was a short silence, strangely awkward.

"I'm sorry I couldn't stop the monster, Sailor Moon." Sailor Mars clenched a fist with silent rage. Her mouth twisted with anger.

Sailor Moon blinked with surprise. It wasn't often that Mars showed her feelings.

"I'm fine Rei," Sailor Moon said gently, touching her fingers to her friend's cheek softly.

Purple eyes glinted at her, looking suspiciously to be filled with tears. Sailor Mars turned her face away before Sailor Moon could be sure, facing her back to the blonde.

"See you tomorrow, Usagi." The raven-haired Senshi called out. She leapt away, leaving Sailor Moon standing there alone. When Sailor Mars had disappeared from sight, she turned towards her own home. Luna would be waiting there for her, wanting to know what happened in the fight.

Darkness. It was all he saw for a moment. It scared him until things began to become distinct. Mamoru blinked rapidly, eyes focusing. His face was lying on something soft and after a moment he realised it was carpet.

"What's going on?" He muttered groggily. Other things became distinct and he saw he was in his apartment. His blue eyes widened with incredulity. "How did I get here?" He exclaimed.

Getting shakily to his knees, he used the back of his couch to get to his feet. Things wavered for a moment, a great feeling of weakness invading his body. The second thing he noticed was a terrible pain in his shoulder. Mamoru raised a hand to it, gasping as he touched ragged flesh.

"Don't panic Mamoru." He murmured to himself, staggering into the bathroom. The light switch was hard to find since he seemed to be disoriented. Like nothing was real at that moment. In fact, everything seemed too bright. Mamoru walked to the sink and looked reluctantly in the mirror.

His blue eyes widened in shock as he saw his left shoulder. His green jacket was torn from the throat to the elbow. His skin showed through and both it and his clothes were caked with a horrifying amount of blood. His blood.

"Oh gods," He gasped, head reeling. He clutched at the sink, trying to keep focus. His eyes raised again to the wound as he slipped his jacket carefully off. Then his shirt. He stood naked to the waist and studied the bleeding wound carefully. As an aspiring doctor, he knew it was crucial to see how bad it was. How much blood he had lost.

Mamoru turned to the side slightly, forcing himself to look. The wound itself was not as bad as he had first thought. The skin was torn jaggedly, about a finger width long. There were three of them, from the joint in his shoulder. The dark-haired man stared closer, then got a cloth a wet it. He carefully cleaned the wound and then just stared at it silently.

"Teeth marks..." He whispered, almost under his breath. Teeth marks. Where had he gotten them? Mamoru opened the cabinet above his sink and took out a bandage. He walked back into the lounge room and sat down on the couch while he rapped his arm up. It was awkward, but he was loath to call anyone to help. How was he supposed to explain it when he couldn't even remember where he had been bitten?

He sat back casually, sinking into the smoothness of the leather couch. Mamoru's blue eyes raised to the roof as he thought back, trying to make sense of the mess. His mind was a whirl.

"Let's see," He mused aloud. "I was at the cafe with Motoki and Reika. I remember leaving and then...screaming." his eyes widened as he began to remember. He had run back inside and seen a monster attacking his friends! Then the Sailor Senshi had come and-

"Nothing." He breathed. His mind was a blank from then. He couldn't remember what had happened. Mamoru looked down at his bandaged shoulder in worry. He must have been wounded somehow by the creature and somehow gotten home. Mamoru turned to look at the phone, there was only one way to find out what happened. Shakily he dialled out the number and waited.

"Hello?" Motoki's voice said on the other end, sounding weary.

"Motoki, it's-"

"Mamoru!" Motoki almost shouted. He sounded relieved and angry. "Where have you been? Reika and I were worried sick."

Mamoru smiled slightly at his friend's tone. "I'm home." He paused, running a hand through his dark hair.

"How did you get there. Why did you just leave...are you okay?" Motoki's voice rushed from question to question anxiously.

The upperclassman chuckled. Then his eyes fell on his shoulder and he abruptly sobered. "I'm fine. I don't really remember how I got home." He admitted.

There was a long silence on the other end. Motoki sighed, sounding confused. "Maybe the Sailor Senshi-" He trailed off suggestively.

Mamoru suddenly felt an enormous relief. The Sailor Senshi, yes, they must have brought him home! His mind immediately baulked at that idea though he never said anything to Motoki. "Yeah, that must be it." He said quietly.

A few minutes later, he hung up the phone. The apartment was eerily silent and Mamoru felt cold to the bone. It just made no sense to him. And what was worse, he had had these black outs in memory before. It would have been so easy to just say the Sailor Senshi had brought him home unconscious...

But how would they have even known who he was. Let alone where he lived?

The air swirled, alive. It pulsed with multi-colours, dazzling to the eye. A breathtaking view for any to see. The only who could, however, had seen it for so long that she barely acknowledged it any more. A beauty that was accepted merely for itself. Sailor Pluto watched the swirling vortex with an expressionless face. She stood before the Time Gate, red eyes constantly seeking. It was her duty. As the Guardian of Time.

"So pensive, Pluto," a quiet voice said. The green-haired beauty never turned her face. The figure that had addressed her stepped through a Portal, materialising. "You always were too serious." The person went on.

Sailor Pluto nodded slightly, finally acknowledging. "Is that not what is required?" She murmured. Her eyes sought something far into the Time Vortex. Things that no one else could see.

"Seriousness perhaps, but not entirely lacking in emotion." The figure smiled gently.

"Is that what you think?" Sailor Pluto laughed lightly. She turned, hand resting lightly on her staff. The Garnet Orb glinted with an eerie red light. Pluto's eyes sought out the figure, looking for something.

"Are you well?" she asked the figure.

Slender fingers reached out to touch Sailor Pluto's face, but passed right through them. Pluto flinched slightly, but her slight smile never faded.

"I am well, Pluto. Do not worry for me, old friend." the figure laughed, a musical sound.

Sailor Pluto bowed her head for a moment, hiding the sadness deep within her eyes.

"How fares time?" The figure went on, voice filled with many indefinable emotions.

Sailor Pluto raised her head, turning back towards the swirling Vortex that was the Gate of Time. "Everything is exactly as it should be. I've been doing this for too long for anything to go wrong."

"Too long Pluto," The figure said sadly. "Are you weary?"

"It is my duty," Pluto replied. Her eyes never wavered from the Vortex. "I have never regretted it."

"Never? Not even when you knew-" The figure broke off, falling silent.

Pluto turned, a soft smile on her face. "I knew that better things would come. More peaceful times. All destruction that I have ever witnessed in all of time has been for a reason," Pluto sighed, passing a hand over her red eyes momentarily. "I know that all the Millennia of silence will bear fruit."

The figure nodded. "Soon."

The day was calm. A bright blue sky and a shinning sun overhead made the mood perfect for the four girls. They were walking through the park, talking. It was a Saturday and Usagi was glad to be spending the day with her friends, instead of having to clean her room. With a strange insight, she realised that if she cleaned her room late on Friday, there would be nothing to hold her back on the weekend. Not even chores.

Makoto folded her arms behind her head, green eyes gleaming. "Can you believe what a perfect day this is?" She asked the others happily.

Ami shook her head, smiling. "It is a great day," She looked upwards. "Really bright too."

"Mmm, good for the flowers" Usagi agreed enthusiastically. Her eyes alighted on all of the flowers surrounding them. They were walking through the multi- coloured flowerbeds. They were in full bloom. With tones of red, yellows, blues and pinks. "You guys, can we go to the rose gardens?" She asked suddenly.

Rei smiled, eyes lightening with excitement.

"Yeah, it hear they're really beautiful this year." The raven-haired girl said eagerly.

"Lets go then!" Makoto led the way down the path.

They came to a hedge, which separated the flower gardens from the roses. Before them was a large courtyard, familiarly known as the rose gardens. Collage students had made it about a year ago.

Usagi's eyes lit up as she gazed at them all, her feet automatically taking her towards her favourite part. She found herself wandering away from the others, down a path. She reached the roses and smiled. The red ones were her favourite, without a doubt. They always reminded her of Tuxedo Kamen.

"Red is for passion." She murmured. She'd heard it somewhere. Her fingers reached out to touch one. It's petals felt soft under her fingers. Her blue eyes were dreamy as she stroked them. An abrupt pain bit into her fingers and she jerked them away.

"Ow," She muttered, staring down at her index finger. It had been pricked by a thorn and was bleeding lightly. Her eyes stared at the blood, for a moment as if mesmerised. It was so red, so pure and warm-

"You can't be left alone for a second can you, Odango Atama?" an annoying voice said.

Usagi's head jerked up. Mamoru stood a few feet away, looking at her. Her blue eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"What do you want?" She snapped.

Mamoru's eyes gleamed, their blue seeming to deepen. "So rude," He murmured, a smile in his voice. He turned away, staring at the roses near him. "You really should learn to read."

The blonde girl was confused and angry. "What?" She demanded.

He grinned at her, pointing to a sign.

Usagi looked and a flush started on her face. A 'don't touch the roses' sign was stuck in plain view. "I didn't see it." She told him coolly.

"Obviously."

"Huh!" She turned her back on him, looking at the roses. They really were beautiful, gleaming red with moisture. She stuck her finger into her mouth absently. A flash of white came into her vision and she glanced down in surprise to see a handkerchief being thrust at her.

"Don't suck on it," Mamoru advised. "They put stuff on the roses to make them grow better."

Usagi snatched the white cloth from him. "I knew that." She grumbled. It stung her finger, but she wrapped it carefully. Her eyes glanced at Mamoru sideways, noting he was ignoring her. Then, her eyes went again to the roses.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" He said quietly, sincerely.

She started slightly. "Yes," She admitted. "They are."

There was a short silence and she realised that perhaps that had been the first thing they had ever said to each other that was a normal conversation. She hadn't liked it. She didn't like him! And he was invading her privacy.

"Why don't you go look somewhere else?" She snapped at him, unreasonably angry.

Mamoru turned his head to look at her in amusement. "Why don't you Odango Atama."

"It's Usagi, you big zero," She shouted, taking a step towards him. He turned fully to face her, arms crossing. "Say it."

"Odango Atama." He said calmly. Usagi felt her face go red.

"Ooooh! I don't know why I bother talking to you!"

"Then don't." He advised calmly.

He smiled and she felt her heart contract suddenly. It was unexpected and left her feeling stunned. She turned her face away, swallowing. Then Usagi whirled away abruptly. "Fine, then I'll leave." She announced haughtily.

Suddenly a large explosion rocked the area. Usagi staggered. The ground shook violently and she went flying. She hit something hard and warm and tumbled over. Shaking the hair from her eyes, she realised her nose was pressed into a green jacket. Mamoru's.

"What's going on?" She shouted. The ground continued to shake for a moment and then all went still. Usagi's fingers clung to Mamoru's jacket as they lay on the ground. She went to move and his fingers tightened on her waist. She stiffened as she realised exactly where she was.

"Wait a minute," Mamoru said in her ear. "The earthquake might start again."

Usagi lay there silent for a long moment, both of them waiting. Slowly, she became aware that she was pressed close against Mamoru, his body half-covering hers. Her face was pressed into his shoulder and she could feel his breath stirring the hair of her fringe.