Chapter 7

Finally I looked away,

"We're...in your room," I said, burning up. I was in his bed. And heat twisted in my belly; I moved to escape it and noticed his costume on the lounge chair nearby, my bare feet hitting the soft carpet. He'd...taken off my shoes?

"You passed out, last night. Do you remember?"

"I do," I said,

I picked up the mask on the table and approached him with it, even though I knew, had always known it was him, I placed it over his eyes and felt my stomach tighten with wonder and attraction. He looked at me from behind that mask with such softness I trembled. He caught my hands and lowered them,

"You don't have any memories," I said softly. I could still smell his cologne.

"Yes," he said, telling me about his accident as a child. His troubles. "I don't know who I am," he said.

"I can tell you...I...I know you. Your name is Endymion. You were once the Prince of the Kingdom of Earth. I was a princess from the moon, we were lovers lifetimes ago. The silver crystal is in my charge, I am protecting it from falling into the wrong hands. It's my responsibility."

"I see, am I the wrong hands?"

He looked so sad.

"No, but..."I reached for his cheek. "You...you don't need it for what you want. You'll get your memories back soon another way."

He thought for a moment,

"It's so strange. I shouldn't believe any of this, but I trust you. Tell me something," he said, "can you keep this a secret?"

"I...everyone already knows."

He looked stunned, "Was it that obvious?"

"No...I just...I knew before anyone else. I told them right away. It was before...I didn't think I'd really...feel anything for you but...h-here you are."

He suddenly looked at me so warmly I was drawn to him, his eyes so blue, I was drowing in them when he blinked. I watched his dark eyelashes move over those endlessly deep pools. I pulled my hands away and held them to my chest.

"I...I should go," I said, before I did something even more reckless, I wanted to kiss him. All the fear from the ball, feeling like I didn't want to be in love, it was all absent just then. I was so caught up in the moment. I forced myself to turn from him, but his hand gently caught me at the door.

"Usako," he said softly into my hair. I flushed, feeling tingles down my spine again, my face was hot, my heart was pounding. Adding the -ko to my name made me feel especially feminine, it was so personal. So close. Just a name...his name for me. My breathing hitched slightly.

"You almost forgot," he said, and I felt my school bag against my head.

I walked to school wondering if my parents were worried about me. Maybe they just assumed I had stayed over ar Naru's.

"Mamo-chan," I said softly to myself, hugging my bag.

I made it to school. I should tell the others that he knows about me. But Luna distrusted him so much I wasn't sure, even in spite of what I told her.

Ami was researching Sailor V. I was quiet, looking at the pocket watch from Mamrou.

"Hello everyone," it was Umino creepily coming from the bushes are you playing a Sailor V game? Oh come on Sailor Moon is the talk of the town now, everyone is talking about her, I will be the one to catch her."

Everyone tensed,

"Umino are you okay?" asked Ami. He ignored her and crept off creepily.

"He was rather aggressive wasn't he?" Asked Luna, emerging from the bushes behind us. She jumped up on the back of the bench where Ami sat,

"Luna how do we find Sailor V?"

The cat seemed caught off guard, "Ah, I don't know."

"Usagi, can you remember? From your world, how does it happen?"

"It's so strange," I said, "I can't remember, I really cant.."

I tried to think but then I found myself thinking of Mamoru instead. I realized I missed him. Like all the other matters were less important besides just...being close to him. I should tell him, I thought to myself, who I really am. I'll use the pen, I'll show him who I am. And...if he doesn't love me anymore, that's fine but...I'll show him, even if it means I somehow get teleported back into hell. I'll show him...I wished I could tell him my name, my real name, but that was gone now...long gone.

I was spaced out for the rest of the day, I barely paid any attention to the video store, the brainwashing DVDs. I left the arcade in a daze, it was dark but then I heard the zombie like voices of people searching for me. They were everywhere. I ran, Nephrite's face flashing through my mind, breaking my Mamoru stupor.

I was afraid again, I ran down the street. These were all kids from school. I had to help them, around the corner I decided to transform and use the healing wand, and quickly escaped so as to not be seen by them.

Just then there was a hard impact to the ground, like an explosion that sent me hurtling backward. We were in some kind of open area, like a park. No one was around.

"You really do have a special power, you showed yourself, stupid girl." said Zoicite, standing up in the smoke

"Zoicite, please."

In a flash he was behind me, I was yanked to my feet. Holding me with a strong arm around my neck.

"I don't understand you," he hissed into my ear, "Yelling strange things at us about Queen Beryl, how do you even know about her?"

"I'll...tell you everything," I said, trying to breath, clawing at his arm.

"Tell me where the crystal is," his breath was hot and his voice so forceful I thought I even felt a spec of his spit hit my ear. I closed my eyes.

"I will, just listed to me," I gasped, pleading.

All of the sudden we were washed in blue mist. Mercury. Then came Mar's and Jupiter's attacks. He used a barrier that repelled everything, even the mist around us. His grip around my neck tightened.

"Alright, since you're so willing, talk or you'll all die." I felt my vision swimming. I couldn't...I couldn't if he didn't let go.

All at once I was released and fell to my knees coughing violently.

Zoicite stumbled, having just been punched by Tuxedo Mask.

"Curses," he said, holding his cheek, "do you wish for the crystal as well?"

"My wish..." he said, clenching his fist. He didn't finish, just launched himself at Zoicite again, ready to hit him a second time.

But Zoicite held out his hand, a barrier appearing.

"That won't happen again," he said and fired. A bolt of energy cut through the barrier and Tuxedo Mask's shoulder. He was knocked back with a cry of pain.

I was inside the barrier with Zoicite and his gloved hand roughly grabbed my arm the way someone else had...long ago...in another world.

I felt myself sob, he was hurting me.

"He does want the crystal," I said, looking at his blue eyes, "he's been searching for it for so long...but.."

"I wished for the crystal before," he said, holding his wound, "but now my true wish...is you,"

For some reason I wanted to smile but I couldn't, I had to tell him who I really was.

"You're pathetic," Zoicite raised an arm and a huge sharp crystal appeared.

"Zoicite don't!" I said, twisting to hug him stop him somehow, but he pushed me from him, tumbling to the ground,

"I'll kill you first and then take my time looking for the crystal"

"Please, wait-!"

I shut my eyes and could feel death coming for me but it was thwarted. The smashing pain never came. It was Venus, and Artemis. Everyone looked to her figure, stunned as she stood beautifully eclipsed on the rooftop. So that's how she appeared. Saving me.

Just then I felt a weight on my back, it was a knee I realized and the familiar scent of books and candles surrounded me.

"You idiot!" Said Nephrite's purring bass.

Zoicite grit his teeth and Nephrite pulled my arms behind my back.

"Let's go!"

I felt sick, the world was shimmering in black spots. I could make out Tuxedo Mask's face through the clouds.

"Usako!" I heard him shout, but then everything was black.

All at once everything rushed back into view, like bursting through the surface of the water. I cried out loudly,

"Ah!" I was crying, his weight hurt on my back, but he got up quickly, still holding my arms.

He glowered over my head at Zoicite who glowered back.

"So? We've got her. What are you going to do about it?"

"We should take her to Beryl," he answered, "but I want to talk to her."

Zoicite crossed his arms.

"Tch," and he left us. A large ornate door shut behind him.

Nephrite suddenly turned and pushed me, no, threw me away, down onto what seemed to be a pointless mess of over sized pillows. I couldn't even see the ceiling here, the dim room simply seemed to extend upward into blackness. Trailing off color curtains hung down immense pillars onto the cold stone floor.

I stared at him terrified. He glanced at me and then paced this way and turned without looking at me to walk the other way. Long dark hair flowing down and back over his shoulders, shining somehow in the light that came from the small braziers around the room.

I tried to sit up,

"Neph-"

"Shut up," he said, looking at me. He stopped his pacing and his eyes pierced my soul. He stormed toward me, boots stepping against the stone floor with purpose and he grabbed my chin looking right at me. He leaned in close, so close, I could smell his scent again.

"Nnnh," I made a sound, gritting my teeth.

"Why?" He growled.

My wince changed and I felt my eyes open wide. He filled up my vision his face was so close.

"I can't stop thinking about you."

"What?" I breathed. No, that was wrong, this whole thing was wrong. Sailor Moon never got kidnapped by Nephrite! And further more, he loved Jupiter, not me. But maybe I was jumping to conclusions.

He shoved my chin away and then seemed to think better of it, climbing over me and pinning my arms.

"You did something to me on the roof, what was it? You ramble on about love..." his eyes swept my face, felt a cold sweat begin to coat my skin. I was very aware of my skirt's not so modest length, and the placement of his knees against the outer sides of my thighs. He came close and captured my mouth.

"Mnh!" I squeaked, trying to resist but unable to do anything. I should have tried to think about Jupiter and the others, but all I could think about was his scent, his strength. His heat. How insanely hot he was. I didn't even think to squirm after the initial jump. I was tense all over but...my body was disobediently responding to the kiss. growing hotter. What was I supposed to do?

He broke the kiss, I realized my eyes had been closed. They slid open halfway and I felt a heavy breath leave me.

He was looking at me, his mouth drew into a tight line, he was thinking, but the way his eyebrows knit together over such a sharp gaze told me he was frustrated.

"Nothing," he said.

"I...I ha-have..."

"This?" he said, releasing one of my arms to pull the compact at my chest.

"Don't!" I grabbed the offending arm with my free hand,

"P-please Nephrite," I was still breathless, "Let me talk to you."

His eyes looked at me and something in his expression flickered. My chest was heaving and his hair fell from his shoulder, draping around us like a curtain.

"Then talk. Fast." His voice was a growl again and I shuddered.

"Do you...did you remember?"

He all but hissed, "No questions, explain to me why I can't get you out of my head. Why I'm questioning Beryl." His hand tightened around my compact and he pulled, it didn't give, but rather he pulled my whole body up from the pillows toward him. "What did you do?"

I felt myself starting to cry.

"Y-you're going to die. Beryl has brainwashed you. Long ago you were knights, you protected Prince Endymion of the Earth. Each of you courted the Sailor Guardians. Jupiter was your...girlfriend I suppose. I- I wanted you to remember. Eventually, you'll all remember and then Beryl will kill you. You know she's trying to awaken Metalia. We can't let that happen. But even still. I...I can't let you die."

His mouth opened, then closed, he squinted at me. I let out another too hard breath. This close, I could hear him breathing, feel his breath on my face. He was always my favorite from the show, I remembered him with Naru, how he died. And I was crying then, I just looked at him through the tears.

"Why are you crying," it wasn't a question. His eyes turned to the side, as if he were ever so slightly ashamed and he released me, getting up. I felt a little sad. He pushed his hair back over his shoulders, smoothing it. I stared at it, unable to stop myself from wanting to touch it.

"I'm not Sailor Moon." I said, rubbing my wrist and sitting up.

"Tch, of course you are, what do you take me for?"

I couldn't help it I got up and went to him, I took his wrist. He tensed and turned to me, ready to fight.

"Look at me Nephrite." I pulled out the transformation pen. I needed to show this to everyone, but...but maybe...

"Turn me into my true self." I said.

Magic washed over me and I swooned, unable to hold myself up. As if on reflex Nephrite caught me and i felt the taughtfirmness of his chest beneath the fabric of his coat.

There I was, I opened my eyes slowly and immediately thought about the feeling of my chest pressed to his, there was still a lot of cushion there from Usagi's breast size. I reached for my hair and pulled a long brown tendril over my shoulder. But...my hair was short in reality, still, I knew that shade. I touched my face and looked up.

"What color are my eyes?" I pleaded, something twisting inside me.

He gaped.

"Tell me!" I said, leaning more into him.

"Th-they're green," he said, still looking stunned.

Could it be? Was I me again? I stepped back, my legs were still long, even as short as I was compared to Nephrite...I looked at my hands, I'd always had a beauty mark on my palm, it was there.

I spun around. I was no longer dressed as sailor moon, but converse sneakers, thigh high black socks, a red mini skirt and a white and black pikachu shirt. Something I might have worn back home, I had a satchel at my side.

"This is me..." I said, "it's me!" I giggled and jumped. Though my outfit was so completely inappropriate for this situation, why hadn't the magic given me jeans?, and my body type was still just like Usagi's but...I was me.

Wait...I pulled up my shirt and looked for my stretch marks. They weren't there.

Oh.

"What is the meaning of this?" Nephrite wasn't angry anymore. He turned his head from me, I blushed heavily and put my shirt down.

"I have a lot to say, now will you listen?"

He looked at me out of the corner of his eye, one brown orb looking at me. I pulled at the hem of my skirt, willing it to be longer.

He seemed to notice I was uncomfortable and I thought I saw him smirk.

Sadist.

I stepped forward and tried to decide exactly what I would say to him...

"We had better sit down..."