E-mail: sailor_dafne@hotmail.com
Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_dafne
Rating: PG-13
By: Dafne
If you want to read my AN, you will be able to find them here:
http://www.geocities.com/sailor_dafne/notes.html
Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of repeating over and over again that
I DON'T own these characters *sniff*. See what you've caused? I'm
*sniff* practically *sniff* on the verge *sniff* of tears *sniff*.
Anyhow, they belong to Naoko Takeuchi and lots of other important
companies, so please don't sue me. *sniff* I'm poor anyway.
A real princess
Chapter nine: The Storm
Serenity was making a valiant effort in trying to suppress her
laughter at seeing Mamoru's numerous and quite evident reactions to
her bold suggestion, the princess had apparently caught her
victim's entire attention: his eyes had suddenly acquired this
particular glint that indicated he was up to no good; she presumed
his lips must've gone dry for he had wetted them, if somewhat
unconsciously; besides, she could clearly make out, even through
his clothes, his well-defined muscles, which obviously implied that
they had tightened in anticipation...
"Not at all baby, it'll be my pleasure..." he had said. Oh yes, she
knew perfectly well what that husky tone of voice meant: she had
him within her grasp. Serenity smiled at herself, wondering how she
could have such an effect on him, that she, out of all people,
could make him lose control over his own body. *Well, Usagi my
girl, it seems you're a seductress by nature. Why don't you take
advantage of it?* she thought wickedly.
The princess watched as Mamoru walked towards her, but she didn't
attempt to stand up, in fact, she didn't even move; she was just
staring directly at him with a mischievous smile plastered on her
face, her eyes twinkling with deviousness. By looking at her you
could have sworn she was the devil himself... but if that was the
case, then you'd have to give him some credit: he had chosen a
stunningly beautiful disguise.
* * * * *
Endymion couldn't hide his excitement. He was finally going to
receive his much deserved kiss. However, as he approached the angel
lying peacefully on his couch he couldn't shake off the feeling
that it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it would be *I
don't know what you're worrying about though. Look at her, she's
just an innocent little girl...* *But that smile...* *...a lamb who's
waiting for its shepherd...* *...and that sparkle within her eyes...*
*...she's definitely spellbound by your presence* *...it's as if she
had something up her sleeve. I wonder what it might be...* *You're
merely being paranoiac. Stop imagining things and go for it* *But...*
*No buts, just DO IT!* *Ok, still...* *NOW!!!*
By this time the prince was no more than 3 feet away from Usagi. He
stopped and held out his hand for her to take, nevertheless, she
just smiled at him charmingly and remained seated. Mamoru raised a
suspicious eyebrow at her, nonetheless, it didn't take him long to
realize what was going on for a part of him had already figured it
out the very moment he had noticed how her legs were crossed sexily
and yet she still managed to look gullible and oh-so-lovely.
Gradually a smirk that denoted awareness appeared all over his
handsome features; the prince was all set for a challenge, and it
was certainly going to be an interesting one... *Didn't I tell you?
She's being difficult.* *Nah! She doesn't know what to do, that's
all* *Oh yeah? We'll see about that...*
Endymion closed the gap between the two of them and made an attempt
to capture the maiden, but when his arms closed over what he
thought to be her waist there was nothing more than thin air.
*Huh?* The prince was utterly confused; he had expected her
struggle, not her disappearance.
* * * * *
Serenity sensed that Mamoru was about to reach out for her,
therefore before he could do anything about it she closed her eyes
and focused her attention on one of the two rugs that, she assumed,
were the two entrances (or exits, whatever the case may be) of the
cave.
When she opened them again Mamoru was already staring at her with
the utmost ridiculous expression. "H-how... how did y-you do that?"
He asked her, unable to control his stuttering. Usagi noticed his
face had reddened a great deal and she guessed it was probably
because he felt embarrassed; she had fooled him downright. The
princess barely managed to suppress her laughter; he looked so
cute!
"Magic!" Serenity said, making a dramatic movement with her hands
and finishing it with a teasing wink.
After Usagi's most unlikely explanation Mamoru recovered his natural
color, raised his left eyebrow skeptically, and folded his arms
"Yeah, whatever... but why did you do it anyway? I thought you wanted
me to give you a kiss?" he asked, his face set in a pout that made
him look like a little child making a tantrum.
"Oh! Didn't I tell you?" the princess inquired in a sweet tone of
voice "You'll have to catch me first!" and with that she lifted one
of the rugs and headed out in a sprint, leaving a bewildered Mamoru
behind her.
* * * * *
Endymion stared blankly at the spot where Usagi had been just a few
moments ago, not quite registering what had happened. When he
finally came back to his senses his lips curled up into a smug
smile *Didn't I tell you? She's playing hard to get* This thought
made Mamoru see in his mind's eye the picture of Usagi sitting on
his couch, only this time he could clearly recognize the facade:
her smile was far from innocent, it was more like a triumphant grin
for she knew perfectly well she had him within her grasp; the
twinkle of her eyes was, indeed, of anticipation, he just had
failed to notice the mischief that was hidden beneath it...
Now that he had witnessed the scene all over again he realized she
was no longer the naïve girl he had met just a few hours ago;
Usagi, being apparently a fast learner, had become one of the most
talented temptresses he had ever met... "That little tease..." the
prince muttered to himself while shaking his head. All of a sudden
an idea popped into his mind *Well, now that I know she has some
kind of powers, why should I withhold my own?* So thinking Endymion
closed his eyes wearing an impish grin on his lips and almost
immediately a golden light engulfed him. The glow brightened more
and more with each passing second, but when it became almost
blinding it disappeared abruptly. The prince had vanished into thin
air...
* * * * *
As soon as Serenity stepped through the threshold that had been
concealed by the rug she was greeted by a strong gush of wind and a
dense darkness. The drastic and not-so-pleasing change of
environment made her shiver and groan inwardly *Great, this is just
great. I'm trying to run away from him and now I'm trapped in this
soggy cavern where I can't even walk properly because 1)I'm
barefooted 2) the floor is stony and slippery 3)I can't see a damn
thing! Besides, I'm almost certain that Mamoru knows this place as
well as the palm of his hand and it won't be difficult for him to
find me. It's not fair, he now has the upper hand!* Despite her
bitter thoughts, Usagi stretched out her arms so as to not collide
with anything that might be in the way and began to move very
slowly, grimacing at the feel of rocks piercing her tender flesh.
After a while she stopped, for she had suddenly realized that the
beating of her heart, her breathing, and her soft footsteps were
the only noises that could be heard throughout the vast expanse of
the cave, which could only mean that Mamoru had not followed her.
Finding it strange but feeling it would be better to deal with the
issue once she was out of her current situation, the princess
merely shrugged and picked up her pace again. Being aware of the
fact that she still had some kind of control had given her a sense
of confidence, thus the wicked smile had returned to her lips and
her mind was already formulating new machinations. Since her body
was no longer complaining, Serenity completely forgot about her
surroundings and quickened her stride, but since her concentration
was somewhere else her right foot got caught in a crack and...
"Ahhhh!" THUMP! Usagi fell on her hands and knees, scraping them
and twisting her ankle in the process. Surprisingly enough, the
princess held back the curses that were about to flow out of her
mouth and instead opted to groan softly both in pain and
frustration.
Serenity's eyes widened as soon as she lifted her head and tilted it
to the right because from her current position she could clearly
see that at the end of the tunnel there was a faint brightness,
which could only mean that the maze made a turn at this point.
*Well girl, it seems you're lucky, at least you tripped over
instead of crashing into the wall, at the speed you were going you
could have easily broken your nose*
Sighing with relief the princess closed her eyes and focused on that
spot of light. In a matter of seconds she was no longer kneeling on
the hard cold floor of the clammy dark cave...
* * * * *
Endymion was leaning against a rock looking intently at the raging
sea and threatening clouds in front of him *It's certainly going to
be a downpour* he thought, but his ponderings were abruptly
interrupted by a female gasp. Smiling almost unconsciously, the
prince turned towards the sound only to find himself face to face
with a brown haired beauty, owner of the bewitching pair of blue
eyes that had captured his heart.
"H-how did you get here? You weren't even following me!" she
exclaimed, seemingly bewildered.
*It's payback time, darling* With a smile tugging at the corner of
his lips Mamoru took a step forward and imitated the dramatic hand
movements Usagi had made back in his refuge, stating nonchalantly
"Magic!".
The prince's obvious mocking attitude made Usagi regain her
composure. She crossed her arms in front of her and indignantly
turned her face away.
Endymion's triumphant grin turned into a concerned frown as he fixed
his eyes on Usagi's clothing. Her once flawless white nightgown was
now smeared with mud and tiny drops of blood could be seen at her
knee level. All amusement gone, he exclaimed in a choked voice "For
goodness sake Usako, what happened to you?"
The girl looked at him in confusion, but as soon as she followed his
gaze, acknowledging for the first time her appearance, she blushed
bright red and replied softly, while looking at the floor and
playing with her hands "Well, you see... ummm... it was very dark in
there, so I kinda... tripped and fell on my knees"
In an attempt to locate any more injuries, Mamoru continued to stare
at her. When he did find what he was looking for, his eyes
practically popped out of their sockets. The prince closed the gap
between the two of them and seized Usagi's hands, holding them with
their palms up "Usako, your hands are wounded, and so are your
feet!" he practically yelled at her.
The girl's gaze traveled from her somewhat swollen hands to the
ground beneath her feet, where the moist grass was rapidly changing
from a light green to a deep scarlet color. Lifting her head, Usagi
met Endymion's fretful face and said indifferently "Yeah, so?"
Groaning in frustration, Mamoru finally lost his temper and started
to scream at the top of his lungs "Geez child, how can you be so
dense?!" The prince's sudden outburst made Usagi gasp in surprise,
her eyes tearing up immediately. When Endymion noticed her
heartbreaking expression he softened almost as quickly. He reached
out to encircle her waist and pull her close to him.
* * * * *
Serenity tensed at first, but before long she was at ease again.
Closing her eyes, the princess let her worries out in the shape of
two lonely crystalline tears. Still wrapped in her love's arms, she
rested her head on his shoulder. Soon after Mamoru placed his own
on top of hers and started rubbing his hands up and down her back
in a comforting way. "I'm sorry Usako, I didn't mean to sound so
mean, it's just that... well... you hurt yourself pretty badly and you
talk about it as if it weren't such a big deal. You shouldn't have
gone out barefooted, you..." he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if
pondering over something. After a while he sighed dejectedly and
added "I suppose it was my fault anyway, I know perfectly well how
dangerous it is to walk through the tunnel in complete darkness
when you're not familiar with the place. I should have gone after
you."
Mamoru's guilty tone made Serenity look up at him, but he was
averting her eyes, bowing his head in shame. She placed her right
hand on his left cheek and forced him to meet her gaze. Once he did
she smiled sweetly and traced his jaw with her index finger "It was
most definitely not your fault, if there is someone to blame then
that should be me. I was the one who decided to start this pursuit,
and I'm willing to take the consequences of it." When the princess
saw he was about to protest she placed two fingers on his lips,
silencing him successfully. She then leaned over and murmured
amusedly in his ear "Besides, it was worth it, you should have seen
the look on your face during the whole thing..." Usagi couldn't help
giggling subtly as she recalled the scene.
* * * * *
Hearing Usagi's melodious voice made Endymion smile. However, as he
remembered that she was actually laughing at him, his smirk turned
into an indignant scowl *Why the little...* His thoughts were
suddenly interrupted for his angel was once again whispering words
in his ear, only this time her tone of voice was slightly
different... somewhat huskier... and sexier... "I'm getting tired of this
game..." she said and paused. The beauty standing before him knew
exactly what to do in order to drive Mamoru nearly insane, and he
was having a hard time trying to keep his body in check. Her
scorching breath sent delicious shivers up and down his spine,
making him tremble noticeably. Her velvety scented hair enticed
both smell and touch at the same time, making it quite difficult
to think straight. And last, but not least, there was the fact that
her tantalizing figure was pressing intimately against him so that
he could feel her every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination...
Silently praying he would have enough willpower to survive the
spell that had been cast over him by a certain blue-eyed femme
fatale, the prince listened to the rest of Usagi's speech "... I
think now I'm ready to take that lesson..."
"Huh?" was the only thing that managed to escape Endymion's lips.
For a while he just stood staring at her, speechless, his mouth and
eyes wide opened. Once he realized he must look stupid he shook his
head and reasoned with himself *Maybe I'm just hearing things...*
well, he was about to find out... "W-what did you say?" he asked her,
barely containing his stuttering.
* * * * *
Seeing Mamoru's expression made Serenity almost burst into a fit of
laughter, but deciding that at the moment that was not a wise thing
to do, she contented herself with just grinning mischievously at
the handsome man enfolding her with a pair of wonderfully strong
arms. The princess shook her head "My, my, I think you're getting
deaf Mamo-chan" she said, but before he could reply to her devious
comment she wrapped her slim arms around his neck, purposely
bringing herself closer to him, their lips now mere inches apart...
"I said that I'm now ready for that lesson you promised me,
remember?" she asked, trying to sound innocent.
* * * * *
Usagi's naïve tone of voice made the prince come out of his stupor.
He stared down at her delicate features and noticed that she was
batting her eyelashes flirtatiously and smiling impishly up at him.
*How can she be a seductress and still manage to look ingenuous?*
he meditated, but shook the thought off. *Well, she has already had
her fun, I do believe it's my turn...* With a malicious grin
plastered on his face, Endymion tightened his grip on the girl's
waist and leaned over so that his lips were brushing against her
left ear "But first we have to get you comfortable" he whispered
huskily.
Usagi took a step back so as to look him in the eye "What do you..."
but before she could finish her statement, Mamoru lifted her into
his arms and started walking towards the beach. "Mamo-chan! What
are you..." Usagi shrieked, yet the prince once again cut her off
"Usako, your feet are bleeding and you can't be standing up for a
very long period of time." he stated matter-of-factly.
* * * * *
Still not realizing the true meaning of his words, Serenity furrowed
her brow "Well, yeah, but you're just going to give me a kiss, that
shouldn't take long. After that maybe we can sit down and talk..."
she added innocently, but this time she was not pretending...
Mamoru's deep chuckling made her look up at him curiously "Really
Usako, sometimes you're just too naïve." His comment made the
princess blush furiously. She was about to say something, but the
distracting feeling of Mamoru's lips and breath caressing her skin
made it impossible for her to utter even a sound. "Do you actually
think I'm going to give you a single kiss? Dearest lady, you've
made me go through so much and now that I have you within my grasp
I'm not going to set you free that easily" he then lowered his
voice "I'm going to devour you, I'm going to kiss you until you're
out of breath, I'm going to make you lose control over your own
body."
Serenity didn't know anymore if she was trembling because of the
cold gusts of wind, because of Mamoru's husky tone of voice,
because of his words and their significance, or because of his
closeness... *It's probably a mixture of all those things...* she
reasoned almost unconsciously for her mind and body were rapidly
becoming numb.
* * * * *
Endymion watched with amusement and keen interest the various
effects his somewhat bold remarks were having on Usagi's features
and behavior. *Hmmmm... so this is how you feel when you have the
power* he mused, trying his best to conceal that typical wicked
look and cynical smile that came to the face of someone who had
just beaten his worst enemy.
The prince finally stopped in front of a huge stone that overlooked
the wild sea and placed his treasure on it. He then kneeled before
her and delicately took her left foot between his hands. With
utmost tenderness he kissed it thoroughly, putting especial
attention to her now receding wounds, and repeated the same
procedure with her other foot. Once he had, unknowingly to Usagi,
healed her small injuries, Mamoru reached out for her hands in
order to do the exact same thing; only this time, after he had
finished with the required ministrations, he didn't stop his
caresses.
His mouth made its way upwards, placing butterfly kisses all over
her arms' soft skin. When he couldn't go any further he pulled her
down so that she was also on her knees, facing him. Endymion then
put his arms around Usagi's thin waist so that she would be close
enough for his assault.
* * * * *
Mamoru's seemingly uncontrollable passion was having several effects
on Serenity's young inexperienced body. The princess had easily
learned how to play seductress, however during this whole game she
had always had the upper hand which meant that she didn't have to
worry about her body betraying her feelings, yet now that the roles
had been switched and she was no longer the cat, but rather the
defenseless mouse, her self-control came crumbling down. Just being
near him made her heart beat and breathing speed up drastically,
his fervent kisses were like blazing fire on her tender skin, his
hot breath sent delicious shivers up and down her spine, and her
limbs trembled under his touch.
Usagi threw back her head in order to allow greater access to her
Mamo-chan who was, at the moment, busily nuzzling the crook of her
neck and occasionally placing loving kisses on her exposed
collarbone and shoulders. Even though Serenity reveled in his sweet
torture she desired something more...
The princess waited for him to take the initiative, but it didn't
take her long to realize that he wasn't going to give her what she
really wanted any time soon. *Damn the man! He's enjoying his
victory way too much. I think it's time for me to take the lead...
again* Usagi's frustrated frown turned into a sly grin which was
immediately hidden as soon as she set in motion her all-too-
familiar innocent-girl-charade.
* * * * *
"Mamo-chan?" Usagi's sweet, almost shy voice brought Endymion back
to reality. Reluctantly, he lifted his head so as to establish eye
contact with the girl. "Yes Usako?" he asked with uncertainty,
expecting her to tell him what was troubling her. Nevertheless
Usagi didn't respond, she merely gazed at him with an intensity he
didn't know she possessed. The prince noticed she had this
particular glint within her eyes, but he couldn't quite decipher
it...
With their gazes still locked, Mamoru never noticed Usagi's hands
reaching up for his face until they were lovingly stroking his
cheeks. This simple action softened the prince's demeanor and
brought a smile to his face. However, he was completely taken aback
by what she did next.
With her hands she brought his face close to hers until their noses
were practically touching. The sudden movement elicited a surprised
gasp from him and a triumphant grin from her. Endymion's eyes
suddenly widened in realization. Why couldn't he have figured it
out before? That sparkle... he had already seen it before, countless
times as a matter of fact... Mamoru tried desperately to recover the
privileged position in which he had been just a few moments ago but
it was useless for Usagi had already won the battle...
* * * * *
Serenity tried not to smile, but when she heard Mamoru gasp she
could no longer keep up the pretense and the smug grin she had been
hiding finally surfaced. As soon as she noticed the look of
awareness on his face the smirk merely widened; the princess had
once again managed to fool him downright, and he knew it perfectly
well.
Usagi watched with amusement as Mamoru vainly attempted to regain
his composure by tearing his gaze away from her. She shook her head
and smiled inwardly *Too late darling, you're doomed...* So thinking,
the princess forced him to look at her with the help of her gentle
yet strong hands and then, tilting her head to the right, closed
the gap between their lips.
* * * * *
Endymion still couldn't figure out the time when he had recklessly
lowered his defenses, the only thing he knew was that one minute he
had been ravishing a girl's delectable neck, drawing out an
undeniable response from her, and the next one he found himself
falling headfirst into a woman's trap.
Usagi tried to go slowly, but she was apparently too impassioned to
make her needs wait any longer. When Mamoru felt her lips urging
him to open his mouth he let out a surprised gasp which only
allowed her tongue's entrance. The kiss sent an electrical shock
through the both of them, it was heated yet lingering, and when it
finally came to an end it left them out of breath.
The prince was the one who pulled apart. When he looked down at the
femme fatale he noticed that she still had her eyes closed,
probably enjoying the aftermath of the bliss they had just
experienced. Touched by her expression, Endymion held her even
closer and put his forehead against hers. As soon as he did so she
opened her blue orbs and stared at him with utter adoration.
"You don't need me to show you how to give a real kiss sweetheart,
you're a natural kisser" Mamoru whispered huskily.
Usagi blushed bright red at his comment, but she didn't avert his
gaze, she merely grinned back at him and said "Then how about *I*
become your teacher?"
Usagi's boldness made the prince chuckle and groan at the same time.
With an unexpected yet gentle movement he pushed her so that she
was lying on her back and then positioned himself on top of her,
pinning her successfully to the ground with his own weight.
"Ah my dear, but you know what they say: 'sabe más el Diablo por
viejo que por Diablo'+++ You may be a devil, but I am too, with the
slight difference that I have experience and you don't. So, try to
be a good girl and let me tutor you" with this said, Endymion
closed his eyes and began to lower his head so that he could be
able to savor her luscious lips once more.
* * * * *
Serenity didn't care anymore if Mamoru was the one with the upper
hand as long as he finished what he had so ruthlessly stopped. When
his face was finally nearing hers she let her eyelids drop, only
to lift them once again as soon as she felt a cold drop of water
plummet square on her nose.
Confused, the princess directed her gaze upwards and that's when she
noticed for the first time the dark clouds hovering threateningly
above their heads. Usagi returned her attention to the handsome
young man currently lying on her, only to find him looking up at
the sky, most likely acknowledging the unwanted menace as well.
Serenity took hold of Mamoru's face and forced him to look at her.
Once he did they stared at each other for a long while and they
would've stayed that way if she hadn't broken the silence "If we
want to stay dry maybe we should be heading back" she said softly,
but unfortunately for her that plain statement caused a hasty
reaction from her mind *Listen to me young lady!* it yelled at her,
making the princess cringe inwardly *You've infringed the law far
too many times and I'm not going to let you do it again. You're NOT
going into that cave with him, understood? You're going to excuse
yourself, I don't know how, and go back to the forest so that you
can teleport back home...* Usagi was about to protest, as she always
did whenever her annoyingly reasonable mind protested against her
wishes, but as soon as it completed its line of thought she could
only sigh in defeat *...besides, the Senshi must be very worried
about you. I can't be sure, but I think you've been down here for
more than 3 hours...*
"Ma..." that's all she could say before Mamoru's index and middle
fingers were placed on her lips, cutting her off.
* * * * *
When Endymion sensed Usagi's slight movements beneath him he knew
something was wrong, thus he grudgingly opened his eyes and noticed
that she was looking intently at the sky. Curious as to what could
be more interesting than him, the prince followed her gaze and
groaned inwardly as soon as he spotted the intimidating clouds.
*Dammit! This is certainly NOT going to help me out. Now that I
FINALLY have the opportunity to sweep the girl off of her feet
Mother Nature DECIDES that this would be the PERFECT time for a
STORM. It just isn't FAIR!*
All of a sudden Mamoru felt Usagi's soft yet strong hands on both of
his cheeks, compelling him to tear his gaze away from the heavens
and direct it towards her. He could imagine what she was going to
say, it was clearly written in her eyes, still Endymion hoped
against hope that he was getting the wrong idea... he had no such
luck "If we want to stay dry maybe we should be heading back" she
said, as if voicing his own thoughts *Oh no! Not by any chance my
dear! Do you really think I'll let you get out of this one just
like that? No way Jose!++++ I worked very hard to create the
romantic atmosphere and I'm not going to let my efforts go to
waste. You have to give me at least one more kiss, and I'm being
self-sacrificing...*
So thinking, the prince silenced any protests that might have come
out of Usagi's mouth by placing two fingers against her lips. He
then leaned in for his well-deserved kiss and... *splash* a cold and
big drop of water fell on his head, making him back up a little.
Mamoru grunted and muttered some incoherent words but since he was
determined to reach his goal he bent forward once more and...
*splash* a colder and bigger drop of water fell on his nose.
Endymion growled in frustration but didn't give up, he tried once
again and... *splash* *splash* *splash* three freezing and enormous
drops of water fell on his head, nose, and neck. This time the
prince merely sighed and bowed his head in defeat, he really didn't
want to mess up with Mother Nature's wrath if he dared ignore her
warnings...
* * * * *
Serenity knew perfectly well what Mamoru wanted to do and she had to
bring into play all of her self-control in order not to burst out
laughing at the comical expressions he made whenever he got hit by
a drop of water. After his third unsuccessful attempt to kiss her
the princess could no longer hold back her giggles. "Don't worry
Mamo-chan, we'll finish it some other time"
Mamoru rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath "Easy for you
to say..."
His exasperated tone of voice made Usagi chuckle even harder, but
she became serious almost right away for she had suddenly
remembered what she had wanted to tell him before he had
interrupted her. "Mamo-chan, it's getting late and I really have to
go back home, if not I'll get caught in the downpour"
"But Usako..." he whined, his face plainly showing his disappointment.
Serenity was touched by his sincere behavior, however his eyes
suddenly brightened and before she could say anything else he
replied "Okay, I wouldn't want you to get sick because of my fault.
But... why don't we go back to my refuge? Once the rain stops I'll
walk you home, I promise. That way you won't get soaked and we will
have more time for ourselves. How does that sound? Besides, didn't
you tell me you were lost?" he finished with a triumphant grin,
convinced that there was no way she could refuse.
The princess racked her brains for a fitting excuse for she knew it
wasn't going to be easy to persuade him, he had proved to be a VERY
stubborn man... Fortunately enough, she caught a glimpse of numerous
lights sparkling back at her from behind the foliage. She smiled
sweetly up at him "But Mamo-chan, isn't that the town's
illumination I'm seeing?" she asked, motioning with her head the
direction right behind him.
* * * * *
Endymion turned slowly around, even though he already knew what he
was going to find. He had completely forgotten that one of the
entrances/exits of the cave led to the outskirts of Atlantida,
where his mother had purposely built a house in order to keep an
eye on him whenever he decided to hide away from the world. As a
matter of fact, the nearest and most noticeable lights were those
of the Queen's quarters, not even a mile away from where they
stood. The prince finally faced Usagi with a disappointed look
clearly written all over his features "But... can't I at least walk
you home?" he pleaded.
When Mamoru watched Usagi's face soften slightly at his words his
hopes immediately lifted, but they crumbled down just as quickly
when she started to speak matter-of-factly, a sweet smile playing
on her lips "No, thank you Mamo-chan, I'd rather prefer to walk
alone. My Mom's probably worried sick by now and I wouldn't want to
make her wait more than what is strictly necessary, and somehow I
know that's exactly what you'll have me do if I let you come with
me"
Endymion knew she only spoke the truth, but since he wasn't about to
tell HER that he put his best hurt look and replied in an indignant
tone of voice "Can't you at least give me the benefit of the
doubt?"
* * * * *
Not fully aware of what she was about to do, the princess suddenly
pushed Mamoru off of her, making him fall on his back with what had
sounded as an obviously 'painful' grunt. Taking advantage of his
vulnerability she then proceeded to straddle his hips and take a
hold of both of his arms so as to still any movements he might do
in an attempt to escape.
Serenity didn't have the slightest idea of what had made her act so
impulsively but she was glad she had done so for she was greatly
enjoying the young man's reaction to her unexpected attack: his
eyes, which had inevitably closed at the moment of the impact, were
now wide open and his cheeks had acquired a lovely rosy hue. These
two natural physical responses were the evidence Usagi needed to
prove that her dearest Mamo-chan was also aware of their rather...
compromising positions...
Looking down at her beloved, the princess decided to answer his
question "But I AM giving you the benefit of the doubt my dear, I
just don't understand why you consider it a benefit..." Seeing his
eyebrows rise in confusion Serenity could no longer hide the
teasing smile that had been tugging at the corner of her lips "I am
doubting you'll behave yourself Mamo-chan"
Her words had had the effect she had been expecting: Mamoru began to
struggle in order to free himself but his efforts were futile, and
that baffled him a great deal. Usagi smiled inwardly for she
understood perfectly well the poor man's dilemma: how was it
possible that a feeble-looking lass could beat a trained man's
strength? IF he were dealing with a normal girl it wouldn't have
been a problem, what he didn't know though was that she was
ANYTHING but normal. Being the Moon Princess gave her special
powers that no other woman, aside from her mother, could possess,
her looks were only a way of disguising her true potential.
* * * * *
Endymion tried several times to budge Usagi, but it just wasn't
working. He could hardly believe that his sweet, innocent, and
tender Usako was actually pinning him firmly to the ground. After a
while he finally tired himself and gave up with a frustrated sigh.
"Usako, tha..." Mamoru was unable to finish his sentence for Usagi's
gentle kiss had 'rudely' interrupted him. Even though she had
merely brushed his lips, there was just something about that soft
teasing touch that had made his insides turn upside down.
The prince was so enraptured that he didn't even hear the whispered
"Goodbye". Fortunately enough, his all-too-annoying mind did...
*Hello! Earth calling Mamoru! What the HELL do you think you're
doing lying there like an idiot while the woman you refer to as
'the love of your life' is walking away? I know you don't want me
to interfere, but what do you expect me to do when you're not
thinking clearly? Please do us both a favor: break out of that
vegetating state of yours and go after her!*
Once he came back to his senses Endymion noticed for the first time
that he was breathing more easily for he was no longer restrained
by Usagi's weight. The realization of what that meant made his eyes
widen. The prince tried to get up but all he could achieve was lift
his head a little because somehow he couldn't move, he surely
hadn't damaged his back so badly, had he?
Feeling physically useless, Mamoru brought into play the only thing
that he had left... "USAKO!!!!!" ...his voice.
Endymion watched as Usagi's back stiffened at the mention of her
name, yet she never turned around to face him. "Yes Mamo-chan?" she
asked softly.
The prince tried yet again to change his uncomfortable position, but
since his efforts were only developing a rather painful cramp in
his back and neck he decided to stay where he was. "Where do you
think you're going?"
Still not turning around, she merely answered "Home" and resumed her
pace. Utterly frustrated at her indifferent tone of voice and
attitude and also at the fact that his current state deprived him
from strolling up to her and wrap his arms tightly around her waist
so as to never let her go, Mamoru's voice cracked at his next words
"And you're just leaving me here without knowing when or where we
will meet again? I've just found you and I want to make sure you
won't escape that easily from my life. I won't ask you to let me
escort you because I know I'll be simply wasting my time in doing
so, but please Usako, just give me a place and a date" he pleaded.
* * * * *
Serenity knew perfectly well what Mamoru was feeling, for she was
feeling it too: sheer desperation at being unable to do something
about their present situation. While her beloved was fighting
against his body she was struggling with her reason, the result:
two soul-mates breaking apart, one because of his ignoring her
motives and the other because of her impotence to reveal them to
him.
Usagi knew that she would have to figure out something in order to
see Mamoru in the future, for now that she had met him she couldn't
imagine a life without him by her side, but since she still hadn't
come up with a plan it was taking all of her self-control not to go
back to him and throw herself into his arms, confessing that they
didn't have a chance at love, that this might be the last time they
saw each other.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt not to break down in the spot,
the princess managed to make her voice steady, even though she was
trembling inside "Don't worry about it Mamo-chan, I will let you
know when the time comes" and with that she sprinted away, not
daring to look back at the one man who had managed to capture her
heart in less than a day.
* * * * *
From his position on the floor, Endymion could only watch as the
girl of his dreams scampered towards the trees located on the west
part of the forest, not a mile away from the city.
A little while after her disappearance Mamoru suddenly noticed that
he could move his body at will once more. Finding this highly
suspicious, he creased his eyebrows in reflection. Who was this
girl he called 'Usako'? What special powers did she possess? Why
was she wandering alone in the forest? Where did she live? There
were so many questions about her identity that you could
practically say the prince had fallen head over heels for a
complete stranger, and yet the aura of secrecy that surrounded
Usagi made her all the more alluring.
Endymion was startled out of his reverie by the deafening sound of
thunder. Being completely distracted by a certain woman he had
failed to realize that Usagi and him had been in danger even before
they both acknowledged their surroundings. Mamoru could see the
waves rising over 7 feet and falling quite aggressively not far
from his current position. He knew that if he stayed any longer the
tide would rise and the place in which he was sitting would be
entirely covered in water, not only from the ocean but also from
the almost black clouds that were looming overhead.
The prince frowned, suddenly remembering that it had been because of
this terrible weather that his beloved was no longer with him. What
made him all the more bitter was the fact that he wasn't even sure
when he would be able to see her again. "Don't worry about it Mamo-
chan, I will let you know when the time comes" she had said.
Groaning in frustration at the memory of her reply but deciding
that his problems wouldn't be solved by his staying out in the
middle of a storm, Endymion stood up and started to walk back to
his quarters.
* * * * *
Once she was out of sight, Serenity paused to catch her breath.
After she made sure there was no one around she closed her eyes and
the white light that had brought her to Earth began to engulf her
body once more, however, before it reached its maximum brightness
the roaring sound of thunder made it disappear abruptly. The
princess gasped in both anxiety and confusion at the failure of her
teletransportation powers; the fact that Mamoru was not under her
control anymore didn't help either for he might have seen the light
which meant that he would most likely come looking for her to make
sure she was alright.
Usagi waited for a while, but when it was obvious nothing (or no one
for that matter) would stop her, she sighed, if somewhat shakily,
in relief. Once again she closed her eyes but this time the light
didn't even appear. *Great, this is just great! Now what am I
supposed to do?* *You shouldn't have come here in the first place...*
*Thank you very much for the reminder, but it so happens that I AM
here and for some reason I don't know I CAN'T go back, so if you
don't have a bright idea of how to get me the hell of here you
might as well SHUT UP, is that clear!?*
Sensing an awful headache coming her way, Serenity began to rub her
temples with both hands in an attempt to calm down and figure out
what to do *Think Usagi, what could have happened to stop you from
achieving a teletransportation? You have never had trouble with it
before* *But you have to take into account that this is the first
time that you're doing it in a planet that does not belong to the
Silver Alliance* *I just hate it when you say something
reasonable...* *However, it might also be the result of electrical
interference caused by the tempest that is about to break loose...*
*Might be...* *AND there's also the fact that you've wasted a good
deal of energy: first by changing your appearance, then by hurting
yourself, and last but certainly not least by playing hard-to-get
with your sweetheart...* Despite herself, the princess blushed at
this last remark *OR, it could always be a combination of these
three possibilities...* *Dammit! That would mean...* *...that you have to
stay here until you've rested properly AND this thunderstorm stops.
It could be quite a while you know?, it hasn't even started...*
Serenity moaned to herself *Please don't remind me...* *I told you
that you would get yourself into trouble, but did you listen to me?
NO! You always have to be stubborn...* *Ok, ok, I get the point, why
do you have to rub it in?* *As if you didn't know...*
At last Usagi chose to follow her mind's suggestion for she didn't
have a better idea. *My mom's going to kill me...* she thought and as
if she didn't have enough matters to worry about already, when she
looked down at herself she noticed that she had returned to her
normal state. Bringing into play all of her will-power so as to not
cry out in frustration, the princess prayed that she still had
enough energy to transform herself for she knew that she couldn't
ask for asylum in that condition. She took out her pen and shouted
"Moon Power! transform me into a country woman". Fortunately enough
after the all-too-familiar light subsided Serenity was yet again
clothed in the flowered cotton dress and white sandals and her long
blond hair had turned into a shoulder-length light brown version.
*Well, at least this still worked...* *Now here comes the difficult
part of this whole fiasco* *And that would be...* *You have to find a
place where you can stay for the night* *Great...* she thought
sarcastically.
Usagi began to walk towards the city guiding herself by the lights
flickering not far from where she was standing. After a while
though she had to pick up the pace for the downpour had begun and
it was certainly not pleasant to have freezing drops of water
rolling down her body while at the same time trying to fight her
fear of thunder.
When she finally reached her destination the princess was already
soaked to the bones and shivering with cold. Murmuring all kinds of
expletives under her breath, Serenity approached the first house
that came into view, which by the looks and dimensions of it
undoubtedly belonged to a rich family, and knocked on the door.
* * * * *
Endymion was riding back to his mother's mansion under a thick
curtain of rain. He was completely drenched and somewhere deep
inside he knew he was about to have another discussion with his
parents, but he didn't seem to care for at the moment he was having
another kind of argument... one between his mind and his heart...
*It's just impossible!* *What is?* *You know perfectly well what I'm
talking about!* *No I don't* *Geez! Sometimes you're way too
dense!* *And so what, I am you and you are me, so you're
practically insulting yourself* *Whatever...* *Anyway... what is it
that surprises you so much?* *Usagi* *What about her* *She's a
witch!* *Hey, hey, hey! You're entering dangerous territory here,
man, you better watch your language!* *But it's the truth!* *Why
are you so sure?* *Because there are lots of evidence!* *Like...*
*First of all she is capable of disappearing into thin air...* *And
so what, you can do that too* *Well, yeah... but I can't paralyze
someone else's movements* *How do you know? You have never tried it
because it hasn't been necessary* *Oh yeah? Then what do you say
about returning things to the way they were?* *First of all you
wouldn't be there to see it and secondly it'd most likely be an
unconscious action* *But... but... t-the dress it... it simply
disappeared a-and...* *... and then a bright light materialized out of
nowhere. When it died away you were holding your mother's nightgown
which didn't have the slightest trace of blood, mud, or scratches
for that matter. You don't have to tell me what happened, I saw it
too you know?* *Ok then, if you're not convinced that that is
witchcraft then at least you have to admit that it is quite
suspicious that you have fallen in love with a woman whom you have
just met by merely looking at her eyes. You, who have met hundreds
of beautiful ladies from all over the world and has NEVER ever lost
his mind over a person of the opposite sex. If she hasn't cast some
kind of spell over you then there's no other reason to explain your
reckless behavior* *Well... it weren't only her eyes that made me
fall in love with her, but they were certainly the ones that
captivated me originally. Besides, there's always a first time and
it was about time I experienced true love. If I'm acting, from your
point of view, spontaneously it's because I'm willing to do and
risk anything in order to be with my soul-mate. Of course you
wouldn't know that because you're the rational one and it is MY
duty to be the sentimental one, so you CAN'T give me lessons in
this area pal. On the other hand you're just mad that you have
always had the upper hand and now I am the one in charge. You'll
just have to get used to the idea. Don't worry, it won't hurt that
much.*
Mamoru knew this confrontation had successfully come to an end, and
it was a good thing too for he had already reached the manor and he
wouldn't want other people to see him muttering incoherent words
and sounds under his breath as if he were crazy.
The prince dismounted and as soon as he did a servant, who had
apparently come out of nowhere, took the reins of Black Angel,
sparing him a visit to the stables.
Deciding that before dealing with his parents what he needed was a
hot bath and dry clothes, Endymion avoided the main entrance and
headed instead for the back of the house where he carefully slid
open his room's window and sneaked in.
15 minutes later...
Mamoru entered the living room bare footed and clad in his favorite
pair of blue jeans and a huge white t-shirt. "Ok, so what are you
two going to t-tell..." The prince stopped in mid-sentence because
the sight that greeted him was not expected at all: sitting on the
black couches were his Mom, his Dad, and... "USAKO?!"
To be continued...
Stay tuned for chapter ten: The princess' trial
Sunday October 15th, 2000. 4:39 PM
+++ This is a Spanish saying that literally means "The Devil knows
more because of being old rather than because of being devil"
++++ This is just an expression that kinda rhymes...
Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_dafne
Rating: PG-13
By: Dafne
If you want to read my AN, you will be able to find them here:
http://www.geocities.com/sailor_dafne/notes.html
Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of repeating over and over again that
I DON'T own these characters *sniff*. See what you've caused? I'm
*sniff* practically *sniff* on the verge *sniff* of tears *sniff*.
Anyhow, they belong to Naoko Takeuchi and lots of other important
companies, so please don't sue me. *sniff* I'm poor anyway.
A real princess
Chapter nine: The Storm
Serenity was making a valiant effort in trying to suppress her
laughter at seeing Mamoru's numerous and quite evident reactions to
her bold suggestion, the princess had apparently caught her
victim's entire attention: his eyes had suddenly acquired this
particular glint that indicated he was up to no good; she presumed
his lips must've gone dry for he had wetted them, if somewhat
unconsciously; besides, she could clearly make out, even through
his clothes, his well-defined muscles, which obviously implied that
they had tightened in anticipation...
"Not at all baby, it'll be my pleasure..." he had said. Oh yes, she
knew perfectly well what that husky tone of voice meant: she had
him within her grasp. Serenity smiled at herself, wondering how she
could have such an effect on him, that she, out of all people,
could make him lose control over his own body. *Well, Usagi my
girl, it seems you're a seductress by nature. Why don't you take
advantage of it?* she thought wickedly.
The princess watched as Mamoru walked towards her, but she didn't
attempt to stand up, in fact, she didn't even move; she was just
staring directly at him with a mischievous smile plastered on her
face, her eyes twinkling with deviousness. By looking at her you
could have sworn she was the devil himself... but if that was the
case, then you'd have to give him some credit: he had chosen a
stunningly beautiful disguise.
* * * * *
Endymion couldn't hide his excitement. He was finally going to
receive his much deserved kiss. However, as he approached the angel
lying peacefully on his couch he couldn't shake off the feeling
that it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it would be *I
don't know what you're worrying about though. Look at her, she's
just an innocent little girl...* *But that smile...* *...a lamb who's
waiting for its shepherd...* *...and that sparkle within her eyes...*
*...she's definitely spellbound by your presence* *...it's as if she
had something up her sleeve. I wonder what it might be...* *You're
merely being paranoiac. Stop imagining things and go for it* *But...*
*No buts, just DO IT!* *Ok, still...* *NOW!!!*
By this time the prince was no more than 3 feet away from Usagi. He
stopped and held out his hand for her to take, nevertheless, she
just smiled at him charmingly and remained seated. Mamoru raised a
suspicious eyebrow at her, nonetheless, it didn't take him long to
realize what was going on for a part of him had already figured it
out the very moment he had noticed how her legs were crossed sexily
and yet she still managed to look gullible and oh-so-lovely.
Gradually a smirk that denoted awareness appeared all over his
handsome features; the prince was all set for a challenge, and it
was certainly going to be an interesting one... *Didn't I tell you?
She's being difficult.* *Nah! She doesn't know what to do, that's
all* *Oh yeah? We'll see about that...*
Endymion closed the gap between the two of them and made an attempt
to capture the maiden, but when his arms closed over what he
thought to be her waist there was nothing more than thin air.
*Huh?* The prince was utterly confused; he had expected her
struggle, not her disappearance.
* * * * *
Serenity sensed that Mamoru was about to reach out for her,
therefore before he could do anything about it she closed her eyes
and focused her attention on one of the two rugs that, she assumed,
were the two entrances (or exits, whatever the case may be) of the
cave.
When she opened them again Mamoru was already staring at her with
the utmost ridiculous expression. "H-how... how did y-you do that?"
He asked her, unable to control his stuttering. Usagi noticed his
face had reddened a great deal and she guessed it was probably
because he felt embarrassed; she had fooled him downright. The
princess barely managed to suppress her laughter; he looked so
cute!
"Magic!" Serenity said, making a dramatic movement with her hands
and finishing it with a teasing wink.
After Usagi's most unlikely explanation Mamoru recovered his natural
color, raised his left eyebrow skeptically, and folded his arms
"Yeah, whatever... but why did you do it anyway? I thought you wanted
me to give you a kiss?" he asked, his face set in a pout that made
him look like a little child making a tantrum.
"Oh! Didn't I tell you?" the princess inquired in a sweet tone of
voice "You'll have to catch me first!" and with that she lifted one
of the rugs and headed out in a sprint, leaving a bewildered Mamoru
behind her.
* * * * *
Endymion stared blankly at the spot where Usagi had been just a few
moments ago, not quite registering what had happened. When he
finally came back to his senses his lips curled up into a smug
smile *Didn't I tell you? She's playing hard to get* This thought
made Mamoru see in his mind's eye the picture of Usagi sitting on
his couch, only this time he could clearly recognize the facade:
her smile was far from innocent, it was more like a triumphant grin
for she knew perfectly well she had him within her grasp; the
twinkle of her eyes was, indeed, of anticipation, he just had
failed to notice the mischief that was hidden beneath it...
Now that he had witnessed the scene all over again he realized she
was no longer the naïve girl he had met just a few hours ago;
Usagi, being apparently a fast learner, had become one of the most
talented temptresses he had ever met... "That little tease..." the
prince muttered to himself while shaking his head. All of a sudden
an idea popped into his mind *Well, now that I know she has some
kind of powers, why should I withhold my own?* So thinking Endymion
closed his eyes wearing an impish grin on his lips and almost
immediately a golden light engulfed him. The glow brightened more
and more with each passing second, but when it became almost
blinding it disappeared abruptly. The prince had vanished into thin
air...
* * * * *
As soon as Serenity stepped through the threshold that had been
concealed by the rug she was greeted by a strong gush of wind and a
dense darkness. The drastic and not-so-pleasing change of
environment made her shiver and groan inwardly *Great, this is just
great. I'm trying to run away from him and now I'm trapped in this
soggy cavern where I can't even walk properly because 1)I'm
barefooted 2) the floor is stony and slippery 3)I can't see a damn
thing! Besides, I'm almost certain that Mamoru knows this place as
well as the palm of his hand and it won't be difficult for him to
find me. It's not fair, he now has the upper hand!* Despite her
bitter thoughts, Usagi stretched out her arms so as to not collide
with anything that might be in the way and began to move very
slowly, grimacing at the feel of rocks piercing her tender flesh.
After a while she stopped, for she had suddenly realized that the
beating of her heart, her breathing, and her soft footsteps were
the only noises that could be heard throughout the vast expanse of
the cave, which could only mean that Mamoru had not followed her.
Finding it strange but feeling it would be better to deal with the
issue once she was out of her current situation, the princess
merely shrugged and picked up her pace again. Being aware of the
fact that she still had some kind of control had given her a sense
of confidence, thus the wicked smile had returned to her lips and
her mind was already formulating new machinations. Since her body
was no longer complaining, Serenity completely forgot about her
surroundings and quickened her stride, but since her concentration
was somewhere else her right foot got caught in a crack and...
"Ahhhh!" THUMP! Usagi fell on her hands and knees, scraping them
and twisting her ankle in the process. Surprisingly enough, the
princess held back the curses that were about to flow out of her
mouth and instead opted to groan softly both in pain and
frustration.
Serenity's eyes widened as soon as she lifted her head and tilted it
to the right because from her current position she could clearly
see that at the end of the tunnel there was a faint brightness,
which could only mean that the maze made a turn at this point.
*Well girl, it seems you're lucky, at least you tripped over
instead of crashing into the wall, at the speed you were going you
could have easily broken your nose*
Sighing with relief the princess closed her eyes and focused on that
spot of light. In a matter of seconds she was no longer kneeling on
the hard cold floor of the clammy dark cave...
* * * * *
Endymion was leaning against a rock looking intently at the raging
sea and threatening clouds in front of him *It's certainly going to
be a downpour* he thought, but his ponderings were abruptly
interrupted by a female gasp. Smiling almost unconsciously, the
prince turned towards the sound only to find himself face to face
with a brown haired beauty, owner of the bewitching pair of blue
eyes that had captured his heart.
"H-how did you get here? You weren't even following me!" she
exclaimed, seemingly bewildered.
*It's payback time, darling* With a smile tugging at the corner of
his lips Mamoru took a step forward and imitated the dramatic hand
movements Usagi had made back in his refuge, stating nonchalantly
"Magic!".
The prince's obvious mocking attitude made Usagi regain her
composure. She crossed her arms in front of her and indignantly
turned her face away.
Endymion's triumphant grin turned into a concerned frown as he fixed
his eyes on Usagi's clothing. Her once flawless white nightgown was
now smeared with mud and tiny drops of blood could be seen at her
knee level. All amusement gone, he exclaimed in a choked voice "For
goodness sake Usako, what happened to you?"
The girl looked at him in confusion, but as soon as she followed his
gaze, acknowledging for the first time her appearance, she blushed
bright red and replied softly, while looking at the floor and
playing with her hands "Well, you see... ummm... it was very dark in
there, so I kinda... tripped and fell on my knees"
In an attempt to locate any more injuries, Mamoru continued to stare
at her. When he did find what he was looking for, his eyes
practically popped out of their sockets. The prince closed the gap
between the two of them and seized Usagi's hands, holding them with
their palms up "Usako, your hands are wounded, and so are your
feet!" he practically yelled at her.
The girl's gaze traveled from her somewhat swollen hands to the
ground beneath her feet, where the moist grass was rapidly changing
from a light green to a deep scarlet color. Lifting her head, Usagi
met Endymion's fretful face and said indifferently "Yeah, so?"
Groaning in frustration, Mamoru finally lost his temper and started
to scream at the top of his lungs "Geez child, how can you be so
dense?!" The prince's sudden outburst made Usagi gasp in surprise,
her eyes tearing up immediately. When Endymion noticed her
heartbreaking expression he softened almost as quickly. He reached
out to encircle her waist and pull her close to him.
* * * * *
Serenity tensed at first, but before long she was at ease again.
Closing her eyes, the princess let her worries out in the shape of
two lonely crystalline tears. Still wrapped in her love's arms, she
rested her head on his shoulder. Soon after Mamoru placed his own
on top of hers and started rubbing his hands up and down her back
in a comforting way. "I'm sorry Usako, I didn't mean to sound so
mean, it's just that... well... you hurt yourself pretty badly and you
talk about it as if it weren't such a big deal. You shouldn't have
gone out barefooted, you..." he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if
pondering over something. After a while he sighed dejectedly and
added "I suppose it was my fault anyway, I know perfectly well how
dangerous it is to walk through the tunnel in complete darkness
when you're not familiar with the place. I should have gone after
you."
Mamoru's guilty tone made Serenity look up at him, but he was
averting her eyes, bowing his head in shame. She placed her right
hand on his left cheek and forced him to meet her gaze. Once he did
she smiled sweetly and traced his jaw with her index finger "It was
most definitely not your fault, if there is someone to blame then
that should be me. I was the one who decided to start this pursuit,
and I'm willing to take the consequences of it." When the princess
saw he was about to protest she placed two fingers on his lips,
silencing him successfully. She then leaned over and murmured
amusedly in his ear "Besides, it was worth it, you should have seen
the look on your face during the whole thing..." Usagi couldn't help
giggling subtly as she recalled the scene.
* * * * *
Hearing Usagi's melodious voice made Endymion smile. However, as he
remembered that she was actually laughing at him, his smirk turned
into an indignant scowl *Why the little...* His thoughts were
suddenly interrupted for his angel was once again whispering words
in his ear, only this time her tone of voice was slightly
different... somewhat huskier... and sexier... "I'm getting tired of this
game..." she said and paused. The beauty standing before him knew
exactly what to do in order to drive Mamoru nearly insane, and he
was having a hard time trying to keep his body in check. Her
scorching breath sent delicious shivers up and down his spine,
making him tremble noticeably. Her velvety scented hair enticed
both smell and touch at the same time, making it quite difficult
to think straight. And last, but not least, there was the fact that
her tantalizing figure was pressing intimately against him so that
he could feel her every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination...
Silently praying he would have enough willpower to survive the
spell that had been cast over him by a certain blue-eyed femme
fatale, the prince listened to the rest of Usagi's speech "... I
think now I'm ready to take that lesson..."
"Huh?" was the only thing that managed to escape Endymion's lips.
For a while he just stood staring at her, speechless, his mouth and
eyes wide opened. Once he realized he must look stupid he shook his
head and reasoned with himself *Maybe I'm just hearing things...*
well, he was about to find out... "W-what did you say?" he asked her,
barely containing his stuttering.
* * * * *
Seeing Mamoru's expression made Serenity almost burst into a fit of
laughter, but deciding that at the moment that was not a wise thing
to do, she contented herself with just grinning mischievously at
the handsome man enfolding her with a pair of wonderfully strong
arms. The princess shook her head "My, my, I think you're getting
deaf Mamo-chan" she said, but before he could reply to her devious
comment she wrapped her slim arms around his neck, purposely
bringing herself closer to him, their lips now mere inches apart...
"I said that I'm now ready for that lesson you promised me,
remember?" she asked, trying to sound innocent.
* * * * *
Usagi's naïve tone of voice made the prince come out of his stupor.
He stared down at her delicate features and noticed that she was
batting her eyelashes flirtatiously and smiling impishly up at him.
*How can she be a seductress and still manage to look ingenuous?*
he meditated, but shook the thought off. *Well, she has already had
her fun, I do believe it's my turn...* With a malicious grin
plastered on his face, Endymion tightened his grip on the girl's
waist and leaned over so that his lips were brushing against her
left ear "But first we have to get you comfortable" he whispered
huskily.
Usagi took a step back so as to look him in the eye "What do you..."
but before she could finish her statement, Mamoru lifted her into
his arms and started walking towards the beach. "Mamo-chan! What
are you..." Usagi shrieked, yet the prince once again cut her off
"Usako, your feet are bleeding and you can't be standing up for a
very long period of time." he stated matter-of-factly.
* * * * *
Still not realizing the true meaning of his words, Serenity furrowed
her brow "Well, yeah, but you're just going to give me a kiss, that
shouldn't take long. After that maybe we can sit down and talk..."
she added innocently, but this time she was not pretending...
Mamoru's deep chuckling made her look up at him curiously "Really
Usako, sometimes you're just too naïve." His comment made the
princess blush furiously. She was about to say something, but the
distracting feeling of Mamoru's lips and breath caressing her skin
made it impossible for her to utter even a sound. "Do you actually
think I'm going to give you a single kiss? Dearest lady, you've
made me go through so much and now that I have you within my grasp
I'm not going to set you free that easily" he then lowered his
voice "I'm going to devour you, I'm going to kiss you until you're
out of breath, I'm going to make you lose control over your own
body."
Serenity didn't know anymore if she was trembling because of the
cold gusts of wind, because of Mamoru's husky tone of voice,
because of his words and their significance, or because of his
closeness... *It's probably a mixture of all those things...* she
reasoned almost unconsciously for her mind and body were rapidly
becoming numb.
* * * * *
Endymion watched with amusement and keen interest the various
effects his somewhat bold remarks were having on Usagi's features
and behavior. *Hmmmm... so this is how you feel when you have the
power* he mused, trying his best to conceal that typical wicked
look and cynical smile that came to the face of someone who had
just beaten his worst enemy.
The prince finally stopped in front of a huge stone that overlooked
the wild sea and placed his treasure on it. He then kneeled before
her and delicately took her left foot between his hands. With
utmost tenderness he kissed it thoroughly, putting especial
attention to her now receding wounds, and repeated the same
procedure with her other foot. Once he had, unknowingly to Usagi,
healed her small injuries, Mamoru reached out for her hands in
order to do the exact same thing; only this time, after he had
finished with the required ministrations, he didn't stop his
caresses.
His mouth made its way upwards, placing butterfly kisses all over
her arms' soft skin. When he couldn't go any further he pulled her
down so that she was also on her knees, facing him. Endymion then
put his arms around Usagi's thin waist so that she would be close
enough for his assault.
* * * * *
Mamoru's seemingly uncontrollable passion was having several effects
on Serenity's young inexperienced body. The princess had easily
learned how to play seductress, however during this whole game she
had always had the upper hand which meant that she didn't have to
worry about her body betraying her feelings, yet now that the roles
had been switched and she was no longer the cat, but rather the
defenseless mouse, her self-control came crumbling down. Just being
near him made her heart beat and breathing speed up drastically,
his fervent kisses were like blazing fire on her tender skin, his
hot breath sent delicious shivers up and down her spine, and her
limbs trembled under his touch.
Usagi threw back her head in order to allow greater access to her
Mamo-chan who was, at the moment, busily nuzzling the crook of her
neck and occasionally placing loving kisses on her exposed
collarbone and shoulders. Even though Serenity reveled in his sweet
torture she desired something more...
The princess waited for him to take the initiative, but it didn't
take her long to realize that he wasn't going to give her what she
really wanted any time soon. *Damn the man! He's enjoying his
victory way too much. I think it's time for me to take the lead...
again* Usagi's frustrated frown turned into a sly grin which was
immediately hidden as soon as she set in motion her all-too-
familiar innocent-girl-charade.
* * * * *
"Mamo-chan?" Usagi's sweet, almost shy voice brought Endymion back
to reality. Reluctantly, he lifted his head so as to establish eye
contact with the girl. "Yes Usako?" he asked with uncertainty,
expecting her to tell him what was troubling her. Nevertheless
Usagi didn't respond, she merely gazed at him with an intensity he
didn't know she possessed. The prince noticed she had this
particular glint within her eyes, but he couldn't quite decipher
it...
With their gazes still locked, Mamoru never noticed Usagi's hands
reaching up for his face until they were lovingly stroking his
cheeks. This simple action softened the prince's demeanor and
brought a smile to his face. However, he was completely taken aback
by what she did next.
With her hands she brought his face close to hers until their noses
were practically touching. The sudden movement elicited a surprised
gasp from him and a triumphant grin from her. Endymion's eyes
suddenly widened in realization. Why couldn't he have figured it
out before? That sparkle... he had already seen it before, countless
times as a matter of fact... Mamoru tried desperately to recover the
privileged position in which he had been just a few moments ago but
it was useless for Usagi had already won the battle...
* * * * *
Serenity tried not to smile, but when she heard Mamoru gasp she
could no longer keep up the pretense and the smug grin she had been
hiding finally surfaced. As soon as she noticed the look of
awareness on his face the smirk merely widened; the princess had
once again managed to fool him downright, and he knew it perfectly
well.
Usagi watched with amusement as Mamoru vainly attempted to regain
his composure by tearing his gaze away from her. She shook her head
and smiled inwardly *Too late darling, you're doomed...* So thinking,
the princess forced him to look at her with the help of her gentle
yet strong hands and then, tilting her head to the right, closed
the gap between their lips.
* * * * *
Endymion still couldn't figure out the time when he had recklessly
lowered his defenses, the only thing he knew was that one minute he
had been ravishing a girl's delectable neck, drawing out an
undeniable response from her, and the next one he found himself
falling headfirst into a woman's trap.
Usagi tried to go slowly, but she was apparently too impassioned to
make her needs wait any longer. When Mamoru felt her lips urging
him to open his mouth he let out a surprised gasp which only
allowed her tongue's entrance. The kiss sent an electrical shock
through the both of them, it was heated yet lingering, and when it
finally came to an end it left them out of breath.
The prince was the one who pulled apart. When he looked down at the
femme fatale he noticed that she still had her eyes closed,
probably enjoying the aftermath of the bliss they had just
experienced. Touched by her expression, Endymion held her even
closer and put his forehead against hers. As soon as he did so she
opened her blue orbs and stared at him with utter adoration.
"You don't need me to show you how to give a real kiss sweetheart,
you're a natural kisser" Mamoru whispered huskily.
Usagi blushed bright red at his comment, but she didn't avert his
gaze, she merely grinned back at him and said "Then how about *I*
become your teacher?"
Usagi's boldness made the prince chuckle and groan at the same time.
With an unexpected yet gentle movement he pushed her so that she
was lying on her back and then positioned himself on top of her,
pinning her successfully to the ground with his own weight.
"Ah my dear, but you know what they say: 'sabe más el Diablo por
viejo que por Diablo'+++ You may be a devil, but I am too, with the
slight difference that I have experience and you don't. So, try to
be a good girl and let me tutor you" with this said, Endymion
closed his eyes and began to lower his head so that he could be
able to savor her luscious lips once more.
* * * * *
Serenity didn't care anymore if Mamoru was the one with the upper
hand as long as he finished what he had so ruthlessly stopped. When
his face was finally nearing hers she let her eyelids drop, only
to lift them once again as soon as she felt a cold drop of water
plummet square on her nose.
Confused, the princess directed her gaze upwards and that's when she
noticed for the first time the dark clouds hovering threateningly
above their heads. Usagi returned her attention to the handsome
young man currently lying on her, only to find him looking up at
the sky, most likely acknowledging the unwanted menace as well.
Serenity took hold of Mamoru's face and forced him to look at her.
Once he did they stared at each other for a long while and they
would've stayed that way if she hadn't broken the silence "If we
want to stay dry maybe we should be heading back" she said softly,
but unfortunately for her that plain statement caused a hasty
reaction from her mind *Listen to me young lady!* it yelled at her,
making the princess cringe inwardly *You've infringed the law far
too many times and I'm not going to let you do it again. You're NOT
going into that cave with him, understood? You're going to excuse
yourself, I don't know how, and go back to the forest so that you
can teleport back home...* Usagi was about to protest, as she always
did whenever her annoyingly reasonable mind protested against her
wishes, but as soon as it completed its line of thought she could
only sigh in defeat *...besides, the Senshi must be very worried
about you. I can't be sure, but I think you've been down here for
more than 3 hours...*
"Ma..." that's all she could say before Mamoru's index and middle
fingers were placed on her lips, cutting her off.
* * * * *
When Endymion sensed Usagi's slight movements beneath him he knew
something was wrong, thus he grudgingly opened his eyes and noticed
that she was looking intently at the sky. Curious as to what could
be more interesting than him, the prince followed her gaze and
groaned inwardly as soon as he spotted the intimidating clouds.
*Dammit! This is certainly NOT going to help me out. Now that I
FINALLY have the opportunity to sweep the girl off of her feet
Mother Nature DECIDES that this would be the PERFECT time for a
STORM. It just isn't FAIR!*
All of a sudden Mamoru felt Usagi's soft yet strong hands on both of
his cheeks, compelling him to tear his gaze away from the heavens
and direct it towards her. He could imagine what she was going to
say, it was clearly written in her eyes, still Endymion hoped
against hope that he was getting the wrong idea... he had no such
luck "If we want to stay dry maybe we should be heading back" she
said, as if voicing his own thoughts *Oh no! Not by any chance my
dear! Do you really think I'll let you get out of this one just
like that? No way Jose!++++ I worked very hard to create the
romantic atmosphere and I'm not going to let my efforts go to
waste. You have to give me at least one more kiss, and I'm being
self-sacrificing...*
So thinking, the prince silenced any protests that might have come
out of Usagi's mouth by placing two fingers against her lips. He
then leaned in for his well-deserved kiss and... *splash* a cold and
big drop of water fell on his head, making him back up a little.
Mamoru grunted and muttered some incoherent words but since he was
determined to reach his goal he bent forward once more and...
*splash* a colder and bigger drop of water fell on his nose.
Endymion growled in frustration but didn't give up, he tried once
again and... *splash* *splash* *splash* three freezing and enormous
drops of water fell on his head, nose, and neck. This time the
prince merely sighed and bowed his head in defeat, he really didn't
want to mess up with Mother Nature's wrath if he dared ignore her
warnings...
* * * * *
Serenity knew perfectly well what Mamoru wanted to do and she had to
bring into play all of her self-control in order not to burst out
laughing at the comical expressions he made whenever he got hit by
a drop of water. After his third unsuccessful attempt to kiss her
the princess could no longer hold back her giggles. "Don't worry
Mamo-chan, we'll finish it some other time"
Mamoru rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath "Easy for you
to say..."
His exasperated tone of voice made Usagi chuckle even harder, but
she became serious almost right away for she had suddenly
remembered what she had wanted to tell him before he had
interrupted her. "Mamo-chan, it's getting late and I really have to
go back home, if not I'll get caught in the downpour"
"But Usako..." he whined, his face plainly showing his disappointment.
Serenity was touched by his sincere behavior, however his eyes
suddenly brightened and before she could say anything else he
replied "Okay, I wouldn't want you to get sick because of my fault.
But... why don't we go back to my refuge? Once the rain stops I'll
walk you home, I promise. That way you won't get soaked and we will
have more time for ourselves. How does that sound? Besides, didn't
you tell me you were lost?" he finished with a triumphant grin,
convinced that there was no way she could refuse.
The princess racked her brains for a fitting excuse for she knew it
wasn't going to be easy to persuade him, he had proved to be a VERY
stubborn man... Fortunately enough, she caught a glimpse of numerous
lights sparkling back at her from behind the foliage. She smiled
sweetly up at him "But Mamo-chan, isn't that the town's
illumination I'm seeing?" she asked, motioning with her head the
direction right behind him.
* * * * *
Endymion turned slowly around, even though he already knew what he
was going to find. He had completely forgotten that one of the
entrances/exits of the cave led to the outskirts of Atlantida,
where his mother had purposely built a house in order to keep an
eye on him whenever he decided to hide away from the world. As a
matter of fact, the nearest and most noticeable lights were those
of the Queen's quarters, not even a mile away from where they
stood. The prince finally faced Usagi with a disappointed look
clearly written all over his features "But... can't I at least walk
you home?" he pleaded.
When Mamoru watched Usagi's face soften slightly at his words his
hopes immediately lifted, but they crumbled down just as quickly
when she started to speak matter-of-factly, a sweet smile playing
on her lips "No, thank you Mamo-chan, I'd rather prefer to walk
alone. My Mom's probably worried sick by now and I wouldn't want to
make her wait more than what is strictly necessary, and somehow I
know that's exactly what you'll have me do if I let you come with
me"
Endymion knew she only spoke the truth, but since he wasn't about to
tell HER that he put his best hurt look and replied in an indignant
tone of voice "Can't you at least give me the benefit of the
doubt?"
* * * * *
Not fully aware of what she was about to do, the princess suddenly
pushed Mamoru off of her, making him fall on his back with what had
sounded as an obviously 'painful' grunt. Taking advantage of his
vulnerability she then proceeded to straddle his hips and take a
hold of both of his arms so as to still any movements he might do
in an attempt to escape.
Serenity didn't have the slightest idea of what had made her act so
impulsively but she was glad she had done so for she was greatly
enjoying the young man's reaction to her unexpected attack: his
eyes, which had inevitably closed at the moment of the impact, were
now wide open and his cheeks had acquired a lovely rosy hue. These
two natural physical responses were the evidence Usagi needed to
prove that her dearest Mamo-chan was also aware of their rather...
compromising positions...
Looking down at her beloved, the princess decided to answer his
question "But I AM giving you the benefit of the doubt my dear, I
just don't understand why you consider it a benefit..." Seeing his
eyebrows rise in confusion Serenity could no longer hide the
teasing smile that had been tugging at the corner of her lips "I am
doubting you'll behave yourself Mamo-chan"
Her words had had the effect she had been expecting: Mamoru began to
struggle in order to free himself but his efforts were futile, and
that baffled him a great deal. Usagi smiled inwardly for she
understood perfectly well the poor man's dilemma: how was it
possible that a feeble-looking lass could beat a trained man's
strength? IF he were dealing with a normal girl it wouldn't have
been a problem, what he didn't know though was that she was
ANYTHING but normal. Being the Moon Princess gave her special
powers that no other woman, aside from her mother, could possess,
her looks were only a way of disguising her true potential.
* * * * *
Endymion tried several times to budge Usagi, but it just wasn't
working. He could hardly believe that his sweet, innocent, and
tender Usako was actually pinning him firmly to the ground. After a
while he finally tired himself and gave up with a frustrated sigh.
"Usako, tha..." Mamoru was unable to finish his sentence for Usagi's
gentle kiss had 'rudely' interrupted him. Even though she had
merely brushed his lips, there was just something about that soft
teasing touch that had made his insides turn upside down.
The prince was so enraptured that he didn't even hear the whispered
"Goodbye". Fortunately enough, his all-too-annoying mind did...
*Hello! Earth calling Mamoru! What the HELL do you think you're
doing lying there like an idiot while the woman you refer to as
'the love of your life' is walking away? I know you don't want me
to interfere, but what do you expect me to do when you're not
thinking clearly? Please do us both a favor: break out of that
vegetating state of yours and go after her!*
Once he came back to his senses Endymion noticed for the first time
that he was breathing more easily for he was no longer restrained
by Usagi's weight. The realization of what that meant made his eyes
widen. The prince tried to get up but all he could achieve was lift
his head a little because somehow he couldn't move, he surely
hadn't damaged his back so badly, had he?
Feeling physically useless, Mamoru brought into play the only thing
that he had left... "USAKO!!!!!" ...his voice.
Endymion watched as Usagi's back stiffened at the mention of her
name, yet she never turned around to face him. "Yes Mamo-chan?" she
asked softly.
The prince tried yet again to change his uncomfortable position, but
since his efforts were only developing a rather painful cramp in
his back and neck he decided to stay where he was. "Where do you
think you're going?"
Still not turning around, she merely answered "Home" and resumed her
pace. Utterly frustrated at her indifferent tone of voice and
attitude and also at the fact that his current state deprived him
from strolling up to her and wrap his arms tightly around her waist
so as to never let her go, Mamoru's voice cracked at his next words
"And you're just leaving me here without knowing when or where we
will meet again? I've just found you and I want to make sure you
won't escape that easily from my life. I won't ask you to let me
escort you because I know I'll be simply wasting my time in doing
so, but please Usako, just give me a place and a date" he pleaded.
* * * * *
Serenity knew perfectly well what Mamoru was feeling, for she was
feeling it too: sheer desperation at being unable to do something
about their present situation. While her beloved was fighting
against his body she was struggling with her reason, the result:
two soul-mates breaking apart, one because of his ignoring her
motives and the other because of her impotence to reveal them to
him.
Usagi knew that she would have to figure out something in order to
see Mamoru in the future, for now that she had met him she couldn't
imagine a life without him by her side, but since she still hadn't
come up with a plan it was taking all of her self-control not to go
back to him and throw herself into his arms, confessing that they
didn't have a chance at love, that this might be the last time they
saw each other.
Taking a deep breath in an attempt not to break down in the spot,
the princess managed to make her voice steady, even though she was
trembling inside "Don't worry about it Mamo-chan, I will let you
know when the time comes" and with that she sprinted away, not
daring to look back at the one man who had managed to capture her
heart in less than a day.
* * * * *
From his position on the floor, Endymion could only watch as the
girl of his dreams scampered towards the trees located on the west
part of the forest, not a mile away from the city.
A little while after her disappearance Mamoru suddenly noticed that
he could move his body at will once more. Finding this highly
suspicious, he creased his eyebrows in reflection. Who was this
girl he called 'Usako'? What special powers did she possess? Why
was she wandering alone in the forest? Where did she live? There
were so many questions about her identity that you could
practically say the prince had fallen head over heels for a
complete stranger, and yet the aura of secrecy that surrounded
Usagi made her all the more alluring.
Endymion was startled out of his reverie by the deafening sound of
thunder. Being completely distracted by a certain woman he had
failed to realize that Usagi and him had been in danger even before
they both acknowledged their surroundings. Mamoru could see the
waves rising over 7 feet and falling quite aggressively not far
from his current position. He knew that if he stayed any longer the
tide would rise and the place in which he was sitting would be
entirely covered in water, not only from the ocean but also from
the almost black clouds that were looming overhead.
The prince frowned, suddenly remembering that it had been because of
this terrible weather that his beloved was no longer with him. What
made him all the more bitter was the fact that he wasn't even sure
when he would be able to see her again. "Don't worry about it Mamo-
chan, I will let you know when the time comes" she had said.
Groaning in frustration at the memory of her reply but deciding
that his problems wouldn't be solved by his staying out in the
middle of a storm, Endymion stood up and started to walk back to
his quarters.
* * * * *
Once she was out of sight, Serenity paused to catch her breath.
After she made sure there was no one around she closed her eyes and
the white light that had brought her to Earth began to engulf her
body once more, however, before it reached its maximum brightness
the roaring sound of thunder made it disappear abruptly. The
princess gasped in both anxiety and confusion at the failure of her
teletransportation powers; the fact that Mamoru was not under her
control anymore didn't help either for he might have seen the light
which meant that he would most likely come looking for her to make
sure she was alright.
Usagi waited for a while, but when it was obvious nothing (or no one
for that matter) would stop her, she sighed, if somewhat shakily,
in relief. Once again she closed her eyes but this time the light
didn't even appear. *Great, this is just great! Now what am I
supposed to do?* *You shouldn't have come here in the first place...*
*Thank you very much for the reminder, but it so happens that I AM
here and for some reason I don't know I CAN'T go back, so if you
don't have a bright idea of how to get me the hell of here you
might as well SHUT UP, is that clear!?*
Sensing an awful headache coming her way, Serenity began to rub her
temples with both hands in an attempt to calm down and figure out
what to do *Think Usagi, what could have happened to stop you from
achieving a teletransportation? You have never had trouble with it
before* *But you have to take into account that this is the first
time that you're doing it in a planet that does not belong to the
Silver Alliance* *I just hate it when you say something
reasonable...* *However, it might also be the result of electrical
interference caused by the tempest that is about to break loose...*
*Might be...* *AND there's also the fact that you've wasted a good
deal of energy: first by changing your appearance, then by hurting
yourself, and last but certainly not least by playing hard-to-get
with your sweetheart...* Despite herself, the princess blushed at
this last remark *OR, it could always be a combination of these
three possibilities...* *Dammit! That would mean...* *...that you have to
stay here until you've rested properly AND this thunderstorm stops.
It could be quite a while you know?, it hasn't even started...*
Serenity moaned to herself *Please don't remind me...* *I told you
that you would get yourself into trouble, but did you listen to me?
NO! You always have to be stubborn...* *Ok, ok, I get the point, why
do you have to rub it in?* *As if you didn't know...*
At last Usagi chose to follow her mind's suggestion for she didn't
have a better idea. *My mom's going to kill me...* she thought and as
if she didn't have enough matters to worry about already, when she
looked down at herself she noticed that she had returned to her
normal state. Bringing into play all of her will-power so as to not
cry out in frustration, the princess prayed that she still had
enough energy to transform herself for she knew that she couldn't
ask for asylum in that condition. She took out her pen and shouted
"Moon Power! transform me into a country woman". Fortunately enough
after the all-too-familiar light subsided Serenity was yet again
clothed in the flowered cotton dress and white sandals and her long
blond hair had turned into a shoulder-length light brown version.
*Well, at least this still worked...* *Now here comes the difficult
part of this whole fiasco* *And that would be...* *You have to find a
place where you can stay for the night* *Great...* she thought
sarcastically.
Usagi began to walk towards the city guiding herself by the lights
flickering not far from where she was standing. After a while
though she had to pick up the pace for the downpour had begun and
it was certainly not pleasant to have freezing drops of water
rolling down her body while at the same time trying to fight her
fear of thunder.
When she finally reached her destination the princess was already
soaked to the bones and shivering with cold. Murmuring all kinds of
expletives under her breath, Serenity approached the first house
that came into view, which by the looks and dimensions of it
undoubtedly belonged to a rich family, and knocked on the door.
* * * * *
Endymion was riding back to his mother's mansion under a thick
curtain of rain. He was completely drenched and somewhere deep
inside he knew he was about to have another discussion with his
parents, but he didn't seem to care for at the moment he was having
another kind of argument... one between his mind and his heart...
*It's just impossible!* *What is?* *You know perfectly well what I'm
talking about!* *No I don't* *Geez! Sometimes you're way too
dense!* *And so what, I am you and you are me, so you're
practically insulting yourself* *Whatever...* *Anyway... what is it
that surprises you so much?* *Usagi* *What about her* *She's a
witch!* *Hey, hey, hey! You're entering dangerous territory here,
man, you better watch your language!* *But it's the truth!* *Why
are you so sure?* *Because there are lots of evidence!* *Like...*
*First of all she is capable of disappearing into thin air...* *And
so what, you can do that too* *Well, yeah... but I can't paralyze
someone else's movements* *How do you know? You have never tried it
because it hasn't been necessary* *Oh yeah? Then what do you say
about returning things to the way they were?* *First of all you
wouldn't be there to see it and secondly it'd most likely be an
unconscious action* *But... but... t-the dress it... it simply
disappeared a-and...* *... and then a bright light materialized out of
nowhere. When it died away you were holding your mother's nightgown
which didn't have the slightest trace of blood, mud, or scratches
for that matter. You don't have to tell me what happened, I saw it
too you know?* *Ok then, if you're not convinced that that is
witchcraft then at least you have to admit that it is quite
suspicious that you have fallen in love with a woman whom you have
just met by merely looking at her eyes. You, who have met hundreds
of beautiful ladies from all over the world and has NEVER ever lost
his mind over a person of the opposite sex. If she hasn't cast some
kind of spell over you then there's no other reason to explain your
reckless behavior* *Well... it weren't only her eyes that made me
fall in love with her, but they were certainly the ones that
captivated me originally. Besides, there's always a first time and
it was about time I experienced true love. If I'm acting, from your
point of view, spontaneously it's because I'm willing to do and
risk anything in order to be with my soul-mate. Of course you
wouldn't know that because you're the rational one and it is MY
duty to be the sentimental one, so you CAN'T give me lessons in
this area pal. On the other hand you're just mad that you have
always had the upper hand and now I am the one in charge. You'll
just have to get used to the idea. Don't worry, it won't hurt that
much.*
Mamoru knew this confrontation had successfully come to an end, and
it was a good thing too for he had already reached the manor and he
wouldn't want other people to see him muttering incoherent words
and sounds under his breath as if he were crazy.
The prince dismounted and as soon as he did a servant, who had
apparently come out of nowhere, took the reins of Black Angel,
sparing him a visit to the stables.
Deciding that before dealing with his parents what he needed was a
hot bath and dry clothes, Endymion avoided the main entrance and
headed instead for the back of the house where he carefully slid
open his room's window and sneaked in.
15 minutes later...
Mamoru entered the living room bare footed and clad in his favorite
pair of blue jeans and a huge white t-shirt. "Ok, so what are you
two going to t-tell..." The prince stopped in mid-sentence because
the sight that greeted him was not expected at all: sitting on the
black couches were his Mom, his Dad, and... "USAKO?!"
To be continued...
Stay tuned for chapter ten: The princess' trial
Sunday October 15th, 2000. 4:39 PM
+++ This is a Spanish saying that literally means "The Devil knows
more because of being old rather than because of being devil"
++++ This is just an expression that kinda rhymes...