Let's just skip over the long intro this time and get right to the story, ne? We like feedback, minna, oh yes we do!
The Longest 24 Hours 2/8
sequel to Crazy for You
by Lazuli and Elysia
PG
******
'You would choose a mere mortal over immortality and magic? How dare you defy us! We who have taught you all that you know, have kept you safe from everything--"
"You call this SAFE? This has been nothing but hell for me! The last four hundred years, I could do nothing of my own free will. I wanted to live my own life!"
'You belong to the immortal magic, Usagi. Now and forever. But this will be the last time that you disobey us. You will never see that mortal again. Your punishment is death!'
******
Usagi woke up screaming. "NOOO! Don't let them take me! I don't want to die!"
Mamoru rushed into her room. All signs of sleep had left him when he heard Usagi cry out. Taking her in his arms, he tried to calm down his love as best as he could. "I'm here, no one's going to take you away, I promise," he soothed, feeling Usagi tremble in fear.
"Mamo-chan," she sobbed into his shoulder, "it was horrible. I thought that I was never going to see you again. They threatened to separate us."
He lifted her chin with his hand and looked deeply into her eyes. "I promise, I won't ever let that happen."
Smiling through her tears, Usagi leaned up and kissed Mamoru, reassuring her heart that he would always watch over her, just like he promised. When no one else in this moral world would believe in her, he had been there, even if it took a little convincing in the beginning. Every moment had been worth it to her.
A bright flash of pink light suddenly formed in the corner of the room. Usagi gripped Mamoru's arms tighter, and he just stared at the unnatural light, wondering why such a feeling of dread was coming over him.
A figure stood in the room now, and Mamoru recognized her immediately. "You... why have you come back?"
Lady raised an eyebrow at him. "You have no authority to ask me that, mortal. I've come for Usagi, and only her. That dream she had was a warning sent to her by the Council. It is my duty to bring her back with me so she can be punished." She reached out a hand to the still-sobbing Usagi. "Come with me, Usa. It's time to leave this primitive place."
"She's not going with you."
Lady shoved Mamoru out of the way and took hold of Usagi's arm. "Stay out of this, mortal. I know what's best for Usagi, you could never understand."
He took a firm hold of Lady's wrist, causing her to drop her grip on Usagi. "I know exactly what's best for her, because I love her. Mortal or not, nothing can change the way I feel about her."
Lady sighed noisily. "The Council is going to kill me for this, but it seems as if I have no choice." She suddenly snapped her fingers and all three people disappeared from the room.
******
"Where are we?"
"This is the immortal plane, Mamo-chan," Usagi answered him softly. "This is where my people come from."
He motioned to Lady, who was walking three feet in front of them and trying very hard to ignore them. "And where is she taking us?"
"Most likely to face the Council, which was her original mission. You weren't supposed to come, but I feel safe knowing that you did."
Mamoru wrapped an arm around Usagi and hugged her tightly. "You know I would never leave you."
"I know," she sighed.
"Will you two cut it out? You're making me sick! Ugh, I swear I will leave you two here to fend for yourselves if you keep that up." She glanced over at Usagi. "We're almost to the Council room. You might want to change," Lady chided.
Usagi looked down at her rumpled tee-shirt and jeans and blushed. "You're right." Snapping her fingers, she replaced her grubby clothes with the light purple outfit she wore as a genie. Not a hair was out of place as the three approached the doors which led to the Council room. She slipped her arm through Mamoru's and linked her fingers with his, hoping to reassure herself.
Mamoru squeezed her hand firmly, and smiled lovingly at her as Lady opened the grand doors and led them inside.
******
"I won't let you punish her."
The hooded figure stared at Mamoru for what seemed like an eternity. "Do you know what you are saying, mortal? If she is not punished, then you must take it in her place."
Mamoru raised his head in defiance. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep her with me."
"Such a strong spirit, mortal. It refreshes me," the figure nodded. "Very well then, I hope you are prepared for the consequences of the punishment. You must take Usagi's power upon yourself for a period of twenty-four hours."
The ebony-haired man was startled. "Is that all?"
"NO!" Usagi cried out. "Mamo-chan, don't do it! You don't know what you're getting yourself into!"
Mamoru smiled sadly at her, then turned back to face the hooded man. "What if I accept?"
"I would say that you were braver than we thought. There are, of course, certain conditions that must be met. If you refuse, you would have to return to Earth--without Usagi."
"I can't do that. Usagi is my life. Not even your threats will get in my way."
"You do know that even if you accept the challenge and fail, you will be bound to Lady instead." Mamoru took one look at the pink-clothed teenager and cringed inwardly. "So if I want to be with Usagi forever, I have to pass your test?"
"If you think you can manage it."
"What do I have to do again?"
A grim smile appeared on the Council member's face, which didn't seem to belong there at all. "You must take Usagi's powers upon yourself and live the way of a genie for 24 hours."
Mamoru was in shock. How could he take Usagi's powers? Did he even know what to do with them? But he knew if he refused, then he would lose his Usako forever. And he would rather die. He ignored Usagi's protests, and nodded.
"I accept."
******
Usagi stared in horror as the Council snickered and then gestured at a frozen Mamoru. Gone was his jeans and white tee-shirt. In its place was a pair of silk pants and a navy blue vest that showed most of his chest. Usagi blushed. She knew he looked good, but never THAT good. Another gesture from the Council, and Mamoru vanished, leaving Usagi holding the dark blue bottle that contained him.
Facing the Council, she asked, "Are we quite through?" Her temper boiled. The council members nodded. "Mamoru has twenty-four hours to be a genie. You, Usagi, will leave the bottle where he first met you. We'll see how he likes what he put you through."
A smile on their faces indicated that they knew all about her trip in the hospital and how much she enjoyed her antics to annoy the mortals. She knew that Mamoru couldn't go through the exact same adventures, but the Council would make sure that they earned the right to live together--Mamoru knowing Usagi's heritage and Usagi living without her magic for a full twenty-four hours.