Red Moon Rising

Part 2

Rating: PG-13 (Again, Mild, yet VERY excessive language… Mamoru needs to clean his mouth out.)

((Author's Note: Gomen Nasi. The last "Chapter Two" I had appeared to only be half of what it should be. Something went wrong with the loading, and so, now I present you with the full version. I also appriciate all the reviews I got! I was like "wow!" So.. thanks for reading, and I'll keep working!))

Demando looked around the Juuban Park, looking for Usagi. She said she'd meet him on Earth. Now all he had to do was find her. His violet eyes flickered about softly, and he turned around, only to crash into a huge, strong object. He quickly assessed that it wasn't an object, seeing as it grabbed him by the collar and slammed him into a tree roughly.

"Where is she?!"

"Endymoin... kindly put me down."

"YOU BASTARD! I KNOW YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS!"

"Yes. On Earth. I sent her home after my stupid drones kidnapped her."

"Bullshit. She's not here. She hasn't been here. No one's seen her. WHERE IS USAKO!?"

"...Wait... She's not here?"

"No... my link with her is gone. She's not on this planet." Demando socked Mamoru in the jaw, and Mamoru, stunned, staggered backwards holding his jaw, glaring. Demando dropped neatly to the ground and smoothed his shirt and looked calmly at his archenemy.

"Endymoin, control yourself. Now, your telling me she was here, and now she's gone?"

"That would be my previous statement, yes. I must warn you, my *friend*," Here Mamoru sneered, "It will cost you more than your life if you have hurt her in any way. You cannot deceive the future king of the Earth."

"As I'm not trying to. Hm. After getting assaulted with popcorn from my lackeys, I sent Usagi home, went to shower, the initial plan being to follow her seeing as she invited me to live here."

"Wait, wait... your going to live *here*? On Earth?"

"Surely you don't have a problem with that..."

"You better believe I do... it's my job to protect Usagi-chan."

"I have her best interests at heart-" Demando didn't have time to finish, Mamoru charging at him again. Ready for the blow, the Prince sidestepped the pissed Earthen King.

"You have your own interests at heart, you ass."

"Language, language."

"You stupid f-"

"Ah! Surely Usagi doesn't like that."

"No, She doesn't."

"Stupid King. Your pride had blinded you."

"..What do you mean?"

"Don't you see? Something has happened to Usa-"

"Usagi-hime-sama, to you."

"Very well. Regardless, something has happened to her, and we need to help her."

"Wait... We?"

"Yes, we, as in, you and I work together. Ironic, ne?"

"Can we manage that without killing each other?"

"I think so, our objective is similar. Protect Usa."

"Usagi-hime-sama to you, Demando! She is not Usa! Not to you. Not ever."

"Forgive me."

"This should prove interesting, at least..."

"Amen to that."

*Two Hours Later...* ( AN: ' ' denote the 'little Mamoru', in other words, his conscience, while ~ ~ denote the little Demando and his conscience.)

Demando sat on one end of a park bench, his legs crossed, his arms crossed across his chest, and his nose turned up, his back to Mamoru's back, who, consequently, sat on the other end of the bench, HIS arms crossed across his chest, HIS nose turned up. They, upon realizing their importance to each other and Usa, had resorted from physical fighting to insults, of which, Mamoru was better equipped for, having had his fights with Usa some months ago. Mamoru needed Demando to navigate Demando's palace, as that was the conclusive location of her whereabouts, while Demando needed Mamoru's link with Usa to pinpoint her, seeing as his castle was huge, and it would take days to go through every room.

Demando lowered his head to admire the flowers, a smile tweaking at his lips. Damn Mamoru. Damn him to hell. It wasn't Demando's fault that Mamoru was better with insults. Demando just hit people to get his point across. He was a stuck-up prince like that. Mamoru, though less violent with his haikus and roses, was sharper with the insults; a blade Demando had no shield for. He had long since discovered how invaluable Mamoru was to his aid of Usa, at least, temporarily. Afterwards, their alliance would be dissolved with Usa safe.

Mamoru watched the birds flutter overhead. He closed his eyes softly, letting the wind tousle his raven locks. Usako was in trouble. He knew where, with the help of, *him*, he had come to the conclusion that Demando had stashed her in his castle, and now played innocent and came to Mamoru for help. His story, however, didn't explain why Demando had been standing in the middle of a field, looking for someone.

'Duh Chiba.. he was looking for *you*, Einstein.'

"Who are you?"

'Your conscience. You'd better be smart and listen to me, because I am right. Always.'

"B.S."

'Suite yourself. Now, try explaining to your archenemy that your not crazy and not really talking to thin air, because he is looking at you like your mad.'

Mamoru turned around and saw Demando giving him a peculiar look.

"Who, Pray Tell, Dear Endymoin, were you just conversing with?"

"Erm... I... I was, see..."

"...Yes?"

'I'm waiting. Figure this out.'

Mamoru ignored the little devil inside him and offered a meek explanation.

"See, I... I come to more rational conclusions when I think aloud, and... that's what I was doing..."

"Like I am coming to the rational conclusion that you're mental, only, I don't have to make everyone else think I'm mental to do so?"

"Er... Yes, NO! I mean no! I'm not mental!"

"...Indeed. That remains to be seen, Endymoin."

"...Right."

They turned their backs and turned up their noses and went back to pouting.

~Not bad for someone who lost to the Insult Master.~

"Hush." Demando spoke quietly to his conscience.

~It's true you know.~

"It is not."

~You think I'm just some stupid little voice, don't you?~

"Yes, I do think your some stupid little voice."

~That's setting you up to be embarrassed.~

"Right, only I'm smart enough to avoid traps."

~Very good. Clever one, arncha? Now, explain to Mamoru why YOUR conversing with yourself.~ Demando blinked and knew what had happened. He turned around and faced a triumphant Mamoru. Mamoru was giving Demando the now-who's-mental smirk.

"Must be contagious." Demando glared at Mamoru, who smiled sweetly back, wondering what else he could say to add insult to injury.

"This is going to be a long few hours we have to spend together."

"Demando, you have never said more truer words."

"Perhaps not."

They went back to their little corners, two schoolboys who looked like they had gotten in a fight and forced to serve detention together.

*Two MORE hours later*

No one had budged, although both had grown sick with worry over Usagi, though neither would give in and say 'Let's go.'. They were waiting for the other to. It was a testosterone thing. Demando was staring off into space, when he heard Mamoru cry out in pain, the term 'Usako!' evident in his voice. Demando wheeled around and hopped up, walking uncertainly to where Mamoru was kneeled over on the ground, clutching his head.

"Endymoin...?"

"Usako... is... in grave danger..." Mamoru shook his head and rose to his feet shakily.

"What just happened?"

"She's scared... terrified... and she just felt a sharp pain before loosing her energy and passing out... May God help the man that laid his hand on her."

"We need to find her then, and stop acting like immature boys, put aside our hatred for each other for a few hours and help her." Mamoru nodded and accepted Demando's offered hand, and stood up. They both looked down at the bond briefly connecting the two, and the separated immediately and with a chorus of 'ew's and 'gross!'es, they brushed their hands off and rinsed and washed them.

**

Demando and Mamoru stalked quietly through the corridors, their energy levels down so as not to be detected. Mamoru was right behind Demando, directing general directions toward Usagi. Occasionally, Mamoru would trip on Demando's cape, and a snide comment on King of the Earths and klutzes would slip quietly through Demando's lips. The stone pillars and the thick, marble walls made it hard for Mamoru to sense Usagi, hindering the search greatly.

After another hour or so, the odd alliance sat down in an exquisite parlor, soft, satin furniture, a love seat lined in red silk (mind you, they took opposite arm chairs and did NOT sit in the love seat together), and a huge ornate stone fireplace, the hearth crafted to send the warmth outward, delicately crafted pokers resting beside the burning health.

"I just don't understand what happened to her..."

"Why don't you start by telling me what you do understand..." Mamoru offered.

"Well, I was dozing off in my throne... and I felt an odd tingling... the same feeling I had when I am in Usagi's presence. I was baffled, and before I could pursue the notion to search for the source, my blundering idiots came in. After I got rid of them, my commander wanted a word with me, so I spoke with him over wine. When I came out, I was far too exhausted to search, and, well, THERE she was, sitting, rather deliciously I might add, sprawled in my throne, looking pissed as hell."

"...Indeed."

"You did ask."

"So I did. But.... what happened AFTER she confronted you?"

"We talked, and my little vampire lackey had kidnapped her, evidently after feasting on her, and realizing her blood was holy, and they assumed if they could help her, they wouldn't be cursed."

"Who are the vampires?"

"Shatou. He's the only one."

"Are you positive?"

"Yes. Fairly, that is. None others have shown any signs of vampurism. Why? What are you thinking, Endymoin?"

"For the record, I'm Mamoru to you, currently. Gimmie another 1000 years, then I'll be Endymoin."

"Fair enough. Answer my question, now."

"Well, since ah, what do you call him? Shatou? Yes. Since Shatou was attracted to Usagi, I thought perhaps he came back to get her again."

"...maybe. Let's go investigate Shatou's chambers."

"Is he there currently?"

"Shouldn't be."

"Then let's go."

**

Usagi's eyes fluttered open softly. She had a pounding headache, and she felt like a semi truck had hit her. She groaned softly and rolled over. What had happened? She didn't recall. Perhaps someone had meant for her to forget, they knew she knew, and she knew that someone wanted her to forget, and thus the reason why she couldn't remember. Odd.

Her eyes flickered up as someone entered the small room, carrying a tray of... an odd assortment of what she presumed to be food. He smiled sweetly at her and offered it to her.

"You've been in a tragic accident... here... have some of this. It will help your strength."

Usagi nodded nimbly, and took the proffered nutrition. Such a nice man... so caring. She must have been hurt so badly as not to remember him. Perhaps a car struck her? And he had saved her? No, that couldn't be... even though she didn't remember, she *felt* as though this man held the answers, and perhaps he was even the one who wanted her to forget.

"How do you feel," he asked her. His soft voice cut sharply through her thoughts. She glanced up at him, her eyes meeting his intense ones, and she looked away quickly. Her eyes fell on a goblet of some bright, red liquid. Wine? Possibly. It didn't smell like it. It's scent reflected... flowers... however, there was an underlying scent, as though someone was trying to cover it up... a strong one. She concentrated; she knew she'd smelled it before... in her home? No. Battle? Yes. It was blood. That's what it smelled like. She had sniffed it's scent before, her own, her senshi's, in combat. But that was ridiculous. Why would he want her to drink blood...? It was probably some drink to help her gain strength.

A smirk tweaked at his mouth, unnoticed by her as she sipped from the glass, and choked a bit as the fiery concoction burned a trail down her throat. She was about to throw it back up; her stomach rejected it heavily, but he placed a hand on her throat, holding the contents in.

"You must swallow. It will help you... heal." She nodded as best she could through tear stained eyes. After a moment, she got it down, and it stayed down. She sunk back into pillows. After gazing at her for a moment... her lovely features, her deliciously pale skin, round, red lips, sun kissed hair...

"I hurt..." He frowned in concern.

"Where?"

"My head... and... my chest..." He raised an eyebrow. "Er... my lungs and heart... not my-" she cut herself off and flushed slightly. He just smiled in response. He was dressed in a neat black shirt, tucked into a black pair of jeans. Ebony hair was swept back from his chiseled features, and a soft, glimmering, barely detectable malicious gleam lingered in his dark eyes as he watched her hungrily, breathing in ever breath she exhaled... lounging in her aura of innocence.

"You can rest here for a while..."

"..Thank you." He startled.

"P-pardon?"

"I said thank you. For being so nice to me, sir..." Now, the 'black man' was way beyond comprehending. He felt of sharp pang of guilt; she was thanking him for giving her what could be the worst nightmare ever. Shrugging, he shoved it away.

"Your welcome." He said simply, winking as he walked out of the room, shutting and locking the door behind him. Usagi looked around the room, and ruffled the blankets around her as a peacock would her feathers. Still cold, and dragging the blankets looped around her shoulders and slender body, she slid out of the bed and wandered around the small containment room. She tried to open the door, but found it locked. Sighing, she rested her ear against the door. She shut her eyes and listened.

Her heart jolted. She heard him. No, she FELT him, as only she could.

"MAMOCHAAAN!" She pounded loudly on the door, screaming at the top of her lungs. He was near, her senses were tingling wild. "Oh god please don't let him leave, please let him hear me! MAMO-" She was silenced when she was knocked backwards as the door swung open, two, narrow, red eyes glaring at her. It was her 'friend'. She blinked from her sprawled position on the floor, startled.

"Shut up, child, or I will silence you permanently." A soft smirk glowed on his face as he noticed the unnatural whiteness in her face, more so than what it should be if she were frightened. He walked over to her and knelt down, touching her cheek. Cold. Deathly cold. The smirk widened. "Soon... very soon..."

"Soon what?" She asked quietly, letting him stroke her cheek as he pleased, unmoving. He stood back up.

"You will be mine. Demando doesn't deserve you. He tried. He thought he could taint your lips and seduce you unto him. I knew better. The only way to turn you to me was to taint you from the inside, no, not your heart, dear, blessed child..." He laughed as she brought a hand up to her heart, confused. He lowered his voice, his smirk widening to reveal a pair of incisors, one at each end. "Your blood."

Usagi's eyes widened considerably, and she shrieked loudly, at least, she tried. Her voice was caught in her thought, and not a sound was uttered from her tantalizing lips. He backed away from her slowly, the sick grin wide as Usagi's hand flew to her neck, where she indeed did feel a pair of wounds resembling that of fang wounds.

"You mean... I'll... I'll..."

"Yes... you will be mine... you will become one of my kind. And when that happens, you will be bound to me. Forever." Usagi blinked, her body quivering. She was so shocked she just started at him, horrified, unbelieving. Chuckling, he bent down and pecked her lips before her got batted away by her. With an evil smirk, he walked out of the room, the door locking behind him, for good, this time.

**

Demando had stopped and turned around, seeing as his company had halted.

"Mamoru?"

"She... I don't know... She's frightened... She needs help..."

"Then lets help her!"

"We're trying."

"Hello, gentlemen." Demando and Mamoru looked up.

"Hello, Admiral." Demando spoke to his general quietly, wondering what had happened. He looked up and down the general, noting his oddly hued red eyes and his ensemble of black.

"Where are you going?"

"We're going to Sha-" Mamoru was silenced when Demando jabbed him not-so-gently in the ribs.

"It's none of your concern, Admiral. You have no grounds for speaking to your Prince. Be off with you."

"Yes, of course. Forgive me." With that, he slunk off, his smirk on his face hidden by his retreating back.

"On to Shatou's!" Demando said cheerfully, adding insult to injury, seeing as Mamoru was still nursing his ribs, muttering things the author wouldn't type, as it doesn't fall into the category of 'Mild, excessive language' or the 'PG-13' rating.

Pausing at Shatou's door, Demando laid his ear against the doorway, listening for signs within. Hearing none, he pushed it open and walked on in, shutting the door behind him. Mamoru blinked and growled, shoving the door open, knocking Demando to the ground.

"Oh, So sorry," Mamoru murmured as he stepped over the fallen prince with mock concern. Grumbling and getting up, Demando and Mamoru plowed about his room, looking for any signs of a certain, golden-haired goddess.

*30 minutes later*

They found none. Sighing, Demando glanced around to make sure everything in the room was in order. It was best not known to Shatou they had been going through his room, for, if he indeed, was responsible for her abduction, he shouldn't know they were on to him. Or were they?

Demando and Mamoru slipped quietly out the room, and shut the door, scampering quietly down the hallway. They put as much distance between Shatou's room and themselves as they possibly could, should he find his room had been searched somehow, despite the careful attention given to not disturbing anything.

"That was a flop."

"Indeed," Demando added, the two now feeling safe to talk aloud. They had found their way back into the royal parlor they had previously occupied, after their last, useless expedition. This time, though, unknowingly, they had both, unconsciously, slumped side by side into the love seat.

"What now," Mamoru asked his unlikely alliance. Demando responded with a deep sigh, and, then, evidently realized their unlikely seating arrangement.

"I suggest we separate our bodies." The realization now apparent to him, Mamoru smirked.

"Demando... And all this time I thought you were after Usagi... you little devil..."

After that, Mamoru barely had time to lurch out of the loveseat before he got impaled with Demando's backhand; a nasty thing to get his by. He was, indeed, very good at hitting people.

Mamoru smirked from the other side of the room as Demando propped his feet up in the space Mamoru had recently vacated.

**

Usagi sniffled, looking around atfer going through the past 10 minutes of utter hysteria... she had screamed, cried, and even begged through the door for her life back... but her pleas fell on deaf ears. Well, not really, seeing as the Admiral was standing right outside, feeling slightly remoursful, but she didn't know that.

She had finally realized what was going on, and it scared the daylights out of her. Usagi crawled over to the mirror, and shed herself of the blankets. She stood up, and noticed, much to her surprise, her wounds had healed. She drew her hand along her complexion... and she furrowed her brow. Weren't vampires suppossed to be pale? She noticed she was far from it... her nomal hues were returning, her lips a supple red. She shrugged. Not that she minded. She liked being human. Usagi then realized that her pleading and sobbing had gotten her nowhere. So, she acted more like Usagi-chan, and began hunting for another way out. Her cerulean eyes fell upon an air conditioning vent. A small one. How cliche. Usagi pushed a chair over under it, and clambered up, and pulled off the grating. She hoisted her lithe body inside, and... began sneezing.

It was obvious this hadn't been used in a very long time, and quite possible it was forgotten. Cobwebs hugged the walls like plaster, and spiders too. Usagi didn't like spiders much, and winced as she crawled through, cleaning out the cobwebs as she went. She passed over a grating in the floor that hung down in a room, and she shrieked as it gave out from underneath her. She quickly clambered to the other side as it smashed into the ground. She peered down in the hole, and saw no one was around. Thank God. Usagi sat back and dusted herself off and then continued on her way. She was a bit worried though... how much longer would it be before even more ducts fell out from under her?

**

The Admiral was busy lounging in Demando's throne, since the White Prince was nowhere to be seen. He helped himself to his wine, and sipped at it. It was good to be in charge. He felt a creak above him, and raised his eyebrows to the stone ceiling. Rats? Hardly. This was a hefty rat. A smirk curled at the corner of his lips as he heard scratching through the black marble. He quickly assessed where the rat was, and opened his palm, sipped his wine, and blasted a hole in the ceiling.

Usagi screamed as she fell, but she stopped suddenly when she landed in something soft. Her next realization was that it was someone's lap. The Admiral was pulling cobwebs out of her hair. Usagi blinked.

"Dear child... have we been playing 'Make Believe'? I do believe your a mess..." Usagi slapped him across the face and hopped up and sprinted out of the room, leaving a stunned Admiral behind. He shrugged, sighed, and sipped the wine again. "It's not like she can escape..."

**

Free free free!! Usagi was free! She was sprinting down random hallways, turning right, then left, then right, then left and so on. She had no idea where she was going, but logic told her sooner or later, she'd hit something. Or someone.

**

Demando was lounging back in his armchair, resting, as he, too, had removed himself from the loveseat. Mamoru stared blankly out the door, and blinked.

"Er... Demando-sama?"

"..hai?"

"...Wasn't that just Usagi-chan that ran by?"

Demando bolted up and both sprang from their seats and peered out the door. Usagi stopped, and looked around, panting, lost. She wailed. Mamoru was estatic, and shoved Demando away from him, and ran over to her, catching the surprised nymph in his arms as he showered her in butterfly kisses.

"M-Mamo- *pant* chan!" Usagi snuggled him close and cling around his neck. Demando coughed in the background. A poof was heard, and black smoke curled up from the ground. When it dissipated, the Admiral stood there, staring down a frightened Usagi.

"Tuxedo-Kamen-Sama. I believe you're holding something that belongs to me." Mamoru blinked and tightened his hold on Usagi, while Demando came up behind them, staring his Admiral down.

"That's impossible, Admiral. We believe Usagi was taken by a vampire... for her blood... you would have no motive for her." Admiral smirked and snapped his fingers, Usagi appearing in his arms. The odangoed one yet out a shrill yell, and the Admiral only smirked wider, his teeth showing.

"I wouldn't, would I now?" He chuckled lowly. "You know so little about your commerads, Demando-ouji-sama. I pity you." With that, he vanished on the spot, odango in tow.