Hello all and here is the newest chapter of Watch Me Shine! Enjoy! I have been emailed and told I am an ungrateful wretch, so to all of you who have reviewed…thank you! Thank you so much, your feedback and support mean a lot to me! To the reviewer who pointed out that the chapter titles are lyrics out of Bon Jovi's "Bounce," you are correct! I adore Bon Jovi, am a huge fan and I love that song. The words were appropriate to use and in the end when I give my footnotes of all the sources I used to create this story, that will be one of them. To those who said that this bears a striking resemblance to the Matrix, I am sorry, you are wrong, I detested that movie and if there are similarities, they are unintentional. Same for the Lord of the Rings…any similarities are not because I enjoyed those movies.

            In this chapter there is a love scene (slightly graphic but tasteful I think) , and a female/female attraction (nothing graphic). If you are close minded, if you are too young to be reading this R rated story or if that is not your cup of tea, hit the back button now. Do not flame the author for you have been warned!             With that in mind, to those begging for hints as to who is behind it, in my mind I give away the whodunit in this chapter, but I will tell you who it is not: Michiru, Makoto, Haruka, Ami, Mamoru, Queen Serenity and Usagi.

            Enjoy the new chapter! Read and review but be kind. Standard disclaimers, I own nothing and if I did do you really think I'd be here? No flames please! Again…if you are too young to read an R rated story, then don't! I don't want any emails or flames from upset 15 year olds telling me how to write my story! Enjoy!

            A shrill cry of battle rage echoed through the alley where Makoto and Haruka fought. Haruka narrowed her eyes at Makoto as she skilfully dodged a blow. "Why are you doing this? You know that I will emerge victorious."

            "I might surprise you yet Haruka." Makoto muttered grimly, wincing as a blow to her ribs knocked the wind out of her.

            "You know I'm going to hurt you." Haruka said almost conversationally. "So why are you doing this?"

            "I have my orders."

            "You always do what people tell you to do?"

            "When they are the true leader, yes."

            Haruka snorted in a most unladylike fashion as she grabbed Makoto's arm and twisted it behind her back. "You no more believe that Rei is the true leader than you believe I should sprout pink feathers out of my arse and fly to Kookamunga."

            Makoto said nothing, just flipped Haruka flat on her back as they drew even. "Stop talking and fight damn you!"

            "Why?"

            Makoto said nothing, just launched another assault on Haruka, actually managing to break through her defences and land a blow to her eye. "Makoto that hurt." Haruka said in an admonishing manner.

            She listened closely to Makoto, for with each blow she threw, with each kick she aimed she was muttering under her breath, in almost a sob-like voice. "Damn you, damn you, damn you…" a mantra. "I hate you."

            "Why do you hate me?" Haruka caught her leg mid-kick and held her firm so she couldn't escape.

            "None of your damn business." Makoto snapped. "Let me go!"

            "You started this fight and now you get upset when it doesn't go your way?" Haruka arched an eyebrow. "I am the one who should be affronted here, since I was having a perfectly good day and then out of nowhere you attack me like some kind of raving lunatic."

            "I told you I have my orders!"

            "From Rei? Or that pink haired little STD?"

            "Does it matter? Both are there for me to serve. As long as I do their will, things are good." She said bitterly, before clapping a hand over her mouth, eyes going wide.

            Haruka dropped her leg. "So that's it." She nodded, crossing her arms over her chest. "That's why you hate me."

            "Forget I said that." Makoto pleaded even as she grabbed Haruka in a neck choke that she easily broke and whirled to face her, fists raised.

            "I don't think I want to. You hate me because I made a choice, because I used free will…the one thing Rei and Fluff Brain won't let you use. You are a tool and are used as such." Haruka smirked. "You have changed teams, in a manner of speaking."

            "I am still a threat!" Makoto cried out. "Raise your fists to me! Fight me!"

            "How far will violence between us lead? You are not my enemy Makoto, I will fight you no longer." Haruka moved into a casual stance. "Fighting amongst Senshi will only hurt Usagi."

            "I don't care!"

            "Yes you do."

            Makoto dropped her fists and stood with a bewildered expression on her face. "If you will not fight me, then perhaps Usagi will."

            Haruka narrowed her eyes. "Makoto, I am not fighting you because I respect you. You are a worthy adversary and one of the few people who has ever managed to land a blow on me, or…" she smiled ruefully. "give me a shiner." Her face grew grim. "But know this: you attack Usagi and my leniency towards you ends. A direct attack on her will earn you no points with me and I will destroy you if I have to."

            "Then that is what I will do."

            "You will hurt her."

            "Nothing less than she deserves."

            "Bullshit." Haruka snapped. "Think for just a minute on the futility of that action!"

            "I can't think!" Makoto snarled. "I don't dare pause my thoughts for an instant, don't you understand that yet? Usagi protects you so you don't have this…this mind rape!"

            Understanding flashed across Haruka's face as all pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "Tell them you managed to wound me severely. That should get them to lay off you for a bit. It is true after all."

            Makoto's face was torn between gratefulness and sorrow. She bounded out of sight as Haruka turned to Michiru who had been concealed in the shadows. "What to do you make of that my love?"

            "I know what they want." Was the cryptic reply.

            Usagi and Mamoru stood before her bed, Usagi trembling. "Are you afraid Usako?" Mamoru asked gently.

            "No, not afraid, just nervous. What if…what if I do it wrong?"

            "There is no right and wrong, just us. You don't have to worry about impressing me."

            "But I do!" Usagi protested softly. "I have yearned for this, dreamed for this! We have been interrupted so many times before, that I can scarcely believe this will happen at last."

            "Perhaps…a change of partner is in order." Mamoru said, a smirk on his face as the atmosphere in the room changed.

            "What?" Usagi blinked as Mamoru's face sneered at her suddenly.

            "Perhaps a man, a full grown man with a man's appetite is beyond your tiny teenage mind to satisfy."

            Usagi drew back, crossing her arms in front of her. "I don't understand."

            "And you never did." Mamoru shook his head. "You fantasize about other men, you always have, picturing yourself in their arms, perhaps having them kiss you."

            "Not anymore I don't!"

            "But you do, and you know it. I do not always occupy your thoughts Odango." A pause. "Nor your dreams."

            "A person cannot be held responsible for what they dream!"

            "Only you." He smiled, an unpleasant smile that made her reluctant. "As I said, perhaps a change of partner is in order to get you to drop to your back and spread your legs."

            Usagi shook her head; this was turning into a nightmare.

            Mamoru's face…shimmered for lack of a better word. Morphed into something…someONE different. After a moment, the suave face of Umino – after Naru had spent years working on him – was in front of her. "Have you not fantasized about me Usagi?" he leaned towards her. "Especially after I changed my look?" he pulled her close. "I have worshipped and adored you for years you know." His lips lowered to hers. "No one will ever believe it was me, so that makes it ok."

            Usagi pushed him away, shaking her head. "No! Not you! Never you Umino! You are my friend and more to the point, you are my best friends boyfriend! I had one fantasy about you, ONE! I do not want you!"

            Umino had a speculative look on his face. "No? Perhaps someone more familiar?" he turned his face to the back of the room and when he face her again, it was the friendly and comforting face of Motoki. "Was I not your first true crush Odango? Did I not cause your first…explicit dream?"

            Usagi froze, not pulling away. "Motoki-oniichan…" she whispered. "Reika…"

            "She is nothing compared to you, I have known it for years." He assured her as he ran a hand down her face. "Your beauty is the best thing about you, I have always said so."

            "You told me my brains…"

            "I lied Odango. Your beauty…for you are incomparable…" lips at the side of her neck. "And I should be your first…"

            Usagi blinked and pushed him away. "No! No! You are not the one Motoki! You are my Oniichan, my older brother! I do not want you in that way anymore! You are off limits, Minako's secret love! I cannot touch you, nor do I want to!"

            Motoki rolled his eyes and sighed. "Women! Who can understand one of them?" he shrugged his shoulders, and when he faced her fully, Haruka stood there. "Unless you are one of them?" she asked smoothly.

            "Haruka?" Usagi blinked.

            "Was I not the first, the only to make you question your sexuality? Did you not yearn for me? Love me?" Haruka circled her slowly.

            "I do love you Haruka…but Michiru…"

            "I have had Michiru, many times. You are pure you are untouched. It would be my pleasure, my honour, my one great desire to bring you to the heights of passion one can touch. I will be gentle, I will be honourable…you can trust me."

            "No Haruka, I can't do this. I don't want you this way."

            "Which way do you want me Koneko?" Haruka drew close to her and lifted her chin to face her. "I want you to be relaxed."

            "I am not attracted to you in that way." Usagi protested feebly.

            Haruka lowered her lips to Usagi's and held her gently, yet firmly. The kiss was…different. Unlike anything Usagi had ever felt before, yet gentle. Loving. Even through a kiss she could feel Haruka wanting to protect her…make her first time painless. Releasing her from the kiss, Usagi stumbled. "Are you sure?"

            "I thought you wanted me to keep my virtue."

            "You can give it to me." She said softly, sweeping her hands down Usagi's body. "Was I not your greatest temptation? Were not your dreams filled with me – even after you knew I was a girl?"

            "Not really."

            "You lie Koneko. I could have been the one to take you from Mamoru fully, had I wanted it."

            "And now you want to?"

            "The thought is tempting…intoxicating. I deserve you, no one else does."

            Usagi's mind was a torment. She had come to the realization this was a Trial, the most unusual yet, but of what? "Haruka, perhaps I wanted you in the beginning but I don't want you now. There is another, one who haunts me thoughts and makes me crave him in body. I love you, yes. As a friend. As a sister. As a fellow warrior."

            Haruka smirked. "Can't win them all." She raised her hands to her face. "Though I came close." A confident voice replied and Usagi shook.

            Seiya stood before her.

            "Why is she doing this Artemis?" Ami asked, drained of pumping him for information.

            "Why do you think?"

            "Stop being so damn cryptic all the time!" she burst out. "Give me some clues as to why she is doing this! She was so good once!"

            "Deep inside, she still is. She always is. This is her duty; this is why she was the different one. Queen Serenity made her for this purpose, to get close to her, to be close to her, as a confidant, as a stern mother, as a sister. She cultivated her for this purpose, making her training stricter than any other. As an advisor she went through tests I never did, as a warrior she went through training no senshi ever had before." Artemis explained.

            "I can understand that the Trials are needed to make sure Usagi is prepared for all the responsibility that comes with assuming the throne. But so many Trials, so many tests? Why?" Ami shook her head. "I cannot figure that part of the puzzle out."

            "Can you not?"

            "Which side are you on Artemis? You loyalties are shaded at best. You never voted to cast Usagi out from the Senshi, but you didn't object. You never went to her when she left, you stayed with the core." Ami clutched him by the neck. "Tell me."

            Artemis gave her a tiny smile. "Though you may kill me Ami, I cannot reveal that information."

            "You can't play both sides of the field forever Artemis."

            "Soon, I won't have to."

            "Seiya." Usagi breathed.

            "Odango." He smiled. "Your greatest temptation I should think. If anyone was ever going to take you from Mamoru, it would have been me. You wanted it, remember?"

            "No, this is wrong." Usagi shook her head. "You cannot be here."

            "Because even now you want me? Even now you wonder what might have been? After all this time you do still dream of me?" he pulled her flush against him as she felt his firmness pressing against her. "I wanted you so badly, so much Odango. Taiki and Yaten nearly went mad hearing me talk of you constantly."

            "No Seiya, I am not meant to be with you."

            "Forget who you are meant to be with Odango, for that is not the point. Who do you want to be with? To hell with duty, with soul mates, with a thousand years of history forget about that for a moment and be selfish! What do you want?"

            Usagi closed her eyes. "I am meant for Mamoru, I want Mamoru. I have been raised for him."

            "Why did you let Haruka kiss you? Why did you nearly fall to me before the Chaos battle?" Seiya persisted. "If Mamoru is all you love, all you yearn for, why have you nearly stumbled along the way?"

            "Temptation is natural, it is normal." Usagi explained. "Mamoru has been tempted, I know this."

            "You are not Mamoru. The purity of an ancient bloodline rests with you. You are the sole remaining heir of the first people to live in this galaxy! He has cousins he has family still! You do not. He can afford to be indiscriminate, you cannot."

            "He is the only one worthy of me." Usagi said defiantly. "I resist you."

            "Have you never truly looked at those who pursued you? The leader of the warriors on Uranus, the crown princess herself with a bloodline nearly as old and certainly as pure as yours? Me - a guardian of the Outer Galaxies, descended from a warrior line older than your own? Or him…with a bloodline that is only a few thousand years old? He is the one worthy of you? He, who cannot trace his bloodline back millennia like the rest of us? Oh Odango, you live in denial." He kissed the side of her neck. "When he was gone, you tormented yourself with visions of me, thoughts of me. At night when you touched yourself it was my name you called, not his."

            Usagi's cheeks flamed at the truth. "It is actions that matter, and my course is set with Mamoru. I love him."

            "Then why aren't you fighting me? Why are you rationalizing this to me when my hands are where they are?"

            Usagi realized with a start that one of Seiya's hands was on her breast, caressing her in a most pleasurable way, while his other hand snaked down towards the clasp on her skirt. "Stop that." She struggled to push him from her.

            "Make me." His hot breath tickled her ear. "Unless you don't want to. Can you deny what the heart truly wants?"

            Usagi closed her eyes. "This isn't right. It's not supposed to be this way."

            "What way? You giving yourself to someone you want, out of desire, not out of duty? You are not a royal whore Usagi, giving your body to someone because you must, you are giving yourself to me because you can…you want this."

            Seiya's kiss was gentle, it was warm, it was tender…but there was no passion, no heat, no yearning to throw him to the bed and rip his clothing off with her teeth. She pulled from him. "Remove your hands Seiya, for this is not right and I do not want you."

            Seiya sighed and raised his arms. "I concede defeat. He is a lucky bastard I give him that." He leaned in to her one last time. "And while I know you think this is a vision, in this Trial, you are wrong. I am really here, not a morphed version of Haruka. This is really me Odango, and I tell you this truly that if he hurts you, I will tear his spleen from his body and give it you with a rose on a jewelled platter. I'll kill him and make it look like an accident." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Because I love you." He straightened and winked at her, as Mamoru stood before her once more, desire burning in his eyes.

            "Mamo-chan." She breathed.

            "Your desire and attraction to Dimando and Chaos was not strong enough to bring them Usako." He smirked. "It seems you are not as attracted to the bad boys as one might think."

            "Did you see all of that?" she demanded.

            He shook his head. "I did not. I had to wait for you, instead of you waiting for me, and I worried." He cleared his throat. "Before you collect your reward, some protocol is necessary here. You have passed the 5th Trial, the one of Fidelity."

            Usagi closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief. "It is finished then."

            Mamoru pulled her to him and lifted her gently on the bed. "Now we can continue what Setsuna wanted us to do, but we were interrupted in doing."

            Usagi smiled before clenching a hand in Mamoru's hair and pulling his lips to hers.

            Hotaru headed for the apartment she shared with Setsuna, Haruka and Michiru, ready to tell them all she had learned. A blow from behind on the back of her head felled her as a cruel cackle came from behind. "So the spy got herself in trouble." A pause. "Lets see how much Usagi values her as your mind is examined and then …reprogrammed." A gesture. "Take her."

            Minako came forward with a heavy heart and lifted Hotaru's limp body in her arms, cursing the way this was turning out.

            The kiss was flame itself, threatening to consume the bed. Usagi had broken out in a sudden sweat for the intensity of it threatened to overwhelm her. Finally it was Mamoru, finally they were together, at last there would be no interruptions. All she had done, all she had accomplished brought her here, to this moment. To her opening herself to her love on this bed. She had thought she would be gentle, tentative as she had been in their previous explorations, but she wasn't. It was almost violently she ripped the shirt from his chest, desperate to see his muscled flesh, yearning to touch it. Mamoru tried to calm her, to hold her down but her need was too strong. She broke the kiss as she moved to his earlobe, his throat, drawing a line with her tongue down to one pebbled nipple where she rested to suckle. His masculine groan was all the thanks she needed.

            His hands had slipped under her skirt and finished undoing the clasp that Seiya had so helpfully begun. His fingers crept beneath her nylons to caress the white flesh he found. "Usako…" he breathed hotly.

            Usagi sat up and smiled at him as she began to unbutton her shirt. He stilled her hands. "Let me." He asked. Her nod made his heart pound painfully as with trembling fingers, he tried to undo the tiny buttons.

            He wanted to tear everything from her and take her. Fast. Furious. But that was not the way and he had to calm her down. He was a gentleman and he would be gentle though his restraint would be pushed to the breaking point. "We have plenty of time Usako and no one will interrupt us. Savour the feelings." He murmured as he pressed a kiss to the side of her throat, removing the shirt. "You are exquisite, moreso now." Indeed, since her transformation because of the mirror, he could scarcely keep his hands off her. Her skin was as soft as it looked. Moving to the clasp of her bra, he removed it, kissing each breast in turn as she closed her eyes and the tension left her body. This then, was how he wanted her.

            "Mamoru, I can't…" she arched towards him, an indefinable something making her writhe and bite her lips.

            "Go with it." He encouraged, pulling off her skirt and nylons in the same motion. "Feel."

            She opened heavy lidded eyes to stare at him. "You are overdressed sir."

            "Let me rectify that milady." He smiled as he sat back from her and removed his trousers. Clad only in his boxers he laid over her again. "I love you Usako."

            "I know." She breathed as his hands and lips explored her body. Finally it would occur; finally she would fulfill her deepest dreams. He wanted her for more than her body, she wanted him for more than pleasure. An understanding was between them, forged of mutual desire and respect, an understand that had been lacking only two weeks ago.

            She pulled his lips to hers and rolled over so she could better explore his body, grateful for the darkness that covered her blush as she drew her fingers and lips over a body she had touched only a few times before. The knowledge that they would not be interrupted made her excited…and afraid. Friction, glorious friction made her throw back her head and almost sob with desire and relief as he grasped her hips to still her. "Usako…" he pulled her face to his. "You can't…"

            "I can and I will." She smiled impishly, removing his boxers, removing her remaining underwear. Grasping him in her hand, she felt a thrill of desire go through her at his semi-shout of startlement.

            "Let go Usako."

            "No."

            "If you don't, I'll…"

            "If I am not woman enough to get a rise out of you again, I do not deserve to be female." She said firmly.

            He muttered something unintelligible, and Usagi cursed his honour and gentlemanly ways at this moment. Steeling her courage, she lowered her mouth to him and his borderline scream made it worthwhile as he could not hold against the unexpected touch. He collapsed back amongst her pillows, breathing heavily and staring at her as though she was the entire world. Inwardly, Usagi was doing a victory dance. "Damn I'm good!" she thought.

            "Now vixen, allow me to return the favour." He growled in a voice that Usagi decided she wanted to hear forever. He flipped her on her back and proceeded to run fingers and lips over her over-sensitized skin, making her writhe, making her moan, making her curse him.

            Whether it was her or the fact that he couldn't wait, he kissed her and stared deeply into her eyes. "Are you sure?" he asked seriously, managing to overcome the lust that gave him the shakes.

            She nodded firmly. "I am, and I have been."

            "Are you…protected?"

            "In the drawer." She whispered, trembling at the moment.

            "Are you afraid?" he asked, returning to her and seeing her shaking.

            "A little."  She admitted.

            "Tell me if you want me to stop."

            She nodded and drew in a deep breath. "Ok, now."

            He shook his head and smiled. "It doesn't work that way Usako."

            She blinked, not understanding. He gently kissed her lips, re-igniting the flames that had burned through her but faded with fear. He wanted her insensate, mindless, unable to grasp the concept of fear. Despite all that had occurred in this bed, she was an innocent. He was the first to touch her, to see her, to taste her. Possessiveness curled his features into a feral snarl, she was his. Her hands danced over his body as he fought to keep a clear mind. She wanted him as mindless as she was, but he could not take that risk, not this time.  A caress, a kiss, a nudge and a push. Her cry made his heart bleed as his mind pleaded to shut down.

            She wanted to say something to him, to tell him how she felt but she could only feel. He wanted to let her know how much he loved her but words failed him. Eyes spoke, hands clasped as an ageless dance began. They moved together, uncaring of the rest of the world. He loved her more than he could say and was thankful she had given him another chance. She adored him with every fibre of her being and was grateful she had resisted temptation with everyone else. This feeling, this need was unlike anything she had ever felt before. Pleasure…there should be another word for it, something stronger. To call this pleasure was to call a lottery winner happy. She craved release, would die if she didn't get it.

            She called his name, happy for his encouragement, his support. "Now Usako." He whispered.

            "It doesn't work that way Mamoru." She said in a broken voice, echoing his words of moment before. Tears gathered at the corner of her eyes at the beauty of this moment. Heat pooled within her as she could withstand the feelings no longer.

            Mamoru swore he had never seen such beauty before in his life as he witness Usagi undulate beneath him, bringing him over the edge with her into oblivion. Collapsing on her, withdrawing from her and pulling her close, he was utterly sated as she curled in his embrace and was convinced she was in heaven.

            It was with a heavy heart that Makoto climbed the stairs to the Hikawa Jinja, Haruka's words echoing through her brain. She truly hated Haruka more than anyone else, because she was free. Preparing her lie, praying her mind would not be torn apart, she steeled herself to face the demons within, smiling mirthlessly when she realized that it was not a metaphor.

            "Hey Motoki!" Haruka said cheerfully. "Coffee please." She sat on the stool, Michiru ordering iced tea.

            "Where's Usagi?" Michiru asked, looking around. "Isn't she working tonight?"

            Motoki laughed. "She's going to get paid for tonight, but she won't be in."

            "What do you mean?" Haruka asked, worried. "Is she ok?"

            "I'm sure she is." Motoki winked at them. "Mamoru was in here earlier looking for her."

            "And?" Michiru questioned, noticing Haruka had gone completely still.

            "Well he hasn't seen her since her…change, so I sent him over to her place." Motoki paused. "And I told him to tell her she has tonight off since he probably drowned in drool the instant she opened the door."

            "WHAT?" Haruka roared. "YOU SENT HIM TO HER APARTMENT LOOKING THE WAY SHE DOES? WITHOUT A CHAPERONE?!"

            "So what? They are in love and…things happen." He sighed. "Lucky bastard."

            Haruka was on her feet and reaching for Motoki before she realized that Mamoru had probably already taken her princess. "I'll kill him." She said calmly to Michiru before turning on her heel and heading to the door.

            "You just HAD to tell her that, didn't you?" Michiru muttered to Motoki before leaping off the stool and racing after her. "'Ruka, wait!"

            Motoki gestured to his sister. "Unazuki, take over here. I don't want to miss this."

            "And you think I do?" she replied, indignant.

            He called over another coworker. "You're in charge of the café until we get back."

            "Cool!"

            Casting off their aprons, Motoki and Unazuki raced after Haruka who was on the warpath and calling Setsuna and Hotaru.

            Usagi smiled a purely feminine smile as she rolled from her bed and headed to the bathroom. She was smug, having the grin of a woman well pleasured. She looked in the mirror to see if she had changed in any way, to see if there was any difference to her now, and she froze. "I've been waiting for you." The face in the mirror replied. "Did you think that I wouldn't?"

            The face in the mirror was not hers.

            Hope I made it long enough! Hope you enjoyed! Next chapter will be up next Sunday! Review please, it's what keeps me going! Thanks again to all who have reviewed and to all who put me on their favourites list…that gives me giddy giggles every time! Read my Harry Potter work if you don't mind slash! Check out my websites! Until next week!

Ja!