Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. Big shock, I know.

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Night of the Killer Bunny Slippers

By Jessyca Thornbrook

Chapter 5

The locket's melody came to a close as their lips met. For exactly one tenth of a second, the rest of the universe ceased to exist, leaving only Sailor Moon and Mamoru—or was it Usagi and Tuxedo Kamen? Did it matter?

And then the universe rematerialized.

"Sailor Moon!" Luna's voice came like a punch in the stomach to both of them. They jumped back, blushing furiously.

"What?" demanded Sailor Moon sharply, forgetting how sorry she felt for her injured guardian, forgetting everything except the wonderful, heart-stopping warmth of that momentary kiss—and the fact that it was gone now.

Luna sighed with patient resignation. "We should be investigating these youma. You can. . . talk to Tuxedo Kamen later." She eyed him suspiciously. "I think we'll all need to talk."

Sailor Moon turned an even brighter shade of crimson, but Tuxedo Kamen recovered his outward composure quickly. "Very well." He turned toward the fallen monster, which was now emanating a truly disgusting stench. Sailor Moon's gaze followed his, and she suddenly realized how close she was standing to the pile of gore.

"Ewwww! Gross!" she yelped, hopping a good six feet away. Mamoru squashed the urge to smile at her antics and made a determined effort to come up with a cold, logical comment worthy of Tuxedo Kamen. Something that would show he wasn't completely bowled over by the fact that Sailor Moon was Usagi, and that if Luna hadn't interrupted, he'd probably still be kissing her. And enjoying it. . . .

No, it hadn't affected him in the slightest! And he would prove it by making a brilliant observation about the ugly carcass in front of him. Any moment now. Okay. It's a thing. A big dead thing. And it stinks. Probably because it's made of other dead things. So far, so obvious. It really should have been obvious, you know. I mean, they had the same hairstyle, the same voice, same eyes. . . same lips— He abruptly derailed that train of thought. Focus! Monsters! Evil! Of all the times for my hormones to finally take over my brain. . . .

"Um," Sailor Moon's voice at his side broke into his internal rant. "Why is it still here, anyway?"

"What?" he turned toward her again, and she blushed.

"Well, I mean, the youma usually turn into dust, right? So why didn't this one do that? Maybe it's not a normal youma?" she ventured tentatively.

"Good thinking, Sailor Moon!" said Luna, sounding surprised.

"Yeah," echoed Tuxedo Kamen faintly. Okay, I'm standing here like an idiot, and Odango Atama is making insightful comments based on deductive reasoning. Right. So, obviously, the world is coming to an end.

He shrugged, then realized Sailor Moon was still looking at him expectantly. It suddenly struck him that she was waiting for his approval. Of course Sailor Moon, and even Usagi-chan would care what Tuxedo Kamen thought, but the fact that they—she—still cared, knowing his true identity, made his heart jump strangely.

"Excellent observation, Sailor Moon," he stated, relieved when his voice came out clear and calm as usual. His recovery, however, was short-lived. She beamed up at him, her smile lighting her whole face and destroying his self control once more.

Usagi felt herself glowing in the warmth of his compliment—not to mention the look he was giving her. And this was Mamoru! She'd thought he hated her, at least as Usagi, but he knew who she was now, and he was looking at her like that! She almost thought he was going to kiss her again.

Mamoru knew he was. His arms reached for her of their own accord. He couldn't help himself. He wanted—needed—to hold and kiss this girl, no matter how many identities she had. . . .

And the inevitable happened: they were interrupted, this time by the beeping of her communicator. Sailor Mercury's voice sounded unusually disturbed.

"Sailor Moon! The city is under attack by—"

"I know, I know," Sailor Moon cut her off. "Bunny slippers with teeth, and big patchwork dead things. Where are you?" She almost enjoyed the taken-aback look on her fellow warrior's face at finding her so on top of things.

"Jupiter and I are headed to the shrine, and Venus is on the way as well. We think something's wrong there."

"Huh? Like what?"

"My computer detected a lot of strange energy readings from that area. And," Mercury hesitated, "we can't reach Sailor Mars."

"What? But she always has her communicator! She nearly killed me the last time I forgot mine!"

"I know." The blue haired girl looked even more worried. "Please hurry!"

"Right!" Sailor Moon tried to sound encouraging. "We're on our way!"

"We?" said Mercury, confused, but Sailor Moon had already clicked the off switch.

"Come on!" she shouted to Tuxedo Kamen and Luna. "We have to save Sailor Mars! And if she's not under attack, I have to be there to yell at her for forgetting her communicator!"

And without another word, she took off down the road. Tuxedo Kamen watched for a moment, his expression a mixture of amusement and admiration. He then carefully scooped up Luna, setting her on his shoulder, and followed his heroine.