Sailor Moon X by Starling Sinclair

Chapter 6: The Mysterious Sleeping Sickness

March 12, 2019

Usagi woke naked, alone, in a strange bed, with a pounding headache. At least the sheets were really nice. Not silk, but they had a high thread count. They were a navy blue, in a bedroom that had a large window and its own balcony. Her head hurt so much, and she tried to remember how many shots she'd had with Mamoru.

Oh god.

Mamoru.

He couldn't find her here. Well, he wasn't here, so this had to be a mistake.

Wrapping the sheets around her, she searched the floor for her clothes, and came up empty. So she did the most sensible thing. She raided his clothes. She found a tee shirt hanging in his closet (who hangs tee shirts up?), which she threw on, and hoped to God no one was in the living room, where she was pretty sure she'd discarded her clothes..

She slowly cracked the door open. Peeking out, she sent a silent prayer in hopes that he wouldn't be there, and that there wouldn't be the awkward conversation where they both would say that they had drank too much. That it had been a mistake. Usagi wasn't sure she could take it if he felt that way.

But what she found in the other room stopped her in her tracks. She could see Mamoru through the little opening of the bar that sectioned off his kitchen. He was shirtless and... cooking? The little dining room table was covered in the biggest breakfast spread Usagi had ever seen. There were eggs and bacon and oatmeal. Cold cereal, pancakes, and waffles.

She slowly walked out, staring at the feast before her. Was he expecting to feed an army? Was he hosting a breakfast party?

"Oh good, you're up," he said, walking out of the kitchen in lounge pants, barefoot, with a frying pan. He seemed a little embarrassed, and... nervous? He kept trying to figure out where to put the eggs, while avoiding direct eye contact.

"I didn't know what you'd want, so, I just made everything," he admitted.

Everything?

"You made all this for me?" Usagi asked, intimidated.

"Um, yeah," he said awkwardly, finally putting the pan down on the table. He wasn't looking at her again, afraid she'd reject him in the light of the morning. "I have orange juice, coffee, tea…"

Usagi didn't let him finish. She grabbed his face and kissed him. Anyone who'd make a feast because he didn't know what she'd want didn't view this as just a one night thing. This wasn't a mistake.

The kissing was less forceful and more unsure. His hands stayed above her waist. He was being surprisingly chase considering his lounge pants were doing a terrible job at hiding his feelings. Deciding they were too far apart, she jumped into his arms and wrapped her legs around him. She felt him smile into the kiss as his hands lowered to her thighs.

"Breakfast will get cold," he told her, his voice guttural.

"Let it," she said, using her foot to try push his pants off.

He kissed her again and set her atop the sofa back.

"Deja vu," she mumbled into his mouth, and felt his smile.

As they kissed, his hands trailed up her thighs and over her hips, relishing in the lack of clothing. Usagi untied the drawstring of his pants, fingers dipping in the waistband.

"I see you're not wearing underwear," she flirted.

His thumbs traced her pelvic bone. "Must be the fashion this morning," he retorted, kissing down her neck.

"Who needs fashion? Or clothes?"

She pulled back just far enough to look him in the eyes. He was just as hungry as she was, but he seemed far more restrained. She gripped the hem of the tee shirt, and slowly started to lift it.

He put his hands on hers, stopping her. "To be clear, I'm thoroughly enjoying this, and want to continue, but.."

Fear creeped into her. She wasn't usually so emboldened, but something about Mamoru put her at ease. But did he not want this?

"But what?"

"I don't need to rush. Last night we were not our… most thoughtful selves. This morning," he struggled for words, "is different. I only want this, if you want this."

She blinked at him. "You do know a man making me an epic breakfast feast is one of the hottest things that's ever happened to me right?"

He laughed, a deep belly laugh. His head fell to her shoulder, and she nipped his ear. "Please say you're not going to make me put on underwear now," she whispered.

"Nope." He grabbed the hem of the shirt and pulled it over her head very quickly. "But you're not the only one who can be assertive."

"Well, I think I worked up an appetite," she said, tracing a little heart on his well sculpted chest.

"Good," he said. "Because I think I cooked everything in my kitchen, and then some."

She put his tee shirt back on, and he managed to drape his lounge pants over himself. He sat up, and leaned back against the leg of the breakfast table. Usagi grabbing his coffee cup and some waffles, sat in his lap, snuggling into him.

"You're coffee's cold," she observed, mouth full of waffle.

"Worth it," he said, nuzzling her neck, and taking the cup from her.

The silence that fell between them was peaceable, even comfortable. Eventually, they would need to talk. About the outcome of the night before and this morning and the week he left for Med School. But, not right now.

"I'm going to have to go to work soon." He hadn't wanted to look at a clock, but he knew time was running out.

"Call in sick," Usagi answered, tugging at his waistband.

He grabbed her hand because he knew that if he didn't stop her, he would never leave. "Mmm, as tempting as that sounds that is so tempting, but, I really can't."

Usagi pouted. She wasn't ready for this little honeymoon to be over.

"But, I do want to see you afterwards," he said, kissing up her neck. "Come over for a late dinner? Or a drink? Or whatever?"

"Mamoru, are you asking me for a date? Or a hook-up?"

"Date? With benefits maybe? I really just want to see you," he said pulling back. "Unless you don't…"

She could see the panic in his eyes, that maybe he'd misread her. That once he left this little experiment between them would be over. She kissed him softly, hoping to convey that she'd only been teasing quiet.

"It sounds lovely," she said. He smiled.

"I guess I need to shower," he said.

"Mind if I join you?"

And eventually Mamoru did make it to work, though, for the first time in years, he was late.

Mamoru left Usagi with his spare key so she could take her time leaving. She ate more than her fair share of his breakfast spread, then texted Naru and Motoki. Normally, she would be at work, but since Crown wasn't going to be open, she found herself with unexpected free time. Sure, she could have messaged Rei or Minako to get in some training, but she thought they might not want to see her after yesterday. And she didn't want to see them. So she thought she'd spend the day with Naru for a post-birthday shopping spree.

She picked up the leftovers, then headed home to change.

"And where have you been?" Luna called, as she closed her apartment door. "I've been worried sick all night. I know you were going to be out late, but, it's well into the morning"

"I think this makes an excellent point for needing communicators," Usagi teased.

Luna growled. The cat had a fondness for the girl, one that had developed quite quickly, but she wasn't in the mood for games.

"Where were you?" Luna asked again.

Usagi opened and closed her mouth, trying to figure out how to articulate just where she was the night before. "I was too drunk to make it home, so I stayed at a friend's," she said carefully.

"And you're just now getting home?" Luna asked. Usagi blushed.

"We had a late breakfast," she said. Luna looked skeptical.

Since her apartment was so small, and there was nowhere to hide, Usagi decided her phone could provide the best interference. Besides, Naru and Motoki deserved at least a text that she was alive. (Not to mention providing the much needed out.)

Straonge. Neither Motoki nor Naru were answering their phones, and had it not been for Luna's own paranoia, she probably wouldn't have thought much of it at all. They were all adults. They had been out having fun. Hangovers and silences weren't unusual after a night out. But, now that youma were more than just things she heard about on the news, she worried when she got radio silence. Stupid cat had a point about checking in. This was another point for her about the need for communicators.

"I'm going on on Crown," Usagi said, after changing into something more comfortable.

"But you just got home," Luna said. "Don't you need a shower? Or at least some breakfast."

"I'll see you later Luna!" she said, rushing out the door as quick as possible. She was not interested in sharing the details of those morning tasks just yet.

She went by Crown, but no one was there. She stood there a moment, thinking about everything, looking at the ruins. The street window was still broken, with caution tape on the window, but, the glass had been swept up. The buzz and beeps and lights that were usually the heart of the arcade were off. The quiet and darkness felt so wrong.

When she didn't find Motoki, she decided to go Naru's. Naru would enjoy the impromptu visit more. When she knocked on Naru's door, and got no answer, Usagi panicked. She pulled out her phone and texted Minako and Rei.

Twenty minutes later, Rei and Luna met Usagi outside her friend's house.

"Really, I don't see what the big deal is," Rei said. "It's only like eleven am. She's probably hungover and sleeping. Or maybe, what a strange idea, she's at work because it's Tuesday!"

Rei took out her lock picking kit. She thumbed through the tools as Usagi continued.

"Naru took off for her birthday," Usagi said, "and we were supposed to go shopping. But she's not answering the door or her phone."

"Well, what did she say last night when you left?" Rei asked.

Usagi nervously rubbed the back of her head. "We didn't get a chance to go over details or say goodnight…"

Rei was giving Usagi a curious look.

"Usagi didn't come home last night," Luna added.

Rei looked between Luna and Usagi, her eyebrow arched. She smirked like a cat toying with a canary.

"I stayed with a friend," Usagi said, as innocently as she could.

"A friend."

"Yes."

"A friend with benefits I assume?"

Usagi's blush said everything for her.

"You devil you, abandoning your friend on her birthday for some guy you met at a bar," Rei teased with a Cheshire Cat grin. She turned and focused on the lock.

"Who said it was a guy?" Usagi added defensively.

"Oh, a lady then?"

"No, a guy, and he wasn't just some guy I met at a bar…" Usagi added. "We have… history."

"Right. You met this him at a bar before," Rei said. "Got it."

"Ugh, no, it's complicated, and I'm seeing him again. Tonight. After he gets off work," Usagi defended.

"I meant the door," Rei said. Usagi threw her hands up in the air.

"After you, Usagi," Luna said, nodding toward the now open door. Usagi sighed and walked in.

Naru's apartment was smaller than Mamoru's, but considerably larger than Usagi's. She only had one bedroom as well, but a full kitchen and a living room. Usagi and Rei took their shoes off in the foyer while Luna went ahead. The walls were a pale blue, and the furniture new. Everything had a place and everything seemed to be in its place. It was very Marie Kondo. There were several pictures of Naru and Usagi through the years, Motoki and Umeno occasionally making an appearance. None of the lights were on.

"Naru?" Usagi called into the apartment.

"Maybe she's just not home," Rei said.

"Girls! Come quick!" Luna called out, sitting on the back of the sofa. The girls rushed over and found Naru, sitting in a daze with a purple flower on her lap, staring at her laptop. Her laptop was playing a ten hour loop of Dark Pandora music, the band they'd gone to see the night before.

Usagi kneeled beside her friend. She took the zombie girl's hands, and quickly dropped them. She felt that energy drain, the pins and needles, that she'd felt when the youma was draining her energy.

"Naru," Usagi said. "Come on, you have got to snap out of it."

In a weird delay, Naru answered, "Usagi? Is that you?" Her eyes couldn't leave the screen, though her head started to turn towards Usagi. But in that slo-mo way, her head turned back towards the screen, absently bobbing along.

"Naru?"

"Shhh, I'm listening," Naru said. She sighed contently.

Usagi looked up at Rei.

"Okay, you may have been on to something," Rei said.

"When I touched her, it felt like a youma draining my energy," Usagi said. "But, how is that possible?"

"This must be a Dark Kingdom ploy, but I've never encountered anything like it," Luna added. "Rei, perhaps your powers can give us some insight?"

Rei nodded and closed her eyes. She folded her hands in front of her, much like she did when summoning her fire. Her hands moved in a circle, feeling out energy. When she opened her eyes, she pointed to the flower in Naru's lap.

"That," Rei said, "is evil."

"That's the flower we got from the show last night," Usagi said.

"So, why weren't you affected?" Luna asked.

"Where is your flower?" Rei asked.

Usagi put a finger on her chin, concentrating, trying to remember what she did with it. "It was in my hair, but, that was before…" Mamoru's hands were all over me, she finished silently with a blush. "Um, probably on the ground of the alley beside the venue."

Rei raised both eyebrows. "The alley, you say. What were you doing in the alley that caused you to lose a flower?"

"It doesn't matter, as long as it's not with her," Luna said. "I don't want a time bomb lying around. Now, what are we going to do about Naru?"

It surprised both Rei and Luna when Usagi reached in and pulled the flower from Naru's lap. Once the flower was out of Naru's hand, the young woman fell over, exhausted. Rei checked her pulse, and nodded in relief.

Usagi could feel the throbbing drain of the flower, and now that she had it, she could see it oscillating pink and purple with power. Unlike a direct youma siphon, this wasn't as strong of a drain, but, something more insidious. And perhaps, if she'd been in a club, listening to a band she really liked, (and especially if she had been drinking) she wouldn't have noticed the dull pulsing.

Usagi didn't know she had started humming. "This music is really nice," Usagi said, feeling the hypnotising effect of the music.

It was Luna who put together the music part. She pressed pause on the computer. Usagi blinked in confusion.

"Aw, why did you stop the music?" Usagi said.

Rei pointed at the flower. "Because it only seems to work when the music is playing," she added.

Usagi looked at her friend, who was sleeping on the couch.

"Should we call an ambulance?" Usagi asked.

"I don't think so. The energy drain seems to be much smaller than an attack," Luna added. "I suspect she'll just sleep it off and assume it was a very bad hangover."

"It's rather ingenious," Rei said. "Drain her little by little. Less likely to draw Senshi attention."

Usagi nodded and turned the flower over in her hand. It seemed especially innocuous now that it wasn't draining her energy. A purple lily with pink stamens. It was pretty, and she could feel it calling her. Telling her to just add music.

"So, we could have just stopped the music and it would have worked," Rei said. "You didn't have to do something quite so stupid."

Usagi shrugged. "Yeah, well, either way. We're all fine."

"But onto more important things, who else were you with last night? We need to track down these flowers and get them out of people's hands before something bad happens," Luna said. And Usagi's heart sank as she realized that even though Naru was out of danger, her other friends weren't.

She looked at her phone. No new messages. No missed calls.

"Motoki."

AN:Thanks so much for all the reviews! They make me feel all warm and fuzzy. A very special thanks to Xhibt B for beta-reading. And thanks to Runic for sneaking some last minute notes to me. Erica and Matt, y'all are great at reassuring me that I'm not going in the wrong direction. And a big thanks to my husband for being way too good of an alpha reader. And calling out my lazy suspense tactics in my early drafts.