Sailor Moon X by Starling Sinclair
Chapter 12: ...Is a Trap
June 4, 2019 (barely)
"Did you just say engaged?" Rei asked, a little too much excitement in her voice.
Mamoru sighed and rubbed his brow. Usagi downed both glasses of champagne then signaled for more.
"Mina," he said, and looked at her from beneath his hand. He was pleading with her. She narrowed her eyes at him, trying to rack her brain for what he was getting at. Their history wasn't a secret. What did it even matter if...
Then it clicked. She looked between Mamoru and Usagi, eyes widening.
OH.
Minako and Mamoru had a complicated relationship, but he'd always been honest with her, even from the beginning.
On their third night together she had finally asked him, "Why me?" She'd propped herself up by bundling his fluffy comforter underneath her chest to better read his face.
"Why you what?" he had countered, lazily stretching across the sheets like a sleepy cat in the sun.
"That night at the party," she'd continued. "You could have had almost any girl there, and undoubtedly some of the boys. But you picked me. Why?"
He'd pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes. "How do you want me to answer this, Mina?"
She'd thought for a moment. She was beautiful, somewhat famous, talented, and a power senshi. Why should she fish for compliments? She'd chosen him just as much as he'd chosen her. Besides, would she really turn him down if he texted her again tomorrow?
"The truth."
He had paused, then told her softly, "You remind me of someone.".
"Oooo, a past lover? Someone who broke your heart? Someone forbidden?"
The corner of his mouth smirked. "Does it matter?"
She had nodded enthusiastically. "Well, I need to know if I remind you of the sister. Because that would be weird."
He laughed. "She was definitely not my sister." He struggled to find the next words, "I guess we were friends. Doesn't matter. We were never gonna work out."
"The one who got away…" Mina said wistfully.
"Not even that. More like the one that never was." He turned his head to look at her with those sexy ocean blue eyes. "Why did you pick me?"
She smiled at him. "Because you're nothing like him." Nothing like Alan. It was true.
"Well, I guess that means we're perfect for each other," he said. She had thought maybe they were. Perhaps it's why it worked so well. They had been too busy pretending the other was or wasn't someone else.
Someone else he loved. Someone it would never have worked out with. Someone blonde. Someone bubbly. Someone he left in Japan. Usagi.
"Is she…" Minako asked, in English, eyebrow raised. Mamoru blushed with a sharp nod.
In that instant, Minako's heart softened. She was the Senshi of Love. Even if Senshi were never going to have happily ever afters, they could have this. For a little while.
A genuine smile crossed her lips at that moment. "I mentioned him the other night," she added in Japanese. "We were engaged in college, but we split amicably."
"You never mentioned that little detail to me," Rei grumbled.
Minako ignored her and continued, "So, what I want to know is, how did you two meet?"
And with that, the tension was momentarily defused.
XXX
After downing enough champagne to make her head fuzzy, Usagi cried, "Let's hit the pool!"
What she needed now was cool fun, a shirtless Mamoru, and more alcohol.
"I don't have my swimsuit," Rei responded.
"Since I know fun isn't a priority to any of you, especially you Mamo-chan," she started, reaching for the tote bag Mamoru was carrying for her, "I packed suits for everyone!"
She'd hoped her thoughtfulness might have made some headway in getting through Minako's walls. Of course, she hadn't expected to encounter a secret history between Minako and Mamoru.
Usagi was the only one who didn't need to change, so she waited for others and thought about the situation.
Minako had confessed to an engagement back at her house. (Mamoru had conveniently not mentioned one, ever.) But she didn't elaborate. She just said that relationships with Senshi didn't ever seem to work out. Now here was Usagi with the relationship that hadn't worked out for her sister senshi. Except- it had to be different between herself and Mamoru, right? They had a history. Ish.
Minako and Mamoru were chatting as they walked up to Usagi, and Mamoru was smiling. He wasn't the smiling and chatting sort. It didn't help that Minako looked great in her bikini, all muscle tone and tan. Usagi was softer, not fat, but certainly no athlete.
She needed another drink.
There was a bar beside the pool, and it was the perfect excuse to escape from everyone. "Who needs a refill?" Usagi called out.
Minako's order was an old fashioned; Rei and Mamoru wanted Hibiki on the rocks. Usagi broke the mold by deciding she needed a mojito. She sat at the bar, waiting for her drinks and looking everywhere but at her boyfriend and his too-chummy ex-fiance. (Also, no cell coverage or wifi on the boat. What were they thinking?)
This was how she became invested in the Amazon, who was having a heated fight with a handsome man at the opposite side of the pool. Usagi couldn't quite make out the whole conversation, but she was sure she heard "two-timing bastard." The man was basically cowering, and Usagi couldn't blame him. The Amazon was clearly not having any of it. She was confident in a green bikini, auburn hair, and the body of Wonder Woman. This guy, a little on the soft side, didn't stand a chance.
"Did you really think you were gonna bring another woman on this cruise and get away with it?" she thundered.
Usagi blinked. So juicy.
She couldn't hear what the guy replied, but the Amazon pushed him unceremoniously into the pool. The splash brought all attention to the two of them, but she didn't care. She turned on her heel, walking away.
"But Mako, baby! I love you!" he called.
Her response - raising her middle finger and refusing to look back as she walked away.
Usagi not only wanted to subscribe to this woman's newsletter, she wanted every back issue even if she had to get them on ebay.
So when the woman sat beside Usagi at the bar, Usagi didn't even think before asking, "Want a mojito?"
"That sounds perfect," the woman answered.
Usagi pushed her drink to the woman, who downed it.
"Men are such assholes."
"Isn't that the truth?" Usagi commiserated.
"So much for a romantic getaway. I'm Makoto, by the way," Makoto said, holding her hand out to Usagi.
Usagi beamed as she shook hands. "Usagi! Nice to meet you. Though I wish it were under better circumstances."
"Well, this could be the best circumstances of my life!" Mako said and laughed genuinely. "I'm on a beautiful cruise, enjoying a perfect drink with amiable company, and without the weight of a cheating asshole."
Usagi was smitten. She ordered two more mojitos while the ice melted in the others' original drink order. They would be fine with watered down drinks.
"So if you're on a romantic cruise and hating on men, I'm taking it your getaway isn't starting as expected either?" Mako said. "We just left port."
"Yeah. Turns out that my new friend, who got me the tickets and is with us, is my new boyfriend's ex-fiance," Usagi said. Sometimes it was easier to unload on a stranger, especially when she felt such a strong bond already.
"Damn, I'm sorry I drank your mojito. But I think this calls for something stronger," Mako said. She snapped her fingers at the bartender. "Scratch that order. We need tequila. Pronto."
The bartender obeyed, and Usagi smiled. This was exactly what she needed. When she brought drinks back to her other friends, she had a new phone number and a new friend who would be joining them for dinner.
XXX
Minako had picked this cruise line because the boat had a Sasuke training course, which she'd proceeded to book for private sessions two hours each day. The slogan was "Bring your relationship to new heights with our couple's challenge!" so the girls would need to work together to get through the course. This meant there was a semi-dangerous, harness requiring, obstacle course above deck.
Usagi groaned. Designed for couples. She was clearly the third wheel here.
Their instructor, AKA the person who basically absolved the cruise of liability, stood aloof in the corner, playing on her phone. Did she have a secret wifi password or something? Usagi glared.
"Okay," Minako said, bring Usagi's attention to their first challenge - Quintuple Steps. Five inclined platforms to jump between. Usagi felt queasy, and of course Minako looked excited.
Their fearless leader put some chalk on her hands and looked at her girls, then leapfrogged from platform to platform far too easily.
Rei smiled and followed. She even added some flourishes and twirling onto the landing. Minako nodded appreciatively as Rei joined her. Together, they looked at Usagi.
Usagi groaned.
XXX
If this were a movie, Usagi's attempts would be a montage. She jumped and missed. Jumped and missed. Jump landed then missed. She fell backward. She dangled from her harness, swimming in the air to reach the second step. At some point, Rei got bored enough to sit down and play on her cellphone, legs dangling off the platform.
"This isn't working," Minako said.
Usagi was just dangling between platforms, somehow in a dead stop, waving her hands in a feeble attempt to reach the next stepping stone.
"No kidding," Rei agreed, glancing up from her phone. "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe she was a senshi."
Minako sighed, "We're never going to get anywhere." Usagi was becoming increasingly tangled in her harness. Somehow her ankle was caught in her wire, but she couldn't actually reach it.
"Someone should help her," Rei said, offhandedly.
If this were a cartoon, a light bulb would have turned on above Minako's head. "It's not working because we're not working together," she whispered.
Rei arched an eyebrow at her.
"Follow my lead," Minako said, and she started jumping back to the beginning. Effortlessly, Minako grabbed Usagi on the way and hauled her back to the start. Rei took a few moments to secure her phone again before following.
"I'm sorry," Usagi said, still dangling upside-down. "I'm not very good at this."
"No, you're not." Minako freed Usagi's ankle. "But we're not very good at this," she added gesturing between the three of them.
"Okay, Rei, jump to the first platform," Mina instructed. Rei did so, with ease. She stayed in place, using one hand to grip the top of the wedge-like piece.
"Now, catch!" Mina threw Usagi at her. Usagi screamed. Rei caught her and held her on the platform.
Usagi continued screaming.
"Cool it, Odango, I've got you," Rei reassured.
"I thought you were gonna drop me!"
Rei rolled her eyes. "I may not be Tuxedo Kamen, but come on. I'm not gonna let you fall to your doom."
With Rei's help, Usagi managed to find a purchase on the step. She and Rei smiled at each other.
"Now what?" Rei said.
"Now, make room for me," Minako called. Rei didn't have a chance to ask how Mina expected that because the girl was jumping.
"Hold on," Rei said to Usagi. Gripping her hand, Rei pushed the Usagi off the platform. Rei held tight, Usagi dangled off the side, and Minako landed beside them.
"Now we're getting somewhere," Minako said. Minako jumped to the next platform, and Rei realized what was happening. She smiled slyly.
"Okay, Usagi," Rei said. "Think quick!" And Rei tossed Usagi to Minako. The repeated this, slowly, (and loudly) making progress across the stepping stones. In a reasonable amount of time, the three girls made it to the next landing. Once there, they high-fived.
"We did it!" Usagi cheered.
"Well, we did it," Rei said gesturing to her and Mina. "You were a glorified beach ball."
"Most importantly," Mina mediated, "we did it together."
"Girls," the instructor called. "I'm glad you've finally cleared the first obstacle, but your time's up."
While maybe they could have used more training, Minako did feel better about things. She had to remember that they were a unit, and that even if they were only as strong as their weakest link, that link was improving every day
XXX
Usagi had wreaked havoc on their suite, or in her words, made it just like home. Mamoru carved out a small hole for himself on the bed, where he sat waiting and attempting to read The Metaphysical Book of Gems and Crystals. She tottered around in a matching set of bra and panties. This made it difficult for him to focus on reading.
"Which one?" Usagi prompted, turning toward him. She held up two dresses - both cocktail, one a pink, one blue with stars.
"Stars," Mamoru responded. She shimmied into the dress and looked at herself in the mirror. Her hands smoothed over her stomach.
"Does this make me look fat?"
Mamoru shook his head. He climbed out of bed and wrapped his arms around her from behind. "You look beautiful," he whispered in her ear.
"You have to say that," she said. "But there will be pictures, and I don't want our first picture as a couple to make me look fat. I mean, what will our grandkids say?"
He blinked. First picture. First weekend away. First time she'd mentioned their future. Seemed liked a lot of firsts. But it didn't feel that way. It felt like this is the way it had always been. It felt like a lifetime.
"What a dashing couple they make," he answered and kissed her. It wasn't their first kiss, but it still felt like it. Kissing her sent tingles down his spine. Even though he could kiss her whenever he wanted now, there was this small part that urged him to get in as much as he could. That somehow, it was fleeting.
The kissing deepened, and they fell to the bed. Mamoru didn't think dinner was important anymore. But she put a hand to his chest.
"Well, I need to at least fix my hair," she said against his lips, nudging him away. He rolled over, and she stepped into the bathroom. He could hear the hairdryer, and he assumed she was up to her mysterious ways.
He sat back on the bed and looked at his book on crystals, carelessly tossed aside. He felt at odds with himself for the first time in years. He was happy, but he wasn't supposed to be happy. He was supposed to be helping the Princess, the magical girl in his dreams that held the secrets to his past. It had been what drove him to become the elusive Tuxedo Kamen. In return, she'd reward him with the memories he'd lost so many years ago.
Get the crystal and find the princess had been his mantra for nearly a decade. It had driven him. It had been the most important thing in his life for so long, yet, as time went on, it didn't feel like it was worth it. He wasn't sure if he was still hunting the crystal because he wanted his past, or because as a younger man he'd fallen in love with a dream, or, perhaps, because he just wanted to be free of the all-consuming drive.
Now he was living a different sort of dream, and it was at odds with his search for the crystal. That need had quieted since he'd become serious with Usagi, and he was afraid: he didn't want to have to choose between her and his Princess.
Of course, things with Minako had been easy because they'd never been real. She had been a fantasy. When he'd first seen Minako from a distance, he had thought she was his dream princess. (Though, those thoughts had been filtered through a drunken haze brought on by Usagi's facebook status change from "single" to "in a relationship.") Still, there had been a pull to the blonde, as if kismet. Minako was so close with her blue eyes and easy laugh. It was easy for him to pretend that maybe she was his destiny.
He knew it was wrong, but it was so nice to not be alone. So easy with her. A real-life fantasy.
As the realness crept in - the dates turning into long weekends, the drawer she started keeping at his place, the toothbrush he left at hers, the titles changing from date to girlfriend to fiancee - his dreams intensified. Even the Dark Kingdom strengthened. He was spending more and more time as Tuxedo Kamen and less and less time with Minako. And Minako didn't even seem to notice.
As the wedding approached, they should have been moving in together, but they were drifting apart. He was waking up. It was too easy to postpone a date (or netflix and chill) in order to investigate a lead, and she accepted it just as quickly. Sometimes she was the one who vanished, for which he never begrudged her because of his own Tuxedo Kamen disappearing act. In hindsight, it was probably part of the reason they worked so well as a couple.
Mamoru ended it one afternoon at lunch. A much-needed date, since they hadn't seen each other all week. He'd meant to tell her. They were going to be married soon. Shouldn't he confess his double life?
Their conversation had been banal. Talking about everything and nothing at all. He kept trying to figure out how to work it into the conversation when his phone rang.
"It's the wedding venue," he said to her, placing the phone on the table top.
She quietly watched the phone screen. Watched the number scroll across the screen and the phone buzz on the table. It went to voicemail.
"We need to make the final payment," he added. And tell her the truth.
She took a sip of her wine. "Mmm," she said, and looked in the distance.
"We don't have to," he said. We don't have to confess our darkest secrets.
Now she looked at him, something of relief floated in her eyes.
"I've been thinking about going back to Japan," she said.
"To live?"
She nodded.
"When?" he asked, eating a piece of his chicken.
"Soon," she answered, then shrugged.
"I'm not going to go with you," he said.
She smiled sadly. "I didn't think you were," she answered. "But I can't say I didn't hope."
The phone rang again. The venue calling back.
"I don't think…" he started, hoping that it would be harder to say then it was, "I don't think this is working out."
She fiddled with the ring on her finger. "No, I don't suppose it is," she answered. She slowly took the ring off and placed it on the table.
"You can keep it," he said.
"It was nice," she said. "But I don't think so."
She finished her glass of wine. He paid the bill. She got on a plane of Japan the next day, and he shipped her the box of her things. Including the ring. And that was it. Until today.
Usagi poked her head out of the bathroom. "Have you seen my star earrings?"
"The topaz ones?" he followed up.
"Yes! Those. Where?" she asked.
"In the pink bag on your nightstand," Mamoru answered. She jumped on the bed, sprawling across his lap and digging in the bag. Still in his lap, she retrieved the earrings and put them in. Once done, she straddled him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Thank you," she said and kissed him.
Mamoru stared at her, utterly lovestruck. He was glad Motoki wasn't here to tease. Or Minako. She slid off his lap and hurried towards the door where she shuffled with her shoes.
"Hurry up!" she called to him. "We're already late."
Like it was his fault. He rolled his eyes, then followed her out into the hallway.
XXX
"Do you think our picture came out all right?" Usagi asked as she sat at the table. She unfolded her napkin, put in in her lap, took it out of her lap, then put it back in her lap.
"I'm sure one of the six you made the poor kid take will be wonderful," he said. He kissed her cheek.
Rei and Minako were already drinking wine at the table when they got there. Usagi hoped that they wouldn't chide her for being late.
"Ooo, speaking of pictures," Minako added. "We should get one. The three of us."
"Really?" Usagi squeaked. "I think that's a great idea!"
She stood up to go back to the picture line, but Rei grabbed Usagi's wrist. "Maybe after dinner?" she added.
Mamoru was happy to see Minako smiling. Smiling like maybe there was some hope in the world. She could shine like the sun when she chose to, but she often let her darkness block her light. Then again, Usagi always brought out the light in people.
"Is it still okay if I join you?" an auburn-haired woman asked.
"Makoto!" Usagi said. Of course, Usagi would know this woman. She was stunning, wearing a green bodycon halter dress.
Usagi pulled a chair over from an empty table nearby and wedged it between her and Mamoru. Realizing her placement fail, she then moved between her and Rei. Everyone else shuffled accordingly.
Of course, only during the chaos did Usagi add, "That's okay with you guys, right?"
"I'm sorry for intruding, but I really don't want to spend my dinners with the loser and his other girlfriend," Makoto said.
"Mako's boyfriend brought the woman he was cheating with on this cruise too," Usagi said.
Minako and Rei cringed. Even Mamoru pulled at his collar.
"No wonder you don't want to sit with him," Rei said. "He sounds like a real gem."
"You're telling me," Makoto said as she sat down. "But he's just another in a long line of men who have screwed me. And not in the fun way. You two have it right." Makoto indicated Rei and Minako.
Rei flushed a deep red, her eyes widening. "We're just friends," she said.
"Yes, I got comp'd tickets, and I didn't have anyone, so I brought my friend Rei. And since I figured at least one of us should enjoy the amenities, I offered tickets for Usagi and her beau," Minako clarified.
Makoto took this all in stride. "Shame. You two would make a cute couple," she said. The waiter came by and refilled wine glasses (Makoto grabbed a glass from the chairless table). Dinner orders were taken, and the conversation continued with a pleasant tone that had been absent through most of the day.
Makoto fit in better than anyone thought she should, like a piece of the puzzle. Minako wished Luna was here to see if she could get a feel for the girl. But! She did have the next best aura reader beside her.
Discreetly, Minako typed 'Can you read her aura? I have a funny feeling.' Then handed her phone to Rei.
As Makoto regaled the table with the exploits of her latest boyfriend and his side girlfriend, Rei discreetly checked the phone. She smiled at Minako.
"Wanna see a neat trick?" Rei asked.
"I do!" Usagi exclaimed.
"Waiter! Tea, with leaves for everyone," Rei called.
"You can read tea leaves?" Makoto asked.
"Yeah! Rei is a Shinto priestess," Usagi said. "It's super neat."
The tea came around and conversations continued. Mamoru finished his glass first, and Rei picked it up. She was curious about him. There was something about him that she just couldn't put her finger on. His leaves were murky - he was looking for something, something dangerous. Rei felt a little uneasy and hoped that it wouldn't interfere with Usagi.
"I'm done!" Usagi said after finishing her cup like she was taking a shot. She eagerly handed her cup to Rei.
"Okay okay," Rei said, taking the cup. Like Usagi herself, her fortune was clear. Still, Rei knew to make a show of it.
"It says you're more than meets the eye, and that…" Rei trailed off. It said that she's should be careful with a ...soulmate. Rei's eyes darted between Usagi and Mamoru.
"And that what?" Usagi asked eagerly.
"Be careful with your heart," Rei amended. "Something bad will happen in the future."
Usagi looked a little sad at that. Mamoru furrowed his brow.
"I mean, it probably has nothing to do with Mamoru," Rei said, waving off Usagi's insecurities. "These things are vague."
"Well, try mine," Minako said, handing Rei her cup.
"You will encounter someone from your past, and they will be the key?" Rei said. She blinked but couldn't get a clear meaning on this one.
Makoto handed her cup over. "I hope mine says that I'll meet someone handsome in my future. And that he won't be an asshole."
Rei looked into the cup. The chain, the orbit, and the sun. Was that a planetary symbol? She wasn't sure what that meant for them as senshi, but Makoto would be important. "It says that you have a destiny," Rei said, glancing at Minako out the corner of her eye. "And that everything will be clear soon."
They needed to keep Makoto close.
Dinner proceeded with more laughs and good times, and as dessert came, Mamoru stretched. He passed his plate over to Usagi. She delighted in the second serving of Mont Blanc.
"I'm worn out, I think I'm going to head back to our room," he said. "But I think you should all go out. There's a dance party or something. You could make a girl's night of it. That way, I can have Usako to myself tomorrow."
A flattering pink crept across Usagi's cheeks at her nickname. "Okay," she said.
Rei mouthed "Usako?" and waggled her eyebrows.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Makoto asked. "I could really use some girl time."
"The more, the merrier," Minako said, surprising even herself.
XXX
The girls ordered two more rounds before leaving the dinner table. Feeling tipsy, Usagi convinced the girls to pose for several photographs. (To only Usagi's surprise, the poor photographer remembered her and groaned when she approached with the group.) As a thank you, Usagi paid for a round of shots at the bar on the way to the Dance Club.
The Dance Club was packed by the time the girls finally made it there. Usagi even had to beg the usher not to close them out. The music was loud and couples gyrated to the beats surrounded by green and red lights. The DJ turned tables on the raised stage that towered above the crowd. Two bars were located on either side of the room, and Usagi beelined for the closest one.
Rei and Minako rolled their eyes while Usagi and Makoto each had one more shot, yet everyone was smiling and feeling like… sisters. Usagi threw her hands in the air in a drunken attempt at pantomiming something.
"What are you doing?" Minako called above the din.
"Trying to reel you in," Usagi answered.
Rei guffawed, and Minako shook her head. Usagi pushed through and took her hand and said, "Come on! Let's dance!"
Soon, Minako found herself on the dance floor. Usagi was… moving. Dancing wasn't quite the right word, but she was doing it really enthusiastically. Minako shook her hips and Makoto bumped them. The girls giggled, and Minako let go. She had done some dancing before. and she busted a few semi-pro moves.
Usagi watched in amazement, then clapped with delight. Minako's cheeks hurt from smiling. Maybe this was the bonding they really needed. So what if Usagi was terrible jumping Quintuple Steps or dodging Youma attacks? She was really good at making Minako feel happy in a way that Mina hadn't for a long time.
The girls were having such a good time that they didn't notice a familiar blonde man in a grey suit locking the doors.
The music tempo shifted to something slow and sensual. Makoto rolled her eyes, and Usagi yelled, "More drinks!"
The girls waded through crowds to the edge to find the bar unattended.
"Huh," Rei said taking a seat beside Usagi. "That's weird."
"Maybe he went to the bathroom," Usagi suggested. "Hmm, I wonder where that is…"
"Yes, it's very weird," Minako said, doing her best to blink the intoxication away. They were the only ones at the bar. The rest of the room seemed to be entranced, dancing in couples, light glimmering like moonbeams through the crowd. What she didn't see was any of the ship staff. How did she miss that? Was it because she let her guard down?
"Are we the only ones not hooked up?" Makoto chimed in, taking a seat by Usagi. "Like really. You'd think there'd be some other singles out here."
"Almost have it!" Usagi said. She leaned over the bar, reaching for a bottle of vodka, thinking that maybe she could just mix her own drink. It was Usagi though, and she toppled over the bar and onto the ground.
"Oh shit," she exclaimed.
The girls followed the commotion. Usagi was sprawled over an unconscious bartender with a bottle of vodka in her hand.
"Oh shit is right," Makoto said seeing the guy on the floor. "We need to get some help."
"Is he okay?" Rei asked.
Usagi felt for a pulse but found none. He was, however, breathing softly.
"Okay-ish?" she answered.
Rei headed to the door. She tugged and pushed to no avail. Looking back at the group, she shook her head. The depth of the situation was settling on Minako. Something was very wrong. Her eyes darted looking for clues, for anything. The DJ kept turning her tables, but... the light. The light was changing. It was as if tendrils of light were attached to people like spiderwebs. It wasn't light. It was their energy.
The dancers started falling, toppling like dominos or Jenga pieces, collapsing in couples. Minako's eyes narrowed as she followed the tendrils to the disco ball, then to the DJ. A DJ whose skin looked awfully blue. Whose eyes were glowing red.
"Youma," Rei said, calmly and almost quietly.
Soon, only the four of them were standing.
Well, technically, Usagi was splayed out over the bar attempting to climb over it.
"Good grief girl," Rei groaned, pulling Usagi over the bar and helping her to her feet.
Usagi took a swing from the vodka bottle she set it down.
"Liquid courage," she justified. Rei rolled her eyes.
Makoto took a protective stance in front of the other girls. Her hand clenching into a fist, her posture falling naturally into a fighter's stance.
"We need to get out of here," Minako said.
"I don't think that's happening, so I've got to protect you. Girl's night and all. Oh, did I mention I'm a champion MMA fighter?" Makoto said with a wink.
"What! That's so cool!" Usagi exclaimed. "Think you could give me some pointers?"
After a moment the DJ turned her music off and looked straight at the girls. The silence jarred them. Their ears rang. The DJ stood up like a regent, and started walking over the crowds of bodies.
"My, my, my, what do we have here? A spinster's club? Couldn't find any men to warm your beds?" she taunted. As she approached, she looked less and less human. Her eyes became more slitted. Her mouth vanished into sickly pale skin. What had been a headband shifted into more of an insane antler-like protrusion.
"No matter," the youma continued. "Your energy will work just as well for my queen."
Her long claw-like hands flicked to the door. Two doors opened just enough to allow two lesser youma to come running in. Without thinking, Makoto charged at them.
Minako and Rei took the other youma while Usagi stood there. Were they really not going to transform? Were their identities so important that they would not only risk their own lives but Makoto's as well? Well, Usagi had An Opinion on that.
"Moon Prism Power Make-Up!"
AN: AHHH! I'm getting this posted just in time! So I'm gonna be quick.
THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEWS! I'm so happy I surprised you.
The biggest of thanks to Smoking Bomber for beta-ing. She makes this so. so. much. better.
And a big thanks to my Hubby. You are the best fan a writer could ask for.
