Title: Take Me On
Author: Princess Destiny
Email: In Profile
Author's Homepage: destinysgateway DOT com
Rating: M 15+
Summary: During a charity benifit, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen get stuck in a bathroom together. Before the other Senshi break them out, Tuxedo Kamen reveals to Sailor Moon that he is really Chiba Mamoru! Totally shocked, Sailor Moon realises that everything has changed and she can't tell him that she is really his worst enemy-he'd HATE her! Or would he? But now she doesn't know how to ACT around him and HE is starting to act equally weird around her-but for totally different reasons!
Genre: Romance/UST/Comedy/Adventure/Action/Angst
Couple: Usagi/Mamoru
Category: SMTK
Chapters: 3/10
Status: Unfinished
Year Completed: 2007
Size: 310 KB

Comments: Hi everyone! Here is Chapter Three, as promised. I'm going to be sending out a Chapter ever two days, instead of every day. I'm suffering from a really bad migraine, so I can't write anything at the moment. ::Wince:: Thank you for your kind reviews and those who point out where I have discrepencies. :) It was a bit difficult to go back to such an old style of writing, but I managed! I know it was sort of angsty too, but it's important to the storyline :) I have about eight different writing styles now!

Original Notes: This Fanfic is a reverse of most of my others, since it's not Mamoru who's discovered that Usagi is Sailor Moon, but Usagi discovering that Mamoru is Tuxedo Kamen. And instead of Mamoru setting out to seduce Usagi, she's the one seducing...on a much more subtle level. ::Grin::

Donations: This is for all of you who support me so much with their love and kind words with both my writing and my unfortunate illnesses! Love you guys::Group Hugs::

Got a Sailor Moon Fanfic? Come on over to destinysgateway DOT com,
the Official Fanfiction Archives for the 'Sailor Moon And Tuxedo Kamen'
pairing! We would love for you to submit your Fanfiction to the Archives.


TAKE ME ON

By Princess Destiny

Chapter Three

Her nose wrinkled as she recalled part of the conversation of the night before. She'd said how she was a klutz and he'd jokingly replied that if she hadn't been one, then there'd be no use for Tuxedo Kamen. Usagi's lips slowly curved into a warm smile. Mamoru, he might be, but he'd unknowingly made Usagi and Sailor Moon feel much better about his teasing. If Tuxedo Kamen could tolerate Sailor Moon klutz attacks and think of it with amusement, then Usagi still had hopes about Mamoru.

She frowned abruptly. "What am I saying? Mamoru is still a jerk and he has no idea that I'm Sailor Moon!" her eyes widened as she realized that she'd said that out loud and she threw a hunted look about her to see if anyone had listened. Nope, it was all clear. She breathed a sigh of relief and grinned, arms swinging down to her side.

The blonde girl began to run again, eyes on the Temple stairs in the distance. This was much too much of a serious conversation for this late in the day! There was Senshi business to take care of and the mess with Tuxedo Kamen and Mamoru could be taken care of later! After all, she and the others planned to go to the Arcade after the meeting and get some shakes. She had no doubt that Mamoru would be there.

Usagi sighed and glanced down at her left hand, where her test paper was held tightly. She opened her hand and carefully un-rumpled the test, staring despondently at the results. It was just so hard for her to study and get good grades when she was constantly fighting the Dark Kingdom. Didn't anyone understand that her world had changed? She no longer looked at it as others did, or even the Senshi did. They'd adjusted to their life as teenagers and Senshi admirably-

But Usagi...well, it just didn't seem to come naturally to her, being a warrior.

It never had and it seemed that it never would. She was awkward with her powers and new abilities and was the complete opposite of the other Senshi, who had seemed to get more graceful and relaxed as their powers became a part of them. Usagi was still Usagi, even if she WAS leader of the Sailor Senshi and threw a magic tiara. 'That always bothered me,' she thought, sighing. 'If I'm leader, then why are my powers so much less than the others' are? When do I get a cool power?'

And now there was the test, adding a damper to her already turbulent thoughts. Why couldn't she ever absorb things like everyone else? Why was she so different?

Usagi had gotten lost in thought again and was shocked when she ran into someone, throwing her backwards to the ground painfully. She landed on her butt and looked up, blue eyes wide with surprise and apology, test still clutched in her hand. "I'm so sorry-" she began, then her eyes fell on the person she'd bashed into. Her face crumpled slightly as all the emotions she'd been feeling came to the fore. Confusion, a little fear, anxiety and also excitement and exhilaration. Mamoru was still Tuxedo Kamen and he always made her heart beat faster.

She recovered in seconds, schooling her expression into an annoyed one as she met dark blue eyes. To her dismay, Mamoru was staring at her with an extremely annoyed expression, eyes like chips of ice. It was what she should have expected, after all, because he had no idea that she was Sailor Moon...but still, to see that expression on Tuxedo Kamen's face was just awful to her. She bit her lip, not trusting herself to speak.

"Can't you every watch where you're going, Odango Atama?" Mamoru growled, crossing his arms casually. He stared down at her from his height, forcing Usagi to tilt her head back in order to see his eyes.

Usagi felt her usual annoyance fill her at his words and tone and frowned at him, blue eyes snapping. "Me? You're the one who bashed into me!" She protested angrily. She tried to glare as usual, but somehow it just came up short. It was so hard, knowing that her worst enemy was Tuxedo Kamen-the guy she'd had a perpetual crush on! She peaked up at him from under her golden lashes, wondering how to act around him. Did she continue to yell at him like usual or-

"Sure I did. I'm not the one that was looking down at her-test paper?" He looked down at her hands, where the paper was displayed. His eyes caught the large thirty five percent, written in red marker. "Ah ha!" He said triumphantly, "I knew I was right."

"So what? I studied, I'll have you know!" Usagi yelled. As always, she felt an irrational urge to stamp her foot-or strangle a certain college student! Did he have to be so mean all the time?

'Jerk,' she thought darkly, biting her lip to restrain her usual insults. This was Tuxedo Kamen...sort of. But he was also a jerk! And boy was he acting it today. 'Why can't he give me a break once in a while?' She asked herself mentally, scuffing a shoe. All night she'd been awake, trying to think of a way to make him like her-but only because he was also that hunky mystery of the night, Tuxedo Kamen.

Not that she liked Mamoru himself. Not possible!

But why did everything have to be so complicated right now? Did no one understand what she was going through? Couldn't anyone see past her klutzy nature into her heart? She had thought that one day Tuxedo Kamen would...

And if Mamoru should find out that she was Sailor Moon, he'd never speak to her again. She never wanted to see Tuxedo Kamen's eyes stare at her with the same expressions that Mamoru did with Usagi. Never.

"Uh huh. Suuuure you did, Odango." Mamoru looked supremely smug. Annoyingly so. His deep blue eyes flickered over her assessingly. Usagi looked-peeved today. Also uncertain and her insults didn't have their usual bite. 'Am I loosing my touch?' he wondered, groaning mentally.

Odango and his fights were always the highlights of his days and he looked forward to them. And he was particularly on edge today, because of the incident the day before with Sailor Moon. He'd wondered all night if he'd done the right thing in revealing his identity to Sailor Moon. But he trusted her and he cared for her. All he'd wanted to do that day was go to College, then go and see Motoki at the Arcade and completely avoid the Odango Atama. A fight with her was the last thing...

No, that wasn't right. In a weird way he'd always enjoyed annoying the blonde. It was perplexing. He glared at her uncertainly, mind in chaos.

Usagi riled up at his words, loosing all semblance of a rational human being. ;How dare he make fun of me?' she seethed, seeing flames. She totally forgot her mission and the fact that he was Tuxedo Kamen and let him have it. "Oh yeah? Well I don't care! You're the most annoying, egotistical-"

"Oooh! She knows a big word," He taunted. Mamoru's eyes were mocking. "Do you even know what that means?"

"-jerk that I've ever met," she continued, glaring fiercely at him. Then his words registered and she almost threw a shoe at him. Usagi almost shrieked at him in frustration, face flushing with fury. "You-you complete jerk! I hope you go jump off a-" Her communicator beeped then, cutting off her heated words. She flushed, jerking her eyes down in surprise. Usagi's eyes swung back up, glaring heatedly. "And-I don't have time for this..."

She glared again, then ran past him without another look. What a creep he was! Why did he have to be Tuxedo Kamen? They were nothing alike! And just when she was resolved to see Mamoru in a new light and maybe be nicer to him, he acted in a way that she couldn't help responding to angrily. 'I'll think this over later! Right now there's a battle and I have to find somewhere to transform before he transforms and starts after me! The last thing I need right now is to have him find out I'm Sailor Moon!'

Usagi practically flew down the streets, her Senshi instincts kicking in. At least one thing good had come of her being Sailor Moon! She could outrun anyone! 'I wonder how the girls knew about this Youma if they were at the Temple...they must have given up on me and left. Thanks a lot guys!'

Mamoru stood there, a little stunned. He truly looked forward to their little fights-irrational as it sounded-and she was running off without finishing it? He felt a surge of irritation. "Well..." He muttered, turning to watch the blonde disappear at a surprising rate. He always amazed at her speed whilst running. "Must be all that sugar she eats."

"Creep, creep, creep!" she muttered under her breath as she ran for it to the battle. On the way, she ducked into an alley and transformed, resuming her flight with a furious face. 'Why me?' She demanded silently, seething. Why was she cursed with running into such a horrible jerk every day of the week...?

Sailor Moon faltered and then slowed to a trot, face flushing. "A cute jerk...who also happens to be my dream boat, Tuxedo Kamen" she murmured, groaning. She was cursed! 'I just know it.' She groaned again, reaching the site of the battle. A comic shop!

For once, she was not filled with outrage at the desecration of her favorite pass time-all her thoughts were on tall, dark and handsome.

She dashed into the shop, reaching for her tiara and mind swirling with emotions. Love and hate. Dislike and crush.

Sailor Mars and the others looked up from their battle with an ugly female Youma that looked like a giant comic. Sailor Moon blinked, then took it in her stride. Not much surprised her anymore...well, there was that Mamoru being Tuxedo Kamen thing. 'Damn it, not now, Usagi!' she gaped incredulously at her own thoughts.

All she needed was to be absent-minded in battle and maybe get someone hurt! Besides, she needed to steel herself for when Tuxedo Kamen turned up to rescue her...he always did!

"About time you got here! Why didn't answer your communicator-" Sailor Mars began snapping. She stared hard at Sailor Moon, hands on her hips lightly.

"Yeah, yeah," Sailor Moon muttered rather sullenly, mind still full of her earlier encounter with Chiba Mamoru. Her tiara slid easily into her hand, already glowing. She threw it at the Youma, who gaped and then promptly screamed as she was turned to dust.

The Senshi gaped at their leader as Sailor Moon stood there discontentedly, pouting. 'Okay, that was way too easy! I was hoping to pound it for a while and work out my frustrations and-oh no! I killed the Youma and Tuxedo Kamen didn't have to rescue me!' she stared into space, utterly dismayed.

"Sailor...Moon?" Mercury said disbelievingly., blue eyes wide and stunned.

"It's her-right?" Sailor Mars said in a low voice to Jupiter, eyeing the blonde as if she had two heads.

"Guys?" Sailor Moon asked tentatively, wringing her gloved hands together. "Why doesn't Mamoru like me?" She just had to know.

"What?" the three Senshi chorused together, gawking at her.

"Mamoru?" Sailor Mars said suspiciously, glaring. "My Mamoru?" she smirked, tossing her hair. "Well, it's obvious, if you ask me, Odango. Your a klutz, you fail at School, you fall over your own feet, you're lazy, eat like a pig." The priestess gave her best friend a knowing look. "I could go on and on." She added.

"Mars!" Jupiter said aghast as Sailor Moon went pale and then flushed a furious red, looking as if she were about to explode.

"What?" The raven-haired girl said flippantly, somehow not seeing the furiously seething blonde. "It's all true-right guys?"

"You-you-" Sailor Moon began through gritted teeth. Suddenly, she deflated, throwing herself into Sailor Jupiter's arms and sobbing. It was true! Everything she'd been thinking about on the way to the Temple.

Rei disliked her strongly and Ami hadn't said a word, so she assumed that the blue Senshi was disappointed in her. But Makoto cared!

'Oh, why does everything have to be so difficult right now? Why can't I be a good leader and have Mamoru like me as much as Tuxedo Kamen does? Why can't Rei understand me! Why do I have to be leader and a Senshi?'

Both Mercury and Mars were about to tell her not to wail when they realized that Sailor Moon was really crying. As if heartbroken. Immediately, the two Senshi went to the blonde, faces concerned.

"It's really that important? But-You never cared why he doesn't like you," Mars protested, utterly bewildered. Sailor Moon continued to sob, arm thrown about Jupiter's shoulders. "And you don't like him. Remember?" she tried again, confused as Sailor Moon just cried louder.

"I didn't! Not until last night!" Sailor Moon wailed into Jupiter's chest, clinging tightly to the girl. Everything had changed! Her world was falling about her ears and...and...She liked Mamoru! Wanted to see him look at her the same way that Tuxedo Kamen looked at Sailor Moon.

The world was ending as she knew it!

"Last night?!" The girls exchanged a confused look as Mars mulled over what had happened the night before. "Umm-the charity cause? But Mamoru wasn't there-"

"He was!" Sailor Moon cried loudly, puling away from Jupiter. She knew she was acting like the ditz that they thought her, but she just couldn't help it right now! Her blue eyes widened with horror as she realized what she had been about to reveal. Betray Tuxedo Kamen! She-she just couldn't do it.

"I mean...I crashed into him on the way home and we fought and...I don't like the way he treats me all the time..." she trailed off wondering if she sounded as lame as she thought. Sailor Moon peeked up at them all shyly.

Sailor Mars looked poleaxed that Usagi actually cared what 'that jerk' thought of her, Ami blinking in surprise and Makoto torn between glee and disbelief.

"Why do you care what he thinks? You always fight, Sailor Moon. It's nothing new." The priestess mused, frowning.

"It's annoying," Sailor Moon sniffed slightly, reaching up to wipe her wet lashes with her gloves. She then rubbed the material over her cheeks, trying to hide the evidence of her distress. It was obvious that the Senshi didn't understand why Usagi would suddenly care what her enemy thought of her. 'And to think that I almost betrayed his confidence!'

She was suddenly very ashamed of herself and her weakness'. She admitted it; she wasn't a very strong-willed person, but she cared about things, she really did. And she'd wanted so badly to tell her friends how she felt about Tuxedo Kamen and Mamoru, the confusion she was feeling and in doing so she'd almost betrayed the trust of that very person she'd been talking to them about. "I just...don't like it." she said rather lamely, crossing her arms.

'Thank god Tuxedo Kamen didn't show up.' she thought with relief, eyes rising to scan the immediate area. She was sure that he'd probably been there briefly, but gone as usual when she'd destroyed the Youma so easily.

"Maybe if you're nicer to him?" Mercury suggested tentatively, looking as if the others might bite her head off.

Sure enough, Mars laughed scornfully, flashing a disbelieving look at the genius. "Mamoru and Usagi being nice to each other? When the world ends, Ami! Honestly, the day those two kiss and makeup is the day hell freezes over." she said haughtily, throwing a superior look at Sailor Moon.

"Nice terminology 'kiss and makeup.'" Jupiter snorted with laughter, green eyes amused.

Mars glared at Jupiter and then Usagi. "There will be no kissing literally! Mamoru is my boyfriend."

"In your dreams," Jupiter said under her breath, nudging Sailor Moon.

Sailor Moon flashed Jupiter a wan smile, staring at Sailor Mars with disappointment and sadness. Would Rei never be nice to her? Sometimes she felt as if they could be great friends, but when the priestess acted and said things like this, it was almost as if Rei hated her? 'I can change. I'll be more responsible and not klutz out. I'll prove I can be a good leader and Rei will respect me finally. And most of all, I can make Mamoru like me!'

Her blue eyes narrowed in determination, which none of the arguing Senshi noticed. 'First of all, I have to figure out this problem with Mamoru, then my problem with being a Senshi,' her head cocked as she thought clearly and calmly about her life for once. 'There must be a reason I'm different from the others.'

As Sailor Moon had been thinking, the other Senshi had been having another conversation, as if the one about Mamoru had never occured.

" How about we go to the Arcade now guys? This fight-what there was of it-has made me starving!" Sailor Jupiter finished with a grin at them all. She reached back and hitched up her ponytail, then looked about carefully and de-transformed.

The others followed-suit, also looking about for anyone who could be watching.

Briefly, Usagi wondered if Tuxedo Kamen might be watching them, then discarded the notion. He was long gone, if he'd ever been there. They turned and headed towards the Arcade, the others chatting happily and the blonde was lost in thought.

"Hey girl, mind telling me how you destroyed that Youma so neatly? You were really fast," Makoto said in a low voice to Usagi. She watched with interest as the blonde snapped out of her thoughts and Usagi her gave a weird smile.

"No idea..." Usagi said softly, brushing one of her long ponytails back over her shoulder absently, so that it wouldn't get in her way. Had it been because she was distracted? Irritated even?

As they passed the alley she'd transformed in, she dashed inside and came back with her test paper and her bag. Before the Senshi of the Moon could hide, it the others's eyes zoomed in on the test paper.

"Is that your test result?" Rei quickly snatched it from Usagi's startled hands and scanned it rapidly. Her purple eyes flashed in annoyance and disappointment. "Oh, Usagi! You didn't even try, did you?" she said angrily, thrusting the paper to Ami.

Ami shook her head at the grade. "That's awful, Usagi! You should have spent more time studying than reading manga and eating." the genius said, giving it Makoto to criticize.

It was all true! Usagi didn't apply herself to things, no matter how important to her future it was. But things were going to change, starting right then. A shamefaced Usagi just nodded and looked sideways at Makoto for her response. She already knew that she's done bad with the test and was resolved to do better, but really Usagi's friend's meant a lot to her and so did their opinion of her. 'I'll do better. I will.'

Makoto grinned at the score, then handed the test back to Usagi. "Ah well, I didn't do much better." she admitted sheepishly. She and Usagi traded a rueful look.

"So, Usagi?" Rei said slyly over her shoulder as they reached the Arcade doors. "Are you going to be nicer to Mamoru?"

The slender blonde wrinkled her nose in thought, wondering the same thing. "I don't know. I guess?" she said absently.

"Good," the priestess smirked. "'Cause he's inside. Here's your chance, Odango Atama!"

"Don't call me that! You know I hate that name!" Usagi almost growled in annoyance, mind churning with doubt and anxiety. Her stomach made a flip-flop as she followed the other girls inside and looked around, biting her lip. This was the scene of the crime, as it were. Where she'd found out that Tuxedo Kamen was her enemy. Would things be different now? Okay, so she'd yelled back at him earlier, but she'd sort of resolved to be nice to him now.

'Am I crazy? He's going to bite my head off!' she thought with panic, spotting Mamoru over by the counter, lazing in a chair with a cup of coffee in his hands. She looked him over slowly, eyes taking in every detail. How could she have not seen what was right in front of her before? Mamoru did look like Tuxedo Kamen, now that she knew the truth. 'Maybe his transformation disguises him like it does with us. What did Ami call it? A glamour?'

The upperclassman was wearing his usual green jacket with black slacks, hair dark as a raven's wing with a lock falling dashingly into his eyes. He was gorgeous, as was his counterpart Tuxedo Kamen. Why hadn't she noticed it before? She'd had no time to study him or his clothes earlier before the battle, so brief had their meeting been.

Usagi felt herself blush slightly as Mamoru suddenly turned and stared in her direction, as if he'd sensed her gaze. "Odango Atama. I wondered where you'd disappeared to?" he said loudly, dark blue eyes pinning Usagi to the spot. He looked faintly annoyed, a lot amused and a mischievous light burnt in his eyes.

Usagi looked at him curiously, brows raising along with the girl's and Motoki at Mamoru's words. How unusual for Mamoru to actually be looking for her... Oh no, he hadn't figured out that she was Sailor Moon, had he? Panic filled her for a moment, until she saw how mocking his gaze was as it rested on her. No, he wouldn't have had that expression on his face if he knew.

"Really?" Makoto said slyly, hiding a grin as they all started towards the counter. "You were actually looking for the girl you love to hate?"

Usagi winced at the words, following her friends automatically, as mystified by Mamoru's words as they had been. 'So, did he miss me or something?' she thought, amazed. But no, his eyes looked at her with scorn and dislike as always. She bit her lip again, stopping a few feet away and leant against the counter.

"Are you feeling okay?" Motoki said from behind the counter, eyeing his best friend askance. "You missed Usagi?"

"I never said that!" Mamoru drawled, staring still at Usagi with an insulting expression on his face. His eyes raked over her slender form with a sardonic look in the blue depths. "Me? Miss her? When hell freezes over." he laughed mockingly.

It was business as usual, huh? Well, she could play that game too...even if her world had started unravelling about her into chaos. "That's nice," Usagi breathed, batting her lashes at him just as scornfully, resolved not to let him get to her. She knew he was nice somewhere underneath and maybe she'd take on the challenge to get him to reveal it. "Maybe you should have said that there was a snow-balls chance in hell?" she offered sweetly.

"You get the general idea," Mamoru waved a hand about negligently, turning slightly away from them all to look at Motoki. "We were having an argument earlier and she just ran off. Very rude." he shook his head in disappointment. "I don't know what's wrong with teenagers these days-just running off before the fight is over."

The girls all snickered at him and strangely, Usagi smiled in amusement instead of blowing up. "Please do forgive me. What was I thinking?" she stared at his profile, feeling strangely elated. 'He missed our fights! I can't believe it...maybe there's a hope after all that I can tell Mamoru who I really am?' She hoped so. After all, Tuxedo Kamen had told her his real name in trust and offered to protect her as Mamoru if she ever need him. Naturally, if he'd known it was Usagi he'd made the offer to, he'd have rather died.

The Senshi of the Moon grinned, picturing his dismayed look.

"Of course I'll forgive you," Mamoru smiled into his mug of coffee as he took a sip, then his eyes flashed sideways to pin Usagi again. "Now where were we?"

"I'm sure it was at an insult?" Usagi murmured uneasily, suddenly wondering where the evil Mamoru had disappeared to. This one was playing with her and she didn't know what he was up to. She gazed at him, wondering what had changed. Something suddenly occurred to her and she paled rapidly, eyes darkening. 'What if he did stay around and watch me de-transform?'

She was panicked, swallowing hard in a suddenly dry throat. But wait, wouldn't Mamoru hate her when he found out? The blonde girl looked at him carefully.

Mamoru snapped his fingers, then placed his coffee down with infinite care onto the counter. "That's right-you called me egotistical and I said how you knew a big word." he recalled, grinning at her evilly.

Usagi stared back at him uncertainly. Did he know or not?! "Right," she cleared her throat, then suddenly glared. "I'll have you know that I know quite a lot of big words and I know what they mean too!"

"Sure you do," he said mockingly, brushing the hair from his eyes. He gave her a patronizing look that she was so used to seeing. "And next you'll tell me you get A's in School! You're klutzy, a pig, a bad student, a ditz and a waste of space in this universe." he announced, sounding as if he was reading from a shopping list. It was said matter-of-factly and very insulting.

Ouch! Shot right in the heart. Unfortunately, unlike usual, Mamoru's words meant something to his enemy.

Usagi felt genuine annoyance fill her at his words. Obviously Mamoru had no clue that she was Sailor Moon and she had worried for no reason. Worse yet, her friends weren't defending her. She sighed. Of course, they did know better than to butt in on one of her and the jerk's fights. But why did he have to look so smug about saying such horrible things to her...even if they were sort of true...

Wait, a waste of space in the universe?!

'How dare he say that! I'm Sailor Moon!' Her eyes burnt into his with loathing. "You're one to talk, barfly! You're always stuck to that chair drinking coffee, you probably go to a bar as soon as the Arcade is closed and sit there uselessly." she spat at him, infuriated. Who cared if he was Tuxedo Kamen right now? He was an insulting jerk and she was going to give it to him as much as he was dishing it out!

"Excuse me?" Mamoru looked at her in disbelief and anger. "Did you just call me an alcoholic?"

Usagi blinked at him, then nodded uncertainly, not totally sure what an alcoholic was. Alcohol...oh, did he mean... Damn it, that hadn't been what she'd meant, but it was too late to back down now. "Yep! You're as much a waste of space in this universe as I am Mamoru. Exactly as much!" If he'd known that she was Sailor Moon, he'd have known instantly that what she was saying was actually a compliment. But of course he didn't and she was smug in the eye of his fury.

Boy, she'd really gotten under his skin with that one! She'd have to remember to use it again. Was Mamoru hiding something? She grinned.

"Why you little brat!" Mamoru spluttered at her, getting up from his chair. He took two short strides and was looming over her.

Usagi stared up into his eyes, hers wide and startled at his reaction. She hadn't expected him to be so angry. What the heck was the big deal anyway? She swallowed. Obviously, it had been a big insult to the proud Mamoru. He looked like steam was about to come out of his ears, eyes dark with anger as they locked on hers.

Then suddenly, the anger faded into annoyance. "Do you even know what an alcoholic is, Odango?" he asked her in exasperation. He smirked when she faltered and reluctantly shook her head.

The Senshi all broke into laughter, along with Mamoru and Motoki as Usagi face turned red from embarrassment.

To act like an airhead, or to not? Usagi had not realised what she had been saying at first, but then she had gotten a clue. The question was, did she act dumb about it, or try and sound intelligent for once? 'One way will have them faint in the shock, so...'

"Oh Usagi! You're unbelievably dense." Rei laughed at her hard, eyes scornful and amused at the same time.

"And you're mean," Usagi shot back wrathfully, hands clenching into fists at her side. When had Rei begun to treat her so badly? Or had it always been like that? Sometimes, she was wonderful and warm, but times like now, she was almost like a femaile Mamoru. The blonde's eyes narrowed slightly.

Was this because the dark-haired man was showing Usagi his usual attention, and Rei didn't like it? Something so childish and utterly simple? Of course it was! The Senshi of the Moon calmed down a little at this revealation.

"Come on you two," Makoto said calmy as the two girls glared at each other. "Rei don't be so mean to Usagi-you too Mamoru! And Usagi, maybe you should look up your insults before you use them." she laughed a bit.

Usagi glared balefully at them all, unimpressed. Then she turned her back on them, rolling her eyes. "Now Makoto is making fun of me? Damn Senshi. Damn rose-throwing jerk!" She muttered under her breath, tempted to storm from the Arcade. But that would just have them all thinking she was a drama queen. Did life-changes happen so very fast? One minute you're the laughing stock of Juuban, the next...a smart, studious, non-aireheaded superheroine? 'One step at a time, Usagi. Or they'll think you've gone over the edge into total insanity.'

"What was that, Odango Atama?" Mamoru said from behind her, still sounding smug and triumphant. He knew he's won this round.

Oh damn, had she spoken that last thought aloud? She carefully peeked behind her. Nope, none of them was looking shell-shocked, so it had to be her last comment to Mmaoru. Usagi flung one of her long blonde ponytails over her shoulder, and walked off, deliberately making sure to smack Mamoru right in the face. He groaned and she smiled. "See you guys later, I'm obviously not wanted around here!" she called back, walking towards the sliding glass doors.

"Usagi don't be angry!" Makoto called out, but the blonde continued walking as the doors slid open and she went out into the sun.

'I'll show them who's a klutz and a ditz and a waste of space!' Usagi thought in determination. Both Sailor Moon and Tsukino Usagi were about to shock the world at large.

She was going to figure out why she was a Senshi.

She was going to be more graceful and do better in School!

And then she was going to get Mamoru back good!

He was a jerk; and even if he was Tuxedo Kamen, he was always going to be a jerk! Of course, the next time she saw Tuxedo Kamen, she'd go all weak at the knees and smile at him like a love-sick calf...she couldn't help it. But there was no way Mamoru was going to win this war! She had his secret and now she was going to take advantage of it!

To Be Continued...

Please review me! You don't know how much it means to an Author to get a review on their Fanfic and to know that you're enjoying it. Believe me, it makes us want to write more for you. LOL.

'A Kiss In The Dark' Chapter Twelve will be out in two days. Chapter Thirteen is already written as well!

Please don't forget to check out my Archives 'Destiny's Gateway Romance Fanfiction Archives'. The link can be found in my Profile, so just click on my pen name above this Chapter and come on over.

Hugs,
Princess Destiny