Title: A Kiss In The Dark
Author: Princess Destiny
Email: In Profile
URL: destinysgateway DOT com
Couple: Usagi And Mamoru
Rating: M 15+
Summary: 'One Hour Challenge' #657: Response Fanfic. Eleven years ago, Mamoru's father married Usagi's mother. It's now almost Usagi's sixteenth birthday and she has to juggle her secret life as Sailor Moon, on top of school and a job at Motoki's shop. Her life is turned even more upside down when she begins to suspect the masked hero she is falling in love with is actually her awful step-brother!
Couple: Usagi And Mamoru
Chapters: 4/?
Status: Unfinished
Year Completed: N/A

Comments: Hi everyone! Here is Chapter Four. Next Chapter there will be a battle, so the Fanfic will start to get more action.

This is my Weekly Challenge Response for the 'One Hour Challenges' Mailing List! I've tried to write a Fanfic before where Usagi and Mamoru were step-siblings, but it wasn't well received. But umm, this idea grabbed a hold of me and wouldn't let go, so despite the bad feedback I might get, I'm writing this plot! So there! My idea was to have the two in a world where everything is exactly the same as it is in the Anime, but that their parents married when they were kids. They were brought up together and still have that acute dislike between them, but it's from long familiarity. Oh, and before anyone asks, it's perfectly okay to have a relationship with a step-brother, since they are not technically related. I don't want to hear any negative comments on this, okay? LOL.

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.

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.

Enjoy the Fanfic!

Hugs,
Princess Destiny

A KISS IN THE DARK

By Princess Destiny

Chapter Four

"Usagi! Dinner is ready."

Usagi froze like a deer in headlights before realising that her mother was calling from downstairs and she had not been caught with a bottle of dye in her hands. "Ugh, I think I got it on my hands." The blonde muttered, staring down at the packet and bottle of the mousse she had just added to Mamoru's shampoo. She hurried to the bathroom door and peered around cautiously. Seeing that the hallway was clear, she rushed into her room.

"What are you up to? And no excuses this time, young lady!" Luna said suspiciously, eyes falling on the dye in her charge's hands. The bottle was clearly empty. "Usagi, where did you put that?!"

"Shh!" The Senshi of the Moon hissed at her, hastily shoving the contents of her hands into the closest draw. She cursed when she saw the dark brown liquid on her hands. "I don't have time to argue, Luna. Dinner is ready and I have to scrub my hands."

Someone called out again, their voice distant.

Usagi ran out of her room and back into the bathroom, slamming and locking the door behind her. She turned on the tap and began to scrub hard at her hands until they were pink.

"Are you in there, Odango Atama?" Shingo called through the door, sounding annoyed.

The blonde had stiffened, but now she relaxed when she realised that it was her younger brother, and not the jerk, who had come looking for her. It wouldn't do for Mamoru to see her locked in the bathroom, when she was setting up such an elaborate trap. A grin crossed her face and she was once again thankful for the games she and her step-brother played. With work and school and being a Senshi, things got so stressful. Luckily, she had such a fun sibling to play with when things got tough.

"I'm coming!" She called out, unlocking the door and staring at her brother. He stared back, looking as suspicious as Luna had. What, was there something written on her forehead that said 'guilty'? "Yes?" Usagi asked warily, following him down the hall.

"What were you doing in there? Dinner is going cold." Shingo said in disgust. "Some girlie thing, right? No, don't tell me!" He changed his mind.

His sister giggled at him and ruffled his hair. The two of them went downstairs and entered the dinning room, where the others were waiting.

"You were taking so long, darling," Ikuko scolded fondly. She looked at the roast chicken she was about to carve up. "I told you we were trying western cuisine tonight, didn't I?" She frowned in thought. "I could have sworn you were enthusiastic..."

"I am!" Usagi said, smiling brightly. She slid into her chair and couldn't resist a quick look towards her step-brother. His brows rose in query. "Let's eat." She went on hurriedly, not wanting Mamoru to guess anything was wrong.

"That's more like it," Mamoru drawled, resting his chin on one hand and regarding her sardonically. "I was getting worried when you didn't stampede to the table for the food. It's not like you to miss out on something like this."

"That's for sure!" Shingo muttered sourly under his breath.

"Now Mamoru, that's not a nice way to talk to your sister," Kenji remarked, looking from his son to his daughter. He was very tired after a long day at work.

"Usagi and I understand each other," The dark-haired man said, grinning slyly at Usagi.

"Yes, we do." She nodded, a little distracted when her eyes fell on the bowl of mashed potato. Perfect! She had to get his hair dirty so that he would wash it. This was just too great of an idea; Mamoru would never suspect a double whammy! "Mom, can I help out?" Usagi asked innocently. She grabbed up the bowl of peas before her mother could object.

"I'll help too," Mamoru said, not to be outdone.

The two went around the table, putting the contents of each bowl into everyone's plate.

The Senshi of the Moon grabbed the last bowl, which was the potato's, just as her step-brother tried to pick it up. "I have it," She glared at him.

The handsome man's eyes narrowed on her for a long moment. She was up to something, but what? He knew his step-sister quite well by now and Mamoru was very familiar with her expressions. She might be skilled at getting revenge on him, but he could always tell when she had a mock-innocent look on her face. "What are you up to?" He murmured, sitting back at his place. His blue eyes followed her as she went around the table, putting some potato onto their parent's plates, then Shingo. She skipped her own plate and came right to him.

Usagi smiled at Mamoru, her eyes full of mirth. Now was her chance! "Here you go, brother." She picked up a large portion on the spoon and then made as if to add it to his plate. He was watching her suspiciously and she almost faltered in her quest. Almost.

Everyone gasped Usagi somehow tripped and fell, and the spoon full of mash somehow went flying, right into Mamoru's face and hair.

"Oh my god!" The blonde girl gaped at him, a little stunned by the mess. Not only had the potato gotten into his hair, but it now dribbled down his forehead and into his eyes. Eyes which were currently staring at her murderously!

"U-sa-gi," Mamoru growled, getting slowly to his feet. He glared at her, then carefully wiped the sticky mess from his eyes, shaking it off onto his plate. "You did that on purpose!" He accused her, ready to wring her little neck. He was furious, but also a little admiring that she had managed to pull off her revenge in front of their parents. That was double points!

"No I didn't!" His step-sister's voice wobbled and tears actually formed in her eyes. She was so gleeful that she could barely restrain the smile of triumph that was trying to get free. Yes! Mamoru had payed finally for humiliating her in the classroom. Okay, so it was his turn to get her back, but she couldn't let him think he had gotten away lightly with what he had done to her earlier in the day.

"Oh dear," Ikuko bit her lip, then took off her apron and went around the table to wipe the potato off of her son's face. It was sort of funny really...but she didn't smile and embarrass him. "Mamoru, I'll keep your food warm. So why don't you go and take a shower?"

"Thank you, mom." He smiled tightly at her, then aimed a glare at Usagi. That cheeky little brat! He would have to think up something particularly good to get her back before the night was out. "I'll be back down a bit later." This sentence was aimed at his step-sister, who had the grace to look apprehensive.

"Oh dear," Usagi said under her breath, echoing her mother. Mamoru looked really angry as he stomped up the stairs to take his shower. She winced. "He's going to kill me when he sees his hair."

Mamoru couldn't help but grin as he recalled how his step-sister had 'accidentally' tripped and covered him with potato. She had guts to do that in front of their parents! "Hmm, I guess you got revenge after all, Odango." He rinsed the shampoo from his hair and turned the water off. Wait, something still smelled weird... The dark-haired man paused as the chemical smell fully hit his senses. His blue eyes looked around the shower cubicle, but couldn't find anything that would have give off that smell.

"Maybe mom was cleaning the shower earlier?" He wondered aloud as he pulled open the shower door and stepped out. Mamoru slung a towel about his hips, then dried off his hair with another. Getting revenge for Usagi tonight would take a little thinking. Perhaps he should put something in her bed? Nah, that was something Shingo would have done. Spill some food into her hair? No, that would be far too obvious in front of their parents.

He turned towards the foggy mirror and raised a hand to wipe the moisture off. It was then that something caught his eye, something blonde. "Holy shit!" Mamoru breathed, staring in disbelief at his hair. His very blonde hair! "Usagi!" He roared, fury and shock filling him. She had dyed his hair! In the shampoo-? That little-

"Yes?" Usagi sing-songed from outside the bathroom door. Obviously she had been waiting out there since after dinner so that she could catch his reaction.

Mamoru growled under his breath, then flung the door open. "You little brat! You dyed my hair blonde!" He shouted at her, gesturing at his hair.

Usagi's jaw dropped when she was presented with the vision of her step-brother, still wet and almost naked. Her eyes went huge and she couldn't help but stare at him from head to toe and then back again.

The handsome man blinked at her expression and her eyes trailing over his body like she had never seen him before. "Hello?" He waved a hand in front of her face.

"Mamoru! Put some bloody clothes on!" Usagi blurted out, slapping a hand over her eyes. Still, the vision of rivulets of water sliding over muscles flesh wouldn't go away. "Are you trying to blind me? Scar me for life?!" She raved, turning her back to him for good measure. Oh god, why hadn't he put some clothes on, and why did she care?

Mamoru didn't know if he should be insulted, or something else as he looked at his step-sister's back. She looked very tense and her voice was almost shrill. It was sort of flattering that he had gotten this reaction from her, but she was his sibling... "Stop being a drama queen." He said curtly, crossing his arms. "What are you going to do about my hair?"

"Look here, this isn't the rules of our game. We do things to each other and retaliate. We don't undo our damage." She snapped back, whirling around. The blonde winced as she felt her eyes moving over him again and she desperately stared at his face.

The dark-haired man's nose wrinkled slightly. "You're right there, sister, but this time-I mean look, I'm blonde!" He pointed out in disgust, bending forward so that she could see.

Usagi giggled when his hair tickled her chin, she raised one hand to shove his head back. "Mamoru, you're hilarious." Her chin went up. "And I'm not doing a thing. It should grow out in a few washes."

"You don't want to leave it like this, Odango," He said ominously, blue eyes staring hard into her own, which were only a few centimetres away. "The revenge I'll get on you might be something like-cutting your hair off."

The blonde shrieked at him and clutched at her hair protectively. "Don't you dare!"

Mamoru winced, backing off slightly. "Okay, so maybe I wouldn't do that again," He had done it when they were younger and she had never forgiven him. His eyes focused on her lovely hair and he reached out to bury his hand into it. "It's gorgeous." He whispered, letting the silk stands fall from his hand. It felt so soft, like liquid water.

Usagi stared at him with open-mouth. Mamoru had never said he liked her hair, but he seemed so absorbed in it now. His eyes were fascinated as he combed his fingers through it. It felt sort of soothing actually. Her eyes closed and she let the sensation go through her. His touch was gentle...

Wait, what were they doing?

Her eyes snapped open and met his, so close that she could see the silver flecks around the darker blue. "Don't touch my hair." She snapped, pulling her hair from his grasp. Usagi glared at him, wondering if he really was planning to cut off her poor hair.

The upperclassman looked startled for a long moment, then his expression closed. "Are you going to help me or not?" He said coldly.

"What if I say no?" She responded uneasily, trying futilely to inch away from his body.

Mamoru took a hold of her slender jaw and held her face still. "I'll think of something." He whispered mockingly.

His fingers burnt her skin like fire and suddenly Usagi was frantic to get away from him. She shoved at his bare chest, then stomped on his foot when he just smiled at her in a sardonic manner.

"Ouch! Oww, Odango damn it," Mamoru limped away from her, hoping that she hadn't broken any bones. He eyed her disapprovingly. "You're a very violent girl, you know that?" He adjusted the towel that was starting to come lose from his hips.

"Like you didn't know that already?" She said sarcastically. Usagi gave him a mocking smile, which he usually presented her with. "I don't know, brother, I sort of like you blonde." She tilted her head to the side to gaze at him thoughtfully. He did sort of look good with that hair. Damn, did this mean it wasn't a revenge after all?! Were revenges supposed to look so nice? Her face fell. "You like it, don't you?"

Mamoru wasn't thinking anything of the sort, but when he was her expression he couldn't help himself. "I always wondered what I'd look like with hair like yours," He said with false seriousness. He walked back to the mirror and peered into it. Hmm, it didn't look half bad. But still, he liked his dark hair! And so did everyone woman he met. With his good looks and dark hair and deep blue eyes, he had no doubts that he was popular with the female crowd.

"Full of yourself much?" Usagi muttered in disbelief. She folded her arms and regarded him with disfavour. He liked it?! He wasn't supposed to like it. "I'll help you wash it out." She said sourly.

"Excuse me, Odango?" Her step-brother turned to face her, eyebrows raised. She was offering to help? He studied his step-sister's eyes and realised that she was miffed over his reaction. She now thought that he was so pleased with his new hair that she wanted to take that away too. "I think I'll keep it." Mamoru taunted, hands on hips.

Usagi groaned and averted her eyes. "Get dressed will you? You're not supposed to be that naked in front of your sister!"

"Am I bothering you or something?" Mamoru chuckled and walked towards her.

"Mamoru? Are you done with the shower?" Their mother called out from further down the hall. "I heated dinner up again."

Usagi turned to look at her in horror. She would see what her daughter had done to Mamoru! "Mom, can I talk to you?" She said hurriedly, trying to head her mom off.

Mamoru muttered something uncomplimentary under his breath and he closed the door quietly, trying not to let their mother hear it. He was a grown guy after all, and someone his age did not let their mother see them this naked! How embarrassing. He shuddered and took the towel from his hips, using it to dry off.

"Well, I guess I'm blonde for now-" His voice broke off as he caught sight of himself again. Damn it, their parents would be angry if they saw his dyed hair. Usagi would pay for this one. And it would take the rest of the night to get the blonde out of his hair, so it looked as if Usagi had won this battle.

"Mamoru!" His step-sister's voice came through the closed door. "Are you dressed yet? I told mom you weren't hungry."

How very magnanimous of her! Mamoru's lips curled. "Great, so now I go hungry as well as having to put up with this freak show?" He hissed back at her, trying to glare through the door.

"Hurry up and put some clothes on and I'll help you get it out, you idiot!" She told him, voice unamused.

His brows rose, then he grinned in delight. Oh, she was feeling guilty! And the fact that she wouldn't be able to have their parents see him this way. "Are you offering?" He teased, pulling on jeans and a shirt. Mamoru didn't bother with buttoning up, and just opened the door.

Usagi's eyes rolled skywards as she saw his smug expression. She would never be hearing the last of this. "Look you jerk, we both know mom and dad can't see you this way." She snapped, slamming the door behind her. She locked it, then advanced, expression determined.

Her step-brother smirked, then drew over the seat that he had put his clothes on. He sat down in front of the mirror and adopted a relaxed pose. Actually, he was a little nervous about letting his sister near his hair. "You got me three times, Odango," He advised her in an ominous tone. "You had better not be thinking up any more plans because it's my turn."

The blonde stopped short with her hands raised to his hair. Her eyes narrowed on him. "Not now I hope? I can still punch you in the head or something." Her tone was threatening.

Mamoru deliberately paused, then smiled wolfishly at her in the mirror. "Maybe later."

To Be Continued...

Write me if you liked! Comments are adored and much appreciated.

I'll have the next Chapter out in a day or so.

Please don't forget to check out my Archives 'Destiny's Gateway Romance Fanfiction Archives'. We're a 'Couples' Fanfiction Archive, pure romance in any rating and always with a happy ending. Our Sailor Moon section is quite extensive and growing daily. We would love you to come on over and have a read and even submit your own Fanfiction there. :) The link can be found in my Profile, so just click on my pen name above this Chapter and come on over. All of my Fanfiction is up there, and I've written over 130 Fanfics.

Hugs,
Princess Destiny