Title: A Kiss In The Dark
Author:Princess Destiny
Email: In Profile
Author's Homepage: destinysgateway DOT com
Rating: M 15+
Summary: 'One Hour Challenge' #1 and 657 Combined: 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!
Genre:Romance/UST/Comedy/Adventure/Action/Angst
Couple:Usagi/Mamoru
Category:SMTK
Chapters:18/?
Status:Unfinished
Year Completed: N/A
Size: 430 KB

Comments: Hi everyone! You guys are in luck. :) I'm sending this Chapter out immediately after writing it. I'm got the creative juices flowing and should be able to get many Chapters out over the next couple of weeks. I have realised though, since have hit the 400 KB mark, that is story will soon be ending...And another beginning. Yay! Suggestions for a name for the Sequel as welcome.

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A KISS IN THE DARK

By Princess Destiny

Chapter Eighteen

When Rei reached Mamoru's closed door, she hesitated. It was all very well to bluff her way past Ikuko, but another to get him to talk to her. She hadn't been entirely forward with their mother; Mamoru had not even been aware that Rei liked him. She sighed and ran a hand through her hair, as much to tidy it, as to calm herself. Then her purple eyes hardened. "I'm coming in, so I hope you're decent!" The girl called out, turning the handle and shoving the door open.

Mamoru's eyes shot open, and his body was in a defensive position before the girl was even through the door. Standing there in a shirt and slacks, with his head spinning, he realised just who had invaded his much-needed rest. Rei was standing there with her mouth gaping, a bag dangling limply from one hand.

The priestess looked from his fighting stance, to his ruffled dark hair, to his rock-hard abbs showing under a blue shirt that had ridden upwards in sleep. She swallowed hard. Good god, but this was one very drop-dead gorgeous hunk of man.

"Er-hi," She wiggled her fingers at him, nonplussed by his immediate response upon someone bursting into his room. A suspicion entered her mind right then, and her purple eyes widened. She wasn't a stupid girl, and she noticed things. Especially when it came to the guy she had a long-time crush on.

What were the odds that Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Moon were living under one roof and wasn't aware of the other's secret identities? She shook her head at that though. 'Nah. Never happen.'

"You're raring to go." She said dryly, closing the door behind her with a lot more softness than it had been opened. "Who did you think you were going to fight, big guy?"

The dark-haired teen groaned and dropped his arms. Then he threw her a disbelieving look, trying to figure out what the hell she was doing there at this time of the day. In his room, no less. "Go away. I feel really bad." Mamoru mumbled, stabbing pain in his eyes making it hard to focus. He lay back down and pulled the covers over his head, not wanting to know what she was doing there, annoying him.

Wait-he groaned again as it hit him. She was there because of Usagi. Of course. He was a moron! His sister had most definitely told her good friends. Hell, they had probably had dinner with the Senshi and discussed what a bad person he was. "No, no. I totally don't want to have an argument right now." He told Rei, peeking out from under the covers. His room was way too bright-

Where was Rei?! He opened both eyes and saw that his room was empty and his door open again. Had he scared her off that easily? No way, the raven-haired priestess was most likely out of Odango's friends to chew him out. She wouldn't leave without her say.

Rei entered the room again, her arms full of a dark wool blanket, and her mouth full of clothes pins. She saw Mamoru gaping at her in surprise, but ignored him. "I read up on migraines after Usagi told me how bad you were. She was pretty bad today, but that isn't surprising." She gave him a pointed look before heading to the window.

It was difficult, but she managed to pin up one end of the blanket across the window. "Excuse me," She said to him, hopping up onto his bed boldly. When he rolled towards the wall and almost hit his head, he gave her a dark look. "Wait for it." Rei rolled her eyes skyward. Honestly, you try to help someone... The girl pinned the rest of the blanket up and immediately, the room was plunged into blackness.

Mamoru felt the relief on his head right away, and gave a big sigh. Rei was amazing!

Their eyes slowly adjusted as the light showed through cracks around the blanket and they could vaguely see each other's forms. Rei-was a goddess! She had fixed up his room, when the thought had never occurred to him. It was the relief his poor aching head really needed. "Thank you." He said sincerely.

"No problem. Okay, next the incense," The priestess fumbled around her plastic bag for the sticks and the container to put them in. She squinted at his bedside table and mentally slapped herself for not fixing this up before blocking out the sun. She saw him wince as she struck a match and lit the incense. The scent of vanilla filled the room pleasantly. "This will help you to circulate your blood." Rei explained. "I also have a very nice Shinto healing spell we can try."

The dark-haired man couldn't help but eye her with equal amounts of admiration and wariness. "A spell?" He said sceptically. He was Tuxedo Kamen, and had seen all sorts of strange powers in his superhero career, but still...was Rei a wiccan or something? "No, I'll be fine now."

"Great," She said cheerfully, plonking her weight down on the bed beside him. Purple eyes stared with a hard look, but she knew he couldn't see it in the gloom. "Then, if you're feeling a little better, we can talk."

"Oh no," Mamoru growled. He had known it was coming, but still wasn't willing. "I don't want to talk about last night." He paused. "How much did Usagi tell you and the Senshi?" If she hadn't said a lot, he wasn't the one who was going to blurt it all out!

Rei's hand jerked involuntarily at his words. So, Mamoru had figured out that they were the Sailor Senshi? Well, she supposed it was logical if they were her best friends, and his sister was Sailor Moon. "So, when did you figure out who the Senshi were?" She had to ask, even if she didn't like the answer. It was inevitable that he figure it out.

"The Senshi?" His tone was surprised. Had he missed something? "I have no idea who the Senshi are. Other than my sister being Sailor Moon, that is. Are you offering to tell me?" If she was, this was a shock. But it would give him a lot of insight into the girls he fought with against the Dark Kingdom. Unfortunately, they probably considered him the enemy. Or was he an ally? Mamoru couldn't really blame them, since he stole the Rainbow Crystals they were trying to collect, rescued their leader out of nowhere, and then disappeared into the night without a trace.

The girl breathed a deep sigh of relief. Thank god for small mercies. But honestly, could they have been more obvious? He would most likely connect the dots when his brain was working better. Which could be a good, or bad thing. "Sorry, but they would kill me if I tell you." She said sweetly, shaking her head.

"Pity." The upperclassman said in a deliberately cryptic tone. Ah well, he could always ask Usagi later on. She was closer to him than anyone, and might just tell him if he asked.

When they got over their current hurdle, that is.

"Usagi told us everything about last night." Rei's voice was steely as she picked up the conversation from before the Senshi question. "Everything, you jerk."

"What we said? And-the kiss?" His voice was rather weak, and he cursed himself for it. It had been an honest mistake!

"I said yes, didn't I?" The priestess snapped. She felt his wince at how loud her voice had been. "Alright, let's get down to business. Usagi dressed up as Sailor Moon to give you a present, only you turned her affectionate kiss on the cheek into a-" Her expression blackened as she sought a word that would fit such a horrible, momentous event. "Something you never give a sister." She finally said.

Mamoru sighed and closed his eyes. He could barely see her anyway, so it didn't matter if he wasn't looking at her. Rei's tone came through loud and clear. "I know that. And I feel terrible about it," His hands clenched around his covers in anger. "Do you think I don't know what I did was unforgivable?" His voice was anguished. "I kissed my sister by force. I didn't know it was Usagi under that glamour."

"She knows," Rei said softly, feeling sorry for him. "She cried a lot, but then she reasoned it out. It wasn't like you knew it was her, and she knew you had a crush on Sailor Moon."

He choked on that one, but said nothing about it. "Does she forgive me?" He asked tentatively. If his step-sister didn't forgive him, how would they ever be close again? Just the thought of her never speaking to him, never looking at him, never playing their games again-made his gut clench and his mind churn.

"I think that she does, but she may not say it aloud," The raven-haired girl sighed deeply and ran a hand over her face. This really was a big mess the two of them made. And she got to be mediary. "But don't expect your relationship to just fall back into what it was before. You'll have to work hard to win her trust back. And she may not like you touching her."

"I excepted as much, after this morning," Mamoru said quietly, wishing it was all just a bad dream. He didn't want to think about that kiss, but it came to his mind unbidden. How she had felt in his arms, how soft her lips had been, how she smelled of his favourite roses. He had been excited and terrified at the same time, about making such a bold move on her. She had struggled a little, but then had sunk into his kiss, accepting him.

Sailor Moon had kissed him back.

But this was when he had thought she was Sailor Moon, and that he would never again get a chance to kiss her. The moment had been perfect, until they had broken away from each other and he had seen her horror. It was rather bewildering as to the reason she had accepted his lips against hers and responded.

Had Usagi completely forgotten who she was kissing?

Or...Did she know he was Tuxedo Kamen? If so, then she could be forgiven for momentarily enjoying the kiss also. Her crush had been kissing her. She was only fifteen and was easily overwhelmed. Mamoru sighed deeply. "Did she know-about me?" He asked Rei in a low tone.

"About you?" Rei said, bewildered. "What about you, Mamoru?" What on earth was he talking about?

"She didn't tell you?" He said in shock, eyes opening wide. If Usagi knew for sure that he was Tuxedo Kamen, but hadn't told her friends, what did that mean?

"Tell us what?" The priestess said through gritted teeth. Had Usagi not informed them or something? Mamoru certainly seemed to think so.

"Never mind," He said, turning his head away. Maybe he was just dreaming up excuses. Till yesterday, he had had no idea that his step-sister was Sailor Moon. What were the chances that she had realised he was Tuxedo Kamen? Really, really low. She was still his airheaded. sister, After all. Of course she didn't know. He had never given her any hints... "It doesn't matter, if she doesn't know."

Rei scowled in his direction, wishing that she could see his eyes to tell what he was thinking. Mamoru was obviously hiding something. Maybe something important. "What are you hiding?" She demanded, leaning in closer. "You better tell me, or I'll have Makoto beat it out of you."

"Charming," He drawled back, brows coming together in a scowl. "It has nothing to do with the kiss, so mind your own business."

"Nothing at all to do with it?" The raven-haired girl said suspiciously. "Are you lying?"

Yes, of course he was lying! Mamoru made an exasperated sound in his throat. "It doesn't matter."

"Mamoru-did you...enjoy it?" She asked slowly, wondering if this was what he was hiding. She held her breath. It couldn't be. But their reactions were very extreme, even for what happened. Was it the product of guilt? She felt sick to the stomach for having asked such a thing. Something she was to chicken to ever ask Usagi.

But...she was psychic andsomething didn't seem entirely right with this situation.

Mamoru was silent for a long moment of disbelief, and then fury flooded him. "Get out!" He roared at her, throwing the covers off of him and knocking the girl off of the bed. "How dare you." He raged in anger and humiliation. It was bad enough thinking it himself, but to have this girl say it aloud? Didn't he feel dreadful enough without her insinuations?

"I'm sorry!" Rei felt awful for what she had asked, but Usagi would need to know. He leapt up from the bed and began stalking her across the room like a big jungle cat. The fact that she couldn't see him very well, or even know if he was about to hit her, made her heart beat fearfully. She got to the door and fumbled about for the knob. "Calm down, you idiot!" She shouted back at him. "I will hit you if you don't back off!"

"You-you...get out now Rei, or I won't be responsible for my actions," Mamoru said icily, backing off a little. He had cornered her against the door without thinking. He could hear her nails scrabbling about on the wood frantically, trying to find the knob. When light flooded the room, he could see that she had opened the door. His mother was on the other side, her hand half-raised. She had obviously heard the fight and come running.

"What on earth is going on here, you two?" She scolded, looking from Mamoru's furious expression, to Rei's pale face.

"She's leaving." Her son said shortly, flinging the door shut in their faces. He would apologise to his mother later, but right now, he wanted to be alone.

"I said something unforgivable to him." Rei's voice was regretful, and he could hear the tears in her tone.

She really had no right to ask him such a thing. A terrible, damning thing...

Mamoru sank down against the door and buried his face in his arms.

...A truthful thing.

"Usagi, I'm so sorry that this happened. And you're right, we should avoid each other for a while." He whispered, a tight feeling in the back of his throat. Combined with the pain in his head, Mamoru was at breaking point. He had done something he could never make up for, and what was worse, she was the girl he had romantic feelings for. How was Tuxedo Kamen supposed to act around Sailor Moon, now that he knew she was his sister?

The best thing would be to take a page from Odango Atama's book, and avoid all contact. Until he sorted out his conflicted feelings, it was best that they didn't see each other. The problem in that plan was the Dark Kingdom, but they were unlikely to attack within days of their last battle with the Senshi.

Rei headed back downstairs, with Ikuko and she trading apologies. "It's fine. I pushed him a little too far." She admitted, shamefaced. How could she say such a terrible thing to Usagi's brother? It was obvious that he was grieving! She was a moron.

"He's very headachy today, I'm afraid," Ikuko responded, face tense. "Please forgive him. He's in pain."

"I already forgive him. Don't worry." The priestess said gently, smiling. She put her shoes back on, and prepared to leave. "Mamoru talked to me about what happened, but after this last bit, I don't know if I helped him or not."

"I'm sure you did your best." His mother said soothingly. She opened the door and watched the girl walk back down the path to the street. There, she took something out of her clothes and startling pressing buttons. Ikuko watched curiously, practically hanging out on the doorjamb. She had sometimes seen Usagi with a similar device, but never found out what it was. Who knew what sort of wonderful things you could get these days? Was it a little computer? What did they call it...pager? Ipod?

"Oh well." Ikuko shrugged and went back inside to see how her son was doing.

Rei pressed the symbol for the Moon and waited patiently. School should be at lunch right about then, and if she was lucky, she could talk to Usagi. A few moments later, the screen lit up with the blonde's face. "Sorry Usagi," The raven-haired girl blurted out. "It didn't go well."

"Oh dear," Usagi bit her lip and looked anxious. "You couldn't cheer him up at all? Is he angry at me?"

"No, no!" The priestess began to walk down the street, still talking to the Communicator. "He's not angry at you at all. In fact, I would say he's angry at himself."

The blonde's breath caught and her blue eyes became guilty. "I'm so stupid-"

"Don't beat yourself up about it," Makoto's voice came from off-screen. "He's two years older than you and should have known better."

"He's hurting..." Usagi said, voice hushed. She could feel his pain, even from way across town. Was it because he was Tuxedo Kamen? Maybe. They had always sort of known if the other was upset or angry and tried to cheer them up. Should they start a game? No, it was probably too soon. They just couldn't fall back into their old routine.

The Senshi of the Moon felt very guilty about hiding something important from her friends; Mamoru's secret identity as Tuxedo Kamen. They would not be very forgiving if they discovered that she had not informed them of something so critical. Her friends did not see Tuxedo Kamen as an ally, but a foe.

'I could almost wish for a battle with the Dark Kingdom.' The Senshi of the Moon thought wistfully. It wasn't something to look forward to because people ended up getting hurt by their energy being sucked out. But Tuxedo Kamen would never fail to rescue Sailor Moon, and it would be something to break the ice. "I am blonde." She croaked out, flabeghasted. "The Dark Kingdom attacking is never a good thing."

"What?!" Ami, Makoto and Rei all gasped.

"Never mind," Usagi blushed in embarrassment. They didn't understand her comment, because they didn't know Mamoru was Tuxedo Kamen.

The school bell rang then, signifying that the lunch break was over. "Let's meet later on, guys." Ami said from the background, sounding anxious.

"You guys are really sweet, but I'm doing fine." The blonde whispered, wondering if it was true. This incident had really hurt her inside, and she was trying to deal, but it was hard.

Rei smiled slightly, her eyes strained. "Gotta go." She said, closing off the conversation. She put the Communicator back into her pocket and headed towards Motoki's place. There was one more thing she had to know, and that was just how much their friendly Arcade owner knew.

To Be Continued...

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