E-mail: sailor_dafne@hotmail.com Webpage: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_dafne Rating: PG-13 By: Dafne If you want to read my AN, you will be able to find them here: http://www.geocities.com/sailor_dafne/notes.html Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of repeating over and over again that I DON'T own these characters *sniff*. See what you've caused? I'm *sniff* practically *sniff* on the verge *sniff* of tears *sniff*. Anyhow, they belong to Naoko Takeuchi and lots of other important companies, so please don't sue me. *sniff* I'm poor anyway. A real princess Chapter nine: The Storm Serenity was making a valiant effort in trying to suppress her laughter at seeing Mamoru's numerous and quite evident reactions to her bold suggestion, the princess had apparently caught her victim's entire attention: his eyes had suddenly acquired this particular glint that indicated he was up to no good; she presumed his lips must've gone dry for he had wetted them, if somewhat unconsciously; besides, she could clearly make out, even through his clothes, his well-defined muscles, which obviously implied that they had tightened in anticipation... "Not at all baby, it'll be my pleasure..." he had said. Oh yes, she knew perfectly well what that husky tone of voice meant: she had him within her grasp. Serenity smiled at herself, wondering how she could have such an effect on him, that she, out of all people, could make him lose control over his own body. *Well, Usagi my girl, it seems you're a seductress by nature. Why don't you take advantage of it?* she thought wickedly. The princess watched as Mamoru walked towards her, but she didn't attempt to stand up, in fact, she didn't even move; she was just staring directly at him with a mischievous smile plastered on her face, her eyes twinkling with deviousness. By looking at her you could have sworn she was the devil himself... but if that was the case, then you'd have to give him some credit: he had chosen a stunningly beautiful disguise. * * * * * Endymion couldn't hide his excitement. He was finally going to receive his much deserved kiss. However, as he approached the angel lying peacefully on his couch he couldn't shake off the feeling that it wasn't going to be as easy as he thought it would be *I don't know what you're worrying about though. Look at her, she's just an innocent little girl...* *But that smile...* *...a lamb who's waiting for its shepherd...* *...and that sparkle within her eyes...* *...she's definitely spellbound by your presence* *...it's as if she had something up her sleeve. I wonder what it might be...* *You're merely being paranoiac. Stop imagining things and go for it* *But...* *No buts, just DO IT!* *Ok, still...* *NOW!!!* By this time the prince was no more than 3 feet away from Usagi. He stopped and held out his hand for her to take, nevertheless, she just smiled at him charmingly and remained seated. Mamoru raised a suspicious eyebrow at her, nonetheless, it didn't take him long to realize what was going on for a part of him had already figured it out the very moment he had noticed how her legs were crossed sexily and yet she still managed to look gullible and oh-so-lovely. Gradually a smirk that denoted awareness appeared all over his handsome features; the prince was all set for a challenge, and it was certainly going to be an interesting one... *Didn't I tell you? She's being difficult.* *Nah! She doesn't know what to do, that's all* *Oh yeah? We'll see about that...* Endymion closed the gap between the two of them and made an attempt to capture the maiden, but when his arms closed over what he thought to be her waist there was nothing more than thin air. *Huh?* The prince was utterly confused; he had expected her struggle, not her disappearance. * * * * * Serenity sensed that Mamoru was about to reach out for her, therefore before he could do anything about it she closed her eyes and focused her attention on one of the two rugs that, she assumed, were the two entrances (or exits, whatever the case may be) of the cave. When she opened them again Mamoru was already staring at her with the utmost ridiculous expression. "H-how... how did y-you do that?" He asked her, unable to control his stuttering. Usagi noticed his face had reddened a great deal and she guessed it was probably because he felt embarrassed; she had fooled him downright. The princess barely managed to suppress her laughter; he looked so cute! "Magic!" Serenity said, making a dramatic movement with her hands and finishing it with a teasing wink. After Usagi's most unlikely explanation Mamoru recovered his natural color, raised his left eyebrow skeptically, and folded his arms "Yeah, whatever... but why did you do it anyway? I thought you wanted me to give you a kiss?" he asked, his face set in a pout that made him look like a little child making a tantrum. "Oh! Didn't I tell you?" the princess inquired in a sweet tone of voice "You'll have to catch me first!" and with that she lifted one of the rugs and headed out in a sprint, leaving a bewildered Mamoru behind her. * * * * * Endymion stared blankly at the spot where Usagi had been just a few moments ago, not quite registering what had happened. When he finally came back to his senses his lips curled up into a smug smile *Didn't I tell you? She's playing hard to get* This thought made Mamoru see in his mind's eye the picture of Usagi sitting on his couch, only this time he could clearly recognize the facade: her smile was far from innocent, it was more like a triumphant grin for she knew perfectly well she had him within her grasp; the twinkle of her eyes was, indeed, of anticipation, he just had failed to notice the mischief that was hidden beneath it... Now that he had witnessed the scene all over again he realized she was no longer the naﶥ girl he had met just a few hours ago; Usagi, being apparently a fast learner, had become one of the most talented temptresses he had ever met... "That little tease..." the prince muttered to himself while shaking his head. All of a sudden an idea popped into his mind *Well, now that I know she has some kind of powers, why should I withhold my own?* So thinking Endymion closed his eyes wearing an impish grin on his lips and almost immediately a golden light engulfed him. The glow brightened more and more with each passing second, but when it became almost blinding it disappeared abruptly. The prince had vanished into thin air... * * * * * As soon as Serenity stepped through the threshold that had been concealed by the rug she was greeted by a strong gush of wind and a dense darkness. The drastic and not-so-pleasing change of environment made her shiver and groan inwardly *Great, this is just great. I'm trying to run away from him and now I'm trapped in this soggy cavern where I can't even walk properly because 1)I'm barefooted 2) the floor is stony and slippery 3)I can't see a damn thing! Besides, I'm almost certain that Mamoru knows this place as well as the palm of his hand and it won't be difficult for him to find me. It's not fair, he now has the upper hand!* Despite her bitter thoughts, Usagi stretched out her arms so as to not collide with anything that might be in the way and began to move very slowly, grimacing at the feel of rocks piercing her tender flesh. After a while she stopped, for she had suddenly realized that the beating of her heart, her breathing, and her soft footsteps were the only noises that could be heard throughout the vast expanse of the cave, which could only mean that Mamoru had not followed her. Finding it strange but feeling it would be better to deal with the issue once she was out of her current situation, the princess merely shrugged and picked up her pace again. Being aware of the fact that she still had some kind of control had given her a sense of confidence, thus the wicked smile had returned to her lips and her mind was already formulating new machinations. Since her body was no longer complaining, Serenity completely forgot about her surroundings and quickened her stride, but since her concentration was somewhere else her right foot got caught in a crack and... "Ahhhh!" THUMP! Usagi fell on her hands and knees, scraping them and twisting her ankle in the process. Surprisingly enough, the princess held back the curses that were about to flow out of her mouth and instead opted to groan softly both in pain and frustration. Serenity's eyes widened as soon as she lifted her head and tilted it to the right because from her current position she could clearly see that at the end of the tunnel there was a faint brightness, which could only mean that the maze made a turn at this point. *Well girl, it seems you're lucky, at least you tripped over instead of crashing into the wall, at the speed you were going you could have easily broken your nose* Sighing with relief the princess closed her eyes and focused on that spot of light. In a matter of seconds she was no longer kneeling on the hard cold floor of the clammy dark cave... * * * * * Endymion was leaning against a rock looking intently at the raging sea and threatening clouds in front of him *It's certainly going to be a downpour* he thought, but his ponderings were abruptly interrupted by a female gasp. Smiling almost unconsciously, the prince turned towards the sound only to find himself face to face with a brown haired beauty, owner of the bewitching pair of blue eyes that had captured his heart. "H-how did you get here? You weren't even following me!" she exclaimed, seemingly bewildered. *It's payback time, darling* With a smile tugging at the corner of his lips Mamoru took a step forward and imitated the dramatic hand movements Usagi had made back in his refuge, stating nonchalantly "Magic!". The prince's obvious mocking attitude made Usagi regain her composure. She crossed her arms in front of her and indignantly turned her face away. Endymion's triumphant grin turned into a concerned frown as he fixed his eyes on Usagi's clothing. Her once flawless white nightgown was now smeared with mud and tiny drops of blood could be seen at her knee level. All amusement gone, he exclaimed in a choked voice "For goodness sake Usako, what happened to you?" The girl looked at him in confusion, but as soon as she followed his gaze, acknowledging for the first time her appearance, she blushed bright red and replied softly, while looking at the floor and playing with her hands "Well, you see... ummm... it was very dark in there, so I kinda... tripped and fell on my knees" In an attempt to locate any more injuries, Mamoru continued to stare at her. When he did find what he was looking for, his eyes practically popped out of their sockets. The prince closed the gap between the two of them and seized Usagi's hands, holding them with their palms up "Usako, your hands are wounded, and so are your feet!" he practically yelled at her. The girl's gaze traveled from her somewhat swollen hands to the ground beneath her feet, where the moist grass was rapidly changing from a light green to a deep scarlet color. Lifting her head, Usagi met Endymion's fretful face and said indifferently "Yeah, so?" Groaning in frustration, Mamoru finally lost his temper and started to scream at the top of his lungs "Geez child, how can you be so dense?!" The prince's sudden outburst made Usagi gasp in surprise, her eyes tearing up immediately. When Endymion noticed her heartbreaking expression he softened almost as quickly. He reached out to encircle her waist and pull her close to him. * * * * * Serenity tensed at first, but before long she was at ease again. Closing her eyes, the princess let her worries out in the shape of two lonely crystalline tears. Still wrapped in her love's arms, she rested her head on his shoulder. Soon after Mamoru placed his own on top of hers and started rubbing his hands up and down her back in a comforting way. "I'm sorry Usako, I didn't mean to sound so mean, it's just that... well... you hurt yourself pretty badly and you talk about it as if it weren't such a big deal. You shouldn't have gone out barefooted, you..." he suddenly stopped mid-sentence, as if pondering over something. After a while he sighed dejectedly and added "I suppose it was my fault anyway, I know perfectly well how dangerous it is to walk through the tunnel in complete darkness when you're not familiar with the place. I should have gone after you." Mamoru's guilty tone made Serenity look up at him, but he was averting her eyes, bowing his head in shame. She placed her right hand on his left cheek and forced him to meet her gaze. Once he did she smiled sweetly and traced his jaw with her index finger "It was most definitely not your fault, if there is someone to blame then that should be me. I was the one who decided to start this pursuit, and I'm willing to take the consequences of it." When the princess saw he was about to protest she placed two fingers on his lips, silencing him successfully. She then leaned over and murmured amusedly in his ear "Besides, it was worth it, you should have seen the look on your face during the whole thing..." Usagi couldn't help giggling subtly as she recalled the scene. * * * * * Hearing Usagi's melodious voice made Endymion smile. However, as he remembered that she was actually laughing at him, his smirk turned into an indignant scowl *Why the little...* His thoughts were suddenly interrupted for his angel was once again whispering words in his ear, only this time her tone of voice was slightly different... somewhat huskier... and sexier... "I'm getting tired of this game..." she said and paused. The beauty standing before him knew exactly what to do in order to drive Mamoru nearly insane, and he was having a hard time trying to keep his body in check. Her scorching breath sent delicious shivers up and down his spine, making him tremble noticeably. Her velvety scented hair enticed both smell and touch at the same time, making it quite difficult to think straight. And last, but not least, there was the fact that her tantalizing figure was pressing intimately against him so that he could feel her every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination... Silently praying he would have enough willpower to survive the spell that had been cast over him by a certain blue-eyed femme fatale, the prince listened to the rest of Usagi's speech "... I think now I'm ready to take that lesson..." "Huh?" was the only thing that managed to escape Endymion's lips. For a while he just stood staring at her, speechless, his mouth and eyes wide opened. Once he realized he must look stupid he shook his head and reasoned with himself *Maybe I'm just hearing things...* well, he was about to find out... "W-what did you say?" he asked her, barely containing his stuttering. * * * * * Seeing Mamoru's expression made Serenity almost burst into a fit of laughter, but deciding that at the moment that was not a wise thing to do, she contented herself with just grinning mischievously at the handsome man enfolding her with a pair of wonderfully strong arms. The princess shook her head "My, my, I think you're getting deaf Mamo-chan" she said, but before he could reply to her devious comment she wrapped her slim arms around his neck, purposely bringing herself closer to him, their lips now mere inches apart... "I said that I'm now ready for that lesson you promised me, remember?" she asked, trying to sound innocent. * * * * * Usagi's naﶥ tone of voice made the prince come out of his stupor. He stared down at her delicate features and noticed that she was batting her eyelashes flirtatiously and smiling impishly up at him. *How can she be a seductress and still manage to look ingenuous?* he meditated, but shook the thought off. *Well, she has already had her fun, I do believe it's my turn...* With a malicious grin plastered on his face, Endymion tightened his grip on the girl's waist and leaned over so that his lips were brushing against her left ear "But first we have to get you comfortable" he whispered huskily. Usagi took a step back so as to look him in the eye "What do you..." but before she could finish her statement, Mamoru lifted her into his arms and started walking towards the beach. "Mamo-chan! What are you..." Usagi shrieked, yet the prince once again cut her off "Usako, your feet are bleeding and you can't be standing up for a very long period of time." he stated matter-of-factly. * * * * * Still not realizing the true meaning of his words, Serenity furrowed her brow "Well, yeah, but you're just going to give me a kiss, that shouldn't take long. After that maybe we can sit down and talk..." she added innocently, but this time she was not pretending... Mamoru's deep chuckling made her look up at him curiously "Really Usako, sometimes you're just too naﶥ." His comment made the princess blush furiously. She was about to say something, but the distracting feeling of Mamoru's lips and breath caressing her skin made it impossible for her to utter even a sound. "Do you actually think I'm going to give you a single kiss? Dearest lady, you've made me go through so much and now that I have you within my grasp I'm not going to set you free that easily" he then lowered his voice "I'm going to devour you, I'm going to kiss you until you're out of breath, I'm going to make you lose control over your own body." Serenity didn't know anymore if she was trembling because of the cold gusts of wind, because of Mamoru's husky tone of voice, because of his words and their significance, or because of his closeness... *It's probably a mixture of all those things...* she reasoned almost unconsciously for her mind and body were rapidly becoming numb. * * * * * Endymion watched with amusement and keen interest the various effects his somewhat bold remarks were having on Usagi's features and behavior. *Hmmmm... so this is how you feel when you have the power* he mused, trying his best to conceal that typical wicked look and cynical smile that came to the face of someone who had just beaten his worst enemy. The prince finally stopped in front of a huge stone that overlooked the wild sea and placed his treasure on it. He then kneeled before her and delicately took her left foot between his hands. With utmost tenderness he kissed it thoroughly, putting especial attention to her now receding wounds, and repeated the same procedure with her other foot. Once he had, unknowingly to Usagi, healed her small injuries, Mamoru reached out for her hands in order to do the exact same thing; only this time, after he had finished with the required ministrations, he didn't stop his caresses. His mouth made its way upwards, placing butterfly kisses all over her arms' soft skin. When he couldn't go any further he pulled her down so that she was also on her knees, facing him. Endymion then put his arms around Usagi's thin waist so that she would be close enough for his assault. * * * * * Mamoru's seemingly uncontrollable passion was having several effects on Serenity's young inexperienced body. The princess had easily learned how to play seductress, however during this whole game she had always had the upper hand which meant that she didn't have to worry about her body betraying her feelings, yet now that the roles had been switched and she was no longer the cat, but rather the defenseless mouse, her self-control came crumbling down. Just being near him made her heart beat and breathing speed up drastically, his fervent kisses were like blazing fire on her tender skin, his hot breath sent delicious shivers up and down her spine, and her limbs trembled under his touch. Usagi threw back her head in order to allow greater access to her Mamo-chan who was, at the moment, busily nuzzling the crook of her neck and occasionally placing loving kisses on her exposed collarbone and shoulders. Even though Serenity reveled in his sweet torture she desired something more... The princess waited for him to take the initiative, but it didn't take her long to realize that he wasn't going to give her what she really wanted any time soon. *Damn the man! He's enjoying his victory way too much. I think it's time for me to take the lead... again* Usagi's frustrated frown turned into a sly grin which was immediately hidden as soon as she set in motion her all-too- familiar innocent-girl-charade. * * * * * "Mamo-chan?" Usagi's sweet, almost shy voice brought Endymion back to reality. Reluctantly, he lifted his head so as to establish eye contact with the girl. "Yes Usako?" he asked with uncertainty, expecting her to tell him what was troubling her. Nevertheless Usagi didn't respond, she merely gazed at him with an intensity he didn't know she possessed. The prince noticed she had this particular glint within her eyes, but he couldn't quite decipher it... With their gazes still locked, Mamoru never noticed Usagi's hands reaching up for his face until they were lovingly stroking his cheeks. This simple action softened the prince's demeanor and brought a smile to his face. However, he was completely taken aback by what she did next. With her hands she brought his face close to hers until their noses were practically touching. The sudden movement elicited a surprised gasp from him and a triumphant grin from her. Endymion's eyes suddenly widened in realization. Why couldn't he have figured it out before? That sparkle... he had already seen it before, countless times as a matter of fact... Mamoru tried desperately to recover the privileged position in which he had been just a few moments ago but it was useless for Usagi had already won the battle... * * * * * Serenity tried not to smile, but when she heard Mamoru gasp she could no longer keep up the pretense and the smug grin she had been hiding finally surfaced. As soon as she noticed the look of awareness on his face the smirk merely widened; the princess had once again managed to fool him downright, and he knew it perfectly well. Usagi watched with amusement as Mamoru vainly attempted to regain his composure by tearing his gaze away from her. She shook her head and smiled inwardly *Too late darling, you're doomed...* So thinking, the princess forced him to look at her with the help of her gentle yet strong hands and then, tilting her head to the right, closed the gap between their lips. * * * * * Endymion still couldn't figure out the time when he had recklessly lowered his defenses, the only thing he knew was that one minute he had been ravishing a girl's delectable neck, drawing out an undeniable response from her, and the next one he found himself falling headfirst into a woman's trap. Usagi tried to go slowly, but she was apparently too impassioned to make her needs wait any longer. When Mamoru felt her lips urging him to open his mouth he let out a surprised gasp which only allowed her tongue's entrance. The kiss sent an electrical shock through the both of them, it was heated yet lingering, and when it finally came to an end it left them out of breath. The prince was the one who pulled apart. When he looked down at the femme fatale he noticed that she still had her eyes closed, probably enjoying the aftermath of the bliss they had just experienced. Touched by her expression, Endymion held her even closer and put his forehead against hers. As soon as he did so she opened her blue orbs and stared at him with utter adoration. "You don't need me to show you how to give a real kiss sweetheart, you're a natural kisser" Mamoru whispered huskily. Usagi blushed bright red at his comment, but she didn't avert his gaze, she merely grinned back at him and said "Then how about *I* become your teacher?" Usagi's boldness made the prince chuckle and groan at the same time. With an unexpected yet gentle movement he pushed her so that she was lying on her back and then positioned himself on top of her, pinning her successfully to the ground with his own weight. "Ah my dear, but you know what they say: 'sabe m᳠el Diablo por viejo que por Diablo'+++ You may be a devil, but I am too, with the slight difference that I have experience and you don't. So, try to be a good girl and let me tutor you" with this said, Endymion closed his eyes and began to lower his head so that he could be able to savor her luscious lips once more. * * * * * Serenity didn't care anymore if Mamoru was the one with the upper hand as long as he finished what he had so ruthlessly stopped. When his face was finally nearing hers she let her eyelids drop, only to lift them once again as soon as she felt a cold drop of water plummet square on her nose. Confused, the princess directed her gaze upwards and that's when she noticed for the first time the dark clouds hovering threateningly above their heads. Usagi returned her attention to the handsome young man currently lying on her, only to find him looking up at the sky, most likely acknowledging the unwanted menace as well. Serenity took hold of Mamoru's face and forced him to look at her. Once he did they stared at each other for a long while and they would've stayed that way if she hadn't broken the silence "If we want to stay dry maybe we should be heading back" she said softly, but unfortunately for her that plain statement caused a hasty reaction from her mind *Listen to me young lady!* it yelled at her, making the princess cringe inwardly *You've infringed the law far too many times and I'm not going to let you do it again. You're NOT going into that cave with him, understood? You're going to excuse yourself, I don't know how, and go back to the forest so that you can teleport back home...* Usagi was about to protest, as she always did whenever her annoyingly reasonable mind protested against her wishes, but as soon as it completed its line of thought she could only sigh in defeat *...besides, the Senshi must be very worried about you. I can't be sure, but I think you've been down here for more than 3 hours...* "Ma..." that's all she could say before Mamoru's index and middle fingers were placed on her lips, cutting her off. * * * * * When Endymion sensed Usagi's slight movements beneath him he knew something was wrong, thus he grudgingly opened his eyes and noticed that she was looking intently at the sky. Curious as to what could be more interesting than him, the prince followed her gaze and groaned inwardly as soon as he spotted the intimidating clouds. *Dammit! This is certainly NOT going to help me out. Now that I FINALLY have the opportunity to sweep the girl off of her feet Mother Nature DECIDES that this would be the PERFECT time for a STORM. It just isn't FAIR!* All of a sudden Mamoru felt Usagi's soft yet strong hands on both of his cheeks, compelling him to tear his gaze away from the heavens and direct it towards her. He could imagine what she was going to say, it was clearly written in her eyes, still Endymion hoped against hope that he was getting the wrong idea... he had no such luck "If we want to stay dry maybe we should be heading back" she said, as if voicing his own thoughts *Oh no! Not by any chance my dear! Do you really think I'll let you get out of this one just like that? No way Jose!++++ I worked very hard to create the romantic atmosphere and I'm not going to let my efforts go to waste. You have to give me at least one more kiss, and I'm being self-sacrificing...* So thinking, the prince silenced any protests that might have come out of Usagi's mouth by placing two fingers against her lips. He then leaned in for his well-deserved kiss and... *splash* a cold and big drop of water fell on his head, making him back up a little. Mamoru grunted and muttered some incoherent words but since he was determined to reach his goal he bent forward once more and... *splash* a colder and bigger drop of water fell on his nose. Endymion growled in frustration but didn't give up, he tried once again and... *splash* *splash* *splash* three freezing and enormous drops of water fell on his head, nose, and neck. This time the prince merely sighed and bowed his head in defeat, he really didn't want to mess up with Mother Nature's wrath if he dared ignore her warnings... * * * * * Serenity knew perfectly well what Mamoru wanted to do and she had to bring into play all of her self-control in order not to burst out laughing at the comical expressions he made whenever he got hit by a drop of water. After his third unsuccessful attempt to kiss her the princess could no longer hold back her giggles. "Don't worry Mamo-chan, we'll finish it some other time" Mamoru rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath "Easy for you to say..." His exasperated tone of voice made Usagi chuckle even harder, but she became serious almost right away for she had suddenly remembered what she had wanted to tell him before he had interrupted her. "Mamo-chan, it's getting late and I really have to go back home, if not I'll get caught in the downpour" "But Usako..." he whined, his face plainly showing his disappointment. Serenity was touched by his sincere behavior, however his eyes suddenly brightened and before she could say anything else he replied "Okay, I wouldn't want you to get sick because of my fault. But... why don't we go back to my refuge? Once the rain stops I'll walk you home, I promise. That way you won't get soaked and we will have more time for ourselves. How does that sound? Besides, didn't you tell me you were lost?" he finished with a triumphant grin, convinced that there was no way she could refuse. The princess racked her brains for a fitting excuse for she knew it wasn't going to be easy to persuade him, he had proved to be a VERY stubborn man... Fortunately enough, she caught a glimpse of numerous lights sparkling back at her from behind the foliage. She smiled sweetly up at him "But Mamo-chan, isn't that the town's illumination I'm seeing?" she asked, motioning with her head the direction right behind him. * * * * * Endymion turned slowly around, even though he already knew what he was going to find. He had completely forgotten that one of the entrances/exits of the cave led to the outskirts of Atlantida, where his mother had purposely built a house in order to keep an eye on him whenever he decided to hide away from the world. As a matter of fact, the nearest and most noticeable lights were those of the Queen's quarters, not even a mile away from where they stood. The prince finally faced Usagi with a disappointed look clearly written all over his features "But... can't I at least walk you home?" he pleaded. When Mamoru watched Usagi's face soften slightly at his words his hopes immediately lifted, but they crumbled down just as quickly when she started to speak matter-of-factly, a sweet smile playing on her lips "No, thank you Mamo-chan, I'd rather prefer to walk alone. My Mom's probably worried sick by now and I wouldn't want to make her wait more than what is strictly necessary, and somehow I know that's exactly what you'll have me do if I let you come with me" Endymion knew she only spoke the truth, but since he wasn't about to tell HER that he put his best hurt look and replied in an indignant tone of voice "Can't you at least give me the benefit of the doubt?" * * * * * Not fully aware of what she was about to do, the princess suddenly pushed Mamoru off of her, making him fall on his back with what had sounded as an obviously 'painful' grunt. Taking advantage of his vulnerability she then proceeded to straddle his hips and take a hold of both of his arms so as to still any movements he might do in an attempt to escape. Serenity didn't have the slightest idea of what had made her act so impulsively but she was glad she had done so for she was greatly enjoying the young man's reaction to her unexpected attack: his eyes, which had inevitably closed at the moment of the impact, were now wide open and his cheeks had acquired a lovely rosy hue. These two natural physical responses were the evidence Usagi needed to prove that her dearest Mamo-chan was also aware of their rather... compromising positions... Looking down at her beloved, the princess decided to answer his question "But I AM giving you the benefit of the doubt my dear, I just don't understand why you consider it a benefit..." Seeing his eyebrows rise in confusion Serenity could no longer hide the teasing smile that had been tugging at the corner of her lips "I am doubting you'll behave yourself Mamo-chan" Her words had had the effect she had been expecting: Mamoru began to struggle in order to free himself but his efforts were futile, and that baffled him a great deal. Usagi smiled inwardly for she understood perfectly well the poor man's dilemma: how was it possible that a feeble-looking lass could beat a trained man's strength? IF he were dealing with a normal girl it wouldn't have been a problem, what he didn't know though was that she was ANYTHING but normal. Being the Moon Princess gave her special powers that no other woman, aside from her mother, could possess, her looks were only a way of disguising her true potential. * * * * * Endymion tried several times to budge Usagi, but it just wasn't working. He could hardly believe that his sweet, innocent, and tender Usako was actually pinning him firmly to the ground. After a while he finally tired himself and gave up with a frustrated sigh. "Usako, tha..." Mamoru was unable to finish his sentence for Usagi's gentle kiss had 'rudely' interrupted him. Even though she had merely brushed his lips, there was just something about that soft teasing touch that had made his insides turn upside down. The prince was so enraptured that he didn't even hear the whispered "Goodbye". Fortunately enough, his all-too-annoying mind did... *Hello! Earth calling Mamoru! What the HELL do you think you're doing lying there like an idiot while the woman you refer to as 'the love of your life' is walking away? I know you don't want me to interfere, but what do you expect me to do when you're not thinking clearly? Please do us both a favor: break out of that vegetating state of yours and go after her!* Once he came back to his senses Endymion noticed for the first time that he was breathing more easily for he was no longer restrained by Usagi's weight. The realization of what that meant made his eyes widen. The prince tried to get up but all he could achieve was lift his head a little because somehow he couldn't move, he surely hadn't damaged his back so badly, had he? Feeling physically useless, Mamoru brought into play the only thing that he had left... "USAKO!!!!!" ...his voice. Endymion watched as Usagi's back stiffened at the mention of her name, yet she never turned around to face him. "Yes Mamo-chan?" she asked softly. The prince tried yet again to change his uncomfortable position, but since his efforts were only developing a rather painful cramp in his back and neck he decided to stay where he was. "Where do you think you're going?" Still not turning around, she merely answered "Home" and resumed her pace. Utterly frustrated at her indifferent tone of voice and attitude and also at the fact that his current state deprived him from strolling up to her and wrap his arms tightly around her waist so as to never let her go, Mamoru's voice cracked at his next words "And you're just leaving me here without knowing when or where we will meet again? I've just found you and I want to make sure you won't escape that easily from my life. I won't ask you to let me escort you because I know I'll be simply wasting my time in doing so, but please Usako, just give me a place and a date" he pleaded. * * * * * Serenity knew perfectly well what Mamoru was feeling, for she was feeling it too: sheer desperation at being unable to do something about their present situation. While her beloved was fighting against his body she was struggling with her reason, the result: two soul-mates breaking apart, one because of his ignoring her motives and the other because of her impotence to reveal them to him. Usagi knew that she would have to figure out something in order to see Mamoru in the future, for now that she had met him she couldn't imagine a life without him by her side, but since she still hadn't come up with a plan it was taking all of her self-control not to go back to him and throw herself into his arms, confessing that they didn't have a chance at love, that this might be the last time they saw each other. Taking a deep breath in an attempt not to break down in the spot, the princess managed to make her voice steady, even though she was trembling inside "Don't worry about it Mamo-chan, I will let you know when the time comes" and with that she sprinted away, not daring to look back at the one man who had managed to capture her heart in less than a day. * * * * * From his position on the floor, Endymion could only watch as the girl of his dreams scampered towards the trees located on the west part of the forest, not a mile away from the city. A little while after her disappearance Mamoru suddenly noticed that he could move his body at will once more. Finding this highly suspicious, he creased his eyebrows in reflection. Who was this girl he called 'Usako'? What special powers did she possess? Why was she wandering alone in the forest? Where did she live? There were so many questions about her identity that you could practically say the prince had fallen head over heels for a complete stranger, and yet the aura of secrecy that surrounded Usagi made her all the more alluring. Endymion was startled out of his reverie by the deafening sound of thunder. Being completely distracted by a certain woman he had failed to realize that Usagi and him had been in danger even before they both acknowledged their surroundings. Mamoru could see the waves rising over 7 feet and falling quite aggressively not far from his current position. He knew that if he stayed any longer the tide would rise and the place in which he was sitting would be entirely covered in water, not only from the ocean but also from the almost black clouds that were looming overhead. The prince frowned, suddenly remembering that it had been because of this terrible weather that his beloved was no longer with him. What made him all the more bitter was the fact that he wasn't even sure when he would be able to see her again. "Don't worry about it Mamo- chan, I will let you know when the time comes" she had said. Groaning in frustration at the memory of her reply but deciding that his problems wouldn't be solved by his staying out in the middle of a storm, Endymion stood up and started to walk back to his quarters. * * * * * Once she was out of sight, Serenity paused to catch her breath. After she made sure there was no one around she closed her eyes and the white light that had brought her to Earth began to engulf her body once more, however, before it reached its maximum brightness the roaring sound of thunder made it disappear abruptly. The princess gasped in both anxiety and confusion at the failure of her teletransportation powers; the fact that Mamoru was not under her control anymore didn't help either for he might have seen the light which meant that he would most likely come looking for her to make sure she was alright. Usagi waited for a while, but when it was obvious nothing (or no one for that matter) would stop her, she sighed, if somewhat shakily, in relief. Once again she closed her eyes but this time the light didn't even appear. *Great, this is just great! Now what am I supposed to do?* *You shouldn't have come here in the first place...* *Thank you very much for the reminder, but it so happens that I AM here and for some reason I don't know I CAN'T go back, so if you don't have a bright idea of how to get me the hell of here you might as well SHUT UP, is that clear!?* Sensing an awful headache coming her way, Serenity began to rub her temples with both hands in an attempt to calm down and figure out what to do *Think Usagi, what could have happened to stop you from achieving a teletransportation? You have never had trouble with it before* *But you have to take into account that this is the first time that you're doing it in a planet that does not belong to the Silver Alliance* *I just hate it when you say something reasonable...* *However, it might also be the result of electrical interference caused by the tempest that is about to break loose...* *Might be...* *AND there's also the fact that you've wasted a good deal of energy: first by changing your appearance, then by hurting yourself, and last but certainly not least by playing hard-to-get with your sweetheart...* Despite herself, the princess blushed at this last remark *OR, it could always be a combination of these three possibilities...* *Dammit! That would mean...* *...that you have to stay here until you've rested properly AND this thunderstorm stops. It could be quite a while you know?, it hasn't even started...* Serenity moaned to herself *Please don't remind me...* *I told you that you would get yourself into trouble, but did you listen to me? NO! You always have to be stubborn...* *Ok, ok, I get the point, why do you have to rub it in?* *As if you didn't know...* At last Usagi chose to follow her mind's suggestion for she didn't have a better idea. *My mom's going to kill me...* she thought and as if she didn't have enough matters to worry about already, when she looked down at herself she noticed that she had returned to her normal state. Bringing into play all of her will-power so as to not cry out in frustration, the princess prayed that she still had enough energy to transform herself for she knew that she couldn't ask for asylum in that condition. She took out her pen and shouted "Moon Power! transform me into a country woman". Fortunately enough after the all-too-familiar light subsided Serenity was yet again clothed in the flowered cotton dress and white sandals and her long blond hair had turned into a shoulder-length light brown version. *Well, at least this still worked...* *Now here comes the difficult part of this whole fiasco* *And that would be...* *You have to find a place where you can stay for the night* *Great...* she thought sarcastically. Usagi began to walk towards the city guiding herself by the lights flickering not far from where she was standing. After a while though she had to pick up the pace for the downpour had begun and it was certainly not pleasant to have freezing drops of water rolling down her body while at the same time trying to fight her fear of thunder. When she finally reached her destination the princess was already soaked to the bones and shivering with cold. Murmuring all kinds of expletives under her breath, Serenity approached the first house that came into view, which by the looks and dimensions of it undoubtedly belonged to a rich family, and knocked on the door. * * * * * Endymion was riding back to his mother's mansion under a thick curtain of rain. He was completely drenched and somewhere deep inside he knew he was about to have another discussion with his parents, but he didn't seem to care for at the moment he was having another kind of argument... one between his mind and his heart... *It's just impossible!* *What is?* *You know perfectly well what I'm talking about!* *No I don't* *Geez! Sometimes you're way too dense!* *And so what, I am you and you are me, so you're practically insulting yourself* *Whatever...* *Anyway... what is it that surprises you so much?* *Usagi* *What about her* *She's a witch!* *Hey, hey, hey! You're entering dangerous territory here, man, you better watch your language!* *But it's the truth!* *Why are you so sure?* *Because there are lots of evidence!* *Like...* *First of all she is capable of disappearing into thin air...* *And so what, you can do that too* *Well, yeah... but I can't paralyze someone else's movements* *How do you know? You have never tried it because it hasn't been necessary* *Oh yeah? Then what do you say about returning things to the way they were?* *First of all you wouldn't be there to see it and secondly it'd most likely be an unconscious action* *But... but... t-the dress it... it simply disappeared a-and...* *... and then a bright light materialized out of nowhere. When it died away you were holding your mother's nightgown which didn't have the slightest trace of blood, mud, or scratches for that matter. You don't have to tell me what happened, I saw it too you know?* *Ok then, if you're not convinced that that is witchcraft then at least you have to admit that it is quite suspicious that you have fallen in love with a woman whom you have just met by merely looking at her eyes. You, who have met hundreds of beautiful ladies from all over the world and has NEVER ever lost his mind over a person of the opposite sex. If she hasn't cast some kind of spell over you then there's no other reason to explain your reckless behavior* *Well... it weren't only her eyes that made me fall in love with her, but they were certainly the ones that captivated me originally. Besides, there's always a first time and it was about time I experienced true love. If I'm acting, from your point of view, spontaneously it's because I'm willing to do and risk anything in order to be with my soul-mate. Of course you wouldn't know that because you're the rational one and it is MY duty to be the sentimental one, so you CAN'T give me lessons in this area pal. On the other hand you're just mad that you have always had the upper hand and now I am the one in charge. You'll just have to get used to the idea. Don't worry, it won't hurt that much.* Mamoru knew this confrontation had successfully come to an end, and it was a good thing too for he had already reached the manor and he wouldn't want other people to see him muttering incoherent words and sounds under his breath as if he were crazy. The prince dismounted and as soon as he did a servant, who had apparently come out of nowhere, took the reins of Black Angel, sparing him a visit to the stables. Deciding that before dealing with his parents what he needed was a hot bath and dry clothes, Endymion avoided the main entrance and headed instead for the back of the house where he carefully slid open his room's window and sneaked in. 15 minutes later... Mamoru entered the living room bare footed and clad in his favorite pair of blue jeans and a huge white t-shirt. "Ok, so what are you two going to t-tell..." The prince stopped in mid-sentence because the sight that greeted him was not expected at all: sitting on the black couches were his Mom, his Dad, and... "USAKO?!" To be continued... Stay tuned for chapter ten: The princess' trial Sunday October 15th, 2000. 4:39 PM +++ This is a Spanish saying that literally means "The Devil knows more because of being old rather than because of being devil" ++++ This is just an expression that kinda rhymes...