~Twenty Kisses~
Rated T
Chapter Title: "Phantom Princess II"
Setting: Season 2
Genre: AU
The sun sent a rich myriad of colors dancing over Tokyo in fond farewell to the afternoon, twilight sneaking up on a band of Sailor Senshi watching the sunset wane. Four teenagers stood apart from a couple mired in mutual sorrow, mourning the loss of a daughter they had only just discovered. The haunting echo of silence seemed to mock the brooding group in the wake of a child-turned-woman's tinkling laughter, lambasting the world for its injustices and insults. No one was quite sure how long they remained in the remnants of a battleground, ignoring the crevices gouged into pavement in favor of raised eyes to hopeful horizons. The moon was on its ascent when Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen finally faced their patient comrades, masked pain in each of their countenances.
"We'll set her free," Sailor Moon whispered fiercely, grabbing at Kamen's hand and squeezing. "No matter what it takes, we'll set Chibi-Usa free."
Her Senshi nodded with just as much passion, but a sigh escaped many a lip.
"It's too late to do anything now. We can't be too hasty; we all need to rest," Sailor Mercury intoned grimly, noticing that the return trip from Crystal Tokyo and subsequent altercation with Black Lady had culminated in a bout of fatigue so strong she wished to succumb to it here and now.
"I'll see if Mama will have us over tomorrow," Sailor Moon spoke up quietly, still clutching Kamen's fingers for what looked like dear life. The aforementioned tuxedo-clad man was observing her with concern out of the corner of his eye as he listened, appraising her shaky grip on composure falter almost imperceptibly at the word 'Mama'. He wondered if he was the only one to see this stumble and interpret it correctly.
"And I'll check the Sacred Fire for anything that may be of use," Mars added fervently. She shifted back into her civilian form, flicking stubborn raven locks over her shoulder with a fidgety hand. The others followed suit in a haze of planetary hues, but all faces whipped to Usagi as she gasped loudly.
"Oh no," the odangoed blonde moaned, wrapping her arms around her stomach protectively as she curled in on herself. "Oh no, oh no... I forgot..."
"What on earth?" Makoto murmured, unable to pull her stare elsewhere even as she sensed her leader's discomfort. Minako seemed to be having the same problem as she gaped, mouth hanging ajar. A query burning in all of their minds tumbled from her before she could think the words through.
"Why are you... wearing that Neo-Queen Serenity imitation gown?"
Mamoru's eyes hardened at the mention of Usagi's scant white dress, but he reached over to pull the sobbing princess into his arms. "Dimande," he growled, and the name was sufficient explanation enough. Ami choked and Rei's obsidian orbs began blazing with icy anger.
"He didn't... violate her, did he? Because if he so much as laid *one* perverted finger anywhere on her body, I swear I'll-"
"He tried to kiss me," Usagi interrupted, muffled by the fabric of Mamoru's jacket. She turned her head to gaze pleadingly at Rei. "That's all. He didn't even get the chance to finish it either, thanks to Mamo-chan. I'm fine."
"You're going to defend that bastard?" Mamoru snarled, but his menacing tone reflected an internally directed fury. Disgust laced every modulation of the ebony-head's voice as he continued. "I'm pretty sure his intentions were clear, Usako. He locked you in a room with a bed; kissing was the most nominal of his goals. If only I'd... I'd acted faster when he first kidnapped you-"
"Mamo-chan, you did try!" Usagi cried earnestly. "You did, but he was too powerful, for *all* of us! I couldn't even use the Silver Crystal in his presence; I lost free will. Dimande... he reduced me to a toy, Mamo-chan! I was... I was his toy..."
Mamoru tugged Usagi back to his chest as she began weeping again, eyes begging the girls for some privacy. The four exchanged emotion-laden looks, full of sympathy and infuriation at what their princess had been forced to endure. The promise of vengeance burgeoned in every visage as they nodded, in unison, to Mamoru. He smiled half-heartedly at their devotion as the quartet trudged off into the night, coalescing in whispers that were carried away into the breeze.
He could only imagine the horror Prince Dimande had incurred upon himself by earning the wrath of those four warriors. He had messed with the wrong Moon Princess, that was for sure. Heaven help the man when the Sailor Senshi got their hands on him, because Mamoru knew he sure as hell wasn't going to. No, he'd be fighting for first punch!
"I don't want to be alone tonight, Mamo-chan," Usagi sniffed, peeking one glistening cerulean eye up at his chary countenance. "The minute I lie down, I'm going to see his face. I'm going to feel his hands on me, yanking my chin, p-pulling me to his lips. Please, Mamo-chan, not tonight... Please... I- I can't-"
Mamoru utilized a gentle finger to cease his paramour's rambling. "Hush, Usako. Of course you can spend the night."
Usagi smiled gratefully up at her future husband, then nuzzled her golden head against his heart. "Thank you, Mamo-chan."
A transformation and several rooftop bounds later, Usagi was being placed on her feet by Tuxedo Kamen in the living room of his apartment. However, the small blonde took the man completely by surprise when she lunged into his arms, kissing the life out of him. Kamen froze in surprise, then responded with hungry desire as his hormones kicked in, spreading a dizzying warmth through his system. It was with great restraint that the masked crusader stepped out of Usagi's embrace when she resurfaced for oxygen.
"Usako?" he asked in confusion, laying a gloved palm on Usagi's moist cheek.
"Mamo-chan, I *need* this. Please," Usagi insisted, grasping desperately at his hand and ravishing it with her lips. Another tear trickled down her face.
"Are... are you saying we...?" Tuxedo Kamen cursed his lack of articulation, but his astonishment coupled with sudden understanding rushed to parry his eloquence.
"He- Dimande- he... he made me realize how easily it can be taken. How... how simple it is, to lose my innocence to... to someone other than you, Mamo-chan," Usagi choked, body trembling and taut as she pressed herself into him. "And I don't want... he's still out there, and I-"
But no further quivering words were needed. No more words were required for the rest of the night, in fact, as Kamen threw himself at Usagi and Usagi to him, legs straddling his waist as the pair toppled into a wall while grappling lips.
Mamoru did so relish in tearing off the hideous gown of Dimande's fantasies, leaving it in a haphazard state of disarray on the floor to be burned later. After all, there was a bed drowning in brilliant moonlight just beckoning to house the consummation of a love that had transcended time and phantom alike.
Tomorrow, the search for the missing would commence; tonight, however, the found would rejoice.
~o~o~o~o~
A/N: Finally, a one shot of substantial weight! Hehe. Hope everyone enjoyed it; the idea for Part II stemmed from my recollection that the Senshi always de-transformed into the clothes they were last wearing. And seeing as the last time Usagi transformed, it was from Prince Dimande's "Get-off-on-young-Serenity" attire... ;D Well, I guess you could say everything fell into place from there. Please review, and I hope to update soon.
AngelMoon Girl
