Title: The BIG Wish - - Chapter 2 By: Lilac Summers E-mail: salaices@leland.stanford.edu Rated: PG Hello hello, everyone! Here it is, chapter 2. I hope you all enjoy. THANKS to all those great people who have e-mailed me their comments and good wishes. Particularly to some regulars who always make my day: the newly baptized Lady Mirage, Sidnei, Razzz, Jennifer Wand, Sailor Saturn, Sailor Pluto, Sonia-chan, Cynthi-moon and all the others. THANKS, GUYS! Again, sorry this one's short. Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any other characters mentioned in this story. They are property of Naoko Takeuchi and I mean them no harm, unless I'm really, really angry. And if anyone sues, I shall be very, very angry and henceforth litter my stories with bodies. Be warned! * * * * * * * * * * * @>---;---'--- * * * * * * * * * * * * The BIG Wish by Lilac Summers Chapter 2 I shall always treasure the memory of Mamo-chan's face when he first saw me. I admit, it was a tremendous ego boost. I could almost see the drool dripping out of the side of his mouth. And though you may not believe that drool is exactly sexy, let me remind you that this man didn't even *blink* when he saw me naked, with WINGS, no less, on our last battle. Not a twitch, not a sigh! That man takes "stoic" to new heights. And believe you me, I was most decidedly looking for a reaction that time! C'mon, how many guys can say their girlfriend--their naked, *winged* girlfriend--threw herself into his arms? Well, that day was a crushing blow to my ego. All the Stars were looking, and even Haruka was looking! But my darling, too-gentlemanly-for-his-own- good Mamo-chan never let his gaze wander below my neck. Focused. Bang! Right there, between the eyes. Damned man didn't even take a peek when I unfurled my wings simply for *his* enjoyment. But that is a story for another day and I'm getting off the point. POINT: Mamo-chan turned several shades of red and got decidedly, er, *uncomfortable* when he first saw me. And of course, I was going to help matters along . . . This is how it happened: Not long after Ami-chan's grand idea for me to stay at Mamo- chan's came along, Luna decided that there had to be a way of keeping me out of Mamo-chan's lair.... "No, Usagi-chan! It's not seemly! I will not permit you to stay at Mamoru-san's apartment, alone, *unchaperoned* (!), looking like you do right now." Luna can deflate a girl's dream faster than any rifle-totin' father. "Luna! C'mon, nothing's gonna happen!" Yeah, right. Not if I could help it . . ."We've been going out for over a year and nothing's gotten out of hand, "to my eternal disappointment . . . "What makes you think that something would happen now?" Luna glared pointedly at my new figure. "What do you think? And if nothing's happened, I'm sure that is due more on Mamoru's part than your own." Dammit, that cat knows me too well. "What's more," the lousy feline continued, "you two have hardly had that much time to, *cough*, _do_ much. Chibi-Usa was always with you, and when she wasn't here there was always another threat. It positively sends shivers down my spine even thinking of what trouble you two could get into by yourselves in his apartment." Yeah, well, it sent shivers down my spine, too, but for completely different reasons . . . . However, when it seemed that all was lost and I was doomed to miss out on my grand opportunity to seduce Mamo-chan, my friends came to the rescue! The first to catch on to my plan was Rei. I guess the decidedly wicked gleam in my eyes was her first clue. That, and the pointed kick I gave her under the table to intervene . . . "Luna," Rei began, kicking me back, "I just noticed that Artemis wasn't here. Don't you think he should know what's going on before we make any decisions?" We all looked around, for the first time realizing that the white furball wasn't with us. Minako had a clue as to where he could be. "Oh, darn that cat! Of all the days to, and I quote 'sharpen my hunting skills' . . . Oh, and he wouldn't tell me where the mighty 'hunter's grounds' were, so he wouldn't be disturbed . . ." Luna blushed slightly and coughed delicately. "Hmm, I might know where the neighborhood cats go hunting . . . by chance, of course! I'll go look for him now!" She streaked by, leaving the four girls looking at me curiously. "Okay, Usagi. Now, just what exactly is going on in that twisted brain of yours?" demanded Rei, rubbing her abused foot. "Well . . . er . . . guys, you just *have* to help me convince Luna that Mamo-chan's place is where I must stay!" "His apartment *is* the safest place for you to stay right now, but there could also be other solutions-" started Ami. I jumped over the table and prostrated myself before her, ready to beg to get her on my side. Luna always listens to Ami-chan. "NO, Ami! Look, just stop thinking right now, okay? Of all of us here, you are the one most likely to find another solution, and I don't WANT another solution! You get what I'm saying here, Ami- chan?" Ami looked confused. "But why do you care if I find another -" Minako cut her off, understanding dawning on her face. She stood and pointed her finger at me. "AHA! I get it now! Why, Usagi-chan, you wily little vixen! You're trying to get into Mamoru's pants!" We were all quiet, in various states of red after hearing Minako put it like that. "Minako-chan no Hentai! You don't have to put it so bluntly! Do you kiss your mother with that mouth?!" screamed Rei. "Remember, this is holy ground!" Makoto managed to fan the color out of her face and looked at me with understanding, and even a little bit of pity. "Poor Usagi- chan! You mean that you still haven't managed to get Mamoru to give in? Well, I understand you now. However, before you can get into, as Minako lovingly put it, 'his pants,' you have to get into his apartment!" PRECISELY! Luna chose this moment to walk in, dragging Artemis behind her. "Found him! Okay, I explained everything along the way, and here he is!" She placed Artemis in front of her, before me, and waited for his reaction. It was neither long in coming, nor original. Thunk. "Well, that ought to keep him occupied for an hour or two. The important thing is that he now knows what is going on. AND he helped me think of a solution that I am quite surprised I didn't think of before. Usagi, all you have to do is use the Luna Disguise Pen to turn yourself back to normal for the duration. Then you can simply stay at home!" announced Luna. I could see all my plans crumbling into nothing. NO FAIR! The one time my wish came true and I wouldn't be able to take advantage of it. I looked at the girls beseechingly, begging them to intervene in this cruel, unjust decision. Minako took pity on me. "Luna, I don't think that would be wise." Luna's smug look of triumph faded. "B-but why, Minako-chan?" "Well, er . . . hmm." It looked like that was all from *that* corner of the arena. "The disguise magic won't work!" blurted out Ami. We all looked at her, the girls and I wondering what Ami-chan would make out of that one. "What?! But of course it will!" said Luna, fighting till the end. "Uh, yeah, it would work for a while . . . but the logistical data," and here she whipped out her computer and pressed some irrelevant keys, "shows that the pen's power is very unpredictable for long-term use. Uh, hmm, y-you see, the magic used by the pen is not unlike that of the crystal, that drains the user by degrees . . . sooner or later it would exhaust Usagi to keep up the disguise. Moreover, uh, er . . . Oh, yeah! The data shows that the length that a single transformation may last, if not aborted voluntarily, is unknown, so Usagi could de-disguise after only a matter of hours, and what would happen if she were in front of her family? Phew!" Ami-chan took a long breath after her lengthy fabrications and looked at us for approval. Thumbs up all around! Let's hear it for Ami-chan! I swore to make Ami-chan maid of honor at my wedding if this worked . . . "Oh," Luna said, disappointed, not questioning Ami's superior knowledge. "I guess you are right. We've never used the pen for extended periods . . ." With little hope, Luna glanced around for one last time. "Minna, are you sure none of you can take Usagi in?" They all shook their heads adamantly. "All right. Then I guess our only hope *is* Mamoru-san. But mind you, Usagi, you *will* behave!" Yeah, sure Luna. I'd behave . . . ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Mamoru opened the door that afternoon to an anxious group of girls. Learning from past mistakes, we had decided to call ahead and warn him that things would not be quite, well, *normal*. After working out some of the minor details with the girls and Luna, leaving Luna behind to care for the still unconscious Artemis, using the Luna Pen briefly to go ask my parents for permission if I could go on a *FREE* remedial summer-school camp out of town (with the girls standing behind me and nodding their heads sagely, bemoaning the fact that, alas, couldn't go with me to *camp*), and borrowing some slightly larger tops from Makoto, I was ready. Time to begin Operation Mamo-Chan. "Hello, girls, what exactly is the problem? And where is Usagi?" To further safeguard against any untimely "thunks," I had stayed behind in the hall, pressed against the outside wall, when he opened the door. No need to bring out the big guns just yet. The girls stepped inside and I heard Minako laugh nervously. "Heh, heh. Mamoru-san, it's Usagi-chan who has the little problem . . ." I distinctly heard Rei mutter at Makoto, "I think she means *two* BIG problems." And then Makoto answered back, "they're not gonna be problems for long, if you know what I mean." The audacity! My own friends talking behind my back . . . literally! Mamo-chan had, understandably, gotten a little freaked by now. "Usako? What's happened to her?! Where is she!?" I heard him stride rapidly towards the door, and then the shuffle of feet as the girls ran to intercede. "Wait, Mamoru-san!" said Ami, "I think I had better explain first that Usagi-chan is fine! What's happened to her is temporary and not dangerous--" "To her, at least. Now, to you . . ." quipped Minako. "Minako-chan, hush! Look, Mamoru, just remember that it's temporary--" "Though you'll wish it weren't . . ." "MINAKO!! Anyway, it's *temporary* and you are our only solution," finished Ami. I can only imagine what my poor Mamo-chan must have been thinking through that muddled explanation. No doubt he thought I'd suffered some hideous disfiguration, or lost all my hair, or something of that sort. So, I could feel him brace himself as Rei called me inside. "Okay, Usagi. Come on in!" I stepped away from the wall and stepped into the doorway. Pause. Now, in the few minutes I had had at my house, I had practiced this particular pose. Entrance is essential, boys and girls! Standing in silhouette against a doorway is a good beginning, and draws people's gazes straight to you. It's a wonderful strategy for gaining a youma's attention. This time I paused just inside, twisting one long silver ponytail in my hands for a touch of innocence. I'd changed my long skirt for a shorter one that usually hung a few inches above the knees but now seemed so much shorter! One of Makoto's sweaters completed the ensemble, and though I did not nearly do it justice as Makoto did, it still fit reasonably well. Hip cocked, left leg slightly behind the other . . . and head slightly bowed so I looked at him through my lashes. Of course, there are consequences to this out-on-the-prowl-yet-innocent pose. My back was killing me due to my unaligned hips, I was teetering on my dubious balance, and I was beginning to develop a crick in my neck. But it was worth it! Mamo-chan had effectively stopped breathing and was a millisecond away from becoming catatonic. His eyes were glued to me in shock and something else . . . I heard Rei snicker somewhere to my side and shot her a sidelong, deadly glance, then immediately forced my eyes to go soft and watery so I could look back at Mamo-chan, my chin trembling. "Mamo-chan!" I cried, "look what's happened to me!" Oh, he was looking, all right! "I-I just woke up . .a-and I realized I had white hair . . . and then I find out I'm *old*" stress that little important fact, "and I was so scared!" Crocodile tears and cute little sniffles to reel him in . . . I could see the girls had taken a seat and raided the refrigerator, ready to witness Usagi's grand acting debut. Mamo-chan was able to bring some coherence into his gaze long enough to walk towards me and sweep me into a comforting embrace, trying his darndest to "reassure" me. "It's okay, Usako. It's [gulp!] just temporary and your hair isn't white, it's silver." To both our surprises, we realized that, on tip-toes, my chin reached the curve of his neck exactly. My added height facilitated our embrace and I looked over his shoulder happily as he murmured somesuch nonsense into my ear. In my sights were my friends, who were clapping silently. I grinned and gave them a thumbs up while they mimed hooting and whistling, cheering for my success. However, the instant Mamo-chan turned us so they were within his sight, all traces of food and drink were gone and the merriment had disappeared. Minako held on to a pillow, giving Mamoru a watery smile. Makoto shook her head sadly and Rei and Ami fought to be brave. OH! Such adversity! How will our poor Usagi- chan survive being stuck as ... as *that*. You must be brave, Mamoru-san. For her sake! They stood as one and walked towards the door, whispering their "condolences" to Mamo-chan. "It'll be okay. Remember, it's not permanent," whispered Ami. "Yeah, enjoy it while it lasts . . . I MEAN, er, I don't think it's gonna last!" finished Minako. "Uh huh. Don't leave her alone. She's bound to be depressed," advised Makoto. "Yeah, you have to keep reassuring her. Take good care of her, " added Rei. They'd almost made it out the door when Mamo-chan realized what their comments meant. "WHAT?! Y-you mean . . . you're leaving!?" He looked down at me (who was quite comfortable in his arms, thank you very much) in horror. "She is staying *here*?!" "Uh, of course, Mamoru-san. Where else could she stay?" "Anywhere!" at my baleful look, he backtracked. "I mean, wouldn't she be more comfortable with one of you?" Slowly, ever so slowly, he was trying to disentangle himself from my grasp without making me aware of the fact. Of course, I *was* aware of the fact, and only held on tighter. He blushed. "Urgh . . . er, Usako, I don't think it'd be such a good idea you staying here, with me . . . alone . . ." Oh, bother! The man could try the patience of a saint. "Mamo-chan, " I said in my littlest voice, "don't you want me here? Don't you love me anymore?" Butter in my hands. I could *hear* him melt. "Of course I do, love." And then, under his breath, "too much. That's the problem." Then in a regular voice, "but I can't help thinking that this is gonna get us into trouble." "Girls, I'm sure you can work something out with--" He glanced all around the apartment. "Girls . . .? Where'd they go?" Looking over my shoulder, I realized my friends had made a hasty exit. You gotta love 'em. I stepped out of Mamo-chan's embrace and scuffed my slipper- shod toes sadly. "I promise I won't be any trouble, Mamo-chan. You won't even know I'm here." Then I sat down . . . and crossed my legs a la Sharon Stone. "Somehow," sighed Mamoru, "I doubt that." ------------------------------------------------------------------- to be continued That's all for this week! See ya the next, hopefully. Ooh, and lest I forget, the "naked with wings" part, for all of you who may not know, referred to the end of the animated series. Adios!