Disclaimer:
I do not own Sailor Moon, or any of the canon characters. I do have my own Original Characters which may show up in any of my stories, and they, as well as the story line changes, are mine. I will not receive any compensation for this fanfiction.

Credits:
Thanks go to Astraearose-Silvermoon for help with the title.
This is a requested story from Lashun316, who always comes up with amazing prompts for me.

Author's Note:
Some things in this story have been changed. Mamoru doesn't go to an all boys school. Usagi is fifteen (and in 9th grade, which is still middle school in Japan), Mamoru is seventeen (and in 11th grade). This prologue is about three months before Usagi meets Luna, just before Sailor V disappears from public view. I will give more information as I go, but I don't want to give away the premise too soon.

Destined Love: It Takes Two to Tango
Prologue
Party

8:46 PM
Usagi

The party was loud, and Usagi felt extremely out of place. As loud a person as she could be herself, the beat of the music was so strong she could feel it in her chest. The heavy, pulsing rhythm was uncomfortably strong and fast, and there were teenagers everywhere, shouting to be heard over the music. Most of them were high school students, and too many to count were acting funny, swaying where they stood, or saying things that didn't make sense.

She wished she'd listened to her gut and stayed home, but Motoki had asked her, and she couldn't help trying to make him happy. She'd had a crush on him for a long time, and even though he now had a girlfriend and she thought of him a bit like an older brother, the old habit of trying to please him hadn't disappeared.

It occurred to her that if her father had been asked properly he would have gotten her out of this. Unfortunately, Reika had been the one to ask. Usagi sighed. She wished she had been the one. She would have given him the hint that there would be boys... handsy boys. Then her dad would have helpfully kept her home, hidden in her bedroom, because in his mind, boys were the root of all evil and his precious daughter was an angel.

Still, she wondered why Motoki and Reika had been so insistent that she come to the party. It wasn't like him to put her in such a situation. He was normally very overprotective. They had been hounding her about the party for weeks, and Reika had even invited her for a sleepover so that she could keep an eye on her after. It had been the only way to convince Usagi's father to let her go. She still wished he'd said no.

She adjusted her silver mask. It was scratching her nose unbearably. With a small sigh she pulled the long braid of her hair over her shoulder, cursing Reika and Motoki for forcing her into the outfit and hairstyle. Sure it was fun to dress up, but none of her other friends were at the party, and most of the people there were older than her. If Naru had been with her, the girl would have dressed up with her and laughed uproariously at the ridiculousness of the older teens. They were all acting pretty stupid.

She'd be willing to bet she was the only person her age who was there. At fifteen, she was still in middle school, while the rest of the guests were obviously older. She would bet some weren't even high school age, but in college. She shuddered. She wanted to avoid them. Her father said college boys were dangerous.

Heaving another sigh as she skirted away from yet another older teen with free hands, she moved to the refreshments table and grabbed a cup of soda. It was lemon lime, but tasted a bit strange to her, almost like there was heat in it. She sipped slowly, unsure if she actually liked the drink, and searched for her friends through the crowd swaying slightly to let her dress brush against her legs.

She had to admit, to herself at least, that she loved the dress Reika had forced her into. It was a pale rose color that went to the floor, even with the heeled boots. The bodice was cinched tight with a cord that strung back and forth over the inserted thin silk material over her bosom. It looked like something out of Europe in an earlier time. A time of princesses and dragons, when fairy tales seemed like they could be real. Her braid hung down nearly to her knees and she did look a bit like Rapunzel, though her hair wasn't long enough to hang from a tower to help a prince climb up to her.

Usagi snorted. She didn't think having a boy climb her hair was very romantic anyway. Maybe if he climbed a vine and carried the damsel in distress back down... She sighed. Fairy tales weren't real. Knights in shining armor didn't exist anymore. And none of the boys at this stupid party would make a good knight anyways.

She sipped at her drink again and moved to the side of the table. Wishing she could hide, Usagi stayed back, away from the crowds. Honestly she was afraid to do or say anything. She didn't want to embarrass herself by eating like a pig, didn't want to dance and fall flat on her face, and didn't know anyone, so she felt uncomfortable, especially with all the older boys staring at her cleavage.

Why had Reika and Motoki insisted she come? Why had they wanted her to wear the dress and makeup and put her hair in the long braid? She missed her normal buns and her baggy school uniform. She almost giggled at the thought. She normally hated her uniform. Not anymore. She would welcome the scratchy fabric, if only to hide her chest. She'd never shown so much of it before.

Usagi didn't know who was actually throwing the party, but it was a large and beautiful room with recessed areas along the walls, and several long tables at a local hotel. The DJ was at one of those, which was up on a stage, and was playing mostly loud dance music that hurt her head and made her wonder why there weren't strobe lights. She swayed slightly to the beat, but wasn't up to dancing. She was afraid she would fall or embarrass herself, and the beat was far too fast for her.

"Where have you been all my life?" asked a teen, coming up to her with a group of other boys, all of whom seemed to swagger and slouch. He had thick, curly brown hair and grey eyes that seemed cloudy. She stared at him, worried. She didn't really want to get involved with anyone and he seemed to be the pushy, obnoxious type.

"Name's Yodu," he continued. "Come dance with me." He reached out and grabbed her arms, pulling her close to him, then put both of his hands on her butt as though he had any right to touch her.

Usagi pulled out of his grip and backed away. "I think you're a bit older than me, and I'm not ready for anything like that," she said, trying to be polite.

He sneered at her and took a step closer. "You're ready for what I say you're ready for," he said, his words slightly slurred.

Usagi gasped in shock, pulled way from his reaching hands, and dashed away as quickly as she could, hurrying to find Reika. The older girl wouldn't let anyone close to her. Or, no one but whoever it was the sneaky duo had dragged her here to meet. That had to be the reason they had made her dress up and put on make up. She never wore anything like that and the whole thing seemed suspicious.

After ten minutes without seeing either of her friends, and having been grabbed several times by complete strangers, she was ready to scream in frustration. No one should be grabbing her bottom, or even her arm without her permission, and the last one looked like he would grab her breasts. She shuddered for what felt like the millionth time since arriving.

Spotting a handy curtained alcove to hide in, Usagi raced through the densely packed dance floor and out of the way. She didn't want to be at the party anymore. If the person her friends wanted her to meet was anything like Yodu, she would rather not meet them at all. She most definitely didn't want to speak to another teenager whose only focus was her butt, which had been grabbed several times, or her breasts, which she was now hiding with her strategically placed blonde braid.

9:16 PM
Mamoru

Hiding in the alcove from his best friend had been the best decision Mamoru had ever made. He'd been at the party more than half an hour and the people surrounding him had driven him nearly insane. Girls who thought it was perfectly okay to grab him, or try to force him to dance, or worse, tried to kiss him. He hated it when girls got pushy with him. It didn't seem right. Half the time he wondered if anyone saw him at all, or if they only cared that he had money.

It was like all those potential adoptive parents when he was growing up in the orphanage all over again. They saw his sports car and motorcycle... they saw dollar signs and never realized he was a real person. The money didn't mean anything. He couldn't even get full access to his inheritance until he was twenty.

He sighed, looking out through the curtains. Now he saw someone hurrying towards his shelter and frowned. He didn't really want to share his space.

Mamoru wasn't very good at small talk, and the passes girls made at him sometimes drove him crazy. He didn't want to share with a girl, no matter how beautiful her hair was in it's long plait, or how she looked in the fairy-tale dress. Rupunzel, he thought. She certainly looked the part. He'd never seen such a long braid before. It reached her knees, even pulled over her shoulder. He wondered how long it would be if it was free of the plait.

Then he realized why she was hurrying into hiding. A bit of a jerk, named Yodu, who he couldn't stand, had reached out and grabbed the girl's bottom. She visibly started and moved even faster towards Mamoru's secret hiding place. The kid tried to follow her for a moment and Mamoru tensed, wondering if he should step in. Instead a group of barely dressed girls caught the creep's attention and he turned his focus on them instead.

Suddenly Mamoru wasn't angry about sharing anymore. He'd had his fair share of unwanted advances. Now he was only worried he would frighten the girl when she rushed in. He opened the curtain slightly and gave a furtive look around before waving her inside. It was better to let her know she wouldn't be alone than to scare her.

The blonde only hesitated a moment before another boy had grabbed her. She pulled away and rushed toward Mamoru's hiding place, nodding her head in thanks as he dropped the curtain behind her. She was panting and rubbing at her bottom and sighed in frustrated relief as the near darkness enclosed them.

Mamoru sat on the padded bench and leaned against the wall. He couldn't tell if she wanted to talk and was silent because she was afraid, or if she was the studious and quiet sort who never spoke unless it was necessary, like him. He heard her settle onto the bench next to him and give a small sigh as she relaxed into it and bent to remove what appeared to be the world's most uncomfortable heeled boots.

"Thank you," she said, her voice pitched so he could hear her above the music. "I probably would have panicked if I hadn't seen you before I came in."

"I thought as much," Mamoru said, staring at her in the shadows. "Those jerks must have upset you."

She sighed again and tilted her head back. "They did."

Mamoru struggled to find something to say. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable, but he wasn't the best conversationalist. He peeked at her several times. Her eyes were closed behind her mask, and she seemed both tired and frustrated.

"Are you okay?" he asked finally.

She opened her eyes and turned her head to look at him. "I am, but I think it will be a long time before I let my friends convince me to come to a party again. I never realized people would act that way." The girl seemed about to say something else, but her mouth clicked closed after that.

"My friends dragged me here too," Mamoru admitted. "I don't like parties very much. I'm not exactly the most social creature around. That's half the reason they dragged me here though. That and there was someone they wanted me to meet."

"Who?" she asked curiously.

Mamoru shrugged. "I don't know. They didn't tell me her name, or much of anything about her actually. They just said I would like her, that she was my polar opposite, whatever that means."

The girl laughed. It was a bright, tinkling sound.

"Most people think opposites attract," she said. "I'm not so sure. I think sometimes opposites repel too. Then again, similar people can repel you too." She sighed. "There was one guy out there who was obviously very outgoing. But I couldn't stand him. He kept thinking it was okay to touch me even when I told him no."

"I think I know who you mean. His name is Yodu and he's a world-class creep. I saw a couple other people grabbing at you. No one should do that. I have girls do that to me sometimes. It just makes me feel… wrong."

The girl nodded. "Exactly," she said, her voice pitched so low he barely heard her. "It made me want to run home and shower."

Mamoru agreed. "What's your name," he asked.

She tilted her head and pointed to the silver mask on her face. "I thought the whole point of this was to wait until midnight and then reveal ourselves," she said.

Mamoru grinned. "No one will know if we cheat a little."

"We will," she said quietly. "Besides, I'm afraid to spoil the mystery of the moment."

"How?"

"Right now we don't have any expectations of each other. Think about it. When you meet someone you generally make split second impressions of them, and they're hard to change. What if you and I could be best friends, but I take my mask off and you decided I'm too young… or too old, to be your friend? Or what if you take your mask off and I decided you are too handsome to be mine?"

"Too handsome? Too young?" he asked.

The girl nodded. "Most of the time we have no idea we are judging people. We judge ourselves too. We make decisions about who we can and can't be. Who we can and can't talk to. All of that happens in a split second and we don't even realize we've done it."

Mamoru smiled. She clearly thought deeply about things. He wondered who she was and if he had any classes with her.

"So then we wait," he said finally.

"We wait."

"So what kind of person are you?" he asked.

She giggled. "The loud kind," she said after a brief pause. "My teacher always complains I'm too loud. I tend to forget things, run too much, talk too loud, and I can't seem to help it."

"Then don't," Mamoru said, wondering about her. She didn't seem loud at the moment. He found himself incredibly curious about her. Her silky blonde hair was an odd color for someone who was obviously Japanese. She seemed to have light eyes, perhaps blue, though it was difficult to tell in their dark hiding spot. And her skin was alabaster. He'd seen that when she was hurrying across the room. He'd never been more tempted to reach out and touch someone's hand than he was in that moment.

9:46 PM
Usagi

She sighed and tilted her head in the dark, trying to get a glimpse of her rescuer. He hadn't tried to touch her once, and she was thankful, though she had the oddest urge to hold his hand. She'd never thought about holding onto a boy before.

"Are you sure you're alright?" he asked. "You said you're a loud person, but you've been awfully quiet."

Usagi frowned. She really had been. Then again, she could see that creep Yodu through the curtain, looking around the room. She lifted her hand and pointed. "I guess that one has something to do with it," she said after a moment. "He grabbed me and I wanted to run home screaming."

The boy slid a little closer. "I'm sorry. He is a creep, but you're safe here. I won't let him near you."

She could hear the sincerity in his voice. He'd said girls sometimes grabbed him without his permission too. It wasn't right. No one should be treated that way. All the people out there wore masks, like they did, but it seemed they thought having a mask on meant they didn't have to temper their actions.

She turned to face the boy. "Thanks," she said, speaking only loudly enough for him to hear her. "I feel better knowing that. I'm not normally so quiet, it's just hard to figure out exactly how to act. I might be outgoing, but I've never been to a party like this. I don't think I ever want to come to one again either."

Taking a sip of the drink she'd been carrying with her, she felt the burn of it as it slid down her throat. It tasted sort of funny, but she didn't really mind. She wished she'd had a better look at him, but it was so dark in the alcove with the curtains down that she couldn't see much. He had black hair, and she thought light eyes. Maybe blue or grey. But his features were shadowed as well as hidden by the mask he wore. That was a bright blue that covered three quarters of his face. Only his mouth and eyes were visible.

"What are you like when you aren't hiding?" she asked.

The boy frowned. "Quiet. I study a lot. My friends say I don't go out enough, but I've found I enjoy people in books more than people in life. My teachers all like me. I don't talk a lot. I'm very organized, and always on time."

Usagi couldn't help grinning at him. She was exactly the opposite. She enjoyed manga, and the occasional book, but didn't have patience to sit still for long. She was sure some of her teachers wanted to strangle her. She lost everything, and the reason she was always running was because she was absolutely never on time."

"I think my favorite teacher would die for a student like you. The closest we have in our class to a well-behaved and quiet student is a boy who is incredibly smart, and obedient, but is a major gossip. He knows everything before anyone else has figured out there's a rumor, and he always jumps out and scares me and my best friend."

The boy chuckled. "I know a couple students like that," he admitted. Then he sighed. "This would be so much easier if I knew your name."

Usagi wasn't so sure. If he figured out she was only a stupid middle school student, he might leave, and she didn't want that. She liked him. In fact, she liked him more than anyone she'd ever met. When he leaned slightly closer to her, Usagi's heart sped up until she thought it would come out of her chest.

"Only two hours," she managed to squeak out. "Then you can see my face and ask my name.

"At midnight?" he asked and she could see his lips curve in the dim light.

She nodded her head, "at midnight," she agreed.

She felt his hand brush against hers on the padded bench. She turned her hand over so that her palm was up, and felt his cover it. She bit her lip, hoping to avoid squealing like a child. A tingling warmth seemed to seep out of his skin and into hers, making her heart race even faster and her skin pebble with goosebumps at the feel of his skin.

"Tell me something about yourself no one else knows," the boy said, looking into her eyes. Even in the dim light she could see he was staring from one to the other, his eyes moving rapidly.

She thought about it carefully. There were few things no one knew about her. Very few things. Again she bit her lip, meeting his gaze. Finally she told him one of her best-kept secrets. "I sometimes have these dreams, of another world, maybe another time. Dancing in this massive ballroom, walking through a garden of roses, a battle... None of it makes much sense, and I forget the details when I wake up, but I dream about being a princess, and in love, but so very afraid that something is coming that will destoy everything and everyone I love."

The boy started and stared at her. "I dream about a princess," he said. "She's standing on a balcony, staring out at something. She always looks right at me and asks for help, but I can't get to her no matter how hard I try. She needs something... asks me to find it, buy I don't know what it is."

"Wow," Usagi breathed, her eyes locked with his. He inched closer and she wondered if he was aware he had done it. His free hand came up and the backs of his fingers ran over her cheek, causing her to shiver, and her whole body to hum. It felt as though she knew his touch, though that was impossible.

Finally his hand dropped and he blinked. "Tell me something else," he prompted.

"Other than being slightly afraid of the dark, that's it. Not afraid of night. I love the moon... but when the moon hides I get sad and feel nervous."

"I love the moon too," he said. "What's your favorite color?"

"Pink, though I also love silver."

"Blue and gold," he murmured.

"Your turn. Tell me something," she prompted.

"I have amnesia."

Usagi reeled back at that, staring at him. "How? You seem to know who you are."

The boy gave a heavy sigh. "I wasn't planning to say that. It just came out." He moved closer to her, and let go of her hand, instead putting his arm around her back and pulling her to lean against him. Usagi gulped the last sip of her drink and set her cup aside, then grabbed his free hand, trying to comfort him.

"When I was six years old, my parents took me for a drive. There was an accident and our car went over a cliff. Almost two hundred feet we fell. Both of them died. I was somehow thrown from the car and the only injury I had was a bump to the head. It wasn't even very serious. But I don't remember anything from before that day. My parents both died, and I don't even remember them. The doctors told me my name, and I have pictures, and my inheritance, so I know who I am, I suppose, but I don't at the same time, if that makes any sense."

Usagi's heart broke for him. Tears streamed down her face, making the mask on her cheeks even more uncomfortable. "That must have been so hard," she whispered, hugging him. She squeezed his hand. "I can't imagine losing my family."

He wasn't crying, but his eyes looked devastated. "Tell me about them?" he asked, and it was obvious he wanted to change the subject.

"Well, I have a dad who is crazy overprotective. I didn't think anything would ever convince him to let me come to a party, but my friend was pretty convincing. He is very smart, very loyal, very brave. And he adores my mother." She grinned. "My mother rules the house, but not in a bad, overbearing way. She just sees what needs to be done and does it. She cooks like a professional chef, can create something incredible out of broken or discarded things, mothers everyone she meets, and seems to have a radar about me and my brother."

"You have a brother?"

Usagi giggled. "I do. He's very smart, and sometimes I wonder if we're even related, but I love him so much. He gets picked on occasionally and I charge in and let people know that isn't okay. No one should be bullied for using their brains. He can be quiet with strangers, but when he knows and trusts someone his real personality shines through. He loves anything to do with Sailor V, and we have all the video games. I can't tell which one of us is better at them. Oh, and we play pranks on each other. Nothing mean though. Our parents actually have pictures of some of them. We've done some crazy ones."

"Do you have a sister too?" the boy asked.

Usagi's heart clenched. She didn't want to talk about that, but this young man had shared with her. Maybe it would help him to know she understood.

"I had one. She was two years younger than my brother. When she was nine months old she got sick. Just a cold, we thought, but she had a fever, so my parents went to the emergency room with her. It turned out she wasn't just sick, she was dying. There had been no signs, but she had some sort of defect in her heart and had caught a cold that turned into pneumonia. She died three days later. My parents never really got over it. My brother doesn't remember her, but I do. I loved her so much, and then she was just gone. It broke my heart."

The boy pulled her even closer, hugging her hard against his chest. She let her head rest on him, listening to the steady sound of his heart. "I'm sorry you lost her," he murmured.

She could only nod, her voice choked with unshed tears. He understood better than anyone else could have. He'd lost his parents.

After several long minutes of silence, she cleared her throat and looked up at him. "What do you want to do when you grow up?" she asked.

He cocked his head to the side, reminding her a bit of her father, and then stared into her eyes. "I want to be a doctor," he said. "What about you?"

Usagi smiled. "I've had several ideas. I wouldn't mind being a nurse, or a teacher. I love kids and I'm good with them. But I also love to draw and my brother says I should create video games or write manga for a living."

"You have plenty of time to decide," he murmured and Usagi nodded.

"I do, but sometimes I feel so much pressure about it. Like if I don't make a choice soon, then something is going to make it for me."

He chuckled. "I felt the same way before I made up my mind." His hand ran up and down her arm in a slow and gentle caress. "Even now I second guess myself. I sometimes think about other things too. I could be a fireman, or join the military. Whatever I do, all I know is I have to help people."

Usagi nodded her head. It made perfect sense for him. She could see it, the hero within.

10:16 PM
Mamoru

He was in love. Chiba Mamoru, the orphan who thought he could never care about anyone, was head over heels in love... with a stranger.

Except, somehow, she wasn't a stranger at all. He didn't know her name, but it felt as though he had known her forever. He knew she was it for him. The only person he could ever love. Even in his head it sounded melodramatic. And yet, it was pure truth. He had found his soulmate. His other half. She was his.

"I can't do it," he said finally. Then hauled her into his lap. "I can't do it," he said again, resting his head against her neck.

"Do what?" she asked, sounding worried.

Mamoru pulled back and looked at her, touching her soft cheek with his palm. "I can't let you go. I can't wait until midnight to see this beautiful face, or to learn your name. I can't spend another minute without you in my life."

The girl gasped and for a moment he thought she might pull away, and run, but she didn't. She stared at him, her eyes darting over his face. "It's a bit fast, don't you think?" she asked.

"No. Somehow I feel like I've known you forever."

He realized she was shaking and he was coming on too strong. He kissed her cheek and gently settled her back onto the bench. "I'll be right back," he promised, then snuck out of their hiding spot, hurrying to one of the refreshment tables to give himself time to calm.

Obviously he had frightened her. Unfortunately, he wasn't kidding. He wanted to grab her and run away where no one could ever take her away from him. He wanted to bring her home, spread her open and make her his completely. He'd never even had the urge to have sex before, and now he was picturing making love with the girl again and again until neither of them could move.

He shook his head, trying to calm himself. She was younger than him. That much was obvious. Perhaps as young as fifteen. It made sense. He couldn't frighten her. He had to move very carefully. Grabbing two cups, he turned and made his way back to their hidden alcove.

One way or another, she would be his. He would give her time, as much as he could, but she would be his. Forever. Now he just had to convince her.

He handed her one of the cups and sat next to her. "Sorry if I scared you," he said.

The girl shook her head. "I don't know if scared is the right word. I trust you, even feel like I already know you. But it's so fast. I feel like I'm falling and falling and I don't know if I will ever hit the ground."

"I'll catch you," he promised.

She smiled at him and gulped her drink nervously. He could see her hands were shaking. Once she was finished, and he'd emptied his own cup, he reached over and hauled her into his lap so that she was sitting across his legs. She was so tiny he could pick her up easily. Her blonde hair was frizzing in the braid and some shorter strands had come loose to frame her beautiful heart-shaped face. Her eyes were heavy-lidded and he could tell she was feeling some of the same heavy emotions that were sweeping through him like a maelstrom.

"I want to kiss you," he murmured, moving closer to her. He could feel her warm breath on his face and smell lemon and a touch of alcohol. "I want to hold you." He wrapped his arms tighter around her, pulling her closer.

"Okay," she whispered.

Their mouths met. He brushed his lips over hers and it felt like coming home. He lay several tiny kisses over the corners of her mouth, then pressed his lips to hers. She moaned in his arms, making him wild with need for her. Swiping his tongue over her lips made her gasp and he took advantage, spearing his tongue into her and learning every inch of her mouth.

When the lack of oxygen finally made him pull away he rested his forehead against hers and simply stared.

10:46PM
Usagi

The tiny alcove hideaway was their little haven. Her heart pounded as she searched his eyes. The kiss they'd shared had been her first, and it was so much more than she'd ever imagined.

She couldn't help grinning at him. She'd seen romantic movies with her mother. It was something they did once a month when they chased her father and brother out of the house. She'd seen people kissing in those movies, and had honestly thought it looked a bit disgusting. Not anymore. Tasting the lemon and alcohol on his tongue, feeling as thought they were one person for just that brief moment... it was the most incredible thing she had ever experienced.

"Wow," she said finally.

He grinned back at her and suddenly he was kissing her again and she couldn't breathe, but she didn't care. She would happily die if it meant she never had to stop. He touched her tongue with his own, then pulled back. Hesitantly she followed after him, entering his own mouth. He suckled on her tongue and everything inside her seemed to explode with light. She searched and explored him, unable to get enough.

One of his hands inched up her side and then he was touching her breast and she wanted to beg him to strip her and put his mouth there. When she finally pulled back they were both breathing heavily and she simply stared into his eyes again.

Usagi had never felt so happy and content.

He slid his arms around her again. "How is this possible?" he whispered into her ear. "I've just met you. I've never even seen your face," he kissed her cheek and pulled back, "and yet I feel like I have known you forever."

Usagi blushed, "Me too. I don't understand why I feel this way. My heart feels like its going to beat out of my chest."

He nodded wildly as he pulled her closer. she felt him brush his lips over her neck. "I can't get enough of you. I want to hear your laugh forever." His lips trailed down until he was kissing the line of her cleavage. She couldn't help the moan that slipped out. She might have blushed if her skin wasn't already so heated.

"I feel different with you," she admitted.

His mouth found hers again and he devoured her, exploring every inch of her mouth before he sucked her tongue back into his. She shifted in his lap, something, probably his phone, pressing uncomfortably against her bottom.

"I do too," he agreed when he let her lips go again. "It's as though you've already crawled into my heart. It doesn't seem like it should be possible."

"I know," she said, then whimpered when his hand covered her breast again. "How do I already love you?" Surprised at her own words she squeaked and covered her mouth with both hands, staring at him in confusion.

"It has to be the fastest any two people have fallen in love in history," he said quietly.

He turned her so that she was straddling his legs and was shocked to realize what she had assumed was his phone was a rather intense erection. The mixture of the alcohol she'd ingested and the heady feeling of a whirlwind romance combined to make her more bold than she had ever been before and she let herself rub against him, the pulse of the music her guide.

He groaned.

She sighed.

She'd never done anything like this before, wasn't sure she should, but she felt like she would die if they stopped kissing, stopped touching. He thrust against her and she felt him lift her slightly, bunching her dress in his fists.

"If we do this," he whispered, "you belong to me." His voice was deadly serious. "And I'll belong to you, completely."

"I know," she whispered.

"Forever," he pronounced. "You will never be with anyone but me. You won't date or touch anyone else, ever, and I will never touch another woman."

She smiled at him, biting her lip, and nodded.

"Promise me," he ordered. "No one else, ever."

She gulped. "I promise."

As if her words had broken a dam he flooded her with touches and kisses. His hands went under her skirt and he tore her panties off, ripping the sides and pulling them out from under her.

He tucked the pink material into the pocket of his jacket and lifted her to lower his trousers. When she was on him again she slicked her folds over his smooth shaft, unsure what was leading her to do such a thing, but it felt so good she couldn't stop. He let out a growl and bit her neck, sucking hard.

"Mine," he said, lifting his head before he captured her lips again.

She felt more drunk on sensation than alcohol as he lifted her to press his hard member into her core. Slowly he guided her as she lowered herself onto him. When she felt the pressure against her hymen she looked at him.

"Help me," she whispered, feeling afraid and unsure. She wanted him, but she was worried it would hurt. All the girls said it hurt.

He nodded and took her hips. With a swift motion he pulled her body down and jerked his hips upward simultaneously. She cried out in a mix of shock and pleasure, and a hint of pain. He filled her so completely. It was like they were puzzle pieces that had finally joined. He growled as they connected and his hands tightened on her hips as he stared into her eyes.

"Mine," he said again, and it was a promise. She knew it. He had claimed her as his own, and would never let her go. She didn't want him to.

11:16 PM
Mamoru

Mamoru couldn't get enough of the girl in his arms. Nothing had ever felt so right before. He needed her. Needed to be inside her always, completely connected. She was so hot and tight around him he wasn't sure if he could hold on. He'd never been with anyone before, but the moment felt so familiar, as though they'd been together a hundred times.

And yet it felt new, and perfect, and absolutely terrifying. He was afraid to hurt her, afraid it wouldn't be good for her, afraid he wouldn't do it right.

There seemed to be a glow around them. Silver and gold sparkles filled the air with ribbons of light that wrapped around them as their bodies met and parted. A warm wind fluttered the curtains of the alcove and kissed their skin. Melody surrounded them, so different than the heavy beat of the music pumping from the stereo speakers.

It was so perfect. Sliding in and out of her felt like he had reached heaven. He struggled not to bruise her as he gripped her hips, guiding her movements. Her slick walls hugged him and he throbbed with the need to fill her again and again. He bit her bottom lip, sucked it into his mouth, traced kisses along her jaw and in the hollow behind her ear. She was so small in his arms he was afraid she would break.

Her little moans drove him up and up in a spiral of motion and thought and feelings that were completely overwhelming. She was his. Always his. His to love, to protect, to take like this again and again. He would keep her forever, kissing her just like this, filling her body with his own.

They collided again and again in a heated mating that only grew in passion until her inner walls clutched at him and she bit his jacket to muffle her screams. He thrust into her several more times before releasing a wave of moisture into her tight depths. He held her hips tighter as his own pumped erratically and he growled loud as he spilled the last of his seed.

They stayed connected for long minutes, her head resting on his shoulder, until he felt the liquid leaking out of her. Remembering he had her destroyed panties in his pocket, he blushed. He was feeling so complete he never wanted to part from her. He wished he could throw her over his shoulder and take her home with him.

Her laughter would fill his lonely apartment, and his life.

Both of them were panting heavily when he kissed her neck. Then he whispered into her ear. "I love you."

She pulled back and met his eyes. "I love you too."

Their foreheads met again as they stared at each other. For long minutes they sat there, completely still and silent, no words needed as their hearts met.

Then the girl shifted uncomfortably in his lap. "I have to go um… wipe," she said, unable to meet his gaze.

"It's nothing to be embarrassed about," he said. "That's from me," he added, and couldn't help grinning at her. "And I'd like to add more," he added, giving her a smirk.

She giggled. "This all happened so fast. It's like a fairy tale."

"Then you're definitely wearing the right dress," he said, fingering the ribbon banded through the sides of the bodice. "You're right though. This did happen fast. You aren't... you aren't upset about that are you?"

She shook her head. "No. Nervous about what will happen next maybe," she paused, staring into his eyes. "But I will never regret what just happened between us."

"Me either. Now we have to figure out what to do for our first date."

The girl threw her head back and laughed. When she'd settled down he helped her up and smoothed her dress back down.

He nodded. "While you go get cleaned up, I'll go get us both a drink. We can meet back here. It's almost midnight and we have to remove our masks. Uh... sorry about the panties..."

She grinned. "I'm not. That was hot. I didn't think that was a real thing. I mean you see it in romance novels, but in real life it doesn't seem possible."

Mamoru shrugged. He hadn't thought it would be either, but he'd been driven nearly mad with the need to plant himself inside her.

"Five minutes," she promised. "I'll be right back."

They left the alcove together and parted. He watched her as she walked towards the bathrooms before turning to go get the drinks.

11:46 PM
Usagi

The sound of screams echoed through the ballroom. She whirled around, and saw that people were running for the exits. She was so short she couldn't see what was frightening them, but she knew the sound of the screams was coming from where her mystery lover had just gone.

Afraid for him, she shoved her way through the crowd, the press of people pushing against her felt suffocating, but she had to get to him, to be by his side to face whatever was happening. A silent prayer went up that it wasn't one of those weird monsters again. He could be hurt and she thought she might die if she lost him.

Usagi clutched her hands together, taking in a sharp inhale as she was shoved backwards into the wall by a crush of panicked people. There was a roar ahead and everyone started running faster, screaming, pushing and shoving until she was pressed up against a wall, battered and bruised. She fought her way free, hoping to reach him before he got hurt.

Then there was no one around her. Everyone had disappeared. Instead she was face to face with a tall monster that looked a bit like a man. Well, if a man had bright orange skin and glowed.

Behind him she could see several people collapsed against the wall. One she recognized. There was blood on the wall where his head rested and she closed her eyes, praying for him, and for herself as the creature took a step forward.

"Sailor V, if you're out there, now would be a great time." Her muttered words didn't stop the approach of the monster.

His whole body was shining brighter and brighter, and then there was a wave of pressure. Her head hit, hard, ringing like mad and she slid down the wall to her bottom, and took her.

11:51 PM
Reika

Nearly drained of energy, Reika lay against the wall, her eyes mere slits. A heavy weight of exhaustion lay over her, making it impossible to move, even to protect herself as the large monster continued it's attack on those around them. She couldn't see Usagi anymore, but she had heard the dull thud of her hitting the wall, and the screams of several who were close enough to have seen more.

She knew, deep down, that these could be her last moments. She could still hear Motoki's panting gasps. Something was wrong. His breathing shouldn't have been so ragged. Desperately, and so slowly she felt she wasn't moving at all, she reached out to him. He was only inches away, but for all she could tell, he might as well have been on the moon. It felt as though she would never reach him. He must have been reaching for her as well. Long before they should have, their hands met, clasping tightly as they reassured themselves the other was alive.

"We never should have forced them to come," Motoki gasped out.

"No, we..." Reika's voice trailed off at an incredible sight. A young woman with long blonde hair tied back with an orange ribbon tied in a bow atop her head was racing through the ballroom. She wore a strange outfut. A fuku, looking much like a school uniform covered the girl. Reika gaped as she ran past towards the monster that was still draining others.

"A party is a place for fun and excitement," she said, sounding a bit like an anime character from the shows Reika liked to watch after school. "Leave her alone and try me on for size." The girl pulled something from thin air. It looked like two crescent moons back to back. She yelled something that sounded like, "Crescent Beam," and bright orange yellow light burst from her towards the monster, which let out a ragged scream.

There was a pause as the girl bent down, and then she heard Motoki moan as the girl turned. Usagi was in her arms, and by the damage to her head, and the amount of blood now spattering down the other girl's clothing, it didn't look as though she would survive. She sent a prayer to the kami to save the young one and to keep watch over Mamoru, wherever he had gone.

"No," she continued where she had left off moments before. "We shouldn't have forced them to come." No answer came from Motoki however. She turned her head in panic, sure he had died. A great sigh of relief heaved out of her then, as she watched his chest rise and fall, though his breathing was still wrong. Her own eyes closed then and she clung to Motoki's hand as she gave in to unconsciousness.