Neko Usagi

"NEKO USAGI"(Usagi the Cat Girl)
part two
By Bill K.


As always, for anyone familiar only with the English dub:

Usagi=Serena
Ami=Amy
Rei=Raye
Makoto=Lyta
Minako=Mina
Mamoru(Mamo-chan)=Darien
Setsuna=Trista
Shingo=Sammy
Usako=Mamoru's pet name for Usagi, just as "Mamo-chan" is her name for
him.

If you're confused by these events, it is recommended you read part one
first.

"So what's it like being a cat?" Minako asked, staring at Usagi
with nervous unease.

"What kind of a stupid question is that?" roared Rei, inserting
herself protectively between Usagi and Minako.

"Why is it stupid?" huffed Minako, covering her unease. "I just
want to know!"

"Because she's embarrassed enough! Can't you see. . ."

"Please," sobbed Usagi pitifully. "Don't fight." Both girls
instantly halted. Rei turned to Usagi, the concern in her face
mirroring Minako's. Usagi was still cradled in Mamoru's protective
arms. She clung to him as her eyes glistened with moisture and her
black tail switched.

"I'm sorry," Rei grimaced. "I didn't mean to upset you."

"Yeah, me too," Minako added earnestly. "Um, so what is it like
being a cat?" Rei shot Minako a nasty glare.

"It doesn't feel any different than when I was human," shrugged
Usagi. "Except I can't stand up straight, and I can hear Luna's
thoughts when she sends them to me." She thought some more. "And I
have this strange craving for tuna."

["Sorry. That's me, Usagi. I'm feeling a bit pecki]
]

"I just wish I knew how this happened."

"Well," Ami proposed, "you and Luna were both caught in some sort
of molecular teleportation beam. My guess would be you were both
unintentionally reintegrated into one entity. Really it's a one in a
billion shot that you both came out ofrelarelatively unhurt. Such
molecular mergers run a great risk of destruction on a cellular or even
a nuclear level."

"I'm not even going to pretend I understand that," Usagi said
hopefully. "Do you think you know how to reverse it?"

Ami blushed. "Usagi, in spite of my high IQ, I am only in first
year high school. The physics required for molecular disintegration and
specific reintegration is only on the barest theoretical level among
scientists. An actual working process is decades in the future,
probably centuries, and well beyond my capabilities." Usagi sagged in
defeat.

"Have you tried the crystal?" asked Artemis.

"I'm scared to," Usagi replied. "When I became Sailor Moon on
that whatever it was ship, I lost contact with Luna. She said she was
overwhelmed by the Sailor Moon side of me. I don't want to risk hurting
her."

["You're right to be concerned, Usagi. You're an emotional wreck
right now, what with all you've gone through. You don't have the
strength or control right now to do such a thing, though you'd probably
end up killing yourself rather than me."]

"Luna doesn't think it'll work right now, either," Usagi reported.

The gathering fell into a melancholy silence.

"Everyone's tired," Minako said finally. "Maybe we should all go
home and get some sleep, then attack this problem in the morning."

"Home!" gasped Usagi. "I can't go home looking like this! Mom
would freak and Shingo would laugh! And Daddy. . .!"

"You can stay with me, Usako," Mamoru whispered. He stroked her
head with his hand.

Suddenly Usagi closed her eyes and arched her back, a low rumbling
coming from her throat much like a purr. Mamoru froze, horrified.
Usagi realized what she was doing and her eyes flew open. Seeing the
look on Mamoru's face only intensified hertifrtification. She buried
her face in her hands.

"I'm sorry, Usako," Mamoru said, pulling the sobbing girl to him.
"It's . . .I'm sorry."

"Maybe she better stay with me tonight," Makoto offered, gently
prying Usagi from her boyfriend's arms. "I could use the cny any and
it'll be easier explaining to her parents that she's staying over at my
place than at yours. That OK, hon'?" Usagi nodded silently.

"We'll find a way out of this," Minako offered, patting Usagi on
the shoulder. "We're Sailor Senshi. That's our job."

["And after you've gotten some rest and built up your strength,
then you can try the crystal. When you believe you can do it, you'll do
it. And make no mistake, you can do it."]

"I hope you're right," Usagi mumbled.

"Since she can't walk properly, I'll get my car," Mamoru told them
as he headed for the door. "Hang on, Usako."

"I love you, Mamo-chan."

Things were a little cramped in Mamoru's car. Makoto volunteered
to let Usagi curl up in her lap, then spent the trip silently regretting
it, for Usagi still weighed the same as a human. Once they got to
Makoto's apartment, Mamoru carried Usagi in.

"I'll visit you tomorrow," Mamoru said, kneeling next to the sofa
Usagi was curled up on.

Usagi rubbed her cheek against Mamoru's hand, then caught herself
and pulled back in embarrassment.

"Thank you, Usako," Mamoru smiled, kissing her head. "I'll take
any sign of affection from you I can get."

The evening passed uneventfully. Usagi began to complain of
fatigue and was quickly asleep on the sofa just after dinner. Makoto
didn't even get a chance to offer her bed to Usagi. Shrugging her
shoulders, Makoto stroked Usagi's head and went to bed.

It was still dark when Usagi woke.

"What time is it?" she asked herself, looking around. Though it
was dark, she could read the clock on the wall perfectly. "Ten after
three? Nobody's up at this time of the morning!"

["Those are cat's hours, Usagi. It must be another trait you
picked up from me."]

"Great," she huffed. Then Usagi sniffed the air. "What's that
smell?"

h deh dear, it can't be that."]

"What?" Usagi asked, slipping off the sofa and crawling on all
fours to the kitchen.

["Never mind. You're too young- -and too irresponsible."]

Usagi stopped at a cabinet under the sink. Curious, she opened
the cabinet and found a slim red cardboard box. The odor was coming
from it, so Usagi picked it up.

["Usagi, put that down this instant!"]

"Catnip?" goggled Usagi. "Is that what it smells like? Luna, it
makes my nose tingly!"

["Usagi, put it down! It's too much for you!"]

"Oh, it smells like heaven," sighed Usagi. "No wonder you go nuts
over it!"

["I DO NOT 'go nuts' over it! I indulge - - occasionally!"]

Suddenly, Usagi tore open the box and jammed a handful of the
crushed leaves to her face, inhaling deeply.

["USAGI, DON'T!"]

Too late; the box clattered to the floor, spilling catnip
everywhere. Usagi began giggling.

"This feels good," Usagi said, vacantly happy, then giggled some
more.

["Yes. Doesn't it? Reminds me of my days as a kitten."]

"Wheeeeeeee!" Usagi sighed, flopping backward onto the floor and
rolling around in the spilled catnip.

["You're making a mess. Hehehehehehehehehehe."]

"Then I better clean it up," Usagi giggled. She rolled aroin in
the catnip some more, then rolled onto her stomach. With her tongue,
she lapped up some of the catnip off the floor and swallowed it.

["My, look at the pretty colors."]

Makoto was startled out of a sound sleep by a weight pressing
against her. It took a moment to register what it was. Usagi was in
bed with her. The girl was curled up next to her. She had worked
Makoto's nightgown down over her shoulders. Makoto gulped, as much from
the stimulation as from the situation, because Usagi was lapping at the
nipple of Makoto's right breast with her tongue.

"U-Usagi!" gasped the startled Makoto.

Usagi's only response was to purr. Makoto's hands shot out,
seized Usagi by the upper arms and held her at bay until Makoto could
roll up and pin Usagi to the. T. The blonde's response was to giggle
helplessly.

"Usagi, what's wrong with you?" gaped Makoto. "Did you get into
the cooking sherry or something?"

"Sherry, dairy, parry, hairy, Mary," babbled Usagi. "Hairy Mary!
Hehehehehehehe."

"Usagi, what's gotten into you?"

"I don't know, but it feels good. I know what I wish was in me:
Mamo-chan."

Makoto lowered her face to Usagi's to smell her breath. Without
warning, Usagi kissed her quickly on the lips.

"Stop that!" gasped Makoto.

"Be my Mamo-chan," Usagi asked earnestly, her eyes not quite able
to focus.

"Um, uh, I'm not exactly, um, qualified," Makoto sputtered.

Then her breath caught in her throatsagisagi's thigh was between
her legs, pressing against her sex, their skin separated only by a wispy
patch of her nylon nightgown.

"Uh, Usagi," Makoto struggled to say through a constricting
throat. "Uhhhhhhh," Makoto groaned as Usagi began rubbing her thigh
back and forth against the girl's sensitive groin. Air hissed in
through Makoto's nose and her grip on U's a's arms lost some of its
strength.

"You feel as good as I do now," Usagi smiled happily.

A sudden burst of strength from Usagi flipped them over. Usagi
landed on top of Makoto and began lapping at her breast again. Her
thigh stayed in place between Makotoegs,egs, massaging the sensitive
lips of her friend's sex. It grazed the clitoris and Makoto's breath
caught again. She bit her lip to keep from groaning. Usagi giggled
between licks.

"Somebody liiiiiikes it," she laughed merrily.

"U-Usagi," gasped Makoto between low moans, "please! G-Get off!"

"Why?" giggled Usagi. "It's fun!"

"I'm," Makoto grimaced and finally managed to shove Usagi away,
"not like that!"

The moment Usagi landed, she lunged again. Seizing Makoto around
her thighs, the blonde laid her cat's ears back and shoved her head
under the hem of Makoto's nightgown. Makoto tried to scramble away,
brown hair falling into her face as she struggled, but Usagi raised her
shoulders up and pinned Makoto.

"Usagi, stop!" cried Makoto.

The cat-girl's response was a drunken giggle. Than Makoto felt a
bolt of electricity explode from her clitoris, up her sternum to her
brain. Usags pls playfully tongueing her clitoris. Makoto tried to
plead with her to stop, but the only thing that came out were moans of
pleasure.

Ma's h's hands grasped fistfuls of bed sheet. Her whole body
seemed to be betraying her. She wanted to cry, but all she did was
squirm and moan. She wasn't like that! She wasn't! She couldn't be!
And with Usagi?

But if she wasn't like that, why did it feel so good?

"Oh! Ohhh!" wailed Makoto. Usagi continued to lick with long,
slow, luxurious tongue strokes. "Uhhhhhh!" It was just like a cat
cleaning itself.

Something was building in Makoto, something she feared, something
she didn't want to happen under these circumstances. Yet there was a
part of her that sensed how intense it would be and longed for it,
hungered for it. She'd gone so long without it - - the intimacy, the
gift that a lover would sow in her loins that would bloom all oher her
body. Not since her sempai. . .

"OHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" groaned Makoto as the orgasm washed over her.
She stiffened, paralyzed in the grip of it. It was big, bigger than
anything she'd gotten from her fingers and a picture of Taiki.
Everything she ever knew was forgotten in a heartbeat. All she could
focus on was the pulse from between her legs.

It was a few moments before Makoto realized Usagi no longer held
her thighs and that the orgasm had died away. As she panted, feeling
flushed and strangely satisfied, Makoto felt Usagi next to her. She
looked over nervously, but found her friend curled up into as little a
ball as a human could manage. Suppressing the urge to bolt, Makoto
listened. Usagi was purring again.

"You're such a good friend, Mako-chan," Usagi grinned wearily,
then put her head down and seemed to go to sleep.

"Figures," Makoto mumbled, her voice shaky. "The minute I want to
pound you, you go and say something like that."

She sighed and looked at the clock on her nightstand. It flashed
three fifty-two a.m. She groaned. No way she was getting back to sleep
now. Besides, she didn't trust Usagi not to jump her again or worse.
Who knew what this crazy feline girl was capable of?

Makoto stared at the ceiling. Besides, she wasn't like that - -
really - - no matter how intense her orgasm had been.
* * * *
Seven a.m. found a just awakened Makoto trudging out to her
kitchen. Usagi wasn't up yet and Makoto was thankful. She didn't know
how she was going to be able to face Usagi after last night. Then
Makoto stopped short.

"What happened here?" Makoto gasped in shock, seeing leaves and
torn cardboard all over her immaculate kitchen floor. She knelt down
and picked up the shredded box, examining it. It was the box of catnip
she'd bought for Minako to give to Artemis. "Well I guess that explains
last night."

Sighing, Makoto got a broom and dustpan and began sweeping up.
She was only partly finished when Usagi crawled in on all fours. Makoto
tensed until she saw how forlorn the girl was.

"I'm going to go now," Usagi said, her voice choked and sorrowful
and her shame preventing her from looking at Makoto, "but first I want
to apologize for last night. I didn't think a little catnip would do
that to me. Still, I had no right."

["It wasn't a little, it was the whole box. And I warned you not
to."]

"Shut up, Luna."

["Oh, you were disgraceful! Giggling and carrying on like a
complete idiot!"]

"Oh yeah? Well I remember I wasn't the only one giggling like an
idiot last night!"

["I DO NOT GIGGLE!"]

"You do when you're drunk on catnip!"

Makoto watched her friend, on the floor, her ears up and her tail
switching, arguing seemingly with herself (though Makoto knew it was
with Luna). It broke her heart to see her friend like this. It also
put her trauma over last night into perspective.

"Anyway, I hope you can forgive me," Usagi said contritely.

"Hey, you didn't know it would affect you like that," Makoto said
gently. "We'll just forget last night ever happened. You don't have to
go. I'd be a pretty crummy friend to let you leave over something like
that."

"You're not mad?" Usagi asked.

"No," Makoto grinned. "It's kind of hard to stay mad at you."

"Oh, thank you! And I promise I won't tell anybody that you're
. . .lthatthat."

"I'm not like that," protested Makoto.

"But. . ."

"I'M NOT LIKE THAT!" Makoto then stalked over to the counter and
began rattling pans very loudly in an attempt to cook breakfast.

"For someone who's not like that, she sure moaned loud enough,"
thought Usagi.
* * * *
Mamoru hadn't slept well the previous night. His concern for
Usagi had made sleeping difficult. So, too, did the premonitions of
distress that kept emanating from her. His psychic receptor kept
feeling her dismay like a dull ache in the back of his head. It only
ended a little after three a.m., and now it was back.

He'd hoped a normal night with one of her friends might ease her
distress a little. No such luck. As he neared Makoto's apartment,
Mamoru cofeelfeel the distress waves pouring from behind the wall like a
raginger. er. It wasn't enough to make him change to Tuxedo Mask - -
not quite.

The door opened and a frazzled Makoto greeted Mamoru. To his
consternation, he could hear Usagi in the next room, groaning
pathetically.

"MAMORU-KUN!" gasped Makoto in relief. "I am SO glad to see you!"

"Makoto, what's wrong? What happened?" Mamoru asked frantically.

"This is all your fault, Luna!" muttered Usagi in the bedroom,
between groans. She lay curled up on her knees on the bed, looking
miserable.

["How is this my fault?!"]

"Well why did you have to go into heat NOW?!"

["Usagi, it's not something you turn on and off like a faucet!"]

Usagi whimpered. Then another low moan came from her throat.

"Could you at least stop that yowling?!"

["I'm not doing it! Well, I am, but it's not on purpose! It just
comes with the condition! Why do you think I lock myself up in the
attic for three days every few months?"]

"Oh, I can't wait to get separated from you!" snapped Usagi. Then
she stopped and sniffed the air suspiciously.

["If it bothers you so much, change to Sailor ! I! I'd rather be
in oblivion than listen to you whine any longer!"]

"Luna!" whispered Usagi. "I smell Mamo-chan."

Her emotions instantly went into conflict. Part of her wanted to
run and hide in shame, while the other part wanted to rip her clothes
off and throw herself at Mamoru.

["That's another reason I lock myself in the attic. During these
times, just thinking about Artemis is almost too much."]

Mamoru was just outside the door, with Makoto. Usagi could almost
jump out of her skin, his scent was so powerful in her nose. She bit
her lip, trying to hold herself back.

"I'm sorry to stick you with her like this," she heard Makoto
whisper, "especially in the condition she's in now, but I'm going to go
nuts if I don't get out of here for a few hours."

"I understand," Mamoru whispered. "Go. And thank you for caring
for her."

Mamoru entered the bedroom. Usagi peered up at him from the bed,
cringingher her little ball, her tail wrapped around her hip up to her
tucked forearms. He wanted to cry when a piteous moan escaped her
mouth. Her cheeks were flushed and she looked like she ached all over.
He walked over and sat down on the bed next to her.

And Usagi pounced. She lunged at Mamoru, knocking him onto his
back on the bed. He tried to get up, but she pinned him down by draping
her body on him.

She was so close. He could feel her hard nipples pressing into
his chest through her knit blouse. He could feel her swollen mound
beneath her shorts, grinding into his groin. He could feel the heat
radiating from her like a miniature sun. She was so close. She was so
- - so - -

Close.

"Please, Mamo-chan!" Usagi begged desperately, pitifully. He
hadn't heard her this desperate since his dim memories of her begging
him not to die from the wound Ann had inflicted upon him. "Please fuck
me! I can't stand it any longer! Please! I need you, Mamo-chan!"

"Usako. . ."

"I need you inside me! Please, Mamo-chan! It hurts so bad! I
can't take it! Please give it to me! I'm begging!"

"Usako."

"Fuck me, Mamo-chan, fuck me please!"

He covered her mouth with his hand. She started licking it, then
shifted her mouth and began sucking on his fingers. Her hands were
rubbing his chest. Mamoru could feel his erection straining against his
slacks. He pulled his fingers from her mouth, a thin trail of saliva
connecting them to her puffy red lips, and got a grip on Usagi's upper
arms. starstared at him, lustful anticipation dancing in her eyes.

But Mamoru held her away from him so he could raise himself from
the mattress and regain a sitting position. When Usagi realized he had
no intention of taking her, she collapsed into bitter tears of shame and
disappointment. Mamoru cradled her to his chest and held her through
her mournful sobs.

"I'm sorry, Usako," he whispered. "Don't think I don't want to.
But we both know I can't - - not now, when you're like this. Neither
one of us are ready for Chibi-Usa to be born in nine months."

"You're right," sobbed Usagi. "But I can't help myself! I feel
like I'm going to go crazy if you don't. . .you know. . ."

Mamoru clutched her to him tighter.

"Usako," he whispered into her ear, stroking her hair as he held
her, "I know you're suffering. We just can't risk having intercourse,"
and he hesitated, "but if you're willing to let me, maybe I can help
ease your suffering with my hands instead of. . .you know."

"Mamo-chan," Usagi smiled, turning to him. "You're so
considerate. You can touch me anywhere, anytime - - even if I weren't
in heat."

She turned back around and wriggled into a comfy spot against
Mamoru. His arms wrapped around her, forming a cocoon that she nestled
in gratefully. The fingertips of his right hand were brushing lightly
on her abdomen while his left forearm was across her chest and his left
hand holding her upper arm. With her sense of touch heightened by her
condition, Usagi closed her eyes and smiled, emitting a guttural little
trill from her throat.

Slowly Mamoru's left hand eased to her right breast. His finger
began lightly tracing around the nipple through the fabric of her
blouse. The action heightened her arousal and made Usagi forget for a
few moments the constant demand her uterus was sending to her brain.
Mamoru's lips began nuzzling the base of her neck, in the exact spot he
knew she was most vulnerable to and she responded with a deep sigh of
desire.

"Mamo-chan," Usagi whispered, "you don't know what that does to
me."

"I think I can guess," he murmured as he nuzzled. His finger
brushed up and down across the nipple, then returned to its circular
pattern as Usagi cooed.

His right hand slid under the waistband of her shorts. A
flashback of Garvac's unwarranted intrusion shot through Usagi's mind
and she froze up.

"Usako, what's wrong?" Mamoru asked. "Am I going too fast?"

"No," she replied, placing her hands atop his and keeping it in
her shorts. "It's all right, Mamo-chan. There's no one else in the
world I'd rather have touching me there than you."

Mamoru gripped her tighter. His male strength overwhelmed her and
Usagi surrendered willingly to it. His hand worked its way down between
her legs. The air shuddered out of Usagi's lungs as she felt his
fingers slither through her pubic hair.

"Mmmmmmmmmmmm!" Usagi gasped as his hand grazed her clitoris. She
got a death-grip on his forearm and pushed it flat against her abdomen.
"Yes, that's so nice! Oh, put your fingers inside me! Please!"

His fingers feeling how hot and swollen they were, Mamoru probed
down to Usagi's vulva. He gently pushed one finger in between the labia
and Usagi stiffened against him.

"Yes!" she cried joyfully. "That's it! Stick another one in,
Mamo-chan! Oh, yes, yes!"

He complied and Usagi began rubbing her head against his.

"Don't take them out!" she wailed. "Please don't take them out!
Please!"

"I won't," he whispered, his left hand clutching her breast.
"I'll leave them in as long as you want."

"Thank you!" she gasped. "Rub them a little? Oh yes, RIGHT
THERE!"

"I'll have to remember that spot for when we're married," Mamoru
chuckled.

"Oh! Yes, right there! Ohh! Keep rubbing!"

"You're so wet."

"OHH! OHHHH! OH, YESSS! OHHHHHHHHH!"

Usagi slumped against Mamoru likr bor bones had turned to water.
Mamoru gently rocked her as she panted from her experience.

"Feel better now?" he asked.

"Some," she whispered. "Don't let go, Mamo-chan. Keep holding
me."

"As long as you want."

Outside the room, Makoto listened. She'd forgotten her purse,
returned and entered in the midst of Usagi's orgasm, but pulled back
fast enough so she wasn't spotted. A wistful smile decorated her face
as she stood listening, arms folded over her breast.

"I guess he was the medicine she needed," Makoto thought. "I
wonder if I'd have to turn into a cat to get some guy to do that to me?"
* * * *
When Makoto returned several hours later, she had Ami, Rei, Minako
and Artemis in tow. At her behest, they entered as silently as
possible. The apartment was quiet. Cautiously they tiptoed to the
bedroom door. Peering around the corner of the doorframe, they peeked
inside.

Mamoru was draped along the bed on his side. Usagi was nestled
against his chest, Mamoru's arms covering her like a thick comforter.
They were both sleeping peacefully. It was a scene worthy of a
Christmas card.

Ami blushed. Minako grinned. Rei beamed. Makoto let out an
audible "awww", before she caught herself and put her hand over her
mouth - - too late. Mamoru stirred and his stirring woke Usagi. When
they spotted the senshi, each quickly assumed a more respectable
position.

"Well,'t y't you two look cozy," Rei jabbed playfully.

"Don't be catty, Rei," Usagi jabbed back, then quickly warned,
"And don't you DARE say what you're thinking!" Rei only smirked.

"Is Luna all right?" Artemis asked.

["Tell him yes, and I appreciate his concern."]

"She says yes," Usagi reported, "and that you're really, really
sweet to worry about her and that she can't wait to give you a big fat
smooch for it."

["THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAID!"] Now it was Usagi's turn to smirk.

"We've been considering your problem," Ami interjected. "We
really think the only way to cure you is to use the crystal. Something
like this is well beyond twentieth century technology."

"But what about Luna?" whimpered Usagi. "I-I don't want to risk
losing her."

"That's why we're here," Minako chirped. "Maybe you're too off
your game to risk separating yourselves by yourself, but you're not by
yourself."

A small smile crept onto Usagi's lips.

"Yeah, we're here," Rei grinned. "We'll lend you as much strength
as you need to do the job."

Her smile widened. "Oh, you're all the best! I love all you
guys!"

"Now I won't lie to you, Usagi," Artemis told her. "This isn't
going to be easy. You're really going to have to concentrate. You've
got to separate Luna's atoms from yours precisely and maintain life
support for both of you, or you risk Luna's life and possibly your own."

["Don't mind him, Usagi. He's cute and he means well, but he
tends to go on sometimes. I believe in you, Usagi. So do the girls.
So does Mamoru. Now you have to believe. Do you believe?"]

"Yes?"

["You take that attitude and I'm doomed for sure. Usagi, who beat
Beryl? Who beat the Kinesian invasion? Who defeated Wiseman and
Princess Snow Kaguya, Pharaoh 90, Neherenia and all the rest? Who saved
the universe from Galaxia? You did! Now do you believe?"]

Usagi's chest swelled. "Yes, Luna, I believe."

She looked to her friends. They nodded in unison and transformed,
then formed a circle around Usagi and joined hands.

"Whenever you're ready," Jupiter said, the corners of her mouth
turning up, "Princess."

"Ready, Luna?" Usagi thought. "We're probably going to lose
contact when I transform."

["I'm not afraid. You can do it. I'll see you shortly."]

Usagi took a breath to steady herself, then transformed to Sailor
Moon. Rising from her knees, she nodded to her teammates.

"Mercury Star Power!" called out Mercury, her eyes closing and her
head easing back.

"Venus Star Power!" cried Venus.

"Mars Star Power!" echoed Mars.

"Jupiter Star Power!" finished Jupiter. The jewels on their
tiaras glowed and Sailor Moon found herself surrounded by a familiar
energy glow. She felt the psychic connections to her friends and it
made her feel powerful and secure.

Extending her hands to a foot in front of her chest, Sailor Moon
concentrated and summoned the Silver Crystal. It appeared through a
small warp of space that opened up before her.

Cradling the crystal, Sailor Moon once again set about the task of
mentally manipulating the awesome power of the crystal. The room glowed
silver. Boosted by the strength being funneled to her by the scouts,
the intensity of the light forced Mamoru and Artemis to look away.

Sailor Moon focused on her task. Suddenly above her formed a
spectral representation of Neko Usagi. As Sailor Moon and the scouts
continued to silently concentrate, the spirit form above them began to
shimmer. Slowly the form began to divide, separating into individual
depictions of Usagi and Luna. Mamoru thought to hazard a glance at
Sailor Moon. He saw her brows jammed down to her closed eyes, the
strain clear on her face.

"I'm losing her!" Sailor Moon cried out. Indeed, the spectral
image of Luna above them was fading from view.

"Calm down, Sailor Moon," she felt through her link with Sailor
Venus. "You can do it."

"Just concentrate," she felt Mercury communicate to her.

"Don't panic, Usagi. You can do it," she felt Mars tell her.

"If you need more strength, take it. We've got plenty," Jupiter
silently advised her.

"Luna," Sailor Moon thought, her mind reaching out. I'm here.
Reach out to me." She probed for some sign of her friend and mentor.
"Come on! Help me find you!"

Tense moments passed. Sailor Moon continued to probe for the
spiritual consciousness of her friend with mounting concern. As she
did, the silver glow in the room dimmed some.

"Sailor Moon!" Mamoru shouted. "Usagi's image is beginning to
fade, too!"

"Shut it down, Sailor Moon!" screamed Artemis.

"No! Luna's still here, somewhere!" Sailor Moon frantically felt
around with her mind.

"Calmly and methodically, Sailor Moon," she felt Mercury say.

u'llu'll find her," Mars reassured her.

Sailor Moon steadied her probe and a second later she felt it.

"LUNA!"

["I'm-I'm here, Sailor Moon."]

The spectral image of Luna reintegrated until it was a living,
breathing entity hovering over them. Meanwhile the Usagi image, now
completely human, passed down into Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon expelled a
shaky sigh, then sank to her knees in exhaustion, mutating back to Usagi
as she hit the floor. As the scouts broke the circle and scrambled to
her aid, Luna, bereft of support, plummeted seven feet to the floor.
She landed on her feet, but quickly tipped backward and fell onto her
side. Artemis was beside her in a second.

"Luna?" Usagi cried, lurching through her friends and gathering
the cat up in her arms. Luna looked up, slightly disoriented. "Luna,
are you all right?"

"I saw. . ." she started to say, then stopped for a few moments.
"Well, never mind what I saw. There you are, Usagi. I knew you could
do it."

"Oh, we almost lost you!" wailed Usagi. Tears streamed down her
cheeks as she crushed Luna to her breast. "Are you sure you're all
right?

"I seem to be," grunted Luna, temporarily short of breath.
"However, I do have the strangest craving for candy."

"Oh no!" gasped Usagi.

"Relax, Usagi, I'm just having you on. I'm fine. It's all over
now. You can put me down." Usagi complied reluctantly. Luna turned to
her while the four hi ehi each grabbed Usagi and hugged her tightly.
Artemis hovered behind Luna. "I've told you over and over again that
you can accomplish wonders if only you believe in your power. Hopefully
this will drive the lesson home."

"I really couldn't have done it without you guys," Usagi said,
returning the hugs her friends gave her. "Let's all go out for ice
cream! My treat!"

"Great!" Makoto said.

"Um, you do have money, don't you?" Rei asked. Usagi suddenly
glanced down nervously. "That's what I thought."

"Well, how about we go down and stare at the ice cream?"

Laughing, the girls surrounded Usagi and Mamoru, who were arm in
arm, and headed for the door. Luna then noticed Artemis still hovering
behind her.

"I'm really glad you're safe, Luna," Artemis said, but his
concentration and his nose seemed to be focused on her backside. "Um,
did you know you smell particularly enticing today?"

Luna swallowed hard. Her body was rooted to the spot and her
bottom reflexively stuck up into the air.

"Usagi!" she cried frantically at the leaving humans. "Help!"

Usagi wondered for a moment what was going on. When it finally
dawned on her, she swooped down and plucked Luna up into her arms.

"Sorry, Artemis," Usagi said, glancing coyly at Mamoru for a
second, "but I don't think you and Luna are quite ready for Diana to be
born just yet."

Artemis gave her a sour scowl, but said nothing.

"If it's any consolation, Artemis," Mamoru told him, "I know just
how you're feeling right now."

Usagi instantly went beet red, to the infinite pleasure of her
fellow scouts.

THE END