She finally succumbed.

The music ends as I pull Cherie close.  We smile at each other, our breath misting.  Wait a minute.  Mist?  I frown and look up, puffing.  About 30 degrees, from the look of it.  Cherie shivers suddenly and wraps her arms tightly around my waist, burrowing into my vest.  

"Mon ami, where's your coat?"  

"Did...dn't bring one."  Her teeth are starting to chatter.  I shake my head and sweep my cloak off.  

"Let go, Cherie."  

"Don'ttt wanna.  Cccold."  

"You need my cloak, silly woman.  Let go so I can wrap you up."  She releases me and I quickly wrap the cloak around her shoulders, pulling it snug around her.  She grins sheepishly.  I sigh and guide her to my bike.

"Hey!  Where's Tuxie?"

"I saw him leave with Moon.  Look for long blonde ponytails."

"Damn.  I wanted a rose."  I shudder at the drunken female voices coming from the building.  

"I ccan tttake 'em."  Cherie mutters, turning back.  I yank her around and hustle her to the Harley.  

"Not in your condition.  I need to get you someplace warm, fast."

"Cccould go bback insside."  She says knowingly as I cram a helmet on past her odangos.

"Not on your life.  I'll be mobbed."

"Poor Tttuxie.  All tthat female attttenttttion."

"Get on the bike, Cherie."  She climbs on.  I help her tuck the cloak firmly around her legs, swap my hat for my helmet, and swing on in front of her.  As soon as I'm seated, she snuggles close.  "Hold on, mon ami."  The Harley roars to life.

"There they are!"  I glance up to see a Melfina, a B5 tech and two Jedi knights running in our direction.  I squeeze the throttle and speed away from the curb.

"Cccould've thrown a rose."  

"Hush, you."

"Shall we?"  Candy asks cheerfully, threading her rose into the oversized bow in her hair.  I nod and offer my arms to both women.  Cherie still looks a little dazed as we stroll down the steps and over to Candy's car.  I release them and melt back into the shadows.

"Rae, are you...where IS he?"  Cherie asks, looking around.  I smile slightly and slink off to my bike.  I can hear Cherie complaining all the way, interspersed with Candy's delighted laughter.  I think our little Sailor Venus is enjoying this too much.  I prep for riding, climb on and roar off to the party.  

Parking my bike under another tree, I look around.  No sign of the Senshi.  Good.  I tidy up and head inside.  This particular party is being co-hosted by two clubs, anime and scifi.  The theme is "TNSTAAFL."  It takes me a few minutes to get the joke.  I pay my cover and stroll into the main room.  Noise rolls over me and I quickly head for a nearby window.  I can see a DJ spinning in a corner, but the music is drowned out by the talking.  There must be close to fifty people here and it's only 8:30!  Rangers and Stormtroopers mingle happily with mech drivers and magical girls.  Oddly enough, I don't see any other Sailor Moons.  I do see a Mercury, Jupiter and Mars hanging out by the buffet.  Would Candy have put the word out?  Silly question, Rae.  Of course she would.  And speaking of...

They walk in, arms linked.  Now the full effect of Cherie's costume hits me and I slump against the window.  Oh...my...god.  I sense other females sidling up to me and twitch my cloak in a dismissive gesture.   Some take the hint.

"Hey, there Tuxie.  Wanna dance?"  I ignore the woman bidding for my attention and slip out of her grasp, working my way around the crowd.  Cherie and Candy have caught up with the rest of the Inners.  I plant myself near a fake tree and watch.  Part of me wants to rush over there, swoop her up in my arms and carry her out of here.  Ok, 99 percent of me wants that.  But not yet.  Let her talk to her friends.  Plus, this way she can wonder about me.  Heh heh heh.

"Ok, Candace.  Make it quick.  I've got stats in 30 minutes."

"Were you followed?"

"Candace, take off the glasses.  We're in the library."

"Were you followed?"

"No, and the more you make this look like a conspiracy, the more it will seem like one.  Then word will get back to Cherie."  I shake my head and sit down as Candace takes off her oversized sunglasses.  Silly woman.

"You take all the fun out of my brilliant plan, Rae."  She scolds, folding the glasses.  I shrug.  Candy's a sweet woman, but she does come off as a flake at times.

"Only when it's required.  Now, what is this brilliant plan of yours?"

"I know Sher is still brooding over what happened last week.  So, I've come up with a way to cheer her up."

"And this would be?"  Now she has my full attention.  Cherie has been more withdrawn since Jeff and his goons jumped us at the con.  Thankfully, the bruises have faded.  It made my blood boil every time I saw them marring her arms.

"I have the perfect theme for Halloween next week.  How would you like to see Cherie as Sailor Moon?"  Wait, did she say...

"Sailor Moon?"  I repeat, my imagination promptly kicking into overdrive.

"Yep."  Candace sits back and beams.  I cock my head, working on my mental image.

"Which season?"  

"First.  I didn't have the materials to do Eternal."  So, blue there, red there and...the picture completed itself and I had to clench my teeth.  Cherie, blonde, in that tight, short fuku, her long, long legs...*snap snap*  "Hey, Raphael!"  I start, focusing on the fingers blocking my vision.

"What?"

"I take it you like the idea"  Candace grins at me.  Now I can feel the blood staining my cheeks.  And elsewhere.  I nod and something floats back into my brain.

"But, Cherie hates magical girls.  How are you going to get her into it?"

"That's where you come in.  I've already told her I'll handle the costumes for Halloween, but she keeps giving me suspicious looks.  I need you to tell her you've approved of the theme and that she'll enjoy it."  I squirm.

"Why do I have a feeling this is going to backfire on us?"

"Not if you do a proper Tuxedo Kamen."  Candace winks.  My eyebrows go up as I ponder this.  It's logical, I know just where to go, and the chance to play Tuxie to Cherie...  I can almost see it, sweeping her up into my arms, watching those gorgeous green eyes go all soft and misty...  *snap snap*

"What?!"

"You'll do it, yes?"

"Yes."

"You're the best, Rae!"  Candace skips out of her chair, gives me a friendly choke and skips out of the library.  I sit at the table, still a little stunned.  I look down at my hands, picturing them covered in white gloves.  A glance at my watch sends me dashing out of the library, swearing under my breath.  I'm late for class!!