A/N: Ummmm… hi. Remember me? It's been a while, I know. I think the last time I'd posted anything… let's see… I hadn't started college? Well, I'm in my junior year now. Haven't changed much writing-wise because somehow, despite being a Creative Writing major, I haven't had a whole lot of focus on my writing. Trying like hell to make a go of it again, amd I figured short little drabbles were a good place to get started.

What Goes Around

Chiba Mamoru grit his teeth as he stared resolutely forward. The usual chatter of the Tokyo streets continued on, uninterrupted, all around him. And yet, he felt as though there was an ominous sort of quiet surrounding him.

Or perhaps he should have said that the silence "reigned over" him instead?

His chin ground into the concrete as he tried to decide exactly how humiliating this was. The tip of his shoe still laid in that damnable crack that he had managed to trip over. He glared ahead of him at the scuffed black Mary Janes that stood planted firmly on the sidewalk before him.

Maybe he could wait her out?

Nonchalant fingers combed through his mussed blue-black hair that had gone into disarray. They brushed tiny pebbles from his jacket that had struck when he landed with an inelegant oomph in the very position he now found himself in.

Thank you, gravity.

With a relaxed sigh, he stretched his arms behind his back then forward again, bringing his left wrist before his very casual eyes, and flicked the sleeve of his olive green blazer up to glance at his watch. Fifteen minutes until his class started. Damn.

He dragged his attention forward once more.

Those damn Mary Janes were still there.

Reluctantly, he let his gaze travel from slim ankles to shapely calves encased in innocent white knee-highs. From the knees to what looked to be promisingly curvy thighs cut off by a blue skirt, much to his consternation. A placating wind blew the royal blue skirt a tantalizing and compromising inch higher and his lips quirked.

Perhaps he wasn't that reluctant.

His gaze wandered still further over a pair of hands planted on a tiny waist, lingered perhaps a little too long on a beautifully made (from what he could tell) pair of breasts, and finally gathered his pride and looked into the face of Death.

"Any day now, Mamoru-baka."

Death looked disturbingly like a flushed and amused Tsukino Usagi. Her simmering blue eyes told him that his scrutiny had not gone unnoticed, but the barely contained laughter that he could see behind her twitching lips meant he'd probably escape unscathed. On that count at least.

He ignored her outstretched hand and heaved himself to his feet, dusted off his jacket, and lifted his briefcase. "Don't say it."

"Don't say what?"

"Odango--"

"There's a little word that would fit this situation perfectly, but I just can't seem to recall it."

"I mean it!"

"Gosh, what is it?"

"I'm walking away."

"It's on the tip of my tongue…"

"Leaving!"

"Oh yeah!" She snapped her fingers as if inspired and called, laughing, to his retreating back. "KARMA!"

Chiba Mamoru grit his teeth as he stared resolutely forward. He would not turn back. His face reddened in annoyance as she turned the word into a shouting repetitive song to the tune of the Hungry, Hungry Hippos jingle (KarmakarmaKar-MA!) that echoed mockingly in his ears.

He entered the courtyard just as the warning bell rang for first period. The school gates closed behind him and he turned to see a wailing Usagi shaking the gates and demanding that he "LET HER IN. THIS. INSTANT!"

He whistled as he walked away, sure that he'd make it on time.

That karma sure was a bitch.