Quiet Hours
4.15.2013
Summary: MRS:AR Life was perfect after the reprise battle but this time with a favorable ending. Now something new was brewing.
Main Characters: Usagi and Mamoru
AN: Summary notes: MRS:AR= Manga R Season: Alternative Reality. For those who've never read the manga, it means that Mamoru never had dreams that tore the two of them apart. He stuck with her through it all. That is canon. Not canon- almost everything else. A side note: this is going to have psychological effects in and out of the story. It is not the whole story but it is in there. Be aware you've been warned.
AN2: Handle the prologue then we'll get into the meat of the story. I decided it was a better way to enter this story than just telling you what's going on. I get to show you. The prologue could have been a short story all on its own with different chapters but then I'd have to make this story into a sequel and that wasn't my intention. I've tried to make each segment as short as possible for the prologue but you know me, I like to write once I really get going. :D
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Prologue (Span of a few days)
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Day 1: The war was over.
Sailor Moon collapsed against the crumbled wall behind her. She was bruised and bleeding but nothing seemed to be broken. Nothing that was, except maybe her heart as she stared at the unconscious body on the ground by her booted feet. She'd done everything in her power, everything she knew how to do and tested boundaries she hadn't. She had almost died, her legs were no longer able to help her stand and even now she felt so weak it was hard to keep her eyes open and on him. Her senses were hazy. Her heartbeat slow but still, she watched his still body.
She hadn't meant to hurt him.
She hadn't hurt him physically. Not her. That was Beryl's doing. And his own. But still she felt the guilt sing through her veins, it was hard to tell if it was winning against the pain from the knowledge it brought to her heart. Her body was bruised and bleeding but she didn't feel it. The only thing she felt was the fact she'd lost him before she ever really had a chance to have him.
Oh sure, for the last month or so they'd been getting closer, but she never had a chance to share how she felt with him. To tell him. Now she'd never get it. She wasn't her long forgotten mother, she didn't know how to bring people back to life. If she did, she would readily lay her life down for him. The war was over, there was nobody to hurt him now. She'd done her job, she could die and nobody would be in danger. He would go on to do good things, she would just be a drain on the system.
He might have protected her, taken the blast meant for her, but now that she'd done her job, it was his turn to live. "Can't I trade places?" She asked but the words barely left her lips and there was nobody to hear it.
Her friends were gone. Maybe not all of them, but the ones that had joined her in this task. The ones who had become like sisters so quickly it made her head spin. She had nothing left except her family but they'd carry on. They'd forget. Luna would make sure of it. Her existence would be wiped from everyone's memories. There wouldn't even be a digital trail left behind.
Yet she couldn't do any of these things. Maybe she might not even live herself. Maybe she'd expire here with him. There was only one thing she could hope for now and that was to muster the strength to lie by his side. Even that task seemed impossibly daunting right now. All her body wanted to do was close her eyes and drift without thinking about anything into the abyss.
Then something happened that made her next action all the more important and she couldn't give into her body's demands.
His body moved. At first she thought it a bad sign but then it happened again and she knew it was a tortured breath being sucked into his chest cavity.
He lived!
She was too far away from him. The pain, the grief, the guilt all of it faded to be replaced with one final desire to be closer! She mustered whatever strength she had, strength she didn't know she had and flopped from the shelf of jagged wall that remained onto the floor. Her nose bounced first then her chin and she laid on her stomach unable to move but her fingers curled at the material near his thigh, his fingers brushed the back of her hand. Then she knew no more. Someone had to find them, there was a reason to exist now.
Day 2: Weeks Gone By
Blue. A blue she never thought she'd see again. Not the blue in the reflection in the mirror sitting in her own face. Not the blue of the sky. Not the blue of the lake she loved to visit every summer with her family and family friends. Not the blue of the ocean as it lapped against the shore outside the hospital room.
This blue had no equal. This was the blue of his eyes as they fluttered open. Her excitement over the development was crushed as he stared at her with no memory of who she was.
Blue was the feeling that swarmed her patient body as she sat by his bed over the weeks since the war. The war nobody knew about. Only whispers scattered the city of things remembered but then disbelieved as they didn't happen again. Government officials claiming all sorts of reasons behind the mass hallucinations and destruction around the country. After affects of the little boy, one had dared to suggest but was instantly quieted. Tsunamis became the next big idea, they were still recovering from the last one. Maybe it had been ideas of grandeur or outside reasons being the cause rather than their own planet.
How right they were and yet refused to believe it. But Usagi didn't care about it. It was over and they'd never have to face reality. Not like she had as she waited patiently by the bed of the only man she had ever felt this way about. She hadn't cared about much during those weeks.
The only reprieve from her silent thoughts had been the pleasure in knowing her friends were all right. They were the ones that found her and dragged her and Mamoru out of that debris. She hadn't asked and they hadn't provided her with the information either about how they managed to survive the deaths she had seen. Truthfully she didn't want to know and safely put that aside. They were alive and well and the only two hurt now had been the ones in the center of it all. She didn't want to drag up any unnecessary pain if she didn't have to.
Besides if they needed someone to talk to, they had each other. They would understand each other in a way she couldn't. She hadn't gone through their ordeals. She had survived the whole thing, as they had wanted. As the ostrich world had needed. Though it had been a close call for that too.
Usagi had woken up in a room she didn't recognize with white walls and white linens but with flowers covering every spare inch of her room. She had been unable to leave the hospital and hadn't really wanted to either in her disoriented state. Later when she was aware of what was going on around her, she hadn't wanted to leave then either, she wanted to be with Mamoru and by his side.
Her parents hadn't understood her desire. They hadn't known who he was. They were still trying to get over the accident the two of them had been in. Her friends had made up some story about a car veering towards her and Mamoru pulling her out of certain death's way. He'd gotten a nasty bump on his head and she'd gotten bloody from the roll that followed. Her oxygen had been cut off for several minutes to explain her unconscious state for so long.
She had gone home after the following week when her parents demanded it. Yet everyday after school she sat by Mamoru's bed and chatted to him about the girls, about her day, about Motoki's interest in his well-being. She even read out her textbooks knowing he'd like to hear about school stuff. The whole time she remained outwardly bright for everyone, even Mamoru but once she slipped and confessed to him her fears and cried into his thin covering on his chest. She'd pulled up the sheets afterward to hide the tear splotches.
Still she knew the orderlies could tell she'd been crying. She made sure nobody else could by the time she'd gone home that night. Nothing helped but she maintained her vigil and cheerful countenance. It didn't slip again. Or at least until he woke up and looked at her as if she was just anyone.
He blinked at her then his eyes slid down her body. "Are you a candystriper? If you are I didn't know they allowed them to come in plain clothes."
"Huh?" Usagi yelped intelligently. She was still reeling and he closed his eyes once more as if in pain. "Are you all right?"
"Odango, please get someone to minister some serious pain killers!" He groaned out and lifted his hands to his head. "When did I get struck by lightning?"
She was already out the door and looking for the nurse she knew was on duty at this hour before he stopped speaking. It was when the nurse was inside and she hung antsy at the doorway that she realized he had recognized her. Or maybe only in a way. She'd take several steps back in their relationship over completely starting over. Even if the other might have satisfied her too as long as he was awake and in her life at all. She bit her lip thinking it might have been easier to start completely over but brushed that aside. It wasn't fair and he'd think she was taking advantage of him if he ever remembered again.
When the nurse turned towards Usagi, a horrible thought struck her. What if he'd instinctively said the name she had hated without knowing he'd called her that? What if he still didn't remember her? But he was asleep and the nurse passed her with a pat on the arm and then gave Usagi a set of pills too. It was only when the nurse had gone and Usagi sank back down in her chair by his bed that she realized the side of her leg was screaming in pain.
It was spring but it was a cold one and yet she had to wear shorts because it was easier to get at the bandages that covered her entire thigh and ended at her knee. There was a deep cut that was stitched but still required frequent bandage changes. For awhile she had used crutches but that only made her more inhibited. She couldn't even carry her books that way.
She was careful but it still tore occasionally, the flesh so mangled and the cut so wide that it had been hard to sew. If she dared to spend any time to look at it, she would have seen the muscle clearly underneath as her skin slowly grew to accommodate the parts that were missing and the parts that were stretching. It hadn't been wide enough though to call for a skin graft from a donor. With her luck the skin would have been a completely different color, probably blue or something.
This meant that she needed to keep the area clean and completely covered. Also to change the bandages often and ensure that she hadn't pulled the stitches in her thigh's muscle out. At least that was healing faster then the rest of it. She'd need to change it again in the next few minutes but first she popped the pills into her mouth and downed the water next to the bed. Then she hobbled out, taking special care not to put any undue pressure on it or pull the skin anymore.
She refused to replace the bandages in his presence, even when he hadn't had the likelihood of waking up on her and seeing it. Frankly she didn't want him to know, even if he couldn't see. She bit her lip until it bled as she dealt with the wound, not wanting to look but having to make sure it wasn't infected and held onto her lunch that she hadn't actually ate. It wouldn't do to throw up the pills.
The nurse came over and sat her down and dealt with it for her. Usagi breathed through her mouth trying not to pass out from any of it. "It's fine." The nurse patted her other knee. "It's healing slowly but it's getting better. I'm actually impressed on the rate its going despite all your unfortunate setbacks. I still think you'd be better off with crutches."
"I'll let you saddle me with a cane if you'll get me a pair of surgery pants?" It was what the doctors and nurses wore but she couldn't remember the actual name for them.
The nurse rolled her eyes. "I'll be right back with the cane and a pair of scrubs. Any particular color?"
For a split second Usagi almost said pink as it matched the shorts she was wearing but then caught herself. "Black please."
"He's not likely to wake up again today and the white bandages will show through the black scrubs if that's what you're worrying about."
"Then what color do you suggest I wear?" It was still a possibility that he'd wake and she wouldn't take any chances. It was one thing to wear the shorts and have the bandages while he was asleep but an entirely different thing for him to see the wound or even the bandages while awake.
"Go with your gut and style. Wear pink." The nurse rubbed her shoulder and walked off, leaving Usagi on the gurney, dangling her feet. The cane and scrubs came quickly and then the nurse left again to make her rounds.
Usagi changed in one of the spare rooms and balances precociously as she put them on, it was always a chore while unable to really bend her leg. She practiced walking with the cane after slipping her shorts into her purse. It bulked out a little and pulled on the zipper but her school bag was in Mamoru's room. She gave herself one final check in the mirror, it'd have to do, the scrubs weren't entirely her but he might not even notice and she had to get used to them. She'd probably wear them or some other loose fitting pant for awhile. At least until he was out. As for the cane, she didn't want it, didn't want him to think she needed it but it was the best she could do right now.
She almost injured herself further when she heard a crash inside Mamoru's room but had to force herself to remain steady and walk in slowly. The doctor had come in while she was gone and Mamoru was awake. Boy was he ever.
Usually it was Usagi that went from dead to the world to zooming out the door. She never spent overnight in Mamoru's company to know what he was like first thing but she had seen him in the mornings and he was a major grouch until he'd gotten his coffee and a bit of alone time to orientate himself to the day.
Well one thing remained consistent. He was definitely still a grouch.
The doctor was trying to soothe him. "Chiba-san, either lie back down or I'll have to sedate you. Really this is unprecedented. You've only just woken up from your mini-coma."
"You might want to check with a nurse first. She gave him some pain relievers." Usagi piped in from just outside the room. She wasn't sure if he'd want her here with him now that he had a choice and could vocalize it.
Mamoru's head turned towards her as the doctor did too and he settled back against he bed frame and scowled at her. "What are you doing out there? There's a perfectly good chair next to me here." He gestured at the spot she'd probably made her own with the amount of time she'd spent in it. The cushions would know her behind intimately.
"Ah, I see, he awoke earlier? I'll get right on that. Please Tsukino-san, do what I couldn't and talk some sense into him. Press this button if he becomes unruly in my absence. Someone will be right in to help restrain him if necessary." He pointed out a red button next to the bed and Usagi nodded and switched places with him.
Mamoru's eyes were on her, following her every move. "So you had been here when I woke up earlier. I thought maybe I dreamed it. Where did you go?"
Usagi ignored his question though she was pleased that he recalled her face, even if it was just a short-term memory. She pulled the sheets up from his knees to his waist. "Why are you giving the hospital staff such a hard time? You were supposed to be out for awhile yet."
"I'm a fast healer." But his words were tinged with doubt as he looked her over again. "Or at least I thought I was. Is this some parallel dimension where you still look like you're sixteen but really you've become a health professional and I've been asleep for years?"
"Oh, these?" He was too observant to get much pass him. "I borrowed them. In my haste earlier to get the nurse I snagged my shorts on something and needed a replacement." It wasn't true but at least he had a harder time shifting her words than her actions. He was studying her face and she deliberately didn't look at him.
"For a second I'd thought you'd left the grounds but you'd forgotten your books. Though that would be something you'd do and use it readily as an excuse for not doing your work. But you've had more time recently to do it, haven't you?" She looked at him then and wondered what he meant by it. The question was on the verge of being asked when he answered it. "No other extracurriculars and all that, hmm? Though I am surprised you're not spending all your time mooning after Motoki."
To hell with her leg, she hadn't even spared one thought towards it as she propelled herself forward and tossed her arms around his waist with a small cry of joy. He had remembered who she was! She didn't care that he was being snarky, she was just overjoyed that he was awake and remembered and just for plain old being alive!
His arms wrapped around her and dragged her closer still, dropping a kiss onto her hair and holding on tight. Eventually she gave a small mewl of protest ignoring the throbbing in her leg that still managed to make it through her painkillers. "I'm hurting you!" She pushed away and he caught her elbow before she could move far.
"Don't go another inch." He warned. "I won't be responsible for my actions."
"I won't." She promised and made a show of rotating so she could still be pressed against him but sitting more comfortably on the bed and looking at him. She took the hand that hadn't left her arm and laced her fingers with it. He had a strength in him that wouldn't be washed away with something as simple as resting for weeks. Even unused he still had it in full. Or maybe it was adrenaline.
A frown tugged at his lips. "Is the cane mine? It might be a little early for that."
"I have set you back!" She said in alarm and he shook his head.
"You haven't done anything. Don't you dare take any of it onto yourself. I probably wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for you."
"You wouldn't have been in here if it wasn't for me and my foolishness."
"Never that, not for what you did. It was smart and brave and casualties happen in times of war but you saved the planet." He reached out with his other hand and traced a line along her cheek, then lower towards her lips and smoothed the bottom one out. "You're in pain." She started to shake her head. "Please stop lying to me. It doesn't get you anywhere and it makes a mockery of what we were building before the final battle."
She sucked her lip into her mouth and unconsciously moistened it, unaware of what the gesture meant now that he'd touched it. His gaze was drawn to the action. She gave a nod with such gravity that a small smile cracked his lips. "How are you so awake?" She asked instead of answering his silent questions.
"I was asleep far longer than I'm used to."
"Your body needed it." She had heard exactly that when she'd woken up about herself and then later when she'd first sat and worried over his continued unconscious state. She felt like she'd become an expert on his undiagnosable situation. Sometimes there were things your body needed that couldn't be treated externally.
He waved that thought aside. "At any rate I wasn't just going to lie here. I needed to know you weren't just a figment of my imagination and to make sure you were alive and well."
"Here I am, you can see that all of that is true now." Usagi gave an overly large smile then shied away from his seeking eyes.
"I see that you're avoiding something." He clarified and swore lightly when someone came into the room. She lifted her eyes to the doctor.
"I hadn't expected you to get physical in your restraint." He teased but he was disapproving too. "It's probably best to let him rest. We have to take baby-steps. You know how it goes."
His hand tightened against hers and she looked back at him. "I won't be far."
"That's true because you're not going anywhere." But she had misunderstood his reaction, and found that out shortly. "You were unconscious?"
"Just for a little while." She shrugged.
"A week and a half." The doctor knew he shouldn't worry his patient but he also didn't want to lie to the man who had rescued the girl from death. From what he had gathered, he didn't think anyone else would tell him the full truth.
Usagi shot him a look and he'd looked pointedly at the cane with a lifted brow. If she wasn't going to take proper care of herself, then he'd bolster others to help out. She was all too willing to take care of the man but neglected a majority of her own healing process. Her position on the bed only testified to what he already knew. Usagi spoke slowly. "Not anywhere near as long as you have been unconscious. It meant nothing."
Mamoru cleared his suddenly dry throat. He'd been forced to gulp down water first to demand where the blond was and now it was creeping up on him again. "Any time unconscious means something." He dragged her attention back to his face and his eyes raked hers anew. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine. On the road to a perfect recovery."
The doctor picked up her cane and set it next to the bed, adding weight to the white lie of omission. "Come now Tsukino-san, he needs sleep."
"I won't if she's not here."
"She can sit in the chair like she has been for the last month." The doctor held out his hands to help her down but an arm snaked across her waist and pulled her back towards his chest. A frown crossed the doctor's face. "Ok, ok, you can keep her with you for as long as you want, but don't rough handle her so much. It might pull her stitches."
"Stitches?" There was a catch in his voice but she couldn't see him.
"The two of you really haven't talked about your shared accident yet have you? I thought maybe you'd swap battle scars right away."
"We were too busy relishing the fact that we could talk to one another again. My girlfriend will be staying by my side until she needs to go home. But feel free to check on her stitches if you're worried about it. She just won't be going into another room or onto another examining table to have it done."
"Tsukino-san?"
"I'm fine. Check him out if you need to. I'll just get more comfortable." She slid up the bed more, using her hands and good leg to propel her so her back was against the frame, same as his and he switched arms to keep one around her waist. The doctor gave him a quick check and advised for rest once more. Mamoru claimed he had more than enough already. Usagi slid her eyes to his face and lfited an eyebrow. "Girlfriend?"
"Isn't that what you are?" Mamoru frowned. "I guess my memory is still a little hazy, I swear we'd decided that right before the final battle or is that something I've made up? If it is, I meant to broach it with you-."
"No, no. I just wasn't sure if you'd still want me to be. In fact I didn't think you'd remember me at all." She admitted.
"Not remember you?" Mamoru questioned in surprise then shook his head. "I'm sorry it took a few moments. I was hit on the head and I couldn't remember my own name or anything else for a minute. I know I made that stupid joke and I'm not even sure where it came from. But let me reassure you, the first thing that came back before my name, before the battle or anything else in this entire galaxy or any lifetime was your name."
"You called me Odango." She said trying to be upset but she was still just so happy he was back with her.
"I apologize Usa-chan." He said solemnly. "My mouth formed the word even though my heart was calling you something else. Forgive me?"
"Depends." She held out and he inclined her head to go on. "What was your heart calling me?"
He pleasantly surprised her by not giving her the run around. "Usako."
She melted into a little pile of goo at the knowledge he had a pet name for her that didn't have to do with food. Usagi turned slightly and cuddled into his side. "Mamo-chan, do you hurt anywhere?" She was afraid of making a wrong move.
"Just stiff and sore from not moving in so long. Also maybe a little bit of overall pain from being hit by Beryl's kill blast." His face contorted whether in remembrance of what happened or something else, she could never know for sure if it was one or a combo. "How am I still alive?"
"I asked the crystal to make sure everyone was all right. I didn't think it'd actually do anything. But I suppose it was happy to be asked for a favor instead of told."
A breath was released from his chest and she hadn't realized he was holding it until she followed his body with hers and almost fell if he hadn't been there to block her trajectory. "I'm relieved to hear that you didn't have to resort to using the crystal."
She didn't respond and rest her head against his shoulder and let her eyes drift shut.
He tensed again and she wearily lifted them back up again. "That's why you were unconscious. The crystal almost killed you."
"I was no closer to death than you were." That wasn't strictly speaking true either. She was ninety percent positive he had died. The only difference between him and the senshi was the fact that those bodies had been killed with more rudimentary methods. His had been strictly magical.
"I am going to argue with you and bring you to task over being stupid enough to let yourself get to that point, but right now I'm going to just slip down further on the bed and close my eyes. Don't go anywhere. I'm not going to be sleeping, just allowing my eyes some darkness to help with the headache. We're going to discuss what injury requires you to have a cane too."
Serena realized he was more tired and less healthy than he liked to let on. His strength had been pulled out of him and he only had remnants left. She didn't go anywhere, letting him sleep for several hours while she thought. The crystal had to be used and he'd realize that without her help. She couldn't have saved anyone otherwise, including herself.
It was later of course that she learned why he wanted her to stay with him while he was in the hospital. But that was a lot later and he would deny that it had anything to do with it. Once cornered he'd admit to it being a small part but the majority of it came from just wanting her with him, to know she was also alive and close by. It wasn't all about protecting her but just the desire to have her near. That conversation would happen at some other time, not while he was in hospital.
When visiting hours were over, even for her and her exemplary behavior, she finished gathering everything up and slung the bag over her body. Then she leaned down and kissed him on the forehead. "I'll be back in the morning."
She'd promised and she would carry through with it. She had come every morning for a few minutes but thankfully his waking up coincided with tomorrow being a Friday and she'd make it extra early so she could talk to him. Then she worked her way home, hoping that he wouldn't wake in the middle of the night and fuss.
He could be such a baby sometimes.
Day 3: A regular day.
There were quite a few of those now. And for the girls, except for having a pentagon of female friendship that they hadn't had before and for the most part, a new school for the majority, nothing had changed. The world had settled back into what it had been before a war erupted centering in Japan. Had the senshi not been there, the attacks would have spread farther than the small island, but they had been and had beaten back their enemy.
Except for the infinity small changes, nothing had changed. Nothing that was except Usagi. She carried the battle scars not only in her heart and mind but also on her body. The girls apparently didn't remember dying at all, only thought they were rendered unconscious when they pushed themselves back to their feet when it was all over and looked for their missing leader.
Mamoru was aware that he had come very close but refused to believe he was ever gone, wouldn't allow himself to leave her like that. So like the country she resided in, her friends were determined to be oblivious to the perils they had faced. Sometimes she felt alone if she allowed herself to dwell in these thought but most of the time she retained her happy outlook and bounced around as she had always done.
The biggest change, and the one her oldest friends Naru and Motoki had noticed was the fact she always wore her longer skirts, even in summer, and pants. They were always light weight and breathed but they were pants and usually baggy but slowly she had started wearing ones that were more form fitting again, or even to mix it up, cargo looking. She stylized her look but they'd never known her to wear pants in the summer before or turn down beach days or water park days and she did it with frequent consistency that summer.
If she did play with water, and they managed to come up with ways to do so, she wore fast-drying clothing and didn't hesitate on the tank tops. She even wore bikini tops with the pants. Then when it was high summer she switched to shorts, but they were longer and always ended at her knees.
Those who knew her were aware of why she did it. They just didn't realize the extent the damage had done or her dislike of what she saw when she dared to look.
When it had been bandaged up, she didn't mind wearing shorts, it was still covered and she had an excuse. Now that the bandages were no longer necessary she found it an eyesore and refused to have anyone looking at her in disgust or pity.
The skin had finally merged back together and she hoped with time the sight would reduce. It was puckered and white without any coloring and a very visible mark. The line was wide and jagged and formed a ridge from hip to knee. It still hurt when the skin was pulled taunt as she walked but it was a never ending pain that she could force to the back ground. It hurt worse when she ran and even sitting it niggled. She didn't tell anyone and she didn't complain, she just took her daily allotted pills and continued on through it.
But that was only part of her day. The rest of it had nothing to complain about. She had gotten her wish, she was just a regular girl. They all were and with that came mistakes and misfortune but nothing to the extent it had been.
Being summer meant that she had no school and could spend her time spread out between her favorite people and favorite things.
At the moment she was sitting in the blissfully air-conditioned arcade drinking a smoothie and taking with Motoki. He was regaling her with the pitfalls of running a place like this but he did it with such finesse he had her laughing. He loved his job, annoyances and all.
His eyes were always bright and full of life, and many people when looking at the two thought they had to be siblings as the two had such similar outlooks on life. Usagi had teased Mamoru when they first started dating that he only liked her because she was the female version of his best friend. Mamoru had laughed and told her that she wasn't even close. He was the only one she knew that had seen right through the both of them and while liking both of their positive attitudes knew there were some very definite differences beyond gender. He had seen her.
So since the blond's eyes were always bright there was very little to warn her as they lit up further and another smile crossed his features shortly before arms looped lightly around her waist and a warm body at her back, standing a hair further away from her than a friend would. She'd have thought it would be the opposite, that he'd have crushed her to him every chance he got but that was entering dangerous territory so he held himself back, or at least as far back as he could manage on normal days. On occasion she was pressed tighter to him than what was proper of a regular friend.
"Can I buy you lunch, or have you already ate?" He asked dropping a kiss onto the top of her head but looking at the melting drink in front of her.
"I haven't, but-"
The ring above the door herald an entrance before four female voices entered the music of the arcade. "Your friends are joining you. I was wondering why you looked so sinful today." His hands pressed lightly against her stomach before he removed them and sat on the bar-stool next to her, looking out over the arcade. Claiming his spot before one of the others could take it.
"Going with my friends means I dress better than seeing you?" Usagi lifted a blond brow as Motoki worked on getting the regulars ready.
"No, you're always sexy." He teased and wrapped a small wayward strand of blond hair around his finger, getting it in just before the others got close enough to hear and she couldn't respond, too happy to hear it.
"We're going to a play in the park." Rei informed him, taking the other seat near him as Usagi's other side was fought over and won by Makoto, having the size to knock Minako away. Ami demurely sat next to Makoto and Minako had no choice but to go further down the way. She sent Mamoru a glare for taking a prized spot. He grinned back at her, unrepentant.
Well that explained the big bags. "You're welcome to join us. It's free." Makoto invited and from her it was a mild surprise. From one of the others, he would have known it was a polite addition. Mamoru was usually respectful of Usagi's time with the girls, knowing that when the two of them were together it had a tendency to become about them and the rest of the world would take second chair. They wouldn't try to do it, but it was hard not to or to pull out of it. They could, but there were still moments when it slipped into that realm.
Maybe the taller girl was just in a good mood now that she got to sit next to Usagi. "Why not? Thanks Makoto." He held the green eyes before she nodded and looked down to Usagi, pulling her into a conversation about the latest film previewed and whether or not she was interested in seeing it.
Usagi didn't say no very often to her friends. The only time she said no was if her family had already backed her into a commitment. Family was important to her too and she never missed a family event whether it was just the four of them or an extended relative gathering. But to her, her friends were family too. That meant all of them, including Naru and Umino, the latter of which might be considered her geeky brother-in-law but she still liked him. That summer she was able to commit to every request that didn't conflict with another because she had no school work to drag her down.
"So no food right now?" Motoki asked setting the drinks down.
"Oh we have food." Minako leaned forward in full flirt mode. She didn't have a chance. He was somewhat partial to brunettes. But he didn't let it show as he smiled back at her and fulfilled her unspoken request to continue their banter. "We've brought loads of snacks, more than enough to support you and Mamoru coming with us." She drew a line on the counter. "Even enough to replenish the snacks Usagi's no doubt ate from her own supply."
Motoki grinned stupidly at her, not getting her point. "Well that's rather smart of you."
Usagi elbowed Makoto who was determinedly trying to ignore Minako's efforts. At Usagi's insistence Makoto finally tuned in. She smiled at Motoki and that vacant look was for an entirely different reason as his eyes were drawn to her mouth. "Would you like to come with us too? More the merrier."
Motoki nodded. "Love to. What time does it start and what can I supply?"
"In four hours. We were going to do a few laps around the lake before we settled in ahead of time trying to get the best seats possible. You can join us when you can." Ami explained. "Otherwise some of us will start getting antsy if they have to sit the whole time without exercise."
Usagi blushed but she wasn't the only one who hated sitting for so long. Makoto and Minako were also incapable of it. Makoto could stand for a long time but hated sitting. Minako beamed at the idea. "Or even a run."
"I'm not dressed for that." Usagi said slowly, trying to get out of it.
"You go running to school in your uniform almost daily." Motoki teased and swiped her drink before she knew what he was doing, he replaced it with a wink. "On the house."
Usagi's nose wrinkled as she grinned at him in thanks and amusement. Mamoru chuckled. "Do I have to be worried that he's bribing you?"
"Not at all." Usagi slid her hand into his and he laced their fingers. They went back to talking to different individuals of the group.
Later when they were walking and after Motoki joined them, Minako got the idea to play tag so she could get physically closer to Motoki and create a situation between them. She was it before she knew they had even started. Makoto who wanted Motoki just as much if not more than Minako did, but wouldn't fight her friend for him went the other way and focused instead on something else. She came up to Usagi and took pity on the girl who no longer ran as fast as she used to. "Come on." She pulled the smaller girl onto her back and together they ran after Rei who slowed down enough to stay just out of reach without real effort but they did get her. Rei then ran after Ami who screeched and took a dive to try and avoid her.
She succeeded in getting grass stains on her jean shorts and legs. Rei fell beside her on her bottom and just laughed and laughed. Makoto let Usagi down and the two of them couldn't hold back their amusement either.
Mamoru had gone in the opposite direction and jogged over to them when he realized they stopped moving. Minako was frowning faintly as she realized her plans went awry but Motoki wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her towards the others. Minako was practically beaming as she relaxed into his 'embrace'.
Usagi was aware of what was going on between the two of them but didn't say anything and instead glanced over to Mamoru who caught her look and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly and he called out to Motoki. "Oi, let's go get the bags from the lockers and bring it over for the girls. It's probably time to set up."
"That's the only reason they wanted us here." Motoki joked walking with him. Minako's face fell when she realized he had to leave her but she couldn't do anything to keep him nearby. Over her head, Makoto gave Usagi a small smile of thanks. If the two had been reversed Usagi still would have interfered but Makoto would never have acted like Minako, she'd have realized early on that Motoki wasn't interested. She just had trouble recognizing when someone did want her too. Usagi wasn't sure she would have gotten involved silently if Motoki liked Minako.
It was just hard knowing everyone's feelings and being unable to say anything to any of them, as all vowed her to silence. The only person she could talk to and be assured wouldn't say anything was Mamoru and he didn't have a lot of experience to draw back on either. They were each other's first relationship in this lifetime and the first real one that they'd shared in the past and were trying to feel their way through together. The one thing they had going for them was the fact that they were so solid and in-tune with each other.
She felt bad but as for friendships, he had very minimal before the girls got involved into their lives and they were more her friends than his, but they were working on it too. He had a few good friendships on his own but he was a guy and they didn't usually have these problems. Usually. If they did, a good fight and all was solved. She'd actually pay good money to see scrappy Minako and secretly soft Makoto physically fight it out, as long as their emotions were pulled into it and didn't continue on passed the fight.
Then to top it off, his friends were usually pretty levelheaded and worked it out before it got anywhere. Hers were levelheaded too but Minako was a bit blind to Makoto's feelings and Makoto wasn't making them too clear to either the other girl or Motoki. She wanted to kick Makoto in the butt for not coming clean with either of them or at least make it as obvious as Minako. The only saving grace was that Motoki was blissfully unaware of Minako's efforts. That could irrevocably hurt their relationship if he ever had to turn her down. While she was fighting to get his attention she could remain happy. What was it with M names being so oblivious? And yes, she'd include Mamoru into that at times.
She held back the smile, not wanting Rei or Ami to question her on it, they were just as oblivious about what was going on around them and she'd admit that she often had that problem herself. So she had no foot to stand on to say anything like that. It was human nature to ignore what they didn't want to know or feel inadequate enough not to realize they could have it.
The five of them made their way over to the area that held the stage on the water. They picked out the area they wanted and the boys joined them shortly and rolled out the blankets and they sat in mostly a circle. Mamoru sank down in the back of their small group since he was the tallest and Usagi sat between his legs so she could lean back against him. She patted his knee in silent praise of his job well done.
Makoto took one side and Ami took the other. Rei sat near Ami while Motoki was between Makoto and Minako. He chose to sit by Makoto before the others took their seats. Usagi smiled at him, knowing exactly why he'd did that. She didn't do anything but leaned back into Mamoru's chest as he leaned back on his elbows.
Makoto took out some food and set it between them. If it was gone they'd break into another bag. Usagi snatched up a piece. "Thanks Mako-chan!"
The play started about a half hour later after they had a mini-picnic. Everyone was laughing and making jokes and having a good time. When the play started Usagi used her foot and tapped Rei in the hip and when the dark haired girl turned to look at her, she winked. It was Rei's favorite play and Usagi was excited to be part of the showing with her.
Rei squeezed Usagi's foot back.
It was just one of those typical days.