A/N: All the things are belong to Voltage Inc! well, not ALL the things, but ya know, general disclaimer.. this is FAN fiction.

Ready Or Not

"Look, I ain't ready for somethin' like that. She understands; she knows I'm not goin' anywhere," Mamoru, who had been lying on the sofa, pulled himself upright as the defensive edge in his voice sharpened.

"No one said anything about you going anywhere, Kishi."

"He hardly leaves the hotel, how could anyone expect him to leave his woman?"

"You see, Mamo, a beautiful, sweet, young lady like her doesn't have to wait around to get married. Soon, her friends will start asking questions: 'How long have you been dating now?' 'Nearly two years and he hasn't even mentioned it?' 'How can you be sure he's serious about you?'"

"If they haven't started asking already."

"Ota's right, we might already be too late! Those questions will make her start wondering; doubting."

"That woman does tend to be easily influenced when it comes to self-doubt."

He gave Soryu a look and then narrowed his eyes at Baba.

"She wouldn't leave me," he stated.

"Then who was she out with last night?" Eisuke asked, finally adding to the exchange.

"Whaddya talkin' about?" he asked dubiously.

"She was having drinks in the third-floor bar last night with-"

"You said you stopped having her watched after the AID thing!" Mamoru nearly shouted as he got to his feet.

"Of course I did," Eisuke said, looking down his nose at the other man. "I saw her there myself, sitting close to the man who was buying her drink after drink."

"You're lying."

"I have no reason to," Eisuke said matter-of-factly.

"Ah, shit," Mamoru sighed as he thrust a hand in his hair. "I ain't ready for somethin' like this either."

He pulled out a cigarette, placed it between his lips, and inhaled deeply as he lit it. What the hell was goin' on? First they're on his case about marrying her, then Eisuke comes out of left field with this. It couldn't have been her, he must have seen someone else who looked like her. She would never... She loved him...

Right?

She was all his.

Right?

"That's taking it too far, Boss," Baba said.

"I'm not joining in your fun, that's what I saw," Eisuke said, still sitting back in his chair with his legs crossed. "They left around one. I overheard them talk about meeting there tonight if she was going to be all alone after work again."

Mamoru tilted his head back, watching the large puff of smoke he had exhaled lazily disperse. All alone, huh? Sure this last case had kept him away more than not, but she understood. Right? She never said anything about feeling lonely. She worried about him sleeping in the office, in the car, about him not eating right, the usual. But to turn to another guy? The kid didn't have it in her. She was too sweet on him to be running around. Right?

"Welp," he said, crushing out the stub of cigarette in the closest ashtray. "It can't be helped."

"You're just giving up?" Baba asked as Mamoru walked towards the door.

"But Kishi, you-"

"Give it a rest, will ya?" he said, closing the door and leaving the questioning looks behind him.

In the hallway, leaning his back against the penthouse door, Mamoru pulled out his phone and brought her number up. It was just after eleven. She should be asleep by now. Or, she normally would be. His finger hovered over the screen. Reluctantly, he tapped it, then held the phone to his ear.

Ring

Sorry, Doll, I hate to wake you up like this.

Ring

You know I have something better in mind.

Ring

C'mon, Baby, just put my mind at ease.

Ring

He stood up straight, shoving his free hand in his pocket, fingers rubbing the cigarette package.

Ring

Now you're makin' me worry, Sweetheart.

Ring

No. No; she's always answered by now.

Ring

The voice mail greeting started. He ended the call and tried again, pacing the hall as he listened to the ringing repeat itself. The voice mail greeting started again.

"Da hell?" he muttered, canceling the call and putting his phone away

"Well, shit," Mamoru sighed.

He was standing just inside the entrance of the third-floor bar. He could see her from there, sitting at the bar, talking and laughing with the man sitting next to her. Drinking with him. Smiling at him.

Watching her act like that with another man didn't feel right. Standing there didn't feel right. His head didn't feel right and the knot in his stomach sure as hell didn't feel right. He wanted to go home.

Then he saw the man place a hand on her thigh.

Mamoru pulled his shoulders back, the knot in his stomach tightening. Swift, steady steps carried him to her side.

"Mamoru!"

Look at that smile, he thought, that's the smile she only wears for me.

"You finished early tonight?" she asked eagerly.

She's lookin' me in the eye, grinin' ear to ear like a damn kid. I shouldda known she wasn't up to nothin'.

The man stood up from his stool.

"You must be the boyfriend," he sneered, "I'm-"

"I ain't interested in whoever the hell you are," Mamoru said, then gently took her hand, helping her down from her seat. He put an arm around her shoulder, holding her close to his side. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your hands offa my girl from now on."

The man's head jerked back as he let out a derisive chuckle, "That's your problem right there: she's not a girl; she's a woman. And-"

"And?" Mamoru started to take a step forward.

"Um!" she spoke up from beside him, one hand tugging at his jacket.

"And it's time for you an' me to get outta here, Sweetheart."

The couple left the bar side by side, then Mamoru dropped his hand from her shoulder and started fishing around for his cigarettes and lighter.

"I-I'm sorry," she said meekly from behind, trying to keep up with his long strides.

"For what?" he put a cigarette behind his right ear, unable to find the lighter.

"I... Well, I..."

"C'mon," he said, holding the elevator door for her, "we'll talk about it later."