Elysian

by TropicalRemix

Life and Love can be a strange and complex journey when on your own. But with good friends at your side, it makes ones burden's lighter. These are the tales of several young souls, who's lives are intertwined within the walls of Elysian. Story written by ShayDoe

2. Chapter 2

Episode Two: Storm warnings

**96 hours till landfall...**

Mamoru had felt like crap all day. Pulling uncomfortably at his black t-shirt he had never lost his temper so spectacularly before. He felt very unsettled, his skin pricking with sweat. The raw uncontrolled rage he had displayed was so unlike him. He couldn't pin point the exact moment he started this down ward spiral of bitterness and angst at the world. But it had began just before summer, that was when he had lost his drive. The days starting to drag and his own clear future beginning to cloud over with doubts. But he figured this anger had been festering for months now, and unfortunately Elysian's new tenant ended up being in his cross hairs. Drawing his finger's tightly through his hair he took a deep breath and released it slowly.

A dull boiling of guilt burned in his stomach, the churning acid made focusing on school difficult. All he could see was the look of pure fright upon her face when he had screamed at her. The painful image seared in his mind like a brand. Never letting up or allowing him a moments reprieve all weekend. Seeing her racing away in such a scared and frantic state that morning was what pushed him over the edge.

"Hey, Ass head did you hear a single word I just said?" Motoki's laughing voice finally penetrated the dark haze of his self recriminations.

"Wha..." He shook his head to clear it. The horrible image of her sweet face, flushed with sudden stress. Her wide tear filled eyes stricken with fear, was wiped away. His troubled thoughts cleared to refocus on his friends amused face.

"no." Mamoru sighed, returning his tortured gaze back towards the window in their class room. As the memory once again became a crushing weight on his mind.

Truly staring at nothing as his outlandish behaviour replayed itself like water board torture.

Motoki knew something was up, Mamoru looked far to guilty to just ignore. He deftly pulled out his phone from his pants pocket.

**Text between Motoki and Mamoru. **

"What did you do?"

Mamoru heard his phone buzz in his duffle bag hanging from the back of his chair. With an irritated huff, he glanced up to see if their teacher had heard his phone go off. Relaxing when she never stopped writing upon the white board, her voice droning on to the half interested class.

He reached into the side pocket and pulled out his phone wondering who would be texted him in class. Hoping like hell it wasn't work asking for him to come in today. He had been working double shifts all weekend, he need his week nights free to catch up on his homework. But his boss as understanding as he was, could be pretty desperate for waiter's at times.

Hiding the device in his lap, he swiped the screen then gave Motoki a side long glare. Seeking to ignore the text he turned to tuck the device back into his bag. When the phone buzzed in his hand, Mamoru growled and slipped the phone back into his lap. Rolling his eyes in frustration at Motoki's further threats of harassment.

"If you don't answer I will just keep texting you."

"_You'll keep texting regardless_."

"Yeah, but at least you now have a chance to turn down your volume and answer my question discretely. "

"_I could just turn down my volume and ignore you._"

"Fuck, you can be such a jerk!"

"_I know..._" Mamoru responded the double meaning laying silent between them for a moment.

"So..."

"_So..."_

"What the hell's got you so worked up! I haven't seen you this freaked, since Haruka moved in and you found out the dude was actually a dudette."

"_I thought I'd turned gay. Man! How relaxed would you be if you thought your sexual compass suddenly got all screwed up! She was the hottest 'dude' I had ever seen, I got hard every time she walked by. Thank god my hormones were still on the level._"

"Still, she put your pathetic attempt at flirting with her down like a sick dog."

"_Thanks for the reminder, really improves my mood._"

"So what is bothering you?"

"_sigh"_

"Did you seriously just text 'sigh_'" _

"_sigh"_

Motoki had enough of his fooling around and kicked him square in the shins. He yelped as the man's sneaker's peeled off the first layer of skin just above his socks. Then with obvious disgruntlement he began to text again.

"_A rabbit, about five feet tall with a loud disposition, poor motor control and an intellectual disability_."

It took Motoki a few minutes of hard thought to decipher that cryptic mean spirited remark.

Which earned Mamoru a swift rebuttal of a very hard punch in the arm.

"Stop speaking so cruelly about her." The dusty blonde hissed near his ear. A low menacing growl in Motoki's voice that had Mamoru for the first time quietly worried.

"You don't even know her." He added, stuffing his phone away and giving Mamoru the cold shoulder. His knightly defence of the Tsukino girl was so sudden and so very unlike the easy going Furuhata it made Mamoru rethink his knee jerk opinions. The man really just went the flow, never getting involved or having an opinion over anyones else's drama. To be so invested in a girl he had only known for a week was very uncommon, hell it was a first. She must really be something special to invoke just loyalty from Motoki so quickly.

Mamoru just stared dumbfounded at Motoki, his expression soon falling to a shameful faced scowl. He really didn't know her at all, but saying mean things about her just seemed to spill from his mouth like a bad case of verbal diarrhoea.

"Your right." he finally whispered, leaning close to his best friend. His tone submissive and sad. "She has this annoying routine of playing dance music at six thirty in the morning and exercises over my head. Sounds like a herd of elephants in heat."

Motoki raised a surprised eyebrow, chuckling softly.

"All last week man..." Mamoru groan scrubbing the new wave of frustrations from his face. "Every, flipping morning she would wake me up at the crack of dawn with a dance party!" He sounded near tears at the mere thought of last week. "I lost it...friday morning. I totally lost it."

"What did you do to her?" Motoki turned to face him, his expression was stern, green eyes blazing with silent anger.

"I lost my temper with her friday morning." Mamoru groaned.

Reika-Sensei's squeaking marker upon the white board ceased, she was staring sternly at them. Motoki shifted uncomfortably in his seat, while Mamoru huffed returning to glaring at his reflection in the window.

"On an atomic scale, was it merely an explosion or did you go totally nuclear on her?" A text hummed through Mamoru's phone. He groaning and returned his attention to the phone in his lap.

"_I went complete Hiroshima on her, man... Total verbal destruction of epic proportions." _

"So taking her out for a coffee a week ago when this all started, to brain storm a better way to wake herself up, then the morning Rave, didn't cross your mind?"

Mamoru narrowed his eyes, even in text form Motoki sounded pompously superior.

"You know when you were still thinking rationally...before the rage took control and you went all Incredible Hulk on the poor girl!"

"_Well, hind sight is always 20/20_" He texted snidely.

"And fore thought is blind?" Motoki pointed out in a low growl giving him a thin lipped smirk of disapproval.

Mamoru groaned, he hated when Motoki threw his bullshit back in his face.

"This is quite the conversation you two are having, mind enlightening us all with what had you two more interested in gossip then learning." Reika-Sensei's bright voice intruded upon their heavy whispers.

"No...Reika Sensei." Mamoru shot back, shoving his phone back into his duffle angrily, before turning to stare out his window again.

"Sorry, Reika Sensei." Motoki responded, looking like a beaten dog and sounding like a guilty child.

Mamoru shook his head in disgust. Motoki had it bad...for their teacher. This was not going to turn out well.

A few minutes later another text logged onto his phone.

After class when they got a few minutes of a break to grab a drink or use the bathroom. He checked his phone, finding Motoki's latest text.

"Apologize, Ass head!"

Mamoru sighed and nodded, feeling that Motoki's description of him was dead on.

**86 hours till landfall...**

Mamoru had been keeping a watch out for her since he got home from school. Lounging on his balcony railing with a text book, feinting studying. It was closing in on supper time, with the sun setting into the horizon of towers when she trudged through the gate. Her head hung low, uncombed blonde hair from this morning. Now looking wind blown and in complete disarray over her face. She looked depressed, and irritated. Brushing her hair out of her face and tucking it behind her ears with sharp movements. He remained were he was, listening to her storm up the stairs to her room. When he was satisfied that she was home he headed upstairs.

He wanted to put things right, to quell all the guilt festering inside of him. If he was totally truthful with himself he would acknowledge that his obsessive need fix things. Was totally selfish and completely one sided. He still felt justified at being mad at her, but admitted he could have handled it better. He wasn't yet thinking about providing her more then just a simple apology, a polite confession that he had been in the wrong. So that they could move on to a companionable living arrangement. As he reached her door, he pressed his ear against the wood to confirm she was inside. A smile of satisfaction spread over his face as he could hear her moving inside, the soft scuffing of her socks on the tambata mats.

Great, this will be over quick and then all will be right again.

He knocked crisply upon her door.

Everything went deathly quiet.

"Tsukino-san?" He called softly, knocking again.

He heard her feet approaching the door so he kept pushing forward with his polite apology.

"I came to talk." he rubbed the back of his neck suddenly nervous.

"Last Friday...I..." he stumbled on as her feet stopped abruptly before the door and instead of opening it as he had assumed. He heard the decisive click of the door lock then her feet scampering away.

Leaving him and his apology staring in silent frustration at her blank wooden door.

"You have got to be kidding me..." Mamoru mumbled, blinking in confusion at her door. He had never been so passively rejected in his whole life.

**72 hours till landfall...**

Mamoru stared out of his window at the fair weather, resting half of his butt comfortably upon the railing of his faux balcony. His mattress already tucked away neatly in his closet he had plenty of time to ease into the day. The morning sky was warming nicely with cumulus clouds dotting the horizon. Sipping his coffee in the blissful silence, dressed only in a pair of black sleep pants and a satisfied grin.

Yesterday's attempt at smoothing things over with his upstairs neighbour had gone rather poorly. Actually it hadn't gone at all and that was souring his enjoyment of this perfect moment.

He would try again this morning, catch her on the stairs perhaps. With that new plan of action decided he finished his coffee and leisurely got ready for school. Dressed in a pair of baggy jeans and a white button down,that he left untucked,heavy duffle bag in hand. He then headed over to the stairwell that connected his floor to the upper floor, to wait.

After about fifteen minutes he sat down on the last step. Ten minutes after that he pulled his pocket watch out and glanced down at the time nervously. The old world style watch was the only item of his father's he had. It never left his side, he couldn't remember either of his parents but this was the only tangible thing he had from them. An antique british time piece of tarnished silver, with a heavy chain. An irish knot was engraved in the front, with intricate carvings inside each twist and turn. At the back was what Mamoru assumed was it's manufacturing stamp of letters and numbers. Below was another carving, crude, very light and made by a knife tip. He had yet in all his year to figure out what it said. The face itself was a deep black with curving pure white number's with elegantly carved metal hands. It was closing in on eight thirty. He had to get to school himself now.

"Morning, Mamoru-san." A gentle voice from the landing above echoed down to him. He glanced up expectantly, finding Makoto descending in her high school uniform. A black pencil skirt and white blouse with a tiny red bow. Clutching a leather brief case in her left hand along with a green cloth tied bento.

She went to an international High School out in Minato-ku, which was were she used to live. Mamoru knew the tragic story that had landed her at Elysian out in Azabu, that was a neighbouring district to her old life. Her parents were Americans, who had moved to Japan when Makoto was just a toddler. They had died a couple year's back during a business trip overseas, she had been attending the Hiroo International School at the time. It had both junior and senior high classes, so she never bothered to change schools. It was a longer bus ride for her, but she didn't care. Losing her parents had been enough of a change for her. She was unwilling to give up her support of friends that she had at the school. So she had leave extra early in the morning to travel across Azabu and into Minato-ku.

"Morning, Makoto-chan." He smiling weakly, tucking his watch back into his pocket.

"Shouldn't you be getting to school?" She offered as she past him on the landing.

"Yeah, but I am waiting for someone." he sighed.

Mako arched a curious brow then merely shrugged leaving his side to head out.

Mamoru waited ten more minutes till finally he gave up, he was going to be late if he didn't get going.

He stood with a huff, when her screams erupted from a flight above, then the thunder of her feet as she charged down the steps. With no time to react, he once again felt a small body collide with his own. But this time her speed added to the collision, was like a little blonde wrecking ball slamming into his back. She took him off his feet with a startled yelp to skid on his belly like a goofy, long legged penguin. Groaning in pain as he lay sprawled in the middle of the second story hall. With her laying onto his back in a heap of arms and legs. Dressed for school in her navy blue fuku skirt and white short sleeve shirt. Her absurdly long golden locks left to flow wildly down her back and over her face.

"Owwww..." She moaned, slowly gathering herself off of him, brushing stray strands of hair aside and cradling her head. Wondering bitterly why she always seemed to hit her head so often.

"Get off...Odango Atama!" He growled low in his throat the irritation with her building like a fire deep inside him. Staring at the dirty, smudged trim along the hallway in front of him. Valiantly keeping his temper in check.

She quickly complied, her mouth going dry and stomach twisting into a tight knot at the anger she felt coming off of him in brutal waves yet again.

"Gomen..." she muttered weakly, backing away very nervously. Her whole body was shaking like a leaf, anticipating him yelling inches away from her face yet again.

Groaning in further dread as he reclaimed his feet, his white shirt had a huge stain over the front and the corner of his duffle that he had landed on, was now dripping sadly with some unknown substance. Her heart sank and her stomach tightened even further. As he was left surveying the damage she had done to his clothes and the contents of his duffle bag in sour disappointment.

"And that was my lunch..." He sighed in defeat, his face flushing with both humiliation and rage. He was wet...he was sticky and now for sure he was going to be late for school.

He heard her moan in anguish, then the sound of her feet darting away, before he even looked up...she was gone.

**64 hours till landfall...**

Motoki was tense, his whole body felt tight like a spring wound up to much. He couldn't get Reika out of his mind. He had been making excuses to Mamoru for the last couple days wanting linger around the classroom just to strike up any kind of shallow conversations with her. He had convinced himself that he was only seeking her friendship, that he wouldn't let it go any further then that. But when their hands had touched as he handed in his mock test paper after class today. He had felt it,...a spark. The friendly banter they had been engaging in recently had falling silent and they had just started at one another...spellbound it seemed. Now he just couldn't shake her image, washing the glass counter at the arcade over and over again. Barely paying attention to his best friend droning on about his failed attempts to apologize to their new tenant.

"She's like a natural disaster!" Mamoru complained, he had pulled a metal stool from the back room, over to the counter so he could bemoan his life to Motoki comfortably. Straddling the stool, spinning the brown styrofoam coffee cup between his finger's. Staring in irritated contemplation down at the dark depths of the liquid within.

"Hurricane Tsukino!" He howled in a foreboding tone, glaring at the roof in abject misery. Wondering if just saying the name of the bad omen that had entered his life aloud, would somehow summon further bad luck upon him.

"Hai." Motoki acknowledge, staring at his rag as if it held all the answer's to his conflicted heart.

"You ok, pal?" Mamoru finally finished his tirade and noticed how distant his friend was.

"Hai." Motoki responded faintly.

Mamoru leaned over the counter and snapped his fingers loudly in front of Motoki's nose. Shocking the man out of his reverie.

"Spill?" Mamoru smirked, it was his turn to grill and he wasn't going to let up.

"Have you apologized to her yet?" Motoki raised his brows in question, side stepping the interrogation with ease, by bringing up Mamoru's current obsession.

"NO!" Mamoru shouted in disgust. "If you had been listening. I have been trying but she's avoiding me." He huffed, throwing his arms in the air in exasperation.

"Well, she is a kind, gentle soul Chiba and you scared the crap out of her. " Motoki advised, shaking his rag at him. "I'd avoid the Big, Bad, Wolf that huffed and puffed and blew my door down too." He smirked, the comment holding many other unspoken innuendo's.

"I am not a wolf." Mamoru growled.

Motoki raised an eyebrow knowingly. Mamoru was a major wolf, he had lured more women back to his room over the last couple years then Motoki had bagged in the last four.

Silence reigned between them as the stared at each other, a subtle stand off of pure testosterone. Mamoru never saw himself as a playboy, while Motoki continued to harass him about it. He never kept score, but it seemed his buddy sure did. The only sound was the annoying beeps and electronic music of the various video's games that surrounded them.

"Enough about me, lets talk about you?" Mamoru smirked. "What's got the ever relaxed and easy going Furuhata-san wound up so tight?"

"It's nothing." Motoki muttered, seeking an avenue of escape by leaving the counter to do a round amid the video games. The after school crowd had been filtering in for the last hour and the place was getting crowded.

Mamoru wasn't deterred in the least he merely grabbed his coffee and proceeded to follow the dusty blonde, sipping merrily as he harassed him over his less then subtle flirting with their teacher after school.

"So have you gotten any extra credit assignments yet?" He commented, waggling his eyebrows meaningfully in Motoki's periphery.

"Nani?" Motoki stumbled then shot him a glare over his shoulder, striding ahead nervously.

"Well, I can only assume the reason you are staying behind for the last couple days was to ask for more work, from our very hot, very single, very much forbidden to date! Sensei." He huffed, taking a long drag on his caffeine in a cup. Watching with satisfaction as Motoki's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"No doubt." He answered, ducking behind a bulky pinball machine to plug it back in. Hiding his face for a few extra moment to cool it off.

"I totally believe your intentions to talk to her are scholastic in nature." Mamoru chuckled dryly.

"Totally." Motoki's voice echoed out sarcasticly if slightly muffled by the machine he was currently hiding behind.

"So, have you gotten to first base yet. Or has she already turned you down flat, Casanova?" Mamoru stated. Watching smugly as Motoki tripped nervously over the power cord and nearly fell on his face as he tried to extract himself from the game.

"We were just talking!" He defended, his voice cracking with raw nerves.

"Talking..." Mamoru shrugged. "Well, that doesn't lead anywhere does it?" He finished with a sly smile.

"Look, here buddy!" Motoki strode forward to poke him in the chest.

When a disgruntled moan echoed out to both of them from the crane game nearby. The voice sounded near tears with frustration. They both turned in unison to find the walking disaster herself, fighting with positioning the claw just right. Her face was red and her little tongue was sticking out to the side of her mouth, she was concentrating so hard. When she felt confident she could claim her prize she smash her palm down on the glowing button beside the joystick. The claw descended, then clicked shut, ascending totally empty.

"Grrrr..." She growled, slamming her palm into the glass in a barely restrained fit.

"Yeah...kind and gentle my ass." Mamoru stated out of the corner of his mouth.

Motoki huffed. "Be nice, Chiba!" He warned, striding away to tend to a group of kids now headed for the front counter for more tokens.

He sauntered over to the machine with a superior air, watching her cautiously as she had her eyes averted. Digging franticly into the pockets of her school skirt for more yen.

"You are wasting your money." He sighed, leaning against the side of the glass. Arms crossed pompously as he smirked down at her.

"I almost had it!" She shouted indignantly then raised her head up to confront the jerk who felt they needed to comment on how she spent her money. Finding Mamoru's smiling smugly down at her instead. Her cheeks flushed a bright crimson and a tight moan escaped her lips.

That sounded faintly like. "Eeeep!" Before backing away a couple steps gripping her messengers satchel in front of her like a shield.

"Ok...Please..don't run off this time." He raised his hands in a staying motion, turning his back to her to search the prizes inside the glass case for the stuffed animal she was trying to claim. Wanting to soften the tension she felt in his pressence. He hoped like hell she would just relax and stay still. He popped in a couple yen and focused on positioning the claw.

"I am pretty good at the crane games, wasted a lot of money in my younger years to master it." He explained, he pressed the button down lightly with the tips of his finger's. "So, I wouldn't bother playing these thieving machines." He added, watching proudly as the claw fell just right, clamping around a large pink stuffed lucky cat, with a tiny gold bell just under it's chin. It had the goofiest feline grin and closed eyes. So cute and fluffy, it was sickening.

"Aha!" he exclaimed, hoping this stuffed animal would be a good icebreaker to get them talking. So he could explain himself and work up to apologizing.

He pulled the animal out of the deposit basket with a huge grin of pride, finding foolishly he had been talking to himself for the last couple minutes. A few junior high girls were staring at him oddly, glancing down at the very girly stuffed cat and back up him. As he sighed heavily and let the stuffed animal drop to his side.

"Crap." He muttered.

**48 hours till landfall...**

Mamoru didn't even try to find her that morning. He went about his regular routines, trying desperately just to forget all about her. Pacing back and forth before his window, comfortable in his black sleep pants. Sipping absently at his morning coffee and trying to appreciate the sky warming into another fine spring day. But that damned stuffed cat he had won for her, sat like a smug little buddha on his coffee table. Smiling annoyingly at him, with its one paw in the air reminding him how much of an ass he had been to her. How he had scared her so bad she couldn't even be in his pressence.

Scrubbing a hand down his face in overwhelming frustration. He then punted the stuffed animal off the table and into his kitchen with a bare foot.

"How do I make this right?" He sighed, turning to lean against his window falling into somber contemplations. Now the guilt over his actions had magnified into a self loathing, no one deserved to feel so scared of someone else in their own home. He was completely miserable...

**40 hours till landfall...**

It was mid-week now and still he hadn't managed to say even a handful of words to her. She ran from him like he was mother fucking Godzilla! The humility and crushing guilt he felt, from her unfounded terror towards him, was worse then any kind of physical pain. By this point he would have welcomed a broken leg or even a stab wound over the this constant assault on his psyche. It was all just so unbearable.

He was wandering down the narrow dirt paths of the local park near Elysian apartments. A huge expanse of woods, with an urban creek that cut the old neighbourhoods off from the more modern parts of Azabu-Juuban. It was a peaceful, serene place he used to take long walks and think. The natural beauty calming him and allowing him to breath like no other place in the city could.

With his hands shoved deep into his jeans, hunched over in a white t-shirt feeling horrible about himself. Kicking stones, brooding and just being utterly miserable.

The soft sound of crying whispering from the simple wooden bridge just ahead, took a few strides to catch his attention. Curious he slowly approached, already starting to talk himself out of consoling the stranger. He was not good Samaritan and needed to mind his own business, no good deed went unpunished in his mind.

Finding with a smirk it was the Odango, and thankfully this time she did have her hair up in that eccentric traditional style. So he could taunt her with out sounding silly. She was leaning over the railing of the footbridge, staring morbidly at the creek trickling underneath. Dressed in her fuku with a piece of paper crumpled in a small trembling hand.

He listened to her sniffling and sad mutterings from the grassy bank for a bit, before approaching her yet again.

"Urgh...I can't believe I failed again." She moaned. "It was a re-test too..." She sniffed, a few stray tears rolling out of the corner of her eyes. She had been wallowing in her continued academic failures until she was in tears. She felt it was unfair, but mostly she felt stupid, but she never spent any time studying so honestly she had this poor grade coming.

"Wow, admirable. Dumpling-head" Mamoru leaned over her shoulder, noticing the failed mark in flaming red pen.

She squeaked and jerked upright, suddenly as rigid as a board. She hated that name!

"I thought I heard someone complaining over here. " He reached over her shoulder and snatched the paper out of her hand. "Well, this horrible grade confirms my theory. You are hopeless."

"I am not!" She retorted, finally fed up with his pompous attitude. Who was he to judge her!

"I just wasn't prepared is all." she defended, her face flaring at his incredulous look.

"Precisely." Mamoru stated with a smug and perhaps slightly self righteous smile.

"I will get another chance to improve my grades! You just wait!" She shouted up at him, her heart was now beating in her chest ready to burst. She couldn't believe she was standing up to him. Where in the world did this boldness come from.

"That's the spirit!" Mamoru smiled even more widely, "With that kind of vigour I am sure you will succeed." Taking a step closer to her, backing her up against the bridges railing so she couldn't flee.

She breath caught, as his warmth suddenly invaded her personal space, along with his soft clean scent, mixed with the spice of coffee and something sweet? Left to stare in awe at his chest, uncertain if she should reach up and grip the cotton now fluttering in her face. Remaining frozen in the alluring spell his close proximity was creating. Her face was on fire and she barely breathed, her finger's curling tightly at her sides as he never moved away.

"Please don't be scared of me." He whispered gently, folding her test nicely and tucking it into the pocket of her skirt. His finger's creeping briefly into the fabric, so close to touching her intimately. Her body was suddenly going into overdrive, tingling and trembling with pent up energy. He had her gasping with insecurities, as that delightful flutter returning to her belly. Uncertain how far he would take that caress, yet anticipating it as well. Before swiftly retreated his fingers away and placing his hands on her slender shoulder's. His voice sounded so hurt, so full of inner pain she felt like hugging him. Wanting desperately to make him feel better.

She slowly raised her face to greet his, wondering why he remained only a breath away. His face seemed only inches from her's now, any movement forward by either of them and they would be kissing. She suddenly couldn't breath, a great stillness had overcome her, both in body and soul. All she could do was stare up into those dark, fathomless blue eyes that looked just like the sea under the moonlight. Tranquil and comforting, they held her under their spell and she allowed it willingly.

He lightly brushed his finger's behind her ear, staring down at her startled face with new found appreciation. She truly was a sweet, cute, little sprite of a girl. With such shimmering golden blonde hair, warm and beautiful like the summer sun. Wide crystal blue eyes so innocent and pure he was both marvelled and enthralled by them. His heart skipped as he touch the silky threads of the loose hair at her neck. There was something about her? All the inner turmoil she created within him, was now shifting, turning into something warm and tranquil. A quiet affection for her blooming, he couldn't quite understand this sudden shift in his feelings. It was alarming, yet natural?

"Next time we meet, please hear me out." He reigned in his feelings, lest they overwhelm him. Taking that step back and cooling the heat that was penetrating through them both.

Usagi swallowed, staring at her feet shyly and nodded mutely. She had no words, the heat of him had made her breathless.

"Later." He called, turning on his heel and striding away across the bridge and disappearing up the path.

She never took a solid breath until he was out of view.

"Yeah...next time." She sighed, pressing her hands to her heated cheeks, before ghosting her fingertips behind her ear tentatively. Reliving the intensity his near caress had invoked within her. The anticipation of that first kiss still humming through her skin.

Before shaking her head fiercely, refusing let the affection she felt last. Reminding herself of his rage, his taunting words and childish nickname. Re-centring her silent animosity towards him once again.

"Jerk." She smirked, giggling a little as well before bending down and picking up her satchel and slinging it over her shoulder. Walking away with her head held high, proud of herself for standing up to him.

**36 hours before landfall...**

He felt better, lighter this morning. Sipping his coffee at his low table in his customary sleep pants. This time they were a dark blue plaid. Finding the long wispy tails of cirrus clouds now replacing the fluffy clouds of the previous days. They hung low in the sky like bands of white, marring the warming blue. They were a sign of high winds, blowing and stretched the moisture across the sky. Suddenly he felt his stomach twist with anxiety. Dropping his cup to the table he flew to his large closet, digging into his clear tupperware container's to pull out an old black plastic radio.

Plugging it in he set it on his tambata floor and adjusted the reception to the J-Wave FM. It was the most popular radio station in Metro Tokyo, broadcasting from the SkyTree. Playing modern pop and national top ten hits. But they would also be sending out weather warnings if there were any expected for the Greater Metropolis area.

He listened for the rest of the early morning, taking a deep breath when the radio announcer remained silent about any severe weather system's moving in. It was just the typical hyped up love-pop songs, catchy techno beats and angst filled rap of the daily top ten hits. Filtered with the watered down banter of the morning hosts. Nothing strange reported but the average congestion on the Shiba expressway, the alternate routes to take due to spring road repairs and local petty crimes. The hosts finished their reports with the juicy Idol gossip currently happening around the city. It was all so typical all his worries faded away. Mamoru clicked off his radio, dressing in a pair of grey slacks and a black mock neck since he had a half shift at the pub after school. Content to continue his day with out worry.

Until a shoe landed on his head, while minding his own business after school along his way to work.

"Owww." He moaned, snatching the dolly shoe of his head with irritation.

Turning on his heel to find a short, wisp of a girl staring up at him in fear a few feet away. Dressed in her school fuku, standing prone on one leg with her other stocking foot balance in the air. Looking like a stunned flamingo unable to take flight.

"Seriously, Odango-Atama! What is with you and causing me pain?" He ranted, storming over to her and thrusting her shoe at her.

She swallowed hard for a moment, the close proximity of his body overwhelming her. She could smell his clean scent, it surrounded her and made instantly light headed. While a part of her just wanted to faint against his chest and absorb as much of his scent as possible. A greater part of her was shouting to find her backbone and not allow him to enthrall her again. Then her stunned appearance disappeared, her boldness returning along with her own anger.

"Stop calling me Odango-Atama! I have a name!" She shouted up at him, stomping her bare foot hard. Winching in pain when she remembered to late that she wasn't wearing a shoe. With a huff she quickly snatched the shoe out of his hand and it back on. As Mamoru took a step back, arching a dark brow with a that pompous smirk. She wished desperately to slap off his face.

"Ooosagi, Tsukiiiiino..." she mouthed, sounding out each syllable as if he was simple minded.

He merely laughed at her antics, shaking his head.

"I like Odango, better." He ruffled her hair with a hand, as she blushed and glowered up at him.

"Why did you kick your shoe at me. I thought we were on better terms now?" He sighed, scratching the back of his neck. His body was feeling strangely heated being so close to her, his heart was beating oddly as well. This banter they engaged in was enjoyable, he never knew what to expect when he rilled her up.

"I didn't, I was making a very important decision." She defended, turning bodily towards the ice cream shop she was standing in front of.

Mamoru turned his head to the side with a chuckle. Taking in the ice cream parlour with a certain amount of good humour. It was a tiny, bright and cheerful place, with a pastel mint green striped awning and a small order counter that faced the sidewalk. Beside the ordering window sat a long menu, with over one hundred flavours painted crudely upon it's glossy surface.

"It's was life or death, huh?" he offered, with a smile and a wink.

Her blush intensified as she smiled brilliantly up at him and nodded.

"What were you stuck on?" he sighed, deciding to go along with her childish indecision.

"Well..." She tapped her chin thoughtfully, staring at the menu with such a seriousness. Mamoru had a hard time not breaking out into laughter again.

"I had narrowed it down to Choco'fudge brownie or Strawberry Dream." She grimaced.

"Personally I am a chocolate fan." Mamoru read over the menu of choices himself. The weather was balmy today, almost humid, ice cream was actually a great idea.

"Chocolates ok, I guess. But it makes you thirsty and I don't have enough yen on me to buy a drink too." She pouted.

"But which one would you like." he laughed softly.

"That's why I was tossing my shoe in the air, I couldn't decide. So I was flipping my shoe to make the decision for me." She sighed.

"Ok, so what did your shoe decide on." he smirked.

"Chiba, Mamoru flavour." She smiled up at him meaningfully.

"Well, I am rather tasty. I must admit." he added with out shame, watching smugly as she blushed profusely, ducking her head shyly at his flirting.

His dark blue eyes were sparkling, with the sexiest lopsided grin she had ever seen. Her heart leaped in her chest at the beautiful sight of him, looking so unguarded, so naturally cheerful. A major part of her wanted to swoon against his chest in that moment, but she quickly squashed it down. The backbone she resurrected moment ago, softening. Suddenly growing shy again, reduced to giggling softly at her joke and staring at her fidgeting hands.

"Stay..." He commanded playfully, pointing at her then directing her with a flourish to go stand aside near a potted tree on the sidewalk. She shrugged and did as she was told, watching curiously as he walked up to the counter. Heading back to her a couple minutes later with a double cone of both chocolate and strawberry ice cream. The cone was a wide square shape that had two side by side mounds of soft ice cream, that were molded like narrow triangles up to a fine peek. It was as aesthetically pleasing to look at as it was to devour.

As he offered her the cone, her face lit up with delight.

"Serious?" She asked, reaching for the treat hesitantly.

"My treat," He grinned happily. "Com'on I'll walk you back home."

As she nodded and laughed at him, beginning to enjoy her ice cream.

As he then produced a drink he had hidden behind his back.

"In case you get thirsty. Odango-Atama." He stated taking a long drink and smiling happily around the straw.

He would be a little late for work today, but he wanted to spend more time with her. They were finally starting a decent relationship. He was feeling so much better, and he wondered if she was too?

He never noticed the disgruntled look that crossed her face when he used his less then flattering nickname for her. Or her mumbled complaint as she ate her ice cream. "Stop calling me Odango...I have a name."

**24 hours till landfall...**

The humid warmth and clear skies of the previous days had abandoned the city. Mamoru awoke to his tonal alarm to the faint gloom of a heavily overcast sky, just beyond his window. The thick slate grey cloud's churned over the city, threatening rain. Mamoru groaned in dread at the thought of a sudden spring squall falling over Tokyo today. Sluggishly rising from his mattress, casting his navy cotton blankets aside. The taunt skin of his bare chest already pricking with goose flesh at the cooler temperatures invading his apartment from the poor insulation in the walls. Adjusting the band of his loose white sleep pants by running his thumbs along the crest of his groin to his hips. The wide cuffs fluttering around his ankles as he made his way across main living area. They looked closer to a pair of uniform bottoms, one might wear at a Karate Dojo then for bed. With a resigned sigh, he braced a powerful arm against the cold glass pane, resting his forehead against his arm.

It was going to be a cold, wet...and now he noticed with alarm how the cherry blossom in the corner of the yard was leaning. The fragile spindle thin branches bowing to the wind and nearly touching the ground.

Rolling his eyes in dismay he concluded that it was also extremely windy too. A stray thought of remaining indoors, drinking hot chocolate and reading a good book sounded delightful. As great as that sounded in his head, it was irresponsible. If he wanted to get into college next year he had to buckle down and get to class. He wasn't going to fail the entrance exams again!

With a growl he turned from the window and began to prepare for the nasty day ahead.

**15 hours till landfall...**

Usagi was moving quickly along the sidewalk, towards the more narrow streets of Azabu, that framed the sprawling neighbourhoods near Elysian. It was closing in on supper time, she had been extremely late this morning for school and had gotten another detention. She had been so rushed she had forgotten a coat and her umbrella. Holding her arms around herself tightly, as the cold wind buffeted her small body. Making her shiver and goose flesh to spread down her bare arms and legs. The heavy clouds of this morning had thickened and fallen low over her head. The storm was closing in rapidly, the rumbling of coming thunder growling ominously in the distance. The storm had been threatening all day, now the coming impact of heavy rain seemed only moments away.

Usagi moaned and picked up her pace not wanting to get stuck out in the rain, getting soaked and frozen to the bone would just be a perfect end to a spectacularly horrible week.

"Please...just wait for me to get home." she pleaded to the angry sky, nearly jogging now as a loud clap of thunder exploded over her head. Making her scream in fright and break off into a panic filled run.

She made it about a block, dashing down a narrow abandoned street when the sky finally opened up. Hoping to take a short cut through the sprawling green space that bordered the apartment block Elysian was nestled on. She dashed off the sidewalk and down a narrow dirt path, disappearing through the rain and into the forest within.

The freezing rain pelted her, falling so rapidly in the fierce wind it was nearly horizontal. Slamming into her like an icy blow, taking her breath and replacing it with a bone aching pain. The thunder roared all around her as she screamed and ran blindly.

The rain was coming down so hard she couldn't see in front of her, it was like running through a frozen pond just floating in the air.

"No...please..stop..." she whined, wanting to clamp her hands over her ears every time the thunder boomed. But unable to unwrap her arms from around her belly. She was freezing now, her skin tight and tingling as frost bite began to set in. Blinking rapidly to clear the heavy moisture from the rain and her tears, so she could attempt to see where she was going. But it was useless, the dirt path she had taken to had wound through a grove of trees away from the urban lights of the sidewalk.

Now she was left in a twilight limbo of barren trees and drooping underbrush, unable to see more then a few paces ahead as the walls of rain fell all around her. She could no longer see her way back, neither could she see where to go forward. So she took a deep breath to try and calm herself, the icy crystals in the air burning her throat.

"What do I do now..." She moaned, at a loss she hung her head and trudged off the path and under the reasonable shelter of a large oak. She needed few minutes to think, but branches were a pathetic shield the rain just penetrated like thousands of mini knifes. The thunder kept exploding over the sky knocking all reasonable thoughts out of her head. So she was left crawling in the dark, trembling as the storm howled overhead.

She was terrorfied of rain storms, always had been. The loud thunder and sharp illumination of lightening frayed her nerves and reduced her to a mewling infant state. The unfounded fear seemed almost primal in nature. As if in some forgotten life time she had been killed or severely hurt in a storm. That the trauma of it reverberated through her coming lifetimes as an intense fear.

She moving in agony over the soggy grass to huddle against the bark, holding her knees up tight to her chest. All out bawling now, as she stared wide eyed up at the storm swirling over the park in rising fear.

Left alone and scared, sitting on the wet ground, rocking back and forth to keep warm. A futile effort as her body was slowly going numb. Unable to think straight as the thunder and lightening wasn't giving her any time to calm down. Screaming when ever the clouds crashed, her heart leaping into her throat each time, threatening to choke her. The flash of the sky lighting up taking her breath and sending her body humming in absolute terror.

If this was hell...she was there. Sitting in the rain under this useless bit of shelter, soggy and cold and in absolute misery.

In time she was reduced to pathetic little moans, her face pressed up tight into her knees, pleading weakly for the storm to stop. Her voice had left her, throat raw and swollen from her screaming. She was now chilled to the bone, her body shivering and shuttering against the tree.

Her thoughts had dulled as she grew colder, once fuelled by panic and fear, turning into self loathing. At getting herself into this dangerous situation. At never planning ahead or preparing. She couldn't continue to live this way, just flying by the seat of her pants. She was one her own now and she had to start being more self sufficient! Then turning morbidly retrospective as she grew tired, her eyes becoming weighted, barely able to stay conscious. She now felt she going to die here in the elements, destined to miss out on some very important things. Like graduating high school, or falling in love...

The roar of the rain a constant back drop that never ceased, as she wondered if she was going to survive. The dim light of evening had completely faded away, a blanket of darkness cloaking the park she was lost in. The only time she could see the path ahead of her was when the lightening illuminated the sky briefly. It was like she had left the world behind and was caged inside a cold, wet void.

Mamoru had skipped his shift at the pub after school, worried about the Odango not getting home safe.

So he had stood guard at his living room window, arms crossed, fretting like a mother hen as the storm closed in. Dressed in weathered jeans and a black mock neck, brushing his finger's through his hair until it was a tousled mess. Watching every other occupant to the building returning home under umbrella's, except for Mina. Who of course was drenched and waterlogged, cursing and ranting at the top of her lungs as she stomped up the stairwells.

"Were is she?" he growled, it was way past six and the rain was coming down hard. He kept glancing down at his pocket watch. Pulling at the neck of his black mock neck, as it seemed to be to tight and clinging all wrong. His gut was twisting and a cold sweat of anxious worry was beading all over his body. Plagued by horrible vison's of her out in that storm, lost, alone...scared. He couldn't bear it any longer and finally lost it.

"Dammit!" he ranted, darting for his closet and digging out his long gun metal flashlight. Before rushing for his entry way. Throwing on his green jacket and grabbing his black umbrella from it's hook behind. Running out of the door as fast as he feet would take him.

**12 hours before landfall...**

"ODANGO!" Her most hated nickname was echoing on the night wind. Her mind and body so weary she felt that maybe it wasn't real. That she was perhaps dead and trapped now in some state of purgatory to endure the torments of that nickname.

The wind had now swelled to a gale force, the branches above her head were bowed and hovering like dry claws just above her head. It howled through the park, tossing anything not properly tied down into the air. Garbage cans and other small debris bounced along the path, causing a crescendo of noise that could rival the thunder itself.

"ODNAGO-ATAMA !" She raised her head from her knees as her recognized the deep smokey voice shouting out to her. It was all so surreal, she was having a hard time focusing her eyes. Everything was blur and her teeth were chattered so hard her brain felt rattled.

Opening her mouth, trying to force air through her swollen, raw throat. It came out like a weak, strangled cry at first. Hoarse and unyielding, she had to squeeze her eyes shut at the intense pain. Swallowing several times attempting to cleanse away the burning. Her throat was sore, her chest aching from the cold. But she couldn't give up, if that really was Mamoru looking for her. She needed to find the strength to call out. Loud enough to be heard over the roar of the wind.

"TSUKINO-SAN! PLEASE, WERE ARE YOU!" He bellowed into the wind, his voice sounding strained. As if he had been calling out for hours.

Had she been out in the rain for that long?

Willing all the inner strength she had left, she released a long, painful scream into the night. The last of her voice pushed through that final call for help. Desperate to be heard, to be found. She wailed into the darkness as long as she could muster. Falling reluctantly silent, as a new wave of grateful sobs over took her. The sound of pounding feet soon followed by a low husky voice filled with worry. Vaguely she felt strong arms picking her up, the warmth of a human body pressed up against her. Seeping slowly into her frozen skin, soothing her aches and comforting her as she was cradled gently against a well muscled chest. Images of the amazing dark haired man she had meet a week ago swam in her memory. So handsome and strong he had made her brain melt and knees go weak.

"Hang on, Odango...just hang on." His voice floated to her, as she sighed a contented smile spreading over her face as she molded herself into his arms. Finally feeling safe and secure, the nightmare coming to a blissful end as her knight rescued her from the storm.

Then she was bouncing along in his embrace, as he jogged full speed back down the path towards the street. Grumbling curses and epitaphs under his breath as he had to leave his umbrella in the woods.

Fighting the wind, the pelting ice crystals and the shrapnel of debris he headed for home. Becoming as drenched as the blonde in a matter of minutes. Glancing down apprehensively, as she lay limply in his arms. Her face pressed up against his chest, a hand loosely curled into the lapel of his coat. Her breath was shallow, her body shivering intensely as if suffering from the onset of hypothermia. Water dripped from his wet bangs unto her soaked fuku shirt, his blue eyes wild with fear. He had never moved so fast in his life, he needed to get her home and warmed up quickly.

But that might not even help, she might end up in the hospital anyway with pneumonia.

"Dammit, Odango you are so careless..." he whispered, grimacing as he finally cleared the gate. Pushing himself further, his chest on fire and breathing rapidly as he closed in on the warm windows and white brick of Elysian Manor.

Usagi blacked out with a breathless moan, as the rush of heat from the apartment shocked her frozen body. Mamoru never slowed, mounting the steps two or three at a time. Lunging down the second story hall and into his unlocked apartment. Depositing the soaking wet mess of high school girl on his tambata mats, before dancing uncertainly in place. She lay sprawled unconscious in a very vulnerable, very proactive pose, with her bare legs spread wide, hands curled up near her ears. Her shirt so damp he could see right through it, getting a very good view of the lace bra she wore underneath. Her skirt had ridden up on one hip and he nearly got a good peek at her panties.

"Oh...K. Problem..." he stated nervously, lunging into his bathroom set beside the entryway. Problem solving as best he could, to keep her dignity and his sudden desire for her under wraps. He grabbed every towel he owned before exited in the bathroom. It might be overkill, but at this point he didn't care.

He didn't want to get his floor to wet. So he kicked his wet sneaker's against his front door, they rebounded off the wood with a double bang. Plodding bitterly across the mat with wet socks, making puddles along the way to Usagi's side.

He draped every dry towel he had over her, creating a very fluffy mountain of cotton. Concealing every inch of her, even wrapping her head up in a towel. When he was done only her face was left bare, successfully mummifying her in towels. Satisfied with his handy work, he sat beside her and pulled off his socks, tossing them away with a disgusted curl to his lips. They smacked against the wall like sponges, before he crawled over to the radiator and cranked it up high. His apartment would be a sauna within the hour. He didn't want her to catch a chill. Glancing up from the metal pipes as the storm continued to rage outside. He needed information, this was more then a squall.

This was a torrential rain storm that might mean something severe might be brewing out at sea.

His radio was still sitting against his far wall, so he crawled over and turned it on. The static that greeted him, had his heart sinking. He quickly began to scan other frequencies, finding the reception choppy if not a complete loss. Giving up on the radio, he concentrated on getting dressed in something dry. Retreating into his bathroom with a pair of red plaid sleep pants a few minutes later.

When he emerged, his damsel was slowly waking up. Moaning and fighting against the weight of the towels, attempting to roll onto her side.

He padded over to her and crouched in front of her face. As the mountain of towels was slowly cast aside, leaving only the make shift head wrap to loosen and droop sloppily over her left eye.

"You are completely hopeless." he stated, matter of factly.

She glared up at him for a moment before sitting up, casting the last towel aside but not denying it.

"You need to get out of those clothes, here." He offered her a black t-shirt of his.

She froze, starting at the piece of clothing as if it was going to bite her.

"Gomen, but I will not wear your shirt." She finally responded her voice as soft as a whisper.

"Don't be silly, your absolutely soaked." He laughed, pushing the shirt stubbornly at her once more.

She shied away from him, finding a bit more courage this time. "Gomen ni sai, but I will just go home and change." Her voice was weak, croaking uncertainly. As she raised an arm to ward off the offering more forcefully.

"Gomen, Odango, but you are not going anywhere till I am certain you are not hurt or have a fever." He thrust the shirt at her again.

"It's safer for you stay in my sights." His command was stern, yet filled with a protective kindness that she was momentarily stunned by it.

"Uhm...fine, but I will not wear your clothes!" Her voice was resolute if a bit hoarse, as she quickly stood on wobbily legs. Her once strong defiance now weakening as she listed like a sinking ship into the wall. The room was spinning and her head felt like a balloon filled with way to much helium, floating in space as if detached from her neck. Moaning and cradling her temple with a palm she felt ready to collapse.

"Ok...Odango...that's fine, lets get you upstairs then." He sprang to her aid, pulling her into his side and steadying her with a guiding arm. Conceding to her stubborn need to be in the comfort of her own home. He understood it, would feel the same way if the circumstances were reversed.

She meekly nodded, as he pulled her into his side. Her hand reached up and palmed his bare chest, the feel of his smooth hot skin instantly accelerating her heart rate. She took a calming breath, her cheeks instantly flushing. Keeping her head down to avoid showing him how deeply he affected her. She allowed him to escort her upstairs. She was merely trying to brace herself, but the intimate contact had his own heart thundering in his chest. He couldn't understand why this girl meant so much to him, so quickly. In only a few very stressful confrontations, mixed with an even smaller amount of endearing conversations. She had begun to occupy his mind almost all the time. This timid yet fierce creature was so intriguing to him. He had never met anyone like her. She was an enigma, a contradiction of character he had yet to figure out. A sweet, childish, stubborn anomaly he felt he needed to keep safe.

He took her keys from her trembling hands and worked the lock. Keeping her against him the whole time, as he manoeuvred them through the door. Stopping only briefly to survey the clutter she lived in. The floor was strew with clothes, a trail of socks, jeans, shirts and no doubt underwear leading to a nearby empty laundry hamper, stashed in her main room's open closet. Clearing his throat, the thought of her underwear creating odd tingles deep down inside of him. Quickly refocusing on his task, he walked briskly through the clothing field of undergarment landmines. Depositing her on her bed, before heading to her kitchen.

"I am going to make you some tea. Find something dry, ok." He stated, keeping his eyes focused firmly on rummaging through her cupboards. Which he found rather barren. She had a few cups of instant ramen, several boxes of cookies and sugary cereal. Curious now, he moved to the fridge, pulling the door open he was greeted by a quart of chocolate milk and nothing more. Blinking in utter astonishment, as the contents of her kitchen looked like the groceries a ten year old would buy. He swiftly found the kettle and started boiling water on the stove. Finding her counter and sink filled with dirty, rotting dishes. But this time he took the filth in stride, merely scratching the back his neck with a soft laughter.

Hopeless...

"All better." She sighed, her sweet contented voice filtering through his turbulent thoughts. It was strange being in her room. Identical to his, yet decorated with the frilly feminine touch that was a bit unsettling. He found her place overly pink...with her bed all decked out with the god awful colour and her heavy curtains to match. Even the poster's pinned to the walls had a pinkish undertone to the idol backgrounds. He wasn't a colourful person by nature, sticking to mostly a monochrome palate of blacks, greys, and whites. His dark green jacket was the most colour his wardrobe had seen in years. He didn't count his sleep pants, they were a deviation based solely on the fact he was cheap. The red and blue plaid pants he owned had been on sale, dirt cheap at the end of last winter and it wasn't yet warm enough in the night to pack them away. He had yet to realize she was the yin to his yang in more ways then just interior decorating.

He turned from the stove to find her once again dressed in that old white t-shirt that was several times to big with a pair of black boy shorts pulled up underneath. Thankfully he could tell by how supported her breasts were she had left a bra on. She had taken her hair out of is buns and tails, bushed out all the tangles till it fell down her back like a shimmering cape of gold. She blushed and shrugged, heading meekly over to her bed to sit down. She had no other furniture beside the cot to sit on. Mamoru sighed and walked resolutely up to her. Kneeling down before her and pressing his hand against her forehead with out even a warning or permission. Checking her temperature, worried a fever was going to develop.

She gasped, as his touch sent very intense feelings vibrating over her body. Making her shiver again, her heart skipping and stomach flipping with a sense of anticipation towards more. Then as thunder crashed over the sky she leaped with a scream into his arms.

"Whoah...there." he fell backward onto his butt, laughing nervously as he suddenly had his arms full of terrorfied blonde once again.

She shyly ducked her head, not detaching from him at all. Leaving her arms wrapped around his neck and her face pressed up firmly against his chest. As she had unintentionally molded herself into the nook beneath his chin. Trembling and moaning as the great bang of sound slowly receded with low angry rumblings.

"It' ok...Odango...I've got you." he soothed, rubbing her back up and down in small circles.

His body had been stiff at first not knowing what to do with her latching on so close, but quickly softened and wrapped her up in his arms as if it was the most natural thing.

He held her till the tension in her muscles eased and her wails turned to soft moans. But as the sky remained at war beyond her window she did not move from his lap. It was the whistle of her kettle that forced them to separate.

"Ok...I will be coming right back. " He eased her off his lap and onto her tambata floor before her bed. Giving her a kind, understanding smile as he slowly rose to his feet.

"Some tea will help calm you down." He advised from the alcove, laughing as he noticed she had followed him like a puppy to the doorway and was now standing inches away. Her face flushed, timidly playing with her finger's unwilling to be on the opposite side of the room.

"Storms really scare me." She murmured softly.

"I've noticed." He smirked, his eyes dancing with mirth.

She grunted and pursed her lips not liking his smug tone. He was making fun of her, it was mild compared to the other comments he had made over the last couple weeks. His arrogance seemed firmly entrenched in every word he uttered. It drove her nuts how he could be so sweet yet pompous at the same time.

"Well this should help." He offered her a white tea cup with a pink bunny face painted on the front, filled with green tea.

She took the offered cup with a slight bow, returning to her spot upon her mattress. He returned to sitting on the floor beside the bed, with a dainty white tea cup of his own. Sipping at it with only a little embarrassment. Watching her carefully as the lightening flashed and the thunder rolled, anticipating her launching herself at him and getting scalded by his tea. Finding with some relief she was managing her fear a bit better now, merely trembling every time the sky lit up and jerking and squeezing her eyes shut at the clash of thunder.

"So explain to me, why I found you hiding under a tree in this god awful weather?" He shook his head with a pained grimace.

"I wanted to beat the storm home, so I was taking my shortcut. " She stated out strong, but her voice faltered slightly as she admitted her mistake. "But I got lost in the dark."

"I see." Was all he could come up with. She had no common sense, it wasn't surprising but it was alarming. Because if he hadn't been watching out for her she could have died tonight. They remained staring impassively at each other as an awkwardness set in.

"How did you find me?" She questioned a minute later, hiding her face in her tea cup.

Mamoru cleared his throat, not willing to admit he had been waiting for her to get home. And when he she didn't show, he had ran out into the storm to find her like crazed lunatic. Having wandered all over Azabu, from Juuban high back along the routes all around the neighbourhoods that surrounded Elysian. Spending a good three hours in the storm refusing to give up until she was found.

"I was headed home after my shift, when I caught sight of someone with my flashlight." He lied smoothly. When in reality the park had been a desperate search, he truly didn't think anyone would be foolish enough to wandering into those dark enclosed woods after dark. But the Odango of course proved him wrong. Thank god for that!

"Oh...well good. " She nodded. "Arigato, Chiba, Mamoru." She offered quietly.

"Hey, now. Show a little respect." He frowned, not appreciating her lack of honorifics.

She moaned and blushed, ducking her head in modification.

Mamoru noticed he had made her uncomfortable and chuckled.

"You are truly a Dumpling-Head, no one in there right mind would wander into a park during a rain storm." He stated, standing up and taking her empty cup away. Heading towards the kitchen to refill their tea.

"I wanted to get home fast!That park is my shortcut!" She shouted, finally finding some reserves of irritation with him to defend herself.

"Why do you have a short cut?" he huffed.

"Because since a certain, selfish, bully who will remain nameless." She threw back, raising her nose in the air in a petulant manner. "Will not let me wake up in my own way! I end up sleeping in and I am always late for the bus!"

"Oh..." Mamoru finished pouring the cups, his very poor behaviour recently finally thrown back in his face. He had yet to say he was sorry.

"Well going in the park tonight was still dumb." He responded, walking briskly back to her side and offering her another cup.

She huffed and took the cup from him. Blowing air up threw tight lips to flutter her bangs indignantly.

He set his cup down on the floor, reminded that he had wanted to take her temperature and had not gotten a good reading last time. So he swiftly and with out permission again, knelt and pressed his palm against her forehead. She bit down her lower lip this time to maintain some composure. His hand felt so nice, so warm and comforting. A small moan and sigh escaped her lips, against her better judgment and he retreated his hand away.

She knew she was blushing like mad, her face no doubt a deep scarlet. So she hid her cheeks behind her cup, taking a long slow sip of her tea.

"As I suspected you have a fever." He sighed, ushering her off her bed and pulling down her sheets.

"Wah...what. Are you!" She exclaimed, as he set her tea at the back of her bookcase head board and guided her to lay down. Before she could protest any further, he had tucked in tight with her blankets and was back proudly sipping his tea on her floor in seconds.

Now she again she felt trapped, her arms successfully pinned to her sides as he had tucked the sheets firmly under the mattress. Wriggling and glaring up him, as he smiled warmly if obliviously back.

"Stay still, go to sleep." He tried to soothe her. "I will not go to sleep with a strange man in my room." She stated, fighting against the sheets.

He looked aghast. "I am not a stranger...we have had some very delightful conversations over the past few days. I think." he advised with a smug, self satisfied grin.

"Hah!" Usagi laughed mockingly, struggling with new vigour. Ignoring the fact that the strenuous activity of fighting the sheets was making her very light headed. "Conversations in which you make snide comments and I endure them."

"As I recall, you stood up for yourself quite admirably on the bridge." He nodded, taking a sip.

"I want to stand up now!" She wailed indignantly, arching her back trying to loosen the cotton bonds restraining her.

"Now stop struggling and just rest, or you are going to make your fever worse." He advised , suddenly having an epiphany.

"I'll go get you a cold rag, that should help." He snapped his finger's at the sudden thought, and disappeared into the bathroom. Rolling his eyes in frustration as she continued to squeal and growl on her bed.

When he came back out with his cold washcloth...that was pink of course.

She was bucking and writhing like a wild animal under the tight blankets. Her golden hair flying in a frantic arch back and forth behind her.

"Seriously! Odango-Atama you are so stubborn." He couldn't help but chuckle at the impudent rage he saw all over her face.

"You are treating my like a little kid!" She wailed. Helpless, frustrated tears beading in the corner of her eyes as she pleaded with him.

Then he got it, finally understood how overbearing his was being. She had really scared him tonight and his backlash to nearly loosing someone else in his been to smother her with his need to care for her, keep her safe. She was a young woman and needed to be treated as such. Even if she was rash, a klutz, with no common sense or forethought towards her actions. Childish, loud, a bit lazy and lived in an absolute mess. She was still an adult, perhaps an adult to soon, but still she was on her own now like the rest of them and needed to be treated with respect.

"Gomen..." He breathed, setting the rag down on the floor and quickly loosening the blankets.

She struggled out with a grateful sigh, curling up on her side, on top of the comforter.

"Lets compromise, I will lay here nicely and you can take care of my fever." She smiled up at him warmly, flopping on her back to offer him her forehead willingly.

"Deal, Odango." he smirked, retrieving his rag not noticing again, her building irritation at his refusal to use her real name.

They talked about the simple things, getting to know one another slowly. Discussing music, movies and what they liked to read. Mamoru was all for broadening his knowledge within the eloquent words of old books. While Usagi like the simple entertainment of a good manga. Mamoru enjoyed jazz, big band and the blues. While Usagi liked anything modern, love songs mostly. About the only thing they agreed on was a love of sweets, chocolate mostly. In time she lost her battle with the exhaustion flooding through her body and fell asleep, with Mamoru sitting comfortably at the side of her bed. He never left, enjoying the silence of the early morning. Absolutely content to watch her sleep, admiring how cute and sweet she looked. How she carried no pretence, laying blissfully in her sleep with a trail of drool falling from her beautiful lips. She was honest about who she was and showed everyone who knew the true her. She had strength of character, a confidence he long since lost.

His mind falling in curious circles over why she wore the same t-shirt every night. As if it was some kind of security blanket. Was it from a lover? Or just a reminder from her previous life? He didn't think it was from an old love, she didn't seem that experienced. If anything she seemed more virginal then anything else, kinda shy when it came to the more physical aspects of a relationship. As if love had yet to find her.

With a tired sigh of his own, he rubbed his puffy, bloodshot eyes. It had been a long and stressful night. The rising sun was refusing to penetrate through the heavy cloud bank, making him feel even more exhausted. He gently pulled the rag off her head to check on her temperature. Finding it cool if a bit clammy from the moisture. Then he began to brush his fingertips down her bangs, ghosting his hand down her cheek. A fond smile pulling at his lips, as much as she infuriated him, she amused him too. He didn't want to her leave, his life would be so boring with out her.

Six hours past as she slept, the storm never let up if anything it got even worse. The wind was so fierce it rattled the windows as if it was attempting to flatten the building. The down pour had become unreal, a wall of intense rain that he could not even see through. The front gate was lost in the rain wall and the yard was flooding. It was more then a bit scary, worried now that the rising water would wash away Elysian. He couldn't handle loosing his only home. So taking a shaky breath, he busied himself with cleaning up her dishes in the kitchen. Needing something to keep his mind occupied.

**1 hour before landfall...**

When Mamoru finished tidying up the kitchen he couldn't stop, he was now on a mission to get this place cleaned up. With out even thinking he began to pick up every piece of clothing littering the floor, tossing each garment blindly into the hamper. His mind so preoccupied with worry he never noticed he had been tossing panties and bra's along with socks. Once the floor was clear he grabbed the rag from the kitchen and began to dust the top of her dresser. Needing anything to keep himself calm.

It was at that time, small moans issued from the bed, alerting him that Usagi was finally waking up. He finished organizing her dresser top as she drunkenly sat up. "Morning, Odango." He offered cheerfully, retreating back into the kitchen to fold and drape the rag over the faucet to dry. When he returned he found her staring in an awe struck fashion, her eyes darting and lingering over her clean and tidy room.

He stood proudly in the doorframe of her kitchen, waiting for that bit of gratitude he expected.

"What did you do..." She breathed in horror, scrambling out of bed and throwing the closet door open. Surveying the mass of clutter and over filled boxes bowing the shelves inside with relief. Then noticing her barren floor and her hamper filled with all her dirty clothes. Her face flushed with fresh humiliation. He had touched her clothes...her undergarments...

"Urgh..." She moaned, completely modified by what he had done. Taking one deep breath after another she kept her face bowed away from him. Turning to find the storm still raging, looking perhaps worse then before. Her gut twisting with anxieties and rage, her eyes falling on her now organized dresser. All her hair brushes now lined up, her cd's reorganized in alphabetical order. Pins and hair ties gathered and placed in a tiny jar. Not a spec of dust lay on her bed's backboard, her collection of manga all standing straight and in numerical order. It was immaculate, almost sparkling with how well he had cleaned her room. She felt so violated...

"How could you..." she choked out, hands balled into tight fists at her sides. "How dare you!" She spun on him her rising anger at him finally spilling over into a seething fit. That had him wide eyed and suddenly very uncertain.

"Nani?" Mamoru raised his hands in protest, completely stunned by her reaction.

"I trusted you? " She ground out, "Allowed you in my room...my private room." She was beyond angry now, well into the state of pure fury.

"All I did was clean it up a little?" he was bewildered, his face twisted in confusion. Trying to grasp why she as so enraged.

"I never asked you too." She was near tears now, could feel the moisture forming at the corners of her eyes. She refused to allow him to make her cry again. Refused to give into the grief and betrayal she felt at his unwelcomed intrusion. Her eyes turned to stone, all of those frantic mornings, all those sleepless nights worrying about being late. The detentions, the laughter and cruel observations of her classmates as she showed up to school haggard and disheveled. She poured all that pent up anger, frustration, and blame into that one look. Wanting to punch him with the fierceness of her very eyes.

"I couldn't stand the mess...it was disgusting. Like I walked into the bedroom of a pre-teen who hadn't learn anything about proper hygiene yet? " he crossed his arms defending his actions. Now irritated with her lack her gratitude.

She narrowed her eyes.

"It's not really surprising really, your kinda a lazy Odango-atama. Now I understand why you failed that re-test. At first I just thought you were stupid, but lazy means you might have hope." He commented smugly, striding for the door. Feeling he needed to keep his dignity in tack with the harsh backhanded complement and retreat for the door before she exploded.

He could see her face turning bright red and it wasn't because she was blushing.

"Oh, no you don't Jako-gao!" She bellowed, dashing ahead of him and blocking his way into the entry way.

"Jerk-face is it?" He smirked, crossing his arms over his bare chest.

She stood staring up at him, a tiny wall with her arms raised and pressed against the side of the entry way. Waves of rage and annoyance with each other pinging like laser beams from the glare in their eyes.

Mamoru started to laugh trying to hide the fact that she was truly unsettling him. His masculinity in question now, as this short, once meek girl had turned into a fierce tiger ready to rip his throat out or tear his balls off. Which ever she could get her claws into first.

He smirked down at her refusing to let her see how unnerved he was. That was the final straw and she snapped, going full on nuclear on his ass.

"You can be such a mean person, Chiba, Mamoru!" She pressed her finger into his chest between his pecs. Her fingernail leaving a crescent shaped gouge in his flesh.

"Owww..." he moaned, rubbing his chest nervously and backing up.

"Who the hell do you think you are...the King of Elysian!" She shouted, jabbing him again. Digging that nail even deeper.

He was about to respond with a negative, but she just plunged ahead.

"You have some nerve just shouting in my face like that. Making fun of me when you don't even know me." She whispered in a low growl. "That is far more childish." She added pointedly

"You should be thanking me, I spent hours cleaning up this garbage bin you call an apartment," He hissed back, but still took a couple tentative steps backwards.

"Thanking you...are you kidding me?" She hissed.

Mamoru merely nodded, finding himself backed into a corner in front of her open closet.

This entire conversation was starting to sound like the bickering of two third grader's. The roar of the storm accenting the fury and wild emotions now passing between them.

"Well..." she braced her hands on her hips, laughing somewhat menacingly.

"Thank you, Jerk-face!"she cried. "For making me even more scared then I already was my first week on my own!"

Mamoru swallowed, the cold rage in her eyes making his heart race. Taking a step back as she stomped forward.

"Thank you for making me late every morning and looking foolish at my new school!" She raged.

"Thank you for taunting me, making fun of me, and giving me a horrible nickname...

That I hate!" She roared, rounding on her dresser and wiping a heavy wooden hair brush at him. He attempted to shield his chest, but the butt of the brush impacted against his bicep like a rock.

"Thank you for being a selfish, insensitive, self righteous son of a bitch! " She snarled, glaring around her room her fury beyond comprehension.

"Thank you for snooping threw my room while I slept!" she yelled, grabbing another metal handled brush and sending it like a bullet towards him.

"I didn't snoop..." He defended, as the brush bounced off his forehead.

"Did you get a good look at my panties...give'm a sniff you, Pervert!" She wailed, angry tears now flowing down her cheeks.

That was when Mamoru blushed, finally catching on as to how he had pissed her off so, betrayed her trust.

"NO!" He cried just as humiliated, sounding stunned and a bit disgusted at the very idea.

"Right...why should I expect any other response..." She laughed bitterly, her fantasies of the devilishly handsome Mamoru falling madly in love with her. Coming to grips by his apparent disgust that her body had no sex appeal to him at all. Not worthy of any erotic thoughts or even a bit of panty inspection.

Truthfully after his freak out her idealistic concept of him had wilted, his cruel behaviour only confirming to her that she didn't want to get to know him. But recently he had been acting nicer, albeit still with an undertone of being a pompous ass. But by coming to her rescue last night, she had been willing to give him a second chance at true friendship and perhaps try to encourage more. But his fierce denial, confirmed it, he didn't want her and that hurt the most of all.

Now something horrible was burning inside her heart. She was beyond furious, growling and crying at the same time. Feeling so utterly rejected as a woman, she began to throw anything and everything she could find.

"Tsukino!" he yelled in fright, as sneaker's, perfume and potpourri bottles rebounded off his head and shoulder's. He tripped over his own feet, landing in the closet with a thud.

Then with a low groan the straining shelves gave way. With a tremendous crash the contents fell upon his head, entombing him under a mountain of books, clothes, pots and pans and school supplies.

"Chiba-san!" She cried out in alarm her anguish suddenly quelled by the shock that she might have actually killed him.

Not even a sound issued from the massive pile of debris. All was silent and calm once again.

**Landfall...**

"Oh...Kami!" She breathed, her finger's pressed against her lips to stop the scream that wished to escape. Then she was moving, able to ignore her fear of the storm with a greater fear taking it's place. Exploding down the stairs she rounding the landing to the second floor and bolted full speed down the hall to the only person she knew well enough to help.

"Motoki!" She screamed, pounding on his door. When she heard nothing she pounded again with everything she had.

"Motoki!" She wailed again, still slamming her palm against his door like a maniac.

A bleary eyed, blonde answered the door in a pair of sky blue boxer's and a white t-shirt.

"What the hell, Usagi-chan..." he mumbled, leaning an arm against the doorframe questioning what time it might be.

She grabbed his wrist and dragged him protesting down the hall and up to her room.

"Hold up...Usagi...com'on..." He stumbled behind the frantic girl as she lead him up the stairs and into her room.

His half asleep mind finally clearing when he saw two large bare feet sticking out of her closet under a mountain of household debris.

"Wow..." He breathed and blinked in astonishment.

"Things were said..." She blurted out, the guilt and hurt clear on her pale face.

"His apology went well then." he deadpanned.

"I threw things..." she added. "My closet attacked."

He nodded.

"I think I killed him...we have to hide the body." She whispered conspiratorially, as she heard Mamoru start to moan beneath the broken shelves and debris.

Motoki started laughing uproariously, Usagi looked so serious in her intentions to get away with murder.

"Oh...ok." He smiled warmly down at her, patting her shoulder comfortingly.

Then he started to dig Mamoru out of the closet. Offering him a hand up, as he rose on unsteady feet, blood trickling down from a cut just above his right temple.

"Oh...thank god!" Usagi wailed, a new wave of grateful tears replacing the anger. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hung on with everything she had.

Motoki sighed at the sweet sight they made. Mamoru grimaced and hugged her back, not faulting her one bit he got what was coming to him.

This child of the Moon was certainly going to make his life interesting.

Motoki glanced out her window as a shard of bright morning light pierced into the room. The storm seemed to have dispersed, fading into the blue sky as if it had never happened. All the tension and turbulent feelings fading with it. They were entering into the eye of the Hurricane now. But he knew this was a false calm, the other side of that storm wall was lurking just beyond the blue skies, soon the hurricane would return he hoped Mamoru could handle it better this time.