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Trapped!

by Eternal Angel

anna@wishing-blue.net

http://anna.wishing-blue.net/

Chapter 2: Heaven Help Me I Think I Lost My Mind

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Mamoru stood there, frozen in place, as he felt the blood drain away from his face. 'This must be a joke,' he said, as the blonde girl stood pressed up against him with a gleeful expression on her face. Staring at her blankly, Mamoru's overtaxed thought processes soon resumed work, causing him to what any other man would do in such a situation: Mamoru grabbed the light blonde up into the air, placed her down an arm's length away from himself. Then he took one large step backwards, closed the door, and let it screech out a happy "slam!"

He let a frustrated sigh.

This must be some horrible joke that he couldn't help but conclude. His mother was probably at home, knitting some gaudy sweater while giggling on the sofa as she imagined exactly what was going on right now. For someone who has been saying that they won't be alive forever and is getting closer and closer to death, she sure is having a lot of fun.

If only he had known that this was what his mother had planned for him he wouldn't have spent all that time and money on those frilly magazines and newspapers. Instead, he could have used the money for an airplane ticket that would take him away from his mother. Yes, who would have thought that that such a frail elderly woman could be the thorn of his existence upon this planet?

The doorbell rang once again.

"Mamoru?" The sickly sweet voice of that blonde who had… what color eyes again? He forgot, although he did remember she had cherry tasting lips and was actually quite a talented kisser —

'But she was sent by my mom,' he told himself. That thought made his body run cold in fear. Mamoru groaned and contemplated climbing down the fire escape. But for how long could he hide from his mother's evil wrath? She must be an actor though; his mother wouldn't have really signed him up to be married through the mail… or… would… she?

Okay, maybe if he explained to the girl the entire situation. He would tell her that his mom was insane and sometimes unaware of what she does. She would understand and leave him alone, preferably forever. Yes, the girl looked reasonable enough (…what color was her hair again?) and seemed really sweet (at least her lips were…). Yes, she seemed like the type of person that would understand a nicely put 'go away and never come back.' Mamoru swung open the door. "Yes?" He responded as he leaned against the door with a keen and cautious eye on her.

'Blue, her eyes are blue.' He stared into them, beautiful gentle orbs of sparkling mirth and amusement. Her lips were crooked in a devious smile as her hair cascaded down like golden waves. As for her body, with the light pink spaghetti strapped knee length dress that flowed around her, he was able to appreciate her, ehh, body parts. 'She's pretty cute.' And, if it was any other situation except the one that he was in at the moment, he would have truly considered asking her out to a date or something of the sort.

"Aren't you going to invite me in? I did come all this way for you, don't you know?" she asked him, her suitcases in hand. He broke his appreciative gaze of her and then stared blankly. She pouted at him, "Please? Mamoru?"

He debated with his mind, sighed in defeat, and let her in. 'I can't fall into a trap of looks, that's what happened to me before. I have to get her out of here. I can't let my mother win…'

"My mom probably set this up, but I want to tell you that this was not done with my consent and that I don't like these type of jokes. Therefore, I think you should leave soon, I'm really sorry about dragging you all this way, but," Mamoru explained to her. She smiled, put her suitcase next to the leather loveseat, and sat down, leaving plenty of room for him to sit aside of her. He took a seat at the one seater across from her. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Mamoru," she said, as she regained her composure, her eyes gazing deep into his own. "Don't be so crude. Your mother wouldn't have sent for me if she didn't know that you and I would be perfect for one another." With those words, she leaned forward, propping her elbows on the coffee table, staring at him with big eyes, and having locks of hair tumble about. Her voice became husky, "I know I can please you."

"Ahhh…" He said, a little breathless for a moment, as he took in this girl's sexual allure. She sure was very beautiful. Then again, he had already come to that conclusion. "No, I'm sorry, you have to go." He said, shaking his head as he stood up to make some coffee.

She sighed and brushed her hair back from her face. She rapped her fingertips at the leather armrest in amusement. This man sure was a stubborn one. He was not falling for her advances at all. But, boy, was he handsome, with his deep blue eyes and troubled expression; his was a face worth drooling over. It was almost a shame that she had to add to his perplexity, but she also loved how these events were turning. Signing up for this job had been one of the greatest things she had ever done.

A moment later he brought two cups of coffee to the coffee table, one for himself and another for her. "Here is some coffee for your troubles. I must tell you that I have to send you back to where you came from. You see, I don't want, nor do I need, a wife. All this is my mother's doing, she believes that if I don't marry now that I will never marry thus reducing her chances of having grandchildren."

It was obvious to her that he must have rehearsed that line in the kitchen when he prepared to coffee. She just ignored him, acted as refined as possible as she put sugar cubes into the coffee that he had brought in on a small plate. For a guy that was acting like he was an avowed bachelor, she noted, he sure was very domesticated. "Ahhh, I've heard this already. It was on your profile."

She took a sip of coffee.

"My… profile?" He looked at her, perplexed.

"Of course, your profile. The Aoi Agency does not blindly marry women and men off together, didn't you know? There are applications and a selection process. This is a top of a line Mail-order-bride agency that has a very prestigious reputation of matching up couples together. You are very lucky to have been processed in such a short period of time. Some must wait for years and many are even rejected from the selection process. There has not been one divorce that has ever occurred between a match from the agency." She told him, matter-of-factly.

"But I didn't sign up for this." He was exasperated. "Please understand that I never asked to get married. It's my mother."

"Yes, yours was a strange case. Usually they wouldn't let someone else submit a form for consideration, but you were an exception." She recalled, "I think they felt bad for your mother, I heard that she was a dear woman in the brink of utmost frustration over you."

Mamoru grated his teeth. Darn that scheming woman, always making him seem as if he was the monster here. "I'm sorry, but I must say that the marriage is off (even though I can't say it was ever on), so, after you finish your coffee, I must invite you to leave."

Usagi put down her cup. "Oh? What are you talking about? Marrying me?"

"Didn't you come here to marry me?"

The blond shook her head. "Not at all silly, why would I get married to you when we are already married? See? I have the paperwork to prove it also! I'm what you call nonrefundable or returnable."

He looked ill.

She grinned. "You see Mamoru? You're stuck with me."

Mamoru stood up, walked towards the window, climbed through it and onto the fire escape.

"HEY! What are you doing?" She quickly ran to the window.

Mamoru didn't answer, instead he ran down the flight of stairs like a madman.

Usagi craned her head out of the window, and watched him dash out like a mad man. Usagi sighed, as she returned back the love seat. Her eyes landing onto something laid on the coffee table, blending in with the dark wood. She let out a loud hoot, "I wonder how far he gets before he remembers that he forgot his wallet?"

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Of course it took his car not to start, the payphone to not accept his phone card that he had in his front shirt pocket, and an attempted mugging for Mamoru to realize that he really needed his wallet. Especially since the poor guy that attempted to mug him looked like he really needed the money. 'He too must have been oppressed by his mother when he was young.' He couldn't help but empathize while grudgingly turning back to his flat.

'Maybe she's not there anymore!' He tried to think, hopefully.

Eight ball says, try again.

While marching up those dozens of steps, he ended up lamenting as he got closer and closer to an unknown reality that stayed in his home. Maybe, there was some way he could bribe the woman into leaving him, he brained stormed. Yes, he would be okay with sending her money now and then as long as she left him alone with his life. It wasn't as if he was planning to get married always.

Maybe there was a way that he could convince her to cooperate by staying far away from him. To Mamoru, that sounded like the best damn idea he had ever thought up since the day in fourth grade that he decided to free the penguins from the zoo. He entered the unlocked flat to see the blond completely engrossed in his Teen Beat magazine that he had bought from the newsstand. He let out a sigh. "I'm back."

She looked up from the magazine then, bemused to see her so-called husband. "Did you know the actress that plays Lizzie McGuire is named Hilary Duff? She's coming out with a CD soon."

"Yeah, I read that too. Her video premiere for her song 'So Yesterday' was on the 29th. If you vote now she can be on TRL on MTV." She watched as the dark haired man closed the door behind him, took a seat across from her. She let out a grin. "You're back so soon," she teased, "your escape through the fire exit was a failure then, I take it?"

He let out a nonchalant shrug. "I decided that I should take this situation like a man and come and discuss the occurrence with you face to face."

She put down the magazine and held up his black leather wallet. "You forgot this didn't you? So how many blocks did you have to walk before you realized?"

"Three, but I kept on walking after I remembered it," he said, glaring at her.

"Friend wasn't home when you called?" She asked.

"No, payphone didn't accept my phone card."

"Did you see a hobo and want to give him some money?"

"No, he tried to mug me. He looked like he really needed the cash though."

The stared at one another for a moment.

"Are you going to try and bribe me now?"

"Yes, let me think up of a good starting line first." He had a perplex expression on his face that was heavy in contemplation. She rolled her eyes, "How about, Usagi, the situation that has been forced upon us is an unnatural one…"

"I'm impressed, you're pretty good." He said, as he took the wallet and put it in his pocket and looked at the fire escape again. 'If negotiations fail…'

"I nailed the window shut, so that escape attempt again is going to be a difficult one." She interrupted his thoughts. His eyes then moved onto the blonde figure in surprise. "You nailed it shut? What if there is a fire?"

"We'll die together like how they do in romances," she teased.

"You don't find this situation rather odd at all? Wouldn't you rather find yourself a husband and fall in love with him?" He asked. "I can't provide you with the type of relationship that you're probably looking for."

"I signed up for this, I know what to expect. But Mamoru, you have to realize what marriage means." Usagi told him, moving to the one seat and plopping herself into his lap as she strung her arms around his neck. "You have to look beyond the fact that it was your mother who wanted you to get married and see it is a good thing. When you're married your boss and friends understand your moody behavior and mindless mistakes because you can say your wife did this and that. Half of the housework gets done, shopping is helped, and the little things around the house gets completed."

Mamoru raised his eyebrow, at her. "Go on."

"Plus, your mom will forever leave you alone." She said, bringing her face next to his until he could feel her soft breath tickle the side of his face. "Being married isn't a horrible thing, Mamoru. Not unless you think it's because I wouldn't make a fitting bride…"

Her eyes were low, the strap of her dress was falling off to a side, and her lips were in a round pout. "Am I not good enough?"

He groaned. The girl was beautiful in a very childish yet elegant manner. There was nothing about her that wouldn't please a man. "That's not it… you're perfect."

Taking assessment of what she had said, he couldn't help but agree that maybe she was right, this was the best choice for him right now. It would appease his mother and hopefully make life a little easier for him. "Okay, Usagi, I agree. Let's be married."

She beamed, embracing him in a tight hug, cutting off all circulation or his ability to breathe. Heck, he was even seeing spots now… "GREAT! So when do you want to consummate the marriage now?" Usagi asked, only to find a dark haired man passed out due to lack of oxygen. Her eyes widen in panic as she shook the man. "Mamoru? Mamoru? What's wrong~~~"

Life for Chiba Mamoru was going to be very interesting from now on. Of course, good or bad, it was still undecided…



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I: I happen to like Hilary Duff's song "So Yesterday". I actually got into her music when I was researching her for this story. Prior to researching, I didn't even know that her name was Hilary Duff. I just called her Lizzie McGuire ^^;;.

II: I would like to thank Stef for encouraging me by letting me force feed this story to her and have laugh at the idiocy that is Mamoru (sorry folks, it's true, he's a dork). I would also like to thank Brow-troll for editing my story, without you… let's not attempt to think how blah this story would look.

III: WAI! I must say that I have been getting the most WONDERFUL reviews off of AI and FFn. Thank you all for reviewing my stories with your wonderful and positive feedback. I am so glad that there are many readers that took their time to read my story and comment on it. *hinthint* I would love some more feedback, if you could.

IV: Sorry for being slow, writing isn't one of those things I can do so fast and well anymore. I'm getting old. Not fun at all… but I will continue on trying!