Undressing Secrets
Hell, I don't know, 2000 perhaps? Maybe earlier? I should have started dates long before that. Computer version: Again, can't find first chapter typed up, or anything else I might have bothered with.
Computer version X-infinitate?
6 March 2010
SUM: With the ability to transform lost, Usagi must figure out another way to face the powers trying to destroy the planet, and keep her senshi from killing the man she loves.
Chapter 3
AN: So this has absolutely nothing to do with the story, but I was wondering, what would happen if Sailors were not the only people working in Tokyo at the same time? I mean come on there's more manga out there than I can even handle to think about and I was wondering, not a cross-over, but what if they're all happening at the same time? Or at least the ones that take place in the 21st century? I guess not all of them have superpowers and are fighting enemies that the world sees, and not all of them actually take place in Tokyo, but Japan as a whole, but I think it would be interesting to see a fic that mentions the happenings going on, at least in the newpaper, new broadcasts, radio, posters/games etc, during the SM world's chapters, just a mention in passing and what they're dealing with, etc. and maybe even run into some of those character on the street, but not actually talking to them more than an apology and continue on with their lives. I suppose part of this though is partly because I read a story where Edward from Twilight had to interact with someone famous/infamous and it ended up being 'bad' Edward… which I thought was an interesting twist, but also a slacker move, worked well for the story, so no complaints, but it would be interesting to see him run into someone who was alive when he was, and I guess that leant itself to my thoughts here… Moon universe running into other famous people of their lifetimes… hehe… real or imaginary. I won't do it, because I don't actually know the story line for any of the other manga/anime shows.
Nephrite went back to his mansion in rage, how did those stupid girls manage to defeat his youma? He wasn't a weakling like Jadeite, he'd planned his attacks perfectly, picked out an individual. They must have just been at the fair, the Moon girl must have been in the same room as the one he was draining the energy from.
"Hear you are no better than Jadeite. Lost a youma the first night out too..." A slightly feminine voice said as a greeting.
Nephrite whipped around and saw Zoicite with his feet propped up on Nephrite's dinner table. "Get out!" He growled.
"Aw, pitying a lost?"
"I didn't lose to those sailor brats, it was her boy toy that distracted me enough to let her use her tiara to destroy the youma. Since when did he get a bomb weapon?"
Zoicite shrugged. "New toy?"
Nephrite grumbled then he pushed Zoicite out of the chair. "You know, Jadeite was at least greeted by a female who respected him, all I get is a male who doesn't who what he is."
"I resent that, I know exactly what I am, a winner." Zoicite smirked. "Do you know what you are? A pansy that loses to girls."
"At least I'm not a girl."
Zoicite would have dwelled on that but he was there for a reason. "I wouldn't get too cocky, Beryl is losing faith in you. I'd cover your back if I were you."
"It was only my first time out there. Tell her I have a plan."
"As long as you think that, what will you do if the senshi show up again, though?" Zoicite taunted as he disappeared in a display of rose petals.
"Stupid woman-man." Nephrite went to the kitchen to find his disinfect and wipe down everything Zoicite touched.
Monday had been a bust for seeing each other; Usagi's mother had informed her as she was scrambling out the door, late as usual. "We're going shopping today; it's our weekly mother-daughter time!"
Usagi had agreed out of breath and as she ran down the street she contemplated that news. The shopping trip was for some 'quality bonding' it would work much better if her mama didn't punish her every day, every week that she had school for her tardiness, grades or whatever. Since the snow in with Mamoru, though, her grades had gotten better, and punishment was less, whether that was because of the grades or the situation of being separated from her children, for an entire month and not by her own choice.
When school let out that day, she tried to angle towards the arcade, just to say a quick hello and goodbye, but her mother was waiting for her outside the school grounds in the car. She'd have to call him later that day, because she didn't know how long this would last. She might as well bring him up to her attention while they were in a good mood and away from her father and Luna.
Her mother squealed like a little girl and hugged her daughter, excited to finally meet the boy who'd changed her mind from 'just friends' to 'dating' and then she found out who her daughter was seeing and her whole demeanor changed. She said she would reserve judgment until after meeting him, but Usagi knew that Ikuko thought the boy wouldn't be good enough for her, because of his behavior in the past. Though Usagi did complain about him less, actually praising some of his good traits over the last month, just not when she was with the girls or Luna. Her mother just didn't seem to recognize that and spent the rest of the day grilling her until they went home.
Usagi got a new wardrobe of clothes for free from her mother, with no questioning of her taste in the clothes, but she was beat both physically and emotionally from all the questions and shopping. Somehow it just didn't seem as fun as it had before she brought up Mamoru, but now her mother was at least satisfied with Usagi's explanation of how they met and went from enemies to dating. Usagi didn't explain how close they had gotten or where they had actually changed their minds about each other, even her mother would have a cow about that, even though nothing really happened then or since.
Although her father would have a fit and Mamoru would be dead again, if he ever caught the two of them with their tongues down each other's throats...
Usagi had to hide the smile which would have been followed by a giggle if she didn't stop it, that came at that thought, away from her mother as they sat at the kitchen table with the rest of the family eating dinner. Shingo saw it, but wisely didn't comment, didn't want his father to blow a gasket. But he did send her a look to watch it, and she smiled broadly at him before putting more food in her mouth and reaching for thirds.
She was kept busy all day until Ikuko sent her up to do homework and would periodically pop in to see how she was getting along and if she needed any help. Usagi's eyes narrowed after the fifth time, she had a feeling that her mom was trying to keep her from talking to Mamoru. She rolled her eyes at the mental thought; Ikuko-mama wouldn't do that, would she?
Usagi finished her work and told her mother that she was going to bed; she took her cellphone and saw that it was almost midnight. She sighed and texted him an apology and said she'd see him in the morning. He responded that it was all right and to have a good night. Luna came in through the window and Usagi deleted all the incriminating messages, in case she checked them while Usagi was asleep. She really didn't need Luna reading messages saying things like 'I love you, I miss...', etc.
Mamoru was listed in her phone as The Baka. He found it amusing and they shared in the humor whenever his texts would show up when they were together.
She fell asleep rather easily, hoping because she felt so exhausted, that the dreams would stay at bay, she didn't even have her normal crazy dreams anymore, it was nothing or the more intense horrifying ones.
She didn't have luck, as she woke with a start as the nightmares harassed her. Before it was just sensations, vague images, colors, impressions, now it was worse. It was sounds, smells, actual feelings; she could feel the heat on her skin, burning without actually touching her skin just the radiating heat.
She could see shapes now, not just blurs, but she couldn't see faces yet, and she feared that when she could, the dreams would only get worse, she would know who they were and understand what the situation meant. She didn't want it to get that far, ever, she was more content to let it horrify her in ways she couldn't establish, than dream over and over again people she knew and could put faces to. It would be too much for her.
It always ended though with her feeling a warm liquid in her hands, dripping down and through her fingers, and she always woke up there, not wanting to image or look down to see a color associated with it. Luna's red eyes blinked up at her tiredly, having noticed that Usagi had woken up before she started to nod off again, she was used to it, didn't like it, but knew that Usagi would just go back to sleep. At least that's what the cat had thought.
Usagi actually just laid there very still, breathing deeply, pretending to be sleeping but too afraid to go back to unconsciousness, because she didn't know if they'd return, and occasionally when she fell asleep again, they returned.
She used this time to think and reflect back on the day's events and the enemy and her own lackluster ability to transform. Sometimes her thoughts took her down the negative path, wanting her to admit to her senshi, just so she would no longer be putting them in danger. But then she'd pull herself out of it, because really, she was needed and she still had the ability to destroy the youma, she just was without personal protection, but had gotten that back in the form of a tall dark, masked man. Who stuck next to her whenever he could get away with it.
The only thing she could figure when it came to her transformation ability was that learning Kamen's true identity had cost her her ability to transform. However tonight as she thought about it, she began to wonder if her identity had trigged the change because now her protector knew who she was and could protect her where she no longer needed to protect herself. She wasn't supposed to protect herself any more, meaning, she wasn't supposed to transform and go to battle, and she wasn't supposed to fight. She did so anyways, she had to, her senshi depended on her, maybe without her they would shape up, or maybe without her, they'd die and she'd be left alone. That explanation seemed the more likely to her, as Mamoru could still transform into Kamen, but she wondered if he needed a prop like the rest of them, or if it just overtook him, and if it overtook him, then his suit was no different than what she was doing now, unless he had some type of magic protecting him that he controlled or didn't know about.
It was giving her a headache thinking of all the possible reasons why she was suddenly kicked out of the senshi world, at least armor wise, and didn't want to think about what would happen if anything else started failing on her, she was only thankful that she still had the ability to control her powers.
Powers that were so much more awesome and scary than she had originally came to believe, she hadn't fully tapped into them yet, and she wasn't sure where they would end. She had to be careful not to let them consume her, she sometimes felt a weird sensation come over her, wanting her to let go and fall into the power, and it didn't feel like the power source she'd found in her, it felt different. Hers was warm, comforting, this other one was intoxicating and addicting, and if she fell into it, it would take her over; she was sure about that, at least. She fought against it all the time, it was always beckoning her, once she'd released and located her own abilities. She didn't want to use the other one, didn't want to fall into it, she wanted to keep herself, be herself, the other one scared her to the core. She'd rather it not be there, tempting her, repelling her.
Tuesday was better, she was exhausted from the night, and she had just started to drift off to sleep, unwilling to be in either realm, but her body had other opinions on the matter. Luna had padded her shoulder, to try and wake her, but when the threat of claws came, Usagi jumped out of bed and tumbled onto the floor with a groan and then she shot to her feet and threw her school uniform on.
She skidded down the stairs, barely catching herself on the railing from falling flat on her face. Shingo was laughing at her as he finished up his breakfast and was rinsing his bowl out in the sink. Ikuko only shook her head with a smile on her face. "Usa-chan, honey, Motoki called to remind you that he needs your help tonight with the moving."
Usagi whirled on Ikuko, with eyes wide, she had forgotten completely about it. She internally groaned she didn't want to abandon Mamoru again for another day; she missed him whenever they were apart and she felt bad. He didn't have as much social activities as she did, but he had a lot more school and work in return. Any time he had off, she just wanted to rearrange her schedule and spend it with him. As far as she knew, he had tonight off completely. She sighed and nodded, waving her goodbye to the two, she had to keep up her friendships too though, and helping Motoki was important, and not helping him meant that she was horrible friend.
Usagi sprinted down the sidewalk towards the building, already knowing she was going to be late, as she was every day. Running into Mamoru had been a habit a year long, and even without his interference, she'd barely made it most of the time before that. However she made it to the building without any interaction with him, and greatly disappointed, she trudged into the classroom. "Ah, Tsukino, on time, I see." Haruka-sensei commented as she found a seat and folded her arms on her desk and rested her chin on them, looking forward to the front of the class room.
When she didn't get yelled at the entire morning, she followed Ami, Naru and Umino out to the courtyard and sank against the tree. "Must have a date." She commented idly, thinking about her teacher and her good fortune if that was the case, Usagi still couldn't recall any date she'd managed to have with Mamoru that hadn't gotten interrupted, if they'd managed to get out on one at all. The few that had happened, and had been interrupted, she'd had to disguise herself encase they'd run into any of their friends.
"Actually, I think she's attending this bridal competition later this week as a judge." Umino informed the group, pushing his coke-bottle glasses up the bridge of his nose. He held out a pamphlet to the group. Usagi snatched it and looked it over, hearts entering her eyes before she shared a look with Ami, they were both worried that any event would lead to a negative interaction, Usagi hoped it would, or at least allowed her to investigate, to be a bride... she sighed, it would never happen, and she'd be a virgin forever.
She handed it over to Naru who sighed in the same time of happy feeling that Usagi and she used to share in, before Usagi had to start seeing the world a little more seriously. Usagi grinned at her friend, hoping she didn't notice anything was wrong, she wanted to be that girl still, and sometimes she would be, and wouldn't catch herself and think about the possibilities. It was just nicer that way, but Ami was there to reinforce the logical side of her brain. "What's up Naru? You've been very... spacey today, and usually that's reserved for me."
"Oh..." She got lost in thought. "I almost got hit by a car today."
"That's not usually a good thing." Ami looked very confused and very concerned about the mental wellbeing of the redhead.
Usagi rolled her eyes at the genius, obviously missing a very important factor. "Was he hot?"
"Very much so, and he was so kind to me, he bandaged up my knee." Naru pushed Umino away before lifting up her skirt a little to reveal the white bandage just above her knee-cap. "He said he'd probably be seeing me around, he's new in the area and is on that street often."
"Ooh, kawaii! He liked you!" Usagi took Naru's hand. "Did he make any plans with you?"
"Not definite, but I am sure, maybe, eventually." Naru got lost in her thoughts again and Usagi pushed for a little more information. "He's only 17, I think." Naru replied. "Not too much older, doesn't go to a normal school, I think, he was dressed in normal clothes, unless he has a late start and hasn't changed yet."
"You think he's really that young?"
"Maybe 20 at the oldest." Naru admitted, she hadn't really gotten a chance to ask him that, herself, and four years wasn't really so bad... nor six or eight. "Whatever, it isn't like my head is up in the clouds for the last month like yours has been! What boy has been affecting you like this?" Naru snapped, unhappy to be questioned on her crush. At first, Usagi's eyebrows had shot up in alarm, afraid that Naru had seen something and had now spilled the beans to Ami and then she realized that Naru only suspected, and was angry for several different reasons.
Usagi had only one choice to diffuse the situation, she laughed. "Why wouldn't I be daydreaming about the month or so we had off of school? It's fond memories, being out of this daily grind. Seeing Motoki on a daily basis, doesn't hurt either."
Naru seemed to come back to herself and settled down a bit, looking apologetic. Usagi tried to reassure her nonverbally that it was all ok. Umino was looking a little green off to the side, as if he'd just been sucker-punched. Usagi felt a little bad for him, but didn't know who he was reacting to, and the romantic thoughts behind them. Ami, for her part only looked mildly confused before going back to her book, she really had no opinion on the affairs of the heart, nor did she want to know, it gave her hives. So she wisely remained out of the discussion, as long as her leader wasn't getting distracted by a male, she had nothing to worry about. Rei knew better, and it didn't seem as such a problem to her, Rei wouldn't get distracted by a guy like Usagi would, and if she were to date, Ami wouldn't say anything against it, where she might have a problem with Usagi being in relationship, it seemed... wrong...
Ami pushed it out of her mind, if Usagi was seeing anyone, the senshi and Luna would be the first to know.
No one commented on Usagi's less than enthusiastic mood all morning and it only mildly picked up after lunch and was met with a groan when she had to go to gym class. The teacher wouldn't leave her alone, she was always having to do more runs, more jumps, more everything than the rest of the class, the fact that she fell on her face doing most, if not all of the activities seemed to only heighten the teacher's love of torturing her with these punishments. She'd demanded to know why once, and she'd gotten a glib, practice makes perfect, in response. Not a satisfactory remark for someone who hated having to cover her nose bruise with makeup, when just walking sometimes was out of the question for her and her skills.
Today, they were doing hurdles.
"At least it's not pole vaulting or the long jump." Naru tried to reassure her friend, though they both knew that it was coming up, in a very few short months, when the weather started getting warmer again. Usagi hoped that by then, her senshi prowess would kick in and she wouldn't be as much of a klutz, but actually graceful and smooth like the other two.
"Thanks Naru, but I just think any time she's here, I'm just in for punishment."
"Tsukino, no talking! Do another round on the track!"
Usagi set in to do just that, and praised the fact that she did a lot of running, otherwise injury just from over-use might have occurred.
Later that day, Usagi was just exhausted, between the combined effort of senshi battle not too long ago, a few restless nights between nightmares and not sleeping and then gym already this week. She showed up to Motoki's new place, the moving van was already outside, apparently they'd at least gotten the stuff moved out of his place and it was just a matter of moving it in and unpacking. She stretched and let the yawn fly across her face before she knocked on the door, and tried to appear bright and awake, when all she really wanted to do was crawl into Mamoru's bed- the most comfortable thing in the world- and sleep, not even in his arms, that's how much she loved his bed, scratch that, she'd always choose his arms over a bed. Though that mattress did sound soft and comfortable and well-resting, even when not sleeping...
The door opened and a surprising face was there to greet her. "You!" She squawked, looking past his shoulder to see if Motoki was in hearing distance.
Mamoru chuckled and pulled her inside. "He's gone to get coffee." Mamoru explained as he shut the door and pulled her up against him. "I forgot to tell you he roped me into this from the minute I woke up this morning until I go home and crash."
"I was wondering why I didn't have someone to careen into this morning, I was a little saddened by the three day separation." She hugged him, laying her head against his chest and he held her against him, both happy to see one another again, even if it had only been three days. She titled her head up and he gave her a greeting kiss.
"What are you doing here, Usako?"
"My mother reminded me this morning as I was sprinting out the door that I had promised Motoki to help him out, it was even in the calendar in our kitchen and he called her. People know me too well. I guess he really wanted to make sure I came." She giggled, thinking while it was true... they also didn't know she was keeping a big secret from all of them, Motoki more than most.
Mamoru grinned. "Well I'm glad that you've gotten roped into this too."
"Me too." Usagi stood up on her tiptoes, but her nose was just level with his neck when she did so and she frowned, annoyed that she just never quite reached.
Mamoru chuckled. "I don't mind leaning down, I like your height Usako." He felt like he was her protector in every sense, it didn't matter that she wasn't model tall, it made him feel like she was more vulnerable, but it also made him feel more needed. When she could clearly take care of herself, and would only become more independent as she came into herself more and more. Just as he was bending over to kiss her, they heard keys jingling and sliding into the lock. They split apart and Usagi slammed her hands onto her hips and leaned towards him, her annoyance clearly irritating off of her, but the reason, was easy to misjudge. Motoki let himself in with a box in one arm and a coffee tray in the other.
"Ah, Usa-chan, you're here!" He greeted with a grin, happiness clear on his face that Usagi was an unexpected surprise. He set the box down on the table before he walked over to the two of them. He handed Mamoru a coffee and took in her appearance, when he was going to go to her and hug her. "What did you do to her?" Motoki turned his blue eyed glared onto Mamoru. "I told you, you have to get along with her today." He turned to Usagi. "What'd he say to you?"
Usagi hesitated, she didn't have it planned what she would say in return and she glared at Mamoru for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts and let the 'anger' speak for her, for a moment. "He told me I was a short pipsqueak that needed to lose weight if I was never going to grow." She winced internally at the comment and Mamoru raised an eyebrow.
"I've never told a girl she was fat, it's just not something you say to them, ever!" He argued back, completely ignoring Motoki's flabbergasted face.
"Anyways, the two of you, shake hands and agree on a temporary peace, or I'll kick the both of you out of the arcade for a week!"
The two grudgingly shook hands, though Usagi's eyes glittered up at Mamoru, it was a laughing glitter, and he responded in kind. The two had a secret they were hiding from Motoki, and they were entertained by it.
"I guess I can handle that." Mamoru admitted for Motoki's sake and he winked at her, without Motoki's notice.
"I hope it's not too much of a stretch for you to be nice to me. It's in my blood to be nice to everyone, except those who give me a hard time." Usagi's lips quivered because they wanted to tilt up into a smile, a mocking one might be fit here, but she didn't want to push it.
"Odango brains, you wound me with your lack of confidence."
Her nose crinkled at the name. "We could start with your name calling, baka."
"Name calling?" His voice rose. "What do you think you just did?"
"Retaliated in kind to an insult!" She responded.
"ENOUGH!" Motoki yelled, and Usagi looked over at him, he looked tired, and she let go the argument to skip over to him and wrap her arms around his waist. He was frowning as he looked down at the blond haired bundle that looked more like his sister than his real one and then sighed and wrapped his own arms around her in return. "Will you two please, stop fighting?"
"We'll try, we make no promises though." She whispered up to him, trying for his sake, to let him believe it to be true. If the girls knew that Motoki knew about her and Mamoru, she couldn't even guarantee his safety either. "So, what do you want help with?" Motoki explained that he'd prefer Usagi inside while Mamoru and he brought up packages to her to unload and place. She was to be the interior decorator it seemed. Mamoru was readily agreeing with the plan. "So, I get the girly job?" She teased.
Mamoru and Motoki made no excuse and they even shrugged. Usagi rolled her eyes, boys and their machismo. The three of them worked pretty well together, each of the guys heading down to get another box at a staggered interval, one staying to help her out if it was 'too heavy' for her, and Mamoru and Motoki had to both leave for awhile to carry up some of the larger objects.
It was during one of the trips down for Motoki, as Mamoru was passing him in the hallway, on his way up, which Usagi and Mamoru almost got into trouble. They were smiling, and secretly laughing the entire time together, sharing looks and grins, all without Motoki's awareness. Their hands brushed often as Mamoru would hand off the box to Usagi and turn to leave for more. This time, Mamoru took a moment's breather to hand Usagi the box. "Have you got things organized a certain way?" He wondered, glancing around, there were boxes stacked in different areas. He looked back to her and brushed a strand of golden hair out of the way as her hands were full.
Motoki came in through the doorway and Usagi dropped the box. "Ouch! Baka! Don't go dropping things on my feet! You can set it down on a table, it won't hurt it, what do you think I am? A hanging-maid?"
"What is that, Odango? Something you just made up, or something you only imagine to be real? I'm sure you've thought several people were the same thing, I know you thought I was a trashcan!"
Motoki grumbled, but they'd been pretty good the whole night, except for the occasional bickering, but overall, he couldn't fault them. So depositing another box in the room, he turned back around and went after another container.
With Motoki gone, they grinned at each other, and Mamoru stole a quick kiss before going to help Motoki some more. Usagi hid the huge yawn that broke across her features, the boys weren't tired, why should she be? She put the box Mamoru handed her with the rest of the kitchen supplies. Motoki came back in with another one and he set it down. Usagi turned to him. "I can't believe you have so much stuff from one place to the next, did you leave anything for your parents?"
Motoki chuckled. "Yeah, but really, this is almost the end of it, it just looks like more because it's not in the cabinets yet. All we'll have left is unpacking it all, and a lot of that, I can do myself."
Usagi nodded and let him disappear back down the hallway to the elevator. She yawned again and this time her eyes watered a little.
She rubbed at them just in time, Mamoru came back in and smiled at her as he set a box down, then he was out the door again. This continued for awhile, little moments like the hair pushing, the hand brushing or stolen kisses between trips and it was almost midnight when the boys started noticing her lacking energy. She was sitting down going through a box to unpack and by the time both boys had made two trips each, they shared a look, she hadn't gotten further than their first trip up. "Why don't you head home, Usa-chan? I've got a handle on this. It's all personal stuff for the most part and personal preference of where they go."
Usagi was about to protest but she saw Mamoru behind Motoki making a gesture with his head, telling her to get out of there, and she sighed sadly. "Sorry Toki-chan, that I wasn't more help."
"You were a great help, you've taken a lot of time off of my hands. I'll be done in a day or so." Motoki hugged her then shooed her out the door.
Usagi went down the stairs, taking her time and then went out onto the street.
Mamoru made excuses a few minutes after Usagi left, maybe he could catch up to her on her walk home or call her on route and get her to head over to his instead, if it was ok. Motoki said goodnight to him to. Motoki was tired himself. So Mamoru took the elevator down and headed down the street, pulling out his cellphone, Usagi was referenced under Odango in his phone, their silly names for each other carrying over into this relationship as well. He'd at least call her to slow down and wait up for him, he wanted to walk her home at least and see her to safety. As he passed an alley way, a figure jumped out at him and pulled him in. He was slammed against the wall and there were hands hanging off of his neck.
He looked down at the girl in front of him and he grinned, she'd waited for him. He hauled her up against him and kissed her deeply. She returned it as happily as one could be. "You should have gone home, a place is never as safe as it seems."
"And a little blond girl is never as safe as she seems either." Usagi teased him, her own actions confirming her words and he laughed, pulling her in for another kiss. He pulled away and looked down at her, she really was a lot stronger than her height and weight would lend someone to believe, and for that, he was relieved, if anyone did try to mess with her, she'd at least have some form of defense. "You're place or mine?" He asked eventually, seeing her start drooping again, it was a wonder she managed to stay awake while waiting for him.
"Yours." The sly glance she sent him, should have warned him, but he was too content to have her in his arms for another night that he missed it.
On their walk back to Mamoru's place, they talked about their mutual blond friend. "Think he's trying to set us up? It was only the two of us that he made come to help him."
"I wouldn't put it past him, he'll be disappointed when he finds out that he can't say he was behind us hooking up. Or he doesn't have any other friends."
Usagi shook her head. "I highly doubt that, but maybe we're the most gullible of them, or at the least most dependable."
Mamoru nodded. "At least that requirement is done. He'll be done unpacking by the end of the week at the latest and he won't need us. He'll have to find some other way of forcing us to be near one another and try to get along."
Usagi laughed and linked her arm through Mamoru's. "Oh when he finds out!" Mamoru imagined the same thing she did, or at least something similar and both of them shared in on the humor.
As Usagi slipped into the pajamas she had stashed at Mamoru's place and brushed her teeth and got ready for bed, she looked into the mirror and noticed slight dark circles underneath her eyes and she prayed for a good night's sleep without nightmares. First off, he didn't need to know about how bad they'd gotten and secondly, she just needed a good night of rest. Tomorrow was Wednesday and it was another gym filled day and who knew when the next youma attack would be? For all she knew, tonight would be the lucky roulette spin.
As they lay in bed, wrapped up in each other's arms, They both looked up at the ceiling as they talked but when he looked down at her, he changed the subject slightly. "What are you doing this weekend?"
"I have to go check out this wedding dress competition." She tried to make it sound as casual as possible, because most guys got uncomfortable whenever marriage and weddings were mentioned, unless they were going to attend on and try to score with bridesmaids or other single females and have a free bar. "There might be an attack." She explained and only when she moved away from the actual event, did she look at him, and he looked concerned.
"Should I come with you?"
"I think you'd be out of place, Mamo-chan, as far as I know, its female only." Usagi explained, to try and get him to understand it wasn't that she didn't want him around, and she shouldn't have worried about it, they both knew that sometimes there were things that the other couldn't attend with them.
Mamoru groaned and turned towards her, pulling her up to eye level and against him. "I hate that there's no events or occasions that we don't have to fear of an attack anymore. Even just going out on a date, it seems that there's always a fated attack whenever we do find time to do things with each other. Only our obligations seem somewhat free."
"Speaking of obligations." Usagi winced, as his words reminded her. "My mother wants to meet you sometime soon." They both had no reference on how these things were done, Mamoru didn't have anyone to introduce her to as his girlfriend, and those that he could if it came to that, already knew her and he couldn't tell, and she'd never had a boyfriend before. Everything they did, they were doing from movie references, vague friend commentary and just doing what felt right or supposed to from their own backgrounds.
Mamoru kissed her nose. "That sounds good. Your father joining too?"
Usagi cracked up. "Eh… no. Not if you want to walk away from that meeting's first second at all. My mother has to approve of you first, and then she can work on my father, about a possibility in the future, and then work on him about an actual event, before you get anywhere near him, and she'll be there to mediate if you ever get that far in his esteem. Then… it's got to be really formal. My father's very protective."
Mamoru looked down at Usagi with an analytical look. She looked back at him curious and confused. "I think he has good reason to be protective of you."
"Ha-ha." She pouted. "I'm not that much of a flake."
"I didn't mean it like that, but I'm sure there's a lot of guys who would love to take advantage of you, you're just too gorgeous to pass up."
Usagi looked at him with her own calculating look. "But you did."
"Never that. I just didn't want to break down and accept someone in my life. I didn't really have a choice though, you'd managed to snuggle into it the moment I met you, so it was really just a futile battle." Usagi rested her head against his chest, content with the answer. Mamoru's own head lay against the pillows. "So… a date out of the question this weekend?"
"Probably, but I'm free on Thursday."
"Don't you have a senshi meeting usually on those days, a recap or any new thoughts on the enemy that might have popped up since the latest battle or the last meeting?"
"It's cancelled. Rei's got something with her father and Ami's got a special cram school class. For a change, I'm the only one without complications to scheduling."
"Dinner then?"
"Sounds wonderful." She was getting quieter and Mamoru stopped bothering her, and wanted to let her sleep though he wasn't as tired.
Though both soon fell deeply asleep.
Mamoru was rudely woken up with a sharp jab into his ribs, it was probably from her elbow and he was going to shift her, getting kicked or an arm slapped into his face was not a new occurrence, any given night, if she shifted positions, he'd get a limb connecting with him. He didn't know if he snored, because she never commented on it, or anything that might bother her own sleep, so he didn't mention this. The worse was when her hair wrapped around his neck somehow while they both slept, or it got into his face and he started breathing gold instead of air. However just as his hands settled on her waist, she started thrashing and then a scream woke him completely.
His eyes popped open and he rolled over her, to restrain her, from hurting either one of them and held her still and tried to gently wake her up, so as not to scare her more.
Her eyes snapped open as well and he saw such fear in them that he didn't even need to touch the link to get his own clenching feeling in the pit of his stomach.
It wasn't her fault, she hadn't meant to do it, had done everything in her power to stop herself, to wake herself up before the dream's eyes succeeded in its intentions, she'd never failed in the process before, she always managed to avoid it, but this time, she had no control and her eyes slid down to the warm, slightly thick liquid seeping through her hands. The color against the creamy alabaster of her hands was in stark contrast and she'd never seen a more pulsing red color in her life. The color clearly that of blood, his blood.
EAN: Hehe… who's he you ask? Well… I doubt if our heroine even knows that herself. I guess we'll all just have to wait to find out… (Yes, I know it's obvious, but I haven't actually decided to go the obvious route… haha!)
EAN2: I hope I explained a little why she can no longer transform, I had stated so in UaF, however it wasn't clear on why she couldn't, and I still haven't given you everything about it, but it should be fairly obvious to you as an audience, she just hasn't discovered it as a character, and can't until events fall into place. There will be a few scenes in here that I just add because I don't know where some things were said in the anime and I needed a couple more scenes. Pete btw, as someone asked, is just a random character I added as a flyaway comment to show that she has more friends than just those who go to her school and the senshi. You'll never actually meet him, I don't think, as she'll never actually interact with him in story version, just some reason not to meet Mamoru that day and if it were real life, she would be interacting with him sociably we just wouldn't see it, just as Mamoru doesn't see it. ;)
EAN3: Can I just say, that I ran across the anime version in Japanese with English subtitles and it's a lot more violent than I remember it being.... I like it!
