Second version of this chapter, as I was a MORON AND DELETED THE FIRST VERSION! Sometimes my stupidity exceeds even my own expectations. So frankly, I had to stop writing for awhile otherwise I would rush through to try to retype shit that I ERASED! The first version was better OF COURSE… (I am so pissed- fucking computers…) Everything before the line "the wind picked up" is orginal. Everything else is shit (at least until M. wakes up from the dream --).
Have decided to slow story down because it needs development. I don't want things to proceed at an unrealistic pace, a LOT of stories do that and it just doesn't work for me so… yeah, I've got to revise my outlining -- the down side is that it will take longer for chapters to come out. The upside is- the story will be long and, hopefully, better. With more characterizations and plot. The manga does a great job with Characterizations and plot, the anime- not so much with the characterizations. (ex: I think I like manga-Mamo better than anime-Mamo because he's so much more developed and less inhibited…(though the anime Mamo is a SEXY BABE! Also Usa is better portrayed in the manga (IMHO) but I love her in the anime too- oh hell, I'm contradicting myself now…) So, regarding the relationship it's based off manga (though mamo is in college and Usa's a little older than she is in the anime- 16, 17 or so) 5 year age difference give or take.
Now I'm assuming that M. lives in Azabu, and so I named his apartment complex Azabu Apartments (original I kno --) and made up his room number and shit but IF THERE IS a real room number and apartment name etc…God by all means TELL ME so I can fix it. I looked for info but no one seems to care where M. lives : ) Oh. And the café does existence people! I looked that thing up, I found this AWESOME clicky map of Tokyo!
Also, I'm having trouble indenting paragraphs with (as in none of the P's are indented even though on word they are) WTF is up with that? Does anyone know how to fix it? And spacing is still crap- ah meh.
Lets all thank Cherry Koivula who is a wonderful BETA! kisses
Disclaimer: refer to chp. I
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Chapter 4: Introducing The Black Cat.
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The Antique Locket
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# 863 Azabu Apartments, Azabujuban, Minato Ward, Tokyo, Japan- Present Day ( D. II post D.)
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He stared at her, squinting to see through the gauzy curtains that fanned out in the night's wind. In the distance the earth glowed within the darkness of space. On the balcony of the remote moon, Mamoru could hear the echo of music. Great chairs lined the walls of the dark room in which he was standing. Mamoru tore his eyes away from the diaphanous vision of the woman and glanced around.
The room was majestic and bigger than Mamoru's whole apartment complex and also very imposing.
Beside the tall chairs that lined the walls there were massive marble columns, forming a procession on either side of the room. Intricate designs were carved into them and on the far side of the grand room, through the thick shadow that permeated the place, Mamoru could barely make out a large altar. Atop the altar sat a magnificent throne.
The throne itself was made of the same white marble as the columns and didn't look particularly comfortable. The whole throne room gave off a sense of gut wrenching emptiness and longing. The shadows seemed to be hungry, reaching out and clinging to the columns and chairs. Licking their way up to the immobile throne, the shadows settled themselves, as a monarch would, to control the ambience of their kingdom. Mamoru did not like the feeling of loss he received from the music that rang in his ears. Mamoru did not like the shadows. The wind drifted in from the open balcony and rustled his dark hair causing him to shiver; he was still in the t-shirt and shorts he had gone to bed in. His eyes darted around. How could it be possible that such a place was deserted? How could the princess be left so alone? How could she be the only one there?
The wind picked up, stirring his t-shirt and tickling his ears with a whisper-
"…Find it…" the wind implored, calling beseechingly from the balcony with a human-like voice. Mamoru tried to turn around, tried to look back through the haze at the woman who stood in the darkness, he tried so hard- but his feet would not move. The music continued to buzz in his ears.
"…Find it…" The voice curled around Mamoru's ear crying, biting at him and causing shivers to cascade further down his spine. And even as his knees gave out, causing him to sink down onto the cold marble floor, he continued his attempts to turn around. He could hear the drapes, which hung from the glass entrance to the balcony, flap ruthlessly behind him. His head would not turn, the wind held him back, and pushed him forward onto his hands. His eyes were locked on the empty throne opposite him. It was close, yet still so far away…
"…Find it…Please…" The wind's voice was so human in its melancholy Mamoru's heart ached, tears filmed in his eyes. "…Please." Another plea. "…You must wake up…"
Why? Mamoru stared at the blurry throne, trembling with cold. The shadows blurred everything…The throne was so far away…the wind said he must...wake up…wake…up…
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Mamoru snapped his eyes open and jerked upright in bed. Sweaty sheets clung to his legs and he glanced around the darkened room- his bed room. Here there were still shadows that clung to the walls and furniture of the apartment, but the sounds that could be heard were much different from the eerie silence and rushing wind sounds of his dreams.
The ticking of his bedside clock was familiar and the sound of cars passing by outside was reassuring. Mamoru knew he was no longer dreaming. Moonlight spilled across his lap as he untangled the sheets and pulled his shirt off, wrinkling his nose at the sweat that covered his body. Sitting for a moment, with elbows on knees and head in hands, he tried to catch his breath. He was panting as if he had been running a very long distance and for a very long time. Pulling his hands away suddenly and staring at them for a moment, he hesitantly reached up to touch his face. Where those tears? He had not cried since he was a child! Mamoru roughly wiped at his - now scowling - face, swiping at the tears that were drying on his flushed cheeks. Then, giving a groan of resignation, he let his head fall back into his shaky hands.
He stared blankly through his fingers and tried to recall the dream that was swiftly fleeing from his memory. He caught the breath that had been evading him and raked fingers roughly through ebony sleep tousled hair, wincing at the knots his fingers got caught on. He moved his stare to the wall in front of him, watching the lights from the passing cars move across the walls and ceiling.
'It's that dream again…' If he concentrated really hard, Mamoru could almost make out the profile of the princess, could almost hum the tune of the music that was somehow still ringing in his ears. He frowned darkly and fell back down on the bed, splaying out his arms and staring dismally at his white ceiling. By the shortening of the shadows in the room he knew that dawn was coming.
He also knew, from experience, he would get no more sleep that night.
And he didn't.
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Glape café roof, Daikanyama, Tokyo, Japan- Present Day (D. II post D.)
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"Just green tea please." The red-headed waitress nodded and delivered a quick bowat the woman's order before skittering away to have it filled out. The woman absently watched her go into the café and then looked out over the street sighing.
"Green tea? At a café such as this?" The woman across from her laughed quietly, taking a sip from her own very alcoholic drink.
Michiru frowned, still looking out over the street, watching the cars zoom along and the people brush past each other.
"I'm trying to understand," she replied absently, glancing at the sky for a moment and noting the day's fine weather. "I don't want to have a cluttered mind. You don't have that problem."
The other woman smiled again and put her drink down, nodding her head in agreement.
"True, I do not get muddled easily by alcohol." She leaned forward, pushing her drink further towards the center of the table as she splayed her hands out on the white linen tablecloth. "Tell me the reason for this hasty meeting Michiru. I was free tomorrow, but you insisted on today." The woman got a concerned look on her face as she gazed at the aqua haired woman whose eyes were locked on a small boy walking a golden retriever along the sidewalk below. The boy was being jostled by the business pedestrians that were pushing their way along the sidewalk ignorant or ignoring the barks of the dog and the boy's winces. "What is it?"
"The dreams are getting worse." Michiru gazed at the boy for another moment and then brought her eyes up to the other woman. "I had another one last night and I woke up soaking wet."
"So?" The woman wrinkled her brow inquisitively and rested her chin on her hands; paying full attention to Michiru.
Michiru's countenance became serene, free of any lingering frustration, and she leveled her gaze at the woman opposite her.
"I wasn't covered in sweat Setsuna; I was covered in ocean water."
"Ocean water?" The woman, Setsuna, sat up rigidly; her face no longer confused. Rather, it had a deeply intense look of concentration as if something very important had just clicked into place. "And you say this dream is getting worse?"
Michiru nodded, sighing and running her hands through her wavy aqua hair.
"I'm starting to get it nightly, sometimes even more than once a night." She frowned and then quickly smiled as the waitress walked up to drop off the green tea.
"Sorry it took so long, Ms." The waitress gave a bow in apology but Michiru waved it away.
"It's quite alright, thank you." The waitress bowed again and left the table. Michiru picked up her tea and took a dainty sip. As she was swallowing Setsuna gave a laugh.
"It's funny and rather ironic." Setsuna chuckled, "That Haruka hasn't noticed any of this." Then, at Michiru's subtle wince, she cocked a brow.
"Ara… Of course you know Haruka has," Michiru gave a sardonic smile and took another quick sip of her tea, changing the subject. "You know everything, which is why I have to talk to you about this."
Setsuna nodded, she had known this of course but-
"What about Haruka?" Setsuna pushed, reaching out to seize her drink, already knowing the response Michiru would give. Already knowing everything.
"I don't want to worry her. She's got so much on her mind already with her big race coming up in less then a month." Michiru watched Setsuna sigh with great interest. "You think I should tell her?" she asked hesitantly, though still composed.
Setsuna took a sip of her drink. "I think you should do what you think is right," she spoke into her glass with the knowledge of one who already knew the answer.
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Aoyama Book Center, Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan- Present Day (D. II post D.)
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"Look buddy," the pretty girl behind the cash register growled at her customer. "I told you last time, and the time before, and the time before that; I don't give my name out to strangers!"
"I hardly think." The handsome man gave a cocky grin and behind him Mamoru rolled his eyes. "Since we have been acquainted for weeks now, that I would be classified as a stranger."
The woman reddened and she puffed up her chest in indignation replying waspishly,
"Listen you Jerk! Don't you eve-"
Mamoru zoned out. He was currently in line at the Aoyama Book Center in Roppongi- as all the book stores in Azabu seemed to be out the Promises and Limits of Reductionism in the Biomedical Sciences, the book Mamoru had been itching to get for months. He'd called up the place - and probably got the same chick on the line who was now screaming at the guy in front of him - and as soon as he found out that they actually had the book he wanted. Well, Mamoru had hopped on his bike and broken just about every rule there was to get to the Aoyama Book Center- so that no one bought all the copies before he got his. 'After all,' He'd thought to himself as he stealthily sped up through a red light keeping an eye out for cops. 'You can't be too careful in situations such as this.'
And now he was this close, this close to getting the book that he had been salivating over in the store and he just had to be behind the one man whom the woman behind the counter hated more than anyone else in the Universe- her words not his. 'Life is not fair,' Mamoru though morosely, and with dwindling patience. 'I am so close! I can almost taste the doors that mark the exit to this place!'
Mamoru rolled his eyes again as the girl continued to rant, he had not slept after waking from the dream and he was tired. He wanted to go home and read this book! He snorted and watched as the blonde man in front of him tried, in vain, to charm the irate brunette. The man obviously did not know that his charms were not succeeding- either that or he was extremely stubborn and dumb- and Mamoru, quite frankly, was sick of waiting. He glanced at his watch and gave a wince; he'd been in this line for 7 minutes and there had only been one customer in front of him the whole time!
"Excuse me," he cut in rudely, for once not caring about propriety- he wanted his book dammit! And his headache was coming back. "I was just wondering, is anyone else working? I'd like to buy my book before the store closes." He pointed at his watch in a rather obnoxious way and smirked as the green eyed man glared at him. The woman behind the counter flushed with embarrassment.
"I'm sorry Sir." She gave a bow, her nose almost touching the counter. "I will be with you right away."
Mamoru nodded and gave a sheepish smile.
"Yes, of course, I apologize for my rudeness." He too gave a bow and when he stood straight again he looked on with interest as the pretty raven haired girl seemed to blush at him. She smiled back shyly and then jumped in surprise as the blonde man slammed his book down on the checkout counter. She tore her eyes off Mamoru, who had cocked an interested brow at the man's action, and picked up the blonde man's book, ringing it up with a spiteful glare at him.
"Here." She shoved the book into a bag, tore off the recite, shoved that it in the bag too as well, and shoved the whole bag into the guy's chest. Hard. The guy just laughed and opened his mouth to say something, only to find that the woman had already turned her attention to Mamoru.
"There now, how can I help you?" She gave him another one of those shy smiles of hers.
'Ah, the beast is caged now,' Mamoru could not help but think, quirking his lips. He walked forward, shrugging at the blonde man who shot him one last nasty glare and then stomped away. He turned back towards the cashier and watched her watch the blonde man tramp out of the store. 'Interesting,' He thought, 'Perhaps that guy's not embarrassing himself for a futile cause.'
The woman sighed. "I'm really sorry about that sir."
Mamoru shrugged again and handed her his book. She raised an eyebrow as she read the title and then began to ring it up.
"So," she asked gregariously, "you into Biomedical Engineering?"
Mamoru smiled politely. "I plan on becoming a doctor."
The girl smiled. "Oh really? I've an interest in the healing process myself. I'm working my way through Veterinary school." She reached for a bag and put Mamoru's book in it, and then tore off the recite, jotting something down on it with a pen. "In fact, that's why I'm working here." She handed the bag over with a smile that wasn't nearly as shy as the ones she'd been casting him earlier.
He gave a friendly smile back- he had his book!
"Well, I never would have thought that book stores attracted stalkers, but I guess some men will stop at nothing to try and get a pretty girl." Blushing at the compliment she gave a bow, he returned a quick one, and called out a goodbye.
Mamoru waved over his shoulder as he exited the store.
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Later, after speeding home, when Mamoru reached into the plastic bag his hand brought out the book and recite. Pulling the latter out, he went to throw it away when his eyes alighted on the words the girl had hastily scribbled with her pen.
Hino Rei
(03) 2556-2308
Call me sometime.
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Tsukino Residence, Azabujuban, Tokyo, Japan- Present Day (D. II post D.)
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The alarm clock clanged vociferously. An irritated groan rose up from the lump stirring under the covers; a sluggish hand reached out and slammed the infernal clock silent.
7:50 am
Tsukino Usagi lay in bed holding her eyelids open with her fingers; she was not a morning person. Finally, after fifteen minutes of dallying under her covers–trying to get back to sleep-she groaned in resignation and sat up, light blond hair tumbling around her.
"S'to early," she muttered groggily to herself as she halfheartedly kicked the covers down and threw her legs over the side of the bed. "I need th'beauty sleep." Usagi managed to stand up, swaying for a moment and before tripping over her hair in her first two attempted steps. Stumbling towards the bathroom she nearly brained herself when she stubbed her toe on the black feline that was situated in front of the bathroom door. Usagi caught herself on the door frame just in time and walked into the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. Then she paused abruptly.
Thirty seconds later the door flew open and Usagi gapped down at the creature that was, by now, sitting on her haunches and glaring at her.
"…How…?" Usagi asked in wonder, glancing around her room, her eyes caught sight of the half open window and she sighed. "Oh, I see." She looked back down at the cat who stared right back at her with a strange sort of intelligence in its eyes.
"You've got drool on your face," it remarked in a passive tone, pointing its paw towards Usagi's left cheek.
There was a moment of silence in which Usagi stood and blinked a couple of times. She reached slowly up to her cheek and wiped the drool away.
"…I'm dreaming…" She looked at the cat who, she just noticed, had a weird crescent shaped bald spot on its forehead.
"Hardly," the cat said in resignation, tilting its head. Usagi supposed it would have cocked an eyebrow if such a thing were possible. 'Not that a talking cat is possible…'
"AH! A TALKING CAT!" Usagi leapt back in horror and, in her haste to get away, tripped over her hair again. "OWWWWW, MY HEAD!"
The cat winced and rubbed her ears as the girl started to wail. After about ten seconds she could stand it no longer.
"Honestly, Usagi, get a grip. You only fell on your bottom."
The girl paused for a moment in response to her name, and glanced at the feline. Then her tears renewed themselves.
"I'M NOT CRYING ABOUT MY BUTT," she paused to take a breath and sniffled, "I'm obviously insane…A talking cat…" she whimpered.
"Yes, I am a talking cat, as you can see," the said cat stated briskly. "My name is Luna, and you, Tsukino Usagi, are the girl I have been… looking… for. For a long time." As Luna said this last part she looked almost reluctant, and if Usagi hadn't been in such a state of shock she might have very well been insulted. As it was, she was too busy gripping the door frame and trying to stand up without fainting, to even really comprehend the semi-insult that had been thrown her way.
"…Talking cat…" This phrase was repeated numerous times in the next ten minutes as Luna tried to persuade Usagi that she was, in fact, not dreaming. Finally, after some urging from cat's part, Usagi sat on her bed to listen to what she figured was going to be an interesting–unbelievable- story.
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End Chapter 4
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a/n: And I've got to stop, b/c it's 12 pages… So it has slowed down- sorry no Usa/Mamo action in this chapter (but maybe next chapter…)
I tried not to make M. to friendly with Rei, because he's not that sociable in this story (or in cannon) Notice how he just smiles politely and then friendly-like when he gets his book! (he's more happy about the book I think). Promises and Limits of Reductionism in the Biomedical Sciences is edited by Marc H.V. Van Regenmortel and David L. Hull- so I don't own that. Or the book store BTW (which is also real). I think I'm getting obsessive researching things- I want to go to Azabujuban now! Azabu juban, Azabu Juuban. (It's spelled so many different ways…). And yes, the area code for Tokyo is (03).
thank you all reviewers! You are truly inspiring since no one I know likes SM- or admits it (I think there are a few closet cases…honestly who doesn't like Mamo-chan!) But really, I write it for you guys- so review!
Thanks to all the reviewers! Lets see if we can get them up to 60 hmmm?
Kay
