The city
The sound of shouting vendors and creatures haggling over wares came through clearly and the cart had somehow materialized on a street in a city bordering old world charm and futuristic sharp angular lines and bright lights. Along the dirt street and the edge of the buildings a bright neon yellow light shown as if drawn along the lines where the street and buildings met highlighting some sort of path. Usagi grabbed the side of the cart and leaned forward staring at what looked like a chicken fly up and caw loudly and flapping his wings wildly. Usagi felt like she had just stepped into some sort of old world novel where merchants sold goods and men hunted for meat. Above them they felt a gush of wind and for the first time they noticed vessels shaped like surf boards carrying humanoid like creatures and men of strange kinds. Usagi gawked as she noticed a nearby wall as they passed flicker from a solid wall to transparent shimmering projection. Covering her mouth with one hand she gasped as a man inside the room turned beady black eyes on her and hissed, slits on either side of his neck opening wide like gills. She turned back slightly shaking and leaned into Mamoru seeking something familiar to ground her to reality.
"It's something isn't it," the old man smiled, "the city is a hub… people from all around the cosmos come here. You should see the ports, the merchant vessels are always docking and offloading and loading new strangers…" he drifted off closing his eyes and whistling a cheerful tune. The cart crawled forward and suddenly jerked to a stop.
"Here you go this is it!" the old man pointed a bony finger to the right of the cart.
The dirty old cobble stone street met a tall sidewalk two feet clear from the street and in front of them was a shimmering purple gateway glowing like some nightclub. A lazy melody could be heart coming from the storefront and you could see clearly into the restaurant so unremarkable in its appearance it could have very well have been some unnamed low rate eatery in Tokyo. The booths along the edges so common it made the otherworldly customers stand in stark contrast to their plainness. In the middle of the restaurant were four and two-seater tables filled with patrons eating and talking loudly in strange languages and along the far end of the restaurant there was a bar. Like some musical throwback movie, girls in skin-tight body suits popping gum skated throughout the restaurant with trays and behind the bar was a gorgeous looking man with shoulder length baby blue hair. He was tall and his body was obviously muscular but lean and his eyes were purple and almost cat-like.
Usagi's breath caught in her throat and she couldn't seem to look away as he stared intently at her and she seemed totally mesmerized by the way he sensually dragged a cloth slowly and circularly all along a glass. Pulling her eyes from his hand she looked back up at the beautiful creäture and noticed a knowing smirk and his slightly slitted eyes. Blushing furiously she turned around to see Mamoru looking at her, his jaw twitching in annoyance as he gracefully dropped on to the street. She pouted openly, how dare he be mad at her, wasn't he the one that brought a date to the Crown not too long ago. Thinking along those lines she frowned wondering why she had suddenly realized she had kept score between each other. That baka isn't my boyfriend… I don't even like him, she thought furiously, blushing a deeper red in annoyance since she couldn't even convince herself of that fact.
Slightly irritated at catching Usagi checking out some GUY Mamoru shook his head quickly hoping to physically shake out those disturbing feeling of jealousy that had overcome him. Feeling a bit shaky from the lack of sustenance, he took a minute to feel the ground beneath his sneakers stop from swaying before he moved back to help Usagi out of the cart. Extending his hand out she looked at it irritably and grabbed it rather roughly as she settled herself on the edge of the cart and steadied herself before hopping off on to the street. Nearly throwing his hand out of her grasp she quickly started brushing down her skirt in a vain attempt to straighten and dust it off. It was hopeless, she was filthy and she let that fact sink in as her heavy hair swished dramatically in its high ponytail. She heard Mamoru sigh deeply and turned his back to her, facing the man who must be Tael.
"Well enjoy yourself hopefully we'll see you around!" the old man cackled, "I'm off to the blue district to get me some lovelies! He he!" He continued in a scary frenzied laughter. Not even waiting for a response the old man flicked his wrists and he was off leaving a dusty trail in his wake and cackling in insane laughter as he screeched around a corner, one wheel tilted in the air, turning blocks away and out of sight.
Sighing deeply, Mamoru waved Usagi over and looked back at the pensive Tael that was obviously waiting for them to approach him. "Come on let's go Odango."
"Don't call me that baka," Usagi growled, "can't you let go of that ridiculous nickname right now?" She quietly pleaded looking at him. "We have to be careful here," she continued quietly squaring her shoulders and steeling herself for the unexpected.
Looking down at her serious expression he let some tension go from his shoulders and took in a deep breath and exhaled. "Sorry, habit Usagi. Look let's just be civil right now okay?" he questioned turning to head towards the restaurant without waiting for her response. He stopped, feeling the little hand quietly but firmly grasping his bicep.
"Mamoru we need to stay together okay? And we need to get home. I'm not mad that you said I'm yours," she stopped to collect herself blushing yet again at her confession, "But we'll need to talk and BOTH agree to our story and plans from now on okay?" She looked up at him willing him with her eyes to agree with her for once.
"Alright Usagi," Mamoru conceded and his all too familiar cocky smirk graced his lips and Usagi eyed him warily wondering what he was up to. "Now let's go see your boyfriend and get something to eat," he said wiggling his eyebrows and hurriedly jumped onto the sidewalk waiting for her to catch up. Seeing her fuming, he walked confidently into the restaurant ignoring the whistle he got from one of the waitresses as he strode to the bar Usagi huffing but trailing close behind.