Almost Had You
Summary:
Passion was something they both possessed in abundance, along with intelligence, grace, charm, loyalty, rebellion, dastardly good looks and the ability to piss each other off to the point of oblivion. So why the hell, were they so stupid to keep coming back for more? Simple, it's because the laws of attraction defy the rules of habit.
A/N: Hey guys!! I'm baaaaack, lol did you miss me? Haha, j/k. Anyways, I'm sorry for the long delay—writer's block, you know how it is—blasted thing lol.
Oh, and I'm sorry I can't remember who asked me this question—but yes, the redhead in the Chapter 5 was Beryl, although I don't plan on making her a very large part of this story...but who knows? I don't think I'll be using her as a threat to Mamoru and Usagi's future relationship though. Anyways, scroll on!
"Can you hear it?"
"Hear what?"
"My heartbeat...it gets like this when you're around. So fast and hard, I can hardly breathe, I get so dizzy."
TA-DA
"I wonder if that chick spiked my coffee, I mean she had to...otherwise I wouldn't be freaking fantasizing—wait no, not fantasizing—be curious about her all the time. Crap, I think I'm high."
-Chiba Mamoru
Chapter 7
initiative
It was clear that the meeting had been anything but smooth.
The way the argument had been fuelled went something along like this—Usagi's patience had been tested thin to the furthest it would go. She could not stand seeing Minako draped all over Motoki like that—in public, for God's sake!—and she could not stand hearing the encouraging sounds her best friend made—sure she could listen about it later but that's because tuning it out when you're really there when it happens, actually served to be difficult. Not to mention, she was beginning to hate the suggestive looks she was getting—it was nothing new, not at all.
But it was pissing her off.
And God forbid, she couldn't forget the sly winks Mamoru passed onto some ladies and he was only a guy after all—she swore he had been checking her out. The man—no, boy—couldn't focus on one girl for a second!
It was fucking frustrating!
She initially came for the food—and Minako, of course—but why the hell couldn't she leave now?
Usagi thought she had come as a supporter, not a spectator! If she wanted to see some passionate second base hook-ups she could've grabbed a ticket to the movies. God...she wasn't even hungry anymore...and hadn't she just come from a session with Mizuki-sensei? She should be hungry. Yet here she was, sitting in a table for four, surrounded by people completely caught up in themselves and...flesh of yummy opposite sex, and she was valiantly trying to sum up an apetite that would make her stop picking at her food.
Usagi actually felt weird being there.
So what if Mamoru kept putting the moves on the waitresses—at least he was doing something that made him look suave and cool, while she probably looked...awkward...at least more awkward than she was used to portraying herself as.
She was a dancer! Dancers aren't supposed to be...awkward.
Being awkward...was a disease. It was bad—
"What's up your ass, dipshit?"
Cobalt eyes mixed with amusement under a fringe of raven.
Cerulean eyes narrowed warningly as Usagi tossed her hair back, having undone her ponytail a long time ago when the creepy sensation of some zealous preteen watching her became too much and her hair served as a bit of a cover...the kid was probably just staring at the luminescent shade her hair was. Silver was such a rare hair color that Usagi had inherited from her mother. All her looks came from her mother, actually...and her personality was a balanced mix of her mother and father while her little brother resembled their father down to the last freckle on his cheeks...
All thoughts aside of her family though Mamoru remained unaffected, savoring the pastry he had just taken a bite from with his fork. He licked the icing off the edges of his mouth tauntingly—what he would be taunting her about she didn't know, and how licking his lips was supposed to effect her made her laugh. Like she'd even think of being turned on. The jerk took another, long, slow bite, white cream a contrast against tanned skin and dark hair, strong jaw moving...rotating.
The fucktard.
Usagi gritted her teeth, "The same thing that's been making your eye twitch for the last hour."
"It's called 'winking' smart one."
Was that a tone of offense seeping into that cool tone near the end of his sentence?
Of course it was. What else could it be?
"It's blinking with one eye, is what it is," she rolled her eyes.
And then Mamoru decided that she was interesting when she was mad. Her eyes blazed a molten blue fire and glimmering ivory strands fell strategically to frame her eyes and the coal darkness of her eyelashes and that light tanned complexion was divine under the quality lighting. And her mouth pursed in this irresistible pout—full and rosy. If only she didn't open her mouth so much to rag on him—she'd be so much more delectible that he'd actually go for her.
Perhaps whatever contact they had was meant to be raw fights and meaningless flirting was the furthest they would ever get.
"Are you always this pleasant, or is today just special?"
"I think it's probably more the company's fault rather than the day—love the sarcasm by the way. It's a nice touch."
And of course, there was something in the twinkle of her eye that set Mamoru off the wrong way, and it wouldn't take long before they had another mini fight among many during the lunch—Minako and Motoki had already resigned themselves to simply coughing to interrupt, and the two of them being as highstrung as they were when arguing, would immediately stand to attention at even the slightest pin drop.
"Do you have to find a way to insult me at every turn, Tsukino?"
Usagi grinned openly, "Reflex."
A hand flexed under the table, obviously belonging to Mamoru.
"Hurt your feelings, Chiba?"
Mamoru's flexed hand became apparently clenched, "To hurt my feelings I'd have to care what you think."
"Of course either way, that'd be impossible."
"Why's that?"
"You don't exactly have feelings other than pride, anger and lust as far as I can tell..."
She wasn't allowed to assume like that. That was being a bitch.
And he said so.
"Bitch."
And of course...when you brought swearing into the argument, of course some people would be deeply offended and Usagi didn't particularly enjoy being called a female dog.
And the argument just took off from there, firecrackers that they were. It just didn't take much.
--
"You're insufferable!"
"What the hell is your problem, Mamoru?!" Motoki raved.
"Nothing…what's yours?"
"Do you have any idea what you just did?"
"Uhh…I asked you a rhetorical question just now?"
Motoki scowled half-hysterical and infuriated with the amusement in Mamoru's eyes at seeing it, shoving Mamoru against the wall, "Would you stop being an asshole?!"
A splash of liquid making contact with dry clothes and skin was heard as a humorous splat of delicious dessert could be heard following moments later.
Mamoru remained unaffected by Motoki's less than wonderful show of patience and pried his friend's harried fingers from his sullied shirt, before muttering, "Don't look at me like that, Motoki. She threw fucking coffee at my face!"
"It was cold!" Motoki threw back at him, his hands burying themselves in his dirty blonde locks to signify his frustration.
"That's not the point!" Mamoru snapped.
"Oh my freaking, God! You deserved it, you idiot!"
"Fuck off!" Mamoru growled, stalking off into his room, wrenching his door open and—
Motoki cringed at Mamoru's silent and solemn face. His eyes dark with outrage and a splatter of now cold, ugly brown coffee and crumbs of what were once tasteful pastries strewn haphazardly all over his favorite white shirt and leather jacket, he sat in his seat half-shocked by Usagi's outburst. The blonde swallowed dryly, seeing sparks flying from his friend's sinister eyes as he stared Usagi down only for her to glower defiantly at him, the empty cold coffee cup still clutched easily in her right hand and her left hand covered in vanilla icing.
Minako winced at the slam from Usagi's door.
It was uncalled for, throwing coffee and cake at Mamoru like Usagi had done but it was also highly inappropriate how Mamoru responded. And it was for this reason, that Minako knew better than to go and knock on Usagi's door to ask her if she wanted to 'talk about it'.
Slowly, Mamoru reached out with his right hand and swiped the icing on his cheek off with a menacing aura, standing to tower over Usagi in anticipation. Minako watched in shocked silence as Mamoru unhurriedly wiped the fair amount of icing off his face to collect a generous amount and then gradually lean forward to wipe his hand down the bare expanse of skin of Usagi's collarbone down to the modest cleavage of her jersey shirt's v-neck.
To ask Usagi to do something like opening up to her and venting to her with her temper in the state that it was in would be suicide. It was clear that her best friend wasn't in the mood to speak and wouldn't speak until she saw fit...Minako would most likely be hearing guitar rifts for the rest of the nights or wild thumping that signified Usagi taking her frustration out on her wall...or she might just be ripping up scrap paper.
Seething, Usagi gritted her teeth at Mamoru as he lingered longer than what was deemed appropriate and she very nearly bit her tongue off when he suggestively licked the icing remains off his fingers.
Usagi was strangely unreasonable at the randomest moments...why would she ever vent on paper...?
What did the paper ever do to her?
Wouldn't writing about it be healthier...?
Minako changed her mind—it'd be best if Usagi didn't have anything tangible to remind her of this.
"You're annoying."
Minako heard a harsh strum and a muffled curse and she shook her head, somehow not surprised that Usagi didn't react so well upon meeting Mamoru.
Even she had to admit...he could be a bit of a jackass.
Not that she'd ever say it out loud though.
--
"So..."
It had been at least a good three and a half weeks since the huge blow up meeting for lunch and for the first few days after the incident of their explosive argument, Mamoru and Usagi had been the campus' main number one source of entertainment with their vicious spats. They bit each other's head off, flirted and didn't respond, teased and were hit, were hurt, and were hated. But, there was a but. It was barely noticeable and hard to see unless you looked for it, but it was clear that there was more than just a bitter rivalry between the two and though the words they hurled at each other didn't sound very pleasant, the tone with which they were delivered gradually began to lose their bite.
Slowly...slowly, the routine banter—angry and negative, or casual and borderline friendly—became more.
Evolved.
And patterns began to form.
The two roommates sat adjacent from each other in the homey television space of their dorm, kneeling on the floor over the coffee table with their leather couches at their back. Usagi sat up straight, occasionally brushing her hair back from her eyes as she drew Minako's profile in the light with used and trusted charcoal. She rolled up her sleeves, ignoring the stained fingerprints taking residence on her crimson shirt, matching the bow in her friend's hair.
"So what, Minako?"
The blonde in question smiled mischievously—it was a smile Usagi had yet to get used to seeing, despite it becoming more frequent in appearance since dating Motoki. She supposed she didn't mind. It really did make Minako look rather ravishing, not being so shy and all. Come to think of it, Minako had slowly been regaining her personality from childhood—the one that had made Usagi and her so adventurous together.
It made Usagi all the more aware of how things had changed over the years.
Still though, that smile meant nothing but trouble. Usagi still remembered how nosy Minako had been when they were children—always playing matchmaker at their young age on their older acquaintances before she became smitten with the opposite sex herself. It was rather amusing to watch.
"Usa-chan," Minako called to her.
She had been surprisingly adept at finding people's supposed soul mates.
Not that Usagi cared.
It wasn't like she'd never tried it on her...because she did. Personally though, Usagi had to admit that she'd been quite attracted to a few of the people Minako had set her up with. Of course, it never lasted long—it was just an attraction.
"Usa-chan," the endearment was said with a little more force this time, and Usagi forced herself to look up from her portfolio, her hand pausing in sketching the slight tilt to Minako's chin.
"What is it, Mina-chan?" she resigned herself to humouring her friend, for fear of not being able to finish her task lest Minako remained adamant at pestering her. And just this once, Usagi sympathized with Chiba, knowing that it had been the raven-haired man's best friend that had taught her how to get things out of her.
It was a feat that had made Minako smile triumphantly and Usagi pale at how loose her tongue had wagged information to her best friend that she hadn't wanted her to know the first time it happened. Of course, the information just had to do with the ever vigilant Chiba Mamoru.
"About Mamoru-san," the corner of Usagi's lips twitched at the honorific and even more so at the first name usage, "how is he?"
Usagi raised a brow evasively, "I wouldn't know...maybe you should ask him yourself."
Minako pouted and Usagi had to smile.
"Come on Usa-chan, you know what I mean by that... You've been much more animated since meeting Mamoru-san."
"Maybe so, but it hasn't been 'animated' in the good way, Mina-chan."
"You're still being animated though," Minako pointed out, "no one's been able to get under your skin like he has for a while."
At this, Usagi placed her charcoal down on the table completely.
She sighed, "Just tell me what you want, Minako."
"Tell me about him. You've been coming back to the dorm for the last few weeks and you seem more and more agitated as the days go by...while on other days you seem perfectly content."
"What's there to know about that idiot, Chiba? I don't understand what you find so fascinating about him."
The reply all but oozed sarcasm, and the response was not well received as Usagi was introduced to one of Minako's sterner stares.
She relented.
Usagi's crystalline eyes gave a deadpanned stare, "He's a jackass."
Minako didn't say she had to say nice things about him, after all.
"Be serious."
"I am being serious. The guy is a complete and utter dickhead, Minako. You're just nice because he's your boyfriend's best friend."
Minako sputtered, "That's not why I'm nice to him!"
"Then why do you care what my opinion of him is? You've always left me to think things my way before. What makes Chiba such a special case?"
There was a thoughtful pause between the two blondes and Minako hesitantly avoided Usagi's probing stare. Usagi had always had a way of knowing what she was thinking or feeling—all she had to do was look her in the eye for a few moments and her mind would be as good as naked. It was still unnerving how she still managed to do it even long past childhood had occurred.
Minako could tell that Usagi wasn't happy with her thoughts. Her eyes wavered with reluctance before becoming an opaque shield of cerulean silver and her mouth twitched at the corner, her jaw tightening unnoticeably.
She sighed.
"Usagi-chan, Mamoru isn't as bad as you think. There's more to him than just a big flirt."
What happened to Mamoru-san, Usagi asked herself sarcastically but didn't voice the thought opting to instead demand Minako to explain while rolling her eyes sceptically.
"He may be...active," Usagi smirked in amusement at the way Minako fidgeted at the obvious meaning, "but he really does think more than just about womanizing. He's actually really intelligent, Usagi. How else could he have gotten into Tokyo University?"
Though the reason was sound in its simplicity, it wasn't enough to convince her friend and Minako could see that.
"So he's a closet intellectual, what else?"
Frankly, Usagi didn't care whether he was smart or not. Intelligence was reflected by the way you acted and the opinions you carried in her opinion. And Chiba Mamoru's opinions weren't very noble nor were they worth much to her. Besides, it's not like she'd ever have a reason for being civil to him.
Right?
"He's a good friend, Usagi-chan. I mean, Motoki-kun's a good guy right? Why would he be friends with someone as pigheaded as you say Mamoru is?"
"Motoki's known Mamoru since they were kids, Minako. Of course he'd defend the guy," Usagi stated, her eyes solemnly guarded at the topic being delved into.
"Well, you have to admit, Usagi. Even if you don't like Mamoru, he must be interesting enough that you remember his name."
Damn, she had her there.
It really wasn't her fault though. It's not like the name was common—who else had a name that meant protector of Earth or something? And with the way girls whispered his name in the halls and giggled about the very mention of it well...it was bound to get stuck in her head sometime. Not that she could brag about her name...Sometimes Usagi still questioned why her parents decided to give her a name that meant she was a rabbit. Not to mention, her last name certainly didn't take away from the uniqueness of her name.
Picture this.
Rabbit of the moon.
That was basically her in a nutshell. She supposed the moon part made sense, with her extremely light hair and all. But, rabbit? Where did they get rabbit? She sighed. But at least it was somewhat sophisticated, right? And she could be sophisticated. The moon was sophisticated...
Mamoru on the other hand—well just imagine.
Protector of Earth.
His name made him sound so noble and brave and justified.
But was he really...?
She'd always thought of the Earth as nurturing and kind, sturdy and direct.
Mamoru...Mamoru was...
Well, he was direct...he could be kind if he wanted to be. She wasn't sure about nurturing—but from what she'd heard from other girls about the roses he could coax into blooming...she supposed he had some talent for nurturing. Plants die without nurturing... The thought made Usagi laugh, imagining someone as proud of his masculinity as Mamoru growing his own red roses. She supposed he deserved points for how secure he was in his sexuality.
As for sturdy...
She snorted.
Could she really make herself say he was stable?
Usagi pursed her lips, remembering the encounters she shared with the raven-haired freshman.
And she shuddered.
Not really.
"It's hard not to remember the name of someone so damn annoying, Minako. You'd remember a person's name too, if they constantly popped up in front of you."
There was a pause as Minako wondered just exactly how far Mamoru was willing to take his intentions with her friend—and whether or not he even had a decided set of intentions. The way Mamoru annoyed Usagi reminded Minako of how boys always make fun of girls when they're younger when they're unable to fully express the fact that they liked a girl.
It seemed that being verbally stunted about the subject of feelings was something that males were subjected to at an early age.
How amusing.
"Honestly, I'm surprised you haven't jumped his bones yet, Usa," Minako teased, signalling the end of her attempt at a subtle lecture to get her thinking.
Usagi twitched at the implication, placing the charcoal down on her sketchbook once more, "Excuse me?"
"Well, Mamoru is rather hot..." Cornflower eyes twinkled.
Usagi's glare glittered with warning, "If you ever say that to his face, I swear."
"Jealous?"
"Hardly. As if that jerk needs another reason to have his ego promoted."
Minako snorted amusedly at Usagi's muttering.
"You didn't deny the part about jumping his bones."
Minako grinned, this was fun. She couldn't remember how long it had been since she was so promiscuous. Usagi had been wild enough for the both of them growing up; the only difference was that she had learned more focus and patience...though she held no such trait for things like boys.
Usagi waved a blackened hand dismissively, "Please, if I wanted to jump him, I'd have done so already."
Well, Minako certainly hadn't been expecting that admission of truth and Usagi had a wicked smile on her face.
"I—you...what?"
Usagi laughed.
"The guy's been bugging me for a while now. It's like he's constantly breathing down my neck, and I somehow always know when I'll be seeing him...I've got this...sixth sense for him, Mina-chan. It's really annoying."
Minako was aghast as her friend trailed off in thought.
Just what was she getting at?
She wasn't implying...that...was she?
"So you'd sleep with him, just to get him off your back?! I thought you didn't even like his flirting!" the freshman nearly went through a heart palpitation at the wanton proposition of her best friend doing such a thing.
"Course not, and I don't like his flirting—I have self-respect. I'm not about to sleep with him!" Usagi exclaimed, "Jeez, I guess Motoki still hasn't taught you about sarcasm yet...or was Mamoru-san supposed to do that?"
Minako flushed heatedly, "Hey, I'm just trying to be civil with the guy. You nearly bit his head off at the café—which by the way, you were supposed to be there as moral support; not fighting petulantly with some guy you supposedly thought of as unworthy."
"I already apologized about that."
"I never said you didn't."
"You're right," Usagi admitted before her eyes narrowed, "but something tells me you're trying to get at something else."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Minako flipped her hair over her shoulder, sniffing regally.
"Minako."
"Usagi."
"Don't be stupid."
"I'm not being stupid!"
"What are you hiding then?"
"Well..." Minako paused slyly for dramatic effect before being prompted by Usagi, "I was just thinking that maybe there's something going on between you guys."
Minako ignored her incredulous choking.
"I mean, it would totally explain your mood swings...plus!" Minako smiled, holding her index finger up knowingly, "Toki-kun told me that he hasn't seen Mamoru sweet talking any other girl since he met you."
Usagi recovered at this, albeit she did admit that she was somewhat curious by that small truth before shrugging.
"Yeah right."
"It's true!" Her friend's blue eyes widened to look sickeningly innocent, before wincing, "Okay fine. Toki-kun said he hasn't been doing ...that...as much."
Usagi felt a bitter triumph, pointing out, "It's not like you've never done it, Mina-chan. You don't have to be so shy about saying the word sex."
Usagi laughed gaily when Minako's face reddened violently, stuffing her face in a pillow.
And then it occurred to Minako, the things Usagi said to Mamoru in retaliation of their bed habits during their first meeting, and what she had said just moments earlier ultimately causing her to wonder...
"Are you a virgin, Usagi-chan?"
Her friend blinked, "Why would you want to know that?"
"You never told me about it before and...well, I've done it...what about you?"
Usagi vaguely wondered whether it would be wise or not to divulge this sort of information—Minako was after all, prone to setting her up.
Oh, who cared? Usagi scoffed, even if she didn't tell Minako per se, Minako would find out and eventually do something about it. Besides...it's not like she'd say anything right?
"Yeah, I have."
She winced at the shocked squeal.
"When, where? With who? Was he any good?"
"Depends which time you're asking about."
"You've done it more than once?" Minako gasped.
"Well, yeah," came the short reply as though it were the most obvious answer there was, as Usagi resumed her coal sketching, attempting to catch the shadows on Minako's face accurately.
"Well...how come you never told me?"
"Just because you were open about your exploits, doesn't mean I am."
"How many times have you done it, Usagi-chan?!"
"A couple."
Minako growled in frustration at the vague answers, "Well, who did you do it with?!"
Usagi shrugged, feeling a bit hypocritical for what she was about to say, "I can't really remember—it was a long time ago."
An awkward silence ensued.
When Usagi looked up, she was surprised to find Minako's lips set in a grim frown.
"What?"
It wasn't that she couldn't remember their names, because she could. She could even remember their mannerisms and looks quite vividly. It was just that she didn't like to dwell on the past. It wasn't like there had been strings attached and besides they stayed friends even after the intimacies. For example, Kou Seiya. Dark hair, bright eyes, big smile. Gentle and possesive, and somehow work-oriented. A musician and artist, but exasperatingly cocky and self-assured...
Wait.
She didn't like how familiar that sounded.
"Nothing," Minako grimaced.
"You're frowning and not looking at me," Usagi observed, pursing her lips sceptically, "it's obviously not nothing."
Minako remained quiet, only shifting her position across from her friend after further prompting, "Tell me, Minako."
"I don't know, Usagi-chan...it just...struck me as kind of unfair."
"What's unfair?"
She felt Minako's blue eyes search in her deeper ones, "How you treat Mamoru."
"How I treat Mamoru...?" Usagi had to tread carefully here.
"You always...look at him like he's..." Minako faltered, searching for an appropriate word, "like he's a terrible person."
Automatically, Minako sensed Usagi withdraw into herself, as the mischievous sparkle left the silver hints in her cerulean eyes.
"You know how I feel about people like him."
The statement was said with a neutral tone as far as Minako could tell, but the fact that Usagi said something like that—something so...so...unlike Usagi, made Minako...
Well...mad, really.
It made her mad.
Sure, Mamoru wasn't the best person around but no one's perfect, right?
When did her best friend suddenly get this self-righteous streak? And where did she get it from?
For as long as Minako could remember, it had been Usagi who broke the habit into to get to know someone before writing them off to be something they're not. But that's what Usagi did with Mamoru. She automatically assumed that Mamoru was a player who didn't care about other people's feeling, but if that was true—then why did Mamoru treat her civilly and never flirt with her?
He obviously did care—and Minako couldn't help but feel that despite his ways, Mamoru did not deserve to be judged by Usagi of all people. Usagi knew what it was to be judged, so why would she ever subject someone else to that?
"People like what? Usagi," it had to be serious if she dropped the nickname, "you're stereotyping him. Stereotypes are one of your pet peeves, along with hypocrisy...which is what you're exercising right now."
Damn, Usagi had forgotten how Minako could point such simple facts out to win an argument. She attested the change to her ever budding relationship with another blonde of a more sandy hue with hazel eyes.
"I'm being hypocritical?" Usagi asked calmly, though there was a note of indignant disbelief that Minako heard.
"Yes," Minako said firmly, gaining fire, "you are."
"Fine..." Usagi relented nonchalantly yet calmly, "I'm a hypocrite."
There was a fierce glow to Minako's eyes now that Usagi had to admire since it was a rare sight.
She just didn't particularly appreciate what Minako said next.
"Usagi, you're impossible! What is it with you? Do you have some vendetta against men?"
The remark came out so fast that Minako had a hard time filtering the harsh tone out of it, but by then Usagi had already heard it. And judging from the stony silence that took place soon after, Minako had managed to hurt her friend's nearly invincible feelings.
Minako saw Usagi expertly hide a wince.
Ouch, Usagi thought, her the muscle at her jaw twitching slightly at the comment.
Minako held her breath and watched Usagi's eyes become distant as her movements were automatic—graceful nonetheless however—and watched her pack her portfolio and charcoal up to stand in a fluid motion and pivot. It wasn't long before Usagi disappeared behind the door of her bedroom as it shut to silent close.
The last thing Minako heard from her before she disappeared behind her bedroom door down the hall caused her to stiffen at the frigid tone used.
"Good night."
Shit.
Good job, Minako, the blonde congratulated herself at yet another failed attempt to get Usagi to warm up to her boyfriend's eccentrically handsome friend. She sighed, getting angry hadn't been a part of the plan.
It was obvious what she and Motoki wished.
Mamoru and Usagi had been alone for nearly their entire lives—Mamoru's companions didn't count, and Usagi rarely let herself be associated with a male of a status anymore than friendship. Besides, Mamoru could use some taming and Usagi could use livening up...though she lived her life much better than Minako did in some areas, her friend was definitely lacking in fulfillment.
Usagi didn't know it, but Minako could see faint traces of agitated attraction under her friend's tough exterior. It was obvious that there was something in Mamoru that Usagi liked—but wasn't willing to admit.
Her and her damn pride.
Why did she have to be so mature with everything else in her life and suddenly revert back to a preteen with pride when it came to relationships? Trust Usagi—so confident and independent—to have commitment issues.
She would never understand.
It frustrated her that she couldn't understand.
And has Minako heard the click of her now angry friend's door, she turned, padding to her own room for an early bedtime.
--
Usagi always thought that Sundays were the bane of her existence—not Mondays so to speak, but Sundays.
Why, you may ask?
Well... it was pretty much self explanatory. At least it was, once you heard the purely masculine voice that called out to her somewhere down the hall, and she paused in her steps, adjusting her shoulder bag and the books in her hands. And then she turned around, hoping against hope that it wasn't who she thought it was—the voice was a dead giveaway though.
Sundays suck, Usagi thought, that's why.
Not Mondays, but Sundays.
Because really, it was rather quite simple after all.
Friday was always a relief from a hard week of work. Saturdays were meant to party and chill, but the afternoon classes were a pain in the ass. And well, Mondays weren't nearly as bad as Sundays because Sundays were the day before Mondays. The day before another start of another long...painful...bored-out-of-her-mind week...
Well, maybe not, Usagi conceded, as another start of the week meant another week involving the ever evolving flirtations courtesy of Chiba Mamoru. The boy—or was he a man? She couldn't really tell anymore—did not know when to give up.
"And here we go again," she mutters to herself.
Honestly, she couldn't deal with this today. She'd spent the better half of the night tossing and turning in her sleep, contemplating one of the few major fights she'd ever had with Minako...over Mamoru of all people. Fuck it all, if she didn't feel like flashing a pretty smile.
"Usagi!"
Usagi blinked in deep confusion though, when she didn't feel the usual surge of annoyance in her veins.
Strange, she didn't seem to want to throttle him even though she didn't remember giving him permission to call to her so familiarly...but then again, Mamoru never really asked for anything—more like he demanded it or took without wondering whether he was even allowed. Unsurprisingly enough, Usagi found herself feeling a mild dislike for the sudden stand-to attention posture the female students around them took and even the shier ones as Motoki came into view not far behind his darker friend.
Strange that she and Minako had been talking about the two of them just last night...
She shrugged, brightening from her dark mood a smidgen—she'd become rather fond of Motoki as of late—Usagi gave a slight tilt of her mouth in the gesture of a smile and did not notice the stunned feeling Mamoru felt at what he thought was a smile directed at him...until he heard the words that came from her mouth next.
"Hey Motoki-kun."
Mamoru felt disconcerted by the blatant dismissal but did not show it and opted to push a sleeve of his black shirt up to his elbow—not fidgeting, mind you but...fixing it—as Motoki gave a smile just as exuberant. In the back of his mind, Mamoru vaguely remembered that Motoki's girlfriend was Usagi's best friend. What could he possibly have to worry about anyway?
"Hey Usagi-chan," Motoki grinned, returning the hug that Usagi initiated, "how are you?"
"A little tired, Motoki-kun. I'll be good in a bit though, thank you."
Mamoru's jaw ticked at the easy display of affection. Hadn't he been the one that talked to her more than Motoki and openly approach her? Why was it that all he got for his efforts to compliment her were blank stares or dead replies?
Usually when you called a girl good-looking that flattered her right?
He sighed.
Usagi was much more complicated than any other girls he had interacted with. Because no, he wasn't pursuing after her in a romantic sense—that was far too committed—nor was he going after her for a one-night-stand—though he figured it would be more than just fucking enjoyable on his part, those were some nice legs she had on her after all, showing through naturally faded shorts and boots that laced to below her knees for once.
Nice chest, too.
But enough of that—she was hot, point taken.
But he wasn't trying to get laid—he hadn't been for a while and he distantly wondered why but shrugged the inquisition off—Usagi wasn't one a person would want for a lay. A quick lay was only meant to happen once, and if you had someone like Usagi, Mamoru figured you wouldn't want to have her just once.
He couldn't help but cough to cover up the smirk twitching at his mouth before he pretended to glance at the notes he held in his left hand for another drum pattern he'd come up with and wanted to have printed from the music department. It wouldn't do for Usagi to find out what he was thinking—because if he didn't know any better, it was like the girl could read his expressions already...
Which she could.
There he goes again, Usagi thought, he's thinking of sex.
Horny moron.
Here she is, standing next to his best friend that was nearly considered one of hers now—and he was drinking up the sight of her exposed skin. The navy jacket she wore over her white tank top was conservative enough, but maybe she shouldn't have worn the shorts with the boots...even if it had grown bloody hot in the last couple weeks.
Usagi laughed half-heartedly at one of Motoki's jokes distractedly, as the ogling became more apparent by the warning sense in the back of her mind where she knew glares were blazing into her flesh by the way some parts felt warmer than others and she really couldn't stand the accusing stares any longer that suggested she wanted him staring.
Which she didn't.
How could she?
She wasn't attracted to him. Not in the least. Really, she wasn't burning with some unexplainable need to be ravished by him—experienced hands, sinful lips, cocky attitude and all.
That was the last thing she needed from him.
She inwardly frowned at her conscience's monologue.
When did it get so descriptive?
"Really, Chiba...how much longer are you going to stare at my legs?"
Mamoru smirked at the acknowledgement that she had noticed and ignored Motoki's warning glare. It seemed that his best friend had come to see Usagi as a sister over time. He supposed it was because of Minako's insistent demands that they spend time together and bond. He almost wished he had an excuse for that, but Motoki never asked him to bond with Minako even if he had nothing to worry since she wasn't Mamoru's type and more importantly, they were going out.
He wasn't a home-wrecker.
Remember?
"I wasn't staring."
"Uh huh, right. Look, let's just get this over with."
Mamoru raised a brow, "You mean you're actually waiting for me to tell you how good you look today?"
She pursed her lips, "Unsurprisingly, yeah."
Was that conceit right there?
"...so I can kick your ass for thinking about sexing me up again."
Mamoru gave a short laugh—never mind.
"Mamoru, undressing Usagi-chan with your eyes..." Motoki warned.
"Look, I wasn't undressing her with my eyes," Mamoru denied, further defending himself at the sceptical being given to him, "Seriously!"
Mamoru held his hands up in a gesture of peace when Motoki glared at him threateningly. His blonde friend sized him up with his eyes judging his innocence before grunting in a completely un-Motoki like way.
"You better not be, Mamoru," Motoki warned him before glancing at his watch, "I have to go. Class starts in a few minutes. I'll see you guys for lunch maybe?"
Motoki turned to look at Usagi, as though silently asking her to come.
She couldn't turn down that pleading face. It would be too cruel.
But she didn't want to go...
"Sure, Motoki-kun."
Damn, she'd just have to suck it up.
Motoki grinned, giving a brotherly kiss to Usagi's cheek and a quick nod to Mamoru, "See you guys later!"
And with that, Usagi was finally left one on one with Mamoru.
Wonderful.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm of enjoying my company, Usagi."
She glanced at him, "Oh...I said that out loud?"
Mamoru smirked blandly, "Doesn't seem like you care."
"I don't."
"Or...you're just saying that so my fan club doesn't rip you to shreds. Am I right, or am I right?"
"You're wrong."
"Oh, I see," he nodded to himself, "you're just saying that to lie to yourself about your strong attraction to me."
When he heard no sarcastic retort or disbelieving laugh from Usagi he became interested and turned to her in askance. And when he stared at her questioningly for a moment—wondering if he had, by some off chance, hit the nail on the head and that Usagi was warming up to him...his hopes were dashed.
Usagi sighed resignedly, "I don't have time for this today, Chiba. I'm fucking tired and don't have the patience for you today."
Interesting.
"Really? Why not?" he asked.
He noticed the way she regarded him with a calculating look, before she replied, "I didn't sleep last night."
Mamoru smirked, "Let me guess, spent all your energy for a single night of sin?"
"More like you did."
For a while, Mamoru didn't say anything. But he wondered at the tone in Usagi's voice and the posture of her stance. There was something off about her today, she didn't exude the normal fiery confidence in her insults...more like she was just throwing it out there for the sake of routine.
And what's more...
Was he...worried?
"Mamoru...?" Usagi voiced tentatively.
He was looking at her strangely.
He hadn't responded to her jibe—even if she knew it had been a weak one—but Mamoru was prone to wanting to have the last word. So why hadn't he made any move to taunt her for her lack of fire today? His jaw was tightened she noticed, his fingers flexing uncertainly around the spine of his textbook and his eyes were looking into hers deeply, searching for something. Maybe she'd been wrong.
But then, in a totally unexpected, unlike Mamoru way...
"Are you okay, Usagi?"
Mamoru paused at the breathless shock that laced Usagi's voice. "What...?"
He fidgeted uncomfortably—was it so shocking that he could show such blatant concern for another person's well-being? Jeez, you'd think he was heartless or something. Sure, he couldn't be brought to care about most things but sometimes a person couldn't help but worry, right?
Am I...okay? Usagi frowned incredulously, barely noticeable as Mamoru's voiced question from moments before repeated and echoed in her mind. She felt her breath catch—how could he possibly be worried about her health? All he ever did was flirt and stare and annoy her. Why was it that he always seemed to surprise her?
The guy doesn't make any sense.
Almost uncertainly, Usagi swallowed and shoved the doubt to the back of her mind for later observance. Seriously, she didn't have the time for this. Right now, her next class was beginning she'd noticed, as students were already filing into the halls and it was left to become swarmed with human limbs, others weaving expertly around the two freshmen still standing speechlessly in front of the other. Mamoru watched as Usagi curled a strand of hair behind her ear with slender feminine fingers, before half pivoting away from him hesitating slightly before taking a decided step.
"I...I got to go, I'll see you at lunch with Motoki-kun, Chiba."
And though she felt mortified that she had stuttered for the first time in front of him, it couldn't be helped. As much as she didn't like him she had promised Motoki-kun that she would show up for lunch with them. Besides, she could comfort herself knowing that Mina-chan would most likely be there too.
Mamoru watched as confusion filtered into the opaque sea that was the electric blue of her eyes even as an unsteady realization seeped and overwhelmed the confusion and he was left staring back into the confidence that all but exuded Usagi as a whole. He wondered at that—why he'd even asked her that question, that is. Maybe if he could understand the reason why he asked it himself, he might be able to enjoy the fact that he had so easily managed to catch the ever unshakeable Usagi off guard.
He lifted a hand in a mild wave anyway though, nodding to acknowledge what she'd just said before he too, turned around and made his way to his classes, a little perturbed by how his impulses seemed to be getting the better of him more and more each day. So she was good-looking and he had a weakness for good-looking girls. That didn't mean he had to go out of his way to make sure she was comfortable. He still had a reputation of being a jackass to uphold—not that he liked being known as a jackass. Psht, who cared if she was alright?
Jeez, Mamoru shook his head while turning to walk down the hall, I'm going out of my mind.
Still though, when he glanced back through the corner of his eye he saw Usagi pause before the round of the corner. She was biting her lip, thinking she'd be kicking herself for this later but going on with it anyway, never once looking back. A little concern for her well-being could be rewarded with some back, after all. She wasn't a mean person—stubborn and self-righteous maybe, but she cared...it wasn't like she hated Mamoru.
"Oh, and Chiba?" she didn't know how she knew, but she knew he heard her, "Just sleep through Hiromi-sensei's class—it's just a free block for reviewing...you look like shit."
As she walked down the hall, Usagi mused about how Mamoru was just annoying, but maybe she could come to...get along with him, some day...?
She snorted incredulously.
Ridiculous. I'm being absurd.
Mamoru paused, letting the information sink in before deciding that he would get that extra hour of sleep he missed out on after all. He stopped. Weird. He wondered how Usagi managed to sound so concerned when her tone implied she could care less.
Maybe Usagi wasn't the only one who would be left to reassess her evaluations.
TA-DA
Okay, Chapter Seven is done! This is kind of like a transitional chapter though guys, so it's kind of like an intro that'll help me move onto more events in the story. Anyways, it feels good to be back.
And hopefully I won't stay away for too long again.
L8er,
ser3ne eternity.
aka;;azuresass22.
