Chapter Seven
Usagi felt, for lack of a better word, soggy. Her emotions had been in such a jumbled puddle, she hadn't been able to sort them out for some time now. She hadn't slept in a few days and it seemed like tears were always falling from now blackened eyes. Everything felt so distant, and so painful. Even the sky seemed to echo her innermost thoughts and fears, rain had been pounding mercilessly since that night. The night the world turned inside-out and Mamoru had given her the most precious gift possible.
Her only kiss.
There was no doubt in Usagi's mind that it would be the only one she would ever receive. Nothing had ever told her there would be a happy ending, and now all hope of one had been cruelly erased for some time. Her one consolation: a blinding kiss. With a parting gift like that, how could she complain? It had been everything young girls could possibly dream of, had been everything she had always wanted. And it would be the only one she would ever receive.
They would find the princess; Mamoru would marry her and live happily ever after. Then, she would either die or spend her life in servitude of her mistress and the man Usagi wanted. Either way, the usually light bubble had been jaded. She could never allow anyone else so close. If the dark kingdom ever found out who she was, they would be tortured and killed without a second thought. Now that she had partaken of the 'forbidden fruit', she doubted anyone else could fill the abyss growing deeply inside of her.
She set down her toothbrush with a sorrowful tap and looked up at the mirror. The girl before her seemed so dead to the world, so very unlike her normal reflection. Lately, it seemed like it wasn't even her sometimes. It was almost like she was watching from far away as a girl who looked like her and acted like her did the things only Usagi could do –but it was a clone. There was no way Tsukino Usagi could feel so lifeless. There was no way Tsukino Usagi would ever let something as small as that get her down.
She plastered on a friendly smile, forcing her muscles to stay put and staring into the mirror. She would move on, she would persevere, and she would fulfill the mission lain before her without complaining. Gone was the airhead that had plagued her younger days, gone were the daydreams and hopes of a child.
Suddenly, Usagi felt very, very old and hoped beyond all hope that others wouldn't notice the change. Forget everything bad that has happened so far, and begin to heal and move on as best as can be done. It was all that could be done. Never again would she be as weak as that night, to allow someone so close, to crumple under the power of a weapon she had used dozens of times without that effect, and to sob like a small, broken child in a corner of Mamoru's bathroom.
The phone rang down the hall just as Usagi opened the bathroom door to emerge in time for school. It was a strange thing to notice, since it seemed like the phone was constantly ringing at home. This time it was different, and she could tell in the very air whom was on the other side.
"Usagi-chan! Phone!" her mother called up the stairs and the blond sighed quietly before lifting the piece from the cradle.
"Moshi moshi?" she belted out cheerily and nearly buckled when Mamoru answered back. She had known even before her mother had called to her that it would be him. Something inside of her shuddered gleefully at the sound of his 'hello' and she grimaced. Do not be weak.
"Hey, Odango. Feeling better, I presume?" She grunted affirmatively and straitened her skirt. "Good. I was hoping you wouldn't mind doing a favor for me? Tonight is a Gala that I have to present at, and I really hate having to go by myself, all those boring people can only be so entertaining. Would you come with me?" Usagi's leaping heart was shoved mercilessly back down as she shook her head.
"Eiie, gomen Mamo-baka. I have to do a family thing tonight. I can't get out of it, I've already tried." He groaned on the other side and tsked. Already, he could tell that she was only saying it to get away from him.
"Come on! It'll be fun, I promise! We could dance some more." She had had so much fun doing it the other night, he was hoping she'd take the bait. Unfortunately, she didn't.
"I honestly can't. Otou-san has some function he has to go to and mom's making us all go because its family night."
"Haruka-san! Michiru-san! I didn't know you would be here." Usagi grinned helplessly at the older girls. They'd met weeks ago in the orchestra. Tall, boyish Haruka played piano as swift and light as the dancing wind, and Michiru the violin in ebbing, beckoning waves like the ocean. They had become fast friends, as Usagi was so used to doing. Both were dressed impeccably, Haruka in a stunning white tuxedo; and Michiru in a long flowing sea foam halter. Usagi couldn't help but feel a little jealous of her; Michiru was exactly what the princess would be like in every way. She was talented and sophisticated and gorgeous…perfect. And if she was this princess, Mamoru would be happy to have her.
"Hey there, Odango!" Haruka grinned rakishly and handed the younger girl a drink.
Mamoru watched as Usagi laughed and joked with all the other girls. She was finally having a good time; it seemed the past few weeks had been spent training and tutoring more than anything else. She had seemed to forget she was still young. Very young, in fact. Mamoru's eyes betrayed his pained thoughts. She was much too young for him, demo, she would always be his Usako.
"Beautiful, ne?" Someone asked from beside him and he glanced over to see a somewhat lanky professor with coke bottle glasses and a camera.
"Hai, Tsukino-sensei, she's very beautiful." He turned back to the blond, who happened to be giggling and trying to drink at the same time. A fond smile came over him at the sight.
"She seems happy tonight." Mamoru glanced back at the professor, placing his glass on the table beside him and stuffing one hand in his pocket.
"Hai, Usagi's been rather depressed lately. It's nice to see her smile again."
"You know her, then?" The other man asked and Mamoru nodded.
"I tutor her." A twitch came to Tsukino-sensei's eye.
"Just tutor, or more?" Mamoru seemed to miss the steely tone in the others voice, but shook his head.
"Eiie, Usagi-chan is much younger than she looks. It would be very difficult to ask her out with the age difference. Besides, she would never go for me and I couldn't ever force her." Mamoru smiled rather ironically. "Demo, she gets under your skin and you're never quite sure what to do with her. There are times when she's so ditzy, its hardly believable that she even owns a brain, much less uses it." Mamoru laughed, mostly to himself and shook his head. "The other times, though… She's brilliant. A strategist and artist, very clever –almost sly, mischievous. Always innocent." Even Tsukino-sensei could see the undisguised longing in the young man's voice, the heartache. So, this was the proclaimed genius of Azubu? He certainly didn't seem much like the other boys in Kenji's classes. He seemed much more…sincere –almost tenderly so, at least when Usagi was mentioned.
"You love her." He whispered it quietly and Mamoru glanced up, a little shocked.
"Love? Eiie, I wouldn't even know how to love anyone, let alone Usagi-chan." His smile was ironic, forlorn and a bit bitter. "S-she deserves much better than me anyway. I can't even imagine us together." Even as he said it, the sudden mental image came to mind of her in his arms; smiling, laughing, holding each other by a sea, somewhere where the sand wasn't tan, but silver.
His eyes caught hold of a rather pale blond head moving toward Usagi and narrowed dangerously. Tsukino-sensei saw the look and followed it as Dimon touched her shoulder. Usagi turned, smiling and curtsying lightly before passing her drink to a friend and being led to the dance floor. A twitch passed through both sets of eyes and Mamoru set his jaw.
"If you'll excuse me, I think I'm going to injure that boy." He murmured quietly before Kenji took his elbow to stop him. Navy blue eyes landed on the professor questioningly.
"You're going to protect her?" Mamoru nodded solemnly, determinedly before Kenji nodded his approval. "Most boys I have a problem with, Chiba-san. I don't like anyone messing around with my daughter. But you…" He paused, looking Mamoru over silently, "You I approve of."
"You mean you're Usagi's father?" Oh, he'd heard horror stories of both Tsukino-sensei and Usagi's father. Knowing that they were the same person made the information all that much more desirable, though. A strange feeling crept over the student then and he smiled slowly.
"I like you, Chiba-san. You're…different." Kenji paused, releasing the arm but looking him full in the face. Rumors had spread since spring about this roguishly handsome genius boy, one said to have inherited a rather large sum from his late parents and somehow hidden from the eyes of the wealthy. His professors not only liked the boy, but honored him above all other students, praising his insight and intellect. It had been complained of rather adamantly that he'd never dated anyone; that he'd never even looked. There were even a few rumors that he was gay. But to look at him, Kenji now began to understand what drove the mysterious young aristocrat. Usagi. The man before him would risk anything to protect her, to care for her. And Kenji approved. "Lately I've had dreams that something terrible will happen to us, but Usagi will be untouched. I am not such a modern man that I ignore these warnings. I know our time with her is short. But promise me, if anything happens, you'll protect my baby girl. If you will agree, I will be greatly indebted."
Chiba Mamoru, the once proud, lonely orphan looked into the face of Usagi's father with a touch of fear. How could this man trust him so completely though they'd only just barely met? How could that gaze be so steady though his dreams promised tragedy? Slowly, Mamoru nodded, eyes a dark and drugged indigo. He'd already sworn to himself to protect little Usako. Now, he would do it for the both of them.
"Hai." A bright smile; somewhat distantly reminiscent of Usako's, lighted upon the older man's face. Feeling somewhat relieved and accepted, Mamoru smiled also.
"Once you're done cutting in on that dance, I'd like you to meet the rest of my family."
"You look amazing." Dimon breathed into Usagi's ear as his arm wrapped around her back. She shivered, realizing a little too late that she hadn't really wanted to dance with him. The fear uncoiling in her gut wasn't the same as when Mamoru had danced with her, it was much more uneasy.
"Arigatou." She murmured in reply, hardly even listening to her own voice. His head was low, next to hers and she could hear him breathe in slowly. Her skin shivered at the sound, but she tried to ignore it. Mamoru would never look at her like Dimon did, so she might as well enjoy the attentions.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, little Bunny? I think I've missed you lately." She could only nod silently in reply and try to force down the feelings inside. There was no reason to be afraid of Dimon, he'd never shown a capacity to hurt her. And yet the feeling persisted deep down, warning her to get away from him. She ignored it. "So quiet tonight, is something wrong?" He lifted his head to peer down at her through razor cut white locks.
"Eiie, demo I must be a little tired. Gomen." She plastered on another smile quickly and accidentally stepped on his foot. He winced and she turned a dark red, automatically backing away. "Oh, gomen, gomen!" He began to chuckle, using her hand to pull her rather pointedly toward him again. Suddenly Usagi felt far more uncomfortable than before.
"It's ok, Bunny. That cute shade of red you just turned made up for it." She managed a weak smile shakily and nodded; the blush still prominent on her cheeks. Mamoru had always made her feel uneasy, but it was much more…exciting? Exhilarating? The feeling in her gut would be by far more pleasurable than what she felt now. If only Mamoru-san were here, she thought. And he could save me like he always does when I get myself in a mess.
His dark violet eyes glimmered in the dim light eerily. Finally, to be able to hold this little child, he felt himself give in to the feelings he'd had for her for a long, long time –centuries, it seemed. She had a rather cute blush on her face and refused to look up at him, only egging the boy on. Little Usagi, you belong to me.
"May I cut in?" A dark voice asked from the side and both spun to see Chiba Mamoru standing there. Dimon could hardly hide his disgust, both at seeing the older man and watching as several emotions passed through the blue eyes before him. Usagi smiled brightly, automatically releasing Dimon as if he'd only been a temporary distraction.
"H-hai, Mamoru-san." She breathed, already going to him. Dimon's jaw clenched unbearably and both eyes narrowed.
"Any particular preference, Usa-chan?" He murmured, already pulling her closer. Instantly, the ball of fear in her gut dissipated to be replaced with a strange longing.
"Oh, I'm partial to the tango for some reason." She stated off-handedly, though the grin on her face spoke otherwise. Mamoru chuckled and nodded toward the young blond behind the piano. The first few chords of the spicy song rang out, Spanish guitar and violin soon picking up as Mamoru spun her out and led her through their routine.
Tsukino Kenji watched his daughter and the dark man spin around each other, both grinning and laughing and talking throughout the complicated dance moves. He could only stare, though. They'd had Usagi in dance lessons for years and she'd never even come close to the grace now displayed for all to see.
"Wow, who's that young man?" Ikuko breathed next to him and Kenji could only sigh.
"I do believe that's our future son-in-law." Yes, one look at her face on seeing him had proven Mamoru wrong; he'd never seen that particular look of joy before. It was true Usagi was a child at heart and took happiness in the slightest things, but the way her eyes sparkled and the automatic way she forgot the other boy made everything all too obvious.
"And no homicidal rantings, love?" He glanced down at his beautiful blue-haired wife and shrugged, albeit dejectedly. "Hmm, must really be something to even get your approval." He simply nodded, both turning back to see that a rose had somehow made it to his mouth, and Usagi was laughing hysterically while being led into a dip. All other couples had exited the floor within mere steps and now stood watching in awe as the couple spun around the room.
Suddenly, another image superimposed itself over the two, and Kenji watched as the silver-haired girl in white smiled up at a man in full armor and cape. Yes, it seemed Kenji had judged the boy rightly. It wouldn't be long till those two realized the other's feelings and everything fell into place.
At least he could give his baby girl that.
Ten minutes later found Dimon glaring sulkily into his drink as he watched Chiba Mamoru talk with Usagi's family as if he had every right to. Pitch black hatred swam through him as he watched the five people laugh and joke together. Mamoru had been given everything, it seemed.
Well, he could fix that.
"So, those lessons did teach you something, Usagi-chan!" Ikuko grinned happily, watching the face of both daughter and suitor for signs of hidden emotion.
"Actually, the lessons on their own didn't, mama. This is Chiba Mamoru, the tutor I was telling you about. He's been giving me some pointers." One jet black eyebrow arched in amusement.
"Only a few, ne Usagi-chan? When we started this, she had all the grace of a flying hippo with sparrow feet." She flushed, eyes sparkling in anger, though the smile wouldn't melt like she wanted it to.
"I did not!" He only laughed and patted her head as he would a small child.
"Well it looked amazing! Thank you so much for helping her." Ikuko exclaimed happily, watching the playful banter. Of course, now the familiar face came to her with the name. Usagi had caught the big one! And they were so cute together! Her mother grinned, more to herself than anyone. So that was what she'd been so distracted with lately! And it explained her reaction to that magazine the other day….
"Yeah, Usagi-chan needs all the help she can get!" Shingo added, laughing as Usagi turned her angry face on him.
"Well, it was a pleasure." Mamoru smiled warmly at the couple before him even as the blond began to chase her brother around the room wailing at the top of her lungs. Everything could stay just like this; all was well with the world.
