2/8/06b
Title: Rumors
Author: Raya
Theme:
Infidelity
Genre: Drama
Version: Manga (post StarS / pre
Crystal Tokyo)
Rating:
Disclaimer: Mamoru, Usagi, and Dr. Mizuno were created by Takeuchi Naoko. I have merely converted them into paper cutouts to play with for a while. All other cutouts I must take responsibility for.
Rumors
"Bye-bye, Mamo-chan!" Usagi called brightly over her shoulder as she waved and turned to run to the bus stop. Mamoru waved back with a smile.
It grew bigger as she tripped over an unseen crack in the sidewalk and wind-milled her arms to keep her balance. Somehow, she managed to right herself without falling, loosing her book satchel or bento, twisting her ankle, or hitting an innocent bystander. She didn't even miss a step, although she did stagger around the sidewalk for a bit before straightening back out. Yes, his beautiful queen still had her moments even though they occurred less often than three years ago when they had first met. He was still smiling as he turned to walk up the stairs into the hospital.
Standing unseen to one side, a tall woman with brownish red hair watched the scene with curiosity. Her pale blue-grey eyes widened appreciatively when she caught a glimpse of Mamoru's features, and her head turned so that her gaze could follow him inside. As she turned to make her way up the stairs as well, she heard an amused voice drift over her shoulder.
"Don't even bother," it said quietly.
Nadia stopped suddenly and turned to look around uncertainly. A stylishly dressed older woman with dark blue hair was walking unhurriedly towards her. She stopped, smiled politely, and spoke again. "He's taken, and he has no interest in anyone else. All the nurses have tried without success." Her smile became more amused at this thought.
"I… I do not know what you are talking about," Nadia said a little stiffly, trying not to flush with embarrassment. She quickly turned and continued up the stairs. The other woman just followed her into the building.
When Nadia walked over to look at the building directory, the other woman passed her and kept walking down the hall. "Good morning, Dr. Mizuno," she heard the nurse at the information desk say brightly as the woman passed. 'Dr. Mizuno, hmm…' she thought to herself as the woman replied politely to the nurse. With narrowed eyes, she committed the name to her memory.
Finally, she focused her gaze on the directory once more and carefully studied the kanji. With a nod, she turned and made her way to the elevators that would take her to the third floor and the administration office. Wistfully, she wondered if she would ever see the handsome man again.
"Dr. Tsukino."
"Yes?" Mamoru made a final notation in the chart he was updating, and then looked up. Quickly, he closed the chart and bowed to his mentor. "Dr. Norita, good morning." He looked curiously at the woman who was standing beside the older doctor. Her height, in particular, caught his attention. She appeared to be surprised by something.
"Dr. Tsukino, this is Dr. Shibaatsukuraare," Dr. Norita said speaking a little more slowly than usual and fumbling his way through the difficult name. Although she winced slightly, she made no move to help or correct him. "She is the new chief administrator for the interns at the hospital." He turned towards Nadia. "And this is Dr. Tsukino, one of our most promising new interns. He works with me in the Trauma Ward."
"How do you do," she said in heavily accented Japanese as she bowed politely to the handsome man she had been looking for all morning. She had almost despaired that he was a visitor and not a doctor, but now here he was. She had to fight to keep the excitement out of her voice. "I am Nadia Schwartzkralle. It is nice to meet you."
"Mamoru Tsukino," he replied as he bowed politely in return. "It is nice to meet you, Dr. Schwartzkralle."
Nadia's eyes widened with pleasure as she heard him pronounce her name properly and without difficulty. "Do you, perhaps, speak German, Dr. Tsukino?"
"Only a little bit," he replied politely with a shake of his head. "I had an acquaintance in college from West Germany, and he taught me a few words along with some general pronunciation guides. I do not think I am up to carrying on a conversation in German."
"Oh," she replied sounding a little disappointed. Then she smiled at him. "You do a good job with the pronunciation. I hope I can continue your lessons in the future."
Mamoru and Dr. Norita blinked, a little unsure if she had meant that the way it had sounded or if she had somehow messed up in translation. Deciding to assume it was a mistake, Mamoru bowed politely to her. "I look forward to it. If you will excuse me, I need to visit a patient now."
"Certainly," Dr. Norita said as he waved the younger man away. "If you will come this way, Dr. Shibaatsukuraare?"
Nadia resisted the urge to look wistfully over her shoulder at Mamoru. 'Mamoru… Mamoru Tsukino…' she thought, and a smile grew on her face. She decided that she was going to love her new job.
"Usa? Are you home?" Mamoru ran a weary hand through his hair as he waited for his wife to pick up the phone. After a few seconds of silence, he sighed. "Luna? Usako? Is anyone there?" He waited several more seconds and then decided that his wife had gone to Rei's shrine again. Not that he could blame her. He had been putting in more and more overtime lately, and she was a social person. He was glad she had such good friends to stay with, especially when he recalled the mysterious pain she had been having lately.
"I have to work late again tonight. I'm sorry, I know I promised to try and get home on time, but something came up. I'll see you when I get there, okay? Until then..." Reluctantly, he hung up the phone. He hated lying to her, but he was too embarrassed to tell her the truth.
Apparently, Dr. Schwartzkralle had truly meant what she said about continuing his German lessons, and since he had agreed (in front of a witness at that), he was finding it very difficult to turn her down. Reluctantly, he made his way towards her office and the hour of "torture" he was going to have to endure before he could check on his patients one final time for the night and go home to his beautiful wife.
If it were just the German, he wouldn't have worried about it so much. He wasn't as good as Ami at languages, but he generally picked up the basics pretty quickly. Secretly, he wondered if it was a hold-over from his days as the Prince of the Earth all those centuries ago. Surely, when he was Endymion he had needed to know many languages.
No, although he would have preferred to wait until after he finished his stressful internship, it wasn't the language lessons that bothered him. It was the teacher. Mamoru was beginning to suspect, quite strongly, that she had had an ulterior motive in mind when she had pressured him into this.
Slowly, she had begun to invade his personal space. It seemed so innocent: leaning over his shoulder to show him something in the text book, leaning closer to listen to his pronunciation, accidentally touching his hand when she took something from him. But although he had responded negatively each time, she continued. And now, she was starting to ask personal questions.
He had to force his hand up to knock on the door. He, who had never shirked any duty, desired or not, could barely bring himself to keep this appointment.
"Enter," he heard her call in Japanese. Slowly, he opened the door and walked into the office. He made sure to leave it open as he always did.
"Ah, Mamoru! Tag!" she exclaimed with a smile as she looked up from her paperwork and switched to German. "Is it that time already? My how time flies. Come in, come in." She quickly put her pen down and pushed back her chair. A shadow crossed her face when she glanced at the door, but she made no move toward it. The one time she had tried to close it and give them some privacy, he had politely reopened it again. She made her way to the table she had set up for their lesson and sat down in her seat. Mamoru nodded a greeting and reluctantly took his own.
Forty five minutes later, he grit his teeth and glared at his book when she leaned over to explain an example to him. He had moved away from her several times, but she had followed him around the table. He felt himself pale, however, when he heard someone behind him clear their throat.
"Ah... Dr. Schwartzkralle?"
Nadia paused for a few more seconds, relishing the look on Mamoru's face before she leaned back and looked towards the door. 'Right on time,' she thought to herself. "Yes, Nurse Takao? Can I help you?"
"I... I'm sorry to interrupt," the young girl said with a blush as she stared at the two doctors. "I thought... I thought you wanted to see me?"
Nadia blinked in innocent surprise. "Wasn't that...", she looked at her watch, "an hour from now?"
Nurse Takao's blush deepened. "Oh. Of course. I'm so sorry. I'll come back later," she said as she bowed rapidly. Her hand fumbled behind her and grasped the door knob. As she made her way out of the room, she pulled it closed. "I'm so sorry."
Mamoru stiffened when he heard the latch click, and slowly looked at his superior out of the corner of his eye. Dr. Schwartzkralle just shook her head with a sigh and turned back to the book once more. "I swear, that girl needs an organizer. Now, where were we?"
Stiffly, Mamoru stood up. "I'm afraid I need to go check on my patients, Dr. Schwartzkralle. Perhaps another night?"
"Oh. So early? Of course," she said, acting surprised. "How about tomorrow? I do believe I am free at the same time." She stood up and walked unhurriedly over to her desk. "Oh, no. Never mind," she said as she looked at her organizer. "I have a meeting then. But it is only an hour, and then I am free. Shall I pencil you in?"
"No, that's all right. I think I need to take a break. I haven't been able to spend any time with my wife recently," he replied stiffly. He started to bow and take his leave.
"Oh, don't give up yet," she cajoled with a knowing smile. He stopped mid-bow. "You are doing so well. I know it's getting a bit harder, but if you just work at it you can get it." She knew both the challenge and the innuendo would get him. The question was, how would he react.
Slowly, he rose back up and looked at her with cold eyes. "I'm sure I can. But it won't be for some time," he said stiffly. "Now, if you will excuse me." He quickly made his way to the door and opened it. His face tightened more when he saw another intern jerk back startled with one hand raised in the air. The other man drew back with a soft hiss of fear when he saw the look in Mamoru's eyes, and quickly stepped aside.
He stared after Mamoru for a moment, and then slowly made his way into Dr. Schwartzkralle's office. His eyes widened with shock when he saw her hunched behind her desk, her face buried in her hands. "Dr. Schwartzkralle? Doctor, are you all right?"
She stiffened, and then made a show of turning around and wiping off her face. "Of... Of course," she said in a choked voice. "What... What can I do for you, Dr. Igarashi?"
"Did you hear?" Nurse Takao said softly to the nurse behind the desk. "About Dr. Tsukino and Dr. Schwartzkralle?"
"Yeah," he softly replied. "Isn't it amazing? I hear he has a beautiful wife at home. How low can he get?"
"It's even better than that," an older nurse whispered as she looked around cautiously. "Not only did he... But he dumped her, too." As they looked at her in shock, she nodded her head vigorously. "Dr. Igarashi told me. He said he found her crying and when he asked her why she said..." her voice got even softer, and her fellow nurses leaned in closer to hear. Their eyes widened in shock, and they turned to stare at her. She nodded again. "That's what he said she said..."
"Wow... I never would have thought Dr. Tsukino could be so heartless," Nurse Takao said softly, her gentle brown eyes wide. The male nurse just looked thoughtful.
"He might..." he said softly. "He does have a cold streak in him. I could almost see him doing that..."
Suddenly, Nurse Takao frowned and shook her head. "No. No, I don't believe it. I don't care who told you that," she said defensively to the older nurse, "Dr. Tsukino wouldn't do that."
The older woman merely shrugged her shoulders. "Men do crazy things, especially when they're young interns working crazy hours. And I got it from Dr. Igarashi who got it directly from Dr. Schwartzkralle."
Nurse Takao shook her head stubbornly again. "No, I won't believe it."
Dr. Mizuno gave her resident assistant a curious look. "Dr. Tsukino? Yes, I've met him. What about him?"
Dr. Hanemura gave her an uncomfortable look and shifted a little nervously. "Did... Did you hear what he supposedly did to Dr. Schwartzkralle?" Dr. Mizuno raised one dark eyebrow. "The rumor is that he... he..."
Dr. Mizuno began to smile a little sardonically at the flustered girl. "It's a lie."
"Eh? Then you did hear?"
"No, I have no idea what rumor is going around. But if it involves something about Dr. Tsukino that you can't bring yourself to say out loud, it must not be true. I've never met a more... honorable man in my life."
"Usako? Are you ready to go?" Mamoru called impatiently from the living area as he slipped into his dress jacket.
"Yes..." his wife replied, sounding a little uncertain. When he turned to look at her, she had a doubtful look on her face. He took a few minutes to admire the vision before him. In the sleek, dark blue, tea length gown, she did not look like a girl who had just graduated from high school. Instead, she looked very much like the sophisticated woman that he knew her to be. He smiled when he realized that she had not changed her hairstyle. Somehow, she made it look right with the outfit.
"Do... Do I look all right?" she asked hesitantly as she lifted a graceful hand to the starburst necklace around her neck. "It's not too tight or anything, is it?"
Mamoru shook his head and walked over to her. Slowly, he slid his arms around her and drew her up against him. "No... I may have to find my sword to keep all the other young doctors away, but it's not too tight." She giggled and snuggled into him. "Don't worry, you'll be fine," he whispered in her ear. She sighed and nodded her head against his dress shirt. "Ready?" She nodded again and slowly pulled away. Chivalrously, he helped her into her wrap.
Some time later, they arrived at the restaurant where the hospital's annual awards dinner was being held. Although Mamoru was not up for an award, his mentor was and so he had been invited to attend. When they entered into the ballroom where the pre-dinner social was being held, Mamoru felt Usagi shiver a little with nervousness. He had to smile as he drew her closer. 'This is the woman who defeated Metalia, Wiseman, Nehelenia, and Galaxia? The woman who saved the universe, even if most of its inhabitants don't realize it? How can she be scared of such a mundane gathering?'
He leaned down closer to her, his eyes shining with love and amusement. "Look over there. Isn't that Queen Beryl?" he murmured in her ear. She gave a gasp and looked in the direction he indicated. Then, she frowned up at him and gave him a reluctant chuckle.
"I can't help it," she whispered back. "I want to be perfect for you."
"You are perfect," he whispered as he stood back up. He caught one glimpse of her shining azure eyes before he turned to greet his mentor and introduce her. All around them, people were whispering in surprise.
After introducing her to several other doctors, Mamoru left her with Ami's mother while he went to fetch her a drink from the bar. While Dr. Mizuno was distracted by another guest, Usagi studied her surroundings with an excited smile.
"Is that really his wife?" she heard someone say softly off to her left. "Wow, she really is as beautiful as they say."
"He cheated on her? What, is he blind or something?" another voice exclaimed softly in return. "If she were my wife, there would be no way I would look at someone else." Curiously, Usagi began to look discreetly around the room, trying to find out who they were talking about.
"I thought she was younger, though," another voice said joining the conversation. "Wasn't she in high school or something?" Usagi's eyes widened as she realized that they were talking about her. She knew that she was the youngest person in the room. "Maybe he's found another mistress and that's why he broke it off with Dr. Schwartzkralle."
"That high school thing does sound familiar," the first voice said thoughtfully. "Maybe he did. Huh. I hear his wife is a blonde, too. Maybe he just prefers them." Usagi began to frown, and turned to look for the speakers. "Uh-oh..." the first voice said as he realized he'd been caught. All Usagi saw was three young men ducking away from her, hiding behind other patrons.
"Are you going to believe them?" Dr. Mizuno asked curiously as she saw Usagi's face and guessed what had happened.
Usagi turned to look at her with a troubled face. "He has been working long hours lately,... or so he's said..." She sounded as uncertain as she looked as she turned the events of the past six months over in her head. "He's been so tired and tense... And, he doesn't like to talk about work anymore." She paused. "Not that he ever did much to begin with," she finally conceeded with a slight nod, "but it's even less now."
Dr. Mizuno watched with concern when Usagi gazed towards her husband with troubled eyes. "Why? Why didn't he tell me?" the younger woman asked, sounding hurt and confused.
"Usagi-san..." Dr. Mizuno started to say, and then stopped when Usagi shook her head.
"No, he should have told me," the younger woman said softly but emphatically. She fixed her eyes on her husband, who was walking back towards them with three drinks in his hands. "Why didn't he tell me? Didn't I have a right to know?"
Finally, she ripped her eyes away and turned back to the older woman. "Which one is she?" she asked painfully. "Which one is Dr. Shi... Doctor..."
"Usagi-san, calm down," Dr. Mizuno said as she laid a gentle hand on the younger woman's arm. "You know Mamoru-san wouldn't..."
"Which one is she?" Usagi whispered fiercely, cutting her off.
Dr. Mizuno blinked in surprise, and then reluctantly turned to point out the woman in question. "Really, Usagi-san, you can't believe..."
"Here you are, Dr. Mizuno," Mamoru said as he held out one glass. "White Zinfandel, correct? A glass of Coca-Cola for Usako... What's wrong?" he asked. His eyes narrowed in concern when he realized that his wife was quite upset.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Usagi demanded as she took the glass away from him. He gave her a puzzled frown, while the people closest to them drew back and watched avidly. "Why?"
"Tell you what, Usako?"
"About Doctor... Doctor..." She turned helplessly to Dr. Mizuno, who reluctantly said Dr. Schwartzkralle's name once more. "Her. Why didn't you tell me about her?"
"Usako..."
"Didn't you think I had a right to know? Didn't you..." Her voice softened abruptly, and tears filled her eyes. "Didn't you trust me?"
"Of course I trust you," he exclaimed softly as he looked at their audience. "You know that," he added as he looked into her eyes. "Usako, what happened?"
She studied him seriously for several long seconds, and then nodded and turned her gaze to Dr. Schwartzkralle. Slowly, she pushed by her husband and walked over to the tall woman. She ignored all the people around her as more and more of them realized what was going on and turned to watch the show.
"Doctor? May I speak with you for a moment?" Usagi asked quietly.
Dr. Schwartzkralle turned around, startled, and looked down into her now dry eyes. "Yes? How may I help you, Miss...?"
"Tsukino. Usagi Tuskino," she replied. She watched the taller woman's pale blue-grey eyes widen in shock. "I believe you know my husband, Dr. Tsukino?"
"Usa," Mamoru said from behind her. He did not touch her, however. He merely slid into place beside her. "Usa, what's going on? What happened?"
"I've just heard the most impossible rumor," Usagi said. Although she did not raise her voice, it carried quiet clearly to the audience around her. "It appears someone thinks that you and my husband are having an affair."
Dr. Schwartzkralle stared at the smaller woman in shock, and then glanced around at all of the doctors, interns, and spouses who were watching them. "An... An..."
"Affair," Usagi said smoothly as Mamoru looked at her in shock, and then turned to glare icily at Dr. Schwartzkralle. "I don't know how such a strange rumor got started, but I'm sure that you agree it is quite impossible." Usagi turned to look up at her furious husband. "Mamoru loves me," she said simply, drawing his eyes down to hers. A small smile played around the corners of her mouth. "Throughout all time and brainwashing," she said very softly.
The smile faded as she turned back to Dr. Schwartzkralle. "I just wanted to say that I will do my best to squash this rumor," she told the older woman. "I'm sure you do not want it flying around any more than I do, so I would appreciate your help."
Dr. Schwartzkralle could not believe her ears. Not only was the younger woman certain that her husband was innocent, she was assuming that Nadia was a victim, too. For a long moment, she did not know how to respond. Those azure blue eyes just looked up at her calmly and patiently. Mamoru's cold, ocean blue eyes, however, quietly said that he knew very well where the rumor had started and that she should accept this truce before he changed his mind. She shivered in trepidation. "Um... Thank... Thank you," she finally said. "Of... of course I will help you," she choked out. "I'm... I'm sure it was just... just a misunderstanding..."
Usagi smiled brightly. "Of course," she replied. "Thank you. I will trust you with it." And then, she put her hand on Mamoru's arm and drew him away back across the room to Dr. Mizuno.
Dr. Mizuno was trying very hard not to shake her head in amazement. Sometimes, her daughter's best friend seemed too good and trusting to be true. But as she studied Dr. Schwartzkralle's face, she decided that for her, it worked.
