Disclaimers: As per usual, don't own characters or series but writing and idea is my own.

Author's Note: Special thanks to SailorMoonForever and moonlover46 for the quick reviews. I feel honored that this story was recognized and added to a Community. Thanks again SailorMoonForever!

I realize the last chapter did not flow as well as it should have. Once the story is done (or maybe in the middle of a writer's block), I will go back and edit all of the previous chapters. Maybe move the storyline around. So any comments you can give me about anything that sounds odd or out of place or doesn't make sense will help me greatly.

I'm starting to feel that it may be lost cause though.


Ch. 7

The sound made him jump.

Only then did he realize he had been standing there like an idiot, open mouthed. He grimaced, running a hand through his hair. This is turning out to be a real wonderful day, he thought sarcastically. He wasn't sure if his head could take anymore beatings.

Sighing, he closed the curtain again. He would have to wipe down the floor. There was water everywhere now. So much for a quick shower.


Usagi stood there clutching the door frame. Oh my god oh mygod ohmygod Her entire body felt like it was on fire. That was so embarrassing. I can't believe I walked in on him like that. She was about ready to cry again. It felt like she could never do anything right.

As much as she wanted to linger on the sight he made, dripping wet . . . he wasn't overly muscular but toned enough that her breath caught in her throat just thinking about. She was crazy. Oh my god, I don't want to do this. Not again, not ever.

She hunched over, pressing her arms into her sides, and pulled the neck of her shirt over her mouth, still breathing heavily from the shock. She blinked and stared at the carpet beneath her toes. She had been obsessed with a guy before, in grade school, and it had been no good then and she knew it would be no good now to start liking a guy who she knew couldn't possibly like her back. Their circles were just too different.

Now what am I going do? It's going to be so awkward after this incident. Just thinking about it was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She decided for a moment just grabbing her stuff and pelting out of there. She could face him another day.

As if he read her thoughts, Mamoru exited the bathroom, rubbing his hair dry with a towel, and almost knocked her over. She turned around quickly, tripping over her own feet in the process as she tried to back away from the door. He reached out to grab her, the towel falling to the floor as it slid off his head.

"Whoa. Careful there."

She turned her face away from him. Something warm and wet landed on the hand holding her arm. It took him a second to realize that something was dripping onto him and a few more before it dawned on him what it was that was dripping on him.

"Usagi?" She still refused to look at him. "Are you crying?"

She shook her head vehemently.

"Hey now," Mamoru said, as he gently guided her chin towards him. He brushed aside stray strands of hair and tried to wipe away some of the tears. All he succeeded in doing was spreading the tears across a larger area of her face. Usagi laughed at his sad attempt before bursting into full-fledged sobs. He awkwardly held her to him as she cried into his shirt.


What the hell was going on upstairs? Puzzled, Tenshi climbed the carpeted steps to the second floor. She almost expected Mamoru to be in a brawl with all the banging and thumping she heard.

Poking her head around the corner, she nearly fell over in surprise. She knew the chances of her brother being that close to a girl was like having green eggs for breakfast. . . . Okay, maybe not the best example; there is something called food coloring. But then again, it was sort of like having green eggs for breakfast. It was unexpected but not impossible.

Her head was starting to hurt just thinking about it. It didn't make sense even if it was possible. She spent enough time going on errands and outings with him to know that he tended to drive away any girls that got close to him. Not that I could blame him. They can be pariah-like at times but still, Mamoru-'nii-chan shouldn't have a perpetual scowl on his face. Otherwise he'll even start frowning at me when he doesn't mean to. She pouted at the thought. Even now, he still seemed out of place with the girl in his arms.

"Mamoru-'nii-chan . . . lunch is ready," she called out.

The pair jerked their heads in her direction as they jumped at the sound of her voice. "Oh," Mamoru mumbled. He took a step backwards, although it seemed pointless as Usagi had already treaded herself into the opposite wall of the hallway and was trying unsuccessfully to hide the fact that she was wiping furiously at her eyes. "Um, thanks . . . "

Tenshi's hair flew as she bounded over to them. Sticking her hand out with a wide smile on her face, she said, "I'm Tenshi. Onii-chan hasn't been giving you that scowl of his, has he?"

Usagi blinked at her. "Scowl?"

"Yes, what 'scowl' are you talking about?" Mamoru was now frowning at her, as if trying to say Don't go putting thoughts into her head.

Tenshi giggled. "Yup. See? He's already doing it."

The blonde's lips quirked up even as she was trying not to let herself bubble over with mirth. "Ohhhhh. That scowl."

At this, the 'scowl' only deepened further. "Are you two bonding? Should I be watching my back from now on?"

The two girls looked at each other, grinning, before turning back to him and replying, "Maybe."

Mamoru shuddered. Alone both of them had caused him to hit his head today. He did not want to imagine what kind of trauma they would cause together. "Come on. You can continue your plotting downstairs. I, for one, am hungry."

He thought with some relief, at least Usagi isn't feeling so down anymore. I wonder if this is what's really behind that happy-go-lucky smile of hers. But as much as she was sad underneath the surface, she still had a goofy personality that showed itself quite often. Almost as if it is willing her to brighten up and forget the bad.

He watched her talk to his sister on their way to the kitchen, unable to tear his eyes away from the glowing spirit that was Usagi.