Not much to say about this chapter... I hope you guys like it? It's kind of weird lol... Please review! I read all of your reviews and they really keep me going.
Thank you to all of you who have so far!
~angelina
The air was just beginning to get chilly, and the sky was dark. Yellow lamps lit the street and bathed everything in an eery amber glow. It was late enough that most people were already in the places they needed to be…. restaurants, bars, or their homes. The few people who were out were unfortunates who were scattered about, sleeping under stairs or on benches. Other than the constant hum of cars from the nearby highway, the street was quiet.
Usagi could see lightning bugs blinking in and out of existence in the grass close to where she was standing. She was leaning on a wooden post, waiting for the bus to show up. In the orange haze of the lamp, she looked like a fairy caught in a bubble of amber. She pulled out her phone and pressed a few keys, glaring when it didn't respond. Her battery had died over an hour ago.
The blonde let out a slow, heavy breath of air and squeezed her eyes shut, trying to stop herself from thinking. She felt exhausted. After running out of Mamoru's house, she had stumbled blindly down side street after side street and gotten lost. It had only been luck that she'd been able to find a bus she recognized. It wouldn't take her to her home, but it would take her close enough. Walking in the dark wasn't an ideal situation, and she was reminded that Mako had offered her pepper spray which she had readily turned down. She hadn't thought she'd be getting in any dangerous situations.
But now, listening to the steady sound of traffic, the echoing laughter that seemed to come from the dark alleys around her, and the infrequent rustle from the many bushes, Usagi thought she might have done better to take it.
Her heart hurt almost more than she could bear. She had felt something, something so unspeakably wonderful in her chest, when he had kissed her. It seemed to her that her soul had risen inside of her, stolen her breath away, and left her feeling strangely elated\.
He had kissed her.
He had leaned his head over and pressed his lips to hers, and it had felt so right that she hadn't even thought to question it.
And when its as over, her mind had recoiled against the onslaught of emotion, bringing tears to her eyes and weakness to her knees. It wasn't fair. In some way, Mamoru seemed so profoundly good. Was it just a fleeting attraction? An infatuation? His expression after she'd brought up what Minako had told her had answered the unspoken question.
She hadn't wanted it to be true, but it was. Mamoru had killed one of Minako's friends.
"Never forget that life's greatest gift is love." Usagi whispered to herself, thinking back on the beginning of this summer. She'd lived so peacefully, out in the fields with her grandmother. Was it always like this? Moving to a new place, finding new people who were important only to see the harsh truth about them? The city had so much more darkness than the country did. She could almost feel it, pulsing beneath her. An evil that wouldn't die, no matter how many times you tried to kill it.
The sound of a motorcycle brought her out of her thoughts and she looked up, startled as it stopped in front of her. She felt her legs tense, ready to run. The rider pulled off a red helmet and shook its head. A cascade of black hair, violet eyes that looked black from a distance.
"Usagi, I'm glad I found you." Rei's voice was cool and her demeanor calm, but Usagi could tell that she was agitated.
"How did you find me?" She asked suspiciously, and then frowned when the other girl only shrugged. "Did Mamoru send you?"
"No, Minako did. She's been trying to call you all afternoon. Mako went to your place and you weren't there…everyone's worried." Even as she said this, Rei was pulling out her phone, pressing a few buttons and frowning when she got the busy tone.
"Well I'm fine."
"I stopped by Mamoru's place, and Mizuki said that the idiot had upset you in some way but she'd sent him to find you…" She put her phone away and held out her extra helmet, "Come on, I'll take you home."
The blonde watched the other girl warily, trying to sense her intentions. They hadn't left each other's company on the best terms, last time. After a few moments of silence, Usagi relented strapped the helmet on, getting on the bike and circling her arms around Rei. The ride back was surprisingly peaceful. The cool air felt good on Usagi's skin, and she found herself enjoying the scenery. She found herself briefly wishing that she was better friends with this girl. Even if she did associate with people she shouldn't. Surely Rei didn't know what had happened, right?
When they arrived, Usagi invited the raven haired girl into her house and was rewarded with a rare smile. She unlocked her door and let them in, pushing her cat away from the doorway and hurrying to the kitchen so she could feed it.
"I didn't know you had a cat."
"I don't, really…I mean, she just showed up one day…I haven't even named her." Usagi chattered while she pulled out the cat food and placing it on the floor. Rei was leaning against the kitchen doorframe, watching as the cat greedily dug into its food.
"She looks like a Luna, don't you think?" Rei suggested, bending down to stroke her back. Usagi tilted her head, considering.
"Doesn't that mean moon? She'd have to be the new moon, in that case…" She smiled slightly and shook her head, "But you're right, she does look like a Luna. You're good at naming things."
Rei let her eyes rove around the room, lingering here and there. The silence they settled into wasn't uncomfortable, each were swimming in their own thoughts. Rei broke it first though.
"You're blushing." She commented, pushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. Usagi had been staring into space, slowly turning pinker. She let out a startled laugh.
"Jeez, I am? I'm such a space case right now." Usagi muttered, touching her face and shaking her head. She bent and pulled her phone out of her purse, connecting it to an outlet. "Sorry, I'm just lost in my own thoughts."
"I don't suppose it has to do with the fact that you were at Mamoru's earlier, does it?" Rei teased gently, and then raised an eyebrow when Usagi went from pink to bright red.
"No, it's not—" She stopped, twisting a piece of hair automatically and then ducked her head down. "You and he used to date, didn't you?"
"That's right."
"Do you think you could…tell me more about him? I just realized I know next to nothing about him even though…" Usagi looked up, feeling her face get uncomfortably hot and then looked away, "Well, it doesn't matter. I'll make us some tea and we can sit down and watch a movie or something."
"I'll tell you about him." Rei said with an amused smile. "Even better. I'll tell you about his mom."
When they were comfortably settled, she began.
Mizuki had come from one of the richest families in Tokyo, daughter of two powerful business tycoons who spent most of their time away at work and none of their time raising their daughter. Not that she minded, she had maids to raise her and all the money she could ever want, as long as she kept her grades up. At fifteen she was kidnapped by yakuza. Her parents paid the fee quickly, but the experience left her shaken. She no longer did well in school, she had no interest in her friends.
She developed an unhealthy obsession with the crime syndicates in Tokyo. People who knew her said she slowly became withdrawn, and was found more often in areas that were dangerous for young girls. She dismissed the staff who waited on her, and hired new people. Dangerous men and women that seemed more like her guards then her maids and chauffeurs.
Though they were slow to notice the change in their daughter, the Chiba family did eventually take note. Their sweet, quiet daughter had become a delinquent, seemingly overnight. There were disturbing rumors that she had been seen at the scene of various crimes. These the Chiba family quickly silenced, but not before they'd done their damage. They cut off their daughter from their funds, and sent her to a psychologist, hoping she'd get better. For awhile, it seemed to work. Mizuki was once again going to school regularly, once again getting the highest grades in school. Their perfect daughter had returned.
It lasted until graduation. Three years of secrets paid off. In a coup that would later be described as ruthless and impossibly fast, Mizuki took over the yakuza clan that had kidnapped her. She spent the next five years trying to unify the remaining four clans under her banner. It took a lot of work and subterfuge, but she finally managed it. All five yakuza clans were under her command.
Rei fell silent, staring quietly down into her tea. Usagi was leaning forward with wide eyes, hugging her knees as she listened to the story.
"And then?" She asked.
"And then she disbanded all of them."
"What?! Why? She worked so hard to get there!" Usagi asked indignantly, momentarily forgetting that they were in fact talking about dangerous gangs and not just regular business acquisitions.
"I don't know. She never told me." Rei admitted with a small smile, "I always thought it was maybe because Mamoru had been born….but he wasn't born until later, so it's not that."
"Maybe it has something to do with her legs…?"
"No, that was more recent." Rei's expression darkened, "Two years ago. A member of the old guard had a grudge, and pushed her off a balcony."
Usagi covered her mouth, "That's terrible." She whispered.
"After that happened Mamoru decided the yakuza had been given enough free reign, of course…but he's had to start from scratch. There are a few people that remember Mizuki but not many that are loyal to her anymore… especially not after her injury."
"And…where do the youma come into it?" Usagi was beginning to piece things together. Information that she had been missing, questions that she'd had…all were beginning to settle.
"We don't exactly know. They began to appear when I was sixteen… An evil presence in Tokyo that I couldn't explain. Mamoru and his friends felt it too…it was lucky he'd already taken over one of the yakuza clans, because information was getting to him a lot quicker. We quickly realized it was a pattern and now…"
Rei trailed off for a moment before shaking her head, "We're doing all we can to try to stop them, but it's hard Usagi. It was fine when it was just one or two, but now they're taking over multitudes at a time. You saw what happens to the ones we defeat. They turn to dust and vanish, only to come back in more numbers than before. We haven't had a week off in ages…"
The room was silent save for the ticking of the clock, and then a loud buzzing sound came from the kitchen interrupted their thoughts. Usagi hopped up and ran to get her phone, picking it up and wincing when she heard the voice at the other end.
"MINA I'm FINE. Relax it's not— You're what—?"
Her question was answered when the door slammed open and two completely panicked looking intruders entered her home. Minako and Mamoru were at her door, both looking pale and shaken. When Mamoru caught sight of Usagi he let out a breath and slumped on the wall with a groan. The relief in his posture was apparent was apparent.
Minako showed her relief in a different way, namely by grabbing Usagi by the shoulders and shaking her back and forth like a terrier.
"I. Am going. To Kill. You." She hissed before letting go and enveloping her in the tight energetic hugs that only Minako was able to give.
"Wh—What are you…what are you doing here?" Usagi asked as she pulled away, "What are you doing here together?"
"That's a good question." Rei asked, joining the group with an incredulous expression on her face. "I've been trying to get a hold of both of you to tell you where we are but I've gotten a busy signal for the last hour."
"What?" Minako was already pulling out her phone, checking her missed calls. Mamoru groaned and covered his face with his hands.
"We were on the phone." He muttered.
"What?" Minako said again, glaring at him before turning back to her phone. "Why didn't I get any of these?! I have like 8 missed calls from Rei!"
"Minako we were on the phone, we were calling other people trying to find her, that's why it was busy." He said, looking up at the ceiling and shaking his head. Minako stopped, her mouth open slightly before making an indecipherable noise from the back of her throat.
"Hey! You didn't answer my question! What are you guys so worked up about? And why are you…" Usagi flapped her hand at both of them, "Together?"
"We're not together!" Minako hissed, causing Rei to snort loudly. "Mamoru came to my house in a panic because he lost Usagi so we decided to look for her, that's all."
"Mina you worry to much, I was totally fine!" Usagi said with an embarrassed blush. Mamoru had been in a panic about her?
"You're totally fine?!" Minako sounded slightly hysterical, her own cheeks were starting to turn red, "Oh, right! Totally fine! I'm going home right after this, she said. But somehow she ends up at this jerk off's house—" She took a moment to point at Mamoru, who glared back at her with undisguised irritation. "And then runs away—"
"Well don't point at me like it was my fault!" Mamoru interrupted, "None of this would have happened if a certain Odango-Baka hadn't decided to take a midnight walk out in the most dangerous neighborhood in Juuban."
"Oh please, Chiba, it was nowhere near midnight and I'm perfectly fine! As you can BOTH see!" Her hands were on her hips now as she scowled at them, "You're both psychotic. I was fine on my own."
It was Mamoru's turn to get upset, and he laughed loudly and sarcastically at her proclamation. "Right. Fine. She walks around in a neighborhood where two groups of warring yakuza live, and she's fine. Nothing alarming about that, she's perfectly okay."
"Shut up Chiba! If she says she was fine, she was fine!" Minako said, rounding on him and mirroring Usagi's posture. Mamoru practically turned purple, and looked like he had to fight the urge to strangle her. Rei stepped in front of him and touched his shoulder.
"Mamoru relax." She hissed, glancing nervously at the pair of blondes behind them.
"Yeah Mamoru, relax." Usagi mimicked, feeling a kind of twisted pleasure as she taunted him. It was replaced by uncertainty when he actually did relax. He closed his eyes tightly and let out a breath, before staring at her for a seemingly endless amount of seconds. Those blue eyes threatened to engulf her.
"Yeah. Okay. I'm glad you're okay, Usagi." He said quietly, before glancing at the pair of girls between him and her uneasily. "I've got things to do. I'll see you at school."
Usagi tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach or the flush that was creeping up her neck as he closed the door behind him.
"Like hell you will." She heard Minako mutter under her breath. It made a chill crawl up her spine.
"Ah. Sorry I have to...I'll be right back." Usagi mumbled, before rushing out the door.
"You've got a hell of a battle ahead of you if you want to keep them away from each other." Rei said as she stared after her princess.
"It's one I'm willing to fight." Minako said quietly, blue eyes hard, "I wont let the past happen again."
"Mamoru!" Usagi called out after the raven haired boy and stopped short of crashing into him when he turned around. Now that he was facing her, the words she wanted to say seemed to die in her throat. Her mind was in a jumble and her nerves seemed even more confused.
"Usagi." He said with a crooked smile, hands in his pockets as he looked down at her petite form.
"I just. I wanted to say, about earlier-" She stopped, feeling flustered by the way he was looking at her. His eyes were practically burning into her. "What I said..."
"You told me to stay away from you." He said simply.
"Yes. That's right. I still...I still want that." Usagi wanted the earth to swallow her up. "Minako is my best friend, and she-"
"Minako!" He laughed bitterly, "I know all about Minako, don't worry about that." He reached out and brushed her bangs with his fingers. The moment of contact was too much, and he couldn't seem to draw his hand away, it traced the shape of her face, all the way back to her pink ears and then down to her chin. He leaned closer automatically but then stopped, his body tense and unhappy. "Go back inside, Usa."
She had stopped breathing momentarily, as if she'd forgotten how, but at the use of her name she gasped, taking a step back.
"Mamoru... I'm sorry." The apology was all she was able to squeak out before running back inside.
He watched her go inside and shook his head unhappily, running his fingers through his hair, "No, I'm sorry." He murmured as he walked towards his bike, "Because not even death can make me stay away from you."