Title: Tears Under My Pillow
Author: aquaxeyes
Rating: T, but I drop the "F" bomb a lot in this one
Full Description: Typical story about cheating. Chiba Mamoru and Usagi are envied by every one of their friends for what looks like a match made in heaven. Little do they know that behind their blissful marriage is a disloyal husband and a bitter wife, one who's decided she's had enough.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story.


I would like to thank: midnightgale, PriestessHelene, Krys7, rosebudjamie, UsaMamo4eva, lil miss child, JinnShadow, Kitty, starangel07, svgurl410, serenity11287, midnight blue08, gina, Serenity Komoshiro, v1cky84, sailormoon-is-eternal, lilcatfish96, anon., APRIL26, LauraDrazen, Heraldo, blackacess, Hellica, Calindy, melis, pinkcar, alisa, Moonlight Usagi-chan, raye85, jean, CerridwenStorms, Alessia, Spriteofice, yingfacherryblossom, Sasha Franco, Jingy5, supersaiyanx, TrueDestiny, Skye, anokas2757, hit60, mystic soilder, RoyalLovers1418, Kelevandras, MoonPrincess568, IVIE, a.k.a ettie, S dot Serenity, BelieveTheWarIsOver, irishlady18, skye668, Star Garden, fireangel621, .xCuriousx., Piper Of Locksley, death-by-sugar, rainbabie, pink.puffcloud, Megan Consoer, SkylerKnight, Glazya Yuy, Ann, iron chefs lady, and sailormoonluver101 for the support!

Author's Notes: I didn't realize how long it's been since I've updated any of my stories! It's been due to the fact that I'm taking summer classes and, balanced with my two jobs I've barely had time to go on FF. Hope you guys understand!

I haven't come up with a new Mamoru/Usagi scene, so I'm posting this little snippet in the hopes of placating you until I've got something substantial.


Brief Intermission.


He closed the door softly, turning to her. Her back faced him. He couldn't ignore her silence, or the way her shoulders quivered uncontrollably. Yes, he knew. He could read his wife like his own thoughts. She was scared, and more than a little nervous.

"Do you want to tell me something?"

She jumped when he spoke and turned to face him. "What?"

"You look like you want to say something," he observed, watching her wave of expressions.

She finally decided on a smile. One that was stretched without any real feeling. "No, not really," she said.

He stared at her, long and hard. He didn't like what he saw. It was too startlingly disturbing. For a second he wondered if he should just leave her alone, that perhaps she was tired and stressed by what had happened at the Chiba residence.

He must've been lacking sympathy because he couldn't stop himself from speaking up. "Then I'll do the talking. I noticed you were quiet during the entire drive back, and it wasn't because you were surprised, at least not entirely. I thought it was about the state we left Mamoru and Usagi-chan in. I know it made me concerned because, in all the years I've known them I'd never seen them fight, or raise their voices at each other. It worries me, thinking if they're all right. But what's making me sick is this sinking feeling that you know what they were fighting about."

Reika's eyes had widened into saucers with every sentence he spoke. By the time he was done she truly looked like a deer caught in his headlights. That in itself was enough to confirm said sinking feeling. Motoki waited for her to say something, but she didn't. "Can you tell me what's going on, Reika?"

The words barely left his lips and she was sobbing, gasping and holding herself like a lifeline. Chills traveled down Motoki's back, and he moved to hold her. She stepped back. "Reika?"

Something was wrong.

"Reika, you're scaring me."

"Motoki, Motoki," she muttered over and over again, not bothering to wipe her eyes. "I can't do this anymore."

He tried to be gentle with her, but his patience was waning. If Reika knew what happened to his best friends, he wanted to know immediately so he could try and fix it. Not that he would step in.. but it depended on what his wife had to say.. He supposed it would be best to know what exactly it was so he asked, "What could possibly be the matter?"

She seemed to retreat into her own world, but when he went to touch her hand, she recoiled, snapping out of her thoughts. "Don't touch me," she bit out, her eyes still pouring out tears.

Somehow, he wasn't offended. "Reika, I need you to talk to me."

"Usagi-chan.. she hates me."

"That's nonsense," Motoki said.

She looked up at him and glared. "She does. And so should you. Instead you're wonderful to me." Again, she started sobbing.

His face softened fractionally. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Because!" she said, throwing her hands up in frustration.

"Because isn't a valid answer for me to treat my wife like trash."

"That's because you don't know, Motoki." She gulped in air, but she still hiccupped. "I am trash."

There were a thousand questions running through his mind but he chose "Why are you talking like this?" to voice his confusion.

"It's Mamoru," he made out through her sobs.

Mamoru. Not Mamoru-san. Mamoru. Mamoru. He suddenly started feeling defensive. "What about Mamoru?"

"Usagi-chan hates me," Reika said and paused. She shook her head once. "She hates me because she thinks--or thought--this was--is--Mamoru's baby."

Motoki froze. Nothing could describe what he felt. He couldn't imagine anything worse than what his wife just told him. He couldn't possibly fathom the amount of pain slicing through him. Yet he stood there, appearing to be as calm as could be as he asked, "Is she right?"

For two whole seconds Reika just looked at him, not blinking, not moving. "No."

He took a shaky breath, feeling as though the whole world had just started rotating on a different angle. "Are you sure?"

This time, she answered automatically. "I have proof."

That was enough for him, though the relief he felt was miniature in comparison to every other emotion roiling through him. He didn't even know why he was relieved. Was he really supposed to be relieved that his wife was sleeping with his best friend but wound up pregnant with his child? That at the very least they used protection? Who knew? Maybe they didn't. But for her--and Usagi.. god!--to wonder if there was a slight chance that the baby she was carrying was Mamoru's meant that she'd slept with Mamoru more than once. It wasn't just a mistake, or something they both did out of anger. It was consentual.

It was despicable.

"Motoki?"

He turned to Reika, forgetting that she was still in the room, looking at him expectantly. What she expected him to say, he had no clue. So he didn't reply, he just grabbed his keys and walked out of the door without slamming it.

He made it inside the car before he started screaming in pent-up rage. He wanted to hit something, he wanted to throw things. Mamoru. And his wife! When he lost his voice, he turned the car on, slamming it into gear.

Answers. He needed answers. But he couldn't bring himself to look at his wife, much less ask her questions about her affair with his best friend, to get them.


End Intermission.


( Sadness. )