Usagi saw the white and gray hair before she was able to see his face. She didn't need to. She knew who it was. Her stomach plummeted and she felt fear overtake her. A million questions scattered her brain as she took a nervous step backwards. What's he doing here? How did he find me? Was he here the entire time I was in my apartment? Was he watching Mamoru and I? Why-? Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt the heel of her shoe hit the wall behind her. Great, Usagi. Now you're up against a wall. SHIT. "W-what are you doing here, Demande?" She clutched to the bricks in the wall behind her to keep herself erect when she saw the frightening determination in his eyes.

Demande took a confident step forward and positioned his body in front of Usagi's. "I came to clarify myself from earlier." He put his feet on either side of hers and locked eyes with her as he placed his hands on the wall her back was against, effectively trapping her. "Usagi. Since the moment I saw you, I've been completely captivated. You're the most exquisite creature I've ever seen." His hand reached up to stroke Usagi's cheek and she turned her head slightly away. "You cannot deny the connection between us."

Usagi was terrified, but she knew that she couldn't falter. She was smart enough to know when to stand her ground from all of her conflicts with her step-sisters. The minute she showed fear and submitted, he won and this was definitely not a situation she wanted him to win in. Usagi turned her face back and courageously locked her eyes onto his. "How did you know where I lived?"

Demande's features softened at her gaze and he chuckled at her question. "I'm sure you can figure out already that I followed you here. I had to speak to you without other company around. You must understand how I feel…" His fingertips brushed across her jawline and up to her lips. "How much I love you." Usagi's body stiffened and her lips tightened under his touch. Attempting to control herself, she kept her thoughts rational and realistic. I need to regain control. If I let my guard down, especially since I'm alone, there's no telling what could happen.

Usagi lifted up her hands and pushed Demande away from her. "You could have waited until Monday. This is borderline psychotic Demande. We just met each other a few hours ago and you're already crossing boundaries. I can't maintain our new friendship if you continue to act this way. I'm in a relationship already. I'm in love with someone else." Usagi sighed deeply, relieved that Demande had taken a few steps away from her during her small speech.

Demande stroked his jaw with the inside of his hand and raised his eyebrows. "You'd be amazed how similar insanity and love seem when reflected through actions. Although there is a possibility that I'm a man insanely in love. Bold actions are necessary when you see the one you love with someone else, don't you think?" He paused and looked at her as if he waited for a response, then continued, "As for your current love, I'm honestly surprised that you've chosen to be with someone like him, but seeing how it's such a fragile and new relationship, there's room for complications." He shrugged and chuckled. "You'll soon see that I'm the better choice."

Usagi scoffed at his cockiness and rolled her eyes. "I cannot believe that you can be this conceited and so sure of yourself when you don't know a thing about me. You have no idea what I look for in a relationship and it sure as hell isn't anything along the lines of what you have to offer. You need to leave. Now." Usagi made a hostile stance and crossed her arms, waiting for him to take her advice and walk away.

Demande grinned and quickly advanced towards her. "You really think that I'm going to give up that easily?" Usagi froze. She didn't expect him to ignore her rejection; at least, not so quickly. Demande pressed Usagi back up against the wall with his body and brought his face so close to hers that their breath mixed heatedly between them. He brought his hand up to Usagi's jaw and tightened his grip so she couldn't move her head. "We haven't even kissed yet, dear Usagi."

Usagi squealed while trying to clamp her lips shut to keep Demande from them. Her hands were trapped against her chest and she struggled to get free as his nose rubbed against hers. "The second our lips touch, you'll feel it too. I promise." He kissed her nose and brought his lips down in front of hers.

Usagi's body was tense from the pressure Demande held her at and her seizing reaction to his advances, but they seemed to suddenly disappear altogether as Demande's form vanished from her small frame right before he had the opportunity to press his lips against hers.

Mamoru had been waiting at a red light when he happened to look in his rearview mirror and saw Usagi still standing outside her apartment. He raised his eyebrows in worry. What is she doing? She should be going inside. His questions were immediately answered when he saw the silhouette of a man walking towards her. Mamoru's hairs immediately stood up and his whole body tingled. What the hell?!

The light turned green and Mamoru switched lanes to the far left as quickly as traffic would allow him. He was finally able to make a U-turn 3 lights down. Panic seemed to overflow throughout his body as he made his way back to Usagi's apartment. When he parked along the street on the opposite side that Usagi was on, he saw that the man who now had Usagi pushed up against a wall was the man they had met earlier that day, Demande. What the fuck is he doing to her? Mamoru immediately bolted across the street and, without hesitation, pulled Demande off of Usagi and onto the sidewalk.

Usagi's body slid down along the wall to the floor as she collapsed from the sudden relief of pressure from both Demande and her body's tenseness. Usagi took a deep breath as all the muscles that were once flexed and on guard became relaxed and at ease. Mamoru went to Usagi's aid after he threw Demande to the floor. His hands went up to her face and he looked at her with concerned eyes.

"Usako."

He chaotically searched her frightened eyes for confirmation that she was unharmed. "Usako. Are you ok? Are you alright? Talk to me." He ran his fingers through the hair on her scalp and traced his thumbs over her cheeks.

Usagi had never been happier to feel Mamoru's touch. She released her pent up sobs and leaned into his warmth. Mamoru wiped her tears and started kissing her frantically across her cheeks, nose, and forehead. Usagi responded by wrapping her arms around Mamoru and holding him tightly as if he would disappear. "Mamo-chan…", she squeaked through her tears. Their foreheads touched and blue met blue. Both eyes contained fear, panic, and overwhelming joy. More tears fell down Usagi's cheeks as they gently kissed and silently reassured the other of their love.

A faint groan pulled the couple back to reality and Mamoru pulled from Usagi's embrace to confront the issue. Demande had been completely thrown off guard when he was pulled off of Usagi. He hit the sidewalk concrete starting with his back and his head hit second. This dazed him for quite a few minutes and he brought his hand up to the back of his head to check for bleeding. Who the hell grabbed me? Demande brought his hand from the back of his head and brought it into the light. There was no sign of blood from the spot that emitted pain, but he had an instant headache. Demande groaned as he got on all fours and attempted to stand. He looked up and saw Mamoru staring down at him and Usagi on the floor against the wall. Him again. He dared to pull me off of Usagi? She's not his, she's mine.

Seeing that his competition was staring him down, Demande gathered the strength to stand and shot a hostile glare at Mamoru that challenged him. "Keep out of this. She'll soon decide on her own that you're no good for her and that I'm the one she should be with."

Mamoru was doing all he could to hold back his physical anger. If he didn't restrain himself, Demande wouldn't have gotten up from the floor; at all. His initial thought was to remove the threat from Usagi's person and focus on her well-being. The only reason he didn't act out against Demande any further was simply the fact that Usagi was still there and he didn't want to subject her to witnessing that much violence. He took a deep breath and stepped forward, effectively blocking Demande's view of Usagi. He managed to maintain a calm demeanor by reminding himself that Usagi was watching and taking slow, steady breaths. "Oh? She should be with someone who takes something from her without her consent? Tell me, how is kissing her against her will going to win her heart?" The only way Mamoru was going to keep himself distanced from fighting Demande was to find the situation sadly amusing.

Demande's face turned smug as he dusted off his shoulders and relaxed his stance. "Kissing her was simply going to show her how right we are for one another. The chemistry and attraction between us is undeniable."

Mamoru laughed at Demande's way of thinking and brought his fingers to his forehead in frustration. "Are you serious? How deluded are you to believe such a thing? If she cared for you at all, you wouldn't have to force anything from her."

Demande's once calm features turned into a grimace. "You're the one who's deluded. If you hadn't interrupted us, she would've realized how wrong she was to choose you and not wait for me. She will realize the error of her ways, mark my words. It'll just take some convincing." Demande smiled as he turned his head to the side to look at Usagi's gorgeous face and winked.

Mamoru stepped forward once more and interrupted Demande's attempt at getting Usagi's attention. "No. There will be no more convincing or persuasion. As a matter of fact, you will not be even looking in her direction anymore. You're lucky I came when I did because if you had violated her any more than you already had, you'd be feeling the sensation of your bones pushing through your own flesh. If I wasn't so convinced that you're completely deranged, it already would've happened."

Demande smirked and raised his hands playfully. "OOoooo. Tough guy. I'd like to see you try."

Mamoru clenched his fists and took another step forward. "Don't tempt me any more than you already have. Walk away or lose a limb. I'm giving you the choice."

Demande laughed mockingly at Mamoru. "How about I give you a choice; stop coming between Usagi and I or I'll break you in half. You're just stalling the inevitable. I will NOT give up and she WILL be with me willingly."

Mamoru gritted his teeth and seethed. That's it. "Usagi, go inside."

Usagi couldn't believe the scene that was playing out in front of her. She didn't want Mamoru to get hurt and she certainly didn't want it to be over her. She didn't know what this Demande character was capable of and she didn't want to find out. I thought my life was through with violence. Why is this happening?

Usagi stood and put her hands on Mamoru's shoulders in attempts to calm him down. "I'm not going anywhere without you." She put her chin on his right shoulder and leaned her face towards his neck. She exhaled deeply and whispered, "Mamo-chan, let's just go inside. He's not worth it."

Mamoru relaxed the second he felt Usagi's hands; his sensations of her heightened when she breathed on his neck right before she spoke to him. She was his angel and he had to protect her, but was this the way? Usagi had pulled forth Mamoru's voice of reason and he unclenched his fists. Mamoru put his left hand over Usagi's on his right shoulder and sighed. "You're right." He put his arm protectively around her waist and started stepping backwards towards the apartment entrance.

Demande's eyes flashed anger and jealousy when he saw Mamoru's arm wrap around Usagi as if she belonged to him. "Get your hands off her! She's NOT yours to touch!" He started to march towards the couple and Mamoru pushed Usagi behind his back in a flash. His eyes darkened and he crouched down defensively. "You're wrong. She IS mine and she always will be. And you better believe me when I say that if you touch her again without her consent, it will not be without consequence."

Usagi was fed up. She had gathered her courage once her and Mamoru had decided to go back inside and was now angered at the situation and the odd feeling of ownership that this stranger thought he had over her.

"NO!" Usagi screamed and stepped in between Mamoru and Demande staring into Demande with a murderous glare. "I am NOT yours and I NEVER will be! I'm with my soul mate and you can't claim me as yours when I'm willingly someone else's."

Demande's eyes brightened at her feistiness. He smiled slightly and started to take a step towards her. "You're absolutely stunning when you're angry. You may feel this way now, Usagi, but you'd be…" He leaned down to whisper near her ear, "…amazed at how persuasive I can be."

Usagi shoved him back and kicked into his chest to push him back further. "Leave. Now."

Stepping back, Demande realized that he was not going to get any further with Usagi as long as Mamoru was there. He'd have to wait for his next opportunity and decided to listen to his future girlfriend's command. Demande smiled widely and bowed to her. "Until next time, my love."

Usagi glowered as she watched his retreating steps and didn't remove her eyes from him until he turned the corner two blocks down.

When she finally turned back, she saw Mamoru leaning against the apartment building with his arms crossed and a proud smirk across his face. "You can take care of yourself when you really want to, Usako."

Usagi shook her head and sighed as she walked towards her love and into his arms. He placed his chin on top of her head while she snuggled into his chest. "I think I may have to stay at your place tonight, Mamo-chan."

Mamoru smiled and kissed her hair. "C'mon. Let's go inside and update the girls. I'll help you pack a bag and we'll see if I can invite myself on your trip to the mall tomorrow. Even though it's supposed to be girls only, I'm not okay with leaving you until this gets resolved."

Usagi laced her fingers with his and smiled. "I'm sure they'll understand. Besides, I didn't want to spend a day without you anyways." Mamoru smirked and raised the hand he held up to his lips and kissed it lovingly as they walked through the apartment complex doors and up the stairs towards Usagi's apartment. "I'll protect you with everything I am, my Usako."

Author's Note: Spent some extra time writing this chapter and I hope it shows. This conflict is only getting started!

Let me know what you guys think in the reviews!