Please Don't Cry

By PazaakGirl

Chapter 10 – Mamoru, you hypocrite!


At the arcade two boys sat at a booth in deep contemplation, both aware of the absence of one significant other.

"Where's Usagi?" Motoki queried.

Mamoru merely shrugged. "You think I know? I thought she was with you when I came in." They sat there for a while longer wondering where on earth she was.

"You know… she could be with that new boyfriend of hers." Motoki suggested, and regretted it once he saw his brother's knuckles whiten, before he snatched the glass away from him. "Oh, no you don't. I will not have you breaking any more of Otou-san's glassware, thank you very much."

"Huh?" Mamoru responded, and Motoki rolled his eyes. "What about Yamazaki-san's glasses? What did I do?"

"Nothing, just attempted to throttle the shake," the blond replied dryly. Mamoru glared at the unwelcome jibe at his accident a few days ago and stared at the shake. It was already starting to liquefy, looking more like unappealing sludge than a tasty drink. He knew she wouldn't be able to resist a shake when she came in, so he had bought it for her hoping it would motivate her to stay with them longer than she would nowadays… but she never showed up. Mamoru took a sip from the chocolate delight and propped his elbow on the table, resting his head in his palm.

"You don't suppose she got a detention again…"

"Who knows?" Motoki asked absent-mindedly. He looked up at the glass doors and sat up. "Naru's here. Let's ask her. HEY NARU-CHAN!"

The redhead approached them and stopped at the table. Mamoru watched as his brother asked of their best friend's whereabouts, and Naru merely shook her head.

"How would I know? She doesn't hang around with me anymore."

Silence loomed over the booth as the two seventeen-year-olds digested this information.

Motoki responded hesitantly. "Surely she must have said something at school…"

"She doesn't even talk to me in class," Naru replied solemly. "If she does, it's because she's talking her head off about her new boyfriend." She sighed and slumped into the booth next to Motoki. "She's always with Mizuno-san nowadays… or on a date… I miss her…"

Mamoru finished the shake initially for Usagi and slammed the glass down.

"Hey!" Motoki called out, cradling the glass to his chest as though it were the most precious thing to him. "Where're you going?" Mamoru had grabbed his bag, his book of the day and his school blazer and walked towards the exit.

"To think." And without another word, he slipped out of the arcade.


Usagi indeed had been out with her boyfriend, before going the Mizuno residence to finish off her homework with Ami. During the study period they discussed the possibility of more Senshi with Luna.

"I mean, Ami-chan can't have been the only other Senshi, right? There's got to be others."

"It's a big world, Usagi-chan…" Ami sighed. "It'd be too much of a coincidence for them all to be in Tokyo." She looked down at her calculus and contemplated the idea. "It's lucky enough that Usagi and I were in the same area! 19 billion people in the world, and the probability of there being three senshi in the same country is –"

"Ami-chan, hold that thought," Usagi grumbled, and Ami giggled.

Luna stretched out on the cushion next to Usagi. "I've been running a scan of the citizens of Tokyo, just in case… but I think the two of you will be enough for now."

"A scan?!" Usagi queried in surprise, dropping her pencil. "With what?"

Luna merely smiled suspiciously.

Ami leaned forward, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "So Usagi-chan… how was the date with Kei-san? You guys have been going out quite a bit recently."

Usagi blushed and the two other female occupants in the room stared at her expectantly. "It… it was good."

"Just good?" Ami grinned. "No juicy details you'd like to share? Like if you guys have kissed yet?"

"Why do you want to know? Aren't we supposed to be studying?"

"Nice try, Usagi-chan," Luna interjected, "but don't change the subject. Did you?"

"NOT YOU TOO!" She screeched, but the two continued to gaze at her in anticipation. "I… no, we haven't." She stopped hoping they would be satisfied, but they simply looked on with eyes that asked, and why not? "Oh, alright, I'll tell you why… I don't know him well enough to do that… my first kiss I want to share with someone deeply important to me… someone who I know I can actually give my whole heart to. We've only been going out for a little over a week!"

"Well, you haven't even thought of -"

"OI! CALCULUS!" Usagi snapped, and poured all her heart and soul into the problems before her, face reddening at the giggles from the others.


She sighed as she walked home, shaking her head at the lack of study that actually occurred at the Mizuno household. The girl genius, gossiping about her life! Even Luna was curious, and strangely enough, that brought a smile to her face. She walked home alone, the feline running off to continue her scan. The thought of more scouts possibly in Japan thrilled her, and she increased her pace.

However, Usagi hadn't looked where she was going, and tripped over nothing as she walked past the park.

"Ahhh!" she screeched, and braced herself for the fall, before stopping in mid-air. She opened her eyes slowly to see that she was inches from the floor, and heard a familiar chuckle.

"Ever the klutz, aren't you?"

Mamoru set her back on her feet and she sighed in relief. "Arigatou."

"Don't thank me." He headed back to the park and she followed, the pair occupying the swings in the playground. Usagi watched the upperclassman in curiosity as he stared at the ground before him, but said nothing of it, knowing he would soon speak her mind. Instead she leant back and started her swing.

"Reminds me of when we were kids, being back here," she commented. Usagi giggled. "Remember how Motoki used to brag he could swing without using his hands… and we'd grab the swing seat and watch him fall to the floor?" Mamoru murmured an assent, and she continued through the giggles. "It was so lucky there was still a sand pit," she remarked, swinging higher. "Or he would've gotten seriously hurt."

"Usagi-chan… why didn't you come to the arcade today?"

She stopped her swing and looked at the seventeen-year-old. "Well… I was on –"

"A date?" He queried, and she nodded.

"A-and then I went to Ami-chan's to study." She watched Mamoru in slight confusion as she let him digest this information. Standing up she walked towards him and kneeled before him, searching for his eyes. "Mamoru-kun? What's wrong?"

"It's just that… you never seem to be around anymore. You've…" he exhaled as he looked her in the eye. "You've changed."

"Changed?" she laughed, cupping his face in her hands. "I'm still me, Mamoru-kun." Except for one small thing, she added to herself. "As for never being around, I do have to pay some attention to my boyfriend…"

"That doesn't mean you have to ignore us all the time! For Heaven's sake, aren't we supposed to be your best friends?"

"Hey!" she countered, prodding his chest with a lone index finger. "Don't get all testy with me! You were doing the exact same thing with me, it's just that this time you're the victim, and you don't like it. What about the number of times you hadn't shown up because you were out with Meiko, or other classmates? Times when your phone was busy because you were talking to her? Times when I've wondered what I should do because you two were out with your girlfriends? It never bothered you then, because it wasn't you it was affecting. And now you accuse me of doing exactly the same things you have, just because you have a problem with it? Don't be a hypocrite!"

Annoyance and guilt flashed through his eyes, and Usagi knew she had hit the mark right on.

"I…" he stopped and thought about it, and had to admit to himself that she had a point. He sighed. "Fine. You win… you're right." He stood up and she backed away in surprise, falling onto the floor.

"That's it?" she asked in amazement. "No arguments, no denial… you're just going to leave it at that?"

"Yes… look… let's just go home. I shouldn't have said anything." He started walking away. "I hate fighting with you, Usagi."

She raised her eyebrows at him as she caught up. "Oh? And why is that?" she pressed on, chuckling. "Afraid to lose to me again? Is that it?"

"No, It's just…" he replied, a small hint of sadness in his eyes that she picked up on. Then it vanished and he turned away. "Forget it. Let's just go."


It wasn't long after they got home and Usagi sat on her bed, contemplating what happened that afternoon. Mamoru had not said another word to her after they left the park, but simply continued to brood in the way only he knew how. She punched her pillow, frustrated at the silent treatment he was giving her. What the hell did I do now?

Was it her fault that half her time was spent on Senshi business? She had to make time for her homework, her friends, her boyfriend, and her family, when really she should have been able to do as she pleased with her time. Usagi sighed. Mamoru just doesn't understand what I have to go through… she picked up her phone and decided to call her boyfriend. I can't deal with Mamoru right now. She started dialling the number, and heard the ringing on the other end.

"I'd hang that up if I were you."

Shrieking and dropping the phone, she turned to face the intruder. "Luna!" exhaling a ragged breath in relief and the aftershock, she glared at her mentor. "A little warning next time? I was just calling Kei-san."

"No time! A youma has attacked!"

"Hello?"

They looked down at the phone which lay on the floor, Kei's voice sounding through the speaker. "Er… hello? Who is this?"

Usagi looked down at her feet. She closed her eyes. You can call him another time, she reasoned, hearing the same statement from Luna. Slowly she bent down and hung up on her boyfriend. This youma's gonna pay for cutting into MY time.

"Lead the way," she commanded Luna, reciting her transformation phrase.

They made their way swiftly to the sports stadium where the youma was draining energy from the teams. Usagi looked on in horror at how chaotic the scene had become, with several spectators pushing their way through each other to get away. Mercury stood on the playing field, dodging attacks and checking the pulses of the fallen players. She looked up and gasped, rolling away just as a lightning bolt was sent towards her.

Sailor Moon jumped down onto the field, taking a look at the youma in more detail. Armour plated almost all of its body, the chest plates strapped together over the shoulders. The youma, easily twice as tall as she, held metal rods in each hand. Looks like the thunder comes out from them, she mused. She took a quick look at Mercury in her peripheral vision and saw her switch her visor on and scan using the computer Luna had given her on her second day. Alright, I gotta keep it distracted while Mercury figures this out. "Hey, let that guy go!" she shouted at the youma. "You want someone? How about taking me on! You made me hang up on my boyfriend! In the name of the moon, I, Sailor Moon will punish you!"

Luna sighed. "Teenage girls… Now she has a vendetta against a youma…"

It did catch its attention, however. Upon hearing the declaration of a challenge the youma dropped the football player and charged at her. It sent two lighting bolts her way which she dodged with ease, and she did several back flips, leading the youma away from Mercury. Come on, Ami, hurry up. Finding herself at the end of the field she checked her surroundings, before yelping as another lightning bolts crashed down towards her. She jumped out of the way as the lightning bolt hit the wall, but the explosion still hit her and she crashed into the benches. Another lightning bolt missed her by inches, instead hitting the stands and collapsing the structure onto her.

"SAILOR MOON!" Luna cried out.

"Ow," she moaned, shoving the wooden planks and plastic seats out of the way. "That really hurts…" Sensing the youma approaching, she took a pole which fell on her and squirmed out of the rubble. Rubbing her head, she pointed the pole at the youma. "Hey, you can't just go blowing things up," she scolded it groggily. "Who's going… to fix it…" her head was pounding and she swore there were grazes along her legs, which hopefully would heal faster in her Senshi form, but she found she couldn't think straight as the youma came towards her.

"Shabon Spray!"

Mist began to fog the field and Usagi's eyes began to close, feeling like Sailor Mercury's attack had only succeeded in further clouding her mind. She felt herself falling and she landed on the grass.

"Sailor Moon!" she heard Mercury cry through the mist, but she had too much of a headache to respond. She closed her eyes and felt like drifting off to sleep… it felt like those times she tried to study, but the words would just pass over her head and she'd lose focus… knowing she had to study, but she couldn't just pay attention. She felt herself being picked up, and thought maybe it was just her imagination… that she never was fighting a youma, and that Mamoru had found her lying on the floor of the study, and was carrying her to bed.

Something washed over her, and though she had her eyes closed, Usagi knew if it had a colour, it would be gold. She felt the pain lessening, and her eyes snapped open. Pain wasn't real… but if she felt it, that meant…

Her vision cleared, and familiar black sleeves and gloved hands surrounded her.

"Are you alright, Sailor Moon?" her saviour asked, and she realised that indeed, something golden surrounded her, and it came from Tuxedo Mask's hands. She tried to move, but his hands stopped her. "Don't try getting up. I'm healing your wounds as fast as possible, but you're still suffering a headache. Getting up now will only make it worse. Mercury has it covered… just rest for now."

"Tuxedo Mask… how?" she asked in her dazed state.

He looked down at his hands. "I don't know. I found out I could do this a few weeks ago… it worked on me when I needed to heal injuries, so I thought I'd try it on yours."

"Thank you…" she whispered. She sat there resting as he tended to her wounds, and after a few minutes awareness crept into her soul. She felt more alert than ever, and slowly she sat up. The pounding in her head had disappeared, and she felt no more pain in her legs. She stood up, but a gloved hand clasped around her wrist.

"Are you sure you can do this?" He asked, concern showing through his mask, his piercing gaze directed straight at her.

She smiled reassuringly. "I'm gonna dust this youma no matter what," she told him. She checked her surroundings and her footing. Her legs felt a little wobbly still, but the power surging through her gave her the determination to carry on. "Mercury!" she called out. "Got any ideas of what to do with this thing?"

Mercury tumbled into view, and Sailor Moon saw the illumination from the lightning through the clearing fog. "The weak point seems to be under the chest armour, but you have to get to it first," she informed the silver-haired Senshi. "It's impenetrable to our attacks… we have to take it off somehow."

"Alright!" Sailor Moon shouted enthusiastically. "Let's get this show on the road!" she pulled out the metal pole she had been holding and twirled it in her hand.

"Sailor Moon, what do you think you're doing?" Luna cried out in astonishment. "You aren't seriously considering attacking it close range?"

She grinned. "You were thinking otherwise?"


No matter what happens, this girl always seems to amaze me.

Tuxedo Mask watched, dumbstruck, as Sailor Moon fought the youma with nothing but pure martial arts. He called out to her at first, shocked and angered that she would do something reckless… until he realised she could actually fight.

Here she was, the sailor-suited heroine fighting a youma twice her size with a makeshift bo. And holding her own.

Someone here has obviously had some training, he mused, as he watched her form. Images of a younger girl the age of ten in a small martial arts uniform filled his mind and he shook it off, cursing himself for letting his thoughts stray from the battle. Stop thinking about Usagi! You can deal with the problem with her after the battle! He took out his own cane, ready to step in if it ever came to that point. Watching her fluid movements as she parried the metal lightning rods away from her body he couldn't help but be impressed. Her form is a little sloppy, but she's definitely trained in karate.

The youma pushed her back and she fell to the floor, groaning. The youma struck downward with the rods, and Tuxedo Mask responded by throwing two roses, knocking the rods out of its hands. As the lightning youma reclaimed its possessions he dashed to the fallen girl.

"Sailor Moon… its joints… do you see?"

He watched the Senshi of the Moon look up and come to a realisation. "The armour…"

"It's less protected there. Make a couple of hits there, and I'll get the armour off for you."

She nodded in acknowledgement and the two stood up, brandishing their weapons. Sailor Moon charged at the unprepared youma and struck a blow to its shoulder. The youma, angered, aimed low with its lightning rod, ready to electrocute her, but she easily used the makeshift bo to vault herself into the air and behind it. Aiming an attack at the back of the knee, the youma keeled over, and the exposed front allowed Tuxedo Mask to slice through the straps with carefully aimed roses. The armour peeled off like onions.

"Now, Sailor Moon!"

Sailor Moon charged her tiara, and dodged the lightning bolt sent her way, glowing discus still in hand. "Moon Tiara… ACTION!" she cried, and the youma was struck by the tiara, exploding into dust.

Tuxedo Mask watched her as she fell to the floor, exhausted but happy, and he smiled, bidding the Senshi a farewell before leaving.

Yep, she never ceases to amaze me.


"Hey… Motoki-kun… can I talk to you for a second?"

She found him at the Crown Arcade, behind the counter as usual. Even though his father was the one who owned the arcade, Motoki spent most of the time working and taking care of it, and she wouldn't be surprised if Motoki inherited it and owned it himself. The place was his treasure. So many memories were made in that place, from Usagi and Motoki continuously trying to beat each other's top score in the games, to relaxing in a booth after school, to parties when they were kids. She found him carrying a few glasses to the back room.

"Sure, Usagi-chan… you wanna help me with the boxes in the storeroom? I need to bring out a new set of glasses."

"Okay," she replied, giggling at the look in Motoki's eyes, knowing he was referring to the plastic glasses for shakes so that Mamoru wouldn't break any more.

Usagi helped him unpack all the glasses and transfer the glassware into the box, and afterwards they both sat in a booth with two cokes.

"So what's up?" he asked her, and she looked down at her glass, speaking the question bearing down on her since the conversation in the park.

"Have I… seemed distant to you lately?"

The sandy-haired boy sighed. "Mamoru spoke to you, didn't he?" she nodded and he took a sip from his drink before shaking his head. "That boy…"

"Motoki-kun?"

"I'd be lying if I said you weren't," he began, smiling reassuringly, "but I know that you've got other things on your mind. You've got a new friend who's new in Azabu, and a boyfriend who you've only started seeing recently. Sure, it feels like we're being left out, but eventually things will get back to normal… it felt like that when Mamoru and Meiko started going out, and it probably seemed that way to you when I started going out with Reika, no?"

Usagi nodded, sighing in relief and frustration at the same time. "How is it that you completely understand what I'm talking about, and Mamoru-kun just gets all angsty when I tell him exactly that? He told me to drop the subject after I gave him my point of view, and then wouldn't say a word to me the whole way home!"

Her childhood friend raised an eyebrow at her. "Probably because you snapped at him the way you always do when he brings up something he's also guilty of, right?" watching her gaze drop in embarrassment, he laughed. "I know you two too well… but Usagi… you have to understand something. The way it affects you and I when we get left out of things… is far different to how Mamoru feels."

Usagi was reaching out for her glass, but once the words sunk in her hand stopped mid-action.

"… What?" she croaked.

Pushing the glass towards her immobile hand, he clasped her hand around it, finishing the act for her, knowing she wouldn't move on her own volition. "I'm only guessing… but I'm pretty sure this is the issue," he began. "Usagi, we've known each other since we were kids. I've been around you since the day you were born. We've had each other's presence for our entire lives, and have always lived around people." When she nodded and sipped her coke as she listened, he continued. "Even if we grow apart for a short time, we get back together and don't think twice about it. But Mamoru…" he averted his gaze, sighing as he leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Mamoru didn't have anyone, and he can't remember the times when he did."

Usagi placed the coke back on the table, slightly understanding where he was getting at.

"Unlike you and I," Motoki carried on, "Mamoru has had people close to him and lost them. He knows what it's like to be left alone. While you and I have the security of seeing him with Meiko, knowing he'll come back to us and that we won't go our separate ways for good… I know Mamoru feels as though Kei and Reika are taking us away from him, even though he doesn't say it. We're all he's had for the part of his life that he actually remembers… and I think he's afraid that he'll look around and see we've left him behind." He looked up and his face faltered as tears began to fall form Usagi's eyes.

"I didn't realise…" she whispered, sniffing, trying not to cry any more. "… I've known him for twelve years and still I don't understand how he feels…"

"I'm just speculating on this, mind you," Motoki reminded her, reaching over and wiping the tears away gently, "but I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't far from the truth. As strong and mature as he pretends to be, Mamoru's insecure. You don't live with him for twelve years and not pick up on that."

"But why… why didn't I…" Motoki was next to her in an instant and he held her as she cried silently into his shirt.

"Shhh… he's always watched over you, Usagi. He always wanted to be the one protecting and taking care of you, so he never wanted to ever seem weak in front of you. You were his first friend, after all." Motoki rocked her gently as he stroked her hair. "I think he's more lonely and hurt than we can ever imagine."

"But… he always seemed happy ever since he started living with you," she reasoned, hiccupping.

"I know," Motoki agreed, "But you know something, Usagi-chan? In all the time that Mamoru has been my brother, I've never heard him call my parents 'father' or 'mother'… not once. It's always been 'Sonomi-san' or 'Yamazaki-san' ever since he was a kid… anything except what you would call a mother or father. It may have seemed like he was comfortable where he was, but I don't think he ever got over his parents' death. He's trying not to worry us and show he's moved on when really, I think it's weighing down on him. Especially since it's a part of him he can't remember. It definitely hurts, Usagi-chan, and we'll never understand how hard and how painful it must be for him, no matter how hard we try."

"What… what do I do, then?" Usagi questioned him, pleading with her eyes to tell her what to say.

"Just apologise, Usagi… he's always done that whenever you guys fought, no matter who was to blame… I'm not saying that this issue is your fault, but just let him know that this hasn't affected your friendship." He gathered the drinks together. "You wanna see if he's still home?"


Mamoru returned to the study, the adrenaline from the battle finally leaving him and allowing him to think of the previous conversation he had. Thoughts of the Senshi in her sexy outfit, and surprising martial arts abilities, disappeared as a blonde took her place in his mind.

"Don't get all testy with me! You were doing the exact same thing with me, it's just that this time you're the victim, and you don't like it."

He scoffed in annoyance at that accusation as he sifted through his homework. He was doing the same thing to her? For God's sake, this was entirely different! He never missed a visit to the arcade because of a date, or couldn't be reached on the phone… except that one time when he was on the phone for three hours to Meiko and he saw her through the window, trying to catch his attention… but apart from that, he never once ignored her… and even so, Meiko's his girlfriend for crying out loud! Not like that… guy…

Mamoru sighed. "Maybe Usagi's right," he muttered to himself. "Maybe I am a hypocrite…"

Several times throughout the last few hours he tried to reason with himself that he did not ignore Usagi when he started going out with Meiko, that he always made time for her whenever he could… and he could distinctly remember her forcing him to go out with Meiko even when he said he should spend that afternoon or weekend with her and Motoki…

Was she just being nice to me? Sacrificing herself for my relationship?

Never once did he ever hear Usagi complain about it before. Never once did she demand he cancel a date or go out with them for a change. Never once did she get upset that he was going to see Meiko instead of staying at home with her. Every time he imagined an instance where he had to decide, or realised what he was doing, she simply smiled and told him to go ahead…

"I'm sorry."

"F-for what?"

"It's just that… we haven't spent that much time together lately, have we? I mean, we practically live in each other's houses and we still don't see each other as much as before.

She shrugged. "I've been busy, so have you. Besides, Meiko's much more important than I am."

"Dammit, Usagi," he snapped to himself. "Even then, I did exactly what you accused me of! I'm a total jerk!" he slammed his fist on the table in annoyance and breathed out deeply, trying to calm himself. "But… can't you just understand… Damn it."

"Understand what?"

He turned to see Usagi looking curiously at him, and straightened himself. Her eyes were red, and Mamoru guessed she had been crying, though he didn't know why… but all the same the guilt washed over him, and he felt as though somehow he had done that to her. "Usagi-chan… about before –"

"I know… I'm sorry…" she cut in.

Mamoru shook his head. "No, you shouldn't be, it's really my fault that –"

"No, it's mine!" She stepped forward into the study and reached out for him. "I had no right to say that –"

"Hey, I was the one who started this whole –"

"I was doing it to you too!"

"Odango, stop butting in and listen to me!" he snapped, getting impatient.

"No you listen to me! I keep telling you, it wasn't my place to go –"

"Yes it was!" he interrupted her, as he too stepped forward. "You were right, I shouldn't have even…" he stopped his sentence, and started chuckling.

Usagi scowled. "WHAT NOW?!" she exclaimed, exasperated.

"I can't believe this… we're actually fighting over taking the blame." Seeing the look on Usagi's face when he stated this did the trick, and he burst out laughing, hearing the giggles from her soon after. He bent over, clutching his stomach, trying to calm himself but the situation just kept the laughs rolling in.

She calmed down first and ran towards him, giving him a hug which he gladly returned. "This has to be the weirdest argument we've had yet," she pointed out, earning another chuckle from him. He spun her around, earning a squeal from the fourteen-year-old as she clung to him, and she sighed as he slowed down.

"I have to agree with you on that one," he replied. "Though if you'd just listen to me," he drawled, pinching her cheek, a mischievous grin on his face. They stood there for a while in their embrace, good spirits in both of them.

"Mamoru-kun," she said, her voice muffled against his shirt. "I really am sorry."

"Forget it, Odango," he cut in again, "I'm not willing to start this argument up again. Let's just leave it be, okay?"

"Alright," she conceded, stepping back. "I don't really feel like arguing again any –" not seeing the throw pillow behind her she tripped, and by instinct Mamoru pulled her towards him. Feeling himself losing his balance he turned in mid-air and felt his back slam against the floor. He winced as Usagi fell on top of him and groaned at the impact.

"Ouch…"

"I'm sorry, Mamoru-kun!" Usagi apologised profusely. "Are you ok?"

"You really are a klutz," he muttered, and she poked him in the ribs. He squirmed and pulled her closer to him, trapping her arms between their chests so she wouldn't poke him anymore. "Stop that," he hissed. "You know I'm ticklish there."

"I know," Usagi grinned, and Mamoru glared at her.

"Klutz," he repeated, leaning his forehead against hers. Throbbing began on the back of his head and he groaned again, slowly dropping his head back on the floor.

"What's wrong?" she asked in concern, and she pulled out an arm from between them to feel the bump on his head. She touched the bump and he winced, before relaxing as she rubbed it gently. Her eyes softened and he observed her expression as the rubbing motion began to soothe him. Noticing her eyes were still red, he removed one of his arms from the grip around her waist and stroked her cheek, as though wiping the invisible trail of tears out of habit.

Soon reality sunk in, and they froze.

Usagi was completely sprawled over Mamoru, his arm pulling her even closer to him. Their faces were centimetres apart, and they could feel their breaths mingling…

As quickly as they had fallen to the floor together they sprang apart, both faces flushed with embarrassment. Tension filled the air between them and they both stared at each other in extreme silence. Both not knowing what to say, nor wanting to break the tension and try to explain what just happened. They merely stared at one another, unblinking, unmoving. And when Mamoru's phone rang, they jumped visibly from where they sat.

Mamoru answered the phone slowly, eyes never leaving Usagi… and when he heard the voice on the phone, he sighed, never feeling more thankful about Meiko coming between them.