Chapter 14
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AN: Hi everyone! Thanks for your reviews, I love it when people can see past JUST a Usagi-Mamoru fic. Pure romance gets so boring. I personally need something more going on. I'm so glad that you've stuck through to appreciate it. This chapter is going to change focus a little but hopefully you won't mind too much. The rest is still the same though. :)
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Three days, that's all he had with her was three peaceful days that reconnected them in a way that he hadn't known they were missing until then. Three days of pure fun and relaxation. No outside intrusions or issues popping up. Nobody to interrupt or tear her away from him except for the time they had to spend apart, naturally at the end of the day and even then it wasn't always so. Three full days.
Then, as he knew, the world crowded in on them once more. Except this time it wasn't quite how he expected it to go. In fact, had he known or had any reference to such a situation he would have insisted she changed her schedule. As it was, the moment it happened, it was too late and there was no going back. He just hated that he missed it, hated that he wasn't there to intercede and stop this from happening. He was loathe to even acknowledge it. But he didn't realize the full extent, just realized instantly that he did not like it and he had to find a way to stop this. Now. But how?
Nothing in their lives together had prepared him for this eventuality. He never thought this could happen. Someone liked Usagi the second they saw her and it was not someone he would gladly accept into their group. Even then he knew it was rocky grounds.
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It was the class right before lunch. As per usual on the first day and for each class, Usagi stood outside the door of her new class and took a deep breath, trying to center herself and prepare for whatever could be thrown her way. She would deflect it and not act out. She would not act out. She repeated as a mantra. Hoping that this class, unlike any of the others, would be different, would accept her the moment she stepped foot in it and she didn't have to deflect missiles thrown at her.
But that was a very low chance indeed. The only thing going for her in this one particular situation was that it was a mixed year class. Or at least a junior/senior class but it was her extra-curricular for this term. The one she chose instead of taking a language. Others inside would be taking it purely because they had to or it fulfilled their one English credit for the term. Usagi was taking it because she wanted to, because this was something she needed to continue pushing herself towards. With extra credits on her roster she was eating up spare classes fast but thankfully there were so many options in other fields, ones she might not enjoy as much but could still take.
This was a class that she felt like she could enjoy. She had once. Now too, there would be nobody from her grade. That made her happy, that meant that nobody could look down upon her for all the years they'd spent together. But on the other hand it meant they had grown used to her presence, at least the ones that she'd been with.
Taking another deep breath she pushed her way in. Her heart sunk. The first person she saw was Rei. She didn't know who she was expecting to be in this class. Makoto vowed she'd never take it and Minako said she'd already taken it, and passed, just.
Then there was the scene that Rei was center stage of. If they weren't already so keenly aware of just how different two sisters could be, this just showed a spot light onto it. Rei was sitting on top of some guy's desk and people were flocked around them. Rei was laughing and running her fingers through the guy's black hair. But it was a black that marked something wrong in Usagi, like Demando's but different... she hadn't seen his face. He was probably a pretty boy, just Rei's type. He was popular too, Usagi could see that from just the way the people held on to every word he said. Then he was laughing and the others joined in, seeming to follow his lead. But Usagi's attention was caught by it. It was just a warm smooth sound. It melted as it reached Usagi's ears and she sighed, relaxing into a chair closest to the door but a few back so nobody would really glance over at her by mistake. She didn't want to make her presence known, but that would be a hard thing to do in this class. She could enjoy a few more minutes of anonymity.
So, she liked his laugh, what was the problem with that? She could like any number of people's laughs but she just hadn't thought about it before. She wasn't at all curious about him. Not even when it seemed people were more interested talking to him than her own sister, the princess. Usagi rolled her eyes, if she hadn't been so used to being ignored and knowing how rotten that felt at times, she'd have laughed at Rei for her obvious attempt at seeking further attention. The girl got plenty of attention, she didn't need anymore but she also didn't deserve being ignored.
It seemed as if everyone in class was enraptured by this boy and maybe a little of her sister too, if the guy sitting against the desk opposite was anything to go by. His arms were crossed and he looked a little put out. His jade green eyes dark and brooding but when the guy who entrapped her sister's attention turned towards him, the boy's eyes lit up and he smiled, made some joke that had everyone laughing and then the conversation floated a different way. Nothing in that situation would have made anyone think that he was more interested in her sister than the boy, but Usagi knew. She had a good enough read on people by now to know that for sure. He wanted her sister's attention but she only wanted to give it to the boy whose desk she sat upon.
Usagi turned her eyes away, she didn't want anything to do with it and looked down at her course guide that she'd picked up from next to the door. It wasn't anything that she couldn't handle and was interested by some of the course material. This wasn't exactly what she was expecting when she signed up for this class. She thought it would be more of the same. She flipped through pages and she felt a small bubble of happiness grow inside, this would be fun. Or at least to watch, since nobody would work with her and so hers would be abysmal if it was group work but probably decent enough if it were individual work.
She noticed that people came in after her, the stragglers and paused by the door, noticing her and then scanning the rest of the room. They all started forward on jet fueled feet towards what they discovered next. They only added to the crowd.
Usagi glanced out of the corner of her eye at them, there were whispers starting to abound through the group. Saw through the throng a head turning towards hers but then hidden from view as someone shifted.
It was Usagi's turn to be startled as the boy shoved to his feet and she could see the top of his head just barely above the crowd. They parted for him as he strode forward with Rei on his heels. She was trying to wrap her fingers around the inside of his elbow but he was moving too fast for her to manage it right. Her fingers kept slipping off his crisp white sleeve.
It was such a fitting color for him, it showed off his tan skin nicely. The shirt also fit perfectly, highlighting the breadth of his shoulders. She could see a faint outline of some muscles underneath where Rei's actions caused it to tighten against his flesh momentarily before bouncing back. She was sure the vest, which wasn't required, hid a surplus of fat. He probably only toned his arms and left the rest to chance. Probably all weights and no cardio... she had to keep telling herself these things because she needed to get herself to not look him over and then stare.
Her mouth gaped as he strode with purpose along the front of the classroom and she thought she had infuriated him enough to make him leave the room. She'd never had that reaction before. It was a new one.
An even newer one was such an obviously popular student turning at the last moment to cut down her aisle and stop in front of her. His eyes had not once left hers since he had freed himself from the people surrounding him. And she was far from able to tear hers away, even now. She had thought for sure that she had surprised him with her presence, she'd seen the widening of them and his sharp intake of breath. Now he towered over her and she could see his eyes even clearer. Persian blue, she recalled quickly, having never seen anyone with that shade before. They were darker than most blues but not too dark to see the color or even be confused by it and still be vibrant. That was a very intense color but it went well with the tanner skin and olive complexion.
He pulled the chair out from in front of her desk and faced it away from her. He sat and one arm rested along the top of it's back. His other hand rested on his knee. "Denka." He spoke and it was the first words she'd actually heard from him. The only sound to this point had been his laugh and his voice did not disappoint.
Usagi could only gape at him before she managed to filter and understand what he'd just said to her. It wasn't a greeting, it wasn't a question, she wasn't quite sure what it was other than a statement. She looked at him unsure, she wasn't sure what kind of game he was playing with her. This was a new situation for her to be in. She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, for him to slam her face down into her desk. Perhaps though he wouldn't go that far until he could get a read on her sister's reaction on something like that.
Then something else slipped into her mind and she frowned slightly. "Only Ami-chan has called me something similar to that-"
"It worked well for her didn't it?" He tugged a black brow up and she felt her heart arresting. He, objectively, wasn't better looking than Demando or even Sapphire, but the latter had more time to grow into his looks and it could change. But this mysterious boy was already starting to show how he would look as a man. There wouldn't be any pudgy-cheeks or soft chins. Nobody would call him boyishly good looking for long. Demando would have many years before he dropped his boy-ish and youthful charms.
Yet there was something about this one, something that was in his eyes that would always seem more playful and youthful than anyone else. She couldn't put her finger on it. What she really wanted to put her finger on was his defined cheek and run it down through the hollow to his jaw. She curled her hands into fists to keep her from going through with the impulse.
"How- why-"
He took pity on her and gave her the information she sought. "It's only natural since we were raised by similar people. She's my cousin."
"Ami's your cousin?" But... she didn't understand, they looked nothing alike! Ami was soft and sweet looking. She was tiny too! Albeit bigger than Usagi, but she was still really willowy for her height.
"Our mothers were sisters and taught me good manners." He said completely neutral and that snapped Usagi back into focus.
"I- oh I'm sorry, you seem to know precisely who I am, but I haven't a clue who you are."
If she thought the brow lifting was something to look at, the lips curling upward on only the one side cast his face into a whole new dimension. "Such a shame, and here I thought my dear cousin would speak of me as much as she has spoken of you. I should see to it that she returns the favor. Otherwise this will be very one sided and I will feel like I am taking advantage of the situation."
His eyes roamed over her face and the only redeeming factor was that they never left her face, but she still felt stripped bare. It wasn't entirely unpleasant, but it was unsettling and new. Her voice felt breathless. "Why are you looking at me that way?"
Eyes softening he reached out a hand and took the liberty to touch her, but to be fair, he did pause before making contact and looked into her eyes, waiting for her to either confirm or deny access. She wouldn't have been that brave. What he read in her eyes must have been a confirmation though she didn't recall even thinking one way or another. The back of his knuckle, just the pointer finger, brushed lightly against the bone of her cheek before catching a wayward strand of blond hair and pushing it behind her ear. Then his hand was back to his thigh and his touch had been so light it might have been as if he hadn't made it at all but her skin felt branded there to give weight that he had. "Because I enjoy looking at you. Please though, enlighten me, in what way do I look at you?"
"Like you know everything about me."
He shook his head. "It is no fun that way. The fun comes from learning about you slowly, pealing back each layer, letting time reveal more and more about you. I want to be surprised by what I can learn about you and never grow bored, no matter how small." Then he gave her a confident smile. "On the other hand, I do feel as if I've known you all my life."
"I don't like it." She squeaked.
"Too bad, I plan on looking at you like this forever." His voice lowered to a husky level that was meant for only Usagi's ears. In his words was a very daunting promise.
"But we've only just met-" If it was a plead, it wasn't a very strong one but it was still heard in the quiver of her voice.
"I say it's been long overdue in coming."
The teacher came in and any more conversation would be very limited and would have to end soon anyway. But the male kept on sitting where he was as people slowly went to find their seats but were unsure where they should sit. "Chiba-san, I hate to call attention to you as you're obviously in the middle of something but until you claim your seat the rest of class shall be disturbed. We are all waiting for your lead."
It was the same instructor that she'd had for historical literature with Ami and she appreciated his dry voice. He didn't pull his punches too often. This Chiba-san stood up ruefully and went back to where he had been sitting before. She let out a deep breath in relief, glad that he'd be on the other side of the room. But her relief didn't last long as he gathered up his supplies then came back and took the seat beside hers. The rest of the class ruefully found their seats around them.
Rei was left with the decision to either sit behind him or on his other side and she chose to sit behind him while the man with the jade eyes sat beside him. Usagi took a quick glance at her sister and for once those violet eyes were not on the boy but on her. The look in them, had she been the one born with magic, would have instantly set Usagi on fire. She tried to apologize with her eyes but Rei looked away, not accepting it.
Chiba-san however had no qualms about openly staring at her. He only turned when he acknowledged the teacher had a point when other eyes kept being taken away from the front of the room at his odd behavior. Speech class had just officially started.
A few minutes into his opening talk, he had just been going over the syllabus and what had been expected for each project, trying to give them an overview before they started in on the first one the next day. "You shall be in varying numbers throughout the term. Sometimes it shall be just you and your semester long partner and sometimes there will be four or six of you together. The last project shall be on your own, to show the class what you've learned not only from me but the people you've had to work with. In a few moments I shall be assigning partnerships. If anyone would like to volunteer, you may raise your hand now."
Several hands went up at once and the teacher laughed. "I know we have a few celebrities among us but you cannot all claim them at once. How about we allow them to choose? Chiba-san, who would you like to partner with? The lovely Tsukino-san?"
"That's exactly whom I would like to partner with, but the younger hime, Usagi-ojo-hime."
Shocked murmurs and whispers began and Usagi leaned across the walkway to hiss at him. "Are you crazy? That's social suicide!" It had been one thing for him to stop all conversation and come up to her, that could have been chalked up to curiosity but this was something completely different.
"I'll weather." He told her nonchalant and hadn't even glanced at her since he announced his intentions to be paired up with her.
The teacher looked just as confused and out of sorts as the rest of them, but couldn't be as much as Usagi. She'd never had someone that actually had friends and plenty of them, come up to her. Why would anyone popular want to be her friend? Not that she thought her current friends undeserving of popularity but that's just the way it had been so far. "Well... if it is what you want, then I think it is an excellent idea. I think it shall be good to see what the two of you come up with. Tsukino-hime always does really well in my courses and so do you. The two of you will be an unstoppable pairing." He didn't mention anyone else paired with either would probably have their work suffer because of either dislike and uncommunicative behavior or idol worshiping or even relaxed attitudes thinking they'd do all the work.
Usagi didn't dare look up for the rest of the class, she was sure anyone whose eyes she connected with would have a death warrant out for her. She listened and took copious notes during the rest of the class, despite the obvious draw that she could see if she looked left and through her lashes.
The moment the bell rang she was out of her seat and through the doorway. Demando was three doors down from hers and she met him at the door by the time he left it and instantly latched onto his arm, pulling him down the hallway with her. She had to put space between herself and the guy from her class, not that he'd follow her or anything but she couldn't risk it. Demando had to come with her because she wouldn't be coming back this way for him.
"Usagi- what's up?" He didn't sound concerned in the slightest by her tiniest bit out of character actions. In fact he sounded as if he liked the fact that she practically tackled him the moment he set foot out of the door.
"Oh, just in a hurry to meet up with some of the girls." She lied without thinking about her words, she was thinking about something else entirely. Or was trying to gather her flying thoughts.
"Usagi-ojo!" A voice called from behind and the two of them glanced back to see the strange man following them.
Usagi gave a half wave and then turned forward once more to forge ahead, dragging Demando with her. He was watching her too, she seemed nervous and completely unlike herself. She was chuckling without anything being funny and she seemed a bit dazed. Demando frowned at her, his eyes going from the top of her head to her feet. "Was he bothering you?"
They were losing him in the surge of students coming out of all the rooms they passed and went in different directions. "Huh?" She answered intelligently and then realized what he'd asked. "Oh, no, he's my new speech partner for the term."
His lips tugged even further, she'd never had a male partner, at least not without another female involved. And he was an attractive male. She seemed... he didn't know, flattered by his attention? "You're partners with Chiba Mamoru?" He asked just to be clear, that was unprecedented. He was the most popular boy in the senior year, hell, probably the whole school.
"Yeah." Usagi shrugged it off, the further away they got the less hold he had over her and she could breath easier.
His words had to be chosen very carefully when he spoke about the other guy because of that fact. Though most of what was said and heard was hearsay anyway, only a select group known as the inner circle actually knew anything real about him. "Be careful with him, he's a bit of a Casanova, the love 'em and leave 'em type. He's a connoisseur of women."
He watched as her face twisted and she cracked up. "Oh we should have no fear of that. He's gorgeous and I'm, well, I'm me. He would never be interested."
Though... what had he been doing, associating himself with her? It was odd enough that he even spoke to her, but to deliberately hitch his wagon with hers? For the entire term? She could probably understand volunteering for one assignment out of curiosity but the whole time? It was crazy!
"Still, be careful, he gets off on the hard pursuit." Which would explain why Rei was still hanging around him, but then again Rei could very well be part of this 'inner circle', why else wouldn't he try and get rid of her if he wasn't interested? Even if she was a princess, she wasn't the princess.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to fall for any of his charm." Usagi slid him a sly look and he smiled back and hugged her to his side. She only prayed she hadn't spoken too soon, the moment their eyes had connected she'd felt unable to control her own thoughts. He'd just scattered them, not to mention what he did to her body.
At the moment she felt back in control and she pushed that class to the back of her mind and chalked it up as a fluke.
She knew why she was worried about running into him again but she wasn't sure why Demando walked in with her to every class after that and looked around before giving her a quick hug and leaving. Was he looking to see if this Mamoru was in any of her other classes? But no, he didn't cross her path again that day. They only had the one class together and that was already too much. The fact that Rei was in that class too only added to her stress. It would have been hard enough sharing one class with her sister, and especially her last term at this school. Usagi didn't want to ruin anything for her sister.
She shared a class with each of the girls and only one with Demando. It was a little disappointing but she knew that it was only par for the course, it would be happening more and more over the next few years.
Usagi didn't want to stay but she'd wait it out until Demando finished and then they could go exploring. She'd take a gap 'year' and spend that time seeing new sights and claiming it was to help her better herself to become queen. Truthfully it was probably going to be because she couldn't wait around in this city waiting for her mother to pass the baton onto her.
Maybe she might even move the capital somewhere else if she found some place that treated her even slightly better. She was warming considerably to that idea and daydreamed about through the rest of the day. First days were notorious for being unimportant and she would catch up if she missed anything by the end of the week. It was such a nice thought and would have been sold on the idea if it weren't for the fact that she'd be running away if she did that. Then all the work and all the pain would have been for nothing. The people would be vindicated and would go back to being used to seeing nothing but their own reflections everywhere.
She didn't choose it but she'd been elected to broaden their minds and she would succeed in this task. A change in hair color was the smallest change they'd have to accept. She'd open the doors to allow foreigners in, it'd be her first act. There were already ones here under the radar. She'd just make it official. She'd also encourage the people here to go out and explore more. Perhaps it'd be more like an exchange program.
Her lips curled up at this newest idea. Oh yes, that would be a lot better than leaving herself. The people would have a heyday with it but she felt they deserved it. Her loyalties weren't only to the people of Japan or even the people of this planet. Her people were stretched out across the system and some of them might have even gone further away.
This planet belonged only to the Prince and he could have it. She was going to go out there and not only learn more and see more, but she would find her people who didn't reside here. It was a small population after the meltdown but there were still people out there. Nothing would stop this decision.
Demando didn't have to know all the details, just the highlights that she wanted him to know. The parts that would actually affect him, like the traveling. She could go off and do her own thing in the background. She knew he wouldn't agree otherwise. Maybe the girls could come too. Hell, anybody who wanted to come were more than welcomed.
But... that was still a ways away and she had more pressing matters to attend to. Like how Minako was contemplating changing the color of her bow from red to green and the green she'd pulled out was a neon green that went well with her hair but not both hair and powder blue eyes.
They kept trying to convince her to stick with her red if that was the only other choice she was prepared to offer. It wasn't until Usagi voiced her opinion that Minako finally decided to stick with her red bow. Usagi felt flattered that her opinion mattered so much and that Minako didn't automatically do the opposite. Now Usagi wished she'd come up with another answer if changing her bow mattered so much to the other girl. She took her aside afterward. "If you really want to change your bow, it shouldn't matter what anyone else says-"
"Actually Usagi, it wasn't that." Minako paused as she looked around and leaned in closer. "I just wanted to start fresh and be someone you could be proud of. I figured that the bow could symbolize the new place in my life I've found myself in but if you really liked it, who am I to change it? That might have been what drew you to me."
"I do like the bow, but that doesn't mean you have to be restricted to one thing. You can experiment all you want." Usagi reached out and touched the bow lightly. "I'm not going to stand in your way."
"You're the one person I can trust to stand beside me." Minako took Usagi's hand in hers. "Thank you for being my friend. People had been slipping out on me for the last few months but you're the first person to come to me."
"It is I who is blessed by this friendship." Usagi insisted.
Minako grinned and tossed her arms around Usagi. The blond returned the exuberant hug with her own equal energy. Demando cleared his throat as he came back from dumping the trays. "Time for class."
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It was the second to last class of the day. Demando had done his staying thing until class almost started before disappearing out. Usagi shook her head, she couldn't understand what his deal was. So Mamoru had shown a little interest in her, it wasn't like he appeared dangerous. She knew exactly who he was and where she could find him if he did anything to her. It wasn't like it was a sneak attack.
The bell rang to signify the end of class and she realized she had not paid this class a single thought. She didn't even know which class she was in for a moment. Then she felt something bounce off her shoulder but it didn't hurt, in fact a moment ago and she probably wouldn't have even registered. She looked around for the offending object and found a paper plane next to her desk. She snagged it and unfolded it, read the message and looked behind her at the boy who'd tossed it to her.
He sat a few rows behind her and she waited for most of the class to file out before getting to her feet. He stopped beside her desk on his way out, allowing others to go passed. "I know you." She commented while picking up her bag and sliding the strap up to her shoulder.
"Yeah... I never did get the chance to talk with you, but this is the first class I've seen you where you haven't wandered off with someone else. I've taken the opportunity to do so now."
"You were that boy who was mean to Ami." She accused, still remembering how he had tormented the girl for a few weeks before she'd stepped in. But he hadn't been mean to Usagi, in fact he had defended her against that Rubeus character.
"I don't think I was ever mean." His brown eyes widened. "I would only try to irritate her to get her to pay attention to me."
"I don't understand." Usagi said slowly, hitching the bag up higher. Soon she'd have to be out those doors so she could walk with Demando. "Why would you do that?"
"I like Ami, but after that scene with Rubeus I knew I had to back off and I feel like she's forever going to associate me with him even though I broke off my friendship with him that day."
"I can understand that, but why would you want to irritate her? There's other ways of getting her attention, far more logical ones."
He grinned at her. He wasn't perfect looking but he had a charming quality to him and even without that he'd be pleasant to look at. "Love isn't logical."
"And you're claiming its love, what you're feeling?"
"I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it could be, some day." He held out his hand for hers. "I'm Urawa Ryo." Usagi took his hand and nodded her acknowledgment of the introduction. It was just annoying to reiterate what he already knew. "I just wanted to apologize to you about my involvement, it hadn't been my intention for you to get hurt that day and I hadn't realized what a mean streak Rubeus had."
"It's not your fault. I never blamed you and my opinion of you has never been bad. I saw how quickly you read the situation and dealt with it in the manner you saw befitting." Usagi looked up to see Demando at the door, peeking in to see if she was held up and he lifted a black brow at her closeness with the other male.
"Before you leave, I was just wondering, since we both seem to be without friends in this class, if you'd like to partner up with me when we have projects?"
"You wouldn't mind being seen with me? Even in a classroom setting?" Usagi asked a little unsure about this.
Ryo gave a slight shrug. "You seem nice and its necessary, so why not?"
"You could always let the teacher pick."
"I like to have some knowledge of my partners before I work with them, that way I know that we can work well together and get the awkwardness out of the way in the beginning."
Usagi gave him a slight smile. "I'd like that. Thank you for asking me. I'll see you tomorrow." She gave another slight action but this time in wave form and joined Demando at the front of the room. They strolled from there together and Usagi was lost in thoughts, not noticing Demando glancing behind him every once in awhile at the boy going the opposite direction and silver eyes narrowing. Or the hand that slid around her waist. The last class of the day was the only class the two had together.