Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews guys! And not to forget, I have a poll up! I'd like you guys to vote on if you think Ikuko and Kenji should get back together. Thanks. Now, here's the next chapter!
Chapter 25: Flames of Passion
Usagi led the way up to her penthouse apartment, ever aware that Heero was always just a few inches besides her. Her mind screamed at her to be alert in case he tried anything but her body was encouraging her to go to him and wrap her arms around him and kiss him senseless. She resisted not knowing how much longer she could afford to do so. Maybe it was the wine that she had had that was tampering with her thought process. She groaned inwardly at a loss for once on what she wanted to do and what she shouldn't do.
The ride to her apartment had never felt so long and once she was out of the elevator with him she let out an inward sigh, she had survived it. She opened the door with as much composure as she could manage and motioned for him to enter.
Heero stepped into her apartment and couldn't control himself anymore; he pulled her to him and kicked the door shut while claiming her mouth all at the same time, catching her off guard. He backed her up against the wall and brutally began to assault her mouth, his hands traveling over her supple body. He was not surprised when she started to kiss him back with as much fervor.
Usagi had been secretly wishing for something like this to happen all night and she was beyond the moon with all the feelings Heero was evoking within her. As his hands moved over her, her body tingled in places that she never thought were that sensitive.
Heero moved them over to the couch where they tumbled over on it, causing Usagi to gasp in the process but her mouth found his again in no time and their kisses became more intense. Heero's lips left hers and traveled over to her neck leaving feathery kisses along her jaw line and moving lower, her soft moans edging him on.
"Bedroom!" Usagi gasped and Heero got the idea, sweeping her up into his arms and made his way over to where her room was. Once in her room, he placed her on her bed and stood back, his eyes all for her. He watched her blue eyes darken with desire and he felt his own stirring to unbearable heights. He couldn't hold himself back any more; he kicked off his shoes and joined her on the bed.
Next Day…
Usagi could hardly forget the unbelievable night she had shared with Heero, which made work impossible. She was sitting at her desk staring into space remembering the way he had made her feel, awakening desires in her that she had never experienced before. She sighed unable to get him out of her head. Last night she hadn't thought of the consequences of doing such an act but now she could see the repercussions plain as day.
A soft knock on the door jolted her out of her thoughts. Usagi tried to make it seem as if she had been occupied, rearranging a few things on her desk.
"Come in!" she called.
Her father stepped into her spacious office with a bright smile on his lips.
"Good morning, sweetheart. How are you this fine Friday morning?"
"Good morning daddy," she rose to her feet, made her way over to him and placed a soft kiss on his aging cheek. "I'm fine. How are you?" Something about her father's demeanor this morning was off, she could feel it. He wasn't exactly a morning person so the bright smile on his face alerted her that something was definitely up.
"I'm great," he said. "How was dinner with Heero last night?"
Usagi hesitated not quite sure what to say, somehow telling him that she had ended up sleeping with their client wouldn't be appropriate…
"It went great actually," more than great she thought. "He took me to an Italian restaurant. The food was delicious and we talked. After that he drove me home," she hoped her answer wouldn't give anything away.
"Well that's nice. It seems to me that you two rather enjoy each other's company-"
"Oh come on dad! I don't need to hear this from you. Heero and I are on a strictly professional basis." Lies, a voice echoed.
Her father looked amused; no doubt he was remembering the scene he had walked in on yesterday. Usagi groaned internally.
"So, its Heero now?" he asked with a hint of a smile in his voice.
"Dad!" she whined.
"You don't have to say anything," was all he said before ending that particular conversation.
Kenji knew that Heero and his daughter were attracted to each other, he was not ignorant to that fact but if they wanted to deny it who was he to interfere?
"Is everything set for the hearing next week?" Kenji asked his daughter, he was still avoiding the real reason he was here.
"Yes. Everything is fixed and ready. I found out that Kimura is going to be Relena's lawyer. And knowing him he'll try every trick in the book to win the judge over in Relena's favor."
"Don't worry about him. His tactics won't work this time. We have a substantial amount of proof that sheds light on Relena's bad parenting skills. No judge in the country would ever grant her rights as primary guardian. And after this I'll be making sure that she's not even allowed visiting rights," Kenji replied calmly.
"So what's got you smiling this morning?" Usagi asked with a raised eyebrow.
Kenji chuckled, "Nothing really. While you were having dinner with Heero, I was having dinner with someone else."
Usagi's curiosity spiked. Was her father seeing someone? The thought was kind of silly but it was plausible.
She giggled, "Hm you sly dog you! Who was she?"
Kenji laughed, "My dear it wasn't anything like that."
With a raised eyebrow Usagi asked, "Oh really? Humor me."
Kenji sighed, "I was having dinner with your mother."
Usagi's smiling face fell, "Oh. How did it go?" she managed to ask.
Kenji moved to the window, staring at the city below, "It went better than I expected actually."
"That's good, no?"
"Yes," he turned to her, "better than good. I'll give you more details tomorrow. Are you and Mina still coming over to the house for the weekend?"
Usagi nodded not being able to say anything else. Her mind was swirling with all the questions that she wanted to ask, barely imagining what the answers could be.
"Good," he father said pausing to smile, "I'll see you later then." And with that he exited her office.
Usagi collapsed onto her chair; did she really want to know about her past? Was it going to be worth it? Would it trigger a mental collapse? She was confident enough to think it wouldn't. The answers to her questions however, she felt, would erase all the blind spots in her memory. It was the worst feeling waking up each morning not remembering what had happened for the first 17 years of her life. It tormented her when she met a black wall when she tried to remember her earliest days. She had no childhood memories and the farthest back that she could remember was her senior year of high school and living with her father. She remembered Rei, knew that they had been best friends since the sixth grade and when the girl spoke of past things they had done it depressed her not know what she was talking about. Usagi made her mind. She was going to fill in all the missing pieces and she didn't care what the consequences were. With those thought pushed aside she decided to get some work done, if she wanted to make her lunch date with Ami and Makoto.
Since Ami was in the country until Mina's wedding, Usagi would try to catch up as much as she could with her college friend as was possible until the philanthropist returned to Angola. Usagi admired her friend's work but she didn't think she would ever be capable of doing something like that. She didn't like to see people suffer, but that didn't mean she didn't try to do her part. After all with Ami being in town she was hosting a charity ball to raise money so she could better help those in terrible need. Usagi planned on showing up and donating a generous amount. And speaking of the ball, she needed something to wear, she sighed, she would have to call up Mina and ask her sister to go shopping with her. She didn't have the backbone to go searching for a dress on her own.
Usagi pushed all unnecessary thoughts aside and tried to get some work done. She didn't have any meetings or cases today, so her presence wasn't needed anywhere at the moment and she had no pressing work to get done, so where did that leave her? Her mind couldn't help but wonder to the morning after her passionate night with Heero.
Heero…
Heero had thrown himself deeply into his work to drive away the thought of Usagi and their night together. Not that he didn't like thinking about her but he was afraid that he was thinking too much about her. She was the only women he had ever encountered that could occupy his sole thought. It was disturbing some ways but made him realize other things as well.
He sighed exasperatedly and sat back in his chair, running his hand through his thick chocolate colored hair. He had thought maybe sleeping with her would get rid of this driving need that he had to be with her, but that wasn't the case. No matter what he told himself, his reason for making love to her was not to get rid of the ache. He had wanted to do it with all his soul and being. He genuinely wanted to hold her in his arms and never let go. Was that a bad thing? A distant voice asked him. No, he thought, it wasn't. There was nothing wrong with that. Maybe if it had been another woman it would have been, but not Usagi. For god's sake, she had been a virgin, another thing he couldn't get out of his head. He had been right in his earlier assumptions but never had he imagined that she would actually give herself to him if she had been. His heart swelled at the thought. She had freely given herself to him; she had let him be her first.
His heart melted a little and a protective instinct over came him when he remembered the way she had looked when they had first awaken in the morning after their passionate love making. With her hair in disarray, her eyes bright and shinning, her skin slightly flushed, lips still swollen, she had never looked more like an angel, so innocent and fragile and so defenseless, not at all like the tough business woman she pretended to be. He had seized the moment and had kissed her tenderly, savoring the moment. If it had been any other woman he would have already been gone, leaving in the middle night just so he wouldn't have to deal with that particular confrontation. But he had stayed and it seemed as if his mind had been made up since then- to stay with her and make her his again. And with that he made his mind- she would be his.
Kenji…
Kenji was flipping back and forth between a file, deep in concentration when his head suddenly snapped up. An idea had hit him. He pulled his wallet out of his pocket and grabbed the business card that Ikuko had given him the previous night and punched in the number on it. On the second ring it was picked up by a female sounding to be in her late twenties.
"Aimi Headquarters. How may I help you?"
"Yes, I'd like to speak with Ikuko Aino," Kenji stated rather than asked.
The voice on the other end frowned, "I'm sorry. That's not possible right now. I'm afraid Ms Aino is busy at the moment."
Kenji pursed his lips, "Tell her it's Kenji Tsukino. I'm sure she'll speak with me."
"I'm sorry sir but I was given strict instructions-"
Kenji cut her off, "I don't care what sort of instructions you were given, tell her, her lawyer is on the phone."
That seemed to do the job and within an instant Ikuko was on the phone.
"Peter, why did you not call me on my cell phone instead of harassing my staff?" came Ikuko's terse voice.
"If I had your cell number I wouldn't have to harass your staff," Kenji replied good-naturedly.
Ikuko gasped, "Kenji?"
"Yes," was all he said.
"Why, this is certainly a surprise. To what do I owe the pleasure?" her once curt tone retuning to her normally wind chimed voice.
"Actually I called because of the girls. I had a thought not too long ago and I thought you might be interested," he said.
"Go ahead, I'm listening…"
Lunch…
"This is just like Usagi to be late," Makoto chuckled.
"Its not like she's always late you know," Ami chided, always ready to defend her friend.
"Yea, I guess your right," Makoto sat up straighter, "Wait I think I see her," and she did. She waved Usagi over and the blond walked slightly faster in their direction.
When she got there she dropped herself onto the empty chair beside her friends, "Sorry you guys. Traffic was terrible."
"It's okay. Your here now," Ami replied with her kind trademark smile.
"Yep, now we can do all the catching up in the world," Makoto said waving over the waiter.
Usagi laughed, "Let me guess, Makoto chose this restaurant?"
"You know it. She has an affinity for good food," Ami smiled at her friend.
"I can't disagree, but trust me, you guys are gonna love the food here," Makoto replied enthusiastically.
The other two women looked at each other and laughed.
"What?" Makoto asked lost.
"Nothing" both women said at the same time.
"Let's just order," Ami finally said not wanting to tease her friend.
"I have to admit though," Usagi said looking around, "this is a nice quaint little place."
Ami and Makoto nodded in agreement as they all gave their order to the waiter.
When the waiter left Ami decided to tell the other two that they were having guests, hence the three extra chairs.
"Oh I forgot to tell you, Wufei, Trowa and Heero are joining us when they get off for their lunch break," Ami said nonchalantly but watching Usagi's reaction closely.
Makoto's reaction was expected, she grinned, her eyes lighting up with her obvious delight that her boy friend was going to be joining her. Ami had figured out a long time ago that her friend and Trowa were madly in love, you hardly saw one without the other. Sort of like Mina and Duo now and her and Wufei when they had first fallen in love. She was surprised however at Usagi's reaction and her curiosity spiked ten fold. Usagi had sputtered the water she had been drinking at the sound of Heero's name. Makoto who was closer to her patted her back.
"Are you okay Usa?" Ami asked grinning on the inside. She had been right when she had thought that there was certainly something going on between Heero and her friend.
Usagi patted her mouth dry with a napkin and nodded, "Yea went down the wrong way."
"Well, here's our food. Are you sure you're okay?" Makoto asked again.
"I'm fine," Usagi said more forcefully, "Lets eat!" her eyes lighting up when she saw the food.
"You'll always be a pig," Makoto teased.
"Hey, just like how you have an affinity for good food I have one for eating it!" shot back, a grin on her flawless face.
Ami laughed at her two friends, some things never changed, "Well, let's eat."
"Lets!" Both Usagi and Makoto cheered and dug into their food with much gusto while Ami sweat dropped at their behavior but followed suit anyway however, with a little less enthusiasm.
The three women chatted in between bites and shared what was currently going on in their lives. Makoto updated them on her business and how it was growing fast and how she planned to open her own restaurant soon, the girls were glad for her. Makoto also told them about how madly in love she was in with Trowa and was hoping he would ask her to marry him. Both Ami and Usagi had sighed happily for her and told her they wished that he would ask her too and asked if she needed some help in persuading him with which the two had grinned. Makoto however had sweat dropped and said they were not to interfere, that if Trowa felt the same way about her he would ask. Ami and Usagi hand concede defeat and the conversation had moved onto Ami. She would be celebrating her two years of marriage to Wufei in about two months. Usagi and Makoto had cornered her into throwing a lavish party to celebrate; the blue haired woman had no other choice but to sigh in defeat. Ami also told them about her work in Angola and how she wished that her charity ball would be a success. From just listening to her speak one could tell she cared deeply about what she did in those third world countries. Makoto and Usagi had promised they would help her with the arrangements. Makoto had volunteered to supply the food and Usagi had promised she could use the ball room at her father's house and to invite all her high profile clients. Ami was ecstatic by her friends' willingness to help her and her cause. After which the conversation shifted to Usagi.
"So Usa," Ami began slyly, "Is there anything interesting going on in your life?"
Usagi didn't exactly know how to answer that. Should she lie to her friends or tell them the truth. But what was the truth? Sure she and Heero had spent a night together but where had that lead them? Were they now seeing each other or was that just a one night fling? Usagi hoped to god it wasn't the latter.
"Well-" Usagi began but trailed off when she saw their 'guests' walking into the restaurant and were making their way over to them, Heero stopping to talk to someone. The two other women turned their heads to see where she was looking and smiles lit up their faces as they saw the men they loved walking towards them. Makoto and Ami stood when Trowa and Wufei reached their table and exchanged quick pecks on the lips before sitting again.
Usagi had kept her eyes on Heero the whole time not sure how she should react. When he turned from the person he had been talking to and made eye contact with her, Usagi quickly shifted her gaze, a light blush creeping up her cheeks.
Heero finally made it to the table and greeted Makoto and Ami with a smile and a "Hello," Ami receiving a kiss on the cheek. Then he turned to the one person who had been occupying his every thought since he had met her and bent down and kissed her on the lips, catching everyone off guard, including the said woman.
"Hi," he merely said to her with a smile that threatened to melt her bones.
"Hi," Usagi squeaked back, but instantly regretted it when he smiled his wicked trademark grin at her knowing how he affected her while he sat in the empty seat beside her, draping his arm casually over the back of her chair.
"I guess that's what's up," Makoto grinned at Ami.
"Mmhmm," Ami grinned back, Wufei and Trowa exchanging looks of confusion but shrugged it off, who wanted to figure out women?
Trowa smirked internally; he too had known that something had been up with his boss and long time friend and Makoto's roommate from college. Initially, he had been shocked, just as Ami had been, when Heero had so boldly kissed Usagi and in front all of their close friends but, it had worn off because he, like Ami, knew that they both deserved to be happy if they found that happiness with each other.
"When did this happen, Yuy?" Wufei voiced what everyone else was thinking.
Heero looked at Usagi and then back at Wufei and just shrugged, "It just happened."
Wufei pursed his lips knowing he would get nothing else. Ami and Makoto however knew they were going to get the whole story from Usagi later. And there was no doubt that Makoto would pass it on to Trowa and Ami onto Wufei whether they wanted to know or not and then inevitably word would pass onto Duo and Mina, then Usagi in return would get an earful of Mina.
The guys ordered and the three girls chatted quietly between themselves.
"Usagi, you are in big trouble!" Makoto whispered.
"How come you never told us?" Ami asked.
"Would you two give me a break already? I'll explain later," Usagi whispered back not sure when it happened. She narrowed her eyes at Heero. He was the reason why she was in this situation. And he had lots of explaining to do as well. She smiled too sweetly at him however when he turned to watch her and he shot her a suspicious 'What are you up? You're no angel' kind of look. Usagi stuck out her tongue at him and he raised an eyebrow.
"I could put that to much better use," he whispered to her teasingly.
Usagi blushed and hid her face in his shoulder. He chuckled lightly and kissed her hair, unaware that their companions were watching.
"So are you two going out now, or something?" Wufei asked. Why he was the one asking these questions was beyond everyone at the table. Wufei had never expressed any sort of taste for anyone else's private live much less Heero's, so hearing him ask these questions made Ami worry about what her husband was thinking. Later she would tackle him on it but for now she would keep to slyly observing her long time friends.
Heero looked at Usagi and everyone watched as a silent exchange passed between the two. Neither one had ever thought about that particular subject. Things had just happened, as Heero had said earlier. Neither knew if the other wanted to be in that position, but through their silent exchanged they had come to the conclusion that they would like nothing more. Heero was through with running from his emotions and what he wanted no, needed. Usagi on the other hand was just going along with her heart, she had already fallen for him and last night had just served to solidify her feelings for him.
"Yes," the both said. Everyone else just took in the news and reacted as only they could. Ami and Makoto squealed in their delight, Trowa and Wufei just settled for smirking while Usagi sweat dropped and Heero sat impassively as if nothing had happened.
Lunch passed at a comfortable pace and Usagi found that she actually liked being in Heero's company when he was relaxed and was with friends. He was considerably more amiable and even cracked a few jokes. It was a side she had never seen and she wondered what else he would surprise her with, she knew he was a man of many facets. She had already seen the tough businessman, the caring father, the passionate lover, and the good friend; she couldn't wait to see what else he would throw at her. But what ever it was she hoped she could handle it.
Heero had sat back most of the time and watched how Usagi and her friends interacted, occasionally throwing in his own two cents. She was quite something else. She was like no woman he had ever been with. She did not talk about the latest clothing trends, hair and makeup. She chatted about more meaningful things, things he could more relate to, not meaningless talk that he usually droned out. She was always animated as well, her face always showing how she felt about something, her eyes lighting up when something peaked her interest and her found her laugh to be just amazing, it was like music to his ears, like sweet honey that played with his senses. She was hardly ever still and he found that he was more attracted to her now that he ever was and was more determined to keep her by his side. He had no idea how she felt about him but he did know that she did feel something or else she wouldn't be here pressed against him, seeming so comfortable in his presence. She was considerably more at ease now than when they had first met and he took that as a sign that she was no longer fighting him off.
After lunch, the group had taken off. Heero had sent Wufei and Trowa to wait for him in his car since they had come together, while he walked Usagi to her car.
"Where do you think you're going," he asked pulling her to face him.
Usagi titled her head to the side pretending to be confused.
Heero groaned. She looked so damn cute when she did that. He couldn't resist and longer, he pulled her to him, locking her in his arms. Usagi grinned at him and reached up on her tiptoes to meet his lips. He lowered his head in an effort to help her and their lips connected in a sweet lingering kiss, Usagi moving her fingers to secure them in his hair.
"I'll see you this weekend?" Heero asked her after they ended the kiss, still keeping her in his arms.
Usagi's fell. She wanted to see him, and badly, but she had already agreed to spending the weekend with her father and her sister.
"I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm going over to the house to spend the weekend with my dad and Mina," she pouted.
Heero caressed her cheek, "That's fine. I'll see you during the week then." And with that he kissed her one last time, making sure she got in her car before he headed back to his own.
Heero had felt a sting of disappointment when she had said she couldn't see him. He had been looking forward to having dinner with her again. But he decided that it was for the best. He would spend some quality time with his daughter; it seemed lately as if he hadn't been doing it enough.
Weekend…
"Good morning Daddy!" Usagi chirped bouncing into the kitchen area, upon seeing her father already at the breakfast table. She skipped over to him and placed a quick peck on his cheek.
"Good morning, sweetie," Kenji replied but narrowed his eyes teasingly, "Seems like someone had a goodnight's sleep."
Usagi laughed and grinned, "Sure did!"
Kenji chuckled at his daughter's energetic demeanor. Something was surely up to bring up this kind of behavior, but he would not press into the matter.
"I bet she was dreaming about Heero," Mina grinned walking over to her father to give him a kiss as well.
Usagi just stuck her tongue out at her sister playfully, "Maybe I was. Do you have a problem with that?"
Mina giggled and nodded her head 'no'.
"Is there something I'm missing here?" Kenji asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.
Mina's answering grin was an evil one, "Oh nothing much, except the fact that Usa has a boyfriend now!"
Kenji nearly choked on his orange juice, "What?" he asked eyes wide.
"See look what you've done Mina! Daddy are you okay?" Usagi shot her sister a look, while making her way over to her father to pat his back.
"I'm fine and don't side step the question. Who is he?" Kenji asked eyeing her. He had never been one to pry in his daughters' private lives but he was very protective when it came to letting men into their lives. He didn't want to see them hurt. But he had feeling he already knew who it was that Usagi was letting into hers.
"Promise you won't get angry?" Usagi asked timidly.
Kenji shook his head, "No promises."
"Um, it's Heero…" Usagi said slowly watching her father's reaction. She knew the two were long time friends; close ones at that, so she really didn't know how he would react. Maybe he would know things about Heero that he did not approve of and would want her to immediately end the relationship before it even took off the ground? If it came to that Usagi knew that she would fight her father until he approved, because that was the depth of her feelings for Heero.
So, he had been right after all. He had had a hunch it would be no one other that Heero Yuy. He had known something was brewing the two, his first clue, had been at Mina's and Duo's engagement party but then his suspicions had been confirmed when he had walked into that scene in his office.
"Ah, I should have known," he replied tactfully.
"You're not mad?" Slight disbelief lacing Usagi's voice.
Kenji smiled, "Why would I be?"
"Well," Usagi stuttered not quite believing her father hadn't shown any resistance, "He's Heero Yuy-" her father cut her off knowing where she was headed with her assessment.
"Yes, an infamous playboy and breaker of hearts, Japan's most eligible bachelor, blah, blah, blah. I know who he is and quite frankly I do not disapprove of whom is as a man. I know him quite well and I hate it when people speak negatively of him regardless of his life style."
Usagi was dumbfounded at her father's tirade.
"Usagi," Kenji said tenderly acknowledging her disposition, "I could not have chosen a better man for you."
A deep flush came over Usagi's face as she absorbed her father's words. Mina on the other hand giggled quietly at her sister's face.
"Dad! Don't say things like that!" Usagi scolded.
Kenji chuckled, "Whatever you say." And laughed when his youngest daughter fell into his arms for a warm hug.
Mina who had been helping herself to the food that the chef had prepared pouted when she saw the two embrace, feeling left out.
"How rude," she chided.
"You can join too if you want," Usagi said sticking out her tongue once more at her sister. Minako wasted no time in being left out as she hopped over to join them in the cozy moment of father embracing his daughters. This was how they were, ever since Usagi had joined them and made them a family again. Their bond had grown immensely tighter and the three became more closely knitted as the years went by.
After a moment the three broke apart with Kenji demanding they eat their breakfast before it got too cold.
"You sound just like a mom," Usagi teased.
Kenji just grinned at his baby girl.
After breakfast the family retired to the patio surrounding the outdoor pool. While Kenji perused the newspaper Mina worked on her tan, Usagi swimming laps in the pool. Speaking wasn't always necessary when the Tsukino family was together. Just being in each other's company was always almost enough.
"It's been almost a week and their still talking about your engagement party," said an amused Kenji to Mina.
Mina lifted her head from her pool chair and grinned at her father.
Much of the time passed with just being lazy and making idle chatter until lunch came by.
"So Dad, what's this surprise you have for us tonight?" asked Mina and she helped herself to some salad.
Kenji pulled a face, "Well, I didn't exactly say it was a surprise. But you'll just have to wait and see."
When both the girls had arrived last night instead of this morning to surprise their father, he had announced that he had something sort of a surprise for them but it would all depend on their reactions really. He had been thinking shock would be more appropriate but he hadn't wanted to give too much detail, knowing that Mina was probably going to be angry at him for doing something as such. But he was more doing it for Usagi. Mina would be just thrown into the loop and all he could was hope that things wouldn't get too out of hand. But regardless what he had planned was going to affect both of his daughters tremendously.
"Aw, come on Dad. No clues?" Usagi whined.
"Nope and there's no use in asking again, because I will not tell you," Kenji said shaking his head.
Both girls pouted trying to lure him out. But he shook his head in laugher, "Nice try but that won't work either."
They both let out a "Humph," and went back to eating.
The rest of the day passed with much of the same accord as it had after breakfast until it was time for dinner.
They had decided, or rather Kenji had decided to stay in for dinner and had then proceeded to say it would be a sort of formal dinner and they were to dress appropriately. The girls had then figured out that this "surprise" of his meant that they were to have a guest and they could only wonder as to who it could be.
When dinner rolled around Kenji, dressed in casual khaki pants and a crisp white shirt tucked in was already in the family room sipping on some red wine, with Mina, whose curvy body wore a navy blue tucked stretch silk twill sheath with a square neckline finished with a buttoned keyhole opening for an extra glimpse of her creamy skin, her hair styled in an elegant ponytail, waiting for Usagi.
"And I thought I took a million years to get ready," Mina whined getting impatient sitting on the love seat.
"Have some patience, sweetheart," Kenji scolded his oldest daughter lightly. "She doesn't have as much options to choose from."
Mina laughed lightly, "True. I need to take her shopping more often."
"No thank you. I can manage by myself," Usagi replied descending the stairs in her pleated jabot high, cutaway neckline of a boldly printed, hammered-satin dress. The exaggerated princess seams shaping the bodice, with a low scooped back to finish her look, her hair in loose waves about her shoulders.
"Wow," Minako said staring at Usagi's dress, "I'm so borrowing that."
"I'll take that as an "I like your dress"," Relied Usagi dryly.
"Come on girls. Behave," Kenji chided. "Let's go to the dinning room." Just as they were about to make their way to the said room the door bell went off. The butler appeared a few seconds.
"Mr. Kenji, your guest has arrived," said the middle aged man who had been with Kenji and Minako for almost twenty years now.
Kenji nodded, "Bring her in Rich."
The said man gave a short bow and disappeared to escort their guest in.
Heels could be heard clicking against the marble passage way.
So, it's a woman, both sisters thought. But they were in no way prepared for the woman that would be making her appearance in a few short seconds.
"Your guest, Ms. Ikuko Aino," announced the butler before once again disappearing to some other part of the house, fully aware of whom the woman who he had just escorted in and not wanting to stick around for what was to follow.
AN: Thanks for reading! Don't forget to vote on if the Tsukino's should be a family again. Only five more chapters to go so, stay tuned!