Hi again everyone. Thanks for all your patience.
Mizqt: OMG, you're too hilarious! When I read your review, it totally made me laugh! Seriously, I dedicate this chapter to you for your undying ability to make me laugh! Super thanks.
And extra special super thanks to everyone! I know I'm not personally shouting out everyone, but to anyone who reviews (even the bad ones) it's just great to have your review. Big thanks to you all.
The story is coming to an end, and the scene you all have been waiting for is coming up…not in this chapter hehehe I'm a devil.
Hope you all like this chapter, it's a special one since it's basically all about Mamoru's lunch. You'll get it when you read. HEHEHE
Enjoy!
Lizzy
Chapter Twenty Nine: Lunch Break
"Ahh, this feels great!" Usagi sighed. It was snowing, but it didn't matter. The weather had been unseasonably warm. She was glad to have a day off on such a beautiful day.
Reika and Motoki were going to just go over the last minute details with the hall, menu's and appointments.
It was then it dawned on Usagi. She was supposed to get her hair done with Reika. She hadn't had the guts to tell her yet that she didn't want to get her hair done at all. She sulked back down in her bed, not believing her horrible decision making. She wondered if it was too late to tell Reika and how upset she was going to be.
"What should I do Luna-chan?" Usagi asked the sleepy cat.
"Well, it's your own fault Usagi-chan, you shouldn't have left it this late. Tomorrow's the wedding." Luna nagged. Usagi should've expected that Luna would give her a lecture, considering it was a stupid mistake she made. But she had become very distracted lately and forgot about the hair appointment.
"I wonder if I should tell her?" Usagi pondered to herself. It had been awhile since she was able to rest and lay in her bed. But having to get up early every morning, go to school, get her homework done on time, study and then prepare for the wedding had forced her to kick hold habits and helped her mature a little; which she was a bit proud of herself even if no one else gave her credit for it. She realized that she was growing up fast, and soon, she wasn't going to have the luxury to call herself youth.
She sighed and turned to her side knowing very well she should go downstairs and make the dreaded call to Reika.
She went downstairs with Luna tagging behind. She was hungry for some breakfast. Usagi yawned and stretched out her arms. It was quiet in the house, perhaps everyone else was still sleeping.
She picked up the phone and looked at it. She took in a deep breath.
"I could just do the hair-do…." She whispered. But then she remembered the day she got it done and how unhappy she was. Mamoru was the one who gave her the courage to pull her hair down in the shower that day. It was somewhat unexpected from him. She started to blush just thinking about it. She had secretly wished he had made a move on her, she probably wouldn't have stopped him if he went further.
"Usagi-chan are you not feeling well, your face is all red." Luna asked staring up at Usagi's flaming face. Usagi laughed loudly feeling embarrassed for the sexy things that had come to her mind thinking about the shower and Mamoru.
"I should just tell her the truth..." Usagi decided and finally dialled Reika's number.
"Hello?" Reika picked up sounding a little tired.
"Gomen, Reika-chan, did I wake you?" Usagi asked feeling stupid for not calling at a more sensible time. After all this was their day off before the wedding and the rehearsal party last night.
"No it's alright Usagi-chan, what is it?" Reika cleared her throat and smiled.
"There's something I wanted to tell you before, but I just couldn't tell you…" Usagi's voice trailed off a little making Reika pay more attention. Her right ear grew double its size straining to hear what horrible news Usagi had to give.
"What is it Usagi-chan? Is everything alright?" Reika asked in a calm voice. She went through a billion possibilities; the most horrible thought was that Usagi wasn't going to be the maid of honour. Her heart was racing as she pictured herself digging up her own grave and burying herself if Usagi was going to pull out from the wedding.
"I don't know how to say this." Usagi said quietly feeling hopelessly guilty. Reika's ear grew even bigger, her heart throbbing outside of her chest, sweat starting to run down her face like a leaky faucet.
"Usagi-chan..." Reika whispered feeling the worst most horrible news was going to be delivered.
"I…I can't…." Usagi whispered.
'OH NOOOOO!' Reika shouted in her mind not believing her ears. She prayed to every God on the planet, even a non-God to save her.
"Usagi-chan…" Reika whispered feeling like she was going to cry and die on the phone.
"I can't go to the hair dresser…" Usagi blurted out.
"NNNNNNNNNNNNOOO USAGI-CHAN!!! PLEASE DON'T BACK OUT FROM MY WEDDING!!!!!" Reika shouted to the top of her lungs in a deathly voice. Usagi blinked a few times and then looked at her phone hearing nothing after Reika had her break down.
"What?" Usagi said a bit stunned.
"Hairdresser?" Reika asked feeling a bit stunned herself.
"Yeah, I don't want to get my hair done…" Usagi replied wondering what was wrong with Reika.
"Is that all?" Reika asked turning red from embarrassment and happiness.
"Yeah, is everything alright?" Usagi asked wondering if perhaps the stress of the wedding was taking a toll on her. Reika smiled wiping the sweat from her face and feeling foolish for jumping the gun without listening properly.
"Yes, yes, that's alright. You look better with your hair buns." Reika replied grabbing a brown paper bag and breathing heavily into it.
"Reika-chan, are you sure you're alright?" Usagi asked hearing the horrible breathing sounds she was making on the phone.
"Yes, I'm alright. Arigato. I'm just going to go back to bed now." Reika smiled still trying to get the proper rhythm of breathing back.
"Alright…." Usagi smiled nervously. She hung up the phone and looked at Luna confused.
"Is everything alright Usagi-chan?"
"Yeah, I think Reika's fine but I can't tell." Usagi said scratching her head, not sure if Reika was alright with her not getting her hair done, and she wondered why Reika screamed on the phone about backing out of the wedding.
"Hmm, I guess I'll call Mamo-chan, he should be awake." Usagi cheered up pretty fast and dialled Mamoru leaving Luna to be the most confused out of anyone.
"Usako?" Mamoru picked up the phone half asleep. He glanced at the time and saw that it was only 7:30am, he wondered if something was wrong.
"Hi Mamo-chan." Usagi beamed a big bright smile and sounded more than awake.
"Usako, is everything alright?" He asked looking at the time again and rubbing his eyes. It couldn't be 7:30, since when did Usagi sound so healthy this early.
"Everything's alright. I just spoke to Reika-chan about the hair appointment and it's alright." She happily explained. Mamoru was silent for a moment.
"And?" He asked knowing very well that that couldn't just be it, why else would Usagi wake up so early and call him?
"That's it." She happily giggled. Mamoru looked at the clock again, not believing his own eyes.
"Mamo-chan, what are you doing right now? Are you sleeping?" She asked innocently. A vein started to form on the side of his head.
"Yes Usako, what are you doing awake so early?" He asked wondering if perhaps she hit head on something and somehow lost her time and space perception.
"OH I guess it's just habit now." She laughed happily. Mamoru strained a little to sit up. He was very frustrated, not with her, but the situation he was in. He had wanted to do things last night with her, and it was very obvious that he needed it badly. All he could dream about all last night was her and him doing the things he desperately wanted to do. He needed some sort of release badly too, he was going to lose his mind, and it was getting a bit painful.
"Usako, you should go back to bed, it's still really early." He groaned a little feeling a little excited just hearing her voice. He realized he was turning into a pervert, wanting and needing her so badly, that he might even jump her if he didn't calm down.
"Wah, but Mamo-chan, I'm not sleepy now." She whined like a little girl.
"And I want to change out of my pajama's too, I think I got a bit hot last night with the heater on in my room, so I'm sweaty too." She added smelling herself. Mamoru's ears perked, his expression turning frustrated. He pictured her in her pajama's, laying in bed sprawled out with a sweaty body. He remembered the look of her skin, the softness of her body, all the places he wanted to touch, and it only made things more difficult for him. He looked down at himself and realized that he really needed to get her off the phone before he drove to her place, and kidnapped her.
"I guess I should go and take a shower first. What are you going to do Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked wondering if he had anything planned now that he was awake. Mamoru's left eye twitched. He now pictured her smooth skin naked under the hot shower, her hair wet and messy, her eyes soft with desire. He swallowed hard.
'Is she trying to make me rape her?' He asked himself feeling more and more stressed out. He looked down at himself again, the blanket completely tented. He was going to have to get her off the phone so he could calm himself down.
"Usako, I should get back to sleep. I'll talk to you soon." He groaned feeling strained and a little in pain.
"Mamo-chan, are you alright, you sound like you're in pain?" Usagi asked hearing the tone of his voice. Mamoru bit his bottom lip staring down at his very erect situation.
"Yeah, I'm fine, just a little sleepy. I'll call you later okay." He replied. He needed to get her off the phone before she unwittingly said anything further. Usagi was going to say goodbye too, when the phone jerked out of her hand, almost as if it was magic.
"Uh?" She said looking at her empty hand.
"Mamoru-san, is that you?" Ikuko smiled taking the phone. Mamoru heard her mother's voice and in a flash, the tent fell down. He looked at himself shocked that it could disappear so fast.
"Ye-yes Tsukino-san." He stuttered a little stunned and relieved at the same time.
"Oh, we haven't seen you around lately. How are you doing?" She asked while Usagi muttered grumpily for the phone.
"Yes, I have been pretty busy these days." He laughed and scratched his head feeling an overwhelming amount of guilt for thinking about her daughter the way he was just a short minute ago. He was at least thankful it was not her father, that might have permanently destroyed his 'tenting' abilities.
"Are you busy today? Usagi told me that you have a day off." Ikuko smiled while pushing Usagi's back by her forehead.
"Yes." Mamoru replied hearing Usagi's muffled demands for the phone.
"Well how about you come over for dinner tonight." She asked with a large grin on her face. She wasn't planning anything malice, but she felt it was important for them to all have a good relationship.
"Um well the wedding is tomorrow.." Mamoru wanted to suggest that dinner would be a problem since Motoki might need him for something at night.
"Oh that's right, well how about late lunch then?" Ikuko suggested. Mamoru felt like she was trapping him, and for a moment he felt like a caged bunny waiting for his food. Perhaps this is how Usagi felt when her parents asked her about him.
"Yes, lunch is good." He finally said feeling a bit stressed again. He really didn't want to go over to Usagi's house. Going over there would mean seeing her father, her wild crazy father. He pictured how that would go down in his mind. Usagi's father hovering over his tied up body with a large 'do not feed the usagi' sign being carved out of his skin. It was too scary to even think of.
"Oh good, well Mamoru-san, please be here at 3pm." Ikuko gave the stunned Usagi a sweet nurturing motherly smile, which Usagi didn't really trust. She wondered what her mother was planning inviting Mamoru here like that.
"See you then." She smiled and handed Usagi the phone.
"Mamo-chan?" She asked hearing him sighing.
"Usako, is there anyway your father won't be there?" He asked feeling nervous suddenly. He had never felt nervous talking to a father before, or even meeting a girls family. Somehow Usagi's parents made him strange and nervous each time. Perhaps it was because he liked her parents, the home she grew up in and the people she loved. Or perhaps it was because he had the engagement ring he wanted to give her still on his pinky. Perhaps this was a warning lunch from her parents, for him not to step over a line.
Usagi was silent for a moment just listening to Mamoru sigh again.
"Mamo-chan are you going to be alright?" She asked kindly and wondering if there was anything she could do to get him out of this lunch.
"I'm alright Usako, don't worry. It's just lunch." Mamoru smiled to the phone hearing how worried she was for him. He didn't want to make her worry about him over such a simple thing. Though he was conflicted on what was the 'right' thing to do, he still wanted to make her family like him. He knew for sure Ikuko liked him, and Shingo was a give in, but Kenji might be hard.
"I'll see you later okay." He smiled and hang up the phone. He layed back down on his pillow letting out a huge breath of air.
He looked at the ring in his pinky finger, it was bright and glittering in the light in his room. He smiled to it as if he was smiling down at Usagi.
"Will it be alright if I asked you Usako? Would it be a right thing to ask?" He had been questioning himself for a while, and now that he was going to meet her family, it almost seemed like he was going to ask for her hand. It felt real and nerve wracking for him. He didn't plan on telling her father what he was going to ask Usagi, she was still young and to ask such a question would only give him a heart attack.
"Usako…"
***
"Um, I understand why we're here…" Minako said thoughtfully.
"But why are they here?" She demanded annoyed pointing at Taka's three friends who irritated them so much.
"Hey we were invited alright?" Mitsuaki replied. He and his friends were sitting on the opposite side of the table at a café that Usagi wanted to go to. Since the arcade was closed for the day.
"We invited Taka-san, not you thick heads." Makoto grumbled.
"Well Taka couldn't make it because he's working right now you boards" Itsuki barked back. It took a second for the girls to realize that he really meant boards, they looked down at their chests, red in the face from embarrassment and anger. They were about to get into another fight when Rei broke up the gang wars.
"Hey, pay attention, we're here for Usagi." She was still blushing from the night before, it was an unplanned decision she made on the spot and now even getting inches close to Taka was too much. He hadn't said anything to her about it, other than if she was alright. But it felt strange to be around him, she wondered if things would smooth out when she saw him in the evening during the reception.
"Usagi-chan, what happened?" Ami asked. Usagi took in a deep breath.
"My parents invited Mamo-chan over for lunch today…" She sighed wondering if this was really a good time to have him over, since the last time it didn't really go so well. She recalled how badly her father reacted to Mamoru just being there. That was at a time when Mamoru and Usagi hadn't yet realized what they felt for each other, or who they were.
"You think that's a good idea?" Kaimu asked suddenly feeling like he could relate to the situation. The girls looked at him with annoyance.
"What would you know about it Kaimu-san?" Ami annoyed but politely asked.
"We're guys alright, we know how it feels to visit 'the parents". Mitsuaki replied rolling his eyes feeling like it was obvious they would understand the situation better. He looked over to the see the girls covering their mouths as if they were holding in their laughter.
"What's so funny?" Itsuki demanded grinding his teeth.
"Oh, nothing it's just funny how you said it 'we're guys'". Minako broke out into laughter only fuming the boys more.
"Usagi, you think this is a good idea?" Rei asked being the only voice of reason among lunatics. Usagi thought about it for a second.
"I don't know. I want my family to like and accept him, but at the same time, my dad is always over-reacting."
"He's not over-reacting." Kaimu suddenly blurted out from their bickering with the girls. They looked over to him wondering what he meant.
"Come on, it's your father. No father could easily accept that his young daughter is going out with a guy who's 4 years older than her. He's probably thinking that Mamoru-san is better experienced and would want a mature relationship." Kaimu explained as the girls listened, feeling like they understood and agreed with him even though they didn't want to.
"It makes sense Usagi-chan. Your father is probably just concerned." Ami added although for a brief moment the girls became silent as they all pictured in a large bubble over head of her fathers crazy antics including that horrible sign.
The boys shivered a little both from being able to see a large bubble pop over head, and seeing how Usagi's father reacts to boyfriends.
"Mamoru-san is a brave man." Mitsuaki teared feeling Mamoru's pain.
"But your mother likes Mamoru-san a lot, so it'll be alright." Makoto added hoping to bring some hope into the conversation.
"She's the one who took the phone from me to invite him…she had this smile on her face." Usagi replied sending everyone a chill up their spine.
"Mother's can be just as wild as the fathers, but they can do it with a 'smile'" Itsuki replied recalling the days when he found the mothers of the girls he's dated to be more protective than the fathers.
"Yeah, they don't hit like fathers do, but they sure know how to scare the pants right off of you." Mitsuaki added.
"Seems like you guys have experienced a lot of 'meeting the parents' types of situations." Makoto asked with a cocked eyebrow like she didn't believe them.
"Hey what're you saying." Mitsuaki angrily demanded. The girls had large smiles on their faces acting innocent.
"Oh nothing, just wondering how many girlfriends hearts you've broken to know so much about how parents feel." Makoto shrugged. Large veins started to form on the boys as they realized they were being kindly called sluts.
"You saying we're whores?" Itsuki asked ready to jump.
"No no, we would't use that word…perhaps, slut or skanks"
"Or maybe ho's"
"Or maybe even a lecher."
"Hmm I think sluts works better"
"You think so? I thinks 'skanks' fit better with this kind of situation." The girls went into a deep discussion over what to call the boys, as the boys trembled with embarrassment and outrage.
"Hey! We are NOT the kind of men you think we are!" Mitsuaki shouted slamming his fist down on the table shocking the girls.
"Alright, alright calm down. Don't break the table." Makoto said trying to cool them down while other people starred at their table.
"Yeah, what do you care what we think of you guys anyway?" Ami asked a bit assertively. It was this kind of behaviour from men that she hated the most. The readiness to use force when things didn't go their way.
The boys relaxed a little feeling a bit stupid for reacting like that.
"Anyways, Usagi-chan. I think you just have to go with it. The lunch is already scheduled and it would be very suspicious if you asked your mom to cancel." Ami said focusing back on the task at hand. Usagi nodded.
"Besides, it might be alright. Maybe it's your mother's way of getting Tsukino-san and Mamoru-san to get along." Minako added patting Usagi on the back. She was feeling better hearing the positive side of things, and felt a bit more confident in the situation.
"Don't worry Usagi-chan, you're just going to have to trust that Mamoru-san and your family will get along. After all, they all love you, so they'll do their best." Makoto smiled with hope. The boys hadn't thought about it that way, and were a bit surprised that girls thought that way. They worried about every little thing, but always gave a positive side to even things that seemed bad. They remembered all the times where they just felt the father was just trying to get rid of them, they never thought that perhaps the father was just doing his best to get along with the boy who was dating their daughter.
"You're right…" Kaimu said feeling a bit strange for admitting something like that. The girls looked over.
"Is that supposed to be a joke?" Makoto asked.
"No, we never really thought about it that way." Itsuki said feeling stupid for all the times he complained to ex-girlfriends that their fathers were purposely trying to get rid of them.
"We always thought it was the father's way of getting rid of the boy who was dating their girl, never occurred to us that he might just be trying his best to get along with him." Mitsuaki laughed.
Usagi thought about it, it didn't seem like her father was trying to get along with Mamoru, didn't seem like he liked him at all. But at the same time, her father never bust down the door and wacked Mamoru from the drive way when he dropped her off every night. Nor did he do all the other things he thought he would do when Mamoru stepped foot on the drive way.
A smile came to Usagi's face. She realized this lunch could just be her family's way to get to know Mamoru which meant they wanted him around. She relaxed.
"Thanks you guys." She beamed them all that winning smile, put them at ease to see her smile. The girls realized then how relieved the boys seemed when they saw her smile. They couldn't understand it, but it seemed like they wanted to see Usagi happy. Rei nudged Usagi's elbow and told her to be more tough as Usagi laughed.
Somehow, they saw the boys differently now. It must have been hard for them to admit defeat, but they did.
***
3pm, D Day, or just lunch. Mamoru had been parked around the corner for about 20 minutes, nervously wondering if this was a good idea. He wondered what her father would say to him, or what he would do to him. He pictured her father standing over his body demanding to know how far he had gone with his daughter. It made Mamoru blush with loads of guilt. He couldn't explain to her father that he had loved Usagi since the time of the moon, and that once along time ago, he gave up his life for her. He couldn't explain any of the feelings he had without sounding like a pervert.
He finally pulled up to her drive way, telling himself to be brave. Lunch would probably only last a couple of hours, and he just had to stay normal and quiet.
He was about to knock on the door when it flung open.
"Mamoru-san! Welcome." Shingo eagerly greeted Mamoru, who was relieved to see the young boy rather than the father.
"Thank you." He smiled and walked in. The house looked the same as the last time he came. He felt pretty nervous when he saw Usagi's father sitting in a dark corner of the living, in a strange and brooding manner.
"Welcome Mamoru-san." Her father said in a malice tone. He never knew Usagi's father smoked a pipe, the atmosphere seemed even more scary then the last time they met. Mamoru felt an intense surge of warning emitting from Usagi's father as he made eye contact.
"Oh welcome! So great to see you again Mamoru-san." Ikuko thankfully turned on the light to the dark corner Kenji was sitting in, smacked the pipe right out of his mouth and greeted Mamoru properly.
"Please come in." She invited him to sit in the living room. Usagi walked down a short moment later wondering if Mamoru was doing alright. Luna hopping along with her.
"There's my princess. " Kenji smiled feeling tears forming in his eyes. Usagi smiled uncomfortably and sat down.
"Usagi, why don't we finish up in the kitchen. I'll bring out some juice in just a moment." Ikuko smiled making her way into the kitchen with Usagi, who looked back at the two men sitting, both horribly cold and silent. Shingo didn't seem to understand what was going on, but felt a spine chilling shiver.
"So Mamoru-san, how are you doing?" Kenji asked folding his arms.
"I'm well thank you. How are you doing sir?" Mamoru asked. He perhaps had misjudged her father. He saw the kind look on his face and thought that perhaps he had been thinking too much about this meeting. He relaxed a little and even smiled now.
"Oh I'm not doing too good these days Mamoru-san." Kenji smiled happily locking his fingers together as he continued to smile whole heartedly.
"Really sir? Why is that?" Mamoru asked feeling at ease.
"Because you see Mamoru-san, some strange older man is dating my young pure daughter who is naïve and innocent." Kenji replied still looking very calm and happy. Mamoru trembled a little, a large sweet dropped from his head. He now understood that smile and happy look was really some strange kind of manifest of anger. And perhaps that smile was to fool Ikuko into thinking that he was alright.
"Um er, well sir…" Mamoru didn't know what to say after that. He was starting to sweat about where this conversation was heading.
"Shingo, why don't you go play your video games while Mamoru-san and daddy have a serious talk." He asked sweetly. The young boy hopped along and went into the next room. Mamoru wondered if he just didn't want the boy to see bloodshed. He swallowed looking at Kenji, even though he was nervous to be making such eye contact.
"How old are you Mamoru-san?" Kenji asked, the darkness around him returning.
"I'm 21 sir." Mamoru replied obediently.
"And what are your plans for the future in studies?" Kenji asked knowing full well what Mamoru wanted to be, since he clearly remembered the time Mamoru undid his little girls pajama top for her high fever. Mamoru remembered that moment, and it terrified him.
"A doctor sir." He replied again keeping his sentences short. He was glad that her father wasn't asking anything too personal.
"How far have you gone with my little girl?" He asked with a deadly look on his face. Mamoru almost fainted. Large sweet drops were falling down his head, he was blushing and couldn't put anything into words.
His silence made him guilty and was making her father more suspicious.
"What did you do to my daughter!" Kenji screamed not realizing that he had jumped up to his feet and was screaming.
"Here's the juice." Usagi walked in with a tray of juice when she noticed that her father was smiling but trembling in his chair.
"Papa?" She said giving him his juice.
"Just having a friendly talk with Mamoru-san. Aren't we?" He smiled happily, even laughed a little. Mamoru swallowed and smiled nervously back with a nod. Usagi felt relieved and went back into the kitchen.
"Now where were we Mamoru-san?" Kenji seemed to have changed again, this time speaking through grinding teeth.
"Sir, I wouldn't hurt Usako…" Mamoru covered his mouth realizing what he had called her. He looked up to see Kenji almost in flames.
"What did you call her?" He barked with the sound of a sword sharpening in the background.
"Sir, please, I wouldn't hurt her." Mamoru insisted trying to hold his ground.
"You dare to address my daughter like that. Now spit it out, exactly what have you done with my daughter. And know this, I won't go easy on you." Kenji replied hovering over Mamoru.
Kenji started asking questions, demanding to know how far he had gone with his daughter, the question echoing all over and making it harder to Mamoru to calm down and keep his cool.
"I demand to know!" Kenji shouted.
"I love her!" Mamoru shouted back. The girls walked in to tell them that lunch was ready. They were stunned, even Shingo had returned and was shocked to hear that. Kenji stood before Mamoru surprised, he was not ready to hear that.
"You… you love her?" Kenji asked. Usagi turned red looking from Mamoru to her father. Mamoru stood up before her father and looked deep into his eyes.
"More than anything." He replied in a stern whisper. Kenji examined Mamoru's face. He looked firm and serious, like his life depended on it. He had never seen that expression on his face before, and it seemed almost scary. He could tell, that Mamoru was being true to his word, he did love her, more than anything; and that itself was worrisome.
"Um, lunch is ready…lets sit and eat." Ikuko smiled nervously and pulled on her husband's arm leading him into the kitchen.
"Come Mamoru-san. I hope you like the meal I prepared." Ikuko smiled kindly, hoping to ease the tension that seemed to linger all over the room. Mamoru nodded and followed them into the kitchen, he realized quickly that he had really said something embarrassing and perhaps worrisome.
'Stupid, why did you have to say that?' He scolded himself.
They sat down to lunch quiet at first. Usagi was red in the face. She didn't want to look at anyone's face, especially at Mamoru's. If she had, she would've blushed more and might even throw up she was feeling so embarrassed.
"Mamoru-san, how is school going?" Ikuko asked trying to break the tension over the table.
"It's going really good. Our semester is over for the winter break." Mamoru replied. He was feeling very uneasy with the silence in the room. He ate quietly, hoping that the tension would break soon.
"Ahh, that's good. Any plans for the winter break?" Ikuko asked with a sweet smile, she wanted Mamoru to relax, but judging by Kenji's expression, that was not going to happen smoothly.
"Well, not really." Mamoru smiled. But that wasn't exactly true, since he knew what he wanted to ask and do with Usagi this winter break.
"Very good. And are you excited about the wedding?" Ikuko asked. Mamoru's face dropped, he was in utter shock. He looked clumsily at her. Kenji, Shingo and Usagi looked at Mamoru's bewildered expression wondering what was wrong.
"Mamoru-san, are you alright?" Ikuko asked.
"Uh, the wedding?" Mamoru blushed a little looking to Usagi's father who seemed to be very confused and suspicious with his behaviour.
"Yes Reika-san and Motoki-san's wedding." Ikuko asked pouring Mamoru some water. Mamoru sighed with relief, realizing that it wasn't what he thought.
"Yes, gomen. Yes I'm very happy for them." Mamoru tried this best to cover his confusing reaction with a manly kind smile, but Kenji was very suspicious. They ate their lunch a bit on the friendlier side. It was mostly Ikuko and Mamoru talking with Shingo, since Usagi was too nervous to speak, and Kenji was too suspicious.
After lunch was over, Kenji dragged Mamoru back into the living room while Ikuko and Usagi did the dishes. Usagi desperately wanted to go into the living room so she could help Mamoru with any sticky situations, but Ikuko made sure to keep her there with her.
"Let them talk Usagi. It's best if they both have an understanding." Ikuko smiled. Usagi thought back to the conversation she had with her friends at the café, she had to trust that her father was going to try and be Mamoru's friend, and not murder him. However, the silence during lunch wasn't a good sign.
"So Mamoru-san, do you drink or smoke?" Kenji got right to the questions again, and this time, he wasn't going to get interrupted.
"Um, no sir." Mamoru replied. He was really hoping that her father wasn't going to go into the route he was at before lunch. He didn't know how to handle that again.
"Good, that's good." Kenji poured himself a glass of juice and offered Mamoru some, who gratefully accepted.
"So your friends wedding is tomorrow? Are you going to be picking up my daughter then too?" Kenji asked with a cocked eyebrow. Mamoru took a sip of his juice.
"Yes sir." He answered.
"And Usagi tells me that she'll be staying with Ami-san afterwards." Kenji asked. Mamoru didn't know about this, and looked at her father confused. He was a bit disappointed.
"Um, I guess so sir, I didn't know about it." Mamoru replied. Kenji examined Mamoru's face. He was so sure that Usagi had lied so she could sleep over with Mamoru, but judging by Mamoru's confused expression, he was telling the truth. There was silence again between the two men.
Ikuko and Usagi walked in with some tea and snacks. Usagi looked to her father, who was smiling and then to Mamoru who seem to be bland. She wondered if they were getting along or if they were fighting.
"Oh dear, why don't you show Mamoru-san one of Usagi's old albums." Ikuko suggested with a twinkle in her eye. She had carefully collected the pictures from childhood and made beautiful albums.
Kenji wasn't interested in showing Mamoru Usagi's baby pictures, he didn't want any man to see her most cute and adorable moments.
"Mama, really that's embarrassing." Usagi whined not wanting Mamoru to see her when she was a chubby kid doing all sorts of embarrassing things.
"Oh don't be silly. Go on show him the albums, we're almost finished in the kitchen." Ikuko dragged Usagi out who begged her mother not to show Mamoru such pictures. Mamoru really didn't want to see them either, not alone with her father. What if he blushed and smiled when looking at Usagi when she was just a kid. Kenji reluctantly took out one of the albums, and sat down next to Mamoru. It sent chills up Mamoru's back and he reminded himself to stay calm. Any shred of sigh could set her father off.
"Here, have a look." Mamoru started to flip through the pages. He was right, Usagi was adorable. He saw all the pictures of her, mostly with food. He wanted badly to smile, but he contained his happiness inside. Kenji examined Mamoru's face, he could tell that he was holding in his laughter, and trying this best not to blush. Mamoru came to a picture of Usagi and her father. He was pretending to be a horsey for her as she rode him along the living room. Mamoru's eyes softened greatly. Somehow, this picture touched him the most.
"That's my favourite picture" Kenji smiled and whispered. Mamoru looked at Kenji, who seemed like a different man he was so calm and cool.
"She was 3 there. She loved when I played liked that with her." Kenji smiled, almost feeling like he was going to cry. He missed Usagi in a way. Since she was growing up and becoming a woman, the way he played with her and talked to her had changed. Suddenly, it wasn't easy to just hug her and ask her to play a game with him. She was a woman now, and he more than anyone was having the most trouble with that.
"She's a very kind person." Mamoru smiled looking down to the picture. It was true, Usagi was the kindest person he knew, and even though they had been through a lot together, in the past; she had come out braver than him.
"Where are your parents Mamoru-san?" Kenji asked feeling this was the time to ask such a question. He had been curious for a while, but Usagi hadn't said much, other than, he's by himself. It would have eased Kenji if he knew that Mamoru lived with his parents rather than alone.
"I'm an orphan." Mamoru replied with a small helpless smile. He continued to look at the pictures feeling that he should feel empty without a family, but he had Usagi and that emptiness had been filled. Kenji looked at Mamoru shocked to hear that he didn't even have parents. He didn't know that.
"I guess that's why Usagi didn't tell us…" Kenji whispered. Mamoru remained quiet feeling like he was being pitied on.
"How long have you been alone for?" Kenji asked feeling the fatherly part of him taking over his urge to protect his daughter.
"Awhile…since I was 8" Mamoru replied with a small smile. He didn't know what he was feeling at that moment, but the look on Kenji's face almost felt like his own father looking down at him.
"I'm alright though sir. I was pretty lonely one time in my life, but right now, I'm the happiest I have ever been." Mamoru whispered thinking back to what his life was like before, and how Usagi had changed it. Kenji saw the soft glow on Mamoru's face, and realized what changed his loneliness.
"Usagi…" Kenji cleared his throat.
"Usagi is a really good girl. She's always been so full of life, I forgot that I have to learn to share her." Kenji laughed at himself. He had been so selfish, and never even realized that Usagi was the light that everyone around her wanted.
Mamoru smiled understanding how Kenji felt.
"I guess it must feel like you're losing her…" Mamoru suddenly said. Kenji looked at him surprised.
"But I won't take her away…after all, you're her father, and that's something I can't ever replace." Mamoru smiled, for the first time since he met her father, he felt relaxed and comfortable. Kenji believed Mamoru, he didn't know why, but the man before him had strength, a strength that only a king would have.
"I guess I should've understood you from the first time we met. After all, you risked your life to save her…I think that speaks volumes of what she means to you." Kenji sighed finally realizing how foolish he had been. Mamoru felt warm, like he had earned his approval.
Mamoru shifted a little to face Kenji, a few photographs fell from the album, he went to pick up the pictures when a small box fell from his jacket pocket. Kenji picked up the box wondering what it was. Mamoru put the pictures back in the album when he realized that there was a slight hissing noise coming from his left side.
He turned around to see Kenji looking at the engagement ring, red in the face and hyperventilating. Mamoru turned purple, not sure if he should make a run for it, or explain.
"What is this!?" Kenji demanded grinding his teeth, his finger curling like he was possessed.
"Please Tsukino-sama please let me explain." Mamoru stuttered hoping that he wasn't going to be killed. He was sweating madly and didn't know what to say or explain. How would he be able to explain something like an engagement ring.
"IS THIS WHAT I THINK IT IS!?" Kenji shouted pointing a finger into Mamoru's nose and than to the ring.
"Please sir, I love her, and I…if you don't want me to…I won't." Mamoru sighed feeling very defeated and very embarrassed. He felt like he was being foolish and realized how dumb he was when he saw Kenji's expression.
Kenji calmed down and looked down at the ring. Usagi was too young to get married, but he had never seen a man this young even think about marriage at this age. He realized that what Mamoru had with Usagi was not a youthful love, it seemed to stem from a deeper place.
"Tsukino-sama, please don't tell her…I don't want to scare her off." Mamoru softly asked. He knew for sure that Kenji was going to beat him and throw the leftover pieces of him out. And worst of all, Usagi would find out and probably never speak to him again. This was after all, a huge move.
Kenji looked deep into Mamoru's sad eyes. He seemed to be lifeless and all because he thought he was going to scare Usagi away. Kenji looked down at the ring, it was a beautiful ring and surely cost a good amount. He wondered about what kind of man Mamoru was.
"How long have you and Usagi been seeing each other?" Kenji asked staring at the ring and trying to process information.
"Awhile…" Mamoru replied counting from the first day on the moon, to the first day they met. It was first at bad terms, he was always teasing her, and she hated him with a passion, but now; he couldn't separate himself from her ever.
Kenji took in a deep breath. He realized that this was something he couldn't stop. Usagi was too young for this kind of relationship, but he got the feeling that Usagi and Mamoru had been together from even before she was his daughter. It was an out there reflection, but it felt true.
"I think she'll say yes even if I said no… if you're going to ask soon, at least marry after she graduates from high school..." Kenji laughed at himself a little. He couldn't believe he was actually telling Mamoru that it was alright. Mamoru looked at him in shock.
"Tsukino-sama…" Mamoru whispered not believing his ears.
"I don't know why, but I think she'll be very happy with you…and I'm not about to take away the first family you have ever had." Kenji knew that Usagi had become his family, his whole world. And that it was Usagi who shattered down any walls he might have put up to protect himself from feeling anything.
"Tsukino-sama...but-" Mamoru was able to say still in total disbelief. Kenji closed the box and returned it to Mamoru with a gentle fatherly smile.
"Make her happy alright son." Kenji smiled and placed a hand on his shoulder. Mamoru had never had a father touch him like that. It was like he was looking at his own father, smiling and encouraging him. He understood where Usagi got her smile and it melted him just like it had with Usagi.
"Arigato…" Mamoru whispered feeling like his eyes were going to water. He had never felt this overwhelmed, since Usagi walked into his life.
"Don't get me wrong, I still don't like you, or approve of you and if you hurt her, I'll make you so familiar with pain, that you'll beg for death." Kenji squeezed Mamoru's shoulder tightly, he seemed to grow in size and menace and it shook Mamoru's very soul.
"Yes T-tsukino-sama." Mamoru was able to stutter.
"Just keep her happy." Kenji sighed letting go of Mamoru's shoulder. Mamoru put the ring back into his pocket and nodded to Kenji.
"I will." Mamoru said it proudly and with determination. Kenji adjusted his glasses and cleared his throat. He felt a bit annoyed with himself, since he gave in to Mamoru. He still didn't like the guy, but at least he knew that Mamoru's intentions were clean and he wasn't a guy who was going to use and throw his daughter away.
"I'm glad she met you. If it's with you, I can rest a little." Kenji sighed not realizing he had given such a compliment. When he realized he fumbled with his words and tried to take it back, asserting that it was the cold day that was messing up with his mind.
Usagi peeked from the corner of the kitchen to find her father acting belligerent, and blushing. She wondered what they were talking about.
"Look, they seem to be getting along." Ikuko whispered into Usagi's ear as she also took a peek.
"How? Dad seems to be having a heart attack." Usagi said a bit annoyed with her mother.
"See. He's smiling. Which only means, that something good happened." Ikuko pointed to Mamoru's smiling and gentle face. She was right, it seemed that their relationship wasn't that bad anymore. Usagi wondered what had happened to change the atmosphere this drastically.
****
"Gomen Mamo-chan, it must've been really strange for you." Usagi said shyly as she said goodbye to him. Her father had done enough grilling throughout to early evening to last a life time, but for some reason, his behaviour wasn't as hostile as it used to be. He even seemed to at times get along with Mamoru like a son in law would. Usagi blushed thinking of Mamoru calling her father dad, and her father calling Mamoru son in law. The very image was both great and disturbing.
"It's not a problem. I had a great time." Mamoru replied. He was glad that her father hadn't freaked out on him after seeing the ring, he had expected to be horribly butchered and then thrown out. He wondered what had made her father calm down and say encouraging words. Was it pity because he was an orphan or something else? He didn't think it was pity since what he saw in Kenji's eyes was pride.
"I'm glad. Get a good nights rest, tomorrow is the wedding." Mamoru smiled taking a step closer. He was glad that her father and mother had gave this moment to say goodbye alone, otherwise it would have been very uncomfortable.
"Yeah, what time will you pick me up from home?" She asked.
"Well be ready by 10am since the ceremony at the church will be at 11:30…" Mamoru realized that tomorrow was a special day, and a night where he would have to make a decision.
"Alright. See you tomorrow." Usagi smiled as Mamoru cautiously leaned in to kiss, suddenly Shingo opened the door panicking both of them. Mamoru landed his kiss on Usagi's forehead and rushed away quickly to his car. Usagi gave Shingo a warning smile, he knew exactly what he had done and was very happy to interrupt Usagi's kiss.
"You're gross nee-chan." Shingo smirked sticking out his tongue and running away before she could kick him. She waved goodbye to Mamoru. She couldn't wait till tomorrow.
After tomorrow they would have lots of free time during the rest of winter break, and on Christmas she would be able to give him her present.
***
That was a very long chapter. Don't worry a super cool lemon is coming up in the next chapter. HEHE
On the next chapter: The Wedding. Nothing eventful about it, except some interesting pairings, and the lemon scene you all have been dying for.
