SailorStar9: Well, Chapter 35 is out and this is Chapter 36. Important note: This IS an anti-Usagi fic! If you don't like what I've done, then don't read it! Remember boys and girls, reviews are an author's subsistence. So, please be a dear and read and review. And is it so difficult for you guys to review instead of just putting this fic up in your favorites and alerts?
Disclaimers: I do not own Sailor Moon or the pairings. If I did, the other Senshi would be as powerful as Sailor Moon and kicking MOTD ass more often. The only thing I do own is the plot.
Chapter 36: Meeting the Chibas (Insert reviewers' scream: It's too early)
"But if you do decide on divorce, I'll solve your financial problems." Hiroki promised. "It's not easy for me to spend my life savings on my son's divorce settlement."
"Father, how come you do this to me?" Usagi asked.
"I should ask you the same thing." Hiroki fired back. "You deceived your in-laws, framed innocent people and engaged in shameless acts. And you expect to be forgiven?"
"And you think all the responsibilities lie with me?" Usagi shot back. "Mamoru, who's crazy about another woman, is not at fault?
"Mamoru's a fool but things weren't this bad before you entered our lives!" Hiroki stated. "There's no need to drag this out. Will you agree to the divorce or not? Staying out of prison would be the smartest choice."
"Give me some time." Usagi requested. "I need to think."
"No matter how much time you take, the only correct answer is divorce." Hiroki was firm. "The sooner you decide, the more you'll gain. You'll be hounded by creditors from now on. How will you handle them?"
"This is the end?" Usagi muttered, ambling towards the hotel door. "Get a divorce? No, this can't be happening. That deceitful old man… he knew everything, but kept it from me until now?"
"Are you all right?" Demando asked, grabbing Usagi before she collapsed.
"Am I all right?" Usagi glared. "I'm about to lose everything because of your stupid sister! Will you be okay if you were in my shoes? Go and tell Uzumaki Yuki; tell her I'll never divorce Mamoru even if I'm ripped to pieces! I'm Chiba Mamoru's only wife, no one else! Got that?" her rant over, she strolled out of the hotel.
"Mom, what happened?" Mamoru hurried home. "They seized all my properties?"
"I have no strength to talk." Akemi sighed. "See for yourself." She handed the seizure notice to him.
"This can't be…" Mamoru stammered. "They'll all mine. How dare they get their hands on them?"
"So why did you put them under Usagi's name?" Akemi questioned. "Then some men from court came and… I'd rather not say. Take a look at your room. I should have them divorced before it's too late. That so-called daughter-in-law is scarier than the Grim Reaper. I should have her packed up and leave tonight."
"You must have a special event tonight, Yuki-sama." One of Yuki's assistants remarked, helping the heiress with her hair.
"Yes, it's a very special night." Yuki replied. "I'll be seeing everyone I've been dying to meet."
"Ms. Haruno?" Yukino blinked, seeing Usagi outside the Uzumaki gates.
"Please open the door." Usagi requested. "I have to talk to you."
"Do you have any unfinished business here?" Yukino asked when Usagi entered. "As you can see, Yuki isn't home now."
"Ms Uzumaki," Usagi poured out the aspirin she brought along. "Watch carefully. See what you did to me? Your daughter wrecked my family and I'm about to be divorced. And I blame you and you daughter."
"What are you doing now?" Yukino inquired.
"Tell me you'll persuade your daughter to give up on my husband." Usagi demanded. "If you don't, I'll take these and kill myself right here."
"What?" Yukino raised an eyebrow. "It's none of my business what you do with your life. But why do I have to clean up your corpse?"
"Because you're forcing me to death!" Usagi barked. "None of these would have happened to me if you taught your daughter better." It's all your fault. You killed me."
"Yuki didn't ruin your marriage." Yukino corrected. "Your lies and greed did. Don't you understand that?"
"I don't want to hear it." Usagi snapped. "Don't' say another word. Call Uzumaki Yuki right now and tell her to breakup with Mamoru. If you don't, I'm taking these pills."
"Suit yourself." Yukino shrugged. "I can't stop you."
"I'm serious." Usagi insisted. "I'm not kidding!"
"Neither am I." Yukino retorted. "I heard you paid Yuki with stolen gold bars. You also laced our cosmetics with harmful substances. I have no intention of making a deal with the likes of you."
"Fine." Usagi nodded. "I'll die right here. Watch me die a painful death, thanks to you and your daughter. Both of you will suffer from guilt for the rest of your life." With that, she pretended to swallow the handful of pills, only to have Yukino turn and walk away. Angry that her threat was useless, she tossed the tablets on to the ground.
"What?" Yukino inquired, seeing Usagi burst into her room. "You were just putting on a show?"
"Ms. Uzumaki, please help me." Usagi went on her knees before the Uzumaki matriarch. "Mamoru and my father-in-law will never ask me for a divorce if it weren't for Uzumaki Yuki. I can't get divorced."
"I have no intention of letting my daughter marry Mr. Chiba." Yukino stated. "But I have absolutely no intention of helping you either."
"I'll pay you back for all the damages I've caused you." Usagi promised. "So, please stop your daughter. I beg you. Please help me."
"You shouldn't kneel in front of me." Yukino remarked. "But in front of the person you've wronged. Think about who that would be. My children will be home soon. Please leave." With that, she left the sobbing Usagi in the room.
"Mamoru-san, it's me." Yuki gave Mamoru a call as she drove into the Chiba house's driveway. "I'm outside your house right now."
"What?" Mamoru blinked. "But you didn't even call…"
"I didn't want to hold onto those gold bars any longer." Yuki explained. "I doubt Ms. Haruno is home already. I'll leave after I drop the gold bars off."
"The house is such a mess." Mamoru hurried down to the living room. "Get up and clean up the place." He pulled the lounging Rei out of the armchair.
"Have your wife clean the house when she comes home." Rei stated. "I heard she stole our gold bars. And she's about to lose all your assets. She should at least work it off for stealing all the money from us."
"I have no time to argue with you." Mamoru told his sister. "Just clean up. We have a guest coming."
"Guest?" Akemi yawned. "Who's coming? Someone's coming to put a seizure sticker on you, too?"
"That's not it." Mamoru corrected. "Yuki-san's coming. I told you about her. She's been helping me a lot."
"What?" Akemi echoed. "Yuki? You mean Uzumaki Yuki? The one who looks like Mizuno Ami and works at Hisako Beauty Shop?"
"How do you know her?" Mamoru was surprised. "You've met her?"
"Why is that tramp coming to our house?" Akemi inquired. "You invited her? You idiot." She slapped her son on the shoulder. "What if your father walks in on you? You're bringing home another woman even before you get divorced?"
"Who is it?" Rei asked over the intercom when the doorbell rang.
"I'm Uzumaki Yuki." Yuki voiced and entered the gate once it unlocked. "Hello," she greeted, entering the living room after Mamoru took the flower basket from her. "I'm Uzumaki Yuki."
"Ami…" Rei was stunned.
"She's not Ami." Mamoru corrected. "She's a completely different person."
"You're really not Ami?" Rei stammered.
"I can guarantee you she's not." Akemi confirmed. "Ami is a simpleton, but she isn't a tramp."
"Mom, how can you say that?" Mamoru scolded. "She's a very caring and thoughtful person. She's been there for me whenever I had a hard time."
"What?" Rei blinked. "You're saying you're fooling around with her?"
"Do you really have to put it that way?" Mamoru sighed. "She and I have a good relationship because we can really connect."
"Why did you come to our house anyway?" Akemi posted the important question. "I warned you not to see Mamoru again. I can tell you this from experience: no woman in her right mind covets another woman's man. Men are all the same after a while anyway."
"Mamoru and I will decide where we go with our relationship." Yuki stated. "I came here today to return the gold bars your daughter-in-law gave me."
"Gold? Akemi blinked.
"Nii-san, I really don't understand you." Rei shook her head. "You want to fool around with a woman who looks like Ami after you abandoned her like that? Just what are you trying to do? Please act your age."
"Keep your mouth shut." Mamoru chided.
"I hate Usagi more than anyone, but this is wrong." Rei tsked. "Even worms won't bring a new woman home before they're divorced. This is worse than a beast. You're such a shame."
"What?" Mamoru echoed. "What did you say?" he shouted after his sister.
"What's going on here?" Hiroki barked, entering the house. "Who let this woman in?" he looked at Yuki. "Mamoru, are you in your right mind?"
"I'm glad you are home." Akemi was relieved. "Get her out of here."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman." Yuki voiced. "I didn't mean to cause trouble. I only came to return the gold bars. I'll leave for today. I'll come back another day to formally introduce myself."
"Didn't you hear anything?" Akemi snapped. "Don't come to our house again."
"Mamoru-san," Yuki ignored Akemi. "Will you bring the gold bars from my car? Goodbye." She turned to the Chiba matriarch. "I'll be back again soon."
"That arrogant witch…" Akemi was flabbergasted when Yuki left with Mamoru in tow. "She totally ignored what I said. She thinks there's no one above her just because her mom is the boss."
"My unannounced visit must've upset your family." Yuki noted as Mamoru lifted the suitcase containing the gold bars from her car boot.
"No, I'm glad you came." Mamoru corrected. "You got to meet my family nonetheless. Haruno Usagi?" he focused on the car entering the driveway.
"Uzumaki Yuki, what are you doing here?" Usagi demanded, storming out of her vehicle. "Don't tell me you were at our house."
"Why?" Yuki shrugged. "I can't come here?"
"How dare you come here?" Usagi snapped. "I'm the daughter-in-law here. I'm Mamoru's wife. My father-in-law, mother-in-law and sister-in-law are living inside. You're nothing but Mamoru's mistress."
"You think people in that house still consider you, family?" Yuki smirked. "But I don't think anyone considers you their daughter-in-law. And now you even lost your husband's heart. You have no choice but to leave."
"What?" Usagi shot forward to throttle Yuki, only to be stopped by Mamoru.
"What are you doing?" Mamoru pulled Usagi off. "Is this all you can do? You have no right to do this to her after what you've done to her. Yuki-san, please leave." He requested, holding Usagi back. "Don't mind her, just go."
"You should save your energy." Yuki's smirk widened. "Your tragedy is only just beginning. It'll take a lot of energy for you to lose everything."
"Stop right there." Usagi demanded as Yuki walked back to her car. "How dare you run away? You think you can be happy after running my life? Uzumaki Yuki!" she screamed, shaking Mamoru off as Yuki drove off.
"Mamoru, what do you want me to do?" Usagi begged. "I'll do anything you say. Just don't divorce me. I'll work and pay you back for every penny I owe you."
"Don't scare me like that." Mamoru chided. "Just the thought of seeing you every day for the rest of my life drives me mad."
"But you loved me." Usagi reminded. "Remember the time you proposed to me with flowers? You promised me you'd love me for the rest of your life. What's happened to you? Why have you changed so much when I haven't changed a bit?"
"I changed because of you." Mamoru replied. "I wouldn't have married you if I knew you were just a cheap hussy. My worst choice in life is you, not Mizuno Ami. Right, we're having Yuki-san over for dinner tonight. So make sure to stay away."
"Uzumaki Yuki…" Usagi muttered when Mamoru headed out. "Yes, I just have to get rid of Uzumaki Yuki."
"I spoke to the bonding company." Yuki informed her mother. "We just have to pay a little premium above the auction price to take over Bella."
"Really?" Yukino nodded. "It was easier than I thought. Half of your goals are realized when you take over Bella. You'd have paid her back by becoming a successful businesswoman. Then there's no reason for you to move into Mr. Chiba's house. Please reconsider marrying Mr. Chiba. Listen to my advice."
"I'm sorry, mom." Yuki sighed. "But this revenge isn't just for me. I have to make them pay for ruining Mizuno Ami's life. I still have a long way to go."
"How do you do?" the bonding company representative entered Usagi's office. "I'm from the bonding company. Your shop has been auctioned off. Please vacate the shop as soon as possible."
"Auctioned off?" Usagi echoed. "Are you telling me to leave my shop? No way. Who bought my shop?"
"I did." Yuki declared, entering the office. "I took over Bella."
"Uzumaki Yuki…" Usagi glared at her hated rival.
"Please excuse me." The representative took his leave.
"Did you forget?" Yuki snorted. "I think it was you who interfered when my mom first tried to take it over. But let me know if you need a job. I can hire you as a manager."
"Fine," Usagi relented. "I'll give you the shop. I'll give you everything you want. Just let Mamoru go."
"I love Mamoru-san and he loves me, too." Yuki remarked. "It's not something we can stop. Please vacate the shop in a week. I have to go now, now that I've given you my message. I have an appointment with Mamoru-san." With that, she strolled out, leaving the wailing Usagi on the ground.
"Come to your house for dinner tonight?" Yuki echoed when Mamoru informed her.
"I've been thinking and we can't put it off any longer." Mamoru noted. "They have to see you often to know what a wonderful person you are."
"By the way, I need to impress your mother." Yuki mused. "What does she like?"
"She likes tiramisu." Mamoru replied. "You can bring that. I'll pick you up after work."
"Okay." Yuki gave her consent.
"I can't let it end like this." Usagi swore. "I can't get kicked out penniless. Uzumaki, be prepared. It's your turn this time." She gritted her teeth and made a call. "Minako, let's meet. I'm calling in the favour."
"What are you up to?" the Usagi look-alike sighed.
"If you do something for me, I'll consider us even." Usagi promised.
"What do you want me to do?" Minako asked, anxious to be free from Usagi. "I'll do anything."
"It's very simple." Usagi grinned. "Just take care of this woman I loathe."
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.