Chapter 28
By the time Friday rolled around Luna had gone home, and Mamoru had sometime to clear his head from his time in the orphanage. He knew he wanted to open up to Usagi about all of it, but he knew it wouldn't be tonight. It was date night. He wanted her to be happy, and have fun, not be dragged down dark things. Tonight he was taking her to play mini golf then to dinner.
Six o'clock found him standing in the Tsukino's front hall, waiting on Usagi. It appeared Ikuko, and Kenji also had plans so they were busy getting ready to leave. Shingo was going to be staying home with ChibiUsa, but he was in the living room, wrapped up in something on TV. He didn't where ChibiUsa was in the house, so he waited by himself for a change.
He looked up just as Usagi came skipping down the stairs with a bright smile on her face. She was wearing an ankle length, flowing pink skirt, with a denim button up, with short sleeve shirt, carrying a light pink sweater. She looked perfect, as usual. ChibiUsa was right behind her, carrying a coloring book, and a box of crayons.
"Hi Mamo." Usagi chirped, tip toed up and kissed his check.
"Hi Usako." Mamoru said quietly as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into a hug. "Ready to go?"
"Yup. I just need to put my shoes on." Usagi sat down to pull on her white sneakers.
"Hi Mamo. I hope you guys have fun tonight." ChibiUsa smiled up at him.
"Hi ChibiUsa. I do too. I hope you have fun hanging out with Shingo tonight." Mamoru stated as he leaned down to hug her.
"Eh. He'll probably watch TV the whole time." ChibiUsa said with a small giggle.
"Ok. Well have a good time. Ok. Ready Usako?" Mamoru asked Usagi as she stood up.
"All set. ChibiUsa, if there is an emergency, call me or Mamo. Ok?" Usagi said as she hugged ChibiUsa.
"Why you instead of papa Kenji or mama Ikuko?" ChibiUsa asked, confused.
"Cause they don't have cellphones." Usagi answered.
"Oh right. Well have fun." ChibiUsa said as she pushed the chuckling couple out the door.
"She seems to be in a hurry to get rid of us." Mamoru said with a chuckle as they got into his car.
"Yeah. I think she is coloring a picture for a boy she likes in her class, and doesn't want us to ask questions " Usagi said with a giggle.
"WHAT? A BOY! NO BOYS! SHE'S ONLY A LITTLE GIRL!" Mamoru yelled.
"Mamo, calm down. It's just a little crush." Usagi said still giggling.
"But boys have thoughts, and stuff." Mamoru said irritated.
"Mamo, he's 9 not 19."
"Yeah, but."
"How old were you when you started having thoughts, and stuff?"
"Fourteen, but he'll take advantage and try to pressure her."
"Mamo, you sound just like papa. Besides, he's only 9. He probably still thinks girls are gross."
"But she's just a little girl."
"And you're being ridiculous. The most that will happen is they'll play at the playground together or something."
"Boys are nothing but trouble."
"You're are boy. Are you nothing but trouble?"
"No, but that's different."
Usagi just looked at him with a raised eyebrow, giggling at him.
"Ok. Ok. Maybe I am being a little ridiculous."
Usagi giggled, and shook her head at him. Mamoru couldn't help it, he laughed at himself.
By the time they reached the mini golf place the conversation was forgotten. They were standing in line to get their clubs, and golf balls when they heard a group of familiar voices. He turned to see Minako, Ami, Makoto, Rei, and ChibiUsa standing a few people behind them. As soon as ChibiUsa saw Mamoru, and Usagi, she got really upset, and ran over to them.
"Mamo, I'm so sorry. I didn't know you would be here. I swear I'm not trying to crash your date. I called Minako, and she said we should come here. I swear I didn't know. I'm really sorry." ChibiUsa said quickly, fighting tears.
"ChibiUsa, calm down. Tell me what happened. Why aren't you home with Shingo? Does he know you're here?" Usagi said as she kneeled down, and put her hands on ChibiUsa's shoulders. ChibiUsa took a deep breath, and started again.
"After papa Kenji, and mama Ikuko left, Shingo got a call from a friend. When he hung up, he put his shoes on, and left. I got scared, but didn't want to interrupt your date so I called Minako to come over. She suggested that the girls and me come here then go to dinner. I'm so sorry Usagi. I didn't mean to crash your date. I didn't know." ChibiUsa answered with tears in her eyes.
"ChibiUsa, you didn't do anything wrong. Ok?" Usagi said gently.
"Yeah, but you two are on a date."
"Yes we are, but that's ok. If you had called us, we would have come and got you, or stayed at home with you. None of this is your fault. You did the right thing by calling someone. Now we can all play a round of mini golf together. It'll be fun. Ok?"
"Mamo, is that ok with you?" ChibiUsa asked him, looking worried.
"Of course it is. But do you girls mind taking ChibiUsa to dinner with you afterwards?" Mamoru asked the girls.
"Nope. Not at all." Minako answered.
The enlarged group ended up having a great time playing mini golf. They all helped ChibiUsa, who ended up winning. When they were all finished, Mamoru snuck money to Minako to buy ChibiUsa dinner at Fruit Parlor, and to play games at the arcade. Then he and Usagi headed off to dinner.
"Shingo is going to be in a lot of trouble when mama and papa find out at he left ChibiUsa home alone." Usagi said as she and Mamoru walked to the restaurant they were having dinner at.
"Why would he do that?" Mamoru asked.
"I don't know. I just hope ChibiUsa and Shingo beat mama and papa home." Usagi stated.
"Why?"
"I don't want him to get in trouble, but I want to ask him why he left her."
"That's not your job though."
"I know. I just don't like when people get in trouble."
"I know you don't, but what Shingo did was wrong. He knew he was responsible for ChibiUsa, but decided to leave her alone to go do who knows what."
"Yeah, but he's still a kid himself."
"Usako, he's 13. He's old enough to know better. If your parents asked you to watch him, would you leave him alone because a friend called."
"No."
"Exactly. He needs to learn that his responsibilities come before friends."
"I guess."
"Come on. Lets go enjoy our dinner."
They walked into a Spanish style restaurant, and were seated immediately. After a few minutes deciding what they wanted to eat, and ordering , Usagi jumped into the subject a of Luna.
"Luna finally opened up to me a more last night." Usagi stated.
"Oh yeah? About what?" Mamoru asked.
"She talked to me about how she's been feeling with all of her memories coming back about her mother and her siblings. I don't understand how that feels, personally, but I listened. I wish I could make all of it go away for her, but I can't. Listening to her talk about it though kind of reminded me of you, and Rei, and what you've gone thru. I suggested that maybe she could talk to you two also because you've kind of felt the same way." Usagi said.
"I'll definitely talk to her any time."
"She said she's afraid that she'll take her anger out on me. I told her if she needs to yell, she can. I won't mind. I told her about the time you and I got into a fight all over a misplaced pen. Mamo, do you know how hard it was not to laugh at you over that? Especially since the pen was behind your ear the whole time you were yelling."
"Shhhh. I feel bad enough about that as it is."
"Why? It was funny, and you got to release the angry you had been holding in for weeks."
"But I still yelled at you."
"Do you remember the time we got into the fight about mama's oven mitt? I couldn't find it, and I thought you hid as a joke, when you actually put it in the wash?"
"Yeah."
"Do you remember that I wasn't even really angry about the oven mitt. It was about Diamond."
"I remember."
"Sometimes we need to yell, or maybe even fight with someone to release the pressure of anger, and that's ok. It might be the only way we can open up to be able talk about what is really bother us. I told her if she needs to yell, she can. I won't love her any less, and I'm there to talk when she's done. She told me a funny story too."
"What story was that?"
"She told me about Queen Serenity trying to teach her how to play cards, back on the moon. Queen Serenity tried to come up with so many different ways to help her hold the cards. Luna said every time she ended up with cards every where, but in her paws. It was so funny to hear her tell it. I suggested using her tail to hold them. She looked at me like I was crazy."
"I'll bet it was funny."
"It really was."
They spent the rest of dinner chatting about funny things they had experienced over the years, games they wanted to learn to play, and experiences they wanted to have. Mamoru loved every second of it, and made a mental list of things he could and would do with Usagi in the future. He looked forward to being able to do those things for her. Sadly, their date was over before he was ready for it to me.
He was standing on Usagi's front steps, getting ready to kiss her good night, when he heard Kenji's raised voice from the house. Usagi pulled away from him, and ran into the house. He followed her to make sure everything was ok. In the living room stoodan angry looking Kenji, and Ikuko, with Shingo, and ChibiUsa. As soon as Kenji saw Usagi, he yelled at her.
"YOUNG LADY YOU ARE GROUNDED! HOW COULD YOU BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE?" Kenji yelled.
"Me? What did I do?" Usagi squeaked.
"You let your let your friend take care of ChibiUsa instead of coming home." Kenji snapped.
"PAPA KENJI, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED! PLEASE LISTEN TO ME!" ChibiUsa yelled.
"No. Usagi had a responsibility to come home as soon as you called her!" Kenji stated.
"But I didn't call her! That's what I tried to tell you!" ChibiUsa said.
"WHAT?"
"I didn't call her. I didn't want to interrupt her date with Mamo because it's been a few weeks since they've had one. I called Minako instead because I know she's close to here. When Minako got here she called Ami, Rei, and Mako. We all decided to go play mini golf together. Usagi didn't know SHINGO left me alone or any of it, until we ran into her and Mamo at mini golf. We all played together then the girls and I went to the Fruit Parlor to eat dinner and play video games. Usagi didn't do anything wrong."
"She should have gone to dinner with you instead of leaving you with the girls."
"I TOLD her to go. She argued with me, but told her to spend time with Mamo. Please don't punish Usagi. She didn't do anything wrong. Only Shingo did by leaving me here, alone." ChibiUsa said.
"Papa, if ChibiUsa had called me, I would have come straight home. Well I would have called Minako to come stay with her until I got here, but I still would have come straight home. I am not irresponsible. I know you don't leave a 9 year old girl home alone." Usagi stated.
"Please papa Kenji, don't be mad at Usagi. I know I should have called her first, but I wanted her and Mamo to have time together. I swear I called Minako." ChibiUsa said.
"She should have stayed with her. Minako and the girls are not responsible for you." Kenji responded.
"I know, but I wanted to spend time with them. They were also helping me with something. I was the one who told Usagi to finish her date." ChibiUsa said.
"Kenji, I think you should listen to her." Ikuko encouraged softly.
"Fine. ChibiUsa, tell me what happened." Kenji asked frustrated.
"After you and mama Ikuko left, I sat down in here to color while Shingo watched TV. I heard the phone ring. He got up to answer it. After he got off the phone, Shingo turned off the TV, put on his shoes, and left. I waited a bit for him to come back, but when he didn't I called Minako because she lives close. When Minako got here she called Ami, Rei, and Makoto. We all decided to go play mini golf together. When we got to mini golf we saw Mamo and Usagi there. We all played mini golf together then Rei, Ami, Minako, and Makoto took me to Crown for dinner and to play video games. Minako stayed with me until you two and Shingo got home." ChibiUsa said.
"Ok. I understand why you called Minako, but in the future you need to call us or Usagi. We are responsible for you. Ok?"
"Ok papa Kenji. I'm sorry." ChibiUsa answered softly.
"None of this is your fault." Kenji said. "Now. Shingo, why did you leave? What were you thinking?"
"I was just up the street. She was fine." Shingo said.
"You went up the street to do what, exactly?" Kenji asked.
"To play a video game, and have dinner with my friend." Shingo explained.
"So you thought it was ok to leave a 9 year old little girl at home, alone, without dinner, which you were supposed to feed her, to go play a video game and have dinner with your friend. Am I understanding this right?" Kenji asked, looking red in the face.
"Well. She could have heated up dinner herself. She would have been fine." Shingo answered.
"Wrong! Very wrong! You do NOT leave a 9 year old at home, ALONE! I don't care what the reason. You don't do it!"
"She called some one. She was fine."
"She should NOT have had to call someone! You were the one responsible for her, not someone else! It was YOUR job to watch her, and feed her tonight. Why didn't you?"
"Because I wanted to see my friend."
"Your friend, and video games come AFTER you responsibilities! ALWAYS! You know this!"
"What's the big deal? It all worked out in the end. Minako came over, and took care of her."
"SHE WAS NOT MINAKO'S RESPONSIBILITY TONIGHT! SHE WAS YOURS! You're grounded for the rest of the weekend. You will also be doing ALL of ChibiUsa's chores, along with your own. On top of that, ChibiUsa has a friend spending the night tomorrow night, and who will be staying to play during the day Sunday. YOU will be responsible for making sure they have everything they need, and taking them where ever they want to go. It's time you be reminded with responsibility is."
"But I had plans to go out with my friends tomorrow."
"Not any more you don't."
"Yes papa." Shingo pouted then stomped out of the living room, and up to his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.
"Papa Kenji, I'm really sorry. I didn't want to get Shingo in trouble." ChibiUsa said softly.
"You didn't ChibiUsa, but next time you need to call us or Usagi. Ok?" Kenji told her.
"Ok." ChibiUsa agreed.
"Good. Go on up to bed."
ChibiUsa walked over to give Mamoru and Usagi hugs good night.
"I hope I didn't get you in trouble Usagi. If I did, I'm really, really sorry." Mamoru heard ChibiUsa say as she hugged Usagi.
"It's ok ChibiUsa. Everything is fine. I promise." Usagi said. ChibiUsa pulled away, and hugged Mamoru.
"I'm sorry Mamo. I tried not to interrupt your date, and I tried to make sure Usagi didn't get in trouble. I'm really sorry." ChibiUsa whispered in his ear, as she hugged him.
"Don't you worry ChibiUsa. Everything is ok. Promise." Mamoru whispered back. She nodded and went to her room.
Once ChibiUsa was upstairs, Kenji let out a breath, and Ikuko sat on the couch.
"I just realized I told ChibiUsa to call us if there is ever a problem, but neither of us have cellphones." Kenji said shaking his head. "Mamoru, can you possibly take me to look at them, and help me set up an account please?"
"Sure. I can take you Tuesday evening." Mamoru answered.
"Thank you. Now, Usagi, I understand ChibiUsa told you to continue on your date, but next time, you need to be the one to stay with her. She is not your friend's responsibility, she is ours. Ok?" Kenji told Usagi.
"Yes papa. I'm sorry." Usagi said.
"I guess I owe Minako money for mini golf, dinner for ChibiUsa, and video games at the arcade."
"Oh no papa. I paid for mini golf, and gave Mina money for ChibiUsa." Usagi said. Mamoru knew why she told Kenji she did it, but lying bothered him. He stayed quiet though.
"Oh. Thank you Usagi. Well I think you two better say your goodbyes." Kenji said to Mamoru and Usagi.
Usagi walked him to the front door, kissed his check, whispered I love you, and he headed home.
The night hadn't gone exactly as he hoped, but it wasn't bad either.