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She looks to Ami who scratches her head apologetically. This isn't how she wanted to confront him after all these years. Heck, she went across the damn state and then even further to avoid this. Yet, this would be the ultimate test to her resolve. Her insides are jittery and that fire is coursing through her veins as she clenches and unclenches her fists. She licks her lips before spinning on her heels to face him. Her resolve holds as she feels that icy cold wall build up once more.
Mamoru Chiba, stands there in all his glory, donning a white coat over his scrubs, his black hair is disheveled and his usual mask of indifference is completely shattered. There is a storm raging in those cobalt eyes of his as he eyes her. He has dark circles under his eyes, from lack of sleep if she has to guess. Still, his shoulders are squared and his jaw firm. Not to mention, he is still flipping towering over her petite frame.
She doesn't budge. Her resolve holds strong and the jitters fizzle out. "Are you his doctor, Chiba?" She asks monotonously as she watches the gears and cogs work t catch his brain up with everything else. Seeing must be believing. It didn't make sense if she really thought about it. Mamoru worked under her father years ago. What happened? When did he decide to change his profession? Who cares? She doesn't plan to ask him.
"I was just checking on him. I heard he was admitted, but no." He finally manages to answer and reaches up to scratch the back of his head, "How long are you in town for?"
"I'm going to see my family now. Excuse me." Usagi ignores his question and side steps him to walk into the room. He didn't get to know anything. He isn't privy to that information. He was clearly more shocked to see her than she was to see him. She knew beforehand that she would see him, she had the time to mentally prepare herself.
The room is not fancy by any means, there is a single bed placed against the back wall, chairs and a rollout futon for an overnight guest. To her left, the bathroom door is shut but she can the light is on from looking to the bottom of the door. Her younger brother Shingo is sitting in a chair next to the bed where her father lays, still out cold. The machines beep steadily. She supposed that means everything is okay. Shingo is slouched over, looking despondent because of the situation. That means Ikuko is in the bathroom.
Shingo finally turns upon hearing someone enter, surprise written all over him.
"Hi." Usagi says barely above a whisper.
"You made it." He grins as he stands and walks over to hug Usagi. "I'm glad you got here fast."
"I didn't know if he was dying or what." She feels tears prick at her eyes, emotions are bubbling up once more. It is always like this where their father is concerned.
"There isn't a chance in hell of that happening." Shingo assures her, "Doctor Chiba explained that they medicated him in time before the heart attack could do any real damage."
"Heart attack?" Usagi's eyes are like saucers when she pulls back from the hug to stare at her father. "He was fine at Christmas. What happened?"
"He's at the age, Usagi. The drinking didn't help either." Mamoru responds gently as he walks in the room, and walks over to check Mr. Tsukino's vitals once more.
She frowns upon hearing Mamoru answer instead of Shingo. Shingo notices how tense she's become and silently looks between the two. He always suspected his older sister had a thing for their father's protégé behind the banter they shared. He hadn't been sure what happened between them but he distinctly remembers Usagi changing all the sudden.
"Usagi?!"
She turns and sees her mother stepping out of the bathroom, pushing strands of her long dark behind her ear.
"Mama." Usagi walks over and embraces her mother. It feels like a lifetime since they last saw each other. "I'm home."
"You're staying with Shingo at home, right?"
"Are you planning to stay at the hospital?"
"Yes, only for tonight. I'll be home in the morning though." Ikuko smiles warmly at her daughter, taking her in like a proud parent. "You cut your hair?" She notices it is no longer ankle length.
"It is manageable at this length." Usagi chuckles lightly.
Ikuko frowns at her daughter and begins asking, "Did a boy say something to you? Let me tell you, Usagi, there was nothing wrong with having such long hair. It was beautiful. Of course, it still is beautiful at any length. You shouldn't change anything for a boy." Her dark eyes were also serious.
Ouch. If she only knew, although it sounds like she already does. Would she hate who Usagi has become if she knew all the effort was to escape her simple life and dreams of being a housewife with no more ambition? She explained to her parents that she planned to become a better student because she decided being a housewife couldn't support what she wanted to do with herself. They understood that. Usagi's eyes looks across the room to find Mamoru watching her and their eyes lock.
Does he know? What does he know and how would he know?
"Mom, I'm going to meet some friends. Is that okay?" Shingo asks breaking an awkward silence.
Ikuko sighs and frowns at her son, "Oh I know all about Hotaru Tomoe. Remember to use protection because I'm not ready to be a grandmother." Her lecture makes Shingo turn bright red and stutter before becoming completely belligerent about how 'he doesn't know what she means.' Usagi giggles and shakes her head.
"Alright, I suppose I'll go home by myself. I have a key."
"I'll walk her down to the lobby and makes sure she gets into a cab or uber." Mamoru volunteers, making everyone in the room become aware of his presence once more. Usagi nods quietly and smiles at her mother one last time before turning sharply and walking toward the door. As they leave, she can still hear her mother and she's telling Shingo how 'nice' Mamoru has been to them.
Utterly gag worthy. He has my family fooled.
Usagi grabs her suitcase, lips pressed tightly together and gives Ami a small smile. When Ami sees Mamoru following, she grins. Oh how she wanted to be on the elevator with them.
As the doors open, Usagi steps in followed by Mamoru. She doesn't set the suitcase down for fear of what she would do with free hands. She yawns, realizing how tired she is. Every hair on her neck stands at attention. Her heart pounds against her sternum. Once the doors close, she takes a deep breath.
"Usagi-" Mamoru says as he turns to face her.
"Shut up." She interrupts him in a firm voice, giving him no time to argue. She didn't want to hear any of this from him. He flinches at her tone, clearly he didn't put any time or thought into how angry she might be.
"You don't know what you saw that night."
"Oh really?" Usagi's voice turns sarcastic and she stares up at him. She waits, watching him curiously. "Are you saying I dreamed it all?"
"It wasn't my fault." He finally explains.
"Or maybe, you think I'm deluding myself." Usagi steps closer, invading his personal space, eyes never leaving his. She can feel how desperate he is for her to believe him. Why? So he can suck me back in? Never. He's tense with her being this close to him. She sees it in his shoulders, his breathing, the sweat beading around his brow.
"I am not calling you delusional. Usagi, she-"
As the elevator halted, Usagi holds up a hand, "I've heard enough." She says as the doors open and she once again picks up her suitcase and walks out, leaving the older man flushing and sweating in the elevator.
All he can think is, when did Usagi become like this?
Usagi wasted no time looking around her parents' house, she walks straight upstairs to her childhood bedroom and flips on the light switch and looks around. She cracks a small smile, remembering weekends that Rei and Ami would come over for sleepovers.
Everything was still the same. The walls are painted a very subtle pink, the posters are long gone, her bedsheets are white but the quilt is pink and covered in white bunnies, the bed is right under the window in the middle of the wall. Beside her desk is the bookcase where all her old manga sets. Her iPod classic is on the desk with her notebook that contained the last homework assignment she took back in high school.
She sets her suitcase down in the middle of the room, kneeling to open it and rummage for pajamas. She needed to sleep it all off.
Once dressed in her pajamas, she pulls the cotton sheets and quilt back and crawls in. She leave her phone on her desk. The work emails can wait until tomorrow. She has no energy left her body. her eyelids already feel heavy and she's coming off the high from speaking with that Baka.
Damn that man. Her last thought as she closes her eyes, the feeling of exhaustion taking over.
Usagi doesn't dream of winning a court case, her dreams instead take her back to the night when she witnessed the very incident she can't stand to be around Mamoru Chiba for. It took another piece of her heart, like Janis Joplin once sang.
...
Her eyelids rip open at the first light, her heart is thudding hard against her chest, and her hands are clenching the edge of the bed tightly.
The dream had to be a sign she shouldn't be staying at home very long. She wanted to make sure her dad is okay and smooth over her relationship with her friends then leave. She cannot afford to waste time around here. It will only give Mamoru a chance to believe he can smooth this over. She doesn't want that.
She sits up and yawns before pulling her legs from under the sheet and quilt and stepping over to her closet to search for a robe. The house is always kept a bit chilled. Kenji never liked being too warm. That hasn't seemed to change at all. She pulls one from a hanger and slides her arms into the sleeves and pulls some slippers on before exiting the closet and venturing downstairs. She didn't take much stock in what the house looked like last night. She was too focused on finding her room, not the décor.
She makes it to the landing and looks around, the living room is quiet. There isn't a light on toward the back of the hallway but there is a curious sound coming from the kitchen. It is still early, who the hell is making a fuss? She peeps around the doorframe and looks in. She gasps in surprise.
Standing at the middle island is Rei and Ami, setting down some paper bags. Rei hears Usagi and looks up to find her standing across the room.
"Good morning, sleepy head! Ami said you were here and your mom handed her the key." Rei explains pulling some bread out of one bag.
"I hope you aren't mad we helped ourselves inside." Ami smiles warmly at her, "After all, there is a lot to discuss. Especially after you saw Mamoru last night."
Rei stops and her jaw drops to the floor, "No way! He was up there?! I figured it would be a couple of days before she ran into him." Her lips tighten in a smirk, feigning surprise at the revelation.
Usagi rolls her eyes, they're just teasing her. She walks over and begins looking into the bags of groceries. It looked like they intended something sweet along with bacon. "Cute, Rei. I'll tell you all about it over french toast and bacon."
"Deal!" Rei snorts before laughing.