Chapter Two

"Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be."
― Abraham Lincoln

"It's not… terrible."

Mamoru watched his sister inspect his new home. He knew what she saw; it was vastly smaller than his old place. But he didn't own his last home and had overstayed his welcome. One year to morn and two more to get his head in the game was all he'd been allowed. Mamoru was thankful for that much, but he didn't kid himself; they only got to stay that long for Toru.

"Oh, by all means, don't hold back."

Rei grimaced at him then turned back to her 'inspection'. "Anything is an improvement in my books."

Shaking his head, Mamoru moved towards their door, grabbing his backpack as he did. "Are you done? I have to get to work."

A sigh and a groan, and Rei moved towards the door. Ahead of him, she walked her red heels and smart suit out his threshold, allowing him to lock up behind them. Their black hair was the only thing the brother-sister pair had in common. Rei's violet eyes were similar to Mamoru's dark blue but not a match. Their appearances weren't aligned either; Rei's business suit to his slacks and polo made them stick out when together. Mamoru didn't care, never more proud of his baby sister. He cracked a smile her way as she climbed into her tiny, environmentally friendly car.

"Give them hell, sis."

Rei rolled her eyes while her cheeks darkened. If he knew she wouldn't kill him for it, Mamoru would have ruffled her hair affectionately. "Whatever."

She drove off as he wandered to his bike. There were two reasons he had picked these apartments. One close to Toru's school and Mamoru didn't dare uproot him from the only thing Toru had stable in his life. And two, it was close to his work. It was the perfect location, even if the neighborhood was run down. It was just old, nothing really wrong with it. Any question of the age of the place was answered by the trio of older women passing him by as he got the lock off his bike. They spoke animatedly but calmly. That changed as they got closer, giving him bright smiles. Mamoru gave them a short wave before buckling his helmet in place.

His attention shot from the group of elders to the gate as it swung open, his new neighbor rushing out. Usagi paused in her hurry to hold the gate open for the women, who all looked at her for seconds at a time as they passed. Mamoru looked at her too; an innocent-looking sundress on that (upon deeper inspection) wasn't so innocent. It stopped mid-thigh after loosening at her hips. The rest was tight, her ribs nearly showing as well ample swells on her chest. Mamoru was thankful for the small sweater she wore on top. It was loose and covered her heart-shaped ass, which also meant it fell off her small shoulders. Something it did twice while holding the gate.

Usagi pulled the sweater back in place both times while not taking her smile off the women who passed her with frowns. "Good morning, ladies."

They said nothing, but it didn't bother Usagi, her smile remaining and blinding him. Mamoru used it to excuse why he was staring, Usagi dropping the gate long ago and walking before him. Her arms were full with a large folder and a big pink bento box. And yet, she still lifted her bright ceruleans to him and blinded him again.

"Good morning, Mamoru-san."

He was just about to wave back when Usagi tripped, her flip-flop catching the sidewalk and sending her items flying. Still in the stupor (she put him in), Usagi was already on her knees cleaning up when he made it to her side. "Let me help you."

"Oh, thank you!" Usagi made it sound like the first time someone had ever offered. "I'm so late!"

He chuckled at her uncontrollably. Mamoru found Usagi adorable. "Can I give you a lift?"

Lifting her face to his, Mamoru struggled to breathe as his beautiful neighbor raised a confused brow at him. "I don't think… I'm sure I would only make that… awkward for you?"

Usagi lifted her finger, pointing at his head. Mamoru had forgotten; not only did he not have a car, but he had on his stupid helmet the entire time. "Good one, Chiba, real smooth." It was a good thing he wasn't interested in women at all anymore. Otherwise, he would have been really embarrassed. Still, Usagi was an attractive woman; it was embarrassing because she was so pretty. It was high school all over again, the popular girl talking to him just so she could talk him into doing her homework for him.

Mamoru got the feeling Usagi would just ask for help and not be so cruel. There wasn't a malicious bone in her body. He just knew it.

He would never be fast enough to erase the image of him crouching with his helmet on, but he still swiped it off. Then turned the attention back to their task, getting Usagi's things off the ground. The folder -or portfolio- had spilled out, and Mamoru found himself staring. "You did all of these?"

Usagi had been rushing, but with his ask, she slowed and started showing instead of shoving. "Yeah, you like them?"

She had the portfolio open wide, thumbing through her sketches and a few watercolors. Most were too abstract for Mamoru. But the colors were nice. "I do. They're… pretty."

Usagi giggled, making his palms sweat, and returned to putting the art away. "Thank you. I hope my agent feels the same."

"Is that where you're heading?"

She nodded, "yep. Got to discuss my next show."

"Show?"

"That's one-way artists get money. Sell our art and all that. So I mostly stick my stuff in coffee houses or galleries willing to host my work." Usagi paused and looked at him, making his heartbeat in his throat at the excitement glowing on her face. "But now, I'm going to be featured very own gallery showing!"

Usagi was clearly proud and excited about this, collecting her things with gusto and getting to her feet. Mamoru got to his, her extremely heavy bento in his grip. "That's great. Congratulations. You deserve it."

She giggled again, soft and sweet. "You don't even know me."

"I know. But your work shows that you do. And the way you speak about it…" he paused, and Usagi looked like she was holding her breath, "I can tell, you've worked hard for it."

A grin twisted on her lips, pink and pouty pillows. "You must be really good with people, reading me like that."

"No. I'm terrible with people." Mamoru said honestly with a sigh. "But you're easy to read."

Leaning in, Usagi stole Mamoru's breath yet again. "You're the first to tell me that. No need to be shy; it's a good thing to get along easily with others!"

He really wasn't though, Mamoru was terrible with people. Sure, he was good at being polite and respectful. But when it came to knowing someone, he'd only been successful once. And she'd been patient and understanding enough for them to make it work. Serenity had been the first and only person to understand him. And she was still the only one, the woman before him missing the mark completely when it came to who he was. Mamoru didn't fault Usagi; they were still new to one another. But, given time, she would see he was impossible to get along with. Everyone did save for the small handful that tolerated him.

"Oh CRAP, I have to go!" The whirlwind before him tipped up on her toes and grabbed his shoulder. "Thank you so much for your help, Mamoru-san."

Usagi kissed him so fast and hard; he didn't fully understand what happened until she was out of sight. Grabbing his cheek, he could feel the wetness from her mouth, cooling in the breeze and making the mark stand out more. That was the first kiss he'd had from a woman in three years, and Mamoru had missed it? Usagi had an amazing ability to put people in a haze, it would seem. Or it was just him and his lame ass-ness. Mamoru wouldn't be surprised if it were a combination of the two, stumbling back to his bike then stumbling back for the helmet he left on the pavement.

Now, he was late too.

oOo

Even being late, it had been a good day. Her agent loved everything Usagi had so far for her show. And she was ahead of schedule! Her show was two months away, and Usagi had over half her pieces finished and the rest sketched out! It was her excitement, really; Usagi was beyond ready to showcase herself like she'd always dreamed.

That said, she still loved the coffee shops that supported her, so even with her full bento, Usagi made sure to stop and support them right back.

Her order decided on, Usagi stood in line and let her mind ideally slip to that morning. Primarily to her new neighbor. Mamoru-san had a boyish quality to him that made her heart skip. While his handsome face and large hands made her heart race. Mamoru-san had been so kind to her, the first since she'd moved in at that complex, and it caused Usagi's mind to run with her heart. If he was divorced, then his ex-wife was a fool. He was handsome, sweet, and all-around adorable, coming to help her with his bike helmet still on. She giggled to herself, looking crazy to anyone paying attention, but she never cared about that.

If Mamoru-san took a bike to work, then he was both environmentally conscious and worked nearby. Of course, that was probably a stretch, but given the hour he left for work, Usagi had to assume he didn't have far to go. It was why Usagi left at the hour she did—even though she was always still late.

Now she was wracking her brain of what was near that Mamoru-san would work at? Or maybe he owned his own business? There were still so many possibilities, and Usagi spent the rest of her walk to her studio imaging him doing all of them.

And again later, when she walked home, images of the gorgeous Mamoru in every uniform and position imaginable. Usagi's key in the door, she giggled as the image of Mamoru-san in an apron as a baker came into her head. Not that a male baker was funny; she (for some reason) pictured him in a heart-shaped one with "kiss the cook" printed on it but quickly shook it from her thoughts.

That was due, in large part, to the scream that came from the apartment next door.

Usagi raced, getting to the door just as it swung open. She had to jump back to keep from getting flattened by it as a woman barreled out. "I QUIT!" She screamed as she stomped away. Usagi noticed the woman had something purple dripping down her back and a few odd things stuck in her hair.

Slowly, Usagi turned back to the opened door, finding a sheepish-looking Toru covered in purple. He wore a smirk that looked frozen on his face. "I didn't think that would work so well…."

"What did you do?!" Usagi asked in a panic, wondering what was now all over the young boy.

"I was just…making her dinner."

Usagi scoffed, entering the home without the offer and dropping her things in the genkan. She pushed her shoes off her feet before carefully stepping up to Toru. "And just what, exactly, were you cooking? Purple slim?!"

His response was to grin, and she turned him around, "shower. Now."

Toru didn't fight her, and Usagi surveyed the damage in the kitchen. There was purple slime all over the stove and on the floor. "Oh boy."

oOo

When Mamoru returned home from his long and exhausting day of work, he expected an exhausted greeting from the nanny—as well as some fussing from Toru about being too old for a babysitter or some other nonsense. He hoped there were some leftovers from their dinner, too; he was starving. But, instead, the scene was far from what he'd imagined.

His dining room was covered with large sheets of paper, notebooks, and pencils, and pens. No food. And two bodies were fast asleep on his couch; neither one the nanny.

Usagi still wore the dress she'd left in that morning. Which meant it had ridden up in her sleep, Toru resting in her lap didn't help. The tv was blaring, flashing bright lights and giving Mamoru a headache instantly. Just where the hell was the nanny?!

Picking Toru off the couch and Usagi caused her to wake up as if she wasn't as deeply asleep as he'd thought. Her hands reached out to grab Toru as if she thought the boy was rolling off her lap to the floor. It had her wide, bright ceruleans millimeters from Mamoru's dark blues. He already had Toru in his grip, meaning he could lift him and himself away from the woman crowding his living room. But Mamoru couldn't breathe, let alone move.

Usagi blinked away the rest of her sleep, and Mamoru could free himself from the awkward position and situation. He got Toru into his bed as quickly and gently as he could, afraid Usagi would run while he was gone. But when he returned, she was slowly packing up the mess in his dining room.

He took long steps to get to her swiftly and silently. "What are you doing here?"

Mamoru bit his tongue, his question coming out harsh, but he was so confused and upset; where the hell was his nanny?!

Usagi looked at him over her shoulder with a grin that nearly had him swallowing his tongue instead. "Not happy to see me, Mamoru-san?" He shuddered, trying to understand and come up with a decent response. Usagi giggled, making his bumbling worse. "Relax, I'm picking with you. Although, you could be a little happier to see me. After all, I did save you some Soba in the fridge."

It took him the entire time Usagi talked, but Mamoru got his foot out of his mouth enough to speak. "Forgive me, thank you. I'm just…confused and upset."

"I understand," she zipped up her portfolio and spun to face him, "I would be upset to find a stranger alone with my kid too. But I promise I'm a good babysitter. I'm responsible enough to do that much."

"That's not what I…" he was doing it already, and soon Usagi would hate him, "I hired someone to look after Toru. That's who I expected to be here."

Usagi's smile didn't falter, not once since his rude manner began. "I think she quit. I did the best I could with your kitchen, by the way."

"My kitchen?"

Finally, Usagi told him the whole story. The purple slim, the guilty party, and the nanny leaving in a huff. "Great. I'm sure that's a lawsuit in my future."

Usagi laughed and shook her head, "he's a kid. I'm sure it'll be fine. Anyway, I ordered out since I can't top purple slim for dinner."

"I'm not much better," Mamoru admitted, feeling like sharing for some reason, "Toru's mom was the one who cooked."

Usagi's smile faltered for a second, turning towards the door as if not wanting him to see it. "I can't make much. A few things here and there for survival."

Speaking of survival…. "I suppose I better call an agency."

But it was too late for that, nearly nine now. They wouldn't be open, and he doubted they'd have someone available in time. Mamoru was screwed.

"What time does Toru come home from school?"

"Huh?"

Mamoru had been lost in a sea of worry and thoughts, trying to figure out just what the hell he was going to do with his son tomorrow. Usagi was smiling her blinding smile at him again, gumming up his thoughts more but in a different manner than before. "What time does Toru come home from school? I can watch him until you get a new babysitter. Unless you don't trust me?"

Usagi looked close to tears at the thought, and Mamoru felt nothing but trust towards her. And that was more than just the fact that she had saved his ass today. "It's not that I don't trust; I don't want to put you out…."

She waved him off. "I'm ahead on my work, and Toru's a good kid. He won't be a problem, and I can always keep him here or at my place. So it's not inconvenient."

"He can be a handful."

"All kids are. Look, I just want to help out, but if you're not comfortable…."

"No, I am! I'm perfectly comfortable with you, Usagi." Her cheeks turned pink, and she dropped her face to the floor of the genkan they both stood in. Not before Mamoru caught it, the shade adorable on her face. "I didn't thank you, did I?" She shook her head slowly, still not looking at him. "Thank you, Usagi-chan. I'm in your debt."

Mamoru resisted the urge to dip down and peek at her face. Somehow, he knew she was bright red currently, and it made his heart swell. "You're…too kind, Mamoru-san."

Usagi was the first ever to call him that, but he liked it. It made his skin tingle and beg for more. "You're the one that's kind, Usagi-chan." She shuffled her feet then stuffed them into her shoes, eyes still glued to the floor. Mamoru quickly stepped around her to pull his door open for her, and Usagi glided past. He watched her go to her door and waited until she had it unlocked before considering anything other than watching her. "Toru's home around four."

At last, she looked up and back at him, giving him the perfect view of her stained cheeks. They were bright pink, hinging on red. It had Mamoru close to buckling to the floor, which would have been embarrassing, using his door frame to hold him instead. Usagi grinned and gave him a nod before disappearing. Mamoru collected himself enough to shut his door, pressing against it heavily. He felt like he'd been on the run, breathless and heart raging. What the hell was wrong with him? He never felt like this around Serenity; he'd been calm and composed their entire relationship. She liked his stability, and he liked her understanding. He'd loved his wife; friends turned to lovers to married. But, there was no doubt, Mamoru respected and loved Serenity.

So, what the hell was this feeling he had for Usagi?!