Promise Me The Sun

By: Tatsutahime

Chapter 5: Behind Masks

Usagi slowly stirred in the warm bed. Soft songs sung by the birds reached her delicate ears through the open window. Stretching out her arms, she gave out soundless yawn, snuggling deeper in the sheets inhaling his scent. She blinked a couple of times before her eyes could adjust to the bright sunlight that poured into the large room. She sat up and looked around. She smiled at the figure lying on the nearby couch. 'Mamoru.'

She carefully swung her legs off the bed as she stood up. She started folding the blankets and smoothing out the wrinkles. After making the bed, she knelt in front of on Mamoru's sleeping figure, admiring his sharp features. He looked so sere. 'I wonder what he's been up to these past few years…' She pulled the sheets up till his shoulder and sat back Indian style on the sea green carpet. 'Oh, Mamoru…we have so much to catch up on…I wonder if he has a girlfriend…' Cocking her head to the side, she brushed a few strands off his forehead. '…how could he not…' Smiling dejectedly, she placed a small kiss on his temple before standing up and going over to the window.

Folding her hands, she plopped her head down admiring the beautiful fields of orchids. 'I haven't slept that good since…' Usagi shivered, wrapping her arms around her body. Trying not to blink knowing tears would fall, she looked over to Mamoru. He was still sleeping as peaceful as a child. She closed her eyes as tears slowly dropped. 'It's okay Usagi…just try calm down…you're home now…you're safe. He wouldn't think to follow you here…' Usagi inhaled deeply and wiped she tears away with her fingertips.

Standing up, Usagi headed towards then bathroom to wash up. After she was done, she decided to make breakfast. Closing Mamoru's bedroom door behind her, she headed down the stairs into the kitchen. She didn't want to wake him.

When she got into the kitchen, placed her hands on her hips, looking around. 'What should I make…scrambled eggs…or maybe French toast…' she thought as she picked up a knife. While holding the cold metal blade, she thought of an idea. 'Pancakes! Mamoru loves pancakes...well at least he used to…' she bent over opening the cabinet that held all the pots and pans then smiling. 'Everything's exactly where I remember it.'

Suddenly a soft knock cam from the front door followed by familiar male voices.

"Hey Mamoru!"

"You awake yet?"

Usagi put the knife down and gracefully started towards the door. With the turn of the doorknob, she was face to face with four handsome young men.

"MAMORU ARE YOU…hello."

Usagi smiled uneasily at their shocked faces. She cocked her head to the side in recognition. "Hey…um, Mamoru's not awake yet…come in." Stepping aside she looked down as the men piled inside not once taking their eyes off of her.

"I don't believe we've met." Mike said as he looked over the petite woman before him. They were expecting Mamoru but they certainly weren't disappointed.

Placing a hand on her hip, "Oh, don't tell me that you guys…" Before Usagi could finish, Mamoru's presence walking down the staircase interrupted her train of thought.

"Oh, hey guys."

"Hey." They all chimed at once.

"Hey Mamoru you look awful." Greg noticed. His hair was ruffled, and his eyes were sleepy.

"Looks to me like somebody was busy last night…" Chad joked as he winked at Mamoru. 'How come he's never mentioned her…?' he whispered to Greg. Greg shrugged.

Usagi looked up at Mamoru, her face flushed. That however was no comparison to Mamoru's. His face was as red a tomato.

"I don't believe we were formally introduced…" Mike said elbowing Chad. "I'm Mike." He said smiling while outstretching his hand politely.

"Usagi." She answered sweetly. Mamoru chuckled as Mike's hand suddenly dropped and everyone's eyes widened.

"Usagi? Is that really you?" Greg asked.

Smiling Usagi nodded. One by one her old friends embraced her. After that they all piled into Mamoru's living room. Talking for what seemed like hours. Usagi explained that she was really here to say and Mamoru tried in vain to convince Chad that him and Usagi didn't do anything last night.

"It's really nice to have you back Usagi…say, do the girls know you're here?" Ken questioned.

"I was planning to talk to then later today." Usagi said as she cuddled closer into the couch for warmth. Mamoru noticing this, he grabbed a nearby blanket and wrapped it around her little body. Usagi looked up at him shyly and whispered a thank you.

"You should come with us tonight then. All of them will be there." Greg inquired.

Usagi's attention turned to Greg, "Where are you guys going?"

"We're all going to the beach." Chad said.

"I don't think I have a ride there. My car won't be arriving until next week."

"It's okay, I can drive you." Mamoru chimed in.

"All right then it's settled. We'll be leaving at 4:00 sharp. We'll see you guys there." Mike said standing. The others followed.

"We better be going. We need to pick up the girls." Ken explained as they piled out the door. "Something about promising to take them on a shopping trip?" Usagi and Mamoru waved then goodbye as Mike's red mustang drove out of the driveway. When they were alone again Mamoru opened his mouth to speak. But was interrupted by the doorbell. Usagi giggled at his speechlessness and turned to open the door.

"Honey I knew you would be here." Usagi smiled at her mother in front of her. "Hello Mamoru."

"Are you back already? How's Auntie?" Usagi questioned.

"She's Okay. She just has a broken leg and a few scratched. Thank God."

Usagi sighed in relief. "Well I better be going now. I'll see you at 3:30?" Usagi said while stepping outside. Mamoru nodded. "See ya later."

~*~

Mamoru watched as Usagi and she mom walked across their lawn into their house. Sighing, he closed the door. Walking into the living room he plopped down at his desk. Putting on his glasses, he sorted through the papers he was looking through the night before. He stopped when he found the one he was looking for. 'Oxford College…' He thought scanning the paper quickly. 'If I go into the city and work for Mr. Hinko all this summer…I think I'll have enough to start school this fall.' He thought happily. He had been saving up all his money for years.

Suddenly it was like a dark shadow covered over his hopes. 'Buns…' He dropped his head into his hands. 'If I leave to go to work…I won't be able to be with Bunny…' He now knew very well that if he wanted to peruse any further in his education, he was sure he would loose any chance he had left with Usagi. It would be another good four years until they would see each other again. He looked down at his watch. '3 o'clock…I'll deal with his later.' He thought as he headed up stairs and started to get ready.

~*~

Usagi walked up the stairs of her own house as her hand glided noiselessly in the rail. She hummed a soft tune was she entered her room. She smiled when she noticed that her luggage had arrived and had already been carried to her room, courtesy of her father and Sammy. Slowly dropping to her knees she started unbuckling the latches and going through her clothes. Standing up, she took her hair out of her ponytail and walked to her bedroom. She was long overdue for a long hot bath.

She turned on the water and started taking off her clothes. Turning around she stepped into the hot bath and completely submerging herself. Moments later, her head arched back, calmly breathing in the moist air. She looked down at her left leg. It didn't hurt anymore but the gruesome scar reminded her of the night before. 'Mamoru…' a small smile formed at the tips of her lips as she thought of the ebony haired man. Enveloping a handful of suds, she blew at them.

Completely rinsing herself off, she stepped out of the shower. Grabbing a towel, she rapped it around her body. Turning to the mirror, she started wiping her hair with another soft towel. When she was down, she picked up a silver brush and began combing her hair, thoughtfully looking at her reflection. 'You've been waiting for this tonight for four years Usagi…I just hope I don't blow it…'

Sighing, she put down the bush and entered her bedroom. Dropping her towel, she put on her blue and purple bikini. Then pulling on a pair of dark denim hip hugger flares, she searched through her clothes for a perfect top. Finally deciding on her pink lace spaghetti strap that opened in front which showed off her belly ring.

She sat down at her vanity and slowly traced her eyes with black eyeliner. Then perfectly dabbing her eyelids with sky blue powder. Standing up, she threw a few makeup items in her pink drawstring sack. Suddenly she heard a small knock in her door. Putting on her yellow faced Fossil watch, she opened her door.

"Hey mom, what's up?'

"Don't you just look lovely…" Usagi smiled and gave her mom a hug. "Oh, um, Mr. Yazanskino is on the phone for you."

"Oh thanks." She replied going back into her room to grab her bag. Giving a quick smile to she mom as she walked past her and starting down stairs.

"Hey, Mark?" Usagi asked as she picked up the phone.

"Hey! I'm just calling to so how my little superstar is adjusting to 'normal' life." She heard Mark joke on the other line.

"I'm doing just fine." Usagi answered sweetly.

"Did you have a good flight?"

"Oh it was great…considering I was sitting down for about a good 8 hours! I thought I was going to exploded when I thought my butt fell asleep!" She smiled when she heard Mark laugh in the other line.

"Oh hey, I was just wondering if you would consider doing this…" He was suddenly cut off by the doorbell.

Usagi put her hand on the receiver and watched her mom move towards the door. When she heard her mom say hi to Mamoru, she lifted the phone back up to her ear.

"I'm sorry Mark, what were you saying? Mamoru is at the…"

"Say no more. Will you be up tonight? I'll call you back."

"Yea, It's so good to hear your voice again Mark. I missed you."

"I missed you too. Heck your whole band misses you! You put them outta work you know." Usagi laughed at his attempt to make her feel guilty.

"Is word out that I retired yet?" Usagi asked.

"Not yet." He assured.

Suddenly her voice grew to a whisper. "And um…did they find him yet?"

"…Um, not yet Usagi…they're looking really hard though. He should be found soon, I promise." Usagi inhaled sharply at his words. They were supposed to be comforting but they weren't. Goose bumps rose all on her arms and down her back.

"You okay Usagi?"

"Yea, of course… I'll talk to ya later."

"Okay, take care."

"You too, bye." Slowly lowering the phone from her face, she closed her eyes. She placed her hands against the table firmly holding herself up. 'It's going to okay…deep breathes…' Inhaling deeply, she stood up straight. Grabbing her bag, she turned towards the door. 'Big smile Usagi…big smile…'

AU: All right that's it for this chapter. Sorry it's so short and it took so long! I'll make the next chapter much longer. As you probably noticed, the anguish is beginning. Who is this guy Usagi keeps thinking about? Obviously nobody good! And what REALLY happened in America? Will Mamoru go away to school? Until next time. Please review!