Mamoru stared out at the dismal weather, the day having gone under a drastic change from the bright and sunny day yesterday. Rain fell in quiet sheets, the sound of the falling water drowned out by loud cracks of thunder. The clouds above were thick and a stark grey that was almost black. He was grateful to be inside while the storm raged without the parlor but he couldn't accomplish the task he had come there to do in the first place. For some reason, his eyes would not stay on the page and he knew why.
Usagi was sitting by herself in a booth near the window, her fathomless blue eyes gazing out into the wet weather as she absently stirred the iced tea set on the table before her. She sighed softly and blinked before taking a sip of her tea, setting it back on the table and stirring it some more. He found it ridiculous that such a girl would be sitting alone in a booth bored out of her mind and set about to resolve this dilemma.
He closed the novel he had, dog-earing the page and pocketed his thin, wire-frame reading glasses. Before he could lose his confidence he stepped over to where she sat and slipped into the booth opposite her, laying the book down without care. Usagi blinked and looked over to him, surprise evident in her eyes. She opened her mouth to say something but he quickly pressed two fingers to her utterly kissable lips and smiled innocently.
"Is something the matter, Usagi?" He asked softly, deciding at the last moment to drop her hated nickname. He wanted to help her, not make her angry.
Her lips quirked into a half-smile as she moved back from his fingers and her gaze flickered down to the counter hesitantly. Unsurely she licked her lips and finally sighed. "Iie, Mamoru-san, daibajou. Arigato," She said and moved to leave.
"Usagi …" Mamoru began, trailing off in a mock-threatening tone. He reached out and caught her wrist easily, not exactly holding her there but ensuring that he didn't want her to leave so soon. "I came over here to keep you company and to see if you wanted a hot chocolate. Please, sit awhile?" He paused and grinned impudently. "I'll give you a ride home on my motorcycle," He tempted.
Usagi's eyes brightened at the mention of both a hot cocoa and a ride on his motorcycle. "Well …I suppose I could stay a little longer." She conceded slowly, not wanting to appear too eager. She smiled dazzlingly at him. "Let's talk chocolate,"
Mamoru blinked and chuckled, lifting his arm to snag the attention of one of the waitresses. "I'd like two hot chocolates, please, and two chocolate chip muffins." He told the young woman. She nodded as she jotted down the order and a smile broke across her face as she looked up, regarding the pair with perceptive honey-brown eyes.
"Of course, sir," She replied professionally. "Your date's hairstyle is really kawaii," She added in a hushed whisper pitched to be overheard. Usagi flushed and one hand lifted to touch her gleaming golden tresses absently as the waitress giggled and winked at them. "Your order will be up in a moment, thank you sir. Have a nice day!" She said cheerily, backing away from the table and walking towards the counter.
Usagi was still a becoming shade of soft pink and she looked up, meeting Mamoru's eyes and blushing deeper as she stammered for something to say. Mamoru gazed on raptly, charmed by Usagi's behavior until he decided to rescue her from herself. "You know, your hair really is kawaii." He told her seriously, reaching out across the table to gently brush her honey-golden bangs from her forehead. It felt just like spun silk, soft and delicate and entirely Usagi.
"Ari …arigato, Mamoru-san," Usagi managed after a moment. Her face slowly came away from the rosy flush that matched her full lips and returned to her normal skin tone of peaches-and-cream. She brightened and smiled dazzlingly. "Your hair is kawaii too, when it falls across your face like that," She put in, grinning mischievously. "Especially that one tuft right …" She flicked the ebony lock in question, "here."
Mamoru smiled. "Arigato, Usagi …Odango Atama," He replied with ease. The waitress returned with the two tall, frothy mugs of cocoa and the muffins, grinned at the couple and departed again without comment. Mamoru sipped slowly at his cocoa and watched as Usagi slurped some of hers, slower than normal as though she were actually savoring the taste this once, or trying to keep from burning her tongue. "Please, Usagi, tell me what is wrong,"
Usagi licked her lips hesitantly, a pretty little frown marring her delicate brow as she searched for words. Her stunning eyes of lapis lazuli captured his for a moment and she sighed in weary acceptance. "I …I am not sure, Mamoru. I think perhaps the stem of it is the dreams." His expression darkened at the mention of dreams but she did not notice, her eyes distant as speaking of her dreams to him drew her back to the nightmares that had woken her screaming too many times of late. "I can't remember anything of the first dream …" Her voice was shaky and she steadied it with effort, "but I think that it is not a dream I would ever care to have even once. The second isn't as …bad …" Her nose crinkled and her eyes reflected confusion as she attempted to clarify her words. "The first is a nightmare, I know that much, and it has always shaken me to the core …the second could be a summoning. I am standing alone before a pool of dark water reflecting the light of the moon at its crescent and I am speaking with someone. Pleading with a person named Endymion. I cannot remember what I was asking him to do, only that his name is Endymion and he wanted more than anything to do as I begged." She took a deep breath, intense emotions clouding her azure eyes. "Have you ever woken from a dream …screaming …and crying?" Her voice was small, frightened and she stared into him without actually seeming to look at him.
Mamoru swallowed past the lump in his throat. Talking with Usagi about dreams had reawakened his own hazy memories. "I think I have, Usa," He whispered. "I have a dream as well …similar to your second one. There is a woman, her features hidden by shadows and the tears glistening upon her cheeks. Her name is Selenity and she is terribly worried about something. She wants to come to my side, to be freed …but something prevents her from moving. She seems so sad and helpless, but I can sense about her a very great power." He trailed off, blinking to return to reality.
Usagi's eyes were still slightly gazed, her lower lip trembling as she gazed at something not there. Taking another breath he reached out and placed one hand on her shoulder, intending to shake her gently back, but at his mere touch she shivered and jolted, blinking rapidly as she glanced around. She noted his hand upon her shoulder and smiled wanly at him. "Arigato, Mamoru-san, for the cocoa and the muffin …and, well, everything. The roads are slick, ride carefully," She warned, quickly finishing her hot chocolate and snatching her muffin from the table. She tucked the muffin into her pocket, impulsively kissed his cheek and was gone before he knew it.
Mamoru sighed heavily. "I was supposed to give you a lift home, Usagi-Odango-Atama," He spoke into the air. Rolling his eyes he polished off his own hot cocoa, threw down a few yen and grabbed the muffin, tossing it into the air and catching it expertly as he walked over to the counter where Furuhata Motoki, the arcade worker, was waiting on the people sitting on the old-fashioned red and chrome stools. The blond young man glanced up, his periwinkle blue eyes laughing as usual as he wiped his hands on his apron. Motoki was the only person Mamoru knew who could wear an apron and still look dignified …well, besides certain women. The thought of some of the uppity high-class women he knew wearing aprons and doing honest work brought a low laugh.
"Hello, Motoki, business is good I see." He greeted.
Motoki flashed him a warm smile. "Life is good, isn't it, Mamoru?" He asked casually. The smug gleam in his eye put Mamoru on guard instantly.
"It's getting better," He replied slowly.
Motoki seemed frustrated at his response. "I didn't catch any wailing today. Could it be Mamoru finally managed to not stick his foot in his mouth today? Maybe perchance a productive conversation ensued? Please, Mamoru, tell me you didn't make her cry,"
Mamoru looked affronted. "Of course not. I bought her a hot chocolate and a muffin and cheered her up. She was looking so down today and all,"
"Yeah, she wasn't quite herself when she first came in,"
"Besides, I don't always eat my foot." Mamoru muttered defensively.
One blink. Two. Wholehearted, tear-jerking laughter. Motoki gasped and wheezed as he tried to stop, but that only succeeded in making him laugh harder. "Oh …you're so right!" He managed after a long moment. The customers had begun to stare. "Usually it's your whole leg!"
Mamoru sighed. "Yuk it up, Apron-boy. I've got things to do and places to be, and please remember to breath." He advised, shaking his head slowly as he left. Motoki's behavior had been strange at best and Mamoru decided that he didn't want to question the reason behind it. Some things were better left alone.
* * *
Rain itself never bothered her. In fact, the gentle pitter-patter of the falling droplets of water as they descended to grant life to the world comforted her more often than not. It was the thunder and lightning that terrified her, ever since the hurricane that had struck when she was roughly six. That, and the fact that the sky took on a whole new evil during violent storms, but she didn't want to think about frightening stuff like that. At the moment she was dancing home, letting the cool rain land upon her tongue and drip into her mouth as she spun and skipped down the street. In a way, the tender rain served to wash away her worries and let her thoughts soar without restraint when it fell as softly as it was just then. Plus, it reminded her of Mamoru. But it seemed as though everything reminded her of the confusing young man lately …
Ever since he had been so kind and generous the other day, giving her a ride to school …sweeping her into his arms as she playfully fought with Rei. Oh, she didn't think she'd ever forget how wonderful it felt to be enclosed in his warm embrace lifted from the ground and pressed tight against him by powerful arms …and then he had spun her and continued to hold her until she stuck the flyer to his forehead and ran off. The whole encounter was priceless …and then she shook her head. Since then he had also bought her the hot chocolate and the muffin and had shared something incredibly special. He had listened to her and then told her of his own similar dream. And it just felt so nice to not be alone anymore like that. Knowing someone else was there for her to talk with encouraged the warmth within her chest to blossom.
Hope burned brightly within the confines of her heart, hope that fueled her dreams and ignited her passion. She hardly dared to breathe her fantasies, as wild as they were. Really, cool and suave Chiba Mamoru …loving her? But still, just the way he had been acting lately, how well they had been interacting. It was enough of a foundation to make a girl swoon. She still had her doubts, but now she had some faith as well. After all, she knew she wasn't ugly, but she wasn't sure what Mamoru looked for in appearances and though her grades could be better, she knew she'd be able to bring them up just to make him proud. As for her frequent bouts of clumsiness, well, she wasn't sure what to do about those, but wasn't it written somewhere that for true love to flourish one had to accept the flaws of another with the good?
She faltered on the sidewalk, sticking her tongue back in her mouth and letting the raindrops roll down her face. True love? She wasn't even wholly convinced that she liked the man and already she was making wedding plans? Well, no matter, she'd just have to build more on their relationship. If he was going to be nice and considerate then there was no reason for her to fight off friendship, especially if she wanted to be closer than that. But for now she'd just have to deal with whatever she got. If he truly cared for her, well, she'd be elated, but first she had to figure out just where her heart lay in regards to him. Not an altogether easy task, but one she held high hopes for.
And if she ever needed to talk with someone, she could visit Rei or speak with Ami, or stop by Makoto's place. Friends surrounded her and even Motoki could probably shed some interesting light on the situation. Sighing happily, she turned her bright-eyed gaze back up to the ominous clouds overhead. Rain was good and all, but really, it was winter! It should have been snowing, not raining, but she figured that it was close enough for the time being. The thought struck her that she was settling for less far too often of late, but she shrugged it off. After all, she did have patience …and all good things come to those who wait.
There was a heavy boom of thunder that rumbled the earth and Usagi shrieked, jumping into the air. Panting, she peered up at the sky and noted with growing apprehension that the weather wasn't the only thing turning the sky dark, but also the fact that it was getting increasingly late. Taking several deep breaths to slow her heartbeat and to bring some semblance of calm back to her, she closed her eyes and shivered, feeling the cold rain beating down on her exposed skin, making her already damp clothing even more soggy. For winter, the temperature at least had the sense to drop, but now she was cursing herself for forgetting her jacket as she had raced to school that morning. There was no wind, thankfully, a chilly gust was all she needed to catch pneumonia she was sure, and that was something she'd rather not get.
Hard, unsteady footfalls sounded from behind her, above the volume of the storm and pounding rain and a sense of dread shot through her, pricking the fine hairs at the nape of her neck and chilling her blood. Swallowing past a lump of fear in her throat, she turned slowly, silently praying beneath her breath for someone she knew to come along and save her from this potentially dangerous situation. However, all of her friends were smarter than she and would of course be out of this poor weather, curled up safe and sound in their beds and reading manga, or doing their homework or – in Rei's case – performing a fire reading. She didn't want to open her eyes to face her horror, but she knew there was no choice …besides, should worse come to worse, she was Sailor Moon, surely she could fend off the scum of the streets long enough for a distraction to give her the chance to flee. Slowly, regretfully, her eyes fluttered open and she nearly swooned to the harsh, unyielding pavement at that.
Half-crouched before her on the street was a dirty man in tattered rags, the stink of alcohol strong in the air and a lecherous look in his dark eyes as he advanced upon her. He grabbed at her with sudden speed that she had not expected and caught her wrists in a painfully tight hold. The man hadn't shaved in days and a ragged scar ran from his left cheek, across his nose and down to his chin. Sneering at her, he yanked her close and exhaled foul breath in her face.
"Well, well, well, what's a pretty little doll like you doing out in this rain? I think I oughta get you warm, little girl, if you're real quiet and don't try to pull nothing naughty." He coughed and Usagi took advantage of his weakened hold to squirm one arm free and kicked him savagely in the shin. Howling in pain, he slapped her across the face with the back of her hand and Usagi gasped, tripping backwards in astonishment and hurt, landing hard on her bottom. She blinked away the tears and rain, momentarily too stunned to do anything, the fact that a man had struck her boggled her thoughts. With a curse and a growl, the man grabbed the front of her shirt, where her transformation brooch rested and hauled her bodily to her feet, slamming her against the building nearby with enough force to drive the air from her lungs. Her head cracked against the stone and she moaned breathlessly, her chest burning as she fought to breathe. Without warning, the man was upon her again, one hand slipping beneath her skirts as her vision swam and her head pounded, a knife in his other hand pressed to her throat, but she could hardly register the biting steel anymore than she had seen him drawn the weapon in the first place.
Unexpectedly, a hand snapped the man's wrist back, sending the knife clattering into a puddle, and her unknown savior torn the man from her, heaving him to the ground in a heap. Hacking and wheezing, the man tried to regain his footing and made it to one knee when her rescuer threw himself on her attacker, pounding him into the cement with violent force. Vaguely, Usagi recognized the man who had saved her as Mamoru and she frowned, trying to reason when he had arrived and how he had known to come, but before she could do anything else, she was on her knees, trembling uncontrollably. The man was unconscious at best, dead at worst and Mamoru staggered to his feet, breathing heavily before starting to approach her. He abruptly stopped and his arms dropped to his sides as he gulped hesitantly and observed her for a time as she shook and wept, a huddled and pathetic form on the sidewalk beneath the ever-falling rain. Then he was at her side, draping his jacket around her shoulders and rubbing her back softly, gently, as if he was afraid to touch her, or more likely, afraid that she would not take kindly to being handled by a male so soon after her traumatizing experience.
"Oh, Usa …gomen, gomen nasai …I should have been here …I should have protected you …if I hadn't let you go off alone, if I had followed you sooner …" Mamoru trailed off helplessly, tears brimming in his eyes. Usagi crumpled against him and strove mightily to stop her sobbing, but in the end it was useless and she was only partially aware when Mamoru lifted her tenderly into his arms before she let her eyes close and her breathing slow as she slipped into blessed unconscious.