Fate, Fortune and Friendship- Chapter 2
MarshAngel
watsonma@hotmail.com
http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm
I don't do disclaimers anymore because 1.) I'm broke 2.) No one would dare sue me 3.) That
would be a waste of energy.
It was strange that things went back to normal between us with an ease that was almost
eerie. We were certainly closer than we'd ever been.
I had never had reason to even consider what anyone might have thought of our
relationship. I couldn't even begin to think what people saw when they saw us. We didn't
exactly put on a public display; it wasn't in either of our characters. Did they see us as merely
friends or something more? I have an idea they suspected something far more complex however,
and what we were was certainly that.
In business we worked seamlessly as if with one mind. We had just closed a deal with a
small software development company for mass production of their product. I suspect we had
them both confused and mesmerized. Our suggestions to them had been in a continuous flow
of sentences started and completed in a seamless exchange of thoughts. I hoped we could
continue in the same manner once we had Mizuno and her unknown partner sitting before us.
They were due in a matter of minutes.
I was particularly interested in this deal. Setsuna had already warned me that it wasn't
wise to be so sure I wanted to invest in their product but there was something inexorably
intriguing to me about it. Ms. Mizuno actually claimed she had invented stable, inexpensive,
holographic technology. Today we would see if their product worked. If it did, it would change
everything. As their venture capitalists we would be sitting on an enormously profitable
investment if her claims turned out to be true.
Setsuna leaned against my desk staring out the window at the sea of cars on the highway
far below. She seemed far away in thought.
"Have you checked as yet I asked?"
"No, I've been delaying. It's odd. You'd think I'd be more curious, but I'm more than
a little scared."
I placed one hand over her own. "No rush, but remember I'm as curious as you are."
"You are?" She seemed surprised.
"Of course I am," I assured her. "I am as intrigued by the prospect of you being a father
as you are in being a mother."
"What a strange pair we make," she commented smiling.
Just then my secretary announced the arrival of a Ms. Mizuno and Ms. Tsukino to see
us.
Before the women walked into the office I had been certain of many things in life, well
almost. That night with Setsuna was turning out to be the beginning of a strange period in my
life and the moment Ms. Mizuno and partner walked in was the momentary climax of a series of
life-changing events. I had the strangest sensation that things would never be the same in my
life ever again. I was suddenly certain of nothing, a feeling that framed the rest of the day.
It wasn't anything so dramatic as those romance novels women read. It was something
significantly baser. I couldn't recall ever experiencing anything even slightly similar to the
immediate lust that ran through my body the moment she walked through the door. For the
next few moments my mind only registered one Usagi Tsukino as introduced by Ms. Mizuno.
On the other hand, that wasn't really my mind.
She was blonde, blue-eyed, petite, curvaceous, and innately sexy as hell and I rudely
ignored everyone else to check out every inch of her perfect body. I have never been particularly
fond of blondes. They'd always seemed colorless and bland. In that instant I believe I changed
my mind. I believe I was contemplating to myself exactly how soft and smooth she was beneath
her white pantsuit when Setsu discreetly kicked the back of my chair.
I was embarrassed to say the least. If Setsuna had noticed my preoccupation, there was
no doubt that Ms. Mizuno and Ms. Tsukino had as well. Ms. Mizuno was smiling in an
understanding fashion that served only to embarrass me further, and Ms. Tsukino, whom I was
already thinking of as Usagi was blushing intensely.
*******************************************************************************************
"What the hell was that about?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
I did know what she was talking about and quite frankly I was more than a little
embarrassed to admit it. I had embarrassed Usagi and myself with my schoolboy lusty stares.
Somehow I had managed to survive the rest of the meeting without further embarrassment. It
had been hell trying to keep my eyes off her.
"So she's the one," Setsuna said softly and mysteriously.
"What do you mean," I questioned, confused as to what she was getting at.
"You've never looked at another woman like that before. You want her, badly."
"Don't remind me. I've suffered more than enough embarrassment for the day."
"I think she just might be the one you're looking for."
"I wasn't aware I was looking."
"Well then, maybe I was looking for you. I think she's the one."
"You sound like some kind of psychic fortune teller slash matchmaker. What in the
world is going on in that head of yours? You can't seriously expect me to believe you've been
looking for a woman for me and that she happens to be it."
"Not just any woman," she reminded, "the right woman."
"Just as I think I know everything about you, you get stranger." She didn't answer.
We were still in my office, sitting on the long, low couch watching the sun set.
"I can't explain it, Mamoru. I just feel like life is changing for us both. Sometimes I am
so very confused and then there are these moments of pure and utter clarity when I'm so sure of
what I want and where I'm going. Of course that never lasts too long.
"You know when we were younger how a week used to last forever?" she smiled
reminiscently not really looking at me, or anything, her eyes simply staring out. "The older we
got, the shorter the days became, the week seems to skip from Sunday to Sunday so quickly,
like the world is moving so much faster it's a fight just to keep up with it all. I keep feeling like
time is moving faster and faster…" Her voice just faded off. I knew just what she meant.
"Setsu," I began, but was unable to finish as I had begun. "Maybe…. Maybe we're just
at a point in our life when things are changing and everything is just a little weird right now." I
paused, not sure how or where to continue.
"You're right. I do want Usagi but I don't think this is the right time. If we're going to
have this baby together, maybe now is not the time for me to be pursuing a relationship."
"Time and opportunity do not wait around for anyone, Mamoru. You and I both saw
what their technology can do, that is an opportunity for investment neither of us have any
intention of passing up. You will be working with Usagi for the next couple of months. Who's
to say what could happen tomorrow or the day after. You have the chance to pursue her now,
not a month or a year from now. Now is all there is.
"I'm a grown woman. I can certainly take care of myself. You can't give up the chance
to be happy for me. You've already done more than enough.
"Usagi seems so right. I can feel that somehow. I love you, and trust me when I say I
would do anything for you. This is what's right… for both of us," she finished with certainty.
"How can you know that?" I questioned, shocked and amazed at what I'd heard her say.
"I've barely known the woman for a day and all I'm sure of is that I want her in my bed,
nothing else. How do you know I'll want to spend the rest of my life with her? How do you
know that you'll be happy, that I'll be happy? I can't just leave you with this baby and run off
to pursue another woman I know nothing of. I love you. You are the closest person to me in
this world. If you aren't happy, I won't be happy either."
"Mamoru," she smiled gently, "you are turning this into an everlasting circle. If you're
happy then I'll be happy and you can be happy if I'm happy ok? I believe Usagi can make you
happy; don't ask me how or why. I just do. "So make me happy and do what I say! Go get her!"
MarshAngel
watsonma@hotmail.com
http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm
I don't do disclaimers anymore because 1.) I'm broke 2.) No one would dare sue me 3.) That
would be a waste of energy.
It was strange that things went back to normal between us with an ease that was almost
eerie. We were certainly closer than we'd ever been.
I had never had reason to even consider what anyone might have thought of our
relationship. I couldn't even begin to think what people saw when they saw us. We didn't
exactly put on a public display; it wasn't in either of our characters. Did they see us as merely
friends or something more? I have an idea they suspected something far more complex however,
and what we were was certainly that.
In business we worked seamlessly as if with one mind. We had just closed a deal with a
small software development company for mass production of their product. I suspect we had
them both confused and mesmerized. Our suggestions to them had been in a continuous flow
of sentences started and completed in a seamless exchange of thoughts. I hoped we could
continue in the same manner once we had Mizuno and her unknown partner sitting before us.
They were due in a matter of minutes.
I was particularly interested in this deal. Setsuna had already warned me that it wasn't
wise to be so sure I wanted to invest in their product but there was something inexorably
intriguing to me about it. Ms. Mizuno actually claimed she had invented stable, inexpensive,
holographic technology. Today we would see if their product worked. If it did, it would change
everything. As their venture capitalists we would be sitting on an enormously profitable
investment if her claims turned out to be true.
Setsuna leaned against my desk staring out the window at the sea of cars on the highway
far below. She seemed far away in thought.
"Have you checked as yet I asked?"
"No, I've been delaying. It's odd. You'd think I'd be more curious, but I'm more than
a little scared."
I placed one hand over her own. "No rush, but remember I'm as curious as you are."
"You are?" She seemed surprised.
"Of course I am," I assured her. "I am as intrigued by the prospect of you being a father
as you are in being a mother."
"What a strange pair we make," she commented smiling.
Just then my secretary announced the arrival of a Ms. Mizuno and Ms. Tsukino to see
us.
Before the women walked into the office I had been certain of many things in life, well
almost. That night with Setsuna was turning out to be the beginning of a strange period in my
life and the moment Ms. Mizuno and partner walked in was the momentary climax of a series of
life-changing events. I had the strangest sensation that things would never be the same in my
life ever again. I was suddenly certain of nothing, a feeling that framed the rest of the day.
It wasn't anything so dramatic as those romance novels women read. It was something
significantly baser. I couldn't recall ever experiencing anything even slightly similar to the
immediate lust that ran through my body the moment she walked through the door. For the
next few moments my mind only registered one Usagi Tsukino as introduced by Ms. Mizuno.
On the other hand, that wasn't really my mind.
She was blonde, blue-eyed, petite, curvaceous, and innately sexy as hell and I rudely
ignored everyone else to check out every inch of her perfect body. I have never been particularly
fond of blondes. They'd always seemed colorless and bland. In that instant I believe I changed
my mind. I believe I was contemplating to myself exactly how soft and smooth she was beneath
her white pantsuit when Setsu discreetly kicked the back of my chair.
I was embarrassed to say the least. If Setsuna had noticed my preoccupation, there was
no doubt that Ms. Mizuno and Ms. Tsukino had as well. Ms. Mizuno was smiling in an
understanding fashion that served only to embarrass me further, and Ms. Tsukino, whom I was
already thinking of as Usagi was blushing intensely.
*******************************************************************************************
"What the hell was that about?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about."
I did know what she was talking about and quite frankly I was more than a little
embarrassed to admit it. I had embarrassed Usagi and myself with my schoolboy lusty stares.
Somehow I had managed to survive the rest of the meeting without further embarrassment. It
had been hell trying to keep my eyes off her.
"So she's the one," Setsuna said softly and mysteriously.
"What do you mean," I questioned, confused as to what she was getting at.
"You've never looked at another woman like that before. You want her, badly."
"Don't remind me. I've suffered more than enough embarrassment for the day."
"I think she just might be the one you're looking for."
"I wasn't aware I was looking."
"Well then, maybe I was looking for you. I think she's the one."
"You sound like some kind of psychic fortune teller slash matchmaker. What in the
world is going on in that head of yours? You can't seriously expect me to believe you've been
looking for a woman for me and that she happens to be it."
"Not just any woman," she reminded, "the right woman."
"Just as I think I know everything about you, you get stranger." She didn't answer.
We were still in my office, sitting on the long, low couch watching the sun set.
"I can't explain it, Mamoru. I just feel like life is changing for us both. Sometimes I am
so very confused and then there are these moments of pure and utter clarity when I'm so sure of
what I want and where I'm going. Of course that never lasts too long.
"You know when we were younger how a week used to last forever?" she smiled
reminiscently not really looking at me, or anything, her eyes simply staring out. "The older we
got, the shorter the days became, the week seems to skip from Sunday to Sunday so quickly,
like the world is moving so much faster it's a fight just to keep up with it all. I keep feeling like
time is moving faster and faster…" Her voice just faded off. I knew just what she meant.
"Setsu," I began, but was unable to finish as I had begun. "Maybe…. Maybe we're just
at a point in our life when things are changing and everything is just a little weird right now." I
paused, not sure how or where to continue.
"You're right. I do want Usagi but I don't think this is the right time. If we're going to
have this baby together, maybe now is not the time for me to be pursuing a relationship."
"Time and opportunity do not wait around for anyone, Mamoru. You and I both saw
what their technology can do, that is an opportunity for investment neither of us have any
intention of passing up. You will be working with Usagi for the next couple of months. Who's
to say what could happen tomorrow or the day after. You have the chance to pursue her now,
not a month or a year from now. Now is all there is.
"I'm a grown woman. I can certainly take care of myself. You can't give up the chance
to be happy for me. You've already done more than enough.
"Usagi seems so right. I can feel that somehow. I love you, and trust me when I say I
would do anything for you. This is what's right… for both of us," she finished with certainty.
"How can you know that?" I questioned, shocked and amazed at what I'd heard her say.
"I've barely known the woman for a day and all I'm sure of is that I want her in my bed,
nothing else. How do you know I'll want to spend the rest of my life with her? How do you
know that you'll be happy, that I'll be happy? I can't just leave you with this baby and run off
to pursue another woman I know nothing of. I love you. You are the closest person to me in
this world. If you aren't happy, I won't be happy either."
"Mamoru," she smiled gently, "you are turning this into an everlasting circle. If you're
happy then I'll be happy and you can be happy if I'm happy ok? I believe Usagi can make you
happy; don't ask me how or why. I just do. "So make me happy and do what I say! Go get her!"