Duet
by Zandrellia - zandrellia@excite.com
Usagi has a school project where she has to sing but
she also needs a male counter part. Who will it be
and what will happen?
***
Morning sunlight wafted through the shades lazily apon
the two sleepers. The entire room was a distaster zone.
Pizza boxes, soda cans, papers of all kinds, and books of
various sizes and subjects were strewn about in a random
pattern which lead directly to the coffee table in the
center of the room.
Mamoru was sitting on the floor directly in front of his
couch with his legs sticking out from under the other
end of the table. His head was rested on the cushion of
the couch behind him and in his lap was a large
dictionary.
However, under his arm was a much more precious package
and anyone who could have seen them would have easily
saw how much it meant to him by his gentle but firm hold.
Usagi lay with her head against his chest, her hands
resting on the pages of the book.
Sometime during the course of the night they had become
so preoccupied in their studies that any notion of the
time was lost to them. Eventually they had lost their
fight with sleep and both had drifted off to sleep around
the same time at one in the morning.
Mamoru was the first to wake as the bright sunlight
streaked across his face. His facial features scrunched
up in an annoyed glare but his eyes remained closed.
Raising his right hand he swept it across his face and
through his hair.
The last thing he remembered was thinking how he should
take Usagi home before she fell asleep. Attempting to
rub the sleep out of his eyes with his left hand as well
he noticed that it was being pinned down by something
large, soft, and warm.
His eyes opened wide and he stared down at the girl who
was sleeping peacefully within his embrace. -I can't
believe it. Usagi slept here in my arms all night!- He
smiled and stared down at her.
The morning light formed an irridecent halo around her
which only added to the look of innocence she gave. He
was mesmerized by her. So pure and child like but.. then
there were times where she gave the appearance of having
been through more pain and turmoil than any man who was
ready for his death bed.
He had seen both of those sides of her before and
cherished each moment of her growth. But this was
something different. Her chest moved slowly with the
steady beat of her breathing and he could feel the thump
of her heart through his arm. This was her raw essence.
The rosy coloring of her cheeks was so unique and the
light lids and tiny eyelashes that softly lay across
those magical eyes were so frail that it was a wonder
they could hold and protect such powerful objects. Her
lips were a pale pink and were dry and stuck together
towards the edges.
And her hair.. the long mane of beautiful hair.. it was
so much more now. He wasn't sure if it was possible, but
if it were, he could have sworn that someone had spun
Usagi's hair out of pure gold and sunshine.
He was warring with himself and was about to go ahead
and plunge his fingers into the sea of gold but at that
moment her eyelids fluttered open and she turned slowly
to glance up at him with clouded morning eyes. He held
his breath as he stared back into her eyes, hoping her
reaction would not be bad.
She surprised him by smiling and simply saying: "Good
Morning."
For a moment she had thrown him off with that. He had
expected her to throw a fit and run out the door without
so much as acknowledging his existance. But here she sat
within his arms as if it were the most natural place in
the world for her to wake up.
"Good morning Usagi. Would you like some breakfast?" He
asked with a smile he hoped was pleasant. It was morning,
after all, and he was sure he was a mess.
She nodded and began to pick up piles of papers and
books. "I'll clean up in here if you cook."
Again she threw him for a loop. -Who is this woman and
where did Usagi go? She's never been this mature and
collected. And since when was it like her to take
control?- He had to admit he did like it when she was
like this. It almost felt like she wasn't the younger of
them.
He stood and headed for the kitchen. "Ok. It'll be done
in a bit. Feel free to use the phone or whatever else
you may need."
"All right." She smiled and continued to stack the books
on the table. He watched her as she mouthed the names
and words she had learned last night. Once he had found
her learning pattern it was easy to tap into her natural
curiosity and she took to the language like no other.
Now she could read, write, speak, and most of all sing
the English language like it was her own. He smiled with
a bit of pride and went into the kitchen to find
something to cook.
***
Rei stood before the mirror in her bathroom and brushed
her teeth dismally. Her body screamed for a pain releiver
but all of the asprin was now on her bedroom floor.
Spitting out the toothpaste she turned the water on and
cleaned the brush in the sink. She then turned the water
off and found her mouthwash. As she poured the liquid
into her mouth and sloshed it about she thought of the
dream she had last night.
-It felt so much like a memory. As if I had already been
there. Maybe I should talk to Luna and Artemis about
it.- She spat the mouthwash out and then picked up a
washcloth and wiped her face off. Picking up a hair brush
she began to count aloud as she stroked through her raven
locks. "One..two..three..four.."
-Who was that man? The one Endymion said was one of his
generals? And why was he staring at me like that?- "Five..
six..seven..eight..nine.." -I felt so close to him, like
I knew him better than anyone else I had ever known. Like
I feel with Mamoru. He's so special that no one can ever
replace him. I never thought I would find someone else
like that!-
"Ten..eleven..twelve..thirteen..fourteen..fifteen.." -Oh
well.. that is just another mystery to add to the list.
And what about that ring? Was he going to propose to
Serenity?- "Sixteen..seventeen..eighteen..nineteen..
twenty.. twenty one.."
Her hand grew tired and she switched to her left. She
smiled and stood for a while just watching her own
reflection and wondering if all of this work would some
day pay off. "Twenty two.. twenty three.. twenty four..
twenty five.. twenty six.. twenty seven.. twenty eight..
twenty nine.."
The sounds of waking came from outside the bath and the
scuffling of feet could be heard. "Good Morning Rei." Her
grandfather's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Good morning grandpa. Thirty.. thirty one.. thirty two..
thirty three. How are you feeling? Thirty four.. thirty
five.. thirty six." She continued to count and brush
while she spoke to him.
"Oh I'm feeling just fine. Would you like me to start
some breakfast?"
"Thirty seven.. thirty eight.. thirty nine. Sure that
would be great! I'll be there in a bit! Fourty.. fourty
one.. fourty two.. fourty three.. fourty four.. fourty
five.. fourty six." She smirked as she heard the crashing
of Yuuichirou throwing his alarm clock across the room.
"Fourty seven.. fourty eight.. fourty nine.. fifty.. fifty
one.. fifty two.. fifty three.. fifty four.. fifty five..
fifty six.. fifty seven. Mm.. bacon.. that smells good.
Fifty eight.. fifty nine.. sixty.. sixty one.. sixty two..
sixty three.. sixty four.. sixty five.. sixty six.. sixty
seven." Suddenly a banging came from the door.
"Reeeiiii! Come on! I need the bathroom. What are you
doing in there?!" Yuuichirou wailed at the door as he
leaned against it.
"Go away! Sixty eight.. sixty nine.. seventy.. seventy
one.. seventy two.. seventy three.. seventy four.. seventy
five.. seventy six.. seventy seven.. seventy eight."
"She does this every morning. This is her patience
training course!" Rei heard her grandfather tell the young
man. She smirked, knowing he would believe it.
"Seventy nine.. eighty.. eighty one.. eighty two.. eighty
three.. eighty four.. eighty five.. eighty six.. eighty
seven.. eighty eight.. eighty nine.. ninety.. ninety one..
ninety two.. ninety three.. ninety four.." Her arm became
tired again and she switched hands.
"Ninety five.. ninety six.. ninety seven.. ninety eight..
ninety nine.. one hundred! Well that's done! Now to call
Usagi." She went into her room and picked up her phone.
After she dialed the number she stood there holding the
phone to her ear with her shoulder while she held her
hands out to examine her nails. Someone picked up on the
other end. It was Usagi's mother.
"Good morning Mrs.Tsukino! Yes it IS a rather dismal day.
No I haven't been outside to see all the rain yet. Of
course I will come over this afternoon to get a cake for
grandpa. Your cakes are always the best! Well.. I was
calling to see if Usagi was there yet? I have something
I forgot to ask her." Rei waited as the woman on the
other end explained that her daughter was not home yet
and she should be expecting her any moment now.
"No. Don't have her call me back. I'll see her this
afternoon. Thanks. Bye." When all that was left was a
dial tone Rei punched in the numbers for Mamoru's. It
rang.. and rang.. and rang.. after seven rings she heard
the phone pick up and Mamoru's voice come over the line.
"Hello? Chiba residence, how may I help you?" She smirked
and shook her head wondering how he sounded so calm
having odango in his house.
"Good morning Mr.Chiba. How are you this fine day?" Rei
asked full of sarcasam. The response she got was not one
she expected.
"Oh I'm wonderful Miss. Hino, thanks for asking." He
replied with the same tone. "On a more serious note,
Usagi and I were just about to go for some breakfast at
the fruits parlor. Care to join us?"
"Sure. Let me tell grandpa and I'll be there in about
ten minutes." She said and hung up the phone before they
could back out of it. Today she was going to find some
answers instead of more questions!
***End Part Eleven***
by Zandrellia - zandrellia@excite.com
Usagi has a school project where she has to sing but
she also needs a male counter part. Who will it be
and what will happen?
***
Morning sunlight wafted through the shades lazily apon
the two sleepers. The entire room was a distaster zone.
Pizza boxes, soda cans, papers of all kinds, and books of
various sizes and subjects were strewn about in a random
pattern which lead directly to the coffee table in the
center of the room.
Mamoru was sitting on the floor directly in front of his
couch with his legs sticking out from under the other
end of the table. His head was rested on the cushion of
the couch behind him and in his lap was a large
dictionary.
However, under his arm was a much more precious package
and anyone who could have seen them would have easily
saw how much it meant to him by his gentle but firm hold.
Usagi lay with her head against his chest, her hands
resting on the pages of the book.
Sometime during the course of the night they had become
so preoccupied in their studies that any notion of the
time was lost to them. Eventually they had lost their
fight with sleep and both had drifted off to sleep around
the same time at one in the morning.
Mamoru was the first to wake as the bright sunlight
streaked across his face. His facial features scrunched
up in an annoyed glare but his eyes remained closed.
Raising his right hand he swept it across his face and
through his hair.
The last thing he remembered was thinking how he should
take Usagi home before she fell asleep. Attempting to
rub the sleep out of his eyes with his left hand as well
he noticed that it was being pinned down by something
large, soft, and warm.
His eyes opened wide and he stared down at the girl who
was sleeping peacefully within his embrace. -I can't
believe it. Usagi slept here in my arms all night!- He
smiled and stared down at her.
The morning light formed an irridecent halo around her
which only added to the look of innocence she gave. He
was mesmerized by her. So pure and child like but.. then
there were times where she gave the appearance of having
been through more pain and turmoil than any man who was
ready for his death bed.
He had seen both of those sides of her before and
cherished each moment of her growth. But this was
something different. Her chest moved slowly with the
steady beat of her breathing and he could feel the thump
of her heart through his arm. This was her raw essence.
The rosy coloring of her cheeks was so unique and the
light lids and tiny eyelashes that softly lay across
those magical eyes were so frail that it was a wonder
they could hold and protect such powerful objects. Her
lips were a pale pink and were dry and stuck together
towards the edges.
And her hair.. the long mane of beautiful hair.. it was
so much more now. He wasn't sure if it was possible, but
if it were, he could have sworn that someone had spun
Usagi's hair out of pure gold and sunshine.
He was warring with himself and was about to go ahead
and plunge his fingers into the sea of gold but at that
moment her eyelids fluttered open and she turned slowly
to glance up at him with clouded morning eyes. He held
his breath as he stared back into her eyes, hoping her
reaction would not be bad.
She surprised him by smiling and simply saying: "Good
Morning."
For a moment she had thrown him off with that. He had
expected her to throw a fit and run out the door without
so much as acknowledging his existance. But here she sat
within his arms as if it were the most natural place in
the world for her to wake up.
"Good morning Usagi. Would you like some breakfast?" He
asked with a smile he hoped was pleasant. It was morning,
after all, and he was sure he was a mess.
She nodded and began to pick up piles of papers and
books. "I'll clean up in here if you cook."
Again she threw him for a loop. -Who is this woman and
where did Usagi go? She's never been this mature and
collected. And since when was it like her to take
control?- He had to admit he did like it when she was
like this. It almost felt like she wasn't the younger of
them.
He stood and headed for the kitchen. "Ok. It'll be done
in a bit. Feel free to use the phone or whatever else
you may need."
"All right." She smiled and continued to stack the books
on the table. He watched her as she mouthed the names
and words she had learned last night. Once he had found
her learning pattern it was easy to tap into her natural
curiosity and she took to the language like no other.
Now she could read, write, speak, and most of all sing
the English language like it was her own. He smiled with
a bit of pride and went into the kitchen to find
something to cook.
***
Rei stood before the mirror in her bathroom and brushed
her teeth dismally. Her body screamed for a pain releiver
but all of the asprin was now on her bedroom floor.
Spitting out the toothpaste she turned the water on and
cleaned the brush in the sink. She then turned the water
off and found her mouthwash. As she poured the liquid
into her mouth and sloshed it about she thought of the
dream she had last night.
-It felt so much like a memory. As if I had already been
there. Maybe I should talk to Luna and Artemis about
it.- She spat the mouthwash out and then picked up a
washcloth and wiped her face off. Picking up a hair brush
she began to count aloud as she stroked through her raven
locks. "One..two..three..four.."
-Who was that man? The one Endymion said was one of his
generals? And why was he staring at me like that?- "Five..
six..seven..eight..nine.." -I felt so close to him, like
I knew him better than anyone else I had ever known. Like
I feel with Mamoru. He's so special that no one can ever
replace him. I never thought I would find someone else
like that!-
"Ten..eleven..twelve..thirteen..fourteen..fifteen.." -Oh
well.. that is just another mystery to add to the list.
And what about that ring? Was he going to propose to
Serenity?- "Sixteen..seventeen..eighteen..nineteen..
twenty.. twenty one.."
Her hand grew tired and she switched to her left. She
smiled and stood for a while just watching her own
reflection and wondering if all of this work would some
day pay off. "Twenty two.. twenty three.. twenty four..
twenty five.. twenty six.. twenty seven.. twenty eight..
twenty nine.."
The sounds of waking came from outside the bath and the
scuffling of feet could be heard. "Good Morning Rei." Her
grandfather's voice came from the other side of the door.
"Good morning grandpa. Thirty.. thirty one.. thirty two..
thirty three. How are you feeling? Thirty four.. thirty
five.. thirty six." She continued to count and brush
while she spoke to him.
"Oh I'm feeling just fine. Would you like me to start
some breakfast?"
"Thirty seven.. thirty eight.. thirty nine. Sure that
would be great! I'll be there in a bit! Fourty.. fourty
one.. fourty two.. fourty three.. fourty four.. fourty
five.. fourty six." She smirked as she heard the crashing
of Yuuichirou throwing his alarm clock across the room.
"Fourty seven.. fourty eight.. fourty nine.. fifty.. fifty
one.. fifty two.. fifty three.. fifty four.. fifty five..
fifty six.. fifty seven. Mm.. bacon.. that smells good.
Fifty eight.. fifty nine.. sixty.. sixty one.. sixty two..
sixty three.. sixty four.. sixty five.. sixty six.. sixty
seven." Suddenly a banging came from the door.
"Reeeiiii! Come on! I need the bathroom. What are you
doing in there?!" Yuuichirou wailed at the door as he
leaned against it.
"Go away! Sixty eight.. sixty nine.. seventy.. seventy
one.. seventy two.. seventy three.. seventy four.. seventy
five.. seventy six.. seventy seven.. seventy eight."
"She does this every morning. This is her patience
training course!" Rei heard her grandfather tell the young
man. She smirked, knowing he would believe it.
"Seventy nine.. eighty.. eighty one.. eighty two.. eighty
three.. eighty four.. eighty five.. eighty six.. eighty
seven.. eighty eight.. eighty nine.. ninety.. ninety one..
ninety two.. ninety three.. ninety four.." Her arm became
tired again and she switched hands.
"Ninety five.. ninety six.. ninety seven.. ninety eight..
ninety nine.. one hundred! Well that's done! Now to call
Usagi." She went into her room and picked up her phone.
After she dialed the number she stood there holding the
phone to her ear with her shoulder while she held her
hands out to examine her nails. Someone picked up on the
other end. It was Usagi's mother.
"Good morning Mrs.Tsukino! Yes it IS a rather dismal day.
No I haven't been outside to see all the rain yet. Of
course I will come over this afternoon to get a cake for
grandpa. Your cakes are always the best! Well.. I was
calling to see if Usagi was there yet? I have something
I forgot to ask her." Rei waited as the woman on the
other end explained that her daughter was not home yet
and she should be expecting her any moment now.
"No. Don't have her call me back. I'll see her this
afternoon. Thanks. Bye." When all that was left was a
dial tone Rei punched in the numbers for Mamoru's. It
rang.. and rang.. and rang.. after seven rings she heard
the phone pick up and Mamoru's voice come over the line.
"Hello? Chiba residence, how may I help you?" She smirked
and shook her head wondering how he sounded so calm
having odango in his house.
"Good morning Mr.Chiba. How are you this fine day?" Rei
asked full of sarcasam. The response she got was not one
she expected.
"Oh I'm wonderful Miss. Hino, thanks for asking." He
replied with the same tone. "On a more serious note,
Usagi and I were just about to go for some breakfast at
the fruits parlor. Care to join us?"
"Sure. Let me tell grandpa and I'll be there in about
ten minutes." She said and hung up the phone before they
could back out of it. Today she was going to find some
answers instead of more questions!
***End Part Eleven***