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?

***

Usagi stared at him in confusion as Mamoru hung up the
phone. "I thought you were supposed to be cooking?"

"Well.. I didn't feel like rice and there isn't much
else that can feed two people here. So I thought it would
be nice to go out for breakfast. It's the least I can
do." He smiled and headed for the bedroom. "I'm going to
take a shower. Make yourself at home."

She sighed as he went into the other room and she
wandered into the kitchen with the empty pizza boxes.
Shoving them into his small waste basket she turned to
the ebony refridgerator and opened it in search of a
drink. "If there was a wasteland of refridgerators
Mamoru's would be it."

The entire contents of his refridgerator was: two eggs,
half a carton of milk, one apple, a block of cheddar
cheese, and a jug of orange juice. Usagi scruched her
face up and stuck her tounge out at the options.

Closing the refridgerator door she went into the living
room and picked up the phone. "Hello mama! Yes, I know
I should have called and said I was staying at Rei's for
the night. We accidentally fell asleep while studying. I
promise I will come home today. Ok. Love you!"

She set the phone back on the reciever and sat down on
the couch. Looking around she tried to find the remote
for the television only to be met with five different
remotes. "Oh well.. what's the worst that can happen?"

Picking the first one up she hit power and nothing
happened. Frowning she set it down and picked the second
one up. It didn't say power on it anywhere so she pushed
the largest button and the stereo turned on to static.

Shrugging she picked up the third remote and pressed the
large red button and something turned on but again, no
result. She lifted the fourth remote and pressed the
longest button only to have the static shift around her
and become louder.

Sighing with irritation she picked up the final remote
and pressed power. The room was filled with the sound of
a woman screaming. Usagi cringed and tried to turn the
volume down but nothing worked.

She covered her ears with her hands and then shreiked as
Mamoru came running in, still damp, with a robe on. He
rushed over and turned the stereo and surround sound off.

Usagi was huddled in a ball on the couch and shivering
like a trapped animal. She glanced over her knees to see
Mamoru smiling at her. He reached over and pet her on
the head then, leaning over in a moment of madness he
kissed her on the forehead. "It's ok Usagi. I'm not mad
and no one was hurt."

She blinked at him and then frowned. "Speak for yourself!
My ears hurt!" Faint tears began to well in her eyes as
she stared at him. He was afraid she would fall apart
and the child Usagi would be back for good. But she
surprised him again and closed her eyes.

Taking in a ragged breath she shook her head slowly and
smiled up at him again. "Can I take a shower now?"

"Sure. Just let me get dressed." He went into the
bathroom. Three minutes later he was out, dressed, dry,
and ready to go for the day.

She went up to him and took her dried clothes from him.
"Thank you. For everything." Turning she went into the
bathroom and closed the door. She leaned her back
against the door and closed her eyes, inhaling the
strong scent of his cologne that still lingered in the
air.

Her heart was beating so fast and her face was so red.
She knew that the heat in her face came from that one
place on her forehead where he had kissed her. Somehow
she knew that kiss would be what broke her.

Usagi set her clothes on the counter and turned the
water on in the shower. Shaking her head she sighed and
smiled in a wistful manner. -And to think.. I once
thought that it was Mamoru who kept everything so
hidden.-

***

Rei sat in a booth and sipped on a glass of green tea as
she waited for Usagi and Mamoru to arrive. Normally it
would bother her that they weren't here already but not
today.

Today she was keeping her cool and finding results. It
was rather tireing to continuously ask questions. Her
head still ached somewhat but the swelling feeling had
gone down so she was rather cheerful.

She smiled as she saw Mamoru's car pull up to the street
and park. "It's about time! Those two are so.. " Her
sentance was halted as she watched Mamoru get out of the
car and race around to open the passenger side door for
Usagi. -Wow! I wish I had a guy who would do that for
me!-

Rather surprisingly Usagi gave him an odd look for his
gentelmanly behavior but accepted his hand and stepped
out of the car. "How very interesting."

"What's interesting?" A curious voice asked from behind
Rei.

The raven haired girl turned to see Minako grinning like
a cheshire cat. "Nothing." Rei said in an attempt to keep
the gossip to herself.

Minako stretched her neck to see what Rei was looking at
but there was no one there when she looked. Shrugging
she sat next to Rei and sighed. "I need to talk to you."

"What's wrong?" Rei asked as she saw her friend's unusual
behavior. -Then again.. no one is acting in the norm.-

"Well.. I've been having strange dreams. About a man with
long white hair.. and beautiful slate blue eyes." Minako
went off into her own little dream land and Rei rolled
her eyes but smiled as Usagi and Mamoru came up to the
table.

"Hi guys! Can we eat now I'm hungry!!" She slid into the
booth and picked up a menu. "I want a large chocolate
milk and french toast with bacon and hashbrowns on the
side!"

Mamoru groaned as she stared into his wallet, hoping he
had enough cash. Usagi was certainly not cheap company.

***End Part Twelve***