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?

***

"All right class. It's time for English studies!" Miss
Haruna said in very bad English.

Usagi smirked and tried not to laugh at her teacher's
apparent lack in language. The red head glared at Usagi
and she stood from her desk and went to the chalkboard
to begin writing. "Is there something you find amusing
about the English language Usagi?"

The blonde smiled and looked up at her teacher. "Oh no
Miss Haruna! English is quite captivating when you learn
from the proper instructor." She said with sarcasam
dripping from each word.

The woman in the front of the room stopped writing on
the board and turned slowly to face the girl. The entire
class was staring at Usagi with a mixture of awe and
confusion.

-I'll teach her to put me down!- "If that's the way you
feel then why don't you come up here and teach the
class?"

Miss Haruna's jaw dropped as Usagi stood confidently and
went to the front of the room. She picked up the chalk
and glanced over at the woman pointedly. "You may be
seated Miss Haruna. Now, let us see here. Mm. This is
much too droll. Ah! This is just what I was looking for!"

She picked up a large dictionary and began flipping
through the pages. Glancing up at the classroom she
smiled. "One must be sure they have the proper
information before speaking. Write that down in your
notes!"

Everyone began writing, even Miss Haruna. "Gee Usagi! I
never knew you could speak English!" Naru said as she
stared at her friend who was writing definitions on the
chalkboard.

"Please refrain from using such gibberish as gee, golly,
gosh, or any contractions you may have learnt. Most of
these slang terms are only used in America or by youth
and should not be used while in school. Is this
understood Miss Osaka?" Usagi said this while she
continued to write without even glancing at her friend.

***

Mamoru glared at the note with all the hatered he
could muster. Slowly he read it again to assure that he
was seeing what he was.

~~~
Mr. Chiba:

Miss Tsukino has presented dissappointment in your
abilities as a tutor and has requested a replacement.
We thank you for your assistance and apologise for any
inconveniences. Please take this check as a symbol of
our gratitute for your help.

Sincerely,
Douglas Ford

~~~

Along with the note was a check for five hundred american
dollars. He grumbled and stuffed the note and check back
into their envelope.

Stepping into the cafe he sat down at the bar and sighed.
Motoki came up and smiled. "Hey Mamoru. Haven't seen you
in a while!"

"Hi Motoki. How are you feeling?" Mamoru asked as he
continued to glare at the note.

"Much better, thanks. I came to work earlier than I
should but I was feeling so good I thought I should at
least do something. What can I get for you?" He asked
with his typical grin.

"A glass of water. No need for ice." Mamoru said and
began to twist the envelope but couldn't bring himself
to tear it.

Motoki frowned but went to get the water. Suddenly Usagi
ran into the cafe and up to Mamoru, her friends were all
following her. "Where were you?! I thought you were
supposed to come pick me up after school!"

He stood and set the envelope on the counter. He didn't
look at her or answer her, just left the cafe.

Usagi picked up the envelope and opened it. She read the
note and glanced at the check. -NOO! I didn't do this!-
Dropping the note from shaking fingers she ran from
the cafe and after Mamoru. "MAMORU! WAIT!!"

"What's going on?" Ami asked Motoki who was standing
with the glass of water. He shrugged and shook his head.

"I have no idea."

"Hey guys.. look at this." Makoto held the note and the
check in her hands. She read it aloud to the others and
they all felt bad for Mamoru.

"I don't think Usagi did this but Mamoru doesn't know
that. " Minako said as she stared at the check.

"He must be really hurt after what she said this
morning." Rei said and the blonde nodded in agreement.

"What happened this morning?" Motoki asked, full of
confusion about the whole turn of events. -Last I knew
Usagi and Mamoru hated each other.. so whats going on
now?-

Rei told the others about breakfast and how Usagi had
praised Mamoru so highly for his tutoring in English. Ami
made a comment about Usagi teaching the entire class,
including Miss Haruna, proper English.

They all laughed at that image but frowned when they
thought of what was happening. Everyone was trying to
think of ways to get Usagi and Mamoru to at least
cooperate again when a blonde man with green eyes came
in.

He went up to the counter and waved Motoki over. "Excuse
me but I was wondering if a certain Tsukino Usagi
happened to frequent here. I was told she would probably
be here."

Motoki frowned at the man. "You're Douglas Ford, aren't
you?"

The man nodded, not at all surprised that a young college
student would know who he was. "Yes I am, why do you
ask? Did she mention me?"

Motoki grew angry and held up the note and check before
the man. "No. She never mentioned you once. However this
check did happen to come between her and my best friend.
It was probably their one chance at actually being
civilized with the other but now he's going to HATE her!
Do you know how damaging it is for any chance of a
relationship when a man goes from loving someone on the
point of insanity to genuinely loathing their very
existance Mr. Ford?!"

The man blinked and sighed, taking the note and check
from Motoki's grasp. "I'm certain I have no idea what you
are talking about." Motoki snorted his agreement but the
man continued. "I was just looking for a way to help the
girl in hopes of a brighter future for her. My family is
very big on girls who aren't very bright and don't have
many skills and I for one would rather not have a wife
who is smart enough to possibly take advantage of me and
leave me poor. She's the perfect candidate. Do you really
think I would let some young college student take this
opportunity? Now, if you will excuse me, I must be off to
find her."

He began to walk through the doors when Makoto screamed
at the top of her lungs. "Jump him!" The four girls and
Motoki attacked the man, doing their best to keep him
from Usagi.

***

"You want me to go to your apartment and get your savings
money? But Makoto, that's for your bakery!" Usagi whined
as she stood in the jail room looking at her friends on
the other side of the bars.

"I know but this is more important! Please Usagi! You
have to get us out of here." The brunette said as she
cast a glance at her friends. Ami and Minako were
huddled over in a corner and Rei was chewing out some
woman who had tried to make a pass at her.

Jail, they had found, was not fun. They were all lucky
Usagi had spoken to Rei's grandfather and run to their
aide. She had enough money for Rei's bail but not enough
for all of them.

Rei had opted to stay until she came back for the others.
Sighing Usagi turned and stepped through the door only
to run into a very familiar person. She inhaled his scent
before stepping back and shaking herself into reality
again.

"What are you doing here Usagi? Shouldn't you be
practicing?" He asked with an unemotional tone.

She frowned and glared at him. "I WOULD be if you could
have believed in me! But NOO! You have to believe some
stupid note that I had nothing to do with instead and
when the girls and Motoki jump this guy for what he was
going to do they end up in jail. Now I have to bail them
out with Makoto's bakery money and it's all YOUR FAULT!"
Tears began to stream down her face and she weakly beat
her fists against his chest in frustration.

He sighed. She was right, as usual when it came to
emotions. "I'm sorry Usagi."

"That's not good enough this time! This is Makoto's dream
you are ruining!" She began to walk around him when he
wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Ok. I know what I'll do. I'll pay the entire bail for
all of them." He went up to an officer and she led him
to a desk where he did just that and paied for the bail
in cash.

The officer went into the jailroom and let the girls and
Motoki out. Usagi ran into her friends and they all
embraced. "Thank you all for protecting me. I never knew
he was like that."

"You may not be a genius or the best at everything but
you aren't stupid or worthless like Mr. Ford said. We
couldn't have let you spend another moment with him." Ami
said in her matter of fact tone.

"HE SAID WHAT?!" The girls jumped as they heard Mamoru
scream this. Apparently Motoki was telling him what had
happened at the cafe.

Usagi had no idea what all had been said, the girls felt
she shouldn't know, but she was glad that Mamoru cared.
She sighed as they all filed outside and went their
seperate ways.

She stood in front of the building and closed her eyes
as the sun began to darken and become a hazy red-orange.
It felt nice and warm apon her face and gave her a clean
feeling.

"Could I walk you home?" A voice asked from behind her.

She turned to see Mamoru standing there staring at her
and smiled. "No. But we could go to your place and
practice."

And for the second time that week Usagi placed her arm
within his and they walked peacefully to his apartment.
She lay her head onto his shoulder and smiled knowing
she would cherish this moment forever.

-The moment I finally realize that I love him.-

***End Part Fourteen***