Chapter Two
Usagi rushed around frantically as she tried to get ready for Nate's prom. It has been almost two weeks since he asked her, leaving her not nearly enough time to prepare. It didn't help that Usagi continued to have more horrible nightmares and panic attacks either.
Nate would be at her house in a half an hour! She really wanted to look good tonight. She wanted Nate to be blown away, and she wanted to show that Akiko-baka that she was no baby. Maybe she would even make Mamoru drool at her feet!
She continued to apply her make-up, using only soft pinks and shimmery white. She placed her teardrop diamond earrings on her lobes and clasped a diamond solitaire around her neck. She had had her hair done by a professional this afternoon. It was all up in tightly pinned curls, which made her appear to have much less hair than she really did, and the hairdresser had placed small rhinestones throughout the curls, causing her hair to glitter beautifully.
With all those things taken care of, Usagi prepared to put on her gown. It was a light, almost icy pink. The top of the dress was a strapless corset while the bottom flowed out gently to her feet. The bodice and the very bottom of the skirt were embroidered with tiny pink beads. To complete the look, Usagi's mother had bought her a pair of open toed glass slippers.
Usagi inspected herself in the mirror and felt a great sense of pride. Even she thought she looked good. It may be a cliche, but she really did look like a princess. While Usagi was happy with her appearance, she still felt she needed something. She ran her fingertips across her forehead wishing that it would appear-it would complete her look so beautifully.
"Usagi! Your date is here," she heard her mother call.
"Well, this is it," Usagi told herself.
Usagi walked carefully downstairs where she saw Nate speaking to her father. 'Oh great,' Usagi thought, 'Dad's probably giving him the third degree. I guess I should go rescue him.'
"Hi, Nate," she said cheerfully, awaiting his reaction to her appearance.
Nate turned around to greet his date and dropped the flowers he was holding as soon as he looked at her. He couldn't speak. He had never seen her this beautiful. "Wow," was all he eventually managed and Usagi blushed happily.
"Are you ready to go?" she asked.
Nate nodded and picked up the flowers he had dropped. "These are for you," he said to Usagi.
"Thank you. They're beautiful."
Nate took Usagi by the hand and led her to his car, and they then went to the Juuban High Senior Prom.
Mamoru stood by his and Akiko's table with a blank look on his face. He was positively board. His date was busy socializing with people he didn't know, and he felt like a piece of arm candy. At least his date looked beautiful, though. She wore a tight lavender satin dress that went well with her dark brown hair and eyes. He, of course, was wearing one of his traditional tuxedos that he owned as Tuxedo Mask.
Akiko, after feeling she had mingled enough, turned her attention back to Mamoru. "Are you having a good time?" she asked and Mamoru nodded. "This is great," she continued, "we're the best looking couple here."
Mamoru, who had become somewhat used to her narcissism, replied, "Yeah, you look wonderful."
Akiko smiled and said, "I can't wait to see Nate and that Usapi girl."
"Usagi," Mamoru corrected.
"Whatever. You know, I've never seen her wear a drop of make-up. She'll probably show up in a sundress and her hair in those ridiculous pigtails," Akiko snickered. "Nate will be so jealous of you when he sees me."
Mamoru just rolled his eyes his date. "Well, speak of the devil," he said as he saw Nate walk in.
"Where are they?" Akiko asked.
"Nate is over by the door," he told her. Mamoru watched Nate walk in and stop when he realized he was missing his date. Nate began to look around, and he must of spotted Usagi behind him because he motioned for someone to come with him.
Mamoru watch closely, anticipating to see that Odango-Atama who insisted on coming with that jerk. Mamoru felt his breath catch in his throat as she came into view. 'That can't be Usagi,' he thought dazedly. Mamoru looked at Akiko standing next to him and saw the shocked look on her face. She looked almost unsure of herself at seeing Usagi, but then straightened proudly and grabbed Mamoru's arm. "Come on, Mamoru. We're going over there."
Usagi stood nervously gripping Nate's arm. She had lost all her confidence once they had arrived here. She didn't know any of these people! They were all upper classmen. Usagi continued to look around the crowd of people until she heard a sickeningly sweet and familiar voice. It was Akiko.
"Hi, Nate. Don't I look fabulous?"
Usagi looked at Akiko insecurely. She did look great.
"Yes, Akiko. You look very nice," Nate replied.
It was a compliment, but Akiko was disappointed with his response.
"Where is your date?" Nate asked.
"Right here," Mamoru informed him.
Usagi turned toward Mamoru's voice. When she spotted him, she tried to hide the drool that was beginning to form at her mouth. 'God, has Mamoru always been this gorgeous?' Usagi asked herself.
"Hi, Usagi," Mamoru said softly.
"Hi, Mamoru," she responded, her voice equally soft.
Usagi looked Mamoru in the eye and lost herself in his gaze. Mamoru stared back, trapped in the gaze of a girl that he had never seen look so beautiful. In fact, he'd never seen any girl look that beautiful.
Mamoru cleared his throat nervously. "Usagi, you look-you look incredible," he told her, Nate and Akiko forgotten.
"Thanks, Mamoru. So do you." Usagi found herself walking closer to Mamoru, and he was doing the same toward her. Both stopped, only a foot between them.
"I never knew you could look-like this," Mamoru said as he ran his fingers over the silky skin of her left shoulder. Usagi blushed, but she could not remove her gaze from his.
The two stood like that until Nate grabbed Usagi's arm and pulled her close to him. "Usagi, what are you doing?" he asked her.
Usagi shook her head out of the daze that had overtaken her. "Uh, nothing. I was just talking to Mamoru."
Nate looked at Mamoru suspiciously, but said nothing. "Well, why don't we find a table?" he said to Usagi.
"You can sit at our table," Akiko put in.
Nate was about to say 'no' when Usagi smiled and said 'okay.' Usagi had barely placed her purse on the table when Akiko took Nate's arm and said, "Let's dance!" leaving only Usagi and Mamoru at the table. When Nate and Akiko had entered the dance floored a fast paced song was playing, but the music soon changed to a slow love song.
Usagi watched Akiko dance with HER date, and Mamoru eyed her nervously. Clearing his throat once again, he said, "Usagi, dance with me." His tone of voice was strange. It had almost sounded like an order, like she could not refuse him even if she wanted to.
Usagi turned toward Mamoru with a look of surprise on her face. "You want to dance with me? But what if I step on your feet!"
Mamoru laughed. "Usagi, I have never wanted to dance with anyone more." He took Usagi's hand and walked to the dance floor. Usagi held her breath as Mamoru faced her. He placed a hand on her hip and pulled her body impossibly close to his, while she responded by snaking an arm around his neck. With his free hand, Mamoru took her free hand and pulled it close to his chest, lacing his fingers with hers. He began to lead the dance, but soon found he didn't need to as they fell into a smooth rhythm. Usagi craned her neck to look up at the man she was dancing with. She couldn't believe it was Mamoru. Mamoru looked back at Usagi, his face inches from hers and he felt Usagi's fingers slip into his hair, causing his head to lower even more. His hand moved to the small of her back, pressing her as close to him as possible. Mamoru felt strangely comfortable with the girl in his arms, and he lowered his head to rest just between her neck and shoulder. Usagi closed her eyes as she felt Mamoru's warm breath against her skin. Her knees felt weak, and she may have collapsed were it not for Mamoru's strong hold. They were holding each other so closely that, to anyone watching, the two looked like lovers. And they were positively the most beautiful couple anyone had ever seen.
Usagi took her hand from his hair and brought it to his face, causing Mamoru to look her in the eye. At that moment, something had triggered inside them. They both stopped, their bodies becoming incredibly still. They continued to simply stare at each other, recognition coming to both their eyes. This feeling-it was so familiar, and-and intimate. Mamoru ached to close the small space between them, to taste her lips with his, but something held him back. Something in her gaze was begging him to kiss her, but something else was telling him he couldn't. Mamoru took the hand that was entwined with hers and placed it at the base of her neck. Damn what ever it was that was holding him back because he was going to do it, he was going to kiss her. His lips moved closer to hers and-
"Usagi!" Nate's voice called.
Usagi's eye's widened and she pulled herself from Mamoru's embrace.
"Usagi! Oh, there you are!" Nate smiled. "I was wondering where you had gone."
"I was just dancing with Mamoru," she said nervously.
"How unfortunate," Nate said throwing Mamoru a cocky look. "Why don't I show you how to dance, Usagi? I would like to have you in my arms."
Usagi smiled and followed Nate, but not before giving Mamoru one last longing look. Mamoru felt his heart stop as she looked at him, and he desired her then more than he had ever desired anything.
Nate brought Usagi close to him as they began to dance. As Usagi danced with him, she yearned to be somewhere else-specifically Mamoru's arms. She liked Nate very much, but the feeling of being in his arms doesn't even compare to those of Mamoru. Usagi looked over Nate's shoulder, searching for the man who was supposed to be her mortal enemy, but she did not see him. She assumed he was with Akiko, and she felt jealousy overtake her senses. She imagined Mamoru holding Akiko as he had just held her, and she felt her heart sink into her chest.
"Nate, if you don't mind, I need to get some air," Usagi told him.
"Of course I don't mind. Do you want me to come with you?" he asked.
"No, that's alright. I'll only be a few minutes."
Usagi went out onto the balcony that was connected to the room she was just in. She walked to the railing and inhaled deeply. She stared up at the sky, and at the moon in particular, and tried to sort out her feelings. She shivered slightly from a cool breeze and was going to return inside, when she felt two warm hands on her shoulders.
Usagi turned around slowly, facing the person behind her. "Mamoru," she breathed.
"Hey," was all he said.
"Hey," she said back just before he leaned down and kissed her.
For some reason, Usagi had been expecting that kiss, and she accepted Mamoru's lips immediately. He kissed her softly, his hands resting at her waist, but then Usagi wrapped her arms around Mamoru's neck, pulling him closer, and the kiss turned more passionate. Mamoru wrapped his arms tighter around her and the pressure from his kiss had bent her backward slightly over the balcony railing.
Without either of them realizing it, the kissed turned almost desperate. They were kissing as if they would never kiss again. Mamoru gripped at Usagi as if she would disappear, and Usagi's hands were wound so tightly into Mamoru's hair that he should have cried out in pain-but neither of them noticed. They just kissed deeper.
All of a sudden, Usagi received a vision. It was a vision of a Prince and Princess holding each other as desperately as they were. From the couple in her vision Usagi could sense a great deal of fear-fear of getting caught. And that's when Usagi remembered Nate. She abruptly pulled away from Mamoru's grasp as guilt washed over her.
"I'm sorry Mamoru...I just can't. I'm supposed to be here with Nate."
"Oh right. Him," Mamoru drawled, disappointed. "Listen, Usagi, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for that to happen. I had no right."
"It's okay, Mamoru. Really. I-I better go find Nate now," Usagi said just before running back inside.
Mamoru watched her go, and an empty feeling came over him. It was funny; after the kiss they just shared, his desire for Usagi should have been satisfied, but now he only longed for her more.
After Usagi had returned to Nate, they danced some more, talked some more, and flirted some more. Now, Nate was dropping Usagi at her house. As they approached to her home, Nate gazed at Usagi.
"You looked wonderful tonight," he said to her.
"Thank you. I had a wonderful time," Usagi replied nervously, knowing what was going to happen next.
Nate leaned close to Usagi and, lifting her chin with his hand, he kissed her fully on the mouth. Usagi responded slightly; though she did not want respond at all.
Usagi broke the kiss shortly after it began. "Goodnight, Nate," she said softly and went into her house.
Nate watched her go in, and after she had disappeared from his view, he softly whispered, "Goodnight...Serenity."
Usagi took off her gown and carefully hung it up. She then sat at her dresser and began taking the bobby pins out of her hair. Usagi stared through her reflection that just stared distantly back thinking of how torn apart she felt. It was unusual and ironic that she would find herself falling for Mamoru, while an amazing guy just happened to be falling for her at the same time.
Well at least SHE thought he was amazing-Mamoru had other ideas about Nate, however. Mamoru. What was it about him that was suddenly appealing to her? Since she's known him he's done nothing but drive her crazy! He still drives her crazy-just in a different way now...
Usagi tucked herself into her covers and hoped that sleep would settle her restless heart, but when morning comes, she will be dreadfully disappointed. For the next day will bring her nothing but further grief...