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Title: "Found at Last"
Rating: PG-13
Author: Hummie
E-mail: suedepony@aol.com
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AN(s): Thanks to Mairz87 and WaterColor Tears for their reviews. Made me happy. ;) Thanks to Marni for pointing out an error in chapter four. There is only going to be one more chapter after this one. Oh, and DO review. Thanks, doves!
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Mamoru was getting ready for another day at school. He paused in front of his mirror and sighed. He had been skipping school because of family problems. So many things were on his mind that he didn't want to think about.
School.
Mamoru couldn't wait to get back. He was anticipating the moment when he would see Usagi again. Usagi was his beautiful angel with her beautiful golden hair, fair skin, and great legs. He suddenly flashed one of his super-bright, super-sexy smiles.
"Just thinking of her lifts me up," he thought happily to himself. The clock read that it was time to leave soon. He needed to hurry. Mamoru quickly ran a brush through his jet-black hair and pulled on a navy blue sports jacket. Once again, it accented his wide shoulders, his brawny build, and his narrow waist. The days were getting cooler now, and many of the males in school were forced to sport the navy school jackets.
"Mamoru, we need to talk."
Mamoru turned around. "Father… Good morning…" He hadn't heard his door open.
"Mamoru, we need to talk," his father repeated. Mamoru nodded and pressed his usually full lips into a thin line. This was the conversation he had wanted to avoid. He just didn't want to discuss it.
"We've been avoiding this for a while. You know that we can't run away from it."
"Sure dad. Let's talk."
Mr. Chiba sat down on the edge of Mamoru's bed. "Mamoru. You didn't talk at all that night."
Mamo's brows furrowed together. "The night Neci came?" Mamoru shrugged and replied, "I really didn't have anything to say to your French mistress."
Mr. Chiba clenched his fists. "You speak of Neci as if she were a whore or a-- a hooker. She's--"
Mamoru bit down on his bottom lip. "Then, what is she dad?" he interjected, "Because in my eyes she practically is. Mom only died a year ago and you're already filling her place with another. How could you?" Mamoru's midnight blue eyes searched for an answer from his father's matching set.
Mr. Chiba sighed. "I'm not trying to replace your mother at all," he said quietly. He continued. "You of all people should know that. You also know that your mother would want me to be happy." He paused. "Mamoru, I don't know what I would do without you. If you don't think that it's a good idea to marry Neci--" His voice broke.
"Father--" Mamoru's eyes opened in alarm. He flew to his father's side and looked into his eyes. "Dad, it's just hard for me. You know how close I was to mom." He took a deep breath. He could still see that his father was upset. Unduly upset. He finally consented. "Dad, I'm happy when you're happy. If Neci makes you happy, don't you know that she makes me happy, too? Dad, it's okay. It's just with mom's death…"
They looked into each other's eyes. His father smiled gratefully. Mamoru squeezed his father's shoulder lightly.
"Dad, I need to get to school now. I'll see you later." Mamoru paused at the door. "I love you dad."
His father looked up. "I love you, too, son… and thanks for understanding…"
"Don't worry about it, dad. I'm practically in the same situation."
**********
"You lost!" Makoto cried gleefully.
"You little booger!" cried Rei in frustration. She looked to the hyperventilating Usagi.
"Usa-chan," Rei began in an exasperated tone, "why don't you just wake up on time? You would be able to skip this whole 'running-to-school' thing."
Usagi made a sound through her lips. "What?! And skip that beautiful extra half-hour of sleep? Are you nuts?"
"Well, if you don't start waking up early, I'm going to keep losing my bets with Makoto-chan!"
Rei turned back around to face Makoto and stuck out her tongue. Usagi sat back in her seat. She sighed happily.
"This is how it should all be," Usagi thought suddenly. "My friends and I together, being happy." She looked around the room. "I wonder why they thought I was skipping school. I'm in their first period homeroom." Usagi shrugged and took out a pen and paper. "Well, here we go…"
"Finally! You're back!"
Mamoru turned around. It hadn't sounded like Usagi. Who could it be?
"Hello Beryl…"
"Hey Mamo-chan!" Beryl quickly blushed when she realized what she had said.
Mamoru's eyes narrowed. Why did she call him that? Only HIS Usagi could him that. "Don't ever call me by that name AGAIN, Beryl. Since when were you on such familiar terms with me as to call me that?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry Mamoru-kun… I--"
"Just don't do it again. Good-bye."
Mamoru dismissed her with a scornful glance and walked away from the dumbfounded Beryl. Beryl was too embarrassed and angry to even remember why she had wanted to talk with him.
**********
Usagi sat just across from him. Mamoru could hardly breathe. Her beauty was just too much to handle. She was an angel in disguise. He grinned. Still wearing that same short skirt. There was just one problem. She hadn't spoken to him since class had started. It was just too much. She really hated him, didn't she? He didn't understand why though.
"Why don't you tell her everything that happened?" he questioned himself. "You could clear up the misunderstanding and it would be like old times. You as her Mamo-chan and her as your Usa-ko." Mamoru sighed.
He couldn't.
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Usagi couldn't believe it. He just sat there, looking at her with a smug look on his incredibly handsome face. Mamoru, her Mamo-chan, with his deep mid-night blue eyes, brawny build, and incredible smile. Usagi shook her head vigorously.
"NO!" she rebuked herself, "You must stop thinking about him like that!" She stole a peek at him once more and frowned. "But it's soo hard.
She clutched the thin piece of paper in her hand. Was she going to do it? Yes, probably. The bell finally rang. She stood up and dropped the piece of paper on the floor by Mamoru's feet. Mamoru watched as she sauntered away. Mamoru picked up the piece of paper that was obviously meant for him. He wondered why she hadn't given it to him directly. He shrugged. He picked up his belongings and trudged his way to his next class.
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"Chiba Mamoru," the letter read. Mamoru raised a brow. Chiba Mamoru? Why so formal? This was not going to be good.
Chiba Mamoru,
Mamoru. I do not know why you have scorned me in such a manner as to have to lie to me just to get out of our relationship. 'Leaving Japan forever'? How bogus. I should have caught on earlier, but I didn't. I loved you. I loved you with all my heart. I must have been blinded by our relationship. I would have done anything for you, but all that is gone now. I saw you. Yes, I saw you that night. The night when I found out that you had gotten yourself a pretty little French girlfriend. You know, the one with the dark brown hair and gray eyes. I SAW YOU HUGGING HER. Your father was undoubtedly happy with your pairing. I saw him smiling ear to ear. I don't know why you did this to me, but don't ever speak to me AGAIN. I hate you with a passion. This is the last time that you will ever come into contact with me again. Good-bye.
It was signed, "Tsukino Usagi." Mamoru's heart ached. He then noticed a bit of scrawl at the bottom of the note: PS. Never, EVER think about calling me Usa-ko again. I'll tear your heart out with my bare pink fingernails.
Mamoru nearly screamed aloud. His Usa-ko didn't love him anymore? But he still loved her! He loved her so much it hurt him, tore him to shreds. He sighed uncontrollably. She didn't even want him calling her Usa-ko anymore. Why didn't he realize what was going on. How come he hadn't seen her that night?
"Well, I had a lot on my mind…"
Mamoru could hardly believe what he was reading. If it wasn't for her upright pink letters, he wouldn't have believed any of it. He reread the note once more. "She thinks that Neci is my girlfriend? She thinks that I broke up with her by saying that I was leaving Japan forever?"
Ludicrous.
All of it. His eyes grazed back to certain lines from the note, all the while thoughts flying through his mind.
I loved you with all my heart.
"But I still love you, my Usa-ko…"
I hate you with a passion.
"You're tearing me apart…"
Good-bye.
"No, please don't say that to me…"
Never, EVER think about calling me Usa-ko again. I'll tear your heart out with my bare pink fingernails.
"Usa-ko… didn't you just do that to me?"
**********
Usagi glided swiftly across the ice. She had to practice for her next competition. She was determined to win once more. Her coach was very impressed with her determination. When Usagi requested to start practicing the quadruple jump, her coach had granted it. Usagi smiled. She was wearing another of her favorite skating suits. It was a white suit that faded into bright yellow streaks. She looked like a graceful sunbeam out on the ice, dancing its way around and winning the crowd. She had totally won the audience with this suit. She hoped that it would bring her good luck for her next competition. She planned to wear it then, too, or a different version of it.
She had gotten only so far practicing her quad with her coach. She wanted to have it down pat for her next competition. She was determined to be the only female champion to do a quadruple, and her bruises showed for it. She tried remembered what her coach had told her as she tried the jump once more.
Gain enough speed.
She skated, finally reaching the right speed.
Take off with enough force so that you will have the perfect height, spring, and force to be able to complete the four revolutions.
She took off. She smiled in the air. She was a foot higher than she had ever been when she had practiced with her coach.
Stay in a tight line; make sure your position is straight and tight.
She held herself in position. One revolution… two revolutions… three revolutions… "I might make it!" she thought with glee.
She flew into the boards that separated the stands from the ice. Her knee had hit them HARD. She landed on the hard ice. There was just one bad thing about practicing new jumps. Falling down. And this was the worst fall of them all. Usagi looked up dazedly. She was a bit dizzy.
"Holy shit, I hadn't seen the damned boards. I'm sure I would have made it if I would have jumped earlier than I had," she muttered to herself.
"Sure you would have."
Usagi narrowed her eyes and turned around. "And who the hell might you be? You're certainly too rude for your own damned good," Usagi began heatedly, not even looking up. Dark blue figure skates came into her vision.
"Here."
Usagi looked up and saw a hand. She took it and pulled herself up. She began to brush herself off. She looked up to thank him and saw… Mamo-chan? "No, not Mamoru," she thought with disappointment. "My mind is playing tricks on me…"
"Hey, are you okay? Did you hit your head or anything?"
He reached up flicked a few pieces of loose ice from her golden tendrils. He continued to speak. "I'm sorry if I was rude. I didn't mean for it to come out that way," he said apologetically.
Usagi almost wasn't listening. He looked almost exactly like Mamoru. Could this be? Wait, no… His eyes were a lighter shade of blue.
Usagi shook her head dejectedly. "No, you were right. I'm never going to make this jump."
"No, you will," he assured. He observed the young woman who stood just in front of him. She was about 5'7" with long golden hair that had been pulled up into a bun. A few tendrils had escaped it and framed her heart-shaped face. She had the prettiest baby blues that he had ever seen and a creamy complexion that was infallible. He licked his lips and observed further. She had a delicately small waist and unbelievably long and graceful legs. The woman standing before him was a goddess. He found his mouth once more and began to speak.
"I'm sorry if I was rude," he began again, "I'm just having a bad day."
Unbeknownst to him, she had been observing him also. The mystery man, as she had referred to him in her mind, was GORGEOUS… even cuter than Mamoru.
No, definitely hotter…
He was an inch taller than Mamoru, maybe 6'3? With dark blue hair. Usagi bit her bottom lip. "Just like Ami's…" she concluded. "What did I call that shade? Oh yes, clear midnight.."
He had strong bone structure, full lips that looked INCREDIBLE when he licked them, and had a light skin tone. It was almost weird. He was pale, but… he wasn't pale.
"He has sort of an English woman's complexion" Usagi thought to herself with a half smile. "Creamy? Yes, I do believe so…"
He was impeccably built and had the stature of a skater. He was wearing a dark blue skating costume that had white streaks. Usagi could envision him gliding over the ice, his muscles rippling through his costume. She nearly giggled. She'd never thought this way about Mamoru. Usagi nodded to herself as she thought "This man is so very handsome." Usagi suddenly put a hand to her head. Something was wrong. Usagi blinked rapidly. "Pain" was her last thought.
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"Are you okay?"
Usagi blinked. She was lying on a bench. Something was being held to her head. She went to feel what was there, but was stopped.
"No, it's okay, it's just some ice. You hit yourself on the head and you have a bump. You nearly collapsed on the ice from the pain, but I caught you in time." He smiled.
"Wow… What a great smile…" she thought with awe. Usagi finally came to her senses and said, "Thank you so much--"
"Saffir," he interrupted.
"What?"
"My name is Kageno Saffir." He smiled again. Usagi practically melted at the sight of his dimples.
"Thank you, Saffir. My name is Usagi. Tsukino Usagi." Usagi attempted to smile, but it hurt her head too much. "God, why didn't I know that I hit my head?"
"I don't know. I think it was because you were still dazed and didn't realize that you had hurt yourself."
Usagi blushed. "I hadn't realized that I'd said that aloud."
Saffir shrugged. "It's okay."
He held her up. Usagi colored once more. He was very close. He smelled very nice. He interrupted her thoughts.
"How are you getting home?"
"Oh, I'm taking the bus."
He shook his head. "I don't think that you'll be able to get home by yourself."
Usagi's eyes opened in shock as a thought hit her. "What time is it, Saffir?"
He looked up at the arena's clock just in front of him and then checked it against his own.
"Well, the arena clock is wrong. It must be battery operated or something. It's about… nine o' clock?"
"NINE O' CLOCK?!?!" she exploded. She attempted to sit up, but had to lay down again due to the pain ringing through her head.
"Hey, easy. Look, I'll take you home. I don't think that you should be roaming around by yourself."
She looked up to him with grateful eyes. "Thank you, Saffir."
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Usagi had called her mom with her cellular phone when she reached Saffir's dark blue sports car. Usagi rolled her eyes. More like carried to the car. Saffir had insisted on doing everything for her, even carry her around, and she had readily consented. She was NOT feeling up to par. Usagi held the phone next to her ear on the side where she hadn't hurt her head. Ringing and ringing, the phone went. Someone finally picked up.
"Mom…"
"Usagi!! Where are you? We've been calling everyone's house."
"I've been at the arena, mom."
"Cripes Usa, do you know what time it is?!"
"No, the arena's clock was messed up and anyway I had a bad fall. I had to stay lying down for maybe half an hour or so."
"Oh Usa, are you okay? Was Antoinette there with you?"
"No. You know that coach only comes on the weekends."
"Well, how are you? Are you okay? Do you need me to pick you up?"
"Mom, I'm okay. I'm getting a ride from one of my colleagues. Actually, he was the one who saved me in the first place."
Her mother sighed. "Thank goodness someone was there when you got hurt."
"Yah, I know. Well, mom, I've got to go. I'll be home soon."
"All right honey, be careful."
Usagi hung up her phone. Saffir was sitting beside her in the car.
"Thanks for driving me home, Saffir."
"No problem. I wouldn't want you collapsing on the bus-ride home and getting stolen by hooligans.
A sudden realization hit her. Saffir could be a psycho for all she knew. All she knew of him was that he was a very handsome guy who could be a jerk at times and who saved damsels in distress.
"So, how are you feeling? Are you okay?"
"Yah, I just got through with that with my mom."
He looked over to her as he started the car. "How old are you? I've seen you skate before, but it never mentioned how old you were in the pamphlets."
Usagi blushed. "Yes, they don't put in my personal info on the pamphlets, just my stats. I'm sixteen."
"I see," he said.
"So, just what do you do Saffir?"
He gave her a mock glance of shock and held a hand to his heart. "You've gone and mortally wounded me forever." He took a side glance at her. "You really don't know who I am? What I do?"
Usagi shook her head in confusion.
"I," he began, still holding the hand to his chest, "am a figure skater. Well, a pair-skater," he took another glance at Usagi and grinned.
"So, he is my colleague in every sense of the word," she thought. Usagi blushed. "I'm so sorry. I don't really look into pair-skating, but it is one of my next goals."
"To become a pair-skater?"
"Yes, if I win my next competition, I'll be retiring from women's singles. I want to find a partner and win the world." Usagi held her arm into the air and then paused for a second. "Wait, I have heard your name before. You partner with… What is her name?"
"Kaberasu Esmaurade."
Usagi's eyes flew wide. "The Saffir and Esmaurade team! Now I remember! I watch you guys on TV!"
He shrugged. "Yah, we've done some televised competitions. She's a great skater, but she was the cause of my bad day. Although, my day seems to keep looking brighter and brighter every second."
Usagi smiled and asked, "And why is it that you've been having a bad day, Saffir?"
"We broke up, that is, my partner and I."
"That's too bad." The car came to a halt. They were at her house. "Thanks again, Saffir. It was really nice meeting you."
"Would you like some help?"
"No, I think I can manage."
Usagi got out of the car. Saffir watched as she left. "She's beautiful. More beautiful than Esmaurade would ever be." Saffir smiled. "This is going to be perfect."
Usagi stopped and waved before she entered the house. He waved back before he backed out of her driveway. He memorized the address. He'd be there again.
**********
"Usagi, where were you last night? Your mom was calling everyone and we were getting worried," said Makoto.
"Yah, well… I was at the arena," Usagi answered.
"Girl, I think you're going to kill yourself practicing so much."
"I am not, Minako. As all of you know, I'm practicing for my next competition--"
"Yes, we all know," interrupted Rei.
Usagi shot her an annoyed look. "Well, I was practicing my quad last night, and I hit my head and nearly collapsed on the ice."
"Oh Usagi! It must have been horrible!!" cried Ami.
Usagi shook her head. "Only at first. My head hurt like the dickens, but he made it feel better with the ice."
"HE?? HE-who made it feel better?" the four girls questioned in unison. They all looked at each other. Their eyes all said the same thing, 'It better not have been Mamoru.'
Usagi had missed that little engagement and smiled as she explained. "Well, I met a guy last night."
"Geez girl, the way you're picking up guys, I think I'll start going to the skating arena every night, too!" exclaimed Makoto.
Usagi made a face. "You know perfectly well that I do not go there to meet guys, although I do know that Minako does that once in a while."
Minako looked around the room with wild eyes. "I do NOT!"
"Sure," Usagi said, stretching out the word. "Well, anyway, you might have heard of him, you know, the guy I met. His name is Kageno Saffir--"
"Kageno Saffir?!?! THE Kageno Saffir who pair skates with Kaberasu Esmaurage? I love him!!" Ami blurted out.
Four pairs of eyes flew to Ami.
"Wow Ames. You seem to know about him," grinned Rei.
Ami blushed, "Well, yes--"
"Excuse me. My story, remember?"
"Sorry Usa," they chorused.
"Well, Saffir was the one who helped me last night. He is so incredibly hot! I'm surprised that I didn't drool at all last night."
Ami grinned. "I'm surprised, too. He is very, VERY gorgeous, but I think you were a bit knocked out with your injury."
Usagi ran her cool fingers over her bump. It still smarted. "Yah, me too," she agreed.
"Well, just don't sit there, Ames! Tell us the stats on this guy!"
Ami blushed. "Very well, Minako-chan. Kageno Saffir pair skates with Kaberasu Esmaurade. They are currently the champions. Saffir is twenty years old. He started skating at the age of three. He started out as a singles skater and retired as a singles skater at the age of seventeen to become a pair skater with Kaberasu Esmaurade--"
"No wonder…" mumbled Usagi absent-mindedly.
"What Usa-chan?"
"Oh, nothing Ames, go on."
"Well, there's nothing else to say except that he is the hottest guy that I have ever seen!!"
The four girls grinned, and Makoto socked Usagi good-naturedly. "Our Usagi, the natural guy-magnet."
They giggled at that. Mamoru just stood there shocked. He had seen them in the courtyard after school and had decided to start conversation with them. Kageno Saffir. Yes, he knew him. Mamoru raked a hand through his jet-black hair.
"Usagi liked him? And here I was, going to try to patch things up, to clear up the misunderstanding." Mamoru backed away and left them to their gossiping.
Usagi never even saw him.
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The end of chapter five. Until next post!
Title: "Found at Last"
Rating: PG-13
Author: Hummie
E-mail: suedepony@aol.com
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AN(s): Thanks to Mairz87 and WaterColor Tears for their reviews. Made me happy. ;) Thanks to Marni for pointing out an error in chapter four. There is only going to be one more chapter after this one. Oh, and DO review. Thanks, doves!
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The end of chapter five. Until next post!
