"We'll take up a couple boxes with us then come get the rest after I get you settled. I wouldn't advise leaving anything out here overnight. There is a guard, but stuff can happen." He told her opening the back of the van and grabbing the box that tumbled out at him. It was light so he handed it to her and took the next one. He shut the doors then lead the way.
The difference between the apartment buildings was like night and day. Where the other on had been shabby around the edges, this one had plush carpets and fresh paint. Flowers is vases where shown artfully around the room and even the elevator had a small plant in the corner. It reminded Usagi of a hotel.
"Wow. I don't mean to sound rude, but you must be rich to live here. It's like a classy hotel or something." Her voice was filled with awe and Mamoru couldn't help but chuckle.
"It does cost a lot, but with what I make on the force, and my inheritance, it's easy enough to afford." They stopped on the twelfth floor and he jammed his foot into the elevator door while she went through. The doors shut quickly behind him. He stopped again at room 1221 and leaned the box against the wall while he fished out his keys, opened the door and snaked his arm around to turn on the lights. Then he showed her the way to the guest room. Her jaw dropped in shock as she got a good look around.
Everywhere she looked she saw luxury and elegance. In the living room there was a black leather couch, love-seat, coffee table, and a huge T.V. with surround sound stereo. There was a large cd tower next to a 30 disk juke box type stereo. The next room was like a mini recreation room with a billiard table, low light, and even a dart board against the wall. There was another stereo in here, although only a 6 disk changer. Off that was a small hall with two bedrooms and a kitchen going off it. He led her to the center door.
Inside was a queen sized bed although it only had a sheet on it. It looked soft and comfortable and she was tempted to bounce on it. Instead she set the box on it and looked around. Next to the bed which was in the middle was a night stand with a lamp and an alarm clock. There was a closet across from the bed and a desk in one of the corners. She knew it would be perfect for her computer which was still in the car. All along the wall on the far side of the bed, where curtains a deep royal blue. After he set his box on the bed, Mamoru went to the cord at the side and swept them open. Usagi gasped in shock.
"Oh wow." Outside was a balcony which wrapped around the corner of the building to connect to the other bedroom. It also led onto a small part of the roof where a small garden stood. Usagi couldn't help but open the door and look at it. Red roses of every shape and size were planted in raised beds. They were carefully tended and looked beautiful. She leaned against the wrought iron railing and looked back at Mamoru.
"They're beautiful Mamoru-chan. I never knew you liked roses." She leaned over and smelled on breathing in it's wonderful scent. She sneezed inelegantly and heard him laugh at her.
"Yes I do love roses. They were my mother's favorite, I think." He took a pair of clippers and sniped a beautifully budded rose and making sure there weren't any thorns he handed it to her. She smelled it and sneezed again.
"You think?" She already knew what he was going to say but she had to ask again. It had been so long since she had heard the story that she wasn't even sure if it had been him.
"My parents were killed in a car accident when I was six. The same accident gave me amnesia." It had been him. That she remembered.
"Right.. I remember. I'm so sorry Mamoru-chan. I didn't mean to bring it up." She really was sorry and she hoped that he could see it. His voice was incredibly soft when he answered making her look up at him. She so wanted to be able to reach out and comfort him but she couldn't.
"It's okay Usako... I think about it all the time anyway." He looked up really quick when he realized that he had said out loud. Usagi was chewing her lower lip in thought.
"Bunny. I like it. It's much better than odango atama that's for sure." She smiled up at him. He grinned back at her.
"Yes it is isn't it. You still going to call me baka?" It was a challenge and they both new it. Usagi didn't even have to think about it.
"Of course not Mamo-chan. Come on, let's go get the rest of my stuff. I want to put my comforter on that bed and see if it's really as soft as it looks." She clapped her hands over her mouth embarrassment coloring her face. "I can't believe I just said that. I sound like I did when I was fourteen." She giggled and he took her by the shoulders leading her back through his apartment. He was laughing but trying not to show it in case she would be insulted. Usagi tickled him lightly making him laugh out loud.
"Fourteen or twenty one it doesn't matter. You're still silly." He tickled her back and she swatted his hands away.
"Stop it Mamo-chan." She grabbed his hands so he couldn't tickle her but before she could do anything else she felt her hands and arms tingle. Mamoru felt it to for he suddenly let go.
"What was that?" He whispered under his breath as they eyed each other. She shrugged twisting her fingers in her hair and looking down.
"I have no idea, but I kinda liked it. Anyway come on." She escaped out the door and was halfway to the elevator before he realized she was going. He caught up to her just as the elevator arrived. Ten minutes later all of her stuff had been tucked away around her room, and Usagi went down to get one more thing. Mamoru went through his room and put any bit article of clothing away before she could see it laughing at himself the whole time for actually caring.
"I'm twenty-six for god's sake, not a kid anymore." He told himself harshly as he shut the closet. He looked at his watch and realized that she should have been back already. Out in the hallway there was no one there so he took the elevator down to the lobby, there he found Usagi being escorted out the door buy the night watchman.
"I'm staying with Mamoru Chiba. Why don't you believe me? Look I even have luggage." She hoisted the bag on her shoulder while making another futile attempt to convince the guard. He was holding onto the back of her shirt making it ride up and Mamoru got a nice glimpse of her smooth slim waist. Idiot. He told himself shaking the thought out of his head then chasing them out the door.
"Because Mr. Chiba doesn't have lady guests. I don't know who you are, but you do not belong here." The man replied crisply. Usagi gave appeared to give up in defeat so that the guard let her go, but faster than either men thought possible she was sprinting to the door and hiding behind Mamoru. She grabbed on to his shirt starting the tingling again and quickly let go.
"Nice timing." She told him. He tried not to be distracted by her touch.
"I am incredibly sorry Mr. Chiba but this girl seems to think that she is staying with you. I tried to-"
"She is staying with me. She's my new roommate. Eric Chandler this is Usagi Tsukino." He said trying not to laugh at both Usagi's hiding and Eric's stricken look. Usagi came out from behind him putting down the suitcase sized bag and holding out a hand to the man. Usagi realizing that he was American had done just the right thing for he took her hand and shook it gently.
"My apologies Ms. Tsukino. I honestly had no idea." He said gravely bowing a bit. Usagi was instantly charmed.
"It's okay, I understand completely, and I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused both of you." She looked at Mr. Chandler then at Mamoru and bowed her head knowing she was a problem.
"You look like I'm going to yell at you Usagi. It's okay. It wasn't your fault." Mamoru told her quickly and she looked up to make sure it was true. He gave her a reassuring smile then picked up her bag. It was heavy but he still put it on a shoulder then grabbed her hand to drag her back inside. This time instead of just a tingle it was a complete shock. They drew back eyes looking at each other for answers but finding none. Mr. Chandler coughed breaking the tension and they all went into the lobby.
"Mr. Chandler I guess you had better know that it's my van in the parking lot too. I don't want it to get towed." Usagi told him smiling hesitantly at him. The man, barely older than she was, took the smile for flirting and smiled back at her.
"Don't worry about it miss. I'll keep an eye on it for you." He offered and puffed up his chest standing at attention. She couldn't help but giggle as they got onto the elevator but once the doors shut the smile disappeared. She turned to the wall and banged her head against it. The dull thud got Mamoru's attention.
"Don't do that. You'll get a headache not to mention kill a couple brain cells." He drew her away from the wall paying no attention to the electricity flowing between them. It was hard to ignore, but they managed.
"I'm sorry I've cause you so much trouble Mamoru-chan. You were so nice to take me in and all, I didn't mean to repay you like this." She shook his hands off and looked down at the floor tears brimming yet again. He sighed heavily making her look up at him.
"You are not a problem Usako. It was just a misunderstanding, that's all. Don't worry about it. Besides I think he has a crush on you now." She didn't respond to his taunting voice, but the tears didn't over flow. Instead she took a deep if shaky breath then reached to take her bag from him. He hadn't even realized what she was doing until the weight was gone from his shoulder. Quickly she threw the strap over her head so that it crossed her chest and the bag rested on her hip.
"I would have carried it." He was slightly awed at her strength. She had lifted it as though it weighed practically nothing and he knew that it had to at least weigh 15 pounds. She shook her head and shrugged.
"I'd rather have it with me, I'm used to it. Normally I don't let it out of my sight." She rested a hand possessively on the bag and Mamoru wondered what could possible be in it, but he said nothing.
"Alright. It's your bag." Yawning he held the elevator door open for her on their floor then followed her down to the room. Once inside she disappeared into her room while he went into the kitchen to fix some coffee. Thinking better of it he put a kettle full of water on to boil.
"Do you want some hot coco?" He yelled into the hallway. There was a mumbled reply that sounded something like an affirmative, so he pulled out two mugs, then went to turn on the stereo. "I hope you don't mind classical!" He yelled again. This time there was no answer so he put it on anyway. He hadn't listened to it for a while, but sometimes it helped to sooth his nerves. After all the electricity he'd felt that day, and Usagi's problems it couldn't hurt. He heard a slight noise from the entryway. Looking up his eyes went wide and a soft smile formed on his lips.
Usagi was dressed in cute pink pajamas that full pants and long sleeve shirt her arms hidden in the long sleeves. The shirt was buttoned to the chin and she even wore small pink slippers. Little moons and bunnies decorated the cloth. The outfit triggered a memory of long ago.
"Didn't you run to school one day in an outfit just like that? I think you made it almost all the way there before I finally told you that you were still in your pj's. What were you then... 16?" He watched her face turn a similar pink to the cloth. She smiled ruefully and sat down on the love seat her head in her hands and her hair trailing beside her still in the odangos. After she finally got her color under control she looked up at him.
"Leave it to you to remember that, and no I was 18 and late for my finals. I had to run all the way home, then back again." She rubbed the cloth of her sleeve against her face a sad smile on her face. "I passed all my finals, and later that week I graduated, much to everyone's surprise. Even yours as I remember." She shook her head noticing his face turning a bit pink.
"I always knew you would, but there were times when I wondered if you'd klutz out before you got there. I'm glad to see that you didn't." She giggled at him and he had to laugh.
"I was a klutz back then wasn't I. Even so, you still managed to be the one always running in to me. I'm surprised we never managed to break anything with some of those falls we took." It was true too. Both of them had received some nasty bruises with their falls like the time he had bowled her over into a plant stand. Pots and plants had rained over them for what seemed like hours before they could move safely. The whistle on the kettle sounded and Mamoru went to pour the coco. Usagi tucked her feet under her and looked over the room taking in the wealth.
"He must be rich." She whispered. Remembering something she slipped into her room then back onto the couch before he returned. When he handed her the cup of coco, she handed him an envelope. He set his cup on the table and looked in the envelope. Without saying anything he held it out to her shaking his head.
"You have to take it Mamoru-chan. It may be a while before I can find a place and I know living here costs a lot of money. Plus I wouldn't feel right staying here for free. I wont mooch." She said firmly refusing to take back the money. After a staring contest which no one won, he stuffed it in the back pocket of his black slacks. Sighing resolutely he sat down on the couch and for a second Usagi looked at him funny. His black shirt and slacks matched the black couch perfectly and he looked like he only had a head and arms. She giggled again confusing him.
"What?" He asked trying to understand. Usagi couldn't stop laughing as the disembodied head turned to look around.
"You... you look...the black." She tried to tell him but was laughing to hard. She had to set her coco down without tasting it so it wouldn't spill. She still couldn't stop laughing. It took him a while but he finally understood. By then she couldn't have stopped laughing even if he had dumped a bucket of water on her. She had to lay on her side curled up on the couch she was laughing so hard.
"Well I'm glad you find it so funny odango atama." He said trying not to laugh. He hadn't believed it possible, but she started to laugh harder. Tears ran from her eyes, and her hair was completely disheveled. Mamoru had been sitting across from her, but now he switched sides sitting on the coffee table.
He had realized that she was laughing because inside she didn't want to cry anymore but as soon as the amusement wore off, she would be devastated again. As he watched he saw the change take place. Her laughter stopped, and after a few completely silent moments, the tears started to run again. This time in earnest. She cried silently her eyes closed and her face showing her pain. Gently he smoothed her hair back tracing her face with a light touch. She let out a heart wrenching sob and without thinking he had taken her into his arms and was holding her to his chest like a small child.
He hadn't realized that she was so thin, and as he moved from the table to the larger couch he found out just how light she was. She was strong sure, but malnourished. He felt sorry that she had been forced to live life like this, but his thoughts were pushed aside by her need for comfort. She continued to cry silently but her body shook with sobs as he held her close trying to think of something soothing to say. He gave up, and let her cry.
Somewhere along the way her hair had come undone, and as she began to quiet down he realized just how much of it there was. His hand was tangled in the smooth as silk strands and as he freed it, he watched it's golden sheen in the light from the kitchen. She really was beautiful and had been for as long as he had known her, he had never been willing to admit it before. That and he had been pretty much self centered then too. She had stopped crying while he was thinking and was now looking up at him with much the same expression as his.
"What are you thinking about Usako?" He asked barely above a whisper. He didn't look down at her because he was suddenly overcome with the strong desire to kiss her. Without realizing it she had wrapped her arms around him and both of his were around her waist rubbing against the bare skin. Neither of them knew what was going on between them or why, but they felt incredibly close. Maybe too close.
"I was thinking how amazing it is that this morning I was yelling at you for running over me again and now you're saving me from Yoshido. We've never been more than acquaintances, and the cause for bruises, but now I feel like I've known you my whole life. I can't thank you enough Mamo-chan." She told him the honest truth and suddenly Mamoru realized that he felt the same way.
"You're right Usako. It does feel like we've known each other forever, but what's more, I don't know how I could ever have not been your friend. It's just so... so..."
"Perfect?" She offered. He nodded smiling.
"Yeah perfect. I'm glad I got you away from that bastard." His voice changed from soft and sweet to full of anger so fast that she flinched in his arms. His hands around her waist tightened and she relaxed into his hold. Despite the sudden amount of emotion running through them, Mamoru had a sudden awful thought.
"Usako... have you been to a doctor since..." The possibility was just to much for him. He looked down at her in earnest and when she shook her head he was stunned.
"It wouldn't have mattered anyway, I'm not pregnant." She told him sounding completely sure.
"How can you know?" Again he wondered what he had said when she looked away from him. Thankfully no tears were in evidence this time although her voice was still full of pain.
"I can't have children. A couple years ago I thought that I might be pregnant. I went in to be tested and they discovered that there was no way I could. Something to do with the fact that my half of the DNA needed to produce a child is incomplete." It was an old pain and something that she would never get over.
"Oh. I'm sorry I brought it up then." He watched her face, and she seemed to lighten up.
"I'm used to it Mamo-chan. I wish I could though. There's something to be said for children." She was talking to herself more than him, but he understood none the less.
"I could see you with a little girl. Her hair would be put up in the same odangos as yours." He chuckled at the vision then hugged her close. She yawned and as contagious as yawns are, he did too. "Bed time." Without warning he stood up with her still in his arms, and carried her into her room. The pink comforter was at the bottom of the bed and after placing her on the bed he pulled it over her.
"Is it as soft as it looked?" He asked leaning against the bed post. She nodded and tucked it under her chin.
"Thank you Mamo-chan. I really can't thank you enough for all you've done for me today. You didn't have to." She thanked him trying not to fall asleep.
"Don't worry about it. I have tomorrow off, so we can go do something. Maybe we should visit the arcade like we used to when we were kids. My friend still works there." He offered. She nodded sleepily.
"Sounds like fun. Thank you again Mamo-chan. You don't need to." She whispered, then fell asleep. Far to much emotional stress for one day. He thought.
"For some reason I think I do need to Usako." He whispered before shutting the door to her room and leaving his golden girl behind.
The difference between the apartment buildings was like night and day. Where the other on had been shabby around the edges, this one had plush carpets and fresh paint. Flowers is vases where shown artfully around the room and even the elevator had a small plant in the corner. It reminded Usagi of a hotel.
"Wow. I don't mean to sound rude, but you must be rich to live here. It's like a classy hotel or something." Her voice was filled with awe and Mamoru couldn't help but chuckle.
"It does cost a lot, but with what I make on the force, and my inheritance, it's easy enough to afford." They stopped on the twelfth floor and he jammed his foot into the elevator door while she went through. The doors shut quickly behind him. He stopped again at room 1221 and leaned the box against the wall while he fished out his keys, opened the door and snaked his arm around to turn on the lights. Then he showed her the way to the guest room. Her jaw dropped in shock as she got a good look around.
Everywhere she looked she saw luxury and elegance. In the living room there was a black leather couch, love-seat, coffee table, and a huge T.V. with surround sound stereo. There was a large cd tower next to a 30 disk juke box type stereo. The next room was like a mini recreation room with a billiard table, low light, and even a dart board against the wall. There was another stereo in here, although only a 6 disk changer. Off that was a small hall with two bedrooms and a kitchen going off it. He led her to the center door.
Inside was a queen sized bed although it only had a sheet on it. It looked soft and comfortable and she was tempted to bounce on it. Instead she set the box on it and looked around. Next to the bed which was in the middle was a night stand with a lamp and an alarm clock. There was a closet across from the bed and a desk in one of the corners. She knew it would be perfect for her computer which was still in the car. All along the wall on the far side of the bed, where curtains a deep royal blue. After he set his box on the bed, Mamoru went to the cord at the side and swept them open. Usagi gasped in shock.
"Oh wow." Outside was a balcony which wrapped around the corner of the building to connect to the other bedroom. It also led onto a small part of the roof where a small garden stood. Usagi couldn't help but open the door and look at it. Red roses of every shape and size were planted in raised beds. They were carefully tended and looked beautiful. She leaned against the wrought iron railing and looked back at Mamoru.
"They're beautiful Mamoru-chan. I never knew you liked roses." She leaned over and smelled on breathing in it's wonderful scent. She sneezed inelegantly and heard him laugh at her.
"Yes I do love roses. They were my mother's favorite, I think." He took a pair of clippers and sniped a beautifully budded rose and making sure there weren't any thorns he handed it to her. She smelled it and sneezed again.
"You think?" She already knew what he was going to say but she had to ask again. It had been so long since she had heard the story that she wasn't even sure if it had been him.
"My parents were killed in a car accident when I was six. The same accident gave me amnesia." It had been him. That she remembered.
"Right.. I remember. I'm so sorry Mamoru-chan. I didn't mean to bring it up." She really was sorry and she hoped that he could see it. His voice was incredibly soft when he answered making her look up at him. She so wanted to be able to reach out and comfort him but she couldn't.
"It's okay Usako... I think about it all the time anyway." He looked up really quick when he realized that he had said out loud. Usagi was chewing her lower lip in thought.
"Bunny. I like it. It's much better than odango atama that's for sure." She smiled up at him. He grinned back at her.
"Yes it is isn't it. You still going to call me baka?" It was a challenge and they both new it. Usagi didn't even have to think about it.
"Of course not Mamo-chan. Come on, let's go get the rest of my stuff. I want to put my comforter on that bed and see if it's really as soft as it looks." She clapped her hands over her mouth embarrassment coloring her face. "I can't believe I just said that. I sound like I did when I was fourteen." She giggled and he took her by the shoulders leading her back through his apartment. He was laughing but trying not to show it in case she would be insulted. Usagi tickled him lightly making him laugh out loud.
"Fourteen or twenty one it doesn't matter. You're still silly." He tickled her back and she swatted his hands away.
"Stop it Mamo-chan." She grabbed his hands so he couldn't tickle her but before she could do anything else she felt her hands and arms tingle. Mamoru felt it to for he suddenly let go.
"What was that?" He whispered under his breath as they eyed each other. She shrugged twisting her fingers in her hair and looking down.
"I have no idea, but I kinda liked it. Anyway come on." She escaped out the door and was halfway to the elevator before he realized she was going. He caught up to her just as the elevator arrived. Ten minutes later all of her stuff had been tucked away around her room, and Usagi went down to get one more thing. Mamoru went through his room and put any bit article of clothing away before she could see it laughing at himself the whole time for actually caring.
"I'm twenty-six for god's sake, not a kid anymore." He told himself harshly as he shut the closet. He looked at his watch and realized that she should have been back already. Out in the hallway there was no one there so he took the elevator down to the lobby, there he found Usagi being escorted out the door buy the night watchman.
"I'm staying with Mamoru Chiba. Why don't you believe me? Look I even have luggage." She hoisted the bag on her shoulder while making another futile attempt to convince the guard. He was holding onto the back of her shirt making it ride up and Mamoru got a nice glimpse of her smooth slim waist. Idiot. He told himself shaking the thought out of his head then chasing them out the door.
"Because Mr. Chiba doesn't have lady guests. I don't know who you are, but you do not belong here." The man replied crisply. Usagi gave appeared to give up in defeat so that the guard let her go, but faster than either men thought possible she was sprinting to the door and hiding behind Mamoru. She grabbed on to his shirt starting the tingling again and quickly let go.
"Nice timing." She told him. He tried not to be distracted by her touch.
"I am incredibly sorry Mr. Chiba but this girl seems to think that she is staying with you. I tried to-"
"She is staying with me. She's my new roommate. Eric Chandler this is Usagi Tsukino." He said trying not to laugh at both Usagi's hiding and Eric's stricken look. Usagi came out from behind him putting down the suitcase sized bag and holding out a hand to the man. Usagi realizing that he was American had done just the right thing for he took her hand and shook it gently.
"My apologies Ms. Tsukino. I honestly had no idea." He said gravely bowing a bit. Usagi was instantly charmed.
"It's okay, I understand completely, and I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused both of you." She looked at Mr. Chandler then at Mamoru and bowed her head knowing she was a problem.
"You look like I'm going to yell at you Usagi. It's okay. It wasn't your fault." Mamoru told her quickly and she looked up to make sure it was true. He gave her a reassuring smile then picked up her bag. It was heavy but he still put it on a shoulder then grabbed her hand to drag her back inside. This time instead of just a tingle it was a complete shock. They drew back eyes looking at each other for answers but finding none. Mr. Chandler coughed breaking the tension and they all went into the lobby.
"Mr. Chandler I guess you had better know that it's my van in the parking lot too. I don't want it to get towed." Usagi told him smiling hesitantly at him. The man, barely older than she was, took the smile for flirting and smiled back at her.
"Don't worry about it miss. I'll keep an eye on it for you." He offered and puffed up his chest standing at attention. She couldn't help but giggle as they got onto the elevator but once the doors shut the smile disappeared. She turned to the wall and banged her head against it. The dull thud got Mamoru's attention.
"Don't do that. You'll get a headache not to mention kill a couple brain cells." He drew her away from the wall paying no attention to the electricity flowing between them. It was hard to ignore, but they managed.
"I'm sorry I've cause you so much trouble Mamoru-chan. You were so nice to take me in and all, I didn't mean to repay you like this." She shook his hands off and looked down at the floor tears brimming yet again. He sighed heavily making her look up at him.
"You are not a problem Usako. It was just a misunderstanding, that's all. Don't worry about it. Besides I think he has a crush on you now." She didn't respond to his taunting voice, but the tears didn't over flow. Instead she took a deep if shaky breath then reached to take her bag from him. He hadn't even realized what she was doing until the weight was gone from his shoulder. Quickly she threw the strap over her head so that it crossed her chest and the bag rested on her hip.
"I would have carried it." He was slightly awed at her strength. She had lifted it as though it weighed practically nothing and he knew that it had to at least weigh 15 pounds. She shook her head and shrugged.
"I'd rather have it with me, I'm used to it. Normally I don't let it out of my sight." She rested a hand possessively on the bag and Mamoru wondered what could possible be in it, but he said nothing.
"Alright. It's your bag." Yawning he held the elevator door open for her on their floor then followed her down to the room. Once inside she disappeared into her room while he went into the kitchen to fix some coffee. Thinking better of it he put a kettle full of water on to boil.
"Do you want some hot coco?" He yelled into the hallway. There was a mumbled reply that sounded something like an affirmative, so he pulled out two mugs, then went to turn on the stereo. "I hope you don't mind classical!" He yelled again. This time there was no answer so he put it on anyway. He hadn't listened to it for a while, but sometimes it helped to sooth his nerves. After all the electricity he'd felt that day, and Usagi's problems it couldn't hurt. He heard a slight noise from the entryway. Looking up his eyes went wide and a soft smile formed on his lips.
Usagi was dressed in cute pink pajamas that full pants and long sleeve shirt her arms hidden in the long sleeves. The shirt was buttoned to the chin and she even wore small pink slippers. Little moons and bunnies decorated the cloth. The outfit triggered a memory of long ago.
"Didn't you run to school one day in an outfit just like that? I think you made it almost all the way there before I finally told you that you were still in your pj's. What were you then... 16?" He watched her face turn a similar pink to the cloth. She smiled ruefully and sat down on the love seat her head in her hands and her hair trailing beside her still in the odangos. After she finally got her color under control she looked up at him.
"Leave it to you to remember that, and no I was 18 and late for my finals. I had to run all the way home, then back again." She rubbed the cloth of her sleeve against her face a sad smile on her face. "I passed all my finals, and later that week I graduated, much to everyone's surprise. Even yours as I remember." She shook her head noticing his face turning a bit pink.
"I always knew you would, but there were times when I wondered if you'd klutz out before you got there. I'm glad to see that you didn't." She giggled at him and he had to laugh.
"I was a klutz back then wasn't I. Even so, you still managed to be the one always running in to me. I'm surprised we never managed to break anything with some of those falls we took." It was true too. Both of them had received some nasty bruises with their falls like the time he had bowled her over into a plant stand. Pots and plants had rained over them for what seemed like hours before they could move safely. The whistle on the kettle sounded and Mamoru went to pour the coco. Usagi tucked her feet under her and looked over the room taking in the wealth.
"He must be rich." She whispered. Remembering something she slipped into her room then back onto the couch before he returned. When he handed her the cup of coco, she handed him an envelope. He set his cup on the table and looked in the envelope. Without saying anything he held it out to her shaking his head.
"You have to take it Mamoru-chan. It may be a while before I can find a place and I know living here costs a lot of money. Plus I wouldn't feel right staying here for free. I wont mooch." She said firmly refusing to take back the money. After a staring contest which no one won, he stuffed it in the back pocket of his black slacks. Sighing resolutely he sat down on the couch and for a second Usagi looked at him funny. His black shirt and slacks matched the black couch perfectly and he looked like he only had a head and arms. She giggled again confusing him.
"What?" He asked trying to understand. Usagi couldn't stop laughing as the disembodied head turned to look around.
"You... you look...the black." She tried to tell him but was laughing to hard. She had to set her coco down without tasting it so it wouldn't spill. She still couldn't stop laughing. It took him a while but he finally understood. By then she couldn't have stopped laughing even if he had dumped a bucket of water on her. She had to lay on her side curled up on the couch she was laughing so hard.
"Well I'm glad you find it so funny odango atama." He said trying not to laugh. He hadn't believed it possible, but she started to laugh harder. Tears ran from her eyes, and her hair was completely disheveled. Mamoru had been sitting across from her, but now he switched sides sitting on the coffee table.
He had realized that she was laughing because inside she didn't want to cry anymore but as soon as the amusement wore off, she would be devastated again. As he watched he saw the change take place. Her laughter stopped, and after a few completely silent moments, the tears started to run again. This time in earnest. She cried silently her eyes closed and her face showing her pain. Gently he smoothed her hair back tracing her face with a light touch. She let out a heart wrenching sob and without thinking he had taken her into his arms and was holding her to his chest like a small child.
He hadn't realized that she was so thin, and as he moved from the table to the larger couch he found out just how light she was. She was strong sure, but malnourished. He felt sorry that she had been forced to live life like this, but his thoughts were pushed aside by her need for comfort. She continued to cry silently but her body shook with sobs as he held her close trying to think of something soothing to say. He gave up, and let her cry.
Somewhere along the way her hair had come undone, and as she began to quiet down he realized just how much of it there was. His hand was tangled in the smooth as silk strands and as he freed it, he watched it's golden sheen in the light from the kitchen. She really was beautiful and had been for as long as he had known her, he had never been willing to admit it before. That and he had been pretty much self centered then too. She had stopped crying while he was thinking and was now looking up at him with much the same expression as his.
"What are you thinking about Usako?" He asked barely above a whisper. He didn't look down at her because he was suddenly overcome with the strong desire to kiss her. Without realizing it she had wrapped her arms around him and both of his were around her waist rubbing against the bare skin. Neither of them knew what was going on between them or why, but they felt incredibly close. Maybe too close.
"I was thinking how amazing it is that this morning I was yelling at you for running over me again and now you're saving me from Yoshido. We've never been more than acquaintances, and the cause for bruises, but now I feel like I've known you my whole life. I can't thank you enough Mamo-chan." She told him the honest truth and suddenly Mamoru realized that he felt the same way.
"You're right Usako. It does feel like we've known each other forever, but what's more, I don't know how I could ever have not been your friend. It's just so... so..."
"Perfect?" She offered. He nodded smiling.
"Yeah perfect. I'm glad I got you away from that bastard." His voice changed from soft and sweet to full of anger so fast that she flinched in his arms. His hands around her waist tightened and she relaxed into his hold. Despite the sudden amount of emotion running through them, Mamoru had a sudden awful thought.
"Usako... have you been to a doctor since..." The possibility was just to much for him. He looked down at her in earnest and when she shook her head he was stunned.
"It wouldn't have mattered anyway, I'm not pregnant." She told him sounding completely sure.
"How can you know?" Again he wondered what he had said when she looked away from him. Thankfully no tears were in evidence this time although her voice was still full of pain.
"I can't have children. A couple years ago I thought that I might be pregnant. I went in to be tested and they discovered that there was no way I could. Something to do with the fact that my half of the DNA needed to produce a child is incomplete." It was an old pain and something that she would never get over.
"Oh. I'm sorry I brought it up then." He watched her face, and she seemed to lighten up.
"I'm used to it Mamo-chan. I wish I could though. There's something to be said for children." She was talking to herself more than him, but he understood none the less.
"I could see you with a little girl. Her hair would be put up in the same odangos as yours." He chuckled at the vision then hugged her close. She yawned and as contagious as yawns are, he did too. "Bed time." Without warning he stood up with her still in his arms, and carried her into her room. The pink comforter was at the bottom of the bed and after placing her on the bed he pulled it over her.
"Is it as soft as it looked?" He asked leaning against the bed post. She nodded and tucked it under her chin.
"Thank you Mamo-chan. I really can't thank you enough for all you've done for me today. You didn't have to." She thanked him trying not to fall asleep.
"Don't worry about it. I have tomorrow off, so we can go do something. Maybe we should visit the arcade like we used to when we were kids. My friend still works there." He offered. She nodded sleepily.
"Sounds like fun. Thank you again Mamo-chan. You don't need to." She whispered, then fell asleep. Far to much emotional stress for one day. He thought.
"For some reason I think I do need to Usako." He whispered before shutting the door to her room and leaving his golden girl behind.