SAILOR ECLIPSE
Chapter 3: "A Suspicious Eye"
By Bill K.
Ami walked to school with a brisk pace. She had stopped by
Usagi's to pick her up, but remarkably Usagi had already left for
school. This was odd behavior, as Luna was only too willing to point
out, but Ami didn't dwell on it. Her mind was consumed with other
things. Tall, handsome teacher related things.
On the way she met Minako. Minako was in the process of
stuffing her books and papers into her satchel as she hurried along.
Ami grimaced at the mental picture of what the inside of Minako's
satchel looked like.
"Good morning, Minako," Ami said. "Did you catch up with your
impostor?"
"No," scowled Minako, then yawned so wide a small bird could
have flown into her mouth. "Maybe she got her thrill and retired.
If she knows what's good for her, she will." Minako just managed to
close the buckle on the straining satchel. "Say, did you happen to
notice the dreamboat we've got teaching us this year?"
"Yes," smiled Ami. "The subject dominated the discussion at
lunch yesterday - - not that you noticed."
"Guess I was a little preoccupied." Minako's eyes narrowed.
"Say, Ami, I didn't happen to manage to, well, get around to doing
last night's homework. I don't suppose I could get a look at yours?"
"Homework!" gasped Ami, her eyes popping in horror. "I
completely forgot about it! Oh no! I have to hurry! Maybe I can
get to school and get it done before class starts!"
With that, Ami sprinted off, leaving Minako standing there,
staring in disbelief. Ami NEVER forgot homework.
Ami rushed into the classroom and found Usagi with a couple of
the other students. She jumped into her seat, wrenched open her
books and began furiously writing. Usagi wandered over.
"Good morning, Ami-chan," Usagi grinned.
"Good morning," Ami tossed off quickly, resuming her work.
"Come on, Ami," scowled Usagi. "You don't have to spend all
your time getting ahead on your school work. Take some time out to
gossip."
"Usagi, this is today's homework! I. . . forgot to do it last
night."
"Forgot? Is your mom sick?"
"Usagi!" groaned Ami in frustration. "My Mother's fine. I
just forgot. Now please let me try to finish this!"
This was too weird. Usagi sat on the windowsill and stared at
her friend as she furiously worked. This wasn't like Ami at all.
She wanted to question her further, but deferred it to later.
A few minutes later, Komatsu-sensei entered and everyone took
their seats. He no sooner put his briefcase on his desk and turned
to close the door when Minako popped through the doorway and ran
right into him. Reflexively his hands came up and caught her by the
arms before she could stumble backwards.
"Aino-chan," he smiled indulgently.
"Um, Komatsu-sensei," Minako said, flushing slightly. Giggles
rose from the classroom. "I-I'm not late! If you'll check your
watch . . ."
"I'm early, I know," he said gently, releasing her when he knew
she was steady on her feet. "Next time, don't cut it so close, hmm?"
"Uh, yeah," she grinned. He nodded toward her seat and she sat
down. The moment she hit her seat, she twisted around toward Usagi,
her eyes popping and an ear to ear grin on her face.
"And you can chat with Tsukino-chan at lunch," Komatsu added
wryly.
"Um, yes sir," Minako gulped.
It was then that Usagi and Minako made a startling discovery:
Makoto's seat was empty. They looked to one another with puzzled
expressions. Usagi leaned over and nudged Ami's desk. When she
looked up, Usagi pointed to the empty seat. Ami's eyes grew wide.
She looked back and shook her head in astonishment.
"Mizuno-chan," Komatsu said. "Please collect everyone's
homework."
Ami grimaced broadly, then reluctantly closed her book and
scooped up what homework she had, then went around to collect
everyone else's. Forlornly she approached the teacher.
"Here, sir," she said meekly. He took them from her, but
noticed her lingering. "Sir, please accept my apologies in advance
for the state of my paper. I promise I'll do better next time."
Komatsu looked at her and then smiled with gentle compassion.
"I'll hold you to that, Mizuno-chan."
Ami's face lit up and her chest seemed to swell. She nodded
vigorously and quickly returned to her seat.
Just then several surprised gasps came from the class. The
teacher and the other students turned and saw Makoto entering the
room. She walked with a limp and there were ugly bruises on her face
and arms. Usagi's gasp could be heard throughout the room.
"Kino-chan," Komatsu said in amazement. "What happened?"
"I apologize for being late, Komatsu-sensei," Makoto replied,
her voice husky with pain and chagrin. "I - - ran into a little
trouble on the way home from school yesterday."
As she walked, Makoto heard one of the students whisper, "She's
been fighting again." Her jaw clenched, but she remained silent.
"Do you need to see the nurse?" he asked.
"No, sir," she replied, muted and humbled. "I made it this
far."
She limped over to her seat and sat down. As she sat, she
could see Usagi's agonized, fearful face.
"Mako-chan?" Usagi whispered.
"Don't make any plans for tonight," she said, then glanced at
Minako and then Ami. "We need to meet."
* * * *
Throughout lunch, Makoto steadfastly refused to discuss what
happened, saying only that Rei needed to hear it, too. By the end of
the day, Usagi was a frazzled wreck with worry and Minako was ready
to burst with curiosity. Ami was worried as well, but her thoughts
kept drifting towards other subjects.
The four of them met Rei as her school let out. She no sooner
greeted them then Minako had her by the jacket and was pushing her
toward the temple. Questions flew out of her mouth, both on the
subject of Makoto's obvious condition and on what Minako's hurry was.
She disengaged herself at the temple steps and managed to shoo the
others into their room while she changed. Waiting for them were Luna
and Artemis, whom Usagi had contacted at Makoto's suggestion.
"Finally!" Usagi gasped as Rei entered the room. She was
dressed in her temple robes and carried a tray. "How long does it
take to change?"
"You should talk!" fumed Rei. "You need two weeks notice to
pick out an outfit for a Sunday picnic!"
"I do not!" bellowed Usagi. Rei responded with her tongue.
"Grampa caught a glimpse of you," Rei said to Makoto, setting
the tray on the table. It contained a pot of tea, cups, and a plate
of cakes. "He said it looked like you needed this."
"Tell Grampa thanks," Makoto smiled shyly.
"He also wanted to know if you were busy Saturday," Rei
scowled. "I smacked him for you." Makoto stifled a giggle.
"OK, we're all here!" Minako said, between bites of a cake.
"Now spill!"
Makoto's expression grew sullen and she expelled a long breath
of air.
"I ran into our Sailor V impostor last night," Makoto said.
"Man, if you look like this, I'd hate to see the way she
looks!" gasped Rei.
"She's not an otaku," Makoto told them.
"What makes you think that?" Luna asked.
"She's good. She's got moves like I've never seen." Then
Makoto glanced at Minako. "Well, almost never."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Minako asked.
"She's lightning fast, acrobatic, a top athlete."
"Still doesn't mean she isn't an otaku."
"She put me out with 'Sailor V Kick' - - and it HURT."
"OK, she's an otaku who's studied," Minako replied, glaring
intently.
"She also used 'Crescent Beam' and 'Crescent Boomerang'."
Minako's eyes popped in shock. Her head snapped around and
stared at Artemis.
"Could she have gotten my Sailor V compact?" Minako asked the
white cat.
"Impossible," Artemis replied flatly. "I personally turned the
Sailor V compact into your henshin stick when you became Sailor
Venus. It doesn't exist anymore."
"Then where's she getting my old attacks?" Minako demanded.
"I don't know," Makoto said, her gaze never leaving Minako.
"All I know is she's as good as the original."
"Nobody's as good as the original," Minako replied, meeting
Makoto's gaze. "Or is that what you're saying?"
"The thought crossed my mind."
"Now wait a minute," Ami spoke up. "Before anyone starts
throwing accusations around, we need to fully analyze this problem.
Makoto, did this woman say anything?"
"She only talked when she shouted her attack phrases."
"Did she sound like Minako?"
"Not really," Makoto admitted. "But her voice was familiar,
like she knew I'd recognize it and was trying to disguise it."
"Interesting," Ami replied thoughtfully.
"I'll save you the trouble," Minako said with a brittle tone.
"I'm very good at disguising my voice - - altering my pitch or
cadence, adopting accents and stuff like that. It's a talent any
good actress should have."
"I'm not accusing you, Minako," Ami replied. "It's a talent
many people have." Ami turned back to Makoto. "Did she seem to have
a reason for attacking you? Did you surprise her? Was she trying to
kill you?"
Makoto shook her head. "If she wanted to kill me, she
certainly had her opportunity. I don't know what she wanted. She
might have just wanted to test her ability against me to prove to
herself she could beat me - - or to prove it to me."
"Could it be a youma[their name for the fantastic monsters
their enemies send after them]?" Luna asked.
"Sure, I guess," shrugged Makoto.
"But from who," Rei asked, "and for what reason? And wouldn't
a youma have killed Makoto when she had the chance?"
"Hey, I just thought of something else," Makoto realized.
"When she lured me back into that alley, I wasn't Sailor Jupiter. I
was me. That means she knows my identity. Maybe she knows all of
our identities. But how would she know that?"
An awkward silence descended on the group.
"So the finger keeps pointing back to me," Minako said at last,
an edge of bitterness in her voice.
"No!" Usagi said, rising up and slamming her hands on the
table. "It's not possible! You're all forgetting one thing!
Mina-chan wouldn't do something like that! I refuse to believe
otherwise!" She surveyed the room. No one moved to challenge her.
"Maybe we do have a new enemy. And maybe that enemy's plan is to
split us up! Make us distrust each other! Don't fall for it!"
Everyone looked down, chastened.
"Thanks, Usagi," Minako whispered.
"She does have a good point," Ami admitted.
"Yeah, and for once it's not on the top of her head," Rei
added. Everybody glared at her. "Sorry, it was too easy."
"Look," Makoto began contritely, "if I was out of line, I'm
sorry. I want to believe it." She looked down. "But you didn't see
her. Looking at her was like looking at one of us. Not just the
moves - - there was a familiarity to her. I'm not psychic like Rei,
but I'm really close to you guys. And there was something about her
that I recognized. She could have been Minako. Heck, she could have
been any of you. The only thing I'm absolutely sure of is she wasn't
me."
The girls soberly stared at the table.
"So what do we do?" Usagi asked.
"I say we hunt her down," Minako replied firmly.
"Do you know where to start looking?" Artemis asked. "Tokyo's
a pretty big city. So far she's only been sighted twice. Admittedly
both were in the Juuban district, but that's not a pattern yet."
"So what do you suggest?" Minako asked.
"This is the second day of school," Luna said. "I imagine you
all have homework. Why not do it? Artemis and I will conduct a
little electronic research and see if we can't find a trail or some
other sort of clue to all this."
"Can't we go out and patrol?" whined Minako.
"Minako," sighed Artemis. "Go do your homework."
"Yes, 'Daddy'." She glanced cooly at Makoto. "Want to come
over and watch me?"
"You don't fool me," Makoto replied deadpanned. "You just want
me over there so you can copy off my paper." The corners of Minako's
mouth turned up.
"Curses," she muttered. "My evil plan exposed." And with
that, she signaled that, though wounded by the suspicions, she was
past the hurt. Makoto held out her fist, the middle finger bulging
slightly, and Minako tapped it with her own, then scooped up the last
cake and headed out. The meeting quickly broke up, each girl going
her separate way.
* * * *
The key slid into the lock. The knob turned, opening the door
into the dark apartment. The silhouetted figure in the doorway stood
for a few moments, then felt along the wall for the light switch.
The lights came on and Mamoru closed the door behind him. He glanced
at the clock on the VCR under his television.
"Nine thirty," he sighed, running his hand through his black
hair. He yawned. "I've got to stop these late nights. School's not
even in yet."
He set a biochemistry text down on the table next to his framed
photo of himself, Usagi and Chibi-Usa at age 12. Surrendering to
impulse, he picked up the picture and traced Usagi's face with his
fingers. The past days of his between term break had been spent
studying, in a valiant attempt to catch up on the time missed during
his abortive attempt to attend Harvard. Frankly the hours were
beginning to get to him.
All of that washed out of him, though, as he gazed at his love
in the picture. His chest expanded and a huge sigh of frustrated
longing expelled. At that moment, he wanted to feel Usagi in his
arms. He wanted her soft lips pressing against his. He wanted to
hear her voice whispering in his ear, telling him she'd always be
with him and giggling happily when he hugged her to him.
He set the picture down. School had started for her already,
he remembered, and he knew she didn't need any distractions now. So
his desires would have to wait. Maybe this weekend he could surprise
her with a trip to her favorite amusement park. He'd buy her taffy
and cotton candy and endure all the rides - - anything for that
smile.
A noise, like someone brushing up against a table, came from
the bedroom. Mamoru froze, his senses alive, and stared at the door
for some new sign of an intruder. Receiving none, he took a step
forward. The door opened.
"Sorry," Usagi whispered seductively as she slid out through
the partly opened door and into the room like a temptress. "I'm just
so clumsy."
Mamoru stared at her, because she wasn't supposed to be here.
He stared because she looked at him with unconcealed desire, silently
communicating to him her ardor and her willingness. And he stared
because she was clad in a very skimpy, very lacy, very flattering
low-cut pink peignoir. The heat in the room shot up.
"I wanted to surprise you," she breathed and smiled invitingly,
her chest straining against the lacy bodice of the peignoir. "Are
you surprised?"
continued in part 4
Chapter 3: "A Suspicious Eye"
By Bill K.
Ami walked to school with a brisk pace. She had stopped by
Usagi's to pick her up, but remarkably Usagi had already left for
school. This was odd behavior, as Luna was only too willing to point
out, but Ami didn't dwell on it. Her mind was consumed with other
things. Tall, handsome teacher related things.
On the way she met Minako. Minako was in the process of
stuffing her books and papers into her satchel as she hurried along.
Ami grimaced at the mental picture of what the inside of Minako's
satchel looked like.
"Good morning, Minako," Ami said. "Did you catch up with your
impostor?"
"No," scowled Minako, then yawned so wide a small bird could
have flown into her mouth. "Maybe she got her thrill and retired.
If she knows what's good for her, she will." Minako just managed to
close the buckle on the straining satchel. "Say, did you happen to
notice the dreamboat we've got teaching us this year?"
"Yes," smiled Ami. "The subject dominated the discussion at
lunch yesterday - - not that you noticed."
"Guess I was a little preoccupied." Minako's eyes narrowed.
"Say, Ami, I didn't happen to manage to, well, get around to doing
last night's homework. I don't suppose I could get a look at yours?"
"Homework!" gasped Ami, her eyes popping in horror. "I
completely forgot about it! Oh no! I have to hurry! Maybe I can
get to school and get it done before class starts!"
With that, Ami sprinted off, leaving Minako standing there,
staring in disbelief. Ami NEVER forgot homework.
Ami rushed into the classroom and found Usagi with a couple of
the other students. She jumped into her seat, wrenched open her
books and began furiously writing. Usagi wandered over.
"Good morning, Ami-chan," Usagi grinned.
"Good morning," Ami tossed off quickly, resuming her work.
"Come on, Ami," scowled Usagi. "You don't have to spend all
your time getting ahead on your school work. Take some time out to
gossip."
"Usagi, this is today's homework! I. . . forgot to do it last
night."
"Forgot? Is your mom sick?"
"Usagi!" groaned Ami in frustration. "My Mother's fine. I
just forgot. Now please let me try to finish this!"
This was too weird. Usagi sat on the windowsill and stared at
her friend as she furiously worked. This wasn't like Ami at all.
She wanted to question her further, but deferred it to later.
A few minutes later, Komatsu-sensei entered and everyone took
their seats. He no sooner put his briefcase on his desk and turned
to close the door when Minako popped through the doorway and ran
right into him. Reflexively his hands came up and caught her by the
arms before she could stumble backwards.
"Aino-chan," he smiled indulgently.
"Um, Komatsu-sensei," Minako said, flushing slightly. Giggles
rose from the classroom. "I-I'm not late! If you'll check your
watch . . ."
"I'm early, I know," he said gently, releasing her when he knew
she was steady on her feet. "Next time, don't cut it so close, hmm?"
"Uh, yeah," she grinned. He nodded toward her seat and she sat
down. The moment she hit her seat, she twisted around toward Usagi,
her eyes popping and an ear to ear grin on her face.
"And you can chat with Tsukino-chan at lunch," Komatsu added
wryly.
"Um, yes sir," Minako gulped.
It was then that Usagi and Minako made a startling discovery:
Makoto's seat was empty. They looked to one another with puzzled
expressions. Usagi leaned over and nudged Ami's desk. When she
looked up, Usagi pointed to the empty seat. Ami's eyes grew wide.
She looked back and shook her head in astonishment.
"Mizuno-chan," Komatsu said. "Please collect everyone's
homework."
Ami grimaced broadly, then reluctantly closed her book and
scooped up what homework she had, then went around to collect
everyone else's. Forlornly she approached the teacher.
"Here, sir," she said meekly. He took them from her, but
noticed her lingering. "Sir, please accept my apologies in advance
for the state of my paper. I promise I'll do better next time."
Komatsu looked at her and then smiled with gentle compassion.
"I'll hold you to that, Mizuno-chan."
Ami's face lit up and her chest seemed to swell. She nodded
vigorously and quickly returned to her seat.
Just then several surprised gasps came from the class. The
teacher and the other students turned and saw Makoto entering the
room. She walked with a limp and there were ugly bruises on her face
and arms. Usagi's gasp could be heard throughout the room.
"Kino-chan," Komatsu said in amazement. "What happened?"
"I apologize for being late, Komatsu-sensei," Makoto replied,
her voice husky with pain and chagrin. "I - - ran into a little
trouble on the way home from school yesterday."
As she walked, Makoto heard one of the students whisper, "She's
been fighting again." Her jaw clenched, but she remained silent.
"Do you need to see the nurse?" he asked.
"No, sir," she replied, muted and humbled. "I made it this
far."
She limped over to her seat and sat down. As she sat, she
could see Usagi's agonized, fearful face.
"Mako-chan?" Usagi whispered.
"Don't make any plans for tonight," she said, then glanced at
Minako and then Ami. "We need to meet."
* * * *
Throughout lunch, Makoto steadfastly refused to discuss what
happened, saying only that Rei needed to hear it, too. By the end of
the day, Usagi was a frazzled wreck with worry and Minako was ready
to burst with curiosity. Ami was worried as well, but her thoughts
kept drifting towards other subjects.
The four of them met Rei as her school let out. She no sooner
greeted them then Minako had her by the jacket and was pushing her
toward the temple. Questions flew out of her mouth, both on the
subject of Makoto's obvious condition and on what Minako's hurry was.
She disengaged herself at the temple steps and managed to shoo the
others into their room while she changed. Waiting for them were Luna
and Artemis, whom Usagi had contacted at Makoto's suggestion.
"Finally!" Usagi gasped as Rei entered the room. She was
dressed in her temple robes and carried a tray. "How long does it
take to change?"
"You should talk!" fumed Rei. "You need two weeks notice to
pick out an outfit for a Sunday picnic!"
"I do not!" bellowed Usagi. Rei responded with her tongue.
"Grampa caught a glimpse of you," Rei said to Makoto, setting
the tray on the table. It contained a pot of tea, cups, and a plate
of cakes. "He said it looked like you needed this."
"Tell Grampa thanks," Makoto smiled shyly.
"He also wanted to know if you were busy Saturday," Rei
scowled. "I smacked him for you." Makoto stifled a giggle.
"OK, we're all here!" Minako said, between bites of a cake.
"Now spill!"
Makoto's expression grew sullen and she expelled a long breath
of air.
"I ran into our Sailor V impostor last night," Makoto said.
"Man, if you look like this, I'd hate to see the way she
looks!" gasped Rei.
"She's not an otaku," Makoto told them.
"What makes you think that?" Luna asked.
"She's good. She's got moves like I've never seen." Then
Makoto glanced at Minako. "Well, almost never."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Minako asked.
"She's lightning fast, acrobatic, a top athlete."
"Still doesn't mean she isn't an otaku."
"She put me out with 'Sailor V Kick' - - and it HURT."
"OK, she's an otaku who's studied," Minako replied, glaring
intently.
"She also used 'Crescent Beam' and 'Crescent Boomerang'."
Minako's eyes popped in shock. Her head snapped around and
stared at Artemis.
"Could she have gotten my Sailor V compact?" Minako asked the
white cat.
"Impossible," Artemis replied flatly. "I personally turned the
Sailor V compact into your henshin stick when you became Sailor
Venus. It doesn't exist anymore."
"Then where's she getting my old attacks?" Minako demanded.
"I don't know," Makoto said, her gaze never leaving Minako.
"All I know is she's as good as the original."
"Nobody's as good as the original," Minako replied, meeting
Makoto's gaze. "Or is that what you're saying?"
"The thought crossed my mind."
"Now wait a minute," Ami spoke up. "Before anyone starts
throwing accusations around, we need to fully analyze this problem.
Makoto, did this woman say anything?"
"She only talked when she shouted her attack phrases."
"Did she sound like Minako?"
"Not really," Makoto admitted. "But her voice was familiar,
like she knew I'd recognize it and was trying to disguise it."
"Interesting," Ami replied thoughtfully.
"I'll save you the trouble," Minako said with a brittle tone.
"I'm very good at disguising my voice - - altering my pitch or
cadence, adopting accents and stuff like that. It's a talent any
good actress should have."
"I'm not accusing you, Minako," Ami replied. "It's a talent
many people have." Ami turned back to Makoto. "Did she seem to have
a reason for attacking you? Did you surprise her? Was she trying to
kill you?"
Makoto shook her head. "If she wanted to kill me, she
certainly had her opportunity. I don't know what she wanted. She
might have just wanted to test her ability against me to prove to
herself she could beat me - - or to prove it to me."
"Could it be a youma[their name for the fantastic monsters
their enemies send after them]?" Luna asked.
"Sure, I guess," shrugged Makoto.
"But from who," Rei asked, "and for what reason? And wouldn't
a youma have killed Makoto when she had the chance?"
"Hey, I just thought of something else," Makoto realized.
"When she lured me back into that alley, I wasn't Sailor Jupiter. I
was me. That means she knows my identity. Maybe she knows all of
our identities. But how would she know that?"
An awkward silence descended on the group.
"So the finger keeps pointing back to me," Minako said at last,
an edge of bitterness in her voice.
"No!" Usagi said, rising up and slamming her hands on the
table. "It's not possible! You're all forgetting one thing!
Mina-chan wouldn't do something like that! I refuse to believe
otherwise!" She surveyed the room. No one moved to challenge her.
"Maybe we do have a new enemy. And maybe that enemy's plan is to
split us up! Make us distrust each other! Don't fall for it!"
Everyone looked down, chastened.
"Thanks, Usagi," Minako whispered.
"She does have a good point," Ami admitted.
"Yeah, and for once it's not on the top of her head," Rei
added. Everybody glared at her. "Sorry, it was too easy."
"Look," Makoto began contritely, "if I was out of line, I'm
sorry. I want to believe it." She looked down. "But you didn't see
her. Looking at her was like looking at one of us. Not just the
moves - - there was a familiarity to her. I'm not psychic like Rei,
but I'm really close to you guys. And there was something about her
that I recognized. She could have been Minako. Heck, she could have
been any of you. The only thing I'm absolutely sure of is she wasn't
me."
The girls soberly stared at the table.
"So what do we do?" Usagi asked.
"I say we hunt her down," Minako replied firmly.
"Do you know where to start looking?" Artemis asked. "Tokyo's
a pretty big city. So far she's only been sighted twice. Admittedly
both were in the Juuban district, but that's not a pattern yet."
"So what do you suggest?" Minako asked.
"This is the second day of school," Luna said. "I imagine you
all have homework. Why not do it? Artemis and I will conduct a
little electronic research and see if we can't find a trail or some
other sort of clue to all this."
"Can't we go out and patrol?" whined Minako.
"Minako," sighed Artemis. "Go do your homework."
"Yes, 'Daddy'." She glanced cooly at Makoto. "Want to come
over and watch me?"
"You don't fool me," Makoto replied deadpanned. "You just want
me over there so you can copy off my paper." The corners of Minako's
mouth turned up.
"Curses," she muttered. "My evil plan exposed." And with
that, she signaled that, though wounded by the suspicions, she was
past the hurt. Makoto held out her fist, the middle finger bulging
slightly, and Minako tapped it with her own, then scooped up the last
cake and headed out. The meeting quickly broke up, each girl going
her separate way.
* * * *
The key slid into the lock. The knob turned, opening the door
into the dark apartment. The silhouetted figure in the doorway stood
for a few moments, then felt along the wall for the light switch.
The lights came on and Mamoru closed the door behind him. He glanced
at the clock on the VCR under his television.
"Nine thirty," he sighed, running his hand through his black
hair. He yawned. "I've got to stop these late nights. School's not
even in yet."
He set a biochemistry text down on the table next to his framed
photo of himself, Usagi and Chibi-Usa at age 12. Surrendering to
impulse, he picked up the picture and traced Usagi's face with his
fingers. The past days of his between term break had been spent
studying, in a valiant attempt to catch up on the time missed during
his abortive attempt to attend Harvard. Frankly the hours were
beginning to get to him.
All of that washed out of him, though, as he gazed at his love
in the picture. His chest expanded and a huge sigh of frustrated
longing expelled. At that moment, he wanted to feel Usagi in his
arms. He wanted her soft lips pressing against his. He wanted to
hear her voice whispering in his ear, telling him she'd always be
with him and giggling happily when he hugged her to him.
He set the picture down. School had started for her already,
he remembered, and he knew she didn't need any distractions now. So
his desires would have to wait. Maybe this weekend he could surprise
her with a trip to her favorite amusement park. He'd buy her taffy
and cotton candy and endure all the rides - - anything for that
smile.
A noise, like someone brushing up against a table, came from
the bedroom. Mamoru froze, his senses alive, and stared at the door
for some new sign of an intruder. Receiving none, he took a step
forward. The door opened.
"Sorry," Usagi whispered seductively as she slid out through
the partly opened door and into the room like a temptress. "I'm just
so clumsy."
Mamoru stared at her, because she wasn't supposed to be here.
He stared because she looked at him with unconcealed desire, silently
communicating to him her ardor and her willingness. And he stared
because she was clad in a very skimpy, very lacy, very flattering
low-cut pink peignoir. The heat in the room shot up.
"I wanted to surprise you," she breathed and smiled invitingly,
her chest straining against the lacy bodice of the peignoir. "Are
you surprised?"
continued in part 4