Re-painting the Past
By Cosmic
Chapter four is finally here! I know it took forever!! I've been having so much computer trouble lately, damn comcast… but I've finally gotten this out. Joy! SO enjoy it! And pray that the next chapter will bw out sooner… I'm no quite sure how long this is gonna turn out to be… basically until I decide it's long enough and end it I guess… Please e-mail me with suggestions/comments/flames/insults/praises/anything! I love e-mail to pieces! Cosmic@sailormoonfanclub.net Speaking of which, visit http://www.sailormoonfanclub.net !!! It's great!
Same disclaimers apply.
Chapter 4 ~ Mamoru's Crafty Idea
The bartender's eyes studied the dark haired man who just stormed in the Moonshine Bar. He kept his face normal but inside he was grinning like mad and seeing money signs. Mamoru looks pissed tonight, he thought happily. It must be girl trouble, and girl trouble means he will want to get totally smashed. Yes!
Mamoru walked up to the bar and slumped over it, his mind reeling. Damn that girl, he though angrily. That kiss was supposed to show her what she was missing and to prove her wrong. Not to tell me what I've known for four years. That I am totally in love with the girl. But she hates me; it's so obvious that she can't stand me.
"Arg…" he muttered under his breath, tempted to rip out the hair out of his head and have a tantrum.
"Mamoru, what would you like buddy?"
Mamoru glanced up at the bartender. "Uh…"
"Something wrong? Why don't you tell me about it?"
"Nah… It's nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes… Give me a…" Mamoru paused thinking. After that party tonight all he wanted was to order beer after beer and get plastered. But considering the hour-long drive back to his house in Defillepo it probably wasn't such a hot idea. "… Black coffee as strong as you can make it."
"Sure thing…" The bartender turned to get the coffee his face falling. Damn and I was sure the money would be rolling in off him. He finished getting the coffee and put a smile on his face before turning around and giving it to his dark customer. "There ya go, bud."
Mamoru nodded his gratitude and dumped some money on the bar before going out back on to the patio and sinking into a chair to think. Behind the bar the man smiled as the door opened and a half angered, half depressed man came in. Maybe I'll be rollin' in the dough tonight after all.
God dammit what am I gonna do? Mamoru scowled as he sipped his coffee and thought. I know there's no way she'll want to be with me again. But it was too soon. I'd only known her for a week! And the dust from the dogfight with Beryl over the property hadn't even settled yet. I wasn't ready for commitment. And I hate the thought of marriage. The stupid brat looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes practically shouting how much they wanted me to tell her I loved her and talk about marriage and commitment. They were questioning me, dammit, and I didn't have an answer! But now I do! How can I get her to spend time with me?
"Gah!" he shouted and flung his empty coffee mug into the couch next to him. It bounced off and onto the floor with an unsatisfactory clunk. Mamoru scowled at it going through his recent run ins with the blonde in his mind. Suddenly he paused and smiled. He knew exactly how he was going to get Usagi to spend more time with him, whether she wanted to or not..
Ring! Ring!
Usagi hastily set down the grocery bag she was carrying and ran to grab the phone.
"Hello?" she asked breathlessly.
"Usagi, love, it's Makoto,"
Makoto was the head of the modeling agency Usagi worked for. She was a tough businesswoman who expected only the very best, but she was very protective of her models. She was especially protective of Usagi, whom she felt was a little too sweet and kind, and would get herself unknowingly wrapped up in some trouble some day. When Usagi had told her she was quitting, she had a fit and almost squashed a poor bus boy like a bug, but after she had settled down wish Usagi luck with her photography.
"Mako! How are you?"
"Busy, very busy, but otherwise just peachy dear. We're having a bit of trouble with a new secretary, but nothing I can't handle. I trust you're getting along just fine in your dainty little township. You do have running water there, right dear? Are you sure you'd rather live in your little hell hole than work for me in New York?"
Usagi grinned. Makoto would never change. "It's wonderful here Makoto, much better than New York, and of course there is running water. It's a beachside township, not a secluded artist colony of sorts. All though there is one of those about an hour away and they have running water. In fact the houses are nicer than the ones here."
"Charming I'm sure, but please don't bore me with the details. Anyway, I called because I have some news, love."
"Oh?"
"They've hired the artist to do your portrait for the perfume ad. It's actually very odd, because he's from your neck of the woods. The name's Mamoru Chiba. Do you know him?"
Usagi felt her heart sink to the pit of her stomach. "Yes…" she whispered. "He actually lives in that artist colony…" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Are you sure the name's Mamoru Chiba?"
"Yes, indeed. From what I've heard he's really quite good. The Perfume Company was absolutely thrilled to get him. He'll be contacting you to set up the sitting and when it's done you'll be finished with the modeling business for good." Makoto paused then continued hopefully. "Unless you've already grown tired of your drab little town and want to come back."
Usagi managed a small laugh. "No, no. I'm sorry Mako, but you've caught me at a bad time and I really need to go. I'll talk to you later ok?"
"Sure love. Take care now! Don't die in your little hell hole."
"I won't. 'Bye."
Usagi hung up and stared at the wall in horror. Oh God, how the hell am I going to be able to through with the portrait? Desperately she tried to think of how she could get out of it, and came up with the answer that it would be impossible. Makoto would tell her that she was bound by an ironclad contract. She had to do it. If she tried to get out of it, the Perfume Company would sue her for all she was worth. Damn!
As she stood staring at the wall and thinking desperately, Minako walked into the room.
"Usagi, Mamoru called while you were out and he had the most amazing news. Guess what? He's going to paint the portrait of you."
"I just heard."
"So what do you think?"
"It doesn't really matter what I think. It's my job to do what I'm told and not bother anyone with petty emotions. Plus the contract I have…"
Usagi sunk into a chair and went back to pondering her predicament before realizing Minako was talking to her, and she hadn't heard a word of what she had said.
"-And since the house is near Mamoru's, it'll be very convenient."
"Sorry Minako, I wasn't listening," Usagi admitted blushing. "What did you say?"
"I have to go down to Defillepo on a buying trip for the store and a friend of mine offered to let me use her house if I'm ever in the neighborhood. She lives in LA and this house is her vacation home she rarely gets to visit. Imagine being so rich that you can own two gigantic homes, one in an art colony you never use and one in LA. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Usagi nodded, totally confused. "What does that have to do with the portrait?"
"We can go down together so you can pose for Mamoru and stay there while I shop. That way it won't be a hour-long drive everyday. Plus Akio has a dark room so you can work on your photography."
Usagi smiled, touched by Minako's transparent move. "I'm a little old for a babysitter Minako, but thanks anyway. Besides, I'm not planning on going down to Defillepo."
"But don't you know? Mamoru never paints portraits outside of his studio. You have to go to him, not vice versa."
Usagi hadn't known. Her heart sank even further down. Seeing him again had been hard. The knowledge she would have to sit with him for hours at a time was even harder. But having to return to his home, the place were she had fallen so deeply in love and then had her heart shattered was unthinkable, unbearable, and more than she could cope with.
"I can't," she said quietly.
"What?"
"I can't, I won't, It's impossible. He'll just have to come up here. That can't be to difficult for him."
Minako looked at Usagi helplessly. "But he always works in his studio. I doubt you can make him change and work elsewhere."
"I don't care," Usagi said stubbornly. "I'm willing to fulfill my contract, even if I loathe modeling, and can't bear the thought of modeling for him. But I'll do it. I'm just drawing the line at going down to Defillepo."
"Well, you can try not to go, I guess. I told Mamoru you would call him back, so when you do, you can tell him."
Without glancing at the clock Usagi answered quickly, "It's to late to do it today. I'll call him tomorrow."
"Coward."
Usagi stuck her tongue out at her aunt. "I need time to think. This will give me a bit of time."
"I understand Usagi. Do you want me to try and talk to Mamoru for you?"
"I'm a big girl now Mina, I can handle it."
"Ok… But at least let me go down there with you. I really do have business I must attend to."
Usagi shrugged. "I'm going to try and get out of going."
Minako patted her niece's shoulder affectionately. "Good luck."
Usagi waited until the next afternoon before calling Mamoru. When she heard his deep voice on the other end, her hand tightened around the phone, and she sunk into a chair. Control, she thought. Get a hold of yourself.
"It's Usagi," she said, proud of the way she kept her voice matter-of- fact. "Minako said you called."
"I did—yesterday," he replied curtly.
Usagi ignored the apparent irritation in his voice. She had no intention of saying anything that wasn't necessary to Mamoru Chiba.
"We need to set a time for your first sitting," he continued.
"When can you come up to Moon?" Usagi asked quickly before he could mention his studio.
There was silence on the other end of the line. Usagi sat and waited hopefully, praying that he would just give her a time he could come up. "I always work in my studio. You'll have to come down here," he responded finally.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Minako told me that you two could stay at friend's house down here. I don't see what your problem is."
"Well, I don't see why can't just come up here."
"Because I don't have studio in Moon," Mamoru explained patiently.
"Minako has a spare room…" Usagi began.
"Look, why don't I just call your boss and tell him you're being difficult."
"Difficult! That word applies to you more than it does to me. And my boss is a her, not a he."
"Usagi! I was hired to do a job and I'm ready to do it. You're the one being stubborn."
"Damn," Usagi swore under her breath and ignored the light chuckle on the other end of the line. She was furious at Mamoru, but she knew his rather blunt blackmail had worked. Makoto wouldn't listen to her about not going to Defillepo. Mako would contact her lawyers who would simply send her a threatening letter insuring her about her contract and how they could sue her ass for all it was worth. And then she would be down in Defillepo anyway, only with a lot more people unhappy with her.
"How long will the portrait take?" she asked coldly.
"A week, maybe a bit longer."
"Make it a week, because I refuse to stay down in Defillepo a minute longer. If you don't like that you can not only go to my boss, you can also go to hell!" Angrily she slammed the phone down. But as she sat in her chair calming down, she knew that she lost this battle to Mamoru. Ands after spending a week with him, she wondered what else she would lose.
To be continued… dun dun dun..
Oi… I'm sucha loser.
Please Review! And e-mail is a good thing!!! Cosmic@sailormoonfanclub.net
By Cosmic
Chapter four is finally here! I know it took forever!! I've been having so much computer trouble lately, damn comcast… but I've finally gotten this out. Joy! SO enjoy it! And pray that the next chapter will bw out sooner… I'm no quite sure how long this is gonna turn out to be… basically until I decide it's long enough and end it I guess… Please e-mail me with suggestions/comments/flames/insults/praises/anything! I love e-mail to pieces! Cosmic@sailormoonfanclub.net Speaking of which, visit http://www.sailormoonfanclub.net !!! It's great!
Same disclaimers apply.
Chapter 4 ~ Mamoru's Crafty Idea
The bartender's eyes studied the dark haired man who just stormed in the Moonshine Bar. He kept his face normal but inside he was grinning like mad and seeing money signs. Mamoru looks pissed tonight, he thought happily. It must be girl trouble, and girl trouble means he will want to get totally smashed. Yes!
Mamoru walked up to the bar and slumped over it, his mind reeling. Damn that girl, he though angrily. That kiss was supposed to show her what she was missing and to prove her wrong. Not to tell me what I've known for four years. That I am totally in love with the girl. But she hates me; it's so obvious that she can't stand me.
"Arg…" he muttered under his breath, tempted to rip out the hair out of his head and have a tantrum.
"Mamoru, what would you like buddy?"
Mamoru glanced up at the bartender. "Uh…"
"Something wrong? Why don't you tell me about it?"
"Nah… It's nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes… Give me a…" Mamoru paused thinking. After that party tonight all he wanted was to order beer after beer and get plastered. But considering the hour-long drive back to his house in Defillepo it probably wasn't such a hot idea. "… Black coffee as strong as you can make it."
"Sure thing…" The bartender turned to get the coffee his face falling. Damn and I was sure the money would be rolling in off him. He finished getting the coffee and put a smile on his face before turning around and giving it to his dark customer. "There ya go, bud."
Mamoru nodded his gratitude and dumped some money on the bar before going out back on to the patio and sinking into a chair to think. Behind the bar the man smiled as the door opened and a half angered, half depressed man came in. Maybe I'll be rollin' in the dough tonight after all.
God dammit what am I gonna do? Mamoru scowled as he sipped his coffee and thought. I know there's no way she'll want to be with me again. But it was too soon. I'd only known her for a week! And the dust from the dogfight with Beryl over the property hadn't even settled yet. I wasn't ready for commitment. And I hate the thought of marriage. The stupid brat looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes practically shouting how much they wanted me to tell her I loved her and talk about marriage and commitment. They were questioning me, dammit, and I didn't have an answer! But now I do! How can I get her to spend time with me?
"Gah!" he shouted and flung his empty coffee mug into the couch next to him. It bounced off and onto the floor with an unsatisfactory clunk. Mamoru scowled at it going through his recent run ins with the blonde in his mind. Suddenly he paused and smiled. He knew exactly how he was going to get Usagi to spend more time with him, whether she wanted to or not..
Ring! Ring!
Usagi hastily set down the grocery bag she was carrying and ran to grab the phone.
"Hello?" she asked breathlessly.
"Usagi, love, it's Makoto,"
Makoto was the head of the modeling agency Usagi worked for. She was a tough businesswoman who expected only the very best, but she was very protective of her models. She was especially protective of Usagi, whom she felt was a little too sweet and kind, and would get herself unknowingly wrapped up in some trouble some day. When Usagi had told her she was quitting, she had a fit and almost squashed a poor bus boy like a bug, but after she had settled down wish Usagi luck with her photography.
"Mako! How are you?"
"Busy, very busy, but otherwise just peachy dear. We're having a bit of trouble with a new secretary, but nothing I can't handle. I trust you're getting along just fine in your dainty little township. You do have running water there, right dear? Are you sure you'd rather live in your little hell hole than work for me in New York?"
Usagi grinned. Makoto would never change. "It's wonderful here Makoto, much better than New York, and of course there is running water. It's a beachside township, not a secluded artist colony of sorts. All though there is one of those about an hour away and they have running water. In fact the houses are nicer than the ones here."
"Charming I'm sure, but please don't bore me with the details. Anyway, I called because I have some news, love."
"Oh?"
"They've hired the artist to do your portrait for the perfume ad. It's actually very odd, because he's from your neck of the woods. The name's Mamoru Chiba. Do you know him?"
Usagi felt her heart sink to the pit of her stomach. "Yes…" she whispered. "He actually lives in that artist colony…" She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Are you sure the name's Mamoru Chiba?"
"Yes, indeed. From what I've heard he's really quite good. The Perfume Company was absolutely thrilled to get him. He'll be contacting you to set up the sitting and when it's done you'll be finished with the modeling business for good." Makoto paused then continued hopefully. "Unless you've already grown tired of your drab little town and want to come back."
Usagi managed a small laugh. "No, no. I'm sorry Mako, but you've caught me at a bad time and I really need to go. I'll talk to you later ok?"
"Sure love. Take care now! Don't die in your little hell hole."
"I won't. 'Bye."
Usagi hung up and stared at the wall in horror. Oh God, how the hell am I going to be able to through with the portrait? Desperately she tried to think of how she could get out of it, and came up with the answer that it would be impossible. Makoto would tell her that she was bound by an ironclad contract. She had to do it. If she tried to get out of it, the Perfume Company would sue her for all she was worth. Damn!
As she stood staring at the wall and thinking desperately, Minako walked into the room.
"Usagi, Mamoru called while you were out and he had the most amazing news. Guess what? He's going to paint the portrait of you."
"I just heard."
"So what do you think?"
"It doesn't really matter what I think. It's my job to do what I'm told and not bother anyone with petty emotions. Plus the contract I have…"
Usagi sunk into a chair and went back to pondering her predicament before realizing Minako was talking to her, and she hadn't heard a word of what she had said.
"-And since the house is near Mamoru's, it'll be very convenient."
"Sorry Minako, I wasn't listening," Usagi admitted blushing. "What did you say?"
"I have to go down to Defillepo on a buying trip for the store and a friend of mine offered to let me use her house if I'm ever in the neighborhood. She lives in LA and this house is her vacation home she rarely gets to visit. Imagine being so rich that you can own two gigantic homes, one in an art colony you never use and one in LA. Wouldn't that be nice?"
Usagi nodded, totally confused. "What does that have to do with the portrait?"
"We can go down together so you can pose for Mamoru and stay there while I shop. That way it won't be a hour-long drive everyday. Plus Akio has a dark room so you can work on your photography."
Usagi smiled, touched by Minako's transparent move. "I'm a little old for a babysitter Minako, but thanks anyway. Besides, I'm not planning on going down to Defillepo."
"But don't you know? Mamoru never paints portraits outside of his studio. You have to go to him, not vice versa."
Usagi hadn't known. Her heart sank even further down. Seeing him again had been hard. The knowledge she would have to sit with him for hours at a time was even harder. But having to return to his home, the place were she had fallen so deeply in love and then had her heart shattered was unthinkable, unbearable, and more than she could cope with.
"I can't," she said quietly.
"What?"
"I can't, I won't, It's impossible. He'll just have to come up here. That can't be to difficult for him."
Minako looked at Usagi helplessly. "But he always works in his studio. I doubt you can make him change and work elsewhere."
"I don't care," Usagi said stubbornly. "I'm willing to fulfill my contract, even if I loathe modeling, and can't bear the thought of modeling for him. But I'll do it. I'm just drawing the line at going down to Defillepo."
"Well, you can try not to go, I guess. I told Mamoru you would call him back, so when you do, you can tell him."
Without glancing at the clock Usagi answered quickly, "It's to late to do it today. I'll call him tomorrow."
"Coward."
Usagi stuck her tongue out at her aunt. "I need time to think. This will give me a bit of time."
"I understand Usagi. Do you want me to try and talk to Mamoru for you?"
"I'm a big girl now Mina, I can handle it."
"Ok… But at least let me go down there with you. I really do have business I must attend to."
Usagi shrugged. "I'm going to try and get out of going."
Minako patted her niece's shoulder affectionately. "Good luck."
Usagi waited until the next afternoon before calling Mamoru. When she heard his deep voice on the other end, her hand tightened around the phone, and she sunk into a chair. Control, she thought. Get a hold of yourself.
"It's Usagi," she said, proud of the way she kept her voice matter-of- fact. "Minako said you called."
"I did—yesterday," he replied curtly.
Usagi ignored the apparent irritation in his voice. She had no intention of saying anything that wasn't necessary to Mamoru Chiba.
"We need to set a time for your first sitting," he continued.
"When can you come up to Moon?" Usagi asked quickly before he could mention his studio.
There was silence on the other end of the line. Usagi sat and waited hopefully, praying that he would just give her a time he could come up. "I always work in my studio. You'll have to come down here," he responded finally.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Minako told me that you two could stay at friend's house down here. I don't see what your problem is."
"Well, I don't see why can't just come up here."
"Because I don't have studio in Moon," Mamoru explained patiently.
"Minako has a spare room…" Usagi began.
"Look, why don't I just call your boss and tell him you're being difficult."
"Difficult! That word applies to you more than it does to me. And my boss is a her, not a he."
"Usagi! I was hired to do a job and I'm ready to do it. You're the one being stubborn."
"Damn," Usagi swore under her breath and ignored the light chuckle on the other end of the line. She was furious at Mamoru, but she knew his rather blunt blackmail had worked. Makoto wouldn't listen to her about not going to Defillepo. Mako would contact her lawyers who would simply send her a threatening letter insuring her about her contract and how they could sue her ass for all it was worth. And then she would be down in Defillepo anyway, only with a lot more people unhappy with her.
"How long will the portrait take?" she asked coldly.
"A week, maybe a bit longer."
"Make it a week, because I refuse to stay down in Defillepo a minute longer. If you don't like that you can not only go to my boss, you can also go to hell!" Angrily she slammed the phone down. But as she sat in her chair calming down, she knew that she lost this battle to Mamoru. Ands after spending a week with him, she wondered what else she would lose.
To be continued… dun dun dun..
Oi… I'm sucha loser.
Please Review! And e-mail is a good thing!!! Cosmic@sailormoonfanclub.net