Re-Painting The Past
By Cosmic
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or the any of it characters. This is purely fanfiction, for fans by a fan. Don't sure. There's nothing to win, considering I'm broke.
Well. It's been a really really really long time since I've updated. I've had issues, fanfiction.net has had issues, and I had a writer's block for a while. Plus the end of the school year came and I got busy, many deadlines to meet, and this got pushed aside. Or way back rather. So here is the next installment. Sorry it took so long!!!! Please be a good reader and review or e-mail me. Any comment at all would be wonderful to hear! Cosmic_sailor_mars@hotmail.com. Thank you!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 6: Hold the Pose
Quickly she changed, and then hurried out to the studio.
Watching her approach, Mamoru thought, My God.
Usagi looked absolutely stunning. She wore no jewelry, save for a simple pearl bracelet on her slender wrist, and looked pure and elegant in a wispy ivory dress, which cascaded down around her legs, pooling by her feet. The low cut top of the dress had intricate beadwork and the puffy sleeves on her arms, which turned out to be not even attached to the dress, also had beadwork on them. A delicate white flower was tucked into one of her buns, and her two golden pigtails shone brightly. Mamoru's eyes followed the gown's folds down her body, taking in how it molded to every nuance of line, every curve, every valley. He looked deep into her eyes then let his gaze return to follow the shimmering shaft of ivory down to her feet, which were incased in spike-heeled gold sandals.
Slowly Usagi walked towards him, the dress sliding over her curves enticingly. When she stopped before him, chin held defiantly high, waiting, he watched as the gown molded sensuously to her very breathing. He stared. She obviously wasn't wearing a thing underneath the luscious folds of the gown, and remembering the past, he knew it was all he could do to maintain the impersonal, professional attitude he had begun with.
As he watched her, Usagi moved self-consciously, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. The dress, and the light playing on it, moved with her. She had no idea, Mamoru was sure, how provocative she was at the moment.
"What are they calling this perfume?" he asked huskily, his voice barely under control.
"Seduction," Usagi answered.
"Appropriate," he murmured under his breath.
Even though she didn't catch what he had just said, his response was quite clear. Usagi heard the tremor in his voice and watched desire deepen in the blue of his eyes to the color of midnight. As though mesmerized, the stood looking at one another until Mamoru broke the spell by requesting she shift her position slight to the right. She was happy to follow his suggestion.
"Now lift your chin, too much, slightly up now. There, that's perfect," he said, stepping back.
Looking away, Usagi drew a deep breath and sighed audibly. That was too close for comfort, she told herself. When she glanced back to Mamoru, she saw he was watching her. Then he shrugged.
"Well, someone once said," he said wryly, "that the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."
"Exactly!" Usagi grinned. "That's what CaraLin Diesle hopes to do with this campaign. That's why you were hired to make me look tempting. Women all over the world will see this and want to run to the store and buy a bottle in hopes that they will be equally as tempting. They'll believe that wearing the fragrance will make them seductive and gorgeous and men will go crazy over them." Usagi giggled. "And then the dollars will be rolling in to the manufacturer."
Mamoru raised an eyebrow. "You were talking about the perfume."
"Of course. Weren't you?"
"No."
Not sure how to respond to the not-very-subtle remark, Usagi left it there.
As she stood in the correct pose, Mamoru moved behind his easel and began to layout his tools and then make up his palette in order of the spectrum.
"Have you tested this perfume, this Seduction?" he asked as he worked his brush into a neutral brown. He wasn't looking at her, but she was intensely aware of the fact that his entire concentration was upon her.
"No, I haven't."
"What kind of fragrance is it?"
"Umm..." she pursed her lips thoughtfully, Mamoru slightly raising his head to look at her, his eyes focused on her mouth. "I believe it's a floral perfume."
"I suppose it will cost a bundle." He returned his gaze to his palette and canvas.
"Of course. Otherwise it won't be successful." She watched him make strokes on the stiff, white material. "Don't you do a preliminary sketch first?"
"No,"
"Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?"
He flashed her a quick grin, causing her breath to catch. "Yes."
He worked in silence, his eyes flashing from the canvas to Usagi to the canvas to his palette to canvas, and so forth. Usagi stared at his until his navy eyes caught her own, and then she shifted her gaze elsewhere, blushing.
"Will you wear the fragrance?" he asked suddenly.
She looked towards him. "No. I always wear the same perfume. I get it from Minako's shop/beauty parlor."
"Oh? What's it called?"
"Moon's Revenge." She smiled at his started expression. "It's a strange name, but I like the smell, and the name somehow clicks with me. Maybe because I'm from Moon Township."
Mamoru nodded.
"Did you know it takes 250 pounds of rose petals to produce one ounce of essential oil for making perfume?"
"I didn't know that." He grinned up at her. "What else do you know about this product you're peddling?"
"Well, there are more than 100 ingredients in a perfume. And there's three notes."
"Notes?"
"The top note has a refreshing odor you sense immediately, the middle provides a full, solid character, and the last a scent that lingers."
"Many things are made with layers, I suppose." Mamoru thought out loud. "My paintings, perfume." Looking at her with those remarkably blue eyes, he added in a low husky voice, "Friendship."
Usagi didn't respond. It was all good and well when the discussion was happily impersonal. Really, she thought, no one cares about perfume. It was something to keep conversation going. But I don't want to touch on personal subjects. And that's where Mamoru turned the conversation.
As Usagi pondered this, Mamoru stopped painting and stared at her. Slowly she averted her eyes back towards him.
"It needs something," he said, standing and hurrying out of the room. A minute passed before he returned, carrying a vase with a single rose bud in it. "Hold this," he told her, handing her the rose and setting the vase down on the chest.
Carefully avoiding the thorns, Usagi took the rose.
"Hold it with both hands, slightly... yes. That's it."
As Usagi took the flower she was reminded of The View, when he had sung to her, and how the wind had blown and as he held her close, flower petals had whirled around them.
"Your expressions perfect! Hold it."
Startled, she glanced up at him.
"Now you've lost it. I want that pensive quality."
She smiled dryly. "Emotion on demand. It's not exactly easy."
"You've been doing it for four years as a model."
But not for you, she thought. Now the emotions are real, not manufactured. But I'm an experienced, professional model, still on the job. I can do this for a week. Then I'm free. She forced her face blank, then willed herself to assume the pensive expression he wanted. Remembering The View, and the petals, and what had come later, and now her she was with him…
"Perfect," Mamoru whispered, dabbing at the canvas.
Usagi stood trying not to move as the silence stretched. It felt intimate, but she could stand it. Conversation seemed out of reach and she didn't want to break his concentration. Then she'd be stuck there longer. She was already growing tired, and the high heels that her fashion coordinator had chosen were beginning to send waves of pain up her legs. Unable to stop herself, she grimaced.
"Getting tired?"
She was surprised at the concerned tone in Mamoru's voice. Up to now, he had been playing the egotistical, domineering artist.
'It's... hard to keep standing here. Can I take a break?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. I get lost in my work and forget about other things, like the comfort of my model.
Usagi nodded as she stretched, her legs feeling cramped and her feat buzzing after maintaining her one position for so long.
"Something to drink?"
"No, thanks." She walked over to the huge window that covered most of the west wall of the studio. Outside, she could see the sun moving toward the horizon. The summer fog that had lain along the coast all morning had burned away a while ago, leaving a bright sunny picture. Straight from a postcard Usagi thought. "This view," she breathed, "It's magnificent."
"Yes. A constant inspiration," Mamoru nodded as he came up behind her. He looked at her, as if he was going to say something else but changed his mind, and turned around. "We'd better get back to work."
She nodded and got back into position. Mamoru worked his eyes shifting from her to his canvas and back, leaving her to her thoughts. Her rather turbulent thoughts, which were mostly about him. Another hour passed and then two and she wondered just how long she would be stuck standing there. Her feet were aching and she wanted to kick off the horrible shoes and chuck one at Mamoru's head.
"Is it time for another break?" she asked, unable to stand it any longer.
Mamoru, who had been concentrating intently, glanced up, surprise written across his face. "What time is it?" Glancing at his watch he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I didn't realize so much time had passed. Getting tired again?"
"Yes. This is different that photographic modeling. At least there I usually get to move around a little."
He put down his brush and palette and walked over to her. "Take a break."
Taking a tall bar stool from a corner, he pulled it over for her to sit on. The stool had a high back and Usagi leaned back gratefully.
Then, to her surprise, he slipped off her sandals and began gently massaging her feet. The movement of his fingers on the tender flesh of her instep, the circular motion of his thumbs on the smooth curve of her ankles, was incredibly erotic. She felt a tingle of desire shoot up her leg and lodge in her abdomen. And something odd was happening to her breathing.
"Do all your models get such wonderful treatment?" she teased, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
"Of course."
But all her efforts to deny the sexual tension building between them were futile.
"You're wearing the same perfume you wore four years ago," he murmured.
"I'm surprised you remember," she replied haltingly. Then trying to shore up her rapidly weakening defenses, she added, "Unless, of course, that was a calculated guess based on what I said about always wearing the same fragrance."
"Damn it!" he exploded, dropping her feet. "Before you and I are through with this assignment, I hope you will learn that there are at least to sides to every story. I'm not the black-hearted villain you seem to think I am!"
"I never called you a black-hearted villain, Mamoru! I never called you anything."
"Not aloud, maybe, but it's certainly clear enough what you think of me."
"I'm not trying to think of you at all!" Usagi shouted, angry at him at the tears threatening to slip from her eyes.
"You think I did a number on you, then when I'd gotten what I was after, simply kicked you out!"
"Oh no, you were more polite than that. You offered me breakfast first."
"If you'd just waited, had let me explain..."
"There wasn't any point in waiting around. And I'm beginning to think there's no point in even trying to go through with this assignment. Maybe it would be best if I try to talk to the company-"
Before she could finish, Mamoru said in a voice that was soft and low, "Don't run."
Usagi looked into his blue eyes and instead of anger, she saw compassion and something more. Something she couldn't quite identify. On anyone but Mamoru Chiba she would have labeled it as uncertainty.
He continued gently, "Why do you always run when there's a conflict?"
"I don't." Her voice trembled.
"You do. Stand and fight for once."
"There's nothing to fight about. It's obvious that this isn't going to work. I've been here for a total of three and a half hours and all we've done is fight and be uncomfortable with each other."
"It's going to work." His tone was determined.
She glanced away, and then looked back to him gathering her courage. "You say I didn't stay and fight. There are some things in an intimate relationship, that, well you shouldn't have to ask for, let alone fight for."
"I don't agree. I think the really important things have to be asked for, even demanded. Otherwise, you'll never get to know each other."
"Mamoru, that's just it. We never really got to know each other. It was like a fast train, we got on as strangers to the destination of lovers without stopping to become friends. And there was only one of us on board when the destination was reached."
"You were the one who left Usagi. I was in the kitchen making breakfast."
"Don't you understand?!? I didn't want you to scramble the damn eggs!" She was angry again, midnight blue flecks sparking in the aquamarine of her eyes.
"I understand Usagi, I really do. We need to be friends. Strangers, friends, lovers is a sounder sequence."
"We were strangers, lovers, strangers. It was over before it really began."
Mamoru put his hands on her shoulders, looking directly into her eyes. "It's never been over Usa..."
He bent toward her and she felt her heart race as she realized he was going to kiss her. Warning flashed in her head- Resist! Don't give into him! Come on Usagi, pull away! But she was incapable of resisting.
Then his lips were on hers, his fingers tightening on her bare shoulders. It was a tender sweet kiss, totally unlike the one they shared at Kunzite's house. There was as much passion, but it was restrained, carefully kept in check. When Mamoru pulled away, Usagi felt a quick shiver run through his body.
"Friends?" he asked gently.
She smiled slowly. "Friends."
As the rest of the afternoon slipped away, Usagi stood like a statue and Mamoru worked, until the last rays of the sun left the studio. Mamoru wiped his brush into his turpentine-smudged rag and set down his palette. "That's it for today."
Usagi breathed a huge sigh of relief and kicked of the shoes.
"Tired?" he asked ad he watched her put the rose back in it's vase of water and then stretch.
"Uh-huh. You wouldn't think simply standing still for a few hours would be so much work."
Mamoru smiled. "Tomorrow I'll try to let you take breaks more often."
Usagi went back into his bedroom to change. When she came out, Mamoru was nowhere to be seen. Grabbing her bag, she went downstairs and found him standing on the deck. On a round table next to him sat a bottle of red wine and two crystal glasses.
"How about some wine before you go?" he suggested.
"I don't think so."
He cocked his head to one side and eyed her quizzically. "One glass of wine never hurt anyone."
"Didn't it? I'm not so sure," she said quietly. "Will the painting be done within the week?"
"It should be. Why? Anxious to get it over with?"
"Yes."
"There's nothing to be afraid of Usagi."
Oh but there is, she thought. "What time should I come tomorrow?"
"As early as possible. Is nine all right?"
She nodded and then turned to go.
"Usagi..." His voice, low, almost a whisper, yet irresistably powerful, caught and held her.
"Yes?" Her own voice trembled.
"Sweet dreams."
Usagi didn't respond. She couldn't. Instead she turned and hurried away.
Wow, that took a bit of time. It's been forever. It took me around a month to write this part. I'm lazy in the summer oi… Comments 'n such go to cosmic_sailor_mars@hotmail.com Please Review!!!
By Cosmic
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or the any of it characters. This is purely fanfiction, for fans by a fan. Don't sure. There's nothing to win, considering I'm broke.
Well. It's been a really really really long time since I've updated. I've had issues, fanfiction.net has had issues, and I had a writer's block for a while. Plus the end of the school year came and I got busy, many deadlines to meet, and this got pushed aside. Or way back rather. So here is the next installment. Sorry it took so long!!!! Please be a good reader and review or e-mail me. Any comment at all would be wonderful to hear! Cosmic_sailor_mars@hotmail.com. Thank you!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 6: Hold the Pose
Quickly she changed, and then hurried out to the studio.
Watching her approach, Mamoru thought, My God.
Usagi looked absolutely stunning. She wore no jewelry, save for a simple pearl bracelet on her slender wrist, and looked pure and elegant in a wispy ivory dress, which cascaded down around her legs, pooling by her feet. The low cut top of the dress had intricate beadwork and the puffy sleeves on her arms, which turned out to be not even attached to the dress, also had beadwork on them. A delicate white flower was tucked into one of her buns, and her two golden pigtails shone brightly. Mamoru's eyes followed the gown's folds down her body, taking in how it molded to every nuance of line, every curve, every valley. He looked deep into her eyes then let his gaze return to follow the shimmering shaft of ivory down to her feet, which were incased in spike-heeled gold sandals.
Slowly Usagi walked towards him, the dress sliding over her curves enticingly. When she stopped before him, chin held defiantly high, waiting, he watched as the gown molded sensuously to her very breathing. He stared. She obviously wasn't wearing a thing underneath the luscious folds of the gown, and remembering the past, he knew it was all he could do to maintain the impersonal, professional attitude he had begun with.
As he watched her, Usagi moved self-consciously, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. The dress, and the light playing on it, moved with her. She had no idea, Mamoru was sure, how provocative she was at the moment.
"What are they calling this perfume?" he asked huskily, his voice barely under control.
"Seduction," Usagi answered.
"Appropriate," he murmured under his breath.
Even though she didn't catch what he had just said, his response was quite clear. Usagi heard the tremor in his voice and watched desire deepen in the blue of his eyes to the color of midnight. As though mesmerized, the stood looking at one another until Mamoru broke the spell by requesting she shift her position slight to the right. She was happy to follow his suggestion.
"Now lift your chin, too much, slightly up now. There, that's perfect," he said, stepping back.
Looking away, Usagi drew a deep breath and sighed audibly. That was too close for comfort, she told herself. When she glanced back to Mamoru, she saw he was watching her. Then he shrugged.
"Well, someone once said," he said wryly, "that the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."
"Exactly!" Usagi grinned. "That's what CaraLin Diesle hopes to do with this campaign. That's why you were hired to make me look tempting. Women all over the world will see this and want to run to the store and buy a bottle in hopes that they will be equally as tempting. They'll believe that wearing the fragrance will make them seductive and gorgeous and men will go crazy over them." Usagi giggled. "And then the dollars will be rolling in to the manufacturer."
Mamoru raised an eyebrow. "You were talking about the perfume."
"Of course. Weren't you?"
"No."
Not sure how to respond to the not-very-subtle remark, Usagi left it there.
As she stood in the correct pose, Mamoru moved behind his easel and began to layout his tools and then make up his palette in order of the spectrum.
"Have you tested this perfume, this Seduction?" he asked as he worked his brush into a neutral brown. He wasn't looking at her, but she was intensely aware of the fact that his entire concentration was upon her.
"No, I haven't."
"What kind of fragrance is it?"
"Umm..." she pursed her lips thoughtfully, Mamoru slightly raising his head to look at her, his eyes focused on her mouth. "I believe it's a floral perfume."
"I suppose it will cost a bundle." He returned his gaze to his palette and canvas.
"Of course. Otherwise it won't be successful." She watched him make strokes on the stiff, white material. "Don't you do a preliminary sketch first?"
"No,"
"Pretty sure of yourself, aren't you?"
He flashed her a quick grin, causing her breath to catch. "Yes."
He worked in silence, his eyes flashing from the canvas to Usagi to the canvas to his palette to canvas, and so forth. Usagi stared at his until his navy eyes caught her own, and then she shifted her gaze elsewhere, blushing.
"Will you wear the fragrance?" he asked suddenly.
She looked towards him. "No. I always wear the same perfume. I get it from Minako's shop/beauty parlor."
"Oh? What's it called?"
"Moon's Revenge." She smiled at his started expression. "It's a strange name, but I like the smell, and the name somehow clicks with me. Maybe because I'm from Moon Township."
Mamoru nodded.
"Did you know it takes 250 pounds of rose petals to produce one ounce of essential oil for making perfume?"
"I didn't know that." He grinned up at her. "What else do you know about this product you're peddling?"
"Well, there are more than 100 ingredients in a perfume. And there's three notes."
"Notes?"
"The top note has a refreshing odor you sense immediately, the middle provides a full, solid character, and the last a scent that lingers."
"Many things are made with layers, I suppose." Mamoru thought out loud. "My paintings, perfume." Looking at her with those remarkably blue eyes, he added in a low husky voice, "Friendship."
Usagi didn't respond. It was all good and well when the discussion was happily impersonal. Really, she thought, no one cares about perfume. It was something to keep conversation going. But I don't want to touch on personal subjects. And that's where Mamoru turned the conversation.
As Usagi pondered this, Mamoru stopped painting and stared at her. Slowly she averted her eyes back towards him.
"It needs something," he said, standing and hurrying out of the room. A minute passed before he returned, carrying a vase with a single rose bud in it. "Hold this," he told her, handing her the rose and setting the vase down on the chest.
Carefully avoiding the thorns, Usagi took the rose.
"Hold it with both hands, slightly... yes. That's it."
As Usagi took the flower she was reminded of The View, when he had sung to her, and how the wind had blown and as he held her close, flower petals had whirled around them.
"Your expressions perfect! Hold it."
Startled, she glanced up at him.
"Now you've lost it. I want that pensive quality."
She smiled dryly. "Emotion on demand. It's not exactly easy."
"You've been doing it for four years as a model."
But not for you, she thought. Now the emotions are real, not manufactured. But I'm an experienced, professional model, still on the job. I can do this for a week. Then I'm free. She forced her face blank, then willed herself to assume the pensive expression he wanted. Remembering The View, and the petals, and what had come later, and now her she was with him…
"Perfect," Mamoru whispered, dabbing at the canvas.
Usagi stood trying not to move as the silence stretched. It felt intimate, but she could stand it. Conversation seemed out of reach and she didn't want to break his concentration. Then she'd be stuck there longer. She was already growing tired, and the high heels that her fashion coordinator had chosen were beginning to send waves of pain up her legs. Unable to stop herself, she grimaced.
"Getting tired?"
She was surprised at the concerned tone in Mamoru's voice. Up to now, he had been playing the egotistical, domineering artist.
'It's... hard to keep standing here. Can I take a break?"
"Yes. I'm sorry. I get lost in my work and forget about other things, like the comfort of my model.
Usagi nodded as she stretched, her legs feeling cramped and her feat buzzing after maintaining her one position for so long.
"Something to drink?"
"No, thanks." She walked over to the huge window that covered most of the west wall of the studio. Outside, she could see the sun moving toward the horizon. The summer fog that had lain along the coast all morning had burned away a while ago, leaving a bright sunny picture. Straight from a postcard Usagi thought. "This view," she breathed, "It's magnificent."
"Yes. A constant inspiration," Mamoru nodded as he came up behind her. He looked at her, as if he was going to say something else but changed his mind, and turned around. "We'd better get back to work."
She nodded and got back into position. Mamoru worked his eyes shifting from her to his canvas and back, leaving her to her thoughts. Her rather turbulent thoughts, which were mostly about him. Another hour passed and then two and she wondered just how long she would be stuck standing there. Her feet were aching and she wanted to kick off the horrible shoes and chuck one at Mamoru's head.
"Is it time for another break?" she asked, unable to stand it any longer.
Mamoru, who had been concentrating intently, glanced up, surprise written across his face. "What time is it?" Glancing at his watch he grinned sheepishly. "Sorry. I didn't realize so much time had passed. Getting tired again?"
"Yes. This is different that photographic modeling. At least there I usually get to move around a little."
He put down his brush and palette and walked over to her. "Take a break."
Taking a tall bar stool from a corner, he pulled it over for her to sit on. The stool had a high back and Usagi leaned back gratefully.
Then, to her surprise, he slipped off her sandals and began gently massaging her feet. The movement of his fingers on the tender flesh of her instep, the circular motion of his thumbs on the smooth curve of her ankles, was incredibly erotic. She felt a tingle of desire shoot up her leg and lodge in her abdomen. And something odd was happening to her breathing.
"Do all your models get such wonderful treatment?" she teased, trying to keep the atmosphere light.
"Of course."
But all her efforts to deny the sexual tension building between them were futile.
"You're wearing the same perfume you wore four years ago," he murmured.
"I'm surprised you remember," she replied haltingly. Then trying to shore up her rapidly weakening defenses, she added, "Unless, of course, that was a calculated guess based on what I said about always wearing the same fragrance."
"Damn it!" he exploded, dropping her feet. "Before you and I are through with this assignment, I hope you will learn that there are at least to sides to every story. I'm not the black-hearted villain you seem to think I am!"
"I never called you a black-hearted villain, Mamoru! I never called you anything."
"Not aloud, maybe, but it's certainly clear enough what you think of me."
"I'm not trying to think of you at all!" Usagi shouted, angry at him at the tears threatening to slip from her eyes.
"You think I did a number on you, then when I'd gotten what I was after, simply kicked you out!"
"Oh no, you were more polite than that. You offered me breakfast first."
"If you'd just waited, had let me explain..."
"There wasn't any point in waiting around. And I'm beginning to think there's no point in even trying to go through with this assignment. Maybe it would be best if I try to talk to the company-"
Before she could finish, Mamoru said in a voice that was soft and low, "Don't run."
Usagi looked into his blue eyes and instead of anger, she saw compassion and something more. Something she couldn't quite identify. On anyone but Mamoru Chiba she would have labeled it as uncertainty.
He continued gently, "Why do you always run when there's a conflict?"
"I don't." Her voice trembled.
"You do. Stand and fight for once."
"There's nothing to fight about. It's obvious that this isn't going to work. I've been here for a total of three and a half hours and all we've done is fight and be uncomfortable with each other."
"It's going to work." His tone was determined.
She glanced away, and then looked back to him gathering her courage. "You say I didn't stay and fight. There are some things in an intimate relationship, that, well you shouldn't have to ask for, let alone fight for."
"I don't agree. I think the really important things have to be asked for, even demanded. Otherwise, you'll never get to know each other."
"Mamoru, that's just it. We never really got to know each other. It was like a fast train, we got on as strangers to the destination of lovers without stopping to become friends. And there was only one of us on board when the destination was reached."
"You were the one who left Usagi. I was in the kitchen making breakfast."
"Don't you understand?!? I didn't want you to scramble the damn eggs!" She was angry again, midnight blue flecks sparking in the aquamarine of her eyes.
"I understand Usagi, I really do. We need to be friends. Strangers, friends, lovers is a sounder sequence."
"We were strangers, lovers, strangers. It was over before it really began."
Mamoru put his hands on her shoulders, looking directly into her eyes. "It's never been over Usa..."
He bent toward her and she felt her heart race as she realized he was going to kiss her. Warning flashed in her head- Resist! Don't give into him! Come on Usagi, pull away! But she was incapable of resisting.
Then his lips were on hers, his fingers tightening on her bare shoulders. It was a tender sweet kiss, totally unlike the one they shared at Kunzite's house. There was as much passion, but it was restrained, carefully kept in check. When Mamoru pulled away, Usagi felt a quick shiver run through his body.
"Friends?" he asked gently.
She smiled slowly. "Friends."
As the rest of the afternoon slipped away, Usagi stood like a statue and Mamoru worked, until the last rays of the sun left the studio. Mamoru wiped his brush into his turpentine-smudged rag and set down his palette. "That's it for today."
Usagi breathed a huge sigh of relief and kicked of the shoes.
"Tired?" he asked ad he watched her put the rose back in it's vase of water and then stretch.
"Uh-huh. You wouldn't think simply standing still for a few hours would be so much work."
Mamoru smiled. "Tomorrow I'll try to let you take breaks more often."
Usagi went back into his bedroom to change. When she came out, Mamoru was nowhere to be seen. Grabbing her bag, she went downstairs and found him standing on the deck. On a round table next to him sat a bottle of red wine and two crystal glasses.
"How about some wine before you go?" he suggested.
"I don't think so."
He cocked his head to one side and eyed her quizzically. "One glass of wine never hurt anyone."
"Didn't it? I'm not so sure," she said quietly. "Will the painting be done within the week?"
"It should be. Why? Anxious to get it over with?"
"Yes."
"There's nothing to be afraid of Usagi."
Oh but there is, she thought. "What time should I come tomorrow?"
"As early as possible. Is nine all right?"
She nodded and then turned to go.
"Usagi..." His voice, low, almost a whisper, yet irresistably powerful, caught and held her.
"Yes?" Her own voice trembled.
"Sweet dreams."
Usagi didn't respond. She couldn't. Instead she turned and hurried away.
Wow, that took a bit of time. It's been forever. It took me around a month to write this part. I'm lazy in the summer oi… Comments 'n such go to cosmic_sailor_mars@hotmail.com Please Review!!!