Act Seven - The Affair

The drive to the house was quiet. Both Setsuna and Mamoru barely spoke a word to each other, but it was a comfortable silence, one the time guardian was grateful for. She wasn't much in the mood for talking anyway.

Setsuna stared out the window at the passing lights, pulling Mamoru's tuxedo jacket closer around her body. She now regretted her choice of dress for the night. How could she have let Michiru talk her into wearing such a revealing gown? It was no wonder that Yasashiku lost control of himself. She wrapped her arms around herself in a hug, shuddering at the thought of what might have happened if Mamoru hadn't shown up at the right moment.

Mamoru, noticing her distraction, placed a comforting hand on her knee. "Are you sure you're alright, Setsuna-san?" he asked.

She nodded her head slightly. "I'm fine, Mamoru-san. It's just a little cold in here."

He reached up and turned on the heater, the warm air blowing pleasantly in her face. "Better?"

"Yes, much."

Silence fell over the two again. Mamoru turned on the radio to a local pop station, his hands beating on his steering wheel to the beat of an old Three Lights song as he waited for the light to turn green. Setsuna arched her eyebrow in mild surprise at his taste in music. He was the last person she would expect to be a Three Lights fan.

"What?" he asked, noticing the look in her garnet eyes.

"Nothing. I just didn't know that you liked to listen to 97.3 KPOP."

"I'm not really a fan. It's the station Usagi always likes to listen to in the morning when I drop her off at work. I can change it if you want."

"No, it's fine."

Setsuna glanced over at Mamoru, noticing a sad look in his eyes. She suspected his melancholy mood had to do with Usagi. They must have had a fight or something. It would explain why they hadn't said a single word to each other the entire evening and how he was so eager to take her home, leaving Usagi behind at the party.

"Mamoru-san, I don't mean to pry, but did you and Usagi get into an argument?" Setsuna asked. "I sensed a distance between the two of you tonight at the restaurant."

He let out a deep breath. It appeared that they hadn't managed to keep their little fight a secret after all. "We had a disagreement over some money issues," he finally admitted. "Usagi's been spending money right and left on this wedding. Can you believe she's already spent over a quarter of a million dollars of my inheritance?"

Setsuna blushed faintly, remembering the large check Usagi wrote out to Timeless Creations that day the girls came to pick out their dresses. "Usagi-chan probably just didn't realize how much money she was spending. Math never was her best subject. I'm sure you two will work it out somehow. After all, you are destined to be together."

Another of her familiar attacks came over her, the ache in her heart even worse than before. Setsuna tightly shut her eyes, hoping the pain would go away quickly. When would this end? The throbbing subsided a couple of seconds later, and she glanced over at Mamoru, hoping he hadn't noticed.

However, she found him staring straight ahead at the road, a tear running down his cheek, which he quickly wiped away. "I don't know if I can forgive her, Setsuna-san," he said is a low voice.

"What do you mean? Of course you can," Setsuna said, ignoring another ache in her heart. "It's not like she cheated on you or something like that. She simply made a mistake. Is money worth giving up the love of your life? You two are destined to be together."

"I know that, but sometimes I think what life would be like if I didn't know the future," Mamoru confessed. "It's a burden to know your destiny, Setsuna-san. I love Usako, I really do, but…what if I just love her because I know I have to love her? Suppose Chibi-Usa never came to the past and we never knew about Crystal Tokyo. Would I still love her?"

Mamoru had no idea why he found himself admitting these feelings of doubt to of all people, Setsuna. They'd never been particularly close. The mysterious time guardian tended to keep to herself, much like he did. He looked over at his companion, who was staring at the folded hands in her lap in quiet contemplation.

"You can't change destiny, Mamoru-san," she finally said mournfully. Mamoru had never seen such a sad look in Setsuna's pretty red eyes. He felt that she was saying that for her benefit, as well as his. "I can't tell you what would have happened if you hadn't visited the future, but the one thing I do know is that it is your destiny to marry Usagi-chan and rule along side her as King Endymion. If you don't, Crystal Tokyo will fail to exist and the hope of a happy future is gone."

The future king of Earth let out a sigh, knowing that what Setsuna said was the truth. He'd seen the future. He knew his destiny, and it was a great one, one that he fought to protect from the evils of the Black Moon Kingdom. But lately, ever since Minako returned home to Tokyo, Mamoru found himself having doubts about his love for Usagi. He was lost for an explanation.

Her carelessness with his inheritance was just the tip of the iceberg. He was finding faults with everything she did and said. Even tonight, he couldn't help thinking that Usagi resembled a blob of cotton candy in that ridiculous pink ball gown she decided to wear to the party. It wasn't like him at all. Everything he once loved about her seemed so annoying and childish. Perhaps it was just pre-wedding jitters.

"We are all prisoners of Destiny…"

Setsuna hadn't meant to say the words aloud, but they were out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Beside her, Mamoru nodded his head in silent agreement as he drove into the driveway of her house. He understood exactly what she meant. They were all at the mercy of fate.

Though she insisted that she would be fine, Mamoru walked her to the house. Setsuna pulled out her key from her purse, unlocking the front door, but did not immediately go inside. "Thank you, Mamoru-san, for everything," she said, looking up into his dark blue eyes.

Were they always so beautiful? she thought. Setsuna felt a pleasant shiver run up her spine as Mamoru, for reasons unknown, reached up and gently touched her cheek.

"Are you sure you are going to be okay, all alone in this huge house?" he asked.

"I'll be alright, but…" Setsuna said, biting her bottom lip. She would be fine by herself, but she had this sudden urge for Mamoru to stay. A small smile on her face, Setsuna opened the door. "Would you like some coffee or tea?"

His throat suddenly parched, Mamoru nodded his head and silently followed the beautiful guardian of time into the house.

Usagi was starting to worry. The chair beside her remained empty, though over an hour had passed since Mamoru left to find Setsuna and Yasashiku. The two lovers also failed to return, but the blonde could understand their absence. She wringed the linen napkin in her hands nervously, wondering what could be keeping Mamoru.

Her fiancé had been acting most strange lately, though. The fight they shared earlier that evening was just the most recent example of Mamoru's changed behavior, and Usagi didn't like it one bit. All that money must be going to his head.

"Where the heck is he?" she asked, half to herself, half aloud.

Naru, sitting beside her best friend, shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe he's still out in the gardens," she suggested, taking a drink of her champagne. "You know how Mamoru loves roses. Besides, it is a beautiful night. It's almost a shame to stay inside. Right, Gurio?"

There was a tone of suggestion in her voice, directed at her long time boyfriend. Unfortunately, Umino Gurio failed to pick up on her subtle hint. "If you don't have allergies," he answered, sneezing in his napkin. "My nose is killing me."

Naru rolled her eyes in mild annoyance as Usagi stood up, excusing herself from the party. She then went out into the beautiful rose garden, searching for Mamoru.

Though there were quite a few people outside, enjoying the beautiful night sky, Mamoru was not among them. Usagi twisted her engagement ring around on her finger in worry. It wasn't like him to just disappear without telling her, even if they weren't exactly talking to each other. Surely he would have left a message with one of the other girls if he had decided to leave.

She found the young man who parked their car, asking him if Mamoru had left. The valet informed her that he did in fact leave about forty-five minutes ago. Usagi gave him a twenty dollar tip and headed back inside, tears clouding her lovely blue eyes. How could he do something like this, especially at their engagement party?

When she returned back to the table, she found everybody getting ready to leave. The party was just about ending. Usagi put a smile on her face as she thanked everybody for coming, but Naru didn't fail to notice the hurt in her best friend's eyes.

"Usagi-chan, did you find Mamoru?" she asked.

Usagi shook her head. "The valet said he left about an hour ago. I guess he felt sick or something," she lied.

"Well, do you need a ride back to the apartment? Gurio and I would be happy to drop you off."

She shot her friend a grateful smile. "Thanks, Naru-chan. You're such a good friend."

"It's nothing."

After Umino finished drinking his glass of champagne, Usagi followed the couple out to the parking lot. It was taking all her willpower not to burst into tears.

Why did Mamoru leave?

The woman with the emerald green eyes watched the events unfold around her, a satisfied smile on her face. Everything was happening right on schedule. Both Endymion and the sexy green-haired woman had left and were undoubtedly together. It was only a matter of time before the prince and princess's engagement was called off and she could put the next step of her plan into
action.

She flagged down one of the waiters at a nearby table and ordered a bottle of wine. It was time to celebrate her victory. When the waiter finished filling her glass, she held it up toward the leaving party, a silent toast on her lips.

"Cheers, my dear Serenity and Endymion."

As she prepared a pot of coffee in the kitchen, Setsuna snuck a glance at Mamoru, who was sitting on the love seat in the living room. He was flipping through one of Haruka's hot rod magazines, but she could tell he wasn't really reading it. He was still too upset about his fight with Usagi to focus.

Sensing her gaze on him, Mamoru looked up from the magazine, causing Setsuna to blush slightly. Her heart pounded loudly against her chest as his sapphire blue eyes locked with her own. "Um…how do you like your coffee, Mamoru-san?" she asked quickly.

"Black is fine."

She nodded, pulling two mugs from the cabinet. Her hands were shaking while she poured the coffee, almost causing her to drop one of the mugs on the floor. Why was she suddenly so nervous around Mamoru? Maybe she was still a little bit jumpy from her experience with Yasashiku.

To calm her nerves, Setsuna took in a few deep breaths. This was ridiculous. She had nothing to be afraid of. Mamoru would never hurt her. He was her knight in shining armor.

Setsuna put a couple of spoonfuls of sugar into her coffee, then went into the living room, handing the other mug to a silent Mamoru, who nodded his thanks. She took the seat beside him on the small couch, taking a sip of the bitter liquid. Making coffee was definitely not her forte. Even with the sugar, she could still taste the tart flavor. Mamoru didn't seem to mind though.

"Read anything interesting?" she asked, breaking the silence.

Mamoru shook his head and closed the magazine, tossing it back on the coffee table. "I'm not really interested in cars," he replied. "Just trying to keep my mind off…"

His words trailed off, but he didn't need to finish for Setsuna to understand. They'd both been hurt tonight. Her hand found his, and she gave it a tiny squeeze. "It'll all work out in the end, Mamoru-san."

Surprised by the time guardian's gentle display of affection, he glanced up, staring straight into Setsuna's gorgeous red eyes that would put even the rarest Burmese rubies to shame. They were positively spellbinding. He suddenly felt a strange feeling wash over him, as if someone else had taken over his body and there was nothing he could do to control it. Was she always so beautiful?

Before either of them knew what was happening, Mamoru brought his lips to her own, kissing her softly. Although she knew somewhere at the back of her mind that it was wrong, she no longer cared. Setsuna found herself responding hungrily to his kisses. It felt so good to be in his arms.

Reluctantly, he pulled away, his eyes widened in surprise at what he had just done. What was he thinking? He was engaged to Usagi; she was the one he loved. But he couldn't deny this strange magnetic attraction he suddenly felt toward Setsuna -- an attraction that was growing stronger by the minute.

"I'm sorry," he quickly apologized. "I don't know what came over me. I just felt this urge…"

Setsuna reached up and put a finger to his lips. "It's okay. I felt it too," she said before kissing him again.

A soft smile on her face, she stood up and pulled him up from the couch. "Let's go somewhere a little more comfortable," she said, leading him up the stairs and suddenly grateful that she took Michiru's advice about the thong after all.

Mamoru, blocking away a fleeting thought of Usagi, was only too willing to oblige.

Naru and Umino dropped Usagi off at Mamoru's apartment building around ten o'clock. She was disheartened not to find Mamoru's car in the parking lot. A part of her hoped he really had gotten sick and decided to go home, but that was evidently not the case. Usagi said goodbye to her friends, then slowly walked upstairs to his apartment.

The door was locked, as to be expected. Usagi briefly thought about just leaving and heading over to her own apartment, but she didn't have a ride. Naru and Umino were already gone, and she hated to take public transportation at night. So she unlocked to door and entered the darkened apartment.

The living room seemed eerily quiet without Mamoru or Luna around. Her guardian cat had been spending more and more time with Artemis lately, but Usagi wished she was around so that she would at least have someone to talk to about Mamoru.

She didn't understand what she was doing wrong. Maybe it was a bad idea to have spent so much money on the party and the dresses, but it wasn't like they didn't have the money to spare. Mamoru's inheritance was more than generous. Was it such a horrible thing to want to have a beautiful wedding?

Deciding that it was no use to worry about it now, Usagi undressed and put on her nightgown. They would talk about it tomorrow. All she wanted to do was snuggle under the covers and go to sleep.

But sleep did not come for her. Usagi was too preoccupied with her thoughts. An hour passed and Mamoru still hadn't come home. Usagi was worried. She thought about calling the police, but decided to give him a couple of more hours.

Finally, at around midnight, she heard the familiar sound of Mamoru's footsteps in the living room. He walked into their bedroom a few minutes later with his jacket swung over shoulder and his bowtie undone.

"Where were you?" she asked softly as he tossed his jacket over on the armchair that sat in the corner and started undressing.

"Out," Mamoru answered, quickly shifting his gaze from his fiancée's questioning eyes.

From the tone in his voice, Usagi figured it would be best if she didn't ask anymore questions. It was obvious he didn't want to talk about it. Tears clouded her eyes as he slid into bed beside her, not even bothering to give her a goodnight kiss.

But that was not the reason she wanted to cry. Surrounding him was the scent of a sweet smelling perfume that Usagi didn't recognize as her own. That could only mean one thing.

He had been with another woman.

She turned away from Mamoru and silently cried herself to sleep.