Who knew I could write a chapter in one day?
"Touch the dawn,
Reach for the rainbow,
Become the colors."
Touch the Dawn 4/10
by Elysia [ely_chan@yahoo.com]
Rated PG/PG-13
Mamoru suddenly shot up out of bed, breathing heavily. He looked about the dim room, his eyes adjusting to the dark and taking in his surroundings. He ran a shaky hand through his tousled hair, stood up and made his way over to the window.
'Had it all been a dream?' Mamoru thought to himself, as he stared out at the setting sun. It seemed so real, so vivid that he might have actually believed the events of the past week really happened.
He padded across the room in his stocking feet, planning to fix himself a soothing cup of tea and a call to Usagi to calm his nerves. As Mamoru entered the other room, he was greeted by an all too familiar figure.
"Mamoru, you had me so worried! Your father called me at home and said that you left work without saying a word to anyone. I rushed right over here to make sure you were all right. What's wrong, sweetheart?" Nagisa gazed at him with worry.
Mamoru sighed. This was no dream.
It was a never-ending nightmare.
******
"You're refusing to go to work?" Nagisa exclaimed. "What am I going to tell your father?"
"I can't get anything accomplished there," he replied, sipping at his tea. "Hokori-san insists that I work together with Usa...Usagi-san," he caught himself, "and I just can't seem to get anything done when I'm in the same room with her."
"Aha," Nagisa smiled knowingly. "You're attracted to her, aren't you?"
Mamoru nearly choked.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
He shook his head. "I can't be attracted to her because we work together... and she's too damn cold and professional! I don't know how anyone could stand to be around her for more than 5 minutes without wanting to throttle her!"
Nagisa laughed. "Oh my, this is past simple attraction. You're completely gone on her. How long has this been going on?"
Mamoru stared at her, wondering how she could see through him so easily. "You wouldn't exactly believe me if I told you."
"I'm your mother, of course I'll believe you."
Shaking his head, Mamoru sighed and pushed away his empty teacup. "You didn't believe me when I tried to tell you before." Nagisa frowned. "You're not talking about your silly little notion that you've been alone for the last 17 years, are you? What does this have to do with your co-worker?"
"I told you you wouldn't understand."
Nagisa reached across the table and laid her hand on top of Mamoru's. "Tell me anyway. I promise I'll listen."
He didn't move away. "For the last 17 years, the only life I had ever known was being alone. I had no memory of my childhood, but I still managed to make a life for myself, and I didn't accept any pity for what I had lost. I met Usagi about 5 years ago and she completely changed me. At first I teased her all the time and we constantly fought, but we eventually got used to each other, and before I knew it we were inseparable.
"Then one morning last week I wake up, and find it's all been taken away from me, and replaced with you and Hokori-san claiming to be my parents. Suddenly I have thousands of new memories, but I still remember the old ones at the same time. I don't understand why I'm the one having to go through this."
"I'm sorry."
For what?"
Nagisa wiped away a stray tear. "Because you had to go through this 'other life' all alone. We should have been there for you."
Mamoru's eyes widened. "You-you believe me?"
"I'm not sure what to believe. Perhaps you really need some help working through these strange 'memories' of yours, but I can't exactly call my own son a liar. I can't deny what you've told me."
"Thank you, I think." It felt odd to have this unfamiliar woman agree with his story, but Mamoru didn't feel like debating that fact any further.
"So you knew Usagi-san before, but now, she doesn't remember you?"
"She knows me," Mamoru corrected her, "but she doesn't remember 'us.' I tried to convince her the other day."
"And what happened?"
"She slapped me."
Nagisa winced. "Sounds just like your father. He had a bit of his own trouble when he first met me. No wonder you don't want to go back to work."
Mamoru nodded. "I'm not ready to face her yet. Not if she won't listen to me."
Nagisa looked thoughtful. "Maybe I can help you grab her attention again."
******
Mamoru strolled into the office bright and early the next morning, even beating Hokori. He wasn't a bit surprised to seeing Usagi already there, deeply engrossed in the contents of a file.
"Good morning, Usagi-san," he called out, making his way to his desk. She made a small noise in reply but didn't look up.
He smiled. "Don't I deserve more than that?"
Usagi dropped her pen on the desk and flashed Mamoru a quick smile. "Good morning, Mamoru-san. I wasn't expecting to see you here today."
"Oh really? And why not?"
She removed her glasses and rubbed her eyes. "After your little show the other day, I honestly think you wouldn't come near me for a while."
Mamoru raised his eyebrows. "That's what you think."
Usagi glared at him. "Never mind. Let's just try to get something accomplished today, okay? I want to make my time here worthwhile."
"I plan to," he replied, but he didn't sit at his desk. Instead, Mamoru walked over to Usagi's desk and placed the palms of his hands on the edge, just staring at her.
With a sigh, she threw down her pen again and stared up at him. "What do you want now, Mamoru-san?"
He cracked a smile. "I want you to go out with me."
Her eyes widened twice their size. "Are you INSANE? For one thing, it's against company policy. Just ask your father. He's the one who issued the rule. And two, what makes you think I'd ever go out with you?"
"Because I'm... cute?"
Usagi almost threw her pen in Mamoru's face. "Ha! Keep on dreaming then, Mamoru-san, because it'll never happen."
Mamoru turned around and leaned on the edge of her desk, looking nonchalantly around the room. "Try relaxing once in a while, Odango Atama."
She froze. "What did you just call me?"
"You heard me."
Usagi slowly stood and came around to the front of her desk so she could face him. He could see the blood rushing to her face in anger and the veins threatening to pop. "No one," she seethed, "gets away with calling me that and lives!" She leapt at Mamoru, intending to claw his eyes out. "You can't call me that anymore! I haven't worn my hair like that in years."
He laughed loudly, fighting off her flailing hands easily. "You can do better than that, can't you, Odango?" Mamoru teased. Usagi scowled and tried to slap him again.
At that moment, Mamoru caught both of Usagi's arms and pinned them to her sides. Her eyes widened as he advanced on her, their faces getting closer and closer. "You know this is so against company policy," she mumbled.
Mamoru felt the heat rising between them as he pulled Usagi in close. "Damn the company policy. Sometimes you're just too professional for your own good." Usagi gave him a quirky smile. "I like being professional, thank you very much. Makes me feel like I've accomplished something."
He was about to close the remaining gap between them when the door suddenly opened and Hokori boomed a loud 'good morning' to both of them as he walked by. Quick as a flash, Usagi was out of his arms and back at her desk, organizing some loose papers. Mamoru groaned audibly and turned back to his own work, kicking himself as he went. But before he sat down, he looked once more at Usagi. "So you'll think about what I asked, right?"
Usagi's head whipped up, her sparkling blue eyes gazing firmly at Mamoru. He swore he could see a tiny bit of blush in her cheeks. "What did you ask again?"
"If you would go out with me."
She looked away, but for a split second, he thought he saw a hint of a smile appear. "We'll see."