Chapter Eight
Squall tensed at the sound of squeals. He looked down the hall, and found a group of girls surrounding a new-posted billboard. With a shake of his head, he passed the group of excited girls, till a hand touching his chest, stopped him. "Not curious?" He frowned at Setsuna, who leaned against the wall leisurely. "No not really."
Setsuna shrugged, pulling her hands away, "it's a dance, nothing special." He nodded, and started to pass, until he heard a scream echo through the halls.
"USAGI!!!!!!"
He turned around, and eyed the blonde haired girl, with a red bow; jump up and down in front of the billboard. Half amused, he asked, "Is it that exciting?" He remembered the last dance he went to, where he first met Rinoa. He hadn't been too impressed.
Shrugging off the old memories, he looked at Setsuna. She smiled, crossing her arms over her chest, "Hai it is. To some it means fun." She waved her hand, and Squall looked at Minako, who was nearly bouncing down the halls, her long hair flying about her.
"And to others, it means a great deal to them." She waved her hand again, and this time, Squall found Usagi, staring at the billboard with longing. He watched her sigh low and deep, before turning away from it.
Setsuna pushed herself from the wall, "Usagi, well, she loves to have fun, we all know how much she does. But she most likely wont be going to this dance."
She smiled wryly, "well, I'll see you around Squall." She turned, and started down to her office, her heels clicking on the tiled floor.
Squall watched Usagi jog after Minako, but he recognized the signs in her, from the same sign Selphie had emitted when she had been upset, because the Garden shutting down the festival. He frowned, everything in this world, reminded him, of his home. He couldn't wait to go back.
Or maybe he could.
?????
Minako linked her arm with Usagi's, "Please Usagi, just talk to him. He'll say hai to you, you know it." Usagi pouted, while looking at her lunch bag with longing, "But I just want to eat lunch Mina chan."
Minako took Usagi's bag away, "Iie. Not until you ask him." Usagi's eyes filled with tears, "Mina chan, you're so mean." Her stomach growled, and she whimpered. "I'm hungry, give me back my lunch." Minako shook her head, and waved a finger at her blonde friend. "Iie. If you ask him, I'll give it back to you."
"Hey Usagi chan, Mina chan!"
Usagi whirled around, "Mako chan, Mina chan took my lunch, and I'm hungry."
The tall burnet frowned, "Minako, why'd you do that?" Minako scowled, "you snitch! She wont ask Squall out for me."
Suddenly Makoto's eyes filled with heart, "Oh that cute new kid, he looks just like my..." Minako gasped, "Don't you dare say it. He's mine!"
Makoto clenched her fists, "Iie, I don't see your name on him. Plus, you don't even have to guts to ask him out, yourself." Minako pointed at the taller girl with her finger, "Hai, but Usagi knows him, he can't say iie to her." Makoto's eyes lit up.
"Usagi chan, you know Squall?"
Usagi's jaw dropped, "I..."
Minako turned on the shorter girl, "Usagi chan, ask him out for me."
Makoto leaped at the blonde, "Iie for me!" Usagi gagged, "Mako chan, I can't breathe!" Makoto didn't let her go, but shook her, "Ask him!"
Minako shoved the burnet out of the way, "iie, ask him out to the dance for me."
"What's going on out here?"
All three looked up.
Two cried, "Usagi chan's gonna ask Squall out for me!" "Not for you, for me!"
One cried out in desperation, "Ami chan help me!!!!"
Ami frowned, "the new young man, Mr. Leonhart? He's in my chemistry class, why do you want to go out with him?" Both girls smiled, and they leaped at the blue haired girl, demanding her to ask him out for them. Usagi grabbed her lunch bag, and took off to the other end of the courtyard, to get some time alone. She sat down by a tree, and opened her lunch bag. "I'm sooooooo hungry."
"I guess."
Usagi paused between mouths full of her lunch, and looked up to see Squall hovering over her. She swallowed, flushing, "Hello."
He nodded to the spot next to her, "can I sit?" She went beat red, and nearly flew a foot over, so he could sit next to her in the shade of the tree. He leaned against the trunk, and stared at the grass.
Usagi set her food down, thinking, and then blurted out in one breath, "WillyougotothedancewithMinakososhe'llst-ophoundingmetoaskyououtforher?" He blinked, once, then twice, before looking at her, "What?"
She flushed again, but this time brighter, "Will you go to the dance with Minako?"
He raised an eyebrow, "I'm not going to the dance." He looked back out at the green grass, his lips forming a straight line. When she didn't say anything, he lifted his gaze to look at her, and found her looking at him speechless.
"What?"
He glanced around, looking for something that might have shocked her.
"You turned down Minako." He looked back at her, "yea." Usagi swallowed, "You can't turn her down!" She grabbed him by the front of his uniform, bring his face close to hers, "you just cant!"
He scowled, "Why can't I?"
Usagi's eyes filled with tears, "Because, I'll have to continue in track, and she wont do my chores for a week, until you do! And she'll continue to drag me around to follow you, and I'll never get a night rest, without her calling me 24/7 to see if I asked you out yet. And Mamoru will think I'm chasing you for me, and he'll leave me, and my life will be hell for the rest of my life unless you do!"
A single eyebrow rose, "all that will happen, if I say no?" Usagi nodded, tears clinging to her lashes. "I don't want to run anymore, and I want to sleep at night, and go the arcade, and... and..."
She inhaled, trying to contain her tears, "Please, just one night, one dance whatever. She'll get over you, once she gets you, and leave me alone, until the next guy she likes, and I already know."
Squall grabbed the hands that held him, and forced the fingers loose. He pushed her back gently. He sighed slowly, turning to face the grass again. Usagi pouted next to him.
"What kind of dance is it?"
"Semi formal." Hope shined in her eyes, as she looked at him.
"One date?"
She nodded.
"One dance?"
She hesitated on that one, and he looked at her. She caught his eyes, and flushed. She nodded slowly, "One dance, but I don't guarantee it."
She looked away, and gnawed on her bottom lip. "You'll have to make an excuse to leave early." She sighed, and looked back at him, to see him staring up at the sky now. He looked deep in thought.
"Will you be going?"
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, and shook her head. "Iie. I don't have a reason to go." She held back the pain in her voice.
He looked at her, "what reason would you need to go to a dance for?"
She replied flippantly, "A date. Ruka chan has Michi chan. Rei chan has this guy at the temple. Mako chan is going with one of her old friends. Ami chan, surprisingly enough, is going, with this boy genius, which came to our school for like a month. Hoto chan is too young, and Setsuna chan is a chaperone. And then if you go, Mina chan has you."
Squall nodded, "I'll take her on one condition."
Usagi looked up at him warily, "Nani?" He smirked, "Nothing bad. If I have to go with Minako, then I'll take you as well."
She went red, "I don't..."
He shrugged, "then it's a no go." He stood, and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "See you around." He started off for the door to the school. Usagi watched him go, and frowned in thought.
Could she risk the chance of screwing up her relationship with Mamoru, just to make Minako happy? She stood, and started for the school, she'd have to think on this one.
?????
Minako chugged up the stairs, "Usagi get your butt in gear!" Usagi bent at the waist, only a forth up the flight of stairs to the temple. She still wore her PE uniform from track.
She looked up, a beat of sweat dancing on her cheek. "Mina chan, I can't take another step. I need water, or a cherry coke, or...or. Chocolate ice-cream, SOMETHING!!!!" Minako turned around, her long blonde hair whipping the air, "Usagi...Oh my kami, look at that hunk!"
Usagi blinked, and watched as Minako raced down the steps, nearly running over a poor bystander, to reach a guy from their school. She whimpered, and fell onto the step she stood on. "I need food."
"Usagi?"
She looked up, "Rei help me, I need water!"
Rei disappeared, only to come back, with a cup of water. She hurried down the stairs, stopping next to the blonde. "Usagi chan what wrong?"
Usagi took the water from her, and gulped it down in one swallow. She gasped, "Artigato Rei chan." Rei took the glass back, "What happened, you look like you ran a marathon, and fought twenty youmas."
Usagi wiped a hand across her brow. "I had track. Minako met me at the end of it, and I told her Squall turned her down."
Rei winced, "Oh."
Usagi nodded, and saw Minako head back towards them, "Oh kami hide me." She jumped to her feet, and raced up the rest of the way, and ducked behind a bush.
Minako reached Rei, "Where's Usagi?" Rei stood, "up the stairs, to the left behind a bush."
She nodded, and the two girls started up the stairs. "Rei I need your help." Rei crossed her arms over her chest, "Hai?"
Minako fell onto the last step, "You still have those charms, and potions left over from last summer's festival right?"
Rei sat down next to the blonde, "Hai, plenty, but you know they really don't..."
She held up her hands, "Please Rei spare me. I need a love potion." Rei blinked, "what for?" Minako looked at her friend, "Duh! For Squall. I need a date to the dance, and I want to go with him."
Usagi stepped out from behind the bush, "I think I'll be going now..." she took a step towards the stairs. Minako gave her a sharp look, "not so fast Blondie. You're going to help."
Usagi pouted, "but I have to go to work Mina chan!"
Rei stood, "Follow me."
Minako stood, taking Usagi's arm, and dragged her after Rei. They were led into a small room, where there was a smell of incense in the air, and only candle lit the room up with light. Bottles of all shapes, covered the shelves, and there was an Alter in front of them, with a symbol drawn on it.
Rei moved to the shelf with the symbol of Venus, and grasped a glass jar, and held it up. "Alright, I started this, just in case someone might come. Well..." she set the jar down on the Alter, "for it to really truly work, we'll have to wait till this Friday, to finish the potion. Understand?"
Minako nodded. Rei added, "you will collect the rest of the ingredients, and give them to me on Friday, at Sunrise. We will finish it up then."
Minako grinned, "Great, I can't wait!"
?????
Usagi sluggishly walked into the arcade twenty minutes later. "Hey Motoki kun."
Motoki looked up from washing the counter. "You okay Usagi, you don't look so well."
Usagi sheepishly smiled, not feeling up to working. She sat down at the counter, "I told Minako that the guy she likes turned her down."
Motoki winced, "Oh." Usagi nodded, "hai, and she drug me up to Rei's right after the two mile run at track, and is making a Love potion."
Motoki chuckled, "poor Usagi. Here I'll make you an ice-cream."
Usagi smiled gratefully. Motoki went into the kitchen, leaving Usagi alone. "Had a rough time?"
Usagi inwardly groaned, "Don't say a word to me Squall, this is all your fault."
Squall stood, carrying his cup, and sat down next to Usagi. "I gave you a choice, so it's not my fault." Usagi pouted, "Squall, I can't go. Mamoru..." She shook her head, "Mamo chan wont like it."
Squall set his cup down, "Does he own you?"
Usagi narrowed her eyes, and looked at him sharply, "Don't give me that. You don't understand him. I love him, and he loves me."
Squall looked at the kitchen door, when something hit the ground inside, he looked back at Usagi, "yea I see it." Usagi scowled, "what is that supposed to mean?"
Squall shrugged, "I don't know, what do you think?"
Usagi fiddled with a napkin. "Is this one of those times your trying to tell me something, without having to really tell me?" A single eyebrow rose, "I don't think so." Usagi frowned, "then why are you telling me this?"
Squall looked up, as the kitchen door swung open, and Motoki stepped out into the arcade, an ice cream sundae in his hands. He set it down, and looked at Squall.
Usagi sighed, "I lost my appetite." She stood, and moved behind the counter, and grabbed an apron. She tied the knot at her waist, and grabbed a cloth. She went to the tables near the windows, and started cleaning up.
Squall drank the rest of his drink, and set down a couple of yen, before standing. "See you around Usagi." He nodded in her direction, before slipped out of the arcade and into the bright sun.
Usagi watched him go from the far corner.
Motoki crossed his arms over his chest, "He's right you know. Mamoru kun, doesn't own you." Usagi whirled about, looking at him, "were you eavesdropping!?!"
Motoki tried hiding his smirk, and shrugged the best he could. Picking up the cup, he left to the kitchen, and Usagi could picture the smile on his face from where she stood. She sighed angrily, and tossed down the towel, "why cant I live my own life, without everybody interfering!?!"
Squall tensed at the sound of squeals. He looked down the hall, and found a group of girls surrounding a new-posted billboard. With a shake of his head, he passed the group of excited girls, till a hand touching his chest, stopped him. "Not curious?" He frowned at Setsuna, who leaned against the wall leisurely. "No not really."
Setsuna shrugged, pulling her hands away, "it's a dance, nothing special." He nodded, and started to pass, until he heard a scream echo through the halls.
"USAGI!!!!!!"
He turned around, and eyed the blonde haired girl, with a red bow; jump up and down in front of the billboard. Half amused, he asked, "Is it that exciting?" He remembered the last dance he went to, where he first met Rinoa. He hadn't been too impressed.
Shrugging off the old memories, he looked at Setsuna. She smiled, crossing her arms over her chest, "Hai it is. To some it means fun." She waved her hand, and Squall looked at Minako, who was nearly bouncing down the halls, her long hair flying about her.
"And to others, it means a great deal to them." She waved her hand again, and this time, Squall found Usagi, staring at the billboard with longing. He watched her sigh low and deep, before turning away from it.
Setsuna pushed herself from the wall, "Usagi, well, she loves to have fun, we all know how much she does. But she most likely wont be going to this dance."
She smiled wryly, "well, I'll see you around Squall." She turned, and started down to her office, her heels clicking on the tiled floor.
Squall watched Usagi jog after Minako, but he recognized the signs in her, from the same sign Selphie had emitted when she had been upset, because the Garden shutting down the festival. He frowned, everything in this world, reminded him, of his home. He couldn't wait to go back.
Or maybe he could.
?????
Minako linked her arm with Usagi's, "Please Usagi, just talk to him. He'll say hai to you, you know it." Usagi pouted, while looking at her lunch bag with longing, "But I just want to eat lunch Mina chan."
Minako took Usagi's bag away, "Iie. Not until you ask him." Usagi's eyes filled with tears, "Mina chan, you're so mean." Her stomach growled, and she whimpered. "I'm hungry, give me back my lunch." Minako shook her head, and waved a finger at her blonde friend. "Iie. If you ask him, I'll give it back to you."
"Hey Usagi chan, Mina chan!"
Usagi whirled around, "Mako chan, Mina chan took my lunch, and I'm hungry."
The tall burnet frowned, "Minako, why'd you do that?" Minako scowled, "you snitch! She wont ask Squall out for me."
Suddenly Makoto's eyes filled with heart, "Oh that cute new kid, he looks just like my..." Minako gasped, "Don't you dare say it. He's mine!"
Makoto clenched her fists, "Iie, I don't see your name on him. Plus, you don't even have to guts to ask him out, yourself." Minako pointed at the taller girl with her finger, "Hai, but Usagi knows him, he can't say iie to her." Makoto's eyes lit up.
"Usagi chan, you know Squall?"
Usagi's jaw dropped, "I..."
Minako turned on the shorter girl, "Usagi chan, ask him out for me."
Makoto leaped at the blonde, "Iie for me!" Usagi gagged, "Mako chan, I can't breathe!" Makoto didn't let her go, but shook her, "Ask him!"
Minako shoved the burnet out of the way, "iie, ask him out to the dance for me."
"What's going on out here?"
All three looked up.
Two cried, "Usagi chan's gonna ask Squall out for me!" "Not for you, for me!"
One cried out in desperation, "Ami chan help me!!!!"
Ami frowned, "the new young man, Mr. Leonhart? He's in my chemistry class, why do you want to go out with him?" Both girls smiled, and they leaped at the blue haired girl, demanding her to ask him out for them. Usagi grabbed her lunch bag, and took off to the other end of the courtyard, to get some time alone. She sat down by a tree, and opened her lunch bag. "I'm sooooooo hungry."
"I guess."
Usagi paused between mouths full of her lunch, and looked up to see Squall hovering over her. She swallowed, flushing, "Hello."
He nodded to the spot next to her, "can I sit?" She went beat red, and nearly flew a foot over, so he could sit next to her in the shade of the tree. He leaned against the trunk, and stared at the grass.
Usagi set her food down, thinking, and then blurted out in one breath, "WillyougotothedancewithMinakososhe'llst-ophoundingmetoaskyououtforher?" He blinked, once, then twice, before looking at her, "What?"
She flushed again, but this time brighter, "Will you go to the dance with Minako?"
He raised an eyebrow, "I'm not going to the dance." He looked back out at the green grass, his lips forming a straight line. When she didn't say anything, he lifted his gaze to look at her, and found her looking at him speechless.
"What?"
He glanced around, looking for something that might have shocked her.
"You turned down Minako." He looked back at her, "yea." Usagi swallowed, "You can't turn her down!" She grabbed him by the front of his uniform, bring his face close to hers, "you just cant!"
He scowled, "Why can't I?"
Usagi's eyes filled with tears, "Because, I'll have to continue in track, and she wont do my chores for a week, until you do! And she'll continue to drag me around to follow you, and I'll never get a night rest, without her calling me 24/7 to see if I asked you out yet. And Mamoru will think I'm chasing you for me, and he'll leave me, and my life will be hell for the rest of my life unless you do!"
A single eyebrow rose, "all that will happen, if I say no?" Usagi nodded, tears clinging to her lashes. "I don't want to run anymore, and I want to sleep at night, and go the arcade, and... and..."
She inhaled, trying to contain her tears, "Please, just one night, one dance whatever. She'll get over you, once she gets you, and leave me alone, until the next guy she likes, and I already know."
Squall grabbed the hands that held him, and forced the fingers loose. He pushed her back gently. He sighed slowly, turning to face the grass again. Usagi pouted next to him.
"What kind of dance is it?"
"Semi formal." Hope shined in her eyes, as she looked at him.
"One date?"
She nodded.
"One dance?"
She hesitated on that one, and he looked at her. She caught his eyes, and flushed. She nodded slowly, "One dance, but I don't guarantee it."
She looked away, and gnawed on her bottom lip. "You'll have to make an excuse to leave early." She sighed, and looked back at him, to see him staring up at the sky now. He looked deep in thought.
"Will you be going?"
She caught her bottom lip between her teeth, and shook her head. "Iie. I don't have a reason to go." She held back the pain in her voice.
He looked at her, "what reason would you need to go to a dance for?"
She replied flippantly, "A date. Ruka chan has Michi chan. Rei chan has this guy at the temple. Mako chan is going with one of her old friends. Ami chan, surprisingly enough, is going, with this boy genius, which came to our school for like a month. Hoto chan is too young, and Setsuna chan is a chaperone. And then if you go, Mina chan has you."
Squall nodded, "I'll take her on one condition."
Usagi looked up at him warily, "Nani?" He smirked, "Nothing bad. If I have to go with Minako, then I'll take you as well."
She went red, "I don't..."
He shrugged, "then it's a no go." He stood, and stuffed his hands in his pockets. "See you around." He started off for the door to the school. Usagi watched him go, and frowned in thought.
Could she risk the chance of screwing up her relationship with Mamoru, just to make Minako happy? She stood, and started for the school, she'd have to think on this one.
?????
Minako chugged up the stairs, "Usagi get your butt in gear!" Usagi bent at the waist, only a forth up the flight of stairs to the temple. She still wore her PE uniform from track.
She looked up, a beat of sweat dancing on her cheek. "Mina chan, I can't take another step. I need water, or a cherry coke, or...or. Chocolate ice-cream, SOMETHING!!!!" Minako turned around, her long blonde hair whipping the air, "Usagi...Oh my kami, look at that hunk!"
Usagi blinked, and watched as Minako raced down the steps, nearly running over a poor bystander, to reach a guy from their school. She whimpered, and fell onto the step she stood on. "I need food."
"Usagi?"
She looked up, "Rei help me, I need water!"
Rei disappeared, only to come back, with a cup of water. She hurried down the stairs, stopping next to the blonde. "Usagi chan what wrong?"
Usagi took the water from her, and gulped it down in one swallow. She gasped, "Artigato Rei chan." Rei took the glass back, "What happened, you look like you ran a marathon, and fought twenty youmas."
Usagi wiped a hand across her brow. "I had track. Minako met me at the end of it, and I told her Squall turned her down."
Rei winced, "Oh."
Usagi nodded, and saw Minako head back towards them, "Oh kami hide me." She jumped to her feet, and raced up the rest of the way, and ducked behind a bush.
Minako reached Rei, "Where's Usagi?" Rei stood, "up the stairs, to the left behind a bush."
She nodded, and the two girls started up the stairs. "Rei I need your help." Rei crossed her arms over her chest, "Hai?"
Minako fell onto the last step, "You still have those charms, and potions left over from last summer's festival right?"
Rei sat down next to the blonde, "Hai, plenty, but you know they really don't..."
She held up her hands, "Please Rei spare me. I need a love potion." Rei blinked, "what for?" Minako looked at her friend, "Duh! For Squall. I need a date to the dance, and I want to go with him."
Usagi stepped out from behind the bush, "I think I'll be going now..." she took a step towards the stairs. Minako gave her a sharp look, "not so fast Blondie. You're going to help."
Usagi pouted, "but I have to go to work Mina chan!"
Rei stood, "Follow me."
Minako stood, taking Usagi's arm, and dragged her after Rei. They were led into a small room, where there was a smell of incense in the air, and only candle lit the room up with light. Bottles of all shapes, covered the shelves, and there was an Alter in front of them, with a symbol drawn on it.
Rei moved to the shelf with the symbol of Venus, and grasped a glass jar, and held it up. "Alright, I started this, just in case someone might come. Well..." she set the jar down on the Alter, "for it to really truly work, we'll have to wait till this Friday, to finish the potion. Understand?"
Minako nodded. Rei added, "you will collect the rest of the ingredients, and give them to me on Friday, at Sunrise. We will finish it up then."
Minako grinned, "Great, I can't wait!"
?????
Usagi sluggishly walked into the arcade twenty minutes later. "Hey Motoki kun."
Motoki looked up from washing the counter. "You okay Usagi, you don't look so well."
Usagi sheepishly smiled, not feeling up to working. She sat down at the counter, "I told Minako that the guy she likes turned her down."
Motoki winced, "Oh." Usagi nodded, "hai, and she drug me up to Rei's right after the two mile run at track, and is making a Love potion."
Motoki chuckled, "poor Usagi. Here I'll make you an ice-cream."
Usagi smiled gratefully. Motoki went into the kitchen, leaving Usagi alone. "Had a rough time?"
Usagi inwardly groaned, "Don't say a word to me Squall, this is all your fault."
Squall stood, carrying his cup, and sat down next to Usagi. "I gave you a choice, so it's not my fault." Usagi pouted, "Squall, I can't go. Mamoru..." She shook her head, "Mamo chan wont like it."
Squall set his cup down, "Does he own you?"
Usagi narrowed her eyes, and looked at him sharply, "Don't give me that. You don't understand him. I love him, and he loves me."
Squall looked at the kitchen door, when something hit the ground inside, he looked back at Usagi, "yea I see it." Usagi scowled, "what is that supposed to mean?"
Squall shrugged, "I don't know, what do you think?"
Usagi fiddled with a napkin. "Is this one of those times your trying to tell me something, without having to really tell me?" A single eyebrow rose, "I don't think so." Usagi frowned, "then why are you telling me this?"
Squall looked up, as the kitchen door swung open, and Motoki stepped out into the arcade, an ice cream sundae in his hands. He set it down, and looked at Squall.
Usagi sighed, "I lost my appetite." She stood, and moved behind the counter, and grabbed an apron. She tied the knot at her waist, and grabbed a cloth. She went to the tables near the windows, and started cleaning up.
Squall drank the rest of his drink, and set down a couple of yen, before standing. "See you around Usagi." He nodded in her direction, before slipped out of the arcade and into the bright sun.
Usagi watched him go from the far corner.
Motoki crossed his arms over his chest, "He's right you know. Mamoru kun, doesn't own you." Usagi whirled about, looking at him, "were you eavesdropping!?!"
Motoki tried hiding his smirk, and shrugged the best he could. Picking up the cup, he left to the kitchen, and Usagi could picture the smile on his face from where she stood. She sighed angrily, and tossed down the towel, "why cant I live my own life, without everybody interfering!?!"