Disclaimer: I don't own SM, if you thought I did, you need to get help.
A/N: 3rd chapter finally up! Woohoo! A few moments to those who took the time to review my story while it was on the "sign in and review" thing. I didn't know how to work that entire bit yet, but I just wanted to answer the questions asked of me. To clarify: Usagi isn't poor, not by any means. She didn't have enough money to buy a fan because she was only supposed to spend the money her parents sent to her weekly on groceries and the essentials…I guess I should have said that. Oh well, thanks Bunny Winner for helping me out! To the other person…Reandn, to let you know, no, Usagi and Mamoru will not be getting back together. That disgusts me when it happens like that. Thanks for your time! Enjoy!
Chapter three: Pieces
Usagi pushed open the door to Mamoru's apartment building, sighing as cool air rushed out to meet her, calming her heat flushed cheeks. The walk over hadn't been so bad, save for the fact that she had been thinking about collapsing on the sidewalk and melting away into nothing. Usagi wrinkled her nose, noticing herself in the mirror-paneled walls in the entrance to the apartment building.
Her hat was sitting slightly askew on her head, and the strap of her dress had slipped over her shoulder. She straightened her hat as she walked to the elevator, shrugged the strap back over her shoulder and pushed the up button. A chime binged as the doors opened and Usagi stepped into the stuffy elevator. Mamoru's apartment was on the top floor, and Usagi pushed the button with the six on it in, before leaning back against the cool back wall.
The elevator lurched and started ascending. The butterflies in Usagi's stomach were threatening to heave up her small breakfast. What if he got mad and yelled at her for disturbing him? She knew that this was his day off from working at the hospital as an intern and he usually liked to sleep or lounge around but…well, maybe he'd been happy to see her this time.
Another chime ringed and the doors swooshed open. Usagi pushed herself away from the wall and down the coolly lit hallway. Mamo-chan's apartment was the last one on the left, at the end of the hall. He had a view of the park and the business section of Tokyo from his small balcony. She could remember standing there with him as the sun set, watching the couples in the park walk around hand in hand, knowing that she was one of those couples. It was at those times, when one of his arms was loosely draped across her shoulder that she was never surer of herself and her love for Mamo-chan.
Now, standing at his door, she had never felt so unsure of herself. There were no sounds coming from inside his apartment and if he was asleep, he would probably be angry at her for waking him up. Usagi sighed at herself and backed away from the door, she wouldn't take the chance of making him angry with her.
As she was about to turn around to leave, she heard Mamo-chan's deep laugh, resounding off the walls and stinging her. Who was he laughing with?
Usagi knocked on the door, softly at first but when he didn't answer, she rapped louder. Mamo-chan's laughing stopped and she heard him say something as he neared the door. There was a moment of silence and Usagi heard him fumbling with the lock on the door before it swung open as far as the chain allowed.
Mamoru was standing there, his shirt off and his black hair rumpled as if he had just rolled out of bed. A shadow of facial hair ringed his mouth and darkened his cheeks and his lips were full and rosy. His eyes had been laughing as he opened the door but when he saw who it was standing there, they immediately lost all sparkle and became cold and distant.
"Usagi-san, what are you doing here?" He asked. The coldness in his voice stung her and Usagi took a step backward. Had he just greeted her so formally? Maybe she was mistaken; Mamo-chan would never call her something like that. It was always Usako or Odango. Never something so formal, the formality was for strangers.
Usagi shook off his coolness and smiled hopefully, "I came to see you, Mamo-chan. You haven't been yourself lately and I was wondering if it was something I did…" She paused, watching his face for any sign that he heard her, there was none. His face was as distant as it had been before. She rushed on, "You tell me you don't have time for this," She gestured at herself, "Time for me to worry and be immature but I don't think that I am, Mamo-chan. I'm worried about you; you've been acting so…cold lately. I don't know if it's because of work or stress or maybe…,"She paused and took a breath, "…maybe I did something wrong but whatever it is, would you please tell me? I don't know how to fix it if I don't know what it is I've done wrong." Usagi hated herself, hated how desperate and pleading her voice was, annoying even in her ears but she couldn't stop herself. She needed to know if it was something she had done.
Mamo-chan hadn't moved as she spoke but now he shifted on his feet, "Usagi-san, you are reading too much into this. I have been stressed out but there is nothing more to it than that. You should go home and stay there. I'm not in the mood to talk with you right now." He said, dismissing her even as pain stabbed through her.
"Mamo-chan, why are you acting this way? I don't—," Her voice broke and she looked away, "I don't understand. Was it something I did?"
Mamoru sighed deeply and was about to answer when a husky, feminine voice came from over Mamoru's shoulder. "Mamoru-chan? What's going on?" The door closed and then opened again, as the chain was removed.
A sultry woman with auburn hair was draped over Mamo-chan's shoulder. Usagi took a step backward, her breath catching in her throat. "Mamo-chan?" She asked helplessly, looking from the woman back to Mamoru who was standing there impassively, arms crossed in front of him.
The redhead cocked her head, dark gray eyes regarding Usagi as a cat would stare at a mouse. An amused smile crept slowly over her lips, and a calculating look glinted in her eyes. "Is this the girl, Mamoru-chan?" She murmured. Her voice was deep and husky, the kind of voice that made men want her and other women hate her. It was the kind of voice that lured faithful men away from their wives without a backward glance.
Usagi watched as if from a distance as her beloved Mamo-chan nodded, "Yes." His strong arm snaked around the woman's waist and she leaned into him, her large breasts crushing against his side.
"She's rather young to screw with, isn't she, Mamoru-chan?" She asked, raising a perfectly arched eyebrow. As Usagi watched, she flicked her tongue against Mamo-chan's arm, a satisfied smile stealing onto her mouth when his muscle jumped and his eyes darkened with desire.
Mamoru didn't answer, just stared at Usagi, watching as a light in her eyes sputtered and went out.
Usagi pressed the back of her hand to her mouth and shook her head, unable to avert her eyes, even as her vision blurred with tears. She backed away, then turned and ran, slamming her open palm onto the down button of the elevator. When the doors opened, she fell into the empty cabin, collapsing against the wall.
Pain clenched in her stomach and it felt as if a giant hand had reached into her body and was squeezing her heart tightly. Usagi leaned her head against the cool wall, the tears that were blurring her eyes spilled over and she was sobbing, clutching futilely at her chest, as her heart broke within her.
Flashes of the auburn woman licking Mamo-chan's skin were stuck in an endless motion in her mind's eye. The look in Mamo-chan's eyes when he saw her trying to not fall to pieces before him ate away at her; so cold and distant. There was no empathy or regret in his eyes, only a remoteness that Usagi couldn't span with her unconditional warmth and love.
In the elevator, with the air conditioner humming, Usagi's caring and innocent heart shattered into a million kaleidoscope pieces on the floor at her first love's betrayal.
A/N: This chapter didn't exactly work out how I wanted it to, it was too choppy and in my own opinion, it didn't flow together enough. But I've never been one good with doing those heart-wrenching scenes. My apologies to those of you who thought this chapter sucked as much as I do. However, I would ask you not to give up on me, the next chapter will be up shortly after this one, and it will be getting more into Usa/Haruka. Finally!!^_^
Thanks for sticking with me!
BeautifulDreamer