Usagi walked down the street, she didn't know where she was going. She was
just walking. She was afraid to go home, afraid of what awaited her mostly.
For once she was actually afraid for her life. She sighed and put her hand
in her jacket pocket. She brought her brows together as she felt a piece of
paper in her pocket. She brought it out and unfolded it. The handwriting
was strange to her. She began to read it:
Please don't run. I know I can help you. Trust me. Come see me after work. I'm off at 7. I'm in the apartments on Portage. Number 110 on the sixth floor. Please don't turn your back on what can save your life.
~ Mamoru
She put the piece of paper back in her pocket and heaved a sigh. She looked around at her surroundings. She wasn't taking in what was around her, she was thinking. She looked at her watch; it was five to seven. If she started walking now, she would be at his apartment by ten after. Hopefully he'd be there. But did she really want to go? She looked back and forth. Which way would she feel safer going? If she went to the left that would lead her home and she was scared to death to go there. Besides she had already made up her mind that she would tell Mamoru. So why did she back down? She had no clue why. But now she had a second chance. But would she take it? She sighed once more and looked back and forth before turning to the right and headed toward Portage road.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Usagi looked up at the massive apartment building. She began to second- guess herself. What was she doing here? What made her think that he actually had time for her? She fingered the paper in her pocket. Oh right, the note. Plus what he said at the hospital. She heaved a sigh and opened the door. Oh great! How was she supposed to get in? She thought as she stood in front of the second set of doors. She turned her attention to the list of names with buzzer numbers beside a keypad. She ran her finger down the list, but she couldn't find his name. The whole list was people's last names with their first initial. And there was more than one person with an 'M' name. She sighed again; maybe this was a sign. Maybe she wasn't supposed to be here after all. She turned to leave shoving her hand into her pocket. When she did so, she felt cold metal. She brought it out. It was a key, she stared at it. She had never seen this key before in her life. She looked over her shoulder to the lock on the inside doors. She shrugged and stuck the key inside. It was a perfect fit; she turned it and the door opened.
"Whoa!" She said to herself, "this is weird." But she walked in anyway and pushed the button for the elevator. She took a moment to look at her watch before the elevator opened. 7:30, it must have taken longer to walk there than she thought it would. If he wasn't home at 7:10, then he'd be home now. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing. She was thinking about turning back, when she realized she was already on the elevator, which was approaching the sixth floor. A few seconds later the doors dinged open. Oh boy, she thought as she stepped off and searching for his apartment. She finally found it and knocked on the door. She stood there a couple minutes; no one came to the door.
"This is stupid," She said and turned to leave. But she bumped right into someone. She looked to apologize, but came face to face with Mamoru, yet again.
"Why is it that you're always running into me?" He asked with a smile. All she could was stare up at him. He chuckled, "It's okay. I'm glad you decided to come."
"Well, don't flatter yourself," She began as he opened the door and led her inside, "I only came for a couple of hours."
"Right." He said and closed the door behind her.
She looked around his spacious apartment. He had one couch and one recliner chair and a low coffee table in the middle. There was a TV in the corner. To the right of where they had just come in was a small kitchen. To the left was a long hallway that most likely led to the bathroom and his bedroom. The floors were all hardwood, except for the kitchen of course. That was white tile.
"Would you like anything to drink?" Mamoru offered as he took her jacket for her.
"Ummm." She began, "What do you have?"
"Water, Orange juice, tea, chocolate milk," He listed.
"Chocolate milk? You have chocolate milk?"
He blushed, "I'm a chocolate fanatic. Why?"
"Well, I don't know. You just don't seem like someone who would drink chocolate milk. But, I'll have some orange juice please."
He smiled, "Okay. Why don't you take a seat while I get it." He said as he motioned to the couch. She took a seat and started to look around her. Remind me why I'm here again? She thought to herself. This is stupid. I shouldn't be here. Mamoru came into the room with a glass in his hand. He handed it to Usagi, "So? Tell me about yourself." She took a sip of her juice and set it down on the table.
"Like what?"
"Well, how old are you? Are in school?"
She gave a weak smile, "I'm 18 and in my last year of high school."
"What do you plan on doing after high school?" He asked trying to make small talk.
She played with her jeans nervously, "Well, I don't have any."
He was surprised at her response, "No? You don't plan on going to college?"
She shook her head; "I don't have the marks to go."
Again he was surprised. She looked like a very intelligent girl. He shrugged mentally; maybe she just wasn't book smart. "No?"
She shook her head again and stared at her feet uncomfortably, "No. It's not that I don't try. I do. I just don't get math and science and all that stuff. I mean I get enough marks to just barely pass, but that's about it. The only subject that I'm really good at is Art, I get A's and stuff in that." Mamoru didn't know what it was, maybe the expression on her face that made him feel a little bit sorry for her.
"But you have any dreams that you want to fulfil?"
"Why are you so interested?"
He wasn't expecting that. But it wasn't until she had mentioned him being so interested, the he noticed that he was practically sitting on the edge of his seat leaning forward. He straightened out and sat back. But I was a good question. Why was he so interested?
"I just believe that everyone should have their dreams."
"Kunzite says that dreams are for the unstimulated." Usagi mumbled.
"Why do you let him hurt you so?" It wasn't until after he had asked the question that he realized he had said it aloud," Not just physically, but emotionally also." He finished.
She looked around her nervously; "I gotta go. It's getting late." She stood up and started to walk to the door.
Mamoru got up and followed her, "Don't leave. If you go back he'll hurt again. I can't just stand by and let that happen."
She turned to him; "I'll be fine. I can take of myself."
"Yeah, and you really proved that today." He scoffed, "I'm letting you leave." He said as he stood in front of the door.
"Move." She said breathlessly.
"No." He said simply.
"Get out of my way." She demanded and tried to push him aside. He turned her around and held her still. She struggled in his arms to get away, "Let me go!" She didn't know why but she started to get hysterical.
"Usagi, calm down. I'm not going hurt you." He reassured her when he saw the state she was beginning to get herself into.
"Then let me go." She cried as she started to kick her legs and wished she had use in both arms. Teas started to stream down her face, "Let go!!!"
"I'm not going to let go until you calm down and agreed to stay here, where you're safe." He tried to keep his voice calm. But it was difficult with her struggling and kicking. He tightened his grip on her. She started to sob harder and her screams became louder. So he did the only thing he could think of. He turned her around kissed her full on the lips. At first he only did to shut her up, but he found that he liked it and the kiss became more intense and passionate. He also found that he liked having her in his arms. She felt so small and fragile; all he wanted to do was protect her. Keep her away from everything that hurt her. After a few moments they parted. All she could was stare at him. She tried to collect her thoughts. Did that really just happen? Lord, he was a good kisser, and she wanted more, but feared it.
She sniffed back her tears, "What was that for?" She said hoarsely.
He shrugged, "Well, it shut you up, didn't it?" He looked hard into her eyes; "I'm not letting go back there. You're safe here, please don't go."
"Well, where will I sleep?" She teased.
He smiled. Finally, he thought.
Please don't run. I know I can help you. Trust me. Come see me after work. I'm off at 7. I'm in the apartments on Portage. Number 110 on the sixth floor. Please don't turn your back on what can save your life.
~ Mamoru
She put the piece of paper back in her pocket and heaved a sigh. She looked around at her surroundings. She wasn't taking in what was around her, she was thinking. She looked at her watch; it was five to seven. If she started walking now, she would be at his apartment by ten after. Hopefully he'd be there. But did she really want to go? She looked back and forth. Which way would she feel safer going? If she went to the left that would lead her home and she was scared to death to go there. Besides she had already made up her mind that she would tell Mamoru. So why did she back down? She had no clue why. But now she had a second chance. But would she take it? She sighed once more and looked back and forth before turning to the right and headed toward Portage road.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Usagi looked up at the massive apartment building. She began to second- guess herself. What was she doing here? What made her think that he actually had time for her? She fingered the paper in her pocket. Oh right, the note. Plus what he said at the hospital. She heaved a sigh and opened the door. Oh great! How was she supposed to get in? She thought as she stood in front of the second set of doors. She turned her attention to the list of names with buzzer numbers beside a keypad. She ran her finger down the list, but she couldn't find his name. The whole list was people's last names with their first initial. And there was more than one person with an 'M' name. She sighed again; maybe this was a sign. Maybe she wasn't supposed to be here after all. She turned to leave shoving her hand into her pocket. When she did so, she felt cold metal. She brought it out. It was a key, she stared at it. She had never seen this key before in her life. She looked over her shoulder to the lock on the inside doors. She shrugged and stuck the key inside. It was a perfect fit; she turned it and the door opened.
"Whoa!" She said to herself, "this is weird." But she walked in anyway and pushed the button for the elevator. She took a moment to look at her watch before the elevator opened. 7:30, it must have taken longer to walk there than she thought it would. If he wasn't home at 7:10, then he'd be home now. She wasn't sure if that was a good thing. She was thinking about turning back, when she realized she was already on the elevator, which was approaching the sixth floor. A few seconds later the doors dinged open. Oh boy, she thought as she stepped off and searching for his apartment. She finally found it and knocked on the door. She stood there a couple minutes; no one came to the door.
"This is stupid," She said and turned to leave. But she bumped right into someone. She looked to apologize, but came face to face with Mamoru, yet again.
"Why is it that you're always running into me?" He asked with a smile. All she could was stare up at him. He chuckled, "It's okay. I'm glad you decided to come."
"Well, don't flatter yourself," She began as he opened the door and led her inside, "I only came for a couple of hours."
"Right." He said and closed the door behind her.
She looked around his spacious apartment. He had one couch and one recliner chair and a low coffee table in the middle. There was a TV in the corner. To the right of where they had just come in was a small kitchen. To the left was a long hallway that most likely led to the bathroom and his bedroom. The floors were all hardwood, except for the kitchen of course. That was white tile.
"Would you like anything to drink?" Mamoru offered as he took her jacket for her.
"Ummm." She began, "What do you have?"
"Water, Orange juice, tea, chocolate milk," He listed.
"Chocolate milk? You have chocolate milk?"
He blushed, "I'm a chocolate fanatic. Why?"
"Well, I don't know. You just don't seem like someone who would drink chocolate milk. But, I'll have some orange juice please."
He smiled, "Okay. Why don't you take a seat while I get it." He said as he motioned to the couch. She took a seat and started to look around her. Remind me why I'm here again? She thought to herself. This is stupid. I shouldn't be here. Mamoru came into the room with a glass in his hand. He handed it to Usagi, "So? Tell me about yourself." She took a sip of her juice and set it down on the table.
"Like what?"
"Well, how old are you? Are in school?"
She gave a weak smile, "I'm 18 and in my last year of high school."
"What do you plan on doing after high school?" He asked trying to make small talk.
She played with her jeans nervously, "Well, I don't have any."
He was surprised at her response, "No? You don't plan on going to college?"
She shook her head; "I don't have the marks to go."
Again he was surprised. She looked like a very intelligent girl. He shrugged mentally; maybe she just wasn't book smart. "No?"
She shook her head again and stared at her feet uncomfortably, "No. It's not that I don't try. I do. I just don't get math and science and all that stuff. I mean I get enough marks to just barely pass, but that's about it. The only subject that I'm really good at is Art, I get A's and stuff in that." Mamoru didn't know what it was, maybe the expression on her face that made him feel a little bit sorry for her.
"But you have any dreams that you want to fulfil?"
"Why are you so interested?"
He wasn't expecting that. But it wasn't until she had mentioned him being so interested, the he noticed that he was practically sitting on the edge of his seat leaning forward. He straightened out and sat back. But I was a good question. Why was he so interested?
"I just believe that everyone should have their dreams."
"Kunzite says that dreams are for the unstimulated." Usagi mumbled.
"Why do you let him hurt you so?" It wasn't until after he had asked the question that he realized he had said it aloud," Not just physically, but emotionally also." He finished.
She looked around her nervously; "I gotta go. It's getting late." She stood up and started to walk to the door.
Mamoru got up and followed her, "Don't leave. If you go back he'll hurt again. I can't just stand by and let that happen."
She turned to him; "I'll be fine. I can take of myself."
"Yeah, and you really proved that today." He scoffed, "I'm letting you leave." He said as he stood in front of the door.
"Move." She said breathlessly.
"No." He said simply.
"Get out of my way." She demanded and tried to push him aside. He turned her around and held her still. She struggled in his arms to get away, "Let me go!" She didn't know why but she started to get hysterical.
"Usagi, calm down. I'm not going hurt you." He reassured her when he saw the state she was beginning to get herself into.
"Then let me go." She cried as she started to kick her legs and wished she had use in both arms. Teas started to stream down her face, "Let go!!!"
"I'm not going to let go until you calm down and agreed to stay here, where you're safe." He tried to keep his voice calm. But it was difficult with her struggling and kicking. He tightened his grip on her. She started to sob harder and her screams became louder. So he did the only thing he could think of. He turned her around kissed her full on the lips. At first he only did to shut her up, but he found that he liked it and the kiss became more intense and passionate. He also found that he liked having her in his arms. She felt so small and fragile; all he wanted to do was protect her. Keep her away from everything that hurt her. After a few moments they parted. All she could was stare at him. She tried to collect her thoughts. Did that really just happen? Lord, he was a good kisser, and she wanted more, but feared it.
She sniffed back her tears, "What was that for?" She said hoarsely.
He shrugged, "Well, it shut you up, didn't it?" He looked hard into her eyes; "I'm not letting go back there. You're safe here, please don't go."
"Well, where will I sleep?" She teased.
He smiled. Finally, he thought.