Disclaimer: Owning is such a strong word … we should all share our stuff! C'mon Naoko! Bandai! SHARE! Heh … I don't own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon.
Thanks to my beta-readers, this chapter turned out all right. AND they managed to put up with my insane tides of writing … give them a round of applause! :D
Chapter 11: Reluctance
Her papers crinkled as Usagi shifted and changed positions, stretching her arms outwards and sighing. She glanced up abruptly as the door swung open and Rei tottered in with an armload of groceries. The laptop on the coffee table hummed in the background as she grinned at her friend and roommate before uncrossing her legs and stretching them out.
"Need help?"
The dark-haired girl snorted. "Only you would ask as stupid a question as that."
"Just for that, you can carry and put the groceries away yourself!" she shot back easily and turned to translating and typing up her notes from shorthand.
"Usagi!" Rei cried exasperatedly. "I let you live with me for the last half year and what do you do? You eat my food and don't even help to put it away!" The groceries were set down none too gently as Rei put her hands on her hips and glared.
Usagi shrugged carelessly and grinned languidly, leaning back onto the slightly worn but still adequate couch placed in front of the coffee table. "I pay my share of the rent too, you know. And it's not entirely YOUR food."
Her matter-of-fact tone irritated Rei more than if the blonde had lapsed back into her habit of wailing out complaints. "Ugh," Rei rolled her eyes and turned on her heel, back towards the kitchen. "I don't know how I put up with you."
"Because you love me?" she called after the raven-haired girl's disappearing form only to get a sarcastic, "You wish!" in return.
…………………
Her cell phone shrilled out a melody, and she tiredly blinked up from her exam review, eyes, for a moment, unfocused. Frowning to herself, Usagi had to throw three pillows off of the sofa before finding the elusive contraption and flipping it open.
"Usagi here," she greeted and turned back to the laptop in front of her, sipping from the paper cup of water. A headache pounded in the back of her head, reminding her that it was one o'clock in the morning. The butterflies in her stomach promised her that she had her work cut out for her.
"Usagi! This is Mako."
"Mako? Shouldn't you be sleeping right now? Or studying?"
"One phone call, come on! You're turning into Ami-"
"I'll be sure to tell her that." She cleared her throat and tapped out another sentence with one hand. "Besides, now is the worst time for a social call."
Makoto sighed. "Are you free after exams?"
"Huh? Why?"
"Are you?" she persisted.
An odd sinking feeling attacked her. What was Mako getting at…? She answered the question cautiously. "Yeah…"
Makoto grinned. The bait had been taken. "I met this guy I REALLY want you to meet and-"
"NO, Mako. Absolutely not. I've given up on dating."
"You're going to be an old maid when you grow up!"
"Maybe. But absolutely NO dating right now." She watched amusedly as Rei peeked out of her bedroom and flinched before ducking back in, obviously not wanting to get entangled with a defensive Usagi.
The laugh that answered her in the phone sounded fake and forced. "Silly! I'm not saying right NOW, I'm saying after exams-"
"You know what I mean," Usagi sighed and leaned back to shift through the notes piled around her. Ahh … her barricade of paper.
"Oh come on! Please? It'll be a relief from exams! You'll loosen up and have fun – nothing serious." Makoto sounded as if she were whining.
The blonde sighed again and glared bleakly at her laptop. International Economics was undoubtedly the MOST boring of all boring subjects. "Maybe … if you go too."
The answer came a bit too quickly for her liking. "I can't. I'll be there before, but I have somewhere else to go."
"Where?" she asked suspiciously.
"Uh … Duo wants to take me to the opera and…"
Usagi's eyes narrowed. "I never knew Duo was into opera…"
"Just go, okay?"
"Fine. But don't expect anything serious to develop," she warned, frustratedly crumbling a page of notes in her hand.
Makoto rolled her eyes. "I've already gotten that lesson hammered into my head, Usa. I'll set up a date with him, okay?"
"Fine, fine, fine," she replied tiredly and began to impatiently unfold the crumbled sheet of paper, berating her short temper.
…………………
The still chilly April air greeted her as she stepped out of the apartment and locked the door behind her, jacket hung loosely on her shoulders. Rushing down the stairs, she cursed herself for falling asleep – she was ten minutes behind schedule. But that could easily be remedied with a little bit of rushing.
The car door slammed shut, and she turned the ignition on, rubbing her hands together for slight warmth before the blissful heat drifting from the car vent reached her face. She backed out of the space and headed out of the apartment complex, hurriedly dialing Makoto's number with one hand.
"Hello?" greeted her as she sped past a yellow light.
"Mako, Usagi here. Where is it?" One hand twisted the steering wheel to the right as she turned and slowed slightly, glaring at the car that sped past her and then swerved onto her lane again.
"Oh! Okay, turn right on Belt Line and go straight until you reach Independence. Then make two rights at the first and then third stop light. You'll see this elegant little place called Las Flores and reservations are under my name."
"Okay … I think I've been there – bunches of flowers, dance floor?" the blonde questioned distractedly.
"Yeah, that's the place. Be there at 7:30, all right?" Makoto's voice sounded muffled.
"Got it. See you there."
"Sure." The call terminated abruptly.
…………………
She barely glanced at the car clock, knowing for sure she was on time but just barely, before whirling out of the car and walking swiftly towards the restaurant, eyeing with slight disdain, the cozy atmosphere of the small building. First date and already THIS? She sighed and shook her head. What does Makoto have up her sleeve this time…?
"Reservations for two under Kino, please," she offered distractedly to the receptionist, ignoring the small frown that plastered over his face.
"Usagi! You made it!" reached her ears as she glanced halfheartedly at the decorations. Blue orbs looked upwards in the artistically dimmed light as emerald eyes grinned at her, and Makoto rushed over to her, enveloping her in a friendly hug. She smiled and greeted her back, quirking her eyebrow slightly at the receptionist's roll of his eyes. He blushed.
"What, you thought I was going to leave this poor date hanging?" she asked sardonically, grinning at flushed cheeks and sparkling jade orbs. "I hope my personality doesn't carry over as being THAT cruel."
Makoto groaned. "Too late." The maitre'd raised a hand to interject, but the auburn-haired woman shook her head graciously and replied, "I'll take her over to … table 18, right?"
"Ah-yes, ma'am."
As they tapped over expensive marble floors lit and made dazzling by the golden chandeliers, she felt Makoto's disapproving glance on her and turned defensively towards her. "What?"
"You know you should really be more polite to these serving people … they don't get paid enough!"
Rolling her eyes, she moved onwards, passing frowning green eyes. "I don't think this date was a good idea-"
"Nonsense!"
"My Economics exam didn't go very well and practicing for the French speech regarding current affairs with the war carried over into my sleeping hou-"
"But that's over now!"
Usagi sighed loudly and gave Makoto a stern look. "That was yesterday, Mako. My eyes might be open and I might be speaking to you right now, but I'm FAR from awa-"
"Ladies, if you wish to continue this discussion, please carry it into a more private area. Perhaps outside?" a peeved voice requested of them, and livid sapphire eyes turned on the portly, middle-aged man.
"We were just heading towards our table. Please excuse us," Makoto interjected quickly, glancing warily at the gray storm cloud brewing over her blonde friend's head before tugging her to the thankfully close by table eighteen.
Green eyes turned towards her. "And don't you dare say a word about the rudeness of these serving people to us, because you know gloating is not a virtue and … Usagi? Are you listening?" Makoto snarled at the frozen woman in front of her, facing towards the table, eyes curiously blank and wide. She snapped her fingers smartly in front of cerulean pools, and Usagi blinked, gaze focusing back on her.
"I'm leaving, Mako," she seethed, anger barely contained.
…………………
"Do you think that was a good idea?" Her mouth opened as she popped a few kernels of microwaved popcorn in, giggling slightly as Sandra Bullock tried to sneak away donuts. Miss Congeniality played vividly on the flat-screen TV.
Ami sighed and messaged her temples, glancing up at a guilt-stricken agent turned beauty pageant contestant, wondering again who had the bad taste to choose a comedy when they should be worrying about their lives.
"Stop asking that question, Mina. You're making everybody nervous," Rei chided softly, eyes not wavering from the screen, mind barred from just how mad a certain blonde friend would be once she found out she had been set up…the sight that escaped her barricade was not pretty as she winced and gingerly touched her throat, CURRENTLY bruise-free.
Minako sighed and slammed the bucket of butter and popped kernels down angrily. "Nobody has answered that question, and I've asked at LEAST five times already-"
"No, Minako, I don't think it's a good idea, but we decided to be moronic and childish," Ami retorted simply, eyes focused back on the cross-section of a kidney again, repeating five-syllabled words to herself.
Rolling her eyes at Minako's stunned face, Rei easily replied, "You ask stupid questions, you get stupid answers."
…………………
"NO, Usagi. You are NOT going an-"
"Try and stop me!" she challenged and backed away from the taller woman.
"Please! Give him a shot, will you? What is-"
"Makoto, I've given him ten thousand shots already … what difference is one more going to make?" she retorted quietly, not daring to turn her eyes from flashing green ones.
The emerald orbs rolled upwards. "But he's changed!"
"That's what YOU think!" Her finger jabbed angrily to the figure behind her tall EX-friend. "THAT, my mislead friend, is a CRIMINAL! A-"
A hand smacked across her lightly powdered countenance, and she turned back slowly, staring at a stone-faced Makoto.
"You will not be revealing his identity in public," she ordered quietly, taking advantage of the moment of shock and leading the blonde back towards the table. "I'm sorry, Usagi. It isn't my place to set you two up on a date and slap you … but you must understand the amount of mayhem uttering the fact that he's a pilot will instill in this restaurant. And please, for all of our sakes, Minako, Rei, Ami, and myself, give him another chance."
Bright blue eyes gazed tiredly into emerald ones, and at last she sighed. "Okay. One last chance. But only for you guys."
"Wouldn't have it any other way," Makoto smiled and squeezed her hand comfortingly. "I know you two are perfect for each other. Have fun," she whispered quickly before darting back towards the front door, leaving the blonde desolately alone.
She rolled blue eyes heavenwards. "Have fun, she says…"
…………………
"Hey, babe. What's up?" greeted her, and Makoto tensed, frozen like a deer in headlights.
"Duo! Don't do that to me!" she scolded, digging her car keys out of her purse frustratedly, forest-green eyes flashing like many faceted jewels.
"Sorry," he offered plaintively, and she sighed, giving him a defeated half-smile. "So how did it go?"
"Badly." The car door swung open, and she slid in as Duo entered from the passenger side.
"Badly?"
"Very badly."
The braided man leaned back and sighed. "No wonder you didn't go into creative writing. Your lack of description would make any Lit teacher cringe."
Starting the ignition, Makoto growled in frustration. "How's this: very, very badly."
Duo grinned saucily. "We're improving. Now how did it go exactly?"
…………………
He stared at her as she huffily sat down in the chair opposite of him, picked her napkin off of the pristine plate, and arranged it in her lap, not bothering to look up at him once.
Even with the small frown playing on her face, she was indeed a sight for sore eyes. The simple, lightly-hued dress fitted her well, not challenging her golden tresses or glimmering blue eyes. He hadn't realized he missed seeing her until that painful moment, heart clenching curiously as he was drenched in an odd feeling. For the last five months and twenty-seven days, all he had had were the pictures placed around the apartment. And they truly didn't do her justice.
"Do I get a greeting?" he finally asked, after she moved from arranging her napkin to arranging her coat to taking her coat off to straightening her dress to…
Sharp blue eyes turned up towards him, half-surprised. A thoughtful expression floated over her face and she hastily replied, "Oh. Hi," lips barely pulling upwards though the slight movement could have been a trick of the light.
He raised an eyebrow at her and leaned back, expression faintly incredulous. "I don't see you for half a year and all you have to say is, 'Oh. Hi'?"
She took a deep breath and slowly released it, eyes refusing to meet his. "Look Hiiro. I just want to get this over with, okay? As a favor to my friends."
"Well you sure don't bother to sugar-coat your words," he remarked quietly. She didn't choose to reply and instead glanced up and down the menu.
Hiiro shifted. "Do I at least get an apology for invasion of privacy?"
"What?" Again, wide blue eyes stared into his.
"My laptop."
Her tone came out clipped and forced. "Oh. That."
"Yes. That." He mimicked her tauntingly.
"I'm sorry," she shrugged half-heartedly.
"Even I could apologize better than that."
"Good for you."
Hiiro closed his eyes, praying for patience but was startled out of his collecting himself by the waiter's persistent, "Sir, ma'am, may I take your orders?"
"I'll have a medium-sized Caesar's salad and red wine," she ordered tersely, nodding pleasantly but briefly at the bowing waiter and handing in her menu.
"Shrimp Alfredo and sherry," he replied to the questioning look shot in his direction before handing over his menu as well.
"Should you be drinking?" she questioned sharply after the waiter bowed himself away.
"Should you?"
"You're driving."
"So are you."
A small smile touched her lips, but her eyes remained coldly aversive to him. "Ah, but that's where you're wrong. According to etiquette, it is the man's duty to drive a lady home."
"Also according to etiquette, a lady should not render herself drunk."
"One should not talk back to a lady."
"One should acknowledge when they have been beaten."
Usagi shot up from her seat and slammed her napkin down. "One should watch their tongue!" she cried angrily, eyes flashing but never meeting his.
"I think you should study that rule as well." His calm tone frustrated her beyond belief.
The waiter interrupted them at that precise moment with a cordial, "Your orders."
Gulping at the wine, she turned and stabbed angrily at the salad.
…………………
There was a faint humming in her head, and her face felt flushed. How many cups of wine had she ordered? Two? Four? Double that, maybe? She'd lost count. The empty plate sat in front of her. He had finished before her and was no longer paying any more attention to her. She didn't know whether she should thank goodness or not.
Suddenly, "Would you like to dance?" pierced through her thoughts, making her jump and turn startled eyes towards him. Sorting dazedly through half sarcastic retorts, she mustered up a pathetic, "Why not."
The lights were whirling around her, dizzying but exhilarating as her icy hands were lightly held in his. She smiled pensively to herself – what a wonderful dream! She was dancing with her beloved, at last, drowning in love and loving every moment of it. Sighing, she edged in closer and leaned her head upon his shoulder.
"Hiiro, tell me about your past," she murmured languorously, smiling up at him.
The dream tore apart the instant he tensed and stepped back, an unattached look on his face. "We should leave. You're not in your right state of mind."
"What?"
"You're drunk. We're leaving."
"As your date, I believe I have something to say about when we're leaving as well!" Anger flashed and circulated through her veins as her surroundings sharpened from the previous hazy pastel colors.
"We're leaving."
"No, WE'RE not leaving, I'M leaving," she huffed and stormed off towards the front door. The maitre'd who had witnessed the entire battle glanced sympathetically at him.
"Girlfriend?"
The retort leapt from his throat unbidden. "Fiancée," he snapped before his insides froze. If this ever got out…
"What happened?"
"None of your business." Stomping off, he followed the trail of golden yellow – she was obviously too drunk to get herself home safely…
…………………
It's long, it's long! Seven pages thus far! :D
Amyangel: Thank you! I love them too. :D
The Iron Duke: That was very insightful. I agree with you completely … except maybe the part about somebody will tell Usa if she had just asked … I can see somebody blurting it out but actually, truly and willingly telling her? Who knows. Hiiro's character and all its facets and the reasons behind it weren't truly explored much in this story mainly because it's so short … but your review is more likely than not going to affect much of what I write from now on. Lol! Such impact! :D Thanks for the review!
Key: Hmm … Hiiro does tend to be an idiot at times, no? ^^;;; And Duo and Serena both finally realize it! Lol … as you can see, I'm keeping the responses. :D
Tenshi-Chikyuu: I think it's more because people were frazzled. Especially Duo – he thought he was going to get hell and worse from Hiiro … I guess people aren't just quite thinking right. And thanks! Your review really made me feel better … though when I go back to read the chapter … ugh. Lol. ^^
Brenda-chan: Well … it would seem that people are pretty split up over it … Some favor Hiiro and the others side with Usa. But who knows … thanks for the review though!
Lady Espelle: Thank you! *Bows* ^___~
Obsessed: Here's the update and thanks!
Jade Stellar: Insane … heh heh. *Hiiro blinks up confusedly as the stars are replaced with little skipping Usagis*
Pyro-Girl: Thanks! And here's the next chapter!
KyLara: You think so? WOW! :D
Heart Soul: I should make that my motto. ^___~ It started to get annoying that everybody spoiled Hiiro in a way because of his past. Now, both Quatre and Duo have stood up to him! HA! Lol… People say I'm sadistic … why? (I'm not sure there is much angst from now on…)
Cheska: And the reason she reacted that way isn't necessarily what you think either … nothing dramatic. Just something that makes more sense. You'll see. Next chapter, I think. ^^;;;
Serena Yuy: AHH! *Glomps* You're so nice! That was such a lovely review. ^^;;; Hiiro is becoming a scatter-brain. Lol … I guess love could do that to a person. ^___~ Hmm … she'd probably lead him into thinking she's moving to the other side of the world and instead move across the street. Just to get on his nerves. ^___~ And I didn't know murderers had ratings … lol. Laugh, please. ^^;;; Hiiro/Usa pairing? Hmm … I n ever considered that (just kidding … right?). Thanks for the review!
Celestial DreamBlaze: YAY! Dare to be different! It's interesting when I can make people get annoyed at the person everybody adores so much … :D Make it up to Hiiro, ne…? Do you hate her more now? Lol. ^^;;;
Alexz: Thick-headed Hiiro … hmm … ah well. I'm sure Usa would get over it … sooner or later … more likely to be later. Lol. ^^
Email: angelight97@yahoo.com
Thanks for reading! Yours, Angel.