*yawns and stretches* The TLP will become SD now and will henceforth
suddenly become lively and full of energy. *promptly disappears in a puff
of smoke and appears as a smaller, cuter version of himself*
WAI WAI! Look! I finished the next chapter! Thanks everyone for the
beautiful comments. Oh, and Kari, you can go to bed now. *waves to Kari,
who is camped out on his doorstep* It's okay, I gave you Jungle Fever, the
next Adventure of Darien the Cynical Bagger, more Urban Legend, and now
this. Go to bed now, onegai?
The Mummy's Curse Part 2
PG
thelonepig@hotmail.com
"Can I help you?" Usagi managed, trying to keep her voice steady.
The man turned his head and coughed violently. Dust settled onto the porch
from underneath the man's trenchcoat. Usagi couldn't help but feel slightly
disturbed at the man's unkempt appearance, but invited him in nonetheless.
The sooner her spare bedroom was rented out, the sooner her mother would
drop the whole situation.
"Can I get your coat Mr... ?" hesitated Usagi.
"Chiba. Chiba Mamoru. And if you don't mind, I'd like to keep it with me."
Usagi shrugged and began to step into the living room, before quickly
hesitating. "Perhaps you'd like to see your room?"
Mamoru nodded and followed Usagi as she walked up the stairs of her home.
"Alright, Mr. Chiba, here is the bathroom," said Usagi, pointing to a room
as they passed by. "And here is the bedroom." The solid door swung open as
she pressed on it.
The guest room had been freshly painted and was charmingly but very simply
decorated. Mamoru stepped inside and looked around. "Yes, yes. This
should do nicely. Thank you."
Usagi stood for a moment and watched in amusement as her mysterious guest
poked around the room. He opened the closet, peeked in the dresser, and
bounced lightly on the bed. Usagi turned to leave, bringing the door closed
behind her. She hesitated for a moment and turned the doorknob again,
peeking silently back into the room.
She looked inside just enough to see Mamoru's hat sitting on the dresser. A
mirror, conveniently placed above the dresser, allowed her to watch her
renter as he sat on the bed. Mamoru's head was fully wrapped in bandages,
yellowed with age. Usagi bit down on her finger in order to keep herself
from gasping in shock. She remained quiet and continued to watch.
Bandages fell in a pile on the floor. Why would anyone be wrapped in so
much cloth? Usagi looked up into the mirror again, and gasped when she
found a pair of deep blue eyes staring directly at her. She cleared her
throat. "Mr. Chiba? We forgot to discuss the payment. Perhaps in the
morning? I'm sure you are weary and would like to rest."
Mamoru smiled to himself as he heard her footsteps pad down the carpeted
hallway.
Smells and sounds of bacon, eggs, and toast filtered through Usagi's home.
Usagi groaned and turned over in bed, throwing the pillow over her. The
smells in the air enticed her up. She smiled and stretched, then sat up in
bed.
"Good morning, Sunshine," smiled Mamoru.
Usagi screamed, grabbed her blanket, and wrapped it up around her.
"What are you doing in my room?" she wailed.
Mamoru lifted the tray he was carrying. "I thought you might like some
breakfast." He stepped forward and sat the tray down over Usagi's lap.
Usagi blinked twice and looked at the tray. A large pancake filled the
plate, spilling slightly over the edges. Two sunny-side-up eggs stared out
like two eyes. A piece of bacon grinned up at her, completing the face.
Upon seeing her quizical glance at two glasses, one filled with juice and
the other with milk, Mamoru smiled. "I didn't know which one you liked, so
I gave you a bit of both. I would've asked, but I wanted it to be a
surprise."
A red rose, standing in a long clear vase, completed the breakfast surprise.
Usagi didn't know what to think of this sudden change in her lifestyle.
For the first time, she looked up and saw Mamoru without his trenchcoat on.
A simple pair of blue slacks covered his muscular-looking legs. The slacks
were suspended at his waist courtesy of a brown belt. He also sported a
red, turtleneck sweater. The tips of his bandaged hands peeked out from two
long sleeves. Usagi thought for a moment as to why he would be wrapped in
cloth, but then found herself enraptured in his deep blue eyes. A pair of
sunglasses sat perched in his black hair. Usagi blushed and subconciously
pulled her blanket further up around her.
Mamoru smiled in spite of himself and tilted his head to look at her. He
sniffed at the air. "What's that?" he inquired.
"Did you forget something?" asked Usagi, pointing to the kitchen.
Smoke rose from the stovetop. "Ah! My breakfast!" shouted Mamoru, running
into the kitchen. Usagi smiled in spite of the situation, and even went as
far as having to stifle a giggle. She watched as her mysterious guest
searched throughout her cupboards for baking powder as a fire erupted from
the bacon. Everything he did seemed to be so exaggerated. She grimaced as
Mamoru waved his hand over the fire, trying vainly to fan the flame out.
The bandages on his hand caught the fire and he was suddenly reeling around
the room in panic, trying to put out his hand. He finally made it to the
sink, where he sighed in relief upon plunging his hand into the dishwater.
Usagi erupted into a fit of laughter. He was her own personal Looney Toon.
She smiled. "Maybe it won't be so bad having somebody else in this house,"
she thought to herself as Mamoru dried his bandaged hands.
Mamoru turned out to be the perfect houseguest. Usagi found herself away at
the museum nearly every day, readily working out the details of her exhibit
and presentation. Strangely enough, her home was clean every time she came
home, which was more often than not late at night. Mamoru had already sent
himself to bed, but a note every night lay on the kitchen counter.
Good morning Sunshine
I made dinner, there is a plate in the icebox for you. Hope work went well,
I hope to see you in the morning.
Sleep Well,
Mamoru
Usagi rarely saw her guest, and had forgotten to figure payments with him.
Frankly, however, she did not care. As far as she was concerned, he did
more than his share of work and had earned his keep. Besides, she was
beginning to like him more with each passing day.
Work at the museum progressed quite rapidly. The exhibit was far ahead of
schedule. It was only the short matter of a week before Usagi's
presentation before members of the National Historian Society. Luckily, she
was more than prepared for the lecture.
Usagi called the day off early, sending everyone home at three o' clock in
the afternoon. She stayed for two more hours, researching the details of
her presentation and walking through the exhibit to make sure everything
stayed in place. It was truly amazing how so many artifacts could remain
behind from such an ancient culture. Usagi's theories, however, tried to
set aside the circumstancial evidence of artifacts and drawings, and
centered more towards explaining the thousands of mysteries.
"These cultures," as her speech began, "have been underestimated for far too
long. We look at their clay pots, their grass huts, and we assume they were
inferior to our own culture." However, the professors and historians seemed
to avoid such delicate subjects as the pyramids and embalming. Usagi would
prove someday that the ancient Egyptian culture was indeed as
technologically advanced, if not more so, than her own civilization.
Upon finding everything in order, Usagi left the museum, locking the exhibit
door behind her. She walked through the rest of the museum and exited
through the front doors. At the front of the building, she hailed a taxi.
Usagi rummaged for her keys to open the front door, then realized that it
would be unlocked, as she was returning early. She was greeted with music
blaring from the phonograph. It was a jazzy piece, slow and subtle, yet
full of life. Mamoru was busily washing dishes in the sink as Usagi stepped
into the kitchen. His deep voice sang along in harmony with the rich vocals
of the singer from the record.
My love, here you are...
So close, yet so far.
I wish that somehow you could know.
I want to hold you, the way that I used to,
Under the moonlight glow.
All I can do is stand here and sigh,
And reminisce a while.
A soft brass instrument took over the melody, keeping in harmony with the
words. Mamoru swayed in tune with the rhythm and hummed the remaining bit
of the song. Usagi applauded just as it finished, startling Mamoru. The
plate he had been washing crashed to the floor and shattered.
Usagi jumped back as glass spread across the kitchen floor. Mamoru's eyes
widened and he immediately squated to the floor, picking up the larger
pieces of glass. Usagi stepped carefully through the spill and retrieved a
broom from behind the back door. She began to sweep up the mess.
"You came home early today," Mamoru ventured. "Finish up at the museum
ahead of time?"
"Yes, things are coming along quite nicely. The exhibit is almost done, and
I am just finishing up with my presentation. Not a minute too soon, as the
whole thing will be unveiled in less than a week."
Mamoru looked at her sadly for a moment. "I understand how much this means
to you, your research and all, but--"
"Is there something wrong Mamoru?" she inquired, looking into his eyes.
He hesitated momentarily, his soul caught up in those beautiful blue eyes.
"No, Usagi. I wish you the best of luck with your presentation."
suddenly become lively and full of energy. *promptly disappears in a puff
of smoke and appears as a smaller, cuter version of himself*
WAI WAI! Look! I finished the next chapter! Thanks everyone for the
beautiful comments. Oh, and Kari, you can go to bed now. *waves to Kari,
who is camped out on his doorstep* It's okay, I gave you Jungle Fever, the
next Adventure of Darien the Cynical Bagger, more Urban Legend, and now
this. Go to bed now, onegai?
The Mummy's Curse Part 2
PG
thelonepig@hotmail.com
"Can I help you?" Usagi managed, trying to keep her voice steady.
The man turned his head and coughed violently. Dust settled onto the porch
from underneath the man's trenchcoat. Usagi couldn't help but feel slightly
disturbed at the man's unkempt appearance, but invited him in nonetheless.
The sooner her spare bedroom was rented out, the sooner her mother would
drop the whole situation.
"Can I get your coat Mr... ?" hesitated Usagi.
"Chiba. Chiba Mamoru. And if you don't mind, I'd like to keep it with me."
Usagi shrugged and began to step into the living room, before quickly
hesitating. "Perhaps you'd like to see your room?"
Mamoru nodded and followed Usagi as she walked up the stairs of her home.
"Alright, Mr. Chiba, here is the bathroom," said Usagi, pointing to a room
as they passed by. "And here is the bedroom." The solid door swung open as
she pressed on it.
The guest room had been freshly painted and was charmingly but very simply
decorated. Mamoru stepped inside and looked around. "Yes, yes. This
should do nicely. Thank you."
Usagi stood for a moment and watched in amusement as her mysterious guest
poked around the room. He opened the closet, peeked in the dresser, and
bounced lightly on the bed. Usagi turned to leave, bringing the door closed
behind her. She hesitated for a moment and turned the doorknob again,
peeking silently back into the room.
She looked inside just enough to see Mamoru's hat sitting on the dresser. A
mirror, conveniently placed above the dresser, allowed her to watch her
renter as he sat on the bed. Mamoru's head was fully wrapped in bandages,
yellowed with age. Usagi bit down on her finger in order to keep herself
from gasping in shock. She remained quiet and continued to watch.
Bandages fell in a pile on the floor. Why would anyone be wrapped in so
much cloth? Usagi looked up into the mirror again, and gasped when she
found a pair of deep blue eyes staring directly at her. She cleared her
throat. "Mr. Chiba? We forgot to discuss the payment. Perhaps in the
morning? I'm sure you are weary and would like to rest."
Mamoru smiled to himself as he heard her footsteps pad down the carpeted
hallway.
Smells and sounds of bacon, eggs, and toast filtered through Usagi's home.
Usagi groaned and turned over in bed, throwing the pillow over her. The
smells in the air enticed her up. She smiled and stretched, then sat up in
bed.
"Good morning, Sunshine," smiled Mamoru.
Usagi screamed, grabbed her blanket, and wrapped it up around her.
"What are you doing in my room?" she wailed.
Mamoru lifted the tray he was carrying. "I thought you might like some
breakfast." He stepped forward and sat the tray down over Usagi's lap.
Usagi blinked twice and looked at the tray. A large pancake filled the
plate, spilling slightly over the edges. Two sunny-side-up eggs stared out
like two eyes. A piece of bacon grinned up at her, completing the face.
Upon seeing her quizical glance at two glasses, one filled with juice and
the other with milk, Mamoru smiled. "I didn't know which one you liked, so
I gave you a bit of both. I would've asked, but I wanted it to be a
surprise."
A red rose, standing in a long clear vase, completed the breakfast surprise.
Usagi didn't know what to think of this sudden change in her lifestyle.
For the first time, she looked up and saw Mamoru without his trenchcoat on.
A simple pair of blue slacks covered his muscular-looking legs. The slacks
were suspended at his waist courtesy of a brown belt. He also sported a
red, turtleneck sweater. The tips of his bandaged hands peeked out from two
long sleeves. Usagi thought for a moment as to why he would be wrapped in
cloth, but then found herself enraptured in his deep blue eyes. A pair of
sunglasses sat perched in his black hair. Usagi blushed and subconciously
pulled her blanket further up around her.
Mamoru smiled in spite of himself and tilted his head to look at her. He
sniffed at the air. "What's that?" he inquired.
"Did you forget something?" asked Usagi, pointing to the kitchen.
Smoke rose from the stovetop. "Ah! My breakfast!" shouted Mamoru, running
into the kitchen. Usagi smiled in spite of the situation, and even went as
far as having to stifle a giggle. She watched as her mysterious guest
searched throughout her cupboards for baking powder as a fire erupted from
the bacon. Everything he did seemed to be so exaggerated. She grimaced as
Mamoru waved his hand over the fire, trying vainly to fan the flame out.
The bandages on his hand caught the fire and he was suddenly reeling around
the room in panic, trying to put out his hand. He finally made it to the
sink, where he sighed in relief upon plunging his hand into the dishwater.
Usagi erupted into a fit of laughter. He was her own personal Looney Toon.
She smiled. "Maybe it won't be so bad having somebody else in this house,"
she thought to herself as Mamoru dried his bandaged hands.
Mamoru turned out to be the perfect houseguest. Usagi found herself away at
the museum nearly every day, readily working out the details of her exhibit
and presentation. Strangely enough, her home was clean every time she came
home, which was more often than not late at night. Mamoru had already sent
himself to bed, but a note every night lay on the kitchen counter.
Good morning Sunshine
I made dinner, there is a plate in the icebox for you. Hope work went well,
I hope to see you in the morning.
Sleep Well,
Mamoru
Usagi rarely saw her guest, and had forgotten to figure payments with him.
Frankly, however, she did not care. As far as she was concerned, he did
more than his share of work and had earned his keep. Besides, she was
beginning to like him more with each passing day.
Work at the museum progressed quite rapidly. The exhibit was far ahead of
schedule. It was only the short matter of a week before Usagi's
presentation before members of the National Historian Society. Luckily, she
was more than prepared for the lecture.
Usagi called the day off early, sending everyone home at three o' clock in
the afternoon. She stayed for two more hours, researching the details of
her presentation and walking through the exhibit to make sure everything
stayed in place. It was truly amazing how so many artifacts could remain
behind from such an ancient culture. Usagi's theories, however, tried to
set aside the circumstancial evidence of artifacts and drawings, and
centered more towards explaining the thousands of mysteries.
"These cultures," as her speech began, "have been underestimated for far too
long. We look at their clay pots, their grass huts, and we assume they were
inferior to our own culture." However, the professors and historians seemed
to avoid such delicate subjects as the pyramids and embalming. Usagi would
prove someday that the ancient Egyptian culture was indeed as
technologically advanced, if not more so, than her own civilization.
Upon finding everything in order, Usagi left the museum, locking the exhibit
door behind her. She walked through the rest of the museum and exited
through the front doors. At the front of the building, she hailed a taxi.
Usagi rummaged for her keys to open the front door, then realized that it
would be unlocked, as she was returning early. She was greeted with music
blaring from the phonograph. It was a jazzy piece, slow and subtle, yet
full of life. Mamoru was busily washing dishes in the sink as Usagi stepped
into the kitchen. His deep voice sang along in harmony with the rich vocals
of the singer from the record.
My love, here you are...
So close, yet so far.
I wish that somehow you could know.
I want to hold you, the way that I used to,
Under the moonlight glow.
All I can do is stand here and sigh,
And reminisce a while.
A soft brass instrument took over the melody, keeping in harmony with the
words. Mamoru swayed in tune with the rhythm and hummed the remaining bit
of the song. Usagi applauded just as it finished, startling Mamoru. The
plate he had been washing crashed to the floor and shattered.
Usagi jumped back as glass spread across the kitchen floor. Mamoru's eyes
widened and he immediately squated to the floor, picking up the larger
pieces of glass. Usagi stepped carefully through the spill and retrieved a
broom from behind the back door. She began to sweep up the mess.
"You came home early today," Mamoru ventured. "Finish up at the museum
ahead of time?"
"Yes, things are coming along quite nicely. The exhibit is almost done, and
I am just finishing up with my presentation. Not a minute too soon, as the
whole thing will be unveiled in less than a week."
Mamoru looked at her sadly for a moment. "I understand how much this means
to you, your research and all, but--"
"Is there something wrong Mamoru?" she inquired, looking into his eyes.
He hesitated momentarily, his soul caught up in those beautiful blue eyes.
"No, Usagi. I wish you the best of luck with your presentation."
