Greetings and salutations minna. The part is out a bit late -- blame the
bunch of them at the chatroom tonight. *L* Ah well, it was fun. I think I
like the way this series is turning out and definitely plan to write at
least one more fic sometime in its general pace... hmm... WAFF writers
anonymous? Ah well, is this chapter what they call angst? *hoping for
feedback* 'Till tomorrow minna!
Chapter 4
PG
thelonepig@hotmail.com
"Usagi-dearest?!"
Usagi's eyes flittered open. Light filtered in between the curtains hanging
in the front window. She sat up and stretched, looking about her.
"Usagi?"
"In here mom!" she called back.
Mamoru was nowhere to be seen. Usagi blinked again and held up a blanket
covering her. "Where did this come from...?" she thought to herself. She
smiled, thinking that Mamoru must have woken before her and covered her.
How had all of this happened? She felt warm and safe when around Mamoru.
His warm, comforting arms reminded her of when her and Ashiki had been
together. Damn that man for breaking her heart.
"Dear?" inquired Usagi's mother, stepping into the living room. "Why are
you sleeping in here? I thought for sure I would have missed you and you
would already be at the museum. What are you doing home?" Noticing the
open phonograph, the needle still turning on the record, Usagi's mother
walked over and began putting the machine away. "Usagi, dear, please take
more care of this. You know it used to be your fathers..."
Usagi frowned. "Sorry mother, I didn't mean to. I just fell asleep
listening to some music."
"I understand dear, but I just want you to understand how important this is.
You are a grown woman living on your own. You know how dangerous it is
..."
"... for a woman to be living on her own these days," finished Usagi. "Yes
mother, I know. You realize how I am with my work, I don't have time for a
family."
"But dear, you aren't expected to work. And when am I going to get
grandchildren? You know I won't be here forever," Usagi's mother pleaded.
"Mother, you know I am doing just fine on my own."
"I'm your mother, I'm supposed to worry. And now you don't even have that
room to let sign up anymore. Can't you just satisfy some of your mother's
wishes?"
Usagi looked at her mother furiously. "You know very well I didn't want to
rent that room. But for your information, I so happen to have rented it."
Usagi's mother was on her like a bolt of lightning. "Who? A man? Is he
handsome?"
"Mother! Would you please stop interfering with my life!" pouted Usagi.
"Dear, I just --" The look Usagi shot her mother could have silenced an
army.
"Well, anyway," her mother replied flustered. "I just wanted to stop by and
see how you were doing. I'm going out with some of the ladies today for
lunch and..."
"...you wanted something to gossip about?" finished Usagi.
By now, Usagi's mother had become quite exasperated. "I can see you aren't
ready to talk about it. Just remember to call me on occassion. I sit by
the telephone every night waiting for you to call, and you never do. I just
want to know my little girl is safe."
Usagi walked with her mother to the door and let her out. "Mother, I'm a
big girl. Don't worry, work keeps me busy. I'll call, I promise." And
with that, the elderly woman found herself standing outside on the porch as
the front door settled behind her.
Usagi sighed and fell back against the door, letting out a sigh. Mamoru
walked down the stairs dressed in his usual attire of a pair of slacks and
turtleneck sweater. "Was there somebody here?"
"Just my mother," she replied wearily, making her way into the kitchen.
Mamoru followed closely behind her and paused in the doorway between the two
rooms. Usagi walked to the cupboard and opened it up. She removed the
flour and set it on the counter, then reached for the measuring cups that
were hanging over the sink. Mamoru reached them first and lifted them from
the hook they were on. He looked down into Usagi's eyes and smiled.
"I'll cook, it's the least I can do as your house guest."
He turned her around and placed his strong hands on her shoulders. He led
her to a chair at the table and set her down.
"Now you stay here Sunshine, and I'll make you the best darn pancakes you've
ever had."
Usagi blinked and sat in the chair for a moment before glancing at Mamoru
curiously. "Mamoru, why do you always call me Sunshine?"
"Eh? Sorry, what was that?" he asked, looking up from whipping a batter
together.
"Sunshine. It's written on all of your notes."
"Oh that? Sorry, just a quirk of mine."
"But what does it mean?"
"Sunshine. You know, I suppose I've never put it into words before."
Mamoru dropped some batter into a frying pan and let it settle for a minute
as he retrieved some bacon from the icebox. "Well, when I was a child, my
mother once pointed out to me how beautiful the sunrise was. It always made
me think and I remember often waking early just to watch it. The sunrise
always cheered me up. I loved to feel the first rays of warmth shine onto
my face."
Usagi listened with interest.
"Seeing the sun come up in the morning always puts a smile on my face, so I
guess in referring to you as Sunshine, I mean that you make me happy."
Usagi blinked twice at him and an awkward silence fell over the room. And
then her eyes widened. Pointing to the stove, she screamed. "MAMORU!"
Mamoru turned to see smoke rising in a mushroom cloud from his pancakes.
"ACK!" He grabbed the frying pan from the burner and moved it over to the
sink, where he held it for a moment to let it cool. He turned to Usagi with
an immense grin spread across his handsome face. "The great thing about
being constantly bandaged, you don't have to use hotpads!"
Usagi laughed so hard she fell onto the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes
as she rolled about, trying desperately to regain her composure. Mamoru
chuckled to himself and soon joined her on the floor.
The grandfather clock in the living room tolled nine o' clock. Usagi
suddenly shot up. "I'm late! I should have been to the museum by now! Oh,
I hope they don't mess up my poor exhibit." She quickly rushed into the
bathroom and made herself presentable before making a mad dash for the front
door.
"Thanks for the breakfast Mamoru, I'm sure it would have been good!"
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Mamoru utterly confused on the
kitchen floor.
All the preparations had been made and Mamoru had just started looking over
the feast he had cooked. The front door clicked open, announcing Usagi's
arrival home. Mamoru smiled to himself and lit the candle that had been
placed on the center of the kitchen table before ducking into an adjoining
room to witness her reaction.
Weary from a long day at work, Usagi had no other plan than to soak in a
warm bath for a good hour before falling asleep. As she walked into the
kitchen, she found that was not to be the case.
An intricate candle-light scene had been cut into the otherwise-rustic
looking home. Two plates were set out on the table, both crowded with a
delicious looking meal. Usagi leaned in closer and found a note sitting
before one of the plates.
Please be seated, m'lady...
Usagi picked the note up and looked it over. She was too tired to think
things over and took her seat. Moments later, the phonograph began playing
a very familiar song. Usagi gasped as a pair of strong hands placed
themselves over her eyes.
"Pretend you haven't seen any of this yet."
Usagi smiled. "Seen what?"
Mamoru removed his hands from her eyes and she looked up into his smiling
face. He sat in the seat across the table from her and gestured towards her
plate. Usagi shrieked as she found a small gift-wrapped package on the
plate in front of her.
A silver ribbon accented the top of the box, which Usagi readily tore into
at Mamoru's assurance. She held a velvet container in her hand. Her eyes
widened as she looked at Mamoru across the table. The same smile still
shown across his face.
Usagi opened the box slowly, finding a beautifully crafted silver necklace
inside. Two separate chains intertwined each other and held a small ruby,
cut into a prism.
"Mamoru, it's beautiful," she exclaimed, her eyes widening.
Sliding his seat back, Mamoru stepped over to Usagi and helped her fasten
the necklace around her slender neck.
"Mamoru, why are you doing this for me?"
Mamoru smiled. "It's the least I could do for my beautiful landlady."
Usagi watched as Mamoru once again took his chair. She twirled the ruby
between her fingers and looked down at her plate of food.
"Where did you get this?" she inquired after a period of silence.
Coughing nervously, Mamoru looked away. That look of loss had once again
returned to his magnificently blue eyes.
"It was once my mother's."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Perhaps you should keep it then, to remember her." Usagi
began to remove the necklace.
"You remind me of her," replied Mamoru simply.
Usagi stopped. He was hiding something.
"Mamoru? Where were you born?"
The question sat unanswered for an eternity. Moonlight filtered into the
darkened room from the kitchen window. A light zephyr blew across the room,
chilling Usagi to the bone. The candlelight flickered. In the other room,
the phonograph reached the end of the record and stopped.
"Usagi, I was born in Egypt over a thousand years ago." He hesitated for a
moment, allowing the words to sink in and to collect his own thoughts. "My
father was born one of the lower-class, but one day happened across one of
Pharoah's daughters by the Nile River. They fell in love and eloped, but
Pharoah found out about it and was furious. He banished my mother, who
unknowingly was carrying me at the time. My parents ran away to a province
further south on the Nile and found a place to settle, where I was raised.
I told you the truth about the fire. My father died only shortly afterward
-- from grief, mostly. I was taken in to the palace and worked as a servant
so that my grandfather, Pharoah, would be able to keep an eye on me. I
suppose even after having banished my mother he still felt some sort of
connection to her. Looking back, I think he must have felt that by watching
after me he could atone for what he had done."
"I was raised in the palace, amidst my cousins, though I didn't know it at
the time. My entire life I served Pharoah to the best of my ability. It
wasn't until he lay there dying that he explained to me the whole truth of
my past. So taken aback at his words, I withdrew into myself. Suddenly I
became worthless as a servant because I was too busy thinking. I should
have been working. When Pharaoh passed away, I was chosen as one of the
servants to continue in his service into the next life. Hence, I was
prepared for burial and mummification and sealed away in a separate tomb."
Usagi stared at him for a moment before breaking into a fit of laughter.
"Oh Mamoru, that's pretty good! So really, where are you from? Chicago?
New York? I'll bet it's a big city!"
The pain in his eyes showed that he was not amused. "I have told you the
truth."
Usagi glared at him for a moment before leaping out of her chair, sending it
clattering across the kitchen floor. "No! It's too ridiculous to be real!
How could you do this to me?!" Her emotions carried her away as she burst
into a fit of crying and ran from the room. "I hate you!"
Another breeze blew through the kitchen, but it was not the bitter chill in
the air that made Mamoru shiver. The candle at the table died out and all
was dark.
bunch of them at the chatroom tonight. *L* Ah well, it was fun. I think I
like the way this series is turning out and definitely plan to write at
least one more fic sometime in its general pace... hmm... WAFF writers
anonymous? Ah well, is this chapter what they call angst? *hoping for
feedback* 'Till tomorrow minna!
Chapter 4
PG
thelonepig@hotmail.com
"Usagi-dearest?!"
Usagi's eyes flittered open. Light filtered in between the curtains hanging
in the front window. She sat up and stretched, looking about her.
"Usagi?"
"In here mom!" she called back.
Mamoru was nowhere to be seen. Usagi blinked again and held up a blanket
covering her. "Where did this come from...?" she thought to herself. She
smiled, thinking that Mamoru must have woken before her and covered her.
How had all of this happened? She felt warm and safe when around Mamoru.
His warm, comforting arms reminded her of when her and Ashiki had been
together. Damn that man for breaking her heart.
"Dear?" inquired Usagi's mother, stepping into the living room. "Why are
you sleeping in here? I thought for sure I would have missed you and you
would already be at the museum. What are you doing home?" Noticing the
open phonograph, the needle still turning on the record, Usagi's mother
walked over and began putting the machine away. "Usagi, dear, please take
more care of this. You know it used to be your fathers..."
Usagi frowned. "Sorry mother, I didn't mean to. I just fell asleep
listening to some music."
"I understand dear, but I just want you to understand how important this is.
You are a grown woman living on your own. You know how dangerous it is
..."
"... for a woman to be living on her own these days," finished Usagi. "Yes
mother, I know. You realize how I am with my work, I don't have time for a
family."
"But dear, you aren't expected to work. And when am I going to get
grandchildren? You know I won't be here forever," Usagi's mother pleaded.
"Mother, you know I am doing just fine on my own."
"I'm your mother, I'm supposed to worry. And now you don't even have that
room to let sign up anymore. Can't you just satisfy some of your mother's
wishes?"
Usagi looked at her mother furiously. "You know very well I didn't want to
rent that room. But for your information, I so happen to have rented it."
Usagi's mother was on her like a bolt of lightning. "Who? A man? Is he
handsome?"
"Mother! Would you please stop interfering with my life!" pouted Usagi.
"Dear, I just --" The look Usagi shot her mother could have silenced an
army.
"Well, anyway," her mother replied flustered. "I just wanted to stop by and
see how you were doing. I'm going out with some of the ladies today for
lunch and..."
"...you wanted something to gossip about?" finished Usagi.
By now, Usagi's mother had become quite exasperated. "I can see you aren't
ready to talk about it. Just remember to call me on occassion. I sit by
the telephone every night waiting for you to call, and you never do. I just
want to know my little girl is safe."
Usagi walked with her mother to the door and let her out. "Mother, I'm a
big girl. Don't worry, work keeps me busy. I'll call, I promise." And
with that, the elderly woman found herself standing outside on the porch as
the front door settled behind her.
Usagi sighed and fell back against the door, letting out a sigh. Mamoru
walked down the stairs dressed in his usual attire of a pair of slacks and
turtleneck sweater. "Was there somebody here?"
"Just my mother," she replied wearily, making her way into the kitchen.
Mamoru followed closely behind her and paused in the doorway between the two
rooms. Usagi walked to the cupboard and opened it up. She removed the
flour and set it on the counter, then reached for the measuring cups that
were hanging over the sink. Mamoru reached them first and lifted them from
the hook they were on. He looked down into Usagi's eyes and smiled.
"I'll cook, it's the least I can do as your house guest."
He turned her around and placed his strong hands on her shoulders. He led
her to a chair at the table and set her down.
"Now you stay here Sunshine, and I'll make you the best darn pancakes you've
ever had."
Usagi blinked and sat in the chair for a moment before glancing at Mamoru
curiously. "Mamoru, why do you always call me Sunshine?"
"Eh? Sorry, what was that?" he asked, looking up from whipping a batter
together.
"Sunshine. It's written on all of your notes."
"Oh that? Sorry, just a quirk of mine."
"But what does it mean?"
"Sunshine. You know, I suppose I've never put it into words before."
Mamoru dropped some batter into a frying pan and let it settle for a minute
as he retrieved some bacon from the icebox. "Well, when I was a child, my
mother once pointed out to me how beautiful the sunrise was. It always made
me think and I remember often waking early just to watch it. The sunrise
always cheered me up. I loved to feel the first rays of warmth shine onto
my face."
Usagi listened with interest.
"Seeing the sun come up in the morning always puts a smile on my face, so I
guess in referring to you as Sunshine, I mean that you make me happy."
Usagi blinked twice at him and an awkward silence fell over the room. And
then her eyes widened. Pointing to the stove, she screamed. "MAMORU!"
Mamoru turned to see smoke rising in a mushroom cloud from his pancakes.
"ACK!" He grabbed the frying pan from the burner and moved it over to the
sink, where he held it for a moment to let it cool. He turned to Usagi with
an immense grin spread across his handsome face. "The great thing about
being constantly bandaged, you don't have to use hotpads!"
Usagi laughed so hard she fell onto the floor. Tears welled up in her eyes
as she rolled about, trying desperately to regain her composure. Mamoru
chuckled to himself and soon joined her on the floor.
The grandfather clock in the living room tolled nine o' clock. Usagi
suddenly shot up. "I'm late! I should have been to the museum by now! Oh,
I hope they don't mess up my poor exhibit." She quickly rushed into the
bathroom and made herself presentable before making a mad dash for the front
door.
"Thanks for the breakfast Mamoru, I'm sure it would have been good!"
The door clicked shut behind her, leaving Mamoru utterly confused on the
kitchen floor.
All the preparations had been made and Mamoru had just started looking over
the feast he had cooked. The front door clicked open, announcing Usagi's
arrival home. Mamoru smiled to himself and lit the candle that had been
placed on the center of the kitchen table before ducking into an adjoining
room to witness her reaction.
Weary from a long day at work, Usagi had no other plan than to soak in a
warm bath for a good hour before falling asleep. As she walked into the
kitchen, she found that was not to be the case.
An intricate candle-light scene had been cut into the otherwise-rustic
looking home. Two plates were set out on the table, both crowded with a
delicious looking meal. Usagi leaned in closer and found a note sitting
before one of the plates.
Please be seated, m'lady...
Usagi picked the note up and looked it over. She was too tired to think
things over and took her seat. Moments later, the phonograph began playing
a very familiar song. Usagi gasped as a pair of strong hands placed
themselves over her eyes.
"Pretend you haven't seen any of this yet."
Usagi smiled. "Seen what?"
Mamoru removed his hands from her eyes and she looked up into his smiling
face. He sat in the seat across the table from her and gestured towards her
plate. Usagi shrieked as she found a small gift-wrapped package on the
plate in front of her.
A silver ribbon accented the top of the box, which Usagi readily tore into
at Mamoru's assurance. She held a velvet container in her hand. Her eyes
widened as she looked at Mamoru across the table. The same smile still
shown across his face.
Usagi opened the box slowly, finding a beautifully crafted silver necklace
inside. Two separate chains intertwined each other and held a small ruby,
cut into a prism.
"Mamoru, it's beautiful," she exclaimed, her eyes widening.
Sliding his seat back, Mamoru stepped over to Usagi and helped her fasten
the necklace around her slender neck.
"Mamoru, why are you doing this for me?"
Mamoru smiled. "It's the least I could do for my beautiful landlady."
Usagi watched as Mamoru once again took his chair. She twirled the ruby
between her fingers and looked down at her plate of food.
"Where did you get this?" she inquired after a period of silence.
Coughing nervously, Mamoru looked away. That look of loss had once again
returned to his magnificently blue eyes.
"It was once my mother's."
"Oh, I'm sorry. Perhaps you should keep it then, to remember her." Usagi
began to remove the necklace.
"You remind me of her," replied Mamoru simply.
Usagi stopped. He was hiding something.
"Mamoru? Where were you born?"
The question sat unanswered for an eternity. Moonlight filtered into the
darkened room from the kitchen window. A light zephyr blew across the room,
chilling Usagi to the bone. The candlelight flickered. In the other room,
the phonograph reached the end of the record and stopped.
"Usagi, I was born in Egypt over a thousand years ago." He hesitated for a
moment, allowing the words to sink in and to collect his own thoughts. "My
father was born one of the lower-class, but one day happened across one of
Pharoah's daughters by the Nile River. They fell in love and eloped, but
Pharoah found out about it and was furious. He banished my mother, who
unknowingly was carrying me at the time. My parents ran away to a province
further south on the Nile and found a place to settle, where I was raised.
I told you the truth about the fire. My father died only shortly afterward
-- from grief, mostly. I was taken in to the palace and worked as a servant
so that my grandfather, Pharoah, would be able to keep an eye on me. I
suppose even after having banished my mother he still felt some sort of
connection to her. Looking back, I think he must have felt that by watching
after me he could atone for what he had done."
"I was raised in the palace, amidst my cousins, though I didn't know it at
the time. My entire life I served Pharoah to the best of my ability. It
wasn't until he lay there dying that he explained to me the whole truth of
my past. So taken aback at his words, I withdrew into myself. Suddenly I
became worthless as a servant because I was too busy thinking. I should
have been working. When Pharaoh passed away, I was chosen as one of the
servants to continue in his service into the next life. Hence, I was
prepared for burial and mummification and sealed away in a separate tomb."
Usagi stared at him for a moment before breaking into a fit of laughter.
"Oh Mamoru, that's pretty good! So really, where are you from? Chicago?
New York? I'll bet it's a big city!"
The pain in his eyes showed that he was not amused. "I have told you the
truth."
Usagi glared at him for a moment before leaping out of her chair, sending it
clattering across the kitchen floor. "No! It's too ridiculous to be real!
How could you do this to me?!" Her emotions carried her away as she burst
into a fit of crying and ran from the room. "I hate you!"
Another breeze blew through the kitchen, but it was not the bitter chill in
the air that made Mamoru shiver. The candle at the table died out and all
was dark.
