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Satsugaisha
By XTsukimiOdangoX
Chapter 4
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Chiba Mamoru shifted uneasily from one foot to the other. He chewed nervously on his thumb nail. He had a bad feeling about all of this. A really bad feeling…
"You coming?"
Mamoru blinked. He snapped his head to the side to see Tsukino Usagi waiting impatiently for him to follow. She had one foot on the ground and the other elevated on the first step up to the Hikawa Shrine in front of her. Her hand tightened and loosened on the rail.
"Well?" Usagi began tapping her foot. She was not a patient person, and Mamoru was most definitely testing her nerves. "What the hell are you waiting for?"
"Um…" Mamoru gulped uncomfortably. "I really don't fell comfortable with going up there, Tsukino-san…"
Usagi sighed in agitation. Oh yes, her patience was most definitely wearing thin…
"Look, Chiba-san," she began, clenching the hand rail tighter. "You say that Hino Rei tried to kill you - so - don't you want some justice for God's sake?"
Mamoru scratched at the bandages on his chest. It was true… He exhaled slowly. Usagi was right…
"A-all right… I guess that makes some sense…" he mumbled unsurely.
"Good." Usagi pretended not to notice the slight tinge of fear in Mamoru's voice. She began her ascent up the stairs to the temple. "Here's the plan…"
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Tsukino Usagi finally reached the top of the stone stairs. She ran a hand through her windblown blonde hair. She shifted her shoulder, unconsciously snuggling deeper into Mamoru's hold. Somehow his arm had managed to drape over her shoulder. She hadn't protested.
Now, Usagi let her plan play itself out in her mind - pushing the pounding of her heart out of her ears. All we have to do is -
"Tsukino Usagi?!"
Usagi jerked her head to the left. She plastered a cheery, surprised, and fake smile on her lips.
"Rei-chan!" she squealed in "excitement."
She broke free from Mamoru's hold and threw her arms around her old childhood friend. Hino Rei hugged back, kissing Usagi's cheek and Usagi doing the same to her.
Mamoru rammed his hands into his pockets nervously.
"How have you been?!" Rei took a step back to look at Usagi more fully. Usagi did the same.
"Fine, fine!" she replied happily. She quickly scanned Rei's body. She looked exactly the same. Pin straight black hair to the small of her back, dark purple eyes, and a priestess uniform. She certainly didn't look like a serial killer… "And you? How have you been?"
"I've been OK." Rei smiled, hugging Usagi again. "I've missed you so much! We haven't talked in forever!"
"Yeah… But, you know - my job and all. It keeps me pretty damn busy."
"I know how that is." Rei brushed her hair back, desperately trying to keep it out of her face from the wind. "It's been pretty hectic around here, too."
"Oh ya?" Usagi swung her head around, taking in the surroundings. Same old, same old. "Everything looks to be going well around here to me."
"I'm trying." Rei's face fell slightly. "But, it's been hard. Ojii-san* is sick..."
"Oh no…" Usagi rested a half genuinely worried, half fake worried hand on Rei's shoulder. "Will he be OK?"
Rei's eyes darted over to the temple. "The doctor said it was just the flu, but he's getting so old now…"
"I'm sure he'll be OK - as long as he takes his medicine." Usagi tried to comfort her old friend with a smile. "It is the fall and everything now, so it must be going around." She zipped up her jacket higher, as if emphasizing the statement.
"Yes…" Rei stared for a moment longer then blinked and turned back to Usagi. She shrugged.
"It must be hard for you now, with no help and all."
"Oh no," the priestess shook her head. "It's fine. I hired someone." She motioned to someone behind Usagi. "That's Kumada Yuuichirou."
Usagi turned around. She caught eyes with Mamoru briefly, who was standing - shoulders hunched in - trying to protect himself from the wind. She then let her eyes wander to the left, past Mamoru. There was a young man standing there, possibly a little bit older than she, sweeping a stone pathway. He had shaggy brown hair that fell to his shoulders and bangs that covered his eyes, with light stubble on his chin. He was wearing the same outfit as Rei.
Usagi blinked once at his rugged looks. She turned back to Rei in slight surprise.
"Don't mind him," Rei giggled, "he wants to be a rock star."
"Makes sense…" Usagi mumbled. "I guess."
Rei smiled. Her violet eyes swung over to Chiba Mamoru, noticing him for the first time. Her eyes sparkled.
"Oh, hello." The priestess bowed slightly at the waist. Mamoru's spine stiffened visibly. He quickly bowed back, completely flustered.
Usagi's eyes darkened. She watched Rei's face carefully. Very carefully. She didn't seem to be letting on any recognition…
"Usagi-chan?"
Tsukino Usagi jerked slightly. She blinked in surprise. "H-hai, Rei-chan?"
"Well," the priestess began, smile widening. "Aren't you going to introduce us?"
Usagi blushed lightly. She turned her head to Mamoru, hands stuffed in his pockets, shifting his weight from one foot to another.
Quit being so God damned obvious, baka!! Usagi seethed mentally.
"Hino Rei," Usagi started in a slightly uncomfortable voice, gesturing to Mamoru, "this is… my fiancée, Chiba Mamoru."
Mamoru and Rei both blinked.
"N-nani…?!" they cried.
Usagi groaned audibly.
This was the case from hell….
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Notes:
* Ojii-san- "Grandfather"
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Author's Notes: AHHH!!! SHORT CHAPTER-NESS!!! I'm sorry!! But, I REALLY wanted to end it there (it's called writer's block, folks)! Please don't hurt me… Flames are welcomed, but please no physical pain… ;_;
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