Chapter Two

The familiar sounds and smells of video games and food flooded my senses the second I entered the Crown.

"Usagi-chan!" I head Kioko call.

I turned and saw her sitting in a window booth with Yuki and Kuri. Her arms flailed about in the air.

A smile broke out on my face as I gave her my trademark wave. Kuri had once called it a window-washer wave. She teased me lightly about it, but a mere month later I caught her giving the so-called "window-washer" wave to someone. Believe me; I made sure she knew that I had noticed.

"Konnichi, minna!" I greeted happily as I slid onto the bench across from Yuki. "What's up?"

"What's up?!" Kioko exclaimed, her eyes widening. "What's up?! Usagi-chan, how could you?"

I winced at her volume. Even from across the table, it made my ears ring.

"What?" I asked, completely puzzled by her sudden outburst. Beside me, Kuri shook her head sadly. "What?" I repeated, a little louder than before.

Yuki replied in a quiet voice. "I can't believe you didn't tell us."

"Tell you what? You guys, help me out here," I begged.

I know my friends can be weird sometimes, heck I can be too, but this was way beyond weird. This was downright creepy.

"Usagi-chan, how could you not tell us about Chiba Mamoru?"

"Oh. him," I said dryly.

"Yes, him," said Kuri. "I can't believe we had to find out from you brother."

I shrugged. "It's not that big of a deal."

"Not that big of a deal?! Not that big of a deal?! This is Chiba Mamoru we are talking about," Kioko shrieked. Is it just me or is the girl repeating herself a lot lately. "Hot, rich Chiba Mamoru. How is that not a big deal?!"

I began to feel multiple eyes burn into my head and slowly slid down the bench. "Kioko, people are starting to stare." My eye skimmed around the room.

"Usagi-chan," Kioko said in a quieter voice, "you know we love you like a sister, but we're a tad hurt that you'd keep this from us. We thought we were your friends."

"You guys are," I assured her, "but seriously Chiba Mamoru is no big deal."

Kuri turned to her side and bent underneath the table. When she popped back up, she placed a magazine in front of her. I identified it as a popular teen magazine.

"Look. How can he not be a big deal?" Kuri asked. "He's so hot. Don't tell me you don't think so."

Two deep blue orbs gazed back at me from the magazine cover. I sighed. "I thought we'd already been through this. He's just kawaii."

"Kawaii?" Three pairs of eyes immediately locked onto me.

"Yes, kawaii."

It was at that moment that Motoki decided to show up. "Konnichi, Usagi- chan, minna. What can I get you girls today?" The cheery dirt-blonde asked. He held a small notepad in his left hand and a pencil in his right.

"Motoki-san, what do you think?" Kuri slid the magazine across the table.

After putting his notepad down, Motoki placed the pencil behind his ear. Then he picked up the magazine. "What about it?" He asked, flipping though the pages.

"Just the cover," Yuki informed him.

Motoki closed the magazine and stared at the front casually. "Okay." he said slowly, waiting fro someone to tell him what he was looking for.

"Do you think he's hot?" Kioko bluntly asked.

"What?!" The magazine instantly dropped from Motoki's grip as if it were on fire and would burn his fingers.

I stifled a giggle.

"Well, do you?" Kuri said.

"I'm a guy!"

"But that's not the point."

"I'm not gay."

"And I'm not saying you are. But, what if you were or if you were a girl, would you think he was hot?"

"What the-"

"Just answer the question, Motoki-san."

I watched the exchange go back and forth. Distress dominated the older boy's features.

"Maybe if-I don't know! Stop pressuring me!" He yelled, throwing his arms up into the air. Then he quickly stalked off, his notebook was forgotten.

"Nice going guys," I said after his departure.

Kuri shrugged. "Hey, it's not my fault he's part of the male species." She smirked.

"So are we still on for tonight?" Yuki asked. "I mean since you have a guest there and all."

"Sure," I replied. "I don't see why not."

"This is going to be so much fun!" Kioko said gleefully.

Kuri's head rapidly bobbed up and down in agreement.

Curiously, I grabbed the pad that Motoki had left behind. It was the usual order sheet. Having worked at Crown the previous summer, I quickly recognized it.

Maybe I could save Motoki some trouble.

I dug through my little brown-leather backpack for any sort of writing utensil. It took some rummaging, but I finally came across a black pen. I then took out table's orders and headed towards the counter. Motoki was there serving another customer.

He took a quick glance in my direction, then nodded to let me know that he would be with me soon. I smiled back.

Setting the pad down, I took a seat on the cherry red stool. Surveying the line, I though he might be a while so I rested my arms on the counter, placed my head down, and waited.

---

"Usagi-chan? Hello? Usagi-chan?" I felt three light taps on my shoulder.

My eyes gradually opened and I groggily lifted my head. I saw a young man standing before me.

"Nani?"

"It's me, Motoki. I think you fell asleep."

"Fell asleep?" I repeated confused. Then I remembered everything, "Oh."

"Yeah."

"How long have I been out?"

"Ahh," Motoki thoughtfully glanced towards the wall clock, then the ceiling. "I'd say about ten minutes."

"Ten minutes?! Are the girls still here?" What if they thought I had ditched them? What if they left?

Motoki look over my shoulder. "They're still here. What did you want to talk to me about?" He asked in his usual amiable manner.

"Oh yeah," I slid the pad forward. "I got everyone's orders. I figured it might be a little uncomfortable for you to come back to the table. So, I took the liberty of getting them. Wouldn't want you to lose some income for the day." I gave a light laugh.

Motoki smile. "Domo."

"Well I better get back. They're probably wondering what happened."

"Hai. Ja, Usagi-chan!"

"Ja, Motoki-kun!"

With a wave, I hopped of the stool and headed towards the designated table. The second I took a seat, I was under interrogation.

"What took you so long, Usagi-chan?"

"Yeah, we missed you."

"Sorry, guys," I apologized. "I sort of dozed off for awhile."

Yuki gave me a concerned look. "Aren't you getting enough sleep at night?"

"Yeah. It's just last night, I guess. I had to help Mamoru out since he's new and all."

"Ah," Kioko said knowingly. Something that deeply disturbed me. "Chiba-san kept you awake did he? I thought you didn't like him."

My eyes widened and my cheeks burned. "Kioko-chan! Get your mind out of the gutter. I was just showing him around because my mom told me to."

"Sure, Usagi-chan, whatever you say." Kioko gave me a sly wink.

A wink! Can you believe that girl? She had the audacity to wink at me, but no, not just any wink. It had to be a "sly" one.

I threw her an evil eye. Although the fact that I had just woken up made it lose some of its power so I ended up sticking my tongue out as well for good measure.

"Hey, Usagi-chan?"

"Hai, Kuri-chan?"

"What's Chiba-san really like?"

I sighed. Should've seen this one coming.

"Well, Kuri-chan, it's like I said before. A complete egotistical jerk, or baka. You take your pick."

- - -

"Usagi, phone!"

"Hai, Okaasan!" I dashed towards the living room which housed the nearest phone. "I've got it," I announced, picking up the cordless receiver.

"Moshi, moshi."

I heard the click signaling that my mother had hung up.

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh."

"Kioko-chan?"

"Hai, Konnichi. I was just lying on my bed, staring around the room, and it hit me, Usagi-chan. It hit me."

Worry and concern inundated me. My hand's grip on the phone tightened. "What hit you, Kioko-chan? Are you hurt?"

"Chiba Mamoru."

"Mamoru?"

Someone up there must really hate me, because it was at that exact moment that Mamoru waltzed into the room. Having heard his name, he raised his eyebrow. I glared, then threw a couch pillow at him. Apparently, he got the hint and continued out of the room.

"Hai. It finally hit me that I was going to meet Chiba Mamoru."

Figures it would be about something like this. Relieved, I fell back onto a sleek black lazy boy.

"Well just be sure to remember I warned you when you're disappointed because he's not all he's cracked up to be."

"Usagi-chan, why don't you give the guy a chance?"

"I've given up front row seats to a Three Lights concert for him. Front row, Kioko-chan. Do you have any idea how hard those were to get? And then, just a few hours before the concert, I had to give them up. You want to know why? Because someone had to keep that baka company. I already gave him a chance and he blew it."

I wasn't until after I had stopped speaking that I noticed how heavy my breathing had gotten.

"Okay, okay. I get it, but just consider giving the guy another chance sometime. Maybe, he's not as bad as you think. I know you'll disagree with me now, but just think about it, okay?"

"Fine. I'll think about it, but I'm not promising anything more."

"That's all I ask," she paused. "So is everything ready."

I visualized the game room in my mind. "Yeah, just about. You're bringing the movies right?"

"Yup, and Yuki and Kuri are bringing some more food supplies."

"Great."

From a few rooms away, I heard my little brother call me. "Well, I've gotta get going; Have to say good bye to Shingo before he leaves."

"Okay. I'll see you later tonight then."

"Hai, ja ne."

"Jamata, Usagi-chan."

Pressing the power button, I set the phone back on the charger. Then I set off for the foyer. Mamoru was already standing there, cradling a glass of orange juice in one hand.

"Usagi!"

I knelt down as Shingo jumped me. Smiling I engulfed him in a hug. When I pulled back, I playfully ruffled his brown hair.

"Have fun and be good. I'll be at you game tomorrow."

"Hai, oneesan!"

"Okay, time to go Shingo." My mother took Shingo's hand. "We have to leave now or else we'll be late for practice. Take care, Usagi. And Mamoru, just make yourself at home."

"Arigatou, Tsukino-san. Sayonara."

We watched my mother and brother get into the family car and depart for the nearby baseball fields. The garage door closed with a low rumble.

"So what's the big occasion?" Mamoru asked while we started walking to the game room. Or rather, I walked to the game room and he followed.

"No occasion."

"The why the party?"

"It's not really a party. A few of the girls are just coming over for a sleepover. We do it every month, rotating the places where we hold it."

He responded with a soft, "Oh."

When we entered the room, I went straight towards the coffee table where several bowls and bags of chips were laid out. Mamoru, meanwhile, remained at the door.

"What time are you going to leave?" I asked, opening a bag of sour cream and chives potato chips. The silence was killing me.

"Excuse me?"

I poured the chips into a large bowl. "What time are you going to leave?"

"I heard you the first time," Mamoru replied. Even though the words may have com out harsh if someone else was to say the same phrase, his tone took away the sharp edges. "Why would I leave? Do you want me to leave? Am I really that bad?"

I looked up from my work and took a good look at Mamoru. He was simply dressed in a par of khakis and a black polo shirt. His eyes begged me for answers. I couldn't help but feel a tinge of guilt.

"I just figured, since it was a bunch of girls, you wouldn't want to hang around."

"I have no problem with being around girls."

"I didn't think so," I said, remembering all the female fans he had.

"Then what's the problem?" Mamoru leaned casually against the door frame. He folded his arms.

"You don't understand. To these girls, you're a god."

He grinned. "Glad you finally see my greatness."

"Baka. But seriously, they're not going to be acting normal, not that they really have since they found out that you arrived."

"You were talking about me? I'm touched, Usagi-chan. Only good thing, I hope."

"Well keep on hoping," I told him, returning to putting the chips into bowls. "Look, you're a busy actor guy. Don't you have somewhere to be?"

"Nope, not really."

I groaned. In the words of the great Shinigami, This is so not cool.

As I was finishing up with the snacks, the doorbell rang.

"I'll get that," Mamoru said and left the room.

Standing up, I gathered all of the empty containers, then tossed them into the trash. It was only seconds later when I heard a scream emit from downstairs.

'Sounds like Kioko's here,' I thought to myself.

Then I began to hear voices. Gradually they became louder and louder until finally Mamoru appeared in the doorway with a babbling, green-eyed girl hanging onto his arm. He sent me a face that distinctly said "Help me," but I just chuckled and greeted my friend. Her shoulder-length hair was light brown, highlighted with natural blonde streaks. It shook as she chattered away.

Before I had a chance to speak again, Kuri and Yuki pranced into the room.

"Hey, Usagi-chan! We rang the bell, but nobody answered. Then Yuki realized that the door was open so we let ourselves in. Hope you don't mi-" She froze in mid sentence when she saw the tall, ebony-haired man in the room. "Oh my gosh. Chiba-san! It is such a pleasure to finally meet you." Kuri dropped everything she was holding. She then took Mamoru's hand and vigorously shook it with both of her own. "I loved you in 'Eternal Butterfly.' It was so sad when Kyoshi died. I cried so hard."

"Hai, you did a wonderful job," Yuki piped in, her pale blue eyes glazed over in astonishment. "Will you take a picture with me, Mamoru-san?" She asked, taking a camera out of her small duffel bag. "It would make my day."

"Me too!" Kioko and Kuri exclaimed at the same time.

Without giving him time to answer, the three began tossing the camera between one another, reminding me of a game we used to play when we were little-hot potato. They kept clicking, each time trying a different pose and combination of people. Of course, each shot featured Mamoru who was forced to continuously smile through the whole ordeal. The camera flashes lit up the room like bolts of lighting during a midnight storm. All the photo shoots in the world couldn't have prepared the poor man for this. I fell back onto one of the couches and watched on in amusement.

When the girls were done, Mamoru moved to sit down. Kioko and Kuri mimicked his action, still babbling in their own merry ways. At the same time, Yuri was in the process of reloading her camera, having just finished a whole roll.

"Will you autograph my shirt?" Kuri asked in excitement.

"Hai," Mamoru replied. He took the sharpie that she held out to him. Kuri then turned around so that he could write his name on her back. After he had dotted his I's, he returned her pen.

"Arigatou, Chiba-san," Kuri said, her neck straining to see the back of her shirt.

"No problem."

"Can you sign a few of my things too, Mamoru-san?" Kioko asked, handing Mamoru another sharpie, similar to Kuri's.

"Sure."

Kioko grabbed her backpack, unzipped it, and flipped it upside down. It was as if a Chiba Mamoru shrine had fallen out. A DVD of every movie he had ever made lay haphazardly on the carpet, along with every magazine and newspaper he had been featured in. Not to mention the T-shirts, key-chains, mugs, and other "memorabilia." As I stared at the items, I began to wonder if Kioko had just returned from Planet Mamoru, souvenir capital of the universe.

I could have sworn I saw a sweatdrop appear on Mamoru's forehead. His eyes had also bugged out. I laughed. After all, I had warned him.

One by one, Mamoru signed each item until his fingers had cramped. It took him a full five minutes, but he made it. After the last DVD, he glanced at me. "Come to think of it," he said. "I just remembered a few things I have to do for work." Then he made a hasty retreat, barely pausing to bid the girls a farewell.

I didn't bother reminding him that he wasn't supposed to be doing any work for his job while he was on vacation. Instead I just let him go out the door. A broad grin made its way onto my face.

"So," I said when things had calmed down, "what movies did you bring, Kioko- chan?"

The taller girl stopped rolling out her sleeping bag. She then shoved her collection of Chiba Mamoru movies forward.

"That's all you brought?"

"Yeah, they're great movies."

"Are you sure you didn't just bring them so that a certain someone could sign them?" I asked skeptically.

"Hey, I'm not saying I didn't consider the thought," Kioko stated smugly.

- - -

"Gotcha!" Yuki exclaimed, wrapping me in a bear hug.

I laughed. "Hai!"

The platinum blonde opened her eyes. "Ah, konnichi, Usagi-chan. You're it now." I nodded and bobbed back into the water.

'So warm,' I thought to myself.

I relished in the heated waters of our outdoor swimming pool. When I emerged, a light breeze passed by causing me to shiver and a storm of delicate petals to fall. I closed my eyes.

"Marco!" I shouted.

I heard a series of "Polo"'s, left and right. As soon as I took a step in one direction, I would head multiple responses from another. It was like a waltz: "Marco!" "Polo!" Step. "Marco!" "Polo!" Step. The dance went on and on.

Then I heard a new "Polo." It was completely different from the others, much deeper and much closer. A chorus of swooning ensued.

Curiously, I reopened my eyes. Mamoru stood a few paces in front of me, drops of water slowly descending from his bangs. He wore a white shirt that was soaked through and a pair of black swimming trunks that fell to his knees.

"Let's start over!" Kuri suggested. I swerved around to face her. "I'll be it!" Her eyes immediately shut. "Marco!"

"Polo!" I yelled before turning back towards Mamoru. "What are you doing?" I demanded in a low voice. "I thought you had work to do."

"Marco!" Kuri shouted in the distance.

We responded with a "polo" at the exact same time.

"I finished early," he said quietly, "so I figured I'd come and see what you were doing." He started to advance. For every step he took forwards, I took a step backwards.

"Why can't you go do something else? Take a nap of something."

"Polo!"

"Because it wouldn't be as fun."

"Marco!"

"Polo!"

"But, you'll ruin things. I already explained about the girls not being themselves. Don't you see?" I stared up at his eyes, ignoring the temptation to analyze his well-built upper body-not that I had looked long enough to tell whether it was or anything.

"Polo!"

"Not really," he nonchalantly replied.

"But, Mamoru-san, you already have their attention just by walking into the vicinity. You don't need to show off to them or-"

"Don't worry about it," he cut me off. "Everything will be fine. You'll see."

I tried to take another step back, but I bumped into the pool wall. Mamoru took one last step towards me. I was fully aware of how close he was.

Maybe he was just doing this to annoy me.

Mustering my voice, I asked, "Don't you have anything better to do than hand around with a bunch of small town, high-school girls?"

Mamoru looked me in the eye before he spoke. "A bunch of high-school girls, maybe. But you. no."

Without so much as another word, he turned and headed to the center of the pool leaving me to glare at his back. 'Damn him.'