Chapter Five : A Short Interlude

Setting the phone back on the hook, Mamoru turned to look at me. "Usa-chan, I think I just found a way for you to make things up."

I gazed back at him for a moment before sitting down. "I'm listening."

- - -

"We're in the process of making another movie. That really was my agent, and turns out the lead actress just dropped her role. With the movie on a tight budget and the script complete, we can't afford to just get another person to fill her spot," Mamoru informed me.

I titled my head to the side. "So where do I come in?"

"Do you know who Aino Minako is?"

"I've heard about her," I said honestly, "but that's just about it."

"So you have no idea what she looks like?"

I shook my head. "No."

Mamoru gently tossed the magazine he had been holding onto the coffee table so that it was directly in front of me. "That's her; the one on the right."

I glanced down at the page.

"Remind you of anyone you know?"

Analyzing it closer, I noticed the blue eyes, blonde hair, and the similar facial structure. She looked a little like "Me?"

"Bingo."

I turned my head up. "I don't get it."

Taking in a deep breath, Mamoru sat down beside me. He then took my small hands in hi and said three words that I hadn't expected. "Come with me."

"Come with you?" I asked in disbelief.

He nodded. "Come with me to Tokyo. It'd be perfect. Your natural tones are similar to Minako's and your both about the same stature. You'd fit the role so perfectly that the crew will only have to make a few minor adjustments. Plus, I'd get to show you around the city."

I smiled inwardly at the thought of seeing Tokyo. Although I had heard that it was a wonderful place, I'd never had the chance to go see it for myself. My heart jolted with excitement, but my mind was full of doubts. "I don't know, Mamo-chan. I don't do acting."

"You'll be fine" he assured me. "Besides, I saw how well you did in The Children's Hour*. It was one of the plays put on at the high school last year, right?"

My eyes widened. "How. How did you know?"

"Motoki showed me a tape of it. Mary's a great character," Mamoru said. Grinning, he stood and placed his hands dramatically on one side of his chest. Then he cried out, "My heart! It's my heart! It's stopping or something. I can't breathe." He took in a gasp of air before awkwardly collapsing onto the carpet.

I shuffled to the edge of the couch so that I could peer down at him. "You make a wonderful Mary," I sad sweetly.

"Why thank you, little lady," Mamoru said in an odd accent as he propped himself up on his elbows. "But why do you not laugh? Why do you not cry? What kind of an actor am I if I do not move my audience?" He placed the back of his hand against his forehead and fell back onto the carpet.

I giggled, moving closer to the edge of my seat.

Mamoru smiled proudly. "Now there's my laugh, but I still don't have an answer."

My giggled quickly subsided and I grew serious. "Mamo-chan, I just don't think I can do it," I said with a frown.

"Don't you want to go?" Mamoru asked, his head still against the floor.

"Of course," I assured him quickly, "I would love to go, but. there are so many reasons why I can't."

"Like what?"

"Too many to list."

Mamoru moved his arms behind his head. "Try me."

I sighed. "Well, there's school for one."

"We can get you a private tutor. It'll probably be better that way too since it's one on one."

"There's still the problem of where I'm going to stay. I can't just live in a hotel the entire time."

"Easy. You can stay with me."

I looked at him skeptically.

"I have a penthouse in Azabu," he explained. "There are two guestrooms. You can just use one of them."

"What about my parents?"

"It'll talk to them and explain everything."

"What about Shingo? I'll miss his games. You saw how important they are to him."

"I have a private jet so you can always fly back. I promise you won't miss a single game if you come."

"But what about the crew?" I asked, looking Mamoru straight in the eye.

"What about them?"

"They'll think I just got the job because I'm friends with you."

"But you did," Mamoru said nonchalantly as he sat up.

I scrunched my face. "You're not helping."

"It doesn't matter what they think. We need you. Besides," he tapped the end of my nose with his index finger, "they'll love you."

I smiled.

"Any other doubts, milady?"

Happily I shook my head side to side. "I forgot the rest."

"Well, now that that's done. Let's go see where your parents are."

Mamoru rose from the floor and held out his hand to help me up. I gazed at it for a moment. By accepting it, I would also be agreeing to his idea. I wondered if I really wanted that.

After a minute of contemplation had passed, I placed my hand in his. My fingers then curled in created a firm grip. That's when it all came crashing down on me.

I was going to Tokyo.

- - -

And that's how I ended up smack dab in the middle of another mob of screaming girls.

"We're almost there, Chiba-san!" Mamoru's body guard shouted above the loud cries. His bald head glistened in the midday sun.

The ebony-haired man followed mutely and his hand tightened around my wrist. He constantly glanced behind to check that I was close enough as we weaved our way through the crowd.

I watched several girls about my age reach out their hands in hopes of brushing their fingertips against my friend. Those that accomplished their goals would then break down into tears. It was an odd sight for me, but I could tell by Mamoru's calm composure that he was accustomed to it.

The second we entered the fenced airway, we were bombarded by photographers who had been waiting for Mamoru to reach a clearing so that they could capture the perfect shot.

"Mamoru-kun! Over here!"

I swerved my head to the side and found a light-haired young man waving us over. He stood at the door of a plane, casually dressed.

"Come on," Mamoru ordered, tugging on my wrist.

We dashed into the plane as fast as we could, trying to avoid tripping on the metal stairs along the way. Of course knowing me, I tripped on the top step anyway. Luckily, Mamoru caught me as I stumbled into the jet.

"Easy," he told me as I caught my breath.

The blond, who had called Mamoru over, shut the plane door before holding his hand out to me. I took it eagerly.

"Nikko Kazuki, Mamoru's long time pilot. Pleased to meet you."

"Tsukino Usagi, Mamoru's short time friend and soon-to-be co-worker. Charmed."

"Ahh. so you're the Tsukino-san I've heard about."

"You've heard about me?"

"Of course, it's all over the tabloids," Kazuki stated, straightening out his leather jacket. "They also said that you two were."

I gazed at him expectantly after he trailed off, but when I realized what he meant I instantly blushed and turned my eyes to the ground.

"Kasuki-kun!" I heard Mamoru exclaim. "I thought I already told you that not everything they say is true."

"Yeah, but you still can't help but wonder." Glancing up, I witnessed the blond slap the darker haired man on the back. He then lowered his voice and to Mamoru he whispered, "Besides she is a cutie."

I flushed an even bolder shade.

"Usa-chan?" Turned my head even further up, I found Mamoru's concerned face staring at me.

"Hai, Mamoru-chan?"

"Usa-chan, you don't look too well. You're really red."

"Maybe she had a fever," the bodyguard offered. "My son usually turns that colour when he has it."

Kazuki shook his head doubtfully. "I don't think so. Maybe she's just tired. You should all sit down and rest while I get this puppy off the ground and into the air. It's been a hectic past couple of days."

Mamoru nodded. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders, he led us to the back end of the plane where we sat down and buckled our seatbelts. He used his arms to gently nudge me towards him before letting it slide down to loosely hand around my waist.

I lay my head on his shoulder.

"Go to sleep, Usa-chan," he softly told me. "I'll wake you up when we get to Tokyo."

Not having slept the previous night, I was in no mood to protest. My eyelids slowly shut and I soon fell into a deep sleep.

- - -

*Extra Disclaimer: The Children's Hour is written by Lillian Hellman