Chapter Six

The first thing I noticed when I awoke was the gentle pressure being applied to the top of my head. Not wanting to disturb this unknown weight, I kept my head completely still as I opened my eyes.

I was met with a vast area of darkness. The only light was provided by the moon whose peaceful glow penetrated through the small windows. I didn't recognize where I was at all, but with the help of the faint lighting I was able to make out a few more seats, doors, and other details.

A few minutes passed and I eventually remember everything that had occurred. I recognized Mamoru's arm lightly hanging around my waist. The pressure on my head, however, was still another story.

Curiously, I darted my eyes from side to side. It was then that I noticed that Mamoru was leaning towards me. Considering the fact that I couldn't see above the bottom half of his neck. I figured that his head was the object was creating the pressure.

I contented myself with inspecting my surrounding until I realized the time. It was now almost pitch black outside, and it couldn't have been more than one in the afternoon when I had fallen asleep. Did Mamoru know how late it was?

Anxiously I poked his hand with my index finger. There was no reaction what- so-ever from the sleeping young man so I carefully slid out of my seat and kneeled in front of him. His body slumped into the space I had vacated.

"Mamo-chan," I whispered while patting his cheek.

He groaned and shifted into a more comfortable position before returning to his slumber.

"Mamo-chan, come on," I said louder, "wake up. It's getting late."

Receiving the exact same response, I sighed, but then I remembered something and giggled. Mamoru's left eye immediately opened, soon followed by the right.

"What's so funny?" He asked, still drowsy.

"You're the one who said that you would wake me up and how here I am waking you up."

He gave a lazy smile.

Suddenly, I heard a click and we were submerged in bright lights. My eyes shut instinctively. They eventually opened only to be met by a blur of colours. Mamoru, meanwhile, had jerked his body upright. His arm had come up to shield his eyes from the intruding brightness.

"I though I heard some noise coming from in here," Kazuki said, grinning. "About time you both got up."

"What time is it?" Mamoru questioned with traces of annoyance in his tone.

"Well, hello to you too. Don't you have a watch?"

"Your light trick has me temporarily blinded."

The blond chuckled. "It's almost eleven."

"Eleven?! Are you kidding me?

"Nope, I'm pretty sure it's eleven."

I blinked a few times and glanced at my wristwatch. Sure enough the long hand was nearing the eleventh dot.

"Why didn't you wake us up?" I asked.

Kazuki shrugged. "I didn't have the heard. You both looked like you could use the rest." He yawned. "Kinda like me right now. We'll I'll be heading home now. Mamoru, you have the keys." Turning towards me he added, "It was nice meeting you, Usagi-san. Hopefully I'll see you around again sometime."

"I'm sure you will," I replied. "Good night."

The young men bid their own farewells before the blond headed out. Just as he was about to disappear from my line of vision, he turned back around.

"Oh, by the way, Mamoru-kun," the pilot said. "I've already sent your bodyguard home. I hope that's okay."

Mamoru nodded as he stretched his arms. "Arigatou."

"No problem. See you guys later." With that said, Kazuki exited the jet.

"So where to?" I asked standing up.

Mamoru handed me my two duffel bags which he had removed from the luggage compartment. "Home," he simply told me. After grabbing his own duffel bag and my carry-on-sized suitcase, Mamoru locked up his plane and led me down the metal steps.

"Kazuki will probably drop by tomorrow to place it in the hanger," he informed me.

"Can't you do it now?"

Mamoru made a strange face and smirked. "Trust me you don't want me piloting that thing."

"Are you that bad?"

"I sure hope not, but I'd rather not try to find out. Imagine what the public would think if something happened," he said sarcastically.

I laughed, "Yeah, I can see it now. 'Super Teen idol Turns into Super Teen Baka.'"

"Oi, Miyazaki-san would seriously kill me for that one."

"Yeah, I'm sure he would. Although, he'd probably try to kill me first for implanting the idea into your head.

- - -

"Mamo-chan, are you sure it's necessary for use to walk the whole way to your apartment?" I asked as e strolled down the city streets.

"Nope, I'm absolutely positive that it isn't necessary."

I groaned.

"What?" He asked innocently. "I don't feel like calling a cab. Besides, I thought you wanted to see Tokyo. So here, look all around. Usa-chan, meet Tokyo. Isn't it a pretty place?"

"I don't know. I can't see anything," I grumpily reported.

"Don't be silly. Of course, you can. See all the colourful lights?"

I muttered a yes.

"Well there you have it, the Tokyo night life."

"Is it even safe to be lurking around the 'Tokyo night life' with multiple bags when it's almost midnight?"

"Remember, this is just Tokyo, not Amsterdam. Crazy men aren't going to jump out of every corner. It's safe enough. I know; I live here," Mamoru said smugly.

I gradually overtook him as his pace slowed. Then I heard a shout directly behind me and yelped. I must have jumped at least two feet off the ground. Swirling around, I saw Mamoru laughing.

"That wasn't funny, Mamo-chan," I seriously told him, y eyes narrowing.

Letting out a huff of air, I picked up the bags I had dropped and strode away. A few seconds later Mamoru caught up with me. His long legs had allowed him to easily pass.

"What do you want?" I asked.

He stopped in front of me, successfully blocking me off from walking further away.

"Okay, so it was a bad joke," he admitted, "but I want to show you something-for real. Turn around."

Sighing, I complied with his order.

"You see the string of lights going up behind those buildings over there?" He asked.

I nodded.

"That's the Tokyo Tower."

"The Tokyo Tower?"

Hai."

"It's pretty."

"Sure is," Mamoru agreed. "You should see it during the day too. It looks a lot different. Who know, maybe I'll take you up there one day."

I gasped. "You really mean that, Mamo-chan?"

"Of course."

"But the restaurant prices are so expensive."

"So they are, but have you forgotten who I am, Usa-chan?

"No, of course not," I said, my voice overflowing with sarcasm. "No one can ever forget the almighty Chiba Mamoru."

He grinned. "You're damn right about that."

- - -

"So how much further until we get there?" I asked, once again making my way through the somewhat busy streets.

"Just a few more blocks."

"You sure?"

"I promise."

"Good, because I'm starting to get tired. I know, I know. That's pretty weak, but come one. I just woke up and walked a few miles across the city. You should be tired too, Mamo-chan. Your mother won't be too happy when she finds out that you're exerting yourself like this. I mean, after all, she was the one who sent you on vaca-"

My rambling was interrupted by Mamoru calling my name from behind.

"Mamoru, hurry up," I said without looking back. "The sooner we get there the better. What I wouldn't do for a nice cup of white chocolate mocha right now. Nothing would wake me up better. Except maybe a cup of Jolt. Yes, jolt. Yes, yes, jolt."

"Usa-chan!" I heard Mamoru yell out once more. This time his voice sounded fainter as if he were even further away.

Sighing, I pivoted around. "You know it's rude to interrupt people when they're in the middle of a conversation."

"A conversation? With who?"

My stomach grumble. "That doesn't matter. What did you want me for?"

The ebony-haired man grinned and pointed to his left. "You passed the building."

Trying to conceal my embarrassment I nodded sternly before backtracking. As I walking by him to enter the complex's rotating door, I calmly said to him, "My bad."

- - -

"Man, I've hard of people going crazy when they don't have enough sleep, but I can't believe you go crazy when you don't have enough food. Slow down. I don't want you turning into a lemming."

"What can I say? I'm a hungry girl," I stated proudly, taking a seat on a stool next the kitchen counter.

"You can say that again," Mamoru muttered after watching me devour yet another item from his refrigerator.

"I'm a hungry girl."

He sighed. "So when was the last time you ate?"

"Uhh, yesterday. Oh wait," I took a closer look at the clock and noticed that it was already one in the morning, "I guess it was the day before yesterday." I grinned.

Mamoru's eyes significantly widened. "You didn't eat before we left?"

I shook my head before biting into some mochi. "Nope, I didn't have any time or the appetite. Thank goodness, you had friends over here while you were gone or else you'd have had nothing good left in there for me to eat."

"Hmm. then I guess you should eat up," Mamoru said thoughtfully.

I noticed him start to leave. "Don't you want any?"

"Nah, I'm fine. I'm just going to take a shower and change. Make yourself at home, 'kay?

"Hmm-mm."

I continued eating until the guilt of emptying out Mamoru's kitchen crept up on me. Carefully, I washed all of the dishes and placed them into the dishwater. Then I wandered into the living area.

It was a large room with a high ceiling. The height of which spanned both levels of the penthouse. With a sigh, I propped onto the 'L'-shaped couch and awaited Mamoru's return.

I wasn't disappointed. He arrived in the doorway a few minutes later dressed in a pair of khakis and a black polo shirt. A smile spread out on his features. "You're done," he observed in wonder.

"Yeah, I didn't want to eat everything in there," I told him, only partly joking.

I noticed Mamoru's eyes dart to the ground where my bags lay next to my feet.

"I can't believe I almost forgot," Mamoru said sheepishly. "Follow me, I'll show you to your room."

Nodding, I gathered my bags and followed him down the hall. "It's directly across from the downstairs bathroom," he told me. "I don't really use it for much other than entertainment, but I think you'll like it. The window has a great view of the city." Just as he finished, he opened a door to the right and held it back as he motioned for me to enter.

I slowly did so and was pleasantly surprised. The walls were a deep burgundy and were bordered by crisp whit crown molding strips. The furniture was all made of sold wood, giving the room a classic style with a comfortable feel. Placed against the center of one wall was a queen-sized bed that had sheets matching the colour scheme of the room. Against the wall at the root of it was a large entertainment center. In addition to all that, the room even contained an air hockey table.

Walking further into the room, I noted a lone door. "What's that for?" I asked gesturing towards it.

"Ahh. that," Mamoru replied. "That's a girl's bestfriend. It leads to a large walk-in closet."

"Nice."

"Very."

As I glanced around the room a second time, the entertainment center caught my eye. It wasn't the big screen plasma that drew my attention, nor was it the large stereo. Instead, it was a small black system.

"You have the old sega?"

"Yup," Mamoru told me proudly.

"Can we play?"

"Sure, I don't see why not. It's not like we need anymore sleep." Mamoru grinned. Then he pulled out two controllers and handed one to me.

I took it eagerly before sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Turning his attention back to the entertainment center, Mamoru opened a cabinet door. "What game do you want to play?"

"What do you have?"

"Let's see.. There's Sonic 2, Talespin, Columns, Super Hang-on, Barkley Shut Up and Jam, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, Rev-"

"How about Streets of Rage?"

Mamoru smiled as he pulled out the desired cartridge and attached it to the console. "Sounds good to me." After pressing the power button, he crawled toward the foot of the bed. He took a seat on the carpet next to me, using the bed as something to lean against.

The background music started to play as the introduction script rolled across the screen. From there it went to the character bios.

"Let me guess," Mamoru said. "You'll be playing as Blaze Fielding."

"None other. What about you?"

"Hmm. I'll be going with Adam Hunter."

"No Axel?" I asked.

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"He kicks weird."

I let out a cheery laugh and the game began.

- - -

"Congratulations, Usa-chan, you have just saved the world from the big fat man with the machine gun for the fourth time in a row."

"Well, I can't take all the credit. You helped too."

"I helped? I'm the one who killed everything."

I laughed nervously. "Not everything."

Mamoru chuckled. "So what do you want to do now?"

"What time do we have to be at the studio?"

"Around seven, but it's just a little past five right now so we still have time. How long will it take for you to get ready?"

"About thirty to forty-five minutes."

"Then," Mamoru said, switching the cartridges, "I guess we have enough time to play a round of Golden Axe."

- - -

"Wow," I whispered as I stepped out of Mamoru's convertible and gazed up at the building. "Is this it?"

"Yup, this is the one," Mamoru replied. Leaning his head towards me, he added, "I remember when I was a kid, we used to always look up at tall buildings and if you looked long enough it'd appear as though the building was about to fall on you."

"I see it."

Mamoru tugged on my white blouse. "Come one, Usa-chan. We have to go inside."

Dumbly, I bobbed my head. At the entrance, Mamoru flashed a card at the security guard who nodded in approval. We then continued our journey by passing through a series of glass doors. At the end was a large foyer. Mamoru went directly to the marble front desk.

"Konnichi wa, Ayame-san," he greeted.

The young lady glanced up from the computer screen. "Mamoru-san! Konnichi wa! It's nice to have you back."

Mamoru smiled. "It's good to be back."

"So who's the girl?" The brunette asked acknowledging me.

"This is Usagi. She's going to be our new Miki. Usa-chan, this is Ayame."

"Ah, Minako's replacement," the secretary smiled warmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Usagi-san. Good luck and if you ever need any help getting around the building just ask me for help."

"It's a pleasure to meet you too. Arigatou."

"Ayame-san, do you know here Yamada-san is?" Mamoru asked.

"Hai, he's in his office. I believe he's awaiting your arrival."

"Arigatou, jamata."

The young secreatry nodded. "Jamata."

I followed Mamoru to a nearby elevator where he swiped his card through a slot. It activated the elevator and the doors opened. As soon as we stepped inside, Mamoru pushed the button labeled with the number eight causing it to illuminate.

With each story we passed, I grew increasingly nervous. I continuously straightened out my black skirt and picked at my blouse. I even used the metal wall to analyze my hair which I had French braided and pinned down to create three-quarters of a braided wreath.

"Usa-chan," Mamoru sighed, "you'll be fine. Just relax."

"I am relaxed," I told him stubbornly.

He frowned and was about to say something else when the doors slid open.

I took several slow, deep breaths as we walked down the corridor. Plants ran along the sides, accenting the one-way mirror walls. After what seemed like an eternity, we reached the end.

Mamoru raised his hand and knocked on the door labeled 'Yamada Shouta.'

"Just a minute," I heard a low voice call out causing my heart to speed up.

It wasn't long until the door opened revealing a middle-aged man. I gulped.

"Konnichi wa, Yamada-san," Mamoru said. "This is the girl whom I was speaking to you and Miyazaki-san about on the phone. Her name is Tsukino Usagi. Usa-chan, this is Yamada Shouta, the director."