A.N. He-yo minna! Doumo Arigatou for all your reviews so far. I
REEEEAAALLYYYY appreciate it!!! At fist I wasn't sure if I should write
this story or not, even though I really wanted to. I wasn't sure how people
would react to it, if they'd like it, or hate & give me my first bad
reviews. Plus the fact that I'm not exactly what you could call an
experienced writer. I know that the last chapter was a little weird &
creepy, but this one will be basically normal ^_^; Anyway, woo! That was
long. Please review!!! ^__^
Disclaimer: I don't own SM, Naoko Takeuchi-sensei does!
Chapter 7
"Mamoru." Usagi whispered as she slowly followed him into the kitchen. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. All right? It... Just wasn't something that I wanted anyone to know."
"At least it was me. You can trust me, I won't tell anyone, I promise."
"I know you wouldn't." Mamoru turned to her & smiled.
"I think it's better that you've finally told someone. It helps if you talk about these things doesn't it?"
"I've told someone before."
"Who?" Usagi asked.
"My psychiatrist. That's the real reason I was late today, I wasn't at the library."
" I know. I could tell you we're lying."
"You could?"
"Yeah. You do a little 'thing' with your face."
"A little 'thing?' " Mamoru laughed. "Like what?"
"I don't know. It's just this thing that changes, I'm not sure really what it is, but your face just looks different somehow." Usagi laughed.
Suddenly, Mamoru reached out & wrapped his arms around her in a warm hug. "Thank you, Usagi." He said quietly.
"Mamoru!" She gasped. "You- you're wel-welcome." She stuttered & wriggled out of his arms. She didn't like being caught off guard like that, even though it was just a hug.
"Sorry."
"It's all right." Usagi smiled reassuringly. "I just wasn't expecting it, that's all." She felt bad for making him feel bad. "You should go back to sleep for a while, I'll wake you up in an hour."
"Thanks." Mamoru smiled & went back to bed as Usagi sat down in the living room to watch TV.
*~*~*1 Month Later*~*~*
Everything had been going pretty well for Usagi & Mamoru for the past few weeks. Mamoru had stopped having his nightmares & flashbacks and Usagi was 2/3rds through her pregnancy & healthy. There was one little problem that was weighing on Usagi's mind though.
"Mamoru." She said one day as they were watching TV. "Where do you think I should go? Should I move back home with my family?"
Mamoru turned to her confused by her out-of-the-blue question. "What do you mean?"
"After I have my baby, I was asking you if I should move back home or just find my own place."
"No."
"No to what?"
"You shouldn't move out on your own. It would be too hard for you." Mamoru said. "And to be completely honest, it might be even worse if you moved back home."
"That's why I don't know what to do." Usagi shook her head. "Where should I go, then?"
"Well... truthfully, I wasn't expecting you to go anywhere." Mamoru said quietly.
"Eh?" Usagi blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"I figured that you would just stay here with me."
"I couldn't do that." Usagi replied. Mamoru should've guessed as much, she wouldn't want to live with HIM longer than necessary. "I'm already such a nuisance & I can hardly help pay any bills with the money I get from working at the arcade never mind once a baby gets involved... I can't ask you to do that for me."
Mamoru blinked, it wasn't the reason he thought. "Then don't ask me." He smiled. "I'll ask you."
"Ask me what?" Usagi stared at him.
"Usagi, stay with me. Move in for good."
"That's crazy! I can't do that. You'll regret it so much, you're 20 yrs old!" She exclaimed.
"I haven't regretted it yet, & I won't." He replied.
"But-!"
"Stay."
"But-!"
"Please."
"Are you sure?.." Usagi asked him cautiously.
"Positive." Mamoru smiled. "Stay with me... Usako."
Usagi blushed. "U-Usako?" He nodded. "O-okay."
"Good." He smiled again. "I like having someone around to talk to. I've been on my own for so long."
"How long have you lived by yourself?"
"Since I was 14... so... 6 years."
"EHH?! Since you were 14?!"
"Yeah." Mamoru replied. "It's fun living with you, though. I enjoy living with you."
"Than-thank you." She stuttered. Usagi was feeling a whole mix of emotions that she couldn't quite explain... mainly uneasiness, though.
Mamoru could tell he was making her uncomfortable & cursed himself mentally for it. "So, have you thought up any names yet?" He changed the subject.
"LOTS! But every time I try to narrow down my list I just think of more!" She wailed, causing Mamoru to laugh.
"Name some of your favourites." He suggested.
"Well, I suppose out of boys' names, my absolute favourite is Yuki. But I also really like Hisoka, Asanuma, Hajime, Daisuke, Kenshin, Seki, & Kuko."
"What about for girls?"
"Hmm... Let's see... Ayumi, Naoko, Sakura, Hotaru, Hana, Keiko, Akane, Momoko, Kitsune, Kita, & Emiko."
"You've got lots of names to choose from." He laughed. "I like them though, they're all very nice."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You've got good taste in names. I've always liked your name as well."
"Oh? It was my mother's favourite name. She thought it would be cute to name me 'Tsukino Usagi'." [Just in case someone doesn't know, Usagi's name means "Rabbit of the Moon" & refers to a very well-known, & to me at least, beautiful folktale. ^_^]
Mamoru smiled kindly. "Good night, Usako. Have a nice sleep."
"Good night, Mamoru." She smiled back.
There was something about that girl... that drew him in... & He hated himself for it.
*~*~*The Next Evening*~*~*
Usagi answered their door to find a pretty woman with red hair & brown eyes standing there. "Can I help you?" She asked.
"Oh?" The woman blinked when she saw Usagi. "Forgive me, I must be at the wrong apartment, it's been a while." She blushed. "Would you by any chance know which of these apartments belong to Chiba Mamoru? I was almost positive it was this one, but it seems I was wrong."
"That's alright. This is our apartment, you've come to the right one." Usagi stepped back a little more as she opened the door to let the young woman in. "Mamoru is just in the shower right now, he should be out in a moment."
"Thank you very much." She smiled & turned towards Usagi. "Oh my!" She gasped quietly when she noticed Usagi was pregnant. She blushed a dark red. "I'm sorry, I was just caught off guard." She apologized.
"It's okay, I've heard a lot worse than 'oh my'." Usagi smiled. "Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea?"
"No thank you. I'm not planning on staying for long, I was just in the neighbourhood & decided to stop by."
"I see."
"How are you related to Mamoru-kun? I didn't think he had a little sister."
"I'm not related to him. I live with Mamoru."
"You LIVE here?" The woman blinked.
"Yep. We're just friends." Usagi wanted to make sure that the red-haired woman didn't think that Mamoru was the one responsible for her baby.
"Usako! Was that someone at the door just now?" Mamoru called as the two girls heard the door to the bathroom open.
"Yes, it was! You have a guest!" She called back.
"A guest?" Mamoru asked puzzled as he walked into the living room. "Who would-" He stopped as the girl turned around in her seat to face him.
"Mamoru-kun, it's been a while." She smiled.
"Ma- Maaya-chan..." Mamoru blinked. He could hardly believe that SHE was here.
"Mamoru-kun... you look terrified, is my visit THAT unwelcome?" She said innocently.
"Well... no. It's just a surprise to see you again, that's all." He smiled. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see you again. Would you like to grab some coffee?" Maaya smiled.
"Okay. Usako, do you mind?"
"Go ahead, I'm fine. Are you two old friends?" Usagi asked curiously.
"Something like that." Mamoru smiled awkwardly. "I'll be back in a little while. Lock the door behind me, alright?"
"I always do!" Usagi smiled.
"Right." He nodded. "Of course."
*~*~*20 Minutes Later in Crown Fruit Parlour*~*~*
"Why are you really here?" Mamoru asked Maaya as they sat in a corner booth.
"I wanted to see you. I really did." She took a quiet sip of her coffee.
"Oh yeah? For what?" He asked her incredulously.
"Listen, I'M the one who should be asking questions, here." Maaya's eyes shot up to meet his. "What's going on with that girl that's living with you? Who is she?"
"Her name is Usagi."
"It's a cute little nickname that you've got for her..." Maaya played with her stir stick, swishing it around in her coffee before taking another sip. "... What was it you called her? Usako?"
"Your point being?" Mamoru's eyes narrowed slightly, he was getting defensive.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"No. Just a friend I'm helping out. NOT that it concerns you AT ALL."
"Good."
"'Good' what?"
"Good to know that I still have a chance... you with all of your 'morals' & such, wouldn't ditch your girlfriend & date other girls if she was pregnant. If she's not your girlfriend then I don't have to worry." Maaya explained. "Unless it actually is your baby... which seems like something you would do, you've never been one to have a steady girlfriend..."
"It's not my baby... & what are you talking about?"
"You could never stay with one girl. There were always at least 5 a week that were trying to get your attention, usually more, & you always managed to find time for all of them."
"What do you mean by that? I went out with you for almost a year."
"Yeah. So it seems that you COULDN'T stay with one girl, after all. Did you honestly think I didn't know what was going on? You had waitresses slipping you their numbers at our high school graduation dinner!" Maaya said angrily.
"Okay, so I admit, I was dumb. I'm not like that anymore."
"Apparently not. Everyone I've talked to has said that you've gone into hiding for the past few months. I was wondering what had happened."
"You came here from Kyoto & decided to just come back into my life again?" Mamoru asked.
"That's what was originally planned, but things are different than I had assumed... you've got that little girl with you now."
"She's not little. She's 16 years old, that's only 4 years younger than you & I."
"She's still too young for you."
"That's fine then, because she ISN'T 'for me'." Mamoru glared at her. "She's just my friend."
"Ha. You can't be friends with a woman, or GIRL as the case may be. You only see them good for one thing." Maaya scoffed.
"Well I see YOU haven't changed, you're still just like you were 2 years ago."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Jealous. Of what exactly, I don't know. But jealous, nonetheless." Mamoru continued his icy stare. Oh, how he hated the girl sitting across from him. Despite her innocent front, she was manipulative & his own personal hell throughout high school. "I'm out of here." Mamoru got up to leave.
"Leaving so soon?" Maaya grinned as she batted her eyes at him. "I should go now too I guess." She got up along with him & walked out of Crown FP. She paused as she got to the door of her car & turned to Mamoru. "Would you like to come to my place for a while?" She traced a slender hand up his arm & around to the back of his neck, pulling his face closer to her own slowly.
"I really shouldn't." Mamoru replied.
Maaya kissed him. "Yeah. I suppose that you should be getting home to your little 'whore'."
Mamoru's eyes flared red. "Don't you EVER call her that!"
"Oh, right. I forgot. She's not 'little'." Maaya winked as she got into her car & drove off.
Mamoru had to fight every muscle in his body not to hit the red-haired woman. He HATED her! "Damn it!" He turned & punched the wall of Crown in rage.
*~*~*~*~*~*
He-yo minna! How did you like it? I hope you didn't hate it... whether you did or not, how about you review to tell me what you think? I've got a few days off so I'm going to try to get another chapter out before I have to go back to work... never mind a wedding that I have to go to & a bunch of other stuff. Oh, by the way, I'm just curious... how old do you all think I am? I REALLY want to know! Please say in your review! Trust me, I won't get insulted! Arigatou!!! ^_~ Ja ne!
Disclaimer: I don't own SM, Naoko Takeuchi-sensei does!
Chapter 7
"Mamoru." Usagi whispered as she slowly followed him into the kitchen. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. All right? It... Just wasn't something that I wanted anyone to know."
"At least it was me. You can trust me, I won't tell anyone, I promise."
"I know you wouldn't." Mamoru turned to her & smiled.
"I think it's better that you've finally told someone. It helps if you talk about these things doesn't it?"
"I've told someone before."
"Who?" Usagi asked.
"My psychiatrist. That's the real reason I was late today, I wasn't at the library."
" I know. I could tell you we're lying."
"You could?"
"Yeah. You do a little 'thing' with your face."
"A little 'thing?' " Mamoru laughed. "Like what?"
"I don't know. It's just this thing that changes, I'm not sure really what it is, but your face just looks different somehow." Usagi laughed.
Suddenly, Mamoru reached out & wrapped his arms around her in a warm hug. "Thank you, Usagi." He said quietly.
"Mamoru!" She gasped. "You- you're wel-welcome." She stuttered & wriggled out of his arms. She didn't like being caught off guard like that, even though it was just a hug.
"Sorry."
"It's all right." Usagi smiled reassuringly. "I just wasn't expecting it, that's all." She felt bad for making him feel bad. "You should go back to sleep for a while, I'll wake you up in an hour."
"Thanks." Mamoru smiled & went back to bed as Usagi sat down in the living room to watch TV.
*~*~*1 Month Later*~*~*
Everything had been going pretty well for Usagi & Mamoru for the past few weeks. Mamoru had stopped having his nightmares & flashbacks and Usagi was 2/3rds through her pregnancy & healthy. There was one little problem that was weighing on Usagi's mind though.
"Mamoru." She said one day as they were watching TV. "Where do you think I should go? Should I move back home with my family?"
Mamoru turned to her confused by her out-of-the-blue question. "What do you mean?"
"After I have my baby, I was asking you if I should move back home or just find my own place."
"No."
"No to what?"
"You shouldn't move out on your own. It would be too hard for you." Mamoru said. "And to be completely honest, it might be even worse if you moved back home."
"That's why I don't know what to do." Usagi shook her head. "Where should I go, then?"
"Well... truthfully, I wasn't expecting you to go anywhere." Mamoru said quietly.
"Eh?" Usagi blinked. "What are you talking about?"
"I figured that you would just stay here with me."
"I couldn't do that." Usagi replied. Mamoru should've guessed as much, she wouldn't want to live with HIM longer than necessary. "I'm already such a nuisance & I can hardly help pay any bills with the money I get from working at the arcade never mind once a baby gets involved... I can't ask you to do that for me."
Mamoru blinked, it wasn't the reason he thought. "Then don't ask me." He smiled. "I'll ask you."
"Ask me what?" Usagi stared at him.
"Usagi, stay with me. Move in for good."
"That's crazy! I can't do that. You'll regret it so much, you're 20 yrs old!" She exclaimed.
"I haven't regretted it yet, & I won't." He replied.
"But-!"
"Stay."
"But-!"
"Please."
"Are you sure?.." Usagi asked him cautiously.
"Positive." Mamoru smiled. "Stay with me... Usako."
Usagi blushed. "U-Usako?" He nodded. "O-okay."
"Good." He smiled again. "I like having someone around to talk to. I've been on my own for so long."
"How long have you lived by yourself?"
"Since I was 14... so... 6 years."
"EHH?! Since you were 14?!"
"Yeah." Mamoru replied. "It's fun living with you, though. I enjoy living with you."
"Than-thank you." She stuttered. Usagi was feeling a whole mix of emotions that she couldn't quite explain... mainly uneasiness, though.
Mamoru could tell he was making her uncomfortable & cursed himself mentally for it. "So, have you thought up any names yet?" He changed the subject.
"LOTS! But every time I try to narrow down my list I just think of more!" She wailed, causing Mamoru to laugh.
"Name some of your favourites." He suggested.
"Well, I suppose out of boys' names, my absolute favourite is Yuki. But I also really like Hisoka, Asanuma, Hajime, Daisuke, Kenshin, Seki, & Kuko."
"What about for girls?"
"Hmm... Let's see... Ayumi, Naoko, Sakura, Hotaru, Hana, Keiko, Akane, Momoko, Kitsune, Kita, & Emiko."
"You've got lots of names to choose from." He laughed. "I like them though, they're all very nice."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You've got good taste in names. I've always liked your name as well."
"Oh? It was my mother's favourite name. She thought it would be cute to name me 'Tsukino Usagi'." [Just in case someone doesn't know, Usagi's name means "Rabbit of the Moon" & refers to a very well-known, & to me at least, beautiful folktale. ^_^]
Mamoru smiled kindly. "Good night, Usako. Have a nice sleep."
"Good night, Mamoru." She smiled back.
There was something about that girl... that drew him in... & He hated himself for it.
*~*~*The Next Evening*~*~*
Usagi answered their door to find a pretty woman with red hair & brown eyes standing there. "Can I help you?" She asked.
"Oh?" The woman blinked when she saw Usagi. "Forgive me, I must be at the wrong apartment, it's been a while." She blushed. "Would you by any chance know which of these apartments belong to Chiba Mamoru? I was almost positive it was this one, but it seems I was wrong."
"That's alright. This is our apartment, you've come to the right one." Usagi stepped back a little more as she opened the door to let the young woman in. "Mamoru is just in the shower right now, he should be out in a moment."
"Thank you very much." She smiled & turned towards Usagi. "Oh my!" She gasped quietly when she noticed Usagi was pregnant. She blushed a dark red. "I'm sorry, I was just caught off guard." She apologized.
"It's okay, I've heard a lot worse than 'oh my'." Usagi smiled. "Please, have a seat. Would you like some tea?"
"No thank you. I'm not planning on staying for long, I was just in the neighbourhood & decided to stop by."
"I see."
"How are you related to Mamoru-kun? I didn't think he had a little sister."
"I'm not related to him. I live with Mamoru."
"You LIVE here?" The woman blinked.
"Yep. We're just friends." Usagi wanted to make sure that the red-haired woman didn't think that Mamoru was the one responsible for her baby.
"Usako! Was that someone at the door just now?" Mamoru called as the two girls heard the door to the bathroom open.
"Yes, it was! You have a guest!" She called back.
"A guest?" Mamoru asked puzzled as he walked into the living room. "Who would-" He stopped as the girl turned around in her seat to face him.
"Mamoru-kun, it's been a while." She smiled.
"Ma- Maaya-chan..." Mamoru blinked. He could hardly believe that SHE was here.
"Mamoru-kun... you look terrified, is my visit THAT unwelcome?" She said innocently.
"Well... no. It's just a surprise to see you again, that's all." He smiled. "Why are you here?"
"I wanted to see you again. Would you like to grab some coffee?" Maaya smiled.
"Okay. Usako, do you mind?"
"Go ahead, I'm fine. Are you two old friends?" Usagi asked curiously.
"Something like that." Mamoru smiled awkwardly. "I'll be back in a little while. Lock the door behind me, alright?"
"I always do!" Usagi smiled.
"Right." He nodded. "Of course."
*~*~*20 Minutes Later in Crown Fruit Parlour*~*~*
"Why are you really here?" Mamoru asked Maaya as they sat in a corner booth.
"I wanted to see you. I really did." She took a quiet sip of her coffee.
"Oh yeah? For what?" He asked her incredulously.
"Listen, I'M the one who should be asking questions, here." Maaya's eyes shot up to meet his. "What's going on with that girl that's living with you? Who is she?"
"Her name is Usagi."
"It's a cute little nickname that you've got for her..." Maaya played with her stir stick, swishing it around in her coffee before taking another sip. "... What was it you called her? Usako?"
"Your point being?" Mamoru's eyes narrowed slightly, he was getting defensive.
"Is she your girlfriend?"
"No. Just a friend I'm helping out. NOT that it concerns you AT ALL."
"Good."
"'Good' what?"
"Good to know that I still have a chance... you with all of your 'morals' & such, wouldn't ditch your girlfriend & date other girls if she was pregnant. If she's not your girlfriend then I don't have to worry." Maaya explained. "Unless it actually is your baby... which seems like something you would do, you've never been one to have a steady girlfriend..."
"It's not my baby... & what are you talking about?"
"You could never stay with one girl. There were always at least 5 a week that were trying to get your attention, usually more, & you always managed to find time for all of them."
"What do you mean by that? I went out with you for almost a year."
"Yeah. So it seems that you COULDN'T stay with one girl, after all. Did you honestly think I didn't know what was going on? You had waitresses slipping you their numbers at our high school graduation dinner!" Maaya said angrily.
"Okay, so I admit, I was dumb. I'm not like that anymore."
"Apparently not. Everyone I've talked to has said that you've gone into hiding for the past few months. I was wondering what had happened."
"You came here from Kyoto & decided to just come back into my life again?" Mamoru asked.
"That's what was originally planned, but things are different than I had assumed... you've got that little girl with you now."
"She's not little. She's 16 years old, that's only 4 years younger than you & I."
"She's still too young for you."
"That's fine then, because she ISN'T 'for me'." Mamoru glared at her. "She's just my friend."
"Ha. You can't be friends with a woman, or GIRL as the case may be. You only see them good for one thing." Maaya scoffed.
"Well I see YOU haven't changed, you're still just like you were 2 years ago."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. Jealous. Of what exactly, I don't know. But jealous, nonetheless." Mamoru continued his icy stare. Oh, how he hated the girl sitting across from him. Despite her innocent front, she was manipulative & his own personal hell throughout high school. "I'm out of here." Mamoru got up to leave.
"Leaving so soon?" Maaya grinned as she batted her eyes at him. "I should go now too I guess." She got up along with him & walked out of Crown FP. She paused as she got to the door of her car & turned to Mamoru. "Would you like to come to my place for a while?" She traced a slender hand up his arm & around to the back of his neck, pulling his face closer to her own slowly.
"I really shouldn't." Mamoru replied.
Maaya kissed him. "Yeah. I suppose that you should be getting home to your little 'whore'."
Mamoru's eyes flared red. "Don't you EVER call her that!"
"Oh, right. I forgot. She's not 'little'." Maaya winked as she got into her car & drove off.
Mamoru had to fight every muscle in his body not to hit the red-haired woman. He HATED her! "Damn it!" He turned & punched the wall of Crown in rage.
*~*~*~*~*~*
He-yo minna! How did you like it? I hope you didn't hate it... whether you did or not, how about you review to tell me what you think? I've got a few days off so I'm going to try to get another chapter out before I have to go back to work... never mind a wedding that I have to go to & a bunch of other stuff. Oh, by the way, I'm just curious... how old do you all think I am? I REALLY want to know! Please say in your review! Trust me, I won't get insulted! Arigatou!!! ^_~ Ja ne!