Ok, this note is mostly for Sylyne. Umm, yes. I know he called her Odango Atama, but I thought he might just shorten it to Odango sometimes…well if that didn't make sense, sorry! Also, Thnx for correcting me on the names (French must be screwing up my spelling…yes…its always French…) Also also, I don't think I made her call him mamo-san, but if I did that was a huge mistake!!!! Yes and my computer somehow screwed up the commands last time, I don't know how, but it should be ok this time. Umm, yes. Thanks so much for correcting me! Finally, on a personal note, Neva, you dolt! Manda, it was more a *splonk* and all of everyone who reviewed, I LOVE YOU!!!!! You made this possible! THANK YOU!!!!! Now, on with the show.

Intermission

Tears coursed down her cheeks. Her feet pounded against the familiar path as she raced home. Does he really hate me that much? Why does he always tease me like that! Her hair whipped wildly behind her as the wind slashed angrily against her. She could taste the icy chill of rain drape over the sun. How perfect, she thought.

Above the racing figure, clouds began to form. Dark and ominous they snuk into the already brisk morning. Finally, Usagi collapsed, exhausted onto her deck. Her breath was drawn raggedly from her chest, forming into little hiccups. Wiping her brow, she leaned back, resting her head against the banister. Her heart slowed, pumping rhythmically in time with her breathing.

'USAGI!" she jumped. Spinning around, her eyes scanned for the speaker. In the distance beyond her gate, she could see the faint outline of a jogger. The closer she-no…he came, the more details she was able to recognize. She narrowed her eyes.

Mamoru came to a jolting halt. His body jerked rigidly, the muscled worn and cramped. He grabbed onto the cold iron gates to keep from falling. He tried to speak, but his lungs burned for oxygen. His mouth was dry and gritty, and it took several moments before he could even move. His eyes turned upwards to meet an unexpected sight. There stood Usagi, her small arms attempting to help him up, eyes full of concern.

"Usa-"

"Mamoru-baka! What do you think your trying to prove?" Her words were harsh, yet her tone soft. She guided him gently to the porch, watching as he sat.

"Daijabou? Can you breathe now?" He nodded. Lifting his gaze, he spoke.

"Usagi, …I don't know what to say. I'm not…I m-mean, I never meant to…The thing is…. I-I just-"

"Don't."

Mamoru's look shifted to surprise.

"Mam…Chiba-san. From the moment I hit you with my test paper, you've done nothing but tease and torment me. I've tried to be decent to you, tried SO hard! But no. You seem to content yourself by…by finding any way to humiliate me!" She raised her voice. "I'm not a mean person. I don't LIKE being mean. YOU! You always bring out my worst!" She trembled slightly, eyes filling with tears.

Mamoru felt worse then ever. He knew he teased her, but he never realized how awful he'd been. Why couldn't he ever just be civil with her? That was a pretty rhetorical question. He knew how he felt about her. If Usagi treated him as "just another friend" he would be driven mad. Now, he'd driven her away. Taking a deep breath, he spoke.

" Usagi. I know I've been a jerk. The pavain to your existence; And believe me. If I could, I'd go back in time and kick my own ass for doing so. You've never deserved the treatment I gave you. This'll sound lame, but I'm sorry. I am so incredibly sorry." He paused, eyes locked with her own. Sincerity radiated from him. "Please. I don't deserve this, but I'm asking for one more chance. I'll earn it anyway I can. I'll, I'll," he searched his head frantically. "I'll climb the Himalayans, find a monkey and pluck it clean!" she giggled softly, sniffling against her sleeve. His tone grew serious once more. "Usagi, I'm begging you. Give me chance, just one, to prove I'm not the bane of your existence." She stood, leaning away from him, yet never breaking their gaze. "One chance. That's all I'm asking. That's all I need."

She sighed. "I hate it when you do this." Fear crossed his features. Would she reject him? He braced himself.

AN: And that's all for this week. No use scrolling down, this is the end. I know, I'm a stinker. LOL! You'd better be happy that I am. Other wise, this really would be the end.

"It makes it so hard to hate you." Confusion replaced that feeling, followed by understanding. Extending her hand, she smiled. "Konnichiwa, I am Tsukino Usagi. What's your name?" Mamoru grinned in return.

"Chiba. Chiba Mamoru."

"Nice to meet you Mamo-chan" He blushed at the nickname.

"Like-wise."

Dan stared out his window, watching the scene unfold. Hmm. Well, this is an interesting little, intrusion. Turning, he strode to the washroom. Flicking on the switch, he filled the basin with water. Splashing a few handfuls onto ones face is most efficient during the morning hours, he noted. Suddenly, ripples appeared, crossing against his perfect reflection. The cause was a little bug.

"Just a tiny fly," he chuckled. His face neutralized, he snatched the creature up by the wings. Holding it before his eyes, he marveled at the valiant battle the insect raged for its freedom. Useless really. It probably knew as well as he did that it had no chance of survival. Opening his palm, he allowed it to wander on him, covering it whenever it would try to fly. After a few minutes of doing so, it simply remained still. He could sense the creatures muscles tense as it tried one more dive for freedom. It sprang. Unfortunately for the fly, so did Dan.

Just a little intrusion, He grinned to himself as he chewed on the crunchy meat. A little intrusion. Striding to the light, he turned it off and walked back to his room.

"3" he mumbled.

A flash of lightening streaked across the sky, thunder booming in a close second. Usagi jumped, looking fearfully at the sky.

"Oh no," she whispered. Mamoru looked at her with concern.

"Daijabou?" She shook her head.

"I'll have to walk to school in this"

Water fell on his nose. Looking up, he saw thousands of droplets coming. It was as if someone had turned on heaven's hose. Ice and rain poured down, drowning the streets and them in no time.

"2"

"Somehow I doubt that," he yelled. Squinting at her, he motioned to the door. " I think you'd better get inside."

"What about you?" she called. Another roar of thunder deafened their ears as jagged streaks filled the sky.

"I'll run home! C'mon! You're going to get sick out here!"

"No! You can't go home in this!"

"What?" He could barely hear himself think out here. The wind howled and the ground shook with each roll of thunder. Usagi rolled her eyes. Grabbing his arm, she pulled under the shelter of the doorway.

"One."

"Why don't you just use your key?"

She shrugged. "My uncle's home. He'll let us in-oh hi!" Mamoru spun to meet the face of an older man. Probably in his mid-thirties, he was impeccably well kept. Strong jaw, low brow and hawked nose, he was the ideal for his age group. Tall as well. They literally saw "eye to eye". That was something else. Lurking in the depths of those eyes was something Mamoru didn't like. He knew it wasn't just the primary thinking of an alpha-male. Something about him wasn't quite…real. He had, during this time, edged closer to Usagi and pulled into a somewhat protective stance.

"Hello. You must be Mamoru."

"Hai," came his stony reply.

"Well," His eyes burned into Mamoru's. Neither flinched. Dan grinned. "Kind of wet, isen't it? Why don't you two come on in." Usagi wasted no time. Barreling past the two, she ran into the living room. Mamoru followed the suite.

"Gomen uncle! I was on my way to school when this happened and…"

"That's fine pet. Its not like anyone can control the weather, right?" Usagi nodded thankfully. "Why don't you go up and grab a warm bath, ne? I'll call the school, and make some soup."

"What about Mamoru? Can he stay? Please? I mean, its not like he can go home in this, right?" She twiddled her thumbs nervously. God, she's adorable, thought Mamoru.

Dan sighed. "I suppose that would be murder, wouldn't it?" he looked pointedly at Mamoru. He returned the glare defiantly.

"Uncle!" Usagi scolded. He merely laughed.

"Of course, but you owe me. Big." She giggled.

"Right. I'll pay you as soon as I get a job." Turning around, she motioned for Mamoru to follow her. "My dad's got some sweats you can borrow. Their not as umm, dignified as your green jacket," Mamoru groaned. Motoki and his stupid fashion ideas, or lack thereof. " But they're totally warm and soft. They might be a little small though." She extended her finger up the stairs. "It's just up here." Nodding, he marched behind her. At the top of the climb, they made a left down the hall. Stopping at a wooden door, she told him to wait. She disappeared behind it and, after a few bangs and mutters, she appeared with some gray sweats and a towel. Passing him, she strode across the hall to another door. A little bunny hung from it, the word "Usagi" written across it.

"Here," she handed him the clothes and opened the door. "You can change in my room." Mamoru looked up, and blinked. It looked as if it hadn't been redecorated since she was five.

Pink and white wallpaper showed between many cartoon and anime posters. At the far end of the room was a double bed, a purple duvet cover with bunny heads and crescent moons and mountains of pictures and magazines. Beside this was a tiny closet, drapes acting as doors. He stepped into the chamber. In front of him was his reflection, a small white desk beside that and a purple inflatable cat couch in which Luna sat.

"Whoa."

"Yeah…" she giggled. "I haven't cleaned it in a while." Walking over to her cat, she squeezed it tightly. He noticed a flash of something on its forehead, but then quickly dismissed it. She brought it over to her bed, and in a swift motion, wiped everything onto the floor. Sliding over to her closet, she shuffled about till she produced a pair of fuzzy yellow pajamas. Bouncing back up to him, she smiled. "K, its all yours!" Then dashed out and up the hall where she slammed the bathroom door. Looking back to the cat, he could have sworn again that it had rolled its eyes.

"Whoa." Closing the door, he began to undress. As he peeled of his jacket and sweater, he felt pounds lighter. Grabbing the towel, he endowed himself in its warmth. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Luna. He glared at her suspiciously. If he didn't know any better, he would have believed she was blushing. Shaking his head, he muttered. "Nah, that's dumb. Cat's can't blush." But as he dropped his towel, he swore her eyes widened as his rather magnificently built upper body was revealed. Feeling rather self conscious, he quickly pulled on the dry T-shirt, and wrapping the towel around his waist, made sure his other parts were hidden as he pulled on the pants. Already feeling re-energized, he glanced at the clock. Hmm, 8 o'clock. Glancing outside, he shuddered. It certainly didn't look like morning. The sky was almost black, save the slashes of lightening.

He began to inspect the room. Numerous pictures hung on the wall. One was a family portrait taken when Usagi was still a toddler. Her father and mother sat together, cradling a brown-headed baby. That must be Shingo. Usagi stood in front of them, beaming magically at the camera. Her eyes shone brightly, her hair done in its traditional two buns. A collage, probably made by her friends, sat mounted beside. He recognized a few of the girls.

Rei, with her long hair and exotically beautiful Japanese features, Ami, Short black hair and blue eyes gazing innocently from behind advanced calculus? A little heavy duty for a fifteen year old. Minako, blowing a kiss to the viewers, long golden hair shining behind her and Makoto baking some cookies, brown hair hidden by an oversized chef's hat.

He walked over to the desk. A paper caught his eyes. Peering at it, he lifted it high; and gasped. It was a picture of him. Cut most likely from a magazine, it showed his face, turned at a three-quarter view, a slight smirk on his lips. That's odd. Why would she have a photo of me…unless, he choked back a chuckle. "Iie, it couldn't be that," Mamoru looked to the cat. "Could it?"

Usagi sighed. Water cascaded down her shoulders, sending tingling sensations the length of her spine. Her hair was held up by mountains of lavender scented shampoo; Domo arigato Kami-sama, she thought. Standing there, she contented herself with glorious scents and wonderful warmth of the steam. She was so into her thoughts she didn't hear the creak of the door, or the click as it was locked in place. She began to hum. It was a strange tune she'd known since she was young. In fact, she used to pretend it was the "magical pixie song", and that they'd come whenever she'd hum it. Silently chiding herself for her immaturity, she reached to turn of the water. But a hand stopped her. She looked at it in surprise, her eyes trailing up the muscular arm, strong bicep, tensed neck… those eyes.

She gasped.

"Now the time has come, to talk of many things, my pet."

Hahahaha!!! Ok, now it's really the end. I know I said there would be a kiss, but then my mind started roaming, and I decided to save it for later. Thanx so much guys! You've been sooo patient with me! Sorry it took so long, but, it was much longer then the others, no? Yeah. Also, it was my birthday last week, on the 12th! Yeah for me!! Yes. Anywho…next chapter might be the last…it really speeds up from this point. Well, no, on second thought, there'll probably a few more…yeah, well, er, NO FLAMES!!!!!!