Hello all I hope everyone had a good Holiday break! I just want to thank
everyone who's reviewed me SOOOOO MUCH. You guys are the reason I keep
writing. I mean this story IS written for your enjoyment... and perhaps for
a little bit of ego inflation on my part. 0:) j/k, Anyway enjoy the story
and tell me whatcha think!
Oh yeah BTW, I GOT MY LEARNER'S PERMIT! *Dances*....... Ok go read.
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Love, Labors, Lost
Chapter 6: Breaking Day
Rated PG-13
***************
Usagi hummed to herself as she scrubbed off the dishes they had used for dinner that night. It had been almost a week since she told Kate and Max the truth about Keisuke's father, and she hadn't had another encounter with Demando since.
She frowned slightly at a new realization as she worked to wash off a particularly sticky spot on one of the pans. She hadn't told them the whole truth, but in time she might be able to tell the rest. As for now she felt as if she was an entirely different person. Or was she that different? Actually she was feeling quite similar to her old self.
Hope began to shine in her heart. Maybe now she could finally put down her defenses and sorrows and just be plain old Usagi again.
"Mama! Someone's at the door!"
Usagi smiled wisely as her son's voice snapped her back to reality. She could never return fully to her old self, even if she wanted to, and if that meant trading in her son, forget it. She wouldn't trade him even if someone told her that she would never had to have been... raped.
She rolled the word around in her mouth. It still felt strange, saying it in reference to herself. And yet... It was, liberating somehow. Well, all the things it implied.
It wasn't her fault.
She wouldn't have to feel guilty when her peers scorned her.
And above all, She didn't betray...
"MAMA!" Usagi felt a tug on her shirt and when she looked down she saw a very impatient Keisuke looking back up at her, his hands on his hips.
She splashed a bit of water at him and laughed heartily at his shock before drying off her hands and picking him up. She swung him around in her arms and he giggled at her antics before resting his head on her shoulder. He clung to her and hugged her neck as she went to answer the door.
"I'm glad you're not sad anymore Mama." He whispered in her ear.
Usagi frowned at that. Yes, as was she, quite glad in fact. Come to think of it she had been acting too much like her old self recently, the negative aspects especially. The whining, the selfishness, the crying... She was supposed to be the adult, and here was her poor son telling her he was glad SHE wasn't sad anymore.
"Don't worry Baby, a lot of things are gonna change around here, starting with me not being sad."
Keisuke kissed her check lovingly as she set him down, and opened the door.
"Hello may I... help... you...?" Her words faded and blue crashed with blue as she found herself staring into the eyes of none other than the infamous Mamoru Chiba.
He smiled pleasantly. Usagi's knees went weak. "Hello Ms. Tsukino, nice to see you again."
She froze momentarily. Why was he speaking so formally? Shouldn't she be throwing herself in his arms? Her brain took a minute but it quickly remembered that he was now her son's Science teacher. She'd forgotten about that completely, but more importantly, he wasn't here for her. He couldn't even recognize her.
'That's your own fault!' She chided herself silently, but in a second she was back, pasting on a huge grin and stuck out her hand politely to greet him.
"Ah yes, Mr. Chiba, nice to see you again as well," what an understatement! But she continued on, forcing normality on herself. For the sake of whom she was unsure, only that it needed to be done. "Won't you come in?"
His smile broadened as he stepped over the threshold and Usagi closed the door behind him.
Usagi's head snapped suddenly from her son to his teacher, wondering suddenly why one of Keisuke's teachers would visit them. "He's not in any trouble is he?" she said doubtful, but could see no other reason why, her Mamo-Chan of all his teachers, could be there.
"Huh? OH! No, no, no, nothing like that. Casey is actually my best student," he smiled fondly at the boy before looking to his beautiful mother, "That's the reason I'm here."
***************
"Tea, hot chocolate, or coffee?" Usagi called from the kitchen. "Eh, but I only have rich hot cocoa." She popped her head into the living room apologetically.
Mamoru's brows raised, "Well it just so happens that's my favorite."
"Cocoa it is then! And you Casey? You want cocoa as well I presume."
"Of course!" he chirped.
Usagi paddled back into the kitchen grinning to herself. 'He still likes cocoa...' she thought gaily remembering back to their days with Chibi-Usa. Whenever things started to get edgy between the two odango headed princesses, Mamoru would always retreat slowly and carefully into the kitchen to, "make us all a nice hot cup of cocoa."
After she set the three drinks in motion, her own order included Usagi leaned herself against the living room wall adjacent to the one in the kitchen. "So, explain this to me again Mr. Chiba. You want Case to be your guinea pig?" she asked, smiling to soften the remark.
He chuckled lightly, "No, not exactly. My Thesis. It wouldn't just benefit me however. If my Thesis is correct, then this could help people understand your son and the way he thinks ten times better. It would open countless doors for him and," he looked over to Keisuke and winked making him giggle, "it would be loads of fun."
Keisuke jumped to his feet and ran to hug his mother's leg. "Oh please Mama! It would be SO COOL."
She bent down to his level so that her eyes were level with his shinning ones. "You wanna do this Baby?"
He nodded his head enthusiastically and Usagi sighed, standing up once more. She rubbed her temples, could she stand it? Could she be around him that much without falling for him all over again?
She smiled at that. All over again? She had fallen long ago and knew as long as she lived she'd never get up. But to be around him again? Yes, it would be heaven, but when his Thesis was completed he would leave, and her already broken heart would be torn to shreds.
But as she shifted nervously she glanced down and saw her son's pleading eyes staring back at her. Usagi smiled. She could deny him nothing, and she knew it. Whatever pain this brought, she would endure, if only for him.
She glanced up at the love of her life. His emotions were hidden, he was very good at that, but her eyes didn't fail to miss the fingers he had discreetly crossed. He wanted this as well, and who was she to cause him any more trouble? He was so close... It would be so easy to just run into his arms and have him hold her close to him.
Usagi looked away quickly. No, it could never be. Even though what happened was not her fault. Even if he underSTOOD that is was not her fault, which she knew he would, the decisions she had made since then were unforgivable. She had LEFT him, truly left him. What right did she have to just waltz back into his life and expect him to love her again? Even if they were together she doubted whether or not he would truly be able to deal with the identity of her son's father.
But none of that mattered. This would not be drawn out as Mamoru was a genius and she had no doubt he would not only prove his thesis, but he'd do it in record time. He would get his graduate degree, fulfill his dream of being a doctor, and countless doors for her son would open.
What of herself? She would be fine. Not great, but fine. Seeing the two men she loved more than anything in the world succeed and become successful would be, in itself, a much-needed joy to her heart. As long as Mamoru didn't recognize her everything would work out just fine, and she'd already seen to that not ever happening.
She smiled wryly. How ironic, that after years of wanting him, he was finally by her side, a mere stride away, and it was she who was stopping them from being together again. His mind and eyes were blind to any connection between her current self and the Usagi he knew. Resembling the magic that kept Usagi and Sailor Moon separate in people's minds, the spell prevented him from putting two and two together to make the connection between the identical last names. Yes, the Silver Crystal's magic worked well and was not easily undone.
However the same was true of Mamoru's power over her, and Usagi prayed to God that He help her make it so that she would not be the one to undo her own work.
Usagi looked dramatically from Mamoru to his pupil, straining the moment of suspense that rested in her hands.
She took a deep breath and both man and boy breathed with her as she at last spoke, her lips curving into a smile, "Well when have I ever been able to deny my baby boy anything?"
He squealed as Usagi's laugh tinkled throughout the room and Mamoru's mouth burst into a huge grin as he rushed up to her and took her small hand, engulfing it in both of his large ones.
"THANK you Ms. Tsukino, THANK you SO MUCH, you have no idea what this means to me." He even bowed slightly out of habit, unable to contain his excitement, surprising even himself. He was never this enthusiastic about anything, and he tried unsuccessfully to shoo away the voice in his head whispering that part of his excitement was at the prospect of spending time with her.
They all jumped as an ear-piercing whistle ripped throughout the room as the water Usagi had put on the stove began to boil.
She regretfully pulled out of Mamoru's grasp and went to tend to the pot. She returned quickly to the living room handing the boys their drinks.
Taking a seat next to her son on the couch, she watched as Mamoru opened his briefcase, taking out his previous research, and proceeded in explaining to the small family what his tests and studies on Casey would entail.
Taking a sip of her cocoa, Usagi blanched slightly as she glanced over all the work.
Sensing her uneasy state, Mamoru raised his brows in question, "Is there a problem Ms. Tsukino? If there is..." he trailed off indicating his willingness to accommodate to their needs.
"Well, I'm no collage attendee," she swallowed hard, wishing the moment it was out of her mouth that she had not said it, and glanced over to him, dreading the look of surprise or disappointment she regularly received, but found herself staring only at a his attentive expression.
He smiled reassuringly at her pause, "Well of course not, you've not quite finished High School yet." Misinterpreting her shocked look, it was his turn to sweat as he added hurriedly, "Or so I've heard."
Usagi smiled warmly at him. God she missed that man. Reassured, she continued on expressing the more present worry at hand. "I'm not familiar with this level of work, but won't," she paused, already knowing the answer, "won't this take a long time?"
Mamoru nodded respectfully, "The tests have all been designed by me, and are made to, altogether, take two months, if everything goes as I've planned. Of course nothing goes as planned," he smiled sadly, not unnoticed by Usagi, at how his comment pertained to so much more than his work. "So at MOST I'd say three months. Please, if you have a problem with the time frame, tell me now before it's started."
'Three months?! How can I be around him for three months?' Usagi's mind screamed at her, but she wiped the worry away with a nod of her head to Mamoru. She would do it for Keisuke, but secretly, her heart sung at the thought of being around him again for even a minute.
Usagi nodded again as she read over the legal documents Mamoru handed her, and signed her name at the bottom. She rubbed her son's back lovingly as he did the same.
"I have one preference," she swallowed and fidgeted with her oversized lounging shirt. "I really don't like Casey being away from home late. Is it possible that you perhaps do this," she swallowed again, knowing the only place they could work would be, "here?"
He grinned at the thought, an action he would ponder over later. "Of course Ms. Tsukino, your concern is reasonable. Again I am VERY grateful to you and your son for this."
"No it is I who should be thanking you," she replied humbly in keeping with her native Japanese custom.
She could do this. It wouldn't be that hard.
That's what Usagi told herself to calm her jumping heart as she lead Mamoru to the door and shook his hand.
How hard could three short months around him be anyway?
***************
Usagi sighed as she set down her keys on the living room mantle and turned to hang up her coat. After a long day of school and work, she could really do with a long, hot shower.
She picked up a small, rounded, jeweled object from her purse, which looked to be a compact. However when she opened it, a crystalline gem was revealed to be inside.
She ran her fingers absentmindedly over the precious stone. Forged on the Alter of Selene, neighboring the rushing currents of Mare Serenitis, the Imperium Silver Crystal was worth more than all the gold and money from multiple worlds. People had fought and died in many wars over this relatively small stone Usagi now held in the palm of her hand.
Luckily, she had it with her to give her strength on that first day of school, and its magic still masked her true features to all who had known her before she fled her old life when she went to pick up her son. Had she not had it on her then, Mamoru would have recognized her in an instant.
She glanced at the clock, speaking of her old prince, he would be arriving shortly, leaving her only an hour to shower before she would have to absorb the crystal's magic once more. Sighing she slipped it into her pocket and turned to make her way upstairs.
However she would not get that far as a pair of strong hands came out of no where and gripped her arms from the side, turning her roughly to face their owner.
She opened her mouth to scream but closed it promptly in shock. The pair of eyes she stared into bore no resemblance to the icy blues she expected to see.
It was him.
"Mamo-Chan..." she gasped.
"Usako. I've finally found you!" Mamoru cried as he pulled her curved, shaking body close to his strong, muscled one.
"How?" she gasped, she should be more worried than this! He knew who she was! But all she felt was calm and relief in his welcoming arms. She smiled. "When did you figure it out?"
He chuckled and traced her face loving, "I knew all along."
Their breathing became heavy as their faces began to inch closer together.
"Mamo-Chan..." she sighed happily.
"Wake UP Usagi." He said coldly.
At the cruel statement she halted the oncoming kiss abruptly, pushing him at arm's length from her. "What did you say?"
"I said wake up Usagi!" His laughter echoed throughout the room as he began to slowly disappear from her sight.
Usagi shook her head violently and reached desperately out for him.
"MAMO-CHAN!" she screamed in panic.
All went black. She was tumbling, falling into nothingness...
"SERENA!"
Usagi shot up in bed, her forehead and back drenched in her own sweat. She snapped her head from side to side in panic until she realized the arms holding her close.
"Max..." She sighed as she fell into his chest, exhausted.
He pulled away slowly at her acknowledgement of him. Giving her a soft smile, he gently brushed back the damp blonde strands of hair from her forehead. "You were dreaming."
She nodded her head. "Yeah, I know." She looked up at him apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
Max laughed, "Of COURSE you didn't." he nudged Usagi playfully and winked at her as she joined in on his laughter.
He rose from her bedside and re-tied his robe before picking up an empty glass from her nightstand and taking it with him into the bathroom to re- fill it.
Usagi looked over him as he did so. He was such a sweet man. Even though he was not always the best at expressing his emotions verbally, he found ways to show you he cared.
She could deffinitly tell not only why Kate loved him, but why she married him. Next to being a kind-hearted Christian man, he was a hard working, southern son-of-a-bitch.
Usagi smiled thinking back to the first time Demando had re-appeared to her. Max had coming storming in at her screams, kicking down the door, his shotgun aimed and ready to kill whoever was threatening his family.
As far as looks went, well, she had heard that in high school he had girls practically throwing themselves at him. He had that shy, down-home country boy look to him that the girls just *died* over. She could just picture him with his sandy blonde hair, and soft, light-blue eyes in his faded overalls, blushing as the girls around him giggled and tried to flirt with him.
Usagi's smile broadened. It was a most amusing picture. However her smile faded as another strong male figure drifted into her mind.
Mamoru.
She sank below her covers. She would be seeing him again in less than twelve hours when he came over for his appointment with Keisuke. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him; actually, what scarred her was how much she wanted quite the opposite.
Max returned a couple minutes later with a fresh cup of water. She took it from him gratefully as he smoothed down her hair once more and placed a fatherly kiss on her forehead. "Now you best be getting back to sleep young lady."
She giggled as he turned out her light and tucked the covers in around her before finally turning towards the door.
"Hey Max?" Usagi whispered.
He stopped. "Yeah?"
"Thanks."
He chuckled, closing the door behind him, "Noo problemo," he drawled and clicked the door shut.
***************
Mamoru had just entered his apartment, and had barely sat down when the phone rang.
He rose, groaning and mumbled something about disconnecting it before warily picking up the receiver.
"Mamoru Chiba." He said, answering in his usual monotone.
"Well you sound cheery." A sarcastic female voice drawled on the other line.
Mamoru perked up instantly. "Rei! How are you? How are things back home?"
"Well, they could deffinitly be better. Mamoru-san, I've been picking up some bad vibes in my last few mediations. I asked the Fire to give me a clearer picture of what was wrong, but I only saw the outline of a landscape." She paused for some form of dramatic effect.
"And..." Mamoru cajoled her impatiently.
"I looked it up, it's the outline of an American state, Mamoru, your state."
"It showed you Virginia?" He asked dumbly.
"Are you staying anywhere else?" Rei bit, Mamoru could tell she was starting to get annoyed with him. That girl had less patience than a cable modem user on a 56k.
"So, what? That's it, just bad vibes from Virginia?" He switched ears and opened his refrigerator, bringing out some of the Chinese take out he'd had from the night before.
"No, it showed me a gold, five pointed star, outlined by a circle, but who knows what that means. Sorry I can't give you more than that, and normally I wouldn't say anything until I got a clearer picture, but given that you're in Virginia... Just be careful OK?"
She bit her lip nervously. Rei would never admit it but she'd come to care deeply for Mamoru in the past four years. She wouldn't go so far as to say that she LOVED him, more like respected him. She could think of no other man who would have searched that long and that hard for a girl who, in her opinion, though it killed her to say it, he was probably never going to find.
There was silence on both lines for a few minutes before Rei gathered her thoughts once more, the long distance bill not forgotten.
"So talk fast Chiba, we only got a little bit longer. How are you doing over there huh? Found anyone for your Thesis yet?
Mamoru smiled, "Yes, actually. His name is Casey... Dammit! I can never remember his last name." Mamoru shook his head in frustration; perhaps he would do some meditating himself tonight. He seemed to be not thinking as clearly as usual. "Anyway, he's four years old and the top student in his class, but that's only part of the reason why I chose him."
Mamoru leaned against the counter, picked up his chopsticks and stuffed some Chinese food into his mouth before continuing. "He has this thing... I can't put my finger on it. You would call it "good vibes", but it's something more too. He... glows, somehow. He's so full of life it's amazing. And his mother! She's just the sweetest woman in the world."
"His mother huh?" Rei teased.
Mamoru's mouth thinned. "Rei don't even go there." He warned dangerously.
Rei laughed, testing his patience. "Aw, come on Mo-chan. So is she hot?"
"God DAMMIT Rei! Didn't I say not to go there?! I mean, by all that's holy you'd think you'd forgotten all about your own best friend. Can't you catch a clue? I'm not giving up on her!" He yelled, surprising himself more than anyone. 'Jesus Mamoru get a grip! Ya didn't have to yell at her for God's sake!' he growled at himself, before opening his mouth to apologize, but it was already too late. The fiery Shinto Priestess' match had already been lit.
"No YOU catch a clue Chiba Mamoru! Don't you think I loved Usagi? Don't you think I miss her and cried over her until I had no more tears left to cry? But Mamoru, FACE THE FACTS! Usa. Is. GONE. She's not coming back! We've searched the world twice over for her and come up with nothing. I know as well as you do she's alive, I can feel as much, but she LEFT Mamoru-san! She, LEFT! Wherever Usa is now she doesn't want us to find her! You can keep on searching Mo-Chan, but I'm through. I can't stand it anymore. I can't. It hurts too much."
Her voice cracked with a sob, and Mamoru felt like a real heel. Now he'd done it.
Mamoru raked a hand through his thick night-black hair, trying to think of ways to calm her. "Ah, jeez Rei-Chan, I'm sorry please don't cry. I'll-"
"No Mamoru, I can't talk to you right now. When you're willing to wake up call me, until then... Just call me when you catch a clue."
A click was heard on the other line and Mamoru cursed.
Sighing he walked into the living room and hung up the phone.
Rolling up the sleeves to his white work shirt, Mamoru sank down on the couch and put his head in his hands.
Rei was right. He too, was getting tired, and lonely. It was hard enough waiting for her all those years, but this time... He just didn't know if he could take it anymore.
But it hurt. GOD how it hurt. He wanted to hold her, to touch her, to calm his and her fears with kisses. He needed to lie beside her at night and feel her warmth seep through him and give him strength. There was no denying it. He still loved her- would always love her, but right now he just needed a break, if only to sort out his own confused heart.
His stomach growled and remembering his food, he got up shakily moving to the kitchen to retrieve the boxes and bring them back into the living room.
Once seated and eating, he began thinking about the very woman that had him ranting in the first place. Serena.
Now that woman was dangerous. If she wasn't a substitute for Usagi, he didn't know who was. She looked like her, smelt like her, felt like her. Yet, she was so very different.
For starters she was much more mature.
He smiled sadly at that, knowing the reason for it. It wasn't hard to figure out, even without Casey's explanation, that she'd had her son very young, too young. His heart truly did ache for her. Having a baby at fifteen would be hard on any girl, and from what little he knew from Casey's story, she had no one to care for and shelter her in the crucial months before and after his birth.
He silently thanked God that he had given her a home, and people to care for her and her son. Had her caretakers, Kate and Max, never found her, she would most likely not be living, and neither would Casey.
However that was not the only way in which she was more mature than his love. She WAS, well, nineteen...
HE couldn't help himself from noticing! He WAS male after all! And she was female, BOY was she female. Slightly wavy blonde hair framed crystal blue eyes, outlined by intelligent thin frames, sensuous lips...
He shook his head trying to clear it, but his mind continued to sweep over the mental picture it held of the woman. Her well sized, he swallowed, "endowments", a thin waist, voluptuous hips...
Mamoru banged his head on the coffee table this time in order to clear his thoughts fully.
However those... attributes, were not what made her dangerous to him. It was how she used them. How her smile lit up the room, and her laughter seemed to fill it. In the short periods of time he'd been with her she had cast a spell over him so strong, it truly scared him. Chills-down-his-back scared him. Dreaming-about-her scared him. The only other woman who had EVER scared him that way was...
"Get a grip Chiba!" he said aloud, "you're dreaming about her and you've meet her what? TWICE? You disgust me." He laughed. "You're even talking to yourself and it's only," he glanced up at the clock, "Five O-clock-HOLY SHIT!"
Mamoru jumped up from the couch almost knocking over his coffee table in the process. After steadying it he grabbed his briefcase and coat, practically throwing himself out the door. His appointment with Casey was at 4:30!
***************
Usagi paced the room impatiently, glancing every so often at the clock. Where WAS he? In all her years she had never known Mamoru to be late for anything there was a set time for. Hell, he usually early, but never late.
Keisuke looked up at his mother and frowned. "Stop worrying Mama, he probably just got stuck in traffic. It IS rush hour."
Usagi stopped her pacing and turned on her son with a sadistic grin. "You don't even know what that means!"
She pounced and he let out a squeal as she assaulted him with tickles.
"Ma- Ma, MAMA!" he gasped in short breaths as Usagi continued her attacks with full force.
"What do ya say Casey?" She growled playfully.
"TIME OUT!" he screamed and Usagi rose laughing all the while.
"What's going on here?" a deep voice rumbled from the stairway, and Max emerged buttoning the cuffs to his tuxedo.
"MAX! Mama was tickling me again!" He relayed in a playful voice.
Usagi stuck out her tongue at him. "Tattle Tale." She teased.
Keisuke stuck out his tongue back at her as Max chuckled, "Well did ya tickle her back?"
Keisuke pulled his tongue back in. "I can do that?"
Usagi and Max burst out laughing at his innocent question.
Kate came out from the kitchen in a beautiful strapless green ball gown and picked Keisuke up from behind. "Of course you can sweetie, don't mind them their just being mean!" But her laughter echoed throughout the room as well.
"Now you two be good while we're at this awful--" Max swallowed, quickly correcting himself at his wife's glare, "-lly generous fund raiser."
Usagi grinned at her son as his put both hands in the air as if on a roller coaster, "After Mr. Chiba leaves it's MOVIE NIGHT!"
"If he ever gets here..." Usagi sighed just as there was a rushed rapping on the door.
She perked up instantly at the sound. "That must be him now!"
Kate raised a brow curiously at Usagi as she jumped up, and primped herself slightly before answering the knock, but she decided to let it slide... Until they got back that was.
Usagi took a deep breath and opened the door and had to keep from laughing in amusement at the disheveled man before her.
His normally neat and combed hair was wild, sticking every which way. His tie was slightly crooked, and papers could be seen poking out of his briefcase.
Mamoru beamed at her, his heart skipping a beat as she smiled back. "Hello Ms. Tsukino." He gasped, out of breath.
She giggled a little and opened the door fully to let him in.
Usagi scratched the back of her head awkwardly before motioning with her hand to where Kate and Max stood.
"Um Kate, Max, this is Case's Science teacher Mr. Chiba. Mr. Chiba, Kate and Max, my fosters and dear friends."
Exchanging nods and "nice to meet you's", the men struck up a brief conversation before Kate coughed, seeing Usagi's nervous look, and called, "Pizza's number is on the fridge!" before pulling Max out the door.
Usagi sighed, relieved. She'd have to thank Kate for that one later. She loved Max dearly, but he was so much like her father is scared her. Had they talked much longer, Max would no doubt have been asking Mamoru what his intentions towards her were, and that certainly would not have gone over well.
Mamoru sighed, placing his briefcase on the couch and bowed slightly to Usagi out of habit. "I am SO sorry, Ms. Tsukino, I got stuck in traffic and before that my-" Think quick! Think quick! "sister, well she's like my sister, anyway she kept me on the phone, and I REALLY am sorry. It will not happen again." Well, it wasn't a complete lie. He couldn't very well tell her that she was, indirectly, the reason he was late. But what a blubbering fool he felt like. Why was he so tongue-tied? He shook his head. Dangerous, this girl was dangerous.
Usagi smiled sweetly, "It's quite all right Mr. Chiba, we were just getting worried, that's all." She slapped her hands on her thighs before continuing. "SO! You guys get to work, I'll be upstairs doing physics homework myself, so just call me is you need anything!"
Mamoru turned and grinned at Keisuke. "Shall we?" He asked playfully motioning to the work laid out. Keisuke giggled and nodded happily as Usagi started to retreat upstairs but paused halfway up. "Oh! Mr. Chiba?"
Her heart melted as he turned around to face her, a smile on his gorgeous lips. Usagi swallowed. "Call me Serena."
He chuckled and nodded, his grin broadening. "All right, Serena, in that case call me Mamoru."
***************
"Pythagorean theorem."
"'A' squared plus 'b' squared equals 'c' squared."
"EXCELLENT, now last one, quadratic formula."
"'X' equals the opposite of 'b' plus or minus the square root of the quantity 'b' squared minus four 'a' 'c' all divided by two 'a'."
"Amazing Casey, you really are amazing. This is great, this is only our first session and I think I can already start on proving my Thesis based on just my notes from today." Mamoru exclaimed as he wrote down his last notes and packed up their work.
Mamoru was just about finished packing when Usagi jumped in the doorway. "Did I hear you say you were all done?" She inquired anxiously.
Mamoru laughed. "Something to that extent, yes."
Usagi beamed. "Well great, cause it's time to order pizza. Any requests Casey?"
Keisuke jumped up excitedly, running into his mama's arms, "PIIZZAA!" He cried happily as Usagi caught him and swung him around.
"Yes, we've established that what do you want ON it?" Usagi tried asking but burst out laughing when he only responded with another happy cry of, "PIIZZAA!"
Mamoru shook his head marveling at how quickly Casey could jump from four- year-old boy genius, to just an average four-year-old.
Smiling he picked up his briefcase and began to move towards the door. "I'll leave you two to your 'PIIZZAA!'" he cried out the word mimicking the thrilled Keisuke as he mussed up his hair playfully.
Keisuke stopped his horsing around with Usagi and turned to Mamoru, an innocent idea forming in his little head. "Hey Mama! Can Mr. Chiba stay for pizza and a movie night?" He turned his head back and forth excitedly between the two adults. "Can you Mr. Chiba? Huh? Can you?"
Mamoru stuttered, his pulse quickening at the thought of spending dinner at her house. He frowned mentally. Had he himself done the very thing he accused Rei of earlier? Was he forgetting about Usagi?
No, no he rationalized. He would never forget her, but as he realized earlier, he did need a break from looking. Rei's words floated their way back into his head, and he knew them to be right. What if he never found Usa? What if she really didn't want to be found? She'd want him to be happy right?
He looked up at Serena's turned form as she bit her lip. Just at that moment the light reflected off her blonde ponytail in such a way that made Mamoru take a step back.
Or maybe, a break from looking was exactly the opposite of what he needed. Maybe, he just wasn't looking hard enough. Maybe...
"Mama? It's OK right? Can Mr. Chiba stay here?"
Usagi stammered herself, unsure of what to do. She looked up to Mamoru, "I-- , I guess if he wants to Mr.- Mamoru can stay, why not?"
How in the world did she get herself INTO these things?
"Mr. Chiba, will ya stay?" Keisuke pleaded once more.
Mamoru looked down and a sudden realization dawned on him as he looked from son to mother. Suddenly it all made sense why he felt the way he did. Suddenly his world was shattered and put back in a much more agreeable manor. He turned to Usagi and smiled lovingly at her, shocking her as he just as suddenly answered, "Yeah, sure Casey, I'll stay."
***************
DUN DUN DUN! Actually it is a cliffhanger if you look at it sideways! :) Stay tuned for chapter 7! It'll be out soon! I Promise!
Oh yeah BTW, I GOT MY LEARNER'S PERMIT! *Dances*....... Ok go read.
***************
Love, Labors, Lost
Chapter 6: Breaking Day
Rated PG-13
***************
Usagi hummed to herself as she scrubbed off the dishes they had used for dinner that night. It had been almost a week since she told Kate and Max the truth about Keisuke's father, and she hadn't had another encounter with Demando since.
She frowned slightly at a new realization as she worked to wash off a particularly sticky spot on one of the pans. She hadn't told them the whole truth, but in time she might be able to tell the rest. As for now she felt as if she was an entirely different person. Or was she that different? Actually she was feeling quite similar to her old self.
Hope began to shine in her heart. Maybe now she could finally put down her defenses and sorrows and just be plain old Usagi again.
"Mama! Someone's at the door!"
Usagi smiled wisely as her son's voice snapped her back to reality. She could never return fully to her old self, even if she wanted to, and if that meant trading in her son, forget it. She wouldn't trade him even if someone told her that she would never had to have been... raped.
She rolled the word around in her mouth. It still felt strange, saying it in reference to herself. And yet... It was, liberating somehow. Well, all the things it implied.
It wasn't her fault.
She wouldn't have to feel guilty when her peers scorned her.
And above all, She didn't betray...
"MAMA!" Usagi felt a tug on her shirt and when she looked down she saw a very impatient Keisuke looking back up at her, his hands on his hips.
She splashed a bit of water at him and laughed heartily at his shock before drying off her hands and picking him up. She swung him around in her arms and he giggled at her antics before resting his head on her shoulder. He clung to her and hugged her neck as she went to answer the door.
"I'm glad you're not sad anymore Mama." He whispered in her ear.
Usagi frowned at that. Yes, as was she, quite glad in fact. Come to think of it she had been acting too much like her old self recently, the negative aspects especially. The whining, the selfishness, the crying... She was supposed to be the adult, and here was her poor son telling her he was glad SHE wasn't sad anymore.
"Don't worry Baby, a lot of things are gonna change around here, starting with me not being sad."
Keisuke kissed her check lovingly as she set him down, and opened the door.
"Hello may I... help... you...?" Her words faded and blue crashed with blue as she found herself staring into the eyes of none other than the infamous Mamoru Chiba.
He smiled pleasantly. Usagi's knees went weak. "Hello Ms. Tsukino, nice to see you again."
She froze momentarily. Why was he speaking so formally? Shouldn't she be throwing herself in his arms? Her brain took a minute but it quickly remembered that he was now her son's Science teacher. She'd forgotten about that completely, but more importantly, he wasn't here for her. He couldn't even recognize her.
'That's your own fault!' She chided herself silently, but in a second she was back, pasting on a huge grin and stuck out her hand politely to greet him.
"Ah yes, Mr. Chiba, nice to see you again as well," what an understatement! But she continued on, forcing normality on herself. For the sake of whom she was unsure, only that it needed to be done. "Won't you come in?"
His smile broadened as he stepped over the threshold and Usagi closed the door behind him.
Usagi's head snapped suddenly from her son to his teacher, wondering suddenly why one of Keisuke's teachers would visit them. "He's not in any trouble is he?" she said doubtful, but could see no other reason why, her Mamo-Chan of all his teachers, could be there.
"Huh? OH! No, no, no, nothing like that. Casey is actually my best student," he smiled fondly at the boy before looking to his beautiful mother, "That's the reason I'm here."
***************
"Tea, hot chocolate, or coffee?" Usagi called from the kitchen. "Eh, but I only have rich hot cocoa." She popped her head into the living room apologetically.
Mamoru's brows raised, "Well it just so happens that's my favorite."
"Cocoa it is then! And you Casey? You want cocoa as well I presume."
"Of course!" he chirped.
Usagi paddled back into the kitchen grinning to herself. 'He still likes cocoa...' she thought gaily remembering back to their days with Chibi-Usa. Whenever things started to get edgy between the two odango headed princesses, Mamoru would always retreat slowly and carefully into the kitchen to, "make us all a nice hot cup of cocoa."
After she set the three drinks in motion, her own order included Usagi leaned herself against the living room wall adjacent to the one in the kitchen. "So, explain this to me again Mr. Chiba. You want Case to be your guinea pig?" she asked, smiling to soften the remark.
He chuckled lightly, "No, not exactly. My Thesis. It wouldn't just benefit me however. If my Thesis is correct, then this could help people understand your son and the way he thinks ten times better. It would open countless doors for him and," he looked over to Keisuke and winked making him giggle, "it would be loads of fun."
Keisuke jumped to his feet and ran to hug his mother's leg. "Oh please Mama! It would be SO COOL."
She bent down to his level so that her eyes were level with his shinning ones. "You wanna do this Baby?"
He nodded his head enthusiastically and Usagi sighed, standing up once more. She rubbed her temples, could she stand it? Could she be around him that much without falling for him all over again?
She smiled at that. All over again? She had fallen long ago and knew as long as she lived she'd never get up. But to be around him again? Yes, it would be heaven, but when his Thesis was completed he would leave, and her already broken heart would be torn to shreds.
But as she shifted nervously she glanced down and saw her son's pleading eyes staring back at her. Usagi smiled. She could deny him nothing, and she knew it. Whatever pain this brought, she would endure, if only for him.
She glanced up at the love of her life. His emotions were hidden, he was very good at that, but her eyes didn't fail to miss the fingers he had discreetly crossed. He wanted this as well, and who was she to cause him any more trouble? He was so close... It would be so easy to just run into his arms and have him hold her close to him.
Usagi looked away quickly. No, it could never be. Even though what happened was not her fault. Even if he underSTOOD that is was not her fault, which she knew he would, the decisions she had made since then were unforgivable. She had LEFT him, truly left him. What right did she have to just waltz back into his life and expect him to love her again? Even if they were together she doubted whether or not he would truly be able to deal with the identity of her son's father.
But none of that mattered. This would not be drawn out as Mamoru was a genius and she had no doubt he would not only prove his thesis, but he'd do it in record time. He would get his graduate degree, fulfill his dream of being a doctor, and countless doors for her son would open.
What of herself? She would be fine. Not great, but fine. Seeing the two men she loved more than anything in the world succeed and become successful would be, in itself, a much-needed joy to her heart. As long as Mamoru didn't recognize her everything would work out just fine, and she'd already seen to that not ever happening.
She smiled wryly. How ironic, that after years of wanting him, he was finally by her side, a mere stride away, and it was she who was stopping them from being together again. His mind and eyes were blind to any connection between her current self and the Usagi he knew. Resembling the magic that kept Usagi and Sailor Moon separate in people's minds, the spell prevented him from putting two and two together to make the connection between the identical last names. Yes, the Silver Crystal's magic worked well and was not easily undone.
However the same was true of Mamoru's power over her, and Usagi prayed to God that He help her make it so that she would not be the one to undo her own work.
Usagi looked dramatically from Mamoru to his pupil, straining the moment of suspense that rested in her hands.
She took a deep breath and both man and boy breathed with her as she at last spoke, her lips curving into a smile, "Well when have I ever been able to deny my baby boy anything?"
He squealed as Usagi's laugh tinkled throughout the room and Mamoru's mouth burst into a huge grin as he rushed up to her and took her small hand, engulfing it in both of his large ones.
"THANK you Ms. Tsukino, THANK you SO MUCH, you have no idea what this means to me." He even bowed slightly out of habit, unable to contain his excitement, surprising even himself. He was never this enthusiastic about anything, and he tried unsuccessfully to shoo away the voice in his head whispering that part of his excitement was at the prospect of spending time with her.
They all jumped as an ear-piercing whistle ripped throughout the room as the water Usagi had put on the stove began to boil.
She regretfully pulled out of Mamoru's grasp and went to tend to the pot. She returned quickly to the living room handing the boys their drinks.
Taking a seat next to her son on the couch, she watched as Mamoru opened his briefcase, taking out his previous research, and proceeded in explaining to the small family what his tests and studies on Casey would entail.
Taking a sip of her cocoa, Usagi blanched slightly as she glanced over all the work.
Sensing her uneasy state, Mamoru raised his brows in question, "Is there a problem Ms. Tsukino? If there is..." he trailed off indicating his willingness to accommodate to their needs.
"Well, I'm no collage attendee," she swallowed hard, wishing the moment it was out of her mouth that she had not said it, and glanced over to him, dreading the look of surprise or disappointment she regularly received, but found herself staring only at a his attentive expression.
He smiled reassuringly at her pause, "Well of course not, you've not quite finished High School yet." Misinterpreting her shocked look, it was his turn to sweat as he added hurriedly, "Or so I've heard."
Usagi smiled warmly at him. God she missed that man. Reassured, she continued on expressing the more present worry at hand. "I'm not familiar with this level of work, but won't," she paused, already knowing the answer, "won't this take a long time?"
Mamoru nodded respectfully, "The tests have all been designed by me, and are made to, altogether, take two months, if everything goes as I've planned. Of course nothing goes as planned," he smiled sadly, not unnoticed by Usagi, at how his comment pertained to so much more than his work. "So at MOST I'd say three months. Please, if you have a problem with the time frame, tell me now before it's started."
'Three months?! How can I be around him for three months?' Usagi's mind screamed at her, but she wiped the worry away with a nod of her head to Mamoru. She would do it for Keisuke, but secretly, her heart sung at the thought of being around him again for even a minute.
Usagi nodded again as she read over the legal documents Mamoru handed her, and signed her name at the bottom. She rubbed her son's back lovingly as he did the same.
"I have one preference," she swallowed and fidgeted with her oversized lounging shirt. "I really don't like Casey being away from home late. Is it possible that you perhaps do this," she swallowed again, knowing the only place they could work would be, "here?"
He grinned at the thought, an action he would ponder over later. "Of course Ms. Tsukino, your concern is reasonable. Again I am VERY grateful to you and your son for this."
"No it is I who should be thanking you," she replied humbly in keeping with her native Japanese custom.
She could do this. It wouldn't be that hard.
That's what Usagi told herself to calm her jumping heart as she lead Mamoru to the door and shook his hand.
How hard could three short months around him be anyway?
***************
Usagi sighed as she set down her keys on the living room mantle and turned to hang up her coat. After a long day of school and work, she could really do with a long, hot shower.
She picked up a small, rounded, jeweled object from her purse, which looked to be a compact. However when she opened it, a crystalline gem was revealed to be inside.
She ran her fingers absentmindedly over the precious stone. Forged on the Alter of Selene, neighboring the rushing currents of Mare Serenitis, the Imperium Silver Crystal was worth more than all the gold and money from multiple worlds. People had fought and died in many wars over this relatively small stone Usagi now held in the palm of her hand.
Luckily, she had it with her to give her strength on that first day of school, and its magic still masked her true features to all who had known her before she fled her old life when she went to pick up her son. Had she not had it on her then, Mamoru would have recognized her in an instant.
She glanced at the clock, speaking of her old prince, he would be arriving shortly, leaving her only an hour to shower before she would have to absorb the crystal's magic once more. Sighing she slipped it into her pocket and turned to make her way upstairs.
However she would not get that far as a pair of strong hands came out of no where and gripped her arms from the side, turning her roughly to face their owner.
She opened her mouth to scream but closed it promptly in shock. The pair of eyes she stared into bore no resemblance to the icy blues she expected to see.
It was him.
"Mamo-Chan..." she gasped.
"Usako. I've finally found you!" Mamoru cried as he pulled her curved, shaking body close to his strong, muscled one.
"How?" she gasped, she should be more worried than this! He knew who she was! But all she felt was calm and relief in his welcoming arms. She smiled. "When did you figure it out?"
He chuckled and traced her face loving, "I knew all along."
Their breathing became heavy as their faces began to inch closer together.
"Mamo-Chan..." she sighed happily.
"Wake UP Usagi." He said coldly.
At the cruel statement she halted the oncoming kiss abruptly, pushing him at arm's length from her. "What did you say?"
"I said wake up Usagi!" His laughter echoed throughout the room as he began to slowly disappear from her sight.
Usagi shook her head violently and reached desperately out for him.
"MAMO-CHAN!" she screamed in panic.
All went black. She was tumbling, falling into nothingness...
"SERENA!"
Usagi shot up in bed, her forehead and back drenched in her own sweat. She snapped her head from side to side in panic until she realized the arms holding her close.
"Max..." She sighed as she fell into his chest, exhausted.
He pulled away slowly at her acknowledgement of him. Giving her a soft smile, he gently brushed back the damp blonde strands of hair from her forehead. "You were dreaming."
She nodded her head. "Yeah, I know." She looked up at him apologetically. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
Max laughed, "Of COURSE you didn't." he nudged Usagi playfully and winked at her as she joined in on his laughter.
He rose from her bedside and re-tied his robe before picking up an empty glass from her nightstand and taking it with him into the bathroom to re- fill it.
Usagi looked over him as he did so. He was such a sweet man. Even though he was not always the best at expressing his emotions verbally, he found ways to show you he cared.
She could deffinitly tell not only why Kate loved him, but why she married him. Next to being a kind-hearted Christian man, he was a hard working, southern son-of-a-bitch.
Usagi smiled thinking back to the first time Demando had re-appeared to her. Max had coming storming in at her screams, kicking down the door, his shotgun aimed and ready to kill whoever was threatening his family.
As far as looks went, well, she had heard that in high school he had girls practically throwing themselves at him. He had that shy, down-home country boy look to him that the girls just *died* over. She could just picture him with his sandy blonde hair, and soft, light-blue eyes in his faded overalls, blushing as the girls around him giggled and tried to flirt with him.
Usagi's smile broadened. It was a most amusing picture. However her smile faded as another strong male figure drifted into her mind.
Mamoru.
She sank below her covers. She would be seeing him again in less than twelve hours when he came over for his appointment with Keisuke. It wasn't that she didn't want to see him; actually, what scarred her was how much she wanted quite the opposite.
Max returned a couple minutes later with a fresh cup of water. She took it from him gratefully as he smoothed down her hair once more and placed a fatherly kiss on her forehead. "Now you best be getting back to sleep young lady."
She giggled as he turned out her light and tucked the covers in around her before finally turning towards the door.
"Hey Max?" Usagi whispered.
He stopped. "Yeah?"
"Thanks."
He chuckled, closing the door behind him, "Noo problemo," he drawled and clicked the door shut.
***************
Mamoru had just entered his apartment, and had barely sat down when the phone rang.
He rose, groaning and mumbled something about disconnecting it before warily picking up the receiver.
"Mamoru Chiba." He said, answering in his usual monotone.
"Well you sound cheery." A sarcastic female voice drawled on the other line.
Mamoru perked up instantly. "Rei! How are you? How are things back home?"
"Well, they could deffinitly be better. Mamoru-san, I've been picking up some bad vibes in my last few mediations. I asked the Fire to give me a clearer picture of what was wrong, but I only saw the outline of a landscape." She paused for some form of dramatic effect.
"And..." Mamoru cajoled her impatiently.
"I looked it up, it's the outline of an American state, Mamoru, your state."
"It showed you Virginia?" He asked dumbly.
"Are you staying anywhere else?" Rei bit, Mamoru could tell she was starting to get annoyed with him. That girl had less patience than a cable modem user on a 56k.
"So, what? That's it, just bad vibes from Virginia?" He switched ears and opened his refrigerator, bringing out some of the Chinese take out he'd had from the night before.
"No, it showed me a gold, five pointed star, outlined by a circle, but who knows what that means. Sorry I can't give you more than that, and normally I wouldn't say anything until I got a clearer picture, but given that you're in Virginia... Just be careful OK?"
She bit her lip nervously. Rei would never admit it but she'd come to care deeply for Mamoru in the past four years. She wouldn't go so far as to say that she LOVED him, more like respected him. She could think of no other man who would have searched that long and that hard for a girl who, in her opinion, though it killed her to say it, he was probably never going to find.
There was silence on both lines for a few minutes before Rei gathered her thoughts once more, the long distance bill not forgotten.
"So talk fast Chiba, we only got a little bit longer. How are you doing over there huh? Found anyone for your Thesis yet?
Mamoru smiled, "Yes, actually. His name is Casey... Dammit! I can never remember his last name." Mamoru shook his head in frustration; perhaps he would do some meditating himself tonight. He seemed to be not thinking as clearly as usual. "Anyway, he's four years old and the top student in his class, but that's only part of the reason why I chose him."
Mamoru leaned against the counter, picked up his chopsticks and stuffed some Chinese food into his mouth before continuing. "He has this thing... I can't put my finger on it. You would call it "good vibes", but it's something more too. He... glows, somehow. He's so full of life it's amazing. And his mother! She's just the sweetest woman in the world."
"His mother huh?" Rei teased.
Mamoru's mouth thinned. "Rei don't even go there." He warned dangerously.
Rei laughed, testing his patience. "Aw, come on Mo-chan. So is she hot?"
"God DAMMIT Rei! Didn't I say not to go there?! I mean, by all that's holy you'd think you'd forgotten all about your own best friend. Can't you catch a clue? I'm not giving up on her!" He yelled, surprising himself more than anyone. 'Jesus Mamoru get a grip! Ya didn't have to yell at her for God's sake!' he growled at himself, before opening his mouth to apologize, but it was already too late. The fiery Shinto Priestess' match had already been lit.
"No YOU catch a clue Chiba Mamoru! Don't you think I loved Usagi? Don't you think I miss her and cried over her until I had no more tears left to cry? But Mamoru, FACE THE FACTS! Usa. Is. GONE. She's not coming back! We've searched the world twice over for her and come up with nothing. I know as well as you do she's alive, I can feel as much, but she LEFT Mamoru-san! She, LEFT! Wherever Usa is now she doesn't want us to find her! You can keep on searching Mo-Chan, but I'm through. I can't stand it anymore. I can't. It hurts too much."
Her voice cracked with a sob, and Mamoru felt like a real heel. Now he'd done it.
Mamoru raked a hand through his thick night-black hair, trying to think of ways to calm her. "Ah, jeez Rei-Chan, I'm sorry please don't cry. I'll-"
"No Mamoru, I can't talk to you right now. When you're willing to wake up call me, until then... Just call me when you catch a clue."
A click was heard on the other line and Mamoru cursed.
Sighing he walked into the living room and hung up the phone.
Rolling up the sleeves to his white work shirt, Mamoru sank down on the couch and put his head in his hands.
Rei was right. He too, was getting tired, and lonely. It was hard enough waiting for her all those years, but this time... He just didn't know if he could take it anymore.
But it hurt. GOD how it hurt. He wanted to hold her, to touch her, to calm his and her fears with kisses. He needed to lie beside her at night and feel her warmth seep through him and give him strength. There was no denying it. He still loved her- would always love her, but right now he just needed a break, if only to sort out his own confused heart.
His stomach growled and remembering his food, he got up shakily moving to the kitchen to retrieve the boxes and bring them back into the living room.
Once seated and eating, he began thinking about the very woman that had him ranting in the first place. Serena.
Now that woman was dangerous. If she wasn't a substitute for Usagi, he didn't know who was. She looked like her, smelt like her, felt like her. Yet, she was so very different.
For starters she was much more mature.
He smiled sadly at that, knowing the reason for it. It wasn't hard to figure out, even without Casey's explanation, that she'd had her son very young, too young. His heart truly did ache for her. Having a baby at fifteen would be hard on any girl, and from what little he knew from Casey's story, she had no one to care for and shelter her in the crucial months before and after his birth.
He silently thanked God that he had given her a home, and people to care for her and her son. Had her caretakers, Kate and Max, never found her, she would most likely not be living, and neither would Casey.
However that was not the only way in which she was more mature than his love. She WAS, well, nineteen...
HE couldn't help himself from noticing! He WAS male after all! And she was female, BOY was she female. Slightly wavy blonde hair framed crystal blue eyes, outlined by intelligent thin frames, sensuous lips...
He shook his head trying to clear it, but his mind continued to sweep over the mental picture it held of the woman. Her well sized, he swallowed, "endowments", a thin waist, voluptuous hips...
Mamoru banged his head on the coffee table this time in order to clear his thoughts fully.
However those... attributes, were not what made her dangerous to him. It was how she used them. How her smile lit up the room, and her laughter seemed to fill it. In the short periods of time he'd been with her she had cast a spell over him so strong, it truly scared him. Chills-down-his-back scared him. Dreaming-about-her scared him. The only other woman who had EVER scared him that way was...
"Get a grip Chiba!" he said aloud, "you're dreaming about her and you've meet her what? TWICE? You disgust me." He laughed. "You're even talking to yourself and it's only," he glanced up at the clock, "Five O-clock-HOLY SHIT!"
Mamoru jumped up from the couch almost knocking over his coffee table in the process. After steadying it he grabbed his briefcase and coat, practically throwing himself out the door. His appointment with Casey was at 4:30!
***************
Usagi paced the room impatiently, glancing every so often at the clock. Where WAS he? In all her years she had never known Mamoru to be late for anything there was a set time for. Hell, he usually early, but never late.
Keisuke looked up at his mother and frowned. "Stop worrying Mama, he probably just got stuck in traffic. It IS rush hour."
Usagi stopped her pacing and turned on her son with a sadistic grin. "You don't even know what that means!"
She pounced and he let out a squeal as she assaulted him with tickles.
"Ma- Ma, MAMA!" he gasped in short breaths as Usagi continued her attacks with full force.
"What do ya say Casey?" She growled playfully.
"TIME OUT!" he screamed and Usagi rose laughing all the while.
"What's going on here?" a deep voice rumbled from the stairway, and Max emerged buttoning the cuffs to his tuxedo.
"MAX! Mama was tickling me again!" He relayed in a playful voice.
Usagi stuck out her tongue at him. "Tattle Tale." She teased.
Keisuke stuck out his tongue back at her as Max chuckled, "Well did ya tickle her back?"
Keisuke pulled his tongue back in. "I can do that?"
Usagi and Max burst out laughing at his innocent question.
Kate came out from the kitchen in a beautiful strapless green ball gown and picked Keisuke up from behind. "Of course you can sweetie, don't mind them their just being mean!" But her laughter echoed throughout the room as well.
"Now you two be good while we're at this awful--" Max swallowed, quickly correcting himself at his wife's glare, "-lly generous fund raiser."
Usagi grinned at her son as his put both hands in the air as if on a roller coaster, "After Mr. Chiba leaves it's MOVIE NIGHT!"
"If he ever gets here..." Usagi sighed just as there was a rushed rapping on the door.
She perked up instantly at the sound. "That must be him now!"
Kate raised a brow curiously at Usagi as she jumped up, and primped herself slightly before answering the knock, but she decided to let it slide... Until they got back that was.
Usagi took a deep breath and opened the door and had to keep from laughing in amusement at the disheveled man before her.
His normally neat and combed hair was wild, sticking every which way. His tie was slightly crooked, and papers could be seen poking out of his briefcase.
Mamoru beamed at her, his heart skipping a beat as she smiled back. "Hello Ms. Tsukino." He gasped, out of breath.
She giggled a little and opened the door fully to let him in.
Usagi scratched the back of her head awkwardly before motioning with her hand to where Kate and Max stood.
"Um Kate, Max, this is Case's Science teacher Mr. Chiba. Mr. Chiba, Kate and Max, my fosters and dear friends."
Exchanging nods and "nice to meet you's", the men struck up a brief conversation before Kate coughed, seeing Usagi's nervous look, and called, "Pizza's number is on the fridge!" before pulling Max out the door.
Usagi sighed, relieved. She'd have to thank Kate for that one later. She loved Max dearly, but he was so much like her father is scared her. Had they talked much longer, Max would no doubt have been asking Mamoru what his intentions towards her were, and that certainly would not have gone over well.
Mamoru sighed, placing his briefcase on the couch and bowed slightly to Usagi out of habit. "I am SO sorry, Ms. Tsukino, I got stuck in traffic and before that my-" Think quick! Think quick! "sister, well she's like my sister, anyway she kept me on the phone, and I REALLY am sorry. It will not happen again." Well, it wasn't a complete lie. He couldn't very well tell her that she was, indirectly, the reason he was late. But what a blubbering fool he felt like. Why was he so tongue-tied? He shook his head. Dangerous, this girl was dangerous.
Usagi smiled sweetly, "It's quite all right Mr. Chiba, we were just getting worried, that's all." She slapped her hands on her thighs before continuing. "SO! You guys get to work, I'll be upstairs doing physics homework myself, so just call me is you need anything!"
Mamoru turned and grinned at Keisuke. "Shall we?" He asked playfully motioning to the work laid out. Keisuke giggled and nodded happily as Usagi started to retreat upstairs but paused halfway up. "Oh! Mr. Chiba?"
Her heart melted as he turned around to face her, a smile on his gorgeous lips. Usagi swallowed. "Call me Serena."
He chuckled and nodded, his grin broadening. "All right, Serena, in that case call me Mamoru."
***************
"Pythagorean theorem."
"'A' squared plus 'b' squared equals 'c' squared."
"EXCELLENT, now last one, quadratic formula."
"'X' equals the opposite of 'b' plus or minus the square root of the quantity 'b' squared minus four 'a' 'c' all divided by two 'a'."
"Amazing Casey, you really are amazing. This is great, this is only our first session and I think I can already start on proving my Thesis based on just my notes from today." Mamoru exclaimed as he wrote down his last notes and packed up their work.
Mamoru was just about finished packing when Usagi jumped in the doorway. "Did I hear you say you were all done?" She inquired anxiously.
Mamoru laughed. "Something to that extent, yes."
Usagi beamed. "Well great, cause it's time to order pizza. Any requests Casey?"
Keisuke jumped up excitedly, running into his mama's arms, "PIIZZAA!" He cried happily as Usagi caught him and swung him around.
"Yes, we've established that what do you want ON it?" Usagi tried asking but burst out laughing when he only responded with another happy cry of, "PIIZZAA!"
Mamoru shook his head marveling at how quickly Casey could jump from four- year-old boy genius, to just an average four-year-old.
Smiling he picked up his briefcase and began to move towards the door. "I'll leave you two to your 'PIIZZAA!'" he cried out the word mimicking the thrilled Keisuke as he mussed up his hair playfully.
Keisuke stopped his horsing around with Usagi and turned to Mamoru, an innocent idea forming in his little head. "Hey Mama! Can Mr. Chiba stay for pizza and a movie night?" He turned his head back and forth excitedly between the two adults. "Can you Mr. Chiba? Huh? Can you?"
Mamoru stuttered, his pulse quickening at the thought of spending dinner at her house. He frowned mentally. Had he himself done the very thing he accused Rei of earlier? Was he forgetting about Usagi?
No, no he rationalized. He would never forget her, but as he realized earlier, he did need a break from looking. Rei's words floated their way back into his head, and he knew them to be right. What if he never found Usa? What if she really didn't want to be found? She'd want him to be happy right?
He looked up at Serena's turned form as she bit her lip. Just at that moment the light reflected off her blonde ponytail in such a way that made Mamoru take a step back.
Or maybe, a break from looking was exactly the opposite of what he needed. Maybe, he just wasn't looking hard enough. Maybe...
"Mama? It's OK right? Can Mr. Chiba stay here?"
Usagi stammered herself, unsure of what to do. She looked up to Mamoru, "I-- , I guess if he wants to Mr.- Mamoru can stay, why not?"
How in the world did she get herself INTO these things?
"Mr. Chiba, will ya stay?" Keisuke pleaded once more.
Mamoru looked down and a sudden realization dawned on him as he looked from son to mother. Suddenly it all made sense why he felt the way he did. Suddenly his world was shattered and put back in a much more agreeable manor. He turned to Usagi and smiled lovingly at her, shocking her as he just as suddenly answered, "Yeah, sure Casey, I'll stay."
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DUN DUN DUN! Actually it is a cliffhanger if you look at it sideways! :) Stay tuned for chapter 7! It'll be out soon! I Promise!