Well, first shout out goes to Shayna for all THREE of her lovely reviews.
^_~ And thanks to all my reviewers for your support, I know the last
chapter was a little slow, and this one is too, but of course, I would not
be writing it if it were not necessary.
**********************
Love, Labors, Lost
Chapter 7: Love
Rated: PG-13
**********************
"E- excuse me?" Usagi asked taken aback by his answer.
Mamoru smiled. "I said, sure I'd love to stay." He laughed slightly at her seemingly appalled look, holding up his hands playfully. "Hey I'll even pay for my share! But I could deffinitly go for some pizza tonight."
"YAY!" Casey shouted, shooting both arms straight above his head.
Usagi jumped a little at his cry and shook her head trying to rid herself of the shock of his answer and get herself back to reality. But she couldn't help that thought shook her to the core. Mamoru... Mamo-chan, there, for hours... watching a movie. The last time they did that it was on a date...
"NO!" she shouted suddenly and two sets of eyes turned to her instantly.
The darker of the two narrowed, daring her to say it. Daring her to admit what he was growing surer by the minute was the truth.
"No..." Usagi repeated, softer this time. Her eyes caught a spark in his, and her whole body stiffened. Did he know? It was impossible! There was no way he could know. She was safe... for now. But was where she was really safer than what she thought she was protecting herself from? She couldn't be sure. In fact, she couldn't be sure of much of anything recently. Three weeks ago, she KNEW that she was partly at fault for Keisuke's conception and birth. Two weeks ago she KNEW that she would never see anyone she loved before Keisuke ever again. And one week ago she KNEW that Demando had come back from the depths of hell to re-claim her. There was no telling what she would know tomorrow.
Actually she was starting to think that she had just dreamed up Demando as some hellish nightmare come back to haunt her for what she had done. In the end it drove her to tell Max and Kate the truth about her faults, only to learn that she had nothing to feel at fault for.
She looked at her lover for over a millennia up and down. What was keeping her from him now anyway? If she had nothing to be at fault for then couldn't she just run back into his embrace? Oh, but she did have her faults she reminded herself. She had left him. Left him hanging dry, all for reasons that made absolutely no sense now.
She KNEW then too, that if she stayed in Juuban, with child and obviously unmarried, her family would have lost more face than possibly imaginable. She knew as well, that the first person they would look to blame would be her precious innocent Mamo-Chan. Her Mamo-Chan who believed her to still be a virgin.
Of course Mamoru would never just abandon her alone with a baby, even if it had been her fault. He was too good of a man. That was why she had to leave him. She knew it then as a hurt and pregnant fourteen-year-old, and in this area she had not matured in the least, as she knew the exact same thing today as well. Mamoru's chivalry would have kicked in. He would have taken the blame for her pregnancy, married her right then and there, and she would have been the ruin of all his dreams as he dropped out of his college and taken up a minimum wage job. All to support her and a child that wasn't even his own.
"No that won't be necessary, I will pay. Mushroom and pepperoni sound OK?" She smiled as they nodded eagerly at her and she retreated into the kitchen to make the phone call.
This was the only time she would ever be close to him again she rationalized. She might as well take advantage of her opportunity. She'd left him almost five years ago and now, when she would have finally had her chance for redemption she had already deceived him almost from the first words out of her mouth. Had he only seen her for the first time the day after he did, she would have happily confessed herself to him, but she had already done too much damage.
She doubted he would forgive her after what she did to him, and if he did she didn't deserve his love. Who was she to have it to greedily soak up after the years of pain she caused him?
'You both deserve happiness you know.' A voice whispered inside her head but she shooed it away without a second thought.
Usagi had decided soon after Keisuke's birth that life could be summed up in three words. The first was 'Love'. Every human, or every decent human at least, held an untainted, untouchable love for at least one other person. She'd been blessed with a son to love, and she did so, with every fiber of her being. Had it not been for him she would have taken her life all those years ago. It seemed to her ages away now. She also had a man she loved deeply, a different sort of love than that of her child, but none the less passionate. But he was only to love from afar. Not to mention all those she still cared deeply for whom she had left back in Japan. Which brought her to her second word.
Labors. Everyone, especially after they had love she had noticed, experienced labor in some form. She personally had been in 'labor', the labor of childbirth, but the pain that brought on was far less than of the labors her heart endured surrounding it.
The final word in her trilogy was 'Lost'. There were no two ways around it. After the love, after the labor, you only lost. She had lost so much in her life she was starting to think that it was the only word that mattered out of the three.
But with the revelations of the week before, and how much of her old happiness seemed to be returning, she was starting to think that a fourth word might fit somewhere in her tragic life's tale. However as of that moment, her heart only ached at the thought that man she had loved labored over and then finally lost, was standing in the very next room, staying for a pizza night. A PIZZA NIGHT!
She shook her head as she dialed the number of the pizza parlor. That man never ceased to amaze her, and he certainly wasn't willing to stay out of her life, even if it was just his sub-conscious driving him. Fate did seem to like them together though, and she certainly couldn't complain.
Usagi rubbed her eyes in frustration, trying to burn the oncoming tears out of them. What was wrong with her? One minute she was telling herself that she could never be with him, the next she was off swooning again.
The delivery service on the other line picked up, and she hastily ordered, trying not to let him hear the crack him her voice.
Plastering on a huge smile she prepared herself to enter living room for round two. She glanced to her right at the floor length mirror for a quick check over, however what she saw nearly knocked the wind out her. She let out a loud gasp and stumbled back into the kitchen.
"Serena, are you all right?" Mamoru cautiously asked, his voice drifting in from the next room.
Serena smiled hard and took a deep breath, half forcing her sweet tone. "I'm fine, Mr. Chiba, I... just stubbed my toe, I'll be out there in a sec, you boys just pick out a movie."
At his mumbled consent Usagi flew into the bathroom and gazed, horrified at her reflection. The problem being that there was no problem. She looked herself, COMPLETELY herself. For since Usagi knew what she looked like before the spell of the crystal, her true appearance was hidden not only from Mamoru, or anyone from her past, but also from herself.
But no longer as the woman gazing back at her was deffinitly Usagi, not Serena.
The crystal! Where had she put it? She stuffed her hands in the pouch of her pink sweater, and sure enough, there was the gem. She closed the bathroom door and took it out, carefully inspecting it for any sign of flaw that would make it malfunction. However she was only dismayed further as it did not seem to glow any less, but much, much more.
*~*~*~*
"What is hidden to you is hidden to the crystal. What you do not wish to see, the crystal will not show you until you are ready, or need to see it. The crystal responds to you and your heart only Usagi-Chan, you alone control its awe-full power, and that is why you must work at keeping your mind level. There is no harnessing the crystal. To harness the crystal, would be to harness your heart. However, through strong self-control and a sound mind you can help sway and guide its power, and that it what I am trying to work with you on now."
*~*~*~*
One of Luna's old lectures, she gasped at the memory. The crystal was responding to her heart, and her heart no longer wanted to hide. Not her feelings, but not her appearance either.
However Usagi had stopped listening to her heart long ago, as pain was the only thing that shadowed it.
No, what her heart wanted, and what was best for herself and everyone else were not the same. Mamoru could not see her and know her, it would not be fair to him, and she would not be getting the punishment she deserved for what she did to him.
She tried to focus her mind and heart into the crystal, but all she received in return was a brighter glow, and a flush of life in her cheeks.
She sighed exasperated, and eyed the clock, knowing that the pizza would be there any minute.
What was she going to do? She sighed again and leaned over the sink, knocking a bottle over onto the floor in the process.
She knelt down to pick it up, but upon reading the label and looking back up into her reflection once more, she pushed the cap open, and grinned.
**********************
"Mama, pizza's here!" Keisuke called from the living room as the doorbell sounded.
"Coming!" Usagi called loud enough so that the Pizza Boy on the other side could hear her.
She grabbed the money on the table and dashed to the door, unlocking it quickly. But instead of the bored glance of a teenage boy, a scream is what greeted her.
Usagi frowned and put a hand on her hip, and offered the money in the other.
"So- sorry ma'am, I... Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, I just was... I mean I've seen it before but... Oh! Um, well here's you pizza sir." He handed the pizza to Mamoru who had just emerged over Usagi's shoulder. "Have a nice evening." He turned to leave but Usagi cleared her throat, annoyed.
The adolescent turned around slowly, as if bracing himself for the sight behind him, "Ye- yes miss?"
Usagi rolled her eyes, but winced at the tingling feeling it left on her eyelids. "You're money?"
"Oh!" His eyes lit up intelligently, "Of course, can't forget that!" he laughed nervously taking the money.
"Keep the change." Usagi drawled as he counted the bills.
"Thank you miss! Good Night!" and quicker than she could blink, which actually was a harder task now than before, he was gone.
Mamoru scratched his head after setting the pizza down as Usagi closed and locked the door.
"What was his prob--- GA!" he jumped as she turned around.
"What? What, what?" Keisuke ran over to the adults, curious as ever. "What's--, MAMA!" he wailed upon seeing her.
Usagi threw her hands into the air. "WHAT is wrong? It's not THAT hideous."
She cocked her white head to the side and crossed her arms.
"What is it?" Keisuke asked, walking towards her slowly, as if to reassure himself that she really was his mother.
"IT'S A FACIAL MASK!" she laughed exasperatedly as Keisuke finally decided she was safe and ran into her open arms. She eyed Mamoru for a reaction but he only stood a few feet ahead of them smiling endearingly, yet puzzled at her.
"What does it do?" Keisuke asked in wonder, reaching up to touch her face.
"It hides your..." Mamoru answered on scientific autopilot, however he paused, bewildered that the words he'd chosen to explain it with were not medical, but more helpful than he could have wished for. "Face." He finished slowly, his lips curving into a knowing smile at Usagi, but just as her eyes began to widen, it vanished and was replaced by his normal confident one. "It hides your face while cleaning your pores and often gives a relaxed, cleansing feeling. Many claim it to be very therapeutic."
Usagi looked up to him once more, her eyes searching his, but they instantly returned to her son's when he began to rise.
"Is it?"
She gave him a puzzled look. "Is it what?"
"Therapeutic." The sweet tenor in front of her answered. Mamoru slowly knelled down to their level on the floor, like a tiger starting to crouch. "Is it therapeutic... Serena?"
Usagi swallowed hard, but held onto her resolve and smiled pleasantly, though rather strangely through the white paste, "Yes, quite. Sorry, I must look horrible but my face just felt so greasy and I hadn't done it in a while. So I thought, why not now?"
Mamoru smiled wryly at her, "Of course." He stated and stared into her baby blues with what he thought to be un-shielded eyes for the first time.
"Whatever." Keisuke said, snapping both adults back to reality. He jumped up and scrambled over to the DVD he had picked out while Mamoru stood hastily, nervously rubbing his neck and Usagi rose herself, breathing a sigh of relief.
"So," Usagi breathed, "what'll it be tonight Casey?"
Keisuke grinned as he slipped the disk into its player.
"Matilda."
Mamoru furrowed his brows taking a seat on the couch. "I do not believe I know of that one."
"It's based off a book by a famous writer of children's stories. It about, well... A child genius," Usagi explained seating herself as well after dishing out the pizza. "Just like my baby boy." She cooed grabbing Casey when he neared the couch and nuzzling his head with her lips.
"MA-MA!" He cried annoyed, but she only laughed. "Yeah well, *I* don't have special powers." Keisuke scowled.
Usagi gave a slight smile; kissing his light locks once more as he settled in her lap. "I wouldn't say that."
Mamoru smiled again himself, taking a bite of his pizza, "Sounds interesting." He said, and it began.
**********************
"Honey, would you relax? We're here to have a good time." Kate whispered into her husband's ear as she led him to the dance floor.
"No, we're here to make it SEEM like we're having a good time, give the company some good face, not to mention a considerable donation, then leave." Max gave her a huge fake grin, barring as many of his pearly whites that his lips allowed.
Kate slapped his arm, "Oh behave!" she hissed as he took her in his arms and swayed them to the soft classical music being played.
Kate ran her hands up and down his arms, trying to sooth the tense muscles underneath his tuxedo jacket. "You've been so tense ever since we left the house," she frowned.
Max sighed and rested his chin on her head, "I know, but there was just something about that Mr. Chiba. He seemed... I don't know, familiar, somehow."
Kate laughed lightly, "You mean you didn't recognize him?"
Max lowered his head to meet his wife's eyes, pools of deep emerald knowledge they were, always knowing, always seeing what others did not. "Should I have?"
"Max, he's the man in that photo of Sere- Usagi's. You know? The one I found in her top drawer when I was cleaning her room a while back?"
Max raised startled eyebrows, running his fingers through her loose chestnut-colored hair, "Are you positive?" he whispered in shock.
Kate closed her eyes and laid a cheek on to his shoulder. "There's no questioning it. That's her old boyfriend. The one she thought she betrayed, the one she left all those years ago. Mamoru Chiba."
"So that's him," Max trailed off softly.
She sighed; opening her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek in thought. "The question is, what is she pulling. Or what is HE pulling?"
"All right Love, enough with the melodramatics, give it to me straight. You know I'm just a dumb ol' farm boy." He chuckled lightly, speaking in his natural southern Virginia twang. "Am I gonna have to shoot this boy or what?"
Kate laughed and raised her head, shaking it lightly. "No, no, all I'm saying is that you'd think he would be sweeping her off her feet, or they'd be awkward around each other SOMETHING. But no, he acted as if he were Casey's teacher, and nothing more."
"Might be they don't recognize each other."
Kate giggled but added sternly, "Baby, I KNOW your accent isn't THAT thick, and this is serious. I know Serena, loved him. And I think she still loves him. If we can recognize him from a picture, she'd recognize him a mile away."
Max furrowed his brows and shifted his weight slightly, straitening himself up a little. "I'm no expert on this sort of thing, but ever since Serena told us what happened to her, I've been... Well... I've been reading up on it a little." He swallowed and shifted uncomfortably again.
Kate smiled endearingly and gave his arm a small squeeze. She knew how much Serena meant to him, and how much he was affected by what she confided in them about.
Max had always been a very physical person. Heck, the way they met was when her date at a barn party had gotten drunk and hit her. Max had been her knight in shinning armor, or rather shaggy blue overalls. But in any case, he came and knocked the guy to the ground with just one punch.
He was very old fashioned, and in his mind, the only time a man had the right to hurt a woman physically was if she was threatening his life.
Usagi had been hurt, badly. In Max's mind it was the worst kind of hurt there was. But the man who had done it was dead, and there was no way Max could solve this one with a punch, and Kate knew it frustrated him to no end.
"Go on baby." She prodded finally.
"Well, I've been reading up on it and one of the books says that sometimes, when a girl l-like Serena," he paused, but continued re-assured by Kate's smile. "When a girl like Serena feels like they betrayed the ones closest to them, sometimes they don't want to face them again. So it might be, that she recognizes him, but he doesn't recognize her, and she wants it to stay that way. Ya know, cause she's afraid that he'll be mad at her for it, eve though it wasn't her fault. She doesn't know that HE doesn't know that it wasn't her fault."
Kate smiled, "I'm impressed, you really did read up on it!"
Max growled and pulled her closer, "Now whose not being serious?" he joked.
She sighed, "Hmm, your right, but it just doesn't make any sense. She finally gets to be with him, I mean she knows it's not her fault right? We've heard her talk about him here and there. I mean, I know that she puts him in the best light possible, not being with him for so long and feeling guilty for what she did, but Serena's a pretty good judge of character, he sounds like the type of guy who'd understand and be supportive of her. I'm sure once he heard what happened to her he'd only want to help. Unless..." She gasped, and looked up into Max's eyes sorrowfully.
"Unless she knows that, but she... Oh Max, she did leave him, she must be afraid that because she left him... Oh our poor Serena!" She hugged his neck and he tightened the hold on her waist, as the music in the background crescendoed, and ended without warning.
A tear escaped Kate's eye and fell onto Max's black suit, darkening the material a bit where it fell. "Just like their love." She said sadly as she slowly pulled away from her husband
"What is darling?" he asked, tracing the lines of her jaw with one finger.
"The music." She said waving a gloved hand to the orchestra, "Soft and sweet, just reaching it's peak, and then... suddenly dropped. It's up to them whether they pick up the tempo once more," she paused, her eyes narrowing slightly, "or let the song end there."
**********************
Usagi stood, facing her enemy with clenched fists.
"WORK dammit!" She hissed, but the crystal resting on her dresser did not respond in the least to her command.
Usagi growled. "If only I had... that's it!" she gasped smacking her forehead and began rummaging around in her drawers for the coveted item. She realized how ridiculous she was being. Scraping around for a temporary means to hide herself from him.
But what else was she going to use? Her heart had betrayed her and the crystal was not responding to what she needed, because it no longer matched with what she wanted.
She was being selfish now, completely and utterly selfish. Before, when she believed that the rape was her fault, she truly wanted him to not see her, out of shame for what she had done. But it did not make any sense! She should still have that shame for leaving him, and she knew that if he found out what she had done, he would never forgive her.
"Thank God," she sighed as her hand finally curved around the object she was searching for. But secretly her heart sank at the finding.
"Mama! We're gonna start the movie again. Come downstairs!" Keisuke called from the banister.
"I'll be there in a minute sweetheart!" she called down anxiously as she raised the Luna Disguise Pen into the air.
"Disguise Power!" She whispered as a silent tear fell down her cheek.
**********************
Mamoru leaned back into the couch's soft cushioning, anxiously awaiting Serena's decent. She'd gone to wipe off her face, and he knew that eventually she would have to come down and reveal herself to be who he desperately wanted her to be.
He jumped slightly as Keisuke's small form made its way back into the living room. He shrugged at Mamoru's questioning brow.
"She said she'd be right down."
Mamoru sighed and lifted his ankle to rest on his knee, smiling meekly to the boy across from him.
Keisuke's features contorted into a small frown as he studied the older man. He could swear his teacher looked familiar from somewhere other than school, but he couldn't put his finger on it, and for a boy as bright as he, this was a very frustrating feeling.
"Don't worry about Mama," He said softly as Mamoru glanced towards the staircase. "She can get real nervous sometimes, about nothing at all! Like when I say something in Japanese, she gets really stern and frowns, like this." Keisuke shot Mamoru a glare identical to the one his mother used on him.
Mamoru laughed slightly, but was intrigued by what he had said, "You speak Japanese Casey?"
Keisuke nodded enthusiastically, "Mama knows how, she used to talk to me in Japanese when I was REALLY little. I was just a baby, but it sorta stuck with me. A lot of things sorta stick with me..." He trailed off for a minute, but straightened up again as another thought stuck him.
"You wanna know what?" He asked secretively.
Mamoru leaned in, happily playing along with his enthusiasm. "What?"
"I think Mama likes you." He whispered.
Mamoru's brows rose in genuine surprise at the comment as Keisuke leaned back and giggled. But before Mamoru could ask any questions, he heard a melodic voice come to him from behind.
"Usa..." he rasped out under his breath as he whirled around to see her. But when his eyes finally met hers, he was greeted only by Serena's sweet face, not Usagi's.
"Sorry I took so long, the darn stuff just wouldn't come off." Serena smiled kindly at him as she walked around the couch to sit with her son.
Mamoru stared at her for a moment in a daze before her voice snapped him back.
"Is something wrong Mamoru?" She reached up to touch her face, "Did I get all of it?"
Mamoru shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked back to her, giving a slight smile. "No, I mean yes, yes you got it all, it's just... Has anyone ever told you you're..." he stopped, searching her eyes desperately.
Usagi laughed nervously, "I'm what?"
Mamoru laughed slightly himself and shook his head. "Nothing, never mind. It's nothing."
"Oh..." She sighed as she took the remote and hit play. But something in the way she said it kept Mamoru's eyes glued to her form. Could that have been, hope, in her voice?
**********************
"WE'RE HO-me..." Max began to announce loudly as he entered in the doorway, but Usagi quickly put a finger to her lips and pointed to the sleeping four- year old in her arms, and he stifled his voice noticeably.
Kate fallowed soon in suite with her husband, waving to Usagi, and slipping a sly wink to Mamoru when he turned around, her lightly freckled nose scrunching playfully in the process.
He chuckled silently as Kate made a motion with her hands indicating that they were going upstairs and offered out her arms to take the sleeping child with her.
Usagi nodded and picked up Keisuke slowly, softly placing him in Kate's arms and laid a loving kiss on his forehead.
"Night Mama..." He moaned softly.
She smiled and brushed the hair out of his eyes. "Night Baby."
"Night Mr. Chiba, thanks for staying, I hope you had fun with us..." he yawned almost incoherently as Mamoru approached.
He smiled endearingly back at him and placed a hand on his forehead, "Thank you Casey, I had a wonderful time. I'll see you next week."
"Hmmm kay..." he mumbled snuggling into Kate's arms as they retreated up the stairs.
Once alone, Usagi and Mamoru shifted awkwardly, both too confused and nervous to say anything.
"Oh, here's you- your briefcase Mamo...ru." She spoke finally, cautious to use his full name in place of the endearment she so longed to use.
"Oh, yes of course." He said quickly. He reached for it, but as he took hold of the handle his hand brushed against hers and he felt a tremendous jolt go through him, but what surprised him was not the jolt itself, but that it was not supernatural in any way. No, it was pure human electricity, right down to the tickling sensation in the pit of his stomach.
Obviously, she felt it too for she pulled her hand away quickly, but with something he thought... hoped, with what he hoped to be regret, a light blush staining her cheeks.
"Look, Mamoru I-"
"Serena I-"
Realizing they had both spoken at once, they laughed a little, releasing some of the tension in the air.
She opened her mouth to speak once more, but he set down his briefcase, and in the blink of an eye he grabbed both her hands in his, causing her to gasp lightly as he looked shyly down at his feet before his brought his hope-filled eyes up to hers.
"Serena, I- I realize that we did not get off to a good start, and I just wanted you to know that if I did anything to make you-" he started, but stopped when she started shaking her head.
"No, no Mamoru. No." She said firmly giving his hands an unconscious squeeze. "It, wasn't you. I'm SO sorry, I must have looked like a fool running all around the place as jumpy as a rabbit but..." she sighed, how could she put this so he's understand without really understanding? "You see, I just came out of... There are a lot of things you don't know about Casey and me. You can see I had him really young and I just haven't had much time to... socialize I guess?" She finished, her eyes pleading.
He nodded slowly, "I think I understand, and I am sorry if I added to your discomfort. I did not mean to intrude on your family night. I really don't know what came over me."
"Intrude?" he eyes went wide, "You didn't intrude at all, God knows Case loved having you here. It's not often that Max is around to play with him, and he doesn't really have a male figure in his life other than him. He really does like you, and is REALLY excited about the project. No one's ever taken that much time to try to find out more about his talents, and it means a lot to him." She searched once more for his eyes, trying with all her might to see what was hidden there. Did he know who she was?
Mamoru smiled. "You have a good kid Serena, you raised him well, and I can't imagine it was easy. I- I want to make this night up to you... I mean, you said there was a lot I didn't know and I want to... God this is so hard to say. Serena I- I like you. You remind me a lot of someone I used to know, you have a good heart and well... You see, I don't know if this will go anywhere, if I'm ready for it to, so I certainly don't want you to feel obligated in anyway... GOD this all coming out wrong!" he sighed finally, frustrated with himself. What was he trying to say?
"Mamo-" she started.
"Can I take you out to dinner?" he spat, not waiting for her to finish, or before he could change his mind.
She gasped lightly, he wanted to go- go out with her? She could laugh, no, cry. God she could fly! But she couldn't, she knew she couldn't. She looked up into his face as she was about to turn him down, but the look in his eyes stunned her. He was nervous! He really wanted this! 'Oh Mamo-chan don't fall in love with me all over again!' she thought desperately, trying somehow to send him the thought, but his brows only creased at her silence.
Would she be only hurting him more if she said no? The crystal inside her pocket became warm in accordance with her heart at the thought of spending time with him.
"When?" a voice whispered softly and Usagi realized it was her own. However with the realization she refused to fight it this time. She would allow herself at least this much happiness, and then she'd be out of his life, for good.
"Huh?" he asked dumbly, having expected rejection.
"When do you want to go?" She asked again quietly.
"You, you want to?" He stuttered, the corners of his lips tugging upward.
Usagi giggled, and nodded. "But just to pay me back, I- don't know if I'm ready for a relationship yet either." She added quickly. Having a moment of happiness didn't mean she didn't have to be careful.
Mamoru nodded abruptly, "Of course. So... how about Monday?" he asked, his heart dropping and singing all at once.
She laughed and rubbed the back of her head nervously; "I have school in the morning and work that night."
"Oh that's right... Um... Oh God I haven't done this in so long," he admitted, his hands shaking slightly as he let go of hers and pushed them through his already wrecked hair.
"How about... Tomorrow? It's my night off, and I don't think Kate and Max have plans, even if they do, I'm sure I can find someone to watch Casey for me..."
He grinned, "How's six sound?"
"It sounds perfect."
Mamoru suddenly leaned down and kissed her forehead, sending countless shivers down her spine. "Six it is then."
With that he picked up his briefcase, tipped an imaginary hat to her, and went out the door, ginning like a fool the whole while.
Usagi let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she closed the door and slid down the back slowly, squeezing her eyes tightly shut as it hit her.
She was going out with Mamo-chan!
**********************
SHE WAS GOING OUT WITH MAMORU!
HIM! The one man who he had worked purposely to bring her away from and they were getting back together!
Reduced to just a thought once more Demando could do no more than sulk, his hatred growing deeper by the minute. Everything he had worked so hard to put in place was now crumbling before his eyes and he could do nothing but watch.
He could not even PROVOKE her, not until something pushed her to let him do so. No, he could only, and would only watch, and wait. That was his sole condolence. As long as she kept him alive there was a chance that he might claim her once more. But until then, he would just have to wallow in himself, and expand as far as he could without her.
*~*~*~*~*
Konban wa fan base! I just wanted to ask you all how you felt about this chapter in contrast with the others. I worked my ass off but I think it was worth it as this chapter explained a bunch. I know it all took place in one night, which is why I wanted an opinion on it. So just drop down that little menu to your left there and slip me a review!
If ya thought this chapter was slow, I can only apologize and promise that chapter 8 will be much more... eventful. *Snicker*
Luv ya!!
Claidi (a.k.a. Idi-chan ^_^ glomps KTstar)
**********************
Love, Labors, Lost
Chapter 7: Love
Rated: PG-13
**********************
"E- excuse me?" Usagi asked taken aback by his answer.
Mamoru smiled. "I said, sure I'd love to stay." He laughed slightly at her seemingly appalled look, holding up his hands playfully. "Hey I'll even pay for my share! But I could deffinitly go for some pizza tonight."
"YAY!" Casey shouted, shooting both arms straight above his head.
Usagi jumped a little at his cry and shook her head trying to rid herself of the shock of his answer and get herself back to reality. But she couldn't help that thought shook her to the core. Mamoru... Mamo-chan, there, for hours... watching a movie. The last time they did that it was on a date...
"NO!" she shouted suddenly and two sets of eyes turned to her instantly.
The darker of the two narrowed, daring her to say it. Daring her to admit what he was growing surer by the minute was the truth.
"No..." Usagi repeated, softer this time. Her eyes caught a spark in his, and her whole body stiffened. Did he know? It was impossible! There was no way he could know. She was safe... for now. But was where she was really safer than what she thought she was protecting herself from? She couldn't be sure. In fact, she couldn't be sure of much of anything recently. Three weeks ago, she KNEW that she was partly at fault for Keisuke's conception and birth. Two weeks ago she KNEW that she would never see anyone she loved before Keisuke ever again. And one week ago she KNEW that Demando had come back from the depths of hell to re-claim her. There was no telling what she would know tomorrow.
Actually she was starting to think that she had just dreamed up Demando as some hellish nightmare come back to haunt her for what she had done. In the end it drove her to tell Max and Kate the truth about her faults, only to learn that she had nothing to feel at fault for.
She looked at her lover for over a millennia up and down. What was keeping her from him now anyway? If she had nothing to be at fault for then couldn't she just run back into his embrace? Oh, but she did have her faults she reminded herself. She had left him. Left him hanging dry, all for reasons that made absolutely no sense now.
She KNEW then too, that if she stayed in Juuban, with child and obviously unmarried, her family would have lost more face than possibly imaginable. She knew as well, that the first person they would look to blame would be her precious innocent Mamo-Chan. Her Mamo-Chan who believed her to still be a virgin.
Of course Mamoru would never just abandon her alone with a baby, even if it had been her fault. He was too good of a man. That was why she had to leave him. She knew it then as a hurt and pregnant fourteen-year-old, and in this area she had not matured in the least, as she knew the exact same thing today as well. Mamoru's chivalry would have kicked in. He would have taken the blame for her pregnancy, married her right then and there, and she would have been the ruin of all his dreams as he dropped out of his college and taken up a minimum wage job. All to support her and a child that wasn't even his own.
"No that won't be necessary, I will pay. Mushroom and pepperoni sound OK?" She smiled as they nodded eagerly at her and she retreated into the kitchen to make the phone call.
This was the only time she would ever be close to him again she rationalized. She might as well take advantage of her opportunity. She'd left him almost five years ago and now, when she would have finally had her chance for redemption she had already deceived him almost from the first words out of her mouth. Had he only seen her for the first time the day after he did, she would have happily confessed herself to him, but she had already done too much damage.
She doubted he would forgive her after what she did to him, and if he did she didn't deserve his love. Who was she to have it to greedily soak up after the years of pain she caused him?
'You both deserve happiness you know.' A voice whispered inside her head but she shooed it away without a second thought.
Usagi had decided soon after Keisuke's birth that life could be summed up in three words. The first was 'Love'. Every human, or every decent human at least, held an untainted, untouchable love for at least one other person. She'd been blessed with a son to love, and she did so, with every fiber of her being. Had it not been for him she would have taken her life all those years ago. It seemed to her ages away now. She also had a man she loved deeply, a different sort of love than that of her child, but none the less passionate. But he was only to love from afar. Not to mention all those she still cared deeply for whom she had left back in Japan. Which brought her to her second word.
Labors. Everyone, especially after they had love she had noticed, experienced labor in some form. She personally had been in 'labor', the labor of childbirth, but the pain that brought on was far less than of the labors her heart endured surrounding it.
The final word in her trilogy was 'Lost'. There were no two ways around it. After the love, after the labor, you only lost. She had lost so much in her life she was starting to think that it was the only word that mattered out of the three.
But with the revelations of the week before, and how much of her old happiness seemed to be returning, she was starting to think that a fourth word might fit somewhere in her tragic life's tale. However as of that moment, her heart only ached at the thought that man she had loved labored over and then finally lost, was standing in the very next room, staying for a pizza night. A PIZZA NIGHT!
She shook her head as she dialed the number of the pizza parlor. That man never ceased to amaze her, and he certainly wasn't willing to stay out of her life, even if it was just his sub-conscious driving him. Fate did seem to like them together though, and she certainly couldn't complain.
Usagi rubbed her eyes in frustration, trying to burn the oncoming tears out of them. What was wrong with her? One minute she was telling herself that she could never be with him, the next she was off swooning again.
The delivery service on the other line picked up, and she hastily ordered, trying not to let him hear the crack him her voice.
Plastering on a huge smile she prepared herself to enter living room for round two. She glanced to her right at the floor length mirror for a quick check over, however what she saw nearly knocked the wind out her. She let out a loud gasp and stumbled back into the kitchen.
"Serena, are you all right?" Mamoru cautiously asked, his voice drifting in from the next room.
Serena smiled hard and took a deep breath, half forcing her sweet tone. "I'm fine, Mr. Chiba, I... just stubbed my toe, I'll be out there in a sec, you boys just pick out a movie."
At his mumbled consent Usagi flew into the bathroom and gazed, horrified at her reflection. The problem being that there was no problem. She looked herself, COMPLETELY herself. For since Usagi knew what she looked like before the spell of the crystal, her true appearance was hidden not only from Mamoru, or anyone from her past, but also from herself.
But no longer as the woman gazing back at her was deffinitly Usagi, not Serena.
The crystal! Where had she put it? She stuffed her hands in the pouch of her pink sweater, and sure enough, there was the gem. She closed the bathroom door and took it out, carefully inspecting it for any sign of flaw that would make it malfunction. However she was only dismayed further as it did not seem to glow any less, but much, much more.
*~*~*~*
"What is hidden to you is hidden to the crystal. What you do not wish to see, the crystal will not show you until you are ready, or need to see it. The crystal responds to you and your heart only Usagi-Chan, you alone control its awe-full power, and that is why you must work at keeping your mind level. There is no harnessing the crystal. To harness the crystal, would be to harness your heart. However, through strong self-control and a sound mind you can help sway and guide its power, and that it what I am trying to work with you on now."
*~*~*~*
One of Luna's old lectures, she gasped at the memory. The crystal was responding to her heart, and her heart no longer wanted to hide. Not her feelings, but not her appearance either.
However Usagi had stopped listening to her heart long ago, as pain was the only thing that shadowed it.
No, what her heart wanted, and what was best for herself and everyone else were not the same. Mamoru could not see her and know her, it would not be fair to him, and she would not be getting the punishment she deserved for what she did to him.
She tried to focus her mind and heart into the crystal, but all she received in return was a brighter glow, and a flush of life in her cheeks.
She sighed exasperated, and eyed the clock, knowing that the pizza would be there any minute.
What was she going to do? She sighed again and leaned over the sink, knocking a bottle over onto the floor in the process.
She knelt down to pick it up, but upon reading the label and looking back up into her reflection once more, she pushed the cap open, and grinned.
**********************
"Mama, pizza's here!" Keisuke called from the living room as the doorbell sounded.
"Coming!" Usagi called loud enough so that the Pizza Boy on the other side could hear her.
She grabbed the money on the table and dashed to the door, unlocking it quickly. But instead of the bored glance of a teenage boy, a scream is what greeted her.
Usagi frowned and put a hand on her hip, and offered the money in the other.
"So- sorry ma'am, I... Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, I just was... I mean I've seen it before but... Oh! Um, well here's you pizza sir." He handed the pizza to Mamoru who had just emerged over Usagi's shoulder. "Have a nice evening." He turned to leave but Usagi cleared her throat, annoyed.
The adolescent turned around slowly, as if bracing himself for the sight behind him, "Ye- yes miss?"
Usagi rolled her eyes, but winced at the tingling feeling it left on her eyelids. "You're money?"
"Oh!" His eyes lit up intelligently, "Of course, can't forget that!" he laughed nervously taking the money.
"Keep the change." Usagi drawled as he counted the bills.
"Thank you miss! Good Night!" and quicker than she could blink, which actually was a harder task now than before, he was gone.
Mamoru scratched his head after setting the pizza down as Usagi closed and locked the door.
"What was his prob--- GA!" he jumped as she turned around.
"What? What, what?" Keisuke ran over to the adults, curious as ever. "What's--, MAMA!" he wailed upon seeing her.
Usagi threw her hands into the air. "WHAT is wrong? It's not THAT hideous."
She cocked her white head to the side and crossed her arms.
"What is it?" Keisuke asked, walking towards her slowly, as if to reassure himself that she really was his mother.
"IT'S A FACIAL MASK!" she laughed exasperatedly as Keisuke finally decided she was safe and ran into her open arms. She eyed Mamoru for a reaction but he only stood a few feet ahead of them smiling endearingly, yet puzzled at her.
"What does it do?" Keisuke asked in wonder, reaching up to touch her face.
"It hides your..." Mamoru answered on scientific autopilot, however he paused, bewildered that the words he'd chosen to explain it with were not medical, but more helpful than he could have wished for. "Face." He finished slowly, his lips curving into a knowing smile at Usagi, but just as her eyes began to widen, it vanished and was replaced by his normal confident one. "It hides your face while cleaning your pores and often gives a relaxed, cleansing feeling. Many claim it to be very therapeutic."
Usagi looked up to him once more, her eyes searching his, but they instantly returned to her son's when he began to rise.
"Is it?"
She gave him a puzzled look. "Is it what?"
"Therapeutic." The sweet tenor in front of her answered. Mamoru slowly knelled down to their level on the floor, like a tiger starting to crouch. "Is it therapeutic... Serena?"
Usagi swallowed hard, but held onto her resolve and smiled pleasantly, though rather strangely through the white paste, "Yes, quite. Sorry, I must look horrible but my face just felt so greasy and I hadn't done it in a while. So I thought, why not now?"
Mamoru smiled wryly at her, "Of course." He stated and stared into her baby blues with what he thought to be un-shielded eyes for the first time.
"Whatever." Keisuke said, snapping both adults back to reality. He jumped up and scrambled over to the DVD he had picked out while Mamoru stood hastily, nervously rubbing his neck and Usagi rose herself, breathing a sigh of relief.
"So," Usagi breathed, "what'll it be tonight Casey?"
Keisuke grinned as he slipped the disk into its player.
"Matilda."
Mamoru furrowed his brows taking a seat on the couch. "I do not believe I know of that one."
"It's based off a book by a famous writer of children's stories. It about, well... A child genius," Usagi explained seating herself as well after dishing out the pizza. "Just like my baby boy." She cooed grabbing Casey when he neared the couch and nuzzling his head with her lips.
"MA-MA!" He cried annoyed, but she only laughed. "Yeah well, *I* don't have special powers." Keisuke scowled.
Usagi gave a slight smile; kissing his light locks once more as he settled in her lap. "I wouldn't say that."
Mamoru smiled again himself, taking a bite of his pizza, "Sounds interesting." He said, and it began.
**********************
"Honey, would you relax? We're here to have a good time." Kate whispered into her husband's ear as she led him to the dance floor.
"No, we're here to make it SEEM like we're having a good time, give the company some good face, not to mention a considerable donation, then leave." Max gave her a huge fake grin, barring as many of his pearly whites that his lips allowed.
Kate slapped his arm, "Oh behave!" she hissed as he took her in his arms and swayed them to the soft classical music being played.
Kate ran her hands up and down his arms, trying to sooth the tense muscles underneath his tuxedo jacket. "You've been so tense ever since we left the house," she frowned.
Max sighed and rested his chin on her head, "I know, but there was just something about that Mr. Chiba. He seemed... I don't know, familiar, somehow."
Kate laughed lightly, "You mean you didn't recognize him?"
Max lowered his head to meet his wife's eyes, pools of deep emerald knowledge they were, always knowing, always seeing what others did not. "Should I have?"
"Max, he's the man in that photo of Sere- Usagi's. You know? The one I found in her top drawer when I was cleaning her room a while back?"
Max raised startled eyebrows, running his fingers through her loose chestnut-colored hair, "Are you positive?" he whispered in shock.
Kate closed her eyes and laid a cheek on to his shoulder. "There's no questioning it. That's her old boyfriend. The one she thought she betrayed, the one she left all those years ago. Mamoru Chiba."
"So that's him," Max trailed off softly.
She sighed; opening her eyes and bit the inside of her cheek in thought. "The question is, what is she pulling. Or what is HE pulling?"
"All right Love, enough with the melodramatics, give it to me straight. You know I'm just a dumb ol' farm boy." He chuckled lightly, speaking in his natural southern Virginia twang. "Am I gonna have to shoot this boy or what?"
Kate laughed and raised her head, shaking it lightly. "No, no, all I'm saying is that you'd think he would be sweeping her off her feet, or they'd be awkward around each other SOMETHING. But no, he acted as if he were Casey's teacher, and nothing more."
"Might be they don't recognize each other."
Kate giggled but added sternly, "Baby, I KNOW your accent isn't THAT thick, and this is serious. I know Serena, loved him. And I think she still loves him. If we can recognize him from a picture, she'd recognize him a mile away."
Max furrowed his brows and shifted his weight slightly, straitening himself up a little. "I'm no expert on this sort of thing, but ever since Serena told us what happened to her, I've been... Well... I've been reading up on it a little." He swallowed and shifted uncomfortably again.
Kate smiled endearingly and gave his arm a small squeeze. She knew how much Serena meant to him, and how much he was affected by what she confided in them about.
Max had always been a very physical person. Heck, the way they met was when her date at a barn party had gotten drunk and hit her. Max had been her knight in shinning armor, or rather shaggy blue overalls. But in any case, he came and knocked the guy to the ground with just one punch.
He was very old fashioned, and in his mind, the only time a man had the right to hurt a woman physically was if she was threatening his life.
Usagi had been hurt, badly. In Max's mind it was the worst kind of hurt there was. But the man who had done it was dead, and there was no way Max could solve this one with a punch, and Kate knew it frustrated him to no end.
"Go on baby." She prodded finally.
"Well, I've been reading up on it and one of the books says that sometimes, when a girl l-like Serena," he paused, but continued re-assured by Kate's smile. "When a girl like Serena feels like they betrayed the ones closest to them, sometimes they don't want to face them again. So it might be, that she recognizes him, but he doesn't recognize her, and she wants it to stay that way. Ya know, cause she's afraid that he'll be mad at her for it, eve though it wasn't her fault. She doesn't know that HE doesn't know that it wasn't her fault."
Kate smiled, "I'm impressed, you really did read up on it!"
Max growled and pulled her closer, "Now whose not being serious?" he joked.
She sighed, "Hmm, your right, but it just doesn't make any sense. She finally gets to be with him, I mean she knows it's not her fault right? We've heard her talk about him here and there. I mean, I know that she puts him in the best light possible, not being with him for so long and feeling guilty for what she did, but Serena's a pretty good judge of character, he sounds like the type of guy who'd understand and be supportive of her. I'm sure once he heard what happened to her he'd only want to help. Unless..." She gasped, and looked up into Max's eyes sorrowfully.
"Unless she knows that, but she... Oh Max, she did leave him, she must be afraid that because she left him... Oh our poor Serena!" She hugged his neck and he tightened the hold on her waist, as the music in the background crescendoed, and ended without warning.
A tear escaped Kate's eye and fell onto Max's black suit, darkening the material a bit where it fell. "Just like their love." She said sadly as she slowly pulled away from her husband
"What is darling?" he asked, tracing the lines of her jaw with one finger.
"The music." She said waving a gloved hand to the orchestra, "Soft and sweet, just reaching it's peak, and then... suddenly dropped. It's up to them whether they pick up the tempo once more," she paused, her eyes narrowing slightly, "or let the song end there."
**********************
Usagi stood, facing her enemy with clenched fists.
"WORK dammit!" She hissed, but the crystal resting on her dresser did not respond in the least to her command.
Usagi growled. "If only I had... that's it!" she gasped smacking her forehead and began rummaging around in her drawers for the coveted item. She realized how ridiculous she was being. Scraping around for a temporary means to hide herself from him.
But what else was she going to use? Her heart had betrayed her and the crystal was not responding to what she needed, because it no longer matched with what she wanted.
She was being selfish now, completely and utterly selfish. Before, when she believed that the rape was her fault, she truly wanted him to not see her, out of shame for what she had done. But it did not make any sense! She should still have that shame for leaving him, and she knew that if he found out what she had done, he would never forgive her.
"Thank God," she sighed as her hand finally curved around the object she was searching for. But secretly her heart sank at the finding.
"Mama! We're gonna start the movie again. Come downstairs!" Keisuke called from the banister.
"I'll be there in a minute sweetheart!" she called down anxiously as she raised the Luna Disguise Pen into the air.
"Disguise Power!" She whispered as a silent tear fell down her cheek.
**********************
Mamoru leaned back into the couch's soft cushioning, anxiously awaiting Serena's decent. She'd gone to wipe off her face, and he knew that eventually she would have to come down and reveal herself to be who he desperately wanted her to be.
He jumped slightly as Keisuke's small form made its way back into the living room. He shrugged at Mamoru's questioning brow.
"She said she'd be right down."
Mamoru sighed and lifted his ankle to rest on his knee, smiling meekly to the boy across from him.
Keisuke's features contorted into a small frown as he studied the older man. He could swear his teacher looked familiar from somewhere other than school, but he couldn't put his finger on it, and for a boy as bright as he, this was a very frustrating feeling.
"Don't worry about Mama," He said softly as Mamoru glanced towards the staircase. "She can get real nervous sometimes, about nothing at all! Like when I say something in Japanese, she gets really stern and frowns, like this." Keisuke shot Mamoru a glare identical to the one his mother used on him.
Mamoru laughed slightly, but was intrigued by what he had said, "You speak Japanese Casey?"
Keisuke nodded enthusiastically, "Mama knows how, she used to talk to me in Japanese when I was REALLY little. I was just a baby, but it sorta stuck with me. A lot of things sorta stick with me..." He trailed off for a minute, but straightened up again as another thought stuck him.
"You wanna know what?" He asked secretively.
Mamoru leaned in, happily playing along with his enthusiasm. "What?"
"I think Mama likes you." He whispered.
Mamoru's brows rose in genuine surprise at the comment as Keisuke leaned back and giggled. But before Mamoru could ask any questions, he heard a melodic voice come to him from behind.
"Usa..." he rasped out under his breath as he whirled around to see her. But when his eyes finally met hers, he was greeted only by Serena's sweet face, not Usagi's.
"Sorry I took so long, the darn stuff just wouldn't come off." Serena smiled kindly at him as she walked around the couch to sit with her son.
Mamoru stared at her for a moment in a daze before her voice snapped him back.
"Is something wrong Mamoru?" She reached up to touch her face, "Did I get all of it?"
Mamoru shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked back to her, giving a slight smile. "No, I mean yes, yes you got it all, it's just... Has anyone ever told you you're..." he stopped, searching her eyes desperately.
Usagi laughed nervously, "I'm what?"
Mamoru laughed slightly himself and shook his head. "Nothing, never mind. It's nothing."
"Oh..." She sighed as she took the remote and hit play. But something in the way she said it kept Mamoru's eyes glued to her form. Could that have been, hope, in her voice?
**********************
"WE'RE HO-me..." Max began to announce loudly as he entered in the doorway, but Usagi quickly put a finger to her lips and pointed to the sleeping four- year old in her arms, and he stifled his voice noticeably.
Kate fallowed soon in suite with her husband, waving to Usagi, and slipping a sly wink to Mamoru when he turned around, her lightly freckled nose scrunching playfully in the process.
He chuckled silently as Kate made a motion with her hands indicating that they were going upstairs and offered out her arms to take the sleeping child with her.
Usagi nodded and picked up Keisuke slowly, softly placing him in Kate's arms and laid a loving kiss on his forehead.
"Night Mama..." He moaned softly.
She smiled and brushed the hair out of his eyes. "Night Baby."
"Night Mr. Chiba, thanks for staying, I hope you had fun with us..." he yawned almost incoherently as Mamoru approached.
He smiled endearingly back at him and placed a hand on his forehead, "Thank you Casey, I had a wonderful time. I'll see you next week."
"Hmmm kay..." he mumbled snuggling into Kate's arms as they retreated up the stairs.
Once alone, Usagi and Mamoru shifted awkwardly, both too confused and nervous to say anything.
"Oh, here's you- your briefcase Mamo...ru." She spoke finally, cautious to use his full name in place of the endearment she so longed to use.
"Oh, yes of course." He said quickly. He reached for it, but as he took hold of the handle his hand brushed against hers and he felt a tremendous jolt go through him, but what surprised him was not the jolt itself, but that it was not supernatural in any way. No, it was pure human electricity, right down to the tickling sensation in the pit of his stomach.
Obviously, she felt it too for she pulled her hand away quickly, but with something he thought... hoped, with what he hoped to be regret, a light blush staining her cheeks.
"Look, Mamoru I-"
"Serena I-"
Realizing they had both spoken at once, they laughed a little, releasing some of the tension in the air.
She opened her mouth to speak once more, but he set down his briefcase, and in the blink of an eye he grabbed both her hands in his, causing her to gasp lightly as he looked shyly down at his feet before his brought his hope-filled eyes up to hers.
"Serena, I- I realize that we did not get off to a good start, and I just wanted you to know that if I did anything to make you-" he started, but stopped when she started shaking her head.
"No, no Mamoru. No." She said firmly giving his hands an unconscious squeeze. "It, wasn't you. I'm SO sorry, I must have looked like a fool running all around the place as jumpy as a rabbit but..." she sighed, how could she put this so he's understand without really understanding? "You see, I just came out of... There are a lot of things you don't know about Casey and me. You can see I had him really young and I just haven't had much time to... socialize I guess?" She finished, her eyes pleading.
He nodded slowly, "I think I understand, and I am sorry if I added to your discomfort. I did not mean to intrude on your family night. I really don't know what came over me."
"Intrude?" he eyes went wide, "You didn't intrude at all, God knows Case loved having you here. It's not often that Max is around to play with him, and he doesn't really have a male figure in his life other than him. He really does like you, and is REALLY excited about the project. No one's ever taken that much time to try to find out more about his talents, and it means a lot to him." She searched once more for his eyes, trying with all her might to see what was hidden there. Did he know who she was?
Mamoru smiled. "You have a good kid Serena, you raised him well, and I can't imagine it was easy. I- I want to make this night up to you... I mean, you said there was a lot I didn't know and I want to... God this is so hard to say. Serena I- I like you. You remind me a lot of someone I used to know, you have a good heart and well... You see, I don't know if this will go anywhere, if I'm ready for it to, so I certainly don't want you to feel obligated in anyway... GOD this all coming out wrong!" he sighed finally, frustrated with himself. What was he trying to say?
"Mamo-" she started.
"Can I take you out to dinner?" he spat, not waiting for her to finish, or before he could change his mind.
She gasped lightly, he wanted to go- go out with her? She could laugh, no, cry. God she could fly! But she couldn't, she knew she couldn't. She looked up into his face as she was about to turn him down, but the look in his eyes stunned her. He was nervous! He really wanted this! 'Oh Mamo-chan don't fall in love with me all over again!' she thought desperately, trying somehow to send him the thought, but his brows only creased at her silence.
Would she be only hurting him more if she said no? The crystal inside her pocket became warm in accordance with her heart at the thought of spending time with him.
"When?" a voice whispered softly and Usagi realized it was her own. However with the realization she refused to fight it this time. She would allow herself at least this much happiness, and then she'd be out of his life, for good.
"Huh?" he asked dumbly, having expected rejection.
"When do you want to go?" She asked again quietly.
"You, you want to?" He stuttered, the corners of his lips tugging upward.
Usagi giggled, and nodded. "But just to pay me back, I- don't know if I'm ready for a relationship yet either." She added quickly. Having a moment of happiness didn't mean she didn't have to be careful.
Mamoru nodded abruptly, "Of course. So... how about Monday?" he asked, his heart dropping and singing all at once.
She laughed and rubbed the back of her head nervously; "I have school in the morning and work that night."
"Oh that's right... Um... Oh God I haven't done this in so long," he admitted, his hands shaking slightly as he let go of hers and pushed them through his already wrecked hair.
"How about... Tomorrow? It's my night off, and I don't think Kate and Max have plans, even if they do, I'm sure I can find someone to watch Casey for me..."
He grinned, "How's six sound?"
"It sounds perfect."
Mamoru suddenly leaned down and kissed her forehead, sending countless shivers down her spine. "Six it is then."
With that he picked up his briefcase, tipped an imaginary hat to her, and went out the door, ginning like a fool the whole while.
Usagi let out a breath she didn't know she was holding as she closed the door and slid down the back slowly, squeezing her eyes tightly shut as it hit her.
She was going out with Mamo-chan!
**********************
SHE WAS GOING OUT WITH MAMORU!
HIM! The one man who he had worked purposely to bring her away from and they were getting back together!
Reduced to just a thought once more Demando could do no more than sulk, his hatred growing deeper by the minute. Everything he had worked so hard to put in place was now crumbling before his eyes and he could do nothing but watch.
He could not even PROVOKE her, not until something pushed her to let him do so. No, he could only, and would only watch, and wait. That was his sole condolence. As long as she kept him alive there was a chance that he might claim her once more. But until then, he would just have to wallow in himself, and expand as far as he could without her.
*~*~*~*~*
Konban wa fan base! I just wanted to ask you all how you felt about this chapter in contrast with the others. I worked my ass off but I think it was worth it as this chapter explained a bunch. I know it all took place in one night, which is why I wanted an opinion on it. So just drop down that little menu to your left there and slip me a review!
If ya thought this chapter was slow, I can only apologize and promise that chapter 8 will be much more... eventful. *Snicker*
Luv ya!!
Claidi (a.k.a. Idi-chan ^_^ glomps KTstar)