Games of Seduction

By: The Young Lady of Legends

Author'sNotes: My apologies! Sorry it's taken so long to get this chapter out but I suffered a mild case of the blues and didn't want to risk messing the story up. This isn't a story you can write depressed, it comes out strange. Trust me...I tried. As a token of apology I've tried extremely hard to write a longer chapter! Does that make my delay okay? Keep reviewing!

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ChapterFive:Breakfast in Bed...Well Sort Of

I sat up and took a deep breath as I wiped the tears from my face. I hated to cry. It always made me feel weak, or like I lost a fight with something. I hated to lose. Nothing made me more angry or frustrated. Even something as simple as a game of checkers is hard for me to lose. I don't take failure easily, I suppose.

Which does a good job of explaining why I'm in this bet with Chiba. Okay that and it gives me a scapegoat to flirt shamelessly with his gorgeous self. He just reeks of wonderful.

That is until he opens his mouth.

I dusted the grass off my uniform skirt and the dirt from my knees. I headed back for the arcade with an air of determination. I had a plan, but I had to convince Motoki and Makoto to help me out.

I paused before I opened the doors to the arcade in fear that the Thing would still be there, with that trashy bimbo brunette nonetheless. But as I pushed the door open and glanced nervously around for them, I saw no sign that they'd ever been there. I heaved a sigh of relief. I hadn't wanted to force myself to refrain from making any more mad dashes.

Luckily, the girls were still there talking to Motoki. I could hear fragments of their conversation as I walked toward them. Minako's airy high-pitch was all too recognizable as she said, "Somebody needs to teach him a lesson. You can't do that to people! He totally led her on! And did you see her face when she saw them together?"

Motoki snorted, "I'm more concerned with the look on Mamoru's face after Rei threatened to curse him..." he paused, "and let's not forget when Makoto had that woman pinned to the wall."

I felt my eyes go wide. "Makoto! You did what?!"

They all whirled around, eyes wide. It was obvious they weren't expecting me back any time soon. Well, I had run out in tears afterall. Ami cocked her head to one side in her careful examination of my face. "Usa-chan? Are you okay? What are you doing back after...?" she trailed off.

I grinned a little as I shrugged it off. "Oh it isn't a problem. It isn' t like I had any claim over him to be jealous or angry or anything. It just took me by surprise a little." I thought I sounded more like I was trying to convince myself of this than to reassure Ami-chan. I hoped they didn't notice.

Rei rolled her eyes at my comment. "Oh please! He was a complete jerk to you! He's constantly flirting with you, trying to let you know he likes you and for him to just pull something like this! Come on! It was obvious what he was trying to do! He could have brought that sleeze anywhere, of course the only place she'd look decent in would be a dark alleyway, but he brought her here."

Minako jumped in. "Yeah! He brought her here so he could intentionally run into you! He did it just to make you mad. The scum..." she muttered as an afterthought.

"Whatever..." I sighed, not feeling in the mood to argue with someone as strong-willed as Minako-chan or Rei-chan. I then put my mind on business. Turning to Motoki I asked, "Motoki...you don't happen to know what time Mamoru-san wakes up in the mornings do you?"

"Um...Usa-chan, you know you're like a sister to me and all and I'd do anything for you..." he started. You could practically see the sweat beads popping out of his forehead. It was rather comical. "...but I thought I'd made it very clear that I was not to be incorporated into this argument, bet, game, seduction pit, whatever you'd like to call it. I just can't! Both you and Mamoru are my good friends and I am not getting involved! One of you is likely to get mad at me for screwing the bet up. It just...isn't fair."

Makoto sighed dramatically, "Oh...no I musn't! I will not...no! I CAN NOT turn traitor on one of my dearest and best friends! It just isn't moral!" she grabbed the collar of my shirt to add further drama, "Please dear Usa-chan! Try and understand that I'm doing what's best for the both of you." she mocked Motoki's mini-speech.

Minako giggled. "Nice Scarlett O' Hara impersonation." A round of laughter and giggles went around the group, including Motoki.

"Motoki, it isn't for the bet. Actually I think I'm going to call it off." okay so I was lying. It was for the bet and I knew it but did Motoki need to know that? I think not. "But I...I honestly think I may have some more than just friendly feelings for Mamoru and I'd like to surprise him with breakfast. Like a sort of truce." I faked my embarrassed admittance of a crush on Mamoru quite nicely. I even managed to get myself to blush a bit.

He looked thoughtful. "Oh well if that's the case then I could help you." he smiled a little before he continued. "And I thought you liked each other. I just knew there had to be more behind this bet."

"Don't hold your breath..." I mumbled, thinking he couldn't hear me.

"What?" he asked. "I missed that."

I smiled innocently, trying to cover up my mistake. "Nothing!" I chirped happily.

Rei-chan mouthed "Way to go Odango!" at me so that Motoki could neither see nor hear.

Motoki continued, oblivious. "Anyway, Mamoru-san wakes up around seven o'clock on weekdays and eight on weekends. What do you have in mind anyway Usa?"

"Oh nothing!" I grinned evilly.

I'd left the arcade shortly after that to begin preparing for my dirty lil' plan. It may not have been my best idea yet, but it was definitely a different approach. Instead of being a sexy seductress I was now going to be the happy housewife.

I was lying on my bed reviewing the plans for the next morning carefully, so as not to forget anything. I would have to get up much, much earlier than usual so I had my clock set for six a.m. I'm not sure I'd ever seen six o'clock in the morning in my entire life. And I wasn't sure I was ready to see it now. Next, and one of the hardest plans yet as it had no insurance for success, was that I had to be absolutely certain I didn't have a klutz attack before he woke up. I checked my pocket to make sure Motoki's spare key to Mamoru's apartment was still there. It was.

I treated it almost as if it were a treasure. A treasure of pure gold was what it reminded me of as it lay glistening in my hand in triumph and anticipation. I was just about to put it back into my pocket when the phone rang. Like always, I pounced on it. "Hello?" I asked cheerily.

"Usagi-chan? I was just wondering, exactly what do you have up your sleeve for Mamoru-san this time?" it was Minako.

I laughed a little. "Oh that. Well, my plan was to get to his apartment about an hour before he woke up dressed all cute in a little dress and apron, for the full effect of the homemaker look I'm trying to achieve. I'm going to cook a humongously large and wonderfully delicious breakfast for him! So when he wakes up and sees me in his kitchen acting like his wife he's bound to think that way. Especially first thing in the morning because his brain won't be awake yet. That's why the apron. So I look the part."

"Oh good plan Usa-chan! You know what they say! 'The way to a man's stomach is through his heart!'" she said, or rather chirped. Her voice reminds me strangely of strawberries.

"Um Minako-chan...that goes, 'the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.'" I told her.

"Oh. Same thing. But anyway, who's going to cook the breakfast for you?" she asked.

I was stunned. Didn't I just say that I'd be cooking? "Well, me of course. If anyone else does it won't look like I'm the perfect little wife." I said giggling. It was amazing how incredibly giddy that simple statement made me.

"Usagi-chan..." Minako began slowly as if she regretted having to say something. That made me nervous to say the least. "I hate to tell you this and I really thought you knew but...um- well...you see...you can't cook." she finally managed to force out after many stumbled and stuttered words.

I gasped. "Oh my gosh Minako-chan! Thank you so much! I was so nervous I didn't even think about that! What am I going to do?!" I half-wailed in despair.

"It's okay! It's okay Usa-chan! Just get Makoto to come with you, she can cook it and sneak out before Mamoru-san wakes up." she explained. "You just wear the housewife get-up to make it look like you did it. See this way is even better because you don't have to worry about chipping fingernail polish. You want to look as perfect as possible right?" I could practically hear her smiling with pride. Or maybe I could hear her gloating. That was probably it. But I didn't care at all. She'd just rescued a dying plan.

"Thank you so much Minako-chan! That was absolutely brilliant, but I'll have to talk to you later so I can call and beg Mako-chan to help. It won't be easy getting her out of bed at six o'clock!" I laughed.

Minako laughed with me. "Yes but who's going to wake you up?!"

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"Shh!"

"I am being quiet!" Mako-chan hissed her whisper at me.

We had successfully snuck into Mamoru's apartment at 6:10 the next morning. Everything had gone smoothly until we got the pans out. They made a little too much noise for my comfort but I doubted they woke Mamoru up.

Mako-chan hadn't bothered to even get out of her pajamas. She simply threw her hair up in her signature curly ponytail and skipped out her apartment door as I dragged slowly behind, still half asleep. I had on dress that even without the apron would have made me look like Martha Stewart. It was sleeveless but the straps were wide enough to keep the housewife impression, the dress was mainly white with the exception of a few small pink flowers connected by a curling green vine. The dress fell to my mid-thigh and had a full skirt, but my favorite feature was the bit of lace that peeked out timidly at the bottom. I had on white pumps. I had to have a bit of sophistication afterall! The apron was white and the pocket was a cute heart shape in the center of my chest.

I leaned against the counter as I watched Mako-chan intently. I watched her crack eggs, beat pancake batter, mix biscuit dough and stir muffin mix. As she began to cook the eggs sunny side-up she turned to me. "Usagi-chan. I appreciate that I have an audience and all. It makes me feel like the lady's on t.v. but it's beginning to make me rather nervous what with your intense concentration." she thought a bit. "Go find a mirror and double check your outfit since you were half asleep when you put it on." she smiled at me. It felt like she was wishing me good luck with that smile, but who knows? Maybe I was just delirious with hunger and sleep.

I took my shoes off so I wouldn't make noise as I walked to what I assumed would be the bathroom. It was down the hall and across from Mamoru's bedroom. I carried my pumps in my hand as I tiptoed stealthily down the hall. The carpet was plush and reeked of money. Who knew Mamoru was loaded anyway? I never knew he lived in the ritzy apartments.

I walked into the bathroom and turned the light on. As I closed the door I noticed it had a full length mirror on it. God, Mamoru was arrogant, but as long as I could see the full effect of my clothes I didn't care. I grinned at what I saw. I'd left my hair down for a more adult look, which turned out to be wise since the natural wave I had made me look like a goddess. But still a housewife goddess. Maybe an extremely wholesome goddess...

I opened the door and walked out, back up the hall and into the living room. Only the bar/counter, whatever it was, separated the living room and kitchen. The sun was now shining brightly through the glass-paned balcony door and the many windows giving the room a cheerful yellow glow.

I slipped my shoes back on and marveled at the progress Makoto had made while I was gone. The little table was set for two, a glass or orange juice and coffee at each empty plate. "Why'd you leave the plates empty?"

"Because it'll look more effective if you serve him. Make him sit and then bring each plate that I've set up in here. Ask what he wants then put it on his plate. You are served last Usagi!" she emphasized her last sentence. "Most importantly, be smiley and warm toward him and whatever you do...Do Not Have A Klutz Attack!" she made each word sound like a sentence.''

Suddenly I heard a disgruntled voice from down the hall, "Hey...who left the light on in here?" OOPS! I'd forgotten to turn it off. I looked at Makoto panic-stricken. She couldn't get out now...it was too late! Mamoru couldn't know I didn't cook this gourmet breakfast! I did the only thing I knew how to do. I shoved a muffin in Mako-chan's mouth as a gag, shoved her in a closet and prayed she didn't make a peep.

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Don't kill me for the cliffhanger and as always...

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