Title: Heaven, Hell, and Somewhere in Between
Authors: Stara and Nataku
Rating: R (meaning all you little kids who want to read this you have been
warned!!)
Genre: Romance/Alternate Reality
Disclaimer: Okay, it won't be long since you've already read it. WE DON'T
OWN SAILOR MOON! Also, if you're a person who is offended by this for
religious reasons, please check the disclaimer and author notes on the first
chapter. Thanks! ^.^
Ch. 4- The Muffin Man
"I'll have a blueberry muffin, please."
Mamoru panicked momentarily. Something inside him, probably one of those pesky possesive Cro-Magnon genes, grew extremely possesive and got his adrenaline pumping. That muffin was his, dammit!
But slowly he relaxed. Everything was going to be okay. It wasn't as if this was the last blueberry muffin in existence. He could have his, and the other person could have theirs, too.
But he was going to get the first one.
The counter girl looked from one to the other, her face filled with mixed emotions as she tried to figure out which of the two people would be the most violent when angry. "Umm...I'm sorry, but there's only one blueberry muffin left..." She laughed nervously.
Usagi blinked and turned to look at the man beside her. Her waist length blonde hair was stuck to her face and plastered to his thin frame. She shivered under her dirt-crusted slacks and once stylish white blouse that now resembled a wet t-shirt. 'My sketches have been ruined, my pants splashed with dirt, and I've been rained on. Now, the ONLY thing that can make my day, this blueberry muffin, is being stolen from me from this loser?! I DON'T THINK SO!!!' Her deep blue eyes falred with anger as she glared at him with an 'I-can-become-a-bitch-in-five-seconds-flat' stare. "That muffin is mine!" she hissed.
Mamoru tossed his head and gave her a look that said "Girl please. Look what the cat dragged in." His earlier notations of her -ahem- disheveled clothing resurfaced, and he sized her up, letting his eyes stray over certain areas. "Excuse me," he said cooly, "but I was here first."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jaedite shivered and pulled her poncho closer around his shoulders. If there was one thing he HATED about Earth (and there were quite a few things, mind you), it was the weather. One minute it was sunny, the next the heavens opened up and it rained for forty days and forty nights. God had a funny sense of humor.
He was also very ironic.
So WHAT if Beryl has been stupid enough to fall off the platform and come to Earth? They didn't exactly call her "God's Grace" in a literal sense. But no. Beryl was "important". Hence Jaedite's mission: to bring her back. Oh, he had tried. He begged. he pleaded. He had even offered his soul (before receiving a VERY strict look). But in the end, there was no choice. Angels do what they are told.
"You're getting off lucky," He had told him. "Your search is narrowed down to just Tokyo."
One did not use the terms "just" and "Tokyo" in the same sentence.
That was...well...that was a lot of people!!! And they just kept on MULTIPLYING! LIKE RABBITS![1]
Just then, a woman from the second story of a building he was walking part opened her window and dumped a pail of water out onto the street, soaking Jaedite, despite his poncho. He might as well have gone and jumped into a lake, for all his day was going.
"Oh, someone just shoo-" he stopped and covered his mouth. No telling what He might do in a bad mood.
"Ooh, look! A bakery!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Never letting her glare waver from his face, she took her finger and poked him on the chest. "Let me tell you something Mr. I'm-wearing-a-suit-so-I-think-I'm-better-than-everyone, I have had a morning from hell and I'm not letting your cocky ass steal the one thing that will make my problems go away. That muffin is MINE!"
Mamoru took a step forward, leaning in dangerously close, so that his nose was almost touching hers, his breath and musky scent in her face. "Listen, little girl. I will not play your games with you today. I am in a hurry, and I need that muffin now. I will not capitulate." He narrowed his eyes. He was now within centimeters of her.
Usagi let a smile grace her full lips as she noticed the position they were in and she looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Girl? Hm. Well, I must say that you and every other male in this bakery seems to be thinking of me as something a bit more than a mere girl." Standing on her tiptoes she leaned over to his ear, letting her lips barely brush it as she whispered, "Are you sure you don't want to play any.." she licked her lips, "games?"
Mamoru took a half step back with a look of registered shock on his face, but only for a moment. It was soon replaced with confidence and a sense of determination. "I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," he sneered coldly. "I, for one, have seen better."
Usagi rolled her eyes and set her portfolio down on the counter. "I'm sure, and I bet they're all willing to get into bed with you are they?" she raised an eyebrow, and placed her hands on her hips.
His eyes flashed. Why was this silly girl competing against him?! Didn't she know she had already lost? "I have to admire your spirit," he added smoothly, "but the fact of the matter is you cannot win. I can out-talk, outsmart, out-think and most definitly out-sex you any day of the week. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a muffin to grab before my meeting."
Something in her eyes finally snapped and her cheeks flushed red with anger. "You. Are. Not. Getting. That. Muffin." she said in a scarily calm voice that showed she was beyond yelling in her anger.
Umino, closing his umbrella, raised an eyebrow at the aruging pair before approaching the counter. He looked at the fresh choices of muffins, cookies, and various danishes before resting his eyes on the blueberry muffin. "I'll take that muffin please."
"Sure..." the counter lady looked over at Usagi and Mamoru before shrugging. It would be cold if she didn't sell the damn thing soon. And then maybe these two lunatics would geet out of her bakery. She quickly handed it to Umino, after taking his money, and he happily munched it down.
"So...what're they fighting over?"
"That muffin you're eating."
Umino looked down at the muffin, and then at the blonde and dark-haired man before his eyes widened. 'Why me?' he looked up at the sky and prayed for safety.
Mamoru matched her gaze. "I will have that muffin, or I will die trying." Dammit! Why was this girl so persistent? It wasn't the fact that she was challenging him that bothered him...it was her manner, her totally fearless and uninhibited spirit that stirred something within him...rage, anger...and a sense of respect.
"Then get ready to be burrie-" she stopped suddenly and turned to look over at the glasses bedecked Umino, who was praying in the cornor. "What are you eating, UMINO?!"
Umino sucked in a breath of air heavily, showing her the last bite of the blueberry muffin he had been consuming. "I'm sorry, Usagi, if I had known that you wanted it, I would've just given it to you! I swear!!!"
Mamoru remained starring at her form for a second longer before breaking his glance to the pleading Umino. At first, nothing was written on his face. Just a blank slate. More frightening than the rage, the anger, the possesive desire for dominance. He had just eaten the muffin.
HE MUST PAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Usagi's eyes widened and she looked at the few crumbs of what would have been her final salvation and tears started coming to her eyes as she felt the world closing in on her. She was wet, cold, dirty, AND muffinless. Grabbing her portfolio she should there for a moment, looking at the ground, and sighed heavily.
Umino, realizing that he might want to leave in fear of getting hurt, he quickly ran out the door, leaving his closed umbrella behind him.
A figure in a yellow raincoat bumped into Umino on his way out, knocking the umbrella to the ground. "My apologies," he said as he leaned down to pick up the umbrella, a strand of his sea green hair slipping out from the hood and falling into his face. He brushed it away and held out the umbrella to the shaking boy.
Reaching out for the umbrella, he spat our a nervous thank you, before continuing his mad dash down the street.
Mamoru turned his gaze back to the door to the bakery. That creep was getting away! With their muffin! He couldn't DO that! Mamoru was an executive!
Usagi closed her eyes, fighting back tears, and grabbed a few napkins from the counter. Quickly, she wiped herself off before disposing of them and throwing them into the nearest waste basket. She turned to Mamoru, a sarcastic grin on her face, "It's been fun bantering with you, but I'm afraid I have an important meeting at an advertising company in half an hour. Hope never to see you again!" she winked before stalking out the door, portfolio in hand.
As this bakery was turning out to be quite a popular spot, another person entered the bakery on her way out. He nodded politely in her direction. This one was also cloaked in a trench coat, with dark sunglasses covering his face. He turned to face the now-silent crowd in the bakery. "Okay, listen up, this'll just take a second."
Some little idiot in the back of the story (who just happened to be named Treize Khushrenada[2]) shouted "It's a hold up!" Massive panic ensued as everyone in the bakery minus Mr. Trench Coat, Mr. Rain Coat, and Mamoru hit the floor. People began tossing their purses and wallets in his direction, and the girl behind the counter began frantically dumping out the contents of the cash register onto the counter. "Take it! Just don't shoot us!" she wailed.
Zoisite looked down at the fearful masses at his feet. "I-I just wanted a biscotti..." he let his trembling voice trail off.
"Look!" Someone pointed at the man in the raincoat and Mamoru. "They're still standing- he's got back up!!!"
The man in the raincoat waved his hands in the air. "No no no! This is a misunderstanding! I'm-"
"No time, dudes. RUN!" Mamoru yelled and grabbed their arms and pushed them towards the door. They had to get out- fast.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ami sighed as she crossed the street, her mind focused on the book she was reading, and didn't see the three men barreling up to her. Suddenly, someone ran into her full force, causing her philosophy book, umbrella, and glasses to follow her to the ground. She blinked, all thought leaving her for a second before blushing. "Sorry, I was so caught up in my book that I wasn't watching where I was going.." She smiled before finally looking up at the person who had hit her. "The rain often does that to me."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Motoki raised an eyebrow as he saw Mamoru dashing down the stree, a man in a raincoat at his heels. Curious, he opened the door to the arcade and motioned for the dark-haired man and his companion to enter. "Hey Mamoru! In here." Closing the door behind them, he blinked once before looking inquiringly at Mamoru. "Good thing I haven't opened yet," he said in an all-too cheery voice.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zoisite cast a frantic glance behind him, searching for his would-be pursuers. So far, he hadn't caught sight of them, but that didn't mean that they weren't far behind. His thoughts were interupted when something hit him, or rather, when he ran into something. At first, the desperation and fear combined with this blow stunned him, and he was at a loss for words. He looked up, startled to see a young woman with indigo hair and bright blue eyes. Suddenly, a cold feeling pulsated from the center of his body and through his veins, like a freezing fire. Zoisite couldn't explain it, nor could he convince his limbs or mouth to work, so he just stood there.
"I'm sorry, I was so caught up in my book that I wasn't watching where I was going. The rain often does that to me." She smiled.
After a minute of his staring, she began to look uncomfortable and shifted from foot to foot. He blinked and began to blush. "I'm so sorry; it was completely my fault," he blurted out quickly and leaned down to retrieve her dropped items. As he handed her the umbrella, he couldn't help but ask, "I'm sorry, but you just look so familiar, though I can't put my finger on why. Have we met before?"
She shook her head slowly. "No, I don't think so...perhaps it was in a past life, eh?" She laughed.
"Well, just the same, I'm terribly apologetic. And I'm afraid I've ruined your book." He held out the soggy philosophy book with a sheepish look on his face. "Can I buy you a cup of coffee?"
She looked at the book and took it into her hands. She laughed. "Oh, don't worry about the book, it's old anyway." She checked her watch and bit her bottom lip as she tried to decided what to do. Usagi would be almost at work by now, and needed to be followed, but this guy look so familiar...
No. Work before play. "I really wish I could, but I'm already late for work. Here let me just.." She quickly scribbled something down on a piece of paper and placed it in his palm. There was an opening in the traffic and she ran across the street, umbrella up, calling over her shoulder, "See ya around, Trenchcoat Man!"k
He opened hand hand and quickly read the paper, nearly dropping it in shock.
Ami Mizuno 579-6493
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mamoru scowled. "Funny how you always seem to be around when this shit happens."
Motoki raised his hands in defense. "To be perfectly honest, Mamoru, I still haven't quite figured out why you enjoy running around in the rain with green-haired men in slickers, but hey, if you're kinky, I don't have a prob-"
The man in the raincoat stepped forward. "Excuse me," he said, "but how do you know what color my hair is?"
Mamoru leaned against a barstool and tried to catch his breath. "Because it's all over the place." He pointed towards a mirror.
Kunzite gasped and threw off the hood of his caot. "MY HAIR!!!" he cried, running up to the mirror to examine his locks. The glossy strands were windswept and unkempt. He desparatly raked his fingers through his scalp, trying to tame them.
Motoki crossed his arms over his chest. "This might sound like a funny question, but who exactly are you running from?"
Mamoru shrugged. "Some kook tried to hold up a bakery and everyone mistook us for his henchmen."
"So you RAN?!"
"Well, what the hell was I supposed to do?! Just stand there and let them arrest me? And after that scene she and I made..."
Motoki raised an eyebrow. "She?"
The dark-haired man rolled his eyes. "Some broad and me were fighting over this muffin and then this dude in a rain....wait a minute..." he spun around. "KUNZITE?!?!?"
"-and to top it all off, then I use this pretty, nice-smelling gel and...what?" Kunzite looked up from his ramblings and blinked.
"W-what are YOU doing here?"
Kunzite took one last look in the mirror (for angels are very vain creatures, despite popular myth) and smoothed down his hair before doing an about face. He sniffed. "I was hungry."
Motoki shook his head. "I'm lost..."
Kunzite stuck out his hand. "And I'm Kunzite. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"You pick bad times for humor," Mamoru said tersely. He was still quite in shock at seeing the saint on Earth, and it perplexed him to no end, but he decided not to question it any further. He couldn't ask him now, for Motoki was present, and right now he had a business meeting to catch.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zoisite slammed the door to his apartment- loudly. The baby next door started wailing.
He didn't care.
He stomped over to his bed and threw himself upon it, gripping the pillow and clutching it until his knuckles hurt. Anything to draw his mind from what was torturing him.
"GOD!" he thundered into his linen. "Why me, God?" He rolled onto his back and looked up at the ceiling with tears in his eyes. "Why me?" he pleaded in a much softer voice, his bearings begining to return to him. Zoisite closed his eyes and clenched his fists. "Is this my punishment? My goddamn eternal guilt? For letting her..." he choked, allowing his voice to trail off. "I didn't want to come here in the first place...to this...I wanted...to forget..."
Tears trickled down his cheeks as the heart-broken angel cried himself to sleep.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Usagi smiled as she entered the plush office of the top executive Mamoru Chiba. Her day had actually gotten a lot better since that morning. Naru, her best friend who worked as Mr. Chiba's secretary, had picked up her dry cleaning that morning. Fortunatly, Usagi and her were the same size, so she was able to borrow some of those clothes.
Looking down at her open portfolio she walked over towards his office. "Good morning, Mr. Chiba," she said cheerfully. She felt amazingly refreshed now with a black pleated skirt and white sleeveless top. The skirt was a bit too short, she had sadly noted when putting it on, to look professional, but she was hoping it wasn't too bad. The black heels that she had been wearing with her pants matched the skirt perfectly. Her hair blowdried, she let it fall about her in golden waves. With her newly applied makeup, she felt presentable again as she looked up at the man she was going to be working with to promote her new fashion designs. "I think you'll find..." she trailed off, here eyes going wide.
Mamoru Chiba was the muffin man.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author Notes:
[1] We here at Stara-and-Nataku Productions wish to express our non-association with this statement. The Japanese are an honorable people, and do not resemble rabits in any way...
[2] We here at Stara-and-Nataku Productions really hate Treize Khushrenada. We're not sure why, we just do. If anyone decides to bomb a building or start a cult in our stories, it's likely to be him. Treize fans, please do not be offended, this is just eons of anti-Treize repression "getting purged." Besides- Tuxedo Mask can throw a rose MUCH cooler.
Also, we would like to address a possibly-confusing issue in this lovely extra space. Usagi's character, originally innocent, naive, and angelic, is now "corrupted". How does this work? Well...you guys live on Earth! YOU know what it's like here! *laughs insanely* EARTH did what HELL could not!
One last note: we do not "own" the CIA. Mamoru does. So THERE!
Authors: Stara and Nataku
Rating: R (meaning all you little kids who want to read this you have been
warned!!)
Genre: Romance/Alternate Reality
Disclaimer: Okay, it won't be long since you've already read it. WE DON'T
OWN SAILOR MOON! Also, if you're a person who is offended by this for
religious reasons, please check the disclaimer and author notes on the first
chapter. Thanks! ^.^
Ch. 4- The Muffin Man
"I'll have a blueberry muffin, please."
Mamoru panicked momentarily. Something inside him, probably one of those pesky possesive Cro-Magnon genes, grew extremely possesive and got his adrenaline pumping. That muffin was his, dammit!
But slowly he relaxed. Everything was going to be okay. It wasn't as if this was the last blueberry muffin in existence. He could have his, and the other person could have theirs, too.
But he was going to get the first one.
The counter girl looked from one to the other, her face filled with mixed emotions as she tried to figure out which of the two people would be the most violent when angry. "Umm...I'm sorry, but there's only one blueberry muffin left..." She laughed nervously.
Usagi blinked and turned to look at the man beside her. Her waist length blonde hair was stuck to her face and plastered to his thin frame. She shivered under her dirt-crusted slacks and once stylish white blouse that now resembled a wet t-shirt. 'My sketches have been ruined, my pants splashed with dirt, and I've been rained on. Now, the ONLY thing that can make my day, this blueberry muffin, is being stolen from me from this loser?! I DON'T THINK SO!!!' Her deep blue eyes falred with anger as she glared at him with an 'I-can-become-a-bitch-in-five-seconds-flat' stare. "That muffin is mine!" she hissed.
Mamoru tossed his head and gave her a look that said "Girl please. Look what the cat dragged in." His earlier notations of her -ahem- disheveled clothing resurfaced, and he sized her up, letting his eyes stray over certain areas. "Excuse me," he said cooly, "but I was here first."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Jaedite shivered and pulled her poncho closer around his shoulders. If there was one thing he HATED about Earth (and there were quite a few things, mind you), it was the weather. One minute it was sunny, the next the heavens opened up and it rained for forty days and forty nights. God had a funny sense of humor.
He was also very ironic.
So WHAT if Beryl has been stupid enough to fall off the platform and come to Earth? They didn't exactly call her "God's Grace" in a literal sense. But no. Beryl was "important". Hence Jaedite's mission: to bring her back. Oh, he had tried. He begged. he pleaded. He had even offered his soul (before receiving a VERY strict look). But in the end, there was no choice. Angels do what they are told.
"You're getting off lucky," He had told him. "Your search is narrowed down to just Tokyo."
One did not use the terms "just" and "Tokyo" in the same sentence.
That was...well...that was a lot of people!!! And they just kept on MULTIPLYING! LIKE RABBITS![1]
Just then, a woman from the second story of a building he was walking part opened her window and dumped a pail of water out onto the street, soaking Jaedite, despite his poncho. He might as well have gone and jumped into a lake, for all his day was going.
"Oh, someone just shoo-" he stopped and covered his mouth. No telling what He might do in a bad mood.
"Ooh, look! A bakery!"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Never letting her glare waver from his face, she took her finger and poked him on the chest. "Let me tell you something Mr. I'm-wearing-a-suit-so-I-think-I'm-better-than-everyone, I have had a morning from hell and I'm not letting your cocky ass steal the one thing that will make my problems go away. That muffin is MINE!"
Mamoru took a step forward, leaning in dangerously close, so that his nose was almost touching hers, his breath and musky scent in her face. "Listen, little girl. I will not play your games with you today. I am in a hurry, and I need that muffin now. I will not capitulate." He narrowed his eyes. He was now within centimeters of her.
Usagi let a smile grace her full lips as she noticed the position they were in and she looked up at him through her eyelashes. "Girl? Hm. Well, I must say that you and every other male in this bakery seems to be thinking of me as something a bit more than a mere girl." Standing on her tiptoes she leaned over to his ear, letting her lips barely brush it as she whispered, "Are you sure you don't want to play any.." she licked her lips, "games?"
Mamoru took a half step back with a look of registered shock on his face, but only for a moment. It was soon replaced with confidence and a sense of determination. "I wouldn't be so sure if I were you," he sneered coldly. "I, for one, have seen better."
Usagi rolled her eyes and set her portfolio down on the counter. "I'm sure, and I bet they're all willing to get into bed with you are they?" she raised an eyebrow, and placed her hands on her hips.
His eyes flashed. Why was this silly girl competing against him?! Didn't she know she had already lost? "I have to admire your spirit," he added smoothly, "but the fact of the matter is you cannot win. I can out-talk, outsmart, out-think and most definitly out-sex you any day of the week. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a muffin to grab before my meeting."
Something in her eyes finally snapped and her cheeks flushed red with anger. "You. Are. Not. Getting. That. Muffin." she said in a scarily calm voice that showed she was beyond yelling in her anger.
Umino, closing his umbrella, raised an eyebrow at the aruging pair before approaching the counter. He looked at the fresh choices of muffins, cookies, and various danishes before resting his eyes on the blueberry muffin. "I'll take that muffin please."
"Sure..." the counter lady looked over at Usagi and Mamoru before shrugging. It would be cold if she didn't sell the damn thing soon. And then maybe these two lunatics would geet out of her bakery. She quickly handed it to Umino, after taking his money, and he happily munched it down.
"So...what're they fighting over?"
"That muffin you're eating."
Umino looked down at the muffin, and then at the blonde and dark-haired man before his eyes widened. 'Why me?' he looked up at the sky and prayed for safety.
Mamoru matched her gaze. "I will have that muffin, or I will die trying." Dammit! Why was this girl so persistent? It wasn't the fact that she was challenging him that bothered him...it was her manner, her totally fearless and uninhibited spirit that stirred something within him...rage, anger...and a sense of respect.
"Then get ready to be burrie-" she stopped suddenly and turned to look over at the glasses bedecked Umino, who was praying in the cornor. "What are you eating, UMINO?!"
Umino sucked in a breath of air heavily, showing her the last bite of the blueberry muffin he had been consuming. "I'm sorry, Usagi, if I had known that you wanted it, I would've just given it to you! I swear!!!"
Mamoru remained starring at her form for a second longer before breaking his glance to the pleading Umino. At first, nothing was written on his face. Just a blank slate. More frightening than the rage, the anger, the possesive desire for dominance. He had just eaten the muffin.
HE MUST PAY!!!!!!!!!!!
Usagi's eyes widened and she looked at the few crumbs of what would have been her final salvation and tears started coming to her eyes as she felt the world closing in on her. She was wet, cold, dirty, AND muffinless. Grabbing her portfolio she should there for a moment, looking at the ground, and sighed heavily.
Umino, realizing that he might want to leave in fear of getting hurt, he quickly ran out the door, leaving his closed umbrella behind him.
A figure in a yellow raincoat bumped into Umino on his way out, knocking the umbrella to the ground. "My apologies," he said as he leaned down to pick up the umbrella, a strand of his sea green hair slipping out from the hood and falling into his face. He brushed it away and held out the umbrella to the shaking boy.
Reaching out for the umbrella, he spat our a nervous thank you, before continuing his mad dash down the street.
Mamoru turned his gaze back to the door to the bakery. That creep was getting away! With their muffin! He couldn't DO that! Mamoru was an executive!
Usagi closed her eyes, fighting back tears, and grabbed a few napkins from the counter. Quickly, she wiped herself off before disposing of them and throwing them into the nearest waste basket. She turned to Mamoru, a sarcastic grin on her face, "It's been fun bantering with you, but I'm afraid I have an important meeting at an advertising company in half an hour. Hope never to see you again!" she winked before stalking out the door, portfolio in hand.
As this bakery was turning out to be quite a popular spot, another person entered the bakery on her way out. He nodded politely in her direction. This one was also cloaked in a trench coat, with dark sunglasses covering his face. He turned to face the now-silent crowd in the bakery. "Okay, listen up, this'll just take a second."
Some little idiot in the back of the story (who just happened to be named Treize Khushrenada[2]) shouted "It's a hold up!" Massive panic ensued as everyone in the bakery minus Mr. Trench Coat, Mr. Rain Coat, and Mamoru hit the floor. People began tossing their purses and wallets in his direction, and the girl behind the counter began frantically dumping out the contents of the cash register onto the counter. "Take it! Just don't shoot us!" she wailed.
Zoisite looked down at the fearful masses at his feet. "I-I just wanted a biscotti..." he let his trembling voice trail off.
"Look!" Someone pointed at the man in the raincoat and Mamoru. "They're still standing- he's got back up!!!"
The man in the raincoat waved his hands in the air. "No no no! This is a misunderstanding! I'm-"
"No time, dudes. RUN!" Mamoru yelled and grabbed their arms and pushed them towards the door. They had to get out- fast.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Ami sighed as she crossed the street, her mind focused on the book she was reading, and didn't see the three men barreling up to her. Suddenly, someone ran into her full force, causing her philosophy book, umbrella, and glasses to follow her to the ground. She blinked, all thought leaving her for a second before blushing. "Sorry, I was so caught up in my book that I wasn't watching where I was going.." She smiled before finally looking up at the person who had hit her. "The rain often does that to me."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Motoki raised an eyebrow as he saw Mamoru dashing down the stree, a man in a raincoat at his heels. Curious, he opened the door to the arcade and motioned for the dark-haired man and his companion to enter. "Hey Mamoru! In here." Closing the door behind them, he blinked once before looking inquiringly at Mamoru. "Good thing I haven't opened yet," he said in an all-too cheery voice.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zoisite cast a frantic glance behind him, searching for his would-be pursuers. So far, he hadn't caught sight of them, but that didn't mean that they weren't far behind. His thoughts were interupted when something hit him, or rather, when he ran into something. At first, the desperation and fear combined with this blow stunned him, and he was at a loss for words. He looked up, startled to see a young woman with indigo hair and bright blue eyes. Suddenly, a cold feeling pulsated from the center of his body and through his veins, like a freezing fire. Zoisite couldn't explain it, nor could he convince his limbs or mouth to work, so he just stood there.
"I'm sorry, I was so caught up in my book that I wasn't watching where I was going. The rain often does that to me." She smiled.
After a minute of his staring, she began to look uncomfortable and shifted from foot to foot. He blinked and began to blush. "I'm so sorry; it was completely my fault," he blurted out quickly and leaned down to retrieve her dropped items. As he handed her the umbrella, he couldn't help but ask, "I'm sorry, but you just look so familiar, though I can't put my finger on why. Have we met before?"
She shook her head slowly. "No, I don't think so...perhaps it was in a past life, eh?" She laughed.
"Well, just the same, I'm terribly apologetic. And I'm afraid I've ruined your book." He held out the soggy philosophy book with a sheepish look on his face. "Can I buy you a cup of coffee?"
She looked at the book and took it into her hands. She laughed. "Oh, don't worry about the book, it's old anyway." She checked her watch and bit her bottom lip as she tried to decided what to do. Usagi would be almost at work by now, and needed to be followed, but this guy look so familiar...
No. Work before play. "I really wish I could, but I'm already late for work. Here let me just.." She quickly scribbled something down on a piece of paper and placed it in his palm. There was an opening in the traffic and she ran across the street, umbrella up, calling over her shoulder, "See ya around, Trenchcoat Man!"k
He opened hand hand and quickly read the paper, nearly dropping it in shock.
Ami Mizuno 579-6493
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Mamoru scowled. "Funny how you always seem to be around when this shit happens."
Motoki raised his hands in defense. "To be perfectly honest, Mamoru, I still haven't quite figured out why you enjoy running around in the rain with green-haired men in slickers, but hey, if you're kinky, I don't have a prob-"
The man in the raincoat stepped forward. "Excuse me," he said, "but how do you know what color my hair is?"
Mamoru leaned against a barstool and tried to catch his breath. "Because it's all over the place." He pointed towards a mirror.
Kunzite gasped and threw off the hood of his caot. "MY HAIR!!!" he cried, running up to the mirror to examine his locks. The glossy strands were windswept and unkempt. He desparatly raked his fingers through his scalp, trying to tame them.
Motoki crossed his arms over his chest. "This might sound like a funny question, but who exactly are you running from?"
Mamoru shrugged. "Some kook tried to hold up a bakery and everyone mistook us for his henchmen."
"So you RAN?!"
"Well, what the hell was I supposed to do?! Just stand there and let them arrest me? And after that scene she and I made..."
Motoki raised an eyebrow. "She?"
The dark-haired man rolled his eyes. "Some broad and me were fighting over this muffin and then this dude in a rain....wait a minute..." he spun around. "KUNZITE?!?!?"
"-and to top it all off, then I use this pretty, nice-smelling gel and...what?" Kunzite looked up from his ramblings and blinked.
"W-what are YOU doing here?"
Kunzite took one last look in the mirror (for angels are very vain creatures, despite popular myth) and smoothed down his hair before doing an about face. He sniffed. "I was hungry."
Motoki shook his head. "I'm lost..."
Kunzite stuck out his hand. "And I'm Kunzite. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
"You pick bad times for humor," Mamoru said tersely. He was still quite in shock at seeing the saint on Earth, and it perplexed him to no end, but he decided not to question it any further. He couldn't ask him now, for Motoki was present, and right now he had a business meeting to catch.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Zoisite slammed the door to his apartment- loudly. The baby next door started wailing.
He didn't care.
He stomped over to his bed and threw himself upon it, gripping the pillow and clutching it until his knuckles hurt. Anything to draw his mind from what was torturing him.
"GOD!" he thundered into his linen. "Why me, God?" He rolled onto his back and looked up at the ceiling with tears in his eyes. "Why me?" he pleaded in a much softer voice, his bearings begining to return to him. Zoisite closed his eyes and clenched his fists. "Is this my punishment? My goddamn eternal guilt? For letting her..." he choked, allowing his voice to trail off. "I didn't want to come here in the first place...to this...I wanted...to forget..."
Tears trickled down his cheeks as the heart-broken angel cried himself to sleep.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Usagi smiled as she entered the plush office of the top executive Mamoru Chiba. Her day had actually gotten a lot better since that morning. Naru, her best friend who worked as Mr. Chiba's secretary, had picked up her dry cleaning that morning. Fortunatly, Usagi and her were the same size, so she was able to borrow some of those clothes.
Looking down at her open portfolio she walked over towards his office. "Good morning, Mr. Chiba," she said cheerfully. She felt amazingly refreshed now with a black pleated skirt and white sleeveless top. The skirt was a bit too short, she had sadly noted when putting it on, to look professional, but she was hoping it wasn't too bad. The black heels that she had been wearing with her pants matched the skirt perfectly. Her hair blowdried, she let it fall about her in golden waves. With her newly applied makeup, she felt presentable again as she looked up at the man she was going to be working with to promote her new fashion designs. "I think you'll find..." she trailed off, here eyes going wide.
Mamoru Chiba was the muffin man.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Author Notes:
[1] We here at Stara-and-Nataku Productions wish to express our non-association with this statement. The Japanese are an honorable people, and do not resemble rabits in any way...
[2] We here at Stara-and-Nataku Productions really hate Treize Khushrenada. We're not sure why, we just do. If anyone decides to bomb a building or start a cult in our stories, it's likely to be him. Treize fans, please do not be offended, this is just eons of anti-Treize repression "getting purged." Besides- Tuxedo Mask can throw a rose MUCH cooler.
Also, we would like to address a possibly-confusing issue in this lovely extra space. Usagi's character, originally innocent, naive, and angelic, is now "corrupted". How does this work? Well...you guys live on Earth! YOU know what it's like here! *laughs insanely* EARTH did what HELL could not!
One last note: we do not "own" the CIA. Mamoru does. So THERE!