She's Back... - Chapter Seven
Lady Nakosha
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ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY
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Rei dragged herself up the never-ending flight of weathered, stone-stairs that led up to her temporary home, the Cherry Hill Temple. Last time she had been here, she hadn't remembered there being this many steps. "Finally." Rei muttered under her breath as she dropped her bags at her sides and pushed the delicate, sliding door open.
"Rei-chan!" An older, enthusiastic voice shouted out, breaking the quiet atmosphere of the shrine. Rei smiled slightly as her grandfather stood from his cross-legged position; the only thing that had changed about him was that he seemed to have a few more gray hairs, if possible, on his already balding head.
His laugh took a nasty dive and turned into a hacking cough. Rei stepped closer to him, worried that he was choking and that he would have to perform CPR on him if he needed her to... oh gross, Rei mentally retched, mouth-to-mouth with grandpa would so be not cool!
Her grandfather waved her off and with a surprisingly strong grip; he pulled her into a semi-hug. She was barely managing to hug him, since he was so much smaller than her, his head rested barely below her chin and his upper body was pressed against her breasts, causing Rei to be uneasy and more awkward than usual. Had her grandfather gotten shorter or did she get taller?
"Rei, Rei, Rei-chan." He repeated cheerfully as he pulled away from her. "How have you been? How are you and Mamoru doing? The wedding plans are coming along good, yes?"
Rei swallowed and nodded. "How are those nice friends of yours doing? That blond one with the odangos... what was her name? She was very distinct, however, I remember that much." He shook his head. "Ah, nevermind. They are all nice and very pretty."
She was more than unwilling to admit that that "blond one" was no longer on speaking terms with her and hated Rei with all of her heart. Not to mention the fact that that "blond one" was stealing her fiancée's heart from her once again...
Not that it had been Rei's to start with, though...
"They're great, grandpa." Rei lied easily. The anxious, troubled feeling when she lied washed over her; triggering unwanted memories of that tragic night that had ended a millennium worth of friendships...
Grandpa poured himself a cup of sweet smelling tea. He offered Rei a cup and she took it gratefully, thankful that her hands had something to do rather than move stupidly at her side. "They use to stop by here so much before, why not anymore?" His face relaxed as he slowly sipped the warm, soothing drink.
Rei hesitated. "They've been a bit busy to stop by. I'll tell them that you miss them, though." Rei assured him falsely. Thank goodness his memory was failing him and he didn't realize that they hadn't stopped by in over five years now...
"Oh, good. I've always liked your friends, very nice all of them." He commented as he looked up at Rei.
Rei fidgeted under his powerful gaze. She wished that they could get off the subject of her currently former friends and talk about something that she wouldn't have to, well, lie about. "Yeah, they are nice." Not to me, exactly, but yes, to everyone else, Rei thought cynically.
"Rei?" Her grandfather looked at her, worriedly. She lifted her lips into a ghost of a smile at the small gesture. She hadn't had anyone look at her with so much love and seem so concerned about her in such a longtime. She could feel herself growing more and more shameful because her grandfather adored her, thinking she was this wonderful person while she was telling him bald-faced lies. "You seemed distressed. Why?"
The balmy liquid threatened to come back up as she made a choking sound. Rei hastily wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Um, I'm fine." She forced herself to smile at him and with the remainder of her reserve willpower, she added, "It's the stress from planning the wedding, I swear. It's been really getting to me and grandpa, I just needed to get away from it all." Despite her remorse, she continued on, she was on a roll now, "I had to beg Mamoru to let me come here and stay for a few days because I've missed you and I need the tranquility of the shrine to refocus myself."
Rei set the cup on the table, uneager to have another encounter with the tea. Tea was supposed to be relaxing to the muscles and the mind, wasn't it? Well, how long does it take for the feeling to kick in and take place? Rei asked herself despairingly.
Her grandfather regarded her with wise eyes. "Yes, I see, my grandchild."
"So is it okay with you, that I stay for a few days?" Or at least until Mamoru takes me back... hopefully? Rei added silently in her mind.
He nodded, eagerly. "Yes, yes, of course! You stay here for however long you wish!" he waggled his finger at her. "But don't expect to stay without repaying me by doing chores around here!"
After they sat in silence for ten minutes or so, just enjoying the mere company of each other, her grandfather sipping his tea, while Rei watched him with her hands clasped respectively in her lap and her feet folded beneath her, they finally began striking up a conversation; a conversation that quickly became playful and argumentative.
An argument between the two was dangerous; both had stubborn minds and refused to budge or compromise their thoughts or actions for the other. "You never used to complain so much before."
Rei groaned. "I'm not as young as I was before. I have much more to complain about now than I did before."
"So? I'm almost eighty-four and I'm getting better as my years pass me by." He smiled at her. "I honestly don't think that your silly wrinkles and lines are anything compared to mine."
"Oh, please." Rei bristled. "I am still young, but I think that I should be given the opportunity to voice my fears about looking older than I actually am. I mean, yes, it was nice to look seventeen while I was really fifteen, but I don't really want to look thirty, when I am twenty-five, thank you very much."
She looked at the trees outside critically, searching their branches for an answer; any answer at all. "Being old is a gift, it shows that you have aged well through life and that you no longer need simple things to please you as you've had them all already during your youth. Do you see me now? I am content with just being, Rei."
"Save me from the getting-older-isn't-as-horrible-as-you-picture-it-to-be lecture because guess what, Grandpa?"
He looked up at her out of amusement. "Because it is as horrible as I picture it to be! I don't want to grow old, no offense, because I want to stay young and be able to accomplish everything I do before I become senile and stuck in a bed all the time, too tired to stand up and go pee by myself."
"I am not yet that old." Grandpa sighed dramatically as he slowly lifted himself up. "Save me from the getting-old-is-so-scary-and-I-want-to-be- young-forever speech. I've experienced your fears and trust me they are unfounded. Being old is a wonderful ride and I hope that it lasts for many more years because I am unwilling to get off of it yet."
"But you know that it's true—"
"One thing is for certain, however."
"Yes? And what's that?"
"As we get older, our views change from what it was when we were younger." He looked at her meaningfully. "There is always hope for all of us as we mature and grow older."
Rei nodded and stood up quickly, rocking slightly as the blood rushed to her head. She decided to use that as her excuse to leave. She didn't know how much longer she could handle her grandfather's insightful remarks that were doing more than hitting close to home; they were hitting home. "I... I'm not feeling well; grandpa, and I've still got to unpack. I'm going to head back to my old room, okay?"
Grandpa looked at her almost piteously. "All right, but you can't use your old room."
Rei didn't understand why, but she felt her heart plummet to her feet. "Oh? Why?"
"I use it for storage since you never really visited before and I thought of it as okay to use the room instead of letting an empty room stay unused."
"Yeah, yeah, I understand."
"But you use guestroom, Rei-chan. It's got blankets in closet and even closer to bathroom than your old one was!"
Rei shook her head, gathered her bags, and headed outside and to the back where the guestroom's door faced. It was only the most sensible thing for her grandfather to do; he had every right to make her old room somewhere for her grandfather to store things. Rei wasn't sure why she was acting like such a freak about it; it was just her old room for God's sake! In a matter of weeks she wouldn't ever have to think or even worry about it again!
Rei threw her bags down, disgusted, and sat in her darkened room, her mind whirling from the past events. She hadn't allowed herself the time to think so thoroughly and so freely since... forever, it seemed.
The truth of the past five years barreled into her mercilessly, forcing her to relieve events that she would have rather kept in the past, her grandfather's words came back and ricocheted inside of her mind:
...Always hope for all of us as we mature...
Rei listened to the words carefully, trying to find some hidden meaning between the lines. Her grandfather knew more than he let on, Rei should have learned that many years ago. But somehow everything that she had learned and known her entire life... it seemed to become lost to her during these past five years.
She had lost herself and now she needed to find the old Rei that lied hidden deep within her. Rei knew that her grandfather was trying to tell her something and Rei remembered one thing, despite everything else that she had seemed to lot. She knew that the meaning of her grandfather's words would always find her, never the other way around.
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"Why does what we're planning feel so totally wrong?" Mina groaned as she struggled between the urges to begin giggling crazily or to moan and grumble guiltily.
But she couldn't help but to let the excited, giddy feeling of finally getting revenge wash over her before the more modest, guilty party in her booted it out of her system and she returned to the battle between the two sides.
Because it is totally wrong." Ami replied tersely as she searched diligently through Mina's messy, close-to-being-outdated address book. "How many phone numbers do you have in here?"
"Oh, I don't know. A hundred or so." Mina said listlessly as she stared across the room. It had been a surprising win; her bored side had won and defeated any feelings of guilt, excitement, or even the urge to want to complain. She was tired and bored, not a good combination for anyone else, but deadly to Mina.
"Isn't that nice." Ami barked. "Mina, tell me, have you ever heard of putting things in alphabetical order before?
Mina shifted her gaze to meet Ami's before she turned around and shrugged feebly. "Yes, but it was such a pain in the ass, so I just wrote down the information in the first blank spot I found."
Makoto dropped her head into her hands. "Go figure that Mina's the only person who actually has Haruka's phone number."
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"What are we doing here?" Usagi asked breathlessly as they slowed down in front of the docks.
"Don't you remember?" Motoki asked, grinning impishly. "It's where we almost first kissed." He lowered his mouth towards hers and added, "and it's going to be one of the places where we actually kiss many, many times..."
Usagi giggled beneath his lips. His mouth being so close to hers was making it awfully hard to think and form coherent sentences...
Once his lips finally found hers, Usagi felt herself drifting off into the hazy fog of the kiss; her mind separated itself from her body, then his hands were on her hips, dragging her closer and shaping her with their raw intimacy and need that neither of them could ignore.
Unknowing to the otherwise preoccupied couple; Mamoru stood seven floors up on his balcony, still unaware of the two of them.
Mamoru rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he remembered the hurt, surprised look that had crossed over Rei's face when he had closed the door behind her without any argument or begging of her to stay.
She had been the one who decided to leave, what did she expect him to do? Grovel? Plead?
"What to do... what to do..." Mamoru chanted to himself, quietly. His feelings were truly a mystery; they alone held his misery and happiness, somewhere inside of him. He was getting married, for God's sake. People who get married didn't have such doubts, did they? Having cold feet was one thing, but considering canceling the wedding was a whole other story.
Mamoru stared out at the window at the setting sun. The sun seemed to stretch out spare rays of golden brilliance and splash marigold and turquoise across the almost blackened sky, which was absent of any stars.
Mamoru scanned the horizon, satisfied that he had—
Wait? The single word, questionable as it was, echoed throughout Mamoru's mind. His eyes were drawn to two figures kissing on the docks. He knew them...
Then the female moved her head slightly, causing her blond hair to tumble to the side. Mamoru's heart constricted against his chest as he realized it was Usagi and Motoki together with their hands all over each other and their mouths dangerously close to touching.
He stepped closer to the side of the balcony and his lower stomach pressed against the railing, he watched, haunted, as Motoki caused Usagi to erupt into a fit of giggles, her smile stung his heart with a burning stab.
His eyes grew gray with agony as he watched Motoki lean down and capture Usagi's raspberry lips within his own. Usagi explored his now former best friend' mouth shyly and surprisingly, with an incredible amount of ease. As if she had done it countless times before...
Mamoru's heart twisted with a jealous, heartbreaking lurch as he remembered how Usagi's eyes would be tender from their kisses and her lips would be red and soft from his kisses...
Mamoru bowed his head over the railing that was clenched tightly between his pallid white fingers; he couldn't watch anymore, it hurt too much.
But it shouldn't have, he told himself as he battled his jealousy. He was in love with Rei; he had been over Usagi the moment he and Rei had decided that they were going to go to bed together.
It was her business on whomever she wanted to sleep with and kiss. It was her business to choose her new lover because Mamoru had stepped down from that plate long ago and left the spot open for any one to fill.
But he couldn't ignore the distinct voice in him that wondered if there was still any chance left for him to redeem her heart...
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"Any luck yet?" Makoto asked hopefully. She was so incredibly bored, but Ami insisted that if she had to sit there for the entire day, looking for that goddamn phone number, then so did they.
"A minute ago I was in the E's... wait... I'm the K's again... nope, back to the E's..." Ami looked at her, apologetically. "Nope, sorry, nothing yet. I've only got a few more pages to look through, so their number should be in the last pages. At least Minako had the number semi close to the T's." Ami added, earning her a sarcastic snort from the brunette.
She had been at it for an hour now, searching through Mina's address book, and every few minutes or so, Ami and Makoto silently agreed that they would either throttle Mina in her sleep or buy her an electronic address book that stored all the numbers alphabetically automatically.
Mina brightened suddenly. "Oh, my God." She looked at them, her face seemed to drain of the cheerfulness that had inhibited it moments ago. "Guess what?"
Makoto didn't even try to pretend she was interested. "What?"
Ami whimpered. "Mina, please, spare us your imitation of the Geiko commercial. We already told you that we believe you have the best one!"
Mina shook her head. "No. I just remember that I didn't put Haruka's number in my address book. I couldn't have, I had lost it at the time until you found it underneath that Shape magazine."
An audible thump was heard from Ami's direction. Mina continued on, ignoring that Ami had barely stopped herself from falling out of her chair. "Its so simple. I wrote it down on a piece of paper and left it on my desk!"
Makoto's eyes lingered on the small desk in the corner. It was an absolute mess; with papers stacked on top of each other, peeking out from between the pages of books, and hastily shoved to the back, trying to be hidden from the eyes of the world. There was no possible way in hell that...
Makoto's gaze swiveled over to Mina's face, looking for signs of amusement that may give away the blond's joke she was playing on them. "Don't even tell me that's the desk you put the phone number on."
Mina smiled sheepishly. "It's funny," She giggled nervously, "because that's the desk."
After shuffling through papers and rifling through books, trying to find this mythical piece of paper that supposedly existed, according to Mina, Makoto jumped up triumphantly. "I found it."
Ami eyed it carefully before she flopped back onto the loveseat like a broken doll. "God, Makoto, never again, never again will I ever participate in trying to find any sort of paper, phone number, or anything that has to do with looking through Mina's stuff. Because if I have to go through that again, I'm telling you, I'll commit suicide, I'll..."
Mina groaned. "Please, Ami, I already said I was sorry about ten times—"
"—More like two—"
"—Look, whose counting, anyway? Haven't you said enough—"
"If you hadn't written the number in an address book or put it into your cell phone like a normal person, instead on the back of a bubblegum wrapper, then—"
Mina rolled her eyes. "Oh, like, who alphabetizes anymore?"
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"May I speak to Rei-chan?" Mamoru asked quietly, his voice hoarse from when he had been screaming in his pillow last night, trying to release some of the pent up frustration in him. His apartment was trashed and if Rei came back and saw the mess it was in; she would have a complete fit and melt down into a pile of fury.
"Sure—Mamoru?" Rei's grandfather asked, concerned. "Are you okay? You sound terrible, just terrible—"
"I've caught something infectious, I think, but I'm alright."
Mamoru barely registered the "oh okay, hold on" Rei's grandfather muttered to him before there were faint sounds of muffled groaning and the shuffle of the phone switching from one person to another.
"Hello?" Rei greeted groggily.
"Hey, Rei. It's Mamoru." He told her flatly, his voice crackling only slightly.
Rei was no longer sleepy, but wide-awake. "Hi."
"I called you to talk about... yeah."
"Should we go meet somewhere and talk about it over breakfast face-to-face or some—"
"No it's be—no." Mamoru interrupted. He ignored the sniff of insult that Rei made. "I can't meet right now. The apartment is a mess and I think I've caught something because I feel like shit and look the part too. So I think that it would be best if you stayed at the shrine for a few more—"
"Oh, okay, Mamoru, I get what you're saying." Rei stated as she put an emphasis on her words.
"What? I didn't—" He tried to protest, confused by her anger that had suddenly kicked in. "I'm just sick, I—"
"No, I get that you don't want me to come back over. I understand that since you are such the nice guy of the year, you're trying to let me down easy. I don't need you to be such a nice fellow, Mamoru because I'm a big girl and I'll do more than take it, I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life!" She shrieked, on the brink of losing all self-control.
"I—I—Rei—"
"I also understand that you don't want to go through the wedding." Rei said, simply. "I get that you want Usagi back!"
Mamoru almost dropped the phone at her last comment. "You are—this is totally absurd, I just wanted to tell you that I—"
She didn't give him time to finish, she clicked it off in a huff, aggravated that she hadn't had the pleasure of slamming it down instead.
Mamoru stared at the receiver, bewildered. "Shit... I guess that means the wedding is... off?"
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Motoki poked her lightly in the side, only earning him a grumbled, "Just one more minute, okay?" from the half-asleep blond.
"Usagi... Usagi... please, wake up..." Motoki gently prodded as he lifted her chin so she could up at him. He looked down into a pair of sleepy amethyst depths.
"I'm just resting my eyes, don't worry." Usagi sighed as she nestled her head onto the crook in his shoulder.
"But you've got to go back to the hotel, sleepyhead." Motoki told her, his pale, blue-green eyes twinkled, amused. "We have to go; the park is closing soon."
"Toki-chan, don't worry about it." Usagi slurred. "We'll get home soon enough."
At least she's sitting up on her own, Motoki thought positively. He watched as she stretched and relaxed, her eyes still held a sleepy look to them, but she was alert enough to stand up when he slid an arm around her waist and helped her up.
Motoki focused on getting Usagi back to the hotel, not how her thigh rubbed against the length of his when they stood up and not how... "Okay, we definitely have to go home now."
"Fine." Usagi muttered, he watched as her eyelids drooped. "Let's go."
Motoki rolled his eyes up to the heavens and sighed heavily. Motoki loved Usagi and all, but honestly...
This was the last time he believed Usagi when she told him she'd stay awake if they took a midnight walk and had a few drinks beforehand.
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Mamoru shifted the weight from one leg to the other. What was he thinking? Rei had called off the wedding and in the process took care of a lot of his problems. She had made it quite clear that she never wanted to see him again because of his hesitation with his love with her.
He lifted his hand to knock, but brought it back down to his side. If she had taken care of a large portion of his problems, then why was he standing there, in front of the shrine, arguing with himself about his pathetic problems that he had technically created for himself in the first place?
Before he could come up with an answer, the shrine door slid open with a whirl and Rei popped out, a large box steadied in her arms.
"Excuse me, I—" She stopped mid-sentence when she looked up from over the box and realized who was in her way. Her grip on the box slackened and it slipped from her grasp.
Darien reflexively caught it and handed it to her, his biceps bulging slightly through his tight, pale green, long sleeved shirt. "Um, hi. Yeah, this is weird."
Rei flushed a deep red color. "Umm, it is." She said, flushing. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be chasing after Usagi or something?" She coolly remarked, regaining her composure. She swept past him and descended down the flight of stairs with the box still in her hands.
He followed her, reluctant to play in her hard-to-get, dramatic make-up episode. "If I wanted to chase Usagi, I'd be over at the hotel that's she's staying at instead of being here trying to work through things and talk."
Rei didn't look convinced. "Did you come here to ask the ring back? Or did you want the keys to your apartment back so you could give them to Usagi—"
Mamoru grabbed her by the shoulders as gently as he could and spun her around to face him. "Goddamn, Rei, could you stop being so freaking stubborn and hear me out?"
Rei nodded soundlessly, but she focused her gaze elsewhere. "I don't know why you think that I want to..." he paused, still in disbelief about what he was doing. "...Cancel the wedding, but I don't. I'm here so that we can come together and try to mend our relationship and not let this one fall out ruin what we have between us."
"Really?" She smiled. "You don't want to cancel the wedding?"
"No, of course not." Mamoru assured her weakly. Usagi didn't want him back and even if it took his heart the rest of his natural life to catch up with his brain, neither did he. He saw her letting Motoki sticking his tongue down her throat; what more of a sign did he need? She was obviously falling in love, not to mention with the wrong guy. Mamoru flinched at his selfish line of thoughts, he snapped back to reality when Rei's voice reached him.
Uh-oh. "You come here, asking for forgiveness, and you even have the nerve to ignore me! Grandpa said our views tend to change as we grow older and I'm beginning to see what he means! At first I thought that the dreamy look in your eyes was cute, but not that I know whom you're dreaming about, it's really a turn-off now. I cannot believe how blind I've been... for this long, too."
Mamoru took the box from her and tossed it in the dumpster. He bit his lip and searched her face a few moments, her warm breath touched his skin as she continued to lecture to him, oblivious to the fact that what she was saying was definitely not getting through to Mamoru.
Leaning downwards, Mamoru did the only thing he could think of to shut his raven headed beauty up: he kissed her, long, hard, and with an extreme amount of tongue.
That shut her up quite nicely, Mamoru noted with satisfaction.
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"Yeah, she fell asleep, and I'm just trying to get her to her..."
"Say no more, buddy, I understand." The security guard leered knowingly. He winked and Motoki had the distinct feeling that this cheap, underpaid rent- a-cop really had no idea what Motoki was going through and that he understood nothing.
But when the security guard's hand brushed against her cheek when he leaned forward to press the elevator button for him, Motoki felt a surge of jealousy shoot through him. "Yeah, okay. Thanks for your help, buddy." Motoki said in a clipped tone as he shoved past the guy and carefully helped the barely awake Usagi into the elevator.
"She's a real catch." The guy told him. "A real beauty is more like it."
This guy was disgusted Motoki and did Usagi's beauty, both inner and outer, no justice. "Yeah, I know."
The buff cop smiled lustfully at Usagi before turning away. "When she tires of you, golden boy, I'll be here."
Motoki growled predatorily at him before he jabbed the button. He had never been much of the jealous type before, but now with Usagi he didn't know what kind of person he was anymore. "I'm sure that she'll keep that in mind." Motoki commented sarcastically, warranting him a dark look from the security guard.
The elevator made a quiet sound of arrival and the large doors pulled open, revealing a long line of doors on each side of them. "Usagi, we're almost to your room."
Motoki then realized that he had no idea what her room number was or even what floor she was staying on. He had been so intent on getting Usagi away from the creepy security guard that he hadn't even bothered to find out her room was.
Motoki nudged her, trying to bring her back to semi-consciousness. "Usagi, you've got to wake up. I've got no idea where your room is."
"Uh-huh." Usagi muttered incoherently. "Are you sleeping over?"
Motoki blushed, despite the fact that he knew perfectly well he was indeed not sleeping over. "Usagi, you're not making sense. Which room are you staying in?"
"...I can't remember. Oh, God, my head is killing me..."
Motoki looked at her, alarmed. He'd drunk plenty of times before to know what that meant and what usually followed comments like those. "Uh-oh. Okay, don't panic, I just... where's the room key, Usagi?" Maybe her room key had the room number on it.
"Here." Motoki was relieved to see that she was slowly coming back to him as she dug into her pocket and handed him the key, along with all her receipts and every other scraps of papers.
And as it turned out, the key of course didn't have the number of the room on it. But as he glanced through the papers, he realized that the receipt from the hotel was among them, and her room number and what floor it was on was, thankfully, scribbled on the bottom of it, obviously to remind Usagi and help prod along her memory that hadn't improved greatly over the years.
Ten minutes, two floors up, and three attempts at opening a door later, Motoki had finally pushed the door to Usagi's room open. Tossing the key and the receipts on the nearest table, he made his way to the bed and gently laid her down in the bed. Her hair had come undone from its ponytail and was now spread out around her, creating a halo affect and making her seem like a sleeping angel.
Motoki slipped the covers over Usagi's delicate body and resisted the urge to climb into the bed with her and lie down next to her warm body. "Are you leaving?" Usagi's soft, sore voice broke his thoughts.
"Yeah, I have to." He told her regretfully. "I have to open the arcade tomorrow."
"Oh okay. Oh, hell, I—" Usagi stopped and made a choking sound before she jumped up and hurtled into the bathroom.
Sounds of gagging and purging noises were heard in a matter of minutes. Motoki flinched. He really wasn't the puking expert on hangovers or anything, but he had gotten drunk enough times to know that tomorrow was going to be a hellish morning for her.
She seemed to be wide-awake now. "Motoki..." Usagi called for him weakly. She began throwing up again, this time her eyes watered painfully as she gripped her stomach.
Strong fingers grasped her hair tenderly and pulled it away from her face. She looked up at him gratefully. "Thanks, Motoki, I..."
Motoki sighed, but he leaned down onto his knees and rubbed her back in soothing, circular motions. "You're welcome, Usagi."
Usagi tried to explain, but it felt like someone was taking a ram and battering it at her head. She wanted to tell him that she appreciated him, that she couldn't have asked for someone better to help her, but puking her guts out left her not much room to talk at all; plus, Usagi decided against trying to open her mouth unless necessary, who knew what might come out?
Instead she gave him a watery, closed mouth smile before she groaned in annoyance and at her throbbing head. She felt another round surge up her throat, Usagi groped for the edge of the toilet, but missed and instead one hand griped the seat and the other landed in Motoki's lap. Usagi mentally hit herself over the head when she realized that she did suck at aiming and that instead of puking her guts out into the toilet, she had done it instead onto the bottom half of Motoki.
"Oh! Oh, Usagi... oh... this is... just so... eh—" Motoki swallowed the bile that forced itself up his throat. "—It's okay, I just—"
Usagi gaped at Motoki in horror. This wasn't good! Usagi grimaced; she wished she could just take back the whole day; nothing good had come from it and this just proved it and topped the entire thing off! Plus, this was so not the romantic approach and sexy appeal that Usagi had been planning on capturing Motoki with. In fact, Usagi believed that she was having quite the opposite affect on him. Usagi wanted to cry once she saw the look of horror and disgust flash across his face.
"It's all right, I'll clean myself up, then I guess I'll leave or something because you'll need your sleep or whatever." All of a sudden, lying down with Usagi in bed didn't sound so tempting as it had earlier. He just needed to take a nice long shower and change into some new clothes, and perhaps, burn the ones that he was wearing now.
Usagi bit the inside of her cheek as she blearily looked up at Motoki and tried to focus on his face. Why couldn't he stop moving around and just stand still? "Oh, God, Motoki... I really sorry—you're not mad, are you? I just... you must hate me now..."
Usagi frowned. Motoki bent over and leaned towards her, despite his current situation. "Nah, Usagi, don't feel guilty; it was an accident, I understand that. I'm not going to, like, blow up over this. It's just..." Motoki paused and let his gaze flicker over his lower half. His eyes returned to Usagi and he gave a reassuring smile, however forced it may have been. "...Throw up, you know? Nothing big."
Usagi tilted her head. "Are you sure? I... I feel horrible."
"No, no, no. It's nothing. I just need a towel or something." Motoki hated to admit that what he really needed was to change his clothes.
Usagi wanted to stand up, but she couldn't find the power in her legs to lift herself up. "Oh, Jesus, okay, I'll walk you to the door..."
Motoki waved her off and slowly stood up, careful not to look at his lower self. "Don't worry about it, okay? You just stay here and..."
He didn't have the chance to finish because she collapsed to the ground and leaned over the toilet bowl, sounds of retching starting up again. Motoki sighed and looked at himself. He supposed that he wasn't that bad off... he could take his pants off or something if it really bothered him that much...
"Here, I'll stay just for a little longer..." Motoki grinned. "Anyway, I know that since your hangover tomorrow is going to really, really suck, we'll be in equal amount of pain."
At Usagi's surprised expression, Motoki grinned at her apologetically. "It was a joke, Usa. I won't be feeling too great either when I know you'll be feeling like crap and having a monster headache all day."
Usagi's face visibly relaxed. "Oh." She gave a weak attempt of a laugh. Her throat still burned and her head was beginning to buzz with a warning that the oncoming headache was going to be anything but harmless and painless. "I didn't quite catch it that time."
"I could tell once you looked at me with that look that said: and-I-thought- you-were-a-nice-person."
Usagi laughed, but immediately regretted it afterwards. "I don't think any less of you, trust me. It should definitely be the other way around."
"Oh, I think none of the sort." Motoki flirted shamelessly. "Do nice people kiss unbelievably desirable girls like yourself?" Motoki asked slyly.
Usagi grinned, in spite of the sickening feeling that boiled in her stomach. "I think that I'll have to get back to you on that one."
"Oh, you're so funny, huh?" Motoki smiled, despite the pungent smell. He still marveled at his incredible luck at meeting a girl who wanted him as much as he wanted her. Even though he was covered in puke and she was on the verge of throwing up again.
He leaned in and touched his lips to hers and sighed as his body heated up in response to hers and he felt his pulse quicken considerably. God, what an affect she had on him!
They continued for a few more minutes, both of their fingers fumbling with the other's shirt, that is, until Usagi hastily pulled away, breaking their dream-like kisses. Motoki's mind came to a halting stop and crashed back to reality, reminding where they were and the circumstances that they were under.
For him that immediately broke the mood. "I've really got to go, Usagi, it's late... I'm sorry." He sighed, feeling like the biggest jerk for leaving her on her own to fend for herself against the attack of the hangover. "I don't have to open until eight tomorrow and I'll drop by beforehand with some presents that I guarantee you'll love me for."
Usagi groaned good-naturedly. "Okay... it's fine that you've got to go... bye..."
He kissed her forehead before he let himself out quietly. "Bye, Usagi... love you..." But he had closed the door long before he had uttered those last two words, making it impossible for her to hear him.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Ami was not amused when Mina had that thoughtful look on her face that suggested she was toying with the idea of going through with her plan that was completely overrated and not through well at all.
"Mina," Ami began with a sigh, "we don't have time for this. I thought we already decided on what we're doing."
"But—"
"Mina." Makoto muttered darkly with a hint of danger laced in her single word of warning, shutting the blond up.
"Okay, fine. Can I have a code name then?" Mina begged, pouting.
"All right, already! You can have a codename!" Ami rolled her eyes. "Does this mean that along with codenames we should get walkie-talkies and matching camouflage outfits because God forbid we're not dressed properly."
Mina put a hand to her forehead, as if Ami's comment had made her feel weak at the knees and dizzy with disgust. "Ami, you have much to learn of fashion. Honestly, what were those designers thinking when they decided that mud brown and dark green was actually the new periwinkle and mauve? Were they trying to make a fashion statement that said: join the military if looking like the next drab generation is your thing?"
All Ami could manage to do was let out a sigh of defeat and give Makoto a look of admission. "Mina, we'll consider your plan if it'll shut you up about your unintelligent argument about army fashion designs."
Mina grinned happily. "You guys are going to love the idea."
Makoto grunted. "I highly doubt that if it includes you and your insane ideas in the mix."
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Mamoru decided that since he and Rei had reconciled, they would have to begin the wedding planning fiasco again sometime. He still wasn't sure what his heart wanted. Getting back together with Rei and getting married to her forever was exactly what he had been outlining for their future the moment he bought her that diamond ring. She was sexy, beautiful, smart, independent, and powerful, what more could he want? Why was this decision so hard for him?
But in the depths of his mind, Mamoru knew the answer to his question. He was choosing to not acknowledge it. He was afraid of being alone. Rei was an obvious safe choice, he cared for her enough to have the desire to marry her, but he could feel himself pulling towards the direction of Usagi.
But he had given up any opportunity with her when he and Rei had slept together! Usagi could and would never take him back, even if he wanted her to, because she was for one, with Motoki, and for another, she most probably hated him to her very core. If he gave up Rei and Usagi never wanted to speak to him again, he'd be right back where he started: alone and out-of-place in the world. How could he face life after experiencing what it felt like to love and be loved? How could he be expected to...
"Mamoru?" Rei repeated irritably. "Is your head in the clouds again?"
"Yeah? No, no, of course not, sorry."
Rei smiled, satisfied by his answer. "Back to reality, Mamo-chan. What kind of flower do you thin we should place on the church's steps? I was thinking that we could use something like..."
Mamoru stared at the pictures in the album, but his brain barely registered a single picture or the captions. All he could think about was whether or not he was making the right choice. His thoughts were consumed by his decision—he could almost classify his fixated thoughts as obsessive and almost scary.
What if he wasn't ready to make such a commitment? What if he and Rei weren't meant for each other? Would he be ruining his life along with Rei's?
"...And I really think that it goes well with the lilies. Don't you think so, too?"
Mamoru shot Rei a strained smile. "Of course," he said, as if he hadn't said it more than fifty times before, it seemed.
"Oooh, wait. This one!" Rei giggled dreamily. "I like this one better. Don't you, Mamo-chan?"
"Of course."
"I do, too. But what if—"
Mamoru stood up, startling both himself and Rei. "I've got to go. I just remembered that I have to let in the cleaning crew to the apartment"—he smiled helplessly—"they say they'll need me to sign liability papers and so forth as well. You understand, don't you?"
Rei looked as if she had recovered slightly from his sudden change of heart. "Y—yes, definitely, I understand." She kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Tell them to hurry and do their job because I want to come home." She looked around her and rolled her eyes. "Living with grandpa is great and all, but the temple is apart of my past, and my past isn't a place that I feel like revisiting right now."
Mamoru winced at her implication, but said no more. The less words spoken, the faster he could leave. "Call me, Mamoru."
"Sure."
"I love you." The words hovered in the air, daring him to not acknowledge him. Mamoru opened his mouth to repeat the words, after all they were just words, right? It wouldn't hurt anything if he said those words without as much feeling as he said they meant.
In fact, not saying those words would hurt more than actually saying them. Not saying them would signal warning bells in Rei's mind, only setting off another onslaught of problems and misunderstandings between them, widening the growing golf-sized gap between them.
"I love you too." Mamoru said flatly as he flashed outside, intent of freeing himself of the unsure words as quickly as possible.
Rei watched Mamoru disappear outside. "Here we go again." Rei muttered as she swished the curtains closed and turned away from the window. He was doing it again; telling her one thing while his eyes and his body completely said something else.
He thought he was being secretive and a quick thinker about his excuses and feelings, but Rei knew better. He was trying to get away from her and that "I love you" that he mumbled quietly to her—what a fake!
"I might as well do something too!" Rei decided aloud as she stood up and pushed the mounds of books and fabrics to the side. Rei surveyed the room around her thoughtfully. What on earth could she do to keep herself occupied?
Then an interesting thought struck Rei. She let a mischievous smile play at her glossy lips. It had been such a long time since she had had a girls' night out with the remaining lot of friends that she had left.
She hadn't gone out dancing with anyone in even a longer amount of time. With a mind set out on having fun and forgetting about Mamoru's unsure words, even if it was for a few hours, Rei swept into her bedroom, and realized that since she had left the apartment in such a rush, she was short of anything sexy or wild enough to wear.
Damned! Rei thought sourly. She mentally searched the bedroom's closets at the apartment for any outfits that might be worth her time, and as she feared, she found none that met up to the high expectations that she had set.
Besides, if she went to the apartment and Mamoru was there, he might think that she was so desperate for him, that she had followed him back there with the lousy excuse that she needed an outfit.
Maybe clubbing was out of the question; maybe she had grown too old for it. Rei shook her head. No, that sort of negative thinking would get her nowhere. In fact, she needed to go clubbing, not only to get her groove on, but to maybe flirt with some guys, after all, who knew what would become of her relationship in the future at this rate with Mamoru?
With a resolved mind, Rei dialed her friends' numbers, praying that they had an extra outfit that she could borrow and that they would be willing to take some time for themselves to hang out with Rei, who had more than enough time for herself.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Lady Nakosha
--- --- --- --- --- ---
ALL STANDARD DISCLAIMERS APPLY
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Rei dragged herself up the never-ending flight of weathered, stone-stairs that led up to her temporary home, the Cherry Hill Temple. Last time she had been here, she hadn't remembered there being this many steps. "Finally." Rei muttered under her breath as she dropped her bags at her sides and pushed the delicate, sliding door open.
"Rei-chan!" An older, enthusiastic voice shouted out, breaking the quiet atmosphere of the shrine. Rei smiled slightly as her grandfather stood from his cross-legged position; the only thing that had changed about him was that he seemed to have a few more gray hairs, if possible, on his already balding head.
His laugh took a nasty dive and turned into a hacking cough. Rei stepped closer to him, worried that he was choking and that he would have to perform CPR on him if he needed her to... oh gross, Rei mentally retched, mouth-to-mouth with grandpa would so be not cool!
Her grandfather waved her off and with a surprisingly strong grip; he pulled her into a semi-hug. She was barely managing to hug him, since he was so much smaller than her, his head rested barely below her chin and his upper body was pressed against her breasts, causing Rei to be uneasy and more awkward than usual. Had her grandfather gotten shorter or did she get taller?
"Rei, Rei, Rei-chan." He repeated cheerfully as he pulled away from her. "How have you been? How are you and Mamoru doing? The wedding plans are coming along good, yes?"
Rei swallowed and nodded. "How are those nice friends of yours doing? That blond one with the odangos... what was her name? She was very distinct, however, I remember that much." He shook his head. "Ah, nevermind. They are all nice and very pretty."
She was more than unwilling to admit that that "blond one" was no longer on speaking terms with her and hated Rei with all of her heart. Not to mention the fact that that "blond one" was stealing her fiancée's heart from her once again...
Not that it had been Rei's to start with, though...
"They're great, grandpa." Rei lied easily. The anxious, troubled feeling when she lied washed over her; triggering unwanted memories of that tragic night that had ended a millennium worth of friendships...
Grandpa poured himself a cup of sweet smelling tea. He offered Rei a cup and she took it gratefully, thankful that her hands had something to do rather than move stupidly at her side. "They use to stop by here so much before, why not anymore?" His face relaxed as he slowly sipped the warm, soothing drink.
Rei hesitated. "They've been a bit busy to stop by. I'll tell them that you miss them, though." Rei assured him falsely. Thank goodness his memory was failing him and he didn't realize that they hadn't stopped by in over five years now...
"Oh, good. I've always liked your friends, very nice all of them." He commented as he looked up at Rei.
Rei fidgeted under his powerful gaze. She wished that they could get off the subject of her currently former friends and talk about something that she wouldn't have to, well, lie about. "Yeah, they are nice." Not to me, exactly, but yes, to everyone else, Rei thought cynically.
"Rei?" Her grandfather looked at her, worriedly. She lifted her lips into a ghost of a smile at the small gesture. She hadn't had anyone look at her with so much love and seem so concerned about her in such a longtime. She could feel herself growing more and more shameful because her grandfather adored her, thinking she was this wonderful person while she was telling him bald-faced lies. "You seemed distressed. Why?"
The balmy liquid threatened to come back up as she made a choking sound. Rei hastily wiped her mouth with her sleeve. "Um, I'm fine." She forced herself to smile at him and with the remainder of her reserve willpower, she added, "It's the stress from planning the wedding, I swear. It's been really getting to me and grandpa, I just needed to get away from it all." Despite her remorse, she continued on, she was on a roll now, "I had to beg Mamoru to let me come here and stay for a few days because I've missed you and I need the tranquility of the shrine to refocus myself."
Rei set the cup on the table, uneager to have another encounter with the tea. Tea was supposed to be relaxing to the muscles and the mind, wasn't it? Well, how long does it take for the feeling to kick in and take place? Rei asked herself despairingly.
Her grandfather regarded her with wise eyes. "Yes, I see, my grandchild."
"So is it okay with you, that I stay for a few days?" Or at least until Mamoru takes me back... hopefully? Rei added silently in her mind.
He nodded, eagerly. "Yes, yes, of course! You stay here for however long you wish!" he waggled his finger at her. "But don't expect to stay without repaying me by doing chores around here!"
After they sat in silence for ten minutes or so, just enjoying the mere company of each other, her grandfather sipping his tea, while Rei watched him with her hands clasped respectively in her lap and her feet folded beneath her, they finally began striking up a conversation; a conversation that quickly became playful and argumentative.
An argument between the two was dangerous; both had stubborn minds and refused to budge or compromise their thoughts or actions for the other. "You never used to complain so much before."
Rei groaned. "I'm not as young as I was before. I have much more to complain about now than I did before."
"So? I'm almost eighty-four and I'm getting better as my years pass me by." He smiled at her. "I honestly don't think that your silly wrinkles and lines are anything compared to mine."
"Oh, please." Rei bristled. "I am still young, but I think that I should be given the opportunity to voice my fears about looking older than I actually am. I mean, yes, it was nice to look seventeen while I was really fifteen, but I don't really want to look thirty, when I am twenty-five, thank you very much."
She looked at the trees outside critically, searching their branches for an answer; any answer at all. "Being old is a gift, it shows that you have aged well through life and that you no longer need simple things to please you as you've had them all already during your youth. Do you see me now? I am content with just being, Rei."
"Save me from the getting-older-isn't-as-horrible-as-you-picture-it-to-be lecture because guess what, Grandpa?"
He looked up at her out of amusement. "Because it is as horrible as I picture it to be! I don't want to grow old, no offense, because I want to stay young and be able to accomplish everything I do before I become senile and stuck in a bed all the time, too tired to stand up and go pee by myself."
"I am not yet that old." Grandpa sighed dramatically as he slowly lifted himself up. "Save me from the getting-old-is-so-scary-and-I-want-to-be- young-forever speech. I've experienced your fears and trust me they are unfounded. Being old is a wonderful ride and I hope that it lasts for many more years because I am unwilling to get off of it yet."
"But you know that it's true—"
"One thing is for certain, however."
"Yes? And what's that?"
"As we get older, our views change from what it was when we were younger." He looked at her meaningfully. "There is always hope for all of us as we mature and grow older."
Rei nodded and stood up quickly, rocking slightly as the blood rushed to her head. She decided to use that as her excuse to leave. She didn't know how much longer she could handle her grandfather's insightful remarks that were doing more than hitting close to home; they were hitting home. "I... I'm not feeling well; grandpa, and I've still got to unpack. I'm going to head back to my old room, okay?"
Grandpa looked at her almost piteously. "All right, but you can't use your old room."
Rei didn't understand why, but she felt her heart plummet to her feet. "Oh? Why?"
"I use it for storage since you never really visited before and I thought of it as okay to use the room instead of letting an empty room stay unused."
"Yeah, yeah, I understand."
"But you use guestroom, Rei-chan. It's got blankets in closet and even closer to bathroom than your old one was!"
Rei shook her head, gathered her bags, and headed outside and to the back where the guestroom's door faced. It was only the most sensible thing for her grandfather to do; he had every right to make her old room somewhere for her grandfather to store things. Rei wasn't sure why she was acting like such a freak about it; it was just her old room for God's sake! In a matter of weeks she wouldn't ever have to think or even worry about it again!
Rei threw her bags down, disgusted, and sat in her darkened room, her mind whirling from the past events. She hadn't allowed herself the time to think so thoroughly and so freely since... forever, it seemed.
The truth of the past five years barreled into her mercilessly, forcing her to relieve events that she would have rather kept in the past, her grandfather's words came back and ricocheted inside of her mind:
...Always hope for all of us as we mature...
Rei listened to the words carefully, trying to find some hidden meaning between the lines. Her grandfather knew more than he let on, Rei should have learned that many years ago. But somehow everything that she had learned and known her entire life... it seemed to become lost to her during these past five years.
She had lost herself and now she needed to find the old Rei that lied hidden deep within her. Rei knew that her grandfather was trying to tell her something and Rei remembered one thing, despite everything else that she had seemed to lot. She knew that the meaning of her grandfather's words would always find her, never the other way around.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
"Why does what we're planning feel so totally wrong?" Mina groaned as she struggled between the urges to begin giggling crazily or to moan and grumble guiltily.
But she couldn't help but to let the excited, giddy feeling of finally getting revenge wash over her before the more modest, guilty party in her booted it out of her system and she returned to the battle between the two sides.
Because it is totally wrong." Ami replied tersely as she searched diligently through Mina's messy, close-to-being-outdated address book. "How many phone numbers do you have in here?"
"Oh, I don't know. A hundred or so." Mina said listlessly as she stared across the room. It had been a surprising win; her bored side had won and defeated any feelings of guilt, excitement, or even the urge to want to complain. She was tired and bored, not a good combination for anyone else, but deadly to Mina.
"Isn't that nice." Ami barked. "Mina, tell me, have you ever heard of putting things in alphabetical order before?
Mina shifted her gaze to meet Ami's before she turned around and shrugged feebly. "Yes, but it was such a pain in the ass, so I just wrote down the information in the first blank spot I found."
Makoto dropped her head into her hands. "Go figure that Mina's the only person who actually has Haruka's phone number."
--- --- --- --- --- ---
"What are we doing here?" Usagi asked breathlessly as they slowed down in front of the docks.
"Don't you remember?" Motoki asked, grinning impishly. "It's where we almost first kissed." He lowered his mouth towards hers and added, "and it's going to be one of the places where we actually kiss many, many times..."
Usagi giggled beneath his lips. His mouth being so close to hers was making it awfully hard to think and form coherent sentences...
Once his lips finally found hers, Usagi felt herself drifting off into the hazy fog of the kiss; her mind separated itself from her body, then his hands were on her hips, dragging her closer and shaping her with their raw intimacy and need that neither of them could ignore.
Unknowing to the otherwise preoccupied couple; Mamoru stood seven floors up on his balcony, still unaware of the two of them.
Mamoru rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he remembered the hurt, surprised look that had crossed over Rei's face when he had closed the door behind her without any argument or begging of her to stay.
She had been the one who decided to leave, what did she expect him to do? Grovel? Plead?
"What to do... what to do..." Mamoru chanted to himself, quietly. His feelings were truly a mystery; they alone held his misery and happiness, somewhere inside of him. He was getting married, for God's sake. People who get married didn't have such doubts, did they? Having cold feet was one thing, but considering canceling the wedding was a whole other story.
Mamoru stared out at the window at the setting sun. The sun seemed to stretch out spare rays of golden brilliance and splash marigold and turquoise across the almost blackened sky, which was absent of any stars.
Mamoru scanned the horizon, satisfied that he had—
Wait? The single word, questionable as it was, echoed throughout Mamoru's mind. His eyes were drawn to two figures kissing on the docks. He knew them...
Then the female moved her head slightly, causing her blond hair to tumble to the side. Mamoru's heart constricted against his chest as he realized it was Usagi and Motoki together with their hands all over each other and their mouths dangerously close to touching.
He stepped closer to the side of the balcony and his lower stomach pressed against the railing, he watched, haunted, as Motoki caused Usagi to erupt into a fit of giggles, her smile stung his heart with a burning stab.
His eyes grew gray with agony as he watched Motoki lean down and capture Usagi's raspberry lips within his own. Usagi explored his now former best friend' mouth shyly and surprisingly, with an incredible amount of ease. As if she had done it countless times before...
Mamoru's heart twisted with a jealous, heartbreaking lurch as he remembered how Usagi's eyes would be tender from their kisses and her lips would be red and soft from his kisses...
Mamoru bowed his head over the railing that was clenched tightly between his pallid white fingers; he couldn't watch anymore, it hurt too much.
But it shouldn't have, he told himself as he battled his jealousy. He was in love with Rei; he had been over Usagi the moment he and Rei had decided that they were going to go to bed together.
It was her business on whomever she wanted to sleep with and kiss. It was her business to choose her new lover because Mamoru had stepped down from that plate long ago and left the spot open for any one to fill.
But he couldn't ignore the distinct voice in him that wondered if there was still any chance left for him to redeem her heart...
--- --- --- --- --- ---
"Any luck yet?" Makoto asked hopefully. She was so incredibly bored, but Ami insisted that if she had to sit there for the entire day, looking for that goddamn phone number, then so did they.
"A minute ago I was in the E's... wait... I'm the K's again... nope, back to the E's..." Ami looked at her, apologetically. "Nope, sorry, nothing yet. I've only got a few more pages to look through, so their number should be in the last pages. At least Minako had the number semi close to the T's." Ami added, earning her a sarcastic snort from the brunette.
She had been at it for an hour now, searching through Mina's address book, and every few minutes or so, Ami and Makoto silently agreed that they would either throttle Mina in her sleep or buy her an electronic address book that stored all the numbers alphabetically automatically.
Mina brightened suddenly. "Oh, my God." She looked at them, her face seemed to drain of the cheerfulness that had inhibited it moments ago. "Guess what?"
Makoto didn't even try to pretend she was interested. "What?"
Ami whimpered. "Mina, please, spare us your imitation of the Geiko commercial. We already told you that we believe you have the best one!"
Mina shook her head. "No. I just remember that I didn't put Haruka's number in my address book. I couldn't have, I had lost it at the time until you found it underneath that Shape magazine."
An audible thump was heard from Ami's direction. Mina continued on, ignoring that Ami had barely stopped herself from falling out of her chair. "Its so simple. I wrote it down on a piece of paper and left it on my desk!"
Makoto's eyes lingered on the small desk in the corner. It was an absolute mess; with papers stacked on top of each other, peeking out from between the pages of books, and hastily shoved to the back, trying to be hidden from the eyes of the world. There was no possible way in hell that...
Makoto's gaze swiveled over to Mina's face, looking for signs of amusement that may give away the blond's joke she was playing on them. "Don't even tell me that's the desk you put the phone number on."
Mina smiled sheepishly. "It's funny," She giggled nervously, "because that's the desk."
After shuffling through papers and rifling through books, trying to find this mythical piece of paper that supposedly existed, according to Mina, Makoto jumped up triumphantly. "I found it."
Ami eyed it carefully before she flopped back onto the loveseat like a broken doll. "God, Makoto, never again, never again will I ever participate in trying to find any sort of paper, phone number, or anything that has to do with looking through Mina's stuff. Because if I have to go through that again, I'm telling you, I'll commit suicide, I'll..."
Mina groaned. "Please, Ami, I already said I was sorry about ten times—"
"—More like two—"
"—Look, whose counting, anyway? Haven't you said enough—"
"If you hadn't written the number in an address book or put it into your cell phone like a normal person, instead on the back of a bubblegum wrapper, then—"
Mina rolled her eyes. "Oh, like, who alphabetizes anymore?"
--- --- --- --- --- ---
"May I speak to Rei-chan?" Mamoru asked quietly, his voice hoarse from when he had been screaming in his pillow last night, trying to release some of the pent up frustration in him. His apartment was trashed and if Rei came back and saw the mess it was in; she would have a complete fit and melt down into a pile of fury.
"Sure—Mamoru?" Rei's grandfather asked, concerned. "Are you okay? You sound terrible, just terrible—"
"I've caught something infectious, I think, but I'm alright."
Mamoru barely registered the "oh okay, hold on" Rei's grandfather muttered to him before there were faint sounds of muffled groaning and the shuffle of the phone switching from one person to another.
"Hello?" Rei greeted groggily.
"Hey, Rei. It's Mamoru." He told her flatly, his voice crackling only slightly.
Rei was no longer sleepy, but wide-awake. "Hi."
"I called you to talk about... yeah."
"Should we go meet somewhere and talk about it over breakfast face-to-face or some—"
"No it's be—no." Mamoru interrupted. He ignored the sniff of insult that Rei made. "I can't meet right now. The apartment is a mess and I think I've caught something because I feel like shit and look the part too. So I think that it would be best if you stayed at the shrine for a few more—"
"Oh, okay, Mamoru, I get what you're saying." Rei stated as she put an emphasis on her words.
"What? I didn't—" He tried to protest, confused by her anger that had suddenly kicked in. "I'm just sick, I—"
"No, I get that you don't want me to come back over. I understand that since you are such the nice guy of the year, you're trying to let me down easy. I don't need you to be such a nice fellow, Mamoru because I'm a big girl and I'll do more than take it, I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life!" She shrieked, on the brink of losing all self-control.
"I—I—Rei—"
"I also understand that you don't want to go through the wedding." Rei said, simply. "I get that you want Usagi back!"
Mamoru almost dropped the phone at her last comment. "You are—this is totally absurd, I just wanted to tell you that I—"
She didn't give him time to finish, she clicked it off in a huff, aggravated that she hadn't had the pleasure of slamming it down instead.
Mamoru stared at the receiver, bewildered. "Shit... I guess that means the wedding is... off?"
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Motoki poked her lightly in the side, only earning him a grumbled, "Just one more minute, okay?" from the half-asleep blond.
"Usagi... Usagi... please, wake up..." Motoki gently prodded as he lifted her chin so she could up at him. He looked down into a pair of sleepy amethyst depths.
"I'm just resting my eyes, don't worry." Usagi sighed as she nestled her head onto the crook in his shoulder.
"But you've got to go back to the hotel, sleepyhead." Motoki told her, his pale, blue-green eyes twinkled, amused. "We have to go; the park is closing soon."
"Toki-chan, don't worry about it." Usagi slurred. "We'll get home soon enough."
At least she's sitting up on her own, Motoki thought positively. He watched as she stretched and relaxed, her eyes still held a sleepy look to them, but she was alert enough to stand up when he slid an arm around her waist and helped her up.
Motoki focused on getting Usagi back to the hotel, not how her thigh rubbed against the length of his when they stood up and not how... "Okay, we definitely have to go home now."
"Fine." Usagi muttered, he watched as her eyelids drooped. "Let's go."
Motoki rolled his eyes up to the heavens and sighed heavily. Motoki loved Usagi and all, but honestly...
This was the last time he believed Usagi when she told him she'd stay awake if they took a midnight walk and had a few drinks beforehand.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Mamoru shifted the weight from one leg to the other. What was he thinking? Rei had called off the wedding and in the process took care of a lot of his problems. She had made it quite clear that she never wanted to see him again because of his hesitation with his love with her.
He lifted his hand to knock, but brought it back down to his side. If she had taken care of a large portion of his problems, then why was he standing there, in front of the shrine, arguing with himself about his pathetic problems that he had technically created for himself in the first place?
Before he could come up with an answer, the shrine door slid open with a whirl and Rei popped out, a large box steadied in her arms.
"Excuse me, I—" She stopped mid-sentence when she looked up from over the box and realized who was in her way. Her grip on the box slackened and it slipped from her grasp.
Darien reflexively caught it and handed it to her, his biceps bulging slightly through his tight, pale green, long sleeved shirt. "Um, hi. Yeah, this is weird."
Rei flushed a deep red color. "Umm, it is." She said, flushing. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be chasing after Usagi or something?" She coolly remarked, regaining her composure. She swept past him and descended down the flight of stairs with the box still in her hands.
He followed her, reluctant to play in her hard-to-get, dramatic make-up episode. "If I wanted to chase Usagi, I'd be over at the hotel that's she's staying at instead of being here trying to work through things and talk."
Rei didn't look convinced. "Did you come here to ask the ring back? Or did you want the keys to your apartment back so you could give them to Usagi—"
Mamoru grabbed her by the shoulders as gently as he could and spun her around to face him. "Goddamn, Rei, could you stop being so freaking stubborn and hear me out?"
Rei nodded soundlessly, but she focused her gaze elsewhere. "I don't know why you think that I want to..." he paused, still in disbelief about what he was doing. "...Cancel the wedding, but I don't. I'm here so that we can come together and try to mend our relationship and not let this one fall out ruin what we have between us."
"Really?" She smiled. "You don't want to cancel the wedding?"
"No, of course not." Mamoru assured her weakly. Usagi didn't want him back and even if it took his heart the rest of his natural life to catch up with his brain, neither did he. He saw her letting Motoki sticking his tongue down her throat; what more of a sign did he need? She was obviously falling in love, not to mention with the wrong guy. Mamoru flinched at his selfish line of thoughts, he snapped back to reality when Rei's voice reached him.
Uh-oh. "You come here, asking for forgiveness, and you even have the nerve to ignore me! Grandpa said our views tend to change as we grow older and I'm beginning to see what he means! At first I thought that the dreamy look in your eyes was cute, but not that I know whom you're dreaming about, it's really a turn-off now. I cannot believe how blind I've been... for this long, too."
Mamoru took the box from her and tossed it in the dumpster. He bit his lip and searched her face a few moments, her warm breath touched his skin as she continued to lecture to him, oblivious to the fact that what she was saying was definitely not getting through to Mamoru.
Leaning downwards, Mamoru did the only thing he could think of to shut his raven headed beauty up: he kissed her, long, hard, and with an extreme amount of tongue.
That shut her up quite nicely, Mamoru noted with satisfaction.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
"Yeah, she fell asleep, and I'm just trying to get her to her..."
"Say no more, buddy, I understand." The security guard leered knowingly. He winked and Motoki had the distinct feeling that this cheap, underpaid rent- a-cop really had no idea what Motoki was going through and that he understood nothing.
But when the security guard's hand brushed against her cheek when he leaned forward to press the elevator button for him, Motoki felt a surge of jealousy shoot through him. "Yeah, okay. Thanks for your help, buddy." Motoki said in a clipped tone as he shoved past the guy and carefully helped the barely awake Usagi into the elevator.
"She's a real catch." The guy told him. "A real beauty is more like it."
This guy was disgusted Motoki and did Usagi's beauty, both inner and outer, no justice. "Yeah, I know."
The buff cop smiled lustfully at Usagi before turning away. "When she tires of you, golden boy, I'll be here."
Motoki growled predatorily at him before he jabbed the button. He had never been much of the jealous type before, but now with Usagi he didn't know what kind of person he was anymore. "I'm sure that she'll keep that in mind." Motoki commented sarcastically, warranting him a dark look from the security guard.
The elevator made a quiet sound of arrival and the large doors pulled open, revealing a long line of doors on each side of them. "Usagi, we're almost to your room."
Motoki then realized that he had no idea what her room number was or even what floor she was staying on. He had been so intent on getting Usagi away from the creepy security guard that he hadn't even bothered to find out her room was.
Motoki nudged her, trying to bring her back to semi-consciousness. "Usagi, you've got to wake up. I've got no idea where your room is."
"Uh-huh." Usagi muttered incoherently. "Are you sleeping over?"
Motoki blushed, despite the fact that he knew perfectly well he was indeed not sleeping over. "Usagi, you're not making sense. Which room are you staying in?"
"...I can't remember. Oh, God, my head is killing me..."
Motoki looked at her, alarmed. He'd drunk plenty of times before to know what that meant and what usually followed comments like those. "Uh-oh. Okay, don't panic, I just... where's the room key, Usagi?" Maybe her room key had the room number on it.
"Here." Motoki was relieved to see that she was slowly coming back to him as she dug into her pocket and handed him the key, along with all her receipts and every other scraps of papers.
And as it turned out, the key of course didn't have the number of the room on it. But as he glanced through the papers, he realized that the receipt from the hotel was among them, and her room number and what floor it was on was, thankfully, scribbled on the bottom of it, obviously to remind Usagi and help prod along her memory that hadn't improved greatly over the years.
Ten minutes, two floors up, and three attempts at opening a door later, Motoki had finally pushed the door to Usagi's room open. Tossing the key and the receipts on the nearest table, he made his way to the bed and gently laid her down in the bed. Her hair had come undone from its ponytail and was now spread out around her, creating a halo affect and making her seem like a sleeping angel.
Motoki slipped the covers over Usagi's delicate body and resisted the urge to climb into the bed with her and lie down next to her warm body. "Are you leaving?" Usagi's soft, sore voice broke his thoughts.
"Yeah, I have to." He told her regretfully. "I have to open the arcade tomorrow."
"Oh okay. Oh, hell, I—" Usagi stopped and made a choking sound before she jumped up and hurtled into the bathroom.
Sounds of gagging and purging noises were heard in a matter of minutes. Motoki flinched. He really wasn't the puking expert on hangovers or anything, but he had gotten drunk enough times to know that tomorrow was going to be a hellish morning for her.
She seemed to be wide-awake now. "Motoki..." Usagi called for him weakly. She began throwing up again, this time her eyes watered painfully as she gripped her stomach.
Strong fingers grasped her hair tenderly and pulled it away from her face. She looked up at him gratefully. "Thanks, Motoki, I..."
Motoki sighed, but he leaned down onto his knees and rubbed her back in soothing, circular motions. "You're welcome, Usagi."
Usagi tried to explain, but it felt like someone was taking a ram and battering it at her head. She wanted to tell him that she appreciated him, that she couldn't have asked for someone better to help her, but puking her guts out left her not much room to talk at all; plus, Usagi decided against trying to open her mouth unless necessary, who knew what might come out?
Instead she gave him a watery, closed mouth smile before she groaned in annoyance and at her throbbing head. She felt another round surge up her throat, Usagi groped for the edge of the toilet, but missed and instead one hand griped the seat and the other landed in Motoki's lap. Usagi mentally hit herself over the head when she realized that she did suck at aiming and that instead of puking her guts out into the toilet, she had done it instead onto the bottom half of Motoki.
"Oh! Oh, Usagi... oh... this is... just so... eh—" Motoki swallowed the bile that forced itself up his throat. "—It's okay, I just—"
Usagi gaped at Motoki in horror. This wasn't good! Usagi grimaced; she wished she could just take back the whole day; nothing good had come from it and this just proved it and topped the entire thing off! Plus, this was so not the romantic approach and sexy appeal that Usagi had been planning on capturing Motoki with. In fact, Usagi believed that she was having quite the opposite affect on him. Usagi wanted to cry once she saw the look of horror and disgust flash across his face.
"It's all right, I'll clean myself up, then I guess I'll leave or something because you'll need your sleep or whatever." All of a sudden, lying down with Usagi in bed didn't sound so tempting as it had earlier. He just needed to take a nice long shower and change into some new clothes, and perhaps, burn the ones that he was wearing now.
Usagi bit the inside of her cheek as she blearily looked up at Motoki and tried to focus on his face. Why couldn't he stop moving around and just stand still? "Oh, God, Motoki... I really sorry—you're not mad, are you? I just... you must hate me now..."
Usagi frowned. Motoki bent over and leaned towards her, despite his current situation. "Nah, Usagi, don't feel guilty; it was an accident, I understand that. I'm not going to, like, blow up over this. It's just..." Motoki paused and let his gaze flicker over his lower half. His eyes returned to Usagi and he gave a reassuring smile, however forced it may have been. "...Throw up, you know? Nothing big."
Usagi tilted her head. "Are you sure? I... I feel horrible."
"No, no, no. It's nothing. I just need a towel or something." Motoki hated to admit that what he really needed was to change his clothes.
Usagi wanted to stand up, but she couldn't find the power in her legs to lift herself up. "Oh, Jesus, okay, I'll walk you to the door..."
Motoki waved her off and slowly stood up, careful not to look at his lower self. "Don't worry about it, okay? You just stay here and..."
He didn't have the chance to finish because she collapsed to the ground and leaned over the toilet bowl, sounds of retching starting up again. Motoki sighed and looked at himself. He supposed that he wasn't that bad off... he could take his pants off or something if it really bothered him that much...
"Here, I'll stay just for a little longer..." Motoki grinned. "Anyway, I know that since your hangover tomorrow is going to really, really suck, we'll be in equal amount of pain."
At Usagi's surprised expression, Motoki grinned at her apologetically. "It was a joke, Usa. I won't be feeling too great either when I know you'll be feeling like crap and having a monster headache all day."
Usagi's face visibly relaxed. "Oh." She gave a weak attempt of a laugh. Her throat still burned and her head was beginning to buzz with a warning that the oncoming headache was going to be anything but harmless and painless. "I didn't quite catch it that time."
"I could tell once you looked at me with that look that said: and-I-thought- you-were-a-nice-person."
Usagi laughed, but immediately regretted it afterwards. "I don't think any less of you, trust me. It should definitely be the other way around."
"Oh, I think none of the sort." Motoki flirted shamelessly. "Do nice people kiss unbelievably desirable girls like yourself?" Motoki asked slyly.
Usagi grinned, in spite of the sickening feeling that boiled in her stomach. "I think that I'll have to get back to you on that one."
"Oh, you're so funny, huh?" Motoki smiled, despite the pungent smell. He still marveled at his incredible luck at meeting a girl who wanted him as much as he wanted her. Even though he was covered in puke and she was on the verge of throwing up again.
He leaned in and touched his lips to hers and sighed as his body heated up in response to hers and he felt his pulse quicken considerably. God, what an affect she had on him!
They continued for a few more minutes, both of their fingers fumbling with the other's shirt, that is, until Usagi hastily pulled away, breaking their dream-like kisses. Motoki's mind came to a halting stop and crashed back to reality, reminding where they were and the circumstances that they were under.
For him that immediately broke the mood. "I've really got to go, Usagi, it's late... I'm sorry." He sighed, feeling like the biggest jerk for leaving her on her own to fend for herself against the attack of the hangover. "I don't have to open until eight tomorrow and I'll drop by beforehand with some presents that I guarantee you'll love me for."
Usagi groaned good-naturedly. "Okay... it's fine that you've got to go... bye..."
He kissed her forehead before he let himself out quietly. "Bye, Usagi... love you..." But he had closed the door long before he had uttered those last two words, making it impossible for her to hear him.
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Ami was not amused when Mina had that thoughtful look on her face that suggested she was toying with the idea of going through with her plan that was completely overrated and not through well at all.
"Mina," Ami began with a sigh, "we don't have time for this. I thought we already decided on what we're doing."
"But—"
"Mina." Makoto muttered darkly with a hint of danger laced in her single word of warning, shutting the blond up.
"Okay, fine. Can I have a code name then?" Mina begged, pouting.
"All right, already! You can have a codename!" Ami rolled her eyes. "Does this mean that along with codenames we should get walkie-talkies and matching camouflage outfits because God forbid we're not dressed properly."
Mina put a hand to her forehead, as if Ami's comment had made her feel weak at the knees and dizzy with disgust. "Ami, you have much to learn of fashion. Honestly, what were those designers thinking when they decided that mud brown and dark green was actually the new periwinkle and mauve? Were they trying to make a fashion statement that said: join the military if looking like the next drab generation is your thing?"
All Ami could manage to do was let out a sigh of defeat and give Makoto a look of admission. "Mina, we'll consider your plan if it'll shut you up about your unintelligent argument about army fashion designs."
Mina grinned happily. "You guys are going to love the idea."
Makoto grunted. "I highly doubt that if it includes you and your insane ideas in the mix."
--- --- --- --- --- ---
Mamoru decided that since he and Rei had reconciled, they would have to begin the wedding planning fiasco again sometime. He still wasn't sure what his heart wanted. Getting back together with Rei and getting married to her forever was exactly what he had been outlining for their future the moment he bought her that diamond ring. She was sexy, beautiful, smart, independent, and powerful, what more could he want? Why was this decision so hard for him?
But in the depths of his mind, Mamoru knew the answer to his question. He was choosing to not acknowledge it. He was afraid of being alone. Rei was an obvious safe choice, he cared for her enough to have the desire to marry her, but he could feel himself pulling towards the direction of Usagi.
But he had given up any opportunity with her when he and Rei had slept together! Usagi could and would never take him back, even if he wanted her to, because she was for one, with Motoki, and for another, she most probably hated him to her very core. If he gave up Rei and Usagi never wanted to speak to him again, he'd be right back where he started: alone and out-of-place in the world. How could he face life after experiencing what it felt like to love and be loved? How could he be expected to...
"Mamoru?" Rei repeated irritably. "Is your head in the clouds again?"
"Yeah? No, no, of course not, sorry."
Rei smiled, satisfied by his answer. "Back to reality, Mamo-chan. What kind of flower do you thin we should place on the church's steps? I was thinking that we could use something like..."
Mamoru stared at the pictures in the album, but his brain barely registered a single picture or the captions. All he could think about was whether or not he was making the right choice. His thoughts were consumed by his decision—he could almost classify his fixated thoughts as obsessive and almost scary.
What if he wasn't ready to make such a commitment? What if he and Rei weren't meant for each other? Would he be ruining his life along with Rei's?
"...And I really think that it goes well with the lilies. Don't you think so, too?"
Mamoru shot Rei a strained smile. "Of course," he said, as if he hadn't said it more than fifty times before, it seemed.
"Oooh, wait. This one!" Rei giggled dreamily. "I like this one better. Don't you, Mamo-chan?"
"Of course."
"I do, too. But what if—"
Mamoru stood up, startling both himself and Rei. "I've got to go. I just remembered that I have to let in the cleaning crew to the apartment"—he smiled helplessly—"they say they'll need me to sign liability papers and so forth as well. You understand, don't you?"
Rei looked as if she had recovered slightly from his sudden change of heart. "Y—yes, definitely, I understand." She kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Tell them to hurry and do their job because I want to come home." She looked around her and rolled her eyes. "Living with grandpa is great and all, but the temple is apart of my past, and my past isn't a place that I feel like revisiting right now."
Mamoru winced at her implication, but said no more. The less words spoken, the faster he could leave. "Call me, Mamoru."
"Sure."
"I love you." The words hovered in the air, daring him to not acknowledge him. Mamoru opened his mouth to repeat the words, after all they were just words, right? It wouldn't hurt anything if he said those words without as much feeling as he said they meant.
In fact, not saying those words would hurt more than actually saying them. Not saying them would signal warning bells in Rei's mind, only setting off another onslaught of problems and misunderstandings between them, widening the growing golf-sized gap between them.
"I love you too." Mamoru said flatly as he flashed outside, intent of freeing himself of the unsure words as quickly as possible.
Rei watched Mamoru disappear outside. "Here we go again." Rei muttered as she swished the curtains closed and turned away from the window. He was doing it again; telling her one thing while his eyes and his body completely said something else.
He thought he was being secretive and a quick thinker about his excuses and feelings, but Rei knew better. He was trying to get away from her and that "I love you" that he mumbled quietly to her—what a fake!
"I might as well do something too!" Rei decided aloud as she stood up and pushed the mounds of books and fabrics to the side. Rei surveyed the room around her thoughtfully. What on earth could she do to keep herself occupied?
Then an interesting thought struck Rei. She let a mischievous smile play at her glossy lips. It had been such a long time since she had had a girls' night out with the remaining lot of friends that she had left.
She hadn't gone out dancing with anyone in even a longer amount of time. With a mind set out on having fun and forgetting about Mamoru's unsure words, even if it was for a few hours, Rei swept into her bedroom, and realized that since she had left the apartment in such a rush, she was short of anything sexy or wild enough to wear.
Damned! Rei thought sourly. She mentally searched the bedroom's closets at the apartment for any outfits that might be worth her time, and as she feared, she found none that met up to the high expectations that she had set.
Besides, if she went to the apartment and Mamoru was there, he might think that she was so desperate for him, that she had followed him back there with the lousy excuse that she needed an outfit.
Maybe clubbing was out of the question; maybe she had grown too old for it. Rei shook her head. No, that sort of negative thinking would get her nowhere. In fact, she needed to go clubbing, not only to get her groove on, but to maybe flirt with some guys, after all, who knew what would become of her relationship in the future at this rate with Mamoru?
With a resolved mind, Rei dialed her friends' numbers, praying that they had an extra outfit that she could borrow and that they would be willing to take some time for themselves to hang out with Rei, who had more than enough time for herself.
--- --- --- --- --- ---