His Lingering Caress
Written by: L. Amari Espris
Chapter Three
A False Alarm
'BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!' drones the wretched alarm clock of mine. I groan a little and disregard the clock. I need sleep, damn it! I feel Luna's ears twitching underneath my chin, tickling it. She leaps off of me a while later. I take this opportune moment to roll over and plop my second pillow over my head to muffle the annoying and piercing sound. I don't care if the neighbors come to bang on my door or report to the police about an unnecessary morning wake up call. The next thing I heard surprised me.
A yowl, a bang, a crash, and thenâ€silence. I snuggle deeper into my pillow. All's well in the Tsukino apartment now. For the moment anyway. It was, once again, a short lived moment of peace.
"MEOW!!" I feel the wind being knocked out of me and for a quick moment I could almost declare the true fact that I saw a white flash of light before me. Obviously, my delicate pet had pounced on my poor stomach. Boy, can she tackle someone! After all those years of chasing after Shingo and hurdling him to the ground for all sorts of reasons, ranging from a pulling of a tail to stealing her food away, it's obvious it has paid off; it hurts like hell! "MEOW!!!" There she goesâ€againâ€and againâ€and againâ€and—
Oh, I need to see my doctor after this. Also, someone call the Humane Society! My cat is attacking me! Help me before I end up dying by this mangy scoundrel of a kitty-kat's wrath!
"Get—" Ouch. There goes a few of my delicate ribs. "—off!" Not again. She pierced my bellybutton again! "Lu—" This kitten is going to be praying to me tonight when she's out in the bitter cold of winter. I'll be sure of that! "—na!" She's still not stopping. "LUNA!" Nope. Nothing. Nada. No response of action of stop anytime soon.
While growling and mustering all the little weary strength I still have stored inside of me, I sling my pillow at the hopping Luna. A great screech escapes her throat and the excess weight is gone.
"Finally," I burble, still feeling the effect of tiredness and pain from my vicious feline cat. I still don't budge from my place on the bed, though. Why bother? I can just call in sick later.
"MEOW!!!!!!" Curses on my persistent cat! I sit up on my bed after stumbling a couple times, coughing and wheezing. I glared twin swords at my furry friend, whose face was that of innocence, and hiss at her. She's going to die!
She seems to have gotten my message because she's backing up from me in great, long strides. I smirk evilly at her, as she makes a mad dash to the window and flies out of sight. She literally flew out of my room
I painstakingly step out of bed, but end up falling out of it instead because of the lack of footing I had. Every day it's like this. My routine begins right after I fall out of bed.
"ARGH!" I cry out in frustration and agony. "I can't do this today! I don't want to go to work!" I punch the pillow that I took down with me in my fall a couple times to release my anger. I'll feel bad for the pillow later. For now, it's my punching bag. Oh, dear. A little fluff is coming out of it! "â€oops" I need to buy another new pillow again.
"Geez, Usagi." I jump at the voice coming from my doorway. Not now! How'd he even get in here?! "I'd hate to be the man who marries you. Just look at that pillow!" I tilt my nose up in the air, snootily, and look him straight in his emotionless blue hued eyes.
"I'd hate being married to you, too, Chiba. No doubt about that," I huff, but for some reason, those words cause a slight pull and thud in my heart and middle. I rerun the words he had said to me just before†Oh, another drop and punch in the face. How weird. I hate him even more now. "And the man I will maybe marry in the future—" Or in my next lifetime, hopefully†"—will have to tolerate me for my abusiveness. But of course, I'll treat him with love—not violence. Only violence to my precious downy pillows and comforters," I add, absurdly. Ah, I sound like a babbling hyena again! Curse this moment!
Cocking an eyebrow, along with a boyish smirk, he comments, "'Treat him with love,' Usako? Really? Well, I think anything's possible, right?"
"That doesn't matter to you. Right, Chiba? And don't call me that! I hate that name! No one calls me that name, so you shouldn't either. I don't like how you say it at allâ€it's tooâ€indecent," I say without realizing until too late. His eyes narrow for a second, following a shifting of his feet and poise. His arm's resting on my door frame and he's leaning against it, legs crossed, free hand resting on his hip, and still with that same cocky grin as ever before. I pull my fallen sheets closer and tighter around my petite frame. I don't like that look on his face, but I don't show any emotion to him. It's a weakness to do such a thing. Well, I think I'm not showing any feelings to him
"How's it indecent, Usako? I like calling you by that name. No one else calls you by it, right? Why not allow me the pleasure in calling you that then? It suits you, 'my little bunny,'" Halfway through his talk, he started to walk towards the me on the floor, and so now, because of his immense height and long, strong legs, he's only a dangerous millimeter away from closing the distance between the two of us. Where's Luna when you need her? She'll be getting no catnip tonight! "Plus, you're wearing some reallyâ€cuteâ€rabbit prints"
Oh, my. He has such bad timing. Indeed, I'm wearing a really cute bunny print pale metallic cream nightgown. The straps are made of a really thin, lacey material and they keep sliding off of my small shoulders. The front of the gown has a very simple yet elegant design of lacey and beaded patterns. Also, the nightgown itself is a silken fabric, and it bunches together with one of those elastic bands used for clothes just below my bust size of a 36C with a small dainty bow in the center of it. From there, it flows down freely and loosely, but it trances each and every one of my curves. It has an installed bra system already, so, naturally, I wasn't wearing anything underneath. Due to this, the curves are a little bit softer.
With those words being said, you can pretty much see how much he was enjoying the view of cleavage I an offering him right now. "Shush it, Chiba. And get away from me. If you dare to come any closer, I swear" He gazes at me with softened eyes. I've never seen this look before. This is so new. I don't know what's in his eyes, though. What can it be? It can't be—no, it can't! Ah, I'm disgusted with myself for thinking such thoughts.
'Thinking dirty thoughts, 'Usako?'" the devil taunts. ARGH!!!!! I'll kill this conscience with my mind next timeâ€I think I can do that, but will I kill myself in the process? Ah, screw it!
"Usako" I hear him breathe out in a heavy, husky tone. Fearing that he is going to do what I fear he'd do, I move away from him, but it wasn't much. The look never left him and he motions to come closer to me again. What's with this pig? I notice, now, that my heart's racing at a deathly pace. A twisting but pleasing sensation is coursing through my whole being, and also, my head's spinning out of control. I feel as though I'm going to keel over anytime now. If this is all caused by him, whom I doubt, then I never want to be anywhere near him ever again! But I think it's impossible for me to accomplish that. Ah, drats.
My body is moving all on its own, and my foot incidentally decides to come in contact with†This is getting tiresome. I think he's feeling that, too†My foot comes in contact with the very center of his abdomen. Even when I kick him with my foot, I can feel his firm muscles! Damn! How nice is that? Curses! Why am I thinking this?
'Ah, Usagi! You're thinking so many dirty thoughts right now! Bad, Usagi! Bad, bad, bad!'
'Ah, just this once, you vile virus of a conscienceâ€just this onceâ€shut the hell up!'
'Humph. Ignorant buffoon,' he shrugs. I must be a schizophrenic if I'm thinking like this. I'm having arguments with myself! Ah! I'm losing it here and it's all because of thatâ€thatâ€damnable, big, mushroom headed, egotistical, ugly, two-timing, poor excuse of the decent man—no, scratch that†Of all of mankind! He's also a stupid and shameless, chauvinistic creature that I label as a drooling baboon named Chiba Mamoru!
'Remember to breathe, Usagi! Breathe in†Breathe out
"Ah, I feel better now."
"'â€damnableâ€big, mushroom headedâ€baboon'" I perceive a male voice that I know all too well echo my thoughts. Damn my stupid mouth. I say things without knowing it! Ah! The world is lost! Well, my world at least†How much did he actually hear?
"Um" I smile meekly at him as he gapes at me with a blank and dumb face. That's a rather funny look on him, I must say. "I'llâ€go and get ready nowâ€if you don't mind" I hesitate. I know his eyes are following me as I race around my messy room. I know that a blush is painted on my already pale pinkish tinged cheeks. Oh, this is too embarrassing! I don't even know how much he's heard! I don't know how much I've blabbed! I whine a little when I make a quick sprint from the far corner of my room to the bathroom on the other side, past him. He's still staring at me! Gods!
After a while of getting ready in the bathroom, which includes changing out of my clothes because of a certain over six-foot tall giant standing in my room, I look myself over in the medium sized mirror hanging over my beautiful ivory white sink. I have little traces of black under my eyes. Oh, well†Who cares? I don't! With a curt nod of approval, I exit the bathroom, expecting to see him standing there, but he wasn't.
Smiling, I stalk into out of my room and across the living room perimeter to enter the kitchen. "Maybe he's left. That's good†Hold it." I falter in my step. 'Do I smell toast and coffee from the kitchen?'
With a curious look written on my face, I stride over to the scent. Swinging open the kitchen's entrance doors, I meet with the sight of the man I despise, lounging in one of my intricately carved wooden chairs and sipping a black coffee, I figure, while reading a newspaper. Where'd he get the newspaper?
A dish with bread crumbs rests on the tableside in front of him, along with another dish of toast and coffee, with milk, sugar, and cream added in already, on the opposite end of him. He made this while I was in the bathroomâ€or was it a little bit before? I never take that long in preparing for the day. Screw those rumors about girls taking forever in the bathrooms! It doesn't apply to everyone! Not me at least.
"It seems as if your jaw is going to snap apart from the joints soon. Quit gawking like that. Yes, I made this before you woke up. I came here a little bit too early, so I decided to let you sleep and made this in the process. Now, sit down and eat; the toast will grow cold if you don't hurry" he speaks without the slightest glance from his reading material. So he did come early. But, why? And how? I'm the only one with the key to this apartment. How'd he get in?
I take a sit across from him. His gaze is still focused on his reading. I continue to stare at him for only a few more seconds, which feel more like minutes, before gazing at the nicely cooked toast. Picking it up, I nibble the edge of it. It's not poisoned. Yay. Yummy! Taking hold of the brewed drink with my free hand, I inhale the scent of it then sip a little.
'Oh, my' I let out a squeal of delight. 'Ah, yummy food!! Even though it's not much.'
Apparently, he hears my squeal because he moves his eyes to look at me and smiles. I ignore him, rudely enough, and do away with my lovely meal.
"How'd you know that I like my coffee like this?" I ask, impulsively. He looks at me with surprised eyes at first, and then fades into a smileâ€a teasing smile. Gods, for just one whole freakin' minute just let him be true to himself for at least that long of a time span! At least thirty seconds if he's that intolerant of a minute! Damn him!
"I figured that you would. You look like the type of girl who would like things sweetened." I give a simple nod. I don't know whether or not that is an insult or not, but I shrug it off. It could be worse, right? I took a sip of my coffee when he continues to speak. "And, moreover, you had a coffee cream blend in your refrigerator. Didn't take me that long to figure out. It's common sense, really." I choke on my hot, sweet drink at his words. Oh, yeah. It could be worse.
"Oh," is all I manage to utter from my still suffocating throat. Ah, I think I just scalded my tongue. Blast it!
Chuckling, he says, "Hurry and finish. I'd expected you to finish sooner, considering the fact that you're a considerably quick eater, but I guess I underestimated you." I still don't know whether or not to take his words at the moment as compliments or insults. He's too neutral-like and unemotional. He folds his paper while standing up, a silent skidding of the chair against the wooden tiles pronouncing his rise also. I'm still sitting and choking. My poor, poor throat and tongue. That evil, wretched, horrible man! "I'll wait for you in the living room, Usagi." I nod an okay to him and signal him to go away. I can't speak, so why not use body language to respond? "Want me to get some water for you?" he laughs quietly. Okay, now this time, it is an insult. I make an effort to frown at him, but it doesn't work. I'm still choking. Instead, I shake my head aggressively. He takes the hint and laughs while walking, stylishly, into the living room.
I hear the distinct crackles of the T.V. being turned on. It's the news. How original for the man who likes his coffee black, who thinks all the while too logical for my taste, and who always torments the certain little girl that's sitting, and still choking, in her kitchen. I pity the woman who happens to wed him, if he ever does wed.
A few moments after my bothersome choking resides, I finish up my toast, take the dishes to the sink, and drop them there a little too roughly. There goes Mina's lovely glass plates. Shrugging, I say, nonchalantly,
"Oh, well. It's revenge for that blasted phone she got me." I turn on my heels and skip to the living room.
I don't know why, but just looking at the scene before me feels right. It seems as though he just belongs there, in that love seat, in the living room, my living room, in my apartment. I can't believe I'm saying these things about him now! ARGH! What's wrong with me? Ah! I'm dwindling away again
The scene's of him, lounging in the love seat that I have in a comfortable laid back position with his legs cross. One arm is on the arm rest and the other prop up for his leaned head on the other arm rest. His royal eyes are half open and staring, lazily, at the alternating screen of the T.V., breathing steadily and deeply, noticeable by the rising and falling of his broad chest.
'It feels as though he just belongs hereâ€with me.' I smile, inwardly, at the thought.
Even during my morning wake up call and his rude entrance to my home, it felt proper and natural. The breakfast with him, too, felt as though it's an every day thing. Does he belong here, though? He's a pig. He's a cold hearted, disturbingly handsome, selfish and greedy, smart aleck of a pig!
A twinge in the chest becomes my scolding. My heart's not agreeing with me†Oh, why must you fail me so, my precious heart? You should be agreeing with me like my mind is! Why do you betray me now?
His voice stirs me out of my thoughts and sends pleasing shivers up and down my spine. Oh, I can't believe I'm feeling this way
"What's so interesting about me sitting here, Usako?" he calls to me, a pint of mirth evident in his deep baritone. His attention is directed to me and I subconsciously take a breathing step backward, my heart feeling as though it could jump out of throat any time now. I swallow the building sensation. It doesn't help much. My heart's resting in my stomach because of that action and it's still as lively as ever. Damn it†Oh, I've been cursing a lot of things this morning. It's still so early, too. Such a shame.
I shrug all good thoughts of him being in this apartment aside. In fact, I just shrug all good thoughts about the Chiba boar far, far away from my mind. Maybe the Arctic Sea is a good place for them to rest. Ah, I'm sidetracking again. See how sad I am?
Clearing my throat and regaining my cool composure, I tilt my pert snout up and glower at him, saying,
"Just the fact of you watching the news, like now, is something that no one would find interesting, but expected."
"You weren't look at the news, though. Your perspective was clearly on me," he remarks, egotistically. Honestly, how does he manage to fit his universal sized ego in that little brain of his? Someone should conduct some research on this man. He has the biggest self-image I've ever met, and that, alone, says a lot. "No use hiding that very fact, Odango."
"I wasn't looking at you, you selfish bastard!" I interrupt, ferociously. Well, it's not really a lie, right? I was spaced out again†Not my fault. "And how many times must I ask you or tell you? Don't call me that!" I whine. I hate him, as it is unmistakable to everyone in the world.
"Fine then, Usako," Chiba utters, gruffly, smiling a seductive smile. With the way things are now, and the way he's still sitting in my settee, it's enough to make any girl cave in and spend a luscious night of full pleasure and sinister heaven with him. Oh, Gods, I need some support here! I'm melting! Someone get a bucket! Ah, I must not cave into him†Damn
'Clean up, peoples! There's a mess in Apartment 204!' my little minion voice echoes in my mind. 'Better yet, someone perform CPR! She's not breathing!'
'Ah, shut the hell up already! I already know I'm losing my will to him right now. Did he put some drug in the coffee? You never know what people might do to you, so it never hurts much to be overly cautious. That's my philosophy!'
"USAGI!" a muffled, loud and angry, female voice bellows through my door. Immediately, I spin around on my heels, staring dumbly at the door; I was still in a trance from that guy's attack. "Usagi, you better open this door before I have Makoto break it down!" It was Rei. Ah, great. More trouble this morning.
"Hey! Why me?" I hear Makoto's voice complain. A muffled, but distinguished "ouch" emits from her shortly after that gripe. I flick the watch on my wrist a little to get a proper look at the time.
'I still have one hour until work' That's funny. I set my clock at least forty-five minutes before I have to exit the apartment to the department. Unless— "You're one sick man, Chiba," I snarl, accusingly and knowingly. I turn my head back so that he could get a better view of my threatening face. All I get is a cute, boyish smile and a wink. Just exactly what was he planning? Why'd he wake me up so early? Taking a closer look into his eyes, I see the same look I saw this dawn. Oh, Kami, why is he looking at me with those eyes?
"Maybeâ€but I have my reasons," he mumbles slowly. There's my answer right there. He's a sick, perverted bastard! ARGH!! Damn him and his male hormones!
"USAGI!!" It's Minako's voice now. "What are you and Mamoru doing in there?" A couple gasps follow her inquiry and then silence. It's an "Aiyah" for me. Minako gives a curious "What?" and I think I can hear Makoto and Ami working on unbolting my door now, but that can just be my imagination. Is it just me, or is this room suddenly overwhelmingly hot? And why am I flying? Or floating?
"Tsukino Usagi, you open this door!" Oh, Rei's mad about something. What did I do? "NOW!" She's threatening me! What did I do? Oh, Chiba Mamoru, see how much distress you bring to us innocent girls? Why don't you ever just leave us alone? Leave me alone? I gulp nervously as I take hesitant and shaky paces to the angry voices. The door is the only barrier between the sheep and a pack of wolves, the sheep being me. Should I open it?
"How'd Mamoru get into her place anyway? How do you know about it Minako?" Ami speaks up this time, with concern and curiosity in her tone.
"Oh! Well, uh" Yeah. How does she know? I'd like to hear that reason myself! I stand with arms crossed at the door. I'm not opening until I hear her answer!
"She was having a late-night visit to her superstar, Yaten, last night. Didn't come home 'til the early morning," snickers an evil priestess. I stifle an amused laugh and suck in a breath in an attempt to keep my composure. Chiba clears his throat behind me. He heard, as well, huh?
"Oh my," flusters an embarrassed Ami. She's so innocent. I position my hand silently on the bronzed doorknob as I continue to listen in on their chat. I wouldn't be surprised if the next door neighbors hear them. They're speaking a tad bit too loudly.
"So a little rendezvous, eh, Mina? I didn't know you were like that!"
'Neither did I,' I think.
"No, I didn't do anything with him!" Mina retorts.
"Who said I was implying that?" Makoto retorted.
"All we did was talk! And a little bit of horseplay, but that's not the case! We didn't do anything at all! And I know that's what you're implying Makoto! I've known you for so long. Don't expect me to be that lame in not knowing you enough to know that—oh! Forget it!"
I can just picture the girls on the other side. Makoto must be leaning against the door and grinning from ear to ear because of a ever continuously turning a deeper red Minako. She's in the spotlight now. Rei's most likely crossing her arms and standing to a side, rolling her eyes from my twin's words. Ami, on the other hand, is standing the furthest away from the three girls, flushing in shame for listening to such talk. Her poor virgin ears! I wonder if I should save her or not?
A firm body presses against my back while a large, warm hand covers the small one that I have holding onto the knob. At the same time, another hand, equally as large and warm, envelops the free one I have on my side, entwining our fingers together. I feel an electrical current flowing through me. It's not a painful one, though.
'What's Chiba doing to me now?' I feel a gentle and hot breath on the back of my neck, followed by a pair of succulent lips pressing against the alarmed skin as he presses his intense form even closer to me that not even a thin piece of paper can fit through the space between us.
"Usako"
"Oh, Gods," I moan. 'This is unbelievable' How can he cause such a reaction in me? I feel as if I'm burning in a blue inferno.
Those touches and advancements cause me to sink into his confinement. I have no where to go because of the door in front and the person in back. If he does anything more, I'll be losing myself to the devil soon if I'm not already there. The girls' voices all drone out from my mind as it turns to a complete mush. All I'm thinking about is how much I love this feeling he's giving me and how much he's scaring me with his touches.
He moves his lips to the hollow of my neck and licks the soft, tender skin there with his moist, burning tongue. Ah, someone make him stop! I can't take this anymore! I think I tried to say something to him earlier, but I don't know what I've said. I try to tell him to stop, but for some reason, my voice box isn't working. How pleasant
Mamoru pulls me even more closer to him, making me feel everything he's made of, and I mean everything! Do I really cause that reaction in him? I don't know whether or not to be horrifyingly disgusted or amusingly pleased
Now, he's moving his body against my back and trailing his fingers along the center line of my body, running all the way to the middle of my chest and down to as low as where my panties start. My body's still not responding to any movements of detest that I should be doing. Instead, it's just falling deeper and harder into his actions.
His torturous lips play with my skin again, and the burning desire inside of me turns into something moreâ€I don't know what it is. I've never felt something like this at all. He moves to my ear and nibbles it, graciously, with his lips and teeth, licking it with his tongue once in a while. I find myself whimpering and moaning, much to his delight. He chuckles in his throat, allowing me to feel the deep rumbling of his throat and chest against my neck and back.
The ebony haired man continues to persecute me like this, his moves slow and steady but, oh, so enticingly passionate. How long time has passed, I have no clue, nor do I give a damn care in the world about that. All my body wants now is his caresses and kisses no matter how sinful and misleading this can be. I can't help it. I love his caressâ€just like this.
"â€enâ€doâ€ko" What? What did he say? I tune into his voice, blocking the intoxicating scent of him out of what little sanity I have in store inside me right now. He murmurs, heavily and raggedly, "Open the damn door, Usako." Oh, that kills it. Atmosphere change was as quick as the speed of light.
I instantly snap back into my reality and not my fantasy. Kami, I had let him ravage me like that! Damn him! Damn his sexuality level! Although, that confirms it†Yes, this pig does have such abilityâ€even against me! Damn me! Damn my body! Damn myâ€damn
'my heart? What the hell?' I holler the next words, "Oh! Forget this!"
With a short battle cry, I wrench my hand out of his grasp and ram him in the guts with all the strength I could muster and watch as he just simply dodges my attack. Well, so I wasn't able to give him the beating he deserves, but at least I don't feel him on me anymore.
The girls are still bickering outside; poor Minako. No, wait
"—why are you asking her such a question?! Oh, you guys are so cruel! How do I even know people like you two? Ami, don't listen to them! Don't you dare listen to them!" Poor Ami!
"Um—"
"Shut up, you twit!" There goes Rei again, squabbling with Minako. "Ami, you have every right to answer that question. Feel free to," she coaxes.
"I really don't—"
"REI!!! I'll be sure to tell Yuuichiro about 'that' if you make another attempt at convincing Ami to agree with you two dolts!" Woo-hoo! Go Mina! Stop. Didn't she use a similar strategy against me? Damn her. Maybe I should let them continue
"Actually—"
"You wouldn't even dare to, Minako! I'll tell Yaten about the time—"
"Don't cross me, Miss Shrine Girl!" Aiyah! I'll open the door now.
"Mina—Ah, Makoto! Watch—" THUNK!—Thud.
Can anyone say—"Oops?" Turns out, Makoto was standing in front of the door. They all forgot about the place they were residing at, too caught up with the whole Minako and Yaten situation, so this is the result. Makoto accepted the full impact of my powerful swing of the door, sprawled on the floor, half unconscious and muttering some useless garble about the birds and her upperclassman.
"Usagi" the deranged Makoto slurred, her emerald eyes seemingly spinning. I feel horrible. She's so nice to me, too! Oh, such a terrible fate.
"Oh, Makoto, I'm so, so, so sorry," I cry out, regretfully and concerned. Who knew I could hit someone with something that hard? I didn't think I'd be able to render anyone into a dream state like I did to my dear russet haired companion at all! Well, not as serious as this. "Girls, help me carry Mako inside. Put her in my room and I'll go get some ice and—uh—smelling salts or whatever I have around here," I order. The silent and unblinking girls help me without a word to get the rambling one up to my bedroomâ€with a few crashes here and there. Makoto's knocked out now. I'll never hear the end of this. I just hope Makoto doesn't hurt me as much I did to her.
The process of waking up the girl was quite simple. She has a highly sensitive nose, I guess, because with just an effortless wave of the smelling salts under her nose, she woke up with a jolt. She had a massive headache, though, and still does, but she forgave me after teasing me about that horrendous Chiba boy and I in the apartment, alone and without any supervision. Minako stayed out of it, much to my happiness and gratefulness and to the girls' utter surprise. She's always the first to jump at anything she can to torture someone if Rei and Makoto don't beat her to it.
Chiba was still in the room, too, and he made the situation about him and me worse by joking with them about "doing things" with me in the morning and so on. I wanted my squeaky hammer back. Maybe I can scare those evil boys away if I carry it around with me. Who wants to be with a twenty-four year old hag with a baby's squeaky hammer anyway? No one I know of.
All the girls left a short while later after some more teasing and another juvenile pillow fight, but Mamo—ah—Chiba stayed with me. Again, we were left alone, and I became highly self-conscious about him and me. After what happened earlier, I have to be more cautious about this man. He makes me feel things that I had never thought I'd ever feel about a man beforeâ€not after all I've been through. He kept his distance from me and treated me a lot colder than ever before. Even colder than the first meeting we had a year ago. What's going on?
He walked with me after an extremely long while of bickering about the pros and cons about driving compared to walking to my department, my work place, and then left to go get his car at my apartment still. He didn't even say goodbye to me. How rude is that?!
Work went along smoothly and busily like always. Customers coming in and calling for orders in all sorts of things, ranging from catering to designing to floristic stuff, the employees talking away like there was no tomorrow about foolish things like hair and nails, and me, surveying everyone at their stations and managing the things that are needed to be taken care of by me and not by anyone else. Ah, being the boss of this department is hassling, but I try to enjoy it as much as possible. I was the one who decided to open this little store, after all, and everyone loves to come here. As long as they're happy and impressed with my work, I'm happy and impressed with the outcome of the store.
I found out that two of my employees are dating that Chiba doofus today, too. It's not really something that I'd like to rumor about, but still. It's interesting, but also appalling, to hear about. It seems like they've both had a little bit of action in the master bedroom. He's so disgusting.
At least these girls are of age†They're only a little older than me, maybe a year or two at the most, but I can't really tell by the clothes they choose to fashion and the heavy makeup they put on their probably pale and pasty faces. Don't they understand that too much makeup can ruin your beautiful complexion? Sure, it's nice if you just add on a little to enhance your lovely features and hide the ugly ones sometimes, but, give me a break! These girls put on too much and in the most unnecessary places, too.
Their eyes are beautiful and they ruin it with that hideous neon colored eye shadow, and their lips are nicely formed, but they choose to make it even more appealing with those solid ravishing red tones and maroon lipstick. Just a simple dash of lip gloss will be fine for them. They don't need to be putting on makeup like they're at the old age of sixty or seventy now. They're still so young and lively! Don't even let me start on the foundation and the blush! I shudder at the mere thoughts of it. Oh, what is it with people and these fashion crazes nowadays?
I design fashionable things like clothes, accessories, and bath and body supplies. Also, I have little businesses connected to my main one like Makoto's little bistro, which also does some catering for special occasions like weddings and parties, and a small florist shop I had opened and left in charge with one of my trusted business associates, Kayo Watari. Naru decided to join with my branch with her and her mother's store, Osa-P, a jewelry store that has been up and running for countless years. With those links added to my main department of fashion, of course it's awfully hectic and prosperous. We've had no troubles yet, and it's going smoothly and calmly. I just hope that, if, any problems do arise, it'd be solved easily. Hey, one can only wish for such a thing, right?
But back to the main point. I design all sorts of fashions and even help with ideas for my branches in the layout and style of their items, so it is only natural that I know quite a great deal about trendy things, but my styles are never like those of a hooker's or those girls that Chiba sees. Oh, no, no, no! I would never be like that. My styles are all clean cut and pure and everyone loves it. Not once have I heard a complaint from the patrons about any of it. I figured that if no one complains, it's good, but it's never a harm to try harder and do better, right? I always try my hardest to improve my styles and management as do all my other business partners.
I need to do something about the fussy employees, though. I'm scared that they might scare away the clients with the way they look, dress, and talk. I'll talk to the manager some time later. He seems a little stressed about them, too. Looks as if he's trying to cook up a plan to let them down gently without getting attacked. I'll chat with him when he's not so flipped about it. I agree with him, though. Some of the flashy ones look as if they're ready to kill with their perfectly, salon manicured nails and their bleached, pearly whites. Help me, please. Save me from the rapid and foamy piranhas.
I stop by Minako's studio during my silent walk back home to just visit. I didn't tell her that I am coming to visit, but it doesn't hurt to just be a random person once in a while and pop by for a harmless breather at a close friend's working milieu, but that's just my opinion and no one else's. I like surprising people, even though I hate surprises myself.
Humming to a song that I've recently got stuck in my poor, minute brain, I saunter up the few steps of the studio entrance way. Almost immediately, a weird vibe courses through my body, causing my breath to catch and my heart to pound painfully and gruesomely against my chest. Aiyah. This is such a weird day and it's only, what? Five in the afternoon? I check my watch.
"Yep. Only five." A part of me is tugging at my heart strings, telling me to leave the area as soon as possible, but I wave the warning aside. It might just be a false alarm. I wonder if this is another sign of someone getting a heart attack. It's possible, right?
"I know what you're going through and I ain't the one to comfort you, but I do," I chime, silently. I love Utada Hikaru's songs. This one has been stuck in my mind for over a month! "'Cause I need it, too" I smile to the fair gentleman who passes me by while showing him my pass that I carry with me in my wallet. It's a pass that Mina gave me all those years ago. It allows me access into the studio to see her. Lucky, huh? "Time limit ni obiete iru ja" Drats. I forgot the next line of words. I'm so silly.
I halt in front of the dull colored door that I've stopped at, and prepare to knock. But, I hesitate. Something tells me I shouldn't.
'Stupid self-consciousness†Nothing can be worse but having that pig in there with Mina. I doubt that's the fact, so go away, you nagging emotion!' I mentally picture a little doll being kicked away into the heights of the farthest sky ahead, whining all the way. Ah, at least I got rid of the feeling. "Nothing'll go wrong right now," I say incorrectly and a bit uncertain. Why am I getting so freaked out for? Mina's behind there, so it's fine! It's not as if a demon will pop out and eat me aliveâ€I hope.
Oh, how wrong I am. Standing before my very eyes isn't Minako, my dearest twin, but one of my memories that I despise so much: the man that had abandoned me and betrayed me and my whole being not so long ago
"Tsukino" Lilac eyes widen in surprise a little, but, just as soon as it came, it left. A crooked smile replaces the shocked 'O' he had formed before. A glint of mischief enters his dead orbs. Stray locks of silky dimmed ebony falls into his eyes, giving him a daringly breathtaking look. It might affect other girls that have the right taste in men, but not me. I've lost that fanatic craze a long time ago†Since he broke me to be more exact. "What brings you here, Usagi?" How dare he call me by my name!
"Tsukino to you, Shinjuku Ihara," I bite.
"Still so cold, Usa—Tsukino?" Good. He made a correction. "I thought you'd be over me by now," he slurs with a hint of lust in his last words. "Still dreaming about me like before, love?" He is so disgusting. Why couldn't he just shut it with 'still so cold, Tsukino?' Why does he always have to go on and make matters worse? How could I have been so blind about him before?
"Yeah, I still dream of you, my love," I say, huskily, but sarcastically. I cross my arms and stand to a side, leaning against the doorframe. I feign a seductive smile and continue. "Oh, and how pleasant they are to me. Do you want to know what they're all about? Night after lonely night?" That perverted freak just broadens his stupid smile and growls, lustfully, at my voice. I smirk as a thought races to the main nerves of my head. 'I shall put some good use to the scarf and lounge chair in Minako's room. I'm sure she won't mind if I toy around with my present to her'
'Now, there's my girl! Seems like this demon's words and thoughts have finally turned you around for theâ€goodâ€of things, eh?'
Trying my best to sound as convincingly desirable as possible, I make my movements slow and steady as I advance towards him.
"Better yet" I take the scarf from the hook of the clothes hanger. I have to thank Mina for all of this later. Playing with it in my grasp in a sexual way, I kick the door shut, but never locked it. Of course, I made sure that he is watching me and my actions along the way. By now, I've reached him. Our bodies are only a centimeter apart from one another, too. Did I come too close? Ah, well.
Licking my lips, I lock eyes with him. I slide the scarf around his form and force myself to hoist a leg up and curve around his middle, pressing myself close to him. Straight away, I wish to pull back because of the rather hard form that's rubbing against the lower half of my abdomen. Well, at least I know I can still get some feisty men if I wanted to.
"Usagi," I hear him call to me in a voice just above a whisper. So, after all these years, he still wants my body. I wonder if he knows that he's letting his guard down. Doesn't he know it's a fatal error to be so free and relaxed around me? Might as well remind him, huh?
I tighten the long, silky, mahogany shaded scarf around his middle, taking his arms in with it, too, while I mold my body against his own stiff one. I lean up against him as I perceive his agonizing groan of lust welling from his throat. When purring and nibbling on his ear, I murmur, "Why don't I show you?" Hopefully, all the disgust that I have in me about him isn't showing in my voice or actions. His growling turns into a low hum of pleasure. Guess not.
"Learning new tricks, eh, Usagi?" He leans as close as he can to me and plays with my earlobe with his teeth and tongue. Oh, just for that action, I'll make him suffer a lot more than I planned to at the beginning. I fake a moan and tie a firm knot around his torso from behind. I turn his body with my own and push him down onto the comfortable looking reclining seat behind and below us. I, naturally, end up on top of him.
"Love"
'Yeah, right,' chortles the demonic spirit inside my poor head.
"I'll show you all the tricks I have up my sleeve."
'What kind of tricks, player-ette?'
"And I'll be leaving you stunned and satiated—"
'—in total humiliation and destruction of pride,' the imp butts in.
"—once I'm through with you. Believe me when I say that I won't be satisfied any time soon. I hope you're ready, my dear" I run my hands through his thick tresses, trailing them lower and lower until I rest at the edge of his pants and belt. He seems to be enjoying this little act of mine.
'Operator, Operator,' exclaims my sinful half. 'Please connect with me with the big honcho of the nervous system. I wish to take over for the time being†How long? Until Usagi kills the bastard. What?! You're going to put me on hold? Oh, fine then! I'll wait' Do I really wish to kill him?
"Aren't you a rather desperate girl?" my ex comments with an ever deepening tone and darkening glisten in his mauve hinted eyes.
'He'll die' I confirm in my mind. 'He'll die a slow and painful death. I'll make it a lonely one, too.
'Aw, I was hoping that you'd just kill him with that ax over there! It's more fun, isn't it?' the impish voice mockingly whines.
'That's a prop. I can't believe I'm talking to myself again'
'Oh, you better believe it, sweetie! That's what you're doing right now.'
'I'm losing it,' I speak to my heart. The demon voice is the one that responds, though.
'You've already lost it, stupid.'
'Well, that's true, too†Okay, I'm going back to my duty now! I'll lose my sanity later'
'Will anyone give me some popcorn? I need some popcorn to watch this show so that I'll be thoroughly ecstatic about it later!'
"Now†Where were we?" I give a slight, quick tug upwards at his belt, receiving a noticeably loud, wicked grunt from him. "Seems like I hit the right spot, eh?" I arch an eyebrow at his reaction, trying to restrain my inner, ugly, disastrous self from strangling his thick neck. His breaths come out in pants.
"Usagi" he pants as his hands roam higher up my thigh. This pig†Now's my turn to comment on the desperation of this man.
"My, my, my! Aren't you just as desperate, Ihara? Your body and actions are more generous than your words, sir." He chuckles at this and I become annoyed and even more revolted by his actions. 'I'll make sure that 'you'll' never be able to greet another woman like now, sir,' I add to myself, pleasantly sarcastic and disgusted.
I show him a quick smirk, adding a tinge of husk in my movements as I unbuckle his pants. Whilst licking my lips, I gather the belt in my hands and bend over to whisper to him,
"Why not let me relieve your little 'pain,' Ihara?" A growl is more than enough to tell me to proceed with my devious plot. I shall go to Hell for this, but it'll be worth it. I can just feel it.
"Usa?"
"Hmm?" I hum, hazily.
"What" I give a minute smile.
"'What's that,' you mean?" I inquire for my twin as I motion my head in the direction of her surprise. She nods, still overly astounded at my beautiful creation before her. My smile broadens into a huge grin, stretched from ear to ear as the devilish glint returns to my crystalloid orbs. "What? You don't like my present for you, Minako? I think it's rather lovely. It's one of my greatest works. And don't worry. I know this manâ€very well," I reassure her when her stunned look turns into that of an overwhelmed rodent caught in its radioactive mousetrap, emphasizing the last words with sarcasm.
"How" she trails again. Ah, I think I just traumatized my best friend. She's never been as lost at colorful words as she is now
I give a slight cough and a knowing look to her, making sure she had my attention, away from the gift. She gets it. She does. She breathes in deeply, and holds it a while as she closes her eyes. Then, she exhales, a hand holding onto the frame of the dimmed door as if to prevent herself from collapsing. Yep. I traumatized her, alright.
"It's a bit extreme, I know, but he deserves it." All men from my past do. "And why not get my sweet revenge now? He's just lucky I didn't kill him like I should'veâ€and would've," I mumble the last part under my breath, but she hears me and jumps to attention whilst banging her head on the doorframe in her abrupt shift in positions with a loud THUMP! 'Oopsâ€I said it too loud again.' She doesn't seem to feel the pain that should be there because her gaze never wavers from her staggered expression as she continues to gawk, wide eyed and dangerously, drooped low jaw, at me. Well, maybe I did overdo itâ€just a little.
"Usagi, how could you?! Do you know who he is?" Obviously, she doesn't like my present. I worked so hard at it, too! Shouldn't I get at least get a little bit of credit here? This is the man who made my love life worse by toying with my whole self, heart, soul, mind, and body, for heaven's sake! But now that I think about it, why is my ex in Minako's room? No†Why is he even in her studio? She definitely can't be playing Yaten. Oh, no, she wouldn't do something like that. I know Mina too well.
"He's the freak that was stupid enough to let his guard down around me," I blurt out, bluntly. 'Really, now†How stupid can boys be? Obviously, you can't even let yourself get caught unawares by the one you've betrayed and abused because most likely, they'll be seeking your life to take. Honestly! What is it with these men I meet nowadays?! Will someone please answer that for me?'
'You ask such a difficult question. This is a life's dilemma that no one could solve. You could say that it's one of life's mysteries,' suggests my demon pal. I scoff at that.
"This is, indeed, one of life's greatest mysteries†How can men be such fools?" I sigh to myself and the look at the blonde beside me, fearing what I might see. Oh, worst nightmare come true. My twin seems about ready to blow up like a giant torpedo headed for the active volcanoes in Hawaii.
'She's scary looking' remarks the demon. Oh, hell, yes. She's freaky when she's mad.
"What? You do have to admit, he looks" He looks like those failed transvestite transformations that happen quite frequently to the 'men wanna-be women' people. That's what he looks like, but I won't say that to her. "He looks better than before!" 'That is, if you mind the neon green wig blinding your eyes by the bright light it gives off and the heavily dose of makeup I had to put on his face to make him look more like a drugged up woman than a regular pretty-looking one, which wasn't hard to do. This man has a complex like a female's! It's so easy to draw his features the way I wanted it to be' Snapping back to the reality of the situation, I add, "And he could easily get more lovers looking this wayâ€and—"
"That's not the point, Usagi!"
'Ouch! Ah, my poor, poor eardrums! They hurt! They ring! Make it stop! Demon Mini-Me! Make this pain go away. You are in my head after all.'
'We seem to be having a little bit of technical difficulties up here. Ask me again later. Have fun with your migraine!' Damn that voice of mine
"He is the man that I was in charge of finding for the new movie that that snooty director has been planning since last year! I've finally found the right man, perfect for the role of Quinn—" I suppose that Quinn is one of the leading characters in this production. Huh. I wouldn't be a surprise there. "—and you doâ€you†ARGH!" Oh, my. The volume seems to have increased dramatically in my echoing head†"You go right on ahead and screw with him! Look at him!"
'Oh, yeah. I'm looking all right. And, I love my work!'
"He looks like the doped up version of an ugly whore that had just been played with by a radioactive sea monster!"
'Sea monster?' I question in my psyche. That gives me new ideas. Maybe I should've given him that mermaid's tail I saw hanging in the closet instead of the fluffy, teal colored apron that was strewn on the back of the imitation of the director's chair.
"But his makeup is nicely done and the color scheme you gave him is enough to traumatize even the new born children down at the hospital center. Oh, and the wig is nicely placed on, too! I can't even tell a single diff—ARGH! That's beside the dilemma here!"
'Aw, I was enjoying your praises, too! Please, go on!'
"The main point is that you messed up the man I was looking for, and had found!" She said that already, right?
'Go back to complimenting my work. I like that better than this scolding,' I whine, mentally. Of course, I feel bad, but just hopefully, she doesn't try to wriggle the wig.
"Usagi, how could you? Who told you to come here today, anyway?"
I shrug, indifferently. "I just decided to pay a visit to my beloved best friend. I met him and he fell for my trap. Simple as that. He was the one who started it anyway." Well, that is kind of true, right? He was the one who had to show up the way he did. "But, believe me when I say to be wary of this manâ€and it's also a wise idea to find another actor to fill the role of your 'Quinn.' He doesn't deserve such a role, Mina. Just believe me when I say that."
"Why should I?" she bites at me. Her words are sharp. I look at her, square in the eye, seriously and unnervingly.
"Because he was my ex-fiancée, Aino Minako." Those words sounded so much better in my head than out in the open. Oh, well. Too late to turn back.
"What are you—" She's cut short when a groan is heard coming from the coming to man, who is still strapped down on the lounge chair I had placed him in. Talk about perfect timing. I wonder if he had a nice nap. It took me about forty-five minutes to fix him up and Mina and I have been standing here, amused and/or disturbed by the sight of this girly looking male for aboutâ€oh, I don't know†Maybe a good thirty minutes? "Oh, Kami," she squeaks from her throat, covering her mouth with her hands. I just stand there, waiting for him to come to his senses and to see his reaction when he looks in the full length mirror I had moved to the right side of him.
"What," he slurs as if he is drunk, "happened?" His eyes lazily start to open and come into focus as he stares at us two girls standing at the doorway. We must make a funny site because one girl is seemingly about to collapse of shock and trauma and the other is most likely standing with an amused look in her eyes while staring roguishly at the dressed up man. "Aino?" he mumbles, surprised. Well, at least they're not on a first name basis, right? I have nothing to worry about there, I hope. "When did you get here? Usa, what's going on?"
"Why don't you take a look? There's a mirror right beside you, Ihara." Hesitating a little, he does as I implied and, oh, how I love this! He blinks, bemusedly and frightened, with a lovely ghastly white face. Part one of my mission is completed. It was to scare the wits out of this man with himself.
I chuckle and decide to tease him a little more. He is still strapped down, so even if he wanted to wring my small neck, he can't. Not yet, anyway.
"Do you like what I've done to you, my love? Honestly, I think you're even moreâ€appealingâ€than you were before. I'm sure a lot of men would want to have some of 'that' ruffled in their beds at night."
"Usagi!" Minako cries out in astonishment. So, I've said a few, or more, things that are quite uncharacteristic of me, but it's this man we're talking about. I give her an annoyed expression and then a glare, threatening her to continue if she dares. She gets my message and closes her gaping mouth, turning her hazed attention back to the girlish man in her lounge chair. Smart girl.
"Usagi, what the hell did you do to me?" Ihara whines, stupidly but ominously. I roll my eyes at his question and frown at him. He wriggles about in the chair, but I know he can't escape. After all, I did some special knots here and there with the scarf and belt, so no matter how much he struggles, he won't break free unless someone gets some sharp tools in here to free him. I can't free him because, one, I don't want to, and, two, I only said that I know how to make those knots, not how to undo them, and, yes, I'm pathetic that way.
"Ihara, it's a good idea that you don't move so much. You might just make those knots tighter, and I seriously don't know how to free you from them," I advise, but it's for nothing since he doesn't listen and just continues to struggle even more so than formerly. Who cares? It's his loss if the chainsaw has to cut through his arms and legs. That is, I wish they'd use a chainsaw on him. I'd like to sit and watch the sight. "And what kind of question is that? Do you know how hard it was to find the right things to make you look as beautiful as you are now?" Well, he is pretty as a girl. I just over exaggerated a few points here and there to make him look like a 24/7 working and active slut. He growls at me in response and thrashes about more violently, causing the wig to begin to slide off his cranium.
"Well, he does look prettyâ€if you're trying to give him the 'worn out slut' look you told me about once during Halloween" I smile and suppress my laughter; Minako sounds as if she's in the edges of both realms of fantasy and reality. All I do is nod to her comment. I wince at what Ihara does next. "Ohâ€my" the golden blonde breathlessly trails beside me. I brace myself for a scolding, but it doesn't come. All that I'm welcomed with is a sigh and a thudding behind me. Okay, so maybe shaving his head was overdoing it a bit, but at least no more girls will have desires to give themselves up to him anymore. He looks hideous with a bald head! It's traumatizing to everyone. I just know it. I can't believe I did this to him! Oh, I feel terrible for those that he works with now. They'll have to put up with his baldness for a while
"Oh, my god!" Another thud follows that shriek of realization. Well, part two of my operation is now done. That was to make him want to kill himself for his repulsiveness. Now, the whole place is silent and I really do hear crickets chirping in the background. It looks as if Minako has some bug problems here in her studio. I laugh aloud at the irony of the situation before me. Two people, zonked out because of a trauma of a bald head and one person standing to speculate the scene of the crime. I know I'll be yelled at by my currently unconscious friend later on, so might as well have some laughs about it now, right?
Sighing, I say to no my cataleptic fellows, "Well, my job here is done. I'm so sorry, Mina, for scaring you this way. You know I would do nothing to hurt you, but this time, it's different. I might've hurt your job a little, but I didn't hurt you personally. Except for maybe the great extent of a trauma, but still. I didn't do any harm to you in the way I would regret if I did. Scold me al you want when you wake up—I'm all ears!
"And as for you, Ihara, I hope you've been disgraced and ashamed. After all, your face is all that you have in order to hit it big on the screen; your acting sucks. This also teaches you a thing or two about crossing my path. I love the sweet smell of pure revenge in the evening. I think I've lost my appetite, though."
With that been said, I make some futile attempts to carry Minako on my back for her to rest on the couch outside, in the lounge, but all fails until I see a young, buff man walking down the hall. After getting his attention, he kindly helps me carry Minako to the sofa and leaves with a simple word of "Welcome." Why can't men these days be like him? He's so nice, and he's also quite the looker. And his body†Wow! It almost seems as if†Oh, here I go again. I'll just stop before my mouth goes off saying things I'll regret and be ashamed of later.
Leaving behind a small note of an apology and brief explanation for my actions today, I plant a tiny kiss on the slumbering Minako's forehead and head out the door, humming a small tune that my red headed companion had got me addicted to a couple months ago.
As I reach the sidewalk of the parking lot of the Affairs, the churning and queasy feeling that I've felt previously returns. It might be a false alarm again because no one's here that can harm me at the momentâ€not near me at least. My gut told me to hurry home, and I do just that, trying hard to be nonchalant about it.
"It's just a false alarm, Usagi. There's no need to be all worked up about such a thing," I encourage my mind, heart, and body. "Just look forward. Don't dare turn back, and walk with high poise, all the way home. It's close, so just keep your feet moving!" My mind and body do as they're told, but my heart is still at unrest. It's almost as if my soul's telling me that 'he' is nearby. My breath catches again and I start to panic, my pace noticeably quickening as I stumble in my walk home. "Just a few more blocks," I chime.
"Talking to yourself, Usako?"
"Stay away!" I scream and kick in the direction of the voice behind me, instinctively. At least that action isn't put to waste; it hit the target, nicely. The voice replays in my mind, but it isn't how I remember 'his' to sound like. Similar in depth, but tone is totally different. 'His' is more of a cold-blooded murderer, which he is, and this is more of just an emotionless male that†Aiyah! Oops.
"What the hell are you doing, Usagi?! Damn!" A trail of semi-colorful curses that I hate hearing spouts from the mouth of this demon I despise so much. Why does he always show up at times like these?
"It's your own damn fault, you dolt. You're the one that always sneaks up behind me and pretty much stalks me wherever I go. A girl does need to learn some self-defense, you know?" I complain. He replies with another lovely train of poor language, but softer this time, as if he's reprimanding himself for his stupidity than to me.
"You'll be paying refuge if this starts to bruise, Tsukino," he finally says to be, rubbing the sore spot on his lower abdominal region. I'm kind of glad that I didn't kick him any lower than that.
"Chiba pig," I hiss, unsmilingly. How'd me make me pay for such a thing? If it bruises, it bruises! I can't do anything to stop that.
"A treatment like this morning would be your payment, Usako," he implies with the husky tone that I know all too well. This stupid perverted bastard. I ignore his comment outwardly, though, and just tilt up my head, stare at him in the eyes as if to try to make him weak and meager, and turn on my heels, sauntering away in long strides down the sidewalk. I hear a chuckling sound a few seconds later, followed by distinct clicks of those expensive men's leather shoes follow behind mine. I quicken my strides, but it's not enough. He catches up to me a couple milliseconds after my attempt to get further away. Damn this freakishly tall man and is stubbornness! It's driving me nuts, if it hasn't already!
"Damn you, Chiba."
"Thanks for the damnation, Odango Atama," he rumbles into my ear. That sends some disturbingly pleasurable shivers through me again; I hate this reaction, as always. It always leaves me wanting more of it in a way, and it also bemused me to a point of simple pain. A pain of what, I still can't figure out.
"You're welcome, bastard. Go away now," I mumble, dryly and tiredly. Honestly, dealing with the likes of him always seems to wear me down in a short while.
"Well, aren't you a demanding little bitch, Usagi? What's wrong?" His second inquiry catches me by surprise. Is that concern I hear in his voice again? Ah, so this man is showing more and more of a heart to me now. I wonder why
"Yes, something's wrong," I start, but at all times, with a cynical pitch. I whirl around to meet his blue hazed gaze with my own. Then, I carry on. "There seems to be a giant lugging around behind me. It's quite uncalled for and I'd like for it to be removed from my presence because I've already got enough trouble floating around in the atmosphere here. I just want to hurry home and be safe there. If you can so kindly do that for me, Chiba Mamoru, I'd be glad for a change and not as upset and as cursed as before I met you." A sharp slice to the heart is what my words cause me to feel. I wonder if he feels that too†I doubt it.
I give in to the sudden urge to rip away from his eyes and take quicker, larger steps than previously in my gait on home. Something is telling me that I shouldn't have wasted my time here, arguing with him, and also to not turn back to see the raven haired man's expression due to my harsh words. I go against my heart's desires to stop and apologize, and break into a soft run; the apartment complex's only a few blocks down anyway.
'It's just a false alarm! There's only Chiba behind me. No one else. Not him, not Ihara, not anyone but Mamo—er—Chiba.' How many times have I've slipped in calling Chiba by his first name? I must still be out of it, huh? After all, I haven't gotten any proper sleep, so I'll just blame my behavior on that. I can do that, right? It's not as if my heart's changing because of that insolent baboon headed shrimp of a chauvinistic idiot, right? Right?
'You're facing a change of heart, Usagi? It's interesting that you're taking a fancy on a man like him. After all, isn't he the one you hate?' goes the voice inside me. It's impossible; I can't possibly take on a fancy for his kind. I can't.
"Kami, help me. If I ever dare to admit to feelings for that man, just kill me on the spot. I never want to be in love" I don't want to be hurt again. It's unbearable.
I recall something from my memory as it starts to come alive within my heart and soul again, the words and feelings still burning into my empty heart.
'Love is nothing but pain and pure torture. It'll only rip you to shreds after some fouled up pleasures that you assumed you had truly shared with your other half. It'll leave you broken and torn†Forever scarred and burdened with the consequences of assuming to be in love.
'Never give in to that kind of pain no matter how yearning it becomes, Usagi. Never become so vulnerable to that curse. It'd be a shame to see youâ€vulnerableâ€like that.'
How interesting. I still remember every word he told me so long ago. How can the man who assaulted me so be so terribly influential on my life in the present? But I must admit that his words, no matter how cruel and degraded they seem to be, are true. It happened to me, so it must be true.
The genuine cruelty of reality is almost unreal to me. How could someone at such a young age of ten be affected so much that it continues to haunt them in the present? How can some girl, still in her mid-stages of girlhood, have so many tragedies then and have to atone for those sad plots of fate with her own life? How can just one little child bring such chaos to those that are loved?
"It's pure irony to me" I whisper to myself. I'm happy that the man didn't follow me. Guess I run too fast for him? Or maybe my words left him in a daze, eh? Well, I don't know what stopped him from chasing me, but I'm glad that he didn't do so. Why? How simple can the answer be?
I'm crying. Yes, I am. I'm weak and hurt right now. I'm forever broken and unable to mend anymore. This pain is all thanks to today and now; first, it's that Chiba fool, and then it's the pompous freak of nature, Ihara. Now, I have this irksome feeling of a creepy pervert around me. No doubt, a freakin' male, too. If it's a female, Kami, save me
'It'd be a shame to see youâ€vulnerableâ€like that.' Oh, I hate those words. I never wanted to be vulnerable to anything, especially men, but I can't help it. I am weak and frail, I presume, if I admit to that much. I'm not saying that I need men. No. Don't you dare get me wrong there! I most definitely would be better off with not a single trace of a man in my life! But, I can't help the fact that they're there, in front of me, in back of me, beside meâ€everywhere. They're everywhere
"I can't be like this anymore. I won't let anything happen againâ€not again," I scold myself. "I can't let him be so persuasive in the life I lead now. He's in the past. So what if I saw him just recently? So what if I feel as if he's watching me? He'll go away, right? He'll vanish sooner or later" Ah, curse it all. My words aren't comforting at all. I need Mina with me right now. I'm so scared. I'm so utterly and terribly scared.
I'm starting to regret saying those words to Chiba. If I had just left him alone, he would be where I am right now, right beside me, and most likely cuddling me and squishing against him. I hate it when he does that, but I feel strangely safe when he does those kinds of things to me. Mind you, I still dislike Chiba with a greatly strong passion, but if only he is here with me right now. I don't want him to see my crying face, but I don't give a care anymore about those things.
"Mamoru" I cry out to myself. I stop my sprint and slide down the wall of the familiar building in front of me. "Mamoruâ€Mina" I can't stop my tears, nor can I stop my trembling body and bleeding soul. "Someone save me from here. I don't want to be here anymore."
A distinct purr and mewling of a cat traps my attention for a brief second. So, I ran that far, huh? Not bad, eh? I curl up into a tight ball, with my head resting on top of my knees, and continue to release the sniffles that I've had held in my heart for so longâ€for too long. Who knew these memories could do these things to me? I didn't.
The cold sensation of the wall against the bared skin of my back feels refreshing somewhat. Luna's gentle purrs and callings, too, are just as soothing. I know she's just sitting there with her big, intense claret orbs staring at my cowardly form, her tail trailing, slowly, to and fro in back of her.
"I don't want to be here anymore."
'A chilling sensation
Is coursing through me,
Telling me of a warning,
Beckoning me to be wary.
A pulling feeling
Is yanking at my body,
Cautioning me to retreat,
And shouting to back away.
A scalding emotion
Is churning in my mind,
Worrying me about 'it,'
Revealing the cause of this.
I turn and look about my milieu,
But I see nothing but peace,
And the ambiance of dread
Fades away like a false alarm.'
T.B.C.
x. Disclaimer:
All of Sailor Moon does not belong to me, Lady Amari Espris—sadly enough. ::sighs:: All rights of this series belong to the wonderfully talented Takeuchi Nakao. As for everything else (plot, characters that aren't from Sailor Moon series, and poetry, too), it does belong to me, so don't steal, please! ::bows::
x. Author's Notes: (September 3, 2004)
Eto†::looks at the audience:: I'm really sorry for the late update, but I can't help it. First, my ISP is going haywire, and so I can't go online at times. Also, I was away on a trip (as I've mentioned previously), and I'm getting ready for school, which is starting after Labor Day. ::weeps:: All my friends are gone! ::sighs:: Ah, well. Might as well try to make new ones, right? (::mumbles:: If my heart's into itâ€)
Anyway, I know the characters seem to be out of character, but it has to do with the way my story is written, so please just find a way to tolerate it. If you can't, then I'm sorry. But, do you peoples like it the way it is right now? (Sorry if I left it at another cliffhanger! ::kowtows:: It just felt right to end it there.)
In addition, thank you to all those who reviewed! I don't have the list of people that reviewed with me right now (internet's down again ::rolls eyes::), but still. Thank you so very much! You don't know how much they all mean to me! Er, but I have a questionâ€does anyone know what "kol" means? ::scratches head:: I'm lost about that, but I'm happy for any reviews! (Even flamesâ€I think†::blink blink::)
Also
For those that are wondering, "When in hell is this stupid girl going to get Mamoru and Usagi together? The wait's tiring!" Well, sorry to burst your bubbles, but I won't be getting them together any time soon.
I'm hinting at it with Usagi's feelings towards him, and Mamoru's behavior towards her as well; can't you tell? Things are progressing rather nicely between the two of them, but I'm a complicated girl, and with that, I create complicated situations. ::smirks:: You'll see what I mean later.
But, basically, Mamoru will be trying to get her (it's obvious he's trying right nowâ€sort of. Teasing does count as trying to get Usagi, okay? Even though it's sadâ€but, oh well! ::sticks out tongue like a little child::), but—remember—Usagi has a complicated life before her, and it affects her future as well. She doesn't want to believe in love (as stated before), and all those other things, so of course, she'd repel a man like Mamoru.
So, what I'm saying is this: Thanks to those who offer ideas to me in how to get the two unforgettable couples together, but I'm not that simple as to let them fall for one another because of stubbornness and a simple kiss (no matter how much passion is put into that kiss).
Believe me when I say that it'll all be worth it in the end. Unless I have some more plot twists that I don't plan on writing right now. (It does happen, and it surprises even me! Look at what I wrote above, for heaven's sake! I can't believe I wrote that steamy scene—if that's what you'd call it—between Usagi and Mamoru! ::flushes in embarrassment and shame::)
Well, please look forward to the next chapter, okay? I'm not sure exactly what I'll be writing, but I always do things at the last minuteâ€too spontaneous, ne? ::bows again and exits while tripping over some chords and wires on the ground::
