"This cannot be happening," Usagi thought desperately as Endymion slipped panther-like into the elevator.
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out.
"Well, a hello to you too," he replied with a quirk of his lips.
"I should be asking you that, it is a Saturday for God's sake, why the hell are you working?" he asked casually as he pressed the button for floor 23.
"Unfortunately we can't all spend our days floating around in a dream world, filling it with pretty music. I'm dropping off a very important file, what's your excuse?" Usagi bit back. "That's funny, I'm picking one up," he replied.
"For who?"
"Nosy little creature, aren't we?" Endymion replied silkily, raising an eyebrow.
She let out an annoyed sigh in response.
"If you must know, it's from my accountant, even those who prance around in a dream world as you so eloquently put it, can't elude the IRS," he lied smoothly.
"God damnit," Usagi said angrily, losing her temper.
"What the hell is so wrong with your life that you have to act like nobody can possibly have any problems besides you, you're such an ass!" she shouted.
"Last time I checked, I didn't remember mentioning any of my personal affairs to you or inviting you to take part in them," he replied slowly and dangerously low, as if daring her to reply.
"Ha! Ha!," she started cynically, "you're the one who just moved right into my life, with barely a hello. You've totally disrupted my existence," she continued, her breath coming now in short, quick gasps.
"Well your life must be damn near perfect if meeting someone on a perfectly natural basis fucks it up," Endymion replied, the loss of his patience lending to the slip of his tongue. "You-," she hissed as she was about to start her tirade but the sudden lurch of the elevator as it screeched to a halt made her stop. Well that was the last straw for Usagi as she looked at the infuriatingly handsome man next to her that made her question the entire course of her current existence.
"WHY IS EVERYTHING A TEST?" Usagi half-screamed half-sobbed. Endymion froze and Usagi could see that he was more than slightly taken back. She stared at him for a few moments, taking in quick successions of breaths, her hand leaning against the wall of the elevator for support.
"I- I don't know," Endymion replied in a hoarse whisper. Usagi studied him for a moment.
"Do you believe in God?" she asked softly.
"What?" Endymion answered off guard.
"Do you believe that there is someone looking out for us but at the same time presenting us with choices everyday. Choices that you wish would just go away, so you allow someone else to make them for you?" she repeated. Endymion assumed she was relating the last sentence more to herself than to him but replied anyway.
"I did," he answered shortly.
"You did? As in not anymore?" Usagi asked incredously. Endymion gave a curt nod in reply. "What changed your mind?" she pressed softly.
"I thought you didn't want to get involved in my personal affairs," he replied loftily. "I've never liked tests," Usagi said quietly. Endymion knew he was blowing his chance, knew that the opportunity to be trapped with Usagi in faulty elevator would never again present itself, but he couldn't bring himself to seduce her like this, even if it would solve all his bloody problems.
"I believe in fate, perhaps all musicians do, that's the only thing that keeps them dedicated to such a call, but maybe fate decided to give you a test so you would appreciate what you have, perhaps to draw your attention back to something you've been taking for granted," he hinted. Usagi gave him a lifted eyebrow, wondering how he had hit so close to home, but there was a loud swoosh, as the elevator doors chimed opened at floor 23, she hadn't even noticed that it had fixed itself.
"So, will you still occassionally grace me with you presence, or do I still ruin everything?" Endymion asked as he motioned to leave the elevator.
"I don't know you," she replied lamely.
"Well then maybe you should try to find out," he answered simply, the doors swishing closed behind him.
Endymion drove home at a torrid speed, the manilla envelope that was addressed to him from Ryan tucked safely in the front seat. He parked his SUV with a screech, and raced up the stairs to his apartment. He tore open the envelope, completely ignoring the letter-opener on the table in his frenzied pace to see what the hell Ryan thought was so important that he had to zoom to his office. Endymion clutched the clean white paper tightly, his stormy eyes flitting over the dark-faced type. A single drop of crimson fell to the ground, as Endymion's shaking hands continued to tightly grasp the crisp, white paper.
"I got here as soon as I could," Motoki said, forgetting all formalities as he pushed his way into his former best-friend's apartment.
"She's dead," Endymion informed him dully.
"Who?" Motoki asked urgently.
"My Aunt Jill, did my uncle really hate me that much he couldn't even tell me she died," Endymion continued, his voice cracking.
"It's okay Endy, I'm sure she forgave you," Motoki added reassuringly.
"They hate me, and she hated me right to her grave. They took me in after my parents died and raised me, even though they could barely afford themselves, and god damnit, look- what I did- God," Endymion sobbed, holding his head in his hands.
"How did you find out that she died," Motoki asked softly.
"Since running into you, I started thinking about, you-know, and thought maybe I'd try to go home, make peace," he lied.
"Did you talk to your Uncle?" Motoki asked concerned.
"Yeah right, he'd shoot me on the spot, which is nothing less than I deserve," Endymion sneered.
"C'mon, you gotta stop blaming yourself, if it's anybody's fault, it's Monique's, I keep trying to tell you, and you still keep that god-forsaken rose!" Motoki shouted as he pointed at a wilting rose on Endymion's windowsill.
"She was the only fucking one who didn't point a finger at me after the accident!" Endymion bit back angrily rising to his feet.
"I said I'm sorry man, and I'm trying to be here for you now. Maybe you could do something for me that you can't do for yourself," Motoki replied, losing his patience.
"And what the hell would that be?" Endymion answered annoyed.
"Forgive," Motoki explained.
"You have my sympathies regarding your Aunt's death," he replied cooly as he grabbed his coat and walked out of the desolate apartment.
"You played me!" Endymion screamed with rage into the receiver of his cordless phone as he paced around his apartment.
"Temper, Temper, Endymion," Ryan cautioned from the other end.
"I was doing this 'favor' as you call it so I could afford to pay back my Aunt and Uncle, especially my Aunt. Hell of a lot of good it does now that she's dead," he continued with his tirade.
"My dear Endymion, I'm a business man, and as a business man why would I inform you of your Aunt's passing if I knew it would lessen your enthusiasm for the task in front of you," he asked logically.
"Because you're a sick bastard?" Endymion offered.
"That tongue of yours is going to get you in trouble. Ah, yes, but I think you've already learned that lesson on the stand," Ryan warned.
"How the fuck do you know all this," Endymion asked, a hint of panic creeping into his voice.
"I don't like surprises, and neither do you I assume from the way you reacted to your Aunt's death which was a month ago, bringing us back to my point," Ryan said. "Your little 'accident' left your family in such financial debt that your poor Uncle cannot even afford to bury his wife. He has two days to come up with the money for the funeral, or the morgue will cremate her, and probably just throw away the ashes I would think," Ryan continued, with an undertone of amusement in his voice.
"What do you want from me?!" Endymion choked out.
"I'll pay for your Aunt's funeral, send in a nice little check and say it's from you, but you have to promise me Endymion that the deed will have been done in the time I've allotted you," he explained.
"Why are you doing this. For all you know Usagi could fall in love with me and leave you. You're playing with fire Ryan and your marriage is going to get burnt," Endymion suggested logically.
"Well I'm trusting you not to run away with her, and under the circumstances that seems like a request you'll follow. Also my Usagi is like a small child, once she knows she can't get away with something she won't do it again, but if she is not caught, and punished, she will continue to commit the crime," Ryan explained, beginning to get annoyed.
"Thanks for psychology 101 there, but if you haven't noticed Usagi is a wonderful, pure woman, you must have a hell of a lot of insecurities to think a gal like that is cheating on you," Endymion said.
"Keep your ideals to yourself violinist, and don't comment on things you don't understand. I know what Usagi wants, but I don't know how far she'll go to get it. Also women are as much animals as men, but they can be trained. There's a little bit of advice for you," Ryan said coldly.
"You're a fucking chovinist," Endymion spat.
"And you're a murderer," Ryan replied softly.
Usagi knocked hesistantly on Ami's front door, slightly worried as to what was so important that her and Rei had to come straight over.
"What is it Ami?" Usagi asked concerned when her blue-haired friend answered the door. Ami just ushered her in as a response. Usagi sat next to Rei, who looked as if she had already made herself comfortable.
"Okay Ames, out with it!" Rei demanded.
"I'm pregnant!" Ami cried joyfully, pulling a stick out of her pocket that clearly had a large plus-sign on it.
"Oh my God!" Rei exclaimed as she jumped up to hug her friend.
"That's really, really great Ami," Usagi added softly, her throat tightening.
"Greg's going to be thrilled, I can't wait till he gets home," Ami gushed.
Usagi politely stayed and discussed everything from cute baby outfits to that it was okay to still do some bedroom dancing while pregnant. They talked until the father-to be arrived home.
"Well we'll let you two love-birds be and you can tell him the news yourself," Rei said with a wink and she led Usagi out.
Usagi drove home to her large, empty, husband-less home with slightly blurred vision, wondering what she had done so terribly wrong that caused her not to be blessed with a child.
"Why God, why God?" she whispered over and over, but in her heart she knew she should be asking: "Why Ryan, why?"
Usagi woke up early the next morning, once again alone in the large bed, and feeling particularly frustrated. She took a long, hot shower to release some of the tension; however, her bad mood was irritated further when the phone rang, forcing her to leave her warm haven.
"Hello," she said annoyed, while trying to wrap her long golden hair in a towel.
"That's not a very nice greeting for your husband," came a soft masculine voice.
"Hmp, well maybe I'd give better greetings if you were here in person once and while," she spat in no mood for his little check-up.
"You're uppity today, but then again, you were never much of a morning person," he replied good-naturedly.
"How would you know, you're never here to see me in the morning," she added, her voice laced with hurt.
"Oh baby, you know I'd be there if I could," he said sweetly.
"When will you be home?" she asked.
"About a week hopefully, well I have to go," he replied.
"Bye," Usagi respoded miserably.
"Hey, what do we say?" Ryan cautioned.
"I love you," she added softly.
"There's my girl, now you be good," he finished with a click.
"I'm glad you love me too," Usagi whispered as she stood alone, wrapping the towel tighter around her shivering form.
Usagi knocked swiftly three times on Rei's door. After a few minutes a rather miserable looking Rei answered.
"Yeah?" she asked, clearly annoyed.
"I'm so bored!" Usagi whined.
"Well why don't you go bother Ami?" Rei responded harsly but still opened the door wider to allow her friend access to the apartment.
"She and Greg left today remember? They're visiting Ami's parents and telling them about the good news," Usagi reminded.
"Well, I just got inspired, so I won't be any help," Rei explained, motioning to the computer.
"So you finally got inspiration for a second novel? Your first one was amazing!" Usagi gushed.
"Where did you get an idea from? You got the idea for your first one right after Chad-" but Usagi didn't finish, noticing the pained expression that just crossed the raven-haired woman's face.
"If you must know, I did get inspiration from my love life," Rei hinted.
"Spill," Usagi demanded.
"Well, it's not really a full-blown relationship, actually he doesn't even know I have feelings for him, but that's just it. It's the first time since Chad died that I've had feelings for another man," she confided.
"I'm so happy for you!" Usagi squealed as she clutched her friend in a tight hug.
"Who is it?" she breathed.
"Promise not to laugh?" Rei asked uncertainly.
"Yes, just tell me, please, please, PLEASE!" she pleaded.
"All right, Endymion," Rei said swiftly.
Usagi's jaw pratically hit the floor.
"You promised!" Rei said angrily.
"I'm not laughing, I'm just- well shocked," Usagi chose her words carefully.
"It's just that you didn't seem to keen on him when I mentioned him at the Cafe yesterday," Usagi elaborated.
"I know, but I was trying to get ideas, so I went down to the Cafe and had some coffee while I jotted down ideas and Endymion was my waiter. He seems so romantic, being a violinist and all, and even you have to admit, he's a damn good piece of eye candy," Rei finished sheepishly.
Usagi stared at her hands for a moment. There was a million questions and things to say to Rei racing through her mind, but the one thought that kept popping up was: You're not right for him, he needs someone with a sense of humor, that can make him laugh, someone... like I used to be. Instead she opted for: "Now that you're struck with the love bug and are spending all your time writing, who am I going to hang out with?" Usagi whined.
"God Usagi, you're such a selfish bitch," Rei comented, but by the tone of her voice Usagi could tell she was joking, well almost.
"Hey I've got an idea. Why don't you go talk to Motoki, and then you can try to squeeze some info about Endymion from him," she suggested.
Usagi sighed. It would be good to talk to Motoki, she hadn't really had a heart to heart with him since she started getting serious with Ryan.
"Okay," Usagi conceded.
"Ooh, Usa, you look down. I think this calls for a nice thick, double chocolate milkshake!" Motoki noted as he headed into the kitchens. In a few moments he was seated next to Usagi as she sipped on a rather large milkshake.
"I'm glad you've come to talk to me, it's been a while," he commented.
"Yeah, well you know Ryan," Usagi sighed. Motoki snorted in response, revealing his opinion of her husband.
"He's good to me," Usagi replied defensively.
"It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself, not me," he replied.
Usagi looked away in response.
"Usa, your marriage is none of my business, but I'm not going to sit here and pretend I like the guy, I mean you know what he did to me after he thought you and I were having an affair. That's not something you forgive easily, but all I'm saying is there's something wrong with you and I want to know what the hell it is," Motoki said vehemently.
Usagi continued to gaze into her milkshake.
"Everything," she replied softly.
"Everything is just so fucked up," she choked out.
"I mean I hate my best friend for being pregnant, even though she's been trying since she's been married. Then I hate my other friend for finally liking a guy after she rebuked all men for two years after her fiancee's death, and why should I care, why should I be jealous of them? I'm married for one and can get pregnant anytime I want, why deny a man or a child from the only two friends (Motoki coughed) I have, besides you, in the entire world. Oh my God, I'm such an awful person, I deserve to burn in hell!" Usagi cried, completely broken down.
"God Usagi, it's completely natural for you to be that way. You suffocated and denied yourself things for so long, you're starved for a little attention, you've got to stop blaming yourself for everything! Whatever happened to that happy go-lucky girl who cared more about video games than her homework. I miss her, a lot of people miss her," Motoki finished quietly.
"I don't know, I have to think, I should have never told you this, can we talk about something else?" Usagi asked, a note of pleading in her voice.
Motoki, taking the obvious hint, changed the subject.
"So who's this guy Rei's sweet on? I think it's great she's moving on, she deserves to be happy after all the pain she's been through. Is it anyone I know?" he asked innocently. Usagi almost spit her milkshake back into the glass.
"Um, yeah, sort of," was Usagi's muffled response.
"Alright Usa, out with it, I have to go give the poor bastard a warning, I feel bad for anyone who turns down Rei Hino," Motoki feigned severity.
"Well, you can tell him at work tomorrow. Endymion's the one that's got Rei all hot and bothered," Usagi replied, starting to enjoy herself, as all women do when they get to retell juicy gossip.
"Endymion? He's no good for Rei, in fact I wouldn't recommend him to any girl looking for a serious relationship," he explained slowly.
"Well she thinks he's 'romantic', which I translate into being a whore. I knew he had a few notches on his bedpost," Usagi said bitterly.
"Oh no, Endy is definitely not like that, but he is romantic. I don't think he even has to work here, he just thinks the starving violinist image is 'romantic'. He kinda lives in his little dream world," Motoki said.
"That's what I told him and he got all huffy about it," Usagi related as she swirled her straw around. Motoki let out a short chuckle.
"Well, I've known Endymion since I was five, and he is an enigma if I've ever saw one. Most of the time he's in his little dream world, but since he's gotten older, he's become an extreme realist, but only sometimes. I think that he's spends so much time not really noticing the world going on around him, especially when he plays his violin, but when he does come back to reality, it just hits him all at once, like a fucking train. You must have caught him on one of his down times, he's had a pretty rough life," Motoki explained.
"Poor baby, what happened did he cut himself shaving?" Usagi asked sarcastically.
"Actually his parents died so he was raised by his Aunt and Uncle, and then just a month ago his Aunt died and that's not even half of it," he replied harshly.
"Oh, well what's the other half?" Usagi asked sincerely.
"That's up to Endy to tell you, it's not my place," Motoki replied, finality ringing in his voice.
"You want Rei to be happy, and you want Endymion to be happy, so maybe they're the answer to each other's problems," she suggested.
"I just don't think Rei's his type," he answered cautiously. "Those were my sentiments exactly. But what, does Endymion only go for slutty blondes who can't keep their legs together?" she asked condescendingly.
"I told you, he doesn't like those girls, he's romantic, he believes in falling in love and all that other shit," he said, leaning back in his chair.
"All that other shit? What's made you so bitter?" Usagi commented coldly.
"Your husband," he responded curtly.
Usagi blushed at this and mumbled something that distinctively sounded like sorry before switching the topic.
"Well maybe I'll go find out exactly what kind of man Endymion is myself," she announced.
"I wouldn't do that, the moment Ryan hears of it, Endymion will probably be in a worse boat than me," he said, still not letting go of the former topic.
"Well then, I won't let him find out," Usagi replied annoyed.
"Good luck," he sneered.
"God, you're the only friend I have right now, that I don't hate, even though my reasons for hating them are selfish, I'm entitled to be selfish once in a while. For goodness' sake, I'm a grown woman! Let me choose my own company!" she exclaimed.
"Don't be preaching to me, take your sermon to your husband. All I'm saying is that you don't want another Mina experience," Motoki responded exasperated.
"You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" Usagi demanded, her voice rising.
"I'm sorry Usa, besides Mina was a chick, can you imagine if Ryan finds out you've been hanging out with a man?" he warned.
"You said he was a gentleman," Usagi reminded.
"Yeah, but he's not a fag, and he doesn't really know his own charisma, and he doesn't realize how charming he can be. So you could be halfway through fucking him when you finally realize what you're doing. If Endymion's presented with an opportunity, he's going to take it, like every other man on this earth," he admonished.
"You're pretty discrimatory against your own sex," she noted.
"Yeah, well maybe I'm a realist too," he replied bitterly.
"Just promise, don't go looking for trouble, and don't go looking for Endymion," Motoki commanded.
"Fine," she relented.
"There's my good girl, now I have to get back to work, take care of yourself Usa," he said kindly, giving her a soft kiss on the top of her head.
"'There's my good girl' my ass," Usagi thought harshly as she turned her car around, heading in the direction of Endymion's apartment
"'Lo?" Endymion answered his door groggily. Usagi blushed as she took in his partially nude form, his only clothing a pair of gray sweatpants that hung low on his muscular stomach. "Usagi?" he asked surprised.
"I thought I'd take you up on your offer," she replied softly.
"What time is it?" he asked hoarsely.
"It's only seven o'clock, perfectly proper I assure you," Usagi responded with a laugh.
"Oh, come in, you have to excuse my appearance, I have a bit of insomnia so whenever I feel tired I try to jump on the chance," he explained, stepping back to allow her access to the apartment.
"You look fine to me," Usagi answered, a fresh crimson appearing on her cheeks as she realized how that must have sounded.
"I mean for just waking up, I mean you look fine and proper for company," she fumbled.
He shook his head with a small laugh.
"So why the sudden change of heart?" Endymion asked her casually.
"Well I thought that I was old enough to decide who I wanted to associate with," Usagi replied as she sauntered over to his balcony, opening the doors and welcoming the cool spring evening air.
"Since when were you not old enough to decide your own friends?" he asked, joining her on the balcony.
Usagi leaned against the cold steel of the railing, her gaze focused on the setting sun. "When I first married Ryan, my best friend in the entire world was Mina Aino, we did everything together, she was the sister I never had. Well, she wasn't exactly ideal company in a husband's eye. She was a bit wild, enjoyed to party, preferred the company of men over women, and to top it all off she was an aspiring model. She tried so many agencies but she could never keep a job, only ten day contracts here and there, mostly ending in the agent's bed, but I never held that against her. I always thought she could never keep a contract because she was short like me, but anyway. We had plans to go out for lunch, and she never showed up. Mina was a little flaky, but she would never blow me off without calling first. So I returned home, extremely upset of course, and I told Ryan how stressed I was. He gave me a letter, in Mina's handwriting, and it said that she finally got a modeling contract and couldn't be bothered with Tokyo or any of the hick people that lived there, said that I would just hold her back. She was going to Italy, where they knew fashion. I remeber crying for days, and of course Ryan comforted me. Sick bastard. I later found out from one of his co-workers, that Ryan knew some talent agent, who traveled around the world, mostly Italy, looking for new faces, I think his name was Kunzite something. Anyway, Ryan paid him a shitload of money to offer Mina a contract on the basis that Mina would write me that letter and never contact me again. Mina chose her career over me, but I don't blame her, that was her dream. And I don't know how many times I put her on hold because of something at the office. After that I promised myself that I would never let anyone, especially not Ryan, come between me and my friends. Friendships, good ones, are too hard to find," Usagi finished softly.
"Yeah," he whispered, his mind drifting to Motoki.
"So I guess Ryan wouldn't approve of me?" he asked.
"Only because you have a dick," she replied mordantly.
Endymion watched Usagi closely as the minutes slipped by. They both watched the dying sun in silence until Endymion asked her quietly,
"What did you say the agent's name was, Kunzite?"
"Yeah," she replied slightly confused.
"Was it Kunzite Jacobs?" he pressed.
"Yeah, I think so, why?" she demanded suspiciously.
"He was the one that discovered me, I grew up in Italy, he used to be my best friend, after me and Motoki had our parting of ways," he revealed.
"Used to be your best friend?" Usagi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"He used to be my agent too, but I can get work on my own," he replied airly.
"What happened?" she asked with genuine interest.
"I used to go out with this girl, Monique, she was an aspiring painter. Her work was good, but it had no soul. She could replicate things, perfect, just like a picture. But art is no good if it doesn't have more to it than just face value. She was just like her work, shallow. Anyhow, Kunzite told her he could make her famous, I swear, just so he could bed her. They ran off together," Endymion said, as he quickly returned his gaze to the black sky.
"Your work's not like that. It has so much soul. That song you always play on the violin, the sad melody that's about her, isn't it. I can picture her when you play it. She had dark hair and deep eyes, she's mysterious and handsome, just like you," Usagi commented huskily. "You have a good ear for music, you listen with your spirit," Endymion replied softly.
"And she's the one that gave you that rose," she added, throwing her head in the direction of the coveted flower.
"You have a good ear of music, but not that good," he said with a laugh. Usagi gave him a mysterious smile before returning her attention to the star-filled sky. She let out a long sigh.
"I heard you and Motoki talking," she admitted.
"I knew you were a nosy little creature," he commented with a smile.
They fell into a comfortable silence, both staring into the horizon. Endymion tore his eyes away to gaze at something more beautiful. He felt his breath catch in his throat as he looked at her. She looked lovely in a dark blue blouse that was opened a few buttons to reveal ample cleavage and it was tucked into a black skirt that huggd her curves attractively as her golden locks fell into her flawless face.
"You look stunning," he breathed and Usagi became fully aware how close they actually were to each other.
Usagi stared at him for a few moments which felt like hours, and for the first time she became painfully aware of how she wanted nothing more then for Endymion to just ravage her then and there. She finally acknowledged how good, special, and sexy she felt when she was with him. However, she pushed thoughts of her and Endymion rolling around his bed, their sweat-slick bodies in common rhythm, and instead of telling him her feelings, she shoved him away. "You know, the girls you bring in here probably don't find a rose from an old flame a big turn on. You'd get more if you got rid of it," she said coldly. Endymion gave her a scrutinizing glace before replying,
"You're right."
"What?" she answered slightly surprised.
She was not really expecting him to admit to various love affairs.
"Not about the girls," he waved her comment off with an annoyed flip of his hand,
"I would have more sex if I wasn't so sentimental. It's the curse of the artist. We put the pleasures of the soul in front of those of the body."
"So what you're saying is that you haven't been fucked in a while," she simplified.
A cute blush crossed Endymion's face as he quickly looked away.
"It's not like the opportunites haven't arised. I just want to feel a spiritual connection along with arousal," he mumbled.
"Do you feel that way with me?" she asked bluntly.
"Are you offering?" he replied amused.
"What if I am," she answered with all seriousness.
Endymion was caught off guard by this comment. He weighed his choices carefully. He knew he would have to play his cards right. This was a pivotal point that could decide if he would complete his task or if she would walk away forever.
"I'm not going to lie to you," he explained slowly, "I am attracted to you, who wouldn't be? You're gorgeous. And I do feel that connection, but I think it may just be a friendly kind of thing, do you know what I mean?"
Usagi laughed nervously, refusing to admit to herself the disappointment his answer caused. "Of course, I was just making sure we were on the same page. I think we could have a beautiful relationship together, I really like you, as friends," she replied in an unnaturally high voice.
He just smiled at her, slightly confused.
"Oh my God! It's ten o'clock, I have to get home!" she exclaimed as he glanced at the time on his wristwatch that was glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"I know, what will the neighbors think when you get home at this ungodly hour," he said sarcastically.
"Ha, Ha," she bit back.
"You have to honestly laugh more," he replied seriously.
"I bet the last time you laughed was when you were in my car," he added.
He could tell by her expression that he was correct.
"I know, I'm just so funny," he continued cockily.
"Looking," she snapped.
"Oh, real mature. Well I can sink to your level," Endymion said, a glint in his eye.
"What do you mean," she asked slowly.
Without replying, Endymion wrapped his arms around her and began to tickle her unmercifully. "Stop, Stop," she gasped, as she bit her bottom lip, trying to hold in the laughter.
After a few minutes, he finally let her go.
"Now we'll really give the neighbors something to talk about,' he snickered.
Usagi looked at her reflection and gasped. She looked completely ravaged. Her blonde hair was mussed, her bottom lip was swollen from the pressure of her biting down on it, and her chest was heaving.
"Let them talk," she said proudly, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"So I take it you're going to befriend the lowly violinist?" he asked mockingly.
"I do belive I already have," she replied with a small smile before walking out of the apartment.
Usagi slipped into the dark, quiet house, the red blinking light of her answering machine catching her attention. She casually pressed the play button.
"You have 32 new messages," came the mechanical voice.
"What the hell..." she whispered.
Before she could listen to the first message, the shrill ring of the phone sliced through the desolate room. She stared at it for moments before picking it up with shaking hands. "Where the hell were you," Ryan's voice screamed at her over the phone.
"It's only 10:30," Usagi replied, her voice shaking.
"Where were you, fucking around you little whore?" he demanded, his words slurred.
"I was out shopping, I thought if I couldn't have a relationship with you, I might as well have one with your money," she said, her voice rising.
"I work my ass for you, so you can live in a huge house, and strut around in gucci and gold, and that is how you repay me? By jumping on somebody else's dick?" he shouted.
"I didn't do anything wrong! I was shopping! Besides, I earn a paycheck around here too," her voice cracked.
"Yeah, thanks to me, everything you've got in this life was because of me. You were a stupid bitch, and you're still a stupid bitch. I've carried your ass, you owe me everything!"
"Stop it! Stop it!" she sobbed.
"SHUT UP!" he screamed at her.
"You're drunk," she cried.
"You're a fucking slut." he said coldy.
Usagi whirled around and faced herself in the mirror, taking in her swollen lips and tousled hair. She longed to tell Ryan about Endymion, how Endymion made her feel special, sexy, and smart. All emotions she never felt with Ryan. Also she yearned to tell him that she didn't need him. She was intelligent and could make it on her own. It was Ryan, not competence, that had kept her back all these years. All these things she longed to tell him.
"I'm.. I'm sorry," she whispered instead, a loud click was her reply.
Usagi sat in the corner of the room, her legs pressed against her chest, her small body raked with uncontrollable sobs. But she also felt a new emotion stirring in her chest. It was one of defiance and perverseness. She reached for the phone and quickly dialed a number. "Endymion I need you to come over," she said urgently.
There was a long pause.
"When?" came a husky whisper.
"Tonight"
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out.
"Well, a hello to you too," he replied with a quirk of his lips.
"I should be asking you that, it is a Saturday for God's sake, why the hell are you working?" he asked casually as he pressed the button for floor 23.
"Unfortunately we can't all spend our days floating around in a dream world, filling it with pretty music. I'm dropping off a very important file, what's your excuse?" Usagi bit back. "That's funny, I'm picking one up," he replied.
"For who?"
"Nosy little creature, aren't we?" Endymion replied silkily, raising an eyebrow.
She let out an annoyed sigh in response.
"If you must know, it's from my accountant, even those who prance around in a dream world as you so eloquently put it, can't elude the IRS," he lied smoothly.
"God damnit," Usagi said angrily, losing her temper.
"What the hell is so wrong with your life that you have to act like nobody can possibly have any problems besides you, you're such an ass!" she shouted.
"Last time I checked, I didn't remember mentioning any of my personal affairs to you or inviting you to take part in them," he replied slowly and dangerously low, as if daring her to reply.
"Ha! Ha!," she started cynically, "you're the one who just moved right into my life, with barely a hello. You've totally disrupted my existence," she continued, her breath coming now in short, quick gasps.
"Well your life must be damn near perfect if meeting someone on a perfectly natural basis fucks it up," Endymion replied, the loss of his patience lending to the slip of his tongue. "You-," she hissed as she was about to start her tirade but the sudden lurch of the elevator as it screeched to a halt made her stop. Well that was the last straw for Usagi as she looked at the infuriatingly handsome man next to her that made her question the entire course of her current existence.
"WHY IS EVERYTHING A TEST?" Usagi half-screamed half-sobbed. Endymion froze and Usagi could see that he was more than slightly taken back. She stared at him for a few moments, taking in quick successions of breaths, her hand leaning against the wall of the elevator for support.
"I- I don't know," Endymion replied in a hoarse whisper. Usagi studied him for a moment.
"Do you believe in God?" she asked softly.
"What?" Endymion answered off guard.
"Do you believe that there is someone looking out for us but at the same time presenting us with choices everyday. Choices that you wish would just go away, so you allow someone else to make them for you?" she repeated. Endymion assumed she was relating the last sentence more to herself than to him but replied anyway.
"I did," he answered shortly.
"You did? As in not anymore?" Usagi asked incredously. Endymion gave a curt nod in reply. "What changed your mind?" she pressed softly.
"I thought you didn't want to get involved in my personal affairs," he replied loftily. "I've never liked tests," Usagi said quietly. Endymion knew he was blowing his chance, knew that the opportunity to be trapped with Usagi in faulty elevator would never again present itself, but he couldn't bring himself to seduce her like this, even if it would solve all his bloody problems.
"I believe in fate, perhaps all musicians do, that's the only thing that keeps them dedicated to such a call, but maybe fate decided to give you a test so you would appreciate what you have, perhaps to draw your attention back to something you've been taking for granted," he hinted. Usagi gave him a lifted eyebrow, wondering how he had hit so close to home, but there was a loud swoosh, as the elevator doors chimed opened at floor 23, she hadn't even noticed that it had fixed itself.
"So, will you still occassionally grace me with you presence, or do I still ruin everything?" Endymion asked as he motioned to leave the elevator.
"I don't know you," she replied lamely.
"Well then maybe you should try to find out," he answered simply, the doors swishing closed behind him.
Endymion drove home at a torrid speed, the manilla envelope that was addressed to him from Ryan tucked safely in the front seat. He parked his SUV with a screech, and raced up the stairs to his apartment. He tore open the envelope, completely ignoring the letter-opener on the table in his frenzied pace to see what the hell Ryan thought was so important that he had to zoom to his office. Endymion clutched the clean white paper tightly, his stormy eyes flitting over the dark-faced type. A single drop of crimson fell to the ground, as Endymion's shaking hands continued to tightly grasp the crisp, white paper.
"I got here as soon as I could," Motoki said, forgetting all formalities as he pushed his way into his former best-friend's apartment.
"She's dead," Endymion informed him dully.
"Who?" Motoki asked urgently.
"My Aunt Jill, did my uncle really hate me that much he couldn't even tell me she died," Endymion continued, his voice cracking.
"It's okay Endy, I'm sure she forgave you," Motoki added reassuringly.
"They hate me, and she hated me right to her grave. They took me in after my parents died and raised me, even though they could barely afford themselves, and god damnit, look- what I did- God," Endymion sobbed, holding his head in his hands.
"How did you find out that she died," Motoki asked softly.
"Since running into you, I started thinking about, you-know, and thought maybe I'd try to go home, make peace," he lied.
"Did you talk to your Uncle?" Motoki asked concerned.
"Yeah right, he'd shoot me on the spot, which is nothing less than I deserve," Endymion sneered.
"C'mon, you gotta stop blaming yourself, if it's anybody's fault, it's Monique's, I keep trying to tell you, and you still keep that god-forsaken rose!" Motoki shouted as he pointed at a wilting rose on Endymion's windowsill.
"She was the only fucking one who didn't point a finger at me after the accident!" Endymion bit back angrily rising to his feet.
"I said I'm sorry man, and I'm trying to be here for you now. Maybe you could do something for me that you can't do for yourself," Motoki replied, losing his patience.
"And what the hell would that be?" Endymion answered annoyed.
"Forgive," Motoki explained.
"You have my sympathies regarding your Aunt's death," he replied cooly as he grabbed his coat and walked out of the desolate apartment.
"You played me!" Endymion screamed with rage into the receiver of his cordless phone as he paced around his apartment.
"Temper, Temper, Endymion," Ryan cautioned from the other end.
"I was doing this 'favor' as you call it so I could afford to pay back my Aunt and Uncle, especially my Aunt. Hell of a lot of good it does now that she's dead," he continued with his tirade.
"My dear Endymion, I'm a business man, and as a business man why would I inform you of your Aunt's passing if I knew it would lessen your enthusiasm for the task in front of you," he asked logically.
"Because you're a sick bastard?" Endymion offered.
"That tongue of yours is going to get you in trouble. Ah, yes, but I think you've already learned that lesson on the stand," Ryan warned.
"How the fuck do you know all this," Endymion asked, a hint of panic creeping into his voice.
"I don't like surprises, and neither do you I assume from the way you reacted to your Aunt's death which was a month ago, bringing us back to my point," Ryan said. "Your little 'accident' left your family in such financial debt that your poor Uncle cannot even afford to bury his wife. He has two days to come up with the money for the funeral, or the morgue will cremate her, and probably just throw away the ashes I would think," Ryan continued, with an undertone of amusement in his voice.
"What do you want from me?!" Endymion choked out.
"I'll pay for your Aunt's funeral, send in a nice little check and say it's from you, but you have to promise me Endymion that the deed will have been done in the time I've allotted you," he explained.
"Why are you doing this. For all you know Usagi could fall in love with me and leave you. You're playing with fire Ryan and your marriage is going to get burnt," Endymion suggested logically.
"Well I'm trusting you not to run away with her, and under the circumstances that seems like a request you'll follow. Also my Usagi is like a small child, once she knows she can't get away with something she won't do it again, but if she is not caught, and punished, she will continue to commit the crime," Ryan explained, beginning to get annoyed.
"Thanks for psychology 101 there, but if you haven't noticed Usagi is a wonderful, pure woman, you must have a hell of a lot of insecurities to think a gal like that is cheating on you," Endymion said.
"Keep your ideals to yourself violinist, and don't comment on things you don't understand. I know what Usagi wants, but I don't know how far she'll go to get it. Also women are as much animals as men, but they can be trained. There's a little bit of advice for you," Ryan said coldly.
"You're a fucking chovinist," Endymion spat.
"And you're a murderer," Ryan replied softly.
Usagi knocked hesistantly on Ami's front door, slightly worried as to what was so important that her and Rei had to come straight over.
"What is it Ami?" Usagi asked concerned when her blue-haired friend answered the door. Ami just ushered her in as a response. Usagi sat next to Rei, who looked as if she had already made herself comfortable.
"Okay Ames, out with it!" Rei demanded.
"I'm pregnant!" Ami cried joyfully, pulling a stick out of her pocket that clearly had a large plus-sign on it.
"Oh my God!" Rei exclaimed as she jumped up to hug her friend.
"That's really, really great Ami," Usagi added softly, her throat tightening.
"Greg's going to be thrilled, I can't wait till he gets home," Ami gushed.
Usagi politely stayed and discussed everything from cute baby outfits to that it was okay to still do some bedroom dancing while pregnant. They talked until the father-to be arrived home.
"Well we'll let you two love-birds be and you can tell him the news yourself," Rei said with a wink and she led Usagi out.
Usagi drove home to her large, empty, husband-less home with slightly blurred vision, wondering what she had done so terribly wrong that caused her not to be blessed with a child.
"Why God, why God?" she whispered over and over, but in her heart she knew she should be asking: "Why Ryan, why?"
Usagi woke up early the next morning, once again alone in the large bed, and feeling particularly frustrated. She took a long, hot shower to release some of the tension; however, her bad mood was irritated further when the phone rang, forcing her to leave her warm haven.
"Hello," she said annoyed, while trying to wrap her long golden hair in a towel.
"That's not a very nice greeting for your husband," came a soft masculine voice.
"Hmp, well maybe I'd give better greetings if you were here in person once and while," she spat in no mood for his little check-up.
"You're uppity today, but then again, you were never much of a morning person," he replied good-naturedly.
"How would you know, you're never here to see me in the morning," she added, her voice laced with hurt.
"Oh baby, you know I'd be there if I could," he said sweetly.
"When will you be home?" she asked.
"About a week hopefully, well I have to go," he replied.
"Bye," Usagi respoded miserably.
"Hey, what do we say?" Ryan cautioned.
"I love you," she added softly.
"There's my girl, now you be good," he finished with a click.
"I'm glad you love me too," Usagi whispered as she stood alone, wrapping the towel tighter around her shivering form.
Usagi knocked swiftly three times on Rei's door. After a few minutes a rather miserable looking Rei answered.
"Yeah?" she asked, clearly annoyed.
"I'm so bored!" Usagi whined.
"Well why don't you go bother Ami?" Rei responded harsly but still opened the door wider to allow her friend access to the apartment.
"She and Greg left today remember? They're visiting Ami's parents and telling them about the good news," Usagi reminded.
"Well, I just got inspired, so I won't be any help," Rei explained, motioning to the computer.
"So you finally got inspiration for a second novel? Your first one was amazing!" Usagi gushed.
"Where did you get an idea from? You got the idea for your first one right after Chad-" but Usagi didn't finish, noticing the pained expression that just crossed the raven-haired woman's face.
"If you must know, I did get inspiration from my love life," Rei hinted.
"Spill," Usagi demanded.
"Well, it's not really a full-blown relationship, actually he doesn't even know I have feelings for him, but that's just it. It's the first time since Chad died that I've had feelings for another man," she confided.
"I'm so happy for you!" Usagi squealed as she clutched her friend in a tight hug.
"Who is it?" she breathed.
"Promise not to laugh?" Rei asked uncertainly.
"Yes, just tell me, please, please, PLEASE!" she pleaded.
"All right, Endymion," Rei said swiftly.
Usagi's jaw pratically hit the floor.
"You promised!" Rei said angrily.
"I'm not laughing, I'm just- well shocked," Usagi chose her words carefully.
"It's just that you didn't seem to keen on him when I mentioned him at the Cafe yesterday," Usagi elaborated.
"I know, but I was trying to get ideas, so I went down to the Cafe and had some coffee while I jotted down ideas and Endymion was my waiter. He seems so romantic, being a violinist and all, and even you have to admit, he's a damn good piece of eye candy," Rei finished sheepishly.
Usagi stared at her hands for a moment. There was a million questions and things to say to Rei racing through her mind, but the one thought that kept popping up was: You're not right for him, he needs someone with a sense of humor, that can make him laugh, someone... like I used to be. Instead she opted for: "Now that you're struck with the love bug and are spending all your time writing, who am I going to hang out with?" Usagi whined.
"God Usagi, you're such a selfish bitch," Rei comented, but by the tone of her voice Usagi could tell she was joking, well almost.
"Hey I've got an idea. Why don't you go talk to Motoki, and then you can try to squeeze some info about Endymion from him," she suggested.
Usagi sighed. It would be good to talk to Motoki, she hadn't really had a heart to heart with him since she started getting serious with Ryan.
"Okay," Usagi conceded.
"Ooh, Usa, you look down. I think this calls for a nice thick, double chocolate milkshake!" Motoki noted as he headed into the kitchens. In a few moments he was seated next to Usagi as she sipped on a rather large milkshake.
"I'm glad you've come to talk to me, it's been a while," he commented.
"Yeah, well you know Ryan," Usagi sighed. Motoki snorted in response, revealing his opinion of her husband.
"He's good to me," Usagi replied defensively.
"It sounds like you're trying to convince yourself, not me," he replied.
Usagi looked away in response.
"Usa, your marriage is none of my business, but I'm not going to sit here and pretend I like the guy, I mean you know what he did to me after he thought you and I were having an affair. That's not something you forgive easily, but all I'm saying is there's something wrong with you and I want to know what the hell it is," Motoki said vehemently.
Usagi continued to gaze into her milkshake.
"Everything," she replied softly.
"Everything is just so fucked up," she choked out.
"I mean I hate my best friend for being pregnant, even though she's been trying since she's been married. Then I hate my other friend for finally liking a guy after she rebuked all men for two years after her fiancee's death, and why should I care, why should I be jealous of them? I'm married for one and can get pregnant anytime I want, why deny a man or a child from the only two friends (Motoki coughed) I have, besides you, in the entire world. Oh my God, I'm such an awful person, I deserve to burn in hell!" Usagi cried, completely broken down.
"God Usagi, it's completely natural for you to be that way. You suffocated and denied yourself things for so long, you're starved for a little attention, you've got to stop blaming yourself for everything! Whatever happened to that happy go-lucky girl who cared more about video games than her homework. I miss her, a lot of people miss her," Motoki finished quietly.
"I don't know, I have to think, I should have never told you this, can we talk about something else?" Usagi asked, a note of pleading in her voice.
Motoki, taking the obvious hint, changed the subject.
"So who's this guy Rei's sweet on? I think it's great she's moving on, she deserves to be happy after all the pain she's been through. Is it anyone I know?" he asked innocently. Usagi almost spit her milkshake back into the glass.
"Um, yeah, sort of," was Usagi's muffled response.
"Alright Usa, out with it, I have to go give the poor bastard a warning, I feel bad for anyone who turns down Rei Hino," Motoki feigned severity.
"Well, you can tell him at work tomorrow. Endymion's the one that's got Rei all hot and bothered," Usagi replied, starting to enjoy herself, as all women do when they get to retell juicy gossip.
"Endymion? He's no good for Rei, in fact I wouldn't recommend him to any girl looking for a serious relationship," he explained slowly.
"Well she thinks he's 'romantic', which I translate into being a whore. I knew he had a few notches on his bedpost," Usagi said bitterly.
"Oh no, Endy is definitely not like that, but he is romantic. I don't think he even has to work here, he just thinks the starving violinist image is 'romantic'. He kinda lives in his little dream world," Motoki said.
"That's what I told him and he got all huffy about it," Usagi related as she swirled her straw around. Motoki let out a short chuckle.
"Well, I've known Endymion since I was five, and he is an enigma if I've ever saw one. Most of the time he's in his little dream world, but since he's gotten older, he's become an extreme realist, but only sometimes. I think that he's spends so much time not really noticing the world going on around him, especially when he plays his violin, but when he does come back to reality, it just hits him all at once, like a fucking train. You must have caught him on one of his down times, he's had a pretty rough life," Motoki explained.
"Poor baby, what happened did he cut himself shaving?" Usagi asked sarcastically.
"Actually his parents died so he was raised by his Aunt and Uncle, and then just a month ago his Aunt died and that's not even half of it," he replied harshly.
"Oh, well what's the other half?" Usagi asked sincerely.
"That's up to Endy to tell you, it's not my place," Motoki replied, finality ringing in his voice.
"You want Rei to be happy, and you want Endymion to be happy, so maybe they're the answer to each other's problems," she suggested.
"I just don't think Rei's his type," he answered cautiously. "Those were my sentiments exactly. But what, does Endymion only go for slutty blondes who can't keep their legs together?" she asked condescendingly.
"I told you, he doesn't like those girls, he's romantic, he believes in falling in love and all that other shit," he said, leaning back in his chair.
"All that other shit? What's made you so bitter?" Usagi commented coldly.
"Your husband," he responded curtly.
Usagi blushed at this and mumbled something that distinctively sounded like sorry before switching the topic.
"Well maybe I'll go find out exactly what kind of man Endymion is myself," she announced.
"I wouldn't do that, the moment Ryan hears of it, Endymion will probably be in a worse boat than me," he said, still not letting go of the former topic.
"Well then, I won't let him find out," Usagi replied annoyed.
"Good luck," he sneered.
"God, you're the only friend I have right now, that I don't hate, even though my reasons for hating them are selfish, I'm entitled to be selfish once in a while. For goodness' sake, I'm a grown woman! Let me choose my own company!" she exclaimed.
"Don't be preaching to me, take your sermon to your husband. All I'm saying is that you don't want another Mina experience," Motoki responded exasperated.
"You just had to bring that up, didn't you?" Usagi demanded, her voice rising.
"I'm sorry Usa, besides Mina was a chick, can you imagine if Ryan finds out you've been hanging out with a man?" he warned.
"You said he was a gentleman," Usagi reminded.
"Yeah, but he's not a fag, and he doesn't really know his own charisma, and he doesn't realize how charming he can be. So you could be halfway through fucking him when you finally realize what you're doing. If Endymion's presented with an opportunity, he's going to take it, like every other man on this earth," he admonished.
"You're pretty discrimatory against your own sex," she noted.
"Yeah, well maybe I'm a realist too," he replied bitterly.
"Just promise, don't go looking for trouble, and don't go looking for Endymion," Motoki commanded.
"Fine," she relented.
"There's my good girl, now I have to get back to work, take care of yourself Usa," he said kindly, giving her a soft kiss on the top of her head.
"'There's my good girl' my ass," Usagi thought harshly as she turned her car around, heading in the direction of Endymion's apartment
"'Lo?" Endymion answered his door groggily. Usagi blushed as she took in his partially nude form, his only clothing a pair of gray sweatpants that hung low on his muscular stomach. "Usagi?" he asked surprised.
"I thought I'd take you up on your offer," she replied softly.
"What time is it?" he asked hoarsely.
"It's only seven o'clock, perfectly proper I assure you," Usagi responded with a laugh.
"Oh, come in, you have to excuse my appearance, I have a bit of insomnia so whenever I feel tired I try to jump on the chance," he explained, stepping back to allow her access to the apartment.
"You look fine to me," Usagi answered, a fresh crimson appearing on her cheeks as she realized how that must have sounded.
"I mean for just waking up, I mean you look fine and proper for company," she fumbled.
He shook his head with a small laugh.
"So why the sudden change of heart?" Endymion asked her casually.
"Well I thought that I was old enough to decide who I wanted to associate with," Usagi replied as she sauntered over to his balcony, opening the doors and welcoming the cool spring evening air.
"Since when were you not old enough to decide your own friends?" he asked, joining her on the balcony.
Usagi leaned against the cold steel of the railing, her gaze focused on the setting sun. "When I first married Ryan, my best friend in the entire world was Mina Aino, we did everything together, she was the sister I never had. Well, she wasn't exactly ideal company in a husband's eye. She was a bit wild, enjoyed to party, preferred the company of men over women, and to top it all off she was an aspiring model. She tried so many agencies but she could never keep a job, only ten day contracts here and there, mostly ending in the agent's bed, but I never held that against her. I always thought she could never keep a contract because she was short like me, but anyway. We had plans to go out for lunch, and she never showed up. Mina was a little flaky, but she would never blow me off without calling first. So I returned home, extremely upset of course, and I told Ryan how stressed I was. He gave me a letter, in Mina's handwriting, and it said that she finally got a modeling contract and couldn't be bothered with Tokyo or any of the hick people that lived there, said that I would just hold her back. She was going to Italy, where they knew fashion. I remeber crying for days, and of course Ryan comforted me. Sick bastard. I later found out from one of his co-workers, that Ryan knew some talent agent, who traveled around the world, mostly Italy, looking for new faces, I think his name was Kunzite something. Anyway, Ryan paid him a shitload of money to offer Mina a contract on the basis that Mina would write me that letter and never contact me again. Mina chose her career over me, but I don't blame her, that was her dream. And I don't know how many times I put her on hold because of something at the office. After that I promised myself that I would never let anyone, especially not Ryan, come between me and my friends. Friendships, good ones, are too hard to find," Usagi finished softly.
"Yeah," he whispered, his mind drifting to Motoki.
"So I guess Ryan wouldn't approve of me?" he asked.
"Only because you have a dick," she replied mordantly.
Endymion watched Usagi closely as the minutes slipped by. They both watched the dying sun in silence until Endymion asked her quietly,
"What did you say the agent's name was, Kunzite?"
"Yeah," she replied slightly confused.
"Was it Kunzite Jacobs?" he pressed.
"Yeah, I think so, why?" she demanded suspiciously.
"He was the one that discovered me, I grew up in Italy, he used to be my best friend, after me and Motoki had our parting of ways," he revealed.
"Used to be your best friend?" Usagi asked with a raised eyebrow.
"He used to be my agent too, but I can get work on my own," he replied airly.
"What happened?" she asked with genuine interest.
"I used to go out with this girl, Monique, she was an aspiring painter. Her work was good, but it had no soul. She could replicate things, perfect, just like a picture. But art is no good if it doesn't have more to it than just face value. She was just like her work, shallow. Anyhow, Kunzite told her he could make her famous, I swear, just so he could bed her. They ran off together," Endymion said, as he quickly returned his gaze to the black sky.
"Your work's not like that. It has so much soul. That song you always play on the violin, the sad melody that's about her, isn't it. I can picture her when you play it. She had dark hair and deep eyes, she's mysterious and handsome, just like you," Usagi commented huskily. "You have a good ear for music, you listen with your spirit," Endymion replied softly.
"And she's the one that gave you that rose," she added, throwing her head in the direction of the coveted flower.
"You have a good ear of music, but not that good," he said with a laugh. Usagi gave him a mysterious smile before returning her attention to the star-filled sky. She let out a long sigh.
"I heard you and Motoki talking," she admitted.
"I knew you were a nosy little creature," he commented with a smile.
They fell into a comfortable silence, both staring into the horizon. Endymion tore his eyes away to gaze at something more beautiful. He felt his breath catch in his throat as he looked at her. She looked lovely in a dark blue blouse that was opened a few buttons to reveal ample cleavage and it was tucked into a black skirt that huggd her curves attractively as her golden locks fell into her flawless face.
"You look stunning," he breathed and Usagi became fully aware how close they actually were to each other.
Usagi stared at him for a few moments which felt like hours, and for the first time she became painfully aware of how she wanted nothing more then for Endymion to just ravage her then and there. She finally acknowledged how good, special, and sexy she felt when she was with him. However, she pushed thoughts of her and Endymion rolling around his bed, their sweat-slick bodies in common rhythm, and instead of telling him her feelings, she shoved him away. "You know, the girls you bring in here probably don't find a rose from an old flame a big turn on. You'd get more if you got rid of it," she said coldly. Endymion gave her a scrutinizing glace before replying,
"You're right."
"What?" she answered slightly surprised.
She was not really expecting him to admit to various love affairs.
"Not about the girls," he waved her comment off with an annoyed flip of his hand,
"I would have more sex if I wasn't so sentimental. It's the curse of the artist. We put the pleasures of the soul in front of those of the body."
"So what you're saying is that you haven't been fucked in a while," she simplified.
A cute blush crossed Endymion's face as he quickly looked away.
"It's not like the opportunites haven't arised. I just want to feel a spiritual connection along with arousal," he mumbled.
"Do you feel that way with me?" she asked bluntly.
"Are you offering?" he replied amused.
"What if I am," she answered with all seriousness.
Endymion was caught off guard by this comment. He weighed his choices carefully. He knew he would have to play his cards right. This was a pivotal point that could decide if he would complete his task or if she would walk away forever.
"I'm not going to lie to you," he explained slowly, "I am attracted to you, who wouldn't be? You're gorgeous. And I do feel that connection, but I think it may just be a friendly kind of thing, do you know what I mean?"
Usagi laughed nervously, refusing to admit to herself the disappointment his answer caused. "Of course, I was just making sure we were on the same page. I think we could have a beautiful relationship together, I really like you, as friends," she replied in an unnaturally high voice.
He just smiled at her, slightly confused.
"Oh my God! It's ten o'clock, I have to get home!" she exclaimed as he glanced at the time on his wristwatch that was glowing faintly in the moonlight.
"I know, what will the neighbors think when you get home at this ungodly hour," he said sarcastically.
"Ha, Ha," she bit back.
"You have to honestly laugh more," he replied seriously.
"I bet the last time you laughed was when you were in my car," he added.
He could tell by her expression that he was correct.
"I know, I'm just so funny," he continued cockily.
"Looking," she snapped.
"Oh, real mature. Well I can sink to your level," Endymion said, a glint in his eye.
"What do you mean," she asked slowly.
Without replying, Endymion wrapped his arms around her and began to tickle her unmercifully. "Stop, Stop," she gasped, as she bit her bottom lip, trying to hold in the laughter.
After a few minutes, he finally let her go.
"Now we'll really give the neighbors something to talk about,' he snickered.
Usagi looked at her reflection and gasped. She looked completely ravaged. Her blonde hair was mussed, her bottom lip was swollen from the pressure of her biting down on it, and her chest was heaving.
"Let them talk," she said proudly, flipping her hair over her shoulder.
"So I take it you're going to befriend the lowly violinist?" he asked mockingly.
"I do belive I already have," she replied with a small smile before walking out of the apartment.
Usagi slipped into the dark, quiet house, the red blinking light of her answering machine catching her attention. She casually pressed the play button.
"You have 32 new messages," came the mechanical voice.
"What the hell..." she whispered.
Before she could listen to the first message, the shrill ring of the phone sliced through the desolate room. She stared at it for moments before picking it up with shaking hands. "Where the hell were you," Ryan's voice screamed at her over the phone.
"It's only 10:30," Usagi replied, her voice shaking.
"Where were you, fucking around you little whore?" he demanded, his words slurred.
"I was out shopping, I thought if I couldn't have a relationship with you, I might as well have one with your money," she said, her voice rising.
"I work my ass for you, so you can live in a huge house, and strut around in gucci and gold, and that is how you repay me? By jumping on somebody else's dick?" he shouted.
"I didn't do anything wrong! I was shopping! Besides, I earn a paycheck around here too," her voice cracked.
"Yeah, thanks to me, everything you've got in this life was because of me. You were a stupid bitch, and you're still a stupid bitch. I've carried your ass, you owe me everything!"
"Stop it! Stop it!" she sobbed.
"SHUT UP!" he screamed at her.
"You're drunk," she cried.
"You're a fucking slut." he said coldy.
Usagi whirled around and faced herself in the mirror, taking in her swollen lips and tousled hair. She longed to tell Ryan about Endymion, how Endymion made her feel special, sexy, and smart. All emotions she never felt with Ryan. Also she yearned to tell him that she didn't need him. She was intelligent and could make it on her own. It was Ryan, not competence, that had kept her back all these years. All these things she longed to tell him.
"I'm.. I'm sorry," she whispered instead, a loud click was her reply.
Usagi sat in the corner of the room, her legs pressed against her chest, her small body raked with uncontrollable sobs. But she also felt a new emotion stirring in her chest. It was one of defiance and perverseness. She reached for the phone and quickly dialed a number. "Endymion I need you to come over," she said urgently.
There was a long pause.
"When?" came a husky whisper.
"Tonight"