I blinked. Millions of questions raced through my mind. When did he start working here? Wasn't it only Andrew and his family who ran this place? Why did he sound so angry? Where was my food? I blinked.

"Seiya!" I smiled brightly. When in doubt, charm always seemed the best route. Mamoru sat across from me, unsure what to do. A swift kick in his shins reminded him of his manners, and his mask of pain quickly transformed into a strained smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Taking your order," He replied. I winced at his sarcasm. Mamoru looked to me questioningly; written plainly on his face was the question I new he yearned to ask- who was this guy? My grin faltered slightly. Perhaps sensing his abruptness, Seiya winked. "Andrew needed extra help. Lizzie decided she didn't feel like coming in today and I, the hero I am, volunteered my services!" His chest puffed egotistically and I for a moment was reminded of Mamoru when we'd first met.

"Right," I rolled my eyes and shook my head. Mamoru's irate face landed in my line of gaze. Giggling sheepishly I quipped: "Oh! Right," Nodding my head in Mamoru's direction. "This is my boyfriend Chiba Mamoru," bowing politely, he extended his hand in a friendly greeting. Seiya simply raised an eyebrow before conceding.

Ending their greeting hurriedly, Seiya redirected his attention my way.

"So doll," he leaned slightly forward. "What's your poison?" His comment caught me by surprise. Giving him a confused look I posed;

"Wha'?" He chuckled.

"What do you want to drink?"

"Just two waters for now please," Mamoru answered, a slight edge in his voice. I wondered briefly what could be bothering him, but Seiya's voice cut into my thoughts.

"Alright old man," He scribbled something quickly on his paper pad, possibly deliberately ignoring the angry glare Mamoru sent his way. Without glancing up, he promised his swift return with our drinks and menu's and left before either one of us could say anything. Cocking my head to the side, I voiced my thoughts.

"Hmm, I wonder what that was all about?" I looked at Mamoru pointedly, waiting for a reply. His gaze however, still lingered on the path taken by our server. I sighed. "How come you ordered us both waters? I wanted a milk shake!" Finally catching his attention, I jumped at the long scowl on his face. Trying to hold back a smile, I raised my eyebrows. "Keep on making that face and it'll stay like that." He growled.

Mamoru never growled. Actually, that wasn't true. He denied growling but whenever he was driven to extreme annoyance or anger, that sound always swelled in his throat.

"I don't like that guy," he stated sourly. Leaning back, I wiped a hand across my sweaty brow.

"Seiya? Why not?" He jerked his head up, as if startled by my query. "If it's about that little quip on your age, don't take it personally," I chided. "His jokes are usually sarcastic like that." That stunned look still squashed on his face, shrugged my shoulders. "What!?"

"God your clueless," he muttered disbelievingly. I narrowed my eyes.

"Hey! What'd I do?"

"Nothing," he said quickly. "You didn't do anything." I rolled the suggestion through my mind, trying desperately to find it's meaning. Alas, to no avail.

"Okay," I drawled slowly. "Then, what's the problem?" He sighed heavily, and began in an almost demeaning tone.

"He was hitting on you!" I stared at him wide eyed before erupting in a fit of giggles. Sensing he might be insulted by this, I bit down on my bottom lip; hard. Mamoru leaned back and focused his eyes on the path Seiya followed to the table. His arms crossed and eyes glowering, I knew it wasn't my telepathy that led me to believe he was upset.

"Mamo-chan," I reached across the table, trying to pull him out of his silent anger. "Mamo, that's just how he talks. He does this with everyone!" He didn't seem to be budging. "It's nothing, really!" Looking up, I saw Seiya fast approaching. "Look, I'll even ask him, okay?" I opened my eyes wide, super wide and played into the most desirable puppy dogface I could muster. He caught my antics, but tried to turn his face away before I could see his lips twitching in a grin. Gotcha!

"Here're your waters," Seiya slid them unceremoniously across the table so that the water splashed sloppily over the edges of the plastic. Lifting the cup to my lips, I gulped half of it down, unaware to this point just how thirsty I truly was. Mamoru picked his up also, though more cautiously, as if poison really had been laced within its cool depths.

Smacking the glass back down on the table, I heaved a satisfied sigh, my stomach feeling heavy and rippling with the water inside. That thought send my hand straight to my belly, feeling for the familiar bulge of food entering its bottomless tomb. My hand only felt warm sweat though and it seemed once more my self-consciousness was created from figments of the mind. Catching Mamoru's eye, I felt a warm sense of comfort in his gaze.

Recalling now the question I was to pose, I looked to Seiya.

"Ready to order?" He asked. See? I told myself. Completely innocent. Before I could answer, Seiya seemed to pause mid thought, a smirk painting his face.

"Uh," I started. "Yes?" Another chuckle rolled from his lips and he raised his slim hand to my chin. I felt him tilt it slightly up. "Uh," I stammered. His eyes stared focused at my mouth. "W-what are you doing?" I looked desperately to Mamoru, whose look of shock was transforming quickly to his quiet look of fury.

"Leave her alone," He stated, his voice low and taking on a slightly gravel sound. Again, Seiya either ignored him or was very concentrated on my face. I felt a light dabbing of something soft on my face and as quickly as he'd cradled my face, he released it.

Holding up small cloth, he looked to Mamoru.

"She had some water on her chin." Brushing off the boiling look in Mamoru's eyes, he grinned. "Just doing my duty!" I felt a blush creep to my cheeks. Furrowing my brows, I spoke.

"Seiya, your not hitting on me, are you?" He stopped and gazed at me before handing us both menus.

"Of course!" and he turned on his heel and strutted back to the kitchen. From across the table I could feel the muscles in Mamoru's legs twitch as he tried to stand suddenly.

"Mamo!" I stood faster then he and, gripping his shoulders; his very strong, sweaty shoulders...Hmm, perhaps we should leave straight away- USAGI! Common sense brought me back from my musings and once again my efforts were focused on keeping Mamoru in his seat and Seiya's body intact. "Chiba Mamoru, don't you dare!" I scolded. Though his muscles were still tense under my fingers, I could feel the resistance ease. "That's better."

In truth, if Mamoru had really wanted to knock the innards from someone, there really wasn't much I myself could do. However, logic being so deeply engrained in the mind of this young med-student, we both knew that the likelihood of him actually assaulting someone was not in the high percentile. Still...

"You know what Mamo-chan? I'm not really that hungry after all." His eyes were glazed over and I knew he wanted desperately to voice his line of 'I told you so'. I sometimes wondered who was really the most mature in our relationship. Tracing his clenched jaw line I whispered something oh so pleasing in his ear. When I returned to look in his eyes, I saw a quiet twinkle and laughed.

The morning alarm chimed with all the musical talent of a tone-deaf dog. Muffling protests, I rolled over to greet the blinking green numbers dancing evilly before my eyes.

"Mmmph," I grumbled, to no one in particular and reached out with one hand to forever conquer the irritating beep. The weekend always passed so quickly by and, like always, Monday returned balance to the universe. It was late last night I found myself sneaking clumsily into mum's place. The house was an absolute sty; bottles scattered everywhere, stenches of body odor, vomit and gathering laundry attacked my nostrils with a strangely soothing familiarity. It was hard to believe what a clean freak she was- had been. Everything was had beens and back thens now.

The resurrection of the alarm blaring roused me from my mind and I frowned sleepily. "Must've hit the stupid snooze button..."

I readied myself quickly, managing (somehow) not only to accomplish my jog, but also my showering and pampering in under an hour. When, alas, I descended the staircase, I noticed mother leaning against the bottom banister. "Mum?" I called, not too loudly. She was usually hung over by this time of day.

She didn't turn at my voice and neither did she start. It was almost as if she were off in some phantom realm. A stab of fear pierced my heart and for a moment, the thought of her turning to drugs pelted me. "Mum!" I called again, more determinedly.

When again she made no move, I dashed to her, reached out to spin her around.

"Usa-chan," She whispered softly, her head still gazing over cluttered floor and rank décor. I paused. Her head turned slowly, either purposefully done or a well tuned device to handling drunkenness. Her eyes looked hollow and sunken, a greater age than should have been present showed itself in their depths. She raised a pale hand to my face, tapping my cheek gently as if to be sure it was a reality. "This place is a mess," she nodded in all directions, focusing her eyes on the window overlooking the kitchen. "A mess, such a mess" she whispered hoarsely, and suddenly, I wasn't so sure she spoke if the house. As if realizing her words, she raised her hand to her gaping mouth. Her eyes turned back to look at me, and something seemed to stir from their depths. "Come on now, you'll be late for school,"

She led me gently down the stairs, towards the door. "Go on Usagi, have a good day dear." Her lips pecked my cheek, and as if sensing her sour breath, she pulled away quickly. "Well," she waved me off. "Go on!"

As I rode to school, all that swirled in my mind was the image of mum, gathered by the banister, looking like a ghost. Really, that's all she was now. Ever since Dad and her, 'separated'. I sighed. At least Shingo doesn't see this. Maybe he had the right mind, staying with Dad...

In my heart though, I knew the reason I still stayed with Mum. She needed me.

WHOHOHOOHO freaking long time since my last post, huh? Uh, yeah. Funny story. I forgot the email I use for my ID so I couldn't get access to my account to update...yeah...totally blows.....

In any case, the next chapter is in the works (really! I mean it! Three pages written already!) And, thanks to my new organizational skills, it will be up by wednesday (just in time for me to go back to school). Yay. Hope you all like this this chapter! HAPPY SEPTEMBER!