Denny's

Disclaimer: When this series came out I was five. So I suppose I couldn't have created it huh?

Summary: Mamoru and Usagi met in middle school; They were friends, then enemies, then lovers, and enemies once again; Ten years later they end up working for the same company; does sparks or fists fly?

Hey everyone! I decided to sit down and write a quality chapter this time. Sorry it took a while. I had to take some college entrance tests and that was stressing me out. : crazy face: By the way no offense to any one who smokes! You'll see what I mean. Oh in case you were wondering, everyone's the same age because I said so. (Author's rights or something like that eh, no?)

"Wow, Mamoru, you're so… romantic…" Usagi gazed at him in undisguised amusement.

"Yeah, if you like your food smoky." Minako snorted. All four stood amidst scores of professionals conducting business dinners... in the smoking area. Mamoru looked about frantically for the hostess. When she finally came over, he explained the mistake she made.

"Well, sir, I'm afraid this is the only table we have available."

---

"Denny's? This is the only place you could find for us to eat?"

"Calm down, Motoki. What's wrong with Denny's?" Minako rolled her eyes. "You're such a snob."

"I love Denny's!" Usagi squealed with glee. "Mmm… pancakes and bacon and hash browns and French toast and Belgian waffles!"

"Maybe you should buy stock in their company. I hear you get free food."

"FREE FOOD?! Hey waitress! Excuse me, miss!" Usagi stood up from the table, flagging down the nearest waitress.

"Sit down, Usa!" Minako pulled Usagi down, bursting into laughter. Mamoru and Motoki gasped for air, clutching the edge of the table. "Mamoru wasn't serious."

"I knew that. I was just trying to provide, uh, comic relief."

"Oh, man. That was classic! I knew you'd believe me, Usa."

"You can shut up now. It wasn't that funny," Usagi huffed through clenched teeth. "I swear if you weren't paying-"

"Hello, my name's Juri and I'll be your waitress for tonight." The 5'8 platinum blonde popped pink bubblegum while flipping her receipt over. "What will you be having, darling?" She leaned over suggestively toward Motoki. Minako scowled.

"Well, Jury, let's have three buttermilk pancakes, two plates of bacon, a side of hash browns, two pieces of French toast and a large glass of orange juice."

"Is that it?" The (fake) blonde fumed over Usagi's apparent mispronunciation of her name.

"Oh, and a strawberry milkshake." Juri walked off. "Jury?"

"Yes?"

"You forgot to take everyone else's orders."

---

"You were so damn rude to the waitress, Usagi." Mamoru said to her after the four were leaving the restaurant. It was two in the morning but none of them were ready to go home yet.

"Ah, maybe it's the full moon? Anyway, I don't see why you guys had to leave her a $20 tip."

"Obviously to make up for your rudeness. And for the ton of food she had to carry for you"

"Oh please, Motoki. You left her that huge tip because the skank gave you her number."

"Sound like you're jealous, Minako." Motoki wiggled his eyebrows at her. Usagi laughed. Minako shot her a look so Usagi immediately changed the topic.

"So, who wants to go to the beach?"

"Uh, I'm a bit tired." Minako faked a yawn and punched Motoki in the ribs.

"Oh, yea, I got to get up early tomorrow. Wow, look at the time. Why don't I take Minako home and you can take Usagi to the beach, Mamoru?"

"And just where do you have to go tomorrow? Last time I checked it was Saturday."

"Well, I have a meeting with the masseuse if you know what I mean."

"You mean one of those hos that you find in the classified ads?"

"Like that guy you took me to last week, Mina?" Usagi was a little miffed that Mina was bailing on her. "Mina knows all the hos out there."

"Let's not forget who worked as one before landing their spiffy job ay Nyaco Tech!"

"Um, alright Minako, I think you've had enough for one night. Let's take you home now. See you later, Usagi. Have fun at the beach." Mamoru and Motoki dragged the girls away from each other as they eyed one another with pure hate.

---

"You're going to regret what you said in the morning, Usa."

"Yeah, well, right now I feel mighty good." Usagi looked out the tinted window of Mamoru's black Jaguar.

"A bit childish, don't you think?" Usagi slowly looked towards him, studying the planes of his face.

"Is that what you think?"

"I call it like I see it."

"Whatever."

"See, this is why we broke up all those years ago."

"Because I was too childish?"

"No." Mamoru pulled into a parking space and turned the car off. "It was because instead of trying to communicate you just brush things off."

"I can't believe you would say that!"

"There you go. You are the damn queen of denial. I thought maybe you've grown up since then, but I guess not."

"I've grown up, but I'm not going to put myself out there to get hurt."

"Pain is a part of life, Usagi. How do you know if something's going to hurt if you don't experience it? And even if it does, isn't the happiness worth the pain? Love hurts, but when you have it, it's also beautiful."

"What are you saying?" Usagi looked at him carefully. 'He couldn't be saying that he loved me. Or still does.'

"Look, do you want me to take you home?"

"No…" Usagi closed his hand over hers. "You always promised me that you'd take me walking on the beach one day." Mamoru smiled.

"I did? Ah… I think I remember. Was it in sophomore year?"

"I don't know. I can't remember… maybe it was the first time we kissed."

"Hmm, I don't think I remember that." Mamoru tilted Usagi's face toward his.

"Are you going to kiss me this time? Perhaps you need to refresh your memory."

"My brain remembers, but my lips don't." Mamoru gently kissed the corner of her mouth. "I think I remember a bit now. Maybe some more practice."

---

"Hello, I know you guys are probably having sex in there, but please open up. This is an emergency." Mamoru and Usagi separated.

"Is that Mina…?" Usagi's voice was ragged. Mamoru put down his window.

"Oh, eww! You could have warned me you were putting the window down. I don't want to see anything that may scar me forever."

"Calm down, Mina. We weren't doing anything."

"Well, we probably were going to so it's your fault I'm not getting any tonight." Usagi jabbed Mamoru in the ribs. He grinned wickedly and cleared his throat. "Anyway, so what's the emergency?"

"Motoki got a flat."

"Near the beach?" Usagi looked suspicious.

"No, and I know you think we were following you. We weren't."

"So where's Motoki?" Mamoru was anxious to get to the point.

"He's over on 16th street."

"That's six miles from here!" Mamoru looked angry. Usagi was shocked.

"You walked six miles by yourself at three in the morning?!"

"Yes, Usa. Anyway, there's no use yelling at me because I'm here so you two, pick your jaws up and drive me back to Motoki's car!"

---

"I can't believe you left Minako to walk six miles to the beach! What the hell's wrong with you, Motoki? It was three in morning! Someone could have just jumped out and raped her! Didn't you think of that?"

"Hello to you too, Mamoru." Motoki walked from his car over to Mamoru's car. Mamoru gave him a death stare. "She didn't tell you the story? I'm surprised she even came back for me. So, Minako, why don't you tell Mamoru why you walked six miles unchaperoned?"

"Can this wait until tomorrow? I'm tired." Mamoru turned toward Minako as she faked a yawn. He flicked his gaze back to Motoki.

"Did you call for a tow truck?"

"Yeah."

"Then get in the car. We're all going to my place. Anyone have a problem with that?" He stared at Usagi and Minako. "I didn't think so."

---

"I'm hungry."

"You just ate."

"That was hours ago, Mamoru."

"In a few hours, after you sleep, it will be breakfast. By then you'll be in your own home, eating food from your kitchen. Okay, Usagi?"

"Maaaaamooooru! If you want me to help you get the goods on Mina and Motoki, you better feed me!" Usagi stomped her foot as Mamoru sullenly led the way to his kitchen.

Okay, long overdue right? Tried to make a quality chapter. The little message at the top was written a week ago and boy, has things changed from there. Until the next update. BTW, I called my Mamoru! Unfortunately, he was at work. So I'll try again soon. Wish me luck!

Miss Kittikarei