Till Someone Comes Along Chapter 16. Don't own SM or SLY. Please R&R. When your boss calls it 'a little deal', it's usually blackmail...

I'm in shock. Total...total shock.

Only one word can float to the surface of my mind and place itself on my tongue.

FIRED.

FIRED!

MOTOKI...GOT...FIRED!

Here's the story, before I start throwing confetti in your face. Setsuna had become really suspicious when I mentioned him during my whole little spiel on the cow day. So, she went snooping around. Turns out that Minako and I weren't the only victims of his little sex spree. He pulled a Mamoru - almost every temp she talked to had a little bed memory. So, she dumped him. Then, as she realized that he sat on his ass all day, doing nothing, she fired him. He got FIRED!

A big party was in the works. Seriously. In fact, streamers are being hung in the lobby as we speak. He was such an asshole. None of the other workers liked him very much.

I looked around the lobby to see everyone laughing and having a good time-and Motoki looking ill as he finished packing his office. He had his box, and his files, and looked like he was the new mascot for Veggietales with his face so green. I walked to say my last good-byes. I owed him just a little bit. I mean, he made me happy for a little while, even if it was a lie, and cheap, and short.

But still, even if he was an asshole, someone needed to be civil and give him a graceful goodbye. I only wish that someone wasn't me.

He smiled sadly when he saw me coming. "Usagi-"

"Hey. How've you been, Motoki?"

He thought for a while. "I've been better. You?"

"Pretty good," I said. "Where are you going now?"

"Back to my old job. Left a lot to do, and my replacement can't handle it."

"This 'lot to do', it wouldn't be doing what I think it is, would it?" I asked tentatively.

He smiled, and bowed his head sheepishly. "No. This was only here. I thought that since I was in the city, I could do it."

That asshole. That bastard. There was a stinging in my heart. I was just part of his plan, making him macho in the city.

He looked into my eyes. "Hey, Usagi, I did love you. I do. That was for real."

I laughed. "Have fun where you go, Motoki," I said. I didn't believe him.

It was time for him to leave. He knew it. I knew it. He picked up his things, and walked into the elevator.

"Goodbye, Usagi," he said. The doors shut, and he disappeared. I never saw him again.

Mamoru came up behind me, dodging Mitsuke and Misa dropping their crepe paper. "You're a really nice person, Usagi. Not everyone would have done that."

I wiped my eyes. I didn't want him to see me crying. "I wish I hadn't." I said.

"But it shows you're the more mature person if you're willing to let go," he said softly.

Why was he telling me this? Why was he tormenting me in this way? We both hadn't let go, we both probably would never let go. We'd be in our eighties, still living in the apartment, still holding onto a grudge. I could feel more tears welling up in my eyes. I didn't want him to see me cry. I couldn't let him see me cry.

He held out a box of tissues next to me. Grateful, I grabbed one. "Thanks."

"I knew you'd need them," he said. He turned and walked away.

I watched him go back to his office, my heart aching. It was the same feeling I'd had kissing him, but in more of a heart-wrenching way. It was like-like losing my brother. That's the only way I can explain it. Mamoru was nothing more than a brother. That's all. I couldn't fall in love with him. I can't fall in love with him. But I wasn't so sure if I could fall in love with anyone.

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(A/N: I know exactly that feeling. My brother was never really a brother to me. I had lost him through all the abuse he gave to me. I think that's what gives me a hard time around guys. You can't really get the time back. You can't release the pain either. You also can't get them if they're gay.)

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I met Seiya that night.

I have to admit, he's a really nice guy. A gentleman. A guy almost every other girl would die for. But, I'm not every other girl. Not in this case.

We had a nice evening. We went to a resturaunt, went to a movie, and then went to his apartment. He got me a glass of water, we sat and talked, and he made no sexual move whatsoever.

Yeah, he's a nice guy, but it was rather boring.

There was one thing that was very interesting about the whole evening - Mamoru. He was following me, and I knew it. Resturaunt, movie theater, even on the street.

He was (gasp!) stalking me.

I was smiling. I didn't know why.

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I got home and saw Mamoru in the kitchen. "Hey," he said casually.

I jumped him. My lips were caressing his, my hands were moving freely up and down his back, the works. He was surprised, then started kissing me back. I ripped his shirt off, and kept going. Suddenly, I stopped, and pinched myself to make sure I was dreaming. I felt something, which ruled out nightmare. My eyes got wide as Mamoru looked at me.

"Well, Usagi, this would be considered incest, wouldn't it?" he said breathlessly, raising his eyebrows flirtatiously.

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"AAAAAAUGH!" I screamed, waking up. I'd been pinching myself in my sleep, thinking it was real. I threw off the covers, and ran to the kitchen, where Mamoru was making breakfast. "Good morning, sleepyhead," he said, looking down at his cutting board.

I pointed at him, my hand shaking. "You!" I cried.

He looked up, and looked at me strangely. He turned, thinking there was someone behind him. "Me?" he asked.

"Yes. You want me, I want you, so just take me!" I said dramatically, throwing my arms in the air, and thrusting my head backwards.

He smiled as if I were a cute little child, and looked down at his cutting board, still chopping. "I don't feel that way about you anymore."

I dropped my head forward, and looked at him surprised. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He wouldn't look up.

I dropped my arms, and marched up to him. "If you're so sure," I countered, "look me in the eyes and tell me."

He dropped his knife, and locked his eyes on mine. "I don't love you anymore, Usagi."

I was shocked. To say that now? I would have expected that sooner if he had really meant it. We stood, eyes locked, unable to move. That is, until the doorbell rang. I breathed out heavily, relieved. He picked up his knife and continued cutting as I went to the door. I opened to find flashbulbs, video cameras, microphones, and a whole lot of people.

"What-what the hell are you all doing here!" I cried.

"Are you Dr. Mason, a.k.a., Usagi Tsukino?" one lady asked me.

"Yeah, but what-"

When someone asks you a question you know the answer to, unless you're in school, and you're going to be attacked by a mob of fans, lie. LIE.

The crowd cheered, and made a rush to grab me and pull me out the door. My eyes got wide, and I slammed the door. I looked at Mamoru, who calmly put down his knife.

"Mamoru, you've got to help me!" I cried, baring the door.

"Why, sure, Usagi," he said. He left the kitchen, walked into his room, and locked the door.

"You ASSHOLE!" I screamed. I had a mob of media waiting for me, ready to break down my door, and he ran into his room like a fucking coward! I got so annoyed with the pounding on the door, I had to open it.

"What do you want!" I whined.

Everyone looked at each other, then attacked me with microphones, tape recorders, flashbulbs, and pleas for autographs.

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There was a knock on my office door. I looked up to see Setsuna standing there - a demonic grin playing on her face.

"Guess who's the new post-feminist icon?" she said in a sing-song voice.

"Uh...Madonna?" I said.

"No, silly," she said. Not once have I ever heard her call one of her employees 'silly'. It scared me. "I'm staring right at her."

There was a poster of Sailor V behind me. "Oh, Sailor V? Really?"

Her smile was beginning to look a little forced. "It's you, Usagi."

"I know that," I said, typing away.

Her smile grew even more demonic, and just as she opened her mouth, I quickly yelled, "NO!"

"Oh, Usagi, come on! All you have to do is sit there and answer questions! I promise!" Setsuna said pleadingly.

"Usagi says: N-O," I said.

Back again with the demonic smile. "Do you like your job?"

I gasped. "Blackmail!" I cried.

"No, it's not blackmail, more like a little deal." Setsuna said. "You do this segment, you keep your job."

I glared at her. "Other shows pay me."

"Yes, but you didn't work for them, did you?" she said. She got up and left my office while I sat, angrily thinking. That was it. I was going to quit! I was going to get out of here! No boss blackmails me! I was-

Mamoru knocked on my door as I was fuming. "You okay?"

"I've been blackmailed," I said through gritted teeth.

"By Setsuna?" he asked, surprised.

"And you're a fucking load of help," I said angrily.

"What do you want me to do?" he asked.

"Why? So you're going to do what you did before? Run?" I cried.

He smiled. "You never need me."

Those words hit me hard. He turned to walk away, when my mouth opened and I squeaked, "You shove me away."

He froze, and turned around. "Did you say something?"

I blushed. "No. But if you weren't so damn stubborn, I might need you." I said angrily. "Well? What are you staring at! Go! Be a fucking coward!"

Mamoru stared at me, then shut the door softly. As soon as he left, it was as if a huge dam had burst inside of me. I started to cry. I didn't know what I wanted. I didn't know what I needed. And I wasn't sure if I had already lost it.

Plus, I was being blackmailed so I could keep my job. Life sucked. It really did. Until a gentleman decided to show up at my door.

"Hey, Usagi."

"Seiya!" I said, surprised. I wiped my face free of tears. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to surprise you," he said. He saw tear streaks on my face, and his smile turned into a concerned look. "I hope I didn't come at a bad time."

"What? Oh! No, no, I've had a bad day, but, you coming here makes it all better," I said.

"Well, I hope I really do make it better," he said. He went over and started to massage my back.

"Oh, ow...OW!" I cried as he hit a knot.

"How long ago was your last massage?" he asked.

"A long, long time ago," I admitted, taking in a sharp intake of breath from the pain. "Too long ago."

I saw Mamoru peeking through my door, looking furious, or like he wanted to throw up. I was enjoying the back therapy, and I was going to flaunt it.

What was I doing! I didn't love Mamoru! I definitely didn't want to make him jealous! I didn't love him at all! But the look on his face...now that was priceless.

Oh, I was going to make him mad.

But, I liked Seiya. I liked him a lot. And I was going to end up hurting him in a way. I could feel it. I didn't want to, but- "OWIEOWIEOWIEOWIEOWIE!" I screamed.

"Oh! Did that hurt?" Seiya said.

"Just a little," I said, smiling at him.

"So, do you want to go out tonight?" Seiya asked.

"Sure," I said. "Absolutely." I looked to the door. Mamoru was gone. That made me feel satisfied.

I wasn't going to quit. Sure, Setsuna was blackmailing me, but my life was here. I wanted to stay with Minako. I wanted to stay with the man that meant the most to me. Now, I just had to figure out who that was exactly.

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"So, you seeing anyone?" Minako asked.

"No."

"Mamoru says you are."

"Mamoru knows shit."

"Really. So, why was unknown guy giving you a backrub?"

"He's just a friend," I said. "I met him at a seminar, and we have mutual friends in common. So, he came to town, and we decided to catch up."

"Why won't you tell me who you're with?"

"Jeez, Minako! Stop it! You sound like a mother hen!" I cried.

"Who is he?"

"There is no one! Drop it!" I said, shutting off my cell phone. I was the only one in the office for lunch, so I could finally get some work done. Then, I heard the phone conversation that would change my life.

"Mamoru? Hey, it's Minako. Listen, she won't budge. She insists that it's a friend, and won't even say his name. But I agree, even friends don't give backrubs like that. Listen, as soon as I get more info, I'll let you know. See you tonight!"

That lying, sneaking, little bitch! She'd been spying on me, giving information to Mamoru so he could use it against me! I hated her! I wasn't going to let her win! Oh, no! I wasn't going to tell her anything! Not ever again!

The phone rang in my office. I was still furious, and if it was Minako, I'd slam the receiver against the desk until I broke her eardrum. Or receiver. Whichever came first. I stormed into my office, picked up the phone, and cried, "MINAKO! You two timing bitch! I swear, our friendship is OVER! I never-"

"Usagi, it's Natsumi!"

"Oh! Hey, Natsumi," I said, calming down a bit. "What's up?"

"You have a fight with Minako?"

"Yeah."

"Sounds bad."

She sounded as if she'd been crying with all of her sniffling. "Hey, you okay?" I asked.

"Usagi, you're not going to believe this, but I'm-"

"I'll donate all I can to the Cancer Society, or your hospital, or anything! Just please, don't die!"

"What? No! Usagi, listen, it worked!"

"What?"

"I'm pregnant!"

I dropped the phone.

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Hey, guys! Natsumi's pregnant! Yay! And there's more fun to go! Stay tuned for chapter 17!

EternalSenshi