Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. But Mamo-chan is mine! _Mine_ you hear! ::Squeezes Mamo-chan:: 'Miss I'm going to have to ask you to let this man go.' Nooooooo! I own him! He's rightfully mine!!! ::Cackles maniacally while Mamo-chan turns blue from lack of oxygen:: 'Ok, I didn't want to do this but obviously you want to do it the hard way.' *Signals the other men in police uniforms* 'One, two, NOW!!!' *They jump on top of her* Aaaaarrrrrgggggggh! What are you doing?! Let go!!! HEY! Where's Mamo-chan? ::The raven-haired man crawled out of the pile of bodies and fainted on the ground:: MAMO-CHAN??? 'Lock her boys!!!' NOOO! I'll come back for you honey buns!!! ::Sobs::
' ' --- Indicates thoughts.
_ _ --- For emphasis.
Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews!!! It makes me feel good knowing that you're all enjoying this fic as much I am writing it!
^_~ Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 2: Let the Games Begin!!!
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Halfway to his apartment, Mamoru still hadn't gotten over what Motoki had said. He was still angry and. . . very much confused which only added more fuel to his anger. 'What's there to be confused about?' Mamoru thought irritated. 'I hate Odango and she hates me. End of story!'
Mamoru was oblivious of the frightened stares he was getting, as he stomped on the sidewalk with his fists clenching and unclenching like he was getting ready to strike at random and choke someone to death.
He made quite a site.
Only, the citizens of Tokyo didn't think it was amusing. I mean come on! Their lives were at stake here! Mothers fell to the floor, covering their children for protection. Businessmen who could never get off their cell phones, even if the world was being attacked by space monkeys, dropped their phones and ran like the devil was after them with a pitchfork when they saw the crazed look on the man's face. And even the meanest of alley cats sprinted away, seeking refuge in trashcans, quivering.
Yet not everyone was the least bit scared.
Two small forms that were witnessing the commotion below were hiding up in a tree. The only things that could be seen from a fair distance were their teeth glinting off from the sun.
Anyone would think it was only their imagination and that they've watched Alice in Wonderland as a kid--- one too many times.
Nope. It's definitely not the Cheshire cat toying with people's minds. But two, different beings entirely.
One of the miniature forms had short silver hair, looking smooth and soft to the touch. He had dark charcoal eyes, his face was relaxed with no signs of wrinkles, that clearly stated that he's not the type to ever get angry but was very easy going. Though, if anyone knew him as his companion did, they would see that sometimes he had a tendency to act out of character. His grin was lazy, making him appear as if he had just woken up from a deep slumber. He wore a gray billowing shirt with black tights, a gray belt encircled his waist, and black comfortable slippers that resembled a lot like ballet shoes.
The other, was the exact opposite of her counterpart, she had hair of gold that rippled like waves and shimmered in a glorious fashion, reaching down to her hips. Her eyes were the darkest hue of blue, looking exactly like the ocean from which she had surfaced, standing upon foam, from the first day she was created and brought to the world. Her smile was bright and cheery, but there was no mistaking the fact that it was also mischievous and sly as a fox. She adorned a light pink dress with gold sandals that had woven straps extending to her ankles.
Without turning to look at her companion, she said, "Our plan is coming along smoothly."
He nodded and leaned against a tree branch. "Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Are you serious?" she exclaimed, incredulous she spun on her heel to face him with her hands on her hips. "Those two are as stubborn as a bull! It could take eons getting those two together!"
A silver brow slowly made its way up. "Your idea, not mine."
She glared at him through heated eyes.
Eyes that could make men and women alike feel like they were drowning in a pool of lava.
He shrugged his shoulders. 'Big deal.'
Crossing his arms and ankles, he continued on, "You're the one who came to me complaining that you were bored to death. While I was having the most _wonderful_ dream---mind you---and that you've found the most interesting pair, stating that it was to be "the best matchmaking scheme to ever come about in history"."
In mid-pause, he gave her a sweet smile not meant to be sweet. "Not that it would ever make it to history books, since, you are considered to the majority of the people "a myth"."
Gritting her teeth, she replied, "That's not what I meant!"
"Whatever you say, Sweets."
"Morpheus," she said warningly, "stop calling me that!"
"Sure thing." His eyes twinkled merrily. "Sweets."
"The name's Aphrodite! You half-wit!!!"
Morpheus looked at her, astonished. "What do you take me for? Of course I know your name!"
Aphrodite's shoulders slumped in relief.
"It's Sweets."
She threw her hands up in the air. "That's it! I give up!"
He blinked innocently at her. "Was it something I said?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at the Tsukino's home. . .
Usagi tried every method possible to get her mother to wake up. From tickling her with a feather duster to smelling salts--- so far none of those techniques were working.
'But isn't smelling salts suppose to help a person wake up?' Usagi inquired curiously to herself. 'You take a small amount of salt you get from the supermarket and then just wave it under their nose. And presto! They wake up!'' She paused and glanced down at her mother from where she sat on the floor. 'Right?'
Usagi tried to suppress a yawn, but was too tired to stop it. She peered down at her pink watch that had a white bunny that ticked at every second of the hour.
3:04 p.m. it stated.
Was it only two hours ago that she had told her mother the news? Jeez, it seemed like forever! She knew from the moment she had spoken that her mother was going to have a hard time digesting her announcement. But screaming and instantaneously fainting on the floor?
That was something Usagi wasn't expecting.
A load groan resounded throughout the kitchen.
"Mom?" Usagi said, feeling concern and relief course through her, when she saw her mother's eyes fluttered open. "Are you alright?"
"I, I think so," Ikuko replied, a little unsteadily. She began to push herself in an upright position, with her hands pressed against the floor but suddenly started to sway.
Usagi, seeing this, immediately went to her aid and helped her to stay sitting up by putting her hands upon her shoulders to steady her.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied, as she patted her daughter's hand on her right shoulder. She looked around and blinked in surprise. "Usagi? What am I doing on the floor?"
"Uhhhh." Usagi didn't know what to say. She didn't think she could stand telling her mother what she had said ever again, knowing how well it turned out the first time.
"Oh!"
Usagi jumped, a little startled by her mother's outburst.
"Now I remember!" She began to laugh.
"Uh, Mom?" Usagi asked warily. 'Maybe she hit her head harder than I thought.'
Still laughing, she said, "I shouldn't have taken you so seriously! You were only joking. I see that now!"
Usagi sweat dropped. "Ummm."
"I mean? Needing to see a psychiatrist?" She wiped the tears from her eyes and finally turned to her daughter. "Now I know you're a little nutty. . ."
A bigger sweat drop appeared on the side of Usagi's disbelieving expression. 'Nutty? My OWN mother thinks I'M NUTTY!!!"
". . . But you're fine," Ikuko assured her daughter, "you don't need a psychiatrist." Witnessing the serious expression on her face, her confident assumption about her daughter's sanity faltered. "Right?"
'If you think fantasizing about Mamoru-baka is sane--- then you have got to be kidding me!' Usagi answered silently but replied firmly, "Yep. I need help. Serious help."
Ikuko's eyes widened to dramatic proportions. "You, you can't mean that!" She shook her head. "No. I won't believe it."
Usagi bit her lip. If she couldn't convince her mother now, she would never be able to convince her. And if that happens, she doesn't know what she'll do.
Her imagination then took over. She could see herself latching onto Mamoru's arm, with big hearts in her eyes and fluttering her eyelashes at him--- a pathetic attempt to get him in her clutches. Or wait for him, by hiding behind a corner and pretend to bump into him only to end up tripping and landing full face on the floor with the baka's big foot stepping on her head--- which is what happened to Rei in the past.
'So sad, so sad.' Usagi shook her head.
But then she could do something worse than that. Her eyes widened, lost in her own world, forgetting that her mother was still waiting for an answer and watching her nervously.
What if this fantasizing about Mamoru's lips and kisses could turn into something more? What if this hunger she has now would grow? Kami-sama! She could be overcome with lust!
Usagi put her hands to her cheeks, shaking her head side to side, all the while moaning in despair, murmuring, "No, no, no."
Ikuko was now very worried about her daughter's state of mind. Calmly, she said, "Usagi? Dear, are you alright?"
Usagi didn't answer.
She could see herself throwing herself at him at the Crown Arcade. Not caring if anyone was watching. Taking off that ugly green jacket he wears day in and day out. Heck, he probably sleeps in the damn thing! Tearing his black shirt into shreds with great enthusiasm, while he lays there on the floor in total shock and fear by her animal hunger.
"Nooooo," she moaned.
Ikuko waves a hand over Usagi's face.
Nothing happened.
She then snaps her fingers in front of her eyes.
She didn't eve blink an eye.
"Oh, no!" Ikuko exclaimed. "My poor baby! My poor, poor baby!" She put her arms around her to give her a hug but Usagi screamed, still in her imaginative mind, thinking that Mamoru was going to choke her for taking advantage of him.
Ikuko yelped in shock and shook her daughter by the shoulders. "Usagi! Usagi snap out of it!" she commanded.
Usagi blinked rapidly and looked into her mother's fearful eyes. Fearful? 'I guess I was out longer than I thought.' And she still didn't know what she was going to say to convince her mother of going to a psychiatrist.
"Mom, I really, really, _really_ need to see a psychiatrist!"
Ikuko let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. "Okay."
Usagi gaped at her. 'That was it? No lecture? No 'you don't know what you're getting into' saying? No 'have you eaten too much of Makato's cookies again'? None of that?'
'Not to self: use the word _really_ three times to get what you want in the future.'
"Just don't tell your father," her mother stated seriously.
Usagi cocked her head. "Why?"
Ikuko gazed at her, now certain that her daughter has gone completely off her rocker. "Because I don't want him going comatose. If he ever hears about this, I'm sure his mind wouldn't be able to handle it."
Usagi's brow furrowed, more confused than before. "What's comatose?"
Ikuko fell on her back. Her arms struck out as if she was trying to reach for the ceiling. "How much can a person take?!"
"I think this is my cue to leave," Usagi muttered dryly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside an apartment complex, two figures were huddled together conspiratorially by a mailbox, hidden underneath it from full view of any spectators.
"So you want me to do it the same way like last time?"
The blonde beside him, replied, "Of course not. He's a man after all."
The other grinned slyly. "Right. And we all know how their minds work."
She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. "Yes, yes. So be gone and get that part over with."
He bowed down with a flourish. "Yes your highness." He grabbed her hand and proceeded to make silly, over exaggerated noises on her hand.
"Morpheus! Cut it out!" she admonished, not pleased that he was pecking her hand as if he were a chicken.
He lifted his head away, not seeming the least bit sheepish. "Oh, that's right I forgot." His thumb moved back and forth across her hand.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Aphrodite quieted, mesmerized by his ministrations.
"Women," he stated as a matter-of-fact, his tone making her body tingle with anticipation of what he was going to say that would get her heart racing. "Are the most. . ."
'Yes,' thought Aphrodite, her eyes urging him to go on.
". . . insufferable creatures when it comes to making them satisfied. . ."
Oh yeah. That statement _really_ got her heart racing.
He continued on slowly, very much aware of the danger zone he has entered, ". . . and you're the queen of them all," he ended and quickly jerked his hand away before she could crush it.
Her eyes blazed like a hot blue flame. 'He's dead meat!' she thought furiously.
Morpheus smiled lazily and gave a little wave, which included his finger wiggling. "Toodles!" he said in high-pitched voice to aggravate her more.
It worked.
As she lunged herself at him, ready to hurt him _soooooooo_ badly that after a few minutes of torture, he'll revert back to a three-year-old, crying for his mommy and sucking on his thumb.
Before Aphrodite could get him in her merciless grasp--- he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Her whole body smacked against hard cement, forcing her to kiss the ground from where that chauvinistic pig was standing moments ago.
She hastily moved away from that spot. Leaning against the leg of the mailbox, her mind was not on the task at hand, which was to get Usagi and Mamoru together; instead, she was thinking up ways to get back at one sorry little bastard.
Aphrodite grinned evilly, a dangerous gleam shinning through her eyes. 'Let the games begin.'
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Mamoru was on his balcony, leaning against the railing. The sun was bright, but not too bright to hurt anyone's eyes if they dared to look upon it. Soft reds and oranges blanketed the sun, as it was preparing for its nap until the next day when it would have to rise once again to start off a brand new day. As it slowly began to descend over the horizon, the sky meanwhile, was ever changing. Pink, orange, blue, and violet swirled with one another like cotton candy being churned, meshing all the colors as one till the sky was nothing but a dark, midnight blue that soon, after its arrival, would its darkness beckon the stars to join it.
Yet, as lovely as the scene before him may have seemed, Mamoru took no notice of it. His mind was too preoccupied; his thoughts were so jumbled that he had a hard time sorting them all out in order.
Order. Control. Detached. Those were the things he has come to rely on, to survive in this cold, uncaring world that he has come to know so well.
When he was younger, staying at the orphanage was never easy. Actually, it was never easy for any kid who was an orphan, having no one to look up to, forced to grow up without the love of a parent. As good as the caretakers may be, it's not the same as growing up with a family.
Disbelief and sadness creeps into the child's once innocent young eyes--- once they discover this horrible truth. How? How could this have happened to them? Was there something wrong with them when they were born, that made their parents want to give them up? Did they hate them so much that they couldn't stand to look at them? Not even bear the thought of holding them? What was it?
The not knowing of the truth could gnaw the child's sweet soul; each chip that ebbs away hardens their mind and soul, making the person hard and cold thinking that maybe they weren't worthy of their parents love. They clear from any path that had anything to do with human contact, wanting to prevent their hearts from ever feeling pain again.
Others miraculously pull though it. Believing that the world isn't out to get them--- that everything happens for a reason. And that they will find a purpose to live and breath and be happy again. With those positive thoughts, they would find happy lives.
Mamoru envied them. It showed that they were strong-willed and never gave up no matter how hopeless it may have seemed at the time. Where he on the other hand, chose the life of solitude, hoping that living a life without getting too close to anyone could spare him from getting hurt ever again.
The kids back at the orphanage would have looked at him in disgust if they could hear his thoughts right now. Their faces clearly would have said, "What are you complaining about? At least you had parents that wanted you."
It was true. He was being selfish. But he couldn't help it. It's not like he could remember his parents. He had gotten amnesia from the result of a car crash that had ran over a cliff, which, at the time had tried to avoid a car that was on the wrong side of the road. When the car had impacted against the ground, his parents were killed instantly--- all except him of course.
He doesn't remember what they were like. He doesn't remember what their voice sounds like. Nor does he remember what it was like to be loved, to feel cared for. He doesn't remember anything!
He banged his fist against the railing out of frustration. He has this great need to talk to someone, to have someone listen to him and hug him just so that he'd know that someone does care. He had Motoki who would automatically give out a helping hand. Mamoru's face scrunched up. There was no way he'd hug Motoki. 'Ugh, that would be so wrong,' he thought, shuddering. A certain blond with odangos came to mind, but he shook the image away.
Usagi was the sole reason why he was brooding in the first place. The one person, who has gotten him to open up, making him realize in the process how truly alone he was. Since the first time he laid his eyes on her, he knew. Somehow he knew that she would be the one to break down his protective shield, and she would easily mend the broken pieces of his heart.
Mamoru didn't know how he knew this, he barely knew the girl after all. So, rather than accepting her apology when she accidentally hit him with a wad of paper on his head, he deliberately opened it to enrage her, something that could have been private. Seeing the horrible grade on her test, he threw mocking words at her, questioning her intelligence. He did his job right. He had pissed her off and drove her away from him.
Once the Odango was out of his line of vision, he had felt alone. But he dismissed the feeling, concluding that it was lack of sleep and that he had been studying too hard for his exams.
But what he didn't know was that meeting would be the beginning of it all. He began to gradually bump into her more and more. Insult her continually, hoping to keep their distance so she would hate him so much that she couldn't stand to be near him. Yet, she stood her ground, throwing insults right back at him.
Day after day they'd go through the same routine. Bump into each other. Argue. Bump into each other. Argue.
You get the picture.
Mamoru became adjusted to this routine they had grown accustomed to. He unconsciously found himself looking forward to it: seeing her face, her exuberant personality; it was like a drug. The need to see her, talk to her was starting to become an addiction. He was getting sucked into her light, and when he finally knew what was happening--- it was already too late.
He had fallen. Fallen harder than he ever deemed possible.
"I, Mamoru Chiba am in love with Usagi Tsukino," he said, testing it out and liking the sound of it.
And he hasn't known it until now.
He should be rejoicing in his newfound knowledge, instead, sadness crept into his heart. Why would Usagi want to have anything to do with him? Let alone love him? She thinks he's a cold-hearted baka. That was what he wanted her to think in the first place. And that was what he got. He has gotten her to despise him.
He felt his heart breaking all over again. The last time he had felt this way was when he was six. Waking up in a hospital bed all alone, not remembering who he was or where he was from, and have a doctor break the news to him that his parents died in a car crash.
Mamoru turned his back on the darkened sky, padded back into his apartment bare-footed, crawled into an empty and cold bed and fell asleep with a heavy heart.
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Morpheus appeared in Mamoru's apartment in a millisecond. He waved his hand over the gray smoke, as it slowly subsided, his face became visible. And anyone could tell that he was annoyed by it.
He wish smoke didn't have to appear every time he transported himself to a different location. If he could have it any other way, it would be something like unscented bubbles or feathers. It was better than having smoke making his eyes water or worry about accidentally setting off a fire alarm (don't ask), and have the smell embedded into his clothes.
Sighing, he ventured towards the bed. The occupant was taking slow, deep breaths that obviously signified he was very much asleep.
Looking up at the height of the bed, Morpheus shook his head, there was no way he was going to waste time struggling on top of it. With a snap of his fingers, his body sprouted up like a beanstalk, and kept on growing and growing until he reached his full potential height.
When any of the higher beings decide to go down to Earth on business, they prefer to be of small stature so they can go undetected without any mortal being aware of their presence. It just makes things easier and got things done faster.
On Morpheus's waist, he had a black velvet pouch hanging off his belt. A pouch that he carries everywhere he goes. For the contents in the tiny bag was magic dust. If it ever got into the wrong hands, well, they pretty much had the power to mess with the person's mind--- which could lead to disastrous results.
The procedure to get into the person's mind while they were sleeping was a tricky process. Even though Morpheus has no trouble, since he's had a vast amount of practice for many centuries, it took a great deal of concentration. And if his concentration were to ever be broken, then the person's mind would disrupt.
He wasn't sure what would happen but he wasn't willing to find out.
Yanking the pouch's cord off his belt, he unfastened it and took a small amount of the glittering dust that was a multitude of colors and smeared it across Mamoru's forehead and on both sides of his head with his thumb. Once he was done, Mamoru's head was still ensconced between his hands.
Clearing his mind of any thoughts, Morpheus closed his eyes. He muttered three words: "Let me in." He had to chant the sentence three times in a soothing rhythm. In his mind's eye, he saw the portal to Mamoru's dream. The closer he got, the more he saw the contents of the dream. It was of a girl, hair done up in buns, one on each side of her head.
Morpheus recognized her. It was that girl named Usagi. Then he turned to see Mamoru calling out to her.
His voice, soft, said, "What do I have to do to get you to love me?"
Her blue eyes twinkled. "Why. . ."
But that was as far as Morpheus had gotten. And all too soon he was ripped from his concentration; his mind was instantly brought back from the trance he was in.
His eyes went wide with panic and nervously looked down at the sleeping Mamoru. His closed lids looked ready to lift at any given moment.
This never happened before! He raked a hand through his hair in frustration and said the words that needed to be said out loud: "What the hell happened?!"
CRASH!!! "OWW! Stupid TOE TRIPPING SHOES!!!!!!!!!!!"
And that was all the answer Morpheus needed.
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^_^ Just to let you guys know. The information that I got on our Greek god and goddess is from a site called pantheon.org. It's a great place to go if you want a description on any god/goddess, creature, etc. that has played a part in Greek mythology.
If you don't feel like looking up Morpheus to get a better understanding of him, I'll give you the description exactly as the site has given. Yes folks, aren't I wonderful? Lol.
Morpheus--- The Greek god of dreams. He lies on an ebony bed in a dim-lit cave, surrounded by poppy. He appears to humans in their dreams in the shape of a man (remember Usagi's dream in the beginning of the story? Now who do you think that was? *wink* lol). He is responsible for shaping dreams, or giving shape to the beings, which inhabit dreams. Morpheus, known from Ovid's Metamorphoses, plays no part in Greek mythology. His name means "he who forms, or molds" (from the Greek morphe), and is mentioned as the son of Hypnos, the god of sleep.
As for how he proceeds to go about entering peoples' dreams, I wouldn't know--- so I made it up. And Aphrodite and Morpheus's transportation technique. . . I used that from how the generals in the anime did it.
So, our lesson is finished for the day class! For homework you must read the next chapter of my story!!! Lol, j/k! See ya! ^_~ Until next time!
' ' --- Indicates thoughts.
_ _ --- For emphasis.
Thank you all so much for the wonderful reviews!!! It makes me feel good knowing that you're all enjoying this fic as much I am writing it!
^_~ Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 2: Let the Games Begin!!!
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Halfway to his apartment, Mamoru still hadn't gotten over what Motoki had said. He was still angry and. . . very much confused which only added more fuel to his anger. 'What's there to be confused about?' Mamoru thought irritated. 'I hate Odango and she hates me. End of story!'
Mamoru was oblivious of the frightened stares he was getting, as he stomped on the sidewalk with his fists clenching and unclenching like he was getting ready to strike at random and choke someone to death.
He made quite a site.
Only, the citizens of Tokyo didn't think it was amusing. I mean come on! Their lives were at stake here! Mothers fell to the floor, covering their children for protection. Businessmen who could never get off their cell phones, even if the world was being attacked by space monkeys, dropped their phones and ran like the devil was after them with a pitchfork when they saw the crazed look on the man's face. And even the meanest of alley cats sprinted away, seeking refuge in trashcans, quivering.
Yet not everyone was the least bit scared.
Two small forms that were witnessing the commotion below were hiding up in a tree. The only things that could be seen from a fair distance were their teeth glinting off from the sun.
Anyone would think it was only their imagination and that they've watched Alice in Wonderland as a kid--- one too many times.
Nope. It's definitely not the Cheshire cat toying with people's minds. But two, different beings entirely.
One of the miniature forms had short silver hair, looking smooth and soft to the touch. He had dark charcoal eyes, his face was relaxed with no signs of wrinkles, that clearly stated that he's not the type to ever get angry but was very easy going. Though, if anyone knew him as his companion did, they would see that sometimes he had a tendency to act out of character. His grin was lazy, making him appear as if he had just woken up from a deep slumber. He wore a gray billowing shirt with black tights, a gray belt encircled his waist, and black comfortable slippers that resembled a lot like ballet shoes.
The other, was the exact opposite of her counterpart, she had hair of gold that rippled like waves and shimmered in a glorious fashion, reaching down to her hips. Her eyes were the darkest hue of blue, looking exactly like the ocean from which she had surfaced, standing upon foam, from the first day she was created and brought to the world. Her smile was bright and cheery, but there was no mistaking the fact that it was also mischievous and sly as a fox. She adorned a light pink dress with gold sandals that had woven straps extending to her ankles.
Without turning to look at her companion, she said, "Our plan is coming along smoothly."
He nodded and leaned against a tree branch. "Of course. Why wouldn't it be?"
"Are you serious?" she exclaimed, incredulous she spun on her heel to face him with her hands on her hips. "Those two are as stubborn as a bull! It could take eons getting those two together!"
A silver brow slowly made its way up. "Your idea, not mine."
She glared at him through heated eyes.
Eyes that could make men and women alike feel like they were drowning in a pool of lava.
He shrugged his shoulders. 'Big deal.'
Crossing his arms and ankles, he continued on, "You're the one who came to me complaining that you were bored to death. While I was having the most _wonderful_ dream---mind you---and that you've found the most interesting pair, stating that it was to be "the best matchmaking scheme to ever come about in history"."
In mid-pause, he gave her a sweet smile not meant to be sweet. "Not that it would ever make it to history books, since, you are considered to the majority of the people "a myth"."
Gritting her teeth, she replied, "That's not what I meant!"
"Whatever you say, Sweets."
"Morpheus," she said warningly, "stop calling me that!"
"Sure thing." His eyes twinkled merrily. "Sweets."
"The name's Aphrodite! You half-wit!!!"
Morpheus looked at her, astonished. "What do you take me for? Of course I know your name!"
Aphrodite's shoulders slumped in relief.
"It's Sweets."
She threw her hands up in the air. "That's it! I give up!"
He blinked innocently at her. "Was it something I said?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back at the Tsukino's home. . .
Usagi tried every method possible to get her mother to wake up. From tickling her with a feather duster to smelling salts--- so far none of those techniques were working.
'But isn't smelling salts suppose to help a person wake up?' Usagi inquired curiously to herself. 'You take a small amount of salt you get from the supermarket and then just wave it under their nose. And presto! They wake up!'' She paused and glanced down at her mother from where she sat on the floor. 'Right?'
Usagi tried to suppress a yawn, but was too tired to stop it. She peered down at her pink watch that had a white bunny that ticked at every second of the hour.
3:04 p.m. it stated.
Was it only two hours ago that she had told her mother the news? Jeez, it seemed like forever! She knew from the moment she had spoken that her mother was going to have a hard time digesting her announcement. But screaming and instantaneously fainting on the floor?
That was something Usagi wasn't expecting.
A load groan resounded throughout the kitchen.
"Mom?" Usagi said, feeling concern and relief course through her, when she saw her mother's eyes fluttered open. "Are you alright?"
"I, I think so," Ikuko replied, a little unsteadily. She began to push herself in an upright position, with her hands pressed against the floor but suddenly started to sway.
Usagi, seeing this, immediately went to her aid and helped her to stay sitting up by putting her hands upon her shoulders to steady her.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine," she replied, as she patted her daughter's hand on her right shoulder. She looked around and blinked in surprise. "Usagi? What am I doing on the floor?"
"Uhhhh." Usagi didn't know what to say. She didn't think she could stand telling her mother what she had said ever again, knowing how well it turned out the first time.
"Oh!"
Usagi jumped, a little startled by her mother's outburst.
"Now I remember!" She began to laugh.
"Uh, Mom?" Usagi asked warily. 'Maybe she hit her head harder than I thought.'
Still laughing, she said, "I shouldn't have taken you so seriously! You were only joking. I see that now!"
Usagi sweat dropped. "Ummm."
"I mean? Needing to see a psychiatrist?" She wiped the tears from her eyes and finally turned to her daughter. "Now I know you're a little nutty. . ."
A bigger sweat drop appeared on the side of Usagi's disbelieving expression. 'Nutty? My OWN mother thinks I'M NUTTY!!!"
". . . But you're fine," Ikuko assured her daughter, "you don't need a psychiatrist." Witnessing the serious expression on her face, her confident assumption about her daughter's sanity faltered. "Right?"
'If you think fantasizing about Mamoru-baka is sane--- then you have got to be kidding me!' Usagi answered silently but replied firmly, "Yep. I need help. Serious help."
Ikuko's eyes widened to dramatic proportions. "You, you can't mean that!" She shook her head. "No. I won't believe it."
Usagi bit her lip. If she couldn't convince her mother now, she would never be able to convince her. And if that happens, she doesn't know what she'll do.
Her imagination then took over. She could see herself latching onto Mamoru's arm, with big hearts in her eyes and fluttering her eyelashes at him--- a pathetic attempt to get him in her clutches. Or wait for him, by hiding behind a corner and pretend to bump into him only to end up tripping and landing full face on the floor with the baka's big foot stepping on her head--- which is what happened to Rei in the past.
'So sad, so sad.' Usagi shook her head.
But then she could do something worse than that. Her eyes widened, lost in her own world, forgetting that her mother was still waiting for an answer and watching her nervously.
What if this fantasizing about Mamoru's lips and kisses could turn into something more? What if this hunger she has now would grow? Kami-sama! She could be overcome with lust!
Usagi put her hands to her cheeks, shaking her head side to side, all the while moaning in despair, murmuring, "No, no, no."
Ikuko was now very worried about her daughter's state of mind. Calmly, she said, "Usagi? Dear, are you alright?"
Usagi didn't answer.
She could see herself throwing herself at him at the Crown Arcade. Not caring if anyone was watching. Taking off that ugly green jacket he wears day in and day out. Heck, he probably sleeps in the damn thing! Tearing his black shirt into shreds with great enthusiasm, while he lays there on the floor in total shock and fear by her animal hunger.
"Nooooo," she moaned.
Ikuko waves a hand over Usagi's face.
Nothing happened.
She then snaps her fingers in front of her eyes.
She didn't eve blink an eye.
"Oh, no!" Ikuko exclaimed. "My poor baby! My poor, poor baby!" She put her arms around her to give her a hug but Usagi screamed, still in her imaginative mind, thinking that Mamoru was going to choke her for taking advantage of him.
Ikuko yelped in shock and shook her daughter by the shoulders. "Usagi! Usagi snap out of it!" she commanded.
Usagi blinked rapidly and looked into her mother's fearful eyes. Fearful? 'I guess I was out longer than I thought.' And she still didn't know what she was going to say to convince her mother of going to a psychiatrist.
"Mom, I really, really, _really_ need to see a psychiatrist!"
Ikuko let out a breath she didn't even know she was holding. "Okay."
Usagi gaped at her. 'That was it? No lecture? No 'you don't know what you're getting into' saying? No 'have you eaten too much of Makato's cookies again'? None of that?'
'Not to self: use the word _really_ three times to get what you want in the future.'
"Just don't tell your father," her mother stated seriously.
Usagi cocked her head. "Why?"
Ikuko gazed at her, now certain that her daughter has gone completely off her rocker. "Because I don't want him going comatose. If he ever hears about this, I'm sure his mind wouldn't be able to handle it."
Usagi's brow furrowed, more confused than before. "What's comatose?"
Ikuko fell on her back. Her arms struck out as if she was trying to reach for the ceiling. "How much can a person take?!"
"I think this is my cue to leave," Usagi muttered dryly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Outside an apartment complex, two figures were huddled together conspiratorially by a mailbox, hidden underneath it from full view of any spectators.
"So you want me to do it the same way like last time?"
The blonde beside him, replied, "Of course not. He's a man after all."
The other grinned slyly. "Right. And we all know how their minds work."
She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. "Yes, yes. So be gone and get that part over with."
He bowed down with a flourish. "Yes your highness." He grabbed her hand and proceeded to make silly, over exaggerated noises on her hand.
"Morpheus! Cut it out!" she admonished, not pleased that he was pecking her hand as if he were a chicken.
He lifted his head away, not seeming the least bit sheepish. "Oh, that's right I forgot." His thumb moved back and forth across her hand.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Aphrodite quieted, mesmerized by his ministrations.
"Women," he stated as a matter-of-fact, his tone making her body tingle with anticipation of what he was going to say that would get her heart racing. "Are the most. . ."
'Yes,' thought Aphrodite, her eyes urging him to go on.
". . . insufferable creatures when it comes to making them satisfied. . ."
Oh yeah. That statement _really_ got her heart racing.
He continued on slowly, very much aware of the danger zone he has entered, ". . . and you're the queen of them all," he ended and quickly jerked his hand away before she could crush it.
Her eyes blazed like a hot blue flame. 'He's dead meat!' she thought furiously.
Morpheus smiled lazily and gave a little wave, which included his finger wiggling. "Toodles!" he said in high-pitched voice to aggravate her more.
It worked.
As she lunged herself at him, ready to hurt him _soooooooo_ badly that after a few minutes of torture, he'll revert back to a three-year-old, crying for his mommy and sucking on his thumb.
Before Aphrodite could get him in her merciless grasp--- he disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Her whole body smacked against hard cement, forcing her to kiss the ground from where that chauvinistic pig was standing moments ago.
She hastily moved away from that spot. Leaning against the leg of the mailbox, her mind was not on the task at hand, which was to get Usagi and Mamoru together; instead, she was thinking up ways to get back at one sorry little bastard.
Aphrodite grinned evilly, a dangerous gleam shinning through her eyes. 'Let the games begin.'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mamoru was on his balcony, leaning against the railing. The sun was bright, but not too bright to hurt anyone's eyes if they dared to look upon it. Soft reds and oranges blanketed the sun, as it was preparing for its nap until the next day when it would have to rise once again to start off a brand new day. As it slowly began to descend over the horizon, the sky meanwhile, was ever changing. Pink, orange, blue, and violet swirled with one another like cotton candy being churned, meshing all the colors as one till the sky was nothing but a dark, midnight blue that soon, after its arrival, would its darkness beckon the stars to join it.
Yet, as lovely as the scene before him may have seemed, Mamoru took no notice of it. His mind was too preoccupied; his thoughts were so jumbled that he had a hard time sorting them all out in order.
Order. Control. Detached. Those were the things he has come to rely on, to survive in this cold, uncaring world that he has come to know so well.
When he was younger, staying at the orphanage was never easy. Actually, it was never easy for any kid who was an orphan, having no one to look up to, forced to grow up without the love of a parent. As good as the caretakers may be, it's not the same as growing up with a family.
Disbelief and sadness creeps into the child's once innocent young eyes--- once they discover this horrible truth. How? How could this have happened to them? Was there something wrong with them when they were born, that made their parents want to give them up? Did they hate them so much that they couldn't stand to look at them? Not even bear the thought of holding them? What was it?
The not knowing of the truth could gnaw the child's sweet soul; each chip that ebbs away hardens their mind and soul, making the person hard and cold thinking that maybe they weren't worthy of their parents love. They clear from any path that had anything to do with human contact, wanting to prevent their hearts from ever feeling pain again.
Others miraculously pull though it. Believing that the world isn't out to get them--- that everything happens for a reason. And that they will find a purpose to live and breath and be happy again. With those positive thoughts, they would find happy lives.
Mamoru envied them. It showed that they were strong-willed and never gave up no matter how hopeless it may have seemed at the time. Where he on the other hand, chose the life of solitude, hoping that living a life without getting too close to anyone could spare him from getting hurt ever again.
The kids back at the orphanage would have looked at him in disgust if they could hear his thoughts right now. Their faces clearly would have said, "What are you complaining about? At least you had parents that wanted you."
It was true. He was being selfish. But he couldn't help it. It's not like he could remember his parents. He had gotten amnesia from the result of a car crash that had ran over a cliff, which, at the time had tried to avoid a car that was on the wrong side of the road. When the car had impacted against the ground, his parents were killed instantly--- all except him of course.
He doesn't remember what they were like. He doesn't remember what their voice sounds like. Nor does he remember what it was like to be loved, to feel cared for. He doesn't remember anything!
He banged his fist against the railing out of frustration. He has this great need to talk to someone, to have someone listen to him and hug him just so that he'd know that someone does care. He had Motoki who would automatically give out a helping hand. Mamoru's face scrunched up. There was no way he'd hug Motoki. 'Ugh, that would be so wrong,' he thought, shuddering. A certain blond with odangos came to mind, but he shook the image away.
Usagi was the sole reason why he was brooding in the first place. The one person, who has gotten him to open up, making him realize in the process how truly alone he was. Since the first time he laid his eyes on her, he knew. Somehow he knew that she would be the one to break down his protective shield, and she would easily mend the broken pieces of his heart.
Mamoru didn't know how he knew this, he barely knew the girl after all. So, rather than accepting her apology when she accidentally hit him with a wad of paper on his head, he deliberately opened it to enrage her, something that could have been private. Seeing the horrible grade on her test, he threw mocking words at her, questioning her intelligence. He did his job right. He had pissed her off and drove her away from him.
Once the Odango was out of his line of vision, he had felt alone. But he dismissed the feeling, concluding that it was lack of sleep and that he had been studying too hard for his exams.
But what he didn't know was that meeting would be the beginning of it all. He began to gradually bump into her more and more. Insult her continually, hoping to keep their distance so she would hate him so much that she couldn't stand to be near him. Yet, she stood her ground, throwing insults right back at him.
Day after day they'd go through the same routine. Bump into each other. Argue. Bump into each other. Argue.
You get the picture.
Mamoru became adjusted to this routine they had grown accustomed to. He unconsciously found himself looking forward to it: seeing her face, her exuberant personality; it was like a drug. The need to see her, talk to her was starting to become an addiction. He was getting sucked into her light, and when he finally knew what was happening--- it was already too late.
He had fallen. Fallen harder than he ever deemed possible.
"I, Mamoru Chiba am in love with Usagi Tsukino," he said, testing it out and liking the sound of it.
And he hasn't known it until now.
He should be rejoicing in his newfound knowledge, instead, sadness crept into his heart. Why would Usagi want to have anything to do with him? Let alone love him? She thinks he's a cold-hearted baka. That was what he wanted her to think in the first place. And that was what he got. He has gotten her to despise him.
He felt his heart breaking all over again. The last time he had felt this way was when he was six. Waking up in a hospital bed all alone, not remembering who he was or where he was from, and have a doctor break the news to him that his parents died in a car crash.
Mamoru turned his back on the darkened sky, padded back into his apartment bare-footed, crawled into an empty and cold bed and fell asleep with a heavy heart.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morpheus appeared in Mamoru's apartment in a millisecond. He waved his hand over the gray smoke, as it slowly subsided, his face became visible. And anyone could tell that he was annoyed by it.
He wish smoke didn't have to appear every time he transported himself to a different location. If he could have it any other way, it would be something like unscented bubbles or feathers. It was better than having smoke making his eyes water or worry about accidentally setting off a fire alarm (don't ask), and have the smell embedded into his clothes.
Sighing, he ventured towards the bed. The occupant was taking slow, deep breaths that obviously signified he was very much asleep.
Looking up at the height of the bed, Morpheus shook his head, there was no way he was going to waste time struggling on top of it. With a snap of his fingers, his body sprouted up like a beanstalk, and kept on growing and growing until he reached his full potential height.
When any of the higher beings decide to go down to Earth on business, they prefer to be of small stature so they can go undetected without any mortal being aware of their presence. It just makes things easier and got things done faster.
On Morpheus's waist, he had a black velvet pouch hanging off his belt. A pouch that he carries everywhere he goes. For the contents in the tiny bag was magic dust. If it ever got into the wrong hands, well, they pretty much had the power to mess with the person's mind--- which could lead to disastrous results.
The procedure to get into the person's mind while they were sleeping was a tricky process. Even though Morpheus has no trouble, since he's had a vast amount of practice for many centuries, it took a great deal of concentration. And if his concentration were to ever be broken, then the person's mind would disrupt.
He wasn't sure what would happen but he wasn't willing to find out.
Yanking the pouch's cord off his belt, he unfastened it and took a small amount of the glittering dust that was a multitude of colors and smeared it across Mamoru's forehead and on both sides of his head with his thumb. Once he was done, Mamoru's head was still ensconced between his hands.
Clearing his mind of any thoughts, Morpheus closed his eyes. He muttered three words: "Let me in." He had to chant the sentence three times in a soothing rhythm. In his mind's eye, he saw the portal to Mamoru's dream. The closer he got, the more he saw the contents of the dream. It was of a girl, hair done up in buns, one on each side of her head.
Morpheus recognized her. It was that girl named Usagi. Then he turned to see Mamoru calling out to her.
His voice, soft, said, "What do I have to do to get you to love me?"
Her blue eyes twinkled. "Why. . ."
But that was as far as Morpheus had gotten. And all too soon he was ripped from his concentration; his mind was instantly brought back from the trance he was in.
His eyes went wide with panic and nervously looked down at the sleeping Mamoru. His closed lids looked ready to lift at any given moment.
This never happened before! He raked a hand through his hair in frustration and said the words that needed to be said out loud: "What the hell happened?!"
CRASH!!! "OWW! Stupid TOE TRIPPING SHOES!!!!!!!!!!!"
And that was all the answer Morpheus needed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
^_^ Just to let you guys know. The information that I got on our Greek god and goddess is from a site called pantheon.org. It's a great place to go if you want a description on any god/goddess, creature, etc. that has played a part in Greek mythology.
If you don't feel like looking up Morpheus to get a better understanding of him, I'll give you the description exactly as the site has given. Yes folks, aren't I wonderful? Lol.
Morpheus--- The Greek god of dreams. He lies on an ebony bed in a dim-lit cave, surrounded by poppy. He appears to humans in their dreams in the shape of a man (remember Usagi's dream in the beginning of the story? Now who do you think that was? *wink* lol). He is responsible for shaping dreams, or giving shape to the beings, which inhabit dreams. Morpheus, known from Ovid's Metamorphoses, plays no part in Greek mythology. His name means "he who forms, or molds" (from the Greek morphe), and is mentioned as the son of Hypnos, the god of sleep.
As for how he proceeds to go about entering peoples' dreams, I wouldn't know--- so I made it up. And Aphrodite and Morpheus's transportation technique. . . I used that from how the generals in the anime did it.
So, our lesson is finished for the day class! For homework you must read the next chapter of my story!!! Lol, j/k! See ya! ^_~ Until next time!