Disclaimer: 'Say it.....' Uh uh ::shakes head:: 'Say it!!!!' ::gives a
raspberry:: Make me!!!!! *Naoko growls* 'I _own_ Sailor Moon!!! It isn't
yours! Get OVER it already!!!!' ::prances around Naoko:: Nope! Sailor Moon
belongs to me! And you can't get it back!!! NAH-NAH-NAH-NAH-NAH!!!!!!!!!!
*Naoko's left eye twitches* 'If you say that one more time....' ::leans
forward on tippy-toes and whispers:: Sailor Moon is mine. *Naoko roars and
chases author in circles* ::author screams at the audience pleadingly::
Save me!!!! Help! HELP!!! **audience shakes their heads and one of them
calls out** You're on your own!!! ::author glares:: TRAITORS!!!
Thanks for the reviews!!! I had a blast reading them!
Chibi J: You had me so laughing hard! Omg! I never saw it that way, but now that you pointed that out, I can see how much this fic does in some ways resembles the movie!!! Lol, and don't worry. You'll find out soon enough about the _keys_ ::giggles secretly::
Ghetto Queen: Don't worry about it! I can understand that life can get in the way, so you don't have to apologize for not reviewing sooner, but then again. . . it's good knowing that you're with me every step of the way *wink*
Hot Cuttie: Thanks for the tip! Are you sure his eyes aren't green though? I thought they were some sort of green ::rolls eyes:: Listen to me! ::Shakes head:: You've probably never met anyone so wrapped up wondering every minor detail, eh? *Sighs* I give you permission to smack me.
Lunar Ember: EEEEE! You've been pinned to a brick wall?! Truly??? You're soooo lucky! You go girl! Sadly, I have never gotten to experience it *pouts*
Usakou: Hmmm, about Usagi going back up while she's drunk, well. . . I'll let you find out.
^_~ Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 6: When Morning Comes. . .
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As light filtered through the windows, Usagi stirred from her place on the couch and groaned in agony.
'Did I get hit by a truck?' was her first thought as she opened her eyes. They instantly went shut when her head exploded from excruciating pain, as the light struck her in the eyes.
She lay there panting, afraid to move or open her eyes, not wanting to experience the pain again. Though, it's not like she could avoid it. Lying still as she was, her head felt as heavy as a watermelon, there was so much pressure bearing down on her. And the pain. . . Kami-sama the pain! It seems like someone was shooting needles from the inside. Sharp pointy- things sticking themselves into her skull, the back of her eyes--- it made her want to puke.
Usagi's eyes flashed, revealing light blue orbs. Ignoring the pain, she shot up from the couch. She had only one thing in mind. . .
Getting to the toilet.
Covering her mouth, she ran to the nearest bathroom, entered, fell on her knees, and threw up in said object.
'The toilet. . . ewww.' That thought alone urged her on, until she emptied her stomach.
When she was done, she slowly stood up, went to the sink, turned on the faucet, cupped her hands with water and washed her face, then rinsed her mouth till she couldn't taste the acid, bitterness. And next dried her face with a towel from where it had hung on the wall.
That done and over with, Usagi stared at her reflection and flinched when she saw how sickly pale she looked. It was then that she made a promise to herself.
'I'm NEVER _EVER_ drinking AGAIN!'
Look at her! If anyone saw her they'd faint into a coma! Yes, that's how _bad_ she looked.
Usagi frowned; not liking where her thoughts were leading her.
The day had barely even started and she could already tell it was going to be one of the worst. And if that wasn't enough, she has a half-naked Mamoru still tied up to her bed!
Usagi gawked at her reflection in the mirror. That's right! She almost forgot! The events of last night came flooding in her mind, except when she got herself drunk--- it was all a blur.
She bit her bottom lip nervously. She hoped to Kami that she didn't do anything she'd later regret.
From out of nowhere, she sighed. What was she going to do about Mamoru? Under no uncertain terms can she let her family find out about him! She'll be sushi before anyone can say: 'Yo quiero Taco Bell.' And that only took three seconds!!!
The silence of the bathroom shattered to the sound of her stomach grumbling.
Usagi rolled her eyes, sighing. Her head aches, her eyes are ready to pop out from the pain, and she just puked her guts out. And she _still_ manages to get hungry!
"Nothing should amaze me anymore," she muttered under her breath. After last night, after seeing and doing she'd never thought would end up happening, she's willing to believe anything's possible at this point.
Shaking her head, she headed for the kitchen. Her eyes immediately landed on the plastic cup on the floor and the bottle of brandy sitting innocently on the counter.
Usagi's heart began to pump to the beat of a helicopter in motion. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Usagi was not the kind of person to wake up so early in the morning. She was the type to sleep till the afternoon. Bombs could go off outside her window and she wouldn't move an inch. . . much less peel back a single eyelid.
So you could imagine Usagi's fear of what could have happened if she didn't wake up as early as she had. If her parents saw the opened bottle of brandy, the plastic cup, and their daughter dozed off on the couch--- there would be no doubt in their minds what had transpired while they were sleeping.
Usagi's eyes widened in alarm. The sound of a door closing above her head immediately caught her attention. Her ears picked up the sounds of footsteps nearing the stairs.
'Oh no!!!'
She scrambled towards the cup, crouched down to pick it up and threw it away in the trashcan.
The steps were closer now.
She went back to grab the bottle and looked around the kitchen frantically. Where can she put the damn bottle???
The steps now reached the bottom of the stairs. Any minute now, whoever was awake will meet up with her.
Usagi nibbled on her lip. There wasn't anywhere she could hide the bottle that would be invisible to the naked eye. If she hid it in one of the cabinets. . . anyone could find it. And everyone knows that the alcohol was kept in the wine cabinet.
She was doomed.
The steps were a few seconds away from her place in the kitchen.
Usagi gazed up at the ceiling, hiding the bottle behind her back. 'Someone please put me out of my misery!'
A foot was in sight.
Usagi then begged pleadingly, 'Now will be nice!!!'
No one was going to help her.
The Fates were too busy laughing their butts off to intervene.
Finally, the mystery person came into full view.
"Good morning, Usagi."
Usagi gave a bright, cheery smile. Even though, inside she was shaking with nerves and her head felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode from the aches she was experiencing. "Morning Daddy!"
Kenji nodded his head and was still heading for the refrigerator, when he stopped in his tracks. His head whipped at the unusual sight before him. "USAGI???"
In response, her grin broadened. "Yes, Daddy?" she asked innocently.
Mr. Tsukino gaped at his daughter in shock. "What are you doing up at," he checked his watch, "7:15 in the morning?!"
Here she gave him a pout. "I woke up with a really bad headache." Well, that wasn't a lie. "It still hurts." She let her lips tremble for effect. It wasn't hard to do when you concentrated on how much pain you were in.
Her father's face automatically clouded with concern. He made a sudden move towards her.
Usagi forced herself not to back away; he'd only start to become suspicious.
Kenji put a hand up to her forehead. Frowning, he commented, "Well, you don't have a fever." His eyes studied her. "You look awfully pale though."
She waved a hand airily, the other still clutching onto the bottle as her life depended on it. "I'm _fine_ really!"
His nose crinkled suddenly and his eyebrows furrowed. "What's that?"
Usagi gulped. "What was what?"
"There it is again! That smell!!! It smells familiar. . ." He cast a glance at his daughter. "Don't you smell it Usagi?"
'Uh oh. . . he couldn't be talking about. . .' Her eyes widened, suddenly looking like a deer caught in headlights. The alcohol! Since her father had come close within her range, he could smell the alcohol still lingering in her breath when she spoke!
Oh yeah. She was definitely, irrevocably doomed.
The Fates only laughed harder. The messes mortals got themselves into were so amusing!
Swallowing hard, she shook her head. Usagi couldn't risk speaking again.
He sniffed the air a couple of times and shrugged. "It must have been my imagination then." He turned his attention back to Usagi. "I'll get you some aspirin for the headache."
Aspirin? Usagi scrunched up her nose. 'I _hate_ medicine! No way am I taking it!!!' She shook her head again at her father.
Kenji raised a brow. "Usagi, it will help to ease the pain. Don't you want it to go away?" Before Usagi could disagree he turned his back on her and went straight for the cabinets to get out a glass.
Usagi had to get out of there. She had to get out before her mother and little brother woke up and she surely wouldn't have a chance of escaping without them noticing the bottle behind her back.
She started to inch her way along the counter. She was near the entranceway, when her father's voice stopped her. 'Aaaaarggggh! Gosh darnit!'
"Usagi?"
Her eyes grew large and she slowly looked up.
Only to see her father standing right before her. . .
She screamed in fright and felt the bottle slip from her hands. 'No! No, no, no!!!' She let herself fall on her butt and tried to grab the bottle while doing so. She breathed a sigh of relief when she felt it gripped firmly within her hands once more.
Kenji gazed down at his daughter strangely. He needed to talk to his wife--- Usagi was acting too odd. It worried him a great deal. A GREAT deal. He pushed those thoughts away and asked, "Are you okay? What were you doing?"
"You," she stuttered, "you s-scared me." How was she going to stand up?! This was getting more complicated by the second.
'You and me both,' Kenji thought. He smiled down at Usagi. "I'm sorry. But look," he showed her the glass of water he had in one hand and the aspirin in the other, "it's for the pain. Get up, so you can take it."
'Get UP??? How am I going to do that?' Usagi didn't know what to do, maybe if she sat there long enough and not say anything, her father would get tired of her antics and go away.
"Kenji?" A voice called out. "What was that noise?"
Usagi's heart accelerated to the sound of her mother's voice. 'She's awake?!' She wailed mentally. She could feel herself stop breathing when her mother got closer, still talking to her father. She couldn't hear what they were saying, it was all going in one ear and out the other. She was too wrapped up in her nerves to listen. 'This is turning out to be a real nightmare!'
She unconsciously began to push herself back with her legs and feet until her back was against the wall of the entranceway. Despite her fear, Usagi still managed to get angry. 'Damn Mamoru-baka! This is all _his_ fault! He's the one that drove me to drink in the first place!'
She snapped out of her musings when she heard her mother's voice, which was clearer than before. And when she looked up, Ikuko was standing right next to Kenji, staring right at her. Both had concern written across their faces.
". . . Usagi, you should listen to your father. I understand you don't like taking aspirin but it will make your headache go away faster."
"Umm, that's okay Mom. I actually feel a lot better."
Kenji was skeptical. "But it was only five minutes ago that you said you were in a lot of pain." He shared a look with his wife. "I doubt it could have disappeared so quickly." Their gaze simultaneously fell back onto their daughter.
Usagi grimaced. 'Why can't parents let any topic rest? They just _have_ to keep on pushing!!!' "Look," she sighed, "it hasn't gone away--- I'll admit that. But it doesn't hurt as much as before." 'Yeah right!' "I don't need to take any aspirin. And besides," she added, seeing as how they were ready to protest, "I have to go to the bathroom." If there is any chance in hell to get away from your parents, it's to tell them your need to go to the bathroom. No parent would ever forbid his or her children to fulfill the most "basic necessity" known to mankind.
Ikuko sighed. That sound alone signifying that the argument would be put to rest. "Alright. . . go on Usagi."
If it was under any circumstance, Usagi would have been up and running. However, it was not meant to be since she had the bottle of brandy in hand. There was only one way to stand up.
Push with her feet and wiggle her way up.
It's not as easy as it sounds either.
"Honey. . ." Kenji said warily, eyeing his daughter. "Can you tell me what she's doing?"
Wiggle. Wiggle.
"Ahhh," was the only thing Ikuko could say.
Wiggle. Wiggle.
"Come _on_!!!" Usagi panted in frustration as she pushed her feet against the linoleum floor. She was almost in a crouching position when she slipped and fell on her bum. "Why is this floor so SLIPPERY?!?!?!"
"You're such a ditz Usagi! Why don't you push up with your hands, not just feet, like any normal person would do?"
Usagi glared at the rude intrusion to her concentration "Quiet Shingo! I'm busy!" And the wiggling, pushing, and grunting resumed.
Shingo sweat dropped. He turned to his parents and asked the question he has been asking since he was five years old. "Are you _sure_ she isn't adopted? Maybe she really _is_ from outer space!"
Ikuko turned to her son, suddenly feeling exhausted. Yesterday was the most tiring day of her life—well at least not since Shingo was a baby—and she didn't think that today would be any different "No Shingo," she responded, "she's not adopted." She turned back to her daughter and sweat dropped.
Wiggle. Wiggle.
But then again. . . Ikuko was beginning to wonder that herself. She sighed and went straight into the kitchen. "What do you two want for breakfast?" She called over her shoulder. And after that, no one paid much attention to Usagi. Kenji and Shingo followed and voiced their cravings.
A minute or two later, Usagi gave up; it was then she noticed that her family weren't surrounding her but were now occupied in the kitchen. She perked up instantly. This was too good to be true!
She laid the bottle down, stood up and swooped down to pick it up again and ran like the wind to the sanctuary of her room.
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'Sanctuary? What sanctuary?' Usagi thought dryly as she entered her room, seeing her enemy sleeping peacefully on _her_ bed. She laid the bottle of brandy on the floor, then put her hands behind her back, bending over it and winced when she felt her bones crack. Sleeping on the couch wasn't the most luxurious place to be.
Usagi wasn't getting sick and tired of this game Mamoru was playing. She didn't find it the least bit funny. Regardless of the fact that she had a hangover, her body aches, and she would like nothing more than to take a nice, warm shower and get some rest. . . she wanted that creep out of _her_ room!!!
Stomping over to her nemesis, she shook him rudely by the shoulders. "Wake up baka!" she snapped. He stirred. That encouraged her to shake him even harder.
Mamoru was sleeping peacefully. There was no princess haunting his dreams, pleading for him to find the imperium silver crystal. All he felt was a serene, floating sensation in a black abyss. . . nothing could touch him. . . until an earthquake shattered that tranquility. _His_ tranquility. That person was going to pay!!!
He opened his eyes, his vision blurry. He wasn't quite sure what he was seeing. What he could make out were furious crystalline blue eyes. 'Familiar,' was the only word to pop into his sluggish mind. Mamoru struggled to wake up, wanting to see who would dare to interrupt his sleep.
Usagi stepped away from the raven-haired man, satisfied that she had succeeded in rousing him from his deep slumber. Now she was closer to kicking him out of her room and taking back what was rightfully hers. Her bed. . .
'MINE!' she thought fiercely.
Mamoru blinked the sleep from his eyes and then focused them on the sight from before. His eyes went round from shock. "Odango Atama?! What are you doing here? And how the heck did you get into my apartment???" he demanded, finding the ability to get rid of his languid state. Mamoru was going to push himself up on his bed, when he found, to his dismay, he couldn't pull his arms away. His eyes traveled up his arms and finally to his chained wrists. . . wait a second. . . CHAINED?!?!?!?! IN HANDCUFFS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
No way. . .
"Odango," he growled, "why did you tie me up to my own bed?" When there wasn't an answer, he turned his attention back on the girl.
He didn't like what he saw.
Usagi's left eye was twitching again. 'How _dare_ he do this to me!!!' He must be laughing at her, seeing how he was making her life difficult: tying himself to her bed, almost getting her into trouble with her parents, pretending he was some sex fiend playing out her fantasy. 'Which isn't by the way!!!' she denied heatedly. And now he was pretending that he didn't know what was going on, that he was still home tucked in his own bed, accusing her of breaking and entering and that she was the one to tie him up!
Her once sickly pale skin was now flushed crimson. Her breaths came in and out in angry puffs. 'That's it!'
Her control snapped.
Usagi startled Mamoru by landing onto her bed in one smooth jump, feet planted on both sides of his chest.
'How did she do that? I've never seen anyone jump so far up like that.' Mamoru noted. He gulped when she sat down on his chest and leaned over him. His heart pounded furiously. He'll admit that Usagi was scaring him but he couldn't keep the excitement and anticipation at bay.
It was also turning him on.
Eyes narrowed into slits, in a voice that was dangerously low, she said, "Drop the act Mamoru-baka. I'm warning you now that if you don't, you'll regret ever playing this cruel joke on me." She leaned closer to his face, feeling his warm breaths on her, but ignored it, too angry to notice how it made her skin tingle. "I'm _not_ amused."
Mamoru was confused. 'What game? What is she talking about?' "I'm afraid I don't understand," he responded coolly, not wanting to express the emotions going through him.
Usagi's eyes flashed angrily. She sat straight up, entirely missing his eyes darken for a second before it faded into nothingness. Her body twisted halfway as she swept her arm in exaggeration. "Look around you Mamoru-baka! Do you honestly think you're in your own room?"
And look he did.
Mamoru couldn't believe it! How could he be sleeping in his bed one minute and wake up in another the next day was beyond him.
Noting the apparent confusion on his face, Usagi couldn't bring herself to stay mad at him. It was clear to her that he didn't know what was going on. She bit her lip. Maybe someone else did this? But who??? She didn't think Motoki would do this, she knew that much. Or maybe. . . Mamoru had other enemies?
Usagi frowned, growing more bewildered by the second. But then how did they know where she lived? How did they know who she was? Does that mean that made it her enemies as well? She unconsciously groaned out loud, not seeing Mamoru stare swerve intently at her or feel the rise and fall of his chest move more quickly beneath her. All these questions were making her head pulse in that annoying way of it is. Usagi rubbed her temples, deciding right then and there that she was going to go take a shower. That always made her feel better and helped her to think more clearly.
"We'll talk about this more when I get back," she stated resolutely, before hefting herself up and crossing over to the dressers.
Forcing his heart to slow down, Mamoru objected, "Wait! Where are you going? You can't just leave me like this!"
Looking over her shoulder, Usagi suppressed the urge to smirk at Mamoru's vulnerable state. 'Vulnerable,' her mind murmured, 'never thought I'd ever see the day the Great Mamoru who would need a little school girl's help!' For the first time in the past few hours, she saw the situation extremely funny and she couldn't prevent a giggle escaping her lips.
However soft the giggle may have been, Mamoru heard it all the same and scowled darkly in her direction. "It's not funny," he grumbled, "for all I know, you're probably the one who kidnapped me and strapped me to your bed to play out some twisted fantasy you've been secretly having about me."
Instead of losing her temper and screeching at him indignantly like he had expected, she surprised him by laughing outright at his statement.
Choking on her laughter, she gasped out, "That's a good one!!! I can't believe you would actually think I would ever want you!"
Her attention so focused on leaning against her dresser she completely missed Mamoru flinch at her careless words and the hurt in his expression. When she looked up at him, there were no traces of hurt but a stony demeanor that left her puzzled.
She stopped laughing, suddenly feeling concern and growing dread fill her heart, though she couldn't explain why. "What's the matter?" Standing up straight, she took a step towards him. "Was it something I said?"
He shrugged, looking away. "What makes you say that Odango Atama?" he sneered. "Nothing that comes out of your mouth is worth listening to anyway."
Those words rooted her to the spot and her breath caught. . . twice. Usagi had the sudden urge to cry. Nevertheless, she overcame this the same way she always did when Mamoru hit a sore spot--- she let her rage take over.
"You creep!!!!!" she shouted, body shaking from fury. "And to think! I was afraid I'd hurt your feelings!!!!!" She swiftly turned on her heel and stormed towards her chest drawer and roughly pulled on them, taking what she needed and slamming them shut when she was finished. Then walked swiftly out of her room, shutting the door behind her albeit forcefully, leaving a shocked Mamoru.
'She was afraid she'd hurt my feelings?' Mamoru couldn't believe it. The girl who claimed to hate him with every fiber of her being. . . actually cared about his feelings.
'Not anymore,' his mind replied derisively, 'face it. . . you blew it big time.'
If Mamoru weren't tied up, he'd walk over to the wall across the room and bang repeatedly against it. But all he could do was berate his stupid pride.
He had to make it up to her. Now that Mamoru had seen that her caring spirit didn't just reach those around him but he himself as well, he was going to show her that he had another side to him. A good side. . .
Now, how the heck was he going to do that?!
Mamoru had a lot of thinking to do.
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Wiping the fog-filled mirror with her hand, Usagi stared at her reflection and noticed that taking a nice, hot shower did nothing to relax her or to help her think of a way to free Mamoru-baka from his predicament.
'It's not just him! Your life is at stake here too!!!'
Usagi worried her bottom lip between her teeth. She didn't want to think of what would happen if her parents _did_ find out. She wouldn't be surprised if they found out at this very moment. Usagi knew that she was lucky to have it lasted for so long.
As she carried out the routine of drying out her long blond locks with a hair dryer and putting on her clothes, she concentrated on what she was going to do to unchain Mamoru-baka from her bed.
So far, her ideas were anything but safe.
Pour nitric acid on the chains? But then again. . . it might melt Mamoru's wrists in the process. But wait. . . did nitric acid burn or melt??? Hmmph. Too bad Ami wasn't here--- she'd know the answer. Anyway, that idea was no good.
Use a blowtorch? Might melt Mamoru's face off. That wouldn't be good or she'll have to hear Mamoru whine her ears off till she's old and gray.
"Hmmm." She tapped her forefinger against her lips.
Perhaps she could use a gun and shoot till the chains come off like the people in the movies do? Though, she could end up shooting his wrists or face off or something else very important in the male anatomy.
Usagi grimaced.
She could plant a tiny bomb on the chains. But that might mean Mamoru could get blown up in the process all together. _That_ was out.
"HMMM." Usagi mumbled forcefully, her brows furrowed harder. She was getting frustrated with all this thinking mumbo jumbo!!! All the ideas she comes up with all result in melting, getting Mamoru killed, or losing a body part. Can't she think of anything else that wouldn't be some form of torture???
The next idea that popped into her head was the perfect solution. She grinned triumphantly at her reflection.
'Bye bye, Mamoru-baka! You'll no longer be a thorn in my side!' She giggled gleefully. Finished drying her hair and putting on her clothes, she then ran out of the bathroom to collect the necessary items that she would need for her plan.
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"Why. . ." Thunk. ". . . can't I. . ." Thunk. ". . . think of. . ." Thunk. Thunk. ". . .anything!?!?!?" He slammed the back of his head against the headboard, three more times for good measure.
Looks like Mamoru was having a difficult time of thinking what he could do to show Usagi his good side.
'It shouldn't _be_ hard,' his mind said in a disgusted tone, 'just treat her the way she _wants_ to be treated. That isn't so hard, now is it?'
'But it _is_ hard,' Mamoru thought right back.
For as long as he's known Usagi, he has treated her with as much consideration as one would treat a monkey.
Mamoru cringed. He felt so guilty about it. He hated treating Usagi so harshly, yet, at the same time he loved seeing her get so worked up. The way her cheeks flush a light pink to a cherry hue and the way her eyes would darken, sparkling with challenge and irritation. The change that took over her face was a fascinating thing to watch. He thought, if possible, made her even more beautiful.
Mamoru didn't know if he could break the habit. He rather enjoyed arguing and fighting with her, as strange as that may sound.
'As they always say: 'You always hurt the ones you love,' his mind said in a singsong voice.
'SHUT UP!' he snarled.
Talking to himself is getting him no where!
Mamoru was thankful when the bedroom door opened; at least, he wouldn't be alone with his thoughts for the time being. Of course, he began to have doubts when he set his sights on Usagi.
It was not a pretty sight. And Mamoru was speculating whether or not he had misjudged her.
He also wondered if hadn't fallen in love with a madwoman.
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Down below Usagi's room. . .
Ikuko was humming an unknown tune while mopping the kitchen floor. Odd, how she can just enjoy the simple task in cleaning. She also loved to bake desserts and cook for her family. For most, it would be a chore and a pain but she didn't see it that way.
She was the typical housewife.
Ikuko smiled at that and sighed as she looked out the window, which was located over the kitchen sink. It was such a beautiful day out.
Looking at the huge expanse of a clear blue sky with a golden sun warming the Earth and its inhabitants accompanied by its beaming rays stretching forth over them, Ikuko felt it calm her senses. After an exhausting night, she needed something to relax her nerves. She was extremely worried about her daughter and was reluctant to tell her husband that their daughter is seeking professional help. The time to tell Kenji was drawing near and she wasn't looking forward to it.
Ikuko frowned. Where did they go wrong? She then sighed. She wasn't going to put herself through this again. She knew that she wouldn't find the answers she sought. She shook her head and dumped the mop into the bucket to re-wet it and proceeded to mop the floor once more.
Hopefully, cleaning and the warm rays of the sun washing over her through the window would help her take her mind off things.
BUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Ikuko winced and dropped the mop to clap her hands over her ears. 'What is that noise???'
It was coming from up above and she glared up at the ceiling in irritation.
Ikuko was sure it was Usagi that was causing that awful noise.
"What is up with that girl?" Ikuko wondered out loud but it was drowned out by the noise upstairs.
Marching out of the kitchen, she reached the foot of the stairs. She didn't want to go any further. The sound was so awful; it reminded her of the drills the dentists used when getting rid of a cavity, it made her shudder to think of it (AN: Dentists. ::shivers:: Drills. ::whimpers:: Bad combination if you ask me). Only the sound was a thousand times worse.
"USAGI," Ikuko bellowed.
The noise ceased.
"YES MOM?" Usagi called out from her room.
"WHAT. . . MIGHT I ASK. . . ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!?!" She demanded angrily from her place by the stairs.
"UMMM. . . VACUUMING?"
Ikuko blinked. Vacuuming? Her Usagi? Cleaning?!
Sighing, she yelled, "Oh, okay!" And cringed when the noise resumed.
BUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
As she winced from the earsplitting noises, it made her wonder if the vacuum cleaner had ever been so deafening. Feeling a headache start to form, she decided to go out and do some grocery shopping.
Maybe getting some time away from the house is just what the doctor ordered.
Or in this case. . . her ears.
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Back to where Mamoru lays paralyzed from his place on Usagi's bed. . .
Mamoru was quaking with fear, he never knew that this small slip of a girl could be so terrifying (AN: First her mother, then Shingo and now Mamoru. . . Usagi seems to be scaring a lot of people lately -__-;;). When he first saw her standing in the doorway, he thought she finally lost it and was going to kill him mercilessly.
What had gotten him to think this way, you ask?
When you're tied to a bed, with no place to go and a person standing in the doorway wearing a pair of goggles and have a chainsaw clutched in one hand. . . it doesn't leave much to the imagination what could occur.
When she made her way towards him, revving up the engine of the chainsaw, Mamoru almost peed his pants. . . uhhh boxer shorts.
She was scarier than any youma he had ever encountered. The sound that reached his ears completely blocked out any sounds, except the grating of the noise and he knew when it was turned on or off. He didn't know what transpired when he saw Usagi talking to someone. It was probably her mother.
Mamoru was hoping that her mother would have burst into the room but it was not meant to be. Usagi turned her attention to him once more and turned the engine back on.
The steel with the sharp curves caught the light and it glinted lethally at Mamoru.
'This is it. . .' Mamoru thought glumly, his heart beating rapidly. 'I'm going to die!' He felt himself start to hyperventilate. 'I'm not ever going to know what it's like to kiss a girl. . . Pathetic!. . . I'm never going to experience the pleasures of being one with a woman. . . Even more pathetic!' His eyes went round as saucers, as it finally hit him. 'I'm going to DIE a VIRGIN???!!!' Kami-sama! That was every man's worst nightmare!
His eyes clenched shut as she neared him, prepared for the torture to begin. However, when he felt it connect, it was not his skin, but the chains.
He opened his eyes to see it for himself and felt himself relax. So _that's_ what she was doing! He had to give her credit for thinking of a sure way to get him loose. Then he swallowed. But then again, Odango Atama was known throughout Juuban for her clumsiness. There was still a chance for her to slip and slit his throat.
His relax state was gone.
Mamoru was back to square one: Hyperventilation and chants of 'I'm going to DIE!!!' running through his mind.
Meanwhile, Usagi was clenching her teeth in frustration. Why was the chainsaw not cutting through the chains??? It should have been broken by now!!! Turning off the engine, she leaned over to inspect it.
It didn't even make a scratch! It was still pink and shiny as ever!!! GRRR. Bringing the chainsaw over the head she brought it down to slam against the chains repeatedly and ignored the girly screams Mamoru was emitting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As this was happening. . .
Aphrodite was clutching her sides, gasping for air from her place on the floor as she watched the crazed blonde attacking the chains and the raven- haired man howling for her to stop.
She burst into another round of giggles.
Humans were so entertaining!!!
"And what. . . may I ask is so amusing?" A voice drawled.
Aphrodite shrieked, startled by the unexpected intrusion, making her head jerk to the side. "Morpheus! Don't sneak up on me like that! You know I hate that!!!"
Morpheus slowly raised a brow. "Which is precisely why I do it," he answered, unruffled by her temper.
She scowled, her good humor quickly disintegrated. Morpheus was one of the few people she knew who could make her so angry one minute and. . . Aphrodite frowned. There wasn't an 'and'!!! He made her angry. Period!
Without waiting for an answer, he turned to look at the clear picture of Usagi and Mamoru that Aphrodite conjured up to spy on them.
Morpheus didn't find it funny at all.
'That's no surprise,' Aphrodite snorted mentally, 'his sense of humor always ran dry.'
He looked down at Aphrodite with a disapproving frown. "You have no right to mess up these mortals lives just because _you_ find it entertaining," he chastised as if _she_ were a child, "now why don't you make it easier for them and send them a key to end their troubles."
Getting up from the floor and dusting off her dress. She quirked a brow at him. What was he? Her father?! No one told her what to do! "I will do no such thing," she said, voice firm and adamant.
"You _can_ and you _will_!" Morpheus said, starting to lose his patience. There was something about this spoiled brat that irritated him to no end.
"HA! Even if I could I couldn't!" Aphrodite smirked and shrugged her shoulders.
Morpheus did not like the look on her face. Warily, he asked, "And why not? Just give them the keys, that isn't so hard."
Crossing her arms beneath her chest, she replied, "There are no keys."
His heart stopped, then his face contorted in rage. "WHAT?! NO KEYS???"
Aphrodite inspected her nails, looking as if she had already lost interest in the conversation.
Releasing a breath, he asked the next question with as much calm as he could possess. "But. . . there _must_ be a lock."
She retorted nonchalantly, "There is no lock."
That made his eyes bug out. "WHAT?! NO LOCK???"
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "What are you a parakeet? Must you repeat everything I say? Yes, that's exactly what I said." she said sarcastically.
"Then how in Zeus' name will they free Mamoru?"
"Puh! You think I'm going to tell you? That's a secret only the Goddess of Love knows! If they're smart, they'll figure it out themselves."
Morpheus just stood there, staring at her with a blank look on his face.
Well? Who could answer to that?
Morpheus sighed. 'Those poor mortals. I just hope they don't end up killing each other.' Glancing at them, he winced.
It might be sooner than he thought.
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::Author falls onto her back, exhausted:: You know, I had some idea on how this chapter was going to turn out. . . but I never thought it would end up being _this_ long! So, what do you guys think? It wasn't boring was it? Oh, I hope not! I tried making this as enjoyable as possible. College has been getting in the way as of late and I know what you guys are thinking 'uh oh. . . here it comes! The excuses. . . it is only the beginning of late updates!' Hmmm. That might be true, but I intend to finish this! One of the pleasures I find in life is writing and I'll write as soon as I have the time. This week and the next I won't have any time for it. My Humanities, Acting, and Govt. (yucky!!!) will be taking up my time. Of course, I enjoy the assignments in my Creative Writing class. . . -__-; if only my teacher could get over herself and start "teaching". You guys have one of those don't you? Aren't they a pain???
Well, I'll be going now. ^_~ I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!!! While I go to the library and hit the books for an upcoming test. . . ewww.
Thanks for the reviews!!! I had a blast reading them!
Chibi J: You had me so laughing hard! Omg! I never saw it that way, but now that you pointed that out, I can see how much this fic does in some ways resembles the movie!!! Lol, and don't worry. You'll find out soon enough about the _keys_ ::giggles secretly::
Ghetto Queen: Don't worry about it! I can understand that life can get in the way, so you don't have to apologize for not reviewing sooner, but then again. . . it's good knowing that you're with me every step of the way *wink*
Hot Cuttie: Thanks for the tip! Are you sure his eyes aren't green though? I thought they were some sort of green ::rolls eyes:: Listen to me! ::Shakes head:: You've probably never met anyone so wrapped up wondering every minor detail, eh? *Sighs* I give you permission to smack me.
Lunar Ember: EEEEE! You've been pinned to a brick wall?! Truly??? You're soooo lucky! You go girl! Sadly, I have never gotten to experience it *pouts*
Usakou: Hmmm, about Usagi going back up while she's drunk, well. . . I'll let you find out.
^_~ Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 6: When Morning Comes. . .
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As light filtered through the windows, Usagi stirred from her place on the couch and groaned in agony.
'Did I get hit by a truck?' was her first thought as she opened her eyes. They instantly went shut when her head exploded from excruciating pain, as the light struck her in the eyes.
She lay there panting, afraid to move or open her eyes, not wanting to experience the pain again. Though, it's not like she could avoid it. Lying still as she was, her head felt as heavy as a watermelon, there was so much pressure bearing down on her. And the pain. . . Kami-sama the pain! It seems like someone was shooting needles from the inside. Sharp pointy- things sticking themselves into her skull, the back of her eyes--- it made her want to puke.
Usagi's eyes flashed, revealing light blue orbs. Ignoring the pain, she shot up from the couch. She had only one thing in mind. . .
Getting to the toilet.
Covering her mouth, she ran to the nearest bathroom, entered, fell on her knees, and threw up in said object.
'The toilet. . . ewww.' That thought alone urged her on, until she emptied her stomach.
When she was done, she slowly stood up, went to the sink, turned on the faucet, cupped her hands with water and washed her face, then rinsed her mouth till she couldn't taste the acid, bitterness. And next dried her face with a towel from where it had hung on the wall.
That done and over with, Usagi stared at her reflection and flinched when she saw how sickly pale she looked. It was then that she made a promise to herself.
'I'm NEVER _EVER_ drinking AGAIN!'
Look at her! If anyone saw her they'd faint into a coma! Yes, that's how _bad_ she looked.
Usagi frowned; not liking where her thoughts were leading her.
The day had barely even started and she could already tell it was going to be one of the worst. And if that wasn't enough, she has a half-naked Mamoru still tied up to her bed!
Usagi gawked at her reflection in the mirror. That's right! She almost forgot! The events of last night came flooding in her mind, except when she got herself drunk--- it was all a blur.
She bit her bottom lip nervously. She hoped to Kami that she didn't do anything she'd later regret.
From out of nowhere, she sighed. What was she going to do about Mamoru? Under no uncertain terms can she let her family find out about him! She'll be sushi before anyone can say: 'Yo quiero Taco Bell.' And that only took three seconds!!!
The silence of the bathroom shattered to the sound of her stomach grumbling.
Usagi rolled her eyes, sighing. Her head aches, her eyes are ready to pop out from the pain, and she just puked her guts out. And she _still_ manages to get hungry!
"Nothing should amaze me anymore," she muttered under her breath. After last night, after seeing and doing she'd never thought would end up happening, she's willing to believe anything's possible at this point.
Shaking her head, she headed for the kitchen. Her eyes immediately landed on the plastic cup on the floor and the bottle of brandy sitting innocently on the counter.
Usagi's heart began to pump to the beat of a helicopter in motion. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Usagi was not the kind of person to wake up so early in the morning. She was the type to sleep till the afternoon. Bombs could go off outside her window and she wouldn't move an inch. . . much less peel back a single eyelid.
So you could imagine Usagi's fear of what could have happened if she didn't wake up as early as she had. If her parents saw the opened bottle of brandy, the plastic cup, and their daughter dozed off on the couch--- there would be no doubt in their minds what had transpired while they were sleeping.
Usagi's eyes widened in alarm. The sound of a door closing above her head immediately caught her attention. Her ears picked up the sounds of footsteps nearing the stairs.
'Oh no!!!'
She scrambled towards the cup, crouched down to pick it up and threw it away in the trashcan.
The steps were closer now.
She went back to grab the bottle and looked around the kitchen frantically. Where can she put the damn bottle???
The steps now reached the bottom of the stairs. Any minute now, whoever was awake will meet up with her.
Usagi nibbled on her lip. There wasn't anywhere she could hide the bottle that would be invisible to the naked eye. If she hid it in one of the cabinets. . . anyone could find it. And everyone knows that the alcohol was kept in the wine cabinet.
She was doomed.
The steps were a few seconds away from her place in the kitchen.
Usagi gazed up at the ceiling, hiding the bottle behind her back. 'Someone please put me out of my misery!'
A foot was in sight.
Usagi then begged pleadingly, 'Now will be nice!!!'
No one was going to help her.
The Fates were too busy laughing their butts off to intervene.
Finally, the mystery person came into full view.
"Good morning, Usagi."
Usagi gave a bright, cheery smile. Even though, inside she was shaking with nerves and her head felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode from the aches she was experiencing. "Morning Daddy!"
Kenji nodded his head and was still heading for the refrigerator, when he stopped in his tracks. His head whipped at the unusual sight before him. "USAGI???"
In response, her grin broadened. "Yes, Daddy?" she asked innocently.
Mr. Tsukino gaped at his daughter in shock. "What are you doing up at," he checked his watch, "7:15 in the morning?!"
Here she gave him a pout. "I woke up with a really bad headache." Well, that wasn't a lie. "It still hurts." She let her lips tremble for effect. It wasn't hard to do when you concentrated on how much pain you were in.
Her father's face automatically clouded with concern. He made a sudden move towards her.
Usagi forced herself not to back away; he'd only start to become suspicious.
Kenji put a hand up to her forehead. Frowning, he commented, "Well, you don't have a fever." His eyes studied her. "You look awfully pale though."
She waved a hand airily, the other still clutching onto the bottle as her life depended on it. "I'm _fine_ really!"
His nose crinkled suddenly and his eyebrows furrowed. "What's that?"
Usagi gulped. "What was what?"
"There it is again! That smell!!! It smells familiar. . ." He cast a glance at his daughter. "Don't you smell it Usagi?"
'Uh oh. . . he couldn't be talking about. . .' Her eyes widened, suddenly looking like a deer caught in headlights. The alcohol! Since her father had come close within her range, he could smell the alcohol still lingering in her breath when she spoke!
Oh yeah. She was definitely, irrevocably doomed.
The Fates only laughed harder. The messes mortals got themselves into were so amusing!
Swallowing hard, she shook her head. Usagi couldn't risk speaking again.
He sniffed the air a couple of times and shrugged. "It must have been my imagination then." He turned his attention back to Usagi. "I'll get you some aspirin for the headache."
Aspirin? Usagi scrunched up her nose. 'I _hate_ medicine! No way am I taking it!!!' She shook her head again at her father.
Kenji raised a brow. "Usagi, it will help to ease the pain. Don't you want it to go away?" Before Usagi could disagree he turned his back on her and went straight for the cabinets to get out a glass.
Usagi had to get out of there. She had to get out before her mother and little brother woke up and she surely wouldn't have a chance of escaping without them noticing the bottle behind her back.
She started to inch her way along the counter. She was near the entranceway, when her father's voice stopped her. 'Aaaaarggggh! Gosh darnit!'
"Usagi?"
Her eyes grew large and she slowly looked up.
Only to see her father standing right before her. . .
She screamed in fright and felt the bottle slip from her hands. 'No! No, no, no!!!' She let herself fall on her butt and tried to grab the bottle while doing so. She breathed a sigh of relief when she felt it gripped firmly within her hands once more.
Kenji gazed down at his daughter strangely. He needed to talk to his wife--- Usagi was acting too odd. It worried him a great deal. A GREAT deal. He pushed those thoughts away and asked, "Are you okay? What were you doing?"
"You," she stuttered, "you s-scared me." How was she going to stand up?! This was getting more complicated by the second.
'You and me both,' Kenji thought. He smiled down at Usagi. "I'm sorry. But look," he showed her the glass of water he had in one hand and the aspirin in the other, "it's for the pain. Get up, so you can take it."
'Get UP??? How am I going to do that?' Usagi didn't know what to do, maybe if she sat there long enough and not say anything, her father would get tired of her antics and go away.
"Kenji?" A voice called out. "What was that noise?"
Usagi's heart accelerated to the sound of her mother's voice. 'She's awake?!' She wailed mentally. She could feel herself stop breathing when her mother got closer, still talking to her father. She couldn't hear what they were saying, it was all going in one ear and out the other. She was too wrapped up in her nerves to listen. 'This is turning out to be a real nightmare!'
She unconsciously began to push herself back with her legs and feet until her back was against the wall of the entranceway. Despite her fear, Usagi still managed to get angry. 'Damn Mamoru-baka! This is all _his_ fault! He's the one that drove me to drink in the first place!'
She snapped out of her musings when she heard her mother's voice, which was clearer than before. And when she looked up, Ikuko was standing right next to Kenji, staring right at her. Both had concern written across their faces.
". . . Usagi, you should listen to your father. I understand you don't like taking aspirin but it will make your headache go away faster."
"Umm, that's okay Mom. I actually feel a lot better."
Kenji was skeptical. "But it was only five minutes ago that you said you were in a lot of pain." He shared a look with his wife. "I doubt it could have disappeared so quickly." Their gaze simultaneously fell back onto their daughter.
Usagi grimaced. 'Why can't parents let any topic rest? They just _have_ to keep on pushing!!!' "Look," she sighed, "it hasn't gone away--- I'll admit that. But it doesn't hurt as much as before." 'Yeah right!' "I don't need to take any aspirin. And besides," she added, seeing as how they were ready to protest, "I have to go to the bathroom." If there is any chance in hell to get away from your parents, it's to tell them your need to go to the bathroom. No parent would ever forbid his or her children to fulfill the most "basic necessity" known to mankind.
Ikuko sighed. That sound alone signifying that the argument would be put to rest. "Alright. . . go on Usagi."
If it was under any circumstance, Usagi would have been up and running. However, it was not meant to be since she had the bottle of brandy in hand. There was only one way to stand up.
Push with her feet and wiggle her way up.
It's not as easy as it sounds either.
"Honey. . ." Kenji said warily, eyeing his daughter. "Can you tell me what she's doing?"
Wiggle. Wiggle.
"Ahhh," was the only thing Ikuko could say.
Wiggle. Wiggle.
"Come _on_!!!" Usagi panted in frustration as she pushed her feet against the linoleum floor. She was almost in a crouching position when she slipped and fell on her bum. "Why is this floor so SLIPPERY?!?!?!"
"You're such a ditz Usagi! Why don't you push up with your hands, not just feet, like any normal person would do?"
Usagi glared at the rude intrusion to her concentration "Quiet Shingo! I'm busy!" And the wiggling, pushing, and grunting resumed.
Shingo sweat dropped. He turned to his parents and asked the question he has been asking since he was five years old. "Are you _sure_ she isn't adopted? Maybe she really _is_ from outer space!"
Ikuko turned to her son, suddenly feeling exhausted. Yesterday was the most tiring day of her life—well at least not since Shingo was a baby—and she didn't think that today would be any different "No Shingo," she responded, "she's not adopted." She turned back to her daughter and sweat dropped.
Wiggle. Wiggle.
But then again. . . Ikuko was beginning to wonder that herself. She sighed and went straight into the kitchen. "What do you two want for breakfast?" She called over her shoulder. And after that, no one paid much attention to Usagi. Kenji and Shingo followed and voiced their cravings.
A minute or two later, Usagi gave up; it was then she noticed that her family weren't surrounding her but were now occupied in the kitchen. She perked up instantly. This was too good to be true!
She laid the bottle down, stood up and swooped down to pick it up again and ran like the wind to the sanctuary of her room.
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'Sanctuary? What sanctuary?' Usagi thought dryly as she entered her room, seeing her enemy sleeping peacefully on _her_ bed. She laid the bottle of brandy on the floor, then put her hands behind her back, bending over it and winced when she felt her bones crack. Sleeping on the couch wasn't the most luxurious place to be.
Usagi wasn't getting sick and tired of this game Mamoru was playing. She didn't find it the least bit funny. Regardless of the fact that she had a hangover, her body aches, and she would like nothing more than to take a nice, warm shower and get some rest. . . she wanted that creep out of _her_ room!!!
Stomping over to her nemesis, she shook him rudely by the shoulders. "Wake up baka!" she snapped. He stirred. That encouraged her to shake him even harder.
Mamoru was sleeping peacefully. There was no princess haunting his dreams, pleading for him to find the imperium silver crystal. All he felt was a serene, floating sensation in a black abyss. . . nothing could touch him. . . until an earthquake shattered that tranquility. _His_ tranquility. That person was going to pay!!!
He opened his eyes, his vision blurry. He wasn't quite sure what he was seeing. What he could make out were furious crystalline blue eyes. 'Familiar,' was the only word to pop into his sluggish mind. Mamoru struggled to wake up, wanting to see who would dare to interrupt his sleep.
Usagi stepped away from the raven-haired man, satisfied that she had succeeded in rousing him from his deep slumber. Now she was closer to kicking him out of her room and taking back what was rightfully hers. Her bed. . .
'MINE!' she thought fiercely.
Mamoru blinked the sleep from his eyes and then focused them on the sight from before. His eyes went round from shock. "Odango Atama?! What are you doing here? And how the heck did you get into my apartment???" he demanded, finding the ability to get rid of his languid state. Mamoru was going to push himself up on his bed, when he found, to his dismay, he couldn't pull his arms away. His eyes traveled up his arms and finally to his chained wrists. . . wait a second. . . CHAINED?!?!?!?! IN HANDCUFFS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
No way. . .
"Odango," he growled, "why did you tie me up to my own bed?" When there wasn't an answer, he turned his attention back on the girl.
He didn't like what he saw.
Usagi's left eye was twitching again. 'How _dare_ he do this to me!!!' He must be laughing at her, seeing how he was making her life difficult: tying himself to her bed, almost getting her into trouble with her parents, pretending he was some sex fiend playing out her fantasy. 'Which isn't by the way!!!' she denied heatedly. And now he was pretending that he didn't know what was going on, that he was still home tucked in his own bed, accusing her of breaking and entering and that she was the one to tie him up!
Her once sickly pale skin was now flushed crimson. Her breaths came in and out in angry puffs. 'That's it!'
Her control snapped.
Usagi startled Mamoru by landing onto her bed in one smooth jump, feet planted on both sides of his chest.
'How did she do that? I've never seen anyone jump so far up like that.' Mamoru noted. He gulped when she sat down on his chest and leaned over him. His heart pounded furiously. He'll admit that Usagi was scaring him but he couldn't keep the excitement and anticipation at bay.
It was also turning him on.
Eyes narrowed into slits, in a voice that was dangerously low, she said, "Drop the act Mamoru-baka. I'm warning you now that if you don't, you'll regret ever playing this cruel joke on me." She leaned closer to his face, feeling his warm breaths on her, but ignored it, too angry to notice how it made her skin tingle. "I'm _not_ amused."
Mamoru was confused. 'What game? What is she talking about?' "I'm afraid I don't understand," he responded coolly, not wanting to express the emotions going through him.
Usagi's eyes flashed angrily. She sat straight up, entirely missing his eyes darken for a second before it faded into nothingness. Her body twisted halfway as she swept her arm in exaggeration. "Look around you Mamoru-baka! Do you honestly think you're in your own room?"
And look he did.
Mamoru couldn't believe it! How could he be sleeping in his bed one minute and wake up in another the next day was beyond him.
Noting the apparent confusion on his face, Usagi couldn't bring herself to stay mad at him. It was clear to her that he didn't know what was going on. She bit her lip. Maybe someone else did this? But who??? She didn't think Motoki would do this, she knew that much. Or maybe. . . Mamoru had other enemies?
Usagi frowned, growing more bewildered by the second. But then how did they know where she lived? How did they know who she was? Does that mean that made it her enemies as well? She unconsciously groaned out loud, not seeing Mamoru stare swerve intently at her or feel the rise and fall of his chest move more quickly beneath her. All these questions were making her head pulse in that annoying way of it is. Usagi rubbed her temples, deciding right then and there that she was going to go take a shower. That always made her feel better and helped her to think more clearly.
"We'll talk about this more when I get back," she stated resolutely, before hefting herself up and crossing over to the dressers.
Forcing his heart to slow down, Mamoru objected, "Wait! Where are you going? You can't just leave me like this!"
Looking over her shoulder, Usagi suppressed the urge to smirk at Mamoru's vulnerable state. 'Vulnerable,' her mind murmured, 'never thought I'd ever see the day the Great Mamoru who would need a little school girl's help!' For the first time in the past few hours, she saw the situation extremely funny and she couldn't prevent a giggle escaping her lips.
However soft the giggle may have been, Mamoru heard it all the same and scowled darkly in her direction. "It's not funny," he grumbled, "for all I know, you're probably the one who kidnapped me and strapped me to your bed to play out some twisted fantasy you've been secretly having about me."
Instead of losing her temper and screeching at him indignantly like he had expected, she surprised him by laughing outright at his statement.
Choking on her laughter, she gasped out, "That's a good one!!! I can't believe you would actually think I would ever want you!"
Her attention so focused on leaning against her dresser she completely missed Mamoru flinch at her careless words and the hurt in his expression. When she looked up at him, there were no traces of hurt but a stony demeanor that left her puzzled.
She stopped laughing, suddenly feeling concern and growing dread fill her heart, though she couldn't explain why. "What's the matter?" Standing up straight, she took a step towards him. "Was it something I said?"
He shrugged, looking away. "What makes you say that Odango Atama?" he sneered. "Nothing that comes out of your mouth is worth listening to anyway."
Those words rooted her to the spot and her breath caught. . . twice. Usagi had the sudden urge to cry. Nevertheless, she overcame this the same way she always did when Mamoru hit a sore spot--- she let her rage take over.
"You creep!!!!!" she shouted, body shaking from fury. "And to think! I was afraid I'd hurt your feelings!!!!!" She swiftly turned on her heel and stormed towards her chest drawer and roughly pulled on them, taking what she needed and slamming them shut when she was finished. Then walked swiftly out of her room, shutting the door behind her albeit forcefully, leaving a shocked Mamoru.
'She was afraid she'd hurt my feelings?' Mamoru couldn't believe it. The girl who claimed to hate him with every fiber of her being. . . actually cared about his feelings.
'Not anymore,' his mind replied derisively, 'face it. . . you blew it big time.'
If Mamoru weren't tied up, he'd walk over to the wall across the room and bang repeatedly against it. But all he could do was berate his stupid pride.
He had to make it up to her. Now that Mamoru had seen that her caring spirit didn't just reach those around him but he himself as well, he was going to show her that he had another side to him. A good side. . .
Now, how the heck was he going to do that?!
Mamoru had a lot of thinking to do.
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Wiping the fog-filled mirror with her hand, Usagi stared at her reflection and noticed that taking a nice, hot shower did nothing to relax her or to help her think of a way to free Mamoru-baka from his predicament.
'It's not just him! Your life is at stake here too!!!'
Usagi worried her bottom lip between her teeth. She didn't want to think of what would happen if her parents _did_ find out. She wouldn't be surprised if they found out at this very moment. Usagi knew that she was lucky to have it lasted for so long.
As she carried out the routine of drying out her long blond locks with a hair dryer and putting on her clothes, she concentrated on what she was going to do to unchain Mamoru-baka from her bed.
So far, her ideas were anything but safe.
Pour nitric acid on the chains? But then again. . . it might melt Mamoru's wrists in the process. But wait. . . did nitric acid burn or melt??? Hmmph. Too bad Ami wasn't here--- she'd know the answer. Anyway, that idea was no good.
Use a blowtorch? Might melt Mamoru's face off. That wouldn't be good or she'll have to hear Mamoru whine her ears off till she's old and gray.
"Hmmm." She tapped her forefinger against her lips.
Perhaps she could use a gun and shoot till the chains come off like the people in the movies do? Though, she could end up shooting his wrists or face off or something else very important in the male anatomy.
Usagi grimaced.
She could plant a tiny bomb on the chains. But that might mean Mamoru could get blown up in the process all together. _That_ was out.
"HMMM." Usagi mumbled forcefully, her brows furrowed harder. She was getting frustrated with all this thinking mumbo jumbo!!! All the ideas she comes up with all result in melting, getting Mamoru killed, or losing a body part. Can't she think of anything else that wouldn't be some form of torture???
The next idea that popped into her head was the perfect solution. She grinned triumphantly at her reflection.
'Bye bye, Mamoru-baka! You'll no longer be a thorn in my side!' She giggled gleefully. Finished drying her hair and putting on her clothes, she then ran out of the bathroom to collect the necessary items that she would need for her plan.
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"Why. . ." Thunk. ". . . can't I. . ." Thunk. ". . . think of. . ." Thunk. Thunk. ". . .anything!?!?!?" He slammed the back of his head against the headboard, three more times for good measure.
Looks like Mamoru was having a difficult time of thinking what he could do to show Usagi his good side.
'It shouldn't _be_ hard,' his mind said in a disgusted tone, 'just treat her the way she _wants_ to be treated. That isn't so hard, now is it?'
'But it _is_ hard,' Mamoru thought right back.
For as long as he's known Usagi, he has treated her with as much consideration as one would treat a monkey.
Mamoru cringed. He felt so guilty about it. He hated treating Usagi so harshly, yet, at the same time he loved seeing her get so worked up. The way her cheeks flush a light pink to a cherry hue and the way her eyes would darken, sparkling with challenge and irritation. The change that took over her face was a fascinating thing to watch. He thought, if possible, made her even more beautiful.
Mamoru didn't know if he could break the habit. He rather enjoyed arguing and fighting with her, as strange as that may sound.
'As they always say: 'You always hurt the ones you love,' his mind said in a singsong voice.
'SHUT UP!' he snarled.
Talking to himself is getting him no where!
Mamoru was thankful when the bedroom door opened; at least, he wouldn't be alone with his thoughts for the time being. Of course, he began to have doubts when he set his sights on Usagi.
It was not a pretty sight. And Mamoru was speculating whether or not he had misjudged her.
He also wondered if hadn't fallen in love with a madwoman.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Down below Usagi's room. . .
Ikuko was humming an unknown tune while mopping the kitchen floor. Odd, how she can just enjoy the simple task in cleaning. She also loved to bake desserts and cook for her family. For most, it would be a chore and a pain but she didn't see it that way.
She was the typical housewife.
Ikuko smiled at that and sighed as she looked out the window, which was located over the kitchen sink. It was such a beautiful day out.
Looking at the huge expanse of a clear blue sky with a golden sun warming the Earth and its inhabitants accompanied by its beaming rays stretching forth over them, Ikuko felt it calm her senses. After an exhausting night, she needed something to relax her nerves. She was extremely worried about her daughter and was reluctant to tell her husband that their daughter is seeking professional help. The time to tell Kenji was drawing near and she wasn't looking forward to it.
Ikuko frowned. Where did they go wrong? She then sighed. She wasn't going to put herself through this again. She knew that she wouldn't find the answers she sought. She shook her head and dumped the mop into the bucket to re-wet it and proceeded to mop the floor once more.
Hopefully, cleaning and the warm rays of the sun washing over her through the window would help her take her mind off things.
BUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
Ikuko winced and dropped the mop to clap her hands over her ears. 'What is that noise???'
It was coming from up above and she glared up at the ceiling in irritation.
Ikuko was sure it was Usagi that was causing that awful noise.
"What is up with that girl?" Ikuko wondered out loud but it was drowned out by the noise upstairs.
Marching out of the kitchen, she reached the foot of the stairs. She didn't want to go any further. The sound was so awful; it reminded her of the drills the dentists used when getting rid of a cavity, it made her shudder to think of it (AN: Dentists. ::shivers:: Drills. ::whimpers:: Bad combination if you ask me). Only the sound was a thousand times worse.
"USAGI," Ikuko bellowed.
The noise ceased.
"YES MOM?" Usagi called out from her room.
"WHAT. . . MIGHT I ASK. . . ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!?!" She demanded angrily from her place by the stairs.
"UMMM. . . VACUUMING?"
Ikuko blinked. Vacuuming? Her Usagi? Cleaning?!
Sighing, she yelled, "Oh, okay!" And cringed when the noise resumed.
BUUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ.
As she winced from the earsplitting noises, it made her wonder if the vacuum cleaner had ever been so deafening. Feeling a headache start to form, she decided to go out and do some grocery shopping.
Maybe getting some time away from the house is just what the doctor ordered.
Or in this case. . . her ears.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back to where Mamoru lays paralyzed from his place on Usagi's bed. . .
Mamoru was quaking with fear, he never knew that this small slip of a girl could be so terrifying (AN: First her mother, then Shingo and now Mamoru. . . Usagi seems to be scaring a lot of people lately -__-;;). When he first saw her standing in the doorway, he thought she finally lost it and was going to kill him mercilessly.
What had gotten him to think this way, you ask?
When you're tied to a bed, with no place to go and a person standing in the doorway wearing a pair of goggles and have a chainsaw clutched in one hand. . . it doesn't leave much to the imagination what could occur.
When she made her way towards him, revving up the engine of the chainsaw, Mamoru almost peed his pants. . . uhhh boxer shorts.
She was scarier than any youma he had ever encountered. The sound that reached his ears completely blocked out any sounds, except the grating of the noise and he knew when it was turned on or off. He didn't know what transpired when he saw Usagi talking to someone. It was probably her mother.
Mamoru was hoping that her mother would have burst into the room but it was not meant to be. Usagi turned her attention to him once more and turned the engine back on.
The steel with the sharp curves caught the light and it glinted lethally at Mamoru.
'This is it. . .' Mamoru thought glumly, his heart beating rapidly. 'I'm going to die!' He felt himself start to hyperventilate. 'I'm not ever going to know what it's like to kiss a girl. . . Pathetic!. . . I'm never going to experience the pleasures of being one with a woman. . . Even more pathetic!' His eyes went round as saucers, as it finally hit him. 'I'm going to DIE a VIRGIN???!!!' Kami-sama! That was every man's worst nightmare!
His eyes clenched shut as she neared him, prepared for the torture to begin. However, when he felt it connect, it was not his skin, but the chains.
He opened his eyes to see it for himself and felt himself relax. So _that's_ what she was doing! He had to give her credit for thinking of a sure way to get him loose. Then he swallowed. But then again, Odango Atama was known throughout Juuban for her clumsiness. There was still a chance for her to slip and slit his throat.
His relax state was gone.
Mamoru was back to square one: Hyperventilation and chants of 'I'm going to DIE!!!' running through his mind.
Meanwhile, Usagi was clenching her teeth in frustration. Why was the chainsaw not cutting through the chains??? It should have been broken by now!!! Turning off the engine, she leaned over to inspect it.
It didn't even make a scratch! It was still pink and shiny as ever!!! GRRR. Bringing the chainsaw over the head she brought it down to slam against the chains repeatedly and ignored the girly screams Mamoru was emitting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As this was happening. . .
Aphrodite was clutching her sides, gasping for air from her place on the floor as she watched the crazed blonde attacking the chains and the raven- haired man howling for her to stop.
She burst into another round of giggles.
Humans were so entertaining!!!
"And what. . . may I ask is so amusing?" A voice drawled.
Aphrodite shrieked, startled by the unexpected intrusion, making her head jerk to the side. "Morpheus! Don't sneak up on me like that! You know I hate that!!!"
Morpheus slowly raised a brow. "Which is precisely why I do it," he answered, unruffled by her temper.
She scowled, her good humor quickly disintegrated. Morpheus was one of the few people she knew who could make her so angry one minute and. . . Aphrodite frowned. There wasn't an 'and'!!! He made her angry. Period!
Without waiting for an answer, he turned to look at the clear picture of Usagi and Mamoru that Aphrodite conjured up to spy on them.
Morpheus didn't find it funny at all.
'That's no surprise,' Aphrodite snorted mentally, 'his sense of humor always ran dry.'
He looked down at Aphrodite with a disapproving frown. "You have no right to mess up these mortals lives just because _you_ find it entertaining," he chastised as if _she_ were a child, "now why don't you make it easier for them and send them a key to end their troubles."
Getting up from the floor and dusting off her dress. She quirked a brow at him. What was he? Her father?! No one told her what to do! "I will do no such thing," she said, voice firm and adamant.
"You _can_ and you _will_!" Morpheus said, starting to lose his patience. There was something about this spoiled brat that irritated him to no end.
"HA! Even if I could I couldn't!" Aphrodite smirked and shrugged her shoulders.
Morpheus did not like the look on her face. Warily, he asked, "And why not? Just give them the keys, that isn't so hard."
Crossing her arms beneath her chest, she replied, "There are no keys."
His heart stopped, then his face contorted in rage. "WHAT?! NO KEYS???"
Aphrodite inspected her nails, looking as if she had already lost interest in the conversation.
Releasing a breath, he asked the next question with as much calm as he could possess. "But. . . there _must_ be a lock."
She retorted nonchalantly, "There is no lock."
That made his eyes bug out. "WHAT?! NO LOCK???"
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "What are you a parakeet? Must you repeat everything I say? Yes, that's exactly what I said." she said sarcastically.
"Then how in Zeus' name will they free Mamoru?"
"Puh! You think I'm going to tell you? That's a secret only the Goddess of Love knows! If they're smart, they'll figure it out themselves."
Morpheus just stood there, staring at her with a blank look on his face.
Well? Who could answer to that?
Morpheus sighed. 'Those poor mortals. I just hope they don't end up killing each other.' Glancing at them, he winced.
It might be sooner than he thought.
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::Author falls onto her back, exhausted:: You know, I had some idea on how this chapter was going to turn out. . . but I never thought it would end up being _this_ long! So, what do you guys think? It wasn't boring was it? Oh, I hope not! I tried making this as enjoyable as possible. College has been getting in the way as of late and I know what you guys are thinking 'uh oh. . . here it comes! The excuses. . . it is only the beginning of late updates!' Hmmm. That might be true, but I intend to finish this! One of the pleasures I find in life is writing and I'll write as soon as I have the time. This week and the next I won't have any time for it. My Humanities, Acting, and Govt. (yucky!!!) will be taking up my time. Of course, I enjoy the assignments in my Creative Writing class. . . -__-; if only my teacher could get over herself and start "teaching". You guys have one of those don't you? Aren't they a pain???
Well, I'll be going now. ^_~ I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!!! While I go to the library and hit the books for an upcoming test. . . ewww.