Unconditional Love's Duty
10/30/04
Summary: Sometimes truth isn't the answer. Would things have been better if left alone?
Usagi put on the last touches of the concealer over the rising bruise on her cheek. Hopefully it would stay and not rub away throughout the day, and if it did, she'd just lie and say she got it during practice yesterday. She finished getting dressed and looked at herself in the mirror. She looked as she normally did, her skin was a shade darker than usual but that could have a story too.
She glanced at the clock, she'd have to hurry up or else she'd miss the bus. Her legs carried her down the steps and out of the house. By the time that she reached the station, the bus was getting ready to leave and she slid in before the doors closed behind her. She flashed the man behind the wheel her bus card. She walked past several rows of people of all ages.
The public transport system would drop her off a block from school as more people got onto the bus. It did not run directly to the places which she wished to go to unfortunately, even when the place she needed to attend was a big office building, she'd still have to walk several feet to get there. The spots were positioned so nobody could just leave a building and step onto a bus. That way it was fair to everybody.
She waited patiently as the bus continued to stop and then continue on its journey. She did not fear being late to school, the bus was notorious for always being on schedule. Except when people like her held up the bus several seconds and that added up being a couple of minutes behind. Today there seemed to be a lot of people late. Usagi sighed as she realized that she would be late to school today and that meant she'd be getting her last tardy before she was forced to stay for detention. Luckily she had nothing to get to today and her family was home to take care of anything she'd miss.
The bus came to a stop and she got off the bus, walking towards the ugliest building she had ever seen. It was her school, the place she got to be in every day, how wonderful. Other people came and told her how beautiful the school was and she'd pretend to agree, growing tired of the compliment she had no part in portraying.
She was, as she suspected, late to her first hour. "Ms. Tuskino, how is that you can be late to first hour every day when it starts so late?"
"I'm not always late." She replied. "Just a few times, and school starts at 8:30, that is in no way early."
"The Americans get up at 6 to get to school on time." The teacher reminded her, as if she needed reminding.
"And? They are crazy to do that to the poor kids, didn't you know that its healthier to have more sleep and then the students can incorporate and install more into their brains."
"They don't have a choice and some of the smartest people are able to think better the earlier it is in the morning."
"They also die at an early age. At least people in Germany get up at eight and get out at noon." Usagi answered. "The smartest people come from Germany."
"Touché Tuskino-san." The teacher sounded pleased by Usagi's quick wit. "It seems however my point has just been proven, this is the smartest I've ever heard you sound."
"I also woke up an hour ago so your just getting my alertness that is usually reserved for an hour after this class. Which means that I have more sleep to be awake for those classes."
"I happen to agree, whenever somebody wants to get up they should."
"So… no detention?" Usagi asked hopefully.
"Nice try, but those people that get to choose when they want to wake up aren't students but those that work, and since I'm working here it's my job to ensure that you follow the rules. You have an hour after school sometime this week."
"That's not fair, the bus was late again."
"By two minutes, I suppose, but you could have run and skimmed those two minutes off or you could not argue wasting more of the classes time by excuses or trying to weasel yourself out of a detention. You could have stayed afterwards or taken it in good graces and sat down at your seat."
"The buses don't run past five." Usagi moaned.
"You'll be two minutes early if you stop arguing." The teacher answered. Usagi groaned and sank down into her desk defeated for the day.
"Tough break." A voice whispered in her ear, the breath playing with the fine nerve sensors that rose in response to the feeling.
Usagi's mouth quirked into a smile as she glanced at her boyfriend. His dark hair fell shaggily into his equally dark blue eyes. She shrugged in agreement. "I'll have to walk home."
"There's suppose to be a really bad thunderstorm this evening." He informed her.
"Great." She groaned. "I don't want to be out in that."
"Nor would I wish you to be out in it." Her eyes snapped to look at him. "What?"
"Have you been taking language lessons from Ami again?" She demanded.
"Now why on Earth would you ask me that?" Her boyfriend asked perplexed.
"Because you sound like somebody out of an ancient European book." She explained. "And only Ami talks like that 'nor would I wish…'"
"She's been my lab partner for a chemistry assignment recently and being around her kind of rubs off on everybody she knows, she's very proper and won't give it up for just anybody."
"I know." Usagi rotated and laid her head down on his desk, burying it in her arms. "My boyfriend's turned into Mr. Proper and I'm stuck here until five to then go run in the rain. How dandy."
"I have a solution to your problem." He reached out a hand and stroked it along her hair.
"Stop that." She whined. "It doesn't suit you."
"Don't ya wanna know what I think?" His hand pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.
She raised her head to look at him. "Shoot."
"I could come pick you up." He offered.
"You have the car tonight?" Her mood perked up. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I wanted it to be a surprise, I hate taking the bus to your house and then taking you out on town through the bus. But it would be better if I picked you up and then I could take you home so you could have more time to change while I go home from practice."
"Oh, thank you, you're a gem." She made to hug him but a clearing of the throat caused her to look to the front instead.
"Ms. Tuskino, is there something you want to share with the class?"
"Ok, I don't have to ride the bus home after running through a thunderstorm tonight because my boyfriend, the best person in the world just offered me a ride!" She announced happily to the class.
The teacher looked like he was going to pound his head in for even bothering to ask. "All right Ms. Tuskino, that's enough, Mr. Chiba, I'd appreciate it if you go back to your seat, thank you."
Usagi received a wink as he walked past her and around the next row to go into the back again. Usagi had to keep the small laugh in check as they officially bugged yet another teacher to the point of stressing out.
First hour was English class and every other day but today Usagi would have been into learning it, but she wasn't feeling very into school at the moment. She listened blindly as the teacher continued to teach them the language's grammar. It was a seventh year class and she had the option of dropping it before last year but she decided to continue taking it. Doing so she now had a better grasp on the language than most people in Japan did.
It was in the middle of the week and her thoughts started wondering. Mamoru, her boyfriend, had noticed the darker skin shade and he kept sending glances her way. They had been dating for almost two years and he had yet to meet her family. When they had met and eventually started dating she had been as dark as her make-up naturally because of her tan. She had never gotten a bruise on her face and so it was strange to see her wearing make-up of any kind. She knew he'd ask eventually and she regretted it but she'd have to lie to him for the first time ever.
Unfortunately the one on her face wasn't her only bruise. There was one on her ribs, just above her stomach, she had gotten lucky with that one, any lower and she might have had internal damages, as it was, every time she moved it caused her pain.
But she could hide it though, she could hide anything. By the end of the day she sat in the same room for detention and waited until the hour was up, cleaning all of the desks and white boards. "That's enough Tuskino-san." Her teacher finally told her. "Sit down." She sat at the desk in the front row. "Now we need to talk about why you were late."
"I told you, the bus was running late and there was no way I could make it here."
"You could have taken an earlier one, they arrive every half hour and you would have only been five minutes early." He reminded her. "You said you were awake for an hour before coming, that has to mean something else was going on."
"There really isn't." Usagi disagreed.
"I've had a look over your file, it says that you have some family issues. When you were younger you had a lot of broken bones and random bruises and cuts. Would you like to explain how you got those now that you're older?"
"Those are medical files, how did you get them?" Usagi demanded, offended at the lack of privacy.
"They were noted in the school's hospital because you sometimes needed pain killers and what not." He told her. "So, what really happened this morning?"
"Why do you think something happened? I was getting ready and got behind because I'm not used to having so much time."
"You're wearing concealer, I think that constitutes something had happened." He continued to try to pry information out of her.
"You wont get me to tell you that I've been abused in my house that somebody has been beating me, it hasn't happened and it never will." Usagi stood up annoyed.
"Maybe it isn't somebody in your house, a boyfriend perhaps?" He raised his hands in innocence. "I'm trying to understand this."
"You are accusing Mamoru of beating me?" Usagi asked shell-shocked. "Never happened. Mamoru is one of the sweetest, innocent most perfect people ever."
"Maybe not Mamoru then, a previous boyfriend? I'm just trying to help you." He explained to her.
"I don't need your help, I'm not getting beat up, and everything that's happened can be explained one way or another. Now I would really appreciate it if you stayed out of my life." Usagi had never been angrier at the violation of privacy as she received just now.
The teacher sighed. "If you ever need a person to talk to, I'm here for you." He looked at the clock; it read 4:59. "All right, you may leave." She picked up all of her things and was about to leave the room when he called her attention back to him. "And Usagi, remember to try to be on time, and, be careful." Usagi threw a wave as she left behind her head.
She walked out of the room and towards the hallway to the football field. Mamoru was waiting for her by the doors to the bottom exit. She tilted her head to the side. "Did you take a shower?"
Mamoru rolled his eyes and stood up to his full height and threw an arm over her shoulders, her head barely reached his shoulders. "What do you think?"
"Not really, I can still smell your stuff." Usagi teased as they walked out to his car. She moved her head around his body to look at the black gym bag he had slung over his other shoulder.
"Then you can walk." Mamoru leaned down and brushed his lips across her cheek to her ear. "Then you won't need a shower will you? Because you'll be in one." His gaze traveled down to her white shirt. "I wouldn't mind walking with you if you really think I need another one."
Usagi rolled her eyes. "Whatever, let's go home." He pulled his head up and unlocked the door.
"After you milady." He grinned at her as he opened the back door and tossed his bag in. Then opened her door for her. She slid into her seat and he closed the door behind her and walked around to his side. He drove them to Usagi's house. She got out of the car as he did as well.
She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Thank you Mamo-chan." She leaned up and kissed him on the lips. "I'll see you this evening then for our date?"
"Of course." He put an arm around her lower back and pulled her up closer to him. "I love you." He told her, refusing to let her go. "Can't we just go hang out in your house for awhile?"
"I'd love you too." Usagi moved one arm and hung off his neck. "But you know your not allowed in my house when nobody's around." She didn't add what she was thinking but it had been a rule decided long ago to give the other people in her house a sense of privacy and safety from prying eyes.
"Then let's go to my apartment." He offered.
"Your grandpa's not home, you have the car, remember?" Usagi knew he needed her attention right now but they were going out on a date later tonight. "I'll see you tonight, all right?" She ran her hand down his face. "I love you." She gave him another kiss before moving away and entering her house with a back wave to her boyfriend.
Mamoru stared after her for a moment then left, he looked down at his hand as he opened the door, there was a dark line of make-up on his hand. It could only have come from Usagi.
He sent yet another glance at the house that almost always had its shutters pulled down. He defiantly had never seen them open so the public could see into their unguarded lives. He feared that she was holding something from him, something big that could in the end change their relationship. He didn't want anything to happen to them, he needed her, depended upon her, he loved her and they had an equal needful relationship.
Mamoru left, to get ready for their date tonight, he had a surprise for her and he wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. It all depended on which part she was more excited about.
Usagi leaned against the inside of her door, breathing deeply, she had almost given into his desires and let him into her house, but she couldn't do that. Not now, not for a long time. "Hey Usa-chan, how was your day?" Her mom asked interested, her mother, the sweetest soul in the world.
"Oh, it was ok, I had detention again, but then I got a ride home, before it started to rain." She sighed dreamily, she really did love Mamoru.
"Let me guess who the lucky driver was." Ikuko wrinkled her nose in thought, looked like the splitting image of Usagi except she had brown hair and brown eyes and was more than twice her age but other than that, they could pass as sisters. "Could it be that charming boyfriend of yours? I've only gotten to hear his voice over the phone line. When is it do you think I'm going to meet him or his family?"
"Pretty much whenever you want to or think you'll have time." Usagi answered as she headed up the stairs. "Just tell me a time you'll think you can make and I'll talk to Mamoru about it."
"Usa-chan." Ikuko's voice had a hint of authority in it. Usagi closed her eyes before opening them again and turning to her mother. "Is there something wrong?"
"No, of course not." Usagi's brows furrowed. "Why would you ask me that?"
Ikuko looked over her daughter and for the first time saw the almost grown woman before her. Her daughter had grown up fast and without her knowing it. "I have time next week, have his parents call me to set up a specific time." Usagi bit her lip in unsure-ness. "Usa-chan, what is it?"
"He doesn't live with his parents, they've died, he lives with his grandfather instead." Usagi answered her mother.
"Then have his grandfather call me, I'd love to meet him." Ikuko told her daughter, realizing that it had been left too late to be interested in her daughter's life, but not perhaps too late to make an impact and be involved.
"All right, I'll tell Chiba-san to call you." Usagi returned her flight up the stairs.
Usagi chose for that evening a black dress with a red belt and a gold clasp for the restaurant they were going to and then they'd head out to a billiards room to play some pool. The dress was decent for most things and looked like a party dress, which was exactly what she was going for. She laid it out as she looked into the mirror and noticed her make-up had gotten a little smudged. She fixed it and added more to bring out her eyes. She pulled on the dress after she completed her transformation. Her hair hung down in soft golden waves over her shoulders.
The doorbell rang and she hurried down before anybody else reached the door, she was too late as her mother got there before her. She heard their conversation. "Hello Mamoru-san, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." Ikuko told her boyfriend. "You look as pleasant as you sound over the phone, my Usagi has very good choices."
"I thought Usagi said nobody was home." Mamoru stated perplexed.
"I got home only a few minutes ago." Ikuko covered.
"Hey Mamo-chan, goodbye mom." Usagi kissed her mother's cheek and pulled Mamoru out of the house. "I'll be home later."
"Bye Usa-chan."
Mamoru twirled Usagi around so she was in his arms and he was looking down over her head at her. "You look beautiful tonight Usako."
"Why thank you." She smiled up at him tilting her head back. "You of course are looking as handsome as usual"
He leaned down and sought out her lips. "Ready to have a night on the town?"
"Aren't I always?" She answered his question with her own.
"Usually but recently you've been a bit out of it." Mamoru reminded her.
She blinked coyly up at him. "Yeah, but I'm better now. I've had more sleep recently than I've had in a long time." She ran a manicured hand down his face, her nails clicking on the faint stubble. "Let's get going!" She laughed and raced him to the car.
Over dinner that night, Mamoru took Usagi's hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing the back of it. "I have news for you."
"What's that?" Usagi wondered.
"I had to keep one thing as a surprise for you otherwise it wouldn't have been any fun." He held her delicate hand in his larger ones. "I got a job." He told her.
Her eyes grew incredible. "Really? That's so great Mamo-chan! But what does that mean for us?"
"It means that I'll be getting a car and we'll be able to go out and I'll be able to pick you up so no more riding the bus home from detention." He paused. "It also means I'll probably be seeing you less."
"Ok." Usagi fell into silence. A few minutes later, Usagi's eyelashes flickered up and her eyes trained onto his. "Then we'll just have to work around that won't we and find time for each other."
"We will." Mamoru agreed. "This will cut back on loss of time between seeing each other so we don't have to wait for the bus."
"All right." She dropped off as if considering the turn of events. "I'm proud of you, congratulations on the job." She offered him a smile before leaning forward.
He leaned forward as well and brushed his lips against hers. "Thank you Usako." He ran his hand down the side of her cheek. "This will be a good thing, trust me."
"I know." Usagi wrinkled her nose and launched into a conversation of commercial things, ignoring his eyes zoning in on her face.
They passed through dinner without any lack in conversation and when they finished Usagi took the bill. "My treat, think of it as a celebration of your getting a job."
"Then I should be paying it because I'm now bringing in the money." Mamoru countered.
Usagi wrinkled her nose in a half smile and shook her head in the negative. "I don't think so."
Mamoru pulled her out of her seat when the receipt came back and she threw it into her purse. "Now Usako, we will not be arguing about who pays for the rest of the night, correct?"
"Correct, because it will be you paying for it." She grinned up at him.
"No- wait, yes." He twisted his lips into a frown trying not to break out laughing at her infectious face. "You are a sly one." He kissed the tip of her nose before lowering his lips to hers. When he pulled back he let a smile split his lips. "Thank you for dinner."
"Of course." Usagi pulled out of his embrace and took his hand. "I want to go party!" She tugged and he followed chuckling.
His grandfather's car wasn't much to look at, it was dark blue and had power windows, and the rest was almost as old as he was, with a heater and air conditioner that only worked periodically. The locking mechanism died out before Usagi and Mamoru met so Mamoru had to unlock Usagi's door first before walking around to unlock his. Mamoru being the gentleman opened the door for Usagi and waited for to get in before closing the door and entering his while standing in the freezing rain.
"It's a shame that I had forgotten the umbrella of all things, even reminding you this morning that we'd be in for a down pour."
"Quite all right." Usagi teased. "At least we have the car." She sneezed after that and rubbed her nose.
"Good health." Mamoru responded instantly.
"Maybe somebody's talking about me." Usagi suggested.
They didn't have very far to go, the billiard hall was only about ten blocks away from the restaurant.
They ran into the building barely managing to stay dry. Usagi's hair long ago frizzled out and lost some of its luster. But to Mamoru she was still cute. Mamoru found a table that was empty while Usagi grabbed two cue sticks of different lengths, one for Mamoru and one for herself. She tossed him one after he set the table up.
He chose to break and made three in right away. "Stripes." He told her and continued to sink all but one of his stripes.
Usagi pouted. "Of course." She leaned over the table and shot at the worst ball to try to get in and missed.
Mamoru sank another his last ball but purposely missed the eight ball. "Your turn."
Usagi again leaned over the table and lifted a leg to try and balance her out. "Oh shoot, I missed again." She whined. "You promised to teach me and all you do is beat me."
She received a few interested glances from the few patrons in the room. "Hush, just because you can't play worth beans don't yell at me." Mamoru mocked.
"I could teach ya." One of the more rowdy men yelled across the room.
Usagi turned. "Really?" She asked with large blue eyes.
"Usa-chan." Mamoru hissed and Usagi turned back around.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah." She pouted. "Just start playing."
"You want to do a foursome?" One guy asked her as he leaned against the table in front of her. His eyes were drifting back and forth between her face and her bosom.
The other guy walked up behind her and Usagi took a step away. "I don't know, Mamo-chan?" She looked towards Mamoru whose hand was turning white around his cue stick.
He snapped out of it. "Sure."
The men had been watching them play and reasoned they could beat Mamoru because Usagi was basically there as eye candy, and boy was she ever. The second man thought looking at her gorgeous behind. Besides, they might get somewhere with the girl, she seemed like a ditz ready to leave anybody for more fun.
"However, we won't play just for fun." Mamoru told them, wrapping his arm around Usagi's waist. "How about we play for money?"
"Sure, twenty bucks." The second pulled out the money and slapped it down onto the table. Mamoru did the same.
"And, let's say, whoever wins, gets a kiss from the pretty lady." The first added, looking over Usagi.
"And what would we receive?" Mamoru asked. "I already get all the kisses I want, and Usako doesn't obviously want you to kiss me either."
"If you win you get an extra twenty bucks." The first decided.
"All right." Usagi placed her hand upon Mamoru's arm and set up the table. "You can go first."
The first one broke the balls up and only a solid went in. "I'm Saul by the way." He leaned over and shot another one in but he missed the third.
"Your shot." He nodded towards Usagi.
Usagi leaned down and made two balls in on the first shot. She pulled back up and smiled at them. "Excuse me, your blocking my next shot." They quickly moved out of the way. "Thank you." She bopped over and sunk another three balls in. She cleared the table quickly.
Usagi walked over to the table and picked up the forty. "Pay the lady another twenty, please." Mamoru told the men.
The second handed over the twenty to Usagi and she slid it into her pocket. "Double or nothing with the previous offer still up." Saul demanded ignoring the look the second one gave him. "But you have to kiss both of us with every ball we sink."
Usagi clenched her jaw before relaxing. "Deal, but we break."
"That means your breaking." Saul pointed at Mamoru. "He couldn't make them all in if he tried, I know, I saw."
Mamoru sent a glance towards Usagi and she nodded. "All right, you want to set?" He asked, making sure that the men didn't say they were cheating and find a way to get back at them. Mamoru broke the triangle of balls and sunk in half of them. "Which do you want?" He asked Usagi.
Usagi counted the balls and chose the one with the most left on the table. "Solids."
Mamoru nodded and shot the rest into the pockets without any trouble. With only the eight ball left but in an impossible shot, Mamoru swallowed thinking he wouldn't make it. It was on the other side of the table against the edge and the only way to make it in way hitting it in just the right spot to make it go into the side pocket. Mamoru raised his eyes to Usagi; she bit her lip and bobbed her head.
"Eight ball left corner pocket." He made it and he sighed with relief.
He picked up the money since he was closer to it. "Pleasure doing business with you."
"I believe you owe us another twenty." Usagi held out her hand as she smiled innocently.
"All right." Saul walked up to her and handed her the twenty. She took it and was busy putting it in her pocket so she missed the gleam in his eyes and the quick motion as he pulled her into his arms and pushed his lips against hers.
She pushed him away in disgust. "Yuck." She whipped her mouth off.
A fist reached out and punched Saul in the face. "Stay away from her you creep." Mamoru growled and pushed him away.
"So the shark has teeth after all?" Saul bit back. "She tastes good, but I bet you already knew that."
"I bet your jaw's smarting about now, and your wallet." Mamoru countered. "What is it, eighty dollars down?"
"Let's go Mamo-chan." Usagi laced his arm with hers.
"Yeah, go home Mamo-chan." Saul mocked. "And be the sissy boy."
Mamoru took a step forward but stopped and looked down at Usagi who shook her head. "You're not worth it." He spat.
They left richer than they came in with and they split it between them once they left. "This was the best one we've done for awhile."
"Usako." He stopped her, not unlocking the door. The rain beat down upon them.
"Come on Mamo-chan, we're getting soaked." She avoided the issue. She shivered in the rain, Goosebumps rising.
"Usako." He repeated, tilting his face down towards hers, water slipping off his face. "Are you all right?" He asked, his hand running down her face, smearing the make up. "Usako-"
"I'm fine, I didn't get hurt by him." Usagi blinked the water away from her eyes as she looked up at him.
"I don't care about that jerk anymore." He snapped. "I was wondering all night about the make up and now that it's gone, there's a horrible bruise here." He gingerly touched it.
"I was hit by the soccer ball at practice yesterday." She hated lying to him but it had to be done for now. "Oh, I just remembered!" Usagi's eyes aligned with information. "My mom wants your grandpa to call her to set up a dinner time, she wants to meet him."
"Usako." Mamoru yelled. "That's bull, stop lying to me."
"But my mom really does want to meet with your grandfather." Usagi's eyebrows narrowed as she pretended she didn't understand him.
"You know what I meant, you're lying to me about the bruise." He grated.
"I'm not. I got hit yesterday during practice." She grounded her teeth.
"All right. I'll believe you." He kissed the bruise before kissing her lips. "I think my anger followed through from the fight inside."
"It's ok." Usagi wrapped her arms around his soaked torso, feeling even more guilt with his apology. But she knew it wasn't the end of the argument, it was just going to be postponed for another incident. "We should get in the car." She pulled at his wet shirt.
"Damn it." He sighed. "I've been messing up left and right tonight."
"Oh, Mamo-chan, don't say things like that." She ran her long fingers over his face in concern. "I am not in any danger, I've never felt scared when you've been near me. You could never mess up in my eyes."
Mamoru grinned and pulled her to him. "I think we should get going and get out of these wet clothes." He looked down at her. "I kind of like you like this." His grin turned crooked.
He seemed more relax than earlier and with his tension so did most of Usagi's and she winked at him, tuning into his playful mood. "I'm glad you think so." She ran her eyes down his soaked body, his clothes hung to his figure. "I kind of like you like this too."
"Let's get going." He dropped a kiss to her mouth before opening her door for her and bowing low. "For the beautiful lady."
"Thank you kind sir." She sat down on his grandpa's fairly decent car interior; it wasn't as beat up as the exterior. "However I do believe we will be wreaking havoc onto this fine carriage."
"Usako." Mamoru's timber voice echoed in the close confines. "I don't think it will have much impact."
"I know." She leaned back in her seat. "I think it's about time we go home." She told him after the car started and the clock blinked the time at them, 11:30. "We've got school tomorrow."
"All right." Mamoru grumbled half kidding to pout.
When Mamoru dropped Usagi off, Usagi leaned across the car and gave him a kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow."
"Wait." Mamoru halted Usagi by pulling her hand to his lips. "Will you be joining me at this year's rendition of a theme party?"
"I already told you, yes."
"I just wanted to make sure because sometimes you skip out on it at the last minute. I don't think I could possibly bare it again." He over acted.
"Don't worry, I might be busy but I'll make it to the party. Goodnight." She whispered as he kissed the back of her hand.
"Good night, sweet princess."
