Hello all, Here is Chapter 7 of Fantastic Journey. Please R & R and let me know what you think.
I would really like to apologize for the delay in posting this chapter. When I last posted I promised a week and more like 3 or 4 have gone by. I had a family emergency, which I thought would only be a 3 or 4-day trip to see my ailing Grampere (French for grandfather). It ended up being a bedside vigil for 11 days until he passed away (otherwise, he would have died alone! yes, there are horribly cruel people out there.) I then hurried back only to turn around less than a week later to attend his funeral (It was truly fun surprising all of the evil people who thought I would not be there).
Authors Notes - 'Denotes People's Thoughts' To my reviewers I thank you for taking the time to keep up with this story. Crescendo- Thanks, Red-Rose18 Thank You, Cardcaptoreternity-Thanks, Jamestutz- Thanks, Starangel07-Thank You,
I hope you all enjoy it...
Fantastic Journey
Chapter 6 - Mysteries, Apologies & Bargaining
Etienne stood outside the door and he could hear Usagi's tears. It broke his heart to hurt her but he knew that in the end it would be better for her. He wished he did not have to be so cold and hard regarding her other love but it was the only way to help her forget that dark haired fellow.
He listened for a few more minutes until it became too much and he grasped the knob intending on going back in and telling her the truth. When images of her loving eyes focused solely on him entered his mind, he let go of the handle and forced himself to walk away.
Ami arrived at the Dojo the next morning only to find it closed and empty. Wanting to know if Usagi had been around, she watched for people that probably lived nearby. Seeing a little boy across the street with a ball, she walked over and approached the boy. Bending down she dropped to his level not wanting to frighten him.
"Hello there, can I ask you a question. My friend is missing and I wondered if maybe you have seen her here." Pointing at the Dojo, she pulled a picture of Usagi out of her pocket and showed him.
"Yeah that's the pretty girl, she came for a couple of days." The little boy smiled and looked at Ami for approval. Ami nodded before asking him more questions.
"Have you seen my pretty friend today?" Ami held her breath hoping he had seen Usagi. She waited as he thought about it.
"Uh-huh she came earlier but she looked sad." The little boy looked at Ami. "Why was she sad, do you know?" Ami blushed not knowing how to answer the kid's blunt question.
"I think her friends made her sad, but did you see her leave? Did you see which way she went?" She smiled hoping to reassure the kid.
"She didn't leave, he carried her." The little boy smiled at her hoping that was the right answer.
"What do you mean he carried her? Can you explain it to me?" Ami tried to make her questions as simple as possible.
"The nice man carried her wrapped in a blanket the same way my mom carries me when I'm sleeping." He giggled. "The man didn't know her hair was hanging out the blanket." The little boy smiled at Ami. "I have to go now my mom says not to talk to strangers. Bye!" He waved before running off.
She watched as he headed home before grabbing her communicator. Calling the girls, she passed the word on about Usagi, and agreed to meet everyone at the Temple. The strange thing was none of the others had heard from Mamoru-kun and he did not answer his communicator.
Rob-Pierre wandered back into the storage room. His dark good looks irritated Mamoru even more than before. Studying his captor, he realized that the creep was actually handsome the scar only intensified his good looks. The man stood six feet tall his skin was swarthy and tan and his dark hair curled softly. Chocolate brown eyes studied him in return.
Mamoru looked even angrier then when he had left. "Getting hungry eh rose boy? Sorry about that my friend but I cannot risk having you attempt to throw roses; or escape for that matter." He smiled at Mamoru and sat in a chair across the way. Staring at him, he pondered which method of killing Mamoru would be the most fun. They both sat in silence for several minutes.
Mamoru watched Rob-Pierre and tried to control his anger. 'I have to stay calm and figure a way out of this.' He glanced over to find the man regarding him with an amusing glance.
Rob-Pierre saw that Mamoru was watching him closely. Waving a hand, he spoke again.
"Pay me no mind I am just pondering which method of killing you would be the most fun. Do you have a preferred method?" He did not wait for an answer before continuing to taunt Mamoru. "I think making you beg would be fun. Do you beg well?" He smiled sadistically at Mamoru trying to increase his fear.
"I could scar you like you scarred me, but you see I would make sure your scar was very visible and ugly. I might even be persuaded to let you live. Do you like that idea? I can just see it now. No woman would want you once your good looks were marred." Rob-Pierre laughed outright at the look on Mamoru's face. 'This is too easy.'
"Why do you need me?" Mamoru spoke between clenched teeth, thinking that maybe keeping this psycho talking would buy him time.
"It's all a part of the grander plan." With a mysterious look, Rob-Pierre stood and strolled to the door. "I'll be back later." He left again leaving Mamoru with more questions than answers.
Ami walked up to the temple shoulders slumped. Having no new ideas she had wandered the streets looking for Usagi. Minako Rei and Makoto were already waiting for her none of them had been able to rouse Mamoru on their communicators at all. They had searched all night and into the morning hours.
"What now? I have a very bad feeling, why don't you all wait while I do a fire reading." Rei glanced thoughtfully at all of them. She smiled softly and motioned for them all to relax. "I'll be as quick as possible but I think it might be important."
The other girls nodded and sat trying to think of any new ideas to help. Sitting quietly, they were all trying not to panic.
The door opening startled Usagi from her dozing. Shaking the cobwebs from her recently upset mind, she tried to recall everything that had just happened. She realized she had cried herself to sleep.
'Mamo-chan is dead and Etienne is vowing I will survive.' She watched as Etienne carried in a tray with a wonderful aroma seeping out from under the domed cover.
"Ah Ma Cherie I am saddened to see that you have not dressed for such a special occasion. I have brought a most excellent meal for us to share." He smiled down at her confused stare as he sat the tray down upon a table placed a short distance from a mammoth fireplace.
Glancing around for the third time, Usagi began noticing details of the room around her. The bed she sat upon faced the fireplace; off to the right was a white table, set for two with a delicate cream vanity and mirror over against the wall. Off to the left sat two comfortable looking reading chairs grouped together next to a bookcase graced with books. Glancing behind her at the bed, she noticed two doors she had not seen before.
He watched as she took in her surroundings. "Do you like it?" When she glanced towards the doors, he explained.
"Those are your closet and bathing room. Come now it is time to eat. I know you must be starving." He approached as he spoke and picked up her hand pulling her up to stand. He gently tugged her wrist before glancing at her as she slowly let him guide her towards the table.
Usagi dazedly tried to take everything in. It just seemed that there was too much at once. Watching silently, she stared as Etienne pulled out a chair for her and waited. She sat only because it was something to do. She felt him push the chair in for her.
He walked around the small table and sat across from her. She was surprised to see two beautiful pink carnations in a vase in the center of the table. Lifting off the dome with a flourish, Etienne watched for her reaction to the succulent food. He had paid a small fortune for a Japanese chef to create some of the best delicacies.
He smiled to see her look of astonishment. If this was a sign of things to come, he knew spending any amount of money to please her would be worth seeing her surprise.
"I hope you like it." He left off there and began dishing food onto both of their plates. When he handed her the plate she sat it down and picked up her fork. Before taking her first bite, she had to know one thing.
"Why?" It was all her muddled brain could think to spit out in that moment.
Etienne glanced at her in surprise. Thinking she meant the food, he answered honestly and simply, "Because you deserve the best of everything." He smiled reassuringly at her and set his plate down. Picking up his fork he was about to spear a bite when she clarified her question.
"Everything not just the food", she waved her hand around the room indicating the whole place. He smiled softly and carefully pondered her question as he speared his first bite.
"Because of our love," He put the bite in his mouth and watched for her reaction as he chewed, enjoying the wonderful flavor.
She speared a bite and put it in her mouth pondering his answer. 'Our love?' She wanted to ask but thought saving it for after dinner would be appropriate. Silently they both consumed their food each seemingly lost in thought surreptitiously watching each other.
When he tossed down his napkin, he studied her outright. Taking in her distraught appearance he thought how best to broach the subject of her confinement.
"Ma petite there are things...I mean...you must be wondering...ah see I am already making a mess of this." He dropped his eyes to the floor swiping a hand through his hair. "What I mean to say is you must have questions for me." He waited patiently as she gathered her thoughts.
"Why are you doing this?" she twisted her napkin nervously as she waited for his answer. Holding her breath, she realized she was afraid of what his answer might be.
"Cherie it started the day you walked in to the dojo. You may not believe me but I knew instantly that you were special. I would not have trained you if it were not so." He glanced at her beseechingly praying she would believe and understand what he was telling her.
"I knew in my heart that we were meant to be. I know you felt it too even though you did not realize it." He smiled tenderly before continuing. "The feelings in my heart are so strong...so passionate, ma cherie that I could not share you with anyone. Your training was the most exciting part of the day and I look forward to continuing it."
Etienne pushed his chair back and stood quickly circumventing the table to kneel next to her. "We are so perfect ma petite; I hope you are able to see that." He glanced up at her his eyes pleading for her understanding. He waited quietly giving her a chance to absorb his words and form her next question.
"Why couldn't you tell me?" Usagi swallowed trying to sound harsh knowing that she was failing miserably. "You could have just asked me." A lone tear slipped down her cheek as her eyes found his.
He glanced up to see the hurt in her eyes and he reached a hesitant hand to swipe away the tear. "I can only say in my defense that I was honestly scared. Scared that you might reject me or leave me." He smiled tenderly before continuing to try to soothe her.
"Cherie please," He stared deeply into her eyes as he spoke trying to convey his innermost feelings. "You must find it in your heart to forgive me. I vow to spend every hour of every day trying to make it up to you." Lowering his defenses, he allowed all of his pent up emotions to shine in his green eyes.
Usagi watched as his defenses fell away and the emotions swirling in his eyes became apparent. Need, loneliness and desire burned brightly calling to her soft side. Her anger wavering, she tried to bring it back to the forefront of her emotions. Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to ignore the depth of emotions calling to her.
Instead, a haunting tune whispered a soft sound in her mind. 'Why does that tune seem familiar?' Chills slithered up her back as a fountain bathed in moonlight surfaced. She felt her face heating up at the memory of her dream.
Etienne watched silently as emotions danced across her features and drew her attention away from the moment. When a faint blush stole over her face, his curiosity was piqued. "Cherie what is it? Tell me please."
The seductive command of his voice did strange things to her mind. "It was a...fountain bathed in moonlight." She shook her head, wondering why she had told him even that much.
"Describe it?" He waited quietly for confirmation.
"A cherub stood with her small hands outstretched as the top part of the fountain poured water down over her little arms." Usagi glanced at Etienne to see a sad smile grace his face.
"Mais oiu the fountain of my childhood, how did you know of it Cherie?" He rose slowly to a standing position and wandered over to the bookshelf. Waiting for her to speak he busied himself selecting the proper book. Flipping the book open, he knew the exact page of the picture.
"I ah...I...dreamed of it." She glanced down at the floor not expecting him to believe in her reason. As she raised her eyes, it was to find him standing in front of her holding a book open for her to see.
Glancing down at the page he held open, her mind was shocked to see the fountain that had existed only in her dreams. 'Kami!'
"But...but how is that possible?" Glancing up at him, she was surprised to find a look of mystery on his face.
"Some thing's are best left to the imagination wouldn't you say?" He left off there watching as her blush deepened.
'Does he know? How can he know? Kami I can't just ask him.' Shaking her head in embarrassment, she simply nodded her agreement.
Distracting her from her anger had worked for the moment and now it was time for a little something more. He thought for a moment about asking her outright but thought this plan might work better.
"Cherie would you still like me to train you in the art of self defense?" He kept his features bland hoping that she would consent to having lessons once again.
Usagi thought for a moment about how it might help if she needed it. Chewing her lip nervously she studied her captor thoughtfully. 'Dare I ever try to escape then it would be a good thing, but do I want to escape?' This was a question whispered from her heart, not so easily answered, so she mentally backed away from it.
"I guess you can." She was afraid to glance directly at him in that moment, fearing what might be there in his eyes. Looking at the floor, she was surprised when he gently lifted her chin.
"Merci" It was only a whisper of a sound but it sped her heart up nonetheless.
Mamoru blew out a frustrated breath. He was no closer to answers than when he first woke up. 'Why oh why did Usagi have to go missing? If not for her stupidity I would not be in this predicament.' He sat contemplating how easy it would be in this moment to kill her. 'Kami, if I was able to get her out of the way I could do whatever I want. Hmm I wonder if I could blame it on these guys and get away with it.' The thought had him smiling until the door opened.
Rob-Pierre strolled into the room and closed the door behind him. Smiling at Mamoru he decided to put the next part of his plan into action. Sitting in the chair across the room, he pretended to ponder Mamoru.
"Well Rose boy, you must be getting tired of not knowing what is going on so I have decided to give you a choice." He stroked his chin, gathering his thoughts before continuing. "Here is the deal, my associate is holding a certain blonde friend of yours. You see he has grown very attracted to your friend. He says there may even be deeper feelings involved."
Rob-Pierre watched as it dawned on Mamoru that he was referring to Usagi. He smiled at the look of irritation that passed over Mamoru's face. "Okay so now you know. My friend is offering you a bargain of sorts. You leave intact only if you swear to call off the search using any means necessary. He promises in return for your life and good looks to take excellent care of the girl and that you will never have to deal with her again."
The look on Mamoru's face was priceless. He looked thrilled at the chance. 'Ah so it is as Etienne thought, rose boy really does not care about her. That is kind of sad really.' Rob-Pierre studied Mamoru thoughtfully before continuing.
"My associate says I am supposed to give you some time to think it through, so I will leave and return in exactly two hours and you should have your answer ready when I return."
Rob-Pierre stood and slowly made his way to the door. "You see you really are lucky because this bargain keeps me from marring your good looks or enjoying killing you slowly." With a jaunty salute, he strolled through the door and closed it.
Mamoru heard the key scrape in the lock and smiled thinking about how perfect this opportunity could turn out to be.
Here is an end to Chapter 6. I hope you have enjoyed it. Please R & R and let me know what you think?