Alicia Blade
The opening dialogue is for Usagi-ran. Hope this answers some of your questions… or at least produces a chuckle.
The rest is dedicated to Phantasy Star (Happy Monday!).
So many thanks to Stormlight and all reviewers! I wish I could kiss you all!
Chapter Seven: The Other Guy
The Outer Senshi looked at her briefly, all except Hotaru who was caught up in a video game battle. "What's that?" asked Haruka, returning her eyes to a sports car magazine.
"Well, Michiru said that Ryo turned into a monster because his will was fighting the separation of himself and the crystal, right?"
"Something like that."
"So… how are you able to get the crystals in the first place, without turning all the carriers into monsters?"
Haruka and Michiru turned to Setsuna. "Why don't you take this one, oh great leader?" Haruka muttered sarcastically.
Sighing, Setsuna folded her hands in her lap. "Well… let's say that every Crystal Carrier is a chicken, every crystal is an egg, and every monster is an embryo. In the original flow of time, Zoicite removed the egg, but purposely left the embryo to take over the chicken and grow into a powerful monster. But our methods, on the other hand, remove the egg with the embryo still inside, therefore leaving the chicken unharmed. In Ryo's case, though, his adamant refusal to give up his egg (thinking, of course, that Michiru was a villain) cracked the egg while it was still inside of him, thus releasing the chicken and turning him into a monster."
Everyone stared at her, even Hotaru had paused the game to give Setsuna an odd look, before muttering, "That is the stupidest analogy I have ever heard."
"Are you calling us egg farmers?"
"I'm sorry I asked."
"Well how would you explain it?" Setsuna asked angrily.
"Never mind," said Emily, pushing the crystal eggs away and climbing to her feet. "Oh! And I almost forgot."
The Senshi turned to her. "I promised Mamoru I would stop playing matchmaker with them."
"You WHAT?" the women yelled in unison.
"What did you do that for?"
"When did this happen?"
"Are you crazy?"
"Hey, hey, it isn't that big of a deal," said Emily defensively.
"But Emily—"
"It's okay, really. I have an idea. But I need your help."
"Won't that be breaking your promise?"
She grinned. "There are always loopholes. I'm looking at it as… I'm going to suggest some ideas to you guys and… if you just happen to take them, then… I really don't have anything to do with it, right?"
"Alright," said Setsuna, grinning. "What are you suggesting?"
"Well," Emily said, the wheels turning in her mind. "Haruka, do you remember when you first met the Inners and they all thought you were a really hot guy and got crushes on you?"
"Yeah…"
"How would you like to make a repeat performance?"
"And do what exactly?"
Emily's smile widened evilly. "Bring out Mamoru's little green monster I like to call 'pure and unadulterated jealousy.'"
...
Hino-san, the owner of the Cherry Hill Temple, had just finished sweeping the temple stairs, grumbling to himself about the lazy new worker, Yuuchirou, that he had hired last weekend, when a sweet voice caught his attention. He looked up to see a beautiful young girl (one of his favorite things) standing at the base of the steps. She had wavy sea green hair, an enticing grin, and legs that seemed to be almost as long as he was tall. His jaw dropped. He was in love.
Letting the broom collapse to the pavement, he bounded down the steps toward her, thinking she must be another friend of Rei's, his popular granddaughter and the Shinto priestess of his temple. "How may I serve you, gorgeous temptress, vixen, nymph?" he said sweetly, thinking if he got close enough he would be able to catch a glimpse up her tiny little skirt. It didn't occur to him to question the strange sailor-type garment she was dressed in; it seemed that strange people in equally strange clothing were always showing up at his establishment, and who was he to complain if such a pretty specimen wanted to prance around him in such a revealing outfit?
The woman held out a hand and his body stopped, seemingly of its own accord. He gasped, one foot still dangling off of the last step. "You can indeed serve me," she said, and her voice was sweeter than sugar. If his body hadn't been frozen, he would have prostrated himself before her at that moment. "But I'm afraid not in any way that you were hoping."
Her fingers twitched, and the next thing Hino-san knew, a terrible pain ripped through his body and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Michiru sighed, another crystal clasped in her fingers. "Another day, another egg."
...
Usagi sighed, her thoughts rolling inside of her head like the balls in a bingo machine. She couldn't keep them still. And every time one popped up long enough for her to focus on, it sent her emotions whirling momentarily before dropping back down into the chaotic mess of her mind.
Of course, contrary to common belief, she often had multiple things on her mind at a time. She was quite good at keeping track of very miniscule aspects of people's lives around her. At that moment, she knew that Ami was at an extra-credit computer class and Rei had a dentist's appointment, but just for a checkup and cleaning. She knew that Motoki was probably getting ready to go on a break, and she knew that she had plenty of time to study for her grammar test tomorrow, but that she probably wouldn't. She knew that Crown wouldn't be closing for four hours, the mall for five, and she knew she didn't have the money to really afford going to either one. Despite that, she was heading to the arcade anyway.
But even with all this knowledge floating around in her head, the thoughts that kept plaguing her were of a very different sort. Of a man with black hair and blue eyes and a great smile, and their last conversation.
Emily was trying to play matchmaker with them. A horrible thing. It could never work. Of course, she didn't want it to work; she wouldn't date him if he was the last man on Earth. But because someone else, even just one person in the world, had seen them and thought, "Gee, they would be cute together," Usagi couldn't help but imagine it herself. Insanity. Emily obviously was blind or ignorant or really… really… perceptive. She shook her head. It was a horrible thing. She would never be attracted to him, at least not beyond surface level, and he would never be attracted to her. Pure and simple.
But what ifs just kept popping back up.
She was drawn from her thoughts by a strong collision that sent her stumbling backward with a squeal. She landed on her bottom, groaning.
"Oh, I am so sorry!" someone said above her and she thanked her lucky stars that it wasn't Mamoru. "Here, let me help you up." The stranger offered a hand and slipped an arm around her shoulders for support as she was hauled back onto her feet.
Smiling shakily, she looked up to thank them, but her voice snagged on something and she stared silently instead. She found herself looking at brown eyes, a friendly, wide smile, and short, shaggy blonde hair. Instant attraction stirred in the bottom of her stomach, along with something else, something akin to an innate trust. The same feeling she'd gotten when she met Ami and Rei. She realized that the man hadn't removed his arm from her shoulders.
"Are you alright?" he asked, his eyes full of concern and sparkle.
"Yes, fine, thank you," she blurted out, a blush creeping into her cheeks.
"I am so sorry. I wasn't paying attention at all. Perhaps I can make it up to you?"
"Oh, it's really not necessary." She couldn't pull her eyes away from his smile, his pale, gorgeous complexion, his slender eyebrows.
"Please, it would make me feel better. That must have really hurt."
"I'm used to it," she said, grinning. His arm was still there.
He laughed. "Are you sure? I'd love to buy you ice cream. I mean, it's not every day I run into a pretty girl and have this opportunity to take her out."
Her blush deepened and she lowered her gaze to the sidewalk.
"Well, I…" Flustered, she looked into his pretty gaze once more. "I guess. If it would make you feel better."
...
Emily had to force herself not to smile as Haruka and Usagi walked into Crown Arcade and slipped into a back booth.
"Oh, look! Usagi!" she said cheerfully. Mamoru glared at her warningly, forcing her smile to fade. "I was just saying."
He casually, almost too casually, Emily thought, glanced over his shoulder at the blonde couple and an instant frown crossed his features. "Who is he?"
She shrugged. "Haven't a clue. Maybe a new boyfriend."
He snorted. "Yeah, right."
"Whoever he is, he's super cute."
He rolled his eyes. "You think every boy is 'super cute'."
"Not true! I never thought Melvin was cute at all."
"Who is Melvin?"
"You don't know him. Maybe we should go say hello. I don't think Usagi noticed us."
"I'll pass." He started to reach for the coffee cup, but stopped and looked up at Emily suspiciously. "Emily, I don't want you getting involved with them."
"What do you mean?"
"No playing matchmaker with Usagi and whoever he is. Leave the girl alone."
"A: The thought hadn't even occurred to me. And B: even if it had, what's it to you?"
"I just think the last thing Usagi needs is you flittering around trying to hook her up with every cute face that walks by."
"See, you agree. He is cute."
He rolled his eyes.
"And by 'the last thing she needs' you of course realize that that is because she is a beautiful and wonderful girl and perfectly capable of snagging a boy without outside help, right?"
He groaned. "Whatever. Never mind, do what you want."
"I plan to." She grinned evilly and leaned across the table. "Besides, if I didn't know better, Mamoru, I'd think you were jealous."
"It's a good thing you know better."
"Indeed," Emily couldn't hold back the mischievous grin as she waved at Usagi. "Hey! Usagi-chan! Over here!"
Mamoru groaned and was ignored as Usagi looked up to see them. She smiled and said a few words to Haruka, before they both stood and walked toward Emily and Mamoru.
"Come sit with us," Emily said cheerfully, then, sliding out of the booth, "Here, I won't make either of you sit next to Mamoru." She forced him to scoot over as Usagi and Haruka claimed the opposite bench. "I don't believe we've met."
"Emily-chan, this is Haruka-san. Haruka, meet Emily and Mamoru."
"It's a pleasure," Haruka said.
Emily almost had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. There was no doubt that Haruka did a very good impression of a man. Even her voice was convincing.
"Usagi, how could you have kept such a handsome guy all to yourself?"
Usagi blushed. "Actually, we just met a moment ago."
A waitress came by and took the newcomers' orders, at which point Haruka ordered coffee for herself and the triple-decker fudge brownie sundae for Usagi. "Don't worry, I'm buying," she said at Usagi's hungry stare. Emily got the feeling that she wasn't worried in the slightest.
"So, do you all come here often?" Haruka asked.
"All the time," said Usagi, looking equally nervous, embarrassed, and thrilled at how the afternoon was turning out. Emily couldn't help but notice that her gaze kept drifting over Mamoru, who, for his part, was doing everything in his power to pretend like he was the only person at the table. "It has everything one could ask for. Games, friends, and ice cream."
"And cute boys," added Emily with a wink as Motoki approached them, carrying a tray.
"Hey, Usagi-chan, I didn't even notice you come in!" He set the sundae and coffee down on the table.
"Hi, Motoki-san! Meet Haruka-san."
They shook hands, Motoki's friendly smile never fading. "Hello, nice to meet you."
"Likewise," said Haruka with a laugh, turning to Usagi. "I should have guessed a gorgeous girl like you would be so popular."
Usagi giggled, her face turning pink again, and dug into her ice cream.
"I'd only been here once years ago," said Haruka, leaning back and casually putting her arm on the back of the seat, lightly touching Usagi's shoulders. From the corner of her eye, Emily saw Mamoru cringe angrily, but the emotion quickly passed into nonchalance. "Is it a good place for a date?"
Realizing Haruka's eyes were on him, Mamoru folded his arms over his chest. "Why are you asking me?"
"Well," she continued, gesturing at Emily, "Do you two come together a lot?"
Mamoru reared back as Emily burst into laughter. Haruka grinned proudly, winking at her, though it was so stealthy that Emily was sure no one else had noticed.
"Oh, we aren't dating," she said, pulling herself together before Mamoru could.
"No, we most certainly are not."
"My apologies. I misunderstood."
Emily snickered. She was good. "Actually, there is a girl I've been trying to hook Mamoru up with, but he's being a jerk. And I'm beginning to think he might be losing his chance. Napkin, Usagi-chan?"
Usagi shook her head, giggling uncontrollably as she tried to swallow a mouthful of brownie.
"Oh? Who is this girl?" asked Motoki, his eyes twinkling. Mamoru didn't notice.
"Yeah," said Usagi, having managed not to choke. "Who's the girl?" she teased.
He glared at her, aware that she knew all about Emily's matchmaking scheme, but finally shrugged, his expression calming. "Just some ditzy kid that I wouldn't date if she..."
"…was the last girl in the world?" Usagi completed, laughing. "Oh, Mamoru-baka, you really need to find some new insults. I'm beginning to doubt your creativity. Besides, whoever said she would want to date YOU?" Without removing her gaze from his, she stuck the last bite of ice cream into her lips, licking the spoon clean as everyone but Haruka gawked at her.
No tears, no yelling, not even a flicker of hurt had flashed past her eyes. Emily figured that Haruka's act must have boosted her self-esteem, and a bit of confidence could go a long way. No doubt, Mamoru was thinking the same thing.
"Well, it was nice to meet you all, but I need to get going," said Haruka, laying some money on the table. She leaned dangerously close to Usagi, whose confidence was quickly draining at the look in Haruka's eyes. Emily nearly choked, and she doubted she was the only one.
"Can I see you again sometime? Tomorrow, perhaps?"
"Uh..." she stammered, looking for all the world like she wanted to run away. Gulping, she shrugged and lowered her eyes. "I guess."
Haruka grinned. "Great. Can we meet here at, say, six o'clock?" At Usagi's shy nod, she leaned forward and kissed Usagi's cheek. "See you then." As she sauntered toward the door, Emily flashed her a sly thumbs-up.
"What an obnoxious man," Mamoru growled once Haruka was gone.
"See, my first choice would have been 'dreamy'," responded Emily and Usagi giggled her agreement.
Rolling his eyes, Mamoru abruptly stood up. "Whatever. You guys are cute together. You'll have adorable, stupid, obnoxious blonde babies."
As he left the arcade, Motoki gave Emily an incredulous look that said, "Gee, maybe you were on to something," before sliding into the booth next to Usagi.
Emily laughed, leaning over the table. "You go girl! Keep this up and you'll have those two fighting like cats and dogs over you!"
"Ha!" Usagi exclaimed, blushing deeply. "You can't honestly think Mamoru likes me after that!"
Emily shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. But if he is jealous, he's really bad at hiding it."
"Yeah, normally I try to stay out of these things," Motoki lied, "but... I've never seen him act like that before. I think Emily might be right. For once."
Usagi looked between the two, stunned, before a delighted smile crept into her face. She immediately suppressed it. "Well, whatever. Either way, I can't stand him."
Emily looked at Motoki, who was grinning. Usagi had fooled no one, probably not even herself. Emily could feel an overwhelming sense of pride creep into her heart.
"Of course," amended Motoki, "we never thought you could."
Shaking her head, Emily watched as Motoki walked back to the counter. It seemed that Haruka was the only decent liar in this city, after all.
...
Haruka and Usagi walked out of the theatre, Usagi laughing and talking excitedly. Grinning at her antics, thinking that this was her future queen, Haruka wrapped an arm casually around the girl's waist. Usagi flushed.
"Thank you for coming with me," Haruka said. "It was great to see you again."
"No, thank you! It's been fun!"
Haruka's pocket began to ring and she reached for a cell phone, taking her arm away from the blushing girl. "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Emily."
"Ah, hi. It's my sister," she said to Usagi.
"Mamoru's sitting in the park under a tree by the lake. Think you can get Usagi there?"
"Are you kidding? I wouldn't miss the family reunion for the world."
"Right. Make sure she doesn't see him, but he does see her."
"Well, of course nobody wants to see Uncle Albert, but it can hardly be helped."
"Um, yeah, you have fun with that. Good luck!"
"See ya."
She hung up and smiled. "Would you like to go for a walk?"
...
Mamoru sighed pleasantly, leaning his head against the trunk of the oak tree and snapping the book shut. It had been a good read, lasted many hours of entertainment and kept his mind from thinking about more realistic (sometimes) things that would otherwise plague him. He knew he would have to make another trip to the bookstore tomorrow, before such thoughts got a hold of him. He didn't know what was wrong with him lately. It was like the world had started spinning the day that he met Emily—no, the day Emily had met Usagi—and it hadn't stopped since.
"She was kind to me," Emily had said.
"Kindness is probably the only thing she has going for her."
He'd believed it at the time. He was no longer sure what he believed.
Not true. He believed whole-heartedly that he needed another book.
He opened his eyes. The sun was setting over the lake, its rays casting orange and pink lights down onto the water. For an instant, only an instant, he imagined the warmth on his skin was not from heaven's star, but from a small, warm body pressed up against him. Watching as the sun sank down into the water, lighting the trees and grass on fire, he could almost smell her. He could almost feel her. Even this amazing sight would have paled in comparison to her beauty.
He shook his head with a groan, ridding himself of the forbidden images. He remembered that Usagi was on a date with someone, some smooth-talking loser, and his palms began to sweat. He scowled at the innocent sky, clenching and unclenching his fists. Finally, he repeated a short mantra in his head and inhaled a couple deep breaths. She was getting to him.
He wasn't sure if he meant Usagi or Emily or both. He just knew that someone was getting to him. Some girl. Some stupid girl.
You're not half bad when you smile.
He sighed, frustrated. "Get out of my head," he whispered to the air. In response, the wind sent back the sound of her laughter, and his shoulders sank. He was beginning to think it was hopeless.
But then he heard the laughter again and spotted movement not far down the path, and along with it, a familiar head of blonde hair. Two, actually. He frowned, but as the two came closer, he couldn't help but let the scowl melt away with the sight of her.
Usagi was smiling, and he'd been right. The sunset did pale in comparison. Her hair had little flowers stuck into the odangos and her lips looked extra pink. Must be wearing makeup, he thought, knowing she had dressed up for another man. She was dressed simply enough in a casual pink tank top and knee-length jean skirt and tennis shoes; she wasn't out to impress anyone, really, but just dressed up enough to let someone know she'd put in the effort.
That someone was not him, but he stared at her anyway.
Her hand was wrapped around Haruka's elbow as they strolled the path, chatting like old friends. Mamoru held still, pulling himself into the shadows so that they wouldn't see him as he watched. He wondered if maybe he should be ashamed for spying, but truthfully, he didn't feel as though he had any other option. His eyes were continuously pulled back to her slender legs, the gentle curve of her shoulder bone, the tiny pearl earrings in her tiny earlobes, the golden silkiness of her hair.
The two stopped walking almost directly in front of him, not thirty feet away, and turned to look out at the lake. Haruka wrapped his arm around Usagi's shoulders and Mamoru felt a flow of lava creep out from his chest and spread out along every nerve in his body. Straining his ears, he desperately tried to hear their conversation, only catching snip-its here and there.
"You look very beautiful, tonight," Haruka said, and Usagi giggled shyly, turning her face down in embarrassment. Mamoru rolled his eyes.
She whispered something, probably a thank you, or a similar compliment, but Mamoru could not hear it.
"It's true," Haruka continued. "I've never known someone . . .so much joy and vibrancy . . ."
Mamoru stifled the growl in his throat. What did Haruka know about Usagi's joy and vibrancy? He'd only just met the girl! He hadn't seen the way she flew from one place to another, the way she laughed in the face of life every time it threw her a curve ball, the way she practically skipped when she walked and danced when she ran.
"...care for your friends..."
Couldn't Usagi see these compliments were completely unfounded? Haruka didn't understand Usagi's relationship with her friends. He didn't know that Usagi would stay up all night listening and comforting someone on the phone, or walk thirty miles to bring a smile to the face of someone she cared for, or give her life savings to buy that one perfect gift for her best friend's birthday.
"...sweet and generous..."
Oh, as if he knew the first thing about Usagi's generosity. Haruka didn't understand that Usagi would give everything, from her last nickel to the shirt off her back, to help out a friend. But not even that, she would do it for anybody. A complete stranger, even a complete jerk.
Or even me.
Mamoru gasped, the book falling from his lap as the epiphany in his brain shocked him into rigidity.
Or, perhaps the epiphany had been in his heart.
"Did you hear something?" asked Usagi, looking back toward him. He gulped, forcing himself under the boughs of the trunk, sure he was cloaked in the shadows.
"Not a thing," Haruka said, grinning. "Usagi-chan?"
"Yeah?"
Then, as Mamoru's heart thudded louder and louder against his ribcage and he thought he would burst from the inside out, Haruka leaned down and kissed Usagi's cheek. "Can I walk you home?"
She smiled, her face furiously red, and nodded her consent. Linking arms again, the two continued walking down the path.
Mamoru, alone in the shadows, couldn't stop himself from trembling. The sky was falling down on him, or perhaps it was pine needles, or leaves, or perhaps it was the whole world. Or, perhaps he'd fallen at some point, and the whole world was just now catching up with him. Either way, the second he felt strength return to his legs, he shot to his feet and took off running down the path, the opposite direction that the couple had gone.
...
Motoki looked up from scrubbing the counter to see a haggard Mamoru burst through the doors to the arcade. He was gasping for breath, beads of sweat having formed on his brow, his hair messy and windswept.
"Where's... Emily?" he gasped.
"Whoa, calm down. Take a seat; you look like you just ran a marathon."
"Emily. I need to see her. Where is she?"
"Calm down, I'm right here," a voice said from the gaming area. He turned to see her sitting at Sailor V, pressing forcefully on the buttons. "I thought you were going to the park."
"We need to talk!" he said, ignoring her inquiry and grabbing her elbow, hauling her off the stool.
"Hey! I'm in the middle of a game here!"
"This is more important!"
"Ugh!" she glared at the screen that immediately began flashing "Game Over" then up at Mamoru. "You owe me a token."
"Fine, just come here." He dragged her to a far booth.
"Hey, Mamoru, you realize we're about to close?" asked Motoki, but at Mamoru's icy stare, he took a step back. "Or... you can just take all the time you need."
Inhaling a deep breath, Mamoru turned to Emily. She had sat across from him, her hands folded neatly on the table as she waited patiently to hear what he had to say.
Mamoru took a long moment to gather his thoughts, and his breath, before finally leaning across the table, trying to talk in whispered tones.
"Okay," he said.
And nothing more.
Emily blinked. "Okay."
"Okay."
"Okay, what, Mamoru?"
He lowered his head and ran a hand through his messy hair. "Okay, you win."
She stared at him silently as his blue eyes slowly raised back up to hers.
"Right. And what's my prize, Johnny?"
He frowned. "Huh?"
Emily shook her head. "Never mind. Look, Mamoru, what are you talking about? What did I win?"
He took a sharp intake of breath, looking over his shoulder to see that no one was listening. The arcade was empty, save Motoki, who was busily shutting off the games on the other side of the room.
"You won..." he said, gulping hesitantly, "you won the privilege of saying you told me so."
She raised her eyebrows, before slowly settling back, a smug grin on her face. "Oh, really? And what, exactly, did I tell you?"
He rolled his eyes. "Don't play, Emily."
"I'm not! But I need to hear you say it. Just to be sure we're on the same page."
He groaned, rubbing his temples. There was a long pause. A very, very long pause, filled only with the hums and clicks of the machines as they went to sleep for the night. Finally, Mamoru mumbled beneath his breath.
"I lo..." He coughed. "I love Odango."
"Excuse me?"
"I love Odango."
"I don't think I heard that."
"I LOVE USAGI!" he screamed, gasping for breath.
She smiled proudly and looked over at Motoki, who had stopped performing his chores to stare at them, his jaw hanging open.
"Did you hear that, Motoki-san?"
He nodded.
"Good, we have a witness." She turned back to Mamoru. "Alright, you've finally admitted what I have been trying to tell you all along. It's a start."
He sighed and his head fell against the table. "Oh, god. This is awful. Everything is ruined. What will she think? This changes everything! What am I going to do?" he whimpered.
Emily couldn't keep the smile from her lips as she stared at the poor, distraught man. Slowly, she reached over to pat his messy head of silky black hair. "You're going to do exactly what I tell you to do."