A/N: I've finally figured out how to make the texts into italics, thank goodness. Hahahahahaha!
About the story, sorry if it is a bit boring and slow. I'm still in the stage of "building up my characters." Onced they are finished, there will be more actions and less boring stuffs.
Anyway, thanks for the reviews. Now on with the story!
Chapter 4: The Man in Mako-chan's Dreams
Stifling her yawn, Makoto surveyed the park and sighed grudgingly. Plopping herself on the nearest bench to her, she took a glance at her wristwatch and muttered a silent oath directed at a certain blue-eyed blonde with a red bow on her head. I can't believe it, she's already ten minutes late!
Patience, obviously, is not one of her strong points (except for teaching Usagi and Minako how to cook and bake) and one of the things that she most hated in life is waiting for someone who is not as punctual as she is. And besides, Minako is the one who asked her to go shopping with her, she might as well show some courtesy and be early for a change.
And then she suddenly remembered, that when it comes to being late, Minako is as worst as Usagi.
Makoto groaned.
She reached for her pocket and grabbed the communicator, but then decided to put it back. Talking to Minako through the communicator is a bad idea, she thought; unless,of course, she wanted the people to think that she's some kind of a sick idiot talking to a watch.
Makoto stifled a yawn again. It's past five in the afternoon and the temperature is starting to cool down. She closed her eyes and leaned back on the wodden bench, her arms crossed on her chest. The distant hustle and buzzle around her sent music to her ears as she felt the cool breeze of the afternoon air touching her face.
Hmmm, this feels good, she mumbled to herself. Oh, I forgot to ask Ami-chan if she's finished scanning the four shitennou with her computer. She must be probably busy and doesn't have time for other things. I wonder what's happening to her? She acts rather strangely these days and what's with her, giving Zoisite a weird look? Makoto chuckled. Guess it wasn't my problem, anyway.
She felt the bench shifted a little as someone sat next to her. The tall brunette didn't even bother to open her eyes nor change her position. Instead, she made herself more comfortable.
She opened one sleepy eye and dared a glance at the person sitting beside her. It was a guy, a tall one for that matter, but she couldn't see him because his face was covered by a large newspaper that he was reading. Then, she opened another eye and slowly leaned forward, studying closely the stranger's hand clutching the edge of the paper.
Oh, he has long fingers, and they were neat and clean. Exactly what I am looking for in a guy! I hope he's cute and good-looking...
Hearing the gentle rustling of the newspaper, Makoto hastily closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. Oh well, she thought. He's probably old since guys these days don't have any interests on current events.
After few minutes of pretending to be asleep, Minako wasn't still around and Makoto felt really sleepy and drowsy. Actually, she wasn't able to have a good night's sleep because, as usual, she was busy cleaning her apartment and also because of that strange dream she had last night.
What was it again?
The brunette dug deeper to her consciousness to recall that dream but she only got a fraction and some pieces of it. All she knew is that she's in a place somewhat like a forest and then she remembered reaching out for something or someone.
Yes, I was reaching out for something. It was a hand. It was warm and comforting, and yet, I could feel the strength in it. And then, I saw someone, the owner of the hand that reached for me. It... it was a man? Was it a man? And then, I saw his eyes. They were really beautiful...
The stranger, who was actually a handsome young man (contratry to what the brunette thought earlier), beside Makoto suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder. Folding the newspaper into two, he carefully turned to his left and chuckled softly. "My, what do we have here?" he whispered. He gazed at the tall brunette beside him and smiled. "Poor thing, she must be really tired."
Edging a little closer to her, he slowly leaned back, careful not to wake the sleeping girl up, and settled Makoto comfortably on his shoulder. "I'm happy that my shoulder was able to provide you some comfort."
Listening to the faint sound of Makoto's breathing, he smiled and unfolded the newspaper. Sleep well. He returned his gaze back at the papers and resumed reading.
* * *
"Are you sure it's negative?"
A vein popped out of Rei's head as she stared exasperatedly at the blue-eyed blonde in front of her.
"Minako-chan," the miko bit out annoyingly. "You've been asking me that stupid question for five times now. I said, for the last time, it_is_negative, get it?! If you don't believe me, why don't you go and make your own fire reading?"
The blonde winced at the steely tone in Rei's voice. "Jeesh, you don't have to shout," she said, fingering an ear. Then she smiled widely. "I bet Ami-chan would faint if she hear this one. I'm certain that she had already figured this out but she kept it a secret so that I wouldn't have this my way."
Rei grunted. "I can't understand why this whole thing matters to you. And what are you so happy about?" She gave the blonde an appalled look. "So what if those morons weren't the same as they were? It doesn't make any sense, anyway."
"Yeah, whatever." The blonde then glanced at her watch and screamed.
"Minako-chan!!" Rei admonished. "This is a shrine. Would you please lower it down a bit?"
"Shimatta!" she continued. "How could I have ever forgotten?! Mako-chan has been waiting for about thirty minutes! She must be very, very pissed off!" Then she hurried outside the fire room. "I must go."
"If I were her, you could have been dead," Rei muttered sarcastically, trailing along behind her.
* * *
Makoto tilted her head and snuggled herself more comfortably. Stifling a yawn, her eyes fluttered open and she suddenly gasped when she realized that she was still at the park... and her head was resting on somebody's shoulder.
She hastily straightened up and glanced apologetically at the man beside her.
"Sumimasen, oji-san," she said, bowing deeply. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sleep on your shoulder." She bit her lip and blushed furiously. "I-i..."
"I don't think I looked that old," a baritone voice said amusedly.
She slowly lifted her gaze and gasped audibly at the sight before her. "I-i, uh, gomen nasai!" And then she bowed again.
"It's okay, ojo-san. You don't have to apologize. I'm glad I was able to, uhm, help someone," the stranger said and smiled. "Were you able to have a good sleep?"
Makoto blushed furiously. "H-hai. Thank you very much."
Chuckling, he slowly stood up and straighted his pants. "That's good," he said, giving her a half smile. "Well, I'm off. See you around." He waved his hand and then turned to leave.
Nice seeing you again, hime-sama...
Makoto followed his retreating form with her eyes until he was no longer visible. Frowning, she looked at the sky above and sighed. "Oh brother," she muttered incredulously. "I didn't even ask his name."
Slowly, she furrowed her brows, feeling as if something had just hit her. Like a feeling of deja vu or something. "I'm pretty sure I have seen him before... but I just can't seem to remember where and when," she whispered thoughtfully as she stared at the falling cherry blossoms.
Makoto sighed and leaned back, feeling a headache building up. Gently closing her eyes, she put her hands on her head and slowly massaged her temples.
Remember, my hime-sama...
... remember...
Her eyes suddenly snapped open.
Did I just hear something? Makoto turned her gaze to both directions but found no one. She just shrugged her shoulders and glnaced at her watch instead.
"Sumimaseeen, Mako-chaaan!"
Makoto lifted her gaze and blew air to her bangs. She stood up and crossed her arms on her chest. "Well, it's about time you showed up!" she clipped at the approaching blonde.
"I'm very, very, very, very, sorry!" Minako clasped her own hands and bowed deeply. "I was at the Hikawa Jinja and I have forgotten the time and..."
To Makoto's surprise, the blonde stared at her with teary eyes (the same eyes that Usagi use whenever she's asking for something), and clutched the brunnette's shirt.
"Would you ever forgive me?" Minako whined.
Makoto shook her head and sighed. "Fine," she replied with a half-smile. "Just don't do it again."
Minako squealed and hugged her tightly. "Arigatou, Mako-chan!! You're really the best!"
The brunette sweat-dropped as Minako shook her violently. "Alright, Mina-chan. Please stop it already, I'm getting dizzy!"
The blonde hastily let go and grinned sheepishly. "Well, come on, Mako-chan," she said and took a step forward. "There are lots of shops waiting for us!"
"I'm quite thankful, though, that you were late," Makoto suddenly murmured with a mysterious smile.
"Nani?" Minako asked, furrowing her golden brows.
"Oh nothing," she replied instead and grinned. She then grabbed the blonde's hand and dragged her away. "Let's go. My butt has been sleeping for almost an hour!"
.
..
...
* * *
"Mamo-chan's so late," Usagi said with a pout. "If he's not here by five minutes, I'm going to order more chocolate sundae!" Then, she began digging at her third ice cream cup.
"You've been saying that for the last fifteen minutes," Rei said exasperatedly. Then she frowned. "Why do we have to wait with you, anyway?"
"Because I've spent all of my allowance for paying your ice creams, that's why!" the odango-haired blonde replied in an equally exasperated voice.
Minako giggled, obviously on sugar-high. "Just let her be, Rei-chan. She might change her mind." Then she turned at Usagi. "Can I have some more?"
"No."
"Aww," the blonde whined, and then she cast a glance at her ice cream "A few more scoops and then it's gone."
Usagi just stuck her tongue out.
"Here, Mina-chan," Makoto said, fishing some one hundred yen coins out of her pocket then handing then over at the dumbfounded blonde.
Minako squinted at her. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely."
Then the blonde gave her a sly look. "Looks like you're pretty generous today," she said. "May I ask why?"
"I'm just happy."
"Why?" the four asked in unison.
Because I met a cute guy at the park yesterday...
The brunette made a face. "Should there always a be reason to be happy?" Then she turned to Minako. "Quit interrogating me or else I'll change my mind."
"Right!" the blonde replied and hastily waved at the waitress. "Hey, Unazuki-chan. I'll have another one of this please."
"Hey, no fair!" Usagi snarled. "You should treat us too!"
Makoto glanced at Ami and asked if she wants another one.
"Thanks but I'm already full," the genius replied, shaking her head.
"Baka," Rei muttered to Usagi with a grin. "Why should Mako-chan treat you when you have lots of money and you have already eaten so many beyond the average human consumption." Then she turned at the brunette. "Thanks, but this is enough with me."
Makoto shrugged her shoulders. "Whatever you say."
The automatic door of the fruit parlor suddenly slid open, and Usagi hastily jumped out of her seat, running towards the guy who just entered with arms stretched wide open.
"Mamo-chan!" she exclaimed with a giggle, completely forgetting all about the ice cream.
"Hey," Mamoru said with a smile, patting Usagi on the head.
The odango blonde made a face. "That's not the proper way to greet your girlfriend! You might as well kiss me."
Mamoru smiled sheepishly. "We're in a public place and besides I'm going to introduce you to... what are you doing?" he hastily asked, noticing his girlfriend peering behind his back.
"Uhm, Mamo-chan, who is he?" Usagi asked.
He spun around and gave the person behind him an apologetic smile. "As I was saying," he said after clearing his throat. "I would like you to meet - "
"It's you!!!" Usagi suddenly shrieked out, pointing a finger at the dumbfounded guy, which immediately gained the other senshi's attention.
"What was that?" Ami alarmingly said.
"Odango atama is suffering again from severe melancholia," Rei said with a grin, sipping her milkshake.
Minako glanced at the three people standing near the parlor's entrance. "Usagi-chan sure has this funny way of reacting to handsome men."
"I wonder who he is," Makoto absentmindedly said, staring at Mamoru's companion. Rei was sitting beside her so her view was obscured by the miko's head. "He seems cute." she then turned her attention back at her ice cream.
"Now, now, Usako, you know it's impolite to point at other people's faces," Mamoru said, scratching his head. Then he turned at the guy in front of him. "Gomen ne, Akimatsu-san. My girlfriend is suffering from, well, uhm..." He then fought hard to hide his grin.
"Akimatsu?" Usagi abruptly asked. Then her eyes narrowed into him. "You're Zoisite-kun's brother?"
He smiled. "So, you're one of his classmates, correct?"
She didn't give an answer; instead, she stared at him closely. "You don't look like Nephrite at all." Usagi squinted at him. He still posses his midnight blue eyes and his wavy auburn hair. But, she noticed that, his hair is much shorter than before. It still looked good in him, nonetheless.
"I can assure you that I'm Nephrite. 100 percent," he replied with an amused smile. "How did you know my name, by the way?"
Usagi was taken aback by his question. "Well..."
Mamoru hastily cleared his throat and smiled. "This is Tsukino Usagi," he said to Nephrite. "And that's her friends over there," he added, motioning the table across the room.
"Hajimemashite , Tsukino-san," he said. "Would you be nice enough to introduce me to your friends?"
"S-sure," Usagi replied, giving him a nervous smile. Then, she let Nephrite followed her towards their table.
Mamoru let out a sigh before following the two.
* * *
"You are suppose to hear a music when you meet the right one for you," Minako said knowingly.
"Really..." Rei then replied flatly, extremely bored out of her wits .
"Have you already heard it?" Makoto asked teasingly.
The blonde's face became thoughtful. "Actually, I don't know." Then she grinned. "Now that I think of it, I might actually have heard of it when I rode Kunzite-san's car!"
Rei snorted. "If you ask me, I'll say it's only the car stereo playing."
The blonde rolled her eyes upward. "I'm not reacting to that."
"Minako-chan, he's a former villain," Ami said. "How can you fall for someone like him? We're not even sure what are their motives. Why are they still here when it is obvious that they died some years ago?"
"So what?" she said, unmoved. "The term was former, Ami-chan. And what's wrong with it?"
"What about Yaten-kun?" Rei suddenly asked, a wicked smile on her face. "You do like him, don't you?"
Minako frowned. "I shouldn't have fallen head over heels with that bimbo," she said dejectedly. "Why, I even hate the thought that I fell for him. Instead of saying his goodbyes to me, he said it to Luna! A cat, for crying out loud!!!"
The brunette chuckled, crossing her arms on her chest.. "My, aren't we sour-graping."
The blonde just stuck her tongue out to her.
"Excuse me, guys," Usagi said as soon as she's within everybody's earshot. "I would like all of you to meet, Nephrite-san. He's Zoi-kun's older brother."
Minako cocked an eyebrow. "Nephrite-san?"
Then all of them stared at the newcomer.
"Yeah," Usagi replied, wriggling her eyebrows. "Nephrite."
"No way!" Makoto suddenly shrieked, to the surprise of the other senshi.
Nephrite turned his gaze and smiled warmly at the brunette who just slept on his shoulder yesterday. "It's nice to see you again, ojo-san..."
A/N extras: Am I nasty or what? Hehehehe!
By the way, ojo-san means young lady in Japanese.
Till next time!
I've reloaded this chapter because some of the lines I wrote were missing, hehehe. Silly me.