The Secret behind the Roses
Written by: Jill Annette
Part Five: Apartment #415
Usagi raised her eyebrows, "Do we?" She crossed her legs. "I think you know all the answers to your questions."
There was no doubt in her mind now if her assumption was right or not. She could see it in his eyes and hear it in his voice. He had just realized what she had found out last night all because of a single rose.
"Yes!" Mamoru exclaimed, grabbing Usagi by the wrist and pulling her to her feet.
Usagi slapped at his wrist, "Let me go! We have nothing to talk about." She tried to pull her wrist to herself but his grip was strong and they were already half way to the door. "Guys!" She yelled back at the girls.
"Ah, let him drag her off," Motoki said, making his presence known once again. "I have a feeling today, something big will happen."
Usagi's eyes narrowed as the girls laughed at something Motoki had said, although she couldn't hear as she was pulled out of the automatic doors. She caught Rei leaning over her seat to wave a good-bye. Oh God! They think something is going to go on between us!
Placing her hand right next to his on her wrist, Usagi pushed as hard as she tried to get him to release his grip. "You're bruising me!"
"I can't believe this," Mamoru said, letting go of her arm and raking the same hand through his thick black hair.
Usagi decided to play dumb, "I didn't know getting my hair cut would make you so aggravated."
"That's not it and you know it."
She gave a little skip, "Okay, so, you want to know about my injury."
"Yes, but I don't want the chance for other's to overhear," Mamoru said glancing around at the by passers.
"Hear what?" Usagi asked, tilting her head. "That I got attacked by a vicious dog."
Mamoru laughed and shook his head. "I don't think a dog would have done that."
Usagi bowed her head, watching the sidewalk underneath her feet. "Okay, I'll tell you what really happened. It's just kind of embarrassing."
"Shoot," Mamoru said.
"I fell out of a tree."
"A tree?"
Take the bait. Come on…. TAKE IT! "Yeah, I was playing like an idiot and I saw a tree. Little did I realize that I'm not twelve anymore and not as small or agile as I used to be. Took a wrong step and BAM! Tree branch dug into my side and soon after the ground caught me."
Mamoru winced at the imagery of her falling to the ground. "So you're telling me that you've had that bruise for a while then."
"About a month, the scratches have finally healed up." Yes he took it!
"Then how do you explain the shirt you were wearing the other day?"
"What shirt?" Usagi asked, racking her brain for her clothing selection the past few weeks.
"The one with the little ties on the side."
"I have no clue what you're talking about," she was smiling now.
"You know, the light purple one, cuts off about here," Mamoru said, moving his hand above his belly button, which Usagi found a little humorous. "It had strings on the side to hold the shirt together."
Damn it. "Oh, that. Well, I -"
"What do you take me for Usagi, an idiot?"
"I can't say you're an idiot. You know my name today."
"Whatever, Odango, focus." Mamoru sighed then started again. "When you wore that shirt your side was perfectly fine."
She followed him into an apartment complex. She stopped in the lobby and took a look around.
"Mamoru, where are you taking me?"
"My apartment."
"Why?"
"You know why."
"I know that you want me and my stringy shirt!" Usagi exclaimed. "There's no way I'm going in your apartment with you."
"That has nothing to do with what we need to talk about."
"So you do want me."
"I want to talk to you," Mamoru said. "Talk, Usagi. Nothing else."
Usagi led the way to the elevators a little skip in her step again. "But you do want me."
They walked into the elevators that conveniently opened as they had approached and after a person exited it. Usagi turned around and smiled up at Mamoru.
"Is that why you always gave me a rose?" Usagi asked. "Because you didn't want me to hate you completely for hurting my feelings?"
Mamoru pressed the button to the fourth floor and he didn't speak until the elevator doors closed. "Maybe."
"Just tell me already! I'm dying with suspense!"
"I gave you the roses because I didn't think there'd be a day like this."
They walked off the elevator as it stopped on his floor. She followed him to his apartment.
"Days like today when you find out how small of a world it really is?"
"My thoughts exactly. I mean, come on, you of all people?" Mamoru asked.
He opened the door and she followed him inside closing it behind her. "Thank you kind sir, you're such a gentleman," she mumbled sarcastically under her breath. "I love it when a man opens the door for me."
"See, I'm angry with you." Mamoru said, turning to look at her.
"Angry?" Usagi looked at him, dumbfounded. "With me?"
"You could have told me last night. Gave me a hint, something!"
"And expose you to the girls?"
"You mean the senshi? Your friends?"
"You can make all the assumptions you want, I'm not liable to say."
"Okay, my assumptions are, your friends are the Sailor Scouts and you are Sailor Moon."
"You amuse yourself don't you?"
Mamoru dropped himself on the couch, extending his legs out across the floor. "My God! Why can't I just get a straight answer from you?"
Usagi stepped over his legs and sat down next to him on the couch. "Okay, okay. Enough playing around. Last night I found out that someone I've known for years wasn't always who he seemed to be. In turn, about thirty minutes ago, you found out that someone you knew for years wasn't always who she seemed to be."