An Alternate Reality Sailor Moon Romance
by Time Guardian
Chapter 10 - Concert Preperations
Mamoru smiled at her in amusement after hearing her.
-So two could play at this game, huh? We shall see about that.-
He called out to her. "Your secret is safe with me, Usako."
Caught on the hop, Usagi turned and stared at him.
-Did he hear me? And did I hear him right?-
"Heh, I didn't hear you come up behind me," She scolded. "I thought you were asleep."
He yawned, but was soon smiling again. Mamoru wasn't about to allow her to get off of
the hook this easily. "Chibi-Usa and I were sound asleep, till you had to butt in. So, back to this
'Mamo-chan' business-"
Usagi's face was flushed a bright crimson, but she decided that couldn't hold back anymore. Her words came out in a nervous rush.
"Ok I admit it, Iaminlovewithyou, is that what you wanted to hear?"
He laughed. "You know, you are beautiful when you are embarrassed. I guess we need to talk then, but the little one needs her breakfast first. Let me hold Chibi-Usa while you get her milk."
She carefully handed the baby to him, and then went to the fridge.
Breakfast passed quietly. Usagi fed Chibi-Usa, and Mamoru was able to fix a quick breakfast for the two of them.
Later, Usagi went and put her daughter down for a nap, then changed into a black skirt and a light green short-sleeved blouse. It was due to be warm outside today, and she had a lot of work to do if she wanted two songs for her performance, including stopping by Titan Records.
She came back through to the living room and found Mamoru sitting on the sofa putting his textbooks in a duffel bag.
-Ok, time to find out-
With a quick sigh, she went over to the sofa and sat beside him.
"Ok, Chibi-Usa is taking her morning nap. Now can we talk?"
Mamoru looked at her. "I suppose you want the truth from me now as well?"
Her temper flared. "Well, I wasn't looking for the baseball scores."
Mamoru put his hands up in mock surrender. "Ok, Ok." He stopped what he was doing, and grabbed for her hands.
"You came into my life in an unexpected encounter. You needed all of the help you could get, and I couldn't leave a beautiful woman like you high and dry."
Mamoru looked into her blue eyes, and saw the beginnings of tears. "Now don't get all mushy on me before I finish. You have filled my life in ways that I cannot measure, but I kept my distance. You had just given birth to Chibi-usa, and memories of your fiancee were ripe in your mind. Hell, I can tell that they still are."
Mamoru took one of his hands and gently wiped the tears from her eyes.
"Thing is, now that you have come into my life, I can't see a day without you. I love you,
Usako. In fact, Chibi-Usa and I had a long talk about that last night."
Usagi arched an eyebrow and smiled. "So I wasn't the only one confessing their thoughts to Chibi-Usa. I take it she gave you thumbs up."
"Actually," he confessed with a grin, "she fell asleep before she could answer me."
"That will never do," she replied coyly. "Hmm, how about if I answer you?"
Leaning forward, Usagi brought her lips to his.
It was pure magic- there were no better words to describe the pleasure of the moment. For precious seconds she lost herself in the heat of their kiss, and after a few moments she reluctantly pulled back.
"Toya will always be my first love. I have good memories of him. But now, I have you.
You believed in me, stood by me, and now you have captured my heart, Mamo-chan." She watched as his face took on a serious tone. "You have a hold on my heart as well, Usako. The only thing I worry about is how to keep you safe from this stalker."
A flash of irritation crept through her. The mood was broken. "The stalker hasn't even shown up in the past few days. What is there to worry about? Maybe he has given up."
Mamoru stood up, and grabbed for his bag. "Considering that your concert is tomorrow, I find that highly unlikely. Just be careful, ok? And don't go out alone."
Usagi gave him a mock salute. "Yes sir."
Mamoru put a hand on her shoulder. "I mean it. I don't want to lose you. Promise me that you will be careful?"
She looked into his eyes and saw the worry in them. "I promise, Mamo-chan. Now you better get going- you don't want to be late for class."
He smiled, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, and headed out the front door.
After he left, Usagi grabbed for the phone on the table. If she was going to get everything done that she needed to do before the concert, she was going to have to have help.
Rei Hino stood outside the massive apartment complex and looked at the slip of paper again.
Yes, she had written the address down correctly, but wow.
It had been a year since she had talked to Usagi, and she was curious as to how she had made out in the last few months. Rei had been the last songwriter that Usagi had worked with, and despite Usagi's perfectionist style, they had worked together surprisingly well.
Rei was ready to step inside, when Usagi came out of the main entrance.
"Usagi-chan!"
Rei waved, and caught Usagi's attention.
"Rei-chan, it is so good to see you," Usagi said with a smile as she walked over.
"It has been too long," retorted Rei. She gave Usagi a hug and then stepped back.
"So I hear you have a baby daughter now, where is she?"
Usagi pushed back a strand of hair that blew into her face. "My former employer, Mrs. Chen, had the day off from work today, so she came to pick her up. If it weren't for her, I doubt that I would be able to do any of this."
Rei checked her watch. "Speaking of which, Minako-chan will also be joining our songwriting meeting as well, so we better get going."
She guided Usagi a few feet down the street until they came across a long white limo parked on the side. "You took the company limo to pick me up?" Usagi asked suspiciously.
Rei turned to her with a gleam in her eye. "Well now, can't have a comeback for you without a little glamour, right?"
By the middle of the day, Mamoru was tired and hungry and had a break in his classes, so he took his motorbike and rode over to Taka's restaurant.
Taka ushered him in and seated him at a small table near the front of the restaurant. "Mamoru-kun, you look beat, considering since the last time I saw you, you had a lady having a baby in my office."
Mamoru placed his helmet in a chair beside him, then leaned against the table, placing his head in his hands.
"My friend, I'm in deep."
Mamoru then proceeded to tell him about the events that transpired after Usagi had given birth to Chibi-Usa.
By the time he finished his story, Taka was shaking his head. "Man, I see what you mean. And to boot, you have fallen in love with the girl. Are you nuts? I read about these high powered relationships all the time and they don't usually end well."
Mamoru shook his head vehemently. "She's a wonderful woman, who happens to be a singer and has a baby daughter."
"And who happens to be under suspicion for her fiancé's death," Taka added.
"She's innocent," Mamoru growled, "I'd stake my life on it."
A new voice joined the fray. "As would I."
Mamoru looked around Taka and spotted Officer Kinoto walking towards them. The officer looked a bit different in civilian garb, dressed in grey slacks and a green blouse.
Mamoru groaned. "The last thing I need is you on my case, officer. But did I hear you right? You think Usagi is innocent?"
In response, Makoto gestured to the other chair at the table. "May I join you?"
Once they arrived at Titan records, Rei led Usagi through a familiar myriad of corridors until they reached a small meeting room just off of an adjoining recording booth and control room. Once they entered, Usagi spotted the familiar figure sitting at the table.
"M-Minako-chan?"
Minako Aino stood up, and embraced Usagi in a tight squeeze. Usagi noticed that she hadn't changed much since they toured together. She had grown slightly taller, but still wore her long hair tied back with a red ribbon. It was her good luck charm, as she called it.
Minako gestured to two other chairs. "It is good to see you, Usagi-chan. A lot changed when you left."
"I know," Usagi replied as she took a seat beside her. "You are a major star now."
"It still didn't feel the same," Minako retorted. "Everybody began acting differently. Akuma and Sachi even threatened to evict Bobby-san because he wouldn't back off of trying to find you to get you back."
Usagi was taken aback. It seemed too much to fathom- Akuma and Sachi both seemed to want her back when she visited with Mamoru that day.
A snap of Rei's fingers brought her back to attention. "Usagi-chan, unless you have forgotten, you need two songs for the concert. Minako-chan already has three songs and is finalizing them in a run-through with me today. You have a lot of catching up to do. Think you can do it?"
Usagi smiled. "Just get me some paper and a pen, and I will show you."
Mamoru invited Makoto to sit at his table, and the two ordered food from Taka, who quickly took his leave.
He leveled a hard gaze at the officer. "Okay, level with me. When we reported the dead flowers,
you were ready to crucify Usagi. What's with the about-face?"
"Simply put, the proof that we thought we had was forged," the woman admitted, all the while twisting a fabric napkin absently in her lap.
"Forged?" Mamoru echoed. "How?"
Makoto's reply was quick. "The threatening letters sent to her and the portions of threatening letters that were found in her apartment were analyzed again by a handwriting expert at my request. They are very clever forgeries, but forgeries all the same. The intent was to frame Tsukino Usagi."
He couldn't believe it. "It's been close to a YEAR. You mean to tell me the police hadn't thought to analyze the handwriting before now?"
"Of course they did," She protested hotly, "but think about it-a major movie star is dead, a pop idol survives, one that had been due to be his wife. All the money and notoriety...the paparazzi had a field day. Accusations swirled, demands for a quick and tough investigation-"
Mamoru finished her thought. "-and they wrapped it up quick and dirty due to the pressure. What made you think to reinvestigate this?"
He heard the anger and determination in her reply. "Chiba-san, I am one of a handful of women on a squad where old traditions rule. For me to move up in rank, they have saddled me with cases that they deemed too 'hot' to touch to see if they can scare me away. It's not going to work. Do what they want, but I will see this case through by the book."
Mamoru regarded her in a new light. The woman that had seemed so brash and rude in the beginning was turning out to be someone who was just doing her duty.
One thought remained on his mind though. "Why are you telling me this?"
Makoto sighed. "Partly to ease my own mind- I treated you two badly, and I wanted to apologize. The other thing is that I took this evidence to my superior. He won't allow any more resources on this case."
"That does us little good," Mamoru muttered. "She needs more help than just the two of us."
Taka brought over the food that the two had ordered, and then pulled up a chair.
"I heard you two talking about Usagi. I want to help."
Mamoru turned to his friend. "The help is appreciated. I just wish I knew more about the people of Titan records. Usagi told me that she couldn't see any of them wanting to threaten her, but something didn't seem right."
"We ran background checks when the initial investigation was made, but we found nothing," Makoto said.
"A couple of their sound techs come in for lunch now and then. I can chat them up and get a state of affairs"
Taka declared.
"Sounds like a plan then," Mamoru stated. "I just wish we could do more."
"I'll keep you in the loop as well," Makoto promised. "For now though, all we can do is bide our time."
Taka stood up. "Well, let me get back to work, you two better eat up before your food gets cold."
As Taka left, Makoto gave Mamoru a concerned look. "Don't worry, we will get this guy."
Mamoru picked up his fork and idly twisted the pasta on his plate. "I hope so, for her sake."
Usagi was working hard on her writing before her, when a take-out bag was plopped down before her.
She looked up in surprise to see Rei standing above her looking sternly at her.
"It figures you would try and work through lunch, Usagi-chan."
Usagi looked down at her watch, and verified that she had indeed worked most of the morning away at her writing. "I didn't know the time had passed so fast. Where's Minako-chan?"
Rei took a seat beside her and opened the bag, taking out two cartons of spicy noodles.
"Minako's over in the recording studio recording the three songs for the concert for inclusion in the second album. She ate an early lunch."
Usagi sat up straight and grabbed for a noodle carton when Rei snatched the paper she had been writing on.
"Rei-chan!"
Rei quickly scanned the paper that Usagi had been using. "So, who is he? I can tell he has your heart.
You haven't written anything nearly this good in a long time."
Usagi blushed furiously. "His name is Mamoru."
Rei smiled. "Mamoru, eh? He has been good for you, I can tell. You are actually smiling again. When you left, you looked like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders."
"In a way, I still do. They never found the one who sent me those letters," Usagi mumured. "I have a daughter to protect now, there is more to consider now."
"Leave it to me," Rei promised. "Security has already been made tight for the concert, and I have already worked in coverage for you. We can even work in Mamoru and your daughter. We will keep you safe, I will see to it."
She smiled. "Thanks, Rei-chan."
"You are welcome. Now eat your lunch, before it gets cold. We will finalize what you have written afterwards."
An hour later after they finished their lunch, Rei took Usagi into the control room. Inside the recording booth, Minako was running through one of her songs. They took seats in the back corner as a lean faced technician sat in the main seat working the booth's controls.
Rei turned, and motioned for the pad of paper Usagi had brought with her. "Okay, let me see what you have written, Usagi, and we can put some music to it."
They began the work in earnest, and almost didn't notice the two important figures that had entered the control room, but the technician did.
He stood nervously, and bowed. "Akuma-san, Sachi-san."
Usagi looked up and realized that indeed the two brothers had put in an appearance in the control booth.
Rei quickly stood herself. "It is a pleasure to have you visit. Usagi and I were just finishing adding music to her words."
Sachi took off his glasses and rubbed tem briskly with a handkerchief from his pocket. Putting them back on his face, he smiled. "This is excellent news, isn't it, brother? Our Aria Aure is prepared as always."
Akuma's face betrayed no emotion, except for a small nod towards Usagi. "It would have been regrettable if you hadnot risen to my challenge. Are you ready to be back in the spotlight?"
Usagi gulped. She couldn't explain it, but the way they were acting was totally creeping her out. It was all she could do to nod in his direction.
"Excellent," Akuma intoned. Turning to his brother, he motioned towards the recording booth. "When Minako is finished with her set, makes sure she gets to wardrobe. Do the same for Usagi when she is finished with her preparations. Bob is getting the last of the flyers ready for the park, so we will see him in the morning."
Sachi nodded once. "Things will be ready. Go to your meetings brother, everything will work out just fine."
Mamoru had arrived back at his apartment as the sun was setting. He felt somewhat elated, because he had received passing marks on the exams that he had taken two weeks ago, but he had wanted to see HER more.
He let himself in, and dropped his book bag on the sofa. "Usagi? I am home."
No noise, not even a baby crying.
Mamoru was almost ready to panic, when he saw a hastily scribbled note left near the phone-
Mamo-chan
Am at the studio with friends. I will be back soon, promise.
Chibi-Usa is with Mrs. Chen for the night, so we will have the night to ourselves.
See you soon.
Usagi
Mamoru smiled as realized that Usagi had enclosed her name with a heart.
A noise at the door roused him from thoughts. He looked up and spotted Usagi coming through the door.
"Welcome home, Usako, how was your day?"
In response, she closed the door and twirled around in circles. "I should be tired, but I am too tired to be. I finished both songs I needed, and my friend Rei added the music. Everything is a go."
"That is terrific," Mamoru replied. He stood, and grabbed Usagi, kissing her on the lips.
He pulled back with a laugh. "Now if you wouldn't mind sitting down. You were making me dizzy."
She complied, taking a seat at one corner of the sofa as Mamoru sat beside her.
"So you have finished your songs, eh?" he asked her. "Can I get a sneak preview perhaps?"
She shook her head teasingly. "Nuh-uh. Nothing doing. You will just have to come to the concert tomorrow. And you better too, because you and Chibi-Usa were the inspiration for both of them."
Mamoru smiled. He hadn't seen Usagi this happy in days. "Well with a invitation like that, how can I resist?"
He leaned in closer. "So, Chibi-USa is at Mrs. Chen's?"
Usagi nodded, and met his gaze. "Mmmhmm."
He kissed her lightly on her forehead. "Then we shall have to have some fun by ourselves."
He grinned as her face turned crimson, but he did get a reply.
"I'd like that, Mamo-chan."
Mrs. Chen knew this day would come, but she wasn't sure when.
Once night fell, the pounding on her door became the sound of splintering wood as a man with a gun stepped inside past the demolished door.
When he threatened to kill the children unless they all came with him, she knew.
It had taken her way too long to put all of the pieces together, now she had to find a way out of this mess before it was too late.
The man with the gun had herded them all into his car, and under the cover of darkness, he drove them over to Titan records. Mrs. Chen shivered with the cold of the night,
but there had been no time to grab a coat to put over her simple dress, for she had to keep her daughter and Chibi-Usa calm. However, they were just as antsy as she was, and Keiko nearly screamed at the sight of the gun pointed at her mother.
When they arrived at Titan Records, The man pushed them out of the car,
led them up to the top floor of offices and led them into the first office nearest the elevator.
The man who had herded them in went over to a nearby desk where she had spotted a familiar figure.
"I got the babysitter and the baby, but you never told me that she had a kid of her own. I want double the asking price."
Mrs. Chen kept a tight hold on Chibi-Usa, and stepped closer to the desk.
Anger clouded her mind and her voice was shaking- partly from fear,
partly from the indignation. "How dare you. You said you wanted me to take care of Usagi-chan financially, but I know the truth now- you are the one stalking her. You drove her to me so that she would have to rely on me, and then you supplied me money to take care of all of us. I didn't know I was making a deal with a madman."
The man sitting in front of her smiled broadly. "My dear, I was only concerned for Aria Aure. You promised me that you would take care of her- not deliver her into the hands of another lover. The money I provided you would have been enough to take care of all three of you until her child was born, but no, She had to meet HIM!"
His hand was quick, backhanding her with enough force to make her stagger back. Ms. Chen kept a tight hold on Chibi-Usa and was able to remain upright. Keiko cried, clinging tightly to her mother's dress.
"Why don't you show our guests to the inner office and post a guard-
they will be there at least long enough until Aria Aure professes her love to me."
Mrs. Chen protested as the man that had brought them there pulled out a gun and started prodding them towards a smaller side office.
"No, please, you can't!"
The man holding the gun opened the door to the side office and prodded them inside. "It is too late for that. Get in there!"
With a last shove with his free hand, the man holding the gun pushed Mrs. Chen inside the dark office and shut the door. Grabbing a nearby chair, he then firmly wedged it under the doorknob.
Mrs. Chen fumbled and managed to find a light switch in the office and turned it on.
The office was smaller in scale than the one she was just in, but was similarly furnished in oversized furniture. Unfortunately, the door she had just been pushed through was the only way out.
Despite her trembling, Mrs. Chen laid Chibi-Usa into the nearby over-sized chair as gently as possible. The baby wailed from fright and fear, so Mrs. Chen slowly stroked Chibi-Usa's small head.
"Shhh, Chibi-Usa, it will be all right. It'll be-"
Her voice broke. Mrs. Chen slumped to the floor beside the chair and began to sob heavily. The situation was out of control, and by all admissions she had just delivered Usagi's child into the hands of her stalker.
She muttered through the tears. "Usagi-chan, I am so sorry. What have I done? What have I done?"
Keiko stared at her wide eyed for some moments before clinging to her mother tightly.
Till next time,
Time Guardian