Author Note: I saw these sitting on my hard drive and I realised that I never uploaded them sweatdrops. To all those who emailed me and begged and pleaded I got your emails, I've just been rather busy. These are the next installments of the series, I'll try to produce a brand new chapter soon (next two week maybe?).
Chapter 20
Minutes before Take-off
Chibi Usa paused briefly before continuing to walk, looking around her. "This is an airplane mommy?" she asked looking at Usagi.
Usagi nodded. "Yes it is."
"It looks small, compared to Haya," she said absent mindedly.
Usagi cringed slightly. 'Why did she have to say that?' she thought as she racked her brain trying to think of a response to the inevitable question.
"What is Haya?" Annie asked her.
Chibi Usa was at loss for words. 'Oh boy,' she thought looking guiltily at her mother.
Usagi smiled and said, "It's the name of our private plane." It wasn't exactly a lie. They both flew after all.
"You guys have a private plane as well?" Annie asked.
"Yes but I don't use it all that often. Haruka and Michiru do mostly," she said. She turned to Trunks. "Why didn't you use yours?" she asked curiously.
"I'm trying to get away from my mother. At least here she won't be able to contact me," he said guiding them to their seats. They were first class of course.
Annie and Chibi Usa were excited.
"I want to sit down next to Chibi Usa," Annie said
"Sure," Usagi said. Annie and Chibi Usa sat down next to each other, which was in front of the adults.
"Yes, I guess that you're stuck with sitting down next to me then," Trunks said.
"I am sure that it's not a problem," Usagi said.
The ride was long and uneventful. When they finally arrived it was night time in Madrid. Everything was well taken care of so that long before an hour had passed they were out of the airport. A private car and driver were waiting to take them to the hotel.
"Bienviendo a Madrid Señor y Señorita. My name is Juan and I will be your chauffer for the evening," Juan said, taking his hat off and giving a small bow. Juan was a handsome man for 48. Jet black hair with hints of gray woven in, a slim physique and bright black eyes. He wore a standard chauffer uniform.
"Gracias Juan," Usagi said politely extending her hand, which he took. He kissed the back of it politely.
"Señor?" Juan asked, offering his hand to Trunks. Trunks shook it and gave him a firm handshake. Maybe a little too firm as Juan winced slightly.
"You're bags are being delivered to the hotel," Juan said as he led them to the car. He opened the door for them. Trunks being a gentleman helped her and the kids into the car.
The ride to the hotel was a long one. They passed through the City of Madrid which was still active even at that hour. Usagi was in a little awed with everything. She stared out of her window during the whole trip, Chibi Usa peacefully sleeping in her lap. Both she and Annie were tired out, but Annie was resting on her dad, fighting the losing battle of trying to keep her eyes open.
She wanted to stay up during the ride. She didn't want to miss a thing, but the pull of slumber called too strongly and soon she was fast asleep, just like her best friend.
Trunks looked down at his daughter as soon as he realized that she was asleep. He had noticed that she was trying to stay awake. He turned his head and looked at Usagi. She was still looking out the window. He was amused by her fascination with the landscape. He himself wasn't exactly interested, as he had been here before, but then again, when he first came here, he did admire the landscape as well.
"You seem to be enjoying the view," he commented to her after a while.
A faint blush came to he cheeks as she turned away from the window. "Yes I am. Everything looks so beautiful," she said looking at him.
"Yes everything is," he agreed. "Especially you."
"Oh you are something else," she said blushing a bit darker, laughing slightly.
"I'm serious," He said.
They were silent after that, neither of them feeling the need for speech.
"Trunks?" she asked.
"Yes?"
"I really want to….."
"Don't start that again, Usa. It's my pleasure to do things for you, and you don't need to thank me every time I do it," he said.
"Alright," she answered.
They started up a pleasant conversation about odd and random things which the author will not go into because it was pointless.
They arrived at the hotel just after 1:00 am. Checking in was easy as everything was pre arranged courtesy of Mrs. Briefs. Their room was a three bedroom suite, with one of the bedrooms having two beds, a living room and two bathrooms. It was nicely furnished in black and white. Black marble floors and black leather furniture. The walls were white and there was a large white throw rug on the floor of the living room. All the bedrooms were done in the same way, with a queen-size bed, with the exception of the kids room which had a double bed, a dresser and bureau with a throw rug, black marble floor and white walls.
Usagi and Trunks put the kids into the double bed, bedroom. They then each retired to their own bedrooms, but not before a chaste kiss.
The next morning Usagi woke up to the sun on her face. At first she was a bit disoriented but soon realized where she was. She was a bit startled to find out that it was almost ten in the morning. Normally she was up before 6 am. She was also surprised to realize that Chibi Usa hadn't even came to wake her up. She usually did when Usagi slept late. Usagi heard voices in the living room and decided to investigate.
Trunks was having a hard time with the girls.
"Tell us why we can't go to the beach again?" Chibi Usa asked for the tenth time.
"Because we have to wait for Usagi to wake up," he said, for what felt like the millionth time.
"And why can't I go and wake her up?" She asked.
"Because we came in late last night and she must be tired, because she isn't up yet."
"Ok then," she said and turned to talk to Annie.
Usagi chose to come out at that time.
"MOMMY!" Chibi Usa cried and rushed to her as soon as she heard the door open. Annie got up as well and joined her.
"Usagi you're up!" she cried.
To Trunks she was a god send. If he had to answer the same question again he would start banging his head on the wall.
"Good morning Usa," he said after she had greeted the kids. "How did you sleep?"
"Very good. Much more comfortable than I had in a long time," she answered.
"Come on mommy, go eat breakfast, and hurry up! We wanna go to the beach!" Chibi Usa said excitedly.
"Yep! And I get to showoff my new bathing suit," she said as she dragged Annie behind her. "We're going to change now," Annie announced as they disappeared into their room.
Usagi laughed as she sat down at the table next to Trunks, who was slightly dazed. He had never been totally alone with those two and
realized that they had A LOT of energy. He silently wondered if he would be able to survive till the end of the trip. They would run him ragged.
"You look kind of tired this morning Trunks," she said picking up a roll and buttering it.
"I am tired. Those two are something else together," he said shaking his head.
Usagi laughed. "Now why do you say that?"
"They are just a little too hyper for me," he said.
"Aw, you sound like an old man," she teased taking a bite out of her roll.
"After this morning I feel like one," he answered.
"Aw poor dear," she said patting him on his back. She finished her roll and some orange juice which was there.
"We're going to the beach today, by Chibi Usa's request," he told her before she left. "There is a beach near the hotel. The ayudante said that it is beautiful down there at this time of year."
"Really? Well let's go then," she said going back into her bedroom to get ready. Trunks did the same.
Usagi locked the door behind her as she undressed in her bedroom slowly. As she slipped off her pants, she exposed her tail to the air around her.
She looked at it in distress. It was a soft pale silver color, kind of a reminder of what her hair would look like in later years.
She sighed deeply. It would be so easy to just reveal it to the world and be free of the stress of being careful and draining herself by hiding it.
She was low on magic, dangerously so. But she had to take the chance and use her energy and hide both Chibi Usa and her tails. But she still had 2 whole weeks to get through. She would need to plan their time away from the beach.
'How could I ever reveal this to him?' she said looking down at her tail.
She could hardly keep it hidden anymore and had taken to wearing clothes
to hide it, while she tried to conserve magic. Saving what she could for an emergency.
She had to go out on a limb today. She should have enough magic left to last the two weeks.
Usagi removed the rest of her clothes and went to take a shower.
Trunks was currently ready and waiting with two bubbly, overexcited, bouncing little demons as he called them. They were anxious to get started. He just watched in slight amusement as they chattered contentedly, among themselves, making plans about all the fun things they would do. He himself was lounging on the sofa in the living room having…………….. um well let's just say that he was looking forward to seeing her in a bathing suit.
Usagi looked in the mirror after slipping into her bathing suit. She studied herself and her appendage, firmly wrapped around her waist. She looked at herself turning and twisting this way and that, examining herself. Finally she gave up and sat down on her bed. She sighed and gathered a bit of her magic and used it to make her tail vanish. Putting on her clothes quickly, she got up packed her beach bag and went out of the door to go and use some magic on Chibi Usa.
Trunks and the girls looked up as Usagi came out of her room. She was wearing black shorts with a black shirt. She was carrying a beach bag equipped with towels, sun screen, and anything necessary for beach going and sun bathing.
Trunks sat there staring at her for a while. She really looked good in those clothes. He couldn't wait to see her in a bathing suit. But there was the matter of everyone else seeing her in that as well. He was having second thoughts about going to the beach.
"Well everyone lets go," she said with a smile on her face.
Pushing his thought aside, he got up.
"Yeah!," Annie said. She grabbed Chibi Usa and pulled her out the door. Usagi giggled. She took Trunks' hand and led him out of the suite. Usagi gently touched Chibi Usa's back in what could be mistaken as a motherly touch, which was actually a transfer of magic, so her tail could be hidden.
When Usagi stepped out of the car, the scene that greeted her was in short…………… breathtaking. The white sand beach stretched for as far as the eye could see. The weather was perfect. The sky a deep rich blue, with hardly a cloud to and the clouds that were there were fluffy and white, like huge cotton balls. They drifted lazily across the sky, pushed by the Mediterranean breeze that came in from the ocean.
The salt air was fresh and clean, a pleasant change from the city life. Chibi Usa was in awe. She had never been to the ocean before and had never seen it, except through space. The closest she came to a large expanse of water was the Sea of Serenity. She had never even taken a bath outside of a bath tub or a swimming pool so this would be a new and exciting experience.
Annie looked at her friend. "What's wrong Chibi Usa?" she asked her concerned.
Chibi Usa snapped out of her small trance. She looked at annie. "Oh nothing, it just looks so big that's all," she said.
Annie giggled. "Of course it's big silly, it's the ocean!"
"Actually, girls, it's the sea. The Mediterranean sea," Trunks corrected. Both their mouths formed tiny 'o's , which fittingly enough, reminded Trunks of a fish.
Usagi looked at them thoughtfully.
Chibi Usa was impatient. She went over to her mother and tugged her arm. "Lets go in the water!"
"Well wait a minute sweetie, we have to pick a spot to settle down first," She said.
"How about over there?" Trunks said picking a clear spot on the beach.
"Looks good to me," Usagi said.
Usagi was sitting with Chibi Usa before her. She had just finished putting sun screen on Annie and now it was Chibi Usa's turn. Trunks was just finishing up with the setup when Usagi was done.
"There. Now no sunburns," she said with a smile.
"Hai! Thanks mommy," she said jumping up. She gave her mother a kiss and then grabbed Annie's hand to rush off.
"Don't go out too far and stay over here where I can see you," she called after them.
"I think you were wasting your breath. I don't think they heard you," Trunks said sitting down next to Usagi.
She sighed. "I know I wasted my breath," she said.
"Yep," he said relaxing in his chair.
"Sit up," Usagi said suddenly.
Trunks looked at her startled. "What?"
"Sit up. I am not going to see you roast on the beach, so sit up. You need to put this sun screen on," she said firmly.
"I don't want to," he said simply. "Don't worry about me, I can take a lot more than a little sun."
"I'm concerned about you," she said.
"Fine then," he said taking off his shirt. Usagi really had to look away then. While she knew that he was well muscled but she wasn't prepared for what she saw. Mamoru definitely would have been jealous. Her eyes darkened at that thought.
She bent down and picked up the bottle of sun screen. "Here," she said, handing him the bottle. She watched for a while, still blushing and trying to make it unnoticeable that she was. "Make sure that you are well covered," she said.
"Well there's where I have a problem. You see, I can't exactly cover my back," he said. Usagi blushed brightly. She wasn't expecting that. But she covered her surprised face by taking the bottle calmly. "Sure thing. Why don't you turn around?" she suggested.
Trunks turned to lay on his stomach. Usagi sat down next to him. She took some of the lotion and put it into her hands and gentle, tentatively smoothed her hands on his back. She had never been this close to a male before, like this. She was hesitant at first, but quickly went to work.
Her hands felt small and light as she rubbed the lotion onto his back. It felt good to him. The last time he had that done was when he was married, and he didn't really want to think about that.
He was still paying her support, even now. Not that he minded too much. He too had a lot on his mind. Anne was on his mind though. She had been trying to reach him, his mother told him this morning. He didn't exactly want to talk to her. He still didn't like the fact that she was trying to get to him. What exactly did she want anyway?
He was paying her a lot of money by standard terms, $10,000 a month to be exact. So he didn't think it was for money. And she had no interest in their child, so he didn't believe it was that either. But whatever it was, he needed to find out.
But that could wait for later. Now all he wanted to do was enjoy the feel of Usagi's hands on his back. This felt really good, so good that it needs to be repeated.
And Usagi was getting more comfortable with doing it. It just felt like the most natural thing to do.
She actually liked the feel of his hard muscles and baby soft skin under her fingertips. Unfortunately, as with all good things, it came to an end.
She was finished all too soon. She got up and went back to her chair, and they both watched the girls play.
Soon Annie and Chibi Usa came back.
"Come into the water with us!" Annie said excitedly.
"Yeah, please come," Chibi Usa said pulling on her mother's arm. Usagi was really nervous about this. What if something happened? She honestly doubted her magic right now, since she was so low. But she couldn't show her anxiety. She would have to just trust her magic
and hope for the best. Usagi stood up and removed her clothes rather slowly. Trunks had the good sense to turn away as she did and busied himself with the girls.
"Wow, Usagi, you look pretty," Annie said. That comment prompted Trunks to turn around.
And he was a little surprised by what he saw. Her figure was more pronounced and he had to admit it she definitely looked good. In fact, he wasn't sure if he wanted her to remain like that or put her clothes back on. While he loved the view, there were a lot of other people who did as well, especially those guys to the left.
She had on a simple royal blue swimsuit which was a one-piece. It was decorated with a delicate network of light blue flowers embroidered into the material. She also put on a royal blue wrap, embroidered with the same light blue flowers along the edges. It complimented her nicely, showing off her gorgeous figure and adding an air of fragility to her as well. She had pinned her hair up to waist length and tired it off with a blue ribbon.
"Thank you Annie," she said smiling at the girl. "Alright let's go," she said leading them to the water.
They had fun all day. Usagi was just thankful that their tails remained hidden. She had stopped hiding her and just hid Chibi Usa's in an effort to conserve her magic. Unfortunately they way she saw it, she wouldn't have enough left after this trip.
Usagi flopped down on her bed later that night after putting the girls to bed and thought about the day. There was no doubt about it, she loved Trunks very much. He was being so good to her, all these months would have drove her crazy without him there with her, helping and supporting her. Setsuna was right, she needed to think of her role and needed someone to love and to be loved by, and Trunks was perfect for that.
Meanwhile Trunks was just going to sleep himself when the phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Heh, you alone?" came Chibi Trunks teasing voice over the phone.
Trunks had to stifle a groan. Rolling his eyes and asking kami why he was being cruel to him, trunks answered, "Yes, what is it?"
"Oh, darn it. I thought I would be interrupting something, if you catch my drift," he said slyly.
"What… do… you… want?" he said in a very controlled manner.
"Damn you sound like mom. You're getting old!"
"I'm hanging up," Trunks said.
"Wait! Ok I'll stop. Actually I have another reason for calling you."
"Really? You mean that you actually have another reason and it's not bugging me?"
"Yep, a really shocker I know," Chibi Trunks said sarcastically.
"Just get on with it," Trunks said tiredly, sitting on his bed.
"Well dad answered the phone, and then mom took it from him when he started cursing. Anyway I have two messages. I'll give you dad's own first, well it wasn't actually from him, but it was funny."
"What are they?"
"Well dad said to tell your bitch to stop calling because she annoys the shit outta him," he said laughing.
Trunks sighed. He had a pretty good idea what he was talking about. "The second one?"
"Oh mom said that you should talk to Anna," he said a little more seriously.
"Damnit," he swore "Why now?"
"Don't know," Chibi trunks said thoughtfully.
"Ok then," he said and was about to hang up when Chibi Trunks added "Make sure you have a goodnight sleep. But I bet you will, when you cuddle up with Usagi later!" he said and hung up.
Trunks shook his head. While annoyed, that still was a pleasant idea, especially remembering her in that swimsuit. Darn his thoughts were going downhill fast. He sighed and cleared his head. He had more important maters to attend to.