I'm Not in Love
by Sailor Fantasy
Chapter 3: The Love of His Life
Disclaimer: We're off to see the lawyers, the livid lawyers of SailorMonandWeiss Kreuz, to claim that we don't own them and yes it's true...!
AN: whistles innocently Hello readers.... surely you haven't missed me, it was a short vacation, afterall. silence Aw, c'mon, it wasn't that long! More silence....Fine, I apologize. But from some of you guys I earned an apology as well! The "I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE" and "THERE WILL BE NO MERCY" notes in my e-mails scared my mom, my muses, and most importantly, me. You guys managed to scare me into writing another chapter, thank you very much. glares.
AN2: ....There will be mercy now, right?
Dedications and Thanks: To all my reviewers, esp. my fave author, Tenshi no Nozomi-sama, Saris yui, Concrete Angel-sama, and Aideen-sama!...As for firehedgehog, your review made me die. Laughing. Really. Maybe she is pregnant...? Hmm...
Warnings: No Usagi POV in this chap, sorry guys. The norm applies... and excitable Ami and Omi. This is pretty long.
Reminders: Please Review! Helps me write a lot faster!
"Ah... a toast to my new queen."
Manx smiled as the glass tipped towards hers, causing it to 'clink!' with the delight of the lovers. Darien Shields. Mamoru Chiba Takatori. She remembered him well. It was amazing that he was still alive after all these years after betraying Estet for her. Of course, she wasn't one to mix pleasure with business, but with Mamoru, it was a whole different story. He was a mature young man, though much younger than her. She knew of him when he was a bit younger, when his 'father' was still alive.
Manx sighed. His 'father'. The one who truly held her heart.
"Manx?"
Raising up her glass to her lips, she allowed the red thick liquid down her throat. She licked her lips seductively before gaining eye contact with him. "Yes, Mamoru-kun?"
He had nearly blushed; nearly. He gained control of himself in time however, though he couldn't help but feel just a bit like he was in high school again...dating his favorite teacher. He quirked a grin at the thought, but died it down when he realized what he was just thinking. High school. Usagi.
He lowered his eyes down to the glass. No, he didn't want to think about her. Not anymore.
"Mamoru-kun?" The woman of his dreams held his other hand in hers. "Is there something the matter?"
Mamoru looked into her eyes, almost confused. The woman of his dreams. Not the love of his life. That had been reserved for Usagi. Had been, at least.
Until his most recent dreams changed all of that.
"Mamoru-kun, daijoubu–?"
"Daijoubu," he cut her off shortly. Then, more gently—"I'm fine."
Her bright eyes were still troubled, but didn't comment anymore than that. If she had been Usagi, he would've never heard the end of it. Perhaps, then, this would be a better relationship. No immature high school girls glomping him left and right. No more Usagi.
And for some reason, that one thought hurt more than any youma blow.
"Hmmm... I have been wondering something, Manx-chan." He put on his best dashing and charming smile while he twirled a spoon expertly in his fingers. Twirling a cane all the time just gave you that habit.
"And what would that be, Mamoru-kun?" replied Manx smoothly, taking another sip of wine.
"If..." Mamoru bit his bottom lip. Hard. "If..."
Hard. Why should asking this be so hard for him? He was a handsome, smooth guy, wasn't he? That's what Usagi used to always tell him. Yeah. Usagi. Usagi used to always tell him things like that.
"Mamoru-kun, your lip is bleeding." Her tone was both amused and concerned.
Mamoru ignored her. "If you'd be my bride," he blurted.
There was a stunned silence. Young lovers at other tables who heard the confession "'aw'ed" and blushed prettily at each other.
Older, more experienced lovers glanced at each other meaningfully, as if to say, "Wasn't she worth enough to get on bended knee?"
If one were bold enough to ask, Mamoru was sure he would've answered, "Because she is not Usagi." And that would've ruined everything between him and Manx. And the future as well. He couldn't take those risks, and prayed to every god and goddess he knew that no one ask.
Unfortunately, or perhaps, fortunately, no one had the chance to ask.
Because half the restaurant blew up into smithereens seconds later.
"It has been done."
A raspy voice. A voice filled with bloodlust. A voice filled with unlimited death wishes to all that surrounded him. All, except, his only family. His few teammates...dare he even call them friends? They had been together. Ever since Estet. Ever since they brought him in...kicking and screaming...
"Are you sure? You've planted everything everywhere Nagi had stated?"
"Hai. The first task has been taken care of."
"Very well." Brad Crawford handed over wrapped article to Farfarello, who took it into his hand all too gracefully. "You know the next step, take care of it quickly. Of course, leave no evidence behind."
"Hai."
Brad Crawford nodded, dismissing the young man of his presence. He was a man who knew what he wanted and always got it, no matter what. Turning back to his desk and looking quite contemplative, Brad turned on his computer and dialed a very familiar number on his personal phone and pressed the 'speaker' button.
There was silence for a moment before the room was filled with the phone ringing. Brad waited for the person home to pick up.
"Hello?"
Brad smirked. It had been awhile since he had gotten to play with a woman's heart, awhile longer since he had played with a clever woman's heart. But this woman, like every other woman, played right into his hands. Being the guardian of time seemed to just enhance her wisdom just a bit, but not enough to outsmart the best precognitive Estet had to offer. "Why, hello, Setsuna-chan. What a pleasantry, hearing your voice tonight."
Did we mention how good of an actor he was? He could've given Schuldich a run for his money.
"Oh, Brad-darling." Her voice seemed distressed, but even then Brad had to admit that it still had that musical tone to it... the one she always seemed to have. "How wonderful to hear from you."
"And you too. Are we still on for tonight?"
Her tone became more troubled, and Brad couldn't help but smirk more. "No... I believe not. The restaurant you reserved us to... it wouldn't have been called 'Seaside Shore', would it?"
"Why, actually it was. If I remember correctly, weren't your friends to meet us there?" Brad heard an intake of breath, and then there was silence. And more silence.
He knew she was unnerved. That was how it was to be, it had already happened in his vision. And though he wished to rush this and get on to better things—like work—he had to be patient. Patience was an important factor in this game of his—of Schwarz—and in order to win, he would have to wait his turn on the chessboard.
There was more silence. Crawford waited. Finally, she exhaled, and Brad knew if he had put his ear close enough to the speaker, he could've heard her sniffle.
"Brad, dear, I am going to have to call you back. All right?" Her voice box was tightened, he knew. After she got off the phone, she was going to try to call her teammates cell phones, get the busy tone, and break down and cry. Cry and cry and cry. It was normally a Farfarello thing to watch people suffer, but for some odd reason, the thought put an evil grin onto his face. Crying, crying, crying....
"All right. Please, if there is something wrong..."
"I'll call you. Goodbye, Brad." She hung up. Crawford pressed the speaker button again, to ensure that it was off. He enjoyed the moment for the time being, and toyed with the idea with killing the Guardian of Time while she was in her emotional state. But no, he couldn't... he would have to be patient. Sighing, and taking a deep breath, Crawford reached for the phone once more and dialed yet another number. He pressed two fingers to the top of his forehead, knowing the headache that would proceed right after the call.
"Yo."
"Schuldich," Crawford started irritably, his former good mood gone. "How is the girl?"
"Nagi-kins says she'll be fine within an hour or two. Needs some soup... her fever has dropped." He paused, and what sounded like a dry cleaner bleeped. "Say, since we're on the topic of the girl, how long is this charade supposed to last?"
"You need not worry about it, Schuldich. You may be the key player in this game, but I am the puppeteer. I hold all the strings... don't forget it."
He heard a snort from Schuldich's side. "You're just upset because your girl-toy isn't as cute as mine." A snicker. "How is she anyway? Traumatizing over her friends yet?"
"Actually, yes, not that it is any of your concern. The first task was carried out successfully."
"And the kitten and Takatori guy?"
Crawford smirked, glass glinting madly. "Taken care of. We wouldn't want any obstacles in our way. That includes any Sailor Scout mascots and...." He frowned. "Weiss."
There was a slight burst of laughter. "We even get to see the kittens again? How wonderful. I'm sure they've missed us." A strict pause. "We'll have our chance, right?" Schuldich's voice had an edge to it, a desperate edge. "For revenge?" He wanted to get back at Weiss so badly, so much... he'd do anything. Anything. Crawford pretty much felt the same way.
Revenge? Revenge was a dish best served cold. Yes, Brad could deal with that. "Of course." Crawford checked his watch. "I must be going, Schuldich. I do not have all day to hear your rants on the injustice of Weiss."
"Oh, Brad-babe, you know you like them. It's only a matter of time until I have you begging on my doorstep with a riding crop and—"
Crawford hung up. Taking out a pill bottle, Crawford popped an aspirin. Stupid Schuldich and his headache inducing innuedos.
Ami Mizuno was not one to give into fatuous actions.
In fact, she was the least likely out of all the Sailor Scouts to do something foolish without thinking. With this logic, one would figure that brainy Ami would know better than to down more than three bottles of liquor within an hour.
The same went with Omi Tsukinyo.
Out of clumsy Ken, flirty Yohji, and cold Aya-kun (not -chan), Omi was the most reasonable. The brainiest, the one to think out his emotions before acting upon them. It was why he was their tactical leader, why he was the basic leader of Kritiker at the moment.
So you can obviously see the reasoning, ladies and gentlemen, behind Tsukinyo Omi and Mizuno Ami being at each others throats after just waking up next to each other stark naked.
Ami was livid. "What were you doing at a club anyway, Tsukinyo?!"
Omi was infuriated. "I could be asking you the same thing Mizuno!"
They were both on opposite sides of the room, both holding their own respective sheets close to their naked forms. They had nothing else to hide in, other than the torn clothes littered all upon the floor. There were no polite suffixes added on, as they would use in school. They would not pretend they were okay on mutual grounds only because they hated one another.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, they had done the deed. And the rest of Weiss and Aino Minako were hearing the aftermath out on the other side of the door.
"Pervert!" Ami howled, blushing brightly still. As soon as she had woken up, her memories of last night came quickly after. And with it a scream of "HENTAI!" filled the building. Which reminded her... "You echii! Hentai! Pervert!"
"Urusai!" Omi snapped, suffering from a sever hangover topped with a migraine. "Just shut the hell up!" It wasn't like him, to use language with anyone, especially girls. But with this know-it- all...
"Don't tell me to shut up, you bastard!" It wasn't like her, Ami Mizuno, to spurt out dialogue with curses and insults at anyone, not even her more than suggestive friends Makoto and Minako. But with this cocky twit....
"Just stay the hell away from me!" Both yelled simultaneously.
On the other side of the door, both Minako and Yohji grinned at each other, while Ken blushed brightly as Aya-kun walked away, shaking his head.
"At least we didn't have to go through that mess, ne?" commented Yohji, grinning.
"We almost did, remember?" said Minako, glancing at an unhappy Ken.
"It never happened," Ken snapped, glaring at the two. Yohji tsk'ed.
"Denial is not just an ocean," quipped Minako, causing sweatdrops to both Ken and Yohji.
"A river, you mean," said Yohji, ignoring the Look Ken was giving him.
"A river, yeah," said Minako flippantly. She looked at both of them expectantly. "Well, we've now figured out which girl is in there, but now... now where are the others I was hanging out with? Did you guys see them?"
"I don't really remember," admitted Ken. "Only the black haired one." His eye twitched. Yeah, he remembered that one all right. She had stepped on his foot....twelve times.
"I saw that pretty brunette one leave with someone," piped up Yohji helpfully. "While you and Ken-kun were—"
"Shut up!" Ken roared, blushing red. Thus followed a loud argument, with explosive language.
Minako sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, very worried. How could this had happened? Of course, Rei and Makoto could handle themselves, but Usagi? What had gotten into her? She was supposed to be watching over Usagi, but when Yohji and Ken-kun had come over....
She had known for a fact that Usagi wasn't one for clubs—hell Ami wasn't one for clubs, and the situation Ami was in now could be more disastrous for Usagi and....
Minako sighed again. She just hoped her friend was all right.
"Minako!" Ami half yelled, half said in a normal tone, wearing a pair of Omi's pants and a T-shirt. "What are you doing? Put on some descent clothes!"
Minako looked down at Yohji's dress shirt and blushed. "Oops?"
"Where is Usagi?" Ami asked, a bit harshly, eyes searching the halls. "Is she here too?"
"No, she's not here, and her cell phone and communicator are off." Minako thought for a moment. "I wonder how'd she get to turn it off, anyway."
Ami looked panicked for a minute, before remembering the company they were in. She glanced back at Yohji and Ken, who were now studying them with narrowed, curious eyes. She nearly groaned. Why couldn't Minako keep her big fat trap closed?
"Usagi's obviously in trouble," announced Ami, commencing in dragging Minako away from the two men and intent on finding Minako some pants so they could leave. "We must find her before it's too late."
"What's the rush, ladies?" Yohji called out, slightly jogging behind the two. "What's so important about this girl?"
"She's our friend," Ami snapped out, angered beyond limit at both herself and the situation she was in. Honestly, losing her virginity to the snottiest kid in the world, Omi Tsukinyo! Gritting her teeth, she found what appeared to be the cut-offs Minako had on last night on the floor of one of the bedrooms and practically threw them at her. "Hurry up, Mina."
Minako grumbled, but didn't dare comment aloud against the blue-haired ice princess. There were just some things you did not do to Ami...like piss her off further when she was over the peak point.
Ken, who was also trailing behind them and Yohji, didn't say anything either, but Yohji did. "Well, I hope you two enjoyed the time last night, and be sure to visit Kitty in the House Florists again!" he waved cheerfully as the two teenagers made their way out the door.
Ami was almost frozen to the spot. She, the Princess of Mercury, one of the celestial guardians of the princess of the Moon... had messed with a...a florist?!
She nearly fainted, but first things first. She had a princess to find.
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