Sons and Lovers

By dee1600

Summary: Tsukino Usagi develops a crush on Chiba Mamoru but is the Chiba-kun in front of her really the "true" Chiba?

Disclaimer: All Sailor moon characters are created by Naoko Takeuchi/ Kondansha and Toei Animation. Some scenes that will transpire in this story come from the first two volumes of the manga BODY by Mimori Ao.

Chapter 1: True Colors

I think I'm in love. Ever since he's sat beside in my freshman class, I've been watching him. His beautiful cobalt blue eyes hidden behind rimmed glasses. His serious demeanor as he reads a textbook. The way he speaks, his voice so low it's almost mature. The way his book bag bounces on his hip as he walks home. The epitome of the perfect student. My close friends Ami and Rei can't understand why I like this aloof and composed demeanor.

"You know, you have such bad taste!"

"What are you saying, Rei? He's pretty cute, especially those mesmerizing blue eyes…"

"But he's a loner, Usagi. Are you sure you can handle him? And he's smart. He might actually be too smart for an odango like you."

"Shaddap!"

Sometimes, Rei can be a pain when she talks like that.

"You know you can't be too sure about these things… What if what's inside his bag is actually porn?", Ami warned. "And maybe he has a bad personality. What if he's a pervert? You can't be too sure… he's too quiet, like he's hiding something…"

"Ami you're one to talk. You're quiet as well…"

I know that my friends are just generally concerned about my welfare but this might be my one in a lifetime chance to find true love and happiness. He's even passed most of my expected qualifications. I've always pictured my ideal to be …

Honest,

Gentle,

Mature,

Someone who'll listen to all my selfish requests,

Smart, and

A Black-haired Prince.

I was more afraid that I was just insignificant to him. This changed dramatically overnight, when Makoto-Sensei unexpectedly asked me to follow him and put me to some good use.

"Makoto-Sensei!"

"Don't worry. Someone's there to help you…"

Grasping my shoulder tightly so I couldn't get away, he propelled me towards the study room.

"Sorry again Chiba, but I've managed to trap someone here to help you…"

And there, lo and behold was Chiba-kun. Holy shit.

"Well, I'll leave you two now and will be back with the key when you're done."

That's when I started to panic. "Wait, Sensei." The door clicked and my teacher had left us both together in the cramped space.

I didn't expect myself to be so nervous. This was supposed to be a great opportunity to get to know him more and to get him to notice me. But I couldn't find a topic to make conversation. Except for the 'ka-chink' of staplers running through paper, the atmosphere felt heavy, too heavy for any light conversation. As we continued to shuffle and staple the papers, I caught sight of a manga in his bag.

"Hey, is that Paradise Kiss by Ai Yazawa? I love that mangka's work. Are you into shoujo manga?"

Silence was the only deafening sound that came after and a glare that made me think "Uh-oh! Danger! Retreat! Retreat!"

Afterwards, all I could do was laugh, which sounded a bit too hysterically since I was doing it to calm my nerves.

"Oh well, anyway, let's get back to stapling these…", I said.

Being the klutz I was, I accidentally slapped away the whole stack of unstapled papers and the whole heap scattered on the floor. Flustered, I immediately knelt on the floor, apologizing "Sorry! So Sorry!". I was too embarrassed to look at his, as he slowly knelt down across me.

Damn! Now I'm definitely on top of Chiba-kun's shit-list.

As we started gathering the sheets, I heard a soft chuckle. When I looked up, I found Chiba-kun's blue eyes slightly crinkled, laughter escaping his lips. Chiba-kun was laughing.

After we had stapled all the other papers together and he went to get Sensei, I mulled over what had just happened. Chiba-kun, the serious, ever so composed Chiba-kun actually laughed. And I felt a shiver of delight. I was so happy! Chiba-kun is really perfect.

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After that one event, I decided to go into full battle mode. Wearing a cherry-toned lip gloss, and spending hours braiding my unruly, blond hair, I stepped in the school the next day hoping to get a glimpse of him. That day, Chiba-kun didn't come to school at all. All the work I did, wasted.

"Maybe he got sick today."

Leaving school in feeling down in the dumps, I dragged both my friends in a karaoke bar and sang till I was hoarse.

"See you tomorrow, odango!'

"See you tomorrow."

"You sound terrible. Drink some warm lemon tea before going to bed."

"Don't worry, Ami. I will."

"We'll be seeing you, Usagi."

And with that, my friends and I went our separate ways. Entering an alley that was a short-cut to my house, I got a glimpse of two men, armed with revolvers, cornering someone. These men were obviously bad news. Curious, I treaded slowly and peaked to find the person they were cornering. It was Chiba-kun. I couldn't believe it. What was Chiba-kun doing with these people?

The two men held Chiba-kun's arms, half dragging him away fro the alley and into the street as he argued with them.

"Let go of me. I'm not going with you."

Trailing them quietly, I found that they were leading him towards a black Mercedes.

"Get in."

"No. I'm not listening to you."

A pretty woman, probably in her late 20's, stepped out of the Benz and called out his name. His first name.

"Mamoru, I missed you." She cried as she kissed him on the lips, passionately. I turned away, a bit shock. They kissed? Don't tell me that's his girlfriend?

However the conversation that followed made my head lift.

"Get in."

"No."

"Mamoru, I'm not letting you go today."

"No. I'm going home."

Turning to the two men, she ordered them to restrain him. Afraid that they would make a scene, one of the men whispered, "Come on, Chiba, let's do this the easy way…"

Giving up, Chiba-kun answered "Alright, alright." and they let go of him immediately. That was when I ran towards Chiba-kun, pulled his arm and dragged him out of the men's reach.

"Hurry."

"Tsu…Tsukino-san? Why…are you here?"

"Never mind that. Don't you want to get home?"

With that cue, Chiba-kun and I made a dash towards the alley and away from the men and the woman in black Benz. We ran as far away as possible until we made it to the park. Exhausted, I crouched on the floor, catching my breath. Chiba-kun fell in a heap.

"It looks like you saved me, Tsukino-san."

"Eh? Did you not need saving!" I asked, stunned at this.

Smiling up at me, he said. "I'm fine now. Would you like something to drink?"

"No, I'm not thirsty." I said. At that, both of us sat on the floor. As I reflected on what just happened, I couldn't keep the questions to myself. Rubbing my left hand furiously to my forehead, I cried out.

"Augh! I can't take it anymore! I'm just gonna come out and ask!"

To which Chiba-kun, sweat dropped, "…Um…sure. Ask."

"Who were those people anyway? What did they want from you? And who's that girl who just kissed you?"

"Oh, she's a client from my part-time job. The men are her bodyguards."

"Client? But she kissed you? Isn't she your girlfriend?"

Hyperventilating at this, I mentally noted that that Chiba-kun was probably embarrassed. I was surprised to find him laughing at the query.

"Hahaha. I guess… since you know this much, I might as well tell you. ….I work as a host."

"A wHAT!"

"I only go on dates. The reason I wasn't at school today was because something came up at work. That lady…she's one of my clients but there's some trouble…"

I couldn't take it all in. NO FREAKING WAY!

"You…you're joking, right?" I asked. "The Chiba-kun I know is not like that. He's smart and sincere and composed…"

"OH. That Chiba-kun DOES NOT exist." Chiba-kun said, a smirk gracing his lips. "I just wanted keep a low profile so I kept up that image at school."

I felt that something inside of me broke. Could it be my heart? "Then…why did you want to work as a host?"

"…'Cause I get to date girls and make happy memories. And, I get paid to do it. Isn't that awesome?"

"…"

Taking my silence as acceptance, Chiba-kun held out something from his bag. It was a business card. There on the card was the name of the bar, Club B.

"Here. You'll be able to reach me if you call this number. Just ask for Mamoru."

Slowly, he smiled conspiratorially, leaned forward and whispered in my ear. "…And I'll even give you a discount."

WAS HE INSANE? I'm not so cheap as to go looking for a good time with a guy!

Angrily, I crumpled the card and punched him right smack on the chin.

"AS IF I'D WANT TO DO THAT!"

"Hey! That hurt…"

I glowered at him as he looked up and saw me stare him down. Ah, he's the absolute worst! And to think, I fell for that kind of guy. What a jerk.