Sons and Lovers
By dee1600
A/N: I am very glad that you are all findings this an enjoyable read. Keep sending your comments/ suggestions!
Now to answer some readers' queries:
Serena221: wait now i'm confused. what is a host and is he really one? does he really like her or not? ah my head is spinning
Kireisnowtenshi: LOL this is really funny lmao!
So like is a host equivalent to a male prostitute...it just seems i've been asking that question a lot lmao...So ...anyways Im really enjoying it. Continue with it. Goodluck!
To answer your questions, a host is very much like a high class male prostitute. Hosts create an illusionary fairy tale romance, meeting their clients' sexual fantasies. Most hosts actually sleep with their clients to meet these needs. In the story however, Chiba Mamoru has been one of the exceptionally few hosts who haven't slept with their clients yet.
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 3: How a Professional Does It
"I'll absolutely make you like me."
"But I already told you. I won't ever…"
"So be ready." Before leaving, Chiba gave me a wink, which left me chewing my lower lip.
Goddamn it! Why is he so smug? And where did all that confidence come from? I exclaimed as I shampooed my hair, trying to scrub him out of my head. Besides, who would want a guy like that anyway?
Then I remembered the attractive woman that kissed him fully on the lips.
I guess there are some girls who need companionship…
As I compared our differences, I felt a surge of unease. The competition was tough! Chiba's a pro at what he's doing. He's used to cashing in on all those mature, sexy women, while I'm stuck here without a single boyfriend in my entire life! That bastard! Even if my opponent's a pro, no matter what strategy he come up with, I'm DEFINITELY not gonna fall for that guy!
As I carried my book bag to school, I mentally said my mantra over and over again.
"I-won't-give-in-I-won't give-in-I-won't-give-in…"
Cautiously, I peered in the classroom. There was no sign of Chiba anywhere. I blew out a sigh of relief. Excellent. He's not here yet.
But as I dragged my chair out, someone came up behind me and murmured, "Good morning!"
I shivered when I gazed at Chiba-kun's face. WAH! HE'S HERE! My eyes grew rounded as he glanced furtively, a serious look on his face.
My fists went up as I crouched, Jet Li style, as if ready to kick butt. Then I flicked my wrists, egging him to take me on. Give it all you've got, Chiba!
But the next few minutes passed, and he just plain ignored me.
"TSUKINO? It looks like you have a lot of energy today. Answer the next problem on the board."
"Senseiiiiii" I whined.
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I watching him like a hawk through second period, then fifth period, and even after school was over! He didn't even make a backward glance. Huh? Was this his idea of a joke!
For the next two weeks, I gawked at him periodically, but nothing happened. Except for the occasional greetings, he kept his distance. He didn't even once look at me.
As my friends chatted away through lunch, I mulled over the challenge. He was serious, wasn't he? He should be taking me on by now. It's so strange… was he just leading me on!
Not being able to stand it anymore, I rose from my chair. I'm going to confront him.
"Where are you going?" Ami asked.
"The bathroom…"
Catching him opening his locker in the corridor, I blocked him as he pulled out a Biology textbook.
"HEY! Just what are you planning!"
Chiba just looked back at me but didn't say anything.
"What! You senile? Did you forget what you said to me the other day?"
Chiba replied. "Did something happen the other day?" WHAT! Was he just saying that other day never happened!
I held Chiba by the scruff of his collar and shook him violently. "YES! SOMETHING HAPPENED! GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER! I smashed you with a trash can and…" before I could finish, both my friends Rei and Ami grabbed me. Rei held my arms tightly and started dragging me away as Ami bowed and apologized.
"My friend Tsukino's been acting weird since two weeks ago so…"
"Oh? Is she alright in the head? Maybe she should see a doctor?" Chiba asked innocently.
"CHHHIIIIIBBBBBAAAAA! Bastard…." Those words he dropped now left me fuming.
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Gym class was next and sensei asked us to prepare for our yearly interschool marathon. As the whole class 2-2 jogged around the stadium, I kept staring at Chiba's profile. Why didn't he come out and do anything? After running just a few rounds, I noticed that Chiba slowed down. He seemed to get tired easily.
"Chiba! Sorry, but could you collect the pylons?"
"Sure, Sensei…"
I thought, Now's my chance!
Entering the storage facility, I slowly opened the sliding door to find him returning the pylons in the shelf.
Leaning against the wall, with my arms crossed I asked. "Hey, seriously? Did you chicken out?"
He just went right on arranging the pylons, snubbing me.
"You were just talking big to look cool, huh?"
Chiba just turned around and stared at me, a frown etched on his face.
"I guess hosts are not really all that… "
"Phew, Storage Complete." Chiba beamed as he wiped the sweat off him.
That ticked me off. "FINE! Sorry to have bothered you!"
As I turned around, totally pissed off, prepared to leave him in the storage all by himself, Chiba clung to me tightly and whispered, " I've finally caught you…"
WHA--? HEY!
"Let go, moron."
"No way. You wanted me to shower you with attention."
"You're wrong. Who the hell would want your attention anyway?"
Turning me around, he looked down at me, a mischievous smile lighting his features.
"You've been staring me for days, haven't you?"
Recalling all that I've done for the past two weeks, staring at him, gawking at him…NO WAY! Was this all according to his plan!
"If I had gone all out, you would have ignored me, right?"
"You..." I started cracking my knuckles and punched him in the stomach. This made Chiba stagger backwards.
"You purposely ignored me just to make me notice you? As a man, have you no shame? Using such underhanded methods…"
"I got your attention didn't I?"
"Yes, you did. But like I've said before, guys like you…"
"…you hate most, right? So, what guys do you like?" Chiba asked, with a raised eyebrow.
My eyes turned starry as I pictured my black-haired ideal. "I like them HONEST, GENTLE and MATURE! Definitely not a pervert! He'd be smart, listen to all my selfish requests…"
"Eh? Does a guy like that really exist?" Chiba retorted. "That means you won't have a problem when I become like that?"
"..."
'Cause I can do that. I'm really gentle, and I can listen to all your selfish requests." cough, cough
Hmmm…Chiba-kun's kinda physically weak…
Noting this, I found a solution to my problem. "Ok. Can you beat me in this year's interschool marathon?" A secret smile graced my lips. Hehe… give up, Chiba! This has been my forte since middle school and I'm always ranked in the top five! "Because I prefer athletic guys. If you really like me, you'll do it. But if you can't make it, you'll have to stop bothering me."
"YOU'RE ON! In exchange, if I get in the top five, you'll give me your phone number and you'll let me take you out on a date!"
"ONLY if I lose, got that?"
"It's a deal." Chiba nodded.
Haha! That idiot's bluffing. There's no way he can win against me in that 8-kilometer marathon.
The next day, after the school bell rung announcing our school dismissal, I noticed Chiba hurrying to the track and field site.
"What's the rush, Chiba?" I asked pointedly, "And what's that extra bag for?"
"Independent training. I need up to build my stamina. Ciao!" as he left the classroom. For the next few days, whenever the school bell rung, Chiba would run out of the classroom and jog around the field. I couldn't help it. I had to watch my opponent closely as he timed himself throughout the racetrack. NO WAY! I didn't think he'd take this bet so seriously! And he looked so intense in his track uniform!
When the actual competition began, I gave it all I got, and was ecstatic with my rankings.
Leaning over, Chiba whistled. "Third place, huh? You're not normal!"
"And the results of your training?" I shot back.
Flashing a smile, Chiba boldly answered. "I'll definitely win…'cause I'm not giving you up…. " I felt myself blush at what he just said. He won't give up on me? Then Chiba suddenly mussed my hair "So you better be watching!"
As he sprinted off, I yelled to him. "Hold on, what do you mean by that, stupid?"
BANG! The gun went off and all the male students dashed forward.
Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to watch him after all…
Crouching on the grass with my friends, Rei suddenly commented.
"Whoa! The four-eyes in our class isn't doing too bad!"
"Four-eyes? Do you mean Chiba-kun?" Ami asked.
"Yeah. He maintained his position in second place for the first three laps."
"Wanna bet what place he'd get?"
I missed the rest as my eyes became transfixed on Chiba-kun. Idiot! You can't jump at the front of the pack in an 8-kilometer run! Ha! See? Now you're exhausted. But still he's persisting? Wow, amazing!
Then I suddenly caught myself cheering for him and gasped. Why am I doing that? I should be hoping he would lose?
Not wanting to contemplate on what just happened, I started to pace on the grass until …
"The boys are returning!"
My heart started to beat erratically. I looked on to find that the first placer was not him.
If he's not the next one, then...then…
"… you'll have to stop bothering me."
My stomach knotted inside out. When the next sprinter came by and I saw that it wasn't Chiba-kun, I was devastated.
I guess he couldn't make it…
Even as the runners passed, I continued to look on. Finally, sensei dismissed all those whose times were recorded.
"Sensei, how many more boys have yet to return?"
"Oh, about ten. But many students tend to give up midway so they run off."
Run off?
"There's no use waiting for them."
But Chiba-kun… Chiba-kun's still out there.
Leaving the teacher, I then hastened onto the course and started to look for him. I met him half-way, still racing.
Approaching him, he finally addressed me. "What? Did you come to gloat?"
"No…"
As he passed me, I noted that he was trudging with difficulty, lugging his left foot in tow.
"What happened to your foot?"
"…"
"Did you sprain your ankle?"
"Shut up!" Chiba-kun snapped angrily.
"Chiba-kun! You have to stop! Your foot must be swollen…"
"I won't stop! In order that you'll accept me, I must continue…"
Why? Why would you go this far, Chiba-kun?
Stumbling on the road, I trapped him in my arms. He was pale and very tired.
"Lemme go!" Chiba-kun insisted.
"No! You don't have to try so hard anymore…"
"Why not?"
" Because I've made you go through so much already." Hurriedly, I quickly rejoined with " …and I'll give you another chance."
"Really? Then you'll give me you're phone number?"
"Uh huh."
All of a sudden, Chiba-kun chuckled.
This set me frozen in my tracks.
"Lucky!"
As he stretched his arms, he yawned. "Augh, I'm so tired. How long has it been since I've run like that?"
WHAT A ---?
Sensing I had questions needed answering, Chiba-kun admitted. "Well in the beginning, I started to run for real. But towards the sixth lap, I started to get exhausted. I knew I couldn't make it, but at least I had to try to finish the race. But then you came, so I started to put on a show."
A SHOW!
"Then the sprained ankle?"
"Huh?" Chiba-kun looked at me, visibly confused.
"WHAT ABOUT YOUR SPRAINED ANKLE!" I shouted back.
Chiba-kun nervously replied. "I never once said I had a sprained anything."
I fell to my knees. Then that means… I was deceived again?
Chiba-kun glanced at me as the first sign of tears slowly poured out from me.
"You're so cruel, Chiba. So cruel…"
My hands were now on my face, hiding my tears.
"Even though I was honestly worried about you because you were trying so hard…I was even cheering for you… but…"
I couldn't go on. It was just too painful to bear.
"Tsukino-san…"