Chapter Twelve: Acting the part: Usagi & Sailor moon.

"I can't believe you just ran off last night like that Usagi-chan" Luna stressed watching Usagi make her way downstairs.

"I know I'm sorry." Usagi mumbled. She was too busy thinking about how cold Mamoru was, and how mad he must be after she took off on him. She knew that when he saw her next he would really interrogate her.

'But who is he to question me like that anyway' She sternly thought. She remembered how she agreed to 'pretend' to be his girlfriend for the duration of the project. He was really cold to her last night, but he never called her Odango; he never called her anything.

"Usagi, are you sure you're okay to go to school?" Ikuko asked handing Usagi her lunch bag.

"If anything happens pumpkin, you just call daddy! I'll be right there my brave little girl!" Kenji was madly bouncing around the house stapling his infamous 'do not feed the usagi' signs, practically covering the entire living room with them. Ikuko's temper started to rise, as she angrily cringed. Her fist was balled tightly with a small red vein popping out.

"STOP THAT!" She shouted smacking him with the spatula in her hand. Usagi smiled nervously, insisting she would be fine. Just than the door bell rang. Shingo opened it quickly coming out of nowhere. It was her friends, Rei, Ami, Makoto and Minako. Usagi smiled dashing out and away from her frantic father. She was sure that her mother would hit him more after the door was closed. And sure enough, they heard the tumble and crashing of furniture followed by loud yelps from Kenji.

"Usagi-chan, how are you feeling?' Ami asked politely.

"You had us so worried, you shouldn't go out for walks that late." Makoto explained. Usagi felt bad for making everyone worry about her so much. She knew that she could keep this a secret from her family but knew that the girls had to know the truth about her situation.

"Um you guys, I have to tell you the truth about where I was last night…" She went on to explain her reasons for taking off and what happened at Mamoru's apartment. Rei's eye twitched slightly when Usagi told them about his condition and the fact that he kissed her again in her room the night before. Her friends fell to the floor hearing about the second kiss.

"What's going on with you two?" Rei asked frantically trying to figure out if they were an item or not. Usagi become timid suddenly, almost sad.

"It's nothing like that Rei-chan. He's not like my boyfriend, and I don't want him to be. I just want things to go back to the way they were." Rei's mouth dropped a bit saddened by the tone of voice. It was very apparent that Usagi was hurt.

"So are you sure you don't want to tell your parents. We could just try and see if we can switch partners Usagi." Minako explained. But the likely hood of that happening was slim to nothing without getting her parents involved.

"Ah it's okay! I'll be fine! After all I can battle youma's, why not this one, right?" Usagi broke out in a loud hysterical laughter easing everyone. Somehow they all noticed her childish immature ways changing. However, they didn't like the silent girl she had become when she was first attacked; they really missed the klutzy blonde ditz.

……………………………..

'So she's Sailor moon too?' Mamoru shook his head, wondering about the odds of something like that happening.

'It's so obvious, why didn't I see it before' He was driving to Juban Junior Highschool to meet his partner in the theater hall with the rest of the other students from his College. He knew that Akio would be there feeling victorious for getting Usagi as his partner. But Mamoru was determined to make sure that everyone thought he was her boyfriend.

"Odango atama is Sailor moon. She's brave, I'll give her that." He smiled remembering back to her fleeing from his car and dashing off into the dark, transforming and than fighting the youma at the park. Even with all the emotional strain she had been through, she still fought. He parked the car, and took one final large sip of his coffee and stepped out. His eyes were sore from his lack of sleep, he was still having troubles eradicating Usagi from his dream; but at least last night he didn't force himself on her, they were back to making consented love.

………………………………...

Usagi was nervously biting at her nails sitting next to Umino and Naru. Ami and Makoto were further down with their class. She didn't know what she would say to Akio other than 'you stupid demon rat!'

"Usagi-chan, relax, it's just a project. The final project where how well you do will count for 45 percent of your grade and possibly determine if you pass or fail this year-"

"Shut up Umino" Naru said hitting him on the head with a metal bat.

"Oh Naru-chan where did you get that bat from?" Usagi asked puzzled by it's sudden appearance. Naru equally confused, scratched her head.

"Boys and Girls, I'm glad to see you're all here. I'll start off by explaining the program. Like all the grade 8's before you, every year we team up with the Juban College to participate in the fun yet educational project. The science students you'll be paired up with are majoring in their own respective fields and are going to give you a broader science experience." The principle was talking and talking and soon the College students filled in the theater lining up behind him. They were given name tags so that the junior's could find their partners. Usagi saw Mamoru standing gracefully beside Motoki trying to peak out in the crowd searching for her. Than she saw Akio and her heart stopped working

"Usagi? Are you okay?" Naru asked, noticing the blank stare in her face. Usagi shivered and than started to smile madly.

"Okay, now I'll give you all the opportunity to find your partner." He was closing his long boring speech, and when he finished the juniors and college students started to mix trying to locate their partners. Usagi walked to Ami and Makoto when Naru quickly met up with Miko. She didn't want to walk with Umino because that would mean seeing Mamoru.

"Usagi-chan? Did you see him yet?" Ami asked not really paying attention in finding her own partner. Makoto was scanning the tags as they walked trying to spot Akio written on one. Usagi than saw him, walking sleazily up to her. She swallowed and turned to Ami with big glassy eyes.

"That's him isn't it?" Makoto asked meeting his stare with her icy gaze.

"Hi there Usagi-san." He smirked devilishly waiting for her to turn around. Ami was not impressed and neither was Makoto. Akio made no effort to even pretend to look remorseful. Usagi turned slowly to angrily look back at him. She didn't want to appear weak.

"Oh I see your face is healing nicely." He laughed. Usagi laughed back much to Makoto's and Ami's surprise.

"Oh I see your face is healing nicely too. How are your rips?" She sneered. His expression changed, he was furious. He didn't expect for her to be strong after his attempt on her. Mamoru spotted Usagi as he was listening to Umino's boring ideas for the project, he also noticed her laugh and Akio looking pretty ticked. He excused himself from Umino rushing towards Usagi.

"Usagi-chan, are you going to be okay?" Ami whispered realizing that she and Makoto had to still find their partners. Usagi beamed her a smiled and confirmed that she as fine. As Ami and Makoto started to walk away, Mamoru grabbed Usagi by the arm, standing very close to her; almost covering her. Akio and Mamoru exchanged tense glances.

"Chiba, good to see you." Akio smirked putting his hand in his pocket. Mamoru protectively pulled Usagi closer to his arm. He looked down to her seeing the confusion and the blush on her face.

"Let me get one thing straight with you. Don't lay a finger on my girlfriend." Mamoru was so convincing that for a moment Usagi almost believed that he was her boyfriend. But it was all a lie. Akio took a step back, distressed that she was dating Mamoru. He recovered quickly and brought back his smirk.

"We are partners, fingers have to touch." He was stepping over the imaginary line Mamoru had placed in his mind, and he took one step closer in front of Usagi, letting her go from his grasp. Naru noticed that Mamoru was holding on to Usagi and so did a few other students. The girls jealous that such a gorgeous guy was holding on to Usagi.

"Akio, if you really want to die, I can take you there." Mamoru shared a smirk with Akio before turning back to Usagi cupping her face in her hands and bringing it inches from his lips. Naru panicked blushing madly with her partner Miko. Ami and Makoto were equally baffled not sure if they should jump in and stop him. But he didn't kiss her.

"Don't worry Odango atama." And he let her go and moved back to Umino. Naru had stopped breathing and it took a hard pat on the back from Miko to remind her to exhale. Ami and Makoto let out a large gush of air, relieved that he didn't kiss her in front of everyone. Akio took a step closer to Usagi's trembling body.

"So you didn't wait too long to start dating somebody else uh?" Akio was trying to get under her skin, trying to set her off the edge so that she would humiliate herself. But Usagi was braver now that she had Mamoru to protect her, and all she did was laugh at him.

"You're really pathetic you know." She laughed again loudly this time, catching the attention of everyone. Akio felt embarrassed and blushed.

"You laugh like a horse." He exclaimed. Usagi crossed her arms and smirked.

"You look like one." She was really bothering him, he didn't understand why. Maybe it was her brave new attitude, or maybe it was because she was the only one who didn't willing give up to him. The principle came back up on the stage, encouraging the students to verbalize more with each other so that a better working relationship could be formed. Akio smirked at the notion, Usagi grunted repulsed.

"Usagi." Naru charged over to her with Miko following close by.

"Excuse us for a bit." And Naru grabbed Usagi away to a corner with Miko.

"What's going on? That guy you hate was like draped over you?" She whispered angrily. Miko was blushing.

"Mamoru-san's a really nice guy, he's very popular at the College. Almost all the girls have a huge crush on him…" Miko was blushing really brightly now. Usagi seemed surprised to hear that Mamoru was that popular, she never saw him with a girl, other than Rei.

"Is he really you're boyfriend?" Miko asked a bit heart broken. Naru's eyes widen off of her face looking back to Usagi waiting for her to say no.

"Usagi! He is! You never told me!" She shouted and than quickly covered her mouth apologetically. Akio was looking through the crowd trying to find Usagi again, frustrated that he was just left hanging there.

"Yeah, kind of." Usagi's face burned up as Naru starred her down.

"But that other guy, Akio is bad news Usagi-san. You should be very careful around him. He has a very big reputation with girls." Miko added cautioning Usagi. Naru temporarily forgot all about Mamoru and focused on what her partner was saying.

"What do you mean?" Naru probed. Usagi was starting to feel very uncomfortable; she knew all to well what she was talking about.

"He's had so many girlfriends, he tells them all he loves them after a few dates and gets them to sleep with him. I even heard that he tried to force himself on a couple of girls but eventually they all give in to him. I heard that Mamoru saved one of those girls, nobody knows who though. I think she's the only girl who has truly refused Akio." Usagi stiffened turning beat red. Naru was mystified that such a guy could exist and wondered how he kept getting away with it.

"He's very selective with the kind of girls he dates and because he's so rich that he keeps getting away with it. He's broken so many hearts." Miko continued noticing something about Usagi's face. Her bruises were still very real and she worried that someone may ask her about them.

"Usagi-san, are you okay?" Miko asked looking closely at her face, noticing the faint blue and black painted on Usagi's skin. Naru turned back to Miko and explained that Usagi had a run in with another type of freak.

"Some jerk tried to rob her after school on Friday, luckily Mamoru was there to save her." Naru put it all together. She sharply spun and looked at Usagi's face, still a vibrant red. Usagi felt like she was being stripped naked with Naru's eyes, like she had a realization.

"Usagi? Mamoru saved you…" Naru whispered, Miko was a bit confused and nervously smiled not really understanding what Naru was getting at. She had to admit she was jealous of the blonde young girl, Mamoru was the most wanted guy on campus; he never stroke her as somebody who would date a 14 year old junior, but there was something very special about Usagi. She could tell that Usagi was the type of person who would completely change your life, for the better. Meanwhile, Usagi was still being threatened by Naru.

"You started dating him since he saved you, haven't you?" Naru scolded.

"Naru-chan you don't understand I don't want anyone to know that I was attac- what?" Usagi was pretty much finished her sentence when she understood the words Naru really said.

"You heard me Tsukino Usagi. I can't believe you've been his girlfriend since Friday and never told me?" Naru had her hands resting angrily on her hips. Little did she know that Usagi was totally relieved. She started to laugh, her smile twitching badly. Miko just smiled confirming what she thought about Usagi, she was special.

On the next chapter: Akio and Usagi have to meet at the library after school, Mamoru comes along with Umino. And there's a hug that would last a life time.