Chapter 4:
Usagi wasn't herself; it was as though some alien being had taken over her body. It was so unlike her to just kiss Mamoru and walk away; there had been no fight, no harsh words. Just a simple slip of the tongue, and a kiss in retaliation.
What am I doing? She questioned herself; This is like some ridiculously twisted romance, or flirtation. I can't believe he's choosing to shut me up by kissing me! Its cute, and adorable and../ Stop stop stop! Now rewind that last thought. Yes, you did just call him cute and adorable; what was next, romantic? Boyfriend material? Don't try to deny it girl, you're interested. And gosh, who wouldn't be/ The voice inside her head whistled, impressed.
Usagi had to laugh, even though this was a completely impossible situation; she had a voice insider her head, a semi-boyfriend (who was really just the jerk she was kissing), and no idea what was really going on.
I must be going insane/Oh, no, not insane, sweetie, you're coming to your senses! It's about time you started really noticing that man/ So, not only was she insane, but so was the voice in her head, But doesn't having a voice in my head mean I'm insane? Can the voice inside my head be insane? Does that even work! Usagi shrugged, she was late for a meeting at Rei's temple anyway.
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"Alright, girls. I called you here extra early for a special operation – Operation: Get-Usagi-and-Mamoru-Together," Rei had called Mina, Mako and Ami to the temple an hour before she had told Usagi to be there simply to discuss this plan. "We all know that they are perfect for each other, even if they're too obstinate to admit it. Also, we know that Mamoru is kissing Usagi practically every time they come into contact, so I propos-" Rei was cut off by a hurried entrance.
"Sorry I'm late," the blonde panted, seating themselves next to Ami.
"That's alright, as I was saying, we basically need to force them together as much as possible. It's the only way to make it so that they get to the point where they realise what they really want. Do agree?" Rei looked around the room, all were nodding. "Good, we start ASAP. Meaning that, tonight, when we go out, Motoki," she nodded toward the blonde seated next to Ami, "brings Mamoru to the same movie." There was more general assent, "Alright, Motoki you'd better get out of here, Usagi'll be here soon. We'll see you at the movies at 7pm tonight, deal?"
Motoki smirked and nodded, "We'll see you there, even if I have to drag Mamoru." With that, he stood and left, leaving the girls in silence.
"Do you really think this'll work?" Ami ventured, quietly.
"Of course it'll work!" Mina exploded, "Can't you see the evidence! I mean, first off, she never stops speaking about him; secondly, he's been kissing her to shut her up! What more do you need? Haven't you seen the electricity that sparks between them, the pent up frustration at each other, which even they don't understand?"
Mako agreed, "Besides the fact that I saw her kissing him today." The brunette was smug, grinning cheekily at the other girls.
"You saw WHAT!" Came the loud chorus, "WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US SOONER!"
By this time Mako was laughing uncontrollably, she managed to barely spit out a sentence. "Because this is so much more amusing!"
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Usagi finally arrived at Rei's, about 15 minutes after Motoki left; she ran in, panting, her face red from the exercise of running to the Temple. She apologised and sat down next to Ami, where Motoki had been less than half an hour before.
"Alright, so I was thinking we could go to a movie tonight," Mina suggested, after they had all chimed in with greetings for Usagi.
"Ohhh!" Squealed Usagi, "What a great idea! It feels like its been so long since we've been anywhere properly."
"Actually, Usa, it's only been a few days, but I can understand that you were distracted by other things," There was a hard tone to Rei's voice, Usagi was hurt, but she shrugged it off.
"I was thinking the local picture theatre at about, um, 7 maybe?" Makoto hazarded, trying desperately not to look to Rei for encouragement; instead she turned her gaze to Usagi, grinning as the blonde nodded eagerly.
"Sounds great! Any particular movie, or are we just going to see what's on?" Usagi glanced at each of the girls in turn, her eyes resting for longer upon Rei and Mako.
Rei shrugged, "Whatever's on, I guess…"
Usagi grinned, "Alright," then yelped, "I'm late! Ahh! Mama's going to kill me! I was supposed to do the shopping with her!"
Ami, Mako and Mina had to giggle, Rei just glared, as per usual, of course.
"So I'll see you tonight at 7 then? Bye!" Usagi jumped up, running out of the room, curiously similar to the way she'd entered only a few minutes earlier.
"What a strange girl…" Rei had to laugh, "I think this plan is going to work. This is what we have to do…."
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Unknowingly, Usagi ran into Mamoru for the second time that day; but this time, the impact was harder, and sent the two of them to the pavement. Both could do nothing but lie there and stare, dazedly, at the cause of their discomfort.
"Mamoru-baka! You know better than to get into my way!" Usagi tried desperately to control her volume, but it was to no avail. She pushed herself off the black haired man, rolling into a sitting position.
"Odango! Don't you ever look where you're going!" Mamoru had completely forgotten about Usagi's bargain, and almost about his own; he was still lying where he had fallen, motionless but for his talking.
"Oi! What have I told you about using that nick name!" Usagi shrieked, dreading that she would have to keep her end of the bargain. Reluctantly, she lent forward and kissed him, intending for it to be a short, quick, unfeeling kiss. Usagi hadn't reckoned with Mamoru's remembrance of his deal. The kiss was deepened, and Usagi let herself go, making no move to pull away. It was agony when one of them finally pulled away, needing to breathe.
"Why?" Usagi whispered, half to herself, "Why?"
Mamoru took a moment before answering, using it to stand and brush himself off, "Because of the deal." With that, he walked away, continuing on the way he had been going.
Usagi felt her heart break at that moment, as a wave of disconsolation swept through her body, any hope she had felt in that kiss had just been shattered into minute pieces, So its not about me then, he doesn't like me.. and here you were thinking he might. Stupid stupid stupid idea. He just does what he says, can't blame a man for that. But these petty words, her impossible way of convincing herself that it had nothing to do with her; but it did, and she cared, no matter how much she hated the idea.
The voice inside her head was quiet, so unlike her; of all the times for a bit of peace, this was not a good one.
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Idiot! Mamoru berated himself, /What the hell were you thinking? Do you have ANY idea of what she's thinking now? Probably that you don't care, that this is a stupid game to you, even though it isn't. You're an idiot, Mamoru. Now go fix it./
The voice in Mamoru's head was never silent, it was always there, telling him what to do, and what not to do; almost all of the time it was right. He had gone wrong numerous times, not from listening to the voice, but from not listening to it; by doing the opposite.
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