Chapter 5:

Usagi was stuck, unable to move from where they had fallen only minutes before; her motor functions were not working.

It isn't fair… I thought he… might actually… Usagi sniffed, wiping her face with her arm. With her other arm, she pushed herself off the ground and stood resolutely, trying desperately not to cry. So much for a fairytale..

She stood there for a moment, taking in her surroundings, trying to sort out her thoughts; Usagi pushed a blonde strand out of her face, trying to tuck it back into the bun it had fallen out of. Frustrated with her inability to put the strand back, she yanked out the elastics and bobby pins holding it in, letting her long hair free.

In all honesty, she looked like a goddess, or a queen, standing so fiercely against the opposing forces of the world. If only Mamoru had been there to see this image, one that would not exist much longer. Yet, instead of putting her hair back into the buns, Usagi opted for something different, and tied it up in a simple ponytail.

Finally satisfied with her hair, Usagi started walking home, only increasing her pace when she realised that she needed to get ready for the movies. Damnit, I'm always so late! Ahhh!

Mamoru was idling home, bleakly taking in his surroundings, not wanting to stop wallowing in his misery just yet. However, he knew that he had to, considering how he had to be at the movies in… Half an Hour! UHOH! Motoki'll kill me if I'm late. I'm never this late, what's gotten into me!

Both Usagi and Mamoru made it home at the same time, both freaking out about how late they were, and how they were going to be killed by their friend(s). The two of them simultaneous ran to their rooms, ruffled through their wardrobes, desperately looking for something either clean or nice to wear. Once they had found clothes suitable, it was straight into their respective bathrooms for a quick shower and change; hair was altered, bags and keys were grabbed. Then, in almost record time, two blurs ran out of their front doors and began making their way to the local cinema.

Rei and Motoki were worrying, Usagi and Mamoru were supposed to have been here ten whole minutes ago.

"What if…" Rei began, pacing.

"No, that doesn't work. They'll be here soon." Motoki finished, also pacing.

Ami, Mina and Mako stood dumbfounded at this strange display; this was very unlike their friends.

"Do you think they hit their heads? Maybe on each other?" Mina asked, looking at her other two friends.

"It's a possibility, but unlikely," Ami replied, glancing at the pacing pair.

Makoto moved, thinking quickly before she said anything, "I had no idea they were this involved in getting Usagi and Mamoru together. I mean, I thought Rei liked Mamoru!"

Any reply was halted when two fast moving blurs came into eyesight; a dark haired person and a blonde haired person shouted out greetings to respective recipients.

"What took you soon long?" They said as one, "We've been waiting for ages."

"I'm sorry!" gushed another set of blonde and dark haired people, "It's just that.." the two of them petered off at the same time, catching sight of each other.

"What are they doing here!" Each demanded of their opposite, glaring at each other.

Mina decided it was time to intervene, knowing this could elevate to a much more serious argument; "What a coincidence, eh, Usa? Apparently Motoki and Mamoru are coming to the same movie we are! We couldn't believe it when we found out."

Usagi and Mamoru were shocked, was this fate, or tampering? They both knew that when their friends were determined, nothing could or would stop them. Both sighed, looking forlornly up at the cinema; "What are we seeing?" Usagi asked quietly.

"Well, we have tickets too…" Rei began chattering, as Usagi tuned out, following her crowd of friends into the cinema, grabbing some snacks and a drink on their way in.

Before they had any idea that this was all a plan, Mamoru and Usagi ended up conveniently sitting next to each other. It also took them a minute to even notice this seating arrangement. They looked at each other, working it out simultaneously; "It's a set up," Usagi whispered, Mamoru nodding, "Do we play along?"

Usagi was surprised at the statement which had issued from her mouth, but covered it up quickly, there was no way she was ready to forgive him yet, but she was not about to let Rei have the last word.

"Of course, there's no way I'm letting Motoki have the last word," He whispered; Usagi was shocked at how much his thoughts mirrored her own.

"Let the games begin," Usagi said wickedly, beginning by placing her hand over Mamoru's on the arm rest. He looked down, shocked at her boldness, then grinned, a sort of smirk; "Indeed."

By now, it was halfway through the movie; Rei and Motoki were evidently pleased at the 'progress' their friends had made.

"Did you see that?" Rei hissed to Motoki, when Mamoru's arm crept around Usagi, lingering on her shoulder, before grabbing the drink.

"I'm not blind, Rei. Honestly." Motoki was secretly very happy though, "Did you see that!" he whispered, excitedly; Usagi had leaned against Mamoru, the armrest between them appeared to have been pushed up and into the space between the seats. His arm had come back over her shoulder and was now resting around her waist.

"This is like some twisted romance movie," Mako muttered, "Boy meets girl, girl hates boy, girls friends set them up, boy and girl end up looking like they're from some sick Hollywood love story."

Mina had to bite back a laugh at that comment, she agreed, this was all a little suspicious. Then she shrugged, only just visible in the dark cinema, "Who's to complain?"

Mamoru smirked into the darkness, it was working; now for his own, slightly more evil plan. "Hey, Odango," he whispered, knowing what she would have to do when he used that name.

She glared at him in the dark, knowing his idea; then gave in, aware that it would give more credence to their movie-plan. Usagi lent up and rested her lips right in front of his, making sure he would have to move, at least slightly, for this to work.

He took that initiative, moving the necessary half a centimetre; and for the second time that day, their lips met. Once more, everything else seemed non-existent; and they both forgot that this kiss was merely one of convenience.

Rei, Motoki, Ami, Mina and Mako had all glanced over at the 'couple' when they heard a strange noise; and all five of them were shocked to find the two kissing.

"Oh, my eyes, my poor eyes!" Motoki whispered, traumatised, apparently not having realised the implications of his and Rei's idea. Rei hit him, "This is what we wanted, silly!"

"Oh, right," he stopped moaning, realising they were still going, "Isn't that a bit odd? I mean, don't they need to breathe?"

Don't need to breathe, thought Usagi, Don't want to breathe, because if I do, this wonderful dream will be over, and thing's will go back to how they were… She coped with this idea by drawing herself closer to him, getting the most out of this as she could.

Unfortunately for the both of them, there was a point at which they had to stop; so one of them pulled away, once more reluctantly. But this time, there was no conversation, no lies, no questions. It took a moment for them to get their bearings, and they realised that the movie was over, and their friends had gone, to where, neither of them knew. "We should go outside; I think we need to talk." One of them hazarded while the other nodded eagerly.

Its D-Day, mused Mamoru as he followed Usagi outside, as she looked for somewhere for them to sit, finally deciding upon a bench nearby, Here we go… He took a deep breath, and sat down next to her, unable to speak.

"So," she tried, "What is this?" There seemed to be a temporary cease of any hostile comments between the two of them, caused by their contracts and by their awkwardness.

"I… I'm not too sure," Mamoru managed to get out, staring off into the dark, "What does it feel like?" He noticed the beginnings of a rain shower, which was odd, considering the sky had been clear hours before.

"I don't know," Usagi murmured, spreading her arms out into the falling rain, "Does it need definitions, whatever it is?"

"I think, that maybe it does, Odango," Mamoru smiled, knowing fully well what she would have to do, if she planned to stick to their contracts.

Usagi stared at him, "You did that on purpose," she accused, glaring at the half invisible man.

"I did no such thing," Mamoru countered, "But you know that you have to keep that promise?"

"I know, I know. What count will this make it for the night? Three?" Usagi had to smile, in a weird way, this was kind of sweet.

"I think so," Mamoru murmured, waiting for the touch of her lips against his; but none came, and waiting was agony. He reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her to him; "You know I didn't mean what I said earlier, about this just being because of our contracts, you know it isn't."

"I know," she whispered, "I know." She lent forward, and briefly pressed her lips against his, "But something still isn't right, and whoever it is in my brain knows that. I'm sorry Mamoru, can we talk tomorrow?"

"Sure," He agreed easily, unsure as to what had led to this change, "Just let me do one thing first?" Usagi nodded, and Mamoru lent forward, kissing her.

Unexpectedly, the voices in both their heads began chattering, making a cacophony of noise; Usagi and Mamoru could hear both people. A moment later, when they broke apart, the voices disappeared.

"Did you hear that?" Usagi hazarded nervously.

"Er yeah, I did, but both of them?" Mamoru replied, mystified.

"Yeah, both of them… That's never happened before… You know, that guy, he sounds like an older version of yourself," Usagi said thoughtfully.

"And that woman, she is definitely an older version of you," Mamoru looked at Usagi, "I know it's a bit weird to have a voice in your head, but two, in both our heads, which only show up when we kiss because we want to?"

"I think we need to test that last theory," Usagi said, grinning wickedly.

"I totally agree," Mamoru smirked and kissed her again; sure enough the voices were back, talking to each other.

"Interesting," Usagi muttered when she pulled away, "And very, very odd."

"I'm not sure that we've quite exhausted the possibilities, Usagi, they do say that a good experiment must be able to be duplicated many times with the same result," Usagi smiled in response to this, and kissed him again.