Chapter 6:

Usagi pulled away from Mamoru, giggling slightly, "You know, this whole situation is just a joke, all of it. I mean, where did you even get the idea of shutting me up by kissing me?"

Mamoru grinned, "I really don't know, can I pin it on the voice in my head?"

"That's too bad Mamoru, because I was probably going to give you a reward for the idea, but since it wasn't you.." Usagi trailed off, smiling slyly.

"No, no! It was all my idea! All mine! No help from anyone!" Mamoru clamoured, desperately wishing he'd waited before answering her question.

Usagi shook her head, "Sorry Mamoru, too late now, and besides, that voice in my head would have told me if you lied." Actually, Usagi had no idea if that was true, but thought it safe to try and bluff Mamoru.

"Oh, is that so Usagi?" Came a curious response, no hint of sarcasm in his voice whatsoever.

Usagi tilted her head up, attempting to look into Mamoru's eyes in the dark, and failing miserably, "Yeah. Why, don't yours ever do the same?"

Mamoru just shrugged, "He does, sometimes, when he feels like it."

Usagi tried to keep the look of surprise off her face, attempting to hide it with more conversation, "Same here, if it didn't sound so crazy, I'd say they have minds of their own."

There was a long, drawn out, silence, neither of them quite yet willing to break it, neither knowing what to say.

"So… Um, what are we going to do about the 'matchmakers'? Do we continue to pretend..?" Mamoru ventured.

Usagi's heart contracted fiercely, a cold feeling spreading throughout her abdomen, "What do you mean?" She asked coldly, desperate to sound uncaring.

"Well, this whole thing tonight did start off because of the matchmakers, and, well.. I just assumed that.." Mamoru stopped, realising he might be digging himself into a huge hole here. You think! The voice came, Idiot, what do you think you're doing? We know you're developing feelings for this girl, are you trying to push her away? Because, frankly, that's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard. So, apologise, kiss the girl, apologise some more, and ASK HER OUT!

Mamoru grimaced internally, understanding exactly how stupid he had been, "Please ignore that Usagi, it was a silly thing to say, and something I didn't mean. I'm sorry."

"Sorry? For speaking your mind? Don't be ridiculous. Since that's obviously how you feel, I'll be seeing you. Goodbye, Mamoru." Usagi stood, walking away silently, leaving a mystified Mamoru.

That's not what I expected when I signed up for following your advice, He accused the voice, Well, you shouldn't've said it. It's your own fault, really. Don't come crying to me, I was just trying to fix it! Mamoru harrumphed, crossing his arms over his body, acting like a 5 year old who wasn't getting what he wanted.

If only Usagi could see him now..

Usagi was annoyed, very annoyed, So, he was just usssssing me, is that it? Honestly, men suck. Or men like Mamoru anyway. Why, oh why, couldn't I have fallen for a guy closer to my own age? Usagi was gradually getting over her anger at Mamoru and was now directing that anger at herself, It was stupid to hope, you know that! But you let them rise anyway. Stupid stupid stupid! Do you never learn?

She just felt like crying now, this wasn't working out at all! And she assumed that Mamoru would still hold her to their contracts. Great, let hell begin.

Mamoru groaned, he knew that he would have to either keep up their 'contracts' or give it up completely, and goodness knew he wasn't ready to do the second. When this all began he had really disliked her, well not disliked that much, but didn't feel anything; but now? Now, if you asked him, he would tell you that he needed her in his days, in his dreams. It sounded hopelessly romantic, so very Hollywood, but these were his thoughts, thoughts which had invaded his mind and body, changed his entire being. He was no longer the Mamoru he had once been, the cold, handsomely distant man; no, he was the 'new and improved' version, the one capable of feelings, feelings soft and squishy, such that no man would ever admit. He had become human, by letting his heart take over.

It was odd, for such a simple, stupid action to change such a huge amount of things; or maybe it wasn't, Mamoru really wasn't sure. The only thing he was sure about was that something in him had changed, and that he had to do something to make it better, not worse. By this, he meant that he was going to try and improve further, not fall back into previous patterns.

Usagi sniffed, wondering disconsolately what she was going to do in this situation; it was so messed up. And all she could think was that in a movie, this would have all turned out perfectly outside the movies, with a kiss and a vow of love. But life was not like a movie, or a romantic book, it was frustrating, unfair, and thoroughly depressing when things came to love. She'd had one chance so far, and it was so very wrong in every way; this was not the way things were supposed to be. He was the only thing that had ever come close to being a boyfriend, or anything regarding love, which was insane, considering how much he hated her.

If he hated you, he wouldn't have starting this whole ordeal, came the whispered voice inside her mind, Usagi was unsure as to whether it was her inner mind, or the intruder, He obviously feels something, otherwise none of this would have happened, and you wouldn't feel this way. You have to do something, girl. Thinking these things will only lead to unhappiness, no matter how hopeless it all feels. But it all feels so wrong, Usagi protested, How do I make it right? Can I make it right?

There's always a chance…