A/N: Thank you guys for reviewing. I love love love it. I'm so grateful!

When Dreams are Realities

Dendy Week 2022

Day 4

"I saw you coming"

I'll be in surgery for two hours. I'll call you when I get out. Love you.

Usagi received the text about thirty minutes ago. Her eyes were fixed on the words: two, hours, out. It sent a signal to her brain, reminding her that if he had any secrets, it'd probably be in his office at work.

It had been two months since she was told her boyfriend wasn't her boyfriend and his scary best friend was her fiancé. At first, she was sure that she could easily disprove it. All her friends, family, and even Crown and Parlor patrons knew she and Motoki were together.

But then…

"Usagi-chan, what are you talking about?" Makoto's green eyes filled with worry.

"Me, Motoki!"

"There's no you, Motoki. There's you, Mamoru."

"No!" the blonde woman cried, "Chiba just moved here less than a year ago! We barely know him. How-"

"Mamoru's lived here on and off for the past three years. Yea he went to Harvard, but he came down each break to see you."

"No, that's not- that's not right."

"Are you sick?" Makoto placed her palm against Usagi's forehead, but the blonde swatted it away.

"I'm not sick!"

"Then why are you acting crazy?!"

And

"Mom, you guys have never even met Endo."

"Honey," Ikuko reprimanded. "Are you angry with Mamoru? Did you two get into a disagreement?"

"No, it's not even-" Usagi, sighed. "Why does everyone think I'm with him? He hasn't even been here that long!"

Her mother took her hand and led her to the couch.

"Listen baby, everyone gets into fights. He's not always going to give in."

"What are you talking about?" Usagi retracted her hand and stood. "Are you implying that he," she paused, a little frustrated by the idea of the following statement, "he spoils me too much?"

Ikuku's lips thinned and her dark brow rose wearily. It was obvious to the young Tsukino that he mother very much thought that her daughter was throwing a tantrum because the man she is 'supposedly engaged to' catered to her.

The insinuation made her blood boil. Usagi had never acted entitled in her life. Everything she had she worked for. So what if she and Motoki could only afford a one bedroom apartment that was far too small for a couple and was probably designed for a college student? The apartment was theirs, it was their home, and everything in it may have been cheap and second hand, but they paid for it with money they earned.

She left her parents', angry.

But the most painful was Motoki.

"I don't think it's a good idea," he'd told her. She had asked if they could meet up and talk. His refusal hurt. "It's just, this whole thing doesn't really have to do with me." Usagi opened her mouth to refute just that, but he beat her to it. "I know that you think we're together or something, but you know now that it's not the truth. It's just a crazy story, it doesn't actually have to do with anything I've done or said." Her blue eyes dropped to the floor. It hurt to hear him say that. "And Endo's my best friend…it's just not appropriate for us to meet up alone, you know?" She nodded her head, Motoki was right in that sense. But it still crushed her.

And yet, perhaps the worst of it all was Mamoru.

The thing was, he wasn't suffocating her, he was wooing her. Like the time when she decided she'd go to the konbini because she wanted something sweet, but then she bumped into him on the way there and he handed her a slushie.

"How did you know?" she asked wide-eyed as he handed it to her.

"I saw you coming," he shrugged.

Mamoru simply knew what she wanted before she even realized she wanted it. Chiba went out of his way for her. That man was getting to her; inching closer and closer to her heart.

Some days she completely forgot to be afraid of him; forgot that things weren't right. She forgot because he was so kind and sweet and so nice to look at.

Additionally, Mamoru hadn't even pushed himself on her sexually. Hadn't even tried to kiss her.

"I don't want to frighten you away," he'd said. "I wouldn't survive if you left." His midnight eyes gazed into hers and made a promise. "I'll wait as long as you need me to wait. I'm not going anywhere."

His words made her heart skip a beat and then later that night, she felt guilty that she'd felt something other than anger.

Am I going crazy?

She thought about it constantly. Not only did she question her own sanity, but those around her wondered as well. "You're acting crazy!" And now she truly did feel crazy. Everyone kept telling her she was the odd person out. Did she have a split personality disorder or dissociative identity disorder? Was she really Usagi? Am I going crazy?

Putting down her phone, she took a large breathe in and out.

Despite the assurances of everyone around her, Usagi couldn't shake the feeling that something was "off." She needed to know. With a set though, she nodded her head and decided she'd go to the hospital.

It had been a little over an hour since she received the text, so she'd have time to get into his office and look around.

It's locked.

The fact didn't daunt her. She knew it would probably be. He was performing surgery and doctors don't often leave their offices unlocked if they aren't there. Thus she was prepared, swiftly picking the lock and closing the door.

She began going from drawer to drawer, some had locks she had to pick and others opened easily. She stopped after looking through the fifth drawer. What was she even looking for?

Something showing Endo's a fraud. Something that supported her gut feeling that he was…ugh, she didn't know. Usagi was about to give up when something caught her eye. There was a photo that seemed to be serving as a bookmark. Once she saw the picture clearly, she gasped.

It was a photo of the first day Endo had returned from America. Motoki stood in the middle, his arm around Usagi with Mamoru standing beside him. Here it was! Proof! Proof that she was not crazy!

Her celebratory mood was quickly doused however, when the door to the office swung open. She froze.

"Usako?"

She jumped, stumbling forward.

"Oh god!" she laughed nervously. "You almost gave me a heart attack." Turning toward him, she hid the photo behind her back. "Good thing I had a doctor nearby." Assessing the distance from the door, Usagi went through a dozen possible scenarios for her to try and leave the room without garnering suspicion.

"What're you doing in my office…in the dark?"

"That's a good question!" she chirped. She desperately searched her brain for an answer, anything that sounded reasonable. Nothing. "Okay then," she strolled past him. "I'll see you at home."

His hand went out automatically, his body already responding for his desire to know what she was doing and to stop her from leaving. But Usagi already knew he wouldn't touch her, he was still trying to win her over. His fingers stretched out to her, but he pulled his hand back in.

"Alright. I'll see you at home."


Using the spare key that Motoki hid behind a brick in the wall, Usagi entered the apartment. She knew it was because she was the one who put it there. Motoki was working, so she didn't have to worry about getting caught. What she did have to remember was the time. She had told Mamoru she'd see him at home, which usually meant they were going to eat dinner. Essentially she had a curfew, and it was 5:00pm.

Since her "not-boyfriend" was working, she didn't have to sneak around. The apartment was small. Their place didn't even have room for a dining table. They ate on the couch and used individual fold out desks.

Nothing in the apartment had changed, everything was exactly where it had always been. The things that were missing were small trinkets that she had decorated their place with. The Sailor V throw blanket was gone, as were the matching throw pillows, the Hello Kitty clock that she'd purchased when she was fifteen was also gone.

But of course, those things were in obvious places. The picture she'd found in Mamoru's office was hidden in one of his desk drawers with a slew of medical texts and files. It would be easy to miss.

Usagi went straight to the dresser and stretched her hand between the wall and the edge. That stupid gap ate up so many of her things. They kept rolling off the ledge or she'd be moving things around and then something would fall in. It was frustrating. But at this moment, as she stretched her arm and her fingers wiggled around trying to grab whatever was there, she was glad for the abominable void. Finally, her middle and pointer finger grasped something.


Sitting down to eat dinner with Mamoru was difficult.

A cold sweat had started when she saw pulled the lipstick from behind the dresser. It was hers. So now, she had the picture and the lipstick, two tangible things that proved she wasn't going crazy.

But that didn't explain everyone else's behavior. Why would they all say she was making things up? If they knew, why would they pretend not to? The only thing she could think of was Endo. He must have done something.

The memory of his red tinted eyes flashed in her mind. The image made her shiver.

"Are you okay?"

"Huh?"

"Are you okay?" Mamoru asked. "You haven't eaten anything yet. Usually your on your second plate by now."

"Oh." She looked down at her plate; her stomach churned. "I'm not really hungry."

"Are you sick?"

"No…I just…" The moment their eyes locked, the blood drained from her face. Her palms broke out in a sweat and her feet felt numb. Quickly breaking eye contact she pushed herself away from the table and stood up. "I'm tired."

She brought her hand to her bicep and squeezed the muscle. Chiba still sat at the table, and Usagi had yet to look at him. Instead her eyes darted about the room nervously. She was still so confused about things. There were so many "whys" and just as many "hows"?

The sound of the chair moving brought her back to reality. Mamoru was standing up. It was just then that Usagi realized that her purse was open, the photo visible. He hadn't yet seen it. But if he turns!

Dread and panic sent her walking towards him. His brows furrowed in confusion. It was rare for her to get so close, so Usagi had his complete attention. That gave her some relief; if he was focused on her, he wouldn't see the picture. But the moment he turned…she couldn't let that happen.

She squeezed her fist and began to gather as much courage as she could to distract him. She needed to lead him away from the dining area.

"Usako?"

Grabbing his face between her hands she yanked him down and placed her lips on his. Usagi had only meant to give him a hard, closed-mouth kiss to drag him to the living room, where she would then let go, say she was feeling sick, run to the dining room, grab her purse and shuffle off to the room.

But that was not what ended up happening. No. She hadn't anticipated that kissing Mamoru would feel so good. That his lips would be so soft and that he tasted like coffee and dark chocolate, and that it would awaken this deep desire to touch him everywhere.


Finally finished day 4. I'm wiped out. Hopefully you thought the chapter was interesting! Only three more chapters to go!