Hi everyone.
So I'm back with another chapter of "It's never too late". I really hope that you all liked the first chapter. And although our favorite male character wasn't present in the first chapter, I assure you, he has a huge part in the whole story
First off, let me thank each and every one of you who had taken the time to read the story. It means a lot to me. It means, even more, when I see all your followings and reviews. I really appreciate it.
Now for the reviews:
TropicalRemix: Hi my friend. Well, we'll just have to wait and see, won't we? I hope you enjoy the story.
Sutuwatari: Welcome to my page. I'm really glad that you liked "Her Eyes", and I really hope that you would follow me on this new journey as well. Enjoy.
Jewelzy: Hi. It's good to see your reviews again Stay tuned for the future chapters to come.
Gabicg1: Thank you for your encouraging words.
Allsecretaresweet: Yes good for her. Nothing like some girl power eh? Yes, Mamoru will enter the story very soon. Enjoy the story. Let me know what you think.
Serenitysweety: Wow, 3 times? I'm so honored I hope you enjoy this story as much too. Please let me know what you think on later chapters as well.
Enjoy everyone.
PS: This chapter was edited by my awesome beta-reader BrownB. Hugs B.
The sound of the bell jerked Minako out of her haze. It was such a long day and she couldn't wait to get out of the school. She looked at her left and eyed her blond friend, who was currently busy putting away her stuff for the day. It was weird, but Minako had this tingling feeling that something was not right with Usagi. It was just so unlike her to be this quiet for the whole day. She was always so loud; so, so loud actually. And even though Minako couldn't put her finger on it, but she just knew her friend was hiding something from them; they were best friends after all, and Minako always took pride in the fact that she knew her friends well.
"What's going on in that blonde head of yours Minako-chan?" came a tired voice from beside her desk. Minako looked up at Makoto who was stretching her arms above her head. "Nothing," she said in a low voice, before turning her eyes back to where they were, "just that, I'm a bit worried about her," Minako gestured towards Usagi with her head.
Makoto's lazy posture immediately tensed as she straightened her back, "What do you mean? Is something wrong with her?" she asked, looking over at her friend with concern. She didn't notice anything, everything had seemed like every other day to her; well except for the fact that Usagi only had eaten a very small portion of Makoto's lunch and not the whole thing, like every other day. That reminder left a sour taste in her mouth. She should have known there was something wrong with Usagi, like seriously when was the last time she had eaten that little food?
"Well, what do you think is wrong with her? Has she told you anything?" she asked, confused and dazed. She never liked seeing any of her friends sad, and Usagi, well Usagi was another story; the amount of protectiveness Makoto felt for her was kind of ridiculous; sometimes even to Makoto herself.
"No, she hasn't said anything, but I just... know," Minako whispered, deep in thought.
"What are you guys talking about?" They both jumped at the sound of Usagi's voice right beside Minako's desk. She was petite and small, but surely not so small to go unnoticed. How did they miss her standing there? They both looked at her for a few seconds, a little bit alarmed at the fact that she might have heard what they were saying. But Usagi's face stayed unstrained, and very much like what it looked like the whole day.
"Nothing," Minako said in a small voice. She coughed once to regain her posture after the shock of seeing Usagi standing right there, "we were just saying that we should go to the arcade and have a little girl time. What do you think?" Minako beamed with enthusiasm and stood up from her seat with a flip of her ridiculously gorgeous hair she snaked her arm around the smaller girl's shoulders to guide her towards the classroom door. Not waiting for a response; because if Minako knew Usagi, and she did...very well actually, then she knew that Usagi was already dancing devilishly happy internally from the sheer thought of the arcade.
"Uh, the arcade?" Usagi asked, a little absentmindedly, she looked at Minako and then Makoto as if to see the answer on one of their faces, "I...I don't think I can go there today, sorry guys," she continued in a small and rushed tone of voice. She jerked her body slowly away from Minako's grasp as she took a step backward. Her friends eyed her suspiciously; something was definitely wrong because after all, Usagi was never the one to turn down a few hours of chilling at her most favorite hangout spot in all Juuban.
"Why not Usa-chan? You love the arcade," Makoto asked, still a bit confused and now extremely worried. "Come on, it'll be fun, I'm sure Rei will join us too, Ami probably can't come because she has cram school," she continued while switching her school bag from one shoulder to the other.
Usagi was hesitant and seemed very distracted. It was so unlike her to act this...this secretive and yet...vulnerable?
"I just have a lot to do today you guys. Rain check?" and with that, she was out of the door. She left so suddenly and hurriedly that Minako was unable to even call after her.
They stood there perplexed and stared at the door for a few seconds. "What was that?" Makoto asked eyes widened with disbelief. She looked at her blond companion as if looking at her would solve all their problems.
"I'm not sure, but I sure as hell am going to find out," Minako said, still looking at the slightly ajar door. Her indigo eyes adamant; she was Minako Aino for crying out loud, and she was going to find out what was wrong with her best friend.
The arcade was fairly busy, seeing that it was Friday afternoon and school kids didn't have anything better to do than a few rounds of games, munching off a burger or two and then off they go.
Motoki was in the back doing God knows what, while Unazuki was seeing after the customers. They were a good team, the Furuhata siblings, and Rei often wondered whether people came in just to hang out with them, instead of playing their God forsaken games. And now as she settled down at their usual booth while ordering a strawberry milkshake, she figured that for her, seeing the Furuhata's always smiley faces and bright eyes were the most important aspect of the arcade.
She looked at her wristwatch, wondering where her friends were. "They probably lost their selves in another round of gossiping, shhh," she thought to herself good-heartedly.
Unazuki came back with her order and settled it in front of her with a huge grin on her face. Her shiny red hair was pulled up in a tight ponytail and the freckles on her nose seemed a little bit darker than usual. "Here you go Rei-chan, one strawberry milkshake," she announced, her smile still in place.
Rei looked up at her and gave a little smile. Everyone at the arcade knew Rei Hino, and they knew she wasn't a type to give out goofy grins and puppy eyes, a small polite smile was all she would offer; well, except when it came to Usagi probably. "Thank you Unazuki-chan, it looks delicious," she said to the older girl who was now clearing her hands with the white apron she had on.
The female Furuhata went to say something to the priestess when the bell above the arcade door jingled, announcing the arrival of new customers. It was as if a shadow of death had spread its wings throughout the place as the whole atmosphere became quiet. All the natural noises the arcade always had were silenced; the chattering of teenagers, cutlery sounds, game noises. Unazuki's light thin brows went up with wonder as she turned around to see what was the cause. And Rei went straight to her milkshake. She was never one to give out immediate reactions to anything; being collected and cool was always her forte; well except when it didn't come to Usagi really. Because when it came to her, all of Rei's reactions were immediate and uncollected...and out of character.
Unazuki's annoyed sigh and uncomfortable stance got her attention though and she finally turned on her seat. Her perfect violet eyes narrowed right away, as she looked the newcomers up and down.
They weren't regulars at the arcade, but they would come in occasionally, and during those times, Motoki always made it a point to be present at the front the whole time. Because even though they were wearing the prestigious uniforms of the Juuban high school, everyone in the area knew who they were, and Motoki refused to have anything bad happen in his arcade. The place was always packed with little kids and teenagers, and having them around wasn't such a good idea; but what could he do? The arcade was a public place and as long as they never tried anything, Motoki was fine.
Rei watched as the tall brunette pushed strands of short pixie hair behind her left ear while smirking at her surroundings and obvious glares, and made her way to the very back; she was followed by her two companions, those two guys that were always with her whenever they came in. The blond guy was missing the red tie of his school uniform and the two first buttons of his school shirt were open. He was talking to the other guy in a serious manner, totally untouched by the sudden silence of the arcade.
The other guy was obviously a high school student, but he wasn't wearing the uniform. He had a pair of dark jeans and a white T-shirt on that had an image of a lion on it. He was fit and tall, a bit bulky; unlike his blond buddy who seemed slender, although as tall.
They sat at the booth at the very end; and even though the booth was occupied by a few teenage boys up until that very second, it was hurriedly emptied upon their approach, marking the unwritten ownership of the booth obvious.
Rei went back to her milkshake, unwary of their presence. She could tell, however, that Unazuki was panicked a little, and from the way she turned on her heels, without as much of a second glance towards her, she knew that Motoki's presence was much needed.
She tried to focus on her treat. Tried to ignore the stillness of the arcade; that uncomfortable stillness of customers' uneasiness and fright. The dark aura that had entered through the arcade door had been spread out like a heavy blanket and Rei was not one to tolerate such obscurity.
She looked at her watch again, this time with a little frustration and then glanced up at the entrance, just in time to be greeted by the sight of her three best friends walking towards her with apparent worry on their young faces.
"Mom I'm home," Usagi called out upon entering their home. She bent down to take off her shoes as she slung her school bag on the floor. She straightened her back slowly, uncaring about the disturbing sounds the action caused her tired body.
She went to the kitchen when she didn't get any response from her mother, who was usually in the middle of the small hallway by now to greet her daughter. The kitchen was empty.
Usagi looked around the small area and her eyes immediately fell on the small note left on the table.
Dear Usagi-chan,
I went to Shingo's school to see his teacher. I'll be home soon.
Love Mama
Usagi sighed with a little relief. She was quite happy to have the whole house to herself for a little while. She was just so exhausted mentally, and it really didn't help that she had a mom who was apparently a psychic in her previous life! It was true. Nothing went unnoticed by Ikuko-mama; she always seemed to know what was going on with her children's lives, and she never let anything go without a talk...and Usagi was just too exhausted for the talk.
She laid on her bed without changing out of her school uniform while she gazed up at her white ceiling. The turmoil she had been feeling ever since that awful encounter with Yoshiro was slowly clawing its way back full force into her head. She had been trying so hard since yesterday to forget about those hateful words, those taunting accusations; and she had succeeded to some extent actually, but the reality was she couldn't let go of the truth behind his words. What was she thinking, really, getting involved with a guy like Mamoru? No one in their right state of mind would ditch their respected reputation, their parent's good name to be with someone...scratch that...she wasn't even with him...she was just a toy he liked to play with occasionally. Why was she letting him do that to her? And why did her heart skip a beat every time she thought about those eyes of his? Those rich navy-blue orbs that looked at her with a blank expression most of the time...well except for those few rare moments they had shared in isolation of their own world. She could still remember vividly how those same eyes had looked at her...and the memory sent yet another wave of excitement and delight down the pit of her stomach.
She shut her eyes tight and grabbed her head with both hands. She couldn't think like this anymore. There was no point of thinking about Chiba Mamoru's eyes anymore. She just had to stop thinking about him...she had to stop thinking about how his hands had gripped her shoulders...how those same hands had pulled her up against his solid form...how his mouth had ravished her like there was no tomorrow...how the silkiness of his tongue had rubbed against her lips, how it had felt exploring her mouth...how he had touched her waist delicately with passion, so unlike Mamoru...so unlike a guy whose name could easily be forbidden for her to call out. Usagi sighed with frustration...she had to stop thinking about him, period.
"They seriously give me the chills," said Ami, who was peering over her shoulder.
"Why? That blond guy is so cute...why does he give you the chills?" asked Minako while looking at their table all too openly. Minako was never the one who would care about other's judgments or comments. She just did what she always wanted to do, and if she wanted to look at the scary ones' booth, she would do it without hesitation.
"Oh my God Minako-chan, you can't possibly think that he iscute..." asked Ami with wide eyes.
"Why the hell not? I mean, look at him...he is so yuuuumy..." cheered Minako while looking at the blond guy up and down. He was facing Minako, his face turned sideways to look at the brunette girl who was talking to him. He had one arm draped around the back of the booth, while the other hand was playing with the cola on the table.
"Anywaaaaays," said Rei in a tone that held finality, "where is Usagi? Detention I presume?" she smirked at her own little joke. It was true; her favorite blond friend could be very lazy sometimes. Forgetting to do her homework, getting to class a good 20 minutes after the teacher, thus, putting herself in lots of trouble now and then.
"Actually no," Makoto answered as she sat a little forward and leaned her chin on her palm, "she said that she had something to do and...well she just seemed uninterested into coming in today," she emphasized on the word "uninterested", as if she couldn't believe her own words.
Rei's jet black eyebrows went up, "what? She didn't want to come to the arcade? That's gotta be the first," she went to say something else when the arcade door jingled again, announcing the entrance of yet another customer.
Furuhata Motoki was known for his smile. His customers had come to know him as a cheerful young man who was able to make even a rock laugh in their pants. He had a special bond with the people who came to their arcade and he always reveled in the fact that a lot of teenagers considered their establishment their haven.
Not a day passed without him comforting a young girl on the verge of losing her wits due to her heart, or a young teenager who was having identity problems. He always had the ears to listen to everyone's troubles and the heart to help them through those hardships.
That smile of his rarely left his handsome face. The glint in his eyes was an everyday sight.
Right now, however, he seemed a little bit distracted, as he followed Unazuki to behind the counter and settled his eyes on the booth at the very end. The famous smile wasn't there anymore, replaced was a knowing look of concern.
The glint in his eyes also left his features as soon as the sliding doors to the arcade opened, the small bell jingled and a tall figure walked in.
"Hey Mamoru, over here," called the tall brunette.
The arcade had gone extremely quiet once again. The tall ebony haired young man was oblivious to this fact, however, as he casually strolled down to where his friends were sitting down. He could feel stares being thrown his way, and he could definitely feel the daggers the arcade's blond owner was sending him. But he didn't care one bit. He was Chiba Mamoru after all, and being ignorant and cool was his style.
"What took you so long?" asked Daiki as he narrowed his green olive eyes at him, "I thought you said you were right behind us," he continued to eye his friend with suspicion.
Mamoru nodded his greetings at the other two occupants of the table and then settled on the seat beside Goro. His red school tie was loose around his neck and he was missing his navy-blue jacket. His hair was disheveled and he seemed to be in desperate need of a haircut.
"I had some stuff to do," came his short answer, as he leaned back and stretched his long legs under the table.
"What kind of stuff?" Daiki asked, with the same suspicious tone. He knew he was probably pushing it too hard, asking Mamoru questions for the past few days, but hey, as long as he didn't lash out at him it was fine.
"Stuff as in, none of your business," Mamoru answered in the same cool tone of voice and then reached out and grabbed the cola from his hands.
"Hey," Daiki's protest was short lived as he watched the mere amusement in his friend's eyes as he took one huge gulp of the beverage.
"So, what is the plan boys? What are we going to do?" came Hisa's voice as she settled her elbows on the table and took a glance at all three of them.
"Plan for what?" asked Daiki as he eyed Mamoru once again and then snatched the beverage from his hands. Mamoru smirked and looked away.
"What do you mean? I'm talking about the Tanaka brothers; didn't you see what they've done to the loft?" she hissed under her breath and then took a not very gentle knock on the table with her fist.
"That was just a warning, and you know it," Goro said as he glanced behind his back to get a hold of the waitress.
"Warning my ass, I say we have to show them..." She was cut short with Daiki's amused chuckle. "Easy now Superwoman, don't want to wrinkle your pretty face now do you?" If only Hisa's eyes could kill, Daiki would have been a dead man a long time ago.
Mamoru's eyes left his friends' silly little argument and wondered around. He looked over where the games were. A few teenagers were playing, and apparently sucking at the new Sailor V game. The tables beside the huge windows were occupied by a few schoolgirls who were giggling and talking non-stop. His cobalt eyes wondered more and settled finally on the table at the far left.
The four young girls were talking to one another, although in a quiet manner, as they all had leaned in against the table, whispering.
His eyes narrowed upon figuring out that she wasn't there with them. He looked around a little. Was she playing a game? Obviously not, those two buns at the top of her head were just too hard to go unnoticed. Was she in the bathroom? Maybe. He just had to wait and see.
He looked back at his friends and reached into his pocket and took out his small cigarette box.
"You can't smoke in here," came a stern voice from his left. He let the lighter go out as he raised his head to look at the intruder.
The blond arcade owner was standing beside their booth, with a displeased look on his face. He crossed his arms against his chest when Mamoru looked at him and met his stare.
"What?" Mamoru asked calmly. It was rare for someone to stand up to him and talk to him that way...well except for a certain petite schoolgirl...
"I said you couldn't smoke in here. Can't you read the sign?" Motoki said in an angry tone before gesturing towards the sign on the wall with his head.
Mamoru didn't know what happened next. It wasn't like he said anything to offend him; the stupid blond worker just merely reminded him of the rules, and even though Mamoru never responded positively to rules, it's not like he didn't understand them.
But he was just so frustrated. He hadn't slept well for the past few days and the lack of sleep always made him feel cranky the next day. The situation with the Tanaka brothers wasn't pretty and even though he was certain nothing would come out of it, still, what he had witnessed yesterday at the loft had made him extremely angry... Daiki's stupid snicker behind him was driving him mad... and she wasn't here... and he hadn't seen her ever since that night in front of her house...and it was bad enough that he couldn't stop himself from wanting her every time he saw her, now she was constantly on his mind too...
So, when he stood up, full height, right in the arcade owner's face, he was dealing with so many emotions that Motoki's little warning was nowhere in comparison with them.
The whole table stood up behind him. It was always like that after all. Mamoru would do something and everyone else would follow. There was a reason why everyone in Juuban hated Chiba Mamoru's guts; that amount of loyalty was just too dangerous.
"I'd watch out if I were you," Mamoru hissed, only for Motoki's ears to hear. But the blond, who was a few inches shorter than him, met his glare with the same stoic face. And even though Mamoru could see the flicker of fright in his eyes, he knew that Furuhata Motoki was a man of his pride and he hated him for it.
"Don't threaten me, Chiba, I'm not afraid of you or your pack of little dogs," Motoki spit back.
"Watch it," came a dangerous voice from behind Mamoru.
Motoki's eyes didn't even leave his. The silence around them was louder than anything and Mamoru knew that every single eye was on them.
Something flashed in Mamoru's mind and he smirked. "You know," he said, glancing at the table in the far left that housed four young girls, who were currently gaping at the two of them, "I would hate it if you lost something precious to you," his smirk got bigger when Motoki's eyes narrowed and his jaw tensed.
And at that moment Mamoru understood why he shouldn't try to mess around with someone's head like this because what he said stirred something in his own damn stomach as well. He hated thinking how precious she was to the blond guy.
"Don't do something that you might regret Chiba," Mamoru was impressed, seeing how this little arcade owner had dared to stand up to him. But he really didn't appreciate his little threat or the tone he used.
But before he could react, a hand went over Mamoru's shoulder and attached itself to Motoki's collar. A loud gasp was heard from around them, and before Goro could do any damage, Mamoru's hand came up and controlled the bitter situation.
"Don't," Mamoru's voice held a certain finality that was all too familiar to the three people standing behind him.
Goro's hold didn't loosen immediately, but Motoki could tell that the intensity in his eyes and his hand were no longer there.
"I'd like it if you people stopped coming in here," Motoki's voice went beyond any other sound in the arcade.
Mamoru could hear Hisa's growl; nobody told her what to do and Mamoru was reluctant to see what she will do to this naïve soul in front of him.
And today was just not the day to start a fight.
"Don't count on it," he glanced back at his friends and gestured towards the exit.
After the three of them passed him he looked back at Motoki, the smirk was back on his face and Motoki prepared himself. "I only had one reason hanging out around this shit hole anyway," he grinned sinfully against Motoki's angry eyes, "and now that I have that reason, maybe I should stop coming here," he chuckled. "Then again," he casually side-stepped Motoki and started walking pass him, but not before tilting his head, just a little, so he could whisper something to him, "it's just so much fun seeing that look on your face, so, see you tomorrow apron boy."
He had only taken two additional steps when his forearm was seized in a death grip. "Stay away from her," Motoki hissed back to him.
From where they were sitting, Minako could see the two boys standing tall beside one another while facing away. A knife could have cut the tension, and Minako was just dying to know what those two were saying.
She could tell that Motoki had said something to that guy, who had smirked and whispered something back. What she couldn't understand was why Motoki's hold on him immediately withdrew and all color had seemed to vanish from his face. Motoki's face that always held such tenderness and happiness looked miserable.
She watched in a haze as the Chiba guy smirked once more and then strolled out of the arcade, his friends hot at his heels.
Usagi sighed as she closed the main door, but not before hearing her mom's voice. "Don't be late again tonight Usagi, be home by dinner."
If only her mom knew how she actually wanted to stay home for the remainder of the afternoon; but Minako had already called two times to get her to meet them and she really didn't want to worry her friends any more than they already were.
She started walking slowly towards the Hikawa Shrine, where Rei lived.
She had just turned on the first corner when she saw him. He was leaning against the wall; tall, dark, handsome...and dangerous.
He was looking at the sky while taking slow drags of his cigarette. But it was as if he had sensed her presence because as soon as her feet stopped their adventure, he looked down and right in her eyes.
Usagi's whole body went stiff when she met his eyes.
And then he smirked.
And Usagi knew what that meant.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon and its fabulous characters in any way. I wish I did. But I don't. All the delightful rights of this wonderful manga/anime and its characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.