Good afternoon everyone.
Well, September is right around the corner, and I for one, have no idea where this summer went. I mean, Oh my God...Time really flies!
Anyways, thank you for reading the previous chapters and I sure hope you like the new one. It is a little shorter than the last two chapters, but it is a very crucial chapter nonetheless.
Thanks to everyone who had favorite the story, and a special thanks to those who review.
Serenitysweety: LOL, here you go. I honestly don't think I could've be any faster than this hahaha. I love dramas. So stick around my friend, because this story is in for a twist Enjoy.
PrincessRaena SS: YES:D:D (wink wink)
Jewelzy: What can I say? I just love ciffhangers:D you might have noticed that by now. Thank you for your kind words. Enjoy and let me know what you think.
Guest (Aug 25): Thank you for your kind words, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Justareader: I'm so glad that you've liked the story so far. And I sure hope you'll bear with me until the end. Enjoy this chapter.
Buffy Fan: WOW, when you said stay tuned for a longer review, I wasn't expecting this Thank you so much for all the details you write in your reviews. They truly inspire me. I get your point about Usagi/Motoki relationshiop, however, I thought it's a better alternative than Usagi/Seiya. And I hope with what I have in mind, you'd come to like the duo as well. I have opened a lot of stories (forgive me) but I assure you, all of them have a very nice flow and connection. So please stay tuned until the end. Again thank you for your kind words and enjoy this chapter.
Jenna: LOL, I'm sorry, but I'm evil sometimes :D:D Enjoy the new chapter.
PS: This chapter was edited by my wonderful beta-reader, BrownB.
Enjoy.
Her eyes were glued to the ceiling, one hand resting on her forehead, covering her left eye.
She was still clad in the pink floral dress; she was just too exhausted and drained to make any move to change. She had been lying on the bed for the good hour since she had been home. She stared out the window, her tear stained face shone under the gentle light of the moon and she couldn't stop feeling like there was always someone up there, watching over her ever so closely.
She closed her eyes and sighed.
Her mind was a jungle of mess and she just wanted to forget that this night had ever happened.
Flashback:
"Well, well, what do we have here?"
Usagi's breath caught in her throat, she looked up in Motoki's green eyes that had widened in what she assumed was fear, before she immediately stumbled out of his embrace and spun around.
"Um...Kenji-papa, hi...hello," she blurted out, eyes jumping around, trying to look at anything but her father's expressionless face.
From behind her, she could feel Motoki go tense, and she could almost hear the lump he was trying to swallow.
"Who's your friend Usagi-chan?" her father asked with calmness, and his tone built up a sudden fright in Usagi's mind.
"This is...," she was panicked, "this is Furuhata Motoki," she managed to say finally.
It wasn't that she was afraid of her father; in fact, Tsukino Kenji was far from a terrifying figure in their house. But she knew how he felt about his "little princess", wanting to protect her against everything and everyone, especially boys. "Now, now Usagi-chan," he had told her once, "boys are evil creatures, and angels like you should never associate with evil creatures." He had wiggled his eyebrows in a very weird gesture. "Promise papa that you will never get close to them; just punch any of them that comes close." And only when her mother had enough of his nonsense was she rescued from the awkward lecture.
"Nice to meet you sir," she heard Motoki's voice, stern and dry, and for a moment she had this urge to turn around and see that serious look on his face.
Kenji just eyed the young man in front of him, before pushing his glasses against the bridge of his nose. "Where have you been Usagi-chan?" he demanded as if Motoki had said nothing.
Usagi played with her skirt nervously. "Um...well, nowhere reaaally, just...we were at the manga festival, and then we came home." She finally looked up at her father to show him that she was telling the truth... like 'see, I even met you eyes when saying that'!
"I'm sorry for being a little late sir, one of the trains just stopped working and..." his voice trailed off when Kenji looked at him with narrowed eyes.
"So Usagi-chan," Kenji said, again as if Motoki had just stood there, mute, "did you have fun?" He looked at his daughter again, his tone never changing, and it creeped Usagi out more than anything.
"Um...yes, it was okay." But then, she really didn't want to break Motoki's heart. "I mean, yes of course, it was fun," she added with a calculating voice.
Kenji regarded her for a few moments. "Well then," he said crossing his arms against his chest.
The three of them stood in silence. Motoki was scratching the back of his head with uncertainty, not knowing whether he should stay or leave. "So", Kenji suddenly said, "did you try to punch him?" His question hauled both out of their daze.
Usagi's whole face went against gravity. "WHAT?" She surprised herself with her sudden shriek and immediately reminded herself to keep calm, "What do you mean Kenji-papa?"
"Did I or did I not tell you that you should punch any boy that tries to come near, Tsukino Usagi?" he put his hands on his hips.
"Umm..."
"And I'm sure what I just saw deserved one hell of a punch."
"Tsukino Kenji, what are you doing?" Usagi let out a sigh of relief.
As soon as he heard his wife's loud growl, the angry man whirled around, "Ikuko, I just witnessed this man trying to take advantage of our little girl and..."
"Oh for heaven's sake, get back in the house..."
"But he was just..."
"NOW, TSUKINO KENJI!"
It was a good 10 minutes later, before either of the two youngsters outside were able to look away from the door, where a very angry father had just gone through, and look at each other.
"So..." Motoki muttered quite slowly, "I take it your dad doesn't like me?" He widened his eyes and raised his eyebrows before exhaling deeply.
"Well, it's not that he dislikes you, I mean he doesn't even know you..." Usagi started, still playing with her skirt and looking down at her hands.
"So, what? He doesn't like you to date," he deadpanned, a little shocked and worried.
"Umm, well, that's a very strong assumption," she looked up and met his eyes; there was no way around it, she sighed, "yes, he really doesn't like me to date."
He regarded her closely, noticing how uncomfortable and embarrassed she looked. "Hey," he bent down on the knees a little to catch her eye. "Hey, look at me." He reached out his hand and then hesitated for a split second, glancing at the Tsukino house for a moment before resting his hand on her face, stroking the soft skin of her cheek. "Don't worry about it, okay? We'll figure out a way to make him understand," he assured her with a gentle smile.
Usagi forced herself to meet his eyes. "Really? How?" she asked him innocently, and his heart swelled in his chest seeing her this confused. "I'm not sure," he whispered, "but I'm sure that we can find a way, we will find a way," he squeezed the junction between her neck and shoulder gently.
Her whole face lit up with hope; she trusted him.
"Okay," she whispered, "yes, okay, you're right..." her voice came out a little louder. "We'll figure it out, arigato Motoki-kun," she smiled up at him, her eyes like a thin line over her bright smile.
"For what?" he asked, eyes glued to her smile, glued to the line on her cupid's bow, and fighting desperately to stop himself from leaning down and kiss her like there was no tomorrow. The moment was gone for tonight and knowing that Kenji's detective eyes were probably staring at them from hiding made him rethink his next action. So, he settled for a light brush of his lips against her hand.
"For today," Usagi said, a little flushed, "and for being cool about my dad," she looked at him shyly.
He chuckled at her expression, finding the way her brows were lifted adorable. "Anything for you Usa." He let go of her hand and took a step back. "You should go inside, I'll see you tomorrow," he said before putting his hands in his pockets.
"Good night Motoki-kun." She gave a little wave as she stepped inside the gate and watched his retiring back until he disappeared to the main street.
End of Flashback
Usagi sighed and buried her face halfway into her pink pillow. Her eyes hurt from crying and... oh how she hated having puffy eyes the next day.
She couldn't stop her tears, and now that they had finally broke free, she knew it would take a while to restrain them.
She didn't know what to do. Why was this happening to her? Why was everything happening all at the same time?
Flashback:
She had to contemplate whether to go inside or not. She knew it was inevitable to face her father's confrontation, questions and the endless list of reasons why she should stay away from boys. She looked at her wristwatch; she had a lot of time before her set curfew.
She glanced back and forth between the door and the gate. She knew her mother was probably half way through getting Kenji-papa to see that his little girl was growing up; and she really didn't want to listen to their bickering.
She walked out on to the street and turned left. She really wanted to be alone for a little while, to think about everything that had happened. Motoki, their date, her father, Motoki...and... 'don't even go there baka', she scowled at herself.
She walked by a small back alley by her house when a hand snaked around her forearm and before she could cry out in alarm, another hand covered her mouth and yanked her inside the darkness of the alley.
Her eyes were popping out of her head with fear. She breathed through her nose rapidly, trying to stay calm but losing that battle fast.
Her small hands flew frantically around her, trying to hit her attacker and run away; she felt her heels kick the person holding her in the shin and she tried to do it again, she needed to get away...
"Shhhh," he whispered against her ear, "easy now...I'm not gonna hurt you." His voice pierced through her body, breaking all the strength in her to fight back, to try to pry herself away...far away...from him.
Her body stilled against his solid frame and her hands clutched at his arm that sometime during her struggling had settled around her shoulders. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself. She could feel his steady breathing against her back, and suddenly she was very aware of their 'almost' intimate position, if it wasn't for the fact that he had almost given her a heart attack.
"Now," came his deep voice, "I'm going to release you, stay calm," he said before he shook her a little, "got it?"
She managed to nod; the rush of blood in her ears made it impossible to hear him clearly, and she just wanted to be out of his arms...just out...away from him.
True to his word, he released her shoulders and then retrieved his hand away from her mouth, very slowly, obviously not trusting her completely to stay calm.
She gathered her will to push herself away from him as she whirled around and faced him.
And her heart dropped.
She couldn't see his face entirely against the darkness of the alley, and yet, she could make out his face and...oh gosh...his eyes.
He was looking at her as if...as if... he was looking at a melted chocolate on top vanilla ice cream, and yet, his stare seemed so far away, so blunt, and so indifferent.
She shivered, despite herself, and she hated it. She hated feeling this way in front of him.
"What the hell do you think your doing?" she growled at him, trying to lower her voice, as to not alarm any of her neighbors, "you almost gave me a heart attack," she continued, brows furrowed, eyes flashing fire and face twisted in anger.
The all too familiar smirk was plastered on his face as he casually leaned against the wall behind him and considered her with amusement. "Well then, I guess it's a good thing I know CPR."
Usagi was furious; how dare he jump out of nowhere and startle her like this. "Oh please, like I would let you do CPR on me," she hissed under her breath and flipped one long pigtail behind her shoulder, eyes still gazing straight at the older boy.
Mamoru's shoulders straightened a little, not very visible to Usagi, and he stood a bit taller. "Oh yeah?" his voice had a certain undertone that Usagi just couldn't understand. "And I suppose you'd rather apron boy to do the deed?" He eyed her for a moment, before taking two small steps closer.
Her heart was now hammering against her chest and she knew he had seen them...and suddenly, she wished that she was within the confines of her room, tucked away safely from the chill that had ran through her body.
And she just stood there, without uttering a word.
"What now Odango? How come every time we meet you have a few words to spare and then you go completely mute?" He was now standing right in front of her, forcing her to tilt her head to see his stern face. He watched her with narrowed azure eyes, challenging her to speak up, to lay out her game.
Usagi let out a deep exhale and crossed her arms against her chest. "I'm more than capable to speak," she said, eyes mimicking his, narrowing slowly, "but maybe I just don't like to speak to you," she smirked and cheered internally at her tiny victory.
His shoulders went tense for a split second, before he relaxed and smirked right in her face. "Well," he leaned down to be in eye level with her, eyes watching her like a hunter looking at his prey, "maybe you'd like to do something else then? Say, this..."
Usagi had only one second to think over what he had just said before he crushed his lips against hers in a bruising kiss...and her mind went blank.
She raised her hands and pushed him at his chest, trying to put a stop to it all...and it worked.
Well only for a tiny bit.
Usagi had only a few seconds to look at him with confused and terrified eyes and he met her stare with an intensity that melted her heart, before he hauled her up against his chest, arms fixed around her tiny waist, and brought his mouth to hers again.
And she didn't do anything else to push him away.
Because, even though she wanted to stay strong and indifferent, she had been dreaming about his kisses and touch for the past few weeks, and lying to him was one thing, but denying herself what she was feeling was a totally different thing.
She had been craving to be molded like this against him, for a long time; to be crushed in his embrace and be kissed...
She felt her body relax and heard the appreciating groan deep down his throat before he spun them around and pushed her body against the wall. He brought one of his hands to her chin, angling her face to get better access and deepen the kiss...and she moaned.
At the very back of her mind, Usagi knew what she was doing was wrong, like every other time she was kissing him like this, and yet, she couldn't let go. She wound her arms around his neck and brought him closer to her body, and felt her heart twisting when he let out another satisfying moan and clutched her waist harder.
His tongue was fierce and demanding against her lips, licking and suckling her bottom lip like she was a delicious dessert and she opened herself to him, allowing him to enter her with all the desire she had denied him for the past couple of weeks.
He could feel her tiny fingers playing with the hair at the nape of his neck and he couldn't think of anything else other than those hands... sensual yet innocent...so inexperienced and yet so fucking alluring.
His hand descended to her slender shoulder, pushing away the small strap of her pink dress...oh how he wanted to strip her out of that soft dress and...
He felt her trembling against the wall, obviously struggling to stand tall on her own; so, he pushed his right knee between her legs after hiking up her flowy skirt a little... and he needed more...he needed more of her skin...he needed more to touch...so much more.
He broke away from their kiss, just a little bit, leaving the tiniest gap between their lips, both panting and inhaling the much-needed oxygen into their dried lungs. "Hold on tight," he said hoarsely and brought his lips to her chin and the corner of her mouth before meeting her swollen lips again as he hurriedly lifted her off her feet. He heard the hitch in her throat and she immediately wrapped her legs around his slim waist to avoid falling.
And in that exact moment, Motoki's image popped in her head and something snapped in her chest.
What the hell was she doing? She had just said goodbye to her... well... boyfriend, like what? Fifteen freaking minutes ago, and now she were wrapped around Chiba Mamoru as if he had every right to be touching her like this? As if she had any claim over him?
Her hands started pushing his shoulders, trying to break free of the kiss, and he didn't budge.
He simply just left her lips and brought his lips to her throat, to her neck and to her bare shoulder.
"Stop," came her voice, dry, hoarse and pleading... "Mamoru stop," she said desperately, the palms of her hands were pressing his shoulders and chest, legs unwrapping from his torso to break her limbs free. "Please stop, Mamoru."
And he did. Usagi felt his lips detach from her collarbone. He laid his forehead against her shoulder...panting hard...meeting Usagi's own shallow breathing half way.
After a few moments of total silence, where only the sounds of their breathing were heard, along with the stillness of the night, he finally raised his head and looked in her eyes. She watched him with half lidded eyes, rosy cheeks and dried, kiss bruised lips...and for a moment, he was truly mesmerized.
For a moment, Chiba Mamoru was lost at words.
But only for a moment.
"What is he to you?" he asked, surprising Usagi out of her haze. "What?" she said, still short on breath. "Apron boy..." he muttered and waited for her response.
It was ironic really; being pushed up against the wall by a guy, while being questioned about another...and Usagi couldn't help but feel like a total slut.
She closed her eyes and sighed. "He's a friend," she answered pensively, but didn't meet his gaze whatsoever.
"A friend?" he asked, almost mockingly, and Usagi cringed at his tone. Why was she trying to hide her relationship with Motoki? Why did it matter if Mamoru knew about them, it's not like she owed him anything...
"I'm dating him," she answered almost hurriedly, as if she was just trying to let it out; she pushed against his chest again and felt his hold on her loosen. She slid down the wall and his frame, and finally, her feet touched the ground. She pushed the strap of her dress back up and adjusted her skirt before lifting her big blue eyes and meeting his steady stare.
"You're dating him?" he repeated and took a step back, "as in, going out and hanging around?" His tone was suspiciously weird, and Usagi wondered why suddenly, he was quizzing her on the definition of "dating".
"Um, yeah, that's what dating means right?" she asked with droll, her lips lifting in a half smirk and looking at him as if he had lost his mind.
"No... dating means much more than that Odango," he half growled, and it surprised her; why would he be mad all of a sudden? "Dating means that he has a claim over you," he said, as he slowly approached her, she considered his movements with suspicious, but didn't move away, "it means he is allowed to touch you..." he reached out and touched Usagi's cheek and trailed the tips of his fingers all the way down to her neck, jugular and collarbone... so agonizingly slow...all the while she stood there, eyes widened and lips parted with bewilderment, "it means he can kiss you where he wants...whenever he wants," he leaned in and kissed her forehead, and then the tip of her nose, then his lips laid a small butterfly kiss on her shocked lips and licked her bottom lip. He moved back to a standing position in front of her and watched her shocked expression with a stern look. "It means, he can expect so much more from you...so much more that you're not ready for Odango. "His voice trailed off when he looked at her dress...the dress she had probably bought for her date...and the thought infuriated him. "And I think you're giving him enough signals to do just that," he said irritated, eyeing her dress with venom, taking note of the sweetheart neckline, and how it was showing off the adorable swell of her breasts, perfect porcelain skin.
Absentmindedly, Usagi brought her arms up and crossed them against her chest. "What do you mean, I give him enough signals? I'm not that kind of a girl Mamoru-baka," she hissed under her breath, angry that he would think so low of her...and yet...thinking even lower of herself mentally.
"I've never seen you wear anything like that," he said pointing at her dress with his stare. "Don't you think that's just too revealing for a girl your age?" he reached in his pocket and retrieved his cigarette pack, never faltering his stare on Usagi as he did so.
Usagi's eyes narrowed as she mentally yelled at herself to leave... to run away like she always did...but for some unknown reason, she wanted to put him in his place, once and for all.
"Well, first of all Mamoru-baka," she emphasized on her nickname for him harder than before, "I'm 16-years-old now, so I'm more than able to wear a dress like this, which by the way, is not too revealing." She touched the straps of her dress. "And also, not that is any of your business, but if you haven't noticed, that's what people do on dates," she put her hands on her hips and watched him with a fierce look on her face while he took another drag of his cigarette and watched her with narrowed eyes and a small frown. "They dress up for the person they like and..."
"So, you like him?" his question stopped her heated speech half way and she looked at him confused.
"What?" she asked, and then shook her head when his question sank in, "of course I like him, why would I go out with him if I didn't?" She let out an impatient sigh and shook her head again.
"So," he said, blowing the smoke up in the sky and flicked the cigarette away, "let me get this straight," he came closer to her again, "you make out with me, on several occasions," he put his finger over her mouth to stop her interruption, "and then tell me to stay away from you; then you go out with apron boy, claiming that you like him, but then make out with me some more," he regarded her with indifference, "you might not be as innocent as you seem Odango."
Usagi's eyes were popping out once more...did he just...did he just insult her? Again? "What are you getting at?" she asked him, dangerously; but of course, he wouldn't care, for he always enjoyed her angry glares and flushed face.
He shrugged a little and didn't answer back, and that threw her off the edge. "Are you calling me A SLUT?" she almost yelled and flinched at her own voice.
Mamoru seemed slightly taken a back, but whatever went through his mind, did not show on his face, "I'm calling you a tease," he said casually, as if he was blind to her rage and hurt.
"I'm a tease? You're calling me a tease?" she asked furiously, and even though the new definition sounded better to her than what she had been calling herself, it still made her mad to know what he thought of her.
"You are a tease Odango, face it," his voice was a bit louder as well, "you let me have my way with you, you have your own way with me, and now your standing there telling me that you like apron boy?"
"I've never had my way with you? What is wrong with you? How could you..."
"Oh please, you do this every time, you just had your tongue down my throat 5 minutes ago, why do you insist on lying to yourself?"
"How dare you? First, my tongue was not down your throat quite the opposite if you may recall, and, have you had brain damage? You were the one that kissed me..."
"And I would do it again if I wanted to Odango; stop hanging around with apron boy."
For a moment, the world froze around Usagi. She looked at him as if he had gone crazy. Why was he saying that? It didn't make any sense.
"You're not my father Mamoru-baka, you can't tell me what to do!" she yelled at the top of her lungs, no longer caring about being heard, and any rational thoughts about the fact that she was still standing in the middle of her own street fled her mind.
"Funny...I think I just did; don't go out with him again Usagi, don't test my patience," he stepped right in front of her and grabbed her forearm, "and be quiet, everyone can hear you," he squeezed her arm to calm her down.
"Don't touch me asshole, I can't believe you think so highly of yourself, who do you think you are? You don't scare me Chiba, and I will go out with whomever I want to...and you know what," she forcefully pulled her arm out of his grasp and took a few steps ahead, "I don't care what you think of me; if I want to go out with Motoki I will, if I want to flirt with him I will," she completely ignored the dangerous flash of anger that went through Mamoru's whole being, "if I want to allow him to do whatever he wants I will, and I don't give a damn what you say or do," she finished her dramatic lecture with a 'huff'.
Mamoru was standing still, fisted hands in the pocket of his pants, hidden from Usagi's eyes. "Well then..." he said in a low voice, "maybe I was wrong," he looked at the ground before meeting her eyes, "I should have called you a slut instead."
Something broke in Usagi; and this time, she had no doubt that it was her heart.
The rush of tears behind her eyes were too sudden for her to conceal; she felt all the energy in her vanish as she started trembling with heart break and exasperation, "I hate you Mamoru, you are such a horrible person," she finally managed to utter those words before she turned around and fled from the dark, miserable alley.
End of Flash back:
Usagi tossed and turned for hours before she fell asleep that night, and even then, a set of intense cobalt eyes didn't leave her at peace.
"Fuck..."
Mamoru threw his keys across the room the moment he entered his apartment. He had walked around town aimlessly for a few hours, and now, it was well pass midnight and the jungle in his head hadn't quiet down.
He kept repeating the scene with Usagi over and over again, and every time his mind would stop functioning when it got to that exact moment, "I like him," she had said, and right in his face...what a conniving little bitch.
He plopped on the couch; legs spread apart, elbows resting on the knees, hands intertwined together. He couldn't focus on anything else, just those three little words...
"Fuck..." he said again, before leaning against the couch and looking at the gray ceiling.
It was very rare for him to be feeling this way, or act this way nonetheless. He was Chiba Mamoru for fuck's sake; he was the banchÅ** of several high schools around Juuban (if that notion still existed, but nonetheless, he was a leader...he was born a leader) and look at him right now; sitting in the darkness of his apartment, obsessing over a small high school girl...What the hell was wrong with him?
Why did he even care? Wasn't he the one telling her that he couldn't bring her to his world? Wasn't he the one trying to put some distance between the two of them? Wasn't part of him glad, over the past few weeks that they had stayed away from each other?
He couldn't possibly have a relationship with her...if the word spread out that Chiba Mamoru had a lo- interest, any kind of interest in someone, who knew what could possibly happen to that 'someone'...he just had so much hostility around him that could put anyone close to him at danger.
And more than anything, he wanted her to be safe. He needed her to be safe.
He sighed and rested his wrist on his forehead, narrowing his eyes at the emptiness of the ceiling.
'What the fuck was wrong with me?' he thought to himself. Why was he rationalizing something that wasn't even there? So, they had a few good make out sessions, big deal. He brought different women to his bed a few times a month, why was it so hard for him to stop thinking about Odango all of a sudden?
He remembered her conversation with the arcade owner in front of her house, before her father had interrupted them. How she had smiled up at him, the obvious twinkle in her eyes that he couldn't see from the darkness of the alley, but could almost feel.
The way she had allowed him to touch her, without a pause or any hesitation; how she had rested her small hands against his chest when he had leaned his forehead against hers...those same hands that always pushed him away...
He stood up and walked to his balcony.
From the haven of his patio he could see Tokyo tower, glowing in the background of the dark night, like a magnificent creature watching over the city.
He stood there for a long time, looking over the city with all its glory... with all the lights and the satisfying glitter...but he knew better than that...he knew what went on in those streets...those dark, empty streets.
His phone rang and pulled him out of his reverie.
It was time.
"USAGI...USAGI...OH MY GOD...WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
Minako raced beside her friend. All blood drained out of her face; hair pricking on the back of her neck and she could almost hear the brutal hammering of her heart.
She reached her friend and sat beside her, "Oh my God, Usagi-chan, let me see, oh my God..." she tried to pry Usagi's hands away from her head, "WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO?" she raised her head, blonde hair flowing around as she glared with hatred at the two boys who were standing right in front of them.
She turned her attention back to Usagi, who at that moment descended her hands from the back of her head.
Blood.
She looked up and into Minako's panicked eyes, "Mina-chan?" her voice was low and unsure.
"Usagi-chan... you're gonna be okay, Usagi-chan...Oh my God...Usagi...stay with me...USAGI..."
She could no longer hear her.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon and its fabulous characters in anyway. I wish I did. But I don't. All the delightful rights of this wonderful manga/anime and its characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.