Hello everyone.
So I'm back with another chapter of "It's never too late". I've had such a weird and busy week. But all in all, it was a great week. I got so many things done. It was also my husband's 30th birthday this weekend. We had so much fun.
I hope everyone enjoys this chapter. I had such difficulty writing it, and I really hope I have been able to send out the message.
Please, your reviews can tell me so much about this chapter, and in general, the story.
Serenitysweety: I'm really glad that you liked chapter 7. Like I said, I also had some difficulty writing that one as well. I feel like I know exactly what I want to happen in each chapter, and how far I want to portray what is happening, but then again, I don't know how far is "that far" I really appreciate your words and your continuous reviews. Keep them coming Cheers and enjoy this chapter.
Guest: Thank you so much for cheering me up. I really like to see reviews on each chapter, because they give me a better understanding whether I'm on the right track. Not that I my main story or the main occurrences would change if someone says something encouraging or discouraging, but it is still really nice to read them. It really warmed my heart when I read yours. Thank you and enjoy this chapter.
Justareader: I really appreciate your words. And I hope you stay with me until the end of this journey. Cheers.
Moti123: Thank you so much for saying that. It really did cheer me up I hope you like this chapter. And I have to tell you, it's getting intense in the next chapter. Enjoy.
Guest: Thank you and enjoy this chapter.
Guest: Well, you just have to read this chapter and find out (wink wink) Enjoy.
Enjoy everyone.
PS: This chapter has been edited by the great BrownB.
Minako's POV:
You know what they say about how two wrongs don't make a right... and anyone who knows me, knows that I hardly hold grudges...well, except when it comes to Rei probably; and Makoto...and Usagi. But hey, I never said I was a saint. And besides, most of the time they seriously deserve the things I do to them. Like that time when Makoto had the nerve to try and seduce that super hot kindergarten teacher; I mean really, what the hell was that about? Did she not notice that I was super interested in him? Or let's talk about tonight and how Usagi didn't let me do her hair. I mean, talk about being rude. I was just being the great friend that I am. Why couldn't she just let me practice on her hair? I mean, seriously, why would God give her that much hair, if no one could benefit from it? She clearly doesn't benefit from that hair herself...who puts buns on their head anyway? I mean, yes her hair might have that shiny looking gold-ish glory to it...but...oh well; let's not get personal.
But, what can I say? I just love all of them to the grave...or something like that. So imagine my worry and confusion when Usagi and Motoki came back from the balcony and I noticed Usagi's perplexed demeanor. I mean, she wasn't doing anything weird, but she had this strange look on her face; like she just had an epiphany and she didn't even know that she had one! Does that make any sense?
I was watching her with curious eyes, trying to use our creepy telepathy to gain her attention. But she just seemed so far away in her own little world; so, I kept my eyes on her for a while, until I saw Motoki lean into her ear after sitting down, and whisper something to her that made her giggle. I let out a sigh of relief, noticing how that uncomfortable look on her face was replaced by something more...teenage.
"Oh goodie, the food is here," I heard Usagi say while rubbing her hands together with excitement. I smiled at her all too familiar reaction and immediately laughed at Rei's glare at Usagi's insatiable appetite.
"Now don't go devouring all the food Usagi, this is for all of us," she hissed while narrowing her eyes. Usagi just beamed at her and pulled the first plate within her reach towards herself. "Rei-chan, you know I'm not good at sharing...must I always mention that at every meal?" She smirked against Rei's irritated glare and slowly, as if putting on an exciting show, lifted her chopsticks with a piece of shrimp up to her mouth. I tried not to laugh out at Rei's sudden death glare, but it's just too hard not to laugh at her whenever she has that look on her face. I noticed that Makoto and Amir were also trying hard not to reveal their amusement; Rei's angry side is not pretty, after all.
"Alright, let's dig in everyone." Motoki saved the day, and while casting an amused eye on Usagi and the half gone shrimp dish he continued, "These look delicious."
And it really was. The Salmon dish tasted phenomenal, and the shrimp that Usagi shoved down her throat in four seconds were awesome.
The whole table was silent for a few minutes and we were all enjoying the food to the max. I spared my stomach a few seconds of rest and looked around our table. Ami was chewing her food slowly; as if she was trying to understand the anatomy of the ingredients involved. Makoto's face was twisted with concentration, eyeing each food that she brought to her mouth and sniffing it when she thought no one was looking at her.
Rei was giving us attitude as she ate. Glaring at Usagi on the other side of the table and "huffing" every now and then at her antics. But I knew even she found Usagi's carefree personality refreshing; that tiny small curled on the side of her lips was evidence enough.
I looked at Usagi myself, taking note of the glint in her eyes and the obvious enjoyment on her face. I did a once over on her. She really did look pretty tonight, and my dress looked HOT on her. I had contemplated whether I should just give that dress to her since she had already borrowed the same thing three times. The dark pink of the soft fabric had a very nice contrast to the white of her skin, and the skirt was honestly too short for me anyway. Although I always say, "the shorter, the better." I glanced down when my eyes caught a movement. I watched as Motoki's hand slowly caressed Usagi's bare thigh in a gentle gesture. I also noticed Usagi's small flinch at the skin contact, but she remained still and Motoki kept touching her lightly.
I smiled...I wanted to be caressed like that too. And knowing how Usagi was probably feeling inside, I leaned in towards her with an evil smile, "It'll feel better if he goes just a little higher, you know." I giggled when she started to cough and turned crimson.
"Are you okay?" Motoki asked her, patting her back gently. Everyone's attention turned towards our side of the table.
"Try to eat with less urgency, baka, we're not in the danger of famine you know," Rei snarled at her before handing her a cup of water.
"I'm...ohohoh...okay...oh...somethi...ohohoh...just," Usagi tried to say and then coughed some more.
"I have...ohohoh...to go...ohoh...to the," she tried to take a deep breath, "washroom."
"I'll go with you," Motoki moved to go with her, but Usagi stopped him with a gesture of her hand. "It's okay...ohohoh...be back." And she hurried away.
"She'll be fine..." Rei told Motoki, who was staring after Usagi with worried eyes. He turned to her and gave a boyish smile. "I know," he said, casting one last look to where Usagi had disappeared to.
"Anyways," I interjected with a deep sigh, "let's try and eat as much as we can before she comes back." I laughed at my own joke. The table burst out in laughter as well.
I started chatting with Unazuki and Motoki's friend, Hario...Haro? I could never remember an unattractive guy's name!
I turned towards Motoki when I felt that he'd abruptly stopped eating. My eyebrows rose when I saw him frowning at something, a dark look on his face. I followed his gaze and I immediately felt uncomfortable myself and for a moment, my mind jumped in different scenarios.
There at the entrance to the main area of the restaurant stood three familiar figures. I hadn't seen them for a while. Ever since they stopped coming to the arcade, it was rare for us to interact with them anyway. We saw that Hisa girl a couple of times, one of which was when she was trying to intimidate and bully us. I frowned at the memory. What were they doing here? I looked at Makoto to catch her attention. She was still busy eyeing the food. I finally had to kick her under the table to get her to look up at me. Which she did, with a very unpleased glare. She finally turned around after I nodded a couple of times at their direction; jeez, talk about being slow.
"What the hell..." she muttered quietly before turning towards me again and frown as if asking, "What the hell is she doing here?" I raised my brows and silently answered back. "She? Did you not see the other two?" She pouted with irritation and eyed me again. "I'm not blind. This could get ugly you know." Makoto widened her eyes and answered back. I was suddenly very aware of the fact that we had been talking to one another through our eyes and weird facial expressions, and noticing Unazuki's confused eyes, I could see how stupid and awkward the situation might have looked like.
I glanced back at the trio who were still lingering on the same spot and chatting to one another. The bully girl was talking to the blond who had his hands deep in his pockets while smirking and answering her back every now and then.
The other guy, Chiba Mamoru, was leaning against one of the walls while looking at his friends with near boredom. And I kept thinking to myself, what business could they possibly have here? I mean, they were entitled to come to a public place like this, but I never thought of them as a "grand opening" type of people. They always seem so...distant... towards anything that a typical teenager would do.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Motoki standing up hurriedly. "What's wrong Motoki-kun?" I heard his friend calling out to him. "Are you okay?" he said.
"Yeah...yeah, I'm okay. It's just..." came Motoki's unfocused reply, "what took Usa so long?" he said out loud as he started watching the path to the washrooms.
"She usually takes a long time doing her business," Rei said nonchalantly, earning a disgruntled stare from Ami. "What?" she asked in the same tone of voice. "Well, she does." Ami only shook her head with disappointment; probably at our poor table manners.
"Here she is," Makoto said with obvious relief in her voice, and I had to wonder, yet again if she also knew.
I fixed my eyes on the petite blonde who was the closest being I had to a sister. She was walking towards us in her usual cheerful way...she always seemed to hop, instead of walk.
I immediately glanced back at the trio, dreading her discovery of him. He seemed to be in his own world, glancing back and forth between his friends. But then, I watched in utter anxiety, as his eyes left their group and wondered around...and around...and around...and then finally, they were fixed. And I didn't have to think twice on what...or rather who, they were fixed on.
I gulped with stress, glancing back at Usagi and wishing that she could just hurry up and get to the Goddamn table.
I glanced back at where Chiba Mamoru was straitening up from against the wall, while his eyes were firmly fixed on Usagi's back.
I sensed a movement from beside me, and then I watched as Motoki made a gesture to move toward Usagi; but thank God, she had already passed the last table behind Ami and she was within a few steps of our own table. She looked up at Motoki and smiled at him; and I sighed in relief...which was cut short of course, when I saw the look on Chiba's face when his eyes landed on Motoki. And not just Motoki...but a smiling Motoki...a Motoki who just reached out his hand and led Usagi towards her seat. I gulped again.
"I see you managed to eat all the Tofu, Rei-chan," Usagi narrowed her eyes at Rei, who looked at her with indifference and brushed off her accusation. "I just had to take advantage of your absence, you know," Rei shot back and then smiled. Their daily bickerings were actually cute and funny; well, maybe not all the time...but still..cute!
I snapped out of my reverie when someone kicked me in the shin under the table. I looked up at Makoto who was pointing to something with her eyes and eyebrows. I looked ahead, were Chiba and his friends were standing, and I saw that they were now joined by Motoki's friend, Saburo-san...well excuse me if I remember his name; he's super cute after all!
I arched my brow, noticing the tension between them, even though all of them were smiling, well smirking if we have to get technical. All of them except for Chiba, who was looking at Saburo-san with boredom and total lack of interest; and I found myself wondering what they were talking about.
"Why did you guys just do that weird eye thing with each other?" Usagi asked all of a sudden. I turned towards her, as she glanced back and forth between Makoto and I. "What weird eye thing?" Makoto asked with an uncomfortable chuckle. "You know when you sort of say something with your eyes. You do that quite often actually Mako-chan," Usagi said with her mouth full. "Seriously guys, what were you lo..." she averted her eyes and immediately stopped chewing her food...let alone continue speaking.
'I knew this would happen,' I thought to myself as I watched a series of emotions going through Usagi's pale face as she watched him; and I sent a little prayer for her state of calmness, something that I always did whenever she was that near to him.
"Usagi-chan, what's wrong?" Unazuki asked her with confusion, and suddenly, all eyes were on Usagi. But she seemed so far away for a minute, and I doubted that she even heard Unazuki's question.
She came out of her daze when Motoki touched her shoulder gently. She hastily turned towards him, "Wha...what did you say?" she asked him, a little disoriented and I saw a flash of confusion and worry in Motoki's eyes.
"Are you okay? You weren't here for a minute," he asked in a low voice. "Yes...yes I'm fine...I just," Usagi mumbled. "I just thought I saw someone...that I know," she took a small sip of her water, and I could see that her body had become tense.
Motoki watched her with a small frown, and then leaned down to whisper something in her ear... in an obvious way to tell the rest of us that this didn't concern us; but I wasn't worried; I could always get those details from Usagi later.
"No...it's okay, I'm fine," she said to Motoki, before smiling. His worried eyes softened when she presented him with that tiny smile.
"Alright, who's up for some dessert?" Ami somehow intervened, getting everyone's attention, which was kind of uncanny of her, since she was never the one getting more than one person's attention in this manner.
"Well, I know at least one person who's always up for some dessert," Makoto beamed with laughter, grinning up at Usagi, who was looking down at her plate, paying absolutely no attention to what was being said.
"Hey? Baka-Usagi, she's talking about you," Rei waved her hand at Usagi, while frowning...I was actually getting a feeling that Rei knew as well.
Usagi finally looked up at our priestess friend, who was now watching her with a slight concern in her eyes. "I...no I'm not in the mood," she said in a hurried voice and then averted her eyes away from her.
I took the opportunity to look ahead, where they were still talking to Saburo-san, and I watched as the restaurant owner guided them to a small table on the opposite side of where we were seated.
I honestly didn't know what to do; a part of me had wished that they would just go away. That they were just stopping by, not staying by...
And when I saw Usagi's clenched hands under the table, I really wished that she could have found the confidence to talk to us a long time ago.
Her heart was jumping in her throat; literally. From the moment she saw him standing only a few feet away from her, all she could think about was running away. And to be lured into the comfort of doing what she did best!
She tried to keep her cool and act like everything was fine, but she knew that she had long lost that battle the moment she glanced up and saw those dark azure orbs. And what was worst is that Motoki was sitting right there. His simple question of, "Do you want to leave?" had left her mind shattered without a coherent thought, except for the fact that Motoki had sounded so hurt...what was she doing to him?
She tried to avoid noticing that he was sitting only a few tables on the left, avoid noticing the fact that he hadn't glanced back at her even once. She also desperately tried to avoid the crazy beating of her heart...the same rhythm that was now so heartbreakingly natural in his presence!
"Hey, Motoki-kun."
All heads turned towards Tanaka Saburo who was approaching their table; all but Usagi's.
"I was wondering if you wanted to see the kitchen too? You are a pioneer in this sort of business after all," he smiled down at the blond arcade owner.
"Um, yeah...sure," came Motoki's uncertain response, as he glanced at Usagi. "Um, right now?"
"Well, yeah, if you're done with the food of course..." Saburo said, before averting his eyes at Usagi, "And if your lovely girlfriend doesn't mind," he said in a gentle voice, startling Usagi who was obviously not paying any attention.
"Oh..." she said, eyes a little wide with confusion, "yes...yes go ahead Motoki, I'll stay with the girls," she blurted out.
Motoki watched her for a second. "You sure?" he asked, as if still unsure whether to leave or not.
"Yes, I'm sure..." she told him and tried to flash him a reassuring smile.
When Motoki was gone out of sight, Usagi turned her attention to Minako. "I have to go to the washroom again, do you mind coming with me?" she whispered to her friend. Minako was up in a second, following her to the darker corridor on the other side.
As they walked towards the restroom area, Usagi had no doubt that she was being watched...she could almost feel the heat of his eyes making small holes on the back of her flirty dress. She gulped and ordered herself not to turn around.
Once inside the dimmed lighted restroom, Usagi walked to the small, marble basin and splashed some cool water on her heated face. Taking a few deep breaths, she looked at herself in the mirror...she was very flushed; no wonder she was feeling suffocated.
"Are you okay Usa-chan?" Minako asked her in a gentle voice, putting a comforting hand on the small of her back.
Usagi watched her friend in the mirror, thanking God for the millionth time that she was blessed with friends who wouldn't try to pry anything out from her; they were just simply there when she needed them; no questions asked.
"I'm fine, I just...couldnot sit there anymore," she whispered back; her eyes wary of answers.
"Okay..."Minako said while looking at her own reflection in the mirror, touching her bangs and checking her pink cheeks. "Do you want to stay here a little while?" she asked nonchalantly as if Usagi's lack of interest in being at the spectacle of the restaurant was normal; she then looked around the small area. "It's not the best place to hang out, but..." she continued.
"Yes...I just need a...moment," Usagi said. "But if you want to..."
"Let's stand here for a bit...in the quiet," Minako cut her short and smiled at her through the mirror.
A faint ghost of a smile appeared on Usagi's face.
She went to give Minako her gratitude when the level of noise from the outside changed to something slightly obstreperous. "What's going on?" she asked instead, turning around to watch the door.
"I don't know," Minako said with confusion, "it sounds like shouting...distant shouting," she walked to the door, "let me check..."
But before Minako's slender fingers could turn the knob, a sudden female scream from somewhere not too far away jolted both of them out of their comfortable stance.
"What the hell..." Minako said, but before either of them had the chance to utter another word, the doorknob turned almost violently and Chiba Mamoru rushed inside.
Crashing right into a stunned Minako.
"What's going on?" Ami asked while turning in her seat with alarm.
"I don't know, where did that scream come from?" Rei stood up right after Makoto and looked around the restaurant. All the other customers looked as stunned and confused. The level of noise in the main hall had increased and everyone seemed to be talking at the same time.
"I feel like it came from the outside," Unazuki said, looking up at Hachiro who was obviously too confused to notice her stare.
"Where did the girls go?" he directed his question to Rei, who was eyeing the table on the left-hand side carefully. "Um...they went to the washroom," she answered without looking away from the blond and the brunette who were now leaving their table slowly.
"We should get them and Motoki and...leave, this is creeping me out," Unazuki almost yelled, bringing her voice above all the other disturbing sounds around them and stood up with everyone else.
Another loud scream, followed by a series of angry shouts rooted them on their spots.
From the corner of her eye, Rei watched as the tall blond and the shorthaired girl hurried their steps and rushed out the door.
"What the fuck..." Minako cried with anger once Mamoru had her at arm's length and steadied her on her feet.
"What the hell are you doing?" she looked up at him, "This is the ladies room, you know!" She tried to steady her breaths. Now that he was right at her face, quite literally, she could see how tall he was. He had almost pushed her on the ground, and if it weren't for his remarkable reflexes, both of them would probably be sprawled on the dark marble flooring.
He just looked at her with a small frown on his face but didn't say anything; which boiled Minako's blood even further. "I'm talking to you..." she put her hand on her hips and made the most dangerous face she could master; the same face that usually got her a series of genuine, but frightened apologies.
Mamoru stared at her heated face, before averting his eyes over her golden head and stared right into Usagi's bewildered eyes. "You need to leave," he said to her as he side stepped Minako and closed the gap between himself and Usagi.
Usagi backed away from him to the point where the back of her hips pushed against the small basin area. "What? What do you mean?" she asked him while tilting her head up to be able to look into his eyes.
He stood in front of her and looked down. "You shouldn't be here," he said in the same passive voice as he reached out for her hand.
But before their hands could touch, Minako pushed her body between the two of them. "Don't touch her...!" she hissed up at him, her golden eyebrows seized in a deep frown.
Mamoru looked at her with the same stoic face he always had, but right now, Usagi could see something else in the depth of his azure eyes. "Minako-chan, let me..."
"No, you don't get to tell her what to do," Minako cut Usagi off, still standing between the two with a tense figure.
Mamoru watched her, without saying one word; and anyone who knew Aino Minako, knew that she didn't talk to walls. "Are you deaf? I told you to leave..." she yelled at him, and immediately gasped when Mamoru's hand clasped on her mouth as he pushed his body closer to her. "Quiet down!" he hissed, eyes piercing through Minako's purple-blue orbs.
He took the opportunity of Minako's inability to talk to look up at Usagi again. "Let's go," he said. Reaching out with his free hand to take a hold of Usagi's small wrist and pull her towards the door.
"Mamoru, what are you doing? Why do we need to leave?" Usagi tried to pull her imprisoned wrist out of his grasp.
Mamoru wasn't paying attention to either of them as he took each girl by the wrist and went to the door.
"You asshole, what gives you the right to boss us around?" Minako started to struggle against him. She was now genuinely confused and almost scared and the noises that kept ringing through the closed door weren't much of a help.
Mamoru suddenly whirled around and brought Minako closer to his face, "I told you to quiet down, didn't I?" he asked darkly. "Now, you either do that on your own free will, or I'll force you to shut up," he continued rigidly. And something in his voice and the way he was looking at her made her stop in her attempts to push him away and slap him. There was an obvious authority in his voice, but then again, there was a texture of desperation there too, and that's exactly what made Minako seize her attempts to speak up. "Are you going to be quiet?" he shook her a little while asking. "Good," he said after seeing her small unsure nod. He glanced at Usagi for a second, taking note of the fear that was nestled in her baby blue eyes. "Now let's go," he commanded and turned around to open the door; very slowly.
Usagi and Minako were too stunned to even look at each other, let alone question his weird behavior.
He peeked his head outside; and the three of them were almost immediately aware of the distant shouting that seemed...well, not very distant anymore. "What's going on?" Usagi whispered, but instantly closed her mouth when Mamoru glanced down at her with a frown and put his index finger on his lips.
"Come on," he said, pulling both of them behind him as he took hurried strides on the opposite side of the main hall. He ushered them through a small door, which looked like a small storage room. He closed the door behind them. The lighting of the room was quite poor, but it was enough to able them to see their surroundings.
Minako watched Mamoru as he locked the door and leaned his ears against it for a few minutes. She crossed her arms over her chest when he abandoned his spot and started looking around the room. "Now can you tell us what's going on? Or am I still not allowed to talk?" she said in a low, but aggressive tone. She was trying all night to keep Usagi away from him, and now look how that turned out.
"Mamoru?" Usagi called him in a small voice when he didn't answer Minako's question, and he turned around to look at her. "What's happening? Why are we hiding?" she asked, looking up at him with so many emotions mirrored on her delicate face.
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "This restaurant belongs to Tanaka brothers," he paused, as if to see whether the name rang any bell for the two blondes in front of him, and continued when they kept watching him, "they're...not very popular around town," he sighed again, agitated of how to explain the situation. "You just gotta trust me okay?" he said to her while taking a tiny step towards Usagi and forcing her to look up at his eyes. "Okay?" he asked again.
"Why should we trust you? You're not so popular around town yourself, you know," came Minako's knowing voice.
"You really talk too much, you know that?" Mamoru said to her without looking away from Usagi.
"And you're a real asshole, do you know that?" Minako hissed back.
"Minako-chan, please," Usagi finally cut in, too absorbed in the faint commotion that she could hear, too worried about her friends and Motoki...and too lost in those deep eyes.
"What about our friends?" Usagi asked him, "I want to know how they are..."
"I'm sure they can handle themselves."
"But they're probably worried about us and..."
"I don't care..." Mamoru's harsh tone shortened her frantic babbling and she looked at him with hurt. "But they don't know where we are, and Motok..."
"I don't care about what your friends' are doing and I certainly don't care what apron boy is doing..." Mamoru took the final step towards Usagi and held her shoulders tightly. "You have to trust me on this Usagi, do you understand me?" he stared intensely into her eyes, searching her dumbfounded vision.
The sound of heavy, running steps from the outside pulled all three of them out of their haze. "What was that?" Minako shrieked, unconsciously moving closer to Mamoru and Usagi.
"This place is going to be packed with the police soon," Mamoru muttered under his breath, glancing around the room in search of something.
"What do you mean? For the love of God, just tell us what's happening," Minako whispered back; somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew something was terribly wrong, and knowing that she and Usagi weren't alone at the moment was a huge relief; it still didn't help that the person of her mere comfort was Chiba Mamoru.
"There is no time to explain, we need to leave these premises, or at least...try to hide somewhere," Mamoru almost growled, eyes watching something above their heads. "Aha," he said, reaching up on his tiptoes to pull down a small drop-in ceiling door.
"What the..." Minako started, before tightening her hold on Usagi's arm, who was clutching hers in return.
"Okay, you go first loudmouth," Mamoru grabbed Minako's wrist and pulled her.
"WHAT?" she hesitated. "What is this? A fucking horror movie?" she gasped when Mamoru grabbed her slender waist and lifted her up. "Hold that tongue for one second and go," he growled at her, trying to lift her as much as he could.
Usagi watched with wide eyes as Minako took a hold of the edges on the hidden door and lifted herself up through the small opening; her athletic arms making it easy for her to lift herself smoothly; even though she managed to hit Mamoru once on the shoulder and two additional times on the head with her feet. "Fuck, just..." Mamoru's agitated voice trailed off. "Done?" he asked her with obvious anger and watched as she finally managed to settle herself and nod her head at him.
In a distance, Usagi could hear the sound of police sirens; and she had to wonder for what it seemed like the millionth time during the past fifteen minutes of what the hell was going on.
"Come on Usagi," Mamoru's hurried voice lured her out of her contemplation.
She felt her legs moving towards him, and took a deep breath when his body moved closer to hers, his hands gripping her tiny waist roughly, lifting her up as she held on to his tense shoulders, "Mamoru..." she called him, knowing too well that she didn't have anything more to say, but the mere comfort saying his name out loud allowed her.
He stared into her eyes, noticing the fear in them; his heart clenching... "Don't worry, I've got you," he whispered to her, bringing her small frame against himself for a moment, allowing their noses to touch. "I won't let anything happen to you," he closed his eyes and touched his forehead against hers. He lifted her up as far as he could again. "Reach up to yobette up there."
"Hey..." Minako hissed as she reached down to take a hold of Usagi's raised arms, "I don't know what that means, but it sounds rude," she said while trying to lift her friend. "God, Usa-chan...those french fries are doing their course."
"Shut up Minako," Usagi finally settled in the small dark area against a panting Minako.
She looked down at Mamoru who was listening to the outside sound carefully.
"What are you waiting for hulk?" Minako panted, "C'mon'." She looked down at him and reached out her hand, mimicking Usagi's arm.
Mamoru looked up at them. "Give me some room," he said before jumping up, pretty high, and grabbing the edges.
"I'm impressed," Minako said. "You're not just a jerk," she giggled, "you're a gymnast jerk."
"Mina-chan...just...aakh, help him up please," Usagi growled at her friend, clutching Mamoru's right hand tightly, as she tried to pull him up.
"Now what?" Minako asked after they settled in the small dark space.
Mamoru took a few deep breaths. "Now," he said, "is when we need to be really, really quiet." He glanced up at Minako with narrowed eyes, challenging her to utter another word; she simply stuck her tongue out at him and looked away.
A faint smirk quirked on the side of his lips; he was actually getting to like the rebellious blonde; they were both so different, those two blondes, but yet, so much alike in some ways.
He glanced at Usagi who was sitting with her knees bent as she hugged them close to herself. Her chin was rested on them and she gazed at the empty space in front of her.
He took the time to really look at her, now that they were in the dark and maybe out of danger. He took in the sight of her golden locks, sprawled around her like a cocoon, brushing her lean forearms and slender shoulders. The skirt of her dress slightly hiked up, giving him a delicious view of the soft skin of her thighs; those same thighs that he had touched and gripped...and it seemed so long ago.
"Do you mind not swallowing my friend with your eyes," Minako's voice snapped him out of his reverie, and he turned around to witness the mischievous in her laughing eyes. He smirked at her and ran a hand through his hair. "Why, are you jealous?" he asked her in a hushed voice. Minako huffed and wrinkled her nose. "You wish...I just don't like that look on your face," she pushed her long sparkly hair to one side and leaned on one hand.
"I thought we were supposed to be quiet," Usagi whispered, not bothering to look away from the space she had been gazing at.
"Well, it's hard not to speak when we have a..."
"Shhhh..." Minako was cut off by Mamoru's offending hand clasping on her mouth for the second time that night. Their ears peaked as they heard a voice from down the ceiling...as if someone was trying to force the door to the storage room open; Usagi jumped out of her skin when the loud sound came through the ceiling and pushed herself closer to Mamoru, who was already reaching out to her. He grabbed her forearm and pulled her against himself, nestling her under his protective arms. She hid her head into the crook of his shoulder, fighting hard not to let the tears fall. She looked up when another hand settled on hers and tried to look strong as she stared into Minako's eyes. The blonde teenager was sitting on Mamoru's other side, his left arm around her shoulder.
A moment later, they heard the loud thud of the door hinges and the sound of men talking.
"No one's in here sir, all clear."
"Yes, confirmed..."
They let out their breaths when everything went back to silence after a few minutes...
"What is going on Mamoru?" Usagi's tears finally slid down her face as she glanced up at him.
They were everywhere. Walking past them, talking to the people they had seen in the restaurant, some familiar faces... and it was terrifying. The blue and red lights, that chilling hue that was always around them... the faint sound of some people crying, some men letting out their frustrations with foul language...and none of those things mattered to Rei as she glanced around the chaos around them.
What mattered to her was the fact that their group of five was standing in the middle of all of it and she had no idea, what so ever, on Usagi and Minako's whereabouts...even Motoki was not in their sight range. And she was terrified out of her skin.
"Where are they?" she asked for what it seemed like the hundredth time. And she just hated that utter look of confusion and lack of knowledge on Ami and Makoto's faces; even though she knew she was in the exact same position as they were.
"I don't know, they went to the restroom. Didn't they come out? Why haven't we seen them outside?" Ami said nervously. She had been looking around ever since the crazy screams from the outside had rushed them out of the building...but the more she looked, the less she saw any sign of the blondes.
"Those idiots, always walking around..." Rei muttered under her breath, and Makoto kept her mouth shut; she knew, after all, that Rei's ridiculous irrationality was a clear sign of her stress and fear; both of which she was experiencing herself at that very moment.
"Where is Motoki? Oh my God, can you see him anywhere?" Unazuki shrieked, hands clasped on her chest, cheeks flushed with anxiety and eyes glossy with the fear of not knowing where her brother was; especially now that they had witnessed two people being strolled away in an ambulance and police officers walking around like in one of those cheap action movies.
"Found him..." came Hachiro's loud voice from the other side of the street and immediately, four sets of feminine legs were running as fast as they could.
"OH MY GOD, MOTOKI..." Unazuki shouted from the top of her lungs before she threw herself into her brother's arms. "Where were you?! Oh, my God, I was so worried..." She clung to him like a little kid, touching his face and his shoulder blades to see whether he was hurt anywhere and taking a much-needed sigh of relief when she found none.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," Motoki kept repeating, as he was showered with all the emotions that his sister and the others were throwing at him. His eyes scanned the group in front of him, as he suddenly pushed Unazuki out of his embrace and held her at an arm's length. "Where is Usagi?" his voice was sharp and intense, and for a moment, silence fell upon them.
He looked at all of them with alarm and his eyes were fixed on Unazuki once more." Una...where is she?" he demanded again; his mind a jungle of absolute desperation.
Hachiro was the first one to come out of his haze. "They went to the washroom, just before all this..." he glanced around himself, "...shit started..." he was cut short when his blond friend made a sharp move towards him. "And?" Motoki asked in a voice that was probably two or three octaves above his natural tone. "And...well, we just ran out, and...we haven't seen them since," Hachiro ended his explanation with a deep breath.
They all watched as Motoki's eyes widened in complete fear. His eyes jumped around the area, trying to find the tiniest hope that she was out there, somewhere, and they just hadn't seen her...he needed her to be out here, he needed her to be safe...anywhere.
"Minako was with her too," Rei spoke up as if knowing that the two of them were together would make a huge difference. Or that Minako's slightly taller frame gave her the physical ability to guard Usagi and herself against any harm.
Motoki seemed distracted though...he took a few steps away from them as he stood up on his tiptoes and looked around the area. His forest green eyes scanned the couple that was talking to each other not far away from them and went to the three police officers that were standing around one police car and were talking amongst themselves. He watched as a young officer approached Tanaka Saburo, who was already speaking to the chief officer a few meters away from them. He skipped them to stare at the main entrance of the restaurant that was being guarded by the police; he shut his eyes for a moment, trying to remember whether he'd seen that signature hairstyle anywhere when he had rushed out of the kitchen behind Saburo. He could vividly remember the second he heard the chilling scream from outside, where he was focusing intently on Subaro's speech about the new kitchenware he had ordered for the restaurant. His head had snapped to the other side of the kitchen entrance when he had felt Subaro's body go tense beside him. And then there was running...he had run out of the kitchen the second Subaro was out of his sight; he could remember the pang of cold that had gone through his spine, when he had witnessed those beat-up bodies lying on the pavement...he could remember all of that...but nowhere in his mind was that shimmering color of gold.
He opened his eyes and looked at Subaro again. Was it just him, or did the guy seemed pretty calm for someone who just had a brutal incidence happening right in front and "at" his new establishment?
His eyes traveled more until finally, they were fixed on a duo that was standing on the other side of the street, tucked in the shadows and away from everyone else. The forest green orbs narrowed.
There were the three of them back at the restaurant.
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.