Well, I'm back with another chapter of "It's never too late".
First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends out there who celebrate this great holiday; and I hope you have all enjoyed the long weekend with your loved ones. I sure did.
My mother in law is visiting us from Belgium, and she is so very cool. She's like a cool, older best friend that I have. So I had a great weekend spending time with her and my hubby
Anyways, I've noticed that some people have found the previous chapter a bit weird and confusing. I hear you...believe me. But if you have read my previous long story, "Her Eyes", you may notice a pattern there. I tend to do a lot of flashbacks and time changes. I've tried my hardest to keep them simple and understandable. And I do know the difference between this fic (which is a crime/romance) and "Her Eyes" (which was merely a romantic story). But, let me assure you that I never leave anything without explanation. So, what happened in the restaurant, the reality of who Chiba Mamoru is, how Usagi met Mamoru in the first place and etc will be revealed soon. But, my writing style is not very straight forward, meaning that I won't put everything out in the open, and in a very simple, grammatical way. There will be tweaks here and there, flashbacks and memories of the past that would expose everything that has happened in our favorite characters lives. So please, bear with me. And I assure you, this is going to get so good
Queenbee332: Thank you so much for your kind words. It means a lot to me. There are going to be a lot of flashbacks and... a lot of Usagi/Mamoru moments (wink wink). Enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think.
SerenitySweety: I'm sorry that you feel confused. Some issues will be revealed during this chapter, but you might get a little bit confused again. But don't worry. I will tell you everything when the time comes Enjoy this chapter my friend and don't forget to leave me a review.
Oloferne: I love this Mamoru too:D Thank you for your review. And enjoy this chapter.
Yamy89102: Here's the update I sure hope you like it. I've already started writing the next chapter. I try not to take as along again Enjoy.
Nati: I'm so glad that you find their relationship enchanting. So many people have voiced their concern about how their relationship seems a bit abusive from Mamoru's part. But you know what, every relationship has its ups and downs and a lot of weird stuff happens between couples that other people are not aware of; I don't see the difference here I love them here too. There will be more Usagi/Mamoru interaction in the future. I LOVE Mina myself:D:D Enjoy this chapter. I would love to hear your opinion.
Guest: I'm sorry you feel that way. And I hope you find some answers during this chapter. If not, don't worry. I won't leave anything unfinished or confusing. Enjoy this chapter
SeleneJade: I'm so glad you like the story It makes me really happy. Well, enjoy this chapter. You are in for a hell of a ride.
SMSM92: Wow, I read your review this morning, and it really warmed my heart thank you so much for all your positive vibe and kind words. Yes, this is and alternative universe, if that's what your asking Like I said in my previous story, "Her Eyes", I've always been intrigued with these characters normal lives (it was pretty straight forward in "Her Eyes", seeing that their relationships were that of the manga and anime). But here, even though the girls have the same friendship and closeness, but the relationship between our heroine and hero, is totally changed. I appreciate that you find the story line to your heart's content Enjoy this chapter. And let me tell you, that more is on the way AND PS: I know, I love this sexy Mamoru too:D:D:D (wink wink).
Enjoy Everyone.
PS: This chapter has been edited by the great BrownB.
The small waves of warm water felt nice on her skin. She leaned back a bit and settled herself more comfortably against the bath. The small drops of water on her forearm and neck made her shiver with delight.
She heard a faint knock on the door. "Usagi?" Rei's voice came through. "Are you okay in there?" she continued when Usagi didn't respond right away.
"I'm fine, I'll be out in a minute," she called out to her friend; and smiled internally when she recognized that underline of worry in the priestess's tone.
By the time she was out of the small bathroom, she was dressed in one of Rei's modest kimonos. She tightened the white towel on her head and walked into Rei's room on the other side of the corridor.
"I really needed that," she exclaimed as soon as three sets of eyes were turned toward her.
"Yeah, you really did stink," Rei's retort was fast and smooth like always; and Usagi was thankful for the way she was trying to usher them into that familiar normality again. So to do her part, she stuck her tongue out at her friend and then winked; like she always did.
"Thank goodness," Makoto said, while stretching her arms above her head, "I didn't think we'd gather again like this tonight." She sighed and met Ami's curious eyes. "You know what I mean...I was just so worried and everything happened all at once," she explained and narrowed her eyes when Ami kept staring at her. "Well not all of us can be logical and calm like you Mizuno."
Ami rolled her big aquatic eyes. "Don't be so dramatic Mako-chan, nothing happened after all." She settled her cup of tea on the table and met Makoto's green eyes once more.
"Nothing happened you say?" Makoto hissed. "Blondies were missing for a good hour, we were all worried out of our brains...and don't pretend you weren't worried Ami-chan, who was the one who kept pushing Motoki to go and speak to the police?" She narrowed her eyes once more.
"I'm not saying that I wasn't worried, but then again, we knew they were safe...didn't we?" Ami met Usagi's eyes before she let out the last part of her sentence and for some odd reason, Usagi stiffened under her stare.
For a moment, the whole room was quiet. Rei let out a sharp breath before standing up and walking to her closet. "What do you mean Ami-chan?" She took a small blanket out of the closet and handed it to Usagi who was still standing near the door and had her arms wrapped around herself.
"Yeah, what does that mean Ami-chan?" Usagi asked almost inaudibly, dreading what was going to come out of the genius's mouth.
"Well..." Ami began, but paused to look around the room first, "you weren't alone...you and Minako-chan; you weren't alone," she said it almost nonchalantly, even though deep inside, she knew that she might have just opened a can of warms; but there was no turning back now. With an internal shake, Ami realized that she didn't want to turn back now. Her friend was far too precious to her, and she couldn't let her be in the solitude of this torture any longer.
So with that in mind, Ami straightened her back and looked right into Usagi's confused and worried eyes. "He was with you...I saw him rushing towards the washrooms once the first scream was heard," she said.
Usagi's eyes couldn't get any wider. She couldn't manage a single word, let alone a long sentence at that moment; and as she looked around the room, she realized something.
It really couldn't be helped if they all had seen Mamoru running towards the washrooms; he might have had diarrhea as far as they were concerned! It's not like they had seen him with Minako and her, he had left their side the minute they managed to get out of the restaurant from the back door. So why was she blowing up her cover with stupid facial expressions?
"I have no idea what your talking about Ami-chan," she finally managed to say, as she tightened the red blanket around herself and walked to Rei's small bed. She sat down and met Ami's stare once more. "What?" she asked, still a little bit alarmed.
"Could we not do this anymore Usagi-chan?" Ami asked gently, smiling sadly at her friend.
"Do what?" Usagi was not genuinely confused.
"Pretend..." came the blue haired teenager's respond, before she left her sit beside the small table in the middle of the room, and walked up to Usagi.
"I know he came after you...don't we?" she slowly averted her eyes to Makoto and Rei, who were squirming under her intense stare.
"Well..." Makoto started, but was cut short when Usagi's nervous laughter was echoed through the room. "Hahahaha, that was funny Ami-chan, really. Why would Chiba Mamoru come after me?" She kept laughing before something in Ami's stare made her stop and pout.
"So..." Ami said, "how did you know who I was talking about then?" She watched as Usagi's face turned three different shades of pink before it settled for a hue of red. "Ummm...I mean..." the blonde fumbled.
"Oh, cut the crap Usagi..." Rei's outraged voice startled the other three occupants of the room. She stood up and put her hands on her waist before flipping her jet-black hair back and setting her dark purple orbs on Usagi.
"I guess it's safe to say that we all know about your little secret...at least, it seems Ami-chan and I do," she glanced down at Makoto who was still sitting on the floor, gawking at her with wide eyes. However, she managed to gather her wits once Rei's questioning eyes focused on her. "Yeah...I know too," came her small voice.
"What...what are you guys talking about?" Usagi whispered, still flushing like a young girl she was; she could feel her heartbeat escalating.
Ami let out a deep breath when she reached out her hand and placed it on top of Usagi's clasped ones on her lap. "We know about you and Chiba-san," she said, as gently as she could; Usagi had tried her hardest to hide her little secret from them after all, so why torment her with mind games?
"What do you mean 'you know about me and him'? There's nothing..."
"Oh give us some credit Usagi, we're not blind," Rei waved her hand as she dismissed Usagi's question, and then looked straight into her eyes. "Nor deaf," she added with a mischievous smile plastered on her beautiful face.
Usagi looked at Ami, who was pursing her lips together in embarrassment, and Makoto, who was giggling with delight. "And what's that suppose to mean?" Usagi murmured unsure; she couldn't believe what was happening; she had every intention of telling her best friends about...well, whatever she had with Mamoru, but never in million years did she dream that they would find out on their own.
"You know," Rei stood right in front of Usagi and leaned in towards her face, "you don't suddenly become invisible when you go to the alley behind the arcade." She grinned when Usagi's head jerked up and her breath hitched in her throat. "And given the circumstances, I gotta say, you can be pretty flexible..." Her grin turned into a wholehearted laughter when Usagi's whole face turned beet red and her hands covered her face.
Beside the hunched over blonde, Ami looked at Rei with a raised eyebrow and a red hue of her own, while Makoto's enthusiastic laughter filled the small room at the Hikawa Shrine as she jumped to her feet and lunged herself at her friends.
She couldn't see him clearly from where she was sitting on the dark blue love seat in the small living room. She could see his left thigh and his left hand that was holding the railing in the balcony.
She closed her eyes and leaned her head against the back of the tiny sofa. She was well far into her own world and didn't hear the soft click of the sliding door closing.
"Don't fall asleep."
She heard his voice but didn't bother to open her eyes. "I'm not asleep," she said, stretching her slender legs in front of her in a tired gesture.
"I'm still not sure why you're still here." She peeked open one eye and regarded him thoughtfully. He was rubbing his eyes resignedly. His tall, lean form seemed even taller from where she was sitting in the dimmed room.
"You still haven't answered my question," she said as she finally opened her eyes and held her chin up with stubbornness.
"That's probably because I don't want to," he hissed under his breath and then threw himself on the gray three seat sofa.
"Well, I'm not leaving until I get an answer," she hissed back.
"You really are annoying, you know that?" He covered his eyes with his arm and bent one knee in his horizontal position. "Why you're here in the first place is beyond me." He sighed and buried himself more on the sofa.
He could feel her presence in his personal space as she stood near the sofa with her hands on her hips. "Well excuse me if I wanted to talk to you," she growled and then crossed her arms over her chest, "and I didn't see you complaining." She smirked when she heard his groan deep within his throat.
"You did talk...you actually managed to speak a good half an hour on your own," he said without leaving his sanctuary on the sofa. "And now it's time for you to leave." He turned his back towards her and went deeper into the sofa.
Her big sapphire eyes narrowed for a split second before she smacked him up side the head.
"WHAT THE FUCK...!" He jumped and immediately nursed the back of his head. "What the hell is the matter with you?" His own cobalt eyes stared up at the blonde in front of him with obvious anger and frustration.
"Haven't you been taught that it's rude to turn your back on a lady?" Her hands settled on her hips once more as she bent her back a little towards him.
"I don't see any ladies here," he countered back and then, on reflex, blocked off her next attempt on his head with his left hand. "Cut that out Yobette," he hissed before standing up full height in front of her and looking down at her with a deep frown.
"HEY!" Minako cried as she took a step back. "I still don't know what that means." Her perfectly shaped brows seized in a frown deeper than the young man's in front of her.
"Listen, Yobette..."
"My name is MINAKO...MINAKO," she yelled as she stood up on her tiptoes to be in eye level with him, but to little avail.
"I don't care what your name is...just...get out of my house...jeez." Mamoru covered his eyes with both hands and started rubbing his throbbing temples. The loudmouth was seriously giving him a headache, and he just wanted her gone.
"You think I like being here, in this..." Minako looked around the dull room, "this lame excuse of an apartment." She didn't even flinch when Mamoru shot her a nasty stare. "Just answer the fucking question, and I'll be on my way, believe me," she panted slightly. Over the past couple of hours, she was practically on an emotional rollercoaster. The whole situation with Usagi and this Chiba guy was over all pretty intense, and the fact that Usagi had tried to keep everything from them was even worse. And tonight, the whole action/horror themed reality that she had faced was probably enough for a lifetime; but knowing that this was probably what Chiba was facing on daily basis, or something similar, didn't sit well with her...just that Usagi...
"For fucks sake, what do you want me to say?" Mamoru growled at her. He just needed some time alone. He wasn't use to having anyone at his apartment, except for Hisa and Daiki probably; and his occasional "private" visitors. He wasn't used to having someone burst into his personal space and demanding stuff from him. And this 'blondie' was just a handful.
"ARE YOU GOING TO STAY AWAY FROM USA-CHAN OR NOT?" Minako yelled once more. She had been thinking all through the night. Well, probably not the whole night, but she did have some time to think while they were trapped in that small room up on the ceiling. She had watched how the Chiba guy had looked at Usagi, the way he was devouring her with his eyes. The way he had pulled her close to himself when she was scared; and thinking back, Minako was actually quite grateful that he had done the same thing for her as well; even though the way he had held Minako was probably nothing like the way he had held onto Usagi. In her own state of fear, Minako had heard him murmuring soft words into Usagi's ears. "Shhh, don't be scared, I'm right here," he had said to her. "Don't cry," he had breathed into her ears when Usagi had started sobbing into his neck.
Minako was always proud of her ability to recognize when two people were interested in each other, even long before they would even start flirting. And from the moment she had seen Chiba at the arcade, she had this weird feeling that this guy was going to have a huge role in her life. And on that first day, after Usagi and Makoto had finally arrived, loud and cheerful like usual, she had witnessed how Chiba had looked at Usagi. His face was stoic and indifferent, but there was just something in his cobalt eyes...
So Minako had watched him closely from then on. Every time they had come in, with that dangerous aura around them, she had watched his every little move; and it really helped that he was gorgeous and had a body to die for! It just made the whole spying business more exciting! And she had learned quickly that he wasn't the type of guy to fond over a girl; far from that actually; and aside from the occasional glances and semi long stares that he had casted at Usagi, Minako wasn't even sure how they had gotten together. Usagi just seemed so clueless and Chiba...well he just looked too proud to fuss over her. Even though Minako had caught him watching Usagi once in a way that had made her hold her breath for a moment or two.
Flashback:
"Hey Usagi, your late. Like usual," Rei had taunted when the blonde had finally arrived out of breathe and flushed. The buns on her head were a bit loose and her hair was over all tussled; probably due to her run to the arcade.
"Oh shut up Rei," Usagi cried out. "If you must know, I got detention," she pouted before dropping her school bag and sliding into the booth.
"Why am I not surprised?" Rei shook her head with pretense disappointment and then smirked when Usagi stuck her tongue out at her.
"I'm starving," Usagi said even before settling more comfortably on her seat, "have you guys ordered yet?"
"We did, I just ordered you a chocolate milkshake Usa-chan," Makoto smiled at her petite friend.
"Arigato Mako-chan, but..." she stood up from her seat, "I don't think a milkshake can satisfy this level of hunger, I'm in desperate need of some meat," she said as she flipped her pig tails over her shoulders.
"Mmm speaking of meat..." Minako murmured with an evil glint in her eyes.
The infamous group had just entered the arcade. The blond had that same smirk plastered on his face, while the tall girl was frowning at something unknown; she just seemed so angry all the time.
The dark haired boy strolled into the arcade like he always did. Hands buried in his pockets, school bag hung loosely around his shoulder, dark blue blazer hanging off the bag...so indifferent...so cool.
"Ewwww, Minako-chan!" Usagi cried out in alarm when she finally grasped the meaning behind Minako's statement. "That was just so...inappropriate," she said after turning pink and red a couple of times.
"Oh come on Usa-chan, live a little," Minako made a little dismissal gesture with her hand, "and stop using big words and start looking at that ass..." She then laughed out loud when Usagi's eyes went wide. She even laughed harder when Rei smacked her arm and huffed.
"Anyways..." Usagi stated, "I'm going to go order, you guys want anything?" she looked at her friends and then started walking towards the counter.
Minako was still eyeing the trio on the other side of the arcade. They had settled on the booth they usually took refuge in. They were talking to each other, but Minako could tell that the dark haired young man wasn't entirely paying attention to his friends. And when his intense eyes looked beyond their table and focused on something, Minako just had to know.
Usagi was walking away from the counter, one milkshake in hand; she just couldn't wait any longer; while walking very slowly and carefully not to drop the shake or trip over her own two feet. But...
"OH MY GOD..!" Her loud shriek pierced through everyone's ears before they all looked up and were presented with a Usagi who was on her butt, school attire covered in the chocolaty beverage. "Stupid slippery floor!" she cried out in annoyance.
And that's when Minako saw it; because, even though Makoto had moved to help Usagi on her feet and Rei was already hovering over her with hands on her hips, Minako had returned her attention back to the dark haired man...and just as she predicted, he was staring at her friend...but not like any other time; this was more...intense; still amused, but intense...somehow filled with lust, and probably...fascination?
A tiny smirk was apparent on his handsome features as he continued watching the blonde teenager who was wailing like a 5-year-old. And Minako had to wonder; how long before he would approach Usagi with all of his pent-up desire?
End of flashback:
"Well, are you?" Minako asked him once more, this time with more emphasis.
Mamoru looked troubled; mostly because Minako wouldn't leave him alone and now, at two in the morning, she was asking him all these questions. He was sleep deprived and tonight's events had just worn him out so much.
"I don't see if that's any of your business," he finally said, casually walking to his kitchen; Minako on his heels.
"She's like my sister, so it is my business," she said with an irritated pout. She hadn't just stalked him to come this far to his apartment for nothing. She actually had to force her way into the building and then the apartment to get some answers; and answers she would get damn it!
Mamoru opened the fridge and fetched a beer bottle. "You're getting on my last nerve blondie," he said with a deep frown before opening the beer and taking a long slurp of the cool beverage.
"Spare me small talk Chiba, and give me a simple yes or no answer." She watched him as he took another smaller sip and before the bottle was fully detached from his lips, she grabbed it from him and gulped down the remaining.
She opened her eyes in time to watch his arched brow. "That was my last beer..." he stated indifferently.
"Well then, nothing can distract you now, will it?" she shot back with raised eyebrows and then smiled.
Chiba Mamoru groaned deep within his throat and closed his eyes with a frown and something deep inside of Minako stirred with a sense of familiarity.
He had the same look when they had finally came out of their hiding space and out in the open; right into the dark alley behind the restaurant. Usagi had stopped crying, but she was still trembling with fear. Minako herself wasn't in the best shape, and again, she was so thankful that Chiba hadn't let go of any of their hands. He had guided them to the alley, taking glances over the darkness with a panther look on his face. Once they had reached the entryway of the alley and were presented with police officers and people on the main street they had stopped.
"Okay..." Mamoru had said, while going on his tiptoes to see over some by standards heads, "I think I just saw your Amazon friend," he said and then winced when Minako hit him on his elbow. "That's not very nice," she said to him, while taking a look herself. "Okay, I think it's safe to say that we have already given everyone a heart attack or two; maybe it's time for us to show ourselves," she continued as she reached out her hand and took Usagi's wrist. "Come on Usa-chan."
Usagi had followed Minako for a few tiny steps, before she had stopped and turned around to look up at Mamoru, who was looking down at her with a frown on his face. "Mamoru..." she had called out to him with such a broken voice; a voice that had made Minako tighten her hold on the petite blonde.
Mamoru's face expression hadn't changed; he had only stared at her with a tiny disturbed frown, before his hand came up to caress her cheek. "Go..." he murmured then closed his eyes, letting go of her face and giving Minako the time to drag her mesmerized friend out of the dark alley.
And now, standing in front of the frowning Chiba who was looking away from her again, Minako had the time to relive the moment their friends spotted them in the middle of all the tumultuous on the main street. She remembered how Rei and Makoto had run towards them, yelling back to everyone else that they had found them. She could close her eyes and still remember the look on Motoki's face when he had flung himself towards Usagi, and had crushed her in a tight embrace.
"No..."
Mamoru's voice hauled Minako out of her memory and she had to blink a few times to understand what he was saying. "What?" she asked him as he side stepped her and paced towards the small kitchen sink on the other side.
"You asked me a question," he said, his back to her, hands clutching the counter top, shoulders tense, "and my answer is...no."
For a long moment, Mamoru stayed that way; his back towards the obnoxious blonde and his eyes fixed on the faucet; and that is exactly why he missed the small smile that curled up on Minako's lips, while her eyes lit up with a knowing glint.
"I was worried out of my mind," he said, burying his face into her hair and inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo.
Usagi closed her eyes and tried to relax her stiff body in his embrace. She really wanted to get some answers. But Motoki was no better than her. He hadn't had the chance to talk to Subaro-san after the whole mess. All he knew was that two men were brutally beaten right outside of the restaurant; and Motoki was unsure whether he had actually seen one of them with Subaro-san before. The police had no clue who had attacked them, but Ami had overheard two officers talking about gangs and traces of an 'organized crime'. But that was the only thing they knew.
All of them had agreed that it was time for them to leave, and Rei had suggested that they could go to the shrine and have a sleep over. All the girls had accepted her offer, well, all but Minako, who had mumbled something incoherent about her mother and the importance of spending time with family after a 'near death' experience. But no body was paying too much attention to her; everyone seemed to be in their own little world, rethinking the events of the past hour.
Motoki's friend had offered to take Unazuki home since Motoki was driving the four teenagers to the shrine.
He had waited impatiently for the three girls who were huddled on the back seat to climb out of the car before he threw his arms around Usagi and pressed his mouth against hers in a searing kiss. Her surprise was short lived, and she had started to kiss him back; although a bit impassive.
"Where were you? I came outside with Subaro-san when I heard all the screaming, and then I saw everyone...but you weren't there..." he said breathlessly, before he seized her lips in another kiss.
She pushed him back a little, drawing a much needed to inhale into her lungs. "I...was with Minako-chan..." she said, lips were swollen and cheeks flushed, "we went to the washroom, and then the screaming started and..."
"You must have been really scared..." Motoki cut her off, and brought her closer to himself over the gear, "I'm sorry I wasn't there." He buried his face into her neck and tried to calm his nerves. He had been so scared, so frustrated when she wasn't there.
"I wasn't alone..." Usagi said, in a whisper; her eyes set on the door handle over Motoki's shoulder, mind no longer focused on the young man who was hugging her close. "I know," came his response, "but just the thought of the two of you; young girls in the middle of that unknown hell... I just didn't know what to do..."
Usagi didn't say anything. She just kept staring at the door handle; her mind no longer focused on Motoki's little white car in front of the Hikawa Shrine.
Another knock was heard. But his mind was just too tired to register whether it was coming from his own door, or the neighbors'; who always had some late night visitors.
Another knock came; this time a little bit louder than before and Mamoru grunted with annoyance. The nosy blonde had finally left like what, half an hour ago? He couldn't even think about the reason behind her return. She was so...so...frustrating. With all her smart-ass questions and comments, and all the fists she had thrown.
When the fourth knock came, he sat up on the bed while rubbing the sleep away from his eyes. He had just lain down; couldn't a guy take a break for fuck's sake?
He went to the door, ready to give a piece of his mind to her for waking him up from his slumber; as if it wasn't bad enough that she had invaded his apartment earlier that night.
He swung open the door with anger, not caring about his state of half nakedness. He took a deep breath and readied himself to snap...but all thoughts of being angry and irritated fled his mind when he met her eyes.
Immediately he exhaled the breath he had drawn in and stared right into those baby blue orbs that were watching him with an unreadable expression.
"Um..." came her small voice after a few moments of their intense staring contest. "I'm sorry if I woke you up..." she continued as she took in his shirtless appearance, clad only in a pair of grey comfortable pants, "I just...I mean..." She was playing with her fingers with nervousness, "I actually don't know why I'm here..."
"How did you find my address?" Mamoru finally asked after his initial shock of seeing her right at his door.
"Well...Minako-ch..."
"Ah...I should have known," he said as he leaned his arm against the door and looked down at her. "How did you get here? Did you walk?" he then asked, as he bent a little bit to be able to look down the empty corridor.
"Um...yeah, I came alone and well, yes I walked..." Usagi said, her eyes averting away from his intense stare.
"Are you stupid? You walked...all alone, at what..." he looked down at his empty wrist, before he snatched her tiny one and looked at the small pink wrist watch, "three in the morning? What the hell is wrong with you?" He didn't immediately let go of her wrist as he stared at her with a deep frown on his face; and Usagi's breath caught in her throat.
He was beautiful. She had always known how handsome he was, even with that annoying stoic look on his face. But now, it was as if she was seeing him in a new light.
His black hair was tussled with sleep, and it was in a desperate need of a good haircut. His face looked thinner with tiredness and apparent lack of sleep. And his eyes...she blushed and tried to push away those thoughts.
But he was just too damn close.
"Why are you here Odango?" he asked as he tightened his hold on her tiny wrist; but she didn't flinch, or pulled away...like she always did. She didn't even react to the hideous nickname. Her eyes were down cast to his chest; his magnificent, solid chest.
"I wanted to thank you..." she answered back after a moment, "for tonight." Her eyes went back to stare into his midnight orbs.
"What about tonight?" he asked, eyes piercing to hers as if he was trying to stare right into her soul.
"Well, you know, for staying with us, and...well saving us..."
"Saving you?" His eyebrows rose with curiosity.
"I mean, you know, I still don't have any idea what happened tonight, but Moto...errr...I was told that some people got hurt. And that the police was looking for some other people..." She was feeling a little flustered under his eyes, so she tried to pull her wrist out of his grasp; but his hold only tightened with her initial try.
They stood in silence after that; neither of them aware of the fact that they were still standing in the middle of the empty corridor. He, shirtless with messy hair and she only clad in a pair of thin linen pants that she had borrowed from Rei, and her flannel shirt that she had left behind at the shrine ages ago.
"Does he know you're here?" Mamoru asked while doing a once over on her petite frame.
Usagi stared at him with coy; not wanting to dismiss his question altogether, but at the same time, trying to limit any conversations about Motoki. "No...he doesn't," she answered after a long pause.
Mamoru kept his eyes on her, not glancing away even for a mere second. "Why are you really here Odango?" he asked as his warm thumb started stroking Usagi's soft skin unconsciously. The small caress sent jolts of electricity down her spine; making her heartbeat speed up. "I..." she started to say but was cut off once more by his stern and masculine voice. "Do you know how stupid it was to walk alone in the middle of the night? Did you forget already what happened tonight?" he asked as he started pulling her towards himself.
And that did it.
Every coherent thought that was previously formed in Usagi's mind, as to why she had decided to come to his apartment in the first place and why Minako had insisted that she needed to thank him face to face, was banished in that moment.
And for the first time since that fateful afternoon when Mamoru had approached her near the arcade and had called her with that ridiculous nickname, Usagi let go of all the reasons and logics of the reality of the dangerous path she had taken with the young man in front of her, and freed her mind with everything else except one want...one desire...one need.
She heard the hitch in his throat and saw before feeling the surprise in his eyes; but he reacted quickly and oh so passionately. She tightened her arms around his neck and rose even more on her tiptoes to deepen the very first kiss she was giving him. His arms drew her even closer; tightening around the slim of her waist and bringing her up over the length of his lean body to get better access to the depth of her sweet mouth; her tongue was in his mouth long before his mind even registered what was happening. Slick, warm and demanding...and oh so teasing.
He tilted her head slightly to the right to be able to take the control from her little insistent lips; to plunge deeper into her mouth and make her tremble like he always did. He felt her arms lose their initial hold on him, and he quickly responded by hauling her up and holding her close to his body; the tiny moan in the back of her throat was like music to his ears.
He took two small steps back, with her carefully wrapped in his arms, and he shut the door with his foot.
He walked towards his living room, not once letting go of her sweet mouth that was doing wonders to his sanity. Even when she had obviously tried to pull back and take a deep breath, he had followed her with wanton and had sealed her lips once more.
He carefully sat her down on the sofa, wanting so much to lie her down and cover her body with his own. That kiss alone was doing so much to his libido. He was so fucking hard!
But something in him had changed tonight; and even though he couldn't pinpoint how it had actually happened, somewhere during their refuge in the small ceiling and the powerful desire to shield her from any harm, something had changed in him; and now, the desire to protect her against anything, even himself, was more dominant than any other need.
So instead, he kneeled in front of her on the ground; mouth still latched to hers, hands clutching both sides of her face and buried in strands of golden silk.
And she let him.
For the first time since the start of their weird relationship, she hadn't pushed him away, not even once. And she had let him pull her inside of his dark apartment; all alone...just the two of them...in the dark. Two major points she had always detested.
"Is this why you came here?" Mamoru mumbled against her lips, leaving the tiniest space between their swollen lips, before he crushed his lips against hers again, seizing any answers from her.
Usagi moaned into his mouth again; her head was dizzy with a shadow of want and need and embarrassment and lust and logic and want and danger and desire and lust and want and...and Mamoru.
"You came here just to kiss me senseless?" he asked again, panting and planting tiny butterfly kisses around her lips. His tongue darting out now and then to lick the same spot he had just kissed. "Did you just come here to thank me with a kiss, Odango Atama?" he asked again, lips trailing kisses on her jaw line, all the way to the hallow of her throat and coming back up to where he had started.
All the while Usagi was sitting on the dark sofa, legs apart to draw his form closer to her body, eyes closed and arms loosely around his shoulders as he kissed every nook and cranny of her face and throat.
"Or did you just came here to tease me?" he asked against her ear before he took the soft lobe into his mouth and suckled.
Usagi whimpered with joy and then sighed; palms of her tiny hands settling on his warm shoulders as she tilted her head to the side to allow him better access. "No...that's not...aah... why I'm here..." she moaned as he pushed away one long pig tail and licked the side of her neck.
"Then why are you here?" he asked again, one hand sliding down to the length of her arm and settling on her tiny waist, while the other was still playing with her hair.
"I was thinking about something tonight and, oh...and...oh, I just wanted to tell you...and talk to you...oh my God," she whimpered when Mamoru's large hand caressed the skin of her waist; the warmth of his hand was so pleasurable against her cold skin.
"What were you thinking about?" he murmured against her neck as he continued suckling and kissing the soft spot. He was losing control faster than he thought possible. It was one hell of a crazy night; and when he had first saw her at the restaurant, all gold and pink, he hadn't thought for a second that at the end of the night, or during the early hours of the next day, she would be here, sitting on his sofa with this much willingness and passion.
He lifted his head and silenced her feminine moans with a slow, sensual kiss.
"I won't be able to talk if you keep doing that," Usagi managed to whisper when Mamoru left her lips again to plant small kisses on her cheeks.
"You'll have to work it out because I can't stop..." Mamoru smirked against her right cheek and then chuckled when Usagi gave a little push to his shoulder and effectively detached his mouth from her face.
"Don't be a baka, baka," she said with a tiny smile on her lips as she leaned against the back of the sofa.
Her eyes were just adjusting to the darkness and she was able to observe her surroundings better. She glanced at the TV set over Mamoru's shoulder and then looked at the small kitchen area on her right. The sliding door to the balcony was on the other side of the living room, and she could still see the arrows of moonlight glittering on the balcony railing.
"I was thinking, well about what happened tonight," she said after her eyes drifted back to Mamoru's, "it was one crazy night," she continued as she sat more comfortably on the sofa and folded her hands on her lap.
Mamoru just had to smirk at the picture she was making. Here she was, all cozy in his apartment when she couldn't stand him for more than two minutes before. And he was more than eager to know what had changed.
"Yeah, it was," he said, as he leaned back in his hands and sat on the floor more relaxed; even though his whole body was stiff with lust and raw sexual desire.
"And I was thinking..." she said, eyes looking right into Mamoru's rich navy blues, "was this why you aren't able to introduce me to your friends before? I mean, a few months ago that's what you said..." she narrowed her eyes when his eyes glanced away from her for a second.
"Part of it...yes," he answered back; his answer was pretty straight forward, but it still felt like he was hiding something.
"But you do know that your friend, Daiki, sort of knows, right?" her hand went to one pigtail absentmindedly and started to play. His eyes went a shade darker from the sight.
"Apparently," came his response.
"And that other friend of yours, Hisa? I think she knows something too," she said again.
He paused for a second, "I guess so."
"So, who exactly were you trying to hide me from then?" She leaned forward again and placed her elbows on her knees. From where Mamoru was sitting, he was able to steal a small glance of the opening of her shirt, and her adorable tiny cleavage.
He groaned internally.
"There's a lot you don't know about me Odango. And even if you did, you probably wouldn't understand," he said and then stood up. He couldn't take being that close to her and not be devouring her anymore.
"Would you just stop calling me that?" Usagi cried out with annoyance and huffed.
Her only reply was another irritating smirk.
"I want to know more about you..." she suddenly said and threw Mamoru off guard. "Why?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. He was still so tired and sleepy; his intense make out session with the blonde had enabled him to forget his state of tiredness for a moment; but now, as he tried to fight off his sexual desire, he found himself trembling with exhaustion.
"Because...I want to know the 'real' Chiba Mamoru," she said as she closed her eyes for a second, before opening them up all too suddenly and glancing up at the young man. "I want to know who you are, what you do, what interests you and what not. I need to know these stuff Mamoru; all I know about you is this image that other people have of you; dangerous, infamously popular...mysterious; I want to know you in a way that only I can...because...because honestly, I can't get you out of my mind..."
Mamoru stared at her a little bewildered; he couldn't immediately register what she was saying. Had he ever heard those words from Usagi before? Never not that he could remember anyway; their bizarre relationship, if you could call it one, was always a game of cat and mouse. He always had to chase after her; and even though his chasing had always ended in some sort of physical contact at the end, the more he thought about it, the more he understood this strange bond that always lured him towards her. He wanted her; he always had, and not just physically; that had become clear to him tonight, so very clear.
Usagi stepped forward when he stood there silent and confused and raised her head to be able to look straight into his eyes. "I can't get you out of my mind...and I don't think I even want to..." She leaned her tiny hands on his chest, letting out a deep sigh when she felt him jump a little from the physical contact. She spread her fingers wide and kept her eyes on the steady rise and fall of his masculine and warm chest under the tips of her fingers...
"Don't..." came his hoarse voice from above her, and she felt him taking a tiny step out of her reach.
Usagi looked up at him again, perfect light brows curled up in question, and she bit her lower lip in confusion. "What's wrong?" she asked gently.
Mamoru stood still and somehow unfocused, but his eyes never left Usagi's face as he tried to control his inner turmoil; none of the hentai images that were rushing into his head were suitable for her to know about. He didn't want to scare her away; she was always too afraid of him anyway, why add to the problem?
"I think you...you need to leave Usagi," Mamoru said after what it felt like a five minute pause. "I'll take you back," he added, as he hurriedly remembered that the stupid girl had walked all the way to his apartment, alone in the middle of the night.
"But...we're not...done talking," Usagi said a little confused and overly frustrated. Now, what was his problem? Wasn't he the one always blocking her way, asking all sorts of personal questions and scolding her for different reasons? Why couldn't they just be civil for once and have a talk? Like the adults that they were?
Mamoru, who had taken a few hurried steps towards his bedroom to put on some cloths, whirled around and ran an agitated hand through his thick hair. "If you stay here any longer Usagi, I assure you, there won't be any talking," he said, narrowing his eyes at her, as if to better see the embarrassment on her face. But she just looked at him with the same confused expression, which further annoyed and frustrated him. "Don't you get it? Do you really not understand the situation here Usagi? It's the middle of the night, I just woke up to found you at my door, before you kissed me into oblivion, and now..." he did a slow once over on her, "and now here you are, standing in front of me saying all this stuff...and the only thing that I can think about is how I want to take you to my bed right now..."
He heard the hitch in her breath, as her eyes went wide and she immediately clutched the front of her shirt with her right hand. He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to gather his wits about himself; she's probably going to start screaming her head off right about now.
Usagi's mind was all over the place; what did he just say? Well it's not like she never thought of the possibility when coming to his place at three in the morning. Hell, the guy had kissed and touched her like there was no tomorrow, on several occasions, in public places, what was she really expecting?
What was scaring the life out of her though was that trembling shiver down her spine when those words had escaped his sensual mouth; the tiny flips that was happening at the pit of her stomach, and the incredible feeling of having that affect on him. Flashes of him on top of her, sweaty and needy and flushed entered her mind, and she felt a sudden rush of blood all over her being. If she closed her eyes, she could see him looking down on her with those eyes, dark with a thick layer of lust and passion, as he took her over the edge again and again.
'OH MY GOD, stop this you baka,' she ordered herself, as she felt her heart beating frantically against her chest.
Mamoru glanced at her before turning his attention to the balcony. "I know what you're thinking right now," he said, putting his hands on his hips for a moment, before cupping the back of his neck with both hands, flustered and uneasy. "This is just too much Usagi, tonight has been...I don't even know what to call it...fuck," he spat, and then he looked up at her, "I'm taking you home...or to your friends, wherever you have to go." He turned on his heels.
Something akin to panic bubbled up in Usagi as she watched him walk away from her and vanish into the darkness of his bedroom. Andas she stood in the dimness of the living room, hearing the subtle noises of closet door and drawers from his room, she let herself go for the second time that night.
And for a moment, everything vanished from her mind but him.
She wanted him, she was sure of that...and this was probably her only chance to own up to her bravery. Just for this moment she wanted to be free of any obligations, any regrets, any 'what ifs'...a faint image of a golden haired young man entered her mind, but disappeared as soon as Mamoru walked out of his room fully clothed.
"Let's go," he almost commanded, and waited for her to walk up to him.
But she just stood rooted in her place, head bent towards the ground in a way that he was no longer able to see her eyes. "Odango? Did you hear me?"
"I don't want to," came her rushed voice, and that startled him. Not the tone, for she had always spoke to him with bitterness. There was just something in that voice that made his heart miss a beat. "I'm not done talking," she said; her hands were clutching the ends of her shirt and if he wasn't so involved with her responses, he could've seen her trembling.
"Did you not hear what I said? I don't want to talk." He was fast becoming angry now.
"And did you not hear me? I want to know more about you...I want to know everything about you." Usagi raised her head faster than a thunder storm and regarded Mamoru with determined eyes. She looked at his surprised face for a second, before she gathered all that infamous bravery and took a few hurried steps towards him and wound her arms around his neck.
Mamoru lost his balance with her sudden lunge, but managed to take a hold of her waist before they both went crashing down. He had one second to stare into those baby blue adamant eyes, before his lips were sealed with yet another world shattering kiss; her second kiss given freely to him.
"Don't let me go tonight Mamoru," Usagi whispered against his dry lips, "take me...wherever you want to take me, I want to be with you," she said against his neck, as she left a hot kiss upon his soft tanned skin.
The growl that left Mamoru's throat was a combination of different things. Hard arousal, lust, anger, confusion, passion, happiness, uneasiness,...'oh fucking God'...
"You don't want this," his voice was so slow and weak...what was she doing to him?
"I do..."
"You can't handle what's going to happen next Usagi," he moaned when Usagi's legs wrapped around his lean waist so ever slowly.
"You don't know that..."
"But I do...this is not the first time that I have had you in my arms, you know," he smirked and closed his eyes as she left a hot kiss on his Adam's apple.
Usagi pouted her pink swollen lips. "That was different, and don't say it like that baka..." she smacked his shoulder slightly, "and you're a jerk who did stuff anywhere you wanted." She sent him a small devilish smile before her voice was muffled against his lapels, as she trailed an invisible line with her lips on the exposed flesh of his collarbone.
"I don't want to hurt you Usagi...and I think, with this pace...I will."
"You won't hurt me."
"You don't know the thin line I'm walking on right now, aah," Mamoru finally managed to push her away a little and look into her eyes. "Ever since I saw you in that fucking arcade, the only thing that I could think about was this...having you all to myself, alone, without anything and anyone between us..." he looked at her slender neck, "the want...no...the need to have you is just too much Usagi." He closed his eyes again when her tiny hand started to caress the back of his head.
"Well I'm here now...and I'm telling you that I want this too..." she whispered and buried her face in his neck, as she inhaled the scent of him; spicy and so deliciously dangerous.
The way she was speaking and her sudden boldness, although arousing and enchanting to him, but at the same time, wasn't sitting very well with him. She was always so shy and innocent towards him... well not particularly shy, she always had a unique fire in her; and although he was desperately trying to rid his mind of those thoughts, he couldn't keep himself from wondering how she had become that way? Had she had some previous training? She was in a relationship after all...and the arcade guy was several years older than her...
Her tiny tongue darted out to lick the side of his neck and he let out another groan...the mental image of her doing the same thing to the blonde college guy was just too much...
"Have you been with him?" he asked almost inaudibly as her wicked little lips neared his own, and his eyes popped open when he suddenly felt the absence of her warm breath against his face.
She was looking at him with wide eyes. Almost terrified eyes...maybe even...guilty?
And the way his heart twisted with a delicate crack, made Mamoru aware of his feelings towards the blonde more than ever.
So this is how it felt to have a broken heart.
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.