Hello everyone,
I'm back with another chapter of "INTL" as I have been saving it on my laptop :D:D
I know it took longer than usual to post the new chapter, and I honestly don't have any "great" excuses; I may only have some "good" excuses.
Life is busy (I'm sure everyone would agree on that), we had some friends over from Iran who stayed with us for 10 days and put a complete stop to my writing (but we had so much fun, if you were wondering :D)
But if I had to be completely and utterly honest, I have to say that I really, REALLY, struggled with this chapter.
Some of the reviews from the previous chapter suggested that there was a lack of Usa/Mamo moments in chapter 16 and so since my readers' happiness is very valuable to me, I had to restructure the whole chapter so I could meet their expectations, (without going off track and losing the flow of the story).
And if you haven't seen my latest updates yet, I have been working with BrownB who is now my awesome beta-reader. My back and forth correspondence with her for the past few weeks really got me thinking about the new chapter, thus, I really didn't want to rush into something sloppy.
I hope I'd been able to create some depth into the main characters and their relationships with one another.
TropicalRemix: I love it how you're always the first one to leave a review on a new chapter Thank you so much as always, and yes, didn't I tell you to wait and see what happened to Hisa Enjoy the new chapter. Let me know what you think.
Jessielee14: Don't worry, they had just found each other, and you know how young love is! You feel like you're suffocating without the other person Enjoy the new chapter. I would love to know your thoughts.
SerenitySweety: I hear what you're saying about Ikuko and Kenji. But you know what? When a "trust" is broken, is always hard to regain it. And in this case, Usagi has broken that trust with her parents. Now I don't know what that was like (my mother always knew who I was dating, although she didn't like one of them in particular at all!) but I had my own share of breaking that trust in other ways! The age of driving in Iran is 18 and I managed to steal my mom's car since I was 16 and driving around with my friends! I know that was a stupid idea now, but back then, it was the most exciting time of our lives! My parents were crushed obviously when they found out and it took some time to regain that trust. Motoki was out of the line, yes, and I honestly wanted to rewrite that part a couple of times, before I thought "Oh well, let's see how this turns out!" Because by nature, Motoki is a very gentle and outgoing person; he doesn't have a shred of violence in his bones! With that being said, he is a man with ego after all, and Usagi has managed to destroy that ego all together. I hope you enjoy the new chapter
IamCharlotte88: Awww, I didn't want to make you cry! But if it was a good cry, (one of those heart-warming, smiling-in-between) cries, then I guess I could live with it I'm sure you won't cry reading the new chapter. Enjoy my friend.
Guest: Yes, her mother was harsh, (though I wouldn't call her mean,) because she is a mother after all, and her daughter's well-being is the most important thing in her mind. And knowing Mamoru's reputation, she feels uneasy about Usagi's safety and well-being at this point. You're right! There was no time line for how long she is grounded, but I guess once you read the new chapter, even you wouldn't care about that any more. Enjoy.
NikkiBC: Well, don't be desperate any more my friend I'm not sure what your suspicions were, but let me know if the new chapter met your expectations. Enjoy.
Cindy3107: LOL, yes Motoki's rash decision was not smart, I agree. I hope the new chapter would answer some of your questions. Enjoy.
PS: I wanted to thank my awesome beta-reader, BrownB, who stayed up late to edit the new chapter. Hugs B.
"I can't breathe…" she whispered, almost inaudibly, but he heard her and raised his head to look at her face. "Why?" he whispered while basking in the redness of her cheeks; damp strands of dark blonde hair sticking to her forehead.
She opened her eyes and almost glared at him; "Because your weight is crushing down my lungs," she hissed with a frown as her tiny hands came up and pushed at his shoulders a little.
His face broke down in a smirk as he tried to support his upper body, knowing too well that while doing so, he'd be joining their bodies 'down there' even more.
His smirk got bigger when her eyes widened and a small gasp left her lips. "How is my weight now?" he asked in a hoarse voice, feeling himself stretching her once more. She bit her lower lip and her eyelids dropped and he was completely hard in a heartbeat. "But we just…ah…" She dropped her hands from his shoulders and turned her head sideways, as he started a slow, deep rhythm.
"We just what?" his voice was only above a whisper, only for her ears to hear. He moved one of his hands above her head and grasped one tiny wrist, while his other hand caressed her jaw.
He watched her closed eyes and parted lips. His fingers neared her mouth and he touched the inside of her mouth with his index, slowly pushing it inside. She looked at him with confusion and he smirked again.
She could clearly hear their joining as his movements became deeper; God, she couldn't believe those sounds that she had only heard of from her friends…well maybe just from Minako, were coming from her. She felt so uncomfortable down there, all sticky and wet; she really wanted to wash herself. She needed to pour warm water all over her body, but then again, she didn't want him to stop! She was so tired and spent, wasn't he? Like, how the hell did he have the energy? He had come only a few minutes ago and he was the only one moving, too!
Her eyes snapped open and her back arched a little. "Pay attention," he said as his fingers applied pressure to her bundle of nerves.
"I can't breathe…" she moaned, bringing her free arm to put around his neck and bringing his wicked mouth closer to her neck.
"My weight too much for you?" he asked without hesitation, movements still deep and slow. He could feel himself reach the deepest parts of her this way.
"No…" she said breathlessly, "you're not going…mmmm…you're too…slow," she parted her legs, giving him more room to do as he pleased.
"I don't want to go faster," he said with an obnoxious smirk as he thrust slower than before, "I like taking you like this…" He leaned into her and nuzzled her neck. "I like the sounds you make…" He suckled on the soft flesh.
Her eyes rolled to the back of her head. He was so good and he was making her feel so good, but she was getting frustrated. There was a boiling sensation in the pit of her stomach and all she wanted was for that delicious aching to calm down. "I can make better sounds," she suddenly declared, releasing her wrist from his grasp and wounding both arms around his shoulders. "if you go faster." Her lips curled into a smirk when a feral stare entered his midnight blue eyes. "Then let me hear them, you little minx," he hissed through clenched teeth.
Her eyes rolled to the back of her head once more when his control snapped, and true to her word, her kittenish moans drove him over the edge…
Usagi's eyes slowly opened. She was lying on her bed, curled into a ball. She hugged her pillow and inhaled deeply.
Even until the day after that night, she could still smell him on her pillow. A mixture of spicy cologne and boyish sweat; she wished her sheets hadn't been washed. She missed his smell…she missed him!
She felt her eyes water. God, this was crazy. Her feelings for him were crazy. How was it that up until a few days ago he was still Mamoru-baka to her; the ultimate jerk who called her ridiculous nicknames, hunted her whenever he was around, took advantage of her (she pursed her lips at that one! Was is considered taking advantage if she was an eager participant?) not to mention his reputation.
Who was he really?
She turned on her back and looked over to the window. The warm arrows of the sun were casting through.
Who was Chiba Mamoru? Was he really a gang leader? A banchō? That's what Rei had said about him. That he was a leader of some sort of a gang. Rei had explained to them what they said out there about him and his friends. But that was way before Usagi's involvement with him and she hadn't cared one bit what Rei or anyone else said about him; he was a nobody to her back then
But now…
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
Now he was her boyfriend and try as she might but she knew that she was in love with him. This was no longer a "falling in love" phase; this was it. This was what all those mangas she had read all her life talked about. This sweet, torturous aching in the bottom of her stomach every time she thought of him. The rush of excitement in her heart. The pleasant tingling in the tips of her fingers; these were all the signs, right?
And now she was banned from seeing him for God knows how long.
She sat on the bed and massaged her neck. Her whole body felt stiff. And she was getting bored out of her mind.
She glanced around her room, a little embarrassed of all the plush toys that were scattered around. 'I have to get rid of them,' she thought to herself. She was a grown woman now and playing with toys and collecting them just didn't seem fitting for her anymore. 'Maybe I should buy some makeup too,' she thought again, surprised at the total shift in her head.
He was not an ordinary teenager; he seemed so much older and experienced than boys his age and she knew he was probably an expert when it came to women. What kind of women did he like? Did he like makeup? Did he like sexy and tight skirts, or did he prefer a more innocent look?
She shook her head and let out a frustrated sigh. What was she thinking? Her parents ordered her not to see him anymore and here she was planning a wardrobe based on what he liked!
Her wondering eyes settled on her vanity and her heart fluttered with longing.
The flower was completely dry and she had tucked it in the corner of her mirror. The red petals had turned a darker shade and some of the leaves had broken over the weeks, but she didn't care. It was from him and she would treasure it for as long as she could; even when only one red petal was attached to the stem!
"I won't let anything happen to you," he had said all those nights ago at the restaurant, right before hauling her up in his arms and pushing her towards safety.
"You have got to trust me," he had said last night before walking her to her house.
And he had stood by her even when her father had belittled him, called him names and insulted him. He had stood by because "I won't let anything happen to you."
She suddenly stood up on her bed. Her eyes set on Mamoru's little red rose with determination.
She had cried her way through life…well not that extreme of course, but she had always managed to get out of hardships with a pout of her lips and tears in her eyes.
And it was time to change all of that.
If Mamoru was strong enough to stop smoking, to stop acting like a complete jerk and to handle humiliation from her dad, then she could stop crying and set her foot down.
She wanted to be with Chiba Mamoru and that was final.
"Stop fidgeting…"
"I have to pee."
"What are you, four? You can hold it."
"I really can't."
"It's really not healthy to hold one's excretion."
"Can we not talk about Minako's body waste right now?"
"I really need to!"
"COULD YOU JUST..!" Mamoru suddenly whirled around and pierced them with an outraged glare, and it was met with raised brows.
He let out an angry sigh and looked straight at Rei. "Why are you still following me? Didn't I tell you to go away two blocks ago?"
Rei met him with the same intensity. "You did. And didn't I tell you to shove it, we're not going anywhere?" A little smirk appeared on her face when Mamoru ran an irritated hand through his hair.
"How did I get into this?" he muttered to himself as he gritted his teeth together.
"You got into our friend's pants, that's how," Makoto said as she placed her hands on her hips, "I should break your jaw," she hissed while pulling her sleeve.
Mamoru rolled his eyes. "I'm shivering," he mocked and didn't even pay attention to the fire in Makoto's eyes. "I have no idea why you're following me, but you need to leave me alone." He addressed Minako as if he had deemed her a leader, "Go home." He glared at the blonde who had seemingly forgotten all about her "uneasy" situation since she met his glare with equal strength and furrowed brows.
"We won't," she cried and folded her arms on her chest. "I couldn't care less about what happens to you, but whatever happens to you will affect Usagi." She tore her eyes away from him and looked at her friends. "And we don't want to see her upset".
"Why would anything happen to me?" he asked and then looked down at his wrist watch with hastiness.
"You are going to the arcade, aren't you?" Rei asked nonchalantly and then raised one perfectly sculptured brow when Mamoru shot her a frown.
"You're going to the arcade to beat up Motoki-san, and we're not gonna let you do that," Makoto growled. "So we're going with you to make sure that you don't do anything…violent," she ended with a little uncertainty. They had always heard rumors about him and his friends, but they had never seen anything with their own eyes, and Makoto might have hated this guy's gut, but of all people, she knew how those rumors were like. After all, she had fell victim to such unpleasantly countless times herself. She looked at Mamoru, who was getting angrier with each ticking second and tried to find a reason why Usagi had chosen him over Motoki. Of course, she could see his "bad boy" charm and that mysterious aura he had around him; and if she was completely honest with herself, she could even appreciate how his boyish masculinity complimented Usagi's feminine slenderness. But she didn't want to be honest with herself right now. She all but preferred to stay angry at the guy who had come between Usagi and Motoki, one of the nicest guys she had ever seen; a guy who adorned her friend tremendously. She couldn't forget the look of heartbreak on Motoki's face the night before.
"I'm not going to the arcade," Mamoru's voice snapped her out of her reverie.
"Okay," Minako mocked with a smirk, "and I don't need to pee!" She lifted her eyebrows and shot him an innocent stare.
"Go home," Mamoru growled and turned on his heels.
Their annoying footsteps followed immediately and he stopped in his tracks once more.
"I'M NOT GOING TO THE FUCKING ARCADE!" he yelled and was immediately thrown off guard when they only covered their ears. They didn't jump out of their skins, nor did they look at him with wide eyes and frightened stares.
"You don't need to bite our heads off," Rei hissed, "we're standing right here jerk."
"Where are you going then?" Makoto asked while rolling her eyes at Minako's desperate attempts in finding a public restroom.
"That's none of your fuc-"
"IF YOU USE THAT WORD ONE MORE TIME!"
"What? Does it hurt your virgin ears-"
"Why you pompous ass!"
"ENOUGH!"
They all turned towards Ami, who was clutching her school bag in both shaking hands and the rage in her eyes immediately shut them up. "What is wrong with you?" The blunette stared Mamoru right in the eye. "This is not about you or your interest in going at it with Motoki-kun!" She took two steps and stood right in front of him. "This is about Usagi. I want to know why my friend didn't show up at school today."
"That's exactly what I want to find out too…if you, annoying lit…
"Watch it!"
"Little girls leave me alone," Mamoru finished with a deep exhale.
Ami looked at him for a moment and immediately held up a hand and stopped Rei from retorting. She gazed up at the black-haired boy in front of her, who'd once had the audacity to correct her misspell while passing her by at the arcade. She would never forget his mocking tone. "Her dad won't be home until late this evening," she suddenly declared.
Mamoru's previous fury cooled down abruptly and he looked at her with surprise. "What?"
"He's the guest journalist on Evening 5 tonight." She shrugged as if knowing this much information about Kenji's schedule was common sense.
"How do you know that Ami-chan?" Makoto said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Ami has a crush on Usagi's dad…" she teased and then giggled when Ami looked at her with horrified eyes.
"NO! I DON'T…" the blunette cried. "He's doing a documentary on use of chess engines in the games and-"
"Ami-chan is in love," Minako sing-song while wiggling her light eyebrows at her friend.
"I'M NOT-" Ami cut herself short unexpectedly and took a deep breath. "Let's just get to Usagi, okay?" she muttered with annoyance.
"Hey!"
They all turned towards Rei.
"Where the hell did he go?"
It was crazy.
It was insane.
And it was totally and utterly funny!
He tried to stifle his laughter as he watched her look at the pavement for the tenth time and…was she seriously trying to jump on the tree? Was she crazy? Did she consider herself Wonder Woman or something?
He knew he had to do something and do it quickly because…
"Ouch!" He winced internally when she suddenly made a jump and grabbed a branch as tightly as she could. If it were any other situation he would have laughed his butt off at the expression on her face, but it wasn't any other situation and if he didn't act fast the idiot could really…
"Oh boy," he mumbled to himself as he hurried towards her. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked her as soon as he appeared over her fallen figure on the ground.
She winced when she heard his voice and looked up with wide eyes. "What does it look like?" she hissed as she leaned against her elbows and her red face twisted with pain.
He didn't move a muscle to help her up. "Well, it looks like you're trying to mimic Lum**," he said nonchalantly as he watched her pick herself up with a quiet sob.
"Help me up you idiot," she cried and shot him a deadly glare.
Shingo rolled his eyes upward before reaching a hand to his unwise sister and helping her on her feet. "We have a door you know," he teased. "Usagi-baka, you get heavier every day," he continued and a sly smirk appeared on the corner of his mouth when the disoriented blonde shot him another angry glare.
"I AM NOT!" she spat but immediately lowered her voice while casting a worried eye towards the house. "I am not getting heavier, you are getting weaker… bony."
"Oh really?" The smirk on his mouth got bigger. "IKUKO-MA-OUCH!"
"Keep your voice down baka!" Usagi cast another worried look at their house as she struggled to keep her hand fastened on her little brother's mouth. She looked back at Shingo with pleading eyes. "If you promise to keep quiet, I promise that I'll let you watch television during my TV time for a week," she pleaded, eyes so big that Shingo could see his own frowning face in them.
"Thlee weels…" he mumbled against her hand and when she looked at him with confusion he rolled his eyes heavenwards and freed himself from her palm. "Three weeks; you have to let me have the TV for three weeks."
Usagi contemplated for a moment, remembering all the boring stuff that he watched on the television, not to mention all those ridiculous, childish games that he played. No, she couldn't let him have the TV for three whole weeks, she decided…
"Or I will tell Ikuko-mama that you jumped out of your window even though you are grounded." The evil glint in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by the blonde as she was very well familiar with that look. After all, it was the same look she received every time a bribe was involved between the two of them!
"FINE…" she sighed. "Just… don't say anything," she brought up her index finger and made a warning gesture.
"Yeah, yeah," the teenager agreed almost immediately. "Where are you going anyway?"
"Umm…out…"
"As if that wasn't obvious," he teased once more as he watched Usagi limp her way down the street when something popped in his head.
"You're not going to see him, are you?" He followed her, eyes narrowed and face wrinkled with disapproval. Was she nuts? Didn't she get the message last night? Their parents had made it clear that she was to stay away from that guy, so what the hell was she thinking?
"That's none of your business baka." Usagi spun around and winced once more when her hurt ankle was twisted the wrong way.
"You really are a baka you know that? That guy is bad news-"
"You have no idea what you're talking about-"
"I do know what I'm talking about. Usagi, he is a banchō and everyone knows that and-"
"I don't care what he is…he's…he's not a bad guy, okay?"
"Not a bad guy? Have you lost your mind? He is a gang leader-"
"And he is standing right here."
The siblings yelped, almost identically, and if it were any other time, Mamoru would have found the scene before him very amusing.
The teenager's eyes were as wide as Usagi's, a little greener in colour, but the pull on his nose in his shocked state fluttered something in Mamoru's stomach. He looked so much like his sister!
"Mamoru?" Usagi was quick to overcome her shock. Seeing him have the most bizarre timing was something that she had gotten used to by now.
His eyes immediately focused on the tiny blonde in front of him and his expression softened. "Odango…" He went to say something when she made to move over to him and he noticed the slight limping. "What happened?" he asked as he took a few hurried steps towards her. "Nothing…Nothing…" she tried to assure him, even though the pain in her right ankle was uncomfortable; and well, the hell with the pain in her rear! She felt like something was broken in that area!
"You're limping and you're obviously in pain." He put his hands on her shoulder to steady her.
Usagi's skin jumped under his touch and she couldn't keep the fade blush away from her cheeks. In her hurried attempt to sneak out of the house she had forgotten to make herself…pesentable!
She glanced down at her linen clad legs and the dark pink shirt she always wore around the house. It was one of the most comfortable shirts she had, with a loose collar and half sleeves; and it was worn out in all the wrong places. She blushed harder. Jeez, couldn't she just take five minutes to make herself tidy before jumping out the window? What would he think of her now?!
"Hey…" Mamoru's voice reached her ears at the same time the tips of his fingers touched her cheek. She looked up and met his warm stare and all worries of her sloppiness vanished from her mind. "It's good to see you too Odango." His mouth turned into his signature obnoxious smirk when she narrowed her eyes and huffed.
"I didn't say anything," she pointed out, a little worried that he had read her mind with ease.
"You didn't need to." He chuckled and then leaned in to brush his lips against her forehead.
"HEY!"
They both jolted out of their private moment with Shingo's angry shriek.
"What do you think you're doing?" the younger boy said with hands fisted at his sides.
Usagi watched her brother with slightly wide eyes, surprised to see this side of him. Had she ever seen his light coloured eyebrows this deep in the furrow? Or his eyes this outraged and terrified at the same time?
A part of her sisterly emotions wanted to tell him that it was okay; that Mamoru was not going to hurt either of them…but a bigger part of her, the woman part of her, wanted to lash out at him and tell him to butt out of her business.
"You must be the annoying little brother." It wasn't a question as he regarded the teenager with calm eyes and his usual stoic exterior.
Even his angry face mimicked his sister's painfully adorable crimson visage whenever she was angry, and Mamoru's heart did another twist.
"I'm not afraid of you," Shingo declared with his head bent forward as he regarded the tall man in front of him.
"I didn't say you were," Mamoru countered, even as he pulled Usagi closer. "But I think you are." He wrapped his arm around the blonde's shoulder.
"Mamoru…" Usagi's voice was lost in Mamoru's stronger tone.
"Go home." His eyes were still fixed on Shingo even though his hold on Usagi hadn't faltered a bit.
Her eyes drifted back to her brother who was still standing a foot away. She could tell that he was confused and probably annoyed as hell. Shingo never liked it when someone gave him an order, even if that someone was as terrifying as Chiba Mamoru; the guy he had claimed to be dangerous only two minutes ago.
"I'm not leaving without my sister." Whatever inner turmoil the younger boy was feeling, he sure as hell didn't show it and Mamoru couldn't help but be amused at that.
This fair skinned teenager was surely interesting and if it were any other time, Mamoru would've given the time to get to know him better.
A little smirk appeared on the corner of his mouth and Shingo's frown lost its previous intensity as he raised one eyebrow.
And the look on his face reminded Mamoru of another time and another face.
Flashback:
"It's not cool to act cool all the time."
He didn't even turn his head to look at the intruder; he simply took another drag from his cigarette.
"You're Chiba, right?"
He had read somewhere a long time ago that when exhaling the smoke through the nose, he could get the fullest body taste profile. He tried to do just that.
"Ahhh…"
Mamoru finally did a side check on the boy who had just plopped himself on the bench beside him. He had seen him around school a couple of times. With a permanent annoying smirk on his face and…was that an earring in his left ear?
"No wonder you're always on this bench, the shade is a killer." The blond spread his arms on the back of the bench and tilted his head backward with closed eyes.
The stupid smirk was still there though.
This was the last drag; why were these fucking cigarettes so small?
"So, I hear you stood up to Tanaka Saburo." He turned his head towards Mamoru with calculating eyes. "I would congratulate you if I didn't think you were challenged up here." He pointed towards his own head.
Mamoru leaned back and rested his head on the back of the bench, closing his eyes. He really hadn't had enough sleep for the past few days, and he was so drained…and this fucking idiot wouldn't stop talking.
"They're well known, you know…and highly connected," he glanced around the park. "The older brother has high profile friends." He looked back at Mamoru who had one arm draped on his forehead. "Are you listening to me?"
"No." His answer came sharp and fast.
"My friends call me Daiki by the way…" the blond said as he imitated Mamoru's posture.
"I'm not your friend."
The guy's whole hearted laughter threw Mamoru off guard for a moment.
But only for a moment.
He finally lifted his arm and looked over at him with half lidded eyes.
The blond turned his head at the same time and regarded Mamoru with a half smirk and a raised eye brow. "I have a feeling that you will be, from now on."
End of Flashback.
"I'm not going to ask you again." Mamoru might have changed personalities overnight towards Usagi but he was still easily annoyed by irritating Daiki's look-alikes. "I'm going to speak to your sister, alone," he said when Shingo didn't make a move to walk away.
"I'm not goin-"
"Tsukino Shingo." Both boys looked at her at the same time and Usagi felt that some of the testosterone she was drowning in a moment ago was cleared out. "Go home," she emphasized. "Nothing's going to happen to me, I'm a big girl and if I want to go with my boyfriend…" Shingo's eyes widened noticeably. "I will do just that. Now go home, and keep quiet, yes?" she wriggled out of Mamoru's arm.
"Your…boyfriend?" Shingo asked as if he was a three-year-old, learning new vocabulary. "But..."
"No buts." Usagi pulled him into a loose embrace. "I know you want to protect me, but…" she whispered in his ear, "I'm going to be okay…I'm always safe with him." She pulled away to look in his eyes. "You don't have to worry about me," she smiled.
"Let's go," came Mamoru's voice as he extended his hand to Usagi.
She looked at Shingo for the last time and gave him a tiny peck on his cheek, "Ja ne."
Shingo stood there, even after they had turned around the corner and he had lost sight of them; still dumbfounded and slightly confused.
But it wasn't until he was sure that they were probably half way to the main street did he let go of the breath he had been keeping for that long.
Her legs were shorter than his and she couldn't obviously keep up with his long strides. She was practically being dragged behind him and his hold on her hand never wavered.
"Where are we going?" She finally found her voice to ask him, as he hurried them through the quiet streets of Juuban.
"I don't know," he answered after a moment of silence and then his steps lost their previous rush.
Usagi started walking with him side by side. She looked up at him. He was deep in thought and seemed unaware of her questioning stare; so, she kept looking at him.
His always calm and passive face held something that she just couldn't name. His wild black bangs fell in his eyes and it seemed that he could use a trim; but then again, she didn't mind this rough look on him at all.
"I'm grounded," she said out of the blue and she had to take a moment to figure out why she had just said that.
Mamoru came to a halt and glanced down at her. "What?" He had been clearly deep in thought.
Usagi pouted a little. "I'm grounded. I can't come out of the house unless for school," she paused, "well, except for today. I didn't go to school." She glanced down at their clasped hands.
Mamoru's brows were furrowed. "So, how are you out…now?" He took a moment to really look at her, now that it was just the two of them, noticing her outfit and slightly disheveled hair.
"Well, um…" she stuttered on her words a bit. "I…sort of…um, sneaked out." She looked up at him sheepishly.
He did a once over on her again with skepticism. "How?" He immediately looked down at her right leg. She'd been limping for the whole walk.
Usagi finally detangled her hand from his and started fidgeting with her fingers. "I climbed out the window." She avoided his eyes this time and instead focused on her hands.
Mamoru's eyebrows shot up almost instantly. "Window? Which window?" He took a step back and did another, more thorough, once over on her again; damn it! And he had pulled her to almost a jog, even though her leg was injured! "Your room?"
She didn't look up and settled for a tiny nod.
He didn't know what to say. He had climbed to and out of the same window in question, so he knew better than anyone what the hell she had just done.
Usagi gasped when two pairs of hands took a hold of her shoulders almost roughly and turned her around. "What the…what are you doing? MAMORU, DON'T…WE'RE IN PUBLIC!" she shrieked when he lifted her shirt up to mid waist and looked at her back. Her flawless skin was still flawless…minus the slight purple bruise that was forming on her lower back which partially was hidden under her pants.
"MAMORU-BAKA…I'M EXPOSED!" she cried once more.
He kneeled down and pulled up her right leg to see the damage there. Her tiny ankle was a bit red and swollen and when he lightly touched it, she cringed.
Usagi watched his antics with confusion. Mamoru stood up and turned her once more to look at her back and before she knew it, she was pushed to a nearby alley at the same time a car passed them by.
Usagi found herself with her hands flat on a wall, with Mamoru's front pressed to her back.
And her mind went blank.
She couldn't think anymore, like every other time that he was this close; this intimately and this…Oh God…did he have to clutch her waist like that?
"Odango Atama…" he whispered into her ear and sent visible shivers down her spine, "you're the stupidest, craziest…" Usagi tried to turn her head to glare at him. "…most obnoxious…" She made another attempt to give him a piece of her mind. "…tiny little girl I've ever met," he finished as his right hand sneaked into her shirt and caressed her stomach, right below her navel, "And I'm never letting you go."
Usagi almost moaned when his mouth dropped to her neck and he nibbled on the soft flesh.
Unconsciously, she pushed into him to get closer to his warm body and he didn't disappoint by clutching her waist rougher and bringing his hand higher inside her shirt, just below the line of her bra; his mouth never seizing its assault on her neck.
Usagi leaned her forehead against the wall when he left her neck and bent down to kiss her on her back. A lingering kiss was placed on her shoulder, another one on her bra line and then he was almost kneeling to be able to kiss the bruise on her back.
She moaned his name in pleasure and appreciation.
He slowly came up again and gently tilted her head to the side so he could kiss her jaw line.
Her tiny gasp pulled him out of his haze, where nothing else mattered but her scent, the wisps of her hair brushing his face and the feel of her soft skin.
"I'm grounded…" she said.
"Stay away from my daughter…" her father had demanded of him.
"I'm grounded...I can't come out of the house…"
"Motoki-san told Usagi's parents…"
His cobalt eyes opened and sharpened.
Apron-boy…
"Usagi," he whispered into her ear and she leaned into him more. "We need to talk…"
She slowly opened her eyes and stare at the wall she was facing.
Something in his tone made her shiver once more.
But this time, for a totally different reason.
"Can we show ourselves now?" Makoto growled under her breath as she braced herself at the wall they were all leaning on. "Minako, your hair is in my mouth," she then snapped and pushed away strands of blonde hair from her face.
"Shush Mako-chan, they'll hear us," Minako hissed back and elbowed Rei a moment later. "You're on my foot fire head!"
"I can't help it, you have huge feet."
"HEY!"
"Oh, for God's sake, be quiet," Ami cried and glared at all of them.
"Ami-chan is in a mood," Minako said with a little pout, followed by a mischievous smile.
"Yes, in the mood for some Kenji looove," Makoto sing-song and then giggled along with the blonde beside her.
Ami's red face couldn't possibly get any redder!
"Oh, he did not just do that," Rei's angry cry focused all their attention back on the couple on the other side of the street; who were no longer on the street!
"Where the hell are they?" Makoto demanded.
"He took her into that alley." Rei gritted her teeth together.
"Oh! That jerk!" Makoto started to roll up her sleeve. "Let's go."
"NO!"
"What do you mean 'no' Minako? That jerk took our friend into the alley…"
"Yes, I know that. I also know what they're probably doing in that alley right now," the blonde exclaimed with ease and raised eyebrows.
"HE'S DEAD!"
"Mako-chan, shut up," Minako took a hold of Makoto's skirt and pulled her behind the wall once more.
"He's taking advantage of our friend," Rei hissed as she stood beside Makoto and glared at Minako.
"Somehow, I doubt that…" Ami's tiny voice was lost in Minako's wholehearted laughter. "Taking advantage? Oh, you're so cute Rei-chan," the blonde said shaking her head with amusement. "Usagi is very much enjoying herself," she looked Rei and Makoto right in the eye, "I assure you."
"But…"
"I think she's in love with him." Ami's tiny voice reached their ears this time, as she calmly leaned against the wall and peered at the alley her friend had disappeared to. "And I think he feels the same way." She turned around to face her friends with a knowing smile.
"But…" Makoto was still at a lost; even though the same thought had entered her mind when Motoki had told her about Usagi's betrayal. 'She's in love with him' she had thought to herself then, 'She wouldn't have done that if she wasn't,' she had silently muttered to herself so Motoki wouldn't hear.
"Let's go to the arcade," Rei said, "I think it's time to end this cat and mouse game."
Flashback:
"Those pigs did it to her," Goro had said as soon as he had appeared in front of Mamoru and Daiki.
"What happened?" Daiki's restrained anger was heard through gritted teeth and Mamoru was once again surprised at seeing a new side of him.
"They cornered her in the train," Goro's voice was an inch away from breakdown. "There were the three of them. One fucking bastard held her down while…" His voice finally gave in and he turned his face away from them with a pained expression.
Mamoru watched him in silence.
"It'll be alright," Daiki walked up to the hulk of a guy in front of them who seemed to be more vulnerable than a toddler in that moment. "How is she?" He gently put a hand on Goro's shoulder and squeezed.
"She's not talking…at all," Goro's growl was low, "she's just seating there…staring at nothing."
Mamoru had only met the slender girl once or twice. She had that happy aura around her and she had that glint in her eyes whenever she had looked at Goro.
"She goes to TA Academy for girls," Daiki had told him once, even though he hadn't asked. "And that panda is head over heels for her," he had gestured with his head towards Goro.
"Did you go to the police?" Mamoru came out of his reverie when hearing Daiki's question. "They won't do shit," Goro growled violently, "they'll just make her life harder and they won't do a fucking shit." His face was twisted with disgust.
"We've got to do something," Daiki had told him hours after they had left the hospital. They had managed to calm Goro down (to some extent), show their love and support to his broken girlfriend (on Daiki's part at least) before they had decided to leave the lovers to grieve their stolen innocence.
"They will get away with this as well if we don't do anything. Goro is right; the police won't do shit." The blond had seemed outraged.
Mamoru's mind had drifted to the past few months and how he had found himself among all these people. It was as if one day Daiki was speaking to him at the park, and the next day, all these people circled around him like he was a leader or something.
"We need to gather a team."
"No," Mamoru cut him off and finally looked at him with a focused stare. "First things first," he said as he retrieved his pack of cigarettes out of his pocket. "We need to have a plan."
Daiki's green eyes narrowed at him and then a light eyebrow was lifted with interest.
"I'm listening."
Note: ** Lum is the main female character in "Urusei Yatsura" manga series, which was also turned into an animation series. She had the ability to fly and generating massive electrical discharges.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or its fabulous characters in any way. I wish I did though! But I don't All the delightful rights of this wonderful manga/anime and its characters belong to the awesome Naoko Takeuchi.