Title: Touch Me There (Or as I call it… TMT)
Rating: R (Yet not that bad)
Genre: Comedy/Romance and now drama! (oooo)
Disclaimer: I do not own the original characters of Sailor Moon yet have all the freedom to misspell names, Japanese phrases and other fun stuff
Author's Note:
Gomen ne! I know all of you have been waiting cause you've practically been flooding my mailbox with requests. It has taken me a long time to get things out this season because I had so many new responsibilities on me. I always complain that I wish I had more free time and my best bud said it best when he told me, "Stop taking things on and you will." I have that tendency to volunteer for everything and as I finished courses and literally volunteered for everything I finally found a spare moment. I was on vacation earlier this week which is another thing… but now I'm rambling… here is a nice long chapter for everyone to enjoy and I can't wait to hear your reactions! I look forward to your comments and now for sure everything is set down in my brain so I'm very excited to write the upcoming chapters. Enjoy!!
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"Goodnight Usagi-chan." Mamoru said quietly as she walked through the doorway. His shirt was still wrapped around her petite frame and he closed the door behind her. The door clicking closed sounded loud in her ears and her feet halted. She felt as if the door to her heart slammed shut in that instance. Her fingers gripped to her bag in front of her. She smelled him, he was all over her. She liked the way he smelled… Tears welled in the bottom of her eyes and her frame teetered backwards to collapse silently against his door.
"It's all fake isn't it Mamo-chan?" Her soft lips whispered into the cold hallway. A tear slowly trekked down her cheek and surprise jumped to her features. She leaned forward and a small hand reached up to touch the liquid that had leaked out of her eye. It gripped to her fingers and she pulled her hand back to stare at it in wonder. Why was she crying? Why did it feel like someone had shattered everything inside of her? Her feet rushed forwards and punched the elevator button with haste. She had to get out of here.
He leaned against his door, his hands hanging limply at his side. He felt empty… and guilty… He lifted his hands and stared at them. They felt stained with the sins he had committed against her.
"I really am a Monster aren't I Usako?" He whispered and pushed away from his door letting his hands fall. "I'll make you win… you'll be better off without me torturing you…" He mumbled as his hand moved up to slide across his face as if it would wash away her scent, wash away her touch. It wouldn't… she had burned him… he was letting her get to him. He sucked in a deep breath and straightened his back. He wouldn't let this affect him anymore. He had a job to do… she deserved to win… deserved to be a star where everyone had a chance to love her. She deserved to be as far away from him as possible and he would make sure that happened.
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Day 7
12:46am
One Week left.
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Her door creaked as she quietly stepped into her pink-carpeted sanctuary. The lights had gone off in her house a few hours ago. She heard a small yawn from her bed as she closed the door silently behind her. Luna stretched and blinked her eyes open in the darkness, the glowing orbs seeking out the disturbance that had pricked at her ears.
"Usagi-chan?" Her soft voice whispered and Usagi smiled gently walking towards her. Her usual odango hair was plopped into one messy big pony tail and Luna tilted her head to the side seeing smeared makeup darting her once flawless face. "I thought you were staying with Ami-chan?" The cat inquired and Usagi shook her head calmly, almost dismissively. "Are you all right?" The cat inquired, alarm jumping to her voice and Usagi nodded a crumpled white shirt hanging from her fingers.
"Luna…" Usagi whispered as she softly plopped onto her bed. Luna sat beside her comfortingly. "Do you think I'm pretty without makeup and gaudy clothes?" Her voice was soft like she was in a nursery cooing babies to sleep. Luna smiled lovingly towards her.
"Oh yes Usagi… you don't need any of that, you're beautiful just the way you are." Usagi smiled softly towards her and her eyes turned to her window. The moon wasn't there to comfort her. Her room was very dark, almost as dark as the cloud of doubt that had begun to circle her heart.
"Do you think anyone out there loves me Luna? For me?" Luna's eyes watered as pain struck in her chest. She bolted forward and burrowed under Usagi's arm and cuddled to her side trying to pour out all the comfort she possessed.
"Yes, Usagi someone does. Someone does I guarantee it." Usagi sniffed and smiled sadly down at the cat with love. A sob slowly died in Usagi's throat as she looked up one more time in hopes of seeing her beloved moon. No such luck… the moon would not shine tonight… she would be alone in the darkness it left behind.
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3:43 am
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He shifted restlessly in the comfortable confines of his bed. Sweat beaded off of his chiseled features as his mind darted in and out of conscious thought overtaken by his dreams.
"Endymion." The voice washed over him and he pushed his legs forward. They were draped in black. White. Everything around him was white as if he had fallen into the clouds. Yet he was in black… did he belong in this world?
"Is that my name?" Mamoru cried out into the vast heaven before him. She appeared and he held his breath. His angel? His Princess? Long locks of shimmering silver flowed from her head in waves that reached all the way down to her toes bathing herself in her own beauty.
"Yes. That is your real name." Her little lips moved in such a mesmerizing pattern he felt his feet move involuntarily towards her. Her voice caressed his soul. Something reached towards him in the distance… it was her hand, the perfect slender digits aching to grasp hold of his hand, his heart and soul. Slowly he held his hand forward to grasp onto her, grasp onto her delicious voice and answers. "Stay with me Endymion… we were meant to always be together my love. I've come for you."
"Mamo-chan!" A taunting voice broke into his thoughts and he turned his head away from the enchanting goddess before him. "Mamo-chan!" The voice giggled again and Mamoru's eyes searched the white clouds for her. Familiarity… comfort… her voice brought it to his already raging heart.
"Usagi?" He breathed with uncertainty. He heard her voice call to him… her laughter… a smile curled on his lips when suddenly hands wrapped around his face and turned him back towards the object he had been fixated on previously.
In the blink of an eye light had turned to darkness and his angel's eyes glowed an eerie blue as desperation filled her features shooting fear down to his core.
"Endymion… Love only me! You belong to me…" Her voice was pleading as her fingers caressed his cheeks. He could only stare at her. It was just Usagi… what had she to fear from Usagi? "We will be together forever Endymion." She whispered and reached to grab hold of him. "You are mine." Her possessive words cut through his soul as her face turned into something he was suddenly afraid of. "I will let nothing come between us." Usagi's picture flashed before his eyes and than the threat followed by her scream.
"Save me!"
Mamoru jumped up, the sheets tumbling from his shoulders. He felt he had jumped off of the bed, every muscle in his body tense and he reached to grasp his skull. No… no…
"No… no…" He mumbled shaking his head. His frame trembled as the dream replied vividly in his mind. Her possessiveness scared him… who was she? Why did she claim him? Did he belong to her? Who was she? Why did she want to kill Usagi? His blue eyes escaped the coverings of his fingers and stared into the dark confines of his room. Fear… he felt it searing through his soul. He would never be able to forgive himself if something happened to that bubbling child… never… "She wants me to make a choice…" He whispered and gulped the moonless sky haunting him once more.
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3:25 pm
Countdown to Show: 7 Days
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"We have to find this prince!" Luna snapped and Artemis watched calmly as she paced back and forth. He was beginning to like how she paced back and forth which was a good thing… since she did it so often.
"Luna what is the urgency? We promised to stop for a few days in hopes that we could help Usagi-chan kick this show… you even agreed with us that we should make her lose." Minako said quietly and Luna stopped and turned to them.
"She's hurting." Luna whined and Artemis walked towards her in an attempt to console her. Ami let out a breath and stared at the table. Their hideout was the only place they had successfully hidden from Makoto and Rei. Rei would soon be there no doubt. It was next door to the arcade for goodness sake.
"We knew this was going to be a painful ordeal… we are half-way through Luna… half-way… we can't lose her." Ami said gently reaching across the table and touching the cat's tender paw.
"We already are losing her… to her heartache." Luna whispered miserably and Minako stood and threw up her hands. She plodded around the plush carpet of the underground Karaoke room.
"What the hell is she having heartache over!" Minako growled and Artemis let out a breath. He had no answer to that either. Luna held up her head and let out a pitiful whine. The three occupants of the room turned to her as she sniffed sown a sob. Usagi was rubbing off on the old cat.
"I don't know!" Luna cried louder and Ami and Minako rushed to her side, their hands patting at her fur in comfort as they exchanged looks of confusion.
"We'll do both… we'll find him Luna." Ami said strongly and Minako nodded resolutely. They would…. They would see her happy yet. "Ok but back to the first problem at hand… Last night…" Ami began and Minako fell into a chair, a grim look crossing her features.
"It went as we thought it would but Mamoru-san really harped upon us… He actually made me feel…" Minako began losing the normal luster that dripped from her voice.
"Despicable." Ami spat and let out a breath as remorse flew through her system.
"How did last night go?" Artemis asked curiously and Minako grinned slightly.
"We successfully overdid ourselves and we got the reactions we were hoping for… but Mamoru-san… I think he's going to cause us a problem. Motoki acted perfectly… storming out, outraged at our over-endeavor…" Minako said gently tapping her chin and then a grin spread across her lips and she caught the genius's eyes and they both brightened. "Was kind of cute how he dragged Makoto out of there like they were dating…" She snickered and Ami nodded in encouraging agreement.
"I think you all made a wise decision on getting rid of the boys… Mamoru-san and Motoki-kun would only hurt your process… Were your antics last night successful in dislodging them?" Luna inquired lazily and Ami shook her head.
"Well see that's it… I'm sure we've pushed Motoki out… he was already on his way out and from the phone call I got last night from Makoto-chan… he yelled at her for a long time, he was really upset."
"I feel so bad messing with Usagi-chan's friends." Luna grumbled and Ami let out a soft breath.
"Motoki-kun easily forgives… he's practically family." Minako said flippantly as she rose and walked around her chair. "Mamoru-san is an enemy… it won't hurt Usagi one bit to be rid of him." Ami leaned back in her chair and bit her bottom lip.
"You don't think we injured Usagi-chan last night do you?" Her quiet voice stilled the blonde's walk and Minako drew her bottom lip into her mouth and dug her white teeth gently into the flesh. She had thought of that.
"How did she seem at school?" Minako asked quietly and Ami looked up at her and everything spilled from her eyes… as if she had been hiding a secret from them all day. Her fingers clasped onto her blue skirt.
"She didn't come to school today." Ami whispered and Luna's eyes widened.
"Nani!?" Minako said, panic in her voice. The door to the secret room suddenly was thrown open causing the four occupants to look up suddenly. A deep breath escaped from the new occupants lips as she trotted down the steps.
"Usagi-chan!" Ami cried and stood, her and Minako rushing to the stairs at their Princess' entrance.
"Usagi-chan… you didn't go to school today?!" Luna said shocked and Usagi shook her head.
"Are you all right? I'm so sorry about last night Usagi-chan!" Minako cried grabbing onto her shoulders as two more figures made their way down the steps.
"No need to be the drama queen Minako… Usagi-chan slept in today and than she is not mad at any of us… though I wish we could say the same." Rei's curt voice cut through Minako and Minako grinned slightly, annoyance jumping into her mind. She was always on the brunt end of Rei's anger.
"Why would I be mad at any of you?" Usagi's soft voice filled Ami and Minako's ears and smiles jumped to the two Senshi's faces. Minako shrugged.
"Heh… paranoid." Minako offered the excuse lightly and Rei shoved past her, Makoto following after and Usagi smiled grabbing onto Minako's arms.
"Usagi-chan wanted to talk to all of us." Makoto's deep voice filled the area as Rei and Makoto took a seat around the table. Usagi motioned her odango head for the other two Senshi to follow their actions. Once everyone was seated their attention fixated on the blonde as she sucked in a deep breath.
"First I wanted to apologize…" Usagi's voice began and Rei's eyebrows rose in surprise as Minako leaned forward.
"What for Usagi-chan?" Minako asked quietly and than suddenly held her breath. They all saw it… Minako's gaze jolted to Luna as shock washed over her. Through the smile and the cheery exterior Usagi held tears… she was hiding tears from them.
"I'm sorry you were all dragged into this with me… but I've resolved to do my best!" She cried, a bright smile on her features as she pounded her fist in her hand. Rei smiled sadly at her.
"That's great Usagi-chan…" Rei whispered and Makoto nodded. Guilt was washing over all of them. Poor Usagi-chan…
"You were right… Men are scum and I've decided for the next seven days to become something I'm not… devoid of emotion." Usagi announced and put a hand on her hip, resolution in her voice. Ami's mouth dropped open a centimeter as Minako let out a shocked snort.
"Only for seven days right Usagi-chan?" Rei cried quietly, her hand pressed firmly against the table as if she would lose grip and fall to the floor.
"Of course… I'm tired of being stepped on… especially by men. I'm going to show all of them up… I'm going to win on Seduce This and show them all!" She cried triumphantly and Minako turned her head slowly towards the other girls. Were they losing this battle? "Will you help me?" Usagi asked stepping towards them and Luna and Artemis stared with shock.
"Of course." Minako croaked, her voice squeamish and Usagi looked at her curiously. Minako cleared her throat and stood. "Yes, Usagi-chan!" She said more clearly and Rei stood as well, tears welling in her eyes. "We will always help you." Minako whispered emotion welling within her and Usagi threw herself into her leader's arms.
"What about Motoki-kun and Mamoru-san?" Makoto asked quietly.
"I just want it to be us from now on… we are women… we can do this!" Usagi cried and Ami glanced at Luna and Artemis. Luna dropped to the table and covered her face with her paws.
"Wherever you go we go right Usagi-chan?" Minako suddenly asked, her hands turning Usagi's body to face her. Usagi's cerulean eyes caught Minako's azure as the five other occupants held their breath. Minako's question hung in the air ominously.
"Always. Friends forever Minako-chan." Usagi said resolutely and Minako sucked in a deep breath and than pulled Usagi into a protective hug.
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5:37 pm
Tsukino Residence
Day 7
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The numbers on the piece of paper stared at her. She cleared her throat as she gripped the white phone in her hand and raised a single digit to punch in his number. She felt her heart beat as sickness crept over her. She feared his reaction… or rather she feared he wouldn't even have a reaction. With a determining deep breath she put the phone to her ear. Silence. She forced a smile onto her lips and pushed the phone back into its holder. Her hand swept across the table and the small white piece of paper sailed to the floor. She turned away from it and walked up the steps. He would get the hint sooner or later.
The door to Usagi's room opened and closed quickly as the last of the team entered.
"I called Mamoru-san and told him the entire thing." Her breathless voice told the full room and Ami looked up towards the blonde beauty.
"Did he take it well? He seemed really determined to see you through to the end." Ami mumbled and Minako stopped mid chew of her chip. Slowly her head turned to stare at the blue haired genius. Ami felt the eyes on her and gulped nervously. Usagi stood silently before the accusation before her.
"He didn't care." Usagi uttered and let the words sink into her brain. He didn't care. He didn't care. He was just some stupid arrogant jerk who used her. But used her for what?
"Well, let's get started!" Makoto said her hand beckoning Usagi to step further into her room. Minako brushed off her shirt of the crumbs she had left behind from her snack and focused her entire attention upon her Princess.
"All right Usagi-chan… first what do you think all guys want from a girl?" Minako asked leaning forward and Usagi plopped down before them.
"Companionship?" Usagi asked, a slight smile forming on her lips and Rei snorted out a laugh. Minako sighed and shook her head softly. Usagi glanced towards Ami who had successfully hidden herself behind the safety of a red leather bound book.
"Sex." Minako said matter of factly and Usagi's eyes widened sharply.
"Minako!" Rei hissed angrily at her and Usagi's mouth dropped open as a sickening feeling entered into her stomach. Her hand reached to comfort the churning area and Makoto cleared her throat nervously.
"Well…" She began and Minako nodded in confirmation.
"It is true… guys are based upon physical stimulus and not much more until they are thirty." Minako said with a reassuring nod and Usagi stared at her like her world was being torn apart.
"Oh Come on!" Rei sputtered, anger lining the back of her words. "Look it's one thing to tell her rash things but at least be honest about them!" Rei hissed towards their leader and Minako gave off a casual shrug, her smile never leaving her lips. "Usagi-chan… guys are stupid… look for a man." Rei said simply and Ami smirked behind her book. They needed a vacation…
"Stop it Rei… we have to prepare her for what she is going to experience." Minako spat and Rei glared at their leader.
"You said you were going to help her." Rei bit out quietly and Minako's eyes turned aggressive as she stared at her second in command.
"I am helping her… helping her to be happy for the rest of her life." Minako spat back under her breath and Ami dropped her book to her legs, the sound bringing silence into the room. Calmly she reached up and pulled her glasses from her nose.
"Let's just analyze this contest logically… Has anyone actually ever watched the show?" The intellect inquired and Makoto shook her head sheepishly.
"I don't watch much TV." She muttered and Rei shook her head as well.
"I only hear about it from the girls at school… We don't actually own a television." The miko uttered and Minako nodded.
"I have, which is why we should listen to my advice!" She said resolutely and Ami nodded and motioned towards her.
"All right what is the all encompassing theme of the show?" Ami asked calmly and Minako shrugged slightly.
"To watch the common man interact with our elevated idols… it's almost like a test to prove that they are special for a reason." Minako articulated as her arms crossed across her chest.
"Has any 'common man' as you put it actually ever won?" Ami inquired and Minako let that question rattle around in her brain. She had seen at least three Seduce This! Episodes yet each one ended exactly as was predicted. Suddenly the truth dawned on her and she turned towards Usagi as she sat confused before them. Usagi was sweet, innocent, naive, clumsy and a klutz. They picked her on purpose… Emotion welled within her as tears filled the bottom of her eyes.
"Oh those monsters!" She screeched and Makoto raised an eyebrow at the outburst. Minako rose to her feet before the four girls and they looked up at her with wonder, Rei with annoyance. "No, a common man has never won! It's all rigged!" Minako cried as anger boiled within her veins.
"This seems almost impossible." Usagi whispered, her eyes falling to the pale pink carpet.
"Nothing is impossible with hard work and determination!" Minako cried out as she slammed her fist into her hand, the wheels in her head turning rapidly.
"Consistency here!" Rei growled and Minako felt a deep gulp die in her throat. She looked down towards the four that were staring up towards her. Four different sets of eyes were conveying four messages to her. Rei's was a warning… a warning to stay within the parameters that she herself set down. Makoto was pushing… pushing her to have patience and Ami's was the reprimand. Reprimanding her to keep her control over her emotions and not let her mind be clouded. Yet Usagi's was the confused one… she didn't look up with pleading eyes, searching for help. She looked tired… restless… heartbroken. Her emotions built up against the show melted and she dropped to her knees before her Princess.
"Usagi… you really are heartbroken about something aren't you?" Usagi's eyebrows rose considerably as her mouth dropped open. All eyes turned on her with questions and she felt as if everything was closing in on her.
"Nani?!"
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10:00 pm.
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"I think it went well." Makoto said stuffing her hands into her pockets.
"She dodged every one of my questions… ooo… who taught her that!" Minako cried to herself as she brought a slender digit towards her mouth to chew on her nail.
"You did." Rei snapped as they walked away from the Tsukino house. Rei felt a cold chill pass over her. She pulled her coat closer around her. Her eyes darted up towards the sky questioningly. What was coming over Usagi? Was she really worried about the game? She felt something weighing on her as if something was right before her grasp yet out of her reach because someone was holding it there… someone was hiding it purposely. Her feet stopped on the pavement and her eyes darted to the blonde and blue haired mastermind. "What are you hiding?" Rei asked and Ami halted mid-step. She tripped forward into Minako's back and the blonde looked at the miko with confusion.
"Nani?" Minako mumbled and Makoto raised an eyebrow at the situation.
"I wish I was Sailor Jupiter… I wish I was Sailor Jupiter." She mumbled to herself and Rei pushed past her standing in front of their leader and the brain of many of their operations. They had been retired but their true duty would never end… they would never cease to care and protect their Princess.
"You are hiding something from us! For days you two were together doing who knows what while the rest of us watched Usagi try and accomplish the impossible!" Rei yelled and Minako felt cold air whip around her. Ami's muscles tightened as she attempted to look innocent.
"It isn't impossible! She can do it! I believe in her!" Minako cried back and Rei's face fell as a myriad of emotions passed across her features.
"We all believe in her… she is the better of us all and there has not been a moment where she has not succeeded!" Rei mumbled and Minako felt emotion well back within her chest. She looked away, a picture of Usagi saving them countless times rushing through her head. "That is why we are trying to change her into something she is not because that is the only way she could not win on this game… the minute she walks on that stage she is bound to make anyone fall in love with her… like she's made us…" Emotion racked with Rei's body as her eyes lowered from the object she was trying to attack. The truth. "We hated everyone and everything for the world turning it's back on us… misfits… outcasts… she was the only one who saw who we really were…" Rei whispered and a tear trickled down Ami's pale cheek. Minako looked away and sucked in a deep breath trying to gain control of her raging emotions. Rei lifted her head and Minako turned catching her eye. "Because of that love I have devoted my life to forever serve her… I will never leave her side or forsake her so if you know any information about her you better spill it right now before I go pyro on your ass!" Her words were filled with venom as she yelled them at the flaxen haired leader. Minako stood her ground. She above all knew her duty… loved her duty… and would die to fulfill it. Her lips pressed together resolutely as Ami hid behind her back. There was a tense silence.
"All you had to do was ask." A male voice trickled down to them and Minako's eyes widened as she looked up towards the large cement wall. Rei turned and caught shimmering eyes in the moonlight and she blinked.
"Artemis?" Makoto asked and a soft purr emitted down towards them.
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Day 9
1:45 pm
Crown Arcade Center
Five days before the competition
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"I can't believe she slept all day yesterday." Rei's disbelieving voice filled the silence that had settled in over their table. Ami glanced over her computer screen at her.
"She was ill Rei… one of those 24 hour bugs." The quiet one responded and Rei plopped backwards into the cushioned seat of their booth.
"Feels like she is hiding from something…" She mumbled as her frame leaned to the side to spy a familiar figure sitting comfortably at the juice bar.
"What could she be hiding from except the extreme pressure of being placed upon a degrading television show and knowing you really have no hope to win?" Minako sputtered out and Rei glanced back at the azure eyes that faced her.
"Oh…I got an e-mail from Michiru-san." Ami said with a little bit of cheer as her eyes scanned the incoming message. "They are coming to Tokyo later this week." She finished with a little bit of excitement and Minako's eyebrows rose. They had all retired and she had let them all go their separate ways to fulfill their life's dreams… Hotaru went back with her father and the violenist and race car driver had headed back to Europe. Why were they coming back?
"Why?" Minako asked curiously and Ami shrugged looking up towards them.
"Just for a visit… Haruka is doing some publicity stunt and they wanted to stop by and see us and their Princess before they left." Ami replied easily and Minako shrugged indifferently as she leaned on the tabletop.
"Have you discovered anything new?" Makoto asked leaning towards Ami's glowing computer screen and Ami shook her head with disappointment as she closed her mailbox. Artemis had taken them all aside the night before and told the two Senshi everything from the very beginning. Ami remembered clearly the looks on their faces… shock… betrayal… anger… fear… happiness… it was a very confusing night that only proved more to her that they were a team as the two slid smoothly into their operation. She was glad it turned out the way it did… she could have easily imagined their reactions otherwise if they would have found out later on their own…
"Well, we haven't scanned every man in Tokyo…" Minako said with a bit of encouragement and Rei glanced at them all.
"What if he wasn't re-born…" She began and Minako glanced at her with eyebrow raised.
"Of course he was… they were the reason we were." Luna's motherly voice chirped and Rei moved forward and leaned close towards them on the table.
"Was it? Why would they let two people who's forbidden love destroyed the galaxy be given a second chance? That would be fair wouldn't it… and life doesn't always operate that way." Rei mumbled and Ami's eyes lifted from her computer screen as disgust flashed across her face.
"Cynic!" Minako spat and looked away with anger. She refused to listen to such a statement… of course the Princess deserved happiness… of course Usagi… Her eyes slowly turned to stare at the others. Usagi… Usagi was their Princess but in so many way she was just plain Usagi. She was a different person. Were they forcing her into a mold of someone… to repeat history so she cold live happily ever after? What was Usagi-chan's ever after?
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"Nani?" Motoki's panicked voice mimicked the terror that now jumped to his eyes. Mamoru stared down at the countertop as he discreetly pushed his coffee cup aside. He didn't want coffee… in fact he wasn't even sure if he liked the substance anymore. "There has to be a connection…" Motoki began to ramble, his insides jumping as he tried to find solutions.
"I have to protect her…" Mamoru whispered, his hand reaching up to rub his forehead. Motoki pivoted on his heel and stared at his best friend.
"The girl?" He asked and Mamoru looked up, ocean eyes meeting the soft sky blue of his best friend… the one he had just confided to about his dreams.
"Usagi-chan… I have to get away from her…" He began and stumbled to his feet.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets looking for the money to pay for the untouched coffee when Motoki leaned over the counter towards him.
"You're right… get as far away from her as possible!" Motoki cried and Mamoru
ran a hand down his face. He needed sleep… he couldn't… couldn't close his eyes without seeing her silhouette. Motoki slinked around the counter that held him from his Arcade Customers. He put his hands on Mamoru's shoulders. "Mamoru-san… your life is really screwed up." He whispered and Mamoru opened his eyes and felt as if someone had just sucker punched him. His face twisted into annoyance.
"Thanks a lot." Mamoru growled and stepped away from him. Motoki felt guilt. Yet not about what he said… guilt that he had not been listening to his best friend sooner…before it had escalated this far. His head hung as he felt twenty extra pounds tie upon his emotions.
"Gomen ne Mamoru-san… this is all my fault for getting you involved with this…" He whispered and Mamoru shook his head.
"Why Usagi… why is she afraid of her?" He mumbled to himself and Motoki reached forward and touched his arm. Slowly Mamoru turned and faced him.
"Mamoru-san… I wish I knew how to help you… maybe I can get the Senshi…" He began and Mamoru growled and spun away from him.
"No. I can handle my own problems without meddling girls…" He snorted and Motoki gulped. "This is insane… I'm losing my mind over dreams… none of this is real… you convinced me of that yourself years ago!" Mamoru said spinning around. He didn't realize his voice was rising.
"But this is different… unless you regularly have dreams of hurting Usagi… this isn't normal." Motoki said with a soft shake of his head and Mamoru thought about that for a moment.
"It depends on what you mean by hurt…" He mumbled and Motoki's eyebrows furrowed in a warning. With defeat Mamoru fell back into a sitting position on his stool. "It's going to be ok Motoki… I haven't even seen Usagi for two days… it's like she is purposely ignoring me. She missed our last two scheduled meetings without even so much as a call…" He mumbled, his voice lowering and one of Motoki's eyebrows rose considerably.
"You look disappointed that she didn't show up." Motoki said with a stale flare and Mamoru's face slowly rose to face the knowing look of his only friend. The look that told him he saw straight through the worry, the sleep deprivation and to the man who changed his schedule to accommodate a spastic teenager who had easily become something he didn't mind having in his life. Motoki pressed his lips together thoughtfully as he digested this information. He above all knew more than anyone in this arcade… he always kinda had a fantasy thing for super heroes to fall in love and create little super heroes of their own. He had ruled out Usagi and Mamoru years ago yet the nagging feeling of them always being perfect for one another popped into his head every few months. This was one of those times.
"Maybe after all of this is over you and Usagi can sit down and…" He trailed off looking for the right words. Mamoru's face contorted and he shook his head abruptly.
"Don't you understand? I can't ever be near her… it's a good thing she is in this contest because when she wins she will be out of my life forever." Mamoru muttered, his back straightening as he regained some of his dignity. Motoki's emotions took off before his brain did as his mouth opened to utter the worst advice he could give in this situation.
"They are just dreams Mamoru! They don't mean anything! You would throw away a great friendship over a figment of your imagination?" Motoki whispered and Mamoru glanced at him incredulously.
"Could you stay consistent here? I'm having enough problems without you getting me more confused… Usagi and I are through… no if's ands or but's about it… we aren't friends… we're nothing but two acquaintances who hate each other." He said resolutely as his eyes trailed away to look towards the door. It slid open and his teeth planted together at the sight that sauntered in slowly, oblivious to the eyes upon her.
"If you could do one irrational thing in your life no matter what the consequences… if you were faced with the one choice of the thing you most wanted… what would it be and would you take it?" Motoki's words filtered in through his head. It was the second most stupid thing Motoki had said all day. Yet this time it worked.
His chair squeaked violently across the linoleum floor as he stood and walked across the arcade. Cerulean eyes looked up in time to see him approach. She had enough time to panic yet not enough to escape his hand that gently grasped around her arm. Her eyes widened considerably as apprehension flew through her system. She felt her feet be dragged across the floor as he pulled her towards the back of the arcade. She heard a gasp come from the table she was headed to but the confusion of why Mamoru wanted her to follow him was overwhelming her senses.
"Oh shit…" Motoki mumbled under his breath as he watched his best friend walk away from him and right to the person he was suppose to be afraid of. He watched in stunned silence as he dragged her into the backroom and the swinging door closed them from eyesight. His hand smacked into his forehead. What the hell was wrong with him…
Excitement and fear jutted through her. Excitement at seeing him… feeling the warmth of his hand on her skin… her eyes filled with tears as the pain slammed into her once more. He was Mamoru-baka… her tormenter… the one who loathed her above all else… Her gaze fell down as he pulled her into a storeroom, her feet shuffling uneasily across the floor. The lights flickered on and she heard his hard breathing. Why was he breathing hard? Was he out of shape? Afraid? What would he be afraid of? His fingers slipped from her arm and she took a step back involuntarily towards the door. She had spent the last two days avoiding him… and she was angry that all her hard work was spoiled the minute she stepped into her favorite hangout. She lifted her head to rebuke him but was stopped when she saw him staring at her. She barely had time to speak as he took a giant step towards her and his hands slid across her cheeks, his lips going to hers like she was the only source of water and he had thirsted for days. His lips rubbed softly and gently against her own as tingles traveled down her body, her hands slipping to his chest and wrapping around the lapels of his coat.
He felt something explode in his chest… warmth… undeniable warmth as affection that had been stored in him for years rolled out like a flood towards her frail body. One of his hands gently wrapped around her back cradling her as the other lovingly caressed her cheek. He felt like he would protect her forever… that he had found his destiny… that he was complete. The outbreak of emotion felt overwhelming and the more he tried to release it the more he was faced with the reality of the situation.
She leaned forward as her tender lips meshed with his own and he felt her tongue flick out tentively to touch his lips. God she was perfect… He had helped teach her to be this perfect… perfect just for him. Gently he shoved her away and he heard her sharp intake of breath.
"I won…" His words were quiet and flat and her eyes blinked open slowly as they hit her ears. Slowly her head rose as she stared into his face. Her nose had turned red by now since the threat of tears was very promenade. Her lips parted a centimeter or so in shock.
"Is that all I am… a game?" Her soft voice quivered and he let out a breath, his eyes never leaving her face for a moment. What did she want to be?
"You're going to win… I have such faith in you Usagi. There is nothing more I could teach you except to say don't let them take advantage of you…" He whispered gently wrapping an arm around her waist and anger flashed in her eyes. Emotion pelted at her fragile heart and her hands pressed against his muscled chest causing him to forcefully stumble a step back.
"I already let you take advantage of me… why not them!" Her voice rose higher than he had heard all day and his eyes widened in shock.
"Usagi it wasn't like that!" He rebutted and he saw the tears welling in her eyes, her pale face giving off the ill fated warning that heaven's angels were about to cry with her. She stepped forward and her left leg swung forward and interacted with his chin and his face contorted into pain. He suppressed it and stepped back, his eyes moving to focus on her face once more. "I taught you everything I could… You were perfect to begin with." He ground out and she sniffed miserably.
"Why did you do this?" The words were demanding and he looked down at her and knew he had to give her the truth… he didn't want to lie to her anymore. She would just see through him.
"I wanted you to win so you would leave forever… so I would never have to deal with you again." His voice was low yet every word felt like it was screamed into her head. She stumbled back a step as her gaze fell. It was as if someone had sucked her soul from her body and all she was left was with coldness… so cold… Her bottom lip hung limp as something tore through her chest making a hole where her heart once happily rested. She had fallen in love with her greatest enemy who wanted nothing more than to get rid of her… what a fool… a tear trickled down her pale cheek. A hallow feeling spread through her.
"Why couldn't you love me? Was I so bad?" Her quivering voice barely met his ears but when it did his heart broke into a million pieces. No… had he… had she fallen in love with him? Turmoil churned within him and he reached out for her but her frame slipped gracefully from his grasp. He watched in silent astonishment as she walked through the door and away from him… she looked like an angel… the door shut and he bolted towards it instinctively. His hand reached for the handle and slipped off, his other pressed against the door.
"No Usako… you were perfect… perfect…" He whispered quietly against the steel frame and he felt a heartache roll over him that he had not experienced since he was eight… when he woke up and discovered all he loved was gone. His eyes opened to encounter the steel that had separated them. She would be safe from him now… his drive to protect her was stronger than his desire to love her… or at least that was the line he was going to use to get through this.
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"How does that thing work exactly?" Makoto asked curiously and Ami hit a button pulling up the program she had created on her computer.
"There is a sensor in the back of my computer that picks up DNA signatures… it's like pointing and clicking almost… point and shoot an image and it gives it a diagnostic scan checking it against the DNA criteria we are looking for." Ami explained calmly. "Want to try it?" She asked encouragingly and Makoto nodded switching the program on as they glanced at the screen before them.
"Hey… there is Usagi." Minako said brightening up and Rei looked up beside her as the blonde entered into the arcade. Minako waved her over with a hand and Usagi made her way towards them.
"Woah… what's that?" Makoto asked and Ami blinked looking at the screen. She tilted the computer towards the aisle as a figure stormed past it. A dinging noise emitted from the instrument before her as red lines began to fill the checking points, 100 accurate following each accomplished line. "Ami…" Makoto mumbled uneasily as she looked at the mastermind who stared dumbfounded at the dinging machine.
"Ami… what is going on?" Rei asked and Minako turned to where the computer was pointed at. Ami glanced up as a graphic upload of the correct match appeared before her. She sucked in a sharp loud intake of breath as shock overtook her.
"Why is Mamoru-san's picture showing up on your computer?" Makoto asked, denial immediately jumping into her system. This had to be a mistake. Ami's eyes watched Mamoru drag Usagi away from them and her eyes fell to her leader.
"Right in front of us… the whole time?" Minako's voice was choked with emotion and Ami slumped back into the confines of the booth. Her hand smacked across her forehead and the sound made Makoto jump.
"Wait… are you trying to tell me that Chiba, Mamoru is the re-incarnation of Endymion… Serenity's one true love?" Rei said clearly before them and Luna poked her head onto the table to stare at the results. Ami nodded incredulously. All of those times she was with him… she never pointed her computer to him… the thought was never feasible.. Mamoru-san… Usagi… past lovers?
"Oh my God…" Luna whispered in shock and Minako put a hand to her forehead.
"But they hate each other, what kind of cruel trick is this to be played on them?" Minako asked silently and Rei shook her head and leaned forward.
"Check it again… it has to be wrong… Ami check it again!" She cried and the blue haired student sat up and turned the computer roughly towards them.
"100 accuracy Rei! Numbers don't lie… it's him… the Prince we have been looking for…" Ami said sturdily and Rei stared at the images before her.
"What do we do now?" Makoto whispered and their eyes rose to meet each others. What would they do?
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Ah.. the lovely cliff hanger... it's the one thing that excites readers and angers them all at the same time!
Well gotta jet to my next assignement! Please tell me what you think! Also keep those guesses coming for who you think will be the celebrity guests... they have been most amusing.
Just so everyone knows... it is not Mamoru-san. Tuxedo Kamen is not a celebrity though that was an excellent guess!
Also that new room they are in... the Karaoke room is from PGSM Live Action which is buku awesome and hilarious and it was a really cool hangout they had instead of the arcade or parlor so I just incorporated it in there so they would have a private place to discuss senshi buisness ya know?
Thanks to everyone for your wonderful reviews! The number of reviews has pulled in even more readers into my web of fanfiction. Arigato! hehehe.. have a great weekend everyone!
Good Night and God Bless
Marronett