Update 05.02.2009: Thanks to darling Mangamania, who kindly reminded me that I had incorrectly typed Taek instead of Saek twice in the chapter, I have now fixed this little hitch.
Hi everybody! I am amazed, I posted the story one night and the next morning I get 9 reviews already…wow I feel so loved ^^ THANK YOU SO MUCH. Here is Chapter 2. Oh, btw…this story is rated M because it will have language, adult themes and lemon in latter chapters, so beware.
Disclaimer: Me no own Sailor Moon, if me owned, me would be in a Fiji 5 star hotel sipping on ice Latte right now.
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Chapter 2 : A kissing practice with the super nerdy hottie!
"Guys and girls, I need to introduce you to my assistant, Chiba Mamoru, you may have heard about him from the recent science today article. His graduation essay was…well let's say a hit with all the neurologists." Tomoki said, chuckling lightly. "I don't know about you people, but I'm getting his autograph before he becomes all exclusive and reclusive." Several students laughed at the comment.
"No wonder he looks so familiar, I think I saw him on the telegraph, like a full page, I thought it was the picture of some hot model and then I read the article next to it…shit, it is him." A girl with thick glasses sitting in front of Usagi whispered to her friend.
"I remember him! I've got a friend from his medical school and he showed me the graduation essay, I couldn't read a word of it…damn this guy is hot and smart." Another voice muttered somewhere near Usagi, and it began, the stories went back and forth, as more people announced their share of excitement, quickly the buzz became an unstoppable ear deafening group squeal.
Usagi, whose jaw had once again ended up next to her feet blinked once as she absorbed all these information, she knew that Mamoru was a little famous since he got pretty much a full colored page in the most popular newspaper in Japan, not to mention the page looked something like an advertisement for a new James Bond movie. But it never occurred to her that people around her would react so…violently.
Just as Usagi thought that the situation had turned for the extremes, one frantic girl in the front seats ran up to Mamoru and gave him a hug-attack. He had just become the lead of a boy band apparently. She ran back to her seat giggling like mad. Usagi slapped a hand against her forehead as she leaned back onto her chair. Mamoru was frowning at the situation, he didn't seem cocky or pleased at least, she thought.
Finally Tomoki spoke up "Alright, I was planning to bring the boys from Kut-Tun next, if you guys react like this to a science nerd, I'm afraid we've got to reschedule with a few more body guards." Tomoki joked as he signed for the students to quiet down.
The sizzling slowed and Mamoru shifted his weight, he was feeling a little uncomfortable Usagi noted as he ran a hand through his hair, it fell back in the exact same places.
"Alright, now Mr Chiba will help you in basic neurology, its chapter 6 in the textbook, if you still haven't bought one, I suggest you let your dog attend the mid exam for you, it probably possesses a little more intelligence and diligence." Tomoki scanned the class, "Mr Chiba will conduct the lecture today, it's his first time, so be gentle." Tomoki joked and Mamoru laughed at his innuendo, some guys snickered.
Mamoru had begun the lessons "I assure you that I am way past my first time." He replied to Tomoki causing random girls to squeal. He sailed through the lecture smoothly, and half way through it, most people was so absorbed by his lecture that they appeared to have forgotten his position was only temporary. Except for maybe a few girls, one raised her hand to ask a question while he was going over the human mind.
"Mr Chiba, what kind of mind do you find attractive? And have you found it already?"
Mamoru chuckled and replied. "I find intelligence, kindness and gracefulness in a girl attractive, I believe I answered your underlying question, and as for the details of my private life, let's leave it private."
"So do you also find cheating, clumsiness, dishonesty and tedium attractive too Mr Chiba?" A familiar voice questioned, Usagi turned around instinctively as her heart sank and found Saek sitting straight up with a perverse expression, and he had been the one to ask the question.
Mamoru gave him a long glare before continuing "No, but the human mind is often too subjective and opinionated, especially for minds that are selfish and lacks the ability to appreciate what is precious." He scanned the class, "The brain sends signals to the lung for breathing, but consciously less than 1% of the time do we realize that we are performing this vital task. The human mind is designed this way for workability, yet it often obstructs our personal relationships as we become unappreciative of a long time lover. Like breathing, they can be neglected from our consciousness, however, unlike breathing, love is not performed automatically." He laughed lightheartedly and gave Taek another casual glance before looking towards Usagi with twinkles in his eyes.
Taek closed his lips into a thin line, his facial muscles contorted firmly. Usagi watched the exchange, she was grateful beyond words; Mamoru had just saved her from her personal hell once again in less than 4 hours. It was an amazing feeling to have an amazing person defending you in such an amazing way.
"Mamoru…" Usagi whispered out aloud in her seat, and Mamoru grinned back at her as though he had heard. The lecture went on unhindered from then on, Usagi found it difficult to concentrate as she glanced at Saek, he looked extremely embarrassed and pissed off, opening his textbook and then shutting it immediately. She still loved him, she sighed, and she hated seeing him like this. Perhaps this was enough to trigger him; perhaps she didn't need to further the act. Saek turned around as though sensing her glance, his eyes narrowed and he snickered before turning away. Usagi was taken aback; she didn't expect him to react in such a way.
When the minute clock finally returned to twelve, Mamoru announced class to be dismissed, several girls ran towards him, some flirted; others were more straightforward and asked for his number. Even a shy one went up and asked for his autograph. Usagi descended the stairs to the stage and she spotted Saek standing there, waiting. Mamoru shrugged off most of the girls bluntly and approached Usagi while Saek watched.
"Usagi, did you enjoy the lecture?" Mamoru enquired, smiling crookedly, the smile no longer looked cocky or impertinent to Usagi as she used to think. It was simply Mamoru's way of a smile.
"I guess so yeah." Mamoru dragged an arm across Usagi's shoulders and held her closely.
"That's good Usagi, coz I enjoyed watching you from afar." He laughed. Usagi felt millions of daggers push into her back, yet she couldn't care about it, she once again smelt that intoxicating scent of Mamoru, while his warm and hard body pressed against her side. Such a simple touch made her heart race so fast; she wondered why; maybe she wasn't used to guys this brilliant. This is all just a deal, she had to remind herself.
"Hey you!" Saek's voice yelled. They turned around to find an angry Saek standing inches away. "So what's going on Usagi? What is he to you?"
Mamoru watched in silence as Usagi bowed her head, her struggling thoughts reflected by her expressions. "Nothing Saek…we are just friends…" She finally replied, defeated.
Saek's face transformed from anger to affection in the matter of seconds, ignoring Mamoru, he walked up to Usagi and smoothed a hand over her cheek, "Well, in that case, You heard about this three day boating trip baby? Lets celebrate our anniversary this way ok? I'll talk to you tonight..." He finished in a sugar coated voice, like a toothache in action.
Mamoru's nose flared, and his eyes piercing, yet he didn't say a word. He looked like he was trying to suppress his anger. Saek shrank back a little bit before putting on a brave face and said triumphantly "Take care of my girl for now then…I guess." He snickered and walks away.
"I'm sorry, I chickened out…" Usagi turned to Mamoru apologetically.
"I'm not angry at you." He stated simply. "So are you still planning to go ahead?"
"Yeah…" She sighed, "I know Saek all too well, he just acted this way so he could win the little feud. Oh, I am such an idiot; I basically gave him an ego boost." She mellowed, clutching her head, her eyes suddenly brightened, "Oh but it's not too late yet, you can come to the boating trip with me!" Usagi exclaimed.
Mamoru stared into her sky colored pleading eyes and sighed in what seemed like defeat "Fine, but we need to form a plan, and I have some important guests coming over tonight, so if you want you can come over to my place." He guided Usagi out of the lecture room towards the parking lot.
"Ok, I just need to call mom and tell her." Usagi said, her heart skipping a beat at the idea of going to Mamoru's apartment, but they didn't have much time to plan, this was an opportunity.
Mamoru chuckled "You are the first girl I've met older than 17, who still needs to call her parents just to stay out late." Usagi blushed in embarrassment.
"Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing, at least you have parents who care for you…"Mamoru sighed.
"So do you live alone Mamoru? I suppose you would have moved out already?" Usagi questioned.
"I wish I had a home to move out from…" Mamoru replied, his expression hidden by the silhouettes of the setting sun. They had reached the parking lot and Mamoru took out his keys.
"Tell me about it…unless you don't want to of course." Usagi whispered, the air had frozen around him, she sensed, he was extremely depressed by the topic, she didn't want to press further, yet she wanted to know him, she wanted to comfort him.
"They…um…were taken away by a car crash when I was twelve." He glanced down at the car keys, blinking hard. Usagi's heart clenched as though someone was gripping it, her brows furrowed as she chewed on her bottom lips, she didn't think that the confident to the point of near arrogant Mamoru had a past like this.
"I'm sorry…" that was all she could manage, without hugging him tight right on the spot.
"Odango, I don't want any of that pity, I'm 25, it's been more than a decade when this all happened." He shrugged, it almost fooled Usagi.
Usagi said nothing, but simply gave him a reassuring smile, it wasn't pity she had felt, it had been something else. She wanted to see him without his facade in front of her.
They got into the car; a comfortable silence continued in the car until it pulled over in front of a modernistic apartment in the High Hills area just out of Juuban. The area was known for prestigious golf resorts and expensive apartments. Usagi was surprised, from what Mamoru had told her, he was completely on his own financially, having to pay his tuitions and rent and expenses alone was definitely hard work. He even resorted to this act of a fake boyfriend just for the money. How could he afford such an apartment?
She followed him into the elevator and he pressed 28 "You live here?" She asked a little skeptic.
"Obviously Odango, why else do you think we are here." He pulled a face, Usagi a little irritated, she thought they were on good terms and he just had to get back to name calling.
"I thought this place only had snobs." She replied, "Apparently I am right!" She stuck out her tongue at him.
"You little Odango!" He cried, while pulling on one of her pigtails.
"Oww! Stupid snobbish muffin head! Why do you live in this apartment anyway? I thought you were near hobo!"
"Who the hell said I was near hobo Odango?" Mamoru pulled a mocking angry face, their routine of verbal battle resurfaced, both were surprised that it brought a sense comfort and fun.
"Only a near hobo would accept this stupid job with such a crappy pay." She crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Oh, it's just fun to find out how much someone else finds you annoying too!" He joked.
Usagi stared at him in shock, his words sinking in, that's right; this must have been the real reason. Mamoru hated her so much that he wanted to see how much she was hurting, how much someone she loved despised her. Her lips opened slightly, yet no sound came out as her nose reddened in a threat to burst out in tears. She swallowed and finally managed to suppress the tears that was about to flow freely.
"Odango?" Mamoru asked, realizing that the little meatball had turned sour. "I am just joking you know."
Usagi refused to glance at him, the damage was done. "Let's just talk business and why can't you stop calling me that insulting name?" She exclaimed, angry that their newly found friendship seemed to tatter around these childish arguments.
"Those are not insults; they are my special pet names!" He protested in a hurry, not realizing what he just said.
Usagi was not sure if she heard right, did Mamoru just say that he thought of her as his pet? Unable to bring herself to confirm his words, Usagi simply chewed on her bottom lips.
The elevator arrived with a ding and they made it to his apartment door without another word. He opened the door and Usagi peeked and what she saw made her jaw drop again. He never failed to amaze, renovated in a combination of milky white carpet, brown furniture and red walls with specks of gold here and there was Mamoru's apartment.
He had probably the most up to date digital gadgets around the living room, some she couldn't even identify the use of. Mamoru took out a touch screen PDA from his pocket and pressed a few buttons, the air conditioning turned on immediately, and the window sills opened up.
"Welcome home Mamoru, room temperature will descend to 25 degree Celsius within 2 minutes. You coffee will be made in approximately 1 minute and 23 seconds. Would you like to watch the news?" A gentle feminine voice enquired.
"What the…" Usagi's eyes wide agape as she realized that the sound came from the stereo system in the middle of the living room. A coffee maker boiled away in the open kitchen.
"It's an autobot," Mamoru explained "A pet project by a group of my friends from the university; most of us had a double degree, computer engineering as well as Med."
Usagi glared at him in shock, "This is like back to the future." She said, which made Mamoru laugh out aloud.
"I suppose so, it's a central controlling system, pretty simple actually, and most of these gadgets around my house are custom made to suit the system." He explained while showing Usagi his PDA. He swiped a button and the TV switched on. "Its also voice command activated, I designed that part, but it's not perfected, it can be faulty sometimes…"
"Maree," He said.
"Yes Mamoru?" The feminine voice asked.
"Would you please switch off the TV." He demonstrated.
"Of course." She replied.
"She has a name?" Usagi enquired bitterly, she wondered who Maree was, since Mamoru had designed her, she must have been someone…the name of a real person maybe. Shit, did I just get jealous of a robot? Usagi thought to herself while shaking her head slightly
"Yeah, Maree…was my mother." Mamoru replied, watching Usagi's strange actions with a grin. Usagi's lips pursed, her heart reached out to him, he definitely missed his parents.
"You are amazing Mamoru, even though annoying sometimes…" Usagi commented, her eyes genuine.
Mamoru laughed half heartedly, "I'll go grab you something to drink."
They sat on the couch and sipped on their drinks while having small talks. "So do you have any plans as to what to do for the boating trip?"
"Not exactly, but you sure you don't mind coming on to the trip?"
"Sure, I need a holiday anyway." He stretched out his arms and leaned back against the couch. Usagi noticed that somewhere along the conversation, he had unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt, revealing toned muscles underneath. She swallowed.
"I was hoping that Saek would be so shocked that he would confront me about it. Perhaps he will then realize that he still loves me…" She said, almost to herself.
"Odango, by the way, why has Saek turned this way? Was he always like this to you?"
"No…I didn't well…I didn't want to consummate the relationship you see…" Usagi hesitated, she wasn't sure if Mamoru could understand, he was a male after all. "I wanted to wait until I get married…but of course, it's silly, no body does that these days." She finished with a sigh.
"It's not silly Odango, if he loves you, he would understand." Mamoru replied, Usagi looked up into his eyes, he was sincere to say the least, it almost seemed as though he understood her perseverance, her reasoning.
"To a guy, sex is almost vital, yet if he loved the woman, he would be even more impatient, however if the woman he loved had a set of values, he would respect it, even if it meant struggling a little." Mamoru said reassuringly.
Usagi nodded, taking in Mamoru's words, he had understood what she wanted; the least expected person seemed to accept her principles.
"Saek also mentioned that I was boring all the time…I think I am actually, I mean I'm not that great looking first of all, I can't even kiss, not to mention the sexless relationship with me…" Usagi winced at her own description, she even sounded boring to herself.
Mamoru laughed as though something was funny, to Usagi's bewilderment, he shook his head and said "Odango, trust me, you are not boring, neither are you plain looking, I'm not sure about your kissing skills though, but that can be worked on even if its bad."
"You can work on it?" Usagi questioned with wide eyes, the tiny gears in her head began working at full speed. Mamoru glanced at her, tensing; he had a feeling that the 'you' had specific meanings.
"Well…um…yeah, practice makes perfect…right?" Mamoru inhaled deeply.
Usagi leaned forward with large pleading eyes. "Would you help me then Mamoru? Please?"
"Ahh…well…that's unexpected…"Mamoru scratched his head with one hand, while having difficulty figuring out where to place the other, he appeared almost nervous.
Usagi sank back into her seat "Sorry that I asked…stupid me." She whispered, it was a crazy request, Mamoru probably found her too repulsive, he couldn't even kiss her in the cafeteria today, she was sure he planned to do so. Pain etched in her expressions.
"I didn't mean it like that Usagi, if you want to practice, I'd be more than glad to help." His voice sounded dry.
"Please, I don't want to force you to do something you find repulsive, I'm sure your standard is much higher than ugly little Odango in her twelve year old hairstyle and childish clothes…You always said I reminded you of two small Odangos sitting on one big Odango! You even made up a song for…" Usagi couldn't finish her bitter rambling, as Mamoru grasped her mid back with one hand and pulled her close, she saw his eyes dark like the moment in the cafeteria.
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She was too tempting, requesting a kissing lesson from him, it shocked him the intensity of attraction he had felt in the cafeteria, he had to stop himself before he did anything irrational in public, he didn't dare to kiss her, but right now, there was no watching public and when she mumbled about her being undesirable, he snapped and made the worst choice possible…
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Hmm, I'm not happy with it, it's boring, so I decided to write the next chapter and post it together. Its lemon filled, so beware.