"What do you want?" she hissed. In all his acquaintance with her, she had never sounded like she truly loathed his presence as much as her simple question just implied. He flinched internally and went to leave.
"Nothing" he growled back. "Just thought I'd stop by." Sliding to the edge of his booth he put weight on his left foot and a slight hand on his much larger one stopped him dead. He turned back to his Odango and saw tears glistening in her eyes. He sat back down and waited for her to speak.
"I'm sorry Mamoru." she whispered. "I'm not very good company right now. Enjoy your evening." and with a grace that rarely appeared Usagi swept out of the arcade, her shoulders hitching at the last minute. Mamoru started after the sobbing girl and wondered what in the world could be wrong. He sat there contemplated obvious reasons: failed a test, insulted by Rei, got detention, and he realized none of those things had ever made her so...so ruffled. He gasped at his mistake and ran as fast as he could out of the arcade. He caught a glimpse of her heading into the nearby park and raced after her.
He saw her kicking at something in the grass and skid to a halt. Usagi stomped and kicked and finally started taking her frustration out on a nearby tree. Using her tiny hands she beat the bark of the tree mercilessly and sobbed in frustration. Mamoru finally saw flecks of blood spraying from her fists and ran over to stop her further injury. Grabbing her arms he swung her around and sat her on the grass. She had droplets of blood all over her uniform and her hands were covered in bark.
"Usagi! What's wrong?"
"I...just hate...everything!" she screamed hoarsely and collapsed on the ground in tears. Trusting his instincts he bundled her up in a hug only to have her shove him away. "I don't need you pity! I just want to be left alone."
He shushed her and gathered her into his arms again. This time she lay her head on his chest and sobbed her heart out. After many, many minutes passed by he felt his Odango shudder a great sigh and start to pull away.
"I don't think so Odango. Tell me right now exactly what's wrong." he demanded. She looked up at him with such trusting eyes that his heart skipped a beat. This was how he wanted her to look at him always.
"Everything finally caught up to me and I'm struggling to not drown." she murmured, eyes downcast once again. "School, friends, people, family, and y---." she broke off with a poignant glance in his direction and hide her eyes.
"I'd never let you drown Usagi. Never." he whispered vehemently. "I'll buy you an ice cream ok? I know it doesn't solve everything but it can help a ----."
"No," she cut him off, "I can't. I'll see you later ok?" Without waiting for his reply she started to leave and this time a hand stopped her dead in her tracks. She turned around to see him smiling at her. She bristled in anger at his casual brushing off of her pain and was about to slap him when her other hand was caught. Pulling her to his chest he squeezed tightly and buried himself in her hair.
"Mamoru? What are you--," before she could finish he enveloped her lips with his own. She sighed in release and seemed to stand a little taller. He pulled away and smoothed the tears of joy from her face. "What was that?"
"CPR. I told you I wouldn't let you drown and it looked like you needed some fresh air." he replied, impressed by his own wit. He only hoped she would feel the same way.
"Mamoru?" she asked lightly, "Promise me one thing?" His heart started to crack. Surly she would make him promise to never kiss her again, promise never to hold her again, promise to never revel in her smile and eyes.
"Anything." he chocked out, dreading the worst.
"Never...
Here it came.
...perform CPR on another girl." she smiled up at his dumbfounded look. Something had finally gone ok today and she loved causing ripples in his calm surface. "Now, about that sundae? It might help me feel better."
I was so angry when I first started writing this and now I'm not. Well still a little. Ah. The wonders of writing. TTFN