Sunday Afternoon

The mall was bustling with people; families and teens scoured the shops for the sales that were promoted for that day. The group of girls, followed by Mamoru, were among the crowd and were immensely enjoying their outing. Bags had been in each of their hands and they were heading to the food court for a break.

"How you holding up Mamo-chan?" Usagi sipped on a strawberry-banana smoothie as she looked inquiringly at her boyfriend. He was dipping his straw into his iced mocha frappe. He put his finger into the whipped cream and put it on Usagi's nose. "Oh I think I'm doing just fine, Usako."

She scrunched up her nose and giggled.

Minako, Rei, and Ami brought their trays of food to their table in the food court. Rei sat down next to Usagi. "Where's Makoto?"

"She went to the bathroom. She'll be right back."

Minako leaned back in her seat. "Oh God. Not now."

Mamoru furrowed his brow at her and turned his head questioningly. "What's the matter?"

She put her forehead in her hand and pointed behind him. "That is what's the matter."

The group sitting at the table turned and spied what Minako had been talking about. Two familiar heads of hair; one white and one purple were walking side by side. Their arms were linked and their backs were turned from the group.

Usagi raised one eyebrow. "What are the odds of that? Think they know we're here?"

Mamoru leaned forward towards Usagi, ready to get up. "Do you want to wait around to find out?"

She shook her head. "Not really." She looked apologetically at her friends. "Sorry, guys. I'm not dealing with that. Meet you at the movie?" Ami had her mouth full of food so she nodded her head.

Rei helped hand Usagi her bags. "Yeah you two go ahead and we'll meet you there."

Minako started to get up. "I'm actually VERY curious as to why they know each other." She stood overlooking the table. "I mean, really. What are the odds? The two people that Usagi can't be alone with and can't trust walking arm and arm?" She turned and looked at the two with a determined look on her face. Her eyes widened and a devilish grin overtook her face. "I'm gonna go investigate." And off she went.

Ami yelled after her. "Minako-chan! Wait!"

Rei started to laugh. "Let her go. We'll meet you guys at the theater." She watched the couple walk in the opposite direction as the two that Minako was bee-lining for.

Minako was impressed with her mission impossible like prowess when she came up behind the couple under the cover of a large potted plant. She hid behind the large leaves and perked up her ear to strain to hear their conversation.

"…you lived with her the longest, what would attract her? I need inside intel to seduce, my dearest Koan."

"Honestly, I paid no attention to the brat. All I know is that she was geeky enough to keep up with her homework assignments, mine, and Petz's. Maybe intelligence will be your key." Koan clenched her fists and Minako saw the red form on her face. "That's how she stole Mamoru-kun away from me. She made me look stupid. I'm NOT stupid."

Demande stroked Koan's back and twirled his fingers through her hair. "No you're not stupid. Don't worry, we'll both get the people we deserve. How about we go and get you an outfit that Mamoru would have to be dead not to notice?"

Koan smiled appreciatively and stroked Demande's face. Minako watched the two walk away. They don't act like friends…they act like weird touchy relatives that are way too close to one another. They couldn't have known each other for that long. How did they get so close when he hasn't even gone to our school yet? They were talking about Usagi and Mamoru. What are they planning?

Minako stood thinking and got lost in a trance. Makoto came up behind her and smacked her on the back. "Whatcha doin, Minako-chan?" Minako thought she had been caught by the two she was previously spying on and screamed. She took a sigh of relief. "Oh, Makoto-chan, it's just you. We need to find the girls. Something's going on."

After the movie and the update from Minako on what she overheard at the mall, Mamoru and Usagi were doing all they could do to relax and prepare for whatever was going to happen at school the next day.

They were laying in Mamoru's bed, bodies entwined, and clothed by only the bedsheet. Mamoru was tracing the inside of Usagi's palm with his finger. Their connection to one another was strengthened after each act of intimacy and it made them appreciate each other more. Usagi idly ran her fingers through Mamoru's hair, massaging his scalp and steadied herself to the rhythm of his breathing. Mamoru nuzzled his face into the crook of Usagi's neck and Usagi giggled lightly.

"You're all I have, Usako. You know that?"

"Mmm. And you're all that I have, Mamo-chan."

Mamoru shook his head. "That's not true. You have your friends."

"Well you have Motoki and Una. They're like your family. Just as my friends are like mine. Family isn't reliant on blood, you know. And I love how ours fits together. We'll defend and fight for each other without hesitation over anything which is why I know we have nothing to worry about with the Koan and Demande situation. Plus…" Usagi smiled at Mamoru. "I have the football team on my side. What could go wrong?"

Mamoru chuckled and kissed Usagi tenderly. "I hope you're right, Usako."

The two fell asleep minutes later anxiously and carelessly awaiting what tomorrow would bring.

Monday

Everything had gone normally. So much so, it made Mamoru nervous. Nothing had even happened at lunch. It was nearly the end of the day and he was about to go into the class that he had with Koan. When he walked in, though, expecting the worst, she wasn't there. He was relieved but even more worried. He'd rather deal with whatever it was that was going to happen as soon as possible.

He rubbed the side of his head with his fingers. I shouldn't worry about it anyways. I've got the football game on Thursday.

Usagi's senses had been on hyper drive all day. She had her eyes and ears perked up whenever there was a lonely moment throughout the day. I can't live like this everyday…

She headed to the Crown in her car and prayed for a normal shift so she could go back to her boyfriend's apartment and study for her final. And to her surprise, it was. So normal, in fact, that Usagi was beginning to think she was going insane by expecting something to happen.

The oddity of the normalcy continued Tuesday and Wednesday. The girls and Mamoru were starting to believe that Koan and Demande had a falling out or weren't planning on going after Usagi anymore. No one saw them together at school or at the Crown. Demande had kept to himself and Koan stuck to her regular group of friends. It was as if they had never met and as if what they saw and heard at the mall that Sunday was a hallucination.

But then Thursday hit. Game day. Mamoru's team had been prepping and practicing all week. Usagi and the girls spent their time during lunch making banners and helping set up booths that would be open before the game. All of them were so preoccupied that they didn't notice Koan and Demande's private meeting behind the bleachers.

"Were you able to get the stuff?" Demande whispered lightly. Even among the chattering crowd, he didn't want to draw attention.

Koan pulled a vial of clear liquid out of her purse. "Yeah, here it is. A few drips ought to do it."

Demande took the vial and put it in his pocket. "I'll have her here right after the game. Make sure he sees it and that you're there to fill in the blanks."

Koan smiled. "Oh I won't mess this up. This is the opportunity I've been waiting for."

Demande and Koan walked in separate directions, both with smirks on their faces and were mentally planning and preparing their best scheme yet both confident that their desired mate would be theirs by the close of the evening.

Author's Note: Another short chapter, but one to leave you thinking. What on Earth are Koan and Demande scheming? What will happen between Usagi and Mamoru? Will their plan work? Find out all in the next chapter!