Previously
"Ah, sweet coconut cake"
"…hi Jed" the blond greeted as she patted the smelling teens head "ask me what?" she asked as she climbed into the room wearing a pink tank top and black boy shorts
"Usako put some pa-"Mamoru was stopped as Kunzite covered his mouth with his hand
"Shut up Mamoru" he hissed into Mamoru's ear "you were saying Usagi-san?"
"I just wanted to say hi when I heard Patrice say something about asking me something"
"It's okay cookie, Mamoru was just asking about your date with Patrice" Jed said as he took in her sent "so nice" he whispered as Usagi walked back to the window
"Oh, it went great" She replied with a shrug
"USAGI ARE YOU OVER THERE TALKING TO THOSE NUT JOBS?!" Everyone heard Rei yell
"SHUT YOUR MOUTH FETA!" Jed yelled back
Usagi let out a laugh "so you have been calling her different types of cheeses, Ha-ha priceless, well I better get back before they drag me…Goodnight guys"
"NIGHT" they all replied
Military Life
Chapter 10
Usagi POV
It's really amazing how everything comes together in such a short time.
After "date" night the girls continued to see the guys, fighting every minute of every hour of every day.
You could tell that love was in the air.
Mamoru and I have grown closer and so have Ken and Seiya. Speaking of Seiya he and I have been working none stop on our song for the show case at the end of the year.
Our fathers have been doing well; in fact daddy sent me a photo of him and Coronal walker laughing around a large box of cigars. This box was HUGE It was one of those large moving boxes FILLED with cigars. I made a copy for seiya; we hung them in our lockers.
Now, as I sit here in the court yard after school watching each of my friends; I can't help but laugh and smile. For once I felt at home, wanted and a part of something great.
"Here I got you a little something" Jed said handing Rei a gift
Rei, who looked shocked, took it hesitantly "really?"
"Of course" Jed said offended
"Awe...thank you" Rei said smiling as she began to open it
"What is it Rei?" Minako asked as I pulled my cousin to me, afraid of what might happen
"Earth bath All Natural Lavender Deodorizing Spritz…for dogs?!" Rei yelled
I turned to my friends as we tried to hold our need to laugh.
"Yea, you know so you can spray it all over you" Jed said rubbing his hands all over his body, did he really need to demonstrate? "You know rubbin' it all over you. Getting rid of that cheese smell once and for all! OH! And it's all natural, so there are no chemicals" he said smiling at Rei; it was comical how proud he looked.
"I can't decide which is funnier, the fact that he bought her that or that he's actually serous" Motoki laughed as he leaned against Minako
Rei on the other hand threw the bottle at Jed
"Run Jed Run!" I screamed as Rei charged after him
Kunzite picked up the bottle "isn't this what you use for your dog Jed?" that was it, we all fell to the ground in a fit of uncontrollable laughter
Leaving my crazy group of friends I decided to head to one of the music room to practice my own song for the show case. Sitting in the room with an acoustic guitar, I rest my fingers on the stings and begin to play and sing… Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
I take a deep breath and close my eyes savoring the final note
"I thought you hated singing?" jumping up from the bench I turned, my face red from embarrassment
"w-what are you doing here?" I asked quickly, pushing a piece of my hair out of my face
"Why are you so jumpy Usako?" he whispered as his strong hand rubbed sweetly against my cheek "your voice is gorgeous…" he smiled that smile that always made my knees go week
I blush looking to the ground "thank you" I whispered
"What made you pick that song?" he asked as we took a seat on the abandon bench
"My dad" I said with a smile "he use to sing that song to me every night." I laugh "I love music. Music was always a great way for me to escape whatever was happening at the time" I played a couple notes on the baby grand that sat in front of us and smiled "I love to just play how I'm feeling and sing whatever words come to me at that very moment…even if they come out silly" I hear him chuckle "it's true...after freshman year when my dad got his orders for us to move again...I remember sitting at my piano, I started to play a song by the band Phish...it made me feel a lot better" she saw the confusion in his eyes "you've never heard of Phish?!" she asked shocked as he shook his head no "Oh my god! That's just...just wrong! We will have to fix that" she said as she made a mental note.
Mamoru chuckled as he nodded "alright, it's a date" I blush as he leaned in and kissed me
"Sing me something" he said as he straddled the bench so that his back was resting against the wall
"Well this weekend Seiya and I...and from what I hear a couple of my friends were asked to sing some songs for the FRG, there will be a ton of military families there…they asked us to perform this song especially…" I handed him the sheet music "what to help me practice?" I asked hopeful, "it would be nice to get your option." I was happy to see him nod
"Well I can't carry a tune to save my life...but never the less I would love to help you"
I started to play the song...he was right, singing wasn't his forte, but I do admire his attempt.
We sat for what seemed like hours going over the song together. By the time we were done he hugged me as tears fell from my eyes "I just hope I don't bust out in tears during our performance" I said laughing
"Your voice is beautiful Usako, and I'm sure they'll understand" Mamoru reassured me "You shouldn't hide this amazing talent you have, it's a gift...the whole world should hear it" he helped me place my papers into my folder
"You know their always looking for volunteers…and you don't have to be military related to help… you and the girls could come and help out…"
"I would be honored to help and I know the girls will feel the same way…and the guys"
"But I don't want them fighting…that's the last thing these families need to listen too"
"I'm sure they can put aside their differences for one night" Mamoru was right "And besides I can't wait to hear and see you on that stage!" he placed his hand around my shoulder as we walked out the music room.
Mamoru is right...everything will be fine.
Later that night the girls and guys come over
"Is there a reason why we were dragged over here?" Zoi asked suspiciously as he sat in-between Minako and Ami
"Could you be more boorish?" Ami hissed
"Hey Zoi, we brought you here to castrate you" Minako said seriously as Zoi looked to the other girls, who all looked at him seriously causing the poor teen to start to hyperventilate
"Now look you've done!" Nephrite yelled walking over and handing him a brown paper bag "Breathe, Breathe…no one will castrate you"
Zoi only nodded, he looked over to find Ami writing in her notebook again shaking her head
"Castration? Seriously girls come on" Seiya shook his head
"Brin, control your psychopathic friends" Jed hissed at Rei
"Brin?" I asked "what kinda cheese is called Brin?"
"Small, hexagonal cheese with natural, thin, reddish-orange rind dusted with white penicillin mould. It is a semi-soft vegetarian cheese made from cow's milk." Jed answered
"Oh…learn somethin' new every day" I say with a laugh
"Fuck you Ibiza Hound!" Rei yelled
"Okay that's enough you two" Mamoru yelled
"What is it that you call us all here for Usagi?" Ami asked politely as Zoi glared at her
"Well…this weekend Seiya and I are performing some songs for the FRG…since the war started we have been asked to help out…it's something my mother use to do…"
"It means Family Readiness Group; it's what the military uses to help families prepare for their husbands or wife's departure…they also put together boxes to send to the troops and help families during the Marines absence...they also help military families regardless if there is a war or not" Seiya clarified
"Seiya's mother is the leader of the FRG for the base in Okinawa, they need volunteers and I was hoping you guys wouldn't mind helping out…?" I looked to their faces "You don't have to if-"
"We would love to, wouldn't we girls?" Rei said smiling as the girls nodded
"We would too" Kunzite smiled as the rest of the boys nodded
"But there can be NO fighting or bickering between you all, you guys have to get along, at less for this one event please? These families are going through a lot as it is…"
"We promise" Minako said holding her hand up "scouts honor"
"We'll be cool just as long as California Barbie wears something decent" Kunzite said pointing at Minako, I jump over covering Minako's mouth, keeping her from retaliating
"you will be given Marine Corps T-shirts that say Volunteer and you will have to wear clean plan blue jeans with tennis shoes" I answered as I slowly let go of Minako's mouth, hearing her let out a 'humph'.
"Wait" Mamoru said causing everyone to look at him "this means I have to pretend to be gay again doesn't it?"
Seiya and I only nodded as he lowered his head in disappointment "sorry Mamoru" I said sweetly rubbing his back "thanks guys" I smile at my friends as they all nod in understanding
The week went by fast and soon the weekend was here. As the girls and guys arrived at my house I roll my eyes as I hear them all bickering like old married couples.
I really don't need this today
"Don't you EVER shut your mouth Brie?" Jed yelled as Rei closed her cell phone and turned to her annoying partner
"Do you EVER mind your own BUSINESS Shih Tuz?!"
"What are you writing now!?" Zoi screamed as Ami continued to write in her little note pad "HELLO!" Zoi screamed waving his hand in her face
Looking up she rolled her eyes "All I did was buy you a cup of coffee; you didn't need to be rude and dump it!" Ami replied
"YOU WERE TRYING TO POISON ME!" he screamed
"You were standing right there when they made the coffee retard! The man even handed it to you!"
"How do I know you didn't paid him off?!" Zoi questioned, still panicking as Ami continued to write in her pad. Tired of yelling Zoi snatched the note pad out of her hands "Subject shows clinically significant levels of paranoia and schizophrenia, He quite literally cannot get along with the opposite sex. This leads me to believe he is afraid of a female's higher educational and logical functions also leading me to believe that he is homosexual." Zoi stares at her wide eyed "I AM NOT GAY!" he screams
"Denial" Ami response as she snatches her book back and writes subject is clearly in denial about his sexual preference
"These Jeans are NOT too tight!" Minako screamed as Kunzite shrugged
"You can barely move in them" he answered calmly "I'm just saying if you wish to give the wrong idea then so be it"
"You're the most irritating man I've ever met!" she screamed turning to Motoki, who just glared at the tall man
"Did it hurt?" Nephrite asked Makoto
"Did what hurt?" she asked confused
"When you fell from heaven?" he finished as he smiled at her
"Why is it you can have a normal fucking conversation with EVERYONE else? but you can't help but act completely brain dead around me?!" she hissed throwing her hands up in frustration, sick of his stupid-ness she walked pass him to stand next to Rei, who had kicked Jed in the balls causing him to lay on the floor in pain
I walked out of my house shaking my head "I thought you guys agreed to get along!" I yelled, as I felt myself freaking out "seriously guys, if this is how you're planning on acting, go home!"
I was upset, stressed out and aggravated, I didn't need to hear their bickering, not today. Not that I don't enjoy helping the military…it's just that this use to be my mother's favorite thing to do…her and Seiya's mother would go all out for FRG…and now I'm left to fill her shoes…those are some pretty big shoes to fill…my mother was everything a Marine could ever ask for in a wife…supportive, accommodating, obedient, excellent cook, loving and strong.
I turn away from my friends and head back into my house as Seiya turned around to face my friends "seriously guys can you grow up for just one day?! This isn't a joke to us or to these families, their loved ones are over sea's risking their lives serving their country, these families are filled with different stressful situations! Some of these woman are pregnant with their first child, others are alone…Their all scared and worried! Put yourself in their shoes and shut the hell up for one god damn day!" he began to walk into the house before adding "think of someone else for once instead of yourselves!"
Everyone was quiet as they looked to each other
"He's right" Minako spoke up "we all know how hard this is for Usa…can you imagine how hard it must be for all those other families...who have no one?"
"Let's just call a truce for today…" Ami said looking to her friends "for Usa"
"Okay" Rei said with a sad smile "I think we should go and apologize…I'm sure today isn't easy for her"
"I'm sorry Chee-I mean Rei" Jed said holding his hand out "truce for today…for Cookie?" Rei shook his hand
"My name isn't that hard to say it is?" she teased as they laughed together
"Guess not" he said with a smile
In the house I sat with my head in my hands as Mamoru sat next to me rubbing my back
"Usa" I hear Mina whisper as she walked over "we're all really sorry" I look up from my hands and shake my head
"Nah, I'm sorry guys…"I whispered as the girls gathered around me
"We understand why you got upset…you have every right to be…" Ami said softly
"We acted like children…and we're sorry Usa, we promise not to fight for the whole day" Rei said smiling
"Yea che-Reis right…we called a truths" Jed said smiling as I look to him and Rei
"Did you just call her Rei?" I asked surprised
"Yea…" he said uneasy as I laughed, it's just too hard to stay mad at them for long
"Okay…here" I said tossing a gray t-shirt at Jed
In the front it said Volunteer over the left side. On the back of the t-shirt was the historical photo from the flag raising at Iwo Jima Japan with words that read pain is weakness leaving the body Marines
"Put these on"
"Wait, why aren't you wearing one of these shirts?" Minako asked "you look so fashionable" she whined
I was wearing an olive button up jersey dress with black heels, as my hair was down in curls. Seiya wore a white button down military shirt with an olive color graphic design on the left side; he finished his look with black dress pants
"And you cut your hair!" Rei yelled pointing at his head
Seiya looked the same just without the pony tail, which was now cut off.
"Yea…mom threatened to cut it off herself if I showed up with it" he laughed nervously
"Usako, there's a large red hummer sitting outside" Mamoru said looking out the window "with two very intimidating men…who are walking this way" he walked away from the window quickly standing behind me. I couldn't help but laugh
NORMAL POV
As she walked to the front door all that was heard was a loud scream, causing everyone to run into the forayer. In front of them was Usagi screaming to be put down; as one of the men, a Marine, had her over his shoulder like a shake of potatoes
"What do you say?" the marine asked still holding the now limp Usagi
"You're the unsurpassed and most incredible man alive" Usagi mumbled
The marine looked to Seiya, who was smiled at him "hey" he said with a big smile "I'm sorry, what was that?" he asked Usagi again
"You're the unsurpassed and most incredible man alive!" Usagi screamed
"Don't you forget it" he ordered as he placed her down, Mamoru was at her side in an instant
"Whoa! Hey look what we have here Sgt. LeBlue, looks like our little Bunny has herself a little boyfriend" the other Marine pointed out, as Sgt LeBlue looked up
"Really?" he smirked "you know Sgt. Roger I think we need to have a talk with this young man" LeBlue said casing Usagi to step protectively in front of Mamoru, who was very confused
The only way the group could tell LeBlue apart from Roger was by the color of their skin, LeBlue was a tall African America male and Roger was the same height but white
"Wait does everyone think your dating Usako?" Mamoru whispered to Seiya
"Not these two, their cool. But, now that they know your Bun's boyfriend…their gonna give you hell" Seiya said with a smile
"So why don't we have a seat-"
"Chiba Mamoru" Mamoru answered
"No way!" Usagi said sternly as she stood protectively in front of him "we really should be heading out now"
"Oh Tsukino, we have time" LeBlue smiled "we just want to talk to the young man"
"Yea, I mean what would Sgt Major Tsukino say if he knew we weren't looking out for his little girl?" Roger asked with a smile "I mean it's bad enough he thinks your dating Seiya"
"No" Usagi said again folding her arms "do you know how many boyfriends I've lost because of your "Talks"?" Usagi shook her head "No"
Flash back
--Freshman year of high school--
Usagi was in her room getting ready for her date. Out in the living room sat 7 young Marines sitting in a circle as Mr. Tsukino sat at the head of the circle, all in uniform. But Usagi had no idea they were there. Soon a knock came to the door; all that was heard was "Enter" the young man walked in slowly noticing the darkness of the room
"um…hello?" he stuttered out nervously "I-I'm here to see Bunny" he announce, when a light was turned on reveling Mr. Tsukino the young man started to walk toward him to introduce his self when another male voice spoke up
"Did he ask you to come forward boy?!"
The young man turned his head, frightened when another light turned on reveling 7 mean and intimidating looking Marines. Taking a gulp the young man took a step toward the door
"What's your name boy?" LeBlue asked
There was no answer
"Are you def boy? Someone asked you a question" Roger hissed
"I-I'm…J-J-Johnnn…" he chocked out
"What are your intentions with our little sister?" another Marine asked
"S-sister?" he asked shaken "your all her brothers?"
They all nodded, and he gulped once more
"Don't make us ask again boy, what's your intention with our sister?" another hissed
"J-just a d-date s-sir" he was beginning to sweat
"What do you do for a living?" another marine asked
"a-a living?" John asked confused
"Yes, what do you do for money?"
"I-I don't work...sir"
"Then tell me how do you expect to pay for this date?" a marine asked
"Where did you get the money?" another asked
"You're not into any of that herbal crap, are you?" another marine added
"y-no...I mean my m-mom…" he looked around as his face was now drenched with sweet and panic started to fill him
"Are you on it now son?" Mr. Tsukino asked
"Te-tell B-bunny that…that I ha-had to go home…"
"Will do son" Mr. Tsukino said with a smile as John ran out the house
"Daddy have you seen my…." Usagi stopped as she saw all the marines sitting in her living room with huge smiles on their faces "I'll be heading off to bed now" she rolled her eyes and walked away as the marines bid her goodnight
A couple months later
Usagi walked up her steps to her house, as she turned around to her boyfriend of 2 minutes "thanks for walking me home Cheyenne" she smiled sweetly
"Do you mind if I come in for a moment and call my mom?" he asked as Usagi looked nervously knowing her father was just behind the front door.
Cheyenne was a tall teen with short blond curly hair and brown eyes, he was also the schools head soccer star
"Let me get you the phone" she said not wanting him to come in
"Okay"
As she opened the door the wind kicked up and pushed the door out of her hand, opening it up wide reviling her father, who was sitting in the middle of their living room surrounded by 8 military rifles
"Oh! hello sweet heart" Mr. Tsukino greeted with a cigar in his mouth, as he sat with his green military shirt and Cammies, holding one of the rifles pointing it at Cheyenne "Hello there boy" he said in a calm voice
Cheyenne backed out of the house as Usagi turned around "My DAD is just trying to sca-"
"Look Bunny…I don't think this is going to work out…um…I have to…I have…you know…there's this problem with my um….I have to go" he took off leaving Usagi alone with her over protective father
"Well…that lasted 3 minutes and 55 seconds" she grumbled as she walked past her father
"Where'd your friend go honey? He took off faster than a lion after his pray!" Kenji laughed as Usagi stormed off to bed.
End of flashback
"And this is what you did to me at EVERY school" Usagi yelled at the two marines standing in her living room "so the answer is No! Now, Can we please go?"
The two marines laughed as Usagi stormed pasted them "Yes ma'me" they both said saluting her
"Shove it!" she hissed as she slammed the hummer door
"Today's going to be an entertaining day" Seiya said smiling