The two of them met fairly frequently since that time in the arcade. Actually, the arcade made for their usual hangout. As much as Mamoru wanted to take her out on the streets, he was wary of leaving her out in the open where she could possibly get hurt should someone else try to attack him as what happened during their first meeting.
Although Usagi wondered why he refused to meet with her anywhere but at the arcade, she was content to at least spend some time with him. True, their meetings usually began with much teasing and angry comments, but that's all they were really – teasing. She knew he wasn't trying to insult her, and she actually enjoyed their verbal skirmishes. Of course, she enjoyed their actual conversations much more. They would often begin by teasing in front of Motoki at the bar, but after she'd order, they'd relocate themselves to a booth and actually begin to talk.
She learned a lot about him during those times. She knew he was orphaned as a child, and that both his parents died in a car accident when he was six. He had amnesia then, so he couldn't remember them nor his name. The doctors were the ones who told him he was called Chiba Mamoru. In the orphanage, he was a moody boy, and no one wanted to adopt the "problem child". When he was of the age, he was given some money to go to school. She found that he was actually an intelligent person – the valedictorian of his high school. When he turned eighteen, a lawyer approached him and told him that he was left with close to a million dollars from his parents' will.
When she asked him how he ended up in a gang, more so as the leader of the Midnight Rose, he explained that since nobody wanted to hang out with him in the orphanage, there were times he'd sneak out to roam the streets. He would amuse himself by stealing meaningless trinkets from passers by – a button, a ribbon, a hat – without their knowing. Sometimes, the bigger kids would corner him and try to bully him. He fought back but didn't always win.
On one such day, a man saw him fighting to protect a small dog, which the kids were throwing stones at. After scaring the kids away, the man talked to him and convinced him to join the gang. Although he still lived in the orphanage and received the money for his schooling from them, he would spend his afternoons after school with the members of the gang, learning how to defend himself and others. The man who talked to him was apparently the leader of the Midnight Rose at the time, and he treated Mamoru as though he were his son.
One day though, Mamoru reached the gang's headquarters only to learn that the man was killed by a rival gang. Furious, Mamoru went and searched for the said gang and killed their leader within a few minutes. The members were afraid of him then. He was only twelve at the time. For such a kid to have such power, there was no wonder they feared him.
The members who lost their leader ended up following Mamoru and joining the Midnight Rose. Upon learning what he had done, the members of the Midnight Rose appointed Mamoru as their leader. Even at such a young age, he inspired authority. He took it upon himself to settle disputes between gangs and even with the police, and he convinced many to join him. He was a very respected and feared leader, including to gangs apart from his own. He could bring even the strongest gangsters to their knees, but he never engaged in unwarranted battles and bloodshed. Only lower gangs do that, after all.
Although he was able to balance school and managing the gang when he was in high school, he chose not to continue on to university. He very well could have with his grades and money, but he just didn't seem to find his path there. So, after he graduated, he took to a full-time involvement in the activities of the Midnight Rose. At the age of twenty-one, he was already known all throughout the country.
"You're very strong, Mamo-chan," Usagi had said upon learning of his history. He was amazed at the smile she bestowed on him then. Although he never thought himself as better off compared to anyone else, her smile made him feel like he won the world.
It was funny, really, how close they became after spending countless hours together. It surprised him the first time she called him "Mamo-chan" instead of "Mamoru-baka", but he immediately liked it. It warmed his heart just to hear her say it. Of course, that change served as a warning to him – he couldn't get any closer to her than he already was.
From their talks, he knew what kind of a girl she was – just how sweet, kind and friendly. He knew she was well loved by both her family and friends, and everyone she came to meet actually. She was eighteen, on her last year at Juuban High. Although her grades weren't stellar, he knew she could do well if she tried. He'd seen her do it, after all, and even helped her while she was at it.
The way she spoke about her friends clearly showed her love for them. There was the shy but smart Mizuno Ami. She often tutored Usagi and encouraged her to do her best in her studies. Kino Makoto was a tough girl, but she had a surprising passion for cooking. Usagi absolutely adored food by her. Usagi was the only daughter in her family, but she may as well have had a long lost twin in Aino Minako. It wasn't just in looks that the two shared similarities, but in hobbies as well. Then there was the fiery Hino Rei. She and Usagi bickered a lot, but they were both protective of the other.
Although Mamoru wouldn't tell her, he had actually watched as Usagi had come out of the school on certain days, together with her friends. He could tell from their interactions and the descriptions Usagi had given him who each girl was – the blue-haired genius, the brunette chef, the blonde model and the raven-haired priestess. But, what always drew his attention was the angel in the middle of the chattering group – his golden-haired, blue-eyed Usako. Her beauty both inside and out seemed to shine through her, and he noticed many boys turn their gazes to watch. No matter how much he wanted to just walk up to her and claim her as his in front of all those boys, he knew he couldn't.
Many people still wanted to harm him. He was in a gang, after all. The very people after him would certainly have no qualms about stooping as low as they could go just to ensure his disposal. If they knew how precious Usagi was to him, they would surely go after her and hurt her. He couldn't let that happen. If she were to be harmed in any way, he would never forgive himself. It was for this very reason that he had no choice but to drive her away.