Mending Loneliness

By Bashfulglowfly

Chapter Four – 4:00 p.m.

The smell of coffee and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies wafted past his nose. Kazuya Tsukino straightened up from his computer and saw his young cousin holding a carrying tray with two cups in one hand and a bag in the other.

She waved the bag at him. "Brought you something."

He smiled at her and saved his work before turning to face her. She set one cup in front of him. "Black."

"Thanks. How many cookies did you get?"

"A dozen."

He reached out a long arm and took the bag from her. He ignored her squawk, reached in the bag and grabbed two cookies, setting them on a napkin before handing the bag back to her. "I'll take a couple before you devour them all." He smiled at her pout. "What are you doing here?"

"Do I have to have a reason to come see you?"

"When you come to see me at work, yes."

"It's Saturday."

"Yes. Lots of people work on Saturday, you know."

"You don't have to. You're the only one here."

"I'm the youngest in the firm. It looks good. Besides, this is an important project."

"What is it?"

"An office complex. I'm trying to make it as safe as possible against earthquakes and tsunamis."

"Where is it going to be built?"

"Sendai."

"Oh."

Kazuya reached over and poked at Usagi. He didn't like it when she got sad looks on her face. He knew that she felt things too much.

"So. What's the real reason you are here?"

She chewed on her lip for a moment. "Do you think I'm too old to learn karate?"

Kazuya leaned back in his chair. "Is someone bothering you at school? Is that why you want to learn?"

"Nooo." Came the unhelpful reply.

"So why do you want to learn karate now?" It was going to be interesting to hear her answer. She came up with some amazing reasons for wanting to do things sometimes.

"I just want to become stronger. Disciplined. Focused." She looked at that. "Karate helps you do that, right?"

"Yes. It does. But I still don't understand why you want to start learning now."

"It's complicated."

"Uncomplicate it for me then."

"I can't. Not just yet."

Kazuya sighed. He could tell that he wasn't going to get anywhere with her for the moment. "I heard that you are seeing some nasty disgusting boy."

Usagi laughed. "You've been talking to Daddy again."

"He's not happy. He said that this boy is much older than you."

"He's a second year at Moto-Azabu High."

"He is too old for you."

She smiled. "In a few years, it won't matter. We'll be perfect."

Kazuya repressed a sigh. Usagi had a romantic heart. Just because this boy loved her now, didn't mean that he'd love her forever. But he couldn't bring himself to say that. But he would be there for her to lean on when it was needed. He just hoped that the boy would make things interesting when he had to go and kick the boy's ass…if Uncle Kenji hadn't already killed him.

"Do you think that there is something missing in your life, Kazuya-nii?"

THAT surprised him. "No, I don't think so. Why do you ask?"

She rested her head on his desk. "Because I have lots of friends. Friends who love and care for me and want me to do my best. But you and Mamo-chan are alone."

Mamo-chan? Oh, the boyfriend. "We're both alone?"

Usagi nodded. "Yes." She smiled. "You should meet him. I think that you'll find you have a lot in common."

Kazuya laughed. "I don't think that I will have a lot in common with a high-school boy." Then he blinked. Usagi was different. She looked…ageless.

She smiled mischievously. "I think you'll find different." She bounced out of her chair and over to his side. "You better come over for dinner soon or Mama will call and start scolding you." She leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead.

Kazuya blinked away the whiteness from his eyes. Usagi must have had something shiny on her that reflected the sun. "I'll come over soon."

"See you later, Kunzite!" she waved as she ran from his office.

"See you soon!" Kazuya smiled, stuffed half of a cookie in his mouth, sipped some of the coffee and turned back to his work.