Thorny Roses

Chapter 7

Other students stared as Usagi and the Senshi walked into the school. They all looked so beautiful in their school uniforms, laughing together as they walked to their homerooms. Usagi would be in the same homeroom as Ami and Rei, while Minako and Makoto were in the homeroom next door.

Usagi smiled as she watched Mamoru and the generals walk past the school gates to the University up the street.

"Oh, look!" A girl beside her cried out. "It's Chiba-san!" A bunch of girls rushed over to the window to see him, as well.

Usagi stared in shock at what she was hearing.

"What do you think you're all doing?" A sneering voice said. They all turned around to face a girl with two, dark brown pigtails high on her head. Her eyes were an attractive green and she had a tall, yet slender body. Usagi decided she would have been pretty if she didn't have such an arrogant aura.

"Who do you all think you are, staring at my Mamoru-san?" The girl sneered.

Usagi, along with the other Senshi, dropped their jaws.

"Please, Miya-san, we know you aren't dating," a girl snorted in reply.

Miya blushed but turned her nose up. "Of course we are," she said. "He's been my boyfriend for the past 3 years!"

Usagi and the Senshi immediately relaxed. This girl was only lying.

Usagi loudly snorted, catching the attention of the girls watching Mamoru and Miya. The girls all ogled at the beautiful girls before them. They examined Mina, model-like with her bright blonde hair and her light blue eyes. Standing beside her, Makoto looked even taller and bustier, her bronze curls bouncing ever so slightly. Ami, her glasses on the tip of her nose and her blue bangs hanging in her sweet eyes, looked calm and collected beside Rei. The young, violet-eyed woman was the epitome of tall, dark, and beautiful. The others stared at the four girls, amazed by their goddess-like appearances.

However, the golden crown to top it all was Usagi. She stood tall, confidence permeating from her amused eyes and smirk. Miya, especially, felt patronized by the girl who was obviously the same age as her. Somehow, the blonde girl with clear, blue eyes seemed more mature than any of them—even more because she had caught Miya in her ridiculous lie.

"Lying about dating Mamoru doesn't make you a woman—in fact, it makes you seem like a child," Usagi laughed.

With that, Usagi, followed by the Senshi, walked to their respective homerooms, leaving Miya steaming behind them.

"Who is she? Who does she think she is? I am the heiress to the Hitori Company!" She muttered. "Well, I'll just have to get revenge!" She stalked away from the gathering crowd of bystanders, a murderous glare on her pretty face.

Usagi stood at the head of the homeroom, smiling politely to the rest of the class.

"This is Usagi Tsukino," the homeroom teacher said. "She will be in our class starting today. Please greet her with welcome."

"Please take care of me," Usagi bowed to her classmates.

The boys in her class all swooned. She was perfect! Her thick, blonde curls ending just mid-waist, her baby blue eyes, framed with bangs, amused. Her skirt was just the right length and her blouse was conservative but tight.

Usagi took a seat behind Rei, Ami on her right. Throughout the day, Usagi warmly greeted her classmates, happy to be making new friends. Rei and Ami both felt that this part of Usagi had remained. Slowly, the girls who had felt threatened by her sudden, beautiful appearance came to realize that she was impossible to hate. They quickly realized how smart she was, as well. Even Rei and Ami were surprised to see Usagi complete the work within minutes.

Soon enough, lunchtime rolled around, the school bell tolling.

Usagi, Ami, and Rei met up with Minako and Makoto, and they headed towards the trees behind the school. They sat beneath a tree and opened up their lunch boxes. They placed the boxes in the middle while they ate from each other's lunches. The girls had laughed when Usagi opened up her bento, revealing sushi organized in the shape of a bunny.

"I guess I switched Chibiusa's bento with mine when I sent her off this morning," Usagi sheepishly smiled.

"You're still the same in some ways, Usagi," Minako laughed.

"Wait, did you send her off alone?" Rei asked.

"Of course not," Usagi shook her head in all seriousness. "I sent Luna and Artemis to escort her to school and back, unless we go to pick her up."

"Good thinking, Usagi-chan," Ami smiled.

The girls continued eating, talking and laughing all the while.

"So," Usagi smiled coyly. "You all seemed kind of cozy with the Generals this morning…"

All of the girls except for Rei blushed.

"Well, I guess they're attractive," Makoto offered.

Minako giggled. "Kunzite is a little more than attractive. I just feel immediately drawn to his leadership and the way he assumes his authority."

"That just sounds pigheaded," Rei snorted. "I may be attracted to Jadeite, but I can't say that I completely trust them. I know you trust them, Usagi, but it's going to take a little more time for me."

Ami nodded. "Yes, it's the same for me. Though it's difficult to find someone of the same mental caliber as myself and Zoicite must be pretty smart if he was able to tutor you," she said, laughing at Usagi.

Usagi stuck her tongue out at Ami, causing the rest of the girls to erupt into laughter.

"But I don't see why we shouldn't trust them," Makoto giggled. "We could definitely kick their asses if they seem threatening."

"Well, we're so glad you think so highly of us."

The girls looked up to see the Generals and Mamoru standing behind them.

Makoto blushed, looking away from Nephrite, who had spoken.

"Hello, girls," Jadeite slyly sidled next to Rei. Rei upturned her nose, looking away from him. However, Jadeite was not phased.

"Don't worry, my little fire pixie—I heard what you said earlier, about being attracted to someone," he whispered in her ear. Rei blushed, her violet eyes wide with surprise.

"We actually came for a reason," Kunzite pointedly glared at Jadeite.

"Oh, really? And what could that be?" Minako smirked.

"There's going to be a festival at our University," Zoicite informed us, adjusting his glasses on his straight nose. "And we are formally inviting you." He pointedly glanced at Ami before looking away.

"What makes you think we wanna come?" Makoto smirked.

"Why wouldn't you?" Nephrite questioned, grinning back.

Makoto only looked away, biting on her lip with a smile.

"Well, we'll all see how are schedules work out," Usagi smiled.

"I—we hope you can come," Mamoru smiled. Usagi smiled at him, a light blush on her cheeks.

The bell tolled, signaling the end of lunch. Each of the girls seemed dismayed in one way or another at having to part with the Generals and Mamoru; but then again, this applied to the men, as well.

They dispersed, one group heading towards the high school while the other headed back towards the university.

The rest of the day passed by quickly, but Usagi was still exhausted. She said goodbye to the Senshi, hoping to get to Chibiusa's elementary school before she was let out. For some reason, Usagi felt like spending more and more time with the pink-haired girl. It seemed that their original annoyance for each other had morphed into a friendship, with an almost mother-daughter nature to it.

Usagi hurried to put on her shoes, dashing out the door. Unfortunately, Usagi had to come to an abrupt halt. Outside, waiting for her, were two of her classmates. They smiled at her, standing up to meet her. Usagi felt uncomfortable under their stares.

"Hello, Usagi-chan," one of them said. Usagi smiled at him awkwardly.

"Hi…is there something you two needed?" She asked politely.

The two boys smiled at each other. "Well, we wanted to know if you were free this weekend."

"Ah…well, um…you see—" Usagi rambled, searching for an excuse.

"Come on, just for a day! We'll have some fun…" the other boy insinuated. Usagi tensed, feeling threatened by the way they both stepped closer to her.

Coincidentally, Mamoru happened to be heading towards the high school, hoping to walk Usagi home. He stopped in his tracks, shocked to see Usagi talking with two guys. Jealousy flared inside of him as he stalked towards them. He went up to them, pushing in between the two boys and grabbing Usagi's wrist.

"H-hey!" One of the boys stuttered, surprised by the man's sudden appearance.

"Mamoru!" Usagi exclaimed. "What are you doing?"

Mamoru's grip on her wrist only tightened as he pulled her out of the main gate.

Usagi could tell he was upset, so she wisely waited until they were a few blocks away from the school and Mamoru had calmed down some. Usagi gently pulled him to a stop, pulling her wrist from his hard grip. She cradled her wrist, sore but not bruised.

"Mamoru," she quietly whispered.

He looked to her, anger and jealousy behind his eyes.

SLAP! Mamoru cupped his cheek for the second time, surprised that Usagi had hit him.

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?" He yelled.

Usagi glared at him. "Why did you drag me away? What is your problem?" She yelled in return.

"Why were you with other guys?" He countered.

"They ambushed me! I was on my way to pick up Chibiusa and then they started talking to me. And what's it you, anyway?" Usagi explained, crossing her arms in defiance.

"You shouldn't be around other guys!" Mamoru exclaimed, exasperated.

"Last time I checked, you had no right over me! Remember our deal? You are going to have to earn my love back, Mamoru Chiba!" Usagi chastised. "Besides—"

Mamoru cut her off, pushing her up against an alley wall. Usagi froze in midsentence. Mamoru pinned her wrists on either side of her head, pressing up against her. Usagi felt her entire body heat up when Mamoru placed a soft kiss on her neck.

"What are you—" Usagi whispered.

"I'm sorry. I just…I know that I don't have the right to claim you yet, but I can't help feeling angry at the thought of you with other guys," Mamoru breathed against her neck. "I guess I'm just…"

"Jealous," Usagi answered for him. Mamoru's eyes flicked up to meet hers, his head frozen at her neck. The electricity began whirring in the air around them, thick against their skin, pushing them closer together. Mamoru's lips met with Usagi's, gently and ever so slowly. Usagi let him kiss her, cupping the cheek that she had slapped. She understood why he was upset—in fact, she was flattered that he felt this way. She also admired the courage he had to be able to admit that he was jealous. Usagi knew not many guys would do such a thing.

Mamoru pulled away slowly, placing soft kisses on her lips repeatedly. Usagi kissed him back before pulling away and cuddling into his broad chest. Mamoru wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him.

Usagi took a deep breath, inhaling his masculine scent. She wordlessly stepped out of his embrace and took his hand, leading the way towards Chibiusa's elementary school. Neither of them talked, both still pondering over the intimate scene they had just experienced.

When they reached the elementary school, Chibiusa had run towards them, an excited expression on her face. She walked in between Usagi and Mamoru, holding their hands. Mamoru walked them home, only staring into Usagi's eyes when it was time to say goodbye. She smiled before closing the door and leaning up against it. But she didn't know that he was doing the same thing on the other side.

Sorry for the long delay! Finals are coming up and my teachers have decided to swamp us with loads of work. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter and will review!

Love,

Pegasus'Horn