Summary: After a "short" encounter with Mamoru, Usagi finds herself
blushing, fantasizing about lips, and discovers she has an attraction to
the baka. She comes to the conclusion that she must have gone mad if this
was to ever happen and thinks she has the solution to solve all of her
problems. What she doesn't know is that there are mysterious forces at work
that decided to have a little fun. And poor Usagi and Mamoru are stuck in
the middle of it.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. Never have and never will. *Sniff* Omg, that is so depressing! Quick!!! Someone get me a tissue! I think I'm going to cry! ;_;
' ' ---This indicates the character's thoughts.
AN --- Stands for Author's Notes.
P.S. Please go easy on me, this is my first fic. Don't flame me, that's all I ask. ^_^ But criticism is welcomed!!!
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 1: Mongooses and Cobras. Oh My!!!
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"I can't believe I over slept again!"
It wasn't the first time Usagi has been late to school, or in this case, a Senshi meeting. "Oh, I know for sure that Rei isn't going to stop herself from frying me into a burnt crisp odango this time!" She exclaimed frantically.
Usagi zigzagged her way through the crowded sidewalk; every now and then dodging anyone whom came in her way.
Seeing her running around like a madwoman-the pedestrians were smart enough to stay in one spot to prevent the maniac from crashing into them and waited for her to pass by. Of course, Luck can't always watch the girl every single minute. And Luck had turned his back the moment she turned a corner, running into a brick wall.
At least Usagi thought it was a brick wall.
Her arms instinctively shot up, in a desperate attempt to keep her balance. It didn't help when her feet weren't firmly planted on the floor. Feeling herself move backwards, her eyes snapped shut, fully prepared for the impact on the hard cement floor once her butt crashes down on to it.
It never came.
Strong arms snaked around her waist and held on to keep her from falling. Eyes still closed; Usagi blindly grabbed the person's shirt with her fists. When her breathing slowed to a normal pace, she began to open her eyes and found herself looking into two dark blue orbs. It was like gazing into a luminous ocean was her first thought. Though, truth be told, Usagi wouldn't have thought that if she had known who was holding her upright.
"Well if it isn't Odango Atama!" A familiar voice exclaimed.
'Oh nooooo,' Usagi groaned, 'anyone but him!'
"Do you think we're fated to be tortured by each other's presence?" he asked. With a wicked gleam in his eyes, that Usagi never knew he possessed, he added, "Because if we are. I would forever find this torture as sweet as Heaven itself."
'This couldn't be Mamoru-baka!' Usagi thought desperately. She was beginning to feel nervous around the new Mamoru. 'Maybe this is his evil twin?' she wondered. It was a huge possibility. The Mamoru she always bumps into is a cold fish, his heart as small as the Grinch's (okay maybe she was going a bit too far), the one who makes fun of her hair and her grades. The very one who drives her insane!
She didn't know how deep she was in her thoughts, until her back touched the brick wall. Usagi became aware of being pressed against Mamoru's length, the scent of roses and spice invaded her senses making her head spin. Her hands still clutched his shirt; it was too late for her to push him away. Even if it wasn't, Usagi didn't know if she would have wanted to let go of him.
Lifting her face up to meet his, she gasped.
Mamoru's eyes bored deep into her own. His expression was so intense with desire; it took her breath away. How many times has she longed for someone to look at her like that? To hold her-as if, she were the most precious being in the universe?
Too many, that's for sure.
Without warning, Mamoru's face closed the distance between them. Tentatively, his lips brushed against hers in a sweet caress, making her shiver in sheer delight. His hands moved away from her waist to land against the wall on each side of her head and pressed against her harder, giving their bodies a feeling of exquisite torture.
A moan escaped Usagi's lips, not being able to control what she was feeling. She let go of Mamoru's shirt, only to encircle her arms around his neck, lifting herself up against him.
Groaning, he captured her lips, nibbling her bottom lip and lightly grazing his teeth in the process. She moaned in disappointment when Mamoru suddenly lifted his face away from hers.
Puzzled, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Usagi!" he said.
She gave him a weird look. 'That doesn't sound like Mamoru,' she commented.
His tone became more demanding. "Usagi!" His hands grasped her shoulders and shook her. His face and everything else surrounding Usagi became hazy. Then faded away.
'What happened?!' Usagi cried out in panic.
"Usagi! Usagi!" The voice was so close. If she didn't know any better, she could have sworn someone was screaming in her ear.
'Luna?' she pondered.
It was then that she felt something soft on her face. Opening her eyes, she lifted her head to look down and saw that it was her pillow. Blinking rapidly to clear the sleep from her eyes, she looked to her left toward the source of the voice from before.
"Good, you're awake. I was starting to get worried." Her cat Luna explained.
Sitting up in her bed, Usagi asked, "About what Luna?"
"You obviously," she retorted, "I woke you up to save you the embarrassment, if ever Shingo or your mother came in here to catch you making out with your pillow."
Usagi's cheeks flamed in mortification. "Making out?" she said, practically choking on those two words.
"Yes," she purred. If possible for a cat, Usagi could almost see Luna lifting an eyebrow. "Care to explain? Hmmm?"
Giggling out of nervousness, Usagi swatted her hand at thin air. "Me? It's not what you think," she claimed. 'I have to think of a good fib quick! If I don't, my friends will find out and they'll never stop teasing me about it! Ever!'
Luna gave her a skeptical look. "Try me," she challenged.
"Uh-well-um-you see," Usagi stammered.
"I'm waiting," the feline said in a singsong voice.
"I dreamt that I was-that I was-swimming in a pool filled with hot fudged sundae! Yeah! It was such a yummy dream! Can't you just imagine Luna?" She said with fake enthusiasm. 'Phew, that was a close one!' she thought, feeling relief ease her nerves.
Luna's face turned crest-fallen. "A pool of hot fudged sundae?" she asked, wondering if she heard right. At Usagi's nod, she added, "Is that what you were moaning about?"
Her face blushing bright red, she nodded. "Of course. What else would I dream about, besides food?" she inquired.
"Oh, I don't know. Someone like Tuxedo Kamen or perhaps even-Mamoru?" Luna replied, playing dumb.
"Mamoru? That baka!?" she shouted, her cheeks turning into a deeper shade of crimson. "Why would I ever want to dream about that creep???!!!"
That question brought a lot of unwanted images of Mamoru's kiss and the many other feelings they shared in her dream, making her wonder how she could have felt so much, when it wasn't even real to begin with. Remembering the tenderness set loose a ton of butterflies in her stomach. She got angry with herself for even thinking about it.
Seeing that Luna was about to give her opinion. Usagi held up her hand. "I don't even want to hear about it Luna," she stated seriously. After she had gotten dressed she walked out of her room and slammed the door behind her, leaving Luna in the room by herself. 'What's gotten her panties in a twist?' she wondered.
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The Crown Arcade was as crowded as usual, especially on this warm, Saturday afternoon. As the automatic doors opened in invitation, Usagi took a quick, scrupulous look around the arcade, making sure that you-know-who wasn't there. She felt her muscles begin to relax when there wasn't any sign of him.
She was acting silly; she knew. But she couldn't help it. Ever since Usagi stepped foot out of her house, she impulsively ducked back in, only to come back out in the open wearing black sunglasses and her brother's Yankee baseball cap. It soothed her nerves thinking that if she did see "him" he wouldn't be able to recognize her. (AN: Yeah, uh huh, sure ::rolls eyes:: Odangos anyone?)
Usagi felt confident, until she came upon a spot that was exactly similar to where she had bumped into Mamoru. Well, in her dream, but still.
It was that huge reminder that made her press her back against the wall and take a swift peek around the corner. Just to make sure she won't end up bumping into him (which, unfortunately, happens a lot much to Usagi's dismay). She didn't want to face him. Not now. Perhaps not ever.
Stepping into the arcade, she immediately spotted Motoki wiping the counter with a cloth. Talking to him might help her to forget-if only for a little while.
She was willing to try.
Putting on a cheerful smile, Usagi skipped up to the counter. "Kon'nichi wa Motoki-san!" she chirped.
Startled, Motoki jumped. Then looked up to see that it was only Usagi. He grinned and wagged a playful finger at her. "Usagi-chan, don't you know that it isn't nice to sneak up on people?"
Her eyes widened innocently. "Really?" she said, in a child-like manner. Her lips formed a pout. "My mamma never told me."
Motoki shook his head and chuckled. He was about to retort when he noticed the hat and sunglasses Usagi was wearing for the first time. He gestured at the ensemble. "What's with the hat and sunglasses? You never bother to wear them," he said pointedly. He saw her stiffen, piquing his curiosity. 'What was she hiding from?' he speculated.
She shrugged. "It was too sunny, I wanted to shied my eyes," she replied smoothly. "Why else?"
"Just curious." Was all that he said, not bothering to interrogate her further when it was obvious she didn't want to talk about it. Motoki knew if Usagi wanted to talk-she would have confided in him by now. So, he changed the subject. "Do you want to order something?" he asked.
She bobbed her head up and down enthusiastically and plopped down on a stool in front of him. "Hai!" But inside she was sighing in relief, thankful that Motoki hadn't bothered to ask any more questions. "A chocolate shake, please."
"Okay! Coming right up!"
The moment Motoki's back was turned Usagi slipped off the cap and sunglasses and laid the items on the counter. She didn't waste time just sitting there and began her incessant chatter. She talked about anything- almost-to keep her mind off of her dream. It relieved her to no end to not think of it, even though she felt it in the back of her mind hovering like a ghost, just waiting for her to drop her guard. Even after Motoki set down her drink, she kept on talking while stirring the straw in her shake, which had yet to be touched.
"I'm impressed, Motoki! How do you stand it? If it were someone else, they would have been climbing up the walls in madness by now! I can't even last a minute without screaming for the Odango to shut up!"
Usagi's back became rigid. She didn't need to glance over her shoulder to see who it was that stood behind her. Her heart pumped a mile a minute. Why did she come to the Crown Arcade? This was the most likely place where she would have run into him. 'Baka, baka, baka!' Usagi berated herself for not thinking of it sooner.
'Why am I scared? This is only Mamoru-baka! I can handle it!' With that thought in mind, she turned her seat around and lifted her head, refusing to let him intimidate her. The moment her eyes met his, she felt her cheeks burn. 'Kami-sama, what is wrong with me?' Her brows furrowed, feeling her blood boil to a point where she might explode. She'd rather be angry, than to let Mamoru see the effect that he was having on her.
Mamoru was grinning from ear to ear. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her this angry. He thought Usagi definitely looked kawaii with her face flushed and nose scrunched up like that. Moving towards her, he stopped a few inches away from her face. "Well now, lookie here! Not only do you have the odangos but you have the sauce to go with it too!" He laughed at his own joke. Referring to her reddened face. (AN: Corny, I know. But this is Tuxedo Kamen. Corny is his middle name.)
Gritting her teeth, she jumped down from her stool, almost stepping on Mamoru's shoes by an inch. 'Too bad,' she thought disappointed. She was in the mood to work out her frustrations by tearing someone limb by limb. 'And Mamoru,' Usagi concluded, 'is the perfect candidate.'
"I'm not in the mood to put up with you now, baka! So why don't you go run into a pole or something?!" she screeched.
Putting a hand over his heart, he sighed. "I'm flattered! Truly I am!" Mamoru said mockingly. "But I'm afraid that I could never succeed in turning out to be the klutz you already are!"
Her eyes saw red. "YOU!!!" she bellowed. Usagi felt her whole body shake from repressed anger.
"Yes, me."
"YOU!!!"
"Very good, Odango Atama. I'm glad we're finally getting somewhere," he drawled, each word dripping with sarcasm.
In all her days, she never thought she could get this angry. It only takes Mamoru's big mouth to prove her wrong. Couldn't he find something else better to do, than to bug her??? 'Guess not,' she thought wryly. Ugh. She was getting a headache from all of this. It simply wasn't worth it. Strangling Mamoru was definitely out of the question. Clenching her teeth, she turned to Motoki.
During this whole spectacle, Motoki had never seen Usagi this mad! His body tensed getting ready for Usagi's upcoming explosion. But when she turned to him, her face relaxed and she smiled sweetly at him. He blinked in confusion. 'What the hell?' He certainly hadn't seen that one coming.
Motoki's bewildered expression mirrored Mamoru's own. He stared dumbly at Usagi as she sauntered back to her stool to drink her chocolate shake and give her undivided attention to Motoki. He felt a twinge of jealousy. 'What happened?' Mamoru wondered. A frown marred his handsome visage, as he searched for a reasonable explanation within his mind to give him a clue about Usagi's odd behavior. Not once has she ever backed down from their daily quarrels. 'So, why now?'
'Maybe she couldn't think of any comebacks?' Mamoru snorted mentally. 'That'll be the day.'
Mamoru snapped out of his thoughts and shrugged, deciding that he'll worry about it later. He strolled to one of the stools and sat down onto it. There was no need to tell Motoki what he wanted; it was always the same. Once Motoki set the cup of coffee in front of him, he picked it up to lightly blow the steam away. He was about to take a sip, when he had the distinct feeling of someone watching him. He slowly lifted his eyes from the black liquid to find a pair of crystalline blue eyes gazing at him with an intensity that made his temperature rise.
Realizing that she was caught staring, she turned back to her shake all the while turning scarlet. 'Get a grip Usagi!' she snapped at herself. She was tempted to lift her hands to her cheeks to cool them down.
When Usagi saw Mamoru lifting his cup and made an attempt to cool his coffee, her eyes were instantly drawn to his lips. She couldn't help it! Things she would have never thought of before began to pop into her head. She couldn't stop herself from wondering if his lips were as strong and smooth as they had felt in her previous dream and what other things he could do with those lips. 'Aaaarrrggggghhhh!!! I'm going insane! I'm getting all hot and bothered over Mamoru-baka!!! I need help! Serious help!!!'
Then as if by some miracle, Usagi got an idea. She finally knew who could help her with her dilemma! She congratulated herself for coming up with such a brilliant plan. She threw some cash on the counter for the shake, grabbed her things, and jumped down the stool from excitement.
Mamoru watched in keen interest from across the counter, as Usagi's face flit from one expression to the other. He wondered what was going on in that crazy head of hers. Does he really want to know? Would anyone want to know? 'Nah, too scary.' Then as fast as a speeding bullet, Usagi gathered her things and left.
Motoki leaned against the counter in front of Mamoru. "Do you know what's wrong with Usagi?" he asked, concerned about her behavior. "She's been acting kinda weird."
Mamoru raised a brow. "Since when isn't she weird?"
Motoki rolled his eyes. "I'm serious Mamoru."
"So am I," he replied and calmly took a sip of his coffee.
Motoki ignored Mamoru's statement. "She seems to be avoiding something. Whatever it is, it's getting to her."
Mamoru shrugged. "So, what do you want me to do?" He looked at his friend pointedly. "If you haven't noticed, Odango Atama and I aren't the best of pals. We're as close as a mongoose and a cobra could ever get."
Getting side-tracked for a moment, Motoki gave Mamoru a wicked grin.
Mamoru, who unfortunately caught the expression that crossed his best friend's face, was indeed scared. "Wh-why are you looking at me like that?" he stuttered.
Never the one to pass up the opportunity to tease his friend, he gave in. "A mongoose and a cobra, hmmm? I suppose Usagi's the mongoose and you're the cobra correct?"
Mamoru had no idea where this was heading, nodded his head wearily.
"I bet you just love that analogy. I've always considered that you bug Usagi only to get a reaction from her, but what you really want is to make her angry enough to pounce on the enemy," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Mamoru's jaw practically hit the counter's surface. What did he just say?! Was Motoki joking? Why would he think that he'd want the Odango Atama to jump him?!?!? Well, now that he thought of it, it did have a certain appeal to him. Usagi jumping onto him, forcing him to fall on his back while she straddled. 'Wait just a minute!!! What did I think of having the Odango doing to me???' He gulped. This was not good. He could feel himself start to panic.
"You've got to be kidding me Motoki!!! That is the silliest thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth!" His yell caused the whole arcade to frozen silence. He didn't give Motoki the chance to answer; he got up and walked out of the arcade in a huff.
Motoki surveyed the room, fully aware that he had an audience that witnessed the scene. He grinned at them; he imagined dollar signs prancing around his head. "So. who bets that my buddy wants to get jumped?"
A herd of people rushed towards him. All of them had money in their fists raised in the air. There were exclamations of: "Twenty says he's got it bad!" "Fifty says that he won't wait for her to jump him but he'll jump her!" And so on.
Motoki rubbed his hands together. Oh, yeah. This was definitely getting good.
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Meanwhile Usagi was skipping happily towards her house. Feeling that she had nothing to worry about, now that she had all of her problems solved. Yep, no more dreams of Mamoru, or thoughts of his lips on her, and NO more BLUSHING.
She opened the gate to her house, skipped up to the front door and slipped inside. "Mom where are you?" she bellowed.
"In here Usagi!" Ikuko informed her daughter. Usagi took off her shoes and went to the kitchen where her mother was baking chocolate chip cookies. 'Mmmmm.' Usagi almost drooled in anticipation but shook herself out of it. 'First things first,' she thought trying to concentrate on the reason why she has come to her mother.
"Mom?"
After placing another set of cookies in the bottom oven, Ikuko turned her full attention to her. "Yes? What is it?"
Usagi took a deep breath. "Mom I was wondering if..."
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Outside the Tsukino's home, the atmosphere was peaceful and lovely. The birds were chirping while they soared through the air, squirrels ran up the trees carrying acorns in their mouths. But all of Mother Nature's creatures froze with fear when they heard a roar coming from the Tsukino home, making the house and the ground shake from the force of it.
"WWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT???????????!!!!!!!"
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"Uh, Mom?" Usagi asked hesitantly. She was afraid that if she said anymore her mother would yell like she had a second ago.
Ikuko stared at her daughter in absolute shock. Her mouth opened and closed and opened again like a gaping fish, but no sound would come out. Her eyes were clear for a moment then glazed over and soon afterward rolled to the back of her head, promptly fainting on the ground.
"That went well," Usagi muttered sarcastically. She sat on the floor Indian style and waited for her mother to wake up.
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Love it? Hate it? Please, tell me what you think of it. Criticism is welcomed but no flames. I repeat: No Flames!!!!!!! Thank you. ^_^
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon. Never have and never will. *Sniff* Omg, that is so depressing! Quick!!! Someone get me a tissue! I think I'm going to cry! ;_;
' ' ---This indicates the character's thoughts.
AN --- Stands for Author's Notes.
P.S. Please go easy on me, this is my first fic. Don't flame me, that's all I ask. ^_^ But criticism is welcomed!!!
Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!
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Chapter 1: Mongooses and Cobras. Oh My!!!
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"I can't believe I over slept again!"
It wasn't the first time Usagi has been late to school, or in this case, a Senshi meeting. "Oh, I know for sure that Rei isn't going to stop herself from frying me into a burnt crisp odango this time!" She exclaimed frantically.
Usagi zigzagged her way through the crowded sidewalk; every now and then dodging anyone whom came in her way.
Seeing her running around like a madwoman-the pedestrians were smart enough to stay in one spot to prevent the maniac from crashing into them and waited for her to pass by. Of course, Luck can't always watch the girl every single minute. And Luck had turned his back the moment she turned a corner, running into a brick wall.
At least Usagi thought it was a brick wall.
Her arms instinctively shot up, in a desperate attempt to keep her balance. It didn't help when her feet weren't firmly planted on the floor. Feeling herself move backwards, her eyes snapped shut, fully prepared for the impact on the hard cement floor once her butt crashes down on to it.
It never came.
Strong arms snaked around her waist and held on to keep her from falling. Eyes still closed; Usagi blindly grabbed the person's shirt with her fists. When her breathing slowed to a normal pace, she began to open her eyes and found herself looking into two dark blue orbs. It was like gazing into a luminous ocean was her first thought. Though, truth be told, Usagi wouldn't have thought that if she had known who was holding her upright.
"Well if it isn't Odango Atama!" A familiar voice exclaimed.
'Oh nooooo,' Usagi groaned, 'anyone but him!'
"Do you think we're fated to be tortured by each other's presence?" he asked. With a wicked gleam in his eyes, that Usagi never knew he possessed, he added, "Because if we are. I would forever find this torture as sweet as Heaven itself."
'This couldn't be Mamoru-baka!' Usagi thought desperately. She was beginning to feel nervous around the new Mamoru. 'Maybe this is his evil twin?' she wondered. It was a huge possibility. The Mamoru she always bumps into is a cold fish, his heart as small as the Grinch's (okay maybe she was going a bit too far), the one who makes fun of her hair and her grades. The very one who drives her insane!
She didn't know how deep she was in her thoughts, until her back touched the brick wall. Usagi became aware of being pressed against Mamoru's length, the scent of roses and spice invaded her senses making her head spin. Her hands still clutched his shirt; it was too late for her to push him away. Even if it wasn't, Usagi didn't know if she would have wanted to let go of him.
Lifting her face up to meet his, she gasped.
Mamoru's eyes bored deep into her own. His expression was so intense with desire; it took her breath away. How many times has she longed for someone to look at her like that? To hold her-as if, she were the most precious being in the universe?
Too many, that's for sure.
Without warning, Mamoru's face closed the distance between them. Tentatively, his lips brushed against hers in a sweet caress, making her shiver in sheer delight. His hands moved away from her waist to land against the wall on each side of her head and pressed against her harder, giving their bodies a feeling of exquisite torture.
A moan escaped Usagi's lips, not being able to control what she was feeling. She let go of Mamoru's shirt, only to encircle her arms around his neck, lifting herself up against him.
Groaning, he captured her lips, nibbling her bottom lip and lightly grazing his teeth in the process. She moaned in disappointment when Mamoru suddenly lifted his face away from hers.
Puzzled, she asked, "What's wrong?"
"Usagi!" he said.
She gave him a weird look. 'That doesn't sound like Mamoru,' she commented.
His tone became more demanding. "Usagi!" His hands grasped her shoulders and shook her. His face and everything else surrounding Usagi became hazy. Then faded away.
'What happened?!' Usagi cried out in panic.
"Usagi! Usagi!" The voice was so close. If she didn't know any better, she could have sworn someone was screaming in her ear.
'Luna?' she pondered.
It was then that she felt something soft on her face. Opening her eyes, she lifted her head to look down and saw that it was her pillow. Blinking rapidly to clear the sleep from her eyes, she looked to her left toward the source of the voice from before.
"Good, you're awake. I was starting to get worried." Her cat Luna explained.
Sitting up in her bed, Usagi asked, "About what Luna?"
"You obviously," she retorted, "I woke you up to save you the embarrassment, if ever Shingo or your mother came in here to catch you making out with your pillow."
Usagi's cheeks flamed in mortification. "Making out?" she said, practically choking on those two words.
"Yes," she purred. If possible for a cat, Usagi could almost see Luna lifting an eyebrow. "Care to explain? Hmmm?"
Giggling out of nervousness, Usagi swatted her hand at thin air. "Me? It's not what you think," she claimed. 'I have to think of a good fib quick! If I don't, my friends will find out and they'll never stop teasing me about it! Ever!'
Luna gave her a skeptical look. "Try me," she challenged.
"Uh-well-um-you see," Usagi stammered.
"I'm waiting," the feline said in a singsong voice.
"I dreamt that I was-that I was-swimming in a pool filled with hot fudged sundae! Yeah! It was such a yummy dream! Can't you just imagine Luna?" She said with fake enthusiasm. 'Phew, that was a close one!' she thought, feeling relief ease her nerves.
Luna's face turned crest-fallen. "A pool of hot fudged sundae?" she asked, wondering if she heard right. At Usagi's nod, she added, "Is that what you were moaning about?"
Her face blushing bright red, she nodded. "Of course. What else would I dream about, besides food?" she inquired.
"Oh, I don't know. Someone like Tuxedo Kamen or perhaps even-Mamoru?" Luna replied, playing dumb.
"Mamoru? That baka!?" she shouted, her cheeks turning into a deeper shade of crimson. "Why would I ever want to dream about that creep???!!!"
That question brought a lot of unwanted images of Mamoru's kiss and the many other feelings they shared in her dream, making her wonder how she could have felt so much, when it wasn't even real to begin with. Remembering the tenderness set loose a ton of butterflies in her stomach. She got angry with herself for even thinking about it.
Seeing that Luna was about to give her opinion. Usagi held up her hand. "I don't even want to hear about it Luna," she stated seriously. After she had gotten dressed she walked out of her room and slammed the door behind her, leaving Luna in the room by herself. 'What's gotten her panties in a twist?' she wondered.
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The Crown Arcade was as crowded as usual, especially on this warm, Saturday afternoon. As the automatic doors opened in invitation, Usagi took a quick, scrupulous look around the arcade, making sure that you-know-who wasn't there. She felt her muscles begin to relax when there wasn't any sign of him.
She was acting silly; she knew. But she couldn't help it. Ever since Usagi stepped foot out of her house, she impulsively ducked back in, only to come back out in the open wearing black sunglasses and her brother's Yankee baseball cap. It soothed her nerves thinking that if she did see "him" he wouldn't be able to recognize her. (AN: Yeah, uh huh, sure ::rolls eyes:: Odangos anyone?)
Usagi felt confident, until she came upon a spot that was exactly similar to where she had bumped into Mamoru. Well, in her dream, but still.
It was that huge reminder that made her press her back against the wall and take a swift peek around the corner. Just to make sure she won't end up bumping into him (which, unfortunately, happens a lot much to Usagi's dismay). She didn't want to face him. Not now. Perhaps not ever.
Stepping into the arcade, she immediately spotted Motoki wiping the counter with a cloth. Talking to him might help her to forget-if only for a little while.
She was willing to try.
Putting on a cheerful smile, Usagi skipped up to the counter. "Kon'nichi wa Motoki-san!" she chirped.
Startled, Motoki jumped. Then looked up to see that it was only Usagi. He grinned and wagged a playful finger at her. "Usagi-chan, don't you know that it isn't nice to sneak up on people?"
Her eyes widened innocently. "Really?" she said, in a child-like manner. Her lips formed a pout. "My mamma never told me."
Motoki shook his head and chuckled. He was about to retort when he noticed the hat and sunglasses Usagi was wearing for the first time. He gestured at the ensemble. "What's with the hat and sunglasses? You never bother to wear them," he said pointedly. He saw her stiffen, piquing his curiosity. 'What was she hiding from?' he speculated.
She shrugged. "It was too sunny, I wanted to shied my eyes," she replied smoothly. "Why else?"
"Just curious." Was all that he said, not bothering to interrogate her further when it was obvious she didn't want to talk about it. Motoki knew if Usagi wanted to talk-she would have confided in him by now. So, he changed the subject. "Do you want to order something?" he asked.
She bobbed her head up and down enthusiastically and plopped down on a stool in front of him. "Hai!" But inside she was sighing in relief, thankful that Motoki hadn't bothered to ask any more questions. "A chocolate shake, please."
"Okay! Coming right up!"
The moment Motoki's back was turned Usagi slipped off the cap and sunglasses and laid the items on the counter. She didn't waste time just sitting there and began her incessant chatter. She talked about anything- almost-to keep her mind off of her dream. It relieved her to no end to not think of it, even though she felt it in the back of her mind hovering like a ghost, just waiting for her to drop her guard. Even after Motoki set down her drink, she kept on talking while stirring the straw in her shake, which had yet to be touched.
"I'm impressed, Motoki! How do you stand it? If it were someone else, they would have been climbing up the walls in madness by now! I can't even last a minute without screaming for the Odango to shut up!"
Usagi's back became rigid. She didn't need to glance over her shoulder to see who it was that stood behind her. Her heart pumped a mile a minute. Why did she come to the Crown Arcade? This was the most likely place where she would have run into him. 'Baka, baka, baka!' Usagi berated herself for not thinking of it sooner.
'Why am I scared? This is only Mamoru-baka! I can handle it!' With that thought in mind, she turned her seat around and lifted her head, refusing to let him intimidate her. The moment her eyes met his, she felt her cheeks burn. 'Kami-sama, what is wrong with me?' Her brows furrowed, feeling her blood boil to a point where she might explode. She'd rather be angry, than to let Mamoru see the effect that he was having on her.
Mamoru was grinning from ear to ear. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her this angry. He thought Usagi definitely looked kawaii with her face flushed and nose scrunched up like that. Moving towards her, he stopped a few inches away from her face. "Well now, lookie here! Not only do you have the odangos but you have the sauce to go with it too!" He laughed at his own joke. Referring to her reddened face. (AN: Corny, I know. But this is Tuxedo Kamen. Corny is his middle name.)
Gritting her teeth, she jumped down from her stool, almost stepping on Mamoru's shoes by an inch. 'Too bad,' she thought disappointed. She was in the mood to work out her frustrations by tearing someone limb by limb. 'And Mamoru,' Usagi concluded, 'is the perfect candidate.'
"I'm not in the mood to put up with you now, baka! So why don't you go run into a pole or something?!" she screeched.
Putting a hand over his heart, he sighed. "I'm flattered! Truly I am!" Mamoru said mockingly. "But I'm afraid that I could never succeed in turning out to be the klutz you already are!"
Her eyes saw red. "YOU!!!" she bellowed. Usagi felt her whole body shake from repressed anger.
"Yes, me."
"YOU!!!"
"Very good, Odango Atama. I'm glad we're finally getting somewhere," he drawled, each word dripping with sarcasm.
In all her days, she never thought she could get this angry. It only takes Mamoru's big mouth to prove her wrong. Couldn't he find something else better to do, than to bug her??? 'Guess not,' she thought wryly. Ugh. She was getting a headache from all of this. It simply wasn't worth it. Strangling Mamoru was definitely out of the question. Clenching her teeth, she turned to Motoki.
During this whole spectacle, Motoki had never seen Usagi this mad! His body tensed getting ready for Usagi's upcoming explosion. But when she turned to him, her face relaxed and she smiled sweetly at him. He blinked in confusion. 'What the hell?' He certainly hadn't seen that one coming.
Motoki's bewildered expression mirrored Mamoru's own. He stared dumbly at Usagi as she sauntered back to her stool to drink her chocolate shake and give her undivided attention to Motoki. He felt a twinge of jealousy. 'What happened?' Mamoru wondered. A frown marred his handsome visage, as he searched for a reasonable explanation within his mind to give him a clue about Usagi's odd behavior. Not once has she ever backed down from their daily quarrels. 'So, why now?'
'Maybe she couldn't think of any comebacks?' Mamoru snorted mentally. 'That'll be the day.'
Mamoru snapped out of his thoughts and shrugged, deciding that he'll worry about it later. He strolled to one of the stools and sat down onto it. There was no need to tell Motoki what he wanted; it was always the same. Once Motoki set the cup of coffee in front of him, he picked it up to lightly blow the steam away. He was about to take a sip, when he had the distinct feeling of someone watching him. He slowly lifted his eyes from the black liquid to find a pair of crystalline blue eyes gazing at him with an intensity that made his temperature rise.
Realizing that she was caught staring, she turned back to her shake all the while turning scarlet. 'Get a grip Usagi!' she snapped at herself. She was tempted to lift her hands to her cheeks to cool them down.
When Usagi saw Mamoru lifting his cup and made an attempt to cool his coffee, her eyes were instantly drawn to his lips. She couldn't help it! Things she would have never thought of before began to pop into her head. She couldn't stop herself from wondering if his lips were as strong and smooth as they had felt in her previous dream and what other things he could do with those lips. 'Aaaarrrggggghhhh!!! I'm going insane! I'm getting all hot and bothered over Mamoru-baka!!! I need help! Serious help!!!'
Then as if by some miracle, Usagi got an idea. She finally knew who could help her with her dilemma! She congratulated herself for coming up with such a brilliant plan. She threw some cash on the counter for the shake, grabbed her things, and jumped down the stool from excitement.
Mamoru watched in keen interest from across the counter, as Usagi's face flit from one expression to the other. He wondered what was going on in that crazy head of hers. Does he really want to know? Would anyone want to know? 'Nah, too scary.' Then as fast as a speeding bullet, Usagi gathered her things and left.
Motoki leaned against the counter in front of Mamoru. "Do you know what's wrong with Usagi?" he asked, concerned about her behavior. "She's been acting kinda weird."
Mamoru raised a brow. "Since when isn't she weird?"
Motoki rolled his eyes. "I'm serious Mamoru."
"So am I," he replied and calmly took a sip of his coffee.
Motoki ignored Mamoru's statement. "She seems to be avoiding something. Whatever it is, it's getting to her."
Mamoru shrugged. "So, what do you want me to do?" He looked at his friend pointedly. "If you haven't noticed, Odango Atama and I aren't the best of pals. We're as close as a mongoose and a cobra could ever get."
Getting side-tracked for a moment, Motoki gave Mamoru a wicked grin.
Mamoru, who unfortunately caught the expression that crossed his best friend's face, was indeed scared. "Wh-why are you looking at me like that?" he stuttered.
Never the one to pass up the opportunity to tease his friend, he gave in. "A mongoose and a cobra, hmmm? I suppose Usagi's the mongoose and you're the cobra correct?"
Mamoru had no idea where this was heading, nodded his head wearily.
"I bet you just love that analogy. I've always considered that you bug Usagi only to get a reaction from her, but what you really want is to make her angry enough to pounce on the enemy," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.
Mamoru's jaw practically hit the counter's surface. What did he just say?! Was Motoki joking? Why would he think that he'd want the Odango Atama to jump him?!?!? Well, now that he thought of it, it did have a certain appeal to him. Usagi jumping onto him, forcing him to fall on his back while she straddled. 'Wait just a minute!!! What did I think of having the Odango doing to me???' He gulped. This was not good. He could feel himself start to panic.
"You've got to be kidding me Motoki!!! That is the silliest thing I've ever heard come out of your mouth!" His yell caused the whole arcade to frozen silence. He didn't give Motoki the chance to answer; he got up and walked out of the arcade in a huff.
Motoki surveyed the room, fully aware that he had an audience that witnessed the scene. He grinned at them; he imagined dollar signs prancing around his head. "So. who bets that my buddy wants to get jumped?"
A herd of people rushed towards him. All of them had money in their fists raised in the air. There were exclamations of: "Twenty says he's got it bad!" "Fifty says that he won't wait for her to jump him but he'll jump her!" And so on.
Motoki rubbed his hands together. Oh, yeah. This was definitely getting good.
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Meanwhile Usagi was skipping happily towards her house. Feeling that she had nothing to worry about, now that she had all of her problems solved. Yep, no more dreams of Mamoru, or thoughts of his lips on her, and NO more BLUSHING.
She opened the gate to her house, skipped up to the front door and slipped inside. "Mom where are you?" she bellowed.
"In here Usagi!" Ikuko informed her daughter. Usagi took off her shoes and went to the kitchen where her mother was baking chocolate chip cookies. 'Mmmmm.' Usagi almost drooled in anticipation but shook herself out of it. 'First things first,' she thought trying to concentrate on the reason why she has come to her mother.
"Mom?"
After placing another set of cookies in the bottom oven, Ikuko turned her full attention to her. "Yes? What is it?"
Usagi took a deep breath. "Mom I was wondering if..."
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Outside the Tsukino's home, the atmosphere was peaceful and lovely. The birds were chirping while they soared through the air, squirrels ran up the trees carrying acorns in their mouths. But all of Mother Nature's creatures froze with fear when they heard a roar coming from the Tsukino home, making the house and the ground shake from the force of it.
"WWWHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTT???????????!!!!!!!"
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"Uh, Mom?" Usagi asked hesitantly. She was afraid that if she said anymore her mother would yell like she had a second ago.
Ikuko stared at her daughter in absolute shock. Her mouth opened and closed and opened again like a gaping fish, but no sound would come out. Her eyes were clear for a moment then glazed over and soon afterward rolled to the back of her head, promptly fainting on the ground.
"That went well," Usagi muttered sarcastically. She sat on the floor Indian style and waited for her mother to wake up.
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Love it? Hate it? Please, tell me what you think of it. Criticism is welcomed but no flames. I repeat: No Flames!!!!!!! Thank you. ^_^