Hi everyone,

Merry Christmas:) I hope you all had a wonderful time with the most important 3 Fs: Family, Friends and of course, Food:D:D

I know it took me a while to post the last chapter. To tell you the truth, I struggled with this chapter a lot! I think I pushed the story to the point that I didn't know what the best way to finish it was! By now, you probably know how my writing is. I try to have a balance between rational and emotional side of things. That's what I'm hoping to achieve anyway. So it was hard to know what a rational person would do in this kind of situation and what an emotional individual would try to do.

I had a great run with this story. I hope you did too. I enjoyed my time writing it and I enjoyed it more knowing that there were people out there who were waiting for new updates and looking for new chapters. I am truly and passionately honored by that.

I would like to do a curtsy for my amazing beta, the great BrownB, for her amazing work, her passionate and on point suggestions, her great knowledge (which she was kind enough to share) about the world of medicine, her encouragement whenever I had writer's block and I didn't know how to handle my wits. B, THANK YOU, you're an amazing person and I'm so glad I found you in the world of fans and fictions and Sailor Moon and our beloved Usagi and Mamoru.

A special thank you to Antigone2 and Floraone, even though I don't know you that much and you're probably like (what?), but your writings and your amazing imagination pushed me day after day to try and up my game. So thank you.

Another special thank you to TropicalRemix, Oloferne, Karinori, SerenitySweety, Gaurdians314, NikkiBC, Latebuttruefan, Jessielee14, IamCharlotte88, MissMango, SMS92, Tryntee13, Oreo596, Mamachele81 for your many many reviews. Each one of those reviews gave me the will and push I needed to write a new chapter, I really appreciate the time you spent to read my fanfic and leaving me a review.

A special shout out to all of my readers that followed me for the past 2 years for this story! WOW, I just realized I published the first chapter in 2016! Holy! And I thought it was going to be a 3-month thing! I think I'm going to have a panic attack right now! Holy S**T!

I won't go through reviews one by one on this last chapter. Because, seriously guys, I'm having difficulty breathing right now! 2 YEARS! How the hell did I not finish this earlier!

HAPPY EARLY 2019 Ya'll. I love you so much. I hope you have an amazing year.

Love unconditionally, eat like a toddler without a care in the world, dance like you're practicing in front of a mirror, smile like you have a secret to tell, and you know what, just live the way you deserve to live.

Life is short. I should know that since I'm literally having a heart attack as we speak!:D:D

Enjoy.

"I hate this…"

His lips were inches away from hers.

"Do you?"

Unconsciously, she moved a little closer…

"Yes..." her voice was breathless and her answer was shaky; she got closer nonetheless.

He moved his head further away and his eyes flicked up to hers. Unconsciously (she kept telling herself) she followed his moves.

"Liar…"

She felt the rumble of his voice through his chest, where it was pushed against her intimately.

The helpless moan she let out was unconscious, it was simply impossible to keep her heart from pounding and her voice buried within when his lips were brushing hers in a way that made her toes curl in her black Mary Janes.

"You keep lying to yourself Odango…" he bit her upper lip, gently, when she recoiled at the nickname, "and it's annoying…" he bit her lower lip, a little rougher, and thrust his tongue in her mouth when she gave him the opening and pushed her harder against the wall.

Usagi sat up on her bed with a sigh and pushed away her rabbit and moon comforter. She looked out her window, not able to see anything in the darkness of the dreary night.

She traced one crescent moon with a finger and thought about how it was probably inappropriate for a girl her age to have a bunny and moon comforter! It might have been the best choice when she was 12, all daydreams and wishes upon the moon and the stars, but…she'd had wild passionate sex on this same bed for crying out loud!

So maybe it wasn't that wild, with him trying to stifle the sounds she'd made on every turn! Or the way he tried to move so slowly, a little hesitant and a little too careful, "be gentle Odango…" he'd said, "don't break me!" when she'd tried to pull him closer. She could feel that obnoxious smirk in his tone and oh how she had wanted to slap it off his face!

She felt a tingle in her lower parts from the memory and could almost feel the burning on her cheeks.

She hated herself for being dismissive and cruel to him when they'd first met. Now, she would've done anything, anything, to turn back the clock, go back to that sunny afternoon and kiss the daylights out of him; instead of pushing him away, ignoring the tug in her chest when his arms had circled her waist and decided to run away from the feelings she knew she had, even back then!

She laid down and closed her eyes, prompting her mind to shut down and allow her the sleep she desperately needed.

It took her another hour to win the battle against her mind and the world of dreams following soon after.

The last thought that went through her head was that she'd tell him one day.

She would tell him how much she regretted the time they could've had together and they lost it to their poor judgments!

There is a point in life where one needs to take a deep breath, void their minds of negativities and try to focus on all the beauty and treasures life is offering!

That point in Ami Mizuno's life was right now, right this second, as she gazed up at her "client" and felt her pulse jump with frustration.

'He is a 'friend'…" she kept repeating in her head, "he's Usagi-chan's boyfriend…should not punch Usagi-chan's boyfriend…" she kept the mantra going in her mind while looking at Mamoru Chiba, hating the way he was avoiding eye contact with her.

"You must sign it," she said again, her exterior showed nothing but coolness and grace.

But Mamoru could easily see through her façade; he could see how irritated she was, and if it was any other place and time, like, if this was one of the tables at the arcade and he was wearing his regular clothes and she wasn't wearing that weird looking glasses that made her eyes twice their actual size and her over ironed, too grown up dark suite didn't look borrowed, he would give her his best annoy-them-to-death smirk!

He was smarter than that though and much, much more grateful than he led on.

This girl had taken a risk disguising herself in that hideous costume and he was going to keep his mouth shut and his lame-ass sneers to himself.

"Why the hell … why not?" she asked, the tension evident in her voice and her shoulders.

He sighed and folded his arms, "I just…can't, okay?" he didn't meet her eyes, "I can't just…throw him under the bus…"

Ami let out her 20th sigh, "he's the one suggesting it. It's the only way…" she paused, "well, maybe not the only way! But it's the easiest way, no hassle…none, to get the prosecutor to drop the charges against you," she paused again and he still didn't meet her eyes. She decided to use a different approach, "you won't be throwing him under the bus! It's not like he didn't know what he was doing! He's a police officer, his superiors knew what he was doing; the whole damn unit knew what he was doing…"

"Befriending us wasn't a part of the plan, I would assume…"

Ami rolled her eyes, "What? It was part of the plan. How else did you think he was going to make you…"

"No…" Mamoru's tone was suddenly so tired, "that's not what I mean…"

Ami stared at him with exasperation.

Mamoru was looking at his hands rested on the small rusty table between them, "I know it was the plan to befriend us…but I don't think it was the plan to actually become our friend…" his voice trailed off and suddenly, Ami understood what he was saying.

She looked away and tried to work her head around that little piece of information. It probably didn't help that the two of them moved with logic more than emotions, although Ami had the odd feeling that Mamoru had changed ever since meeting Usagi.

She knew she had!

"Before I met Usagi-chan, I didn't know what friendship meant," her voice was slow and a little timid, "I was always on my own, studying, playing chess…moving between this cram school and that!" her eyes went back to Mamoru, who was now watching her with a knowing look on his face.

"She befriended me, even though we didn't have anything in common! I mean, she was loud…laughed a lot and…she's just so happy all the time…"

A little wistful smile appeared on Mamoru's face and for a moment, Ami could see why Usagi had fallen in love with the so-called "bad boy" of the neighborhood that easily. He looked so young and innocent when he smiled; it made her want to protect him from everything and everyone; as silly as it sounded!

"I know the feeling…" he whispered and didn't say anything for a few seconds and ever the attentive companion, Ami could tell that he was internally struggling.

"Daiki obviously started hanging around me with an agenda…but, he was still the first person who made the effort to get to know me…planned or not…"

Mamoru couldn't understand why he was telling this girl parts of his life he'd never talked about before. She might have been best friends with the girl he loved, but she was still a stranger!

He figured it could've been the fact that there were some similarities between them, some characteristics and persona that was so hard to acquire, but easy to hold on to; shielding themselves in isolation that had left them alone was probably one of too many! And how weird that their paths had to cross through the same person who had the ability to change them.

"How's she?" the wistful look had settled back on his face and Ami thought about the same look she'd saw on Usagi's face a few hours before.

"She's okay…I mean, she's gloating over the fact that she found the documents and not Daiki-san…teasing him about it non-stop…" she mirrored the smirk that crept on Mamoru's lips, "she misses you though, so much, in fact…" she pushed her "sophisticated" glasses up and leaned forward; her voice dropped in volume, "that's why you have to sign this. She's worked so hard to find a way to bring you back home…Daiki-san has worked so hard to set you free, you owe them this much Chiba-san…Mamoru," she held eye contact with him.

"Okay…" Mamoru finally said and Ami sighed with relief, "I need you to do me a favor though…" he was looking over the paper Ami had brought and when he lifted his eyes towards her, the hard-core "lawyer" look was back on her face.

The chirping sound from the ginkgo tree outside the bedroom woke Hisa up. She'd gone to bed late and she hadn't been able to sleep for a long time. She'd just laid there, stared at nothing and her mind twirled with so many different things that she found herself wishing for a magical remote with an off button!

And it was super annoying that the focal point seemed to be Daiki the whole night, that damn bastard!

She hadn't seen or spoken to him since the night of the "discovery", what Usagi liked to call it!

He had called once, the day after they had all gone to the Tsukino residence, giving Usagi's mother a heart attack when she had opened the door, expecting her daughter and instead, was met with seven sets of eyes looking back at her with expectation.

They had intended to stay for a cup of tea, meet with Tsukino-san, provide him with information, ask for his aid and then leave!

The plan was a bust from the start!

Those five girls had turned into hyenas once they'd step foot in the small, suburban house.

"How was your day?" Tsukino-san had asked, her eyes looking at all of them with a weird kind of interest, as if she actually wanted to know about their day!
And so it began the longest and loudest five minutes of Hisa's life!

She watched as the girls started talking over one another, telling the woman what they had been up to. Each of them rehearsing the events that were important to them; even the little quiet blunette started talking about the book she was reading and had she mentioned astrology at some point?!

And strangely enough, it seemed that the woman could grasp and understand every little detail they were collectively sharing with her! She even managed to throw in comments to each girl!

Hisa looked over Daiki, who was speaking to Usagi's father and seemed unbothered by the episode.

"And how was your day dear?" Hisa had looked at the woman with raised eyebrows, not knowing whether the question was directed at her or not, "what did you say your name was?" Usagi's mother was so different than her daughter. She seemed so much more…rational!

Quiet, graceful and apparently, sane!

And her eyes…

Hisa didn't want to dwell on the look she'd witnessed in Ikuko Tsukino's eyes. She'd long accepted the fact that she didn't have any family, with a dead mother and an estranged father, and she wasn't going to see Usagi-annoying-Tsukino's mother as one.

"This is Hisa-chan Ikuko-mama, she's a friend's of…" Usagi's voice faltered for a second, "she's one of my friends…" Hisa stared at the petite blonde who raised her brows in defiance, challenging her to deny her statement. 'Challenge accepted…' Hisa thought, but before she could retaliate, a gentle hand landed on her shoulder, "what a beautiful name…" the taller women smiled at her confused eyes, "come now dear…" she looked at all of them, "come, everyone, help me set the dinner table."

It was a strange feeling, being amongst people she barely knew and really didn't like much!

But then…

There was Ikuko Tsukino's graceful figure that waltz around the small kitchen, giving comments on Makoto's chopping abilities (and if Hisa was being fair, she would second Ikuko's praising on the tall brunette's velocity)!

There was Kenji Tsukino's animated behavior, as he spoke to his children, the way his eyes lingered on Usagi whenever she laughed and what was with that shadow of a smile on his face whenever he looked at that annoying blonde?! The girl wasn't anything special, really!

But then…

There was also the couple's obvious interest in her! Asking her silly questions about her day, what school she went to, gushing over the fact that she went to such a "prestigious" high school, scolding Usagi on how she had so many "smart" friends and yet, she didn't put in the effort to study harder and be more like them!

She'd sat on that small table, fit for six, all scrunched up against Daiki and Rei and had listened to the chitter-chatter, not participating, never participating, just listening.

Daiki had tried to include her in the conversation, meeting her glare every time. Usagi had asked her questions, and she'd only answer them with a curt nod or a yes and no, just because Ikuko Tsukino was waiting for an answer.

She couldn't understand her eagerness to impress that woman! Why was it so important how she came across in front of her?

They'd share their findings with Kenji Tsukino after dinner, and suddenly, the guy who'd been scolded by his daughter before dinner and had laughed comically at what Daiki had said to him, was transformed to a man whose serious face had pushed Hisa to bow a little deeper at him at the end of the night.

He had looked over the documents one by one, listened to Daiki and Ami's theories carefully, smiled at Usagi and Minako's heroic/idiotic recollection of how they'd manage to sneak the documents out; Ikuko Tsukino's eyes were double their actual size when she listened to their tale, letting out an "oh my God" every now and then!

Daiki and Hisa had said their goodbyes then, with Daiki's deep bow at the Tsukino's and humble gratefulness, and her own bow which would've been more laid back if it weren't for that stupid voice inside her head that kept saying "make a good impression, make a good impression"!
Daiki had stayed quiet for most of the ride back to her house. He'd seemed deep in thought, and his aloofness had annoyed her to no end.

She'd mumbled a good night when they'd arrived, her cheek jumping at his absentminded reply.

She had fidgeted with the door handle, unconsciously waiting for something!

She couldn't remember what it was!

"Are you waiting for a good night kiss?"

She'd whipped her head in his direction, meeting the smart ass smile he had on. She ignored the glint in his eyes, as well as the weird twisting in her heart, and dashed out of the car.

Stupid bastard!

She picked herself up from the bed and took her time doing her morning chores in the bathroom.

It took her a while to make her way to the kitchen, and it was probably past ten and so, it was a total shock when she walked in and was presented with the image of her father, leisurely sipping on a tea and looking over some papers.

She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen her father on a Saturday morning at home!

"Finally, you're awake…" he said, doing a once over on her, "I was getting worried you'd passed out in sleep!"

She raised her brows, looking over the small mahogany clock on the wall and making sure that the clock read "10:09" rather than "13:30"!

"It's only 10, not everyone can get up at five!" She retorted, her tone immediately turning bitter.

He just pushed his lips together and went back to sipping his tea and reading the paper he had in his hand, "you came in quite late last night," he said without looking up, "where were you?"

She went about the kitchen, preparing herself a coffee and a plate of fruit, her usual breakfast, "I was out with friends…" she mumbled nonchalantly without turning around, otherwise, she would've seen the look he threw her way.

"What friends?"

She rolled her eyes, "friends you've never met…oh wait, you've never met any of my friends! So, yeah…"

He could sense the annoyance in her tone and felt that she was on the edge of losing her temper.

He remembered how she used to throw tantrums whenever they got into an argument. How upset and angry she would get with the tiniest criticism. He hadn't seen that side of her for a long time; granted, he hadn't seen her for a long time. He remembered the call he'd received that night saying that she was in the hospital. He remembered the twist in his gut and the sudden ache in his heart!

He had been so close in losing her!

"Can you be a grown-up for a moment and talk without sarcasm?"

She turned around slowly, stirring her coffee and not meeting his eyes, "well, this is how I talk. So, deal wi…"

He put his small teacup on the table, with more force that he intended to and looked up at her, "don't speak to me in that tone of a voice young lady," he started putting the papers together, "I'm your father, not one of your friends. You'll show me the respect that I…"

"Respect?" Her sudden outburst forced him to fall silent and he sat there in shock as Hisa's eyes burnt with anger and her shoulders hunched like a cat, ready to attack!

"You want respect? Why the hell would I show you any respect? You call yourself a "father"? What kind of a father doesn't even know how old his daughter is, what grade she's in, who she hangs out with…What she goes through every fucking day of her life…"

She saw the shock in his eyes and that expression alone broke something deep inside that she had tried to conceal for years.

"What? Did you think your "little girl" doesn't know any bad words? Does it hurt your fatherly ears?" her eyes followed him as he stood up and kept his eyes on her.

"Your mother would turn in her grave if…"

"DON'T TALK ABOUT HER…"

Her shriek and the sudden sound of glass breaking against the floor would've made anyone jump in their skin, but he seemed unaffected; he just kept on staring at her, "your eyes are like your dad's…so much… It's creepy!" Daiki had once told her, and she had slapped him hard upside the head!

She didn't see any similarities between herself and that man…she didn't want any similarities with him!

"Don't you dare talk about her…" she said again, "and you know what? She should turn in her grave. She left me alone…ALL ALONE, so I wish she keeps on turning in her grave…"

When he came at her in that speed she was sure a slap, or two, would follow; and even though he'd never lain a hand on her before, she figured there's always a first for everything.

She choked on her breath, not because she wasn't ready to be enveloped in such a tight embrace, but because she couldn't remember the last time he had held her like this!

Her arms fell limp on her sides.

"Your first word was 'crap'...did you know that?"

She hadn't come out of her shock of being hugged by him, and he just had to go and say something like that!

She didn't even shake her head.

"I had a bad day at work, I think! I was complaining to your mother, and over and over I said crap. Crap this, crap that…" his chin was rested on top of her head, and she could feel the movement of his jaw, "you were sitting there, playing with that scary looking doll you loved so much…do you remember?"

She remembered the doll. She took it with her everywhere for years.

"And then, when your mother picked you up you just looked at her and said, 'clap'! just like that!" he chuckled and loosened his hold on her shoulders.

She was unable to look away from his eyes as he gazed down at her with a pained expression, "I was never a good father. I was so crappy actually, that the very first word I taught you was 'crap'!" he brought his hand to her chin, "sometimes I wish you looked more like her…" he whispered and Hisa felt a tightening in her stomach, "maybe then I could stop chasing her, looking for her in my sleep and when I'm awake…always looking, never finding! Never believing that she's actually gone!" the pained expression lingered on his face and Hisa couldn't look away.

"Your mother didn't leave you alone by choice," Hisa felt the rush of tears at the back of her eyes and fought hard to keep them at bay!

"But I did…" he took a deep breath and cupped both of her cheeks, "I didn't know how to deal with my own pain, let alone the pain of a little girl who'd lost her mother. I still don't know how to deal with my own pain, but I'd be damned if I don't learn how to deal with yours."

It took her a moment to realize that her face was damp with her tears, silent tears and her vision had become blurry, "I can't take back the time I've lost, the time I should've spent with you. But if you let me, I'd like to be a part of your life again. I want to get to know you, I want you to get to know me; crappy or not…"

"You have your father's eyes…" the memory surged through her like liquid fire, leaving burns in its wake and suddenly, she figured it out!

Her heart had twisted at Daiki's comparison because it had reminded her of her mother, and how she used to say the same thing, with a fondness that Hisa could never understand.

And before she was once again cocooned in his warm embrace, she reminded herself to check that theory herself sometime soon!

After all, this was just the beginning of a long and overdue staring contest!

"HE SAID WHAT?" his shriek was so loud that it immediately turned heads at their direction.

Ami only sighed and pursed her lips together, but Minako gave him a cocky look; he had teased her about her high-pitched voice only a moment ago and now…

"He said what?" he cleared his throat and asked in a calmer manner, ignoring the blonde's obvious snort.

"He wants to make sure that Hisa-chan and your other friends will stay out of this mess," Ami explained once again, "and he said you'll have the power to see that through…" she looked at Minako who was still looking at Daiki with a smile and clearly waiting to say something, "you scream like a 10-year-old girl…" the blonde finally said with triumph.

Daiki simply rolled his eyes and ignored her again, "the idiot is blackmailing me when I'm trying to get him out? Well, you tell him…"

"I'm not going to tell him anything," Ami snapped, "you're going to do this, no questions asked!" she stared him down.

Daiki ran a hand through his hair, "of course I'm going to keep them out of this shit…"

"My client would like some proof on that, not from you of course, but from your superiors,"

Minako turned her eyes toward Ami as soon as the word "client" came out, "wow Ami-chan, you've really gone deep in the role play."

The other girl narrowed her eyes, "might I remind you, Minako-chan, of your own role play a few weeks ago?" a little smile appeared on Minako's face, "we feared you might end up in the guy's bed…" Ami mumbled, almost as if she was talking to herself.

"Oh well, it wouldn't have been the worst plot twist…I mean, he is super cute," she grinned and looked at her companions, "what?"

Daiki looked at her with shock but then looked back at Ami, "you can tell your 'client' that fine, I'll take care of it…" he stood up and left a few bills on the table, "where's Usagi-chan?"

"I think she went over to Mamoru-san's apartment…said something about cleaning…" Ami answered with a shrug.

"More like masturbating on his bed…" Minako said with a naughty look on her face.

Daiki couldn't keep from smiling at Ami's horrified expression.

It was a strange feeling, being in his apartment when he wasn't there; it seemed surreal and exciting at the same time!

The place had seemed colorless and simple the first time she'd been there, even though she hadn't been in the state to pay full attention to her surroundings. But since her own room and her own life was filled with colors, she would quickly notice the lack of it wherever she was.

But then, colorless or not, there was this quality to the apartment that sent a tingling feeling down her spine. It was just so, him!

The simplicity and the soberness of colors reminded her of his personality. He might have seemed like a complex guy, an unreadable guy, but he was simpler than anyone she knew. He didn't pretend to be someone else; even if his "self" was not immediately accepted by the society; he didn't need or want to be accepted by the society and just that fact, made her respect him that much more.

She walked in circles, looking around as if it was the first time she'd set foot in there.

She had received the key from the concierge, after minutes of endless stories and tales she'd fed him. He had confessed from the start that he remembered her; it was hard to forget a young girl walking through the doors super late at night and asking about a single man's apartment unit!

Usagi had turned five different shades of red and if it were a few months ago, she would have probably bolted right then and there.

But if she had learned one thing from Mamoru, it was to insist on what she wanted; and what she wanted was to go to Mamoru's apartment, bask in the feeling of being in his place of refuge and try to tidy it a bit!

"He'll be home soon," Ami had reassured her. And she wanted him to come to a clean, comfortable place.

She walked over to the kitchen and opened the fridge, making a point to do a little grocery shopping as well.

There was a thin layer of dust everywhere, but other than that, the place was in a good shape.

"You're a neat freak, aren't you?" she remembered asking him the night he had been released from the hospital, and the first thing he did when they got home, was loading the laundry, "not everyone can live in piles of used clothes Odango," he had smirked.

She entered the bedroom and went straight to his closet. His school uniform was hung a few inches away from the rest of his clothes. She felt a warm feeling blossoming in her heart. This was the same outfit he had on when they first met.

She could still remember the way he had dropped that dark navy blazer on the ground, one of the times in the alley behind the arcade; right before pulling her close and sealing her lips with a passionate kiss.

She traced the collar of his shirt with the pads of her fingers and brought it out from the closet.

Ten minutes later, her tiny figure was buried in his attire, minus the red tie; Mamoru never wore that thing anyways!

She looked at herself in the mirror. The shirt and the blazer hung loosely on her shoulders, the grey pants were so long that she had to roll it a few times so it would come up to her ankles.

She sat on the bed, clad in Mamoru's school uniform and all, and looked around the bedroom.

The room brought memories and memories brought feelings and emotions; granted, most of them were erotic memories; she had lost her virginity to him on this very bed after all!

She laid down and took a deep breath, willing her mind not to go down that road!

But she couldn't stop thinking about the feel of his fingers against her hips, the push of his chest against her own. The way his hand had pinned her to the mattress, so she wouldn't meddle with him feasting on her neck.

"Your teasing era has come to an end Odango," he had whispered against her ear that very first night and if it were any other situation, she would've laughed at his choice of words; but then, he'd ground against her, only once, and it was nearly her undoing, "remember all those times you've left me hanging," another subtle grind, "should I punish you now?" he'd pushed again, "should I Leave you panting like this?" another push and this time, with a little force. Usagi couldn't answer even if her life was on the line! It was too much and she didn't know how to focus. All she knew was that delicious feeling that Mamoru was gifting her with and she didn't want it to stop…any time soon! She'd probably made a movement, wiggling a little or grinding against him in return, she didn't know, but whatever it was, it made him growl deep in his throat and his teasing, occasional pushes turned urgent and persistent, "God, I can't even tease you right now. I want you so damn much," he'd hissed.

She felt a burning in her heart. She missed him so much.

She had tried to visit him again, but Daiki had declined her plea with a firmness she didn't know he possessed. She'd insisted, obviously, and he'd denied her with a firm "no" each time. But finally, it was what Mako-chan had said that made her give in, "Usa-chan, he knows you know that he's innocent. But still, I don't think he wants you to see him like that, in that place…" her green orbs had looked at Usagi with a deep understanding, "he is in a very vulnerable position right now," she'd smiled then in that unique Mako-chan style, a quirk that would make Usagi blush every time; how could a girl, let alone her best friend, make her blush that way? "be his knight in the shining armour; but do it in a way that wouldn't tear up his macho-ness!" she'd shrugged then with a wink, "you know how boys are! Think they'd suddenly lose their manhood when a girl helps them out!"

Maybe Mako-chan was right. Mamoru had seemed extremely happy when she had visited him if the way he had kissed her senseless and making an "incest" episode in front of the authorities was any consolation.

But then again, she remembered his eyes, the way they had averted away when she'd done an unconscious once over on him; even though she had done it in the pure need of looking at him! She remembered how he had tried to fasten her eyes on him and him alone as if he was afraid that she would look away, look around!

And even though she didn't believe Mamoru would mind having her as his "knight in the shining armor", she still didn't want to make him feel uneasy.

The shriek of the phone ring pulled Usagi out of her nap and she jumped up with her heart in her throat! She didn't expect any phone call; for one thing, she didn't live here, and second, the people who would call Mamoru knew he wasn't there and…

The phone went to answering machine after four rings, "Usagi-chan, are you there?" a man's voice resonated across the apartment and it took Usagi a few seconds to recognize Daiki's voice in her shocked state, "Ami-chan said you might be there to clean?!…"

Usagi was quickly taking off Mamoru's school uniform when she stopped and rolled her eyes at her own stupidity! Daiki couldn't see her!

"But Minako-chan said that you're probably ditching cleaning and masturbating instead…"

Usagi's hand froze above the phone and she felt all color drain from her head, "I sure hope you're there. Otherwise, this is gonna be one hell of a voicemail for Mamoru," was that laughter she detected in his stupid voice? "…well, are you?" she could feel the smirk in his tone and could almost imagine the glint in his eyes and just that image, made her blood boil with embarrassment and anger.

"HELLO?" she yelled over the phone.

"Usagi-chan, why are you panting? Were you…"

"SHUT UP…"

"Oh, someone sounds frustrated! Did I interrupt your little "adventure"?"

He laughed at the sound of her horrified gasp and for a moment, he was reminded of the petite, uncomfortable girl he'd met so many months ago. He remembered how her face would turn into a tiny tomato at his sly comments whenever they crossed paths. Even then he knew Mamoru had a serious crush on the blonde, and if he was being honest, most of the comments he'd made, he made to annoy the hell out of that boy!

"I WAS NOT MAS…I WAS JUST…SHUT UP…" she whined. He laughed even harder. God bless Mamoru for falling in love with this adorable slim of a girl; she sure made it easy to tease her!

"What do you want baka?" she barked and he laughed again, "I just wanted to tell you that your dad is a genius…" Usagi was confused. She loved Kenji-papa to death, but to have someone call him a "genius" was a little extreme!

"He dug up some good stuff on the Tanakas; I mean, we knew about that side of their business, but your dad found some solid evidence and I think we got them…"

It took Usagi a moment to understand what he was saying, "So you're saying…

"If everything goes the way I think it would, lover-boy will be home soon…sooner than you think," he smiled when he heard the hitch in her throat, waiting for the shrill he knew was coming.

He pulled the phone away from his ear and laughed at her joyful scream. He knew he probably had lost her the moment he had made that statement, but there were just a few things he needed to talk to her about, "Usagi-chan listen…" he really didn't know if she still had the phone against her ear or she'd left it abandoned somewhere to jump around in happiness, "I will be away for a while. And I need you to do me a favor. Hello?" he rolled his eyes and cursed himself for letting out the news before telling her what he needed her to do, "Usagi-chan, are you listening to me?"

"…and you said those documents didn't worth shit…" Usagi's voice got closer to the phone and he rolled his eyes once more, "I never said "shit", I said they're not worth a dime…"

"That's what Ami-chan said, you're not that classy even if you tried, baka…"

"Usagi-chan listen to me. This is important."

His voice was still light, but there was a quality to it that made Usagi halt her body movement altogether.

"Do you want to meet somewhere?" she asked, suddenly having the urge to see him in person.

"That's okay. I can tell you over the phone. I think it'd be easier too…"

There was a moment of silence and Usagi felt the rush of adrenaline leave her body, replaced by something akin to dread!

They called it the "correctional center", but really, to Mamoru, this was another orphanage!

The only difference was the way staff would treat them. The abuse he'd seen back in those days was never really justified in his mind. They've only been a bunch of parent-less children! It wasn't their fault. They hadn't asked for it! So, he never understood why some of those bastards would treat them as if they were criminals!

Well here, they were criminals and Mamoru figured that the staff at this center had gone through the same training the people at the orphanage had gone through! Sickening as it was!

Their days were spent in classrooms, learning about history, math, algebra and most of all, social behavior and respect!

It had only taken a few days for the teachers to recognize the brain they had in their possession. The tall and indifferent young boy didn't show much respect, but knew how to ace each and every quiz and test!

Later, in his review report by the center, one teacher would write: "Mamoru Chiba lacks serious and fundamental social performance. He is ill-mannered in front of his superiors and shows little to no respect to other classmates. It is important, however, to point out that he has never shown a sign of aggression and/or hostility toward another human being. He seems shockingly uninvolved in his surroundings. He appears ignorant and absentminded during the class; therefore, it is surprising to see how well he performs on his school work."

The center counselor was the first one to recognize Mamoru's odd need to protect and shield, "Mamoru Chiba might not be the best candidate for High Emotional Intelligence, but he is aware of his surroundings and understands right from wrong. He can read and recognize different feelings in people, although throughout our sessions, he has shown little interest in talking about his own. His complex childhood has pushed him to create severe trust issues, especially towards the adults he is in contact with. He does not believe people have his best interest in mind, therefore, he will not share his feelings easily.

Throughout his time spent at the center, he has befriended only one person (and he did not initiate the first contact).

Important Note: During a few workshops held by the center in a time of crisis and natural disasters, Chiba was in the forefront of delivering assistance to staff and other classmates. It was as if his personality was changed completely in the light of danger. He has an impressive knowledge of first aid and has very little fear taking risks (which can also serve as a negative aspect of his personality.)

In my opinion, Mamoru Chiba has the personality and the ability to perform at any level of emergency response agencies..."

Mamoru went through the days in a haze. He'd wake up, go to breakfast, do morning chores, go to school and then do afternoon chores. Lights were out at 10:00 pm sharp and Mamoru found himself restless every single night. The only person who he would speak to on a regular basis (aside from the staff and teachers, rather, unwillingly) was Sora.

He was not aware of the fact that the center's principal had asked for a thorough report on him. He didn't know that he was being watched.

And unbeknown to him, the center's counselor had written something in his report that would later seal Mamoru's future profession.

"Why are you still up?"

Kenji lifted his head from the article he was reading and met his wife's sleepy eyes, "I have an early deadline on this…" he gestured towards the paper he had in front of him.

"Isn't that the feature story for the next month's issue?" Ikuko sat beside him and looked curiously over the papers.

He nodded and didn't meet her eyes, "I couldn't sleep…"

An understanding entered the woman's eyes as she stared at her husband of 18 years. They had grown up together, married when they were young adults; he was the love of her life and it was so easy to read through him, "what's on your mind? Tell me…" she pulled the paper out of his grasp and forced him to look at her.

"I'm just not sure if I did the right thing…"

"With what?"

"Mamoru Chiba's situation…"

Ikuko nodded, knowing where her husband's stress and uneasiness was coming from and even though she had a good idea of what she needed to tell him, even without listening to his reasons, she still urged him to share, "I know he saved our little girl's life and for that, I am forever grateful…but I just don't know if I want Usagi to keep hanging around with him…you know... when he's out…" he looked over at his wife desperately. She remained silent, her eyes full of compassion and Kenji knew she understood every word he was saying, "he's still not good enough for her…he'll never be good enough…"

"And who will be?" Ikuko's voice was slow and as silvery as always, "will anyone ever be good enough for your little Usagi-chan?" she asked.

Kenji pondered for a moment, flashes of Usagi's life entered his mind's eye; the very first time he held that bundle of screaming face and chubby fingers, the first time she'd said the word "papa", the first time he had tried to teach her how to ride a bike (failing miserably, because God bless her soul, but that girl did not have an ounce of balance sometimes!)

Her brilliant and beaming eyes were carved in his mind. He'd lived his life to provide and make a good life for his family, had tried his hardest to see that unique smile on Usagi's face every day and he'd be damned if anyone tried to take advantage of that smile!

"No…not really…" he answered honestly. He had always joked that he wouldn't find anyone worthy of Usagi. But maybe, those jokes weren't really jokes after all!

"She's in love with him you know…" Ikuko's voice was still low and gentle, "and I think he's in love with her..."

His eyes found hers and Ikuko had to laugh at the confusion and surprise she saw in his brown eyes; did he really think that boy just jumped in front of the car for their daughter out of a simple crush? Men could be so naïve sometimes!

"She's just a baby…"

"She'll be 17 soon Kenji; she's a young woman now. I was not that older when I married you…"

Kenji's eyes widened and sharpened at the same time, "please don't tell me she's thinking of marrying that boy?"

Ikuko rolled her eyes and chuckled, "that's not the point. What I'm trying to say is that it's not uncommon for people to find love at a young age. I know I did…"

His eyes lost their previous pique and he nodded, "but you were so much more mature than Usagi. I mean…she's just…"

"He jumped in front of a racing car for her Kenji…" she reached out and touched his cheek, "he's willing to sacrifice his life for her. What more do you want?"

He leaned into her touch and suddenly he was drained out of the energy that had prompted him to stay up until 2 in the morning and work, "I want to hold on to her for longer. She's my little princess and I want her to need me…"

And there it was!

Ikuko smiled against his head as she cradled him close to her chest, "she'll always be our little girl. And she might not need us to fight her battles, but she'll always need us to be there when she's done fighting them herself…"

Makoto was sleepless again. She didn't know where that weird energy was coming from! She'd been in school all day, then to the shrine for an intense study session and then baking (lots of baking since Usagi had grown another stomach after Chiba's arrest!). She should've been crawling to bed, instead of feeling a surge of thunderstorm energy pumping through her veins!

That is why she found herself in another one of her late-night runs. Rei had thrown a tantrum ever since she'd found out about her night habits, "are you crazy? Running, alone, at night? Are you incapable of feeling unsafe?" Makoto had only laughed at her and brushed her worries off with a wink and a big show of her strength, by lifting Ami's form almost above her head!

They just couldn't understand the thrill of running in the empty streets, orange lights casting a glow in her path, the sound of silence prompting her to go a little faster; she loved it all!

She made a beeline for the park. There, she could find complete silence; no distant city sounds humming in the background and she'd be free to run around like a thunderstorm.

She went towards the fountain, where she always met with the girls. She came to a halt when she recognized Motoki's form walking a few steps ahead.

"Motoki-san?" she called.

He turned around, looked at her and then looked at his watch, "Makoto-chan, it's almost midnight! What are you doing out…" he looked around, "…and alone at this hour?"

She jogged on her spot and gestured to her workout attire, "running, obviously. What are you doing; out, alone, at this hour?" she gave him a cheeky smile and fell in step with him.

Motoki let out a subtle yawn, "going home from a study session…"

They fell in silence for a while. Makoto really didn't know what to talk to him about! Which was funny, because even though she was no Minako, instantly thinking of new conversation topics and jokes, but she still managed to turn her tongue and be a decent conversationalist!

"Can I be honest?" Motoki's questioned and it managed to pull Makoto out of her world.

"Shoot…"

He paused and looked straight ahead, "it's a little awkward being around you…" he paused again and then rushed, "I mean, not you you! It's awkward to be around all of you…"

Makoto looked at him with understanding. The rush of adrenaline during the past few weeks, from the moment they had decided to do a little "play" and go back to the Tanaka's restaurant, up until the moment Usagi had called them with the news of Chiba's upcoming release, had finally lessened and now that she was back in her right state of mind, she could see how uncomfortable the whole situation must have been for Motoki.

"I'm sorry you feel that way…" she said, her eyes straying away from him and looking ahead.

Motoki sighed and shook his head, "it's not like, I don't want to be around you...it's just, whenever I am, I think about Usagi, and I… really don't want to think about her, and…Chiba, and…so…"

"I hear ya…" Makoto rushed to his aid, "I understand what you're saying," she gave him an encouraging smile, "um…we really never got the chance to thank you for what you did…"

Motoki threw her a confused stare and she laughed nervously, "for going with us to the restaurant. I know it must've been hard to pretend to have a relationship with someone…"

Motoki looked away again, "it wasn't "hard"! but it was definitely uncomfortable…" he paused again. He was playing with the strap of his bag and Makoto had the feeling that he was trying to phrase his next sentence!

"Can I tell you something?" Makoto nodded again.

"I still feel so much anger towards Usagi…I mean…"

He paused and Makoto wisely stayed silent for him to find his words.

"I mean…I don't feel angry, but I feel like she cheated me out of something that I wasn't ready to face…you know, I really hated Chiba even before all of this…I still don't like him…I mean he did save my life and I'm grateful…but…but…he also seduced my girlfriend and whenever I remember that freaking smile of his…I just want to punch him in the face…and…" he knew he was just babbling, but he couldn't stop now, "and I just want to grab Usagi, shake her and ask her what in the hell she saw in him! I'm a good guy…I'm the good guy! It's not fair…it's just…"

"You have a broken heart…"

Motoki looked at her, startled as if he had completely forgotten her presence. It took a moment for Makoto's words to sink in, and when it did, his eyes lost their previous passion.

"Your heart is broken and it needs to heal, Motoki-san," Makoto continued as she started walking again, urging Motoki to follow her.

"All this resentment you feel, it's your heart talking, because it was hurt and it never got the closure it needs…" she suddenly paused and grabbed Motoki's sleeve.

"I may not know you too well, but I know that you are a good guy. But I also know that Usagi-chan is a good person…in fact, she's a great person…" she gave him a tiny apologizing smile, "what she did to you was wrong, but that doesn't wipe out the fact that she's a gentle soul…and…um….no, forget it…"

"What?" Motoki quickly asked, "what were you going to say?"

"It really wasn't…"

"Tell me…" he insisted, taking two quick steps in front of her and stopping her venture, "please…"

Makoto pouted deep in thought, touched her lips with her pointer finger and finally nodded, "I was going to say that…I think…and please don't take this the wrong way…but I don't think Chiba-san is a bad guy…" her eyes widened almost immediately and pushed herself closer to Motoki, "I'm sorry. I know this is probably the last thing you wanna hear right now, but I think sometimes it helps to see someone through another person's eyes. I mean, I really don't know Chiba-san that much, I mean, the most interaction I've had with him was him mocking my gaming abilities…that bastard!" she cursed, suddenly remembering all those times Chiba had smirked at her while playing the Sailor V game, and for a moment, she found herself questioning her positive vision of him!

Motoki was staring at a spot above her shoulder and Makoto couldn't read his face, so she picked up where she had left off, "he's jumped in front of a car for Usagi-chan… and you. And he ended up in jail, I mean, a "correctional center"," she air-quoted, "but really, we both know that's just a fancy name for a prison!" she sighed and gave him another tiny smile, "I hardly think that that's the definition of a "bad" person…what I'm trying to say is, don't hold a grudge. It'll only mess with your head. Those two, they've found love. They've found each other, and you can wish them a life full of misery, knowing deep down that they really don't deserve it. Or you can just…let go…"

Motoki finally met her eyes. She was looking at him with an understanding he didn't know a 17-year-old could possess.

He knew it was too early for his heart to be rational and listen to reason. He still wanted to keep hating Chiba and Usagi; he still wanted everyone else to keep hating them and blaming them for his broken heart.

But he knew, deep down, that he was just postponing the inevitable.

The hardest part is, he whined to himself, the letting go!

"What are you doing?"

Usagi turned around and gave Minako a sheepish look, "nothing…" she mumbled and after looking at the taller girl for a moment, she turned around and continued scribing in her notebook.

Minako raised one light eyebrow and hovered above her desk, "what you writing?" she asked.

"Nothin…"

"Come on…let me see…" Minako whined at the same time her hand reached out and snatched the pink notebook out of Usagi's tight grip.

"MINA-CHAN… it's private…"

Minako did a dismissive gesture, "Dear Hisa-chan…you're writing a letter to that zombie?" she looked at Usagi with raised brows, "…and here I thought you were writing hentai about Mamoru-san…"

"MINAKO…"

The blonde didn't pay heed to the smaller girl's scandalous shriek, "'I know you might feel betrayed right now'…wow…that's a great way to start a letter to that girl, since she's so gentle and all…" she giggled and did a twist to keep the notebook out of Usagi's reach, " 'and I know you don't like me much'…really Usagi-chan, that girl doesn't like anyone much!"

"Minako…" Usagi said with more force, "give me back my notebook…"

" 'but I can't stand aside and watch you or Daiki-san get hurt anymore'…" Minako's voice trailed off and she looked up at Usagi, "what is this?" her tone turned serious as she watched Usagi's uncomfortable fidgeting.

"I can't tell you…it's a secret, okay?" the petite blonde finally said, as she threw her hands in the air.

A tiny smile crept on Minako's face, "oh come on Usa-chan…we're best friends, there are no secrets amongst best friends…"

"I'm impressed Minako-chan…" Ami said as she slowly approached the two, "what are we talking about?"

Minako shoved the notebook at Ami before Usagi could take it back, "Usagi-chan is guarding a secret for that girl, or Daiki-san…I'm not sure…"

"MINAKO, THAT'S MINE…"

"Minako-chan, it's not okay to go through someone's personal things," Ami said as she readjusted her reading glasses and fixed her eyes on the page Minako had shown her.

"Aha…" Minako raised an eyebrow at the blunette.

It took Ami a while to raise her head up, though her eyes remained fixed on the page, unbothered by Usagi's fussing.

"Is Daiki-san planning something?" she finally looked up and straight at Usagi, "he is, isn't he?" she asked when Usagi pouted and looked away.

Minako's eyes switched between the two; she could feel that Usagi was struggling internally, "what's going on Usa-chan? You can tell us…"

Usagi started fidgeting with her hands again. She'd made a promise to Daiki-san. She couldn't possibly break that promise. It was unethical. Right? But then again, she was sort of breaking it by sending Hisa a letter. And Daiki-san didn't want Hisa to know anything. So really, her promise was already down the drain!

"Daiki-san is transferring to Yokohama…" she gave them another sheepish look, "and he asked me not to tell anyone…"

"So like, he's just gonna leave, without a goodbye?" Minako asked with wide eyes. Usagi nodded.

"But why?" the blonde asked again and felt an odd churning in her stomach as she thought about Hisa and her possible heartbreak.

"He wants them to have a fresh start…" Ami said, in that typical Ami style; with her pointer finger on her chin and eyes narrowed with understanding.

Usagi nodded again, "he says it's all his fault and it would be the best if he just disappears and give them the clean break they deserve," she raised her shoulders and sighed.

"That girl is gonna be crushed," Minako exclaimed and then met the other two's curious stare with confusion, "what?"

Usagi sent Ami a tiny smirk and grinned at Minako, "Mina-chan, you have so much love in your heart..."

Minako only raised an eyebrow.

The weather was changing fast and as days got shorter, Ikuko found herself pampering her family even more.

It was probably because it got dark earlier and everyone preferred to spend their time in the warmth of the house. And Ikuko always made an extra effort to make the place cozy and comfortable.

A pot of curry was always boiling and making that happy "click click" sound on the stove. The kitchen was always warm with food and the smell of tea and baked sugary snacks!

Ikuko made her way around the living room, a teacup in her hand and smiled to herself. Her husband was coming home soon, and her children were both upstairs in their rooms; safe and sound. True happiness could be very subtle sometimes, Ikuko thought, as she sipped on her tea.

She thought happily about the cake she was baking for after dinner and how happy Usagi and Shingo (especially Usagi) would be. She thought about the Ginjo sake she had bought earlier that day, a special gesture for Kenji. She could feel the lightness he had after their talk from a few nights ago, but she still wanted to make him happy.

"Ikuko-mama…I'm hungry," Usagi's voice came from up the stairs, and Ikuko rolled her eyes, "that's what you said 10 minutes ago Usagi,"

"Well, then I'm hungrier…"

Ikuko rolled her eyes once more, "we'll eat when your father is home. He should be back soon…"

She could almost hear Usagi's defeated sigh and she smiled to herself. Usagi might have grown up into a woman, who was in love and didn't need her parents' protection at times, but she sure needed her mother to feed her all the time!

There was a slow knock on the door and Ikuko's smile widened.

For all his loud and exaggerated persona, Kenji always knocked like a gentleman.

She went to the door, straightening her skirt while doing so and opened the door.

It took her a moment to realize that she was staring, just staring and not saying anything, while the young man in front of her bowed slowly and mumbled an unsure hello.

He seemed thinner than the last time she'd seen him. His hair was definitely shorter; she remembered that annoying disciplinary side of her wanting to tell him to get a haircut the last time he was at this door!

He straightened and met her stare and suddenly, Ikuko remembered what this young man had done for her family; had done for her daughter.

Mamoru's shock didn't just come from the sudden impact, which sort of left him breathless, but the fact that Usagi's mother, the woman who had stared at him with a mixture of displeasure and sadness, was now hugging him like a small child. He couldn't remember the last time his head was cradled and patted this way!

"Thank you…" Ikuko mumbled and tightened her hold on him, "thank you…thank you…" she repeated, "I'm so glad you're okay…" she then said.

Mamoru's arms went to the woman's waist, loosely at first, but when Ikuko said that last part, his arms also tightened a little bit. This was the closest physical contact he'd ever had with an adult.

It was weird, in the most heartwarming way!

"Is that Kenji-papa? Can we eat now…pleaaaase?" Usagi's voice came again and Ikuko stepped away from Mamoru, "she's going to faint," she said to him, "or worse, deafen us with her scream!"

Mamoru gave her an understanding nod.

"Are you ready?" she asked him as she pushed the door a little wider.

"I'm…" Mamoru mumbled and immediately fell silent as his eyes glued to Usagi's form, frozen on the last few stairs.

She was looking at him with wide eyes and a wider mouth.

"Usagi-chan…there you are…" Ikuko said as she tried to contain her laughter. Usagi's face resembled all the times she was late for school and didn't know whether to take her chances and eat breakfast, or dash out and shorten her definite detention!

Ikuko stepped aside, her eyes going back and forth between the teenagers, eager to see their reaction, even though a voice in her head kept telling her to give them privacy!

But she stayed rooted where she was and thus, she didn't miss the happy, albeit tiny smile that appeared on Mamoru's face.

She could feel how uncomfortable the young man was, and he probably didn't want to show any emotion in front of her.

She still stayed where she was!

And if she knew her daughter, she knew that Usagi didn't have any issues with showing emotion in public. The girl wore her heart on her sleeves, and whether she felt anger or joy, she made sure everyone else saw it as well.

Her laughter stuck in her throat when Usagi lunged herself, literally, from the last stair and on Mamoru's unexpected form, with a shriek and knocked the air out of him!

What she didn't expect, however, was how quickly the boy's façade trembled and melted away as he hugged Usagi with equal desperation.

Young love, Ikuko thought to herself, it was a beautiful thing!

"I think he has a crush on you," Rei said with wiggling brows, "either that, or he's a brat who likes to gossip."

"I vote the former," Makoto clapped and then laughed at Ami's horrified expression.

"He's what, 14?" Ami said with a deep blush, "he's just trying to be a good brother."

"Yes…" Minako said, "a good brother to Usagi-chan…an excellent boyfriend for you…"

They all laughed at Ami's gasp and Makoto's earlier question about Usagi's whereabouts was totally forgotten.

"You have some weird concept of 'being alone'," Mamoru said as he was dragged behind the petite blonde, glued to his side.

"We'll go to your place right after this…but you need to do something first…" Usagi said cheerfully.

Mamoru rolled his eyes, "and to think I came straight to your house to steal you away and be alone…"

"When did you become such a nag?" Usagi pouted and then giggled at his expression, "and can't you walk faster?"

They finally came to a stop and Mamoru looked around with confusion, "how in the world did you know where Hisa lives?"

Usagi shot a brilliant smile and for the hundredth time, he found himself doubting the reality of being with her once more, "there's so much you don't know Mamo-chan," she paused and gave him a sheepish look, "what?"

"Mamo-chan?" he asked, lifting a hand to her face, "isn't that a little childish for an ex-con?"

Usagi rolled her eyes at his tone and giggled.

"Why are we at Hisa's again?"

Usagi dragged him the last few steps to the door and rang the bell, not giving him time to argue, "because, she's your family and she needs to know you're okay and safe and here…" she touched her hair to make sure Mamoru's hungry hands hadn't pulled them out of their buns, "besides," she continued, "she'd murder us if she finds out later…"

Before Mamoru could say anything, the door flung open.

Hisa didn't even notice Mamoru at first, her eyes went directly to Usagi, "WHAT THE HELL BLONDIE?" she yelled, "NEVER HEARD OF A PHONE BEFORE, SENDING LETTERS INSTEAD?"

She stood tall in front of Usagi, who immediately cowered away and let out a frightened laugh, "Hisa-chan, look who'se…"

"COULDN'T YOU JUST CALL ME AND TELL ME THE BASTARD WAS LEAVING TOWN?"

"Listen Hisa-chan, I'll explain, but look…"

"YOU'RE REALLY ARE AN ODANGO…STUPID BLONDE GIRL…"

"LISTEN…"

Usagi's sudden outburst made Mamoru jump out of his skin, even though he was ready to laugh at both their expressions!

Hisa narrowed her eyes at the blonde, completely unaware of Mamoru's presence.

"I TOLD YOU NOT TO CALL ME BLONDIE, OR ODANGO, OR ANYTHING ELSE. MY NAME IS USAGI, U-S-A-G-I…"

She was on her tip-toes and her nose was doing that weird shaking thing it always did when she was angry.

He was impressed though; he had left a tiny slip of a girl a few months ago, one who had cried her eyes out the night before he went, even in the midst of love-making. And now, 'wow', he thought, she was transformed into a lioness, showing her claws to someone like Hisa, who was by all definitions, scary!

Either way, he couldn't suppress the chuckle that left his lips, and in his defense, he only laughed at the fact that he found himself a little intimidated by his girlfriend's outburst!

Both girls' eyes were immediately averted to him.

Mamoru had never seen Hisa's eyes that wide and…with that much raw emotion! Even though he really couldn't name what emotion he was seeing in them!

"AS I WAS TRYING TO SAY…"

They flinched at Usagi's scream and she seemed a little taken aback at her own voice. She cleared her throat and tried again, "As I was trying to say…Mamoru is home…" she said with grace and narrowed eyes.

Hisa's eyes were still glued to Mamoru and he found himself a little uncomfortable at her stare.

"YOU...FUCKING AIRHEAD…"

Mamoru let out a sigh of relief; this was the Hisa he knew!

"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING GOING OFF LIKE THAT? DECIDING FOR EVERYONE? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? A SUPERHERO?"

She was still screaming when Mamoru settled his arms around her shoulder when Usagi nudged him on the side and urged him to show a little emotion!

"YOU AND THAT BASTARD ONLY THINK OF YOURSELVES…YOU DON'T GIVE A SHI…"

"Hisa…" Mamoru firmly said, shaking her in the process.

It didn't quiet her down immediately, but when he pulled her into a hug and said, "I missed you too…" she finally gave in and hugged him back.

"Here are your keys…"

Daiki averted his eyes back to the agent, "thanks."

She did an once over on him, "are you new in town?" he nodded.

"How have you liked it so far?"

He couldn't understand whether she was trying to be nice or if this was a way of flirting. Either way, he didn't want to start a conversation.

"Thank you for your help," he said and went to the door.

He stood in front of the tiny window in the tiny apartment and thought about all the people he had left behind. Particularly, a brunette who he was sure was trying to find a way to murder him in cold blood right about then!

She was making tea.

Or at least, trying to!

Her mind was focused on the sound of the shower running.

She didn't know what she had expected when they had walked through the door.

"I'm going to take a shower…" was not it though!

She'd nodded and had said that she would make tea then.

His kiss on the street on the way to Hisa's house was hungry and desperate and she was sure he would jump her the minute they were alone! She had envisioned and fantasied about that moment for weeks!

"Usagi-chan…think about the sex when he comes back," Minako had said with mischievous and wiggled brows, "It's going to be HOT…"

Well, Usagi was less than glad to tell her friend later that their non-existence sex was not hot at all!

Hadn't he missed her? Was she alone in the fantasy she'd lived in for the past few months?

No.

His kiss was hungry. His eyes were drinking her up. She was sure of it.

It was that thought that made her move towards the bathroom. She opened the door, quietly and walked in.

She couldn't see him through the shower curtain, and she hoped he didn't mind her being there.

"Mamo-chan?" she whispered and when she didn't hear a reply, she gathered her courage and pulled the curtain apart.

He was standing there, his eyes closed and his head tilted towards the water. It was as if he didn't even notice her presence.

And suddenly, she became aware of what she was seeing.

Relief.

The feeling of finally being in the solitude of one's home.

Mamoru's eyes were shot open when he felt a tiny hand massaging his back.

He met her blue eyes, "let me help you wash up," she smiled. Her simple light pink undergarments and hair were already plastered to her body.

He'd imagined her like that thousands of times.

She let out a tiny squeak when he grabbed and turned her, right under the water.

"Help me pull out your hairpins…" he whispered.

He loved her odangos. They were the first things he ever noticed on her. But her loose hair was something he fantasized about all the time.

He ran his hands through her hair, massaging her scalp, "can I make love to you?"

She was truly taken aback by his question.

He chuckled at her confusion, "well, I was at a "correctional center"! there's ought to be some changes in me…"

Usagi raised her eyebrow, "okay! Yes…"

He smiled and leaned in, his lips a breath away from hers, "can I make hard, deep love to you?"

"Yes…" she breathed.

He caught her lips then, with the same deprivation he had kissed her on the street. And she didn't hesitate at all.

Usagi poured herself in the kiss as if she was trying to heal months of loneliness, getting rid of all the times they'd sighed and wished upon the moon that they'd be together soon.
"Wait…" she mumbled. He didn't hear of course; he was too busy with her hair and lips and arms.

"Mamo-chan…uh…I want to…" she tried again, and was immediately silenced as he buried his tongue in her mouth.

She needed to tell him, she needed him to know.

And even though it took every ounce of self-control she had, she managed to pull herself away from his mouth, "Mamo-chan, I need to tell you something…"

Mamoru let out a sigh of protest, but he managed to look at her eyes through the fog of the shower.

"I'm sorry…" she said.

It took him a moment to understand what she was saying, and when he did, his brows came together with confusion.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you that I loved you from the moment I knew I did…" she whispered.

She touched his bare upper body, her hand tracing his scar like a sacred ornament, "I'm sorry I pushed you away when I did. I was so scared that I didn't know how to handle my feelings," she kissed his chest, "I wish I was more confident in my feelings. I wish I didn't care about people's judgment as much as I did."

Mamoru's heart was hammering so hard he could feel it bursting out of his chest. His body was hot and needy, and what Usagi was saying was doing weird things to him.

"If I could turn back time, if I had a wand of some sort that I could use to go back to when we met, I would've kissed the daylights out of you…in or out of that God-forsaken alley…" she smiled and met his eyes.

She was naked, in all her lean and petite glory, her hair was dark blonde and flirtatiously sticking to her body and she was smiling…Mamoru knew he had to speak with words; but then again, he was never a person with too many words. He was a man of action!

Usagi giggled when he pulled her up, "my control is thin Odango," he growled, as he played with her insides.

"Thank God…" she giggled and playfully licked his cheek, "minx…" he growled again and joined their bodies in one swift move.

This, Mamoru thought to himself as he savored every sound she made, was what he wanted for the rest of his life.

"Usagi-chan are you there?" Daiki's voice resonated through the answering machine and Mamoru raised an eyebrow, "Ami-chan said you might be there to clean?!…" Mamoru raised both brows and looked at Usagi who had leaned on her elbows on her comfortable place on the couch and was looking at the machine with horrified eyes, "you were…cleaning?" Mamoru asked, his face laced with a smirk.

"Turn it offfff…" Usagi suddenly leaped on her feet.

"But Minako-chan said that you're probably ditching cleaning and masturbating instead…"

Mamoru's head shot up as soon as Usagi threw herself on the phone and knocked it on the floor.

"I sure hope you were at least thinking of me when you were doing it…" Mamoru said after a moment of silence and barely managed to dodge her kick.

They played a game of "catch me if you can" for a while, ending in a promising position that Usagi just could not not act on!

"Who are you?" Mamoru managed to say in between hisses and gasps, as Usagi rode him hard and fast.

She giggled.

Hours later, when they were both fully clothed and waiting for Mamoru's "lawyer" and the rest of them, the "badass gang" Mamoru had started calling them, to arrive, "Minako-chan is picking up Hisa-chan and walking with her," Usagi had said with wide eyes, did Mamoru finally know what he needed to do.

"Usako…" Usagi's heart stopped for a moment, but he'd said it so naturally that she didn't want to make a huge show out of it.

"Will your parents be okay if we took a trip?"

Usagi pushed her lips together, "let's not get over ourselves. Kenji-papa is still a pro-no-boyfriend you know!" she rolled her eyes at Mamoru's obvious smirk, "what did you have in mind?"

"Hisa and I are gonna go to Yokohama…"

Usagi smiled with understanding, "I'll see what I can do with Kenji-papa. I really want to go on a trip with you."

"Plus…" she said as he turned around to put the groceries away, "I mean, I really don't want to miss Hisa-chan giving it to him full force, you know?"

The End.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon and its amazing characters in any way. I wish I did. But unfortunately, I don't. All the delightful rights of this wonderful manga/anime and its characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.