FanFiction.Net v3.0
            Browse | Just In | Directory | Columns | News |  
            AuthorTitleSummary     Log In | Register  Misc Menu- Help- 
              Flavors- TOS- Credits 



      Home >> Anime >> Sailor Moon >> TGS1_The Games We Play storyid: 49637



      Author: Princess Destiny - R - English - Reviews: 851. Default Chapter 
        Title2. Default Chapter Title3. Default Chapter Title4. Default Chapter 
        Title5. Default Chapter Title6. Default Chapter Title7. Default Chapter 
        Title8. Default Chapter Title9. Default Chapter Title10. Default Chapter 
        Title11. Default Chapter Title






Chapter Four



Unfortunately, nothing came to Mamoru for another two days. And so-since he 
couldn’t STAND to be parted from her…he decided to stalk her. Now that he was 
certain that she liked him, he knew what to watch for. And Usagi was DEFINITELY 
avoiding him at all costs. He watched her from afar, keeping his distance from 
the blonde. She knew he was there, of course, but he kept a low profile. She 
avoided eye-contact when she could, though he’d look up sometimes and see her 
looking at him almost wistfully. And he was always in her sight, but never 
actually speaking to her. If he crashed into her on the street, she’s flush and 
scream at him and he’d calmly yell back. She carefully kept her distance of a 
few feet from him. And anything she had on her-be it bag or book or ice 
cream-she made sure to use like a shield.. And it made it all the plainer to 
Mamoru that Usagi was fighting an equal attraction to him-but that they really 
couldn’t help biting each other’s heads off!
Inspiration-in the form of complete and utter madness-came to him on Wednesday. 
He skipped a class and headed to the best flower shop in Juuban. Mamoru entered 
the shop, completely ignoring the multitudes of beautiful flowers. He went 
straight for the display of beautiful red roses. There was about four dozen 
there. Roses showed love and passion and though he loved Usagi, he felt a deep 
passion and desire for her. Perhaps at a later time, he could tell her how deep 
his feelings went-and she really WAS too young, but he couldn’t help himself!
"Can I help you, sir?" A woman appeared at his side, smiling politely. Her eyes 
flitted over him with interest, but he barely seemed to acknowledge her 
presence.
"Yes," Mamoru said, frowning in thought. He raised on hand, gesturing at the lot 
of roses, the other hand going into his jacket pocket for his wallet. "I want 
the lot." It was going overboard perhaps, but he happened to know that Usagi 
loved roses. Some guy had given her one back on valentines day. Mamoru must have 
unconsciously filed that information away, even though he’d hated her at the 
time.
"The-the LOT?" the woman stammered, gaping. "But that’s expensive-"
"I don’t care. Money isn’t an object when dealing with love," Mamoru snapped at 
her. He blinked, then smiled apologetically. "She’s a very special girl."
"Of course. She must be!" The woman’s eyes began to glow slyly. ["My commission 
is going to be huge! Yes!"] she thought gleefully. "Can I interest you in 
anything else?"
Mamoru’s blue eyes filled with calculation. He turned and looked around the 
store slowly, trying to see anything else Usagi might like. His eyes alighted on 
stuffed toys. He ignored the suddenly simpering saleswoman and stalked over to 
the rack of toys, scanning. There was a pink bunny there, which he knew Usagi 
LOVED, but it was only the size of his arm. "Don’t you have anything bigger?" he 
demanded, rounding on the woman and staring down at her expectantly.
"Bigger?" Again, she gaped at him, then eagerly sprang back to the counter for a 
catalogue. She rushed back to his side and swiftly flicked through the pages. 
"Here you go. Bigger bunnies. They can be ordered in."
Mamoru stared at the stuffed toys in the picture, then pointed at one 
indifferently. He winced inwardly as he saw the price of the gift. Rich, he was, 
but THAT was just going TOO far for a stuffed toy. ["Oh, well,"] he thought. 
"That one." Usagi would love it to death. He knew his angel well.
"THAT ONE?!" she shrieked at him. The woman stifled herself, plastered a smile 
on her lips and hurried back to the counter to ring the price up. "I can order 
it in for you. It will take a week-"
"Make it to this address by Saturday morning and I’ll give you an extra $50," 
Mamoru said, this time ignoring her gaping mouth. He frowned, calculating. Usagi 
got up about 12:00, so if he got to the arcade around 11:00, he could be there 
to see her delighted face as she met her friends. He couldn’t WAIT to see her 
expression!
"Yes-yes, sir!" The woman took Mamoru’s only card with Usagi’s address and 
slipped it into her book. Then she took the credit card Mamoru held out and 
swiped it.
Mamoru signed the piece of paper, then left the store before he could bolt out. 
He was sweating buckets by the time he slipped into his car, eyes wide with 
shock. It just hit him, exactly what he had done. Utter madness. What if she 
hated the roses and bunny? He’d just spend a huge amount of cash on a fourteen 
year old who might not even appreciate it. "I’m MAD! I swear, that girl will 
bankrupt me before she’ll date me!" He lowered his head and rested it against 
the steering wheel, trying frantically to convince himself that the inordinate 
amount of cash that he had just forked over for a stuffed toy and 4 dozen roses 
was going to be worth a LOT of kisses! "Eventually," he reminded himself with a 
groan. Mamoru straightened and started the car, muttering under his breath all 
the while, "She’s worth it, she’s worth it…"



Usagi groaned and rolled over onto her side, unconsciously reaching down to rub 
at her leg. She’d been bruised the last crash into Mamoru, the evening before. 
It had been a relatively uneventful crash-as far as they went. Crash, fight, 
blush-stare into his amazing blue eyes. Blush some more, jerk away from him. 
Usagi had made CERTAIN that there was a few feet of space between them at all 
times. But when she crashed into him, she usually ended up in his arms. And 
she’d SWEAR that she crashed into him MUCH more often than usual. He seemed to 
be there every time she turned around. And Usagi hadn’t entirely abandoned her 
‘being stalked by Mamoru’ theory. Nothing that she could PROVE, but still…It was 
enticing, she had to admit. The thought of Mamoru following her made her skin 
tingle and her heart speed up. "What is wrong with me lately? I hate him-but he 
make me feel so strange when he’s near," she whispered, biting her lip.
A surge of anger took over her thoughts. That was Mamoru she was thinking about! 
Mamoru! "Argggggh!" Usagi yelled, throwing the covers off and jumping out of 
bed. "That jerk won’t get out of my head!" She glared accusingly at the bedside 
table, where her clock blatantly announced that yes, it was 11:30 and Usagi was 
up almost a full hour early! "Unbelievable!" She threw up her hands and stomped 
out of the room, heading for the bathroom. She had to meet the girls in an hour, 
so maybe she could take her time for once? And maybe even get up early once in a 
while… "NOT!" she shouted, reaching in to turn on the shower taps.
Usagi turned towards the mirror and studied herself for a long moment, wondering 
what Mamoru saw when he looked at her so intently. A silly young girl? But if 
so-then why did his expression so often make her want to blush and run away? Why 
did her heart thunder in her chest when he just LOOKED at her. "And why Mamoru? 
Why the jerk? What changed and when?" Usagi whispered helplessly. She spun on 
her heel and stalked into the shower, divesting herself of her clothes as she 
went.
Usagi had a shower slowly, enjoying not having to rush-but that CREEP kept 
firmly in her thoughts. She thought about him WAY too much lately and he was 
even invading her dreams! ["As long as I think of him as a creep, he can’t hurt 
me,"] she thought firmly, eyes anxious. Usagi flushed as she remembered a 
particularly vivid dream of a few nights before. Mamoru had bought her an 
ice-cream and then kissed her. And she could still remember the wonderful 
feeling of melting as his lips had touched hers… "Argggggh! Get out of my 
heaaaaaad!" she wailed. She didn’t even like Mamoru! Right?! And definitely 
didn’t want him kissing her…right?
Usagi jumped out of the shower, grabbing a towel and drying herself. Her 
expression became unfocused and dreamy as she thought back to the dream 
unconsciously. It HAD been nice. He’d-"NO!" Usagi yelled, wrapping the towel 
about her form and stomping from the bathroom. She reached her room and bolted 
inside, locking the door behind her. She stood with her back against the door, 
eyes wide and afraid. He was in her head! Her dreams! And she couldn’t STOP 
thinking about him. Not even at School. And especially not when she crashed into 
him every single morning, like clock work. She felt her cheeks lightly with her 
fingertips. Her skin was on fire. "Oooh! How can he do this to me? It’s that 
creep! He’s an utter jerk! And I DON’T wish he’d kiss me!" Usagi said furiously, 
glaring at nothing. ["Yeah right"] her mind taunted her, throwing a quick flash 
of the ‘dream’.
Someone suddenly knocked on the door. Usagi gasped and leapt away from it, 
whirling to face whoever would enter. Her heart began to thunder in her ears. 
["Oh my god! It can’t be Mamoru!"] she thought in panic, wondering if her 
thoughts had conjured him up. The door opened swiftly and she slumped with 
relief as she saw her mother.
Ikuko entered, carrying something in her arms, a large grin on her face. "Hello 
dear, you’re up a little early," she said happily.
Usagi gaped in disbelief as she saw the dozen beautiful roses in her mother’s 
hands. ["Oh my god! Is this-from Mamoru? No it can’t be."] She was about to open 
her mouth when her father and Shingo entered, carrying another three dozen. 
"Whaaaaaaat?" Usagi shrieked, rushing over to Ikuko. "Are these ALL for meeee?" 
she asked with disbelief. ["Who could have sent me so many roses? Tuxedo Kamen? 
Oh wait, he doesn’t know who I really am."] She slumped slightly, having 
exhausted her options. Her hero didn’t know her real identity and Mamoru-well, 
he didn’t even like her…right? Why on EARTH would he send her anything?
"Of course they are honey," Ikuko giggled. She set the roses on Usagi’s bed and 
grabbed her daughter’s hand, before Usagi could smell the roses. "No card came, 
so it must be from a secret admirer. Your father almost throttled the delivery 
boys," Ikuko whispered into Usagi’s ear.
Usagi was dragged past her fuming father and out into the hall. "Where are we 
going?" she asked, still stunned. Who would send HER roses?
"Your other gift is downstairs dear," Ikuko replied mysteriously, pulling Usagi 
down the stairs and into the lounge room.
Usagi gaped like a fish as she saw what was on the couch. "Oh my GOD!"



Mamoru was grinning was ear to ear, as he sat in a both in the back of the 
Arcade on Saturday morning. His ‘presents’ ought to have arrived at Usagi’s 
place earlier that morning. And he couldn’t WAIT to see her face! ["Thank GOD 
that I didn’t think of this when I was under that spell!"] he thought fervently, 
sighing deeply with relief. ["I was so under it that I would have SIGNED it! 
Then Usagi would have come down here and slowly murdered me. No, the secret 
admirer thing ALWAYS works."] And so, he sat there, rather impatiently, grinning 
like a maniac and waiting for his angel to arrive. His fingers began a restless 
tattoo on the table-top, eyes flitting from side to side with the restlessness 
of a panther.
Rei and Makoto and Ami were already seated across the room from him, in plain 
view. Usagi would come and sit with them and he would get to see her face as she 
told her friend’s about what had arrived from an ‘admirer’ that morning. 
"Perfect," Mamoru almost purred, deep blue eyes glinting with satisfaction. He 
looked down at his almost-empty cup of coffee and picked it up to stare into its 
depths. Since he’d discovered that he was in love with two women, life had not 
been the same. In fact, he’s barely BEEN to college-and when he’d finally 
checked his answering machine, there had been several messages there from his 
teachers. He NEVER missed classes, so they were naturally worried.
["Not that I could tell them I spent two weeks following around a fourteen year 
old girl in order to jump her!"] Mamoru shook his head, taking a sip of the 
coffee absently. "I mean, really Chiba!" he muttered to himself. All he knew 
lately was Usagi though and plans within plans on how to make her realize and 
admit her feelings for him. She hid them well enough, he admitted to himself 
grudgingly. Except for the times she looked into his eyes. THEN, he saw the 
emotions raw in the blue depths. Usagi could say all she liked, but her eyes 
told him everything. And one day, her attraction would turn to love, he swore 
it.
Suddenly, his ears picked up the sound of the arcade doors sliding open. His 
head jerked up as he ‘sensed’ Usagi. It was almost like a physical punch in the 
gut, whenever she was near Mamoru’s mouth fell open, as he gaped in 
astonishment. "She BROUGHT it WITH her?" He almost dropped the mug of coffee as 
he saw the tiny form of his beloved, struggling valiantly to carry a huge pink 
bunny that was almost her size. He blinked at her a few times, then smiled. "She 
must have reaaaally liked it," he murmured, lashes falling over his eyes to hide 
their expression. No sense giving the game away, if she should happen to glance 
his way. Which she DID. He saw Usagi scan the arcade warily, before spotting him 
over the other side of the room. She flushed wildly-which he saw, even at that 
distance-and spun away from him swiftly. ["Ah ha,"] he murmured inwardly, giving 
an evil grin. ["Poor Usagi can barely contain herself! I really DID get to her, 
didn’t I?"]
"USAGI! WHERE did you get that?!" Rei almost shrieked, jumping to her feet to 
help the staggering blonde.
Mamoru watched from across the room-with interest and wicked amusement-as Makoto 
and Ami also jumped up from the table to help Usagi with the enormous bunny. 
They eased it, with difficulty, into a chair, where it sat precariously. He 
NOTICED, however, that Usagi kept a wary eye on her bunny-just in case it should 
start to fall. Just before she looked away from Rei, she threw Mamoru another 
look across the room-OBVIOUSLY wanting to see if he’d noticed her ‘wonderful 
present’.
"A secret ADMIRER!" Usagi squealed in delight, voice carrying over the arcade. 
She STRESSED her absolute delight, excitement and just generally thrilled 
state-trying valiantly to rub it into Mamoru’s face like an owner and her puppy. 
Of course, in THEORY, it would have worked-but for the fact that HE had sent the 
ever-loved present her way. Not that SHE knew that.
Mamoru satisfied her, with an open-eyed look of extreme disgruntlement, trying 
to stifle his grin of mirth with the remains of his cooling coffee.. ["Ha! Score 
one for Chiba! Tsukino 0!"] Mamoru thought triumphantly, struggling to smother 
the huge grin building. "I’ll wear you down yet, Usagi," he added out loud, eyes 
glinting wildly. He continued to stare across at his beloved, as she sat with 
her friends and they grilled her. Not that Mamoru could hear what they were 
saying, but Usagi continued to glow with pleasure. And Mamoru became smugger by 
the minute.
"Stalking is against the law, buddy," Motoki hissed suddenly from somewhere.
Mamoru started in shock, turning to look at his friend. Motoki was leaning over 
the top of the booth, watching Usagi. His eyes were narrowed at the group of 
girls, obviously trying to figure out who had given her such an obviously 
EXPENSIVE present. ["He’ll never guess,"] Mamoru thought smugly. "Not in a 
million years," he muttered under his breath, staring across at Usagi from over 
the brim of his empty coffee mug. He saw Motoki giving him a strange look and 
abruptly set the cup down, staring at his best friend hard.
"What was that?" Mamoru asked suspiciously, glaring. ["Did he just say what I 
thought he did? Damn, I should be more careful around him."] Mamoru studied his 
friend slyly, wondering how likely Motoki was to figure out who Usagi’s 
benefactor was. ["Not bloody likely!"]
"Stalking is an offense almost everywhere," Motoki repeated, grinning widely. 
"Or-were you just looking at Rei instead?" He looked pointedly at Mamoru, as if 
he could see the guilt written across his forehead in huge red letters. To his 
delight, Mamoru involuntarily flinched.
"Excuse me?" Mamoru said coolly, picking up his coffee and taking a sip. Inside, 
he was a bundle of nerves. If Motoki found out, there’s be no one in ALL of 
Juuban who didn’t know that Mamoru liked Usagi, and all by sundown. He liked his 
friend and they were great buddies, but NO ONE knew Motoki like Mamoru-other 
than Reika maybe-and Mamoru knew what a schemer Motoki was! Almost as bad as 
Usagi’s friends. Mamoru groaned softly, wondering if Usagi was giving away 
anything to Rei and the others. Surely they’d noticed her looking over at him 
every minute or so and her seemingly-random blushes?
"Oh, come on, buddy," Motoki coaxed, sliding into the seat across the table from 
Mamoru. "Give a friend a bone! I KNOW that you’ve been watching Usagi all week!" 
He smiled slyly. "And, you WERE searching FRANTICALLY for her the other day…"
"You’re hallucinating," Mamoru said loftily, looking across the room to where 
Usagi was eating with her friends. It was Saturday once more and the girls were 
all set for a shopping spree. Perfect for Mamoru-but he absolutely REFUSED to 
crawl under tables and hide in pot-plants this time! He had his dignity-well, 
what was left of it. He frowned across at Usagi’s bunny. ["Maybe that will slow 
her down? I couldn’t have planned it more perfect myself."] Without realizing, 
he began grinning in satisfaction.
"Am I?" Motoki asked, sounding disappointed. He looked at Mamoru slyly. "Then 
why are you doing it again?" He frowned at the strange grin Mamoru was 
giving-someone. Motoki followed Mamoru’s eyes and saw that he WAS looking at 
Usagi. ["Ah ha! I was RIGHT! And WHY is he grinning like the cat that got the 
cream? Is this something I can up the bets with? I HOPE so!"] He bit his lip 
nervously, eyes scanning the arcade for victims with cash. Almost everyone was 
interested in the Usagi/Mamoru drama. To his delight, there were several. And 
all watching Mamoru and Usagi, eyes going backwards and forwards between them 
like spectators in a Ping-Pong match.
"I’m LOOKING out the window," Mamoru replied blandly, trying to ignore his best 
friend’s scheming. Motoki was obviously up to something-but he was busy! He had 
to convince a girl to love him as much as he loved her! And if he had to give 
her EXTREMELY expensive items and follow her around like some hentai 
stalker-then he’d DO it! In his car this time though. He could get there before 
her. And he’d come prepared this time! Mamoru smiled down at his black slacks 
and dark blue sweater. Usagi’s comments his jacket had somewhat rankled. SURELY, 
he wasn’t the only one with a dark green jacket in all of Juuban? Or was it just 
that she’d been attracted to him for days and hadn’t known it till the day 
before? Girls that usually took note of what a guy was wearing, were usually 
interested in ‘said-guy’. Right?
Motoki turned his eyes to look at Usagi and the girls again and noted with 
disappointment that Mamoru indeed seemed to be staring out the window behind 
them. ["What’s WRONG with him? Usagi looks good enough to eat today! Is he 
BLIND?!"]
Mamoru was ANYTHING but blind to Usagi’s extremely short sun dress that showed 
off an amazing amount of slender white legs. ["She looks good enough to eat,"] 
he thought, eyes narrowing. Mamoru’s fingers tightened around the study books on 
the table before him. His excuse was studying for a test-but he’d KNOWN that she 
would be there on a Saturday. She was always there. And he’d be there every 
single weekend to way-lay her and be around every turn on week days for her to 
crash into his chest. He QUITE enjoyed Usagi bashing into him. It gave all sorts 
of opportunities to wrap his arms around her. But he had to be careful, or she’d 
bash him! His love had a bad temper when it came to him. Again, his fingers 
began drumming on the table-top with impatience. Were the girls leaving anytime 
soon?
"More coffee?" Motoki asked, peering into Mamoru’s empty mug. He glanced up at 
Mamoru to see a slightly glazed look in his friend’s eyes. Motoki shook his 
head. ["He drinks WAY too much coffee and studies like a maniac. But BOY is he 
going to be loaded-er MORE loaded when he becomes a doctor!"] he thought 
enviously.
"Sure," Mamoru replied, swallowing as Usagi rose to her feet, the hem of her 
dress flouncing up to give him an even greater view. [I am such a hentai! But 
GODS I want to kiss her!"] He groaned out loud and let his head thump onto the 
table top. He didn’t care if Motoki thought he was acting weird. He’d gone 
through hell to get this girl! Of course, making her love him and expanding on 
her attraction to him was dragging…a LOT! Maybe he’d have to resort to more 
drastic measures? But seriously-how many more crashes a day could he possibly 
stage? They’d get concussions before she admitted her love!
"Mamoru, are you okay? You REALLY study waaaaay too hard," Motoki said, sounding 
worried. He waited for a moment, but Mamoru’s head never rose. Motoki’s eyes 
narrowed as he watched Usagi across the room. He smiled slyly. "Mamoru!" he 
hissed urgently. "Usagi is leaving!"
"WHAT?!" Mamoru roared, instantly, leaping to his feet. The books went flying. 
He looked over to Usagi and the girls, who WERE indeed leaving the arcade. His 
heart began to thunder in his ears as he watched her wrap her slender arms about 
the giant bunny-and FERVENTLY wished that it was HIM! Not many men could claim 
to wish to be a stuffed toy, at any given time-but Mamoru was one.



Usagi looked over as someone shouted and saw Mamoru there. She glared towards 
him, eyes unconsciously looking him over. He was wearing a dark blue sweater 
today and black slacks. Her mouth went dry. ["He looks gorgeous!"] she whispered 
mentally, then frowned as her cheeks flushed guiltily. ["WHAT am I saying?! 
That’s MAMORU! The jerk! The guy you love to hate!"] She turned her face away 
and followed the girls gracefully, conscious that he was watching her. Of 
course, she tripped over SOMETHING! "Ugh!" she gasped, wind-milling her arms.
Mamoru started forwards involuntarily as the blonde began to fall, but one look 
at Motoki’s grin stopped him dead. Mamoru had to stand there silently as he 
watched Usagi windmill her arms, the bunny went flying-and then she fell like a 
rock. He winced as the blonde fell flat onto her face, legs and arms splayed 
out. She USUALLY had HIM to fall against. ["Oh, that HAD to hurt!"] Even the 
bunny had landed more softly than she had.
"Ouch!" Usagi shouted. "That hurt, that hurt, that hurt!" She whimpered, 
crawling to her knees and feeling her nose gingerly. ["It’s all HIS fault! I was 
trying to act graceful so that the jerk couldn’t make fun of meeee!"] she wailed 
inwardly, angry tears springing to her eyes.
"You Odango Atama!" Rei glared down at the blonde, then reach down to grab her 
arm and yank her back to her feet. "Can’t you ever be graceful?"
"I’m TRYING to be!" Usagi muttered, wrenching her arm away. She sniffed 
indignantly, brushing off her dress. Why did Rei always have to be so mean?
"Oh, Usagi," Ami said, shaking her head. She sighed, standing by patiently as 
Makoto looked the blonde over for injuries.
"She looks okay-except for her nose." Makoto winced in sympathy as she saw 
Usagi’s reddened nose.
The blonde touched her nose tentatively. "Ith it reth?" she whimpered, squeezing 
her nose to feel if it was broken.
"What was that, Odango Atama?" Rei asked almost gently, concern in her eyes. "Is 
it broken?"
"I don’t think so," Usagi said finally, scrunching her face up to wail. At the 
last moment, she changed her mind, throwing a sidelong glance across the arcade 
to where Mamoru was seat with Motoki. ["I’ll be damned if that creep gets a tear 
out of me!"] she thought rebelliously.
Her friends watched her with surprise, waiting for the familiar wail-but it 
never came. Usagi merely got to her feet, a little shakily and stood there with 
a strangely resolute expression on her pretty face. Almost as if she were 
repressing something.
"I should see if she’s all right," Motoki said under his breath, starting to get 
to his feet. ["That looked rough,"] he thought in concern. He DID wonder though, 
why she hadn’t dissolved into the expected tears. Usagi’s wails and tears were 
LEGENDARY around those parts. Motoki looked sideways at his friend, eyes 
narrowed. ["I wonder if ‘Mr. Tall, dark and handsome’ here has something to do 
with her sudden maturity. Usagi WOULD rather die than have him see her act like 
a little kid!"]
Mamoru frowned darkly at Rei, at treating Usagi that way. But he hesitated. 
["This is my chance to prove any thoughts Motoki was having, wrong!"] He put out 
a hand and grasped Motoki’s arm. "Nah!" he said loudly, making sure that his 
voice carried. "Let the Odango Atama fend for herself, Motoki. She’ll learn 
eventually not to dent the concrete." Inwardly, he winced, waiting for the 
imminent explosion. Already, Usagi’s face was turning the color of a tomato.
"WHAAAAT?" Usagi shrieked loudly, spinning to face Mamoru across the length of 
the arcade. She glared in fury. "How DARE you, Chiba!"
"Easily, Odango. You shouldn’t damage public property like that," he told her 
smugly.
Rei giggled with Makoto.
"Guys!" Usagi wailed at them.
"Sorry, Usagi," Makoto sniggered. "But you DO fall a lot onto your face."
"BOY does she!" Rei commented.
Motoki was frowned and looking around the arcade at the staring people. ["Oooh, 
this will be bad for the polls!"] He winced. ["A fight between Usagi and Mamoru 
will set me back!"]
"Weren’t you leaving, Odango?" Mamoru said easily, sitting back down at his 
table. He picked up his coffee and deliberately ignored her. Which was the WORST 
thing he could have done to offend her. ["This is the girl that I’m TRYING to 
make LOVE me?!"] he thought incredulously, mentally slapping himself for acting 
like an idiot. ["Way to make her hate you, Chiba!"]
"Oooh!" The screech of pure rage came across the arcade. Then the sound of 
stomping.
Mamoru thought that Usagi was going to come over and bash him, but when he 
glanced up, she and the girls were exiting the arcade, Bunny held furiously to 
Usagi’s side in a stranglehold that he was SURE she was dying to use on HIM!.
"Wow, I really thought that she was going to stomp on you," Motoki said, wiping 
at his brow theatrically.
"She could TRY," Mamoru replied absently, opening a book. The Odango would be 
shopping for hours. Now, he had to WAIT. If he got up now, Motoki would guess 
that he was following her! All of his plans went out the window at that moment. 
["I HATE waiting!"] Mamoru growled mentally. He looked up at a strangely 
expectant Motoki. "Can I get more coffee?"
"Sure, buddy," Motoki replied, eyes disappointed again. He was SURE that Mamoru 
would follow the blonde! The way Mamoru had almost panicked when Motoki said 
that Usagi was leaving had been a dead give-away. But the way he had publicly 
embarrassed her seem to say that he still hated her. ["Now what?"] Motoki 
groaned, heading back to the counter. All he could do now was wait and see what 
happened when Usagi came for an evening milk shake!



"That’ll be $3.50," Motoki told the little boy, smiling in a friendly manner.
The boy handed over the money, then cautiously wrapped his small hands about the 
plastic milkshake cup and tottered off to where his mother was sitting.
Motoki watched him go, still smiling. ["Maybe one day, Reika and I will have a 
few kids,"] he thought, eyes becoming far away. He blinked, shook his head and 
looked across the arcade. Mamoru was still there, head buried in his books. 
Motoki frowned deeply, smile fading. On the surface, Mamoru seemed to be 
diligently studying for an exam, but every five minutes, his head would jerk up. 
He look towards the doors of the arcade swiftly, almost expecting to see 
something-or anxiously hoping that he WOULDN’T miss something. "Or someone?" 
Motoki wondered wickedly, watching Mamoru intently. Ever since the shouting 
match between Mamoru and Usagi that afternoon, his friend had been like a 
live-wire.
Even as Motoki watched, Mamoru’s head rose swiftly. His dark blue eyes scanned 
the doors, then the rest of the arcade with a startling intensity-then went back 
to his books. Not only that, Mamoru was on his fifth mug of coffee. NOT a good 
sign. Motoki grabbed a cloth and wiped off the counter absently and scanned the 
tables closest to him for potential customers. Everyone seemed happy, so Motoki 
threw the cloth into the sink and headed purposefully down the isles towards his 
unsuspecting friend. If Mamoru had looked up then, he would have seen an almost 
scary expression on Motoki’s face. ["I’m DETERMINED to get to the bottom of 
this! Is he waiting for HER or what?"] Motoki thought, eyes narrowing on his 
best friend’s bent head.
Mamoru head someone trying to unsuccessfully sneak up on him and deduced that it 
was Motoki. ["Why is he trying to sneak up on me?"] he thought, eyes narrowing 
on a page of his book. He waited until Motoki was almost looming over him and 
then spoke. "What are you up to, old buddy?" Mamoru asked suspiciously, 
carefully underlining a paragraph with his pen.
Motoki stood there in a dumbfounded silence, gaping. "How did you know it was 
me?" he demanded, sliding into the chair across from Mamoru. "Did my shoes 
squeak or what?"
"You can’t sneak up on ME, Motoki," Mamoru replied dryly, finally looking up. 
Motoki’s eyes were suspiciously bright and eager. ["Yes, he’s up to something 
all right,"] Mamoru thought, gaze sharpening. ["Does he KNOW about Usagi?! Was I 
that obvious?"] he wondered in sudden panic.
"Suuuure," Motoki drawled, crossing his arms. "That’s why you’ve dropped various 
things-messily I might add-over the last few days when I’ve walked up 
unexpectedly."
"I’ve been distracted," Mamoru said guiltily. Absently, he looked towards the 
arcade doors. ["Where the hell IS she?"] he thundered mentally. Motoki would 
have jumped out of his skin if he knew what Mamoru was REALLY like inside at 
that moment. If Mamoru had been a kettle, then he would have been close to 
exploding! ["Did I somehow miss her?"]
"By what?" Motoki asked innocently, picking up one of Mamoru’s books and 
pretending to study it. He peeked over the edge slyly. "A certain blonde girl 
perhaps? Hmm?" His observation was so casual, that Mamoru didn’t even register 
what had been said.
"What? Yes-she’s late. Where can she be-WHAT?!" Mamoru’s muttered words and 
harassed expression halted as if he’s run into a brick wall. His eyes opened 
wide in shock and horror. "BLONDE? Usagi?! THAT ditz?!" he bellowed, leaping to 
his feet. He leaned over the table, one hand slapping to the surface 
belligerently. "Are you KIDDING?" he almost roared into Motoki’s face.
Motoki winced, staring up at his friend, who was looming over him like some 
demon overlord, preparing for the kill. Mamoru looked, frankly, like he 
cheerfully wanted to throttle Motoki for even SUGGESTING he was waiting for 
Usagi. ["Oh dear. I think I jumped the gun."] Motoki winced again, leaning back 
in his chair with mock-calm. "What are you screaming about then, Mamoru?" he 
said easily, hiding his shaking hands beneath the table.
Mamoru stared at him murderously for a long moment, then his expression went 
blank. He slumped back into his chair, almost falling off the side in the 
process. He straightened, gripped the edge of the table with both hands and 
glared silently at Motoki. ["Just HOW much has be guessed?"] he wondered, eyes 
boring into his best friend. "Quit joking Motoki. As if I’d EVER like that 
Odango Atama!" Mamoru snapped, picking up a book randomly. Of course, he wasn’t 
really reading, but his mind was racing ahead at light-speed. He winced. ["I 
hope I didn’t over-react just then or it’ll take a platoon of soldiers to pry 
Motoki away from spreading the gossip!"]
Motoki smirked as he stared at the book in Mamoru’s hands. Mamoru was reading 
upside down! ["Ah ha! I have you NOW, Chiba!"] he gloated silently. Not only 
could he raise the bets now-he looked around the arcade, to where several 
interested eyes were staring at Mamoru with barely-hidden interest…he had 
WITNESSES! ["Got you!"]
Mamoru slowly lowered his book slightly, peering at Motoki, who was regarding 
him with an evil expression. "Don’t you have customers?" Mamoru asked pointedly, 
heart thundering nervously. Motoki’s expression had been like a demon 
considering a potential sacrifice!
Motoki grinned, getting quickly to his feet. He turned away, heading for the 
bar. "Sure I do, Mamoru. But when did YOU learn to read upside down anyway?" he 
called back, smirking openly around the arcade. He looked at the closest group 
of interested watchers and thrust a thumb upwards, indicating that he was 
raising the bets again.
"Nooo! I’m going bankrupt!" a guy wailed, letting his head thump to the table 
painfully.
Mamoru jerked as he heard the despairing cry, looking around for it’s source. 
But just then, the arcade doors opened and a certain much-awaited blonde 
entered. Mamoru straightened, eyes clinging to her. His blue eyes swept over her 
quickly, desperately trying to hide the longing expression. If Usagi had glanced 
in his direction then, she would have run for the hills at the look of 
barely-hidden hunger in Mamoru’s blue eyes.
"A shake please, Motoki!" Usagi sang out cheerfully, sliding into a chair at the 
counter.
Mamoru’s eyes burned holes into her profile as she accepted the shake and began 
to drink quickly. Mamoru swallowed hard. "You are such a hentai, Chiba. She’s 
fourteen!" he reminded himself, jerking his eyes down from her lips. He STILL 
hadn’t gotten his kiss yet! And a fourteen year old was driving his hormones 
NUTS! "I need to seek therapy," he groaned, reaching out and swiftly gathering 
his books. He waited all day to see her again and now all he wanted to do was 
run for it before he jumped her right there and then in front of Motoki and the 
entire arcade! He looked at the bags at her feet, then all around the floor in 
worry. "WHERE is the bunny?" he hissed in alarm. His present wasn’t there!
Mamoru got to his feet, which drew Usagi’s attention swiftly. She glanced over 
at him, eyes startled and wide. Their eyes met for a moment, seeming to cling. 
Then her lashes swept down as she glared over the length of the arcade. "What 
are you staring at, creep?" she shouted over to him, looking annoyed.
Mamoru hid a grin. For a moment there, their attraction had flared, then she’d 
tried to cover it with a fight. Well-if she WANTED one, who was he to disoblige? 
"Oh, I was just wondering how many helpless, innocent people you gave concussion 
to today, Odango," he drawled loudly, skirting his table easily with his long 
legs and heading in her general direction.
Immediately, Usagi’s eyes flashed with wrath. ["How DARE he?! Oooh!"] she 
thought murderously. And to think that she’d DREAMED about wanting that creep to 
KISS her! "You jerk! I didn’t knock anyone over! And if I had, it would be YOUR 
fault! Ooops…" Usagi broke off, flushing. Her eyes went wide with horror. 
["Don’t TELL him that you’ve been distracted all DAY because you were thinking 
about a kiss!"] she wailed to herself, completely horrified. Her flush deepened 
as he sauntered up to her and stood before her easily.
A mocking smile spread over Mamoru’s lips as he watched Usagi’s discomfiture 
with a HUGE interest. ["Why is she blushing?"] he wondered, eyes narrowing on 
her red cheeks. "And why is it MY fault, pray tell?" he asked her, head tilted 
curiously. "Am I getting to you, Odango?"
"GETTING to me?" she screeched, getting the meaning immediately. ["IS he saying 
what I think he’s saying?"] she shrieked mentally, eyes growing large. ["Oh my 
god! He doesn’t know about the dream?! No way!"] Usagi forced a smile to her 
lips, plastering it there frantically. "What do you mean, Chiba?" she demanded, 
swinging a foot around with a seeming-nonchalance. Inside, she was a mess.
"Why our fights of course," Mamoru replied innocently, watching her like a hawk. 
["Score three for Chiba!"] he crowed silently. "What did you THINK that I 
meant?"
"Yeah…what?" Motoki hissed, stared eagerly at Usagi. He could hardly believe his 
luck. Mamoru had INSINUATED that Usagi was attracted to him and she had flushed 
guiltily! ["YES! I’m gonna be stinking RICH!"] Motoki seriously felt like 
jumping around like a manic.
"That’s what I meant! Ugh! I can’t STAND the sight of you!" Usagi shouted, 
flushed as red as a tomato. ["I can’t BELIEVE that he’s DOING this to me! 
Doesn’t he know he’s driving me NUTS!?"] she thought frantically, reaching for 
her bags. She practically threw herself from her chair and scrambled for all her 
purchases.
 
"Ditto on that, Odango Atama. You’re the most annoying little girl I’ve ever 
met," Mamoru drawled insultingly.
Usagi’s head jerked up with surprise and shock. A strange pang filled her heart, 
a moment before she squelched it under fury. ["I don’t CARE what he thinks of 
me! Arrggggh! I can’t BELIEVE I dreamed of kissing that JERK!"]
Mamoru’s eyes widened as he saw the brief look of pain fill Usagi’s eyes at his 
words, then it was replaced by pure fury. ["Uh oh."] He winced mentally. ["I 
THINK I just went too far."] He’d be lucky if the love of his life-well one of 
them-didn’t belt him into the next galaxy for that insult.
"Arrgggh! Get out of my FACE!" she shrieked at him, storming past in a fine 
fury. Usagi swept out of the arcade without falling on her face once, leaving 
two stunned guys and an arcade full of eager gossips.
"Boy," Motoki said, grimacing. "I was surprised when she DIDN’T belt you, 
Mamoru. You were WAY harsh this time," he observed, watching his friend closely. 
COULD he had been mistaken after all? That fight seemed waaaay more tense than 
usual. Maybe the two didn’t like each other after all?
"I-have to go! Bye Motoki!" Mamoru shouted suddenly, bolting for the arcade 
doors.
Motoki watched with open mouth, then turned to the captive audience. "If that’s 
not a couple in love, I’ll eat my apron," he announced wickedly. Motoki rubbed 
his hands together eagerly. "Now-let’s discuss the stakes again, people!"





       [ Click here to report possible abuse to staff ] 1. Default Chapter 
        Title2. Default Chapter Title3. Default Chapter Title4. Default Chapter 
        Title5. Default Chapter Title6. Default Chapter Title7. Default Chapter 
        Title8. Default Chapter Title9. Default Chapter Title10. Default Chapter 
        Title11. Default Chapter Title