Chapter Six
*cheers* no more teachers, no more books, no more finals, or roomies as bad cooks! Uhh... just ignore that... and read on! *grin*
- - -"Touch the dawn,
Reach for the horizons,
Stretched upon the farthest corners of the earth."
- - -
"Usagi? What are you doing here?" Mamoru asked incredulously, holding the door to his apartment open.
She grinned brightly, her arms laden down with bags of groceries. "I thought I would repay your kindness by cooking dinner. You haven't lived until you've tried my specialty!" She set the bags down on his kitchen counter and rummaged through them while Mamoru looked on in amusement.
"Can I.... help?"
Usagi placed both of her hands on Mamoru's shoulders and smiled sweetly, then shoved him out of the kitchen. "You'll only disturb the creativity process. Go find something to keep you busy, and I'll let you know when it's ready."
"But I thought you didn't know how to cook," he pointed out.
"How would you know when you've never tasted it?" When he didn't move from the doorway, her hands flew to her hips and she gave him a mock glare. "Out!" she yelled, giggling at the same time.
"I'm going, I'm going," he chuckled, retreating from Usagi's territory. He entered the living room and sat down on the couch, thinking of something to do. Just as he picked up a magazine from the coffee table, a loud crash sounded from the kitchen. Mamoru jumped up, dropping the magazine. "Don't worry, Mamoru-san! Everything's fine, I just had a little trouble getting the saucepans and the pressure cooker out of the cupboard!"
He fell back to the couch in relief, and a tiny smile crept onto his lips. 'Oh, Usako.... some things never change....'
"Are you ready to be amazed?" Usagi stood in the doorway, a big smile framing her face. Mamoru took one look at her and chuckled. She frowned. "What are you laughing at?" Taking her by the hand, he led her over to the mirror so she could see for herself. Usagi gasped, then collapsed into giggles. Her normally perfect hair stuck out in several different directions, and traces of flour streaked across her cheeks.
She blushed and hid her face. "I didn't realize how bad I looked." Mamoru placed his hands on her shoulders. "I think you look fine just the way you are." Usagi ducked her head again. "Anou... do you mind if I cleaned myself up a little before we ate? I'd feel foolish if I sat down looking like this." He pointed the way to the bathroom, and she grabbed her bag and rushed in. "I'll just be a few moments, Mamoru-san. Don't go peeking in the kitchen!" she ordered.
Mamoru laughed. Usagi was certainly something else... maybe she was starting to warm up to him after all. Taking a look about the apartment, he got to work to making the room presentable.
A few moments later, Usagi stepped out of the bathroom, hair fixed and face perfected. To Mamoru's surprise, she had even changed into a simple blouse and skirt, enhancing her beauty even more. As he was putting the finishing touches on the table, he turned and saw her standing there and he couldn't help but stare in amazement.
"Is something the matter, Mamoru-san?" Usagi looked down at herself, trying to find any flaws she had missed. He walked over to her and took her hands in his. "Nothing is wrong, Usagi. You look absolutely perfect. I didn't know anyone could look so beautiful." She blushed again. "Stop it," she stammered. "I mean every word," he affirmed. "You just have to believe me."
She tried ducking her head again, but Mamoru gently placed his hand beneath her chin, forcing her to look at him. "What happened to the confidence you always have at the office? That same confidence that's kept me from doing this for so long," he murmured, leaning in close to Usagi.
His mouth was just inches away from hers, so close that he could feel the heat of her blush as his face descended dangerously near hers. In one swift moment, Mamoru's lips brushed the side of Usagi's cheek, edging closer and closer to her lips. Finally he could reclaim what he had been missing for so long...
Just then the timer went off in the kitchen.
Usagi slipped from Mamoru's arms and retreated into the kitchen, leaving him standing in the middle of the room, too stunned to speak. In just that split second, she slipped right through his grasp.
And at that moment, Mamoru made up his mind to get what he wanted. He stepped into the kitchen and stared at Usagi, her back facing him as she tended to the dinner entree sitting in the oven. As she placed the dish on the counter, Mamoru came up behind her, and gently rested his hands upon her waist.
The dish fell to the counter with a heavy clunk. "Usagi," Mamoru said lowly, not moving his hands nor allowing her to move away. "Why do you keep running away from me?" Her hands clenched the potholders surrounding the dish. "I'm not running away. What makes you think that?"
"Because every time I try to get even remotely close to you," his hands tightened about her slim waist now, "you somehow manage to slip away from me."
Her hands suddenly dropped to rest on top of his and she turned to face him. "Mamoru. I'm not really sure what you're trying to accomplish. I know you're interested in me, and I can't deny that I'm attracted to you too. But you keep forgetting that we work in the same office, and that our relationship really shouldn't go any further than that. It would... complicate things."
"Complicate?" Mamoru echoed. "I think things are far beyond mere complication, especially now that you've admitted that you're attracted to me," he grinned as only a man could. "You've just made things a whole lot smoother, Usagi." His hands were now resting upon her shoulders. "Tell me the truth. Is the work relationship the only thing that's keeping you from getting close?"
She wouldn't meet his eyes at first. "Mamoru-san... why do you want to change things between us?" Then she looked up, locked gazes with him and suddenly blushed. "I...I really have to take care of this food, or else it might spoil." Usagi tried turning back to the counter, but he wouldn't let her out of his grasp.
"The food can wait," he said firmly, taking her back into his embrace. "Usagi, look me in the eyes and tell me that you don't feel something stronger than friendship between us." Unshed tears shone in her eyes as she stared at him, then she shook her head. "I can't."
"Then why are you pushing me away?"
The tears escaped down Usagi's cheek. "I don't want to get hurt," she whispered. Mamoru reached up and brushed the tears away with the pad of his thumb. "I will never, ever hurt you," he affirmed, smiling tenderly down on her.
Usagi gasped and started to say something in return, but Mamoru swiftly cut her off by capturing her lips with his own. The food long forgotten, she did nothing but stand there in shock at first. But ever so slowly, as if it were a deeply hidden instinct, her arms made their way to Mamoru's shoulders, one hand snaking its way through his thick black hair and the other pressed against his back as if she were holding on for dear life.
Mamoru, on the other hand, was in heaven. He had waited for this moment after waiting so long to get his darling Usako back. Perhaps things weren't quite back to normal, but as long as he had her, he could survive.
Suddenly Usagi wrenched away from him, her chest heaving from lack of air, and her eyes shone with tears of.... something Mamoru couldn't recognize. But somehow she seemed to be afraid of him.
"That didn't just happen," she mumbled, still slightly in shock. Mamoru couldn't suppress his grin. "Oh, but it did." Usagi shook her head wildly. "I...I can't. I have to go, I can't stay... just forget this ever happened." She fumbled around for her jacket and bag and practically sprinted for the door. "I guess I'll see you at the office," she called out and the door slammed behind her.
Back in the kitchen, Mamoru stared at the cold food Usagi had so carefully prepared. Placing his hands flat on the counter, he fought back against the torrent of emotions waging war inside him.
He was back to square one. 
