Fate Fortune, and Friendship- Chapter3
MarshAngel
watsonma@hotmail.com
http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm

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would be a waste of energy.

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Unwilling to disappoint Setsuna, out of fear of what she would do to me if I did, and 
the added fact that she had pinpointed exactly what I wanted, I decided to follow her advice. 
Getting around to asking Usagi out was far more difficult than I had ever expected however. 
She was slippery. I kept meaning to do it but I swear it were as though she knew I wanted to 
and she always managed an escape before I even tried. 

I was not surprised she was scared of me after my pathetic behavior that first day. It 
seems every time I get around her I become this pathetic, drooling, horny, boy. I feel like I'm 
going through puberty all over again. A man can only have a hard on so many times before he 
starts punching things and that's precisely what I was doing at the moment.

I was at the gymn abusing a punching bag. A month ago my life had been under 
control. Recently however, it seemed everything around me was suddenly an out of control 
tornado that followed me everywhere I went. My best friend wanted to have my child, while I 
had a growing obsession with this woman I'd just met, and my work seemed to be the only calm 
in the storm.

In that first business meeting we learned Usagi had had the money to finance the first 
legs of the research required and she handled the business end of things for their budding 
business. When finally they had their product almost complete and ready for marketing 
however, they needed far more money than Serena's hefty accounts could provide and direction 
that neither of them had, which is where Setsuna and I came in. As venture capitalists we were 
prepared to sink millions into, what we hoped, would be a successful venture and we'd lend our 
time and advice to make sure it turned out that way.

Working with Usagi was proving to be as difficult as I had expected. She was the 
ultimate contradiction. She was an incredibly sexy woman completely unaware of her own 
beauty. She was confident, but seemingly only when it came to business. She was quiet, 
thoughtful, shy, and damn it she was avoiding me like the plague. 

Whenever I came around she became this skittish little kitten, which was as amusing as 
it was frustrating. I could tell it was my presence she was reacting to. I make her nervous when 
most of all I want to put her at ease. 

I punched the bag hard, sending it swinging in the opposite direction. There was a 
woman sitting on a piece of equipment staring at me in a most provocative way, with her ample 
bosom thrust out for my inspection, her nipples pointing directly at me through the thin 
cotton material of her sports bra. It was as open an invitation I had ever seen and for a moment 
I was actually tempted, mostly because she reminded me of Usagi, whose vision was following 
me everywhere.

It didn't take long to notice the differences, however.  Where Usagi was undoubtedly 
delicate and soft, this woman's body was hard and athletic, a testament to hours spent in the 
gymn. Her hair was long and blonde, but I doubted that was natural, it was certainly nothing 
like the golden wheat-colored silkiness of Usagi's tresses. Her eyes were blue, but Usagi's were 
like a brilliant sparkling lagoon and hers a dull sky. Usagi was ruining me for the rest of the 
female sex and that proved to be one of the most frustrating thoughts of the day.

I punched harder. The more I thought about it the more frustrated I became. I fell back 
on the determination that had gotten me to where I was now. I made a resolution. Usagi would 
be in my bed before the next week was out and I added a nicely muttered curse, a rather 
irreverent punctuation to my vow and as if to say amen, I kicked the bag hard, watching it 
swing back and forth as if agreeing with me.  
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Only a day later, I found myself approaching the offices Ami and Usagi, maintained in a 
brand new office building not far away from mine. This was an easier deal than many others I 
had encountered and things were moving along quickly. Both women were receptive to our 
ideas and I was discovering Usagi had a natural knack for business, despite her inexperience.

I reached the door of Ami's office, and knowing she was waiting for me and wouldn't 
mind my sudden entrance, I intended to push the door open, but rudely, and rather 
immaturely, at the sound of muted voices I paused to eavesdrop on the conversation between 
the two women inside.

...

"Oh please! He doesn't want a relationship with me and I certainly do not want one 
with him!" one of the voices stated emphatically.

"Not to be egotistical Usagi, but I am rarely ever wrong and anyone would have to be a 
fool not to notice the way he stares at you. He wants you so badly it's almost embarrassing and 
you can't expect me to believe you don't find him attractive. Hell! Even I find him attractive 
and I got nicknamed "The Nun," in high school!"

"I'm not a complete idiot, Ami. I think everyone knows what he wants. My problem is 
I'm not sure I'm willing to give him what he wants. He doesn't even know me, all he wants is a 
roll in the sack and he could just as easily find another woman for his purpose. In fact I know 
quite a few who would be happy to oblige. I'd gladly give him a list. If it's my features he's 
attracted to, I'm sure Mina would fit his bill perfectly."

Ami sighed. "Usually I'm not the one to point this out Usagi, but you are becoming 
quite boring!"

"Ami!" Usagi gasped.

"Well you are! An absolutely gorgeous man has the hots for you and all you can think 
of is some ridiculous idea of a relationship, which I assure you is the last thing you need right 
now. What you really need is some fun. An affair with man like Mamoru Chiba is the perfect 
solution to your problem. Life is short, live it up!"
...

I could just imagine her face at the sound of that statement. It must have been a mirror 
of my own. My mouth was hanging slightly open at the words that had just left the mouth of 
one Ami Mizuno. 

She had, to me, been the definitive image of a scientist. She was quiet, unassuming, and 
reserved. She was quite possibly the most brilliant person I have ever met. It had never occurred 
to me, not even in my most surreal imaginings that she would ever make such a suggestion. 

I can't say it was a suggestion I minded however. Any encouragement to Usagi would 
be good for me. I waited a while longer, listening for her reaction.

"Ami? Are you possessed? Should I call Rei or that Taoist Monk we met to cast out 
whatever strange spirit has possessed you? I can't believe you even suggested that!"

"Why not? Neither Mina nor Rei are here I feel I must also share their expected 
opinions with you and for once I agree with them. You've been living in this world of your 
own for a while now. It's time you get out and enjoy your life.

"Besides as long as you know what you're getting into, there's no harm done right?"

"I suppose," I heard her say somewhat hesitantly. My heart - and other body parts - 
nearly leaped for joy at her reluctant agreement. It seemed things just might go my way. 

"He is gorgeous isn't he?" I could almost hear the smile in her voice as she said the 
words and my ego got a boost. I could easily imagine myself preening in front of the mirror. I 
popped that thought bubble, sending the ridiculous thought back to the mirrored halls of 
vanity from whence it came and turned the doorknob.

Guiltily, they both turned brilliant shades of red as I entered the room and I couldn't 
resist a small smile, one that was merely a fill in for the enormous grin I was hiding somewhere 
inside. 
 
"Hello ladies." 
*******************************************************************************************

As it turned out asking her out after that would prove to be much easier although I 
have to admit that I played cat and mouse for a while and this time I was definitely the cat. Call 
me cruel but I felt a certain need for payback after she'd played hard to get for so long. I turned 
the tables, which while it played havoc with the timing of my resolution, provided a sort of 
sadistic satisfaction. 

I knew she was expecting me to say the words at any moment. We flirted, we played the 
games and just when I was breathing down her elegant little neck, making her know just how 
much I wanted her, and giving her the definite feeling that I was about to ask her… I stopped. I 
didn't ask, and by the time the week was nearly over I could tell she was confused and annoyed
 and maybe just a little frustratied and tense.

What I didn't expect was for her to catch me at my game and put a stop to it. It 
occurred in the midst of one of my twisted attempts to set her off kilter and mess with her 
desires as much as she had with mine. She turned around swiftly and asked me out. I was 
stunned for a moment but I recovered. God bless Women's Lib.  
*****************************************************************************************

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