Fate, Fortune, and Friendship-Chapter 4
MarshAngel
watsonma@hotmail.com
http://www.crosswinds.net/~marshangel/angelmoon.htm

I don't do disclaimers anymore because 1.) I'm broke 2.) No one would dare sue me 3.) That 
would be a waste of energy.


It never fails to amaze me how much we live most of our lives with assumptions; so 
many naïve assumptions, about life and most importantly about people. My own assumptions 
were at the moment the reason for my surprise, although considering all that had recently 
occurred I really shouldn't have been. I was quickly learning however, that everyday was a 
whole new adventure. I has assumed, at this point, after days of working with her that I knew 
enough about Usagi to predict her behaviors. My perceptions were obviously flawed.

Tonight had certainly been a lesson in never assuming you know everything about 
anyone. Usagi had been quite a surprise tonight and a pleasant, if unnerving, one at that. 

As I watched her sitting across from me in the chic Kamadao bar, I began to analyze the 
situation I found myself in and came to what I thought was the correct conclusion: She had 
resigned herself to an affair with me, but with a surprisingly amazing amount of energy. 
Whatever it was I wasn't complaining at the moment.

It seemed a whole new Usagi had emerged from the shell of the reserved young woman 
I thought I'd known. This wasn't the incredibly sexy 'girl' who'd walked into my office. The 
'woman' before me was of an entirely different species altogether. She was like and American 
southern belle, a luscious ball of barely controlled sexual energy.   

My eyes unapologetically roamed her figure appreciating every square inch of exposed 
and covered flesh, for a moment lingering on that area of her silky smooth thigh where the little 
black dress rode high on one thigh giving a tantalizing hint of future possibilities. Her silky 
dark pink lips that were screaming to be kissed opened to reveal perfect rows of white teeth 
when she laughed that delicate little laugh of hers. Her thick dark lashes fluttered seductively 
opening their soft curtains to expose shimmering lagoon-blue eyes that taunted me with their 
flirtatious invitations. She was simply stunning, more so than I had expected was even possible.

She had chosen this place, seeing as how she had asked me out rather than the other 
way around as was originally planned. This however, was much tamer and far less shocking than 
our previous entertainment. I had never for a moment thought Usagi the type to enjoy such 
entertainment, but I reminded myself quickly that tonight like all my days recently, was just 
one surprise after another.

Almost an hour ago we'd attended a rather 'stunning' performance of "The Word is 
SEX" performed by Team Amadera, a troupe of singers and dancers. It was a rather erotic show 
on one theme and one theme only: sex. I had been surprised by her choice even as I considered 
it somewhat appropriate. After all, it had been a prominent thought in my mind almost 
constantly since meeting Usagi. 

After that 'interesting' theatrical event, we'd arrived here at club Kamadao where I was 
basking in her warmth. I wasn't the only one staring at this blonde goddess in wonderment, 
however. Every guy in the room seemed to have taken note of just how vibrantly sensual she 
was tonight. She was filled with so much light and energy and yet… I think I felt it was all one 
strange erotically tinted vision, a dream world she'd somehow created through means unknown. 
It was a dream I only truly awoke from when the bright morning sunlight pierced my eyelids 
and I awoke next to her in my bed.

There was no forgetting how we'd wound up here, in my bed wrapped up in each 
other's arms. The culmination of days of sexual tension and one special night climaxed only 
when our flirtations ended with the melding of our bodies. I had known all night that this had 
been her intention what I hadn't expected was how good it would be or the way I'd feel later.

Now, when the warm afterglow of exquisite, mind shattering sex had faded, for some 
strange reason, I felt like a bastard. I felt unspeakably guilty. It was like I had taken advantage of 
her in some way and that made absolutely no sense. 

Long after she thought I'd fallen asleep and I'd assumed the same of her, I felt a tear 
trickle down my chest. Was it something I'd done? I suspect it was something I had taken note 
of in the back of my mind but chosen to ignore. 

Her head was now resting comfortably on my chest, rising and falling with my own 
breathing. Her long silky blonde hair spread out all over me as she slept deeply and 
comfortably, one long leg wrapped comfortable around mine. It was a comfortable position for 
me, one I was enjoying in a way that was unusually deeply emotional. We fit together perfectly, 
and lying here like this felt so right and still there was something wrong.

She'd tried so hard to do what Ami had suggested, I thought. In fact, I'd have to say 
she'd succeeded magnificently if not for that one moment. I'd even say she enjoyed herself, 
becoming this other person. It had all been a game though, one she was remarkable good at, 
unless she actually let reality in for a while and allowed herself to feel something, like I 
suspected she had late last night. There was something that had bothered her about what she'd 
done and I suspect it might have been because the fact that she wasn't exactly a woman who ran 
around having affairs and I was almost positive she never had sex on a first date.

I suppose I could have allayed her fears or disappointment in herself, whatever it was. I 
think that's partly why I felt so guilty really. I could have stopped her from feeling like this by 
letting her know the simple truth. I hadn't had any intention of this being an affair. I had 
merely gone along with what she had expected, because I think it was the only reason she went 
out with me. As far as I was concerned, however, this was for keeps.



I was still thinking about last night while I sat at my desk. I had simply laid there for so 
long holding her enjoying her warmth and regretting that I had not been more perceptive 
earlier. It seemed that was a recurring wish lately.

It scared me that Setsuna was right. Even when she was pretending to be this Belle, she 
was so unique, so special. I'd never so much as paid attention to the way a woman's mouth 
moved when she spoke, when she smiled, when she took a sip of a drink. I'd never even known 
how enticing that could be. These were just some of the little things I noticed about her; like 
the way her fingers traced the edge of a glass while she talked to me. Usagi was everything I 
wanted.

Setsuna being right certainly complicated my life somewhat. I had secretly been hoping 
she was wrong and that this lust I had for Usagi would be solved with a few dates followed by 
enjoyable nights in bed. It seemed just one night out with her was enough to set the tornadoes 
of confusion awhirl in my mind, in my life.

It wasn't that I wasn't grateful for a reprieve from my usual loneliness, but it was all just 
so sudden and so much all at once. I felt like I was being overwhelmed by own emotions. It was 
giving me a headache.

"You look like shit." Setsuna announced as she walked into my office. 

"I feel like shit," I replied, leaning back in my chair staring up at her. She was as usual a 
picture of perfection. She raised an eyebrow, and oddly enough she looked more worried than 
the questioning look such a gesture would normally suggest.

"The date didn't go well?" she asked, sounding surprised and a tad bit confused.

I snorted. "It was great. In fact if you ask me it went a little too well." She gave me a 
look that without uttering a word demanded my explanation. 

"She is perfect. Although I have to say last night might have gone a bit further than it 
should have."

"You slept with her," she stated simply grasping that fact instantly. "Why is that a bad 
thing?"

"Last night it was like she was a different person. She was so vibrant, so flirtatious and 
then, we went back to my place and that quite frankly just might have been the best experience 
of my life. It wasn't until afterwards that I realized that I probably should have taken her home 
instead of going back to my place?"

"Why?"

"Because I don't think she's ever done anything like that before. She thinks we're 
having an affair. I guess she figures that the affair will be over once our business together is 
completed."

"How did she draw that conclusion?" Was I just imagining things or was that an 
accusatory tone?

"Ami."

"Ami?" She hadn't expected that answer.

"Yes, Ami. I overheard them talking and she convinced Serena that she needed some 
'fun' in her life and that an affair with me was just what the doctor ordered." I was lost in 
thought for a moment recalling the conversation. "Now that I think about it," I said, "more to 
myself than to Setsu, "I think there was more to that conversation than I caught."

"Meaning what exactly?"

"I think the suggestion was supposed to be therapeutic, as though she were trying to get 
over something… or someone." I frowned at that. 

"I feel used," I said teasingly.

"How does it feel?" Setsu asked.

"Haven't decided completely as yet, but last night… it felt damn good." 
*******************************************************************************************
Around midday I stopped by Usagi's office to see her. I recalled this morning, 
remembering how unnerved she had been to wake up in my arms. It wasn't that she had 
forgotten what had occurred but I could tell she had no idea how to react to being with me. It 
had made for quite a few awkward moments.

It seemed her innocent naivete had returned with the rising sun. Suddenly she was the 
person I thought I'd known and gone was the seductive temptress that had taken over her body 
last night. She hadn't been sure what to say after a night like the one we'd shared and quite 
frankly I hadn't either. I think we chose to forsake words and settled instead for cups of coffee, 
mundane, nervous conversation and a gentle kiss goodbye. 

Now I entered her office intent on discussing what had happened between us. She was 
sitting on the edge of her desk, her back turned at an angle to the door, and a pair of glasses I 
hadn't seen before was perched on the end of her nose. It was, for lack of a better word, cute. I 
don't think she even heard me walk in, she was so absorbed in the thick pile of papers she held 
in her hands.

I approached her as quietly as possible and brushed the soft petals of a single red rose 
against her cheek. She nearly jumped a mile and I chuckled at the sight. 

"Mamoru!" She screeched, dropping the papers in her hand on the floor and whirling 
around to face me.

"Usagi." I stated simply, but teasingly.

"What are you doing here?" She questioned as she dropped to her knees, to pick up her 
papers. 

"I came to see you of course," I replied. "It seems I caught you in the middle of 
something."

"Oh, it's nothing. It's just a manuscript a friend of mine sent me to read. She's writing 
a romance novel. This is the first half."

"You like that stuff?"

"You aren't going to think I'm silly if I say I do will you?" she honestly looked as 
though she'd be hurt if I said I did.

"If I say I do, will you hate me?"

"Maybe," she replied, a small smile spreading across her face.

"Then absolutely not!" I announced emphatically. "In fact, I think you're brilliant for 
reading them, absolutely perfect in fact," I continued. I would have gone on but I'd already 
achieved my goal. She was smiling brilliantly.

"Would you like to join me for lunch?" I asked. "If you don't mind taking a break from 
that engrossing novel, that is. Must be really good, you didn't even hear me come in."

"It is. Mina is a better writer than I ever thought possible, but I rarely refuse offers of 
food so… why not?" 
*****************************************************************************************

I was convinced this girl would eat anything. She didn't want to stick around inside a 
restaurant so we found the first street vendor and bought something to go. I wasn't even sure 
what it was I was eating. What I did know was that it tasted incredibly fattening and it was on a 
stick, she seemed to be enjoying it however. 

"How can you eat this stuff?" I questioned, fascinated by the pure bliss on her face as 
she savored the taste.

"It tastes good! That's how," She replied simply.

"Yes, but shouldn't you be a blimp after eating this stuff?"

"It's a mystery," she replied happily. "My name might refer to a cute fuzzy creature but 
a 'dear and loving friend' once called me a skinny little pig after I consistently ate my lunch and 
at least half of hers in high school and never gained an ounce. I love food!"

I smiled at her enthusiasm. I wasn't too caught up in her to forget the reason I had 
asked her out for lunch however. 

"We need to talk about last night," I stated simply. The smile never faded from her face 
although I could swear I saw her eyes darken.

 "You were wonderful," if that's what you wanted to know," she said simply. "I had 
fun."

"I'm not insecure in my abilities Usagi. What I wanted to know was if you were ok with 
what happened between us."

"Why wouldn't I be ok with it?" She sounded just the slightest bit defensive.

"I'm not sure. Tell me why you were crying last night." Her smile faded for a moment. 

"Maybe you were just that good." She was smiling slightly but there was tentative note 
to her voice.

"Usagi," I warned. "Was it something I did?" 

"No," she whispered emphatically. "Really, it was nothing. I cry all the time you know. 
In addition to being a skinny little pig, I'm also known as a big crybaby," she said trying to 
blow off the whole thing.

"If you wont tell me, I'm afraid I'm going to have to guess," I said. She looked up at 
me almost challenging me to come up with the truth. "Contrary to that seductive woman you 
played last night, you are actually quite innocent aren't you Usa? In fact, I'd make a bet you've 
never done anything like that before. What I don't understand is why?" 

"I don't know," she replied softly. She hadn't denied anything I'd said. "I guess I just 
figured that Amy was right and I needed to have some fun and I thought it was a good idea at 
the time. But when it was over I felt like I was betraying…." Her voice trailed off.

"Who?" I asked. I was stunned by the way my stomach felt as if it would cave in at the 
thought that there could be someone else.

"It doesn't matter, he's gone now. He died." 

I was instantly ashamed of myself, not only for being jealous of a dead man, but for 
being almost relieved at hearing of his death. 

"I'm sorry," I said, expressing both my sympathy and my apology at once. 

"No. I'm sorry," she began. I don't think I am cut out for this affair business; it's just 
not me. Last night I thought if I was more like my mother wanted me to be and if I followed 
Ami's suggestions I would feel better but…"

"I think I've mislead you Usagi." 

"What do you mean?"

"I overheard Ami suggesting you have an affair with me and I suppose I wanted to take 
advantage of that. I never intended for this to be a short affair and I knew that's what you 
thought, when you asked me out. I like you a lot; I don't know if you want to have a 
relationship with me or not but I am very interested in you Usa."

She seemed dumbstruck. She merely stared at me wide eyed. "I don't know what to 
say," she finally muttered.

"Say you'll go out with me again. Tonight?"

"Ok."  
*******************************************************************************************