Story Name: Twilight
Author's Name: Hikari
E-mail: Machi_NO_Tenshi@Excite.Com
Part: Chapter 5
Genre: Alt.Reality
Rating: R


 		  	    @ TWILIGHT @ 
		     A Monogatari by Hikari.


Chapter 5:

  "So... How long will you be gone?" She asked, voice quiet as a 
mouse as she sat softly on his bed.

  It was Christmas season and Kaoru had just told Usagi of one 
of his classes' decision to take a trip to Osaka for the upcoming 
New Year celebrations.  "I don't know. Maybe three weeks." Kaoru 
said while packing his belongings.  He was feeling rather un-
comfortable with Hanako in his bedroom, ESPECIALLY after the 
conversation they had just held.

  "I..." She began as she tried to give him a hand in packing, yet 
she retracted her arm. With his strong back to her making him look 
untouchable, she knew that any offer from her to help would only 
damage his manly pride. "When did you decide that you were going?"

  Not turning to look at her he answered, "About five days ago."  
Zipping his bag he turned to her, disgust plainly written in his 
stare. "Kinda convenient for us now that YOU decided YOU wanted 
to see other people, wouldn't you agree Hanako-san?"

  "That's not what I meant!!" She cried, outrage written on her 
face. 

  "NO?  Then what DID you mean?" His voice was ice-cold and it 
scorched her like frostbite.  She knew she deserved his wrath 
but she hadn't expected it to be like this... so COLD.

  "I just..." She shaked her head slowly a single tear running 
down her cheek. Even his anger would have been better than 
receiving the cold treatment she was getting now. "I just meant 
that I needed some time to sort things out." She raised her head 
and forced herself to look at him directly in the eyes. "We haven't 
been the same lately Kaoru-san.  And-" She stood up heading towards 
him. "If you were being honest with yourself, you'd realize that 
maybe this time apart would help us figure out what's going wrong 
in our relationship."

  He looked at her, face a mask of feelings. Looking once more 
into her blue eyes he knew that she was right, things HAD changed 
in their relationship.  Long gone where the days when they would 
take romantic walks along the park during sunset and he would 
profess to her his love.  Beautiful letters speaking of promises 
for the future, never written again.  Even the simple names of 
tenderness used between couples hadn't been mentioned in what felt 
like years.  'When had things changed so much?'  Had he been so 
blind as not to notice what was happening around him? He couldn't 
even remember when the last time they had made-out passionately 
on his bed had been!

  "Maybe you're right." His voice was soft. "So..." he placed his 
hand in his pockets. "Does that mean 'WE' are over?"

  Moving closer to him, she let her hand trace the sharp edge of 
his jaw.  "yeah." She replied softly as her hand dropped to her 
side and she retreated to the door.  "I hope-" Turning towards 
him for one last look, "I hope you have a nice trip Kao-Chan." 
And like that, she exited his bedroom; leaving him to his thoughts 
on the last time he had heard her call him that.


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


  "Well, Mamoru-kun," Kaoru said as he put the last of his bags 
into the car. "I guess I won't be seeing ya for three weeks."

  Mamoru looked at him, a sad smile on his lips. "yeah, guess 
you won't."

  Bringing him in for a hug Kaoru embraced his cousin as if it 
might be the last time they saw each other as they were. "Take 
care of yourself." Slowly, he go into the car and drove away, 
leaving a lonely Mamoru on the steps of the 'Shiawase' building.


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


  The reddish-orange glow of Friday's sunset reflecting on the 
lake gave Usagi a certain sense of peace she had been longing for.  
Almost a week since Kaoru left for Osaka had passed and Usagi had 
been doing a lot of thinking.   Now that her relationship with 
Kaoru was over, the possibility of getting together with Mamoru 
had been hanging around her head.  Yet... it was now HE who had 
someone, for she could not forget about the girl with whom she 
saw him at the mall.  

  The wind started picking-up and as it slid thru her hair, all 
thoughts began to float away.  Only one remaining intact... She 
had to talk to Mamoru.  He had a right to know what had happened 
between them at the costume party.  And she could no longer keep 
the burden of betrayal to herself.  Hugging her long winter coat 
tighter, she walked away from the park.


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


  As she stood in front of the "Shiawase" building she thought 
of how ironic the name was.  'How could a building be called 
"happiness"?'  She could probably estimate that 78% or MORE of 
the tenants had regular fights.  Be them between un-married 
couples, brothers and sisters, children and parents, or simply 
between husband and wife.  Society nowadays was not what it used 
to be... and the thought of a building labeled 'happiness' and 
not delivering it was ironic.  Yet she still prayed that the sign 
which had deceived so many people in their time, would be the 
bearer of good fortune on her one task: To set free her conscience 
and tell Mamoru exactly how she felt.

  Stepping through the glass-sliding doors, she took a deep 
breath as she headed over to the open elevator.  Pressing the 
button for the 10th floor, she began to shiver with fear of not 
knowing what awaited her.  Thoughts of him screaming at her were 
interrupted as the endless ride was brought to a halt on the 10th 
floor.  Now, on his doorstep was her last chance to back-out.  
If she left now, no one would have known she was there, but even 
as she battled on turning away, her hand had already rang the 
doorbell.

  "Coming!" She heard him yell, as panic began to get the best 
of her.  She began to turn around as if to run away like the 
coward she truly was, but the click of the door and his calling 
voice froze her on the welcome matt. "Ye-- Usa?!"

  She slowly turned to face him, knowing he was surprised. "Hey, 
Mamo-chan!" She tried being energetic but one look in his eyes 
and she could tell he knew something was wrong. "Can I come in?"

  Stepping away from the door, he let her in.  Mamoru could tell 
she was worried about something.  It was visible on the way she 
had walked in: twisting her hands in front of her, golden head 
lowered to the ground, walking in like she was afraid of what 
might happen.   He watched her as she took off her shoes and coat, 
revealing the beige turtleneck knitted sweater and black jeans 
she was wearing.  Mamoru wondered how it was possible for clothing 
to look so pleasing on her and as his mind explored other 
possibilities he was almost sure he could imagine how good she 
would look with nothing on but her own honeyed skin.

  "Mamo-chan?" Her voice brought him back from his thoughts.  
"Did you hear what I said?" She was now sitting on his couch, 
looking at him with... 'Could it really be fear?'

  "Sorry," He closed the door. "You were saying?" He headed 
towards the couch and sat on the chair adjacent to it.

  Usagi took a deep breath; she was now going to have to repeat 
the whole thing! And after it had been so hard for her to get it 
out in the first place.  "Listen Mamoru-kun," she breathed. "I 
know your going out with another girl right now... AND I don't 
want you to think that I'm telling you all this now to change 
anything between us!" Usagi looked down taking another deep breath. 
"But-But I think you have a right to know something I haven't 
told you."

  All the suspense was killing Mamoru. 'What could be so important 
that could cause Usak-gi to be so scared?'

  "Do you remember the Halloween Costume Party that Satoshi-san's 
fraternity hosted?"

  "Yeah..." He answered, if a little hesitant. 'How did SHE know 
about that?' He thought, 'She's still in high school.'  "What 
about the party Usa-chan?" She was silent, and now HE was 
beginning to worry. "Usagi-san, how did YOU know about the party?"

  She opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.  Tears were 
now running down her cheeks and all she could manage to utter out 
was a sniffle.

  "Usa-" His voice was soft. "Please answer me." He stood from 
his seat and walked over to the couch, kneeling in front of her. 
"Tell me.  What's wrong?" 'Was she at the party? Had someone done 
something to her?!' He asked himself in thought.

  She looked at him. "I was at the party..." She looked down as 
she gathered the courage to give him her last clue. "Do you 
remember," her voice grew quiet. "who you spent the night with?" 
She gave him one last look before her crystalline eyes filled 
with tears, and as she saw his look of surprise, she finally knew 
that HE KNEW.

  He stood up and took a step back.  This had to be a dream.  
The girl with whom he had spent the night with was none other 
than HIS COUSIN'S GIRLFRIEND?!!  Images of that night began to 
flash in his mind and the irony of it all:  He had dreamed that 
it had been Usagi with whom he was making love back then and now, 
to know it had actually been her...  But, the girl... she had been 
a virgin!

  "Usa-chan..." He sat down beside her on the couch. "Had-Was your 
first time with me?"

  He could hear her sniffle but not a word was said.  Slowly she 
moved her head. "Yes."

  Bringing his arm around her shoulders, trying to give her the 
comfort he knew she deserved, he began to wonder why she had told 
him all of this now? 'Could it be-?' "Usagi-chan, are you pregnant?"

  Her face shot up to look at him. "No!"

  "Then," his hand reached out to trace the curve or her jaw-line. 
"Why are you telling me all this now?" He saw her eyes dive down. 
"Are you sorry that you slept with me?"

  "No!" She looked at him straight on. "I thought you had a right 
to know.  I just couldn't keep it to myself any longer." She 
paused. "Because-because I love you." She finally confessed, the 
emotional release causing an overflow of tears.

  His hand softly began to wipe away her tears, his lips now 
kissing where the dried salty-waters had left their trail.  "But 
what about Kaoru-kun?" He asked, stopping himself before he got 
carried away.

  She smiled. "Kaoru-san and I broke up before he left for Osaka." 
Usagi brought her hand to caress his cheek.  'How soft it is.' 
She thought as she brought her lips closer to his cheek and 
kissed it.

  Mamoru's hands held her face as he kissed her lips.  Her nectar 
tasting like amaretto to him and just as intoxicating. By the 
passion in the kiss, he could tell she wanted him... and he 
wanted her.  Now with the knowledge of how their bodies fit 
together, even more.  But this time, he wanted them to know what 
they were doing, he wanted her to be able to remember everything 
he did to her, and he wanted to remember everything she made him 
feel.  Steadying himself, he looked into her hazy eyes.  "Do you 
really want to do this?"

  She knew what he meant and without having a second thought 
answered, "YES."

  Carrying her over to his bedroom, he laid her down on his bed, 
sitting down next to her.  He looked at her, and in her eyes he 
could have sworn to have seen his future... THEIR future.  Care-
ssing her cheek, he could feel her trembling.  'Was she scared?' 
But the smile she displayed told him otherwise. "Usako, I lo-" 
He was silenced by her index finger, as she sat up on the bed.  

  "Shh... Please," she begged him. "Don't say anything..." Usagi 
hugged him tight as she whispered in his ear, "All you have to do 
is show me how much you love me."  Looking straight at him, 
"Today, tomorrow... and forever."

  That he could do.  Taking her raspberry lips in a passionate 
kiss, he began to snake his hands underneath her sweater, slowly 
pulling it up so that she could take it off.  Bringing her down 
on the mattress with him weight, he began his decent down her 
body.  On his way down, taking every piece of clothing that 
represented a barrier between him and Usako.  Shortly afterwards, 
all his clothes lay next to hers in a forgotten heap on the floor.

  Mamoru looked at her.  She was a glorious sight... (Golden 
strands contrasting the navy blue covers of his pillows, innocent 
blue eyes, sensuous figure) AND she was HIS! With his hands, 
Mamoru began to slowly trace patterns on her creamy skin.  
Afterwards, kissing the trail he had left behind.

  Usagi looked at him.  He was driving her crazy!  Every touch, 
every look was igniting her lust for him even more, and she would 
no longer be able to take the joyous torture of foreplay.

  With a final cry of anguish, she begged him to satisfy her... 
to satisfy them both.  At that, Mamoru sighed almost with regret, 
and placing one last kiss on her now very sensitive flower, 
dragged himself upward to be face to face with his angel.  Kissing 
her deeply, he placed himself into position.  Now, without further 
ado, he entered her causing her to arch and cry out in delight.

  As she felt him move within her, seeing his face filled with a 
glow of happiness, caused tears to run down her cheeks.  The 
wondrous feeling of complete awareness during an act of blissful 
passion being too much for her to handle.  Pretty soon after that, 
Usagi and Mamoru reached that pinnacle point where their heigh-
tened sensations could no longer be described.  

  Slipping out of her, Mamoru turned on to his side and brought 
a tired Usagi to rest upon his embrace.  Catching his breath, he 
looked at the woman beside him.  Ever since childhood, he had 
dreamt of being like this with Usagi.  Both cuddled close, happy 
with each other's presence, comfortable and with a feeling of 
ultimate security.  Now, he was truly on cloud nine-resting 
beside his guardian angel 'Usako'.

  Usagi smiled up at her 'Mamo-chan'... childhood friend, now 
ardent lover.  Closing her eyes, she silently thanked the 
'Shiawase' sign which had not deceived her, and prayed that they 
may be permitted to stay together... forever.  


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


  The apartment's door slowly opened, letting a silhouetted figure 
inside.  The bags he was carrying placed on the floor so that he 
may flip the light switch.  It was around 2:00 am, but for Kaoru 
who had been driving for hours on his way back to Tokyo, time had 
no meaning.  He had left a week or so ago for Osaka, but while he 
was there, he had changed his mind.  He didn't want to have so 
'time' away from his girlfriend Hanako!  He wanted to win her 
back, wanted to gain back what they had lost.

  So now, on Saturday morning, he was finally back home.  Walking 
down the hallway, he stopped outside Mamoru's bedroom.  Boy had 
he missed his cousin!  Opening the door slightly, Kaoru took a 
small peek at Mamoru's sleeping form. 

  His partially naked back was turned slightly, facing the door.  
His arms seemed as if they where holding something... 'Or 
someone!' He thought.  Looking at the floor (finding the 
scattered pile of clothing), Kaoru confirmed his suspicions.  
'So Sawa's keeping him company,' he backed out of the room 
closing the door on his way.  'Mamoru-kun, you sly dog!' Kaoru 
grinned.  Picking up his bags, he flipped the light switch off 
again and made his way down the dark corridor before entering 
his room.


To be continued...