@TWILIGHT@
A Monogatari by Hikari.
E-mail: <Machi_NO_Tenshi@Excite.Com>
Rated: PG
Genre: Alt.Reality
Part: chapter 9


AN:
	I think you've waited for this chapter long enough, 
but, there are some things I want to point out to you.  I really 
don't know how many of you remember that in the prologue for this 
story I mentioned that Mamoru had come back to Tokyo to face his 
past.  Past of what you ask?  That's exactly the questioned I never 
answered or mentioned again.
	Quess what people?!  YOU FINALLY GET TO FIND OUT!  So read 
on as I proudly present...


Chapter 9:


	"WHAT?!!"

	"You heard me."

	"But-but... I don't understand."

	She sighed as she tried to gain control of her patience.  
He was making this more difficult than it was.  "I said-"

	"I know what you said!"  He cut in.  "But how did you 
know where Kaoru-kun was staying all this time?"

	Makoto grew silent over the phone.  She remembered what 
had happened inside her bedroom a couple of nights ago.  She also 
recalled the note she received from Kaoru the day after, telling 
her of his whereabouts.  She took a deep breath.  "Because that's 
where he went to after he left my apartment."

	Mamoru heaved a sigh as he fought to understand.  "And 
since when do you know this?"

	"Since two weeks ago."

	"Makoto-san, may I ask you a favor?"  Mamoru inquired as 
he looked for pen and paper.  "Could you give me the address of 
where he's staying?"

	"Alright."  She thought for a moment.  'I hope that if 
Hanako-san is with Kaoru-kun right now, she gets caught.  She 
doesn't deserve Kao-chan... or his cousin!'


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


	He looked intently into her eyes.  The blue irises were 
glazed over with an ice curtain... they seemed lifeless.  He stood 
from the chair and walked over to the window.  "Why are you doing 
this Usagi-san?  Are you doing this for Mamoru-kun?"

	Usagi gasped as she heard her real name being pronounced.  
Sure, Kaoru had called her Usagi before, but never like he had 
today.  "I-" Usagi thought for a second.  "No, Kaoru-san... I am 
not doing this *for* Mamoru-san.  I'm doing this *because* of him."

	"What do you mean?"

	She looked down at her feet.  They where naked.  "You know 
Kaoru-san... I have known Chiba Mamoru-san for seventeen years of 
my life."  Usagi shook her head.  "No, that not right.  It only 
seems as though I've known him for that long.  In truth, we only 
met by accident when we were children."  Her toes began to wiggle 
as she began to relate her childhood to him.

	"I was running through the park one day, trying to catch 
a butterfly and tripped on a -on something- " She said waving her 
hand in the air, dismissing it's importance.  "And laughing in 
the background was the voice of the most annoying boy I could ever 
imagine.  But when I stood up and gave him an angry look, he 
completely ignored my dislike for him and rushed forward to see 
why my knee was bleeding."  Usagi smiled in remembrance.  "From 
that day we became friends."

	Kaoru raked his fingers through his hair.  "I still don't 
understand why you're doing this!?!"

	Usagi got on her feet and walked to the window staring 
solemnly at the emerging neon lights of Tokyo during the 
commencement of sundown.  "I thought he had died." She took a 
quick glance at Kaoru's confused face.  "Mamoru-san, I mean.  I 
thought he was killed in the accident with his parents."  Usagi 
leaned against the wall, her body relaxing somewhat as she thought 
of him.  "I was so relieved when I found out he was still alive...  
but being in Tokyo was hurting him."  She closed her eyes.  "It 
still is."

	Kaoru examined her features.  She was holding back 
something, but he couldn't tell what.  He tried urging her on.  
"What is?"

	"All this time, ever since he got here, Mamoru-san has 
been wanting to face something yet he hasn't had the guts to do it."

	"Do you know what that is?"

	Usagi turned, looking him straight in the eyes. "Kaoru
-san, what do you call a child withoutt parents?"

	He gave her a strange look.  "An orphan.  Why?"

	"That's what Mamoru-san is.  An orphan."

	"That's not true."  Kaoru began to pace the room.  All 
of Usagi's beating around the bush was starting to tick him off.  
"He has me and my dad."

	"You don't get it.  That's not the same!!"  Usagi threw 
her hands in air.  "When Mamoru-san was little he was made to 
believe that his parents still existed even thought they where 
dead.  By the time he realized they were never coming back, it 
was too late for him to feel as though he really belonged in your 
family."

	"But-"

	"Kaoru-san..." Usagi said barely above a whisper.  "He's 
never had the courage to look upon his parent's grave."  She 
lifted her face to him, her eyes now glistening with tears.  
"That's why I'm doing this.  Because I refuse to let Mamo-chan 
lose the only family that he has left.  I want to see him happy.  
So go ahead," she screamed.  "Indulge yourself!  But plea-"

	Usagi was silenced as Kaoru's hand made contact with her 
cheek.  "BAKA!"  He yelled at her.  "You just contradicted 
everything you said!  You don't want to hurt Mamoru-kun... but 
look at what you're saying!"  Kaoru's eyes filled with anger.  
"Do you really think he'd be happy to know what you came here 
to do?!"

	She touched her cheek.  Never in her life had she been 
truck by a man.  Rage simmered beneath her shock.  'It's true.'  
She thought.  'Everything Kaoru was saying was true.'

	"But do you know what's most insulting Usagi-san?"  His 
eyes softened as he held out his hand to help her up.  "That you 
would think sleeping with you was my ultimate goal."

	"I never meant-"

	"I know."  He cut her off.  "I know that's not what you 
meant.  I suppose that's my fault too, you see, I wasn't very 
honest with you when we began our relationship.  I really only 
wanted to be the boyfriend of Hanako, the famous model.  My 
mistake was overlooking that you were more than just a celebrity.  
You where also a bright teenage girl."

	"Kaoru..." She whispered softly, unable to believe the 
revelation he was making.

	"Unfortunately," he sighed.  "The knowledge of who I 
really love came too late."

	Usagi looked up at him.  "What do you mean?"

	"I mean that the girl I really love hates me."

	"And who's she?"

	"Suzuki Makoto-san."

	A startled gasp escaped from Usagi's throat.  "Who did 
you just say?"

	"Mako-chan." He repeated.  "You know, the girl that used 
to be my roommate."

	"Yes, I know who you meant."  She took a deep breath.  
"Do you really love her?"

	Kaoru lowered his gaze, for holding it steady was becoming 
difficult to do.  "Yes."  He breathed out silently.  "But she 
doesn't love me back."

	"Listen Kaoru-san," Usagi spoke while placing her shoes 
on at the entrance.  "Go back to Mamo-chan and speak with him.  
But don't tell him that I was here.  I'll talk to Makoto-san."

	"Usagi!"  But before he could answer, she was out his door.


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


	Usagi stood inside a telephone booth, looking through 
the directory book with the hope of finding Makoto's home address.  
She had been in such a hurry to get to her house, she had forgotten 
she didn't know where Makoto lived.  But as she skimmed through 
the pages, luck was on her side.  There, in black kanji on the 
white page was her name, phone number and home address.


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


	'Should I go?'  Mamoru thought while he drank a hot cup 
of chocolate, curled up in his favorite chair.  'What if he doesn't 
want me there?  Will he kick me out?  Would I get into a fight 
with him?'

	"Argh!"  He cried in desperation.  "I'm not about to let 
the only family I have break up!"  Putting his cup on the coffee 
table, he got up and grabbed his coat.  "I'm going."

	At that instant, his doorbell rang.

	Mamoru went to open the door and took a step back.  
"Kaoru-kun!!"


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


	"Listen Tsukino-san," Makoto began from her doorway.  
"You and I have nothing to talk about.  I already gave you Kaoru
-kun's phone number and address, what  more do you want?"

	"Please.  Could I just come in for a couple of minutes?"  
Usagi was beginning to doubt the success of her appearance here.  
"I just want to talk to you."

	Makoto looked at her.  'No wonder Kao-chan loves her.'  
Usagi was so beautiful.  "Alright."  Makoto gave up.  "But you 
can only stay for five minutes."  She led the way in.  "I have 
other stuff to do."

	"That's fine by me."  Usagi answered as they reached the 
living room.

	Then after both had taken a seat, Makoto asked, "So what 
is it you want to talk to me about?"

	"Makoto-san," Usagi began as she leaned forward.  "What 
is it that you feel for Kaoru-san?"

	Her face turned shades.  "What are you talking about?"

	"I mean, are you attracted to him?"

	'She's trying to ridicule me!!'  Makoto thought as anger 
rose in her veins.  "NO!  I think of him just as a friend."  She 
arose from the chair as she glared down at Usagi.  "And if Kaoru
-kun is what you came to talk to me abbout, you can save your 
breath.  I know he's yours even though you don't deserve him.  
So just *go* and leave me alone!"

	"Makoto-san, you don't understand," Usagi said as she 
walked over to her side.  "That's my point.  Kaoru-san isn't 
mine...  he loves you."

	Makoto turned to look at her.  'She must be joking... 
right?'  But Usagi's eyes were steady.  Then, in her mind, she 
thought back to the night she had kicked Kaoru out.  Could he 
really have been thinking of her?  "You're lying!"  Makoto 
screamed.

	"No I'm not."  She tried to get closer to her, but for 
every step she took, Makoto took two.  "If you just listen to 
him...  If you just listened to yourself..."

	Makoto went over to the door and swung it open.  "Please 
*leave*."

	"Alright."  Usagi picked up her purse and walked towards 
the exit.  Then, facing her before she left, Usagi made her last 
attempt.  "Just think about what I said to you, ok?"

	Usagi heard no answer from Makoto.  But as she stepped 
outside, she was surprised she didn't hear the door slam shut 
behind her.


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


	"Tadaimasu!"  Usagi sang as she walked inside Mamoru's 
apartment.

	"Okaerinasai."

	Her body froze momentarily as the two answering voices 
hit her.  She quickly discarded her shoes and ran to the kitchen.  
She hadn't been wrong... they were both there!  Usagi smiled 
broadly as she bowed down to them.  "Konbanwa Kaoru-san.  Konbanwa 
Mamo-chan."

	Mamoru immediately noticed the way in which she had said 
his name.  A warmth filled inside of him as he found relief .  
Whatever had been troubling his Usako this afternoon was done 
and over with.

	Mamoru gave a glace back at his cousin and saw him nod.  
Taking Usagi in his arms, he kissed her lips.  Softly as first... 
then, with more intensity.  He heard her moan as he pulled away 
a little, suckling gently on her lower lip.  Breaking the kiss, 
he smiled down at her.

	Now, everything was perfect.  He had the girl of his 
dreams and the brother he had thought he'd lost.  So what if 
things hadn't gone the way he'd planned when he first arrived 
in Tokyo.  Nothing usually does.  He didn't have to face his 
past... he could just put it behind him.  Right?



To be continued...

+~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~++~+

Well people...

	This *IS* the last "chapter" because next will be the 
"epilogue".  I'm so sad this story's over but it gives me the 
time to start my other fics.
	Which, as a plug, I'll start to advertise:  
It's an original story set in the flower district of Gion, Kyoto, 
staring one of my favorite anime couples.   Also, I am happy to 
mention that for this story I'll get help co-writing it with the 
fabulous LAZ!!
	I think this means that since it's two creative brains 
instead of one... that the stories will be out faster.  I'll try 
to prove this theory correct.
	The title you ask?  You'll soon find out.  (Hopefully)

MINNA-SAN, JYA NE!!

att: Hika-chan