Hey, this is kinda weird. While writing this, I really wanted the reader to be able to get the shock in Mamoru's mind when he first finds out. But, since this is a better story from Usagi's POV, I couldn't just SWITCH to Third Person POV and then watch ominously as our favorite tuxed crusader gets the news. So I threw in a half-assed interlude from HIS POV. OK, it's not half-assed, but please don't be confused while reading. I'm not gonna keep going back and forth in the middle of chapters, or even BETWEEN chapters anymore -- as far as I'm concerned, this is the last we'll see of his mind (or lack there of). But I wanted to assure the reader that Mamoru isn't as heartless and cruel as he may appear, nor is he cavalier about the idea of a dissolving marriage. He just didn't know; he really is JUST that dense. Trying to add a glimmer of hope in the middle of all the draining depression thus far. ^^ Anywho, enjoy the Interlude! Oh, and FYI, this counts as a third chapter, so the next one will be Chapter Four. DISCLAIMER :: Insert here. slr_europa@yahoo.com http://www.geocities.com/sailorananke/ AIM :: SeeShelliRun ***************************************** Need Me – INTERLUDE By Sailor Europa "Hai….Hai, I'm going to need those faxed to me as soon as you can manage." I muttered into the receiver which was clutched between my cheek and shoulder. I could feel it slip precariously from my grasp and in an instant I managed to grab it before it had a chance to fall farther. "Right, I'll need them for the depo. tomorrow." I glanced up unwittingly as a knock sounded behind my door. Without awaiting my answer, the door opened, and I helped up my finger, signaling whoever it was to wait until I had a chance to free up a minute. "What? 1AM? Are you insane?" I belted into the phone, sitting upright in shock. There was no way in hell I was going to be able to wait until one in the morning before I could organize them into my argument schedule! I'd have to wait to see what I could and couldn't use, and if they couldn't get here until then….I groaned inwardly. "No, no, I do want them. Check that—I *need* them." I rubbed my bloodshot eyes with my fingers angrily, desperately thinking of the most feasible way out of this mess. "Look, I'm gonna have to be out of the office by then, there isn't any way you can get them to me before hand?" I cursed his answer, gritting my teeth. "It's imperative to the case, damn it!" I shook my head, racking my brain. "OK look, you're going to be working all day to get them organized, am I right?" He answered an affirmative. "Then…What if I have a runner bring them to me at my apartment? Can that be done? So you won't have to get to the office in order to use the fax?" I sighed as be barked about how big an inconvenience it would be. "I know, but you've already told me that I'm going to have to waste precious hours waiting for your God-forsaken memo's! So we're both screwed! I'm just trying to save us both a little time!" As was the custom, he pissed and moaned as much as possible before giving in. He knew that by throwing in the towel on such a big case was ridiculous. He'd be kicking himself by the time the verdict was given if I won – anyone connected to our side would be a part of the big news, and he wasn't about to let that chance slip by. His mutterings trailed off into a plan on action, and I promised I would have my runner at his door within thirty minutes of his call that evening. We said an amicable good-bye and I breathed a sigh of relief. I was grinning as I turned to my one-man audience who had entered just moments before. "Good show Mamoru. I'd just like to see who you're going to get to run his way through town at 9:30 tonight." "I'm a god around here since I accepted this case, Touya. I could have a partner do it in his sweats during rush hour if I wanted to." He chuckled good-naturedly, and walked further into the room. He clapped me firmly on the back and laughed. "Nice to see all that money and sweat didn't go to waste in school, Chiba." He pulled up the nearest chair, and then slapped his feet on top of the corner of my desk. "I'm assuming you're too busy to have lunch with your old roommate? Or is it just you're too good for us all now?" "Nah, I've always been too good for you." I smirked. "But it seems that until those papers arrive I'm going to have a couple hours to kill. My whole case centers around that information, and I'm at a standstill until I can get my grubby little hands on 'em." "Perfect! I had reservations at the Italian place on the corner, but my meeting was cancelled. And I'm not about to eat alone." He offered. I nodded an affirmative. "Great." I answered, patting my stomach. "Best distraction I can think of." ***** "Ayashi. Two." The hostess checked off her list and lead us towards a dimly lit table near the corner window and unceremoniously handed us two menus. Touya thanked her before opening his. We scanned the entrée's and within minutes, had placed our orders with a tall, lanky waiter. "So am I too assume your position is going well, Mamoru? I've heard from the water-cooler that you've been working 24/7 lately." He asked, leaning back far in his chair. I nodded, unfolding my napkin into my lap. "Not quite, but damn close. I don't think I've had a free minute to enjoy in months. The preparation makes me nuts." I answered, smiling despite my melancholy reply. The suicidal plans were almost over; in less than a week I would have my chance to shine. I knew it would all be worth it. "Exactly why I stayed away from Criminal Law. I'll take the domestic side, thank you very much." He chuckled from behind his water glass. "My wife would murder me if I was away that much." I shrugged. " Usagi knows how important my career is to me, and she understands." I saw my companion look away towards the street beyond the window. He watched with an intense gaze, fiddling with his cloth napkin absently. My brow furrowed. Had I struck a nerve? "How are things on the home front?" I asked gently, afraid of the answer I might get. I leaned back, giving him my full attention, my eyes softer as I lead the conversation away from work. He gave me a confused look, and then shrugged. "Just celebrated 3 years." He leaned in real close then and his eyes grew wide. "We're trying to increase the population of our home, in fact." He wiggled his eyebrows and I shook my head chuckling. "And having fun trying, I'll bet." "What about you and Usagi? Have you talked about having kids at all?" He shifted the conversation to my marriage, and I paused to think. We were obviously going to build a family together, but we hadn't exactly discussed it. "No, not recently at least." It was my turn to shrug. "But we both would like to. Eventually." I tilted my head to the side. "Why?" "Just curious." He turned his attention back to the street, and blinked before looking back at me a moment later. "A pregnancy can really bring two together." I stared at him completely dumbfounded. "I suppose…." I opened my mouth again, but the waiters appeared just then with a tray full of steaming dishes, and both our thoughts were averted temporarily. We dug in immediately, words ceasing for the moment. I stole a few glances at my curious companion, and shook my head. He sure was acting strangely, and I wondered if maybe something was wrong. Maybe he wanted to talk about something when he invited me out to lunch. We both finished simultaneously and leaned back, grinning happily. As I exhaled, I watched Touya's expression turn serious, and he began a diligent glare at the table cloth before him. I waited, contemplating what to say next. I was slightly confused; something was plaguing him, and he wasn't sharing. However it was obvious that he wanted to. "Will we be having any dessert this afternoon?" My neck snapped to the side as I faced the waiter who had snuck up on us. Touya's mundane expression changed automatically and looked to me for a response. "I'm fine, thanks." Touya smiled in agreement as the waiter gathered our dishes from the table and left us again. The conversation turned to chit-chat and his tone transformed back to normal once again. I pushed the paranoia to the back of my mind; maybe I was analyzing it too much. Perhaps this case was affecting my thought patterns… "So how long have you been working on this case?" Touya asked, draining the last of his iced tea. I pursed my lips in thought. "About 2, maybe 3 months." I shrugged, stretching. "Not very long when you consider we're going to trial in a few weeks." Touya nodded thoughtfully. "Keeps you busy, I'll bet." He added, absently. "How long do you spend at the office each day?" He looked down in an effort to act nonchalant. I watched him closely. "On average?" "I dunno… 12 hours during the day." I responded. "But you go back at night, ne?" He prodded, leaning in to the table a bit. I gave him a suspicious glare and nodded. "Yeah, sometimes." He leaned back, apparently satisfied for the mean time. I felt my chest tighten; I was utterly confused. The normal patter that ensued between us had turned almost ugly. I felt interrogated. "How does Usagi feel about that?" He asked suddenly, and I looked up and stared him straight in the eyes, wondering exactly how my wife had entered the conversation. "Why?" I bit out, then checked my tone and retraced my phrase a bit. "I mean, why does that matter?" I inquired, semi-rhetorically. I was baffled by his agenda; the conversation had been routinely about work and our present cases, and suddenly personal life was intertwined. My eyes bore into his; he had to have some motivation behind this line of questioning. Otherwise it was completely absurd. "Just curious, that's all." He shrugged, his stance loosening a bit as it had before when I retorted. "I haven't seen you in a while, and I know how things can go south, fast…" "Yeah, but this is far beyond the normal "How's the wife?" crap, Ayashi." I sat back up at full attention. "And you keep bringing up the idea families in the middle of a discussion I thought had originally been about the case!" My voice rose, and Touya began to get uncomfortable. I took a quick look around and found a few other restaurant's patrons beginning to eye us, perturbed, and I lowered my voice. I inhaled deeply, and then regained my glare. "What the hell is wrong with you today, Touya?" "Mamoru…." He began. I watched his face fall, and my heart sunk to the floor as the mood shifted considerably. I waited impatiently as he chuckled in spite of his nature and wrung his face nervously in his massive hands. "I didn't invite you to lunch to talk about the case." "Yeah, no shit." I bit out, and expected to get a mindful look of disdain from him, but he simply sighed and stared towards the street beyond that window again. I narrowed my eyes at him, feeling my own palms get clammy at the site. "I know I'm suppose to have an attorney-client privilege, but…. I thought that…." He trailed off, and I watched him search for the words he wanted to say. I had absolutely no idea what he was getting at, at this point, and was about to snap completely if he didn't just skip to the point. I clenched my jaw anxiously and exhaled as loudly as possible, hoping he could see just how ungrateful I was at him wasting my time. He looked up, and I watched the pity just pour from him. "Mamoru, Usagi filed for divorce yesterday. With me." ********************************************************* HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Does that get old? I hope not. You'll find I do it a lot. It's like a fit of evilness. In fact, here comes another one - MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! I do an EXCELLENT anime villainess cackle. Just ask Ely. Enjoy? No? Yes? NO?! Well, who asked you anyway. Pffft. See if I send you any Christmas cards. slr_europa@yahoo.com http://www.geocities.com/sailorananke/ AIM :: SeeShelliRun