Just A Good Relaxing Trip part 1/2 by Ricci Hi to everyone! I decided to write something less depressing for a change and - well, here it is! It's set during the Dead Moon Circus arc, before the amazon quartet. I believe Usagi is fifteen or sixteen at this time, so it shouldn't be to unusual for her parents to let her spent five days with her boyfriend. No, this story doesn't contain any hentai and part two won't either!! I used some Japanese words for this one, so here is a quick translation: onsen: a hot spring many Japanese visit when going on vacation ryokan: a guest house in traditional style tatami: a rice straw mat, sort of a "traditional carpet" shouji: a paper sliding door koi: Japanese carps futon: thin matresses that are rolled up in the morning and stored in a closet for the day o-furo: a very hot bath, also mentioned in the episode where Mamoru stays at Rei's temple for a night to work on his report. Part Two should be out next week, but don't rely on my word! It can also be that it'll come out in January. But I'll try to get it out before sylvester. Rating: PG Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all related characters belong to Takeuchi Naoko and are copyright Kodansha and Toei. No infringement intended, no money made. On with the story!! ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° "Mamoru! Hey, Mamoru!" "Hi, Motoki." "Oh my, Mamoru, you look terrible!" "Thanks." "No, really. What did you do?" "Would you believe me when I told you I just came back from a vacation?" ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° It had begun so wonderfully. I wanted to go on a trip with Usako (and without the girls) and she squealed with delight when I told her so. Convincing her parents to let her go with a guy they barely knew was hard work, but I seem to have made quite an impression on her mother, because surprisingly Ikuko-san was on my side. And it was only with her help that we persuaded her father. I spent some evenings in the Tsukino household after that, but all my hopes of getting Tsukino-san to talk to me were disappointed. At least he didn't take back his permission. We pretty much tip-toed around him the whole time. I booked a trip to a small town near an Onsen on Kyushu, telling myself that there could be not much trouble there. The only thing Usako was worried about was that Sailor Moon could be needed while she was away, but Rei and the others told her they could cope with that for a week. So all was set, and it promised to become a wonderful week. Just the two of us in a small ryokan, an idyllic landscape and quiet surroundings. Finally some peace and opportunity to talk to my beloved Usako. How wrong I was. I picked her up and we took the bus to the airport. Sure enough the rest of the gang was there to wish us a nice trip. I couldn't help but laugh when I saw Usako had tears in her eyes. We'd only be gone a week! I grabbed our stuff and we boarded the plane. I had managed to get her a window seat and she spent nearly the whole flight with her nose pressed on the glass. Except for when the snacks were brought and except for ten minutes after when she made a dash for the toilet. She looked like a little sick puppy when she came back. "Only another fifteen minutes." I consoled her and put my arm aound her shoulders."Then we take the bus and then we're there." She snuggled closer, closing her eyes and smiling a little smile. I smiled too, but when she didn't open her eyes again I realized she had fallen asleep. Of all the times! I thought but I had to grin when I looked at her. Soon I stopped smiling. I was confronted with the difficult task of waking her. Nothing helped. First I called her name. Then I shook her softly. Shook her some more. No reaction. I patted her cheek. Even pulled one of those pigtails. "Usako! Usako, wake up!" No reaction whatsoever. I felt despair hovering over my head like a black cloud. Then I decided to kiss her. And was rewarded with a prompt reaction. She bolted upright and knocked me over. "Oh! Mamo-chan, are you alright?" The spots in front of my eyes vanished and I felt liquid running down my upper lip. "Oh no, I broke your nose!!" Usako was desperate. She fumbled for a serviette and helped me sit up. "No, you didn't break it." I groaned. But it still hurt pretty much. I accepted the serviette gratefully and pressed it to my nose. "I just wanted to wake you. We're there." Her little red lips formed an 'oh' and a guilty look settled on her face. Despite the pounding in my head I gave her a reassuring smile and took her hand. "Now let's get our stuff, shall we?" She nodded excitedly. How full of enthusiasm she can be! When we stepped out of the airport she stated that she was hungry - again? - and we chose a small restaurant near the bus station. Usako ordered a three person menu - "for you, for me, and for my hunger" - and excused herself to go to the bathroom. I waited for our dinner to arrive and tried to get a look at the newspaper headlines the guy who sat on the table before us was reading. Our meal arrived but Usako was nowhere to be seen. I frowned. Maybe she was sick again. Maybe she had thrown up again and was too spend now to stand up. Maybe she was even unconscious! Stop! I told my overactive imagination. I decided to go look for her. Only when I had reached the door I realized I had to enter the women's room. Sure enough when I opened the door I ran into a tall brunette who gave me a very dirty look before leaving. I took a deep breath and entered. "Usako?" No one was there. "Mamo-chan?" Ah. It came from the last cabin in the row. "Usako? Where are you? Are you okay?" "I'm in the last cabin. Yes, I'm fine, but..." The door of the cabin was unlocked and I opened it carefully. "But what?" She looked at me anxiously. "But something's wrong with the toilet, I think." I frowned and studied her face, but she was completely serious. "Why?" "Look." She said and pointed at the open bowel. My eyes got wide. The water level got higher and higher with every minute that passed, and it already WAS quite high. I started looking for some device to stop it from flushing. "I didn't do anything! I just flushed it, and then it started to rise, and - what do we do now, Mamo-chan?" "We can't leave it like this." Frustrated I gave up my search. Only two inches higher and - "Maybe if we pull this handle.." "Usagi NOO!" But it was too late. The water rushed into the bowel and both of us got splashed. The floor was wet now. And the toilet was overflowing steadily. "Usako - we have to leave!" I grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the cabin. "But - but the water! And our dinner!" "We can have dinner later. Now hurry!" No way I would let such a stupid incident ruin those precious five days we had! We hurried back and I left enough cash on our table to cover our order. Then we rushed out as if chased by a murderer. Only when we had reached the bus station and entered the waiting bus I allowed myself to relax. I felt guilty for leaving behind such a mess, but I certainly didn't have enough cash to pay for the damage and get us out of there on the very same day. Besides, that could have happened to anyone. If only Usako hadn't pulled that damned handle... I glanced at her and found her looking very guilty. "It was all my fault." "No, it wasn't. Anyone who used that toilet would have been in the same situation. That was just bad luck. But... next time don't pull any handles you don't know, okay?" "Okay." she whispered. The bus trip went by uneventful. Okay, people stared at us when a loud rumbling filled the air. But Usako hadn't eaten much, had she? Still, it sounded like we carried a hidden bear with us. I think they were glad when we left the bus. Usako had commented on quite everything she had seen and I couldn't help but think how wonderful five minutes of absolute silence would be. But then again, I had silence everyday in my appartment. So I smiled and let her chat the time away. The ryokan was absolutely beautiful. It was quite small but had a carefully arranged garden we could see from our room. The owners were an elderly couple who welcomed us warmly. "It's been awhile since we had such young guests, ne, Shige?" The old man just growled a reply I couldn't understand. "Oh, and such a lovely little thing!" Usako's face brightened, and soon she and Yasuko-san were engrossed in a dialogue about the city and the shops and flowers and men and the world in general. I don't exactly remember the order because I developped a headache sometime in between. 'Shige' just sat there and regarded me with a cool look, and as I didn't know what to say I just said nothing. When Usako and Yasuko-san were discussing the merits of a kamille bath for your eyes I couldn't endure it any longer. "If you wouldn't mind I'd like to see our room, please." The old woman clapped her hands which sent another flash of pain into my head. "Oh my, of course! I'm so sorry, Shige, you could have said anything!" She elbowed him and smiled broadly at me. I forced a smile on my face. I'm absolutely certain that Shige's eyes held a note of compassion for me. No wonder he didn't say a word. He rarely got a chance. The interior of the room was very classic. Tatami on the floor, some cushions to sit on them. A flower in a slender vase in one corner. I opened the shoji and was rewarded with a picture of absolute peace. The sun was just about to set and sent a golden shimmer over the trees. There was a pond with koi swimming in it and an old stone lantern. Everything was arranged very simple and naturally. This was certainly Shige's work. "It's so beauiful." Usako breathed as she joined me. "Yes it is." I smiled. My headache was gone. I took her in my arms. "And I'm very happy to have you here with me, Usako." She smiled that adorable smile and laid her head on my shoulder. I could feel her heart beating, fast like a little bird fluttering with its wings. "Our first night together." she whispered and I could hear the happy glow her eyes held. "I love you." I said and noticed that I hadn't said that very often. She looked up in my eyes and I just had to kiss her. We laid out our futons together and Usako went to the bathroom. When she returned her face was red like a tomatoe. She looked like a well cooked lobster. "Phew, this o-furo is soo hot!" Right she was as I discovered a short time later. My heart beat faster when I thought that here I was, naked, with the girl I loved behind the next wall. No dirty thoughts, Chiba! I reminded myself. I didn't want to destroy this romantic atmosphere. I emerged from the bath a short time later. You really felt like being slowly cooked in a big pot and Usako giggled when I told her so. She already wore her pink bunny pajamas and I felt a little bit naked with only my black long sweat pants on. She looked insecure and she wouldn't look me in the eye. "No need to be afraid." I said and folded my clothes before I sat down beside her. I took her hand into my own and kissed it. "Let's sleep, okay? I want to get up early tomorrow. There's so much to see." She nodded slowly. I let go of her hand and slid under the covers, turning my back to her. Maybe this would make it easier for her, if I wasn't there to look at every move she made. I heard the sheets rustling and then she was there, her front pressed to my back and her hand on my chest. "Night, Mamo-chan." "Night, Usako." ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° ° Author's Notes: Whew, this is a bit longer than my usual stories, but it is so much fun to write! I hope You liked and I'd be very happy if You could drop me a line. Bad or good, everything is welcome! Thanks to the following people: Sidnei, Jade, Selena:The Moon Godess, Yohann de Sabrais, Lady M. Harris, Mark Berger, Sailor Mac, Luna & Artemis, Sailor November and - Shi-chan!! You should have seen me blushing!!! Thanks so much!!!