Emotional Whiplash-- Homura Is Startled!

    Mamoru Chiba TXT: yo! i have someone i need to introduce you to properly, and also a really stupid favor to ask, meet me after school? just out front

    Homura Akemi TXT: yeah i have something to say to you too. *_* i'll brt

So it's after school. Mamoru's sitting on the edge of a fountain reading a book, uncertain whether it'll be Usagi or Homura that actually gets to where he is first, but he's pretty visible. Usual school uniform nonsense, but with a light grey peacoat over it because it's chilly af; books in the satchel by his feet; glasses on his face.

At least it's not windy. Windy plus a large fountain is bad for books.

Homura is suddenly there. She is there in henshin. It's pretty obvious to those who know how her powers work that she time-stopped and walked there. There is a pretty scary look on her face.

She's angry. Angrier than usual.

She speaks in a somewhat severe tone when she says, "Mamoru Chiba. You know that Madoka Kaname is important to me, right?"

Step forward.

"You know that if she were in danger, if someone were to say, kidnap her. Someone like, say, Kyouko... That would be the kind of thing I'd want to know about. That would be the kind of thing I'd want to do something about."

"Right?"

Usagi is skipping her way toward a school she doesn't even attend. Of course, she's pretty sure if these gates knew of the grades she got, they'd melt that such an academic delinquent dared to trespass here!

She spies Mamoru and takes a moment to bask in the happy flutters in her chest, completely and totally twitterpated over him, before she silently creeps toward him.

But wait! Someone else gets there first!

And she's yelling at her Mamo-chan!!

Usagi goes from twitterpated to aaaaangry in two seconds flat.

She is now behind Homura, all angry eyes and flames, hands clenching and somehow, all her teeth are now sharp, pointy fangs.

Usagi is a very protective bunny rabbit.

Do bunnies growl? Well, this one is.

Mamoru glances up when there's abruptly a shadow over his book, and there's Homura. There's Puella Magi Homura Akemi, and she's angry. The words come at him like knives pinning him in place, and then suddenly Usagi is standing behind Homura, swiftly turning into a column of fiery wrath.

He takes his glasses off and closes his book, not getting up, just holding it on his knee.

"Right," Mamoru says calmly. "Except all that happened was Kyouko scared her and took her to Mami's house, and Mami fed her cakes, and then she called me to come get her. I called you when she was actually in danger and the witch showed up. Usako, don't hit her, she has a legitimate complaint."

Homura feels the dark glare of the bunny on her back. She hears the low growling. Her response is to flip her hair out, turn her head around narrow her eyes at Usagi, "Relax, bunny-san. If I was going to hurt him, I'd have done it already."

She hears Mamoru's explaination. After considering it for a moment she... calms down. Visibly. She lets out a heavy sigh. She faces Mamoru again, with a slight resigned frown.

"Frankly, I'm not super happy about Madoka even getting pretend kidnapped. Even if that's all there was to it..."

"I'm willing to let it go. As far as you're concerned, in any case. You did protect her and I'm grateful for that. As for Kyouko... well, she's not in any condition to be confronted about that, either."

Homura still isn't sure about the bunny behind her. Is this who Mamoru wanted her to meet? Well, it's about time.

WHAT?! Hurt him?! DONE IT ALREADY?! Teeth gnash! (She doesn't blink twice at Bunny-san. After all, it is technically her name!)

But then Mamo-chan's asking her not to maim (well, hit, but maim is implied) so the wall of flame is instantly extinguished and replaced with sunshine and rainbows. "Okay!"

She continues her skip around Homura and sits next to Mamoru, one arm wriggling through his. And since they're talking, she shifts the book without taking it from him and tries to read the title.

She's quiet, because they're still talking. "It's like it's in Greek or something..."

"Yeah. I actually did confront her immediately afterwards, and she told me she explicitly did it to piss you off because of what you'd been up to the week before-- I gave White an earful for it, and basically I was going to give you one at the gala but all I got out was a jerky comment or two before I got distracted by Agera stealing your dance with Madoka." The upperclassman sighs and hooks his glasses over his shirt collar, then absently shifts to allow Usagi easier access to his arm. He doesn't even seem to notice his book is being turned; she's casually touching him, moving him around, claiming his arm, and there's absolutely no sign of even the slightest discomfort.

He glances down at Usagi looking at his book. "It is Greek," he tells her. "Hippocrates." Then Mamoru looks back up at Homura, and he looks faintly apologetic. "Either way, I didn't want to be involved in unnecessary escalation, especially since Kyouko had a considerably larger grievance and I spoiled her plans to keep Madoka in cakes until you found out and fought her. She was also sorry about it -- among many other things -- later on, and I'd told her she really needed to start going around and owning her prior actions, and she was working on starting to do that when the Dark Kingdom stole her."

Finally, he gently pulls the book away and leans to put it in his bag with the others. "Anyway. Homura Akemi, this is Usagi Tsukino. Can we actually go elsewhere to talk? There's sensitive information involved."

Homura sees the way she hangs on his arm, looks over his book. They've already gotten this far and Homura hasn't noticed? Has she been so self-absorbed? Wow. Way to go, Mamo-kun.

Wasn't there some reason she was mad about this? Oh right, the other bunny. Sailor Moon. Well, that might still be awkward. Maybe better not to bring that up right now.

"I don't remember any jerky comments. No offense, but compared to my life on a daily basis, little insults just don't matter." Mamoru has done a lot to help Homura. He's built up enough good will for this to not be too much of a thing. Sure Homura has a temper but... when isn't that the case? On the other hand...

"... I don't know what to say. I devote a signficant portion of my life to keeping one girl safe, and then I find out that I've been so grossly lax that she was actually kidnapped and I didn't even know about it? For months? I don't think I could be any more careful without actually making Madoka-chan terrified of me."

"If Kyouko wanted to she could've killed her in that time. I think that's the kind of message she'd be trying to send me. Well, if she wanted to get under my skin, she succeeded. If she wanted me to feel weak and helpless, like WPS made her feel, then I think she got that."

Homura pauses for a good long moment before looking at Usagi again. Introductions are made. "Nice to meet you, Tsukino-san. I think we ran across each other once before, at a hospital..."

Another pause as she realizes something.

"Wait... your name is literally Usagi? I was just calling you 'bunny-san' because of your haircut."

Oops! She's trying hard to be inconspicuous (...yes, wiggling her way through to cuddle against him is inconspicuous, hush!)

Her eyebrows rise, because she'd been right! (Even if she wasn't meaning to be!) "Oooo!" Her mouth forms around the word as she murmurs. "Hippocrates." Pronounced a lot differently than the Hippo Crates she was thinking!

She likes how he's so smart. He has such a pretty brain. (She should tell him this someday!)

They're talking some more, and she tries to stay out of it, though her mind is slowly cataloguing, organizing, and storing. As inane as this side of his life may be to them, Usagi was happy (though not happy he was being mad at) to learn even a little more than what she's known already.

Recognition dawns as she takes her weight off of him, staying upright as he put his things away. The hospital! (She should dress up as a nurse again one day! That was fun. Well...until JEALOUSY but before that!) Also, this is the cover patsy candidate! "Hi! Nice to see you again!"

And then she's blinking as she holds up the end of her hair. "Well, more like a trim. I haven't gotten a cut since before my brother was born."

She wonders if the sensitive information place will have food.

Her tummy rumbles. She ignores it, even though it's been at least an hour since the last time she's eaten anything!

"Mm," says Mamoru to Homura, standing up. "Don't stew too long about it. You weren't lax. Madoka and Mami and I were all uninformative, because literally nothing happened. She also wouldn't do that anymore -- if she were still herself."

He slings his bookbag over his shoulder, arm up to keep it there by the handle, and his other hand entwines unapologetically with Usagi's. (He's so bad at frenemies.) Then he grins briefly and stifles it, politely not actually mentioning the growling stomach next to him. "At any rate, let's walk downtown a little, there are a few decent street vendors thataway and I kind of want some croquettes. A youma ate my lunch, sort of."

He is firm about this walking thing, and so he starts. Once they clear the gates, he notes, "First off, the Dark Kingdom is actually specifically after me now, so far as we can tell. Me, like this. So the Senshi sort of have me under watch; I'm not at home lately and one of them's been meeting me after school every day. Most of them don't know what I do by moonlight. This is a little awkward for a number of reasons."

He glances aside and down at Usagi, eyebrows up. "Also, someone decided you needed to know I wasn't two-timing..."

Homura frowns. She's not happy about it. Not even Mamoru can really stop her from her occasional bouts of self-hatred. She doesn't talk about it out loud though. Instead, she just silently walks alongside Mamoru, opposite of Usagi, as the three of them leave. Unlike the two of them there is most certainly a personal bubble whose boundaries she is comfortably maintaining.

"Dark Kingdom, huh? Same people who took Kyouko-san?" So, now they're after Mamoru. She's told him all about her enemies, but she still knows precious little about his. "They're after you? What did you do? Do you need someone to check on your apartment?"

The senshi don't know what he does by moonlight. Well, Homura has known that for a while. It doesn't require any further explaination. "Riiight. Sounds like you got a problem. If they found out about that, would they try to stop you?"

Homura Akemi hears the last bit. So he's not two-timing? Well, she knows vaguely what he's referring to, but... "So... what, did you reject the other girl or something?"

Homura's not going to say the name 'Sailor Moon' out loud for a number of reasons, despite knowing that name from Moon's very loud and proud self-introductions and justice speeches.

Usagi gasps. "A youma ate your lunch?!" How was he still standing?! If she'd been forced to skip lunch, she's be one undead bunny on the search for brains!

His fingers are warm laced through hers, and despite her worry for what must be absolutely ZERO BLOOD SUGAR in her sweetheart's system, she still has a happy hum.

"If they did know, there'd be angry cat eyes and I'd have an increase of feline stalking." She harrumphs a little. That Luna doesn't much like Mamoru...bothers her. More than a little.

And then she's giggling. "Well, if you're two timing, then technically so am I."

Then, she has a sly grin and a wink for Homura. Not letting go of Mamo-chan's hand, she does a more subtle version of her pose. "And nope, he's still seeing her."

"The senshi have enough of a problem with me and Usagi-chan because of the princess-- that's kind of the other thing, they're pretty sure I'm the reincarnation of a prince, and also the princess' true love? Which is why the extra precautions on my safety... if they knew what I did by moonlight, not only would they not let me fight, they wouldn't let Usa see the guy in the mask, either," he explains as clearly as he can without also not specifically naming names. Though why none of them are naming names at this point is a little beyond him.

He's just going with it.

They're also coming up on a fried food stand. This time, Mamoru's stomach growls. He also ignores that. "So what we sort of need is-- if you can say I was with you if anyone asks, just say yeah I was," he says apologetically. "But-- yeah. Same people who stole Kyouko-san. And I didn't do anything-- but I think they were my friends. I think they were my brothers. In the same past life where I was apparently seeing the Moon Princess. And they've noticed me. Two of them now have said I belong with them."

Something's not adding up here. Homura's confusion is plain for Usagi and Mamoru to see. Usagi knew who she was talking about, too. That heavily implies that she's involved in the magical world.

'If he's two-timing then so am I?' What does that mean?

Oh my god.

Homura has to stop walking. She just stops mid stride, covering her mouth with her hand. She snorts. A muffled giggle can be heard behind her hand. The muffling gets less effective as the volume grows. She eventually has to remove her hand, to say, while still laughing, "Mamo-kun... haha... you mean to say... hahaha... oh my god. Oh wow. What is this a fairy tale?"

She walks up to Mamoru and shoves his shoulder, playfully, saying, "Oh my god. So you've fallen for the same girl twice?!" She's still giggling, trying to catch her breath. "Wow. Yeah, that's a sign or something. "

She's smiling for the first time in this conversation. The first time in a couple days, actually. "Well, I'm happy for you two. I'm glad you two finally got together. He has cared a lot about you for a long time."

To Usagi specifically, she adds, "Also, in case you haven't seen it yet, he's a really good dancer, so don't let him chicken out on dancing with you."

Then the favor comes. Just lie for him? That's all? Well that doesn't seem to hard. "Yeah, sure. That's no problem."

Though... the more she thinks about it the more she frowns.

"This... Moon Princess... I dunno. I have a hard time thinking that she wouldn't just understand. I mean, it's a new life, right? Even if you did turn out to be her 'prince', for all you know she has moved on and has found someone else she loves, and maybe she wouldn't want to give that up for a past life, either."

Granted, as someone who has reset many of her relationships like a hundred times already, she has something of a unique perspective on this.

"Well, in any case... if these Dark Kingdom were your brothers, then I have to wonder... Like... if they could brainwash Kyouko, how do we know that didn't happen to them? How many others have they brainwashed like that?"

The princess again. As always, she is struck by a wave of sadness. (To be honest, it's always happened, just more so since the whole prince thing came about.)

She tries to shove it aside.

"If two certain magically inclined people are seen smooching after certain events, well, progression of previously established flirtation."

And then Homura's laughing, and it's not mean, and it pulls a grin from Usagi. Which turns into a blush. Same girl twice?! Someone put her in a freezer, she's melting! (She likes it put like that! Hand squeaze and an arm cuddle!)

And then, she leans forward in a whisper Mamoru can obviously hear. "I've liked him for a while, too. Just don't tell him."

Hee hee hee.

Wait! GULP! Dancing! Jealousy (WHAT DAY WEEK MONTH YEAR DID THIS HAPPEN) is quickly over ridden by fear. "Oh no!" She turns to look at him. "You don't wanna dance with me, I'll stomp all your toes off!"

And then she's vibrating in place because yay! She wants to hug Homura! "Thank you!!!"

She doesn't, though. She is being very restrained! (But she hugs Mamo-chan's arm instead! Because yay, cover patsy!)

And also, the princess having found someone, oh! What a lovely thought! Happy endings for everyone!

She slips to the stan, while he's talking about generals, requests a sweet sugary bean thing right away, plonks a few coins, and comes back to shove it in Mamoru's hand. (That is probably the last of her allowance. Maybe not, she hasn't searched the couch cushions in awhile.)

"Eat this, protein and sweet, you won't faint dead away from low blood sugar." She nods. Food. She knows it. "I hope that's the case. Mamo-chan's the least Dark Kingdomy person I know." Sage nod.

When Homura stops walking, Mamoru slows and stops too, still holding Usagi's hand-- but then he lets go to partially cover his face with his hand, a slow grin spreading. He peeks down sidelong at Usagi as Homura starts losing it harder, and his face is a little red, but now he's outright grinning like the proverbial canary-eating cat, and he drops his hand for Usagi to steal it again.

That grin's still there when Homura shoves at his shoulder, and his eyes are sparkling. "Thanks," he says. There's a lot to that thanks, too. Homura knows him well enough to be able to read probably most of the layers of it. And okay he's also still red because Usagiiii. And he tells Usagi, "You thought I was a jerk, don't lie. However: I promise you I don't mind if you step on all my toes five times, we do need to dance, she's right."

Then Homura starts getting into the Moon Princess logic, and Mamoru nods emphatically. "That's what I told them! But since none of us actually knows her, I guess they don't like having to risk her be upset--? But she's never seemed like that kind of person to me. And this *is* a new life. What's more, none of us even remembers the last one. So she probably has."

Then she addresses the Dark Kingdom part, and Mamoru actually legit snap-points at her with the hand Usa's recently freed. "That's pretty much the exact conclusion the rest of us came to, as well. Because yeah-- there's no way I could have been part of something like that. Maybe the Dark Kingdom just stole them before we knew anything about it, and if it hadn't been for them stealing Kyouko and Cure Gull earlier than that, we'd never know... but we're going to try to get them back, and find out if they've stolen anyone else."

Then his pocket starts buzzing, and Usa puts a sweet bun in his hand at the same time, so he splits the difference and shoves the sweet bun in his mouth so he can get his phone out. His face falls, and he thumbs out a message and gets another almost instantly. He starts to look like he'd love to be pinching the bridge of his nose. He thumbs out another message and then hands Usagi his phone and takes the bun out of his mouth, "Looks like we're going to the arcade. Want to join us, Homu-chan? Or--?"

'She's liked him too for a while.', huh? It's cute. It makes Homura happy to see it. She's happy, and a bit surprised, for Mamoru that his previous girl issues have worked out so... perfectly.

She keeps waiting for a horrible truth to come out and ruin it. She has to keep reminding herself that neither Mamoru or Usagi are Puella Magi. Such concerns are kept to herself.

Mamoru says thanks. She reads into the layers of that and her smile flickers for only a moment. "It's no big deal. Don't mention it." Whether either or both of those sentences has a hidden meaning, she leaves it up to Mamoru to figure that out.

She is happy for them, they are happy with each other, and happiness is such a rare and valuable commodity for her that she appreciates it when she sees it.

Onto the Moon Princess, Homura says, "Yeah well... if they don't want to risk her feelings, then it sounds like she's important to them. I don't know. It sounds complicated and messy. I could say it's none of their business... but I also know if I was in their shoes I might very well be the first person to say 'don't judge us, you have no idea what we're going through'."

Well, that's the same excuse that she gives for the Puella Magi, after all.

"Change of plans, huh? Yeah, sure, I'll head over there with you. I umm..."

She looks down at her henshin, and she points towards an alleyway.

"I probably shouldn't walk around dressed like this. You know... reasons."

She gives Mamoru a sly grin. "Well, yes, but that didn't mean I couldn't like you, still."

Usagi's face is red when he says he will dance with her, even with smooshed toes. More than once! Happy hum!

She chews her lip before she sighs. "She does. The princess. So, I can't really...upset at them." Even though if Rei found out she'd probably string Usagi by her toes.

At the end, her shoulders slump, but only a little, at the texts.

What's happening? What's going on? She'd been to Ami-chan's late Halloween night. She needs to practice her cheer up routine more!

Usagi grins at Homura and nods.

When she's in the alley, Usagi tips on her toes to whisper to Mamoru. "Can I borrow some milkshake money when we get to the arcade?"

More grinning and-- oh god did he just duck his head? No, no, he just looked away a little bit, but that's almost as bad-- Mamoru's just happy to see Homura happy now, too.

(He's not waiting for a horrible truth, at least. Just for something to go wrong.)

Laughing, Mamoru gestures expansively to the alleyway. "I was wondering when you'd notice, but you could've known all along and I didn't want to look foolish if you did~"

Tilde-talk. He really is in a good mood, despite the change of plans.

He leans down to meet Usagi halfway and says in a low voice, "No, I'll buy you one. You bought me a dango."

Which he proceeds to finally stuff back in his mouth and actually eat this time.