Entrapment
July 2042
Usagi woke to a pattern of reflected water upon her bedroom wall. Lying on her side, her first night’s solid sleep since arriving in Portugal with her husband. It had been six months since she said her farewells to her mother, father, her sisters and friends back home in Japan.
Six months spent living with a man she barely knew and hated. Usagi found herself trapped within a loveless marriage, to serve her country and the world.
These things aren’t supposed to happen in the twenty-first century, are they? She asked herself each day. But the stakes being as high as they were, meant the end of her normal life back home at the palace -- all for the love of her people? Yeah right! She missed her family dreadfully, but in the past months, she and her husband, Mamoru, or Endymion -- if she was going to address him that intimately, it would be when hell froze over – well, having set aside their differences, they’d called an end to hostilities, beginning the day Usagi first arrived in this beautiful, yet alien land.
Usagi realized she wasn’t alone. Turning on her back, she came face-to-face with her sleeping husband. Not knowing whether to be scared or concerned, she didn’t move. Though married to the son of a Chinese Emperor, she was a virgin, and refused to allow him to touch her. He had assured her that until she was ready, he would not make unwanted advances. Watching him sleep, she observed he was quite handsome when not scowling at her. With jet-black hair, tanned skin and a five-o’clock shadow upon his jaw line, Usagi realized how lucky she was not to be married to an obese git, who took women by force.
As she continued to watch him sleep, Usagi recalled the fateful day they first met. She was shopping with her mother and her sister when she bumped into the tall, dark and well-mannered young man in a blue three-piece Armani suit, causing her to drop all her shopping bags onto the floor. He had been very kind, offering to help gather her items and was the perfect gentleman. But when Usagi had found out that her parents had orchestrated this meeting, hoping this would spark a natural rapport between the good-looking young man and the Crown Princess, she hit the roof.
This pairing -- she was constantly reminded -- would lay the foundation stone to build the new Pan-Asian Federation with Tokyo as its capital. Usagi’s mother had explained its merits, saying it would help offset the enormous ecological and economic disasters that had swept the world over the last thirty years. It was all white noise to Usagi. The arguments her mother offered as excuses to fulfill her – duty – spouting the new philosophy of Asia leading the world out of its current chaotic mess had little to do with her. She had told them that the world could get itself out of its own mess, thank you very much. She just wanted to continue living her life the way she had been and grow up like a normal teenager albeit a royal teenager. “And that wouldn’t be anytime soon!” she had shouted, stomping out of the throne room and refusing to speak to anyone for a week afterwards.
But she relented, grudgingly. But what else was there for her to do. When it came right down to it, she knew in her heart she had to go through with this charade, no matter her misgivings and her post-modern kick-ass attitude. Her people did come first, and from the heart, she embraced her fate. But all this big picture stuff aside, when Usagi found out whom he was and what was expected of her, she hated him with a passion.
Just then, Mamoru stirred and his eyes shot open, looking straight into Usagi’s cerulean-blue orbs, his smile, warm and friendly, so much, so that she couldn’t help but smile back.
“May I ask what scared you out of your bed and into mine?” Usagi asked, still smiling at his boyish expression. His features had immediately changed. Seamlessly, it seemed to her. In that moment, he looked away. Without a word, he climbed out of bed, and in three easy strides crossed the floor and opened Usagi’s bedroom windows to let in the day’s warmth and welcome light –ignoring her question, keeping his back to her. She sighed before continuing, “okay…you don’t have to tell me,” Usagi said, getting out of bed and went straight towards her dressing table, and sat demurely upon the soft-velvet covered stool and brushed her hair -- tying it up in its customary plaits.
She rose, checked her reflection in the mirror before moving to the doorway, and paused before turning on the threshold and looked at his back that framed the floor to ceiling window where he stood looking out onto the garden.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” she asked, keeping her tone light.
“Please,” Mamoru replied, without turning.
~*~
Mamoru heard her go down stairs and put the kettle on. He continued to stare into the lavish gardens outside, lost in his thoughts. In the six months of their marriage, Usagi had never asked what it was that scared him so, even though she had confided in him her own fears and insecurities. His nightmares had often plagued him, but he had always been able to deal with his demons alone – at least until last night -- the worst he had experienced in years. The dream shook him to the core and he sought refuge in his wife’s bed for comfort. But as he watched her sleep, and calmed with the rising and falling tides of her breathing, he couldn’t bring himself to wake her.
Turning to look at the bed, Mamoru remembered how soft and warm she had felt as he wrapped his arm around her from behind and had fallen into a peaceful sleep next to her. He had hoped to leave her room before sunrise, but she had beaten him to it, and in a way, he was glad she did.
He turned away from the window and left the room, and went downstairs into the kitchen to find Usagi poring hot water into a mug of instant coffee and add milk. He watched her from behind as she put the kettle down, stirred the coffee, just as the toast popped up. Taking the toast from the toaster, Mamoru snuck up behind her, and wrapped an arm around her waist and took his coffee, giving her a start.
“Oh, it's you. I was wondering when you were going to come down,” Usagi said, arching an eyebrow and blinking those stunning blue-eyes, as she buttered the toast. But as she was about to return the butter to the refrigerator, Mamoru wound his free arm about her slim waist in a gentle hug.
“I don’t like to discuss my nightmares, Usagi,” Mamoru whispered in her ear. “But I thank you for not having a go at me when you found me in your bed.”
“You’re welcome,” Usagi answered, holding onto the arm encircling her waist, while Mamoru rested his chin upon her shoulder. It was on rare occasions like this, Usagi hoped they might become friends. But when it came to her, he was always a little withdrawn -- she too shared this trait -- in her case, it was to a lesser extent. But until this moment, she never questioned it.
“Where do you want to go tonight, Angel?” Mamoru asked, as he released her. They always ate out at night, except on Sundays, when they stayed indoors and had pizza delivered to the villa.
“I’m not sure,” Usagi said, moving about the kitchen putting things away and cleaning up. “Is there anywhere you haven’t taken me?” she asked, picking up the plate of toast and offered him a piece. Taking the plate from her with a wicked smile, Mamoru went outside into the warm morning sunshine, keeping the plate out of Usagi’s reach until they were by the outdoor swimming pool.
“Do you like Chinese food?” he asked as she managed to grab a piece of toast from the plate before he whisked it out of reach.
“Yes,” she replied, after swallowing a mouthful of toast.
“Good…I know just the place to take you tonight. By the way, are you planning on swimming today or sunbathe, or both?” Mamoru asked, good-naturedly, as he gave her back the plate and nicked the last piece of toast.
“A bit of both I think. What are you going to do to day?” Usagi asked, arching an eyebrow at Mamoru’s quick demolition of the remaining piece of toast she had her heart set on.
“Work at the Chinese Embassy, I’m afraid,” Mamoru, replied, his tone rueful as he settled himself into a chair by the edge of the glistening pool.
“No your not,” Usagi said, with conviction. “You have been working for two weeks straight and you’re never in a very good mood at the end of the day. Instead, you will spend the rest of the day relaxing in this pool.”
“You know me only too well, Usagi, and how I get so caught up in my work, don’t you?” Mamoru answered, smiling at her determined expression.
Usagi knew it was true. From the very start, she had always made sure he’d take a few days off from his duties as heir apparent to the Imperial throne of his father, Emperor -- after working solid for a week or so. It had bothered Mamoru at first, but in the last few weeks, he had begun to enjoy the time he spent with her.
“Yes, and don’t you think for a single second that you’re getting out of it, Mamoru.”
Looking at her azure eyes, he thought maybe today they might just get along without any arguments coming between them.
“Ok. You win...I lose. After all, who am I to complain when you haven’t said a thing in two weeks,” Mamoru replied, giving her a smile that was simply pure wickedness.
After breakfast, they talked for a while and digested their breakfast before changing to go for a swim in the pool. Usagi, with towels draped over one tanned arm, and sun block in her hand, felt a sense of light-heartedness she’d not felt in months. She couldn’t put her finger on what it was that had made her so happy of late, but she didn’t particularly care right now. Just then, she looked up and her breath caught in her lungs at the sight of him -- her husband standing on the veranda in his swimming trunks. She’d seen him like this before, but each time, she found herself breathless and a little bashful.
As Mamoru made his way toward her, she kept her eyes down, unaware of his approach, and surprised by the kiss brushing her cheek. He straightened, picking up the sun-cream that lay on the table as he passed. She stood rooted to the spot for a second or two, before moving with graceful strides towards her seat, and sat in a comfortable position as the sun danced upon her amber skin. Usagi was a little surprised, but only a tad. The way he kissed me seems so natural. What is happening to me? Why do I feel so warm and calm? She asked herself. But the thought escaped her as he came up behind her and started rubbing sun-cream into her back and shoulders -- his touch, softer than usual. Usagi closed her eyes as his fingertips caressed the back of her neck.
“Would you do my back now, my sweet?” Mamoru whispered in her ear, sending chills through her.
“Okay,” she replied, breathless at the appealing suggestion, taking the proffered cream from him as he offered his back to her. After covering his skin with the creamy sunscreen, Usagi drew her gaze away from his bronzed body, not only to apply cream to her arms, legs and waistline, but also to pull herself together before Mamoru realized the affect he was having on her.
While Usagi adorned her lithe body in sunscreen, Mamoru threw in all the floats he’d bought for her to use in the water.
Gliding towards the waters edge like a reluctant siren, she brushed a strand of gold from her face and tiptoed towards the pools edge, “ah…this is freezing!” She cried as she stepped gingerly down the marble steps into the pool.
Mamoru laughed at her reaction to the waters chill, “what on earth are you laughing about?” she demanded.
“You; you always complain that it’s cold.”
“That is because it is cold,” she retorted.
“I doubt it.” Mamoru said, offering her a mischievous grin and threw her a float upon which she could sunbathe.
“Why don’t you get into the water then?” Usagi demanded, as she climbed atop her float.
“All right…I will,” Mamoru replied bowing and offered an impish grin. Walking to the deep end of the pool, Mamoru stood upon the edge smiling at her. With a start, she realized what he was about to do. Then he dived in, and swam under her float and continued on his way to the shallows at the opposite end of the pool. Breaking the surface, Mamoru wiped the water from his eyes and looked at her, “It is a touch on the chilly side, isn’t it?” he asked, with an anxious grin.
Scowling at him, Usagi relaxed on her float and closed her eyes. Mamoru climbed out of the water and reclined upon one of the sunbathing beds to soak up the sun.
Sometime later, he realised it was deathly quiet. Sitting up, he looked towards Usagi. He noticed she lay perfectly still on her back as her float moved with the slight rippling motion of the water. Tearing his eyes away from her beautiful body, Mamoru looked at his watch and noticed it was 1 o’clock -- not a good time to be out in the sun -- getting up, he entered the water, ignoring the freezing temperature and made his way towards Usagi.
She was fast asleep. Knowing he’d be told off for disturbing her, he gathered her into his arms and carried her carefully up the steps of the pool into the shade. He sat in a comfortable chair with Usagi cradled asleep in his arms and waited for her to wake up.
“What…why did you move me?” she asked in a sleepy tone.
“It’s nearly one. Time to get out of the sun, have a drink and something to eat,” Mamoru, replied, still holding her in his arms.
“Oh, okay. I won’t complain,” Usagi said, as she made a move to get up, but before she could, Mamoru was already lifting her up and carrying her up to the house. When she protested, he tickled her by blowing a raspberry on her stomach, which made her giggle and squirm in his arms until he stopped.
Setting her down, bum first on the kitchen bench, Mamoru walked over to the fridge and grabbed two bottles of water. Handing her both, he turned back to the fridge and took out butter, bread, meat and lettuce for their dinner.
After their meal, Usagi settled herself into a chair in the living room, trying to keep cool. The afternoon had become quite hot and unbearable. Mamoru was also complaining, which was rare, and after a while, he sat down in the chair next to her and switched on the TV. He found an old English movie and they watched in companionable silence as the afternoon drifted past them almost unnoticed.
~*~
At about six in the evening, Usagi decided to start getting ready to go out. Mamoru, on the other hand, had fallen into a light sleep. Usagi didn’t have the heart to wake him after his rough night. Getting up making sure not to disturb him, she made her way upstairs to her bathroom that ran off her bedroom. After running a bath and filling it with fragrant salts. She stripped, eased herself into the water and sighed, allowing tired muscles and skin to melt into the soothing water. After a time she began washing her hair. She then heard Mamoru coming up the stairs.
“We’re leaving at about half seven to eight, if you wanted to know, sweetie,” he said, his voice drifting through the door.
“Okay,” Usagi answered, stretching her arms into the air as she continued to wash her hair.
At quarter to eight, Mamoru heard Usagi come down the stairs. Looking up, he saw a ravishing creature he hardly recognized. She was wearing a black skirt that came to rest just above her knees and a beautiful sapphire-blue top with spaghetti straps that was low cut in style. As for her hair, her blonde locks were wrapped in an old-fashioned loose chignon, with a few curls revealing themselves.
“Sorry I’m a little late, but it took a while to do my hair,” Usagi said, apologetically, smiling a little. Mamoru had completely lost the ability to speak as his eyes fell upon his lovely wife. Mamoru wondered how he had spent the night in her bed without ravishing her. Moving towards him, Usagi undid the second button of his shirt, knowing he was going to get quite hot under the collar if she failed to come to his aid. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue.” Usagi asked, playfully.
“No…you did,” Mamoru answered, grinning like a loon. “You look wonderful.”
Blushing, Usagi turned away, but Mamoru caught her hand and slipped it within the crook of his arm. “Shall we go to dinner, my sweet?” he asked, as he led her out to his hover-car, and they were soon on their way to the restaurant.
~*~
It was one of the best evenings, they’d shared together and Usagi didn’t want it to end. They sat opposite one another, engaging in light conversation. They ate a delicious meal and rich dessert, talked a little more over wine, and then finished off with coffee.
Half way through the evening, Mamoru began telling her stories of his youth, recalling the many pranks he had played on his friends, relatives, and courtiers unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end of his royal stunts. The tails left Usagi laughing until her sides hurt.
~*~
After he parked the hover-car, he opened her door, and a pair of white-leather sandals cradling delicate feet attached to slender graceful legs emerged as Mamoru helped Usagi to her feet. She took his arm with a smile and they walked back up the path to the villa, all the while laughing and talking animatedly.
Mamoru felt, as he never had before in his life. As he unlocked the door to the villa, someone shouted his name from behind. Looking over his shoulder, he noticed his senior consular coordinator, Kintouo moving casually towards them.
Ushering Usagi inside, Mamoru walked to meet him on the lawn. They talked in hushed whispers, the familiar hand gestures that so made Usagi think of home, made her sigh, as Mamoru accompanied his colleague to his hover-car.
~*~
Later, after returning to the house, he rushed upstairs and looked for Usagi in her bedroom. After looking through the villa, he found her sitting on the pools edge, her bare feet resting upon the first step, looking up at the full moon.
Watching her from the veranda, Mamoru kept silent as his wife stood, and began to undress. She took off all her clothing, save her underwear, and then waded into the water, and swam to the opposite end of the pool. Grabbing the handhold, Usagi turned her head and saw him watching her a short distance away. She kept her eyes fixed on him as he grabbed two towels from the banister and made his way towards the pool. “May I ask what a beautiful creature, such as yourself, is doing skinny dipping in my pool?” Mamoru asked, kneeling close beside her and smiled down at her lovely face.
“I’m relaxing of course, the water is far warmer at night than it is during the day, and it helps me sleep. You should try it.” Usagi suggested blinking as droplets of water sparkled upon her long lashes, offering him a little smile.
“Hmm…maybe I will,” Mamoru said, thoughtfully and started to take off his clothes, looking her straight in the eye. He began to undress. But as he rested his hands on his boxers, he realized Usagi had turned away. He thought stripping completely might be a bad idea.
Mamoru stepped into the water with his boxers on, hoping this would put her at ease. Usagi heard him swimming towards her and started to panic. She steeled herself and worked hard to remain calm. But nothing helped. Suddenly, she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She kept her back to him, chanced a glimpse over one shoulder, and looked at her husband. He wasn’t smiling. But he looked as if he understood why she was so uncomfortable with him like this.
“I won’t hurt you, Usagi,” he whispered, his voice reassuring. “And I won’t do anything you don’t want me to. And to prove it, I have left my boxers on. Besides, the water is still too cold for anything to happen down there.” He finished, with a sheepish grin.
Usagi, having understood his statement, returned his smile and blushed. “Thank you.”
“You’re most welcome, sweetheart.”
After the intense moment had passed, they relaxed in each other’s company and swam for quite some time under the watchful gaze of a silvery full moon.
An hour or so later, Usagi started to shiver and stepped from the water, dripping with silvery light as the moons refracted light shimmered in the droplets. Wrapping her arms around her chest, she moved towards the towels on the table.
Mamoru, seeing Usagi leave the pool in the manner she had, made him feel as if he had done something to offend her. But having made no move to bed her, this had him more than a little confused. Wanting to know, Mamoru followed suit.
After they had toweled themselves dry and warm, they sat on chairs arranged on the veranda. Usagi was sipping a glass of fruity red wine, while Mamoru settled for a small brandy.
“Did I do anything to upset you earlier, Usagi?” Mamoru asked, sounding a little anxious to Usagi’s ears, breaking the silence.
“No…why do you ask?” Usagi replied, a puzzled expression on her face.
“You seemed in a hurry to get away from me.”
“I was only in a hurry because I was freezing my assets off,” she chuckled.
“Okay…just checking -- making sure I hadn’t done anything wrong,” he replied, sighing with relief. After a few moments, Usagi got up and walked into the kitchen. Mamoru stayed where he was.
Next thing he knew, Usagi was standing behind him caressing his shoulders. “Come on, Mamoru…time for bed,” she said. “We’re both falling asleep.”
Usagi gave the kitchen and living room a quick clean up while Mamoru locked up. They met at the bottom of the stairs and took her hand leading her upstairs. Stopping at her bedroom door, Usagi turned towards him, “I had a really nice time tonight, Mamoru,” she told him, her almond eyes shining, and her hand still resting in his.
“So did I,” Mamoru replied, returning the smile.
Lowering his head, he planted a soft, sweet kiss on her cheek. Releasing her hand, he turned away.
Then she called to him, “if you have any more nightmares, you’re more than welcome to stay with me, if it helps.”
“Thank you.”
“Goodnight, Endymion,“ she whispered.
