Hey.. a FIC!

[antivanruffles]

For: nephthysmoon

Verse: RPG/Hells Kitchen
Rating: PG
Who: Mamoru/Sarah (Usagi)
A/N: Just something to cheer up my hivemind who is feeling less than stellar right now. Request was Mamoru saying something in Japanese that Sarah didn't understand. <3 you dear!!



It was a horrible idea, he had no time to spare, but the credits were well worth it.

Besides, he couldn’t really say when Hachimoto-san had begged him, the older man’s eyes looking so sad and forlorn behind his thick glasses. And that was how Mamoru became a student teacher for Japanese I.

The morning was crisp, the night before bringing with it the first frost of autumn. Mamoru stood in the quiet of the class room, the sun streaming in through the window as he wrote out the lesson plan for the day on the chalkboard.

He turned slightly, watching as the students started filing into the room, laughing and chatting as they all took their seats. Suddenly a wave of nervousness flooded him and he wondered, not for the first, what was he doing?

‘Calm down, Chiba. You can do this. You’re fluent in both languages, Hachimoto gave you all the notes and coursework you’ll need. It will be easy!’ Taking a deep breath, he readied himself as the students--his students--settled themselves, and then stared at the stranger in front of them.

“Good morning, class,” he greeted them in English, his accent flawless. “I am Mamoru Chiba, I am taking over for Hachimoto-sensei as he had some family business to attend to back in Japan. I look forward to working with you all for the remainder of the semester.” He bowed to them, and he slowly became aware of a titter coming from the female students, and dubious looks from the males.

‘How odd,’ he thought to himself.

Shaking himself slightly, he read off the student list to make sure everyone was there and to figure out who was who.

He frowned to himself when he got to the G’s. One name seeming to stand out from the others, as if the letters would bolded.

No, not bolded, it was more like they were glittery pink -- bright and cheery -- and blinking up at him like a neon sign. He gulped and spoke the name out loud.

“Grey, Sarah?”

The door burst open at that moment, bouncing off the opposite, the frame filled with a panting young woman. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in pigtails that should’ve been ridiculous on someone her age, but somehow she managed to make them look nice.

Her long legs were encased in bright pink leggings, and she wore a short jean skirt and boots. Her sweater was fuzzy and just as pink as her leggings. She shuffled into the room and took the first empty seat she saw, slamming down a pink and purple binder.

She looked up with a bright smile that had him struggling for air, but the beaming look suddenly fell when she saw him.

“YOU!?” she screeched.

“Ohayou, Grace,” he managed to sneer at her. Wouldn’t do to let her know the things she did to him.

“Don’t call me that, you jerk!“

“I’m allowed, you’re late.“

“I’m not--” she stopped and glanced up at the clock, frowning. “Okay, maybe I’m a little late, but it’s not completely my fault!” She crossed her arms over her chest indignantly, close to pouting, and completely unaware of the stares from her classmates.

“What are you even doing here? You’re from Japan! You don’t need to take this class!” she huffed.

“I am not taking the class; I am teaching it.”

“WHAT!?” she screeched, even louder than before. “How can a jerk-face like you possibly be a teacher?”

“I know Hachimoto, he asked for my help. Now, if you will be quiet, we can complete the roll call and start today’s lesson.”

“You’re going to fail me, aren’t you, jerk?”

“I will not fail you if you do the work.” He sat down his clipboard and leaned forward, his hands splayed on her desk, and his nose close to her.

“And I will have you call me “Chiba-sensei” when in class, is that clear?”

“Crystal,” she mumbled, eyes narrowed.

“Good!” He straightened up, finished the roll call and jumped into the lesson.


~~~~~


Mamoru was surprised by how horrible most of the students were… apparently their knowledge of Japanese language and culture stemmed from Anime.

Some of the students thought they were so clever for knowing the meaning of “bakayarou”, but of course he let them know that that kind of language would not be tolerated while in his classroom.

Though he had been quiet impressed by Sarah, she took what appeared to be fastidious notes… or maybe she was just doodling?

Her pronunciation wasn’t bad, and that gave him hope. Though, he couldn’t for the life of him figure out why she was even taking the class. Maybe she just wanted credits and, like some of the others, thought it would be fun study by watching cartoons?

Mamoru watched the students file out, chattering away much the same as when they had entered, and tidied up his desk.

He was bent slightly, slipping some of his papers into his messenger bag, when he became aware of a shadow falling over his desk. Truthfully he could’ve been blind and deaf and still would have somehow known she was there.

He had no idea what it was about Sarah, but there was a pull of something, and that something scared him. Scared him so much he managed to actually be rude to her, even if he never meant it.

“Arigato, Chiba-sensei.” She bent forward in a proper bow and Mamoru couldn’t help but be a little impressed.

“Grey-chan.” He returned the bow.

“Can I speak in English now?” she asked when he straightened up.

“If you like, class is over.” He shrugged and secured the flap of his bag before slipping the strap over his shoulder. Moving out from behind the desk he stopped by her side and motioned for her to continue on.

She stepped forward, scooting around the desks and chairs, and stopped just outside the door, obviously waiting for him. Mamoru shut the door, and slipped his hands in the pockets of his worn khakis and fell instep with Sarah as they made their way down the corridor.

“So, are you teaching the whole class? For the rest of semester?”

“Hai--yes, sorry.” He smiled at her, just slightly.

“Interesting,” she said slowly, blowing out a breath that ruffled her fine bangs.

It was interesting…. interesting to think he would be able to spend quite a lot of time with her and not have to worry about putting his foot in his mouth. Which was a very good thing.

Although if she learned Japanese he would never be able to compliment her again.

It was stupid, and probably childish, but since he was unable to say nice things to her in English, he had taken to saying nice things to her in Japanese. However he would say them in the most annoyed tone he could muster to hid the true intent.

She always thought he so fed up that he couldn’t coherently speak English anymore, but in reality he was waxing poetic about the color of her hair… or how he could always smell orange blossoms for hours after they would literally run into each other.

But now that she was learning Japanese, his cover was blown. He would have to switch tactics.

Wait… that couldn’t possibly why she was learning Japanese, was it? To figure out what he was saying? That had a strange bit of hope blooming in his chest.

“Mamoruuuuuuuu,” Sarah sing-songed. “Earth to Mamoru!” She waved her hand in front of his nose.

“Hmm? I apologize, my mind was elsewhere.”

“Obviously,” she shook her head. “I was just saying thank you for a nice class. I think you’re going to be an okay teacher.”

“Thank you, Grace.” He grinned.

“Jerk-face,” she said, but there was a smile playing at the corner of her mouth that belied the insult.

“Well, I must take leave now, my lady.” He bowed to her.

“Okay, I’ll see you in class then, I guess?” She turned and stated to walk about, but before he could stop himself he called her name.

“Sarah! Wait!” She stopped and whirled, blinking at him in confusion. He moved to her side and did something extremely stupid, but he couldn’t help himself.

She knew the rudiments of Japanese, he told himself, there was no way she would catch ever word, let alone remember it for later.

So he spoke to her Japanese… he said what he wanted to really say, figuring this would be the last time he could get away with it.

‘I think you’re beautiful,’ he said in rapid Japanese, watching amused as her eyes grew wide. ‘I think you are wonderful and I hate that I can only say horrible things to you. I wish I could tell you the truth, but you scare me, and I’m not sure what to do. So I’ll be a coward. A coward who doesn’t deserve you, my pretty little bunny.’

He was leaning in close to her, and smiled again, softly. He gave one of her pigtails a little tug before straightening up to his full height.

“What did you just say?” she asked, sounding a little breathless.

“Study, maybe you’ll figure it out?” He shrugged and turned to walk away, hands back in his pockets, but this time to hide the nervous shaking.

Maybe she would figure it out… or maybe someday he would just tell her?