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Usagi giggled as she watched Rei and Makoto set their sights on the unsuspecting Minako, who was currently working on her tan.
One step...
Two steps...
And suddenly they were on her! Minako was to surprised to struggle and soon found herself dripping wet in the center of the pool. Flustered, she swam to the edge of the pool and gave them all evil looks as she climbed out, and headed up to Ami's apartment to find a towel.
Usagi just laughed hysterically, taking no notice of the way Rei and Makoto were edging their way behind her. Before she knew what was happening, she too had been tossed into the deep water. There was just one problem. She didn't know how to swim...
She was scared, confused, and disoriented. Every moment seemed like an eternity of breathlessness. As she struggled to hold her breath, she flared around, trying to locate the surface. Her eyes were stinging from the chlorine and in her panicked state she found it difficult not to scream. The only thing that prevented her from doing so was the knowledge that if she opened her mouth, the water would rush in, filling her lungs and silencing her forever.
Her lungs began to burn even as her muscles cramped up. Every move was a painful challenge; it was like pins and needles were stabbing into her. And then the truth of her situation sank in: she was going to die. No one knew that she couldn't swim. They'd think she was just fooling around.
The thought of inhaling the deadly water and ending the extreme pain grew more and more appealing as she struggled, but still she held her breath. Her limbs were going numb from the oxygen deficiency and she found it difficult to move and even more difficult to think.
Then she felt strong arms surround her and propel her to the surface. She was to bewildered to realize exactly what she was doing. She simply did what came naturally.
She clung to the body of her rescuer and cried as he cradled her against his chest. Her breathing was labored as she fought to satisfy her oxygen-craving lungs. Her rescuer clutched her protectively, rocking her back and forth in his arms in an effort to soothe and comfort the distraught girl.
Finally, Usagi gained enough control over her body to look up. What she saw was most unexpected.
It was her archenemy, Mamoru Chiba. And he looked like a frightened schoolboy whose best friend has almost died. Even though he was drenched from his plunge after her, Usagi could tell that he was silently crying. His eyes held a look of such worry and utter love that Usagi nearly lost her breath all over again.
"Mamoru-baka..." she whispered, trying to smile. He gazed into her eyes.
"Oh, Ondango-atama... Usagi... I thought I'd lost you for a minute back there..." he said, softly. His eyes never strayed from her own.
Hesitantly, not quite sure of what she was doing, Usagi brought her lips to his. She sensed his surprise even as he kissed her back. Reluctantly, they pulled apart, vaguely aware of their audience.
"Everything's going to be okay," Usagi breathed into his ear. And it was true; now that they were together—not that they had all but admitted that their true feelings for each other were not of annoyance or enmity—nothing could go wrong.