Stars in a New Sky

Chapter 5: Fate

Mamoru shoved his hands into his pockets and tucked his head against the cool night air. Despite the chill air, he felt warm. A small smile tugged at his lips. It had been so long since he'd smiled joyfully. He had Usagi and her family to thank for it. Theirs was a loud and chaotic household, but it was filled with love. Their love was like a warm blanket around his cold heart. He was grateful to even be on the fringe of her family.

Even the prospect of returning to his empty apartment didn't frighten him as much as it did before. Thoughts of Usagi and her joyful laughter were impossible to forget. Bun-head. He smirked to himself. She disliked the moniker, but he couldn't help teasing her. She was cute, even when she was angry. Not that she stayed angry long.

His smile faded as he rounded the street corner and spotted a figure shambling unsteadily toward him. A drunk? Frowning in the gathering dark, Mamoru strained his eyes to see who the figure was. As he drew closer, the clouds shrouding the moon drifted past. It's cool silver light bathed the street with it's radiance. Mamoru's feet stopped of their own accord. He recognized those horn-rimmed glasses.  Mr. Hayashi? Was something wrong?  The way he moved disturbed Mamoru...it was as if he didn't have complete control over his body.

Instinct screamed at him to run, but he couldn't move his feet. It was as if he were rooted to the spot on the concrete. Slowly, Mr. Hayashi drew closer with each shambling step. Fear wrapped its jagged fingers around his throat, suffocating him. Mamoru felt paralyzed as this living nightmare approached.

Usagi sprinted down the street after Mamoru, his wallet in her hand. She panted as she ran uphill. How had he gotten so far already?! She could have just returned his wallet tomorrow when she went to tutoring, but something pushed her out the door and down the street. She didn't know why, but she needed to find him now. As she ran up the street, a strange feeling gripped her. It wasn't fear exactly, but an intense feeling of déjà vu. 

She barreled around a corner and nearly ran straight into Mamoru's back. "Oh Mamoru! I'm so glad I caught up with you. You left your wallet behind. I didn't want to wait until tomorrow to give it back because it might be impor--"

A furious howl filled the night, interrupting Usagi's nervous chatter. She looked beyond Mamoru's pale, stricken face to see the source of the howl. She frowned.  "Mr. Hayashi?" It looked like the teacher from Mamoru's school, but something was wrong with him. His eyes were wide and feral, like an animal instead of a person. His mouth hung open, teeth a little longer and sharper than usual. He radiated hatred...and Usagi got the feeling it was all directed at her.

Her heart hammered in her chest. Usagi instinctively moved closer to Mamoru under the weight of Mr. Hayashi's furious gaze. Somehow that seemed to enrage the teacher further.  He charged. Suddenly, a small blur of black fur sailed past Usagi's head and landed before the terrified teenagers. A cat? "Run! Take her and go!"

The cat turned to the teacher and hissed, throwing herself at his face.

Mamoru's paralysis broke at the cat's words. Normally, it would have taken him time to process the fact that a cat had just spoken, but they had bigger problems. Namely a deranged person charging with fangs bared. He grabbed Usagi's hand and dragged her in the opposite direction. 

"Did you hear that cat talk!?!" Usagi gasped as they ran. She was pretty sure that was the same cat she'd seen earlier that day. 

"Yeah." Mamoru replied tersely as he turned another corner and sprinted down the narrow street.

"What happened to Mr. Hayashi? Why did he try to attack us?!"

"I don't know!" Mamoru shouted and dragged her into the shadows of an alley. He regretted yelling when he saw her eyes welling with tears. "I'm sorry, bun-head."