Part 1

Winter was fast approaching. The trees have almost lost all their leaves and the air grew colder by the day. This was an added burden for Usagi Tsukino whose exams are coming up. The temperature made dit all too conducive for sleep. She and the girls just watched a movie about a serial killer whose victims were highschool girls. It was a terrifying situation to be in; and so plausible that even brave-hearted Rei couldn't help but scream. It was still early but the girls have already gone, attending to other plans – all except for Usagi who has nothing else to do but return home.

"You're lucky Usagi-chan, you have all the time in the world and everything's laid out for you." Makoto remarked one time and Usagi would feign a smile.

Ami has gone to Med school and was a year ahead of the girls. Makoto juggles schoolwork with her telemarketing business in order to earn money for college. Rei's training to be Japan's champion in kendo so she seldom hangs out. Minako has a manager and is now on her way on becoming a famous popstar. Haruko and Michiru travel a lot these past months. The former competes in racing championships while the latter has a concert tour. Everyone was busy with something – busy with their lives. And, for the first time, it bothered her that she was left behind.

"Baka! You just saved humanity from Galaxia and it wasn't the first time. Besides, you have a destiny left to fulfill remember?" rei hid kind words with asperity when Usagi had confided to the girls her troubles.

She understood what Rei meant and Mamoru-kun loves her the way she is. Still…She can't tell when exactly but the way things are began to bother her and it was then as if she woke up from a dream and realized she wasn't happy.

An icy wind blew, making her shiver and she noticed it was already late. The park was deserted and the lamplights were on. She was swinging for the last time to get rid of sad thought when she distinctly heard footsteps from behind. She froze as a scene from the movie they watched earlier came vividly to mind. Her heart raced faster when she heard the footsteps coming closer. Run! She hadn't gone far when the stranger got to her and grabbed her by the arm.

"Iie!" Usagi screamed and with her free arm swung at the stranger with all her might She was about to make a run for it when a familiar voice exclaimed, "Matt, Odango!"

Her eyes widened. She turned around, and crouched down with his hands on his nose was…

Her face lit up. "Seiya!" She threw her hands around him and squeezed. "It was only you. Yokkata." She sighed in relief. Then with a n accusing glare said, "You scared me!"

"I think you broke my nose." was his muffled response.

"I thought you were a phycho." She chided, worried that she might have.

Seiya took his hands off his face and leaning towards Usagi asked, "Is it bleeding?"

His nose was red but there was no blood. "Iie, you're nose if fine."

"Missed me, Odango?"

"Huh?" she blushed when she realized she still had her arms around him then abruptly let go. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"You said I could drop by/" he was grinning one of his grins and Usagi was touched at the poignancy of the moment. She returned a grin of her own. She did miss him.

Suddenly and defltly he took off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders. "Let's grab something to eat." I'm starving." He took her hand and ignoring her protests, tugged her along.

She hasn't hanged at all, Seiya thought. They were on their way to her house and she was still eating a pork bun. He already told her that his home planet had been restored and that Kakyuu-hime, Taiki and Yaten were doing fine. However, Kakyuu-hime had taken her passion for flowers to new heights and seemed determined to garden the entire planet and Seiya who always sucked at gardening did more harm than good. It was decided. It was best if he took a short vacation.

Usagi was so absorbed in laying out plans for his vacation that she didn't notice that Seiya wasn't paying attention to what she was saying.

"What were you doing at the park today?"

"I hope it would snow-Nani?"

He reiterated the question. "Is anything wrong? You seemed to have a lot on your mind that time." Hoping he sounded casual he added, "You didn't fight with your koreshi ddid you?"

"Mamoru-kun is studying in America." Usagi answered looking at the ground.

He left her? "You miss him." Seiya was glad Usagi couldn't see his face since he was having difficulty keeping his composure.

"Hai, I miss him demo it's not that"... she smiled wanly. "It's weird. Grades never bothered me unless I'm grounded. Funny how I never noticed everyone else was ahead of me until mamoru-kunreturned to America. I know waht a big deal Harvard is and he owes it to his aprents so I understand why he has to go. But Mamoru-chan told me he was doing it for me as well he said he was going to study real hard so he could come back soon. i know he loves me demo-it's just that...I feel" - She gave a shaky laugh. "I don't make sense."

"Ypu feel like you're not good enough for him. He doesn't find fault in you- he loves you the way you are. But you feel like you're not good enough." deiya understood her, more than anyone else would, however to why she felt that way made him frustrated.

Nevertheless his heart ached for her when he saw her looking at him bleary-eyed and she asked, " How did you know?"

He cupped his face and answered, "Because I know someone who feels the same way." He wiped a tear. "Onegai, don't cry Odango." I had such a good time." He leaned torward her and as if he would to a kodomo said, "Can you smile for me?" He received a wobbly one. "I guess that would do. Now get inside Odango."

Usagi lifted the bag of pork buns. "Arigatou." She was about to go inside her house when she noticed she was still wearing his jacket. "Seiya"...

He was already walking away. "I'll come back for it soem other time. Ja ne."