Choices
A Sailor Moon Fanfic by Lady Shay
I do not own Sailor Moon... People with a lot more money and talent than
I own it. Such as Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha Ltd, Toei Animation Co.,
Ltd, and others. Please don't sue me, since I really don't have any
money!
-------------------------------------------
-----------
Chapter One
-----------
Leaning back against a rock, Usagi let her eyes glaze over as she stared
down the mountain toward Tokyo. She had needed to escape... her mother
was definitely a little overzealous when it came to celebrations!
Shrugging to herself, Usagi smiled. 'I guess it is time to celebrate,'
she thought, 'since I finally graduated. Even Shingo can't call me
"Stupid Usagi" anymore'
Usagi reached over and turned on her small radio, figuring that music
while watching the beautiful sunset would complete this week perfectly.
She had graduated yesterday with Ami, Minako and Makoto... Rei had
graduated the day before that from her high school. Everyone had
gathered for the ceremonies: Usagi's parents and brother, Ami's mom,
Rei's grandfather... Ami's dad had even shown up with a signed and
framed picture from his most recent trip. Of course, Yuuichirou had
been there for Rei's graduation... Usagi smiled. Yuuichirou had
finally gotten up the courage to ask Rei out. Rei had had so much fun
that she asked him out for a second date and now, four months later,
they were almost as disgustingly happy as Usagi herself was with...
Usagi's train of thought was interrupted as suddenly she noticed the
silence. In the middle of one of her favorite songs, the radio had
suddenly stopped. Sighing, Usagi started to reach into her purse for
replacement batteries, but paused. 'Wait...' she thought, 'Didn't I
just put new batteries in this morning?' Looking down toward Tokyo,
she jumped as lighting flashed down out of the clear sky and repeatedly
hit all of the radio and television towers. Telephone and power lines
snapped down and lashed out in the streets. Tokyo turned dark.
Usagi shivered and collapsed down on the ground. "Not again. Not
again... not again!" she cried. "All I want is to be a normal woman...
not surrounded continuously by evil and darkness." She closed her eyes.
"If I have to fight again, I'll remember... remember... him."
Images flashed across Usagi's closed eyelids as she fainted...
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
Chapter Two - (4 years earlier)
-------------------------------
"Moon Gorgeous Meditation!"
Everyone held their breath as the blast of white light erupted from
Sailormoon's Kaleido-moon-scope and engulfed the Lemure until it
shattered with the cry, "Stage Out!" They all sighed with relief,
however, when nothing else came out from the shadows around them.
"Thanks, minna!" Sailormoon leaned against a cherry blossom tree and
shook her long hair back over her shoulders. "I couldn't have done this
without you."
Sailormars snorted with disgust; "I can't believe it... I mean, eleven
Lemures this week. Who would have thought that any would be here still
since Zirconia and Nephrinia are gone?"
"Well, there is always the probability that more escaped," answered
Sailormercury, "since we managed to escape as well. With the tent being
as large as it was, and the number of Lemures and servants being..."
"MERCURY!" interrupted the other Senshi.
"Anyway, it was a rhetorical question," blushed Mars. "You don't have to
be so literal always, Mercury!"
Mercury grinned, "Yes I do. That's just who I am." Shrugging she walked
off towards the edge of the park. "Well, no one is here, and I think
that it's safe to go home now."
Nodding at each other, all of the Senshi de-transformed to their normal
selves. They were all the best of friends since they recognized and
awoke their powers in this lifetime, though Mars/Rei still argued a lot
with Usagi. Rei always complained that she would make a better leader
than Usagi, even though Usagi had awoken to her powers first. Everyone
sensed that Rei just argued for fun now, since Usagi, as Sailormoon, was
definitely the strongest of the Senshi.
Smiling, Minako waved at everyone. "Gomen-nasi minna! I have a date
tonight that even being a Sailor Senshi couldn't keep me from."
Makoto blushed and nodded, "I've seen this guy, and he's so dreamy...
you know, he reminds me a little of my old boyfriend..."
"Mako-chan!" Minako laughed, "We've heard it... Anyway, he's all mine,
and..... AHHHH! I'm going to be late!"
Everyone grinned as Artemis added from where he was sitting on a nearby
rock, "No surprise by that... she's almost as bad at being on time as
Usagi is. And that reminds me... can I go home with you tonight, Luna?
I don't think Mina is going to remember about me anytime soon."
Luna smiled, looking fondly at the other cat, "Of course. Just stay
away from Usagi now... I think you've upset her."
Laughing, Usagi pushed herself away from the tree and, reaching for
Mamoru's hand, said, "Nah. I'm used to the jokes by now. Shingo will
let you two in if you get home before I do. Now Mamo-chan," she looked
up at the handsome, black-haired man beside her, "Can we go talk now?"
***************
Usagi stretched out on Mamoru's bed, patting the empty space beside her.
"Well, you said you wanted to talk, Mamo-chan. Come sit next to me and
talk."
Mamoru shook his head and sat down at his desk, turning the chair so it
faced the bed. Looking across the short distance to Usagi, Mamoru shook
his head again and smiled, "Not now, Usa-ko. When I said talk, I
actually meant talk. You know, the exchange of verbal sentences?"
Usagi pouted for a moment, sticking out her bottom lip and batting her
eyelashes before laughing, "Ok, you win." Bouncing up, she sat cross-
legged at the end of the bed and arranged her skirt over her legs before
looking up. "What's so important, Mamo-chan?"
Mamoru ran his fingers through his hair before speaking, "Usa-ko... you
know I love you. But..."
"But..." Usagi echoed, narrowing her eyes. "What is it?"
Mamoru sighed, continuing, "But I've been offered a spot at Harvard to
finish up my medical schooling."
Usagi let out a big breath of air, "Is that it? Congratulations... I'll
miss you of course..." She blew a kiss at him and winked, "But I'll be
busy with high school myself. When are you leaving?"
***************
Usagi whistled as she walked down the street toward her Mamo-chan's
apartment. With only two weeks left until he was leaving for Harvard,
she wanted to make every moment special for him. After finishing her
chores, Usagi had decided to surprise Mamoru with a nice romantic
evening. Skipping the arcade for once, she had picked up a movie and
some take-out on her way, and she was looking forward to another secret
she had planned... She had just enough time to get everything ready
before Mamoru came home from work.
Usagi reached the apartment and unlocked the door with the spare key
she always carried. Letting herself in quietly, Usagi didn't bother to
look around until she was past the entranceway...
CRASH! The sound of her bags falling almost covered the sobs Usagi made
as she ran out the door slamming it behind her. 'How could he? Not her
Mamo-chan!' She ran around the corner of his building and curled up in
a doorway, not sure how she had gotten there, but smart enough to stay
hidden. Usagi blinding looked around her, seeing only the memory of a
pretty redhead locked in Mamoru's embrace in his living room...
---------------------------------------------
-------------
Chapter Three
-------------
"Usagi-chan! You need to talk to him. Mamoru has been calling me all
morning!"
"Shut up Rei." Usagi mumbled into her arms. She looked up from her
curled up position on her bed and glared with bloodshot and swollen eyes
at the pretty black-haired girl. "How did you get in here?"
"Your mom let me in. She's worried. I'm worried. EVERYONE is
worried... even the cats!" Rei ran her fingers through her hair. "Can
you at least tell me what happened?" she cried, "Mamoru won't tell me
anything except that he is so sorry - and I don't like seeing you two
this way!"
Silence filled the room until Usagi started crying again. Rei winced.
This wasn't like Usagi's normal temper tantrums... she was trying so
hard not to be heard as the tears ran down her cheeks. Rei collapsed
on the floor next to Usagi's bed and, reaching up, put her arms around
Usagi. "I'm sorry... whatever he did must have been terrible. Please...
will you tell me?"
***************
Rei stormed out of Usagi's house a half hour later, stepping on Artemis'
tail and almost running Minako down, muttering, "I'm going to kill that
motherless bas-"
"Whoa, Rei!" Mina shouted, steadying Rei while barely staying upright
herself. "Did you find out what is wrong with Usagi? Who are you going
to kill today?"
Mina jumped back a step as Rei's face turned purple and sparks flew
from her fingers. Rei took three deep breaths; visibly getting her
emotions under control as the fire died away and her face turned a
normal shade again. She sighed, "Come with me, Mina-chan. I have
something to tell you..."
***************
Mamoru knocked on the one apartment he thought he might be able to hide
in. He smiled with relief as the door opened, "Konnichiwa Motoki... can
I come in?"
"Sure Mamoru!" Motoki raised an eyebrow when Mamoru walked into the
apartment. "I've never seen you look this bad... eyes bloodshot, shirt
buttoned wrong... and your hair!" Chuckling a little, "Tell Uncle
Motoki what's wrong."
Mamoru crumpled into the closest chair and buried his head in his hands;
"I'm so stupid... I made a mistake and I don't know if I can ever fix
it..."
***************
Usagi brushed her hair and tied it back into a ponytail... she just
didn't feel like doing her hair this morning. She purposely dressed in
one of her oldest outfits and carefully picked up a tattered cardboard
box. Opening her bedroom door, Usagi crept silently through her house
and walked out the front door.
A short time later, Usagi paused outside of a familiar apartment
building and, taking a deep breath, walked inside. After making her
way to Mamoru's door she carefully set the box down, knocked twice, and
walked away.
***************
Mamoru awoke from staring blindly at the wall when he heard a couple of
quiet knocks. Opening up the front door, he almost tripped over a box
when he saw someone who looked almost familiar walking down the hall
away from him. "Usa-ko?" Mamoru asked, half-fearing a response, but not
really expecting one.
"I am NOT your Usa-ko anymore!"
Mamoru shrank back when he saw the circles under Usagi's eyes, the
simple hairstyle and the colorless dress. "Usa-ko... Usagi... I'm
sorry." He mumbled.
Usagi dropped her head down for a moment, as if it were too heavy. Her
fists tightened at her sides and when she lifted her head up, Mamoru
could see her eyes flashing with hurt and anger. "Sorry? Sorry for
what?" She paused then started to turn away. "I brought everything back.
Check the box... and I hope that you are happy with her, whoever she
is."
"Usa-ko!" Mamoru stopped when Usagi turned back around. He moved a few
steps closer to her and then a few more until he was standing in front
of her. "Usagi... I'm sorry. It was an accident."
Usagi raised one eyebrow at that statement, though her chin trembled
with unshed tears. "An accident?" she whispered, "What kind of an
accident ends up with you kissing a stranger in your apartment?"
Mamoru backed up a step and ran his fingers through his already unruly
hair. "She's not a stranger." He choked out, "She was in my
university... and she'll be going to Harvard..."
Usagi faltered back and turned her face away. "So I'll be far away and
you'll be with her... and I'm supposed to forgive you? Can you at least
tell me why..." she swallowed, "...you kissed her?"
"I don't know."
"I don't know," Usagi echoed. "You don't know why and you expect me to
trust you again?"
Mamoru reached out a hand to Usagi, "Please?" she heard him whisper.
"Please. I trusted you after you kissed Demando..."
CRACK!
Mamoru fell back from the force of Usagi's slap and fell back a step
farther when he saw the sheer rage on her face. "Don't you dare bring
him up! If you remember, I was a prisoner and it wasn't exactly my
choice to kiss him! Don't compare the two of us..." She turned and
started running away from him, "I Hate You!"
Mamoru walked slowly back to his apartment and opened up the cardboard
box. Tears slid down his cheeks as the remnants of all of his and
Usagi's shattered dreams spilled from the box onto the carpet... and
Usagi's last words echoed over and over in his mind.
----------------------------------------------
------------
Chapter Four
------------
Usagi sighed. Sometimes she would spend the day just curled up under
her blankets dreaming of the life she had had earlier... every moment
of the happiness she and Mamo-chan had shared, and even the sad times.
Rubbing tears out of her eyes, Usagi realized that those days were over.
Mamoru had betrayed her... and she had betrayed him by not listening.
"Usagi-chan?" Makoto peeked her head inside the bedroom door, "Aren't
you dressed yet? Get up, you lazy girl!" When Usagi didn't reply, Mako
walked to the side of the bed and tipped Usagi's face toward her.
Wiping a few tears away gently from Usagi's face, Mako smiled, "Cheer
up. If it was destined to be, you'll see him again. Otherwise, it's
been four months and we need to find something to make you smile again."
Usagi nodded once, and Mako decided to take that as an invitation. "Ok!
So come on... all of us girls want to take you out shopping."
Usagi sighed and climbed out of bed.
***************
A few hours later, Mina dragged Usagi into the Crown Arcade. "This will
be fun... we haven't been to the arcade in forever!"
Usagi sighed and forced a smile on her face. "Alright. I haven't seen
Motoki in a while... any new cute guys in here lately?" She followed
Mina inside with the rest of the Senshi following.
After Usagi's eyes adjusted to the slightly darker lighting inside, she
noticed Motoki waving everyone over. As she walked over to join him,
she heard him tell Mina, "...and he seems to be doing well at Harvard,
though he still..." Motoki broke off with an apology when he saw Usagi.
"Usagi-chan! I've missed you." He noticed the dark circles under her
eyes, "Still not sleeping well?"
Usagi blushed and stammered, "Well... Ahh..." but fell silent when
Motoki waved everyone aside and gave her a hug. "He still misses
you..." Motoki said quietly. "But he's just like you... too proud to
say it."
Usagi pulled away and blushed again. "I am not too proud... and I don't
miss him at all." She turned to play a game so that no one could see
her face. "Really, I don't."
***************
Usagi ran out the door, smiling. It had been a year since Mamoru had
left, and she could now think about him without wanting to cry. It was
time to get on with her life. As she turned the corner of her street,
Usagi bumped into Rei and Motoki who were talking on the corner.
"Usagi-chan! We were just coming to visit you." Rei said. Smiling, she
looked Usagi over and decided that nothing bad could happen now that
Usagi seemed to be back to herself again.
Usagi shook her head and continued running, "Sorry guys! I have a date
tonight and I don't want to be late."
Rei and Motoki exchanged glances. "Date?" Rei asked. "Must be with
Takeo..." She frowned and silently watched Usagi disappear into the
distance. Finally she shook her head and said, "I guess he's good for
her. He seems to make her happy. She's almost as cheerful as she was
with..."
Motoki frowned. "With Mamoru. I know." He sighed. "Usagi and Mamoru
are both my friends, but I just hate to see them apart... after all,
they seemed so right together, until that day."
Rei looked down for a moment before answering; "You know what I think
about that. Anyway, how is Mamoru now?"
"He's fine. Still a little depressed, but at least he stopped dating
Sarasri." When Rei looked blankly back, Motoki explained, "Sarasri was
the redhead. She had her claws into him, and I'm glad that he finally
got away somehow."
Rei nodded, but paused. "Did Usagi-chan ever know that they were
officially dating?"
"I don't know... I hope not, though."
***************
Usagi sat next to Takeo, smiling at a bad joke he had made. 'Lame, I
know,' she thought, 'but he makes me smile, and he's so sweet and
caring.' Admiring his blonde hair and dark green eyes, Usagi thought
back to the first time she had talked to Takeo... Well, talked wasn't
exactly that right word. After getting into that huge fight outside of
Mamoru's apartment, she had run outside without paying attention, and
had bumped into a very cute guy... not that she was up to noticing that
at the time. He had introduced himself as Takeo and had offered to
drive her home since she was obviously upset.
Usagi smiled. Takeo had never pressured her to say or do anything. He
had just been there for her. He was a good friend and could always make
her laugh. When he had asked her out, she had said 'Yes' just to get
out of the house... she was glad that she had done so now. They had
only been dating for a couple of months, but she was finally happy
again.
"So Usagi-chan, what would you like to do today?" Takeo smiled when he
noticed that Usagi had spaced out. She was always doing that... his
beautiful Usagi. He leaned back and admired her big beautiful eyes and
silky hair tied back in her usual buns. They made a good couple.
"Usagi... Usagi..."
***************
"Usagi..."
Usagi woke up on the mountainside to see Takeo leaning over her.
Startled, she sat up and looked down to see Tokyo covered in darkness.
"What happened?"
Takeo frowned, "I don't know. The radio went out, and then everyone
lost power. I knew that you had driven up here in your new car, so I
came up to make sure that you were alright." He smiled, "I was so glad
to see you still here, though I was frightened when I saw you on the
ground. Is everything fine?"
Usagi reached up and checked her head for any bruises or bumps, feeling
the engagement ring that Takeo had given her yesterday as she did so.
She frowned, then forced a smile on her face, "I'm fine... I was just
remembering..."
--------------------------------
Continued in Chapter Five
Email me? Please?
shaychan@thesimpsons.com
--------------------------------
A Sailor Moon Fanfic by Lady Shay
I do not own Sailor Moon... People with a lot more money and talent than
I own it. Such as Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha Ltd, Toei Animation Co.,
Ltd, and others. Please don't sue me, since I really don't have any
money!
-------------------------------------------
-----------
Chapter One
-----------
Leaning back against a rock, Usagi let her eyes glaze over as she stared
down the mountain toward Tokyo. She had needed to escape... her mother
was definitely a little overzealous when it came to celebrations!
Shrugging to herself, Usagi smiled. 'I guess it is time to celebrate,'
she thought, 'since I finally graduated. Even Shingo can't call me
"Stupid Usagi" anymore'
Usagi reached over and turned on her small radio, figuring that music
while watching the beautiful sunset would complete this week perfectly.
She had graduated yesterday with Ami, Minako and Makoto... Rei had
graduated the day before that from her high school. Everyone had
gathered for the ceremonies: Usagi's parents and brother, Ami's mom,
Rei's grandfather... Ami's dad had even shown up with a signed and
framed picture from his most recent trip. Of course, Yuuichirou had
been there for Rei's graduation... Usagi smiled. Yuuichirou had
finally gotten up the courage to ask Rei out. Rei had had so much fun
that she asked him out for a second date and now, four months later,
they were almost as disgustingly happy as Usagi herself was with...
Usagi's train of thought was interrupted as suddenly she noticed the
silence. In the middle of one of her favorite songs, the radio had
suddenly stopped. Sighing, Usagi started to reach into her purse for
replacement batteries, but paused. 'Wait...' she thought, 'Didn't I
just put new batteries in this morning?' Looking down toward Tokyo,
she jumped as lighting flashed down out of the clear sky and repeatedly
hit all of the radio and television towers. Telephone and power lines
snapped down and lashed out in the streets. Tokyo turned dark.
Usagi shivered and collapsed down on the ground. "Not again. Not
again... not again!" she cried. "All I want is to be a normal woman...
not surrounded continuously by evil and darkness." She closed her eyes.
"If I have to fight again, I'll remember... remember... him."
Images flashed across Usagi's closed eyelids as she fainted...
---------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------
Chapter Two - (4 years earlier)
-------------------------------
"Moon Gorgeous Meditation!"
Everyone held their breath as the blast of white light erupted from
Sailormoon's Kaleido-moon-scope and engulfed the Lemure until it
shattered with the cry, "Stage Out!" They all sighed with relief,
however, when nothing else came out from the shadows around them.
"Thanks, minna!" Sailormoon leaned against a cherry blossom tree and
shook her long hair back over her shoulders. "I couldn't have done this
without you."
Sailormars snorted with disgust; "I can't believe it... I mean, eleven
Lemures this week. Who would have thought that any would be here still
since Zirconia and Nephrinia are gone?"
"Well, there is always the probability that more escaped," answered
Sailormercury, "since we managed to escape as well. With the tent being
as large as it was, and the number of Lemures and servants being..."
"MERCURY!" interrupted the other Senshi.
"Anyway, it was a rhetorical question," blushed Mars. "You don't have to
be so literal always, Mercury!"
Mercury grinned, "Yes I do. That's just who I am." Shrugging she walked
off towards the edge of the park. "Well, no one is here, and I think
that it's safe to go home now."
Nodding at each other, all of the Senshi de-transformed to their normal
selves. They were all the best of friends since they recognized and
awoke their powers in this lifetime, though Mars/Rei still argued a lot
with Usagi. Rei always complained that she would make a better leader
than Usagi, even though Usagi had awoken to her powers first. Everyone
sensed that Rei just argued for fun now, since Usagi, as Sailormoon, was
definitely the strongest of the Senshi.
Smiling, Minako waved at everyone. "Gomen-nasi minna! I have a date
tonight that even being a Sailor Senshi couldn't keep me from."
Makoto blushed and nodded, "I've seen this guy, and he's so dreamy...
you know, he reminds me a little of my old boyfriend..."
"Mako-chan!" Minako laughed, "We've heard it... Anyway, he's all mine,
and..... AHHHH! I'm going to be late!"
Everyone grinned as Artemis added from where he was sitting on a nearby
rock, "No surprise by that... she's almost as bad at being on time as
Usagi is. And that reminds me... can I go home with you tonight, Luna?
I don't think Mina is going to remember about me anytime soon."
Luna smiled, looking fondly at the other cat, "Of course. Just stay
away from Usagi now... I think you've upset her."
Laughing, Usagi pushed herself away from the tree and, reaching for
Mamoru's hand, said, "Nah. I'm used to the jokes by now. Shingo will
let you two in if you get home before I do. Now Mamo-chan," she looked
up at the handsome, black-haired man beside her, "Can we go talk now?"
***************
Usagi stretched out on Mamoru's bed, patting the empty space beside her.
"Well, you said you wanted to talk, Mamo-chan. Come sit next to me and
talk."
Mamoru shook his head and sat down at his desk, turning the chair so it
faced the bed. Looking across the short distance to Usagi, Mamoru shook
his head again and smiled, "Not now, Usa-ko. When I said talk, I
actually meant talk. You know, the exchange of verbal sentences?"
Usagi pouted for a moment, sticking out her bottom lip and batting her
eyelashes before laughing, "Ok, you win." Bouncing up, she sat cross-
legged at the end of the bed and arranged her skirt over her legs before
looking up. "What's so important, Mamo-chan?"
Mamoru ran his fingers through his hair before speaking, "Usa-ko... you
know I love you. But..."
"But..." Usagi echoed, narrowing her eyes. "What is it?"
Mamoru sighed, continuing, "But I've been offered a spot at Harvard to
finish up my medical schooling."
Usagi let out a big breath of air, "Is that it? Congratulations... I'll
miss you of course..." She blew a kiss at him and winked, "But I'll be
busy with high school myself. When are you leaving?"
***************
Usagi whistled as she walked down the street toward her Mamo-chan's
apartment. With only two weeks left until he was leaving for Harvard,
she wanted to make every moment special for him. After finishing her
chores, Usagi had decided to surprise Mamoru with a nice romantic
evening. Skipping the arcade for once, she had picked up a movie and
some take-out on her way, and she was looking forward to another secret
she had planned... She had just enough time to get everything ready
before Mamoru came home from work.
Usagi reached the apartment and unlocked the door with the spare key
she always carried. Letting herself in quietly, Usagi didn't bother to
look around until she was past the entranceway...
CRASH! The sound of her bags falling almost covered the sobs Usagi made
as she ran out the door slamming it behind her. 'How could he? Not her
Mamo-chan!' She ran around the corner of his building and curled up in
a doorway, not sure how she had gotten there, but smart enough to stay
hidden. Usagi blinding looked around her, seeing only the memory of a
pretty redhead locked in Mamoru's embrace in his living room...
---------------------------------------------
-------------
Chapter Three
-------------
"Usagi-chan! You need to talk to him. Mamoru has been calling me all
morning!"
"Shut up Rei." Usagi mumbled into her arms. She looked up from her
curled up position on her bed and glared with bloodshot and swollen eyes
at the pretty black-haired girl. "How did you get in here?"
"Your mom let me in. She's worried. I'm worried. EVERYONE is
worried... even the cats!" Rei ran her fingers through her hair. "Can
you at least tell me what happened?" she cried, "Mamoru won't tell me
anything except that he is so sorry - and I don't like seeing you two
this way!"
Silence filled the room until Usagi started crying again. Rei winced.
This wasn't like Usagi's normal temper tantrums... she was trying so
hard not to be heard as the tears ran down her cheeks. Rei collapsed
on the floor next to Usagi's bed and, reaching up, put her arms around
Usagi. "I'm sorry... whatever he did must have been terrible. Please...
will you tell me?"
***************
Rei stormed out of Usagi's house a half hour later, stepping on Artemis'
tail and almost running Minako down, muttering, "I'm going to kill that
motherless bas-"
"Whoa, Rei!" Mina shouted, steadying Rei while barely staying upright
herself. "Did you find out what is wrong with Usagi? Who are you going
to kill today?"
Mina jumped back a step as Rei's face turned purple and sparks flew
from her fingers. Rei took three deep breaths; visibly getting her
emotions under control as the fire died away and her face turned a
normal shade again. She sighed, "Come with me, Mina-chan. I have
something to tell you..."
***************
Mamoru knocked on the one apartment he thought he might be able to hide
in. He smiled with relief as the door opened, "Konnichiwa Motoki... can
I come in?"
"Sure Mamoru!" Motoki raised an eyebrow when Mamoru walked into the
apartment. "I've never seen you look this bad... eyes bloodshot, shirt
buttoned wrong... and your hair!" Chuckling a little, "Tell Uncle
Motoki what's wrong."
Mamoru crumpled into the closest chair and buried his head in his hands;
"I'm so stupid... I made a mistake and I don't know if I can ever fix
it..."
***************
Usagi brushed her hair and tied it back into a ponytail... she just
didn't feel like doing her hair this morning. She purposely dressed in
one of her oldest outfits and carefully picked up a tattered cardboard
box. Opening her bedroom door, Usagi crept silently through her house
and walked out the front door.
A short time later, Usagi paused outside of a familiar apartment
building and, taking a deep breath, walked inside. After making her
way to Mamoru's door she carefully set the box down, knocked twice, and
walked away.
***************
Mamoru awoke from staring blindly at the wall when he heard a couple of
quiet knocks. Opening up the front door, he almost tripped over a box
when he saw someone who looked almost familiar walking down the hall
away from him. "Usa-ko?" Mamoru asked, half-fearing a response, but not
really expecting one.
"I am NOT your Usa-ko anymore!"
Mamoru shrank back when he saw the circles under Usagi's eyes, the
simple hairstyle and the colorless dress. "Usa-ko... Usagi... I'm
sorry." He mumbled.
Usagi dropped her head down for a moment, as if it were too heavy. Her
fists tightened at her sides and when she lifted her head up, Mamoru
could see her eyes flashing with hurt and anger. "Sorry? Sorry for
what?" She paused then started to turn away. "I brought everything back.
Check the box... and I hope that you are happy with her, whoever she
is."
"Usa-ko!" Mamoru stopped when Usagi turned back around. He moved a few
steps closer to her and then a few more until he was standing in front
of her. "Usagi... I'm sorry. It was an accident."
Usagi raised one eyebrow at that statement, though her chin trembled
with unshed tears. "An accident?" she whispered, "What kind of an
accident ends up with you kissing a stranger in your apartment?"
Mamoru backed up a step and ran his fingers through his already unruly
hair. "She's not a stranger." He choked out, "She was in my
university... and she'll be going to Harvard..."
Usagi faltered back and turned her face away. "So I'll be far away and
you'll be with her... and I'm supposed to forgive you? Can you at least
tell me why..." she swallowed, "...you kissed her?"
"I don't know."
"I don't know," Usagi echoed. "You don't know why and you expect me to
trust you again?"
Mamoru reached out a hand to Usagi, "Please?" she heard him whisper.
"Please. I trusted you after you kissed Demando..."
CRACK!
Mamoru fell back from the force of Usagi's slap and fell back a step
farther when he saw the sheer rage on her face. "Don't you dare bring
him up! If you remember, I was a prisoner and it wasn't exactly my
choice to kiss him! Don't compare the two of us..." She turned and
started running away from him, "I Hate You!"
Mamoru walked slowly back to his apartment and opened up the cardboard
box. Tears slid down his cheeks as the remnants of all of his and
Usagi's shattered dreams spilled from the box onto the carpet... and
Usagi's last words echoed over and over in his mind.
----------------------------------------------
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Chapter Four
------------
Usagi sighed. Sometimes she would spend the day just curled up under
her blankets dreaming of the life she had had earlier... every moment
of the happiness she and Mamo-chan had shared, and even the sad times.
Rubbing tears out of her eyes, Usagi realized that those days were over.
Mamoru had betrayed her... and she had betrayed him by not listening.
"Usagi-chan?" Makoto peeked her head inside the bedroom door, "Aren't
you dressed yet? Get up, you lazy girl!" When Usagi didn't reply, Mako
walked to the side of the bed and tipped Usagi's face toward her.
Wiping a few tears away gently from Usagi's face, Mako smiled, "Cheer
up. If it was destined to be, you'll see him again. Otherwise, it's
been four months and we need to find something to make you smile again."
Usagi nodded once, and Mako decided to take that as an invitation. "Ok!
So come on... all of us girls want to take you out shopping."
Usagi sighed and climbed out of bed.
***************
A few hours later, Mina dragged Usagi into the Crown Arcade. "This will
be fun... we haven't been to the arcade in forever!"
Usagi sighed and forced a smile on her face. "Alright. I haven't seen
Motoki in a while... any new cute guys in here lately?" She followed
Mina inside with the rest of the Senshi following.
After Usagi's eyes adjusted to the slightly darker lighting inside, she
noticed Motoki waving everyone over. As she walked over to join him,
she heard him tell Mina, "...and he seems to be doing well at Harvard,
though he still..." Motoki broke off with an apology when he saw Usagi.
"Usagi-chan! I've missed you." He noticed the dark circles under her
eyes, "Still not sleeping well?"
Usagi blushed and stammered, "Well... Ahh..." but fell silent when
Motoki waved everyone aside and gave her a hug. "He still misses
you..." Motoki said quietly. "But he's just like you... too proud to
say it."
Usagi pulled away and blushed again. "I am not too proud... and I don't
miss him at all." She turned to play a game so that no one could see
her face. "Really, I don't."
***************
Usagi ran out the door, smiling. It had been a year since Mamoru had
left, and she could now think about him without wanting to cry. It was
time to get on with her life. As she turned the corner of her street,
Usagi bumped into Rei and Motoki who were talking on the corner.
"Usagi-chan! We were just coming to visit you." Rei said. Smiling, she
looked Usagi over and decided that nothing bad could happen now that
Usagi seemed to be back to herself again.
Usagi shook her head and continued running, "Sorry guys! I have a date
tonight and I don't want to be late."
Rei and Motoki exchanged glances. "Date?" Rei asked. "Must be with
Takeo..." She frowned and silently watched Usagi disappear into the
distance. Finally she shook her head and said, "I guess he's good for
her. He seems to make her happy. She's almost as cheerful as she was
with..."
Motoki frowned. "With Mamoru. I know." He sighed. "Usagi and Mamoru
are both my friends, but I just hate to see them apart... after all,
they seemed so right together, until that day."
Rei looked down for a moment before answering; "You know what I think
about that. Anyway, how is Mamoru now?"
"He's fine. Still a little depressed, but at least he stopped dating
Sarasri." When Rei looked blankly back, Motoki explained, "Sarasri was
the redhead. She had her claws into him, and I'm glad that he finally
got away somehow."
Rei nodded, but paused. "Did Usagi-chan ever know that they were
officially dating?"
"I don't know... I hope not, though."
***************
Usagi sat next to Takeo, smiling at a bad joke he had made. 'Lame, I
know,' she thought, 'but he makes me smile, and he's so sweet and
caring.' Admiring his blonde hair and dark green eyes, Usagi thought
back to the first time she had talked to Takeo... Well, talked wasn't
exactly that right word. After getting into that huge fight outside of
Mamoru's apartment, she had run outside without paying attention, and
had bumped into a very cute guy... not that she was up to noticing that
at the time. He had introduced himself as Takeo and had offered to
drive her home since she was obviously upset.
Usagi smiled. Takeo had never pressured her to say or do anything. He
had just been there for her. He was a good friend and could always make
her laugh. When he had asked her out, she had said 'Yes' just to get
out of the house... she was glad that she had done so now. They had
only been dating for a couple of months, but she was finally happy
again.
"So Usagi-chan, what would you like to do today?" Takeo smiled when he
noticed that Usagi had spaced out. She was always doing that... his
beautiful Usagi. He leaned back and admired her big beautiful eyes and
silky hair tied back in her usual buns. They made a good couple.
"Usagi... Usagi..."
***************
"Usagi..."
Usagi woke up on the mountainside to see Takeo leaning over her.
Startled, she sat up and looked down to see Tokyo covered in darkness.
"What happened?"
Takeo frowned, "I don't know. The radio went out, and then everyone
lost power. I knew that you had driven up here in your new car, so I
came up to make sure that you were alright." He smiled, "I was so glad
to see you still here, though I was frightened when I saw you on the
ground. Is everything fine?"
Usagi reached up and checked her head for any bruises or bumps, feeling
the engagement ring that Takeo had given her yesterday as she did so.
She frowned, then forced a smile on her face, "I'm fine... I was just
remembering..."
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Continued in Chapter Five
Email me? Please?
shaychan@thesimpsons.com
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