Chapter 2

Here's chapter 2, guys! I want to thank everyone who has reviewed. You guys have given me the confidence to post the next chapter! Woohoo! I really hope you like it!

Thank soooo much to my wonderful and beautiful bae-tas, Beej88 and Revy679. They are the best friend's a girl could ask for! I love you ladies, so much!

Beej88 has been writing a fic called It's Always Been You. You need to go check it out! It's so so cute and I love it so very much!

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And go check out Elite Squad! It's our collaboration site with me, Beej88 and Revy679. We're about to post part 2 of Chapter 2 of What Dreams May Come. You don't want to miss out!

oOo

The Next Day

It didn't matter how much she wanted this. Usagi still struggled to get through a full day at school without her mind drifting off somewhere else. Though, truthfully, she'd been much less determined in high school. While Tokyo College of Welfare wasn't considered overly prestigious by any means, it served her purposes well, and she was halfway through a two-year course, almost on the cusp of actually graduating in her childcare program.

She couldn't pinpoint the exact moment that she'd decided to specialize in social work, much less childcare, but it had seemed right. She'd fought tooth and nail through years' worth of C and B- averages to get here.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that she wasn't quite as awful in school like she used to be, she still found that she needed a break from time to time. That's where her group of high-school girlfriends came in. Although they'd all gone down different paths in life, they still vowed to meet each other once a week.

Which was exactly where Usagi was currently headed. This week they'd opted to meet at the temple where Rei was still a Shinto Priestess.

She was running late, again, and she was going to have to cut the meeting short this week so that she could have time to go home and get ready for her date with Motoki.

She shook her head, deep in thought, as she flew out of Tokyo metro, her feet pounding against the pavement as she instinctively made her way to the temple. Date with Motoki. How weird was that? She was so confused by the whole thing. Reika and Motoki had only just recently split. No one was really sure what had happened between them. Motoki never wanted to talk about it and Usagi didn't push the issue, but she remembered the days that had followed the break up. He'd been a mess. Which is why she was surprised that he'd even asked. She never in a million years would have expected to be asked out by the boy that had ultimately become one of her friends.

She rounded the corner, the temple just in sight now, as her brows drew together thoughtfully. She wasn't entirely sure why she'd even agreed. Sure, she'd once had a super crush on the man when they were younger. But she'd been young, and Motoki had been seriously hot. He was still hot! But they were just friends. She actually considered him one of her best friends. They'd spent a lot of time together over the years, and they'd gotten to know each other. Now, she only really saw him as a big brother, almost. So, why had she agreed to the date?

She slowed her pace and her breathing as she passed through the entrance pergola that led into Hikawa shrine. She was lonely. It was the only thing that made sense to her. Her friends had boyfriends (or at least guys they talked to). The most significant male interaction that she could boast about was seeing Motoki behind the arcade counter and arguing with that stupid baka every day.

She sighed, slightly deflated, as she climbed the stairs where she knew her friends were waiting for her. As she entered, all four girls turned to look at her.

Rei, as she'd expected, rolled her eyes. "Wow, Odango. You actually made it on time! Shocker," Rei spat. Usagi rolled her eyes and took a seat across from Minako and between Makoto and Ami. There was no way that she was going to tell them that she'd assumed that she was already late.

She scoffed, her eyes flashing with indignant irritation as she met Ami's gaze. The bluenette grimaced apologetically. "It is surprising to see you here on time," Ami said softly. Though her cerulean colored eyes softened. "Though, I am proud of the improvement, Usagi!" She reassured comfortingly.

Usagi smiled gratefully, before turning to the room's other resident blonde. "Yeah, what gives?" Minako asked coyly, the corners of her pink-hued lips pulled up into a curious smile.

Usagi frowned. "I have something to do later today so I can't stay long," she explained as a response. Minako's smile widened and her eyes filled with gleeful excitement. Usagi's frown deepened as she gauged her friend's reaction. She couldn't, for the life of her, figure out why Minako would react that way simply because she'd been on time. Granted it was a rare occurrence which may be cause for a little alarm, but the intense look on her friend's face was overdoing it a little bit.

Rei scoffed, "What is so important that you can't stay and hang out with your friends?" She demanded petulantly. Usagi had learned, over time, that Rei was naturally a passionate person with a fiercely hardened demeanor. Which was why she was particularly hard on her. Usagi had accepted that particular aspect of Rei's personality, and loved her for it anyways.

"Maybe she's going to do her homework," Ami suggested hopefully. Minako openly laughed out loud while Rei rolled her eyes. Ami was her one friend that actually enjoyed school. Which she would have to in order to manage the overbearing workload of medical school.

Usagi opened her mouth to tell them why she had to leave, when she was interrupted. "Maybe she has to have dinner with the family?" Lita suggested brightly, and Usagi offered her a smile, but shook her head.

She was interrupted, once again, by Minako. "Maybe she has a hot date," the blonde said coyly and wiggled her eyebrows suggestively. Usagi's mouth snapped shut and she tilted her head to the side as her gaze fell onto her friend. Was that a lucky guess?

"Ha!" Rei barked snarkily. "Usagi with a date? That's a laugh!" She exclaimed, and Usagi whipped her head to Rei, her face beginning to burn hotly with insulted indignation. She'd mostly accepted Rei's personality. That didn't mean that it didn't still annoy her at times.

She scowled in irritation and propped a delicate hand on her hip. "What is that supposed to mean?" She demanded, thoroughly insulted.

It was getting tense in the room, and Minako giggled brightly to cut through it. "Usagi could totally get a date! I'm sure lots of guys want to date her!" Minako defended lightly and waved her hand in an effort to dismiss Rei's crisp comment.

Makoto frowned, and shook her head. "Don't be so mean, Rei," the brunette admonished.

Rei's cheeks reddened, but she jutted out her chin proudly. "I'm not being mean. I'm just saying that she's never been on a real date. I seriously doubt she is going to start now," she scoffed stubbornly.

"Stop it, Rei! She does have a date. I'm sure of it!" Minako proclaimed with a surety that caught Usagi's attention. Usagi glanced over to the blonde with a budding suspicion in her expression. Minako straightened her posture and met Usagi's gaze with feigned innocence. "You do, right?" She asked, and quickly averted her gaze. Usagi watched the blush creep up her face with curiosity. Something was a bit off here.

"Yes…" Usagi replied tentatively before turning back to her fiery, raven-haired friend. "In fact, I do have a date tonight, thank you very much."

"With who?" Ami blurted, unexpectedly interjecting herself into the conversation. Their gazes all snapped to her, and her face turned an embarrassed shade of crimson red.

"Motoki," Usagi answered, with a satisfied smirk, which was promptly followed by a cacophony of disbelieving responses.

"WHAT?!"

"MOTOKI?"

"Did he ask you?"

"You asked him, right?"

"I thought you didn't like him anymore?"

"Calm down, everyone!" Minako chimed in. Again, Usagi looked at her blonde friend with questioning, narrowed eyes. She was taking the news of her going on a date with Motoki way too well. Of all of her friends, Minako should have been the one freaking out the most, jumping up and down like she was the one who'd just been asked out.

"Motoki asked me yesterday when I went to the arcade," Usagi answered. "I don't know if I like him or not. He's always been my friend. I haven't thought of him as more than that in years. And even then…"

"It was a silly crush," Makoto finished. Usagi nodded her agreement.

"So, wait, Motoki just came up to you and asked you to go on a date with him?" Rei asked skeptically.

"Like it's so unbelievable that I could get a guy like Motoki?" Usagi asked sharply. Rei rolled her eyes.

"That's not what I meant, Odango Atama!" She spat. Then she muttered, "It's just not who I was expecting…"

"Who were you expecting?" Usagi asked curiously. At that, Rei looked around the room at the other girls for support. They knew what Motoki and Minako knew: It was Mamoru who had feelings for Usagi; not Motoki. But she couldn't say that.

"No one," she said finally after realizing she would be receiving no help from her so-called 'friends'.

Usagi let it go, stood and grabbed her bag. "I need to get going," she stated firmly, and checked her watch. Then she turned to Minako. "Want to come help me pick out something to wear?" She asked, knowing full well that the fashionista would not be able to turn down the opportunity to dress her. It was time to get her blonde friend alone and interrogate her on exactly what she knew. Minako was up and across the room before Usagi even had even finished her question.

She was like bouncing ball of brightness and excitement as she skipped around the table. "Let's go!" She exclaimed with excitement, as she hurried out the door. Usagi gave the rest of the girls a cool, still slightly hurt, smile before she waved and followed her overly excited friend out the door and down the temple steps. In the room, the three remaining friends exchanged looks of confusion.

oOo

"So, I'm thinking the pretty blue dress! You know, the strappy one that comes to your knees? With your white heels! I'll do your make-up and…" They were walking down the sidewalk toward Usagi's house and Minako had not stopped making suggestions since they'd left the temple.

Finally, Usagi stopped and turned to her friend, halting her mid-sentence. "So, how about you tell me exactly what's going on," she demanded with raised eyebrows and her hands propped onto her hips. Her tone was serious, and her eyes hardened as she glared knowingly at the blonde . Minako's smile instantly faded into a look of confusion and…was that worry?

"Wh-what do you mean?" She stuttered, and averted her gaze, pointedly picking at an invisible piece of lint on her sleeve. Usagi's eyes narrowed, her suspicions confirmed simply by Minakos reaction, and pointed at her in an accusatory manner.

"You and I both know that Motoki doesn't like me as anything more than a friend. So why would he ask me out?" She demanded firmly. Minako knew something and she intended to get to the bottom of it.

Minako blinked in rapid fire. "You never know…maybe he has…"

"Save it!" Usagi interjected angrily. "I want answers, Aino!"

"Why would I know…"

"Because this is your plan!" Usagi spat, her eyes blazing fire.

Minako's eyes widened. Like a blue-eyed doe caught in headlights. "How do you…"

Usagi snorted, promptly interrupting her. "Oh, this has you written all over it. Just tell me what's going on!" Usagi demanded. She was not fond of being made a fool of, and that is exactly how she currently felt.

Minako sighed with defeat. "Okay, Usagi, okay. You're right. This was my idea. We thought that if…if someone thought you two were dating…well, they might get jealous…and…ya know…do something about it," she stuttered, a nervous grimace etched into her face.

Usagi's eyes widened. "Wait…so you're using me?" She breathed accusingly, her tone laced with unfettered disbelief.

Minako's face reddened hotly and she ducked her head in shame. "Well…"

"So, you are both just using me to try and make Reika jealous?" Usagi questioned again.

"See…" She started to explain, then stopped abruptly. "Wait, Reika?"

Usagi sighed with exasperation. "I get it! Motoki is trying to get Reika back and thinks that making her jealous will help, right?" She questioned, more than a little annoyed, but relieved to at least have some kind of explanation.

Minako's contrite expression brightened considerably. "Right!" She exclaimed excitedly. "That's exactly right. You're exactly right. We can't get anything past you," she commended her best friend, while nodding and waving a slender finger in the air beside her face. Usagi smiled, proud of herself for figuring it out, then twisted back around and continued their walk toward her house.

Minako fell in beside her, a knowing smirk on her face. Why hadn't she thought of that before? Just tell Usagi they were trying to trick Reika, not Mamoru. Of course she would be down to help Motoki win the love of his life back! Minako wanted to smack herself for not having thought of that idea sooner.

In all actuality, Usagi was right. This could help Motoki out, too. What better way to get those two back together than to make Reika jealous as hell over Usagi. And at the same time, this would help Mamoru realize his feelings too. Win-win for everyone!

Minako grew very excited! Even more so than before!

"You know, you guys could have just told me about this. I would have done it in a heartbeat." Usagi said thoughtfully. Minako smiled at her friend.

"I'm sorry, Usagi. You're right. We should have told you."

Usagi stopped and turned to Minako with a wicked grin. "Now let's go get me ready for this date!" She squealed. Minako clapped her hands excitedly and the two ran off to Usagi's.

oOo