Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm back. First of all, I want to say sorry for the long wait. Things have been really tough at work. My boss had been kicked out and things around the office change since the new management takes over. But things ease out eventually and now I'm back! Cheers! hehe

And now to the reviews: You guys are pretty awesome! your reviews keep me entertained and thank you for pointing out my mistakes. I know there will still be spelling and grammatical errors in the future chapters but I promise I'm really doing my best to improve.

The story: Well personally, this is my most valuable chapter of this Fic for me. Aside from it was very hard to write, the emotional stress I have in this chapter is very high. My father died when I was 10 and I can't remember much about him anymore. Sometimes, I wish he was still alive and got a chance to have a moment like this with him. :)

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and the characters is not mine. But I wish Mamoru is. (^_~)

Well, that's all. You all know the drill. :) R&R

Runaway Ch. 3

Daddy's Little Princess

It was nearly 7 in the evening, and Usagi is still writing on her notebook beside her window without the lights on. Her tears are flowing freely while she writes. She was so into writing that she did not hear the knock on her door.

Tsukino Kenji was surprised. her daughter is always alert when there is a knock on her door. But this time, only a few more strides away, her daughter was still curled in her seat, notebook, and pen in hand and is eagerly writing.

Kenji stop a few feet away from Usagi to observe her. He looks fondly at Usagi as he looks back on the days that he still carry her on his back and cradle her in his arms as she goes to sleep. Usagi is now a young lady.

As Kenji took a step forward, he notices that Usagi's shoulder is shaking. At that point, he closes the gap between him and Usagi and places a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Usagi?" Kenji softly called out.

Usagi jumps out of her skin and drops her notebook and pen when she hears her father's voice and feels his hands on her shoulder. She whips her head to the direction of her father's voice.

"Papa!" Usagi's response as her eye grew wide with shock.

"You seem so busy. I called you three times already" Kenji said bending down to pick up Usagi's fallen notebook and pen "You didn't seem to hear me that is why I let myself in" he explains as he closes Usagi's notebook and sitting down cross legs beside Usagi's chair.

When Kenji is fully seated on the floor, he offers Usagi her notebook. Usagi gently took it from him with her left hand as she wipes her tears with her right using the sleeve of her shirt.

"Arigatou," Usagi said as she hugs her notebook and looks out the window. "I'm not hungry papa!"

Kenji knows his daughter. Usagi never turns down food. And saying she wasn't hungry just confirms his suspicion that his daughter definitely has a problem.

"Are you bothered about something at work?" Kenji inquired, looking out the window as well.

Usagi instantly looks at her father and shakes her head vigorously. "No papa! I love working there!"

"Are you sure?" Kenji asks as he looks back at Usagi.

"Hai! Everyone is great and very helpful!" Usagi, confirms with a small smile on her lips.

"I'm glad to hear that!" Kenji said as he reaches out and pat Usagi on the head. "I'm so proud of you, Usagi!" He said smiling.

Usagi was shocked and happy at same time. She was so happy to hear the compliment from her father that her eyes start to water again. "Arigatou, papa! I'm so happy I'm working with you!" Usagi said happily. "Well you work in the field and I'm at the office, but well, we still work in the same company!" Usagi said breathlessly and giggled.

Kenji chuckled as well. "I know what you mean. I'm glad that you like working with me. At first, I thought you will oppose the idea of working with me."

Usagi stops giggling "At first, I do oppose the idea of working with you at the same company," Usagi said honestly. "But doing what I love is fun and it doesn't seem like I'm working at all" Usagi smiled genuinely.

"Kaoru-san said the same thing" Kenji confirms. "She said that you are just like playing jigsaw puzzle when you are making layouts for the newspapers and magazine"

"Honto?" Usagi asks excitedly.

"Uhm" Kenji confirms with a nod. "She also said she never saw anyone work as fast and efficient with layouts before"

"Wow" Was all Usagi could say as she blushes at the compliment.

"Keep up the good work, Usagi! Ne?" Kenji encourages as he pats Usagi's head again.

"Hai, papa!" Usagi said enthusiastically.

"So" Kenji begin again. "How are you and Mamoru-kun?"

This took Usagi off guard. Of all the things her papa would ask her, never even in her wildest dream that he will ask about Mamoru. Kenji is never afraid to voice out his dislike on the idea off Usagi dating an older guy. If Ikuko-mama wasn't fond of Mamoru, Kenji will make sure that Mamoru will never see Usagi.

"We're... okay," Usagi said in a little voice.

"Are you sure?" Kenji pressed.

"Yeah"

"Then why are you crying?"

"I..." At that point, Usagi didn't know what to say. Her eyes automatically water and her lips quiver at the mention or thought of Mamoru's name. Usagi cannot hide it anymore. She brings both of her hands up to cover her face and started crying. "I... miss... him.. papa..." Usagi said between sobs.

Kenji rose to his knees and hug his daughter tightly. He let Usagi cry her heart out. Usagi's cry is not the usual cry anyone would usually hear from her when she trips or Shingo stole her food. Her cry was full of pain and longing. A cry a girl would let out for the guy she loves. Right then and there, he realizes the true depth of Usagi's love for the young man. This was no puppy love. This is true love. And base on what Shingo tell him, the young man was a wreck as her daughter.

He doesn't know how long he has been cradling Usagi in his arms. All he knows if he lets her cry her out some more, she will be sick.

"Usagi" Kenji calls softly as Usagi continue to cry.

"He... doesn't want to... talk.. to me... anymore... " Usagi said out of breath.

"Does he tell you that?" Kenji inquired.

"No... no... but.. he is not... returning my calls..."

"Does he tell you why?

"He said... he's busy..."

"And you don't believe him?"

Usagi was surprised by his father's question. It sounds like he is siding Mamoru. She tries hard to stop her tears to no avail. She slowly removes her hands away from her face to look at her father.

"Aren't... you supposed... to be mad at.. him... papa?" Usagi's shoulder's rack with every word she says.

"Who said I am not mad?" Kenji said still in a soft tone.

"Then.. why does... it sound... like.. you.. are siding him?"

"I'm not siding him Usagi," Kenji said as he sooth his daughter's back. Usagi looks at him questioningly. her tears starting to subside. "Let's just say that I understand him"

"You are not going to tell me to break up with him?" Usagi asks curiously.

"Do you want to?" Kenji shots back equally curious.

"No..." Usagi said in a small voice. looking down on the floor.

"Thought so" Kenji smile a little. "You feel better?" He asks as he sits down again in front of Usagi's chair. Usagi only replies with a simple nod.

They keep silent for a few moment before Usagi breaks the silence.

"Papa?" Usagi starts.

"Uhm?"

"You say you understand Mamoru. How?"

Kenji took Usagi's left hand and hold it firmly. "You know I love your mom right?" Usagi nods "And you know I love you and Shingo as well?" Usagi nods again. "So why do I work?" He asks.

"To provide for us" Usagi simply said a bit confused.

"Why do Mamoru study?" Kenji asks again.

"To be a doctor" Usagi confirmed.

"Why does he want's to be a doctor?"

"Because it's his dream"

"and...?"

"And that's it..." Usagi reply knitting her brows together in confusion. "How do your work and Mamoru studying makes you understand him?"

Kenji chuckled a little and thinks that some things can't change like Usagi being a bit slow. "I work for our family and he studies for himself and for you."

Usagi's confusion instantly turns to a frown and spat "He studies for himself papa, not for me. If he do study for me he will make it to my birthday and never neglect me"

To say that Kenji is surprised by Usagi's reaction is an understatement. He never saw his daughter this angry and hurt. "Now, now," Kenji said trying to calm down Usagi and squeezing her hand a little. "No need for an angry fit. It's only me you are talking to and not Mamoru"

Usagi takes a deep breath and says "I'm sorry papa. It's just it's been so long since we talk or go out or see each other" her eyes begun to water again "It's like he doesn't love me anymore" she added in a hushed voice.

"How often we see each other, Usagi?"

Usagi becomes confused again. "Well, not so often because we have different work schedule"

"How often our family goes out?"

"Once a year for vacation?" Usagi says a little bit unsure.

"That's correct. And how often do we talk seriously like this?"

"Not so often" She confirmed.

"Do I love you?"

"You said earlier that you do"

"Yes, I do" Kenji confirmed. "And that is the reason why I understood Mamoru"

Usagi becomes silent.

"You see, no matter how busy I am or how I do love my job or how less we see and talk to each other, the fact that I love all of you remains" Kenji paused a little to let what he said down to Usagi. "And that be the same with Mamoru"

"But he forgot my birthday" Usagi stubbornly countered.

"Do I never did the same with your mom?"

"Yes"

"Do you want us to get separated?"

"No," Usagi said incredulously. "That's not funny papa"

"And I'm not kidding, Usagi" Kenji said softly but firmly. "I'm not siding Mamoru. All I want you to understand is a man need to do what he is got to do" Kenji puts a hand on Usagi's head to make her look at him. "Do you think I will let you go to a man who doesn't have a good education, job and cannot feed you and your future family?"

Usagi finally looks at her dad with a blush on her face. "No" She softly replies.

"I'm not saying that you don't have a right to be upset or angry with him" Kenji continues "I just want you to see that just how things are when you are grown up."

Usagi contemplated all that her father tells her and know that he is right. Things change as you get older and have responsibilities. She then nods and launched to hug her papa. "Thank you, papa"

Kenji hugs her back and says "I see the way you look at each other. It's the same way your mom and I look at each other. And we are totally in love." He pushes Usagi a little and holds her at arm's length. "You both need to talk. And if you decided to continue or end your relationship with him, I will support your decision."

Usagi nods feeling unbelievably relieved.

"Oi, Papa! Baka-Usagi! Mom is getting angry! You should both come down before the food gets cold!" They hear Shingo shouts downstairs.

"I guess we need to come down," Usagi said chuckling.

"We better do before your mom kills us both." Kenji said with a smile.

The End. For now :)